Category Archives: Sports

Sports

TMQ BS

Last week I praised TMQ for defending Mike Vick. This week, though, he’s gone off the deep end.

First, he makes the moral equivalence argument. Why is it so bad that Mike Vick beat, shot and electrocuted dogs when we do this to livestock? I’m with Easterbrook on the animal cruelty in our food system. But the two things are not even comparable. There is a huge difference between killing an animal looked upon as food and killing an animal looked upon as a pet — a virtual family member. (And don’t come here with the “other nations treat dogs as food” argument unless you are prepared to legalize honor killings of raped women.) I will admit, however, that the comparison he makes to dog-racing is very troubling an should be addressed.

But where he gets stupid is this:

One or two years in federal prison, and perhaps state prison time if state charges are filed as well; plus $25 million in lost endorsement income and, oh, $50 million in lost or returned NFL income. That’s overkill! Often the indirect financial consequences of legal proceedings are worse than the official ones, in the same way that a speeding ticket might cost you $75 but add $1,000 to your annual insurance bill.[MHS – try speeding in Virginia!]

In effect, the federal indictment of Vick is resulting in him being fined around $75 million, which is far too much retribution.

This, from the usually brilliant Easterbrook, is pure unadulterated dog-poop. Depriving someone of future income is not the same thing as fining someone. By that logic, if my employer fires me for insubordination, I have been “fined” a couple of million bucks for the lifetime earnings I would have had. If a bankruptcy court forbids me to play the lottery and my numbers come up, they’ve “fined” me $200 million. If a trader under SEC investigation is forbidden from trading a stock that subsequently tanks, he’s been “fined” millions. If a corrupt CEO is put in prison, he’s “fined” millions from not being able to work.

This is ridiculous. Michael Vick is not being fined. He’s being deprived of potential future income. It’s no different than what happened to Ricky Williams (by Gregg’s logic, “fined” millions for smoking pot) or Kobe Bryant (“fined” millions in endorsements for cheating on his wife). The NFL and endorsement agencies are Mike Vick’s employers. They agreed to pay him money on certain conditions, notably not behaving like a complete idiot and lobbing plenty of passes into the waiting arms of defensive backs. He has violated that agreement. And like all people who violate contracts, he is losing the benefits that contract.

Would it be right for him to get millions of dollars for not playing football and not hawking expensive sports shoes to low-income kids? This is not something being done to Michael Vick. This is something he did on his very own.

Easterbrook’s assertion that Vick is being “fined” is especially offensive in a nation where thousands of Americans routinely have their money or their property taken from them because it might be from illegal activity. The DEA and the IRS confiscate money and property — often from the poorer Americans — without any hint of due process. It is up to the robbed to prove their innocence. And the Supreme Court has decreed that this is fine by them.

For God’s sake, Easterbrook, get some perspective.

Sports

Vick Redux

Well, he’s plead out. But I still think Easterbrook was right. It was frightening how quickly and nastily people turned on Michael Vick. Steve Hummer writes a great epitaph here.

I’m reading through Pro Football Prospectus right now and one of the things they’ve found is that QBs who come out early are more likely to flop. Actually, they don’t say it quite that way. They say that the two indicators of how well a QB will do in the professional ranks are how many games he started in college and his completion percentages. These measure, respectively, experience and intelligence.

Guys like Mike Vick and Ryan Leaf tend to come out of college early after having a magical season. They’ve never faced adversity or dealt with fame or learned how to be a real quarterback. They’ve been athletically gifted their entire lives, had instant success in college and gone straight into fame and fortune. The only difference was that Vick’s athletic prowress eclipsed that of Leaf — so it took a little longer for him to implode.

Sports

Sympathy for the Devil

Gregg Easterbrook express some sympathy for Michael Vick:

There’s something deeply sick about the fact that you can go to the NFL’s official shop and order a Bills jersey with No. 32 and SIMPSON on the back — go here and try it yourself — or a Panthers jersey with CARRUTH on the back, the NFL system actually says “Great choice!” in response, but if you go here and try to order a Falcons’ jersey with Vick’s name or number, you’ll get a message saying your order cannot be processed.

…

Vick has no serious prior offenses and does not stand accused of any act of violence against a person. He grew up poor in the crime-and-drugs plagued Ridley Circle housing project of Newport News, Va., yet unlike many around him there did not succomb to the temptation of lawbreaking. If Vick goes to jail and loses his NFL career for a first offense of cruelty to animals and gambling, while [Ray] Lewis essentially got off scot-free for watching two human beings stabbed to death, that wouldn’t be “sending a message.” That would be a travesty of justice.

I must say, knowing the racial overtones of this phrase, that there is a whiff of a lynch mob in the anti-Vick screamers. Yes, what he is alleged to have done is terrible, but there’s an irony in PETA, of all people, claming the moral high ground. And having lived in a city that cheered the murder-watching Ray Lewis and the drug-dealing Jamal Lewis, I’m inclined to have a modicum of perspective.

And considering that our own cultural history includes this and this and various public brutal forms of this; considering that a vast swath of the American public thinks this and this are appropriate to treat human beings, we should be a little humbler before we brand someone as a violent psychopath.

Let’s condemn Michael Vick, yes. But let’s not get too far up that high horse.

Sports

Bonds on Bonds

Congratulations to Bonds on passing Henry Aaron. And good on the fans of San Diego for not getting swallowed in the controversy. And shame on the commissioner for putting his hands in his pockets and issuing a press release that focused on steroids. Selig needs to make up his mind – is the steroid testing working or not?

The press should be ashamed of themselves too. ESPN is running an article about how Bonds’ teammates are alleging steroid use (actually, they’ve now changed it to “teammate” singular since it’s only one guy).

They guy in question is Brian Johnson, who was a teammate of Bonds’ in 1997-1998. Of course, “Game of Shadows” claims Bonds started using steroids in 1999. And Johnson doesn’t say anything substantive, just makes vauge references to “cloak-and-dagger” societies.

But since he was a teammate of Bonds and says something about steroids, we can conclude that Bonds’ teammates are accusing him of steroid use.

No matter what, Bonds is one of the greatest players in baseball history and it’s been a privelege to wach him. He is now the first man to hold the single-season and career homerun mark since Babe Ruth. I have no idea what kind of person he is. And I’m unwilling to judge him based on the word of a bunch of SMTs.

In the meantime, Diamond Mind does a fascinating projection of what Aaron would have done today and conclude he would have hit about 11 more homers. Money quote:

Perhaps the most significant feature of these results is that, halfway into his “sim” career, Aaron was 50 home runs behind his actual career pace. The reason is that the 1950s, when Aaron began his career, actually were more offensively-oriented than the 1980s, when Bonds began playing. Aaron begins making up the home run difference when his seasons from the 1960s, at which time pitching was more dominant, are shifted to the homer-happy 1990s. He finally passes his actual career total when his twilight 1970s seasons are shifted to the new millennium.

…

Aaron’s best real-life single-season HR total was 47 in 1971, which was replayed as 2001 in our simulations. It so happens that 2001 also was the season when Bonds broke the single-season record with 73 homers.

Of course, they don’t realize that Bonds is evil and so anything they say is going to be denigrate and ignored. Why if Aaron played today, he’d have hit 2000 home runs!

Sports

Bonded

I’m not sure what to think about Barry Bonds breaking the home run record. I realize that 90% of America has decided he is a cheating scumbag who should be shot. But I’ve learned to be leery when everyone is agreeing on something. I think Joe Sheehan has the best perspective:

While it’s an unpopular viewpoint, I stand by my argument that Barry Bonds has not failed a test for PEDs in the four years that MLB has had a program. His testimony before a grand jury—subsequently leaked illegally, and to his detriment—was that he did take substances that were identified later as steroids, but he was told at the time that they were not. His testimony has been interpreted as parsing by some, perjury by others, although statements before the same grand jury by others have been granted full faith and credit. That grand jury inspired two reporters to write a book about Bonds, sourced largely by the illegally-obtained testimony, as well as the accounts of people around Bonds, at least one of whom, ex-mistress Kimberly Bell, can comfortably be described as “scorned.”

Baseball now has a small underclass of players—real players, not anonymous minor leaguers or fringe guys—who have tested positive for performance-enhancing substances, been suspended for that use, and returned to play. In virtually every case, those players go about their business without anyone caring. They’re cheered at home for their good deeds, and ignored on the road. The Indians benefit from the bullpen work of Rafael Betancourt, by far their best reliever this season, and a big reason for their contending status. He’s not reviled in Detroit or Minnesota as a steroid user, not booed and forced to endure the taunts of “Cheater!” or worse. No one cares. The same can be said for Juan Rincon, who is essentially the Twins’ version of Betancourt.

Need more evidence that the game is more than willing to forgive and forget? Ryan Franklin tested positive in 2005, serving a 10-game suspension for his guilt. Last month, the Cardinals signed him to a two-year contract worth $5 million. Last winter, the Mets’ Guillermo Mota was suspended for the first 50 games of 2007 off a positive test; a month later, the Mets signed him to a two-year contract for, again, $5 million.

Add it up, and baseball has lavished more than $30 million on players who have been found guilty of steroid use after their use has come to light. These players don’t occupy some gray area, don’t inspire “did he or didn’t he?” discussions on sports radio or the talking-head TV shows. They cheated, they got caught, served their penalties, and went on to earn millions playing baseball without being held up as examples of all that is wrong with America.

The central truth about the “steroid issue” is this: average people don’t care about PED use. They care about tearing down those who they do not like, protecting those they do, and making themselves feel superior in the process.

I’d also add that Jason Giambi has apparently recovered his image.

I agree with Joe 100%. Read the whole thing — it’s not behind the BP firewall. The baseball ownership were happy to ignore the steroid issue when they thought it was doing the game good. Once the fans cottoned on, they threw one of the best players in history to the wolves.

There has been some chatter about the stark racial difference in the perception of Bonds. Blacks are a lot less judgemental than white and a lot more supportive. Not being black, I can’t speak for them. But the imputation that white fans don’t like Bonds because he’s “an angry black man” is frivolous and ignorant.

Fans have never liked angry players. Ty Cobb was extremely unpopular. Ted Williams — when he as a player — was on the most disliked men in baseball history. Rogers Hornsby was unpopular. Richie Allen, Hal Chase and pretty much the entire lineup of the 1890’s Orioles were unpopular. Pete Rose has become steadily more and more unpopular as his scumbaggery and bitterness come to the fore.

I’ll agree that Bonds has a worse reputation than he deserves. The media hate him and have made the fans do likewise. But he hasn’t exactly been helping himself.

In the meantime, this weekend saw the induction into the Hall of Fame of two of the most popular players in baseball history – Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken. And their popularity had a lot to do with their attitudes.

Personally, I always thought Bonds had a chance at Aaron’s record — even before 2003. I know there is little to no evidence that steroids actually help someone hit for more power. I’m willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. And I’m willing to acknowledge that he will be the first man to hold both single-season and career HR records since in 47 years.

Henry Aaron was one of the great players in baseball history and a great man. The fact that Bonds will have hit more career home runs will not change that.

Law and Order, Sports

Vick

As a Falcons fan, I suppose I should say something about Mike Vick’s indictment. But Balko says what I want to say:

According to the indictment, losing dogs were drowned, hanged, or covered in water, then electrocuted.
Guess we’ll wait for the trial to see the extent of Vick’s involvement. But if he was? The hell with him. And no, I don’t think there’s anything unlibertarian about laws against animal cruelty.

If this is true, I’m very happy to throw Mike Vick under a bus. What a waste. I was so excited when the Falcons signed him. I was at UVa when he was clobbering us from VT and watched him bring the Hokies to within a trace of a championship (Peter Warrick shouldn’t have been playing anyway).

I really thought he’d be something. Just not . . . this.

'Culture', Sports, The Nanny State

Monday Morning Linkorama

Things that amuse while I ponder my potential pending unemployment.

  • Man, I love Fire Joe Morgan and the way they take on the SMTs.

    Finally, on BBTN, Phillips and Kruk debate the “Worst Franchise in Sports.” Phillips chooses the Phillies because their next loss will be their 10,000th. This is problematic for several reasons: first, because that says as much about the longevity of the franchise (starting in 1890) as anything else. Second, the team is only 4 games out this year and has a lot of good players. Third, the team has been in the WS as recently as 1993. The Phils aren’t close to being the worst franchise in baseball, much less all of pro sports.

    Not to be outdone, Kruk chose the New Orleans Saints.

    Who played in the NFC Championship Game.

    Last year.

    Nice work, everybody.

  • I forgot to mention. Doctor Who is back on sci-fi. Happy days are here again.
  • The Surgeon general doesn’t just have weird views on gays. He’s perfect for Bush — especially since his office has no actual power but cheerleading.
  • The French have developed a market in trading driver’s license points. You know, first Sarkozy, now this. I’m starting to like the French again.
  • Steven Segal energy drink? Yes, Steven Segal energy drink.

    Then I took my first sip. Nothing in this world could have prepared me for that. The initial thought that came rushing into my mind was from a deep, dark place: Oh, that’s bad.

    I didn’t know quite what I had just tasted, but my mind immediately painted a picture of someone going into a supermarket, opening every can in the canned fruit aisle, pouring all the various syrups into one 16-oz container, and hoping for the best. It was like an evil punch made from fruits that had no business ever knowing each other.

    The second sip was even worse. This was when I first noticed the awful aftertaste. Initially, it reminded me of rancid peaches, but it quickly went downhill from there.

    • Law and Order, Politics, Science and Edumacation, Socialism, Sports

    Friday Linkorama

  • God, I love Fire Joe Morgan.
  • Remember how the sun is supposed to be causing global warming? Er, not so much.
  • This is outrageous. The music industry is now suing to get money from cover bands.

    Andrus said a friend of his who owned a restaurant that did not feature music was contacted by a company looking to charge him because it owned the rights to a Hank Williams Jr. song, “Are You Ready for Some Football?” The song preceded every “Monday Night Football” telecast, which the restaurant carried on its televisions.

    We need to seriously revisit our copyright laws. And by that, I don’t mean “give the recording industry yet more power”.

  • Continuing in that vein, weep for the death of Net Radio and the pending death of Fair Use.
  • Read this profile of the governor of Alaska. This is the first Republican I’ve read about in twenty years who inspires me — and not just because she’s hot. Know hope.
  • The NYT notes that everyone who is planning to create universal coverage is linking it to “controlling costs”. that’s libspeak for rationing.
    • Sports

    Droughts

    Interesting NYT article on sports droughts. Apparently, Cleveland has now gone 123 team-season (i.e., 123 combined NFL, NBA and MLB seasons) without a championship. Could it be worse?

    Yes. You could have been a kid in Atlanta in the 80’s. When the Braves won the World Series in 1995, we’d had 29 dry years with the Braves, 28 with the Falcons, 27 with the Hawks and nine years with the Flames. That’s 93 years of frustration (and 43 since).

    Sports

    Bravo!

    When I was a grad student, Chris used to talk a lot of smack about Joe Paterno. According to him, JoePa wasn’t just a great coach, he was a great man.

    Damn him. It’s all true.

    This is easily the greatest punishment in recent collegiate history, an absolutely diabolical, telling, high-impact bit of discipline that should remind one and all that what Paterno has been doing out in State College, Pa., all these years is more than just win 363 football games, including 20 the past two seasons.

    In a coaching business so full of phonies who talk character only to bend the rules, who consider the definition of discipline a player’s weight-room attendance, who wouldn’t dare pull something like this because it might hurt recruiting, here’s Joe Pa, four decades on the job and not giving a damn.

    Except about what’s right.

    You paying attention, Bobby Bowden? If wonder if the NCAA will step in and put a stop to this. It will make the slimeballs who run most of the big programs look bad.

    Sports

    A Sign of Age

    I turned 35 last week. I’ll write more on that later. But as I get older, I find myself becoming more interest in horse-racing. I guess this is part of the metamorphosis into a cigar-chomping Republic-, er, cigar-chomping conservative. So I was disappointed that we are going to have to wait yet another year for a Triple Crown winner.

    I actually wonder if we will ever see another Triple Crown horse. The sport has become so hyper-competitive, the field so vast, the pressure so high that the only hope is another Gift of the Horse Gods..