More Turf Essays. Check out the other "Classic Essays" pages. Thanks for reading. 
 

 

 

 

 

THE ROCKS GET NOTHING!…By Bill Rogan (11-23-07)

The Rockies won the National League pennant. If you had asked any Rockies player if he preferred to go to the World Series or load up on post-season awards, they would have unanimously said they would prefer a World Series trip. Well, that’s what they got.

Troy Tulowitzki led the National League in fielding percentage and most chances yet Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Todd Helton committed just two errors all season and had the highest fielding percentage among first baseman. Then how did Derrick Lee of the Cubs, who had five more errors and close to 300 less chances walk away with the Rawlings Gold Glove? Yes, Rawlings. They sponsor the Gold Glove awards. It should be noted that Helton wears a Mizuno glove. Bottom line, why don’t fielding statistics matter when it comes to the Gold Glove?

The National League Rookie of the Year Award went to Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun, who if presented with a Gold Glove would have probably dropped it. One of the worst fielding seasons ever by a third baseman, Braun did mash at the plate. But he probably let in as many runs with his iron glove than he knocked in. If you were to poll all 30 major league general managers on which player they would rather have, Braun or Tulowitzki, I would say Tulowitzki would win in a landslide. The DH was invented with guys like Braun in mind. And while Braun put together a nice offensive season, Tulowitzki put together an historic offensive season for a rookie shortstop. Talk all about Braun’s brawny numbers but don’t forget that Tulowitzki was no slouch either at the plate and actually knocked in two more runs than Braun. It’s also a reasonable argument to say that the Rockies don’t even sniff the post-season without Tulowitzki. Braun’s Brewers had a nice run but fell short of the playoffs.

Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle defeated teams led by Charlie Manuel and Bob Melvin in the playoffs. Yet, Melvin of the Diamondbacks and Manuel of the Phillies both finished higher in the Manager of the Year voting than Hurdle.
A good friend of mine wanted to know why the post-season awards don’t count the post-season? Good question. Isn’t part of the equation helping your team to the playoffs and World Series?

As for the MVP award in the National League, you guessed it, the Rockies candidate finished second. Matt Holliday, who led the league in hits, batting average, RBI’s, doubles and extra-base hits lost out to Rollins. Around the country, there are people who still dismiss stats accumulated at Coors Field due to the altitude, failing to realize the humidor has made the place play more like a normal ballpark. Yet, these writers apparently were dazzled by the 30 home runs Rollins hit in a park that plays like Coors Field used to. The dimensions of the Phillies new yard are a joke. Also, the same people who dismissed Tulowitzki’s fielding prowess when voting for Braun, also make the argument that Rollins fielded well at shortstop while Holliday toiled in left field.
I’m not saying the Rockies should have swept the post-season awards. But to get shut out in every category shows just how ignorant and stupid the voters can be. It makes no sense to me and maybe there should be a revamping of the current voting process.
 

 

PAY-ROD…By Bill Rogan (11-7-07)

One of the most unattractive traits a human can have is greed. It’s simply repulsive.

I’m all for an athlete getting as much money as he can but when unadulterated greed rears its ugly head I wonder, how much is enough?

Apparently 22-million dollars a year to play baseball with the New York Yankees was not enough for Alex Rodriguez. He opted out of his contract, which was his right, to become a free agent, allowing him to seek more money. Much more money.

Rodriguez and his agent Scott Boras are looking for a 12-year, 360-million dollar contract. That works out to 30-million dollars per year.

It is doubtful any team will offer the 32-year old Rodriguez that type of deal. They would be foolish to. Players, at least the ones not on performance enhancing drugs, usually see a decline in skills and ability in their mid 30’s. If I were a general manager I wouldn’t even contemplate signing Rodriguez for anywhere near 30-mil per season. I would rather get four or five solid players with that cash instead of a prima donna superstar with a penchant for alienating teammates and disappearing in the post-season.

I also question A-Rod’s desire and commitment to winning. A contract of the magnitude he is craving would certainly require a team to cut payroll in other areas. Like pitching. If you tie up payroll around Rodriguez and surround him with a bunch of stiffs, as was the case when he played in Texas, what are his chances of winning a World Series title? Diminished is the correct answer.

Bottom line is Rodriguez is going for the money grab. Nothing else matters to Rodriguez and Boras.

I’d love for zero teams to approach Rodriguez with an offer. It would be sweet to see A-Rod and Boras go hat in hand begging for a team to sign with as spring training draws closer. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Rodriguez make less than he did last year?

If some team is stupid and desperate enough to give in to his demands, rest assured, the people who will ultimately foot the bill will be the fans. I bet the disingenuous Pay-Rod and his manipulative agent never thought of that. Not once.

It’s simply called greed.
 

REID SONS…READ TROUBLE…By Bill Rogan (11-4-07)
I hate the Philadelphia Eagles. They are my least favorite NFL team and have been ever since I can remember. I hate the Eagles more than the Cowboys and more than the Redskins. When the Giants beat the Eagles I’m a happy man. When the Eagles beat the Giants, its best to keep away from me for a few hours. Or days.
That being said, I can’t comprehend what is going on with Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid. I really feel for the guy because his two eldest sons are complete losers.
Garrett Reid, 24, and Britt Reid, 22, are going to prison for various offenses. Garrett was sentenced this week to 2 to 23 months in the slammer for a car crash on January 30 when he was strung out on heroin. In his car, police found heroin, steroids, pills and a drug scale. He admitted in court that he enjoyed being the rich kid selling drugs in rough Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Britt got an 8 to 23 month jail term this week for a road rage incident, also on January 30^th, in which he pointed a gun at another driver. Cocaine, marijuana and painkillers were found in his car.
Police searched Andy Reid’s home, where his troubled sons still lived, and found what they called a drug emporium in the house. Garrett and Britt Reid are lucky to get the small prison terms they got. If it were up to me, it would be a long time before these two miscreants saw the light of day.
NFL coaches spend their lives engulfed by football. The hours they put in certainly takes a toll on their families. But what has happened to Andy Reid, a Mormon no less, has to be the ultimate nightmare.
Is Andy Reid guilty of being neglectful of his family? Maybe. Is he guilty of being a bad dad? Probably. But there comes a point where people have to take responsibility for their own actions. The privileged Reid boys are where they are because of their own doing.
I feel for Andy Reid, I really do. No one should have to go through what he is experiencing now. But I still hope the Eagles lose every game they play.

BAD BOYS BAD BOYS WHAT YOU GONNA DO…By Bill Rogan (11-1-07)
Why do so many college athletes get into trouble with the law? Is it that difficult to keep your nose clean?
Heck, when I played baseball in college I didn’t have time to get in trouble, even if I wanted to. And, then I would have paid a serious price.
My personal opinion is that college athletes who get into hot water have had behavioral challenges in the past but have gotten away with it because they’re star athletes.
In days gone bye, it seemed as if an athlete who got into trouble would not only lose his playing privileges but his scholarship and reputation too.
Now, priorities are so out of whack, its insane. Case in point was the recent episode when Florida football player Tony Joiner was arrested for removing his girlfriends car from a towing company without paying the $76 dollars owed. Instead of frowning upon Joiner’s behavior (Joiner said it was a misunderstanding), Gator fans bombarded the owner of the towing company with death threats should he press charges. The owner, a Gators fan himself, didn’t press charges and Joiner is still with the team.
Another Gator, Ronnie Wilson got into a dispute with a man outside a nightclub earlier this year. He was charged with firing shots from a semi-automatic rifle in the air and spitting on the man. Yes, Wilson, a freshman, is still on the Florida roster.
I get the feeling that anything short of murder is acceptable under Coach Urban Meyer, providing the player is a contributor and not a scrub.
I’m not just picking on Florida. You could substitute any number of teams in their place. The truth is you have an awful lot of college campuses littered with dangerous, undisciplined athletes running around wild and uncontrolled.
Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”
Those words I’m afraid have been taken far too literally when dealing with modern day, miscreant college athletes.

AN OPEN LETTER TO HAL AND HANK STEINBRENNER….By Bill Rogan (10-19-07) 

Dear Hal and Hank,

You stupid, stupid, stupid little bleepers.

You don’t deserve Joe Torre as your manager.

During the playoffs you give him an ultimatum to win, as if he didn’t have enough pressure on him? What, did you think he forgot the objective of the game?

Then, following the Yankees elimination at the hands of the Indians, you let this classy gentleman twist in the wind?

You have the audacity to lowball him with an offer that represents approximately a 30-percent reduction in salary with insulting bonus clauses for just one year?

It is obvious you didn’t want Torre back. You could have been manly about it and just fired him. Instead you demean him and have Yankees President Randy Levine issue a statement saying that Torre rejected such a wonderful offer. By the way, who is Randy Levine and how many games has Randy Levine won for the Yankees?

Why are you clowns even running the Yankees? I know your dad George is aging and reports are that he’s got Alzheimer’s. That is sad. What is also sad is that you both have shown very little interest in operating the Yanks on a day-to-day basis but now with your father’s failing health, you jump in and start acting like you know baseball. You petulant fools.

I can’t help but feel that you both are destined to run the Yankees into the ground. As a Yankees fan since birth, you both sicken me.

You should simply sign the checks, get the hell out of the way and let true baseball people call the shots. But your Steinbrenner egos won’t allow that.

So, who’s next to manage the Yanks? Don Mattingly, a guy who never has managed a game in his life? Bringing back Stump Merrill? Dig up Billy Martin? Or, do you just go down to the employment agency and ask for a Hall of Fame manager who is also a butt-kisser to the two buttheads who are now running the show?

Joe Torre won four World Series titles managing the Yankees. He took the team to the post-season every year. He deserved better than to have you two twits breathing down his back.

Hal and Hank enjoy your new play toy. And thank goodness Joe Torre doesn’t have to deal with you schmucks anymore.

And another thing, please, please sell the team.

Sincerely,

Bill Rogan

Artificial Turf

 

 

THE THROWBACKS…By Bill Rogan (10-11-07)
The 2007 Colorado Rockies…what a ball club they’ve become. They have provided wonderful images and memories we will never forget.
Todd Helton, the veteran, taunting the opposition when he gets a clutch hit. Matt Holliday standing at home plate admiring another home run then taking forever to trot around the bases while glaring at the pitcher. Brad Hawpe holding onto the ball in right field, daring a runner to try and take an extra base so he can show off his bazooka for an arm. Jeff Francis pointing at a strikeout victim and telling him to get his butt back to the bench. Josh Fogg thumping his chest and looking skyward after every win. Jamey Carroll, arguing with the manager, demanding more playing time. Garrett Atkins negotiating through the media for more money. Troy Tulowitzki, now that he’s an established big leaguer, no longer feeling the need to hustle on every play, has learned to loaf, I mean, pace himself.
The reason I have been so thrilled and captivated by these Rockies is because none of the players mentioned above does any of the boorish things mentioned above. The determined Rockies, a TEAM first and foremost, play the game the right way. Manager Clint Hurdle should be commended for having a team of classy players instead of selfish morons who play to the cameras each night hoping to grab attention on the highlight shows.
Are the Rockies enthusiastic? Yes. Self glorifying? No. The Rockies simply come to the yard, play hardball, and, more often than not lately, go home winners. In this day and age of baseball and sports in general, it certainly is refreshing to see.

 

ONE NIGHT IN LODO…By Bill Rogan (10-2-07)

“But I can’t help falling in love with you” Elvis Presley.

When the Rockies came into existence in 1993, the city of Denver and the entire state of Colorado fell deeply in love with their new baseball team. Wins and losses weren’t as important as having a team. Denver was in the Big Leagues. The wins were nice, the losses expected. Expansion teams don’t contend for championships.

As the years went on, the luster and charm of the Rockies dissipated. The lack of winning baseball and the feeling ownership was more interested in keeping costs down than competing resulted in dwindling attendance at Coors Field.

Then something amazing happened. The Rockies seemingly never-ending rebuilding process finally began to show results. The Rocks were competitive this season, thanks mostly to homegrown talent like Holliday, Francis, Tulowitzki and of course the veteran Helton.  The final two weeks of the season this team caught fire and played the game like they’ve never played before. A franchise best 11-game winning streak put the Rockies in the playoff chase. Last weekend, Coors Field was jumping as fans returned in droves. Monday night, a Wild Card elimination game was played at 20^th and Blake with the Rockies winning in dramatic fashion, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the 13^th against the great Trevor Hoffman. They won an incredible 14 of 15 to propel themselves into the National League playoffs.
Rockies fans, dormant for a decade, rejoiced and celebrated as if the team just won the World Series, which may actually happen in a few weeks. No matter what the rest of October has in store for Colorado’s baseball team, the fans are back. They have fallen in love all over again with a team that put together the greatest season in Rockies history and wouldn’t lie down and die. It’s a beautiful thing.

 

THE LOSER…By Bill Rogan (9-25-07)

June 27, 1988 was probably the apex of Mike Tyson’s life. On a steamy evening in Atlantic City, Tyson successfully defended his heavyweight title with a devastating 91-second knockout of Michael Spinks. He was rich, famous and the owner of the greatest title in sports, Heavyweight Champeen.

Soon after that night, things began to turn sour for Tyson. Slowly at first then picking up momentum until Tyson lost everything.

One can trace the beginning of the end to the death of his co-manager Jim Jacobs in March of 1988. Jacobs, along with Bill Cayton, guided Tyson’s career, helping lead him to become the youngest heavyweight champ ever at the tender age of 20. The once incorrigible Tyson was in good hands until Jacobs died of leukemia.

Promoter Don King sensed an opportunity and took advantage like a hungry lion spotting a gimpy gazelle. King, an ex-con, worked his way into Tyson’s camp and created a chasm between Cayton and the uneducated boxer. King also turned Tyson against his trainer Kevin Rooney.

Toward the end of 1988, Tyson fired Rooney. His new trainers and handlers were flunkies and Cayton was phased out although contractually he still had financial interests in Tyson. King had influence over Tyson and it’s been a road to ruin for Iron Mike ever since.

His once sharp and lethal boxing skills began to erode and he lost his title to Buster Douglas in 1990 in one of the greatest and most shocking boxing upsets ever. It is even more shocking to me that in this era of watered down heavyweights that Tyson never regained the title.

We know the rest. He was sent to prison for rape, he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear, he won a few fights and lost a few, got a facial tattoo and squandered 300-million dollars in earnings. He’s massively in debt and he’s just pled guilty to drunken driving and drug possession in Arizona. He’s a veritable freak show and we can’t seem to look the other way.

I’m not a Mike Tyson fan but for whatever reason, I’ve always pulled for him. I’ve hoped that he could pull himself off the canvas of life and become a productive member of society. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
The dramatic downfall of Tyson has been a morbid and bizarre story, yet fascinating and even entertaining at times. Tyson was on course to become the greatest heavyweight pugilist ever. Better than Louis. Better than Marciano. Better than Ali. Better than them all. And now? He’s heading back to prison, a broken and defeated man of 41.

 

McNABB OFF BASE…By Bill Rogan (9-19-07)

What do the following people have in common?

Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Ryan Leaf, Rex Grossman, Jon Kitna, Joey Harrington, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, Kurt Warner, Chad Pennington, Heath Shuler, Trent Dilfer, Todd Marinovich, Kerry Collins, Trent Green, J.P. Losman, Kyle Boller and David Carr.

They are all white current or former NFL quarterbacks who, at one time or another, were harshly criticized by the media and fans. Some might even say crucified. This is just a partial list. You could expand that list to every quarterback who has ever played the game. John Elway took heat just as Phil Simms, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Steve Young did at various stages of their careers.

Which leads me to Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb who stated this week that white quarterbacks, such as Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer, don’t get criticized as much as black quarterbacks.

Manning, especially before his Super Bowl win, may have been the most criticized and scrutinized QB in football. He couldn't win the big one, remember? Palmer has had his share of criticism, especially in college before his Heisman Trophy season.

The bottom line is every QB, at every level, will be glorified for his triumphs and vilified for his failures or perceived failures. It comes with the territory. They are the most important and visible player on the field and they get paid the more than the other players. The media coverage is intense and, fair or not, that is the way it is and always will be.

While I disagree with McNabb playing the quarterback race card, I do admire him. He could have crumbled when the numbskull Philadelphia fans booed him mercilessly when he was drafted in 1999. He handled that with aplomb and was determined to show he was worthy of being the overall number two pick.

He’s led his team to NFC title games and to the Super Bowl. He’s been to the Pro Bowl and has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback.
However, McNabb is not the quarterback he once was. Injuries have slowed him and he’s gotten off to a terrible start this season. He’s been booed and chastised. The Eagles, in April, drafted a quarterback, Kevin Kolb, with their second round pick. Perhaps McNabb knows he’s on the downside of his career and has become more sensitive to criticism. Maybe McNabb truly believes black quarterbacks receive more critical analysis than his white counterparts.  However, when you look at the facts, black or white, quarterbacks get blamed when they lose, exalted when they win. It’s the nature of the position.
 

HENRY THE IRRESPONSIBLE…(9-16-07)
Broncos running back Travis Henry has been the target of jokes and wisecracks lately, ever since it was revealed that he has fathered nine children from nine different women.
The 28-year old serial impregnator probably deserves the slings and barbs sent in his direction. Comedy gold for sports talk shows. I’ll admit, we’ve cracked on Henry on our radio program.
However, when you take a closer look at Henry’s prolific procreation, there isn’t anything even remotely funny about it.
Nine children, nine that we know of, will grow up with a dead beat jackass for a father and a gold digging slut for a mother.
I sincerely hope every single one of Henry’s kids turns out to be a successful and productive member of society. I truly hope they don’t follow the sad examples set by their parents. The odds though appear to be stacked against that happening. Not a nice way for a baby to start a life.

 

 

 

 

CHAD HALL DOES IT ALL…By Bill Rogan (11-18-07)
The greatest individual award an athlete can receive is the Heisman Trophy, emblematic of the best college football player. In reality, the Heisman Trophy goes to the best quarterback or running back. Once an athlete wins the Heisman Trophy, his life changes forever. He is forever known as a Heisman winner. It almost becomes part of his name.
Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack. Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett. Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders. Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson. Ok, bad example there but you get the idea.
Since 1935 the Heisman Trophy has been awarded to the best college football player in the land and its prestige is unmatched.
If I had a Heisman vote, and I don’t but I should, I would not only look at dominance on the football field but character off it. In this day and age of college athletics, too many off the field issues stain the game. I feel that the Heisman Trophy winner should excel off the field as well as on it.
Oregon Quarterback Dennis Dixon was a Heisman candidate before he blew out his knee against Arizona. I would have considered him until I found out that his one class this semester was billiards. Billiards. That’s right, his course load consisted of playing pool and that’s it. Sorry, I don’t think that’s the stuff a Heisman Trophy winner should be made of.
Some of the other contenders, Tim Tebow of Florida, Pat White of West Virginia, Darren McFadden of Arkansas and Missouri’s Chase Daniel are all worthy Heisman candidates.
I don’t know of any off field issues these guys have but I do wonder what their course load is. Are they student-athletes or just athletes? Should academic achievement be filtered into the equation? I think so.
My Heisman Trophy vote would go to a guy I believe exemplifies the best of the best, on the field and off. He’s a great player, a leader, rushing for more that 14-hundred yards. He’s caught 46 passes and scored 15 touchdowns, leading his team to a 9-3 record. And I don’t have to worry about his course load. Billiards, I’m certain, is not one of his classes. To top it off, this 5-8, 180 pound senior will be protecting you and me and every other American when he graduates. My Heisman Trophy vote would go to Chad Hall, from Air Force. He is my idea of a champion and what a Heisman Trophy winner should be.