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Thoughts on the Passing of Joe Paterno
Not many people will accomplish in a life time what Joe Paterno did for both a University and its football program. In essence, some people will say no college football coach again, in our modern BCS landscape, could accomplish what the affectionately nicknamed “JoePa” has been able to do for Penn State University.
From 1966 to the end of 2011, Paterno spent 46 seasons as the head coach of Penn
State’s football program going out with an overall record of 409-136-3, five undefeated seasons and a 24-12-1 college bowl game record; two of those bowl game wins going for National Championships in 1982 and 1986. Joe Paterno is the winningest coach in major college football history. It didn’t come down to just wins, losses and the money that comes from those accomplishments though. Read More >>
2012 Seattle Mariners Outlook: Get ready for the season and customize your gear at Onthefield.com
Coming out of the Fourth of July weekend, it looked like the Mariners would be one of the MLB‘s surprise teams in 2011. Boasting a .500 record less than a week before the MLB All-Star break, the overachieving M’s proceeded to embark on a 17-game losing binge that instantly turned 2011 into another lost season.
The Mariners made some moves last season to expedite the rebuilding process, such as trading Doug Fister and Erik Bedard in deals that brought back several prospects and replacing Chone Figgins at third base with Kyle Seager.
However, the biggest change came this MLB offseason, when Seattle dealt emerging star SP Michael Pineda and pitching prospect Jose Campos to the Yankees for C/DH Jesus Montero and SP Hector Noesi. The move signaled that the Mariners are getting serious about upgrading their offense, and it also acknowledged that some of their prized pitching prospects are close to major-league ready, which made Pineda expendable. For now, Montero is the sole addition to a Mariners lineup that scored the fewest runs in the majors last season. However, Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, Kyle Seager and Mike Carp are all pre-peak players who could take a step forward.
Not only will the Mariners count on their younger players to improve the team’s offensive output, but they will also look for a bounce-back season from Ichiro Suzuki, who is coming off the worst year of his MLB career. Two straight years of decreases in his ground ball batting average suggest that a comeback may be no minor feat for the 38-year-old Suzuki. 
Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas and offseason signee Hisashi Iwakuma will anchor the rotation, but the final two spots will be up for grabs. Danny Hultzen, the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB amateur draft, will have a chance to start his career at the major league level, but he will have to contend with a large slate of competitors, including Noesi, Blake Beavan, Charlie Furbush, Kevin Millwood and fellow prospects James Paxton and Erasmo Ramirez. Brandon League will return to pitch the ninth inning, though the bullpen lacks depth in the set-up and middle relief roles. Read More >>
National Signing Day 2012: Alabama does the best – get your favorite’s new team jersey at Onthefield.com
It’s not uncommon for the College national champion to do well a month later when College national signing day comes around. With 27 quality recruits on board, Alabama is solidly atop the country in the No. 1 College recruiting spot. With less than a week until most recruits will sign their letters of intent, here’s a look at Sporting News’ top 10 College classes:
1. Alabama (27 commitments): The Crimson Tide have one of those well-rounded classes. They are most likely done, but the Tide coaches are still pursuing at least a couple top targets. Six of Alabama’s 27 recruits are Sporting News Top 125 members, and it’s a strong class top to bottom. Alabama should be especially proud of its defensive backs haul—all five are good enough to be early contributors.
Top SN 125 players: DB Geno Smith, DB Landon Collins
2. Michigan (23): Brady Hoke has made quite an impression with this group, and there’s an outside chance he might be able to pick up another top kid or two. Hoke went after tough players and got them. One of his crowning achievements has been attracting top-flight linemen from all over the country, and keeping Ohio State coach Urban Meyer from flipping them. The strength of this class is the middle of the group, not just the elite players. “(Hoke is) going back to the power running attack and needs guys who aren’t afraid to get in a three-point and run right at you … hit it up the gut,” SN 125 OL Kyle Kalis told Sporting News.
Top SN 125 players: OL Kyle Kalis, DB Terry Richardson
3. Texas (24): As usual, about 75 percent of this class was in place before last summer was over. In fact, the Longhorns are probably more focused on their 2013 class right now than worrying about what they might gain or lose before signing day. One thing is for certain: The Longhorns have a nice set of offensive skill players in QB Connor Brewer, RB Johnathan Gray and WR Cayleb Jones. Three played together at the Under-Armour game. “This class is great with all the guys we got,” Brewer said. “Cayleb is going to be a great guy to throw to and I can’t wait to play with him.”
Top SN 125 players: WR Cayleb Jones, RB Johnathan Gray
Last of a Kind
Jorge Posada might or might not be a MLB Hall of Famer but with five years before he appears on the ballot, there will be plenty of time to ponder his case. No time is necessary, however, to conclude that a unique unit to which Posada belonged deserves a spot in Cooperstown.
That would be the Core Four, a great and fitting name for what was the longest-running quartet in American sports.
Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Posada all were signed and developed by the New York Yankees. All four debuted in the MLB in 1995. All four would be teammates for the next 16 years, except for a three-year stint Pettitte served with his hometown Houston Astros.
Theirs was an unprecedented alliance that included five World Series championships, seven AL pennants, 12 division titles and even more individual accolades.
Theirs was a run that might never be matched. Think about it. First, you’d need four players exceptional enough to play 16 years in the big leagues. They would need to come up at around the same age. They would need to play for a big-money club that would be able to afford them when they reached the free-agent market. And their team would need to win consistently in order to reduce the chances of annual makeovers.
WHoosiers?
Unless you’re from Indiana or a college basketball fanatic,
the Indiana Hoosiers might be little more than an inspirational college
basketball movie you watched on any particular Saturday or Sunday Afternoon. A
school filed beyond your usual March Madness pick repertoire of NCAA men’s
basketball schools… Kentucky, Kansas, Duke or any of the NBA-lite, media-frenzy
schools of the Big East. What’s been going on this year at Indiana could be
nothing short of the sort of basketball exorcism that occurred at Kentucky a
few years ago.
During the 1971 to 2000 Bobby Knight coaching era the
Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team appeared in 24 NCAA Tournaments, won 3
NCAA Championships, 11 Conference Championship titles, and in 1976, became the
last undefeated NCAA men’s basketball champion finishing with a perfect 32-0
record. This was a program that in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s had come as
closely synonymous with “winning” as Charlie Sheen, and as recent as even 10
years ago eyed a possible NCAA tournament title in 2002, has finished 11th,
9th and 11th respectively in the Big Ten Conference the
last three years. With the 2002 loss to
Maryland in the NCAA title game aside, Indiana has not seen a Sweet Sixteen
appearance since 1994. Indiana is indicating it wants that changed though in
2012.
Read More >>
Go Big or Go Home
Years of College basketball experience have taught Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson to respect the guards who are his teammates the way a quarterback values his offensive linemen, or a singer treasures that perfectly tuned accompanist. One cannot shine without the other.
“The ball has to go through them first,” Robinson says, “before it comes to me.”
Playing last season with College All-American center Jared Sullinger taught Ohio State’s shooting seniors how much easier their jobs could become with more room to operate. Jon Diebler and David Lighty saw their 3-point accuracy grow dramatically as defenders drifted inside, fretting about the damage Sullinger might inflict in the post.
“Honestly, Jon and Dave, they always said thank you,” Sullinger says. “What made us special — it really didn’t matter who shot the ball, who was the leading scorer. We wanted to succeed.”
It is easy to see how all of this works in harmony, how North Carolina big men Tyler Zeller and John Henson rely on Kendall Marshall the way Mick Jagger and Keith Richards rest on the foundation provided by bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts. So why do we hear every March that college basketball is all about guard play?
If ever there were a season in which that “March is for guards” theory should be discredited, it is this one. If a team must rely on superior guard play to win the 2012 NCAA championship, the title might be left vacant.
There is no more Kyrie Irving, Jimmer Fredette or Kemba Walker in Division I, and no reasonable facsimile. The teams that appear to be most powerful are built around big men.
Peyton Manning in Seattle?
The rebuilding of the Indianapolis Colts’ franchise is well under way, but one question persists: Will it involve the NFL franchise’s very foundation?
As the Colts move from what was to what will be, the future of quarterback Peyton Manning remains uncertain. Owner Jim Irsay holds Manning’s fate with the Colts in his hands and will make the call by March 8 when a $28 million option bonus is due.
In an exclusive interview with Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz, the NFL‘s only four-time MVP touched on several topics, including how things have changed at the team complex. That, by the way, is where he continues to rehab from Sept. 8 neck surgery that forced him to miss the 2011 season.
“I’m not in a very good place for healing, let’s just say that,” Manning said. “Everybody’s walking around on eggshells. I don’t recognize our building right now. There’s such complete and total change.”
The day after the Colts ended the season 2-14, Irsay fired vice chairman Bill Polian and vice president/general manager Chris Polian. He replaced them with general manager Ryan Grigson.
On Jan. 17, Irsay and Grigson fired coach Jim Caldwell and most of his coaching staff.
So many individuals key to the Colts’ long run of success—115 wins from 2000-09, a league record for a decade; a league record-tying nine consecutive playoff appearances; two trips to the Super Bowl, including a win over Chicago in Super Bowl XLI—no longer are around.
The Comebackers
One reason the Cardinals believe they will overcome the departure of Albert Pujols is the return of Adam Wainwright.
“It’s like getting back a 20-game winner,” Matt Holliday says of the right-hander who missed all last MLB season because of Tommy John surgery.
That is assuming Wainwright picks up in 2012 where he left off in 2010 when he won 20 MLB games and finished second in N.L. Cy Young voting.
Of course, the only certainty about injuries is that you know they’re going to happen. And often. You could put together a fine lineup of players coming back from injuries that cost them most, if not all, of 2011.
Assessing the comeback chances of a notable player at each position:
1B Adam LaRoche, Nationals. After signing a two-year, $16 million deal last January, his left shoulder started bothering him in spring training and never improved. He was hitting .172 when his season ended May 21, and he underwent labrum surgery in June. The Nats didn’t miss him last year because of Michael Morse’s breakout season. They could end up trading him this year if, as many expect, they land Prince Fielder.
2B Brian Roberts, Orioles. He suffered a concussion in September 2010, when he took his bat and smacked himself on the helmet after striking out. Not wise. Roberts was struggling in his comeback last year and then suffered more concussion symptoms May 16 after a headfirst slide into first. Roberts did not play again and is a long shot to be ready for spring training. He was ruled out of attending this weekend’s club fan fest because of concussion symptoms.
Super Bowl Sunday!!!
It’s 2007 all over again. As with that year, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will meet for the NFL championship. To start the two weeks of preparation, start with comparisons of the team. And then find out who we see winning the title game.
A head-to-head breakdown of NFL Super Bowl XLVI, to be played Feb. 5 at Indianapolis:
Offenses
The Patriots were second in total offense at 428 yards per game and third in scoring offense (at 32.1 points per game. The Giants weren’t too shabby either, finishing eighth (385.1) and ninth (24.6) in those categories, respectively. Tom Brady maintained his status as an elite passer, and his counterpart, Eli Manning joined him in that echelon with his best career season.
Each QB has two prolific targets. Brady’s steady playmakers work the inside, tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Wes Welker. Manning relies on starting wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz to stretch the field and make big gains.
The difference comes in the supporting cast.
College Basketball Top Programs
Kentucky, the only College team in last week’s top four not to lose over the weekend, is back on top of The Associated Press’ college basketball poll.
The Wildcats, who were ranked No. 1 for two weeks earlier this season, moved up one place Monday after receiving 61 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel.
Missouri, which got two No. 1 votes, jumped from fifth to second, while Syracuse, which was in first place for the last six weeks, dropped to third after losing at Notre Dame, its first loss this season. The Orange were No. 1 on two ballots.
Ohio State and Kansas moved up two places to fourth and fifth and were followed by Baylor, which fell three places after losing two games last week, North Carolina, Duke, Georgetown and Michigan State. Duke dropped four places after losing to Florida State at home.
The top 25 College teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 22, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:
Full list
Record Pts Prv
1. Kentucky (61) 19-1 1,620 2
2. Missouri (2) 18-1 1,532 5
3. Syracuse (2) 20-1 1,506 1
4. Ohio St. 17-3 1,411 6
5. Kansas 16-3 1,383 7
6. Baylor 17-2 1,234 3
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