Ahead of the Curve : CBSSports.com Blogs

Tony Romo, Cowboys "It" Man?

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 0:06:37 EDT

Vince Lombardi is famous for saying “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” Point in fact, it wasn’t one of his proudest moments.

For starters, the legendary Packers’ coach borrowed the line from adorable & talented child actress Sherry Jackson. She uttered the famous words sitting next to the lovely Donna Reed in the John Wayne movie “Trouble Along the Way (‘53): “Like Steve says (her Dad), winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

And then there’s the other thing. The line doesn’t exactly make sense. If victory is the “only thing,” that’s “everything” too, right? Right.

What bothered Vince was the wrong impression it gave people. It made him sound like a narrow-minded, boob-head who couldn’t appreciate the reality of sport, which is: a team can play with heart, play smart and still come-up-short. The effort oughta’ count for something and in reality Vince knew as much.

MLB Family Feud '13

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:04:47 EDT

Wherever people cluster there are bound to be skirmishes.

At the dinner table, school, the workplace, your barber shop, …any place people come together. It’s human nature: different brain-matter, different opinions and then the verbal wrangling ensues.

Sometimes the tension runs like an undercurrent, out of public view. The conflicts that spring up can be as measured as a bow-shot at sea or as lengthy as the Thirty Years’ War (1618), as acrimonious as the ugliest divorce or low-key as a game of croquet.

And baseball’s no exception.

Friendship Fleeting in NFL Flux

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:39:50 EDT

Losing your best friend has always been tough, whether you’re eight or ninety-eight.

They write songs about it and plenty of ’em: See; “Popcrush.com.” I’m not embarrassed to say I knew not one of PC’s top-ten “best friend” songs until the last one on the list (#1): The Jackson 5, “I’ll Be There” (’71). Funny thing is, that’s ‘bout time I lost a best friend.

I must’ve been around seven or eight. Typical age for your first shocker?

I think it was summer and I’m walking home. I get to my 'girlfriend' Carolyn’s house (first girl I’d kissed) and she’s on her porch with another neighborhood friend, Erik. She calls me over and drops the bomb: “Steve,” she says, “Erik’s gonna’ be my boyfriend now.”

Best Story: Blackhawks or Heat?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:12:11 EST

This was gonna’ be a piece all about the amazing Chicago Blackhawks’ and their stupendous start to abbreviated NHL ‘12-13, but then hoopsters Miami decided to turn-up the Heat on the rest of the NBA and remind everyone who’s boss. Tough call.

Every time I get the scores on these two clubs I’m muttering to myself words like “Really,” “Wow” or “Is that right?” It’s real and it’s right.

As of this writing (3/6) the Blackhawks’ record stands at a mind-boggling 21-0-3, while the Heat have fattened-up their mark to a weighty 45-14 with zero defeats in their last sixteen contests.

So who’s the better storyline, Chicago’s ice-men cometh or the Miami marvels?

Mr. Smith Goes to Palookaville

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 0:25:50 EST

“Babe Ruth is the biggest runner-up in history.”

That’s what the man said, Babe Ruth, a runner-up.

Words from the mouth of sport opinionator Stephen A. Smith last Monday co-hosting with Skip Bayless on ESPN’s hip-hoppin’ morning show “First Take.”

I don’t take-in “First Take” but rarely these days, having been a regular until producers decided the popular show needed fixing and pulled in the welcome-mat for anyone over 35. Then there’s bombastic Stephen, your morning cup of arrogance whose shtick can only be taken in small doses, otherwise PVCs, BP spike and the migraine all set in.

Caddyshack & 199 Better Films

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 2:11:32 EST

On that diamond of dreams we call cinema, the subject of sport is usually a spot player. Though a capable hitter with a reliable glove, even when it manages to make the cinematic line-up card the sport theme rarely hit’s a home run.

That’s not to say there aren’t some fine flicks that employed the sport-vehicle to tickle our funny bone (Tin Cup), tug at our heart strings (The Natural), expose human frailty (The Hustler) or inspire us to greater heights (Rocky). It’s just that, superb sport films come along about as often as the Cubs or White Sox make the playoffs. Not very.

Most have fallen into two categories: slapstick (Kingpin (‘96) / Slap Shot (’77) / The Great Race (‘65)) and sentimental fare (The Pride of the Yankees (’42) / Jim Thorpe: All-American (’51) / The Winning Team (’52)). Heart-felt or fun to watch and usually not worth $14.95 to add it to your DVD collection.

Dousing the Olympic $pirit

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:02:52 EST

Wrestlers and frogs. Don’t laugh, they’ve got more in common than you’d think.

And don’t worry, this isn’t a piece about an Ohio sports legend and his strange, dangerous liaisons with small, snapping, water-born critters.

Both grapplers and croakers are known as what zoologists term, indicator species:

Duke-UNLV '91: NCAA's Greatest

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:08:17 EST

With Super Bowl and Signing Day in rear-view, we gridiron groupies can now dive into those diversions we’ve been giving the short-shrift, the neglected middle-children in our sporting family: hockey and basketball.

College hockey’s at full glide while the NHL’ers are still getting their ice-legs underneath ’em. Fans don‘t realize how hard it is to fisticuff on frozen water. It’s not just having a tireless short punch that wins the melee, the key is skate placement and that takes practice, along with the bruises & lacerations.

The League frittered away half a season dickering over money & duties but surprisingly (or not) kept PED-testing off the table. And who are they kidding? Guess I shouldn‘t be surprised. This is the ice competition that just crowned its 2nd warm, sunny California champion (LAK) in 6 years. Gary Bettman, Ladies & Gentlemen.

Aliens Behind SB47 Blackout?

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:29:34 EST

“Take Me to Your Leader“…and Nachos To Go

Maybe it was an act of God, one that favors 49ers, or space aliens tapping into the power-grid.

It could’ve been as simple as too many plug-ins or even someone at the network cutting the juice to tighten the game. Nah. Whatever the real reason, the 3Q power outage & delay (34m) in SB47 put the brakes on what was shaping-up to be a Ravens’ rout.

Jim Harbaugh aught consider himself lucky. Rather than trying to explain a humiliating, lopsided defeat and field new questions about his mid-season QB flip, he received manna from Heaven that cooled-off a stoked Baltimore squad, bought him time to re-group, triggered a late-game surge and now he need only (try to) blame the loss on officiating.

Super Bowl 47 Hunch Line

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 1:33:03 EST

“Nobody can eat fifty eggs”

The biggest story leading-up to SB47?

The Harbaugh family reunion might make a great Hallmark movie but seeing a couple of privileged, cocky men hit pay-dirt doesn’t exactly float my boat.

Nice to see Joe Flacco finally get some positive feedback but the JF interview is just slightly more interesting than an episode of NOVA.

Te'o, Lance & Scrub a dub-dub

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:51:35 EST

So you’re thinking about attending this year’s NFL Scouting Combine in February?

When you do, best just leave your ‘moral-compass’ back at the motel. Won’t need it.

If the Manti Te’o scrub-up is any indicator, the character-test won’t be given out at this year’s obstacle course, or any other NFL dress rehearsal, for that matter.

Since the Deadspin article on Te’o’s fake, leukemia-stricken girlfriend hit the fan early last week, handlers of the Notre Dame All-American have been running him and his reputation through a media wash & spin cycle.

NFL '13 Conference Picks

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:31:42 EST

Breaking All the Rules

First Jim Harbaugh adds Randy ‘Ipecac’ Moss to the 2012 49ers’ roster, a man washed-out & retired since being cut loose by New England, Minnesota and Tennessee in 2010.

In Week 11 he changes horses mid-stream, benching a recently concussed veteran in QB Alex Smith (6-2-1) in favor of 2nd-year man from Nevada, Col. Kaepernick.

And the piece de résistance: Jim employs a modern version of the old single-wing tail-back formation, putting Kaep Krusader’s 6’4” 230 lbs. frame and run ability to full use.

NFL '13 Divisional Picks

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:41:22 EST

Aerial Artists vs. Mercury Men

Why two Conferences in the NFL? The simple answer: two places from which to draw our Super Bowl combatants.

Another might be is that they serve as good starting-point for League schedulers.

But what you may not realize it that the Conference alignment is a quaint reminder of the NFL’s tumultuous past when lucky fans in the 1960s enjoyed something called competition, i.e., AFL v NFL.

NBA Feeling Lakers' Pain

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:59:03 EST

“When America sneezes, the world catches cold.” That’s a variant of what Klemens von Metternich wrote about France during the Napoleonic period in the early 1800s.

In the same vane, when the Los Angeles Lakers are under-the-weather, all of basketball feels a tad queasy.

With his title in tow, LeBron James may be the contented face of the NBA and other clubs can surely pack a punch, but if there’s an America’s Team on the pro hardwood circuit it has to be the men in purple & gold of southern California.

Don’t like the Lakers as NBA standard-bearer? Tough noogies. Find another team that‘s done their fans as proud as have the Lakers over past sixty years and you can complain.

NFL '13 Wild Card Picks

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:18:55 EST

The Whole Nine Yards

That’s what stood between Adrian Peterson and sport immortality in Sunday’s contest vs Green Bay (MIN 37-34). Nine yards and Adrian owns the single-season rush-record (ED / 2105) and goes to head of the MVP line, besting Peyton and a closing fast Rodgers. As it stands, Pey-dirt will win his fifth AP award because voters love QBs and his team’s spiffy W-L record (13-3). Aaron may be NFL’s best, surviving a leaky O-line (51S) and gamey run fare (20), but key loses throughout ‘12 will keep AR from winning this MVP race.

As for Adrian coming up short, Eric wants the record for the son. That’s nice…and near 90% hogwash. Packers taking pride in ‘holding’ All-Day to 199 is like saving your favorite golf club from a tornado that just took your house, or like Jake LaMotta chiding Sugar Ray for not putting him down while the raging bull’s eye hangs out of its socket. Sure Jake, whatever.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-17

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 0:15:31 EST

Teaching Collegians How

It’s called ‘piling-on.’ Not that celebratory heap o’ fun in the end-zone that befalls the poor guy who’s just scored a TD. No, I’m talking about a coaching strategy where, when having your opponent beat late in the contest, rather than letting up on the gas, choosing instead to continue the onslaught because “winning isn’t everything, it’s (just one small part of a massive ego trip).”

Defenders of the practice play dumb to the fact they’d be first in line at the complaint department if their guys got salted. And besides, they say, defenders are suppose to defend, it’s why they get paid. True enough, but when your offense is clueless even a top-D gets gassed by Q4 and that’s when the ‘good judgment’ is suppose to kick in.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-16

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 0:18:18 EST

Pey-Dirt vs. All-Day

And then there were two.

With two weeks left in the NFL's 2012 regular season, the MVP race has come down to two men: Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota running-back Adrian Peterson.

It’s been a two man race ever since Matt Ryan had his INT-fest back in Week 11 (5) and Aaron Rodgers got the smack-down at MetLife (NJ). Popularity contests can be cruel.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-15

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:52:20 EST

All Process That is Due

The longer Bountygate dragged-out the more likely Paul Tagliabue does exactly what he did in his ruling on Tuesday: found middle ground.

At least that’s how NFLPA is selling it to members. In truth, DeMaurice Smith and other union sharks hope their clients don’t read too deeply and stick to the pro-player headlines, as Tags re-buffed the jocks in validating NFL’s fact-findings (bounties existed & players participated) and then slammed Saints’ coaches & cufflinks for “broad organizational misconduct“ and “contamin(ing)” the bounty case (“Paul” / NFL.com Wire / 12-11).“

Roger Goodell comes out vindicated (though the extent of his “authority” to discipline in such cases, if and when they arise again, isn’t all that clear), players get table scraps in having their punishments “vacated,” Jon Vilma’s def-suit should get tossed (he hopes), Drew Brees’ tweet tantrums get front page ink and it’s back to the business of football.

MLB 2013 Wish List

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:20:56 EST

Dear Santa,

I know December’s a crazy time for you, especially with new super-shops in Costa Rica, Estonia and Dandong (China) churning out the goodies at record pace, but it won’t take a minute to read my list. Besides, these wishes are for the good of the game, so do what you can, Santa my man.

Old Time Baseball

Wish # 1: More Mike Trouts

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-14

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:04:49 EST

Remains of the Season

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna’ get (F. Gump)”

Winston Groom’s simple sage could’ve been talking about NFL 2012. Expect the unexpected. That’s the title on this season’s marquee.

Given that state, gauging the remaining match-ups might seem a pointless endeavor, as in, the winners are anybody’s guess. But as unpredictable as 2012 has been I’d still thrill to find the likes of Eagles & Jaguars (as opposed to Patriots & Packers) on my team’s 4-game slate.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-13

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 1:08:09 EST

They Made Me a Criminal

“Illegal.” It’s a word that was popping up with odd frequency this past weekend in major media descriptions of Detroit Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz and his now infamous challenge-flag faux pas on Thanksgiving Day. I’m no legal expert but am not aware of the existence of any State of Michigan or federal criminal, regulatory or like provision that such an on-field miscue would violate.

No harm, no foul? Sure, why not. But c’mon production people, get on the ball and give these guys a break.

But there is something that happened in Detroit, a misdeed I hope lawmakers address soon and pass legislation making its occurrence punishable by fine, community service and required viewings of the ‘97 version of the movie “Titanic:” the ‘prevent defense.’

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-12

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 1:10:31 EST

Season of the Fall-Guy

Can you fire an entire roster? It’s a pretty crazy notion but one that wouldn’t meet with much protest if you’d polled locker-rooms of the Cardinals, Lions, Browns, Bolts, Jags and Panthers after their Week 11 meltdowns.

The embarrassment showed in player post-game interviews and shameful they should all feel, moving their coaches one-step closer to the figurative guru guillotine.

Did Norv Turner tell Phil Rivers to throw two picks and cough-up another vs Broncos? Nope. Did Lions’ Jim Schwartz whisper into Matt Stafford’s ear, ‘Hey, how bout turning it over thrice and stalling in the red-zone so I can get canned?’ Don’t think so. Did Packers Mike McCarthy brow-beat Mason Crosby into missing 2 of 3 (50 / 38) or Mike Smith taunt former-MVP candidate Matt Ryan into throwing five INTs (not all his fault) against the Cards? Nyet. And wasn’t every defender in the NFL instructed that ball-carriers must be tackled whenever possible? Yes on that one. Point being, coaches coach and players play, sometimes real bad and then at the worst possible times.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-11

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:13:11 EST

Protocol in Tackling

The storylines are all too familiar in this week’s NFL: concussions, Big Ben injury updates, Giants mid-season funk, dysfunction in Jetsland, Tebow talk, etcetera.

And when the topic is concussions, “protocol” is the buzz word that swarms the hive. Protocol, in health assessment, is a good thing. It means people are taking notice and then steps to try to prevent, or at least lessen a dangerous state.

Here’s another word to put in your cabeza when the talk is concussions: cheap-shot.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-10

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:53:00 EST

All Incredible

His peers affectionately refer to him as “All Day.“ Watch Adrian Peterson’s tireless play on a football field and you’ll know why.

It was the day before Christmas last year when Peterson suffered what will often be a career-ending knee injury, sustaining ligament tears (ACL) and sending shockwaves throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But low & behold, AP healed-up and how!

After just nine games into NFL 2012, Peterson has nearly surpassed last year’s 12 game total (957 / 970) and is on pace to break his single-season high of 1760 yards set in his sophomore campaign (‘08) (Pro-football-reference.com).

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-9

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 0:20:26 EDT

Last-Chance Grill & Gas

It’s the half-way marker on our long & winding road to Super Bowl 47 in New Orleans, so make a pit-stop, get your goodies, hop back in and “fasten your seat-belts (‘cause) it’s going to be a bumpy (ride) (B. Davis)” the rest of NFL 2012.

Eight weeks back the road was dark, sights unseen and too early to know what lay ahead along interstate NFL. Now we’ve seen the line-ups, gandered at the game-plans and have a pretty fair idea which teams got ‘zots under the hood’ and which are, how should I put it, in need of some serious lift-time.

National Cherry Coupés

One Giant Leap for San Fran-kind

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 1:30:34 EDT

California and baseball, they were made for each other. They go together like hot dogs & mustard, guacamole & chips, politics & debate. Kismet.

Long before Walter O’Malley (Dodgers) and Horace Stoneham (Giants) moved their New York business interests cross-country to the Golden State (‘58), the game of baseball was already well-situated on the Pacific Coast, producing such gems as Joe DiMaggio (SF / Martinez) and Ted Williams (San Diego).

But a major league presence? That’s a whole ‘nother ball-game. Big doings.

And when the franchise moves were being planned in 1957, there was no question the Los Angeles team would have the bigger impact on the State and baseball. LA was three-times the size of San Francisco and since WW2 had been fast displacing the Bay area as the undeniable epicenter for the State’s burgeoning commerce and entertainment industry.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-8

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 1:22:56 EDT

A Thing of Beauty

One is a seasoned pro who collects hardware in the Lombardi line, forgoing the glitzy MVP variety. He is a standard by which others are measured and to which young players should aspire; the other is a rookie and budding star, athletic & energized, he still operates by the collegian concept that football is a one-man show and has the bruises to show it.

On Sunday both men took part in what may be the best short-sequence so far this NFL 2012 season, offensively speaking. The golden-age of the defensive-back, this is not.

With under two minutes in the game, Redskins’ rookie QB Rob Griffin lofted a perfect 30-yard rainbow to receiver Santana Moss who did his best imitation of a Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder-catch and hauled it in for what looked to be the game-winning TD vs NYG.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-7

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:01:04 EDT

Welcome to the Surge

A pendulum swinging back n’ forth. One team starts out like gang-busters, jumping to a huge, seemingly insurmountable lead, then, just when you’re about to stick a fork in ‘em the other guys start surging back and there's still half a‘ quarter left on the clock! Amazing…or maybe not.

What happened in last Monday night’s Broncos / Chargers game would’ve been a story for the ages ten years ago, but today, it’s just another wild weekend in the NFL. I’m not keeping records but the power-surge (front & back) seems as commonplace in the National as a failed PED test and a Drew Brees rant. And I’ll be damned if I can explain why.

Some clues: 1) turnovers will often trigger the rise & fall; 2) sticky-gloves and the unbelievable grabs they enable can feed the rush, and 3) as the rally builds, the team-in-disarray loses all its scoring punch until the final minutes when they sometimes tie it up and then win in OT.

Lakers / Heat Stoke NBA '12-13

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 6:14:25 EDT

Consider this the year of LeBron.

Not because he and his Heat team are a lock to repeat as champs in 2013. Au contraire, the new & improved Lakers will have a thing or two to say about who dons that crown come next June.

Rather, it’s because this’ll be the first time in his 10-year NBA tenure that Mr. James can actually enjoy himself on a basketball court.

Having garnered that elusive championship-ring by confounding the over-matched Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals of a strike-shortened ‘11-12 NBA season, LJ effectively bumped that proverbial primate off his back, placed there by fans, media, owners and himself.

NFL '12 Cherry Picks Wk-6

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:01:57 EDT

Stock Slide in Packerland

Life can turn on a dime. One day you’re on top a’ the world, feeling “eight-feet tall (J. Garfield)” the next day you’re flat on your back, staring-up & hoping someone got the license of the truck that just ran you over.

That’s how the Green Bay Packers must be feeling about now. This time last year they’re reigning champs, working on perfection and making mince-meat out of opponents. The dynasty word is being bantered about, their nemesis to the West is a mess and Favre’s ghost seems pretty well exercised. Then along come the Chiefs.

KC looked harmless enough on the schedule but when it was over, the stunned & beaten Packers were…different. First came the early playoff exit (Giants), then the stumble to start 2012 (49ers) and shockers in both Seattle & Indy. This isn’t just personnel & play-calling, though, another ball-carrier, pair of hands and some O-line help couldn’t hurt.