By Steve Price, President, Red Sox Nation (Charlotte Chapter)
Saturday, March 4th, 2006 – Volume I, Edition 2
Exclusive to Inside Pulse Sports
Welcome, sports fans and lug nuts alike to another wonderful edition of the only column certified by the technicians at the University of Georgia at Waycross Trailer Park to give you a “mind altering, intelligence killing” experience! As Bob the Bitchin’ Executive, Golf-Playing, Monkey Love Making Builder would have you think, I am your exclusive Host with the Most, ready to engage in some tomfoolery as most of our readership here at Inside Pulse Sports sleeps off their hangovers. But that won’t stop the good little boys and girls out there that are either too young or too smart from enjoying this magnum opus… or tabula rasa, depending on the laziness that I bring to the column in a given week.
You know, screw being serious with this column, because IP Sports is about entertaining you, the masses. Why else would you want to visit a website? It’s all about the fun, baby, and IP delivers in spades. Well, except when Dave Savior was writing for the Pulse, but that’s neither here nor there. We have a ton of material lined up today, including a look at college basketball’s greatest rivalry (and its latest installment on Saturday night), an early preview/recap of the World Baseball Classic (to supplement whatever the baseball guys are cooking up), NASCAR’s foray into the wonderful world of Mexico, the lowdown on Caption Madness! 2006, suspensions and lawsuits flying in the NHL, and whatever else crawls across the ESPN News ticker during this wonderful expedition. Unfortunately, amidst the general fun found in this column is a sad bit of information that needs to be passed along.
Kirby Puckett, 1960 – 2006
I make no bones about my youth here at Inside Pulse Sports. I may know certain things about certain sports (like the batting average of Jim Rice in 1978, or the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers and their championship run), but I did not get to experience them firsthand like some of my older contemporaries here did. By the time I was old enough to start following sports, the only thing my hometown of Charlotte had sports-wise was the Hornets of the NBA, which provided myself and my friends with many wonderful memories while watching and attending their games (in fact, my younger brother is named after Kelly Tripucka, a guard for the Hornets in their fledgling years). And yet, it was baseball that attracted me, more than any other sport. Call it dumb luck, but I took to baseball quickly, thanks to my mother’s unyielding love for the Atlanta Braves, and my father’s near religious affiliation with Red Sox Nation.
I attended my first game at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in 1986, and attended at least one game there every year until Turner had it imploded after the ’96 season. Thus, when the Braves finally shook their loser stigma starting in 1991, we all sat up and took notice. Lo and behold, the Atlanta Braves made it to the World Series! Standing in their way were the Minnesota Twins, who would surely cower in defeat at the power of the foam tomahawks! Well, nearly fifteen years later, knowing what I know now, I still contest that the Minnesota Twins did not beat the Atlanta Braves.
Kirby Puckett did.
Exploding into my young imagination like a living version of Mighty Mouse, the short-framed Puckett seemed like an unnatural phenom in the 1991 World Series. Everyone who watched remembers his performance that year, but there is an entire generation of sports fans that are uneducated on how good Kirby Puckett really was, in part because of the premature end to his career. In case you need a primer:
Kirby Puckett Career Statistics (Courtesy ESPN.com)
– A Career .318 Hitter in 7,244 Career At Bats (Led League w/ .339 AVG in 1989)
– 2,304 Hits (Youngest Player to Ever Reach this Plateau – ’88-’89, 1992 League Leader)
– 207 Home Runs, 414 Doubles, 57 Triples Career
– 1,085 Runs Batted
– Led League in at bats in 1985 and 1988
– Played in 1,783 Games over 12 Seasons
– 6 OF Gold Glove Awards (1986-1989, 1991, 1992)
– 1991 ALCS Most Valuable Player
– 1993 All Star Game Most Valuable Player
Yet, for those of you who wish to discover Kirby Puckett, the baseball player, only one game is necessary to see just how great he really was: Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. To set the stage for you, the 1991 World Series ranks as one of the greatest Fall Classics in history, competing with the ’75 Sox/Reds Series, the ’97 Marlins/Indians Series and the ’01 Yanks/D’ Backs Series in terms of greatness. The 1991 World Series went the full seven games, and was the first Series since 1924 to have Game 7 go into extra innings (three games went into extra innings that year, five games were decided by fewer than two runs). Especially curious was the fact that both teams had been the worst in their respective leagues the year before, despite the fact that most of the members of the 1991 Twins team were also apart of the 1987 World Championship squad.
The series was a breathtaking display of defense, pitching, nail-bitingly close games and a lopsided shellacking by the Braves in Game 5, mixed in with the greatest pitching duel in World Series history, in Game 7 pitting Jack Morris against John Smoltz of the Braves. Yet what most people fail to realize is that it was the Twins, not the Braves who had to win Game 6 in order to stay alive. Thus, when the game went into extra innings, the fans in attendance in Minnesota were rightfully shitting the proverbial brick with each at bat. And yet, in the wake of a 14-5 beat down in Atlanta in Game 5, who else but “Puck” would come to save the day?
The situation: Ron Gant is up to bat for the Braves in the late innings, and the Twins are fighting for their professional lives by this point. For those who don’t remember (or have never seen) Ron Gant, he was one of the big bats that Atlanta employed during their first few postseason runs in the 1990s. Anyways, Gant puts a charge into a deep fly ball to left center. Puckett, an outfielder, chases the ball down. Now, if you’re not familiar with the Metrodome, the wall around left center appears to be covered in a giant trash bag, rising to a good six and a half feet to seven feet high. In 1991, this was complimented by a large Plexiglas panel that rose well over the field of play. Whether a ball hitting this panel would constitute a home run or not is unclear to me still, yet one thing is for certain: Kirby Puckett robbed Ron Gant of everything with a catch rivaling that of Willie May’s “over the shoulder” grab in 1954. Leaping to incredible heights, the relatively short Puckett seemingly caught the ball halfway up this Plexiglas panel, gliding in mid air to the wall while making the game-saving catch. It would be immortalized today, then, if Puckett hadn’t of topped himself in the final at bat of the evening.
One swing of the bat later, and the Twins had forced Game 7. Jack Buck’s famous line, “We’ll see you tomorrow night!” has become embedded in the culture of the game. But then again, that was Kirby Puckett’s career in a nut shell: incredible moments from a player who was constantly told that he couldn’t do it.
Kirby Puckett died Monday, less than forty eight hours after suffering a massive stroke. Many of his former teammates and friends visited Kirby in his final hours, including Ken Griffey Jr. Sure, Kirby Puckett may have had his share of personal problems, but none of them can overtake the seemingly fun-loving baseball player that not only captured the hearts of the Twin Cities, but of a generation of baseball fans who viewed the name Puckett as being synonymous with the word baseball. Puckett, Ripken, Orel Hersheiser, Nolan Ryan, Dave Justice, Terry Pendleton, Fred McGriff, Joe Carter, Mo Vaughn and “the Rocket” Roger Clemens came to symbolize a generation of ball players that would define an era of baseball that no longer resides in the heart of America’s ballparks. Kirby Puckett is one of the greats from that era, and it truly is a sad day in the world of baseball.
I watched Kirby break my heart in 1991, while at the same time he sparked my imagination and love for the game. Across the country, I’m sure he had the same effect on many people. And we are all very thankful that he did.
Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, North Carolina
Saturday, March 4th, 2006
Duke vs. UNC is comparative to just about any rivalry in sports, when one stops to think about it. Whereas the Army/Navy rivalry is really defined by the two schools, and the Red Sox/Yankees epic is carried on by players and fans alike, Duke/UNC is almost entirely a creation of the fans themselves. There is little in the way of outstanding hatred between those in dark blue and those in light blue (at least not on the surface). But boy, do the fans of both schools hate each other with a passion. If you’re not from North Carolina (or certain parts of South Carolina and Virginia), you just can’t understand the level of excitement in the region for a showdown between two schools that are ten miles a part. It’s a religion here, right up there with NASCAR and sweet tea. It is a rivalry amongst rivalries, if you will, with some of college basketball’s greatest players and coaches taking center stage in the middle of Blue Devil/Tar Heel pandemonium: Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Christian Laettner, Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, James Worthy, Johnnie Dawkins, Jerry Stackhouse, Shane Battier, Vince Carter… and on Saturday night, the most recent chapter in the ever-changing feud was written.
To say that the Tar Heels are slightly more popular than the Blue Devils is like saying that Keira Knightley is more attractive than Margaret Thatcher. Granted, there are some feisty supporters of Duke, but the general populace of North Carolina is firmly entrenched with North Carolina, unless they are otherwise committed to Wake Forest or North Carolina State. College basketball in North Carolina kicks ass!
Saturday night, the #15th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels marched into Durham with a six game winning streak, not to mention some serious love for freshman prodigy Tyler Hansbrough. Meanwhile, Duke came home for Senior Night on Saturday after losing a nail-biter to Florida State several days prior, and was looking for a solid performance en route to the ACC Tournament. With both teams assured a spot in the NCAA Tournament based on their records, the overriding storyline became “can UNC pull off the upset?” To answer that question, they could.
The University of North Carolina prevails over the number one team in the country, Duke University at Cameron Indoor Stadium by a final score of 83-76. The party is just now beginning to disperse on Franklin Street as I type this.
There is plenty to be said about the game itself, which to date is the highest rated men’s college basketball game ever broadcast in the history of ESPN (thanks to the non-stop hype that the guys in Bristol gave the match up. Even beyond the rivalry, last Saturday’s game was something of a rarity: two teams, each vying for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Duke, the #1 team in the country (though they were destined to lose that ranking before the game) against North Carolina, the upstart defending National Champions. It was the seniors of Duke against the “diaper dandies” of Carolina, if you will. The game itself was fairly close through the first twenty minutes, with J.J. Redick playing like a man possessed. Redick had set the all-time ACC scoring record at Temple two games prior, and was the consensus ACC Player of the Year heading into the game. Complimenting Redick was another superb senior, Sheldon Williams, an incredible inside threat and rebounding monster. North Carolina countered with the experience of senior David Noel, the only main holdover from the 2005 National Championship squad. Yet the unquestioned star of the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2006 is Tyler Hansbrough, arguably the best freshman to hit Chapel Hill in years. On Saturday night, Hansbrough and Williams engaged in a personal war of attrition, with each player fighting for every possession down low.
Hansbrough won, Sheldon lost, and J.J. Redick couldn’t buy a bucket after halftime.
The Tar Heels had no business winning at Cameron Indoor Stadium Saturday night, a place where Tar Heel dreams often go to die. The Blue Devils have a bit of soul searching to do if they are to advance into the ACC Tournament. At this point, Duke has to run the table in the ACC Tournament to earn a #1 Seeding in the NCAA Tournament, but even that is no guarantee. Gonzaga and Ohio State are both making strong cases for a #1 Seed, though the Atlanta region seems to be wide open, with all three schools vying for the spot. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels have jumped to #10 in the Nation, winning their last seven games en route to Greensboro this weekend. They secured the #2 seed in the ACC with this win, and will play the winner of the Virginia/Virginia Tech game tomorrow night [03.09.2006] on ESPN. Duke, meanwhile, still secures the #1 seed in the ACC, and will play the winner of Miami/Clemson tomorrow. Standing in North Carolina’s way to the ACC Tournament Finals is Boston College, a nationally ranked powerhouse. Duke may be forced to go through the spotty N.C. State squad, and their new rivals from Florida, FSU in the quarterfinals. However, it is possible that UNC and Duke can meet in the tournament, but only in the ACC Tournament Finals…
Rematch, anyone?
Fun with NASCAR – Rednecks Migrate Even Further South
Ah, now we can get back into the area of expertise for Speed Addict. The Nextel Cup boys got the weekend off (which feels like an eon ago, actually), so the Busch Series got a chance to shine in Mexico City on Sunday. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course in Mexico City played host to a unique event in the canon of NASCAR events. A Busch Series race it was, but the field itself was diverse in more ways than one. Local/Mexican stars like Michel Jourdain Jr. joined double dipping Nextel regulars like Michael Waltrip and the best of the Busch Series for a unique slice of something different.
Hopefully, the Nextel Cup can patron a venue in Mexico City in the near future, such as Felix Sabates’ proposed 3/4ths mile short track idea. Autodromo is not as exciting to me as Infineon or even Watkins Glen; the stock cars seem too heavy to run an exciting race through most of the course, and the chicane down the front straightaway is bloody dangerous during a long green flag run. Still, the racing at Autodromo is a nice change of pace from the cookie cutters that plague the Nextel Cup schedule right now. Bravo to the Busch Series for trying something different.
Denny Hamlin, winner of the Bud Shootout in Daytona three weeks ago, took the checkered flag in Mexico City on Sunday afternoon, beating out road course specialist Boris Said for the win. The event took a semi-ugly turn when Kyle Busch (about as retarded as Penis Busch, his brother) wrecked local hero Michel Jourdain Jr. while fighting for the lead with less than thirty laps to go. I’m sure a few curses were thrown Busch’s way for that. The Nextel Cup returns this coming Sunday at Las Vegas. Full coverage can be expected next Tuesday right here in Happy Hour!
NASCAR’s Hall of Fame: The Crown Jewel of the Queen City
Relax, lug nuts, I wont harp on this too long, but it does bare mentioning that the official NASCAR Hall of Fame has found a home. After weeks of speculation (and rampant rumors reported on right here at Inside Pulse Sports), Charlotte has been officially selected as the site of the first NASCAR Hall of Fame. There’s no word on whether Atlanta and Daytona lost the Hall, or if Charlotte had it won from the get-go. Driver appearances were obviously a strong selling point, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon spearheading a brigade of drivers lobbying for Charlotte.
Though there are questions yet to be answered in regards to the specifics of the Hall, we do have some details to pass along. The announcement, for what its worth was made at 4:00 PM at the Charlotte Convention Center by Brian France, son of NASCAR guru Bill France Jr. France took terms speaking with car owner Rick Hendrick, Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley about the general process for selecting the site, and the customary celebratory speeches. The Hall of Fame will be funded largely by a 2% hotels/motels tax and private contributions, along with state-allocated money. The city of Charlotte expects to draw over 400,000 visitors each year to the site, and hopes to have the venue completed by 2009, with a deadline of March, 2010. The racing shrine will cost over $150 Million, and will encompass a new wing to the current downtown Convention Center, for a brand new NASCAR licensing office. The Hall of Fame is touted as being “the most technologically advanced Hall of Fame in the history of American sports” by its creators.
Moore Sues Bertuzzi, Artyukhin Suspended
The Steve Moore – Todd Bertuzzi incident just got a bit uglier, as court papers have been filed on behalf of Moore, meaning that the former Avalanche player can bring a lawsuit against the troubled Vancouver Canucks forward. For those of you in the dark, Moore suffered a career-threatening injury at the hands of Bertuzzi vis-à-vis a cheap shot from behind during a March 8th, 2004 Vancouver/Colorado game. Moore, who suffered severe neck injuries from the attack, has not been able to return to the ice yet, and has since been released by the Colorado Avalanche. For his part in the brutal incident, Bertuzzi was suspended for the length of the 2004-2005 Lockout Season, along with the remainder of the 2003-2004 season to that point.
There are a lot of people who feel that Bertuzzi should not set foot on the ice until Moore can. Still others feel that he should be barred from the NHL for life. This is really just a sad, sorry episode in a slew of them, pre-Lockout. That it still holds relevance in conversations today is depressing for hockey fans and sports fans alike. There comes a point in time where you just wish we could move on, with Moore being able to return to the ice and Bertuzzi being punished sufficiently. I guess there’s always a group of people on both sides of the fence that will never be satisfied. One thing is for sure, though: if the limitations haven’t expired, then this case should not get thrown out like the Colorado case was.
In other, slightly more entertaining news, a Tombstone worthy incident took place that landed Tampa Bay Lightning forward Evgeny Artyukhin on the suspension block. During a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the Ottawa Senators, Artyukhin became entangled in a scuffle with Ottawa forward Antoine Vermette. During the fracas, Artyukhin actually removed Vermette’s helmet and bopped him one upside the head. Artyukhin received a match penalty for the shot, and will not be available for Tampa Bay until Sunday’s game against Toronto. Vermette received a few stitches to seal a cut from the blow, but should be okay otherwise. [Credit: ESPN.com]
Erik Cole Injured, Brooks Orpik Suspended
The class of the NHL to date, the Carolina Hurricanes, are going to be without one of their key players on the ice for the remainder of the regular season. Erik Cole, a left wing for Carolina, suffered what is being called a “compression fracture of a vertebra in his neck” after a rather brutal hit from behind by Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The defenseman received a game misconduct penalty, along with a boarding major and three game suspension for the hit. League officials said that the hit didn’t look overly malicious, but Orpik will stand to lose nearly $10,000 in wages over the hit.
This is a terrible, terrible break for Carolina, who is vying for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The loss of Cole will certainly hurt their bid to finish ahead of Ottawa, though Carolina should still be okay for the playoffs. There is no word if Cole could return to the Hurricanes in time for the playoffs, though right now his injury time has been listed at roughly 8-9 weeks.[Credit: ESPN.com]
I’ve caught quite a bit of garbage from my footballer friends from across the globe when I say that baseball is the second most popular sport in the world. Think about it for a second; nothing can top football (soccer) in popularity, that is a given. But baseball is the national pastime of the United States, the most popular sport today in Japan, something of a religion in places across Latin America and the Caribbean, and now even Europe, Australia, and Africa are getting in on the action. Whether baseball is the #2 sport or not, the World Baseball Classic has set out on an odyssey to introduce the entire world to the concept of baseball. And if first-time viewers of the game thought that the United States was the favorite to win, a blasphemous 8-6 loss to Canada, f*cking Canada of all teams, then they’re singing a different tune now.
We’re a few days into the 2006 Classic now, and baseball purists like myself are loving every second of this. The atmosphere, the bonafide “dream teams”, the exciting competition… everything about the WBC so far has played out perfectly. You’ve had it all; your offensive outbursts, long ball, small ball, pitching clinics, and extra inning nail biters that make or break the destiny of a nation’s finest. If you like the World Cup, you owe it to yourself to experience the World Baseball Classic. Modeled very much after the World Cup, the WBC is a slice of something different for baseball fans of all nationalities and ages. Here now is a brief review/preview of the World Baseball Classic.
China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea
Tokyo, Japan
Current Pool Standings (Bold denotes Teams Advancing)
1. Korea / 3-0
2. Japan / 2-1
3. Chinese Taipei / 1-2
4. China / 0-3
Tournament competition began last weekend in Tokyo, Japan, with Pool A of the World Baseball Classic kicking off competition. Like the other three pools, Pool A was defined by its two powerhouses: Japan and Korea. Japan’s love for baseball is rivaled only by that of the United States, and with Ichiro in the mix, Japan looks to be an early favorite. They got off on the right foot, laying an 18-2 beat down on China. Meanwhile, Korea marched into Japan with all guns blazing, dominating the competition with a unique brand of baseball that is only just beginning to trickle down to the Major League. In the heavyweight match up of the Pool, Korea defeated Japan to complete a perfect round of play. Japan went 2-1, defeating China and Chinese Taipei en route to securing a birth in the next round. Chinese Taipei managed to win against China, but finished third out of the four-team pool.
Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States of America
Phoenix, Arizona
Current Pool Standings
1. Canada / 2-0
2. USA / 1-1
3. Mexico / 0-1
4. South Africa / 0-1
The overwhelming pool favorites, the United States, came in with high expectations in Phoenix, and met them somewhat with an opening win against Mexico on Tuesday afternoon. Yet it is Canada so far that has stunned the world with a come from behind victory against a surprising South Africa team, and then the upset of the tournament so far on Wednesday against the United States, 8-6. Adam Stern of Canada went 3-4, with a triple and an inside the park home run to his credit. This has important implications for Pool B, depending on the result of the Mexico/Canada game. If Canada defeats Mexico, then the United States would need to defeat South Africa to gain entry into the next round. But if Mexico defeats Canada, a possible three way tie could loom between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. At that point, tie-breaking procedures would have to determine the two qualifying teams from the Pool. For now, the United States is in real danger of not making the second round. A loss to South Africa would end the road for the United States.
Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Current Pool Standings
1. Cuba / 1-0
2. Puerto Rico / 1-0
3. Netherlands / 0-0
4. Panama / 0-2
Pool C of the World Baseball Classic features several interesting countries, including the politically isolated Cuba and the Netherlands. Cuba is made up of relative unknowns to most Americans, but their level of play is no great mystery to the rest of the world, thanks to their play at the World Cup (baseball) and other international competitions. The Puerto Ricans are favored to advance out of Pool C, with the second team coming down to Cuba and the Netherlands, led by Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves. Panama has been eliminated from contention for advancing, thanks to their extra-innings loss to Cuba today.
Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela
Orlando, Florida
Current Pool Standings
1. Dominican Republic / 1-0
2. Italy / 1-0
3. Australia / 0-1
4. Venezuela / 0-1
Pool D plays host to the best baseball team (arguably) in the tournament, the Dominican Republic. After an 11-5 thrashing of rival Venezuela in Orlando, the Dominicans are looking to advance through Australia and a surprising Italy, who logged an impressive 9-0 victory over Australia to earn its first win of the tournament. Venezuela is still expected to join the Dominican Republic in the second round, though Italy can advance with an upset of Venezuela or the Dominican Republic as Pool Play continues.
I.P. Sports Radio Presents: Caption Madness 2006!
Ah yes, ’tis time to announce a very special moment in the history of Inside Pulse Sports Radio. In conjunction with Patrick Nguyen and myself, I.P. Sports Radio is launching the first annual IPSR Caption Madness contest, right here at Inside Pulse Sports! So, here is how this bad boy works:
Next Tuesday, a strategically placed picture will be posted in “Happy Hour”, with further instructions given. To enter, email a one-line caption for the picture to me using the link below (pegasusx@4sternstaging.com). As a principle, the funnier the caption is, the better chance you have to win. There are certain ground rules, however:
1. Try to keep the language as clean as you see it here at Inside Pulse Sports. Excessive slurs of any kind stand for immediate disqualification.
2. Only one entry per person, please.
Otherwise, come up with the funniest caption possible and send it in! Patrick and I will be judging each entry for originality, comic value, and general style. The contest window is open for two weeks; after two weeks, the top entries will be posted in Happy Hour, allowing readers to send in their thoughts on which one is the best. The winner of this contest will be announced on April 11th, 2006 right here in Happy Hour. And, for incentive, the winner of the contest will receive an autographed copy of the book Patrick reviewed for Inside Pulse, Sporting News Selects Pro Football’s Greatest Quarterbacks, and gets his or her choice of column space right here in Happy Hour, or possibly a guest spot on an episode of Inside Pulse Radio. More details, along with a sample entry will be provided next week, so keep it tuned here to Inside Pulse Sports for more information!
Quick Shots
– The NFL owners have apparently agreed to the newest deal proposed by the Player’s Union, thus bringing the labor dispute closer to an amicable end.
– Monmouth, Gonzaga among the teams to officially qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
– In the new book Game of Shadows, two San Francisco Chronicles’ reporters bring to light new allegations on steroid use by Giants slugger Barry Bonds.
– Troubled Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper asks to be traded or released from the Vikings after learning of the team’s attempts to trade him.
– The New Orleans Hornets host the Los Angeles Lakers in New Orleans, marking the first time a professional sporting event has taken place in the city since Hurricane Katrina.
– Real Madrid and Arsenal battle to a 0-0 tie in Champion’s League play.
– Dan Wheldon, the defending IndyCar Series Champion in 2005 is rumored to be considering a jump to NASCAR, at the request of car owner Chip Ganassi, who owns teams in both the IndyCar Series and NASCAR.
Now I’ll drink to all that.
Pimps on the House
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Last Call
That’s it for today, knuckleheads. Until next time, I remain your loyal host with the most, signing off. Cheers, mates, and peace to you all.
