The ongoing discussion the week before the NCAA brackets are put together is whether the field should expand to 96 teams.
A 96-team field does nothing more than fatten CBS' pocketbook (not that they couldn't use it). And while it's only 96 out of 300-something Div. I teams that would be invited, a larger field tends to make it much more of a "win a certain amount of games, and you can play some more" arrangement.
That's what the NCAA does with the college bowl system. Six wins makes you bowl eligible -- even if it's an appearance in the San Francisco Walnetto Bowl.
Leave it at 65, counting the play-in game .. the caliber of the tournament is just fine. No need to dilute it.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
70 and counting
The University of Connecticut women's college basketball team is definitely on a roll. Seventy straight victories is nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure.
However, a couple of things come to mind – one serious and one not so serious.
• Wouldn't you hate to be on the team that eventually loses? UConn's coach is known for a large ego than for his grace. Something tells me a lot of paint might fly off the walls in the locker room when the streak ends.
• What does a 70-game winning streak say about the level of play in the collegiate women's game? That was the question that the boss, Kevin Denke, posed this morning. And the answer is rather obvious ...
For the most part, the women's game is below the rim. That means a heavy reliance on such facets of the game as passing, setting screens, running plays – all the things we learned a long time ago and that aren't used very often. That's part of what makes the women's game somewhat better than the men's. But a 70-game winning streak doesn't – or shouldn't – do much for anyone involved in the sport.
Should it?
However, a couple of things come to mind – one serious and one not so serious.
• Wouldn't you hate to be on the team that eventually loses? UConn's coach is known for a large ego than for his grace. Something tells me a lot of paint might fly off the walls in the locker room when the streak ends.
• What does a 70-game winning streak say about the level of play in the collegiate women's game? That was the question that the boss, Kevin Denke, posed this morning. And the answer is rather obvious ...
For the most part, the women's game is below the rim. That means a heavy reliance on such facets of the game as passing, setting screens, running plays – all the things we learned a long time ago and that aren't used very often. That's part of what makes the women's game somewhat better than the men's. But a 70-game winning streak doesn't – or shouldn't – do much for anyone involved in the sport.
Should it?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
No more movies like this
Yes, we're supposed to talk about sports here. But every so often, we veer off course and talk about something else.
In this case, good movies.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" was on the other night --- it is a wonderful, wonderful movie that has stood the test of almost 50 years of time since it was made.
And it got me to thinking about how actors in those days, such as Gregory Peck (who won an Oscar for his portrayal of attorney Atticus Finch in "Mockingbird") probably wouldn't survive in today's film-making world.
Nor would that type of film.
Why?
It's a different era, for one. Movie-goers today are interested in quick pleasures, and studios are obliging, of course. It takes far less time to blow up a toaster on set than it does to draw out the characters in a movie. Maybe it will come back around. But I'm not going to hold my breath.
Two (relatively) current actors I enjoy watching are Will Smith and Tom Hanks. Neither one of their TV debuts was scintillating. But they have worked on their craft and honed their abilities. Today, they are fine actors and worthy of a price of admission.
But the rule of thumb today is to discard any semblance of a story and rely on explosions to keep people glued to the big screen. That's fine, to a point. But it doesn't require a lot of imagination.
Or attention.
Old fogey? I've been called worse. But good story telling and believable, empathetic characters beat special effects every day of the week.
In this case, good movies.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" was on the other night --- it is a wonderful, wonderful movie that has stood the test of almost 50 years of time since it was made.
And it got me to thinking about how actors in those days, such as Gregory Peck (who won an Oscar for his portrayal of attorney Atticus Finch in "Mockingbird") probably wouldn't survive in today's film-making world.
Nor would that type of film.
Why?
It's a different era, for one. Movie-goers today are interested in quick pleasures, and studios are obliging, of course. It takes far less time to blow up a toaster on set than it does to draw out the characters in a movie. Maybe it will come back around. But I'm not going to hold my breath.
Two (relatively) current actors I enjoy watching are Will Smith and Tom Hanks. Neither one of their TV debuts was scintillating. But they have worked on their craft and honed their abilities. Today, they are fine actors and worthy of a price of admission.
But the rule of thumb today is to discard any semblance of a story and rely on explosions to keep people glued to the big screen. That's fine, to a point. But it doesn't require a lot of imagination.
Or attention.
Old fogey? I've been called worse. But good story telling and believable, empathetic characters beat special effects every day of the week.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
O Sing, Canada
It was quite the treat to see people singing their country's national anthem without phony cymbals and unnecessary whooping Sunday afternoon.
It was Canada's national song that produced that observation. Those in the hockey arena sang as one with a certain amount of pride in their country and pride in what their hockey team accomplished.
Americans used to sing like that. But since everything in sports became a show within a show, the singing isn't necessarily welcome (unless you want to sing to yourself).
It was Canada's national song that produced that observation. Those in the hockey arena sang as one with a certain amount of pride in their country and pride in what their hockey team accomplished.
Americans used to sing like that. But since everything in sports became a show within a show, the singing isn't necessarily welcome (unless you want to sing to yourself).
Monday, February 15, 2010
Time for a makeover
Some thoughts about the NBA All-Star game ... if you want to call it that ...
1) The whole weekend seems to be a large waste of time and effort, especially if the league is going to stage it in Jerry Jones' cavernous stadium in Dallas. More than 100,000 people stuffed their way in to see what looked like ants in short pants running around on the floor. Great revenue, yes. But not a worthwhile experience for about 80 percent of the fans.
2) Speaking of things that aren't worthwhile, will someone ever have enough courage to say, "Enough with the idiotic slam dunk competition?" Charles Barkley of TNT came close by saying it needs a makeover. It's at least 27 years old – reborn here in Denver, as a matter of fact. What we see one night during the all-star weekend is what regular fans of the league see every night. There's nothing new ...
3) It was nice to see the NBA's best take a page from the NHL or another perennial loser of an all-star game, the NFL's Pro Bowl, and not play defense. That's what fans want. But it's no better than the end of the first hour of a pick-up game in your yard and doesn't make for a good use of 2 1/2 hours.
4) A halftime concert now? Glad I have a good book to read.
1) The whole weekend seems to be a large waste of time and effort, especially if the league is going to stage it in Jerry Jones' cavernous stadium in Dallas. More than 100,000 people stuffed their way in to see what looked like ants in short pants running around on the floor. Great revenue, yes. But not a worthwhile experience for about 80 percent of the fans.
2) Speaking of things that aren't worthwhile, will someone ever have enough courage to say, "Enough with the idiotic slam dunk competition?" Charles Barkley of TNT came close by saying it needs a makeover. It's at least 27 years old – reborn here in Denver, as a matter of fact. What we see one night during the all-star weekend is what regular fans of the league see every night. There's nothing new ...
3) It was nice to see the NBA's best take a page from the NHL or another perennial loser of an all-star game, the NFL's Pro Bowl, and not play defense. That's what fans want. But it's no better than the end of the first hour of a pick-up game in your yard and doesn't make for a good use of 2 1/2 hours.
4) A halftime concert now? Glad I have a good book to read.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Which is worse?
We present a very non-scientific poll today ...
Which of these is worse?
1) The fact that Lane Kiffin, the new coach at Southern Cal, has a commitment from a 13-year-old recruit in Delaware; or
2) The fact that, according to reports, the 13-year-old has a personal coach; or
3) That Kiffin might be at Southern Cal in five years when this alleged 13-year-old prodigy is eligible to go to college?
Commitments have a way of not meaning a lot, especially when a coach bolts (see Pete Carroll).
It's disturbing that a 13-year-old has a personal coach. His biggest worry should be developing skills to become a rounded person, not the 2010 version of Todd Marinovich.
If anyone knows whether this child is allowed to eat a hamburger or otherwise behave like a normal teenager, speak up.
Which of these is worse?
1) The fact that Lane Kiffin, the new coach at Southern Cal, has a commitment from a 13-year-old recruit in Delaware; or
2) The fact that, according to reports, the 13-year-old has a personal coach; or
3) That Kiffin might be at Southern Cal in five years when this alleged 13-year-old prodigy is eligible to go to college?
Commitments have a way of not meaning a lot, especially when a coach bolts (see Pete Carroll).
It's disturbing that a 13-year-old has a personal coach. His biggest worry should be developing skills to become a rounded person, not the 2010 version of Todd Marinovich.
If anyone knows whether this child is allowed to eat a hamburger or otherwise behave like a normal teenager, speak up.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Hey Denver – we've got letter-signers, too
Just in case the Denver papers and TV weren't aware, there is a wonderful world of athletic talent outside the city's boundaries.
Five football players – Marquis McNeil of Prairie View, Ryan Delay of Brighton (both stories will be at www.thebrightonblade.com the middle of next week); Jake Bernhard of Fort Lupton (www.ftluptonpress.com); and Anthony Hernandez and Demo Schmidt of Frederick (www.cvfarmerandminer.com) – signed letters to play at NCAA Division II schools yesterday.
No, it doesn't carry the glamor of a kid from a private school signing with a Division I program. But it does speak to the athletes' talent level and, in many cases, to the types of people they are.
Five football players – Marquis McNeil of Prairie View, Ryan Delay of Brighton (both stories will be at www.thebrightonblade.com the middle of next week); Jake Bernhard of Fort Lupton (www.ftluptonpress.com); and Anthony Hernandez and Demo Schmidt of Frederick (www.cvfarmerandminer.com) – signed letters to play at NCAA Division II schools yesterday.
No, it doesn't carry the glamor of a kid from a private school signing with a Division I program. But it does speak to the athletes' talent level and, in many cases, to the types of people they are.
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