Blogs

"When Barack Obama asked the crowd yesterday in Kansas City whether there were any Cardinals fans in the audience, it first seemed like he had pulled one of those classic rock concert screw-ups by mixing up what town he was in," blogs Eric Barton of Kansas City's Pitch, RFT's other-end-of-the-interstate sister paper. "But with his quick recovery, it was clear that the presidential hopeful was just giving the Royals shit."

Yeah!

-Unreal

As an alumnus of the University of Washington and rabid Huskies football fan, I was a little shocked and saddened when I went online yesterday to read the Seattle Times. The paper is running an investigative series this week that probes UW’s tolerance for the behavior of players on the 2000-’01 football team. (That’d be the last great Huskies squad, which defeated Purdue in the Rose Bowl and finished the season ranked third in the nation.)

The series digs up dirt on some already loathed athletic department officials, including Rick Neuheisal, recently hired as head coach at UCLA, and former athletic director Barbara Hedges, who many fans and alumni believe ran the program into the ground. Essentially the Times points out several instances where the athletic department covered up and let slide some strikingly awful deeds committed by its football players.

The story also has a noteworthy, if tangential, local tie. St. Louis Rams head coach Scott Linehan was an offensive coordinator at Washington from 1996 to 1998. The first installment of the series probes the various crimes and misdemeanors of Jerramy Stevens, the team’s star tight end, who went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. The headline: "Convicted of assault and accused of rape, star player received raft of second chances."

Via records requests, Times reporters unearthed this letter Linehan wrote to the Thurston County prosecutor in support of Stevens. The precipitating incident: A friend of Stevens’ hit another student in the face with a baseball bat, and Stevens proceeded to “jump up and stomp on his face” while his victim was unconscious. Stevens was a senior in high school at the time, already signed to play for UW.

Here’s the money quote from Linehan, who would leave UW for the head coaching job at Louisville before Stevens played a down under his tutelage:

“We believe this to be an isolated incident. Under our discipline and supervision I believe Jerramy will show this to be true.”

Jerramy did no such thing. In fact, over the next nine years he’d go on to be convicted of drinking and driving three times, not to mention two hit-and-run accidents, including one in which he drove his SUV through the wall of a nursing home, knocking a dresser onto a bed where 92 year-old woman was sleeping.

Much of the Times story focuses on the allegation that in August of 2000 Stevens drugged and anally raped a UW freshman in a frat-house alley. An eyewitness and the woman’s friends told prosecutors that she appeared to have been drugged, and the DNA in a semen sample taken during a sexual-assault exam the day after the incident matched Stevens’. But prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to file charges, noting that the exam took place too late to test the woman for drugs. The woman sued Stevens and the university in civil court; the matter was settled and terms were not disclosed.

I called the Rams’ media department for a comment from Linehan. I’ll post an update when I hear back.

[Update 1/29/08 11:45 a.m.]: Rick Smith, director of the Rams media department called from Phoenix, where he'll attend the Super Bowl.

“It’s ancient history," says Smith. "That happened eight years ago. There’s no comment to make. It’s something that took place, and in the context of then and now we’re not going to revisit it. Scott’s not going to comment. Really, it’s almost eight years ago and its he’s not going to revisit it and neither are we.”

-Keegan Hamilton

Unreal is all about taking the stigma out of uncomfortable issues with humor. So when we read the Associated Press story about Pepsi's upcoming Super Bowl ad that'll play out in total silence for 60 seconds, we were all, like:

Naturally, the ad's already up on YouTube:

Kudos to PepsiCo, which has a history of reaching out to markets [reg. req.] outside the very middle of the mainstream.

And the ad's pretty dang cute.

But also dumb: Like, if the frickin' party's at Bob's house, why the heck are all the lights off when it's nearly kickoff time? And what's with everyone else on the block? Ambien orgies?

-Unreal

Unreal read this past weekend that Chicago Cubs owner Sam Zell may soon sell the naming rights for Wrigley Field is causing quite the stir in the Windy City. We’ve heard suggestions that the city’s other media titan, Oprah Winfrey, should buy the ballpark and rename it a close approximation of its current moniker: Winfrey Field.

But then, why should Wrigley Field’s new name be limited to corporate interests?

We suggest that the Cubs need only to look within themselves -- and specifically at their new outfielder from Japan -- for the perfect ID. Okay, so Kosuke Fukudome pronounces his name Foo-ka-doe-may. But in print his name conjures images of something straight out of a Mad Max film. And for visiting ballclubs, what could be more intimidating than playing in the Fuckudome?

Who knows? With a name like that, the Cubs might actually win the division.

-Unreal

Editor's note: After Devon Alexander beat DeMarcus Corley in New York over the weekend, former RFT staff writer Ben Westhoff checked in with Alexander's trainer, Kevin Cunningham, whom he'd profiled for this paper in 2005:

Trainer Kevin Cunningham is back home with his fighter, Devon Alexander, after their big win Saturday night against DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley at Madison Square Garden.

Cunningham says he and Alexander had a blast in New York, chowing on pizza, visiting Times Square and soaking up the “media frenzy” surrounding the fight. A celebrity-studded affair that drew a crowd of 12,000, the evening also saw Roy Jones Jr. defeat Felix Trinidad, as well as former IBF champion Roman Karmazin’s loss to Alex Bunema. (Karmazin, you may remember, was beaten by Cunningham’s other marquee fighter, Cory Spinks, at the Savvis Center here in July 2006.)

“I had him winning every round,” Cunningham says of Alexander, noting that his opponent, the former junior welterweight champ champion Corley, had lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Zab Judah in close matches. (Never mind that the fading Corley had lost just six weeks earlier.) “For Devon to totally dominate this guy, to beat this guy a lot badder than those guys did, that says something for this young twenty-year-old-kid.” He expects the win will land Alexander in the top five in the world in the junior welterweight division.

Cunningham declines to say how much Alexander earned for the fight but called it “the opportunity of a lifetime” for him and says his next fight will be in St. Louis on March 27, when Spinks fights Verno Phillips. (Alexander’s opponent has yet to be determined.)

As for Cunningham, he recently opened a sports bar in north county, called Knockouts Bar and Grill. According to the St. Louis American, it’s quite the joint: “The black-and-red bedecked sports bar (a boxing motif) weighs in with 18 plasma screens and a 106-inch projection screen. Other amenities include: a 40 ft.-plus bar, 3 pool tables, 3 electronic dart boards, a mirrored danced floor, outdoor promenade and patio, dinning area and a full kitchen and menu.”

(And don’t forget about the Knockout Girls, “attractive women who sport boxing-like shorts and tennis shoes” for whom “looking good every shift is only a round of their fight.”)

“It’s a really hot spot in town,” says Cunningham.

-Ben Westhoff

A few years back, Ben Westhoff profiled local boxing trainer Kevin Cunningham, corner man to the pride of St. Louis', Cory Spinks. But the ultimate focus of the story, written in the wake of Spinks' deflating defeat at the hands of Zab Judah, was an up-and-coming welterweight named Devon Alexander.

Alexander, a seventeen-year-old senior at Vashon High School at the time, had fought on the on the February 5, 2005, Spinks-Judah undercard and won a unanimous decision against Mexican Donovan Castaneda, to raise his pro record to 3-0.

Flash forward to this past Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where Alexander had a prominent spot on the undercard to the Roy Jones-Felix Trinidad graybeard special.

Against former junior welterweight champ DeMarcus Corley (31-8-1, 17 KOs), Alexander -- who's still under Cunningham's wing -- won a unanimous twelve-round decision, bringing his pro record to 14-0.

"It felt great to go 12 rounds with a former world champion," Alexander is quoted as saying in a story by Dan Rafael at ESPN.com. "It was hard because it was my first 12-rounder. I was pressing hard early trying to get the knockout. But my coach told me to just settle down and do what I do. I'm ready for more. I'll do even more in the future. I want everyone in St. Louis to know I came back with the win."

Though Corley's clearly on the downslope of his boxing career arc, It's worth noting some of the other names on the 33-year-old's résumé: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, Junior "The Hitter" Witter...and Zab Judah.

Read the rest of ESPN's story here (you'll have to scroll down.)

-Tom Finkel

A week ago Billiken basketball was an embarrassment, scoring the fewest points in a game in modern college basketball history. Last night, Saint Louis University upset the Rhode Island Rams, who’re ranked 21st in the nation, 68-61.

Judging from the look on head coach Rick Majerus’ puss during the postgame press conference (see photo), it would be hard to guess which game his team had just played. Even in the wake of a much-needed, morale-boosting victory, Majerus was pinching the bridge of his nose like he had a migraine.

Rather than build his players up after a victory, he continued to tear them down.

The first question thrown at him was something along the lines of, “How important was it to get this win?”

His reply: “I’m happy for them. They’re really trying their hearts out...for the most part.”

When asked to assess the play of star Tommie Liddell – who’d had a breakout game, scoring 22 points in often spectacular fashion, including a pair of clutch three-pointers, a scorching crossover dribble and a near-impossible assist in traffic -- Majerus said:

“I’ll say this, he’s learning where his shots come from. I have to credit [assistant coach] Porter [Moser] for that, he got me to be more aggressive with the ball pick. I bit my tongue on that, because I have a tendency to be more precise.”

In response to a question about how the team was able to overcome an opponent with superior size, Majerus complained, “I think we are the smallest Division I team in the country, with the exception of Bryce [Husak]. Everyone is more athletic, everyone is bigger.”

As the press conference concluded, Majerus stared at a water bottle he was holding as though it were a doughnut he was about to annihilate and said, “It’s nice, but it’s one win, it’s one night.”

Hey Rick, your team just won. They played their best ball of the season. Enjoy it!

-Keegan Hamilton

Here's a link (via Viva El Birdos) to a nice take on the Toronto press conference announcing the Blue Jays' acquisition of St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen in exchange for Troy Glaus.

The video's safe to play at work. The post itself, not so much. But what would you expect from a blog called "Drunk Jays Fans"?

-Unreal

The former coach of the Vashon High School boys’ basketball team,Floyd Irons, was to be sentenced in federal court Friday for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme that to date has ensnared three others (Michael Noll, John Mineo Jr. and Andrew Tegethoff).

But last week, and for the fourth time, U.S. District Judge Richard Webber postponed Irons’ day of reckoning. The latest motion to postpone the sentencing was filed by the government, under seal, so it’s unclear why the delays continue.

Irons was charged on September 20, 2007, and was originally scheduled to be sentenced on November 29. He has been free on a $10,000 bond. The ex-coach is now slated to get his sentence on February 28, 2008.

He faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, according to a plea agreement he signed.

Part of that plea agreement with the government stipulated that Irons provide information to the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) about high school basketball players’ eligibility violations.

[Editor's note: Irons was the subject of a Riverfront Times investigation, "Basketball by the Book," in 2006-'07. The series, which was recognized with top honors by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the Education Writers Association (EWA).]

MSHSAA executive director Kerwin Urhahn reports that he and Irons sat down for a talk in early December, along with MSHSAA’s general counsel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith.

Urhahn plans to provide a preliminary report of the meeting to his board of directors when they meet next week.

Urhahn says Irons was forthcoming “on certain issues” and adds, “There were certain things we asked him, and he said he had no knowledge of them. It’s one of those things where I can’t force the gentleman.”

Urhahn declines to provide specifics but says the conversation with Irons covered more than just Vashon High School. Urhahn plans to approach the athletic directors of the other relevant schools. “I want them to be aware of what was said and see if they can verify or deny any validity,” Urhahn says. He declines to name who may be implicated.

The MSHSAA director says his agency’s investigation will continue over the next several months. He cannot estimate when it will conclude, or what violations may be imposed, if any.

-Kristen Hinman

As I settled into my seat on press row at the Scottrade Center before SLU’s Saturday match-up against seventeenth-ranked Dayton, an unfamiliar face a few seats down was overheard saying, “Any team that can only score seven goddamn points in a half is one I have to come and watch.”

So it was with the press, who turned out in droves to see the conference home opener of the now-infamous team that scored the fewest total points in a game in modern college basketball history last Thursday

versus George Washington.

Normally there are one or two photographers sitting courtside. Here’s what it looked like Saturday:

The same could not be said, however, for the SLU faithless -- er, faithful. Attendance was officially tallied at just over 11,000. It was more like 1,000. No group of fans was more apathetic than the Billiken student section, which, save for three rows of Bud Light-swilling diehards in the front row, was nonexistent. Here’s proof:

Like my neighbor on press row, most of those on hand were rubberneckers hoping to witness a car wreck. When the Billikens came up empty on their first two possessions, the chatter and collective sucking of wind was audible. Decent applause followed the first basket. The best roar the near-empty arena could muster accompanied SLU’s 21st point of the night -- the one that meant they’d eclipsed their entire total from the previous game.

When it became apparent that the Bills was going to give the Flyers – a team that sure to be dancing in March -- a run for their money, fear and anticipation were replaced by excitement. The truth also emerged: This team isn’t as bad as the rest of America now thinks it is.

After the game, a spirited overtime loss, players and coaches alike reluctantly answered questions about the defeat a few days earlier and how that game compared to this one. The response that best summed up the atmosphere of the night came from SLU forward Luke Meyer, who led his team with nineteen points after scoring just four against George Washington: “I just turned off my cell phone the last two days. Everybody I knew was calling me.”

I wasn’t surprised SLU came out strong and challenged Dayton. After last week’s humiliation, the Billikens had to play their hearts out, and Dayton was in a lose-lose situation: If they win, it’s only to be expected; lose, and, well, they lose to the team that missed 26 shots in a row in its last game.

SLU needs Tommie Liddell (who finished with an impressive eighteen points) to drive the ball effectively if they’re going to win. T-III did just that for the first time all season, and three good things happened: He was rewarded with high-percentage shots, got to the foul line and was able to kick the ball out to open teammates (especially Kevin Lisch and Paul Eckerle) on the perimeter.

They do that and keep up their defense (which ranks first in the A-10 in opponent’s scoring) and they’ll continue to score more than seven points per half.

-Keegan Hamilton

Interesting, if idle, discussion over at espn.com, regarding this question:

If you're a general manager starting a major league team today, which superstar would you build your franchise around: Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols?

Chatmeister Jerry Crasnick gives the narrow edge to A-Rod, then opens the floor for visitor comments. If nothing else, the exercise provides a how-others-see-us look at, well, at how others see us.

Interesting that the how-old-is-Albert-really question, to Crasnick, remains an open one.

-Tom Finkel

With Saint Louis University’s anointed star Tommie Liddell off to a mediocre start to the year -- averaging just 11.6 points per game -- some Billiken basketball fans may be pining for the days when NBA star Larry Hughes suited up for the team.

During his lone season at SLU before turning pro, Hughes shot 41 percent from the field, for an average of 20.9 points per game. The 1997-’98 season ended with Hughes advancing the Billikens to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

But before you get too nostalgic for SLU’s former big man, you may want to consider the season Hughes is having with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The guard is shooting a 33 percent from the field for an average of 9.6 points per game. One anonymous Cavs fan has created a blog with what might be the greatest URL of the season:

http://heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com/

Explains the site’s author in the blog’s “About” section: “We’re tired of the crappy shots. Just pass a little more Larry. Or just practice that jumper. You’re making $12 million this year, the least you could do is shoot better than 40%. We’re not asking you to put the team on your back, that’s what LeBron is for!”

The author notes that other URLs were considered but eliminated because their length made them unacceptable as domain name:

www.goddamnlarryhughesstoptakingsomanybadshotsWTFareyoudoing.com
www.fortheloveofthesweetbabyjesustelllarryhughestostoptakingbadshots.com
www.dannyferryWTFwereyouthinkingwhenyousignedLarrytothiscontract.com

Thanks to former RFT staffer Mike Seely for bringing the Web site to my attention. An accomplished hoopster in his own right, Seely models his play (and grooming) after the late, great Bob Cousy and always shoots at least 50 percent from the field.

-Chad Garrison

Program your TiVos! This just in from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (whatever that means) and Chairman Henry A. Waxman:

"On January 15 and 16, the committee will hold hearings to obtain additional information regarding the Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, commonly known as the 'Mitchell Report.'

"The first hearing will include testimony from Mr. George Mitchell, Mr. Bud Selig, and Mr. Don Fehr. Invited witnesses for the second hearing include Mr. Brian McNamee, Mr. Kirk Radomski, Mr. Andy Pettitte, Mr. Chuck Knoblauch, and Mr. Roger Clemens."

A thousand bucks says Knoblauch directs his comments over the head of Henry A. Waxman by about fourteen feet.

-Unreal

The Brushback, a Web site that’s part New York Times (slogan: all the sports news that’s fit to print) and part Onion, reports in its latest edition that whistle-blowing slugger Jose Canseco’s forthcoming book Vindicated contains allegations that his former Oakland A’s manager (and current Cards skipper) Tony La Russa was on the juice when he won the Manager of the Year award in 1992.

Canseco’s first book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ’Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big became a best seller in 2005 when he made claims that half of major league players were taking performance-enhancing drugs. Canseco himself is an admitted steroid user whose name was mentioned more than 100 times in the Mitchell Report last month.

“I’m surprised Tony wasn’t implicated in the Mitchell Report,” the site has Canseco saying. “Everybody knows he was on steroids in the early ’90’s. He made some amazing managerial decisions that year. I’ve never seen anything like it. He was making a mockery of the game.”

Unreal (as you might guess) is hardly shocked, given La Russa’s love of experimentation.

The Brushback has La Russa admitting that he used human growth hormone “for a very short time” in the early 90s in order to recover from an injury.

Huh. So that explains the predilection for batting the pitcher eighth.

The Brushback’s St. Louis coverage isn’t limited to the La Russa scoop. There’s also a brief piece about how the Rams’ last-minute hopes of “backing into the playoffs” with a 3-13 record were dashed.

Quoth Rams head coach Scott Linehan: “Hopefully next year we’ll control our own destiny by not being in dead last place for the entire season.”

-Unreal