In Honor Of The Big Day

Sometimes, there's more important things going on in the world than sports.  Today is one of those days.  As you may have heard, Barack Obama's historic inauguration is taking place today.

Historic in that it's the first competent president we've had in eight years.

Historic in that it's the first African-American president we've ever had.  

You get the point.

But, even on days like this, sports can be connected to those "more important" events.  So, in honor of Barack Obama's day of firsts, I present to you a list of firsts I'd like to see happen in the sports world in the next few years, in no particular order.

Actually, before we get started, two quick things.  First, I can't emphasize enough that I think the Rays and Cardinals making their respective championships is almost (close, but not quite) as amazing as Barack Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States.  Second, if you want a laugh, check out this impression of Obama, especially his favorite TV Show at around the 4:30 mark.  

Alright, now onto the list.

I'd like to see...

• the first white wide receiver in (decades?) to lead the league in something?
• there be a white, American-born player dominate the NBA.  Not a first, per se, but, first in a while.
• an athlete come out and apologize for wasting the team's money for years and give all of his contract back.
• an announcer not slobber all over Tim Tebow in the championship game next year.
• a year in which each college football game is compelling and there isn't one possible complaint about how the games were decided or who is playing in each game.  Yes, that includes the Gaylord Hotel Music City Bowl.
• a professional sports organization realize that without fans they wouldn't even exist, and for once, give something back outside of keychains and garbage baseball caps.
• a year go by without any athletes beating up wives and strippers, shooting people, getting shot, doing drugs, getting caught for doing drugs, selling drugs to kids, selling drugs to adults, killing people, getting away with killing people, betting on the game, screaming selfishly at coaches, complaining about getting more money, crashing their cars, crashing into other people's cars, and/or doing jailtime of any kind for anything not mentioned above.  Not too much to ask from the country's richest 1%, right?
• athletes have normal names, like Marcus and James and Steve and Marshall and Reggie and Larry and Alex and all that.  No more variations of Marcus, and none of this J'Nathan B.S.
• good athletes have to participate in their respective skills competitions at their All-Star Games.  No more ducking out of the Derby or Dunk Contest.
• professional leagues contract, instead of expand.  There's no way you can tell me sports would be worse off with a few less teams in each sport.  
• the New Jersey Nets give up this ridiculous charade that they are going to move to Brooklyn.  Have they been out there?
• the city of Los Angeles actually give a crap long enough to have their own football team again.
• a year go by without athletes thanking God after games, as if God has nothing better to do but make sure the Royals are able to pull one out in August against Minnesota.

OK, now, two things.  First, the list got a little carried away.  Not all of these things are firsts, but so what?  It's my list, so back off!  Second, what would you like to see?  Get at us, in the comments or c-box.

New BERNing on Sports Podcast Available

Hey everybody. In this week's podcast Scott and I discuss Sunday's NFL Championship weekend, and the Anquan Boldin post that's got everyone riled up. As always, you can access the podcast in the red tab on your right, but for easy access you can also click here:

New Berning on Sports Podcast (1-19-09)

Enjoy! And keep visiting BERNing on Sports! Thanks for reading and listening.

The Next T.O.?

What is it about wide receivers?

Add Anquan Boldin to the list of pass catchers who are bad apples. He can go right to the top of the group that includes Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco, (or Chad Johnson, depending on the year or jersey lettering), Randy Moss and others.

After Arizona's win yesterday over Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game, a win sending his Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in team history and their first title game in 61 years, Boldin did not celebrate with his teammates. Instead, he was seen ducking out of University of Phoenix Stadium early, evidently angry about his limited role in the Cardinals offense Sunday. This is the same Boldin whose status was uncertain for the game after he strained his hamstring in wild card weekend and didn't play in the Divisional Round.

For a guy looking to find his way out of Arizona at the end of the season, he's making a strong case to be traded after the Super Bowl.

Like the other bad apple wide receivers in the NFL, Boldin shares some common characteristics. He's selfish, he overrates his value to his team's success, and he makes it very difficult for other teams to want to put up with his antics.

He was seen yesterday yelling at Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the game. Boldin was apparently livid that he didn't have a bigger role in the Cardinals offense. (He had four receptions in the game for just 34 yards.) But Boldin wasn't the receiver with the hot hand, and Haley was using Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston more exclusively because unlike Boldin, both are healthy.

Both Haley and Boldin are downplaying the incident, saying that emotions were running high at the heat of the moment. And Boldin claims today that he's all about the team and wants whatever's best for the Cards' success. But when it's the heat of the moment, isn't that when the truth comes out?

And how do you defend deserting your teammates during the celebration for the biggest triumph for his football team in six decades?

Boldin is suffering from the same thing most big named wide receivers suffer from at some point in their careers. He's learning that he's not critical to his team succeeding on the offensive side of the ball. When he's used, he can be a great asset. But the Cardinals didn't need him to advance to the NFC Championship, and they didn't really need him to win it either. He's learned that he's easliy replaceable. While Boldin used to be the top option for the Arizona passing game, Larry Fitzgerald has stolen his thunder and has received all the accolades and headlines.

Sound appealing football fans? You want this guy on your team? Another big-egoed receiver with wounded pride?

The Cardinals are just the newest team to prove that having a big named wide receiver can help you (a.k.a. Larry Fitzgerald), but they're not always crucial to a team's success (Anquan Boldin).

There's no question Fitzgerald has been phenomenal in this incredible playoff run for Arizona, but a good quarterback and a well executed offense can push a team over the hump regardless of the names running routes each play.

Wide receivers have to learn to share the football, and that they're part of a team. Never has their been a wide receiver who by himself had lead a team to Super Bowl victories. Boldin is just the next big-egoed wideout that has had to learn that the hard way.

So if the Cardinals win the Super Bowl, his teammates shouldn't let him celebrate, no matter what his role in the game. He walked out on them. He doesn't deserve the glory.

The Monday Morning Longsnapper

Credit Where Credit Is Due Edition

Jordan did have this game picked right, but, most people didn't give the Cardinals much of a chance in this game.  Most people didn't give the Cardinals credit a week ago, in Carolina.  Some even doubted their chances to beat the young Falcons, two weeks before that.  And now, for the third week in a row, they've shut us all up.  Except for Jordan.

What most people doubted (if I can confidently speak for the masses) was Arizona's defense.  People questioned whether or not a defense that was in the bottom five in the NFL in points allowed would be able to slow the Eagles.  Now, no one was confusing the Eagles with an offensive juggernaut but for whatever reason, we (at least, I) felt like stopping Atlanta and Carolina in consecutive weeks was merely happenstance.

Crushing DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart (not to mention making Jake Delhomme look like he was 70 years old) just wasn't enough to convince people.  Neither, apparently, was derailing another 2009 elite running back in Michael Turner and forcing 3 turnovers out of Matt Ryan.  Wasn't enough.  

Too soft, not a big game defense.

Then, they went up 21-6 in the first half, forced Donovan McNabb to make throws he didn't want to make, and generally had the heat on the Eagles in that first half.  Things certainly slowed down a bit in that third quarter for the Cards defense, but, the '85 Bears they ain't.  

The simple truth is that the Cardinals, lead by Jesus Christ and his lone disciple Kurt Warner, are a good team.  They weren't a good team all season, they were never the best team at any point in the season.  But, unfortunately for the Panthers and Giants and Eagles and any other team in the NFC, that's just not how it works.  

• Eagles Fans:  That wasn't a missed pass interference call on your second to last pass of the season.  Two things, Kevin Curtis (still my man), was falling down anyway, and McNabb's pass was offline as it was.  Not a PI, sorry.
• Some part of me feels good for the Cardinals.  If I had told you, two years ago, that in the same sports year, the "Devil" Rays would be playing in the World Series, and the Cardinals would be playing in the Super Bowl, there's no way you'd have believed me.  What's next, are the Nationals going to beat the Globetrotters?  Has the world gone completely mad?  Let me guess, the economy's going to tank too, and we're going to have a black president, right?  Sure...
• Brian Westbrook has to be more hurt than he lets on, because when you look back at the three games he played in, he really only had one play of note which was the long screen pass in the Minnesota game.  That was about it.  Average or bad the rest of the way.
• Players that probably wish they didn't play football professionally on Sundays:  Corey Ivy, Willis McGahee (ankle), Willis McGahee (neck)...and anyone else on Troy Polamalu's side of the field at any given time.
• On that note, obviously you hope McGahee comes out OK from the scare he got on the field yesterday.  I've never been a big fan of him, especially after his comments regarding night life in Buffalo, but the kid's tough.  He tore up basically everything possible in his knee in college, was banged up this year, and now this neck injury.  Word was he was moving his arms and legs and speaking easily, so those are obviously good signs.
• The score may have been close, but Baltimore wasn't really in the game as much as it may have seemed.  They seemed to be waiting on a big play, which Joe Flacco has been able to deliver fairly often.  But, against this Steelers D it just wasn't to be.  I expected him to fold completely after the early interception, but to his credit he held it together.  The pressure he never seemed to get a break from, the nearly flawless downfield coverage his receivers faced--it was just too much.  The Steelers D isn't particularly flashy, but they just hit you hard, and often and right in the mouth.
• Lastly, Limas Sweed, if you ever, ever, ever ever ever ever ever (sorry got sick of using commas) drop a pass again like the one at the end of the first half where you're wide open with a chance to blow open the game, I will personally come to Pittsburgh and smack the hell out of you.

Results from NFL Championship Weekend

You win some, and you lose some, as the cliche goes. And Scott and I went 1-1. The Cardinals did more than cover, as the 32-25 score doesn't really describe how well the Cardinals played.
However despite their best efforts, the Ravens couldn't cover the 5.5, as the once turnover-proof Joe Flacco couldn't decipher which color his team was wearing. Three interceptions by Flacco did in the cover, as Troy Polamalu ran one back 40 yards for a touchdown to take the two point Steeler lead (covering) to a nine point lead (no longer covering). So kudo's to Scott on that one, because while I thought Pittsburgh would win I thought the Ravens would keep it closer.

For the playoffs, in the paraphrased words of Around the Horn's Tony Reali, "Heeeeere's how we stand:

Scott: 6-3 (1-1 this weekend)
Jordan: 3-6 (1-1 this weekend

It's no secret my picks have been bad, so I don't even need to waste my time relaying that information to you once again. All I can say is, if I get the Super Bowl right, that would provide a small vindication for my poor performance throughout the season. Stay tuned.

As for the games, Scott will have that tomorrow in the Monday Morning Longsnapper. But, a couple of quick thoughts from me:

• Once again, even if Kurt Warner wins the Super Bowl, he's NOT a hall of famer. The Eagles not winning did not help Donovan McNabb's case either. For me, neither should ever be enshrined in Canton.
• Larry Fitzgerald is really, really good. That guy could break some records if he stays healthy throughout his career.
• Joe Flacco reminded us he's a rookie. I guess no one can commend him any more for not throwing picks, not getting sacked, or not costing his team games. That said, impressive for a rookie they got this far.
• Now for the storyline that's going to get overplayed for the next two weeks: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was the Steelers offensive coordinator the last time Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl.
• And, so much for those #6 seeds, as both went down today.

Everything You Need To Get Ready For NFL Championship Weekend

Philadelphia (-3.5) @ Arizona

This match-up may be the best example of parity existing in the NFL. Not many people thought coming into this post season that the sixth seeded Eagles would be facing the least successful division winner for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. I guess that's why you always hear the old cliche "that's why you play the games".

This contest provides tremendous intrigue still, especially when you consider the storylines present. As I mentioned earlier this week, I think there's no way Kurt Warner is deserving of a hall of fame bid, but if Warner elevates another team to a Super Bowl, expecially the Cardinals, it would make him a legend in Arizona. As for Donovan McNabb, every win this post season is helping his case for future consideration.

That said, it has been Warner who has played outstanding football in this post season, while McNabb has been just good enough for his Eagles to win. Warner has completed nearly 63% of his passes this post season, has thrown for 491 combined yards, and has fired four touchdown passes while only throwing two picks. And maybe most impressively, Warner led his team into Carolina last week and pummeled a Panthers squad that was a perfect 8-0 at home in the regular season.

What's more, the Cardinals much maligned defense has been stellar too, as they have caused a whopping nine turnovers in their two playoff games, including six last week. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme had probably the worst game of his career, as Arizona intercepted five of his passes and caused him to fumble as well. So entering Sunday's contest, Arizona couldn't be playing better on defense. Oh, and Anquan Boldin is expected to play, so the offense that dominated Carolina last week could be healthier and better.

Now to McNabb and the Eagles. Sunday's NFC Championship will be the fifth Donvan has lead the Eagles to in the last eight years, so experience is no problem for the former Syracuse signal caller. He was very good in the Eagles win over the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs throwing for 300 yards and a touchdown, and in last week's game against a good Giants defense McNabb did just enough to help the Eagles win the contest. Oh, and against the Cards this year on Thanksgiving night, (the game nobody saw because it was on the NFL Network), McNabb threw for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 48-20 romp.

Philly's defense has been stifling, allowing an average of 12.5 points per game over their two contests. In that regular season win over the Cardinals on Turkey night, the only reason Arizona even got to 20 points was due to some garbage points at the end. They intercepted Kurt Warner three times in the game and held the Cards rushing offense to a mere 25 yards that night. I wouldn't expect a complete domination against Arizona tomorrow, but you know defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will send the house on the blitz early and often to force Warner to repeat those same mistakes.

The Cardinals are trying to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in team history, and it's going to be a tough one for them to win. The guys in Vegas think so too, as the Cardinals are home underdogs despite the fact they went 7-2 at home this season including their playoff win over Atlanta. It would be fun to see a team that perenially stinks make the Super Bowl just for the intrigue of it, but part of me wants to see Donovan McNabb finally win the Super Bowl. I'll take Arizona to cover the 3.5 point spread, and keep it close, but I'd like to see the Eagles win. (So now that I'm picking Arizona, Philly fans, book your tickets for Tampa.)

Scott's Pick: Philadelphia Jordan's Pick: Arizona

Baltimore (+5.5) @ Pittsburgh

The Ravens colors might be black and purple, and the Steelers might be black and gold. But this game figures to be black and blue the whole way through. These two teams are very similar, in that they both ranked in the top three in defense (Steelers #1, Ravens #3) during the regular season, and they rely on their defenses to set up their offense. The biggest difference, however, is the quarterback play.

Here's a basic mathematical principle that we can all understand:

Ben Roethlisberger > Joe Flacco

In the Steelers win over the Chargers last week, Ben Roethlisberger made plays to help Pittsburgh earn a hard fought win. Even though he did have the help of Willie Parker's 146 yards rushing, Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to Heath Miller and completed 65% of his passes to lead the Steelers to victory. The rookie Flacco, on the other hand, in two post season games, has completed just 44% of his passes, and has thrown for 296 combined yards. The key is that he hasn't thrown a pick. He doesn't make plays, but he doesn't make bad plays. That's probably the biggest reason the Ravens have survived the first two playoff rounds.

The defenses are excellent, and they're both opportunistic. In last week's win over the Chargers, Phillip Rivers threw an interception to Larry Foote inside the ten yard line which completely turned the momentum in favor of the Steelers. Especially when you consider that the play before was a Darren Sproles punt return into the red zone. It's no secret the Ravens defense has been unbelievable too, considering they made big red zone stops against the Titans last week, and Ed Reed ran wild on the Dolphins in the first round with 64-yard interception returned for a touchdown. Reed's pick was one of four the Ravens would get against a normally smart quarterback in Chad Pennington. So expect points to come at a premium tomorrow.

To pick this game, I use this logic: Both teams have great defense. Both have similar philosophy on offense, preferring to run the football to set up the pass. The Steelers have a dynamic special tems presence in Santonio Holmes, who returned a punt for a touchdown last week. But it's not like the Ravens can't cover him for one game. They have played each other twice already this season, and the Steelers won both contests. Often times, teams have trouble beating a team three times in the same season, but the Ravens wanted this match-up, openly rooting for Pittsburgh to beat San Diego last week after they beat Tennessee the day before.

The Steelers are a great team. They were 12-4 in the regular season. They earned the first round bye, but have less momentum entering this week's game because the Ravens had to win twice to get here. There's a reason for that, though: they're better than this Ravens team. They were during the regular season, and they're 7-2 at home including last week's playoff win. The Steelers have a tough spread to cover, so I'm taking the Ravens. But the Steelers should eek out this game in a close one.

Scott's Pick: Pittsburgh Jordan's Pick: Baltimore

I Don't Know What I'll Do on Monday

I was at the Blackhawks game last night, trying to enjoy what was a sloppy game mired in penalties.

Then I received this text message from my good friend and long time Chicago sports talk radio host Dan McNeil":

"Station fired me tonight."

My throat dropped into my stomach.

Twenty seconds later I barely notice Chris Drury's power play goal to beat the Blackhawks in overtime. I was still staring at the text message in my phone.

As the host of the "Mac, Jurko and Harry" show on ESPN Radio 1000, (weekdays from 2-7 p.m.) McNeil constantly brought in the big ratings. His show with John Jurkovic and Harry Teinowitz was the most popular on radio in the male demographic between 25-54 multiple times and a daily ritual for sports fans driving home from work. McNeil, who has been on Chicago sports radio for more than twenty years, appealed to listeners with his wit, his encyclopedia-like knowledge of movies and music, and his ability to both tell you like it is and still share your emotions as a sports fan in a city filled with diehard fans.

Since I started listening to sports talk radio, around the time I was thirteen years old, McNeil was still on the city's biggest sports station in town, 670 The Score. At the time, I was less aware of McNeil's work, but I listened to him as much as I could, intrigued by his style. I knew listeninging to him and others, even as a kid, that radio broadcasting might be something I wanted to do one day. When he joined ESPN 1000 in 2001, I fell in love with the "Mac, Jurko and Harry" show, despite the bumps and bruises it had along the way (be it escalating arguments on or off the air, or the suspensions that followed).

In the summers of 2005 and 2006 I was lucky enough to land internships at ESPN 1000, and as the promotions intern my first year I only met McNeil a couple of times. But interning in 2006 for the "Mac, Jurko and Harry" show, I had the incredible opportunity to work with Mac on a daily basis and watch how he hosts a radio show for four hours a day (the final hour is now a "post game show", where the highlights of the first four hours are replayed). It was a fantastic learning experience, as I was able to watch closely as the top dogs in sports talk radio went about their work. But the most gratifying part of that internship was getting to know Dan McNeil.

Mac was and still is very good to me. He has always treated me with the utmost respect and his work ethic raised the level of everyone else at the station. He was meticulous about everything he did, and as a former producer he expected nothing but the best from all aspects of the show.

He knew he was good, and he knew what it took to put a top flight radio program on the air every day. And he did, every afternoon, for almost eight years at A.M. 1000.

Even when I finished my internship at ESPN 1000, I made sure to stay in touch with the many people I worked with there who remain good friends today. But Mac always made me feel important. He always made me feel good about myself and my future in the media.

Last night was an emotional night for me, and for the many fans of sports talk radio in the Chicagoland area. Whether you liked him or hated him, you always respected Dan McNeil for his ability to host an interesting and entertaining sports talk radio show. Now the "Afternoon Saloon", as they called it, has closed up the shop for the final time with an unceremonious ending. Though, McNeil will no doubt land on his feet with another good gig to follow.

I'll miss the show greatly. Mac really made you feel like you had "pulled up a chair" at the afternoon saloon to have a drink and talk sports with your buddies. Without him, whatever fills his former time slot will never be the same.

Now, as I look towards Monday, I don't know what I'll do between 2-7 in the afternoon.