Tag Archives: the-professor

Sports

Can Brett Favre make THE decision himself?

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Professor’s Rant #3

Prior to commencing this rant, I need to declare myself as a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan.

When I heard that Brett Favre was coming back for another season with the Minnesota Vikings in August this year, I polled a number of people about how difficult it would be at 40+ to step back in as a quarterback in the NFL with no adequate pre-season training or conditioning.  It is not surprising that all those questioned said that it would be almost impossible.  The season is certainly playing out like that for Favre.  There was one other word used by the people responding…’arrogance’.  Not a word that I had really associated with Brett Favre until then.

I suppose that I have wanted to give Brett the benefit of the doubt over the years…even through all those years of ‘will he or won’t he?’ (aka THE decision) at Green Bay when, as a supporter, it was what I expect death by a thousand cuts to be like.  But that was Brett being Brett and he was in the most part forgiven each year (by the way LeBron only did it once…and look how he has been pilloried in the media).

At the time the Packers made the move to go with Aaron Rodgers, I was dismayed and upset about the thought of Favre not being part of the Packers again.  However, the Packers rightly said enough was enough and took control of the quarterback situation for the long term.  With the benefit of hindsight it was a great decision as since then Favre’s career reads more like a soap opera episode than a sporting career.  If we take out the stellar season with the Vikings last year, we see a mediocre season with the New York Jets where there was bickering amongst the team and this year where the scene is playing out exactly the same only this time in Minnesota.  We also have the unwanted distraction of the sordid allegations surrounding Favre and a former Jets female employee which are being investigated by the NFL.

I must say that I never thought I would hear the call from the media for Favre to call it a career and retire….or worse be benched by the Vikings in favour of Tavaris Jackson.  But they are the unfortunate realities when one tempts fate and tries to go to the well on one too many occasions.

I sincerely hope that Brett finds a way to exit gracefully from the playing field without the decision being made for him.  Like I said, I hope but somehow I think that word ‘arrogance’ may stand in the way of that happening.

Sports

New Mets manager like the boy with the barrow!

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Professor’s Rant #2

I guess there is one thing we can say for the New York Mets management now being led by Sandy Alderson…..they picked a recycled manager in Terry Collins who has a winning record (444-434)!!  That at least allows me to put a tick in one box for Jeff Wilpon, Alderson & Co (and there haven’t been too many of those handed out by me to the Mets over the last few seasons).

Collins main claim to fame seems to be that he managed teams that finished second…..that’s right, second, in their division five years out of six.  I guess that is better than appointing a potential manager from a list that seemed packed with candidates who had losing records and were sacked from their previous roles (Collins, Chip Hale, Bob Melvin, Wally Backman, Clint Hurdle, Don Wakamatsu to name but a few).  Let’s look at some of the candidates – recently sacked Mariner’s manager Don Wakamatsu for one.  The allegations of ‘losing’ the players during a tough season isn’t a great start to a resume, especially when you combine that with a 100+ loss season and you have a recipe for disaster in New York.  Let’s also take a look at Wally Backman (currently managing the Mets affiliate the Cyclones).  He was sacked as manager of the Diamondbacks in 2004 just four days after starting in the job after not revealing two arrests and ‘financial problems’ to the interview panel.  One heck of a stint in the big leagues Wally.

So, my burning questions are these.  Weren’t there any potential managers sitting out there with winning records?  Weren’t there any that had World Series experience?  Why wasn’t Bobby Valentine at least interviewed?  He is curently not managing, having come off a very successful stint in the Japanese league with the Chiba Lotte Marines where he won the Japan Series and the inaugural Asia Series, but perhaps more importantly, has managed successfully before in the heat of the New York sporting spotlight garnering a 536-467 record over seven seasons (which included two 90+ win seasons).  Don’t forget he is the last manager to take the Mets to the World Series.

In any event, out of all that, Terry Collins has the job and now gets to confront what to do about closer Francisco Rodriguez, the non performing Jason Bay and Luis Castillo and Carlos Beltran in the final year of a seven year contract.

Like the boy with the barrow, Terry has it all in front of him!

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #180

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@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!21 November 2010 180.1 – The Panel are live at the Bentleigh Festival, Stan gets the show going with another seaching question about the Melboure Tigers. Daniel looks at convincing the Professor to join with him and make a move for the Tigers franchise. There is also a discussion surrounding the ABL’s rules regarding a double header. Daniel has been told the first game is only 7 innings whilst the second game is 9 innings. Why not start the game 45 minutes earlier and play 9 innings? The Panel discusses Chris from Barwon Heads email regarding Shane Warne and they discuss Warne’s contribution to Victorian cricket. The Panel welcomes Bentleigh MLA Rob Hudson to the show and Daniel asks if he recommends use of mints (like Jeff Kennett). Rob outlines the announcements made by the Labor party with respect to upgrades to sports venues in his electorate and also building programs in schools. There is no truth in the rumor that Rob had been approached by St Kilda as a specialist kicking coach. The Gelding discusses the horse racing at Moonee Valley and Rosehill. The Gedling and Sydney Colt managed to pick 3 winners and 2 placings from six selections. There is also a discussion about jockeys and trainers being caught gambling and the Federal Court decision handed down during the week in favor of Racing NSW and their 1.5% betting tax per dollar. Daniel talks about the trade of Aussie David Anderson from the Toronto Raptors to the New Orleans Hornets. The move should be good for Anderson as the Raptors are at the bottom of the ladder and the Hornets are at the top. There is also a brief discussion regarding the AFL draft and St Kilda picking up Polo and Gamble from other AFL clubs but Paul Gamble doesn’t think they will make the difference. He won’t say whether he believes the premiership window is still open for the Saints but he does talk about need for flywire screens on portholes in submarines and we are still trying to work that out. Given it is cricket season the Gambler starts a discussion about England’s Graeme Swann who the Gelding describes as a ‘different unit’.

Sports

Penny pinching Tigers should learn from false economy!

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This is the first in a series to be known as the ‘Professor’s Rant!”

Over the last few weeks on Sportzfan Radio Stan and I have had lengthy discussions with basketball expert and panelist, Daniel Eade.  The topic for most of  those conversations has been the poor start…no, make that the very poor start to the NBL season by the Melbourne Tigers.  Daniel conceded last week that it is quite conceivable that the Tigers could start the season with a 0-8 win/loss total….well, make that loss total.

I was surprised when Daniel told our listening audience (on Sportzfan Radio #179.1) that the Tigers, during the off season, had considered signing Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams (the reigning NBL MVP) and Julius Hodge (who played with the Tigers in 2009), but in the end Tigers management had elected to go with the cheaper option of an untried paring of TJ Campbell and Eric Devendorf.  Needless to say, the cheaper option did not get the job done and, as we all expected, Campbell was cut loose during the week to make way for Williams.  Who knows how long Devendorf will last, but given the loss to Perth Wildcats last night, he is possibly one step closer to a ticket home.

Make no mistake, I do not have a problem with NBL teams showing prudent financial management.  Signing ‘no name brand’ imports may have been all the Tigers could have afforded.  Of course, it doesn’t get fans excited or flocking to the stadium but it hopefully keeps the team in the black.  This premise though seems incorrect when the Tigers are eventually forced to admit the mistake in judgment and go with the cheque book to sign Williams in an effort to save their floundering season.  Problem is that the ‘momentum train’ has long since left the station and their is now almost no hope that the Tigers can fill their stadium or sign up new members.

Given the NBL is struggling anyway in the crowded summer sports market place, to go with ‘no name brand’ players is a recipe for disaster for both the scoreboard and hip pocket.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #179.2

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@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!14 November 2010 179.2 – Daniel thinks the Melbourne Tigers theme song is very annoying to listen to and believes there should be no basketball theme songs. The Professor wonders whether Daniel was alive when the Leyland Brothers were on television. The ‘F’ word looks at the local A-League scene. Archie Thompson back for Melbourne Victory will be a positive however the Victory have lost one of their other strikers. He doesn’t believe Victory can make the top three given their current ladder position. He is going to see both Melbourne Heart and Victory in the next week but will only be wearing a Heart scarf. Mark also has a quick look at English Premier League and the Socceroos upcoming friendly against Egypt. The Panel discuss IPL’s growing disruption to other forms of cricket with Australia’s test series against Bangladesh needing to be moved as it clashes with IPL matches. Paul Dalligan is stoked about Greg Inglis heading for the Rabbitohs and says it is the biggest signing in his lifetime. He is disppointed that Australia was beaten by the Kiwis in the last minute of last night’s final of the Four Nations Tournament. Social media expert, Sean Callanan believes the Queen has a lot of work to do to catch up to LeBron James on Facebook. He likes people quoting tweets but has a problem with journalists quoting tweets but then not linking back to the original story or using their twitter handle. The NBA and the NHL are always trending on twitter when the games are played which says those Leagues are on the ball with social media.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #179.1

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@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!14 November 2010 179.1 – The Professor starts by asking Daniel whether there should be a “mercy rule’ in basketball like there is in baseball, which then starts a discussion on the Melbourne Aces and whether their double header games are only 7 innings in length. The Gambler gives an update on Danish Rock who has been put out in the paddock for a six week spell. Stan has more basketball questions for Daniel about the Melbourne Tigers including whether an import (or two) will be sacked. Daniel says if the Tigers are 0-6 after the next two games they will both be sacked. Daniel doesn’t think Al Westover will be sacked though. The Gambler complains about the traffic created by the Australian Masters golf. Mordiboy sends a text predicting Tiger Woods not being able to win the tournament and thinks Daniel Gaunt will win by a shot. The Gelding discusses yesterday’s racing at Sandown and Rosehill. He says with the track being a ‘heavy 9’, runners needed some wet weather form to be in with a show. He says that like Danish Rock, Queen Asa is also going out for a spell.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #177.1

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@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!31 October 2010 177.1 – Paul Gamble hosts this weeks show – can he fill the Professor’s shoes?  The Gelding is brought onto the Panel at the last moment as the race meeting at Kilmore that Queen Asa was running in was washed out.  Daniel observes that Gambler is dressed more suitably than the Professor was last week – “He was dressed like a 16 year old thug – an American football jumper with his hat on backwards!”.  Even though the Professor had a week off, he was still on the phone talking the AFL draw, the Spring Carnival as Kelly Osbourne or Scary Spice wouldn’t add to his enjoyment of the races – they’re going because it is a party.  He tells Daniel he hadn’t spoken to the VRC to arrange a million dollar appearance fee for him at the Cup and he wants to know when Southern FM are going to have their own celebrity tent at the Spring carnival.  The future of cricket is a worry due to poor participation rates and probably of more concern, they are falling.  The Gelding talks Derby day races and sums up the Flemington meeting.  By the end of the meeting, the track was heavily affected by rain.  So You Think had a comfortable win in the conditions and now has five Group 1 wins.  The Sydney Colt’s tip, Skilled did not perform as expected even though he thought it would win.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #175.1

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@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!17 October 2010 175.1 – The show starts with the Professor asking the Gelding whether the Caulfield Cup race meeting should have been postponed because of the bad weather. Stan tells Daniel that in the season opening NBL match the Melbourne Tigers were hopeless. This then prompts a discussion of the Tigers players. In the US report this week Susan Shan talks about Brett Favre and alleged problematic texts and emails to a NY Jets female employee.  San Francisco 49ers are her surprise due to their poor showing in the NFL season so far.  In MLB she thinks Cliff Lee is beatable but not likely during the post season.  She thinks the Phillies and Rangers will make it through to the World Series whilst the Cubs and Cardinals were the biggest busts of the 2010 season.  She doesn’t think Bobby Valentine will be going back to the Mets any time soon.  The Gelding discusses the Caulfield Cup day races and observes Chris Munce is one of only seven jockeys who have won the Big 4 – Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.  The Professor calls it the ‘Grand Slam’ of racing.  Gelding awards an ‘S-Hit’ ride to the jockey of Shocking who he says should have won easily.  The Professor and the Gelding again talk about their interest in Danish Rock.

Punting

The Gelding's tips for 16 October 2010

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The Gelding is ready and raring to go for Caulfield Cup day at his home track.  Unfortunately, the weather may play a big part with Melbourne expecting a deluge of rain over the next twelve hours and many horses expected to be scratched because of the expected conditions.

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Caulfield

Race 2 Horse 1 – Skilled
Race 5 Horse 7 – Duble Anny (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 6 Horse 2 – All Silent
Race 8 Horse 1 – Shocking (also for the ladies at the Tennis club) – quinella it with Horse 17 Faint Perfume
Race 9 Horse 1 – Hot Danish

You can hear the Gelding discuss all the racing news with the Professor on Sportzfan Radio at 12.30pm this Sunday on 88.3 Southern FM.  Special guest this week by phone from Sydney will be the Sydney Colt.

Good luck and good punting and don’t get wet!!

The Gelding