Three-Point Stance #1

The NFL Lockout is over.  College Football practices kick off next week.  And there are back-to-school commercials at every click of the button...in July?  What in the name of Peyton Manning is going on around here?  After a long break from football and a much, much shorter summer for students everywhere, Fall and football will be here you know it.  So what does that really mean?  It's time for "On The Ball" to break out into a "Three-Point Stance" - a  tripod of football facts and figures to keep the football season fun and interesting.  So here we go:  "Down...Set...Hike!"

Could Brett Favre really make yet another comeback - for the fifth time?  We
might find out sooner than you think now that football is back.

NFL
The post NFL lockout activity will be fast and furious as teams rush to sign free agents, fill holes in key positions, and work to negotiate rookie contracts with players they drafted during the lockout way back in April.  Due to the lockout, teams did not have the chance to work with new and/or young players on their offensive or defensive playbooks.  Look for teams with limited turnover in their key skill positions and coaching staffs to have the advantage in the early part of the season, which should be good for some important victories for many teams.  FYI - If any teams are in the market for a veteran quarterback with a ton  of experience, it appears that some guy named Brett Favre may be close to his phone...again!

Star quarterback and Heisman-hopeful, Kellen Moore, will lead his Boise State
Broncos into the mighty MWC (insert sarcastic smile here) in 2011.

College
So Boise State is picked to win the Mountain West Conference and Utah is picked to finish third in the Pac-12 South?!  Sounds weird, right?  But it's the reality in the re-aligned 2011 version of college football.  Boise State stormed in the MWC with the preseason player of the year, Kellen Moore, and garnered 28 of the 31 first-place votes as soon-to-be (in 2012) Big East team, TCU, cleaned up the other 3 first-place votes.  So it appears that the MWC went to a potential power conference with BYU, Utah, TCU, and Boise St. leading the way to the Boise State Invitational starting in 2012.  Well done, MWC.  Utah, meanwhile, jumps to the newly-created Pac-12 and will kick off the "real" football season (after an opening-day yawner against Montana State) on the road against USC in the coliseum.  On playing the first Pac-12 game at USC, Coach Kyle Whittingham said that it was "Baptism by fire".  Careful, Kyle, one of the principal reasons the Pac-10 took Colorado over BYU as the 12th team in the new conference was due to the "R" word (Religion) and its direct effects (i.e., "Sunday play").  I would be cautious of any references to religious ordinances or Reggie Bush when you go to USC.

High School phenom, Tanner Magnum, will bring all his summer football camp
awards back to Idaho this fall for his senior season, then to BYU in 2014.

High School
BYU 2012 commit and senior-to-be, Tanner Mangum, is having a pretty good summer.  After committing to play football at BYU after his two-year mission (2014) on April 7, Mangum has been throwing around the country preparing for senior year and BYU glory.  Mangum wowed national experts at a seven-on-seven team passing competitions, "The Opening," in Beaverton, OR, and last week Mangum earned MVP honors at the prestigious Elite 11 camp on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.  Why is that such a big deal?  Well, 22 of the 32 starting NFL quarterbacks at the end of the 2010 season participated in the Elite 11 camp, let alone were the MVP.  In fact, current BYU sophomore, Jake Heaps, was the MVP of the Elite 11 camp in 2009, leaving BYU fans more than happy that Mangum will be ready to follow Heaps' lead again in 2014 after Heaps completes his four-year run in Provo in 2013.

Are you ready for some football?!

Comedy, Shots and Shaq

As the NFL appears to be days - maybe even hours - from an agreement on the new collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players, which will end the lockout and teams will rally their players for training camp as early as Monday, the NBA lockout continues without any chance of activities or negotiations between the players and owners.  However, it appears to be the NBA that is making the all the news this week:

Shaquille O'Neal will flex his muscles as an NBA analyst during the upcoming
NBA season...whenever that will be.

Recently retired Shaquille O'Neal had numerous nicknames throughout his 19-year NBA career: Shaq, The Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Superman, The Big Shaqtus (when he was in Phoenix), The Big Shamrock (when he was a Boston Celtic), and don't forget about Kazaam! (Click the link for ShaqFu fun).  But Shaq appears to be adding another title to his post-NBA life: The Big Critic.  Shaq has been signed by TNT and NBATV to be a full-time analyst a la Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley.  In his debut on NBATV as the NBA released it 2011-12 schedule (by the way, why are they talking about games taking place in November when the March games may not even be played...but that's a whole other blog entry), Shaq indicated that the Miami Heat would rise back to the top after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in this year's NBA Finals - led by the "Big 2".  The Big Critic!  See, the Heat has been known as the "Big 3" since LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade signed long-term contracts to team up in Miami last summer.  Shaq went on to say, "Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, you know, they're great players, they're probably the greatest backcourt ever assembled.  And you know, they're going to get back.  They're going to get back."  Calling out 18 point-per-game, 8 rebound-per-game star, Chris Bosh?  Big words for The Big Coat-Tail-Rider, who spent the last few years of his career limping from Cleveland to Boston trying to win another championship - just like he did as the sidekick to Wade in Miami in 2006 and to Kobe in LA from 2000-2002.  Let's hope The Big Critic doesn't try to become The Big Comedian when he could seriously add some value and experience to NBA analysis shows.

Ron Artest/Metta World Peace will put on his happy
face in hopes that the audiences that attend his comedy
shows will put on theirs.

Wish the same could be said for Ron Artest, who not only has now applied to have his name changed his to "Metta World Peace", but he has now taken up comedy as a part-time job during the NBA lockout.  When asked what Ron's (and Metta's...or Metta World Peace's) plans were during the NBA lockout, he responded: "We're definitely going to do some more comedy shows.  We had four this month, but one of them got canceled.  But we picked up like 10 more.  I was going to go overseas and keep it going (with basketball) and get a check, but the comedy shows are paying (as much as I would earn playing) overseas, so I can just stay over here and do comedy shows."  Okay, Ron - or is it Metta?  Or is it both because of the "we" references?  Whatever, hopefully Ron (Metta) doesn't move on from basketball just yet.  Shaq needs material.  Plus, we've already seen comedy, Ron Artest, and basketball all wrapped up in one play.  Check it out here.  Actually, now that I think about it, Ron/Metta may have something here...I've never laughed as hard as I did when Ron first thanked his psychiatrist when he was interviewed after the Lakers' Game 7 NBA Finals victory over the Celtics.  Classic!

By the way, The Jimmer is still The Jimmer - even during the lockout.  Check it out here.

Hope Sinks

I sat through an entire women's soccer game for the first time in my life yesterday...and I was not disappointed. After wins over Brazil (in penalty kicks) and France in the knockout stage last week, goalkeeper Hope Solo and the USA women's soccer team faltered and lost to Japan in the Women's World Cup Final in penalty kicks, 3-1.  Japan became the first Asian country to win the Women's World Cup, but the 90 minutes of regulation were for the most part dominated by the United States as the Americans out shot Japan, 27-14.  The American women controlled the scoring opportunities in the first half without any balls touching the back of the net, and although Japan kept pace with the Americans in the possession game, it only seemed to be a matter of time before the Americans were hoisting the trophy.  But once the Americans pulled ahead with Alex Morgan's goal in the 69th minute, Japan just seemed to keep running - exactly the same way the country of Japan has just kept running since the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated the country since March.  Japan eventually tied the match in the 80th minute and held on to send the match to a 30-minute extra-time period.

Japan celebrated two improbable equalizing goals against the mighty USA on
Sunday night in the World Cup Final to force and eventually prevail on penalties.

Once again, the USA pulled ahead in the 104th minute with Abby Wambach's header, but Japan pulled another improbable equalizer by netting the second game-tying goal of the match with only 3 minutes left in the extra time period forcing penalty kicks.  Say what you will about soccer - and even women's soccer - but there is no other moment more exciting than a shootout for the World Cup Final.  Fresh off a shootout victory over Brazil a week earlier, the Americans appeared to have the advantage, but yet again, Japan overcame the odds and pulled out the win.  The USA did not get a good touch on their first two kicks which appeared to set the tone for a 3-1 shootout loss in only 4 rounds.

Even though the USA gave up a TON of chances to win on Sunday, the team didn't fail to capture America's attention on their way to a disheartening collapse in the Final.  Hollywood celebrities, pro athletes, and even President Obama became close followers of Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, and the team during the past couple of weeks due to their will to win and ability to overcome what had been a tough couple of years for USA women's soccer since the Gold Medal-winning performance in the 2008 Olympics.  In fact, the USA-Japan Final set a new record for global Twitter volume at about 7,196 tweets-per-second.  Which is most surprising because there appears to actually be 7,196 people that use Twitter.  (I may have to actually check out this thing we call Twitter...oh wait, I already have: @rwfarnsworth. FYI - I don't "tweet"...yet)  Twitter may love women's world soccer, but unfortunately Twitter doesn't buy tickets to Women's Professional Soccer League games....

Team USA and star goalkeeper, Hope Solo, accepted the second-
place trophy and were left to wonder what might have been

Which is why all good things must come to an end (unless you're Japan, of course).  Unfortunately for the USA women's team, the attention paid by the cheering public on their way to the World Cup Final will not result in a World Cup "bounce", and it will not materially improve the frailty of the Women's Professional Soccer League and the average player's $27,000-a-year salaries.  The USA sports scene is just way too crowded with limited room for a permanent place for women's soccer (even news of the developments of the NFL lockout led many Sports headlines and broadcasts over the result of Sunday's Women's World Cup Final).  At times, the 2011 Women's World Cup appeared to be even more exciting than the 2010 Men's World Cup, but the United States fan, in particular, was captivated due to the patriotic spirit that the women's run to the Finals evoked as opposed to an attraction to, and interest in, the talent and quality of play of women's soccer.

History

So I am back from my own all-star break after enjoying one of the greatest individual performances and achievements that I have ever seen, and what makes it even better is that I witnessed it in person.  Last Saturday, Derek Jeter became the 28th major league baseball player ever to reach 3,000 regular-season hits in his career while also becoming the first Yankee player to achieve such a great milestone.  Up until last Saturday, the greatest individual achievement I had witnessed in person was seeing John Stockton pass Magic Johnson to become the all-time leading assist leader in NBA History with 9,922 assists in 1995.  Stockton would later add on 5,884 assists during the last 8 years of his career which is a record unlikely to ever be broken.

Derek Jeter brought the Yankee fans to their feet
when he got #3,000 and won the game for the Yanks.

So why did Derek Jeter's 3,000 hit moment, which vaulted him into a tie for 27th on the all-time hits list surpass a moment when John Stockton become the all-time leader in assists?  #1 vs #27?  Because the middle-of-the-season baseball game versus the division rival Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday saw the legendary shortstop hit a home run for his 3,000th hit, go 5 for 5 at the plate, and drive in the winning run during the Yankees' last at bat in the bottom of the 8th inning.  Stockton on the other hand, scored his record-breaking assist in the second quarter of a middle-of-the-season basketball game against the then-lowly Denver Nuggets.  Like Jeter, Stockton's record came at home in front of a raucous Jazz crowd.  Out of the gate, John Stockton came out of the gates blazing, scoring assist after assist needing 8 to break the record coming into the game.  Stockton averaged just over 12 assists during the 1994-95, but it was still a possibility that the game could come and go without a new record.  John did not let it happen.  With the Jazz up by 22 in the second quarter, Stockton broke the record on a bounce pass to none other than Karl Malone.  Check the play and the short shorts out here.  The Jazz went on to win by 30+ points.  No in-game drama other than the 2 minute clip above.  It is one of the most amazing record in sports, but...

Jeter had flirted with the possibility of hitting the 3,000 hit mark during the past 4 weeks, which saw him get within 6 hits of 3,000 and then spend 3 weeks on the disabled list.  Since coming off the disabled list last week, the Yankees were only scheduled to have 4 games at home during the next 15 games.  Jeter has become a hero in The Bronx during the past 16 years as he has led the Yankees to 5 world championships, so it was simple: 3,000 had to happen in Yankee Stadium.

The script was perfect on Saturday for history
and a Yankee victory - thanks to the Captain.

After rain washed away the Yankees-Rays game on Friday, the Yankees and their fans were eager to get to the park on Saturday to potentially witness history.  Jeter came into the game with 2,998 hits, and promptly started the game off with a single to left field against young gun, David Price.  Yankee Stadium went dead silent on every pitch to Jeter, gasping at Jeter foul balls, and roaring every time he came to bat or took the field.  After the Captain singled in the first, he came up in the 3rd with the Yankees down 1-0, and belted a 3-2 curveball into the left field stands.  Pandemonium.  Only one other player (former Yankee Wade Boggs) had ever had his 3,000th hit on a home run - as a member of the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Almost 10 minutes passed between the home run pitch to Jeter and the first pitch to the next Yankee hitter.  It was incredible.  Not content with stopping at 3,000, Jeter hit the first pitch of his third at bat down the left field line for a double.  Another eruption.  The crowd was still buzzing and going crazy with any Jeter reference on the scoreboard, in the stands, over the PA system.  The game itself was a back-and-forth battle between two of the better teams in baseball.  So when the Yankees were threatening with the go-ahead run already on base and Jeter came to the plate, everyone in the stadium knew what they wanted to happen, but could Jeter, who had already gone 4 for 4 with a home run, actually get another hit and be the hero of the game - twice?  Absolutely.  Jeter drilled the game-winning single to center field to plate the Yankees 5th run of the day.  The Bronx cheered once again for its Captain.  This time as he pursued the path to another 3,000.

Yankee Manager, Joe Girardi, summed up Jeter's day perfectly by saying, "I don't think you can script it any better.  This is already movie-ready.  It's just remarkable the day that he had."

Joe, I couldn't agree more.  Sorry, John.

A Boring Summer Week?

I have no idea what I'm going to do to get through next week.  It is the one week every year where my craving for sports goes unfulfilled and I am forced to look for alternative methods of entertainment in the sporting world. The NBA and the NFL are both in their off season (and coincidentally are both in contentious lockouts between their respective players and owners), the NHL officially is in their off season - even though by my count they are always in their off season - and Major League Baseball takes a three-day break for its all-star game festivities before it resumes its season on Thursday, July 14.  Sports Illustrated even releases its annual summer "double" issue this week so it doesn't have to release an issue next week.

ESPN Reporter and reality TV personality,
Erin Andrews, may be one of the few reasons to
tune into the annual ESPN sports awards show.

To help satisfy the public's need for sport, ESPN films its annual sports award show, the ESPY's, on the day after the MLB all-star game, but you shouldn't feel like you have to tune in live on Wednesday to watch it since ESPN will show the awards show about a dozen times between the day it's taped and the end of July.  I don't know about you, but I just can't get enough of a self-publicizing and self-promoting event put on by the self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports (read w/ a sarcastic tone).  The only reason I'm even remotely interested in the ESPY's this year is to see if The Jimmer can continue his domination in the sports awards scene and bring home an ESPY in the category of Best Male College Athlete after winning every major national player of the year award in college basketball.  Tune in to any one of the dozens of showings to find out.

But for those of you (like me) who just won't be satisfied with a MLB all-star game that has lost a bit of its luster and an uneventful sports awards show (unless it's hosted by Justin Timberlake), here are three things to keep an eye out for next week (Note: I had to go all the way to Europe and the Internet to find these so enjoy!):

BYU Football Media Day 
With BYU going independent in football, it will be the first summer in a long time when BYU and its coaches and key players do not attend a media day for its conference.  So when you're an independent you do your media day independently, of course.  On Tuesday, July 12, there will be several sessions from the BYU Football Media Day broadcast live on BYUtv or online at byutv.org.  More details about the Media Day can be found here which includes a Q&A webcast in Spanish (BYU is clear about what kind of "Football" they'll be talking about, right?).

Bronco Mendenhall will help kick
off BYU's journey into football
independence with a virtual-based
Football Media Day.

BYU fans can post questions for coaches, players, former players, and can answer trivia questions via Twitter for the possibility to win prizes.  Of course, anything on Twitter eliminates about 70% of the traditional fans that sit on the West side of Lavell Edwards Stadium, but it should be a fun event to follow as BYU embarks on its first year of (American) Football independence with what Bronco has called his "most talented" team he has ever had at BYU.

Women's World Cup
Now, the Women's World Cup has been going on in Germany for a couple of weeks, but it will begin to take center stage as it enters the quarterfinals on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  The US Women's team has not won the World Cup since the rip-roaring, shirt-stripping, and bra-revealing shootout win over China in 1999, and the road to a World Cup championship will be even more difficult in 2011 as the US slid into a quarterfinals matchup against perennial powerhouse Brazil by losing to Sweden today in the last round of pool play.

The US Women's World Cup Soccer Team will
hope to party like it's 1999 when Brandi
Chastain (above) scored the game-winning
shootout goal against China.

The loss to Sweden was the US Women's first loss ever in pool play in the World Cup which is not exactly a positive sign for a team that has struggled in international competition during the last year.  Either way, Germany will hope to advance and defend its home turf as the final match will take place on Sunday, July 17.


The Open Championship (aka The British Open)
This year's version of Golf's third round of the Grand Slam will kick off on Thursday, July 14 at Royal St. George's in England.  The Open Championship will be without injury-ridden Tiger Woods who is still sidelined with undisclosed knee and achilles injuries. "Unfortunately, I've been advised that I should not play in the British Open," Woods said. "I am only going to come back when I'm 100 percent ready." Who knows how long that will be given Woods' physical, social, and familial issues during the past 18 months?  However, with many golf stars such as Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy still scheduled to participate, it should be interesting to track whether another unknown will rise up to win the tournament a la 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen.