The Daily Dose: January 2009 Archives

thanks to our most excellent sports designer for finding this for me....

'nuff said.
and yes, that is Busch Stadium in St. Louis....classic

anyway,

published reports have Geneva d-lineman Cory Hofstetter taking a near full scholarship offer to attend Division I-AA Western Illinois.
He chose the Leathernecks over a walk-on opportunity at Northern Illinois University.

Hofstetter will play tight end at Western.

strong>BREAKING NEWS ALERT

Jeffries will receive a full scholarship to play in the Conference USA school and is the second Panther to commit to a Division I school (Tim Riley is headed to Northwestern).

"When I first got out there, it kind of seemed like home to me," Jeffries said. "I liked the town and it just felt normal. I really like the coaching and where they're headed with their program. It's on the upswing. It felt like the right fit."

He picked Marshall over Illinois State and several other NAIA and Division II schools.

Stay tuned to the Sports Beacon blog and The Beacon News in the coming week to learn where area players will be playing football.

The Beacon News will also be hosting a LIVE blog on The Sports Beacon during signing day next week to talk about who is going where, and everything else high school football related!

so Jerry Angelo wants to focus on the "quarterback position" for apparently the first time in his nearly decade-long tenure with the Bears....

and once again, in an odd repeat of a few years ago, Super Bowl quarterback Kurt Warner may (or may) not be coming to Chicago.

and apparently perennial retiree Brett Favre is once again trying to engineer a trade to Minnesota and, once again, is threatening his current team with retirement if that doesn't happen.

to me, Warner - or Favre - are better fits for the Vikings than the Bears. Minnesota is closer to making it to an NFC title game than the Bears are, even in this quick turnaround league. Adrian Peterson has a couple more good years left, as does that offensive line. Provided d-coordinator Leslie Frazier isn't hired in Kansas City or Oakland, you figure the defense will be OK yet again.

Warner isn't the answer here in Chicago. Maybe he was four years ago, but not now.

from this blog entry on SI.com - (which is funny because the mess started with blogs)

As we approach Feb. 4 - signing day for football players going to Division I, II or NAIA programs - this is a reminder that internet recruiting sites and recruiting based blogs aren't always the best ways to get your information.

this, about a made-up youth soccer player being named one of London's top young players....despite not existing:
The hoaxer, it seemed, had exploited the trickle-up nature of online information flow. The blog comments fooled the blogs, the blogs fooled the news sites, and the news sites fooled the magazines.

now, it is The Times of London's fault for just believing what was put out there and running with it - but to me this just proves the ridiculousness of projecting ahead and really, caring too much about how good young athletes could be.

It's why I refuse to badger area high school players for their daily thoughts on what college they may want to attend. It simply doesn't matter in the end.

at least not yet.
According to this piece in SI, the former West player and coach is still in limbo following the firing of Romeo Crenel....

• Eric Mangini had a reputation for poor communication skills when he coached the New York Jets. Evidently, he hasn't changed. Several holdovers from Romeo Crennel's staff in Cleveland said they have not heard a word from Mangini since he was hired on Jan. 7 and are wondering what their future holds.

Randy's a good guy and a pretty good coach - I'm hoping he doesn't take the fall for what happened. But, if Mangini does want to clean house - he should do it soon so these deserving assistants can land on their feet for the 2009 season.

i'm an Eagles fan.
and I no longer want Donovan McNabb under center.
I've felt this way for over a year, and Sunday's debacle just pounded it home further. I like Donovan. I think he's put up with more undue crap than any QB this century. I also think he's one of the top 10 QBs in the league.

I know what I'm asking. I know there are no guarantees in finding a great successor. I don't know if Kevin Kolb is worth anything. I don't know if Andy Reid and the Iggles could find and develop another top 10 QB.

But still.
I'm tired.
I'm tired of the losing. I'm tired of the bad play when it matters most. I'm tired of the throws into the dirt, the ones two yards behind or six yards over, the ones to the wrong shoulder, the holding onto the ball too long, the inability to perform when it counts.

Yes, Donovan's a regular season winner. But 5 NFC titles games in 9 years is not something to be happy about. Not when you're 1-4 and 0-1 in the Super Bowl. Not when your QB can't rise to the occasion when truly great QBs do.

Just look at the guy who has beat McNabb twice - Kurt Warner. While McNabb is fumbling and intercepting and incompleting, Warner is dissecting and throwing touchdowns.

This is what McNabb is. He's the football version of Alfonso Soriano...

(since everyone loves dumb sports video - i couldn't resist putting these out there. For those who made these videos, go find some help. Please)

Tom Waddle

Fore more, read on!

The IHSA incorporated a provision into its terms and conditions for state series events (regional, sectional & state) - regardless of where the games are hosted - that prayers read over the public address system are not allowed. Team prayers or post-game prayer circles are not affected.

To read The Beacon's coverage of the story, click here

What are your thoughts? Do you think the IHSA is right in adding that to its terms and conditions of hosting an event?

Should area private schools choose to not host regionals/sectionals/state events because of this?

Let us know!
(Note: The Beacon will be publishing a follow up to this piece in early February)

The MVC Shuffle led me to find more recent bad sports music videos for your enjoyment!

here's a 49ers song I didn't see the first time around....and I'm sorry I've seen it now

Who dey? Cincinnati Bengals? No Boomer though....

at least the Bengals were good back then....there's no excuse for an updated version from the modern Bengals....ugh

and yes, even high schools were not immune from bad 80's raps

I can't really confirm if the Glasgow Diamonds were an actual semi-pro football team...but even if not...this is pretty damn funny

this isn't a music video, but it's pretty ridiculous....that's right - it's The Morten Andersen Show!! That's right, former Saints kicker and everyone's favorite Dane!!
Only the 80s could have brought you this gem of a show, which includes such hard-hitting questions from Mort like "what about your mom? Did she ever want to murder a rival or something?"

Deion Sanders was a special player...and a well, "special" rapper wannabe....
help us all...

oh, Prime Time wasn't done after that gem...

and a local favorite from the recent past..

ankle insurance

and finally - remember back when the Daily Dose dug up a lot of bad 80's raps from NFL teams? (spawned from the Super Bowl Shuffle?) well, it looks likes today's generation of players isn't any better.

The Daily Dose will admit, we're not all over this innernet thing all day every day, so things tend to slip through the nets. if you ever come across some fun sports videos, or viral commercials like the one above, pass 'em on.

Once again, a semi-regular installment in the ways in which sports entertains us in ways other facets of society just can't....

The Cubs are for sale....still
The Yankees are contending that they are the ones paying for the stadium and not taxpayers...but really, who they crappin?...
Elton John!
A mayor changing his name because it included the name of a rival foo-ball team....
This is a teaser we're supposed to understand: "Is going to the 96 a good move for Bobby Labonte? Buck and Bass discuss."

Only in sports can gun play seem, well, fun....
there's Michael Irvin, Plaxico Burress, Marvin Harrison and Pacman Jones.

While I don't condone the use of guns for illegal purposes, or take lightly how serious illegal gun use can be, these goofs only make me laugh.

The story on Harrison makes him sound like Philly's version of Eastwood in Gran Torino....
Burress shot himself in the leg because well, he felt a belt was the proper kind of holster for a loaded gun with no safety...
And all Pacman wanted to do was make it rain, but oh, he also, perhaps, arranged for a nightclub shooting...after he wanted 'redemption'

To the Twins? In this story about Michael Young and potential suitors, the author says "1. Twins. They've been looking around for infield help. But all in all they seem much more likely to sign a free agent such as Joe Crede. Also, it's uncertain whether Young would approve a trade to Minnesota." just what we need - a reaction from meathead Sox fans with Steve Perry/AJ/Aaron Rowand posters on their wall. Look, Crede was a favorite of mine too - he was spectacular down the stretch in '05 but look, the guy has chronic back issues and is a career .257 hitter. He's only played in over 100 games four times. and let's be honest - while he's a great fit for the Twins, he'll last only so long in '09 on that turf. Maybe if they sign him for multiple years and he's there for the natural grass stadium in '10....but then again, his back never reacted well to the cold here in Chicago. anyway, this is a meathead scenario - especially if Crede gets off to a hot start while the Sox's replacement struggles (or if he torches the beloved South Siders head-to-head).

ok, I hate the meatheads as much as anyone, but they are always a source of entertainment (i.e. "Wake up and smell the '85 defense!")

but when actual real live foo-ball players admit what the meatheads have observed over the years of Lovie Smith's regime, sigh, I have to give the meatheads what they have so desired..

First, on Friday the 9th former Bears offensive lineman Steve Edwards admitted on local Chicago sports radio that they never made halftime adjustments....

then, today, former Bears special teams ace/linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said on local Chicago sports radio that "something was missing" in the Bears locker room during his tenure, and that "maybe we were just a little too cool."

This is in reference to The Fire and The Passion that current teammate Ray Lewis brings to the table....

ok, meatheads - score 2 for you!

who would win a fight, Aaron Rowand or Tim Tebow.bmp?

Because according to Thom Brennamen, Tebow's play in last night's national title game was "just the passion and the fire that is Tim Tebow! He's unquestionably the greatest leader in college football today."

Um. No.

First, he obviously doesn't have The Fire and The Passion.
That's reserved for only the special few, and you have to bust your face on a metal fence to prove it. Or break your body by riding a drt bike off a cliff.

Just because Tebow leads the Google search for Fire and Passion over Rowand at this point doesn't mean it'll stick. Rowand's had The Fire and The Passion for at least four years now....Tebow's had it for what, a year?

Sorry buddy. doesn't fly.
Like Aaron Rowand.

In all honesty, Brennamen and his broadcast cohort embarrassed themselves last night with their glowing affection for Tebow. It's not responsible, and frankly, no one watching really gave a crap.

You know why.

Because at no point did Tim Tebow look like this:

This from Patrick Mullaghy, a member of the Geneva High School Hockey Club board of directors.

On Dec. 27 the Geneva Hockey Co-Op, which consists of high school players from Geneva, Marmion Academy and St. Francis played a group of co-op alumni in a charity hockey game called the Charity Challenge to raise food for the St. Peter's (of Geneva) Food Pantry.

From Mullaghy's letter to the editor:
"GHC was able to donate 330 pounds of nonperishable goods to the panty. In addition to the food, a check for $300 was presented to the panty. The panty feeds 125 families in the Fox Valley area twice a month. The monetary gift was made up of gate donations, a 50/50 draw, and a chuck-a-puck event."

In the first of two games, the varsity players competed against a group of alumni, many which are playing at the college and Junior level. A 1-1 tie in regulation led to a shoot-out (in lieu of overtime). The final was 3-3 after the extra shots

In the nightcap, the junior varsity team fell to the alumni 11-5.

"Hockey is a great sport were camaraderie on and office the ice is shared a lifetime," Mullaghy said. " We had a great number of fans and supporters who chipped in not only in the can goods and cash donations, but in volunteering the time to make the evening run smoothly."

so far....

I would say that right now, the acquisition of Dayan Viciedo is not a move to bolster the major league roster...

so really, the 2008 Central Division champs haven't done much to strengthen the team (yet).
But, they have improved by some acquisitions the Indians have made.

Cleveland has just added another perpetually punctured pitcher to their rotation in Carl Pavano, to go with gas can Kerry Wood.
I'll take my chances against that any day of the week.

But I do hope that the reports of Brian Roberts for Gavin Floyd is truly just some internal discussions within the Oriole camp.

Roberts is a nice player, but I'm not sure what the infatuation is with him. Plus, he'll be 32 in October. Sorry. Young 17-game winner with no-hit stuff for 30+ infielder whose game is based on speed. Does. Not. Compute.

Lou Solarte, a renowed golf coach here in the west suburbs of Illinois, has been branching out into training for other sports using state of the art technologies and theories - especially in the realm of biomechanics.

along those lines, Solarte is involved in a baseball pitching clinic featuring the world-renowned Dr. Tom House - the USC baseball coach and former major league pitcher and pitching coach.

House is holding two seminars at the 5 Tool Academy in Naperville on Saturday January 10th from 9:00am - Noon and 1:00pm - 4:00pm.

Along with House, the seminar will feature a team of people to help parents and coaches learn more about how and when to pitch. They focus on teaching: the mechanics of pitching, strength and conditioning requirements, and nutritional necessities, as well as the mental and emotional elements of the sport.

The fee is $25.00, but athletes cam attend free of charge with a paying Coach or Parent

Reserve your spot by signing up at 5 Tool Academy or by calling 630.305.8665

Lou Solarte's Dynamic Sports Motion is located at 1743 Quincy Avenue #155 in Naperville, Illinois 60540.

you haven't had your fill of great quotes from 2008, here's another list for you.
Happy New Year!