The tear was real and spoke of something bigger than just a Masters title.
The tear was real and not some contrived stunt dreamed up by a public relations firm focused on damage control. The tear was real and not just something edited into a documentary by a close friend. The tear was real and not borne out of some contrived sense of being singled out by the masses.
The tear was real and the best part of a long fascinating day in sports.
When Phil Mickelson hugged his wife Amy it was about more than just winning the most prestigious tournament in golf. It was more than just personal pride or even worse, image.
"I really want to recognize my family," Mickelson. "My wife, we have been through a lot this year and it really means a lot to share this joy together."
For Mickelson, the win eased the burden of a year in which both his wife and mother have battled cancer. It was a moment of true emotion and that's hard to come by in this day and age which of course was proven out as the Monday rolled around.
It took just a few hours for the worst in human nature to surface as the Internet rumors of his affairs with strippers and Amy's affair with of all people Michael Jordan surfaced. No substantiation, just rumors which is a topic for another day
Mickelson has taken heat from his fellow pros for years. He's outspoken and has at times shown himself to be more than worried just about golf but about the big picture. He doesn't always think before he speaks and that has led to some animosity including being called a prick by Tiger Wood's caddie Steve Williams.
Which begs the question, just how good of a evaluator of humanity is Steve Williams?
But all of that is just a sidebar. It's the lowest common denominator on a day sport was elevated to it's highest levels. So for the moment, ignore the bottom crawlers and get back on point that the tear was real.
Real emotion is hard to disguise and that's what made Sunday so special.
Four months of Tiger Woods' rumors, would he or wouldn't he play, did he or didn't he cheat with this, that or the other one all led into The Masters and had CBS and the Golf Channel pining for something juicy from the world's greatest player. He gave them very little to work unless you count that creepy ad with his father's voice asking him what he's thinking.
In other words, Wood gave the world a pre-packaged response put together by the best public relations people available. Translation: Wood's gave us nothing real.
On a similar note, Tuesday night on ESPN should be special as E:60 presents Kobe Bryant and why he just can't win over the heart of his hometown Philadelphia. Yeah, this should be Bryant's real self. Just as Spike Lee presented the "real" Kobe Bryant in very special documentary.
ESPN ran a small segment of the piece on Sunday and you could just feel the love . . . from ESPN.
First off, it's hard to accept that Philadelphia is Bryant's hometown since he lived here for four years. Second, if as he said Philadelphia made him what he is which is among other things, wait for it, "thick-skinned" why does the booing bother him? Finally, he was quoted as saying he's from LA now and not Philly, so the reality is, Kobe should shut up but then that would be real.
And let's not forget the celebration at the Wachovia Center on Sunday afternoon. The Flyers won in a shootout over the New York Rangers and earned themselves a playoff berth. Brian Boucher made the final save and went nuts.
Yes, the emotion was real. Boucher has had a tough year and played outstanding on Sunday but at the same time, is it really worth celebrating being the eighth team in an eight team Eastern Conference field? Weren't the Flyers supposed to be Stanley Cup contenders not just a franchise that filled out the playoff field?
So say what you want about the range of emotions felt on Sunday and over the last week. Some were meaningful, others manufactured but none more heartfelt than the Mickelson's under a bright, Georgia sky on the second Sunday of April.
Because the tear was real and put sport back into the proper perspective.
Michael Radano's columns can be found at phillysportscentral.com and also at philliesphever.wordpress.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
One Game Does Not a Season Make
It was just the second game of the season but for some it was the biggest start of the 2010 season.
Hyperbole? Sure, but there is no doubt that Wednesday night’s outing by Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels was more intently watched than prized acquisition Roy Halladay’s just two days prior.
Halladay’s start was a coronation. There was no concern, no doubt and in it’s place a chance to sit back and enjoy.
Hamels’ start? Well, not so much.
Look, Hamels is the lynchpin of the Phillies rotation. Halladay is the new star and No.1 but Hamels is the key to how this season goes for a franchise looking for a third consecutive appearance in the World Series. In fact, even though the moment Halladay’s name appeared in print as headed to Philadelphia the Phillies became the favorite for the National League title, this season was and is still about Hamels.
A good season from Hamels and maybe fans can finally remove Cliff Lee from everyday conversation. A great season from Hamels and a parade down Broad Street is in the offering. Halladay is a huge addition and there remain concerns about the backend of the bullpen but Hamels remains the focus for 2010.
Can the Phillies win without Hamels at his best? Yes, they did last year. But that doesn’t mean the Phillies want to pace themselves this year and Hamels performance will go a long way in making this yet another season to remember.
So the question was posed, which Hamels would take the mound at Nationals Park On Wednesday night? Would it be the dominant lefty that was named the 2008 World Series MVP or the soft-tossing version that struggled throughout 2009? Would this be the beginning of a season in which Hamels used a third pitch (curveball/cutter) to elevate his game or is this to be a season in which his concentration listlessly drifts in and out of focus?
The answer is simple: After one game there is no answer. There can’t be an answer.
One game is not enough to determine the course of a season for if it were Placido Polanco would be on pace for 486 RBIs and Ryan Howard for 162 home runs.
Stop. Howard will not hit 162 home runs this year so relax.
Back on point, one game is never enough to judge a player and an 8-4 win in Washington that saw Hamels allow a pair of earned runs and walk an unheard of – for Hamels – four batters is just one small frame in a feature length film.
"It's not necessarily going to be clean and clear,” Hamels told reporters after the game. “You really have to be able to work as hard as you possibly can, and execute one pitch after another. And if you're not able to get every pitch that you'd like, if you're not able to hit your spots, you just have to go to the next one and keep plugging away."
First the negative: Hamels threw just 63 for strikes over 103 pitches.
"I've always been a strike thrower, Hamels said. “You pride yourself on not walking guys and being able to execute one pitch after another, but unfortunately sometimes it just doesn't happen."
Now the positive: Hamels had his velocity. Velocity in turn indicates health and more importantly enables him to throw his changeup more effectively.
The control will be there at some point this year. Remember that the Phillies are just two games into a 162 game schedule in which Hamels projects to make 33 to 35 starts. Hamels is no longer a rookie and can no longer be afforded the excuse that he is still learning but he should be allowed more than one game to get himself in tune.
Last year Hamels admitted he entered the season ill-prepared. A combination of too many banquets, guest appearances, charity events and photo shoots - that Liberty II ad remains more than a bit disturbing – combined with a natural step back physically after throwing over 400 innings in two seasons made Hamels mediocre.
Hamels talent is anything but mediocre and one average start can’t disguise that fact.
“Anytime I go out and feel strong and feel healthy, I think that's kind of the key," Hamels said. "You just have to build from there. It's a foundation for the next start."
And the start after that and so on and so forth.
Mike Radano's blog can be found at phillysportscentral.com and
Hyperbole? Sure, but there is no doubt that Wednesday night’s outing by Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels was more intently watched than prized acquisition Roy Halladay’s just two days prior.
Halladay’s start was a coronation. There was no concern, no doubt and in it’s place a chance to sit back and enjoy.
Hamels’ start? Well, not so much.
Look, Hamels is the lynchpin of the Phillies rotation. Halladay is the new star and No.1 but Hamels is the key to how this season goes for a franchise looking for a third consecutive appearance in the World Series. In fact, even though the moment Halladay’s name appeared in print as headed to Philadelphia the Phillies became the favorite for the National League title, this season was and is still about Hamels.
A good season from Hamels and maybe fans can finally remove Cliff Lee from everyday conversation. A great season from Hamels and a parade down Broad Street is in the offering. Halladay is a huge addition and there remain concerns about the backend of the bullpen but Hamels remains the focus for 2010.
Can the Phillies win without Hamels at his best? Yes, they did last year. But that doesn’t mean the Phillies want to pace themselves this year and Hamels performance will go a long way in making this yet another season to remember.
So the question was posed, which Hamels would take the mound at Nationals Park On Wednesday night? Would it be the dominant lefty that was named the 2008 World Series MVP or the soft-tossing version that struggled throughout 2009? Would this be the beginning of a season in which Hamels used a third pitch (curveball/cutter) to elevate his game or is this to be a season in which his concentration listlessly drifts in and out of focus?
The answer is simple: After one game there is no answer. There can’t be an answer.
One game is not enough to determine the course of a season for if it were Placido Polanco would be on pace for 486 RBIs and Ryan Howard for 162 home runs.
Stop. Howard will not hit 162 home runs this year so relax.
Back on point, one game is never enough to judge a player and an 8-4 win in Washington that saw Hamels allow a pair of earned runs and walk an unheard of – for Hamels – four batters is just one small frame in a feature length film.
"It's not necessarily going to be clean and clear,” Hamels told reporters after the game. “You really have to be able to work as hard as you possibly can, and execute one pitch after another. And if you're not able to get every pitch that you'd like, if you're not able to hit your spots, you just have to go to the next one and keep plugging away."
First the negative: Hamels threw just 63 for strikes over 103 pitches.
"I've always been a strike thrower, Hamels said. “You pride yourself on not walking guys and being able to execute one pitch after another, but unfortunately sometimes it just doesn't happen."
Now the positive: Hamels had his velocity. Velocity in turn indicates health and more importantly enables him to throw his changeup more effectively.
The control will be there at some point this year. Remember that the Phillies are just two games into a 162 game schedule in which Hamels projects to make 33 to 35 starts. Hamels is no longer a rookie and can no longer be afforded the excuse that he is still learning but he should be allowed more than one game to get himself in tune.
Last year Hamels admitted he entered the season ill-prepared. A combination of too many banquets, guest appearances, charity events and photo shoots - that Liberty II ad remains more than a bit disturbing – combined with a natural step back physically after throwing over 400 innings in two seasons made Hamels mediocre.
Hamels talent is anything but mediocre and one average start can’t disguise that fact.
“Anytime I go out and feel strong and feel healthy, I think that's kind of the key," Hamels said. "You just have to build from there. It's a foundation for the next start."
And the start after that and so on and so forth.
Mike Radano's blog can be found at phillysportscentral.com and
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
IT'S LIKE BEING DRAFTED AGAIN, WITHOUT THE BOOS
That was fun.
What could be better on a beautiful spring day than a Donovan McNabb press conference live from Washington D.C.?
Seriously, what else could possibly take up 30 or so minutes of one's day better than the riveting display of emotion that emanated from Redskins Park on this fine April afternoon?
"It's like being drafted again," McNabb said. "I feel like I'm 22 again."
Yeah, right.
First things first, this trade had to be done. It doesn't matter the date, time or place. McNabb had to be traded for several reasons and the Eagles believe they got the best value in return. McNabb isn't 22 anymore and while he certainly improves the Washington Redskins for this season - he's taking the starting quarterback job from Jason Campbell for cryin' out loud - it's the long term the Eagles are thinking about and the reality of the situation is that's a good thing.
Times change, teams get old, players come and go as organizations have to think to the future to stay relevant. That's why Brian Dawkins is in Denver and Brian Westbrook is looking for a job. The Eagles are rebuilding, retooling, reloading, and regurgitating the same on story that countless organizations have done in the past because it's the way business is done in professional sports. The Eagles won't tell the truth or even can tell the truth because their fan base (customers) doesn't want to hear it. That's true of any team and any city, not just Philadelphia no matter the national perception. Customers - who we know from Ecocnomics 101 are always right - want immediate satisfaction for their cost of fandom. The equation is simply wins are equal too or of more values than the cost of tickets, jerseys, watered down Bud Light, hats, foam fingers, parking and tailgates expenditures.
Winning makes everything alright.
So the Eagles won't say it but trading an aging quarterback is a simple calculation about 2012, 2013 and 2014. If the Eagles felt that McNabb could help them win three, four or five years from now, he would still be with the Eagles. If the Eagles brass felt that Donovan McNabb was worth a multi-year deal, he'd still be an Eagle.
You can ignore McNabb's comments about not thinking about the contract yet because that's the politically right thing to say in front of a media gathering fawning over your very existence. That's what one says when asked about what it will be liked to be cheered by 95,000-plus at Fed Ex Field instead of being booed at Lincoln Financial Field. That's what one says when you get asked if you'll go into the Hall of Fame draped in burgundy, gold and white instead of midnight green, black, charcoal, silver, and white. Wait, forgot the pink jerseys. Pink is also an Eagles color. Remember, pink jerseys are about charity not moving more merchandise.
This is all so because as we know Redskins fans have never, ever booed - even as owner Daniel Snyder has season-ticket holders escorted from the premises with derogatory signs. Let's for the moment forget that the busts in Canton don't come with helmets. That's Cooperstown where the caps have team emblems but then what does Washington know of baseball anyway.
And even though Washington D.C. loves itself some McNabb, that's not what these three days have been about.
The last three days haven't even been about the revolving ad board behind McNabb during his introductory press conference. (Well, maybe it was about the ad board a little bit for the Redskins, who have had those for years which begs the question what are the Eagles waiting for?).
The simple fact is the Eagles - Andy Reid - can't justify to themselves and their business plan having McNabb as their quarterback for more than this year. They've moved on and so has McNabb, who claimed to have never listened to the fans or let the occasional booing and criticism bother him.
Well, other than when he got booed the day he was drafted when he was 22 and luckily, he got to revise that feeling over the past three days.
What could be better on a beautiful spring day than a Donovan McNabb press conference live from Washington D.C.?
Seriously, what else could possibly take up 30 or so minutes of one's day better than the riveting display of emotion that emanated from Redskins Park on this fine April afternoon?
"It's like being drafted again," McNabb said. "I feel like I'm 22 again."
Yeah, right.
First things first, this trade had to be done. It doesn't matter the date, time or place. McNabb had to be traded for several reasons and the Eagles believe they got the best value in return. McNabb isn't 22 anymore and while he certainly improves the Washington Redskins for this season - he's taking the starting quarterback job from Jason Campbell for cryin' out loud - it's the long term the Eagles are thinking about and the reality of the situation is that's a good thing.
Times change, teams get old, players come and go as organizations have to think to the future to stay relevant. That's why Brian Dawkins is in Denver and Brian Westbrook is looking for a job. The Eagles are rebuilding, retooling, reloading, and regurgitating the same on story that countless organizations have done in the past because it's the way business is done in professional sports. The Eagles won't tell the truth or even can tell the truth because their fan base (customers) doesn't want to hear it. That's true of any team and any city, not just Philadelphia no matter the national perception. Customers - who we know from Ecocnomics 101 are always right - want immediate satisfaction for their cost of fandom. The equation is simply wins are equal too or of more values than the cost of tickets, jerseys, watered down Bud Light, hats, foam fingers, parking and tailgates expenditures.
Winning makes everything alright.
So the Eagles won't say it but trading an aging quarterback is a simple calculation about 2012, 2013 and 2014. If the Eagles felt that McNabb could help them win three, four or five years from now, he would still be with the Eagles. If the Eagles brass felt that Donovan McNabb was worth a multi-year deal, he'd still be an Eagle.
You can ignore McNabb's comments about not thinking about the contract yet because that's the politically right thing to say in front of a media gathering fawning over your very existence. That's what one says when asked about what it will be liked to be cheered by 95,000-plus at Fed Ex Field instead of being booed at Lincoln Financial Field. That's what one says when you get asked if you'll go into the Hall of Fame draped in burgundy, gold and white instead of midnight green, black, charcoal, silver, and white. Wait, forgot the pink jerseys. Pink is also an Eagles color. Remember, pink jerseys are about charity not moving more merchandise.
This is all so because as we know Redskins fans have never, ever booed - even as owner Daniel Snyder has season-ticket holders escorted from the premises with derogatory signs. Let's for the moment forget that the busts in Canton don't come with helmets. That's Cooperstown where the caps have team emblems but then what does Washington know of baseball anyway.
And even though Washington D.C. loves itself some McNabb, that's not what these three days have been about.
The last three days haven't even been about the revolving ad board behind McNabb during his introductory press conference. (Well, maybe it was about the ad board a little bit for the Redskins, who have had those for years which begs the question what are the Eagles waiting for?).
The simple fact is the Eagles - Andy Reid - can't justify to themselves and their business plan having McNabb as their quarterback for more than this year. They've moved on and so has McNabb, who claimed to have never listened to the fans or let the occasional booing and criticism bother him.
Well, other than when he got booed the day he was drafted when he was 22 and luckily, he got to revise that feeling over the past three days.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Busiest Day in Sports
Is there anything on the calendar quite like Opening Day?
Seriously, for a baseball fan it has to be the one day that everyone looks forward too and rarely disappoints. It's the one day of the year everyone has hope - even Mets fans can imagine a run to the playoffs if not supporters of the Royals or Nationals - no matter the end result. Think about it, an 0-1 record with 161 games to play is easily overcome and there is still room for hope.
That's part of the beauty of baseball, it happens everyday. Every single, mind-numbing day. Same lineup, same . . . sorry, that's the old beat writer in me whining. Let's move along.
When the Eagles start of 0-1 it's the end of the world. An 0-1 start for the Eagles is akin to an 0-10 start for the Phillies - which in its own way is one reason baseball players tend to roll their eyes when asked over and over about one loss - and that's not going to happen.
Baseball is spring, new life and a look to the summer. Football, basketball and hockey are all about the fall and winter and c'mon, those are all great sports but winter sucks.
More to the point, the Phillies are not only good, they're relevant. Two World Series
appearances in a row and now they have the No.1 pitcher in the game at the top of their rotation. Cry all you want about Cliff Lee, he's no Roy Halladay.So it's Opening Day across the nation. The Boys of Summer are back in town and life is again good and what else can we talk about. The Phillies, in a building filled with their supporters on the banks of the Anacostia River - give the Nationals a few more years and they too may become relevant - start the 2010 season with hope and a little bit of arrogance with only one goal in mind and that won't happen for another seven months so what else matters.
Well . . .
* The Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins for draft picks.
WTF? Now, I love conspiracy theories but can we really believe the Eagles made the trade on Easter Sunday just to keep the Phillies off the back page of the Daily News. (Full disclosure: I write two days a week for the DN so the other newspapers can pound sand).
Besides the natural question of how do Mormans celebrate Easter and shouldn't Andy Reid spend as much time with his family as possible, do any of us really believe the Eagles made this move with Opening Day in mind.
The trade itself had to happen. McNabb's time was over. He was an elite quarterback for many years even without reaching what many believe to be his potential. He was a bit goofy at times and that made him hard to take but he was the best quarterback - sorry Jaws - in franchise history.
Granted, the Redskins seem like an odd choice and not just because Washington is historically the most racist organization in NFL history when you realize the fight song used to say Dixie and not D.C. among many other transgressions. Why trade inside the division? Why trade McNabb to a team that is starved for a quarterback and now has a head coach in Mike Shanahan who understands how to use a veteran quarterback?
According to Reid it was the best fit for both the Eagles and McNabb
and for now, that's kind of how it looks. The 'Skins have pieces in place to improve with McNabb at the helm. McNabb should have a certain comfort level staying in the division and it says here Reid and Co. know full well McNabb's time as an elite quarterback is coming to and end so if they can draft well, this is the right move. Remember one very important thing, trades should be evaluated a year or two down the road and not right away. Still, what's the fun in that.
* Tiger Woods is about to have his long awaited press conference about his marital infidelities and how it will effect his golf game.
Sorry, don't care. The only thing Tiger Woods has to do is hit a golf ball a long way and make long putts . . . keep it clean people . . . and I'm impressed. To think a professional athlete let alone a lawyer, banker or candlestick maker is news because of infidelity is beyond bizarre. Woods is not the first husband to cheat and let's be fair ladies, wives have cheated as well all the way back to Roman times if you've had the opportunity to check out Spartacus: Blood and Sand. It should be noted this is Lucy Lawless' best role since Zena: The Warrior Princess and in some ways even better but that's for another time. Here's a question, why does she only star in vehicles with a colon in the title?
We live in a country in which great amounts of time are spent on arguing about Christianity, Islam, Buddha, Scientology, who has a strong moral core and who does not, and so on and so foirth. But a little scandal involving a celebrities sexual exploits that have no bearing on our personal lives, yeah, that's front page news. Why is it people who quote the Bible and talk of God always seem to forget that part about those without sin casting the first stone?
As far as I'm concerned, let Tiger play golf and on Sunday's I watch the brilliance of his game. The rest of the week, I have to find a way to pay the bills.
* The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final is tonight and like most of the universe all I can say is let's go Butler.
Everyone loves the underdog and Duke, while better than UNC, is a bit annoying. The only rub here is Hoosiers references will get old really quick. Yeah, Butler is where the final was filmed and Kimmy Chitwood hit the game-winner. It's where the Indiana State Final was held for years and tiny Milan won in 1951 setting the stage for the Hoosiers script so many year's later.But let's focus on the game itself and not the easy tie-ins. Gene Hackman has made enough money and doesn't need the residuals from a boost in sales.
* UConn . . . sorry, don't care.
Oh and as good as the Huskies are they can't beat a Division III men's basketball team so don't go there. Understand that Pat Summitt at Tennessee has recruited men off campus for years to play the women's team to make the women better. There is a reason for this and it's because when it comes to basketball men are physically better. We could never handle the pain of childbirth, emotionally we don't hold a candle to women and women deserve equal pay for equal work but on the basketball court, men are better. The UConn women's team could beat me and four guys from my high school class but not a Division III men's team.
Something New
As many of you know, it's been a long time since I've made a blog entry.
The simple fact is I can tell you the exact date of that entry, where I made it from and what it represented to not just me but 30 percent of the Gannett workforce nationwide. On December 2, 2008 I sat down at my laptop and fired through my final post for my blog "High Above Home Plate" after spending the afternoon being informed that as a part of a massive layoff nationwide and more importantly at the Courier-Post, the newspaper I had called home for 20 years no longer needed a Phillies beat writer.
Now some would be bitter about the experience. Fine, I have had one or two days in which you could say I was bitter but for the most part I've stayed upbeat. See, I stole a line from "A League of Their Own" for that final blog when I wrote "there is no crying in baseball," and guess what, there is still no crying in baseball.
That said I figured that it was time to at least start blogging again about Philadelphia sports and in particular the Phillies. Some of you may remember my blog "High Above Home Plate" and some may not but all that matters is the future.
Fortunately, Philly Sports Central comes along at the right time for me. When I checked out the site I noticed the suits intended to have blogs associated with the site and figured it couldn't hurt to contact the hierarchy if they could use my services. I think you know what the answer was and with that I'll be blogging three or four times a week in an effort to help the site and get back into a writing flow.
This blog will be a combination of my opinion, attempts to understand a team's philosophy and being the so-called devil's advocate. Of course there will be some posts that make no sense to anyone but me because I want to just make myself laugh. It will be about all Philly sports from professional all the way down to high school but I think we can all agree it will have a certain Phillies lean on most days.
As always your opinion counts. I have never shied away from interaction with my readers as many of you can attest and that will never change. If you have any ideas, complaints or - screw the compliments - I'm listening.
Last but not least I am going to continue tinkering with the format, presentation etc. I have to impress those in charge of The Phield for next year and I know presentation is a part of the voting process. The cool thing is I have the time to tinker since according to The Phield I am "haplessly" unemployed.
Hope this all works out and see you over the next few days, weeks and months.
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