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Leave a comment Posted on July 14, 2015July 14, 2015 sports

Can I Draft My Fantasy Football Team Yet?

Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game Week is the MOST boring period in the sports calendar year. If you can think of another one, I’d be happy to hear it (while I mute Chris Berman on my TV)…

Rather than mope and complain further about a silly game that, for some reason, decides home field advantage in the World Series, I’m going to do something healthier…like look ahead to September 10th when the 2015 NFL season starts (coincidentally, my birthday).

Going into my 10th year as a Fantasy commissioner, I may be looking forward to this upcoming season more than most. The wide receiver pool is incredibly deep, running backs are as unpredictable as ever, and Peyton Manning isn’t the end-all, be-all anymore (but is Aaron Rodgers?). More importantly, I’m hungry. My team rebounded from an 0-6 start and went all the way to the championship…and I want my 4th Fantasy Title.

If you were following this site during the Fall last year, then you know that EVERY THURSDAY was Fantasy Mailbag Day. Each week, we recapped the highlights from the previous weekend, looked at trends and match-ups, and answered all your questions from Facebook and Twitter. Thanks to everyone’s participation last year, we’re going to do it again starting in August!

As we get closer to kickoff in September, I’ll release my personal rankings for each position (There are spread sheets, dude. SPREAD. SHEETS.). As for now, I have thoughts and question on my mind that need unloading or else the small part of my brain that stores these things will explode. If you also have thoughts and questions, I’d love to hear them.

DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy

The two marquee NFC East rival running backs of yesteryear will be suiting up in new uniforms this coming Fall. DeMarco Murray answered questions that he could actually stay healthy for an entire season, earned Offensive Player of the Year honors by picking up 2,261 yards from scrimmage and scored 13 touchdowns all on the ground. The Dallas Cowboys awarded him by letting him walk in free agency…to the arch rival Philadelphia Eagles. Murray had nearly 400 attempts rushing last season and with a mess at the Eagles’ quarterback position, he shouldn’t expect the carries to be cutdown too much. Murray is backed up by Darren Sproles and fellow addition Ryan Matthews, but he should still be getting the rock plenty of times…especially in the red zone.

LeSean McCoy was the league’s leading rusher a year before Murray, still ran for over 1,300 yards, but only scored 5 touchdowns. With an opportunity to upgrade the defense adding Kiko Alonso (and maybe some intel on what would would happen with Murray), Chip Kelly traded McCoy to the Buffalo Bills. Weird accusations from McCoy aside, he may be in a more interesting spot than people realize. New Bills coach Rex Ryan added former Niners offensive coordinator Greg Roman to his staff. If you want to project McCoy’s 2015 season, I recommend looking at how Roman used Frank Gore and the other 49er running backs. McCoy averaged 313 carries the past two seasons while Gore averaged 267 over the last four seasons. The cut in workload could keep McCoy fresher, but so should the depth that includes Fred Jackson and rookie Karlos Williams. The ageless Jackson is used to splitting touches and compliments McCoy well. Williams makes a better change-of-pace back than anything in the crowded backfield.

Breakout Running Backs

The running back position saw a lot of action on last season’s fantasy waiver wire and free agency. If you did your due diligence though, you made plays on Justin Forsett, CJ Anderson, Jeremy Hill and Lamar Miller that paid off well.

On his 5th team and at the age of 29, Forsett had his first full-season workload and led all running backs in yards per carry (5.4). He ranked 5th in rush yards (1,266), and scored 8 touchdowns total. Forsett gained 263 yards on 44 receptions, but that could increase significantly with former Bears head coach Marc Trestman calling plays. Matt Forte broke the record for receptions by a running back last season with 102, and former Raiders running back Charlie Garner caught 91 passes in 2002 with Trestman as OC.
Anderson came on late in the season but was on the radar as the Broncos dealt with injuries to Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball. Starting the last 7 games of the season while Manning was clearly not 100%, Anderson averaged 167 yards from scrimmage per game and scored 10 touchdowns. Assuming he’s earned the starting running back spot after being named to the Pro Bowl, Anderson should benefit more from new head coach Gary Kubiak’s zone running schemes that made Forsett and Arian Foster into Pro Bowlers as well.
Like Anderson, Hill saw his carries increase in the second half of the season as he leap frogged Giovani Bernard for playing time following an injury. Hill scored 3 touchdowns through 5 games with limited carries to start the season but then really racked up the yards from Week 8 on, averaging 103 yards per game. Bengals OC Hue Jackson intends on having Hill be the starter again and anticipates he and Bernard becoming a great 1-2 punch.
I was happy to see Miller have the season he did in 2014. He set out to be like LeSean McCoy after training with him and preparing for a Chip Kelly-like offense, took over for Knowshon Moreno after Week 2, and never looked back. Miller was Top 10 in both total rush yards and rushing touchdowns for the season, had the longest run of the season at 97 yards, and capped the season off with 170+ yard rushing performance. There isn’t any real threat to take carries from Miller this year other than 5th round draft pick Jay Ajayi from Boise State.

Any Sophomore Slumps for Receivers?

In 2014, rookie wide receivers were all the rage. 3 rookies recorded 1,000+ yards, Odell Beckham Jr. (1,305), Mike Evans (1,051), and Kelvin Benjamin (1,008). Sammy Watkins was close with 982 yards on 65 catches. Both Beckham and Evans caught 12 touchdown passes, while Benjamin recorded 9 and Martavis Bryant had 8. Also challenging Beckham for the 93 receptions he had in 11 games was Jarvis Landry with 84 for 758 yards.

All six receivers have potential to be stars in 2015, adding excellent depth to a fantasy draft board full of point producing wide receivers. Beckham’s production down the stretch last season may even warrant a first round pick in leagues with more teams. Evans will have a rookie quarterback throwing to him who is, at the very least, better than Josh McCown. Benjamin is still the best target for the Panthers and newly paid Cam Newton, with tight end Greg Olson drawing some coverage away. Another year playing alongside Antonio Brown will help Bryant improve (Ben Roethlisberger can’t throw EVERY pass to Brown, right?), and Landry will benefit from Ryan Tannehill just getting better every year.

Unfortunately, hopes aren’t so high for Watkins as the starting quarterback position is a battle between Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel (yeesh). If Watkins can stay healthy and the run-oriented system softens opposing secondaries, he may have a chance to improve on his numbers from last year…I just wouldn’t bank on it.

I could go on all day with Fantasy Football thoughts, but I’d like to hear from you. Feel free to comment or Tweet @Mike_PiFF03. And keep a look out for position previews in the upcoming weeks!

1 Comment Posted on June 30, 2015September 12, 2015 Musc, sports

When Sports and Music Collide

Monday morning, the Chicago Cubs announced the “secret” headliner for the fourth annual Hot Stove Cool Music charity concert, July 9th at the Metro. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will be performing alongside Cubs President Theo Epstein, Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper, Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons, 670 The Score sports talk radio host Matt Spiegel, members of Wilco, Cheap Trick, Umphrey’s McGee, Tributosaurus, and more. The concert benefits Cubs Charities and Foundation To Be Named Later, which helps aid disadvantaged youth and adults.

Vedder has a long history with his beloved Cubs, having grown up just north of the city in Evanston, IL. Fans recall multiple renditions of the 7th inning stretch, but he also recorded his own anthem for the Cubs. Pearl Jam and Cubs fans alike were treated to a “double header” in 2013 as the band played before and after a storm at Wrigley Field. The late Ernie Banks even came out to yell, “Let’s Play Two!”

We all have our interests and it’s always cool when we see those interests overlap. The fan in me always seems to geek out especially when music and sports come together. I recently had the pleasure of seeing Niklas Hjalmarsson and the Chicago Blackhawks crash a Mumford and Sons concert at Montrose Beach. I made involuntary noises as Hjalmarrson commanded the band to drink beer from the Stanley Cup…then mention he should’ve told them where the Cup had been beforehand.

Just the other day, JJ Watt played concert security for the Zac Brown Band and squared up on an “intruder”.

Nobody messes with @zacbrownband pic.twitter.com/bS3Rat13xP

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 29, 2015

(Might’ve been staged)

Following Hall of Fame basketball player and entertaining broadcaster Bill Walton on the Grateful Dead “Fare Thee Well” Tour has been a treat beyond words.

Part of the allure is seeing our favorite musicians or athletes come back to Earth in a way that we can relate. They are the best at what they do but can be so humbled and excited to be around someone of another profession. They’re fans like we are.

The other part is seeing someone offer you another dynamic that you weren’t aware of. When you hear about a professional athlete releasing an album, you’re interested to hear how it sounds (except for Shaq). When you see an artist or musician signed up to play in a celebrity All-Star game, you want to tune in and see how they fair.

Here are are some examples of worlds colliding in music and sports.

Athletes in Music

Bernie Williams

5-time Yankees All-Star centerfielder, 1998 AL batting title winner, and 4-time World Series champion Bernie Williams is also a Latin Grammy nominated guitarist. Williams recorded 2,336 hits and a .297 batting average in his baseball career, and 2 jazz albums in 2003 and 2009.

Williams also recorded a single with former NBA forward Wayman Tisdale.

Chris Kluwe

Former Vikings punter, gamer and excellent Twitter follow Chris Kluwe also started a band called Tripping Icarus. They have an EP and full length LP to their credit, all spawned from Kluwe’s love for “Guitar Hero”.

Jack McDowell

Former White Sox pitcher and 1993 CY Young winner, Jack “Blackjack” McDowell had a 12 year long baseball career, and a music career that has lasted for much longer. The alternative rocker recorded 6 albums with bands V.I.E.W. and stickfigure, and is still playing in clubs today.

The 1985 Chicago Bears

The ’85 Chicago Bears went 15-1, won a Super Bowl, had 4 players go to the Hall of Fame, and became the first sports team to be nominated for a Grammy. “The Super Bowl Shuffle” was organized by wide receiver Willie Gault, and performed by 24 members of the roster. This year will be the 30th anniversary of its release, a single that went to #41 on the Billboard charts and went Gold for selling half a million copies.

Sorry you had to hear Steve Fuller attempt rapping again.

Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Ben Crane – Golf Boys

Losing the collared t-shirts and khakis, these golfers decided to have some fun for charity. Producing 2 viral music videos, $1,000 is donated by State Farm per 100,000 views to charity.

It’s no “Super Bowl Shuffle”, but they still deserve a “good job, good effort.”

Musicians in Sports

Alice Cooper

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper is best known for heavy metal and live shows that feature guillotines, boa constrictors, electric chairs and fake blood. He also has a golf handicap of 5.3 and titled his memoirs “Alice Cooper: Golf Monster – A Rock ’n’ Roller’s 12 Steps To Becoming a Golf Addict.”

WE’RE NOT WORTHY!

Bruce Dickinson

Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson is one of the world’s most interesting individuals. He is a military veteran, a licensed commercial pilot, melter of rock and roll faces…and a WORLD CLASS FENCER! At one point he ranked 7th in all the UK. Dickinson also sponsors youth soccer teams.

Garth Brooks

Country superstar Garth Brook has sold over 70 million records in his career, but his dream was to be a Major League baseball player. Brooks made that dream come true when the San Diego Padres signed him to play in Spring training in 1998. He also had Spring training stints with the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals, ending his baseball “career” with a hit off pitcher Mike Myers in 2004.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake is one of the best entertainers of our era. Singer, dancer, actor…and a 6 handicap golfer. Timberlake once said he would be a pro golfer by the age of 30. That has yet to happen, but he is minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies…so there’s that.

MTV Rock N’ Jock

Back when MTV was actually “Music Television” and played music videos, there was also a series where musicians, athletes and movie stars would come together to compete in basketball, football and bowling. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, Brett Michaels and Queen Latifah would play alongside Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Rick Mahorn, George Clooney, and yes…Leonardo DiCaprio (That’s him on the bottom left). It was truly incredible television.

Do any other Sports and Music crossovers come to mind? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

Leave a comment Posted on June 25, 2015June 25, 2015 NBA, sports

NBA Draft 2015: Who Fits For Bulls With 22nd Pick?

Get your fancy suits and flat-billed team hats ready, it’s NBA Draft Day!

Best suit in NBA Draft history right there. I wonder if Andrew Wiggins kept the hat…

Commissioner Adam Silver, who has yet to give Draft attendees a reason to boo him, is expected to shake the hands of the 2015 draft class and its coveted triumvirate. That group include’s Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell. After that, the field of college basketball’s best and international stars becomes much less predictable. Trade talks have heated up across the league, and it doesn’t appear to be as much smokescreen as it has in the past (Way to blow your cover, George Karl).

The Chicago Bulls, for the time being, appear to be staying put in the 22nd spot and that’s not a bad thing. In recent years, Vice President John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman have found “diamonds in the rough” late in the first round after selecting Taj Gibson 26th in 2009 and All-Star Jimmy Butler 30th in 2011. They flipped 28th overall pick Norris Cole and 2nd rounder Malcolm Lee for Nikola Mirotic, who was selected 23rd by Houston before making his way to Minnesota via trade, also in the 2011 draft. Tony Snell, selected 20th overall in 2013, made strides as an athletic scorer last season. However, Marquis Teague (29th overall in 2012) may or may not have changed professions after being traded to Brooklyn in 2014 for Tornike Shengelia (we hardly knew thee…No, we never thee at all). Hitting on four out of five picks is still a nice batting average though…

While it’s nice to have a lottery choice in the draft, picking between the 20 and 30 spots is still significantly valuable. The players available are older, better developed for specific roles, and ready to contribute right away. They are also nearly 20% the price of a the Top 3 draft picks. In 2013, frenchman Rudy Gobert was selected 27th by the Utah Jazz. Gobert was 11 blocked shots behind Anthony Davis for the league lead this past season and earned $1.1 million. 1st overall 2013 pick Anthony Bennett has averaged just 4.7 points per game, is on his second team in as many years (and back on the trading block), and made $5.6 million last season.

So who will be there for the Bulls after the Dallas Mavericks make their choice at 21? Let’s take a look at who fits their needs and can realistically be available.

Jerian Grant, Notre Dame

Senior / Guard / 6-5

Son of former NBA forward Harvey Grant and nephew of four-time NBA Champion Horace Grant, Jerian Grant may be the best fit. Backcourt depth was a glaring issue for the Bulls, especially in the playoffs, and Grant is one of the best point guard prospects in this draft. His size and ball handling allows Grant to play both 1 and 2 guard spots, making him a flexible option for new head coach Fred Hoiberg to pair with either Derrick Rose or Butler. With an ability to create his own shot and excel in transition, Grant can also be utilized in small lineups in case Hoiberg wants to play him with both Rose and Butler. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his senior season while also shooting over 57% from 2-point range. Being older, Grant can contribute right away for a Bulls team that wants to win now…and he can certainly finish at the rim.

Rashad Vaughn, UNLV

Freshman / Guard / 6-6

The Bulls lacked dependable scoring off the bench in the postseason last year. Rashad Vaughn is an “instant offense” pure scorer who has shown he can generate scoring in bunches. Averaging 17.8 points per game, Vaughn is a natural scorer and played his best in catch-and-shoot opportunities. He can create off the dribble in isolation situations and is athletic enough to be a decent defender. Vaughn’s freshman season was ended prematurely due to a meniscus tear against Fresno State in February, which has contributed to his slide in draft projections.

RJ Hunter

Junior/ Guard / 6-6

During March Madness this year, the country was made aware (if they weren’t already) of RJ Hunter as he knocked out #3 Baylor from the tournament…and his coach/dad out of his chair.

As 3-star recruit from Indianapolis, Hunter passed on much bigger programs than Georgia State so he could play for his father and led the Panthers to 25+ victory seasons. Hunter provides two things the Bulls are in need of…scoring and 3-point shooting. As they wait and see who Doug McDermott is in Hoiberg’s system, adding Hunter’s 19.7 points per game and 51% shooting from the field doesn’t hurt either.

Trey Lyles, Kentucky

Freshman / Forward / 6-10

Had he not been on the same team as Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles would be a much higher prospect in this draft. Lyles was forced to play out of position at small forward with Alex Poythress going down to injury, but it allowed him to showcase how skilled he is off the dribble. Lyles is one of the best well-rounded forwards in the 2015 class and would bolster a very thin front court rotation for the Bulls. With Joakim Noah playing on one leg and Gibson out recovering from ankle surgery, Lyles provides a post up game that the Bulls don’t have with either Pau Gasol or Mirotic.

Sam Dekker, Wisconsin

Junior / Forward / 6-9

It is probably a stretch to think Sam Dekker would fall to the Bulls at 22, but his projections for tonight’s draft have varied from 8th overall to 25th. Like Hunter, Dekker provides scoring and range beyond the arc, but he is more polished and has done it against better competition. Dekker’s versatility on both ends of the floor and athleticism make him more than a role player off the bench. He can defend multiple positions, can play the 4 in small lineup scenarios, and is better prepared to play right away.

Have your eye on someone else? Let’s talk about it on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

Leave a comment Posted on June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 hockey, sports

Are the Blackhawks the Best Organization in Sports Right Now?

Following their 3rd Stanley Cup victory in six years, the Chicago Blackhawks are basking in the glow that is Chicago in HawksMania. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and the rest of the 2014-15 roster are even bigger than Oprah (yeah I said it) through the eyes of their fans, and I don’t blame them. The Cup itself has such celebrity status, that bars are filled to mass capacity, simply based on speculation that it will be making its way through each establishment.

Speaking of Chicago Celebrities, as I watched the Comcast SportsNet Chicago livestream of the Blackhawks parade and rally yesterday, I saw host Pat Boyle discussing the team with MMA fighter/Former WWE wrestler CM Punk. Punk gets onto the topic of bandwagon fans and recalls a time when the Blackhawks were the worst organization in professional sports. He then follows his thought up by calling the Blackhawks the best organization in sports right now, and there is no rebuttal from the panel. So I wondered…Are they?

Punk wasn’t wrong about how low the Blackhawks organization had been. In 2004, ESPN had the Blackhawks ranked as the worst organization in North American Sports. Former owner Bill Wirtz had blacked out home games, stating that it was “unfair to season ticket-holders to give away the home games on TV for free”, according to Chicago Bulls & White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. During the 2003-04 season, the average attendance at the United Center 13,253…This year, the Blackhawks led the NHL in attendance for the 7th consecutive time with a 21,769 average.

Current owner Rocky Wirtz changed the direction and business model immediately. Team president and CEO John McDonough turned the team into a marketing goldmine. The “ONE GOAL” campaign that was introduced before the 2009-10 season has been imitated not only by teams in the NHL, but in other league’s as well, like the Brooklyn Nets. The organization invited back its legends as ambassadors like Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, whom were shunned by the previous ownership. While many of the team’s core was brought in by Dale Tallon, they went outside the franchise for a winning pedigree by appointing Stan Bowman as general manager and making his father, (and legendary coach) Scotty, Senior Advisor.

The last piece of the puzzle came following a slow 1-2-1 start in the 2008 season with Blackhawks Hall of Famer Denis Savard at the helm coaching. The team had higher expectations out of the gate, so they dismissed Savard and promoted newly hired scout Joel Quenneville to head coach. Quenneville had a 438-283 record coaching the Avalalanche and Blues before joining the Blackhawks, making the transition to the bench seamless. What I’ve found to be most impressive about that situation is the relationship between the Blackhawks and Savard immediately after. The organization named Savard an ambassador and he had no problem with it. It’s unbelievably cool to see him graciously pass the baton and still be a part of what has grown into a dynasty. How often do you see a former head coach have that with the team that removed him?

Three championships in six years with a salary cap is more than qualifying for a dynasty. While he isn’t credited with bringing Kane, Toews, Sharp, Keith, or Seabrook to the organization, Bowman has done a masterful job (yes, masterful) at handling the turnover of the roster following each championship. When forced to choose between matching an offer sheet from the San Jose Sharks for Niklas Hjalmarrson or parting ways and re-signing goalie Antti Niemi. The decision to go with Hjalmarrson has worked out given his exceptional defensive play, 2 more championships, and none won by Niemi’s Sharks. More recently, the additions of center Brad Richards before the season, as well as Antoine Vermette and Andrew Desjardins at the trade deadline, proved even more so that Bowman is capable of arming his squad for a playoff run. All three were key in winning the Cup.

The Blackhawks will be faced with more turnover this summer, given the lowering of the league’s salary cap, but now Chicago has become a destination for veterans who want to win. Players who have made plenty over the course of their careers are more inclined to take pay cuts if the odds of having their names engraved on the Cup are in their favor. Great organizations have that benefit. So who else is in the conversation?

The most comparable organization, based on championships during the same timeline, are the San Francisco Giants. They too have won three titles in the last six years, with World Series wins in 2010, 2012, and 2014. In contrast to the other major sports leagues, MLB has no salary cap. While teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees boast payrolls over $200 million, the Giants operate with salaries totaling in just above $170 million. Not necessarily a huge difference, as they ranked 7th in highest payroll the last time they won a championship, but still $100 million less than their division rival’s $272 million in LA. Their star talent is mostly homegrown with Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, and Tim Lincecum being their Toews, Kane, Sharp and Lincecum.

Like Quenneville, Giants manager Bruce Bochy took over with prior success, having won a pennant with the San Diego Padres. He also followed a former player in the organization, Felipe Alou. The Giants have also ranked in MLB’s top 4 for attendance for each of the last 5 years.

The other team that you can consider to be similar would be the San Antonio Spurs. They’ve won 3 championships in the last 10 years, 5 in the last 15 with Gregg Popovich as head coach. The Bill Belichick/Tom Brady Patriots have certainly found a recipe for success having won 11 of the last 12 AFC East titles and 4 Super Bowls. However, it would be difficult to say the Patriots are very popular or well respected at the moment...but that’s just, like, your opinion, man.

At this moment, the Blackhawks seem to have found the formula. More than 2 million fans reportedly showed up for the parade and rally yesterday, wearing hockey sweaters in humid temperatures. They turned Soldier Field into the Red Sea to celebrate their third title, while introducing many of the same names and faces from the first title in 2010. Are they the best organization in sports right now? You tell me.

You can let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

1 Comment Posted on June 15, 2015June 15, 2015 hockey, sports

Welcome to the Party, Blackhawks Bandwagon

Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning face off in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking to survive and force a Game 7, in hopes of winning their first Cup since 2004. The Blackhawks have an opportunity to win their 3rd championship in six years and their 6th in franchise history. It could also be the first time since 1938 that they clinch on their home ice.

Since Joel Quenneville took over in 2008, the Blackhawks are 9-0 in Game 6 with a chance to clinch a playoff series. The city of Chicago is bracing itself for the potential celebratory eruption and the brink of a hockey dynasty. It’s a party and a pretty damn fun one at that! Now the invite should be open to all who are interested as well.

For years, a segment of Blackhawks have worn the badge of honor for being longtime fans. They were the ones who vividly remember the soul crushing sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1992 Final series and remained fans since. There were kids like me who actually got made fun of in grade school for being fans of an organization that was a consistent loser for a decade (only one season with a record over .500 from 1996-2007). There are those of us who hopped on the Metra after class to pickup “student discount” tickets at the gate, when the United Center never sold out. Sitting in the lower bowl was maybe a third of the face value price it is now, and you could easily find Patrick Kane’s family members…because they’d let you know who they are.

The first Blackhawks Stanley Cup in the Quenneville/Jonathan Toews & Kane era felt almost exclusively for those fans. They had to root for teams that were led by Doug Gilmour (Captain in 1999-2000), Tony Amonte (2000-02), Alex Zhamnov (2002-04), Adrian Aucoin and Martin LaPointe (2005-07) with a combined 210-265 record and a lockout from 2004-2005. They had to bare witness to an all-timer in Chris Chelios joining the bitter rival in Detroit, winning Stanley Cups as a Red Wing. Those fans were graced with epic rants from Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Foley, including a famous one about Alexander Karpovtsev. They also couldn’t watch home games on television for an unfortunate period of time, as instituted by former owner Bill Wirtz. It wasn’t easy being a fan during that stretch.

I remember a game that ESPN 1000 WMVP’s “Waddle & Silvy” Show used to play where an intern would go to the old Blackhawks Store and you had to guess how many customers were present. The number was rarely in the double-digits. Then the changing of the guard happened with Bill’s son Rocky Wirtz taking over ownership and former Chicago Cubs executive John McDonaugh being named team President and CEO. McDonaugh knew how to market a team in Chicago and Rocky knew how to let him do his thing. The season ticketholder base increased from 3,400 to over 14,000 and the organization led the NHL in attendance for seven consecutive seasons. Those results can be attributed to winning as well as a business department doing its job very well.

Ever since that first Stanley Cup, the city and surrounding suburbs have been draped in Blackhawks red and white. You’ll find people wearing their heavy hockey sweater jerseys in 90 degree weather. I’ll never forget attending the Blackhawks convention in the summer of 2011 with my friend and longtime fan Brad Wenzel, and any Q&A featuring Toews, Kane, Patrick Sharp or Duncan Keith felt like a Backstreet Boys concert with screaming fans. Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune also has a cool, well-researched piece on the demographic growth of Blackhawks fans and how African-American fans have the highest rate among NHL fans at 1.4 times the overall rate.

Growth of any kind for any team and any sport is a good thing. Now that the Blackhawks are looking at the prospects of a 3rd Cup and a possible 3rd parade ending at Grant Park, the door should be wide open to all walks of life new to the party. The team benefits from the revenue, the league benefits from the ratings, and the hardcore fan benefits from a better product thanks to the former two.

Chicago is no stranger to the bandwagon/front-runner element. It was a Bulls town while Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were reeling off two 3-peats of Championships in the 90’s, and that quickly changed when now-Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg was a member of the roster. The Northside of town was electric as the Cubs were this close to going to the World Series in 2003. Actor John Cusack famously flipped allegiances as the White Sox won the 2005 World Series. Now the Blackhawks are the hot item and deservedly so.

Rather than play the part of someone who says “I liked this band before everyone else did”, old-time hockey fans should be excited that their team is bringing people together across the state. They aren’t solving serious problems in Chicago, but the Blackhawks are an excellent distraction to share. It’s easy to get annoyed when a new fan sounds like they don’t know what they’re talking about, so politely educate them on your sport instead.

There is a flip-side to the coin though. If you are a new fan when the team is winning, don’t go hiding when things go the other way. Given the salary cap issues going into next season, there will be a number of changes to this Blackhawks roster, similar to those made after the 2009-10 Stanley Cup. However, if general manager Stan Bowman has proven anything, he can get a team back to the Stanley Cup Final…with Toews and Kane on the ice.

So HAVE FUN Blackhawks fans, old and new! Cheer on your team together and please don’t flip my car if they win tonight.

2 Comments Posted on June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 sports

Blackhawks Celebrity Fans vs. Hulk Hogan

After both teams shook hands and the lights went dim at the Honda Center following the Western Conference Finals Game 7, Anaheim Ducks Super Fan/Crazy Person Emilio Estevez went eerily quiet on Twitter. All week, Estevez took to social media to channel a drunk version of his 1992 character, Coach Gordon Bombay, from ‘The Mighty Ducks’ to troll Chicago Blackhawks and act super sensitive when the tables were turned on him (he blocked me). The day after, Estevez did what all celebrities do after acting a fool on Twitter…claimed he was hacked (sarcastically).

This week, the coach from The Mighty Ducks movies broke into my home and took over my Twitter acct. I had him arrested. #orderrestored

— Emilio Estevez (@EMILIOTHEWAY) May 31, 2015

And now Emilio’s watch (and relevance) has ended.

Picking up the flag for Blackhawks antagonists, and ripping his tank top off in the process, is 12-time Champion of the World and apparent Tampa Bay Lightning die hard, Hulk Hogan.

“Chicago’s in a whole bunch of trouble,” said Hogan at an ESPN Special Olympics event yesterday. He also noted that the Lightning are undefeated when his daughter, Brooke, sings the National Anthem…

As I type that last bit, I start to wonder if this is really just plea to the Lightning to have his daughter sing in the Stanley Cup Final, but Hulkamania is “Running Wild” in Tampa regardless. While I would be more than okay with Hogan planting a running leg drop on Chicago’s worst celebrity ever, Jim Belushi, I have a few high profile fans in mind that I’d love to throw in the ring with him…rocking the Indian Head sweater.

1. CM Punk

The “Straight Edge Superstar”, former World Heavyweight/WWE Champion, and UFC Fighter is a longtime committed Blackhawks fan and favorite among “shoot the puck” contestants. In the wake of Tampa’s “No Blackhawks jerseys in certain sections” announcement, Punk took to Twitter to let the Lightning know he’s coming.

Who's going to tell me I can't wear Hawks gear? See you in Tampa, chumps. @TBLightning

— Coach (@CMPunk) June 1, 2015

Since Hogan will be there, can we get an Intermission “Hardcore Rules” Match please?

2. Mr. T.

(Love the little shot at Belushi from Susannah Collins)

Coincidentally, both Mr. T and Hogan starred in Rocky III together as Clubber Lang and Thunderlips. They also tag teamed on Saturday Night Live and WrestleMania II…

but don’t be surprised to see the Lake Forest, IL resident lace’em up when the series makes it’s way back to the United Center. Anytime you’re asked to make a prediction on this series (or anything ever) the answer should be “PAIN!”

3. Michael Jordan

Is there a bigger name synonymous with Chicago? That question was rhetorical…His uniform and the Bulls championship banners he earned hang in the same arena that the Blackhawks skate in, but even Michael Jordan is a fan of a team on the verge of “dynasty” status. A photo of Jordan wearing his Blackhawks jersey was making the rounds before Game 7 against the Ducks the other night, and articles sillier than this one did as well. You can bet #23 will be doing it again during the Stanley Cup Final.

You may remember Hollywood Hogan tag-teaming with Dennis Rodman for a WCW pay per view against Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page, but how about that MTV Celebrity Deathmatch when MJ took on Rodman (where Claymation Jordan said he was thinking about joining the NHL)?…You’re next, Claymation Hogan.

4. Vince Vaughn

I was a little reluctant to post this, given Vince Vaughn’s recent comments that turned him into a polarizing political figure…but the guy has been at the games and was doing so when nobody was. Way more than Jim Belushi. And you get the feeling that his role in the upcoming season ofTrue Detective will make him appear to be someone you want on your side. He seemed to still be in character while lurking from his suite earlier in the Ducks series.

If you look up "lurking" in the dictionary, you'll find this photo of Vince Vaughn at the #CHIvsANA game #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/K2cyRATznE

— Mike Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) May 17, 2015

“Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion”, Vince.

5. Chicago Baseball

One of my favorite things to see are teams in the same city supporting each other. Despite manager Joe Maddon claiming he’s Switzerland in this series (since he managed in Tampa Bay for so long), the Chicago Cubs are in full Blackhawks mode…I couldn’t let the White Sox go unrecognized though as players like Adam Eaton have been showing their love all season long.

Let's go Hawks!!! #OneGoal

— Adam Eaton (@AdamSpankyEaton) May 20, 2015

If their schedules permit it, I’d love to see players from both clubs (as well as the Bears and Bulls) along the glass when the Blackhawks play at home. If Paul Pierce can do it, anybody can.

Honorable mention…

…Because he’s Charles Barkley.

Who are some other Chicago celebrities that you’d like to see wearing Blackhawks jerseys during the Stanley Cup Final? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

1 Comment Posted on June 1, 2015June 1, 2015 sports

Chicago Bulls Will Hire Fred Hoiberg, the Anti-Thibodeau

Former Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg has agreed to become the 22nd head coach the of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will hold a presser and officially name him coach Tuesday at 2 PM CT. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the deal is worth $25 million for 5 years.

It was the worst kept secret in Chicago sports as rumblings of the likely change started around All-Star weekend earlier this year. Hoiberg leaves Iowa State coming off of a shocking Round of 64 exit in the NCAA tournament but also a 115-56 record over 5 seasons.

Bulls fans who hung tight during the post-Jordan/pre-Rose era are aware of Hoiberg’s time with the team as a player. From 1999-2003, Hoiberg was the veteran presence with young (and bad) Bulls rosters that featured draft picks like Elton Brand, Ron Artest, Marcus Fizer, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. He rarely started but he gave his teams points off the bench, averaging 10.1 points per 36 minutes with the Bulls. The Bulls head coach then, Tim Floyd, also coached Hoiberg his senior year at Iowa State in 1994…the season in which Hoiberg was named an All-American.

Hoiberg takes over a Bulls team that was 255-139 over 5 seasons in the regular season under Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau earned the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award in 2010-11, his rookie coaching year. At that time, the Bulls were a much younger team. Derrick Rose was the league’s youngest MVP that 2010-11 season while Joakim Noah missed almost half the year, but played all 16 games they competed in the playoffs.

Thibodeau created the “try-hard” persona for his Bulls teams. Despite being without Rose for virtually 2 full seasons and then some, the Bulls played like Eastern conference contenders each year based on the principals of relentless defense and grinding out wins every night. That helped make Luol Deng, Noah, and Jimmy Butler become All-Stars. It also got backup point guards like John Lucas III, Nate Robinson and DJ Augustin paid after each season. The Bulls made the playoffs in each of Thibodeau’s 5 years. So why the change?

While the Bulls had a .647 win percentage in the regular season under Thibodeau, they also had a .451 win percentage in the playoffs. That is the key stat in the argument for firing Thibodeau. Yes, his win percentage was second all-time in Bulls history to Phil Jackson’s. If you’re familiar with the organization’s history before Jackson and even Michael Jordan, you’d know that “2nd best” isn’t saying a lot. And while Thibodeau’s teams won a lot of games during the regular season, his players were burnt out and limping into the playoffs. Butler wasn’t even playing meaningful minutes until Deng was hurt and feeling the effects of leading the league in minutes per game (39.05 per from 2011-13). Butler led the league in minutes per game last year and has averaged 38.7 each of the last 2 seasons.

After a first round exit to the Washington Wizards in the 2014 playoffs, where the Bulls appeared to no longer have their legs or any scoring ability, the front office chose to take the team in another direction. They signed scoring big man Pau Gasol, brought stretch-forward and 2011 draft pick Nikola Mirotic over from Europe, and traded assets to draft 4th all-time leading NCAA scorer Doug McDermott at #11 overall. Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman stopped building the roster around Rose and added more scoring. The scoring improved from 93.7 points per game in 2013-14 (worst in the league) to 100.8 ppg. in 2014-15 (15th out of 30 teams). However, Thibodeau refused to play McDermott (even in blowout games) and clashed with management over minutes restrictions that were put in place to avoid the annual limp into the playoffs. Even with a healthy roster, Derrick Rose in one pice, and the Cleveland Cavaliers without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, the Bulls were still knocked out of the playoffs in 6 games.

The 21 point loss in Game 6 to Cleveland was more than indicative of a team needing a change. Thibodeau refused to call timeouts when Cleveland would go on their multiple 7+ minute runs during the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The Bulls reverted to standing and staring while Butler attempted a “my turn” style of offense, which Thibodeau simply allowed. Rather than sub in forwards to help with inside scoring, Thibodeau played Kirk Hinrich. And the team quit in the most important game of Thibodeau’s tenure. If you saw it another way, I’m not sure what game you were watching.

What Hoiberg brings is an innovative offense that consistently gets players open. If your #1 option is being double teamed, two other options become open moving off the ball. 5 of Hoiberg’s Iowa State players averaged double figures in scoring last season, in one college basketball’s best conferences. Hoiberg is a players coach with a reputation for managing relationships well, both from his coaching and playing career.

While Thibodeau’s grinder and “try-hard” philosophy won games, it worked better when the roster was younger. The Bulls are a veteran roster and built to win now in a bad Eastern Conference. A loose atmosphere and emphasis on scoring has proven to work, as we have seen with Steve Kerr taking over for the Golden State Warriors. Rose and Butler aren’t the same kind of players as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but the rest of the roster benefitted greatly with the transition from Mark Jackson to Kerr.

Thibodeau had an opportunity to prove he could change his style with an older and more offense-oriented roster. There were comparisons being made to Gregg Popovich and his veteran squads that benefitted from rest and the use of the team’s depth. Instead, Thibodeau exhibited a reluctance to adjust and a petulance toward the front office that was trying to help him win.

Neither Paxson nor Forman are blame-free though. Besides acting immature about letting Thibodeau go, the organization hasn’t won anything since Michael Jordan under their watch. Hoiberg is their 4th head coach and really their last chance. When the chairman of the board, Jerry Reinsdorf, feels a need to help put the nail in the coffin with a coach’s exit, you have to think there is more to Thibodeau’s dismissal than what we know…but don’t think for a second that Paxson and Forman aren’t on hot seats.

It will be interesting to see where Thibodeau lands. Depending on whether the Cavs win the finals, he could be coaching LeBron James next season. Byron Scott isn’t safe in Los Angeles and Kobe Bryant has been very vocal in his admiration for Thibodeau. Maybe he’ll win a championship somewhere else, but the bottom line is that he didn’t as the 3rd longest tenured coach in the NBA.

In regards to Hoiberg, he isn’t Tim Floyd (like some lazily want to compare him to). He’s inheriting a team ready to win now. He is familiar with the new generation of NBA players, having recruited, scouted and coached them for the last 5 years. Hoiberg will also have an opportunity to do it in an Eastern Conference that is just being asked to be won…that is if he can do it against LeBron.

Agree or disagree, let’s talk about it on Twitter at @Mike_PiFF03.

1 Comment Posted on May 14, 2015May 25, 2015 Movies, sports

Sports Crazies: Who Belongs in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’?

It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?

The early reviews are in on ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and it sounds like every synonym that applies to “epic”. The post-apocalyptic franchise returns after the last film hit theaters 30 years ago with a new leading man (the VERY MAD Tom Hardy) and a setting that gives zero F-words to the original timeline. However, it’s directed by George Miller, who created this mad world, so any worry of integrity and fears of Hollywood reboots can be set aside.

In the REAL WORLD, our professional sports universe is filled with all walks of life. Good guys, bad guys, heroes, cheaters…gentlemen & ladies, scumbags and…I don’t even know.

Here, we are going to focus on the CRAZIES in pro sports. Not necessarily the guys you would qualify as “bad guys”, but more of the unhinged, whacky, screw-loose variety…And Monty Williams.

One more time for Monty Williams and the GREATEST GIF OF ALL TIME pic.twitter.com/YB4LG3wSmM

— Mike Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) May 12, 2015

MLB

Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers

Just one home run away from the 400 club, a 4-time All-Star, an MVP runner-up in 2004, stats comparable to Dave Parker, Al Kaline, and Eddie Murray (according to Baseball Reference)…Adrian Beltre is all of these, but he’s also a ticking time bomb. It’s been thoroughly documented on that Beltre hates when people touch his head, yet his teammates and opponents continue to do it. If you ask me, he is one Elvis Andrus prank away form yelling “BELTRE SMASH!”

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper is a hot item these days and likely will be for quite a while. He made it into our Mad Men of MLB list a month ago, but the home run “hair flip” keeps the momentum going. Not only is he hitting out of his mind (12 HRs, 31 RBIs, 1.119 OPS in 35 games), he’s challenging umpires to Thunderdome too…Okay not exactly, but bat flips and hair flips will get it done.

NBA

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell. Is. Crazy.…And he’s crazy good. Had his team made the playoffs, Westbrook could and probably should have been the NBA’s MVP this season. He earned the NBA’s scoring title by averaging 28.1 points per game, recorded 11 triple-doubles, yet none of it mattered to him…

Russell Westbrook's full quote on what the scoring title means to him: pic.twitter.com/aiHOragF2h

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 16, 2015

On top of the accolades and establishing himself as not the Robin to Kevin Durant’s “Batman” (he’s more Superman, or a second Batman), he has no regard for his own safety…and it’s entertaining as hell.

DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

This description comes from Boogie’s scouting report from Jonathan Wasserman before he was drafted from Kentucky in 2010.

“Cousins’ lack of maturity and mental focus is evident in his negative body language and lack of composure … He tends to lose his head, looking disinterested or frustrated if things don’t go his way. Also does not appear receptive to coaching, tuning out his coaches when they attempt to give him advice on the bench …”

Since then, the 5th overall pick has averaged a double-double with 18.9 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, was named an NBA All-Star this past season, and was a member of last summer’s FIBA Champion Team USA squad….and he’ll also be the “Blaster” to any of his teammates’ “Master”.

…and you don’t want to get in Boogie Blaster’s way.

NFL

Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

When you get a FOX Sports camera basically dedicated to your every movement on the sidelines, you probably deserve a mention in this post…As the Dallas Cowboys continue the all-time worst PR roster this year, Dez Bryant remains a figure of intrigue while he accepts the team’s franchise tag. Bryant was the center of rumors that seemed to gain steam in the winter regarding a video that was said to have made Ray Rice look like a choir boy. It remained just a rumor though…Bryant hasn’t signed his tender yet but once he does, the Cowboys sidelines will remain much anticipated theater.

Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears

Martellus Bennett is a different kind of cat, to say the least…He’s not demonstrative like Bryant, but he certainly is out there. It’s very cool how in-touch he is with his creative side. He’s into animation, writing children’s stories and challenges his Twitter following to open their imaginations…That odd side doesn’t necessarily translate to the field, but more so off the field in front of the local media. When he was first introduced to Chicago after signing his current contract, he asked to be referred to as “The Black Unicorn”, the “Orange Dinosaur”, and “Martysaurus Rex”…But don’t mistake his fun and soft side as weakness, Rookies…

NHL

Andrew Shaw, Chicago Blackhawks

Really you could apply this post to EVERYONE in the NHL. Guys pull their teeth out during games just to get comfortable. Fighting is legal. Reporters on the ice get hit with pucks, bleed, and shake it off to keep doing their jobs…

In anticipation of the Western Conference Finals coming up, we’ll go with the scrappiest (and craziest) guy you’ll see on the ice, Andrew Shaw. The 5’11, 23 year-old forward isn’t afraid to mix it up with anyone, anywhere…even from the bench. The fact that he sold his bloody stitches from the last Stanley Cup Finals he won for charity should be enough to qualify him as Fury Road material.

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

If the Mad Max franchise has provided anything, it’s a litany of freaks and things of the unimaginable. Fury Road sounds no different, so why not include the NHL’s most impressive circus attraction…Zdeno Chara. Chara is 6’9 without skates and carries a very heavy stick, but apparently the Slovak skater also grew up in a castle that housed history’s most infamous female serial killer. So there’s THAT the next time Chara comes barreling into you on skates.

Who else belongs in Mad Max: Fury Road? Going to see the movie this weekend? Lets talk about it on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

Leave a comment Posted on April 28, 2015 Media, sports

My Picks: The 2015 ‘Awful Announcing’ People’s Sports Media Awards

Awful announcing opened its voting for their 2015 People’s Sports Media Awards, and I really enjoyed the hell out of it…

I encourage you to go vote yourselves, but I thought I’d share my picks and why I made them.

1) Best Live Event Coverage

– EPL on NBC
– World Cup on ESPN
– Sunday Night Football
– College Football Playoff on ESPN
– NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner

My Pick: NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner

Why:

The drama really sells itself with the tourney, but the production really outdid itself this year. Only CBS/Turner could make long stretches of back-to-back missed shots feel compelling, but seriously…

Ron Hunter falling off his chair, UAB over Iowa State, crying Nova piccolo player…And to do so without Steve Kerr and Greg Anthony too?…Thanks, Raftery. And “One Shining Moment”.

2) Best Sports Documentary

– Playing for the Mob (ESPN)
– Verne Lundquist: In Your Life (CBS)
– I Hate Christian Laettner (ESPN)
– The Day the Series Stopped (ESPN)
– Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker (MLB Network)
– Of Miracles and Men (ESPN)

My Pick: Of Miracles and Men (ESPN)

Why:

One of the greatest athletic achievements in the history of the United States, in the view of its opposition. Enough said.

3) Best Studio Show

– The Men in Blazers Show (NBCSN)
– College GameDay (ESPN)
– Inside the NBA (TNT)
– World Cup Tonight (ESPN)
– Match of the Day (NBCSN)
– That Other Pregame Show (CBS Sports Network)

My Pick: Inside the NBA (TNT)

Why:

This show is about as entertaining as it gets and Charles Barkley is a big reason for it. Shaq feels forced and awkward, but they make the most of his deficiencies with humor. When Kenny Smith isn’t spoiling slam dunk contests over the public address system, he is an excellent analyst. And Ernie Johnson’s bowtie game is flawless…I considered College GameDay, but the celebrity picker segment can be a mixed bag and makes me want to change the channel.

4) Best Daily Show

– Olbermann (ESPN2)
– Fox Sports Live (Fox Sports 1)
– Outside the Lines (ESPN/ESPN2)
– PTI (ESPN)
– The Dan Patrick Show (NBCSN)
– MLB Tonight (MLB Network)
– SportsCenter 11 PM ET (ESPN)

My Pick: The Dan Patrick Show

Why:

The Dan Patrick Show is my kind of show. I would love to work on that show and with their team. They have excellent chemistry including the producers on topics with Patrick. Nothing is forced. There isn’t an agenda. And it’s entertaining each and every day…even when there are guest hosts for the show.

This used to be SportsCenter for me, but they care more about debates and analysis from “experts” I don’t want to hear from than the highlights I want to tune in for.

5) Best Studio Host

– Rebecca Lowe (NBC)
– Rece Davis (ESPN)
– Liam McHugh (NBC)
– Rob Stone (Fox)
– Adam Zucker (CBS)
– Bob Ley (ESPN)
– Ernie Johnson (Turner)
– Lindsay Czarniak (ESPN)

My Pick: Rece Davis (NBC)

Why:

This was the toughest field because all of those recognized are great enough for votes, but Rece Davis is my guy. Extremely excited to see him take over College GameDay for football season because he’s a natural. Excellent charisma, fun, informative, great chin…

6) Best Studio Analyst

– Pedro Martinez (Turner)
– Greg McElroy (SEC Network)
– Charles Barkley (Turner)
– Joel Klatt (Fox)
– Seth Greenberg (ESPN)
– Kyle Martino (NBC)
– Clark Kellogg (CBS)
– Doug Glanville (ESPN)

My Pick: Charles Barkley

Why:

Barkley. Is. Appointment. TV.

He may not have the greatest or most informed opinion, but you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t entertaining. That’s why he has hosted SNL a handful of times…I would say that I also considered Joel Klatt and Doug Glanville because their content and insight is incredible.

7) Best Play by Play Announcer

– Arlo White (NBC)
– Al Michaels (NBC)
– Dan Shulman (ESPN)
– Ian Darke (ESPN)
– Ian Eagle (CBS/Turner)
– Doc Emrick (NBC)
– Brian Anderson (CBS/Turner)
– Dave Pasch (ESPN)
– Mike Tirico (ESPN)

My Pick: Ian Eagle

Why:

There are excellent names on this list. Doc Emrick is the pro of pros and should have been my pick. However, I’ve fallen in love with the job Ian Eagle does. He is that great mix of “New School” and “Old School”. He has this impeccable skill of remaining calm and professional while emphasizing excitement on a huge play. Awesome sense of humor and has that ability of making a blowout sound interesting.

8) Best Game Analyst

– Bill Raftery (Fox/CBS)
– John Smoltz (Fox/MLB Network)
– Jay Bilas (ESPN)
– Cris Collinsworth (NBC)
– Eddie Olczyk (NBC)
– Hubie Brown (ESPN)
– Bill Walton (ESPN)
– Taylor Twellman (ESPN)

My Pick: Eddie Olczyk

Why:

The point I made about Emrick in the category before applies here. Eddie Olczyk is aware, he’s objective (even when his Blackhawks are on the national broadcast), and he helps teach the audience the game. John Smoltz does a similar good job, but I don’t get enough Smoltzy to hold him in that high of a regard. Hubie Brown also gets consideration because he will at least call the game he is assigned to…unlike Jeff Van Gundy.

9) Best Sideline Reporter/Analyst

– Allie LaForce (CBS)
– Michele Tafoya (NBC)
– Tracy Wolfson (CBS)
– Rachel Nichols (Turner)
– David Feherty (CBS)
– Brian Engblom (NBC)
– Doris Burke (ESPN)

My Pick: Feherty

Why:

I love the work Rachel Nichols does. Doris Burke deserves more credit for what she brings to a broadcast. And Brian Engblom is a badass…But Feherty is just so…Feherty.

10) Best Newsbreaker

– Adam Schefter (ESPN)
– Ariel Helwani (MMA Fighting/Fox)
– Ken Rosenthal (Fox)
– Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo)
– Jay Glazer (Fox)
– Bob McKenzie (NBC/TSN)
– Chris Mortensen (ESPN)

My Pick: Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo)

Why:

Bob McKenzie is very close to being this guy for the NHL, but Adrian Wojnarowski is the definitive newsbreaker for the NBA…In the NFL, Schefter and Jay Glazer along with several others battle each other for that title. Ken Rosenthal is great but is in a same situation as the football guys battling with Jon Heyman and others for scoops. Only one of these guys has their own #hashtag designated to them and makes you refresh their Twitter timeline for breaking news: #WojBomb.

11) Best Podcast

– Men in Blazers
– The Jay & Dan Podcast
– The BS Report
– The Art of Wrestling
– The Starters
– His & Hers

My Pick: The Jay & Dan Podcast

Why:

I don’t listen to many podcasts and I’d really like to change that, but Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole have the personalities and opinions that I want more of after they are done with a shift on FOX Sports Live. I hear ‘Men in Blazers’ is great, but I don’t watch soccer. And I don’t like Bill Simmons…like REALLY don’t like BS.

12) Best in Social Media

– Katie Nolan
– Bruce Arthur
– Men in Blazers
– Richard Deitsch
– Spencer Hall
– Jay Onrait
– Scott Van Pelt
– Jay Bilas

My Pick: Richard Deitsch

Why:

Again, some very good people to choose from. Jay is hilarious and so is Van Pelt. Jay Bilas is fascinating with his hip-hop knowledge. Bruce Arthur gets plenty of Retweets. Spencer Hall gets me with his appreciation for Justified and similar TV programming. And I used to like Katie Nolan the most until she turned her platform into immature mob shaming….Richard Deitsch is my guy though. There are few people as consistently informative as Deitsch. He is unbiased and fair in his critiques of all media outlets. Deitsch also gives you credible insight into these outlets that you won’t always find elsewhere.

In my years of covering ESPN, this truism has emerged: When Deadspin goes in on an ESPN staffer, ESPN almost universally redoubles support.

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) April 27, 2015

13) Best Media Feud

– Dan Patrick vs Colin Cowherd
– Mike Francesa vs Fox Sports 1
– Bill Simmons vs The Authority
– Keith Olbermann vs New York Daily News
– Bill Simmons vs Mike & Mike
– Jay Glazer vs ESPN
– Dan Dakich vs WEEI

I loved the Jay Glazer feud with ESPN because he was calling them out on something many have been complaining about for years. But sometimes Glazer gives me that “Guy Fieri” vibe and that’s just uncomfortable for everyone involved…Dan Patrick vs. Colin Cowherd was the most compelling, and resulted in the best Mortal Kombat style finisher. FATALITY.

14) Sports Media Entertainer of the Year – Which sports personality had the best year?

– Rebecca Lowe
– Bill Raftery
– Men in Blazers
– Pedro Martinez
– Bill Walton
– Bill Simmons
– Mike Francesa
– Bob Ley

My Pick: Bill Walton

Why:

I can only explain this with a simple question…WHEN ISN’T BILL WALTON HAVING THE BEST YEAR?

Agree? Disagree? Make YOUR picks at Awful Announcing and let me know who you chose on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

1 Comment Posted on April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 Baseball, sports, TV

Mad Men of MLB

They premiered the same night…

The “Final Episodes” of Mad Men and the 2015 Major League baseball season. Both gave us the feel of nostalgia, with some new little twists as well…

ESPN with their K-Zone and Roger with his Mustache.

The both have served as our pastime. They have captured American history in their own ways. They have kept us at the edge of our seats with drama unlike any other. They are also both HEAVILY sponsored.

As we say “goodbye” to one and “hello” to the other, let’s compare further and identify the true “Mad Men” of MLB.

Pete Campbell / Bryce Harper, Nationals

Pete Campbell and Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals ascended to stardom very quickly in their own way. Harper has an NL Rookie of the Year and a couple of All-Star games to his name while Pete has “Partner” as a title and Clearasil. While both are very successful, they’re also polarizing and even hated by fans. Although they may rub people the wrong way, you will rarely see them with their heads down due to a wealth of confidence…unless Pete’s in trouble.

Don Draper / Derek Jeter, Yankees

Derek Jeter may be retired, but Don Draper began his farewell tour last year too. They were the faces of their organizations and legends of their craft. While Don and Jeter may not have been putting out their best work at times, they were still perennial all-stars. They also could field a pretty strong batting lineup with both of their dating histories. And they both could sell ANYTHING…

Peggy Olson / Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

Peggy Olson was Don’s protege and Troy Tulowitzki has taken the reigns as the best shortstop in the league post-Jeter. The time is now for both of them. Tulowitzki has been held back by injuries while Peggy was held back by sexism in her industry. And as they show off their talents, they have become hot commodities to other teams as well.

Roger Sterling / Tony La Russa

I attended Tony La Russa’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony last summer, and listening to him talk about his days as both a player and a manager reminded me of the war stories Roger Sterling tells to his clients. Neither one can stay away from the game as Roger continues to sell whatever he can while La Russa just recently took a job as chief baseball officer for the Diamondbacks. Neither one minds a midday cocktail either.

Joan Harris / Jose Abreu, White Sox

On the outside, Jose Abreu is a 6’2, 260 pound Cuban baseball Jedi and Joan is a redhead with curves like a Formula One track. These two have a lot more in common than you’d think…They both joined the majors late in their careers but made an instant impact when they got there. Joan spent years in the secretary ranks and jumped to partner while Abreu went from playing for the Cuban national team for years to MLB All-Star and unanimous AL Rookie of the Year. They also have the savviness and experience to adjust on the fly and last for a long time to come.

Ken Cosgrove / Billy Hamilton, Reds

I think we all have our favorite characters from TV shows that are no more than supporting to the story, and won’t even appear in some episodes. Ken Cosgrove is exactly one of those characters for me because he is the “Mr. Hustle” for the Sterling Cooper agency. The same can be said about Billy Hamilton of Cincinnati, whose 56 stolen bases in his first full season ranked him 2nd in the majors. Hamilton’s OBP isn’t the best for a leadoff man (.290), neither is Cosgrove’s, but he makes the opponent pay when he gets his chances.

Betty Francis / Max Scherzer, Nationals

I guess this could be said about many of Scott Boras’s clients, but Betty Francis (formerly Draper) is a money chaser. Max Scherzer was one of the last high priority free agents to sign this past winter because he was waiting on the 7 year, $210 million deal that Washington happened to have lying around. And he gets to count his cash like Scrooge McDuck when he isn’t pitching every 5th day in the league’s deepest rotation. So another name that we call Betty applies to Scherzer…Frontrunner. However, there’s a reason they got to where they are now…

Megan Draper / Mike Trout, Angels

Out with the Betty, in with the new…Megan Draper, I mean. Megan was Don’s MVS (most valuable secretary), so much so that he put a ring on it. Megan also took advantage of the opportunity quickly, much like Mike Trout when he hit the big leagues. Both were under-appreciated at first, as Trout was working for an MVP nod and Megan continuously auditioned for TV roles. Both got what they wanted and both are California dreaming.

Stan Rizzo / Anthony Rizzo, Cubs

Besides the obvious (last name), both actually have a lot in common. Both Stan and Anthony had rough starts to their careers. Anthony only hit .141 in his first Major League stint with the Padres, and Stan was a sexist jerk…Both have improved immensely and serve as glue guys for their respective teams. Stan grew a beard, found recreational drugs, became best buds with Peggy and is no longer a jerk. Anthony has become an All-Star and isn’t afraid to mix it up with opponents to defend his teammates. Yep, glue guys.