By Joe Becker

Congratulations to Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and his Red Sox teammates. They are World Series Champions! What a time for Ellsbury, the pride of Madras, Oregon.

Every kid dreams of becoming a big league player and being a star in the World Series. It's happened for Ellsbury and then some. You could say that the 24-year old outfielder is lucky to be where he is...and part of that is true. However, he worked hard to get there...and Jacoby took advantage of his opportunity. It's one thing to get a chance...but Ellsbury just went out and did it. Playing in the national spotlight is tough on some of the greatest players in the game...just ask A-Rod, but Ellsbury performed...and the Red Sox rewarded him with more playing time. Jacoby is an all-around player. He can hit, field and run...and does it on a team loaded with superstars like David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

Ellsbury was put in the Red Sox lineup against the Rockies and banged out 8 hits in four games. He made things happen and was a part of a great baseball team.
What I like about Ellsbury is the way he carries himself. He is confident...yet, it seems humble...and grateful to be in his position.

That happens to be on top as a World Series Champion.

Posted by Joe Becker at 12:24 AM | Permalink

By Craig Edwards

What a difference a week makes. Last week, the Portland Lumberjax, along with the rest of the National Lacrosse League, canceled their 2008 season. Some 10 days later, the season is back on.

Today, the league and its players agreed on a new, seven-year collective bargaining agreement. It means fans will not miss the season...for the most part.

The decision to kill the season will still have some very lasting consequences.

First, many teams, including the Lumberjax, gave back scheduled dates to their respective arenas, simply because they weren't going to need them. Now, the league's entire schedule has to be redone. Some teams may not even play, while a shorter schedule definitely seems to be in the cards.

To make matters worse, the cancellation came as the league was negotiating TV deals in both the U.S. and Canada. Sorry folks, but those TV hours are likely gone. If you haven't been paying attention over the last 40 years, TV is the holy grail to big league sports. You really have to have it if you want your league to succeed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the Lumberjax are back. A shorter, TV-less season is way better than no season at all. However, the league should... and will regret canceling their season in the first place.

Posted by Craig Edwards at 7:22 PM | Permalink

By Joe Becker

Let me just say I am very excited for this year's matchup in the World Series.
The Historic Boston Red Sox and the up and coming Colorado Rockies. I've got Wednesday and Thursday off this week and I'm going to spend part of them parked on the couch right in front of the TV.

I like the Red Sox in 6.

I covered the Red Sox for five years when I worked in Providence, Rhode Island and went to training camp twice in Winterhaven, Florida. I have many great memories from that time. I saw Roger Clemens pitch his first spring training game as a rookie out of Texas. I was lucky enough to interview the 'Splendid Splinter', Ted Williams.

I saw Carl Yastrzemski get his 3-thousandth hit at Fenway in 1979. In fact, I was sitting in the photo box next to the Yankee dugout. I talked with Reggie Jackson during the game...and then interviewed him as well as Yaz afterward.

Fenway is the perfect place to watch baseball...but Coors Field looks to have great atmosphere as well. The Rockies run of 21 out of 22 is incredible...but I do think the long layoff is going to affect them. 8 days without a game is tough when you're used to playing every day for six months.

Do you remember when the Portland Rockies were in town?

Those were fun days sitting in the Rockpile out in left field. But then again, my couch isn't bad either.

Enjoy the Series!

Posted by Joe Becker at 12:53 AM | Permalink

By Craig Edwards

I've always been a big fan of sports history, particularly football. The stories of how the modern day NFL came to be fascinate me.

So, I was saddened this morning to learn that Max McGee had died at the age of 75. If you're not familiar with the name, that's okay. His football career ended nearly 40 years ago. He is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though he's part of one the greatest pieces of football lore you'll ever hear.

Continue reading "The Legend of Max McGee" »

Posted by Craig Edwards at 12:59 PM | Permalink

This is no joke....it's something that the NFL is seriously considering!
This could be the greatest travesty in the history of American sports if this becomes reality. Look, I'm all for bringing an exhibition game to Europe, Asia, Timbuktu, wherever....but, when you are trying to move the greatest annual sports spectacle to London...I've got a BIG ISSUE.

Said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, "There's a great deal of interest in holding a Super Bowl in London," Goodell told reporters Monday. "So we'll be looking at that."

Goodell....please wake up!! The NFL was born in America...and needs to stay here.
Goodell has done an admirable job since taking off as Commish....but he would be chastised to a great extent if he somehow pulls this off. Am I nuts to feel this way? What do you think about this? I welcome your comments.

Posted by at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By Craig Edwards

With the baseball playoffs on a break for most of the week, much of the national spotlight so far has shifted to the NFL, mainly Sunday's big game between New England and Dallas. Both teams are 5-0, but the focus of this matchup has already turned to the star Wide Receivers who both wear 81; Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

In lieu of the usual trash talk: T.O. put the following letter in front of his locker:

Dear Reporters,

Terrell Owens 81
p.s. Getcha Popcorn Ready

Get our popcorn ready for what T.O.? To watch you to drop a whole lot of passes? That's pretty much you're main thing right now.

While everyone seems to want to compare Moss and Owens, I really don't see a lot of similarities.

Continue reading "Will the Real #81 Please Stand Up" »

Posted by Craig Edwards at 7:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By Joe Becker

Just finished with Sports Sunday and the 10 and 11pm News. The show was shorter tonight because the Packers-Bears game went long...but it was still a good show.

We had Vikings Coach Jerry Glanville on and Former Vikings QB and NFL Star Neil Lomax. Adam Bjaranson interviewed Glanville and I talked with Lomax.

Neil is a great guy knows and as always was a terrific guest. Neil set 90 NCAA Records at PSU and spent ten years in the NFL. He passed for more than 22-thousand yards in the NFL and was named to the Pro Bowl team twice.

I'm off tomorrow and Tuesday. I plan to lay on the couch and watch the Yankees and Indians. You can't beat the baseball playoffs. I can still remember as a kid watching the St. Louis Cardinals and Yankees in the World Series in 1964. I ran home from school as fast as I could in the 4th grade to see the end of the final game.

More than 40 years later and I still feel like a kid come playoff time!

Posted by Joe Becker at 12:51 AM | Permalink

I'm using a new approach for professional athletes. They are all 'guilty' until proven innocent. I know there are some 'clean' athletes....probably more out there than the 'dirty' ones. But, the admission of guilt by track standout Marion Jones today is 100% obsurd. I was honestly sick to my stomach after hearing all the lies leading up to today. For instance, the one about 3 years ago when she emphatically denied using drugs.

Said Jones back then, "I have never ever used performance enhancing drugs and i have accomplished what i have accomplished because of my God given abilities and hard work." What a complete farce! It just disturbs me to know end.
This girl had it all....she had marketability that never wavered---even when the questions surfaced. You know the line...."where there is smoke, there is usually fire", right? Should have seen it when her ex-hubby CJ Hunter....then boyfriend Tim Montgomery got busted. I'm disturbed...and an admission of guilt by Jones just frustrates me to no end.

Posted by at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)