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Fight the Power: Giants, Jets Fans Rage Against The PSL Machine

Tom MantzouranisPosted Aug 21st 2008 12:28PM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: Jets, Giants, NFL Fans

Once the assorted Giants and Jets fans enter the Stadium on Saturday night for the two teams' preseason game, their rooting interests will be fractured in two. Outside the stadium before the game, however, blue and green will harmoniously blend into one distinct shade of rebellion.

Steve Kern, a Jets season ticket holder, has organized a pre-game protest rally at one of the stadium's entrances for fans of both teams to bemoan the personal seat licenses that are being foisted upon them when the new stadium for both clubs opens in a couple of years.
"What bothers me is that you aren't really getting perks beyond what you currently get as a season-ticket holder," said Kern, 44, who goes to each Jets home game with one of his three sons. So Kern has proposed alternatives, including limiting PSLs only to the most expensive seats; a five-year freeze on season ticket prices, and allowing small coolers to be brought into the stadium.
All great ideas, all sure to be ignored. The teams don't care what what these dissenters think, because they can just dip into their well of waitlisted season ticket applicants and find people to pay the personal seat license fee, despite the fact that they're absurdly priced and exist without any benefit to the holder.

Still, in this day and age the only time people stray from passivity is when they're speaking their mind through their fingertips. So I applaud Kern for his efforts. It may or may not make a difference, but Kern and co. will have made some noise. And in the end, that's victory enough.

Jimmy Rollins Is Not Philly's Finest Recruiter

Eamonn BrennanPosted Aug 21st 2008 11:59AM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: Phillies, AL East, MLB Fans

Philadelphia fans have an unshakable reputation. No matter what they do, in the next, say, 10 years -- and probably longer -- Philadelphia fans will be forced to deal with the perception that they're drunk, brutish, battery-throwing louts that have a near-hate relationship with players in their tortured sports city. Fair or not, that's their rep.

Jimmy Rollins has had his share of clashes with those fans, and, as one might imagine, he's not doing much to alleviate the conflict. He's citing other players in his complaints now, too:
"We've had a lot of things said about fans here," Rollins said of questions and comments by opposing players. "Most of them you can't repeat. That's their opinion. They get to come from the outside and look in. I think a lot of players, they ask knowing their free-agent year is coming up. They try to get a feel for how the fans are. I think they have a good idea of how the team is. They like the team. They enjoy the team. A lot of times, and I've actually heard it, they don't want to put their family and kids in a situation where they come to the field and these are the types of things their kids are going to have to sit through and listen to. That's just the truth. Those aren't my words. Those are words that I've actually heard."
Well, they're Rollins's words now, and you can bet they won't be forgotten in Philly any time in the near term. Those evil, evil people in Philly, why, it turns out they don't like their players to badmouth them. Imagine that.

USA Beats Brazil, Wins Women's Soccer Gold

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 11:25AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Americas, USA


The U.S. women's soccer team pulled off a big upset in Beijing today, beating Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal.

Although they were the defending gold medal winners, the American women were not expected to win the gold again this year. Their top player, Abby Wambach, was out with a broken leg, and the athletic Brazilian women were widely believed to be ready to win their first gold. When the Americans lost in their first Olympic game, it appeared that this incarnation of Team USA just wasn't good enough.

But they were plenty good, and today they were led by goalkeeper Hope Solo. Previously best known for criticizing her own coach and teammates when she was benched in the World Cup, will now be known for her sensational performance in the gold medal match, shutting out Brazil in 120 minutes of fast-paced soccer.

The game was scoreless through 90 minutes, but in the seventh minute of overtime, Carli Lloyd scored to give the Americans the only goal they would need. Solo took care of the rest, and the American women will bring home the gold again.

While His Son Won 8 Golds, Michael Phelps' Father Watched From Home

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 10:58AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: USA

As Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and accomplished the greatest Olympic performance ever, his mother and his two older sisters got almost as much face time on NBC as Bob Costas. We saw features about Phelps' mom, Debbie, we heard her screaming during races and saw her crying afterward. But we never heard from Phelps' dad.

It turns out that Michael hasn't heard from him either.
Continue Reading While His Son Won 8 Golds, Michael Phelps' Father Watched From Home

Mitch Maier Settles In, and OHMYGODNO

Eamonn BrennanPosted Aug 21st 2008 10:40AM by Eamonn Brennan (author feed)
Filed under: Royals, MLB Injuries, MLB Video



The first time you watch this clip, you'll likely think, oh, hmm. Maybe that high and tight whatever-it-was just hit his bat. After all, it sounded like a ball hitting wood. I'm sure that's what happened OH NO THAT'S THE SOUND OF A BASEBALL HITTING A FACE. AHHHHHH!

And then you will cry. Probably more than Mitch Maier -- who suffered several broken bones from the ordeal -- did.

Suddenly The NCAA Wants to Give Mauk Another Hearing

Chas RichPosted Aug 21st 2008 10:35AM by Chas Rich (author feed)
Filed under: Cincinnati, Big East, General CFB Insanity

Obviously, some recent lawsuits have not gone the way the NCAA would have liked. Faced with the prospect of having to explain its decision making regarding the denial of Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk's application and appeals for a 6th year of eligibility, in an open court the NCAA has rethought its approach. How about a clean slate and a fresh set of NCAA eligibility hearings?
The NCAA agreed on Wednesday to re-hear Mauk's appeal for a sixth year to complete his four years of eligibility.

If the appeal reaches the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, which ruled against Mauk on Aug. 8, Mauk has been assured that he will be given a chance to speak, something that he was not allowed to do the last time.
Mauk's attorney says there is new evidence to present to the NCAA. Presumably it is testimony and further information regarding the injury he suffered as a senior in high school that lingered into his freshman year at Wake Forest. Mauk was redshirted as a freshman, but it was specified as a medical redshirt. While Wake Forest has backed Mauk's claims that his redshirt was primarily because he was still recovering from a setback from the injury and surgery, they lacked the requisite paperwork demanded by the NCAA.

If this somehow gets Mauk another year of eligibility, it isn't clear what will happen with the starting QB job at Cinci. Mauk has missed all of training camp while awaiting word. Senior Dustin Grutza has been named the starter. Mauk, though, took the job last year and really made the Bearcat offense hum with better mobility than Grutza.

Japan Beats U.S., Wins Softball Gold

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 8:53AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Asia, USA


In one of the biggest upsets in any sport in these Olympics, Japan has defeated the United States 3-1 to win the softball gold medal.

The U.S. had won the last three gold medals, had a 22-game winning streak in Olympic softball and was accustomed to not just winning but blowing out its opponents. So dominant was the U.S. that softball games involving the Americans often invoked the mercy rule, and American dominance was one of the main reasons that the sport has been canceled for the 2012 Olympics.

But Japan, which got a fourth-inning home run from Eri Yamada, was the better team today. Team USA will settle for silver.

Veronica Campbell-Brown Beats Allyson Felix in 200 as Jamaicans Dominate Sprints

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 8:26AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Americas, USA


Jamaica has completed its Olympic sprint sweep.

Veronica Campbell-Brown won the women's 200 meters today in 21.74 seconds, beating American Allyson Felix by 0.19 second. Campbell-Brown won the 200 gold and Felix the silver in 2004 as well.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt had previously won the men's 100 and 200 meters and Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser won the women's 100. There's no doubt about it: Jamaica has taken the place of the United States as the world's dominant sprinting nation.

Gene Upshaw Dies at 63

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 7:30AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Raiders

Multiple news outlets are reporting that Gene Upshaw, the Oakland Raiders Hall of Famer who has ruled the NFL players' union for the last quarter century, has died at the age of 63.

Upshaw's death was first reported by Jim Riggio of Clear Channel, who reported that Upshaw had pancreatic cancer. Upshaw had never disclosed that he was ill, but other outlets, including NBC Sports and the Post Chronicle, have also reported Upshaw's death.

At 8:30 a.m. Eastern, the NFL confirmed Upshaw's death.

Upshaw played for the Oakland Raiders from 1967 to 1981. He was active in the players' union and became its executive director shortly after his retirement.

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USA Beats Brazil, Wins Women's Soccer Gold
Veronica Campbell-Brown Beats Allyson Felix in 200 as Jamaicans Dominate Sprints
Gene Upshaw Dies at 63

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