Showing posts with label USA Today. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA Today. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

R. I. P.....Yogi Berra!!!

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra....passed away yesterday.  He was 90 years old.  We remember him

for his "Yogi-isms".   They made us laugh.  But Mr. Berra was more than a "funny man".  He was a great baseball player.

Enjoy this collection of our favorite Yogi quotes:

 
1. When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
2. You can observe a lot by just watching.
3. It ain’t over till it’s over.
4. It’s like déjà vu all over again.
5. No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.
6. Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.
7. A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.
8. Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.
9. We made too many wrong mistakes.
10. Congratulations. I knew the record would stand until it was broken.
11. You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.
12. You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you.
13. I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four.
14. Never answer an anonymous letter.
15. Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting.
16. How can you think and hit at the same time?
17. The future ain’t what it used to be.
18. I tell the kids, somebody’s gotta win, somebody’s gotta lose. Just don’t fight about it. Just try to get better.
19. It gets late early out here.
20. If the people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.
21. We have deep depth.
22. Pair up in threes.
23. Why buy good luggage, you only use it when you travel.
24. You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.
25. All pitchers are liars or crybabies.

USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports

26. Even Napoleon had his Watergate.
27. Bill Dickey is learning me his experience.
28. He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.
29. It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.
30. I can see how he (Sandy Koufax) won twenty-five games. What I don’t understand is how he lost five.
31. I don’t know (if they were men or women fans running naked across the field). They had bags over their heads.
32. I’m a lucky guy and I’m happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary.
33. I’m not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.
34. In baseball, you don’t know nothing.
35. I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn’t my fault that I’m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?
36. I never said most of the things I said.
37. It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.
38. If you ask me anything I don’t know, I’m not going to answer.
39. I wish everybody had the drive he (Joe DiMaggio) had. He never did anything wrong on the field. I’d never seen him dive for a ball, everything was a chest-high catch, and he never walked off the field.
40. So I’m ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face.
41. Take it with a grin of salt.
42. (On the 1973 Mets) We were overwhelming underdogs.
43. The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.
44. Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.
45. Mickey Mantle was a very good golfer, but we weren’t allowed to play golf during the season; only at spring training.
46. You don’t have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it’ll go.
47. I’m lucky. Usually you’re dead to get your own museum, but I’m still alive to see mine.
48. If I didn’t make it in baseball, I won’t have made it workin’. I didn’t like to work.
49. If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be.
50. A lot of guys go, ‘Hey, Yog, say a Yogi-ism.’ I tell ’em, ‘I don’t know any.’ They want me to make one up. I don’t make ’em up. I don’t even know when I say it. They’re the truth. And it is the truth. I don’t know.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Very 1st......Pre-season Poll

The first of many......Here's USA Today's....pre-season rankings:



Aug. 4, 2011 - preseason poll
Rank
Team (first-place votes)
2010 record
Points
Final 2010 ranking
1.
Oklahoma (42)
12-2
1,454
6
2.
Alabama (13)
10-3
1,414
11
3.
Oregon (2)
12-1
1,309
3
4.
LSU (2)
11-2
1,296
8t
5.
10-4
1,116
16
6.
12-1
1,101
4
7.
12-1
1,065
7
8.
11-2
933
10
9.
Texas A&M
9-4
885
21
10.
11-2
829
8t
11.
Nebraska
10-4
814
19
12.
9-5
779
22
13.
11-3
767
15
14.
10-3
750
12
15.
13-0
687
2
16.
12-1
631
5
17.
Michigan State
11-2
536
14
18.
Notre Dame
8-5
440
NR
19.
14-0
329
1
20.
9-4
301
17
21.
Missouri
10-3
266
18
22.
Georgia
6-7
260
NR
23.
8-5
240
NR
24.
Texas
5-7
162
NR
25.
Penn State
7-6
161
NR
 
Others receiving votes
Arizona State (6-6) 158; West Virginia (9-4) 149; Utah (10-3) 50; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 49; Iowa (8-5) 41; Northwestern (7-6) 30; Arizona (7-6) 28; Central Florida (11-3) 22; Michigan (7-6) 19; Air Force (9-4) 15; North Carolina (8-5) 14; Houston (5-7) 13; South Florida (8-5) 9; Hawaii (10-4) 8; Clemson (6-7) 7; Tennessee (6-7) 7; Southern Miss (8-5) 6; Brigham Young (7-6) 5; North Carolina State (9-4) 4; Northern Illinois (11-3) 4; Oregon State (5-7) 4; Pittsburgh (8-5) 3; Washington (7-6) 3; Georgia Tech (6-7) 1; Nevada (13-1) 1.

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Gods Must be Crazy......NBA Style

The gods must be crazy.......at least the ones looking down on the NBA.

The Dallas Mavericks are not a great defensive team.   They live and die by 3 point shots.  They are not physical.....They have only one superstar player.    They don't rebound well.

Their second best player,  Jason Terry......comes off the bench.

Their coach,  Rick Carlisle .....has been fired twice.....in the last 10 years.

Their owner,  Mark Cuban.......is a billionaire goof-ball......

And they have never won a championship ......ever.

Yet these Mavs'.........swept the two time defending champion L A Lakers  in 4 games and now lead the Miami Heat 3 games to 2.......to come within a game of winning the whole dang thing.

Yep.......the gods must be crazy.....

From USA Today......Last night's recap:


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

An Oregon.....Fashion Statement

Nike.....makes sure....Oregon gets the best....and only the best..

From USA Today:

The University of Oregon and Nike unveiled new uniforms Tuesday that the Ducks football team will wear when they face off with Auburn on Jan. 10 in the BCS national championship game.

The uniforms, Nike's next generation of the Pro Combat line, are all white with black helmets. But the most dazzling part of the ensemble is probably the cleats and socks.

The uniform design emphasizes thermoregulation by featuring Nike Pro Deflex padding with two-way airflow to cool the body and wick away sweat. The jerseys are made of four-way stretch woven twill that sheds moisture. A Flywire collar eliminates two layers of fabric for improved breathability, providing a more stable anchor to keep the jersey in place.

The uniform also provides enhanced protection throughout the crucial "hit zone" -- between the knees and shoulders -- delivering robust padding without the bulk. Nike Pro Deflex padding has also been integrated in the hip and knee areas of the pant for crucial impact protection that stays in place. The base layer now features customizable protection, incorporating a thin, incredibly strong carbon fiber plate that comes in two different sizes and can be placed where needed.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

This News......is Bad News

The news is not good.....for one Larry Jones, Jr. 

Could this be the end?  

A knee.......torn up.....Chipper has been...."day to day"......for the past 3 years....and now?

A knee......torn up.


From USA Today:

Chipper Jones' career over after ACL injury?

 

By David J. Phillip/AP
In June, Chipper Jones gathered the news media together in the Atlanta Braves locker room to say there would be no more talk about the "R" word. News had leaked that he and the Braves had discussed aspects of his eventual retirement, and Jones didn't want the topic to be a distraction for the rest of the season.

"Any more talk of the 'R' word will be reserved until the end of the season," Jones said. "I'm here. I'm playing the rest of the year. Any decision I make on my future will be made in the offseason."

But the "R" word is on the lips of every Braves fan with today's news, via Jones' agent, that Chipper has a "badly stretched" ACL that likely will require season-ending surgery for the 36-year-old.

Jones injured the knee Tuesday night when he landed awkwardly and had to be helped off the field. Jones hasn't had a 150-game season since 2003, and more than ever his league-leading .364 year of 2008 seems like his last great hurrah.

He was hitting .265 this season, with 10 homers, and not doing much to pad his credentials for the Hall of Fame. He won't waltz into Cooperstown with his numbers -- 2,490 hits, 436 HR -- but retiring now will protect that .306 career average.
So where do you say Chipper should go from here?

 

Thursday, April 15, 2010

African Americans.......and Baseball

There are......a lot of "blacks" in Major League Baseball.   But.....few are United States born African Americans.    Latin players are plentiful......and yes......they are dark skinned.....but  they don't speak the language ......(English).   Thus........they.....are not  African Americans.

Why?

Many theories.....Today the best African American athletes go for football and basketball.   In the intercity,  it's much easier to get a basketball,  a court,  a net.......but baseball?   You need gloves.....and bats......and balls.......a field.....bases.....shoes with cleats...... and you need them for every player.   Cost money.    

Still.....it is sad to see the state of baseball ....today.

Check this out from USA Today:

By Bob Nightengale,

USA TODAYFewer African Americans in MLB; All-Stars remain unsigned

MINNEAPOLIS — Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day today. But 63 years after he broke the game's color barrier, the number of African-American players continues to suffer, with 9.5% of them making opening-day rosters, according to USA TODAY research.
"He would turn over in his grave if he saw the lack of African Americans playing ball," Minnesota Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson said.
MLB had its first increase in African-American players in 15 years in 2009 when the number climbed to 10.2%, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. This year, though, there were 17 teams with two or fewer African-American players on their opening-day roster.
"It makes you wonder a little bit what's going on," said Hudson, who this week questioned whether racism was a factor in former All-Stars Jermaine Dye and Gary Sheffield being unsigned.
Dye has hit at least 27 home runs in each of the last five seasons but batted .179 after the All-Star break in 2009. He and Sheffield, 41, have turned down several contract offers.
MLB, which announced Wednesday that players and coaches will wear Robinson's retired No. 42 today as they did a year ago, says it hopes young stars such as Jason Heyward, B.J. and Justin Upton and Prince Fielder will help reverse the trend.
"We have more programs dealing with this issue than we ever had before," MLB spokesman Rich Levin said. "We continue to work very hard at increasing the number of African Americans."
Four African Americans are MLB managers, three are general managers and two are high-ranking officials in the commissioner's office.
"(MLB) will have you think things are better," agent and former pitcher Dave Stewart said. "It's not better. It's up to players to speak (out)."

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Vick ........Posing in "Playgirl"?

Michael Vick......is in the news .....again.....

'Playgirl' offers Michael Vick $1 million donation to PETA to pose in its magazine

Would $1 million entice Michael Vick to pose for Playgirl?
The magazine, which highlights nude males, offered the Eagles QB $1 million -- that it claims would be donated to the animal-activists group PETA -- if he agrees to a pictorial.
Playgirl spokesman Daniel Nardicio told Life and Style magazine:
" I sent the request to Michael Vick on Wednesday. But we haven't heard back yet. I figured he paid back society for dog fighting, but what about the animals?
"This way he could donate a large sum to PETA and all he'd have to do is pose for the magazine! It's kind of a win-win situation!"
Vick served a 20-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction before joining the Eagles last August.
He has since been working with the Humane Society of the United States to inform children about the dangers of the bloodsport. -- Sean Leahy

Monday, November 16, 2009

Things......We learned from the Week-end


Today......it was 77 degrees in this small southern college town. Rather warm......on a November day.....even in the deep south.

Could this be the start of........dare we say........."global warning"?

Just asking.......

Here's what the week-end gave us.......and some things we learned:


Happy Trails........A. I.

Iverson leaves Memphis by mutual consent - Washington Post

MIAMI (Reuters) - Ten-times NBA All-Star guard Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies just a few months after joining them as a free agent.....


This is one ....expensive ...bird :

The NFL has fined Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making an obscene gesture at Buffalo fans while celebrating Tennessee's victory over...

We are not surprised:

Former basketball star Dennis Rodman was temporarily detained in Germany for allegedly skipping out on a $5,100 hotel bill for a post-game...


And ....she's ....barely 20:

Michelle Wie will arrive at this week's LPGA Tour Championship at the Houstonian Golf and Country Club today as the tour's newly minted...

Monday short shorts:

The Atlanta Falcons.....
are just an average......8-8 team.

The Atlanta Hawks.......went into the Boston Garden....and soundly beat the Celtics.

Georgia......showed signs of life against Auburn.

Stanford........put up half a hundred....plus 5 ...in their 55-21 beat down of USC.

Georgia Tech.......may just be the best 1 loss team....in the nation.

Air conditioners......on.......in November?.....

It just........ain't right.






Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Welcome Back..........Michael Vick......Sort of....


Michael Vick........

Has been re-instated into the National Football League.

Conditionally.....

Meaning he can sign with a team........practice with a team.....play in pre-season games with a team........but...........

He cannot play with said team in a real game.......until October........or week six.

Excuse me while I puke. You're telling me, the United States government has sentenced this man to 2 years in a federal penitentiary........for which he served his time.......lost tens of millions of dollars.......And now the NFL....is flexing it's muscle.....by not letting him play....in a meaningful game.......until week six?

Let us ........puke.......some more.

Where is the "players union"? Why is the almighty NFL depriving Vick.....of making a living. Yes.....he is an ex-con....... and yes...........he paid his debt to society.

And........yes..........the NFL..........to borrow a quote from our president........"Acted....stupidly ".

Take your pick....on the following stories.......

Michael Vick paid his debt, but should NFL let him play?


Los Angeles Times - USA Today

We here at 5 on Five........have a novel idea....

Leave the man alone....let him play.........

Now!!



Wednesday, September 3, 2008

#1..........For a Week

That sure lasted a long.....millisecond.......



Yesterday, the Associated Press and USA Today released the latest rankings of division 1 college football teams.....(Rankings)

What a difference a week makes..........After one game, Southern Cal (3rd in last weeks poll), leaped frogged both Georgia and Ohio State , to claim the number 1 spot in this weeks poll.

Georgia fell to Number 2, while Ohio State came in at number 3.

Of course, the Bulldog Nation is crying foul........but it makes sense to me.

USC traveled some 3000 miles to Charlottesville, VA.......(Three time changes) .....not to mention climate changes ... and .....guess what? USC totally destroyed a division 1 , ACC team by a beat down score of 52-7. It could have been worse...USC coach Pete Carroll called off the onslaught in the 4th quarter.

Meanwhile, #1 Georgia played division II (I know they have changed the name to FCS, but I like still calling it division II)........Georgia Southern........in the comforts of Sanford Stadium....between the hedges..... in front of the usual 92,000 red & black clad Bulldog fanatics.........

Now the "Dawgs " didn't play badly.........scoring 45 points......but giving up 21, in their 45-21 win.

Which was more impressive?

Are you seeing the point?

When a team is ranked #1 in the nation........playing against a team everyone knows it will beat......."style points" .....often make a difference to poll voters.

Think about a 7 point swing in the scoring of the Georgia game.....Say, Georgia.......scored one more touchdown......and held Georgia Southern to one less.........

Final score: Georgia, 52.......Georgia Southern 14........

Sounds a whole lot more impressive than 45-21. USC understands this....

Hope these dogs......have learned ..........a thing or two.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Off......and ......Runinng



A statement was made ......


Last night in Beijing......and this morning in the states.



GAME REPORT:
USA 101, China 70


The game was played in China Sunday night......we saw this morning....



I'm so confused....





Team USA put on a spectacular show......over coming a huge crowd.....some fierce 3 point
shooting by China....To pull away at the end.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Top......."Dawg"


It's ......official!!!!!

The University of Georgia football bulldogs are ranked #1.......according to the USA Today preseason coaches poll.

Wow!

The pressure is on.......let the games begin.

Here's the poll:



Preseason poll

Rank
Team (first-place votes)
Record
Points
Final 2007 rankings
1.
Georgia (22)
11-2
1,438
3
2.
Southern California (14)
11-2
1,430
2
3.

Ohio State (14)

11-2
1,392
4
4.
Oklahoma (3)
11-3
1,329
8
5.
Florida (5)
9-4
1,293
16
6.
LSU (3)
12-2
1,163
1
7.

Missouri

12-2
1,143
5
8.
West Virginia
11-2
1,008
6
9.
Clemson
9-4
999
22
10.
Texas
10-3
979
10
11.
Auburn
9-4
888
14t
12.
Wisconsin
9-4
747
21
13.
Kansas
12-1
714
7
14.
Texas Tech
9-4
644
23
15.
Virginia Tech
11-3
568
9
16.
Arizona State
10-3
560
13
17.
Brigham Young
11-2
547
14t
18.
Tennessee
10-4
506
12
19.
Illinois
9-4
422
18
20.
Oregon
9-4
399
24
21.
South Florida
9-4
350
NR
22.

Penn State

9-4
313
25
23.

Wake Forest

9-4
203
NR
24.

Michigan

9-4
112
19
25.
9-4
91
NR

Others receiving votes

Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.