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The Daily Digest for Monday, October 29, 2007 |
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October 29, 2007 |
≡ Interim Report ≡
 Rodriguez: reverse the Curse? |
= Program Note =
We expected that TheGoodSportsNetwork.tv would be up and running on Monday, September 24, but the site is still not live. We have been told that TheGoodSportsNetwork.tv site will be up soon, but no firm date has been given.
While we wait, we’ll continue posting a weekday note and sending out the Tip Sheet to keep you informed. Stay tuned, and hope for the best.
= Tonight’s Menu =
>> Tonight’s NFL game on ESPN has Green Bay (5-1) on the road in Denver (3-3) with game-time temperatures expected to be around 50 degrees. The Broncos have won five straight at home over the Packers, but Denver is only averaging 17.7 points per game. Brett Favre, on the other hand, has the Packers at 23.7 points a game and has nine touchdown passes so far this season. Nevertheless, the Broncos are favored by three with an over-under of 43, so the projected final is Denver 23, Green Bay 20.
= L.A. Stories =
>> What’s Bruin: See our daily blog on UCLA sports at LATimes.com!
>> Thinking Blue: The New York Post reports in today’s edition that Joe Torre is a leading candidate to manage the Dodger in 2007. Writes reporter George King:
Since none of [Grady] Little’s coaches is signed for next year and he is ($1 million and an undisclosed option for 2009), there has been speculation Little is out. And since the underachieving Dodgers have a dysfunctional clubhouse with veterans and youngsters feuding, Torre is the ideal person to put the room back together.
The Post noted that Torre used to work in Anaheim as a commentator on Angels radio broadcasts and enjoys Southern California.
>> Around the Galaxy: From tennis writer Mark Hodgkinson of the Daily Telegraph, writing in today’s New York Times about yesterday’s Miami-New York Giants NFL game at Wembley Stadium:
“We send you [David] Beckham, and in return you give us a little American sport. Beckham’s time in the States and the Americana in Britain will both probably have the same lasting impact as an empty paper bag. Going to watch the Giants against the Dolphins will be like taking in a show in London’s West End. A popcorn hit of entertainment, but instantly forgettable. We certainly do not see the Giants and Dolphins as tough; rugby players do not dress in shoulder pads and helmets.”
That didn’t stop 81,176 from attending the game, however. But Hodgkinson says of the British fan, “We require long-term emotional involvement, and that often means the perverse pleasure of grumbling about your team’s horrible form.” He should visit some Internet forums about the 0-8 Dolphins!
More on Beckham: now the Times of India is in on the story, writing that Beckham is “miserable” in Los Angeles and wants to be home with his ailing father. Beckham won’t have too much time to worry about being homesick; he’s scheduled to travel with the Galaxy for friendly matches in Australia and New Zealand starting in late November.
= Panorama =
>> The National Pastime: With the Red Sox having reversed the Curse with their second World Series win in four years, is it possible that history is repeating itself – in reverse – after 88 years? After selling Babe Ruth to New York in December 1919, the Sox could acquire Alex Rodriguez, who opted out of his contract with the Yankees. The question is, with Rodriguez’s post-season hitting difficulties, will the Red Sox re-acquire the Curse by buying A-Rod?
>> More pastime: The Boston Herald reported that Jordan’s Furniture in Boston is on the line with its insurance agent today after the Red Sox won the World Series. Seems the store took in about 30,000 orders during a six-week promotion in March and April that furniture orders would be free if the Red Sox won the Series.
Rebates for sofas, chairs and beds will now have to be sent out, but the store bought an insurance policy against the Sox winning it all.
>> Kicker: FIFA put its system of continental rotation of the World Cup in just long enough to get the event staged in Africa, but abandoned it today after the South American confederation put up a total of one country to bid for the 2014 World Cup: Brazil.
So, the race for 2018 is on, with the U.S., England, Russia, Australia, Spain, China, Mexico and a Low Countries bid from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands already declared. African and South American countries will not be allowed to bid as the 2010 and 2014 World Cups will be held in those regions.
>> Rings & Things: You can’t change the weather, even in China.
The International Olympic Committee and a United Nations agency have both aired concerns over pollution levels in Beijing during the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games next August. “The air quality is a big problem,” says IOC Coordination Commission leader Hein Verbruggen, who knows about problems from his tenure of the International Cycling Union and the sport’s difficulties with doping.
He told reporters that “You might wait a day or two, but it is something we’re used to. It is a normal standard procedure that we have.”
Verbruggen is whistling past the graveyard. Delaying events that have massive, temporary infrastructure requirements like the road races in cycling or the marathons can make traffic even more difficult that it normally is in Beijing. And what about shuffling the track & field schedule, with two sessions of more than 80,000 spectators to handle each day?
“As far as we’re concerned, there is no blame to be addressed,” said Verbruggen. “We all know that the development of this country and the development of this city has accelerated or enhanced the air quality problems.”
It also shows that the IOC’s selection process, which is often much more based on emotion, politics and money than on technical merit, is also flawed, if the goal is to provide the best possible conditions for athletes to compete at the highest level. But when was that ever the goal?
>> Eatertainment: Human vacuum cleaner Joey Chestnut of San Jose destroyed a world-class field at the Krystal Square-Off IV World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Chestnut inhaled an astonishing total of 103 Krystals – a three-inch square mini-hamburger – in just eight minutes, setting a world record. The old mark was 97 set by Chestnut’s arch-rival, Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi in last year’s event.
“Humble” Bob Shoudt was a surprise second with 95 Krystals and Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti was third with 94.
~ Rich Perelman
>> Have an opinion? You can send it using the “Comment” button below!
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