Frank Gore fractured his right hip in San Francisco's Monday night win over Arizona, according to a report by Mindi Bach of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. The NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported that Gore will miss the rest of the 2010 season.
Gore rushed four times for 43 yards on the 49ers' opening possession, then headed to the locker room with members of San Francisco's training staff. He came back for one carry on the team's next possession -- a 9-yard run -- then hobbled to the sidelines and did not return to action.
Brian Westbrook filled in admirably for Gore on Monday night, carrying the ball 23 times for 136 yards and a touchdown in the 27-6 victory. Third-stringer Anthony Dixon added 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. That duo will likely split time in the 49ers' backfield if Gore is, in fact, done for the year.
Gore appeared well on the way to his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season -- through 10 games, he had piled up 801 yards on the ground, as well as 452 through the air on a team-high 46 receptions. If he cannot return to the lineup, this will mark the first time since his rookie season of 2005 that Gore does not hit the 1,000-yard plateau.
The injury would obviously be a huge blow for a 49ers team that's somewhat remarkably still in the hunt for the NFC West title, despite an 0-5 start to the year. Monday's win moved San Francisco to 4-7, just one game behind division leaders St. Louis and Seattle; the 49ers still have one game left against each of those teams down the stretch.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Andre Johnson, Cortland Finnegan Fined $25,000 Each for Fight
Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan each received $25,000 for their roles in a fight during Sunday's Texans win over the Titans, but neither player will be suspended for the incident, according to multiple reports.
Johnson and Finnegan were both ejected from Sunday's game after exchanging blows midway through the fourth quarter. The two quickly became entangled at the end of a play with Johnson ripping off Finnegan's helmet, then Finnegan responding in kind and throwing Johnson's helmet several yards away. Johnson then punched Finnegan multiple times before officials stepped in.
After the game, Johnson apologized to the Texans organization and fans, saying, "I just lost my cool and I wish that I could take back what happened, but I can't."
After practice on Monday, Johnson said that he doesn't plan to appeal the fine.
"I'm happy that I'm not suspended, but at the same time, I'm not happy about my actions," he said.
Finnegan has been fined several times by the NFL in the past, while Johnson had a relatively clean record -- he was fined $7,500 last season for throwing Finnegan to the ground by his face mask. Both players could have been suspended under NFL rules.
But instead, they will each deal with what is, in reality, a fairly small penalty -- to put it in some perspective, Philadelphia's Will Witherspoon was recently fined $40,000 for a hit on Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, while James Harrison was tagged was a $75,000 fine for knocking out Cleveland's Mohamed Massaquoi with a helmet-to-helmet shot and $20,000 for a hit on Drew Brees.
All of those penalties fell under the NFL's crackdown on dangerous plays, however. The fight between Johnson and Finnegan apparently did not, leading to the minimal fines.
Finnegan said on his radio show Monday evening he would appeal the fine, and added that Johnson "snapped" during the incident. He also said Johnson did a lot of trash-talking.
Asked why he didn't throw a punch, Finnegan said, "This is the NFL, not the NHL."
Finnegan, who has been fined at least three times previously this season, said he believed he would have been fined had he thrown the punch. He also said he has tried to tone down his behavior, but that he needs to play with an edge, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweeted.
"There's nothing I did that I felt like was a fineable offense," TitansInsider reported him saying. "Maybe a flag for quick jamming him and hitting him in the facemask. But there's no way that I thought that that would ever be a suspension."
He also added sarcastically, "To just echo what everybody else on TV and the world wants to hear, man, I had it coming. I deserved it. If I was Andre Johnson, I would have did it."
Finnegan also apologized for leaving the field as he did -- waving his arms to the Reliant Stadium crowd.
Earlier Monday, Titans coach Jeff Fisher told reporters he had spoken to the league and strongly believed Finnegan should not have been suspended.
"The event itself is an unfortunate thing that happens," Fisher said. "You have two very talented, talented, good football players competing and it's just very unfortunate. It's not good for our game, and I'm just disappointed that that type of thing happens on the playing field.
"If Cort was out of control at any time, yesterday would have been the time to be out of control and he (wasn't). He was not going to hurt the football team, and by that he didn't fight back. From that standpoint, you have to say he kept his composure."
Fisher said he had knowledge of Finnegan telling the Texans' bench to "watch this" just before the altercation.
"There is going to be all kinds of speculation about things like that," Fisher said. "You have no idea what goes on out there, in the trenches, outside, inside, they are competing -- there are a lot of things that are said."
Johnson and Finnegan were both ejected from Sunday's game after exchanging blows midway through the fourth quarter. The two quickly became entangled at the end of a play with Johnson ripping off Finnegan's helmet, then Finnegan responding in kind and throwing Johnson's helmet several yards away. Johnson then punched Finnegan multiple times before officials stepped in.
After the game, Johnson apologized to the Texans organization and fans, saying, "I just lost my cool and I wish that I could take back what happened, but I can't."
After practice on Monday, Johnson said that he doesn't plan to appeal the fine.
"I'm happy that I'm not suspended, but at the same time, I'm not happy about my actions," he said.
Finnegan has been fined several times by the NFL in the past, while Johnson had a relatively clean record -- he was fined $7,500 last season for throwing Finnegan to the ground by his face mask. Both players could have been suspended under NFL rules.
But instead, they will each deal with what is, in reality, a fairly small penalty -- to put it in some perspective, Philadelphia's Will Witherspoon was recently fined $40,000 for a hit on Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, while James Harrison was tagged was a $75,000 fine for knocking out Cleveland's Mohamed Massaquoi with a helmet-to-helmet shot and $20,000 for a hit on Drew Brees.
All of those penalties fell under the NFL's crackdown on dangerous plays, however. The fight between Johnson and Finnegan apparently did not, leading to the minimal fines.
Finnegan said on his radio show Monday evening he would appeal the fine, and added that Johnson "snapped" during the incident. He also said Johnson did a lot of trash-talking.
Asked why he didn't throw a punch, Finnegan said, "This is the NFL, not the NHL."
Finnegan, who has been fined at least three times previously this season, said he believed he would have been fined had he thrown the punch. He also said he has tried to tone down his behavior, but that he needs to play with an edge, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweeted.
"There's nothing I did that I felt like was a fineable offense," TitansInsider reported him saying. "Maybe a flag for quick jamming him and hitting him in the facemask. But there's no way that I thought that that would ever be a suspension."
He also added sarcastically, "To just echo what everybody else on TV and the world wants to hear, man, I had it coming. I deserved it. If I was Andre Johnson, I would have did it."
Finnegan also apologized for leaving the field as he did -- waving his arms to the Reliant Stadium crowd.
Earlier Monday, Titans coach Jeff Fisher told reporters he had spoken to the league and strongly believed Finnegan should not have been suspended.
"The event itself is an unfortunate thing that happens," Fisher said. "You have two very talented, talented, good football players competing and it's just very unfortunate. It's not good for our game, and I'm just disappointed that that type of thing happens on the playing field.
"If Cort was out of control at any time, yesterday would have been the time to be out of control and he (wasn't). He was not going to hurt the football team, and by that he didn't fight back. From that standpoint, you have to say he kept his composure."
Fisher said he had knowledge of Finnegan telling the Texans' bench to "watch this" just before the altercation.
"There is going to be all kinds of speculation about things like that," Fisher said. "You have no idea what goes on out there, in the trenches, outside, inside, they are competing -- there are a lot of things that are said."
Westbrook rushes for 136 yards; 49ers roll 27-6
GLENDALE, Ariz.(AP) Brian Westbrook finally got an opportunity to show he can still do it. News that San Francisco's Frank Gore has a broken right hip means more chances are just ahead.
Westbrook rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown in place of the injured Gore and the 49ers sent punchless Arizona to its sixth straight loss, 27-6 Monday night in a shower of boos from the Cardinals home crowd.
The only fireworks Arizona mustered came during Derek Anderson's postgame tirade over questions about why he was laughing on the sideline with his team down 18 points.
Westbrook had 9 yards on five carries all season. He ran 23 times in his 21st career 100-yard game, but first since Dec. 7, 2008, for Philadelphia against the New York Giants.
``I think we have a lot of young guys, some of them have seen some of the things I've been able to do over the course of my career, some of them just don't know,'' he said. ``They just see a guy running around the practice field. For me it meant a lot to have an opportunity to go out there and play and have an opportunity to have success.''
San Francisco (4-7), beaten at home by Tampa Bay 21-0 last week, improved to 3-1 since Troy Smith became starting quarterback and pulled within a game of co-leaders St. Louis and Seattle in the anemic NFC West.
Arizona (3-8), two-time defending division champion, has not lost this many in a row since dropping eight straight in 2006, Dennis Green's final season as coach.
Anderson had a postgame meltdown reminiscent of Green's Monday night ``they are who they thought they were'' in 2006.
It came in the postgame news conference after repeatedly being asked by a reporter about being shown on the telecast laughing with offensive guard Deuce Lutui with his team down 18. Anderson's voice grew louder, with a few expletives thrown in, with every question.
``Every single week I put my heart and soul into this,'' Anderson shouted. ``I don't go there and laugh. It's not funny. Nothing's funny to me. I don't want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday night football in front of everybody.''
The 49ers rushed for 261 yards, by far their season high and the most allowed by the Cardinals this season.
Westbrook, who led the league in rushing in 2007, was released a year ago after eight, often-spectacular seasons with Philadelphia, a move caused by a combination of his age and injury history as well as the $7.5 million he would have been due this season.
He signed with San Francisco on Aug. 16, but had hardly played at all until Gore went down on Monday.
``I just kind of bided my time, tried to stay fresh, tried to stay focused,'' Westbrook said, ``and when I got my opportunity, make the most of it.''
The Arizona defense did not provide much resistance as San Francisco pushed around the home team at the line of scrimmage from the start.
``We got 'outphysicaled' tonight and that's not something I'm very happy with,'' Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. ``I'm disappointed, I'm hurt. I feel like we have a better team than what we showed tonight but obviously we don't. This is what we are.''
Gore was hurt on San Francisco's first series, then briefly tried to come back before going out for good in the second period.
He had 25 and 15 yards in his first two carries, a sign of things to come against an Arizona defense that entered the game last in the league in points allowed.
San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said he went more with Westbrook than rookie Anthony Dixon because of experience and track record.
``He is a pro. When he came in we told him that it is a long year and when your number is going to be called be ready to step up,'' Singletary said. ``He is a bright guy, works hard and plays his role. Tonight, he had to step up and he did.''
Smith didn't need to pass much, completing 11 of 23 for 129 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
San Francisco, a team that has not scored more than 24 points in a game all season, led 21-6 at the half. The 49ers hadn't scored that many by halftime in two years.
The Cardinals committed their 27th turnover of the season on their first play from scrimmage when Anderson and Beanie Wells botched a handoff and Aubrayo Franklin recovered for San Francisco. On the next play, Smith threw 38 yards to Michael Crabtree for the touchdown, the receiver making a diving catch in the end zone.
Wells gained a measure of redemption on the next possession. Playing as a wideout to the right, he caught a 43-yard pass from Anderson but a season-long red zone problem continued and Jay Feely's 31-yard field goal made it 7-3.
Ted Ginn Jr. had a kickoff return of 41 yards and a punt return for 42, both leading to San Francisco touchdowns.
The 49ers went 55 yards in 10 plays after the kickoff, Dixon leaping over from the 1-yard line to make it 14-3 with 29 seconds to go in the first.
Shane Andrus, kicking in place of injured Joe Nedney, missed a 47-yard field goal on San Francisco's first possession. He also had a 37-yarder blocked by Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie in the third quarter.
Arizona blew an opportunity late in the first half after Smith's pass bounced off the hands of Vernon Davis and was intercepted by Michael Adams at the San Francisco 42. Anderson threw three incompletions and the Cardinals punted. The boos that had started midway through the first quarter were louder than ever as the teams left the field.
LaRod Stephens-Howling briefly got the fans back in it with an 83-yard kickoff return to start the second half, but it was called back by a holding penalty against Arizona rookie Daryl Washington.
Notes: The Cardinals have sold out all 50 games since moving to University of Phoenix Stadium. ... San Francisco is 5-2 against Arizona since Whisenhunt became coach in 2007, the only NFC West team with a winning record against the Cardinals in that span. ... The Cardinals were without two defensive starters - end Calais Campbell (ankle) and cornerback Greg Toler (foot). ... San Francisco lost LB Parys Haralson (ankle) and C David Baas (jaw).
Westbrook rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown in place of the injured Gore and the 49ers sent punchless Arizona to its sixth straight loss, 27-6 Monday night in a shower of boos from the Cardinals home crowd.
The only fireworks Arizona mustered came during Derek Anderson's postgame tirade over questions about why he was laughing on the sideline with his team down 18 points.
Westbrook had 9 yards on five carries all season. He ran 23 times in his 21st career 100-yard game, but first since Dec. 7, 2008, for Philadelphia against the New York Giants.
``I think we have a lot of young guys, some of them have seen some of the things I've been able to do over the course of my career, some of them just don't know,'' he said. ``They just see a guy running around the practice field. For me it meant a lot to have an opportunity to go out there and play and have an opportunity to have success.''
San Francisco (4-7), beaten at home by Tampa Bay 21-0 last week, improved to 3-1 since Troy Smith became starting quarterback and pulled within a game of co-leaders St. Louis and Seattle in the anemic NFC West.
Arizona (3-8), two-time defending division champion, has not lost this many in a row since dropping eight straight in 2006, Dennis Green's final season as coach.
Anderson had a postgame meltdown reminiscent of Green's Monday night ``they are who they thought they were'' in 2006.
It came in the postgame news conference after repeatedly being asked by a reporter about being shown on the telecast laughing with offensive guard Deuce Lutui with his team down 18. Anderson's voice grew louder, with a few expletives thrown in, with every question.
``Every single week I put my heart and soul into this,'' Anderson shouted. ``I don't go there and laugh. It's not funny. Nothing's funny to me. I don't want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday night football in front of everybody.''
The 49ers rushed for 261 yards, by far their season high and the most allowed by the Cardinals this season.
Westbrook, who led the league in rushing in 2007, was released a year ago after eight, often-spectacular seasons with Philadelphia, a move caused by a combination of his age and injury history as well as the $7.5 million he would have been due this season.
He signed with San Francisco on Aug. 16, but had hardly played at all until Gore went down on Monday.
``I just kind of bided my time, tried to stay fresh, tried to stay focused,'' Westbrook said, ``and when I got my opportunity, make the most of it.''
The Arizona defense did not provide much resistance as San Francisco pushed around the home team at the line of scrimmage from the start.
``We got 'outphysicaled' tonight and that's not something I'm very happy with,'' Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. ``I'm disappointed, I'm hurt. I feel like we have a better team than what we showed tonight but obviously we don't. This is what we are.''
Gore was hurt on San Francisco's first series, then briefly tried to come back before going out for good in the second period.
He had 25 and 15 yards in his first two carries, a sign of things to come against an Arizona defense that entered the game last in the league in points allowed.
San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said he went more with Westbrook than rookie Anthony Dixon because of experience and track record.
``He is a pro. When he came in we told him that it is a long year and when your number is going to be called be ready to step up,'' Singletary said. ``He is a bright guy, works hard and plays his role. Tonight, he had to step up and he did.''
Smith didn't need to pass much, completing 11 of 23 for 129 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
San Francisco, a team that has not scored more than 24 points in a game all season, led 21-6 at the half. The 49ers hadn't scored that many by halftime in two years.
The Cardinals committed their 27th turnover of the season on their first play from scrimmage when Anderson and Beanie Wells botched a handoff and Aubrayo Franklin recovered for San Francisco. On the next play, Smith threw 38 yards to Michael Crabtree for the touchdown, the receiver making a diving catch in the end zone.
Wells gained a measure of redemption on the next possession. Playing as a wideout to the right, he caught a 43-yard pass from Anderson but a season-long red zone problem continued and Jay Feely's 31-yard field goal made it 7-3.
Ted Ginn Jr. had a kickoff return of 41 yards and a punt return for 42, both leading to San Francisco touchdowns.
The 49ers went 55 yards in 10 plays after the kickoff, Dixon leaping over from the 1-yard line to make it 14-3 with 29 seconds to go in the first.
Shane Andrus, kicking in place of injured Joe Nedney, missed a 47-yard field goal on San Francisco's first possession. He also had a 37-yarder blocked by Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie in the third quarter.
Arizona blew an opportunity late in the first half after Smith's pass bounced off the hands of Vernon Davis and was intercepted by Michael Adams at the San Francisco 42. Anderson threw three incompletions and the Cardinals punted. The boos that had started midway through the first quarter were louder than ever as the teams left the field.
LaRod Stephens-Howling briefly got the fans back in it with an 83-yard kickoff return to start the second half, but it was called back by a holding penalty against Arizona rookie Daryl Washington.
Notes: The Cardinals have sold out all 50 games since moving to University of Phoenix Stadium. ... San Francisco is 5-2 against Arizona since Whisenhunt became coach in 2007, the only NFC West team with a winning record against the Cardinals in that span. ... The Cardinals were without two defensive starters - end Calais Campbell (ankle) and cornerback Greg Toler (foot). ... San Francisco lost LB Parys Haralson (ankle) and C David Baas (jaw).
Monday, November 29, 2010
2011 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot Revealed
The candidates for induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 via the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote were announced Monday.
Heading the list are a number of noteworthy first-time candidates, including Astros great Jeff Bagwell, two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro and Larry Walker.
Palmeiro, one of only four players in major league history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, tested positive for the steroid stanozolol in 2005. He'll follow Mark McGwire as the second significant test case of the Steroid Era -- a player with the credentials to merit election, but also a direct link to steroid usage. McGwire, who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, received 23.7 percent of the vote last year, and has hovered in that territory in each of his four times on the ballot.
Candidates must receive 75 percent support from voters to gain election, and can remain on the ballot for up to 15 years so long as they receive at least 5 percent support from the electorate in the previous season.
Two returning candidates -- pitcher Bert Blyleven and second baseman Roberto Alomar -- missed out on election by fewer than 10 votes, the first time that has ever happened in the history of BBWAA's Hall of Fame voting process.
In addition to Blyleven, Alomar and McGwire, the 11 other players returning to the ballot for induction in 2011 are: Harold Baines, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.
There are 19 first-time candidates up for election. In addition to Bagwell, Gonzalez, Palmeiro and Walker, Carlos Baerga, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, John Franco, Marquis Grissom, Lenny Harris, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, John Olerud, Kirk Reuter, Benito Santiago and B.J. Surhoff will appear on the ballot.
Players who spent at least 10 years in the major leagues and last played in 2005 are eligible to be placed on the ballot. Results of this year's BBWAA election will be announced on Jan. 5, 2011. The Veterans Committee will also vote on a separate set of candidates, with those results set to be announced next week. The induction ceremony for candidates who gain election will take place next July.
Heading the list are a number of noteworthy first-time candidates, including Astros great Jeff Bagwell, two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro and Larry Walker.
Palmeiro, one of only four players in major league history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, tested positive for the steroid stanozolol in 2005. He'll follow Mark McGwire as the second significant test case of the Steroid Era -- a player with the credentials to merit election, but also a direct link to steroid usage. McGwire, who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, received 23.7 percent of the vote last year, and has hovered in that territory in each of his four times on the ballot.
Candidates must receive 75 percent support from voters to gain election, and can remain on the ballot for up to 15 years so long as they receive at least 5 percent support from the electorate in the previous season.
Two returning candidates -- pitcher Bert Blyleven and second baseman Roberto Alomar -- missed out on election by fewer than 10 votes, the first time that has ever happened in the history of BBWAA's Hall of Fame voting process.
In addition to Blyleven, Alomar and McGwire, the 11 other players returning to the ballot for induction in 2011 are: Harold Baines, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.
There are 19 first-time candidates up for election. In addition to Bagwell, Gonzalez, Palmeiro and Walker, Carlos Baerga, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, John Franco, Marquis Grissom, Lenny Harris, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, John Olerud, Kirk Reuter, Benito Santiago and B.J. Surhoff will appear on the ballot.
Players who spent at least 10 years in the major leagues and last played in 2005 are eligible to be placed on the ballot. Results of this year's BBWAA election will be announced on Jan. 5, 2011. The Veterans Committee will also vote on a separate set of candidates, with those results set to be announced next week. The induction ceremony for candidates who gain election will take place next July.
Derek Jeter's $$$ Demands Laughable
The news improved for Derek Jeter on Monday. Of the 250,000-plus secret government documents released by WikiLeaks, none mentioned a romance between Hal Steinbrenner and a goat.
If such evidence actually exists -- and we have no independent confirmation that it does -- perhaps Jeter's camp still has exclusive access. It can still embarrass the Yankees into giving Jeter a crazy contract.
If you take blackmail out of the negotiations, however, the Face of the Yankees has little to smile about. Jeter's getting humiliated, and he has nobody to blame but himself or his agent or whichever girlfriend keeps whispering in his ear that he's worth $23 million a year.
Most Yankees fans don't even believe that, which is saying something considering they'd normally cheer if New York signed a free-agent rutabaga for $16 million a year. Come to think of it, most household vegetables would pitch better than A.J. Burnett.
But back to El Capitan. Jeter has supposedly always had a clear sense of his value. So you have to wonder what he sees that the rest of the world is missing.
"Derek's impact on the sport's most valuable franchise cannot be overstated," said agent Casey Close.
Sure it can -- $150 million over six years.
That was supposedly Jeter's starting point, though Close denies the $25-mil-a-year demand. The $23-million-per seems more likely. That's still about $15 million more a season than Jeter would get on the open market.
He should have taken the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer and gotten back to being the world's most eligible bachelor. He's 36 and coming off the worst offensive year of his career.
Hanley Ramirez is the game's best shortstop and is 10 years younger. Over the next four years, he'll make about $14.4 million per season.
Jeter won a Gold Glove last season, but his range dwindles every season. In major league history, only 14 shortstops over 36 have played in 80 percent of their team's games in a given season.
As for over-36 shortstops who actually played at an All-Star level, you can count two -- Honus Wagner and Luke Appling. Jeter may resurrect his bat for a year or two but, if he has his negotiating way, the Yankees will be paying a 43-year-old shortstop $23 million a year.
Does anyone think that's a wise investment?
Put those hands down, Red Sox fans.
The wild card in this negotiation is Jeter's intrinsic value. He unquestionably deserves some Irving G. Thalberg Lifetime Achievement points for being a key part of five championships.
But this whole Face of the Franchise thing is a bit too reverential. After saying what a great player he has been, Jeter-philes invariably note that he's never taken steroids, dated Madonna or done anything to embarrass the Pinstripes.
Good for him, but isn't behaving supposed to be part of the job? What does it say when simply remaining clean is a major negotiation point?
His Turn-2 charitable foundation has raised more than $8 million over the past 12 years. As noble as that is, Jeter's never made the top-30 list of celebrity/athlete philanthropists complied by The Giving Back Fund.
I'm not saying Jeter doesn't deserve our admiration. But he's not Roberto Clemente airlifting supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. He's a decent guy who's avoided the mud of baseball's Scandal Era.
He's done it in the most scandal-hungry city in America. That's made this squabble bigger news than any WikiLeak revelation. Jeter didn't have to turn it into a Hot Stove soap opera. He'll eventually re-sign with New York, mainly because nobody else will come close to the Yankees' offer.
From a strict baseball standpoint, Jeter's worth about $8-10 million a year. I think he deserves an extra $3 million a year Jeter Bonus, but I'm cheap.
The Yankees have offered him $15 million a year. Never mind that at 39 years old he'd still be among the highest-paid shortstops. Jeter made $22.6 million last year and considers it insulting to take a pay cut.
Loyalty is a two-way street, however. As good as Jeter has been to the Yankees, they have been good to him to the tune of $205 million over the past 15 years. And any day now, the Yankees are going to sign Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford and a rutabaga to $250 million worth of contracts.
They will again be accused of trying to bankroll their way to a title. Yet when they show a little fiscal sanity with Jeter, they get ripped?
If Jeter could get $23 million on the open market, the Yankees would be the first to sign him for $30 million. But they'd rather spend/waste money on a player in his prime.
For all the talk of pinstriped legacies, New York had no problem letting Bernie Williams go. More to the point, this is the franchise that let Babe Ruth go.
It wasn't quite as profound as when the Red Sox sold him in 1919. But Ruth was sold to the Boston Braves for his final season in 1935.
As sad as it would be, the Yankees survived without the original Face of the Franchise. They could somehow manage without this one.
If such evidence actually exists -- and we have no independent confirmation that it does -- perhaps Jeter's camp still has exclusive access. It can still embarrass the Yankees into giving Jeter a crazy contract.
If you take blackmail out of the negotiations, however, the Face of the Yankees has little to smile about. Jeter's getting humiliated, and he has nobody to blame but himself or his agent or whichever girlfriend keeps whispering in his ear that he's worth $23 million a year.
Most Yankees fans don't even believe that, which is saying something considering they'd normally cheer if New York signed a free-agent rutabaga for $16 million a year. Come to think of it, most household vegetables would pitch better than A.J. Burnett.
But back to El Capitan. Jeter has supposedly always had a clear sense of his value. So you have to wonder what he sees that the rest of the world is missing.
"Derek's impact on the sport's most valuable franchise cannot be overstated," said agent Casey Close.
Sure it can -- $150 million over six years.
That was supposedly Jeter's starting point, though Close denies the $25-mil-a-year demand. The $23-million-per seems more likely. That's still about $15 million more a season than Jeter would get on the open market.
He should have taken the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer and gotten back to being the world's most eligible bachelor. He's 36 and coming off the worst offensive year of his career.
Hanley Ramirez is the game's best shortstop and is 10 years younger. Over the next four years, he'll make about $14.4 million per season.
Jeter won a Gold Glove last season, but his range dwindles every season. In major league history, only 14 shortstops over 36 have played in 80 percent of their team's games in a given season.
As for over-36 shortstops who actually played at an All-Star level, you can count two -- Honus Wagner and Luke Appling. Jeter may resurrect his bat for a year or two but, if he has his negotiating way, the Yankees will be paying a 43-year-old shortstop $23 million a year.
Does anyone think that's a wise investment?
Put those hands down, Red Sox fans.
The wild card in this negotiation is Jeter's intrinsic value. He unquestionably deserves some Irving G. Thalberg Lifetime Achievement points for being a key part of five championships.
But this whole Face of the Franchise thing is a bit too reverential. After saying what a great player he has been, Jeter-philes invariably note that he's never taken steroids, dated Madonna or done anything to embarrass the Pinstripes.
Good for him, but isn't behaving supposed to be part of the job? What does it say when simply remaining clean is a major negotiation point?
His Turn-2 charitable foundation has raised more than $8 million over the past 12 years. As noble as that is, Jeter's never made the top-30 list of celebrity/athlete philanthropists complied by The Giving Back Fund.
I'm not saying Jeter doesn't deserve our admiration. But he's not Roberto Clemente airlifting supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. He's a decent guy who's avoided the mud of baseball's Scandal Era.
He's done it in the most scandal-hungry city in America. That's made this squabble bigger news than any WikiLeak revelation. Jeter didn't have to turn it into a Hot Stove soap opera. He'll eventually re-sign with New York, mainly because nobody else will come close to the Yankees' offer.
From a strict baseball standpoint, Jeter's worth about $8-10 million a year. I think he deserves an extra $3 million a year Jeter Bonus, but I'm cheap.
The Yankees have offered him $15 million a year. Never mind that at 39 years old he'd still be among the highest-paid shortstops. Jeter made $22.6 million last year and considers it insulting to take a pay cut.
Loyalty is a two-way street, however. As good as Jeter has been to the Yankees, they have been good to him to the tune of $205 million over the past 15 years. And any day now, the Yankees are going to sign Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford and a rutabaga to $250 million worth of contracts.
They will again be accused of trying to bankroll their way to a title. Yet when they show a little fiscal sanity with Jeter, they get ripped?
If Jeter could get $23 million on the open market, the Yankees would be the first to sign him for $30 million. But they'd rather spend/waste money on a player in his prime.
For all the talk of pinstriped legacies, New York had no problem letting Bernie Williams go. More to the point, this is the franchise that let Babe Ruth go.
It wasn't quite as profound as when the Red Sox sold him in 1919. But Ruth was sold to the Boston Braves for his final season in 1935.
As sad as it would be, the Yankees survived without the original Face of the Franchise. They could somehow manage without this one.
AP Top 25 Poll: Duke Is Unanimous No. 1, UConn Makes Historic Leap
Duke finished the week with two decisive victories against Kansas State and Oregon. It picked up another decisive win Monday, capturing each of the 65 first-place votes in the AP Top 25 poll.
Meanwhile, UConn completed the biggest rise in the polls' rankings since 1989, vaulting from unranked to No. 7. The Huskies toppled then-No. 2 Michigan State and then-No. 8 Kentucky in the Maui Invitational. It was the biggest jump since Kansas vaulted from unranked to No. 4 after winning the 1989 preseason NIT.
Duke received all but seven first-place votes a week ago. Six went to Michigan State and the last went to Kansas State, which the Blue Devils defeated to win the CBE Classic. The Blue Devils are the first unanimous No. 1 team since Kansas finished the regular season with all first place votes last season.
No. 24 UNLV, which claimed the 76 Classic, and No. 25 Notre Dame, winner of the Old Spice Classic, joined the bottom of the rankings. Temple, Gonzaga and North Carolina were knocked out.
Ohio State, Pitt, Kansas and Kansas State rounded out the top five. Michigan State fell from second to sixth, followed by the fast-riser Connecticut. Syracuse, which won the Legends Classic, rose to eighth, followed by Missouri and Kentucky, which beat Washington before falling to Connecticut.
Undefeated Baylor rose to 11th, while Villanova, which lost to Tennessee in the preseason NIT final, fell to 12th. The Vols were 13th, followed by Memphis and Minnesota. Georgetown, San Diego State, Florida, Texas and Illinois rounded out the top 20. The Longhorns and Illini finished second and third in the preseason NIT, each losing to Pitt.
Brigham Young checked in at 21st, followed by Purdue, which was upset Saturday by Richmond. Washington, UNLV and Notre Dame rounded out the poll.
While Duke celebrates the top ranking, the rest of its conference must be wondering just what went wrong. The ACC had just one ranked team in the top 25. North Carolina fell out of the rankings altogether, despite twice winning last week.
The ACC previously had just one team in the poll last season, also Duke, in the Feb. 22 poll.
Meanwhile, UConn completed the biggest rise in the polls' rankings since 1989, vaulting from unranked to No. 7. The Huskies toppled then-No. 2 Michigan State and then-No. 8 Kentucky in the Maui Invitational. It was the biggest jump since Kansas vaulted from unranked to No. 4 after winning the 1989 preseason NIT.
Duke received all but seven first-place votes a week ago. Six went to Michigan State and the last went to Kansas State, which the Blue Devils defeated to win the CBE Classic. The Blue Devils are the first unanimous No. 1 team since Kansas finished the regular season with all first place votes last season.
No. 24 UNLV, which claimed the 76 Classic, and No. 25 Notre Dame, winner of the Old Spice Classic, joined the bottom of the rankings. Temple, Gonzaga and North Carolina were knocked out.
Ohio State, Pitt, Kansas and Kansas State rounded out the top five. Michigan State fell from second to sixth, followed by the fast-riser Connecticut. Syracuse, which won the Legends Classic, rose to eighth, followed by Missouri and Kentucky, which beat Washington before falling to Connecticut.
Undefeated Baylor rose to 11th, while Villanova, which lost to Tennessee in the preseason NIT final, fell to 12th. The Vols were 13th, followed by Memphis and Minnesota. Georgetown, San Diego State, Florida, Texas and Illinois rounded out the top 20. The Longhorns and Illini finished second and third in the preseason NIT, each losing to Pitt.
Brigham Young checked in at 21st, followed by Purdue, which was upset Saturday by Richmond. Washington, UNLV and Notre Dame rounded out the poll.
While Duke celebrates the top ranking, the rest of its conference must be wondering just what went wrong. The ACC had just one ranked team in the top 25. North Carolina fell out of the rankings altogether, despite twice winning last week.
The ACC previously had just one team in the poll last season, also Duke, in the Feb. 22 poll.
Virginia Stuns Minnesota to Open 2010 ACC-Big Ten Challenge
Things may be reverted back to normal in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, as this one was supposed to be a gimme for the Big Ten. Minnesota came in undefeated and ranked No. 15, having already beaten North Carolina and West Virginia. Plus, the game was played in the comfort of their home, The Barn. The opponent was one of the lower-tier ACC teams.
Instead, Tony Bennett's Virginia team came in and took it to the Golden Gophers on the strength of incredible 3-point shooting and complete domination in the second half, winning 87-79.
The Cavaliers (4-3) were 10-14 from 3-point range, getting big efforts from guards Joe Harris (24 points, 4-6 from 3) and Mustapha Farrakhan (23 points, 4-of-5 from 3). Senior forward Mike Scott went at it alone in the paint for the smallish Hoos, and was up to the task, pouring in 17 points and adding 12 rebounds against a tough Minnesota interior.
The Gophers' inexplicably allowed open outside shots on most second-half possessions and were continually made to pay for it. Missing point guard Al Nolen, they just couldn't keep up with the second-half scoring pace. Virginia scored 58 points in that second half, after facing a 10-point deficit at halftime. Virginia actually outrebounded Minnesota, despite facing players like Ralph Sampson III, Colton Iverson and Trevor Mbakwe. The Cavaliers also iced the game at the free-throw line, hitting 25 of their 30 attempts, most when the Gophers were desperately trying to come back in the last few minutes of the game.
Virginia did what it had to do to win a game like this, the Cavaliers played a nearly flawless second half. They'll travel to Virginia Tech to open ACC play Sunday.
Minnesota (6-1) will look to pick up the pieces at home against Cornell Saturday.
Instead, Tony Bennett's Virginia team came in and took it to the Golden Gophers on the strength of incredible 3-point shooting and complete domination in the second half, winning 87-79.
The Cavaliers (4-3) were 10-14 from 3-point range, getting big efforts from guards Joe Harris (24 points, 4-6 from 3) and Mustapha Farrakhan (23 points, 4-of-5 from 3). Senior forward Mike Scott went at it alone in the paint for the smallish Hoos, and was up to the task, pouring in 17 points and adding 12 rebounds against a tough Minnesota interior.
The Gophers' inexplicably allowed open outside shots on most second-half possessions and were continually made to pay for it. Missing point guard Al Nolen, they just couldn't keep up with the second-half scoring pace. Virginia scored 58 points in that second half, after facing a 10-point deficit at halftime. Virginia actually outrebounded Minnesota, despite facing players like Ralph Sampson III, Colton Iverson and Trevor Mbakwe. The Cavaliers also iced the game at the free-throw line, hitting 25 of their 30 attempts, most when the Gophers were desperately trying to come back in the last few minutes of the game.
Virginia did what it had to do to win a game like this, the Cavaliers played a nearly flawless second half. They'll travel to Virginia Tech to open ACC play Sunday.
Minnesota (6-1) will look to pick up the pieces at home against Cornell Saturday.
TCU Accepts Offer From Big East
Texas Christian University has accepted an invitation to become an all-sports member of the Big East Conference, FanHouse has learned.
The Horned Frogs will join the league beginning on July 1, 2012 and begin play in the Big East in the 2012-13 school year. The school has called a 2 p.m. ET press conference to announce it is moving from the Mountain West.
The addition of the Horned Frogs will immediately bolster the football league. It also would increase the basketball membership to 17 teams.
The Horned Frogs (12-0) are ranked No. 3 in the current BCS rankings and are guaranteed a BCS bowl.
Adding TCU also would strengthen its position when the league starts renegotiating its television contracts that expires after the 2013 season.
TCU will be located an average of 1,140 miles from the other football league members.
Big East commissioner John Marinatto had previously told FanHouse that if the Big East added new members before the current TV contracts expire, the league could seek to renegotiate. TCU is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the nation's fifth-biggest TV market.
"Membership -- quality membership and quality inventory -- drives value," Marinatto said. "We're certainly cognizant of the value that expansion and quality inventory would bring to a television partner."
The Big East had said a few weeks ago it wanted to get its football membership to 10 teams. The league also made an offer to Villanova, a member in all sports but football, to move up from FCS to the Big East.
"Villanova has been obviously a member of the conference for 30 years," Marinatto told FanHouse. "We've encouraged them for a number of years going back to 1997 to do whatever they feel is in their best interest. I think they're in the process of evaluating that question and if they evaluate it in the affirmative, we'll obviously have a conversation about membership."
The league expects to get an answer from Villanova by the end of the 2010-11 school year. If Villanova opts to stay in FCS, UCF would be the next choice to get the league a 10th football member.
By adding TCU for the 2012-13 school year, the Horned Frogs previous BCS data will remain with the Mountain West, BCS spokesman Bill Hancock told FanHouse. Only if TCU would have changed leagues before the 2012 school year would it have taken "all of their data to their new league," Hancock said.
However, the Big East already has its automatic qualifying BCS status for the 2012 and 2013 regular seasons by virtue of the existing BCS contracts.
TCU has three consecutive top 11 BCS rankings, including this year, by far better than any current Big East member.
The Horned Frogs also had a football budget of $20.6 million for the 2009-10 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Equity in Athletics report. That ranks 12th nationally and would rank higher than any current Big East member. Rutgers was first of the current Big East schools at $19.49 million.
The Horned Frogs will join the league beginning on July 1, 2012 and begin play in the Big East in the 2012-13 school year. The school has called a 2 p.m. ET press conference to announce it is moving from the Mountain West.
The addition of the Horned Frogs will immediately bolster the football league. It also would increase the basketball membership to 17 teams.
The Horned Frogs (12-0) are ranked No. 3 in the current BCS rankings and are guaranteed a BCS bowl.
Adding TCU also would strengthen its position when the league starts renegotiating its television contracts that expires after the 2013 season.
TCU will be located an average of 1,140 miles from the other football league members.
Big East commissioner John Marinatto had previously told FanHouse that if the Big East added new members before the current TV contracts expire, the league could seek to renegotiate. TCU is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the nation's fifth-biggest TV market.
"Membership -- quality membership and quality inventory -- drives value," Marinatto said. "We're certainly cognizant of the value that expansion and quality inventory would bring to a television partner."
The Big East had said a few weeks ago it wanted to get its football membership to 10 teams. The league also made an offer to Villanova, a member in all sports but football, to move up from FCS to the Big East.
"Villanova has been obviously a member of the conference for 30 years," Marinatto told FanHouse. "We've encouraged them for a number of years going back to 1997 to do whatever they feel is in their best interest. I think they're in the process of evaluating that question and if they evaluate it in the affirmative, we'll obviously have a conversation about membership."
The league expects to get an answer from Villanova by the end of the 2010-11 school year. If Villanova opts to stay in FCS, UCF would be the next choice to get the league a 10th football member.
By adding TCU for the 2012-13 school year, the Horned Frogs previous BCS data will remain with the Mountain West, BCS spokesman Bill Hancock told FanHouse. Only if TCU would have changed leagues before the 2012 school year would it have taken "all of their data to their new league," Hancock said.
However, the Big East already has its automatic qualifying BCS status for the 2012 and 2013 regular seasons by virtue of the existing BCS contracts.
TCU has three consecutive top 11 BCS rankings, including this year, by far better than any current Big East member.
The Horned Frogs also had a football budget of $20.6 million for the 2009-10 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Equity in Athletics report. That ranks 12th nationally and would rank higher than any current Big East member. Rutgers was first of the current Big East schools at $19.49 million.
Notre Dame tops Wisconsin to win Old Spice Classic
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -Not much was expected out of Notre Dame this season. Not after all the talent they lost from a year ago. Turns out, there might be enough talent left to make some noise after all.
Carleton Scott and Eric Atkins scored 12 points apiece, leading Notre Dame past Wisconsin 58-51 on Sunday night to claim the Old Spice Classic championship.
The Irish (7-0) scored 15 straight points in the final four minutes to pull away, overcoming an 11-point second-half deficit to go home with a huge tournament victory for a revamped team suddenly beaming with confidence.
"I think we showed a lot of people out there that we still have some fight in us," said Tim Abromaitis, who had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Irish and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Notre Dame came through when it counted most.
Ben Hansbrough stripped Jordan Taylor and converted a 3-point play on the other end over Taylor with 19 seconds remaining to highlight Notre Dame's run. The Irish shot free throws the rest of the way, finishing 20 for 25 from the stripe to beat a pesky Wisconsin team.
Jon Leuer had 19 points and Taylor had 14 points for the Badgers (4-2) before fouling out on Hansbrough's layup.
"They had some guys that made timely baskets and timely free throws, and that's how you win those kind of grinders," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "And both our teams will be in more of them before the season's out."
The Irish might already be considered overachievers.
With mainstays Luke Harangody and Tory Jackson gone, the burden fell upon seniors Hansbrough, Scott and Tyrone Nash and grad student Abromaitis — all back from a 23-win team last year that lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Old Dominion, but not exactly the guys who carried the load.
They have so far this season.
Notre Dame won its third in-season tournament title in 11 seasons under coach Mike Brey. The 7-0 mark also matched the 2001-02 team for Brey's best start at Notre Dame.
"I learned something about my team that I knew I would down here," Brey said. "You hope to learn while you're winning, certainly that's helpful. But for us right now, this team is very confident."
The Badgers came into the tournament reeling from a loss to UNLV that likely cost them a spot in the Top 25 rankings. All they did was beat Manhattan and Boston College by double-digits before taking on Notre Dame in the final.
Wisconsin's frontline bullied and bruised an undersized Irish team early. The Badgers went ahead by eight points in the first half, building enough cushion to overcome some shooting lapses.
At least for a while.
Notre Dame began sitting in its zone defense and keeping Wisconsin on the perimeter. The move paid off, and the Irish scored the last 11 points of the half to take a 22-19 lead at the break.
Leuer, Taylor and Tim Jarmusz hit consecutive 3-pointers to highlight a 9-0 Wisconsin spurt in the second half to eventually go ahead by 11 points. The last came from Taylor, who waived his hands to the Badgers' faithful and chest bumped several teammates all the way to the bench during a timeout.
The celebration was premature.
"We just made too many mistakes down the stretch, and they made a lot of hustle plays," Leuer said.
A gritty Notre Dame found its rhythm and clamped down defensively. Wisconsin was smothered at both ends of the court, and its frustrations mounted when Abromaitis grabbed Scott Martin's missed free throw for a put-back layup that gave Notre Dame a 50-48 lead with 1:58 left.
They never trailed again.
In the end, it was an Irish team not expected to steal any spotlights this season who were the ones cutting down the nets and toasting a title trophy while streams of confetti flew.
Kind of like they do in March.
Now making the NCAA tournament isn't unrealistic at all. After victories over Thanksgiving against Georgia, California and Wisconsin, they've already made a strong case.
"Certainly they're great wins," Brey said. "We should have a couple resume wins."
Rodriguez gives US 1-0 victory, spot at World Cup
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -Three weeks later than anyone expected, the United States is on its way to the Women's World Cup.
Stunned in regional qualifying earlier this month, the top-ranked Americans clinched the 16th and final spot in next year's tournament Saturday by beating Italy for the second time in a week. But, like many of their games of late, it was not the commanding performance that has become an American trademark.
Amy Rodriguez scored off a rebound in the 40th minute to give the U.S. a 1-0 victory, and the Americans won the home-and-home playoff against Europe's fifth-place team on 2-0 aggregate.
"We have to stay together and put it together a little bit better," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "Winning the gold medal, we'll have to play very, very well because it'll be very competitive."
The World Cup will be played June 26 to July 17 in Germany. The draw is Monday in Frankfurt.
The Americans were in danger of missing the tournament they've won twice (1991 and 1999) after a stunning upset by Mexico in the semifinals of regional qualifying. It was just their second loss since the 2007 World Cup, and first since the opening game of the Beijing Olympics, which the Americans went on to win.
Forced to beat Costa Rica in the regional third-place game and given a second chance with a playoff against the No. 11 Azzurre, the Americans showed they are still a force.
Not quite the overwhelming one they used to be, however.
"I think the country always thinks, 'Oh, the U.S. always goes, they're so good,'" Julie Foudy, part of the pioneering squad that won the 1991 and 1999 World Cups, said before the game. "When we stumble, they don't realize the rest of the world is getting much better."
Carrying a 1-0 aggregate lead after last weekend's victory in Padova, Italy, and needing only a win or a draw to advance, the Americans looked disorganized and nervous in the first 20 minutes. Or maybe they simply needed to thaw out, with the gametime temperature 33 and the wind making it feel more like 25.
"First of all, I want to apologize for the first 20 minutes. It was crap," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "The second half, we did a better job. I'm very happy with the way they played. Eventually."
Their disorganization nearly got caught up with the Americans when Patrizio Panico was left unmarked at the edge of the 6-yard box. But Nicole Barnhart made the save easily.
"Their expectations were very high with the way we were going to play but we couldn't put it together. Then we got nervous," Sundhage said. "We made some bad decisions, technical errors I've never seen before from experienced players. But the beauty of all this is, we won the game 1-0 and they picked it up again. It's winners that can do that. I'm very proud of the team the way they did it."
Once the Americans finally settled into a rhythm, they dominated possession and peppered Italian goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli — who grew up in Southern California — with at least a half-dozen chances. Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe both missed empty-netters, and Rapinoe skied another shot over the goal before the two combined for the goal. Rapinoe worked her way around two defenders before taking a left-footed angled shot. Picarelli blocked the shot, but the ball bounced right to Rodriguez, who poked it in from 6 yards out.
"It was kind of a jumble in front of the net," Rodriguez said. "The ball was loose and I saw it escape from the goalie. I tried to just dive in there and put it on frame, and luckily it hit the back of the net."
The score could have been even more lopsided, with Lauren Cheney hitting the crossbar in the 60th minute.
The U.S. finished with a 17-5 shot advantage and 9-3 advantage for shots on goal.
When the final whistle sounded, several players raised their arms in triumph while the crowd of 9,508 roared.
"Obviously this was a little different road than we had expected," forward Abby Wambach told the crowd after the final whistle. "But this team has resilience. We never gave up. We never lost belief in ourselves."
Italy coach Pietro Ghedin had given his team a "10 percent chance" of beating the United States before the playoff series began — the U.S. has won 10 of their last 12 meetings — and the Azzurre were further hampered by the loss of striker Melania Gabbiadini. Gabbiadini, who has 22 goals in 71 appearances for Italy, including six during European qualifying, missed both games with a twisted ankle.
Italy pushed forward in the closing minutes, but Barnhart was never really tested.
"I know this team right now has a chance of winning the World Cup," Wambach said. "It's not going to be easy, it's not going to come without bumps in the road. But I'm proud of us. We showed a lot of our character.
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