Late last week, ESPN reported that USC star and future NBA lottery pick OJ Mayo has been receiving money and other "gifts" from Rodney Guillory, a close friend of Mayo's. Guillory has a rap sheet of sorts that should make any coach weary of one his/her athletes being associated with that man. Wow, a shocker. A star athlete was given money and other gifts. I know, we've never heard of a such a thing.
But here's what is really starting to hack me off. Yeah, I bet most of these schools that recruit kids such as Mayo know they are getting some sort of gift. They just look the other way, because #1, they are winning and #2 money is being poured into the program because they are winning. But when these one year wonders jolt for the NBA, or the NFL, or whatever sport after a brief stint at school, who really feels the pain of their bad choices......The School. I'm not saying the school shouldn't be punished because let's be honest, we all know schools cheat. Some cheat more than others, and no one really finds out until a booster gets pissed and rats to the NCAA.
But I'm sick of this. OJ Mayo doesn't care, nor does any other big time athlete that's about to jolt college for the pro's. They're about to be millionares. But maybe it's time we start punishing the athletes too. Maybe they should have to sit out two years of professional ball, with no money, no endorsements, no nothing. Maybe that would stop all of this non-sense and maybe athletes would become honest. But that will never happen as the NCAA is owned by the almighty dollar.
First off, I apologize for the lack of blog entries recently. I just was swamped this past week and to be honest, really didn't have anything to write about.
But a topic that's been on my mind a lot this spring is the amazing support the folks in the Sioux Empire show for the minor league teams. Take for instance the Storm, every home game they have, they draw close to 5,000 people. The Stampede and Skyforce consistently draw 3,000 and the Canaries are pretty close to that as well.
I'm not from a town that has a lot of minor league teams as I grew up in St. Louis, so I've never really been attracted to the whole minor league idea. But it's truly amazing, that no matter what the sport, fans come out to watch.
I wonder though, if the Canaries would be affiliated with a professional team, if their attendance would be even higher. I personally would love to see young prospects come thru Sioux Falls on their way to the big time.
Back to the Storm. If this town would ever agree to build a new events center, (and that's a whole different topic) I'd like to see the Storm apply for membership in AFL-2. The Storm easily are the cream of the crop in the UIF. They have the most stable ownership group, as well as a stable, reliable coaching staff. This town would surely support the team and the competition would be even better than what fans see in the UIF (that's not a knock on the UIF). I'm pretty sure there are certain requirements that have to be met, such as city size, arena size, etc before the Storm could even apply, but I feel, should an events center be built, they should apply. I just wonder how long the UIF will be around.
So for my birthday, my grandparents purchased the MLB ticket on DIRECT TV for me. For those that don't know me, I'm a die hard baseball fan along with a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan. With the ticket, I get any MLB game I want. Now because I get the ticket, I get a lot of bad play by play tandems.
Why do network execs think former players make the best analysts? Some of them are absolutely clueless. It's not just MLB play by play announcers. Some of the worst color commentators are in the NFL. So my question is why do former athletes get these jobs? Yes, they do have an insight that many of us don't have because they played the game, but that doesn't make them solid on-air talent. Take the NFL for example. They've got probably three solid play by play teams and they get the best games of the week. But for the dozen games, we're left with a bunch of no names calling the games and to be honest, it's hard to watch. Half the time, I'll mute the game and watch it in silence.
To me, the key to a great play by play team is the color analysts. You have to be able to relate to your audience and sometimes these analysts are more worried about themselves instead of the game.
Their meaningless babble just annoys me. There are thousands of more qualified people out there that can do the job (no I'm not saying I can do better) but because they played said sport they are deserving so. That's garbage if you ask me. I just wish there was a better system to pick and choose play by play tandems.
Don't forget, send your questions or comments to me at: tpeters@ksfy.com
For the second time in three years, another South Dakotan saw his dream of playing in the NFL come true. Sunday, Aberdeen native Taylor Mehlhaff was drafted in the 6th round by the New Orleans Saints. Mehlhaff follows in the footsteps of Mt. Vernon native Chad Greenway, who was drafted in the first round two years ago.
Now the real work begins for Mehlhaff. He'll begin Saints rookie camp May 9th. Mehlhaff will enter camp looking to dethrone incumbent Martin Gramatica. But when I spoke to Mehlhaff Sunday afternoon, he wasn't afraid of the challenge. By the tone of the voice, it seemed to me it will inspire him. He knows nothing is handed to you in life. I truely feel Mehlhaff can be the Saints opening day kicker, hopefully he can avoid injuries in the preseason and come in at the top of his game.
Here's how I look at it. Kickers don't often get drafted. Normally, they are one of the thousand of players inked to free agent deals following the conclusion of the draft. But in Mehlhaff's case, he was drafted. So clearly the Saints think he can get the job done on the next level. The former Badger is known for his explosive leg, and hopefully the veteran Gramatica can offer a few tips to the latest member of the South Dakota NFL Club. It's a small but rather tight group.
One more thing on the Draft....I laugh at the "report cards" that are handed out following the draft. The kids haven't even put on a jersey yet and everyone is saying "oh that team did terrible"....The only thing I can somewhat understand is pre-draft analysis on players...but to say a team had a bad draft before even stepping foot on a field is crazy....
Now onto "Mailbag Monday"....Don't forget if you have a question you want answered, email me at tpeters@ksfy.com
Tim, I enjoyed your article about Coach Lavin in your last blog. With the great run the Coyotes made this season, do you think that momentum will run into next season when they make the jump to D-1 and how do you think the team will do? Steve Yankton, SD
Steve, It's hard to say what kind of momentum the team will bring into next season as so many key players will have graduated. The back-bone of this year's squad were the Hoffmans. Now, I'm not saying the Yotes will struggle next year. They return a good core, but remember, they'll be entering uncharted waters. I think Ryun Williams is the perfect coach to lead the Coyotes into their new era.
Tim, I am a huge baseball fan and played club baseball a couple of years ago. One thing I always wanted was to play baseball for my high school. Has South Dakota talked about making baseball an official high school sport and do you think it would be a good idea? John Sioux Falls, SD
John, Yes the SDHSAA has talked about making baseball a varsity sport, but that may not happen until 2020....why 2020, because decisions around here are made at a snails pace. And honestly, baseball doesn't generate revenue. So who knows what will happen. Do I think they should make it a varsity sport...absolutely....I think they should move it to the summer like they do in Iowa so they can get in more than just 8 games a year.
Tim, I am a huge Twins fan and after beating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1987 World Series I don't really mind YOUR Cardinals either. Both teams have gotten off to better than expected starts. Between the Twins and the Cardinals, who do you think will win another World Series first? Sandy Sioux Falls, SD
Sandy, I'm glad you can tolerate my Redbirds as I do the same with the Twins. While the Twins got off to a decent start, I think the true Twins are beginning to show. They are in a brutal division (unlike my Cardinals) and honestly, a third/fourth place finish won't be something to hang your head about.... Being that I'm a Cards fan, from STL, do I really have to answer your question on who will win a series first? I think we all know my answer.
For many of you in the state, this spring snow-storm is probably making you want to vomit. Seriously, it's nearly May and we're dealing with blizzard like conditions. I'm ready for my grass to take shape and start sitting out in my three season room, (without wearing a sweatsuit and parka) watch a STL Cardinals game and enjoy an adult beverage. (instead, I'm shoveling snow, battling a bird and his nest building---I've tore his nest down three times---there's a million tree's in my neighborhood, why do you have to pick my three-season room--but I digress) I've said it before, we're going to skip spring and summer and go right into fall.
For myself and my colleagues in sports in the area, this spring has been awful (we all get along and I think they'll all agree with me how they are ready to get things rolling). While I have to admit, it's been a nice break after six months of (as Thor calls it) "Bedlum". During the fall and winter, I come in and I go right out the door to shoot a story. And we do it every night for six months. So when the local sports scene was quiet last month, I enjoyed some relaxation time. Now I'm bored (except for listening to Thor tell me stories of how his back hurts and he's old--which is rather amusing).
So instead of being busy tonight, I've found myself struggling to get anything accomplished. I've been staring at my computer screen for a few hours now, working on a story for next week. I was scheduled to shoot the Augie spring game, and some other things. Instead, I'm ready to bust out the door. And it won't get any better this weekend. Maybe I have ADD. I get bored sitting. Everything in this area is canceled, which makes putting together a nice, local, quality sportscast challenging. But I guess that's why they pay me the big bucks.
The NFL draft is this weekend and unless you’ve been under a rock lately or hate sports, you already knew this. Talk shows, ESPN, FSN, Yahoo, and any other sports site has devoted countless pages and air time to the draft since the end of the Super Bowl. To me, it’s amazing the excitement the draft brings. No other sport and their draft comes close to the excitement, coverage that the NFL draft generates. As Chris Studer says, it’s insane. I just don’t get the hype the draft brings.
While working out the other day, ESPN was running a special on the draft. Who’s going to go where, who will be traded, blah blah blah…..too much speculation, too much guessing done by the so called experts. And what really baffles me are the mock drafts that predict what player will be taken by said team in the 6th round. Seriously, I know it’s a mock draft, but that’s a bit crazy. Quit speculating after round one.
Live coverage begins at like 6 in the morning on networks and runs till like midnight Sunday. People plan their day/weekend around the draft (which for this guy, is insane). I’m bored after five minutes watching the draft. Now, the No Fun League has moved the draft back. It will now start at 2 and the first day will be only two rounds instead of the usual three. What was wrong with starting at ten??? You drew monstrous ratings. People watched. You could start the draft at midnight and people would watch.
They’ve also decreased the time allotted each team gets to pick (seriously, other than the Vikings, do you need 15 minutes to figure out who you want on your squad….you spend months collecting data and scouting players yet when it’s your turn, you can’t make up your mind)….Give teams five minutes, do the draft in one day and get it done with. It just baffles me that there’s actually people out there that will spend their entire weekend parked in front of a couch watching the draft.
Now I know what you’re thinking, don’t watch. Trust me, I won’t. I’ll log onto the internet and see who my hometown team, the Saint Louis Rams take, but other than that, I won’t follow very closely. The Vikings traded away half their draft for Jared Allen (which is a great trade by the way) so for me professionally, I won’t be paying that close attention (yes I will be following local athletes closely)
It just is crazy how much excitement the NFL draft brings.
Again, if you have a questions you'd like for me to answer, don't forget to write me at tpeters@ksfy.com
Very rarely do I get a chance to get to know local coaches. Yes, they know who I am but we really never get a chance to sit down and chat with coaches on a lengthy, non work issue.
You see, with our schedule, we're always on the run. Always it's get the interviews, and hurry to the next story or to the next game. It's just the way things work in a two man department. What makes the airwaves on KSFY for sports, comes from two people, Thor or myself, so we're constantly running around.
But when the Coyotes made their magical run to the women's Elite Eight basketball tournament this year, I really got a chance to get to know Chad Lavin. I covered every game from the start of the post season to the D-II title game, so Chad unfortunately got more than what he wanted from me. Coach Lavin never sugar-coats the issue. He's honest, never lying to you or saying the company line. He's told me things that I was rather surprised to hear him say, but that's what I like about the man. I truly could sit down at a bar and talk for hours with the man. He simply tells it how it is.
After USD announced Lavin's replacement, I interviewed Chad real fast and then talked more off-camera. I asked him if it has hit him that he was done coaching. I'll never forget his answer. He was totally honest with me. To make a long answer short, he said this. "I love coaching basketball. I hate recruiting, hate traveling, and other behind the scenes stuff." Lavin had a passion to be out there, he had a passion to teach, but he struggled with traveling. With USD making the move to D-I, the time was right for him to step down and what a magical ride his girls gave him. Lavin was truly a great coach, and this reporter will certainly miss his kind remarks when the tape isn't rolling.
There are other coaches out there that I enjoy talking to once the tape is done rolling, but Lavin will go down as one of my favorites and more people in the world could learn something from the man always wearing a sweat-shirt and sweat-pants.
Welcome to the greatest blog ever!!! Ok, maybe not, but thanks for stopping by. I’ll be writing a couple of times of week for you and every Monday, we’ll have “Mailbag Monday” where the blog will consist of me answering emails from you the viewers. Send me your questions at tpeters@ksfy.com Other days, when I’m not running all over the place for Thor, I’ll drop some other thoughts that are running thru my head.
First, let me preface this blog, it’s not going to be grammatically correct as I’m one of the worst grammer guys to ever step foot on this planet. Some of you will say, but you are on TV. Folks, let me tell you, the way one writes for TV is not for thesis papers. A lot of our writing is run on sentences, with dangling participles (you like that), fragments, incomplete sentences. Many of us in the “biz” employ the infamous, ….. to represent comma’s, periods, etc. We pause when we feel like it (or when we run out of breath) or when the prompter person decides to drift off to outer-space and fails to keep up with me….so bare with me if improper grammar annoys you. I’ll try to proof-read and correct my mistakes, but if I miss something, well I’m not perfect.
Moving on, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m a die-hard baseball fan. I grew up in the greatest baseball city ever, St. Louis, thus making me a die-hard Cardinals fan. It’s in your blood to eat, sleep and breath Cardinals baseball if you are from the Gateway City. I also have XM radio so I can listen to games when I’m out on the road. It’s not just the Cards I love watching, I just love baseball in general. While I was surfing the net recently, I ran across a column talking about the lack of African American’s playing America’s Pastime.
According to Ken Griffey, Jr., he claims a reason for the decline is due to how Barry Bonds was treated. Seriously, are you kidding me? That’s got to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
Reporter says: “So Billy, how come you don’t like baseball?”
Billy says “Well I just saw how mean you guys were to Barry and therefore I didn’t want to play.”
Sorry Junior, but I’m just not buying that. Barry was a jerk. He wasn’t well liked by the media because he always claimed everyone was out to get him. To me athletes need to talk to the media when they have good days and bad days. You can’t just choose to talk when things are going good (certain schools in the area should take note of this) Could Barry hit a baseball, you bet he could. In his prime, he was the best five tool baseball player in the game. But talk to some of his former teammates, he simply wasn’t a great guy/teammate to be around. It’s documented how difficult it was for teammates to get along with the games home run king. So for Junior to say blacks aren’t playing baseball because Barry wasn’t treated nice in the media is absurd.
Baseball in general isn’t as popular as it once was. It’s got nothing to do with how the media portrayed Bonds. If MLB is so worried about this problem, maybe they should do something about it. Maybe kids are turned off because MLB looked the other way while players were cheating. You can’t tell me Bud Selig didn’t know players were taking steroids. All Bud saw was the turnstiles turning, record attendance, and people enjoying baseball for the first time in decades. But now, if I were to take my family to a game, I’d have to take out a second mortgage. Going to a game is crazy. It’s expensive. As a child, my parents took me to several games a year. I get home once a year to catch a game, and that’s expensive for just my wife and I. I think that’s a concern why interest in the game is down. Not because Barry was mistreated.
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