Bleacher Report - Articles by Stephen Black

Why Michigan State Wins Tonight

Stephen Black — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:37:41 -0400

Backcourt play

The Spartans' Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton form one of the best guard duos in college basketball. Walton is the team's best defender, while Lucas is no slouch himself on defense.

It has long been said that backcourt play is vital towards making a run in March. Michigan State's backcourt has been a key in getting the Spartans to Monday night.

The Tar Heels' MVP is point guard Ty Lawson, whose absence in the ACC Tourney probably cost UNC the tournament championship.

If Lucas and Walton can contain Lawson and force Carolina guard Wayne Ellington into a sub-par shooting night, the Spartans have a good chance at pulling off the upset.

Izzo

Spartan head coach Tom Izzo is an amazing 14-2 in the second game of the weekend during NCAA Tournament play. This means that Izzo, in his 14th year coaching State, is a master in preparing his teams on short notice.

This is already his fifth Final Four appearance at MSU and his second showing in the championship game. His other team to make it this far was in 2000, when the Spartans took home the title.

While Izzo's counterpart Roy Williams is one of the best coaches in the game and has more championship game experience, Izzo's record in second games on the weekend gives him the edge tonight.

Home Crowd

Ford Field will be packed tonight with the Green and White of the Spartans. The surprising run to the title game has captured the imagination of thousands in the Motor City, not to mention the rest of the state.

There will be a couple thousand Tar Heels in the stands, but not enough to be a factor against 70,000 in Green and White.

The new setup the NCAA is using by placing the court in the middle of the football field allows thousands more fans to be able to not only get into the game, but also see the entire court.

The Tar Heels are a mentally tough squad that has won in some the toughest venues in America, but they haven't seen anything like the football-sized throng of Spartan fans that they will see tonight.

When the two teams played at Ford Field in December, only 25,000 were in attendance. And they were certainly not at the fever pitch that they will be at for tonight's championship game.

Defense and Hustle

Many have said that this year's Spartan squad is a direct reflection of their tough-minded head coach.

Izzo, a native of Iron Mountain, MI, preaches air-tight defense, physical play, relentless rebounding and 100 percent effort at all times. MSU is solid in all of those areas.

Meanwhile, if the Tar Heels have a chink in their armor, it is their defense. Carolina has given up 85, 92, and 88 points in their three losses this year, as well as 84 and 91 in wins over Oral Roberts and Maryland.

Revenge

It is difficult to beat a good team once, but beating a good team twice in the same season can be tricky. Especially in the same venue when said team is much healthier and playing much better. When Carolina demolished the Spartans 98-63 on Dec. 3, the Tar Heels were in mid-season form while MSU was not at full strength.

The lynchpin of the team, 6-10 senior Goran Suton, did not play against UNC back in December.

Suton, the team's leading rebounder, is a major force in the interior for the Spartans. The versatile forward is also a solid outside shooter and a tremendous passer.

Also, in the back of their minds, Carolina remembers how easy that game in December was. But if the Heels let it affect their mental makeup for tonight's game, they will get beat.

Meanwhile, the Spartans have been stewing about the blowout for months and will assuredly be on-point for tonight's game.

The guess here is that UNC will have a slight letdown for the game, while Michigan State will ride a wave of emotion confidence to a shocking upset.

College Football: The Five Most Undeserving National Champs of the Last 25 Years

Stephen Black — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:12:22 -0400

BYU, 1984

Give the Cougars credit for going undefeated because there is not much else they did in 1984 to deserve national championship consideration. Several "mid-major" teams since, like Boise State in 2006, Utah in 2004, and Tulane in 1998, have gone undefeated only to miss out on any serious national title consideration.

The Cougars defeated only one bowl team during the regular season (Air Force), and did not play anyone who finished the season ranked in the top 20. BYU's most impressive road win was at Pittsburgh, who finished the season 3-7-1.

Lavell Edwards' squad clinched the national championship by playing in the Holiday Bowl against a 6-5 Michigan team, easily Bo Schembechler's worst squad in his 21 years in Ann Arbor. It is still the only Michigan team to finish without a winning record since 1967.

Also, the Holiday Bowl has not played host to another game with national title implications before or since 1984.

The AP probably should've awarded their No. 1 ranking to Washington, a team that went 11-1 and won the Orange Bowl over No. 2 Oklahoma. Instead, the Huskies finished second in the final poll behind a BYU team that had not truly been tested all season.

Georgia Tech, 1990

Bobby Ross' Yellow Jackets came out of nowhere to win the UPI national title in 1990 largely because, like BYU, they were the only undefeated team at the end of the season. The "Ramblin' Wreck" finished the season with a solid 11-0-1 record.

But the ACC, which had not yet added Florida State, was still a conference where most schools put basketball well ahead of football in the pecking order.

The Jackets' only blemish was a tie against North Carolina, who would finish the season 6-4-1 and miss out on a bowl. Big wins for the Jackets included Virginia, who was ranked No. 1 at the time of the game, and Clemson, who finished No. 8. Those were the only two ranked opponents that Tech played during the regular season.

In fact, Virginia would go on to lose three more times, including the Sugar Bowl to SEC champion Tennessee, and finish 23rd in the final AP Poll.

Tech travelled to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl to play a Nebraska team coming off an embarrassing 45-10 drubbing by Oklahoma in the regular season finale. Tech would win convincingly over the plodding Cornhuskers 45-21.

In fact, Nebraska was so upset about how their season ended that head coach Tom Osborne changed his recruiting philosophy to pursue faster players. The 1990 Cornhuskers finished the season ranked No. 24, the lowest-ranked team Tom Osborne ever coached in Lincoln.

Give Georgia Tech credit for picking the right year to go 11-0-1. It was the best record in the country and the UPI poll awarded them with a national championship. However, Tech likely would've been underdog to any other team in the top five had they played in a bowl game.

The Citrus Bowl, like the Holiday, has still not hosted another game with national title implications.

Colorado, 1990

The year started off slowly for the Buffaloes, with a season-opening tie against Tennessee in the Pigskin Classic and a loss at Illinois in their third game. However, the Buffs would not see another blemish on their record as they closed out the year with 10 consecutive victories.

A key turning point for Colorado was an out-of-conference win at eventual SWC champion Texas the week after the Illinois loss. CU would go on to convincingly defeat ranked opponents Oklahoma and Nebraska and win the Big Eight with an undefeated conference record.

However, the season did not end without controversy, as the team narrowly escaped Missouri with a late touchdown on what turned out to be the fifth down of that particular series.

In the Orange Bowl, Colorado needed a clipping penalty on Notre Dame to bring back a punt return for a touchdown by Rocket Ismail that helped preserve a tight 10-9 win.

Colorado was probably the best team during 1990 and played several quality opponents, but ended up being only the second AP national champion ever to have both a loss and tie on their record.

Due to their controversial wins over Missouri and Notre Dame, a very good argument could be made that the Buffaloes did not deserve the national title.

Michigan, 1997

In a year in which Michigan's Charles Woodson won a controversial Heisman vote over Tennessee's Peyton Manning, the Wolverines were voted No. 1 by the AP Poll over an undefeated Nebraska juggernaut, which won the ESPN/USA Today national title.

In the usually tough Big Ten, Michigan ended up being the only conference member to finish in the top 10 of the final AP rankings. Arguably, their best three wins were against Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin, teams that got beaten handily by SEC teams in their bowl games.

Why does it matter that they got beat by opponents from the SEC? Because co-national champion Nebraska steamrolled SEC champion Tennessee in the Orange Bowl, 42-17. Meanwhile, Michigan was scraping by outmatched Washington State in the Rose, 21-16.

Had Michigan and Nebraska played a game for all the marbles, it is likely that the Cornhuskers would've been favored and, as most experts agreed at the time, the Huskers probably would've won the game handily.

Florida State, 1993

The Noles were in their second year in the ACC and still had not been challenged in a conference game. In fact, the closest ACC games for the Noles this year were 26-point drubbings of UNC and Virginia.

With Miami on a downswing, FSU was able to get past the Canes to set up a huge showdown against undefeated Notre Dame in South Bend.

FSU talked all week prior to the game about how they didn't care about the tradition at Notre Dame and how it wouldn't affect them during the game. After all, the team had not been challenged all season and was the prohibitive favorites to beat Notre Dame and win the national title.

Come Saturday, the Irish played the game of their lives and upset the cocky Noles, 31-24.

The national title was Notre Dame's for the taking until the team lost to little Boston College the following week on a last-second field goal, 41-39. FSU was back in the picture.

The Noles went on to play undefeated and No. 2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and won on yet another last-second field goal. The Noles survived despite a chaotic finish that resulted in three field goal attempts between the teams during the final 1:19 of play.

The Cornhuskers missed a 45-yard attempt on the final play of the game to give Bobby Bowden his long-awaited national title.

The Noles were probably the best team in 1993, but played only two truly tough regular season games—vs. Miami, who would finish No. 15 after a drubbing by Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl, and vs. Florida, who would win the SEC and finish No. 5. Before and between those two games were several easy wins against over-matched ACC opponents.

Although Notre Dame also played a relatively easy schedule, they also can make an argument for the national title on the strength of their head-to-head win over the Noles.

FSU was probably the better team overall, but they also deserve criticism for backing their way into the national title picture.

My Town Rocks- Atlanta, Georgia

Stephen Black — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:33:54 -0400

Quick- what is the only city that can say that it currently is home to a franchise in each of the four major American sports and has hosted a Super Bowl as well as the Summer Olympic Games? If you said Atlanta, you are correct.

For a city that was recently named "The Most Miserable Sports City,” Atlanta does not seem to be doing so badly. The article was obviously focused solely on professional sports. However, as an Atlantan might tell you, there is a lot more to the American sports scene than just pro sports.

In the last 15 years "The A", as it is known locally, has hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, two Super Bowls, two Final Fours, the Women's Final Four, multiple World Series', the MLB All-Star game, the NHL All-Star Game, the NBA All-Star game, and playoff games from the four major professional sports.

Not too shabby for a so-called miserable sports town. In addition to those events, the city also hosts the Chick-fil-a Bowl as well as the SEC Football Championship on a yearly basis. Other guests include the SEC basketball tournament, the ACC basketball tournament, NCAA Basketball Regionals, and NASCAR events.

Compared to other large cities in the nation, Atlanta is by far the best place to be for a college sports fan. The city is home to large alumni bases from pretty much every SEC and ACC school, not to mention large constituencies from most other major conference as well. Within a four-hour drive of the city, you can see a game at Georgia Tech, Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, Alabama, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, or South Carolina. Just a little further is Florida State, Florida, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State.

If you like to spend time on the links, Atlanta is home to some of the best golf courses in the country. Because of these world-renown courses, the city has hosted two major PGA events- the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. Augusta, which hosts the Masters, is only a two-hour drive away.

In addition to the myriad of sporting events that Atlanta hosts, the area is also home to some of the best homegrown talent in the nation. College and pro scouts spend quite a bit of money and time on trips to the Atlanta area to scout talent.

Atlanta is the anchor of talent in the state of Georgia, which is one of the top states in producing football, baseball, and basketball players for both college and professional sports.

No matter what season it is, you can always find an important and intriguing sporting event taking place in Atlanta. Clearly, this city is a sports fan's dream.

College Football's Best Helmets

Stephen Black — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:16:45 -0400

This is just one fan's opinion on the best helmets in college football. Tradition, distinctiveness, originality, and basically how cool they look are the basic criteria of how the helmets were chosen.

Air Force: You have to respect the blue lighting bolt. Very cool and unique. With these dynamic looking helmets, it is a wonder the Falcons don't score on every offensive drive.

Alabama: Anyone familiar with college football knows who is playing when the famous numbered helmets of the Crimson Tide appear on the gridiron. This is one of the more distinct, yet tasteful designs in the nation.

Arizona State: The smiling, mustached devil face peering out of what looks like a maroon cat suit is one of the more amusing team logos in sports. Complete with a pitchfork and pointed tail, ASU certainly forgot nothing with their version of a what a sun devil should look like.

Miami: The school now known simply as "The U" can thank this famous helmet for their suddenly well-known abbreviation. Seeing the white helmets with the orange and green "U" implanted on them takes fans back to when Michael Irvin, Bernie Kosar, Ray Lewis, and Russell Maryland stormed the college football ranks in the '80s and early '90s.

Texas: Simple, cool, classic. You just cannot beat the Longhorn silhouette on a solid white helmet.

College Football: The Top-Five Uniforms

Stephen Black — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:13:14 -0400

5. Notre Dame. Certain things just scream "college football." One of them is the blue and gold of Notre Dame. Love' em or hate 'em, college football fans have to admit that when they see gold helmets and blue jerseys, they think about the Gipper, Rudy, Touchdown Jesus and Knute Rockne.

The traditional blue jerseys and gold pants are classic, but the green jerseys that ND pulls out for special occasions are, well, special.

4. Alabama. Another classic uniform from one of college football's greatest programs, Alabama's digs are simple and refreshing. In an age where swooshes and odd designs seem to be taking over, a simple crimson jersey with white pants stands out among the rest.

A college football fan can sit back and watch a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium and reminisce about what it must have been like in the '60s when Bear Bryant patrolled the sidelines and Forrest Gump ran wild. Okay, maybe it was just a movie, but didn't Tom Hanks look fast in that uniform?

3. UCLA. Can a school from Los Angeles pick a better color set than light blue and gold? In a place where sunny days and cloudless skies are as normal as celebrity sightings, UCLA's football uniforms represent their hometown as well as any uniform in sports.

However, the '80s jerseys with less black outline are preferable to the present-day jerseys that feature quite a bit too much of it.

2. Texas. The people at the University of Texas certainly "hooked" it when they designed their football uniforms. The burnt orange jerseys match the hue of their mascot Bevo's fur and the simple, yet unmistakable, helmets add a classy touch to a great football uniform.

The home uniforms are nearly perfect, but the road uniforms feature too much white. The Texas players look like people stuck inside of marshmallows when they are dressed in their road digs.

1. USC. College football's best uniforms reside in Los Angeles. Pete Carroll not only brought first class coaching skills to Troy, he also brought some great ideas for uniforms.

USC altered their jerseys in 2001 to include just two yellow stripes around the player's shoulders, along with the player's number on the front and back. This simple change made USC the best looking college football squad out there.

Even on the road, the Trojans stand out as a classy, yet intimidating squad that simply looks like they are the best. And Carroll's teams have been just that since he began his career in L.A.

Top Five Nicknames in Georgia High School Sports

Stephen Black — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:05:38 -0400

1. Cairo Syrupmakers/Syrupmaids

The town of Cairo named their high school athletic teams after the product their town was famous for—syrup. In 1986, ESPN ranked “Syrupmakers” as the No. 1 high school sports nickname in the nation. Adding to the distinctiveness of the school’s moniker, Cairo’s girls teams are called the Syrupmaids.

2. Johnson (Savannah) Atom Smashers

Johnson High School opened its doors in 1960, shortly after the atom smasher (or particle accelerator) was discovered. The school also had ties to Savannah State University’s science department and decided that "Atom Smasher" was an appropriate nickname for a school with a focus on the sciences.

Playing off of this dynamic name, the school’s basketball gym is called the “Reaction Chamber” and the football helmet features a picture of an atom.

3. Clarkston Angoras

An “angora” is a type of long-haired goat. Early citizens of Clarkston were said to own a large number of angora goats, which led to the town being nicknamed “Goatsville” and then the more prestigious “Angora Heights.” The high school chose this rare nickname to honor the town's reputation.

4. Glynn Academy Red Terrors

Tracing its beginnings to 1788, Glynn Academy (located in Brunswick) is the second oldest high school in the state.

The school can trace its nickname to a band of Scottish Highlanders who defended the coastal region from the Spanish. The Highlanders wore bright red uniforms and came to be known as “Red Terrors.”

5. Warren County Screaming Devils

If you wanted to make a list of sinister mascots, the Screaming Devils definitely would top the list. And if this nickname isn’t enough to scare the pants off of visiting teams, the eastern Georgia school plays in a stadium called Death Valley.

If these schools still existed, they might have made the list…

Honorable Mentions: Commercial Typists, Lanier Poets, Ocilla Orphans, Sandersville Satans.

Will John Anderson's Hire Be Don Waddell's Last Stand with the Thrashers?

Stephen Black — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:52:07 -0400

When Don Waddell formally introduced John Anderson as the Thrashers’ fourth head coach last Friday, it had been 248 days since the franchise’s Executive Vice President and General Manager had held a similar gathering announcing the firing of Coach Bob Hartley.

At the time, Waddell believed that the Thrashers would be better off in the long run without Hartley. Waddell stated at the time, “I believe we have a chance to salvage this season.”

Waddell then installed himself as head coach and remained in that role until the end of the season, a season in which the Thrashers finished six games under .500, out of the playoffs, and 21 points below their previous season’s output under Hartley.

In fairness, the Thrashers did begin the season with six straight losses before Waddell gave Hartley the infamous pink slip. But as a coach who has a Stanley Cup and five division titles on his resume—including the only division championship the Thrashers franchise has ever won—didn’t Hartley deserve the chance to at least get the team to the All-Star break?

In a city famous for mediocre pro sports teams, Waddell's actions raise some questions about the future of the city’s second NHL franchise.

The Braves, for example, fired Joe Torre after only three seasons and some notable success. In 1982, Torre’s first season, the Braves won their first division title since 1969. The Braves would finish a respectable second place in 1983 and third-place in 1984.

Torre was not retained after the 1984 season and left Atlanta with a .529 winning percentage and 257-229 record. The Braves would not finish higher than fifth in the division until 1991. Their next manager, Eddie Haas, would be fired before the end of the 1985 season.

Torre would eventually gain his revenge while managing the New York Yankees, as his teams defeated the Braves twice in the World Series.

The Atlanta Falcons made a similar mistake—firing Leeman Bennett, who won the Falcons’ first-ever division title in 1980, made the playoffs three times, and finished his six-year career in Atlanta with a .529 winning percentage.

Bennett was fired after a 1982 playoff loss to Minnesota. His replacement, Dan Henning, would eventually be dismissed after four disappointing years, and a winning percentage of .344.

The Falcons would not see the playoffs again until 1991.

Atlanta sports fans have to cringe when thinking about the possibility of déjà-vu occurring yet again with one of their pro sports teams. Will the Thrashers succeed under Anderson, or will history repeat itself? Will the Thrashers have to wait nine years for another playoff berth, as the Braves and Falcons did?

Thankfully, John Anderson’s record as a hockey coach is beyond reproach. Anderson’s teams have won five league titles under his guidance—including four at his most recent stop with the Chicago Wolves, a minor league affiliate of the Thrashers. His teams have made the playoffs in 12 of his 13 years as a head coach, and have made the league finals on eight occasions.

After a coaching search that lasted 248 days, Waddell must think he has the right man for the job. He certainly acted the part when introducing the new coach.

“John has an impressive record of success as a head coach, and we are excited to be adding him to our organization,” said Waddell. “He’s a proven winner whose leadership and experience behind the bench will play a vital role in the resurgence of our hockey club.”

It also should be noted that the two have a history together—Anderson played for Waddell in 1992-93 while both men were with the San Diego Gulls of the IHL. Anderson was a player/assistant coach, while Waddell was the general manager.

This fact, coupled with the fact that Anderson has been coaching a minor-league affiliate of the Thrashers, makes one wonder why the decision took so long for Waddell to make. Waddell also interviewed Thrashers assistant Brad McCrimmon, and is thought to have had also considered former Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella. However, Waddell declared on Friday that “It was pretty obvious (Anderson) would be our first choice.”

If Anderson was the obvious choice, why was the decision not made earlier? Why did the season that could be salvaged turn into a nightmare under Waddell’s guidance? This question must be ringing through the heads of Thrashers fans like a church bell on Sunday morning.

Anderson just might be the right guy to lead the Thrashers and its success-starved fanbase to the promised-land. Or he may be another footnote of mediocrity in the annals of Atlanta sports history alongside Haas and Henning.

All Thrashers fans can do is hope that history does not repeat itself—and that, if it does, team ownership will replace the right guy next time.

MLB's World Series All-Clutch Team- Active Players

Stephen Black — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:29:12 -0400

The criteria I used to make this list includes past performances in World Series games, heroics in these games (late inning plays to help win games), and their team's ultimate success in the World Series.

Manager: Tony La Russa

The Cardinals' skipper is one of only two managers ever to win the World Series with a National League and American League team. La Russa has managed the White Sox, A's, and Cardinals, and has taken all three franchises to the postseason.

Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett

The hard-throwing right-hander has won World Series games for two different teams. He was named MVP of the series while with the Florida Marlins during their 2003 championship season. The Red Sox ace has a career postseason ERA of 1.73.

Relief Pitcher: Mariano Rivera

The long-time Yankees closer has four World Series rings and holds the all-time record for postseason saves with a remarkable 34. Rivera was named the MVP of the 1999 World Series after closing out two of the four games.

Catcher: Jason Varitek

The Boston backstop is the unquestioned leader of the Red Sox team that has won two World Series in four seasons after not winning one since 1918. In last year's Fall Classic, Varitek batted a cool .333 with five RBI in the series sweep of Colorado.

First Baseman: Paul Konerko

Konerko was part of the 2005 Chicago White Sox club that shocked the baseball world and swept the Houston Astros to win the franchise's first world title since 1917. The powerful first baseman hit a grand slam in the seventh inning of Game Two to give the Sox a 6-4 win.

Second Baseman: Aaron Miles

The Cardinals' second baseman provided a truly clutch performance in Game Four of the 2006 World Series. Miles got on base twice, stole a base, and scored twice, including the game-winning run. His performance helped help St. Louis win Game Four and gain an insurmountable 3-1 series lead.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter

Along with Rivera, the Yankees' "Captain" has won four World Series ring and has been a crucial part of all of them. Jeter owns the all-time MLB record of 150 postseason hits. The New York shortstop won the 2000 World Series MVP award after batting .409 with two home runs.

Third Baseman: Troy Glaus

During the 2002 series, the Angels' burly third baseman hit three home runs and batted .385 for the series, with eight RBI. The performance was good enough to earn the series MVP award. Glaus doubled home the tying and game-winning runs in the eighth inning of Game Six to propel the Angels to Game Seven.

OF: Jermaine Dye

Dye was named the 2005 World Series Most Valuable Player after batting .438 with a home run and three RBI. The clutch-hitting outfielder singled home the only run that would be scored by either team in the decisive Game Four.

OF: Manny Ramirez

Manny was named Most Valuable Player of the 2004 World Series after batting .412 with a home run and four RBI. The dynamic left-fielder hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning of Game Three to give the Red Sox a lead they would not relinquish.

OF: Garret Anderson

The long-time Angels outfielder had three RBI in the decisive seventh game of the 2002 World Series. Los Angeles triumphed 4-1 on the strength of Anderson's timely hitting to win the world championship over the San Francisco Giants.

Bench: Edgar Renteria

The shortstop from Colombia will be forever remembered for his game-winning single to win the seventh game of the 1997 World Series for the Florida Marlins. Renteria also batted .333 during the 2004 series as a St. Louis Cardinal.