Bleacher Report - Articles by Ebenezer Barnes

SEC Blitzed and Blue

Ebenezer Barnes — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:34:09 -0400

The SEC benefited from a plethora of postseason basketball tournaments this year. So many men's and women's teams from the conference (17) received bids from the NCAA, NIT, or WNIT, that it's easier to list the few teams which did not:

Women Uninvited: Alabama, South Carolina

Men Uninvited: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Vanderbilt

But SEC teams were eliminated rapidly over a 12-day interval (listed below). As of the evening of Saturday, March 28, not a single one of those seventeen participants remained in competition. The SEC basketball postseason came to an early and embarrassing end, with only 16 wins to go with those 17 losses. The conference couldn't even break even.

Five SEC teams lost in their first postseason game, surprisingly including the Tennessee women in the NCAA. Eight SEC teams won their first postseason game, only to lose their second, including the conference's highest-seeded NCAA squad, the Auburn women.

Only four SEC teams won two postseason games before being eliminated, the most significant such accomplishment being that of the Vanderbilt women in the NCAA. The other three were all in the men's NIT, where Auburn, Florida, and Kentucky each fell just short of Madison Square Garden.

Here's the chronology of that wicked series of losses for SEC basketball, no day worse than "Blue Tuesday," March 24, when four went down:

March 17: South Carolina men lose to Davidson in NIT first round

March 19: Mississippi State men lose to Washington in NCAA first round

March 20: Tennessee men lose to Oklahoma State in NCAA first round

March 21: Georgia women lose to Arizona State in NCAA first round

Louisiana State men lose to North Carolina in NCAA second round

March 22: Tennessee women lose to Ball State in NCAA first round

Kentucky women lose to Wisconsin in WNIT second round

March 23: Auburn women lose to Rutgers in NCAA second round

Mississippi State women lose to Ohio State in NCAA second round

March 24: Louisiana State women lose to Louisville in NCAA second round

Florida women lose to Connecticut in NCAA second round

Auburn men lose to Baylor in NIT quarterfinals

Florida men lose to Penn State in NIT quarterfinals

March 25 Kentucky men lose to Notre Dame in NIT quarterfinals

March 26 Arkansas women lose to Kansas in WNIT third round

Ole Miss women lose to South Florida in WNIT third round

March 28 Vanderbilt women lose to Maryland in NCAA third round

Wait 'til next year? More likely, wait until 2012 or 2015 or 2020.

A Big Game in a Little Gym

Ebenezer Barnes — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:29:07 -0500

As I arrived at the elementary school gymnasium and was just about to enter, an eight-year-old boy in a Blazers' basketball uniform ran across the grass toward me and the door. I held the door a second to wait for him, and said, “Hi, Matthew.” He said “Thanks,” and followed me in.

In addition to being polite, Matthew appeared to be excited about his team’s first tournament game, more so than one might expect from the only player who had not scored during the twelve-game season.

Matthew had not lacked playing time, however. He was fortunate to be on a team with a coach who rotated all the players in and out of the games, virtually equally. That was only one of the Blazers' coach’s peculiarities.

Alone in the 11-team league, he had his team play man-to-man defense most of the season, rather than the easier and less demanding zone. This had sometimes fatigued his team and perhaps cost them a game or two, but it prepared them with a capability for playing pressure defense, if ever needed.

Sports competition offers some inspiring moments, but they don’t come all too often, nor do they always come where one might most expect them.

Before this Recreation League tournament game, the sports event I would have most regretted missing was a college football game that I had attended some 24 years earlier. It was an Iron Bowl game matching the Heisman winner on one team against a future head coach on the other—a spectacular football game with four lead changes in the fourth quarter—the last occurring with a 52-yard game-deciding field goal on the final play.

That’s a more typical setting for a memorable sports event, one would think.

Tonight at the little gym, in what at first appeared to be simply another of thousands of games played somewhat ineptly by eight-year-old boys, both the Blazers and the Rockets started slowly. Perhaps to save his team’s energy for later, the Blazers' coach uncharacteristically had his boys play zone defense for the entire first half.

The first quarter ended with the score tied at 2-2. In the second quarter, a Rockets' guard, No. 20, displayed stunning long-range accuracy, shooting over the Blazers' zone for two three-pointers. At the half, the Rockets were leading the Blazers 10-4.

Coming out for the third quarter, the Blazers' coach changed his team’s defense to their tenacious and well-practiced man-to-man, with his crucial assignment putting Blazers' guard, No. 5, on the long-range gunner for the Rockets. The Rockets' No. 20 would not score another field goal and only rarely was he able to escape harassment by Blazers' No. 5 to even get off a shot.

But the Blazers still could find no successful offense themselves. There were only three points scored between the two teams during the third quarter, which ended with the Rockets leading comfortably, 12-5.

As the fourth quarter began, the Blazers' No. 5 discovered that he not only could successfully defend the Rockets' No. 20, he could also steal the ball from him almost at will.

After a flurry of fast breaks and some spectacular baskets by the Blazers' No. 5, the Blazers had accomplished the unlikely and caught up with the Rockets at 12-12. Then came as unusual and striking a sequence of events as this sports spectator had ever witnessed.

In an attempt to slow down the Blazers’ new-found success, the Rockets' coach reinserted one of his better defensive players. What appeared to be a Rockets' communications' breakdown caused them to resume play with six players on the floor—one too many.

After the Blazers' coach directed the referee’s attention to this violation, the referee stopped play and called the necessary technical foul against the Rockets.

Now with the score tied late in the final quarter, the Blazers' coach had the responsibility of designating one of his players to take the two uncontested free throws awarded by the technical foul.

Almost everyone expected the Blazers' coach to select the Blazers' No. 5, who was shooting well and leading the scoring. But the Blazers' coach, instead, sent Matthew to the free throw line—the same polite but inaccurate Matthew who had not scored even one point all year. The spectators were stunned, none more so than the mother of Matthew, who was heard to say, “Don’t make him try this.”

As though it had been rehearsed 50 times and was being filmed on a silent stage for a movie, Matthew calmly stepped to the line and won the game. After his two baskets he casually walked away from the line as if this was an everyday occurrence for him. His mother was in tears as the little gym reverberated with cheering for her son.

The Blazers, after pounding the shoulders and back of their unlikely hero Matthew, made the remaining moments anticlimactic with a few more points. The Blazers won the game going away and thus advanced in the tournament, having shut out the Rockets in the fourth quarter while scoring 13 points themselves.

By far the biggest of those 13 were the two deciding points scored by Matthew—his first points of the season, responding to the confidence in him displayed by his coach.

This rather biased reporter is proud to have held the gym door open for Matthew when he arrived for this remarkable game. He’s also proud to be an ancestor of the Blazers' coach and the Blazers' No. 5.

And They All Lived Happily Ever After

Ebenezer Barnes — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:39:31 -0400

Once upon a time, long ago and far away, lived a peaceful tribe which was addicted to stories. Their professional master storytellers, known as the Chroniclers, were honored and respected, and the population gathered round the tribal fires in the evenings to hear these masters hold forth.

Many members of the tribe dreamed of becoming Chroniclers. They formed amateur groups which would gather and tell stories among themselves. Legend had it that there had once been an amateur storyteller who became so skilled that she was invited to join the ranks of the Chroniclers.

The Chiefs of the tribe were pleased that the amateur storytellers pursued their hobby, for their ranks were full of potential delinquents and troublemakers, and their storytelling activity diverted them from such activity. The Chiefs decided to stimulate amateur storytelling by offering a prize. Quite unintentionally, the Chiefs thus stimulated trouble instead.

The prizewinner would be invited to join the Chroniclers at the tribal fire on the night of the Great Mating Festival. The winner was to determined by peer voting, selected by the amateurs from among the amateurs. On the day the votes were to be cast, there was a vicious and bloody riot among the amateur storytellers, and the Chiefs found it necessary to summon the Spear Brigade to quell the disturbance.

The Chiefs learned from their error. The peer selection process was trashed, and the Chiefs instead appointed a group of five professional Chroniclers to hear and judge the competitive efforts of the amatuers. Peace suddenly broke out. And they all lived happily ever after.

Yes, Virginia, There Once Was A (Virtual) Playoff, and Nebraska Won It

Ebenezer Barnes — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:07:45 -0400

Many college football fans would prefer a post-season multi-team NCAA-managed playoff, rather than our current two-team BCS National Championship Game. Some of us likely will survive to see that preference come to pass.

But others of us, those who have seen already the passing of dozens of seasons, may have to look to the past rather than the future to get a glimpse of a top-level college football playoff.

There once was a time when, through the coincidences of scheduling and the flexibility of the old bowl system, it just so happened that there was what amounted to a five-team playoff for the top spot of college football. That time was 1971.

A quick glance back might give us an inkling of the excitement that may come from future playoffs, real ones. In 1971, two of the five virtual playoff teams came from the old Big Eight Conference: Oklahoma and Nebraska. The other three were all members of the Southeastern Conference: Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama.

In mid-November 1971, all five of these squads were undefeated and untied, and the following games were yet to be played:

Auburn - Georgia

Auburn - Alabama

Nebraska - Oklahoma

Auburn - Oklahoma

Alabama - Nebraska

That set of five games, especially when seen in the rearview mirror, amounted to a virtual playoff.

Actually, in 1971, seven major-college teams reached November with perfect records. The other two were Michigan and Penn State, neither of which played any of the five named above. But Penn State and Michigan would lose, to Tennessee and Stanford respectively, making moot their non-participation in the virtual playoff.

The 1971 virtual playoff began, we realize now, on Nov. 13. Coach Shug Jordan's undefeated Auburn Tigers travelled to Athens and won against the previously-undefeated Georgia Bulldogs of Coach Vince Dooley.

Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan threw for four touchdowns, thereby taking a giant step toward the 1971 Heisman Trophy. Auburn thus moved to a virtual semifinal game against Alabama, which had a virtual bye.

On Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day, the first game of the virtual semifinal round was played in Norman, Okla. Coach Bob Devaney's undefeated and defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers eliminated Coach Chuck Fairbanks' previously-undefeated Oklahoma Sooners, 35-31.

In what is widely regarded as one of the best college football games ever, Cornhusker offensive coordinator Tom Osborne's I-formation outscored Sooner offensive coordinator Barry Switzer's wishbone.

There were performances perhaps Heisman-worthy by Nebraska flanker Johnny Rodgers and Oklahoma running back Greg Pruitt, but the Heisman voting had already closed.

Rodgers would win a Heisman during the following season, 1972. As Big 8 champion, Nebraska went to the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma accepted a Sugar Bowl bid.

The other virtual semifinal game, on the SEC side of the bracket, was played in Birmingham on Nov. 27 between Coach Bear Bryant's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide and Coach Shug Jordan's undefeated Auburn Tigers.

Auburn's Pat Sullivan had been named as the 1971 Heisman winner two days earlier, but this would be a day for Alabama running back Johnny Musso. Coach Bryant's 1971 Bama team had been revitalized by his introduction of the wishbone, following sub-par seasons in 1969 and 1970.

But it was primarily the Alabama defense, coached in part by assistant Pat Dye, which carried the day against Auburn in this game, 31-7.

The victory not only decided the SEC title, but made it possible for Alabama to move into the final game of the virtual playoff, facing Nebraska.

Normally, the SEC champion would play in the Sugar Bowl, but agreement by all parties made it possible for Alabama to play in the Orange Bowl game instead. Auburn accepted a bid to play Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

At Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, on Jan. 1, 1972, Oklahoma and Auburn played what might be termed the consolation game of the 1971 virtual playoff. Oklahoma, led by quarterback Jack Mildren and running back Greg Pruitt, won the game 40-22, but it wasn't nearly that close. Oklahoma led at the half 31-0.

SEC fans and Big 8 fans alike suspected they had seen a preview of the Orange Bowl game.

Later on that New Year's Day, in Miami, Nebraska indeed clinched a repeat as national champion, defeating Alabama 38-6. The halftime score was 28-0 Nebraska.

The consensus around college football was that the actual national championship game had been the Nebraska-Oklahoma game in the virtual semifinals. Had there been an actual five-team (or more) playoff in 1971, one would hope that effective seeding would have saved the best game for the finals.

In the virtual playoff of 1971, the three SEC teams had a combined record of 2-3, while the Big 8 teams jointly came in at 3-1. In each match of teams from different conferences, the Big 8 team prevailed.

The final Associated Press poll for the 1971 season reflected the dominance of the Big 8. Not only were Nebraska and Oklahoma ranked first and second, but fellow Big 8 member Colorado was ranked third. Colorado's only two losses were to Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Though the SEC was pretty well pushed around by the Big 8 in 1971, it nevertheless made a significant showing in the final AP poll, with six of its ten teams ranked among the top 15: Alabama at No. 4, Georgia at No. 7, Tennessee at No. 9, LSU at No. 11, Auburn at No. 12, and Ole Miss at No. 15.

The excitement generated by 1971's virtual playoff was great. But it pales in comparison to the intensity that will be generated by actual NCAA playoffs in future years. The 1971 series of games is perceived as a playoff only in retrospect.

The actual playoff of 2071 will be recognized in real time. The Sooner The Better. And The Cornhusker The Better.

Open Mic: Olympics Should Follow MLB, Permit Enhanced Performances

Ebenezer Barnes — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:40:17 -0400

Of course we speculate about the spate of record-breaking performances at the Beijing Olympics. We've become conditioned over the past several years to question openly the possible chemical enhancement of athletic accomplishment, especially in major league baseball and in track and field. Now swimming performances are being doubted as well.

But we should put these concerns to rest. This is simply another of those transitory periods in human affairs, during which the new concepts still have the power to disturb. After all, it was once considered shocking if a woman permitted a public view of a bare ankle. And early scientists were punished for speculating that the sun was at the center of the solar system.

The International Olympic Committee should abandon all its efforts to prevent artificial enhancement of physical ability, and the sooner the better.

There are compelling arguments to support such modification of IOC policy. One has to do with the long history of permitting performances to be enhanced by the use of improved equipment. Why not allow the human equipment to be improved also?

The fiberglass pole has permitted latter-day vaulters to shatter records set with the earlier poles of bamboo and steel. The friction-reducing swimsuit has allowed similar results in aquatic events. And the vaulters, the swimmers, and all the other athletes have benefited from improved nutrition and conditioning

It is appropriate and logical to permit the athletes to take the next step along this path, if they so choose, and use performance-enhancing chemicals. Any physical penalty that might be suffered in later life is a factor to be weighed by the individual, not by the IOC or any other governing body.

A second argument, perhaps even more convincing, is based on the widespread acceptance of performance-enhancing substances in the venues of everyday life, from the coffee shops of the morning to the boudoirs of the evening.

Geronimo chewed peyote. Churchill smoked cigars. Professor Leary relied on LSD. Soccer moms unwind with wine. Sports writers require Viagra. Why should we deny our athletes access to anabolic steroids or human growth hormone?

Cubs & Wrigley Say Godspeed To Sandberg and Caray In 1997

Ebenezer Barnes — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:14:27 -0400

The recent passing of Atlanta play-by-play announcer Skip Caray certainly struck a chord with Cubs followers, though it has been more than a decade now since the death of Skip Caray’s father, Cubs announcer Harry Caray. Skip Caray’s passing revived memories of a true benchmark game for two fans.

The equinox afternoon of Sunday, September 21, 1997, in Chicago was one of Indian summer. Some 30,000 people made their way to Wrigley Field, where on this day the Cubs would play their final home game of the 1997 season, opposed by the visiting Phillies.

Among the Wrigley faithful that afternoon were two who had just happened by, driving homeward from Minnesota to Alabama. They were stunned to find themselves on Row 1, at the screen, just behind the home-plate brick wall.

In addition to closing the Cubs' 1997 home season, this game carried the added significance of ending the long Wrigley Field career of Ryne Sandberg, extraordinary second baseman who played on the 1984 and 1989 division-championship teams. Other than Sandberg, only first baseman Mark Grace remained of the 1989 Cubs. And there would be yet another closure this day, an unscheduled one.

The Cubs were challenged by the Phillies' best pitcher, Curt Schilling, 16-10 on the year. Kevin Tapani took the mound for the Cubs to open the game. Schilling is almost always a firm adherent of one of baseball's long-standing superstitions: a pitcher must not step on the dirt of the base path when walking between mound and dugout.

The September sun was on the third base and left field stands when the game began at 1:20, while the first base and right field stands were mostly in shadow. The score was 1-1 when Schilling walked from the mound to the dugout at the close of the fourth inning. Engaged in conversation with the catcher, Schilling did not realize that he stepped directly onto the basepath.

In the middle of the fifth inning, the exact midpoint of the game, the sun had moved to the southwest and was aligned directly behind home plate. The symmetry of the game was matched by the symmetry of the sunlight falling upon portions of the first base stands and the third base stands. There were mirror image patterns of sunlight and shadow.

Just as pitcher Tapani had faced batter Schilling to close the top half of the fifth, now pitcher Schilling faced batter Tapani to begin the bottom half of the fifth. Schilling walked Tapani on four pitches. Alexander then homered, giving the Cubs a lead which they would not relinquish on this day, and bringing Sandburg to the plate.

A sharp single was Ryne Sandberg's final competitive act at Wrigley Field. Standing at first base as his longtime teammate Mark Grace entered the batter's box, Sandberg acknowledged a standing ovation, one of several which he received on this day.

Sandberg was replaced at first base by a runner, and as he trotted to the third base dugout, the ovation reached its crescendo. All the Cubs left the dugout to greet him as he came off that special green diamond for the final time. But the first to take his hand, halfway between third and home, was the batter at the moment, Mark Grace.

After this emotional event had passed, Grace hit Schilling's first pitch into the right field bleachers for one of his rare home runs. No one present that day at Wrigley would have imagined the key roles those two would play years later in the 2001 World Series, soon after the World Trade Center disaster. In Arizona’s Game Seven victory over the Yankees, Schilling would be the starting pitcher, and Grace’s hit would ignite the winning ninth-inning rally.

But on this day in 1997, after Mark Grace’s home run off Schilling, the Cubs never looked back, eventually winning the game 11-3. As the Cubs pulled away, the interest of the fans gradually drifted from the diamond to the WGN booth, where they knew Harry Caray would lead the crowd for the final time of 1997 in baseball’s doxology, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

He did just that. As the shadows enveloped the third-base stands and the sunlight blanketed the first-base side, he closed the 1997 home season in good voice. Probably no one at Wrigley Field that golden September afternoon suspected that Harry was also closing a long and storied career with his final rendition.

When the 1998 season rolled around, Harry Caray was at his new station, likely still making his double play calls. But rather than “from Dunston to Sandberg to Grace,” they were -

“ - - from Tinker! - - to Evers! - - to Chance! Holy Cow! Cubs win! Cubs win!”