Darth Vader vs Luke Skywalker. At the core of the most popular film franchise in history is the battle between good and evil. Not just in Star Wars but also nearly every single drama ever written. So when it happens in real life, people take notice. I haven't seen the TV ratings yet for the 2010 Masters golf tournament but I'm sure they're astronomical. When you have a player whose wife and mother are both battling cancer trying to beat a guy who cheated on his wife with not one, but many different women, its almost too obvious. Phil Mickelson is a sympathetic figure right now and Tiger Woods is a reviled one. Both had a chance to win golf's most prestigious tournament on Sunday and the Hollywood ending actually happened: Phil beat Tiger, good triumphed over evil.
I know that's a simplistic approach. I know Mickelson has been called a phony before, a guy that most players on the tour don't seem to like. I'm not sure if that's sour grapes but its certainly short on specifics. Tiger Woods gave us too many specifics about his character in the last few months. Instead of a devoted family man he turned out to be a hooker-chasing narcissist. If that's not phony, I don't know what is!
Even before the scandal broke back on Thanksgiving, Tiger was never known as a nice guy. His sense of entitlement was well known. A leaf dare not fall from the tree in the middle of his back swing or Tiger would demand that it be cut down on the spot! This past weekend, his first time playing competitive golf in over five months, he started off smiling and signing autographs. By the end he was back to his old surly self. Dropping clubs, complaining and generally acting like a baby. I think the only way this Tiger will change his spots is if he actually lives the life depicted in another famous drama: "A Christmas Carol." Even if 3 ghosts came to his bedside, I doubt that Woods would or could transform himself into a better person.
One thing that's changed is his golf game. I haven't seen so many one handed swings since Tim Raines was batting for the Expos. He kept dropping his club after a bad swing the way Barry Bonds would after watching one of his homers going over the fence. Maybe its time for Tiger to try baseball.
Phil Mickelson played two incredible rounds of golf on the weekend and deserved to win the Masters. He had two eagles in a row on Saturday (almost three!) and then hit "the shot of his life" out of the woods and within three feet of the 13th hole on Sunday. He didn't need a birdie on the 18th to win it but he delivered on the final putt anyway.
"It's always been about the family for Phil," said a broadcaster after the golfer won his third Masters and immediately embraced his wife Amy in a tearful celebration. They weren't the only ones crying. Like any good tear-jerker, lots of people were misty eyed at the end of this tale.
I couldn't help but think of the bad guy, Tiger Woods. If he'd won the Masters there would have been no one there to hug, no one to share his triumph. That didn't happen because not even the mighty Darth Vader could ruin this Hollywood ending.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
NCAA Messing With March Is Madness!
One of the most popular cliches' says: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
Apparently the gurus who run the NCAA men's basketball tournament have never heard this one. Hoops fans all over the USA recently enjoyed what's being called the greatest tourney in history and now they're hearing it might be expanded from 65 teams to 96! Huh? What sense does that make?
None.
Unless one realizes that CBS has a contract with the NCAA which is about to expire. In case a network like ESPN is interested in making a bid to televise the tournament, how much more would they offer if they had roughly sixteen more games to broadcast? To cite another cliche': "Follow the money."
I don't think this inane idea has anything to do with the desire to help smaller schools
reach the big stage. If so one of the most obvious proposals would guarantee all teams that win their regular season conference title a spot in the big dance. Right now, teams are only guaranteed a shot if they win their conference tournament. So a team like Ohio U who went 7-9 in the MAC but won the MAC tournament made it to the NCAA's but Kent St. who went 13-3 stayed home. Yes, Ohio U scored a big upset over Georgetown in the first round. That doesn't mean Kent St. didn't deserve their chance. I have not heard any of the NCAA honks bring up this issue, perhaps the only problem with the current format.
Actually, Ohio U's big upset is one of the many reasons the NCAA tourney should be left alone.
Here's some of the others. How about Ivy League upstart Cornell knocking off powerhouses Temple and Wisconsin? Or Old Dominion besting Notre Dame? One of the highlights of my spring break trip to Arizona was coming in from the pool and sitting in my hotel room dripping wet because I could not take my eyes off the tremendous upset win by Northern Iowa over #1 seed Kansas. Only exceeded by the Michigan St. vs Maryland 85-83 thriller I listened to on my transistor radio while watching a spring training game between the A's and Reds. Everywhere I went there was a great basketball game going on!
Of course, the story of the 2010 big dance was Butler University and their steady march to the championship game. Three upsets in a row over Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State. Big schools who are used to playing big time teams, not losing to tiny colleges from Indiana. You couldn't have asked for a better story-line heading into the final game against 3-time champion Duke. "David vs Goliath," the media blared and the fans ate it up. Unfortunately "David" came up 2 points short of the upset that would have made history. TV ratings were huge and so was the national interest in NCAA basketball.
And they want to mess with this thing? That's madness!
Apparently the gurus who run the NCAA men's basketball tournament have never heard this one. Hoops fans all over the USA recently enjoyed what's being called the greatest tourney in history and now they're hearing it might be expanded from 65 teams to 96! Huh? What sense does that make?
None.
Unless one realizes that CBS has a contract with the NCAA which is about to expire. In case a network like ESPN is interested in making a bid to televise the tournament, how much more would they offer if they had roughly sixteen more games to broadcast? To cite another cliche': "Follow the money."
I don't think this inane idea has anything to do with the desire to help smaller schools
reach the big stage. If so one of the most obvious proposals would guarantee all teams that win their regular season conference title a spot in the big dance. Right now, teams are only guaranteed a shot if they win their conference tournament. So a team like Ohio U who went 7-9 in the MAC but won the MAC tournament made it to the NCAA's but Kent St. who went 13-3 stayed home. Yes, Ohio U scored a big upset over Georgetown in the first round. That doesn't mean Kent St. didn't deserve their chance. I have not heard any of the NCAA honks bring up this issue, perhaps the only problem with the current format.
Actually, Ohio U's big upset is one of the many reasons the NCAA tourney should be left alone.
Here's some of the others. How about Ivy League upstart Cornell knocking off powerhouses Temple and Wisconsin? Or Old Dominion besting Notre Dame? One of the highlights of my spring break trip to Arizona was coming in from the pool and sitting in my hotel room dripping wet because I could not take my eyes off the tremendous upset win by Northern Iowa over #1 seed Kansas. Only exceeded by the Michigan St. vs Maryland 85-83 thriller I listened to on my transistor radio while watching a spring training game between the A's and Reds. Everywhere I went there was a great basketball game going on!
Of course, the story of the 2010 big dance was Butler University and their steady march to the championship game. Three upsets in a row over Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State. Big schools who are used to playing big time teams, not losing to tiny colleges from Indiana. You couldn't have asked for a better story-line heading into the final game against 3-time champion Duke. "David vs Goliath," the media blared and the fans ate it up. Unfortunately "David" came up 2 points short of the upset that would have made history. TV ratings were huge and so was the national interest in NCAA basketball.
And they want to mess with this thing? That's madness!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
L.A. Doesn't Need The NFL But How About The Pro Bowl?
In 1994 the city of Los Angeles had two NFL teams: the Raiders and the Rams. In 1995 it had none. For fifteen years the NFL has been talking about what to do with the second largest city in the nation. That's all its been, nothing but talk. The latest blowhard is zillionaire Ed Roski, and his proposed $800 million, 75,000-seat NFL stadium as part of a shopping and entertainment complex he'll plant near the 57 and 60 Freeways in Industry, east of downtown Los Angeles. If you've been there you know you don't want to go back there, even for an NFL game. Its just a bad idea, even worse when one realizes it depends on snatching an existing NFL team from another city.
Its not like the league left the city wanting more. When I attended a Raider game in 1994 people were smoking pot in the stands and fighting in the hallways. A woman next to me was cursing like a sailor and I mentioned to her that there were kids around and she said: "You shouldn't bring children to a Raider game." Good advice but a bad way to build up your future fan base. In Anaheim (where the "LA" Rams played) the environment was cleaner, except for the owner Georgia Frontiere doing her best to run the team into the dirt so she could move to St. Louis.
Recently I visited two cities with NFL teams: San Francisco and San Diego. On Sunday afternoons TV viewers (without Direct TV) are allowed to watch their local team in action and one other game. That's only if the home team sells out otherwise that game is BLACKED OUT! Leaving only one game on TV besides the Sunday night match up on NBC. In Los Angeles I can see three games in the daytime without a dish plus the NBC game. The big deal is CBS and FOX usually show the best games of the day. Instead of being forced to watch the 49ers play the Rams or the Chargers play the Chiefs, L.A. gets the Packers vs The Vikings or the Colts vs the Patriots. Its truly football heaven, without having to buy a dish or go to a sports bar.
Yet every few years there are rumblings about the NFL coming back. To the decrepit Memorial Coliseum or the far away Rose Bowl. Both of these historic venues are fine for college football, but not the NFL. Many will say the city doesn't need pro football when the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins can draw 150,000 combined fans on the same Saturday. I think they're right. However, I'm not totally opposed to the NFL coming back to the city of angels.
Why not play the Pro Bowl here? This misguided all star game has been in the news since the NFL decided to put it BEFORE the Super Bowl instead of afterwards. (I like that idea because the Sunday before the Super Bowl is SO BORING!) They also moved it from Hawaii where ticket sales have faltered in recent years. Its a meaningless game but would be a nice gesture from the league if they are really serious about maintaining ties to L.A. Dress up the Coliseum or Rose Bowl and see what happens.
Speaking of meaningless games, how about an annual pre-season clash between the Rams and Raiders? Just like distant relatives, it would be fun to have them visit. I just don't want them to stick around.
Its not like the league left the city wanting more. When I attended a Raider game in 1994 people were smoking pot in the stands and fighting in the hallways. A woman next to me was cursing like a sailor and I mentioned to her that there were kids around and she said: "You shouldn't bring children to a Raider game." Good advice but a bad way to build up your future fan base. In Anaheim (where the "LA" Rams played) the environment was cleaner, except for the owner Georgia Frontiere doing her best to run the team into the dirt so she could move to St. Louis.
Recently I visited two cities with NFL teams: San Francisco and San Diego. On Sunday afternoons TV viewers (without Direct TV) are allowed to watch their local team in action and one other game. That's only if the home team sells out otherwise that game is BLACKED OUT! Leaving only one game on TV besides the Sunday night match up on NBC. In Los Angeles I can see three games in the daytime without a dish plus the NBC game. The big deal is CBS and FOX usually show the best games of the day. Instead of being forced to watch the 49ers play the Rams or the Chargers play the Chiefs, L.A. gets the Packers vs The Vikings or the Colts vs the Patriots. Its truly football heaven, without having to buy a dish or go to a sports bar.
Yet every few years there are rumblings about the NFL coming back. To the decrepit Memorial Coliseum or the far away Rose Bowl. Both of these historic venues are fine for college football, but not the NFL. Many will say the city doesn't need pro football when the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins can draw 150,000 combined fans on the same Saturday. I think they're right. However, I'm not totally opposed to the NFL coming back to the city of angels.
Why not play the Pro Bowl here? This misguided all star game has been in the news since the NFL decided to put it BEFORE the Super Bowl instead of afterwards. (I like that idea because the Sunday before the Super Bowl is SO BORING!) They also moved it from Hawaii where ticket sales have faltered in recent years. Its a meaningless game but would be a nice gesture from the league if they are really serious about maintaining ties to L.A. Dress up the Coliseum or Rose Bowl and see what happens.
Speaking of meaningless games, how about an annual pre-season clash between the Rams and Raiders? Just like distant relatives, it would be fun to have them visit. I just don't want them to stick around.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Lakers Return To The (Really) Fabulous Forum
All of us weekly poker playing guys went to see The Dodgers beat the Cards on Wednesday so the Friday night session was called off to keep their wives happy. On the spur of the moment I decided to go see the Lakers play a preseason game at the Forum, their first visit to their old home since 1999. Current home for the purple and gold is the Staples Center, the most soulless arena in the USA. The Forum may not have soul but its down-right funky and doesn't have luxury boxes that take up half of the best seats.
In the past years I've seen some terrific shows at the Forum: The Rolling Stones, Coldplay and Madonna to name a few. I would not have seen them if they'd played at Staples where the upper level is in another zip code and the bottom level is in another tax code. The Inglewood Forum is as old as the Roman Forum...in SoCal years. Any building in the Los Angeles area that's over 20 years-old is considered ancient. Fortunately for me there are two places I love that have been around twice that long. The other one is Dodger Stadium. Its a great week when I can go to both.
The Forum is also the closest arena to where I live. After a couple beers at happy hour I knew I didn't want to drive to the game so I figured I'd do something shocking: TAKE THE BUS! Usually rapid transit in L.A. is a pain in the butt. This is the city that finally built a rail system...that doesn't go to the airport, Coliseum or the two major universities! Yet the number 115 bus goes straight from the beach to the Forum and costs only $1.25. Armed with a radio and a crossword puzzle I was ready to go.
At 5:40pm at the end of a long Friday the bus was clean enough. Heading inland it began to fill-up with people of all colors and languages. Some of them-like the German guy hitting on a cute Latina-were airline workers from around the world. If you've ever been to the Forum you know LAX is nearby because the jets fly right over the arena. I listened to the exciting Twins vs Yankees playoff game on my faithful transistor and watched as the neighborhoods were taken over by gun shops, liquor stores and taquerias. It didn't look dangerous but I didn't feel the urge to get off and roam around. There was no point in trying to talk with any of my fellow riders. They were all on their cell phones!
It took just over a half-hour to get to the Forum and when we arrived I was happy I'd taken the bus. That's because parking cost $22! Nearly as much as my ticket! Inside a beer cost $10 but I did get a nice commemorative t-shirt for the relative steal of sixteen bucks. I like my souvenirs to have a date on them and this one did. Makes it one of a kind.
The game itself was memorable for the amount of fouls called by the replacement referees. Stephen Jackson of the Warriors had five in the first quarter! The NBA better get the on-strike regular refs back by October 27th opening night. Monta Ellis poured in a game-best 24 points and doled out eight assists to lead the Warriors past the Lakers, 110-91.
The Lakers had 19 points from Andrew Bynum and 15 points from Kobe Bryant, who played at the Forum back in 1999.
Jack Nicholson did not show up for this one.
When I was a kid the Forum seemed like the biggest building in the world. Compared to the Staples Center it now seems like the neighborhood playhouse. Check out the view from the cheap seats. You're right on top of the action when you're in the lower Colonnade. Last time I was there they still had the Laker championship banners on the wall and the giant scoreboard loomed overhead.
They're all gone. Thankfully, the Forum remains. I'm just wondering for how long.
In the past years I've seen some terrific shows at the Forum: The Rolling Stones, Coldplay and Madonna to name a few. I would not have seen them if they'd played at Staples where the upper level is in another zip code and the bottom level is in another tax code. The Inglewood Forum is as old as the Roman Forum...in SoCal years. Any building in the Los Angeles area that's over 20 years-old is considered ancient. Fortunately for me there are two places I love that have been around twice that long. The other one is Dodger Stadium. Its a great week when I can go to both.
The Forum is also the closest arena to where I live. After a couple beers at happy hour I knew I didn't want to drive to the game so I figured I'd do something shocking: TAKE THE BUS! Usually rapid transit in L.A. is a pain in the butt. This is the city that finally built a rail system...that doesn't go to the airport, Coliseum or the two major universities! Yet the number 115 bus goes straight from the beach to the Forum and costs only $1.25. Armed with a radio and a crossword puzzle I was ready to go.
At 5:40pm at the end of a long Friday the bus was clean enough. Heading inland it began to fill-up with people of all colors and languages. Some of them-like the German guy hitting on a cute Latina-were airline workers from around the world. If you've ever been to the Forum you know LAX is nearby because the jets fly right over the arena. I listened to the exciting Twins vs Yankees playoff game on my faithful transistor and watched as the neighborhoods were taken over by gun shops, liquor stores and taquerias. It didn't look dangerous but I didn't feel the urge to get off and roam around. There was no point in trying to talk with any of my fellow riders. They were all on their cell phones!
It took just over a half-hour to get to the Forum and when we arrived I was happy I'd taken the bus. That's because parking cost $22! Nearly as much as my ticket! Inside a beer cost $10 but I did get a nice commemorative t-shirt for the relative steal of sixteen bucks. I like my souvenirs to have a date on them and this one did. Makes it one of a kind.
The game itself was memorable for the amount of fouls called by the replacement referees. Stephen Jackson of the Warriors had five in the first quarter! The NBA better get the on-strike regular refs back by October 27th opening night. Monta Ellis poured in a game-best 24 points and doled out eight assists to lead the Warriors past the Lakers, 110-91.
The Lakers had 19 points from Andrew Bynum and 15 points from Kobe Bryant, who played at the Forum back in 1999.
Jack Nicholson did not show up for this one.
When I was a kid the Forum seemed like the biggest building in the world. Compared to the Staples Center it now seems like the neighborhood playhouse. Check out the view from the cheap seats. You're right on top of the action when you're in the lower Colonnade. Last time I was there they still had the Laker championship banners on the wall and the giant scoreboard loomed overhead.
They're all gone. Thankfully, the Forum remains. I'm just wondering for how long.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Say It Ain't So, Brett!
Every year a number of men decide to sacrifice their reputations and their careers because they can't control their twisted desires. Senator John Ensign, Governor Mark Sanford and Coach Rick Pitino have admitted to sexual dalliances outside their marriages, and just like that, they've ruined their reputations and the lives of their families. So what does this have to do with Brett Favre? The guy is a devoted family man who supported his wife Deanna during her bout with breast cancer. He leads a simple life living in Mississippi while raising two kids.
Yet Favre is having a love affair...with HIMSELF! Brett Favre the person has fallen in love with Brett Favre the football player, and he's not going to end that affair, no matter the cost.
Or as Sports Illustrated columnist Jon Heyman said on AMRadio 570:
"Brett Favre is the biggest liar in professional sports, next to Nick Saban."
Let me add that he's one of the most indecisive human beings on the planet, willing to destroy a loyal fan base while holding his teams hostage to his whims. Those are strange words for me to write: "his teams." Except for a brief stint with Atlanta, Favre has always been about one team: The Green Bay Packers. Now its not about any team, its about HIMSELF.
In 1992 I was fortunate to get the assignment of covering the Packers for a small radio station in Wisconsin. Despite the arrival of a new coach (Mike Holmgren) and a new GM (Ron Wolf) the team started out 0-2. It looked like another loss was on the way when QB Don Majkowski went down with an injury and newcomer Favre was brought in to face Boomer Esiason and the Bengals. Favre tossed two TDs including a 35 yarder to Kitrick Taylor with 16 seconds left. The Packers won 24-23 and just like that, a golden era of Packer football was born. Now that era is dead and so is Favre's legacy with the team.
After the game I asked Favre what it felt like to be thrust into the game on a moment's notice.
"I was shaking. I felt like I'd taken a laxative. Thank god I held it until afterward."
The down-to-earth, everyman quality reflected in those remarks was another reason the state of Wisconsin adored the man who would win three MVP awards and a Super Bowl. I think every football fan admired his toughness. In November of 1992 Favre went down with a shoulder injury against Philadelphia. He stayed in the game to lead his team to a 27-24 victory. Afterwards he couldn't tie his shoes or drive his car. Yet he played the next week and every week after that in a streak that is now 291 consecutive starts since that fateful victory over the Bengals.
After 1992 I began a streak of my own and made sure I saw at least one Packer game a year for the next 10 seasons, a tough thing to do after I moved back to California. That was the kind of devotion Favre inspired and that's why his recent decisions have brought so much pain to the Packer faithful. Favre's relationship with the team began to deteriorate after the 2005 season, his worst in the NFL. He waited until April 2006 before confirming that he would return for another year. Keep in mind its hard for a team to plan for the annual draft when they don't know if their top player is coming back. In March 2008 he tearfully announced his retirement before going back on his word and forcing a trade to the New York Jets. That's when his indecisiveness became their problem. The Jets traded QB Chad Pennington and he led Miami to the playoffs while Favre and the Jets sat home and watched.
This year Favre has actually announced his retirement TWICE! In February to the Jets and in July to the Vikings, one of the Packers fiercest rivals. Yet there he is, practicing with Minnesota and getting ready to play Green Bay twice in the upcoming season. I know one thing. Those games will be the highest rated TV games of the regular season and I don't know if I can bring myself to watch.
Why are you doing this, Brett? To get revenge on Packer GM Ted Thompson for not taking you back? To make an easy $12 million without going through training camp? To keep your glorious games-played streak alive? I think you're doing it for LOVE. Not of the game, not for the glory but for the love of yourself. And that's not a good enough reason!
Yet Favre is having a love affair...with HIMSELF! Brett Favre the person has fallen in love with Brett Favre the football player, and he's not going to end that affair, no matter the cost.
Or as Sports Illustrated columnist Jon Heyman said on AMRadio 570:
"Brett Favre is the biggest liar in professional sports, next to Nick Saban."
Let me add that he's one of the most indecisive human beings on the planet, willing to destroy a loyal fan base while holding his teams hostage to his whims. Those are strange words for me to write: "his teams." Except for a brief stint with Atlanta, Favre has always been about one team: The Green Bay Packers. Now its not about any team, its about HIMSELF.
In 1992 I was fortunate to get the assignment of covering the Packers for a small radio station in Wisconsin. Despite the arrival of a new coach (Mike Holmgren) and a new GM (Ron Wolf) the team started out 0-2. It looked like another loss was on the way when QB Don Majkowski went down with an injury and newcomer Favre was brought in to face Boomer Esiason and the Bengals. Favre tossed two TDs including a 35 yarder to Kitrick Taylor with 16 seconds left. The Packers won 24-23 and just like that, a golden era of Packer football was born. Now that era is dead and so is Favre's legacy with the team.
After the game I asked Favre what it felt like to be thrust into the game on a moment's notice.
"I was shaking. I felt like I'd taken a laxative. Thank god I held it until afterward."
The down-to-earth, everyman quality reflected in those remarks was another reason the state of Wisconsin adored the man who would win three MVP awards and a Super Bowl. I think every football fan admired his toughness. In November of 1992 Favre went down with a shoulder injury against Philadelphia. He stayed in the game to lead his team to a 27-24 victory. Afterwards he couldn't tie his shoes or drive his car. Yet he played the next week and every week after that in a streak that is now 291 consecutive starts since that fateful victory over the Bengals.
After 1992 I began a streak of my own and made sure I saw at least one Packer game a year for the next 10 seasons, a tough thing to do after I moved back to California. That was the kind of devotion Favre inspired and that's why his recent decisions have brought so much pain to the Packer faithful. Favre's relationship with the team began to deteriorate after the 2005 season, his worst in the NFL. He waited until April 2006 before confirming that he would return for another year. Keep in mind its hard for a team to plan for the annual draft when they don't know if their top player is coming back. In March 2008 he tearfully announced his retirement before going back on his word and forcing a trade to the New York Jets. That's when his indecisiveness became their problem. The Jets traded QB Chad Pennington and he led Miami to the playoffs while Favre and the Jets sat home and watched.
This year Favre has actually announced his retirement TWICE! In February to the Jets and in July to the Vikings, one of the Packers fiercest rivals. Yet there he is, practicing with Minnesota and getting ready to play Green Bay twice in the upcoming season. I know one thing. Those games will be the highest rated TV games of the regular season and I don't know if I can bring myself to watch.
Why are you doing this, Brett? To get revenge on Packer GM Ted Thompson for not taking you back? To make an easy $12 million without going through training camp? To keep your glorious games-played streak alive? I think you're doing it for LOVE. Not of the game, not for the glory but for the love of yourself. And that's not a good enough reason!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Beckham's Star Shines
In the end, it came down to two of the biggest football stars on the planet: Beckham and Ronaldinho. That's why I drove south on the 110 freeway on a sultry Sunday in Los Angeles. To see some stars. My first major soccer game (AC Milan vs the LA Galaxy July 19 in a friendly) turned out the largest crowd ever at the Home Depot Center, and I think everyone had a good time. Because we knew the stars.
The problem with the Los Angeles Galaxy-a Major League Soccer team just twenty miles south of where I live-is that American football is regarded as a minor league by the rest of the world. If you wake up early on Sunday mornings to watch the English Premier League on TV its easy to see they are superior (and faster) in their brand of soccer. So is the Italian league (Serie A) and La Liga in Spain. Yet Major League Soccer survives in the USA. In Seattle, the team owned by comedian Drew Carey sells out nearly every game! And they have no international stars.
To rectify this situation, The Galaxy paid millions for the David Beckham BRAND, but never ended up with Beckham the player. The PLAYER showed up on Sunday, and after a sluggish start seemed to be involved in nearly every play of consequence. His cross pass led to the Galaxy's first goal and he was a presence in their second. At the start of the game he was booed by a majority of the crowd every time he touched the ball. You see, Beckham went off to play for AC Milan last season and he wanted to stay. Who could blame him? Serie A action is so much better. At the end of the game people were chanting his name.
The Galaxy, led by their USA national captain Landon Donovan, came to play. After Milan scored their first goal on a fluke play, Beckham dribbled the ball from one end of the pitch to the other to set up a goal for Alan Gordon. In the second half he played a big part in the Galaxy's second goal by Bryan Jordan. Meanwhile Ronaldinho was in the mix for both of Milan's goals. With his cornrows he reminded me of a soccer playing Manny Ramirez, but unlike that reticent Dodger, Ronaldinho hung around to sign autographs after the game. And he played the whole match!
This was a festive occasion on a hot summer night. Drums pounding, horns blaring, and fans singing. The economy can't be that bad. It was $20 to park and a beer cost $9. Most expensive venue I have ever seen! But it was worth it because the stars came out on a hot summer night and I loved every minute of it.
The problem with the Los Angeles Galaxy-a Major League Soccer team just twenty miles south of where I live-is that American football is regarded as a minor league by the rest of the world. If you wake up early on Sunday mornings to watch the English Premier League on TV its easy to see they are superior (and faster) in their brand of soccer. So is the Italian league (Serie A) and La Liga in Spain. Yet Major League Soccer survives in the USA. In Seattle, the team owned by comedian Drew Carey sells out nearly every game! And they have no international stars.
To rectify this situation, The Galaxy paid millions for the David Beckham BRAND, but never ended up with Beckham the player. The PLAYER showed up on Sunday, and after a sluggish start seemed to be involved in nearly every play of consequence. His cross pass led to the Galaxy's first goal and he was a presence in their second. At the start of the game he was booed by a majority of the crowd every time he touched the ball. You see, Beckham went off to play for AC Milan last season and he wanted to stay. Who could blame him? Serie A action is so much better. At the end of the game people were chanting his name.
The Galaxy, led by their USA national captain Landon Donovan, came to play. After Milan scored their first goal on a fluke play, Beckham dribbled the ball from one end of the pitch to the other to set up a goal for Alan Gordon. In the second half he played a big part in the Galaxy's second goal by Bryan Jordan. Meanwhile Ronaldinho was in the mix for both of Milan's goals. With his cornrows he reminded me of a soccer playing Manny Ramirez, but unlike that reticent Dodger, Ronaldinho hung around to sign autographs after the game. And he played the whole match!
This was a festive occasion on a hot summer night. Drums pounding, horns blaring, and fans singing. The economy can't be that bad. It was $20 to park and a beer cost $9. Most expensive venue I have ever seen! But it was worth it because the stars came out on a hot summer night and I loved every minute of it.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Lakers and Dodgers Success Leaves This Fan Cold
June in Los Angeles and two of the hometown teams are at the top of their game. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball and the Lakers are in the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. So why is my mood as dark as the fog that lingers outside my window? Why am I am not giddy with the anticipation of a another championship for a city that hasn't won one since 2002? Is it because I no longer feel a part of the teams I grew up with? I think that's the answer. Now I have to find out why.
When the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to the cavernous Staples Center in 1999, they alienated a large portion of their fan base in the process. The Forum had no luxury boxes, nothing to divide the upper class from the middle, and plenty of affordable seats for the average fan. The Staples Center has not one, but THREE levels of luxury suites. Below them are seats that only the wealthy can afford, and above them are seats not worth sitting in at any price. They are so far away from the action-be it a game or a concert-that I wouldn't sit there even if I had a free ticket! That's exactly what happened on October 17, 1999 when I saw Bruce Springsteen perform at the grand opening of the Staples Center. I was given a ticket in the upper level and after the first song I snuck down to the floor level. It was either that or go home. I know its a cliche but one really needs a telescope and an oxygen mask when sitting in the third level at Staples Center.
Bruce Springsteen apparently feels the same way about the place. On opening night he implored the people to come out of their luxury boxes and join the party. He later called the building a "barn" which is an understatement. A real barn has more atmosphere than the sterile Staples Center. Maybe that's why Springsteen has never returned, preferring the modest Sports Arena when he comes to town. Staples reminds me of ancient Rome. If you have a ticket in the upper stratosphere you have to take an escalator which passes the luxury boxes. You can see fancy buffets with carved beef and turkey, and sumptuous dessert carts being wheeled to the wealthy. But you can only watch, since the escalator doesn't even stop at that level! Talk about separating the rich from the poor.
I have another problem with the Lakers. For as long as I can remember their games have been broadcast on AM570, a powerful station and home to the late, great Chick Hearn among others. This past December the Lakers announced they are moving their games to AM710, the local ESPN affiliate. Just like the switch to the Staples Center, this one is all about the money. Forget about the wall-to-wall coverage of the team currently heard on AM570, forget about the decades of tradition. Next season the team will be competing with USC football on a station that also carries national broadcasts. Jeanie Buss-daughter of Lakers owner Jerry-had no problem in throwing AM570 under the bus even though she used to be a regular on their Laker shows. Of course this is coming from a woman who actually believes her dog has conversations with animal psychics.
As for the Dodgers, they have always been my #1 team since I went to my first game at Chavez Ravine in 1966. Since then I have been to countless sporting events all over the country. There's one thing that separates Dodger Stadium from all the others: NO TAILGATING ! For many years the security turned a blind eye to those enjoying a discreet beer in the parking lot. Now they are writing tickets and telling people to leave their cars the minute they pull into a parking space. Like I said I have been to hundreds of concerts and games and NEVER have I been told that I could not sit in my car for as long as I wanted. Hell, for $15, I should be allowed to sleep there!
This is all because of Frank McCourt, the former parking-lot proprietor from Boston who bought The Dodgers in 2004. Since then he has done everything possible to alienate the average fan. Besides raising prices on everything from tickets to parking to concessions, he's also done his best to separate the wealthy from everyone else. The Field Level has been remodeled with new bathrooms and fancy wine bars. Same with the second tier and the dreaded luxury boxes. Above them is the reserved level where nothing has changed since McCourt bought the club. Of course, those sitting in the reserved level are not allowed below.
Outside the ballpark his obsession with parking involves "funneling" many lanes of cars into one or two, so his goons can exercise as much control over the fans as possible. Last month I saw the "Parking Nazis" issuing some sort of tickets to a couple guys drinking beer in plastic cups. Which made me wonder how come a team with the reputation of the Oakland Raiders can allow full-blown tailgating while the Dodgers are busting people for a single brewski? Either the Dodgers have the most violent fans in sports or Frank McCourt is a control freak who has taken the fun out of going to a game. I believe its the latter.
If the Lakers and Dodgers go all the way, I hope the rich people stick around for the celebrations. After all, that's who the teams are really playing for this season.
When the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to the cavernous Staples Center in 1999, they alienated a large portion of their fan base in the process. The Forum had no luxury boxes, nothing to divide the upper class from the middle, and plenty of affordable seats for the average fan. The Staples Center has not one, but THREE levels of luxury suites. Below them are seats that only the wealthy can afford, and above them are seats not worth sitting in at any price. They are so far away from the action-be it a game or a concert-that I wouldn't sit there even if I had a free ticket! That's exactly what happened on October 17, 1999 when I saw Bruce Springsteen perform at the grand opening of the Staples Center. I was given a ticket in the upper level and after the first song I snuck down to the floor level. It was either that or go home. I know its a cliche but one really needs a telescope and an oxygen mask when sitting in the third level at Staples Center.
Bruce Springsteen apparently feels the same way about the place. On opening night he implored the people to come out of their luxury boxes and join the party. He later called the building a "barn" which is an understatement. A real barn has more atmosphere than the sterile Staples Center. Maybe that's why Springsteen has never returned, preferring the modest Sports Arena when he comes to town. Staples reminds me of ancient Rome. If you have a ticket in the upper stratosphere you have to take an escalator which passes the luxury boxes. You can see fancy buffets with carved beef and turkey, and sumptuous dessert carts being wheeled to the wealthy. But you can only watch, since the escalator doesn't even stop at that level! Talk about separating the rich from the poor.
I have another problem with the Lakers. For as long as I can remember their games have been broadcast on AM570, a powerful station and home to the late, great Chick Hearn among others. This past December the Lakers announced they are moving their games to AM710, the local ESPN affiliate. Just like the switch to the Staples Center, this one is all about the money. Forget about the wall-to-wall coverage of the team currently heard on AM570, forget about the decades of tradition. Next season the team will be competing with USC football on a station that also carries national broadcasts. Jeanie Buss-daughter of Lakers owner Jerry-had no problem in throwing AM570 under the bus even though she used to be a regular on their Laker shows. Of course this is coming from a woman who actually believes her dog has conversations with animal psychics.
As for the Dodgers, they have always been my #1 team since I went to my first game at Chavez Ravine in 1966. Since then I have been to countless sporting events all over the country. There's one thing that separates Dodger Stadium from all the others: NO TAILGATING ! For many years the security turned a blind eye to those enjoying a discreet beer in the parking lot. Now they are writing tickets and telling people to leave their cars the minute they pull into a parking space. Like I said I have been to hundreds of concerts and games and NEVER have I been told that I could not sit in my car for as long as I wanted. Hell, for $15, I should be allowed to sleep there!
This is all because of Frank McCourt, the former parking-lot proprietor from Boston who bought The Dodgers in 2004. Since then he has done everything possible to alienate the average fan. Besides raising prices on everything from tickets to parking to concessions, he's also done his best to separate the wealthy from everyone else. The Field Level has been remodeled with new bathrooms and fancy wine bars. Same with the second tier and the dreaded luxury boxes. Above them is the reserved level where nothing has changed since McCourt bought the club. Of course, those sitting in the reserved level are not allowed below.
Outside the ballpark his obsession with parking involves "funneling" many lanes of cars into one or two, so his goons can exercise as much control over the fans as possible. Last month I saw the "Parking Nazis" issuing some sort of tickets to a couple guys drinking beer in plastic cups. Which made me wonder how come a team with the reputation of the Oakland Raiders can allow full-blown tailgating while the Dodgers are busting people for a single brewski? Either the Dodgers have the most violent fans in sports or Frank McCourt is a control freak who has taken the fun out of going to a game. I believe its the latter.
If the Lakers and Dodgers go all the way, I hope the rich people stick around for the celebrations. After all, that's who the teams are really playing for this season.
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