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Jake's Take: What the hell?

With my job, days off are few and far between. However, when I do get them...they're used to their full advantage. I'll usually have yesterday's game on MLB.tv on my computer while I have ESPN on my tv.

Well, I managed to wake up early enough to watch ESPN's First Take(Formerly "Cold Pizza") and the intelligence(or lack thereof) and bandwagon-ism showed me why it's put at such an early timeslot and on ESPN2.

Rob Parker(not sure what he's ever done in sports to deserve a radio show, let alone in New York) said that the Rays winning like they are "is not good for baseball because baseball thrives when teams like New York and Boston are winning."

Classy, Parker, classy.

We all know that baseball fans love arguing about ratings and money, forgetting everything about why we truly watch baseball. Not love of the game or following good stories, but cash and tv ratings.

While I carry alot of venom towards Skip Bayless, I agreed with him saying that it gets tiring to hear "Yankees, Red Sox, Yankees, Red Sox" all the time and the Rays playing fun and fundamental baseball is a good thing.

Why should we listen to a crummy Detroit Sportswriter? Why doesn't ESPN wake up and give Keith Law and some of the other Scouts Inc. guys their own 1 hour show, it'd be fun to watch scouting vids and get real perspective about athletes that sportswriters know nothing about. We all must remember that Bill Plaschke got Paul DePodesta canned in LA, so we know how bad sportswriters talking out loud can be a bad thing.

What does Rob Parker know about Tampa Bay sports? He's a Detroit sportswriter whose New York love ranges on the Buster Olney level. He thinks that the Rays are a small media market, yet he forgets that we have an NFL team(with a championship and some good players), a NHL team(with a championship and some good players, as well) and now our MLB team is starting to show that it's good as well. Think again, Parker, we're a middle-market run by smart people. Rather than overspend on name recognition, we rather depend on cohesiveness and building from within to win. When a 40 MIL payrolled team wins 50 games through 82 games, it shows alot more to baseball fans than 150+ MIL payrolled teams doing the same. Yet chuckleheads like you continue to show biased ideas and use the money issue as a reason why we won't and shouldn't win.

What have New York-based teams shown for themselves in the last decade, again?

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Talk to any fan out there off the Eastern Seaboard

Most are turned off from the playoffs because , “it is always the same teams in the playoffs every year”. The wildcard and the salary cap have been perfect for the NFL as every year is a new adventure. Baseball is halfway there as it is still extremely prohibitive for small market teams to be successful, but the Rays are showing everyone this year how it can effectively be done as the Twins and A’s have done in the past.

by Jason Collette on Jul 1, 2008 1:00 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Pointed out below, but

There were 7 different teams in the MLB playoffs in ‘07 vs ‘06. Of 8 total. And only 1 repeat champion this decade.

But the other sports have true parity? The facts say otherwise. The other sports only seem so because a much higher percentage of their teams (50+% in each) make the playoffs each season.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jul 1, 2008 3:07 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You have it exactly right.

The past 20 years have been the most competitive and balanced in the history of the game. Some of that is due, no doubt, to the wild card, but it is more than that. Few teams have had the kind of horrible streaks of losing as did the Phillies (pretty much through their entire history), Cubs, Pirates, Browns, Red Sox, Senators, Indians, Dodgers, White Sox and Braves. And the recent run of post season appearances of the Yankees & Red Sox is not much different from similar periods when the Yankees and Dodgers appeared every year.

by bobr on Jul 1, 2008 3:57 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And don't forget...

We have a Top 25 college football program as well.

www.citadel-insurance.com

by SeanDubbs on Jul 1, 2008 1:10 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

4 Top 25 Programs

Not here to start a College Football flame war, but New Yorkers could easily point to Rutgers as their own version of USF…but when you consider the other 3 teams and their 9 combined national titles in the last 25 years, it’s not even close.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 1, 2008 1:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I've got no horse in that race

But they seem to be a fair comparison in terms of recent success. As far as program-building, there really isn’t a counterpart to what USF has done over the last 10 years.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 1, 2008 2:14 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

As an alma-mater of USF

I am entitled by college fandom law to say the stupidest, most inane, and most accurate things about my team and my teams opponents that I can possibly imagine. It’s in the fine print of my degree.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:17 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

*inaccurate

My degree says nothing about my ability to speel.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:18 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That was the worst-officiated Big East game of the entire year.

Also, there are no forests in New Jersey.

Seriously tho, Rutgers has had our number the last two years and it eats me alive. We had no business getting outplayed last year like that.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:16 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Neither team is a UCF when it comes to dominance

Kevin Smith 1500 yards this year for the Loins. Mark it!

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 3:05 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Congratulations. Your team is the best JV team.

Here is a reminder of what happens to your team though when they go up against a real team.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:13 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You guys won't even play us anymore cuz you scared.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 3:24 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Give this up

It goes nowhere. Scoreboard ends it everytime. We have our own stadium on campus and much less problems with the local authorities (1 person in 2 years and he was immediately suspensed) – that’s the only thing we have better for now.

by Jason Collette on Jul 1, 2008 3:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Relax

I like the rivalry and really do wish USF would reconsider. I also wish UCF didn’t play in Confrence USA so that if USF did manage to somehow lose a game against UCF (which might happen right before the apocolypse) it wouldn’t be percieved as so disrespectful. Instead, we have to play against Miami (who is a worse team) because they play in a better confrence.

Also, I don’t recall any people passing out from heat strokes en masse the first time the Bulls played in Ray Jay.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:40 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Instead, we have to play against Miami (who is a worse team)

Is that a backhanded compliment?

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 3:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No

It’s just a backhand. :)

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Congratulations!

You’re completely delusional.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 3:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Honestly, I think that UCF is a good team and it’s not fair that the country has this perception that they’re not as good as advertised because of the conference they play in. The Hurricanes really were a bad team last year, and haven’t been good in at least a few. To me it feels USF is running away from UCF solely because a loss to UCF would look worse than a loss to Miami. In reality, losing to Miami would be a bigger indicator that USF is not good. Losing to UCF means that we lost to a good team.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:57 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Losing Moffit and that DB is going to be tough

The defense did most of the lifting for USF, and that area had a couple of big losses. If Grothe is done I don’t see anyone on offense that scares me. With that said bring it on. I will make any kind of foolish wager you have in mind as long as I get 8 Points.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 4:04 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No chance

Especially not with the recruits Miami has coming down the pipe. I fully expect the UF-UM contest in 2009 to be as tough as any on Florida’s schedule that year.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 1, 2008 4:04 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

They are no longer the Florida Gators

It is now the Tim Tebows

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 4:06 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

lol

I like that. My approach to analyzing college football teams relies solely on two things: how they did last year, and who moved on. I take no value in recruiting classes or preseason polls. Pittsburgh is a perfect example of what happens when you take into account these things. Pitt has supposed to have been a good team for the last three years; they’ve started high in preseson polls and have had monstorous recruiting classes. In reality, their teams have been less than average because they simply haven’t fielded good teams.

Miami was awful last year, especially in those last three or four games. Regardless of their recruiting class, until they show me that they’re a good team, that’s how I see ‘em. It’s not the most ‘educated’ opinion, but it’s worked for me so far.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 7:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This is why you shouldn't listen to the national media

They aren’t talking to YOU.

They are talking to people who don’t know anything.

REAL fans like you don’t need to listen to that garbage unless they’re into the commercials.

If you're not having fun, what are you having? There's already WAAAY too many serious moments in life.

by Manny Stiles on Jul 1, 2008 1:19 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Agreeing with Skip Bayless?

That’s impossible. Skip Bayless never, EVER says anything intelligent. The concept of Skip Bayless saying something reasonable is like dividing by zero.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He gets paid a lot of money to make you hate him

That’s his shtick. Kinda like a guy that lets people punch him for money. Or Cher in general.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 3:07 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't hate him.

I do worse. I’m completely indifferent to what he says.

by kericr on Jul 1, 2008 3:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

kudos

He is the epitome of everything that is wrong in the world

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 1, 2008 3:24 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Market size

Guess what kids, Tampa is the 13th largest media market. It seems everyone is talking about how these are the small-market media darlings, but with the money and power in this region (Tampa is always top-5 in political campaign money) the Rays should be an emerging superpower. In a few years, hopefully this club won’t be run like they’re the Twins or A’s, but more like the Yanks, Red Sox, or Angels. Those teams win World Series.

mlmintampa
UF C/O 06

by mlmintampa on Jul 1, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Rob Parker just reflects how ESPN & the media truly feels.

Rob Parker is an idiot. Hey Rob, why doesn’t MLB just contract everyone from baseball except the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, & Cubs? Why should all of the other major league baseball teams, especially the small market teams even bother playing the season if you don’t think it is good for baseball if they are in the World Series? This is what is wrong with Rob Parker & the main stream media, along with ESPN. They romanticise too much with the Yankees & Red Sox! They think it’s bad for baseball if the Yanks & Red Sox are not always in the forfront. The media has created the problem & the media, along with ESPN is the disease. How is baseball ever going to grow if it’s always about the damn Yankees & damn Red Sox? ROb Parker comments were disgraceful & appauling.

by drrub on Jul 1, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And misinformed

It would be one thing if the Yanks were sitting 10 games below .500 or 15 games out of first. But to say that it’s only good for baseball when they are sitting in 1st is ridiculous, as most casual fans watch the Yankees to root AGAINST THEM!

by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 1, 2008 2:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

E!SPN is a joke

They are bad for sports and baseball, not “small/mid market” teams.

by bamachum1123 on Jul 1, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Idiotic comment from Parker

In my teams defense re Jake’s closing comment, I think 10 playoff appearances in the last decade counts for something. But I don’t think it’s bad for baseball when new teams get in – clearly it’s good!

And the same teams aren’t in every year. Last year the Yanks were the only repeater from ‘06. Yes, the BoSux missed just 2 years ago. Maybe it’s our turn to be out, maybe not. 1/2 season to go.

Oddly, among NY fans the perception is ESPN acts like a division of NESN, but I think that’s oversensitivity. I can completely understand the perception in other markets that in baseball NY and Boston are all they seem to care about. But I can’t agree that ESPN is bad for baseball.

And don’t go giving me childish crap – I’ve been respectfully commenting with the folks here longer than most of you have been around.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jul 1, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

When I was a Red Sux fan...

we used to think ESPN was YES extended.

by Sylar on Jul 1, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'm sure many still do

though I’m hard pressed to figure how that’s possible – Bill Simmons alone is enough evidence to the contrary.

Sox fans are in their glory days – justifiably. But it’s hard to be a gracious winner in today’s trash talking sports culture. Remember that as the Rays season progresses – though your history of crap-taking gives you some justification and cover in that area.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jul 1, 2008 3:24 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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