TWO TITLES GAMES DOWN - 5 TO GO, NFL INJURY REPORT & AN OLD FRIEND IS KICKED TO THE CURB
A pair of conference championship games were played tonight, one decided on the games' final play, the other a controlled blowout. Northern Illinois clawed their way back from a 20-0 deficit to defeat the Ohio Bobcats 23-20 to win the MAC Championship. The Huskies scored the tying touchdown with less than 3-minutes left in the game. A missed extra point left Northern Illinois tied. In the end it was a 33-yard field goal with no time left by Mathew Sims, who had missed that PAT earlier in the 4th quarter. His game winner was barely in, but it was good.
Oregon had a controlled blowout of the UCLA Bruins to win the first ever PAC-12 Championship game 49-31. The Ducks, ranked 9th in the BCS poll, outgained the Bruins by nearly 250-yards plus UCLA committed 4 turnovers. The game wasn't particularly exciting, just sort of methodic as the Ducks scored & scored & scored. The win gives them a berth in the Rose Bowl against the winner of the BIG TEN Championship game tonight. I'd like to see an Oregon-Wisconsin matchup & IMO that's what we'll have come January 2nd.
It appears Arizona State wants no part of a bidding war for the services of Houston coach Kevin Sumlin. Once Texas A&M told Mike Sherman he wouldn't be back, the Aggies were in the market for a new coach & they have very deep pockets. No word on where the Sun Devils will turn to replace Dennis Erickson. Boise State coach Chris Peterson told UCLA "Thanks but no thanks." The rumor mill in Southern California suggests Peterson was offered nearly $4 million per season to lead the Bruins. I'm not buying that story. I believe he was offered a contract, but $4 million? Seems unlikely, especially considering the state's budget shortfalls. The football facilities have needed upgrading for nearly 10-years without anything being accomplished. UCLA is the ugly step-sister in L.A. to USC. It's very tough to recruit especially when your facilities are so behind-the-times.
I think Peterson will make a move within three years, but it won't be to UCLA, now or ever. Ex-kansas coach Turner Gill is rumored to be UAB's number one choice to fill their coaching vacancy. That would be a helluva quick turnaround for a coach who was just fired less than a week ago. I like Gill, but I think he took the Kansas job without being ready for just how badly their program had deteriorated & how little the athletic department cared. UAB certainly isn't a plum job, but football is important in the State of Alabama & he could fare much better coaching the Blazers.
Adrian Peterson has been ruled out of the Vikings game Sunday with Denver. Dallas will be without WR Miles Austin as well. Both WR Julio Jones & RB Michael Turner will be game-time decisions for the Falcons. Ray Lewis will sit again this Sunday for the Ravens. Denver's rookie sensation OLB Von Miller is questionable after thumb surgery as is WR Eddie Royal, currently sidelined by turf toe. Sam Bradford had a bit of a relapse on his sprained ankle & DE Chris Long might not play. Two starting linebackers for Green Bay are out, Desmond Bishop & A.J. Hawk plus LT Chad Clifton will not play against the Giants. A whole slew of speed guys for the Raiders are officially out for their game in Miami. WR Jacoby Ford, RB Darren McFadden, RB Taiwan Jones & WR Danarius Moore are out. MLB Rolando McClain remains in an Alabama jail, but his sprained ankle would've kept him out anyway. New England will be without starting right tackle Sebastian Volmer as well as ILB Brandon Spikes.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll wants the league to discipline Philadelphia DE Trent Cole for putting his starting left tackle out for the remainder of the season. Russell Okung suffered a torn pectoral muscle when Cole hooked his arm & hip-tossed Okung in the last two minutes of last night's 31-14 Seattle win. Carroll thinks it was a cheap shot & as the play happened, I wondered what hell Cole was doing. The outcome was decided, Okung had a perfectly legal block on Cole when he decided to get dirty. I expect the league will fine/suspend Cole this coming week.
Minnesota quarterback Donovan McNabb was released on Thursday & wasn't claimed on waivers by 4PM this afternoon, becoming a free agent. That he wasn't claimed didn't shock me, but I expect him to be on another roster by next Wednesday.
I know this is a football site, but I'm calling an audible tonight because I'm so damn mad I had to vent somewhere & since I've already written an angry email to the team, no way I'll get to sleep without a little more. The Kansas City Royals, thru FOXSports Kansas City, canned Frank White from their television broadcast team. White entered the booth to team with Ryan Lefebvre when Paul Splittorff became ill. He stayed there for three full seasons & they were sensational together. But this is more than a broadcaster being fired. White was born in Mississippi, but raised in Kansas City, attended Lincoln High School in the shadow of old Municipal Stadium & even worked construction on Kaufman Stadium while it was being built in the early 70's. Frank attended the Royals Academy, a combination of baseball & college that was located in Florida. He was their first grad & was called up to the majors in 1974 where he played 18-seasons for the Royals. He is considered to be one of the very best, if not the all-time best, fielding second basemen in history. White won eight Gold Glove awards(Frank would loan one of the trophies to me to attract attention to my table at sports collectors shows). He was selected to play on 5 All-Star teams, was the 1980 ALCS MVP & had his #20 retired by the Royals. White was a base coach, instructed infielders, even managed at AA Witchita for 3 seasons. When the big club was looking for a new manager, they never even gave White the courtesy of an interview. The front office never asked his opinion on anything. But they employed him to be a goodwill ambassador for the team, yet another job White excelled at, nobody didn't like Frank White.
I first met Frank in 1979, the Royals had lost three straight playoff series to the N.Y. Yankees & he was looking for a new bed to relieve the pain in his lower legs. Pain that came from playing on artificial turf. He walked into our store & very quickly, we became friends. In no time I knew his entire family, was invited into their home & shared a beer or two with this Kansas City icon. Frank was befriended by the great Satchel Paige who asked him to help raise money for some inner-city ball fields for kids. Frank, the late Gary Simmons & myself decided a photo of him with his Gold Glove trophies could be sold on a limited basis & all the proceeds going to the Satchel Paige Park fund. I took the pictures in Frank's home, Gary did the developing & printing, then Frank signed everyone of the 300 photos, personalized to each recipient. The pictures were gone in a matter of a few days & I gave the negatives to Frank to destroy. Frank then matched what we collected for the pictures & donated over $15,000 to the fund. This was a lot of money back in 1983 folks. Ball players didn't make the mega-million dollar deals back then. But Frank knew he had to help kids from the inner city just like him & he did it over & over. Frank never said no when asked to promote the Negro League Hall of Fame in Kansas City.
HOF pitcher Satchel Paige
In 1983 he asked me if Linda & I wanted his tickets to the 50th Anniversary of the very first All-Star game in Chicago, his family wasn't going. That was our one & only All-Star game, but we had a blast as the American League broke a 12-game losing streak to the National League, pounding them 13-2 as I recall.
When I moved to Las Vegas & got into the casino business, Frank & his first wife Gladys came out a couple of times & seeing his infectious smile as he got off the plane made me feel pretty damn special. You see when you were with Frank, it was all about you, not Frank. He was as humble as you could possibly imagine. A few years later I was in Kansas City after my grandmother passed away. Frank found out from Gary I was in town & he invited me to go to the ballpark & out for a few beers afterward. Typical Frank.
He could've gone elsewhere & played for more money, but chose to stay in his hometown, play for his hometown team & help them win 7 Western Division Championships, two ALCS & a World Series. His number was retired the day he entered the Royals Hall of Fame. A life-size bronze statue of White stands outside Kaufman Stadium. Honestly, if Bill Mazeroski can be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Frank White should be in there as well.
Frank at the dedication of his statue
After everything Frank meant to this franchise, this city, all the accolades, all the P.R. he did for the team, the charitable work he so unselfishly participated in, all the while keeping himself out of the limelight, this is his final reward from the Royals. Unceremoniously kicked to the curb.
I'm pissed off & I think my dislike for baseball has returned in a big way. The Royals have the best young team in the major leagues according to Baseball America, USA Today & a slew of baseball pundits. Just when they were on the brink of returning to greatness, the brilliant minds that control the franchise step all in it Friday & I wonder how many former Royals' fans feel the same way I do. We'll see come April, I know I've spent my last cent on anything Royals-related. The way they treated my old friend, they can kiss my ass.
Me & Frank at a 1982 baseball card show promoted by the late Gary Simmons & myself I rode heard on the autograph seekers while Frank posed & signed all afternoon.
Oregon had a controlled blowout of the UCLA Bruins to win the first ever PAC-12 Championship game 49-31. The Ducks, ranked 9th in the BCS poll, outgained the Bruins by nearly 250-yards plus UCLA committed 4 turnovers. The game wasn't particularly exciting, just sort of methodic as the Ducks scored & scored & scored. The win gives them a berth in the Rose Bowl against the winner of the BIG TEN Championship game tonight. I'd like to see an Oregon-Wisconsin matchup & IMO that's what we'll have come January 2nd.
It appears Arizona State wants no part of a bidding war for the services of Houston coach Kevin Sumlin. Once Texas A&M told Mike Sherman he wouldn't be back, the Aggies were in the market for a new coach & they have very deep pockets. No word on where the Sun Devils will turn to replace Dennis Erickson. Boise State coach Chris Peterson told UCLA "Thanks but no thanks." The rumor mill in Southern California suggests Peterson was offered nearly $4 million per season to lead the Bruins. I'm not buying that story. I believe he was offered a contract, but $4 million? Seems unlikely, especially considering the state's budget shortfalls. The football facilities have needed upgrading for nearly 10-years without anything being accomplished. UCLA is the ugly step-sister in L.A. to USC. It's very tough to recruit especially when your facilities are so behind-the-times.
I think Peterson will make a move within three years, but it won't be to UCLA, now or ever. Ex-kansas coach Turner Gill is rumored to be UAB's number one choice to fill their coaching vacancy. That would be a helluva quick turnaround for a coach who was just fired less than a week ago. I like Gill, but I think he took the Kansas job without being ready for just how badly their program had deteriorated & how little the athletic department cared. UAB certainly isn't a plum job, but football is important in the State of Alabama & he could fare much better coaching the Blazers.
Adrian Peterson has been ruled out of the Vikings game Sunday with Denver. Dallas will be without WR Miles Austin as well. Both WR Julio Jones & RB Michael Turner will be game-time decisions for the Falcons. Ray Lewis will sit again this Sunday for the Ravens. Denver's rookie sensation OLB Von Miller is questionable after thumb surgery as is WR Eddie Royal, currently sidelined by turf toe. Sam Bradford had a bit of a relapse on his sprained ankle & DE Chris Long might not play. Two starting linebackers for Green Bay are out, Desmond Bishop & A.J. Hawk plus LT Chad Clifton will not play against the Giants. A whole slew of speed guys for the Raiders are officially out for their game in Miami. WR Jacoby Ford, RB Darren McFadden, RB Taiwan Jones & WR Danarius Moore are out. MLB Rolando McClain remains in an Alabama jail, but his sprained ankle would've kept him out anyway. New England will be without starting right tackle Sebastian Volmer as well as ILB Brandon Spikes.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll wants the league to discipline Philadelphia DE Trent Cole for putting his starting left tackle out for the remainder of the season. Russell Okung suffered a torn pectoral muscle when Cole hooked his arm & hip-tossed Okung in the last two minutes of last night's 31-14 Seattle win. Carroll thinks it was a cheap shot & as the play happened, I wondered what hell Cole was doing. The outcome was decided, Okung had a perfectly legal block on Cole when he decided to get dirty. I expect the league will fine/suspend Cole this coming week.
Minnesota quarterback Donovan McNabb was released on Thursday & wasn't claimed on waivers by 4PM this afternoon, becoming a free agent. That he wasn't claimed didn't shock me, but I expect him to be on another roster by next Wednesday.
I know this is a football site, but I'm calling an audible tonight because I'm so damn mad I had to vent somewhere & since I've already written an angry email to the team, no way I'll get to sleep without a little more. The Kansas City Royals, thru FOXSports Kansas City, canned Frank White from their television broadcast team. White entered the booth to team with Ryan Lefebvre when Paul Splittorff became ill. He stayed there for three full seasons & they were sensational together. But this is more than a broadcaster being fired. White was born in Mississippi, but raised in Kansas City, attended Lincoln High School in the shadow of old Municipal Stadium & even worked construction on Kaufman Stadium while it was being built in the early 70's. Frank attended the Royals Academy, a combination of baseball & college that was located in Florida. He was their first grad & was called up to the majors in 1974 where he played 18-seasons for the Royals. He is considered to be one of the very best, if not the all-time best, fielding second basemen in history. White won eight Gold Glove awards(Frank would loan one of the trophies to me to attract attention to my table at sports collectors shows). He was selected to play on 5 All-Star teams, was the 1980 ALCS MVP & had his #20 retired by the Royals. White was a base coach, instructed infielders, even managed at AA Witchita for 3 seasons. When the big club was looking for a new manager, they never even gave White the courtesy of an interview. The front office never asked his opinion on anything. But they employed him to be a goodwill ambassador for the team, yet another job White excelled at, nobody didn't like Frank White.
I first met Frank in 1979, the Royals had lost three straight playoff series to the N.Y. Yankees & he was looking for a new bed to relieve the pain in his lower legs. Pain that came from playing on artificial turf. He walked into our store & very quickly, we became friends. In no time I knew his entire family, was invited into their home & shared a beer or two with this Kansas City icon. Frank was befriended by the great Satchel Paige who asked him to help raise money for some inner-city ball fields for kids. Frank, the late Gary Simmons & myself decided a photo of him with his Gold Glove trophies could be sold on a limited basis & all the proceeds going to the Satchel Paige Park fund. I took the pictures in Frank's home, Gary did the developing & printing, then Frank signed everyone of the 300 photos, personalized to each recipient. The pictures were gone in a matter of a few days & I gave the negatives to Frank to destroy. Frank then matched what we collected for the pictures & donated over $15,000 to the fund. This was a lot of money back in 1983 folks. Ball players didn't make the mega-million dollar deals back then. But Frank knew he had to help kids from the inner city just like him & he did it over & over. Frank never said no when asked to promote the Negro League Hall of Fame in Kansas City.
HOF pitcher Satchel Paige
In 1983 he asked me if Linda & I wanted his tickets to the 50th Anniversary of the very first All-Star game in Chicago, his family wasn't going. That was our one & only All-Star game, but we had a blast as the American League broke a 12-game losing streak to the National League, pounding them 13-2 as I recall.
When I moved to Las Vegas & got into the casino business, Frank & his first wife Gladys came out a couple of times & seeing his infectious smile as he got off the plane made me feel pretty damn special. You see when you were with Frank, it was all about you, not Frank. He was as humble as you could possibly imagine. A few years later I was in Kansas City after my grandmother passed away. Frank found out from Gary I was in town & he invited me to go to the ballpark & out for a few beers afterward. Typical Frank.
He could've gone elsewhere & played for more money, but chose to stay in his hometown, play for his hometown team & help them win 7 Western Division Championships, two ALCS & a World Series. His number was retired the day he entered the Royals Hall of Fame. A life-size bronze statue of White stands outside Kaufman Stadium. Honestly, if Bill Mazeroski can be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Frank White should be in there as well.
Frank at the dedication of his statue
After everything Frank meant to this franchise, this city, all the accolades, all the P.R. he did for the team, the charitable work he so unselfishly participated in, all the while keeping himself out of the limelight, this is his final reward from the Royals. Unceremoniously kicked to the curb.
I'm pissed off & I think my dislike for baseball has returned in a big way. The Royals have the best young team in the major leagues according to Baseball America, USA Today & a slew of baseball pundits. Just when they were on the brink of returning to greatness, the brilliant minds that control the franchise step all in it Friday & I wonder how many former Royals' fans feel the same way I do. We'll see come April, I know I've spent my last cent on anything Royals-related. The way they treated my old friend, they can kiss my ass.
Me & Frank at a 1982 baseball card show promoted by the late Gary Simmons & myself I rode heard on the autograph seekers while Frank posed & signed all afternoon.
AMEN!!!
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Great dedication to your friend Frank White. There is no such thing as loyalty anymore, even though Frank was the most loyal person ever.
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I'm with you, Rich. And I figured you might post something, knowing your long friendship with Frank. This decision is a disgrace. The corporate line is, he was "too negative." They apparently don't really understand either baseball or negativity. They certainly don't understand loyalty. Really appreciated this post.
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