http://www.realclearsports.com/ en Copyright 2008 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:40:05 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.33 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Now what? The Football Association, English soccer’s governing body, has a dilemma. On Friday, it appointed Stuart Pearce, the Under-21 coach, as caretaker manager. But finding a permanent manager under the trying circumstances it created is no simple task. Fabio Capello, one of the world’s greatest managers, has now resigned. His last move was to complain about the FA board’s removal of John Terry’s captaincy. According to former FA CEO David Davies, Capello's outburst was illegal. Capello left just when the English grudgingly started to accept... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/11/who_should_be_next_english_manager_97596.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/11/who_should_be_next_english_manager_97596.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/02 02/11/2012/00/00/00 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:40:00 -0600 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - So according to the Forbes Magazine poll, Tiger Woods shares with Michael Vick the dishonor of being the most disliked athletes in America, one of those nonsensical judgmental ratings designed to draw attention. How can the two even be linked, Tiger guilty of no crime except disillusionment and Vick, as we know, convicted of torturing animals? If Tiger is so disliked, why were people lined up four deep along the ropes Thursday at Spyglass Hill Golf Course to watch him make his 2012 U.S. tournament debut, playing the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/10/tiger_disliked_but_still_draws_fans_97595.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/10/tiger_disliked_but_still_draws_fans_97595.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/02 02/10/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:55:45 -0600 One-liners, deep thoughts, and other Tweetable confections: - Why is “elite” a compliment for quarterbacks but an insult for politicians? - If we judged quarterbacks by the “guy I’d like to have a beer with” rule some people use for presidents, the league MVP would still be Brett Favre.  - The latest measure of the state of Baltimore baseball: pitcher Jeremy Guthrie was thrilled to be traded to Colorado. Guthrie wasted no time practicing his new strikeout celebration. - Detroit Tigers pitchers ranked third in the AL in Ground Ball... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/09/how_many_days_till_tebow_reports_to_camp_97594.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/09/how_many_days_till_tebow_reports_to_camp_97594.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/02 02/09/2012/00/00/00 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:54:47 -0600 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – He said he’s at peace, and why not? After what Tiger Woods has gone through the past two years plus – even if ultimately he was responsible for most of the problems – Woods has escaped to a future which could bring memories of the past. Do we need once more to review the agony, Tiger’s, golf’s? The dark cloud through which the sun never shown, the car accident, the admissions of infidelity, the divorce, the all too frequent injuries, the media attacks, the winless months? So often he would show up for an... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/08/tigers_best_days_may_be_behind_him_97593.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/08/tigers_best_days_may_be_behind_him_97593.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/02 02/08/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:33:11 -0600 It is the best of times, it is the worst of times ... it is the season of light, it is the season of darkness. A slightly updated Dickensian description is the most apt way of articulating the state of men's and women's tennis at the moment. Indeed, they have become two separate sports. Though both sexes strike a fuzzy yellow ball with a racket, the similarities end there. Never has there been such an interest deficit between the two as exists today. To put it bluntly, I'd argue that men's tennis has never been better in the open era, while the women's game is sliding... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/07/as_men_bask_in_glory_womens_tennis_nearly_irrelevant_97592.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/07/as_men_bask_in_glory_womens_tennis_nearly_irrelevant_97592.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/02 02/07/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:06:01 -0600 John Terry, who is almost as adept at dodging controversy as England is at winning the World Cup, has been stripped of his captaincy of the English national team for racially abusive language. But this is no excuse for the Football Association to overstep the boundaries of its authority. Terry allegedly called Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand a “f------ black c---.” The Chelsea defender’s reputation would have sunk further had it not already been rock bottom. The Football Association, English soccer’s governing body, has stepped in as if... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/06/fa_wrong_to_meddle_in_terry_affair_97591.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/06/fa_wrong_to_meddle_in_terry_affair_97591.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/02 02/06/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:22:39 -0600 So: Does Tom Brady deserve to be considered in Eli Manning's elite class of quarterbacks? Forget the numbers. Forget history. Look just at the performances. Eli took the Giants 88 yards in the fourth quarter, on the must-score drive of the game, for the accidental touchdown that won Super Bowl XLVI 21-17 over New England on Sunday in Indianapolis. It was yet another game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or later for Manning and the Giants, their eighth of the season. On the biggest play of the game, he hit Mario Manningham from deep in New York territory for 38 yards, to midfield,... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/06/eli_delivers_elite_performance_97590.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/06/eli_delivers_elite_performance_97590.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/02 02/06/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:33:53 -0600 Over the past few weeks we’ve witnessed the good and bad side of African soccer. The good side has been the African Cup of Nations, a riveting tournament loaded with shock results and last-gasp goals. The bad is what took place last week in Egypt, where a game between two clubs turned into a riot that resulted in the death of over 70 people.  The African Cup of Nations has evolved over the past few editions as one of the marquee continental competitions after the European Championship and South America’s Copa America. With a growing number of African players... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/06/african_soccers_week_of_elation_and_sorrow_97589.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/06/african_soccers_week_of_elation_and_sorrow_97589.html Clemente Lisi Clemente Lisi 2012/02 02/06/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:20:48 -0600 This year’s January transfer window looks set to become the sporting non-event of the year, with a series of failed deals and botched negotiations becoming a celebration of the transfer that never was. If anything, this year’s transfer party was set to be halfway worth it, complete with a decent schedule planned months in advance. There was Neymar, the latest “new Messi,” whose signature was supposed to start yet another epic Barcelona versus Real Madrid war. But what did Neymar do? Instead of releasing cryptic and meaningless statements about his... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/04/transfer_window_much_ado_about_nothing_97588.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/04/transfer_window_much_ado_about_nothing_97588.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/02 02/04/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:03:08 -0600 INDIANAPOLIS - The father and two sons, as so many others walking the streets, wore football jerseys - but not those of the Giants or Patriots. These were Green Bay Packers uniforms, the No. 12 of Aaron Rodgers. A year ago, they were the team. A year ago, he was the man. A year ago. How quickly the days go by. How swiftly times and teams change. You're on top, and then you're not. As the Giants' Eli Manning has reminded us once more. The Packers were supposed to be here this week, in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, repeating their impressive victory of 12 months ago, establishing a... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/02/eli_this_might_be_the_last_one_97587.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/02/eli_this_might_be_the_last_one_97587.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/02 02/02/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:25:15 -0600 The Super Bowl is three days away, and there’s one thing I can’t figure out. Why are the Patriots favored? I understand that New England went 13-3 while the Giants were 9-7. I know that the Giants scored six fewer points than they allowed over the course of the season, while the Pats had a positive differential of 171, third-highest in the league behind New Orleans and Green Bay.  I know that the point spread isn’t a prediction about the game, it’s a gauge of where the betting money is likely to fall, with an eye toward balancing the books and... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/02/patriots_are_favored_but_why_97586.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/02/patriots_are_favored_but_why_97586.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/02 02/02/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:17:26 -0600 INDIANAPOLIS – “Name the Kardashian sisters.’’ Was that an order? Or a request? Rob Gronkowski sat and thought. Maybe better than being asked what kind of tree he would be if he were a tree. But not by much. Super Bowl media day, when 100 football players, if not all at once, and 100,000 journalists, cameramen and assorted mountebanks – well, more like 3,000, but it seems like 100,000 - gather to annoy each other. “Kim,’’ began Gronkowski, the Patriots’ tight end. “Khloe... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/01/super_bowl_media_day_senseless_harmless_97585.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/02/01/super_bowl_media_day_senseless_harmless_97585.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/02 02/01/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:38:12 -0600 The Australian Open is like a restless dream for fans in the United States. It's strictly nocturnal, generating images both brilliant and bizarre in the dead of night and then vanishing in an instant. And, just like that, the tennis calendar goes suddenly cold for five weeks. It's almost as if the Australian Open isn't really a part of the annual tennis season. It seems to exist as a stand-alone event. There's hardly any tennis in the six previous weeks, and then only minor events for a month after. This is in stark contrast with the rest of the season, from March through... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/31/nadal_not_far_from_solving_djokovic_puzzle_97584.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/31/nadal_not_far_from_solving_djokovic_puzzle_97584.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/31/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:23:00 -0600 When it comes to sports, there is nothing more important than consistency. When it comes to being consistent, the only team in all of sports that is just that is the U.S. women’s soccer team. Losers in the Women’s World Cup final last year against Japan, the team is now focused on capturing the Olympic gold medal this summer in London – and it plans on doing so by displaying its best trait of – what else? – being consistent.  The team dominated the first round of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver, Canada,... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/30/us_women_consistently_dominant_97583.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/30/us_women_consistently_dominant_97583.html Clemente Lisi Clemente Lisi 2012/01 01/30/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:36:08 -0600 It's very hard to win a golf tournament, whether it's your first or your 97th. For the record, the two main tournaments Sunday were won by Robert Rock and Brandt Snedeker. They'll be more remembered, if at all, for the men who didn't win: Tiger Woods in Abu Dhabi and Kyle Stanley at Torrey Pines. Woods entered the final round tied for the lead with Rock, a 34-year-old Englishman with 24 top-10 finishes in 229 events on the European Tour. Ten years ago, Rock was the pro at a driving range, while Woods had already completed the career Grand Slam. The phrase all week was... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/30/woods_stanley_reminded_that_wins_come_hard_97582.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/30/woods_stanley_reminded_that_wins_come_hard_97582.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/30/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:55:15 -0600 In a match with extraordinary comebacks and momentum shifts, Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5. It was a battle that defies accurate description and will immediately go down as one of a handful of contests that will compete for “greatest match of all time honors”. Today’s match lasted nearly six hours; that was on top of more than five hours that Djokovic had spent defeating Andy Murray in the semifinals. Nadal started the match in fine form, coming out with an obvious strategy to hit to Djokovic’s... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/29/djokovic_downs_nadal_in_battle_of_the_ages_97581.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/29/djokovic_downs_nadal_in_battle_of_the_ages_97581.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/29/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:39:47 -0600 England’s most famous and passionate rivalry will be reignited this weekend when Liverpool hosts Manchester United. It is the contest between England’s two most successful teams, both of whom play in red and are coached by retired Scottish soccer players. But these coaches aren’t ordinary retirees who spend their time putting on weight, talking on TV, and failing at pretty much everything they try. When their professional careers drew to a close, neither man chose to emulate Diego Maradona. Kenny Dalglish is a legend at Liverpool. Not only the best player in the... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/28/will_ferguson_solve_what_ails_man_u_97580.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/28/will_ferguson_solve_what_ails_man_u_97580.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/01 01/28/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:45:55 -0600 LA JOLLA, Calif. - There were no guarantees. The last of the six doctors J.B. Holmes saw told him brain surgery probably would help him. Probably. "Difficulty-wise, he said for brain surgery, it was only about a 1 out of 10,'' Holmes said. "That made me feel better. But it was still brain surgery. Scary at first." Scary at first? Scary anytime. The symptoms began last spring. John Bradley Holmes, the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, was so dizzy he had trouble simply standing. The diagnosis finally was Chiari malformation, which restricts the flow of spinal fluids. Dr.... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/27/golfer_holmes_rebounds_after_brain_surgery_97579.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/27/golfer_holmes_rebounds_after_brain_surgery_97579.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/27/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:32:38 -0600 It was close. It was at times riveting. But the end was never truly in doubt. And now it appears that the great Roger Federer may never unlock the key to his mystery – his absolute kryptonite - that is Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard outlasted Federer, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4, yet again in a Grand Slam event Friday. It’s been nearly five years – at the 2007 Wimbledon – when Federer last defeated Nadal in a Slam. And the way in which the downcast Federer exited the court in the late of an unusually cool Melbourne night one has a sense that manifest futility may be... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/26/nadal_bests_federer_never_in_doubt_97578.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/26/nadal_bests_federer_never_in_doubt_97578.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/26/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:53:38 -0600 There’s an old joke: A guy is bemoaning his fate to a friend. “I’m in so much trouble,” he says. “I owe the bookies a ton of money. I’ve lost 15 straight football bets, and if I don’t come up with the cash they’re going to break my legs.” “Can’t you try to get even betting basketball?” the friend asks. “Basketball?” the guy says. “What the hell do I know about basketball?” Sometimes I wonder what the hell I know about everything, but I... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/26/a_look_back_at_wayward_predictions_97577.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/26/a_look_back_at_wayward_predictions_97577.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/26/2012/00/00/00 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:35:58 -0600 SAN FRANCISCO – Something was going to happen. Eli Manning made that observation. Something always does happen. Football, like life, is about timing. Football, like life, also is about accountability. Eli and Tom Brady are going to another Super Bowl, verification of their skills and, on pass patterns, their timing. It’s a team game, says everyone who plays. No question, but it’s also an individual thing. Can you handle the pressure, or in the case of poor Kyle Williams, the football? No less importantly, can you handle failure? There’s a quote John F.... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/25/to_play_in_super_bowl_timing_is_everything_97576.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/25/to_play_in_super_bowl_timing_is_everything_97576.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/25/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:31:25 -0600 Warning to the remaining five men in the Australian Open: Roger Federer has turned back the clock. Utilizing his full arsenal, a cache of weapons that no player has likely ever possessed, Federer demoralized Juan Martin Del Potro in the Australian Open quarterfinals Tuesday night in a highly anticlimactic affair. The 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory kept Federer on the court for just under two hours. The victory also marked a milestone as it was the 1,000th match of Federer’s storied career. Absent were the occasional glimpses of irritability that have appeared on his countenance of late. Gone... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/24/federer_utterly_brilliant_nadal_next_97575.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/24/federer_utterly_brilliant_nadal_next_97575.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/24/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:56:20 -0600 Pity the poor kicker. Make a game-winner, and the team is celebrated. Miss it, and you live in infamy. Think "Super Bowl kicker," and which name comes to mind first: Scott Norwood or Jim O'Brien? Norwood missed the 47-yarder in 1990 that would have started Buffalo's run of four straight Super Bowls with a win. Instead, the Bills went 0-for-4, and none of the other three losses were remotely close. All O'Brien did was hit a 32-yarder with five seconds to play that gave Baltimore a win in Super Bowl V. Billy Cundiff will be reminded for the rest of his life of the... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/23/cruel_is_the_word_for_cundiffs_fate_97574.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/23/cruel_is_the_word_for_cundiffs_fate_97574.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/23/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:42:01 -0600 Before Tim Tebow became a topic of conversation and national debate, there was another great athlete who constantly thanked God for his skills. That man was Brazilian soccer star Kaka. Unlike Tebow, however, Kaka had the skills to back up his God-given talent. Kaka was, and is, a champion and one of the best soccer players of the past few years.  And unlike Tebow, Kaka wasn’t as controversial. Soccer has always had a special relationship with religion and God. Players have traditionally not encountered problems displaying their faith – on and off the field. In... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/23/before_tebow_theres_kaka_97573.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/23/before_tebow_theres_kaka_97573.html Clemente Lisi Clemente Lisi 2012/01 01/23/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:41:13 -0600 Prior to their fourth round match on Sunday night at the Australian Open, it was assumed by many that local hero Bernard Tomic would give Roger Federer all he could handle. It was supposed to be the future vs. the fading present, the apprentice vs. the master.  Turns out it was an utter anticlimax, completed in a little over 90 minutes, that proved just how far Tomic is from the impenetrable top tier of the sport. Milos Raonic is considered by most tennis observers – myself included – to be the can’t-miss star of the very near future. With a Pete... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/22/federer_schools_young_star_del_potro_next_97572.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/22/federer_schools_young_star_del_potro_next_97572.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/22/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:49:16 -0600 The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this weekend in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in a peaceful atmosphere, thankfully. Nothing beats having a team getting attacked by terrorists if you want to get media attention, as happened in Angola in 2010. For the Confederation of African Football, no publicity is better than bad publicity. The mid-season absence of critical players is enough to worry any manager. But news of a terrorist attack and a fear for players’ safety could have ended the 2010 tournament. But in soccer, the game goes on. This year’s competition is... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/21/african_nations_cup_97571.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/21/african_nations_cup_97571.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/01 01/21/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:14:21 -0600 SANTA CLARA, Calif. - There is a rhythm to Jim Harbaugh's words, if not exactly a pattern. After all, any football coach wants to keep the opponent guessing, make him feel off balance, and maybe nobody does that better than Harbaugh. Maybe nobody coaches better either. In his first season in charge, Harbaugh has the San Francisco 49ers, once proud, then sad, within one step of the Super Bowl. Understanding the NFL and the recent history of the Niners, this is a monumental achievement. It's San Francisco against the New York Giants on Sunday at Candlestick Park, probably in the... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/20/harbaugh_keeps_everyone_off_balance_97570.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/20/harbaugh_keeps_everyone_off_balance_97570.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/20/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:00:36 -0600 Editor's note: In advance of President Obama's State of the Union address next week, RCP is rolling out daily "state of" reports to better frame the issues facing the nation. Today: The state of American sports. On so many levels, most sports fans are happy to see 2011 in the rearview mirror. Both the NFL and NBA had prolonged work stoppages that threatened their seasons. Two major college programs - Ohio State and Miami - were exposed for rampant cheating involving criminal elements. And on top of all that, the alleged child rape scandal at Penn State not only obliterated... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/20/state_of_american_sports_in_2012_97569.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/20/state_of_american_sports_in_2012_97569.html Samuel Chi Samuel Chi 2012/01 01/20/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:21:35 -0600 It’s not exactly a rivalry, but then again, it is. Separated by a continent, meeting in the NFL schedule every couple of years, the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers may not engender the familiarity-bred contempt that the Giants and Eagles share, or the Niners and L.A. Rams used to.  There’s still a history between these two teams, one that will see a new chapter added on Sunday when they face off for a Super Bowl berth. The Giants and 49ers have met 28 times in the regular season, and each team has won 14 of them, San Francisco taking the most recent game... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/19/the_storied_rivalry_of_giants-49ers_97568.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/19/the_storied_rivalry_of_giants-49ers_97568.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/19/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:48:03 -0600 SAN FRANCISCO – They were The City’s team, in name and function, created here, not transported from New York or Philadelphia. And if they never reached the top, they were no less entertaining than a ride on one of those cable cars halfway to the stars. The 49ers were so very San Francisco, adored, beloved and invariably stuck in the fog of mediocrity. Oh well, let’s go down to the Buena Vista Café and have an Irish coffee. The Niners originally played at an expanded high school stadium in Golden Gate Park where the wind whistled, seagulls alighted and... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/18/49ers_open_a_window_to_the_past_97567.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/18/49ers_open_a_window_to_the_past_97567.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/18/2012/00/00/00 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:41:16 -0600 “My thing was play as hard as you can, don’t be stupid, pay attention to details, and have enough guts in the clutch that you’re not afraid to make a play. Some things I thought were important for a young man to know.” Joe Paterno speaking with the Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins in their recent interview These things were important for older men to know too. Like a friendlier and more sympathetic Charles Foster Kane in modest surroundings, Joe Paterno came across as a tragically frail and fallen hero in his recent interview with the... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/17/paternos_excuses_only_make_things_worse_97566.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/17/paternos_excuses_only_make_things_worse_97566.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/17/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:10:27 -0600 Forecasting how a women’s Grand Slam draw will unfold over the course of a fortnight has become a tedious act of analytical folly. Finding the form of the women’s field is so difficult because its makeup is so elusive - is it solid, liquid or gas? Is Serena merely physically present in Melbourne or will her imposing presence be the only thing that matters? Is there any such entity as a favorite among the women if Serena isn’t at her best? Are the rankings completely meaningless if Caroline Wozniacki is seeded first even though she hasn’t reached a Slam... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/16/will_new_stars_emerge_in_womens_draw_97565.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/16/will_new_stars_emerge_in_womens_draw_97565.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/16/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:23:17 -0600 Less than a week after winning his third Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi is without debate the planet's best soccer player. He undoubtedly deserves that honor. While he may be the best person who gets paid to kick a ball for a living, is Messi the best athlete in the world when you include all sports? The answer is an emphatic yes!  Just 24, Messi has won more in his career thus far than some soccer players, and athletes in general, do over a lifetime. He has already won five Spanish league titles, three Champions League trophies, an Olympic gold medal and a FIFA Under-20 World... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/16/worlds_best_athlete_its_messi_of_course_97564.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/16/worlds_best_athlete_its_messi_of_course_97564.html Clemente Lisi Clemente Lisi 2012/01 01/16/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:54:50 -0600 Seems like old times for the Giants - old times like 2008. As they did in January 2008, New York went to Green Bay and knocked off the favored Packers in the playoffs. They didn't need overtime this time, pulling away to a 37-20 victory that ended Green Bay's 13-game home winning streak. The game from that prior postseason that appeared to provide a working template for a Giants victory was Super Bowl XLII, when they topped previously unbeaten New England. New York relied on a fierce pass rush on defense and a ground game that could take time off the clock. To beat an explosive... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/16/giants_follow_winning_script_-_their_own_97563.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/16/giants_follow_winning_script_-_their_own_97563.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/16/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:06:01 -0600 On his way to winning the first of his six French Open titles, Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the semifinals of the 2005 tournament, their first meeting in a Grand Slam event. Since then the participants in tennis' most thrilling rivalry of the modern era have faced each other a remarkable eight more times in Slams, all in finals. When Federer slipped to No. 3 in the world by last year's French Open, the possibility existed that he and Nadal would play only the penultimate match at the last three Slams in 2011. But the tennis gods apparently deemed that the draw would... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/15/storylines_aplenty_for_australian_open_97562.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/15/storylines_aplenty_for_australian_open_97562.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/15/2012/00/00/00 Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:19:47 -0600 America is always an interesting place to be during a presidential campaign. Accusations and counter-accusations fly about along with debates on the finer points of policy. Amidst this tempest of Super-PACs, crony capitalists, and establishment figures, it’s no wonder that candidates have no opportunity to discuss soccer. But there’s still time. Even though South Carolina is no soccer mecca, Romney, Gingrich or Santorum could receive unexpected questions from reporters on soccer policy. And to help prepare a convincing response, let’s look at how some other... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/14/tips_on_how_to_mix_soccer_with_politics_97561.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/14/tips_on_how_to_mix_soccer_with_politics_97561.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/01 01/14/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:59:23 -0600 The Thursday morning ESPN special devoted to the man was acceptable. The AOL article that his winning touchdown pass was illegal was understandable. But when a writer for the Jerusalem Post feels compelled to point out Jews shouldn't be afraid of Tim Tebow's displays of Christianity, you ask, "What next?" A psychological analysis of Tebow by some doctor in Vienna - Austria, that is, not Virginia? An instructional video on how to throw wobbly passes? Hula hoops, pet rocks ... and now America is obsessed with a football player. "Fads are the kiss of death,''... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/13/tebow_from_denver_to_jerusalem_97560.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/13/tebow_from_denver_to_jerusalem_97560.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/13/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:03:16 -0600 It’s really all Joe Namath’s fault. The coolest cat in the biggest city, leading the biggest underdog in Super Bowl history, looked over the crowd at the Miami Touchdown Club luncheon, and in front of fans, reporters, and an open mike, said, “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.” Athletes didn’t talk that way in the 1960s, with one exception. Muhammad Ali had made himself famous by using the gate-building skills he learned from professional wrestlers like Gorgeous George; he knew he needed to stir things up just to get a fight... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/12/this_column_is_a_winner_joe_guarantees_it_97559.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/12/this_column_is_a_winner_joe_guarantees_it_97559.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/12/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:16:18 -0600 OAKLAND – The little analysis of Hue Jackson by Al Davis is right there in the Oakland Raiders media guide. “The fire in Hue,’’ said Davis, “will set a flame that will burn for a long time in the hearts and minds of the Raider football team and Raider nation.’’ It was snuffed out, however, by Al’s son, Mark, who took over the team upon Al’s death. On Tuesday, Mark Davis hired Reggie McKenzie from the Green Bay Packers as general manager, the position Al held de facto for decades. On Tuesday,... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/11/raiders_new_gm_proclaims_new_era_97558.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/11/raiders_new_gm_proclaims_new_era_97558.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/11/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:33:00 -0600 Though he has won only one of the last nine Grand Slam titles and will soon be 31 and ensconced in tennis old age, Roger Federer is still one of the favorites in any tournament he enters. Many are forecasting another major title at the Australian Open, which starts in six days. Rafael Nadal, the other half of the open era's greatest rivalry, has won at least one Slam in seven consecutive seasons. If he can claim another title in Melbourne, Paris, London or New York in 2012, he will join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Federer with an eighth year. No player has notched a Slam title in nine... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/10/tennis_or_tebow_its_all_trees_no_forest_97557.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/10/tennis_or_tebow_its_all_trees_no_forest_97557.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/10/2012/00/00/00 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:22:51 -0600 David Beckham may not have elected to sign with Paris Saint-Germain, but the French club is still going forward, seeking to grab talent as it makes a move to become one of the world’s most successful clubs. For now, PSG is just one of the wealthiest teams, not winningest. The rebuilding started with the recent signing of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. By appointing Ancelotti manager, PSG hopes to attract star players who would have otherwise gone to established powers such as Manchester United, AC Milan and Real Madrid.  With Beckham out, the club is now eyeing AC... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/09/beckham_denies_paris_dream_of_star_power_97556.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/09/beckham_denies_paris_dream_of_star_power_97556.html Clemente Lisi Clemente Lisi 2012/01 01/09/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:06:30 -0600 This time, it really was Tebow time. Tim Tebow was the reason the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in overtime Sunday in the NFL playoffs. The numbers (10 of 21, 316 yards) aren't impressive in a Brees-Rodgers world. But unlike his overhyped efforts during Denver's 7-1 stretch in the regular season, Tebow demonstrated the star NFL quarterback he may someday be. He ran effectively. He hit receivers in stride. He threw the ball away when it was wise to do so. He escaped the pass rush and made big plays on the move. In short, he did everything Ben... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/09/overtime_is_tebow_time_97555.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/09/overtime_is_tebow_time_97555.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/09/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:22:11 -0600 For a few seconds, just an instant, I thought I was suspended in the most powerful, lucid dream I had yet experienced. And it occurred in the filtered winter light of day. It was late Friday morning, and I had turned on the Tennis Channel to view the semifinal matches from the Qatar Open in Doha, one of several tournaments that kick off the calendar year in advance of the Australian Open. Though it's only a 250 event, meaning the least important from the standpoint of ranking points a player can accumulate, the field is always strong. This year was no exception, as Rafael Nadal and Roger... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/08/edberg_on_the_court_time_out_of_mind_97554.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/08/edberg_on_the_court_time_out_of_mind_97554.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/08/2012/00/00/00 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:35:56 -0600 Sunday’s FA Cup clash between Manchester City and Manchester United will be one of this season’s most exciting and unpredictable games. The contest pits Manchester United, England’s “old money” and the world’s most popular team, against their noisy neighbors whose checks are signed by an Arab Sheikh. Manchester City’s 6-1 rout of United in October suggested that their hefty recent expenditures had paid off, but the Red Devils eager for revenge. Although the team recovered after the setback, recent defeats leave them lacking... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/07/more_intrigue_in_manchester_derby_97553.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/07/more_intrigue_in_manchester_derby_97553.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2012/01 01/07/2012/00/00/00 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:40:08 -0600 On Dec. 17 in Real Clear Sports I made an appeal for college presidents and trustees to get control of their football programs, which have clearly gotten out of alignment with the proper missions of institutions of higher education. The profound urgency of this problem was sadly demonstrated just two days later in a Business Week article about the commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, whose goal is to make college football more profitable that professional football.   Larry Scott was quoted as saying, “Imagine the kind of value we could unleash if there... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/07/a_better_way_to_bowl_97550.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/07/a_better_way_to_bowl_97550.html David Wise David Wise 2012/01 01/07/2012/00/00/00 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:41:55 -0600 John Madden, who coached a Super Bowl winner before becoming an announcer, had a favorite phrase about team sports, to wit: "Winning is a great deodorant.'' As we are learning this week from a team that lost, the New York Jets. Beneath the surface, there is always tension, division, sometimes open rebellion, the figurative smell. Players can't get along with coaches. Players often can't get along with each other. Backups want more playing time, more money, more recognition. These problems are masked well by success. Who's going to grumble when you're going... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/06/jets_losses_end_sweet_smell_of_success_97552.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/06/jets_losses_end_sweet_smell_of_success_97552.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/06/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:42:31 -0600 The 2012 pro golf season begins this week with the PGA Tour’s annual gathering of event-winners at Kapalua Resort in Maui. The Tournament of Champions was once a glamour event, sponsored by Mercedes. The 2012 edition is brought to you by Hyundai. The field at Kapalua is likewise a bit of a step down in horsepower. No Tiger Woods, no Phil Mickelson, no Luke Donald, no Rory McIlroy. Of the top 20 golfers in the Sony World Rankings, 12 won PGA Tour or World Golf Championship events in 2011, and only four of them will tee it up this week.  The Tour has opted for an unusual... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/05/predictions_for_golf_in_2012_97551.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/05/predictions_for_golf_in_2012_97551.html Jeff Neuman Jeff Neuman 2012/01 01/05/2012/00/00/00 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:38:23 -0600 PASADENA, Calif - Playoffs? Not to sound like Jim Mora, so let’s paraphrase him. In college football, who needs playoffs? We have bowl games. We have the BCS. We had an overload of overtime. An abundance of suspense. What else do we need? You think LSU-Alabama will be any better than Oregon-Wisconsin with a combined 1,130 yards gained? Than Oklahoma State-Stanford, where the Cowboys’ Brandon Weeden completed 29 or 42 passes for 399 yards and Andrew Luck completed 27 of 31 for 347 yards? Than Michigan State winning in the third OT? Than Michigan beating Virginia Tech in a... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/04/playoffs_nah_bowl_games_are_just_fine_97549.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/04/playoffs_nah_bowl_games_are_just_fine_97549.html Art Spander Art Spander 2012/01 01/04/2012/00/00/00 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:45:21 -0600 Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell won an astounding 11 championships during his extraordinary career and is rightly considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Often overlooked, however, is that Russell was a player-coach and twice won NBA championships in that capacity with the Celtics. Along with his contributions as a veteran player and head coach, his success was also testament to his strategic acumen and leadership ability. For a player of Russell's caliber it is a rare feat to achieve success as a coach. While multiple Hall of Fame players achieved significant... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/03/murray_makes_bold_move_hiring_lendl_97548.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2012/01/03/murray_makes_bold_move_hiring_lendl_97548.html Tim Joyce Tim Joyce 2012/01 01/03/2012/00/00/00 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:15:51 -0600 Whether 2011 was a good year in soccer depends on whom you ask. For FIFA President Sepp Blatter, it was the worst in living memory as FIFA lost all credibility amidst numerous scandals. But for the game taking place on the pitch, it was one of the best in recent times. AC Milan broke Internazionale’s Serie A dominance and played in a more entertaining style than the former champions, who preferred a stifling defense. This season, more improvements are underway as the Italian status quo has been broken with both Milan clubs disappointing. In Germany, Borrussia Dortmund emerged from... http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2011/12/31/soccers_2011_year_in_review_97547.html http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2011/12/31/soccers_2011_year_in_review_97547.html Theodore Furchtgott Theodore Furchtgott 2011/12 12/31/2011/00/00/00 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:46:53 -0600