Daily Round up- Wednesday, January 28th

We wake up to further fall out from the Joe Torre book. Buster Olney of ESPN.com makes the point that while all the news is not new, it becomes shocking because Torre’s name is attached to it and he’s ultimately responsible for every word that is written in that book because he had the chance to redact any statement.

I agree with Buster’s take on this. While Torre may wonder why he’s getting all this attention for a book that’s written in a third person point of view, its still his book and his name is on the cover so he can’t run from it. I also find it very interesting that he was the one to always want to keep everything in house, yet now he writes a tell all book and has gone the direction of every other person who wants to capitalize on any dirty laundry he has.
I like Buster’s explanation here when he writes “If he hides behind Verducci and the suggestion that the ugly anecdotes aren't his, the explanation will have echoes of "I didn't knowingly take steroids." If he embraces the words as his own, he also should acknowledge he has been, at the very least, extraordinarily hypocritical.” Pretty much sums it up. This is proof that Torre truly was hurt and insulted over the last few years in pinstripes when there was constant questions about whether to bring him back and the final contract offer that Torre rejected, which ultimately led to his departure from the Bronx. Remember, he wasn’t a part of the final game festivities of Yankee stadium, which just shows you that perhaps Torre does have a side that likes to hold grudges.


Funny article from Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe in which he talks about his disgust over Tom Brady.

Seriously? Getting fed? I mean Brady may be super cool, but being anyone’s personal servant, even if it is Giselle’s, is super degrading. He’s got enough hardware that he can stand on his own two and say no to Giselle and say he’s just as famous at what he does as she is in hers but he would rather just be a nice guy who wants to do everything for his woman. I mean would you see Jeter getting any one of his girl’s laundry? No. All I can say is, does this guy do anything wrong?



An interesting article from CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman asking the question: “is the Rooney Rule still necessary?”

The Rooney rule is one of those rules that most people involved wish wasn’t even needed. It’s the kind of thing that everyone is waiting to be rid of and hope that the day will come. I don’t think that that day has come yet and its tough to know when that day will be. Teams will always have their own mind to hire who they like since personnel men reward those who were faithful to them while they were coming up. Its basically a referral business and maybe Mike is right but we honestly will never know.


The Salon’s King Kauffman (love that name), writes about famed writer John Updike who died Tuesday morning and epitomizes his life into his most famed essay “Hub fans bid kid adieu.”

I love reading stories from the oldies. Their words seem like poetry compared to the stuff that’s written today. The way they used to write, it just seemed as if they understood the game on a more personal basis than the writers of today.


Gil Lebetron doesn’t buy the whole consulting tag placed on Dan Reeves by the Cowboys.

Who really believes that Jerry Jones will listen to anyone about anything Cowboys related? This may be a move to throw people off the scent of those who know better that the Cowboys will always be run by Jerry Jones as long as he lives.


Here’s a pretty good story about an underrated GM, I’m sorry, director of football operations Kevin Colbert by John Harris.

A lot of people get lost on the line of credit that stretches around the block while everyone is getting the pat on the back during media week. But its good to see one of the behind the scenes guys get the pat on the back once in a while.



In breaking news, football is a sport that may be leading to the deaths of football players. This article by the New York Times Alan Schwarz makes the link.

Its never fun to talk about the possible link of death and people’s football careers but there’s enough tangible evidence that studies being done have to be listened to. But how do we ratchet down the violence of a contact sport? You play this game for the fame and the riches but you do so under the premise that you understand that by the age of 60 you will die. It’s a sad reality that we all wish were not true but unfortunately, its not Sunday’s that kill a player, it’s the Monday through Saturday and the excess of it all.

Michael Wilbon talks about the spectacle that is the NFL’s Media Day during Super Bowl week.

Its really pretty stupid nowadays. Last year there was the girl asking Tom Brady to marry her. There’s the people who are always asking the foolish questions looking to make press of their own. It just goes to show you how much of an international event this has become and this day is more about the press than it is the players.



Peter King (who I think has the greatest job in the world because he has the most access), writes what everyone’s been wondering as the Arizona Cardinals prepare to play in the Super Bowl, where in the world is Jake “the Snake” Plummer?

Handball? Seriously? I only kid. He has literally closed himself away from all of society by being in Idaho. I’ve always wondered about guys who gave themselves to a singular sport for so much of their childhood and adult life and then just absolutely find it hard to watch the sport once they leave. I mean, he is going to TIVO the Super Bowl? That’s always been one of those things that I’ve wanted to understand.



To finish, here’s an awesome cover story about Hollywood Henderson on ESPN.com written by Michael Weinreb and an Outside The Lines story.

Here’s a former big time football player who won the lottery. Seriously how much more good luck can this guy have?