This week, we came up with five questions for each of us to answer about some current things going on out there. Click on the link at the end to comment on the article and let us know whether or not you like it and why.
1. Is the supposed "feud" between Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick good or bad for speed skating in the U.S. and why?
Don - Bad for their images, but it might help bring some attention to the sport. This is one of those that we don't pay any attention to in the country except for once every four years. It's hard for me to get excited about it when I don't know anything about the competitors. At least I'd heard of Bode Miller before the hype started.
Joe - Of course it's good for it. At this level of the sport's growth, any exposure is good. NBC can use it to set up grudge matches next season.
Tom - This feud is bad for Davis, Hedrick and the US Speed Skating Team. Both, Davis and Hedrick should be supporting each other and the other teammates. Davis was on hand to watch Hedrick in the 10,000 meter...however, I think it was just for the media. The cameras were on him a lot and he was cheering, but give me a break.
Ron - Huh? Feud? Who? In two weeks no one will remember who they are, what they were feuding about or anything else until four years from now....and then only if they are both in the Olympics again.
Dan - The competitiveness between them is good (although it didn’t help either of them win the 1500m gold), but seems in this case a bit stupid. But as the saying goes “Bad press is better than no press.” Anything that gives the sport a place in the paper is probably good.
2. Why are the Olympics doing so poorly in television ratings this year?
Don - The time difference is a big issue. Being that by the time most of America was seeing the events, they'd already been over for several hours . . .unless you happened to be home during the day and could watch curling LIVE . . . .WOOHOO! I found myself checking the internet to see if Ohno had won the gold before the medal race came on because it just seemed like NBC was stringing me along with far too many commercial breaks. HEY! NBC execs! It doesn't matter how many commercials you put up! I skip them with the TIVO anyway!!!
Joe - Nobody really cares. It's a bunch of fringe sports. No Michelle Kwan. The flying tomato, Shawn White, was the star of the games and won his medal on the second day of the event. Americans will watch anyone win gold for the United States. They will watch no one finish seventh.
Tom - Two things...American Idol and the Internet. They are getting 30+ million viewers compared to 15+ million for the Olympics. Plus, everybody already knows the results because you can find them on the internet. When the events happen and then shown 6-7 hours later on TV. For example, I already knew that Cohen won the Silver Medal and fell...so, I didn't watch the event on TV that night. They need to do what Nagano did and have the events live for the east coast. I think they were starting events at midnight (Japan time) so they were prime time in the USA.
Ron - Two words: American Idol. Also, with NBC's decision to show only 15 minutes of any given sport at a time, people can't get into any kind of flow so they give up.
Dan - Read my article - No Love for Torino.
3. Other than Bush, Leinart and Vince Young, who will be the biggest star out of this years NFL draft class?
Don - DeAngelo Williams, I think, will be the best candidate to make some noise out there in the NFL. Say what you will about him - "Oh, he didn't any serious competition playing at Memphis" is the one you'll hear most. However, I simply point to one man LaDainian Tomlinson as the most recent example of a guy who is shining brightly at the pro level without having the toughest college schedule when he played at TCU. Other examples to check - Brett Favre, Jerry Rice, etc..
Joe - Brody Croyle. I think he's got all the tools to make it at the NFL level. But it will probably be some moderately talented wide-receiver who has a good publicist.
Tom - Jay Cutler - Vanderbilt. They are saying he might be the 4th pick in the draft and have bigger upside than both Leinart and Young. He has a cannon for an arm (much like myself), throws with pin point accuracy (much like myself) and is a great competitor (much like myself).
Ron - Not even the slightest clue....but maybe that QB from Vanderbilt...hearing good things about him.
Dan - If you’re talking “star” you’re talking QB or RB…maybe a receiver. White is tempting, but he’ll face a lot tougher Ds in the NFL. DeAngelo Williams put up big number this year coming off an injury (granted with a C-USA team). He won’t have as much expectation as Bush and company so he’ll have time to develop with a better supporting cast. Likely the answer will be some late rounder we’ve never heard of like Tom Brady.
4. Should Major League owners be allowed to prevent their players from playing in the World Baseball Classic to protect their investment?
Don - Not sure on this one. If it doesn't interfere with the season, then a player should have the right to say yea or nay on their own commitment. Whether he seeks council from his manager and/or owner should be up to him. He might be missing some spring training, but in essence, that's what this is. Sure there is a risk of injury, but all the pre-season games played in Arizona and Florida at camp have the same risks.
Joe - NO! NO! 100 times NO! If we had a commissioner worth his sack, he'd be claiming that the classic is in the best interests of baseball and telling the players to go play.
Tom - No, if the players are picked to play...they should play. Unless they have an injury, they should play. I personally think the WBC is going to be a joke because a lot of the best players are opting not to play.
Ron - ABSOLUTELY. These guys are paid millions of dollars a year to play for their teams....not to go run off and play in some pickup tournament.
Dan - Tough one. It certainly occurs elsewhere. Plus, as we have said about the BCS, MLB is a business, so if they can of course they should. The question is should they be allowed to. Call me an idealist, but just because you work for someone does not mean they own your entire life. Plus baseball has so much less risk of injury than say football.
5. Among pro sports, which is the most pointless all-star game and why?
Don - Football - the rules not allowing normal blitz packages, no attempting to block kicks or punts . . .it's pretty lame in the long run.
Joe - Duh! Football. Nobody blocks, nobody hits, nobody tackles. We should just tell the lineman to stay home and line it up as a game of 8 man flag football. It would be more interesting.
Tom - Basketball all-star game is a joke because it is basically an out of control pick-up game...no defense...and players taking turns trying to show off.
Ron - Basketball.....no fouls, no defense...nothing even remotely resembling a regular season game. Football is close, but guys are still getting hit.....same, to some extent, with hockey. Baseball had to make up a rule to make their all star game more interesting, but it would be much better if a player could come back in the game after he's been taken out, or if he only got to pinch hit, he could come in and play the field two innings later.
Dan - The games are all pretty much pointless. Hard to get into a “team” that only plays once a year. The Olympics have a similar problem, but at least I can identify as an American. I mean, am I an East Conference guy or West? Sounds like a bad rap song to me.
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