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Mariano Rivera:
(2nd day in a row!) Another postseason game, another
4-out shut-down. If you had one inning to pitch, he'd
be the No. 1 all-time selection to do it.
QUICKIE LIVE! 9-10 a.m.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
IT'S. OVER.
RSN can spin it all they want:
Next three at Fenway...
0-2 on road not unexpected...
Bats are keeping it close...
Damon is so due...
Lieber can't do that again...
Schill will gut it out...
Did we mention Fenway?
But the ALCS is over: I agree with my
colleagues Rob Neyer and the must-read Page 2's "2nd
Guessing" crew (see Q It Up).
Live by emotion, die by emotion: That's the
problem for RSN and the Sox themselves. Banking on
intangibles -- chemistry, "head games," Schilling as
some kind of lock W -- leaves no room when results
don't go according to script.
Curt's injury is devastating, as much for what
it does to the psychology of the team (and Nation) as
it does to Game 5 prospects. Mainly
because they let psychology be such a driving
factor.
Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to prove that
stoic, clinical, antiseptic focus -- think of it as
the soulless intentional absence of intangibles -- is
the secret ingredient to winning.
Schilling Watch
Pick your Game 5 poison, RSN:
(1) Schilling plays The Gimp.
(2) Lowe replaces him.
(3) Pedro on 3 days' rest.
(4) Concede L; advance to G6.
NLCS Game 1
Fans of the Cards, the NL or the
maligned Midwest at large should be rooting for
the NLCS to continue to get eclipsed by the
Yankees-Red Sox series.
Short shrift will make way for "short series"
when St. Louis pummels whomever comes out of the
East ALCS, made all the sweeter when
the ECB media is left scratching their head at the
Cardominance.
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Scott Rolen: Cards 3B gets his first hit of the postseason
Ben R'berger hype: Now Parcells is comparing him to Marino
Chad Johnson: Cin WR sends Browns DBs bottles of Pepto |
| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Johnny Damon: Rally-spiking K in 8th; now 0-8 in ALCS
Carolina DT Kris Jenkins: All-Pro out for year (shoulder)
Jets WR Santana Moss: Questionable (hammy) for W6 |
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Kobe vs. Phil
Jax disses Bryant in his new
diary-book; Kobe dismisses Phil as simply trying to
sell books. Wonder if Kobe kept a diary last season ...
and how much would you pay to read
that?
If Kobe wrote a diary this season, it would be
called: "Don't Sweat the Big Losses (and It'll All Be
Big Losses)."
NBA: No 3s?
Straight off the Progressive sports
fans' platform, the NBA is embracing radical rule
changes to spice up the game. The latest possibility:
Eliminating the 3-pointer until the game's final 5
minutes.
Not sure how that helps scoring,
considering mid-range jumpers usually clank as badly
as 3s. But the intent is appreciated, even if the 3
was one of the NBA's best ABA
larcenies "innovations."
Prediction: This never gets past today's "trial
balloon" stage.
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L'ville/Miami
Three unbeaten BCS-crashers: Utah, Boise
State and Louisville. Only the first two have any shot
at going unbeaten (and a smart BCS bowl would match
them up in the Other Title Game); the Cards play Miami
tonight. Expect UL's BCS dream to end. Don't worry,
Miami fans -- your BCS dream ends at Virginia later
this season. (7:30 pm, ESPN)
NHL Opening Night
Did you even know that it was supposed
to be last night? Check that: Did you even
care? (That's the point.)
Lockout update: League says it won't use
replacement players. No word from players on whether
they are thinking of using replacement owners.
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Ron Zook:
Florida football coach having a tough week: First a
bad loss to LSU, now he's forced to apologize for role
in brouhaha between his players and frat punks.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Morning Quickie! |
| Second Guessing |
| NLCS Coverage |
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| If I had 1 inning to save: |  Mariano Rivera
| MVP of 96-04 dynasty
|  Bob Gibson
| Would've made sick RP
|  Randy Johnson
| See Game 7 in 2001
|  Sandy Koufax
| In his prime? Easy
|  Hoyt Wilhelm
| | First RP in HOF |
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Catch the crazy crowd this morning on ESPN for the
Rockets-Kings game in China? The biggest cheer was
undoubtedly coming from David Stern ...
Carlos Beltran hit his 5th HR of the playoffs last
night. Wow, he's going to look very good in a Yankees
jersey next season, don't you think? ...
Only slightly less thrilling than the Michael Vick
Experience was Week 4's Wes Welker Experience, which
is now over: MIA signs K Matt Bryant ...
Phillies' manager search is so exciting, I'm sure you
can hardly stand it: Charlie Manuel wants the job;
Philly interviews Grady Little today ...
The NFL averts a P.R. problem, convincing Jake Plummer
to stop wearing his Tillman helmet decal. Plummer will
record PSAs in his honor ...
Apparently in the works, a "Miami Vice" movie. How
would YOU cast it? Rumored to play Crockett is Colin
Farrell; Tubbs? Jamie Foxx ...
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