|
 |
|
Scott Boras:
MLB super-agent is the V-V-I-P at the MLB winter
meetings in Key Biscayne. Roster includes: Beltran,
Beltre, Magglio, Lowe, Varitek, Millwood, Drew.
QUICKIE LIVE! 9-10 a.m.
|
|
The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
HONEYMOON. OVER.
Everyone gets a honeymoon.
The big question is this: In our
instant-history era, who survives the "honeymoon
period" to make a lasting impact?
In honor of that question (and a return from my
two-week honeymoon hiatus), here are 5 "Honeymoon's
Over" success stories that, while I was gone, have
shifted away from early-November novelty to real
deal:
Ben R'berger: Rookie NFL MVP
Adr. Peterson: Frosh Heisman
Utah Jazz: NBA's best team
Utah Utes: BCS 7-seed sham(e)
Theo: Star/target at GM mtgs
Clemens Wins Cy
7th Cy (at age 42, no less) bolsters
argument that Rocket is the best righty of the ESPN
Era (though best-lefty-of-Era Randy Johnson's
runner-up finish fuels argument over who is the best
pitcher of the Era, period).
Will he or won't he? Return, that is. He could
retire on top, but why stop now? As with any athlete's
decision, the Quickie maintains a strict "it's their
life, it's their choice" policy.
Award Watch (Wed): AL/NL Mgr
Quickie AL pick: Terry Francona
Quickie NL pick: Phil Garner
Clarett: "J'accuse II"
Going back to the ESPN the Mag well,
Maurice Clarett will realize that its hard to control
a bully pulpit when you have no field on which to
bully.
New Flavor: Now, if Adrian Peterson
could win the Heisman, I'd like to see daft
draft-apologists make an argument that he's not ready
for the NFL simply because of the number next to his
age.
Wannstedt Gone
Quickie Vocab:
"Eu-Fin-asia"
Translation: Awful coach on awful football team
making the inevitable move from employed to
"un."
What next? For Miami, they should break the
bank in a package play for Pats personnel VP Scott
Pioli, with his O guru Charlie Weis to coach.
|
|
|
 |
CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
|
| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Curt Schilling: "No complications" from Tues ankle surgery
Beltran to Yankees: Boras says Carlos and Bernie copacetic
Signing Day: College hoops letter-of-intent frenzy begins
|
| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Isiah as Knicks coach: He says "No" (but weirdly hedges)
MLB in DC: City council wary of taxpayer stadium financing
Randy Moss: Doubtful for game Sunday vs. rival Green Bay
|
|
|
|
|
(Spurrier? Forget about him. He's not interested
unless there's a "U" in the name.)
As for Wanny? Foresee the "Callahan Plan" --
moving to the college level, where tyranny lends
itself to guys who can't deal with pros.
MLB GM Meetings
As tantalizing as the Trade Rumor Mill
might be (say: Mike Piazza for Shawn Green!?),
the biggest news might be a rumor about
trades:
The proposal to extend MLB's midseason trading
deadline 15 days (to Aug. 15). It might not be sexy,
but given that the deadline has become the most
exciting pre-September day of the season, this is
the hot rumor to flag.
Heat on Fire
Best. Start. Ever. 4-0 after last
night's drubbing of D.C. Let's count the
no-debates:
(1) Shaq is NBA MVP
(2) Shaq/Wade is top NBA duo
(3) Wade is NBA's top "Robin"
Magic good too: But is surprising 3-1 start
most attributable to new franchise face Steve Francis
(16/10/9 in W last night), rookie sensation Dwight
Howard (15/11)... or (my vote) resurgent Grant Hill
(17/9)?
|
|
|
|
Where's Ron-Ron?
Artest sat for the Pacers' gutty W at
Minnesota last night, and he won't play vs. the
Clippers tonight. No one's saying why, so you know
it's got to be a juicy, classic, Ron-went-nutty
reason. Tracking ...
College Hoops Preview
This year's "It" program? Katz makes a
great case for George Washington (see Q It Up), but
mark it down: The breakout team everyone will be
talking about is... Northwestern.
Coming today: ESPN.com's season preview
continues with "programs under pressure." Hm: Why not
Kansas, preseason No. 1 for the first time?
For preseason All-America teams (the media's and
the Quickie's) see "Big 5" and Odds and Ends,
right.
 |
|
NBA in Charlotte:
1-800-HILARITY ensues as team ticket phone number
mistakenly linked to sex-chat line. New team slogan:
"For a good time, call the Bobcats."
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Today on ESPN.com
|
| The Morning Quickie |
| Fins coach? |
| CCB: It team |
|
 |
| Ranking Boras clients: |  Carlos Beltran
| Due for HUGE payday
|  Adrian Beltre
| Will LA re-sign him?
|  Jason Varitek
| Hits, handles Ps
|  Magglio Ordonez
| If he can stay healthy
|  Derek Lowe
| | He's so due to suck |
| 
|  |
Huge thanks to Quickie editor David Schoenfield for so
ably pinch-hitting for me while I was on my (extended)
honeymoon...
Nothing reveals bias like preseason A-A teams: In '04,
watch Paul (Wake), Roberts (MS St), Simien (Kansas),
Hodge (NC St), Warrick (Cuse)...
That was the media list. The Quickie Predisposed A-A 5
is Paul, Ryan Gomes (Prov), JJ Redick (Duke), Marv
Williams (UNC), Joey Graham (OK St)...
Women's hoops A-As: Augustus (LSU), McCarville (Minn),
Wecker (K-St), Ely (Tenn), Batteast (Notre
Dame)...
"19 Days" update: Toledo pulls MAC upset, beats No. 22
Northern Illinois at DeKalb. Next up: TCU at No. 14
Louisville (7:30, ESPN2)...
In Wednesday's Morning Quickie: Clarett, Clemens,
Dolphins and more. LIVE, 9-10 ET or read the
transcript (see Q It Up)...
|
|
|
