Off Wing Opinion

Michael Schumacher, foiled again.

Lance Armstrong takes it easy. I don't know why, but something about that doesn't seem right.

Here's another reason to get the MLB Extra Innings package. And to think I was watching the Mets get crushed instead.

Next in the crosshairs:

Hey, didn't you used to date Mandy Moore?

Adrian McPhereson gets another chance. Here's hoping he does something with it.

It's games like this one that helped convince the NBA go to seven game series for all four rounds of the playoffs.

World Cup Aims to Thwart Resale of Tickets. Cue laugh track.

It was another thriller at RFK between United and the Revs on Saturday night. And, once it was all over, I think New England has to be the favorite in the East, despite some weakness on the backline. As for United, their backline is a complete mess, with one defender, David Stokes, seemingly committed to killing goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

I was annoyed when ESPN2 delayed the broadcast of the first MLS match between the Galaxy and CD Chivas USA, in order to make sure the last few picks of the third round of the NFL Draft got on the air. Then I was a little less than annoyed when the Denver Broncos made Maurice Clarett the last pick of that third round.

Here's Phil Mushnick:

A dozen years before Wayne Chrebet, there was Sam Mills. Before Chrebet showed us how far a local kid, a 5-9 free agent from Hofstra, could go by doing the most with the least, Mills, a 5-9 free agent from Montclair St., had already shown us.

I know plenty of folks think Mushnick is a crank, but he's right on this score.

The funniest moment of the draft: Redskins offensive lineman Jon Jansen attempting to convicne the ESPN viewing audience that Washington's selection of Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell didn't undercut the position of incumbent Patrick Ramsey. I say Ramsey better pull off a great Drew Brees imitation, or else he'll be holding a clipboard before the end of next season.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 25th, 2005 at 12:54 pm by Eric McErlain and is filed under Misc. Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Start the week with the NCAA Men's Basketball Final . . . Cruise into MLB's Opening Day . . . And close out Sunday with the back nine at Augusta. It's one of the best sports weeks of the year.

My pick for Augusta: Tiger.

The Nats get win number one -- and Brad Wilkerson was the hero. Too bad the game wasn't on television.

Somebody cut Mariano Rivera a break. The Yankees have been riding the guy for the better part of a decade, and now Yankee fans are booing after a pair of blown saves?

Now joining Mike Krukow, John Rocker and Pat Burrell in the Met-Killer Hall of Fame: Joe Randa.

Get your MLB payrolls here!

Without the Nationals on local TV, I watched D.C. United tie UNAM Pumas 1-1 on Fox Soccer Channel. It was fun, but it wasn't playoff hockey.

20 years after Heysel, but some aren't willing to forget:

A collection of extended middle fingers showed what some in the Juve section thought of the hand of friendship proffered by Liverpool FC, and their supporters. A wall of turned backs said everything about their contempt for this great effort at reconciliation. Hate has an eloquence of its own, and it proved powerful enough to persuade the Italian newspapers that something had to be said about the conduct of a minority who, worryingly, will only swell in numbers at the Stadio Delle Alpi next week.

Nelson Mandela is backing London's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Great, but we could have used you last week in Zimbabwe.

I'll second this emotion. It's a long time coming.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 7th, 2005 at 12:20 am by Eric McErlain and is filed under Misc. Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Just one more day till the first round at Augusta, and Tiger Woods is sounding awfully confident. I wonder what he thought of Phil Mickelson's choice of lobster ravioli.

Apparently, Martha Burk won't be back this year.

Reggie says goodbye to New York. Will Spike be able to move on?

Somebody told me the Wiz would fade down the stretch. And Avery Johnson got the contract he deserved.

Congratulations, Baylor. And last one out of Chapel Hill turn out the lights.

Barry Bonds, is still feeling the love, while Mariano Rivera is looking very human.

Some poll results show fans think baseball players are overpaid, and anyone who uses steroids should be barred from the Hall of Fame. Then again, Skip Sauer has found some indications that fans aren't really bothered at all.

And if you go to a ballgame today, remember, stay alert, as there is no legal recourse.

Two words that strike terror in the hearts of New York Mets fans: Aaron Heilman. And just when I thought he'd been banished to the Island of Misfit Toys along with Juan Samuel and Paul Gibson.

Meanwhile, Congress wants to call some other sports on the carpet.

Chris Corrigan thinks the NHL is about to sell out its fan base with some of the proposed changes to the game. Unfortunately, the league is like a patient that waited too long to go to the doctor, and has no other recourse but to turn to a more drastic treatment regimen that could cure him -- or perhaps kill him instead.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2005 at 2:03 am by Eric McErlain and is filed under Misc. Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

The NHL labor talks continue without resolution.

Yawn. Call me when you start playing real hockey again. And when that happens, I'll take a look at the product, and decide what I want to do. But not before then.

After a Mickelson win in a four-hole playoff, and a half-dozen others playing at the top of their games, this has to be the most highly anticipated Masters in years. Here's a pre-vacation prediction from No Three Putts.

Armando Benitez, Braden Looper. Same difference -- at least when they're wearing a Mets uniform. Maybe Kerry Lightenberg might help? For more, stop by Can't Stop The Bleeding.

And why do I hear Steve Perry in my head every time I read that blog?

Can't stop the bleeding
I'm losing all my feeling . . .

Check out Sports Chick.

It was a disappointing beginning for Washington's new baseball team, but Ryan at Distinguished Senators has found a silver lining.

Nick Johnson's lovable mug graces my upper-right corner, as the big lummox went 2 for 3 with a walk, also scoring the Nats' first run. Most impressively, he remains uninjured.

Here's another Nats fan with a wonderful, and entertaining, dream.

The smell of Ferrari is the smell of fear.

Robert Musil and Dr. Manhattan have resurfaced. Jeff Cooper, however, is headed for the milk carton.

20 years after the tragedy at Heysel, Liverpool and Juventus meet again.

Shawn Kemp is in trouble. Like you didn't see that coming.

John Perricone has his own thoughts on Alex Sanchez. John Palmer thinks it's time for baseball to use technology to call balls and strikes -- and he's right.

Bryan Curtis is thinking about cheerleaders. And so am I.

That's one link I never get tired of. Heh.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 5th, 2005 at 12:01 am by Eric McErlain and is filed under Misc. Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.