Thursday, July 29, 2010

Putting the 'F' in Smurf Turf

Smurf Turf No. 5 was recently installed in Boise, and it's as ugly as ever.


Ask the question "Who we do hate?" on the campus of the University of Idaho in Moscow and you'll get an exuberant response, "Boise State!"

But what's seen as passion by some, is viewed as rancor and ill will by others. And that has a 40-year-old gridiron rivalry between the Idaho Vandals and Boise State Broncos in serious doubt after this season.

In fact it looks like it's dead already, when the Broncos make a proverbial step up and join the Mountain West Conference in 2011.

"I frankly don't care whether we ever play 'em again as long as it goes," BSU president Bob Kustra said this week to the Idaho Statesman editorial board. "It's a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn't give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away team."

Kustra wasn't done, "for me, this is not about football. For me, this is a cultural issue. ... What bothers me more than anything else, is that the fans are not about denigrating our athletic program. ... What bothers me personally is the denigration of our academic programming."

Boise State's president got one thing right in all of that. It is a cultural issue, just not of the inebriated type.

A lot of this "hate" has do to with geography.

Moscow sits in Idaho's panhandle, which was mistakenly made part of the state. A general culture of contempt has been brewing between the panhandle and the south since 1864, when bandits stole the capital from Lewiston (30 miles from Moscow) and moved it to Boise.

So what's really driving this college rivalry apart? Napoleon's complex.

Boise didn't open its doors until 1932, and started as a junior college. Since then it has battled against the establishment, to move up.

It's widely rumored (because these things are not published) that BSU has repeatedly struggled to earn accreditation for several of its academic programs. That's why Vandals "denigrate" Boise's academics, making them the butt of some pretty funny jokes.

But now on the Smurf Turf, the Broncos have its one area that it can beat Idaho. Football is Boise State's way to compensate for its "F's" in the classroom.

Before the Broncos bolt for the MWC, they want to stick it to their "big brother" one last time and then permanently shut the door, cutting off any risk of enduring another 12-game rivalry losing streak.

If this is indeed the end of the Idaho-BSU rivalry, it doesn't change a thing for me. I'll still hate Boise State.


Update - Friday, July 30, 2010

It now appears this column, “Can't hide Vandal pride,” is what started this rivalry brouhaha.

Part of this professional response was included in the Idaho Statesman article, but here's the full statement from U of I president Duane Nellis on the rivalry situation.

Some people are starting to take notice of what I've known all along, there's an arrogance growing in Boise. SI.com writer Andy Staples says Boise State is becoming a big-time program in all the wrong ways.

And some people are just having fun with the whole thing. “Nasty Inebriated” T-shirts are starting to sell in Moscow.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Bidding adieu to cycling

The Lance Armstrong era is over, again.

At age 38, Armstrong crossed the finish line in 23rd place Sunday at the Tour de France, nearly 40 minutes behind champion Alberto Contador.

Some will say Lance tainted his legacy by hanging on to competitive cycling for too long. Others will wait to write their final comments about Armstrong as a federal doping investigation circles in.

Ultimately, I think Armstrong will be revered for captivating our hearts in winning seven consecutive Tours (1999-2005).

He'll also be remembered as a cancer survivor and advocate. Which is why Armstrong's RadioShack team tried to wear black jerseys with "28" on the back. The figure honoring the 28 million people fighting cancer.

But the curmudgeons at International Cycling Union forced the team to wear its normal red jerseys and said Monday the team will be investigated for breaching clothing regulations.

Really?

It's bad enough that you can race for three grueling weeks and end up with a result everyone predicted would happen.

Cycling is sport that's been soured by doping, ruled by Europeans who groused excessively when a Texan won their top prize and will now take the time investigate a uniform breach.

Without an American serving as underdog in the Tour, I don't really care to watch a drama-less .

Armstrong bid adieu to the Tour de France on Sunday. I'll bid cycling and the Tour adieu too.

Friday, July 9, 2010

LBJ not the heir to "His Airness"

There's "The Shot," "The Drive," "The Fumble" and now "The Decision" or is it "The Betrayal"?

Cleveland sports fans probably feel betrayed since Akron's own LeBron James announced he's moving to South Beach during a ridiculous TV spectacle Thursday.

In joining fellow stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, LeBron creates a mega-buzz. But his move to Miami removes the doubt in my mind that LeBron will never measure up to his idol, Michael Jordan.

The NBA above all other professional leagues measures greatness by rings. Russell, Jordan, Magic all greats, all won multiple titles. But they were also unquestionably the guy.

Which is why LeBron's move is a head scratcher.

James said "it's the best opportunity to win and to win now and to win in the future also. Winning is a huge thing for me." But he's going to Wade's town, where Dwayne Wade is the guy. Basically, James is choosing to play the role of second fiddle, a Scottie Pippen type to Wade's Jordan.

"The Decision" to join the Heat, is why I hesitate to even including him in the same breath as "His Airness".

Jordan was super-competitive. He had to be the guy. And in this situation, I think Jordan would have wanted to go head-to-head with Wade and run him out of the gym, not share the gym.

Killer instinct. Jordan had it, Kobe Bryant has it, and LeBron... well it's not clear it's there.

Without a doubt, LeBron is one of the premiere players in the NBA and his legacy depends on rings.

He had a great chance to win in Jordan's town, and be embraced by Bulls fans after years of losing.

He could have stayed home and become an immortal hero in Cleveland, but instead he chose to share the spotlight.

LeBron may have worn No. 23, but he's no "Airness." Not even close at this point.

Now as we move forward, the question becomes can you even make the Finals with LeBron, Wade, Bosh and a bunch of minimum-salary guys?
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More LeBron Coverage:

James Inflicts Endless Pain - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Easy Come, Easy for LeBron - Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports

LeBron Better Win Titles - Jay Mariotti, Fanhouse

Decision Disastrous for Knicks - Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com NY

Measuring the NBA post-"Decision" - DJ Gallo, ESPN Page 2

Monday, July 5, 2010

A Midsummer blunder

There's no rhyme or reason when it comes to picking MLB's All-Stars, as seen by the selections announced Sunday.

Just consider this blind test... Who's a more deserving All-Star?

Player A: 99.2 IP, 9 Wins, 91 Ks, 2.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Player B: 109.2 IP, 8 Wins, 121 Ks, 3.28 ERA, 1.30 WHIP

It's a tough call.

Mat Latos is Player A, the ace of San Diego's 1st place pitching staff and is not an All-Star. Player B is Tim Lincecum ace of the 4th place San Francisco Giants and is an All-Star.

This exercise just proves that All-Star selections are largely arbitrary. And saying that Player X got snubbed, is rather futile.

Now if I were making the selections I would have found a spot for Reds 1B Joey Votto, Nats phenom Stephen Strasburg and a few more Angels since the game is being played in Orange County. But, I just want to see the best players and watch entertaining baseball. The managers who made this year's reserve All-Star selections must play to win.

And there's the disconnect.

As a fan I don't have a say in the 162 games my team plays, nor in the postseason should they make it. But here comes the Midsummer Classic, which determines a big advantage in the World Series, and suddenly the fans gets a say.

If Bug Selig and MLB want the All-Star game to truly matter, fans shouldn't get a vote at all. The entire roster should be selected by the managers and the league office. And if that were the case, it would make complete sense for Braves utility man Omar Infante to be an All-Star.

But this is one game that shouldn't matter.

All-Stars are meant to be fun exhibitions, where the fan experience matters most. Where we the fans get to vote on everything from the starting lineup to that last player on the roster and even who pitches in the 5th inning of the game.

It's a pipe dream, but one I hope is realized.