The best analyst in football is Chris Spielman for ESPN. He is a educator of football fundamentals to us fans. He mentions terminologies such as "eight in the box" and "closing the gate" but unlike other former player turned analyst, he simply explains his view without killing the game's moment. I admire his zeal of being the best and expecting the same from others. Sometimes, it leads to issues but in a good way. However, I resent his lack of warmth to his own school's football history concerning players before him.
In his playing days, Chris rode guys who didn't play to their potential or who didn't have in confidence in what they did. Likewise, he does the same to himself and expects himself to be the best whether then as a football player or now as an analyst. He rode Pam Ward hard due to her awkwardness. Though he said he was honored to be part of the first woman doing play-by-play in college football, he kept interrupting her and second-guessing her analysis during action.
It doesn't matter if it's a man or woman, he does the same thing to his current broadcasting partner, Bob Griese. Unlike Pam, Bob will fight back but sometimes to his detriment. The Juan Pablo Montoya comment was due to the fact that Chris was riding him hard and Bob wanted to get him back. Before you get on Bob' comment (he deserved the suspension), I want you to consider what Chris and fellow announcer, Sean McDonough said some two years back.
Chris and Sean have great chemistry and mutual love for each other's work (I was very touched of Sean's voice cracking when announcing the passing of Chris' wife to cancer). Though great at what they did, they made a "jerk comment" to ESPN studio broadcaster, Dari Nowkhah. Dari is Iranian-American. During a Division I-AA playoff game between Richmond University and Appalachian State, Chris and Sean made comments about the expensive tuition at Richmond. Meanwhile, Dari was studio host of that game, doing updates of other I-AA games and news. When Dari finished his highlight, the two asked him if his parents could afford a school like Richmond in a sarcastic tone. Dari said, "I don't know what you meant by that."
Chris dedicates himself to his faith, family, and Ohio State football. He is biased when Ohio State plays and is honest about. My issue is that he talks as if he invented the linebacker position at Ohio State. He doesn't exactly embrace Ohio State history concerning players who wore his No. 36 like Tom Cousineau and Marcus Marek with the same passion as his game analysis. Other linebackers such as Randy Gradishar, Ike Kelley, Mark Stier, Dirk Worden, and others. He treats them like kryptonite as he does Woody Hayes and that 1968 Ohio State team. Earle Bruce to the current Buckeyes, different story.
Now, he knows a lot of players and facts. He embraces Ohio State traditions such as jumping off the lake before a Michigan game and singing fight songs. Yet when it comes to past players, he doesn't embrace it like fellow analyst and friend, Matt Millen does for his alumni school, Penn State, or in general, college football. Matt wishes he played with leather helmets, no face masks, and playing two-way football. He may not know everything but he wants to. He will mention names of the past without force or being pushed. Simply, Matt wishes he was there when Jack Ham or Dave Robinson played and shares that passion to the audience.
Chris, I'm glad your back. Football fans need you to bring the truth and the education of fundamental football. I appreciate your passion and your candor towards anyone who doesn't bring out their best. Sometimes, I think you take it too far but I understand your zeal. However, I want you to appreciate others who made you what you are today and give them reverence with the same passion as your game analysis to fundamental football.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Oh, Marynell
The best finder in talent in pro-basketball is Marynell Meadors. I believe she should be a scout in the NBA if not General Manager. Currently, she is the GM/coach of the WNBA, Atlanta Dream. When rumors circulated that Dream franchise may fold, I requested to the Atlanta Hawks that they hire her as a scout. She has that innate ability to find players who others don't think are professional materials as well star caliber players. With these players, she develops team chemistry through hard work and sportsmanship.
Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee in the 50's, women sports in high schools existed only as P.E. classes. Yet, in the 7th grade while playing in the backyard with her older brother and her male cousins, she decided that coaching was going to be her profession. Her biggest role models were elementary school teachers, a junior high principal, and a female basketball coach who put emphasis on hard work and fairness. She got her Bachelors and Masters in Physical Education and Physiology of Exercise from Middle Tennessee State University. Besides basketball, she played softball, tennis, and volleyball at MTSU. Her first job was at Tennessee Tech where she coached tennis, softball, and basketball for a budget of 100 dollars per sport.
Eventually, she stayed with basketball and won over 300 games with Tennessee Tech before moving on to Florida State for a few years. In the WNBA expansion year of 1997, Marynell was named GM and coach with the Charlotte Sting. She took Charlotte to two playoff appearances before being fired in the middle of her third season. Staying in the WNBA, she became a scouting director for the Miami Sol in 2000 until the team folded in 2002. She went back to college as an assistant coach for Pitt Panthers under Agnus Berenato before returning to the WNBA as an assistant to the Washington Mystics in 2005. She served for 3 years with the Mystics before being named GM and coach again to the new WNBA expansion team, Atlanta Dream in 2007.
I like her persistent stubbornness of finding players through unconventional methods. She doesn't rely on hype or players coming to her. Instead, she sells her team to potential prospects. For instance, she convinced Shamique Holdsclaw to come out of retirement after about two years. She drafted Tamera Young from James Madison instead of players from bigger programs like Connecticut, Tennessee, and Stanford. As a scouting director for the Miami Sol, she signed the youngest WNBA rookie in Brazilian, Iziane Castro Marques from Florida International as a free agent. Finally, as a college scout for Pittsburgh, she discovered Shavonte Zellous of Jones High in Orlando, Florida. Shavonte was a track star at Jones High but very raw when it came to basketball. However, Marynell noticed her potential that she could create her own shot without an offensive set play.
Lot of scouts and GM's tend to get individual players but not try to build a team. In Marynell case, she gets players and builds teams. She likes players who believe in hard work andfair play. When she was Charlotte, she built a solid nucleus of players such as Vicky Bullett, Andrea Stinson, Dawn Staley, and Rhonda Mapp who had those characteristics. As a scouting directing for the Sol, she built a solid nucleus of Ruth Riley, Sheri Sam, Yelena Baranova, and Sandy Brondello. When they folded, these players continued to play at a high level with the same characteristics. Now in Atlanta, she has those type of players in Erika DeSouza, Shalee Lehning, Sancho Little, Michelle Snow, and Angel McCoughtry with success and continuity.
If Marynell isn't able to continue her work as a WNBA coach, I would like to see an NBA team give her a job as a scout director. Maybe, the Memphis Grizzlies or the Charlotte Bobcats? She is able to find players who others don't think highly and is able to attract star players. What stands out with Marynell as a scout, she goes to the players instead of the players coming to her. With these ingredients, she builds team chemistry through hard work and sportsmanship. I nominate Marynell Meadors as the best finder of talent in professional basketball.
Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee in the 50's, women sports in high schools existed only as P.E. classes. Yet, in the 7th grade while playing in the backyard with her older brother and her male cousins, she decided that coaching was going to be her profession. Her biggest role models were elementary school teachers, a junior high principal, and a female basketball coach who put emphasis on hard work and fairness. She got her Bachelors and Masters in Physical Education and Physiology of Exercise from Middle Tennessee State University. Besides basketball, she played softball, tennis, and volleyball at MTSU. Her first job was at Tennessee Tech where she coached tennis, softball, and basketball for a budget of 100 dollars per sport.
Eventually, she stayed with basketball and won over 300 games with Tennessee Tech before moving on to Florida State for a few years. In the WNBA expansion year of 1997, Marynell was named GM and coach with the Charlotte Sting. She took Charlotte to two playoff appearances before being fired in the middle of her third season. Staying in the WNBA, she became a scouting director for the Miami Sol in 2000 until the team folded in 2002. She went back to college as an assistant coach for Pitt Panthers under Agnus Berenato before returning to the WNBA as an assistant to the Washington Mystics in 2005. She served for 3 years with the Mystics before being named GM and coach again to the new WNBA expansion team, Atlanta Dream in 2007.
I like her persistent stubbornness of finding players through unconventional methods. She doesn't rely on hype or players coming to her. Instead, she sells her team to potential prospects. For instance, she convinced Shamique Holdsclaw to come out of retirement after about two years. She drafted Tamera Young from James Madison instead of players from bigger programs like Connecticut, Tennessee, and Stanford. As a scouting director for the Miami Sol, she signed the youngest WNBA rookie in Brazilian, Iziane Castro Marques from Florida International as a free agent. Finally, as a college scout for Pittsburgh, she discovered Shavonte Zellous of Jones High in Orlando, Florida. Shavonte was a track star at Jones High but very raw when it came to basketball. However, Marynell noticed her potential that she could create her own shot without an offensive set play.
Lot of scouts and GM's tend to get individual players but not try to build a team. In Marynell case, she gets players and builds teams. She likes players who believe in hard work andfair play. When she was Charlotte, she built a solid nucleus of players such as Vicky Bullett, Andrea Stinson, Dawn Staley, and Rhonda Mapp who had those characteristics. As a scouting directing for the Sol, she built a solid nucleus of Ruth Riley, Sheri Sam, Yelena Baranova, and Sandy Brondello. When they folded, these players continued to play at a high level with the same characteristics. Now in Atlanta, she has those type of players in Erika DeSouza, Shalee Lehning, Sancho Little, Michelle Snow, and Angel McCoughtry with success and continuity.
If Marynell isn't able to continue her work as a WNBA coach, I would like to see an NBA team give her a job as a scout director. Maybe, the Memphis Grizzlies or the Charlotte Bobcats? She is able to find players who others don't think highly and is able to attract star players. What stands out with Marynell as a scout, she goes to the players instead of the players coming to her. With these ingredients, she builds team chemistry through hard work and sportsmanship. I nominate Marynell Meadors as the best finder of talent in professional basketball.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Golden Heart on the Call
Lived near East Mecklenburg High in Charlotte during the late 90's. Worked part-time gigs at ESPN Regional television, monitoring basketball and football games, at WTVI as a videotape operator for a PBS affiliate, and volunteered at radio stations and public access TV at Timer Warner Cable. Favorite moment was going to a high school football game for WCGC radio near Belmont Abbey. Small town America, game played at night filled with fog from the mountains (thanks Steve). Likewise, WPEG radio sent me to record coach's soundbite for Johnson C. Smith and UNC-Charlotte (tape recorder was bad, never got on air). Finally at Time Warner with Fonda Sanders encouragement, I got to meet interesting people and did interesting shows mostly religious and exercise variety (Nurse Beth Marlin combined both, believe it or not by quoting scripture while doing sit-ups).
Mostly, my recollection: not eating well. Tyrone Steele reminded me of that as well as the Thirumurthy's who saved my life by asking me to come over their house for dinner. Paul Thirumurthy is the Andy Griffith of the Tamil community in Charlotte. Professor at Johnson C. Smith but trust me, if you're a good man (don't need to be Indian) and need something, go to him. Oh, yeah, his wife and her mother were great too. Hopefully, your daughters and nieces have found a man to care (Neil get a hold of drinking, dude). Besides that, sleeping a lot, and going to the library, listening to downloaded audio songs of ABBA on their computer; as well reading dead people on microfilm and visiting their graves at Elmwood and Sharon.
Completed a course at the Carolina School of Broadcasting in radio and television (Allison, Ken, Chris-Gbless). Got discovered and helped by Randy Wills of WTVI when I worked for county commission because fellow CSB student, Sandy Groulx didn't want to be there. Sandy is a great person who knew what she wanted and is probably on-air at a commercial station. Thanks to her, I met a female friend who counseled me and try to lead me to God (Goodluck, VPB).
Didn't know what I was doing nor did I care. Fun for me at all times. It would have been a waste but for the fact that I made a friend and got along somewhat with the folks of WTVI. At the public access station and met another female friend (DB- young at heart). Revelation hit me, immature and not going to last long. I had no girlfriend and totally bombed at interviews at big stations. Unlike Will Rogers, I didn't know when to quit particularly when I'm talking. The main disappointment; couldn't connected with anything. Going to strip clubs and getting addicted to women. LOL. Not funny.
One time, took my clothes to dry-cleaner store instead of the apartment ones. When the bill came out to be 18 dollars and I looked surprised. The Indian owner told me annoyingly "why don't you try to get a job". The problem was that I did have a job but not a career. Some time later, I was in the apartment whirlpool, talking to some folks while a party was going on. They kind of put me down about living off my job to pay rent and that I was rolling. My theory about couples in the United States: one is lazy and the other can get a white guy or girl without force but doesn't want to admit to their spouse. Therefore, the lazy one is forced to work so the other won't leave. But one has to have the ability to get a white in order to survive (you don't have to marry one).
Contemplating my move for something. Did a lot of first times: driving to different places in the Carolinas (never went past the 40 miles radius), walking long distances, listening to sermons of Jimmy and Vickie at the Wednesday night bible study and. Food! The were other arts and crafts seminars at churches, going to a therapist at the United Way (give back), and visiting my friends from UNC-Charlotte (thanks for the sleepover, Tamera). Try to ask women out but the confidence wasn't there. Being an Indian male is a genetic defect when it comes to American dating. That is why Indians get arranged to Indian women who appeal to whites.
Around the fall of 98 at a apartment party, this underage girl was teased by what appeared to be her older brother in a playful manner with the sister responding that she could kick some butt. In the same tone but serious matter, he called her a slut. Something a concerned friend or stranger would say but not a relative. Don't recall why the gathering but remember being dark and that she had a school back-pack. Tall and skinny, maybe 9th grade or 10th (or even younger). Looked like a young Florence Ballard concerning the awkward evolution of tomboy to female. Strong but didn't have the feminine graces of being coy and reserved. Wore jeans and a T-shirt. Had the attitude of a boy when it came to meeting strangers. Felt strangely comfortable without the lust. Likewise, she didn't put up racial barriers. Mutual respect. Given time, I knew she was going to evolve into a beautiful feminine woman that sells real estate.
After a few moments, I noticed a beeper on her hip and looking intently at it in the dark. In 1998 that was the fad before cell phones. Shoot even elementary school kids carried one for fun. Mostly, it was due to their parents wanting to keep during the 90's fear of school violence (before Columbine) and drugs. However, kids used it to abuse. But with this girl, it was serious. She flickered the light and read the number. I understood what her brother meant. Next thing you know, she was gone.
It couldn't have no more than 3 minutes that I saw her and said one sentence. Of all the things I have done living in Charlotte, I remember her vividly. Ten and half years later when I look at counselors, therapists or parents who raise a difficult child, I remember this girl. Most being women but same demeanor as this girl. Some are phony and others about to burnout. I think of this quote by a woman who said that she has the ability to love both sexes. Finally, a character from the movie, Ambikapathy reminds me of that girl. The one that tried to help MKT come to his senses but to no avail.
As you see, I'm not only a observer but a client.
Mostly, my recollection: not eating well. Tyrone Steele reminded me of that as well as the Thirumurthy's who saved my life by asking me to come over their house for dinner. Paul Thirumurthy is the Andy Griffith of the Tamil community in Charlotte. Professor at Johnson C. Smith but trust me, if you're a good man (don't need to be Indian) and need something, go to him. Oh, yeah, his wife and her mother were great too. Hopefully, your daughters and nieces have found a man to care (Neil get a hold of drinking, dude). Besides that, sleeping a lot, and going to the library, listening to downloaded audio songs of ABBA on their computer; as well reading dead people on microfilm and visiting their graves at Elmwood and Sharon.
Completed a course at the Carolina School of Broadcasting in radio and television (Allison, Ken, Chris-Gbless). Got discovered and helped by Randy Wills of WTVI when I worked for county commission because fellow CSB student, Sandy Groulx didn't want to be there. Sandy is a great person who knew what she wanted and is probably on-air at a commercial station. Thanks to her, I met a female friend who counseled me and try to lead me to God (Goodluck, VPB).
Didn't know what I was doing nor did I care. Fun for me at all times. It would have been a waste but for the fact that I made a friend and got along somewhat with the folks of WTVI. At the public access station and met another female friend (DB- young at heart). Revelation hit me, immature and not going to last long. I had no girlfriend and totally bombed at interviews at big stations. Unlike Will Rogers, I didn't know when to quit particularly when I'm talking. The main disappointment; couldn't connected with anything. Going to strip clubs and getting addicted to women. LOL. Not funny.
One time, took my clothes to dry-cleaner store instead of the apartment ones. When the bill came out to be 18 dollars and I looked surprised. The Indian owner told me annoyingly "why don't you try to get a job". The problem was that I did have a job but not a career. Some time later, I was in the apartment whirlpool, talking to some folks while a party was going on. They kind of put me down about living off my job to pay rent and that I was rolling. My theory about couples in the United States: one is lazy and the other can get a white guy or girl without force but doesn't want to admit to their spouse. Therefore, the lazy one is forced to work so the other won't leave. But one has to have the ability to get a white in order to survive (you don't have to marry one).
Contemplating my move for something. Did a lot of first times: driving to different places in the Carolinas (never went past the 40 miles radius), walking long distances, listening to sermons of Jimmy and Vickie at the Wednesday night bible study and. Food! The were other arts and crafts seminars at churches, going to a therapist at the United Way (give back), and visiting my friends from UNC-Charlotte (thanks for the sleepover, Tamera). Try to ask women out but the confidence wasn't there. Being an Indian male is a genetic defect when it comes to American dating. That is why Indians get arranged to Indian women who appeal to whites.
Around the fall of 98 at a apartment party, this underage girl was teased by what appeared to be her older brother in a playful manner with the sister responding that she could kick some butt. In the same tone but serious matter, he called her a slut. Something a concerned friend or stranger would say but not a relative. Don't recall why the gathering but remember being dark and that she had a school back-pack. Tall and skinny, maybe 9th grade or 10th (or even younger). Looked like a young Florence Ballard concerning the awkward evolution of tomboy to female. Strong but didn't have the feminine graces of being coy and reserved. Wore jeans and a T-shirt. Had the attitude of a boy when it came to meeting strangers. Felt strangely comfortable without the lust. Likewise, she didn't put up racial barriers. Mutual respect. Given time, I knew she was going to evolve into a beautiful feminine woman that sells real estate.
After a few moments, I noticed a beeper on her hip and looking intently at it in the dark. In 1998 that was the fad before cell phones. Shoot even elementary school kids carried one for fun. Mostly, it was due to their parents wanting to keep during the 90's fear of school violence (before Columbine) and drugs. However, kids used it to abuse. But with this girl, it was serious. She flickered the light and read the number. I understood what her brother meant. Next thing you know, she was gone.
It couldn't have no more than 3 minutes that I saw her and said one sentence. Of all the things I have done living in Charlotte, I remember her vividly. Ten and half years later when I look at counselors, therapists or parents who raise a difficult child, I remember this girl. Most being women but same demeanor as this girl. Some are phony and others about to burnout. I think of this quote by a woman who said that she has the ability to love both sexes. Finally, a character from the movie, Ambikapathy reminds me of that girl. The one that tried to help MKT come to his senses but to no avail.
As you see, I'm not only a observer but a client.
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