It's the Return

Hello, faithful listeners.  We appreciate your patience.  The Dick & Bo Show comes back with a sport that we promised to talk about, but never really did.  It’s the sport that a man named Bud runs.  That’s right, we’re talking about Major League Baseball.  We run down this past season in 15 minutes or less…because frankly – that’s all we figured you could take.  As always, we finish the show with an old favorite.

Some additional and exciting news about the show…we are adding a new segment called Separated at Birth.  Basically, we take an athlete and find their long lost twin living somewhere in popular culture.  Our meager research department doesn’t look into it very thoroughly so, the two people that we post might actually be twins, cousins, or somehow otherwise related.  Please forgive the research department if they attempt to post Brook and Robin Lopez as long lost twins.  The suspense is killing you, we can tell.  Without further delay - the first edition of Separated at Birth.

Aaron Rodgers       

    

Scott Stapp

Take another look if you need to...Rodgers, the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, and Stapp, the former singer for the band Creed, sure look like they've been...Separated at Biiiiiiiiirrrrth!  At this point, whose career would you rather have?  It’s a coin flip in our eyes.

Ah hem...

Attention. Do not be alarmed. The Dick and Bo Show will be returning soon with a new podcast. It has been a while...and we apologize. Our promise to you: we will return with harder hitting shows, wittier banter, deeper discussions, and special guest commentary. In the meantime, here is a short list of what has happened in the sports world since we last talked:

1. Yankee stadium hosted it's final game and the Yankees missed the MLB playoffs.

2. The Chicago Cubs won their division and made the MLB playoffs, but if you blinked, you missed their appearance.

3. Bud Selig almost had to declare the Philadelphia Phillies the winner of the World Series after only 6 innings of the deciding game, due to rain. The Philies won the game, and the series, two days later once play resumed. It was Philadelphia's first professional sports championship since 1980. Another note about the series, it turned out that changing their name from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to the Tampa Bay Rays only helped them capture the AL Pennant and not the World Series title.

4. The NBA season started. A quick rundown of the division leaders to this point: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavs, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, LA Lakers, and the New Orleans Hornets. Don't worry, it's early - Atlanta will fade

5. The NFL season has passed it's mid-way point. The New York Jets are tied for first place in the AFC East. The Green Bay Packers are in third place in the NFC North. A good decision by Green Bay's front office? You tell me.

6. The BCS appears to be heading for some real trouble. First, there are 4 undefeated teams left. Only two from "true" BCS conferences. Utah and Boise State are looking to crash the party. Second, there are 4 other one loss teams that have a legitimate chance at getting into the National Championship Game. Finally, President-elect Barack Obama has mentioned on two separate occasions that we need a college playoff system. The writing is on the wall. Here's my suggestion for the slogan, "College Football Playoffs 2010 - It's About Time A True Champion is Crowned".

We'll pick it up from here on out. Expect big things from us. We will deliver.

- Bo

Podcast Episode #18 - Beware of the Black Widow! Beware of Ungrateful GMs!

In another edition of the Dick and Bo Show, our fabulous hosts recount Bo's harrowing brush with death in a terrifying spider attack, read fan e-mail, and bring you a brand spanking new "Brett Favre Minute." I wonder what they will talk about? He has not been up to much lately.

Listen to it: The Dick and Bo Show - Episode #18

Podcast Episode #17 - MLB All Star Game

In this edition of the podcast, we talk about the 2008 All-Star Game, and why the MLB All-Star format kicks the pants of the equivalent NFL, NBA, and NHL offerings. Be sure to listen intently, 'cause Bo actually utters the words "gentleman's competition." This from a former smash-mouth, college-ball full-back! Egad!

Click to listen:

The Dick and Bo Show - Episode #17

One last point about Team USA...

Proof that the 2008 Team USA doesn't really know what its like to win, at least not on the same level as the 1992 Dream Team. Amongst the whole lot, the 2008 Team USA has 5 NBA Championship Rings (three are Kobe's), 10 NBA Finals appearances (half of those are Kobe), and two NCAA Basketball Championship Rings. Contrast that to the 1992 Dream Team (as of the 1992 Barcelona Games) which had 14 NBA Championship Rings, 2 NBA Finals appearances, and five NCAA Basketball Championship Rings. By the end of their collective careers, the original Dream Team would amass 23 rings and 40 finals appearances in total. I know these kids are young...but gosh look at those numbers. The '92 team KNEW how to win...and they kept on winning long after taking home the Gold!

One of Team USA's 5 rings...

USA 116, Angola 48

Will Team USA ever be on the winning side of a such a lopsided victory again? In the Olympics, probably not. 1992. The early days of pro ballers in international competition. The original Dream Team, that flat-out spanked the world and took home the gold medal in Barcelona. In celebration of the 2008 "Dream Team" (ever wonder why that moniker just faded away?) being selected, let's take a little You Tube look back on the wonder that was Team USA in 1992. This clip, while a bit grainy, is still an extremely entertaining Dream Team "Top Ten Plays" collection. All ten are pretty fantastic, but at the two-minute mark, when Magic high-fives Jordan after a ridiculous no-look, over-the-head pass for a slam, I get all teary-eyed. They played with such ferocious intensity, on both sides of the floor. Practically all 10 of these plays start with some sort of steal or terrific defensive stop. Just watch it:



This final clip is slightly better quality, and chronicles a number of games Team USA played during the tournament. Again, I am astounded at the quality of play here: Check it out, at the 2-minute mark, when Charles Barkley finishes a nice dunk off a Pippen feed, and then immediately starts pressing the Angolan team member trying to in-bound the ball. USA won that game by SIXTY-EIGHT points. You think Vince Carter would ever do something like that? Just look for yourself:



Now, basketball fans...cry. We all like to think that today's crop of stars are amazing to watch, and uber-talented...but it was better before. Those romanticized hazy memories of Jordan, Bird, and Magic? Well, don't worry about some youngster calling you an old-timer. Just show them the evidence. Because back then, they really were that much better.

Tiger is unreal.

If the pain hits, the pain hits. So what? It's just pain.

-Tiger Woods, after his amazing Saturday performance @ the US Open in San Diego.

Any lingering questions about Tiger's masculinity have been answered.  The man is a beast.  Playing through intense knee pain (a condition he had undergone medical treatment and surgery for in previous months) Tiger put together an unforgettable back 9 to take the lead at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.  No stranger to the course, (it is the site of the yearly Buick Open) Tiger astonished the crowd, and earned a number of standing ovations.  You've never seen/heard such a raucous crowd at a golf tournament.  Truly awesome.  And I don't even like golf.  Well, I like PGA golf. Even LPGA golf.  I hate nobody golf, played by overweight, over-the-hill CEOs and lame-os.  Go the gym, lose some of that beer belly.  Don't "play" a game that allows you to use an electric buggy.  Unless you are good.  Good like Tiger. He is unbelievable.  He is the MJ of golf. It's the only other major sport that has a true "MJ" equivalent.  

Best major pro-sport athletes of all time:

1. Jordan

2. Woods

3. BIG FAT ASS TIE

Build Your Own Favre Shrine!

Our loyal ESPN Page 2 contributor, Kurt Snibbe, has created a fun web 2.0 application, that allows all you Brett Favre fans out there to indulge your fantasies and dream up a shrine to the locker of the man, the legend, BF4. Here's the link: BUILD YOUR OWN FAVRE SHRINE.

Being the Favre fan that I am, I couldn't help myself. Here is Dick Hunter's very own Favre Shrine (the stinky cheese flame takes center stage):

You Are Absolutely Right, Sign Holding Stranger

You may have heard about O.J. Mayo recently. He was the prep-phenom/hired gun that USC rented for the past season. He's been accused of accepting money and gifts from an agent during his short stint in "college". Because they will take this short column and turn it into a very long one, I will spare you my thoughts about the basketball system from youth to the NBA. I would like to share my thoughts on USC's response. Today, USC claimed that it did not have any knowledge of Mayo accepting any gifts. I'm sure they didn't actually see him take any gifts but, come on. They didn't do any research on the player who they were spending thousands of dollars on? Check out this article from SI written on July 10, 2006:

The O.J. Circus

In the article the author, Seth Davis, mentions that before his senior year in high school Mayo began to associate with Rodney Guillory, a known runner for an agent. Basically, an agent's runner provides gift for amateur athletes, as long as the athlete promises to sign with that agent upon turning professional. Interestingly enough, Guillory already "worked" with a USC basketball player who was suspended by the NCAA for taking improper gifts from an agent.

USC please, please spare us the "We didn't know..." game. We all knew it was happening. We know it happens at most of the big schools. Please, just admit that you were in the wrong and should have taken extreme precautions when dealing with Mayo. Of course, you probably don't care too much. Mayo lined the schools pockets with some bonus money. All you need to do is deny any knowledge in a few articles and you can move on to your next hired gun.

Gooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll!!!

I don't think this is how the goalie meant to play this one...

Bill Russel is INSANE

Watch this clip. Then come back. COME BACK! PLEASE!

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3390456&categoryId=2459788

Ok, so the video features an aging Bill Russell with an 80s hat on, Cosby sweater, short pants, and high white sox serenading a just-about-past-his-prime, recently turned Bostin Celtic, Kevin Garnett about how to win championships in the NBA. NOBODY knows more about winning rings in the hoops world than Bill Russell, he has ELEVEN. The last one was in 1969. That's almost 40 years ago. But, yea he knows how to win. I guess.

A couple of thoughts about this video piece:

A) What the hell is up with the music? I feel like I should be watching the birth of a baby blue whale in hi-def...you know some sort of "isn't life amahhhzing???" kind of shit.

B)The shot of Garnett topless, admiring his Celtics jersey before putting it on. What? Besides the obvious sex-appeal of a shirtless KG, what's the point of this shot? I know, I know the Celtics are a storied franchise, but they haven't been relevant in 20 years. Bo put it best: "I really respect both of those guys...but this Boston thing has gotten out of control"

C)Some of the ridiiiiculous things Russell says to Garnett:

"I think, you are going to win, at least 2-3 championships here. But if you don't...I'll share one of mine with you."

Uh - Sorry BR, if KG doesn't win a ring, I doubt he'll be too excited about "sharing" one of your championships.

"If you play the way you play, and you dedicate yourself to doing it...they will come. You know, like in Field of Dreams?"

Uh - Yea BR, we got it. Just like in "Field of Dreams." Keep dedicating yourself, KG, and they will come! The rings will just magically appear in the cornfields surrounding your backyard.

"I see you wearing #5, that's pretty close to #6!"

(This is in reference to BR wearing #6 when he was playing)Uh - Yea BR, I'm sure his jersey # has a lot to do with it.

And the whole time KG is just sitting there, saying "I feel you, I feel you." Except you can tell he doesn't give a crap about "sharing a championship." He wants one all to himself. Well, lets start with a Finals appearance now, shall we? Let's see if we can get that far.

ANYWAY, looks like they have a wonderful relationship, BR and KG. That's so amazing. But spare us ABC, please, spare us this mush. I love KG as a player, and hope he's successful in this year's playoffs, but he isn't curing cancer or saving babies trapped in flooded houses. This is entertainment! SLAM DUNK THE BALL KG!

The Real Black Hole

Is Al Davis losing his mind? Maybe. Is he losing his football mind? Absolutely. Without a doubt, Al Davis has lost his edge as a football man. There comes a time when one should realize that your life's craft has passed you by. That time is now for Davis.

The Raider's first round pick (fourth overall), Darren McFadden, appears to have all of the tools that are necessary to become a very good NFL running back. Maybe even a great one, only time will tell. The problem is that the Raiders were lacking in much more important places than running back. Their offensive line is atrocious. They lost Warren Sapp off of their defensive front. These two groups are the most important parts of football team. Without them, you can forget about having a successful season.

Apparently, Al Davis has forgotten about the terrible offensive line that the Raiders parade out on the field and fell in love with the hype of the “next Adrian Peterson”. Not to take anything away from Peterson, but the Minnesota Viking's offensive line is pretty good. Much better than the Raiders. I want to emphasis that, much better than the Raiders. How is McFadden or, for that matter, JaMarcus Russell, the number one pick in last year's draft, supposed to improve behind terrible line play? The answer...they're not. Until they get a better line in front of them the two first round draft picks will struggle. So, why did Davis, in a draft that featured 15 linemen taken in the first round, not take an a lineman with his pick?

You tell me.

#4 to Grace the Cover of Madden 2009

What a big surprise! In case you couldn't tell, that last sentence was supposed to be sarcastic. In case you couldn't tell, the sentence after the first sentence was written with a hint of irony.

I'll save my real thoughts about this new development in the saga that is the legend, BF#4, for our next Brett Favre Minute (Yes! we have a podcast! subscribe to it! It's called The Dick and Bo Show), but suffice to say I believe the so-called "Madden Curse" will continue...

T-Mac! 7 whole points in the fourth quarter! Way 2 Go!

So Tracy McGrady, the bona-fide Houston Rockets superstar finally put an end to his fourth quarter "disappearing act" last night in Salt Lake City. And, as a result, the Rockets, down 0-2 in their first round playoff series with the Utah Jazz came away with a win, 94-92.

At least, that's what the talking heads would want you to believe. In ESPN.com's daily NBA column, "The Daily Dime," Tim Butler reports that T-Mac took a new strategy going into Game 3. T-Mac said,

 "I was just trying to be passive early in the fourth quarter," he added, "and I felt like if we were able to keep it close, I was waiting until the right time to really insert myself on the offensive end."

Oh ok. He was "passive" early on, and thus, the Jazz stopped guarding him, and he was able to string together 7 straight points, with his final bucket putting the Rockets ahead 92-86. Hmm. The final score was 94-92. The Jazz ended the game outscoring the Rockets 6-2, and in a way, T-Mac nearly lost the game for Houston. Let's take a look at the final few minutes, and what exactly McGrady contributed to the win, in clutch time:

With 1:13 remaining in the game, T-Mac bricks a 20 footer. Kyle Korver hits a 3-pointer for the Jazz on the ensuing possesion.

With 47 seconds left in the game, T-Mac gets whistled for an offensive foul, turning the ball over to the Jazz. Mehmet Okur makes a 25 foot three spot on the ensuing possesion.

With 37 seconds left, Rocket's coach Rick Adelman calls a time out, with the Rocks up 93-92, draws up a fantastic play that ends up with T-Mac bricking yet ANOTHER 20 foot jumper. The Jazz get the ball back, and manage to get the ball to Deron Williams who attempts to launch a 3 pointer to win the game for the Jazz...only to have it blocked by Carl Landry. Luis Scola nails a final free throw to make it 94-92, and that's the ball game.

Oh, and T-Mac went 5-9 from the charity stripe. That's not too great for all of you bad at math. This is Houston's SUPERSTAR.

So really, T-Mac's new strategy for fourth quarter play is to:

1) Absolutely disappear for the first 8 minutes
2) Once the opposing team forgets that I exist, take a bunch of wide open shots in succession, and be aggressive for 2 minutes, so that nobody can call me a "disappearing act"
3) Take low percentage shots in the final seconds/minutes, and hopefully my teammates will come through with clutch plays...because I can't. (Except that one time I scored 13 points in one minute).

Anyway...good luck T-Mac, you are gonna need it to win another game in Utah. But Bo and I were discussing it, and it makes sense that someone related to Vince Carter would have so many troubles in the playoffs.

Rockets fans, blame Vince Carter for all your woes!

Almost Like He Planned It This Way

Kobe Bryant sure has learned a lot from Phil Jackson. No other player or former player of Jackson's was able to pull off what he did this year. I mean, not even Michael Jordan utilized the psychological games that Phil plays to the extent that Bryant did this season. MJ used fear to motivate his teammates. If they didn't perform to a higher level, he would berate them during practice. He would scream at them until he reduced them to nothing. Either they fought back and stepped up their game or they didn't last long as his teammate. Shaq didn't need to use any of Phil's motivational games because his teammates respected his size. When you're 7'1 you don't need any psychological ploys to motivate people.

We all know about Kobe. We have all heard about how he isn't a good teammate. How he never really connects with his team. He never gets close to his teammates or lets them in. He is a very driven competitor who holds himself and his team to a very high standard. At times this forces him to keep his distance from his team. It also, at times, makes him publicly call out his teammates.

Before this season started, Kobe said that he was done playing for the Lakers and demanded a trade. Bryant was furious with the Lakers for not bringing in another high caliber player to compliment his game. Each time he complained to the media it was like he was slapping his teammates in the face. They must have been growing increasingly angry each time they read or watched Kobe complain. The Lakers shopped Kobe around seeing if they could get a reasonable return for him but no team offered enough. So, Bryant started the season with the same team surrounding him that he had refused to play along side during the off-season. What people didn't expect was the immense growth of the Laker's other players. They finally seemed to be developing into the players that they were originally thought to be. As the season progressed and the Lakers continued to do well, they finally traded for the high caliber player that Kobe demanded during the off-season.

The point I am trying to get across is that Kobe didn't ever want to be traded from the Lakers. The daily shots that he took at teammates were not meant to belittle them, but they were meant to make them work harder. They became better players because Kobe called them out. He questioned them, in front of everyone who would watch or listen. If that doesn't make a professional athlete want to get better and prove someone wrong, then nothing will. Before we jump all over Kobe for appearing to be a spoiled brat, maybe we should think about why he would do something like that. Maybe all of these years with Jackson have started to rub off. Maybe it was a bit of psychological warfare. We can't prove that Kobe meant his pre-season comments one way or another but we do know one thing...the Lakers are the #1 seed in the Western Conference for these playoffs. And the way the West played out this season, that is no small feat.

Why Weren't You at Practice Yesterday?

Keeping up with sports can be an overwhelming task in today's world. There are multiple television channels dedicated entirely to sports, or, in the case of the NFL Network, dedicated to one sport. The Internet provides endless amounts of game analysis, statistics, and background stories for every sport you can imagine. The sports television channels have become so successful that they have spun off their own radio show versions. Not that TV came before sports talk radio but, ESPN existed as a television channel before it did as station on the radio. So, for the times that you are away from a TV, you can listen to people talk about sports.

Don't get me wrong about all of this, I enjoy it as much as the next person. But, you would think that with all of the media dedicated to sports, we wouldn't be concerned about not being able to watch an important game during a crucial part of the season. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened the other night. This past Friday night there was a televised MLB game (Red Sox vs.Yankees) and a televised NBA game (Cavs vs. Bulls). I have no problem with either of these games being shown. My issue lies with the fact that in one of the most exciting years in a long time for the NBA they did not show the Suns / Rockets game. The two games that I mentioned were on two channels. Two. That's it. There wasn't one other available channel to show the Suns / Rockets. The NBA season is winding down. The Western Conference is in a tight playoff race and, somehow, the NBA didn't bother showing the game. I bet a lot more people would have tuned in to that game then the Cavs / Bulls. Especially, after watching the Cavs get beaten by a weaker team.

Not showing the Suns / Rockets game on Friday night was irritating, but, it didn't aggravate me until I happened upon ESPN2 on Saturday morning. ESPN2 was televising the Florida Gator's spring football game! The game came complete with commentators and everything. Not just any announcers, either. They brought out their College Football GameDay crew. Spring football games are a fun event...for the players, students, towns, and university. They are the culmination of a lot of hard work that went into spring practice and it provides a great atmosphere for everyone involved. The fans don't bring their do or die attitude that comes with the regular season. The coaches aren't afraid to take chances and have a little fun.

However, let's be honest with ourselves. A spring game is a glorified practice. Coaches are on the field observing and correcting mistakes made by the players. The “game” is scripted. For the most part, the offensive coaches know what the defensive coaches are running and vice versa. The projected starting quarterback usually doesn't get tackled. I mean, the referee's wear shorts for crying out loud!

There is no reason for spring games to be on television...unless...you can use it for a recruiting tool. I mean, sure, national signing day already happened. But, it's never too late to think about next, next season. The kids who are being recruited get a chance to see the teams that they are thinking of joining. They get to see the fun and excitement that the spring game offers. The commentators tell stories and give background information on the team. It is a great recruiting tool, but it doesn't make good sports television. In fact it makes terrible sports television.

So, please, please, stop using television as a blatant recruiting method. Instead, put on games that have some meaning. Games that matter in a playoff race. Games that pit two good teams against each other. Games that will stir up some interest in their respective league. Games that are the reason sports were televised in the first place...to be entertaining.

All Four Number Ones

You might have heard over this past week that all four number one seeds in the men's basketball tournament made the final four. The supposed top four teams in the country made it to the end, just as the selection committee planned. It was the first time this happened. As it turned out, the results of the opening games of the final four were not much different than a number one seed playing a sixteen seed in the opening round. Kansas won by 18 points and, at one point, were up 40 – 12 on North Carolina. Memphis won by 15 over UCLA during which, they essentially rendered Kevin Love and Darren Collison ineffective. So, what exactly does that mean?

It means that the two best teams in the country are playing for the national championship. Right now we all should be extremely excited for the national championship game. The two best teams in the country are going head to head. If both teams play to their potential, we are in for a great game, maybe, one of the all-time best. Kansas put on a clinic against North Carolina in the first half. They out played, out hustled, and out executed the favored Tar Heels. In the other game, Memphis used their size and talent at guard to overwhelm UCLA. The Bruin guards were taken advantage of while playing defense. Offensively, UCLA wasn't much better off. Memphis held two of the three UCLA perimeter players to less than ten points.

Two things stood out to me as I was watching the Memphis/UCLA game. Kevin Love needs to stay in school for at least two more years. His outlet passing is a thing of beauty. I will not argue with that. What the Memphis game showed, was a team full of athletic big men could make Love ineffective, scoring wise. Unfortunately for Love, NBA teams are full of athletic big men. I am not saying that I think Love will be a bad NBA player, but, he should enjoy his time in college and try to win a national championship or two. The other thing that stood out was that Derrick Rose is the real deal. He made one of the country's other top guards, Collison, look ordinary. Strike that, Collison looked extremely pedestrian. If Rose decides to come out early, he sealed the deal as the top guard in the draft. Potentially, the first overall pick. There aren't too many teams that should pass up a point guard with his potential.

Anyway, back to the championship game. This has potential to be one of the best championship games of all time. It doesn't matter that the first two final four games were blowouts. The tournament is played to crown a champion, not to create entertaining national semifinal games, right? Isn't that why we watch? The best teams should be there at the end. And this year, without a doubt, they are.

#1

There is not enough coverage of sports and the events that surround them these days and...it makes me sick! I thought that by creating this blog I could help spread the word about these highly conditioned athletes participating in fierce contests. With help from this blog, I hope that, one day, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association get the recognition that they deserve. There are other sports that I will discuss as well, but those four have the most potential to appeal to a mass, sports-craving audience. I may not stick to only discussing the events that go with sports. In order to help promote these leagues, I think it might be wise to discuss the people and players that keep us entertained. It will give these incredible athletes a more “human” feel. Hopefully, it will allow us to connect with them in our own way. I may even comment on the so-called experts who get paid to watch, write, and talk about these sports. Fortunately, there are only a few of them so, I won't have to spend too much time analyzing them. That's all for now. Check back next week for a new post.