Curt Schilling -- the star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox -- already pulled one of the greatest upsets in history, when his team came back against the New York Yankees en route to a World Series title in 2004.
Now, some Bostonians want the 40-year-old righty to set his sights on pulling a political upset -- defeating John Kerry in the 2008 race for the Senate.
It seems as if the idea was first floated on Boston sports talk radio station WRKO-AM (680) and many listeners thought it was a pretty good idea (What do they talk about on Boston sports talk radio? Here in New York, the most intellectual conversation the hosts have is when they try to guess the ratings of the Super Bowl).
One guy who doesn't think it's such a good idea -- Curt Schilling.
“While I am a registered voter, I have too many problems with the political scene, and I don’t think I’d fit into it,” he said.
If he does run, here are some ideas for negative ads that Kerry could run:
- Schilling went to Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Arizona -- not exactly Yale.
- If Schilling tries to use the fact that he is the only 2-time Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year to his advantage, try this: He wasn't good enough to win a full share of the 2001 Sportsman of the Year, so he had to share the award with Randy Johnson. In 2004, he still wasn't good enough to win the award, so he had to share it with his entire team. What a loser!
- In November, he appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy. How did he do? He finished with zero dollars. He couldn't even identify which brand of food was known as "The San Francisco Treat." Ouch.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Governor Ed Rendell: The only guy in his state who still cares about hockey
Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell definitely will contend for this year's innaugural Sports Politician of the Year.
He does weekly on-air commentary before Philadelphia Eagles games, he's a fixture at the famed Palestra for Penn men's basketball games (including last night's Penn-Temple matchup) and now he is personally getting involved in trying to keep the NHL's Penguins from moving out of Pittsburgh.
According to the Associated Press, Rendell -- the former mayor of Philadelphia -- is optimistic that a new agreement can be reached to build a new arena for the Pens. Rendell spoke with Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle on the phone Tuesday night and the two expect to speak again next week.
"We want to reach an agreement. We think we're getting closer," Rendell said Wednesday. "We're hopeful."
This is a shrewed political move by Rendell. First, politician sports fans associate themselves with a new sense of populism. They seem like "regular guys," even if -- like Rendell -- they are well-to-do Ivy League graduates.
Secondly, a big knock on Rendell is that he cares too much about Philadelphia and not about his state's other metropolitan center. He'll gain a lot of street cred in the Steel City by trying to save the Penguins.
He does weekly on-air commentary before Philadelphia Eagles games, he's a fixture at the famed Palestra for Penn men's basketball games (including last night's Penn-Temple matchup) and now he is personally getting involved in trying to keep the NHL's Penguins from moving out of Pittsburgh.
According to the Associated Press, Rendell -- the former mayor of Philadelphia -- is optimistic that a new agreement can be reached to build a new arena for the Pens. Rendell spoke with Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle on the phone Tuesday night and the two expect to speak again next week.
"We want to reach an agreement. We think we're getting closer," Rendell said Wednesday. "We're hopeful."
This is a shrewed political move by Rendell. First, politician sports fans associate themselves with a new sense of populism. They seem like "regular guys," even if -- like Rendell -- they are well-to-do Ivy League graduates.
Secondly, a big knock on Rendell is that he cares too much about Philadelphia and not about his state's other metropolitan center. He'll gain a lot of street cred in the Steel City by trying to save the Penguins.
Harold Ford now also loves Jesus
We all remember the hot water Harold Ford found himself in this fall for attending a party sponsored by Playboy at last year's Super Bowl.
But Ford had one of the greatest lines of the 2006 political season when he was asked about the party. He said, "I love girls and I love football."
According to New York Times political blog The Caucus, Ford was asked if we will be going to the Super Bowl this year when he was announced as head of the Democratic Leadership Council.
His response?
He dodged the question, saying only, "I love Jesus, I love girls and I absolutely love football."
Harold, call me!
But Ford had one of the greatest lines of the 2006 political season when he was asked about the party. He said, "I love girls and I love football."
According to New York Times political blog The Caucus, Ford was asked if we will be going to the Super Bowl this year when he was announced as head of the Democratic Leadership Council.
His response?
He dodged the question, saying only, "I love Jesus, I love girls and I absolutely love football."
Harold, call me!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Dikembe Mutombo gets a presidential shoutout
Who was that giant of a man sitting next to Laura Bush at the State of the Union tonight? Why, it was none other than NBA player Dikembe Mutombo (yes, he's still playing).
But Mutombo wasn't at the Capitol to throw 'bows, block shots and wag his finger. Rather, the 7-footer was in our nation's capitol to get a shoutout from George W. Bush for building a hospital in his native Democratic Republic of Congo.
Here's the president's exact words:
Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine – but Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth – or the duty to share his blessings with others. He has built a brand new hospital in his hometown. A friend has said of this good hearted man: “Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things.” And we are proud to call this son of the Congo our fellow American.
One question remains, however. At what point did he whisper to Laura, "Who wants to sex Mutombo?"
But Mutombo wasn't at the Capitol to throw 'bows, block shots and wag his finger. Rather, the 7-footer was in our nation's capitol to get a shoutout from George W. Bush for building a hospital in his native Democratic Republic of Congo.
Here's the president's exact words:
Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine – but Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth – or the duty to share his blessings with others. He has built a brand new hospital in his hometown. A friend has said of this good hearted man: “Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things.” And we are proud to call this son of the Congo our fellow American.
One question remains, however. At what point did he whisper to Laura, "Who wants to sex Mutombo?"
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sports Politician Super Bowl trivia
Since the Super Bowl teams have been set, here's an interesting bit of trivia that combines both sports and politics.
Only 4 colleges can boast that they have a former US president and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback as alumni. What schools are they?
Miami (Ohio) -- Benjamin Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger
Michigan -- Gerald Ford and Tom Brady
Navy -- Jimmy Carter and Roger Staubach
Stanford -- Herbert Hoover and Jim Plunkett/John Elway
Now neither Rex Grossman's University of Florida nor Peyton Manning's University of Tennessee boast a former president as an alum, so this list will not grow this year. However, I decided to take a look at the 2008 field to see which candidates (even the biggest longshots), if elected, would grow the list to five schools. Here's what I found:
If John McCain wins, he can join Jimmy Carter and Roger Staubach on the list at Navy.
If Mitt Romney wins, however, he can make BYU the fifth school on this list, as Super Bowl-winning QBs Jim McMahon and Steve Young both played at BYU.
Only 4 colleges can boast that they have a former US president and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback as alumni. What schools are they?
Miami (Ohio) -- Benjamin Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger
Michigan -- Gerald Ford and Tom Brady
Navy -- Jimmy Carter and Roger Staubach
Stanford -- Herbert Hoover and Jim Plunkett/John Elway
Now neither Rex Grossman's University of Florida nor Peyton Manning's University of Tennessee boast a former president as an alum, so this list will not grow this year. However, I decided to take a look at the 2008 field to see which candidates (even the biggest longshots), if elected, would grow the list to five schools. Here's what I found:
If John McCain wins, he can join Jimmy Carter and Roger Staubach on the list at Navy.
If Mitt Romney wins, however, he can make BYU the fifth school on this list, as Super Bowl-winning QBs Jim McMahon and Steve Young both played at BYU.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
From the sports desk to the news desk
In an interesting shakeup, the New York Daily News has decided to let it's top sports columnist, Mike Lupica, start writing about politics.
In yesterday's edition, Lupica weighed in on the failure of prominent Democrats -- particularly presidential front runners Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- to take a firm stance against the war in Iraq.
It's a well-written column and is just one more example of someone making the jump from covering sports to hard news. Probably the most influential person to jump from one desk to the other was former ABC executive Roone Arledge, who went from creating Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football to crafting Nightline and 20/20. More recently Keith Olberman went from hosting Sports Center to the fastest growing show on cable news, Countdown with Keith Olberman.
As someone who has worked in a newsroom, I'm not surprised that former sports journalists have so much success in the world of news. Covering sports forces you to find interesting stories in a world that isn't that important. Imagine how much easier it is to cover something that really matters.
Also, covering sports forces you to simplify every situation into winning and losing. How does a trade affect a team's chance of winning? Will that injury make the team better or worse?
People who cover politics like to think it requires a very particular set of skills and knowledge. The constant success of people making the jump from sports to news shows that, in reality, it's no tougher than covering a basketball game or tennis match.
In yesterday's edition, Lupica weighed in on the failure of prominent Democrats -- particularly presidential front runners Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- to take a firm stance against the war in Iraq.
It's a well-written column and is just one more example of someone making the jump from covering sports to hard news. Probably the most influential person to jump from one desk to the other was former ABC executive Roone Arledge, who went from creating Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football to crafting Nightline and 20/20. More recently Keith Olberman went from hosting Sports Center to the fastest growing show on cable news, Countdown with Keith Olberman.
As someone who has worked in a newsroom, I'm not surprised that former sports journalists have so much success in the world of news. Covering sports forces you to find interesting stories in a world that isn't that important. Imagine how much easier it is to cover something that really matters.
Also, covering sports forces you to simplify every situation into winning and losing. How does a trade affect a team's chance of winning? Will that injury make the team better or worse?
People who cover politics like to think it requires a very particular set of skills and knowledge. The constant success of people making the jump from sports to news shows that, in reality, it's no tougher than covering a basketball game or tennis match.
Obama comes out FOR Hurricane Katrina
Illinois Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is talking some serious trash. No, it's not about potential rival Hillary Clinton but rather America's team -- the New Orleans Saints.
You see, his hometown Chicago Bears are taking on the Saints in this weekend's NFC Championship Game. And unlike other politicians who would tow the line and say they were happy for both teams, Obama is unafraid to take sides.
"I'm happy for New Orleans, I think it's a wonderful city, but this fairy tale ends when they come to Chicago next week," Obama said.
Oh, snap! Rumor has it that Obama will dance on the Saints' logo if the Bears emerge triumphant this weekend.
In all seriousness, however, I think most voters -- even Saints fans -- appreciate the fact that Obama is willing to take a stand and support his team, even though he know most of the nation is rooting for New Orleans. It reminds me of when Mayor Rudy Giuliani openly rooted for the Yankees in the 2000 World Series, despite the fact that they were playing the Mets.
Sports fans appreciate passion from other sports fans.
You see, his hometown Chicago Bears are taking on the Saints in this weekend's NFC Championship Game. And unlike other politicians who would tow the line and say they were happy for both teams, Obama is unafraid to take sides.
"I'm happy for New Orleans, I think it's a wonderful city, but this fairy tale ends when they come to Chicago next week," Obama said.
Oh, snap! Rumor has it that Obama will dance on the Saints' logo if the Bears emerge triumphant this weekend.
In all seriousness, however, I think most voters -- even Saints fans -- appreciate the fact that Obama is willing to take a stand and support his team, even though he know most of the nation is rooting for New Orleans. It reminds me of when Mayor Rudy Giuliani openly rooted for the Yankees in the 2000 World Series, despite the fact that they were playing the Mets.
Sports fans appreciate passion from other sports fans.
Tough leadership in hard times
The House took a break from passing the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission and raising the minimum wage this week to address something equally as important -- congratulating the Florida Gators for winning the national championship in football.
And while 414 lemmings in Congress voted with the resolution "Commending the University of Florida Gators for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for winning the national college football championship," one man was not afraid to take a stand -- Georgia's Jack Kingston.
The representative from Georgia's 1st Congressional district (who is a frequent gust on the Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Maher) was the lone maverick who had the balls to vote against the resolution. After all, he's a graduate of Florida's rival, the University of Georgia.
Representative Jack Kingston -- not afraid to take an unpopular stance. That's the type of leadership we need in Washington.
And while 414 lemmings in Congress voted with the resolution "Commending the University of Florida Gators for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for winning the national college football championship," one man was not afraid to take a stand -- Georgia's Jack Kingston.
The representative from Georgia's 1st Congressional district (who is a frequent gust on the Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Maher) was the lone maverick who had the balls to vote against the resolution. After all, he's a graduate of Florida's rival, the University of Georgia.
Representative Jack Kingston -- not afraid to take an unpopular stance. That's the type of leadership we need in Washington.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Welcome
This is the first of what will hopefully many posts on this blog. My goal is to provide readers with news and insight into the intersection of two things I love dearly and follow closely -- sports and politics. As far as I know, there are no sources that deal with this topic, which is why I decided to start this blog. Enjoy!
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