Timeout Awards: UFC fighters, Bulls management and a repeat offender

Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter
This week’s edition of the Timeout Awards is highlighted by a couple of first. This marks the first time a UFC fighter makes the list, and we get our first repeat offender. So let’s start dishing out Timeouts, shall we?

I am a huge fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I make it a point to catch every Ultimate Fighter episode on Spike TV and watch every PPV. I have mostly been satisfied with what I have seen until last Saturday. Anderson Silva, the so-called pound-for-pound best MMA fighter, decided to be best pound-for-pound clown in the world.

Silva got the wrong impression that somehow the people in attendance and PPV viewers paid to see him dance around and taunt his opponent Demian Maia. He forgot to do one thing during the fight, and it’s a key element in UFC: fight.  Saying he upset UFC president Dana White with his actions is an understatement. White refused to hand Silva his title after he won the fight by decision. He also had these choice words for Silva.

Anderson Silva may have lost the respect of his fans and his boss but at least he earned the first Timeout for an MMA fighter.

Maybe Silva could have cleared the octagon for next two Timeout recipients, who desperately wanted to tear each other’s heads off.  Vinny Del Negro and John Paxson reportedly got into a shoving match. This wouldn’t as big of a problem if they didn’t both work for the Chicago Bulls. Del Negro, the Bulls coach, and Paxson, the team president, got into a heated argument over the playing time of Bulls forward Joakim Noah.

Instead of uniting and rallying their team for a playoff run, two of the guys in charge of the team are trying to dish out haymakers to one another. Great way to lead by example, Del Negro and Paxton. Fortunately, your team made the playoffs while you two were training for your UFC bout against one another. Timeouts to both of you.

The last guy on the list probably deserves a Timeout Lifetime Achievement Award. I’ve written this blog for a little over a month, and he is getting his second of what will probably many more Timeouts to come.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley was at it again, when he visited one of his former teams, the Texas Rangers. Last week he flipped the bird to Rangers fans after catching a foul ball in the corner. There is not much more to say about this, but Milton Bradley is a low-class individual. It’s not like this is a one-time, minor incident. Bradley’s career is full of despicable tantrums and tirades. This is a guy who injured himself arguing a call with an umpire. Milton, congrats on being the first two-time recipient of a Timeout Award.

Time Out Awards: MLB season opener special edition

Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

This week was a huge week in sports. We had an exciting NCAA championship game, Tiger Woods returned to golf, Donovan McNabb traded, and NHL and NBA playoff races heated up as well. What more could a sports fan ask for? I almost forgot this week also marked opening day for MLB, where every team including the Royals has postseason aspirations.

In honor of opening day, I am going to have an MLB edition of this week’s Time Out awards. Although the season just started, some have already found a way to earn a Time Out.

First in the batter’s box to earn their Time Out is Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.  Ortiz started the season 0 for 7. Now I’m not giving him a Time Out for his two-game lack of production; I’m not that harsh.

When confronted by media members regarding this, according to ESPN, Ortiz responded with this following profanity filled tirade.

“You guys wait ’til [expletive] happens, then you can talk [expletive]. Two [expletive] games, and already you [expletives] are going crazy,” Ortiz said. “What’s up with that, man? [Expletive]. [Expletive] 160 games left. That’s a [expletive]. One of you [expletives] got to go ahead and hit for me.”

What happened to the cool and calm Ortiz a.k.a. Big Papi? I understand why Papi was a little irritated, but he could have handled it in a more professional way. Big Papi needs to stop acting like the Big Paranoico (Paranoid); if you play in a big market you have to be prepared to be scrutinized.

Its hard to disagree with a MLB legend like Hank Aaron when he says he sees something special in a young player. Aaron laid lofty expectations on Atlanta Braves rookie outfielder Jayson Heyward after his opening day homerun.

“He can certainly bring the excitement back, not only for Atlanta but also for African-American players,” Aaron said. “We do need to have many, many more Jason Heywards.”

Aaron isn’t the only one singing the early praises of Heyward, it seems as a majority of baseball writers are already trying to induct him in the Hall of Fame.

So Hank Aaron and fellow Jason Heyward bandwagon riders take a Time Out for the pre-mature praise on this promising player.  It seems as if Heyward has a lot of tools to become a good player, but let’s give him a chance to have a career before we declare him the best baseball player ever.

My last timeout goes to the only Cardinal player I’m having issues with so far this season. I’m not going to completely throw him under the bus, since it’s so early, but Jason Motte, I need you to get it together.

Motte’s stat line so far reads an ERA of 27.00, WHIP of 6.00, and 1 loss, with the one loss coming in the Cardinals first loss of the season. Motte came in the game in the ninth inning with the score tied 1-1, and then threw a fastball in upper part of the plate to the Cincinnati Reds Johnny Gomes. Gomes deposited it over the fence for a walk off victory for the Reds.

Motte, the Cards long term success this season depends on you. Hopefully a Time Out will motivate you to get your act together.

That closes this week’s edition of the Time Out awards this week. Until next week; coaches, players, and all those involved in the world of sports be nervous, because I am on the lookout for those who deserve a Time Out.

Time Out Awards: NCAA, Shaun Rogers and MLB

Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

For the most part this past week, it seemed as if the sports world had taken my advice, and avoided doing anything worthy of receiving a Time-Out.  But not everyone heeded my advice.

My first Time Out goes to the NCAA committee for contemplating expanding the men’s basketball tournament from 65 teams to 96 teams. Expansion is usually a good thing, but in this case I don’t think so. The NCAA tournament is one of the most marketable, anticipated sporting events, why fix something that is not broken?

You already have a number of hopeful Cinderella’s in the tourney now, who have little chance to win the tourney. Why water it down with even more teams of that nature? How does the NCAA expect college students to afford extra travel expenses to show their team support for longer amounts of time? If you want to know why this will probably happen, it’s easy. Money from increased ticket revenue, TV contracts and other money generating factors is why this will take place. The people benefitting from this money are not students spending work-study money to show school spirit or the players spending extra time practicing instead of studying; it will NCAA officials. They truly deserve a Time Out.

The next Time Out goes to Cleveland Browns’ defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Although football season is nowhere near, Rogers found a way to get a Time Out. Rogers must have been hiding under a rock the last 10 years, since he didn’t know airports have heightened their security since 9/11.  He thought it would be cool for him to bring a loaded gun on a plane. He was arrested shortly thereafter, a surprise to Rogers but not to anyone else. Rogers can accept his Time Out in whatever jail he currently is in right now.

When we are at MLB games, some of us get seats down the baselines and have ambitions of catching a foul ball. I think we fail to realize how dangerous this can be. Winthrop University professors Robert Gorman and David Weeks have gone back and documented 52 deaths from foul balls hit into the stands.

“It’s amazing to me that there aren’t more, to be honest, foul balls can zing off a bat at more than 100 mph,” Gorman said.” Even if the fan is paying attention, that’s not much time to duck or get out of the way. And for the fan that is glancing at a scorecard or a cell phone or has his or her hands full with a hot dog, forget about it.”

MLB is finally looking at addressing this problem by putting nets up to protect fans sitting behind the dugout and along the baselines. I’m giving MLB this Time Out for just now considering addressing this potentially dangerous problem.

That closes this week’s edition of the Time Out awards this week. Until next week; coaches, players, and all those involved in the world of sports be nervous, because I am on the lookout for those who deserve a Time Out.

Time Out Awards: the Blues, the Eagles and Florida coach Meyer

Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

Back again with this week’s edition of the Time Out Awards, where I recognize those who provided a shining example of what it takes to be a loser on or off the field.

This week has produced a long list of nominees ranging from teams choking in the NCAA tournament (*cough* Kansas *cough* Syracuse) to pitchers in spring training blowing their chances to be the fifth starter. (Yeah, I’m talking to you Rich Hill.)  Only three are worthy enough to receive a Time-Out.

The first Time-Out is a little difficult for me to give out, but I have to give it to the St. Louis Blues. After the playoff surge they made at the end of last season and starting the season with two wins against Detroit, many Blues fans thought this was going to be a special season. Well, it has been especially disappointing, due to inconsistent play and struggling at home.

The Blues are still mathematically in the playoff hunt, but it appears bleak that’s two consecutive losses to Nashville and Detroit, the team they are chasing for the eighth and final playoff spot. It will take a miraculous effort to close the eight point gap with only seven games left to play. Hopefully, I’m wrong, but for now I have to give a Time-Out to the Blues and their playoff hopes.

As an aspiring journalist, this following situation really irritated me. The second Time-Out is going to University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer must have not gotten the memo that not all journalism has a biased undertone.

Meyer uttered this tirade at Florida Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler: “You’ll be out of practice — you understand that? — if you do that again… I told you five years ago: Don’t mess with our players. Don’t do it. You did it. You do it one more time and the Orlando Sentinel’s not welcome here ever again. Is that clear? You’re a bad guy, man. You’re a bad guy, If that was my son, we’d be going at it right now.”

Apparently, Fowler is the worst guy in the world for accurately telling a story and properly quoting Florida wide receiver Deonte Thompson in his comments contrasting current Florida Quarterback Jeff Brantley to former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

“You never know with Tim, he can bolt. You’ll think he’s running, but then he’ll just come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. Like, you know what I mean, a real quarterback,” Thompson said in the story.

Meyer needs to stop trying to coach reporters and coach his players on their media interaction. Sorry if this makes me a “bad man,” but Urban Meyer deserves this Time-Out.

I know many NFL organizations would praise a quarterback who has led them to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl, but not the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles coach Andy Reid gave indications that the team is open to trade talks involving quarterback Donovan McNabb. This is nothing new for McNabb. He is in the center of trade talks every year, despite putting up Pro Bowl caliber numbers and leading to this franchise to post-season success never achieved before McNabb dawned a Eagles uniform. A Time-Out goes to the Philadelphia Eagles front office for the lack of respect and gratitude the Eagles have showed McNabb.

That wraps up this weeks edition of the Time-Out awards, until next time players, coaches and front office don’t blast reporters or lose crucial games. If you do, you just might earn a Time-Out.

Time Out Awards: Georgetown, Washington and the PGA

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

It’s that time for the weekly Time-Out awards, given by me to those athletes who have been sub-par on and off the field in the world of sports. Let’s start by giving out the first Time-Out in response to something near and dear to my wallet.

Like many this time of year, I made a monetary investment into an NCAA tournament pool, hopefully for my picks to bring my investment back with some extra cash. The Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team receives a Time-Out for possibly turning my investment into a donation. Georgetown was the definite favorite in their game with Ohio University Bobcats, which they lost by the score of 97-83.

Georgetown deserves this Time-Out for three reasons. First, Ohio, which only made the tourney because it got hot and somehow won the MAC tourney, hasn’t won a NCAA tournament game since 1983. Second, Georgetown had such a great performance in the Big East Tournament, you would think they would have a better showing in the Big Dance. And last but not least, they cost many people, including myself, a chance to win some cash.

The next Time-Out goes to Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, who tested positive for cocaine for last season. In a press conference on Wednesday, Washington said, “I did wrong, and I take responsibility for that, and I’m sorry.”

Although Washington did openly admit to his mistake, I still have to give him a Time-Out because as the leader of a team, you can’t allow yourself to get in a situation like this. Washington is in charge of making important on the field decisions for his ball club. How can the Rangers trust him to do that when he can’t make important off the field decisions for himself?

Every golfer on the PGA Tour not named Tiger Woods is the recipient of this week’s final Time-Out. Woods announced he will end his hiatus from golf April 8 at the Masters. Shortly after, Las Vegas odds makers deemed him the 3-1 favorite to win the Masters.

I don’t think there are any golf courses at the sex rehab clinic Woods has been at, so he hasn’t had much time to practice. Somehow he is still the favorite. I think Woods is the greatest ever to play the game of golf, but maybe the crop of golfers he is playing against are just not very good. Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and the rest of the tour might not be the favorite to win the Masters, but they definitely win this Time-Out award.

That closes another edition of the Time-Out awards for this week. Athletes, coaches, and front office personnel: put your best foot forward and don’t make me give you a Time-Out.