Jekyll and Hide Giants

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2010/11/27/2010-11-27_banged_up_giants_face_mustwin_game_vs_jacksonville_jaguars_at_meadowlands_sunday.html

This writer basically sums up the Giants season. "Don't know what to expect from them", "best team in NFL" , then back to back losses, turnover losses, starter problems at RB and injury plague. I think it is an absolutely great comparison that is made, Giants must pull trough like the Colts have. The Colts are not in the same exact situation but the comparison is applicable. The writer did a fantastic job in covering all levels of the Giants team, but does not pose a solution because the Giants are a mysterious team.

Auburn Is Seeing Crimson Over Questions and Rivalry

Posted by: Ramiro S. Funez

Article URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/sports/ncaafootball/26auburn.html?_r=1&ref=sports

This article, written by Mike Tierney, is basically about the Tigers and Auburn. The article investigated a lot of the statistics and examined the route that teams within the football league were taking.

I feel like the writer did a great job at including a lot of detail, putting many important quotes, and having smooth transitions.

Overall, Tierney demonstrates a strong knowledge of football and is fully dynamic in examining the route that Auburn is taking.

This link is for use in class tomorrow

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2010/11/02/2010-11-02_irish_eyes_open_now_to_mindless_tragedy.html

Try to read this for tomorrow's class

I'd like to discuss this in class tomorrow. I know I'm posting it at the last minute. I've been sick. It's an example of a really good feature -- it won a bunch of awards last year -- and I'd like to talk about how it was done and deconstruct it. Thanks. Professor Barker

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050104147.html

Lights Not Only Thing Turned Off During Giant Game

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2010/11/14/2010-11-14_cowboys_play_lights_out_to_beat_giants_3320_at_new_meadowlands_stadium_give_jaso.html
I was debating on whether or not to write about the Jets, I found it fitting that this story comes a week after my previous post. The previous coverage on the Cowboys now sits nicely as they completely dominate the G-Men. It was ironic how the lights go out literally in the stadium at a time when there seemed to be no electricity on either side of the ball for the Giants. "We have to get it through our heads that we can't keep making mistakes," and "They went right after us and kind of caught us off guard.": these quotes seem to define the lose in terms of the Giants thought minor flaws could be committed, but they would still win. However, this was not the case Sunday afternoon. I think Vacchiano could have covered the Giants injuries a little better and also make a contrast between the 'Boys first 7 weeks or so of the season and the stats from their last game. This story was a perfect runner up to my last weeks mention of a coaching change and new players in the lineup. I think the writers report on this was probably rather simpple.

Win by Pacquiao Pits Speed Over Size

Posted by Ramiro S. Funez

Article URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/sports/14boxing.html?_r=1&ref=sports

This week's article is basically about Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer who has earned a recent claim to fame for his outstanding boxing skills, and his defeat over Antonio Margarito.

The article was very interestingly written because of the way that the writer described the battle, play-by-play. It was also interesting because of the way it made Manny Pacquiao seem like a god by the way he was punching and hitting his opponent.

Overall, I feel that this article was certainly well-written.

wade phillips finally gone

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=5780262

After weeks of denying that Jerry Jones will fire Coach Wade Phillips mid-season, he finally did it, and thank god. Phillips and the cowboys were embarrassed sunday night to a 45-7 ass whopping from the packers leaving the team with a miserable 1-7 record. Jason Garret will take over as the new interim coach. The writer of this article i thought did a very good job, he incorporated a lot of quotes from Jones and his players while also adding statements from Phillips. He outlined Phillips tenure as a coach and added stats throughout the story. He then went on to cover Garrets background and what he may be able to bring to the club. i thought the story was very well covered and included all the details following the release of Phillips.

nfc east woes

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2010/11/02/2010-11-02_new_york_giants_are_sitting_pretty_as_redskins_eagles_and_cowboys_implode_in_wea.html?page=1
The Giants have not been mentioned in the same breathe as the NFL elite since the Super Bowl victory against the Pats. Now that Ive been hearing they are the best in the NFC, but this article concentrates on the dismal performances of the rest of the division. For example, the NFL genius in Shanahan benches McNabb (these issues "kind of" "sort of" have followed him), the number of reasons, McNabb's possible next venture to the Vikings after Favre "retires", the 'Boys pathetic 1-6 record, Jones looking at Gruden and Cowher, and Vick's rib strength. I don't think it was difficult at all for Myers to write this up for there is so much going on now among the four teams. I don't know, but I think he covers too much here and should narrow it down a little and specify.

Sparky Anderson, Hall of Fame Manager, Dies at 76

Posted by Ramiro S. Funez

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/sports/baseball/05anderson.html?_r=1&ref=sports

I found this article on the New York Times website today and I thought it was really interesting. It basically talked about how Sparky Anderson, a hall of famer who played both in the American and National leagues of baseball. According to the article, he was a really popular guy within the country as he set many records within baseball.

The article was really well-written because it spoke a lot about his background and career as a baseball player. It also offered a lot of statistics on him as a member of the league.

I think that the writer did an excellent job at setting a proper tone for an article that discusses death. Deaths are always a touch subject to write about and they did an excellent job.

AP on Jordan 39 game

This is for class discussion on Nov. 3

Bulls 122, Trail Blazers 89

BYLINE: By BILL BARNARD, AP Basketball Writer

SECTION: Sports News

LENGTH: 699 words

DATELINE: CHICAGO

 Michael Jordan usually can do whatever he chooses on a basketball court. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, he chose to be an outside shooter and it killed the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jordan scored a Finals record 35 of his 39 points in the first half and set another record with six 3-pointers in the first two quarters of the Chicago Bulls' 122-89 victory over Portland on Wednesday night.

Jordan, who was just 27 for 100 from 3-point range in the regular season and 5 for 16 in the playoffs, made a shambles of the ballyhooed individual battle with Clyde Drexler, who scored 16 points for the Trail Blazers.

"I was in a zone," Jordan said. "The 3s felt like free throws. I took them and they went in."

The Jordan explosion put the Bulls up as they opened defense of their first NBA championship. Game 2 is scheduled for Chicago on Friday night.

The largest margin of victory in the Finals was Washington's 117-82 win over Seattle on June 4, 1978.

On the eve of the Finals, Jordan compared himself to Drexler, saying the Portland Olympian is a better 3-point shooter "than I choose to be."

Jordan then hit 6 of 9 3-point attempts in the first half, lifting the Bulls to a 66-51 lead.

The 35 points broke Elgin Baylor's 30-year-old Finals halftime record of 33, and the six 3-pointers eclipsed the first-half record of four shared by Michael Cooper, Danny Ainge and Isiah Thomas. Jordan now shares the record for a game with Cooper and Bill Laimbeer.

Any hope that the Trail Blazers might rally in the second half ended early when Jordan's jumper capped a 15-2 spurt at the start of the third period. That gave the Bulls an 81-53 lead that Portland never threatened as Chicago continued to ride the wave of emotion raised by Jordan in the first half.

"This was one game, one game doesn't make the Finals," Jordan said. "We have three games out there."

Jordan left the game with 3:04 left in the third quarter after missing his only 3-point attempt of the third quarter, then returned briefly in the fourth period.

Chicago, hoping to become the third team in six years to win consecutive titles, has now won five straight games in the Finals. They lost the championship series opener to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, then won four straight for its first NBA title.

While the 1991 playoffs were a breeze for the Bulls with 15 victories in 17 games, they lost five times in the first three rounds this year. But if Chicago can win Game 2, they will eliminate any chance for the Blazers to take away the NBA title in Portland, where the third, fourth and fifth games are scheduled next week.

Scottie Pippen scored 24 points for the Bulls, who led by as many as 38 points in the third quarter and 39 in the fourth in matching the third-highest margin of victory in the Finals.

Terry Porter finished with 13 points for the Trail Blazers, who were 68 for 169 from 3-point range in their first 15 playoff games.

The Bulls' 29-for-80 3-point shooting in 16 postseason games contrasted sharply with Portland, but Jordan left little doubt Chicago could keep up in a long-range duel.

Porter scored 10 points and the Trail Blazers hit 11 of their first 14 shots, including their first seven, to lead 25-17 with 4:22 left in the first quarter. The Bulls missed 10 of 15 shots in the same span, but Jordan's first 3-pointer and his three-point play prevented Portland from breaking away.

Jordan then started a comeback with two more 3-pointers and two medium-range jumpers before a basket by B.J. Armstrong gave the Bulls their first lead, 29-28. A layup and rebound basket by Horace Grant completed a 16-3 run that gave Chicago a 33-28 advantage before the Blazers finished the quarter trailing 33-30 despite outshooting the Bulls 68.4 percent to 46.2 percent.

Jordan rested for nearly six minutes to start the second period, but it took him just 17 seconds to get it going again with a jumper. He scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers, in the final 6:17 of the quarter, keying a 19-6 spurt that gave the Bulls a 66-51 lead at halftime.

After his sixth 3-pointer of the half, Jordan turned to Magic Johnson at the NBC broadcasting booth and gave him a "What can I say?" shrug.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

Copyright 1992 Associated Press

All Rights Reserved

Boston Globe story on Jordan 39 game

This is for class discussion on Nov. 3

 

Blazers hammered

BYLINE: By Peter May, Globe Staff

SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. 37

LENGTH: 765 words

DATELINE: CHICAGO

Michael Jordan unveiled another dimension to his game last night, which is roughly akin to Saudi Arabia discovering gold under all its oil wells. The Bulls franchise destroyed the Trail Blazers in a rain of 3-pointers and led Chicago to a 122-89 rout in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Jordan made six treys, tying the record for the Finals, and established a record for most attempts (10). All of the treys came in an astonishing 35-point first half - also an NBA Finals record - as the Bulls totally dominated after a sluggish beginning. Chicago turned the opener of the best-of-seven series into a turn-the-channel special by outscoring the Blazers, 38-17, in the third quarter and had the lead to as many as 39 in the fourth.

Jordan finished with 39 points, though he was content to play observer/feeder in the second half, registering 9 of his 11 assists. Scottie Pippen came within a rebound of a triple-double (24 points, 10 assists, 9 boards).

"We got a lot of work to do" before Game 2 tomorrow night, admitted Clyde Drexler, who finished with 16. "We got to play better defense, rebound better and take better care of the ball."

Of all the moves and countermoves in the Blazers' Situation Room before the game, few could have envisioned Jordan's reign of terror from international waters. Entering the game, he had taken only 16 treys in the previous 16 playoff games. And made only five. It wasn't like there was a Michael Adams clone inside him begging to blossom. He just never considered them.

Last night he did more than that. He made them. He had knocked down three in the first quarter, while scoring 18, as the Bulls spotted the Blazers an early 8-point lead. Portland had come out flying, making its first seven shots. Then the starters got into foul trouble and the game started to turn.

The Blazers had to figure it was going to be a long night when, after one, they trailed, 33-30, despite shooting 68 percent from the field. But turnovers killed them (they had seven of their 21 in the quarter) and Jordan led a 16-3 run at quarter's end to give Chicago the lead for good.

In the second, however, was when Jordan really got going. The Bulls led, 45-44, when he reentered the game and things began to happen. To say Jordan had something to do with the turnaround is to say that IBM has a mild influence on the computer biz.

Before the game, he had given Drexler the edge in treys, but only grudgingly. "Clyde is a better 3-point shooter than I choose to be," he said. Now, with the game close, Jordan exploded. He made three more treys as the Bulls erupted for a 19-2 run. The lead was up to 19. Danny Ainge, who was on the Celtics when Jordan hit them up for 63, must have thought he was having flashbacks.

"I was just very relaxed," Jordan said. "I wasn't looking to shoot them, but they left me alone and I really felt comfortable at that distance, so I started firing away. Shots started falling from everywhere. It was like shooting free throws.

Drexler, meanwhile, had no defense for his defense. He said none was needed.

"I hope he takes the same shots in Game 2," Drexler said. "Those are the ones you want him to take. He takes those and you think you're playing good defense. But he made them. You got to give him credit."

The explosion gave the Bulls a 66-51 halftime lead. Jordan's 35 had surpassed the 33 Elgin Baylor scored against the Celtics in the 1962 Finals. Jordan's 63-point game seemed within reach. Technically, of course, Portland still was not out of it. A few minutes into the third, however, the Blazers would shift to Game 2 in their minds while still going through the motions in Game 1.

Chicago opened the third with a 15-2 run, building the lead to 28, and ending any semblance of competition for the rest of the evening. Pippen took over the scoring load, tossing in 16. Portland coach Rick Adelman said, simply, "Offensively, in the third quarter, we were terrible." Gee, coach, is that what 5-for-21 shooting means?

Chicago, by contrast, was doing everything right. They got the loose balls, the rebounds, the easy baskets, and soon were responsible for emptying the Stadium. Chicago scored 34 points off the Portland turnovers, had a 44-38 rebounding advantage, and shot 55 percent to the Blazers' 44 percent.

"I think our quickness and anticipation was a little bit better than theirs," coach Phil Jackson said.

That was a diplomatic way of stating the obvious. Adelman was more direct.

"A lot of times," he said, "the second game is totally different from the first. For our sake, it had better be different."

LOAD-DATE: June 5, 1992

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: PHOTO

Copyright 1992 Globe Newspaper Company

Everything but a Dominating Win by the Heat.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2010/10/31/2010-10-31_lebron_james_scores_20_points_as_miami_heat_roll_new_jersey_nets_10178.html
Bondy continued through the article with what is oppossed to the "greatness" of the Heat. For example, calling them "villians", ability to deflate spectators, posing James new thoughts on "The Decision", the Nike ad, his and Bosh's possibility of ending up on the Nets, and a good quarter of it dealt with how bad the Nets are. The only parts that came close to how good the Heat are was the graph describing the domination of the Nets and in a quote by James "everyone wants to dethrone us," -- where one can inffer his thoughts on their level of awesomeness. Breaking from an article of describing their third straight win following a maybe simple season opening lose to Boston and their largest point differential so far aside from a win agains the Magic, Bundy did something very different and I think went through a lot to get some information.