Back with another issue of the Monday Mailbag where you guys, the readers,
get to ask the questions. So without further ado:
With Clint Dempsey’s outstanding form as of late and the
emergence of Brek Shea as a possible playmaker on the wing, do you see Jurgen
Klinsmann maybe utilizing Dempsey in a striker role when World Cup Qualifying
rolls around? Assuming of course that everything remains as it is. - Cory L., Raceland, LA
Photo Credit: dallastexans.com |
As for Brek Shea, there's no questioning his talent, but his biggest contribution to the National Team so far came as a substitute when he picked up an assist against Mexico. He's still only 21 with just 11 career appearances so he's got a lot of room to grow, but for right now his versatility and high energy would seem to make him a more ideal bench player for World Cup Qualifying in my opinion. A lot can change between now and then though so it's certainly something to keep an eye on.
How important is it that Tim Ream get himself as much time as possible at Bolton to help shore up the problems the USMNT have on defense? - Cory L., Raceland, LA
Photo Credit: empireofsoccer.com |
To say that the USWNT are on a roll in Olympic Qualifying
would kinda be an understatement. Are they really that good? Or have the teams
we’ve been playing that bad? - Cory L., Raceland, LA
Photo Credit: washingtonpost.com |
The USMNT are set to play Italy in a friendly here very soon. What would a good showing, and by good showing I mean at the least a tie, if not a win, say to the rest of the world about this team and its coach? - Cory L., Raceland, LA
Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com |
Alex
Smith... I think he proved that he can play and win and not turn the ball over
and be pretty consistent (all good qualities of a QB), but when it comes down
to it, if you had one chance to make an 80-yard drive at the end of the game to
win, I wouldn't pick him if given the choice. Do you agree and if so, do you
cut your losses or do you become a clone of the Ravens with a great defense and
just enough offense to get stopped short in the conference championship? - Garrett M., Boston, MA
Photo Credit: washingtonpost.com |
I can only think of one scenario where Alex Smith isn't the starting quarterback in San Francisco next season, and that's if a HEALTHY (strong emphasis on healthy) Peyton Manning was available. Otherwise, let's look at the facts:
*During the regular season, only 8 quarterbacks posted a higher QB Rating than Alex Smith's 90.7.
*36 quarterbacks threw more interceptions than he did during the regular season.
*Smith threw 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the 49ers two postseason games.
*If not for two fumbled punt returns, the 49ers would probably be 15-3 and in the Super Bowl right now.
So I think to answer your question, you continue to do what's working for you. Smith is serviceable and he's cheap compared to what some quarterbacks are going for these days. The 49er defense is sensational, they can run the ball well, and they have a Pro Bowl caliber tight end in Vernon Davis. If they can get upgrades over Delanie Walker, Ted Ginn Jr., and Josh Morgan at wide receiver that can only help. If you consider that Smith made it farther in the postseason than Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, I don't think you have a need to change directions.
Can
you weigh in on the breaking up of the big 3 here in Boston? Ray Allen would be
an awesome 6th man and could definitely pull some trade value closer to the
trade deadline. Garnett and Pierce are tougher pieces though... do you keep one
or both? Does a young team like the pacers or trailblazers or T-wolves make
sense? - Garrett M., Boston, MA
Photo Credit: boston.sportsthenandnow.com |
What happened to Phil Mickelson on Thursday?? - The Dude, Chesapeake, VA
Photo Credit:dogschasingcars.com |
What
events belong on "sports" networks? I suppose everyone deserves their
15 minutes, but sometimes I find myself asking what is ESPN thinking? So...what
is ESPN thinking? Here's my list:
Bowling
American Kennel Club Dog Show
Cross-Fit
A marathon
Poker
Fishing
Hunting
Body building
Monster truck rallies
World's Strongest Man (awesome, but not a sport; give it to Spike or FX; it can precede UFC fights)
Spelling Bee
Cup stacking
Billiards
Scrabble tournaments
Checkers
Chess
Sailing
Cheerleading
Dominos
Dancing
Competitive eating, specifically hot dog contests (and how do I sign up?)
Car shows
Darts
American Kennel Club Dog Show
Cross-Fit
A marathon
Poker
Fishing
Hunting
Body building
Monster truck rallies
World's Strongest Man (awesome, but not a sport; give it to Spike or FX; it can precede UFC fights)
Spelling Bee
Cup stacking
Billiards
Scrabble tournaments
Checkers
Chess
Sailing
Cheerleading
Dominos
Dancing
Competitive eating, specifically hot dog contests (and how do I sign up?)
Car shows
Darts
To
be fair, I considered the difference between a sport and activity, defining the
above as activities. This sports fan considers a real sport to be a competition
that takes both skill and athleticism, such as football, baseball, anything in
the olympics, tennis, and golf. It's only a matter of time before they start broadcasting
text message competitions, bird
watching, and fashion shows. - Ben K., Slidell, LA
That's quite a list. Ok, let's take them one at a time.
Bowling - Are there people that actually watch this instead of football on Sunday afternoons?
American Kennel Club Dog Show - I choose to not comment on this one for fear of what my wife might do to me.
Cross-Fit - Kind of like World's Strongest Man. Amazing athletes, but not primetime television.
A marathon - Watching a marathon is like watching the Tour de France. It works in the Olympics because they can keep cutting away to other sports and then every 15 minutes or so, yep the fast guy from Kenya is still winning. But to sit and watch a whole marathon? Pass.
Poker - Not a sport. I don't care what you say.
Fishing - Outdoor Channel.
Hunting - See Fishing.
Body building - Until these competitions culminate with one of these guys having to catch or throw or kick a ball of some sort, I'm not interested. Get as jacked as you want, but if you aren't coordinated, it's pretty much worthless.
Monster truck rallies - Is Grave Digger still around? Does anyone know?
World's Strongest Man (awesome, but not a sport; give it to Spike or FX; it can precede UFC fights) - See Cross-Fit. Do they have new episodes of this any more?
Spelling Bee - Maybe PBS. It is educational. Kind of.
Cup stacking - Is this related to plate spinning?
Billiards - I think if you can play it in a bar, it doesn't count as a sport. I wouldn't watch a beer pong tournament on ESPN either.
Scrabble tournaments - I saw a scrabble tournament on ESPN2 once. Those guys are all kinds of intense. Trash talking and everything.
Checkers - Really?
Chess - No.
Sailing - It's not really a spectator sport, is it?
Cheerleading - Gymnastics is a sport. Cheerleading is not a sport.
Dominos - See Checkers.
Dancing - We already have Dancing with the Stars on network television. We don't need it on ESPN.
Competitive eating, specifically hot dog contests (and how do I sign up?) - I'm ok with this being on once a year.
Car shows - I have trouble watching cars racing.
Darts - Mountain top!
The simple answer is we really need ESPN 8 - The Ocho to be a real thing. That way you have a network that handles all of the non-sport "sports". Look, I'm not saying that the stuff listed above doesn't take skill, but I don't want to watch the spelling bee or checkers or poker on ESPN. Anyhow, in summary:
Bowling - Are there people that actually watch this instead of football on Sunday afternoons?
American Kennel Club Dog Show - I choose to not comment on this one for fear of what my wife might do to me.
Cross-Fit - Kind of like World's Strongest Man. Amazing athletes, but not primetime television.
A marathon - Watching a marathon is like watching the Tour de France. It works in the Olympics because they can keep cutting away to other sports and then every 15 minutes or so, yep the fast guy from Kenya is still winning. But to sit and watch a whole marathon? Pass.
Poker - Not a sport. I don't care what you say.
Fishing - Outdoor Channel.
Hunting - See Fishing.
Body building - Until these competitions culminate with one of these guys having to catch or throw or kick a ball of some sort, I'm not interested. Get as jacked as you want, but if you aren't coordinated, it's pretty much worthless.
Monster truck rallies - Is Grave Digger still around? Does anyone know?
World's Strongest Man (awesome, but not a sport; give it to Spike or FX; it can precede UFC fights) - See Cross-Fit. Do they have new episodes of this any more?
Spelling Bee - Maybe PBS. It is educational. Kind of.
Cup stacking - Is this related to plate spinning?
Billiards - I think if you can play it in a bar, it doesn't count as a sport. I wouldn't watch a beer pong tournament on ESPN either.
Scrabble tournaments - I saw a scrabble tournament on ESPN2 once. Those guys are all kinds of intense. Trash talking and everything.
Checkers - Really?
Chess - No.
Sailing - It's not really a spectator sport, is it?
Cheerleading - Gymnastics is a sport. Cheerleading is not a sport.
Dominos - See Checkers.
Dancing - We already have Dancing with the Stars on network television. We don't need it on ESPN.
Competitive eating, specifically hot dog contests (and how do I sign up?) - I'm ok with this being on once a year.
Car shows - I have trouble watching cars racing.
Darts - Mountain top!
Photo Credit: engadget.com |
This is why darts is not a sport:
This is how chess could become acceptable on ESPN:
This is taking the Spelling Bee way too seriously:
And this is a link to the website for the International Federation of Competitive Eating. Yeah, it's real.
What's up with boxing? Is it still around, or have the WWE and UFC round-house kicked it into a figure-four-leg-lock? I vaguely remember something about Pac-Man and Meriweather, but that didn't happen because one of them wants a blood test and the other has to chase a bunch of ghosts around a maze, right? - Ben K., Slidell, LA
Photo Credit: cnn.com |
Drew Brees was recently selected as the most powerful athlete in the world by a collection of marketing agencies. What year do you think he'll become President? - Ben K., Slidell, LA
Photo Credit: http://pigskinlovinglady.com |
Special thanks to all those who wrote in this week. Got a question for the mailbag? Email us at smittysports.blogspot@hotmail.com.
For the record, the AKC dog show should not be on ESPN. I would agree it belongs somewhere else even if I could watch it all day (make a comment and it will be regretted)! I would say that I agree with my husband about the definition of a sport versus an activity but in the defense of some of the listed 'activities' they are significantly more challenging than I think people give them credit for. Sailing and dancing are two that I would argue strongly against people blowing off as easy.
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