Stop Scoring???

STOP SCORING???

January 14, 2011

I am finally catching up with one of the best sports writers in the country, PHIL MUSHNICK of the New York Post. I always considered him a friend even though he refuses to leave the house to meet with me. I have invited him to at least 10 functions in the past 2 years, and he says he just cannot leave New Jersey. One day I'll catch him leaving his 10 television sets which unbelievably run simultaneously, on and on, as he creates his amazing stories.

Mushnick

Anyway, about 45 days ago, Phil ran a football story, explaining how, in one college game, Wisconsin hammered Northwestern by a 70-23 score. He seemed shocked that a team could willfully and eagerly want to humiliate the other team. He also mentioned that the television broadcasters, Dave Pasch, Bob Griese, and Chris Spielman were also shocked that Wisconsin would DARE to destroy Northwestern by such a lopsided and embarrassing score. Got that SO FAR? Good.....I have a question:

What should a team do when ahead by a monstrous score of 5 or 6 touchdowns......with 10 minutes left to play??? How do you NOT score field goals and touchdowns when each player wants to continue to play hard? How do you restrain yourself? Should a passer purposely throw the dumb football in the stands, thereby "throwing" the game? Does a runner purposely slam into the defender when he could easily do an end run and not get hit?

Does a football team, ahead by 30 or 40 points take the ball and run BACKWARDS into their own goal? Does the team tackle each other so as to stop their own drive?

Does the obviously victorious team, in order NOT to run up more points, freeze the ball indefinitely?

Does the team purposely fumble the ball...................or throw an interception to keep the score down?

I WISH SOME GENIUS WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION. Phil: Please give me an intelligent explanation here.

What happens in a baseball game when the score is 14-0 and there is a relief pitcher? Does he purposely lob the ball in to allow 4 or 5 runs and ruin his own earned run average?

Football is based on the clock. Baseball is based upon 9 innings, 15, or more. How does each sport give MERCY to the team that is being clobbered? Besides, there are MANY baseball games where one club is ahead by 9 or 10 and still loses.

With the score 36-0, and 3 minutes to go, can you picture the losing team saying in their huddle, "Listen guys. We still have one more time out. Let's get the hell out there and WIN this damn game!!!"

Yes. Football playoffs are set for this weekend. The Jets and the Patriots have already started fighting..................cursing each other with words of childish wisdom.

Garza/Pettitte

Baseball's spring training actually starts in a few weeks! Some interesting trades have already been made. Andy Pettitte is still pulling an Alfred Hitchcock scenario by keeping his alleged retirement a secret. The Yankees ought to tell him to stay home. Enough already.

And the Chicago Cubs just got Tampa Bays star pitcher, Matt Garza, 27, winning 15, losing 10, with a 3.91 ERA. The Cubs also got outfielder, Fernando Perez, somewhat of a gamble throw-in. Here's what the Cubs gave up.....the heart of their farm system:

Chris Archer, pitcher. 22. 15-3 at A & AA ball. ERA 2.33

Brandon Guyer, OF, 24. .344 batting average, with 13 home runs at A & AA.

Robinson Chirinos, catcher. 26. .336 batting, with 36 home runs. AA & AAA.

Hak-Ju Lee, ss. 20. Batting .299, A ball. 2 years.

Sam Fuld, of. 29. .252, part time for the Cubs. Great defense. Ready as ever.

Don't you think the Cubs gave up too much?

Graphics by Eddie Resner