DIVAS BLOG

...more than just a “Babe”

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 12:09:16 -0500

People always ask me why I like sports so much, and honestly, I don't know. What I do know is that it stems from a childhood of listening to Chick Hearn calling Lakers' games. He's a voice I've known since I could walk so you can only imagine how much I miss hearing his "words eye view." But truly it's been my lifelong love for the purple and gold that transitioned into this overall love for the world of sports. And believe me when I say I do not know what songs are out right now because all I listen to is sports talk radio. (Is Milli Vanilli still making hits?)

Nevertheless, when I ditched the "I should go to law school" ideology that was spawned by my parents and family, I threw myself into doing anything and everything I could to get into the sports industry. For nearly two years everything I did sports-wise was considered an internship, a.k.a. "I wasn't getting paid shit!" But for all the thousands of hours I spent interning for the Clippers and NBA summer league, covering high school sports events and summer camps for local cable stations, and spending endless hours in a dark room editing three-minute packages - I loved every single non-paid minute of it and would not have traded any moment for a dime. Because, essentially, I was living a dream by working in sports. For myself, could anything be more cool? Never. Although I was a woman in a male-dominated industry, those around me knew I was serious, dedicated and more prepared than any man out there. The bottom line was, I knew my shit.

In the early stages of being a "SportsBabe" we've discovered that as women trying to "break the mold" by really discussing and talking sports, we are under a microscope of scrutiny that no man could ever imagine. Is it fair? No, not really. Is it warranted? Yeah, probably. As a group we all realized from the get-go that our biggest challenge would be proving to the world that we are indeed legitimate and that we really are people who know their sports. I would never pretend to be the girl who could tell you who was the NBA's MVP in the 1956-1957 season (Bob Cousy of the Celtics) or be able to tell you which NFL team scored the most TDs in one season (wait, that would be Miami in 1984 with 70 TDS). But, I am one of the SportsBabes who can attack a sports issue like a 75% off shoe sale at Macy's and at the end of the day we hope you can learn to appreciate what we've got to say. As I like to say, just because we're women doesn't mean we watch a Sunday afternoon game on a pink monitor. We're watching the same game Joe Blow is watching down at the local bar with a beer in his hand. And when you saw LaDainian Tomlinson break ankles all over the field for 31 touchdowns this past season, believe me I saw it, too. And when you're thinking the biggest mistake the Heat made was agreeing to pay Shaq $20 mil a year for five years, trust me, I'm thinking the same damn thing. Sports is sports, and just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I can't dissect the dynamics like the best of 'em.

And now, onto the "babe" factor. While most have welcomed the idea of attractive women sitting down and talking sports, there are some who have been quite critical of the premise of this idea. Indeed, we are not dressed in the traditional pants suit and turtleneck most of today's female reporters wear along the sidelines. And all I can say is, hey, we're a fashionable bunch! But beyond the nicely styled hair and shiny lips, we'd like to be seen as the average, everyday woman who's sitting at home in front of the TV in October and yelling at A-Rod to hit the damn ball. For any woman, being considered attractive is always a plus, but first and foremost every single girl on this panel is here for their sports savvy and knowledge and the fact that they are "easy on the eyes" is just a bonus. By being known as the "SportsBabes," in no way are we trying to disrespect or ignore the accomplishments of the female pioneers who paved the way for women in this industry. Figures like Phyllis George, Lesley Visser, Gayle Gardner, Ann Meyers and Robin Roberts, they are all women who I have admired and will continue to emulate my work ethic and career after. But because we are known as the "babes" doesn't mean we're not legitimate sports journalists trying to do serious sports commentary.  Please don't mistaken our high-heeled shoes and chandelier earrings as a sign that we lack the sincerity, intelligence and knowledge of a sports journalist sitting behind an anchor desk in a three-piece suit. We know what will keep you tuned in is not necessarily the aesthetic value that we have to offer, but rather the substance and validity of what we have to say. And as a female sports journalist who has spent the last five years busting her ass day and night to get this point, you better believe you won't be disappointed.

And lastly, to those who have assumed that what we offer is nothing but a "scripted" performance, believe me, this is FAR from being scripted. Yes, we do know our topic of discussion ahead of time, but when we're on the set and the red light turns on, it's free range to let it fly. Being a "scripted" show is actually something we'd like to stay away from. The true beauty of "SportsBabes" is that we're a bunch of intelligent, young women who can be ourselves, talk off the cuff, attack each other's opinions and be friends at the end of the discussion. Being able to work with a group of lovely ladies who each have something different to offer is really a joy, and believe me when I say each one of these women are just as beautiful inside as they are when you see them on camera. This is no façade here, we really are a group of girls who love and breathe sports.

So with that being said, thanks to everyone for all their early support and please continue to send us your comments and suggestions. We are listening! We understand that giving women a forum to voice their opinions on sports isn't traditional or normal, but it's definitely something long overdue. And when it comes down to it, we hope you'll give the Babes a chance, keep watching and look forward to more.

. . . . . spraying my hairspray . . . . . . . . reapplying my lipstick . . . . . . . getting one final look in the mirror . . . . . . . Ok, now let's play ball!

(What can I say? At the end of the day, I'm still a woman. And don't you forget it!)

Kobe vs. Lebron

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:18:59 -0500

It's the matchup network t.v. execs have circled on the calendar, "The Assassin" versus "The Chosen One". What could possibly make for better Sunday afternoon ratings? And while Kobe did his part in showing viewers that he's got more arsenal in his 6 '6 frame than a Tank Johnson vacation home, it was King James and his court that walked away with the win - and in my book what really matters. But even then, I still say Kobe Bryant is in a league all his own.

Say what you want about the savvy of Dwayne Wade, the natural athleticism of Lebron James or the consistency of Carmelo Anthony, but in my book, no one in the league is even close to the Black Mamba formerly known as employee #8. Kobe Bryant is hands down the most talented and best player in the NBA today and before you tell me why I'm wrong did you see what the guy did in the fourth quarter against the Cavs? He scored the team's first 14 points in utterly ridiculous fashion and made more moves than a James Brown performance. (By the way don't you think the Godfather of Soul warranted a much more extravagant tribute than the shit he got last night at the Grammy's??) His last two points, which were scored at the charity stripe, tied the game up at 81 apiece. Hmmm….81, does that number ring a bell? It's still hard to fathom that this dude scored 81 points all by himself just a little over a year ago. 81 people! The Hornets are averaging just 92 points this season and that's coming from an entire team. 81 points scored from a player that doesn't hover over the competition size-wise like Wilt Chamberlain when he dropped a c-note on the Knicks is simply amazing. Still not convinced? Guess who Lebron said was the best player in the league in an interview for ABC? If you're thinking it's a certain someone who dons the purple and gold, you'd be correct. An athletic guard that can shoot the rock from any angle or any distance, will not hesitate to drive it inside for a mind blowing circus shot or jumanji-like dunk and is just as hungry on the defensive end is deadly, and that my friend is Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant.

Now while I will never hesitate to be the first to point out the greatness of ocho times three, his 4th quarter scoring rampage was forgotten quicker than night in Eagle, Colorado because the Lakers didn't get the win. And I think Kobe would be the first to tell you that all the points in the world don't mean a damn thing unless the scoreboard reads in your favor. And it's that competitive desire that sets him apart from today's counterpart, Lebron James.

Lebron is no doubt exciting and at 22 years of age, the league's future is certainly in good hands. James is definitely the type of player who looks to pass first which of course is gift from God for any team, just ask the Suns. He's a driver that can shoot and moves well without the ball making it even more difficult to guard him effectively and he plays well beyond his years, though he seems to be drinking out of the same fountain of youth that Greg Oden and Freddy Adu frequent but that's another story. As for the negatives, he's still got work to do on his jumper and long-range game and at this point in his career he just doesn't seem to have that killer instinct that seeps through Kobe's pores. A matter of youth? Perhaps, but NBA legends of the past (Magic, Bird, Jordan) all had one thing in common - a competitive spirit that thrived within them from the first day they stepped on the court. It wasn't something that grew with time, it was a trait that was there from the get go, and I just haven't seen that from Lebron James in the three years he's been in the league. Bottom line, the Greats take a loss personally. Wonder what I mean? Ever look at Kobe's face at the end of a loss? He's disgusted, pissed off and looks like someone just offered he and his wife a free night stay at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Colorado. It's that assassin-like approach that sets him apart, and Lebron just doesn't seem to have "it" yet.

However, what Lebron did have in the Sunday showdown were teammates who decided to show up. Case in point, Sasha freaking Pavlovic. That's right who??? While Lebron had a sub par 18, 8 and 5 performance, his teammate from Yugoslavia was good for 21 solid points, several of which occurred in the winding minutes of the game to help give Cleveland the advantage. Lakers fans, think if we trade Sashas anyone would notice? And don’t let me forget Sideshow Bob aka Anderson Varejao. Again you ask who? The Brazilian born forward drained 11 of his 12 points in the final quarter and with these two foreigners coming through in the clutch, the Lakers were sent home after an 8 game roadie with a 99 to 90 loss.

Meanwhile Kobe had no support in the 4th quarter and while you'd like to continue to sit in cruise control when your all-star guard just can't seem to miss, no one else dressed in purple could throw a stone in the ocean or a ball in the hoop for that matter. The Lakers played defense about as well as a Kevin Federline raps and quite frankly it's just sad and inexcusable. But let's save my frustrations on this up and down team for another blog.

By now you can probably tell I'm a huge Kobe Bryant fan and while I have enjoyed watching him change his approach to the game since the "Big Lazy" split for Miami 3 years ago, Bryant has without a doubt become the leader of this team and helped his teammates improve tremendously this season. But the one gripe I still have with #24 is that he still isn't letting the game come to him. I think it's great that he makes a concerted effort to get his teammates involved from the start, but when your best player is trying so hard to distribute the basketball and straying from taking shots himself, there's a huge problem in that. It's almost as if he's got it set in his mind, "ok I'm not going to shoot this quarter, but I'll start taking shots in the second and then all the shots are mine in the fourth". Plain and simple, you can't continue to win games like that and shots should be taken according to the flow of the game not with a "save it for later" mentality. That being said no player is perfect, but Kobe is teetering dangerously close on a thin line of perfection. Give him a solid group of teammates who can consistently deliver and Chris Mihm better start practicing his awkward white guy dance for the Lakers' championship parade. Plain and simple, I'll give it to you straight with no chaser - who would you rather have taking that last second shot or leading your troops into battle than the game's deadliest weapon?

Truth be told 24 is one better than #23. 24 is 8 times more than #3. And at the end of the day #24 is no doubt the best player in the league. But then again, if you walk off the court without the "w" does it really even matter?

Hey Tiger, where's the integrity?

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 11:58:15 -0500

There won't be a Tiger on the prowl at the Nissan Open next weekend, instead there will be a scaredy-cat at home in Isleworth, Florida. Yep, I'm calling out Tiger Woods - the greatest golfer of my generation, the guy who makes red golf shirts hip, the one man who gets me out of bed before noon on Sundays - because next weekend when I roll over to watch the PGA's finest tackle the tricky Kikuyu grass of Riviera Country Club, there will be NO Tiger Woods.

Tiger is “opting” not to play his home course in Pacific Palisades, California. He says he wants to catch up on his sleep from his travels to the Dubai Desert Classic (he finished T-3)… He says he wants to spend time with his "hottie" wife (who wouldn't?)…He says he wants to work on his putting game (what’s new???). What he's not saying is that he's scared to put his precious seven PGA tournament winning streak on the line at a course he has never mastered. Riviera, the sight of Tigers first tournament when he was 16 years old, it's also the sight where he has another not-so-hot streak going …he's 0-11 (9 professional and 2 amateur).

Byron Nelson, the legend whose PGA streak of 11 straight tour victories that Tiger is chasing, also had problems at Riviera. He was 0-11 before he conquered it in 1945. And you can bet when he won, it was all the sweeter.

All I have to say is "Tiger, where's the integrity?"

When Kobe had his streak of 9, 40-point games he didn't choose not to play the Suns.
When Johnny Unitas had a 47 game TD Pass streak going he didn't say "Hell no, I’m not playing the Packers!"
When the Great Gretzky had a 51-game scoring streak he still suited up and hit the ice.
And the Boston Celtics, in the midst of a 16-game losing streak, still have to go out and listen to their fans cheer for the other team.

Yes the PGA allows players to pick and choose their tournaments...but I say put a big fat asterisk beside his name if he beats Nelson's streak by picking Tiger-friendly courses.

If you look closely…you can find tiger in IntEGRiTy…if only there was a little integrity in Tiger.

"Fantanking" Philly Style

Thu, 8 Feb 2007 02:36:16 -0500

There are sports fans, and there are those who claim to be sports fans. Everyone knows that as a sports fan you know that Peyton Manning was one of the greatest players to hail from the University of Tennessee. As a true sports fan you know that he was banned from eating dinner with the team for two weeks, because he mooned his friends in the training room and was caught by a female trainer, who took offense to the matter. Knowing sports and loving sports is knowing the history of the players, loving them and being able to shoot profanities their way, simultaneously.

This being said, I read an interesting article talking about "Fantanking." "Fantaking?", my thoughts exactly. Basically the article goes on to state...tanking is when a team strategically loses to up their chances in the draft, and fantaking is when the teams' supporters jump on the same wagon. Is this true fan etiquette?

My thoughts? Well, as a Philadelphia native, I bleed Eagles green, sweat Flyers orange, could be easily persuaded to wear a white and red pin striped suit, and be the first on the court to be a ball girl for the Sixers. I must confess: I...am...a fantanker. I love the Sixers, but at this point in the season I would like them to keep losing. Shocked? Why? A franchise that once traded Charles Barkley recently traded seven time All-Star nick named "The Answer", Allen Iverson, (and rookie McFarlin). In return Philadelphia received, Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first round draft picks. THIS IS HUGE, NOW WE ARE TALKING FOLKS. We can take a step back, deep breath, and say "How can we rebuild this team?" The more ping pong balls the better. No, it's not a sure thing we would get the draft picks, but I will risk it for Greg Oden and Kevin Durant any day. Even Sixers chairman, Ed Snider, agrees with me, "There's always a time. This is the right time. We weren't going anywhere."

Let's bring it back in 2008, and get some numbers on the board. Cheers to a 76ers losing streak, said as a proud Philadelphian.

Peyton's Patience Pays Off

Tue, 6 Feb 2007 12:29:02 -0500

Opening kick off . . . Devin Hester to da house. How sweet is it when you can watch yourself leave fools in your dust on the Jumbotron? Now that was classic. Grossman looked elated on the sidelines, but I hope all you Bears fans took a picture, cuz he didn't smile much the rest of the night.

I must admit, I thought the past two weeks of Super Bowl hype were just beggin’ for the Bears to pull the upset. I mean come on, how hard was the national media riding Peyton Manning's nuts? Favored by at least 7 points in Vegas and even big boy Brian Urlacher couldn't kiss Manning's ass hard enough on media day. It was Peyton Manning all day, all week. It was perfect bulletin board material that had upset written all over it. But when it came down to it the Colts were the better team, and here's why . . .

First, the weather factor. In what has been dubbed one of the top three Super Bowl destinations, along with San Diego and New Orleans, the football Gods decided to make things more interesting with a torrential downpour in Miami. The rain was so ridiculous many called it the worst weather conditions in Super Bowl history. I mean really, imagine all the pissed off groupies in the stands who just got their hair done in time for the big game? Now conventional logic would stand to reason that the weather conditions would favor Chicago, but the reality was the exact opposite.

After throwing his first and only interception, Manning knew immediately that the Bears' secondary was not about to give up any big plays and the rain wasn't gonna help either. And like a smart quarterback, #18 immediately knew winning this game meant adjusting the game plan.

Now everyone and their mama knows how precise and deadly this Colt’s offense can be, it's a quick hitting team that can score on your ass in a second. Give Manning and his boys a minute and they're marching down the field quicker than Halle Berry drives off in a hit and run accident. But in this game, things were different. Manning was patient, took what the Bears defense gave him and drove his team down the field in a methodical precision that only a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon could truly appreciate. Hence the 38-to-22 time of possession in favor of the Colts.

And before you decide to point out the 52-yard pass to Reggie Wayne, check out the broken coverage on the defense that led to Manning even considering this toss. That's what makes Peyton so damn good, he reads the D like no other and finds holes and weaknesses in the coverage that lead to big plays. After that touchdown, Manning barely looked down the field. He resorted to throwing the ball underneath because the Bears were only willing to give him short route options due to heavy double coverage on the receivers. And call it a boring if you want, but Manning did the job diligently with a sense of calmness never seen in years' past. And even then: 25 for 38, 247-yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, is pretty damn impressive and it was his ability to manage the game and be a leader that warranted the MVP title.

And then, there was the running game. What can you say -- the Colts' running game was impressive. Joseph Addai not only established himself in the upper echelon of the new generation of talented tailbacks (i.e., Bush, Jones-Drew, Maroney) he also proved in this game to be a valuable all-purpose back. I mean at one point the offense was using him on nearly every play and running him to the ground like a healthy Barbaro back in the day. And just when you say "damn that guy is good" here comes Dominic Rhodes. 113-yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Need I say more? And that's coming from your backup. When you've got a Peyton Manning arm, Hall of Fame wideouts and two badass tailbacks you've got Super Bowl XLI champs written all over you. But that's not all . . .

Now any football purist will say that a championship is won by a team's running game and rush defense. And since we've already established that Rhodes and Addai ran better than a Rolls Royce Phantom fresh off the lot, it's time to give the defense some much needed props. Remember how much shit everyone talked when the Colts rush D promptly gave up 375-yards to the Jags? And don't forget how everyone predicted Larry Johnson would have a field day against the Colts on Wildcard weekend. Needless to say, LJ was a mere shadow of himself and this past Sunday the defense held the Bears to 265 total yards of offense that didn't amount to much. The much maligned defense unit proved throughout the playoff run that they were all that and then some. This defense now knows what it is capable of, is confident and the rest of the league better watch out because something tells me this is just the beginning of something special in Indy.

As for the Colts special teams counter to Devin Hester, Adam Vinatieri proved for once that he was actually human. The most clutch kicker in playoff history left three points on the field with a wide left field goal (the botched placement was not his fault!!). And still, he was responsible for 11 of the Colts' 29 points. Wonder what Mike Vanderjack is doing and if he's still the idiot, drunk kicker Peyton knows and loves?

I don't want to take anything away from what the Colts accomplished because they did everything right to win this game but this rant would not be complete without a special shoutout: "REX GROSSMAN SUCKS!" and a big thumbs down to Ron Turner's play calling. Turner failed to call plays that would allow Grossman a better chance to manage the game such as screen passes, quick slants and draw plays. Rex needed to establish a rhythm, gain some confidence and as he's proven in the past he progressively gets better. Plain and simple, Grossman is a young QB that seems trapped in premeditated actions despite sticky situations that beg for an audible. But before you send Grossman off to the wolves, remember this . . . this was the young buck's first full year as the starter, he was 15-4 and there are 30 other quarterbacks who would have loved to trade places with him while they watched the game in front of their plasmas at home.

And lastly, this Super Bowl would not be complete without acknowledging both Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy. While the "first black coaches" label may have been overused these past weeks, the sports world could not have welcomed a better pair into the Super Bowl fraternity than the two men we watched pace the sidelines on Sunday. Two men of character, dignity and class that proved that faith, patience and a calm demeanor can still get you all the marbles and that the Gruden/Parcels approach isn't the only way to the road of glory. I salute you both.

In closing I'll leave you with this . . . I guess Dennis Green was wrong, the Bears were not who we thought they were and it's a good thing we didn't crown their ass when he said we should, because this year's crown clearly belonged to the Colts.