Out of print for more than 30 years, now available for the first time as
an eBook, this is the controversial story of John Wooden's first 25
years and first 8 NCAA Championships as UCLA Head Basketball Coach.
This is the only book that gives a true picture of the character of John
Wooden and the influence of his assistant, Jerry Norman, whose
contributions Wooden ignored and tried to bury.
Compiled with
more than 40 hours of interviews with Coach Wooden, learn about the man
behind the coach. The players tell their stories in their own words.
Click the book to read the first chapter and for
ordering information. Also available on Kindle.
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Sports Medley: Mattingly Disrespects the Game of Baseball 25 May 15
by Tony Medley
Clueless Mattingly:
On June 23, 1917 Babe Ruth started on the mound for the Boston Red Sox
against the Washington Senators. Walking the first batter, the Babe was
so incensed at one of umpire Brick Owens’ calls that he slugged him and
was ejected. Ernie Shore was called in to replace Ruth. After the runner
was thrown out attempting to steal second, Shore retired the next 26
batters in a row, for a perfect game. In fact, it was more than perfect
since he got 27 outs while only facing 26 batters, completing one of the
greatest pitched games in baseball history.
Saturday Dodgers pitcher Mike Bolsinger gave up a leadoff single to San
Diego Padres’ Yangveris Solarte. After that single, Bolsinger proceeded
to have the next batter hit into a double play and retired 23 batters in
a row, for one of the greatest pitched games in Dodgers’ history.
Allowing only the single hit, he struck out 8 with no walks (naturally).
But would Don Mattingly allow him to complete this unforgettable gem of
a game? If he retired the last three batters, it would be a game for the
ages. No! Even though he had not reached Mattingly’s childishly
simplistic 100 pitch limit at which Don apparently thinks that pitchers
turn into pumpkins (Bolsinger had thrown only 92 pitches), he pulled
Bolsinger so Donnie Baseball’s beloved closer, Kenley Jansen, could
retire the next three batters for the win.
Asked after the game if he didn’t want to finish the game, Bolsinger
diplomatically declined to comment. I don’t have to be so diplomatic.
Pulling a pitcher who is so obviously dominant and not allowing him to
pitch the ninth inning of the game of a lifetime to bring in a pitcher
cold from the bullpen is sheer idiocy and shows disrespect for his
pitcher and for the game of baseball. Does anyone doubt that this
Mattingly would have also pulled Shore in 1917 and Sandy Koufax in his
1965 Perfect Game?
Burying
the Lead:
As bad, in the game article for the LA Times, writer Bill Shaikin and
the unknown headline writer were so dismissive of Bolsinger’s
accomplishment that the headline for the game was “Young Arms Are
Lending a Hand,” and Shaikin couldn’t bring himself to mention the
masterpiece until his third paragraph. Thoroughly brainwashed and
dismally ignorant of baseball history and heritage, there was nary a
peep of criticism in his article about Mattingly pulling Bolsinger for
the 9th inning.
Old Man Federer?
On the first day of the French Open in the third set against Alejandro
Falla, aging, 33-year-old Roger Federer made one of the most amazing
shots one will ever see. With Roger at the net, Falla hit a lob over
Roger’s head. He turned around and with his back to the net moving away,
he hit an overhead with the ball behind his head smashing it crosscourt
as if he were hitting a normal overhead standing still facing the net
waiting for it to some down. It would have been a remarkable, memorable
shot were he 22, but at 33 it was nothing short of spectacular.
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