Sports Quick Hits 12/11

1. Graham Snubbed For the Heisman
The Heisman Trophy finalists were announced yesterday and it was no surprise as to who was nominated: quarterbacks Tim Tebow (Florida), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), and Colt McCoy (Texas). What did come as a surprise is the fact that Texas Tech's quarterback, Graham Harrell, wasn't included on the list. Under normal circumstances, the exclusion of a Tech quarterback wouldn't phase me in the least. Despite putting up ridiculous stats every single year, it's become an annual event for the Heisman Committee to overlook the numbers because of Tech's high-powered system. But this year is the biggest insult in program history in my opinion.

I don't think Harrell would have or should have won the trophy. If I had an unbiased vote, when it came right down to it I'd probably vote for Bradford myself. But leaving Harrell off the finalists list altogether is outrageous. Just take these simple facts into consideration: playing in the same division of the same conference as Bradford and McCoy, Harrell threw for more yards than both; more touchdowns than McCoy; at a better completion percentage than Bradford; and with the same number of interceptions as both while attempting far more passes than either Bradford or McCoy. All three quarterbacks led their team to the exact same record, with Harrell BADLY outplaying McCoy when the two met a few weeks ago.

Look I get upset that Tech QBs get the shaft every year when it comes to national recognition. It has never sat right with me that Tech guys get discredited because they are "system" QBs yet bums like Eric Crouch can not only be nominated but when the Heisman while running a "system" of their own. McCoy, Bradford, and Tebow, just like Crouch, Detmer, and Young, all run in various "systems" that allow them to excel. Harrell is a heck of a lot more of a traditional quarterback than any of these guys. To leave Graham out of the running for the Heisman, even if he was eventually going to end up in fourth place, is a sham and I think the Heisman Committee ought to be ashamed of themselves.

2. Yankees Spend a Quarter Billion

Over the last few years, my hatred for the Yankees has been pushed to the back of my Sports Mind because of the way they have struggled so mightily. But this week that hatred was rekindled. During the current economic crisis, the Yanks still found the money to sign not one but likely two of the biggest free agent names in baseball and may not be finished. Yesterday the Bombers inked pitcher C.C. Sabathia to a 7 year, 160 million dollar contract, and today were said to be offering another pitcher, A.J. Burnett, a 5 year, 80 million dollar deal. (The obvious question being, are they stockpiling players who have two letter first names?) Next on the list is Mark Teixeira who I hear is close to making a deal with Boston but whom I can’t imagine leaving whatever money New York offers on the table.

In truth, I guess this stuff should make me mad at baseball instead of the Yanks. It’s Bug Selig and the Player’s Association that keep the MLB from having a salary cap like every other major American sporting league. But, hey, it’s a lot easier to hate the Yankees when the team is shoved down your throat with unceasing relentlessness by every major sports news outlet in the country. It infuriates me that in baseball the rich continue to get richer while the poor get even poorer.

On the plus side, when the team still struggles to make the playoffs next year and ends up falling short of a championship, it will be hilarious to see the turmoil that ensues. You don’t spend a quarter million dollars in three days and sit idly by to watch your investment not paying off. Chemistry is something the Yanks forgot about long ago.

3. Kobe’s New Shoe
Word came today that Kobe Bryant’s new shoe, Nike’s Kobe IV, will be a low cut sneaker. Specifically designed by Kobe himself, the shoe is apparently inspired by a soccer cleat.

I think he’s going to get some head scratches for this move but I applaud Kobe for pushing this design on the folks at Nike. The need for high top sneakers in one of the biggest myths in the history of sports and I hope to see the low top shoe become more popular. A high top sneaker only protects against minor ankle rolls and in fact, speaking from the personal experience gained from breaking or seriously rolling my ankles over a dozen times, a lower cut allows an ankle just to roll over rather than resisting it which causes more damage. And for players who make a lot of cuts and quick stops, a lower cut, lighter shoe is a necessity. I stopped playing in high tops a long time ago and moved to a mid cut. I’d gladly move to low top sneakers for good if I could ever find one that provides the width you need for basketball. Here’s one guy that hopes The Kobe IV leads to a revolution in the basketball shoe world.

4. Owens Does it Again
I warned Cowboy fans about Terrell Owens. I told them that he was a cancer, a guy who could and would destroy any locker room in the NFL (as proven by his take down of the Eagles, one of the strongest rooms in the league). Owens is the type of guy who can be on a team that goes 19-0 with a Super Bowl win and throw a fit that he didn’t get the ball enough. You can’t trust a guy like Terrell Owens and any Cowboy fans who have convinced themselves that they could have been fooled.

Today is came out that Owens and two other receivers held a meeting with offensive coordinator of which the basic gist was they didn’t like the Tony Romo was throwing to his friend, tight end Jason Witten, more than them. Then this news “somehow” got leaked to the media. This sounds to me like Owens got ticked, got his boys to back him up, and then let word slip about what was going on. So while the Boys are preparing to play the World Champion Giants this weekend in a game that could determine their playoff lives, the whole team gets to deal with this mess instead.

I’m pretty sure this is Terrell’s last year in Dallas and I think even the most steadfast Owens’ fan has to be saying good riddance. When it’s all said and done, Owens will go down as one of the most talented receivers in the history of football, but also as a guy who never won anything and doesn’t have a single positive contribution to show for it.

5. Dirk
I’ve talked less about Dirk this year mostly because the Mavs just haven’t kept my interest like they normally do. They seem to be destined for a lower level playoff finish and a first round exit. I’m much more interested in what kind of moves they’ll make to solidify their future.

But tonight as I watch Dallas take on the hapless Bobcats, I was reminded of what an incredible player Dirk Nowitzki is and how often he is taken for granted. The Mavs last game was a double overtime thriller against San Antonio in which Dirk played 52 minutes and 40 minutes straight. Coming out tonight it was easy to see that the team, and Dirk in particular, hadn’t physically recovered. His shot looked a little tight and his legs a bit weak. A lot of early shots that are usually automatic for Dirk were coming up short. But as he always does, Dirk adjusted and came through for his team.

One of the things I have always admired most about Dirk is that when he’s having an off shooting night he finds ways to contribute. A lot of times when you see Dirk go something like 7 for 22 from the field he’ll also come away with 18 rebounds. If he has a couple of extra turnovers he’ll also give you an extra block or steal at just the right moment. Tonight when it was obvious that he wasn’t feeling it, he became the facilitator in the half court offense, drawing the defense to him and then finding the cutter time after time. And then, when the moment was right, he stepped into a 3 and drilled it to give the Mavs the big bucket they have come to depend on him for over the last 10 years.

But I want to point out another play that will certainly go unnoticed after he finished off the night with that shot. Just a few moments earlier Dirk made the hustle play of the night. A long Jason Terry three pointer went wide. As he was coming in to crash the board, Dirk changed direction and was just able to smack the ball back in bounds as he fell into the Charlotte bench. The hustle play preserved possession and gave the Mavs another shot to put it away. As he careened out of bounds, Dirk landed in the lap of Bobcats’ coach Larry Brown, one of the games all time greats, who helped him up. As the camera panned past Brown and a timeout was called, you could see a small smile and look of admiration cross his face. You could read exactly what he was thinking: if only I could get just ONE of my guys to play like that. Here’s Dirk Freaking Nowitzki, a perennial All Star, an MVP, the best shooting big man in the league, and he’s diving into the other team’s bench after a ball in the middle of December against a crappy team like Charlotte. It stuck with me and it obviously stuck with Brown. You have to love Dirk.