AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > August > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAndruw story was much ado about nothing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: I’m blushing at all the fuss made over Andruw Jones’ name popping up on the waiver list, which is nothing more than going fishing. Drop a hook in the water, see who bites. It’s done every year this time, and names bigger than Andruw’s have been dangled on the line, but never got a nibble because every other team knew it was a ruse… . And whatever became of John Schuerholz’s magic wand?
• “Who dominates the game today? It’s 100 percent bombers. It doesn’t make any difference where you hit it anymore. They can’t put enough rough out there to make any difference.” — Jack Nicklaus. Then Corey Pavin goes out and wins the Milwaukee Open finishing last in driving yardage.
• With all this emphasis on how many miles per hour a pitcher throws a baseball, where does a knuckleballer go to get a shot these days?
• Well, the official word is in from the source that matters: The Royal & Ancient has said that The British Open won’t have to wait another 39 years to go back to Royal Liverpool. It doesn’t say how long, however.
• Would you consider that the PGA Tour might be stretching it a bit when it wants the Tour Championship to become known as “The Super Bowl of Golf?” That refers to 2007, when the East Lake event is backed up to September, at the end of that FedEx Cup run. Or might it have be said to be the “Daytona 500 of Golf?” No, that’s not right either, for NASCAR is the only show that stages its “Super Bowl” right out of the box.
• When you think of the Oakland Raiders, you think of Al Davis, right? Actually, a lady named Amy Trask is officially listed as chief executive, and recognized as one of Advertising Age’s “26 Women to Watch.” Don’t worry, you can bet Al’s got his eye on her, too.
• The point should have made, in our discussion of sometime relief pitchers in the Baseball Hall of Fame, that Dennis Eckersley had pitched a no-hit game, too, as well as Hoyt Wilhelm. Wilhelm went in as a trailblazer as well, first pitcher who got into over 1,000 games.
• Jeff Francoeur is a fellow who fares well at both kinds of plates. He was the speaker at Furman University’s Ninth Annual Diamond Classic Dinner.
• Remember the time when most college baseball coaches were staff members doing double duty for a little extra cash? If you don’t, so it was, quite often. LSU’s new coach, Paul Mainieri, was lured from Notre Dame, and quite a lure it was — $400,000 a year for five years. OK, so there are utility infielders making that much in the big leagues.
• No football coach ever tried to fill such a pair of shoes as these: Hunk Anderson succeeded Knute Rockne at Notre Dame and later, George Halas of the Chicago Bears. Of course he didn’t have a chance even though he had a winning record in both cases.
• The grim reaper has been taking his toll of the football voices of the South, Jim Fyffe of Auburn last year, Paul Eells of Arkansas just recently and Stan Torgeson, Ole Miss broadcaster for years, a few weeks back. But ol’ gravel-voiced Larry Munson goes on and on, and Georgia salutes his 40 years of Bulldogology on Saturday. Few, if any, have ever had that staying power, and I hereby salute him. Growl on, old boy.
Selah.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Comments
By David
August 9, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this
I am disappointed in John Shuerholtz as a GM. When is the magic coming back when he can acquire players such as future Hall-Of-Famers (Greg Maddox, Gary Sheffield, and Fred McGriff (the Crime Dog). He now goes after has-beens such as Raul Mondesi, Brian Jordan (washed up veterans that are ready for the glue factory). We need to be acquiring great players such as David Ortiz, A-Rod and Randy Johnson — people of that calibre. This is why we keep losing every year because we are no longer getting 5-star, blue-chip free agents to join our team. We are instead getting washed up veterans who are just a thread away from retirement being brought in to try to either rediscover the fountain of youth or to rejuvenate a dying career. These players are already on life-support and they need to be either resussitated or CPR done on them to resurrect a fading and dying career. We need an owner such as Ted Turner, Donald Trump or Walt Disney who has deep enough pockets who can spend the necessary dollars and bring in enough great players to help us compete with the very elite ball clubs.
By David
August 9, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this
WALT DISNEY has been dead since about ‘66 or ‘67! Hilarious!
By David
August 9, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this
WALT DISNEY has been dead since about ‘66 or ‘67! Hilarious!
By Trade Andruw
August 9, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this
Trade fat-Andruw before he has a major heart attack trying to dive for a pop up—his bubblegum azs is so big that he can’t even reach around it to wipe after taking a crapp—too many cheeseburgers, do nuts, & beer—none of the Braves are in shape—Chipper is being held together with duct tape—remember how Jorge Soso looked when he showed up this spring?—He looked liked my grandma!…even Bobby “thebooger” Cox has to waddle out to the mound…when he hauls azs it takes 7 loads!…
By Kevin
August 9, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this
Did anyone hear about the posbility of landing Zito off waivers?
By Head Coach
August 9, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this
Andruw should have been traded right before the July 31st deadline along with just about every other veteran on the team. This old coach was castigated back at the end of May when I let the fat lady sing and here we are two and a half months later and everybody has finally seen the light. John Schuerholz has chosen to put all his eggs in one basket for 2007 . which I of course totally disagree with. They should have torn this team apart and rebuilt with all the young talent we could have received in trade , not to mention all the young talent already stockpiled in the farm system. Schuerholz should be rebuilding for 2007 , 08 , 09 , 2010 and beyond. Instead he is apparently to busy on his book tour and planning for his impending retirement.
By Joseph Berry
August 9, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this
Furman, I am convienced that team sports is the correct fill for the AJC sports page. Nevertheless, there are other achievements which might merit exposure, I climbed Mt, Kilimanjaro (19,342’) a few years back. I learned matters which continue to make a difference even now. What about a column from time to time about individual effort? Just a thought. Joe Berry
By Joseph Berry
August 9, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this
Furman, I am convienced that team sports is the correct fill for the AJC sports page. Nevertheless, there are other achievements which might merit exposure, I climbed Mt, Kilimanjaro (19,342’) a few years back. I learned matters which continue to make a difference even now. What about a column from time to time about individual effort? Just a thought. Joe Berry
By coach weaver
August 10, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this
You people must be crazy to sit there and keep encouraging the braves to trade Andruw, you all must be smoking or sniffing something if you think these AA not AAA boys are going to take them to the promise land. My advise would be to trade Chipper to an American League team since he can’t seem to stay healthy. At this point you might as well get one of the young guys to play third base since that’s what we do for more than half the season anyway. Another thing, Andruw may be over weight but he’s still the most productive player out there, he plays hurt everyday now can you say that about any of the others. If they trade him I will no loner be a Braves fan, I mean——-who else out there is worth watching?