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Sports

Sports Briefs

• Bryan County High School is sponsoring a Golf Tournament on March 25, 2006. All proceeds will benefit The Athletic Department. The Tournament will be held at Black Creek Golf Course @ 1 PM. Teams need to be check in by 12 Noon. Lunch will be served at 12 Noon. Entry deadline is March 24, 2006. Prizes: 1st - $900; 2nd - $600; 3rd - $300. Longest Drive & closest to the pin, cash or prize. Tee Time 1 PM, shot gun start. Format, 3 man scramble. Entry fee is $80 non-member; $70 member. For more information or sponsor information contact Ron Lewis Athletic Director at 626-5070 or Kevin Dick at Black Creek Golf Course at 858-4653.

• Adults Workout With a Racquet: Cardio Tennis is a fun, group activity featuring drills aimed at giving players of all abilities a high-energy workout. $10 sessions will be held throughout the year. For this and other adult tennis programs contact Phyllis Greene at 961-9862 or 507-9862 or e-mail ctcsavannahga@prodigy.net for information and registration for all programs.

Bean Spouts

I hope you all managed to stay safe and sound during last weekend's celebration. Good to have you back...

Speaking of libations- did you hear that there’s a push on to eliminate beer advertising during all NCAA sanctioned events? More than 180 national, state and local organizations have joined in an effort to push college presidents and the NCAA into banning the ads.

Former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, 246 university presidents, the American Medical Association and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have joined the effort. “College presidents should not be in the business of pitching beer to young fans and the students of their respective universities,” said Jay Hedlund, manager of CSPI's Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports on TV.

Osborne, now a congressman, has introduced legislation to ban the ads and says he‘ll continue to push his campaign. “We recognize that an end to alcohol advertising during televised college games will not, by itself, resolve the 'culture of alcohol' that exists for too many college students,” Osborne wrote to the NCAA executive committee. “However, such a policy would declare and affirm college's genuine and consistent commitment to a policy of discouraging alcohol use among underage students. ... We strongly encourage the committee to act on the side of the health and safety of college students, athletes and young fans by ending all alcohol advertising during NCAA broadcasts.”

The NCAA limits beer ads to 60 seconds per hour, which is more permissive than the rules at many colleges- 72 percent of which have banned alcohol advertising on their campuses.

The alcohol industry has its own standards, too. The industry does not advertise on shows if less than 30 percent of the audience is under 21. A Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University found youths were only 8.8 percent of the sports TV audience.

At least someone sees the point. There are a lot more adults watching the games than youngsters- and the students actually get to attend the games in person.

Believe me, I’m all for less commercial advertising during sporting events (although I could care less about basketball), but is this really an issue they need to tackle? How about policing the punks who play the game?

Oh yeah- that would require people take some of the blame themselves- instead blaming someone else, like beer companies...

Braves’ baseball.

Well, the team has yet to look really good in Spring Training. I’m not worried, though- it is, after all, Spring Training. The games don’t count until April…

A few new names popped up last week as possible new owners for the team. One group, led by local businessman Ron Terwilliger, recently hired sports investment banker Sal Galatioto to head up their pursuit of the team. Galatioto has represented Daniel Snyder in his purchase of the Washington Redskins, Jerry Colangelo in his sale of the Phoenix Suns, Robert Johnson in his purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats and the Walt Disney Company in its sale of the Anaheim Angels and Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Others pursuing the team include Atlanta radio mogul Lew Dickey Jr., his brother and other family members; Colorado’s Liberty Media, which said it “would love” to exchange some of its $3 billion worth of Time Warner stock for an asset like the Braves.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who suspended negotiations last month because of a disagreement on price is still a contender, as well. More bidders are likely to emerge once MLB chooses the new owner of the Nationals.

Steve Greenberg, who is handling the Braves sale, said the process is moving along steadily.

“We're making good progress,” Greenberg said. “We've got a number of applications approved by Major League Baseball and are in the somewhat tedious process of digging in, getting through a lot of information with people, getting people to the point of understanding what they think the value is. The process just takes a little while.”

Personally, I’d still like to see Ted get the team back…

The team announced Tuesday that it had reached a formalized working agreement with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese League that will see the Tigers assist the Braves with scouting and evaluating Japanese players. “We are extremely pleased to announce this agreement,” said Dayton Moore, Assistant General Manager/Baseball Operations. “We have great respect for the Hanshin organization and we are looking forward to developing a stronger working relationship with them…”

Japan topped Cuba 10-6 Monday night to take home the championship in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. While Cuba’s starter for the night lasted just four batters, Japan’s Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched four innings and allowed just one run.

MLB said nearly 740,000 people attended the 39 game, and Monday’s finale at Petco Park in San Diego was attended by more than 42,000.

The next tournament is tentatively scheduled for 2009…

Yes- I neglected to mention anything about the new book that alleges Barry Bonds knowingly took steroids to become a home run hitter. Long time readers will remember that I made the same assertion a long time ago- I just lacked the resources to investigate it as fully as the authors of that book did.

In fact, I wasn’t going to comment on the subject at all- until I heard a report last Friday that Commissioner Moron... oops, I mean Selig... said he wasn't sure whether or not he would have Bonds investigated, unless Bonds was indicted.

What is it that baseball's so afraid of? Finding out the truth? That Bonds, McGwire, Canseco, et al are cheats? Is baseball that afraid of having Bonds exposed? Of having to say "sorry, Barry- those supposed records of yours are tainted"? And “oh, by the way- McGwire, Sosa- your records are tainted, too”?

Selig- and anyone else in the league who opposes exposing not just Bonds, but any other drug cheats- needs to grow a pair and do what needs to be done…

Speaking of a commish who does what needs to be done- Paul Tagliabue announced Monday that he will retire in July from his post as NFL Commissioner. During his 17 years as football’s chief, Tagliabue has enjoyed booming TV revenues, including its current, $12.5 billion dollar deal, unprecedented labor peace, and the addition of four new teams.

Also during his tenure, a little more than half the league's teams got new or renovated stadiums, instant replay was added for controversial calls, stiffer drug abuse and steroid policies were implemented and NFL Europe was founded.

“This is not an easy decision for me because 37 of my 65 years, I've been involved with the National Football League, which is a great institution,” said Tagliabue. Tagliabue said that he felt- with the labor situation settled and new television contracts in place- it was the time to move on. He will preside over the next owners meeting, which begins this weekend Sunday in Florida, and assist the league find his successor.

Falcons President and General Manager Rich McKay has been mentioned as a possible replacement, as has Roger Goodell, the league's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said in the past she would like to be NFL commissioner, is not applying for the newly opened post according to her spokesperson.

Tagliabue was widely praised after the announcement. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said “(Tagliabue’s) been at that position for 17 years, and he saw the construction of about 28 to 30 new stadiums, a collective bargaining agreement, a number of extensions. He wanted to complete these new TV deals, which he's done this year, and obviously, along with the collaboration and support of Gene Upshaw and the players' association, oversaw a new six-year pact.”

“On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate him a 15 on all those fronts. I also think it's taken its toll, and it's time for him to move on and enjoy some other interests in his life…”

One of Randy Moss’ agents was charged with possession of crack cocaine last week in St. Petersburg after police were called to a hotel to investigate a disturbance. Dante DiTrapano and his wife, Teri were arrested last Tuesday after hotel management called police to report a disturbance in couple's room. Officers that entered the room found the drugs. Three others in the room were also arrested and charged with possession.

An attorney for the couple said “Dante has been battling depression over two tragedies that occurred this past year. We don't know the facts of his arrest at this point, but we hope and pray that Dante will now get the help he needs.”

Moss, through the same attorney, said he supported DiTrapano. “I'm sticking by my friend and I'll support him and his family as he gets help battling his problem.”

Besides, he’s probably Randy’s dealer…

Football coach Chan Gailey was signed a new, five year contract which includes a five percent per year raise from its current rate of $1 million per year, and a $5,000 bonus for each of his assistant coaches for every victory the team gets over the Bulldogs.

Gailey's incentives also reward him for graduating 70 percent of his players, winning bowl games and being named ACC coach of the year. He, however, does not share in the reward if the Jackets beat Georgia.

Gailey is 28-22 in four seasons with Tech…

The Thrashers went 3-1 last week and remained in third place in the NHL Southeast- and one point ahead of Montreal in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

This weekend, the Thrashers visit the Islanders and play next Thursday at Tampa Bay…

Monday’s win over the Sabres was Atlanta’s 19th of the year at home- a team record…

The team recalled forwards Ramzi Abid and Derek MacKenzie from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL Monday. Abid has two assists in four games with Atlanta this season. He led the Chicago team with 28 goals and 62 points in 63 games. MacKenzie has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 36 games with Chicago this season…

2004 Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne took home the checkered flag in last weekend’s Golden Corral 500- run Monday because of rain Sunday afternoon in the Atlanta area. (All I can say is, they got lucky- Todd and I got rained on all the way home from the Thrashers’ game Monday night.)

The win, Kahne’s fourth career victory, was his fourth strong finish in four races this season. He finished 11th at Daytona and record two fourth place finishes.

Mark Martin finished second, followed by Dale Earnhart, Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Bill Lester, the first black driver to run a NASCAR race in twenty years, finished 38th…

It was good to hear Lester’s comments after the race- particularly when he said he was “looking forward to when it's about racing instead of race.”

“I don't really deserve all the attention I've gotten,“ he added. When asked who he was representing on the racetrack, Lester quickly answered “myself. I'm doing this for myself and for my family.”

“I'm glad so many people, especially from the minority community, have taken note of what it is I'm doing, but I drive for Bill Lester. At the end of the day, if it wasn't for my self belief, I wouldn't be here…”

The Monday race was attended by less than 20,000. Maybe it’s time the “good old boys” learned to drive in the rain, like the Formula 1 guys and rally drivers do…

Oh yeah- NASCAR awarded the cars-turning-left Hall of Fame to Charlotte. I’ve yet to hear anyone here say they’re disappointed…

So, that’s about all for this week, boys and girls. I'll be back next time with more news, notes, and rumors from the sports world. As always, send your questions, praises, or gripes to RobBeanSports@yahoo.com, or via snail mail to:

c/o Spirit Newspapers