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THE
WAR ROOM ARCHIVE #1 THE WAR ROOM ARCHIVE OF PAST COLUMNS THE WAR ROOM ARCHIVE #2 THE WAR ROOM ARCHIVE #3 THE WAR ROOM ARCHIVE #4 CURRENT WAR ROOM |
FEBRUARY
1st, 2005 |
Craig
Hall has over 15 years Association with the Major Media Sports
Departments in Lexington, Kentucky
He was a Contributor to the 1984 Eclipse Award Winning Feature by ESPN |
SPORTS
Q & A |
Q: The Cincinnati Reds seem to finally be making some serious deals over the Winter. What's your take on that? A: "Not many people realize this, but Carl Lindner [Majority Owner] has much deeper pockets than [New York Yankee's] George Steinbrenner. The REDS have been spending more than usual here lately ... mostly for pitching. But, I'm not impressed. Lindner could do better. Everyone felt that when Marge Schott was gone [with all the Media Coverage] we'd see progress. In reality, it was a side-step. Marge won a Major League Baseball World Series in 1990. She spent the money on the players. True, she was cheap about the way she treated other things ... food for the media, other support services for the Ballpark. But she Won. Lindner doesn't pay his players and hasn't delivered a championship team." Q: The New York Yankees got their man, Randy Johnson. At his age, does he still have what it takes to deliver the World Series Championship back to New York? A: "No. Reason ... Bad Knees, Bad Legs. Especially his left leg which is the one he lands on coming off the pitching mound. He missed several games last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Plus at age 42, things aren't going to get any better. He won't win 20 games ... on a 4 or 5 day starting rotation plus injury time ... he may pitch 20 games. All in all, a great money deal for Randy Johnson ... a bad deal for the Yankees. Q: How obvious is it to you the Steroid issue in MLB? A: "When you see guys 35-40 years old [which by the way, strangely enough MLB is largely comprised of] gaining muscle mass it makes you think. Barry Bonds, for example, you can take a look at his picture several years back and see he's smaller in his physical prime. But let's not give all the credit to steroids, there is still natural ability. The Hand- Eye coordination that Bond's has is pure talent, drugs didn't enhance that ... just the power to carry it out. Q: It's still early, but who do you think looks good right now for college basketball's March Madness? A: "It's February, it's not that early anymore. But watch for someone out of the Northeast. Someone like a Boston College or Syracuse with Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara. Wake Forest out of the ACC lurks; but, last year's Final Four team Georgia Tech isn't doing so good. Q: In the 2005 NCAA Basketball Tournament this year can the University of Kentucky go deep or is it a year away? A: "Sadly, it's a year away. Development on the team has been slow. The attitude is just not there. I do have to say that Shagari Alleyne has been a very big surprise. An improvement from last year. Q: A number of Sports broadcasters have bad reputations among many Fans. Who do you feel is the "Fairest" Play by Play or Color Commentator in the Land? Which seems the most biased? A: "Larry Conley. He's played the game, he knows the game [The Networks want him as well. Conley can be found on ABC, Jefferson Pilot Sports, ESPN, & FOX SPORTS NET]. Most biased? Billy Packer. He's a Wake Forest Alum but any ACC school seems to get preferred treatment from him. Q: Recently, ESPN's Andy Katz predicted that within one year's time the Head Basketball Coach of Indiana, Mike Davis, will be gone. Former Indiana Alum and Iowa Head Coach Steve Alford will be in his place. All this despite Alford's word that he's happy at Iowa. Is your Good Buddy Katz right or wrong? A: "He's Right. Indiana fans want a return to the Days of Glory, this year has been really tough on them and will continue to be so. They see Alford's success down there at Iowa, then add the fact he was a popular player at Indiana and they want him. Q: Word has it that you're close personal friends with Mitch Barnhart [University of Kentucky, Athletic Director]. True? A: "False! I ran into Mitch in Pikeville [Ky] twice recently and spoke for a while. He'd stepped out of the Golden Triangle to raise money for the University. But there's no truth to any of your question." Q: UK has had its recent struggle with the Joe Crawford "Leave-Return to the Team Affair". What's your initial thoughts on this? A: "Tubby handled the whole thing correctly. Keeping the situation as low key as he could. Young kids make mistakes, get bad advice. Now that he's back he's got to realize who the boss is. But get this, Joe Crawford will develop into a better player than the rest of them [Freshman]. He's got the skill and the physical body type." Q: Who do you like in the 2005 Super Bowl? A: "New England Patriots. Bill Belichick is a Master Coach able to squeeze talent out of people no one else wants and if he wins Feb 6th it'll be his 5th Championship Ring. No one else has ever accomplished this in NFL history. |
