Who I’ll Remember From Vancouver

February 28

The Winter Olympics are over. We can now resume our normal lives. What’ll I do, now that I can’t watch downhill skiing delayed by six hours ?

And now, what I, and perhaps we, will remember from these games …

1. Gold Medal Men’s Hockey … What a finale. It’ll go down as one of the great hockey games ever, considering the setting and the way it ended. Sid the Kid ices it in overtime for Canada. Five San Jose Sharks were in this game. Ryan Miller and Team USA had nothing to be ashamed of –as he put it, USA was regarded as an “afterthought” for this tournament. Instead, they came within a hair of winning gold and played a major part in a great Olympic moment. An overtime loss definitely hurts for the US, not half as much as it would for Canada. Will all this help hockey down the road? I don’t know, but it couldnt’ hurt.

2. Nodar Kumaritashvilli … At least we SHOULD remember him. The IOC swept him under the rug, essentially blaming him for his own death by saying he wasn’t skilled enough to be on the track. Then they changed the luge course to make it safer. The first death at a Winter Games site since 1964. Is anyone crying tears for Nodar’s father in Georgia right now? Jacques Rogge? Any of the other IOC blue suits ?

3. Apolo Ohno … Here he is winning a silver. Here he is in a NyQuil commercial. Here he is being interviewed by Bob Costas. Here he is winning a bronze. Here he is in another commercial, skating on spinning ice. Here he is getting DQ’d. That little dude is everywhere. Eight medals over three Olympics in a crazy sport is a great accomplishment.

4. The Same Commercials, repeatedly … Gretchen Bleiler snowboarding into space, to the tune of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” ( which might have been written about a girlfriend, or about heroin. ) How many times did I see that AT & T commerical? 150? 160? Now I can’t get that damn tune out of my head.

5. Bode Miller … I don’t what to make of this guy. Some of his colleagues feel the same way, and I think he revels in that. Ooh, look at me, I’m the off-beat maverick. I’m not sure how much of that is an act, and frankly I don’t care enough to get upset if it is, but when Miller is on the slopes he’s the real deal. Most of all, he seemed to care this time , and pretty much rehabilitated the image that was tarnished in Torino.

6. Lindsey Vonn … She’s blonde, fairly attractive, talented, and dammit, NBC was going to make her a star. They’ve even cast her for a part in her favorite show, “Law & Order.” Is that on NBC? It is? Ain’t that about a son of a bitch? She ended up with two medals and three misses, and she let you know in even her last interview that her shin hurt. Maybe she didn’t ask to be the poster girl for the games, but she didn’t turn down the SI cover shoot, either.

7. Joannie Rochette … what can you say? Her mother’s sudden death in Vancouver came at a time that should have been a highlight for both. Joannie made it something greater, something memorable, with the way she skated and the poise she exhibited. The coming week will be very tough for her and her family, but she certainly honored her mother in the best way she knew how.

8. Evgeni Plushenko … as classy as Joannie was, Plushenko was the opposite. What an impudent brat. He displayed very poor sportsmanship after his loss to Evan Lysacek in men’s figure skating, disrespecting the winner and disrespecting his sport. Too bad. The guy is an incredibly talented skater. Lysacek took the high road.

9. The Tape Delayed Olympics … shame on me for thinking we’d get more live programming because we’re in the same time zone as Vancouver. I understand why certain events have to be packaged for prime time, such as figure skating, but it’s absurd to watch an event held in daylight after 10 at night. NBC managed to go well out of prime time on several nights, forcing people to stay up until almost midnight. That left out a lot of kids who want to see snowboarding or halfpipe. Smart.

10. Larry The Cable Guy wins gold … Steve Holcomb helped bring the US its first bobsled gold in 62 years. Not a guy you want to see in spandex, but great to see atop the podium with his teammates in the four-man bobsled. (Aside from pushing the sled at the start, what do the middle two guys do ? ) Holcomb was going blind due to an eye condition causing cataracts two years ago. He underwent an operation not even approved by the FDA, regained his sight, won the Worlds in 2009 and Gold Saturday night.

Very Honorable Mention … Yu-Na Kim, who carried the weight of South Korea on her shoulders and skated with grace. She was so good it seemed effortless. She set a points record.

The U.S. sets the medals record, and Canada set the record for gold. They at least own the top part of the podium. We’ll see you in London. Bring on baseball.

A Five-Ring Circus

February 24

The Winter Olympics are heading into the home stretch … my thoughts?

It’s amazing how national pride swells when the US leads the medal count in events we normally don’t care about. Some of us like to ski, but for the most part we aren’t rabid fans. Snowboarding, aerials, and moguls have a growing following, but we don’t pin national pride on the Flying Tomato ( or whatever he calls himself now. )

Hockey is maybe the #5 sport in the US, but we go ga-ga when it’s go-time in the Olympics. Nordic events are just that — Nordic, although the US finally broke through with a couple of medals. Also, how many people have enough money to shepherd their kid through 15 years of figure skating ?

Figure skating grabs the female viewers ( and some males, for different reasons ), but how many of us can relate to these people? How can we relate to a young, waifish athlete in silk and feathers — taught by a stern, mole-ridden 5-foot-tall woman named Ludmila? It’s bizarre theater.

We CAN relate to this: athletes working hard for years, for perhaps a few minutes in the world spotlight. You either produce or you don’t. That’s real drama, not manufactured.

***

I’m also a fan of live television, and if I may beat a dead horse, NBC will give you the finger again on Friday if you’re a US hockey fan on the West Coast. The noon-time semifinal game involving Team USA will be tape-delayed in the West. Again.

It could be the same story for the gold medal game Sunday, the grand finale. Shame on me for thinking we’d have more live programming since we are in the same time zone as Vancouver.

Mercifully, NBC’s Olympic contract ends after the 2012 London Games. After losing $200 million on these games, are they going to that well again?

Who would I rather see covering the games? Anyone. Hopefully 2012 will spell the end of packaged, canned, you’ll-see-what-we-want-you-to-see coverage. I don’t want to see events aired in prime time that are contested in the sunlight.

ESPN, HBO, pony up. Please. I might even pony up to get what I want.

***

The media, searching for a catchy headline, called these “the Glitch Games.” You had the first athlete death at the winter games in 46 years, and that goes beyond a “glitch.” Somehow that is lumped in with a mishap with one of the torch arms during opening ceremonies, and a knock-off Zamboni problem. That is facile, and it only minimizes a tragedy. Competitors had warned of the dangers of the luge course before the Georgian died … and in a multi-million dollar sporting endeavor, you don’t bother to pad the trackside poles?

***

How great would a Canada-US hockey final be? Actually, it’s already happening with the women. It’s the USA, Canada, and everyone else in women’s hockey, and that’s a problem.

As for the men, there would be tremendous anticipation ( live TV or not ) but I’m worried about a letdown, i.e. a Canada blowout. Canada out-chanced the US 2-1 in Sunday’s loss, but as often happens, a hot goalie won the game. USA’s Ryan Miller was outstanding. It’s asking a lot for him to repeat that performance, and GM Brian Burke said as much a couple of days ago.

Jonas Hiller kept Switzerland in the game with the US today, and by the way, I still don’t think the Americans are as good as Canada. Also, you could really see the difference in skill level between the USA-Switzerland game, and Canada-Russia. Maybe Canada needed an extra game to jell — because they were on fire against Germany and then Russia.

On the flip side, the Sharks’ Evgeni Nabokov is in goaltender hell. He was pulled in the middle of the second period against Canada. He was simply not focused. I could be making too much out of this, but I wonder if tonight’s disaster will have any impact on him going into NHL stretch run ? Anyway, I wouldn’t read a Russian newspaper if I were him.

( P.S. if you’re gambling on Olympic hockey, Tony Bruno can make you rich. He liked Canada to cover against Germany, and the Swiss plus three pucks against Team USA. Also, if you’re gambling on Olympic hockey, seek professional help. )

***

Unless he wins another speed-skating gold, Apolo Ohno can’t even be put in the conversation of the greatest U.S. Olympians. Winning medals at three separate games in an unpredictable sport is a great achievement, but when you go 5 for 5 gold, it’s game over. I’m speaking of Dr. Eric Heiden.

***

It’s fashionable to lampoon Ice Dancing as an Olympic event, but if you watched the finals the other night ( a marital obligation on my part ) you saw great athletes. I don’t know if most people realize how difficult it is to carry a woman on your back, on skates, halfway down the ice. ( Okay guys, I hear the jokes already. )

It’s an amazing feat, even if the woman weighs double-digits. Now, do that under pressure in the Olympics. While wearing ruffles.

Given a choice, I’d rather watch athletes in uniforms instead of costumes. I think I can go another four years without seeing a man wearing Vera Wang. I can also go another four years without hearing Russian folk music or the tango, but when you consider the intricacy of each ice dance routine, you realize these people are a couple of steps above Curling.

***

Warriors coach Don Nelson says he’s tried “rubbing his belly,” speaking of Andris Biedrins, but the problem seems to be between his ears. Biedrins was one of the up and coming centers in the NBA leading into this season — but injuries, especially to his abdomen, have set him back physically and emotionally. It’s problem #17 of about 99 for the Warriors, but it’s a problem.

Biedrins doesn’t look for his shot anymore and he can’t shoot free throws, and the two could be related. He might be afraid to go to the basket because he’s afraid of going to line, where he has some of the worst mechanics ever. 3 for 23. Are you kidding me?

This season is lost, but since Biedrins is in the middle of a long-term deal it’s a must for him to bounce back next season if the Warriors have any hope of improving. The improvement must start between his ears.

***

What Tony Kornheiser said about Hannah Storm wasn’t obscene, but it’s not something you say on the air — much less in great detail. The only reason he’s suspended two weeks is because Storm works for ESPN. At any rate it’s a tempest in a teapot in a PC world gone mad. Hannah, keep tarting it up.

***

Can I do a victory lap around the studio? While many Giants fans were clamoring to sign Manny Ramirez a year ago, I cautioned that it would be money poorly spent. That’s because Manny isn’t really Manny anymore. Not as a player. And that warning came before we knew anything about his 50 game ban.

Otherwise, Manny IS still being Manny, and that was part of my warning, too. He’s adding to the fractious Dodger offseason by signaling that he is playing out the string in Los Angeles. Way to start the season.

It’s obvious his L.A. days are numbered, but he didn’t need to say anything. It’s obvious he’ll be an American League DH if he plays elsewhere, but he didn’t need to make himself a lame duck in the first spring training interview. And the Dodgers are paying him how much? I’ll bet Frank McCourt would like that money for his divorce proceedings right about now.

Despite predictions that Manny’s bat would have made the Giants NL West champions last season, a big hole was blown into the middle of his 2009 season, and when he returned he batted just .255. Now, he’s talking about leaving. Surprised much?

The Blog

February 21

Certain people or events become so iconic they carry the word “The.”

There is Willie Mays’ “The Catch,” or the football version, from Dwight Clark. There’s John Elway’s “The Drive,” or “The Play” from Cal-Stanford, which made Elway a loser in ’82. How about “The Tackle” by Kevin Jones which gave the Rams their only Super Bowl title ?

In a never-ending attempt to categorize all things and amuse myself, I will attempt to add to the list of “The’s,” in an offering I’m sure will someday be called “The Blog.”

The Bite … Mike Tyson lunching on Evander Holyfield’s ears. Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?

The Punch … and it wasn’t in boxing. Kermit Washington of the Lakers cold-cocked Rudy Tomjanovich of the Rockets in December 1977, as Tomjanovich came in to break up a fight. The punch knocked out Tomjanovich but ruined Washington.

Tomjanovich later said he thought the scoreboard fell on him, and he nearly died on the court. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said, “I didn’t see it, but I heard it.” Tomjanovich’s face was re-arranged and he went into intensive care. Washington was suspended an unprecedented 60 days — and was traded to the Celtics. A thoughtful, intelligent man who made a terrible mistake, Washington was labeled a thug and a symbol of everything that was wrong with the NBA. Washington’s career was never the same. He was traded several times and retired five years later. Unable to escape the stigma of The Punch, he couldn’t get a coaching job anywhere. Washington eventually remade himself by spearheading philanthropic work in Africa, and actually did hook up with the NBA again, coaxing charity money out of the league.

The Throw ( baseball ) … with all due respect to Dave Parker, Vladimir Guerrero, Roberto Clemente, and the forgotten great arm of Jesse Barfield … it happened on June 18, 2006. Jose Guillen of the Pirates uncorked a throw from the edge of the warning track in right field that nailed the Rockies’ Neifi Perez at the third… ON THE FLY. He made people forget he missed the leaping catch of a drive against the wall.

The Flip ( baseball ) … although not planned as a relay, it ended up being just that — Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, in one of the great instinct plays ever, runs in from shortstop to snag a dying throw from right field in the 2001 ALDS. The throw is in foul territory along the first base line. In one motion, he catches and flips to Jorge Posada to tag out Jeremy Giambi at the plate. No matter how many times I’ve yelled at Giambi to slide, he fails to do so in every replay.

The Scream ( rock music ) … it’s a tie between Axl Rose in “Welcome To The Jungle” and Roger Daltrey in “We Won’t Get Fooled Again.” These cannot by replicated by mere mortals, although I’m sure Johnny Knoxville has tried by applying a taser to the family jewels.

The Steal … not Rickey Henderson breaking Lou Brock’s record and declaring himsefl greatest of all time. It was pulled off by a bit player, Dave Roberts, in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. The Red Sox were facing elimination, down 4-3 to the Yankees in the 9th when Kevin Millar walked. Roberts pinch-ran, barely stole second, and scored the tying run on Bill Mueller’s single. The Sox won in extra innings, went on to win the LCS and World Series. It wasn’t Roberts’ greatest steal: he got $18 million out of Brian Sabean and the Giants.

The Goal ( hockey ) … there really is no other choice. Mike Eruzione has made a living in the last 30 years off firing the game-winner in the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid. By the way, if you haven’t seen “Miracle,” it’s highly recommended. One of Kurt Russell’s best performances, as coach Herb Brooks. The one word you’ll remember from this flilck: “again.”

The Push-Off ( basketball ) … Michael Jordan against Bryon Russell of the Jazz, as he sunk the championship-winning shot in the 1998 NBA Finals for the Chicago Bulls. No one except Jazz fans was shocked that the referees let it go, and no one breathing air at the time was shocked Jordan made it. This might also be categorized as “The Shot.”

The Jump … quantum leaps in sports history always fascinate me. Babe Ruth. Wayne Gretzky. Wilt Chamberlain. Now I’m going to discuss a literal quantum leap.

Bob Beamon at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He was the favorite in the long jump, but his world record of 29 feet 2 1/2 inches beat the previous record by nearly 22 INCHES. Almost two feet. The previous best “leap” in the world record was an improvement of six inches. The mark stood for 23 years and is still the second longest of all time, 42 years later. The altitude and weather helped him, but it is still a singular achievement. The phrase “Beamon-esque” is now used to describe an incredible feat. He never jumped longer than 27 feet after that.

The Match ( tennis ) … gotta go with Federer-Nadal, ’08 Wimbledon Final. Epic. Federer cried afterward, perhaps subconsciously wondering if his reign was done. It wasn’t. Nadal’s knees are barking more than a Dachsund and Federer is now up to 16 Grand Slam titles, generally considered the greatest tennis player of all time.

The Error … I’m not sure what Bill Buckner did previously in life to deserve the hell he received after letting that ball go through his legs in the ’86 World Series. He shouldn’t have been in at first base in the first place. Dave Stapleton was a better defensive replacement. Buckner became a pariah in New England, which told me all I will ever need to know about douche-bag Red Sox fans. I’ll never forget Buckner in FOX Sports’ “Beyond The Glory” recounting how a reporter call his wife to ask her if Buckner had contemplated suicide.

The Movie … Highly subjective. Purists will point to “Citizen Kane” or “The Godfather.” I judge this on how many times I can watch a film, and not get tired of seeing it. Two films stand alone for me … “Goodfellas” and “To Kill A Mockingbird.” They couldn’t be more different, and in my opinion, filmmaking didn’t get any better. Toss of a coin …. “Goodfellas.”

* Dark-horse great film of all-time, perhaps the least talked-about Tarantino flick, “Jackie Brown.” ( “The AK 47, when you absolutely, positively got to kill every m—– —-er in the room. Accept no substitutes.” )

The Movie Theme … again subjectivity reins, and there is an embarrassment of riches. Again, my opinion … it boils down to three … The Wizard of Oz, Superfly, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. A more motley collection of musical styles will never be found. My winner: 2001. I watched it Saturday in surround-sound and got goose bumps once again, hear “Also Sprach Zarathustra.”

The Voice ( music ) … ahhh, now I’m really stirring the pot. Frank Sinatra was labeled “The Voice,” just as Mel Torme was labeled “The Velvet Fog.” It boils down to this — if you could rewind your life and have anyone’s singing voice, whose would it be? One name always jumps to the front of the line for me … Sam Cooke.

The Voice (speaking ) … Liev Schrieber is narrating everything from documentaries to car commercials to industrial films these days, but how can you top James Earl Jones? When he tells you, “this is CNN,” he’s both scolding you, and commanding you to acknowledge its’ greatness. When he says “America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers, has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again, but baseball has marked the time,” you feel like God himself is bridging the expanse of the ages to give the Final Summary. “Ohhhh … people will come Ray … people will most definitely come.”

The Swing (baseball) … this might be a generational thing. Ted Williams for the older set … but setting aside steroids, no one had a more compact, balanced, powerful, quick swing than Barry Bonds. No one. He should be a hitting coach…. once he gets past all that legal stuff. Hey, if McGwire can do it … nah, Bonds wouldn’t want to bother.

The Speech … August 28, 1963. Washington, D.C. Do I really need to say any more ?

The Vault … Kerri Strug on a busted ankle at the 1996 Olympics. “You can do it,” implored coach Bela Karolyi. Easy for him to say. Kerri stuck the vault, then hopped on one leg in terrible pain. It turns out she didn’t need to make the vault, because the USA women had already beaten the Russians in team gymnastics. Strug hurt her ankle when she fell on the first vault, but in the 30 seconds she had before her next vault, no one could compute the winning score needed in time. Everyone thought her vault clinched it and that’s how it is remembered.

The Anthem … best rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” ever ? Whitney Houston’s highly pre-produced Super Bowl performance, against the backdrop of the Gulf War, always draws goose bumps. Marvin Gaye’s soulful rendition with the help of only a studio tape at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game was even better. But I give the nod to Jose Feliciano for being the first. The first to personalize the anthem, at the height of the Vietnam War, in the 1968 World Series. Take it from me — 1968 was an intense year. There was a storm of protest over the anthem, and radio stations wouldn’t play Jose’s songs for three years, but his simple and heartfelt approach — at a time of great turmoil in our country — is haunting this day. In a small, symbolic way, that event was a great expression of our nation’s ideals.

The Kick … some say it’s Van Tiffin’s 52-yarder to cap an Alabama comeback and win the 1985 Iron Bowl … others point to Adam Vinatieri’s clutch Super Bowl kick … but I’ve got to go with a half-footed kicker who made a record 63-yarder to win an NFL game, Tom Dempsey beat the Lions, 19-17, in 1970. It was one of only two wins for the Saints that season. Dempsey only made 18 of 34 kicks in ’70, and after 1974 would not have been able to make that kick. That’s when goal posts were moved to the back of the end zone. His right shoe was modified and had a large, flat surface — outlawed by the NFL a few years later.

A Weird Day

February 19

My wife actually made sure the bedroom television was on at 8 a.m., so we could view Tiger Woods’ latest attempt to save face. It wasn’t hard to find; just about every channel that didn’t have paid programming was showing his mea culpa. It was one of the weirdest things I have ever seen in sports, and that’s saying a lot.

The camera focused on a podium with a blue curtain background. I thought it was the White House Press Room. I expected someone to say “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Number One golfer in the world.”

Tiger read a rather wooden, prepared statement with his mom, friends, employees and associates looking on. He apologized for his infidelity and indicated his therapy is a work in progress. He didn’t say when he planned to return to competitive golf, and that was probably a smart move because he didn’t want to give an impression that his focus wasn’t where it should be.

Here was a GOLFER, apologizing for personal mis-deeds, on national televison — covered by all the major news networks. Forget for a moment that the economy is trying to climb out of the toilet and that we have major military operations in two countries — just the idea that such a news “event” should happen just blows me away. It’s a demonstration of Tiger’s notoriety, and our prurient interest.

After his statement, the spin doctors went to work rating the apology. Judging by the commentary, it was better than Mark McGwire’s but not as dramatic as Jimmy Swaggart. Whatever.

What a colossal waste. The gasbags on ESPN, NBC, ABC, CNN, etc. spent way more time than necessary to focus on this issue. No time would have been better. I watched it because it’s my job.

Tiger’s saga is a family matter that becomes a public matter because Tiger’s so famous, because he has become fodder for the waste-of-skin tabloids, and because he lost some commercial endorsements. He owned up to the fact that his public image has been deceptive, and he is paying a price — in terms of lost endorsement, lost income because he has stepped away from the PGA Tour, tarnished image and family trauma.

Beyond that, it’s none of our business. He should apologize to his wife and family, not the public. Woods said there was no instance of domestic violence with Elin, and the police haven’t pressed charges. He was cited for driving an SUV into a tree. I’ve said it before; as long as there was no violence, no criminal charges, and no threat to the public, it doesn’t concern us. End of story.

He doesn’t owe fellow golfers an apology. Purses on the PGA Tour have quadrupled since Tiger made the scene. He’s helped make many of them — including Ernie Els and Scott McCarron — very rich. Some of his fellow players have cheated too, although not on as grand a scale as Tiger.

I don’t feel sorry for Tiger. He’s living incredibly well no matter what happens, and the fame and notoriety come with the life he has purused. I think he probably could have used a dose of humility.

Having said all that, I hope Tiger’s family can stay intact, that he can re-discover his spiritual self, and that he can return to golf eventually. I don’t know if the sex addiction therapy is a cop-out — I sense that he wouldn’t be there if he didn’t get caught — but who cares beyond his family and the women involved? He was not a good guy with those women, but they shouldn’t have fooled with a married man. No one is in the right here.

Tiger is not the Senator from Florida, or a pastor, or a marriage counselor. I don’t look to him as a role model, but just another human being who is incredibly talented, and had many opportunities to stray. I don’t hate him or love him, but rather appreciate his God-given abilities. Uh, on the GOLF COURSE.

***

The day transitioned seamlessly from Tiger to V.D. — as in Vernon Davis.

I look on the screen this afternoon and see the 49ers tight end, as the honorary captain of the U.S. Curling Team in Vancouver. I knew he would be there, but it was still an odd sight. The strangest pairing since Pat Boone and heavy metal.

Vernon seems to have a real respect for curlers, and was enjoying himself (euphemism ) today as the U.S. gained its first two victories, men and women. Apparently he’s a lucky charm — a highly conditioned athlete rooting for a team of bartenders and Home Depot workers. Only at the Olympics.

***

I am borrowing from Ralph again: two things can be equally true. Edgar Renteria was awful last year and he was hurt. Renteria said today in Arizona he was “embarrassed” by his 2009 performance, according to the Chronicle’s Henry Schulman, but also indicated he had bone chips in his right elbow and a shoulder injury.

The chances Renteria will return to his peak form are almost nil. The Giants have a nice insurance policy in Juan Uribe, but I don’t discount the possibility Renteria can have one more effective year with the bat. I think Renteria and Jonathan Sanchez are two huge keys for the Giants this year.

Did the Giants overachieve last year? I just got a copy of the 2010 Baseball Prospectus, and they say the answer is, emphatically, “yes.” They’re saying the Giants will struggle to win 88 games this year. Too many things locked into place last year, and repeating that good fortune in 2010 seems unlikely, according to BPers.

I’ll discuss the Giants in-depth after I return from spring training next month, but at first glance I’d tend to agree with BP…

Sliding Stones In A Glass House

February 17

Big controversy today on KNBR: air Olympic results, or leave our listeners none the wiser so they can enjoy NBC’s coverage tonight?

As a “journalist,” I am a member of the Church of What’s Happening Now. If you listen to KNBR updates you should know there will be an Olympic report. Sorry, Dick Ebersol. I’m not here to puff up your ratings.

I’m not here to intentionallly spoil your evening plans, either. I’m just here to do my job.

***

Why are there men’s and women’s curling teams? Aren’t women just as good at sweeping as men? Hey, you have a pregnant women chucking stones for Canada. Why can’t the teams just be coed?

***

Either LIndsay Vonn has a mountain-high threshold of pain, or the shin injury has been overblown. All the same, she blew the field away in the women’s downhill, and actually delivered on the hype. She’s vying for face time with Apolo Anton Ohno.

***

Monta Ellis should probably shut it down for a good long while. He has a sprained knee but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to go right away. At 14-38 the Warriors don’t need one of their best players to suffer further injury at this point.

***

Giants pitchers and catchers are reporting to Scottsdale. Some major issues for the Giants: defense and speed, or lack thereof. That’s why Andres Torres, Eugenio Velez and Emmanuel Burruss should keep their gloves and bats handy.

Pitching will keep them in contention, and a trade deadline deal for a big bat could put them over the top. That’s the best-case scenario.

***

Tiger Woods will speak Friday morning, but as always, it will be a very controlled environment: he’ll read a statement and there will be no questions. Only a small media contingent will be at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.

He’ll probably apologize again and explain how he’ll make amends to friends and fans, and when he’s coming back. I would be very interested to see if Elin will be by his side, or maybe his people will decide that’s going overboard. If she is there, it would be a strong statement that they’re sticking together.

What they do IS his business, but his future plans are BIG business.

***

Happy New Year, and Happy President’s Day

February 15

Greetings friends, on this kinda holiday weekend.

Happy Presidents’ Day … pay homage today to one of our worst presidents, James Buchanan, the only bachelor in the White House.

Also, Happy Chinese New Year. It’s the Year of the Tiger. Perfect, just perfect.

And now, some thoughts from a very busy weekend:

Pebble Beach almost had a U.S. Open setup on some holes Sunday, and scores soared as the wind kicked up. Bryce Molder shot a 9 on the par 5-14th , followed by Paul Goydos with an even more painful 9 that cost him the lead. If 14 is set up that way in June, it will cost somebody the Open. No way to approach that pin.

***

The NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest is just about dead. Nobody should have been declared the winner Saturday night, but Nate Robinson won it for a third time because he’s short, and very athletic. There was one nice lob off the side of the backboard, but that’s about it.

***

So Danica Patrick crashed in her first stock car race Saturday. Big surprise, and who cares? If we want to treat women equally, we wouldn’t give Danica a week of over-coverage for a second-tier race. We would know as much about her as we did about Jamie MacMurray before Sunday. Win something, Danica, then I’ll wake up.

***

Early conclusions about the Olympics: failure to air them live on the West Coast is a joke, another example of why NBC thinks we’re stupid. Apparently Dick Ebersol and company haven’t heard of a thing called the “Internet,” and that people can get results whenever they want. Oh yes, they can also listen for results on radio. This is why the Olympics will hopefully go to cable, and live coverage, soon.

I am tired of the networks’ pre-packaged, canned spontaneity. Apparently Ebersol thinks there are enough people who will fall for the shell game. And enough of the teases: “Apollo Anton Ohno coming up.” “Apollo Anton Ohno, in just a few minutes.” “Apollo Anton Ohno, perilously imminent.”

The network has its A-list of stars it wants to promote, such as Ohno, but my favorite moments are when someone not in the Favored Circle wins. That was the case Saturday night when Hannah Kearney, going last, pulled off one of the great clutch runs in history to win the moguls. She edged out Canadian favorite Jenn Heil, who was supposed to be the first Canadian to win gold on home soil.

Speaking of Ohno, the finish of the 1500 short track event Saturday night was one of the wildest ever, and Ted Robinson did a marvelous job of capturing the craziness of the moment. Emmy-worthy stuff from Ted and crew. Talk about karma: three Koreans elbowed out Ohno on the last turn, then two wiped out to give Ohno the gold and J.R. Celski the bronze.

Seeing as how it was Valentine’s Day, I had to fall on the sword for my wife. Under no other circumstances would I watch “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” Under no other circumstances would I watch figure skating pairs.

Figure skating is as ridiculous ever. Not the athletes. The strength and timing they have to show on ice, under pressure, is nothing short of amazing.

It’s everything surrounding the sport that is ridiculous, primarily the judging. I swear, you had to fall to get into medal contention in the short program last night. It happened to the Russians, then the Canadians. Hope there isn’t any vote-trading going on among judges … nah, that would never happen.

Also, clown outfits? Seriously? The top German couple scared children worldwide with their makeup and gear as they skated to “Send In The Clowns.” Will a gold medal be worth it to the male half of that couple 20 years later? “Hi, did you win the Gold in Vancouver?” “Yeah, I dressed up as Chucko.”

The Winter Olympics is fun because you get accessories you don’t see anywhere else in sports. Curling has brooms ( apparently no Swiffers allowed ), biathlon has rifles ( I’m waiting for one competitor to shoot another ), and figure skating has, well, sparkly things.

The other amusing part is watching my wife, who is a casual sports fan, get into the Olympic events. By the end of the second night, she was an expert. “Oh, his knees weren’t together.” “Oh, they weren’t in synch on that sit and spin.” “Oh, he’s taking a high line on that curve.”

Nothing gives me more joy. NBC should sign her up.

A Non-Arbitration Sensation

February 12

Our long nightmare is over. Tim Lincecum is one of the richest and happiest 25-year-old skater dude-looking guys walking on this big blue marble. And guys who make about 1/2 of one percent of his salary are jubilant. That means you, Giants fans.

Whatever the case may be, this ended about as well as could be expected. The Giants and Lincecum’s camp were poised to go into this morning’s arbitration hearing in Florida, but talks heated up and the two sides stepped out of chambers. The Giants can say they stuck to their $8 million salary offer this year, Lincecum can say he got the $13 million he wanted, even if it’s delayed by a year.

I was wrong about one thing: the Giants were apparently not going to bring up his offseason potbust or other on-field issues, but rather focus strictly on his time of service and what a Super 2 should get, no matter how “super” he is. Lincecum probably wanted to focus on the market for double-Cy Young winners, but in the end they worked out a compromise and avoided any hard feelings.

In the end, the Giants got a major bargain. It puts them in a better position to trade for a big-ticket player if they are still in contention before the trade deadline. The Giants also won points from other teams, who didn’t want to see them lose in arbitration, and have the bar set at $13 million, the amount LIncecum was seeking.

Lincecum’s deal falls well short of the 5 and $80-90 million I think would have been fair for both sides to draw up at the end of 2010, if Lincecum continued to perform at the same high level this season. Down the road he might still get something close to that deal, and locking him up past the years the Giants “control” him may well be the issue next time around.

Lincecum got rich, got some security, but didn’t get the long-term deal he wanted. That may come at the end of 2011, after which Lincecum will have either proven himself to be one of the great pitchers of our era, or something less. I’m just hoping Lincecum didn’t settle because he knows something we don’t.

***

Several Facebook friends listed Lincecum as their #1 guy to start a baseball team when the question was posed on FB Thursday. That’s not a bad choice. He would probably be the first pitcher I would choose. At 25, he would seem to have a bright future if his body holds up.

My first choice would be Joe Mauer, the Minnesota Twins catcher, Gold Glover, batting champ and AL MVP. I know what you’re thinking — what about Albert Pujols? However, the gap between Mauer and every other catcher in the major leagues is much wider than the gap between Pujols and other first basemen, and Mauer is “three” years younger than Pujols.

Let’s put it this way: after I pick Mauer and you pick Pujols, your catcher might be Victor Martinez, but my first baseman will be a Ryan Howard or Adrian Gonzalez. I’ll have a leg up.

The Kid’s Alright

February 11

The Warriors eased into the All-Star break with a stunningly easy win over the L.A. Clippers, 132-102. The Warriors either played well or the Clippers are on life support. Or both.

Stephen Curry went 36-13-10, the first Warrior rookie triple double since Chris Webber in 1993. We’ve already seen evidence that Curry is a legit NBA player, but last night — even against a bad team — was a clincher. The comparisons to Steve Nash don’t seem so hyperbolic now.

Curry led the Warriors to a boat-race win without Monta Ellis or Corey Maggette. Why? Because they were active and energetic on both ends, and the Clippers have mentally checked-out, led by the King of Detachment, Baron Davis. Is anyone still wondering why the Warriors didn’t re-sign this guy for five years ?

One win against a bad club does not mean Monta Ellis is expendable. It was tantalizing to see the Warriors play as well as they did without him, and as bad as they are, you would think they’d be open to trade anyone. However, General Manager Larry Riley says both Ellis and Curry are off-limits approaching the trade deadline, and I think that’s the right strategy.

Curry is the less expandable of the two, but Monta probably isn’t going anywhere, either.

Rick Bucher of ESPN told Gary Radnich today there is “no market” for Ellis, which I found ridiculous. Maybe Ellis wouldn’t fetch an All-Star starter, but I see no reason why he couldn’t bring a solid player or two in return. That doesn’t mean I want to trade him; it simply means you can’t totally discount the idea, if the right trade comes along. It would have to involve fairly young players who can help the team right away and will stick around.

Of course if the Hornets want to trade Chris Paul for Curry, I would jump, but that’s about as likely as Kim Kardashian knocking on my door at midnight … no, not going down that road. My point is, there are probably few scenarios in which a player like Ellis should be traded right now. At any rate, he would have to show his left knee is healthy first.

In a 14-37 season in which he’s had a heavy workload, Ellis SHOULD be rested more. If he is truly a keystone for the future, handle him with care. In a future with or without Don Nelson as coach, an Ellis-Curry backcourt is one huge building block. Another will be the return of players like Anthony Randolph, Brandon Wright, and Kelenna Azubuike. The third key is either the return of the real Andris Biedrins, physically and mentally, or the addition of another big man.

There is a lot of young talent on this team, and no doubt a couple of those players could be trade bait, but a 24-year-old Monta should not be in that category right now. Now, if the Warriors happen to get a young stud guard in the draft, like John Wall, then you have another conversation. We’ll cross that bridge in June.

The Warriors are maimed and they’re bad, but not without hope. The team will have a different coach and different ownership within two years, maybe a year. There is enough under-25 talent, with the potential for adding a badly-needed front-line piece via trade, to keep me intrigued. Not rapt with attention. Just intrigued.

In the meantime, this thought … less than a week before pitchers and catchers report. Now that’s a sport I love, where players can spit without getting a technical.

Wednesday Housecleaning

February 10

The big debate on Gary Radnich’s show during the Tony Bruno segement today; in which sport does a coach have the most effect? Football, basketball, or baseball?

I said a coach has the most effect in football because he has more to manage and it’s a more emotional game. A good, organized coach can lead his team a long way … a bad coach can watch it all unravel quickly. Baseball was next, followed by basketball.

Tony Bruno and Marty Lurie disagreed, saying basketball coaches have the most effect because there are only five players. I think with fewer players, talent is the determining factor. You can have a great coach but if he has mediocre players he probably won’t go far. A mediocre coach with a great player or two can make a deep playoff run, as Mike Brown has shown with the Cavaliers.

That’s not to say basketball coaches can’t have an effect on a team’s fortunes. I think Phil Jackson would win a few more games with the Warriors because, among other things, they would lock down on defense a few more times at the end of games. I don’t think Jackson makes the Warriors a winner but they might get a few more W’s.

College basketball is a different argument. Coaches recruit their own players and install their own system. They are dictators compared to pro coaches. But once again, if they snag one or two great players, they go deep in the Dance.

I think baseball is in the middle of this argument. Good managers can have some effect, and they have to be master psychologists, but talented teams can overcome bad managing. Just look at the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 and 1978. They got into the World Series both years in spite of Tommy Lasorda.

Anyway, it’s a nice debate.

***

Allow me to be the latest to welcome Marty Lurie to KNBR. He’s a nice man who has terrific baseball knowledge and is very level-headed. We’ve disagreed on a few things baseball-wise but are mostly on the same page, and Marty will be a great addition to the weekend Giants broadcasts. He keeps asking me when I’m coming down to Arizona for Spring Training, and I just might bite this year.

***

Thanks to all who came out for Giants FanFest Saturday. Our panel with Bam Bam Muelens, Erwin Higueros and Tito Fuentes was fun. Tito’s a firecracker, and he was highly entertaining. My favorite moment is when I asked Tito how he did against Sandy Koufax. His answer : “I hit a home run off him …….. foul ball.”

***

I saw Best Man and Mrs. Best Man over the weekend. We watched the Super Bowl, ate more food than should be allowed by law, and then watched several episodes of NCIS. The problem is now my wife is smacking me on the back of the head, a la Gibbs.

***

I wasn’t sure whether the Sports Illlustrated jinx was still in effect, but we have fresh evidence in Lindsey Vonn. The top American women’s skier developed a deep bruise in her right shin in a training run last week, just as she graced the cover of SI. Now she might have to cut back the Olympic schedule, which would cost her some endorsements.

I have very mixed feelings about the Olympics. Because it only occurs every four years, the pressure on athletes is tremendous, and there are always some great indiviudal stories. However, the hype is ridiculous; why do I care if someone is curling for my country?

Not to mention the chicanery. You can always count on some judging controvery, or officiating scandal. This is not, and never has been, a pure competition.

***

This is why I’m not leaving the house Sunday: Winter Olympics, NBA All-Star Game, Pebble Beach final round, Daytona 500, all on the same day. Of course, Lee Hammer informs me all these events are on KNBR 680 or KNBR 1050.

***

It doesn’t matter what sporting event is on Sunday night at 8. That time is reserved for “Band of Brothers” the story of Easy Company in Europe during WWII. Watch it, and you’ll never complain about your life again. God, we are soft.

From Who Dat? To The Who

February 8

Will the Saints’ Super Bowl win help someone in the rowhouses of the 9th Ward get out of their shabby existence? Will the Saints’ Super Bowl win help someone in St. Bernard Parish get their house back? That young lady I talked to in New Orleans two years ago — will the Saints victory help her get ANY of her possessions back, save for what she was wearing and what was inside her purse?

Will the Saints victory march restore a third of New Orleans that has vanished? Will it change the fact that the city is partly under sea level and always in peril? Will it save the many lives lost in Hurricane Katrina, or better the many lives that were turned upside down?

You can figure out by now that these are all rhetorical questions. The answers are all the same: of course not. However, for a city given up for dead 4 1/2 years ago, and for a team that didn’t have a home, it’s a remarkable story of redemption.

It’s a small but significant step for the Crescent City to return to the land of the living. It’s a reminder that in a town that was flattened in 2005, a team that was on the verge of moving away could actually turn things around, and in a small way breathe life into what was once one of America’s liveliest cities. If nothing else, it was another excuse for a part on Bourbon Street.

The Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Colts could not have been foreseen in 1967, when Jon Gilliam scored on a kickoff return on the first play in the team’s history. It could also not have been foreseen that it would take 43 years to even get to a Super Bowl.

The Saints victory wasn’t foreseen in the first quarter, when their defense was no match for the surgical incisions that Peyton Manning performed. Then in the 2nd quarter, Pierre Garcon dropped a third down pass — the first of four momentum-changers in the game. The Saints got off the mat with two scoring drives. NFC title game hero Garrett Hartley was nails again, hitting two of his three field goals of more than 40 yards, a Super Bowl record. 10-6 at the half.

The onside kick to start the second half was the second big momentum-changer. The ball was still being fought for at the bottom of the pile, with players battling like strippers for Pacman Jones’ Benjamins, when I uttered the words “that’s a great call.” This will be little noted in history but was heard by several friends.

The Saints recovered, but no matter what happened it was still worth a shot. The Colts defense was on the field for much of the second quarter, and Saints coach Sean Payton figured he would try to get the ball back and keep them on the field some more. Peyton Manning could move the ball from anywhere on the field, so why not roll the dice? Clearly the Colts, especially Hank Baskett, were not expecting it.

The Saints drove for the go-ahead touchdown and were rejuvenated. It was a ballgame now. It was 17-16 Colts in the 4th quarter when Matt Stover missed a 51-yard kick for the Colts. He was making them in practice. The kick would have put the Colts up by four, but a coffin-corner punt might have been a better move. Momentum-changer #3.

Drew Brees then led the Saints on a scoring drive where he beat the Colts at their own game; surgical strikes on short passes, five to 20 yards. Jeremy Shockey, who had to sit out Super Bowl 42, caught the go-ahead score and the Saints converted the two-pointer to lead 24-17. Brees was now outdueling Manning.

Everybody in our room was dreading overtime, and the prospect of ending the game with a coin flip and field goal, just like the NFC Championship game. It seemed like the script was written for Petyon Manning to be the hero, lead the Colts to a game-tying drive that would further cement his legend. And then …

What happened next was the final and biggest momentum-changer … it sealed the game and altered Manning’s career. The 3rd and 5 throw to Reggie Wayne where Tracy Morgan jumped the route and took it back for six. Morgan said it was film study that let the Saints know the Colts’ tendency in that situation. Damn, was he right.

Morgan was the same guy who forced a fumble and picked off the final Brett Favre pass in regulation of the NFC championship game, so he was no stranger to big plays, but he will never make a bigger one. Let the party begin. And let the historians weigh in.

Manning and Brees combined for the most completions in Super Bowl history. It’s sympbolic of how the game has evolved. It’s a passer’s league, more than ever, and if you can’t move the ball through the air consistently it’s going to be tough to get to the big game. But for all the completions, it was the one interception that really determined the outcome.

That one throw also changed how Manning is perceived. Many of us in the media used hyperbole to prematurely rank Manning among the best of all time, but it’s also unfair to blast him now. And by the way, how about giving Porter credit for making a good play based on good preparation ?

It’s ridiculous to use that one throw to hang the “choke” sign on Manning, as some have done. The fact is, leading up to the Super Bowl and for most of Sunday, Manning was playing the position about as well as anyone ever has. I still believe when he retires he’ll be considered one of the three or four best of all time.

Joe Montana usually gets the not because he won four Super Bowls with 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions, and that’s awfully hard to argue against. He was his best in the biggest moments. Unitas was the gold standard in his era, and Elway took five teams to a Super Bowl, including three that were ordinary without him. Brady has three rings and was in the “greatest ever” conversation for a while before injuries took their toll.

Manning isn’t done yet. It’s always hard to predict, but it’s not crazy to think he’ll be back with another chance to win a ring. As a regular season quarterback, he’s as good as they come, but his postseason record is only “fairly good” to be charitable. Manning will need to be Manning all through a postseason run to get into that top three or four, but he’s certainly capable of doing so.

To borrow from The Who, the theme song for some Manning critics is “We Won’t Get Fooled Again.” But in piling on, they’re fooling themselves. The Manning book has a few chapters left, so it’s ridiculous for anyone to “jump the route” at this point. You just don’t know what can happen: did anyone think the Saints would ever win a Super Bowl ?

***

Oh yes, about The Who and the halftime show:

Sports Illustrated, in a lame attempt to pander to the younger demographic, completely disrespected one of the great rock bands of all-time, not to mention an entire generation, in its pre-game article entitled, “Geezer Wasteland.” I don’t think The Who cared, because they’ve done more than writer Ben Reiter will ever hope to accomplish. Reiter even had the nerve to write “no disrespect to the legendary and beloved Who” right after making an “AARP” reference about Super Bowl halftime acts.

Of course the NFL wants it safe, yet still wants acts with broad appeal. That was predictable after Janet Jackson. There was an unfortunate repeat of a “wardrobe malfunction” when Pete Townshend’s belly was exposed three times during his trademark wind-milling, but otherwise The Who put on a decent show. At least Roger Daltrey can still scream.

The smart money says the Super Bowl will go through the classic-rock pantheon before they’ll go contemporary. The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater, Led Zeppelin and Foreigner are more likely to get a look than Lady Gaga. If they could dig up the corpse of Elvis Presley, they would.

Personally I wouldn’t mind seeing Green Day or Beyonce, although Green Day probably wouldn’t fit the Super Bowl agenda — I don’t think “American Idiot” is what they’re looking for. Beyonce would seem safer but it wouldn’t be fun unless she was partially disrobed — that would be a no.

I know — let’s bring back “Up With People.”