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Reactions: Talking turkey No shortage of athletes to add to CNNSI.com list
CNNSI.com named its Turkeys of the Year and users were asked to give their thoughts on the most boneheaded of the boneheads, the dumbest of the dumb, the most maddening athletes or sports moments of the year. A sample of the responses: In all fairness to turkeys, John Rocker needs to be removed from the Turkey list; it just isn't fair to the bird. Why? Turkeys have no problem with putting dark meat next to the white. Fortunately, the vacant space could be filled by the BCS rankings. Now that this standard is facing a truly competitive race for the top two NCAA spots, it is finally showing its inadequacies. Bring on an eight-team playoff tournament.
Alexei Yashin. He turns down $3.6 million to go to Switzerland to act as an assistant coach, while demanding that the Senators pay him $10 million a season when he had zero points in the playoffs. And the team does almost as well without him as with him.
The U.S. 4x100 relay team. They were there to represent the U.S., but they were showing their arrogance. I don't mind victory dances and chest-thumping (they did great), but not during the ceremonies with the eyes of the world watching.
Tiger Woods. His latest comments regarding being taken advantage of by the PGA Tour. Fans don't want to hear the multimillionaire athletes whine about sharing the wealth. Play the game and be grateful we watch. Spoiled brat.
Mike Tyson. Should get the lifetime turkey award. What an idiot.
Kansas State Football. Once again, all of the hype and rankings with nothing to back it up. Play somebody early so everyone knows you are an average football team. Head turkey: Bill Snyder.
I find it interesting that CNNSI.com can name Rocker the Turkey of the Year, while completely ignoring the comments and lyrics of Allen Iverson. Is there a double standard?
It's a bit disingenuous to trash Rocker for his comments without going after Allen Iverson for the lyrics of his songs. Or is it just acceptable to sing about being a hateful, racist, misogynist rather than talking about it? Is Rocker a turkey? Yes, but so is Allen Iverson. But hey, Allen's winning nowadays so all is forgiven, right?
Bob Knight. The man is a joke and an embarrassment, and finally facilitated his own firing by making it impossible for Indiana NOT to fire him. It's ironic Knight always falls back on his claim that he's a "teacher" yet he never learned from his own experiences. Now he wants to make money off writing his autobiography, but he refuses to touch on the most controversial episodes of his career. You can't have it both ways, Bob.
Claudio Reyna (U.S. men's soccer). The team's offensive playmaker goes off on the referees after a game and gets himself suspended for three games when the team was still struggling to advance in qualification. It became a moot point when he got injured (busted wing?), but it could have been fatal to the U.S.'s Cup qualifying run.
Rasheed Wallace (Portland Trail Blazers) for collecting the most technical fouls in a season. His talent does his team no good if he is continually getting ejected. And his constant whining ensures that refs will never give him breaks but will go after him. Oh, and he's back on track with the T's again this year.
TURKEY OF THE YEAR - You guys make some good cases with your turkey selections but some athletes were left off in my opinion:
Didn't Keyshawn Johnson at least deserve a drumstick for the way he dissed the New York Jets and in particular Wayne Chrebet? Mr. Flapjaw'n Johnson and his "ain't I great" attitude went to Tampa Bay where he promptly fell on his overpaid patuti. Blaming everything from the weather to his slippery shirt for dropping passes that my 90-year-old grandma could catch certainly deserves honorable mention as fowl athlete of the season.
Roger Clemens. OK, maybe that pitch got away from him. But after the bat, can anyone really believe that? Also, has any player ever "tossed" a broken bat to the ball boy with the force he did? I defy anyone to tell me they've seen that. And lastly, don't forget that given the choice on that doubleheader day, he chose to pitch at Yankee Stadium. Think he'll pitch at Shea next season?
I nominate Dick Baddour, AD at North Carolina as a turkey. Firing Carl Torbush is just another example of his bumbling attempts to ruin one of the finest athletic departments in the country. No other AD in UNC history has gone through so much turnover in so few years. I am afraid poor Matty (Doherty, men's basketball coach) is next if he stumbles at all.
A big turkey to the New York Knicks for trading their center for a small forward when they already have a small forward who's a better defender, and now have Luc Longley at center. Yes, Patrick Ewing was no longer the guy he once was, but he's still better than Longley! Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell are just fine on the perimeter; they hardly need the added clutter of Glen Rice. Trade his sorry ass.
I can't believe you missed this one -- Alexei Yashin. I can't imagine having to explain this to anyone even remotely aware of hockey. On the advice of his agent, the guy acts like a spoiled 3-year-old and sits out the whole season. Then loses his case. Makes the rest of your "Turkeys" look intelligent in comparison.
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