The perfect storm of a sports day
By: Turner Sports Desk
Jim Turner
Turnersportsdesk.com
April 5, 2010
Never in my lifetime has there been a more news filled
sports day. It is like the perfect storm of events as Tiger Speaks, McNabb is traded, the NCAA championship, The Washington Caps earn President’s
Cup and Baseball begins. News Directors better keep the coffee pot full because this will be a very late day for sports departments across America.
Tiger Speaks to the open
media – I know plenty of journalists and many of them are still angry at
Tiger Woods. Why? They are angry because they envisioned a press conference in
which they grilled Tiger asking about woman after woman. Journalists like John
Feinstein who crave control themselves are angry because even through Tiger’s lowest
moments he still maintained control of his media availability. Tiger has done
interviews but the hard core press does not see these as interviews but more
like public relations statements. Now the media will have an opportunity to take their shots but we will see who gets frustrated first.
McNabb traded to
Washington Redskins – Just when you thought the Washington Redskins were
going to keep things quiet this off season bam! Now All-Pro Quarterback Donovan
McNabb is headed down I-95 to Washington and everything has changed. Now the
4-12 Redskins can offer a legitimate challenge for the NFC East crown. McNabb
brings his one Superbowl appearance, five Championship games and six pro-bowls
to the Redskins and the Eagles start the Kevin Kolb era. McNabb also brings a ton of winning to a Redskins team desperate for a leader. McNabb leaves the boos of Philly for the cheers of Washington.
Washington Capitals
earn their first President’s Cup – The Caps continue to rack up the awards
that come with winning. They earned the first President’s Cup in the history of
the franchise which guarantees the Caps home ice during the playoffs. While
this does not guarantee a Stanley Cup it does make the road difficult for opponents
because the Verizon Center is the most difficult place in the NHL for visiting
teams. The Verizon Center is one of the loudest buildings in the league and
when the fans are rocking the red the Caps rarely lose. The Caps are on a mission and anything less than a Cup is a fail.
NCAA Championship
tonight – Duke plays Butler tonight and the question is can Butler finish
this remarkable run? Duke has the experience and resume but Butler captured the
heart of America by playing the underdog role to perfection. The list of teams
they beat is pretty darned impressive which makes you believe Duke may actually
be the underdog tonight.
Baseball begins today
– Lost in all of the other stories is the fact that baseball begins today along
with the Stephen Strasburg count down in Washington. Baseball does not have
anything resembling parity so look for the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies,
Cardinals, Angels to lead the pack followed by a bunch of pretenders. In
Washington the baseball season starts in June when Stephen Strasburg will come
up and show Washington fans why we should have more patience while they build a
team around this guy. If baseball had more parity then it would be a bigger
deal.