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Dennis O'Donnell is the Emmy Award winning Sports Director at CBS 5 and the author of the Game Day blog. He's also the preseason play-by-play voice of the San Francisco 49ers and has been been repeatedly recognized by the Associated Press as the region's best sportscaster.
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How can you not like this guy. Tim Lincecum is the stuff legends are made of. I can't recall this kind of athlete/person in the time I've been covering sports in the Bay Area. He is so comfortable in his own skin that he can thoughtfully listen to your question and deliver a response so unique and so rare in comparison to today's athlete. For example, when I asked him a question about any player he'd like to see in a Giants uniform next season he suggested his brother. "Is he a power hitter?" I asked. "Yes," said Linceum, "and an infielder. I've always wanted to play with him." Anyone else would have said, "well, I know Brian (Sabean) will try and get the best available player and if not, well, we have the guys on this team to get the job done."
Linceum seems so cool. But don't let the exterior fool you. He's a fiery competitor who can tell you every pitch he got beat on last season. He knows every loss, every pitch, every sequence. He was actually a better pitcher in 2009 than 2008 because he added to his repertorie of pitches. But every time I walk away from an interview with Lincecum, it's not the pitcher I find myself interested in, but the person. He got busted for pot and didn't dodge a single question I asked him on the subject. He knows what the deal is and how he has to handle it. I don't know if the Giants can afford this guy over the long haul, but I wonder if they can afford not to sign him. Lincecum is more than a pitcher. He's a ticket broker. Few pitchers can walk that walk. Fernando and Mark (the bird) Fidrych are perhaps the biggest draws I can remember, each for their own reasons. Lincecum is in that class, partly because he's a great talent, partly because he's Linecum. I'm glad I'm not Brian Sabean right about now.
I first interviewed Lincecum during a Giants road trip in Milwaukee a few years back. He had just been called up during Barry Bonds record season. I was there to follow Bonds who didn't hit a single home run in that series that would have equaled Hank Aaron. And so, I interviewed Linceum and didn't know much about him. I knew he hadn't done much TV but when the cameras stopped and he walked away I remember saying to myself how unusual he was. How different. How refreshing.
See you on TV.
After checking out the Boston Massacre I gotta ask this question. Anthony Morrow is the best shooter in the league, we can all agree on that, right? How the hell does he get ONE shot in the first half? Are you kidding? What, they thought Vlad Rad had a better read on the Celtics D? Or perhaps Monta, with his hot hand going 8-21, deserved the rock? The NBA has a new stat, +/-. It determines how the team fares against the competition when a player in the court. Monta was a team-low -16. Hey, I'm just sayin. Curry was the only Warrior in positive digits with a +5. Although he had one more turnover than that. Just wondering, is every player on the Celtics roster better than the Warriors?
Boxing: Did anyone really think the so-called Super Six was going to be smooth? It didn't even start here in Oakland yet and already Mikkel Kessler's camp is screaming about the judges because they're local when the contract specifies they be neutral. Kessler is the WBA Super Middleweight champion and Andre Ward finally gets his chance at a significant title belt. But Kessler's camp says "there won't be a world championship on Saturday." I havent' read the contract but if Kessler's claims are accurate, I'm in his corner on this one. It smells of home-cookin and the local judges and the California referee should go judge an MMA bout instead.
CBS5 sources confirm the city of Oakland would only agree to extend the Raiders lease if the Raiders benched JaMarcus. DHB was also part of the deal until it was learned that Ignacio De La Fuente is a Bengals fan.
I have direct TV. Can someone invite me over to watch the Big Game?
The men of Troy must still be wondering who was inside that horse. I've seen the game twice now and I'm amazed at two things. How good Stanford's offensive line is and how bad USC's defense has become. Stanford's O-line line averages around 6-6, 280 and opened huges holes for Toby Gerhart and bought time for Andrew Luck to dissect the S.C. defensive backfield and pick his spots. But to my amazement Stanford's domination continued with their second-stringers while SC's starting defense remained in the game. Unfortunately for them, they may have run out of games to get the Rose Bowl but be patient fans, it's coming. So who else is going to the Big Blowout this weekend?
Jim Harbaugh says his freshman QB is the best in the country. He might be next year but no way right now. After the concussion to Tebow, the injury to Bradford and the interceptions by Colt McCoy, I'm saddlin up with Casey Keenum. Have you seen this guys numbers? Lets stack them up against Andrew Luck, just for arguments sake.
Keenum: 31 tds, 6 ints, 70% completion, 4,194 yards
Luck: 13 tds, 3 ints, 58% completion, 2,220 yards
But lets throw the numbers out the window for one moment. Luck is the whole package. Mobility, size, arm strength, accuracy and smarts. He ran for 80 yards against SC but one of his most impressive feats didn't end up in the stats page. At the end of the first half, and from his 45-yard line, Luck heaved a bomb into the USC endzone on an incomplete hail mary attempt. Arm strength? Ummm..yea. This guy is the best since Elway and I just hope he wants an education to go with his NFL riches.
NBA. Hit the road Jack and don't ya come back no more. I still can't believe how quickly the "we believe" magic disintegrated and transformed back into the laughing stock of the NBA. I was in the locker room in Portland when the Warriors clinched a playoff spot. I remember looking at a beaming Chris Mullin and players jumping on each other like they'd won the NBA title. That team is gone and so is any hope for the near future. They have one playmaker left on the team and he isn't happy either.
Memo to Anhueser Busch: Drop the damn wagon-pulling horses for the Christmas ad campaign, and hire the Titans owner. The pitch? "For opposing teams everywhere, happy holidays and remember, this Bud's for you." (use your imagination to fill in the pictures)
Raiders consolation prize: You're not the most hapless team in the NFL. Brady Quinn and the Browns are worse. They give a whole new meaning to the song "Who Let the Dogs Out." Would you trade Quinn for Russell right now? Just wondering. Could you imagine if Tom Cable went for it on 4th and 2 from the 28?
My 2005 interview with Aaron Rodgers at the NFL draft.
Dennis: "How disappointed are you that the 49ers didn't draft you?
Aaron: "Not as disappointed as they will be for not drafting me."
Dennis: "Will there come a time when you circle that date on a calendar?"
Aaron: "We'll see."
See you on TV.
Attending a luncheon honoring Dr York and Ronnie Lott on Friday I found myself defending Alex Smith's performance on Thursday night with a former 49er who's name will go unmentioned. I said I couldlnt' find anything terribly wrong with Alex's performance and the ex-niner jumped in, "I can. He was terrible." His point was that Alex Smith didn't make THE play. He didn't put the 49ers in the end zone. Five interceptions and 10 points? I've written recently about Smith's improved play and I still believe he's more accurate, has more velocity, and is clearly more mature than he's ever been. But I admit there are periods in his game when indecision gets the best of him. And the seemingly inevitable mistake at the worst time. But at least there's a glimmer of hope that the #1 pick is not a bust.
Meanwhile, over in Oakland, JaMarcus Russell gets benched again. By the time you read this blog it might be for more than a half this time. So we know the 49ers and Raiders have one common bond. Neither team knows for sure who their quarterback-of-the-future is. In short, the 49ers have seven games to determine whether it's Smith. If it's not, you're looking at a free agent-to-be, a draft choice, a trade, or Nate Davis. The Raiders have no viable options on their roster. It's either Russell, a free agent, a trade, or another draft pick. But for crying out loud, catch the damn ball. Eight drops yesterday including two critical ones by Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Ok..so Vernon Davis made some crack about the Bears defensive line. Specifically he said, ""I think we can destroy their front'' and "I don't see anything spectacular about their front line." So what? There are two schools of thought regarding so-called bulletin board material. I've had several players over the years tell me that if you need bulletin board material to motivate you, you shouldn't be on the football field. Then there's the second school. Say NOTHING. When the media turns on their microphones, when they pull out their pencils and the lights come on, the players resort to cliches. At one time, teams actually had videotapes to demonstrate to players how to speak in sound bytes. You've heard them. "We have to take 'em one game at at time. "Our backs are against the wall." My favorite came when Bill Walsh was doing his weekly Monday news conference and the 49ers were steam rolling the league and set to face to hapless New Orleans Saints, who at dat time, were the Aints. Walsh was asked about the upcoming game and he said, with a serious face, "This might be the toughest team we'll face all year." He was trying to be dead serious. After a few seconds with the media in complete disbelief, Walsh broke into laughter, unable to hide the lie. Hilarious moment because Walsh was infamous for praising the opponent no matter how inferior they were. If Vernon Davis opened up his mouth in Walsh's locker room he'd be on the carpet the second it left his mouth. From the media's perspective, we eat it up. We love the material that generates headlines, controversy, and dissension among the ranks. The truth is Davis was saying what he truly felt and I find that refreshing. Most players have gotten away from honesty for fear of retribution from teammates, opponents, and coaches. "Hey man..don't say that! Turn that microphone off!" Years ago in spring training I was doing a feature on a Giants player who was wearing a wireless microphone. He was standing in the outfield when Barry Bonds got word of the microphone, walked over to the player and turned it off. Thanks Barry.
Before Jonathon Sanchez threw his no-hitter you had to go back to 1976 when John Montefusco thew one against Atlanta. (I swear there were 20 fans that witnessed it) But ask any Giants Croix De Candlestick holder now about Montefusco and they'd say, "Don't you remember when "The Count" predicted he'd shut out the Dodgers and then actually went out and did it? That was great!" And it's true. Montefusco gave the Dodgers more bulletin board material than the redwood forest could produce by announcing on a radio show that'd he'd shutout on the Dodgers on July 4 and he did, beating Andy Messersmith, 1-0. What did that material do for the Dodgers? Nothing, of course, and that's the point players make when they say no extra motivation is required when you step onto the field. So, of course, the Vernon Davis comment is much ado about nothing. But it beats the trite quotes and the monotony of days in between games! Give me MORE!
See you on TV
Time to wipe the slate clean and start over. Monta Ellis is going to brood unless Nellie is booted and even then he'll probably have an attitude about something. Quite frankly, I don't think he'll ever be the guy to carry a team anyway. Does anyone truly trust him with the game on the line? He's a two-guard with immense talent who's talent you can't depend on. He questioned the Curry-Ellis strategy to the media and then questioned Nelson in front of the media following a recent practice. I'm not defending Nelson as much as I'm defending the coach. There's a time and place and Monta is too young and immature to realize either. Amazing contrast in people when comparing Curry and Ellis. With a few minor exceptions, LeBron being one, there is a distinct difference between players that play four and years and those who do not. I've always been an advocate of players staying in school because money can't buy education. But that's the point of the blog. The Warriors traded Jackson because he wasn't worth the distraction. Is Monta worth it? The Warriors have won three games so the answer speaks for itself. But please, this time, get something in exchange.
Raiders: I suggested this move many blogs ago. This isn't the end of JaMarcus but it's the smart move because his confidence is gone. He knows he doesn't have any receivers and that they're partly to blame. In a perfect world Jeff Garcia would have replaced Russell several weeks ago but the pre-season injury ended that experiment. Russell would never have listened to Garcia but I think he could have watched his example both on and off the field. Russell's needs to see how it's done from someone who knows how to do it. Aaron Rodgers is the perfect example. Everyone thought he got the shaft in the 2005 draft and it turns out he got the reward. Who has Alex Smith learned from? How about JaMarcus? How many Coordinators? Coaches? Receivers? Horrible situation for both quarterbacks. At least Alex seems to have some hope with talented players like Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, and Michael Crabtree. JaMarcus will be back likely under a new coach with new receivers and a new coordinator. Same team, of course!
See you on Tv
In the nearly 30 years of covering local teams I've seen the confrontational guys (Frank Robinson, Billy Martin), the friendly, easy-going guys, (Roger Craig, George Seifert, Steve Mariucci) and the guys who liked to test you. (Bill Walsh, Tony LaRussa)
There were two interesting contrasts in coaches today and how they deal with the media. The first happened at 49er headquarters where Mike Singletary went one-on-one with Lowell Cohn (Press Democrat) who asked how Singletary knew the players would get better. Singletary seemed offended by the question and engaged Cohn in an awkward exchange.
At the coliseum, another writer was asking Don Nelson if he was the right man for the job. Nelson answered simply, "I think I am..do you?" In all the years I've been here I've never seen anyone handle the media like Nelson. It was a question with a painfully obvious answer and the reporter knew the response, but it was baited with the possibility of a challenging response and Nelson diffused with a plain, matter-of-opinion answer. Nelson might have been offended by the question. After all, he's about to become the winningest coach in NBA history. Who's this reporter to question his credentials? But Nelson knows when to pick his battles and when to lay low. I've never seen anyone better at dealing with the press than Nelson who understands his obligation.
Singletary is just the opposite. He sees the media commitments as a distraction to his goal, and that's coaching. That's ALL he wants to do. I interview Singletary every week I get the sense he'd rather be somewhere else. This is not a critical analysis, but where some coaches understand the value of the media, Singletary doesn't think he needs that value, which is perfectly fine. I should add that when Singletary wants to turn it on he can be entertaining, informative, insightful and friendly. He might grow into the role. I remember several coaches, players, executives who went from bland to great once they "got it." Sandy Alderson is a perfect example. My experience is that it behooves a coach, GM, player to have take advantage of the media and use it to his/her advantage. The word intimidation is sometimes used to describe Singletary but I don't get that sense from the seasoned reporters. It appears to me that they know how to press HIS button, not the other way around.
See you on TV.
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