The LPGA Tour is in Toledo

Take a guess who is leading-

SYLVANIA, Ohio – Se Ri Pak isn’t sure why she plays so well at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Everyone else in the field wonders what her secret is, too. The four-time tournament winner shot an 8-under 63 on Thursday to take the first-round lead. It was the best opening round in the tournament’s 23-year history.

Alena Sharp was two shots back at 6 under. Only five others were within five shots of the lead, including defending champion Mi Hyun Kim.

Pak bogeyed her first hole, after hitting into the rough, then strung together three consecutive birdies. She ran off five birdies on the back nine, making a 25-putt on the 17th hole.

She is trying to tie Mickey Wright’s tour record of five victories in one event — matched twice by Annika Sorenstam — and knows the course better than any player in the tournament.

“Everyone asks why, I don’t know,” she said. “I always feel comfortable here.”

Pak won her first Farr title in 1998 when she was 20 and always seems to be in contention. She also won in 1999, 2001 and 2003.

*****

Pak made a 15-foot putt on No. 11 and a 12-foot putt on the next hole to charge out in front. She then finished her round with a pair of birdies.

“I’ve won so many times and have so many great memories,” she said. “Maybe that’s why my game is a lot more solid on the golf course.”

Se Ri’s record at this tournament is incredible. In addition to her four wins, she was 2nd in 2004, fourth last year and in 2000 she missed a playoff by only one shot. I jokingly called this tournament the Se Ri Classic. Even tournament host Jamie Farr will say there is some justification for that. With the Korean golf queen off to a fast start on her favorite golf course, you almost want to tell the engraver to start working on the trophy.

Se Ri isn’t the only Pak on the leader board.

Rookie Jin Young Pak, playing in her first tournament since hurting her back two months ago, finished at 4 under.

“I’m just happy I can play,” she said.

The Korean with the same last name as the first-round leader said she knew about this tournament before she left home because of Se Ri Pak’s success.

Jin Young probably had Se Ri’s record in Toledo drummed into her head by her parents. A Pak and Pak finish on Sunday. To paraphrase Hawkeye on M*A*S*H, it would be a Pak lucky day.

Update- Se Ri shot 68 today to open up a five shot lead over Jin Young. The engraver might as well get started now.

NFL’s Best Wide Receiver Tandems

Which NFL teams have the best wide receivers? Scouts, Inc. ranks them 1-32. Here are their top 10:

1. Indianapolis Colts An exceptional group of wide receivers got better with the addition of first-round selection Anthony Gonzalez. Marvin Harrison is still among the best wide receivers in the league and is playing at his typical Hall of Fame level. Although Reggie Wayne certainly benefits from having Harrison on the other side, he just gets better every season and is now a bona fide Pro Bowl pass-catcher. Harrison and Wayne are both tougher than they are given credit for. Former Ohio State star Gonzalez comes from a big-time college program and was productive at the highest level. He is one of the most polished receivers from this year’s draft and should excel with the Colts. This group also benefits from having a pretty darn good quarterback throwing them the football.

2. Arizona Cardinals Matt Leinart has an ultra-talented pair of wideouts at his disposal. Who do you roll the coverage to? Larry Fitzgerald has great size and enough speed to go along with sticky hands, a fantastic body control and rare ball skills. He excels in the red zone, can stretch the field or eat a cornerback alive with his possession routes. Anquan Boldin is probably the No. 2 option in this offense, but he is a true No. 1 on just about any other team in the league. He has great size and physicality. He is tough and makes a lot of big plays after the catch. He isn’t a burner and has slight durability concerns, but he is very productive. These two thrive off each other; few teams in the league have a better situation at wide receiver. What is scary is that this tandem should get better.

3. St. Louis Rams Torry Holt is an absolute superstar and is quite possibly the best wide receiver in the game today. For some reason, this guy simply does not get his due. He is a future Hall of Famer and continues to perform on a very high level. Holt can do it all and makes every member of this offense better. Isaac Bruce obviously is getting up in age and is not the dynamic weapon that he once was, but as No. 2 receivers go around the league, Bruce is still pretty formidable. St. Louis signed Drew Bennett in free agency to replace Kevin Curtis. Bennett will bring a much-needed big body to this group to complement the other wideouts. The No. 2 spot soon will belong to Bennett, and when he teams with Holt and Bruce, the Rams will find matchups to their advantage with regularity.

4. Cincinnati Bengals This is an elite group of wide receivers, but Chris Henry’s eight-game suspension will hurt. Henry has his problems off the field, but when he steps between the lines, he creates mismatches and consistently makes big plays. He is a touchdown machine. Although Henry will be missed, Tab Perry is a player who could blow up in Henry’s absence. Perry is tough as nails, strong and determined with a great blend of size and speed. It can be argued that Chad Johnson is as good as any receiver in the league today, and diagnosing weaknesses in his game is difficult to do. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is an exceptional second option with a high football IQ who consistently exploits single coverage in the short and intermediate areas.

5. Detroit Lions Is it too early to rank the Lions’ wide receivers among the best in the business? Absolutely not. Calvin Johnson is just that good of a prospect. He is a rookie and surely will have some growing pains as all newcomers do, but Johnson is a superstar without physical weaknesses. He will get by on hard work and talent alone this year, and then be among the top players at the position in the next few years. Roy Williams is an out-of-this world athlete who is quickly becoming a complete receiver. Williams is already among the better players at his position and defenses will have a brutal time producing a game plan against this duo. Mike Furrey is solid and should do a great job in the slot and as the No. 3 receiver. QB Jon Kitna is a lucky man.

6. New England Patriots The Pats’ receiving corps would have ranked near the very bottom of this list one year ago, but times have changed. Adding Wes Welker, Donte’ Stallworth and Randy Moss to the group will do that. Say what you want about Moss, but when he turns it on, there is no one like him. Of course, he is a wild card at this point, but we have a hunch that Tom Brady might get something out of him. Stallworth will benefit a great deal from all the attention that Moss will garner. Both players are exceptional deep threats and this group is just dripping with big-play potential. Welker is quick and reliable out of the slot. He should fit in very well. Last year’s top receiver, Reche Caldwell, will allow the Patriots to exploit secondaries with an outstanding four-receiver set. This group is outstanding on paper, but needs to prove that it is worth our lofty ranking.

7. Denver Broncos There is a noticeable drop-off after the top six receiver groups. Rod Smith has been a rock of consistency for Mike Shanahan over the past decade or so, but the veteran is beginning to show signs of slipping. Jay Cutler still will look his way when the chips are down, but Brandon Marshall should surpass Smith as the starter opposite Javon Walker. Marshall is a budding star with great tools. He will see a lot of single coverage next year and could make himself a household name in this offense. Walker is a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver who possesses an outstanding combination of size, explosiveness and deep speed. Expect an even better season from Walker in 2007 now that he is a year removed from his knee injury.

8. Dallas Cowboys Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are an aging starting duo, but they remain very formidable. For all the drama that Owens brings off the field, he is still a game-changing presence on Sundays. He dropped a lot of passes last year — many of which would have gone for big plays and touchdowns — but he played through a serious hand injury, which obviously hindered his ability to catch the ball cleanly. Owens has lost half a step, but is still a very good wideout who scores touchdowns in bunches and is a tough matchup for any cornerback. Glenn is a dynamic second receiver who still can stretch a defense or torture his opponents with crisp, short and intermediate routes. Patrick Crayton is tough and competitive, but overall, the Cowboys are lacking depth behind their veteran starters.

9. Baltimore Ravens Although Derrick Mason is on the decline, fellow wideouts Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams are gaining steam and progressing very well in their young careers. Williams is one of the best young wide receivers who you have probably never heard of. He is a tall, angular guy who can stretch the field. Williams is going to be a good one. Clayton is a very mature player for such a young guy and has ascended rapidly. He isn’t particularly big or physical, but he is extremely quick and makes a lot happen after the catch. Although Mason isn’t what he once was and rarely scores, he is still a decent starting option who knows the tricks of his trade. It should be noted that this threesome also benefits a great deal from the presence that TE Todd Heap provides in the middle of the field.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward has been nicked up a bit over the last two seasons, and with his physical style of play and age, he needs to prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season. That being said, Ward is still a very good player who brings toughness, leadership and attitude to the Steelers’ offense. He exploits single coverage and has performed well even when the opposition rolls its coverage in his direction. Last year’s first-rounder, Santonio Holmes, experienced some usual bumps in the road during his rookie season, but he finished the season very strong and has the looks of an explosive playmaker. Holmes should have a big year. Behind the starters, Pittsburgh’s receiving corps is very average and the Steelers need someone to step up as the No. 3 guy.

I hate when they try to factor rookies into this because there’s really no way of knowing how they’ll perform. And, frankly, there’s always the issue of quarterbacks, offensive lines, schemes, and so forth.

It’s hard to think that there are seven teams better than the Cowboys, who bring Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn to the table and complement them with Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten. That duo isn’t getting any younger, though, and the youngsters behind them are unproven. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the Cowboys wind up performing well above this ranking but it strikes me as perfectly fair going into the season.

Where Have the Great Nicknames Gone?

AJC veteran Thomas Stinson laments the passing of the nickname era in baseball.

Time was, the Braves franchise was a most verdant ground for baseball nicknames.

The Mad Hungarian. The Hammer. Howdy Doody. The Road Runner. Cha Cha.

Classic, handy names, the kind that have helped describe the game since when the Babe was still a babe.

Sugar Bear. Crime Dog. Mad Dog. Big Cat. Knucksie. Murf. Big Tub of Goo.

So what happened? Who are Huddy and Yatesie and Thormie and what did they do with the past? Sounds like roll call for the Mickey Mouse Club.

To be honest, it’s not just the Braves. It has happened all over baseball. Stylized noms de guerre have been replaced by a formula: take the first syllable (first or last name will do) and add a “y” or “ie.” It’s quicker. It’s cuter. It’s kinder.

It’s also nondescript, homogenized and disconnected to a time when Rico Carty was Beeg Boy and proud of it.

Here’s hoping this is just a fad. Happily, some names just won’t fit the formula and stand out, like Brian “Mack” McCann, like a 1960s remembrance.

Below is how some of Bobby Cox’s roster reads, how he refers to them when calling from the dugout steps.

Honor Jeff Francoeur, whose Frenchy provides hope for the future.

CURRENT BRAVES PLAYERS

Player — Cox’s nickname

Yunel Escobar — Yunie

Tim Hudson — Huddy

Andruw Jones — Andy

Chipper Jones — Chip

Edgar Renteria — Rentie

John Smoltz — Smoltzie

Jarrod Saltalamacchia — Salty

Matt Diaz — Matty

Willie Harris — Willie C.

Kelly Johnson — KJ

Scott Thorman — Thormie

Tyler Yates — Yatesie

Brian McCann — Mack

Bob Wickman — Wick

Jeff Francoeur — Frenchy

#

BEST OF BRAVES OLD-TIMERS

Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky

Hank “The Hammer” Aaron

Darrell “Howdy Doody” Evans

Ralph “Road Runner” Garr

Orlando “Cha Cha” Cepeda

Larvell “Sugar Bear” Blanks

Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff

Greg “Mad Dog” Maddux

Andres “Big Cat” Galarraga

Phil “Knucksie” Niekro

Dale “Murf” Murphy

Terry “The Big Tub of Goo” Forster

Rico “Beeg Boy” Carty

Maybe Chris Berman killed the tradition?

Bonds Resumes Aaron Chase But Eyes Future

Barry Bonds is within five of being the new all-time home run king. AP’s Janie McCauley looks at the pressure issue.

Barry Bonds knows he’s going to enjoy his home run chase much more if the San Francisco Giants start winning regularly. For now, the slugger refuses to think about how he’ll feel as he closes in on Hank Aaron’s mark of 755. He’s four away from tying Aaron heading into a three-game home series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers starting Friday night.

Bonds acknowledges it still could take several weeks, or even more than a month. That means it might take until after his 43rd birthday on July 24.

“I’m really not there yet. I think when you get to 54, I’ll really feel it,” Bonds said during the All-Star festivities. “Then it just depends how many games are left. But I’m not quitting, so I might make you wait ’til next year. You know I’m drama, so why not make it more drama?”

[...]

Most of Bonds’ recent milestone home runs have come in the warm confines of San Francisco’s waterfront ballpark, where fans cheered him at every chance during Tuesday’s All-Star game. He is beloved in the Bay Area despite the steroid suspicions.

Everybody expects he’ll break Aaron’s record at pitcher friendly AT&T Park, too.

“You think I have that kind of time to do that?” Bonds said. “This ballpark isn’t that easy. They ain’t going to throw the ball back.”

[...]

Bonds has repeatedly said he will play beyond 2007, whether or not he catches Hammerin’ Hank this year. “If I come up short, I come up short, and if I get past it, I get past it,” Bonds said. “But I’m going to give my honest effort to my ability that God’s given me.”

He also has 3,000 career hits on his mind, too. And when Bonds puts his mind to something, he usually does it. “If you cut your sights short, you might as well quit, because now that desire in you is gone,” Bonds said. “I’m not chasing Hank. My sight’s past that.

“I’ve got some time, brother. My skills ain’t that bad. I’m going to play. You know what, if I walk away from the game knowing I can still play the game, I wouldn’t have a happy ending. I have to walk away when I know I can’t do it anymore, so I can be free with it.”

Aaron blew past Ruth’s 714, quietly finishing with 754. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Bonds became the first to break the 800 barrier.

NFL’s Best Running Back Tandems

Scouts, Inc. ranks the best running back team combos:

1. San Diego Chargers
It is hard to not be ranked No. 1 when you have the reigning league MVP and best running back in the NFL on your roster. LaDainian Tomlinson was unstoppable last season. He is the most versatile running back in the NFL because he can beat you as a runner and receiver. The 2006 coaching staff did an excellent job creating mismatches with him in the passing game. With his vision, run instincts and playmaking ability, we expect him to pick up right where he left off in 2007. The other thing that makes this unit special is depth. In addition to Tomlinson, they have Michael Turner, who is the best backup in the NFL. Turner provides an excellent change of pace to Tomlinson. When both are in the lineup at the same time, they give defenses fits.

2. Kansas City Chiefs
We put the Chiefs second not because of their depth, but because of the star power they have in No. 1 RB Larry Johnson. Johnson is the No. 1 workhorse back in the NFL and set a league record last season with 416 carries. Throw in 41 receptions, and Johnson averaged nearly 29 touches per game. With veteran quarterback Trent Green gone to Miami, Johnson will be counted on for similar production in 2007. The Chiefs must avoid overworking him and get better production out of their backups. Often injured and seldom-used backup Michael Bennett has excellent speed, but he can’t stay healthy. He could be a solid change-of-pace runner if he can shake the injury bug. Veteran Priest Holmes is still on the roster, but his neck injury remains a concern. Don’t look for him to play anywhere in 2007.

3. Washington Redskins
If San Diego has the best one-two punch in the NFL, Washington isn’t far behind. Starting RB Clinton Portis was limited to eight games last season because of a shoulder injury. That injury really opened the door for backup Ladell Betts. Betts finished the 2006 season with 1,154 yards on 245 carries. Betts, scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2006 season, re-signed with Washington. His return should make for a very good training camp battle with Portis. Depth-wise, the Redskins are excellent. They also signed former Chiefs and Jets RB Derrick Blaylockand have a scatback in Rock Cartwright. Fullback Mike Sellers is a very good special teams player, blocker and pass catcher. With young QB Jason Campbell at the controls, the Redskins will rely on this deep backfield to carry the offense.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars feature runners who can attack the line of scrimmage and make plays consistently. They finished the 2006 season with the No. 3-ranked run offense in the NFL. The leader of this group once again will be veteran Fred Taylor. He led the team in rushing last season with 1,146 yards on 231 carries. Second-year RB Maurice Jones-Drew will dip even deeper into Taylor’s carries this season. As a rookie last year, Jones-Drew had 941 yards on 166 carries. Taylor is not the player he once was, but when healthy, he still can make defenders miss and shows very good explosiveness through the hole. Look for the two backs to be closer to a 50-50 split in carries this season, which will put a ton of pressure on defenses.

5. Minnesota Vikings
When Brad Childress went to Minnesota last season, you could see there would be a major emphasis on running. The Vikings’ offensive line underachieved a little last season, but with a year to gel, it should be one of the best units in the NFL in 2007. With barely tested Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback, the Vikings once again will focus on the ground game behind starting RB Chester Taylor. Taylor joined Minnesota as an unrestricted free agent after the 2005 season and in his first season as a starter showed he could carry the load as the No. 1 runner. This season he will get some help in that area from rookie first-round pick Adrian Peterson, who dropped right into the Vikings’ lap on draft day. These two have a chance to be one of the top duos in the NFL in 2007. Taylor is exceptional out of the backfield catching the ball and Peterson is an excellent inside runner who can get the tough yards. Throw in Mewelde Moore, Ciatrick Fason and Artose Pinner, who played well late in the season, and the Vikings have the deepest running back unit in the NFL.

6. New Orleans Saints
You could say the rich got richer this offseason when you talk about the Saints’ running backs. The team will once again have Deuce McAllister as its featured back. One year removed from a knee (ACL) injury, he rushed for 1,057 rushing yards in 2006. While that number is not great, it is very good for a player coming off a serious knee injury, and we expect that he will be healthier and more explosive in 2007. Even though McAllister will be the starter, former USC star Reggie Bush will continue to get more involved in the offense in his second season. Bush had 155 carries in 2006 but more importantly, he had 88 receptions. Look for Bush’s carries to go up some while still being heavily involved in the passing game. The team also got a steal in the draft, Antonio Pittman, in the fourth round. He might struggle to get touches early, but should have a bright future. The Saints won’t put up huge rushing numbers because they love to throw, but this unit is deep and talented.

7. Seattle Seahawks
While the depth is not great, the team still features 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander. Alexander rushed for only 896 yards last season, but he missed five games and played the first three games of the season with a broken bone in his foot. He never really got healthy, but still bounced back to have a solid second half of the season. If Alexander is healthy in 2007, look for him to be closer to the MVP of 2005. Backup Maurice Morris proved his worth when Alexander was out. Morris finished the season with 604 rushing yards and averaged 3.8 yards per carry last season. Overall, this is a team with a great back in Alexander and solid backup in Morris.

8. Denver Broncos
Despite finishing the 2006 season ranked in the top 10 (No. 8) in rushing, the Broncos shook up their backfield this offseason. They traded starter Tatum Bell to the Detroit Lions. Despite being productive at times, Bell had durability issues, is not a physical runner, and fumbles too often. The team got a solid upgrade when it added former Titans RB Travis Henry. Henry is more experienced, has better vision and is a tougher runner than Bell. Backing up Henry will be Mike Bell, who put together a solid rookie season in 2006 as an undrafted free agent. There is no legitimate star power here, but Henry and Bell will provide a solid 1-2 punch for an offense that loves to work its play-action passing game off the run game.

9. San Francisco 49ers
It is hard to place the 49ers when you talk about the running back unit as a whole. This is a team that doesn’t have great running back depth. But it has one of the best young runners in the game in Frank Gore. Behind Gore’s 1,695 yards, the 49ers featured the NFL’s No. 6 rushing offense in 2006. Gore, who has had a history of knee issues prior to coming to the NFL, should continue to get stronger. The depth is not very good here, and if Gore gets hurt, the 49ers would have serious issues. Former college quarterback and backup RB Michael Robinson has been used primarily in short-yardage situations, and Maurice Hicks averaged only 2.8 yards per carry. Gore is a stud in this offense, but the depth is marginal at best.

10. Dallas Cowboys
With a new head coach in Wade Phillips, a lot of jobs will be up for grabs. One of those jobs will be the running back position that has been manned by starter Julius Jones over the past few seasons. However, Jones has been pushed by backup Marion Barber III, who will get his opportunity in the preseason to win the starting job. The two bring a little something different to the table. Jones is a better outside runner, and Barber is a more physical runner between the tackles. Neither back is really a feature guy, but used properly, they form a very good 1-2 punch.

While I admit to bias, I think the Cowboys tandem of Jones and Barber are much better than 10th best in the league. They’re not LT and Turner, to be sure, but they’ve both quite good. And they should be much better in a non-stupid offense.

NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2007

Coaching is a tough business and, aside from the crazy NHL, no league is tougher on them than the NFL. Clark Judge thinks these five guys may be done if they don’t turn it around this year:

Romeo Crennel, Cleveland

Yeah, I like the guy, too, and he might be a good head coach, but it’s not happening here. The Browns have accomplished little since Crennel’s arrival except to turn the quarterback position into a weekly audition for “Where’s My Line?” I know Crennel has been beset by injuries, and, yes, it’s a problem when you lose people like Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and LeCharles Bentley. But everyone suffers injuries, and you don’t have to remind Crennel. He was the defensive coordinator in New England when the Patriots went to the Super Bowl with a secondary that looked more like a casting call for the ER of Grey’s Anatomy.

The point is this: Cleveland deserves a winner, and the Browns haven’t won much more than high draft picks since returning to the NFL in 1999. Only once did they reach the playoffs, and that was as a wild card in 2002. Predictably, they lost their only game. Crennel was supposed to be the answer, but the Browns are 10-22 under him, with two last-place finishes. I don’t care if a coach suffers a losing season here or there. But you want to see improvement. The Browns lost two more last season than they did in 2005. They scored six more points and allowed 55 more. They ranked 31st in offense and 27th in defense. And they committed a whopping 42 turnovers — worse than anyone except the Raiders. That is not what you’d call an improvement. It’s what you’d call grounds for a divorce.

Tom Coughlin, N.Y. Giants

This is how the Giants made the playoffs last season: They lost six of their last eight, including a game where they blew a 21-0 fourth-quarter lead. Then they lost their playoff game. Then they lost their star player. Then the star player torched the head coach. That, folks, is not how you earn a contract extension, but the the Giants retained Coughlin anyway after he and his club self-destructed down the stretch.

Now Coughlin is trying to win without Tiki Barber, a bona fide left tackle and a fullback. Oh, and did I mention the inconsistent quarterback under fire? Eli Manning’s not the man on the spot here; Kevin Gilbride is. He’s the new offensive coordinator charged with saving his head coach, and maybe he does it by cutting down on Manning’s mistakes and finding room for Brandon Jacobs to run. All I know is that he has one year to come up with a solution.

Coughlin must know he’s walking the plank. How else do you explain his reaching out to beat reporters in the offseason to make peace? That’s not Coughlin’s style. It is, however, the sign of someone who knows he’s in trouble and is desperate for support. Maybe that’s why Coughlin put the gag order on players, hoping to eliminate the criticism that helped sabotage the Giants last season. But that lasts only as long as the team wins, which must happen for Coughlin to make it through to 2008 … the last year of his contract.

Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay

Yes, he’s the only coach to take Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl. What’s more, he won it. But that was almost five years ago, and this is a league where it’s what you’ve done lately that matters. And what the Bucs have done lately isn’t much.

Since Super Bowl XXXVII, they produced one winning season and an overall record of 27-37. Worse, the offense that worked so well in 2002 has been reduced to a bunch of guys playing three-and-out. Really, now, are you going to tell me that Jon Gruden can’t figure out how to score more than 15 points a game? That was the average last year, and it can’t happen again. Injuries were a factor, but enough already. You either win or you don’t, which is why the Bucs signed 37-year-old Jeff Garcia to play quarterback. Gruden doesn’t have time to wait on Bruce Gradkowski or Chris Simms. He doesn’t have time to wait on Brady Quinn, either. The Bucs passed on him in the draft and chose defensive end Gaines Adams because Adams can step in and help now. That tells you something. It tells you the clock is ticking on the head coach, and he knows it.

John Fox, Carolina

Listen, I think this guy is sharp, too, but when the Panthers let go trusted offensive coordinator Dan Henning, they turned up the heat on the head coach. Fox and Henning were close, and the move indicated management wasn’t happy with last season (understandable) and wanted — no, demanded — a change. So, it got one: Henning was canned. Now, it’s Fox who’s on the front burner, mainly because the Panthers didn’t win in two of the past three seasons and were dreadful last year when it mattered most — losing five times when they blew fourth-quarter leads.

Management can argue that it gave Fox the players to win; Fox can argue that injuries, particularly to the offensive line, handicapped his chances in 2006, but that won’t cut it. Remember what I said about injuries: Everyone has them, and good coaches find ways to overcome them. Fox did just that in 2005 when he somehow fought through the losses of his top four backs to reach the NFC Championship Game. John Fox knows what he’s doing. He just has to prove it. Again.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville

Let’s see, the Jags’ next quarterback is Byron Leftwich. No, it’s David Garrard. No, it’s Daunte Culpepper. Nope, it’s Leftwich. We think.

The Jags haven’t been bad under Del Rio, but they haven’t been real good, either. And that’s a problem. Under Del Rio they’re 34-31 (including the playoffs), a record similar to the 34-32 mark that convinced Bill Parcells to quit in Dallas.

There’s no question the Jags could be good. Very good. But a couple of things must happen first: 1) They must learn to find the end zone without a sherpa, and 2) they must figure out how to beat Houston. That’s the thing that confounds me about Del Rio’s team. It can beat any given team on any given Sunday, except if that team is Houston. You can look it up: Houston beats the Jags at home; it beats them in Jacksonville. Only one team last year knocked off the Jags twice, and it wasn’t Super Bowl champion Indianapolis. It was those mighty Texans, who the past four years are 5-3 against Del Rio and 15-41 against the rest of the league.

Oh, yeah, one more thing: It would help if Jacksonville shows up on the road. The Jags were 2-6 there last season, surrendering an average of 23.25 points a game. They were 6-2 at home, holding opponents to an average of 11 per start. The club that produced back-to-back shutouts of Pittsburgh and the Jets at home also hemorrhaged 36 points at Washington and 35 at K.C. So how do you explain that? Del Rio has one season to find an answer.

While I can’t see Carolina firing Fox, the others seem right to me. Coughlin probably deserved to have been fired already and Del Rio has had major ups and downs. And Gruden won that Super Bowl with Tony Dungy’s team against a poorly coached team that was his the year before; he’s overrated.

Another coach who’s likely on the heat seat even though he shouldn’t be is Dallas’ Wade Phillips. It’s his first year on the job and he has two first-time coordinators and a quarterback who will be in his first full season as the starter, so it’s unfair to expect greatness. There’s not much doubt, though, that Jerry Jones expects the Cowboys to make it to the Super Bowl this year.

If that doesn’t happen, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he didn’t make a phone call to Bill Cowher, would will be tanned, rested, and ready for 2008.

Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Seek New Nickname

It appears Arkansas Tech is tired of being made fun of for calling their sports teams the “Wonder Boys,” so they’ve formed a committee to do something about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Arkansas Tech … Copperheads?

Concerned over having different team names and mascots for men’s and women’s sports, Arkansas Tech is considering doing away with the nicknames Wonder Boys and Golden Suns. The school is also worried the name Wonder Boys might be hurting recruiting.

“It’s one of those things that has been kind of a constant theme on our campus every few years,” said Sam Strasner, an assistant to the university spokesperson.

Arkansas Tech announced Tuesday that a committee of current and former students and members of the school administration is reviewing the nicknames. Nine of the 12 committee members voted that they were not satisfied with the current situation.

Strasner said the next step is a “public input phase.” The school is asking for feedback via an online survey, which includes some potential nicknames. Some of the more unique possibilities: Comets, Copperheads, Sharks and Terrapins.

Strasner stressed that the Division II school in Russellville hadn’t made a final decision to adopt a new nickname. “It’s far from a sure thing that it’s something we’re going to do,” he said.

A majority of the committee voted that it is very important for a new nickname to be neutral in terms of gender and race. The school said in a release that having two different nicknames “makes it difficult for the general student population to rally around a singular, campus-wide identity.”

The school also cited concern by the committee over evolving connotations of the term Wonder Boy. “These connotations include slurs about an individual’s manhood or race, and the slurs have been used against Tech when recruiting,” the release said.

When asked to elaborate on that, Strasner said that concern came up within the committee. “I know one thing that was said by one of the student-athletes in the committee meeting — one of the things that I’ve heard repeated several times — was that once they leave Russellville and go back home, they don’t really like to associate themselves with that name because of some ribbing they take from their friends,” Strasner said.

Imagine that.

Dan Patrick Leaving ESPN after 18 Years

Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN after 18 years.

Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN.

Patrick, who has been with the network for 18 years, announced on his radio show Monday that he will appear on air for the last time Aug. 17. Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president for production, made a simultaneous announcement. A news release said that the mutual agreement will allow Patrick to pursue new interests outside of ESPN.

The final week of Patrick’s radio show, which started in 1999, will include a look back at memorable moments, interviews and guests.

“If there was animosity, I wouldn’t be doing any radio shows after today,” Patrick said on his show, adding, “I hope to be doing radio somewhere, somehow, down the road.”

In a news release, Patrick said: “I feel privileged to have had this opportunity and I have extremely mixed emotions about leaving. With that said, I told ESPN that I believe it’s time for me to try something different, something that will also be challenging and rewarding. While I’m not sure what that will be, I am grateful to ESPN for its willingness to allow me to pursue new endeavors.”

Said Williamson: “Dan has accomplished so much over the past two decades at ESPN, and fans and newsmakers have turned to him for his steady and trusted approach. We wish him the very best.”

Patrick was a “SportsCenter” anchor from 1989 to 2006, winning the National Sportscaster of the Year award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2000. He also received a Sports Emmy Award in the Studio Host category in 1998.

In all honesty, I didn’t even realize Patrick had left SportsCenter again, having watched the show only accidentally in recent years, and seldom catch his radio show. I get my sports news online these days, turning on the television only for live games and a few talk shows like “PTI” and the “Sports Reporters.” Still, Patrick was a pro and one of the marquee faces at the network. It’ll be a major loss for them.

One wonders, though, why Patrick is leaving without a plan in place (presuming he’s telling the truth). It’s one thing to want to seek other opportunities but another entirely to do so without a paycheck.

Yankees first half awards

But first…

- Three-run homers from Matsui, Cano and Arod sealed the win today as the Yanks went on to a 12-0 rout. Wang pitched 6.1 shutout innings, and Myers, Proctor and Villone closd out the game. The Yanks go into the All-Star break having won five of seven and are one game under .500. They open the second half with a four game series in Tampa Bay.

- In San Francisco, Joba Chamberlain, the Yanks top pitching prospect (assuming Hughes is now a major leaguer), pitched one inning for the U.S. All-Star Futures team, and fared ok (though considerably better than Hughes last year): one inning, one hit, one walk, one run and one K. It was a weak run – Joba walked the leadoff hitter (which seemed mostly due to nerves), he stole second, and the next hitter squeezed a groundball through the right side for a run.
But his stuff was electric. His fastball was sitting 94-97 mph, with one at 91 and another at 98. He threw a few nasty sliders (about 83-85 mph), although it’s more of a hard curve, and one changeup (at 72 mph!) – that’s about a 25 mph difference, which is gigantic. Check out the broadcast from the game (do it soon before it’s taken down).

First half awards

These are pretty easy – I don’t even have to look at anyone else because we all know who the winners are.

First half Cy Young:
Chien-Ming Wang, who since returning from the DL in late April has been the Yanks best and most consistent starter. He leads the pitchers in Win Probability (1.14), Value Over Replacement Player (25), and is second in Win Shares (6).

MVP:
Who else but Arod? .317/.413/.665, 30 HR, 86 RBI, 79 runs and 9 steals for good measure. He leads the team in Win Probability (3.70), Win Shares (17) and leads baseball in Value Over Replacement Player (53.2).

Win Probability courtesy of FanGraphs
VORP courtesy of Baseball Prospectus
Win Shares courtesy of The Hardball Times