Morning Jolt: August 11, 2011
Thursday, August 11
Today's must-see content delivered straight to you.
Denver is turning Tebow into a robot
Free Tebow? Tim Tebow is not a paint-by-numbers quarterback. So why do the Broncos seem bent on turning him into Brian Griese, your plain vanilla game manager and the football equivalent of a certified public accountant? The extreme makeover of Tebow has revealed a clumsy robot in need of a system reboot. It's pure folly to recast an improvisational player as a pocket passer. Tebow needs to be Tebow. After feeling the heat from criticism this summer, Tebow repeatedly expressed a desire Wednesday to "have fun." But where did the unpredictable fun in his game go? Whatever happened to the instinctive rambler who wore No. 15 for the Broncos? While it sometimes appears that Tebow's technique has regressed since his rookie season, maybe the real problem is lost identity. (The Denver Post)Comment
Wilson trashes just about everything in Oakland
C.J. Wilson isn't likely to take his talents to the A's any time soon. [Wilson] is no fan of Oakland, its antiquated stadium, its weather or its lukewarm fan base. He doesn't seem to have a very big spot in his heart for A's players, either. The left-hander is scheduled to start Friday at Oakland as the Texas Rangers open a 10-game road trip. Wilson is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA in three starts against Oakland this season. "I hate pitching there," Wilson said. "The mound [stinks]. The fans [stink]. There are no fans there." ... He even likes the Texas heat more than the East Bay chill. "So, you don't have to worry about me signing there in the off-season," Wilson said. "The players on their team hate me. Whatever. I don't care. We're rivals." (Star-Telegram)Comment
Boozer would play overseas, China a frontruner
Waiting for another big name to announce he'll take his talents across the pond? Add Chicago Carlos Boozer to the list of NBA players looking to play overseas in light of the current NBA lockout. Boozer told ESPN The Magazine on Wednesday that he will pursue signing with a foreign team if the season doesn't start on time. ... "If the NBA season gets delayed or postponed, I plan on using those months to experience something similar to what I did in the summer of 2008. That's why, if the lockout continues, I definitely plan on playing overseas." Boozer declined to say whether he already had a deal in place or a specific country he was targeting, but a source indicated that the reference to Beijing reflects an inclination to play in China. (ESPNChicago.com)Comment
Must-See Photo
Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba flips over Mariners' Trayvon Robinson in a rundown between third and home in the fourth inning of last night's Texas-Seattle game. (AP)
Must-See Video
Brandon Jennings bounces ball between defenders legs during Dyckman Summer League action.
Game To Watch
Ravens at Eagles, 7:30 p.m.
SI Vault: More Carl Lewis
This Day in Sports
- 1970 -- With a 6-5 victory over the Astros, the Phillies' Jim Bunning becomes the first pitcher since Cy Young to win 100 games in both leagues.
- 1984 -- Carl Lewis wins his fourth gold of the Summer Olympics when the 4 x 100 meter relay team he is anchoring finished in a time of 37.83 seconds, a new world record.
- 2001 -- For the first time in his 16-year career, Barry Bonds hits his 50th homer of the season. The 36-year old Giants outfielder will go yard 23 more times to establish a new big league single-season record with 73 homer runs.
- 2003 -- Kerry Wood becomes the fastest major leaguer to record his 1,000th career strikeout, needing only 134 games to reach the milestone. It took 143 games for Roger Clemens to accomplish the feat.
