Zack's Daily Take

USC - Texas...As Good As it Gets

2006-01-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

Was last night’s game as good as it gets in sports? Absolutely.

That game had it all. The two winning streaks, the two personable head coaches, multiple Heisman trophy winners, tons of tradition, and a national championship on the line. Heck, Will Ferrell was there – it had to be huge. In fact, the HYPE beforehand was almost suffocating. Almost.

And then the game went and did the unthinkable. It lived up to the hype. With incredible performances by both teams, the game went above and beyond everything we could have possibly asked of it.

You want lead changes and a close finish? Check
You want masterful individual performances? Check
You want the game to be decided by a legendary player in a way that you will never forget? Check

You see, long after this game becomes just another national championship in a bogged down record book, last night’s game will be remembered for one thing. Vince Young. He had something – a swagger, a control - that we’ve never seen before, and we can only dream to see again. On his sport’s biggest stage, on his biggest night, Vince Young was absolutely amazing.

He has no Heisman, but last night Vince Young proved one thing – you don’t Mess With Texas, and you Don’t Mess with Vince Young.

12/21 - It's not a Daily Take Anymore, but It's a Take

2005-12-21T08:38:00.000-05:00

As much as the Triangle area loves college basketball, it’s a shame nowadays that when our favorite college cagers make the leap to the NBA, we fall out of touch, with only occasional glimpses of box scores to see how they are doing. “It’s a different game,” we think. “The NBA is all greed,” others espouse.

For all of us haters out there, last night’s Bobcats – Bulls game was a perfect opportunity for a little self reflection. Sure, there’s a lot that’s wrong with The League, and plenty of greed to go around, but the gritty performance by some of our favorite sons should serve as proof that some things never change.

Thanks to a few injuries, last night’s line-ups were a veritable smorgasbord of familiar talent from the recent college ranks – names like Hinrich and Felton, Duhon and May – it felt good to hear the sound again and to remember how they took our breath away. The game was fast from the beginning, and every staggering 3 pointer that Duhon made was matched by jumpers and dishes from his compatriot named Ray. Chicago’s United Center staged the battle, but it just as easily could have occurred at the local YMCA, winners stay on. It was basketball at its best – a game which rewards intensity and cohesiveness, played by men whose egos are not yet “NBA sized”. Perhaps the play of the game was with less than a minute left, and a Bobcat win already assured. Energy man Gerald Wallace blocked two shots in succession, regrouped to a defensive stance, and then DREW A CHARGE.

It was a fitting ending to a night that was a glimpse back to the future. Maybe the NBA isn’t dead after all.

10/27/2005 9:01 AM

2005-10-27T09:02:00.000-05:00

Congrats to the White Sox. They were the best team in October by far. It’s nice to erase 80+ years of misery with a simple, 1-0 victory. However, was anyone else a bit disappointed in the celebration? I mean, last year with the Red Sox it was like a new level of euphoria, as a whole region of the country seemed to explode with excitement all at one time. After the final out last night (was he out?), you could almost see the players thinking through the celebration as they met at the mound.

Jenks:Yeah, we won(can Pierzynski hold me…I think I’m supposed to jump in his arms…hmmm…that’s what all pitchers do, right)
Pierzynski:He’s out…we won! (OK, now I’m supposed to run out to the mound…oops…do I jump into his arms or he into mine?)

(lots of hugging and screaming…lasts for about 14 seconds)
(meanwhile, in the White Sox dugout, there are prolonged hugs, no screaming…the bench coaches casually walk to the mound)

Guillen: Alright! Tha- wa- goot. VENEZUELA!!

Podsednik: Way to go guys..I think we’re supposed to go to the clubhouse now and pour expensive champagne on each other.

TEAM: OK Scott, we’ll follow you.

Seriously…for a team that played out of their minds for the month of October, the Sox sure could use a bit of work on the celebration. Show me a flesh pile. Show me a Jermaine Dye sandwich. Show me some pure, unadulterated, childlike joy. Please, show me something!

9/27/2005 8:47 AM

2005-09-27T08:01:00.000-05:00

Oh, Clayton Chris…we have a serious situation here. It seems that you, like a lot of State fans, are not just drinking the poisonous Amato Kool-Aid…you’re hooked up to an IV with a constant drip. Let’s forget for a second the silly question of whether the NC State or UNC program is on better footing – because quite frankly that’s like asking which of the Baldwin brothers is the biggest loser – you’re not really sure, but you’re fairly certain that they’re all pretty lame.

I know that like all fans, you root with your heart. Blaise Pascal said it best when he stated, “the heart has it’s reasons, which reason cannot know.” In case they don’t cover Pascal in Agriculture 101, basically what he is saying is that it’s time for you to hop out of your parallel universe of fourth place victory parades and shameless self promotion. Your heart tells you that you’re “really close” to being great, but let’s look at the facts here.

You were 5-6 last year. You have a team of thoroughbreds (including a pair of absolute beastly defensive ends), and yet you still lost to your archrival for the 2nd year in a row, (an archrival that will be happy to win 5 games this year). Sure, you gave Virginia Tech a good game, but you still LOST. Until THE CHEST can translate the talent on his roster into wins on the field, I’m afraid that NC State will be nothing more than an unbelievably gifted middle of the road squad.

At least, that’s what reason says.

09/14/05 9:06 AM

2005-09-14T08:06:00.000-05:00

So here’s the thing about Carolina’s football schedule. I understand the argument that you need to play a few “winnable” games in order to build confidence, get some W’s, and create a culture of winning. However, the claim that winning blowouts against Eastern Kentucky will have a causal effect on recruits wanting to come to your school is speculative at best. If we’re going to be speculative, why don’t we speculate even further…

- How would the 2001 UNC team have fared against FSU if they hadn’t already faced the speed and strength of Oklahoma in the first game of the year?
- Would last year’s UNC team been able to hold off Miami without the experience of being taken to the woodshed by Utah and Louisville?
- If recruits care about winning, even against creampuffs, how much more will they care about winning a game AT South Bend, or in front of 100,000+ at Neyland Stadium, or against Darth Visor and USC?

What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.

Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that we have any idea of what macro-level impact this scheduling stuff will make on recruiting or any program’s overall well-being (because the fact of the matter is that the schedules are made so far in advance that it’s impossible to tell how good Colorado or Notre Dame will be in a few years…or if Tennessee will be on probation or not) Let’s instead applaud the UNC athletic department for having the cojones to play some real games…something the folks in Raleigh may want to consider…

NEW FEATURE - AUDIO CLIPS

2005-09-08T15:18:00.000-05:00

So you've about Triangle Sports Talk 1490/1090 and "The Morning Sports Drive with Taylor Zarzour." But many of you have a hard time listening at just to right time to hear the email segment. Alas, I've entered a new frontier in the blogging world by uploading some of the sound clips from my Daily Takes that have been read on the air.

Simply click on the respective links below and the file will begin downloading on your computer (it will be saved to your default location for Internet downloads). All files are .mp3 format. I'll try and post updated audio links every week or two.

9/8/2005 - A recap of a US Open battle for the ages between Andre Agassi and James Blake

8/25/2005 - Do you have the guts to take on the Gallon Challenge? Plenty of laughs from the peanut gallery as Taylor reads this take.

8/22/2005 - Joey Devine, Major League Baseball player, dreamer of dreams, a person - just like you and me.

8/16/2005 - Tiger vs. Phil

8/11/2005 - Woody Durham, a UNC treasure; read over the air to Woody himself!

8/5/2005 - The Daily Take Original - listen to how the obsession began...

9/8/2005 8:40 AM

2005-09-08T07:40:00.000-05:00

I know that tennis isn’t the sexiest talk show topic, but last night’s Agassi-Blake match was beyond incredible and deserves as much attention as possible.

Even tennis neophytes are familiar with the Agassi story, but for those who know nothing of Blake, here’s the quick and dirty. Blake was inspired to play tennis after hearing Arthur Ashe speak at a clinic in Harlem. After two years at Harvard, he turned pro, eventually rising as high as the top-20s in the world rankings. Then came last year, which was nothing short of hellish.

Blake broke his neck after slipping on a clay court and running headfirst into a net post. In practice. Then, his father lost a battle to stomach cancer and the stress of it all caused an illness that temporarily paralyzed half his face. Just one year ago, James Blake couldn’t hit balls for five minutes, much less battle in the US Open quarterfinals with Andre Agassi.

Yet for an hour last night, Blake lived every athlete’s dream – he was in “the zone”. Showcasing cheetah-like quickness, sublime shot placement, and stellar strength, Blake proved to everyone that he was a bonafide comeback success story.

But it couldn’t be that easy. Not for James Blake. Not against Agassi.

Down two sets to love and a break in the third, Agassi dug deeper than he ever has before. It was magical watching him do it, as you could literally see him physically fighting the urge to quit. Andre looked nowhere near 35 as he forced a fifth and deciding set.

The 5th set was masterpiece theater on a blue hardcourt, with each player nearly succumbing to defeat before scratching and clawing back into the match. The final result wasn’t settled until Agassi’s last forehand landed squarely on the baseline, for a match point winner that lived up to the match itself.

For all the great shots that both players played during the close to 3 hour match, each man saved his best for last. Agassi’s authentic reverence for what it meant to win was exceeded only by the grace with which Blake handled defeat.

At a time when we are constantly bombarded by everything that’s wrong with our sports world, last night was a refreshing reminder of what we truly love – sport as it was meant to be.

9/6/2005 2:14 PM

2005-09-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

What a weekend! For all of my complaining last week about the inertia that was the sports world, this weekend was beautiful.

The college football kickoff was outstanding, and one of the main reasons was all the big games that were played. When you start off the season with Miami-FSU, NC State-Va. Tech, Ga. Tech-Auburn, and then throw in the random upsets like Oklahoma-TCU and Notre Dame-Pittsburgh...well, it was a lot of fun to watch.

A couple quick thoughts on college football's first weekend...

Anyone else get the feeling that outside of USC at #1, we have absolutely no idea who the cream of the crop is in college football? Oklahoma and Auburn were upset victims, and I seriously doubt that Ga. Tech or TCU is running the table. Miami lost to FSU, a team that has serious issues at quarterback (but my, isn't that Seminoles defense fast!). Either Texas or Ohio State will have a loss after next weeekend, and Florida has a really tough opening stretch in the SEC. Georgia's win over Boise State was impressive - but how good is Boise State?
Wonder if the referees feel weird wearing NSYNC-esque microphone ear pieces during the games? The ref during the Oklahoma game looked like a NASCAR pit boss...
Is it just me, or does every single starter for Miami and FSU look like they're cut out of stone?
Quote of the weekend - as Boise State is heading to the locker room at halftime, the sideline reporter asks the Boise State coach about his decision to replace the starting quarterback (after 4 first half interceptions). The coach's response - "Did you see the first half? We'd lose to East Junior High with that many turnovers." Classic.
Wonder if NC State fans are happy about their team turning into the Florida State of the mid-South - tons of athletes, incredible talent, a complete and utter lack of discipline (12 penalties, 105 yards). Over/under on a shoe scandal breaking out is 2 years...I'll take the under.
Suddenly UNC's opener at Ga. Tech looks a lot scarier...

Gotta go, be back with a different take later...on the real event of the weekend - US qualification for the World Cup.

9/2/2005 8:42 AM

2005-09-02T07:42:00.000-05:00

The return of The Old Ball Coach to college football is complete, as Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks eeked out a 24-15 win over Central Florida. I have to admit that for a guy who doesn’t care much for Darth Visor, the first 5 minutes of last night’s game were a lot of fun. With over 80,000 fans of the “other” Carolina on their feet, Blake Mitchell was downright Danny Wuerffel-esque. 5 plays – BOOM – touchdown. I’ll bet there were more than a couple fans dreaming of SEC glory and BCS bowl games. Reality came during the 2nd half, when USC’s lack of running and a growing sense of optimism from Central Florida made the game a little too close for comfort for the OBC.

While watching Spurrier, it seems that he’s different now than a few years back when he roamed the sidelines in Gainesville. Maybe the NFL humbled him, or maybe he has a realistic view of his team’s talent - but there were far fewer times when you felt like Spurrier was going to go absolutely postal and choke someone with the adjustable part of his visor. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts during SEC games…

On a side note, what was up with Mike Tirico’s neon slime green dress shirt? The man has a voice of gold (and quite possibly the greatest job in all of sports broadcasting), but the shirt was eerily reminiscent of something from Ghostbusters. Like a friend of mine said while we were watching, “That shirt puts Digger Phelps’ matching tie and highlighter to shame.” We’ll tack it up to an early season miscue…

8/31/2005 2:43 PM

2005-08-31T13:42:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to figure out all day what to write about in the Daily Take, and to be quite honest, there's not much that's interesting enough for me.

Sure, I could write about Andy Roddick's unlikely exit from the US Open, but I wrote about tennis yesterday -[insert Stephen A. Smith voiceover] - and quite frankly, tennis doesn't deserve two takes in a row.

College football season is only a day away, and yet somehow I can't bring myself to write some speculative piece about how I see the season shaking out. I think the only thing that can match the insatiable appetite for hyperbole in sports journalism is the ever-increasing number of prognosticators and fortune tellers who all want to tell you exactly how the season will play out. You have to wonder where all those people were at the beginning of last season when Auburn was ranked 18th.

Anyways, I looked to ESPN.com for some motivation, and came upon this story on the top headlines. Apparently it really is a slow news day in the sports world.

Alas, there is no good daily take today, my friends - only a couple mediocre links to help you pass the time. I'll do better tomorrow.

8/30/2005 9:44 AM

2005-08-30T08:54:00.000-05:00

I was watching the US Open last night as Andre Agassi easily dismissed his 1st round opponent. As I watched, I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind – where did the old Andre go? Sure, I know that Andre has changed over the years, and I didn’t really expect to see any charcoaled denim, neon pink shirts, or the Bon Jovi-esque hair again. But for a guy who claimed that “image is everything”, Andre’s everything has certainly changed. Back in the day, Andre was an icon, a trendsetter, a guy who’s very name was different. He was no regular Pete or Jim or Michael – he was ANDRE.

But the new Agassi is different. He looks more like the middle aged guy who works at Starbucks and spends his weekends clanging finger cymbals on Franklin Street than a world class tennis player. He’s traded his spot on the fashion train for a pair of shorts with a 2 inch inseam and a plain blue Adidas shirt that showcases his not-so svelte figure. The New Andre is decidedly businesslike and professional, and the only thing that remains the same is the way he pounces on 2nd serves and waddles to get a towel between points.

If you get a chance, check out the new Andre in this year’s Open. If you’re like me, you’ll agree that for Andre, change is good.

8/25/2005 9:16 AM

2005-08-26T12:08:00.000-05:00

Click here for the audio clip

You have to love the story about the batboy trying to drink the gallon of milk in under an hour without having it come back up. I’m lucky enough to have seen a similar “Gallon Challenge” in person before, and let me tell you, it’s the highest of high comedy.

Gallon Challengers are usually pretty confident for the first half gallon, downing it in the first 15 minutes. Then, there’s some sort of tipping point. Maybe it’s the smell of slowly warming milk. Maybe it’s the fact that most bodies can’t process that much lactose in an hour. Whatever it is, it’s amazing. For those who can’t stomach it any longer, the “reversal of fortune” is epic – think watery cottage cheese coming out of a fire hydrant.

Maybe this is the next great reality show/sport. We get 5 notorious people from the sports world who people wouldn’t mind seeing suffer a bit (think Huggins, Palmeiro, etc.) Give them each a gallon of milk and an hour to finish it and then sit back and watch. Even if they’re able to keep it down, the pained looks on their faces as they struggle through the last few gulps would be priceless.

8/22/2005 9:15 AM

2005-08-26T12:07:00.001-05:00

I was lucky enough to turn on the television on Saturday and see Joey Devine’s Major League debut. It was already the 13th inning, but as I sat there and watched, I knew that I was seeing something special. Devine was throwing gas, and looked more like a big league vet than a rookie working on 45 minutes sleep. Even when he got jobbed on a few close pitches, the kid stayed calm, never changing his rhythm, remaining true to his game. With his family looking on, Devine was cool and collected, seemingly unphased by the bases full of Padres, the heat in the air, and the butterflies dancing in his own stomach. 2 strikes, 2 outs. 1 more strike to a historic debut, one that would live up the precocious pitcher’s last name.

And then the Joey Devine dream was belted 415 feet over the center field wall.

It’s on days like Saturday, when we witness such human drama, that we remember we’re watching people like us. Athletes seem to fool us into thinking that they’re somehow different, that their skill in tossing a ball or jumping through the gym instantly makes them an instrument of our own satisfaction - an exhibit for us, as fans, to cheer, boo, adore, or criticize. We attach ourselves to our teams and live and die by the results; we forget that for Joey Devine, that game on Saturday WAS his life.
A lifetime of hopes and dreams, on display in front of a packed stadium and a national television audience.

Here’s to Joey Devine – major league baseball player, dreamer of dreams, a person – just like you and me.

8/16/2005 8:47 AM

2005-08-26T12:07:00.000-05:00

Phil’s second major victory brings up the inevitable question of Lefty’s place in the pantheon of golfers. The problem for Phil is this – he is going to forever be compared to Tiger. Tiger is the gold standard of all 21st century golfers. He’s always been better than Phil; and the fact that Tiger is all about golf ensures that, barring some unfortunate injury, Tiger will always be better than Phil. Phil is like the Clyde Drexler to Tiger’s Michael Jordan – sublime skills, the ability to be the best in the game from time to time, yet at the end of the day, Drexler and Jordan were on totally different levels.

Where this analogy breaks down is that everyone loved Jordan, not Drexler – but it’s obvious that the crowds love Phil. He’s the perpetual underdog – always one step behind Tiger – and he plays the role perfectly. My hope is that somehow Phil can string together 3 or 4 more majors over the next 5 years, while Tiger wins his as well, and we get to see the two go down in history together – like Nicklaus and Palmer. Phil will have his army of supporters, and Tiger, an army of trophies.

8/12/2005 8:41 AM

2005-08-26T12:06:00.000-05:00

So Taylor, tell us how you really feel about Drew Rosenhaus…he seems like a great guy.

I think it’s safe to say that 99.9% of America agrees that the petulance and immaturity shown by T.O. in this whole fiasco has been shocking, embarrassing, and simply reprehensible. I think it’s also safe to say that most of this 99.9% of America wouldn’t want to have anything to do with T.O. if we met him on the street…so let’s test the hypothesis…

Here’s the test:

Drew Rosenhaus, no doubt through some method of vicious conniving, has secured a Monday tee time at Augusta National the day after the Masters. Knowing that he’s not high on “Taylor Zarzour’s Top 10 People in the World List” and of the incredible power and influence of The Morning Sports Drive, Rosenhaus decides to extend the proverbial olive branch and invite you, Taylor Zarzour, to play golf with him and T.O. at Augusta National. That’s right – 5 hours of unadulterated Rosenhaus and T.O. action, complete with Sunday pin placements.

Are you in?

If not – who do we need to add as a fourth to get you to play – Phil? The Golden Bear?

8/11/2005 9:29 AM

2005-08-26T12:04:00.000-05:00

The following take has a special meaning. Taylor Zarzour read the email on the air to "the Voice of the Tar Heels", Woody Durham.

Many of us have truly been Tar Heel born and bred – and for a great number of UNC fans, Woody Durham is not only the “Voice of the Tar Heels”, but a bonafide Carolina institution – on par with the stone walls, Old Well, and dogwoods blooming in the spring. Trying to choose a favorite Woody call is almost impossible – there are far too many, and almost all of them are of the highest class.

How do you begin to describe Woody’s brilliance? Is it his silky, smooth yet personal voice? His respect for feats of athleticism – whether by a Tar Heel or an opponent? His trademark phrases – like “Soph–UH-more” and “white jerseys with blue trim”?

To me, he’s at his finest when, at the climactic moment of a game, as his volume goes up a notch and the tenor of his voice hits a fever pitch, Woody allows the listeners to immerse themselves in the moment – no matter where in the world they are listening. There’s no greater example of this phenomenon than this spring, as Woody captured everything – Roy’s monkey, the Doherty years, the tradition of the past – in the way he closed out the final seconds of the Illinois game – North Carolina are the National Champions!

8/10/2005 9:44 AM

2005-08-26T12:03:00.000-05:00

Dear University of Maryland Athletic Department,

For the love of all things good and holy, please do not distribute any new Under Armour gear to Coach Friedgen and the rest of the coaching staff. I know you have a house to protect, but quite frankly, you’re scaring our children.

Sincerely,
The Atlantic Coast Conference

8/9/2005 8:53 AM

2005-08-26T12:01:00.000-05:00

So you want to know how UNC football fans are feeling? I think you hit the nail on the head when you said we’re nervous.

We’re nervous that a Bunting-led team has never gotten off to a good start and that 0-3 is a very realistic possibility.

We’re nervous that our best returning player has a torn pectoral and that while our starting tailback supposedly ran circles around our defense in practice last year – he was just doing what everyone else in the nation did last year – run circles around OUR defense.

We’re nervous that for all the improvement that our defense has made in the offseason, there’s really no way to know if they’ll be ready to make the big play when they need to on Saturdays.

We’re nervous that you just can’t replace warriors like Durant, Sensabaugh, Brown, and Hedgecock.

Yeah, we’re nervous about a lot of things. But I was never more nervous last year than on an October night when a football machine named Miami came into Kenan Stadium. I was nervous the whole time – through every Chad Scott cut and Jesse Holley catch – and my heart was in my throat as a little freshman named Barth kicked the pigskin through the uprights and made history. And then I wasn’t nervous anymore.

We’ll always be nervous – unsure of whether Bunting and the Heels will be able to conjure up the magic that existed on that night. But if someway, somehow, they are able to do it – well, it will be something special.

8/8/2005 9:26 AM

2005-08-26T11:57:00.001-05:00

Dear Dan Marino,

Congratulations on reaching the pinnacle – the dream of everyone who’s ever played a professional sport – by being inducted in the pro football Hall of Fame. Your statistics speak for themselves, Dan. Congratulations, first of all, for making it to the League, for setting record after record, and for doing it all with a tan that would make David Hasselhoff jealous. More than anything, Dan, congratulations on figuring out a way to tarnish your Hall of Fame induction mere hours after making your speech.

I expected to see you on ESPN or the other channels, waxing poetic about the good ol’ days. The last place I expected to see you and your new urine colored coat was on the Home Shopping Network, pimping a limited edition Hall of Fame signed jersey for $675. But that’s where you were. You hadn’t even celebrated with family and friends and you’re sitting next to some guy with 3 pounds of hair gel and a hyperactive personality. I half expected you to try and sell me a replica Dan Marino Super Bowl ring – oh wait, never mind.

Congrats Dan, on a Hall of Fame career. Nothing will ever take away from what you did on the field – no matter how hard you try.

8/5/2005 9:06 AM

2005-08-26T11:57:00.000-05:00

I love your show – every time I’m in the car or getting dressed for work and 8:05 hits and I hear that electric guitar blazing, I immediately get a smile on my face, enter my “happy place”, and start salivating more than one of Pavlov’s dogs (well, maybe not that last part).

Anyway, only seconds into my euphoric delight, I’m greeted with the same vicious lie again and again, everyday.

“From the decades of dynasties at Reynolds Coliseum…to the new traditions at RBC” ….

What in the name of alliteration is going on here? What dynasties are we speaking of? I know that State was good in the mid-70’s. I’m too young to have seen David Thompson play, but from what I hear, he’s one, if not THE, best college players or all time. But Dynasties? Are we seriously talking about dynasties at NCSU? If you really wanted alliteration to make the lead-in catchy you could have always gone with…

From the periods of point shaving at Reynolds Coliseum

Or

From the many years of mediocrity at RC

Or

From the legendary losing of Les Robinson at RC (that’s a triple!)

By now you’ve probably figured out that I’m a UNC guy, and that I’m only kidding. But in all seriousness, it does sound a bit ridiculous. Anyways, you guys are doing a great job…keep it up.