http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/players/michael_lewis/2621 Recent articles about Michael Lewis en-us As Ron Blomberg lounges against the exposed brick wall of an oyster bar in north Atlanta indistinguishable from any other modern sports watering hole, he considers his unlikely baseball fate. He doesn't need much time to find the words. His feet are propped on the booth's black pleather as he takes sparse sips of a Diet Coke with lemon, comfortable in his skin, in both tone and body language. By rough estimate, this is Blomberg's 300th interview since the calendar turned to 2013. Anniversaries bring warranted attention. And for Blomberg, the first designated hitter in baseball, the time lapse of 40 years has brought writers and radio hosts to his flip-phone once more. Not that he minds attention. The native Georgian can answer the decades-old questions with a self-deprecating joke as easily as he can flaunt his assimilated New York accent. But, by no fault of his own, his career's defining accomplishment has kept him a divisive figure, at least in baseball terms half-embraced, half-dismisse Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/first_dh_blomberg_embraces_notoriety_place_in_history/13689527 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/first_dh_blomberg_embraces_notoriety_place_in_history/13689527 First DH Blomberg embraces 'notoriety', place in history http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/first_dh_blomberg_embraces_notoriety_place_in_history/13689527 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As Ron Blomberg lounges against the exposed brick wall of an oyster bar in north Atlanta indistinguishable from any other modern sports watering hole, he considers his unlikely baseball fate. He doesn't need much time to find the words. His feet are propped on the booth's black pleather as he takes sparse sips of a Diet Coke with lemon, comfortable in his skin, in both tone and body language. By rough estimate, this is Blomberg's 300th interview since the calendar turned to 2013. Anniversaries bring warranted attention. And for Blomberg, the first designated hitter in baseball, the time lapse of 40 years has brought writers and radio hosts to his flip-phone once more. Not that he minds attention. The native Georgian can answer the decades-old questions with a self-deprecating joke as easily as he can flaunt his assimilated New York accent. But, by no fault of his own, his career's defining accomplishment has kept him a divisive figure, at least in baseball terms half-embraced, half-dismisse Fri, 24 May 2013 13:51:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/first_dh_blomberg_embraces_notoriety_place_in_history/13690058 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/first_dh_blomberg_embraces_notoriety_place_in_history/13690058 First DH Blomberg embraces 'notoriety', place in history http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/first_dh_blomberg_embraces_notoriety_place_in_history/13690058 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Michigan’s season ended on Monday night but recruiting season is already set to get underway. Coaches are allowed at open gyms and workouts beginning today and there are certified live AAU weekends coming up this month; April 19th-21st and April 26th-28th. The late signing period for Class of 2013 prospects also begins on April 17th. John Beilein and his staff are in a precarious situation of recruiting for the future while trying to figure out exactly who will be on their roster next season with NBA decisions looming. Jumping head first into AAU season, we rounded up some updates and nuggets from the first weekend of AAU play regarding some notable Michigan targets. Devin Booker is now hearing from Kentucky according to his latest blog at USA Today. The latest school to reach out is Kentucky. First, Coach O (Orlando Antigua) hit me up on Twitter and then Coach (Kenny) Payne gave me a call. He told me they were interested and they wanted to get down and see me. He said that they hea... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:30:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/recruiting_notebook_latest_on_booker_bluiett_early_aau_play/13380964 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/recruiting_notebook_latest_on_booker_bluiett_early_aau_play/13380964 Recruiting Notebook: Latest on Booker, Bluiett, early AAU play http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/recruiting_notebook_latest_on_booker_bluiett_early_aau_play/13380964 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I was glass half empty yesterday, so we'll go glass half full today. Here are my top 15 free agent signings in team history. There was just too many good ones to stop at 10. Free agency started technically in 1989 with "Plan B" but it wasn't till '92-'93 that the full blown free agency the way we know it today existed. That said, the Saints did sign some guys prior to '89 out of the USFL (a lesser, competing league at the time), so that's why you'll notice a couple guys before 1989 on this list. 15. Scott Fujita, LB, 2006: Right now I have Jabari Greer at 16 and the last cut, but I want to at least mention him because he's probably one decent year away from passing Fujita on this list. Fujita was part of the original Sean Payton team that changed the franchise forever, though. He was an unquestioned starter for four years and a vocal locker room leader. He was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl champion team. 14. Fred McAfee, ST, 2000... Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:57:33 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/saints_nation_top_15_free_agents_in_saints_history/13090387 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/saints_nation_top_15_free_agents_in_saints_history/13090387 Saints Nation: Top 15 Free Agents in Saints History http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/saints_nation_top_15_free_agents_in_saints_history/13090387 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png This is the latest post in Kurt’s continuing series to identify the NFL’s Ultimate Franchise Player of All-Time. For an explanation of his methodology for choosing each franchise’s ultimate franchise player, and then how you and he will choose the NFL’s Ultimate Franchise Player from that list, click here. Previous selections: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | MIA | MIN | NE In the late 1960s, there was a C-List movie called Number One. The film featured Charlton Heston as ‘Big Cat Catlin’, a boozing/aging quarterback for the ‘Super Bowl Champion’ New Orleans Saints. Scenes were shot in Tulane Stadium using actual Saints players, along with other NFL players. In the climatic scene, Catlin is crushed by the Dallas Cowboys defense and appears seriously injured and possibly dead as his wife (who had been cheated on) leaves the stadium and the credits start rolling. Ben Hur it was not, and years later Heston called Number One ... Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:34:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/new_orleans_saints_ultimate_franchise_player_can_anyone_complete_with_drew_brees/12965539 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/new_orleans_saints_ultimate_franchise_player_can_anyone_complete_with_drew_brees/12965539 New Orleans Saints Ultimate Franchise Player – Can Anyone Complete With Drew Brees? http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/new_orleans_saints_ultimate_franchise_player_can_anyone_complete_with_drew_brees/12965539 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/8/e8b7e0c8ba35c23eb7e9da2c3264c0d5daf4c014/mini/saints92337316.jpg In 2003, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, a book written by Michael Lewis, sparked the interest of not only baseball fans, but also management and statistical scholars across the country. [1] Recently in 2011, this book was introduced as a sports drama movie starring Brad Pitt. Basically the storyline of the book encompasses how the main character Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland Athletics, implemented a measurement and feedback system based on a player’s ability to get on base. This system was based on the sabermetric principles and theories first introduced by Bill James in his comprehensive Historical Baseball Abstract, a rigorous statistical analysis used to track the traits most connected to a player’s value to a team. [2] What is Sabermetrics? The Moneyball book implies that when sabermetrics is used to identify players with superior abilities (who aren’t noticed by competitor scouts), it allows new players to be added to a team; thus, increasing the wi... Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:14:23 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/how_statistics_reshaped_the_way_we_view_pitchers_and_their_game/12906364 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/how_statistics_reshaped_the_way_we_view_pitchers_and_their_game/12906364 How Statistics Reshaped The Way We View Pitchers and Their Game http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/how_statistics_reshaped_the_way_we_view_pitchers_and_their_game/12906364 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png (Eds: Updates with details.) By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer A knowing grin spread across Sean Tuohy's face as he considered the uncanny connections between the hit film that changed his family's life and the fact that Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher will play in his first Super Bowl in the Big Easy. New Orleans is where Tuohy grew up and went to high school with author Michael Lewis, who wrote ''The Blind Side.'' The book led to the movie, which depicted the Tuohys' rewarding experience as Oher's adoptive family. Actress Sandra Bullock, who starred as Sean Tuohy's wife, Leigh Anne, owns a home in New Orleans. ''And there are people that think that's a coincidence,'' Sean Tuohy said. ''How stupid is that? ''We've got a huge sign in our garage that says: `We believe in miracles,''' he continued. ''For other people, it may be hard to understand that. For us, it's easy.'' It certainly Sat, 02 Feb 2013 05:11:33 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/blind_side_family_relishes_big_easy_super_bowl/12817843 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/blind_side_family_relishes_big_easy_super_bowl/12817843 'Blind Side' family relishes Big Easy Super Bowl http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/blind_side_family_relishes_big_easy_super_bowl/12817843 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/c/8cc796d14e540251cd42427bdf5694e9b6769a7a/mini/Baltimore_Ravens_v_ccea.jpg Somewhere along the line baseball became more than just a game. Once upon a time, baseball was a simple game. The goal is to score more runs than your opponent. Each team is given 27 outs to score as many runs as they can. In order to score runs, a team’s players have to get on base. Once a player gets on base it was the other players’ jobs to drive them home to score runs. On the other hand, the defense’s job is to get 27 outs allowing the opposition to score the fewest amount of runs. Whoever scores more runs in 9 innings of play wins – simple. Now let’s fast forward to the 1980s. The 1980s were famous for Nintendo, big hair bands, Reaganomics, and the invention of rotisserie baseball. Fantasy baseball exploded onto the scene in the 80s, and the men that played this game were looking for ways to build better teams. They wanted to build better teams in order to take home the lucrative prize money that came along with winning their rotisserie league. They used different combinations... Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:28:26 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/mmo_post_of_the_week_is_advanced_statistics_hurting_or_helping_the_game/12636007 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/mmo_post_of_the_week_is_advanced_statistics_hurting_or_helping_the_game/12636007 MMO Post of the Week: Is Advanced Statistics Hurting Or Helping The Game? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/mmo_post_of_the_week_is_advanced_statistics_hurting_or_helping_the_game/12636007 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com. While I can certainly see Ohio State’s point of view, this seems fairly creepy. ““There’s nothing else out there that I’m aware of that is this extreme,” says Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. “There’s tons of monitoring of workplace computers. But here, we’re talking about people’s private phones and financial activities. It wouldn’t be acceptable for an employer to monitor an employee’s life to that degree.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, college officials don’t think they’re doing anything unacceptable, let along downright wrong. To the contrary, they seem to believe they’re doing athletes a favor. Benevolently carrying the Bureaucratic Man’s Burden, in fact. Take Ohio State athletic di Sat, 22 Dec 2012 08:00:48 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/while_were_waiting_big_brother_buckeye_comeback_kazmir_and_a_fire_joe_morgan_book/12499186 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/while_were_waiting_big_brother_buckeye_comeback_kazmir_and_a_fire_joe_morgan_book/12499186 While We’re Waiting… Big Brother Buckeye, Comeback Kazmir, and a ‘Fire Joe Morgan Book’? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/while_were_waiting_big_brother_buckeye_comeback_kazmir_and_a_fire_joe_morgan_book/12499186 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/c/8cb885ddd9e682507ca4dd52e2e34c54f4fb1b7b/mini/mlb-cleveland-indians-los.jpg There are few NCAA basketball coaches, if any, that have a brighter career ahead of them than Brad Stevens, the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs. The baby-faced Stevens, who turned 36 just a couple weeks ago, is beginning his 6th season at the helm at Butler, where he’s already had a historic run. Brad Stevens has Butler poised for consistent success as the Bulldogs leave the Horizon League for the Atlantic 10. Stevens’ Historic Career Start With an outstanding career record of 139-40, Stevens has set the NCAA record for most wins by a coach in his first five seasons (he also holds the record for most wins by a coach in his first three and four seasons). But perhaps more impressive than his overall win total is the NCAA Tournament magic that has occurred for the Bulldogs under his watch. Butler, a perennial Horizon League powerhouse, has made the tourney four out of five years under Coach Stevens, with the highlight being back-to-back trips to the championship games. The first run... Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:51:59 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/interview_with_butler_assistant_coach_michael_lewis_brad_stevens_and_butler_are_ready_for_the_atlantic_10/12188803 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/interview_with_butler_assistant_coach_michael_lewis_brad_stevens_and_butler_are_ready_for_the_atlantic_10/12188803 Interview with Butler Assistant Coach Michael Lewis: Brad Stevens and Butler Are Ready For The Atlantic 10 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/interview_with_butler_assistant_coach_michael_lewis_brad_stevens_and_butler_are_ready_for_the_atlantic_10/12188803 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png After another second-round TKO, Andy Reid conceded to what most of us already knew when he said “I goofed”, after cutting last year’s 54th overall pick, safety Jaiquawn Jarrett.  That makes six second-round picks on defense that have made no impact on the Eagles since Andy took the helm in 1999. Jarrett is the latest bust that was touted by the Eagles brass, to be the hard-hitting safety this franchise has been searching for since Brian Dawkins. At Temple, he played down in the box and helped shut down the run, which is surely what Reid had in mind. But he didn’t show any of that in his two training camp auditions to win the starting job. He lacked speed and was generally always out of position in coverage and was a virtually invisible against the run. Most NFL draft pundits projected Jarrett as a third or fourth-rounder at best. So this pick was certainly a reach. I know the NFL draft is a crap shoot unless the pick is high in the first round, but second round picks should make significant contribut Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:26:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/andy_reid_is_a_goof_on_defense/11730328 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/andy_reid_is_a_goof_on_defense/11730328 Andy Reid Is a “GOOF” on Defense http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/andy_reid_is_a_goof_on_defense/11730328 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/3/c3880327dd57c6ce50d61c9abb2ef4f7d250f690/mini/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers_be12.jpg Paulina Gretzky’s embarrassing self-photo and ultimate bikini photo gallery. (Australian Eye) and (Bleacher Report) -And our Paulina Gretzky Photo Gallery -(Shine from Yahoo) Kate Upton defends her curves from an online magazine that called her fat. -(New York Times magazine) “Who made the Olympic Rings? -(New York Times magazine) “Let’s Play Medalball” By NATE SILVER It’s been almost a decade since the publication of “Moneyball,” Michael Lewis’s famous book-turned-movie about how the small-market Oakland Athletics used statistical artistry to compete against their (much) richer rivals. Billy Beane is still the A’s general manager, but here’s a modest proposal for his next act. He could become the head of another budget-strapped sports organization like, say, the Olympic Committee of Kyrgyzstan — or another small-market country with limited resources. Bishkek is nice this time of year! How might Beane turn “moneyball” into “medalball”? Channeling him, I’ve identified thr Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:18:29 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/link_bank_7_18_12_paulina_gretzky_penn_st_death_penalty_kate_upton_olympics/11245936 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/link_bank_7_18_12_paulina_gretzky_penn_st_death_penalty_kate_upton_olympics/11245936 Link Bank 7-18-12: Paulina Gretzky, Penn St. Death Penalty, Kate Upton, Olympics http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/link_bank_7_18_12_paulina_gretzky_penn_st_death_penalty_kate_upton_olympics/11245936 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Andy Reid enters his 14th season in Philadelphia, which is an eternity for head coaches. The man who led the Eagles to five NFC Title games has seen many All-Pro talents come and go during his time as head coach, and the ‘Philly phaithful’, myself included, can go on for hours listing off memorable moments in the time “Big Andy” has held the play-chart.   Just for debate’s sake, I’ve decided to compile a 53-man roster of the best Eagles during the timeframe from 1999 to present day. The only qualification is that you had to play at least two seasons in Philadelphia under Reid. This leaves out Nnamdi Asomugha, Evan Mathis, and Cullen Jenkins, who are three men that will certainly get consideration if I choose to revise this list a year from now.   And since Philadelphia can be a proud, argumentative town, debate is always welcome.   Quarterback: Donovan McNabb (1999-2009) In between the shower of catcalls he received on draft day ’99, and the embarrassing 2009 playoff loss to a ... Sun, 08 Jul 2012 10:14:39 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/philadelphia_eagles_the_all_reid_team/11176814 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/philadelphia_eagles_the_all_reid_team/11176814 Philadelphia Eagles: The All-Reid Team http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/philadelphia_eagles_the_all_reid_team/11176814 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png We're graced with a guest feature today by Boner aka T-Bone, one of the original group of posters who brought such depth and charm to the Evergreen Pub at PE.com's OTI for so long... Boner is a Philly boy transplanted to the beautiful state of Idaho. He's living the American dream and it still includes his hometown Eagles. Did you know that there is a town named "Eagle" in Idaho? Boner doesn't live there, but if he did, he'd be the mayor.Happy 4th of July from Boner and the Eye.... A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE , a flashback of the past 12 yrs... by Boner Lets take you on a trip back to the yr when we were gonna party like it’s 1999.do.do.dodo doo.......E2K was the fear…will the world come to an end when all our computers fry because they have no data for a new millenium?..  Our beloved Birds were not phased. E2K was the least of their problems.  Out goes Ray Rhodes after an embarrassing 3-13 mess of a 1998 season.  In comes Andy Reid, the future of the fr... Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:00:41 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/t_boners_american_dream_includes_eagles/11153762 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/t_boners_american_dream_includes_eagles/11153762 T-Boner's American Dream includes Eagles... http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/t_boners_american_dream_includes_eagles/11153762 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Indiana held the recognition as the top college basketball recruiting class for 2012 incoming prospects since the initial rankings were formulated last year. Now, there’s a new top dog, as the early signing period starts on Wednesday and runs through the following Wednesday. Certainly, not every Top 100 prospect will sign their name on a dotted line in the early period, and many will ultimately make their declaration the regular period, which starts on April 16. Arizona bypassed Indiana as the top class on Halloween, as 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski picked the Wildcats over Kansas, during a day which saw a handful of Top 100 prospects verbally commit in a flurry of action. Tarczewski, an easy Top 10 talent, will be joined by another Top 10 player in power forward Brandon Ashley, and a potential McDonald’s All America game candidate in forward Grant Jerrett. Each of the three players brings a different talent to the table, and the class is finalized by combo guard Gabe York, a SoCal tale... Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:41:56 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/weekly_college_basketball_recruiting_beat_11_06_11_arizona_races_up_to_1_with_signing_period_looming/7911145 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/weekly_college_basketball_recruiting_beat_11_06_11_arizona_races_up_to_1_with_signing_period_looming/7911145 Weekly College Basketball Recruiting Beat (11-06-11) – Arizona Races up to #1 With Signing Period Looming http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/weekly_college_basketball_recruiting_beat_11_06_11_arizona_races_up_to_1_with_signing_period_looming/7911145 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png