After last night's Toledo pick, Podolsky's Picks is now 11-4 year to date and rolling. For details on today's picks go to www.Podolskys Picks.com where we discuss the Ohio State game against USC and Notre Dame against Michigan.
Other picks today include Oregon, Boise State, Kansas and Satnford.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Ducks Can't Swim on Blue Turf
Our picks are back. For all the details of our first best bet of the year, Boise State over Oregon, and the rest of this week's games, go to:
www.podolskyspicks.com
www.podolskyspicks.com
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Get Rich's Football Picks at www.PodolskysPicks.com
Beginning in August Rich Podolsky will be posting his football picks and his opinionated columns at:
www.PodolskysPicks.com.
Don't miss it. The last two years Rich was on fire during the first three weeks of the college football season.
And you can catch his fash resports at: twitter.com/podolskyspicks
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www.PodolskysPicks.com.
Don't miss it. The last two years Rich was on fire during the first three weeks of the college football season.
And you can catch his fash resports at: twitter.com/podolskyspicks
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Friday, June 5, 2009
And the Belmont Winner Is.....
Even though the Belmont is the longest of the Triple Crown races, it is rarely won by a horse coming from the clouds. The last Belmont winner to do so was Lemon Drop Kid 10 years ago, and he still reached the leaders by the top of the stretch.
Lemon Drop Kid, by the way, was the name of one of Bob Hope's most famous films. Hope played the title character, who was a lovable race track tout, and had a habit of popping lemon drops whenever he got nervous.
I bring up Lemon Drop Kid because his son, Charitable Man, is my choice to win this year's Belmont. The shape of the race makes it easy to tab Charitable Man. He's the only quality horse in the field who has enough early speed to stay close to the pace. Add the fact that his trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, is very, very confident the horse is ready for a giant race.
Most of the other so-called contender all like to come from behind: Chocolate Candy, Mine That Bird, Dunkirk and Summer Bird. Of those four I think Chocolate Candy has the best chance to upset Chaitable Man. Chocolate Candy rand a huge race against the grain to be second in the Santa Anita Derby. he followed that up with a fifth in the Kentucky derby despit getting bumped early and racing wide when the rail was the place to be. Instead of trying the Preakness, his trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer brought him to Belmont where he's been training smoothly the past five weeks.
Min That Bird is a likely candidate for the third spot, but my trifecta ticket will also have Miner's escape and Summer Bird on it in the third position. Miner's Escape is the likely front runner. Trained by Nick Zito, who pulled off last year's 55-1 front-running surprise Da Tara, Miner's escape is capable of hitting the board after his recent rapid improvement.
Summer Bird ran sixth in the Derby although he had several excuses. He's got the look of a horse who can hit the Bird at a much more generous price than Dunkirk, who was 4-1 in the Derby and never ran a step after getting banged around early.
So here's my Superfecta ticket:
Using for first: Charitable Man
Using second: Chocolate Candy, Miner's Escape, Mine That Bird.
Using third: previous three plus Summer Bird and Dunkirk
Using fourth: all but Luv Gov.
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Lemon Drop Kid, by the way, was the name of one of Bob Hope's most famous films. Hope played the title character, who was a lovable race track tout, and had a habit of popping lemon drops whenever he got nervous.
I bring up Lemon Drop Kid because his son, Charitable Man, is my choice to win this year's Belmont. The shape of the race makes it easy to tab Charitable Man. He's the only quality horse in the field who has enough early speed to stay close to the pace. Add the fact that his trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, is very, very confident the horse is ready for a giant race.
Most of the other so-called contender all like to come from behind: Chocolate Candy, Mine That Bird, Dunkirk and Summer Bird. Of those four I think Chocolate Candy has the best chance to upset Chaitable Man. Chocolate Candy rand a huge race against the grain to be second in the Santa Anita Derby. he followed that up with a fifth in the Kentucky derby despit getting bumped early and racing wide when the rail was the place to be. Instead of trying the Preakness, his trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer brought him to Belmont where he's been training smoothly the past five weeks.
Min That Bird is a likely candidate for the third spot, but my trifecta ticket will also have Miner's escape and Summer Bird on it in the third position. Miner's Escape is the likely front runner. Trained by Nick Zito, who pulled off last year's 55-1 front-running surprise Da Tara, Miner's escape is capable of hitting the board after his recent rapid improvement.
Summer Bird ran sixth in the Derby although he had several excuses. He's got the look of a horse who can hit the Bird at a much more generous price than Dunkirk, who was 4-1 in the Derby and never ran a step after getting banged around early.
So here's my Superfecta ticket:
Using for first: Charitable Man
Using second: Chocolate Candy, Miner's Escape, Mine That Bird.
Using third: previous three plus Summer Bird and Dunkirk
Using fourth: all but Luv Gov.
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Jackson's Next Move: Change Filly's Name to Rachel Jackson
Okay, I was wrong. I said that if Rachel Alexandra could stand up, owner Jess Jackson would enter her in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.
Reluctantly, Jackson finally caved to pressure from his trainer, the media and scores of industry experts who said running the filly a fifth time in nine weeks was suicide. But Jackson did not go down easily.
He did not surrender the day after the Preakness when jockey Calvin Borel said the poor filly was “exhausted.” He did not surrender when she worked a slow half mile a week later. And he did not even surrender when it was obvious that Borel needed his release to ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont.
You see, every day Jackson made us wait was another day he got his name in the papers and another way to promote his Kendall-Jackson wines. Finally on Friday, kicking and screaming, Jackson said he’d give Rachel some time off.
Make no mistake; Jackson bought Rachel a few weeks ago so he could get his name in the press. So don’t be surprised if Jackson has another promotional idea brewing. By the end of the summer he could change her name from Rachel Alexandra to Rachel Jackson. He could start a new line of white wines, call them Rachel Jacksons, and put her likeness on every bottle.
Or he could stay away from the writers and the microphones and let a great filly complete a great career. But I’m afraid that would be asking too much.
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Reluctantly, Jackson finally caved to pressure from his trainer, the media and scores of industry experts who said running the filly a fifth time in nine weeks was suicide. But Jackson did not go down easily.
He did not surrender the day after the Preakness when jockey Calvin Borel said the poor filly was “exhausted.” He did not surrender when she worked a slow half mile a week later. And he did not even surrender when it was obvious that Borel needed his release to ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont.
You see, every day Jackson made us wait was another day he got his name in the papers and another way to promote his Kendall-Jackson wines. Finally on Friday, kicking and screaming, Jackson said he’d give Rachel some time off.
Make no mistake; Jackson bought Rachel a few weeks ago so he could get his name in the press. So don’t be surprised if Jackson has another promotional idea brewing. By the end of the summer he could change her name from Rachel Alexandra to Rachel Jackson. He could start a new line of white wines, call them Rachel Jacksons, and put her likeness on every bottle.
Or he could stay away from the writers and the microphones and let a great filly complete a great career. But I’m afraid that would be asking too much.
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
It's Crazy to Run Rachel in Belmont
Jess Jackson, I assume, is an egomaniac. He slapped his name on his wines (Kendall-Jackson), and it appears he's not happy out of the limelight in rcaing, now that his champion Curlin is retired.
So he bought Rachel Alexandra for a bundle and ran her on just two weeks rest in the Preakness and beat the boys. Now they're getting her set to run again in just three weeks in the most grueling race of all, the mile and a half Belmont Stakes.
The problem is: she's "exhausted," according to what jockey Calvin Borel said Sunday morning after the Preakness. She was definitely tiring at the end of the race which could be the result of her lack of rest between races.
These days trainers rarely run a horse with less than a month between races, if not more. If she runs in the Belmont on June 6th, it will be her fifth race in nine weeks, or an average of one every 13 days. That's too much for just about any horse to survive.
And it's unlikely nobody is going to challenge her in the Belmont. Fresh shooters will be coming out of the weeds to take her on. Remember Smarty Jones? He lost to Nick Zito's Birdstone costing Smarty the Triple Crown. Winning jockey Edgar Prado was almost apologetic for his winning ride?
After her performance in the Preakness Rachel Alexandra is crying out for a break. But I don't expect Jackson to give her one. He needs to have his name in the papers. If she can stand up, she'll be entered.
So don't be shocked if America gets its heart broken again.
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So he bought Rachel Alexandra for a bundle and ran her on just two weeks rest in the Preakness and beat the boys. Now they're getting her set to run again in just three weeks in the most grueling race of all, the mile and a half Belmont Stakes.
The problem is: she's "exhausted," according to what jockey Calvin Borel said Sunday morning after the Preakness. She was definitely tiring at the end of the race which could be the result of her lack of rest between races.
These days trainers rarely run a horse with less than a month between races, if not more. If she runs in the Belmont on June 6th, it will be her fifth race in nine weeks, or an average of one every 13 days. That's too much for just about any horse to survive.
And it's unlikely nobody is going to challenge her in the Belmont. Fresh shooters will be coming out of the weeds to take her on. Remember Smarty Jones? He lost to Nick Zito's Birdstone costing Smarty the Triple Crown. Winning jockey Edgar Prado was almost apologetic for his winning ride?
After her performance in the Preakness Rachel Alexandra is crying out for a break. But I don't expect Jackson to give her one. He needs to have his name in the papers. If she can stand up, she'll be entered.
So don't be shocked if America gets its heart broken again.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
How to Clean Up at the Preakness
Here's the Preakness play:
Not being greedy, I'm going to reverse the horses with the two highest Beyer (speed figures) in their last race. Both Big Drama (post 1) and Rachel Alexandra (post 13) posted a 108 Beyer and neither got that number by surprise.
Rachel's been notching 100 plus Beyers regularly. If she loses it will be because she's coming off of just two weeks rest or because she was bounced wide, losing valuable lengths, by her post.
Big Drama has had seven weeks to recover from his 108 and I don't expect him to drop much off of that. And although he has the one hole, he doesn't need the lead. He's shown a great ability to rate near the lead, then pounce.
These are the two fastest horses in the race. They should finish one-two and produce the minimum of a $40 exacta. With Big Drama finishing first it could pay as much as $60. No need to fool around with tris and supers.
The bet: $20 exacta box: #1 Big Drama and #13 Rachel Alexandra. ($40 wager).
Save bet: $2 exactas using #1 and #13 on top, with #2, #3, #8 and #11 for second (Mine That Bird, Musket Man, General Quarters and Take the Points). ($16 wager).
For those who need to bet the trifecta, use #1 and #13 both first and second and first and third with #2, #3, #8 and #11 for both third and second as the case may be. A $1 tri part-wheel would cost $16 using #1 and #13 both ways.
Good luck and pray for a fast track.
Not being greedy, I'm going to reverse the horses with the two highest Beyer (speed figures) in their last race. Both Big Drama (post 1) and Rachel Alexandra (post 13) posted a 108 Beyer and neither got that number by surprise.
Rachel's been notching 100 plus Beyers regularly. If she loses it will be because she's coming off of just two weeks rest or because she was bounced wide, losing valuable lengths, by her post.
Big Drama has had seven weeks to recover from his 108 and I don't expect him to drop much off of that. And although he has the one hole, he doesn't need the lead. He's shown a great ability to rate near the lead, then pounce.
These are the two fastest horses in the race. They should finish one-two and produce the minimum of a $40 exacta. With Big Drama finishing first it could pay as much as $60. No need to fool around with tris and supers.
The bet: $20 exacta box: #1 Big Drama and #13 Rachel Alexandra. ($40 wager).
Save bet: $2 exactas using #1 and #13 on top, with #2, #3, #8 and #11 for second (Mine That Bird, Musket Man, General Quarters and Take the Points). ($16 wager).
For those who need to bet the trifecta, use #1 and #13 both first and second and first and third with #2, #3, #8 and #11 for both third and second as the case may be. A $1 tri part-wheel would cost $16 using #1 and #13 both ways.
Good luck and pray for a fast track.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
13 Post Could Spell Doom for Preakness Super Filly Rachel
When Jess Jackson bought super filly Rachel Alexandra for $4 million last week, I immediately thought of that classic scene from “The Godfather.” You know the one where movie mogul Jack Woltz wakes up with a bloody horse’s head in his bed and lets out a terrifying scream.
If you recall, Woltz wouldn’t give the Godfather’s nephew, Johnny Fontane, a role he was perfect for. No amount of money could sway him. There was only one thing Woltz cared about and that was a colt that came from perfect breeding. So perfect in fact that Woltz wasn’t even going to race him. He was sending the colt straight to stud.
When the colt’s head wound up under the sheets the next morning, Fontane suddenly got the part. Which brings us back to Jess Jackson.
When Jackson bought Rachel he announced he wanted to breed her to his champion, Curlin. And after she won the Kentucky Oaks by an astounding 20 lengths, (with a higher speed figure, 108, than the Derby winner’s) Jackson figured Rachel could win the Preakness and the Belmont and he then he could send her off to make the fastest race horse that ever lived.
A funny thing might happen along the way. She drew the 13 post. The lady drew the far outside which puts her at a distinct disadvantage going into Pimlico’s short first turn. Sure her connections are saying how happy they are with the post; that she’s out there where she can’t be bothered or intimidated. She’s also out there where no horse has ever won a Preakness, at post 13. This will be no easy chore.
And there is the possibility she will be intimidated by some of the boys, regardless. Sure Rags to Riches won the Belmont two years ago, and Winning Colors won the Derby a few decades ago, but that’s about it. The girls don’t usually take the boys on this early in their careers and when they do the results aren’t very good.
So when you consider that Rachel is going to be a 3-2 favorite and that juicy odds will be had for just about anyone else you like, it’s hard to get that excited about betting a filly being asked to do something she’s never done before.
Who could beat? There’s a line of 12 others who signed up for the chance. Among those are two that appear to have the best chance. Big Drama, leaving from post 1, and Derby winner Mine That Bird, in post 2. ‘Drama,’ who did not run in the Derby, has won five straight and set a track record at Gulfstream in his last. He’ll be near the lead the entire race and could easily win it at 10-1.
The ‘Bird’ looks like he’s improving with every race and should benefit from another race on a dirt track. He also could be a lot closer than most think, as he’s shown an ability to challenge from close up or far back. Another to watch for is 30-1 longshot Take the Points, who has won twice on dirt and has his best speed figure on dirt. He’s also working up to this race in grand form.
As for Derby runner-ups, Pioneerof the Nile, Papa Clem, Freisan Fire and Musket Man, they all look tired from difficult campaigns leading up to the Derby, and they may all go back some. Of the four, Musket Man appears to have the best shot to hit the board.
Then again, Rachel might be a super filly after all.
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If you recall, Woltz wouldn’t give the Godfather’s nephew, Johnny Fontane, a role he was perfect for. No amount of money could sway him. There was only one thing Woltz cared about and that was a colt that came from perfect breeding. So perfect in fact that Woltz wasn’t even going to race him. He was sending the colt straight to stud.
When the colt’s head wound up under the sheets the next morning, Fontane suddenly got the part. Which brings us back to Jess Jackson.
When Jackson bought Rachel he announced he wanted to breed her to his champion, Curlin. And after she won the Kentucky Oaks by an astounding 20 lengths, (with a higher speed figure, 108, than the Derby winner’s) Jackson figured Rachel could win the Preakness and the Belmont and he then he could send her off to make the fastest race horse that ever lived.
A funny thing might happen along the way. She drew the 13 post. The lady drew the far outside which puts her at a distinct disadvantage going into Pimlico’s short first turn. Sure her connections are saying how happy they are with the post; that she’s out there where she can’t be bothered or intimidated. She’s also out there where no horse has ever won a Preakness, at post 13. This will be no easy chore.
And there is the possibility she will be intimidated by some of the boys, regardless. Sure Rags to Riches won the Belmont two years ago, and Winning Colors won the Derby a few decades ago, but that’s about it. The girls don’t usually take the boys on this early in their careers and when they do the results aren’t very good.
So when you consider that Rachel is going to be a 3-2 favorite and that juicy odds will be had for just about anyone else you like, it’s hard to get that excited about betting a filly being asked to do something she’s never done before.
Who could beat? There’s a line of 12 others who signed up for the chance. Among those are two that appear to have the best chance. Big Drama, leaving from post 1, and Derby winner Mine That Bird, in post 2. ‘Drama,’ who did not run in the Derby, has won five straight and set a track record at Gulfstream in his last. He’ll be near the lead the entire race and could easily win it at 10-1.
The ‘Bird’ looks like he’s improving with every race and should benefit from another race on a dirt track. He also could be a lot closer than most think, as he’s shown an ability to challenge from close up or far back. Another to watch for is 30-1 longshot Take the Points, who has won twice on dirt and has his best speed figure on dirt. He’s also working up to this race in grand form.
As for Derby runner-ups, Pioneerof the Nile, Papa Clem, Freisan Fire and Musket Man, they all look tired from difficult campaigns leading up to the Derby, and they may all go back some. Of the four, Musket Man appears to have the best shot to hit the board.
Then again, Rachel might be a super filly after all.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Nantz: Sportscaster of Year...Again
Sunday night the best sportscasters and sportswriters in the country got together for the 50th time to honor their own. And Jim Nantz was named National Sportscaster of the Year. Again.
There has never been a more popular decision.
When Jim Nantz first came to CBS I mistook his graceful approach to play-by-play as one who had a lack of enthusiasm for what he was watching, and I mistakenly referred to him as dull. But I was wrong. Nantz needed to be experienced and cultivated for us at home to appreciate him.
He never yells, which just about every other play-by-play man thinks is the only way to communicate. Instead, Nantz serenades us with storylines and anecdotes. Analysts take to him like flowers to a rain shower. He always seems to get the most out of them, while never pushing himself to the front.
He also has a great sense of history, getting close with former CBS great Jack Whitaker, and several others who paved the way for him. A near scratch golfer, Nantz has played with several presidents and has been friends with the Bush family for years, but he’d never let that friendship influence his work.
Jim Nantz is so good covering the NFL, NCAA Basketball and the PGA for CBS, that you couldn’t imagine what TV would be like without him.
This marks the fourth time in 11 years Nantz has won the honor and when you think back you have to wonder who could have possibly been better the other seven years.
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There has never been a more popular decision.
When Jim Nantz first came to CBS I mistook his graceful approach to play-by-play as one who had a lack of enthusiasm for what he was watching, and I mistakenly referred to him as dull. But I was wrong. Nantz needed to be experienced and cultivated for us at home to appreciate him.
He never yells, which just about every other play-by-play man thinks is the only way to communicate. Instead, Nantz serenades us with storylines and anecdotes. Analysts take to him like flowers to a rain shower. He always seems to get the most out of them, while never pushing himself to the front.
He also has a great sense of history, getting close with former CBS great Jack Whitaker, and several others who paved the way for him. A near scratch golfer, Nantz has played with several presidents and has been friends with the Bush family for years, but he’d never let that friendship influence his work.
Jim Nantz is so good covering the NFL, NCAA Basketball and the PGA for CBS, that you couldn’t imagine what TV would be like without him.
This marks the fourth time in 11 years Nantz has won the honor and when you think back you have to wonder who could have possibly been better the other seven years.
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Sunday, May 3, 2009
It Wasn't Just the Public Who Ignored Kentucky Derby Winner
When Mine That Bird won Saturday’s Derby at 50-1 my first thought was: why was he only 50-1? He should’ve been 80 or 90 or 100-1. Nobody knew anything about the horse and nobody really cared. So why only 50-1?
The fault for this lies with racing’s media establishment which had no interest in a horse coming from Canada who’s most recent form showed a fourth place finish in New Mexico’s Sunland Derby. Because he didn’t run in Kentucky or California or Florida or New York, the racing snobs decided had no chance.
When Mine That Bird’s owners decided to put up the money to enter him in the Derby, the groans could be heard clear across the country. That’s because the ‘Bird’ was taking up a valued starting spot in the Derby—which he earned via his graded stakes earnings in Canada—which some other blue blood horse could have had. He earned them by becoming last year’s two-year-old champion in Canada.
The New York Post’s great racing writer Ray Kerrison is a perfect example. In Sunday’s Post he wrote the when he saw Mine That Bird’s unknown trainer standing alone at the barn last week, he kept right on walking by. Why waste time talking to someone whose horse had no chance, Kerrison reasoned. Good for Kerrison, at least he admits his snobbery.
Every major racing website, from the Daily Racing Form to the famous Kentucky magazine Blood-Horse, offered stories, bios, past performances and videos of races leading up to the Derby. They had videos of contenders’ races going back to last year, but none had any video on the winner. Why bother getting the video of a race from Sunland Park because no horse from New Mexico could ever win the Derby, they must’ve thought. Not when great trainers like Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert and Bill Mott are gunning for the prize. And not when the Sheik has spent another $10 million buying horses to bring to the race.
Does This Mark the End for the Beyer Boys?
But even without video, Mine That Bird’s last past performance comments give an indication he had a chance. Although fourth in the $900,000 race he was racing four wide, losing tons of ground, and even had the lead near the finish. That kind of performance was a clear signal the horse was improving rapidly, but the Beyer Boys—the ones who hand out speed figures—said that Mine That Bird’s race was at least 10 lengths slower than the true contenders. How could they be so far off? Are their speed figures a joke?
So everyone threw him out. Myself included. I would have loved to have seen video of that race but I couldn’t find it. And when I saw that he was only 50-1, I asked myself, why only 50-1? But then the racing establishment snobbery kicked into my brain. His Beyer figures were too slow, so let’s move on to consider somebody that has a chance.
And in the aftermath one has to ask, is this horse the real thing? Or was he a horse that loved the mud and found a golden rail to whistle to victory on? We’ll find out at the Preakness in two weeks. In the meantime, maybe the Beyer Boys ought to reconsider how they’re rating New Mexico races, and the rest of us should be a little less elitist, too.
For more go to: www.podolskyspicks.com
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The fault for this lies with racing’s media establishment which had no interest in a horse coming from Canada who’s most recent form showed a fourth place finish in New Mexico’s Sunland Derby. Because he didn’t run in Kentucky or California or Florida or New York, the racing snobs decided had no chance.
When Mine That Bird’s owners decided to put up the money to enter him in the Derby, the groans could be heard clear across the country. That’s because the ‘Bird’ was taking up a valued starting spot in the Derby—which he earned via his graded stakes earnings in Canada—which some other blue blood horse could have had. He earned them by becoming last year’s two-year-old champion in Canada.
The New York Post’s great racing writer Ray Kerrison is a perfect example. In Sunday’s Post he wrote the when he saw Mine That Bird’s unknown trainer standing alone at the barn last week, he kept right on walking by. Why waste time talking to someone whose horse had no chance, Kerrison reasoned. Good for Kerrison, at least he admits his snobbery.
Every major racing website, from the Daily Racing Form to the famous Kentucky magazine Blood-Horse, offered stories, bios, past performances and videos of races leading up to the Derby. They had videos of contenders’ races going back to last year, but none had any video on the winner. Why bother getting the video of a race from Sunland Park because no horse from New Mexico could ever win the Derby, they must’ve thought. Not when great trainers like Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert and Bill Mott are gunning for the prize. And not when the Sheik has spent another $10 million buying horses to bring to the race.
Does This Mark the End for the Beyer Boys?
But even without video, Mine That Bird’s last past performance comments give an indication he had a chance. Although fourth in the $900,000 race he was racing four wide, losing tons of ground, and even had the lead near the finish. That kind of performance was a clear signal the horse was improving rapidly, but the Beyer Boys—the ones who hand out speed figures—said that Mine That Bird’s race was at least 10 lengths slower than the true contenders. How could they be so far off? Are their speed figures a joke?
So everyone threw him out. Myself included. I would have loved to have seen video of that race but I couldn’t find it. And when I saw that he was only 50-1, I asked myself, why only 50-1? But then the racing establishment snobbery kicked into my brain. His Beyer figures were too slow, so let’s move on to consider somebody that has a chance.
And in the aftermath one has to ask, is this horse the real thing? Or was he a horse that loved the mud and found a golden rail to whistle to victory on? We’ll find out at the Preakness in two weeks. In the meantime, maybe the Beyer Boys ought to reconsider how they’re rating New Mexico races, and the rest of us should be a little less elitist, too.
For more go to: www.podolskyspicks.com
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Your Derby Winner: I Want Revenge; One to Avoid: Pioneer of the Nile
Nobody loves a longshot in the Derby more than me. Derby Day is a day for handicappers to make their score because it’s a lot easier to bet against the public than the pros. The public only bets on the races a couple of times a year, and this is one of them.
Because the public overbets the favorites and ignores live underdogs there are some wonderful prices to be had. And as much as I love a good longshot in the Derby I can’t ignore this year’s favorite, I Want Revenge. ‘Revenge’ reminds me of Bobby Frankel’s superhorse a few years ago, Empire Maker. They both won the Wood Memorial so easily you couldn’t imagine how they could ever lose again.
‘Revenge’ has tactical speed and proved he can spot the field seven lengths and still win for fun. In California, when he was just learning the game, he lost twice to Bob Baffert’s Pioneer of the Nile, while looking more impressive both times in defeat. But those races were on synthetic surfaces, not good old fashioned Kentucky dirt. Baffert is scared to death to find out how PON will run on dirt, which is why he kept him on the fake stuff for his final prep.
The great Bill Mott had PON last year and raced him on grass twice and synthetic twice. If Mott thought he would do well on dirt he could have run him on it at Saratoga, but chose the grass instead. So, to me, Pioneer of the Nile is the phony of this crowd. He’ll be second or third choice in the 20 horse field, and you can throw him out of making the exacta.
Mott, though, has a horse in Hold Me Back, who could be the longshot we’re all looking for. Mott has never won the Derby and has only started one other horse in it. It’s a clear signal he thinks this one has a big shot. HMB had one uneventful try on dirt, running out of the money after being four-wide the entire trip. He took time off and Mott brought him back to win the Lanes End in spectacular fashion and then took second in the Blue Grass. He’ll be at least 15-1.
Two others who will be flying at the end will be Chocolate Candy and General Quarters. Chocolate Candy was very impressive closing for second in the Santa Anita derby after having a wide trip while fighting a slow early pace. He’s coming to form perfectly. GQ has been sharp, showing two wins and two seconds in his last five races—all stakes. They’ll both be double digits and both are working well this week. Use them in your boxes.
Godolphin is back with two good horses they bought here last summer and trained all winter in Dubai. They are Regal Ransom, sure to be near the lead, and Desert Party. For a change they look like a contenders and the sheik has won just about every other major race in the world, so why not this one?
To me the big mystery horses are Dunkirk and Friesan Fire. Dunkirk has only had three starts and that’s not a suggested way to beat 19 others at 10 furlongs the first Saturday of May. He’s trained by Todd Pletcher, a great trainer, who’s never won this race. Pletcher is starting a couple others with no chance and it feels like he’s rushing Dunkirk into this spot. Maybe he’s just throwing stuff against the wall, hoping something will stick.
Friesan Fire had either a great or terrible workout earlier in the week, going five furlongs in :57 4/5. Great because the time was so fast. Terrible because he was exhausted at the finish and had nothing left. But he is trained by Larry Jones, who had the second place Derby finishers the last two years, and that’s how he likes to train. FF has won three straight but has been off for seven weeks, which could explain why he was so tired after his work.
So here’s the bet: use I Want Revenge for first, with Hold Me Back, Chocolate Candy and General Quarters for second and third, with Desert Party, Regal Ransom, Dunkirk, Friesan Fire and West Side Bernie for third only. For a $1 trifecta part-wheel it will cost $24.If you can afford it, play I Want Revenge in the second spot, with the three originally picked for second on top for another $24. If it hits dinner is on you.
--30--
Because the public overbets the favorites and ignores live underdogs there are some wonderful prices to be had. And as much as I love a good longshot in the Derby I can’t ignore this year’s favorite, I Want Revenge. ‘Revenge’ reminds me of Bobby Frankel’s superhorse a few years ago, Empire Maker. They both won the Wood Memorial so easily you couldn’t imagine how they could ever lose again.
‘Revenge’ has tactical speed and proved he can spot the field seven lengths and still win for fun. In California, when he was just learning the game, he lost twice to Bob Baffert’s Pioneer of the Nile, while looking more impressive both times in defeat. But those races were on synthetic surfaces, not good old fashioned Kentucky dirt. Baffert is scared to death to find out how PON will run on dirt, which is why he kept him on the fake stuff for his final prep.
The great Bill Mott had PON last year and raced him on grass twice and synthetic twice. If Mott thought he would do well on dirt he could have run him on it at Saratoga, but chose the grass instead. So, to me, Pioneer of the Nile is the phony of this crowd. He’ll be second or third choice in the 20 horse field, and you can throw him out of making the exacta.
Mott, though, has a horse in Hold Me Back, who could be the longshot we’re all looking for. Mott has never won the Derby and has only started one other horse in it. It’s a clear signal he thinks this one has a big shot. HMB had one uneventful try on dirt, running out of the money after being four-wide the entire trip. He took time off and Mott brought him back to win the Lanes End in spectacular fashion and then took second in the Blue Grass. He’ll be at least 15-1.
Two others who will be flying at the end will be Chocolate Candy and General Quarters. Chocolate Candy was very impressive closing for second in the Santa Anita derby after having a wide trip while fighting a slow early pace. He’s coming to form perfectly. GQ has been sharp, showing two wins and two seconds in his last five races—all stakes. They’ll both be double digits and both are working well this week. Use them in your boxes.
Godolphin is back with two good horses they bought here last summer and trained all winter in Dubai. They are Regal Ransom, sure to be near the lead, and Desert Party. For a change they look like a contenders and the sheik has won just about every other major race in the world, so why not this one?
To me the big mystery horses are Dunkirk and Friesan Fire. Dunkirk has only had three starts and that’s not a suggested way to beat 19 others at 10 furlongs the first Saturday of May. He’s trained by Todd Pletcher, a great trainer, who’s never won this race. Pletcher is starting a couple others with no chance and it feels like he’s rushing Dunkirk into this spot. Maybe he’s just throwing stuff against the wall, hoping something will stick.
Friesan Fire had either a great or terrible workout earlier in the week, going five furlongs in :57 4/5. Great because the time was so fast. Terrible because he was exhausted at the finish and had nothing left. But he is trained by Larry Jones, who had the second place Derby finishers the last two years, and that’s how he likes to train. FF has won three straight but has been off for seven weeks, which could explain why he was so tired after his work.
So here’s the bet: use I Want Revenge for first, with Hold Me Back, Chocolate Candy and General Quarters for second and third, with Desert Party, Regal Ransom, Dunkirk, Friesan Fire and West Side Bernie for third only. For a $1 trifecta part-wheel it will cost $24.If you can afford it, play I Want Revenge in the second spot, with the three originally picked for second on top for another $24. If it hits dinner is on you.
--30--
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
When Madden Retired from Coaching, NBC Said No Before CBS Said Yes
Turned Down by NBC, John Madden Almost Missed the Boat
by Rich Podolsky
When John Madden quit coaching the Raiders after 10 seasons, he was just 43 years old with no plan in mind. He had no idea of what he would do next.
All he knew was that he didn’t want to fly or coach any more. It turns out Madden was claustrophobic. He wouldn’t even get in an elevator if he could avoid it.
I first met John Madden while covering the Miami Dolphins in 1974. A few years later after the Raiders won the Super Bowl, our paths crossed again. I was working for the TV production company that produced The Superstars and The Superteams for ABC, and Madden was part of the Raider contingent flying to Hawaii for The Superteams shows.
In Hawaii, he and I wound up talking football until 2 a.m. each night in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It really opened my eyes to what a well-rounded, interesting guy Madden was. A year later I took job writing for CBS Sports and was one of the first to welcome Madden to his new profession. But along the way Madden nearly missed having one of the greatest broadcasting careers in history.
“After I retired I didn’t know what to do with myself,” he told me. “I went to the stadium the first week of the season, but didn’t feel comfortable anywhere, so by the opening kickoff I turned around and drove home. When I got there, no one was there. My family had figured out how to fill their Sundays without me.”
So Madden puttered around and thought about what he’d like to do. Like other ex-coaches he thought he’d try TV. Back in the ‘70s NBC was doing AFC games and seemed a natural fit for Madden. But the NBC execs didn’t “get” him and eventually said no thanks. “It was one of the biggest mistakes we ever made,” NBC honcho Don Ohlmeyer later said.
It looked like Madden was back to square one when a character named Frank Ross entered the picture. Ross, a former personnel guy for the Chiefs, was freelancing on Sundays as an “information guy” for CBS’ The NFL Today. But everyone seemed to know Frank from his outrageous antics at Runyon’s, a New York sports media hangout.
Ross decided Madden was too good not be on the air. Even though Ross had no standing at CBS he had endeared himself to CBS Sports past president, Barry Frank, who was at that moment the top TV agent for powerful IMG. Somehow Ross convinced Frank to meet Madden and represent him. Once he did, he got his old friends at CBS to hire him.
By midseason that first year at CBS, Madden and partner Gary Bender, had worked their way up to the number three broadcast team for the network. Everyone kind of knew that there was something special about the way Madden talked to the audience, but they were all afraid to say so. Then one Sunday in October he started ranting about the officiating-- not like a former coach who was afraid to hurt anyone’s feelings, but like a fan at home screaming at their TV. The reaction from both the press and the viewers was amazing.
A month later Madden was paired with Pat Summerall for game in Tampa, three days after Thanksgiving. Summerall and his partner Tom Brookshier had worked on Thanksgiving Day and Brookie asked for that Sunday off. Since Summerall lived in Florida, he didn’t mind working the Tampa game. With a pro like Summerall giving Madden the space he needed, the entertainment quotient of the broadcast went sky high.
It was the beginning of a partnership that lasted more than 20 years.
Now, at the age of 73, Madden has decided to call it a day and spend more time with his family. That is, if he can find them.
--30--
by Rich Podolsky
When John Madden quit coaching the Raiders after 10 seasons, he was just 43 years old with no plan in mind. He had no idea of what he would do next.
All he knew was that he didn’t want to fly or coach any more. It turns out Madden was claustrophobic. He wouldn’t even get in an elevator if he could avoid it.
I first met John Madden while covering the Miami Dolphins in 1974. A few years later after the Raiders won the Super Bowl, our paths crossed again. I was working for the TV production company that produced The Superstars and The Superteams for ABC, and Madden was part of the Raider contingent flying to Hawaii for The Superteams shows.
In Hawaii, he and I wound up talking football until 2 a.m. each night in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It really opened my eyes to what a well-rounded, interesting guy Madden was. A year later I took job writing for CBS Sports and was one of the first to welcome Madden to his new profession. But along the way Madden nearly missed having one of the greatest broadcasting careers in history.
“After I retired I didn’t know what to do with myself,” he told me. “I went to the stadium the first week of the season, but didn’t feel comfortable anywhere, so by the opening kickoff I turned around and drove home. When I got there, no one was there. My family had figured out how to fill their Sundays without me.”
So Madden puttered around and thought about what he’d like to do. Like other ex-coaches he thought he’d try TV. Back in the ‘70s NBC was doing AFC games and seemed a natural fit for Madden. But the NBC execs didn’t “get” him and eventually said no thanks. “It was one of the biggest mistakes we ever made,” NBC honcho Don Ohlmeyer later said.
It looked like Madden was back to square one when a character named Frank Ross entered the picture. Ross, a former personnel guy for the Chiefs, was freelancing on Sundays as an “information guy” for CBS’ The NFL Today. But everyone seemed to know Frank from his outrageous antics at Runyon’s, a New York sports media hangout.
Ross decided Madden was too good not be on the air. Even though Ross had no standing at CBS he had endeared himself to CBS Sports past president, Barry Frank, who was at that moment the top TV agent for powerful IMG. Somehow Ross convinced Frank to meet Madden and represent him. Once he did, he got his old friends at CBS to hire him.
By midseason that first year at CBS, Madden and partner Gary Bender, had worked their way up to the number three broadcast team for the network. Everyone kind of knew that there was something special about the way Madden talked to the audience, but they were all afraid to say so. Then one Sunday in October he started ranting about the officiating-- not like a former coach who was afraid to hurt anyone’s feelings, but like a fan at home screaming at their TV. The reaction from both the press and the viewers was amazing.
A month later Madden was paired with Pat Summerall for game in Tampa, three days after Thanksgiving. Summerall and his partner Tom Brookshier had worked on Thanksgiving Day and Brookie asked for that Sunday off. Since Summerall lived in Florida, he didn’t mind working the Tampa game. With a pro like Summerall giving Madden the space he needed, the entertainment quotient of the broadcast went sky high.
It was the beginning of a partnership that lasted more than 20 years.
Now, at the age of 73, Madden has decided to call it a day and spend more time with his family. That is, if he can find them.
--30--
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Masters: Pressure Like No Other
What is it about the last nine holes of The Masters that makes great players forget their great. Not just this year, but every year guys will be sailing along and all of sudden realize their in contention and boom--down they go.
I'm not just talking about great players like Kenny Perry and Chad Cambell but spectaular players like Phil and Tiger, too. As soon as Michelson got within a stroke of the lead, boom--he hits it into the crick. And when we he had a chance to make up for that he blew short, easy putts on 15 and 17.
Tiger's another jerk. He thinks he's still 21 and indestructible. Just one stroke behind going to 17, Woods hit his driver clear through the fairway and into oblivion. Then consider Perry. After hitting within two feet of the hole and birdieing 16, all he needed was a par and a bogey to win. He should have been totally relaxed. Instead he totally collapsed, bogeying both 17 and 18 and then missing the fairway on the first playoff hole, and completely choking on the second one.
Even the winner, Angel Cabrara, was trying to give the tournament away. Down the stretch he shanked a key shot on15 and then hit his drive on 18 behind a tree. When he tried to punch it out he hit another tree and was as lucky as can be to find his ball back in the fairway. From there he hit a decent wedge and made his putt to tie.
These guys completly wilt under the pressure. It's just a golf match, for pete's sake. It's not losing your job or having to pay the rent or the light bill. Half of these guys would let their caddies take the shot for them if they could. Will someone please step forward and pretend to be a man.
--30--
I'm not just talking about great players like Kenny Perry and Chad Cambell but spectaular players like Phil and Tiger, too. As soon as Michelson got within a stroke of the lead, boom--he hits it into the crick. And when we he had a chance to make up for that he blew short, easy putts on 15 and 17.
Tiger's another jerk. He thinks he's still 21 and indestructible. Just one stroke behind going to 17, Woods hit his driver clear through the fairway and into oblivion. Then consider Perry. After hitting within two feet of the hole and birdieing 16, all he needed was a par and a bogey to win. He should have been totally relaxed. Instead he totally collapsed, bogeying both 17 and 18 and then missing the fairway on the first playoff hole, and completely choking on the second one.
Even the winner, Angel Cabrara, was trying to give the tournament away. Down the stretch he shanked a key shot on15 and then hit his drive on 18 behind a tree. When he tried to punch it out he hit another tree and was as lucky as can be to find his ball back in the fairway. From there he hit a decent wedge and made his putt to tie.
These guys completly wilt under the pressure. It's just a golf match, for pete's sake. It's not losing your job or having to pay the rent or the light bill. Half of these guys would let their caddies take the shot for them if they could. Will someone please step forward and pretend to be a man.
--30--
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Nowhere to Hide Now, Alex
This is not a good week to be Alex Rodriguez. In fact it's not going to be a good year, either. Alex Rodriguez talked about taking steriods the other day. Not because he wanted to, but because he had to. He had to own up to it because his advisors told him it was the only way he could salvage any part of his rep.
But in the process he told one tall tale after another, and tried to play the American public for suckers. Only the public knows a liar when it hears one, and they're not going to cut him any slack. How could he not know what he took? How could he not know exactly when? How could he not know who gave it to him?
Sure he's sorry. Sorry he got caught. If Selena Roberts didn't nab him he would have never given it up. And now that he's admitted to taking the juice for three seasons, who can believe he didn't take anything in those great Yankee years? Who can trust anything he says or does?
This isn't a case of a guy making a mistake and being forgiven for it. This was an ongoing mistake. Day after day for at least three years.
The guy is a liar and a cheat. And the nerve of him to try and lay some blame on the reporter who asked him the question. As they said in Inherit the Wind, "it is the job of the reporter to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the confortable." And unless I'm mistaken, Alex Rodriguez is no longer comfortable.
Just like Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds, Rodriguez is going to be locked out of the Hall of Fame. There's no place there for liars and cheats.
Yes, this is not a very good time to be Alex Rodriguez.
--30--
But in the process he told one tall tale after another, and tried to play the American public for suckers. Only the public knows a liar when it hears one, and they're not going to cut him any slack. How could he not know what he took? How could he not know exactly when? How could he not know who gave it to him?
Sure he's sorry. Sorry he got caught. If Selena Roberts didn't nab him he would have never given it up. And now that he's admitted to taking the juice for three seasons, who can believe he didn't take anything in those great Yankee years? Who can trust anything he says or does?
This isn't a case of a guy making a mistake and being forgiven for it. This was an ongoing mistake. Day after day for at least three years.
The guy is a liar and a cheat. And the nerve of him to try and lay some blame on the reporter who asked him the question. As they said in Inherit the Wind, "it is the job of the reporter to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the confortable." And unless I'm mistaken, Alex Rodriguez is no longer comfortable.
Just like Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds, Rodriguez is going to be locked out of the Hall of Fame. There's no place there for liars and cheats.
Yes, this is not a very good time to be Alex Rodriguez.
--30--
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Take the Cardinals + 7
Super Bowls are like Kentucky Derbies or the stock market. People get very emotional about their picks and tend to over value the favorites and under value the dogs.
When a stock gets hot the market usually runs it up way ahead of what the fair price should be. That's how we're looking at this game. Because of their name, the Steelers are overpriced. They probably should be a 3-point favorite, especially with Heinz Ward iffy. Coming off an MCL, Ward might play, but he probably won't be able to cut, which reduces his role down to being a decoy.
Look For the Special Spread Props
Here's an interesting play: Instead of taking the points, give them with the Cardinals. If they win there's a good chance it will be by at least a TD. Many places are offering a special spread prop: Arizona plus 7-1 giving 7 1/2 points.
That's our pick: Arizona plus the odds.
--30--
When a stock gets hot the market usually runs it up way ahead of what the fair price should be. That's how we're looking at this game. Because of their name, the Steelers are overpriced. They probably should be a 3-point favorite, especially with Heinz Ward iffy. Coming off an MCL, Ward might play, but he probably won't be able to cut, which reduces his role down to being a decoy.
Look For the Special Spread Props
Here's an interesting play: Instead of taking the points, give them with the Cardinals. If they win there's a good chance it will be by at least a TD. Many places are offering a special spread prop: Arizona plus 7-1 giving 7 1/2 points.
That's our pick: Arizona plus the odds.
--30--
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