America's got 'Idol'-like 'X Factor' voices
This is the same old Idol same old, complete with Idol's peculiar blend of the Kramdens and Burns and Allen, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.
Nothing about the premiere is much of a surprise, from the best auditioners — who have already been shown in ads and sneaks — down to the unastonishing idea that what you're seeing is likely to be fall's biggest smash. The formula has worked before in multiple variations, and while every twist X Factor puts on it may not be an improvement, enough are to almost guarantee the show's success.
Not that you haven't seen the twists before. Like America's Got Talent, Factor opens its competition to groups and an expanded age range (12 and over), and holds auditions on a big, public stage. Like The Voice, it splits competitors into groups and has judges mentor them (a twist not arriving until much later). Like Idol in its later years, it teams Cowell and Abdul with a pair of judges: L.A. Reid and Cheryl Cole for the first auditions, then Nicole Scherzinger replaces her.
Scherzinger does seem both a bit sharper and more effusive in her comments, but that can be chalked up to editing. Which is why, by the way, it would be wise to withhold judgments on the panel until we get to the live shows and we see how they really deal with time pressures and with one another.
Don't forget: Ellen DeGeneres looked like a great Idol addition in the auditions. Live is the test.
Yet for all the ways in which Factor feels like a retread, something about it screams "major event" — even beyond the "$5 million prize" they keep yapping about. (Call me cynical, but I'd advise the winner to study the fine print.)
Part of it is the high-gloss sheen that sometimes makes Factor feel more like a concert film than a talent show, and substitutes for that in-at-the-ground-floor effect the Idol auditions give you. Part of it is that screaming crowd, even if it's not always clear why they're screaming.
But most of it can be summed up in one word: Simon. He's the gold standard, the judge against whom all others are judged, and his presence is enough to make Factor a factor. He ensures that people will take the contest seriously and that anyone who might be weighing auditioning for one of the shows will consider his. If you need proof, there are at least two auditions tonight that will startle you, and may even make you cry. Talent can do that.
That's a mix that has worked before. Chances are good it will work again.
Quarterback battles that need cleaning up
Alex Smith vs. Colin Kaepernick. Neither Smith nor Kaepernick have stood out under Jim Harbaugh. The 49ers felt the need to audition three-time Pro Bowler Daunte Culpepper, who last played in 2009. And Wednesday evening, the team reached an agreement with Josh McCown. For the Niners to win, they will lean heavily on their 3-4 defense and running game, anyway. They just need Smith to handle Harbaugh's offense enough to take advantage of some talented skill players — Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and former Jet Braylon Edwards.
Denver
Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton. Tebow's mechanics and accuracy from the practice field have been ripped apart, but then you see his effectiveness in actual games. Sure, Orton is a more polished dropback passer, but Denver officials should be realistic about contending this season. So why not use the season to get a full-year evaluation of Tebow, especially with Orton becoming a free agent in 2012? The Broncos look intent on going against the popular choice and starting Orton, but it's the wrong choice given their situation.
Miami
Chad Henne vs. Matt Moore. Henne looked rocky with two early interceptions in the preseason opener at Atlanta, and even though Moore was decent in relief, coach Tony Sparano is sticking by Henne. On Monday, Sparano told reporters Henne will continue to "get first-team reps". What would help both is getting in game action with Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall, both of whom sat out against the Falcons. As it stands, forget about the Dolphins having a QB who can make them respectable across the field vs. Tom Brady or Mark Sanchez.
Washington
Rex Grossman vs. John Beck. Sure, Grossman has been to the Super Bowl before with the Bears, but his race vs. Beck shouldn't be inspiring to the Redskins' faithful constituency. Although Mike Shanahan projects he can win with whomever starts, more likely the Redskins will join the Dolphins in contention for Andrew Luck next year.
Who’s making the cut?
Since the lockout ended, the NFL has been running its version of the hurry-up offense. With free agency, trades and training camp all lumped into one chaotic cycle, the movement came fast and furious, especially early.
But now at the midway point of the preseason, things finally have started to settle down. For coaching staffs, the evaluation process is well under way, and in 12 days, Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick will make his first roster cut-down from 90 to 75 players.
Will Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco be the first to go, as one report sested? Will Belichick send a message by cutting one of these high profile pickups? Doubt it.
With that in mind, let’s take our first whirl at predicting what the final 53-man roster may look like down the road.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK (3)
MAKING THE TEAM:
Tom Brady Brian Hoyer Ryan Mallett
The Herald’s Take: This trio just may be the best quarterback unit in the league with the reigning NFL MVP in Brady, a third-year pro in Hoyer who looks ready to step in, and a rookie in Mallett who could be something special down the road. Bill Belichick surely will hold on to the collection for now, have valuable assets in Hoyer and Mallett, and be the envy of the league.
RUNNING BACK (5)
MAKING THE TEAM:
BenJarvus Green-Ellis Danny Woodhead Stevan Ridley Shane Vereen Kevin Faulk
The Herald’s Take: Veteran Sammy Morris is the odd man out here thanks to the younger Ridley essentially providing the same skill set and type of game. The guess here, though, is that Morris ultimately will be kept because either Faulk or rookie Vereen will be put on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list to start the season. Faulk, attempting to return from last year’s knee surgery, has yet to participate in camp, while Vereen has taken part in only a few padded sessions before tweaking a hamstring. Vereen even might find himself getting a redshirt year if he’s not back soon.
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The Giants have been many things this season. They have been walk-off happy. They have been in first place. Most recently, they've been injured beyond recognition. But one thing they have been very consistently all year is offensively challenged.
So when they have a game like today where they pound out seven runs (that's right) WITHOUT hitting any home runs (again, you're not hallucinating), and getting a lot of timely hits with runners in scoring position (THIS IS MADNESS), you have to sit back and appreciate it.
Pablo Sandoval doubled in Mike Fontenot in the first. Good start. The Giants are really good when they score first. Granted that Cain walked in a batter in the bottom of the first, but that didn't matter.
The fourth inning rolled around. Aubrey Huff doubled. Nate Schierholtz singled. Orlando Cabrera singled in Huff. Brandon Belt walked. Eli Whiteside singled in Schierholtz. Matt Cain hit a sac fly to score Cabrera. Cody Ross hit a sac fly to score Belt. Whiteside got caught stealing and had his bell rung. But the Giants scored FOUR RUNS. In ONE INNING.
As Joe Starkey would say, what a bonanza!
And because it's the Giants, as soon as you lean back in your chair and unbutton your pants to relieve the pressure of the offensive glut-fest you just took part in, you realize that there's no closer in the bullpen. There's also no Sergio Romo. There's also a tired Ramon Ramirez, a tired Javier Lopez and a tired Guillermo Mota.
I mean, as Giants fans, we can't get much more comfortable than we did today. Cain went into the eighth inning with a four-run lead and threw 11 pitches, striking out two. And then the Giants gave him two more bonus runs! A six-run lead for Matt Cain? What could go wrong?
Well, Cain did throw 114 pitches, and was probably a little tired. Good thing Dan Runzler has a six-run lead to get acclimated to the big leagues again! Wait what? He's out of the game? And Brian McCann is up? And he's the tying run? Okay, make the call. Bring in Wilson Romo Lopez Mota Ramirez Bumgarner Affeldt.
But this is no longer Giants baseball: torture. I'm pretty much over that. It was sooooo 2010.
This is the 2011 Giants. This is when you look at the final score and say
"Oh, we won! It was close, but looks like we pulled it out. We'll take it."
And that's where you leave it. You don't ask questions, because the answer will probably include something about one of your Giants heroes being struck by lightning while scoring the winning run.
Take today for example.
The Giants won! Matt Cain is now in double digits for wins, and his ERA is 2.86, good for...ninth in the National League. Sandoval, Ross, and Huff had RBIs. So did Cain, Whiteside, and Cabrera.
And that's it. We'll take it. Giants win, the people who contributed were supposed to contribute, and we made it. Because if you keep going.
But Brian Wilson wasn't at the game, because he was in Pensacola seeing an elbow specialist. Remember when he was at LSU and had Tommy John? That's in your elbow. And Runzler still gets knocked around like he did earlier in the year. And Jeremy Affeldt has been off the last couple appearances.
And Whiteside was "replaced due to an injury to the head." And four of those runs were on sac flies, which are great, but that just means you didn't get a big hit with runners in scoring position. And Jeff Keppinger was warned that if he reinjures his wrist, it could be career-threatening.
And the good news about Jonathan Sanchez is that he was only "noticeably limping today." And Barry Zito fell off the trainer's table in Fresno onto a set of steak knives that cut through his latest ankle wrap and really, really scratched him up good.
And that makes you sad. That makes you think that the win almost wasn't worth it.
But it was! It totally was! The Arizona Diamondbacks lost, and now the Giant are only 2.5 back. Cain was dominant AND he sported a new haircut. Ross is starting to heat up. As long as trainer Dave Groeschner keeps the Band-Aid supply up, I still have faith in this team. And even though we might not love the lineup Bruce Bochy trots out night after night, he doesn't really have much choice.
This team is missing 87 percent of the Opening Day lineup due to injury. And they're still only 2.5 games back of the Diamondbacks. September call-ups are soon, which means rest for the weary. Those disabled list frequent fliers might even come back and contribute. Buster Posey will bring his babies to the clubhouse, and one Giant a night for two weeks will hit two home runs for the twins because they're so precious.
We're still here. And after a long game that got way too exciting at the end, I really mean it when I say it.
2011 Giants baseball: we'll take it.
Teen Dies From Head Injuries After Fall at Yosemite National Park
FRESNO, Calif. -- A teenage boy has died of head injuries five days after falling on Yosemite National Park's most popular hiking trail.
The Stanislaus County coroner says 17-year-old Kao Kue of Fresno died at a Modesto hospital Wednesday night.
According to park spokeswoman Kari Cobb, the teen was hiking the Mist Trail when he slipped.
The trail runs alongside Vernal Fall, and signs warn hikers that mist from the fall can make the trail slippery.
Cobb declined to discuss details of Kue's fall because he was a minor.
In May, a Texas man drowned in the Merced River when he slipped from the Mist Trail.
So far, 14 people have died this year inside Yosemite, a modern-day record. Kue is not included in that count because he died outside of the park.
2011 NFL Mock Draft: 8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Nick Fairley is a guy who many believed would be the top pick in the draft just over two months ago. But after an average combine performance, and a few questions about his current work ethic, Fairley's stock took a slight hit.
If he falls all the way to No. 8, I have to believe that Tennessee won't think twice about picking the former Auburn star.
Fairley was the best defensive player on college football's top team this year. He has good size and speed, allowing him to stop the run but also be an effective pass rusher.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has the Titans taking Fairley with that No. 8 pick, according to his latest NFL Mock Draft.
"Mike Munchak has witnessed the demise of the Titans' defense since the departure of Albert Haynesworth. Fairley's red flags are a concern, but he has big-time ability and is a perfect fit as a three-technique in their new scheme."
Some people have said that Fairley is the Ndamukong Suh of this year's draft. Personally, I don't believe that any defensive lineman in this year's draft class will be as dominant as a player as Suh will be in his NFL career. But if this kid gets his work ethic down, he does have the chance to be a special player at the pro level.
NFL Draft 2011: Expert Thinks the Raiders Should Trade into the First-Round
The hard working Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has put to use all of his acquired knowledge in the form of a mock draft. It is not a draft based on what he thinks will happen, but would he thinks should happen. It is only a first-round mock.
So, you are probably thinking "big deal." The Raiders don't have a first-round pick. Well, Mr. Bunting has the Raiders trading up into the first-round with the Bears to select Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith.
He doesn't expand on what he thinks it would take for the Raiders to make this trade, but it would likely require their second and third-round selection to land the Bears 29th pick.
Is it worth it? Here is NFL.com's take on Smith:
"Corners with Smith's size, speed and confidence in press coverage don't grow on trees. He'll likely serve as reserve/nickel early in his career but has the skill set to eventually become a starter. Very effective playing man coverage close to the line of scrimmage where he can use his size and length to disrupt timing patterns. Can recover after initial bump and compete for the football. Isn't as comfortable in off-man or zone but could improve over time. Has the mentality and physical tools to be very productive in run support, just needs some more polish. Smith's tools and upside will likely land him in the second round."
I think Smith would actually be an ideal fit for the Raiders, but I don't think he is worth a second and third round pick. The Raiders need those picks to address the offensive line. If they don't have an opportunity to add an offensive linemen until the fourth-round they would have little chance of bringing in someone that could start right away.
