robert birge
I am a sports writer with more than 20 years of experience, first at the Connecticut Post and most recently SportsTicker, a wire service owned by ESPN. I have covered a wide range of sporting events and consider versatility a strength.
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Displaying Results 1 - 42 (of 42) for Yahoo! Voices
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Fifteen Questions Facing the New York Yankees in the 2007 SeasonWill Roger Clemens be back in the Bronx? Will Alex Rodriguez opt out of his contract and leave? Will Bernie Williams retire and then be followed at the end of the season by manager Joe Torre? These are just some of the questions facing the New York Yankees in 2007.
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Andy Pettitte Back with Yankees After Three Seasons in HoustonDuring their run of four championships in five years from 1996-2000, Andy Pettitte was one of the Yankees' most popular players, but owner George Steinbrenner let him get away following the 2003 season. That mistake was rectified when Pettitte was re-acquired in December.
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Bernie Williams' Days with the New York Yankees May Be NumberedAs the New York Yankees' elder statesman, Bernie Williams has been a mainstay in the Bronx since 1991, but he may no longer have a future with the team, especially after turning down a minor league contract. The Yankees simply may not have a roster spot available.
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Colts' Dungy is Proof that Nice Guys Can Finish FirstIndianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy had a reputation of being too nice to win a championship, but all changed with the Colts' 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.
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Despite Late-Season Collapse, New York Giants Opt to Bring Back Coach Tom Coughlin in 2007The Giants were a dysfunctional team in the second half of the season, losing six of their last eight games. But they still snuck into the playoffs in the weak NFC with an 8-8 record and that may be why coach Tom Coughlin was not fired.
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Yankees Should Resist the Urge to Re-sign Roger ClemensWith Andy Pettitte returning to the Yankees, there has been a lot of speculation that Pettitte's friend, Roger Clemens, also could be coming back to the Bronx. But the Yankees need to go after younger pitchers, not ones who are 44 years old.
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NCAA Football Coaching Carousel Can Be a Confusing -- and Upsetting -- Process for PlayersCollege basketball may have "March Madness", but December also is a month of madness when it comes to schools looking to hire new football coaches. They often can't wait until after the bowl games are played.
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Is Florida or Michigan More Worthy to Play Ohio State in the National Championship Game?The voters have decided -- it will be Florida, not Michigan, which will take on top-ranked Ohio State in college football's national championship game next month. But the debate likely will continue throughout the winter, especially in Michigan.
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Forty Years Have Passed Since Epic Clash Between ND and Michigan StateNotre Dame coach Ara Parseghian came under intense criticism after playing for a tie in the 1966 "Game of the Century" against Michigan State. But the Irish were ranked No. 1 and the tie enabled them to win the national championship.
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Florida State Fans Calling for Bowden to Retire Are Out of LineAs the winningest college football coach in Division I-A history, 76-year-old Bobby Bowden is an institution. But Florida State is not winning at the same level as it did in the 1980s and 1990s and some Seminoles fans are growing impatient.
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BCS Race Up for Grabs Following USC Loss to Oregon StateThe winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game in two weeks is likely headed to the college football national championship. However, their opponent is up for grabs after Oregon State's upset win over previously third-ranked USC last week.
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Projected BCS Championship Game: Ohio State Vs. USCWith more than a month left in the season, the race for the college football national championship is fairly clear. While things can change, currently only three teams - Ohio State, Michigan and USC - are vying for the two spots in the BCS title game.
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Joe Torre to Return for 12th Season as Manager of the New York YankeesDespite a stunning playoff loss to the Detroit Tigers, Yankees manager Joe Torre will return in 2007 for the final year of his contract. This writer believes George Steinbrenner made a mistake by not firing Torre.
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Voice of Yankees' PA Announcer Bob Sheppard Remains as Strong as EverThere are many voices in sports but none may be as recognized as New York
Yankees' public address announcer Bob Sheppard, who has been announcing lineups at Yankee Stadium since 1951, when Joe DiMaggio patrolled center field for the Bombers. -
Cano Battling Mauer, Jeter for American League Batting TitleSince early September, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter have been in a hotly-contested battle for the American League batting title. But don't count out Jeter's teammate - second baseman Robinson Cano.
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Once Proud Baltimore Orioles Have Hit Rock BottomIn the 1970s, the Baltimore Orioles were a model franchise, winning pennants and World Series. But current owner Peter Angelos has done nothing but run a once proud franchise into the ground. The Orioles have not enjoyed a winning season since 1997.
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After This Season, Pirates Game No Longer Will Be on Radio Station KDKAThe Pittsburgh Pirates and radio station KDKA have been linked for 51 years, but no longer. KDKA, the nation's first radio station, has lost the broadcasting rights and starting next season, Pirates games in Pittsburgh will be heard on an FM station.
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A Son Remembers His Father's Love of Notre Dame FootballAs Notre Dame begins a season in which some observers expect them to contend for the national title, a son reflects on his dad's love of the Fighting Irish. Twenty years ago, Lou Holtz took over as Notre Dame coach. It would be my dad's final season.
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Brett Favre May Have Made Mistake by Deciding to Return to the Green Bay PackersWith nothing left to prove, future Hall of Famer Brett Favre elected to return to the Green Bay Packers for one more season. However, the Packers are coming off a miserable season (4-12) and could be in store for another one.
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Ryan Howard Keeping Phillies Alive in Wild Card ChaseIn just his first full season in the major leagues, Phillies slugger Ryan Howard has
emerged as one of the game's top power hitters. Howard already has broken Mike Schmidt's team record for home runs in a season and could win the MVP award. -
All Fans Entering the Bleachers at Yankee Stadium Are Subject to Pat-downsThis fan is bothered by the Yankees' policy in which all fans sitting in the bleachers are patted down, believing it to be an invasion of privacy. He is also troubled by the fact that the Yankees have different policies in different parts of the stadium.
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NCAA Approves Four New Bowl Games, Increasing the Lineup to 32 GamesJust what the world needed - more college football bowl games. There are now 32 sanctioned bowl games, meaning more than half of the xxxx Division I-A schools will play in a postseason game somewhere.
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New York, New York: Mets, Yankees Each Poised to Finish FirstTrue, the Mets and Yankees met in a Subway World Series in 2000 (with the Yankees winning in five games), but the teams never have each finished in first place in the same season. That could change this season.
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Steady Pujols Rates Favorite for National League MVP HonorsDuring the first five seasons of his career, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols averaged 40 home runs and 124 RBI. He is having a similar season in 2006 and deserves to win the National League MVP award for the second straight year.
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With Red Sox Fading, Yanks' Jeter Gains Edge in American League MVP RaceFor most of the season, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz probably was the favorite to win the AL Most Valuable Player award. But with the Red Sox falling out of the race, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter may now be the front runner.
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Twenty Years Ago, Mets Ruled New York - Not YankeesWhile the Yankees have owned New York for the last decade, things were different 20 years ago. Led by young stars Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, the Mets ruled the city in 1986. -
Green Bay Packers Begin 50th Season in Fabled Lambeau FieldWhile their have been numerous NFL stadiums built over the last quarter century, the Green Bay Packers have called Lambeau Field home since 1957. It is arguably the NFL's most beloved stadium.
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All Systems Go as Yankees Begin Preparations for New StadiumOn August 16th, the New York Yankees broke ground for their new stadium, which is expected to be ready for the 2009 season. The Yankees have played in "The House That Ruth Built" since 1923 and leaving the famous ballpark will be a sad day.
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Our One-eyed Boxer Named Brownie II : Pet May Not Have Had the Looks but was Still BelovedThe writer fondly recalls Brownie II, one of his late mother's six boxers. Brownie II had a lot going for her but looks wasn't one of them. In fact, the writer thinks Brownie II may have been the world's ugliest dog.
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NCAA Football Broadcasts Won't Be the Same Without Keith JacksonFor 40 years, folksy broadcaster Keith Jackson was the voice of college football
on ABC. But Jackson retired in April and his absence creates a void on Saturday afternoons in the fall. -
Off-the-Field Transgressions Giving College Football a Black EyeThe summer months are usually a quite time for college football before practice starts in August but not this year. A number of players have gotten in trouble for issues of the field, resulting in suspensions and even dismissals.
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Charlie Weis Has Raised Expectations at Notre DameWith Charlie Weis entering his second season, expectations are soaring at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are ranked third in the preseason and some observers believe they can contend for a national championship.
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Joe Torre May Be Doing Finest Job Ever Managing YankeesYes, the New York Yankees have a payroll in excess of $200 million but manager Joe Torre has held the team together despite a slew of injuries. He could be doing his best managerial job in his 11 years in the Bronx.
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Yankees Grinding Out Victories Without a Long Winning StreakThe New York Yankees have been one of the hottest teams in major league baseball since the All-Star break, but they've done it without a lengthy winning streak, unlike the Boston Red Sox, who had a 12-game run before the All-Star game.
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Former Giants Linebacker Harry Carson Finally Inducted into Hall of FameIt took longer than he and his legion of fans had hoped, but former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson finally was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Carson was the Giants' leader in the 1980s and won a Super Bowl ring in 1987.
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DiMaggio's 56-game Hitting Streak May Be One of Sports Untouchable RecordsThe hitting streak of Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley recently ended at 35 games. It was an impressive streak but still pales in comparison to
Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941. -
Yankee Fan Favorite Bobby Murcer Recently Turned 60The year was 1969, truly a down time to be a fan of the New York Yankees. But one home run in a meaningless game was enough to make Bobby Murcer this fan's all-time favorite player.
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Almost Three Decade Since Munson was Killed in Plane CrashAugust 2 is a sad anniversary for Yankees fans. On that date in 1979, Yankees
catcher Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash. His presence is still felt at Yankee Stadium and his locker inside the clubhouse remains unused to this day. -
Mark McGwire Eligible for Hall of Fame for First Time in 2007Slugger Mark McGwire becomes eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time in 2007. But will the baseball writers opt note to vote him in because of his alleged steriod use?
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Derek Jeter's Hot Bat Carries Yankees into Dog Days of AugustWhile fans fret about Alex Rodriguez's struggles, Derek Jeter has been on fire for the Yankees. He led all of the major leagues in batting average in July and could be having the best season of his stellar career.
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Major League Baseball Enjoying New Golden AgeDespite the steroid controversy, the national pastime is thriving. In New York alone, more than seven million people will attend major league games this season.
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Can Alex Rodriguez Ever Find Love in New York?New York fans have been pretty unmerciful in their booing of Alex Rodriguez. Can he ever get the fans on his side, or is this relationship beyond fixing?