Deacon: Kickoff of NFL season reunites fans, couches

So, you didn't finish off that long list of home projects you've been tackling every Sunday this summer. Lucky for you, those remaining chores aren't all that pressing - and you weren't eager to clean out the garage anyway.

Sep 11, 2009 | 6:00 pm | Loading…

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Deacon: NASCAR at Indy leads a great TV weekend

Looking for a perfect weekend of sports viewing? Your best bet might be to try finding a replay of Mark Buehrle's masterpiece against Tampa Bay.

Jul 25, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Here's Albert's chance to shine a guiding light

Tonight, as the world of sports casts its eye on St. Louis, the center of attention within the center of attention gives us hope that baseball can regain its credibility.

Jul 14, 2009 | 12:15 am | Loading…

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• Related: MyPantagraph: Cardinals Fans Group

Deacon: A clean 'Machine,' or Cardinal sinner?

Nearly two years ago, Barry Bonds shrugged off a firestorm of steroid speculation and added the career home run record to the single-season mark he already owned, thus putting his name ahead of the legendary ones of Aaron, Ruth and Maris. Back then, some guy who resembles the one I see in…

Jul 07, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Not exactly a stellar sports weekend

My good friend and colleague Jim Benson is on a vacation, so I get to take a crack at previewing this weekend's buffet table of sports offerings on the tube.

Jun 27, 2009 | 3:15 am | Loading…

Deacon: 'Hey, buddy!' McNeil is back where he belongs

They can be bold and brash. Juvenile and chauvinistic. Pompous, opinionated and arrogant. Provocative, narrow-minded and thin-skinned.

Jun 16, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: NBA playoffs delivering the goods — to this point

As the NBA and NHL playoffs were heading into their conference finals last week, the various talking-head debate shows on the major sports networks discussed which league's postseason had been better to that point. | NBA page

May 25, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: NFL-Comcast feuding while viewers get stuck on sidelines

Flipping through the sports channels on my cable box a few nights ago, I stopped on 547 when a show counting down the top 10 single-season turnarounds in NFL history caught my attention. | NFL page

Apr 02, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: The best event in sports needs tweaking? Really?

Today we're at the midpoint of the best four days in sports. Nothing beats the wall-to-wall drama, excitement and entertainment packed into the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. And I'm not even a basketball fan, really.

Mar 21, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: No Collins equals no buzz for these Bulls

It could have been a perfect fit. Or it might have been a disaster. But now we'll never know. One thing is certain: Doug Collins' second stint as the Chicago Bulls coach would have generated renewed interest.

Jun 09, 2008 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Hard to "misremember" Clemens' poor judgement

For nearly 20 years, baseball fans have had to accept the fact that the game's all-time hits leader would never be welcomed into the Hall of Fame.

May 05, 2008 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Current 3-week span is sports' best

Late March is the best time of year for diehard sports fans. Sure, there are single days that may generate more interest, most notably Super Sunday. But no other time of the year combines two completely separate events to elevate interest and enjoyment.

Mar 31, 2008 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Renaming Wrigley would gum up Cub lore

Few realized it, but the San Francisco 49ers have been playing in a stadium called Monster Park for the last three seasons. The strangest thing about that is the NFL franchise never relocated.

Mar 02, 2008 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Yes, the Giants 'could' take the road all the way

Everyone's heard the story. Two weeks in, they'd given up 80 points in losses to Dallas and Green Bay, and their coach was on the verge of a firing.

Feb 04, 2008 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Clemens surely didn't inject truth serum

Should we believe Roger Clemens never enhanced his performance after his adamant proclamations in Sunday night's "60 Minutes" interview with Mike Wallace? Not for a second. | MLB page |

Jan 07, 2008 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: BCS got it right, and that's what's wrong

Here's a little college football pop quiz: How many BCS conference champions had only one loss? How many major conference champions were undefeated in regulation?

Dec 09, 2007 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Somebody, anybody, please beat these Patriots

On the heels of the Red Sox's seven-game streak to win the World Series, the last thing we need is another arrogant Boston-area franchise dominating its sport. Unfortunately, we have these annoying Patriots.

Nov 12, 2007 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Hey, Fausto! We don’t have all day, pitch the ball!

Every year the networks broadcasting the Major League Baseball postseason develop new graphics and gimmicks designed to enhance the telecasts. For example, this season, TBS - handling national coverage for the first time - has given us the nine-foot leadoff graphic, for no apparent reason.

Oct 15, 2007 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Deacon: Are these Cubs next, or 'next year' again?

The headline asked simply, "Next?" It appeared in this publication and referred to the Chicago Cubs' World Series hopes on the heels of championships by the White Sox and Cardinals in the past two seasons.

Sep 17, 2007 | 12:00 am | Loading…