http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi RSS Feed for Dick Jerardi en-us Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:10:08 GMT http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20091118_Dick_Jerardi__No_rules_needed_in_NCAA_business_world.html AFTER FOLLOWING college basketball forever and covering it professionally for 2 decades, I have come to the following conclusion: Throw away the manual covering the sport. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20091109_Dick_Jerardi__At_Breeders__Cup__Zenyatta_caps_perfect_career_with_perfect_race.html ARCADIA, Calif. - It must have sounded and felt like this in 1940 when Seabiscuit finally won the hundred grander. Or in 1955 when Swaps was setting all those world records. Or in the 1980s when ageless John Henry was straining for one more finish line. In Southern California, they fall hard for their equine heroes. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20091106_Dick_Jerardi__Bettor_advice_for_Breeders__Cup_wagers.html ARCADIA, Calif. - With 149 horses, including nine winners from last year's Breeders' Cup, in 14 races over 2 days on the Santa Anita artificial surface, there is information overload for those of us less concerned about facts and figures and more concerned about bankrolls. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20091017_Dick_Jerardi__Managers_manage_to_confound_with_early_hooks_for_starters.html LOS ANGELES - It is one of those mysteries of the modern game. No matter how well a starting pitcher is throwing (and this goes triple for the postseason) or how few pitches he has thrown, that pitcher almost never is allowed to finish a game, especially if it is close. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20091016_Dick_Jerardi__White-knuckle_time_before_Phillies_cash_in.html LAS VEGAS, LOS ANGELES - After a very long day that started at home and wound its way through Nevada and then into California, I was not terribly confident the Phillies bullpen could get 11 outs before they allowed a run or more. More runs, of course, could render the thought moot. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20090928_Dick_Jerardi__College_Football_Wrap.html Around Town Still perfect Villanova's record is perfect through September. Saturday, in crushing Northeastern, 56-7, at Villanova Stadium, the Wildcats played a near-perfect game. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20090904_Dick_Jerardi__Pennsylvania_Derby_is_lacking_in_star_power.html THE NOMINATIONS for Monday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby were tantalizing. The reality of this afternoon's post-position draw at Philadelphia Park will be something less than satisfying. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/6105761.html http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20070131_Dick_Jerardi___Too_early_to_tell_who_will_go_far_in_NCAAs.html JUST ABOUT THIS TIME last year, I took a close look at the major conferences, trying to deduce which teams were most likely to make the Final Four. I wrote something brilliant like I don't see any teams from the Southeastern Conference or Pac-10 that are good enough. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/dick_jerardi/20070130_Dick_Jerardi___HEARTBREAK_.html WHY WERE so many attracted to Barbaro? Why were they so devoted? Why was yesterday a day they feared so much?