The inner-most thoughts of a Sports Fanatic

News and Notes

2008-04-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

Basically every major news outlet is reporting that Rich Harden is on the DL again. This is the 4th consecutive season that "Rickety Rich" has landed on the DL, he hasn't pitched over 100 innings since 2004. Currently every Harden fantasy owner that gloated after 2 great starts has put the bib on and is eating a nice steamy plate of their own words.

Rice-product Jeff Niemann, who has been a uber-prospect for the Rays for a while will finally make his major league debut on Sunday. Niemann, 25, will replace Matt Garza, who was the uber-prospect that the Twins traded for uber-prospect Delmon Young...you guys like it. Niemann is an enormous man, standing at 6'9'', has been solid in the minors for the Rays. His WHIP had been hovering around 1.10 up until last year when he made the jump. Look out for him.

The list of players who have declared for the NBA Draft continues to grow with the recent additions of Donte Greene from Syracuse and Joe Alexander from West Virginia. Some of the big names now read:

Donte Greene-Fr.-Syracuse
Joe Alexander-Jr.-West Virginia
Marrese Speights-So.-Florida
Eric Gordon-Fr.-Indiana
Jerryd Bayless-Fr.-Arizona
Brook Lopez-So.-Stanford
Robin Lopez-So.-Stanford
O.J. Mayo-Fr.-USC
DeAndre Jordan-Fr.-Texas A&M
J.J. Hickson-Fr.-North Carolina State
Anthony Randolph-Fr.-LSU
Derrick Caracter-So.-Louisville
Chase Budinger-So.-Arizona
Ronald Steele-Jr.-Alabama

Some of these decisions were not very smart (I am looking at you Ronald Steele, Marrese Speights, Derrick Caracter), and some were a foregone conclusion. What this draft has that is unique is the plethora of big men. Most of the ones already declared are raw, but supremely talented, and there are still a lot of talented big men that haven't declared. For example, Hansborough, Beasley, Love...I just named the three best big men in college last year. There is such a thing as picking you spots. Sometimes someone should have gone and it hurt their status next year, and some did go and it didn't pan out. If Love stays, and the rest go, he could be the best big man available the next year.

These can't be things that only I think of right?

Johnathan Mitchell, a sophomore forward for the University of Florida has decided to transfer. Which begs the question...Who the F%$K is Johnathan Mitchell.

A construction worker buried a Red Sox shirt underneath the visiting dugout of the new Yankee Stadium according to the New York Post. That was a brilliant move by the construction worker and here is to hoping the curse begins anew in the Bronx rather than the Bean.

In the past few weeks I have been wondering what happened to Dennis Dixon, I haven't heard anything about him amid all the hoopla of the NFL Draft. Well, thanks to SI.com, you can now go to Dennis Dixon's web page.

It's a Good Time to be a Basketball Fan

2008-04-11T07:14:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to take the time to let you know I still think college basketball is better than the NBA. Except for one discernible difference, and that is down the stretch of the regular season. Before the conference tournaments, and even during the conference tournaments teams play with a sense of urgency, but they can't see where they fit into the scheme of the playoffs. Their fate is figuratively in their own hands, but in reality their fate is held by a bunch of grumpy old men from the NCAA.

But the NBA? Down the stretch, especially this season and especially in the Western Conference, it seems like every night of the week another huge game is going on with playoff implications on the line. Last night we had 2, the Mavericks sealed a playoff berth with their 97-94 victory over the Jazz, and Golden State continued their not-so-fun streak of losing every important game since the end of March when they got drubbed by the Nuggets last night 115-104.

In both of these games the teams played with a sense of urgency, and the playoff atmosphere (especially in Dallas) was palpable. Aside from the playoffs, which were awesome to watch last year as well, the home stretch of the regular season is the best time for the NBA because Baron Davis, and Dirk Nowitski, and David Stern, and Dennis Rodman, and my grandmother can all see how everything is going to shake out, and what exactly each team needs to do...its f*%&ing exhilarating!

First, in the most exciting game of the night in Dallas. Dirk may have finally shaken some of the demons that have been haunting him since he won that MVP award last season. He used to be feared in crunch time because of his ability to hit the big shot. But this season it seems like every big shot he has tried to take he has missed, and the pundits and fans alike have reamed him for it.

Now, since his injury, it seems like Dirk is playing with a chip on his shoulder. He is back to being that sweaty mess who yells and yanks on his jersey after every key bucket, and I like it. Last night he played like a man possessed. It seemed as if every defender who Utah stuck on him was getting abused by Dirk's various array of trick shots.

They needed every single one of those buckets too because Josh Howard left early in the second half when he re-aggravated his bruised knee. With the third scoring option out of the lineup in the second half, Utah closed the gap and were only down one at the end of the third quarter. But Dirk combined with Jason Terry to score 25 of the team's 30 4th quarter points, in an insane display of shooting prowess.

But the real issue was Utah, after watching Deron Williams' miracle bank shot go in to tie the game, the rest of the Jazz stood and half-celebrated, but certainly didn't get back and play any defense. Instead they let Jason Terry surreptitiously take the inbounds pass, fly past a few weak swipes at the ball, and hit Dirk open to the left for an open 3-pointer. I understand they got caught up in the moment, and most likely I would have stood there and basked in the ridiculousness of Williams' shot, but knowing there was over 6 seconds on the clock they should have been aware of the situation.

The Nuggets, on the other hand, didn't earn the win as much as the Warriors handed it to them. There of course is the obligatory remarks regarding the Warriors pathetic attempt at defense. But that is not the real reason the Warriors have choked in every meaningful game in the past week. Johnny Ludden wrote an article for Yahoo today about the dangers of the Warrios playing the style that they do, but he really under-stated just how dangerous that style can be.

For example, last week, when the Warriors dropped a game to the Mavericks 86-111, the team shot 4-16 from behind the arc, not the worst number in the world, but for a team that makes it's living lobbing grenades at the rim, you would certainly hope for a better number. Just 4 nights later, in a battle against the West-leading New Orleans Hornets, the Warriors didn't bother to show up, shooting an egregious 3-29 from behind the arc. Then again last night, they were marginally better, shooting 6-27 from behind the three-point line.

For a team that everyone, including themselves, knows cannot play any defense, maybe a little more time selecting their shots would be wise because frankly Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson are just plain rash in their decision-making, and it leads to poor shooting percentages. As much as I love the lovable cast of characters on the Warriors, and as fun as watching them hurl it up from everywhere on the court is, this team is not built for the playoffs, and they continue to prove it with their play down the stretch.

Biggest Stories of Baseball

2008-04-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

I want to start off by saying that there are certain topics that the media beats to death, that I consequently will not address in the biggest stories. For example, the Detroit Tigers starting 1-7 are a big story, but everybody already knows about their struggles. The Baltimore Orioles are 6-1, but of course everyone already knows that as well, instead I will address a number of different things so that hopefully, someone can learn something from my writing.

1) Cardinals Pitching
The Cardinals were supposed to have an off year because despite a solid lineup, they didn't have very many reliable starters. Let me break it down for you.

Adam Wainright 2007: 14-12, 202.1 innings, 13 home runs allowed, 136 strikeouts, 3.70 ERA, and a mediocre 1.40 WHIP

Braden Looper 2007: 12-12, 175 innings, a whopping 22 home runs allowed, 87 Ks, 4.94 ERA, and 1.39 WHIP

Todd Wellemeyer 2007: 3-2, 63 innings, 7 home runs allowed, 51 Ks, 3.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP

Kyle Lohse 2007 (w/Phillies and Cincy): 9-12, 182.2 innings, another 22 home runs allowed, 122 Ks, 4.60 ERA, 1.39 WHIP

Brandon Thompson 2007: 8-6, 129.1 innings, 23 home runs allowed, 53 Ks, 4.74 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and opponents hit .301 against him.

So there you have it, 2 converted relievers (Looper and Wellemeyer), one mediocre starter (Wainright), one over-priced mediocre pitcher (Lohse), and one throw-away (Thompson). This starting 5 is scary bad for the Cardinals. But, somehow this season they have done a miraculous job. Wellemeyer has struck out 17 batters combined in his 2 starts, Lohse hasn't allowed a run in 12 innings pitched this season, Wainright ate up 8 innings in his only start, Thompson has been a little bit better than ordinary, and Looper has won both his starts and his WHIP is barely above 1.

I know, I know, they have only played 9 games, but in an extremely tough NL central, if these numbers are even remotely indicative of what the Cardinals can look forward to, their offense might be able to push them into the playoffs.

2) Johnny Cueto
Hi, My name is Johnny Cueto, my 22nd birthday was less than 2 months ago, and I am now the best hope the city of Cincinnati has for a revitalized pitching staff. Last season I jumped around more than the NBA's Jim Jackson, and was downright filthy at every level. This spring I was a revelation for the Reds and story-hunting sportswriters alike.

But no one thought I could keep it up in the regular season, and they were right, all I have done is strikeout 18 batters in a little more than 13 innings, have a ridiculous WHIP of .45, and aside from 2 home runs, make hitters look stupid trying to hit the baseball.

My buddy Edison Volquez and I were talking the other day about how we might be just the guys to finally get the Reds back into playoff contention. We know we have a strong offense, but the past years we have been doomed because our number 1 starter has been a white boy that wears corn-rows. Now, with a revamped bullpen, and a bonafide stopper at the end in Cordero, we are poised to make some noise in what has undoubtedly become the most difficult division in all of baseball. We are sick of being the whipping boys and cellar-dwellers, we are going to do it this season.

3) Mets Pitching Woes
This is almost as much a non-story as it is a story. I want to let the record show that I never doubted for a minute that Pedro would get hurt before the end of May. Granted only 4 innings wasn't exactly how I predicted, but granted the way he was pitching and the serious lack of velocity he displayed, the Mets should be almost be glad he is gone.

Now for the Amazin's it's back to square one. Last season pitching depth, and lack of Major-League ready starting pitching doomed them, maybe wasn't the reason for the collapse, but it certainly contributed to it because they didn't have a free-fall stopper. Enter Johan Santana, the Mets got their free-fall stopper, but lost Pedro, and Orlando Hernandez, and Duaner Sanchez, and Matt Wise. The Mets are going to have to make a deal at the trading deadline, maybe for an Ian Snell type player who can shore up that rotation and give this team 5 starters they feel comfortable with.

For the time being they will try to stop the flooding with a combination of Nelson Figueroa, Jorge Sosa, and maybe Aaron Heilman, the 2001 first-round pick. But even when or if Pedro and El Duque make it back, it seems unlikely these guys will be able to give the Mets a steady starter as they run towards the playoffs. My guess...the Mets will be major players at the trading deadline.

This Day in Baseball

2008-04-04T07:54:00.001-07:00

Ahh we are 3 or 4 games into the season depending on who you follow, already writers have begun to fall in love with...Kosuke Fukudome, Kansas City, Rich Harden, the fact the Tigers can't hit, Ryan Zimmerman, etc. So what I want to try to do is breakdown key games today.

Tigers v. White Sox
N. Robertson v. J. Contreras
Both of these teams have started slow, but the White Sox have a legitimate excuse, they can't pitch worth a shit.....oops, I mean they played the Indians. The Tigers really have no excuse for scoring 5 runs in three games against the formidable trio of Gil Meche, Brian Bannister, and Zach Grienke. Hopefully today we will see the bats awaken from their slumber, especially against Contreras, who could possibly be 50 and just have a forged birth certificate. One thing is for certain...the Tigers need Curtis Granderson back in their lineup, I don't know who Clete Thomas is, but he sounds like his parents were a little out of the loop when they had a child way back in the 80s.

Mets v. Braves
J. Maine v. T. Hudson
This is probably my favorite rivalry in the National League, with apologies to the new Cubs and Brewers rivalry. We should see another good game here tonight with John Maine making his debut looking to build on a stellar 2007 season (15-10, 3.91 ERA, 180 Ks) facing Tim Hudson, who is basically as steady and consistent as they come. Texeira, McCann, and Chipper will have their hands full facing Maine, but I think the Braves still have a terrific team. My fearless prediction is Francoeur will go deep for the first time this season tonight, and David Wright will continue to mash.

*On a semi-related note, Mike Hampton has once again injured himself, now it's a strained chest. Either this guy is frailer than my grandmother, or he has some bad luck. Either way I feel bad for him and the Braves, but I think its time for Hampton to retire.

Royals v. Twins
J. Bale v. S. Baker

Hooray for the Royals! Feel good story 2008!...Please, give me a break, every year this happens, everyone remember Chris Shelton hitting in April like Gehrig? Sure you do, did it last very long? Nope. Does he still play on the team? Nope.

So hopefully I can save some people from jumping on the Royals bandwagon, although I am sure any baseball fan worth his salt is jumping anywhere near it. Case and point, John Bale is 34 years old, he has less than 150 total innings in his career, before 40 innings with the Royals last year, he hadn't pitched since 2003, yet now he is the Royals number 4 starter? I am sorry Royals fans, I like rooting for you guys, I really do, but when a 34-year-old journeyman and Brett Tomko are your 4th and 5th starters, you aren't going to have a good season.

*But, Royals fans can take solace in the fact that with Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Mark Teahan, they now have a legitimate 3-4-5 crew that can strike some fear into pitchers hearts.

*On another note, Brendan Harris and Adam Everett are a combined 5-21 with 1 RBI, and 1 extra-base hit...I wouldn't be surprised to see those numbers stay the same...that's just pathetic production from the middle of your infield.

Diamondbacks v. Rockies
M. Owings v. M. Redman
The Rockies will be hoisting their first NL pennant today at Coors Field. Meanwhile, in the bleachers, fans will be given obligatory hard hats because everybody's favorite batting practice pitcher (Redman) and everybody's favorite silver slugger/mediocre pitcher (Micah Owings) will be squaring off.

The NL West is so even this season it's impossible to determine where these teams will finish because there are so many different factors that go into making these teams successful. Will anyone regress on Colorado? Will 'Zona's youngsters step up this season? Can the Rockies even pitch? We can predict all we want, but no one knows, not even the players. This one will be fun because combined this game will eclipse double-digit runs, but it really won't matter in the grand scheme of things...but thats why we have sports writers, because the viewers and fans are too lazy to create dramatic reality themselves.

Until Monday everybody....

Random Thoughts

2008-04-03T09:45:00.001-07:00

I figured, since I am down in Washington D.C., and since for some reason the Maryland/Virginia area doesn't carry NESN, I would offer up some random thoughts in small sample sizes about how the season has started out. Enjoy!

Everyone from ESPN, to some of my friends who watch ESPN have been harping on Scott Hairston. I, however, am not impressed. So, in 16 games the guy has 7 home runs at PETCO Park...that's a really small sample size, yet everyone is anointing him as the guy to look out for in San Diego. I am not saying he is a bad player, because I think when it is all said and done he will be productive in San Diego, but he certainly isn't a stud that people looking for a hot waiver wire pick up should be looking for. Also, he is 28.

Yunel Escobar looks like the real deal for Atlanta. Remember, this is the young guy who came up last year for the Braves and played some second base and just smoked the ball all over the park in half a season. What really impresses me about Escobar is that he walks aaa lot for a player with less than 400 career at bats.

He already has 4 walks this season, and I know the opening series has been against the Pirates, but he looks like the player who the Braves thought he would be when they dumped Renteria in favor of the younger, and cheaper replacement.

If their opening series is any indication, the Minnesota Twins aren't going to need the starting pitching help they thought they would after all...instead they will need people to hit the ball. I think Morneau and Mauer, and even Cuddyer will all play up to their potential and be good offensive players.

But Carlos Gomez is still a year away I think, Craig Monroe is a free-swinger who really can't be counted on to produce, and the middle infield of Adam Everett and Brendan Harris doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. For example, in 3 games, the Twins have managed 4 extra base hits, 0 home runs, and a terrific .240 batting average. But the most telling stat for this young team is that they have walked a whopping 6 times as a team....let it sink in....as a team! Gary Sheffield is halfway there by himself. Well maybe you guys can take solace if Jesse Ventura is able to run for president....

Folks I am ready to pick my NL MVP. My traits for an MVP include being able to mash, being handsome, and being well-spoke, plus the New York media has to fawn over you like they did over Sinatra, and DiMaggio, and Artie Lange....oh wait, not Artie. David Wright, come on up and collect your prize. The guys from Firejoemorgan.com picked him last year based on some stats I tried to become familiar with and all I ended up doing was hurting my head.

But while I assume those stats lend creedence to the argument, I know that the way Wright looks locked in this season he is due for a monster, monster year. I would like it to be known I picked him first, before anyone does their mid-season awards or any bullshit like that, I picked him...he's my precioussssssss

If the Red Sox only had to pitch Matsusaka and Lester, they would be due for their third world championship in 5 years, but unfortunately, Tim Wakefield and the young Clay Buchholz still have to pitch...oh well, it was worth wishing.

Red Sox Opener

2008-03-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am truly happy to report the Red Sox are now a half-game ahead of the Yankees thanks to timely hitting by two players, and solid bullpen work. Manny Ramirez was 2-5 with 4 rbis, and Brandon Moss had 2 rbis including a game-tying home run off a previously solid closer in Huston Street.

Dice-K didn't look that good giving up a long ball to Mark Ellis in the first inning and walking 5 batters, something that plagued him all of last year as well. I can also safely assume that Dice-K was just a teeny bit nervous on account of the adrenaline that must have been pumping in every inning he pitched.

The bullpen, looked solid, especially Okajima, Lopez, and Corey, and count me in as one of the people who couldn't care less how poor Papelbon looked last year, he will right the ship, I have no doubt about it.

Was it just me or was it really weird to see Keith Foulke pitching for the As. I can't believe he is still around and pitching effectively. I could have sworn his arm gave out in 2004, and now he just dragged it around like a dead body. But, apparently I was very wrong, and he even pitched well in his inning of work. Best of luck to Keith on his comeback, Red Sox Nation always holds a place in their heart for members of the 2004 team, especially closers who pitched the final out of the World Series victory.

Jason Varitek looks really old out there. I hate to say that the Captain is losing his grip on his plate appearances, but his 3 strikeouts and his lack of competitive or challenging at-bats really scares me. I know his production is not really important compared to the way he works with our young pitching staff, but I would like to see him give us .260, 14 homers, and a .350 OBP. That would be really nice...pretty please?

Sweet 16

2008-03-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Before we get started I want to let you know how I did in my player to watch predictions.

1. Courtney Lee
72 Minutes Played, 44 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 6 turnovers
Synopsis: Lee deferred quite a bit in the first game against Drake to his teammate Tyrone Brazelton, but still made his presence known with 15 points and 9 rebounds. In game 2, he was much more assertive and dominated the game from start to finish with 29 points and 7 rebounds on 9-15 shooting. I would say I predicted well on this one, although I am only 1 out of 30 million people who told you to look out for him.

2. Josh Young
40 Minutes played, 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers
Synopsis: While Young's stats look about right for what he did on the season, he was turned in a relatively poor performance in his only game of the tournament. He will have 2 more years to make a dent in the NCAAs, but starting out 1-11 from behind the three point arc and finishing 5-15 from the field, and 4-14 from behind the arc certainly did not help his game out. Imagine, just 1 of his 10 misses from behind the arc goes in, and Drake moves on to play San Diego with a chance at the Sweet 16. Not well done at all on my part.

3. Garrison Carr
40 minutes played, 26 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Synopsis: Carr was the little engine that could for American, and was the only offensive weapon for the Eagles against the staunch defense of Tennessee. He took 21 shots, made 9 of them, including 6 from behind the arc to the tune of 26 points with a rotating set of Tennessee defenders draped all over him. I would say he was a player to watch, for all of those who bet out there American covered the spread so that is a moral victory for them and it was all due to Carr and his sweet outside shooting.

4. Demetric Bennett
33 minutes played, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers
Synopsis: This was the worst player to watch. How can your best player take 8 shots the entire game? Well maybe if he plays with the fire of JD Drew. Bennett was terrible, and Butler ran roughshod over the Jaguars. Unlucky pick by me.

5. Jason Richards
76 minutes played, 35 points, 14 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers
Synopsis: We have some bandwagon jumpers here in the sportswriter world. These guys fawn over Stephen Curry the way college kids fawn over a filet mignon after weeks of their campus dining hall. Curry is that good, I admit, he is the best scorer college hoops has seen in a long time, and he chose a perfect time to get hot against Georgetown, but Andy Katz said the reason Davidson was in the position they are now is solely because of Dell's son. That's just plain wrong.

Jason Richards played 1 more minute than Stephen Curry did, and while he didn't match Curry's offensive output he was more vital to the team's success. Someone is going to try to tell me that having him bring the ball up against the suffocating defense of Jeremy Pargo wasn't more important than all those points for Curry? Even if you think I am crazy for that statement, the only reason Davidson was in the position against Gtown for Curry to take over is because Jason Richards hit every big jumper he took in the first half and the beginning of the second half, he single-handedly kept them within striking distance against the Hoyas and then led the charge back, which consequently took some of the pressure of Curry who promptly flourished.

........Now on to the Sweet 16, I will break down every game and give you three reasons why I think that team will win. (P.S. Mine will be better than what Andy Katz wrote today.)

North Carolina v. Washington State:
Winner is North Carolina

1. Too much offense:
This is a fantastic matchup for analysts because they get to say great offense vs. great defense, something has got to give!!!! Well that is a crock of shit. Anyone who has seen the Tar Heels play so far knows that they are clicking on all cylinders, and if anyone thinks that the Washington State defense will stifle UNC like they stifled the prolific offenses of Winthrop and Notre Dame needs to think again.

5 players scored double figures for the Tar Heels against Arkansas, and Danny Green and Quinton Thomas had 8 and 6 respectively. Washington State can defend, and if anyone can lock up Hansborough its the rough and tumble Aron Baynes, but Carolina has too many weapons.

2. Ty Lawson:
North Carolina has been patiently waiting all season for Lawson to become the point guard he has shown he can be all season, but saddled with injuries, Lawson has struggled to be consistent...until the ACC tournament and now the NCAA tournament.

He had 21 and 4 against Mt. Saint Mary's in limited minutes, and even more impressive was the 19 and 7 he dropped on Gary Ervin yesterday in just 24 minutes. I can't even begin to tell you how many times Stepheson, Thompson and Green dunked the ball thanks to great vision by Lawson. He will be playing full speed against the Cougars, and that is bad news for Tony Bennett's squad.

3. Too much depth:
Everyone has said this all year about the Tar Heels, that they are the deepest team in the country as far as talent from top to bottom, Quinton Thomas could start for every team in the Big Ten practically, and before Bobby Frasor went down, he wasn't even in the rotation. Robbie Cowgill and Aron Baynes make up a real rugged front court, but the fact that North Carolina can rotate Hansborough, Thompson, Stepheson, and Green, 4 legitimate post threats will wear the duo from Wazzu out.

Also, keep in mind that the depth does not end with the front court, it extends to the list of Lawson, and Wayne Ellington, and Thomas, and Marcus Ginyard, and even Will Graves... thats a lot of ANDs, but I use them to make my point. Washington State is relatively deep, they probably run a consistent 8 man rotation and Bennett can go 9-deep if he has too, but the Tar Heels will wear Wazzu out and win handily is my guess.

Tennessee vs. Louisville:
Winner is Louisville

I want to first say that this game, on paper, has the makings to be one of the best games of the tournament thanks to the style of play and depth of the two teams. Both play deep rotations, and both hound their opponents with full-court defense, which is unrelenting due to the number of players that get involved, if I had TiVo, or even a TV in my room, it would be tuned to this game.

1. Size, Size, Size:
Tennessee is not a small team by any means, Wayne Chism, Duke Crews, and Brian Williams make up a solid, but young front court, and if you want to get technical Tyler Smith can join the front court as well. But these guys are very young, and not exactly big-bodied rebounders down low.

Case and point is in the rebounding numbers. While they did a much better job against Butler, out-rebounding the Bulldogs 43-34, Butler is not a tall team and has no one all that physically imposing in the middle of the paint. Yet, the Volunteers were out-rebounded handily, 37-25, by an equally diminutive American team, including allowing 16 offensive rebounds. These are not numbers that inspire confidence.

Do you really think that Tennessee is going to out-rebound a team that features David Padgett, Earl Clark, Derek Caracter, and Juan Palacios, all of whom with the exception of maybe Caracter are seasoned veterans and rebounders? It's just not going to happen. If these four can get Chism, who is the most important front court Volunteer, in foul trouble, they will have a field day drawing Williams out on the perimeter, where all of the Cardinals big men are comfortable, and then driving by them. Not a good sign for Tennessee.

2. Where is the point guard?
Bruce Pearl's decision to hand the point guard role to J.P Prince for the Butler game was a logical one. Prince, a former five-star prospect is a better player than J.P. Howell, a smart veteran who is not dangerous offensively, and a little slow defensively. But for those of you who watched the game you now all see why Bruce Pearl is definitely losing sleep over this match-up looming. Prince had 6 turnovers for the game, including 2 on consecutive possessions with Tennessee either tied or nursing a small lead where he, 1)travelled, and 2) drove baseline and got caught in the air and through the ball to Mike Green which led to the tying basket. Prince is young, and Pearl will live with his errors if he continues to contribute on the glass and the scoreboard. But not against Louisville.

In the past month, the Cardinals have had more turnovers than the opposing team only twice, including their NCAA tournament games. Those games where they had more turnovers were a 14 point win against Villanova, who had an good ball handler in Scottie Reynolds, and a 2 point victory over Pittsburgh, who has an experienced point guard in Levance Fields. The point is, Louisville flat out harasses the ball handlers of whatever team they play. Don't expect the slower tandem of Howell and Prince to be able to beat Jerry Smith, Edgar Sosa, and Andre McGee down the floor very often. Combined with the knowledge that Earl Clark and Terrence Williams think like football safeties and snatch away any pass with a little too much air, and you have a recipe for disaster for Tennessee, who will not be able to handle the Cardinals.

3. The more 3s the merrier:
It is easy to see why this next statement can work both ways for Rick Pitino's team because...wait for it... Louisville lives and dies by the three pointer. Their back to back losses to Georgetown and Pittsburgh in the Big East tournament were because the Cardinals went a combined 8-37 from behind the three-point arc, which is like Memphis from the free-throw line. Jerry Smith and Andre McGee, and Terrence Williams, the big three-ballers for the 'Ville, were abysmal in their consecutive losses before the tournament, and if they shoot poorly again I take back my prediction, and Tennessee will win( I know this is a cop out, because shooting is always a big if...but deal with it.)

The problem for Tennessee is that Louisville seems to have broken out of that shooting slump. Granted their new-found touch came against lesser defensive opponents than Georgetown and Pittsburgh, but shooting 50% from downtown is shooting 50%, and that is ridiculous good for a team that shoots the three like Nate Newton smokes marijuana. Tennessee shoots three as well, but Chris Lofton really isn't assertive enough offensively to break free from Lousiville defender X (and it could be pretty much anyone, my guess is Smith) and Louisville will just continue to shoot until they start to fall and Tennessee will be left picking their noses at the end of the game.

Memphis vs. Michigan State
Winner is...Memphis

1. We have more good players than you:
Reason #1 really speaks for itself. Michigan State is an extremely streaky team, Drew Neitzel can score 30 one night, and put up 6 the next, and don't even get me started on Raymar Morgan, who should be able to take over a game LeBron-style with his body but settles for long jumpers just like LeBron used to. Plus, Drew Naymick and Goran Suton are serviceable, but certainly not threats.
Meanwhile Memphis can run out a team of uber-recruits anytime they want, and they complement the uber-recruits with great role players like Andre Allen, and Antonio Anderson. Just break it down by starting 5.

Derrick Rose is a consensus top 5 draft pick and an incredible talent, as he showed against Miss. State. Kalin Lucas is a great player as well, but not as big or strong or talented as Rose is.

Antonio Anderson doesn't have to score because he plays great defense, and while Neitzel might be a better player, he is one dimensional, and frankly not athletic enough to free himself from Anderson easily every possession. He might get some ok looks, but I guarantee more often than not Anderson will have a hand in his face. Defensively Neitzel might as well not even be there, and Anderson is big, too big for Neitzel to handle.

Raymar Morgan will be a stud, and is certainly a grown man with limitless capabilities. But he is facing a terrific college player and a extremely gifted scorer named Chris Douglas-Roberts. While Roberts might not be a great defender to put on Morgan, sometimes Morgan makes it easy on opposing defenses by settling for bad shots. Meanwhile, Morgan is a good defender, but not good enough to keep Douglas-Roberts from his 17 points.

Robert Dozier is a carbon-copy of Drew Naymick with a little less muscle and a little more skill, and Joey Dorsey, if he plays like he did against Miss. State, is too athletic for Suton, who better be careful to watch the contact or else he could find himself on the bench.

2. Youth will not prevail:
Outside of Naymick, Neitzel, and Suton, all of the Spartans impact players are young, and I include Raymar Morgan. The aforementioned three are a great starting point, but a freshman point guard (Lucas), and back up freshman point guard (Chris Allen) and young, still learning superstar (Morgan) is not a great nucleus to base their teams chances on. These guys will need to play extraordinarily in order to beat the Tigers. Against Pitt Lucas was incredible, but outside of Lucas' 19, Neitzel's 21, and Suton's 14. The Spartans didn't have any other scoring options, and with Derrick Rose and Antonio Anderson likely draped all over the Spartans fantastic back court, scoring will be tougher than it was against Levance Fields, and Ronald Ramon.

Meanwhile Memphis starts a senior (Dorsey), three juniors, (Douglas-Roberts, Dozier, Anderson) and the other-wordly freshman (Rose). Also, their big 4 off the bench (Allen, Doneal Mack, Willie Kemp, and Shawn Taggart) are all sophomores, except Allen who is a senior, and all of them except Taggart played significant minutes in the NCAA tournament run they made last season. Plus they spread their scoring around more than Pittsburgh does, or in other words, they have more weapons, and so it will be important for Michigan State to try and score in bunches or else the game will get out of hand quick.

3. Derrick Rose:
If I had the first pick in the NBA draft, I would take Michael Beasley, but it is absurd for me to think that Eric Gordon is a better pick at number 2 than Derrick Rose, a sure-fire franchise point guard. Rose was brilliant against Miss. State, and he was matched up against a terrific senior point guard in Jamont Gordon who is no slouch. While Kalin Lucas may be able to hang with Rose as far as quickness and pure speed are concerned. The size and strength differential will make an enormous difference in who wins the battle of freshman point guards. My prediction? Rose will come close to a triple-double, and Lucas will not play well.

Fun Stats

2008-03-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

After nothing exciting happened yesterday as far as close games and exciting finishes were concerned, outside of Duke v. Belmont, my idea to write a synopsis of the days events was scrapped and instead I scoured the box scores for fun stats about the games.

1. Will Thomas FG% = 71.4%, Rest of George Mason FG %= 21.03%

If you had told me that Will Thomas would get the best of Luke Harangody and that Folarin Campbell would be an abysmal 1 of 12 from the field I would have told you that you were crazy. But, George Mason stunk the joint out last night, I know Notre Dame plays physical defense, but George Mason and especially Campbell have been in this position before, they should not have been intimidated.

2. Duke-38 rebounds, Belmont-30 rebounds

This is why Duke will not make it deep into the tournament. They have 6 foot 9 inch Lance Thomas, 6 foot 8 inch Kyle Singler, 7 footer Brian Zoubek, and a terrific rebounding guard in Gerald Henderson, and they couldn't out-rebound Belmont, a team whose significant players all stand in the 6 foot to 6 foot 5 range. This was what worried critics and Coach K in the beginning of the year is that Duke could not survive because of their lack of depth in the post, and that sentiment rang true last night.

Zoubek should be ashamed of himself. I watched the entire first half and he clearly had the advantage, no one could get around him to front him, and he towered over Belmont for rebounds. Only to step out of bounds, or turn it over some other way. If I was 7 feet tall, I would kill Belmont. Duke better hope that West Virginia doesn't grab a lot of rebounds, because that combined with the Mountaineers shooting touch, and the Devils will be making an early exit.

3. Joe Crawford (Kentucky) 35 points

The best performance of the first day was thrown in by the much maligned Joe Crawford. Crawford has had to deal with the Coach who recruited him leaving, and the fact that he was in his new coach's doghouse for quite some time. He went from being a 5-star prospect to not getting drafted and being a worse player than his younger brother. Yes, his team lost, but what if they had the services of Patrick Patterson? Regardless, Crawford was simply all over the floor yesterday and just absolutely shredded Marquette's defense. It was awesome to watch.

4. Ron Anderson (K. State) 22 minutes, 10 points, 8 rebounds, 6 offensive, 2 steals

Kansas State as a team proved yesterday that life will go on in Manhattan after Michael Beasley leaves thanks in a large part to the 6 foot 8, 245 lb. freshman Ron Anderson. Take a good look at the stat line I just read you, and then read that on the season he averages 12 minutes, 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.4 steals. Then consider that with Davon Jefferson guarding Beasley, Anderson was matched up with Taj Gibson for most of the game...Yes that Taj Gibson that is expected to be a top 25 draft pick if he comes out. His biggest contribution was on the glass, and considering 3/4 of his rebounds were offensive it is safe to say that he contributed far more points than his point total shows. He did everything perfect, he didn't force shots, he hustled everywhere, and mainly, he wreaked havoc down low so that the concentration could not be left on Michael Beasley.

5. Aaron Bruce (Baylor) 11 minutes, 0-1 from the field, 0 points, 2 turnovers

What the hell happened to Aaron Bruce? Yesterday was an unjust end for the face of the Baylor Bears for the past 4 years. He hung with Coach Drew through the thick and the thin for three years, and now, in his senior season, he has gone completely AWOL. I understand the level of talent of Baylor has risen significantly in the past 3 years, but you are telling me that a kid who averaged 18 per game as a freshman deserves to get phased out of the lineup the way he has this season?

Players to Watch

2008-03-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows about the Tyler Hanboroughs and the Michael Beasleys of the world. I have taken on the responsibility of procuring a list for you, that will help you keep your eyes peeled for mid-major players who will be fun or important to watch. Enjoy!

1. Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky
At this point, anyone who watches the tournament previews and reads online should know about Courtney Lee, he has become the "it" sleeper guy to light it up in the tournament, and for good reason. The 6 foot 5 swingman considered leaving for the draft after last season until he came back to Western Kentucky to improve his draft stock. Now, he is averaging 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals, good for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 1st on the team respectively.

The best part about his game that I can see, from the meager highlights of him dunking on someone from Florida Atlantic is that he takes the ball to the rim a lot, and loves contact. He shot 167 free throws this season, which is a average amount for a swingman, but he really seeks the contact and has great balance and body control in the air which allows him to score often.

Watch for him to really take advantage of an undersized overachieving Drake team, outside of Klayton Korver, they won't have anyone even remotely capable of guarding him.

2. Josh Young, Drake
Josh Young makes the list because despite his relative small stature, and the fact that he is often overshadowed by deserved media darling Adam Emmenecker, he is the best player on the Drake team by a long shot. He is a pure sniper who is able to find his shot over taller players using screens and good pump fakes. He averaged 15.8 points per game, and more than half of his shots came from behind the arc, and for good reason as he shot 44.6 percent.

He is so fun to watch because he is a miniature Stephen Curry. You look at Young and you can't imagine this guy tearing up a conference as difficult as the MVC, but he has no fear, and will literally shoot, and probably make it, from anywhere on the court. His speed and quick hands give him a penchant for thieving the ball from the opposing team although he only averages 1.3 steals per game. The Drake v. Western Kentucky matchup is a fun one.

3. Jason Richards, Davidson
With my apologies to Stephen Curry, who doesn't make this list, Richards is the gas that makes the Wildcats go. He is the nation's leader in assists (it helps playing with Curry, when a simple swing pass can turn into an assist) and also a potent scorer from the perimeter for Davidson. I love point guards, especially under-sized, heady point guards, and Richards fits that bill.

Not only did he average 8 assists all season while taking relatively good care of the basketball, he is an accurate shooter from downtown who can't be left alone as he averaged 12.6 points per game, and while he shoots only 33 percent from behind the arc, he took nearly 157 shots from downtown so clearly it isn't a factor. But whats even better about those stats is that 157 is not half of his field goal attempts, and he is not exactly a large guy. If you watch him he rarely takes bad shots, including his misses, and has no problems going into the land of the Sycamores down low and trying to draw some contact.

He reminds me a lot of a Jared Jordan. Jordan was known for his passing but could really fill it up as well, and while Richards is the nation's leader in assists, he is not afraid to score as well. His match up with Jeremy Pargo will be a fantastic match up between two very underrated guards.

4. Demetric Bennett, South Alabama
South Alabama coach Ronnie Arrow must be thanking his stars that John Pelphrey left him with such a talented roster, and the player who really exemplifies that sentiment is Demetric Bennett. At 6 foot 4, 205 pounds, Demetric Bennett is different from Richards and Young and similar to Lee in the sense that instead of relying solely on skill to score, he can boss the defender around a little bit as well. Thats not to say that he doesn't have a lot of skill as well. He averaged over 20 points per game and shot 42 percent from behind the arc. He also went to the free throw line 157 times, same as Lee, and shot 83 percent from the stripe.

Where he differs from Lee is that he is not content sitting on the perimeter and watching the other bang inside, he likes to get in there and mix it up with the big men. He averaged 5.9 rebounds including 145 defensive rebounds showing that he was not leaking out on the fast break looking for easy points.

NBA scouts really love him because he is a good ball handler, capable of creating his own shot, and he is also a physical specimen who should have no problem adapting to the banging that takes place in the NBA. He will be matched up probably with Matt Howard from Butler, and that will be maybe the most fun match up to watch of all.

5. Garrison Carr, American University
Welcome to Part 3 of "The Little Men that Could" with your host Earl Boykins. Carr is the reason why American is in the NCAA tournament, and its really only for two reasons, but both of them make him extremely fun to watch. First of all, he rarely, if ever comes inside the 3-point line. Its safe to assume that all of his two point field goals were meant to be threes, but his foot was on the line. That being said, at 5 foot 11, 165 pounds, he averaged 18.1 points per game for the Patriot League champs, and it seems like every 3-pointer he shoots goes in.

Second reason to watch Garrison Carr is that he is like a pinball, he never ever stops running, and he rarely is ever is taken out because coach Jeff Jones can't afford to have his biggest threat on the bench. Tennessee will run ragged over American, but my guess is that they will not keep their eye on Garrison Carr the whole game and he will go all Stephen Curry v. Maryland of last year and hang 20+ on the Volunteers.

Honorable Mention:

Reggie Lary, Boise St.

Matt Howard, Butler.

Terrence Oglesby, Clemson.

Jeremy Goode, Mt. Saint Mary's.

Edwin Ubiles, Siena.

Yankees v. Red Sox...Part 2

2008-03-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

And I'm back with the second half list of breakdowns by position. So lets not waste any time...

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz vs. Shelley Duncan
This is another easy victor, David Ortiz has become one of the most feared left-handed hitters in all of baseball, and the two-man rotation of Shelley Duncan and Jason Giambi frankly can't measure up.

In what was considered an off year for the Boston slugger, Ortiz still managed to half maybe the most productive year at the plate for an American League hitter this side of A-Rod. While his home run total dropped steeply, he still managed to hit .332, drive in 117 runs, and score 116 of his own. Did I mention his OBP was .445, and his OPS bested 1.000? Frankly, David Ortiz may have had a poor statistical year, but he is still the Red Sox most feared hitter, and I wouldn't expect any sort of drop off in numbers again this year, as he will hopefully have had time to rest his myriad of illnesses and injuries that troubled him during the season.

On the other side of the coin, Shelley Duncan only played 3 months of the season, July, August, and September, and while he demolished pitching in those first two months, 2 of his home runs came against a young Orioles team, and 3 came against Tampa Bay, not exactly the cream of the crop as far as pitching is concerned. He has a chance to be a productive member of the line up whether it is at first base, or designated hitter, but don't expect him to hit .300, and unless he has Lasik surgery, don't expect his tendency to swing at everything to change either.

Winner: Ortiz is one of the most dangerous power hitters in the entire league, while Shelley Duncan looks more like Shane Spencer than Lou Gehrig.

Left Field: Manny Ramirez vs. Hideki Matsui
Nothing makes me happier than listening to Yankees fans bitch and moan about how many doesn't take the game seriously, and how he barely even tries anymore. Hideki Matsui on the other hand is a consumate professional. "Godzilla" goes about his business and handles the day-to-day routine of baseball like a job. So we need statistical breakdowns:

Matsui missed sometime last year, and still managed to be his normal productive and reliable self. .285, with 25 homers, 28 doubles, and 103 RBIs. He is a solid left fielder, not a good one, but certainly someone who will not hurt the team over the course of the season. Durability is the only real issue. Ever since that freak injury in left field, Matsui has had arthroscopic knee surgery, and has most recently been complaining about a stiff neck (only in baseball is a stiff neck a real injury, if you have time, read all of Yahoo's fantasy injury notes, they are terrific comedy). My guess is that stiff neck will not cause any problems, and Matsui will be shipshape by opening day, or at least by the end of April (he better be or else I am in the market for a fantasy left fielder).

Manny Ramirez hit 30 home runs and 100 Rbis again last season...How used to that statement is everyone in Boston? The sad thing is, everyone probably still thinks he did that last season, but those who do are incorrect. In his worst statistical season since 1997 with the Indians, Manny coasted to a .296 batting average, with a paltry 20 homers and 88 Rbis, and he slugged under .500 for the first time since his rookie season with Indians. Now many did not get a whole lot of at bats, and certainly took a good deal of rest in August and September which of course drew the ire of Red Sox fans.

But really, do you think Manny gives a shit? This guy has been a hitting machine since he came into the league. He may not do anything other than hit, and throw people out who still continue to try to stretch a line drive single of the Monster into a double. Seriously, Manny playing left field is the baseball version of the rope-a-dope, he lulls runners to sleep with his slow gait, and then pegs them out when the get greedy.

My guess is Manny will have a better season this year than he did his last season, but it won't be significantly better. Hopefully he will care...but I wouldn't even bet a dollar on it.

Winner: Push because frankly this position has too many questions marks. For Matsui, its whether his stiff neck and geriatric knee can handle a grueling 500 ABs. For Manny, its wondering whether a light will turn on in his head, and he will return to the 30 homer 100 Rbi Monster we in the Fens all know him as...until those things are proven, I will withhold picking one over the other.

Centerfield: Jacoby Ellsbury vs. Melky Cabrera
The battle of the promising youngsters for both of these teams begins in center field, where veteran stalwarts Johnny Damon and CoCo Crisp have been jettisoned in favor of the promising youngsters who are replacing them. This is another really close battle, and it but it would be unfair to name it a push, so I will pick a winner.

Jacoby Ellsbury has become the new Fred Lynn for the Boston Red Sox. Young, smooth fielding, good-looking centerfielder. In just 116 at bats last season with the big club, Ellsbury was surprisingly good. He hit at a .353 clip, and .360 in the playoffs, and scored 20 runs which is terrific considering he was on base only 49 times. The real question is can he keep it up? My guess is that he will probably sleep with more women this season, but that will be the only statistic that rises. Its impossible to expect him to hit .350 in his first full season of major league baseball. But a .300 season with 40 stolen bases is not out of the question at all. Plus, he was the minor league defensive player of the year for the Pawtucket Red Sox, so it looks like he is a 4-tool player with the power being absent.

Not to be outdone, at the ripe age of 23, Cabrera had a terrific season in the outfield for New York. He hit .273, and drove in 75 runs, although in that line up that number means about as much as Lugo's Rbi totals. But, playing left and center field, Cabrera had just 4 errors, and 16 assists, while showing a good deal of poise and grace for such a young player to roam the confines of Yankee Stadium. The one knock, as with all young players, he has not learned how to be selective yet at the plate. His OBP was .327, which really isn't all that good, and to have less than 1/3 of your hits be for extra bases is solid, but nothing to brag about.

Winner: While Jacoby Ellsbury could potentially keep the momentum from the playoffs and just catch fire in April and May, My winner is Cabrera because he had over 500 ABs, and until Ellsbury plays a full season, you really can't pick him over Cabrera.

Right Field: JD Drew vs. Bobby Abreu
While JD Drew has been relaxing all off season, Bobby Abreu has been turning all of that trans-fat he used to carry into muscle, and now has come into camp looking sharp after a less than stellar season last year. But its really a tale of 2 halfs.

Abreu caught fire after the all-star break, and while he looked like he was allergic to Bowflex, he still managed to hit .305 with 11 of his 16 homers coming after the all-star break in what was a great second half for the Yankee team. But, if Hideki Matusi goes down with another injury, Abreu will be relied upon to hold down the number 5 spot in the order behind A-Rod and give him some protection, and it will be interesting to see how he does. I feel like the Yankees are so old, that 4 or 5 of their players are going to beg Girardi to DH, and Abreu is one of them. His arm really isn't that scary, and he covers a lot less ground than he did in his previous year's, but, I guess we will find out.

JD Drew hit a grand slam against the Indians in the playoffs, and all of the criticism he drew last season was absolved, and replaced with this warm happy feeling. Well, despite being a Red Sox fan, I am not buying any of it. I hated the JD Drew deal as soon as we signed him, and it is still a really bad deal from a monetary stand point. If Wily Mo Pena had started in right field would the production from that position really be that different? He hit .270 for the season, with 11 homers and just 64 Rbis, and he was hitting behind Ortiz and Manny and Lowell all season. It's not like he is due for a bounce back year either, because there really isn't anything to bounce back to, aside from his contract year with the Dodgers, 64 Rbis is the 4th most he has had in his illustrious 9-year career. Just pathetic, and unless he gets magicked into a better player, this position really isn't all that contentious

Winner: Abreu is not a bum, even when he is way out of shape and plays horribly he still tops 100 Rbis, Drew...huge bum.

Ace: Josh Beckett vs. Chien-Ming Wang
Both of these teams hold a plethora of young pitching talent, and so its important to distinguish who is the better ace, because when playoff time rolls around, these are the two men who are going to need to carry the team down the stretch.
Chien-Ming Wang has surreptitiously slid into the ace roll for the Yankees and flourished. Other than the fact that he looks like he is about to cry when he gets in a jam, he has been a terrific pitcher for the Yankees. His heavy sinker produces a lot of ground balls outs, and although he doesn't strike a lot of people out, he has won 19 games in 2006 and 2007, to become one of the better pitchers in baseball. However, to my knowledge, and I would have to ask the Schwab about this, Wang has never had an extremely attractive girlfriend, and he has never sworn on National television. He really just doesn't look like he has the killer instinct, he is unassuming and solid, but not fiery.
Beckett probably would have won the American League Cy Young Award if it was voted on after the playoffs, but because it doesn't work that way, he was relegated to second place behind C.C. Sabathia. That being said, it is clear the difference a year makes in the American League. In 2006 he at least gave the fans a little souvenir with their expensive ticket by giving up 36 home runs and having an ERA of over 5.00. Then, last season, he stopped being so damn stubborn by trying to throw fastballs by everybody, and started working with Varitek to harness is lethal arsenal. Beckett was just plain silly last season, he won 20 games, was 6 strikeouts away from 200, and had the greatest post season of any pitcher in the last 10 years. I can't see anything shaking out differently for Beckett this season, my expectation is for him to put together the same season he had last season.

Winner: Beckett has two World Series rings, and Chien-Ming Wang has 0, Beckett has one World Series MVP, and an ALCS MVP, Wang has none...case closed.

For those of you scoring at home, that makes the final score 4-3 in favor of the Yankees, but I also failed to do the rest of the rotations because its really a lot of speculation, and I also failed to do managers because I really I have f*&%ing clue how to quantify what a manager means for the team. I do know Francona has some rings and Girardi doesn't, but Girardi has one season a manager and has won coach of the year for the job he did with a Florida team with considerably less talent than the current Yankees.

All in all, bring on the over-hyped Sportscenter montages and constant "best rivalry in sports" labellings, because I want to see some baseball. We will get our first taste on opening weekend, unfortunately I will be in DC maybe watching the Nationals play the Marlins while I get housed in my $10 bleacher seats.

Yankees v. Red Sox...Version 2008

2008-03-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

As you guys all know from the silly comments of Hank Steinbrenner, and the stern retaliation from Red Sox owner John Henry, its obvious that baseball is back, and since spring training really doesn't carry any meaningful weight, the sportswriters need something to write about.

We all know a good way to start is with the Yankees and the Red Sox, so I will now break it down position by position.

Catcher: Jason Varitek vs. Jorge Posada
It is really tough to draw a distinct difference between Posada and Varitek. Oh wait... I am lying. Posada is still an all-star catcher. He hit .338 last season with 20 homeruns and 90 RBIs. Varitek's hitting has decreased dramatically over the past few years to the point where he is no longer counted on to provide any offense at all.
Both of these catchers still are held in extremely high regard by their managers and their pitching staffs for their intelligence in both calling the games, and working with young pitchers to improve. Just ask Josh Beckett, who went from from an ERA of over 5 and 36 home runs given up, to the AL Cy Young runner up and most dominant post season pitcher in just one additional year with Varitek.
The real reason why Posada wins is because his advantage with the bat in his hands far outweighs the minimal advantage Varitek has behind the plate.
Keep in mind though, Varitek does wear the mythical "C", and thats just sweet!
Winner: Posada because frankly, most people's practice swings with a doughnut on their bat are faster than Jason Varitek's swing.

1st Base: Jason Giambi vs. Kevin Youkilis
I really don't think there is any doubt in anyone's mind, yankees fan or red sox fan, about who wins this battle.
Kevin Youkilis was the Red Sox MVP and was even honored by ESPN's contrived awards as one of the 5 Unsung Heroes of sports. Also keep in mind that he drove in 83 runs while his OBP hovered around .400 and he scored just as many runs. He also is a fantastic defensive first baseman, where he played over 1000 innings of baseball last year without committing an error.
On the other hand, Giambi might not even be the right name to face off against Youk. Giambi spent a good portion of last year recuperating from all of his steroid related injuries, and managed to hit just .236. Shelley Duncan is a likely candidate to get some playing time at first base given the type of performance Duncan had in a September call-up, and if Giambi, who says he is in the best shape of his life, doesn't perform during spring training, this former all-star may find himself platooning at both the designated hitter position and 1st base.
Winner: Youk just barely edges out the other two Yankee candidates, Shelley Duncan and Juan Miranda, who gained fame from his famous case against the state of Arizona years ago.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia v. Robinson Cano
Did you know that Dustin Pedroia played the entire playoffs with a broken hand???
Red Sox fans all around the country are still sporting wood from the performance that Pedroia put on during the playoffs, and his emergence last season was a revelation that counter-acted the colossal disappointment that Julio Lugo was. The Rookie of the Year in the American League last season carried a spiffy .317 batting average, and, in a most veteranesque category, Pedroia walked 47 times while striking out only 42 times, a great indicator that his batting average was not a fluke.
On the other side of the coin is Robinson Cano, someone Hank Steinbrenner wouldn't give up in the Johan Santana deal because he covets Cano the same way he covets the last pack of Marlboro Reds in the carton. In Steinbrenner's defense, Cano is on his way to becoming one of the better young players in the league, as he also eclipsed the .300 mark last season, and was a bases-clearing double away from 100 Rbis. While he doesn't walk a lot, and his patience at the plate is less than desirable. He makes up for it with a smooth swing, good speed, and power that is uncommon for second basemen outside of Jeff Kent (who took steroids, why do you think Bonds and Kent had so much beef?).
While Cano has rapidly improved on defense, he still had 13 errors, which was good for 4th in the American League. Pedroia, while playing in 200 less innings, only had 6 errors, and frankly is just a better defensive player than Cano.
Winner: Push, while Cano was the obvious choice for most people, I think Dustin Pedroia catches him because of his defensive prowess and the fact that he hit .283 with 2 home runs and 10 Rbis in the playoffs with a broken hand. This should be the most interesting battle of the year.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter v. Julio Lugo
Some never though they would see the day where there could be a more one-sided matchup than Youkilis vs. the Three headed monster, Duncamirambi, who sounds like the next Japanese superstar.
Well folks, welcome to Red Sox fans worst nightmare. The only statistical categories Lugo won were Rbi's, and he had a huge head start after the April he had, stolen bases, and of course crotch-grabs (yes I stole that joke from Simmons).
Derek Jeter is one of the faces of the MLB, and he reminds us every year with another season of clutch performances and timely hitting. As much as I dislike Derek Jeter, ask any real baseball fan, including sox fans, and they will tell you that they would probably have traded Nomar Garciaparra for Derek Jeter straight up, he is just that clutch.
Winner: Jeter by the hair on his chinny chin chin. Is there any play that will forever define the Yankees captain more than his backhanded flip to get Jeremy Giambi out at home? Every baseball fan with a pulse still gets chills watching that play.

3rd Base: Alex Rodriguez v. Mike Lowell
This is a little closer than it seems at first glance. While A-Rod had a statistical monstrosity of a season, and deserved the MVP award after the ridiculous season he put up. Mike Lowell was the most important part of the Red Sox playoff run, and the weight he carried considering he didn't have the same protection in the lineup, and that he did have JD Drew on his team, cannot be measured by statistics.
Upon further review, A-Rod statistics dwarfed Lowell's except for doubles, a category Mike Lowell magically cleans up in every year, and even had better defensive statistics than Lowell, who had his worst season defensively. But, how can I possibly vote Alex Rodriguez over Mike Lowell when the Yankees were pretty much ready to move on without A-Rod during the off-season and go after Mike Lowell?
Winner: Push again and people may think I am just being biased. But really, A-Rod only evens this matchup because he hit the ball really hard, a lot, and because he is significantly younger than the aging Lowell.
I will concede this position if Lowell flounders this season after receiving a new contract and A-Rod continues to hit. But until A-Rod makes a difference in the playoffs the way he does in the regular season, and the way Lowell did all season, this category is pushed.

Part 2 Later...

How dominant football has become

2008-03-03T18:25:00.001-08:00

I have decided, to keep my blog spots short and sweet, due to the short attention span of people, including myself.

The four traditional major sports are baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Now with the NASCAR, some people say five, but for my point it does not matter. Football has become the most powerful and media driven sport in America. Naysayers may claim the other sports get their fair share, but that really isn't.

Fact 1:
In the past two weeks my brain has been inundated with numbers from the combine, and the rise and fall of prospects, and for once I agree with Jim Rome. The NFL Combine is really a media contrived event. Football is not a game that can be measured using shuttle drills and 40 yard dash times. Troy Williamson, Manny Wright, Charles Rogers, and even as far back as Tony Mandarich can attest to that point. Football is a game of intagibles, and no part of the poking and prodding and scribbling at the combine can ever project that through tests.

Fact 2:
Through the DirecTV package, fantasy football, and of course popular demand. Football has grown to dwarf all the other sports as far as media coverage, media frenzy, and media scrutiny. I understand that ESPN has a schedule to fill, and watching Trey Wingo throw it out to Todd McShay live in Indianapolis for more analysis about people who ran a 4.3, and bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times is important to some people. I know Roger Goodell must love his life right now. But ESPN needs to lay off the hour long updates on Hashmarks about who has been recently signed. But, I understand football has become the most popular sports.

Fact 3:
As a real-live, in-the-flesh sports fan, I am concerned about whether the Celtics are going to hold off the Pistons for the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, or who the prohibitive favorite out west is. I want to hear Dickie Vitale make my ears bleed with hype about March Madness, and I even love to listen to Barry Melrose, who is by far the guy on ESPN who wins the award for ESPN On-Air personality who most single men fantasize having a beer with.

I love football as much as the next man, but as a sports fan, I am more interested in the sports where something is actually at stake, and some sort of highlight will be created in commemoration of them. Not some talking heads with inside sources telling me they are worried Randy Moss won't sign with the Patriots.

Save the speculation, focus on the sports at hand. Its hard enough to navigate that goddamn website!

Regards,
Fan Michael

Best Nicknames Cont.

2007-11-09T12:50:00.001-08:00

I know you all missed me, and now I am back after a week long hiatus so that I could delve further into the annals of sports to make sure I covered all the necessary sports to find the best nicknames of all-time. So now I will continue with my list at number 10.

10. David "Skywalker" Thompson:

If you can name one addition to the game of basketball that has revolutionized its popularity that was more exciting or important than the dunk, I would like you to write the column for me instead and I will resign. Lets face it, the dunk has been one of the more important additions to the game of basketball. Watching footage from the days of Cousy and Heinsohn are nostalgic and all, but it isn't as exciting as watching someone dunk.

Well, you can all thank David Thompson for its impact and introduction to basketball. In the early 70s college basketball was just beginning to shrug off the hangover that was the four corner offense which was about as exciting as watching a full round of the John Deere Classic. But then came along David Thompson who changed the game from a game of strategy and stalemate, to a game of explosiveness and fast paced offense. He is notoriously known as the inventor of the dunk, and as the first man who truly played the game above the rim.

Dominique Wilkins could dunk, but David Thompson beat him to the punch and really electrified the crowd with his high-wire antics. Not only that, but he is one of the best 10 college basketball players of all time. He had a purported 48 inch vertical leap. What better man to be nicknamed Skywalker than a man who was once taken out of a basketball game for dunking in the era when that sort of move was outlawed. He pioneered the art form of dunking before anyone else was even imagining doing it. Thats why he is at number 10.

9. Dave "Cementhead" Semenko:

Many of you are sitting there wondering "who the #$%^ is Dave Semenko?" Well to be honest I never had ever heard of him before using my unlimited amount of free time and access to obscure television like hockey on ESPN Classic. I watched the old oilers with Wayne Gretzky, and listened to Don Cherry continuously mention some dude named "cementhead" in concurrence with Gretzky.

It turns out Dave Semenko was one of the meanest and toughest players in the history of hockey, and was also Wayne Gretzky's personal bodyguard in the days when Gretzky was in desperate need of one. He played in over 500 NHL games and finished with less than 200 total points, but did manage to accrue 1175 penalty minutes being the enforcer of the greatest team in hockey history. He didn't have to score, his job was simple and easy. If someone touches Wayne Gretzky...hit him so hard he doesn't want to do it again. If someone threatens Wayne Gretzky...deliver a bone-crunching hit that left the guy dazed.

Whether he was a dummy, simple minded, or just a one trick pony, it is clear that this nickname is terrific for a man who had no purpose in the history of hockey other than to act as a bodyguard for the greatest hockey player in history and the ambassador to the game. Where would hockey and Wayne Gretzky without "Cementhead".

8. Muhammad "The Louisville Lip" Ali:

This one is a hotly-contested choice among my readership...my fan(s)...myself. His other nickname is "The Greatest" and frankly while it might be true, it just isn't clever enough to make a stingy list like mine. But "The Louisville Lip" is a great nickname.

First and foremost the alliteration always earns bonus points, and so does the aptness of the nicknames. Cassius Clay hailed from Louisville, Kentucky and his boxing career was as much about how much trash he talked as how good of a boxer he was. The real question people should ask is would Muhammad Ali be as popular and polarizing if he didn't run his mouth as much? My answer is no. Every athlete who has ever been outspoken for any reason has gained notoriety in his sport and the national news.

Ali was the forebearer of that trend. He was outspoken about his opponents, and how he would embarass them. He was outspoken in every single one of his interviews with Howard Cosell, which made for great TV, and most importantly he was outspoken about his responsibility to the United States Army and his drafting into the Vietnam War.

He earns number 8 not because he was a great boxer, but because he was the most entertaining sports figure of his time, and one of the most important pioneers in his generation. Did I mention his lip was always moving?

7. Rich "El Guapo" Garces:

This is my personal favorite nickname, but unfortunately I need to show some deference to the people who actually earned their nicknames, rather than just developed a catchy moniker that has endeared him to his hometown fans.

Growing up a Red Sox fan in the mid 90s I will shamefully admit that I knew very little about the intricacies of the actual team. All I knew was that Mo Vaughn was good, my dad loved John Valentin so I did also, and Rich Garces was the greatest man to ever grace the baseball field.....seriously. "El Guapo" could do no wrong in the eyes of Red Sox fans during his hey day.

For those of you that live in caves, or just aren't cultured enough to know even a little spanish, "El Guapo" means the Handsome One. What makes the nickname so good is that it is incredibly ironic, yet endearing all at once. It should be noted that Garces came up with this nickname on his own, or through his childhood, I can't remember and am too lazy to look it up. He was far from handsome however. He was about 275 pounds in his heyday with a very thin porno mustache, yet every time he jogged.....ambled......shuffled out of the bullpen, Fenway Park would go ballistic because he was without a doubt every Red Sox's fans favorite reliever during his tenure (keep in mind this isnt a difficult thing to accomplish when your bullpen consisted of Heathcliff Slocumb, and Rick Aguilera).

But just in case you needed any more reason to love this guy, he was pretty damn good. He goes down as the only man in baseball history who I have ever wanted to just hug with all my might as much as I wanted to see him in a close game with the outcome still hanging in the balance. From 1998-2001, his ERA never rose above 4, and in the Red Sox bullpen, that was phenomenal.

Best 15 Sports Nicknames Cont.

2007-11-04T19:06:00.001-08:00

Best 15 Sports Nicknames of All-Time

2007-10-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

I was at work the other day at the newspaper waiting for another high school soccer coach to call and name her entire defense as people that played well. I swear if high school coaches got their way when they won every one from the water boy to the kids parents would be mentioned in the 2 paragraph blurb in the paper.

But anyway, I was reading the sportswire, which I do always when I am bored, and I came across something that made me laugh while inspiring me at the same time. It was just a short story about how Dan Lauzon, a MMA fighter from Brockton, was going to be fighting Bla-Bla (not his real name) in 2 weeks.

But what really caught my name was Lauzon's nickname. "The Upgrade", just for the record that rolls of the tongue as Dan "The Upgrade" Lauzon... c'mon! that is the worst sports nickname of all time, it doesn't instill any fear in the opponent and frankly is just terribly unimaginative, so I decided to make a list of my top 15 sports nicknames of all-time.

15. Dominique "The Human Highlight Film" Wilkins
This nickname found its legs after watching a young, small and skinny Wilkins throw down some of the most athletic dunks of the early 90s. Seriously, this makes the list not only because it is simple, yet unique, but because it is so apt. Wilkins really was a highlight film early in his career. He is one of those basketball players who was really good relying on his ability to jump over everyone else on the floor. If you are going to have that kind of nickname you better be a staple on YouTube, and if you type in Dominique Wilkins dunks, you will see some of the most ferocious and exciting dunks in all of basketball, truly a highlight film.

14. Pete "Pistol Pete" Maravich
I put this name of the list because I would like to think this originated when someone was thinking about an ode to the western movies or stereotypes that spawned from those movies. Lawlessness, people who shot from the hip, drank heavily, and made love to loose women, in short did what ever they damn well please but they were also dangerous.
Pete Maravich fits that description, except he did it all on the basketball court. There were no rules or set plays or specific ideas on offense when Pete Maravich was on the floor. Watch "the Pistol" and you will see that Maravich was without a doubt one of the most selfish, independent, and improvising basketball players of all time. That being said, he was also probably the most dangerous offensive player in the league then. He could score from downtown, or beat you off the dribble. He most likely made love to loose women, but don't sleep while he was on the court because there was no one more entertaining.

13. Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams
The key to this nickname, what makes it flow so easily and sound so smooth on the ear is the alliteration, but it is also quite apt. Take a good look at a picture of Ted Williams and then try and guess his weight. This man was way over 6 feet and weighed right about 200 pounds... does it look like he weighed that much. He truly does look like a splinter, a wiry, long baseball player.
He was also quite splendid. Although he may not have looked like a man who had a lot of raw power, keep in mind this man hit 500+ home runs and had years in his prime taken away by that goddamn Nazi Hitler. He was the best hitter in the history of baseball and could hit doubles and home runs with just the flick of his wrist, if you don't believe go stand at the red seat in Fenway and then squint and find home plate 450 feet away. His almost mathematical and scientific approach to hitting is what made him so "splendid" and its the alliteration that really makes this nickname work.

12. Charles "The Round Mound of Rebound" Barkley
This is the first nickname to make my list which actually is funny! A comical character like Charles Barkley deserves a nickname that doesn't make people laugh outloud when they see it attached to his picture, but does make them smile and think about really great things that can go along with a great nickname and a great player.
What also makes this nickname terrific is again how apt it is. When Sir Charles, his dumber nickname, played in Philadelphia he was clearly playing a full 60 minutes of basketball, going through a case of bud light, and mixing that in with some late night Wendy's runs. To make it all more comical he was short. He only stands about 6 feet 5 inches tall and must have weighed upwards of 240 pounds which kind of makes me think that if we were to push him down a hill in the snow, he would make a great snowball... but hey thats just me. But he also carried himself with grace and tenacity. He athleticism in proportion to his stature and weight was quite absurd. He could lead the break, dunk and break your ankles on a cross-over. But what he definitely could do was rebound. For his career he average 11.7 rebounds per game and only finished under double digits once, his first season in the league.

11. Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky
This nickname truly says it all in one of the most obvious and simple nicknames of all time, and thats what makes it so great. Wayne Gretzky was and will always be the greatest hockey player to ever play the game. Its like when someone picks first in pick up basketball but doesn't know the name of the kid who he wants to pick, so he says, "I will take the good kid, who can jump high, and shoot well." Its an obvious statement but it goes understated just how truthful it is, especially in the case of Wayne.
It just makes too little sense for his nickname to be anything else. This type of player doesn't need alliteration or some funny play on his name, "freight train Wayne" or Wayne "the stain". Not only are these terrible examples to illustrate my point but they obviously don't do a man of Gretzky's talent or stature justice. "Insane" Wayne, Wayne the "Dane".... I just thought I would try a few more, see if I couldn't do better.

Its late at night and I am too tired to write out the rest of them now so I will be lazy and write the ....................to be continued

Hail Thee Josh Beckett

2007-10-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

If I was really one of those lame Red Sox fans, I would take a page out of Nike's book and make red t-shirts with huge white letters across the front that say "Witness". But, I am the kind of Red Sox fan who roots for them from my own home without attending "Yay we made the playoffs" rallies and wearing a goddamn Red Sox track suit whenever I leave the house.

However, midway through the year I was still not sold on Beckett. When my friend asked me who I would pitch in game 7 of the World Series I answered without heisitation Curt Schilling. In the words of Roberto DeVincenzo, "What a stupid I am!". I still love the gamer Schilling is, but I was really forced to eat my own words big time with the way Beckett has pitched this postseason.

What we are witnessing in Boston, and for anyone who remotely cares about baseball as a whole, is the emergence of one of the greatest big game pitchers of all time. I am talking Jack Morris, Game 7 of the 91 World Series except multiply it by 7 or 8. Josh Beckett is rapidly becoming one of the greatest postseason performers in the history of all sports, let alone baseball. Allow me to prove to you what I mean.

Career Postseason Statistics:
W/L- 5-2
Innings- 65.2
Runs allowed- 13
ERA-1.78
Hits allowed-34
Strikeouts-73
Walks- 13
WHIP-0.72
Shutouts- 3

Now before we go on keep in mind that he has won his last 4 starts, including all three this postseason, and his record is 2-0 with a hold in games with the series on the line. Also if you throw out his terrible outing in Game 1 of the 2003 NLCS his ERA might actually be below 1. He is the kind of front of the line ace any team would wet their pants to get a hold of...hold on I have to go change my pants.

When Beckett first came to the Red Sox last season, he had the reputation of a good pitcher, with electric stuff, who was difficult to tame and also had trouble harnessing all his talent. In his first season in the American League that proved to be true. He was young and stubborn and even with Jason Varitek calling the game it was clear he was still trying to blow his great fastball by these hitters. As a result, he gave up a ton of homeruns, and although he was a rather reliable pitcher, his ERA was above 5 and he clearly wasn't scaring anybody.

This season has been a different story. On April 16th he went against the Angels and he was lights out for the most part, only allowing 1 run in 6 innings of work to improve to 3-0. But the best thing to see as a self-deprecating and extremely savvy baseball fan was that he was doing a much better job of hitting his spots with his fastball, and his curveball, which has always been great, was downright unhittable. I continued to follow the Red Sox all season and at the end of the season even I had to admit that CC Sabathia was probably more deserving of the AL Cy Young based on the sheer volume of innings he pitched and the fact that his stats were almost identical.

"I did not have doubting relations about that baseball player" There it was, you only see it once, a retraction of something I said which was clearly wrong. This postseason I am pretty sure he has proved that he deserves the AL Cy Young, now I know the votes have already been counted, but I have a feeling the announcement "CC Sabathia has won the AL Cy Young!" will have the same effect as "Mark Redman has been voted into the 2006 All-Star game for the Kansas City Royals." Beckett is just a better pitcher, Sabathia has comparable stuff, but reminds me of a young Beckett who still is learning how to effectively pitch.

After last night's performance in Cleveland where he basically walked out to the mound, shut down the Indians for 5 innings, almost got beat up by Kenny Lofton, and then continued to mow down Indians after the fact. I got to thinking about what makes Beckett perfect for the postseason, its always elusive and subjective to pin down certain characteristics that make him great, but hopefully I have a found a few.

1. Adrenaline:
Ever since Beckett started in this league he has made quick enemies by the way he wears he emotions on his sleeve, yells and shouts about just about everything on the mound, and basically takes offense to anything that anyone does that is in the least bit insulting. Plain and simple Beckett is an adrenaline junkie, he thrives on the roar of the crowd and the immense pressure of the situation.

For all that is said about the intensity Papelbon brings to the mound, Beckett might still have him beat. The man is a true gamer, Lofton flips his bat on some silly, meaningless at bat and Beckett immediately starts jawing with him.

I live for the moments in the late innings when everyone is standing at Fenway, cheering their brains off and Beckett strikes someone out and comes out the mound like he is charging the Brittish as a member of William Wallace's army.

Beckett just seems to have that extra reserve to be able to reach back for a lively fastball just when it looks like his pitching are losing their edge, and in the postseason that reserve is what seperates the special, from the above-average. Schilling used to have it, Mariano Rivera still has it, although it has lost its edge, and John Smoltz had it.

2-F*&% You!!
One thing that Josh will never be questioned about is his focus on the game of baseball. As much as I love Manny Ramirez basically lost in lala land while the postseason is going on, it is much more comforting to have someone who every day they are playing brings their gameface and their best effort.

Last night was a terrific example of how Beckett exemplifies the quality I am talking about. The first singer assigned to sing the national anthem drops out, so Cleveland reaches deep into their assorted bag of cheap, contrived marketing schemes (i.e. home run hankie) and decides to bring in Danielle Peck who Cleveland said is an native and "die-hard Indians fan". Ohh That must be why she is wearing a Red Sox jersey on her website, clearly she is admitting she is something like the Madden Curse where whatever she wears will do poorly....

Anyway it just so happens that Peck is also an ex flame of Josh Beckett, who keep in mind has joined the Mile-High Club with Leanne Tweeden. Well thank you Cleveland for delivering what most people call bulletin board fodder and I now call Fuck You Incentive.

Beckett was so distracted by the emergence of his ex-girlfriend that he decided to try and pick a fight with Kenny Lofton, allow a grand total of 5 hits, and only strikeout 11 batters. Seriously Cleveland, what was more likely, Beckett being rattled by the appearance of a woman he used to have relations with? or Beckett coming out in the 8th inning pointing at Mark Shapiro, who probably had nothing to do with it, and mooning him and punctuating that with the middle finger?

Instead Beckett went into a press conference, dropped the F bomb on live TV, made Joe Buck enraged with his use of foul language, and became instantaneously immortalized in Boston if he wasn't already.

The best part probably was that reporters went to his room this morning and he opened the door in his silk boxers with Danielle Peck hiding her naked body underneath the sheets...Ok I made that up, but seriously, Beckett has the stones to do it.

Thats only two because you guys are probably done reading already, but the best part is, Beckett doesn't care about his image with the public, he doesn't care if he upset a bunch of stiff TV anchors and advertisers, he just wants to win baseball games.

I can promise you that that kind of intensity and devotion is duly appreciated by his teammates in the locker room who must feel like Frank Thomas on TBS being carried by Ernie Johnson.

Pitchers like Bob Feller and Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson and Don Drysdale would throw the ball at your head, and then tell you to fuck yourself when you looked back at the pitchers mound.

Today the only pitchers I can say I would be scared of are Kyle Farnsworth, who still relishes someone charging the mound so he can spear them and land some haymakers to their face. Number 2 is Josh Beckett, who will throw the ball at your head at 100 mph, yell back when you yell at him, and then turn around and strike you out with a devasting curveball...and probably shout at you the whole way back to the dugout.

I am not going to lie, thoughts of joining the mile high club with Josh Beckett are getting a lot more exciting.

Handicapping the Heisman Race

2007-10-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Its playoff time

2007-10-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well folks, Hockey season has started again... and still nobody cares. Instead people are getting excited to watch the battles of the division series in baseball where we have seen some dominant individual performances, some dominant team performances, and some poor managing that of course I will critique because I could clearly do a better job. Also I know what you are thinking, and no, hindsight is not 20-20 that has always been a rule amongst sports writers because when games end we get to pick the decision making apart as if we would have done better. So now I will implement that rule and give you a rundown of what I have thought about each series so far, starting in the American league with my Boston Red Sox

Red Sox v. Angels:
Game 1 certainly was a feel good game for any Red Sox fan that was particularly nervous about how are team was going to hold up after stumbling a little down the stretch of the regular season. Josh Beckett clearly put that uneasiness to rest with a dominanting performance. This is a guy who truly thrives off of adrenaline and it shows everytime he plays in big games. After a big strikeout he often comes off the mound and looks like someone infected with the rage from 28 days later, yelling and screaming and fist-pumping that puts John Papelbon to shame.

In this game it was different, he was completely in control of every single on of his pitches and you could just tell that the Angels, whose lineup looked like the Mariners lineup the night Clemens wiffed 20, had absolutely no chance at finding any rhythm against Beckett who didn't use a single fist pump or primal scream to vanquish the Halos. I will however withhold judgement because Dice K will be an adventure tonight, and Schilling is only beginning to get fully healthy, although I will still take Schilling over anyone in the playoffs outside of maybe Sabathia, Beckett and Webb. Other quick points.

The one good thing about TBS playoffs is there is no more Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, who collectively are the bane of my existence.
The Angels really need Juan Rivera, nobody named Maicer will ever strike fear in an opposing pitcher hitting 5th.
The one thing I respect about the Yankees is their decision to not have the contrived publicity stunt that was a rally for the division playoffs. The Red Sox are like a media circus, the team, the ownnership and the fans need to act like they have been here before and go about their business the way New York does, its really pathetic.
I will take a now healthy David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez and a throw in (maybe Mike Lowell) over any three hitters on any other post season team.

Yankees v. Indians:

I think it is a very bad sign for the Yankees that their most consistent starter got roughed up so badly in game 1. But I don't believe that Yankees fans have lost hope, first of all Lebron is rooting for them so he can always go off for like 65 points against Cleveland while Hideki Matusi stands around like Ilgauskas and A-Rod whines about not getting the ball enough like Drew Gooden. Also their lineup is frankly just too deadly to ever be counted out, especially against a team like Cleveland who doesn't have a single starter that has a lot of postseason experience.

I predict Carmona will be hit or miss tonight, he will either baffle the Yankees by keeping his sinker down in the strike zone and probably steal game 2 for the Indians because you know Petitte is too clutch to get rocked, or he will get shelled because of postseason jitters and the experienced Yankees hitters like Posada, and Jeter, and A-Rod will take advantage of that and send him to the showers early. The x factor tonight really is Carmona because Petitte is frankly just too solid to really get rocked and he will most likely set the bar around 3 or maybe 4 runs and it will be up to Carmona and whoever comes after him to keep the Yankees under that quota. Other thoughts;

Can't you just picture Kenny Lofton and Paul Byrd taking full advantage of the fact that they are really the only two players who have substantial postseason experience. It must be like story time for Byrd and Lofton, "Yes guys we are washed up, but let me tell you a story about my 5.40 postseason ERA and how to accomplish something as incredible as that. Did you know Kenny used to be a feared lead off hitter who was a key cog in a number of post season teams when you guys still fought over who was the cooler the black power ranger or Leonardo from the ninja turtles?" They must relish it and bask in the spotlight, I mean Byrd got interviewed before Game 1 and he is likely to make no impact on the series whatsoever.
You hear that coughing and choking sound, thats A-Rod struggling to force down an 0-2 with a runner left on base night. I still don't buy him as a scary postseason threat until he puts together a massive game like some of the ones he had in the regular season.
Chien Ming Wang was followed by Russ Ohlendorf and Jose Veras, I can just see the "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain" rhyme now, "Ohlendorf and Veras, please Joba save us."
Did I mention Kenny Lofton is 40 YEARS OLD!!! He must have his sights set on Julio Franco.

Rockies v. Phillies

I want to make it clear that I think if the Phillies were playing any other team in the NL playoffs right now they would have at least split the series and looked substantially better than they have against the Rockies. But the way the Rockies are playing right now they might as well be a Soviet Hockey team from the middle 70s, just a flat out buzz saw that is cutting down everything in their path. They are killing Philadelphia's pitching that looked so good down the stretch, and making Utley and Howard look silly up at the plate, although Howard has looked silly this season to the tune of 200 strikeouts.

Mark my words, the Rockies will sweep this series and I think they have a great chance of running the table on the Diamondbacks as well because right now their combination of timely hitting and solid but unspectacular pitching is a winning formula. They had 12 hits against the pitching of Philadelphia last night and probably could have had more if they weren't just trying to preserve the lead later in the game. Other notes;

Troy Tulowitski is phenomenal, his stats may not measure to Ryan Braun's but he is far and away the NL Rookie of the Year, nobody that young and green should ever be as clutch as he has been. He is the remaking of Andruw Jones of the early 90s and 2000, he plays terrific defense and always has timely hits. If the Rockies are interested I hear Julio Lugo really likes the skiing in Vail, we can always trade?
After all I just said about Tulowitski, Jimmy Rollins is the best shortstop in baseball right now and my vote for NL MVP no matter what Matt Holliday does the rest of the way. There is nobody more integral to the Phillies than Rollins and nothing illustrates that better than in the last regular season game him leading off with a single and stealing second and third. Matt Holliday just can't do that. Did I mention Rollins is going to be on Baseball Tonight once he retires, mark it down that is a sure thing.
I mean Philly fans can always rely on the Flyers and the Eagles..........oooooh I love to rub it in.
Breaking news! Willie Randolph has gained 10 pounds on beer and junk food alone watching this series.

Diamondbacks v. Cubs

Whether it be Bartman in 2003 or Zambrano coming out this year Cubs fans, and Red Sox fans also, love to find that one thing about a series they lost and point to it as the only reason they lost the series. Bartman didn't lose the series, the Cubs blew it, they pulled a Red Sox in 1986 except Bartman was a little less directly to blame that Bill Buckner was. This season I cannot say enough about how much of the wrong decision it was for Lou Piniella to take out Zambrano. I am pretty sure managers since Stengel has been quoted as saying "you take it one game at a time." and you play to win each and every day. That does not mean you take out your best starter in a 1-1 tie after 6 innings, if Zambrano really wants to win he will pitch again in Game 4 no matter how many pitches he threw. Piniella can stand by his decision but now he is in an 0-2 hole that he will almost likely not be able to climb out of. But hey, at least Zambrano is ready for game 4.

With all that being said it is not Piniella's decision that has cost the Cubs this series. Ted Lilly's 88 mile an hour chest high fastball to Chris Young is more directly at fault, and the fact that Soriano and Derek Lee, who were so pivotal for the Cubbies down the stretch, have mailed it in and gone a combined 4-27. When your best offense play of the postseason was a home run hit by Hernando de Soto, the influential and daring Spanish explorer and conquistador of the 15th century, you know you aren't producing.

I am pretty sure Brandon Webb, Chien Ming Wang, and Carmona are all the same pitcher with different skins, kind of like a FaceOff Nicholas Cage type deal. They literally throw all the same pitches and get people out the same way, its really quite eerie.
Will someone please tell me who Mark Reynolds, and Jeff Salazar and Chris Snyder are? Imagine if they win the World Series, they will set records for least number of people to care about a championship team. F.Y.I I am convince the fans in Phoenix are the nouveau Dodgers fans who are very passive and mild and love to wagon hop.
Chris Young is going to be good once he learns to be a little more selective, and Stephen Drew is going to be as good if not better next year after the showing at the plate he has displayed in Games 1 and 2.
Hey Cubs fans, there is always next year right? Isn't that what you guys always say? I am wrong, do I have it backwards?

I will most likely write again in the middle of the Championship series, I like being creative and writing mid series rather than summarizing the whole series. It allows me to make predictions and if they come true, I look smart.

5 Reasons why college football is better

2007-10-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

I want you all to think back to when you were 8 years old. It is Christmas Morning at 5 am and you are the one awake downstairs shaking all the presents to see what you can find out and constantly pestering the rest of your family to wake up because its so exciting. That is how I felt, like a kid on Christmas, when I got home from work to find out that not only was Florida losing late in the 3rd quarter to unranked Auburn, but also that USC was in a dogfight with Ty Willingham and the rest of the top 10 had already been turned upside down earlier in the day.

Thats when it hit me, I am in the minority amongst my friends when it comes to liking college football better than pro football so this blog will be devoted to explaining to you not why I think college football is better, but why it is better. Enjoy

Reason 1-The games are more fun
Its true, I understand that football is a fun sport whether it is at the Pop Warner level or the NFL but college football really is more fun. Has anyone ever heard the Patriots marching band strike up the fight song after a touchdown? Has anyone ever seen 100,000 people in Dallas all jumping up and down like at Camp Randall before a Wisconsin football game? The point is that professional football is a business and a career, and like any other job, the seriousness increases exponentially when you are working or playing to make a living and not because you want to live it up in college.
When Vince Young beat the Saints last Monday in resounding fashion he most likely went back to his house or hotel to either sleep and prepare for a film session tomorrow or rest from getting his ass kicked all over the field so he can practice on tuesday. When South Florida beat West Virginia I almost guarantee Matt Grothe did not go back to campus and sleep, my guess is he went out to celebrate and probably hooked up with a really attractive girl from school(lucky bastard). The pressure is the same, the intensity is the same, and the necessity for winning is the same at both levels and thats why some college football players will complain that college football is a fulltime job for them. I bet it is, but they also haven't actually played the game for a job so they don't really know.

Reason 2-Upsets
Last Saturday should have served as a wake up call to people living in a dreamworld where the NFL is more exciting than College Football. Florida, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Rutgers, Penn State, Texas, and Clemson all were upset in some of the most exciting and dramatical games of the year. Upsets happen in the NFL also, they just aren't as resounding as the ones in college football. When the Texans beat the Colts last year, that was an upset, but did anyone see hundreds of crazed Texans fans who had rushed the field standing behind David Carr as the useless sideline reporter asked him how he managed to beat the Colts? No! But when Rob Stone interviewed Ben Moffit how many drunken South Florida stands were standing behind him screaming at the top of their lungs and rubbing his bald head?
There is really only one way to accurately describe and convince people that college upsets are better. Next Saturday is Ohio State is getting beat by Purdue by 7 with 2 minutes to go and you don't care about either team, evaluate how excited you are to watch the next 2 minutes unfold. Then the next day when the Raiders are winning by 7 with 2 minutes to go against the Patriots and you are from Cleveland and couldn't care less who wins, tell me how excited you are. You will clearly learn that potential upsets in college get the adrenaline pumping far more than any NFL upset.

Reason 3- Mistakes
Now you must be ready to kick my ass, mistakes in college football make the game better? You must be smoking some of that stuff that Ricky Williams got on his visit to the jungles of India. But hear me out before I am stoned to death (no pun intended). People always argue that the Pro game is better because the level of talent is higher and the quality of play is better, i.e. less sloppy mistakes, less penalties, more amazing displays of athletic ability and prowess. Au Contraire my dear Watsons because this is exactly why the pro game is worse than the college game.
For example, I show the jury exhibit A, the super bowl game between the Patriots and the Panthers, the Patriots drive down the field and end up at around the 28 yard line, but for the sake of the argument lets say the drive ends at around the 32. That means that Adam Vinateri is lining up to win the Super Bowl with a 45 yard kick. Now I understand that this is real human drama, but being realistic is there any possibility that Vinateri misses that kick? My answer is no, he is a professional kicker and one of the best in the world in a neutral site with only a half-hostile crowd on turf.
Now think about last Saturday when Auburn kicker Wes Byrum is lining up for a 43 yard field goal as a redshirt freshman, in one of the more hostile environments in college football. He is young, and inexperienced and not yet equipped with the nerves and focus that it takes to make that kick 10 times out of 10. Then he not only has to make it once, but because of a timeout by Urban Meyer, he has to make it twice. That is real drama, there is no guarantee that Byrum will make this kick, I mean he has missed already from shorter distances on the season. Now what would you rather watch?
Missed tackles and bad decisions by quarterbacks and dropped passes that should have been caught are all bad football plays, but great for adding intrigue, excitement, and of course drama to a football game. How many times are punts blocked in the pros? How many times are they blocked in college? Now, after realizing "Gee whiz Mike that is very insightful, the professionals almost never block punts" think about how exciting and monumental and important a blocked punt can be to not only the scoreboard, but also momentum and energy. Now tell me you don't want more.

Reason 4- Pressure, Pressure, Pressure
I pride myself on finding new angles at which to explore topics, such as why college football is better, and because of this I am very ashamed to write this 4th reason because it is of course one of the most integral reasons why college football is better, and therefore is more played out than Brett Favre.
On a side note I blame Chris Berman entirely for getting sick of Brett Favre. I mean the guy is a great competitor, and terrific quarterback and most likely a good guy. But Chris Berman every Sunday night, keep in mind I speak of last season, ignores all of his interceptions and poor decisions and instead acts like 1 touchdown and 3 picks is ok because he is Brett Favre and everyone knows Brett only threw those interceptions because he wanted to because he has pinpoint control and has never played a bad game in his life. The way Chris Berman not-so-secretly loves him makes me think that he has rescued the Berman's cat from a tree, or sent them a Christmas card every year. Yet I digress.
The reasoning that has been beaten like a dead horse is that not every game in the NFL is so directly linked to your ability to succeed in the post season. Its true that more teams from college play in "the post season" but there are also 119 teams and I am not so sure if Miami really enjoyed playing in the MPC computers bowl last year while watching Wake Forest play Louisville in their home stadium in a BCS game. In college football, essentially one loss in a game you weren't supposed to lose and your dreams of a national title are dashed. For example, Oklahoma, If they beat Texas they will have another outside chance at the National title, but they don't play good teams the rest of the way and their loss is to Colorado, who is now at .500, thats like settling for a good looking girl because her face is really cute when there is a girl with a really cute face and a great personality who didn't get beat by Colorado who wants to go out with you.
This reasoning makes every game equally as important, where as 3 straight losses in the NFl doesn't mean a damn thing if you won the first 10 games. The college kids put more emotion and heart on the line week in and week out and play every down and game like it is the most important because technically, it is.
Put it this way, If Michigan has just Ohio State left on their schedule, and they have only lost 1 game and are already in the post season, they are not going to sit Chad Henne and Michael Hart, partly because the game is of the utmost importance, and partly because Michigan hates Ohio State like Biggie hated Tupac to use the most related analogy.
The last three weeks of the season are bad in the NFL, starters sit because their coaches don't want them to get hurt, which makes sense, but isn't fun, and the possibility of pulling a Doc Rivers and making sure that every single player who could help your team win is sitting because you want a better draft pick is not only feasible, its likely. Again, excitement and nerves run rampant in college where as in the pros its just business.

Reason 5- Rivalries, Traditions, and Characters
I start this reason with a little bit of 1 on 1, I want you to choose which rivalry you think is not only better in terms of quality of games and deeply-rooted hatred, but also for pageantry and traditions. Ready?

Ohio St. v. Michigan or Green Bay v. Minnesota?
Army v. Navy or Philadelphia v. New York?
Miami v. Florida St. or Indianapolis v. New England?
Oregon v. Cal or Denver v. Oakland?

With the exception of the 3rd choice I offered I think it is very clear that every single college rivalry is better than the professional rivalry I offered as a foil. I mean for goddsakes John Cooper got fired from Ohio State despite almost a .750 winning percentage because he was 2-10 vs. Ohio State. Likewise, people put Lloyd Carr on the hotseat even before his team decided it never liked defense anyways and wasn't going to play any of it because he is 1-5 vs. Jim Tressel, Cooper's successor who could probably get people in Columbus to hold his johnson for him while he pees.
They are just better, I don't remember the last time a professional football mascot got in a fight with another mascot like the numerous occasions in college football. Emotions run higher in college football, for chrissakes Woody Hayes tackled a Clemson player for intercepting a pass, the closest professional thing I can think of that compares is when Randall Simon mugged the Sausage at Miller Park because Simon had put money on him to win and he wasn't. Emotions make rivalries, they spawn hatred for other teams when the players probably are going to be co-employees in the professional league.

There you have it, the 5 reasons why College Football is better, yeah its corrupt and players don't have to go to class and most are of questionable moral integrity and their coaches are of even more questionable moral integrity. But put the blinders on and watch the game.

Amendent 1- College Gameday is waaaaaaaay better than listening to Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson and the 17 other former players they have on Sunday Countdown, it doesn't even compare.

Mike Gundy vs. Sports Journalists

2007-09-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

For those of you who live in a cave, or have had California-esque blackouts or don't own a computer with lightning fast internet, I will quickly summarize the escapade of Mike Gundy to the three of you. After a gutty victory over an undefeated Texas Tech team, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy refused to address the football game that had just ended, instead prominently displaying a recent article in the Daily Oklahoman that was critical, in the lightest sense of the word, of Oklahoma State starter/backup, star/mediocre quarterback Bobby Reid. Now I not only watched the entirety of the press conference in which Mike Gundy attacks the media like Kobe Bryant after finding out that the Lakers chose not to try and get a veteran but instead make Kobe do all the work again while Lamar Odom bitches about how he doesn't get enough touches. But I also read the article in question and also many responses from commendable sports journalists around the nation who jump on a story like this because frankly they eat scandal up. After all of the reading was done I came to one conclusion about my opinion on this topic, and thats that I have absolutely no clue who to defend. So because I love an argument as much as the next man, I will argue both sides. First, defending Jenni Carlson, the author of the article in the Oklahoman, and then from Kobe Bryant's.........I mean Mike Gundy's perspective. Here goes nothing.

First and foremost the story really wasn't anything worse than any other critical article ever written about an athlete, at the professional or collegiate level. Yes, its true that Jenni Carlson called Bobby Reid immature, and suggested that he probably has some work ethic problems and some attitude problems, but seriously, we are currently surrounded by athletes about cheaters, dog killers, strip joint lovers and men who are sponsored by the Red Army (Tank Johnson) and someone is trying to tell me that all of a sudden Bobby Reid is being attacked for no reason. Mike Gundy overreacted, its plain and simple, If all of the statements about Bobby Reid are false, then why did you replace your former All Big 12 quarterback with a career backup and then stick with the backup even after it was clear he was out of his league against Troy which probably was an all girls school until 4 years ago.
The only thing Carlson is guilty of is writing a story about a team nobody cares about. Also, Stewart Mandel of SI.com called Carlson a commendable journalist because she was the first to get to interview Adrian Peterson's father. Oh I am sorry did someone forget to send me the memo that says you are knighted a "commendable journalist" as long as you are able to secure an interview that no one else has got before. No, it doesn't matter about the content of the story or whether the statements made are unfounded, you were first. That's like saying David Duke is a "commendable debater" because he was the first person to defeat Oprah in a debate on the Oprah show. No, it doesn't matter that Duke is the leader of the new KKK and his opinions are going farther in reverse than Pac Man's career, he was first! She has the right to write about whatever she wants and should not be chastised and embarassed in a post game news conference about an article that might hurt the young man's feelings. Hasn't Gundy ever heard of the expression of tough love?

Now, before I write this next portion I want it to be known that I am about to be critical of Jenni Carlson, and if the editor of the Daily Oklahoman wants to blast me in a press conference bring it on, I won't cry. For what its worth, the article was not very good. Carlson couldn't back up one statement she made with an actual legitimate source or quote that would have given a foundation to her accusations and she also lambasted Reid for being fed by his mother. Listen, I know college kids whose mothers still call them everyday, being fed chicken by mom isn't really that bad. Also I am not sure if how he eats has any relevance to the type of quarterback he is, or the kind of regression he is experiencing as a player.
Also, in the day and age of people like Mack Brown whose team played all the extras in the newest version of the Longest Yard because they wanted real felons, I have a great amount of appreciation and admiration for Mike Gundy for sticking up for his player and making sure that he let his team and Reid know that he is behind them every step of the way. Mack Brown takes no responsibility for the fact that in the past 8 months he has had 5 players arrested. He acts like he had no idea about the character issues some of his players imbue and he sounds like a disappointed grandfather who has just learned that his grandson smokes pot. I think more coaches, like Andy Reid should come out in favor of their quarterback and defend them, plus how funny would it be to see Andy Reid flush in the face spitting up his just eaten pork roast while he tells people what a stand up guy McNabb is.

All and all this story really isn't all that not worthy, there have been worse things that have happened in the world, and now I bid you all adieu because I need to figure out how I can get Tim Tebow to do something wrong so I can make fun of him. The guy can do no wrong.

Shame on the Irish

2007-09-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

Shame on the once grand institution of Notre Dame. Shame on their athletic director, Kevin White. Shame on every haughty, pretentious alumni who thought 3 years was enough to rebuild a Notre Dame team left in ruin after the Bob Davie Era. The school loved Tyrone Willingham after he first year at the school started with such promise and hope. The team finished the regular season 10-2 before embarrassing themselves in the Gator Bowl against a Phillip Rivers led North Carolina State team. The attrition from that 2002 was substantial but there was reason for hope. 5-star recruit Brady Quinn had committed to the Irish along with a host of other top recruits and although the 2003 season outlook was less than rosy it seemed Tyrone Willingham was bringing Notre Dame back to national prominence. Fast-forward to the end of the 2004 season after a second consecutive sub-par season from Notre Dame the 2002 season was starting to lose its shine and the alumni were growing restless. But things looked better for the 2005 season. Brady Quinn was finally coming into his own as a quarterback and youngsters like Darius Walker and Jeff Samardzjia were beginning to show a lot of potential. So of course the Notre Dame alumni decided it was time for a coaching change. They fired Willingham after just 3 years and 2 bowl games and decided to move on in what was one of the most surprising coaching changes of the off-season.

Now a lot of pundits during that occurrence tried to play the race card, to be honest I was surprised Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton weren't strapping themselves to Touchdown Jesus in protest. I want to make it clear that I do not think race was a factor at all, I just think the Notre Dame alumni think their program is too good for an off year. They would have fired Tom Landry if he had been coaching them. Of course, being Notre Dame they had no trouble finding a long list of potential suitors and eventually decided on the offensive mastermind behind Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense, Charlie Weiss. Weiss in his first year finished 9-3 on the season and was anointed a genius similar to the way Willingham was received. But, behind that terrific record were a lot of warning signs that showed the season wasn't quite all rosy. Notre Dame's best win was against a Michigan team that was vastly overrated and finished the season just 7-5. Their defense never really exhibited that much talent, and although I give Weiss plenty of credit for helping Brady Quinn transform to a star quarterback, he was Tyrone Willingham's recruit and was much ballyhooed out of high school so it wasn't as if Weiss transformed a nobody the way he did with Tom Brady.

Now fast-forward to week 1 of the 2007 college football season. I watched Notre Dame rotate 3 quarterbacks, gain -9 yards rushing, and get thoroughly embarrassed by a good, but not that good, Georgia Tech team. The "genius" Charlie Weiss was supposed to match John Tenuta, Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator, wit for wit in a battle of offense vs. defense. Instead I watched Demetrius Jones use his above average speed to lower his head and run a quarterback sneak at least 5 times and basically watch his receivers run vertical routes away from him while Phillip Wheeler hit him in the chin.

After 2 games Weis' supposed vaunted offense ranks last in the country in total offense and in rushing offense. Jimmy Clausen looked reasonable considering he was never going to be able to live up to his enormous hype in his first collegiate start and he is a freshman playing in Happy Valley, but the offense is so anemic it couldn't muster an offensive touchdown in the two games it has played this year. Looking at the rest of Notre Dame's schedule it is not inconceivable to see the Fighting Irish going into their game against the Navy Midshipmen at a catastrophic 0-7. Meanwhile Tyrone Willingham is 2-0 with a major victory that ended Boise St. win streak and a freshman quarterback whose decision-making and play-making far outweighs that of Jimmy Clausen, and now he has a legitimate chance to upset Ohio State and put Washington's season on the fast track. He is laughing all the way from Seattle right now.

Why Sports Stink Right Now

2007-07-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

My three favorite sports are football, basketball, and baseball. Ever since I was a young boy I have loved the sports and the athletes themselves, looked up to them, admired them, and desperately wanted to be them until my dreams outgrew my athletic ability. However, I have always most loved the games and the drama that almost certainly exists in each sport whether it be in the regular season or the playoffs. But these days sports are being ruined. Slowly but surely the impact of the day to day games are being replaced by legal scandals and cheating and now my favorite television, Sportscenter, which I enjoy the same way Pac Man enjoys strip clubs is making the highlights of games take a backseat to things like the Tim Donaghy scandal, Michael Vick, and Barry Bonds.

Forgive me for being so crass but frankly I don't care. I understand that the Tim Donaghy scandal is a travesty for the NBA and especially their referees, and Michael Vick deserves to be punished if he is guilty of some of the things they say he is and it absolutely should be addressed that Barry Bonds cheated his way to the homerun record but all of these things are only giving sports a black eye, taking away the awesomeness from the actual sports themselves and replacing them with this human interest bullshit which now dominates the highlights on Sportscenter.

For example, today on Sportscenter Chris McKendry dressed in a pinstripe suit that made Tommy DeVito from Goodfellas jealous, interviewed the all-knowing Tim Kurkjin from Cooperstown where classy guys like Cal Ripken Junior and Tony Gwynn were set to be immortalized for laudable and really impressive baseball careers. Yet, it only took McKendry 3 questions about the momentous occassion on hand before she addressed the Hall of Fame's sentiment on Barry Bonds. Bonds deserves to be in the Hall of Fame but that is erroneous. I frankly don't care whether the Hall likes Barry Bonds or not, today was not about Barry Bonds reaching the hall of fame, it was about Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Junior. Just in case this doesn't get you blood boiling just try to watch a Giants game highlight without puking involuntarily. Every at bat by Barry Bonds is shown and scrutinized, even his foul outs and ground outs to second base. I am used to watching sportscenter and watching Omar Vizquel come out of nowhere on a groundball up the middle and make some ridiculous throw to get somebody at first base, or watching Manny Ramirez drive a ball into the triangle at Fenway to clear the bases and win the game for the Red Sox. But now Baseball Tonight wastes 5 minutes of every show going through Bonds' at-bats one by one even when he went 0-4. The game of baseball has been replaced by the enormous black shadow that does not come from Barry Bonds' enlarged cranium but instead from his assault on a record that should not be broken. I want to stop hearing about Barry Bonds and I want to start hearing about the Wild Card Race in both leagues, whether the Yankees are going to catch the Red Sox, and who the hell is going to win the wide open NL West, not about some egotistical cheater who has hit a lot of homeruns.

Now on to the NFL and its posterboy turned pariah, Michael Vick. The season is rapidly approaching as training camp opens all around the country and the talk on sports networks should be focusing on how the Colts are going to defend their Super Bowl title despite their defensive attritions, or whether the Bears are going to be able to survive without Thomas Jones and Lance Briggs and whether Rex Grossman will be able to mature into a bonafide starter. Instead McKendry was at it again, taking just three questions with Chad Johnson, whose sunglasses looked like the same ones my blind neighbor Mr. Davey wears, before she asked what Chad had to say on Michael Vick's indictment. Oh Chris, I am sorry, I forgot Chad Johnson was the official legal liason to what was going on with Michael Vick. If it really must be reported about on Sportscenter than flash to Pedro Gomez in a suit fitting a funeral and ask him some questions. Save Chad Johnson for something funny, or maybe even consider talking about how the Bengals plan on winning the division that features a new Ravens team loaded with offensive talent, and a healthy Ben Roethilsberger. Michael Vick deserves to be punished but I don't deserve to be fed unimportant updates on his court case every day on NFL Live. I am a devoted NFL fan, someone who watches the sport because I love the excitement of the sacks, 80 yard touchdown passes, and Devin Hester making punt teams look silly punt return after punt return. I am a football fan, not a fan of watching Michael Vick walk into a courthouse day after day. I want to be treated to 30 minutes of analysis, predicitions and highlights on football, but instead I am ashamed to admit that I change the channel from Sportscenter when they start talking about Michael Vick. Legal issues are to sports what church is to state, they should remain seperated at all costs. Show people like Michael Vick, Tank Johnson and Pac Man Jones on Judge Judy instead of the hilbillies suing each other for stealing overalls and wrecking trailers, but leave Sportscenter for real sports stories, please, before I go postal.

Now on to the NBA. Tim Donaghy has left a mark on the NBA that no matter how hard David Stern scrubs, will never come off. From now until the end of organized, professional basketball the actual game outcome will be in question because honest referees made calls as they saw them and are unable to escape from the idea that they could be like Tim Donaghy. Before Donaghy I was excited, Ray Allen was coming to the Celtics, Kevin Garnett, my favorite player, was on the verge of being traded to a contender, and Kobe Bryant did a roast of Andrew Bynum of Comedy Central...oops. Now Tim Donaghy gets all the attention, I just want him to go away, I want the legal system to sort him out and the NBA to go back to being about how the Rockets improved this off-season and whether or not the Spurs can hold off Dallas and Phoenix again this season. I love the NBA, watching people like Gilbert Arenas score in 80 different ways does the same thing a viagra pill would do for me. Watching Steve Nash throw passes for lay ups while he winks at the hot blonde in the 3rd row is awesome, it makes me say "ohhhhhhhh" while Tim Donaghy makes me want to go put my head in a vise and tighten it. I understand that is an important topic to discuss because something like this does not happen very often and it hasn't since Pete Rose, but its lamentable that Sportscenter and reporters around the country have to linger on it. Its like the upcoming season is put on hold while everyone around the country weighs in on a mobbed up referee who has effectively ruined a part of basketball.

Even things like Cycling is tarnished by doping scandals, its impossible to escape the gloom that is scandal in professional sports these days. My suggestion? Create a seperate tv show for this kind of stuff. Maybe E truly hollywood story on Michael Rasmussen or Tim Donaghy, and then return Sportscenter to what has made it the best show ever and thats the sports, the show isn't popular because Linda Cohn looks good in a power suit, its popular because sports are the most popular activities in the country because of the drama that each sport has the opportunity to provide. I think everyone needs to pause and remember that before its too late and I am hearing about Kevin Garnett being chased by the police through 8 states while he has a bloodied and beaten Kevin Mchale in the trunk...on second thought, I would probably watch that.

Little League Baseball

2007-07-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

I am sure I am not the only one who tries to earn money a lot of different ways and one of my favorite ways is moonlighting as a little league umpire. Some people get the umpire patch to ump older kids and they get to wear those really sweaty outfits with the pants that I am pretty sure are made out of polyester and get a very official looking broom to clean the plate. Meanwhile I am on the adjacent field on a hot summer day smirking in a t-shirt and shorts with shin protectors that are one and the same as the ones the kids play with, a catcher's mask and a a foam pad.

On this particular day it was the All-Star Games for the 12-13 age group. I played this same age group in this same town made one all-star game and blew my only chance when I went to Vermont instead with my family. Now here I was watching kids 7 years younger than me play a game where no pitcher can throw more than one inning and it is a 7 inning game instead of a regular 6 inning for more at bats, and the glory of it all is these kids can all play!

The first pitcher thrown in the game was a high fastball that the catcher didn't quite nab it, which happens frequently when they close their eyes. The ball smacked me right in the face and it rang my bell really good. The bottom line of that mini-story is that these kids can really pitch. Every pitcher I saw in the game, and I saw 12, threw hard and straight. Mixed with some early signs of a curveball and these kids struck out the side probably 5 times combined. The fielding was the best part. A kid was erased trying to stretch a single off the fence because of a perfect relay between centerfielder and the cut off man. My heart lept a little like when I watched Jacoby Ellsbury turn on the jets and score from second on a passed ball. There were stolen bases, but there were also kids who got thrown out stealing a base. There were errors, but there were more exciting catchs and close plays that far outweighed any booted ground ball in my book. The final score was 9-7, and at young ages some of those runs are attributed to pastballs that advance the baserunners a minimum of two bases per inning, but this game had some excitement on the offensive side as well.

Don't judge me, I like to pick favorite kids in the games. Some of them I recognize as younger brothers of some of my classmates and some of them I have never seen before. My favorite in this game was this huge kid who reminded me a lot of younger, rounder Lance Berkman without the neck beard. Not only was he a sight to see when he ambled to the batters box, but he also had a positive attitude about everything and ran on and off the field every inning from whatever position. Oh... did I mention hit two solo home runs in the game one carried the fence in left made in likeness of the Fens, and the other went to dead center field, and they were two of the longest home runs I had seen hit. His first home run, to left, almost made me leap up and yell a little. It reminded of one of those homers Manny hits when he catches it right where he wants it and the ball leaves the park onto Landsdowne Street in about 3 seconds. The place went wild and this big kid pumped his fist once as he rounded first and then trotted the rest of the bases like he had done it before, greeted by loud cheers from the crowd and then at home plate by the rest of his team yelling far louder. In the 6th he actually hit a raw curveball that spun, but really shouldn't have been thrown by a 13 year old. It disappeared in the tree line about 15 feet behind the fence and to be honest it made me cry a little deep down to know that I was always a decent baseball player, but also very weak, so I was purely a singles hitter.

In all it was one of the more entertaining games of baseball I had seen in a long time and really made me miss the days when I could spend my spring and summer playing organized baseball with friends. In all; 3 kids hit home runs in the game, there was one suicide squeeze that worked and one that ended in a double play, and two legit web gems. One of the gems was the third basemen sprinting full on to catch a ball in foul territory and making an impossible catch high against the dugout fence as he crashed into it.

I called a pretty fair game, the coaches thanked me and paid me, and I left for home with my hunger for exciting baseball whetted for the night. Right as I was leaving my fellow, and patched, umpire was taking a little league bat and hitting baseballs over the short left field fence while kids jumped up and down and the coaches watched a little more money just disappear into the woods because a 20 year kid is still playing Gym class hero after umping their sons baseball games. I knew one of the coaches and said "If you want me to, I can do that on our field if you really need me to show him up." The coach laughed and answered, "Yeah, remember that kid from little league, he was a friggin noodlehead." Noodlehead is a sweet insult, and my fellow umpire richly deserved it.

NBA Draft Recap

2007-06-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

Before I get into how I feel about the Celtics and what the did during the 2007 draft I have a few key points I would like to make about the draft as a whole and how I think it all panned out.

- First and foremost Yi Jianlian maybe my least favorite player in the entire NBA and he hasn't even played a game yet. I hated Eli Manning when he said he would never play for the San Diego Chargers and I actually laughed outloud when Yi got drafted by the Bucks despite his best efforts to make the Bucks think he didn't even exist. This is a guy who refused to work out in Milwaukee because his handlers (what is he some kind of racehorse?) didn't like the city and because the people close to him felt that Milwaukee didn't have enough of an Asian population for him to feel comfortable. This is a guy who has never worked out against an American player, claims to be 19 when there are plenty of reports who say he is at least 3 years older and who parties with celebrities because his agent gets him on the guest list at Hollywood premieres. I am glad he is in Milwaukee, he may never play for them, but at least he won't see any lush private parties out in beer country. He is going to have to learn how to work a keg tap and mingle with bar folk or else he will be lost and he better bring a translator because he looked awful trying to do an interview for the draft.

- I hate how former athletes get the analyst jobs that I so desperately covet. Now I would understand that former athletes have a far more intimate knowledge of their respective sport than men, but if you are going to hire former athletes at least make them personable, intelligent and literate former athletes. Fernando Vina uses the same cliche catch phrases every night on Baseball Tonight, Shannon Sharpe sounds like Big Black from Rob and Big, and now Mark Jackson gets the job at the NBA Draft and he sounds like he looked up the 10 most common catch phrases used by analysts and just used cue cards to make sure he used at least half of them every time he tried to break something down. People like Orel Hershiser, John Kruk, Jay Bilas and Keyshawn Johnson are all terrific at being an analyst, but please someone hire a knowledgeable sports fan who speaks well on camera rather than a former middling athlete. Pretty Please?

- I hate spoiled athletes, for example Kobe Bryant, but for once I agree with him. Javaris Crittenton? How about someone ready to produce right away. Jared Dudley, Arron Afflalo or Alando Tucker were all seasoned college players who could have stepped in and contributed right away for a Lakers team in search of a man to be sandwiched in between Kobe and Lamar Odom at the 3. Instead they select a point guard for the second consecutive year. Granted Crittenton will be a far better player in years to come that Jordan Farmar who reached his peak when he scored 25 in his first NBDL game. But still, you have a star player who went behind everyone's back and ruined team chemistry and probably injured the psyche of your best young player (Bynum) forever demanding that Mitch Kupchak and the man they call Buss bring him some veteran help. But they refuse to part with Bynum and Odom for a really good player and instead bring in a point guard who is still legally underage and turns the ball over more than Rashaan Salaam used to for the Chicago Bears. That earthquake in L.A.? That was Kobe's head exploding.

- Nobody is talking about the Warriors and how they seemed to make away like bandits with Charlotte. They dumped Jason Richardson because of financial reasons, but they had a glut of guys that could run and shoot and jump anyway, and the reason they failed against Utah was because they really were unable to rebound or play anybody tough inside. Now they got a guy in Brandan Wright who not only can develop into a legitimate post and rebounding threat but also has the unique ability to run the floor and score in transition. If I am correct they now have a starting lineup of Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Brandan Wright, and Andris Biedrins with Matt Barnes, Monta Ellis and this guy Marco Bellini all filling in right where Richardson left off. Watch the Warriors. There are not a lot of Western Conference playoff teams who made significant improvements but I think Golden State is one.

- Philadelphia fans have to be screaming at themselves and of course at Billy King as well. They traded Iverson and had visions of Durant and Oden floating through their heads and then Andre Igoudala turned out to be the player everyone thought he would be and he and Andre Miller, the travelling gypsy that Philly got for Iverson, stood on their heads and helped Philadelphia earn the 11th pick instead of a top 5 selection. Now I applaud the Philly players for refusing to really tank the season and play like every game still meant something but when you have a GM like Billy King you need to make sure that you get a really high pick so that no matter who he takes it will probably be ok. Thaddeus Young is very talented but almost more erratic than Crittenton, his former teammate, and I am pretty sure he is not the immediate help Philly fans were thinking of when Billy King said they were going to turn the team around right away. Then with their second top 20 pick they took Jason Smith, a 7 foot stiff from Colorado State. Please will someone enlighten me on when the last time a 7 foot white center became a key contributor to any team let alone the 76ers? No Chris Kaman doesn't count, and no neither does Andrew Bogut. Billy, I know a few really dangerous guys who you might want to hire to put in your posse to make sure you stay safe. Here lemme give you the number of their current employer, thats Pacman P-A-C-M-A-N. Just call him I am sure he won't be busy.

Now on to Boston, and what they managed to do with their basketball team. I maybe the only person in Boston who actually likes this trade for Boston. Yes, Ray Allen is old, and yes he is also coming over ankle surgery and will probably need to work hard in order to play up to par this season. But that being said, his last two seasons were his most productive of his entire career, and ankle surgery is better than say knee surgery or the shoulder surgery that Dwayne Wade is having. Bill Simmons did scare me by saying it would be the newest version of the Mitch Richmond trade because their stats are very similar but I am still very optimistic.

First of all we gave up nothing. In the Mitch Richmond deal the Bullets gave up Chris Webber who went on to play his best basketball with Sacramento. I highly doubt Wally Szczerbiak, who played in all of 33 games for Boston last year is really going to be ressurected in Seattle, and while Delonte West is a nice player, Rajon Rondo really came on strong at the end and while he still maybe a few years away he will be able to fill West's role. Most importantly this trade prevented Danny Ainge from drafting Yi Jianlian and therefore committing suicide. The city of Boston would have rioted if Yi was the Celtic's pick in that draft. I am pretty sure everyone in the city wanted Corey Brewer and I was one of them and now we have Ray Allen instead of either one of them which I can certainly live with.

Second of all please name a team in the Eastern Conference outside of Chicago and a fading Detroit who really has more talent and potential than a healthy, non-tanking Celtics team. Al Jefferson was one of the best big men in basketball in the 2nd half of the season and he barely got to play in crunch time because the Celtics were so blatantly trying to lose basketball games. Paul Pierce played in exactly half of those games and he was intentionally shut down at the end of the year for fear that he would do something rash and play hard. Now we have potentially 3 20 plus scorers in our starting line up, a solid number of veterans instead of a epic number of guys who still get carded when they go out to bars and two guys, Pierce and Allen, who have both been to the playoffs more than once and have both put up terrific numbers with almost no supporting cast in those playoff times. Say what you want about losing West, Yi Jianlian and Wally's World but I am happy where we stand. At least we won't have Pierce making any video tapes about Al Jefferson and bashing Danny Ainge

The New Member of the Big 4

2007-06-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

In the town of Acton there really isn't a whole lot that goes on during the day or even at night. Sometimes this can be a blessing in disguise because our boredness fosters an intense conversation that normally revolves entirely around sports. For example, the other day I was at my friend's house playing a rousing game of MLB 2K7, you know, the game with a blatant disregard for the laws of physics, where every hit is a homerun and you end up watching David Eckstein pull an 0-2 slider down and away over the Green Monster of Curt Schilling. Anyway my friend posed an interesting point. He claimed in 5 years the MLS would replace the NHL in the perennial Big 4 of sports that captivates Americans. If you think about it carefully it is a very good point.
The MLS is beginning to spend money to bring some of the best players from Europe over to the United States in order to market the game to the American public, meanwhile the NHL has been steadily declining in popularity and television ratings that it is now being aired on the VS. network, to give you an idea of how obscure that network is it is channel 243 on my satelitte programming. Also my father, only a casual sports fan thought the VS. network was a network based on political debates such as another Crossfire (surely if this was true listening to James Carville speak for more than 30 seconds would have most ordinary Americans throwing themselves off bridges all across the United States). My buddy brought up the point that Americans have been trying to love soccer very hard but with the poor quality of play in the MLS combined with the inavailability of English Premiership games on stations like ESPN and ESPN2, our public has really been left with no choice but to only have a very tepid interest in what is the world's most popular sport. But, the MLS has the trump card over the NHL, its owners are willing to spend a ton of money to make sure that some of Europe's most marketable stars consider coming to play in the MLS.
David Beckham, who I think should have a talk show with Mike Tyson and the guests get to vote to see who has a more absurd voice. I understand he is not particularly well educated but neither was Darryl Dawkins and he still talks normally... or as normally as a 300 plus pound black guy can speak. Anyway, Beckham is set to play in one of the United States largest media markets, L.A., for an incredible amount of money, 300 million. Meanwhile other European stars such as Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo has both been rumored to be entertaining talks from clubs in the MLS to be brought over to the United States to play. So maybe my buddy is right, little kids all across America play soccer in by the millions, and the World Cup, despite being played when most people are either half asleep or starting to feel a hangover from the night before, garnered the largest ratings it ever has in the United States, so maybe it is only a matter of time before we start to have American soccer hooligans and all out riots when the New York MetroStars lose the MLS Cup to the Chicago Fire. It doesn't seem all that unlikely

The Cleveland Cavaliers

2007-06-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

I have watched all 3 games of the NBA Finals this year and watched almost every game of the Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit and could only come to one concrete conclusion. There has never been a single team that deserves to be in the NBA Finals less than the Cleveland Cavaliers. In all 3 games there hasn't been one moment where anyone thought the Cavaliers had a shot at winning the game. Now I always give credit where credit is due and the Spurs deserve a whole heaping of credit, they are the best team in the NBA day in and day out and most likely would have won the Finals whether they were facing the Cavaliers or the Pistons. But at least the Pistons would have presented a challenge for the Spurs. Everyone on the Cavaliers, Lebron James included looks lost against the much more experienced, and cohesive 3 time champions. Allow me to break it down player by player.

Lebron James:
I am pretty sure everyone and their mother all across the country jumped on the Lebron James bandwagon after his reason-defying 48 point performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals where the Pistons looked like the Middlesex County "All stars" trying to stop Wilt Chamberlain when he was with the Globetrotters. I am not a witness and as much as I hate Skip Bayless, I agree with him even if it is the first and only time. I understand that he is literally the only Cavalier who opposing teams actually have scouting reports against, and there probably isn't another player on the entire team who can create his own shot, but what am I witnessing? A man child who belongs in the NFL shooting fall away 3 pointers and step back jump shots when literally every position he could go by Bruce Bowen and either get fouled or finish at the rim. He has only attempted 23 free throws in 3 games while he has also turned the ball over 17 times. I know people still have a hard-on from Game 5 and so I will give them a mulligan on being stupid enough to completely ignore the fact that Lebron is averaging fewer points, fewer rebounds and shooting worse from the field than he did in the regular season where everyone from the apocalyptic Bayless to James himself agreed that he wasn't playing at the level he could have been.
So once again I ask what should I be witnessing? I would rather watch Tony Parker put his dazzling display of dribble moves and electric passes on than watch a man who is more physically gifted than any NBA player before him use his size to shoot long jumpers and step back 3 pointers when he has never been the type of shooter that Kobe Bryant is or even Dwayne Wade for that matter. He may still make me eat my words, but it won't be this season, Bruce Bowen has him so thoroughly frustrated that Skip Bayless doesn't even have to mention it, he can just cross his arms and sit back in his chair and smile while all those people on the Lebron Bandwagon watch him implode game by game.

Daniel Gibson:
The first point I need to make is that while Boobie is a great nickname why can't the announcers call him Daniel. I am sure when the ABC sideline reporter interviews him at halftime and they say "Well Boobie..." he is wishing that the cameras weren't rolling so he could punch the guy right in the face for being so damn dumb. A nickname is something that friends use for one another as a term of endearment or sometimes to poke fun at someone but still in an endearing way. Now announcers all over the country are calling him Boobie as if they have been lifelong friends with the guy and are going out for a beer with him after the game. That really gets under my nerves...but I digress.
Gibson is probably the only Cavalier I really enjoy watching, withholding Game 3 of the Finals he has been the only teammate Lebron has been able to rely on on a consistent basis for some semblance of an offensive attack. He has a terrific jump shot and nerves of steel. Plus he is so damn humble and reserved. I watched the Detroit series and he probably hit 6 three pointers that if I had shot and they had gone in I would have probably been labeled the most obnoxious player since Bill Lambeer leaping and pointing and yelling like I had just gotten a date with that hot junior in my chemistry class. But Gibson buries the threes and doesn't even leave his hand up, he starts jogging back up court with a look of complete indifference on his face. Even when he gets mugged by Lebron and the king of all muggers, Anderson Varejao, he still only smiles a little with his teammates and still refuses to acknowledge how surreal it must be for him to bury a 3 pointer right in Chauncey Billups' face.
He also is the only one capable of playing decent defense on Tony Parker because he can match Parker in quickness. In doing so he alleviates the burden Lebron has to carry as the Cavaliers' White Knight. After watching Parker practically walk through the lane in Games 1 and 2 with Larry Hughes and Lebron guarding him it was a breath of fresh air to watch him struggle to get past Gibson who used his quickness to stay with Parker enough to frustrate him. Maybe next year Mike Brown will say, "Hey, I know he is my best point guard, and the perfect sidekick for Lebron's drive and dish, so I guess I will give him some minutes. But not too many because even if Larry Hughes limps around the court like Captain Hook, he is a tough dude for playing hurt so he gets my minutes."

Sasha Pavlovic:
This is the guy who I think has the most redeemable qualities out of the muck that is the Cavs team behind Lebron and Gibson. He shoots the 3 very well for a guy his size and is also about 80 percent from the free-throw line on the season and normally those two qualities have a way of making a player worth keeping around for awhile. I understand that this is his first season playing significant minutes and he is still very young with a lot of potential, but c'mon, the guy is 6-7 and 210 pounds with ball-handling skills of a point guard and good speed. Yet he has still been a complete non-factor in every single playoff game the Cavaliers have played this year. Every game I watch him play I always think he has the ability to abuse the normally smaller defender that guards him but he just sits around the perimeter waiting for the drive and kick instead of using his size to maybe try to get to the free-throw line more than twice a game.
The guy is softer than a down pillow. He hasn't scored more than 17 points in any of the playoff games and he is two best games came against New Jersey when Vince "Boy Defense really excites me" Carter was pretending to guard him for 40 minutes. Now all of you must be sitting around saying well Mike is exaggerating, he must drive to the lane at least a few times. The answer is no, I am not exaggerating and no, he doesn't try to take his man off the dribble, ever. The Spurs are blatantly leaving him open to try and make him be the member of Lebron's court to beat them. They even double teamed Gibson occasionally. Now I am not a math whiz, but a double team on Lebron and a double team on Gibson absolutely has to leave Pavlovic open yet he went just 5-15 from with floor and only 3-9 inside the 3 point arc. That's just pathetic I am sorry. Hopefully he will improve as he gains playing experience. But he really better hope so.

Drew Gooden:
Now I am not one to point fingers, but Drew Gooden is largely responsible for the Cavaliers losses in the first three games of the NBA Finals. As much as Pavlovic has been a non-factor in the playoffs Gooden has probably been twice as bad. His numbers are somewhere around his season average of 13 and 8 but his impact on the game is much farther down the list probably at around 0. Sure he scores 13 points, but he goes head to head against Tim Duncan and so not only are his stats nullified by his lackluster defense has put Cleveland in the negatives in the matchup of power forwards. Plus I may be the only one who gets this feeling, but it seems to me as if Gooden may want to win a championship but he really doesn't like playing 4th option in the offense and deferring to players like Gibson and Pavlovic.
His attitude and general disinterest in everything that Mike Brown and his teammates have to say is best exemplified by Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Millions of viewers on TV and everyone within 200 feet of the Cavaliers bench could hear Lebron and Coach Brown plead with Gooden not to leave his feet on a three point attempt because it could possibly result in a foul that would lead to potential game tying free throws. So what does Gooden do, he leaps about as high and as far as he possibly can and takes an enormous swipe at the buzzer-beating attempt by Chauncey Billups. I can just see Danny Ferry lying in his bed praying to whoever will listen that Drew Gooden will hurt himself playing video games, or shoot somebody at a strip club so he can void his contract and play somebody, anybody other than Drew Gooden.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas:
Now I have always been a fan of the big man from Lithuania. He has been a model of consistency and before Lebron James was an Eastern Conference All-Star for a number of years. Granted the East has about as many good centers as Tom Brady has pregnant girlfriends (2) but still he was able to average something around 18 and 10 for a guy with a limited skill set. He also has been the only player on the Cavaliers team to outplay his counterpart on the Spurs. His opponent Fabricio "Oh Boy" Oberto has been manhandled on the glass, just look at the 18 rebounds, 10 of them offensive, that Ilgauskas grabbed in Game 3 playing by far his best game of the playoffs.
Now for the more negative aspects of his game. My friends and I went to a recent Cavaliers-Celtics basketball games and of course since the Celtics are terrible I rooted solely for Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The really sad part was every time he touched the ball within 15 feet of the basket my friends and I would all simutaneously yell, "running jump hook" and as if on cue Ilgauskas would take one step, lumber across the lane and throw up an ugly jump hook that had puking involuntarily for much of the second half. His major problem is that when he runs, or jogs, or walks, he looks like a luxury liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean and he is more predictable than a Rasheed Wallace technical foul. His defense is mediocre, He is 7-3 so he certainly is hard to shoot over, but its really his offense that has the Spurs showing such a obvious lack of respect for his ability to hurt them. That being said he is also my favorite player on the Cavs. I hope someday he and Arvydas Sabonis travel to Massachusetts and decide to get a civil union and maybe get a reality tv show. I think I would watch that every single time it was on. I mean c'mon it can't be worse than Pirate Master or the Real World Reunited. Maybe the show could be them going one on one against each other everyday. I dare you not be to intrigued, I dare you!

In short, Thanks Cavaliers for ruining an NBA Finals, and thanks America for proverbially humping the Cavaliers like my next door neighboor's dog does to my unsuspecting hapless little brother.

Is it time for Doug Mirabelli to go?

2007-06-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

Let me clue those still living in the dark on the stat line for Boston's much ballyhooed backup catcher. In 2006 Mirabelli had 12 hits in 161 at bats for a spiffy .193 batting average and a .261 OBP. In 2007 in Mirabelli has improved to 16 hits through 136 at bats and a better .309 OBP. If you compare these stats with the stats of our previous back up catcher Josh Bard you will see that Bard is head and shoulders above Mirabelli statistically. Yet, when we traded for Mirabelli last year his arrival was in a State Police Cruiser and was cheered as if he was the governor of Massachusetts, for all of our sakes I will pass on Mitt Romney jokes.

Now I do understand that Josh Bard had absolutely no ability to catch a knuckleball, and his ineptness led to his eventual departure but let's be serious, is Mirabelli really the only catcher in the whole MLB that can catch a knuckleball as effective as Wakefield's? He is 37 years old and looks fatter than the guy in my softball league who only comes for the beer and is too fat to play a real position so he catches the underhand throws from the pitcher. Yet everybody in Red Sox Nation is in love with the guy because he was so solid in 2003 and 2004 when we won our World Series so he somehow has lucked into a free pass in Boston sports fan's hearts despite the fact that he clearly can't hit his weight and looks totally inept at the plate. There is no other Red Sock who elicits cries of impending doom on an inning the same way Mirabelli does when he waddles to the plate. My suggestion would be to release him and find someone else to take his spot either from Triple A or from the waiver wire. I mean it's not like the guy plays everyday, he plays once a week and the only reason for that is because Tim Wakefield throws a knuckleball.

Professional catchers are paid to catch baseballs. Josh Bard struggled but I feel he would have been fine if the Red Sox management hadn't gotten their panties in a wad and went for the great story of having Mirabelli return to the Red Sox in a blaze of glory only to hit below the Mendoza line. Just get rid of him I am sick of seeing him in the lineup every 5 days