tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18626486284148180512024-03-04T23:49:10.770-05:00SportsPunkSportsPunk.com is the home for unique sports collages and humorous sports writing. For all of my collages visit http://stores.ebay.com/GabbysTreasureChest or email me.The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-65600720465312909502009-07-15T20:50:00.001-04:002009-07-15T20:51:54.781-04:00Obama the Baller<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbxViLuz5Bme0cXE1P7tv4OPTLb4uG7dOpe-YL_i5nZce79c2ydFFzMU4cqj3U0Hr4WOxsjWgTvzygLALA1FzvGAQRMGLVKHikSBpCEvMGucr3Yv9wGbM5DhMEbP5_aGjK0B8AB8QI92X/s1600-h/obama+baller.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358854345131859010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbxViLuz5Bme0cXE1P7tv4OPTLb4uG7dOpe-YL_i5nZce79c2ydFFzMU4cqj3U0Hr4WOxsjWgTvzygLALA1FzvGAQRMGLVKHikSBpCEvMGucr3Yv9wGbM5DhMEbP5_aGjK0B8AB8QI92X/s320/obama+baller.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#993300;">As our country transitions to a more complex and politically charged atmosphere it is a refreshing change to see the supposed “spoiled” athletes take an active interest in politics. There are currently former professional athletes that are Mayors, Senators, Governors, and Congressmen, and this trend is on an upswing. George W. Bush was a former owner of the Texas Rangers, and numerous politicians own small parts of teams in all four major sports. America now has a politician that would be able to cross the political line and be an athlete. President Obama has an opportunity to become the first sitting politician that is also an active professional athlete. The Washington Wizards basketball team has the opportunity to make history and also help the economy all in one fell swoop. If they extend an invitation for President Obama to join the team, even in a few preseason games, that would help to boost interest in a struggling franchise and generate tremendous revenue. Sporting goods stores across the country and even the world would be selling out of Obama jerseys at an unprecedented rate, thus boosting the economy and helping to solidify sports and politics as the driving force behind the resurgence of the United States of America .</span></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-9507039745493623322009-03-19T11:01:00.002-04:002009-03-19T11:02:27.415-04:00Want to Play For the Boston Celtics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmSCEEKEVP2qI0L0XvpTEdpaC2CTZxl33kPNygxRklP2c5Zew2C_cOxmY_TmjzXKalEYBbvCz6M3bJp7oAJPFegzPbU-BwVr_2s_DS78DZRh1hjzZo3UA-Fmnr8bYmAhABmnuy5qxtgUJ/s1600-h/080618_celtics_champs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314914336242946114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmSCEEKEVP2qI0L0XvpTEdpaC2CTZxl33kPNygxRklP2c5Zew2C_cOxmY_TmjzXKalEYBbvCz6M3bJp7oAJPFegzPbU-BwVr_2s_DS78DZRh1hjzZo3UA-Fmnr8bYmAhABmnuy5qxtgUJ/s320/080618_celtics_champs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>As a Boston Celtics fan for all twenty-eight years of my life I was disheartened to get this email today…<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">From: Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics General Manager<br />To: Boston Celtics Fan Club<br /><br />Let me first say thank you for being the best fans in basketball. Thanks to your support we have won our second straight Atlantic Division Championship! The road is far from over and that is where the C’s need your help. As you know we are currently suffering with a rather serious injury situation. We have had injuries to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen, and Brian Scalabrine. We are currently looking for a few superfans to suit up for the Celtics! While you wouldn’t be able to be active for the playoffs, you would be a true member of the team and may even get a chance to play. If you are interested please fill out this application and send it back to me. We can’t wait to see you on the bench in Celtic’s Green</span>.<br /><br /><br />Questionaire<br /><br />1. Are you healthy?<br /><br />2. Do you currently play for another NBA team?<br />If yes, will they buy you out?<br /><br />3. Can you pass a physical?<br /><br />4. Have you ever played in the NBA, CBA, NCAA, NBA D-League, or any European professional league?<br /><br />5. Do you currently have any injuries?<br /><br />6. Have you ever played basketball at any level?<br /><br />7. Seriously, are you healthy?<br /><br />8. Are you under 50 years old?<br /><br />9. Can you be here in time for our next game?<br /><br />If you answered “yes” to at least five of these questions than we will be in contact with you shortly.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Danny Ainge</div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-61850059173324987182009-03-10T21:25:00.002-04:002009-03-10T21:30:37.524-04:00The Positive of Steroids for Baseball<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IzyuXUyulncRoBXFytyU9czA5grXRuoPb2E_ukl6FLO0bo3LoFpiH2I8JgEo1q50eI1Gxf3FZJi0dWafLPoYrRruHMMTJPWVY1dRN27bOVAqKZvrpkjul-kk-_XJrPWZargQaXkbkmTk/s1600-h/alex-rodriguez-steroids-776997.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311736336349455906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IzyuXUyulncRoBXFytyU9czA5grXRuoPb2E_ukl6FLO0bo3LoFpiH2I8JgEo1q50eI1Gxf3FZJi0dWafLPoYrRruHMMTJPWVY1dRN27bOVAqKZvrpkjul-kk-_XJrPWZargQaXkbkmTk/s320/alex-rodriguez-steroids-776997.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Alex Rodriguez deserves a thank you from baseball fans. After Barry Bonds and his steroid filled body passed Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron atop the all-time home run leader board the game felt tarnished. Rodriguez was the clean-cut person destined to knock Bonds off his perch and restore dignity and fair play to baseball’s most cherished record. That dream is now a fallacy, but the more important issue is that home runs might not be part of baseball’s future. Recently championships have been built on pitching, defense, speed, and clutch hitting. Home runs might sell tickets but they don’t win games.<br /><br />One of the best offensive teams in baseball history was the 1980’s St. Louis Cardinals. They scored runs in bunches (in part thanks to Astroturf) but never had a glut of power hitters. Tom Herr was an All-Star second baseman that once had over 100 RBI in a season while only hitting one home run. ONE! Herr couldn’t hit home runs in batting practice but was a truly effective run producer. He is the model of what baseball players have become. Players that can hit the ball, take a walk, advance a runner, steal a base, and win with their glove and mind, not just with 22 inch pythons. </div><br /><div><br />Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis were both in the top three of American League MVP voting in 2008. Both players won Gold Gloves and were catalysts for their team. Either player can hit anywhere in the batting order, can get on base, and have some power, but don’t rely on just the longball. Both men are doubles hitters that can drive in runs in a variety of methods. These are the men that are the modern day legends, the players that prove that you don’t need to hit a home run to make a difference for your team. When Barry Bonds complains that he can’t get a job, remind him of the success he had with the Pirates in the 1990’s and how he was a complete player, not just a medicinal freak. </div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-85074226385604839042008-09-09T11:34:00.001-04:002008-09-09T11:35:56.779-04:00No Brady, No Problem<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RA0l7mIsfLbnhdzu_rqrQcU0RcjD3DiUlJ6Mm8TK4oSg1i5-dAA2hyzngzOGXeSB_k1D1Lp-1mkPD_AvxfODFPnLs2JSDRQs5hBT0WE_H2_pjKCBobtlqgUISL4E1QAxTqUY50U7bfHJ/s1600-h/matt+cassel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244045751034499890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RA0l7mIsfLbnhdzu_rqrQcU0RcjD3DiUlJ6Mm8TK4oSg1i5-dAA2hyzngzOGXeSB_k1D1Lp-1mkPD_AvxfODFPnLs2JSDRQs5hBT0WE_H2_pjKCBobtlqgUISL4E1QAxTqUY50U7bfHJ/s320/matt+cassel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#999999;">Fear not Patriots’ fans, Tom Brady’s torn ACL does not mean all is lost. The Patriots will still win the AFC East and win double-digit games in 2008. The Patriots’ defensive front seven is the best in the AFC, they have one of the top five wide receiver duos in the league, and a great and diverse running game. While quarterback might be the position that you can least afford an injury, the Patriots have the best team to surround a new quarterback. Matt Cassel is stepping into a situation very similar to what Tom Brady was thrust into in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe was injured. If Cassel can manage the game efficiently (find the open man, don’t try to do too much, and limit turnovers) then the Patriots will be fine (just don’t expect to see Brady shipped out of New England before next season like Bledsoe was).<br /><br />When Tom Brady stepped up and threw a wounded duck in the direction of Randy Moss it was obvious that something was wrong. Most fans could see by the first replay the severity of Brady’s injury and realize he had an injured ACL. While the team was saying that Brady’s return to the game was “questionable”, what was really in question was if he was returning this season. The Patriots’ concern shouldn’t be Tom Brady’s injury as much as it should be the play of the offensive line. Center Dan Koppen and left guard Logan Mankins are Pro Bowl players but the rest of the line is a concern. Left tackle Matt Light can be one of the best at his position but he is coming off of a preseason injury and struggles with speed rushers. Light has a tendency to shrink when he needs to step up, but he is still solid. The real concern is the right side of the line. Right tackle Nick Kaczur is average but the issues at right guard make him more vulnerable. Starting right guard Stephen Neal is a Pro Bowl player but he is injured and not eligible to return until Week 7 at the earliest. Russ Hochstein is a decent fill-in, but not a long-term answer, and he is injured as well. Bill Yates started against the Chiefs, but he should not be a starter on this team at any time. Until the offensive line is healthy the Patriots have a major weakness that will make the offense much less explosive.<br /><br />This year the Patriots’ defense will have to play up to their potential to win, as the offense will not set another NFL scoring record. The key to the defense rest in two positions, inside linebacker and cornerback. Jerod Mayo will have to play up to his top-10 draft status, and he has shown that potential so far. Mayo’s quickness allows Tedy Bruschi to freelance without having to worry about the middle being covered. The depth at linebacker will also allow Bruschi to get a bit more rest than he had in recent years, something crucial to him staying successful all year. Cornerback is more of a concern. Ellis Hobbs will forever be remembered as the man who was beaten by Plaxico Burress for the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, but Hobbs is an emerging star. The play of Deltha O’Neal and Terrence Wheatley at the other cornerback position will need to be steady for the Patriots to keep opponents from picking apart the secondary. Fortunately the Patriots strength is collapsing the pocket and forcing the opposing quarterback to make bad decisions. A strong defense will not only make the job of the Matt Cassel easier, but also give the Patriots great field position. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#999999;">The injury to Tom Brady will make the road to the Super Bowl much more difficult. The Steelers, Colts, and Chargers do not care that Brady is hurt, and will be looking to give the Patriots a dose of playoff payback this year. The Patriots are still the team to beat, but the rest of the AFC can see the blood in the water. The true test for the Patriots will come this year. When every team is gunning for you, and your gunslinger is hurt, do you have what it takes to win it all? Hopefully for Pats fans the answer is yes, but this isn’t Brady’s team anymore. This will need to be a true team effort and the work of Belichick’s magic to have the Patriots still be the NFL’s elite team. </span></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-67304146199835077112008-08-29T10:20:00.001-04:002008-08-29T10:22:04.352-04:00Tragedy Meets Legal StupidityThe station night club fire was a tragedy, but the drawn out legal issues are more tragic. Many of the civil suits have been settled and some of the companies named are amazing and beyond stupid.<br />The tragic 20 February 2003 fire at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., killed 96 people and injured more than 200. It was a stupid stunt: the band playing that night set off fireworks, setting fire to soundproofing foam. With the nightclub's insurance maxed out and no one else to turn to for the expected $1 billion of liability, lawyers in the case sued anyone they could think of in their search for deep pockets to pick. One unlikely victim of the tactic was Clear Channel Communications, which owns a radio station in the area, on the basis that they helped promote the event. In February, Clear Channel announced a tentative $22 million settlement with survivors and the families of those killed. Rhode Island's "joint and several liability" put Clear Channel on the hook; as long as lawyers could show just the tiniest involvement by the company, it ended up having to pay even though they had no part in the fire. <span style="color:#ff0000;">{It gets worse}</span><br /><br />Other deep pockets included TV station WPRI, which was ironically onthe scene to do a story on the dangers of nightclubs when the fire broke out, which paid $30 million on the theory that their cameraman's equipment blocked an exit. <span style="color:#ff0000;">{Wrong place, wrong time. Plus $30 million on a theroy? Insane}</span> JBL Speakers paid $815,000 to settle a charge that its speakers had flammable foam in them<span style="color:#ff0000;">{This makes sense to me, speakers for concerts should have fire resistant material if possible}</span>; beer maker Anheuser-Busch ($5 million) and its local distributor ($16 million) because their beer was sold at the nightclub <span style="color:#ff0000;">{Ummm, why not? I guess drunk people can't get out of a building? Why not other breweries?}</span>; Sealed Air Corp. paid $16 million, since its foam was used for soundproofing, even though the foam was not rated for such a purpose <span style="color:#ff0000;">{They shouldn't be held responsible if someone misused their product}</span>; the State of Rhode Island, $10 million, and the city where the fire occurred, $10 million, for who-knows-what reason; and HomeDepot (amount unknown), where the foam was purchased. <span style="color:#ff0000;">{Let's just sue and see what sticks} </span><br /><br />Over $110 million in lawsuits settled without any real cause. I know this is a tragedy but why go after companies that are not at fault. It's all about making someone, anyone, pay.The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-21685140497293488612008-08-01T19:31:00.002-04:002008-08-01T19:33:34.370-04:00Manny Ramirez Adios<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx3eN3sFwi3zggzFfRoSGC2MUoxf4UNzEH93-vxiyI9R8wliqr3yLw0dtYi7B-TxlG_7T7Yn9K33kLuamgEA0asFw0Ni9_A8OUMO6OKHIfsu_dWKpZXmJXVDKFUu7RJXMxnVvzobrybZ8/s1600-h/Manny+is+outta+here.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229696495916145026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="137" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx3eN3sFwi3zggzFfRoSGC2MUoxf4UNzEH93-vxiyI9R8wliqr3yLw0dtYi7B-TxlG_7T7Yn9K33kLuamgEA0asFw0Ni9_A8OUMO6OKHIfsu_dWKpZXmJXVDKFUu7RJXMxnVvzobrybZ8/s320/Manny+is+outta+here.jpg" width="274" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A seven and a half year relationship is now over, as the Boston Red Sox finally gave into the insanity that is Manny Ramirez and sent him packing. This is a bittersweet day for Red Sox fans, a day that brings a tear to your eye while you are looking for someone to high five. Having Manny Ramirez in Boston was like having a psychotic nympho girlfriend. You are ecstatic when you’re riding high, but you want to pull your hair out when you have another bout of utter lunacy. Manny could hit a baseball like few players ever to enter Fenway Park, but he could send you to a padded room when he started his usual antics. The Sox might not be a better team after the Manny Ramirez trade, but they will never have to worry about another episode of Manny being a whiny pain in the butt.<br /><br />Over the last seven plus years Manny Ramirez asked to be traded out of Boston 147 separate times, not including 25 times that he was “misquoted”. His antics finally became too much, and even his own teammates were encouraging management to trade Ramirez. Manny’s complaining has done so much to hurt his value that the Red Sox had to cover the remaining seven million dollars left on his contract, as well as trade two major league players, just to get back a player with less skill. When people look back at this trade in a few years it may very well look like a disaster. Jason Bay is an All-Star left fielder, but his isn’t in the same class as Manny Ramirez. Craig Hansen is a talented reliever who just needs to figure out how to throw strikes to be a dominant reliever. The key to the trade may be Brandon Moss. Moss is a talented young outfielder that was without a place to play in Boston, much like David Murphy was last year. Murphy was sent to Texas for Eric Gagne, and is now making a run at the American League Rookie of the Year. Moss has the talent to be a .300 AVG/20 Home Run/80 RBI player, and in Pittsburgh he will have a chance to play and develop his skills. </div><br /><div><br />If Ramirez had been more of a professional and less of a nutcase he would have been easier to trade, but was his craziness the real reason that he got the trade he wanted?</div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-57794017588530749272008-06-13T00:22:00.002-04:002008-06-13T00:25:09.305-04:00Game 4, Best Comeback Ever<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGSZ7xI4ajkfh_iBW1GqJqzNIF8H6Z_kEpQ1TJNDXoLf4e8wEWqrpiH3JrD8KEWCkVCVXJnN2ocpDZOKLQKY9KScKWQ5A4zd0jlR_FLNSepNt56l-PsG_AmG2t4a4RVbd4X6KJA1QOn07/s1600-h/Game+4+Celebration.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211217140651642994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGSZ7xI4ajkfh_iBW1GqJqzNIF8H6Z_kEpQ1TJNDXoLf4e8wEWqrpiH3JrD8KEWCkVCVXJnN2ocpDZOKLQKY9KScKWQ5A4zd0jlR_FLNSepNt56l-PsG_AmG2t4a4RVbd4X6KJA1QOn07/s320/Game+4+Celebration.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Celtics Lakers Game 4 will go down as the best game in NBA history. The Lakers came out playing like a team of ringers taking on middle-aged accountants at a local YMCA. After the first quarter the Celtics set an NBA Finals record for the largest deficit (21 points) and were losing by more points than they scored. In the second quarter the lead grew to 24 points, and was 20 in the third quarter. No matter how good your team is, you do not come back from that in the NBA Finals, it just isn’t possible. That fact was lost on the Celtics.<br /><br />The group of bench players that were not good enough to lead the Celtics to an NBA Title stepped up and made history. Role players like James Posey, PJ Brown, Tony Allen, and Eddie House sucked the life out of the Staples Center and helped shrink the deficit to only two points by the start of the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen showed that they had the heart to will the Celtics back into the game, and even take the lead. The Lakers’ fans headed to the parking lot early as the Celtics as the Lakers just couldn’t retake the lead.<br /><br />A confident Lakers team in the first half were in stunned shock as they looked up at the scoreboard and saw that instead of a tied series they were one game away from golfing. When the Boston Red Sox were losing 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004 I told everyone that they would win the series. I had that same feeling that the Celtics would win Game 4. I have only had four Father’s Days, but on Sunday night I will be watching the Celtics receive the golden NBA Title. Actually I could deal with a loss on Sunday; I want title number seventeen to happen on the fabled Boston parquet. </span></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-36258892297821940192008-06-11T20:46:00.003-04:002008-06-11T20:56:38.278-04:00Lakers Win, Celtics Have Winning Formula<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjv5Bru38IrqrnVppWTq62YbKuWD6uOzurXUyHHJJoBNzMLYoKJsbWT1uyhAn1Law9xXt7j0iSAW0_Q_9lV6nSsC6lwXVzgxH1xK-qGCSYYwStYi5flmjhxXSc33_VITlzGjJZPkvvNZVo/s1600-h/Celtics+Lakers+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210792442209550130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 249px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" height="195" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjv5Bru38IrqrnVppWTq62YbKuWD6uOzurXUyHHJJoBNzMLYoKJsbWT1uyhAn1Law9xXt7j0iSAW0_Q_9lV6nSsC6lwXVzgxH1xK-qGCSYYwStYi5flmjhxXSc33_VITlzGjJZPkvvNZVo/s320/Celtics+Lakers+1.jpg" width="277" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d4Zf_9s6SXJVzmqdWKMC6Lwa2CAFBnRfry8cjDhKtksPsjhtv_7T2yp5LtqVOzaOIWHaJVjEQEoUc9BJ1fMedNIPq9ri56k2AuETErkCDZj8TkxclY8vlLpG46NoYKU29pbobHz51hbb/s1600-h/Celtics+Lakers+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210792378546926450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="163" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d4Zf_9s6SXJVzmqdWKMC6Lwa2CAFBnRfry8cjDhKtksPsjhtv_7T2yp5LtqVOzaOIWHaJVjEQEoUc9BJ1fMedNIPq9ri56k2AuETErkCDZj8TkxclY8vlLpG46NoYKU29pbobHz51hbb/s320/Celtics+Lakers+3.jpg" width="261" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>As team sports go, basketball is the game that can most easily be won or lost by a spectacular performance by one player. A triple-double or 50-point game will certainly help you win, but other support players are needed. Would Larry Bird have been as good without Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish, or would Michael Jordan have won so many titles without Scottie Pippen? If you doubt the importance of a quality supporting cast than look no further than LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. One player can carry a team on his back on every level up through college, but the NBA is a different animal. The Lakers versus the Celtics in the NBA Finals is a perfect example of a star’s need for quality teammates.<br /><br />There is no question that Kobe Bryant play is the reason the Lakers would win or lose a playoff series. When Bryant won his NBA Titles it was with Shaq as the alpha dog. Now Kobe finally has his own team, as well as competent complimentary players in Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Throw in the instant offense that Sasha Vujacic can offer and the Lakers can be a brilliant team. Paul Pierce has had a similar experience over the last decade. The Celtics had a few deep playoff runs, but those teams were lead by Antoine Walker (the only player in NBA history that thought he could play all five offensive positions by himself but never play defense). Pierce was better than Walker, but he was a better and less selfish teammate. Now Pierce has another veteran shooter in Ray Allen and a low post threat he has never had in Kevin Garnett. The combination of veteran leadership and hungry youngsters gives the Celtics a deeper rotation than most people expected in October. The one difference in the series is not bench scoring, points off of turnovers, or any other measurable statistic. It all comes down to ego.<br /><br />During the first two games in Boston the Celtics came out ready to defend that home court at any cost. One of the biggest reasons the Celtics have had success all season is because the best players play as a team, not as a group of individuals. The Lakers’ players played the first two games (both losses) as if they are afraid of incurring the wrath of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. No matter how well you play you could have always played better, and Bryant seems to thrive on making sure his teammates know that. Kobe tried to get his teammates involved in the first two games before deciding to try to win by himself in Game 3. The only player that even had a chance to contribute in Game 3 was Vujacic, and he was arguing with Bryant for a chance to get his shots. Lamar Odom spent the game on the bench in foul trouble, and Pau Gasol played a timid game and looked uncomfortable out on the floor. While Paul Pierce was mired with foul issues, and Kevin Garnett couldn’t hit a jump shot, Ray Allen stepped up and kept the Celtics in the game.<br /><br />Game 3 was won by the Lakers, but it will be remember as the game where the Celtics found the formula to beat the Lakers. Rajon Rondo is a player very similar to Jason Kidd when he entered the NBA. Both are great passers, defenders, and rebounders, but neither were a threat to score unless they drove to the basket. With Rondo in the game the Celtics offense lacked the ability to stretch the defense. The Lakers could collapse off of Rondo since he isn’t a threat to shoot. When Rondo went down with an injury, Sam Cassell and Eddie House stepped up and the game changed drastically. Both House and Cassell look for their shot first, and will take any shot at any time. This forced the Lakers to cover the point guard more diligently, which left them unable to double-team as easily as they did in the first two games. This allowed Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins/P.J. Brown to work in the paint against smaller defenders. The Lakers are stellar perimeter defenders, but they struggle on the blocks. If the Celtics continue to play three outside shooters and two big men then they should be able to score at will against Los Angeles. The key to this success is Rajon Rondo. Rondo missed part of Game 3 with an ankle injury, and his availability is in question for Game 4. The Celtics would be in trouble with House and Cassell running the offense for a full 48 minutes, as House lacks the ball handling ability, and Cassell doesn’t pass enough to keep the Big 3 involved. Rondo’s game is based on speed, so an ankle injury would leave him far less effective. The ideal situation would be a healthy Rondo but playing only about half the game as a precaution. His speed would still cause the Lakers’ guards fits, but when he was on the bench the Celtics would be able to stretch the floor and get the Lakers’ frontcourt in foul trouble. Doc Rivers has taken a lot of heat for not being a great coach, but even a fan can see the opportunity presenting itself. If he doesn’t try to have the Celtics exploit this than Rivers doesn’t deserve to be a coach. </div><br /><br /><div><br />After pulling out a must win in Game 3, what do the Lakers need to do to win the series? They need to collectively man up, Kobe needs to shut up, Lamar Odom needs to show up, and Pau Gasol needs to toughen up. Without Odom and Gasol playing their best then the Celtics will be too tough to defeat. Kobe is talented but he can’t carry the Lakers to four wins by himself. The Lakers will have the crowd on their side for two more games, and the Celtics have struggled on the road in the playoffs. The Lakers need to win all three games at home or else they will be at a monumental disadvantage. If the Celtics can head back to Boston leading the series than they will be able to hoist banner number seventeen by beating the coach tied with Red Auerbach for the most NBA Championships. You can almost smell the victory cigar being unwrapped. </div></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-1126454141862798072007-07-13T17:35:00.001-04:002008-03-29T20:02:05.290-04:00Jacoby Ellsbury the Best Leadoff Prospect in Baseball<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/250484317.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/250484317.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,102);font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;" >Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox is a phenom. He is the throwback 1970-1980’s leadoff hitter (speed, average, defense, OBP, and no power) that has always been my favorite type of player. Ellsbury has been the Red Sox center fielder of the future for the last two seasons, and even had a stellar spring training while playing with the Red Sox starters this year. There was no chance he would make the opening day team, so he was sent to minor league camp despite outplaying other outfielders on the team. The Sox have a glut of prospects in AAA Pawtucket that play in the outfield (David Murphy and Brandon Moss could be starters or fourth outfielders on most major league teams), so Jacoby was send to the AA Portland Sea Dogs. Well now Ellsbury is taking a trip down Route-95 from Maine to Rhode Island to play in Pawtucket. Why the promotion after only a month in AA? The stats don’t lie. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,102);font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;" ></span></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,102);font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;" >Ellsbury was leading all of minor league baseball with a .452 batting average (including a current 15 game hitting streak). Throw in an on-base percentage of .512, and a slugging percentage of .653 (with no home runs!) and you have a great hitter. He has also stolen eight bases so far this year. The Red Sox need to be on alert with this guy. By next year he won’t be able to be sent to the minors, he has too much talent. Brandon Moss will be ready to be a Brian Giles clone by next season (if not sooner) and David Murphy had a job as the Marlins starting CF this year if the teams could have pulled off a trade. JD Drew will be the Boston RF for the rest of the decade as long as his body doesn’t fall apart, and he is actually surprising everyone by becoming a fan favorite. Manny Ramirez will be in LF unless the Sox move him to DH and put Big Papi David Ortiz at first base. Coco Crisp and Willy Mo Pena have talent to be a notch below All-Stars, but they will soon have no place to play. Their days in Boston appear numbered. It feels good to see Boston with homegrown talent that may actually shine in Boston instead of another city. Start the Jacoby Ellsbury for 2008 Rookie of the Year campaign now.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,102);font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-66143530230800365102008-02-09T16:56:00.001-05:002008-03-29T20:01:49.175-04:00Super Bowl Conspiracy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsd2ukqbQwabR1V9KvKPO_m0TF39kEj2ZBeGe9quAkc2CG7G1jUcIDS7YxomIoYJEDFqG_9IwL9VwTdaXTVKBe3btB0HtFln4zHDjQXBwe4luZgABQW8R57yAU7fjfBte5jPfIhmJOn5bw/s1600-h/SB+winning+catch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165102970267399138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsd2ukqbQwabR1V9KvKPO_m0TF39kEj2ZBeGe9quAkc2CG7G1jUcIDS7YxomIoYJEDFqG_9IwL9VwTdaXTVKBe3btB0HtFln4zHDjQXBwe4luZgABQW8R57yAU7fjfBte5jPfIhmJOn5bw/s320/SB+winning+catch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">The Giants won the Super Bowl fair and square, they knew what they had to do to disrupt the Patriots and they did. I am not taking their win away from them at all. The Patriots had plenty of time in the game to make adjustments, but it was too little too late, and they made some bad decisions. For the first time all year the ball didn't bounce the Patriots way. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">However I would be remiss if I didn't share this tidbit I found that shows something was up with the clock in the final two minutes. Click the link and watch for yourself. The video isn't great but it is explained very well and shows that there was a questionable finish to that game that nobody is talking about.</span></div><br /><div><br /><a title="" href="http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=27384" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=27384</span></a> </div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">This link shows a video of how the refs screwed over the Pats in the last 90+ seconds of the Super Bowl. The funny thing is that the issues the person mentions (uncalled penalties, clock issues) are not reviewable. I thought something seemed wrong watching the last part of the game, and I was positive I saw the game clock go from :58 to :59 before a play. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">The Pats should have tried to go for a field goal, but this shows the Giants never even had enough time to get the touchdown pass off. If the clock was run correctly than the plays would have been different and they still may have scored, but we will never know. </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Move over 1985 Draft Ewing Envelope, we have a new New York conspiracy.</span> </div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-47572393552473722692007-07-13T17:40:00.002-04:002008-03-29T20:01:20.850-04:00Spurs - A Few Final Thoughts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/259812190.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/259812190.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="COLOR: #999999; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Congrats to the Spurs, with four titles in nine years you can now restake your claim as a dynasty. You have had an amazing run, from David Robinson, to Tim Duncan, to Tony Parker, and even Big Shot Bob. This was a great year, you won the Western Conference Title (which was more difficult that beating up on Lebron and four guys from the local YMCA). Tim Duncan was his normal stellar self, and veterans like Michael Finley, Brent Barry, and Jacque Vaughn finally got their rings and a shot at another big contract payday. I still can't believe that Tony Parker won the Finals MVP when a few years ago he was not good enough in most fans' eyes. (Strange to think that both the regular season and finals MVPs were both born outside of the USA. Truly the World's game). Not a bad month for Parker, winning a ring, and MVP, and getting hitched to Eva Longoria. He is scheduled to win at least $100 million in the lottery on his honeymoon. Congrats again to the Spurs, just watch out for the Suns with their glut of picks in the NBA Draft.<br /></span>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-79232273840736811762008-03-29T19:56:00.003-04:002008-03-29T20:00:38.074-04:00Evan Longoria in AAA is Smart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KkcsFLhwc2LZ8wth395rjcwnE7aI_gwoZkKxqFjEDe_mUq4f00WC4ElVtuloHnQBnIwrrGkeMZ3b6QCiNa-WzAiK2tGQ5RUh31KxL0zb23-9pQef0LzkPAllOigfd7rbrRN3ORggdf0b/s1600-h/Evan+Longoria.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183317853743337298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KkcsFLhwc2LZ8wth395rjcwnE7aI_gwoZkKxqFjEDe_mUq4f00WC4ElVtuloHnQBnIwrrGkeMZ3b6QCiNa-WzAiK2tGQ5RUh31KxL0zb23-9pQef0LzkPAllOigfd7rbrRN3ORggdf0b/s320/Evan+Longoria.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4MWgwfztL-J_Mf4UAPFWpLLg9QjX-ciL3JXKG0jf3nps80ta2vau89zR9BybCNddYWAnkwLziFNCNWpq-sUmYRdwR-yxsPPvfHIZPDiclMRmEuHm4Di2ncSBejFI8tUGTOc7EBKF8nD6/s1600-h/Evan+Longoria0.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">The Tampa Bay (not Devil) Rays front office deserves a pat on the back for making a move that fans hate. Evan Longoria might not only be the Rays best prospect, but the best offensive prospect in baseball. When it came time to make roster moves the Rays sent Longoria to Triple-A Durham, even though Longoria is a leading Rookie of the Year candidate. By not promoting Longoria until after May 1st the Rays will be able to keep him under contract until 2014, as opposed to 2013 if he started the season in the Major League. It is no secret that the Rays will not be a playoff team this year (or at least until 2010), but with the amazing young players they have, they are looking like the Cleveland Indians of the 1990’s. Is one month now really worth taking the chance of a top player becoming a free agent a year early when you could be a World Series contender?<br /><br />Evan Longoria will be in a battle with Jacoby Ellsbury, Daric Barton, and Joba Chamberlin for the American League Rookie of the Year award. Starting the season in the minors will hurt Longoria’s chances, but the twenty-two year old can benefit from a few more Triple-A at bats. Longoria is an amazing hitter, but he still struggles at time with off-speed pitches. Last year Jacoby Ellsbury could have started the year in Boston but he was sent to Double-A. Ellsbury hit well over .400, and then was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket where he became a more polished hitter. When the Red Sox needed Ellsbury he was ready, as he was a major contributor to the Sox stretch run and World Series Championship. Longoria would fit in the Rays lineup on opening day, but is a chance at winning the ROY really worth keeping him in the big leagues? No. Longoria will be a better player when he is recalled, and the Rays will not be missing anything without him in the lineup. </span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">The Rays may have an abundance of talent, but it will take some time before they are able to pass the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays for a chance at the playoffs. Giving their young talent a chance to mature will only benefit the franchise in the long run. Fans may want to see prospects in the Show ASAP, especially when the playoffs don’t seem like an option. Too many players have been rushed to the Majors, only to struggle and never live up to their potential. Giving Evan Longoria more time in the Minors may annoy fans, but when the Rays are in the playoffs in a few years due to Longoria, that one month wait back in 2008 will seem like a great idea.</span> </div></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-75711010436079197242008-03-12T20:37:00.004-04:002008-03-12T20:40:46.306-04:00The Heat Isn't On<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpG8ZwKKwH1xUfm8TPP3XuGrQUa4LTaOUxZ26AiDfZPlHZi4T-0gN7SG1yyppwO2m1Ch_GjBh4LQKdHgXlDtYwJ4bP6DY52Ze-s9miVO9asSarIv093a6FP8H8HsJD-JGC_CUzrxx1Rc_I/s1600-h/heat.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177019439646031074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 79px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 102px" height="157" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpG8ZwKKwH1xUfm8TPP3XuGrQUa4LTaOUxZ26AiDfZPlHZi4T-0gN7SG1yyppwO2m1Ch_GjBh4LQKdHgXlDtYwJ4bP6DY52Ze-s9miVO9asSarIv093a6FP8H8HsJD-JGC_CUzrxx1Rc_I/s320/heat.gif" width="118" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QIj3hmkxG01SmZE9MuVIlPR0z3Yt4mjDhvzON65WHroRlm1UpzOV2PsYZaVeqKGRpBGitB5NNCSCPAC7b-nb-CpQ0wnkDFrrt_yiDOscHqyyQmLLxqYReRGCN5T86N3HmOYEPnWPVDZk/s1600-h/fire+extinguisher.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177019551315180786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 77px" height="105" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QIj3hmkxG01SmZE9MuVIlPR0z3Yt4mjDhvzON65WHroRlm1UpzOV2PsYZaVeqKGRpBGitB5NNCSCPAC7b-nb-CpQ0wnkDFrrt_yiDOscHqyyQmLLxqYReRGCN5T86N3HmOYEPnWPVDZk/s320/fire+extinguisher.gif" width="142" border="0" /></a>Every year at least one NBA team is accused of packing it in early in an attempt to gain a better draft pick. This year is no different, as the Miami Heat are officially in shutdown mode. It will be very difficult for Miami not to finish with worst record in the NBA, and the franchise has made sure they will have the most ping pong balls come lottery day. From trades to injuries to coaching issues, the Heat have had a dysfunctional season, a far cry from their championship season two years ago.<br /><br />Miami started their makeover by freeing themselves of Shaq’s monster contract in exchange for Shawn Marion, who will likely opt out of his contract after this season, which will free up exorbitant amounts of cap room for next year and beyond. Dwyane Wade has been the lone bright spot for Miami this year, and now he has opted to sit out the rest of the year with an ailing left knee. With injuries to Wade, and at least one player at every position, the Heat are having trouble filling out their roster, and now are trying to scrounge up healthy bodies to occupy the empty seats on the bench. The coup de grace lies with coach Pat Riley, who just announced he was leaving the bench during the season to scout potential draft picks. Are things really that bad down in South Beach?<br /><br />Riley’s move may be a necessary evil when you are head coach as well as the man that makes the roster moves, but this decision reeks of abandoning all hope. Shouldn’t one of the best coaches in NBA history at least try to portray that he cares about his team in the long and short term? Even if Riley is leaving the bench just for a few weeks, and is doing so to scout potential draft picks, doesn’t that just scream of desperation? Why have scouts if your coach has to leave during the year to evaluate talent? This reminds be of the Cincinnati Bengals when they wouldn’t spend the money to hire enough scouts to properly evaluate talent.<br /><br />As bad as this move looks it does make a modicum of sense in a convoluted way. As long as the Heat continue their losing ways they will have a top four pick in the next NBA draft. The general consensus among draft experts is that the top talents are all freshmen and sophomores, and only one player (Memphis guard Derrick Rose) has stated that he plans on returning to college. The best player at the moment looks to be Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who looks like Shawn Marion with more upside. Guards such as Rose, USC star O.J. Mayo, and Indiana’s Eric Gordon are point guards by definition, but both Mayo and Gordon are shoot first guards. With Dwyane Wade as a shoot first combo guard, does Gordon or Mayo really fit? The most talented big men (DeAndre Jordan, Brook Lopez, Anthony Lopez, and Bake Griffin) all project to be good to great players, but none are instant impact players. With so much up in the air with this draft class, all potential picks need to be scrutinized. Depending on which players enter the draft, it is possible this lottery will contain no upperclassmen, or even any player older than twenty. Teams will need to know exactly what they are getting, and the player they draft will be the player that a franchise can be built around. For those reasons it is tough to fault Pat Riley for wanting to make sure he knows his investment inside and out. Being an NBA General Manager or Head Coach are more than full time jobs, and one man trying to fill both roles is a recipe for disaster, even for one of the best minds in NBA history.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-33512398240065848192008-02-26T22:42:00.003-05:002008-02-26T22:46:53.960-05:00Delusions of Randomness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVyRSCa8Owb203aBmLm_AVK0B0HTR7il3GSPBy-3K_ib1vktfavmqY6_Up3a5_P-o6y6KSaptxRi1w6o5AETD0ORckSpaSeEcHPsGQYgRcEK7V24V9otWb4qBalL8gDNrpuudL5IbP64M/s1600-h/Bartolo+Colon+Red+Sox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171501097148904450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVyRSCa8Owb203aBmLm_AVK0B0HTR7il3GSPBy-3K_ib1vktfavmqY6_Up3a5_P-o6y6KSaptxRi1w6o5AETD0ORckSpaSeEcHPsGQYgRcEK7V24V9otWb4qBalL8gDNrpuudL5IbP64M/s320/Bartolo+Colon+Red+Sox.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">To paraphrase Jon Stewart’s intro for Daily Show correspondent Lewis Black, “Sometimes a news story falls through the cracks, here to catch them is Chris Vining, with his column, Delusions of Randomness.” So I will touch upon stories that didn’t get big headlines, but are still important.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>Baseball</em></strong><br />The Red Sox finally decided to give Terry Francona (the most successful Sox manager in decades) a three-year contract extension. Francona is now signed through 2011, and as long as nothing drastic changes (Manny Ramirez goes insane and tries to mentor upcoming prospects)he has a great chance to lead the Red Sox to another World Series Championship in the next four years. Francona is a class act and does a great job of handling the Boston media.<br /><br />Kudos to the Red Sox for signing Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract this week. Curt Schilling will be lucky if he can pitch with any effectiveness again, and Colon is a low risk (and cost) investment to make sure the Sox have depth in the rotation. Colon is not the Cy Young pitcher he was, and despite being an injury risk, he provides Clay Buchholz a chance to be brought along slowly. If the Sox can get anything above twenty starts they would be in a great position, as Colon can still pitch when he is on his game. For those people complaining about the rich getting richer, Colon was still unsigned when Spring Training opened, and was signed for chump change. He was more than fair game.<br /><br />The Tampa Bay Rays dropped the “Devil” from their name but they might sign the Devil to their roster. Barry Bonds has arisen as a target for Tampa, which might not be as bad of an idea as it sounds. The Rays are young and talented, and Bonds would take a rapidly improving offense to dangerous levels. Bonds would also provide insurance for Cliff Floyd and Roco Baldelli. If Evan Longoria can be effective in the Majors this year, than the Rays have one of the top 10 offenses in baseball, and that is without Bonds. Adding the *All-Time Home Run King* would make the Rays a Wild Card threat, but the health of Scott Kazmir and Troy Percival will be key factors toward the Rays’ quest to get out of the AL East cellar.<br /><br />Koby Clemens has been caught in a very tough spot for the Astros. While he is in Major League Spring Training he is subject to the substance advise of Miguel Tejada. If/when Koby is sent to Minor League Camp he will have his father to talk with. The younger Clemens should say he has visa problems and skip camp, or show up for another teams’ Spring Training.<br /><br />Not only is Jonathan Papelbon the best young closer in baseball he showed that he could bust a move during the playoffs, and people took notice. Paps was offered a spot as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars, however he turned it down when he realized he had to dance to music that wasn’t played by the Dropkick Murphys.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>Football</em></strong><br />Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor are family, and were teammates on the Dolphins up until Bill Parcells rolled into town. Taylor is now working on his footwork as a member of the Dancing With the Stars cast. Thomas was pushed into the unemployment line until Jerry Jones offered Thomas a chance to play in his home state of Texas. Thomas will make the Cowboys better on defense, even if his skills are diminishing. His knowledge and leadership will be key to the Cowboys defense, and his locker room presence cannot be underestimated. He also hates vacationing during bye weeks.<br /><br />The Atlanta Falcons won the coin flip to give them the third pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. The downside is that the Falcons have so many holes that they could have used a lower pick. The benefit is that more players would be off the board so they would have an easier time picking which player will be blamed for a string of losing seasons.<br /><br />Peter King of Sports Illustrated predicted that the Giants would win the Super Bowl against the Patriots if they could apply consistent pressure on Brady. He also suggested the Giants might win if they could outscore the Patriots. I am a Peter King fan but my three year old knew the game was in trouble when the Pat’s line had trouble blocking the rush.<br /><br />Rex Grossman was resigned to a one year, three million-dollar contract by the Chicago Bears. No seriously, the Bears resigned him and Kyle Orton in the same week. That is a punch line, but I can’t even come up with a joke.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>Basketball</em></strong><br />Former players Keith Van Horn and Aaron McKie were included in trades despite not being active players. In an attempt to bolster their roster the Celtics had a trade in place to send Bob Cousy to Memphis for Mike Conley. Memphis was looking to add veteran leadership and cut payroll (Cousy was making 5 figures in his last contract) and the deal was perfect for both sides. The trade fell through at the last minute when Memphis was unable to find a pair of shorts short enough for Cousy to wear.<br /><br />Yao Ming suffered a stress fracture in his foot and now will be out for the season. While this is a shot to the Rockets playoff chances, the worse news is that Yao’s backup is Dikembe Mutombo, who has scored a whopping seven points this season. The Rockets do not have any players 6’10’’ or taller besides Steve Novak, who weighs in at a massive 220 pounds and has played less than fifty career games.<br /><br />Sam Cassell has asked to be bought out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers so he can sign with (most likely) Boston or Denver. What makes Sam I Am even more attractive is that he has already missed 15 games due to injuries this year. When questioned about his health Cassell had this to say, “The Celtics are getting damaged goods if I do go over there," Cassell said. "But I'll be all right." Nothing says sign me like that quote.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>NASCAR</em></strong><br />Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a new team but the same winning ways. Junior hasn’t been allowed in the winner’s circle in over five-dozen races. Maybe he should spend less time doing commercials and spend more time on figuring out why his engines keep blowing up. Just a thought, I’m no car expert.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>Hockey</em></strong><br />The trade deadline just passed and players were moving all over North America (except to Mexico, there is no ice there). The Penguins acquired Marian Hossa, the top forward available, and the player that can put the Penguins in position for a Stanley Cup run. Wait, Penguins adding payroll? Weren’t they going to be sold and moved to Canada earlier this year?<br /><br />In what has become an all too familiar scenario, the Boston Bruins promised to be active at the trade deadline but failed to bring in anyone at all, even a fourth line bench warmer. The Bruins are clinging to a playoff spot but are falling fast. Why are season ticket sales down again?</span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><br />That is all I have this week, remember if you heard it here first you need to pay closer attention to real sports reporters! I will be back when I return.</span></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-46031006617332995702008-02-08T11:44:00.001-05:002008-02-23T11:59:02.069-05:00LeBron James Shut Up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUAw1ZH_HGm2TX5LFtHjvTK77M9aG3TaSp248dR9AXWjLceTE53kF7Rsqgz1pU-nHg0IOLFE_dPt5KgP6ViEIZ1thlR_BDLjv6Fgv4olS5lGZOS4go_1vhXgTFuNtFrbv0L86jt_kcT0Y/s1600-h/lebron+pic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164651844711261794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUAw1ZH_HGm2TX5LFtHjvTK77M9aG3TaSp248dR9AXWjLceTE53kF7Rsqgz1pU-nHg0IOLFE_dPt5KgP6ViEIZ1thlR_BDLjv6Fgv4olS5lGZOS4go_1vhXgTFuNtFrbv0L86jt_kcT0Y/s320/lebron+pic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000066;">Being the best basketball player on the planet must give LeBron James the ability to get away with comments that make him sound like a moron. When Shaq was traded to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, both James and Cavaliers coach Mike Brown were pleased to see The Diesel join the Western Conference, but they were remiss that talented players were not coming to the East, especially to Cleveland. The Cavs have had their once promising season turn somewhat grim after injuries to Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. The Cavs have been left depleted and lacking in firepower outside of James, especially with the streaky play of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes. What LeBron needs to realize is that Cleveland isn’t going to get another star player soon, and the East is better and deeper than last year.<br /><br />For years the Western Conference has been better and deeper than the Easter Conference, almost on par with the difference between the American and National Leagues in baseball. The balance of power is shifting with Toronto and Orlando becoming legitimate threats instead of cellar dwellers. If memory serves me correctly one of the biggest free agent signings this offseason was the Magic signing Rashard Lewis, who played in the Western Conference. Also the team with the best record in basketball, the Boston Celtics, traded for two Western Conference All-Stars (Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett) and only had to give up one player that is even close to being a star (Al Jefferson). Even the trade of Shaq means more to the Suns than the Heat only because they can win a title with him. The Heat have the worst record in basketball and that is with Shaq out hurt and Dwyane Wade battling injuries. Shawn Marion is a 20 point 10 rebound player for 82 games a year while Shaq’s numbers (15 points 8 rebounds) have been on the decline the last three years and is lucky to play in 2/3 of his teams’ games. At this point Shaq’s name is better than his game, and Marion is an All-Star caliber player. This deal is a steal for the East.<br /><br />It would be tough to argue that the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t in rough shape, despite being the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are in strapped with the salary cap unless another team is willing to take on Larry Hughes’s ridiculous contract (get Isiah Thomas on the phone). The team doesn’t have a true point guard, Hughes plays the point as an out of position shooting guard. LeBron handles and distributes the ball the way Michael Jordan did in his prime, with the offense revolving around him. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is an All-Star center but his play has been sporadic and he is on the down slope of his career due to injuries. Drew Gooden is an average at best power forward and the backup guards are offensive minded without enough offense, defense, or playmaking ability. The Cavs have LeBron and whoever else decides to contribute on a given night. There isn’t another playoff caliber team in the NBA that is so devoid of talent surrounding their top option. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000066;">How the Cavaliers are as good as they are remains a mystery. While you can’t fault James for wanting a second fiddle, the Cavs continue to shoot themselves in the foot and end up unable to make a move that would be of any real long-term benefit. The Cavs are one solid player away from a title, but one injury away from being a middle of the road team without playoff hopes. A serious injury to LeBron and the Cavs are lottery bound. King James can complain all he wants, but unless the Cavs can find someone willing to play in Cleveland for pennies on the dollar than they will be a one man show not talented enough to win a title for the next several years.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000066;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc0000;">According to an ESPN Story here are the quotes in question</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#cc0000;">"Unbelievable," James said after practice Wednesday. "That's all I got. It's unbelievable."When James was asked if being paired with Kidd, his teammate last summer on the U.S. national team, could win the Cavs their first championship, "Yeah," James said. "It's that easy.""It helps," he said with a laugh. "It does help when you have guys on the team that are perennial All-Stars or can go out there and produce every night and you know what you're going to get.""It can mess up the chemistry a little bit and it could take a little longer for them to fit in, maybe not," he said. "The reward is you get a good player. Like the Lakers, they got a guy [Gasol] who has averaged 20 [points] and 12 [rebounds] for his whole career. Last night, Kobe Bryant gets six points and the Lakers win by 15, that's the reward.</span> </div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-61738614323891848472008-02-23T11:54:00.004-05:002008-02-23T11:58:39.017-05:00Can the Cavaliers Really Contend?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsMkHiDUi5XUCMF23hc-khFoRuzG9yFPw4ty6GfJmZ5QAWdoVygWv2G8H_nV1LTsfcPZijmczn8lQkUDHt7OOEJ3odz_IRn4Pr_ZiNUmGEa3SrWr2Lq_VEaJLMb3IVmWlc5ZcNJuSG1T4/s1600-h/Cavs+New+Blood.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170220548354634738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsMkHiDUi5XUCMF23hc-khFoRuzG9yFPw4ty6GfJmZ5QAWdoVygWv2G8H_nV1LTsfcPZijmczn8lQkUDHt7OOEJ3odz_IRn4Pr_ZiNUmGEa3SrWr2Lq_VEaJLMb3IVmWlc5ZcNJuSG1T4/s320/Cavs+New+Blood.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#ff9900;"><strong>LeBron having a supporting cast = Good<br />This supporting cast = Not So Good</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">With seconds remaining before the NBA trade deadline the Cleveland Cavaliers remade their roster surrounding LeBron James. The Cavs orchestrated a three way trade with Seattle and Chicago, a deal that allowed them to jettison bad contracts (Larry Hughes), moody players (Drew Gooden), and spare parts (Ira Newble, Shannon Brown, Cedric Simmons, and Donyell Marshall). Cleveland was able to bring in four players that can make an immediate impact, Seattle guard Delonte West and forward Wally Sczerbiak, and Bulls forwards Ben Wallace and Joe Smith. Despite bringing in a serious upgrade in talent, the Cavs might be worse off in the short run, and are far from being the favorites in the Eastern Conference.<br /><br />There is little doubt that LeBron James is the best player in basketball, and he led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals last year with very little consistent support. Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been an All-Star caliber center in the past, but he has been on a decline the last two years, and too much weight has been placed on his shoulders. Shooting guard Sasha Pavlovic and power forward/center Anderson Varejao were the sparks that helped Cleveland exceed expectations last year, but both have been out with injuries for a month. Varejao could be back in a week, but Pavlovic’s return is still a month away. Cleveland had recently been fueled by a poor mans’ Allen Iverson (shooting guard in a point guards’ body) Daniel Gibson, but he just injured his ankle and is likely out for at least a month. Once these players return the Cavs will be much improved, but will the team have any chemistry?<br /><br />While the Cavs would have preferred to add an impact star (Shawn Marion, Pau Gasol, Jason Kidd, or Michael Bibby) as opposed to revamping their entire roster mid-season, this shake up was a necessity to turn around the team’s performance. The issue with this trade is that the Cavaliers will certainly have more depth, but they still don’t have any impact players besides LeBron James. All four of the new players are having sub-par years compared to their career averages, and only Delonte West isn’t on the downward slope of his career. Will the Cavs really be able to compete for a title this year?<br /><br />So how will these new acquisitions fit in with the Cavs? Joe Smith is a veteran that can play power forward and center, giving Zydrunas Ilgauskas a chance to stay fresh during the stretch run and playoffs. Since Larry Hughes was sent to Chicago and Gibson and Pavlovic are hurt, Cleveland lacks a shooting guard. Delonte West is a true point guard that has been shuffled from the point to shooting guard since college. The issue is that West shoots less than forty percent from the floor as a shooting guard, and James handles the ball as much as most point guards. Wally Sczerbiak may see the most time at shooting guard, however he is a defensive liability and lacks the speed to keep up with any guard in the NBA. Sczerbiak is a pure small forward, but LeBron will not be losing any minutes to him. Wally is a big contract and good scorer but has no place to play without compromising more than he offers. The real problem in this deal is Ben Wallace and his contract. Wallace has a wealth of playoff experience, but he cannot score, and his defense and rebounding has dropped immensely since leaving Chicago. Wallace has gone from star to liability almost overnight, and Joe Smith and Drew Gooden are better than Wallace at this point in his career. Wallace’s reputation as a star may keep Anderson Varejao on the bench more than he should be, thus hurting the Cavs playoff chances. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Cleveland Cavaliers will be a major force for any team that plays them in the playoffs; at least once they are healthy. Teams like Boston, Detroit, and even Orlando now have a better chance at beating the Cavs in a playoff series because of the players the Cavaliers acquired. Once healthy, the Cavs have no true point guard, undersized and average shooting guards, the best small forward duo in basketball, and too many players to get serious minutes at power forward in center. You may say the Cavs have depth, and they do. What they don’t have is a clear distinction between starters and backups. Expect a lot of lineup juggling around LeBron and Ilgauskas. The Cavs are battling for a first round playoff series at home, however they are giving up more points per game than they are scoring, a trend that looks to continue until the entire roster is healthy. Last year the Cavs rode their hot hands to the NBA Finals, but they now have more players to put on the floor and fewer players that can score. The Cavs may have made a big splash at the trade deadline, but they are far from being the realistic favorite to repeat in the East. King James may be ecstatic that he has new teammates, but that may change once they all take the floor together.</span> </span></div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-53243295669112816332008-02-02T17:29:00.000-05:002008-02-02T17:30:35.677-05:00Patriots Cheating or Jets bitter?<span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#000099;"><img src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/278800094.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" height="111" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="199" />Whenever the topic of the New England Patriots recent audiovisual scandal was mentioned one though jumped to the forefront of my mind. Hemorrhoid cream. Strange I know, but it is a quasi-logical progression of mind ramblings that makes at least some sense. Eric Mangini was once a Patriots defensive coordinator who left to coach the New York Jets, a job the Bill Belichick didn’t think was the best fit for him. Since that time Mangini has been determined to use any and all means he has at his disposal to hurt his former club. He signed free agents that didn’t have any real spot on the Jets roster, but their departure left a void for the Patriots. Mangini has seemed focused on beating his former boss, almost to the point of obsession. If the Patriots had been violating league rules than it is possible that a former employee would know what to look for and where to look (especially if he was the beneficiary of information while with the Patriots).</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">Take a stroll down memory lane almost a quarter century ago to another game in New York, this time at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees manager Billy Martin (in his 6th of 14th stint as Yankees manager) had inside information that Kansas City Royals future Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett had an illegal amount of pine tar on his bat. When Brett hit a go ahead home run in the ninth inning, Martin used the information he knew about the illegal bat (information which he had been keeping secret until he needed it) to convince the umpires that Brett had broken the rules. The umpires agreed, the home run was negated, and George Brett produced one of the most famous tirades in sports history. After MLB officials decided that Brett didn’t “Break the spirit of the rules” the game continued and the Royals won. George Brett went on to become the most famous Preparation-H spokesperson ever, and Billy Martin became yet another bitter New York coach. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">So Eric Mangini takes his inside information, squeals once the Patriots beat his team, and gets revenge on his former employer. If the Patriots were not videotaping or using radio signals to help beat the Jets they may have only won by 17 not by 24 (38-14). The Jets are a fringe playoff team at best, and even if the Pats did cheat, they didn’t need to to beat the Jets. The last thing you want to do is piss off Bill Belichick and the Patriots, and San Diego found that out in a big way on Sunday, losing 38-14. San Diego was a Super Bowl favorite and the Patriots simply abused them for sixty minutes Sunday night, just like how Sixty Minutes abuses common sense earlier on Sunday nights. The Patriots have already been fined and forced to forfeit a first round pick (they won’t miss the playoffs and have to give up the second and third round picks) and it seems like Mangini will do anything he can to try to get the Pats to be forced to forfeit their win. Are the Jets that desperate for a win? Well, they should be. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">A few things strike me as unusual about this entire situation, besides that one of the best coaches ever felt the need to try to evade the rules. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was interviewed before the Patriots/Chargers game and he seemed to be hiding that this story still had a few chapters left, and that he expected that there would be more issues for the Pats in the future (and the questions about which first round pick the Pats would have to give up seemed to surprise him, almost as if he didn’t know that the Pats own the 49ers first rounder next year). During the game we were informed that the Jets are now accusing the Patriots of using radio transmitters in the defensive players helmets in an attempt to relay signals to try to shut down the Jets anemic offense. Despite missing Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour with a knee injury, Pro Bowl safety Rodney Harrison to a league suspension, and only getting limited action from Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, the Patriots still dominated the Jets (and Chargers as well). The Patriots don’t need any help to dominate; they don’t even need their best players on the field.<br /><br />When John Madden was talking about the usefulness of videotaping opponents, he actually made an insightful comment, which is a news story in itself. Madden commented that he never needed video because it took away from natural coaching instincts, and created too much confusion. With only seconds before each snap, substituting personnel and changing formations seems to be a bit prohibitive to running a smooth defense. This would be a very uncharacteristic and reactionary tactic for a coach like Belichick that prides himself on making teams adjust to what he brings to the table. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">Now that the Patriots have to turn over any and all notes, video, audio, and who knows what else, to the NFL will this show the Pats have been cheating, or that one former coach was a bit bitter? While most coaches seem to be against Mangini, you can’t fault him for trying to protect his team. In the end it won’t make a difference, the Patriots will cruise to the AFC East Crown, finish first or second in the AFC, and will make the AFC Championship, if not advance even further. With scandal surrounding this team, the Patriots are the one franchise that has consonantly been able to thrive when their backs are against the wall, and this team will be no different, just don’t hold your breath waiting for Tom Brady to endorse rectal cream. </span></span></p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-24132120054345763532007-07-13T17:46:00.001-04:002007-07-13T17:49:02.468-04:00Home Run Derby Diaster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/265083408.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/265083408.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Vladimir Guerrero claimed his spot upon the top of baseball’s home run hitters after winning the Home Run Derby on Monday. Actually Guerrero is the top home run hitter against batting practice pitchers, among All-Stars, at least those who decided they wanted to participate. When you take a look at the Home Run Derby it is plain to see that the event lacks the interest it could potentially draw. When you look at the NBA’s Slam Dunk or 3-Point contest it is sad to see that baseball has been missing a giant opportunity to help invent new stars and increase ratings. After all, sports is all about those dollar dollar bills, y’all.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Two of baseball’s biggest stars optimize the issue with the Derby. The current home run leader so far this season is Alex Rodriguez, who just decided that he will valiantly play in the All-Star game itself. A-Rod is battling a debilitating injury, but decided to play because he “owed it to the fans”. If A-Rod is actually legitimately hurt enough to require time off, or decided to play just for the fans, than you probably believe that Barry Bonds has never used any substance stronger than Flintstones vitamins. Bonds is the other problem with the Derby. Bonds is a handful of home runs away from breaking the all time record, but dismissed a chance to enter the event without a second thought. What makes this decision worse is that Bonds is the only Giants player involved in the All-Star Game being played in his home park. I will admit that Bonds entering the Home Run Derby was a no win situation (he wins and the steroids debate fuels again, if he loses and than he is just off of the juice) but he should have been in the event. Baseball needs to make sure the stars people pay to see are actually on the field to be seen.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Why should All-Stars have all the fun at the Home Run Derby? You don’t have to be an All-Star to be in the Slam Dunk or 3-Point Contest. In fact several stars have emerged as household names based on their performances in these events (Shawn Kemp, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Gerald Green, Andre Iguodala, etc). The Derby should be open to the best power hitters, not just the best All-Star caliber power hitters. It isn’t uncommon to see players participating in the Derby that are not even leading their own team in home runs. It is no secret that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are the big hitters on the Red Sox, but both men have said they are amazed watching Willy Mo Pena hit more home runs (and for longer distances) during batting practice than either of them. Who cares if Pena’s strikeout average is higher than his batting average, the man can put on a home run show. Baseball needs to use this type of power hitting skill to the event’s advantage. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >The Home Run Derby could be a major public relations extravaganza if baseball changed the way they run the event. Instead of a few hours of long drawn out home runs, why not turn this into a fun event for more than just eight players and one night worth of fans? Each team can pick a date during a home stand to have an entire roster Home Run Derby. The event could be separate admission (during the day when a night game is scheduled) for $5-$15 per ticket, with all proceeds going to a charity. The winner for each team advances to a neutral park derby championship (with the same charity and ticket setup) where the top four players advance to the Home Run Derby against four All-Stars, and the champion gets to put all of his winnings towards a charity of his choosing. This way everyone wins, charities across the country, fans, and families that can’t afford the outrageous ticket prices of the mid-summer classic. Even better for baseball (besides the great publicity for their charitable contributions) is that fans get to see players that could be the next great stars before they become household names. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > </span></p><p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" >Before baseball panics about the lack of interest in the Home Run Derby, they need to remember that the NBA once had the same issues with the Slam Dunk contest. Every event suffers from peaks and valleys, the true test is to see what changes might need to be done to fix the event, if any are even needed. Baseball needs to talk to the fans to see what they would want to see, since we fans are the people that dish out our paychecks to support the lavish life of the average and All-Star player.</span><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-42268542632363241652007-07-13T17:47:00.001-04:002007-07-13T17:48:27.060-04:00Darko Milicic, The Next Big Thing In Salary Cap Waste<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/265286490.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/265286490.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p> <strong><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#006666;">The career of Darko Milicic continues to astound me. When the Pistons drafted him with the second overall pick in 2003 it was a good move, at least in theory. A Championship caliber team attempting to add youth to the front line without having to put pressure on a rookie to perform immediately is a good plan, however Darko wasn’t the right fit. Chris Bosh would have been, but hindsight is 20/20. The problem with Darko was that he didn’t show any desire in practices to deserve anything but occasional garbage time minutes. Larry Brown is known for not playing youngsters, but if you perform in practice you can get a chance to earn playing team. After the Pistons gave up on Darko, the Orlando Magic decided to give him a chance.</span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#006666;"> </span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#006666;">Watching Darko play is frustrating because he has loads of talent but no drive or work ethic. Milicic had a chance to play next to emerging star Dwight Howard who would draw double teams that would allow Darko to have an easier time offensively. Another good plan, however the execution failed miserably. Darko couldn’t earn a starting job (losing out to Tony Battie), and struggled to put up eight points and five rebounds a game. Darko broke 20 points in a game only once, and only put up five double doubles in eighty games. When the Magic needed the salary cap space to sign a one-dimensional scorer to the league maximum contract, Darko was suddenly cast aside. </span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#006666;"> </span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#006666;">Now that Darko is a free agent the Vancouver, um Memphis Grizzlies (are there even any grizzly bears in Tennessee?) have offered him a three-year deal worth seven million per season. In four years in the NBA, what has Darko done to earn twenty-one million dollars? Start nineteen games, average five points and three rebounds per game, but he did score in double figures in all four of the Magic’s playoff loses to the Pistons (12.3 PPG but only 4.5 rebounds per game despite playing almost thirty minutes a game). Darko did just turn 22 years old and is still seven feet tall, and you can’t teach size or youth. You can overpay for size but you can’t buy desire. The one thing missing from Darko’s game is the ability to care. He shows up, plays below average and inconsistent basketball, and goes home. He has all the talent but no heart. Darko is the basketball version of Alexander Daigle, a can’t miss hockey superstar a decade ago. Daigle wasted his talent, partied, and never put in the effort needed to live up to his potential. Daigle bounced around hockey, occasionally showing glimpses of his skill, but was just a walking bad contract. Darko Milicic should fit in perfectly in Memphis, a player with talent and no heart that nobody really wants, playing for a team no player really wants to play for. This is a match made in Hell, and Elvis should be spinning in his grave.</span></strong></p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-36963891579942412542007-07-13T17:45:00.001-04:002007-07-13T17:45:55.538-04:00Chris Benoit, My Story<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/262618498.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/262618498.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#990000;">I was really looking forward to the three hour WWE Monday Night Raw on June 25th. The previews indicated a comedy filled show designed to dissuade the negative publicity the WWE received towards killing off the on-air character of Vince McMahon, WWE’s chairman. I TIVOed the show as I was recovering from a virus and my wife wanted to watch a movie on Lifetime. Sleep (or just about anything else) is better than anything on Lifetime, and I knew I would have time to watch the show Tuesday morning. When I turned on Raw I was stunned by what I saw, and not in a positive way. The opening image was indicating that star wrestler Chris Benoit had died.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#990000;">As I fast forwarded through the opening video I saw Benoit’s face on a black screen with the simple text “1967-2007”. Any wrestling fan is far to familiar with this image, the passing of another member of wrestling’s family. While in a state of disbelief, I quickly rewound the video to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. It was no secret Benoit had missed shows over the weekend (including a Pay Per View event where he would have had a shot at winning a World Title) to fly home to deal with a family emergency. Even with this knowledge, I thought this might be all part of some sadistic joke. When I saw the formerly deceased (for television purposes) Vince McMahon standing in the middle of the ring in an empty arena I knew this was no joke. (Thankfully the WWE decided to drop the Vince McMahon death angle, and later decided not to mention Benoit on television again once some of the facts of his death became apparent). I darted to my computer (sliding my almost seven month pregnant wife out of the way) to see if this was real. Much to my horror I found out Benoit was believed to be part of a murder/suicide involving his son and wife (a former wrestling valet herself). There were no words to adequately explain how I felt, but I was filled with a sudden sense of confusion, anger, sadness, and amazement. I am not going to fuel the fire around this tragedy because all of the facts have not been released (I may fuel or even start fires, but not involving deaths of families, illegal substances, and other tragedies) but I hope the initial reports are wrong. Either way, the wrestling world has lost another star, a legend, and a man that was held in the highest regards by his peers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#990000;">Chris Benoit was one of the most well respected wrestlers in the world, despite having a lack of natural athletic ability. Benoit prided himself on working harder than anyone else in his business, using is drive and motivation to hone his craft to the level of a master. He was a teacher to some of the best young talent in wrestling, and helped bring out the best in any person he stepped into the ring with. I had the privilege to see him live numerous times and it was obvious that he was a perfectionist, never happy with himself if he was off of his game. Benoit was the person young talent wanted to work with; he was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, and the type of person that would take a green rookie under his wing. His latest “protégé” is a wrestler MVP (Montel Vontavious Porter) that had struggled with legal problems in the past. Benoit was known as a person willing to give anyone a second chance, no matter what they had done in the past. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;color:#990000;">The career Benoit had chosen was a brutal one, both mentally and physically. Being on the road over three hundred days a year with no more than a few weeks off at any time makes for horrible working conditions. Wrestlers are generally only paid if they work at a show, but most are expected to show up at all events, often paying for travel out of their own pocket. There is no health care in wrestling, and it is next to impossible to find an independent company that would insure a person that fights for a living. Injuries are as common as bad airline food, but if you don’t show up and work you don’t get paid often at the expense of your place in a company. It is no surprise that pain medications are often used and abused, as it is sometimes the only way a wrestler can make ends meet. The people that bring us so much joy in the ring often spend their time out of the ring battling personal demons, all in the name of entertainment. This tragedy is an example of the fight, an unsuccessful one albeit, to battle personal issues.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p> <span style="font-size:100%;color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;">While Chris Benoit’s legacy will forever be tarnished by a horrible incident out of the ring, it is difficult to look past the joy he has brought people around the world. Benoit was active in many charities, he went on several tours to visit our troops putting their lives on the line for our safety, and helped give back to families of colleagues that had passed away. Before you judge Chris Benoit as just a horrible human being, try to look at some of the good he did and the happiness he brought to others. While that doesn’t make up for what he did to his family, it does show that he isn’t just some heartless monster. I personally will always remember the amazing man that showed skill, grace, and dedication, not just as a murderer.</span></span>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-78946049515198906102007-07-13T17:41:00.002-04:002007-07-13T17:44:36.196-04:00Coco Crisp Is Back!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/260873416.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/260873416.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Coco Crisp has been a major disappointment in replacing Johnny Damon, except on defense. Crisp went from a star in Cleveland capable of .300 20+HR 20+SB, to a guy who is lucky to have a job in Boston. Recenly hitting coach Dave Magadan has reconstructed Crisp at the plate and the results have been amazing. Here</span><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> is just a taste of a recent interview with Magadan about Crisp's changes...</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">"He's standing a little taller," hitting coach Dave Magadan said. "A little less stride. And getting the feeling like he's above the ball instead of like landing with that front leg bent.<br /><br />"Just trying to get him taller, both ways. If he's not going to load, at least keep him where he holds his position instead of leaning toward the baseball.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><br />"You don't want to swing around your body. If you get all spread out, with your legs and the weight of your upper body, you swing around it, which slows up your bat and you hit a lot of balls weakly. It gets him in a better position where he can generate some bat speed. He's done a real good job, both sides.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>"I think it's easier for him to get a load, ri</strong></span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>ghthanded. Lefthanded, he's a little more still in his load, so we just try to get him to stand up taller."</strong></span></span></p><p><br />I take special note of the last line of the interview, as it came as a great shock. Apparently Coco hasn't hit in Boston due to issues with his load. I guess a year and a half being constipated will hurt your production. <span style="font-size:130%;"><u><em><strong>All I can say to Coco is go, go, go!</strong></em></u></span><br /></p><p>The better Coco does now, the more value he will have when Jacoby Ellsbury proves why he is the best leadoff hitter not in the Majors and the 2008 AL Rookie of the year.</p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-58097672322620266592007-07-13T17:41:00.001-04:002007-07-13T17:41:38.802-04:00Barry Bonds Survived Boston<span style="color:#993300;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Barry Bonds must be full of relief today. Not only did he survive his first trip to "baseball's most racist city" but he even hit a home run to take one step closer to breaking a record he doesn't deserve to hold. Who cares that his team got swept, Bonds is probably just happy he made it out alive.<br /></span></span></span>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-46901071037810593672007-07-13T17:39:00.001-04:002007-07-13T17:40:10.981-04:00Mocking The NBA Draft<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/255589420.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/255589420.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Sometimes a deep draft can be the worst thing, especially when the two best players have instant franchise changing ability. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are expected to be the top two picks in the NBA Draft (remember when some people thought Durant was better than Oden? Apparently a Final Four appearance solidifies your stock as opposed to a second round exit), but it will be a surprise if both players end up in Portland and Seattle. The lottery put the two teams in the Pacific Northwest in the best positions in the draft, however neither player will fill the biggest needs those teams have. Despite the level of talent available, expect to see a lot of movement at the beginning (and throughout) the draft. Sometimes having the best picks put teams in an impossible position, and that looks like the case this year. So what will happen come draft day? That is impossible to know for sure, but here is how the lottery <strong><em><u>should</u></em></strong> play out.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>1. Portland</strong> – Most people expect Greg Oden to help play the role that Bill Walton once played in the 1970’s, and help bring a title to the Blazers. The problem is that Portland doesn’t need a center; they need to unload contracts. The Blazers best two players are Rookie of the Year shooting guard Brandon Roy and center LaMarcus Aldridge. Throw in a decent point guard in Jarrett Jack and rapidly improving power forward Travis Outlaw and the Blazers are left needing a big small forward/athletic power forward like Kevin Durant. The Blazers also have a great player in Zach Randolph, but his injury history and huge contract make him an albatross. Moving the contract of Darius Miles also is a big priority, as he is just dead weight. Durant would be a much better fit in Portland, but could they live with themselves if they pass on Oden, even if he isn’t the best fit? Don’t be surprised to Portland trade the pick and Miles’s contract to the Celtics for the number five pick, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, and the expiring contract of Theo Ratliff. <strong>Prediction – Trade to #5 and pick Al Horford</strong> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>2. Seattle</strong> –The Sonics need a franchise player or else they may become the Oklahoma City Sonics. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis are the best players on the roster, but Allen is on the decline and Lewis just opted for free agency. Kevin Durant would be a perfect pick, but if he goes with the number one overall pick than the Sonics have a problem. The last three years the Sonics have selected centers in the first round, and none appear to even be capable backups. Would the Sonics select another center at the expense of the rest of their roster? <strong>Prediction – Pray that Kevin Durant doesn’t go #1 overall because there isn’t anyone else to save Seattle</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>3. Atlanta</strong> – The Hawks need a center and a point guard, but they are in a bad position in this draft for their needs. If they had a higher pick it would have been sent to Phoenix as part of the Joe Johnson trade, so they were lucky to get the third pick. They have the 11th pick as well as a glut of talented shooting guards and small forwards available to trade. If the Hawks keep this pick then they will be reaching for any player that fills their needs. Mike Conley would be the obvious choice, but he isn’t the third best player in the draft. If the Hawks traded this pick, the 11th pick and Josh Childress to Portland they could get back the #1 pick (and fill the center need with Greg Oden) and Zach Randolph. Randolph could then be swapped to Charlotte with a future 2nd round pick for the #8 pick (Mike Conley) and Jeff McInnis’s contract. The only hang-up is that the Hawks front office is more inept than any other in the NBA, so expect them to do nothing. <strong>Prediction – Mike Conley, at least they get the point guard they need, even if he is a reach as the #3 pick.</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>4. Memphis</strong> – The Grizzlies need the same thing the Hawks need, a franchise center and point guard, but neither will be available with this pick. Memphis would be smart to take Conley if he is around, or pick a big athletic player like Yi or Brandon Wright. They will probably just pick the best player available. <strong>Prediction – Yi, why not? The last foreign, outside shooting, big man they drafted has done pretty well.</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>5. Boston</strong> – Danny Ainge is great at finding value in the draft and can pull off some great trades. Ainge doesn’t seem to realize that he isn’t running a fantasy team, and that you can’t just put five players on the floor, the position they play matters. (If I see Paul Pierce playing center again I may be forced to find a hit man to eliminate Ainge.) Ainge would be great if Red Auerbach was still around to smack him upside the head every so often. The Celtics need a center, nothing else. Expect the Celtics to end up with any player except the person picked #5 overall. <strong>Prediction – Oden, with above referenced trade with Portland.</strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>6. Milwaukee</strong> – The Bucks biggest need is a true center, but half of the teams in the NBA can say the same thing. Drafting any center besides Oden (not that he will be here) would be a mistake, just as forcing Andrew Bogut to be a beast inside is foolish. The Bucks’ best bet is to put the toughest power forward they can find in the lineup to take some of the physical pressure off of Bogut. <strong>Prediction – Brandan Wright, not a beast but has the size and is more physical and has more potential than Joakim Noah.</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>7. Minnesota</strong> – When your starting forwards lead your team in assists it is time to get a point guard. The only issue is that the next best point guard behind Conley is Acie Law, who is only a borderline lottery player at best. Kevin McHale may finally make a deal to ship away Kevin Garnett and blow up the team, or he might realize that Ricky Davis is more trouble than he is worth. If Garnett is traded than the Wolves will pick a big man, if not they get the most compete player in the draft under 6’9”. <strong>Prediction – Jeff Green, he can score, defend, pass, create his own shots, and may even be able to teach Ricky Davis what defense is.</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>8. Charlotte</strong> – The entire Bobcats roster is soft and injury prone, with the exception of Gerald Wallace. He just plays like a maniac (in a good way). The only player that seemed to stay healthy is Raymond Felton, and he is a decent, but not great point guard. This team needs a scorer to help take some pressure off of Emeka Okafor, Adam Morrison, Sean May, and any other warm body that is playing in the paint. Charlotte should ask their part owner if he wants to suit up sometime, I hear he has some talent. <strong>Prediction – Corey Brewer, a scorer, an athlete, and the one player Charlotte can get that can help out the most right away. The Bobcats will be lucky if he is still available, if he isn’t they should hope for Jeff Green.</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>9. Chicago</strong> – Remember when Ben Wallace was one tough SOB? The last time that happened was when Rasheed Wallace was around to take some of the pressure off of him on offense and defense. In Chicago Wallace had nobody inside to help him out. The Bulls need a center even if he just takes up space and puts up 11 points and 7 rebounds a game. Wallace needs the big body to help him against centers like Shaq, and Tyrus Thomas isn’t big enough to help out much. <strong>Prediction – Spencer Hawes, I shudder any time I see a white center without much offense selected this high in the draft (I had to suffer through Eric Montross and Brad Lohaus.) Hawes game is green but he is a true center, the Bulls’ biggest need.</strong> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>10. Sacramento</strong> – Brad Miller got old in a hurry, going from All-Star to glorified backup in less than one season. The Kings need a center, or at least a big man that can play some center if Miller gets hurt again. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is not a center, at least not for an NBA team. The Kings would be lucks to get Hawes, but if he isn’t available than this will be the point when every mock draft could spiral out of control: there are way too many players that could be picked at this spot, but none are the right fit or warrant a spot this high in the draft. <strong>Prediction – Joakim Noah, I have had dreams of him in a Kings uniform since he was a National Champion at Florida (pretty sad dreams, I know). Jason Smith could be here but he is more of a mid teens pick, Sean Marshall is a center version of Dennis Rodman (all defense, and rebounding, no common sense, and drugs thrown in for fun), and the league seems to realize that foreign big men are no sure bet. On draft night this could be a great spot for a playoff team looking to trade up.</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>11. Atlanta</strong> – If the Hawks don’t end up with a point guard with their first pick than they will pick Acie Law a Nick Van Exel clone. The last thing the Hawks need is another shooting guard/small forward/undersized power forward. They need a PG or size, depending all on what they walk away with the third pick, unless they trade that pick away for magic beans. <strong>Prediction – Julian Wright, not a true big man, but at least a legit power forward. Wright really should have stayed in school for at least one more year, but the Hawks are in no rush to improve.</strong> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>12. Philadelphia</strong> – The Sixers have three first round picks and could very likely move up. They have a good point guard in Andre Miller, deadly wings in Kyle Korver (who is better as a 6th man than a starter) and Andre Iguodala. Sam Dalembert finally seems to realize that if you are seven feet tall than you should be able to not only rebound but also score a basket once in a while. The Sixers need an impact power forward, but there is a large drop-off after the first batch of top PF. <strong>Prediction – Al Thornton, he might be a bit small for a power forward (6’7”) but he is a true basketball player, the kind that plays bigger than his size. If the Sixers once had a 6’4” power forward so a 6’7” PF isn’t that big of a stretch. (Please no emails telling me Charles Barkley was really 6’8”, unless you mean in width)</strong></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>13. New Orleans/Oklahoma City/former Charlotte</strong> – When are the Hornets finally going to get a home? I still can’t think of them in the Western Conference, I still remember Grandmama and Zo too vividly, but I digress. They have the best young point guard in basketball, and one of the best frontcourts in basketball, assuming they all aren’t hurt at the same time. The Hornets need a scorer, especially one that can play the wing and handle the ball a bit as well. <strong>Prediction – Young, either Thaddeus or Nick. My gut says Nick Young, but Thaddeus would be a great fit if Peja is out an extended period of time (which is likely). Nick is lethal from the outside, but Thaddeus is more versatile and the more likely pick.</strong></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>14. LA Clippers</strong> – This team has been less than the sum of its parts since the days of Ron Harper and Danny Manning. Elton Brand is the best power forward nobody remembers, Chris Kaman is a solid center, Sam Cassell is a great point guard when healthy, Cuttino Mobley is a solid player, Corey Maggette is talented but is a walking attitude, and Shaun Livingston was a point guard of the future until he blew out his knee. The Clippers need to finally drop some dead weight (Maggette) and add a solid small forward. Brandon Rush would have been a great fit but he decided to go back to school, and the best available players are smaller guards. <strong>Prediction – Young, the one the Hornets don’t pick. Thaddeus would be a great fit but Nick can still rebound enough to play small forward, at least part time.</strong></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">And that concludes the 2007 NBA Mock Draft Lottery. One trade could destroy this entire list, or one player deciding to go back to school, or one injury. This draft is so deep and so young that teams will be flipping picks like pancakes. Depending on what teams move up or down there could be at least a half dozen guys that rise into (or fall from) the lottery. The wild card might just be the fact that the two worst front offices (Atlanta and Philly) both have multiple first round picks, and one of the best (Phoenix) also has multiple picks. This will be the type of draft that people will look back on in a decade and just scratch their heads in amazement that some players went so high and others fell so far. Expect some General managers to be fired because of this draft.</span></p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-73228291935754737382007-07-13T17:38:00.001-04:002007-07-13T17:39:09.368-04:00Why Home Runs Hurt Baseball<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/253354856.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1792/8037907/16343932/253354856.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#990033;">One of the most magical moments in baseball was once the home run, but as the years pass home runs have become just a routine part of the game. Seeing a team win without hitting at least one home run is no longer commonplace, it is just the opposite. Teams live and die by the homer, and this trend is helping to ruin baseball. This sentiment may make me less popular than Barry Bonds and Tim McCarver combined, but it needs to be said. You can call me a hypocrite, since the Red Sox have relied on the long ball for years. Home runs fueled the Sox to the 2004 World Series victory and homers helped David Ortiz win the last two MVP awards (neither Justin Morneau or Alex Rodriguez were the most valuable player on their own team, let alone the league, so their awards should be given to Ortiz). So how can I dislike home runs? All you need to do is see how the strategy, or lack there of, in baseball has disappeared, thus draining the intelligence out of the game. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#990033;">Some players make the major leagues due to their ability to hit home runs, and I have no problem with that. Ryan Howard is a giant and I wouldn’t expect him to become a slap hitter trying to drop down bunts every game. The problem I have is with players that have been conditioned by organizations to sacrifice speed and flexibility to focus on becoming power hitters. There are many ways to score runs in baseball and home runs have become too large of a focus. A low level minor league player that hits .300 with 10 home runs and 30 steals will usually be overlooked for promotions when compared to a player that plays the same position and hits .275 with 25 home runs and has nominal speed. Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine were dead on when they were part of Nike’s “Chicks dig the long ball,” add campaign. Home runs are the get rich quick scheme of baseball, while manufacturing runs is becoming a thing of the past. Shame on baseball for forcing strategy and small ball out of the game.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#990033;">The most dangerous offensive weapon is not a home run but the ability to force your opponent to make extra outs. Using speed, bunting, and strategy puts pressure on the other team to play mistake free defense (mentally as well as physically) and most teams will end up giving away extra chances, whether it be through committing errors or being out of position. An intelligent player can make sure he never falls into a slump, just ask Hall of Famer Rod Carew. When Carew would start to struggle at the plate he would drop down a few bunts, even if they ended up being foul balls or outs. The infield would then have to reposition themselves to guard against the bunt, thus opening up more room to hit. Paul Molitor and even the lead-footed Wade Boggs used the bunt to their advantage. Very few players today know how to use the bunt effectively. Most bunts outside of the fastest players in the league (Ichiro, Juan Pierre, etc) are usually sacrifices, and generally done by pitchers. Players need to get back to using the bunt as a weapon, even if it is just to put the fear of the bunt in their opponents’ head. Watching players with great speed, but no idea how to bunt drives me crazy. Coco Crisp has spent the last two seasons in Boston unable to find his hitting stroke, and then attempting to beat out bunt hits. If Crisp could lay down a bunt that didn’t go directly to an infielder than he would be able to get on base more often, setting the table for guys like David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez. The best player in baseball at utilizing the bunt may just be American League home run champion David Ortiz. After watching teams put three infielders on the right side of second base and putting the third baseman where the shortstop usually stands against left handed pull hitters such as Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds made me wonder why they just didn’t drop a bunt down the third base line. If you run hard out of the box and bunt the ball through the infield than you could possibly get a bunt double. When teams started to use the shift against Ortiz I wondered why he didn’t just drop down a bunt with no runners on base, just to see what happened. Shortly after I wrote about this strategy in a column a few years ago Ortiz began to drop down some bunts against the shift. The result was a few foul balls, a few bunt hits, and a defense that was forced to stay on its toes. Ortiz used the bunt to change the way teams defended pull hitter approach, and his ability to catch the opposition flat footed increased his value to the Red Sox.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#990033;">Another myth that needs to be shot down is that you can’t steal first base. It might not be as easy as stealing second but you can steal first. When a player busts his <a href="http://community.foxsports.com/CensorSetting.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fcommunity.foxsports.com%2fblogs%2fViningSportsPunk">BLEEP </a> down the line and beats out an infield hit on a routine play that it is not only as good as stealing first, but makes the other team work to get another out. A fast runner can cause an infielder to rush on what would be a close play, either making the fielder bobble the ball or throw it away. Turning an out into a runner at first is as good as stealing first, if not even better. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#990033;">While every team would love to have a roster full of players that can hit forty homers and have blazing speed, that isn’t a reality. Teams have to find a balance of players that can hit for power, that can get on base and be a pest for opponents, and players that can do a bit of everything to win. The ability to win the mental battle of baseball is crucial for a successful team. Teams that can outthink their opponents (as opposed to try to overpower them) and do the little things to manufacture runs on a consistent basis will be the teams that are the most likely to walk away with a World Series trophy come November.</span></p>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862648628414818051.post-88878886346108795412007-07-13T17:34:00.000-04:002007-07-13T17:35:19.405-04:00Patriot Reign<div class="tPostBody" style="overflow: auto; width: 560px;"> <p><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#990000;">Once again the New England Patriots are the team to beat in the NFL. Tom Brady is an amazing QB but needed weapons, and now he has more weapons than the US Army. Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, Kelley Washington, Reche Caldwell, Andre Johnson, and Troy Brown are the best wide Receiver corps in football. Ben Watson is one of the games' top pass couching Tight Ends. Laurence Maroney is a legit #1, Sammy Morris is a top big back, Heath Evans is a solid fullback, and Kevin Faulk is a stellar third down back. Throw in added depth on the offensive line acquired in the draft and the Pats have the best offense in football.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#990000;"><br />The Pats still have the best defensive line in football, and two more inside linebackers give them one of the best and deepest front seven's in the game. A Pro Bowl CB, an above average #2 CB and a few young up and comers, along with safety stars Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson along with first round pick Brandon Meriweather and the Pats might have the best team in football. Super Bowl and a 14-2 record should be well within reach. I love Bill Belicheck and the Pat's front office </span><br /></p> </div>The Opinion Revolutionaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827177365965318425noreply@blogger.com0