Touching on a few headlines:
- I'm hoping David Ortiz's home run Wednesday night against the Angels will quiet the naysayers and losers who incessantly call sports talk radio. Look, I think this situation needs to be figured out, too, but too much has been made of this. I find that Red Sox fans fly off the handle far too quickly.
- Lawrence Taylor, the ferocious ex-Giants linebacker, was arrested and is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. Since No. 56, who revolutionized the linebacker position in the NFL, paving the way for such players as Derrick Thomas and Willie McGinest, retired, he's found nothing but trouble.
- I read a story today about a collegiate golfer who intentionally sent his drive into woods that lost him a playoff against another golfer. Grant Whybark, who had already had his spot at nationals cemented because his team qualified, lost intentionally to let Seth Doran take the final spot - as an individual. Those are the stories that make sports worthwhile.
- If Kevin Garnett's injury keeps him out of Friday night's game against the Cavs, and according to coach Doc Rivers, it shouldn't, Rasheed Wallace is going to have to step up. On both ends. He'll need to play defense and rebound, in addition to score. That might be a tall order (no pun intended) for the veteran who seems to play hard when he wants to.
- I can admit that I'm guilty of jumping on the Bruins bandwagon. I rarely watch the Bruins during the regular season, but playoff hockey seems to catch my attention. Here's to hoping Boston can get this done on Friday and face the Canadiens (my stepdad is a big-time Montreal fan) in what will be a great Eastern Conference final.
- Last September, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer, and this past weekend, I received the good news that she is now cancer free. It was a long few months for her, but she toughed it out. Way to go, Mom! Just in time for what will be a great Mother's Day.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
King nothing
I have never hidden my distaste for LeBron James. Yes, he’s the second great basketball player in the world (behind Kobe Bryant) but he’ll never, ever be mentioned in the same breath with the other No. 23, Michael Jordan. Firstly, even before he got there, Jordan always acted like he had. He never flaunted the fact that he was the most talented player in the game, never danced on the sidelines or took fake pictures of his teammates.
What Michael Jordan did was win. Period. Six championships in eight seasons. And it could have easily been eight titles in eight seasons had he not left to go play minor league baseball (that decision still baffles me, but rumors are that he was in over his head with his gambling addiction).
And now that the top-seeded Cavaliers seem rather human, and perhaps ripe for the picking, LeBron’s mysterious elbow injury — which has its own Twitter page, apparently — is making the headlines. Not the fact that the Celtics ran Cleveland ragged on its home floor, but that a healthy LeBron wouldn’t have let that happen. Sorry, but Michael Jordan scored 38 points in an NBA finals victory with the flu. LeBron has a tender elbow and his team gets blown out?
Poor, LeBron. He won’t bring a championship back to Cleveland and he’ll leave after the season and head to “greener” pastures. That place likely will be New York, and he won’t win there, either.
What Michael Jordan did was win. Period. Six championships in eight seasons. And it could have easily been eight titles in eight seasons had he not left to go play minor league baseball (that decision still baffles me, but rumors are that he was in over his head with his gambling addiction).
And now that the top-seeded Cavaliers seem rather human, and perhaps ripe for the picking, LeBron’s mysterious elbow injury — which has its own Twitter page, apparently — is making the headlines. Not the fact that the Celtics ran Cleveland ragged on its home floor, but that a healthy LeBron wouldn’t have let that happen. Sorry, but Michael Jordan scored 38 points in an NBA finals victory with the flu. LeBron has a tender elbow and his team gets blown out?
Poor, LeBron. He won’t bring a championship back to Cleveland and he’ll leave after the season and head to “greener” pastures. That place likely will be New York, and he won’t win there, either.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Stunning revelation
We've all seen it at one point or another, either on TV or in person. A beer-fueled numb skull at a sporting event leaves the stands and runs onto the field, only to be tackled, eventually, and dragged off by security personnel.
Apparently, though, they do things differently in Philadelphia. A young Phillies fan, possibly on a dare from idiot friends, hopped onto the field at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night. But as security chased him, instead of going Reggie White on him, one guard used a Taser to bring down the fan.
Unfortunately, as yet, there is no video of this incident. TV stations don't broadcast such shenanigans, for fear that being on TV may encourage others. But seeing a guy get Tased on TV, well, aside from being potentially hilarious, I would think that would be quite the deterrent.
It wouldn't come as a shock (no pun intended) if this kid's family decided to sue the Phillies and their security staff for what they will claim was excessive force. I'm not sure if that's a valid claim. Most of these incidents are relatively harmless, with fans just goofing around. Occasionally, it turns ugly, in which case the use of a Taser could be justified. But should security guards be expected to make that distinction on the fly?
It'll be interesting to see what becomes of this and how, if at all, it changes stadium security practices. I suppose I don't have a problem with the use of a Taser, but I still prefer a good open-field tackle.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Big problems for Big Papi
Three years ago, if you're a Red Sox fan, David Ortiz is the guy you wanted coming to the plate in the last inning of a close game. The guy was money. He didn't necessarily come through all the time, but he did often enough that it felt like he never failed.
In 2010, how many players on the Red Sox roster, excluding pitchers, would you rather see up to bat down a run with a man on in the ninth?
Statistically, Ortiz is the worst hitter on the team this season. He's hitting a pitcher-like .159. Actually, there are 46 pitchers in the National League with higher averages than Ortiz. Granted, they don't have the at-bats, and Ortiz has more hits (10) than any pitcher. But the fact that Big Papi's hitting stats are even remotely comparable to some pitchers is embarrassing.
Watching the Red Sox-Orioles game at the office on Friday night, the score was tied 4-4 in the ninth. With a man on and two outs, Ortiz stepped into the batter's box. I asked a co-worker, "What do you think? Weak groundout?" Without hesitation, he replied, "Strikeout."
Sure enough, Ortiz struck out swinging on a terrible pitch, low and away. The Orioles eventually won in the 10th.
What happened to this man? A popular, and plausible answer is steroids. If he was on the juice in his heyday, and now he's not, that very well could explain the unthinkable drop in production (.332, 117 RBIs in 2007; .264, 89 RBIs in 2008 and .238, 99 RBIs last year).
But perhaps he just got really old, really fast.
At least he can still contribute with his defense.
In 2010, how many players on the Red Sox roster, excluding pitchers, would you rather see up to bat down a run with a man on in the ninth?
Statistically, Ortiz is the worst hitter on the team this season. He's hitting a pitcher-like .159. Actually, there are 46 pitchers in the National League with higher averages than Ortiz. Granted, they don't have the at-bats, and Ortiz has more hits (10) than any pitcher. But the fact that Big Papi's hitting stats are even remotely comparable to some pitchers is embarrassing.
Watching the Red Sox-Orioles game at the office on Friday night, the score was tied 4-4 in the ninth. With a man on and two outs, Ortiz stepped into the batter's box. I asked a co-worker, "What do you think? Weak groundout?" Without hesitation, he replied, "Strikeout."
Sure enough, Ortiz struck out swinging on a terrible pitch, low and away. The Orioles eventually won in the 10th.
What happened to this man? A popular, and plausible answer is steroids. If he was on the juice in his heyday, and now he's not, that very well could explain the unthinkable drop in production (.332, 117 RBIs in 2007; .264, 89 RBIs in 2008 and .238, 99 RBIs last year).
But perhaps he just got really old, really fast.
At least he can still contribute with his defense.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Backdraft
It's amusing how, after a pro sports draft, experts are so eager to evaluate every team's picks. It's amusing because it's absurd. While we might have an idea, we never really know how these guys are going to turn out as professionals.
That's why it's fun to look back after some time, and a season, has passed.
When Tyreke Evans was named the NBA Rookie of the Year on Thursday, my initial reaction was disappointment that Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings didn't win the honor. Then again, I didn't really think he would, even though he's in the playoffs while Evans and runner-up Stephen Curry are done for the year.
I suppose I can just be happy that the Bucks seem to have made a quality pick at No. 10 in the 2009 NBA draft. Some questioned Jennings at that pick, since he'd only played sparingly in one season for a pro team in Europe. But there are a few teams who probably wish they'd taken a closer look at Jennings.
To refresh everyone's memory, the top pick was forward Blake Griffin, who spent most of the season hurt instead of helping the Clippers become relevant. One year does not a bust make, but Hasheem Thabeet is well on his way. The Grizzlies actually demoted the former UConn center to the D-League this season.
The Thunder got a solid bench player in James Harden, but maybe not the kind of value they'd hoped for at No. 3 overall. Evans went fourth to the Kings and Curry seventh to the Warriors.
The rest of the top 10 was kind of a mess.
The Timberwolves picked about a dozen point guards, including one (Ricky Rubio) who decided not to play for them, choosing instead to stay in Spain. There are rumors he'll play for Minnesota in 2011, but don't believe it until he's in uniform. Jonny Flynn, the other lottery point guard pick for the T-Wolves, was decent this year, averaging 13.5 points and 4.4 assists a game.
Jordan Hill, the No. 8 pick, scored 4 points a game for the Knicks, before they sent him to Houston, where he averaged 6.4. DeMar DeRozan scored 8.6 points a game for Toronto after the Raptors took him at No. 9.
Obviously, with some more experience, any of these guys could turn out to be stars in the league. But teams that pick in the top 10 almost always are looking for immediate results. Only a few teams found those results.
That's why it's fun to look back after some time, and a season, has passed.
When Tyreke Evans was named the NBA Rookie of the Year on Thursday, my initial reaction was disappointment that Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings didn't win the honor. Then again, I didn't really think he would, even though he's in the playoffs while Evans and runner-up Stephen Curry are done for the year.
I suppose I can just be happy that the Bucks seem to have made a quality pick at No. 10 in the 2009 NBA draft. Some questioned Jennings at that pick, since he'd only played sparingly in one season for a pro team in Europe. But there are a few teams who probably wish they'd taken a closer look at Jennings.
To refresh everyone's memory, the top pick was forward Blake Griffin, who spent most of the season hurt instead of helping the Clippers become relevant. One year does not a bust make, but Hasheem Thabeet is well on his way. The Grizzlies actually demoted the former UConn center to the D-League this season.
The Thunder got a solid bench player in James Harden, but maybe not the kind of value they'd hoped for at No. 3 overall. Evans went fourth to the Kings and Curry seventh to the Warriors.
The rest of the top 10 was kind of a mess.
The Timberwolves picked about a dozen point guards, including one (Ricky Rubio) who decided not to play for them, choosing instead to stay in Spain. There are rumors he'll play for Minnesota in 2011, but don't believe it until he's in uniform. Jonny Flynn, the other lottery point guard pick for the T-Wolves, was decent this year, averaging 13.5 points and 4.4 assists a game.
Jordan Hill, the No. 8 pick, scored 4 points a game for the Knicks, before they sent him to Houston, where he averaged 6.4. DeMar DeRozan scored 8.6 points a game for Toronto after the Raptors took him at No. 9.
Obviously, with some more experience, any of these guys could turn out to be stars in the league. But teams that pick in the top 10 almost always are looking for immediate results. Only a few teams found those results.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Get well soon, Harry Doyle
They hit me every spring, like allergies. When Major League Baseball teams are back in the news, Harry Doyle quotes pop back into my head.
Some of the best from Bob Uecker’s character in the “Major League” movies aren’t fit for print, but here are some of my PG-13-rated favorites:
“The post-game show is brought to you by … Christ, I can’t find it. To hell with it.”
“Remember, fans, Tuesday is Die Hard Night. Free admission for anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won the pennant.”
“Heywood leads the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair. When this guy sneezes, he looks like a party favor.”
“Personally, I think we got hosed on that call.”
“Juuuuust a bit outside. He tried the corner and missed.”
That’s a Uecker original, which he regularly uses while broadcasting Brewers games on the radio. In the movie, he was describing a Rick Vaughn wild pitch, which led to …
“Ball four. … Ball eight. … And Vaughn has walked the bases loaded on 12 consecutive pitches. How can these guys lay off pitches that close?”
And while “Major League II” didn’t come close to living up to the original, Uecker again stole the movie, as Doyle spent most of his scenes drunk in the press box, lamenting the Indians’ disappointing start to the season.
“Bottom of the 9th, Cleveland down 1 to nothing. Baker steps in, he’s 0-for ... I don’t know. Who cares?”
I bring these up, not only because they’re hilarious, but because Uecker, a Hall of Famer, will have heart surgery on Friday to repair a leaking aortic valve and an enlarged aorta, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report.
At least publicly, Uecker, 75, isn’t too worried about the procedure. Uecker began a Tuesday press conference by saying, “I have been added to the active roster of the club.”
Jokes aside, the original “Ueck” — as opposed to the “Youk” with whom Red Sox fans are more familiar — insists he’ll be back this season.
“I don’t want to quit. I don’t think I’m ready until someone tells me to,” he said. “Then we’ll probably have a scuffle.”
While I haven’t been able to listen to Uecker on the radio since I moved here, I hope Brewers fans will him back on the air sooner rather than later.
Some of the best from Bob Uecker’s character in the “Major League” movies aren’t fit for print, but here are some of my PG-13-rated favorites:
“The post-game show is brought to you by … Christ, I can’t find it. To hell with it.”
“Remember, fans, Tuesday is Die Hard Night. Free admission for anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won the pennant.”
“Heywood leads the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair. When this guy sneezes, he looks like a party favor.”
“Personally, I think we got hosed on that call.”
“Juuuuust a bit outside. He tried the corner and missed.”
That’s a Uecker original, which he regularly uses while broadcasting Brewers games on the radio. In the movie, he was describing a Rick Vaughn wild pitch, which led to …
“Ball four. … Ball eight. … And Vaughn has walked the bases loaded on 12 consecutive pitches. How can these guys lay off pitches that close?”
And while “Major League II” didn’t come close to living up to the original, Uecker again stole the movie, as Doyle spent most of his scenes drunk in the press box, lamenting the Indians’ disappointing start to the season.
“Bottom of the 9th, Cleveland down 1 to nothing. Baker steps in, he’s 0-for ... I don’t know. Who cares?”
I bring these up, not only because they’re hilarious, but because Uecker, a Hall of Famer, will have heart surgery on Friday to repair a leaking aortic valve and an enlarged aorta, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report.
At least publicly, Uecker, 75, isn’t too worried about the procedure. Uecker began a Tuesday press conference by saying, “I have been added to the active roster of the club.”
Jokes aside, the original “Ueck” — as opposed to the “Youk” with whom Red Sox fans are more familiar — insists he’ll be back this season.
“I don’t want to quit. I don’t think I’m ready until someone tells me to,” he said. “Then we’ll probably have a scuffle.”
While I haven’t been able to listen to Uecker on the radio since I moved here, I hope Brewers fans will him back on the air sooner rather than later.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Happy birthday, Ryan Westmoreland
Ryan Westmoreland turns 20 years old today.
And what better way to celebrate his birthday than to be at home with family and friends. The Boston Red Sox announced today that the former Portsmouth High School star, the team's top prospect, was released from the Spaulding Medical Center in Boston. He's been at the facility for almost a month after undergoing brain surgery on March 16.
Here's the team's release:
"The Red Sox announced that minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland was released from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital last Saturday. General manager Theo Epstein made the announcement.
Westmoreland will continue to undergo physical and occupational therapy as an outpatient at Spaulding.
'He has been making steady progress and is in great spirits,' said a team release.
Westmoreland, 19, underwent surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. After spending several days at that facility, he made significant gains in his rehabilitation and was cleared to return to Boston to continue the recovery process."
Here's to wishing Ryan a speedy recovery and a happy birthday.
And what better way to celebrate his birthday than to be at home with family and friends. The Boston Red Sox announced today that the former Portsmouth High School star, the team's top prospect, was released from the Spaulding Medical Center in Boston. He's been at the facility for almost a month after undergoing brain surgery on March 16.
Here's the team's release:
"The Red Sox announced that minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland was released from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital last Saturday. General manager Theo Epstein made the announcement.
Westmoreland will continue to undergo physical and occupational therapy as an outpatient at Spaulding.
'He has been making steady progress and is in great spirits,' said a team release.
Westmoreland, 19, underwent surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. After spending several days at that facility, he made significant gains in his rehabilitation and was cleared to return to Boston to continue the recovery process."
Here's to wishing Ryan a speedy recovery and a happy birthday.
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