Tossing batting practice….with my popcorn still ready, albeit a bit stale at this point……
Nothing quite soothes the sting of a typical Sox late game collapse in the playoffs quite like hanging damn near half a hundred on the Cowboys in Texas.
For all the whining and complaining the pansies in Dallas have for "running up the score" I have two points.
1. This is professional freakin sports, you don't want to see 48 on the board, do something about it, and don't go calling someone else's accomplishments a black mark and then expect them to take kind pity upon you when it's determined you are playing at the rookie level while we're playing at All-Madden.
2. If they were really trying to run it up, Brady would have dropped back to pass and get a sixth TD, instead they were trying to get a hard working guy at the bottom of the depth chart a touchdown, and a once in a lifetime memory, scoring a touchdown in Texas Stadium.
I see no problem with that.
So if the Pats annihilate the Colts, is Bill Polian going to institute some sort of handicap system for the competition committee to approve?
It can be like golf, where the Patriots are clearly at 0, while the rest of the league is right now at least a 17 handicap.
What's the early over/under for the Colts game? 90? 100? 120?
My favorite quote of the week so far has gone to Tim Floyd, while touting the virtues of O.J. Mayo especially his maturity. Somehow I think we'll be pointing to that in a few months and going "I knew it would go wrong right then and there two days after fall practice started…"
Almost 24,000 showed up for PRACTICE at Kentucky last week. (Allen Iverson likely not one of them) Just to watch a little dunk contest and a less than spirited scrimmage. I may be the vice president of the Billy Gillespie fan club, but even still the lavish praise cast upon him seems a bit much for a guy who's never made it out of the Sweet 16.
With that said, I can't help but see the comparisons to Beelzebub Pitino nearly two decades ago (wow?! I'm getting old).
Perhaps my favorite story of that whole Midnight madness thing was the fact that LSU's football team stayed in the hotel next door to Rupp that night, and could hear the noise all night long.
It sure looked like something affected them, as their vaunted defense gave up 44 points.
By the way is their any context in which you don't use vaunted as sarcasm?
I said Cal and LSU weren't going undefeated…..I just didn't think they'd lose the very next week.
It's old news that the system needs to be shaken up, but when it's clearly rewarding the three teams who went out of their way to schedule anyone who would play them, provided they finished the year before more than seven games below .500 it's time for a new idea.
The anti-John Calipari theory of scheduling…."Anytime, anywhere, any place…..as long as you suck."
I just can't help but feel at the present moment that this entire ALCS ended in the 11th inning on Saturday when the bullpen door swung open.
After getting shut down like they did the last five innings (and really outside of Manny Lowell and Ortiz the whole game) you just knew that Jake Westbrook was throwing a gem Monday night.
Until further notice, Papelbon is never ever allowed to be compared to Rivera again. I thought that’s why we babied him all year, was to have him as a weapon in the postseason.
With our bullpen empty, we needed one more inning out of him. It was the top of Cleveland’s order coming, if we had lost in 12 I would have said ok.
I think it's official Dustin Pedroia can't hit in cold weather. Maybe the Sox should send him to some kind of Winter Instructional League in Canada, or make him spend spring training practice with BC outdoors in February.
Tonight's game should have been determined carnival style. Bring both starting pitchers to a nearby school yard, place them 60 feet six inches from it, and give each pitcher 10 pitches.
Whoever can break the most windows with their pitches gives their team the win.
Wakefield gave you a typical Wakefield start, but we needed more tonight, and the fact he hasn’t pitched well since August didn’t make me like our chances too much.
Lastly…my thoughts on this series at the present moment go like this, and I’m a little bit worried that my father, who never agrees with anything I have to say when it comes to coaching thinks I’m right.
Coaching and playing in a short series is all about momentum, the Sox had it early, and basically had it all the way through until that fateful 11th inning. It was then that Cleveland breathed a giant exhale because they had gotten through Boston’s ace.
It’s always a boost when the ace/closer comes out of the game, and it proved to be for Cleveland.
In game 4 Francona had a chance to take the momentum back by putting the stopper back out on the hill. If they lose so be it, you went to the dance with who brung ya. But a win, and now Cleveland starts pressing because they know Beckett is looming in game 7 on full rest. It’s in their heads they have to win both games to have a chance, and that’s when bad things start to happen.
The Sox could have taken control back in this series, now Beckett could toss a perfect game Thursday, but it won’t matter because Cleveland knows that it can touch up the other two guys waiting next in line.
For them Thursday is a freebie, in an ideal world they would prefer not to go back to Boston, but if they do they do.
Cleveland is a young team with little postseason experience, they were going to thrive on momentum even more so than your average veteran team, it’s the old “their too stupid to know they should be nervous” axiom.
If Tito simply came out and said, “I remember what I did to Foulkie, and in my heart I knew I couldn’t do that to Paps or Beckett”, then I’ll respect his honesty. Otherwise there’s no real excuse.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Tossing Batting Practice…..while wondering what exactly Joe Torre's resume and cover letter will look like when it appears on Monster this week…
A happy Christmas in October to Sox fans around the region, I know I rushed down to open the presents that awaited me from the NY Daily News, the Post, Newsday, and even the Times.
It’s become an annual tradition, and one that I’ve grown very fond of in recent years.
It’s nice to see Mystique and Aura are still just dancers in a nightclub.
When the Stadium starts rocking, I always get nervous, but there’s no better feeling than seeing the life get sucked out of the joint when Captain Gasbag bounces into a rally-killing double play. Jeter deserves a lot of blame, but hell likely escape it.
I think A-Rod should opt out of the deal, but he’s enough of a student of the history of the game to want to stay and win with the Yanks.
Eric Wedge certainly had the Midas touch in this series, but leaving Perez in to face A-Rod could have turned out to be a disaster. I did call the meaningless middle inning home run, I just assumed it would be with the Yanks up 5-0, and a curtain call would be following.
If given the opportunity to bat 27 times with a runner on base, I guarantee I could muster one hit, and likely at least one RBI. I will not dispute this.
I hope Troy O’Leary and John Valentin have prominent roles in pregame activities in this series with the Indians, its too bad Denny Galehouse isn’t around anymore.
The really creepy looking girl that popped up in the ad space of his baseball reference page was extremely disconcerting.
After all the pain and suffering I went through with Circuit City over my giant TV, this summer and the fact it took so long to fix, I feel fortunate now. Because after shutting it down for two months it has been a clutch playoff performer this weekend, and will hopefully remain so the remainder of October.
Almost like giving Curt Schilling two months off in June and July and reaping the benefits in October.
It will go down as a dominating performance, but those seven shutout innings sure looked like smoke and mirrors for Schill, whose fastball looked like it couldn't break a pane of glass all afternoon, but had the Angels overmatched like the little leaguers who faced Danny Almonte.
I do not condone the pimping of homeruns, but Jered Weaver needs to win something before he can call out Ramirez and Ortiz for admiring their tee shots. He got what he deserved as far as I'm concerned.
So my Tivo listed 60 minutes as being on for an hour ad a half on Sunday, I was confused to say the least, feeling like I missed the first part of the "yo mamma's so stupid" joke.
I am from the Northeast so to me college football exists as something to watch on Saturday when there’s nothing else to do, and is not the life and death endeavor it is in other parts of the country, but with that said I saw plenty of it this weekend.
The Florida/LSU game was tremendous, I have decided I must attend a night game at LSU before I die. I have always loathed Florida going back to the Spurrier days, mainly because I was an FSU guy thanks to Charlie Ward and Warrick Dunn being awesome in College Football’s National Championship for Sega, but with that said, I have a hard time rooting against Tim Tebow. I don’t know why, he seems kind of like an arrogant jerk, but he makes big plays. I guess it must be the left handed quarterback thing, I’m always a sucker for them.
Someone, please dear God beat Ohio St. twice, so I do not have to suffer watching the Big 10 on TV again this year. I made it through a grand total of 3 plays before vowing not to switch back.
Kudos to Jim Harbaugh for the upset win, but what the hell was up with Versus declaring the player of the game before it was over, while still in doubt. In case you weren’t aware they named a USC DB as the player of the game, only to see him get beat on the 4th and 20 and the game winning TD.
Whatever the opposite of pumped and jacked is, that’s me over the loss for USC, anytime Pete Carroll is prominently involved in the BCS I’m more excited to follow, but now we’re headed for a bunch of one loss teams campaigning for the two spots.
LSU isn’t going unbeaten and neither is Cal.
I laugh at the prospect of BC being unbeaten, and they’ll be summarily trounced in Blacksburg in two weeks, if they don’t gag away this weekend in South Bend.
I’m openly rooting for Cincinnati as this year’s Rutgers, watch out for them though, everywhere Brian Kelly has gone he’s been a winner. Two National Titles at D II, and then took a 1-10 team and made them MAC champions in less than three years. So it’s no surprise to those who have followed him that he’s winning now.
I did manage to watch a good portion of the Celtics preseason tilt with the Raptors Saturday night (yes I’m single and loving it at the moment) I'm excited for this team, but will reserve more judgement and analysis when baseball is over)
One highluight about the new fan interest was me and a diehard hoops friend disecting the Celtics potential offensive sets, with beer bottles, mugs, and shot glasses at a bar the other night.
Not much to say about the Pats I think Manny's "you know you're a bad man" speech sort of covers the 34-17 win just enough.
But I think Randall Gay may have pissed off Belichick in going for the TD in the last minute, especially after he went out of his way not to run the score up bu running it up the middle on fourth down.
I was a glistening 0-4 in my LDS predictions, and aim to keep that streak going for the Championship series round.
Indians in 6.
I think they are riding the team of destiny thing. They have a deep and relentless lineup that’s clearly not afraid to hit with two outs. Plus their pitching is solid too. I can’t see Manny and Ortiz being as hot as they were against Anaheim which means someone else has to step up, and who knows if anyone will.
Diamondbacks in 7.
The Rockies have been phenomenal, but they have to lose sometime right? The D-Backs hit like an American league team, and have decent pitching and a solid bullpen. I’m also very much not looking forward to the possibility of the Rox in the WS if the Sox get there, because their lefthanded pitching could really neutralize the Sox for an entire series.
A happy Christmas in October to Sox fans around the region, I know I rushed down to open the presents that awaited me from the NY Daily News, the Post, Newsday, and even the Times.
It’s become an annual tradition, and one that I’ve grown very fond of in recent years.
It’s nice to see Mystique and Aura are still just dancers in a nightclub.
When the Stadium starts rocking, I always get nervous, but there’s no better feeling than seeing the life get sucked out of the joint when Captain Gasbag bounces into a rally-killing double play. Jeter deserves a lot of blame, but hell likely escape it.
I think A-Rod should opt out of the deal, but he’s enough of a student of the history of the game to want to stay and win with the Yanks.
Eric Wedge certainly had the Midas touch in this series, but leaving Perez in to face A-Rod could have turned out to be a disaster. I did call the meaningless middle inning home run, I just assumed it would be with the Yanks up 5-0, and a curtain call would be following.
If given the opportunity to bat 27 times with a runner on base, I guarantee I could muster one hit, and likely at least one RBI. I will not dispute this.
I hope Troy O’Leary and John Valentin have prominent roles in pregame activities in this series with the Indians, its too bad Denny Galehouse isn’t around anymore.
The really creepy looking girl that popped up in the ad space of his baseball reference page was extremely disconcerting.
After all the pain and suffering I went through with Circuit City over my giant TV, this summer and the fact it took so long to fix, I feel fortunate now. Because after shutting it down for two months it has been a clutch playoff performer this weekend, and will hopefully remain so the remainder of October.
Almost like giving Curt Schilling two months off in June and July and reaping the benefits in October.
It will go down as a dominating performance, but those seven shutout innings sure looked like smoke and mirrors for Schill, whose fastball looked like it couldn't break a pane of glass all afternoon, but had the Angels overmatched like the little leaguers who faced Danny Almonte.
I do not condone the pimping of homeruns, but Jered Weaver needs to win something before he can call out Ramirez and Ortiz for admiring their tee shots. He got what he deserved as far as I'm concerned.
So my Tivo listed 60 minutes as being on for an hour ad a half on Sunday, I was confused to say the least, feeling like I missed the first part of the "yo mamma's so stupid" joke.
I am from the Northeast so to me college football exists as something to watch on Saturday when there’s nothing else to do, and is not the life and death endeavor it is in other parts of the country, but with that said I saw plenty of it this weekend.
The Florida/LSU game was tremendous, I have decided I must attend a night game at LSU before I die. I have always loathed Florida going back to the Spurrier days, mainly because I was an FSU guy thanks to Charlie Ward and Warrick Dunn being awesome in College Football’s National Championship for Sega, but with that said, I have a hard time rooting against Tim Tebow. I don’t know why, he seems kind of like an arrogant jerk, but he makes big plays. I guess it must be the left handed quarterback thing, I’m always a sucker for them.
Someone, please dear God beat Ohio St. twice, so I do not have to suffer watching the Big 10 on TV again this year. I made it through a grand total of 3 plays before vowing not to switch back.
Kudos to Jim Harbaugh for the upset win, but what the hell was up with Versus declaring the player of the game before it was over, while still in doubt. In case you weren’t aware they named a USC DB as the player of the game, only to see him get beat on the 4th and 20 and the game winning TD.
Whatever the opposite of pumped and jacked is, that’s me over the loss for USC, anytime Pete Carroll is prominently involved in the BCS I’m more excited to follow, but now we’re headed for a bunch of one loss teams campaigning for the two spots.
LSU isn’t going unbeaten and neither is Cal.
I laugh at the prospect of BC being unbeaten, and they’ll be summarily trounced in Blacksburg in two weeks, if they don’t gag away this weekend in South Bend.
I’m openly rooting for Cincinnati as this year’s Rutgers, watch out for them though, everywhere Brian Kelly has gone he’s been a winner. Two National Titles at D II, and then took a 1-10 team and made them MAC champions in less than three years. So it’s no surprise to those who have followed him that he’s winning now.
I did manage to watch a good portion of the Celtics preseason tilt with the Raptors Saturday night (yes I’m single and loving it at the moment) I'm excited for this team, but will reserve more judgement and analysis when baseball is over)
One highluight about the new fan interest was me and a diehard hoops friend disecting the Celtics potential offensive sets, with beer bottles, mugs, and shot glasses at a bar the other night.
Not much to say about the Pats I think Manny's "you know you're a bad man" speech sort of covers the 34-17 win just enough.
But I think Randall Gay may have pissed off Belichick in going for the TD in the last minute, especially after he went out of his way not to run the score up bu running it up the middle on fourth down.
I was a glistening 0-4 in my LDS predictions, and aim to keep that streak going for the Championship series round.
Indians in 6.
I think they are riding the team of destiny thing. They have a deep and relentless lineup that’s clearly not afraid to hit with two outs. Plus their pitching is solid too. I can’t see Manny and Ortiz being as hot as they were against Anaheim which means someone else has to step up, and who knows if anyone will.
Diamondbacks in 7.
The Rockies have been phenomenal, but they have to lose sometime right? The D-Backs hit like an American league team, and have decent pitching and a solid bullpen. I’m also very much not looking forward to the possibility of the Rox in the WS if the Sox get there, because their lefthanded pitching could really neutralize the Sox for an entire series.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Tossing batting practice…While wondering what kind of 40 time is needed for the guy is in charge of the challenge flag for Marvin Lewis.
I don’t know how to explain it, but the Patriots are so good now I don’t really even cheer when they make a great play, I just cackle like an evil super villain. I have to say I kind of like it too, especially if non-Pats fans are in the room.
I hate the 16-0 talk by the media because you know they’re just trying to jinx us, but it is really fun to imagine what if….
I know that we desperately want home field advantage, but chew on this, our offense is probably more suited to be playing January football in warm or climate controlled weather, especially since by then Laurence Maroney will probably be in a wheelchair.
Explain to me why it’s imperative your ace has to start game 1? With the Sox choosing the eight day series, and their decision to pitch Dice-K in Fenway wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to go game one, and Beckett game two?
I’d rather have Beckett lined up to pitch the decisive fifth game, or possibly the opener of the LCS. The prospect of Dice-K pitching with our season on the line makes me nervous.
I know he has a reputation as a big time big game pitcher, and I hope that’s true, but the fact is we already have two guys on the staff with the reputation who have earned it on this side of the International Date Line.
It was nice to see the obligatory Orlando Cabrera story in the Globe that includes the “shrouded in mystery” reason he left. It’s aggravating that the media continues to bring it up, and then choose to go no further.
I have no problem with keeping it a secret, but don’t bring it up, either mention Cabrera and his wonderful efforts in the ’04 season, and take the organization to task.
It’s taunting journalism, “I know something you don’t know.” And to me its crap, because 98 percent of the region doesn’t know the story, so it just fuels the fire.
Cabrera, as near as I can tell never says anything beyond, “they didn’t make me an offer.” He never questions it, it’s as if he knows why, and is happy to have had the experience, and is happy to be able to move on with his good name in tact.
(Vulgarity alert)…Sometimes I just wish someone would piss on Cafardo, and simply state, “now that’s yellow journalism.”
There is nothing quite like reading a woe is us sports column from the San Diego papers. I haven’t laughed that hard, well probably since Moss’ TD Monday night, but still.
They couldn’t sell out Petco in their final homestand with a playoff berth on the line, they live in friggin paradise, so yeah, forgive me for enjoying their tribulations just a little bit more than most other places.
I love the story that is the Rockies, but their whole Jesus loving schtick just isn’t for me. Baseball is religion, not Baseball and religion.
In the name of the Father (Ted) the Son (Yaz) and Holy Ghost (Papi)
Amen
That final call in the playoff game was almost as if McClellan was processing the fact that if the Rockies lose, they’ll be blamed for the non-home run (which by the way hit that woman’s wheel chair I believe) and decided screw it, he’s safe.
I will be riding the Cubs and Phillies bandwagon through the NL playoffs, those two cities both deserve one more excruciating heart break.
Though a throwback World Series could be in order with D-Backs/Yankees.
Any chance the Indians take a game in their series? I say no. Yanks in two.
As for the rest, I’m a pessimist and always will be so I say Angels in 5 I just don’t see the Sox getting enough offense, and they can’t create it like the Angels do with their running game.
D-Backs in 4, Webb pitches twice, and Zambrano isn’t poised enough, but I hope I’m wrong.
Phillies in 5…that’s an American League offense, and its really fun to watch Philly fans anguish in torture, on a pitch by pitch basis.
I don’t know how to explain it, but the Patriots are so good now I don’t really even cheer when they make a great play, I just cackle like an evil super villain. I have to say I kind of like it too, especially if non-Pats fans are in the room.
I hate the 16-0 talk by the media because you know they’re just trying to jinx us, but it is really fun to imagine what if….
I know that we desperately want home field advantage, but chew on this, our offense is probably more suited to be playing January football in warm or climate controlled weather, especially since by then Laurence Maroney will probably be in a wheelchair.
Explain to me why it’s imperative your ace has to start game 1? With the Sox choosing the eight day series, and their decision to pitch Dice-K in Fenway wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to go game one, and Beckett game two?
I’d rather have Beckett lined up to pitch the decisive fifth game, or possibly the opener of the LCS. The prospect of Dice-K pitching with our season on the line makes me nervous.
I know he has a reputation as a big time big game pitcher, and I hope that’s true, but the fact is we already have two guys on the staff with the reputation who have earned it on this side of the International Date Line.
It was nice to see the obligatory Orlando Cabrera story in the Globe that includes the “shrouded in mystery” reason he left. It’s aggravating that the media continues to bring it up, and then choose to go no further.
I have no problem with keeping it a secret, but don’t bring it up, either mention Cabrera and his wonderful efforts in the ’04 season, and take the organization to task.
It’s taunting journalism, “I know something you don’t know.” And to me its crap, because 98 percent of the region doesn’t know the story, so it just fuels the fire.
Cabrera, as near as I can tell never says anything beyond, “they didn’t make me an offer.” He never questions it, it’s as if he knows why, and is happy to have had the experience, and is happy to be able to move on with his good name in tact.
(Vulgarity alert)…Sometimes I just wish someone would piss on Cafardo, and simply state, “now that’s yellow journalism.”
There is nothing quite like reading a woe is us sports column from the San Diego papers. I haven’t laughed that hard, well probably since Moss’ TD Monday night, but still.
They couldn’t sell out Petco in their final homestand with a playoff berth on the line, they live in friggin paradise, so yeah, forgive me for enjoying their tribulations just a little bit more than most other places.
I love the story that is the Rockies, but their whole Jesus loving schtick just isn’t for me. Baseball is religion, not Baseball and religion.
In the name of the Father (Ted) the Son (Yaz) and Holy Ghost (Papi)
Amen
That final call in the playoff game was almost as if McClellan was processing the fact that if the Rockies lose, they’ll be blamed for the non-home run (which by the way hit that woman’s wheel chair I believe) and decided screw it, he’s safe.
I will be riding the Cubs and Phillies bandwagon through the NL playoffs, those two cities both deserve one more excruciating heart break.
Though a throwback World Series could be in order with D-Backs/Yankees.
Any chance the Indians take a game in their series? I say no. Yanks in two.
As for the rest, I’m a pessimist and always will be so I say Angels in 5 I just don’t see the Sox getting enough offense, and they can’t create it like the Angels do with their running game.
D-Backs in 4, Webb pitches twice, and Zambrano isn’t poised enough, but I hope I’m wrong.
Phillies in 5…that’s an American League offense, and its really fun to watch Philly fans anguish in torture, on a pitch by pitch basis.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tossing Batting practice…and practicing my Spanish in case I get that job teaching history to ESL students in Roxbury…
Well, not much more to add about the Patriots complete and utter demolition of the Chargers. I’m happy, f*** them, especially LT, I hope he ruins every fantasy team in the country.
I can’t stand listening to all the trash talk they spew because they simply went 14-2 last year with one of the easiest schedules in the league.
Since it’s pretty obvious that they’ll never be able to stay classy, I’m just going to have to go a different route.
“Go f*** yourself San Diego!”
Moving right along, it’s really really, really premature to say 19-0 is even a possibility, but holy smokes what if,(pinching myself) really, is it possible….no, stop undefeated talk is for crappy pundits. Maybe if they do it, they could just forfeit their playoff game like Chris “everybody blows me, but I’m not particularly insightful in the studio” Collinsworth suggested.
He should be banned from television forever, or at least be stuck on a panel with Ben Wright, Al Campanis, and Jimmy the Greek in a continuous 24 hour all moron channel.
Eric Gagne my patience has worn out….at least we’ll get a first round raft pick for this guy next year. Let’s hope he’s more Clay Bucholz, than Daniel Bard.
Bronson Arroyo, still remains the lone major league pitcher I truly believe I could hit (the 2005 season where opponents collected 135 hits and 17 homers off him is my proof) but good lord that fat hanging splitter to Jeter is maybe the next closest thing.
The only thing that would have been any more obvious that that was coming would have been if the Sausage Guy on Landsdowne Street put on a glove for that at-bat.
Jason Giambi could sweat in a meat freezer, which incidentally is where I hope they find him one day after all those steroids drive him to Caminitti-land.
This week’s Patriots camera thing, (I’m sick of calling it a “gate”) has only multiplied my hatred for the fat cheating turd, because all he did was admit to using banned substances, rat out other players, and he’s back on the field without any sort of suspension or fine whatsoever.
That’s crappy, but I mean after hearing how Belichick somehow has pushed the earth off its axis and the NY press can proclaim that all along they knew he was the anti-christ, I’m sick of the free pass he gets.
I hope Collinsworth goes back and says they should forfeit games because of what he did, when he dies an “untimely” death in his 40s.
As for the rest of that series, well I sincerely hope Papelbon solves this suddenly rampant, I can’t get NY hitters out ailment, before it becomes an acute outbreak of Calvin Schiraldi Disease. (I said it before, how come the Yankees get all the good ailments and injuries named after their players)?
Shelley Duncan, I’m on your side….but I still think you’re father, and brother suck.
Speaking of Duncan is there any form of a waiting period to be inducted to the Shane Spencer Hall of Fame? And what are the landmark numbers for that? A minimum of 25 gushing stories in the tabloids touting your minor league successes before the fans clamor for a call up? No less than three curtain calls in your first week, and at least 12 for the year?
It's annoying as hell that Manny hasn't been able to come back from the oblique injury yet, but nothing angers me more as a Boston sports fan than people who have never suffered an injury like this assuming he just doesn't want to play.
Say what you want about Manny, but he usually only needs one day off, not 25. I'm sure he wants to be out there, its a friggin pennant race for god sake. But if he came out and played tonight, hurt himself, and had to sit another 20 games, well then we definitely kiss any postseason success goodbye.
If we lose the division so be it, you just have to get to the dance, look how bad the Cardinals played last year in almost squandering a lead? or the White Sox in 05?
If it were Ortiz with an oblique we'd be taking about how courageous he is to take batting practice for seven straight days in order to come back.
It’s September so you know BC is 3-0, though for the next three weeks BC High is actually playing a tougher schedule according to the RPI than their college counterparts.
Matt Ryan, Glenn Foley is on the phone and he wishes to speak with you.
On the flip side, Jags, meet Tom Coughlin. How come we never heard about Coughlin’s miserable drill sergeant personality when he was at the Heights?
Charlie, it’d be ok to be 0-3 if you could at least score some points. But if the Irish fire him they can kiss their program goodbye, and the lure of Notre Dame and all that history will only be seen in old video clips…like championship boxing.
If they only give him three years, while firing an alum, who only wants this job how do they expect to ever hire anyone else with any credentials whatsoever.
Weiss can’t recruit with Florida or Ohio St. because Notre Dame kids have to actually be able to read.
Count me in for a casino in Middleboro, though judging by most of the people I’ve met there before in hillbilly country, what happens in Middleboro has always stayed in Middleboro.
Well, not much more to add about the Patriots complete and utter demolition of the Chargers. I’m happy, f*** them, especially LT, I hope he ruins every fantasy team in the country.
I can’t stand listening to all the trash talk they spew because they simply went 14-2 last year with one of the easiest schedules in the league.
Since it’s pretty obvious that they’ll never be able to stay classy, I’m just going to have to go a different route.
“Go f*** yourself San Diego!”
Moving right along, it’s really really, really premature to say 19-0 is even a possibility, but holy smokes what if,(pinching myself) really, is it possible….no, stop undefeated talk is for crappy pundits. Maybe if they do it, they could just forfeit their playoff game like Chris “everybody blows me, but I’m not particularly insightful in the studio” Collinsworth suggested.
He should be banned from television forever, or at least be stuck on a panel with Ben Wright, Al Campanis, and Jimmy the Greek in a continuous 24 hour all moron channel.
Eric Gagne my patience has worn out….at least we’ll get a first round raft pick for this guy next year. Let’s hope he’s more Clay Bucholz, than Daniel Bard.
Bronson Arroyo, still remains the lone major league pitcher I truly believe I could hit (the 2005 season where opponents collected 135 hits and 17 homers off him is my proof) but good lord that fat hanging splitter to Jeter is maybe the next closest thing.
The only thing that would have been any more obvious that that was coming would have been if the Sausage Guy on Landsdowne Street put on a glove for that at-bat.
Jason Giambi could sweat in a meat freezer, which incidentally is where I hope they find him one day after all those steroids drive him to Caminitti-land.
This week’s Patriots camera thing, (I’m sick of calling it a “gate”) has only multiplied my hatred for the fat cheating turd, because all he did was admit to using banned substances, rat out other players, and he’s back on the field without any sort of suspension or fine whatsoever.
That’s crappy, but I mean after hearing how Belichick somehow has pushed the earth off its axis and the NY press can proclaim that all along they knew he was the anti-christ, I’m sick of the free pass he gets.
I hope Collinsworth goes back and says they should forfeit games because of what he did, when he dies an “untimely” death in his 40s.
As for the rest of that series, well I sincerely hope Papelbon solves this suddenly rampant, I can’t get NY hitters out ailment, before it becomes an acute outbreak of Calvin Schiraldi Disease. (I said it before, how come the Yankees get all the good ailments and injuries named after their players)?
Shelley Duncan, I’m on your side….but I still think you’re father, and brother suck.
Speaking of Duncan is there any form of a waiting period to be inducted to the Shane Spencer Hall of Fame? And what are the landmark numbers for that? A minimum of 25 gushing stories in the tabloids touting your minor league successes before the fans clamor for a call up? No less than three curtain calls in your first week, and at least 12 for the year?
It's annoying as hell that Manny hasn't been able to come back from the oblique injury yet, but nothing angers me more as a Boston sports fan than people who have never suffered an injury like this assuming he just doesn't want to play.
Say what you want about Manny, but he usually only needs one day off, not 25. I'm sure he wants to be out there, its a friggin pennant race for god sake. But if he came out and played tonight, hurt himself, and had to sit another 20 games, well then we definitely kiss any postseason success goodbye.
If we lose the division so be it, you just have to get to the dance, look how bad the Cardinals played last year in almost squandering a lead? or the White Sox in 05?
If it were Ortiz with an oblique we'd be taking about how courageous he is to take batting practice for seven straight days in order to come back.
It’s September so you know BC is 3-0, though for the next three weeks BC High is actually playing a tougher schedule according to the RPI than their college counterparts.
Matt Ryan, Glenn Foley is on the phone and he wishes to speak with you.
On the flip side, Jags, meet Tom Coughlin. How come we never heard about Coughlin’s miserable drill sergeant personality when he was at the Heights?
Charlie, it’d be ok to be 0-3 if you could at least score some points. But if the Irish fire him they can kiss their program goodbye, and the lure of Notre Dame and all that history will only be seen in old video clips…like championship boxing.
If they only give him three years, while firing an alum, who only wants this job how do they expect to ever hire anyone else with any credentials whatsoever.
Weiss can’t recruit with Florida or Ohio St. because Notre Dame kids have to actually be able to read.
Count me in for a casino in Middleboro, though judging by most of the people I’ve met there before in hillbilly country, what happens in Middleboro has always stayed in Middleboro.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tossing batting practice….after taking some time off because the organizational imposed innings/words limit was rapidly approaching, and I needed to be ready for football/hoops/baseball playoffs.
Sorry for the extended absence, you can blame a number of factors, mainly my boss monitoring everything I do in a given day, along with the fact I’ve written 10,000 words on the Summit Conference for Blue Ribbon, and that has dominated much of my free time. Time management this last month has not been a strong point of mine.
I suppose its tough to juggle a job, five softball games a week, eight notebooks, and moving, while spending much of that time without a car. But alas my plight does not concern the masses. Thanks for those who voiced a concern.
Plus the month of July/August isn’t particularly that interesting, I don’t care any more about dogs than I did a month ago, though I hope Michael Vick is introduced to the rape machine in federal prison. I’m not shocked that an NBA ref might have been betting on the games. And Barry Bonds sucks. I still can’t believe I missed the home run though, after all the time and energy and money put into ordering the baseball package and watching west coast games involving an aging crappy, and boring team (except you Dave Roberts, you’re still the man).
I wanted to watch it to see how I truly felt when it happened, and well there wasn’t much change.
I am extremely proud of the fact I have not touched on any of those subjects at all in this space. (Donaghy may be revisited if anything further comes out).
Not much more can be said about the Pats demolition on Sunday, it was enjoyable, and I look forward to 15 more of these this season.
If the Patriots can manage to steal signs and turn it over that quickly to help them on the very next play, all in under 40 seconds. More power to them, and if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying.
Instead of whining about it, why not mete out a little street justice. Or I don’t know change the signals up just a bit. If the Pats are known for doing this, then it should be easy to combat. Thumbs down means thumbs up, touching the left arm means what touching the right arm used too. Or quite simply tackle the f’in guy with the ball. Mangenius try that one in practice this week.
Every time the camera panned to Norv Turner on Sunday, I couldn’t help but think the Chargers had hired Dave Barry to coach the team and then write about it from a layman’s perspective.
Watching HBO’s Hard Knocks this summer made me glad that my parents never raised me a Jets or Chiefs fan. Herm Edwards cannot be mocked enough.
The sox are pretty boring to me at this point, just something to watch until Sunday rolls around again. September baseball is fairly boring in my eyes. The races are exciting, but too many teams are packing it up, and the names for the opponents become far less familiar. Plus a steady diet of Devil Rays, Orioles, and Blue Jays isn’t must see theatre.
The Yankees series will be fun (in theory) and thankfully the pats and Sox don’t go up against each other this weekend. But in general, September baseball is just a means to an end. I’m excited for October, and just wish the remainder of the preseason would end.
With that said I do miss my baseball package immensely, after having to give it up in my recent move. I haven’t slept well in 2 weeks without Vin Scully.
J.D. Drew, I’ve defended you and believed in you all year, but I quit. I’d rather watch Jacoby strike out rather pathetically on a fastball down the middle than watch you take another early count strike.
Please, go away and take Youkilis with you.
I wish Youk would hit just a bit down the stretch so we could trade him this winter for something more than a bag of balls. Too bad Oakland has nothing of value to get in return because I’m sure Billy Beane still loves him.
Clay Bucholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, I welcome you to my bordering on unhealthy man-crush (hyphenated or not? you make the call) club. The fact you are both younger than me is slightly depressing, and makes me further disturbed.
I am excited for the KG era with the Celtics…more on this when basketball matters again.
I really enjoy reading Charley Rosen’s take on all things NBA, so when he bashed the Celts for their free agent moves in the wake of the KG trade I was saddened, until I realized he graded everyone with a C or lower. It’s not so much the teams made bad moves, it’s that there quite simply wasn’t anyone to sign.
I know Mike Milbruy and Terry O’Reilly, and you sir Claude Julien are neither, I also know Robbie Ftorek, Dave Lewis,, Mike Sullivan, and Steve Kasper, and you appear to be more like them.
The best bet would have been for the Bruins to hire Jacques Demers, at least then he wouldn’t be able to read all the bad things written about him or the Bruins as they fail this season. (crossing the line?? Perhaps.)
There’s nothing quite like hearing four coaches who combined for almost 100 losses last year tell me this season was the best recruiting class in school history.
I really think George Hill is winning Summit Conference POY, but coming up with two forwards to put on the all-conference team in a guard dominated league…not particularly easy.
If the Women’s World Cup interrupts my morning viewing of Sportscenter one more time, well, I probably won’t do anything, but I’ll be pissed.
I might end up with two posts this week…check back
Sorry for the extended absence, you can blame a number of factors, mainly my boss monitoring everything I do in a given day, along with the fact I’ve written 10,000 words on the Summit Conference for Blue Ribbon, and that has dominated much of my free time. Time management this last month has not been a strong point of mine.
I suppose its tough to juggle a job, five softball games a week, eight notebooks, and moving, while spending much of that time without a car. But alas my plight does not concern the masses. Thanks for those who voiced a concern.
Plus the month of July/August isn’t particularly that interesting, I don’t care any more about dogs than I did a month ago, though I hope Michael Vick is introduced to the rape machine in federal prison. I’m not shocked that an NBA ref might have been betting on the games. And Barry Bonds sucks. I still can’t believe I missed the home run though, after all the time and energy and money put into ordering the baseball package and watching west coast games involving an aging crappy, and boring team (except you Dave Roberts, you’re still the man).
I wanted to watch it to see how I truly felt when it happened, and well there wasn’t much change.
I am extremely proud of the fact I have not touched on any of those subjects at all in this space. (Donaghy may be revisited if anything further comes out).
Not much more can be said about the Pats demolition on Sunday, it was enjoyable, and I look forward to 15 more of these this season.
If the Patriots can manage to steal signs and turn it over that quickly to help them on the very next play, all in under 40 seconds. More power to them, and if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying.
Instead of whining about it, why not mete out a little street justice. Or I don’t know change the signals up just a bit. If the Pats are known for doing this, then it should be easy to combat. Thumbs down means thumbs up, touching the left arm means what touching the right arm used too. Or quite simply tackle the f’in guy with the ball. Mangenius try that one in practice this week.
Every time the camera panned to Norv Turner on Sunday, I couldn’t help but think the Chargers had hired Dave Barry to coach the team and then write about it from a layman’s perspective.
Watching HBO’s Hard Knocks this summer made me glad that my parents never raised me a Jets or Chiefs fan. Herm Edwards cannot be mocked enough.
The sox are pretty boring to me at this point, just something to watch until Sunday rolls around again. September baseball is fairly boring in my eyes. The races are exciting, but too many teams are packing it up, and the names for the opponents become far less familiar. Plus a steady diet of Devil Rays, Orioles, and Blue Jays isn’t must see theatre.
The Yankees series will be fun (in theory) and thankfully the pats and Sox don’t go up against each other this weekend. But in general, September baseball is just a means to an end. I’m excited for October, and just wish the remainder of the preseason would end.
With that said I do miss my baseball package immensely, after having to give it up in my recent move. I haven’t slept well in 2 weeks without Vin Scully.
J.D. Drew, I’ve defended you and believed in you all year, but I quit. I’d rather watch Jacoby strike out rather pathetically on a fastball down the middle than watch you take another early count strike.
Please, go away and take Youkilis with you.
I wish Youk would hit just a bit down the stretch so we could trade him this winter for something more than a bag of balls. Too bad Oakland has nothing of value to get in return because I’m sure Billy Beane still loves him.
Clay Bucholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, I welcome you to my bordering on unhealthy man-crush (hyphenated or not? you make the call) club. The fact you are both younger than me is slightly depressing, and makes me further disturbed.
I am excited for the KG era with the Celtics…more on this when basketball matters again.
I really enjoy reading Charley Rosen’s take on all things NBA, so when he bashed the Celts for their free agent moves in the wake of the KG trade I was saddened, until I realized he graded everyone with a C or lower. It’s not so much the teams made bad moves, it’s that there quite simply wasn’t anyone to sign.
I know Mike Milbruy and Terry O’Reilly, and you sir Claude Julien are neither, I also know Robbie Ftorek, Dave Lewis,, Mike Sullivan, and Steve Kasper, and you appear to be more like them.
The best bet would have been for the Bruins to hire Jacques Demers, at least then he wouldn’t be able to read all the bad things written about him or the Bruins as they fail this season. (crossing the line?? Perhaps.)
There’s nothing quite like hearing four coaches who combined for almost 100 losses last year tell me this season was the best recruiting class in school history.
I really think George Hill is winning Summit Conference POY, but coming up with two forwards to put on the all-conference team in a guard dominated league…not particularly easy.
If the Women’s World Cup interrupts my morning viewing of Sportscenter one more time, well, I probably won’t do anything, but I’ll be pissed.
I might end up with two posts this week…check back
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tossing batting practice….while figuratively shaking the commissioner’s hand and trying on my new Sonics hat.
I’m not sure whether to be happy for Presti, because he just got infinitely better and younger overnight, or be pissed that he just fleeced my original favorite team. Well, since Ainge had it coming to him regardless, I guess I’m glad it was Sam who fucked him.
At least I feel better about my Emerson degree tonight, because I just learned that a GM from the most unathletic college in America can still outsmart a Mormon.
Larry, Kevin, and Chief may not be walking through that door, but neither is Ray Allen, since he’ll be limpsing through it on crutches. At this point I’d rather any of those three, or the corpse of Red run the team instead of Ainge.
I just can’t grasp this trade as being anything but a negative at the moment. I’m not going to judge based on what moves they could be making because right now I don’t know of any, so at this point the team as presently constructed cannot win more than 50 games under any circumstances, and get beyond the second round of the playoffs. And for that to happen everything has to go right for them this year, starting with Allen playing more than 55 games.
Hell, they might as well go all in and deal Green, Jefferson and Ratliff’s deal for KG, and see if three over the hill superstars can combine for one last great run. But of course they can’t add KG now without a third team involved, so I guess that’s a moot point.
Last night’s move was an affront to every fan that had bought into “The Vision.” For the last five year’s I’ve defended him as he stockpiled young assets, and the Celtics plummeted in the standings and respectability. He did this to save his own ass and his own job, so he could go to the owners and say either, “hey we won 45 games and went to the playoffs, we’re starting to turn things around.” Or. “We had a great roster we just got derailed by injuries.”
Wyc’s an idiot and if the latter occurs he’ll buy it even though it seems pretty obvious that injuries will derail this train before it ever gets started.
I feel betrayed by Ainge, who always made moves as if he didn’t care what others thought, and now he’s just turned around and bowed to all the pressure, from the sports radio yahoos who said we needed a veteran.
Right now defensively they couldn’t cover me going to the basket, so they damn well better score 110 every night just to have a chance.
I think I would have actually preferred Jesus Shuttlesworth, it’s too bad Pete Maravich and Dominque Wilkins weren’t available.
For all the hope that he can be just like Reggie Miller, Cheryl’s brother never averaged more than 20 a game after he turned 33, and never had any of the lower body issues that Allen has just suffered from.
Ainge’s best asset was he was a terrific drafter, (Marcus Banks not included) while he often makes mistakes with trades, and free agent signings. So in consecutive years he’s given away lottery picks for essentially nothing.
Can you imagine forgoing your best skill at your job to continue doing something you are very poor at, and still being able to keep your job?
Ainge should have to personally pay out of his own pocket, for that trip to Phoenix, and those dozens of trips to China, and Europe since it was clear he never had any intention of using the draft pick.
I think if Presti hadn’t come along he would have just pulled a Vikings and let the clock run out.
For fear of being labeled a racist by Michael Wilbon, I won’t say I hate Paul Pierce, but let’s just say his whining and moaning about needing another veteran has not done much to endear me to him.
He’s always been a choker in big games (game 4 ‘02 conference finals, game 6, and 7 of 05 first round) always turns the ball over at wrong times, and he begs more than the raspy voiced Spare Change guy on the Common.
He’s not a superstar, or else USA basketball wouldn’t consider him some sort of plague, he makes max money and isn’t a max player. Max players make their teammates better, he should have been leading the charge helping this team improve last year, but it wasn’t until he was hurt I realized how good they could be.
I look forward to the day 10 years from now when Ainge is the answer to a trivia question, name the only GM to win NBA titles for three different teams, none of which are his own.
I’m also looking forward to five years from now, when we don’t win the lottery, are and complaining about how we’re wasting the prime of Al Jefferson’s career.
I’m not sure whether to be happy for Presti, because he just got infinitely better and younger overnight, or be pissed that he just fleeced my original favorite team. Well, since Ainge had it coming to him regardless, I guess I’m glad it was Sam who fucked him.
At least I feel better about my Emerson degree tonight, because I just learned that a GM from the most unathletic college in America can still outsmart a Mormon.
Larry, Kevin, and Chief may not be walking through that door, but neither is Ray Allen, since he’ll be limpsing through it on crutches. At this point I’d rather any of those three, or the corpse of Red run the team instead of Ainge.
I just can’t grasp this trade as being anything but a negative at the moment. I’m not going to judge based on what moves they could be making because right now I don’t know of any, so at this point the team as presently constructed cannot win more than 50 games under any circumstances, and get beyond the second round of the playoffs. And for that to happen everything has to go right for them this year, starting with Allen playing more than 55 games.
Hell, they might as well go all in and deal Green, Jefferson and Ratliff’s deal for KG, and see if three over the hill superstars can combine for one last great run. But of course they can’t add KG now without a third team involved, so I guess that’s a moot point.
Last night’s move was an affront to every fan that had bought into “The Vision.” For the last five year’s I’ve defended him as he stockpiled young assets, and the Celtics plummeted in the standings and respectability. He did this to save his own ass and his own job, so he could go to the owners and say either, “hey we won 45 games and went to the playoffs, we’re starting to turn things around.” Or. “We had a great roster we just got derailed by injuries.”
Wyc’s an idiot and if the latter occurs he’ll buy it even though it seems pretty obvious that injuries will derail this train before it ever gets started.
I feel betrayed by Ainge, who always made moves as if he didn’t care what others thought, and now he’s just turned around and bowed to all the pressure, from the sports radio yahoos who said we needed a veteran.
Right now defensively they couldn’t cover me going to the basket, so they damn well better score 110 every night just to have a chance.
I think I would have actually preferred Jesus Shuttlesworth, it’s too bad Pete Maravich and Dominque Wilkins weren’t available.
For all the hope that he can be just like Reggie Miller, Cheryl’s brother never averaged more than 20 a game after he turned 33, and never had any of the lower body issues that Allen has just suffered from.
Ainge’s best asset was he was a terrific drafter, (Marcus Banks not included) while he often makes mistakes with trades, and free agent signings. So in consecutive years he’s given away lottery picks for essentially nothing.
Can you imagine forgoing your best skill at your job to continue doing something you are very poor at, and still being able to keep your job?
Ainge should have to personally pay out of his own pocket, for that trip to Phoenix, and those dozens of trips to China, and Europe since it was clear he never had any intention of using the draft pick.
I think if Presti hadn’t come along he would have just pulled a Vikings and let the clock run out.
For fear of being labeled a racist by Michael Wilbon, I won’t say I hate Paul Pierce, but let’s just say his whining and moaning about needing another veteran has not done much to endear me to him.
He’s always been a choker in big games (game 4 ‘02 conference finals, game 6, and 7 of 05 first round) always turns the ball over at wrong times, and he begs more than the raspy voiced Spare Change guy on the Common.
He’s not a superstar, or else USA basketball wouldn’t consider him some sort of plague, he makes max money and isn’t a max player. Max players make their teammates better, he should have been leading the charge helping this team improve last year, but it wasn’t until he was hurt I realized how good they could be.
I look forward to the day 10 years from now when Ainge is the answer to a trivia question, name the only GM to win NBA titles for three different teams, none of which are his own.
I’m also looking forward to five years from now, when we don’t win the lottery, are and complaining about how we’re wasting the prime of Al Jefferson’s career.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tossing batting practice…because this is a much safer forum, devoid of rocket line drives back up the box that leave giant painful bruises and can’t simply be deleted like the ego bruises I get in the comments section…
It’s kind of like Christmas, when you can’t get what you really want, so you just kind of hope it passes by without much fanfare, but yet your parents continue to make a big deal of it, and try to make it up to you, in what amounts to a spectacular failure and really only makes things worse.
Yes it’s the NBA draft, Celtics style.
Only seven shopping days left for Danny Ainge to set the franchise back another decade, after a brief flirtation with a return to prominence.
Sounds like 2002 all over again huh? Al Jefferson, please pick up the white courtesy phone, there’s a Joe Johnson who wishes to speak with you.
So, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, the No. 5 pick, and the corpse that is Theo Ratliff and his expiring deal for Kevin Garnett. Does Danny have to give up the rights to championship No. 16 as well?
I’d loathe to part with Jefferson, but I’d do it if I could keep the No. 5 pick, thankfully Garnett made the decision before Danny was able to blow up the entire franchise.
Then I try to flip with Atlanta, who doesn’t want to take Conley at no. 3 even though the desperately need a point guard, and I draft Al Horford.
That at least gets you to the conference semifinals, and probably a little bit deeper.
I still think it’s likely he ends up in Phoenix, though things could be resurrected later on.
If nothing else it’s once again proven that nobody wants to come to Boston, so the best way to build this team is through the draft, and maybe now the banshees on sports radio and in the newspapers will stop crying about how Ainge has to do something. He can’t, when nobody wants to come here.
Oh, and stay the hell out of a three way with Phoenix (See last week’s, Shawn Marion sucks post), unless he’s getting another championship ring from Phoenix, like he did when he made that deal with Detroit three years ago its not worth it. I realize it’s probably the closest he’ll ever get to a title as a GM, but still, have some common sense, I’m pretty sure we won’t hold a big ceremony on City Hall Plaza like you’re Ray Bourque, unless it’s a public flogging.
Getting involved in a three way, is like the real life version, the one pushing for it is obviously only in it for himself, and when you finally relent to getting involved things never work out. The third team/person in never walks away thinking, wow I’m really glad I did that, and can’t wait to do it again, they want to shower, and quickly move on like it never happened.
The sign and trade with Rashard Lewis scares me a little as well, it doesn’t really improve anything except giving them another wing player, and you can’t give up Gerald Green in this deal, because him and Lewis are friends, and that’s why he’d agree to it.
So you’re basically giving up the number five pick, for a guy who’s pretty good, but by no means an elite player. He wants max dollars, and isn’t a max kind of guy, so it just hamstrings your salary cap situation with an Al Jefferson extension looming down the road.
Jermaine O’Neal is a panic move in my eyes, maybe he just needs a change of scenery, but he’s been pretty poor of late. He should be dominating the east, and he couldn’t even get the Pacers to the playoffs this year.
Seriously, for the love of God, hold onto the pick and take Corey Brewer.
Rondo, Brewer, Pierce, Jefferson and a player to be determined, with Green coming off the bench is a pretty good nucleus moving forward. It’s probably a playoff team, and possibly Atlantic Division champions. That’s a start, from there they can continue to build and find the pieces they need.
Since there’s not much else out there, I’m going to fire up a little bit of hockey talk. I used to be a huge Bruins fan, and in fact they came before the Sox in my youth. I played hockey and I convinced my parents every year to get Nesn for March, April and May if I got good grades so I could watch the end of the season and the playoffs.
Now you can’t pay me to watch a full Bruins game, I don’t think I can name five players on the team, and quite frankly I don’t care.
But this new coach search had me intrigued for a day, when the names of Mike Milbury, and the possibility of Terry O’Reilly surfaced.
I was excited, and started frantically searching for my old “Reach for the Stars” video, while wondering if Michael J. Fox would narrate a “Reach for the Stars II., the story of the 2007-08 Bruins”
But now they’re hiring a Canadian, with ties to both Montreal, and New Jersey? Ulf Samuelsson wasn’t available? Pat Quinn wasn’t? (oh wait he was, never mind).
I hate all things Canadien, and New Jersey has essentially ruined hockey, along with Gary Bettman.
To hire a passive guy, with a thick Canadian accent, well I guess I’ll just continue ignoring this team because they simply don’t get it.
Hiring a coach because he will sell tickets isn’t a good idea, but hiring someone who might garner some interest who is the polar opposite of the coach you just fired, well that seems like a pretty good idea. I know I would read game stories and notebooks just to see what Milbury has to say, especially when they lose. That in turn would foster some interest and if the product appears to be improving might get me to buy tickets, or watch a game on television.
Well so much for that.
Out of sheer boredom, and for a little research for this post, I checked out an NHL draft preview, which was also a review of what teams need to do in the offseason. I thought it was an MLS link or something, with Columbus and Nashville having franchises, and the fact that I recognized one out of every five names rattled off as potential trade bait or free agents.
It was also the first time in at least three years, the St. Louis Blues had entered my stream of consciousness for anything other than highlights of Bobby Orr’s goal.
I hope there isn’t too much damage to Schilling’s arm, and hopefully it’s just tendonitis, but he did not sound like a guy who’s confident in being able to pitch effectively this season. Nearly every answer out of his mouth was met with trepidation. Not a good sign from your October ace.
While the Yankees are white hot of late, I’m a little less nervous now when I remember there are still 14 games with Baltimore, 19 with Tampa, and the White Sox and Rangers still on the schedule.
If the Sox get out of this lengthy three city road trip (god thing that trip to Japan wasn’t an option for this year, MLB might have stuck that as the back end of this run) with at least an eight game lead, then I’ll fell pretty good going forward.
Hey nice to see Coco Crisp remembered where second base was this week, I wonder if Luis Alicea had to tell him he was allowed to stay at first this time, after his first hit in this little hot streak.
If he can be just a .260 or .270 hitter that’s all the Sox need out of him given his defense.
Things, I wish would permanently leave sports headlines, 1. Pacman Jones, is it really news that he’s wanted for a strip club shooting, and then today he’s charged in the other one? Go away, preferably to a government facility.
2. Duke Lacrosse, I’m glad Nifong was disbarred, but I really don’t want to discuss the whole logistics of the case again on sports radio, it’s old news, move on.
Updating an item from last week, it appears as though the dream will be on hold for Texas A&M’s Joseph Jones, who returned to school, rather than fulfill his lifelong dream of leaving school early for the draft. It’s always tough when you’re lifelong dreams are shattered before ever getting out of college and into the real world.
It’s kind of like Christmas, when you can’t get what you really want, so you just kind of hope it passes by without much fanfare, but yet your parents continue to make a big deal of it, and try to make it up to you, in what amounts to a spectacular failure and really only makes things worse.
Yes it’s the NBA draft, Celtics style.
Only seven shopping days left for Danny Ainge to set the franchise back another decade, after a brief flirtation with a return to prominence.
Sounds like 2002 all over again huh? Al Jefferson, please pick up the white courtesy phone, there’s a Joe Johnson who wishes to speak with you.
So, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, the No. 5 pick, and the corpse that is Theo Ratliff and his expiring deal for Kevin Garnett. Does Danny have to give up the rights to championship No. 16 as well?
I’d loathe to part with Jefferson, but I’d do it if I could keep the No. 5 pick, thankfully Garnett made the decision before Danny was able to blow up the entire franchise.
Then I try to flip with Atlanta, who doesn’t want to take Conley at no. 3 even though the desperately need a point guard, and I draft Al Horford.
That at least gets you to the conference semifinals, and probably a little bit deeper.
I still think it’s likely he ends up in Phoenix, though things could be resurrected later on.
If nothing else it’s once again proven that nobody wants to come to Boston, so the best way to build this team is through the draft, and maybe now the banshees on sports radio and in the newspapers will stop crying about how Ainge has to do something. He can’t, when nobody wants to come here.
Oh, and stay the hell out of a three way with Phoenix (See last week’s, Shawn Marion sucks post), unless he’s getting another championship ring from Phoenix, like he did when he made that deal with Detroit three years ago its not worth it. I realize it’s probably the closest he’ll ever get to a title as a GM, but still, have some common sense, I’m pretty sure we won’t hold a big ceremony on City Hall Plaza like you’re Ray Bourque, unless it’s a public flogging.
Getting involved in a three way, is like the real life version, the one pushing for it is obviously only in it for himself, and when you finally relent to getting involved things never work out. The third team/person in never walks away thinking, wow I’m really glad I did that, and can’t wait to do it again, they want to shower, and quickly move on like it never happened.
The sign and trade with Rashard Lewis scares me a little as well, it doesn’t really improve anything except giving them another wing player, and you can’t give up Gerald Green in this deal, because him and Lewis are friends, and that’s why he’d agree to it.
So you’re basically giving up the number five pick, for a guy who’s pretty good, but by no means an elite player. He wants max dollars, and isn’t a max kind of guy, so it just hamstrings your salary cap situation with an Al Jefferson extension looming down the road.
Jermaine O’Neal is a panic move in my eyes, maybe he just needs a change of scenery, but he’s been pretty poor of late. He should be dominating the east, and he couldn’t even get the Pacers to the playoffs this year.
Seriously, for the love of God, hold onto the pick and take Corey Brewer.
Rondo, Brewer, Pierce, Jefferson and a player to be determined, with Green coming off the bench is a pretty good nucleus moving forward. It’s probably a playoff team, and possibly Atlantic Division champions. That’s a start, from there they can continue to build and find the pieces they need.
Since there’s not much else out there, I’m going to fire up a little bit of hockey talk. I used to be a huge Bruins fan, and in fact they came before the Sox in my youth. I played hockey and I convinced my parents every year to get Nesn for March, April and May if I got good grades so I could watch the end of the season and the playoffs.
Now you can’t pay me to watch a full Bruins game, I don’t think I can name five players on the team, and quite frankly I don’t care.
But this new coach search had me intrigued for a day, when the names of Mike Milbury, and the possibility of Terry O’Reilly surfaced.
I was excited, and started frantically searching for my old “Reach for the Stars” video, while wondering if Michael J. Fox would narrate a “Reach for the Stars II., the story of the 2007-08 Bruins”
But now they’re hiring a Canadian, with ties to both Montreal, and New Jersey? Ulf Samuelsson wasn’t available? Pat Quinn wasn’t? (oh wait he was, never mind).
I hate all things Canadien, and New Jersey has essentially ruined hockey, along with Gary Bettman.
To hire a passive guy, with a thick Canadian accent, well I guess I’ll just continue ignoring this team because they simply don’t get it.
Hiring a coach because he will sell tickets isn’t a good idea, but hiring someone who might garner some interest who is the polar opposite of the coach you just fired, well that seems like a pretty good idea. I know I would read game stories and notebooks just to see what Milbury has to say, especially when they lose. That in turn would foster some interest and if the product appears to be improving might get me to buy tickets, or watch a game on television.
Well so much for that.
Out of sheer boredom, and for a little research for this post, I checked out an NHL draft preview, which was also a review of what teams need to do in the offseason. I thought it was an MLS link or something, with Columbus and Nashville having franchises, and the fact that I recognized one out of every five names rattled off as potential trade bait or free agents.
It was also the first time in at least three years, the St. Louis Blues had entered my stream of consciousness for anything other than highlights of Bobby Orr’s goal.
I hope there isn’t too much damage to Schilling’s arm, and hopefully it’s just tendonitis, but he did not sound like a guy who’s confident in being able to pitch effectively this season. Nearly every answer out of his mouth was met with trepidation. Not a good sign from your October ace.
While the Yankees are white hot of late, I’m a little less nervous now when I remember there are still 14 games with Baltimore, 19 with Tampa, and the White Sox and Rangers still on the schedule.
If the Sox get out of this lengthy three city road trip (god thing that trip to Japan wasn’t an option for this year, MLB might have stuck that as the back end of this run) with at least an eight game lead, then I’ll fell pretty good going forward.
Hey nice to see Coco Crisp remembered where second base was this week, I wonder if Luis Alicea had to tell him he was allowed to stay at first this time, after his first hit in this little hot streak.
If he can be just a .260 or .270 hitter that’s all the Sox need out of him given his defense.
Things, I wish would permanently leave sports headlines, 1. Pacman Jones, is it really news that he’s wanted for a strip club shooting, and then today he’s charged in the other one? Go away, preferably to a government facility.
2. Duke Lacrosse, I’m glad Nifong was disbarred, but I really don’t want to discuss the whole logistics of the case again on sports radio, it’s old news, move on.
Updating an item from last week, it appears as though the dream will be on hold for Texas A&M’s Joseph Jones, who returned to school, rather than fulfill his lifelong dream of leaving school early for the draft. It’s always tough when you’re lifelong dreams are shattered before ever getting out of college and into the real world.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Tossing batting practice…while still searching for a true leadoff for this column, so just accept the out, and move down the lineup.
I know it’s been a while, but I figured by just fading to black for a couple weeks you could draw your own conclusions…
Seriously though, in the future, keep checking in and don’t stop believing…(I hope this is now stuck in your head the rest of the week like it was mine).
Ok seven and a half, I’m not really nervous, so much as just annoyed, I can’t stand listening to the banshees cry about how bad Lugo has been, at least he’s stealing bases and driving in runs.
I don’t want to hear about how Manny will hit, I just want him to do it now.
I can’t defend Coco Crisp anymore, each time he bats, I can still hear Hank Smith’s voice yelling “get him out, get him out” while hoping Tito does the right thing and just shoots old Yeller.
I will however continue to defend JD Drew, I’m not sure why yet, but I will.
It's taken a little bit of reflection and thought, but I think I can say that the end of the Sopranos worked for me. It could have been better, but it could have been worse, and it stayed within the basic themes for the show all along.
And in case Dunneski is still reading I won't ruin it for him.
I'm still not ready to talk about it completely but, with the NBA draft looming I still say the Celtics best bet is Corey Brewer. He's instantly the best perimeter defender, on the team and if Tony Allen can recover from knee surgery they'll have two lockdown defenders who have offensive skills.
Shawn Marion sucks, and I hope to god he doesn't become a Celtic, I'm a gambler by nature but I'd rather roll the dice and bet that the fifth overall pick will be a better value long term than any available veteran. If they're available in a trade its for a reason, and to be frank I trust Ainge's drafting, but his trades, that don't include future draft picks generally don't turn out well.
This is perhaps the best way to sum up the decline of quality basketball in the NBA, courtesy of Texas A&M's Joseph Jones.
"It's always been one of my dreams to come out early and continue to the next level."
Yeah, that's the kind of kid I'd want to recruit, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the answer he gave on his admission essay either, about his goals in life.
Lebron may be the second coming but he needs to get out of the east. He'd be averaging 40 a game in these finals if he just went to the basket in transition instead of pulling it out se we can run the 5 th grade rec play.
You know the play that's in every figurative playbook for fathers who coach their gifted sons. Usually the kid is the point guard, regardless of the fact he's 6-8 inches bigger than everyone else on the floor (Lebron?) opposing coaches try some sort of exotic trap defense as soon as he gets over half court, and the kid usually dribbles with his right hand to the corner, then tries to dribble out back to the middle once dad yells at him to get out of the corner. Eventually he heaves up a bad shot, or gets tired while driving to the basket and cant muster anything on the shot to get it up over the rim.
As a youth official I've watched this play run countless times this year, and at least now I know Mike Brown's previous coaching experience must have come in the Akron Biddy Ball league.
If I could get into the press room and ask one question to Lebron, it would simply be this. True or false, every time you dribble to your left, step back and attempt another ridiculous fall away jumper, is the Gatorade "Like Mike" song playing in your head, or are you singing it out loud?
I’m not going to lie, watching the video essay of the Spurs dominance at halftime tonight made me sick to my stomach. However, once the realization kicked in that I’ll probably be watching the same thing in 10 years, only with the Blazers made me throw up, and then cry a little.
It's only June and I am already enjoying the excessive national coverage of the Patriots, even more enjoying is the outrage across the country.
I will not tolerate anymore of this Randy Moss is going to ruin the chemistry of this team talk. I'm talking to you WEEI, and Mike Felger.
This is me turning my radio over to the CD player.
If Curt Schilling can be a horse every fifth day and a horse's ass the other four, why can't Moss at least be the same?
I'm excited for the U.S. Open this weekend, its by far my favorite golf tournament, mainly because I too can go from bunker to bunker, while hitting trees and losing my ball in the rough, just like the pros. It's a lot more fun to watch when there is an imminent threat of a guy shooting a seven and knocking himself right out of contention.
At the moment a man named Bubba Watson is among the leaderboard, I now have my rooting interest for the weekend.
I've enjoyed the live webcast while at work courtesy of the US Open website, but the fact the color guy's named Billy Ray, and the lead announcer has an thick southern drawl just seems a bit out of whack.
It makes me wonder if Davis Love Jr. is doing commentary of NASCAR events on their webs
Lastly, I was in the midst of a discussion this week about my favorite players from the 86 team, and felt the rest of this should be shared.
Marty is my dad's name and thus at 4 I thought that was cool.
Rice for all his bad writings was the nicest guy in the world, and friend of my dad's was friends with Rice, and had his home number so on occasion we'd call house and he'd talk to me about baseball, this went on for a couple years until I was six or seven.
He was awesome.
During the winter of 1986/87 I went to my grandparents every day for daycare, and every afternoon they would put on game 6 which they had on tape because they knew if I was watching baseball I'd be quiet and occupied.
It was 2 months of watching the same game, when I walked up to my grandfather, and asked, "How come the red sox never win?"
I know it’s been a while, but I figured by just fading to black for a couple weeks you could draw your own conclusions…
Seriously though, in the future, keep checking in and don’t stop believing…(I hope this is now stuck in your head the rest of the week like it was mine).
Ok seven and a half, I’m not really nervous, so much as just annoyed, I can’t stand listening to the banshees cry about how bad Lugo has been, at least he’s stealing bases and driving in runs.
I don’t want to hear about how Manny will hit, I just want him to do it now.
I can’t defend Coco Crisp anymore, each time he bats, I can still hear Hank Smith’s voice yelling “get him out, get him out” while hoping Tito does the right thing and just shoots old Yeller.
I will however continue to defend JD Drew, I’m not sure why yet, but I will.
It's taken a little bit of reflection and thought, but I think I can say that the end of the Sopranos worked for me. It could have been better, but it could have been worse, and it stayed within the basic themes for the show all along.
And in case Dunneski is still reading I won't ruin it for him.
I'm still not ready to talk about it completely but, with the NBA draft looming I still say the Celtics best bet is Corey Brewer. He's instantly the best perimeter defender, on the team and if Tony Allen can recover from knee surgery they'll have two lockdown defenders who have offensive skills.
Shawn Marion sucks, and I hope to god he doesn't become a Celtic, I'm a gambler by nature but I'd rather roll the dice and bet that the fifth overall pick will be a better value long term than any available veteran. If they're available in a trade its for a reason, and to be frank I trust Ainge's drafting, but his trades, that don't include future draft picks generally don't turn out well.
This is perhaps the best way to sum up the decline of quality basketball in the NBA, courtesy of Texas A&M's Joseph Jones.
"It's always been one of my dreams to come out early and continue to the next level."
Yeah, that's the kind of kid I'd want to recruit, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the answer he gave on his admission essay either, about his goals in life.
Lebron may be the second coming but he needs to get out of the east. He'd be averaging 40 a game in these finals if he just went to the basket in transition instead of pulling it out se we can run the 5 th grade rec play.
You know the play that's in every figurative playbook for fathers who coach their gifted sons. Usually the kid is the point guard, regardless of the fact he's 6-8 inches bigger than everyone else on the floor (Lebron?) opposing coaches try some sort of exotic trap defense as soon as he gets over half court, and the kid usually dribbles with his right hand to the corner, then tries to dribble out back to the middle once dad yells at him to get out of the corner. Eventually he heaves up a bad shot, or gets tired while driving to the basket and cant muster anything on the shot to get it up over the rim.
As a youth official I've watched this play run countless times this year, and at least now I know Mike Brown's previous coaching experience must have come in the Akron Biddy Ball league.
If I could get into the press room and ask one question to Lebron, it would simply be this. True or false, every time you dribble to your left, step back and attempt another ridiculous fall away jumper, is the Gatorade "Like Mike" song playing in your head, or are you singing it out loud?
I’m not going to lie, watching the video essay of the Spurs dominance at halftime tonight made me sick to my stomach. However, once the realization kicked in that I’ll probably be watching the same thing in 10 years, only with the Blazers made me throw up, and then cry a little.
It's only June and I am already enjoying the excessive national coverage of the Patriots, even more enjoying is the outrage across the country.
I will not tolerate anymore of this Randy Moss is going to ruin the chemistry of this team talk. I'm talking to you WEEI, and Mike Felger.
This is me turning my radio over to the CD player.
If Curt Schilling can be a horse every fifth day and a horse's ass the other four, why can't Moss at least be the same?
I'm excited for the U.S. Open this weekend, its by far my favorite golf tournament, mainly because I too can go from bunker to bunker, while hitting trees and losing my ball in the rough, just like the pros. It's a lot more fun to watch when there is an imminent threat of a guy shooting a seven and knocking himself right out of contention.
At the moment a man named Bubba Watson is among the leaderboard, I now have my rooting interest for the weekend.
I've enjoyed the live webcast while at work courtesy of the US Open website, but the fact the color guy's named Billy Ray, and the lead announcer has an thick southern drawl just seems a bit out of whack.
It makes me wonder if Davis Love Jr. is doing commentary of NASCAR events on their webs
Lastly, I was in the midst of a discussion this week about my favorite players from the 86 team, and felt the rest of this should be shared.
Marty is my dad's name and thus at 4 I thought that was cool.
Rice for all his bad writings was the nicest guy in the world, and friend of my dad's was friends with Rice, and had his home number so on occasion we'd call house and he'd talk to me about baseball, this went on for a couple years until I was six or seven.
He was awesome.
During the winter of 1986/87 I went to my grandparents every day for daycare, and every afternoon they would put on game 6 which they had on tape because they knew if I was watching baseball I'd be quiet and occupied.
It was 2 months of watching the same game, when I walked up to my grandfather, and asked, "How come the red sox never win?"
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tossing Batting practice…while disappointed I can’t find an I hate Danny Ainge t-shirt circa Detroit 1987 on ebay anywhere. Come old Pistons fans, I’d pay dearly for one.
Looking on the bright side...At least I won’t have any additions to my Celtics Dynasty box set any time soon, that awkward sixth movie has ruined by Rocky 25th anniversary collection…
For those of you who hang around with me on a regular basis, you’ve no doubt seen the Boston Celtics 1986 World Champions hat I’ve worn for the better part of the last 15 months.
It’s been worn somewhat out of protest for the collapse of this proud franchise, but also because it was comfortable.
Even though I was four that was a team I feel like I knew inside and out thanks to Dad’s affiliation with the team. I’ve love the Celtics unconditionally, and to a greater degree the game of basketball.
It’s been a friend, confidant, and companion for most of my (sad?) life. But tonight I am taking her to counseling, in the hopes they’ll realize I’m serious.
My steak was burned, and laundry left undone for the final time. I’ve had enough, there need to be some serious changes made to this relationship, or I’m going to stick with the younger models full time.
Because the best part about college basketball is that the older we get they stay the same age. (whoa, my bad, that sounded less offensive in my head).
The “lottery” is history, and while I consider David Stern to be the Dean Wormer of the NBA, I won’t argue with what happened, it’s over, it sucks but hey the Celtics may be a better constructed team with the addition of Corey Brewer as a perimeter defender.
My problems and issues are with the game itself, and the product. It’s been going steadily downhill since the 80s. She’s put on a little weight, got a bit of a mean streak and generally has had an F-you attitude to me (your hardcore fan) while trying to impress the public en masse.
So while we’re six months from Festivus, I am airing the grievances, because I got a lot of problems with you people and now you’re gonna hear about them.
Speed the game up, as I have mentioned each of the last three weeks here, I am not a fan of the advent of three hour basketball. It is slowly killing the sport. As a fan I can appreciate a grind it out halfcourt game as much as an up and down affair, but I am not going to dedicate three hours of my night to it.
The league has been fighting the notion you only need to see the last few minutes, but lately I’d have to agree, except that those last few minutes have taken place much to late for even me to care what happens.
My first solution is only allow one full and one 20 second time out for the first half, and three full for the second.
Phil Jackson gets criticized for not calling timeouts to stop runs, but honestly they’re the best players in the world, I’d like to see them correct things without the aid of timeouts. Do coaches really need the private huddle to yell at their players? or devise some grand new scheme nobody has ever seen in this modern world of advanced video scouting?
Nowadays a 6-0 run warrants a stoppage of play, couple that with two television timeouts and there really is no need for so many stops.
I’d love to see a total of three full and a 20 for the game, but that’s probably pushing it.
Next, I want to change the free throws on team fouls to six a side, instead of five. Keep the rule about the last two minutes, but bump that up to more than two, maybe even three. I’d also be in favor of eliminating shooting fouls from the total number of team fouls.
Also on the subject of fouls I’d like the eliminate the subjectiveness of flagrant fouls. There needs to be a toughness to this game. I’d rather see someone get fouled hard, and a retaliatory foul later on than a brawl. There needs to be a little vigilante justice done within the game, and not in an all out brawl. Now everybody is a tough guy from the hood with their boys backing them up. A little retaliation and nastiness never hurt a series, and if it keeps the fists down then all the better. Being able to clothesline a showboater might help the league in the long run. Like baseball the threat of ebing hit by a pitch keeps things in line a bit.
The issue with fouls leads me to the next point.
The Officiating in this league needs to be fixed, for those of you who don’t know I’m a high school official it’s a difficult job and I respect what they do, but it’s been atrocious for years now.
There are a lot of bad refs in all levels, (I’m probably one of them) but there is nothing worse than one with an attitude, and there are far too many on the NBA level now with a Napoleon complex. Every game is reffed different, but now it fluctuates like a heart monitor.
How does Lebron not shoot a single free throw in a Conference Final game? Yet watch another game, and you’ll see everything between the hash marks. There has to be a happy middle ground, though I blame many of the coaches for this as well in their defense at all costs beliefs, that include fouling on every play.
End the music during games. I know the league wants to cater to the average person, who is probably dumber than a rock and impressed by loud noise and tee shirts being fired into the stands, but I do not want to hear any more artificial noise in an arena.
If the fans, suck and don’t know when to cheer that’s their fault, no more alternating between hip hop and techno.
If I want that I’ll go to the Gypsy Bar, or hit up Landsdowne street, at least the beer is cheaper and the women are prettier (I still love you Celtics Cheerleaders, but I can’t afford good enough seats for an exceptional view).
Organ music should be the only acceptable music at any non football sporting event.
Create illegal offense. This needs a little tweaking, but I’m just coming up with a premise.
I don’t want to see any more isolation with one guy, while four others stand around on the weak side. There should always be two guys on the strong side, or two guys below the foul line and inside the arc when the shot clock gets under 14. It will promote a bit more flow to the game.
I’d also love to add a 4 second count. If there’s a 24 second shot clock, and an 8 second count in the backcourt it should stand to reason that a standard 5 count can’t be slashed by one second, and then actually enforced.
I hate watching Lebron play because he just stands there forever trying to decide what to do with the ball.
Four seconds is still a long time, and it would promote more ball movement on offense, and better defense, because there’d be a reason to closely guard someone with the ball.
Screw the lottery system, or at the very least let’s only involve the five worst teams. I know it sounds like Sour Grapes tonight, but quite frankly the worst teams should be rewarded. Tanking is somewhat of an issue, but superstars shut it down in baseball and football before the year is over, and it happens in the NBA too. It’s tough to tank a whole season, and to be honest you aren’t going to see guys at the end of the bench trying to lose, they’re trying to earn a spot in the league.
This last one is the most important…fix the Salary Cap.
I don’t get it, don’t care to try. But the fact is unless you draft an Oden or Durant you can’t become instantly viable as a franchise, and even then you can have an Arenas, and be unable to do a damn thing with it because you’re so hamstrung with the salary cap.
First off eliminate guaranteed contracts. Pipe dream I know, but this is my hope. I’d also like to see more trades and free agent movement. If we can’t get rid of guaranteed deals, then nothing longer than 3-4 years. There are too many bad contracts that ruin teams, and force them to make trades such as the wonderful move that brought us Bassy.
I want to see player movement, and have hope my team can be upgraded, dump salary, or pick up another draft pick at the midway point. Who makes what shouldn’t be an issue, or at least not so much of one that it completely handcuffs
The NBA has become like a bad fantasy league where the games are played through but nobody really makes any trades, and there is nothing you can find on the waiver wire that can upgrade your team, so you play out the string, try to get lucky and finish in the money in the playoffs, or you get eliminated and root for or against your friends. What’s the fun in it?
The only way you can upgrade your team is through the draft because free agency is virtually nonexistent, at least for a few low level guys who cash in on insane deals. If the numerical combinations, because it’s technically not ping-pong balls, don’t bounce your way then you’re screwed. Then you start wondering why you pay the huge entry fee for the league when it’s really not all that interesting other than an excuse for the wives for you to get together with your friends and drink beer.
As me and some of my older friends discovered this year, we can tell them we’re going to the game, and just go to a bar and drink beer instead, just make sure you check the score at the end of the night.
One last addition, for personal sake hope for David Stern to die…slowly and painfully. As long as he’s alive the Celtics are destined to suck, he probably hand delivered the cocaine to Len Bias himself.
I’d enjoy that little smirk of his to be wiped of as some sort of blunt object is either beating or stabbing him.
Looking on the bright side...At least I won’t have any additions to my Celtics Dynasty box set any time soon, that awkward sixth movie has ruined by Rocky 25th anniversary collection…
For those of you who hang around with me on a regular basis, you’ve no doubt seen the Boston Celtics 1986 World Champions hat I’ve worn for the better part of the last 15 months.
It’s been worn somewhat out of protest for the collapse of this proud franchise, but also because it was comfortable.
Even though I was four that was a team I feel like I knew inside and out thanks to Dad’s affiliation with the team. I’ve love the Celtics unconditionally, and to a greater degree the game of basketball.
It’s been a friend, confidant, and companion for most of my (sad?) life. But tonight I am taking her to counseling, in the hopes they’ll realize I’m serious.
My steak was burned, and laundry left undone for the final time. I’ve had enough, there need to be some serious changes made to this relationship, or I’m going to stick with the younger models full time.
Because the best part about college basketball is that the older we get they stay the same age. (whoa, my bad, that sounded less offensive in my head).
The “lottery” is history, and while I consider David Stern to be the Dean Wormer of the NBA, I won’t argue with what happened, it’s over, it sucks but hey the Celtics may be a better constructed team with the addition of Corey Brewer as a perimeter defender.
My problems and issues are with the game itself, and the product. It’s been going steadily downhill since the 80s. She’s put on a little weight, got a bit of a mean streak and generally has had an F-you attitude to me (your hardcore fan) while trying to impress the public en masse.
So while we’re six months from Festivus, I am airing the grievances, because I got a lot of problems with you people and now you’re gonna hear about them.
Speed the game up, as I have mentioned each of the last three weeks here, I am not a fan of the advent of three hour basketball. It is slowly killing the sport. As a fan I can appreciate a grind it out halfcourt game as much as an up and down affair, but I am not going to dedicate three hours of my night to it.
The league has been fighting the notion you only need to see the last few minutes, but lately I’d have to agree, except that those last few minutes have taken place much to late for even me to care what happens.
My first solution is only allow one full and one 20 second time out for the first half, and three full for the second.
Phil Jackson gets criticized for not calling timeouts to stop runs, but honestly they’re the best players in the world, I’d like to see them correct things without the aid of timeouts. Do coaches really need the private huddle to yell at their players? or devise some grand new scheme nobody has ever seen in this modern world of advanced video scouting?
Nowadays a 6-0 run warrants a stoppage of play, couple that with two television timeouts and there really is no need for so many stops.
I’d love to see a total of three full and a 20 for the game, but that’s probably pushing it.
Next, I want to change the free throws on team fouls to six a side, instead of five. Keep the rule about the last two minutes, but bump that up to more than two, maybe even three. I’d also be in favor of eliminating shooting fouls from the total number of team fouls.
Also on the subject of fouls I’d like the eliminate the subjectiveness of flagrant fouls. There needs to be a toughness to this game. I’d rather see someone get fouled hard, and a retaliatory foul later on than a brawl. There needs to be a little vigilante justice done within the game, and not in an all out brawl. Now everybody is a tough guy from the hood with their boys backing them up. A little retaliation and nastiness never hurt a series, and if it keeps the fists down then all the better. Being able to clothesline a showboater might help the league in the long run. Like baseball the threat of ebing hit by a pitch keeps things in line a bit.
The issue with fouls leads me to the next point.
The Officiating in this league needs to be fixed, for those of you who don’t know I’m a high school official it’s a difficult job and I respect what they do, but it’s been atrocious for years now.
There are a lot of bad refs in all levels, (I’m probably one of them) but there is nothing worse than one with an attitude, and there are far too many on the NBA level now with a Napoleon complex. Every game is reffed different, but now it fluctuates like a heart monitor.
How does Lebron not shoot a single free throw in a Conference Final game? Yet watch another game, and you’ll see everything between the hash marks. There has to be a happy middle ground, though I blame many of the coaches for this as well in their defense at all costs beliefs, that include fouling on every play.
End the music during games. I know the league wants to cater to the average person, who is probably dumber than a rock and impressed by loud noise and tee shirts being fired into the stands, but I do not want to hear any more artificial noise in an arena.
If the fans, suck and don’t know when to cheer that’s their fault, no more alternating between hip hop and techno.
If I want that I’ll go to the Gypsy Bar, or hit up Landsdowne street, at least the beer is cheaper and the women are prettier (I still love you Celtics Cheerleaders, but I can’t afford good enough seats for an exceptional view).
Organ music should be the only acceptable music at any non football sporting event.
Create illegal offense. This needs a little tweaking, but I’m just coming up with a premise.
I don’t want to see any more isolation with one guy, while four others stand around on the weak side. There should always be two guys on the strong side, or two guys below the foul line and inside the arc when the shot clock gets under 14. It will promote a bit more flow to the game.
I’d also love to add a 4 second count. If there’s a 24 second shot clock, and an 8 second count in the backcourt it should stand to reason that a standard 5 count can’t be slashed by one second, and then actually enforced.
I hate watching Lebron play because he just stands there forever trying to decide what to do with the ball.
Four seconds is still a long time, and it would promote more ball movement on offense, and better defense, because there’d be a reason to closely guard someone with the ball.
Screw the lottery system, or at the very least let’s only involve the five worst teams. I know it sounds like Sour Grapes tonight, but quite frankly the worst teams should be rewarded. Tanking is somewhat of an issue, but superstars shut it down in baseball and football before the year is over, and it happens in the NBA too. It’s tough to tank a whole season, and to be honest you aren’t going to see guys at the end of the bench trying to lose, they’re trying to earn a spot in the league.
This last one is the most important…fix the Salary Cap.
I don’t get it, don’t care to try. But the fact is unless you draft an Oden or Durant you can’t become instantly viable as a franchise, and even then you can have an Arenas, and be unable to do a damn thing with it because you’re so hamstrung with the salary cap.
First off eliminate guaranteed contracts. Pipe dream I know, but this is my hope. I’d also like to see more trades and free agent movement. If we can’t get rid of guaranteed deals, then nothing longer than 3-4 years. There are too many bad contracts that ruin teams, and force them to make trades such as the wonderful move that brought us Bassy.
I want to see player movement, and have hope my team can be upgraded, dump salary, or pick up another draft pick at the midway point. Who makes what shouldn’t be an issue, or at least not so much of one that it completely handcuffs
The NBA has become like a bad fantasy league where the games are played through but nobody really makes any trades, and there is nothing you can find on the waiver wire that can upgrade your team, so you play out the string, try to get lucky and finish in the money in the playoffs, or you get eliminated and root for or against your friends. What’s the fun in it?
The only way you can upgrade your team is through the draft because free agency is virtually nonexistent, at least for a few low level guys who cash in on insane deals. If the numerical combinations, because it’s technically not ping-pong balls, don’t bounce your way then you’re screwed. Then you start wondering why you pay the huge entry fee for the league when it’s really not all that interesting other than an excuse for the wives for you to get together with your friends and drink beer.
As me and some of my older friends discovered this year, we can tell them we’re going to the game, and just go to a bar and drink beer instead, just make sure you check the score at the end of the night.
One last addition, for personal sake hope for David Stern to die…slowly and painfully. As long as he’s alive the Celtics are destined to suck, he probably hand delivered the cocaine to Len Bias himself.
I’d enjoy that little smirk of his to be wiped of as some sort of blunt object is either beating or stabbing him.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Tossing batting practice…because even though I was pushed back a day because of the avulsion on my finger I’m determined not to skip a start…
Memo to the NBA…no more of these 88-85 brick filled crapfests with the late games. It’s bad enough that the only series worth watching isn’t on until 10:30, and that the entire Eastern Conference playoffs are filled with these awful games but if you bore me to death I will not be able to stay up and watch. Like last night, where I fell asleep with 10 minutes to play in the 4th quarter, at 12:45 am.
I do not like the advent of 3 hour basketball games.
It’s bad for the game and hurts an otherwise tremendous series that Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for Game 5, but it’s the league rule, and if it was enforced before a game 7 back in 1997 with the Knicks and Heat, then its going to be enforced here.
That’s not to say there shouldn’t be some wiggle room, and maybe that’s something that should be reviewed, but right now there isn’t.
First and foremost, if Nash hadn’t taken the mother of all soccer dives (after that display all he needs is an Italian Passport and he can play in the 2010 World cup) the fracas never happens. Horry didn’t hit him that hard, and Nash fell to the ground as if he’d been clotheslined by Jack Tatum.
It was a hard foul, and maybe a bit dirty, but Nash made that look at lot worse than it was.
If the NBA hadn’t so publicly nailed Joey Crawford to the cross before the playoffs, they simply could have assigned him game 5 to even out things a little.
So the Phoenix radio guy took a verbal jab at Stern at the end of the game last night saying. “and the commissioner wonders why there are so many conspiracy theories in the NBA.”
If anything Stern and the league would rather see Phoenix win, because they’re more entertaining, and more casual fans tune into their brand of basketball, but the woe is me attitude the Suns and their fans have taken is
Lost in all the hullabaloo in this series has been the play of Nash, except for game 1 and the final two minutes of game 4 he hasn’t really done much to stand out with his team.
The numbers are there, such as the 20 and 16 he put up in game two, and 19 12 last night, but there hasn’t been any sort of takeover with him where he reminds you why he’s a two-time MVP and one of the most clutch players in the league.
As the lone Spurs fan east of the Alamo, I did enjoy the irony of Bruce Bowen drilling the clutch three to win it. I don’t necessarily agree that he’s a dirty player. He’s a pain in the ass, and deserves the occasional punch in the face, but I think there are far dirtier plays and players in the NBA. The stuff he does is borderline, and does sometimes cross the line, but those little things get in the head of the opponent and is sometimes the difference between winning and losing. It’s like playing against your Dad or older brother, you may be more talented, but you’re going to have to prove you’re tougher in order to win, that’s what the Spurs are doing, all while not doing it in a late 80s Pistons sort of way.
I’m still trying to figure out which is the more amazing feat, the fact the Spurs held Phoenix to 85 points, or the fact the Spurs only managed to score 88 points on one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
The impressive thing about the Spurs is their ability to hang around and eventually steal a game, they did it in game three too. They get down by a bunch, but don’t panic, and just slowly chip away. It’s sort of amazing to watch, as everything can go wrong for them for 36 minutes and then they gear up and forget it all for the final 12 minutes.
Ok Ottawa you fulfilled my wish of eliminating Buffalo, but I have two complaints. One, nobody has speared Daniel Briere yet, please fulfill this before the end of the series. Two, did you have to make end so quickly? That took all the fun out of the series, and taking the fun out of your sport is not something you want to do right now.
I had finally added Versus to my regular rotation of random clicking to see what’s on, but I’m not too sure how long that will last now.
I look forward to every opposing stadium to play “who let the dogs out” every time Michael Vick throws an interception next season.
Brett Favre stopped being news about six years ago, at least to everyone but the powers that be at ESPN. When Mike Felger is the voice of reason for Packers fans you know you’re in trouble.
The less I see of Jonathan Papelbon in May and June the better off I will feel later on this season. For that matter if Beckett needs a couple weeks off to heal the finger then I say have at it.
Memo to the NBA…no more of these 88-85 brick filled crapfests with the late games. It’s bad enough that the only series worth watching isn’t on until 10:30, and that the entire Eastern Conference playoffs are filled with these awful games but if you bore me to death I will not be able to stay up and watch. Like last night, where I fell asleep with 10 minutes to play in the 4th quarter, at 12:45 am.
I do not like the advent of 3 hour basketball games.
It’s bad for the game and hurts an otherwise tremendous series that Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for Game 5, but it’s the league rule, and if it was enforced before a game 7 back in 1997 with the Knicks and Heat, then its going to be enforced here.
That’s not to say there shouldn’t be some wiggle room, and maybe that’s something that should be reviewed, but right now there isn’t.
First and foremost, if Nash hadn’t taken the mother of all soccer dives (after that display all he needs is an Italian Passport and he can play in the 2010 World cup) the fracas never happens. Horry didn’t hit him that hard, and Nash fell to the ground as if he’d been clotheslined by Jack Tatum.
It was a hard foul, and maybe a bit dirty, but Nash made that look at lot worse than it was.
If the NBA hadn’t so publicly nailed Joey Crawford to the cross before the playoffs, they simply could have assigned him game 5 to even out things a little.
So the Phoenix radio guy took a verbal jab at Stern at the end of the game last night saying. “and the commissioner wonders why there are so many conspiracy theories in the NBA.”
If anything Stern and the league would rather see Phoenix win, because they’re more entertaining, and more casual fans tune into their brand of basketball, but the woe is me attitude the Suns and their fans have taken is
Lost in all the hullabaloo in this series has been the play of Nash, except for game 1 and the final two minutes of game 4 he hasn’t really done much to stand out with his team.
The numbers are there, such as the 20 and 16 he put up in game two, and 19 12 last night, but there hasn’t been any sort of takeover with him where he reminds you why he’s a two-time MVP and one of the most clutch players in the league.
As the lone Spurs fan east of the Alamo, I did enjoy the irony of Bruce Bowen drilling the clutch three to win it. I don’t necessarily agree that he’s a dirty player. He’s a pain in the ass, and deserves the occasional punch in the face, but I think there are far dirtier plays and players in the NBA. The stuff he does is borderline, and does sometimes cross the line, but those little things get in the head of the opponent and is sometimes the difference between winning and losing. It’s like playing against your Dad or older brother, you may be more talented, but you’re going to have to prove you’re tougher in order to win, that’s what the Spurs are doing, all while not doing it in a late 80s Pistons sort of way.
I’m still trying to figure out which is the more amazing feat, the fact the Spurs held Phoenix to 85 points, or the fact the Spurs only managed to score 88 points on one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
The impressive thing about the Spurs is their ability to hang around and eventually steal a game, they did it in game three too. They get down by a bunch, but don’t panic, and just slowly chip away. It’s sort of amazing to watch, as everything can go wrong for them for 36 minutes and then they gear up and forget it all for the final 12 minutes.
Ok Ottawa you fulfilled my wish of eliminating Buffalo, but I have two complaints. One, nobody has speared Daniel Briere yet, please fulfill this before the end of the series. Two, did you have to make end so quickly? That took all the fun out of the series, and taking the fun out of your sport is not something you want to do right now.
I had finally added Versus to my regular rotation of random clicking to see what’s on, but I’m not too sure how long that will last now.
I look forward to every opposing stadium to play “who let the dogs out” every time Michael Vick throws an interception next season.
Brett Favre stopped being news about six years ago, at least to everyone but the powers that be at ESPN. When Mike Felger is the voice of reason for Packers fans you know you’re in trouble.
The less I see of Jonathan Papelbon in May and June the better off I will feel later on this season. For that matter if Beckett needs a couple weeks off to heal the finger then I say have at it.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Tossing batting practice...in much the same way Craig Hansen and Manny
Delcarmen have done in the Minor Leagues this year, ineffectively (and for
that I apologize).
Mapquest says it's only 51 miles from Fenway to Pawtucket, well that might
be the best bit of news those two have heard all week, because after blowing
an eight run lead in the ninth last week they might as well be 5,100 miles
away.
For Hyde Park's Delcarmen (yes much like East Boston's Jermaine Wiggins, his
first name has legally been changed to the section of the city he grew up
in), and Hansen they need only look at Cla Meredith to be reminded that
their career isn't over just because they were rushed to the bigs and put in
a position to fail thus ruining their confidence, it just means they'll end
up reviving their stuff in another city, likely in the vastly inferior
National League.
I was sad to see Devern Hansack's no-hitter get broken up last night.
All these baseball clubs banning alcohol in the clubhouse has me a bit
worried, I hope it doesn't trickle down to the men's softball leagues around
the country, particularly those located in Cambridge, Burlington and
Southie.
After seeing David Ortiz try to score from first base the other night only
to get thrown out, I guess it's official it really does take two triples to
score him from first.
I want to care that Roger is back, but all it does is remind me he's an a**
he's like a bad ex-girlfriend, wooing you and feigning interest only to then
jump back into bed with the guy she left you for, and even if you're better
off without her it sucks. It's not even hurtful at this point, even though I
was starting to teeter in the edge of forgiveness with Roger it's just
friggen annoying.
So now that Josh Beckett has suddenly found his breaking stuff, I sincerely
hope he doesn't go all Ricky Vaughn on us circa Major League 2. You know
where he starts naming his breaking pitches, and refuses to throw his
fastball for fear of hurting his arm.
There's an old political saying that if you're seen with a woman twice
you're banging her, seen with a drink twice you're a drunk, and seen with a
man twice you're gay, well this is now three times for Andy Pettitte and
Clemens, and I'm starting to have more questions, of which I do not want the
answers to.
I feel slighted by Vernon Wells, last week he had the idea to autograph a
baseball for a group of hecklers in Cleveland, it had a long drawn out
message on it that essentially asked what gas station they worked at so he
could heckle them when he wants to fill up his car. Pretty ingenious
actually, anyway flashback to April 2003, and Patriots Day on the Monster
seats which had just open four days earlier. I'm in the centerfield standing
room with someone who reads this site, let's call him "Nat" anyway we're
taunting Wells for about three innings, with all sorts of standard rowdy,
and half drunk because it's the third Monday in April verbal barbs.
Inclduing the classic,
"Hey Wells, got any naked pictures of your wife? "
(long pause)
"Want some?"
Anyway he finally turned around to us during a pitching change and gave it
back to us a little bit, pointing to the scoreboard, (it looked as though
some Sox had started drinking with us at 8am) and making a few gestures
about how much money he had and such, overall it was a fun little back and
forth. But I wish we had given it a little bit more so we might have gotten
an autographed ball as well.
Thanks to Comcast I haven't really seen much in the way of sports since last
Thursday but I did manage to catch the fourth quarter of the suns/spurs game
Sunday. That was basketball played at the highest possible level, even if it
wasn't coached that way in the final minute by Mike D'Antoni.
For the life of me I can't figure out why you would ever be without at least
three timeouts going into the final two minutes of an NBA game, especially
at home.
Stopping a run with a timeout is so overrated, especially with the advent of
the TV timeout, just wait it out the final four minutes try to slow things
down and weather the storm.
Then when you actually need to draw up a play or advance the ball, or stop
time to patch up your bloodied two time league MVP point guard for the most
important possession of the game you can do that.
Tim Duncan's rebounding may be the most underrated aspect of any player's
game in the league. When the Spurs need it most he goes up and gets the
proverbial "man's rebound" every single time.
Hey ABC, more up close shots of Eva Longoria, and fewer up close shots of
Steve Nash, we get it, he's bleeding, he's Canadian, we understand the
hockey metaphor, but Nash is ugly enough as it is without a huge gash on his
nose
I'm glad Mark Cuban is out of my life for a few weeks, don't get me wrong I
enjoy his perspective on the NBA but he was a miserable guy all year, and he
should only be vengeful toward David Stern, and quit making Nellie out to be
the anti-christ.
There aren't too many places a seven foot German can hide in the world, but
here's hoping Dirk finds a peaceful locale of solitude for the next four
months.
So from what I understand the Senators and Sabres have quite the rivalry
going between last year's playoff upset by Buffalo and this year's all our
brawl in February, if I can ever find the channel their playing on I'll
report back. I will offer a free case of beer to the first guy who spears
Daniel Briere though.
If it weren't such a damn slow news week I'd have more to write about, and
Curt Schilling telling the world Barry Bonds cheated wouldn't be the long
national nightmare it has become.
Delcarmen have done in the Minor Leagues this year, ineffectively (and for
that I apologize).
Mapquest says it's only 51 miles from Fenway to Pawtucket, well that might
be the best bit of news those two have heard all week, because after blowing
an eight run lead in the ninth last week they might as well be 5,100 miles
away.
For Hyde Park's Delcarmen (yes much like East Boston's Jermaine Wiggins, his
first name has legally been changed to the section of the city he grew up
in), and Hansen they need only look at Cla Meredith to be reminded that
their career isn't over just because they were rushed to the bigs and put in
a position to fail thus ruining their confidence, it just means they'll end
up reviving their stuff in another city, likely in the vastly inferior
National League.
I was sad to see Devern Hansack's no-hitter get broken up last night.
All these baseball clubs banning alcohol in the clubhouse has me a bit
worried, I hope it doesn't trickle down to the men's softball leagues around
the country, particularly those located in Cambridge, Burlington and
Southie.
After seeing David Ortiz try to score from first base the other night only
to get thrown out, I guess it's official it really does take two triples to
score him from first.
I want to care that Roger is back, but all it does is remind me he's an a**
he's like a bad ex-girlfriend, wooing you and feigning interest only to then
jump back into bed with the guy she left you for, and even if you're better
off without her it sucks. It's not even hurtful at this point, even though I
was starting to teeter in the edge of forgiveness with Roger it's just
friggen annoying.
So now that Josh Beckett has suddenly found his breaking stuff, I sincerely
hope he doesn't go all Ricky Vaughn on us circa Major League 2. You know
where he starts naming his breaking pitches, and refuses to throw his
fastball for fear of hurting his arm.
There's an old political saying that if you're seen with a woman twice
you're banging her, seen with a drink twice you're a drunk, and seen with a
man twice you're gay, well this is now three times for Andy Pettitte and
Clemens, and I'm starting to have more questions, of which I do not want the
answers to.
I feel slighted by Vernon Wells, last week he had the idea to autograph a
baseball for a group of hecklers in Cleveland, it had a long drawn out
message on it that essentially asked what gas station they worked at so he
could heckle them when he wants to fill up his car. Pretty ingenious
actually, anyway flashback to April 2003, and Patriots Day on the Monster
seats which had just open four days earlier. I'm in the centerfield standing
room with someone who reads this site, let's call him "Nat" anyway we're
taunting Wells for about three innings, with all sorts of standard rowdy,
and half drunk because it's the third Monday in April verbal barbs.
Inclduing the classic,
"Hey Wells, got any naked pictures of your wife? "
(long pause)
"Want some?"
Anyway he finally turned around to us during a pitching change and gave it
back to us a little bit, pointing to the scoreboard, (it looked as though
some Sox had started drinking with us at 8am) and making a few gestures
about how much money he had and such, overall it was a fun little back and
forth. But I wish we had given it a little bit more so we might have gotten
an autographed ball as well.
Thanks to Comcast I haven't really seen much in the way of sports since last
Thursday but I did manage to catch the fourth quarter of the suns/spurs game
Sunday. That was basketball played at the highest possible level, even if it
wasn't coached that way in the final minute by Mike D'Antoni.
For the life of me I can't figure out why you would ever be without at least
three timeouts going into the final two minutes of an NBA game, especially
at home.
Stopping a run with a timeout is so overrated, especially with the advent of
the TV timeout, just wait it out the final four minutes try to slow things
down and weather the storm.
Then when you actually need to draw up a play or advance the ball, or stop
time to patch up your bloodied two time league MVP point guard for the most
important possession of the game you can do that.
Tim Duncan's rebounding may be the most underrated aspect of any player's
game in the league. When the Spurs need it most he goes up and gets the
proverbial "man's rebound" every single time.
Hey ABC, more up close shots of Eva Longoria, and fewer up close shots of
Steve Nash, we get it, he's bleeding, he's Canadian, we understand the
hockey metaphor, but Nash is ugly enough as it is without a huge gash on his
nose
I'm glad Mark Cuban is out of my life for a few weeks, don't get me wrong I
enjoy his perspective on the NBA but he was a miserable guy all year, and he
should only be vengeful toward David Stern, and quit making Nellie out to be
the anti-christ.
There aren't too many places a seven foot German can hide in the world, but
here's hoping Dirk finds a peaceful locale of solitude for the next four
months.
So from what I understand the Senators and Sabres have quite the rivalry
going between last year's playoff upset by Buffalo and this year's all our
brawl in February, if I can ever find the channel their playing on I'll
report back. I will offer a free case of beer to the first guy who spears
Daniel Briere though.
If it weren't such a damn slow news week I'd have more to write about, and
Curt Schilling telling the world Barry Bonds cheated wouldn't be the long
national nightmare it has become.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Tossing a simulated game...since it's been four years it may take a few rehab starts to find a groove....
It may be slightly dirty laundry now, but a little detergent/winning can clean that up, and as a result I am welcoming in Randy Moss, and mini-Albert Haynesworth into the fold for the Patriots.
There is no moral compass in professional sports, you bring in guys who you think can help you win, while hoping they don't completely embarrass the franchise. If Bill Belichick thinks these guys can get the Pats back to the Super Bowl then I'm all for it.
I do hope one offensive lineman obliterates our own African-American Michael Flatley just once on a block early in the season so we can get all the de-cleated jokes out of the way.
Which brings me to my next point, and I'll take feedback from the reader(s?) on this one, what are you supposed to do in a football brawl? Hockey players take their helmets off, and don't usually have facemasks anyway, baseball and basketball players don't wear pads and can rumble around for a bit. But in all honesty the intensity of the moment takes over and you want to win the fight on a football field what do you do? Use your most dangerous appendage on their most vulnerable spot. The end result; cleating someone's calf.
With that out of the way we need to break down more important issues with this guy. Such as, licensed or not who feels the need to take a handgun with them to their 6am workout? Last I checked Miami was not Spanish for Ramadi.
What illicit activities are you involved in that leaves you suspicious enough that someone is waiting for you in the parking lot?
All across New England next August will be the same phrase..."With the first pick in the 2007 (Insert comical acronym) Fantasy Draft, the (insert funny/borderline offensive team name) select, Tom Brady, quarterback New England Patriots.
It's all been downhill for the Yankees since Mr. Wilhelm left to become a scout for the Mets, they were able to survive a year or two without Wilhelm, and Costanza, but the dearth of a farm system can be blamed on the loss of such key personnel, and the inability to replace it.
There is nothing better than a 17inning game involving Vin Scully behind the mike, especially as I learn more about Ramon Valdez in innings 12-17 than I know about much of my extended family. However on Monday he was as much a casualty as both starting catchers from the marathon game, as much to my chagrin I tuned into a Dodgers home game, only to discover another voice (in this case Charley Steiner) polluting my ears.
Steiner is excellent, but when you anticipate Scully, everyone else sounds like Joe Morgan.
There was a neat feature in the Herald the other day in which all the Celtics talk about what they plan to do in the offseason to get better.
Noticeably absent was Doc Rivers, who at no point has ever said I need to coach 'em up better, or some variation of that cliché.
In any event there was one that scared me most and it was Gerald Green's response about paying pickup games to improve his defense. At least next year we'll be able to pinpoint exactly what his problem is, and where it stems from.
Seeing Greg Oden announce for the draft made me feel a little special inside, as I hope my lone voice, shouting "no more years" at the Alamodome last month may have made a difference. I also informed him from a great distance how good he'd look in green, but that got more than a few odd stares down in Republican country.
I will now attempt to not think, read, or talk about him for the next 20 days, and just try to let it happen, then again that didn't really work in high school with all the girls I though I had a chance with.
So seriously, was the elder DeOssie in charge of writing his kid's name down on the birth certificate, or did he just hand that off to Smerlas to take care of? At what point, and by whom was it discovered that little Zak was missing a C in his name?
I wasted 5 hours on the first round of the draft Saturday, and honestly I have nothing to really say. It was fun to watch, but analysis seems futile.
I want to care about the NHL playoffs, I really do. I have even a vested rooting interest, anyone playing Buffalo. I have also gone out of my way to check channel no. 62 each night the past couple weeks. But it never stays in the regular rotation, TNT, NESN, all the baseball package channels, and mindless click to ESPN, but invariably I always miss the good hockey stuff.
ESPN, I beg you, resurrect this sport and force me to pay attention by putting it on one of your 27 channels, and consistently leading Sportscenter at 6pm with it. Remember the motto of the Ocho, "if it's barely a sport we'll cover it."
Worst opening round of the playoffs in NBA history. (Mavs/Warriors excluded) I wish those damn JV games would start at 6 or 7, so the varsity could play at 930 allowing me to watch and still sleep at a reasonable hour. TNT I'm looking in your direction when I blame the fact that NBA games are now nearly as long as baseball.
Not only does the East suck, but it's boring as hell to watch.
There is the distinct possibility, that one of the following three teams will be participating in the Western Conference Playoffs...The Jazz Rockets, or everyone with a soul's personal favorite the Warriors.
Alex Cora is awesome, but having Remdog tell me how fundamentally sound he is every single time he ties his shoelaces properly is one prime reason for not wanting to see him in the every day lineup.
I'd like to thank Hideki Okajima for fixing a flaw in my softball mechanics, all this talk about him looking directly at the ground made me realize, that's exactly what I do. Anyways, problem now solved, and it's amazing how much easier it is to throw strikes when actually looking at the target the whole time.
I'll be honest I don't know how long this will last, but with my hopeful impending departure from the world of professional writing, I'd like to keep some outlet, and this seems like the place to do it. As I become more "web page" savvy I'll try to make this not look like a blank screen with some writing on it, but for now this is the deal.
It may be slightly dirty laundry now, but a little detergent/winning can clean that up, and as a result I am welcoming in Randy Moss, and mini-Albert Haynesworth into the fold for the Patriots.
There is no moral compass in professional sports, you bring in guys who you think can help you win, while hoping they don't completely embarrass the franchise. If Bill Belichick thinks these guys can get the Pats back to the Super Bowl then I'm all for it.
I do hope one offensive lineman obliterates our own African-American Michael Flatley just once on a block early in the season so we can get all the de-cleated jokes out of the way.
Which brings me to my next point, and I'll take feedback from the reader(s?) on this one, what are you supposed to do in a football brawl? Hockey players take their helmets off, and don't usually have facemasks anyway, baseball and basketball players don't wear pads and can rumble around for a bit. But in all honesty the intensity of the moment takes over and you want to win the fight on a football field what do you do? Use your most dangerous appendage on their most vulnerable spot. The end result; cleating someone's calf.
With that out of the way we need to break down more important issues with this guy. Such as, licensed or not who feels the need to take a handgun with them to their 6am workout? Last I checked Miami was not Spanish for Ramadi.
What illicit activities are you involved in that leaves you suspicious enough that someone is waiting for you in the parking lot?
All across New England next August will be the same phrase..."With the first pick in the 2007 (Insert comical acronym) Fantasy Draft, the (insert funny/borderline offensive team name) select, Tom Brady, quarterback New England Patriots.
It's all been downhill for the Yankees since Mr. Wilhelm left to become a scout for the Mets, they were able to survive a year or two without Wilhelm, and Costanza, but the dearth of a farm system can be blamed on the loss of such key personnel, and the inability to replace it.
There is nothing better than a 17inning game involving Vin Scully behind the mike, especially as I learn more about Ramon Valdez in innings 12-17 than I know about much of my extended family. However on Monday he was as much a casualty as both starting catchers from the marathon game, as much to my chagrin I tuned into a Dodgers home game, only to discover another voice (in this case Charley Steiner) polluting my ears.
Steiner is excellent, but when you anticipate Scully, everyone else sounds like Joe Morgan.
There was a neat feature in the Herald the other day in which all the Celtics talk about what they plan to do in the offseason to get better.
Noticeably absent was Doc Rivers, who at no point has ever said I need to coach 'em up better, or some variation of that cliché.
In any event there was one that scared me most and it was Gerald Green's response about paying pickup games to improve his defense. At least next year we'll be able to pinpoint exactly what his problem is, and where it stems from.
Seeing Greg Oden announce for the draft made me feel a little special inside, as I hope my lone voice, shouting "no more years" at the Alamodome last month may have made a difference. I also informed him from a great distance how good he'd look in green, but that got more than a few odd stares down in Republican country.
I will now attempt to not think, read, or talk about him for the next 20 days, and just try to let it happen, then again that didn't really work in high school with all the girls I though I had a chance with.
So seriously, was the elder DeOssie in charge of writing his kid's name down on the birth certificate, or did he just hand that off to Smerlas to take care of? At what point, and by whom was it discovered that little Zak was missing a C in his name?
I wasted 5 hours on the first round of the draft Saturday, and honestly I have nothing to really say. It was fun to watch, but analysis seems futile.
I want to care about the NHL playoffs, I really do. I have even a vested rooting interest, anyone playing Buffalo. I have also gone out of my way to check channel no. 62 each night the past couple weeks. But it never stays in the regular rotation, TNT, NESN, all the baseball package channels, and mindless click to ESPN, but invariably I always miss the good hockey stuff.
ESPN, I beg you, resurrect this sport and force me to pay attention by putting it on one of your 27 channels, and consistently leading Sportscenter at 6pm with it. Remember the motto of the Ocho, "if it's barely a sport we'll cover it."
Worst opening round of the playoffs in NBA history. (Mavs/Warriors excluded) I wish those damn JV games would start at 6 or 7, so the varsity could play at 930 allowing me to watch and still sleep at a reasonable hour. TNT I'm looking in your direction when I blame the fact that NBA games are now nearly as long as baseball.
Not only does the East suck, but it's boring as hell to watch.
There is the distinct possibility, that one of the following three teams will be participating in the Western Conference Playoffs...The Jazz Rockets, or everyone with a soul's personal favorite the Warriors.
Alex Cora is awesome, but having Remdog tell me how fundamentally sound he is every single time he ties his shoelaces properly is one prime reason for not wanting to see him in the every day lineup.
I'd like to thank Hideki Okajima for fixing a flaw in my softball mechanics, all this talk about him looking directly at the ground made me realize, that's exactly what I do. Anyways, problem now solved, and it's amazing how much easier it is to throw strikes when actually looking at the target the whole time.
I'll be honest I don't know how long this will last, but with my hopeful impending departure from the world of professional writing, I'd like to keep some outlet, and this seems like the place to do it. As I become more "web page" savvy I'll try to make this not look like a blank screen with some writing on it, but for now this is the deal.
