And as one might have guessed from the above term being put in quotations, I will indeed be talking about soccer in today's entry! But before I do, I just would like to recognize the comments made by "MisterK" and Peter. First off, thanks to you both.
To address Peter comments directly, I basically agree with your overall assessment of the current Hornets. They have been somewhat inconsistent as I may or may have not pointed out in the earlier entry. It's difficult to figure them out. One night, they'll get blown out by the 4-21 Timberwolves, and the next they'll beat the Mavericks in OT. I honestly don't believe its an issue of effort necessarily. Coach Scott would never tolerate that. One must understand that every team has its off nights, and that other team may happen to make shots that it doesn't typically make. The Spurs may be the only team that has yet to have an off night this season, but each of the other contenders have yet to play flawless basketball through each of their 30 or so games. The Hornets defeated both Phoenix and Dallas at home, and pushed Detroit and San Antonio to the edge at home as well. They beat the Lakers on the road, and have split two games with the Nuggets in Denver as well. As you said, the first few games of '08 on the West Coast may be pivotal contests that could be used to determine this team's place in the Western Conference come season's end. We'll see what happens, but so far, the Hornets have emerged as a playoff contender in the West.
It appears that Chris Paul is well on his way to MVP status. Another 40 point, 10 assist result against the Grizzlies is just another example of how strong his overall game is. He is also making the players around him better. This is the true mark of a point guard, and it has appeared to be realized in the development of David West. D West has been improving recently, and is slowly becoming a bona fide star. The Hornets need West to complement Paul in terms of production and leadership on a consistent, nightly basis. Until that happens, I too, won't consider the Hornets to be an elite team in the West. But they are looking like a sure-fire playoff contender to me.
And the Knicks...well let's just say my discussion of them will be limited. I don't necessarily think it's completely Isiah's coaching that has destroyed this once proud organization, it was his work in creating this team of disasters as a member of the front office. As one might remember, Larry Brown and Herb Williams didn't have much more success than Isiah has. It comes down to drafting players, and trading for players to create what you believe to be a perfect team. It just hasn't happened. Isiah, for whatever reason, has brought guys with a ton of talent but no understanding of the 'team' concept, or great teammates who hustle and do the little things, but have no statistical talent (in terms of like ppg, and assists, etc.). Yes Isiah needs to be fired, but as we found out with Larry Brown and Herb Williams, firing a coach when things are bad isn't always the perfect panacea. It ultimately falls on the players...and if anyone deserves to be booed mercilessly and given the proverbial pink slip, I believe that in this case, the brunt of the blame falls just as much on the players as it does on the coaches. Although, it was Isiah who brought all of these clowns here. Thank god for David Lee. Let's just keep drafting Florida guys and call it a day.
Now to my discussion of soccer this evening. Another reader, "MisterK," hails from the UK, and wanted to hear my thoughts on the general American attitude concerning the World's Game, and the influence of David Beckham and Posh, more specifically, on the states.
I was one of the people most skeptical when hearing words like "HUGE" "LIFE CHANGING" and the multitude of comparisons of David and the Beatles arriving in the U.S. Of course, I wish soccer would be adopted by the American masses, but unfortunately, I knew better. Importing Pele, Beckenbauer and friends to play for the New York Cosmos in the defunct USSL made headlines for a couple of months, but never fully transformed soccer into a sport loved by Americans as much as by citizens of any other nation. It's difficult for me to pinpoint as to why exactly soccer has never taken off in this country. I think one reason may be that America's most zealous sports fans often reside in less urbanized areas in the south, and the midwest for example. Soccer is thought of as a "game played by foreigners" by many of these people, and the thought of our nation participating in a sport that wasn't invented in the "Good Ol' US of A" is something that many Americans are not intrigued by. Soccer also doesn't require the traditional American ideologies of athleticism, meaning that an athlete is someone who needs to be huge, extremely strong, and fast all in one. Soccer also requires its participant to be able to run for 45 straight minutes, without many stoppages. Most American viewers are captivated by the major American sports because they are divided up into quarters and innings. The American viewer does not want to be bored by what he is watching. To them, sports like soccer, and hockey to a lesser extent here, have not caught on because points are rather difficult to come by. People will watch the World Cup because of the spectacle and its repuation, but they won't take the time to watch a NY Red Bull vs. DC United match, or even a Arsenal/Chelsea match because the players often aren't American, and those who do play, are thought to be lesser because "they weren't good enough to become professional football or basketball players, so they play soccer." As I continue to state, I have a tough time really thinking of reasons as to why soccer hasn't taken off here as it has in other countries. Even the name of the sport makes it sound "different" and "other," something not American, and therefore "worthy of American attention." It is just something that wasn't established when the older generations (including the baby boomers and the "great generation" primarily born in the post WWI years) were growing up. Maybe as soccer has become more and more popular among the younger generations, it will become a force in the world of American sports. But I'm not so sure about that.
One obvious reason as to why Beckham himself has yet to uplift soccer to the same status as American football, basketball and baseball is simply the fact that he has yet to really play. When it was first announced that Beckham and Posh would be arriving in the states, the tabloid magazines were going crazy. It seemed like the fact of him playing for a team in Los Angeles meant that this was a story more fit for the "National Enquirer" than ESPN. And in fact, it really hasn't amounted to more than that. Beckham hasn't done a whole lot on the field that has been recognized. ESPN ran a bunch of stories on him and the MLS during the time of his signing, but the fact that he never debuted when everyone thought he would, and the string of injuries he endured during his first month or so with the Galaxy sort of spelled doom for the David Beckham experiment. As a result, I couldn't tell you any of his stats right now, nor could I tell you the record of the Galaxy, even though I know they struggled this season even with him on the field. I do know, however, that Houston beat the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup final this season...I doubt many other American sportswriters can tell you that!
The point being that Beckham and Posh made headlines upon their initial entrance into America and made an imprint on American culture. Yet that imprint has not lasted, and we are hearing fewer and fewer stories about the couple. If anything, more attention is being paid to Posh rather than to David. It's unfortunate for all of us soccer fans in the states that David couldn't do more to bring some long-term visibility to the sport here in America, but I won't say that I'm surprised that the experiment failed to work. The Beckham hysteria is not as great as you may think it may be here in America. The couple covered the tabloid headlines for a couple of months, and the ESPN discussion for a couple of weeks, but their impact hasn't appeared to have lasted....hope this helps!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas!
Just taking a minute to wish all of my viewers a very Merry Christmas, and a fruitful New Year! Enjoy the sports lineup today as the Heat travel north to take on the Lebrons before Cleveland travels down to the Big Easy to face the Hornets on the 29th. Later, the Suns travel up to Hollywood to face the Kobes. Should be two relatively entertaining matchups for the NBA aficionado. While checking on these two contests, I will spending the rest of my Christmas Day messing with my new iPhone, swinging my new King Cobra s9 irons (arguably the best golf clubs on the market right now), and stuffing my face on this most glorious of days. I'll be blogging intermittently this week, with the majority of my entries coming at the end of the week as we approach the much anticipated final week of the NFL regular season. Salud!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Welcome Back Kotter...and the Hornets
I have decided to resume my summer-long sports blog...back by popular demand. I currently intern for the NBA's New Orleans Hornets in their Game Operations Department, which has rekindled a love for professional basketball that had escaped my being since the beginning of this decade. Rooting for the Hornets is perfect for me. They're team that has not had a whole lot of success in their history, has a small fan base, plays in a city that demands its fans to be intoxicated while viewing, and is considered an underdog among its geographic and divisional neighbors, which in this case consist of the dreaded "Texas Triangle": Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. They're essentially the Mets with more black people. Hopefully they can emulate the recent success of the Mets (and by recent I mean before October, '07), but this will be difficult.
Yes, the Hornets have proven to be a highly legitmate squad throughout their first 25 games. They have a record of 15-10, and are on track to be a mid-seeded playoff team in the Western Conference. Yet, like with my favorite baseball team, I have my doubts with the Bees. They have an impressive starting five, consisting of: Morris Peterson, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic, David West, and the floor general Chris Paul. Each of these guys individually has a ton of talent, but can they translate it into a successful season free of dire injury? I'm not so sure. And as with most teams, the Hornets can't afford to lose any of their starters for an extended period of time and expect to survive in the NBA's Varsity conference.
Chris Paul is phenomenal. You really have to see him live to understand how great he is. He penetrates as good as any point guard I've seen in a while, he's an assist machine, plays solid defense, and has improved his shot immensely. Most importantly, Chris has become the go-to-guy when the game is on the line. Especially with Peja being in and out intermittently due to injury, Paul has become the team's most consistent clutch shooter. What used to be a criticism of his has now become one of his strong points. If I'm not mistaken, he's actually shooting around 40% from 3-point line. This kid is really good, and has established himself as the most underrated, under-the-radar point guard, if not player in the NBA. The only thing that concerns me about Chris is his on-court leadership. He sometimes appears to be too harsh on his teammates. I watched some highlights of the Portland game on Monday, and the Hornets looked awful on both sides of the ball. Granted, Portland has won like 7 in a row and seems to be playing nice basketball, but the Hornets looked tired out there. At one point late in the game while the Hornets were getting thrashed by a team it destroyed at home at the beginning of the season, Paul and D West were seen getting in a shouting match on the court in the middle of the game. That might be worse than Zach Randolph arguing a call while play was still going on, and neglecting to play defense. Chris is 22 years old. West has to be close to 30. The point guard is supposed to be the leader of the team, but Chris has not garnered the respect or experience of a Steve Nash or even a Tony Parker to get away with barking at his players in medias res. As a former goalkeeper in soccer who served as the team's on-the-field general, I understand that yelling criticisms at your teammates doesn't typically get them to improve their play. If anything, it gets them more flustered and causes them to respect your advice even less. Chris Paul has a great future in this league, but he needs to learn how to become a better leader, and understand his role on the team. While he should be urging on his teammates and setting the tempo of the play, he needs to find more constructive ways in doing so. One rarely sees Steve Nash publically admonishing his teammates during the game. Getting flustered in the heat of competition is understandable, but you can't afford to isolate yourself from your teammates in the process.
The Hornets have a great chance to be a contender in the West. They have a superb point guard, sharpshooters at the 2 and 3 spots, a nice power forward in West and a solid rebounder in Chandler. I would like to see the Hornets improve upon their toughness though. They got beat up by Detroit and Orlando in two of their losses. Granted few teams can effectively match up with Dwight Howard or the Pistons' big men, but the Hornets got severely dominated inside in both of those games, which led to losses to other playoff contenders. I feel that they might need to sign a more physical big man to come off the bench if they really want to reach that next level. Melvin Ely may end up serving in that role of "enforcer", and he's actually done a pretty decent job lately off the bench. But I'm not sure if he will be sufficient. Only time will tell.
I know this is often the case with most NBA teams, but the Hornets NEED to stay healthy if they want a chance making the playoffs. They don't have a dominant center in terms of scoring, and they have two streaky shooters in their starting lineup. Chris Paul cannot be counted on to produce 20 and 10 every night as a point guard. If the Hornets want to be a legit playoff team, they need someone besides Paul to step out and become a consistent play maker. West has shown signs of being that player, but not consistent ones. Until that happens, I don't see the Hornets gaining a home series in the playoffs, but I do believe they'll be in the final 8 when mid-April rolls around.
Yes, the Hornets have proven to be a highly legitmate squad throughout their first 25 games. They have a record of 15-10, and are on track to be a mid-seeded playoff team in the Western Conference. Yet, like with my favorite baseball team, I have my doubts with the Bees. They have an impressive starting five, consisting of: Morris Peterson, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic, David West, and the floor general Chris Paul. Each of these guys individually has a ton of talent, but can they translate it into a successful season free of dire injury? I'm not so sure. And as with most teams, the Hornets can't afford to lose any of their starters for an extended period of time and expect to survive in the NBA's Varsity conference.
Chris Paul is phenomenal. You really have to see him live to understand how great he is. He penetrates as good as any point guard I've seen in a while, he's an assist machine, plays solid defense, and has improved his shot immensely. Most importantly, Chris has become the go-to-guy when the game is on the line. Especially with Peja being in and out intermittently due to injury, Paul has become the team's most consistent clutch shooter. What used to be a criticism of his has now become one of his strong points. If I'm not mistaken, he's actually shooting around 40% from 3-point line. This kid is really good, and has established himself as the most underrated, under-the-radar point guard, if not player in the NBA. The only thing that concerns me about Chris is his on-court leadership. He sometimes appears to be too harsh on his teammates. I watched some highlights of the Portland game on Monday, and the Hornets looked awful on both sides of the ball. Granted, Portland has won like 7 in a row and seems to be playing nice basketball, but the Hornets looked tired out there. At one point late in the game while the Hornets were getting thrashed by a team it destroyed at home at the beginning of the season, Paul and D West were seen getting in a shouting match on the court in the middle of the game. That might be worse than Zach Randolph arguing a call while play was still going on, and neglecting to play defense. Chris is 22 years old. West has to be close to 30. The point guard is supposed to be the leader of the team, but Chris has not garnered the respect or experience of a Steve Nash or even a Tony Parker to get away with barking at his players in medias res. As a former goalkeeper in soccer who served as the team's on-the-field general, I understand that yelling criticisms at your teammates doesn't typically get them to improve their play. If anything, it gets them more flustered and causes them to respect your advice even less. Chris Paul has a great future in this league, but he needs to learn how to become a better leader, and understand his role on the team. While he should be urging on his teammates and setting the tempo of the play, he needs to find more constructive ways in doing so. One rarely sees Steve Nash publically admonishing his teammates during the game. Getting flustered in the heat of competition is understandable, but you can't afford to isolate yourself from your teammates in the process.
The Hornets have a great chance to be a contender in the West. They have a superb point guard, sharpshooters at the 2 and 3 spots, a nice power forward in West and a solid rebounder in Chandler. I would like to see the Hornets improve upon their toughness though. They got beat up by Detroit and Orlando in two of their losses. Granted few teams can effectively match up with Dwight Howard or the Pistons' big men, but the Hornets got severely dominated inside in both of those games, which led to losses to other playoff contenders. I feel that they might need to sign a more physical big man to come off the bench if they really want to reach that next level. Melvin Ely may end up serving in that role of "enforcer", and he's actually done a pretty decent job lately off the bench. But I'm not sure if he will be sufficient. Only time will tell.
I know this is often the case with most NBA teams, but the Hornets NEED to stay healthy if they want a chance making the playoffs. They don't have a dominant center in terms of scoring, and they have two streaky shooters in their starting lineup. Chris Paul cannot be counted on to produce 20 and 10 every night as a point guard. If the Hornets want to be a legit playoff team, they need someone besides Paul to step out and become a consistent play maker. West has shown signs of being that player, but not consistent ones. Until that happens, I don't see the Hornets gaining a home series in the playoffs, but I do believe they'll be in the final 8 when mid-April rolls around.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
300 will have to wait...Mets/Brewers 7/31.
Tonight in Milwaukee, Tom Glavine went for his 300th career victory. It was a highly momentous occasion, and the Mets appear to have felt the pressure. Glavine himself walked five hitters in six innings. Part of this spike in the bases on balls was due in part to Chad Fairchild's bizzare and virtually non-existent strikezone. As miniscule as the strikezone was, Glavine's insistence on throwing the ball off the plate and in the dirt helped the young Brewers team which hd obviously been instructed to swing as little as possible. Five walks, and only two hits in six innings giving up one run. Should that get you taken out of a game? I don't think so. Yes, Tom was wild, but he was effectively wild, and the Brewers were doing absolutely nothing on offense to take advantage. As Ron Darling eloquently summed up after Jorge Sosa's four pitch walk to lead off the ninth inning on what looked like a 3-0 fastball right down broadway not called for a strike, "It appears that its absolutely impossible to throw a strike in Chad Fairchild's strikezone. That's all there is to say." Yet, Willie still decided to pull a Joe Torre and take out an effective Glavine while taxing his bullpen once again. I liked Willie as a person, and he has a calming influence on the team, which is a positive attribute he utilizes as manager; but his game management skills, especially when it has come to the handling of his pitchers, have been wildly inconsistent this season. That's just how I personally feel.
Back to the offense. Well where should I begin? The Mets blew two bases-loaded one-out situations without coming away with a run. For a team that's supposed to be the class of the National League, and attempting to give their Hall-of-Fame ace his 300th win, their play has been atrocious and is thoroughly inexcusable. I'm tired of the offensive inconsistencies, and there's no reason for this to occur on a daily basis. New Met Luis Castillo made a couple nice plays defensively, but going 0-4 and blowing multiple chances to drive in runs in crucial situations will not endear yourself to passionate Met fans. Getting AT LEAST a sac fly to drive in a run is essential in these situations. This inability to drive in runners in scoring position, even in taylor-made situations like the aforementioned, is perplexing and is something that should inspire much fear in Met fans, players and personnel. This is a problem that needs to be fixed, and it needs to happen very soon. You're facing Jeff Suppan after all...someone with a below .500 record and a fastball that tops out of 87. If you can't make solid contact off him, you should not be in the Major Leagues. That's the bottom line. He isn't really that good, I don't care about his results in last year's NLCS. He's never been particularly good. But of course, the Mets have a propensity to struggle against anyone who can't reach 90 with their fastball. Throw a Little-Leaguer out there, and they may only get two runs off him in six innings. I'm not comparing Jeff Suppan to a little-leaguer of course, but let's just say he doesn't throw much harder than Danny Almonte.
I know, I know... the Bullpen has screwed up tonight, but you can't give your bullpen two runs and expect it to save the day every time out. The Mets knew the importance of this game not only because it was for Glavine's 300th win, but it was against the first place team in the NL Central in the Brewers with a chance to prove that they were TRULY the class of the NL. What they have proved once again is that neither their offense nor their bullpen (that has been quite consistent this year) can rise to the occasion...if you need help getting pumped up for the chance to give a future HOFer his 300th win, you need to have your pulse checked. I don't care how bad the umpire is (and yes, he should not be allowed to umpire another game that involves the Mets), as we enter the top of the 10th inning, the possibility of the Mets blowing this one is quite a good one. If they do go on to lose, they will have no one to blame but themselves. This is another ominous sign for one of the most inconsistent division leaders I've seen in a long time. If this team can't start taking advantage of the numerous opportunities handed to them by the atrocious National League teams day in and day out, then the Teixiera-led Braves, and Rollins-led Phillies will REALLY give them a reason to freak out...and their impotent offense won't have the "equipment" to respond.
I may be overreacting here, and it is only one game; but the Mets' inability to play a streak of solid, fundamental baseball games is something that may come back to haunt them as the season persists. I'm really nervous about this team. Let's hope they can fix whatever problems they're having quickly, or our worst fears may be realized as Met fans.
Back to the offense. Well where should I begin? The Mets blew two bases-loaded one-out situations without coming away with a run. For a team that's supposed to be the class of the National League, and attempting to give their Hall-of-Fame ace his 300th win, their play has been atrocious and is thoroughly inexcusable. I'm tired of the offensive inconsistencies, and there's no reason for this to occur on a daily basis. New Met Luis Castillo made a couple nice plays defensively, but going 0-4 and blowing multiple chances to drive in runs in crucial situations will not endear yourself to passionate Met fans. Getting AT LEAST a sac fly to drive in a run is essential in these situations. This inability to drive in runners in scoring position, even in taylor-made situations like the aforementioned, is perplexing and is something that should inspire much fear in Met fans, players and personnel. This is a problem that needs to be fixed, and it needs to happen very soon. You're facing Jeff Suppan after all...someone with a below .500 record and a fastball that tops out of 87. If you can't make solid contact off him, you should not be in the Major Leagues. That's the bottom line. He isn't really that good, I don't care about his results in last year's NLCS. He's never been particularly good. But of course, the Mets have a propensity to struggle against anyone who can't reach 90 with their fastball. Throw a Little-Leaguer out there, and they may only get two runs off him in six innings. I'm not comparing Jeff Suppan to a little-leaguer of course, but let's just say he doesn't throw much harder than Danny Almonte.
I know, I know... the Bullpen has screwed up tonight, but you can't give your bullpen two runs and expect it to save the day every time out. The Mets knew the importance of this game not only because it was for Glavine's 300th win, but it was against the first place team in the NL Central in the Brewers with a chance to prove that they were TRULY the class of the NL. What they have proved once again is that neither their offense nor their bullpen (that has been quite consistent this year) can rise to the occasion...if you need help getting pumped up for the chance to give a future HOFer his 300th win, you need to have your pulse checked. I don't care how bad the umpire is (and yes, he should not be allowed to umpire another game that involves the Mets), as we enter the top of the 10th inning, the possibility of the Mets blowing this one is quite a good one. If they do go on to lose, they will have no one to blame but themselves. This is another ominous sign for one of the most inconsistent division leaders I've seen in a long time. If this team can't start taking advantage of the numerous opportunities handed to them by the atrocious National League teams day in and day out, then the Teixiera-led Braves, and Rollins-led Phillies will REALLY give them a reason to freak out...and their impotent offense won't have the "equipment" to respond.
I may be overreacting here, and it is only one game; but the Mets' inability to play a streak of solid, fundamental baseball games is something that may come back to haunt them as the season persists. I'm really nervous about this team. Let's hope they can fix whatever problems they're having quickly, or our worst fears may be realized as Met fans.
Monday, July 30, 2007
A Team of Destiny? Don't count on it.
The New York Mets have been in cruise control for the majority of the 2007 regular season. The fact that this club has endured a myriad of injuries, and still managed to win more contests than lost while maintaining their spot as the #1 team in the NL East, and arguably in the National League in its entirety is surprising to say the least. As a diehard Met fan, the fact that this team can be thought of as the best in the National League troubles me, and solidifies the fact that the American League has to to be far superior to the National League.
The New York Mets have not shown me that they do not deserve to be a playoff team with their wildly inconsistent play. Of course, considering the parity of the National League in 2007, traditional notions of a "playoff caliber team" must be thrown out the window, so to speak. The Mets will typically go on a 4-game win streak, then lose multiple series in a row. I have watched about 100 of the Mets' 114 games this season so far, and the season so far has proven to have been one of the most excruiating, perplexing, and most importantly, inconsistent experiences I have ever endured as a sports fan. I know those of you Royals, Pirates, and dare I say Devil Rays fans must think I sound like a spoiled idiot to fret about a team that has one of the best records in baseball, and currently the best record in the National League. But at least you understand that your team is going to dwell in the cellar for the majority of the season, and there's no shocking disappointment felt when your team consistently falters. OK, I'm sure there's disappointment, but at least you kind of expect it, right? I almost feel that its tougher to support a team that is so up-and-down than to support one that consistently fails. But many of you could argue that I'm full of it, and that may be true; but least you Devil Rays supporters (wherever you may be) don't run the gamut of emotions every week from "what team is this?" to "finally, it looks like 2006 again...lets have a repeat of the '86 series."
As evidenced through their solid win-loss record, the inconsistent offensive production that has been put forth by the Mets throughout the season hasn't particularly hurt them throughout the first 2/3 of the season. Now, it appears that it may. Carlos Beltran --who probably best encapsulates the team's offensive inconsistency-- is the most recent of a slew of Metropolitans who have fell to the injury bug, with a strained abdominal muscle. As perplexing as his season has been, one cannot argue that having him out is a crucial blow to the team, and will only serve to worsen the team's offensive presence even more. Carlos Delgado has finally appeared to find his swing in recent weeks, but he too has been far from consistent. He'll follow up a 2 for 4 performance with a "golden sombrero." I know this is baseball, and as the adage goes: "success 3 out of 10 times gets you into the Hall," but the Mets' aren't getting that from anyone on a consistent basis. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. This inconsistent play will come back to hurt them as the season wears on. It cannot be avoided any longer. Change needs to happen for this ballclub. Why? The Braves and Phillies are two teams that have been streaking as of late, and recently improved their starting rosters. We need to keep up and make sure that their recent moves won't effect our postseason plans.
The Braves already sport a solid 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation with John Smoltz and Tim Hudson (who should probably have 15 wins instead of his 11). They recently added one of the most underappreciated and consistent bats in baseball in Texas' Mark Teixiera. The Georgia Tech grad will immediately become a fan favorite due to his local roots, and will prove to be a dangerous force in the heart of a steadily improving Atlanta batting order. The fact that Atlanta has stuck around this long without any real bonafide bats to complement Edgar Renteria and Larry Jones is a minor miracle. With the addition of this former Yellow Jacket and Ranger, I am legitamately scared of the Braves' chances coming into the home stretch. With that nutjob Bobby Cox as a manager, you never know what to expect from that ballclub as we enter the final months of the regular season. The signing of Teixiera to the Braves, along with Kevin Garnett's arrival in Boston has made this one of the more awful and bizzare sporting days in the life of a lifelong Mets and Knicks fan.
Oh, yeah...and those Phillies.
The Phillies have been playing even better baseball than the Braves as of late. They further strengthened their postseason prospects by signing White Sox 2nd baseman Tadahito Iguchi, a solid player who hits for average and has some pop in that bat. I've always liked Iguchi as a player, primarily because he's a winner. He has been a member of Japan's successful olympic teams, and was an essential component of the White Sox' 2005 world championship club. It didn't hurt that he has just hit a home run for the Phils in his second at-bat with the team. Another recent addition to the Phillies is Reds pitcher Kyle Lohse, a tough-luck starter who could prove to be a reliable option in the back of Philly's rotation. With Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins scorching hot, the Mets and Braves need to take advantage of Chase Utley being on the bench. If the Phillies can stay in contention while he's gone, they will give the Mets an even tougher run for their money upon his imminent return. That offense in that ballpark is unbelieveable, and if their pitching can show some signs of consistency, don't be surprised if the Wild Card bypasses the other two divisions in stays on the East Coast.
The Mets need to make two moves. One needs to be done in order to improve their offense, preferably a second baseman or a offensive-minded outfielder. I understand that this season's trading deadline may prove to be flatter than Paris Hilton, but the Mets need to make some sort of splash by tomorrow night in improving the offensive makeup of their club. The second should be a right handed reliever. I am a HUGE Aaron Heilman supporter, and I feel that he rarely gets his due as one of the more underrated relievers in baseball. Unfortunately, he hasn't been as sharp of late. He has been elevating his changeup, a pitch that is deadly when it's down, and resembles a Wade Boggs knuckleball when it's elevated, regardless of the arm angle. I also believe that he's been taxed, and the recent results produced by young phenom Joe Smith haven't helped the matter. A proven right-handed reliever would undoubtedly spell Heilman, and reassert the Mets bullpen as one of the best in baseball...similar to the one we saw in 2006. Unless we make some moves to improve the Mets, the 100+ game trip through the season will shift from neutral to park far sooner than all of us would like.
The New York Mets have not shown me that they do not deserve to be a playoff team with their wildly inconsistent play. Of course, considering the parity of the National League in 2007, traditional notions of a "playoff caliber team" must be thrown out the window, so to speak. The Mets will typically go on a 4-game win streak, then lose multiple series in a row. I have watched about 100 of the Mets' 114 games this season so far, and the season so far has proven to have been one of the most excruiating, perplexing, and most importantly, inconsistent experiences I have ever endured as a sports fan. I know those of you Royals, Pirates, and dare I say Devil Rays fans must think I sound like a spoiled idiot to fret about a team that has one of the best records in baseball, and currently the best record in the National League. But at least you understand that your team is going to dwell in the cellar for the majority of the season, and there's no shocking disappointment felt when your team consistently falters. OK, I'm sure there's disappointment, but at least you kind of expect it, right? I almost feel that its tougher to support a team that is so up-and-down than to support one that consistently fails. But many of you could argue that I'm full of it, and that may be true; but least you Devil Rays supporters (wherever you may be) don't run the gamut of emotions every week from "what team is this?" to "finally, it looks like 2006 again...lets have a repeat of the '86 series."
As evidenced through their solid win-loss record, the inconsistent offensive production that has been put forth by the Mets throughout the season hasn't particularly hurt them throughout the first 2/3 of the season. Now, it appears that it may. Carlos Beltran --who probably best encapsulates the team's offensive inconsistency-- is the most recent of a slew of Metropolitans who have fell to the injury bug, with a strained abdominal muscle. As perplexing as his season has been, one cannot argue that having him out is a crucial blow to the team, and will only serve to worsen the team's offensive presence even more. Carlos Delgado has finally appeared to find his swing in recent weeks, but he too has been far from consistent. He'll follow up a 2 for 4 performance with a "golden sombrero." I know this is baseball, and as the adage goes: "success 3 out of 10 times gets you into the Hall," but the Mets' aren't getting that from anyone on a consistent basis. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. This inconsistent play will come back to hurt them as the season wears on. It cannot be avoided any longer. Change needs to happen for this ballclub. Why? The Braves and Phillies are two teams that have been streaking as of late, and recently improved their starting rosters. We need to keep up and make sure that their recent moves won't effect our postseason plans.
The Braves already sport a solid 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation with John Smoltz and Tim Hudson (who should probably have 15 wins instead of his 11). They recently added one of the most underappreciated and consistent bats in baseball in Texas' Mark Teixiera. The Georgia Tech grad will immediately become a fan favorite due to his local roots, and will prove to be a dangerous force in the heart of a steadily improving Atlanta batting order. The fact that Atlanta has stuck around this long without any real bonafide bats to complement Edgar Renteria and Larry Jones is a minor miracle. With the addition of this former Yellow Jacket and Ranger, I am legitamately scared of the Braves' chances coming into the home stretch. With that nutjob Bobby Cox as a manager, you never know what to expect from that ballclub as we enter the final months of the regular season. The signing of Teixiera to the Braves, along with Kevin Garnett's arrival in Boston has made this one of the more awful and bizzare sporting days in the life of a lifelong Mets and Knicks fan.
Oh, yeah...and those Phillies.
The Phillies have been playing even better baseball than the Braves as of late. They further strengthened their postseason prospects by signing White Sox 2nd baseman Tadahito Iguchi, a solid player who hits for average and has some pop in that bat. I've always liked Iguchi as a player, primarily because he's a winner. He has been a member of Japan's successful olympic teams, and was an essential component of the White Sox' 2005 world championship club. It didn't hurt that he has just hit a home run for the Phils in his second at-bat with the team. Another recent addition to the Phillies is Reds pitcher Kyle Lohse, a tough-luck starter who could prove to be a reliable option in the back of Philly's rotation. With Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins scorching hot, the Mets and Braves need to take advantage of Chase Utley being on the bench. If the Phillies can stay in contention while he's gone, they will give the Mets an even tougher run for their money upon his imminent return. That offense in that ballpark is unbelieveable, and if their pitching can show some signs of consistency, don't be surprised if the Wild Card bypasses the other two divisions in stays on the East Coast.
The Mets need to make two moves. One needs to be done in order to improve their offense, preferably a second baseman or a offensive-minded outfielder. I understand that this season's trading deadline may prove to be flatter than Paris Hilton, but the Mets need to make some sort of splash by tomorrow night in improving the offensive makeup of their club. The second should be a right handed reliever. I am a HUGE Aaron Heilman supporter, and I feel that he rarely gets his due as one of the more underrated relievers in baseball. Unfortunately, he hasn't been as sharp of late. He has been elevating his changeup, a pitch that is deadly when it's down, and resembles a Wade Boggs knuckleball when it's elevated, regardless of the arm angle. I also believe that he's been taxed, and the recent results produced by young phenom Joe Smith haven't helped the matter. A proven right-handed reliever would undoubtedly spell Heilman, and reassert the Mets bullpen as one of the best in baseball...similar to the one we saw in 2006. Unless we make some moves to improve the Mets, the 100+ game trip through the season will shift from neutral to park far sooner than all of us would like.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
NBA Draft 2007
I'm stoked. I'm assuming it's gonna be Oden to Portland, and Durant to Seattle...but after those first two picks, even Chad Ford and Bill Simmons really aren't sure who will go where. I'll keep ya updated on the teams' first round picks, and my personal thoughts and analysis on them. Here we go from the 212 area code:
Selection #1: Greg Oden goes to the Portland Trailblazers.
The time has come...anyone shocked? Shouldn't be. Greg Oden goes to Portland from Ohio State University. Portland is gonna instantly be a playoff contender in the Western Conference next season.
Selection #2: Kevin Durant from the University of Texas goes to Seattle at #2. No surprises with these two picks. Durant is going to be a stud, but I'm not sure if he's going to be as dominant a force as Oden in the West. Portland seems to be better right now than Seattle, so I don't necessarily see the Sonics making the Western Conference playoffs next year even with Durant. Seems like they'll need to trade for another player to complement Rachard Lewis and Kevin. Anyways, #3 is next...here's where the real intrigue begins.
Selection #3: Al Horford to the Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford goes to the Hawks at #3...they made the conservative pick, and probably the right one. They could use a point guard like Conley, but I believe that Horford is the most ready NBA player. He has great strength, good post moves and is a very intelligent kid in general. Also, I personally believe that Acie Law is more NBA ready at this moment than Mike Conley Jr., and Atlanta needs to win NOW! Next is Memphis at #4.
Selection #4: Mike Conley to the Memphis Grizzlies
Nothing shocking here so far...Mike Conley goes to Memphis at #4. I'm not necessarily sold on Conley as of yet, which is why I won't criticize Atlanta for going with Horford. I still feel that Acie Law is going to be a phenomenal NBA point guard who will be just as good if not better than Conley, and Atlanta can probably get him at #11. Anyways, this is probably the right pick by Memphis at #4...they went by the book and you can't fault them for that.
Selection #5: Jeff Green is going to Seattle via Boston!
Hahah Bill Simmons is going to have a stroke. Boston is trading their #5 selection (Jeff Green) who was an absolute stud at Georgetown, Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West, for an aging Ray Allen. Wow. Boston gets Ray Allen, who's essentially the same player as Paul Pierce. Seattle now has gotten Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West. That is going to be a phenomenal team within three seasons. Boston blows it again....I cant wait to read Bill Simmons' reaction on this blunder. Next is Milwaukee at #6...
Selection #6: Yi Jianlian goes to the Milwaukee Bucks
With the 6th selection, Yi Jianlian goes to Milwaukee. This pick was sort of surprising. No one is doubting Yi's talent...from all possible reports I've read, he's an amazing talent, and has had success against American competition. But, he's going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...a city with SIX natives of China. Not sure if he'll be happy with that, although it's not like Yao's adopted home of Houston is much better. Wouldn't shock me if Yi was traded to Golden State or a larger market team in the near future, but for now...Milwaukee seems to have made the correct selection.
Selection #7: Corey Brewer goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Stephen A. Smith needs to stop talking. Come on Jay Bilas...put Stephen in his place. He has been making an absurd amount of ridiculous comments already, and only six teams have made selections. Corey Brewer goes to the Timberwolves...I think this kid is going to be really good. It's too bad Kevin Garnett doesn't really give a shit. People are questioning his offense...did you see him destroy teams from the perimeter in the NCAA's? I know the NBA is far tougher than college, but is offense shouldn't be questioned. He will be a very solid player, similar to Jeff Green from G'town and now Seattle. Good pick by Minnesota. This has been a pretty clean draft so far, except for the Celtics' expected fuck-up. The Charlotte Bobcats are next at #8...
Selection #8: Brandan Wright to the Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats make a slightly surprising pick at 8 with Brandan Wright from UNC. Jay Bilas loves this kid, comparing him to the Raptors' Chris Bosh. Not sure if he'll be that good, but what I have seen from him this season, he's pretty solid. He was the 3-time Tennessee state player of the year in high school, which is pretty damn impressive. I believe he does need to put on some weight, and I don't know if he can be a dominant power forward this season. Within three seasons? Maybe. But like Atlanta, Charlotte needs to win sooner rather than later, and in order for that to occur, ONE proven veteran to complement Okafor and now Wright is badly needed. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of Wright being traded for a proven veteran in the coming hours or days.
Selection #9: Joakim Noah to the Chicago Bulls
Shit. Joakim Noah is going to the Bulls at #9. Thanks Isiah...Eddy Curry AND Antonio Davis were not worth this. I love Joakim's energy, he works his ass off and is competitive as fuck. He would have been LOVED by Knick fans...he has the perfect NY personality and is a local kid. He's not the most talented and strongest big guy...he might get his ass kicked once or twice by his NBA opponents; and like Jay Bilas said, his jumpshot is garbage and may rival mine (that needs to improve if he's going to be a force in the NBA). Yet even as someone who loathes the Bulls like I do, I can't hate this pick. You gotta love Noah's passion for the game and winning. He's proven that he can do both. Sac-town is next with the #10 selection.
Selection #10: Spencer Hawes to the Sacramento Kings
Interesting pick...Spencer Hawes from University of Washington goes to Sacramento at #10. I'll be honest, I don't know much about this kid, besides the fact that he's white and American. But I'll believeJay Bilas' word...and he thinks he's tough enough, talented enough, and intelligent enough. Bilas doesn't believe he's a great defensive player, but that can be improved through coaching and adding weight and strength. I like this kid...he seems like a nice, humble kid. Now let's see if he can handle the NBA, although I tend to think he wont be as successful as his lottery predecessors.
Selection #11: Acie Law goes to the Atlanta Hawks
Acie Law IV. Excellent pick by Atlanta...I love this guy. He's a stud, a leader, and a terrific competitor. He was the main reason I selected Texas A&M to go to the NCAA championship against Florida. Al Horford and Acie Law was the best Atlanta could have possibly done in the first round. Well done Billy Knight...you actually did something right this time. Philly is next at #12...
Selection #12: Thaddeus Young goes to the Sixers
Thaddeus Young from Georgia Tech goes to the 76ers. Not particularly sure about this one...but I'm happy Philly didn't get Julian Wright from Kansas who I believe to be the most underrated player in this draft. I don't really know much about Thaddeus, but he evidently has a huge upside and was the best player on an extremely young Georgia Tech team. We shall see...who knows, he could be the steal of the draft! But I tend to think not.THE HORNETS ARE NEXT AT #13!
Selection #13: Julian Wright goes to the New Orleans Hornets
Awesome pick by the Hornets...Julian Wright is an absolute monster. Nick Young from USC may have been the more practical pick since the Hornets desperately need a scorer, but this kid is too good to pass up. He's fantastic on both sides of the ball, and is a phenomenal athlete. I disagree with Jay Bilas in saying that "he's a bad shooter." I've seen him play a bunch this past year, and his shooting didn't look all that suspect to me. Anyway, shooting is something that can most definitely be improved. He's great on both sides of the ball, and the Hornets got a steal here at #13. Anyway, they can most likely trade for a veteran sharpshooter...Wright was the wright pick here.
Selection #14: Al Thornton goes to the LA Clippers
With the #14 pick, the Clippers take Al Thornton. He's gonna be a fantastic player, but I'm not sure how well I see him fitting on a team already with Elton Brand, Tim Thomas and Chris Kaman as solid bigmen. Nick Young may have been the more practical pick since Sam Cassell is no spring chicken. Yet, Thornton is a scary talent...he's someone I wouldn't personally want to fuck with...tough-looking dude. I'm just not so sure how good a fit he will be with the Clippers, but he definitely appeared to be the "best available player" on the board, and a fair pick in that regard.
So no huge surprises here in the 2007 NBA draft lottery...giving the first 14 picks to the non-playoff teams. To me, Seattle and Atlanta (the only two teams with two top 14 picks) had the best draft lotteries...and Boston blew it, by giving away half of their team for Ray Allen. Still can't get over that. Seattle probably got the most talent, Atlanta got the two most NBA-ready players in my opinion in Acie Law IV and Al Horford. Not sold on the pick of Spencer Hawes by Sacramento, and Thaddeus Young by Philadelphia. Aside from that, each team seemed to make solid picks that fulfilled their needs while attempting to take the "best avaliable player" on the board. Even though the lottery is over, the NBA draft is far from finished. What occurs over the next couple days, no one can be sure of. The lottery didn't present the viewer with a great deal "shock value," but the teams seemed to take care of what they needed to, and Seattle and Atlanta, as expected, seemed to be the lottery's top winners this year. And Portland did okay with their #1 pick also...
Selection #1: Greg Oden goes to the Portland Trailblazers.
The time has come...anyone shocked? Shouldn't be. Greg Oden goes to Portland from Ohio State University. Portland is gonna instantly be a playoff contender in the Western Conference next season.
Selection #2: Kevin Durant from the University of Texas goes to Seattle at #2. No surprises with these two picks. Durant is going to be a stud, but I'm not sure if he's going to be as dominant a force as Oden in the West. Portland seems to be better right now than Seattle, so I don't necessarily see the Sonics making the Western Conference playoffs next year even with Durant. Seems like they'll need to trade for another player to complement Rachard Lewis and Kevin. Anyways, #3 is next...here's where the real intrigue begins.
Selection #3: Al Horford to the Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford goes to the Hawks at #3...they made the conservative pick, and probably the right one. They could use a point guard like Conley, but I believe that Horford is the most ready NBA player. He has great strength, good post moves and is a very intelligent kid in general. Also, I personally believe that Acie Law is more NBA ready at this moment than Mike Conley Jr., and Atlanta needs to win NOW! Next is Memphis at #4.
Selection #4: Mike Conley to the Memphis Grizzlies
Nothing shocking here so far...Mike Conley goes to Memphis at #4. I'm not necessarily sold on Conley as of yet, which is why I won't criticize Atlanta for going with Horford. I still feel that Acie Law is going to be a phenomenal NBA point guard who will be just as good if not better than Conley, and Atlanta can probably get him at #11. Anyways, this is probably the right pick by Memphis at #4...they went by the book and you can't fault them for that.
Selection #5: Jeff Green is going to Seattle via Boston!
Hahah Bill Simmons is going to have a stroke. Boston is trading their #5 selection (Jeff Green) who was an absolute stud at Georgetown, Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West, for an aging Ray Allen. Wow. Boston gets Ray Allen, who's essentially the same player as Paul Pierce. Seattle now has gotten Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West. That is going to be a phenomenal team within three seasons. Boston blows it again....I cant wait to read Bill Simmons' reaction on this blunder. Next is Milwaukee at #6...
Selection #6: Yi Jianlian goes to the Milwaukee Bucks
With the 6th selection, Yi Jianlian goes to Milwaukee. This pick was sort of surprising. No one is doubting Yi's talent...from all possible reports I've read, he's an amazing talent, and has had success against American competition. But, he's going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...a city with SIX natives of China. Not sure if he'll be happy with that, although it's not like Yao's adopted home of Houston is much better. Wouldn't shock me if Yi was traded to Golden State or a larger market team in the near future, but for now...Milwaukee seems to have made the correct selection.
Selection #7: Corey Brewer goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Stephen A. Smith needs to stop talking. Come on Jay Bilas...put Stephen in his place. He has been making an absurd amount of ridiculous comments already, and only six teams have made selections. Corey Brewer goes to the Timberwolves...I think this kid is going to be really good. It's too bad Kevin Garnett doesn't really give a shit. People are questioning his offense...did you see him destroy teams from the perimeter in the NCAA's? I know the NBA is far tougher than college, but is offense shouldn't be questioned. He will be a very solid player, similar to Jeff Green from G'town and now Seattle. Good pick by Minnesota. This has been a pretty clean draft so far, except for the Celtics' expected fuck-up. The Charlotte Bobcats are next at #8...
Selection #8: Brandan Wright to the Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats make a slightly surprising pick at 8 with Brandan Wright from UNC. Jay Bilas loves this kid, comparing him to the Raptors' Chris Bosh. Not sure if he'll be that good, but what I have seen from him this season, he's pretty solid. He was the 3-time Tennessee state player of the year in high school, which is pretty damn impressive. I believe he does need to put on some weight, and I don't know if he can be a dominant power forward this season. Within three seasons? Maybe. But like Atlanta, Charlotte needs to win sooner rather than later, and in order for that to occur, ONE proven veteran to complement Okafor and now Wright is badly needed. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of Wright being traded for a proven veteran in the coming hours or days.
Selection #9: Joakim Noah to the Chicago Bulls
Shit. Joakim Noah is going to the Bulls at #9. Thanks Isiah...Eddy Curry AND Antonio Davis were not worth this. I love Joakim's energy, he works his ass off and is competitive as fuck. He would have been LOVED by Knick fans...he has the perfect NY personality and is a local kid. He's not the most talented and strongest big guy...he might get his ass kicked once or twice by his NBA opponents; and like Jay Bilas said, his jumpshot is garbage and may rival mine (that needs to improve if he's going to be a force in the NBA). Yet even as someone who loathes the Bulls like I do, I can't hate this pick. You gotta love Noah's passion for the game and winning. He's proven that he can do both. Sac-town is next with the #10 selection.
Selection #10: Spencer Hawes to the Sacramento Kings
Interesting pick...Spencer Hawes from University of Washington goes to Sacramento at #10. I'll be honest, I don't know much about this kid, besides the fact that he's white and American. But I'll believeJay Bilas' word...and he thinks he's tough enough, talented enough, and intelligent enough. Bilas doesn't believe he's a great defensive player, but that can be improved through coaching and adding weight and strength. I like this kid...he seems like a nice, humble kid. Now let's see if he can handle the NBA, although I tend to think he wont be as successful as his lottery predecessors.
Selection #11: Acie Law goes to the Atlanta Hawks
Acie Law IV. Excellent pick by Atlanta...I love this guy. He's a stud, a leader, and a terrific competitor. He was the main reason I selected Texas A&M to go to the NCAA championship against Florida. Al Horford and Acie Law was the best Atlanta could have possibly done in the first round. Well done Billy Knight...you actually did something right this time. Philly is next at #12...
Selection #12: Thaddeus Young goes to the Sixers
Thaddeus Young from Georgia Tech goes to the 76ers. Not particularly sure about this one...but I'm happy Philly didn't get Julian Wright from Kansas who I believe to be the most underrated player in this draft. I don't really know much about Thaddeus, but he evidently has a huge upside and was the best player on an extremely young Georgia Tech team. We shall see...who knows, he could be the steal of the draft! But I tend to think not.THE HORNETS ARE NEXT AT #13!
Selection #13: Julian Wright goes to the New Orleans Hornets
Awesome pick by the Hornets...Julian Wright is an absolute monster. Nick Young from USC may have been the more practical pick since the Hornets desperately need a scorer, but this kid is too good to pass up. He's fantastic on both sides of the ball, and is a phenomenal athlete. I disagree with Jay Bilas in saying that "he's a bad shooter." I've seen him play a bunch this past year, and his shooting didn't look all that suspect to me. Anyway, shooting is something that can most definitely be improved. He's great on both sides of the ball, and the Hornets got a steal here at #13. Anyway, they can most likely trade for a veteran sharpshooter...Wright was the wright pick here.
Selection #14: Al Thornton goes to the LA Clippers
With the #14 pick, the Clippers take Al Thornton. He's gonna be a fantastic player, but I'm not sure how well I see him fitting on a team already with Elton Brand, Tim Thomas and Chris Kaman as solid bigmen. Nick Young may have been the more practical pick since Sam Cassell is no spring chicken. Yet, Thornton is a scary talent...he's someone I wouldn't personally want to fuck with...tough-looking dude. I'm just not so sure how good a fit he will be with the Clippers, but he definitely appeared to be the "best available player" on the board, and a fair pick in that regard.
So no huge surprises here in the 2007 NBA draft lottery...giving the first 14 picks to the non-playoff teams. To me, Seattle and Atlanta (the only two teams with two top 14 picks) had the best draft lotteries...and Boston blew it, by giving away half of their team for Ray Allen. Still can't get over that. Seattle probably got the most talent, Atlanta got the two most NBA-ready players in my opinion in Acie Law IV and Al Horford. Not sold on the pick of Spencer Hawes by Sacramento, and Thaddeus Young by Philadelphia. Aside from that, each team seemed to make solid picks that fulfilled their needs while attempting to take the "best avaliable player" on the board. Even though the lottery is over, the NBA draft is far from finished. What occurs over the next couple days, no one can be sure of. The lottery didn't present the viewer with a great deal "shock value," but the teams seemed to take care of what they needed to, and Seattle and Atlanta, as expected, seemed to be the lottery's top winners this year. And Portland did okay with their #1 pick also...
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
BONDS is bad?
Whether you like it or not, steroids and human growth hormones have become a part of baseball. There, I said it.
For centuries, human beings have attempted to look for solutions to make their lives easier. The invention of the steel plow, the printing press, as well as the more recent invention of the computer were all created in hopes of making the life of the worker an easier one, as well as improving and expediting or her performance. The invention of the steel plow made the life of a farmer an easier one, while improving his or her performance and increasing their overall output. The printing press played a prominent role in sparking and spreading the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's, helping various preachers and theologians throughout Western Europe to spread their message to the masses which would transform Western religion and history forever. The computer? Will that's completely changed the lives of the workforce in the 20th century and beyond.
Can we and should we compare the use of steroids in improving the performance and livelihood of the athlete to the respective impacts of those aforementioned inventions? Of course not. But like the previous inventions, steroids and human growth hormones were created and utilized with the same intentions: help the user perform to the best of his/her abilities, and make his/her life easier. Steroids and human growth hormones have done that for a number of athletes. They have been used by athletes from a myriad of sports, including track and field, football, basketball, and soccer to name a few, and their use has proven to signficantly increase the performance of the user. As shocking as this may seem to some readers, the use of steroids by athletes in virtually all sports is rampant, commonplace, and for the most part...accepted! Why then is the use of steroids in baseball considered so vile and unconscionable compared to their use in other sports? Is it the notion of baseball being "the last pure American, wholesome sport" that we try so hard to maintain? Maybe. But these "baseball purists" need to understand that times are changing. As the world modernizes and people find new ways to improve their performances in the workplace and throughout their lives, controversy and fear will always accompany the change.
People say Barry Bonds is a cheater who doesnt deserve to be in the Hall-of-Fame. They are ridiculous. First off, most people say this because the media hasn't traditionally portrayed him to be "a Saint" because he doesnt like being asked pointless and idiotic questions over and over for some foreign reason. The fact that Bonds isn't known as the "kindest human being" shouldn't be a reason for his banishment from the Hall? I don't recall reading about Babe Ruth's incessant philantropic efforts.
When Barry Bonds was in his formative years with Pittsburgh, he may have been pound for pound the best hitter in the National League in the early to mid 1990's. First off, there is no proof that Bonds did in fact use steroids and human growth hormones. Does this writer believe he did? Yeah, he probably did. But aside from his use of steroids (which makes him one of over half of major league players to do so), Bonds has been a phenomenal player throughout his entire career. I can assure you that more than half of major leaguers since 1990 have used some type of steroids. If there are high school players in New York State who are doing it, then I can assure you of the mass frequency of those at the highest level doing it. As controversial and "unfair" as many may believe steroids to be, one cannot argue that they are a "tool" that can be used in order to improve one's performance and make their job easier. Steroids should be legal...what's so bad about improving the game? Times change, and Baseball needs to change with those times.
Let's not make Barry Bonds the scapegoat here...he's just a phenomenal player who's taking the brunt of the blame for the hundreds of major leaguers who have taken the similar substances as he. I, for one, am in favor of legalizing steroids. At this point, players are fully aware of the health risks, but if they want to take those chances and attempt to improve their personal performance at the workplace, and consequently in their lives, then why not allow them to do so? Wouldn't Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison (two of our greatest inventors and great American heroes) see my point? Ha...
For centuries, human beings have attempted to look for solutions to make their lives easier. The invention of the steel plow, the printing press, as well as the more recent invention of the computer were all created in hopes of making the life of the worker an easier one, as well as improving and expediting or her performance. The invention of the steel plow made the life of a farmer an easier one, while improving his or her performance and increasing their overall output. The printing press played a prominent role in sparking and spreading the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's, helping various preachers and theologians throughout Western Europe to spread their message to the masses which would transform Western religion and history forever. The computer? Will that's completely changed the lives of the workforce in the 20th century and beyond.
Can we and should we compare the use of steroids in improving the performance and livelihood of the athlete to the respective impacts of those aforementioned inventions? Of course not. But like the previous inventions, steroids and human growth hormones were created and utilized with the same intentions: help the user perform to the best of his/her abilities, and make his/her life easier. Steroids and human growth hormones have done that for a number of athletes. They have been used by athletes from a myriad of sports, including track and field, football, basketball, and soccer to name a few, and their use has proven to signficantly increase the performance of the user. As shocking as this may seem to some readers, the use of steroids by athletes in virtually all sports is rampant, commonplace, and for the most part...accepted! Why then is the use of steroids in baseball considered so vile and unconscionable compared to their use in other sports? Is it the notion of baseball being "the last pure American, wholesome sport" that we try so hard to maintain? Maybe. But these "baseball purists" need to understand that times are changing. As the world modernizes and people find new ways to improve their performances in the workplace and throughout their lives, controversy and fear will always accompany the change.
People say Barry Bonds is a cheater who doesnt deserve to be in the Hall-of-Fame. They are ridiculous. First off, most people say this because the media hasn't traditionally portrayed him to be "a Saint" because he doesnt like being asked pointless and idiotic questions over and over for some foreign reason. The fact that Bonds isn't known as the "kindest human being" shouldn't be a reason for his banishment from the Hall? I don't recall reading about Babe Ruth's incessant philantropic efforts.
When Barry Bonds was in his formative years with Pittsburgh, he may have been pound for pound the best hitter in the National League in the early to mid 1990's. First off, there is no proof that Bonds did in fact use steroids and human growth hormones. Does this writer believe he did? Yeah, he probably did. But aside from his use of steroids (which makes him one of over half of major league players to do so), Bonds has been a phenomenal player throughout his entire career. I can assure you that more than half of major leaguers since 1990 have used some type of steroids. If there are high school players in New York State who are doing it, then I can assure you of the mass frequency of those at the highest level doing it. As controversial and "unfair" as many may believe steroids to be, one cannot argue that they are a "tool" that can be used in order to improve one's performance and make their job easier. Steroids should be legal...what's so bad about improving the game? Times change, and Baseball needs to change with those times.
Let's not make Barry Bonds the scapegoat here...he's just a phenomenal player who's taking the brunt of the blame for the hundreds of major leaguers who have taken the similar substances as he. I, for one, am in favor of legalizing steroids. At this point, players are fully aware of the health risks, but if they want to take those chances and attempt to improve their personal performance at the workplace, and consequently in their lives, then why not allow them to do so? Wouldn't Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison (two of our greatest inventors and great American heroes) see my point? Ha...
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Will the Beaver prevail?
As I finish remixing the soundtrack to Brokeback Mountain after 2 1/2 weeks (which I will discuss further in a future entry), I have decided to jot down some thoughts on this year's college world series, and its absurdly anti-climatic championship: North Carolina vs. Oregon State. This matchup sound familiar? It should...its a repeat of the 2006 College World Series Championship that saw both teams come out of obscurity to compete for the #1 prize in all of collegiate baseball. Oregon State University would win the championship...yeah, I didn't understand it either.
When one thinks of the traditional havens of baseball talent, states like Florida, Texas, and California are a few that come to mind. Oregon? The weather in the great Northwest isn't traditionally cooperative, and baseball is a sport that requires good weather in order to actually be played. (Hence the tradition of powerhouse baseball talent in the aforementioned states that have millions of people to choose from and great weather year-round). Oregon State winning a national championship in baseball can be akin to the University of Georgia winning a championship in hockey, no? Anyways, Oregon State came into this season as a heavy favorite to come back to Omaha, after losing few starters from its championship squad. The same was true for the Tar Heels, who also brought in many prized recruits from in-state and around the country. North Carolina lived up to its lofty expectations, dominated ACC play, and entered the NCAA tournament as the #3 seed overall. The same was not true for Oregon State, who disappointed throughout most of the season, and BARELY found its way into the tournament, and then proceeded to get scorchingly hot thanks to some easy early-round draws, and a questionable decision to host their super regional in which they were the lower seed. The Beavers, who finished an unimpressive 38-24 in the regular season, have now found themselves back in the championship series. To me, there is nothing worse in sports than two teams meeting in championship games in successive years...aside from the Tomahawk Chop. What happened to the parity in college sports? Both North Carolina and Oregon State are frankly boring. I refuse to support a team who hosted a super regional as a #3 seed against a Michigan team that had a higher seed. Where's the logic in that? I can assure you that if the Wolverines had hosted that series, Oregon State would be back in rainy Corvallis where they belong. Also, I'm not rooting for a team whose star player's name is "Darwin Barney" and looks like he's 17. I'm sure ESPN is furious that these two teams unexplicably made it this far once again. What happened to Irvine? That would have been an intriguing story and a fun team to root for in the championship. Even Rice (a C-USA rival of Tulane's) would have been deserving of a spot in the best of three championship...with 71 year old head coach Wayne Graham as an intriguing backstory. But North Carolina and Oregon State? Two teams that shouldn't have been in the championship last year, have made equally surprising and irking runs to the pinnacle of college baseball once again this year. How anti-climactic.
And I won't watch them. Oregon State reminds me of those Spurs and Patriots teams that I loathe so much...they probably don't deserve to win most of the time, but they somehow do. I don't get it. They don't have any spectacular players, but they have all achieved success by taking advantage of their opponents mistakes, and installing conservative gameplans in winning their contests. That sucks. As much as I dislike Oregon State, and fail to understand how they have gotten to the CWS championship in consecutive years, North Carolina doesn't really do it for me either. It's too easy to root for the Tar Heels...they're powerhouses in every sport. Let's game some small, obscure schools for smaller conferences in this championship. Since college baseball prides itself on its purity and uniqueness that is lacking in college basketball and football, wouldn't it be fitting for two schools that don't happen to dominate the college sports scene to make it to the final? Rice and Irvine would have been fun to watch.
Oh well, at least I'll have Tulane to root for in next year's series...right? Or maybe even (GASP!) a team like St. John's from the Northeast. (Hey, if a team from the rainy Pacific Northwest can do it, why not a commuter school in Queens?)
Tar Heels will get revenge from last year's defeat, and take the series in three. Yet another title for the University of North Carolina. So much for college baseball being unique...
When one thinks of the traditional havens of baseball talent, states like Florida, Texas, and California are a few that come to mind. Oregon? The weather in the great Northwest isn't traditionally cooperative, and baseball is a sport that requires good weather in order to actually be played. (Hence the tradition of powerhouse baseball talent in the aforementioned states that have millions of people to choose from and great weather year-round). Oregon State winning a national championship in baseball can be akin to the University of Georgia winning a championship in hockey, no? Anyways, Oregon State came into this season as a heavy favorite to come back to Omaha, after losing few starters from its championship squad. The same was true for the Tar Heels, who also brought in many prized recruits from in-state and around the country. North Carolina lived up to its lofty expectations, dominated ACC play, and entered the NCAA tournament as the #3 seed overall. The same was not true for Oregon State, who disappointed throughout most of the season, and BARELY found its way into the tournament, and then proceeded to get scorchingly hot thanks to some easy early-round draws, and a questionable decision to host their super regional in which they were the lower seed. The Beavers, who finished an unimpressive 38-24 in the regular season, have now found themselves back in the championship series. To me, there is nothing worse in sports than two teams meeting in championship games in successive years...aside from the Tomahawk Chop. What happened to the parity in college sports? Both North Carolina and Oregon State are frankly boring. I refuse to support a team who hosted a super regional as a #3 seed against a Michigan team that had a higher seed. Where's the logic in that? I can assure you that if the Wolverines had hosted that series, Oregon State would be back in rainy Corvallis where they belong. Also, I'm not rooting for a team whose star player's name is "Darwin Barney" and looks like he's 17. I'm sure ESPN is furious that these two teams unexplicably made it this far once again. What happened to Irvine? That would have been an intriguing story and a fun team to root for in the championship. Even Rice (a C-USA rival of Tulane's) would have been deserving of a spot in the best of three championship...with 71 year old head coach Wayne Graham as an intriguing backstory. But North Carolina and Oregon State? Two teams that shouldn't have been in the championship last year, have made equally surprising and irking runs to the pinnacle of college baseball once again this year. How anti-climactic.
And I won't watch them. Oregon State reminds me of those Spurs and Patriots teams that I loathe so much...they probably don't deserve to win most of the time, but they somehow do. I don't get it. They don't have any spectacular players, but they have all achieved success by taking advantage of their opponents mistakes, and installing conservative gameplans in winning their contests. That sucks. As much as I dislike Oregon State, and fail to understand how they have gotten to the CWS championship in consecutive years, North Carolina doesn't really do it for me either. It's too easy to root for the Tar Heels...they're powerhouses in every sport. Let's game some small, obscure schools for smaller conferences in this championship. Since college baseball prides itself on its purity and uniqueness that is lacking in college basketball and football, wouldn't it be fitting for two schools that don't happen to dominate the college sports scene to make it to the final? Rice and Irvine would have been fun to watch.
Oh well, at least I'll have Tulane to root for in next year's series...right? Or maybe even (GASP!) a team like St. John's from the Northeast. (Hey, if a team from the rainy Pacific Northwest can do it, why not a commuter school in Queens?)
Tar Heels will get revenge from last year's defeat, and take the series in three. Yet another title for the University of North Carolina. So much for college baseball being unique...
Sunday, June 17, 2007
OAKMONT
Today, I'll be blogging about the final round of the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, outside of Pittsburgh. Aaron Baddeley, a young twenty-something Australian, currently leads the field at 2-over, with some guy named Tiger Woods only two strokes behind at 4-over. This course has proven to be one of the toughest challenges in U.S. Open history...although as one who lives only blocks away from last year's host course, I will still contend that it is not quite as difficult a challenge as Winged Foot poses. Nevertheless, Oakmont has yet to be completely mastered by the field, and that's been the recent norm for a U.S. Open course; Oakmont has definitely lived up to its reputation as one of the most demanding challenges in all of golf.
As much as I like Tiger, and was impressed by his perfomance in the third round yesterday, I'm gonna go out on a limb and choose England's Paul Casey as this year's Open champion. He's played consistently well all week, including the tournament low 66 in yesterday's round. Although it would be tough to assume that Casey will equal or surpass that score, I feel that aside from Tiger, he seems to be playing the best golf of any contender, and unlike the young Baddeley, he is a contender who has Major tournament experience. I'll go with Paul Casey winning with a score of 4-over.
It's currently 1:30 pm on Sunday, and I'll be following the contenders as they tee off in the coming hours and minutes. Should be an interesting final day...lets see if it can come close to equalling the drama of last year's final round at Winged Foot in glorious Mamaroneck, New York.
--Katastrophic
As much as I like Tiger, and was impressed by his perfomance in the third round yesterday, I'm gonna go out on a limb and choose England's Paul Casey as this year's Open champion. He's played consistently well all week, including the tournament low 66 in yesterday's round. Although it would be tough to assume that Casey will equal or surpass that score, I feel that aside from Tiger, he seems to be playing the best golf of any contender, and unlike the young Baddeley, he is a contender who has Major tournament experience. I'll go with Paul Casey winning with a score of 4-over.
It's currently 1:30 pm on Sunday, and I'll be following the contenders as they tee off in the coming hours and minutes. Should be an interesting final day...lets see if it can come close to equalling the drama of last year's final round at Winged Foot in glorious Mamaroneck, New York.
--Katastrophic
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Cleveland Rocks?
One of my biggest fans (who happens to refer to me as the "Perez Hilton of Sports") recently implored me to add another entry to my ultra-popular blog; so on this sultry mid-June evening, I've decided to jot down some random thoughts on the NBA:
When the hell did Al Roker become the coach of the Cavaliers?
Seriously, the resemblance is uncanny...its bad. Yet, something tells me that even the popular, portly, black weatherman could do a better coaching job than Mike Brown has in this series. Where has Eric Snow been? How many minutes did he play last night, like five? Wasn't he a stud in similar circumstances a few years back with the Sixers against L.A.? Granted they went on to lose that series like the Cavs will lose this one in the imminent future, but Snow was an important compliment to Iverson, offensively and defensively, and would undoubtedly aid the Cleveland LeBrons in their quest to salvage some vestige of respect for the Eastern Conference. These NBA Finals have been awful, and I have absolutely no desire to watch the NBA anymore for the time being. Not only does the regular season last far too long, but these playoffs have been thoroughly excruciating to watch. The only redeeming quality of the incessant NBA season has been TNT's pre and post-game newscast of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Sir Charles Barkley. They're absoultely hysterical, and exude an enjoyable chemistry on camera. If only they could do ESPN'S Sunday Night Baseball, replacing Benjamin Franklin and Joe Morgan...who apparently has an affinity for stating the obvious, and repeating his earlier remarks.
Anyway, the NBA Finals is over. Thank God. Did anyone seriously believe that LeBron would lead the Cavs to the promised land by beating basketball's newest dynasty, San Antonio Spurs. As boring as they are to watch and follow, and as often as I believe Manu Ginobili travels with the ball to the basket (EVERY TIME), they play exceptionally well together, and have a brilliant tactican and coaching personality in Craig Popovich. The Cavs are a mirror image of Kobe's Lakers, and how did they turn out in the Western Conference? Not too well. There's no way the Cavs had any chance in this series. Mike Brown better make some adjustments in game four, or this series will be over faster than you can say, "that's what's happening around the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods." "What's happening" in Cleveland would be another failure for "the mistake by the lake." (Even though Cleveland is actually far from a mistake, and happens to be a very interesting city with a long and eventful history which I will expound upon in a later entry.)
In sum, congrats to the Spurs. You earned this championship, and my respect as much as I hate all of you. I'm going to bed...expect me to rant and rave tomorrow about why I REFUSE to boo Barry Bonds.
--Katastrophic
When the hell did Al Roker become the coach of the Cavaliers?
Seriously, the resemblance is uncanny...its bad. Yet, something tells me that even the popular, portly, black weatherman could do a better coaching job than Mike Brown has in this series. Where has Eric Snow been? How many minutes did he play last night, like five? Wasn't he a stud in similar circumstances a few years back with the Sixers against L.A.? Granted they went on to lose that series like the Cavs will lose this one in the imminent future, but Snow was an important compliment to Iverson, offensively and defensively, and would undoubtedly aid the Cleveland LeBrons in their quest to salvage some vestige of respect for the Eastern Conference. These NBA Finals have been awful, and I have absolutely no desire to watch the NBA anymore for the time being. Not only does the regular season last far too long, but these playoffs have been thoroughly excruciating to watch. The only redeeming quality of the incessant NBA season has been TNT's pre and post-game newscast of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Sir Charles Barkley. They're absoultely hysterical, and exude an enjoyable chemistry on camera. If only they could do ESPN'S Sunday Night Baseball, replacing Benjamin Franklin and Joe Morgan...who apparently has an affinity for stating the obvious, and repeating his earlier remarks.
Anyway, the NBA Finals is over. Thank God. Did anyone seriously believe that LeBron would lead the Cavs to the promised land by beating basketball's newest dynasty, San Antonio Spurs. As boring as they are to watch and follow, and as often as I believe Manu Ginobili travels with the ball to the basket (EVERY TIME), they play exceptionally well together, and have a brilliant tactican and coaching personality in Craig Popovich. The Cavs are a mirror image of Kobe's Lakers, and how did they turn out in the Western Conference? Not too well. There's no way the Cavs had any chance in this series. Mike Brown better make some adjustments in game four, or this series will be over faster than you can say, "that's what's happening around the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods." "What's happening" in Cleveland would be another failure for "the mistake by the lake." (Even though Cleveland is actually far from a mistake, and happens to be a very interesting city with a long and eventful history which I will expound upon in a later entry.)
In sum, congrats to the Spurs. You earned this championship, and my respect as much as I hate all of you. I'm going to bed...expect me to rant and rave tomorrow about why I REFUSE to boo Barry Bonds.
--Katastrophic
Friday, June 8, 2007
Victory at the Alamo
Game one of the 2007 NBA Finals featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs went to the home team, 85-76. This was a pretty ugly and unsatisfying contest if you like high-flying offenses, (or loathe the victors) which the San Antonio has never claimed to be. The Spurs set the tone early, shut down LeBron (who appeared tentative, and wasn't the aggressive player we saw towards the end of the Pistons series), and their overwhelming defense really won them this one. We'll see if Cleveland makes any adjustments in game two...considering that Mike Brown is their coach, they probably won't. LeBron and his constituents need to go harder to the basket, and try to get Tim Duncan in foul trouble early. They neglected to establish a low-post presence in the opener, and this was another reason for their downfall. Most everyone outside of Texas would like to see Cleveland win this series, but if LeBron continues to have performances like he had in game one, and Duncan continues to dominate the low-post like he has, this series could be done in five.
Flip-Flopera
Sounds like my last entry was all for naught. As I said, I was somewhat surprised when I first heard of Donovan's departure to the NBA from U of F. Although I am not surprised that he turned down the NBA, I am surprised in the way he went about doing this. Telling Orlando that you would be their next coach, and even holding a press conference assurring them of your excitement and commitment to their organization, before revoking those comments less than 24 hours later is bizzare to say the least. I'm having a difficult time understanding Donovan's thought process. I know he is a good and ethical man, and people make mistakes all the time...but this 180 that occurred in a matter of hours is strange, and rivals the Nick Saban Dolphins/Alabama saga that happened not too long ago. The Magic will ultimately get a solid and proven coach in Stan Van Gundy, but what Donovan did to them is mean and brainless. He should not get a free pass here, even though he will since he's a "nice guy" who's been exceptionally successful in recent years at Florida.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Billy the Kid strikes again
In the midst of the never-ending NBA playoffs, we now have a new story to concentrate on. First it was the NBA draft, and the subsequent revitalization of the franchises in the Great Northwest, then it was Kobe's tyrade against Lakers management for seemingly refusing to get him a legitmate second option in catapulting the team back to its earlier prominence. The Cleveland LeBrons better win their series, or absolutely no one is going to watch the NBA Finals. I feel like I've seen the Pistons and Spurs play eachother in the finals over 100 times. It's getting old, and will be another reason why fewer and fewer people will continue to watch pro basketball.
Now the main story of the past couple of days has been the departure of Florida's supremely-successful head coach Billy Donovan from the college ranks to the "greener" pastures of the NBA, more specifically the Orlando Magic. Billy Donovan fleeing Gainesville for nearby Orlando. There's a reason I italicized the word "nearby" because location had to have been a huge factor in Donovan's decision to leave college. His family is settled in North Florida, and it doesn't appear that they will need to move too far, making life far easier for his young kids, and wife, Christine. This issue has personal relevance to me because I used to babysit Donovan's niece and nephews, the McVickers. (Mrs. Donovan and Mrs. McVicker are sisters). Whenever I would arrive at their stately home in Larchmont, New York, the kids rooms would be chock-full of Florida Gator paraphenalia: sweatshirts, hoops, balls, etc.
Before Billy Donovan, no one knew anything about Florida Gator basketball. I couldn't name a single coach or player from Florida before the Billy Donovan era, and now three of their starters from this past year's championship team are slated to be drafted in the top 10. That's how much Donovan has done for not only Florida Basketball, but SEC basketball in general. Only recently has the SEC stepped up as a real powerhouse basketball conference. One could argue that it is now on par with the Big East, Pac 10, ACC, Big Ten, and Big XII thanks to the efforts of Coach Donovan at Florida. Due to his success, rivaling SEC schools have been forced to concentrate their efforts far more on basketball than ever before. I'm sure the legendary Arkansas coach, Nolan Richardson, is thankful of Donovan's efforts of bringing the conference back to prominence as not solely a "football conference," but now argubaly the best all-around conference in all of college sports. Billy Donovan coached the Florida Gators for eleven seasons, and won two national champions at the school. That in itself is a truly amazing feat. For all of those who continue to criticize those college coaches for wanting to make the move to the NBA, you obviously don't understand how demanding the life of a college coach is. These guys have to recruit 24/7 for all 12 months of the year. Travelling the country to look at 17 year old kids who could be complete busts is not a particularly enjoyable task. You are on the road for the majority of the year, and it undoubtedly takes a toll on your family life. The Donovans and the McVickers both have traditionally large Irish familes, and are dedicated to them. The years of non-stop travel on these recruiting visits undoubtedly took its toll on Donovan and his family, and was undoubtedly a factor in his leaving the college ranks for the far-less time consuming vocation as NBA head coach.
Why else did Donovan leave? $. Let's be honest here. As much as many of these sportswriters love to bash these coaches for "being money-hungry egomaniacs," how many of you would pass up the chance to make $3 million more a year than you were already making? Thank you. Donovan's team graduated all five of his starters from the back-to-back championship teams this past year, so the chances of Florida being able to defend its title is slim to none. The amount of parity in college basketball these days is unbelievable, and the fact that Florida won back-to-back championships is a minor-miracle in itself. Three-peat? Not in this era. Donovan accomplished far more at Florida than most coaches could aspire to accomplish in their respective careers. Change is typically a good thing, especially when you have the support of your family and friends. I personally did not see Donovan leaving Florida anytime soon, mostly due to the fact that he turned similar dollars to coach at Kentucky. Yet, even though I was shocked and in disagreement with Donovan for jumping ship at first, I now understand why he chose the course he did, and feel that it was probably a sound decision. Orlando has a very young team...Dwight Howard would be a rising college senior right now. It's not like Donovan's inheriting the Lakers, an organization on the other side of the country, with a ton of history, pressure to win every single game, and a plethora of veteran egos. Donovan is staying close to home, inheriting a young team with a good deal of talent and an even greater amount of potential to be a top three seed in the Eastern Conference within the next 2 or 3 years. As has been expounded upon within the past few days, the majority of college coaches who have decided to move up to the NBA have failed. Pitino went to the New York and Boston, two cutthroat cities who expect perfection every game. Calipari went to New Jersey for three years, and experienced similar expectations in a big market. Mike Montgomery left Stanford, and was ultimately unsuccessful at Golden State. Even though one could compare the markets of Golden State and Orlando, those Golden State teams had far less talent than these Orlando ones; and lets be honest, Billy Donovan appears to be a better basketball coach than Mike Montgomery. Cut and dry. Billy Donovan is a great choice for this job, and unlike those aforementioned coaches who failed in their leaps from college to the NBA, I think Donovan will be quite successful, especially in the weaker Eastern Conference. With that young team, and a coach who has shown that he can create powerhouse programs, don't be surprised if Donovan can take the Magic back to its "Shaq years" and beyond. Under Billy Donovan, the Orlando Magic will no longer be an #8 seed in the Eastern Conference, they will be a talented team to be reckoned with. I predict they'll be a #3 seed within the next two seasons, that's how confident I am in that team and its new coach. Let's just hope Donovan finishes behind his and my hometown Knicks! Yeah, right. Good luck to Donovan, I wish him the type of unfettered success he achieved during his final years at the University of Florida.
--Katastrophic
Now the main story of the past couple of days has been the departure of Florida's supremely-successful head coach Billy Donovan from the college ranks to the "greener" pastures of the NBA, more specifically the Orlando Magic. Billy Donovan fleeing Gainesville for nearby Orlando. There's a reason I italicized the word "nearby" because location had to have been a huge factor in Donovan's decision to leave college. His family is settled in North Florida, and it doesn't appear that they will need to move too far, making life far easier for his young kids, and wife, Christine. This issue has personal relevance to me because I used to babysit Donovan's niece and nephews, the McVickers. (Mrs. Donovan and Mrs. McVicker are sisters). Whenever I would arrive at their stately home in Larchmont, New York, the kids rooms would be chock-full of Florida Gator paraphenalia: sweatshirts, hoops, balls, etc.
Before Billy Donovan, no one knew anything about Florida Gator basketball. I couldn't name a single coach or player from Florida before the Billy Donovan era, and now three of their starters from this past year's championship team are slated to be drafted in the top 10. That's how much Donovan has done for not only Florida Basketball, but SEC basketball in general. Only recently has the SEC stepped up as a real powerhouse basketball conference. One could argue that it is now on par with the Big East, Pac 10, ACC, Big Ten, and Big XII thanks to the efforts of Coach Donovan at Florida. Due to his success, rivaling SEC schools have been forced to concentrate their efforts far more on basketball than ever before. I'm sure the legendary Arkansas coach, Nolan Richardson, is thankful of Donovan's efforts of bringing the conference back to prominence as not solely a "football conference," but now argubaly the best all-around conference in all of college sports. Billy Donovan coached the Florida Gators for eleven seasons, and won two national champions at the school. That in itself is a truly amazing feat. For all of those who continue to criticize those college coaches for wanting to make the move to the NBA, you obviously don't understand how demanding the life of a college coach is. These guys have to recruit 24/7 for all 12 months of the year. Travelling the country to look at 17 year old kids who could be complete busts is not a particularly enjoyable task. You are on the road for the majority of the year, and it undoubtedly takes a toll on your family life. The Donovans and the McVickers both have traditionally large Irish familes, and are dedicated to them. The years of non-stop travel on these recruiting visits undoubtedly took its toll on Donovan and his family, and was undoubtedly a factor in his leaving the college ranks for the far-less time consuming vocation as NBA head coach.
Why else did Donovan leave? $. Let's be honest here. As much as many of these sportswriters love to bash these coaches for "being money-hungry egomaniacs," how many of you would pass up the chance to make $3 million more a year than you were already making? Thank you. Donovan's team graduated all five of his starters from the back-to-back championship teams this past year, so the chances of Florida being able to defend its title is slim to none. The amount of parity in college basketball these days is unbelievable, and the fact that Florida won back-to-back championships is a minor-miracle in itself. Three-peat? Not in this era. Donovan accomplished far more at Florida than most coaches could aspire to accomplish in their respective careers. Change is typically a good thing, especially when you have the support of your family and friends. I personally did not see Donovan leaving Florida anytime soon, mostly due to the fact that he turned similar dollars to coach at Kentucky. Yet, even though I was shocked and in disagreement with Donovan for jumping ship at first, I now understand why he chose the course he did, and feel that it was probably a sound decision. Orlando has a very young team...Dwight Howard would be a rising college senior right now. It's not like Donovan's inheriting the Lakers, an organization on the other side of the country, with a ton of history, pressure to win every single game, and a plethora of veteran egos. Donovan is staying close to home, inheriting a young team with a good deal of talent and an even greater amount of potential to be a top three seed in the Eastern Conference within the next 2 or 3 years. As has been expounded upon within the past few days, the majority of college coaches who have decided to move up to the NBA have failed. Pitino went to the New York and Boston, two cutthroat cities who expect perfection every game. Calipari went to New Jersey for three years, and experienced similar expectations in a big market. Mike Montgomery left Stanford, and was ultimately unsuccessful at Golden State. Even though one could compare the markets of Golden State and Orlando, those Golden State teams had far less talent than these Orlando ones; and lets be honest, Billy Donovan appears to be a better basketball coach than Mike Montgomery. Cut and dry. Billy Donovan is a great choice for this job, and unlike those aforementioned coaches who failed in their leaps from college to the NBA, I think Donovan will be quite successful, especially in the weaker Eastern Conference. With that young team, and a coach who has shown that he can create powerhouse programs, don't be surprised if Donovan can take the Magic back to its "Shaq years" and beyond. Under Billy Donovan, the Orlando Magic will no longer be an #8 seed in the Eastern Conference, they will be a talented team to be reckoned with. I predict they'll be a #3 seed within the next two seasons, that's how confident I am in that team and its new coach. Let's just hope Donovan finishes behind his and my hometown Knicks! Yeah, right. Good luck to Donovan, I wish him the type of unfettered success he achieved during his final years at the University of Florida.
--Katastrophic
Friday, June 1, 2007
Welcome to the Katastrophic Lair
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. In welcoming you to this blog, I quote the supremely-eloquent former anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter, Dan Patrick: "Welcome to the Big Show, " or in our case: "Welcome to the Edgardo Alfonzo Fan Club." I indeed have a bizzare passion for and obsession with who I believe to be one of the most under-appreciated and underrated baseball players of the past ten years: Edgardo Alfonzo. Alfonzo was quiet, stoic, modest, and Venezuelan, most importantly. He was an absurdly consistent infielder who possessed great range, an impecable eye at the plate, and the ability to drive the ball to all fields.
Yet unlike the title may suggest, this blog will not solely concern itself with everything Edgardo Alfonzo and the New York Mets; I will have much to say on a variety of issues, including: Major League and College Baseball, College Basketball, the NBA, NHL, International Soccer, the PGA Tour, Hip-Hop and House Music, Politics, and Cities, to mention a few. I have many passions and hobbies, and hope to convey them to all of you through my writing. Since this is my blog, I will give my opinions on issues concerning the aforementioned subjects, and will also give some insight on the everyday events occurring in my life. I hope you enjoy and/or learn something from them, and I obviously encourage feedback from all of you (whether it be positive or negative)...please just keep it clean!
Before I continue further, I'll take a second to introduce myself. My name is A.J. Katz. I am a twenty-one year old native of Larchmont, NY, (a quaint town in lower Westchester County about fifteen miles north of Times Square). I graduated in 2004 from Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, New York, where I was a member of the legendary 2003 and 2004 Mamaroneck Varsity Baseball teams, as well as the Mamaroneck Varsity Soccer team for two seasons. I grew up playing Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis and Golf. Unfortunately three of those sports are all played scholastically during the Spring Semesters in NY, so I ultimately chose Baseball over Tennis and Golf due to the prominence of that program at Mamaroneck. Aside from Sports, I was involved with Mamaroneck's Performing Arts program...making me far from the prototypical "jock." Not only did I participate in a myriad of high school and local productions, I also wrote a thirty-page play entitiled "New York State of Mind" which recounts the exploits of group of young adults experiencing their first Subway Series game. Aside from my passions for sports and theater, I'm also a Disc Jockey, and have been DJing all types of venues since I was sixteen. As many of my friends love to remind me, my psuedonym is "DJ Katastrophic." Original, eh? I love most every genre of music, but I really concentrate on Hip-Hop and House music, a genre that has little popularity in the states, but one that I will write about in this blog. I'm currently a dual major in History and English at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans is the ultimate college town...far better than Boulder or Madison, and yes...its habitable. A good deal of the city is back to normal, and although there honestly is as high of a crime rate as advertised, I can think of few cities that don't have this problem. I love New Orleans, and encourage all readers to spend at least a week soaking in the culture and ambiance of this unique place.
Let me drive this point home: This blog will not solely concern itself with the New York Mets. I will discuss a plethora of issues and hope that you can relate to some of my opinions and experiences and encourage you to respond to them! Sports, Music, Politics, Cities! Enjoy...and welcome to the Layer Cake.
--Katastrophic
Yet unlike the title may suggest, this blog will not solely concern itself with everything Edgardo Alfonzo and the New York Mets; I will have much to say on a variety of issues, including: Major League and College Baseball, College Basketball, the NBA, NHL, International Soccer, the PGA Tour, Hip-Hop and House Music, Politics, and Cities, to mention a few. I have many passions and hobbies, and hope to convey them to all of you through my writing. Since this is my blog, I will give my opinions on issues concerning the aforementioned subjects, and will also give some insight on the everyday events occurring in my life. I hope you enjoy and/or learn something from them, and I obviously encourage feedback from all of you (whether it be positive or negative)...please just keep it clean!
Before I continue further, I'll take a second to introduce myself. My name is A.J. Katz. I am a twenty-one year old native of Larchmont, NY, (a quaint town in lower Westchester County about fifteen miles north of Times Square). I graduated in 2004 from Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, New York, where I was a member of the legendary 2003 and 2004 Mamaroneck Varsity Baseball teams, as well as the Mamaroneck Varsity Soccer team for two seasons. I grew up playing Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis and Golf. Unfortunately three of those sports are all played scholastically during the Spring Semesters in NY, so I ultimately chose Baseball over Tennis and Golf due to the prominence of that program at Mamaroneck. Aside from Sports, I was involved with Mamaroneck's Performing Arts program...making me far from the prototypical "jock." Not only did I participate in a myriad of high school and local productions, I also wrote a thirty-page play entitiled "New York State of Mind" which recounts the exploits of group of young adults experiencing their first Subway Series game. Aside from my passions for sports and theater, I'm also a Disc Jockey, and have been DJing all types of venues since I was sixteen. As many of my friends love to remind me, my psuedonym is "DJ Katastrophic." Original, eh? I love most every genre of music, but I really concentrate on Hip-Hop and House music, a genre that has little popularity in the states, but one that I will write about in this blog. I'm currently a dual major in History and English at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans is the ultimate college town...far better than Boulder or Madison, and yes...its habitable. A good deal of the city is back to normal, and although there honestly is as high of a crime rate as advertised, I can think of few cities that don't have this problem. I love New Orleans, and encourage all readers to spend at least a week soaking in the culture and ambiance of this unique place.
Let me drive this point home: This blog will not solely concern itself with the New York Mets. I will discuss a plethora of issues and hope that you can relate to some of my opinions and experiences and encourage you to respond to them! Sports, Music, Politics, Cities! Enjoy...and welcome to the Layer Cake.
--Katastrophic
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
