I woke up early today and had coffee with ESPN's Sportscenter. As I sat there and watched the highlights from yesterday and sipped on the hot goodness, it occurred to me that I had this feeling inside me that felt very familiar. It's a feeling I have known for years, many years. That feeling of Spring being just around the corner. I love that feeling!
Watching the highlights there in the quiet, I felt the excitement and energy. I can't explain it in words even though I try. It's like being a kid! It's like being a kid when you know that school will be out soon and you can spend all day in the empty lot playing baseball and hanging out with your friends.
I started thinking about the summer. I started thinking about baseball. It was then I realized that I haven't prepped for the fantasy season. I immediately went to the home office and printed out my free cheat sheet and poured over the numbers, the stats, the on base percentages and the slugging percentages.
I have my wish list for the drafts. Very confidential! I need as many good players as possible. I have an owner in my league who is a 3 time champ. I can't afford to be embarrassed.
So that's where my focus is today. The Oscars are tonight but I did shoulders and arms this afternoon, P90X style, so I am not sure that I will have enough energy to stay awake for all of it. We'll see how it goes.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Passive Aggresive Pistons.... this is unacceptable in everyway!
I have a HUGE problem with the Detroit Pistons players having to protest their coach by not showing up at a shoot around in Philadelphia this morning. I have a problem with everything that caused it. I have no clue what it is exactly. It could be that the coach is a terrible motivator. It could be that management did absolutely nothing before the trade deadline to change the lineup. It could be that the players have a problem with ownership. In any case, as a fan, it’s very embarrassing!
It was reported by many media sources that, on Friday morning, five Detroit Pistons players skipped practice in what a source close to the team called a "player protest" of Coach John Kuester.
Reportedly, Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Chris Wilcox did not show up for the shoot around. Center, Ben Wallace also did not attend, but has reportedly been dealing with a personal issue for several weeks.
Two other players, Austin Daye and Rodney Stuckey, showed up after the media was let in when the practice was ending.
First, I have a problem with any player who doesn’t show up for a practice. I am all about the team. If you are a player on a team, you show up for practice. You watch film, you show up for meetings, you do WHATEVER it is that you are required to do. You don’t have a tummy-ache, sleep in, or a headache and not show up. I don’t care if you can’t stand the coach, I don’t care if you can’t stand management or the owner. I don’t care if you don’t like the color of the jerseys! YOU SHOW UP! You are paid, under contract to practice, play to the best of you ability. That’s what you do!
The coach has to hold some accountability in all of this. The coach has to maintain control. The coach has to lead the team through good and bad. Players should be able to voice their opinions without skipping a shoot around though. You have to be able to communicate with your players. Communication CANNOT breakdown so much that the players feel that their only option is to stage some drama like skipping out on a practice.
Coach Kuester stated before the game started tonight that there were players who missed the practice and they were going with those who practiced. Apparently they are handling it within the organization.
Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations needs to have an Organization Meeting with everyone. Get everybody in a room and set the level of expectation. This cannot happen! It’s really ridiculous!
As of about 2 hours before this posting, according to rotoworld.com "ESPN's Marc Stein expects the Pistons to fire coach John Kuester within the next week."
I guess we'll see. Regardless of the outcome, this "player protest" was not the way to handle this.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Does it really matter? Really?
Today it was revealed that the Boston Red Sox hired a private investigator to tail Carl Crawford. Apparently, it caused quite an uproar in the media and talk radio. The Red Sox resorted to these measures to see if he was doing anything "suspicious" before they gave him a seven year deal.
When Carl found out, he admitted that he was a little creeped out and that he now looks within a "100 yard radius" before he enters his car or home.
First off, I don't see what the big deal is. If I was about to sign a seven year deal with somebody for millions and millions of dollars, I ABSOLUTELY would hire a PI to check him out for a week or two. Even if it was just to see if I had an issue with anything he was doing in his personal life that I may have a moral conflict with OR anything that may be a PR nightmare. What if he was a "serial cheater" like Tiger, what if he carried a gun like Plaxico Burress, or what if he was boozing it up every night and then driving home? I think I would want to know these things BEFORE I sign with him. I randomly monitor my step-sons facebook page, I want to know what he's up to.
I think it may surprise many of us how often this goes on in sports. I think it may surprise you how many times regular civilians are tailed or checked out by potential employers. Makes me think twice about what I post on my Facebook page.
And what's all this about 100 yards? Where does this guy live that he can see 100 yards radius? I live in a very suburban neighborhood and I can't see in a 100 yard radius from my front porch. For one, there's a because there's a big house in the way for more than 175 degrees. Then there's the neighbors houses and trees... I think that Crawford should stick to baseball where things are measured in feet, leave the yards to the football players!
Also, the post Carmelo Anthony trade is still quite the talk of the tri-state area, especially after last night's debut. It's not all in a good way.
It seems that many in the New York media don't believe Donnie Walsh after he stated on his twitter account that Isaiah Thomas was not involved in the trade in ANY way. Thomas has been careful about the way he answers direct questioning about the trade and whether he consultated in the trade.
The NY media, many of them, all say that they don't believe Mr. Walsh.
I say "Who gives a shirt!?!?" I mean really, who cares? Does it matter? Outside of the general feeling that Isaiah has no idea how to run a basketball organization or coach a team for that matter. We all know that he was an amazing player but once the jersey turned into a suit and a tie, it's like he lost use of his brain. Maybe the Knicks organization is trying to distance themselves from Isaiah. Maybe Isaiah is trying to save face with the general public and get back in the Knicks front office. Who knows? Even more importantly, WHO CARES? Does it matter if he lied? Who does he have to answer to? HE OWNS THE NEW YORK KNICKS!!!
Seriously, if he doesn't want the impression that Isaiah was involved, who cares? I wouldn't have involved Isaiah! I'm not sure that Isaiah knows what's best for the Knicks. But... what do I know? Donnie Walsh sure isn't calling me to ask for my advice. Then again, I'm not sure I would want him calling me.... I probably would tell him to sign Brett Farve just as a joke....
Tomorrow's Friday! Make it count, make it memorable!
When Carl found out, he admitted that he was a little creeped out and that he now looks within a "100 yard radius" before he enters his car or home.
First off, I don't see what the big deal is. If I was about to sign a seven year deal with somebody for millions and millions of dollars, I ABSOLUTELY would hire a PI to check him out for a week or two. Even if it was just to see if I had an issue with anything he was doing in his personal life that I may have a moral conflict with OR anything that may be a PR nightmare. What if he was a "serial cheater" like Tiger, what if he carried a gun like Plaxico Burress, or what if he was boozing it up every night and then driving home? I think I would want to know these things BEFORE I sign with him. I randomly monitor my step-sons facebook page, I want to know what he's up to.
I think it may surprise many of us how often this goes on in sports. I think it may surprise you how many times regular civilians are tailed or checked out by potential employers. Makes me think twice about what I post on my Facebook page.
And what's all this about 100 yards? Where does this guy live that he can see 100 yards radius? I live in a very suburban neighborhood and I can't see in a 100 yard radius from my front porch. For one, there's a because there's a big house in the way for more than 175 degrees. Then there's the neighbors houses and trees... I think that Crawford should stick to baseball where things are measured in feet, leave the yards to the football players!
Also, the post Carmelo Anthony trade is still quite the talk of the tri-state area, especially after last night's debut. It's not all in a good way.
It seems that many in the New York media don't believe Donnie Walsh after he stated on his twitter account that Isaiah Thomas was not involved in the trade in ANY way. Thomas has been careful about the way he answers direct questioning about the trade and whether he consultated in the trade.
The NY media, many of them, all say that they don't believe Mr. Walsh.
I say "Who gives a shirt!?!?" I mean really, who cares? Does it matter? Outside of the general feeling that Isaiah has no idea how to run a basketball organization or coach a team for that matter. We all know that he was an amazing player but once the jersey turned into a suit and a tie, it's like he lost use of his brain. Maybe the Knicks organization is trying to distance themselves from Isaiah. Maybe Isaiah is trying to save face with the general public and get back in the Knicks front office. Who knows? Even more importantly, WHO CARES? Does it matter if he lied? Who does he have to answer to? HE OWNS THE NEW YORK KNICKS!!!
Seriously, if he doesn't want the impression that Isaiah was involved, who cares? I wouldn't have involved Isaiah! I'm not sure that Isaiah knows what's best for the Knicks. But... what do I know? Donnie Walsh sure isn't calling me to ask for my advice. Then again, I'm not sure I would want him calling me.... I probably would tell him to sign Brett Farve just as a joke....
Tomorrow's Friday! Make it count, make it memorable!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Off topic item....
I would hate it if this turned into something that turned into an infomercial, but I want to tell you about something that has changed my life. It’s something that, in the past, I had just kind of scoffed at. I have considered myself, at different levels of course, an athlete. I have played a variety of different sports. When I was a kid, growing up in Mid-Michigan, we played football, baseball, basketball. Those were our mainstays. Then, at times we would play a little rugby, a little volleyball, a little hockey. We ALWAYS had a game going.
After High School, there were college club sports. I stuck with basketball for a while. Then at some point, I’m not sure exactly where or when it happened, it all kind of just stopped. ALL of it. Of course there were some “after-church” softball games and charity flag football games but there’s just not much time in my life for sports as I get closer to the forty year mark.
I recently was hired in a position that is closely connected to the educational system. With that, comes “alumni basketball” and “alumni football” and sports goes hand in hand with everyday business.
After some prodding and some heavy pressure in the form of requests, I started playing basketball twice a week with the “alumni league” which I can only compare to an “old timers” league. That my friends was a HUGE mistake! Pain is a strong, descriptive word. It’s really not strong enough to be used in a description of what I felt in the days after those nights of running with these guys. Knees, back, shoulders, arms, even my neck hurt.
In one of many discussions with my wife she made it crystal clear to me what the problem was. She asked me a question that was so obvious that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of myself. She said “how much did you weigh when you last played basketball before this?” I said “225 lbs”. She said “and how much do you weigh now?” “280 lbs” I replied. She said “so your knees and legs are pushing 55 lbs more into the air than what they are used to, why are you surprised that they hurt?” She was right, she couldn’t be more right. I was WAY out of shape.
I started doing research on weight loss programs. There are a lot out there and they ALL make huge promises. I couldn’t find one that looked like it would be “my thing”. I couldn’t find one that I thought I could stick to without getting bored. Then, I was in a hotel room in upstate NY at a trade conference and I couldn’t find anything worth watching. I was flipping around the channels and out of NOWHERE I see this infomercial for a workout program called P90X. Riveted! I was riveted to that to TV for an entire 30 minutes. I was hooked. I started looking into it online and there were hundreds, HUNDREDS of videos on YouTube of people that showed amazing results.
So, I started. It was a slap in the face when I began. Hard! P90X is HARD! When you do a P90X workout, you know that you “did something”.
I am not going to get into a breakdown of each DVD, it would take too long. They are complex and intense. P90X is not for everyone.
I will say this. I am two thirds of the way thru this journey and I am 26-28 pounds lighter. I am stronger, I have more energy, more drive, more stamina. My biceps are an inch bigger, my pants fit better, my posture is better. It’s ALL better! Everything is better.
I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is looking to not only lose weight, but also get in the BEST shape of your life. If you are able to commit to doing this, you WILL see results!
Off topic, I know, but I felt like I had to put it out there. Have a great day!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Is it just me.....
.... or does February really lack in the sports department? There’s no football, baseball hasn’t really gotten started, the NBA has really fallen off my radar in the past few years, college basketball barely interests me when it’s on because players don’t play for four years anymore, and hockey.. well, hockey’s another story.
I don’t get it, who schedules these things? Why did they forget about February? Retrospectively, thank God it’s the shortest month that there is but… I hate this feeling.
Let’s break it down a little bit…
Football – Owners and players are still in negotiations with the mediator but there are reports that say not much progress is being made. Players don’t care because they don’t get paid when they don’t play. Owners don’t care because they don’t get paid when there are no games. So, like I observed in previous posts, it’s all about the money. I am starting to lose my faith that the 2011 season will not be affected.
The NBA – I have watched one complete game since 1993… one. The NBA has completely fallen off my radar. It’s dead to me. I was a HUGE Pistons fan back in the day. “The microwave”, “the worm”, Isaiah, Bill Lambier, and Dumars, I miss those days! I remember when game night was ALWAYS looked forward to. I remember HATING the Bulls and the Celtics. Now, I really couldn’t care much less. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe it’s that guys leave college before they have real fundamentals, before they are really good. Maybe it’s because they go straight out of High School more often. Maybe it’s because teams REALLY don’t stick together anymore. LeBron left Cleveland and didn’t even shift his eyes to look in the rearview mirror. The Pistons had an AMAZING team in 2005 (when Joe Dumars was the President of Basketball Operations) and as soon as the trophy was in the case, key players were gone. What happened? I’m not entirely sure.
The conditions in the NBA have influenced the NCAA basketball so much that players don’t stay in college long enough to develop themselves to be great players. They stay long enough so that they so that they are good players but then they go for the money and they are gone. Meanwhile, they don’t develop skills and they don’t become GREAT players and they don’t get an education. When was the last time a player stayed in college until graduation?
Baseball - It's started but it's still way too early. There's talk but it hasn't really started, at least not enough for my radar to pick it up.
Hockey - When I was a kid I loved hockey. The Wings were my team. I loved the Wings. Steve Yzerman was the MAN! I followed them for years. Until recently. Now I can’t bring myself a game. What is that? Why don’t I watch anymore? I haven’t found a replacement. I’m not watching shows about High School singing clubs or horrendous shows about parenting. I don’t know what it is. I wish I did.
In any case, February is a slow month in sports. There’s nothing I can do about it…. It just is. At least that’s what I can tell. If you know better, then please, enlighten me.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Cutting off your nose....
I know that I said that I would be posting all weekend. I was not able to do so as I was petitioned by my wife to turn our guest room into a "den". I know when to "hold 'em and when to fold 'em." This was a time to fold and just do the work....
In the midst of all of the amazing sports news on Friday (yes, that's sarcasm that you smell) the Indianapolis Colts cut former NFL Defensive Player of the Year safety Bob Sanders, owner Jim Irsay announced Friday.
Well, I guess you could call it an announcement... he posted it on twitter. I'm not really sure what to say about that. The actual post read "We have released Bob Sanders today, we thank Bob 4 all his incredible contributions from his Sup Bowl pic 2 def player of year honors."
Seems like this is where we are going with announcements and apologies in sports.
But this release brings up an interesting topic of conversation. Is the Colts defense a recipe for disaster for a player like Sanders? Sanders has played only nine games over the past three seasons, that will get anyone cut. This lack of playing time was not because he was "distracted" by off field legal issues or any of those kind of pesky problems, he was hurt. He was hurt because of a couple of reasons.
There a lot of teams who could benefit from the Colts release of Sanders, like Detroit. They need defense BADLY!
In any case, I need to get something off my chest.
I live in the NY metro area and I listen to a lot of sports radio. It's the only pre-set station in my car. I have to say this...
If the "Carmelo-Anthony-trade-to-the-Knicks-talks" don't end soon. I may get my Kid Rock and Guns n Roses CDs out of the shoe box.
It really doesn't have 3 weeks worth of information to talk about. Yes, I know it's being dragged out because Denver is asking for everyone on the Knick squad except for Stoudemire AND a first round draft pick. I know that Knicks fans are some of the most passionate fans in sports, but in the name of all that is holy, can we PLEASE find something else to talk about?
I know that there's not much else going on. The NFL labor talks are old news and not much is happening there. The MLB season is still way too young to talk about much. It's really bad here! EVERYONE has an opinion about it too. An enraged fan called in yesterday to complain about Carmelo himself not doing enough in all of this to help make it go faster. Frustrations galore!
Seriously, it has to stop. It's annoying now and I have had enough!
I really need MLB Opening Day to get here faster! 39 days, 3 hours, 36 minutes and counting!
In the midst of all of the amazing sports news on Friday (yes, that's sarcasm that you smell) the Indianapolis Colts cut former NFL Defensive Player of the Year safety Bob Sanders, owner Jim Irsay announced Friday.
Well, I guess you could call it an announcement... he posted it on twitter. I'm not really sure what to say about that. The actual post read "We have released Bob Sanders today, we thank Bob 4 all his incredible contributions from his Sup Bowl pic 2 def player of year honors."
Seems like this is where we are going with announcements and apologies in sports.
But this release brings up an interesting topic of conversation. Is the Colts defense a recipe for disaster for a player like Sanders? Sanders has played only nine games over the past three seasons, that will get anyone cut. This lack of playing time was not because he was "distracted" by off field legal issues or any of those kind of pesky problems, he was hurt. He was hurt because of a couple of reasons.
- The Colts defense required him to play in the box. The often-used eight-man front pulled Sanders close to the line where he had to take on pulling guards, kick out blocks from the fullback and spend a lot of time absorbing hits. I think that this recipe is one for disaster to any player.
- His personal style of play. Sanders' nickname is "The Eraser". He plays with reckless abandon , almost as if he doesn't care if he gets hurt.
There a lot of teams who could benefit from the Colts release of Sanders, like Detroit. They need defense BADLY!
In any case, I need to get something off my chest.
I live in the NY metro area and I listen to a lot of sports radio. It's the only pre-set station in my car. I have to say this...
If the "Carmelo-Anthony-trade-to-the-Knicks-talks" don't end soon. I may get my Kid Rock and Guns n Roses CDs out of the shoe box.
It really doesn't have 3 weeks worth of information to talk about. Yes, I know it's being dragged out because Denver is asking for everyone on the Knick squad except for Stoudemire AND a first round draft pick. I know that Knicks fans are some of the most passionate fans in sports, but in the name of all that is holy, can we PLEASE find something else to talk about?
I know that there's not much else going on. The NFL labor talks are old news and not much is happening there. The MLB season is still way too young to talk about much. It's really bad here! EVERYONE has an opinion about it too. An enraged fan called in yesterday to complain about Carmelo himself not doing enough in all of this to help make it go faster. Frustrations galore!
Seriously, it has to stop. It's annoying now and I have had enough!
I really need MLB Opening Day to get here faster! 39 days, 3 hours, 36 minutes and counting!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Something quick....
So I am about to call it a day but before I do...
A newsflash popped up on my radar about an hour ago.
The NFL has found, after a 6 month investigation, that the Detroit Lions are guilty of tampering violations. They are going to forfeit their seventh-round pick and swap fifth round picks with the Chiefs in this year’s draft. Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled they tampered with players under contract to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010.
The investigation was initiated after Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who once had the same job with the Chiefs, was quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying he would be interested in signing some Chiefs players if they were released.
The actual quote read like this "They keep wanting to dump players. I would like to be there to catch a lot of them, because I know a couple of those guys. ... Some of those young kids I coached, I really believed they were going to be good players, and I know I'm right about that."
Wow! So let me be sure I understand! The Lions still get to pick in rounds 1 - 6 just not in the 7th and in the 5th they have to trade picks with the Chiefs. Roger, Roger, Roger, - is that anything more than an inconvenience? How is that a punishment? I guess the old saying rings true "the punishment must fit the crime".
NO EFFING WONDER you guys can't figure out how to strike a deal with the NFLPA. No wonder you can't figure out what to do with 9 billion dollars! This is kinda dumb I must say! I mean, I understand that the NFL is so stringent with tampering and not talking to players or coaches without permission. But, COME ON! This is a little dumb... don't you think?
So talking about being interested in talking to players IF they are released is a crime? Sooooo the first amendment right to freedom of speech doesn't apply here? Just asking because, it seems reasonable to me that the Lions could appeal here.
The league indicated its punishment wasn't based solely on that quote. It also found that the Lions had "impermissible contact with a player (or his agent) under contract to the Chiefs," according to its release. But they wouldn't specify what player or agent or who did the talking so.... you know, trust them! They know!
Right!
Have a great weekend! I WILL be posting here all weekend to so, "stay tuned" as they say! Whoever "they" are!
A newsflash popped up on my radar about an hour ago.
The NFL has found, after a 6 month investigation, that the Detroit Lions are guilty of tampering violations. They are going to forfeit their seventh-round pick and swap fifth round picks with the Chiefs in this year’s draft. Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled they tampered with players under contract to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010.
The investigation was initiated after Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who once had the same job with the Chiefs, was quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying he would be interested in signing some Chiefs players if they were released.
The actual quote read like this "They keep wanting to dump players. I would like to be there to catch a lot of them, because I know a couple of those guys. ... Some of those young kids I coached, I really believed they were going to be good players, and I know I'm right about that."
Wow! So let me be sure I understand! The Lions still get to pick in rounds 1 - 6 just not in the 7th and in the 5th they have to trade picks with the Chiefs. Roger, Roger, Roger, - is that anything more than an inconvenience? How is that a punishment? I guess the old saying rings true "the punishment must fit the crime".
NO EFFING WONDER you guys can't figure out how to strike a deal with the NFLPA. No wonder you can't figure out what to do with 9 billion dollars! This is kinda dumb I must say! I mean, I understand that the NFL is so stringent with tampering and not talking to players or coaches without permission. But, COME ON! This is a little dumb... don't you think?
So talking about being interested in talking to players IF they are released is a crime? Sooooo the first amendment right to freedom of speech doesn't apply here? Just asking because, it seems reasonable to me that the Lions could appeal here.
The league indicated its punishment wasn't based solely on that quote. It also found that the Lions had "impermissible contact with a player (or his agent) under contract to the Chiefs," according to its release. But they wouldn't specify what player or agent or who did the talking so.... you know, trust them! They know!
Right!
Have a great weekend! I WILL be posting here all weekend to so, "stay tuned" as they say! Whoever "they" are!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Whether it's pros or amatuers... it's ALWAYS about the money!
Breaking news today.... It seems that the NFL and the NFLPA have decided to agree on something! They have agreed to have a mediator. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent U.S. government agency, will oversee negotiations in Washington beginning Friday.
There's hope that there will be football!... REALLY?
I have never doubted that there wouldn't be football this coming season. There's way to much money to be lost. There's way to much money to be lost for YEARS to come if there's no football this season or there's a delayed season or there's a shortened season.
Look at the fallout and the residual affect that the MLB players strike in 1994! I personally feel that it took almost a decade to get the fan base back from that strike! I really can't believe that the owners would want a strike or a lockout.
The NFL is way too big now! The fan base is huge compared to what it has been.
The biggest issue separating the owners and players is how to divide about $9 billion in annual revenues. Under the old deal, the owners receive $1 billion off the top, and they want to increase that to $2 billion before players get their share.
REALLY guys? You need another billion? I don't even know what a billion dollars is! Do you? Do you know how much money a BILLION dollars is? Think about it... How much time would you need to spend a billion dollars? Unreal! I guess, if you think about it, you could spend a billion dollars really fast if you only bought one thing.... like a Space Shuttle or an aircraft carrier.
This is really incredible! Do you know how many people are unemployed, TODAY, in the United States of America? 12.5 million! 12.5 million people would LOVE to have a job so that they could feed their families, keep a roof over their head. The fact that these guys can't figure out how to divide 9 BILLION dollars is unbelievable. It's disheartening!
Indianapolis Colt's owner made this statement today "I don't have a strong anticipation something will get done before [March 3], but I think it's possible." March 3rd is the deadline. I'm not really clear why they picked a day in March since football starts in mid-September.
I disagree, I feel they will get it done and there will be football this season and it will start on time.
In the NCAA, the basketball tournament selection committee has announced that, even though the number of teams that will be selected has increased from 65 to 68, the selection process remains the same.
Right... that seems pretty simple, you have to win to get in.
One story I read said something to affect that the theory is that increasing the field by three should help cut down on teams feeling slighted by being left out. RIGHT... by three teams... I know right?!? I don't get it either.
I know this much, all games will be televised so, more air time to sell for commercials. (isn't it ALWAYS about the money?)
One of the biggest cash cows that the NCAA has in the Final Four Tournement. If they can find any way to make it bigger and last longer, they will.
When the Final Four first started in 1939 do you know how many teams were invited? Eight! Eight teams played in the tourney from 1939 until 1950... I wonder how long that tourney was... a weekend maybe? Now it starts in March (hence the term March Madness) and doesn't end until sometime in April.
America is a wonderful country to live in. I wouldn't pick ANYWHERE else to go! If there's money to be made on ANYTHING... Americans will find a way to do it! God Bless America!
There's hope that there will be football!... REALLY?
I have never doubted that there wouldn't be football this coming season. There's way to much money to be lost. There's way to much money to be lost for YEARS to come if there's no football this season or there's a delayed season or there's a shortened season.
Look at the fallout and the residual affect that the MLB players strike in 1994! I personally feel that it took almost a decade to get the fan base back from that strike! I really can't believe that the owners would want a strike or a lockout.
The NFL is way too big now! The fan base is huge compared to what it has been.
The biggest issue separating the owners and players is how to divide about $9 billion in annual revenues. Under the old deal, the owners receive $1 billion off the top, and they want to increase that to $2 billion before players get their share.
REALLY guys? You need another billion? I don't even know what a billion dollars is! Do you? Do you know how much money a BILLION dollars is? Think about it... How much time would you need to spend a billion dollars? Unreal! I guess, if you think about it, you could spend a billion dollars really fast if you only bought one thing.... like a Space Shuttle or an aircraft carrier.
This is really incredible! Do you know how many people are unemployed, TODAY, in the United States of America? 12.5 million! 12.5 million people would LOVE to have a job so that they could feed their families, keep a roof over their head. The fact that these guys can't figure out how to divide 9 BILLION dollars is unbelievable. It's disheartening!
Indianapolis Colt's owner made this statement today "I don't have a strong anticipation something will get done before [March 3], but I think it's possible." March 3rd is the deadline. I'm not really clear why they picked a day in March since football starts in mid-September.
I disagree, I feel they will get it done and there will be football this season and it will start on time.
In the NCAA, the basketball tournament selection committee has announced that, even though the number of teams that will be selected has increased from 65 to 68, the selection process remains the same.
Right... that seems pretty simple, you have to win to get in.
One story I read said something to affect that the theory is that increasing the field by three should help cut down on teams feeling slighted by being left out. RIGHT... by three teams... I know right?!? I don't get it either.
I know this much, all games will be televised so, more air time to sell for commercials. (isn't it ALWAYS about the money?)
One of the biggest cash cows that the NCAA has in the Final Four Tournement. If they can find any way to make it bigger and last longer, they will.
When the Final Four first started in 1939 do you know how many teams were invited? Eight! Eight teams played in the tourney from 1939 until 1950... I wonder how long that tourney was... a weekend maybe? Now it starts in March (hence the term March Madness) and doesn't end until sometime in April.
America is a wonderful country to live in. I wouldn't pick ANYWHERE else to go! If there's money to be made on ANYTHING... Americans will find a way to do it! God Bless America!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Franchise Tags... Does this mean there will be helmet stickers???
Indianapolis has tagged Manning as a “Franchise Player”. Ok… Is there a player is more of a franchise player in the NFL? Just wondering…
It’s being reported that it’s an “exclusive rights” tag. Michael Vick has the same tag. This means that no other team can make them an offer. The franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag. So… for one season the player, the team, the owner has stability… but when the contract is up and they are free agents all bets are off. Why is this an issue again? How about the year before you become a free agent, you act like a man and honor your contract? Play the game the way you are supposed to, the way you are paid to play it.
There is a lot of debate in the media lately as to whether the tags will even be valid going into the 2011 season (if there is one) ZZZZZZ C'mon MAN! Who believes that there won't be football in the fall?
Manning and Vick are not leaving their teams. For the obvious difference in reasons but they will stay right where they are. I would bet the ranch on that! I really don't think either team needed to tag them! Maybe the ONLY reason that the Eagles did it was so they wouldn't have to tell Kevin Kolb to his face.... I really despise passive aggressive crap like that!
I understand the reasoning behind the tags… As a fan it ALMOST takes you back to the old days when players signed with a team and retired with the same team, without EVER playing with any other team. But not really... With a tag, as a fan, you are guaranteed to be able to watch the “tagged” player on your favorite team for ONE YEAR. I remember when players were traded and it was a HUGE deal. Fans who loved a player one year, hated them for leaving the next or hated their team who traded them away. There were no “real-time” updates about trade talks back then. There was only 5 or 6 inches on the sports page with a brief description of the who’s and where’s and dates after the deal was done. Are you old enough to remember that? I am.
Now there are rumors, tweets by owners, all KINDS of speculation by the media, and even coach bashing by players.
Sorry, I got off-track reminiscing about the old days when these kind of things didn’t happen.
Are tags necessary? If the Detroit Lions or the Cincinnati Bengals contacted Manning and made him an offer, does any reasonable fan even dream that Peyton would even get a text from his agent? I doubt it.
Why don't owners and players write that into the contract in the first place? Who am I and what do I know?
In Baseball…
Albert Pujols and the Cardinals let the self-imposed, mutually agreed upon deadline pass with nothing on the table. Like I said before, I believe this is a non issue and that at, in the fall, the Cardinals will make him an offer and he will sign. It’s too big a stage to leave and go to the Cubs, which is where many “speculators” ahem… I mean “sports experts”, believe he will go.
It COULD happen because anything is possible but, I just don’t see it. I’m actually done talking about Albert Pujols unless he hits for the cycle or steals a base or something.
And locally....
Since he arrived, the Yankees have been bouncing Joba Chamberlain ALL over The Stadium. When he first arrived he was in the pen. When the Yankees needed a starter, he said "I wanna be a starter!" So then they made him a starter. Then they needed him to be a "set-up" man, well... you get it.
So... after all of that... Joba showed up for Spring Training "overweight". He spent the off-season in Nebraska eating cornbread I guess. I wonder if the Yankees are surprised. Is Joba showing up overweight a message? Is it just his carelessness or laziness? It's gotta be a bad mentality! THIS IS YOUR JOB! You have to show up in shape! That's the tools you have to do your job! Why wouldn't you get a trainer and work out EVERY day? Heck, I work out EVERY day with Tony Horton in P90X! I am in management. I only play recreation basketball... I'm not saying I am in shape enough to play MLB, but Joba should be! It's really annoying to me as a baseball fan. The whole situation is annoying. Really annoying!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Off-season Happenings...
In 1984 my father took me to my first major league baseball game. I was 12. The Detroit Tigers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. It was a late June day. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. My Dad didn't make a whole lot of money and our seats were tucked up way under the upper deck in the shade. We sat about 3/4 of the way down the 3rd base line. The Tigers won that day, actually they won a LOT that year. But that day, the CRUSHED the Brewers! 5-1! Kirk Gibson hit a home run, Lou Whitaker stole 3rd base.. I knew, that day, I loved this game! I love the Tigers.
I know it's not because I am a bigger fan than I was then, it might be because I'm older now and I am more aware of how much things are worth. It may be because of the Internet and the real-time updates about what happens in the off-season... but, I "check in" on a daily basis now... EVERYDAY. It's not just the Tigers either. I check in on the Yankees, the Mets (because I live in NY now). Then, when I am done with those teams, I read the headlines about all of the other teams. I know that I'm not alone in this, obviously. I have seen the moves that George "the Boss" Steinbrenner made in the late '90s. Moves that made me shake my head. Things that made no sense to me at the time. In the end, they still don't make a whole lot of sense to me but they won... a lot!
The Tigers have been making moves this off-season. Serious moves. They got a great bat in Victor Martinez, they needed another good hitter. They also signed Joaquin Benoit. If he has HALF the year he did last year in Tampa, the bullpen will be very good. Brad Penny, who is a big boy, is also a great addition.
They have let go of some people too. Damon is gone which is not a problem for me. Frankly, I think he throws like a girl. Look at ANY YouTube video... just saying. Bonderman and Galaraga are gone. That makes me shake my head a little. I thought Bonderman was a franchise kind of pitcher but... Those days may already be gone. It's almost like having a decent pitcher on your team is like leasing a muscle car for a few years. You have it, you REALLY like having it for a few years and then you turn it in and HOPE that you get a better one.
I am happy to see that they re-signed Magglio Ordonez. They need him!
If any team has been making off-season moves to try and win a World Series Championship this year.... it's the Tigers!
The media is still talking about Pujols. I get that he could re-sign and get an extension now but for long term? REALLY? He's been in the league for TEN years. Will he have 8 or 9 or 10 years left in him? I'm not so sure that I wouldn't "let it ride" this year and see how it goes if I was an owner. YES, I am aware that he is the best hitter in baseball, I know he's a hitter. I know he is putting up Babe Ruth-like numbers. But once he's on base... then what? Are pitchers going to worry about him like they will worry about Robinson Cano? If you were a manager, would you tell him to take more than a one-step lead off of first base? I wouldn't.
Now... a little tid-bit for the locals...
I read a blurb about the Mets today that said "Is there any way they could just skip 2011?" I also heard a fan call into a radio show and say that after 27 years, he was giving up on the Mets because he was so disgusted... I disagree. Yes, I know that they probably won't make the playoffs but they do have some decent players. Foundation type players. Players like Jose Reyes and David Wright. Johan Santana had shoulder surgery but he could have a decent comeback year. They don't need to skip 2011 but use the year as a re-working year. How about bringing up some farm system guys? Don't write off the entire year
Bernie Madoff's scam-o-the-century has affected the Mets far more than what the fan base was led to believe. It will take a lot to get out from under this. It may take Trump money. Who knows if the Wilpons will realize that it's time. Because, really, it's time.
I wish you all a good evening and may all your teams be winners (except of course if the teams mascot is a nut.... from a tree... you all know who I'm talking about!)
I know it's not because I am a bigger fan than I was then, it might be because I'm older now and I am more aware of how much things are worth. It may be because of the Internet and the real-time updates about what happens in the off-season... but, I "check in" on a daily basis now... EVERYDAY. It's not just the Tigers either. I check in on the Yankees, the Mets (because I live in NY now). Then, when I am done with those teams, I read the headlines about all of the other teams. I know that I'm not alone in this, obviously. I have seen the moves that George "the Boss" Steinbrenner made in the late '90s. Moves that made me shake my head. Things that made no sense to me at the time. In the end, they still don't make a whole lot of sense to me but they won... a lot!
The Tigers have been making moves this off-season. Serious moves. They got a great bat in Victor Martinez, they needed another good hitter. They also signed Joaquin Benoit. If he has HALF the year he did last year in Tampa, the bullpen will be very good. Brad Penny, who is a big boy, is also a great addition.
They have let go of some people too. Damon is gone which is not a problem for me. Frankly, I think he throws like a girl. Look at ANY YouTube video... just saying. Bonderman and Galaraga are gone. That makes me shake my head a little. I thought Bonderman was a franchise kind of pitcher but... Those days may already be gone. It's almost like having a decent pitcher on your team is like leasing a muscle car for a few years. You have it, you REALLY like having it for a few years and then you turn it in and HOPE that you get a better one.
I am happy to see that they re-signed Magglio Ordonez. They need him!
If any team has been making off-season moves to try and win a World Series Championship this year.... it's the Tigers!
The media is still talking about Pujols. I get that he could re-sign and get an extension now but for long term? REALLY? He's been in the league for TEN years. Will he have 8 or 9 or 10 years left in him? I'm not so sure that I wouldn't "let it ride" this year and see how it goes if I was an owner. YES, I am aware that he is the best hitter in baseball, I know he's a hitter. I know he is putting up Babe Ruth-like numbers. But once he's on base... then what? Are pitchers going to worry about him like they will worry about Robinson Cano? If you were a manager, would you tell him to take more than a one-step lead off of first base? I wouldn't.
Now... a little tid-bit for the locals...
I read a blurb about the Mets today that said "Is there any way they could just skip 2011?" I also heard a fan call into a radio show and say that after 27 years, he was giving up on the Mets because he was so disgusted... I disagree. Yes, I know that they probably won't make the playoffs but they do have some decent players. Foundation type players. Players like Jose Reyes and David Wright. Johan Santana had shoulder surgery but he could have a decent comeback year. They don't need to skip 2011 but use the year as a re-working year. How about bringing up some farm system guys? Don't write off the entire year
Bernie Madoff's scam-o-the-century has affected the Mets far more than what the fan base was led to believe. It will take a lot to get out from under this. It may take Trump money. Who knows if the Wilpons will realize that it's time. Because, really, it's time.
I wish you all a good evening and may all your teams be winners (except of course if the teams mascot is a nut.... from a tree... you all know who I'm talking about!)
Monday, February 14, 2011
First "real" post...
I'm sitting here on my couch in my family room eating Russel Stover chocolates from a heart shaped box. I'm all warm and fuzzy inside, not only because my wife showed me how much she loved me with a card and chocolates at lunch, but because it's "Pitchers and Catchers Day".
Somehow in the midst of all the snow and ice in the Northeast you can "feel" it, you can "sense" it... spring is right around the corner!
Maybe it's because my Dad and I would have a catch in the backyard as soon as the snow had melted. Maybe it's because, even though it's not a really eventful day in Florida, we see the pitchers and catchers tossing the ball to each other in uniforms. This my friends, is the start.. the beginning... the excitement is building.
Now that we have all the sentimental kid stuff out of the way, let's review the big news items of the day in sports. Namely: Albert Pujols, C.C. Sabathia, NFL and NFLPA, and Tiger's loogie in Dubai.
Albert Pujols is in deep talks with his team, the St. Louis Cardinals. Actually it's more like his agent is in deep talks. All they have an agreed upon so far is a self-imposed deadline of this Wednesday at noon. This is a non story and a bunch of baloney! He's a franchise player, probably the best player in baseball and he's not going anywhere. He IS the St. Louis Cardinals.The powers that be in PR on both sides are playing it up so that more people will watch him this year... not that he needs the hype. His numbers speak for themselves.
On a side note, Tony LaRussa's comments about not letting this become a distraction was very smart! I haven't seen a manager who is so focused on prep in spring training since Sparky Anderson.
Now, on to C.C. (stands for Carsten Charles by the way). All of Yankeeland is up in arms about a comment he made in an interview. When asked by reporters about his contract, Sabathia said, "who knows what is possible, but I am not thinking about anything beyond Opening Day." "Anything is possible in a contract," he added. Many in Yankee Universe take that as "non-committal" or "leaving the door open to opt-out" of his contract.
This is a not a smart move on C.C.'s part IF he cares what the general public thinks. I don't think he thought about how his answer would affect the Pinstripe faithful. I think he answered honestly and accurately. Based on the comment you could be led to believe that he doesn't care about the fans. I think this is a reach too. I think he just answered honestly without thinking about the consequences of what he said. This can be an EXTREMELY sensitive issue in the NY area... I doubt anything will come of this but you really need to be careful C.C.! Just by being a sports figure in NY you walk on thin ice, it's not fair, it's not right, it just IS. There's nothing anybody can do about it!
Now, on to the NFL labor talks - Today the NFL filed a complaint against the NFLPA on the basis of "not bargaining in good faith". C'mon MAN! You have cancelled more meetings than you have had! Now you're going to file complaints against each other? Stop! Just Stop! It's like you ran inside to cry to Mommy because we're not playing nice in the sandbox! This is ridiculous! The March deadline is dumb! The season starts in mid-September! The ONLY way I see this affecting next years season if it affects workouts or pre-season games. So, again... STOP! Get the deal done! This is the biggest fan base in sports that you are VERY close to alienating! Be careful guys!
OK, I saved the best for last. Tiger Woods was fined by the Euro-Tour because he hawked a loogie on the 12th green in the Dubai Desert classic last week. Disgusting? Yes. Repulsive? Absolutley! Fine worthy? Well, if you base it on the code of conduct rules for golf in general, yes. Even Tiger agrees. In his apology on twitter he posted "The Euro Tour is right – it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry."
The fact that he was fined is not the story for me. The thing that stands out to me is that Tiger apologized ON TWITTER! I guess in the scheme of things and the press conferences that Tiger has had in the last couple of years this rates only high enough for him to apologize about it on the most common, most widely used micro-blogging, social website that there is. There was no news conference, no newspaper articles, no letter to the Euro-Tour. Just a "tweet"...
I saw a video of the phlegm launch on ESPN's evening edition of Sportscenter. It looked like just a common clearing of the throat. He didn't spit in anger because he missed the par put and was now putting for Bogey. He wasn't mad at a photographer because of the camera noise... he just needed to clear his throat.
I have seen some things on golf courses that are much more egregious. I'm too much of a gentleman to even hint about what those things are. I would fine those guys in a heartbeat if I could. Maybe the code of conduct should be enforced on every golfer. That would keep the riff raff off the links!
Anyway, those are my thoughts for today. May all of my readers have a lovely evening and may all of your teams be winners! (except if it's Ohio State! Go Blue!)
Somehow in the midst of all the snow and ice in the Northeast you can "feel" it, you can "sense" it... spring is right around the corner!
Maybe it's because my Dad and I would have a catch in the backyard as soon as the snow had melted. Maybe it's because, even though it's not a really eventful day in Florida, we see the pitchers and catchers tossing the ball to each other in uniforms. This my friends, is the start.. the beginning... the excitement is building.
Now that we have all the sentimental kid stuff out of the way, let's review the big news items of the day in sports. Namely: Albert Pujols, C.C. Sabathia, NFL and NFLPA, and Tiger's loogie in Dubai.
Albert Pujols is in deep talks with his team, the St. Louis Cardinals. Actually it's more like his agent is in deep talks. All they have an agreed upon so far is a self-imposed deadline of this Wednesday at noon. This is a non story and a bunch of baloney! He's a franchise player, probably the best player in baseball and he's not going anywhere. He IS the St. Louis Cardinals.The powers that be in PR on both sides are playing it up so that more people will watch him this year... not that he needs the hype. His numbers speak for themselves.
On a side note, Tony LaRussa's comments about not letting this become a distraction was very smart! I haven't seen a manager who is so focused on prep in spring training since Sparky Anderson.
Now, on to C.C. (stands for Carsten Charles by the way). All of Yankeeland is up in arms about a comment he made in an interview. When asked by reporters about his contract, Sabathia said, "who knows what is possible, but I am not thinking about anything beyond Opening Day." "Anything is possible in a contract," he added. Many in Yankee Universe take that as "non-committal" or "leaving the door open to opt-out" of his contract.
This is a not a smart move on C.C.'s part IF he cares what the general public thinks. I don't think he thought about how his answer would affect the Pinstripe faithful. I think he answered honestly and accurately. Based on the comment you could be led to believe that he doesn't care about the fans. I think this is a reach too. I think he just answered honestly without thinking about the consequences of what he said. This can be an EXTREMELY sensitive issue in the NY area... I doubt anything will come of this but you really need to be careful C.C.! Just by being a sports figure in NY you walk on thin ice, it's not fair, it's not right, it just IS. There's nothing anybody can do about it!
Now, on to the NFL labor talks - Today the NFL filed a complaint against the NFLPA on the basis of "not bargaining in good faith". C'mon MAN! You have cancelled more meetings than you have had! Now you're going to file complaints against each other? Stop! Just Stop! It's like you ran inside to cry to Mommy because we're not playing nice in the sandbox! This is ridiculous! The March deadline is dumb! The season starts in mid-September! The ONLY way I see this affecting next years season if it affects workouts or pre-season games. So, again... STOP! Get the deal done! This is the biggest fan base in sports that you are VERY close to alienating! Be careful guys!
OK, I saved the best for last. Tiger Woods was fined by the Euro-Tour because he hawked a loogie on the 12th green in the Dubai Desert classic last week. Disgusting? Yes. Repulsive? Absolutley! Fine worthy? Well, if you base it on the code of conduct rules for golf in general, yes. Even Tiger agrees. In his apology on twitter he posted "The Euro Tour is right – it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry."
The fact that he was fined is not the story for me. The thing that stands out to me is that Tiger apologized ON TWITTER! I guess in the scheme of things and the press conferences that Tiger has had in the last couple of years this rates only high enough for him to apologize about it on the most common, most widely used micro-blogging, social website that there is. There was no news conference, no newspaper articles, no letter to the Euro-Tour. Just a "tweet"...
I saw a video of the phlegm launch on ESPN's evening edition of Sportscenter. It looked like just a common clearing of the throat. He didn't spit in anger because he missed the par put and was now putting for Bogey. He wasn't mad at a photographer because of the camera noise... he just needed to clear his throat.
I have seen some things on golf courses that are much more egregious. I'm too much of a gentleman to even hint about what those things are. I would fine those guys in a heartbeat if I could. Maybe the code of conduct should be enforced on every golfer. That would keep the riff raff off the links!
Anyway, those are my thoughts for today. May all of my readers have a lovely evening and may all of your teams be winners! (except if it's Ohio State! Go Blue!)
In the beginning....
So, I have been paying closer attention to sports lately because I started a new job where the sub-culture of fantasy sports and football pools and pick 'em leagues are huge.
I started looking to "experts" and commentators trying to get an edge for my decisions that I made for my fantasy teams and my picks.
I soon discovered that by watching the news reports and paying a LITTLE closer attention to certain websites and watching a few more games than I would normally... that my opinions of what was going on in sports was not that far off of the "experts" and commentators that I was listening to and watching.
I'm not one to call into radio talk shows (not that anything is wrong with that) and I openly invite all comments and opinons and replies to my posts. Let's talk sports! It's JUST like religion and politics! Everybody who cares has an opinion and everybody's opinion is different!
I figure, if these guys, who do this for a living, are able to come up with the same stuff as the common man... why shouldn't I publish my opinions as well?
So here I am, writing a blog on topics that matter to me. When you read this, you will be reading my opinion of the sports world. That is all! I will be discussing sports in general but mainly it will be about the NFL and MLB. I live in the New York metro area so, by default, there will be a lot of NY sports discussed here. I grew up in the midwest though so there willl definetly be a lot of Big Ten Sports as well.
I will also be talking about fantasy sports and my teams and the players and how they helped or failed me. I have been known to be pretty opinionated and vocal about the intelligence (or lack thereof) of athletes so I am sure that we will have some pretty interesting conversations.
So, buckle up, get ready because this is going to be an interesting ride for sure!
I started looking to "experts" and commentators trying to get an edge for my decisions that I made for my fantasy teams and my picks.
I soon discovered that by watching the news reports and paying a LITTLE closer attention to certain websites and watching a few more games than I would normally... that my opinions of what was going on in sports was not that far off of the "experts" and commentators that I was listening to and watching.
I'm not one to call into radio talk shows (not that anything is wrong with that) and I openly invite all comments and opinons and replies to my posts. Let's talk sports! It's JUST like religion and politics! Everybody who cares has an opinion and everybody's opinion is different!
I figure, if these guys, who do this for a living, are able to come up with the same stuff as the common man... why shouldn't I publish my opinions as well?
So here I am, writing a blog on topics that matter to me. When you read this, you will be reading my opinion of the sports world. That is all! I will be discussing sports in general but mainly it will be about the NFL and MLB. I live in the New York metro area so, by default, there will be a lot of NY sports discussed here. I grew up in the midwest though so there willl definetly be a lot of Big Ten Sports as well.
I will also be talking about fantasy sports and my teams and the players and how they helped or failed me. I have been known to be pretty opinionated and vocal about the intelligence (or lack thereof) of athletes so I am sure that we will have some pretty interesting conversations.
So, buckle up, get ready because this is going to be an interesting ride for sure!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)