The Cincinnati-Xavier game is Ohio's version of Duke-North Carolina with the the rivalry being heated and the school's being in close proximity. I am sure that most everyone has seen the lowlights of the end of yesterdays game by now and it was an ugly end to a lopsided game.
Trash talking by both teams were evident throughout the game. The referees should have started handing out technicals as the two teams went into halftime and had a verbal altercation. Maybe that would have calmed the two teams down. The referees started losing total control of that game in the second half and the result was the brawl that happened with a little over 9 seconds to go.
The press conference after the game was very telling. Granted I only saw the clips that they showed on ESPN. The Xavier players spent the entire time justifying the defense of their manhood and one of the players even referred to himself and his teammates as "gangstas."
I really admire Cincinnati Head Coach Mick Cronin's comments. He questioned his teams fitness to even wear the University of Cincinnati jersey and said that they were lucky to even be able to play for the University of Cincinnati and have scholarships and it was an embarrassment for the school to be represented that way. He went on to say that he had physically taken the jerseys off of some of those players and a determination would be made later if they would even be allowed to put them back on. Coach Cronin handled himself well during that press conference and also represented the University of Cincinnati as well.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
"Cluck" Kellogg
I owe Jay Bilas an apology. A big one. I may even invite him out for a beer to prove the sincerity of this apology. I just thought he was one of the crappiest college basketball analysts out there. Clark Kellogg went out and proved me wrong this afternoon during the North Carolina-Kentucky basketball game.
If I can channel Terry Bradshaw for a minute, I need to give a little background here. My Grandaddy had a chicken one time and this chicken clucked all day long. You never knew what she was clucking about, she just clucked to be clucking.
That is my analysis of Clark "Cluck" Kellogg's performance today. His anti-Carolina bias ranks right up there with Billy "Fudge" Packer and "Dumbass" Dan Bonner. He talked the whole game and never said anything of relevance. Anytime Kentucky made a play, he would ramble on for the next 30 seconds about that play. Whenever North Carolina made a play, he was either still talking about Kentucky or he was silent like they had turned his microphone off. The viewers couldn't have gotten that lucky. After the game, I realized a senile Woody Durham would have still been a thousand times better than "Cluck" Kellogg. I also had a hankerin' for some fried chicken. Right, Terry Bradshaw?
If I can channel Terry Bradshaw for a minute, I need to give a little background here. My Grandaddy had a chicken one time and this chicken clucked all day long. You never knew what she was clucking about, she just clucked to be clucking.
That is my analysis of Clark "Cluck" Kellogg's performance today. His anti-Carolina bias ranks right up there with Billy "Fudge" Packer and "Dumbass" Dan Bonner. He talked the whole game and never said anything of relevance. Anytime Kentucky made a play, he would ramble on for the next 30 seconds about that play. Whenever North Carolina made a play, he was either still talking about Kentucky or he was silent like they had turned his microphone off. The viewers couldn't have gotten that lucky. After the game, I realized a senile Woody Durham would have still been a thousand times better than "Cluck" Kellogg. I also had a hankerin' for some fried chicken. Right, Terry Bradshaw?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Why Do We Need Announcers?
I was watching the North Carolina-South Carolina basketball game last night and Jay Bilas really outdid himself in announcing this game. He kept harping on the fact that South Carolina had 17 first half turnovers and that North Carolina should be ahead by alot more than 13 points. I am not denying it was a valid point but he repeated it over and over and over.
I have always thought Jay Bilas is one of the better college analysts out there especially for an ex- Duke Blue Devil but last night he was really off of his game. Most ex-Dookies are cut out to be clueless announcers or assistants on Coach K's staff but Jay Bilas was always the exception. Maybe he has spent too much time listening to Jay Williams or maybe he should stay in the studio but last night, he was horrible.
I have always thought Jay Bilas is one of the better college analysts out there especially for an ex- Duke Blue Devil but last night he was really off of his game. Most ex-Dookies are cut out to be clueless announcers or assistants on Coach K's staff but Jay Bilas was always the exception. Maybe he has spent too much time listening to Jay Williams or maybe he should stay in the studio but last night, he was horrible.
Monday, September 19, 2011
NHL 12
I bought my copy of NHL 12 the day after it came out. The mountains of Western North Carolina are not exactly a hot bed of hockey and we usually do not get that EA series in until after it has been out for about a week.
I love my sports games to be as realistic as possible. That is one of the reasons that I have always enjoyed the EA Sports hockey franchise. When they included the AHL,CHL and the European Leagues last year, that just put the game over the top in my opinion. NHL 12 is no different.
I always start a franchise in the "Be A GM" mode and this year I decided to stay with the hometown team, the Carolina Hurricanes. I usually pick the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes have alot of good, young talent and a great goalie in Cam Ward.
I naturally went out and lost the first game I played, 3-2 in OT to the Winnipeg Jets. I gave up 2 goals in the last two minutes and then the OT game winner 2 minutes into OT. I was hooked. The game does so many things, I still have not figured them all out yet but I am working on it.
The only thing that the game did that I did not like was that it froze up on me. I read somewhere on the internet that someone else had said they thought it froze up more often than normal. I am a stats freak and I hate getting about halfway thru a great game and then losing everything like that. All of the positives far outweigh that one negative.
I love my sports games to be as realistic as possible. That is one of the reasons that I have always enjoyed the EA Sports hockey franchise. When they included the AHL,CHL and the European Leagues last year, that just put the game over the top in my opinion. NHL 12 is no different.
I always start a franchise in the "Be A GM" mode and this year I decided to stay with the hometown team, the Carolina Hurricanes. I usually pick the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes have alot of good, young talent and a great goalie in Cam Ward.
I naturally went out and lost the first game I played, 3-2 in OT to the Winnipeg Jets. I gave up 2 goals in the last two minutes and then the OT game winner 2 minutes into OT. I was hooked. The game does so many things, I still have not figured them all out yet but I am working on it.
The only thing that the game did that I did not like was that it froze up on me. I read somewhere on the internet that someone else had said they thought it froze up more often than normal. I am a stats freak and I hate getting about halfway thru a great game and then losing everything like that. All of the positives far outweigh that one negative.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Video Games
I have to admit it. I am 45 years old and I still get stoked about video games. I just threw a no hitter in my MLB 11: The Show video game and the way I was acting, you would have thought I had just won the Million Dollar Challenge (I know its a different video game). MLB 11: The Show is one of my favorite video games and it is one of the few non-EA Sports games that I buy. I can only handle the sports games and every once in a great while I will buy a war game or a car game.
I am in my Franchise Mode and I was using Ted Lilly of the Los Angeles Dodgers and I was facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or whatever they call themselves these days. The only thing that kept if from being a perfect game was that I hit Torii Hunter with a curveball in the fifth inning. I threw alot of curveballs early in the game and didn't use the slider much at all. I struck out 7 and didn't give up a walk and only went 3 and 2 on one batter.
I am in my Franchise Mode and I was using Ted Lilly of the Los Angeles Dodgers and I was facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or whatever they call themselves these days. The only thing that kept if from being a perfect game was that I hit Torii Hunter with a curveball in the fifth inning. I threw alot of curveballs early in the game and didn't use the slider much at all. I struck out 7 and didn't give up a walk and only went 3 and 2 on one batter.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Coach K and $5 Million
I read in the Charlotte Observer today that Coach K was paid $5 Million in the year 2009 making him the highest paid employee at Duke University. I am sure he is the highest paid by employee by leaps and bounds. I wonder how much the president of the university makes?
Coach K declined comment on the article. I find his silence amusing because He has become a Public Relations machine over the past 10 years or so. If something can make him look good or he is cashing a check, his face is out in front of it or he is hawking it. I don't guess a polish sausage company could come up with enough money. I am guessing he declined comment on the article because it cast him in a negative light.
I am sure the $5 Million doesn't include all of his endorsement deals. His salary is only topped by his ego. The only reason that figure was made public was because Duke University had to report it.
Coach K declined comment on the article. I find his silence amusing because He has become a Public Relations machine over the past 10 years or so. If something can make him look good or he is cashing a check, his face is out in front of it or he is hawking it. I don't guess a polish sausage company could come up with enough money. I am guessing he declined comment on the article because it cast him in a negative light.
I am sure the $5 Million doesn't include all of his endorsement deals. His salary is only topped by his ego. The only reason that figure was made public was because Duke University had to report it.
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Drafts: A Sports Goobs Dream
This past week Has been a Sports Goobs dream. The NBA Draft and the NHL Draft on back to back nights and the Major League Baseball Draft about a week ago. I just love drafts. I love sorting thru my teams draft picks especially if I have never heard of most of the players such as the Seattle Seahawks from this years NFL Draft and reading what the so called experts think and what their projections are.
The Major League Baseball draft is usually not relevant until about five years down the road and that draft is probably the hardest one to project. You can just about name the players on one hand that have been placed on a major league roster without ever having played in the minors and contributed right away. I believe Bob Horner of the 1978 Atlanta Braves may have been one of the last to do so.
The NHL Draft is usually about 50/50. Some of the players can step in and play and contribute right away and others need more time to develop. The Carolina Hurricanes hit the jackpot with Jeff Skinner in last years draft. He was the #7 selection overall, stepped in and played immediately, and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie just a few days ago.
The NFL and NBA Drafts are probably the most relevant and the most analyzed. Those players, especially the top ten picks or so, are expected to step in and play immediately and be major contributors to their teams success.
The Major League Baseball draft is usually not relevant until about five years down the road and that draft is probably the hardest one to project. You can just about name the players on one hand that have been placed on a major league roster without ever having played in the minors and contributed right away. I believe Bob Horner of the 1978 Atlanta Braves may have been one of the last to do so.
The NHL Draft is usually about 50/50. Some of the players can step in and play and contribute right away and others need more time to develop. The Carolina Hurricanes hit the jackpot with Jeff Skinner in last years draft. He was the #7 selection overall, stepped in and played immediately, and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie just a few days ago.
The NFL and NBA Drafts are probably the most relevant and the most analyzed. Those players, especially the top ten picks or so, are expected to step in and play immediately and be major contributors to their teams success.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The U.S. Open Golf Championship
I am not a golf fan. I am not a golfer. I might be the only person on the planet that thinks its funny to watch Tiger Woods implode on a golf course and it doesn't happen much. I think I have been to the driving range maybe 5 or 6 times in my life and that was just to swat the hell out of something. I did watch the final round of the U.S. Open yesterday because I had heard so much about Rory McIlroy.
I do not understand why golfers have to have complete silence when they putt or do anything else. Basketball players have to try to sink free throws with people screaming at them and waving objects in the background and Field Goal Kickers have to try to make game winning field goals with 80,000 people screaming at them and raising all sorts of hell. I want to see golfers sink that 20 foot putt with all of this going on. Tiger Woods has lost it before when a photographer took a picture of him before while he was trying to hit a shot. All he heard was the click. If he needs that much silence to concentrate maybe he should try a different sport.
Watching golf on TV is a desperate act for me. It means nothing else is on and it is raining outside. That is how I ended up watching the U.S. Open yesterday. Watching the golf officials is funny. The player named Yang hit one into the spectators and you had 10 golf officials immediately tear into the crowd and start clearing a path. I would love to see one of the spectators pick up the ball and throw it back onto the fairway like the fans do when an opposing player hits a homerun into the left field stands at Wrigley Field. When the officials do clear a path and the player is ready to hit his shot the officials all face the crowd and hold their hands straight up in the air. I don't if they are asking for silence or letting their armpits air out. I wonder how they would react if a spectator said "Hey numbnuts! You're blocking my view!"
I do not understand why golfers have to have complete silence when they putt or do anything else. Basketball players have to try to sink free throws with people screaming at them and waving objects in the background and Field Goal Kickers have to try to make game winning field goals with 80,000 people screaming at them and raising all sorts of hell. I want to see golfers sink that 20 foot putt with all of this going on. Tiger Woods has lost it before when a photographer took a picture of him before while he was trying to hit a shot. All he heard was the click. If he needs that much silence to concentrate maybe he should try a different sport.
Watching golf on TV is a desperate act for me. It means nothing else is on and it is raining outside. That is how I ended up watching the U.S. Open yesterday. Watching the golf officials is funny. The player named Yang hit one into the spectators and you had 10 golf officials immediately tear into the crowd and start clearing a path. I would love to see one of the spectators pick up the ball and throw it back onto the fairway like the fans do when an opposing player hits a homerun into the left field stands at Wrigley Field. When the officials do clear a path and the player is ready to hit his shot the officials all face the crowd and hold their hands straight up in the air. I don't if they are asking for silence or letting their armpits air out. I wonder how they would react if a spectator said "Hey numbnuts! You're blocking my view!"
Saturday, June 18, 2011
College Players Are Paid
Whether college athletes should be paid or not has been widely debated for the past couple of weeks or so. I, for one, think they are already paid. They are paid with a college education. That is why they are called student athletes.
It is not the college's fault or the NCAA's fault if they do not finish their degrees or do not take their education seriously. In some of the top flight educational institutions, that education is worth $200,000 or more. A non-athlete almost has to have an Einsteinian IQ, grades that are off the charts, and have extra curricular activies that guarantees no sleep while they are in high school in order to qualify for admission.
The NCAA is a major business enterprise and they are only kidding themselves if they do not believe that. The TV contracts, licensing contracts, and sponsorship money rake in millions and millions of dollars for the NCAA and their member institutions and it probably is disproportionate to what the cost of a college scholarship is. The athletes are still being paid with that education.
It is not the college's fault or the NCAA's fault if they do not finish their degrees or do not take their education seriously. In some of the top flight educational institutions, that education is worth $200,000 or more. A non-athlete almost has to have an Einsteinian IQ, grades that are off the charts, and have extra curricular activies that guarantees no sleep while they are in high school in order to qualify for admission.
The NCAA is a major business enterprise and they are only kidding themselves if they do not believe that. The TV contracts, licensing contracts, and sponsorship money rake in millions and millions of dollars for the NCAA and their member institutions and it probably is disproportionate to what the cost of a college scholarship is. The athletes are still being paid with that education.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Most Exciting Minute In Sports
I was watching the Chicago Blackhawks-Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Playoff game last night. It was a well played game and Vancouver held a 4-3 lead late in the third period and the Chicago Blackhawks pulled their goalie so they could put an extra attacker on the ice.
That scenario creates the most exciting minute in sports. An empty goal at one end, 6-on-5 at the other end. The six desperately try to score the tieing goal by a slap shot, wrist shot, rebound, deflection, any means possible to score a goal.
The defense has one simple objective- keep the puck out of the net and try to get it out of the zone. An empty net at the other end of the ice is a big target but empty net goals are not as frequent as you would think.
The Chicago Blackhawks were peppering the Canucks defense and Goalie Roberto Luongo with shot after shot and the Canucks never really did get it out of their zone. One shot was deflected really high and came down to the right of Luongo. About 4 players had to wait for the puck to come down and they looked like they were waiting for a punt to come down. They didn't even have a face off during the last couple of minutes and it was just non-stop action.
Other sports have their exciting moments. Football has the two-minute drill and the Hail Mary, basketball has the last second shot, baseball has the bottom of the ninth inning, but last night was about two minutes of pure excitement, the fans were on their feet, I couldn't take my eyes off the TV, and you just can't beat it in sports.
That scenario creates the most exciting minute in sports. An empty goal at one end, 6-on-5 at the other end. The six desperately try to score the tieing goal by a slap shot, wrist shot, rebound, deflection, any means possible to score a goal.
The defense has one simple objective- keep the puck out of the net and try to get it out of the zone. An empty net at the other end of the ice is a big target but empty net goals are not as frequent as you would think.
The Chicago Blackhawks were peppering the Canucks defense and Goalie Roberto Luongo with shot after shot and the Canucks never really did get it out of their zone. One shot was deflected really high and came down to the right of Luongo. About 4 players had to wait for the puck to come down and they looked like they were waiting for a punt to come down. They didn't even have a face off during the last couple of minutes and it was just non-stop action.
Other sports have their exciting moments. Football has the two-minute drill and the Hail Mary, basketball has the last second shot, baseball has the bottom of the ninth inning, but last night was about two minutes of pure excitement, the fans were on their feet, I couldn't take my eyes off the TV, and you just can't beat it in sports.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Josh Hamilton
Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is going to miss another couple of months of the baseball season (like he seems to every season). He broke a bone in his arm sliding into home and he wants to pin it on the "stupidity" of his third base coach Dave Anderson.
It was a baseball play. He would have scored on this play if he had been paying attention and not hesitated when he broke for home. If he would have been paying attention to the play in front of him he would not have needed his third base coach to tell him to go. As it is, the Rangers lost by one run to the Detroit Tigers.
I like watching Josh Hamilton play. He has overcome alot of personal problems to be the reigning American League MVP and I don't know if it was out of frustration at being injured again that he said this but he said it.
It was a baseball play. He would have scored on this play if he had been paying attention and not hesitated when he broke for home. If he would have been paying attention to the play in front of him he would not have needed his third base coach to tell him to go. As it is, the Rangers lost by one run to the Detroit Tigers.
I like watching Josh Hamilton play. He has overcome alot of personal problems to be the reigning American League MVP and I don't know if it was out of frustration at being injured again that he said this but he said it.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
So Many Sporting Events, So Little Time, and Only One TV
There was alot going on this weekend in the sporting world. The end of the regular season in hockey and pro basketball, the Masters, great rivalries going on in Major League Baseball, and minor league baseball getting cranked up.
I got on one of my favorite sports websites, hockeyfights.com, just a few minutes ago and was surprised to see that prolific goal scorer Teemu Selanne had picked up his first fighting major of his 18 year career. I watched the highlights of it and he gave a pretty good account of himself. The Chicago Blackhawks locked up the 16th and final playoff spot today but they backed in when the Dallas Stars lost. I watched the Carolina Hurricanes go in the tank last night in their opportunity to lock up the 8th seed so they will be watching from home.
I even watched a little bit of the Masters today which I hardly ever do but for whatever reason it piqued my interest. I thought the man that won it, Charl Schwartzel, was a major butthead. Before he put it on the green on the 18th hole he asked a camerman to back up several paces. It wasn't like the guy was standing close enough to get in the way of his shot. I think golf fans should be allowed to raise all sorts of hell when a player is trying to putt. If a batter can concentrate well enough to hit a 90 MPH fastball, then a golfer should be able to concentrate well enough to hit a 20 foot putt.
I have found myself watching alot of baseball this spring. The Cubs-Brewers, Phillies-Braves, and Yankees-Red Sox were all on this weekend and I caught a little bit of all of it. I am sick and tired of seeing the Yankees on TV or anywhere else for that matter but its a great rivalry and its still baseball.
I got on one of my favorite sports websites, hockeyfights.com, just a few minutes ago and was surprised to see that prolific goal scorer Teemu Selanne had picked up his first fighting major of his 18 year career. I watched the highlights of it and he gave a pretty good account of himself. The Chicago Blackhawks locked up the 16th and final playoff spot today but they backed in when the Dallas Stars lost. I watched the Carolina Hurricanes go in the tank last night in their opportunity to lock up the 8th seed so they will be watching from home.
I even watched a little bit of the Masters today which I hardly ever do but for whatever reason it piqued my interest. I thought the man that won it, Charl Schwartzel, was a major butthead. Before he put it on the green on the 18th hole he asked a camerman to back up several paces. It wasn't like the guy was standing close enough to get in the way of his shot. I think golf fans should be allowed to raise all sorts of hell when a player is trying to putt. If a batter can concentrate well enough to hit a 90 MPH fastball, then a golfer should be able to concentrate well enough to hit a 20 foot putt.
I have found myself watching alot of baseball this spring. The Cubs-Brewers, Phillies-Braves, and Yankees-Red Sox were all on this weekend and I caught a little bit of all of it. I am sick and tired of seeing the Yankees on TV or anywhere else for that matter but its a great rivalry and its still baseball.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Ball Four Re-Visited
I have been out of work for about three weeks now because of my foot and I have been desperately searching for reading material to have something to occupy my mind. I saw my copy of Ball Four sitting on a bookself and thought "Why not? I could use a good laugh."
It has been several years since I have read it cover-to-cover. The first time I read it was the mid-1980's about 15 years after it had been published and I got that copy out of the public library. It is a diary of Major League pitcher Jim Bouton's 1969 season with the Seattle Pilots and Houston Astros.
Not only does it cover the daily life of a baseball player but it also covers relevant social issues of the day such as rascism, drugs, and touches on the Vietnam War. The baseball establishment was pissed when it came out. It made some of the major stars of the game (namely Mickey Mantle but included others of the Yankee Dynasty) look bad because of their off-field exploits. Drinking themselves senseless and "beaver shooting" from the roofs of hotels is a prime example. I really believe it got Jim Bouton blackballed from baseball.
I was only 5 or 6 when it was first published, playing tee-ball and too young to remember what the controversy was about. I still really don't understand why it was so controversial. It made the players of that era look human and was funny as hell. I would have loved to have written a book like that about my college years.
When I reread it, it was just as funny but thanks to the internet I was able to look up several of the players I had never heard of and the Seattle Pilots even have their own webpage now as does Jim Bouton. Several of the players that were mentioned in the book have started passing away. Greg Goossen comes to mind. It gave the book a whole new life and made it three-dimensional. I probably enjoyed it more now 40 years after the fact than I did 25 years ago when I first read it. Ball Four was named one of the 100 most important books of the 20th Century and it seems more relevant now.
It has been several years since I have read it cover-to-cover. The first time I read it was the mid-1980's about 15 years after it had been published and I got that copy out of the public library. It is a diary of Major League pitcher Jim Bouton's 1969 season with the Seattle Pilots and Houston Astros.
Not only does it cover the daily life of a baseball player but it also covers relevant social issues of the day such as rascism, drugs, and touches on the Vietnam War. The baseball establishment was pissed when it came out. It made some of the major stars of the game (namely Mickey Mantle but included others of the Yankee Dynasty) look bad because of their off-field exploits. Drinking themselves senseless and "beaver shooting" from the roofs of hotels is a prime example. I really believe it got Jim Bouton blackballed from baseball.
I was only 5 or 6 when it was first published, playing tee-ball and too young to remember what the controversy was about. I still really don't understand why it was so controversial. It made the players of that era look human and was funny as hell. I would have loved to have written a book like that about my college years.
When I reread it, it was just as funny but thanks to the internet I was able to look up several of the players I had never heard of and the Seattle Pilots even have their own webpage now as does Jim Bouton. Several of the players that were mentioned in the book have started passing away. Greg Goossen comes to mind. It gave the book a whole new life and made it three-dimensional. I probably enjoyed it more now 40 years after the fact than I did 25 years ago when I first read it. Ball Four was named one of the 100 most important books of the 20th Century and it seems more relevant now.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Childhood Memories Part I
When I was doing my grocery shopping in Wal-Mart the other day, I happened to walk by the sports cards section and I couldn't help myself. I saw all of those packs hanging up and those boxes sitting on the shelves and I just had to buy a few packs. I picked out a couple of 2011 Topps Baseball packs and tossed them into my shopping cart.
I collected when I was a growing up and I probably stopped when I was about 17 or 18 so my collection ended in 1983. Topps was the only thing I collected because it was about the only brand out there (Donruss and Fleer appeared right about the time I stopped collecting).
I started collecting again right about the time me and my wife got together in the late 1980's (although I couldn't begin to tell you why that triggered the collecting bug again) and it died off again in the late 1990's although I would buy the occasional pack once in a while as a pick me up.
The other day I needed a pick me up and saw those cards and I couldn't wait until I got home to open them up. It brought back a ton of good memories from my younger years and I really don't know if I got anything good out of the two packs or not. I got a Neil Walker (I got to see him play in the minor leagues with low Class A Hickory in 2005) and a Stephen Strasburg. They had the Topps All-Star Rookie symbols on the front of the card so they must be halfway decent.
I collected when I was a growing up and I probably stopped when I was about 17 or 18 so my collection ended in 1983. Topps was the only thing I collected because it was about the only brand out there (Donruss and Fleer appeared right about the time I stopped collecting).
I started collecting again right about the time me and my wife got together in the late 1980's (although I couldn't begin to tell you why that triggered the collecting bug again) and it died off again in the late 1990's although I would buy the occasional pack once in a while as a pick me up.
The other day I needed a pick me up and saw those cards and I couldn't wait until I got home to open them up. It brought back a ton of good memories from my younger years and I really don't know if I got anything good out of the two packs or not. I got a Neil Walker (I got to see him play in the minor leagues with low Class A Hickory in 2005) and a Stephen Strasburg. They had the Topps All-Star Rookie symbols on the front of the card so they must be halfway decent.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Duke vs. Arizona
I am a diehard North Carolina Tarheels fan. It doesn't matter what sport, I pull for the 'Heels. That being written, I will never pull for Duke. Ever. When you mention North Carolina vs. Duke, you immediately think basketball. It's natural. Its college basketballs best rivalry. It has been for years especially since ESPN came onto the scene. I am not like most fans because I do pull for North Carolina in football as well. Almost all Duke fans don't even know they have a football team.
I enjoy watching Duke lose. Especially in basketball. I have got every North Carolina victory against Duke on tape or DVD since the early 1990's. I break them out every once in a while when I am depressed and need a pick me up.
I do not like Coach K. I never have and I never will. I will give him credit and say that he is a good (not great) coach and an even better recruiter. He, however, is a public relations machine for himself. When the cameras are on, his whole persona changes (except during a game). I remember one interview he did with ESPN where he allowed the cameras into one of his practices. That "event" was staged more than a Broadway musical. Whenever someone would make a mistake he would pull all of his team together and he would explain things in a very soft spoken voice and even Jay Bilas, an ESPN announcer and former player for Coach K back in the '80's) said I don't remember him being like that. I remember alot more yelling.
I think this self-promotion goes against everything an "amateur" coach should be. I realize that college sports are the farthest thing from being amateur because there is money to be had for everyone but the players. Everytime talk of the NBA comes up, I hope Coach K goes. He would get slaughtered and he would be exposed and the "aura" of Coach K would be gone.
All of this being written, watching Arizona dismantle Duke gave me a great deal of satisfaction. Arizona outrebounded and outplayed Duke and they did not have an answer. I watched ESPN 3 or 4 times this morning so I could watch the highlights over and over. I do believe Coach K made a bad move by bringing Kyrie Irving back this late in the season. Very few second-guessed that move (Jay Bilas was one of them) and at some point and time, he and the select few in the media will feel the wrath of Coach K. It affected the chemistry of the team. I believe Coach K had something up his sleeve with that move. I have read rumors on the internet that Kyrie Irving is potentially the #1 draft pick in the next NBA draft. Coach K will hound him into coming back. He always does for the good of "his" program.
I am afraid the satisfaction will be short-lived because I do not think the 'Heels are strong enough to win it this year. They may not even get by Marquette. At least I had a 24 hour window in which I could enjoy Duke's season going up in flames over and over again.
I enjoy watching Duke lose. Especially in basketball. I have got every North Carolina victory against Duke on tape or DVD since the early 1990's. I break them out every once in a while when I am depressed and need a pick me up.
I do not like Coach K. I never have and I never will. I will give him credit and say that he is a good (not great) coach and an even better recruiter. He, however, is a public relations machine for himself. When the cameras are on, his whole persona changes (except during a game). I remember one interview he did with ESPN where he allowed the cameras into one of his practices. That "event" was staged more than a Broadway musical. Whenever someone would make a mistake he would pull all of his team together and he would explain things in a very soft spoken voice and even Jay Bilas, an ESPN announcer and former player for Coach K back in the '80's) said I don't remember him being like that. I remember alot more yelling.
I think this self-promotion goes against everything an "amateur" coach should be. I realize that college sports are the farthest thing from being amateur because there is money to be had for everyone but the players. Everytime talk of the NBA comes up, I hope Coach K goes. He would get slaughtered and he would be exposed and the "aura" of Coach K would be gone.
All of this being written, watching Arizona dismantle Duke gave me a great deal of satisfaction. Arizona outrebounded and outplayed Duke and they did not have an answer. I watched ESPN 3 or 4 times this morning so I could watch the highlights over and over. I do believe Coach K made a bad move by bringing Kyrie Irving back this late in the season. Very few second-guessed that move (Jay Bilas was one of them) and at some point and time, he and the select few in the media will feel the wrath of Coach K. It affected the chemistry of the team. I believe Coach K had something up his sleeve with that move. I have read rumors on the internet that Kyrie Irving is potentially the #1 draft pick in the next NBA draft. Coach K will hound him into coming back. He always does for the good of "his" program.
I am afraid the satisfaction will be short-lived because I do not think the 'Heels are strong enough to win it this year. They may not even get by Marquette. At least I had a 24 hour window in which I could enjoy Duke's season going up in flames over and over again.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Jimmer Fredette
Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young finally ran out of steam against Florida in an Overtime loss in the NCAA tournament. He still had 32 points and they still had a chance to win the game but Jimmer finally lost his legs and his jumpshot along with it. He was 11 for 29 from the field and 3 for 15 from the three point line. He had played every minute of every game for 5 out of the past 6. I think he was just wore out. That is alot of basketball on a very big stage.
I am a huge North Carolina Tarheels fan but Jimmer was one of the rare opposition players that I enjoyed watching. He enjoys the game, he plays with an unbridled passion, he is very unassuming, and he always seemed to put the team first. He carried them on his back for as long as he could especially after their starting big man got suspended. That suspension really changed the dynamics of the team and put more pressure on Jimmer. I do not know how well Jimmer will fare in the pro's but I enjoyed watching him play college basketball.
I am a huge North Carolina Tarheels fan but Jimmer was one of the rare opposition players that I enjoyed watching. He enjoys the game, he plays with an unbridled passion, he is very unassuming, and he always seemed to put the team first. He carried them on his back for as long as he could especially after their starting big man got suspended. That suspension really changed the dynamics of the team and put more pressure on Jimmer. I do not know how well Jimmer will fare in the pro's but I enjoyed watching him play college basketball.
MLB 11: The Show
I have started playing my latest video game acquisition MLB 11: The Show in earnest now as I work my way through spring training. I love this game. It is the most realistic baseball game I have ever played. The graphics, the features, the way it plays, the realism down to the last detail. Its all great!
The realism of the game is so good, it almost mirrors my playing days. The self-proclaimed "Bob Uecker of Little League Baseball" still can't hit a changeup, swings at pitches in the dirt and two or three feet outside of the strike zone, and is a sucker for an outside slider with two strikes. I have played about 20 games so far and I don't think I have drawn one base on balls, not even an intentional one. It is a classic case of life imitating art and this game is baseball art in its purest form.
I am a huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan and I love being able to manipulate the 40 man roster and to be able to control their farm teams. I have to be honest and admit that I have never played the most recognizable feauture "Road to the Show", where you create a player and take him from the minors to the majors, in this game. I can't seem to want to play anything other than the franchise mode. I have never played online either but I have plenty of time to get my butt kicked by some 12 year old in Butte, Montana.
The realism of the game is so good, it almost mirrors my playing days. The self-proclaimed "Bob Uecker of Little League Baseball" still can't hit a changeup, swings at pitches in the dirt and two or three feet outside of the strike zone, and is a sucker for an outside slider with two strikes. I have played about 20 games so far and I don't think I have drawn one base on balls, not even an intentional one. It is a classic case of life imitating art and this game is baseball art in its purest form.
I am a huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan and I love being able to manipulate the 40 man roster and to be able to control their farm teams. I have to be honest and admit that I have never played the most recognizable feauture "Road to the Show", where you create a player and take him from the minors to the majors, in this game. I can't seem to want to play anything other than the franchise mode. I have never played online either but I have plenty of time to get my butt kicked by some 12 year old in Butte, Montana.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Sports Goob and the baseball season
The start of baseball season is not official for me until I purchase the Baseball America Prospect Handbook: 2011 and the Baseball Prospectus 2011 guides for the new season. I pour over both ot the guides and being a diehard Los Angeles Dodgers fan, I look at every one of their prospects and follow them as the season progresses.
The Prospect Handbook is my favorite because it has the top 30 prospects for every major league team listed with detailed analysis, strengths and weaknesses, and complete with stats. Some of the prospects have never swung a bat or thrown a pitch at the minor league level but they still make the list.
Evaluating baseball prospects has never been an exact science and when evaluating a player, their value is based on pure potential, and that is what the minor leagues is all about. A young player who was tearing up Spring Training or at one level of the minor league levels used to be called a "phenom" in the 1970's and '80's. Before that if a young player was paid a large bonus he was called a "bonus baby" and I believe he had to stay with the parent team a certain amount of time but with the millions the high draft picks are paid now, I do not know what they are called now outside of millionaires.
The Prospect Handbook is my favorite because it has the top 30 prospects for every major league team listed with detailed analysis, strengths and weaknesses, and complete with stats. Some of the prospects have never swung a bat or thrown a pitch at the minor league level but they still make the list.
Evaluating baseball prospects has never been an exact science and when evaluating a player, their value is based on pure potential, and that is what the minor leagues is all about. A young player who was tearing up Spring Training or at one level of the minor league levels used to be called a "phenom" in the 1970's and '80's. Before that if a young player was paid a large bonus he was called a "bonus baby" and I believe he had to stay with the parent team a certain amount of time but with the millions the high draft picks are paid now, I do not know what they are called now outside of millionaires.
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