As far as I'm concerned this year's NBA playoffs are very similar to College Football's Bowl games. While an individual series may have some excitement and drama, there are only two teams who have a chance at winning a championship. If the Lakers and Cavaliers are not there when the conferences are decided it will be a major upset.
Give the Jets and Mike Tannenbaum credit for getting Mark Sanchez. They wanted Sanchez from the start, and had the conviction to do whatever it takes to bring him in. Now, they have to hope they turn out to be right about the Q.B. or Tannenbaum will be looking for a job.
I'm a bit disappointed that the Giants didn't end up with Anquan Boldin. I hope the reason they didn't pull the trigger has to do with the salary cap and not the Draft picks. Receiver is the only glaring weakness on the team, a third round pick wouldn't mean a whole lot for a team with that much talent.
With that said the first pick of WR Hakeem Nicks is a good one. Eli Manning is not exactly the most accurate thrower, and needs someone who can catch the ball even if it's not between the numbers. Hicks has huge hands - glove size of 4XL - so he can reach out and catch anything in the vicinity.
Apparently the Mets' issues from last year had nothing to do with the Manager or Stadium. As a club they still can't hit with runners-in-scoring position, and the starting rotation has one reliable pitcher in Johan Santana.
There have been an unusual amount of home runs hit to right field in the new Yankees stadium, and many people have been screaming and yelling "how could the Yankees let this happen." Will everyone please calm down. Number one we only have a week to judge by. Two if it is a long term issue don't you think the team will do something to cut down on the wind in that direction. What does need to be fixed is the fact that the fans sit right up on the wall and can easily interfere with a ball still in play.
As far as the Yankees on the field are concerned, the team will go as far as the pitching carries them - A-Rod or no A-Rod. Both the starting and relief pitching have been terribly inconsistent. Brian Bruney going on the DL is going to hurt. And no, there is still no reason to be worried about Mariano.
The Devils and Hurricanes are going to Game 7 which is exactly where the series belongs. It has been such an even match-up and both goalies have been so good, it would have been a shame had this series not gone the distance.
However, Game 7 is not where the Rangers should be. With a 3 games to 1 lead, the team has been flat for games five and six. This has been a one man team all year, if Henrik Lundqvist is on top of his game there is a chance otherwise it is all but an automatic L.
Is John Tortorella the epitome of do what I say not what I do? Torts benches Sean Avery for Friday night's game for being undisciplined, sure enough in the third period of that game the coach squirts a fan with water and then throws a bottle into the stands. The NHL suspended him for game 6 and rightly so, no league can afford its players, coaches etc. to interact with fans that way. We have all seen what happens when it gets out of hand.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Why We Love Baseball
After the longest Spring Training in history opening day has arrived. At last meaningful baseball, no more exhibition games, no WBC, finally baseball that counts, games and stats that will be looked at throughout the summer and beyond.
It's on days like this that baseball is on our mind, and when we think baseball we think of...
...Fastballs, sliders, curve balls and beanballs.
...Turning two, tagging up, pick offs and the squeeze play.
...Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Enter Sandman, Hells Bells and chin music.
...Hank Greenberg, Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente.
...No-Hitters, hitting for the cycle and the perfect game.
...Batting gloves, pine tar, eye black and the rosin bags.
...Stan "The Man", Teddy Ballgame, The Mick and Donny Baseball.
...The Bleacher Creatures, the Bleacher Bums and 'Dem Bums.
...The Homer in the Gloamin, Slaughters mad Dash and The Shot Heard 'round the World
...Wrigley field, Fenway park, Ebbets field, the Polo grounds and the only real Yankee Stadium.
...Opening day, the All-star break and the Fall Classic
... The Sultan of Swat, Big Train, Pee Wee, Three Finger Brown and Doug "Eyechart"Gwosdz,
...61, 755, 511 and 4,256. (No we don't think of 73 or 762)
...Murderers Row, The Big Red Machine, the Gashouse Gang, and the Miracle Mets.
...Jim Abbott, Pete Gray and Bert Shepard.
...The Mazeroski game, The Carter game, The Gibson game, The Fisk game and Larsen's Perfect game.
...Connie Mack, John McGraw, Sparky Anderson, Walter Alston and Casey Stengel.
...The Natural, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and A League of Their Own.
...Yankees - Red Sox, Cubs - Cardinals and Dodgers - Giants.
...Rawlings, Louisville Slugger and New Era.
...Diving stops, leaping catches and outfielders crashing into walls.
...Jeter's backhand flip, Mays' catch and Endy's leap.
...The crack of the bat, pop of the glove, clack of the cleats and roar of the crowd.
...The ivy on the wall at Wrigley, Tal's Hill at Minute maid and the Green Monster.
...D.P.'s, K's, R.B.I.'s and 6-4-3's.
...The Baltimore chop, screaming liners, Texas Leaguers and Uncle Charlies.
...Pinstripes, stirrups and shin guards.
...Yogi-isms, Stengelese and the Who's on first routine.
...You're safe, you're out and play ball.
...Spring Training, the All-star game and the home-run derby.
...Cy Youngs, Gold Gloves, Silver sluggers, MVP's and Rookies of the Year.
...Mel Allen, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell and Vin Scully.
..."Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Pete Rose.
...Blazing fastballs, tape measure shots and bunt singles.
...Aces, set-up men, closers and clean-up hitters.
...Steinbrenner, Turner, Veeck and Charlie O.
...Vida Blue, Shawn Green and Red Schoendienst.
...Beer, peanuts and hot dogs.
...Eddie Gaedel, Sid Finch and the Philly Phanatic.
...Cans of corn, seeing eye singles and grounds rule double.
...Infield dirt, foul lines and the patterned grass.
...Cooperstown and Monument Park.
...D.S., C.S. and W.S.
...Klem, Hubbard and McClelland.
...Gehrig's Luckiest Man, Ripken's trot and induction speeches.
But most of all we love baseball because it's our sport. It was there for us through two World wars, the Great Depression and 9/11. It is not ours to keep but only to cherish and pass along to future generations. It is our National Pastime.
Enjoy the Season.
It's on days like this that baseball is on our mind, and when we think baseball we think of...
...Fastballs, sliders, curve balls and beanballs.
...Turning two, tagging up, pick offs and the squeeze play.
...Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Enter Sandman, Hells Bells and chin music.
...Hank Greenberg, Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente.
...No-Hitters, hitting for the cycle and the perfect game.
...Batting gloves, pine tar, eye black and the rosin bags.
...Stan "The Man", Teddy Ballgame, The Mick and Donny Baseball.
...The Bleacher Creatures, the Bleacher Bums and 'Dem Bums.
...The Homer in the Gloamin, Slaughters mad Dash and The Shot Heard 'round the World
...Wrigley field, Fenway park, Ebbets field, the Polo grounds and the only real Yankee Stadium.
...Opening day, the All-star break and the Fall Classic
... The Sultan of Swat, Big Train, Pee Wee, Three Finger Brown and Doug "Eyechart"Gwosdz,
...61, 755, 511 and 4,256. (No we don't think of 73 or 762)
...Murderers Row, The Big Red Machine, the Gashouse Gang, and the Miracle Mets.
...Jim Abbott, Pete Gray and Bert Shepard.
...The Mazeroski game, The Carter game, The Gibson game, The Fisk game and Larsen's Perfect game.
...Connie Mack, John McGraw, Sparky Anderson, Walter Alston and Casey Stengel.
...The Natural, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and A League of Their Own.
...Yankees - Red Sox, Cubs - Cardinals and Dodgers - Giants.
...Rawlings, Louisville Slugger and New Era.
...Diving stops, leaping catches and outfielders crashing into walls.
...Jeter's backhand flip, Mays' catch and Endy's leap.
...The crack of the bat, pop of the glove, clack of the cleats and roar of the crowd.
...The ivy on the wall at Wrigley, Tal's Hill at Minute maid and the Green Monster.
...D.P.'s, K's, R.B.I.'s and 6-4-3's.
...The Baltimore chop, screaming liners, Texas Leaguers and Uncle Charlies.
...Pinstripes, stirrups and shin guards.
...Yogi-isms, Stengelese and the Who's on first routine.
...You're safe, you're out and play ball.
...Spring Training, the All-star game and the home-run derby.
...Cy Youngs, Gold Gloves, Silver sluggers, MVP's and Rookies of the Year.
...Mel Allen, Red Barber, Ernie Harwell and Vin Scully.
..."Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Pete Rose.
...Blazing fastballs, tape measure shots and bunt singles.
...Aces, set-up men, closers and clean-up hitters.
...Steinbrenner, Turner, Veeck and Charlie O.
...Vida Blue, Shawn Green and Red Schoendienst.
...Beer, peanuts and hot dogs.
...Eddie Gaedel, Sid Finch and the Philly Phanatic.
...Cans of corn, seeing eye singles and grounds rule double.
...Infield dirt, foul lines and the patterned grass.
...Cooperstown and Monument Park.
...D.S., C.S. and W.S.
...Klem, Hubbard and McClelland.
...Gehrig's Luckiest Man, Ripken's trot and induction speeches.
But most of all we love baseball because it's our sport. It was there for us through two World wars, the Great Depression and 9/11. It is not ours to keep but only to cherish and pass along to future generations. It is our National Pastime.
Enjoy the Season.
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