Hello once again to everyone. Now that the greeting is out of the way, let me just say this:
I can't stand Kobe Bryant.
There, I said it. I'm not ashamed of it, but someone had to get it out there, and I volunteered. Before we pile on, let's take a look at the wys in which we, or at least I, detest this NBA "superstar". One, upon being drafted out of Lower Merion High School in 1996, his quote was "I don't want to go play for Charlotte. I only want to play for the L.A. Lakers". To that, I would have said "Then, enjoy college, cause we own your rights. Oh, that's right, you can't go to college, since you already signed with an agent. Enjoy the European leagues." First off, blame Hornet management for placating him with a trade, and all they got out of him was Vlade (Flop-ay) Divac. Second, he makes it to the All-Star game shortly after arriving on the NBA scene, and during play, waves off some of his more established NBA veterans so he can act like he's on a playground court. Well, upon seeing this, a man wearing number 23 for the Eastern All-Stars entered the game, and proceeded to smoke young Kobe every time down the court. Third, and this is really a sticking point, he wins his third NBA championship in a row, and complains because he's not the focal point of the team. I'm sorry, but do you think Jack Haley or Will Perdue ever complained that they weren't the focal point on their championship teams? No! They just sat back and admired the shine of their rings. But, everyone knows how the story played out.....Shaq got traded to Miami, Miami won a title, the Lakers were left with squat, and now Kobe is complaining again. I mean, enough already. Kobe created the mess he's in now by complaining about Shaq. Now, Kobe says he wants to be traded to a "winner". First of all, there's not too much chance of a trade in this case, unless a lot of teams get involved. There's too much money for it all to match between just two teams. But, Jerry Buss needs to tell Kobe that Jerry Buss owns the Lakers, not Kobe Bryant. This whole "I want to play for the Lakers, I don't want to play with Shaq, I want a trade, I want, I want, I want" act is so old now, it's pathetic. I mean, I want a million dollars, but I don't see Brinks backing the truck up to my driveway. I keep waiting for someone to slap the 2 x 4 of reality across Kobe's forehead. In a way, head coach Phil Jackson did it in his book about the Lakers, "The Last Season". In it, he takes every opportunity to rip Kobe for his selfish attitude. Maybe that's why I like the book as much as I do. But, we all know who would get the door first, and for a time, he did. Jackson left the team for a while, despite being the owner's daughter's boyfriend. His replacement, Rudy Tomjanovich, lasted 41 games in Lakerland before quitting because he was tired of being a baby-sitter for this spoiled brat. Jackson seems to be the only person that can control him to a certain degree. So, to Laker GM Mitch Kupchak, I say this: Trade him. For the good of the league, and for the health of my sanity, please trade him. I don't know how much more of him I can really take.
Let me also say this.........
Would everyone PLEASE stop saying Tiger lost the US Open Sunday.
OK, he was in the final group. OK, he was all expected to win the contest (I still can't call it a tournament). So when he didn't win, everyone is now shocked. To them, I say this: Let it go, already! He was playing the same "tough" course everyone else was. What do you expect, that the USGA would let Tiger play a different course? So, he came up short on Sunday in a major. Big, stinking deal! Can we please just give credit to the winner, Mr. Angel Cabrera? OK, so he was chain-smoking up the back part of the tournament. OK, so he wasn't the most in-shape athlete. Big deal! At the end of the day, he was under par in two of the four rounds, and he ended up with the best score. That's it, period, end of story. So Tiger Woods didn't win the US Open. Big deal. Like Kobe, are we supposed to hand him everything on a silver platter just because he's Tiger Woods? If Woods really wanted to win the thing, here's a tip for him: Feel free to make some more birdies! Can't we all just deal with it, and move on?
Some more "Can we stop it already" items up for consideration.......
Can we stop banging on Hendrick Motorsports for signing Dale Earnhardt, Jr? Everyone else had the same opportunity to sign Junior, and Hendrick stepped up and did it. Like the New York Yankees, Hendrick goes out and signs what he feels is the best talent. He has the money, he does with it what he wants. Don't hate Hendrick for stepping up to the plate on ths one.
Can we stop declaring Tony Romo as the second coming of Troy Aikman? Romo wants a re-worked contract after only eleven games, and a botched extra point atempt. Hey Tony, Aikman got his respect by actually performing well in the playoffs. Fumbling a snap doesn't get you a raise, for crying out loud!
And finally, can we all stop banging on the San Antonio Spurs? Four titles in nine seasons, deal with it. The Mavs should have one, but they have no killer instinct, and let the Heat back in the door. So, even though the Spurs don't resonate with everyone, we should just dismiss them? I'm not a big-time Spurs fan, but four titles in nine seasons is borderline dynasty. Deal with it. They manage their team right, they manage the salary cap right, and they have a proven plan in place. The proof is in the championships, and they now have four. Again......deal with it.
That's about it for now.
Till next time..........
Patrick
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Sheffield/MLB, Donovan's reverse
Hello once again.
OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but people get fired nowadays for saying racist things over the airwaves and in print, right? I mean, former Atlanta Brave John Rocker was raked over the coals for his comments to Sports Illustrated some years ago, and Don Imus was fired from his longtime post when he referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as a bunch of "nappy headed ho's". OK, so with those two things in mind as the framework or the standard by which we view things in a hyper-sensitive world, why hasn't anybody called for Detroit Tigers DH Gary Sheffield's head recently? You all remember him. He's played with seven teams in his major league career, he's linked to being a training partner with Barry Bonds when all of the steroid questions came about. This is a guy that also said he was the best player on every team he's been on. OK, let me stop that train right here. Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Tony Gwynn. Those are three of the players he's played with before, and believe me, he's not even in the discussion when it comes to those guys. OK, back to my original gripe here. Sheffield said in a recent interview with GQ magazine that he has a theory why there are fewer black players in baseball today. He said, and I quote" I called it years ago. You'll see black faces, but there ain't no English coming out. It's about being able to tell the Latin players what to do, being able to control them". He went on to say "You can't control us" and "These are things my race demands". Again, stop right there. Imus gets fired for saying something off-color, but Sheffield walks away from this incident? Now, granted, it would be hard to fire a professional baseball player, but nobody seems to mind that Sheffield said any of this. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say I haven't noticed the decline of black players from baseball. I have, along with everyone else. But, with the way baseball markets itself in comparison to basketball and football, it's no wonder kids today aren't tuning in. And, with the continued rise of corporate America, it's hard to find a decent baseball field for kids to play on. They've all been bought up all in the name of property development. Baseball used to rely on the fact that it was a father-son game. And for a while, that was true. But, somewhere along the way, those sons grew up, and started getting into football and basketball, not to mention Mixed Martial Arts. The NFL had constantly adjusted its marketing program to fit in with most, if not all, of their fan base. The NBA latched on to Michael Jordan in 1984, and they continue to ride the wave of marketing success from his era. Both of these sports know what it takes to bring in new business. Baseball, however, does not. Now, don't get me wrong. Baseball knows how to make a buck. Just look at any park today, and try to find an empty spot on an outfield wall. Even Wrigley Field sold ad space on the ivy-covered wall. But football and basketball have adjusted to meet the demands of a newer generation, and baseball has stood firm. As such, baseball is paying for it with a lack of participants. Don't believe me? Look at a top college anywhere in the country, and take their top 20 athletes. Chances are, only one or two of them will be a baseball player. Baseball needs new blood in its leadership ranks to re-energize its product, or it will continue to languish behind football and basketball. But, what do you expect when you have a used car salesman for a commissioner?
To Orlando, where former Florida Gator coach, soon-to-be-renamed Florida Gator coach Billy Donovan had reportedly backed out of a deal to coach the Orlando Magic. He was all smiles at his news conference Friday. He said all the right things. But, on a subsequent return trip to Gainesville, he had second thoughts. I saw this coming a mile away. I even called a friend and asked, during the news conference, why Donovan would ever consider leaving Gainesville? He's won two national titles, he is in a position to tell the players what to do, and how to do it, and he'll never have to pay for a meal in the city. Don't believe me? Go to Gainesville, watch Coach Donovan walk in to an eatery, and watch how many people fight to pick up his check. But, Donovan looked to be all set to give the NBA a try. Now, a few names come to mind here, like Jerry Tarkanian, Rick Pitino (OK, he did well at New York, but he stunk in Boston), PJ Carlesimo, John Calipari, Lon Kruger (former Gator coach before Donovan), Mike Mongtomery, and Tim Floyd. All were successful college coaches. All stunk in the NBA when they learned one thing right away: The inmates run the asylum that is the NBA. You think a pro team is going to side with a coach over a top tier player? Think again. NBA coaches have no real authority. If they did, Rasheed Wallace wouldn't have an NBA job. Donovan was all set to inherit a decent roster, with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson to build around. They are also going to have some money under the cap to use in free agency. Apparently, it's not enough to lure Donovan away from Gainesville. Now, I know what you're thinking. You're saying right now "Well, Pat, he signed a contract. He's bound to the Magic, right?" No. At this level of athletics, contracts don't mean much, as far as coaches go. They're allowed to come and go as they please. The conventional theory is that Donovan wanted away from a football school. Let's face it, we're talking about a team that won it all, and they only sold out two games last season. The football team drew over 45,000 for spring practice. Not a game, not Tennessee coming to town, not Florida State, not Georgia, but a practice. Some say Donovan wanted out of the football program's shadow. Good luck with that. But, when you get right down to it, I have the real reason Donovan wants to remain in Gainesville. It's Mrs. Donovan. Look, don't tell me it's a money thing. When you're making 3.5 million, plus endorsement deals and a radio/TV show contract, what's another 2 million, really? Besides, Donovan has no idea what his checkbook looks like. He's a coach, not a financial guy. All that stuff is being handled by the wife. Want proof? Go find Florida football coach Urban Meyer, and ask him how much is in his checking account. He'll have no idea, because that's the wife's job. Donovan is the same way. He's a 12-16 hour a day coach who couldn't care less what's in the account. All he's thinking about is a gameplan for the next opponent. Had he truly committed to the NBA job, all he'd have to do is go to Orlando, smile for the cameras, maybe do a Disney parade, and go to work. Mrs. Donovan would be in charge of planning the move, picking a new house in Orlando, setting the kids up in new schools, etc., and so forth. She didn't want to do it, and I don't blame her. Moving day is a pain, and at one time or another, we've all been there. So, at the end of the day, take a look at this issue for what it really is: Coach Donovan was fired up to go, Mrs. Donovan hit the brakes. And I, for one, applaud her for doing so. I kind of like Donovan, though I detest the Gators, and I would have hated to see Donovan go to the NBA and get shredded like other college coaches have done.
Before I close, and staying on the NBA, what's really going through their minds? I mean, they have a great Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where LeBron James finally gets to the championship round, and they have everyone fired up about that game. But then, the news comes that the Finals won't start for another five days, and even then, it won't tip-onn till 9 o'clock Eastern. Not good enough, NBA. I might have tuned in had the Finals started soon after that Game 6, but now, who knows? Maybe the Braves will be on TV. Maybe NFL Live will be on, and it's drawing ratings so good right now, ESPN is showing it two times a day. Or, maybe I'll just go play some golf. Strike while the iron is hot, NBA. You'll keep more of an audience.
Till next time.....
Patrick
OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but people get fired nowadays for saying racist things over the airwaves and in print, right? I mean, former Atlanta Brave John Rocker was raked over the coals for his comments to Sports Illustrated some years ago, and Don Imus was fired from his longtime post when he referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as a bunch of "nappy headed ho's". OK, so with those two things in mind as the framework or the standard by which we view things in a hyper-sensitive world, why hasn't anybody called for Detroit Tigers DH Gary Sheffield's head recently? You all remember him. He's played with seven teams in his major league career, he's linked to being a training partner with Barry Bonds when all of the steroid questions came about. This is a guy that also said he was the best player on every team he's been on. OK, let me stop that train right here. Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Tony Gwynn. Those are three of the players he's played with before, and believe me, he's not even in the discussion when it comes to those guys. OK, back to my original gripe here. Sheffield said in a recent interview with GQ magazine that he has a theory why there are fewer black players in baseball today. He said, and I quote" I called it years ago. You'll see black faces, but there ain't no English coming out. It's about being able to tell the Latin players what to do, being able to control them". He went on to say "You can't control us" and "These are things my race demands". Again, stop right there. Imus gets fired for saying something off-color, but Sheffield walks away from this incident? Now, granted, it would be hard to fire a professional baseball player, but nobody seems to mind that Sheffield said any of this. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say I haven't noticed the decline of black players from baseball. I have, along with everyone else. But, with the way baseball markets itself in comparison to basketball and football, it's no wonder kids today aren't tuning in. And, with the continued rise of corporate America, it's hard to find a decent baseball field for kids to play on. They've all been bought up all in the name of property development. Baseball used to rely on the fact that it was a father-son game. And for a while, that was true. But, somewhere along the way, those sons grew up, and started getting into football and basketball, not to mention Mixed Martial Arts. The NFL had constantly adjusted its marketing program to fit in with most, if not all, of their fan base. The NBA latched on to Michael Jordan in 1984, and they continue to ride the wave of marketing success from his era. Both of these sports know what it takes to bring in new business. Baseball, however, does not. Now, don't get me wrong. Baseball knows how to make a buck. Just look at any park today, and try to find an empty spot on an outfield wall. Even Wrigley Field sold ad space on the ivy-covered wall. But football and basketball have adjusted to meet the demands of a newer generation, and baseball has stood firm. As such, baseball is paying for it with a lack of participants. Don't believe me? Look at a top college anywhere in the country, and take their top 20 athletes. Chances are, only one or two of them will be a baseball player. Baseball needs new blood in its leadership ranks to re-energize its product, or it will continue to languish behind football and basketball. But, what do you expect when you have a used car salesman for a commissioner?
To Orlando, where former Florida Gator coach, soon-to-be-renamed Florida Gator coach Billy Donovan had reportedly backed out of a deal to coach the Orlando Magic. He was all smiles at his news conference Friday. He said all the right things. But, on a subsequent return trip to Gainesville, he had second thoughts. I saw this coming a mile away. I even called a friend and asked, during the news conference, why Donovan would ever consider leaving Gainesville? He's won two national titles, he is in a position to tell the players what to do, and how to do it, and he'll never have to pay for a meal in the city. Don't believe me? Go to Gainesville, watch Coach Donovan walk in to an eatery, and watch how many people fight to pick up his check. But, Donovan looked to be all set to give the NBA a try. Now, a few names come to mind here, like Jerry Tarkanian, Rick Pitino (OK, he did well at New York, but he stunk in Boston), PJ Carlesimo, John Calipari, Lon Kruger (former Gator coach before Donovan), Mike Mongtomery, and Tim Floyd. All were successful college coaches. All stunk in the NBA when they learned one thing right away: The inmates run the asylum that is the NBA. You think a pro team is going to side with a coach over a top tier player? Think again. NBA coaches have no real authority. If they did, Rasheed Wallace wouldn't have an NBA job. Donovan was all set to inherit a decent roster, with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson to build around. They are also going to have some money under the cap to use in free agency. Apparently, it's not enough to lure Donovan away from Gainesville. Now, I know what you're thinking. You're saying right now "Well, Pat, he signed a contract. He's bound to the Magic, right?" No. At this level of athletics, contracts don't mean much, as far as coaches go. They're allowed to come and go as they please. The conventional theory is that Donovan wanted away from a football school. Let's face it, we're talking about a team that won it all, and they only sold out two games last season. The football team drew over 45,000 for spring practice. Not a game, not Tennessee coming to town, not Florida State, not Georgia, but a practice. Some say Donovan wanted out of the football program's shadow. Good luck with that. But, when you get right down to it, I have the real reason Donovan wants to remain in Gainesville. It's Mrs. Donovan. Look, don't tell me it's a money thing. When you're making 3.5 million, plus endorsement deals and a radio/TV show contract, what's another 2 million, really? Besides, Donovan has no idea what his checkbook looks like. He's a coach, not a financial guy. All that stuff is being handled by the wife. Want proof? Go find Florida football coach Urban Meyer, and ask him how much is in his checking account. He'll have no idea, because that's the wife's job. Donovan is the same way. He's a 12-16 hour a day coach who couldn't care less what's in the account. All he's thinking about is a gameplan for the next opponent. Had he truly committed to the NBA job, all he'd have to do is go to Orlando, smile for the cameras, maybe do a Disney parade, and go to work. Mrs. Donovan would be in charge of planning the move, picking a new house in Orlando, setting the kids up in new schools, etc., and so forth. She didn't want to do it, and I don't blame her. Moving day is a pain, and at one time or another, we've all been there. So, at the end of the day, take a look at this issue for what it really is: Coach Donovan was fired up to go, Mrs. Donovan hit the brakes. And I, for one, applaud her for doing so. I kind of like Donovan, though I detest the Gators, and I would have hated to see Donovan go to the NBA and get shredded like other college coaches have done.
Before I close, and staying on the NBA, what's really going through their minds? I mean, they have a great Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where LeBron James finally gets to the championship round, and they have everyone fired up about that game. But then, the news comes that the Finals won't start for another five days, and even then, it won't tip-onn till 9 o'clock Eastern. Not good enough, NBA. I might have tuned in had the Finals started soon after that Game 6, but now, who knows? Maybe the Braves will be on TV. Maybe NFL Live will be on, and it's drawing ratings so good right now, ESPN is showing it two times a day. Or, maybe I'll just go play some golf. Strike while the iron is hot, NBA. You'll keep more of an audience.
Till next time.....
Patrick
Friday, June 01, 2007
This time, it's personal
Hello once again.
First, I want to say that in this post, I'm really going to let fly. I'm saying this now because some people might not like what I'm going to say, but, like I said before, things like that get said in this forum. So, with that in mind, here we go.
It's been said that many people in life don't know the pain of losing a child. It's also been said that we might not know first-hand the experience of being involved in a drunk driving accident. Well, guess what? I qualify on both accounts, so here goes. I know in my last post I ripped Josh Hancock's father for filing his lawsuit. If you're new to the program, the short version goes like this: Pitcher for the Cardinals goes out, gets drunk, drives, kills himself. If you need the backstory or longer version, I invite you to look at some of the more recent posts in this blog. Now, this lawsuit is exactly the reason the courts are flodded in this country. Why is it that when something happens, we're all now conditioned to find fault somewhere, and sue them? Why is it, that a 29 year old pitcher that gets himself killed in a drunk driving accident wasn't put into rehab or dealt with in some way or fashion before this incident? Looking at this more closely reveals things that haven't really been brought to light. Like the fact that he (Hancock) overslept, and missed the start of a game almost a week prior to this incident. Or, the fact that he was involved in another accident that was swept under the rug before this incident. Or, even the fact that Hancock was well-known for being a guy who could close 'em down with the best of them, and I'm not talking about big league hitters. Why then are we not assigning some sort of blame to the support network of Hancock? I mean, where were his friends when he needed someone to take the keys? Where was his family when he exhibited this sort of self-destructive behavior? And, where was Josh Hancock's judgement to realize he was too impaired to operate a vehicle? Sad to say, we'll never know the answers to any of these questions. But, to assign blame to the wrong parties is absolutely absurd. It's not the tow truck driver's fault for doing his job. He was called out to assist a motorist. It's not the stranded motorist's fault. Cars stall where they stall, and one cannot predict where that may or may not be. It's not the bars fault. Their job is to serve drinks, period. Bartenders are usually running at a fast pace, and they usually keep that pace up for most of the night. And, being that the bar is owned by a former Cardinal player, now Cardinal broadcaster, why then isn't the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team being sued as well? I really don't get it, and if someone out there does, try to argue with me on this one. I guarantee I'll win. Accountability means taking responsibility for one's actions. Nobody forced Josh Hancock to do what he did. And, at the end of the day, nobody else is responsible for anything that occurred on that night but Josh Hancock himself. This lawsuit, as most are nowadays, is ridiculous, plain and simple.
If there are any more Michael Vick fans out there after all that has gone down regarding him in recent weeks, then I really feel for you. If you are still on the fence regarding the whole Vick-dog fighting issue, I invite you to read this week's Sports Illustrated which has a brutal tale of the events that occurred at Vick's property. Here's hoping that the prosecutors in this case will get the evidence they need to shut this operation down, and take everyone associated with it down as well. I won't go into details about the article, since it's quite graphic. But, let's just say that the Falcons, if they are smart, are looking into getting out of the deal with Vick. Now, will someone else come along and pick him up should the Falcons get rid of him? Of course they will. It's the nature of professional sports. But, if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell boots him out of the league, then that's a horse of a different color. He could always play for the Edmonton Eskimos, I guess. This case gets more disgusting by the day, and as more evidence comes up, it seemingly adds another nail in the coffin of Michael Vick. Will we get to that point? Hard to say. Like I said before, read the article for yourself. It's brutal. After that, if you have any Vick memorabilia, throw it away. It's trash, just like Vick is.
That's about it. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.
Till next time........
Patrick
First, I want to say that in this post, I'm really going to let fly. I'm saying this now because some people might not like what I'm going to say, but, like I said before, things like that get said in this forum. So, with that in mind, here we go.
It's been said that many people in life don't know the pain of losing a child. It's also been said that we might not know first-hand the experience of being involved in a drunk driving accident. Well, guess what? I qualify on both accounts, so here goes. I know in my last post I ripped Josh Hancock's father for filing his lawsuit. If you're new to the program, the short version goes like this: Pitcher for the Cardinals goes out, gets drunk, drives, kills himself. If you need the backstory or longer version, I invite you to look at some of the more recent posts in this blog. Now, this lawsuit is exactly the reason the courts are flodded in this country. Why is it that when something happens, we're all now conditioned to find fault somewhere, and sue them? Why is it, that a 29 year old pitcher that gets himself killed in a drunk driving accident wasn't put into rehab or dealt with in some way or fashion before this incident? Looking at this more closely reveals things that haven't really been brought to light. Like the fact that he (Hancock) overslept, and missed the start of a game almost a week prior to this incident. Or, the fact that he was involved in another accident that was swept under the rug before this incident. Or, even the fact that Hancock was well-known for being a guy who could close 'em down with the best of them, and I'm not talking about big league hitters. Why then are we not assigning some sort of blame to the support network of Hancock? I mean, where were his friends when he needed someone to take the keys? Where was his family when he exhibited this sort of self-destructive behavior? And, where was Josh Hancock's judgement to realize he was too impaired to operate a vehicle? Sad to say, we'll never know the answers to any of these questions. But, to assign blame to the wrong parties is absolutely absurd. It's not the tow truck driver's fault for doing his job. He was called out to assist a motorist. It's not the stranded motorist's fault. Cars stall where they stall, and one cannot predict where that may or may not be. It's not the bars fault. Their job is to serve drinks, period. Bartenders are usually running at a fast pace, and they usually keep that pace up for most of the night. And, being that the bar is owned by a former Cardinal player, now Cardinal broadcaster, why then isn't the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team being sued as well? I really don't get it, and if someone out there does, try to argue with me on this one. I guarantee I'll win. Accountability means taking responsibility for one's actions. Nobody forced Josh Hancock to do what he did. And, at the end of the day, nobody else is responsible for anything that occurred on that night but Josh Hancock himself. This lawsuit, as most are nowadays, is ridiculous, plain and simple.
If there are any more Michael Vick fans out there after all that has gone down regarding him in recent weeks, then I really feel for you. If you are still on the fence regarding the whole Vick-dog fighting issue, I invite you to read this week's Sports Illustrated which has a brutal tale of the events that occurred at Vick's property. Here's hoping that the prosecutors in this case will get the evidence they need to shut this operation down, and take everyone associated with it down as well. I won't go into details about the article, since it's quite graphic. But, let's just say that the Falcons, if they are smart, are looking into getting out of the deal with Vick. Now, will someone else come along and pick him up should the Falcons get rid of him? Of course they will. It's the nature of professional sports. But, if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell boots him out of the league, then that's a horse of a different color. He could always play for the Edmonton Eskimos, I guess. This case gets more disgusting by the day, and as more evidence comes up, it seemingly adds another nail in the coffin of Michael Vick. Will we get to that point? Hard to say. Like I said before, read the article for yourself. It's brutal. After that, if you have any Vick memorabilia, throw it away. It's trash, just like Vick is.
That's about it. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.
Till next time........
Patrick
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