On The Fence Sports

Two Words

2010-08-27T18:00:00.001-04:00

Tommy John

Triple Crown

2010-08-25T08:05:00.002-04:00

Triple crown anyone? Never been a huge fan to venture out into Etobicoke but if Votto was making an appearance back at home I would. Wouldn't it be amazing if the Jays could find a way to sign a high profile Canadian player who was in their prime like Votto. Having someone like Votto in the lineup would do wonders for the fans and the feel at the Skydome.

I shouldn't be complaining though. The Jays have a good team with a bright future. But no matter what life has in front of you, you should never stop dreaming.

Only If...

2010-07-19T01:32:00.005-04:00

I have accepted that Halladay is gone and the resurgent Wells with his team are not going to the playoffs but this picture is a definite tear jerker. The Doc is doing his normal non-human attack on batters every 5th day and Wells is doing his best to keep the Jays rolling while trying to live up to his massive salary but the picture brings plenty of what ifs.

Wouldn't it be nice to see these two guys in the playoffs together throwing darts, intimidating batters, running down balls, and racking up the RBIs? It is always sad to see the face of a franchise leave but it kind of hurts, in a different way, when he comes back wearing foreign colours with foreign letters running across his chest.

Having Halladay pitching game 7 of the World Series at the Dome while Wells patrols the outfield would have a been a dream come true. I would put my paycheck on The Doc delivering a CG 3 hitter to earn MVP honours.

Reminiscing is great, too bad it's about something that never happened.

Money or Rings

2010-07-08T05:08:00.004-04:00

The Raptors are back at square one...again! This is pretty pathetic and should never have happened. Chris Bosh is almost officially gone and the Raptors are going to get basically nothing in return. What do we have on our team? Seriously, what the hell happened to this organization. I was very optimistic after the hiring of Colangelo but since then, I have seen nothing. Hindsight is 20/20 and everyone seems to be a thousand times smarter after the fact but couldn't anyone see that our team was doomed when we went out and signed Hedo? Come on, guy is not worth 5 years. Did Colangelo sign him to try and entice Bosh to sign because if he did, he better share whatever he was smoking with me.

Miami, enjoy Bosh. Enjoy Wade. Oh yeah, come Thursday, you may even enjoy LeBron too. If all this talk coming from all the free agents about winning first is legitimate, then we will see LeBron go to Miami. Salary cap issues and of course position flexibility put a downer on the chances of a Wade/Bosh/James combo but it would be pretty sick to see these guys play together.

How about Amare signing with the Knicks. Pretty sad. Should have tried to team up with one of the big free agents. Amare, enjoy losing. Without Nash you are basically another ballplayer who plays with goggles.

Boozer must be pretty lucky because he just signed a pretty big and fat contract with the Bulls. Did the Raptors even have a chance to sign this guy? Another few seasons of losing and just maybe a lottery pick will turn out to be a future LeBron.

Emotions

2010-06-28T09:21:00.003-04:00

Showing emotions on the bench and letting your teammate, who is suppose to be a team leader, is what I call the right move. Longoria let Upton know how he felt after Upton was a complete SOB during a hit into the gap. I have been criticised for being a little lazy on the field and for good reason. There for some days I was tired and didn't have all my heart into the game. Especially during ones against the bottom feeders of the league. But this was no excuse. I was called out and benched and I deserved it. I owned up to my mistake and I tried to never do it again. I've been on the other end and it sure felt good to tell my teammate he was messing up because sometimes everyone needs a kick in the ass to get back to the job at hand.

Mad props to Longoria for stepping up and being a leader on the field. As for Upton, a little maturing is needed. Sometimes talent spoiled individuals need a serious kick in their asses to get things straight.

Draft sans 1st Rounder

2010-06-26T19:48:00.003-04:00

The 2010 NHL Draft is complete and what a sad day it was for yours truly. The Leafs didn't have a pick in the first round because of a previous deal, which I will not repeat here. If we had our pick and everything stayed constant, we might have had a nice Leafs jersey on one of the boys in the picture above.

The Leafs have some strong players and building a championship team in the NHL takes time and I understand that. Sometimes I do wish we could just sign and trade for a combo of players like the Big Three in Boston (Pierce, Allen, and Garnett) and be legit Stanley Cup contenders in one off-season. Dreaming never hurts.

It hurts to see the Leafs struggle year in and year out, especially at this time of year. The draft is suppose to be a promise of better things, a brighter future, a time when positives outweigh all the negatives but not with the Leafs. Not having a first round pick hurts and not seeing a high profile draftee, beaming with joy, putting on a Leafs jersey took a little out of me.

I do believe the Leafs have a bright future but the lack of a first rounder in the this year's draft took some wind out of my sails.

A New Leader

2010-06-15T03:57:00.003-04:00

Good luck Mr. Phaneuf! I'm hoping you can lead the Leafs into the playoffs and eventually, sooner rather than later, bring us the Yonge St. parade we Leaf fans have been itching for since, well you know the year. The Leafs need some guy to take charge and lead while being the lightning rod for criticism that the big smoke is notorious for. Dion, I hope you know what you are agreeing and getting yourself into because this is no easy task. Good luck my friend!

Always Something

2010-06-14T08:12:00.004-04:00

I have always been a little too in love with Jason Spezza ever since he broke into the NHL as the "rookie" to watch. Now that a few years have gone by, would it be possible for Spezza to finally play for the Leafs? The Senators obviously wanted to build a team around Spezza, Heatley, and Alfredsson but now that those Stanley Cup dreams have started to fade, maybe it is time for the some personnel changes.

Jason seems to be faltering and regressing with his last two seasons being sub-par. A change of scenery might be the cure. Just sad to see and hear that Spezza could never be a Leaf because of his contract. With a $7 million cap hit for 5 more seasons the Leafs are completely out of the picture.

The Leafs are in need of a guy who can light the lamp and with Spezza being a native of Mississauga this might give him a little more incentive to rack up the points and end the Stanley Cup drought.

If Spezza ever signs with the Leafs I will be the first in line to purchase his #19 jersey.

Change is Fast

2010-06-12T18:44:00.004-04:00

In sports, opinions change on a dime with movement usually based on personal opinions and feelings over the sound judgment of statistics and normal common sense. Writers from major news outlets and the average blogger seem to jump ship just as fast as they jump onto the bandwagon. I just don't understand why people seem to jump back and forth so quickly.

Tiger Woods is a prime example. Everyone is writing the guy off. He's finished. The Major record is farther and farther than ever before. Note: Woods needs to 4 to tie and 5 to break the record. His game is on the decline. Seriously, where does all this come from. He has a personal life setback and the world is now ready to hand the world's #1 golfer title over to someone else.

Yes, Woods hasn't won a tournament since his "return" but how many people out there on the tour have won more than one major or more than 2-3 regular weekly tournaments? Tiger has earned the respect that we should be giving him while he is walking the fairways.

I have no doubt Woods will return to the winners circle but until then, all you writers out there, relax and stop writing all these articles about the beginning of the end unless you have some true hard facts and numbers. There are plenty of other great moments in sports to talk about.

If Woods wins the US Open next week at Pebble Beach, are you obligated to jump back on the Tiger will win 19 majors bandwagon?

Open Your Eyes

2010-06-10T07:41:00.003-04:00

It wasn't an original 6 match-up but in my eyes it was just that. The bullies from Philadelphia against the true original 6 team from Chicago. When both teams made it to the Stanley Cup finals, it seemed kind of a perfect battle that the NHL needed, just something different than the Penguins and Red Wings.

There were plenty of story lines, Hossa, 7th seeded Philadelphia, and the drought both cities have endured but in my eyes the biggest story line was ~~Mr.~~ Gary Bettman. The message I would love to shout at him is,
"Look at the teams and the cities that are in the Stanley Cup finals and open your eyes to the fact that people from hockey cities deserve your attention. Instead of wasting time and money on non-traditional cities pay attention to the true hockey towns."
It pisses me off to see all the potential the NHL has as a league and be forced to watch an idiot like Bettman force NHL teams into American cities where hockey is basically a hobby and not a part of life. Hockey teams should be put into cities where arenas are going to sellout on a nightly basis, satisfying true blooded hockey fans and let's not leave out those owners who want to fatten up their bottom line. Win win situation!

The NHL and more importantly the loyal hockey fans deserve better.

Hope

2010-06-09T05:31:00.003-04:00

What else could the Nationals have asked for from Strasburg in his major league debut. After what was dubbed "Super Tuesday", Strasburg made it a truly special day. Debuting against the Pirates, the guy with the 100mph fastball finished with an impressive 14K's and more importantly a win for the Nationals in his first major league game.

I could go on and on about how great this guy is but everything has been said over and over since he signed after being drafted so I'll just leave it at this...he is the real deal.

Jealousy does not usually creep into my body but today, I'm am absolutely jealous of the Nationals, yes the Nationals. They have a legit ~~#1 pitcher~~ Cy Young pitcher in their rotation who was born in 1988. Go do the math and you'll just see why I'm jealous of the Nationals. Hope is a great thing and the Nationals finally have some hope.

Not only do the Nats have Strasburg but they just drafted another young phenom. You know the dude with black paint on his face? Harper, Bryce Harper is his name. The guy can flat out hit! I'll do the math on this guy's age, which adds up to...17! Wow, hope is a great thing.

Going back to the jealousy issue. The Jays have some prospects but nothing compared to Strasburg and Harper. With the likes of Snider, Lind, and Brett Wallace, we're kind of sitting on some good players but nowhere near the likes of the two guys from the Nationals.

I'll leave you with this last bit of trivia. If Strasburg strikeouts 5001 more batters, he'll break Nolan Ryan's all time K's record.

King?

2010-05-15T03:53:00.002-04:00

LeBron James is out of the 2010 playoffs and might have played his last game as a Cavalier.

My point is, who really is the King of the NBA? Seven years and no rings for the man who was supposed to win ring after ring during his professional basketball career.

Can you say Kobe "King" Bryant.

NOTE: If you have noticed, the posts are infrequent and short. Studying for a test. Sorry.

Amazing Strikeout Video

2010-05-11T08:06:00.002-04:00

Greatest strikeout video ever, PERIOD. Courtesy of David Wright of the Mets.

Video at MLB.com

Timmy

2010-04-24T03:17:00.003-04:00

What is there to say when a guy like this comes along and changes the landscape of a sport. Tim Lincecum is the only pitcher who completely holds my attention when I watch a baseball game. With his not so large frame (prefer not to use the S word), he still finds a way to blow pitches passed batters and keep them completely baffled. If you haven't had a chance to watch him pitch you better make some time to watch him, dominance doesn't last forever. Too bad I don't live in San Fran because it would be amazing to go out and watch him live.

Trainer

2010-04-16T18:49:00.001-04:00

Looking at shoes from the past (modeled from the past) seem to always bring up some sort of nostalgia but makes me feel the years go by a little too quickly.

Hurts Just a Little

2010-04-01T07:17:00.001-04:00

As a Leafs fan, both game winning goals came from two guys that were supposed to be big time players in the blue and white. Ouch!

The Triple Double

2010-03-18T05:14:00.003-04:00

30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists

Seeing players in the NBA finish with a triple double is pretty impressive and shows how great they played in the game. We see people around the league finish with triple doubles and to me I just don't see why it is so impressive. Yes, they reached double figures in three different categories and yes, they did it against the best basketball players from around the world but is it really that difficult to achieve a triple double? How about averaging a triple double for an entire season?

The only person to ever average a triple double through a full season was Oscar Robertson (the dude up above). In the 61-62 season he finished with triple double. Since then, there have been a total of ZERO people to average a triple double through an entire season. Guess it is difficult to finish with a triple double.

Well, maybe not. Most players have no shot at even finishing a game with a triple let alone finishing the season averaging one and I'll leave these players out. With someone like Steve Nash, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant I honestly think these guys can average a triple double when the final game is played in an NBA season.

The typical triple double includes points, rebounds, and assists. For the above players, 10 points is nothing. Check. Rebounds is a little tougher because they are guards but with these players they need to stop spending so much time trying to score and more time using their body/positioning and 10 rebounds is easily obtainable. Check. Assists is a category that obviously depends on your teammates but with the play making ability these three guys have...Check.

It is about conserving energy and putting it towards a certain goal. Limiting yourself to 10-12 points a night and putting more time in the rebounding/assists categories (except for Nash) isn't what they are paid the big bucks for.

If the Kobe focused on scoring 10 quick points and moved on to rebounding and play making, I honestly believe he could average a triple double throughout an NBA season.

A triple double is not easy but I just don't think it is all that crazy of an accomplishment. It all comes down to personal sacrifices.

Here We Go

2010-03-17T07:23:00.003-04:00

So far, I have stayed on the sidelines with the whole Tiger Woods affair scandal stuff because I actually don't think there is anything to talk about or report. His affair was wrong and it should be a private affair.

My beef with the whole story is the sad fact of how people live and breathe scandals. Stop and think about why every news outlet picked up the story and ran with it. There was a car accident in the middle of the night, an affair, plenty of girls coming out of the dark, and Tiger hiding out somewhere in the world. The reason why the news outlets picked up the story had nothing to do with the above, it had to do with the sad fact people in this world love gossip. This wouldn't be a story if the people who read, listen, and watch the news were interested in something other than boring gossip. You, the people, created the whole story.

You can say he's a role model but why do you even look up to professional athletes in the first place. Try to mimic their skills and movements but copy their way of life? Come on, you are just setting yourself up for a dramatic failure. I have always looked at pro athletes and copied what they are good at...playing the game. Do I want to copy their life styles? Hell, no!

Gossip is just plain old crap that teenage girls spread during their high school years.

Childish

2010-03-13T18:49:00.001-05:00

Rich and Dumb

2010-03-11T06:40:00.002-05:00

I know you are rich with the courtside tickets but no need for you to play the ball. Apparently, he's the CEO of Fiat or something like that.

Weird

2010-02-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

Weird

Spring Training is here and the year begins with me seeing ~~one of~~ the greatest Jays pitcher of all time putting on a new uni. This is just weird, period. Too bad the Jays didn't make a legitimate run at the World Series because everyone in the realm of baseball knows Roy deserves it. Hopefully the Phillies will give him a chance at that illusive title.

McGrady and Co.

2010-02-20T20:02:00.003-05:00

T-Mac has a new home and it happens to be a place where the impending free agent class will, apparently, gravitate to come the summer.

This move is a pretty bold statement to the fans of New York and the NBA that the Knicks are going to be a big player in the 2010 free agent frenzy. Just think about the possibilities that McGrady will be shown in the off season. If the Knicks sign two players to max deals and T-Mac takes a massive pay cut, the Knicks will have a pretty formidable team come 2010-11 season.

Throw T-Mac in the SF position, use him more as a role player, while Wade slots in as the SG, and Bosh/Stoudamire fill in as the PF. That would be a trio that could contend for multiple rings. Sorry goes out to the Suns, Heat, and Raptors. Life is tough.

See how I didn't mention LeBron James, the big prize in the potential free agent class. I'm starting to think that James is going to stay in Cleveland because of the love he is receiving from the fans and management. The true X-factor is Wade/Bosh/Stoudamire. If one of these guys gives James a call during the off season and wants to team up, I would assume that James would willfully comply. But with the PR mess that would ensue, it would make sense for him to stay.

James is the type of man who wants everything. He wants to be the leader, the man, and most importantly, the king of basketball when the dust settles on his career. Teaming up with one of the big free agents and winning multiple NBA championships would only solidify his reputation and legacy.

On the other hand, if James left the Cavs and, after teaming up with one of the big free agents, won multiple rings would anyone stand out and criticize James for not being the true NBA god he wants to be. He would be winning rings because he has the true supporting cast that All-star teams or Dream teams are made of. If he does choose to stay in Cleveland, it would show the world how great of a basketball player he really is. Taking a low-tier team and taking them to the promised land.

Only time will tell what the Knicks, with all their salary space, will do in the off season.

Now, just have to find a way to grab myself a T-Mac Knicks jersey.

Legacy

2010-02-20T02:27:00.004-05:00

Thirty-six years old and still as naive as a toddler who can barely walk. I have always followed the expression, "You get wiser as you age" but I guess Damon doesn't adhere to or even know of the existence of this ageless expression.

Johnny Damon, like so many other pro athletes, thinks he is the greatest thing this world has ever seen and deserves anything/everything and more. After winning another World Series ring with the Yankees, Damon was finished, contractually, and wanted a new long-term contract that would pay him some big time bucks.

The stats from 2009 back his request of a 2-3 year $10mil+ per season but at the age of 36 and with the economy in the shape it currently is, no team is going to go out and meet him at that price. It would be foolish to sign him on his terms.

Damon needs to come to the conclusion that money is nothing. He has earned all the money he needs and more to support his family, kids, kid's kids, and kid's kid's kids. You get where I am going with the money issue.

Legacy is what Damon should be worried about right now. He won the World Series in Boston and New York, two monster organizations that have had intense battles over the years. Why not go out and play for another team that has a legitimate shot at winning the World Series. Take the pay cut and pack on the rings and championships to the record books. Am I the only one that cares about winning championships year in and year out? Money might be a huge factor in the early years but at the tail end of a career, money has already been earned and bank accounts stuffed to the point where interest is worth a single year's salary.

People should be paid for their ability and potential but in this case Damon needs to check his ego at the door and take the pay cut for his shot to boost his already big legacy.

#19

2010-02-16T14:19:00.000-05:00

How can someone with the skill set that Jason Spezza possesses wear such an ugly uniform?

Since I first heard of Jason Spezza as a 16 year old playing on Team Canada's Junior team, I have been fascinated and a little obsessed with him. Hearing from friends who attended McMaster University that his girlfriend was a student there only intensified the man-love. Note: I was never a Mustang. Enough of the man-love talk.

After losing Heatley to the Sharks, Spezza saw his production completely fall off the table with 5 stinking goals in the first 4 months of the season. After returning from injury on Jan. 23, he has lit the lamp 10 times! That's 10 goals in 11 games!

This is the kind of guy the Leafs need in the Blue and White. As I have mentioned before, the only reason I do not have Spezza's jersey is because he plays for the Senators. Look at the ugly ass logo on the jersey. What the hell is that all about. If I was a Senators fan, I would be ashamed to call that my jersey.

I know how difficult it would be, actually how impossible it would be to acquire this scoring machine. His big contract ($8mil this year). His position on the Sens (he's the leader). Sens position in the standings (1st in the NE and 3rd in the Conference). But, anything is possible.

Having Spezza on the team would be great. Can you imagine having this kind of guy playing in the ACC on a regular basis lighting up the lamp and carrying Toronto deep into the playoffs and hoisting the oh so great Lord Stanley.

Dreams can come true.

Raps

2010-02-15T18:23:00.003-05:00

Quickly take a look at the NBA Eastern Conference standings. The Raptors are sitting in the 5th position right behind the Celtics...wait. Yup, the All-Star break has come and the Celtics have hit a slide that has seen their lead over the Raps fall from double digits to only 4 games!

I had a friend ask me a few days ago if the Raps could win the Atlantic division for the second time in franchise history and I replied with, "no!" Seriously, do you honestly think the Raps can take the Atlantic division from the Celtics? With the depth they have the Raps would have to go on a pretty big binge of wins to over take the Celtics.

Injuries will be the wild card. KG and Allen are both on the older side and with trade talks starting to swirl around the NBA, Allen might not even be wearing the green and white when the trade deadline comes and goes.

The Raps will bring Toronto the playoff atmosphere that is badly needed but a chance at the Atlantic conference, I don't think so.

Time Goes By

2010-02-03T04:50:00.001-05:00

Still remember watching Jordan and Bird go at it. Where does the time go?

Injury Bug

2010-01-27T07:20:00.003-05:00

A blink of an eye is all it takes to see former No.1 Rafael Nadal fall from grace. It seemed like only a few hours ago that people in the tennis world were preparing parades and trophy presentations for the Spaniard. I won't lie, I am one of those people who thought Federer would not be comfortably sitting atop the tennis world while Nadal was around. Never would I have thought that Nadal would fall this hard to the injury bug.

At the young age of 23, Nadal has a chance to still recover and come back and dominate the sport for a few years, heck look at Roger and what he is doing with those 28 year old legs. This is what everyone talks about when it comes down to young athletes who seem to have infinite potential in the professional ranks, staying healthy is a skill. Some people have it and some don't.

If I was Nadal, I would seriously take as long as it takes to get back to 100% health before even trying to enter a future tournament. The risk of ruining your career because of forced attempts to get back on the court will only leave Nadal with ifs and should haves.

Weren't people saying Nadal had the chance to be the career grand slam record holder?

With a blink of an eye, six might be it.

Come Together

2010-01-26T05:18:00.004-05:00

Can you believe that Wade and James will be free agents after this season. It is incredible how time flies when it comes to contracts and superstars that reside in the NBA.

Remember a few years back when the Celtics were a pathetic team and all of a sudden KG and Ray Allen appeared beside Pierce. That trio seemed to have worked out. All three players are great but we all know and will agree that they are not in the prime of their respective careers. That isn't saying they aren't great players, just not what they were at their peak.

People around the sports worlds have talked about uniting another "big three" somewhere else in the NBA especially with the free agents searching for some love after 2010. There are plenty of combination's that could change the landscape and power of the NBA but what interests me the most is a James/Wade union. What if these two guys got together in the off-season and came to an agreement to join forces and take the NBA trophy like the Celtics did in the 60's (actually, starting from 1957 to 1969, the Celtics won 11 championships).

Let's push this a little further. What if James/Wade persuaded a third big time free agent to join the team, say Bosh or Stoudamire. Wow, wouldn't that be absolutely insane to see these three guys, who are in their primes, come together and play on a nightly basis?

If these guys are telling the truth about only wanting to win and secure as many Larry O'Brien trophy's as they can, they would take the pay cut and come together and dominate the NBA. What they lose in salary they will easily make it up in endorsements.

To the reader, it may seem that I am dying for this to happen, I'm not going to lie it would be nice to see this happen, but what would happen to the NBA. Think about what would happen to the markets in Cleveland, Miami, and my hometown Toronto if these players all left and signed with a new team. All three cities were just starting to rebuild through these players and would have nothing if they leave.

Making the NBA a less competitive and even more predictable league is not something I would enjoy on a nightly basis. Yes, it would be nice to see the guys dominate the league for a year but taking 6 championships in a row kind of destroys the game of basketball and the enjoyment it gives me everyday.

Wouldn't it be nice for big time NBA players to turn down a max contract and go for what they, as kids, dreamed of doing every time they touched the hardwood, to win the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Update: Envy

2010-01-25T05:31:00.002-05:00

Just when I talk about how I envy Kobe and his winning ways and how I'm stuck in loserville, the Raps defend home court with a 106-105 win over Kobe and Co.

Envy

2010-01-24T07:50:00.004-05:00

Reinforcements are here

I envy number two four, Kobe Bryant.

Yes, I would love to have the money, the fame, the hot wife, and the life that comes with being a successful NBA champion but those things are nothing compared to why I truly envy Kobe. Remember when I wrote a post about losing and how it absolutely sucks to be stuck in loserville? This is why I envy Kobe, he is a winner.

This guy has everything in the world that comes with having a fat cheque from an NBA team but what sets him a part from all the ball players is who he goes to battle with on any given night. Every time the trainer tapes his ankles and after he laces up his shoes, he runs down the tunnel with a group of guys that include Gasol, Fish, Bynum, Odom, and the newly added Artest. This is what I envy.

With the entire core of the Lakers under contract for a few years, Kobe has the option of being a part of a team that could potentially bring home the trophy every year for the next 3-5 years. What else could someone ask for in life.

Continuously winning is something only a few will ever experience and for a guy who is suffering through a pretty bad dryspell (Leafs, Raptors, & Jays), it is almost impossible to look at someone as great as Kobe and not truly envy them. Seriously, some people are just blessed with being in the right place at the right time and for Kobe, the time is now.

Hopefully one day soon, the sun will rise again and shine brightly upon my hometown heroes.

That's All Folks

2010-01-19T06:46:00.002-05:00

Watching this hit not only took the air out of Kurt Warner but took some air out of me. With all the talk surrounding Warner about retirement, especially with his intimate relationship with concussions, I instantly thought Warner was headed for another concussion and ultimately retirement.

Now that the loss as officially sunk in for me, I hope Warner does not retire from the NFL. It would be nice to see him back for another year but that is pure selfishness from my behalf. If he decides to retire and leave professional football for good, I'll have one of those tearjerking moments but I would completely understand.

Kurt Warner has always stood by the "there is more to life than football" motto and I couldn't agree more.

Quote of 2010

2010-01-18T07:42:00.003-05:00

"Probably the most fatigued I got today was celebrating"

Federer 2010

2010-01-16T22:37:00.003-05:00

Roger will be rocking in the above shoes for the 2010 season. Simple and clean, this pair seems to fit Federer to a T with the baby blue and the RF logo on the back. Been looking through tennis shoes lately and really enjoying the simple concepts they produce. Haven't seen too many pairs in the stores that I would personally grab but have mentioned it to a few owners who will hopefully be stocking the shelves with upcoming tennis models.

Losing SUCKS

2010-01-16T02:24:00.004-05:00

It was Sunday, January 3rd and after enjoying a wonderful Christmas dinner, New Year's dinner, and of course all the rest that comes with the festive season it finally hit me, losing is what surrounds me from countdown to countdown.

Sports is a wonderful thing and over the years it has taken up most of my waking/sleeping hours in many different forms. From playing to watching highlights to reading almost every article out there that includes rumours, trades, and even what players do in the locker room. Didn't expect a gangsta throw down though, via Arenas.

As the NFL year ended for my beloved Rams with another freakin' loss, this time to the 49er's, it hit me, losing sucks! Look at what I have endured with the Rams in the past 3 years. My Rams have put together 6 wins out of the possible 48 games and we all know most of those losses were complete blow outs.

What the heck happened?!? It was only 2004 when they had a great group of guys that had the potential to do some damage deep into the NFL playoffs. I don't know what sucks more, their 6 wins in the past 3 years or the upcoming 2010-2011 season. At least the NFL is known for their competitiveness in which teams can turn things around in a few seasons. Oh crap, uncapped salaries on the horizon? Damn!

How about the Leafs? Just another tough few years at the Air Canada Centre. Even before the 03/04 season (the last year the Leafs made the playoffs) we really didn't have a team on the ice that could make a run at the cup. People are going to bitch and moan about that statement but sometimes the truth hurts. We had the money and we spent it but I didn't see the value behind the moves. Signing free agents or trading youth/picks for stud names that were on the decline is not my cup of tea.

The years keep adding up for the Leafs and me but unlike the Rams, the Leafs have a brighter future. Adding some youth and keeping them will hopefully turn the ACC into a playoff arena where the ~~real~~ corporate fans can cheer them on. Seriously, we need to put some real fans in the platinum seats because watching a game of hockey and seeing suits behind the glass is pathetic. We need guys like Puddy with painted faces and letters on their chests pounding the ACC glass.

Gotta support the team

Moving down the street in the shadow of the CN Tower the boys of summer aren't really making me feel so great either. Having not seen the playoffs in almost what feels like forever doesn't hurt as much as the Rams and the Leafs. Maybe since I haven't seen/experienced the MLB playoffs in so long I'm numb to the 3rd place finishes in the tough AL East. We all know that the big time spenders in our division is the reason why the Jays aren't in the playoffs as a wild card team and you know what that is how life goes.

It was great how we spent the money and went for it with the signings of Wells, Rios, BJ, AJ, and to a lesser extent Overbay and Glaus. Again, it sucks that we have to compete against the boys who sign the elite FA's in their primes. Life is life. I'm not really sure if the Jays are going to be alright in the near future, it is just too early to tell especially with a new GM.

I wanted to talk about the Raptors and their situation but I'm a little depressed with all this talk about losing so I'm going to just stop.

In sports, like a roller-coaster, there are ups and downs. If this is how it feels during the downs, I'm hoping the ups will feel the opposite and some because I'm not sure how long I can endure the losing streaks year in and year out.

Seriously, losing sucks.

On Fire!

2010-01-08T18:52:00.003-05:00

Just doing the daily roundabout through various sites to kill some time, I wandered into a bit of news that peeked my interest. Remember the days when you played NBA Jam? Come on, don't lie, we all know everyone who was anyone played this game religiously against one of their friends. It was an iconic game that set out to bring NBA showtime to the living rooms of every gamer/fan in the world. No matter who you are you know this game and how it brings friends together for some trash talk. If it does make it's way back to the mainstream console it would be nice but I don't see it making a run at popularity it once held when it was released almost two decades ago. He's on Fire!!!

Again

2010-01-02T07:18:00.003-05:00

It is 2010 and Kobe is still draining game winning shots at the buzzer for the Lakers. Who else in the NBA would you trust to hold the ball at the end of the game? There is absolutely no one in the NBA that can compare to the heroics Bryant provides when the game is on the line.

Watching greatness unfold in front of me every time he touches the hardwood.

Meat Lover

2009-12-25T06:07:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas!!! Happy Holidays!!!

I am up pretty early this morning, 5:30am to be exact, and I'm ready for food.

In about 12 hours or so, I will be cutting into a nice piece of Prime Rib.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful day.

WJH

2009-12-24T23:47:00.004-05:00

Ready?

A Good Day

2009-12-15T03:27:00.004-05:00

The whole Halladay storyline in Toronto has finally come to a close. The greatest pitcher in baseball is now officially not a Toronto Blue Jay and will not be found north of the border come 2010.

Thank you baseball gods!

I am ecstatic that the Jays finally dealt the one we call The Doc before the season started and have given him a legitimate chance at winning the World Series. For all those people who bitch and moan about what we are going to get in return I have one thing to say to you, "Fuck Off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" This guy has done everything he has been asked to do while pitching at the Dome and didn't complain about what he had in the dugout when it was time to battle day in and day out. I wouldn't care if we just gave him a way. Seriously, giving him a way for free.

I have seen him a total of 4 times. The first time I saw him pitch I didn't really make note of him except it was a game that the Jays won. The second time I saw him I was one of those teenagers working behind the counter making pizza when he was running through the level 500 concourse before a game. I was in awe and the nice guy he was, he gave me a smile while my mouth was wide open. Oh yeah, did I mention he's a beast!!! Third/Fourth time I saw him was on the mound where he won another two games for the Jays. I didn't have the chance to see him live in his final year at the Dome but I'm praying I see him on TV pitching the clinching game in the 2010 World Series.

Thanks man, seriously, thanks for everything!

4 to 5

2009-12-11T22:19:00.003-05:00

So, Kobe Bryant and Nike have just introduced the Kobe V's. Hmmm...wait. Didn't they just introduce the Kobe IVs? Is it me or is it people just keeping coming out with shoes/shirts/jerseys just for the sake of making more and more money? I know this is capitalism at it's finest but coming out with a new product every month (exaggeration) is a little much.

Also, what is the deal with low's these days? The reason, in my opinion, recreational ballers out there shouldn't buy these shoes and play in them is simple, we do not tape our ankles when we play. Kobe and all the other NBA players out there can use low's because their ankles are already taped to the extreme. They honestly don't need any more support with a high top shoe. On the other hand, recreational players need the extra support from high tops because they don't have the benefit of a trainer taping their ankles up before hitting the court.

Nice shoe but for playing ball as an average Joe, this might not be the greatest shoe out there. Go out and buy a high top and keep those ankles injury free.

tiger

2009-12-09T07:28:00.003-05:00

Photo taken from a Japanese newspaper

As you have noticed, I'm staying away from the whole Tiger thing but look what we have here.

Even in Japan, Tiger is being ripped a part. If you don't understand Japanese don't worry, you can easily come up with something with the picture on the right and also the "family tree" type diagram underneath Tiger.

Made my day.

Donations Anyone?

2009-12-09T06:32:00.000-05:00

Simple and ready for my feet.

A Sports Fan

2009-12-08T06:25:00.000-05:00

If you are a hockey fan you will appreciate the above video.

Even though I am a born Torontonian and have never once cheered for the Habs, I still had a second of awe when I saw this. Seeing all the greats who once laced up their skates and found a spot on the TV every Saturday night in our living rooms made me think how lucky we are to have lived to see them.

I missed out on seeing some of the greats play in hockey, and in every other sport, but just think about how lucky we are right now to have lived to see Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Pete Sampras, Pedro Martinez, Joe Montana, and the list could go on and on for days.

With all the writers out there that bitch and moan about their team and how much they suck, why not write about the game itself. The players who make your night entertaining and just take in the great thing most of us take for granted.

Let's enjoy the thing we call sports.

MJ & Black Mamba

2009-12-07T06:48:00.001-05:00

When I saw the winning shot by Kobe Bryant to beat the Heat, I instantly thought about Jordan and his shot over Ehlo and the Cavs.

Seriously, it's the same shot!

Sky High

2009-12-06T00:07:00.003-05:00

Oh my gosh!

Plus a 110-78 win over the Bulls.

How sweet it feels.

Rooookie from USC

2009-12-05T00:43:00.005-05:00

The rookie from USC, DeMar DeRozan, is catching my eye these days with his play above the rim. Every time I check out the "Game in Six" highlights, DeMar seems to find a way to get himself plastered throughout the highlight package. I always love watching rookies come into the league and attack the rim with every touch of the ball and I hope it continues. I've been let down a multiple times in the past...*cough* VC...

Hopefully, DeMar doesn't let the contract and big dollar signs keep him out in the perimeter to prevent the physical play that comes along with attacking the rim.

Mental Break

2009-12-04T03:27:00.004-05:00

Watching this video leaves me with a complete blank in my mind as to what was this dude thinking during this play. After watching it, what are you thinking?

I understand that linemen are suppose to hold their position so they won't be called for a penalty but after a few seconds of movement, from opponents and from your teammates, plus the lack of whistles or flags being thrown on the ground, wouldn't one at least stand up?

Even after this blank slate in my head, this is why I love sports. You just never know what is going to happen next. The second you think you have seen the stupidest, weirdest, and most mind boggling play that is when something like this will pop up.

Do Dreams Come True?

2009-11-30T04:58:00.003-05:00

Steve Nash
Guy comes into the ACC and brings the roof down.

Holy crap, what a performance Nash continues to put up night after night, day after day. When Nash signed an extension, keeping himself planted as the PG of the Suns, I felt a little sadness come over me. Dreaming of having Nash suit up in Canada as a Raptor was something I was itching for, even though it was something only left for the world of dreams. Oh...dreamssssss.

Another 20pts and 16assists and a few wipes to dry some of the tears from my eyes and he's gone. Only if Nash was a Raptor. I enjoy having Calderon around but he's no Steve Nash.

How come it isn't working?
Looking at the Raptors lineup, I am a little surprised at where we are in the standings. Having Bosh, Bargnani, Hedo, and Calderon in the starting lineup, IMO, is not a 7-11 team.

We all know what Bosh can do on the court and how much energy he can bring so let's move on. How many centres out there can handle Andrea? Guy can hit the 3, put it on the floor and stop for a mid-range shot, and go straight to the hole. He's averaging 17pts a game but he should be in the low 20's. How about Hedo. I was not a fan of the signing but he is a decent player. Hits a few 3's and can play on the perimeter. Looking at Calderon, he's the PG most coaches want. Handles the ball and keeps the TO's to a minimum, under 2 a game, while contributing some at the offensive end.

I know we don't have the interior guy to clean up the garbage and the big stopper on the defensive end but it just doesn't seem right at the moment, sitting at 7-11 with this lineup? Defense wins championships and at this point the Raptors don't have that and maybe this is the main reason we have a 7-11 record going into December.

At the moment, all I want is a guy to come in and grab 10-12 boards a night. A guy who can dish out the hard foul when needed (how are you balls feeling Bosh?). A guy who can make the picks, grab the loose balls, and do all the little things that earn him a reputation in the locker room.

Is there someone out there that wants this role? If so, give Colangelo a ring.

The Underbelly

2009-11-29T02:38:00.002-05:00

"Slow down Vince, we haven't seen the underbelly yet."

Words from the great Johnny Drama.

After a quick read through the sports pages, I landed on the Sports and The City blog (head on over, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it). His latest post got my attention and made me head over to see the game highlights.

EVERYONE...go to the 4:50 mark in the above video and watch.
Seriously, go and watch it!!!

Okay, now that you are finished, what the fuck was that?!?!

Chris Bosh, the guy who is going to be a free agent and will most likely leave Toronto unless something serious appears, was absolutely embarrassed by Paul Pierce and what made things worse was what his teammates did...N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luckily for Bosh, head coach Triano, stepped in and stood up for him when he was holding his balls after being kneed. I am disgusted by this lack of respect Bosh's "teammates" (I use that word loosely) showed for the guy we are trying to keep in town. Ummm, if Bosh goes, so does hope. Ever think about that boys?!

When your main man is down and you have a player jumping and prancing around like Pierce, you go and get a technical. No, you go and get the double tech and you show that no one in the league can do that to your main man because if they do, they'll feel it.

The Raptors underbelly has finally been exposed.

Elevation

2009-11-28T20:03:00.004-05:00

Just watch Shannon Brown elevate. Absolutely ridiculous!!!

Few Thoughts

2009-11-28T18:27:00.004-05:00

I can't believe how fast time flies when work comes a callin'. It has been a full 7 days since my last post and crap has piled up in my brain that needs to be written.

Timmy - Lincecum has earned another Cy Young, 2nd straight, and for all of you who have him on your keeper list in fantasy baseball think Johan time. I love this guy! Tiny little man who throws like the big power pitchers before him, think Big-Unit, Schilling, and Clemens (does he count?). The one thing I am questioning is his choice for a 1-year deal in arbitration. This maximizes earning potential, which is great, but seems a little risky for a pitcher. I'm not 100% sure on the salary structure under the agreement between MLB and the MLBPA but heading into an off-season with two consecutive Cy Young's should break the bank either way.

Jays Fill SS - The Jays have signed two free agents and both are SS's, Alex Gonzalez and John McDonald. Nothing that can compare with the big free agents like Bay and Holliday but roster filling moves that should keep the Jays moving forward...slowly. Went digging to see who we have in the minors to fill the SS position in the coming years and I found nothing worth truly smiling about. Remember Russ Adams, how about Angel Sanchez? I have accepted a losing season from the SkyDome for the next, ummm, 5 years.

The Answer - Holy crap, this guy just doesn't get it. From my last post about Iverson, he has found a way to piss me off even more. Come on man, retiring in the middle of the season because no team wants to give you a starting gig and infect their organization with a brutal disease called your ego, arrogance, the list could go on forever. Buddy, you are good but not good enough to suck up all the shots on the court. You are good but not good enough for a team to put up with your shit. Wake up and read the papers, read the blogs, and the read the sports pages because you need to come to the realization that you are not going to be the focal point on any team that is going to be successful in the NBA. Why is it, people who have all the skill the in world have nothing else but that skill?

Federer - He finished the year at number 1 but couldn'd find a way to win the final tournament. He is not the old unbeatable Federer and everyone in the world knows it. Once the veil is lifted and we find out what things look like people usually say, "He's human just like me." It is always nice to see Federer win but with young guns coming from behind everyone will be hearing about early exits from tournaments in 2010 and beyond.

In Debt

2009-11-21T20:31:00.008-05:00

Let's face it boys, Mr. Roy Halladay is not going to be a Blue Jay after the 2010 MLB season. He might not even put on a Jays jersey come Feb/Mar when spring training starts.

Before going on off on a few things that are on my mind, I would like to say something from the heart to Halladay.

I am sorry Mr. Halladay. I am sorry that the city of Toronto didn't give you what you deserve, a legitimate chance at the World Series. You signed on the dotted line and committed to the city of Toronto and in the end you gave us what mere mortals could only dream of doing. It is time for you to move on to another team in search of what you deserve, a beautiful world series ring. I just wish we had the resources, the luck, and/or anything that would keep you in town but in baseball and life, we all have to face a limited amount of anything and everything. I hope you have a great career and find what you desperately seek, a world series ring.

Reports are saying that Halladay will not sign with the Jays after his contract comes to a close after the 2010 season. Duuhhhhhhh! A man with talent like this who has reached a certain age is not going to sign with a team like the Jays. The Jays are headed for another losing season. Wow, that was kind of depressing to type out.

So, Mr. New GM, please trade Halladay before spring training and give him a chance to win a world series now. We owe it to Halladay. Look at what he has given us over the years. If the Jays decide to keep Halladay for another year, I am going to abandon the SkyDome in protest because I know there is a package out there that someone can offer that will allow The Doc to find a ring.

Please please please please, trade Halladay! We owe it to him!

Everyone in Toronto is going to miss you.

20th Anniversary

2009-11-20T21:55:00.002-05:00

The 20th Anniversary of one of the biggest shoes that has ever touched the shelves is detailed in the above video. Having 20 different types in cities around the world...a collector's dream and nightmare all wrapped into a beautiful pump.

Quit It

2009-11-17T04:21:00.004-05:00

Note: I love Forsberg. If it wasn't for his busted up foot he'd be a record breaker.

News is coming out of Sweden that Peter Forsberg will finish this season in the Swedish Elite League. Honestly, who gives a rats ass. It is time for everyone to get over this story about Forsberg making a comeback to play in the NHL. It is so overplayed because it happens every single year. With all the problems Forsberg faces with injuries, every time he laces up his skates to play a game people start to speculate when or if he will try to make another appearance on an NHL roster.

Is there nothing else to report on except this every single year? Can't we focus on some young guns that are taking the NHL into the next decade. How about talking about how some nobody is now tearing up the NHL after spending his entire career riding Greyhound buses in the minors. Tons of untapped stories that would add interest for the average fan.

Forsberg is great and it would great to see him back in the NHL but come on guys, take it easy with all the stories about him. The only story with Forsberg is if you have a picture of him signing a NHL contract to come back and play in North America. Until then, please write about something else.

Fight to the End

2009-11-14T20:12:00.004-05:00

This is what I want to see every time the Raptors take to the court, a full 48minute game from start to finish. Falling behind to the Clippers by 22 points at one point, the Raptors found a way to scrap some points together and ended up on the winning end of a 104-89 game.

It is always encouraging to see a game like this but it doesn't mean anything to me unless they can do this consistently. After a pretty brutal couple of years watching the Leafs, Raptors, and Jays, this group of ball players are keeping me tuned in and entertained. Hopefully it continues and leads to a playoff team come April.

Just looking at the road ahead for the Raptors, I have a little feeling in my gut we're going to hit a rough patch. I know the Raps can handle themselves and scrap for points but with the likes of the Suns (twice), Celtics, and Magic in the weeks to come.

Taste of Revenge

2009-11-13T17:55:00.002-05:00

Isn't it great playing against your old team and leaving with a victory at the end of the night. I have never had to play against my old team but I have played against a team that cut me from their roster. Oh did it feel great when I left the field and shook the coaches hand at the end of the game after every win. Yes, there were multiple wins. If my memory serves me correctly, I don't think I have ever lost to that team. A few of those games were for championships too.

Ray Emery had a chance to play his former team, the Ottawa Senators, and he almost shut them out winning his 5th straight contest. The feeling Emery had when he skated off the ice after the final buzzer must have been amazing. Leaving the Senators after the 07-08 season in a less than an amicable split, which resulted in no contracts being offered to Emery except from a team in Russia added fuel to the fire.

Looking back, the Senators had to let Emery go because of his tendency to live his life on his own terms and basically not give a rats ass about everyone else around him. There are some players out their that are allowed to be assholes but Emery isn't one of them. He just isn't good enough to be one of those players. So far this season, Emery has actually proven to be a solid #1 goalie in the NHL after his return from the KHL over in Russia. The Flyers goalie has posted strong numbers (10-3-1 with a .924SV% and a 2.18GAA) this season in a strong Atlantic division.

Guys like Emery seem to be a virus that brings teams down to their knees just like Allen Iverson is on the court. The Senators were right to let him but it does hurt a little when Emery comes back into the picture and leaves with a W at the end of the night.

D-Wade

2009-11-13T07:54:00.003-05:00

Oh my...

Sad Day

2009-11-12T06:11:00.003-05:00

I am sad to say that Ken Griffey Jr. will be returning in 2010 as a professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners as a full-time DH. Griffey Jr. signed a 1yr deal that will bring his .214 batting average back to Safeco Field.

The move by Griffey Jr. is a move most pro athletes do when their careers are drawing to an end. Letting go is one of the toughest and almost impossible decisions athletes have to make in their lives. After an entire life of batting practice, shagging fly balls, and joking around with teammates, it seems The Kid can't let go. Even after his sad and over the hill 2009 numbers, he knew that the Mariners would bring him back if he requested. So he did.

On the business side, this is a decent decision. Bring back a legend, a future hall of famer, and a winning smile and you have a recipe for financial success. People will flock to see him, buy up every jersey and promotional item, people will buy up outfield seats hoping they will catch his final HR ball, but most importantly, people will spend money, big money, which will help the Mariners.

As a long time fan of The Kid, who the hell isn't, I just can't take another season of Mendoza line averages, sluggish swings, and the 0-4 with 3K nights. It hurts. It really hurts. In 2009 it was okay for him to have a terrible year because I thought he was going to retire so I accepted his 2009 year. For all the bad at-bats he had, I didn't give a rats ass about them because when he connected and hit one of his 19 home runs, it was all worth it.

Time stops for no one and it seems like someone is trying to at least slow it down for just one more year. I wish he just retired so we can move on and place him with the other greats of the game. In Cooperstown.

C is for Cut

2009-11-11T05:57:00.007-05:00

When the Red Sox found a way to get Victor Martinez into their lineup I felt a little something for the guy who wears the C in the locker room. Now that the Red Sox have officially exercised the option on Martinez, Jason Varitek (guy who wears the C) is now left out in the dark to fend for himself.

Let me say a few things about this C on his jersey. It is one of the stupidest and ugliest things I have ever seen in sports. Baseball does not and should not have this C sewed to jersey of any baseball player because it is not a part of the sport. Leave the C for hockey. Every time I see the C on his jersey I'm disgusted and kind of happy he hits like a little leaguer.

Anyways, back to the original topic. Now that Martinez is here Varitek is the guy who is left looking in from the outside. We all know that this decision was one of the easiest decisions Theo Epstein has ever had to make as the GM of the Red Sox. One hand we have a guy who actually hits the ball and on the other we have a guy who swings and finds a way to make the all-star team with a .200avg. Hmmmm...tough decision.

Guess if he didn't have the C on his chest this wouldn't even be worth mentioning but that C on his chest just irks me. This post has nothing valuable to add to anything except for the fact it gave me a chance to vent a little.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Still Has It

2009-11-10T05:40:00.003-05:00

20 Assists in a 119-115 victory over the Sixers

Killer Instinct

2009-11-10T05:10:00.002-05:00

This is why the Raptors are going to be fighting for their lives when it comes to making the playoffs. Losing to the Spurs is nothing to be ashamed of but when their two leading stars, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, are out of the lineup the Raptors had no excuse for not leaving San Antonio with a victory.

In a close 131-124 game, the Raptors didn't come out with the killer instinct and bury the Spurs from the get go. Instead, they allowed Manu and, former Raptor, Matt Bonner to go 10 for 16 from beyond the arc. This was absolutely disgusting and the entire Raptors organization should be ashamed of how they played.

Going over the points per quarter, the Raps traded bucket for bucket until falling apart in the 4th. Wouldn't the Raptors have a deeper bench since they weren't missing their top 2 stars? Guess my logic/reasoning doesn't always hold up.

If the Raptors want to be a playoff team, they need to find that killer instinct to dismantle and dominate teams that are weaker or short-handed and play a full 48min game. Until they find a way to put teams away they will be nothing more than a team fighting for the 8th and final playoff spot.

Shoes

2009-11-09T05:05:00.003-05:00

Simple shoe with a simple colour scheme. Nike Air Max 90's is a pair I would love to add to my closet. Would be nice to see a littler more yellow on the shoe. Maybe the swoosh?

Chocolate Lacoste shoes. Not a huge fan of high-tops or mids but this shoe seems to grab my attention.

Stat of The Day

2009-11-08T02:54:00.004-05:00

5 for 5 from beyond the arc!

Chris Bosh is known for his inside presence but it seems he has found a new weapon. He has drained all five of his 3-point attempts this year.

On The Rise

2009-11-08T02:34:00.005-05:00

Wings visiting the Leafs

After a terrible start to the season in October, the Leafs have made a 180. After walking in and taking a win from Paul Maurice and the Hurricanes, the Leafs came back home to a tough Red Wing team. Who cares, we have Kessel and Gustavsson. The Leafs were in control for the entire night leaving the ACC with a 5-1 victory. What impressed me the most was the balance in scoring with 12 guys registering a point in the game, that to me is a sign of good things to come.

November brings 13 games and if the Leafs can leave the ACC on Nov. 30 with 7 to 9 wins, you'll see me with a pretty big smile. You won't see me planning a parade down Yonge or Bay (not too sure where they would hold it) but with the Leafs winning and rising up through the standings, it gives me hope that the Leafs have started their path to the ultimate goal, raising the Stanley Cup.

Nippon Series & World Series

2009-11-07T18:16:00.003-05:00

The Yankees of Japan, the Yomiuri Giants, have reached the top of Japanese Baseball. The Giants beat the Nippon Ham Fighters in game 6 of the Japan Series.

I watched a few games of this series and didn't think much of it until the Yankees won the World Series. The world seems to always surprise me with weird coincidences. Both the Yankees and the Giants are big time spenders in their respective leagues and countries and both teams were in a little drought. The Yankees haven't won since 2000 and the Giants haven't won since 2002.

Just a little information for my readers.

For more info, head over to the Japan Series Wiki or the official Yomiuri Giants webpage (warning, it is all in Japanese).

Worth Every Penny

2009-11-07T17:46:00.005-05:00

Browsing through the sports pages and I come across the above headline. No shit he's going to stay with the Dodgers after having a season like he just had in 2009. He would never come close to that on the open market especially when Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are available, plus add in the current economic situation.

What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, super agent Boras was trying to land a 3-5 year guaranteed deal worth $25mil or so a year for his precious client Manny Ramirez. We all know the Dodgers took a hard stance and didn't cave into the aging slugger's outrageous demands...kind of. Instead, the Dodgers and Manny agreed to their current deal, 2-years worth $40mil.

After suffering through a female fertility drug suspension and a 104AB, .290avg, 19HRs, and 63RBIs, the Dodgers are now kind of stuck.

Looking back the Dodgers didn't have a choice last year. They were stuck with Manny because they had no one else to throw their money at. In my eyes, this aging slugger still has some power left in him. If Manny came out and batted .310 with 30+HRs and batted in 100+, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. He is that great of a pure hitter that producing at the age of 37-38 wouldn't shock/surprise any true baseball fan. On the other hand, he could produce numbers comparable to Vernon Wells in 2009 (minus the 17SBs) and that wouldn't surprise me either. What ever happens, the Dodgers are stuck with their dreadlocks slugger.

This is what $20mil buys you these days in the big leagues. A 37 going on 38 year old slugger who is might be clean now, jogging and shagging balls in left field (during games). Where did the days go when giving a player $20mil ~~gave~~ guaranteed you .320avg, 40HRs, and 130RBIs?

Guess money doesn't buy happiness. It's LA, the land of outrageous everything. Maybe 2010 will bring some happiness to Manny Land.

#2

2009-11-07T00:02:00.003-05:00

Win number two! Clawing our way back into the playoffs. One win at a time.

I never would have thought that the Leafs would get their second win of the season in November. I hope the return of Kessel to the ice will add some needed offence.

Out of Luck

2009-11-06T19:58:00.004-05:00

Coming off a 17 win season, the Kings hoped for an improvement but I guess they are out of luck. Kevin Martin, their leading scorer and in many respects their only scorer, is out for the next 6-8 weeks with a fracture to his left wrist. This isn't what I have a little beef with.

The Kings are a terrible organization. Take a look at their depth chart and you'll see a team that has absolutely nothing more than a D-League lineup. I'm not knocking the D-League but when an NBA team has a roster that can be easily beaten by a D-League team, there is something wrong. How did the Kings get to this point? I still remember the day when the Kings were a team that was mentioned in the same breath as the Lakers and the Mavs.

How quickly teams can fall.

It is always sad to see teams completely fall apart over a short period of 2-3 years. Seeing teams finish dead last and 20 odd games out of a playoff spot is pathetic and a black eye on the league. Letting a team fall that far out of contention should only happen if all the stars are aligned against you with key injuries and bad bounces.

Hopefully the Kings, and every dead last team in sports, find a way to compete and finish the season with a respectable record even if they are dead last in the league.

Worth $1,751,732?

2009-11-06T05:26:00.005-05:00

2009 opening day payrolls according to USA Today.
Yankees - $201,449,189
Blue Jays - $80,538,300

Number of regular season victories.
Yankees - 103
Blue Jays - 75

Money spent per victory.
Yankees - $1,955,817
Yankees - $1,751,732 (World Series)
Blue Jays - $1,073,710

Difference per victory.
$678,022

A difference of $678,022 per win. Oh yeah, that includes a World Series championship. The old business mentality, "To make money, you need to spend money" holds true yet again. The Yankees go out and spend like crazy on talent and guess what happens, they bring home a championship. Not only are they bringing home a championship but they are giving themselves different revenue streams. Adding playoff games increases ticket revenue, all the merchandise from AL East champs, ALDS/ALDS champs, and of course the big one World Series champions gives the Yankees an opportunity to spend big time money on free agents and on their high salaries.

That is life and for all those fans who cheer for a losing team that spend almost nothing on salaries, you should be complaining to the owners instead of bitching about all the money the Yanks are spending.

If I was a rich S.O.B, I'd spend the extra $678,022 per game to win a championship, I'd do it in a heart beat. With the extra $678,022 spent on salaries, I'd recoup that in a second with TV rights, merchandise, and tickets sold. Actually, I would be making it all back and more.

Back on Top

2009-11-05T06:09:00.003-05:00

The 2009 Yankees are officially the World Series champions.

For fans in New York this is a day that they have been waiting for since 2000, nine long years of not bringing home the championship. I'm still not 100% if I enjoy watching the Yanks taking home another title.

On one hand, I think it shows that with the proper owner with the proper attitude, any team can win the World Series. George Steinbrenner has deep pockets and is not afraid to show it by signing the best talent available on the open market. We all know owners from around the league have the money and resources available to them to sign the big time free agents but have chosen to penny pinch and make a respectable profit, not caring if the product on the field adds to the win column. Steinbrenner is great for baseball because he proves that the passion for winning will find it's path to the World Series trophy.

On the other side, how can baseball survive if only a few teams get all the big time free agents. The casual fan from the smaller markets, these are the ones that matter most, will stop attending games and basically take away the revenue source that is so badly needed by the owners. These teams will continually make a loss which may lead to a bankrupt team or one less baseball team for the Yanks to compete against.

I've thrown some thoughts out there but I still have plenty to say on this topic because it seems this topic goes on forever. It could go into salary caps, revenue sharing, aren't all teams "buying" championships, and the real reason for all this hatred towards the Yanks.

This team from day one was built to bring home a championship and they did. Now, the offseason will bring some changes to the pinstripes. Will they bring Matsui and his bad knees back? I doubt it. What about Damon? Maybe. They went with 3 starters for the playoffs. Can they do that again and succeed? I personally think they won't. Who are they going to sign to help AJ and Sabathia. Tons of questions to answer but we all know the Yanks won't have any problems finding money to sign them.

Funny and Dumb

2009-11-04T08:06:00.003-05:00

I have never ever seen anything like this before in my life. Tackling your own player in the open field?!?! What the hell was the guy thinking.

Time to Grow Up

2009-11-04T04:56:00.004-05:00

The Answer (a.k.a Allen Iverson) made his Memphis debut in a loss to the bottom feeders commonly referred to as the Kings. AI came off the bench to play around 17 minutes and scored 11pts. This wasn't the big news of the day that caught my attention.

When AI signed with the Grizzlies in the off-season, I was a little surprised a team like Memphis would offer him a contract. A team going nowhere soon signing a troublesome guard, who has proven to sink teams faster than Isiah sinking entire organizations, completely boggled my mind. NBA teams are businesses and for a business to succeed they need revenue and with AI dressing, jerseys and tickets would be sold. We all know AI can still draw a crowd.

When Iverson met with reporters after the loss, he voiced his displeasure with what was happening, AFTER HIS FIRST GAME!!! He came off the bench and was pulled when it was crunch time. AI needs to wake up and learn that he is not going to win a championship ring if he continues playing like he's been playing over his entire career. Just listen to what he said.

"In all the other years of my career, it’s never come up. I’ve been a starter on All-Star teams, Olympic teams and NBA Finals teams. It’s just a big deal now. I think it is something people should let go. To answer your question, no, I’m not a bench player or the sixth man. Go look at my resume, it will show you that I’m not a sixth man."

AI, listen to me...seriously, listen to what I have to say. What you just said summed up everything everyone wants to say to your face but doesn't have the balls to say. Yes, you were all those things on all those teams but they all have ONE thing in common, no one hoisted a big time trophy at the end of any of those teams. You are an individual playing in a team sport. You are a great individual player. You are a scoring champion. But you are NOT a champion. You drag your teams down and with your attitude, no team you play on will EVER win a championship.

You have made the money most people would die for. You have the life people can only dream of. If you want to continue to be that selfish AI we all know and don't love, go ahead. But don't complain about winning games and championships because you are the only one that can control where your team goes.

AI, sit your ass down and shut your damn mouth. Play the system your coach implements and be a team player. I know this is completely foreign to you and you might need to practice this but look at some great individual players who finally grew up and became a man and what they achieved. Look at Randy Moss and Dennis Rodman.

The season is still young and you only have a 1-year contract. If you want to continue to play in the NBA you need to grow up because no team will ever consider signing you for the 2010-2011 season.

WINNERS

2009-11-02T08:10:00.003-05:00

Who the hell wants to go 0-16 in a season. I would be absolutely disgusted if my Rams went winless in a NFL season. Well, I don't have to think about that until next season. I have nothing to say except that I am very happy to see the Rams win, even if it was against the Lions.

Props goes out to Steven Jackson for being the only bright spot during this dark season. Rushing for 149 yards and running in a TD, first of the season, in a sloppy and messy game.

Bye Week is next!

Let's Go Rams!

2009-11-01T07:46:00.004-05:00

This is probably the only game where my beloved Rams have a legitimate chance at a win. The Lions and the Rams will battle it out in Detroit. Come on Rams. I need a victory!!!

Free Swinger

2009-11-01T01:59:00.003-04:00

We all know that Ryan Howard is going to strikeout a lot over the course of any season. With 186Ks in the regular season the Phillies accepted the fact he was going to strikeout but only if he continued to produce long shots like he did 45 times in the regular season and 2 more in the post season.

The World Series has not treated him well. With all the talk about A-Rod striking out some have left Howard out of the discussion. Howard's 14 plate appearances have produced 2 hits (both doubles) and a whopping 9Ks. Since he played and won the World Series last season, pressure isn't the problem. I think it all has to do with the good scouting report and execution by the Yanks. Knowing Howard is a free swinger and having him chase is what the Yanks are continually doing for each at bat.

Howard needs to turn it around because it is boring watching people strikeout. I want to see some hits and plenty of runs put on the board.

Serving

2009-10-31T19:13:00.006-04:00

Steve Nash and his Suns took down the Warriors in their home opener but what stood out was Nash's usual unselfish play. When the final buzzer went off, Nash recorded 20 assists for the 6th time in his career. At 35 years of age, Nash seems to still go about his game with nothing holding him back.

I am worried though. With his history of injuries with his back and the enormous amount of minutes he plays, it is hard for me to think he can hold up through the entire season. This year the Suns aren't going to have a complete package around him that can take some pressure off him. Even in years past when they had Stoudamire, Marion, Barbosa, and Q. Richardson, to name a few, he still had to really work on the floor.

With the heavy minutes and the heavy amount of workload that the Suns place on his shoulders, I see him wearing a suit on the bench for a few games. With Goran Dragic handling the ball when Nash is resting, the Suns need him to step-up and provide 15-18 quality minutes on the floor. Playing in the low 30minute range is what I would like to see on a nightly basis.

Keep him healthy so he can come play for the Raps one day.

Boring

2009-10-30T20:15:00.003-04:00

One of the lamest commercials I have ever watched. Sex sells but this is boring. If you want to use sex in an ad at least show some girls in bikinis or some sort of lacy outfit. What Callaway did in this ad was nothing more than a company wanting to incorporate sex but not having the balls to go the whole 9 yards.

Pump It

2009-10-30T19:16:00.007-04:00

Haven't posted in the shoes department in a while and the reason was nothing really came around that caught my eye. The above pair of shoes from Reebok is the Yukatin Special Edition Pumps. A nice pair of shoes with TWO pumps. The only beef I have with this pair of shoes is the baby blue. The baby blue kills the shoe and takes the eye away from the nice chocolate coloured scheme. If the designers used a dark gum colour to replace the baby blue I would definitely go out and grab a pair of these.

Another 3Ks

2009-10-30T05:46:00.004-04:00

8 At-bats, 6 Strikeouts, 0 Hits

After shedding the label of playoff choker with a brilliant ALDS and ALCS, A-Rod has found a way to fall back into the struggles that plagued him in years past. Maybe getting away from Yankee Stadium and a change of scenery will bring him a hit in game 3.

Big Tex hit a big HR and hopefully, for A-Rod, someone can lead the team and reporters won't put too much blame on A-Rod for not producing. I still think A-Rod struggles because people throw too much crap on his shoulders. Guy is a true ball player and as long as he takes it easy he can produce and rake like he usually does.

If he struggles in game 3, I guarantee reporters will go buck wild.

Tied

2009-10-30T05:32:00.004-04:00

Wow, I didn't see this coming. * * * 7IP, 1ER, 9Ks * * * Series is now tied at 1 a piece.

This is why so many people are frustrated with AJ Burnett especially fantasy baseball owners. One day, he goes out and throws a CG with 12Ks and the next he won't last 2 innings. When AJ was in Toronto, I was always a fan of his ability to dominate and overpower hitters. But his consistency was absolutely terrible! I'm glad the Jays didn't pay his quote and try to keep him in Toronto. It would have been a waste of money.

The thing with AJ is he only plays when he wants to play. He is one of those guys that has talent coming out his ass and he knows it. The thing the Jays couldn't offer this guy was a legit chance at a World Series ring and I don't have anything against a player who wants to win. Note: He was a part of the Marlins when they won in 2003 but was recovering from Tommy John Surgery and didn't have a chance to really take in the World Series.

Guy has all the skill and ability in the world but would never be found on my roster if I ever had a say in making a team.

81 to Go

2009-10-29T02:48:00.005-04:00

Opening night at the ACC and the Raptors gave the fans of Toronto something to cheer about. The Raptors opened the new NBA season with a victory over the Cavs, who are favoured by many to take it all this year. What a game it was down at the ACC.

The city of Toronto and their loyal fans are in need of a team we can all rally behind and support for an entire season. The other tenants at the ACC are brutal and not showing any sign of playoffs, albeit it is still early. The Blue Jays had a great opening to their 09 season but faded quickly and descended to the bottom of the AL East. The Argo's, which I barely even notice, are 3-13. Enough said.

Toronto needs a team and the Raps, for one night, gave them some a team to support. I know it is only 1 game and bringing your A-game for opening night is not unusual, keeping it over the next 81 games is where the contenders stand in front of the pretenders.

Be honest, did any of you honestly, think the Cavs would come in and leave with an 0-2 record to start the 09-10 NBA season? Great night for Raps fans.

10/28/09 - Raptors vs. Cavs In 6 Minutes

Dirty Lee

2009-10-29T02:36:00.005-04:00

I have never understood how Cliff Lee does it. This lefty is not intimidating but seems to find his way through tough and almost impossible lineups without breaking a sweat.

Game 1 of the World Series was dominated by Cliff Lee. Throwing a complete game to lead his Phillies over the Bronx Bombers. Lee had 10Ks, 7 from the Yanks' 3-4-5 hitters.

Lee throws nothing more than a low 90's fastball and the Yanks couldn't find a run until the bottom of the ninth, which was unearned. If the Yanks are going to take the series they have to find a way to solve Lee because if everything goes as planned, Lee might be pitching game 4 and a decisive game 7 if it goes that far.

Anyone think A-Rod and Big Tex were a little nervous hitting on the big stage? Jeter, his usual self, had 3 hits and seemed comfortable playing in front of the world. I have a feeling if A-Rod and Big Tex don't find a way to contribute tomorrow in game 2, they are going to struggle for the rest of the World Series. Once the pressure is on and their names are all over the sports pages they will squeeze that bat a little tighter which will make things worse.

Why the hell is Swisher still starting? I know the Yanks don't have a talented backup but who ever they put in RF would contribute no worse than Swisher. Guy is hitting .144 with 12 freaking strikeouts. Bench his ass now. Bring Hinske in and see what he can do.

Season Over

2009-10-28T06:15:00.002-04:00

My latest fantasy hockey injury to report. Simon Gagne, who has produced shit for me this season, apparently has two frickin' hernias in his right groin. Guess he's not going to be helping me anytime soon.

Add that to the time lost from Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, and Daniel Sedin and you have a pretty ~~productive~~ lackluster offence. This crap has to end and end soon. I'm last in goals and overall my offence is shit.

Sorry for all that language but I'm frustrated and I know I'm going nowhere this year. I haven't given up hope just yet but I need a guy to step up and put the puck in the net.

My team has 14 goals in 98 games played!!! FUCK!

NBA

2009-10-28T06:07:00.004-04:00

No love for the Zen Master

Had a pretty good laugh at the above video. Phil Jackson trying to give Kobe a fist-bump but having to cover it up and not look like an idiot left hanging.

The season has officially started and the Lakers received their championship rings and above is a picture of it. Holy crap, that is bling. Every time I see a championship ring from any professional sport, I always have the same reaction...DAM.

Hanshin Tigers

2009-10-28T05:55:00.005-04:00

Kenji Johjima opted out of his contract and left two years which was worth a total of $15.8mil. I'm a little mixed about this move on moving back to Japanese baseball.

MLB is the standard and everything else is just a bat and ball. Every kid who steps onto the diamond dreams about one day being able to play in the bigs. I guess Johjima had his time in the bigs but leaving two years on the table is kind of stupid. Stay in the big leagues and enjoy your time because for most, sticking around in the majors is tough enough. MLB is where the big boys play and where everyone is striving to play but I guess he had reasons for going back home.

As usual, family and his love of everything Japan brought him back to Nippon Baseball. I can agree and completely understand if this was his reasoning but still, why would you give up two years just like that and head home. America isn't like Japan. In America, you can get anything you can get in Japan but that doesn't go the other way around. For those of you who have lived in Japan can back me on this one.

I guess he has his reasons for going home but I still can't understand the 2 years left part. This is the big leagues and no one can say that Nippon baseball is close to the bigs. On a side note, I get to see him up close and personal when he puts on the Hanshin Tigers uniform come 2010.

Off We Go

2009-10-27T08:56:00.004-04:00

Well, the Yanks, with their new stadium, are about to start another World Series against the Phillies. This post is a little late. I didn't have much to say about the Yanks making the world series because I wasn't surprised to see them reach the playoffs, sweep the Twins, and take the ALCS led by ALCS MVP CC Sabathia. Seriously, were you surprised?

After reading a few things about how the Yanks are crap and they only get to the post season by buying their way in finally got me wanting to post something.

The Yankees are always going to be hated because they have succeeded by continually winning ball games. Haters everywhere complain, moan, and bitch about how they only win because of their massive yearly budget. Why even bother using this argument. The Yanks are buying and paying for T-A-L-E-N-T. Plain and simple, they are spending their money on talent. Premium talent will command premium dollars, simple as that! Is there something wrong with going out and paying big bucks for premium talent?

Others seem to hate on the Yanks because they are ruining baseball. How are they ruining baseball? Other teams have no shot? When was the last time the Yanks won the World Series? Exactly! Are they winning every year with the $200+million payroll? For fuck's sakes stop bitching about the Yanks destroying baseball. Did you know that with revenue sharing the Yanks are actually paying for some of the losing teams and their payroll? Did you know that if there was no revenue sharing many teams would just go bankrupt. The people you should be complaining about and to are the owners who are too cheap to spend some cash to bring a winning team and a chance at the World Series to your home town. Remember, all these owners are rich mother fuckers who only own a team because it's their "hobby" or childhood dream to own a professional baseball team. They have the money! Just, they decide to ~~spend~~ keep it locked up in stocks.

If you took the Yanks out of the picture you would see television contracts shrink and that would hurt the bottom line. Revenue would seriously be cut off and you know what, we'd be in a very different situation with teams falling apart.

The Evil Empire label is old and while you idiots complain about the Yanks, they will continue to bring home championships and keep your poor owners afloat.

Manning Who?

2009-10-27T05:25:00.005-04:00

Who predicted the Giants would win? Not me! I had my man, Kurt Warner, leading the Cardinals to victory on Sunday.

Looking ahead, Warner has the chance to win 5 more before hitting a real opponent in week 13 when they face Farve and the Vikings. Not sure if Farve will be effective when week 13 rolls around but with him, I never count him out. Just hope the Cards don't take their opponents lightly and look to week 13.

Go Warner.

About Time

2009-10-27T05:06:00.004-04:00

The Leafs are finally in the win column!!!

It took a few games, 9 games to be exact, to register a win and finally give us the fans something to cheer about. More importantly, it get's that ugly monkey off the backs and hopefully will give the Leaf dressing room some needed energy, enthusiasm, and of course the taste of victory.

I have been waiting for the Leafs to finally win a game before making a post and at one point I thought it wouldn't happen for another few weeks. It took a 5 point night from Kaberle to break the Leafs out of their disgusting start to the season in which many thought wouldn't look this ugly. Did anyone think the Leafs would be the last team in the NHL to have a win?

Just looking at the box scores and browsing the reports, it seems the Leafs shouldn't be in panic mode since the season is only 9 games old but I don't agree. I think the Leafs need more fire and play with some sort of urgency NOW. All the players are saying the right things about guys learning to play with each other, it is only a few games, bad luck with the puck, and all that other crap but I don't buy it. For the Leafs to win, everyone in that locker room needs to step up and take every shift they have like it's their last (very cheesy but true).

If the Leafs stepped on the ice and played their asses off, opponents might not have that relaxed feeling when they suit up against them. Have you ever played against a team you knew you were going to beat? It is a great feeling because you really have no feeling. Makes sense, read on. A good team will always show up relaxed and let their skill and muscle memory take over when push comes to shove. When ever I played a weaker team I would step into the batter's box relaxed and focused, never did I have a tense muscle muscle in my body.

The win is done and no one can take it away. Now, let's hope that the 2nd comes Wednesday night in Dallas.

Oh Baby!

2009-10-23T19:05:00.001-04:00

Anticipation

New Faces

Up and Down Week

2009-10-19T05:54:00.004-04:00

Jaguars/Rams - Wow, the Rams scored some TD's (1 defensive but who's counting). Torry Holt didn't score but put up some big numbers (101yards with 5 catches). I am starting to really worry about the Rams because if they don't get it together they will blow a shot at a victory when they play the Lions in week 8.

Lions/Packers - Holy crap. Lions shut out by the Packers. How is it possible for a team to not even score a field goal?

Vikings/Ravens - What the hell is Farve drinking? Guy just led his team to a 6-0 start. Seriously, retirement?

Giants/Saints - Is there anyway for the Saints to donate some offense to my Rams for a week so we can grab a victory?

Titans/Brady - Tom Brady absolutely tore through the Titans defense. 59-0!!! Again, how is it possible for a team to not score a field goal?

Phantom Touch

2009-10-18T03:36:00.003-04:00

The above play occurred in the 10th inning of game 2. Erick Aybar's double play or according to 2nd base umpire, Jerry Layne, only a force out at 1st base due to Aybar missing 2nd base with his foot. If you want to check out the video evidence head over to MLB.com right HERE.

Make note of what he says at 56secs, "Wow, that's fucking unbelievable!" Love live TV!

Playing as a SS/2B over the years, this call is never made unless it was blatantly obvious you missed the bag. The double play occurs so quickly that most umpires just give it you, as long as you straddle and "appear" to touch 2nd base.

When there is a double play ball hit and the runner is coming and the batter is trying to beat out the play, you are forced to catch and release quickly if you are to have a chance at the double play. This is where the phantom touch comes into play. Everyone who has grown up with baseball has kind of accepted this unwritten rule because no one really argues with the call. Over a span of a full season this call will go against you and for you to the point where it will just even out.

I have personally grown to take advantage of this and when I know there is someone who will spike me or if there is a speedy batter, I will purposely use the phantom touch to get the ball out quicker. I have watched video of myself where I clearly miss the bag but still make the double play. Just apart of baseball.

A little disappointed in the umps call, especially in extra innings during the ALCS.

We Meet Again

2009-10-17T20:34:00.004-04:00

One nasty looking finger

My Rams will be seeing a familiar face come Sunday when they take to the field. Mr. Torry Holt will be hosting the visiting Rams and is trying to prove why the Rams should have kept him on their roster. I still have a soft spot for Holt and if it wasn't for the ridiculous prices for jerseys I would have had a Rams Holt jersey on my back years ago. Still can't believe how much they charge for official gear. Guess that is why guys get paid $10 mil a year to play a sport.

I've been a little lazy with stats in the NFL this year and when I checked out the opponent, which I do every week, I realized Holt doesn't have a TD this year. A little shocked, I dove deeper into the numbers...I see a stud back named Maurice Jones-Drew, explains a lot. Still a little shocked that Holt hasn't been on the receiving end of a TD toss from Garrard.

Just hope the Rams put up a fight and find a way to grind out some yards, first downs, and maybe even a TD. Still toughing it out on the Rams sideline.

Help

2009-10-16T21:57:00.003-04:00

This is what I get after a few years away from fantasy hockey, an injured lineup and only 5 goals to show for (first place in goals as something like 23 goals). My team needs some healthy players to score some freakin' goals. Looking at my team after the draft I was pretty certain I had a pretty strong offensive squad but injuries seem to have derailed that idea.

First, Franzen went down. He'll be down for another 4-5 months (or was it 5-6). Fuck!

Second, Daniel Sedin goes down with a broken foot. Out 4-6 weeks. Damn!

Third, Pavel Datsyuk is ailing from an upper body injury. Day-to-day. Come on!

5 freakin' goals and I'm sitting in dead last in that category. Assists, well, I'm in second...second last place. Scoring is at a premium right now and I'm hoping for a turn around soon.

Luckily the dude in Phoenix between the pipes is holding it down for me at the moment. A shout out to Ilya Bryzgalov with his 2 shutouts.

Lidge is Back

2009-10-16T20:09:00.002-04:00

Not sure if the playoffs and games that truly meant something is what Lidge needed but it seems the 2009 playoffs have given Phillies closer Brad Lidge a new life. After an amazing 2008 season where Lidge converted every save opportunity he was given he completely fell apart in 2009. Blown save after blown save, inflated ERA, and just simply an awful year.

So far, he has delivered in the 9th inning converting 3 saves. The one thing that peaks my interest is his walks. He is still walking batters at a rate that is not going to benefit him in the future or the Phillies if he continues to follow this path. In 2.1IP, he has 3 BBs. Free passes will eventually come back to haunt you.

Just weird seeing a pitcher fall from grace so quickly and then jump back up to the promised land in a blink of an eye. I still fear for Lidge because he just doesn't seem like he is all there. I do hope he falls just so I can see Joe Torre battle it out with the Yanks in the World Series. If the Yanks make it that far.

Trade Deadline

2009-10-16T19:10:00.003-04:00

If my knowledge is correct the NFL trade deadline is approaching, I think Tuesday, and my Rams seem to have a huge question mark on what to do. We all know the Rams have no shot at the playoffs and the team needs some talent to come along, especially through the draft. What about trading stud all-purpose running back, Steven Jackson, for draft picks?

The 2010 draft is suppose to be relatively strong and if the Rams could find some strong protection on the front line and some guys for their defence that won't just roll over and let opposing teams score, they might have a shot at a .500 season. It sounds like a great move but giving up in the middle of the season, albeit a dead season, doesn't encourage Rams fans to continually support the team at the gates.

I know it would be a decent trade just because we would be getting some draft picks in return but I can't see Jackson wearing another uniform. It hurts just as much as Bruce wearing a 49'ers uni and also Holt wearing a Jaguars uni. Just isn't right!

Still dreaming of the day when Jackson has the support Marshall Faulk had back in the glory days of The Greatest Show on Turf. In the NFL nothing surprises me anymore especially with the business side seeming to jump in at every opportunity. If it does happen and Jackson is wearing another uni, I hope he has a great time.

On a side note, looking into buying an official Rams helmet. Around $350 or so. Sounds stupid, but I want one!!!

Fantasy Goals

2009-10-12T03:44:00.003-04:00

FUCK! Guy is out 4-6 weeks. Sitting in last place with 2 goals in my fantasy league and this happens. Great! Maybe the official scorer will make a mistake and start crediting Daniel Sedin with goals while he is out. Nice way to start the fantasy season.

New Shades

2009-10-12T03:38:00.003-04:00

I am no fashion guru but what is Elin Nordegren wearing on her face? Those glasses are absolutely hideous. Is she making a fashion statement or was she just so busy with the kid she didn't realize she bought them. Maybe Tiger is feeling a little insecure and is forcing her to tone down the hotness that comes with being a sexy Swedish nanny. Some advice Tiger, you are the first athlete to make $1 BILLION, buy her some nice shades even if you do feel insecure.

Time to Sweep

2009-10-12T03:14:00.005-04:00

It seems the broom is out in force after the Angels ousted the Red Sox, in Fenway, after the Yanks and the surprising guys out in La La land completed 3 game sweeps themselves.

The Yanks 3 game sweep wasn't all too surprising because of how the Twins finished the final 2-3 weeks of the season. The Twins were battling and fighting every night while the Yanks were resting and enjoying their cushion in the AL East grow. I knew the Yanks would take the series but I was a little shocked it was a sweep. Thought the momentum the Twins had would carry into at least a victory in the division series. A-Rod hits another HR and is batting .455 after three games. Pretty impressive considering his past post-season greatness. Let's see if he can carry that into the next round. Derek Jeter. You know the rest.

The Dodgers were a team I thought had nothing but a first round exit given to them but they proved me wrong. The Dodgers took it to Carpenter, Wainwright (more Franklin), and Pineiro. Andre Ethier seems legit. Fantasy note for 2010, check! Scary thought, what if Manny comes back and goes on one of his runs. Add in Ethier, Kemp, and Furcal and you have a pretty deadly lineup.

Now, to the most shocking series. What the hell happened in Boston? They let one slip through their fingers. With the experience in the Red Sox dugout, I thought they for sure would be sitting in the opposite dugout to the Yanks come the ALCS. The Angels just came out and took it to them from game 1 and didn't stop until they finished the sweep. Papelbon missing a save opportunity? Not being able to convert and allowing ER's? I wonder what the Red Sox Nation is going to do now that their beloved Red Sox are heading into hibernation. You think Epstein is going to go ape shit and buy up some free agents. In my opinion, not likely. They have some core guys that should compete for years to come. Too bad the Yanks do too.

*yawn

2009-10-09T23:10:00.004-04:00

I intentionally made the picture smaller than any other pictures because that is what I think of him right now. Always enjoyed watching him play basketball and hearing Bill Walton's "Throw it down big man" comment but his off-court crap is starting to actually bother me. Usually, I leave that crap on the internet and just scroll over it without opening his latest battle, TV show, or any of his boring "shower me with attention" shit.

Shaq's latest thing got me a little peeved. After starting the pre-season with his new teammates he comes out and says that this is the best team he has ever played for. Okay, he has to say that because if he said it was a good team people would think he's retarded. Well, I think you are retarded Shaq. I'll give him his "on paper" part after the best team comment but still, are you drunk? Check out his teammates in LA when Malone and Payton showed up for a year.

In my eyes, he's just another aging NBA player who is trying to stretch the great life and stay in the bright spotlight the NBA has to offer. Guy needs to just shut his mouth and play ball.

A-Rod is for Real

2009-10-09T22:54:00.004-04:00

9th inning HR

For all of you Yankee haters out there I bet you guys are hating them just a little more after they pulled off an 11 inning win against the Twins, which included a bottom of the 9th HR from ~~playoff choker~~ Alex Rodriguez. Why the hatred towards them anyways? I can understand if you hate them because they are a rival but if you add in any other BS crap like their spending, don't even waste your time on me.

It might be a little too early to take away the playoff choker label but so far, A-Rod has shown his regular season heroics do exist come October. Through 2 games at the new Yankee Stadium, he has a 0.500AVG, which includes 1HR and 5RBIs. I haven't been a huge fan of A-Rod since his explosive stats started in Seattle but I haven't been a hater either. Is this finally the year A-Rod puts a team on his back and carries them to a World Series ring?

Two games in the books and the three big off-season acquisitions (CC, AJ, and Big Tex) have come through. Again, a little too early to tell but I smell some fire and passion coming out of the Yankees clubhouse. The drive to win seems real and since the Yanks couldn't bring a World Series to the old Yankee Stadium, bringing one to the new stadium in year one isn't such a terrible idea.