Imagine you’re the defensive safety for the Washington Redskins.
Your day is winding down and you’re home resting your sprained knee. You’re biding your time. Healing your body. Mentally preparing for your next opportunity to walk thru the tunnel of an NFL stadium for a big game. You’re thinking of running, hitting and catching. Thinking of all the meaningful games with playoff implications remaining this season. As you go crawl into bed and slip under your covers, your thoughts begin to drift. You think about your parents, your girlfriend, to your teammates, old friends, where you’re going, where you’re coming from.
Most of all you think about your daughter.
You fall asleep.
Suddenly you’re startled by a noise you hear from within your home. You spring up from your bed arming yourself as you begin to prospect. You arrive at your bedroom door and see an intruder. Before you can comprehend what is happening a bullet has entered you leg above your knee. You suddenly begin to lose blood. You try to cover your wound. You fall to the floor. You hear screams; see lights come on around you. You’re trying to wrap something, anything around your wound to stop the bleeding. Your trying to get your self out of harms way, you’re trying to protect your family. What ever you can do to get the intruder out of your home, is imperative. But most of all you’re just trying to make sense out of everything that has just happened.
You close your eyes.
You pass out.
Imagine the horrifying final moments of Sean Taylor’s life.
Sean Taylor was the 24-year-old defensive safety for the Washington Redskins. In his fourth year in the NFL, Sean’s potential for excellence in game of football was immeasurable. A graduate of the University of Miami, he was drafted by the Redskins as the fifth overall pick in the 2004 draft. Early Monday morning, an armed intruder entered Sean’s home firing two shots. The first shot missed its target, but the second hit a major artery in Taylor’s leg. The loss of blood caused Taylor to enter a coma, and at 5:30am (before sunrise) on Tuesday November 27, Sean Taylor passed away.
For the last 48 hours, every paper I have read, radio show I have listened to, and television program I have watched has reported the exact same thing, “Sean was a terrific player; a young man with a troubled past, but someone who had recently matured as a result of fatherhood”. His teammates coaches and fans all thought the world of him. He will be missed most of all on the field and in the locker room where he was a key figure.
It happens all too often in the NFL. For me personally this incident is the last stop.
Common are the stories of player drug charges, DWI’s, gang related incidences, violence, theft, robbery, and murder. The NFL’s enormous popularity prevents these stories from holding the headlines for too long. With great efficiency and little effort these issues are swept under the rug, and the count down to Super Bowl XLII always takes center stage.
Now I am in no way rushing to conclusions, or placing blame, or choosing sides. I am not trying to mix stories, or focus on the negative. However a football player has been murdered and that seems to be to be a little more important then a game.
Sean Taylor is survived by his 18-month-old daughter Jackie Taylor.
Sean Taylor 1983-2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
2007 MLB Awards
The 2007 Major League Baseball awards week is about to kick off. Monday MLB will announce the Rookie Of The Year Award in both Leagues, Tuesday will be the AL Cy Young Award, Wednesday will be the Managers of the Year, Thursday NL Cy Young, and then next week, just before the Holiday the MVP awards will be announced.
It's the time of year when baseball writer’s get together and critique, evaluate and assess baseball’s most covenanted possession, its numbers. These writing men and women of suits and laptops judge players on their already accomplished feats. Those men and women consistently looking awkward on the baseball diamond before and after the game, find their niche within the pastime and attribute praise to it.
(I must remember jealousy will get me nowhere!)
Any who, 2007 looks to be pretty cut and dry when it comes to handing out the games most sought after awards. I doubt there will be any big surprises over the next two weeks. Allow me to do some predicting, so I can be wrong as always.
AL Rookie- Dustin Pedroia
Red Sox Nation’s new lover! Especially now that reports have been released that Pedroia played his final games of the season with a broken wrist. He already had the reputation of a pesky pain in the rear for opposing pitchers, but now he is a New England hero too! Hitting lead off down the stretch for Boston, Dustin was as much a part of the Sox second World Series title in four years as anyone.
NL Rookie- Troy Tulowitzki
Already being compared to Cal Ripken Jr., Troy is heavily favored to bring Colorado only its second ROY award in team history. Troy has tremendous range at shortstop, and committed only 11 errors in 155 games this season. In addition to his remarkable play at short, Troy handled the bat pretty well too. He hit .291 with 24 Homers and 99 RBIs. Tulowitzki kept himself busy too whenever striking out in a game. Troy would work out in the clubhouse between innings as punishment for not putting the ball in play. With tremendous offensive numbers for a National League shortstop in addition to great defense and a positive work ethic, Troy is the favorite to win the award in a few short hours from when I am typing this.
AL Cy Young- Josh Beckett
This is one of the few awards that could surprise me, but I doubt it will. Voting the Cy Young is allegedly done before the post season. However no one had a better season or post season then that of Red Sox Ace Josh Beckett. The games only 20 win starter, Josh won his 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th when it counted the most, in October. His 3.27 ERA in the American League wasn’t too shabby either. C.C. Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians could give Josh a little voting competition for the Award, but at the end of the day Tuesday, Josh will have his first career Cy Young.
AL Manager- Terry Francona
It isn’t often that the winning manager of the World Series wins the Manager Of The Year award. In fact it has only happened for three managers in the last ten years. (Ozzie Gullien, Jim Leyland, Jack Mckeon) However no other manager has done a better job in the American League in 2007. With a crazy mix of players, Terry keeps is clubhouse fun, and his attitude positive each and every day, in the second most difficult market in all of baseball.
NL Manager- Clint Hurdle
This is the one I am sure of! How could Clint not win the award based on what he has accomplished this season in Denver. In this, Clint’s sixth season in Colorado, he is the first Rockies manager to win 90 games. Clint and the Rockies had not even finished within ten games of .500 in each of the last five years. Leading a team that is 25th in all of baseball in overall salary, Hurdle could have given up years ago, and no one would have though the lesser of him. Yet this September something finally clicked. Hovering around .500 all year, Hurdle’s team played all the way into the Fall Classic by winning 22 of their last 23 in the regular season games. With great pose, and never say die attitude, Hurdle is the prime candidate in the NL for Manager Of The Year Honors.
NL Cy Young- Jake Peavy
Leading the National League in wins and in ERA this is the favorite to win the Cy Young. Finishing with 19 victories it’s ironic that his 20th win would have sent his team to the post season. Regardless his inadequacy, his season should not be scrutinized because of one poor game. Without Peavy, the Padres would have fallen well short of the Post Season, instead of only one game short. He is a leader of the Padres rotation and team itself. I just hope the Yankees can trade for him, and not have to give up any prospects!
AL MVP -Alex Rodriguez
Despite his cries of, “LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!” during game four of the World Series, and his incredible lack of intelligence off the field, his arrogance, greed and disrespect, his offensive numbers in 2007 are off the charts! Evaluating only his endeavors between the base lines, A-Rod had a monster offensive season. He is the favorite for the MVP by a country mile! But I simply can’t write another decent thing about the money grubbing careless jock! His conduct off the field robs him of his true potential.
NL MVP- Jimmy Rollins
This is another tough prediction! I could see Matt Holliday beating Rollins out for NL MVP. But if he does, it is wrong! After all Justin Morneu beat out Derek Jeter last season in the same category, and that was wrong then too! Rollins and Holliday have even numbers, and there importance to their respective teams is equal. But the major variation can be found in Rollins’s near flawless defense at the third most important defensive position in the field. Jimmy Hit .296 with 30 homers and 94 RBIs as a lead off hitter! But the most amazing stat is only 11 errors in all 162 games for the Phillies this year! Rollins played flawless defense and hit for power at the top of the batting order in each and every game for the Phillies this year!
Well that is my story and those are my picks! I am no different then every other die-hard baseball fan in November. Struggling for any kind of worthy baseball news!
For the next two weeks, the MLB Awards are the next best thing to baseball itself.
It's the time of year when baseball writer’s get together and critique, evaluate and assess baseball’s most covenanted possession, its numbers. These writing men and women of suits and laptops judge players on their already accomplished feats. Those men and women consistently looking awkward on the baseball diamond before and after the game, find their niche within the pastime and attribute praise to it.
(I must remember jealousy will get me nowhere!)
Any who, 2007 looks to be pretty cut and dry when it comes to handing out the games most sought after awards. I doubt there will be any big surprises over the next two weeks. Allow me to do some predicting, so I can be wrong as always.
AL Rookie- Dustin Pedroia
Red Sox Nation’s new lover! Especially now that reports have been released that Pedroia played his final games of the season with a broken wrist. He already had the reputation of a pesky pain in the rear for opposing pitchers, but now he is a New England hero too! Hitting lead off down the stretch for Boston, Dustin was as much a part of the Sox second World Series title in four years as anyone.
NL Rookie- Troy Tulowitzki
Already being compared to Cal Ripken Jr., Troy is heavily favored to bring Colorado only its second ROY award in team history. Troy has tremendous range at shortstop, and committed only 11 errors in 155 games this season. In addition to his remarkable play at short, Troy handled the bat pretty well too. He hit .291 with 24 Homers and 99 RBIs. Tulowitzki kept himself busy too whenever striking out in a game. Troy would work out in the clubhouse between innings as punishment for not putting the ball in play. With tremendous offensive numbers for a National League shortstop in addition to great defense and a positive work ethic, Troy is the favorite to win the award in a few short hours from when I am typing this.
AL Cy Young- Josh Beckett
This is one of the few awards that could surprise me, but I doubt it will. Voting the Cy Young is allegedly done before the post season. However no one had a better season or post season then that of Red Sox Ace Josh Beckett. The games only 20 win starter, Josh won his 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th when it counted the most, in October. His 3.27 ERA in the American League wasn’t too shabby either. C.C. Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians could give Josh a little voting competition for the Award, but at the end of the day Tuesday, Josh will have his first career Cy Young.
AL Manager- Terry Francona
It isn’t often that the winning manager of the World Series wins the Manager Of The Year award. In fact it has only happened for three managers in the last ten years. (Ozzie Gullien, Jim Leyland, Jack Mckeon) However no other manager has done a better job in the American League in 2007. With a crazy mix of players, Terry keeps is clubhouse fun, and his attitude positive each and every day, in the second most difficult market in all of baseball.
NL Manager- Clint Hurdle
This is the one I am sure of! How could Clint not win the award based on what he has accomplished this season in Denver. In this, Clint’s sixth season in Colorado, he is the first Rockies manager to win 90 games. Clint and the Rockies had not even finished within ten games of .500 in each of the last five years. Leading a team that is 25th in all of baseball in overall salary, Hurdle could have given up years ago, and no one would have though the lesser of him. Yet this September something finally clicked. Hovering around .500 all year, Hurdle’s team played all the way into the Fall Classic by winning 22 of their last 23 in the regular season games. With great pose, and never say die attitude, Hurdle is the prime candidate in the NL for Manager Of The Year Honors.
NL Cy Young- Jake Peavy
Leading the National League in wins and in ERA this is the favorite to win the Cy Young. Finishing with 19 victories it’s ironic that his 20th win would have sent his team to the post season. Regardless his inadequacy, his season should not be scrutinized because of one poor game. Without Peavy, the Padres would have fallen well short of the Post Season, instead of only one game short. He is a leader of the Padres rotation and team itself. I just hope the Yankees can trade for him, and not have to give up any prospects!
AL MVP -Alex Rodriguez
Despite his cries of, “LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!” during game four of the World Series, and his incredible lack of intelligence off the field, his arrogance, greed and disrespect, his offensive numbers in 2007 are off the charts! Evaluating only his endeavors between the base lines, A-Rod had a monster offensive season. He is the favorite for the MVP by a country mile! But I simply can’t write another decent thing about the money grubbing careless jock! His conduct off the field robs him of his true potential.
NL MVP- Jimmy Rollins
This is another tough prediction! I could see Matt Holliday beating Rollins out for NL MVP. But if he does, it is wrong! After all Justin Morneu beat out Derek Jeter last season in the same category, and that was wrong then too! Rollins and Holliday have even numbers, and there importance to their respective teams is equal. But the major variation can be found in Rollins’s near flawless defense at the third most important defensive position in the field. Jimmy Hit .296 with 30 homers and 94 RBIs as a lead off hitter! But the most amazing stat is only 11 errors in all 162 games for the Phillies this year! Rollins played flawless defense and hit for power at the top of the batting order in each and every game for the Phillies this year!
Well that is my story and those are my picks! I am no different then every other die-hard baseball fan in November. Struggling for any kind of worthy baseball news!
For the next two weeks, the MLB Awards are the next best thing to baseball itself.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The Week Nine Marquee
What kind of a sports blogger would I be if I didn’t write an article about the biggest regular season game arguably in the history of the NFL?
The Nations media has had a field day with this game over the last two weeks, building it as the epic it was. Super Bowl Forty-one and a half was the cleaver phrase. The 7-0 Indianapolis Colts against the 8-0 New England Patriots. It is considered footballs best rivalry of the 21st century. The two best Quarterbacks, and team leaders going against one another. Pretty Boy Tom Brandy versus Daddy’s Boy Peyton Manning. Joseph Addai the Colts running back against Laurence Maroney the Pack Back. The fan favorite head coach Tony Dungy, against the hated Bill Belichick. The talk was over, the hype had concluded, CBS was ready and at 4:20 Eastern Standard Time on Sunday November 4, 2007 the week nine NFL distinguished bout kicked off.
The Colts won the coin toss, and Indianapolis looked sharp in their first possession, driving the ball down to the Patriot 40 yard line to set up a 50-yard field goal. Right off the bat the expected became unpredicted, as Adam Vinatieri missed his first ever field goal in the RCA dome.
The Patriot Offense took the field for their biggest challenge of the season.
It was Robert Mathis hitting Tom Brady for a ten-yard loss on the first New England offensive play of the day, setting the games tone. It would not be business as usual for Brady and the Eastern Division leaders on this day. The next two plays were not enough to make up 20 yards and for the first time this season New England didn’t score on their first drive.
The Colt's Joseph Addai was the difference in the first half, running the Patriot defense rapid. His ability to run early opened the door for Peyton Manning to throw to wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Clicking on all cylinders Indy was down in the red zone with five minutes left in the first quarter, and at 3:05 in the first, Vinitari hit from 21 yards out, and Indy took the lead 3-0.
The defensive pressure was something Brady had not seen all season. Dwight Freeny also pressured the New England QB. Feeling the defensive pressure, number 12 found a new best friend in Randy Moss who he would throw to all day. But it was an initial seven-yard touchdown pass with 12:00 minutes in the second that gave New England the lead 7-3.
Going 175 passes without an interception Brady threw an interception at the one-yard line with two minutes left in the half. It Concluded Tom’s worst first half this season.
Even with the interception it still looked like Patriots 7 Colts 6 would be the halftime score.
However Joseph Addai had other plans!
Joseph Addai ran the ball in for a 73-yard Touch down with thirteen seconds left in the half, giving Indy a 13-7 lead.
At half time the score was 13-7 Indianapolis.
Early in the second half New England’s Rodney Harrison intercepted Manning, giving each QB one pick on the day. On the ensuing drive Mathis stopped Brady again in a big spot forcing another failed offensive drive by the Patriots.
Penalties were killing the Pats almost as badly as Joseph Addai was. However Brady’s 20 yard run, along with two passes to Randy Moss got New England into field goal range where the AFC Eastern Dominators put three on the board to make the score 13-10.
New England got the ball right back but it was Gary Brackett intercepting Brady for his second pick at the start of the fourth quarter. The future was looking mighty bleak for the New England.
An exhausted New England defense, with 10:00 minutes left in the game was unable to hold Indy off from scoring a gargantuan touchdown. Peyton in from one yard out ran in on a QB sneak to put the Colts ahead by two huge scores with less then ten minutes left in the game.
But then suddenly the entire game changed!
The pace, the tempo, the winners, the losers, the score all changed dramatically.
Brady found his favorite target (Moss) with a 58-yard pass setting New England up on the three-yard line. Then Wes Welker caught a Brady TD with exactly 8 minutes left in the game. It was a sign of things to come as Tom was finding targets aside from Moss: Brady to Stallworth for 30 yards, Brady to Faulk for a touchdown, Brady to Welker for a first down.
What a difference ten minutes can make on the scoreboard in the NFL!
Now with only two minutes left New England had a 24-20 lead!
The Colts without any timeouts after the two-minute warning could only watch as the Patriots killed the clock and got out of the city of Indianapolis having stolen a victory.
Belichick and Dungy met at midfield only long enough to shake hands and turn away.
Super Bowl Forty-One and a half was in the books, the hype and excitement all gone. Only one NFL team remains undefeated and it’s the team that I think will go 16-0 this season.
Everyone still thinks I am crazy for predicting it. But after watching every play of every down on Sunday, watching New England play their worst game this season and still find a way to win, there is no doubt in my mind they will immerge undefeated this season.
Now some will ask what about Pittsburgh (a tough opponent remaining on the Patroit schedule)? And what happens in week 15 and week 16 (when Belichick rests is starters for the post season)? And how about all the Colt injuries (Harrison and Gonzalez) that may have contribued to thier loss? All great questions and great possibilities still exist this season.
However New England showed me all they needed to on Sunday to make me a believer in thier quest for an undefeated season.
There is not a loss to be found within this organization this year!
P.S. I am sick of writing positive stuff about New England teams!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Boston Red Sox are World Champions.
As the final hours of the month of October dwindle down, the 2007 Major League Baseball season has officially concluded.
Gone are the weekend baseball conversations with friends over summer barbeques. Lounging around the backyard with a transistor radio listening to a game has come to pass. The day-to-day routine of checking the newspaper and seeing where each team is placed in the standings is finished. Gone are the season voices of Karl Ravech, Peter Gammons, John Kruk, Vin Scully, John Sterling, and Jerry Remy. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and soon snow will cover the baseball diamonds throughout the land (maybe)!
For me the end comes as one of the most disappointing baseball seasons in recent history. I personally saw more games in different cities and parks this year then I have since I was sixteen years old. Yet the end was a train wreak as miserable as a Yankees fan can imagine!
The Boston Red Sox are World Champions.
In game four with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning Jonathan Papelbon threw a two-ball, two-strike fastball high and inside to pitch hitter Seth Smith. Smith half swung at the pitch out of the zone, striking out to officially end the season. Papelbon threw his glove in the air and jumped down from the pitchers mound. In a squatting position Papelbon waited for catcher Jason Varitek to meet him in front of the mound. Varitek jumped into the air in front of Papelbon who caught him as the captain raised his right arm in victory. The rest of the team began mobbing the battery, until the cluster of champions began to move toward first base. 1973.29 miles away from Denver (according to mapquest.com) in Boston Massachusetts, Red Sox Nation went ballistic. For only the second time in ninety years the Red Sox became World Champions of the great game of baseball.
With Japanese Pitchers, Dominican Sluggers, and American Fielders, the Red Sox have helped make our national past time truly a World Series. With the Core of the team intact, young and healthy, this is the model franchise in the game today. They have a better chance of repeating their dominance next season then any other team I can remember in recent years.
Ok writing the last few paragraphs has made me feel truly disgusting! I am wrapping up this article now, so that I can take four Advil, and sit in a hot shower for several hours thinking about every thing that is wrong with what I just wrote!
I look to 2008 with a sense of hope!
Hope that although my favorite team is no longer baseball’s model franchise, every new seasons brings with it a renaissance, and maybe just maybe the New York Yankees can be World Champions again.
Gone are the weekend baseball conversations with friends over summer barbeques. Lounging around the backyard with a transistor radio listening to a game has come to pass. The day-to-day routine of checking the newspaper and seeing where each team is placed in the standings is finished. Gone are the season voices of Karl Ravech, Peter Gammons, John Kruk, Vin Scully, John Sterling, and Jerry Remy. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and soon snow will cover the baseball diamonds throughout the land (maybe)!
For me the end comes as one of the most disappointing baseball seasons in recent history. I personally saw more games in different cities and parks this year then I have since I was sixteen years old. Yet the end was a train wreak as miserable as a Yankees fan can imagine!
The Boston Red Sox are World Champions.
In game four with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning Jonathan Papelbon threw a two-ball, two-strike fastball high and inside to pitch hitter Seth Smith. Smith half swung at the pitch out of the zone, striking out to officially end the season. Papelbon threw his glove in the air and jumped down from the pitchers mound. In a squatting position Papelbon waited for catcher Jason Varitek to meet him in front of the mound. Varitek jumped into the air in front of Papelbon who caught him as the captain raised his right arm in victory. The rest of the team began mobbing the battery, until the cluster of champions began to move toward first base. 1973.29 miles away from Denver (according to mapquest.com) in Boston Massachusetts, Red Sox Nation went ballistic. For only the second time in ninety years the Red Sox became World Champions of the great game of baseball.
With Japanese Pitchers, Dominican Sluggers, and American Fielders, the Red Sox have helped make our national past time truly a World Series. With the Core of the team intact, young and healthy, this is the model franchise in the game today. They have a better chance of repeating their dominance next season then any other team I can remember in recent years.
Ok writing the last few paragraphs has made me feel truly disgusting! I am wrapping up this article now, so that I can take four Advil, and sit in a hot shower for several hours thinking about every thing that is wrong with what I just wrote!
I look to 2008 with a sense of hope!
Hope that although my favorite team is no longer baseball’s model franchise, every new seasons brings with it a renaissance, and maybe just maybe the New York Yankees can be World Champions again.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Rocky Mountain High Colorado!
Putting my journalist, analyst, impartial, blogger opinions to the side for a moment; never before in life have I ever been a bigger Colorado Rockies fan than I am right now!
GO ROCKIES!!!
As a die hard Yankees Fan I must always hate the Boston Red Sox with a passion! And so the Colorado Rockies hold all my hopes and dreams of salvaging the few remaining games of what has otherwise been a very disappointing baseball season for me. Watching Colorado celebrate their first ever World Series victory at the expense of my arch nemesis is all I have left!
Of course the 2007 MLB World Series (which begins Wednesday night at 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time on FOX) heavily favors the Boston Red Sox.
At 96 and 66 during the regular season, Boston has been the best team in baseball this season. The American League Champion Red Sox are playing the Wild Card Rockies. Boston is playing with home field advantage. Which means playing with American League rules (using DH David Ortiz) four out of seven games. They are playing with a fully rested pitching rotation. Red Sox best pitcher Josh Beckett matching up with Rockies best Jeff Francis. Boston’s bullpen is stable, tough and dominant. The Rockies bullpen has been shaky and unreliable. Boston’s staring line up has been pesky and productive. Colorado’s starting lineup has been adequate.
Yes on paper it should be a Boston Sweep.
But on paper the Rockies season should have been over 21 different times over the last 22 games. Tony Kornheiser of ESPN, (PTI- my favorite after work show!) often says objects in motion stay in motion. Well I certainly hope Colorado has four more wins left in their remarkable six-week victory tour.
I make no bold predictions!
Besides I have been wrong with almost every pick this post season anyway. In this, Major League Baseball’s 102 annual World Series, I am nothing more then a huge Rockies fan!
GO ROCKIES!!!
As a die hard Yankees Fan I must always hate the Boston Red Sox with a passion! And so the Colorado Rockies hold all my hopes and dreams of salvaging the few remaining games of what has otherwise been a very disappointing baseball season for me. Watching Colorado celebrate their first ever World Series victory at the expense of my arch nemesis is all I have left!
Of course the 2007 MLB World Series (which begins Wednesday night at 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time on FOX) heavily favors the Boston Red Sox.
At 96 and 66 during the regular season, Boston has been the best team in baseball this season. The American League Champion Red Sox are playing the Wild Card Rockies. Boston is playing with home field advantage. Which means playing with American League rules (using DH David Ortiz) four out of seven games. They are playing with a fully rested pitching rotation. Red Sox best pitcher Josh Beckett matching up with Rockies best Jeff Francis. Boston’s bullpen is stable, tough and dominant. The Rockies bullpen has been shaky and unreliable. Boston’s staring line up has been pesky and productive. Colorado’s starting lineup has been adequate.
Yes on paper it should be a Boston Sweep.
But on paper the Rockies season should have been over 21 different times over the last 22 games. Tony Kornheiser of ESPN, (PTI- my favorite after work show!) often says objects in motion stay in motion. Well I certainly hope Colorado has four more wins left in their remarkable six-week victory tour.
I make no bold predictions!
Besides I have been wrong with almost every pick this post season anyway. In this, Major League Baseball’s 102 annual World Series, I am nothing more then a huge Rockies fan!
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Skip Has Been Whacked
Thursday November 2, 1995
“Two Very Important Announcements!”
Coach Jerry Corrado declared sternly to my seventh period physical education class at Kingston High School.
“First off, there is no ninth period make up gym class today.”
The crowd of students assembled on the bleachers, waiting for the bell to ring (myself one of them) began talking, indifferent to Coach’s proclamation.
“Second!” Coach shouted to regain our attention and silence.
“Second!”
“Joe Torre has just been named the new manager of the New York Yankees!”
Once again everyone began talking still indifferent to Coach’s public statement.
Everyone except me that is!
Coach had my full and undivided attention. But coach was done trying to communicate with the group of rowdy teenagers waiting to get for seventh period to end. Staring down at his grade book he waited for the bell, saying nothing more regarding his baseball news.
As soon as the bell rang I ran down from my seat among the top of the bleachers and approached Coach Corrado. I was desperate for some more information.
“Is it true Coach? You know, about the Yankees?” I asked in a frantic and questionable tone.
“Yes” He said to me heatedly.
“It was just announced on the radio, on WKNY during a news break.”
I pulled my New York Yankees cap from a top my head. It’s dark blue color with the interlocking white N Y. discussed by the hat and all it represented, and it’s new manager. I extended the hat out in my hand toward Coach Corrado, and said with anger and disappointment,
“you want a hat?”
“No! I want Buck Showalter back!” Was Coach’s equally angry disappointed return.
I was just fifteen years old, and I couldn’t believe the awful move that George Stienbrenner and the Yankees brass had just made. Joe Torre was known in my mind as a failed Mets and Cardinals manager. A guy whose track record for failure was sure to whip out everything former manager Buck Showalter had just accomplished.
Eleven months later, I was at my uncles house jumping up and down in front of a television when Charlie Hayes caught a foul ball pop up off third base, to crown the Yankees the 1996 World Series Champions. The vision of Torre with the World Series Trophy in his hands and tears in his eyes still seems like yesterday in my mind.
From 1996 right up until two weeks ago, Joe Torre has been the vital component for success in the Bronx. For the last 12 years Torre has been a tremendous leader of Yankees players, a calming voice in the media, and an influential figure with ownership.
But now it's all over.
At 2:00pm on Friday October 19, 2007 Joe Torre offically anounced is tenure as Yankees Skipper as come to an end.
There are many fans, journalists and analysts who are among the opinion that the time has come for a change in New York, and Joe’s departure is ideal. Many feel that Joe has never been a great situational manager, not big on strategy guy. Many also think that losing key coaches like Mel Stottlemyre and Don Zimmer hurt Torre as they were the real brains in the Yankees dugout. These oppions may have some legitimacy. However even if these theories are all 100 percent accurate, Torre is still the most qualified guy for the job. There is just no suitable replacement for Joe in the foreseeable Yankee future.
In recent years thing have gotten stale with Joe and the Yankees. In fact, in the last three years Joe’s head has been on the chopping block every October. As I watched live from Yankees Stadium during game four of the ALDS I felt that this was finally the end for Torre in New York. I was one of the many 56,000 in attendance chanting Joe’s name in what we figured was his final good bye.
Appropriately, Joe’s last official appearance on the field at Yankees Stadium was to bring in closer Marino Rivera. Rivera has been the single most important player to Joe’s success in the Bronx. One New York reporter even joked years ago that Joe’s last day with the Yankees should be one day less then Mariano Rivera’s last day.
Mission Accomplished.
Since that sunny November day back in 1995, there have been only two days that I have felt such horrible sadness as a Yankees fanatic. The first day was game seven of the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox.
The Second was today.
“Two Very Important Announcements!”
Coach Jerry Corrado declared sternly to my seventh period physical education class at Kingston High School.
“First off, there is no ninth period make up gym class today.”
The crowd of students assembled on the bleachers, waiting for the bell to ring (myself one of them) began talking, indifferent to Coach’s proclamation.
“Second!” Coach shouted to regain our attention and silence.
“Second!”
“Joe Torre has just been named the new manager of the New York Yankees!”
Once again everyone began talking still indifferent to Coach’s public statement.
Everyone except me that is!
Coach had my full and undivided attention. But coach was done trying to communicate with the group of rowdy teenagers waiting to get for seventh period to end. Staring down at his grade book he waited for the bell, saying nothing more regarding his baseball news.
As soon as the bell rang I ran down from my seat among the top of the bleachers and approached Coach Corrado. I was desperate for some more information.
“Is it true Coach? You know, about the Yankees?” I asked in a frantic and questionable tone.
“Yes” He said to me heatedly.
“It was just announced on the radio, on WKNY during a news break.”
I pulled my New York Yankees cap from a top my head. It’s dark blue color with the interlocking white N Y. discussed by the hat and all it represented, and it’s new manager. I extended the hat out in my hand toward Coach Corrado, and said with anger and disappointment,
“you want a hat?”
“No! I want Buck Showalter back!” Was Coach’s equally angry disappointed return.
I was just fifteen years old, and I couldn’t believe the awful move that George Stienbrenner and the Yankees brass had just made. Joe Torre was known in my mind as a failed Mets and Cardinals manager. A guy whose track record for failure was sure to whip out everything former manager Buck Showalter had just accomplished.
Eleven months later, I was at my uncles house jumping up and down in front of a television when Charlie Hayes caught a foul ball pop up off third base, to crown the Yankees the 1996 World Series Champions. The vision of Torre with the World Series Trophy in his hands and tears in his eyes still seems like yesterday in my mind.
From 1996 right up until two weeks ago, Joe Torre has been the vital component for success in the Bronx. For the last 12 years Torre has been a tremendous leader of Yankees players, a calming voice in the media, and an influential figure with ownership.
But now it's all over.
At 2:00pm on Friday October 19, 2007 Joe Torre offically anounced is tenure as Yankees Skipper as come to an end.
There are many fans, journalists and analysts who are among the opinion that the time has come for a change in New York, and Joe’s departure is ideal. Many feel that Joe has never been a great situational manager, not big on strategy guy. Many also think that losing key coaches like Mel Stottlemyre and Don Zimmer hurt Torre as they were the real brains in the Yankees dugout. These oppions may have some legitimacy. However even if these theories are all 100 percent accurate, Torre is still the most qualified guy for the job. There is just no suitable replacement for Joe in the foreseeable Yankee future.
In recent years thing have gotten stale with Joe and the Yankees. In fact, in the last three years Joe’s head has been on the chopping block every October. As I watched live from Yankees Stadium during game four of the ALDS I felt that this was finally the end for Torre in New York. I was one of the many 56,000 in attendance chanting Joe’s name in what we figured was his final good bye.
Appropriately, Joe’s last official appearance on the field at Yankees Stadium was to bring in closer Marino Rivera. Rivera has been the single most important player to Joe’s success in the Bronx. One New York reporter even joked years ago that Joe’s last day with the Yankees should be one day less then Mariano Rivera’s last day.
Mission Accomplished.
Since that sunny November day back in 1995, there have been only two days that I have felt such horrible sadness as a Yankees fanatic. The first day was game seven of the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox.
The Second was today.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Kobe's Miserable Hollywood Performance
On Thursday night June 14, 2007, game four of the NBA Championship between the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavilers was played out to the season’s conclusion. With the Spurs up by just two, after a three pointer by LeBron James, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili received the ball and proceeded to kill 2.3 seconds off the clock before he was fouled. The run killed Cleveland’s dreams of a Championship and completed a series sweep for the Spurs. San Antonio was crowned the 2006-2007 NBA Champions. Seconds later Tim Duncan was pumping his fists. LeBron James was hanging his head. And most important of all Tony Parker was hugging Eva Longoria, capturing the hearts and genitalia of every heterosexual male watching.
Lucky Chap!
The reason I flash back is not to praise the defending Champions or to lust over Eva. Rather it’s because there has been one NBA constant every single day between that game, and the present moments as I type this article. That constant can be found in Los Angeles California with the franchise Icon of the LA Lakers. The constant has been the repetitive malicious weeping of Kobe Bryant. His demand to be traded from the team that made him famous has been the NBA cover story every California day since the spring.
Bryant has been in a constant verbal battle with LA ownership since the end of last season. He put the situation only slightly on the back burner over the summer while playing for team USA. Now he is complaining of a sore leg that has restricted him from preseason workouts. And the latest report out of Tinsel Town is that Kobe was seen clearing out his Lakers locker this past Monday.
When confronted by the media on Tuesday, Kobe denied that he had cleared out his locker, but his overall tone in attitude toward his current team almost contradicted his statement. As Boomer Esiason said on his morning radio show on sports radio 660am,
“A reporter had to have been inside the Lakers locker room, and had to have seen Kobe clearing out his locker in order to make this story news worthy”.
Otherwise we would be talking even more Joe Torre and even less Colorado Rockies this week in the world of sports media.
All sports fans have seen these antics before. Professional athletes testing the limits, trying to break the rules in order to get what they want. Faking injuries, demanding more money, bashing people within their organizations, crying to the media, insisting on trades, and clinging to their agents for their sports lives. Terrell Owens, Manny Ramirez, Michael Strahan, and now Alex Rodriguez are just a few names that come to mind in recent months.
The real trouble is that Kobe is among the highest paid players in the NBA, making a whopping 88.6 million over the next four years. Truth be told I think Lakers ownership would love to part company with their over paid guard. LA has looked to meet Kobe’s demand, but they simply can’t move enough of his salary or get enough in return to make quality trade.
It’s the old “were stuck with you so you’re stuck with us”.
But man is Kobe trying to get out of LA!
Keep in mind Bryant is the same guy who had Shaquille O’Neal kicked out of town! His constant fighting over whose ego was bigger drove O'Neal to Miami, where Shaq had the last laugh with a Championship season two years ago. Bryant has an incredible ability to conduct himself in such a childish fashion that eventually he gets what he wants as someone bows to his demands.
So where is Kobe Bryant going?
My guess would be nowhere. If Lakers owner Jerry Buss and the Lakers brass were going to trade Kobe it would have happened over the summer. I would imagine Bryant will continue to make the situation miserable for his the organization, his teammates, coaching staff, and most of all for himself. I would anticipate a miserable season in LA and an unhappy franchise.
However my track record for predicting the future in professional sports is not exactly stellar. After all I said there would be a Boston / New York ALCS in MLB and that I would be up at least a grand in Vegas last week. Neither of which manifested.
So the safe bet is that Kobe will be in Chicago or Dallas by the NBA opening day!
Kobe is like so many professional athletes in this day and age, tremendously talented on the field, but lacking any essence of honor off.
Lucky Chap!
The reason I flash back is not to praise the defending Champions or to lust over Eva. Rather it’s because there has been one NBA constant every single day between that game, and the present moments as I type this article. That constant can be found in Los Angeles California with the franchise Icon of the LA Lakers. The constant has been the repetitive malicious weeping of Kobe Bryant. His demand to be traded from the team that made him famous has been the NBA cover story every California day since the spring.
Bryant has been in a constant verbal battle with LA ownership since the end of last season. He put the situation only slightly on the back burner over the summer while playing for team USA. Now he is complaining of a sore leg that has restricted him from preseason workouts. And the latest report out of Tinsel Town is that Kobe was seen clearing out his Lakers locker this past Monday.
When confronted by the media on Tuesday, Kobe denied that he had cleared out his locker, but his overall tone in attitude toward his current team almost contradicted his statement. As Boomer Esiason said on his morning radio show on sports radio 660am,
“A reporter had to have been inside the Lakers locker room, and had to have seen Kobe clearing out his locker in order to make this story news worthy”.
Otherwise we would be talking even more Joe Torre and even less Colorado Rockies this week in the world of sports media.
All sports fans have seen these antics before. Professional athletes testing the limits, trying to break the rules in order to get what they want. Faking injuries, demanding more money, bashing people within their organizations, crying to the media, insisting on trades, and clinging to their agents for their sports lives. Terrell Owens, Manny Ramirez, Michael Strahan, and now Alex Rodriguez are just a few names that come to mind in recent months.
The real trouble is that Kobe is among the highest paid players in the NBA, making a whopping 88.6 million over the next four years. Truth be told I think Lakers ownership would love to part company with their over paid guard. LA has looked to meet Kobe’s demand, but they simply can’t move enough of his salary or get enough in return to make quality trade.
It’s the old “were stuck with you so you’re stuck with us”.
But man is Kobe trying to get out of LA!
Keep in mind Bryant is the same guy who had Shaquille O’Neal kicked out of town! His constant fighting over whose ego was bigger drove O'Neal to Miami, where Shaq had the last laugh with a Championship season two years ago. Bryant has an incredible ability to conduct himself in such a childish fashion that eventually he gets what he wants as someone bows to his demands.
So where is Kobe Bryant going?
My guess would be nowhere. If Lakers owner Jerry Buss and the Lakers brass were going to trade Kobe it would have happened over the summer. I would imagine Bryant will continue to make the situation miserable for his the organization, his teammates, coaching staff, and most of all for himself. I would anticipate a miserable season in LA and an unhappy franchise.
However my track record for predicting the future in professional sports is not exactly stellar. After all I said there would be a Boston / New York ALCS in MLB and that I would be up at least a grand in Vegas last week. Neither of which manifested.
So the safe bet is that Kobe will be in Chicago or Dallas by the NBA opening day!
Kobe is like so many professional athletes in this day and age, tremendously talented on the field, but lacking any essence of honor off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)