A quick excerpt from my cab ride home last night, from a 30-something year old yetti named Lee with a 19-year old son:
"Lee: So where are we going?
Jess: Wash U, Forsyth please"
Lee: Ok, foreskin, heh heh heh, foreskin, heh heh.
Jess: No, Forsyth, it's near Big Bend.
Lee: Yeah, yeah, foreskin, heh heh heh. Foreskin, heh heh. You know, like from Beavis and Butthead"
Me: Oh yeah, I remember that phase, then I passed the fifth grade."
Friday, February 15, 2008
Ramblings
1. I've gotta give Roger Clemens some credit. He took a situation where its so obvious that he's lying, and turned it around and made McNamee look like a jackass. Clemens is still so obviously lying, and all the evidence points there, but his charade coupled with McNamee's inability to come off as any semblance of a human being made McNamee come off as the liar. And I think if it weren't for Henry Waxman's highly inappropriate closing comments (where he basically said it's obvious Clemens is still lying, and apologized to McNamee) the general public might have been swayed. With two completely conflicting stories, it's obvious someone is lying, and there's likely to be a federal investigation. While I firmly believe Clemens will eventually be outed as a liar, kudos to Roger for convincing many dumb Americans, and congressmen, that he might be telling the truth.
2. Happy Pitchers and Catchers! Early reports are that Johan and Pedro look great, and Duaner Sanchez is in the best shape of his life. I can't help but get excited for this year, as I hope to get the horrible taste of the 07 collapse out of my mouth as quickly as possible.
3. Every time I watch the Richard Zednik highlight, I cringe. What an absolute freak accident, and thank god team doctors were able to get him into a hospital on time. It just goes to show that in sports literally anything can, and will happen eventually. I've heard analysts say they are 'amazed' that more things like this don't happen on the ice with skates flying everywhere, but how often are people inverted in the air in hockey, and do so at the same time another players neck is in the area. I, for one, am glad it doesn't happen more often, and hope it never happens again.
4. As a Dolphins fan, I fully anticipated that Bill Parcells would come in here and clean house. I expected Randy Mueller to get the ax, I knew Cam Cameron would get his walking papers, and I wasn't surprised when Trent Green was sent packing along with other starters like Marty Booker and Keith Traylor. But did they really have to release Zach Thomas? This guy has been the heart and sole of the Dolphins since Marino left, and he deserved a better fate. It's gonna be a young, inexperienced team out there next year, and what better thing for a defense than a veteran leader who busts his ass play after play and makes 150 tackles a year. I know his contracts is big, and I know he's old, but the Dolphins faithful can only take so much. After a 1-15 year, 6 straight seasons without playoffs, and 5 different opening game QBs in 5 years, I don't know that I can swallow losing a team icon like that. Jason Taylor, one of the league's premier players, has been keeping his mouth shut while playing hard for this insufferable losing team. However with 1-15 and now the release of his half-brother (although I heard rumors they got divorced), we might hear some trade demands from JT. And the sad thing is, I think Parcells would let him go.
5. It's hard to comment on the Kidd trade fiasco, because it's hard to know what the exact deal was. I originally heard the deal was Devean George, Devin Harris, DeSagna Diop, Jerry Stackhouse, $3 million, and 2 first round picks for Kidd. In which case, what a deal for the Nets. They get a couple of expiring contracts, cash, and two first rounders for an unhappy player who, as good as he is, is causing more harm than good. But now, Devean George, who inexplicable has a no trade clause thanks to a little known NBA rule regarding 1-year contracts, has vetoed the trade and the NBA says Stackhouse cannot be traded to the Nets, only to be waived and return to Dallas in a month. Instead, the Mavs now want to be Trenton Hassell and Keith Van Horn in their place. Sure, just what the Nets fans have been itching for...the return of Keith Van Horn. More on this to come...
2. Happy Pitchers and Catchers! Early reports are that Johan and Pedro look great, and Duaner Sanchez is in the best shape of his life. I can't help but get excited for this year, as I hope to get the horrible taste of the 07 collapse out of my mouth as quickly as possible.
3. Every time I watch the Richard Zednik highlight, I cringe. What an absolute freak accident, and thank god team doctors were able to get him into a hospital on time. It just goes to show that in sports literally anything can, and will happen eventually. I've heard analysts say they are 'amazed' that more things like this don't happen on the ice with skates flying everywhere, but how often are people inverted in the air in hockey, and do so at the same time another players neck is in the area. I, for one, am glad it doesn't happen more often, and hope it never happens again.
4. As a Dolphins fan, I fully anticipated that Bill Parcells would come in here and clean house. I expected Randy Mueller to get the ax, I knew Cam Cameron would get his walking papers, and I wasn't surprised when Trent Green was sent packing along with other starters like Marty Booker and Keith Traylor. But did they really have to release Zach Thomas? This guy has been the heart and sole of the Dolphins since Marino left, and he deserved a better fate. It's gonna be a young, inexperienced team out there next year, and what better thing for a defense than a veteran leader who busts his ass play after play and makes 150 tackles a year. I know his contracts is big, and I know he's old, but the Dolphins faithful can only take so much. After a 1-15 year, 6 straight seasons without playoffs, and 5 different opening game QBs in 5 years, I don't know that I can swallow losing a team icon like that. Jason Taylor, one of the league's premier players, has been keeping his mouth shut while playing hard for this insufferable losing team. However with 1-15 and now the release of his half-brother (although I heard rumors they got divorced), we might hear some trade demands from JT. And the sad thing is, I think Parcells would let him go.
5. It's hard to comment on the Kidd trade fiasco, because it's hard to know what the exact deal was. I originally heard the deal was Devean George, Devin Harris, DeSagna Diop, Jerry Stackhouse, $3 million, and 2 first round picks for Kidd. In which case, what a deal for the Nets. They get a couple of expiring contracts, cash, and two first rounders for an unhappy player who, as good as he is, is causing more harm than good. But now, Devean George, who inexplicable has a no trade clause thanks to a little known NBA rule regarding 1-year contracts, has vetoed the trade and the NBA says Stackhouse cannot be traded to the Nets, only to be waived and return to Dallas in a month. Instead, the Mavs now want to be Trenton Hassell and Keith Van Horn in their place. Sure, just what the Nets fans have been itching for...the return of Keith Van Horn. More on this to come...
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Phoenix Folly
I think I speak for all NBA fans when on Tuesday night I said...."WHAT?!?! Marion and Banks for Shaq?? Why on earth would the Suns do that? Has to be a rumor."
Sure enough, the Big Aristotle is on his way to Phoenix, and Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks are headed to Miami. The Suns have traded 29 year old PF who has average 18 and 10 over his career, for a 35 yeard old, 325 pound center who has seen his PPG and RPG drop each of the last 3 years. As a longtime Shaq fan, I'm thrilled with this trade because the Daddy will get a chance for a 5th ring. But from the Suns standpoint, regardless of whether or not you like the guy, you can't trade superstar in his prime for a legend on the steep decline. Shaq is all-time great, but to call him a mere shadow of his former self might be giving him too much credit. He's slow, he's out of shape and hes owed 30 million dollars over the next year and a half. Since the Suns sell out consistently, the 'he'll put asses in the seats' defense doesn't work here. Unless the Suns ownership recently developed a personal vendetta against UNLV grads, this trade makes no sense from the Suns' standpoint. The Heat however, will have a solid combination between Wade and Marion for the next few years, and if some pieces can be put around them, will once again turn into an Eastern Conference contender.
Sure enough, the Big Aristotle is on his way to Phoenix, and Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks are headed to Miami. The Suns have traded 29 year old PF who has average 18 and 10 over his career, for a 35 yeard old, 325 pound center who has seen his PPG and RPG drop each of the last 3 years. As a longtime Shaq fan, I'm thrilled with this trade because the Daddy will get a chance for a 5th ring. But from the Suns standpoint, regardless of whether or not you like the guy, you can't trade superstar in his prime for a legend on the steep decline. Shaq is all-time great, but to call him a mere shadow of his former self might be giving him too much credit. He's slow, he's out of shape and hes owed 30 million dollars over the next year and a half. Since the Suns sell out consistently, the 'he'll put asses in the seats' defense doesn't work here. Unless the Suns ownership recently developed a personal vendetta against UNLV grads, this trade makes no sense from the Suns' standpoint. The Heat however, will have a solid combination between Wade and Marion for the next few years, and if some pieces can be put around them, will once again turn into an Eastern Conference contender.
Eli Manning, Super Bowl MVP
Five months ago this guy, Eli Manning was seemingly the second coming of Ryan Leaf. Giants' fans everywhere were regretting the draft day swap of Eli Manning for three pro bowlers, Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding. And can't blame them, Eli turned the ball over this season more than any player in the National Football League. But over the past 6 weeks, Eli Manning underwent a transformation likened to LeBron's game 6 performance against the Pistons. Each player went from a player with tremendous talent, to a winner. It appears the G-Men have found their franchise QB, just 4 years after they drafted him.
This upset happened for a few reasons. 1) A tremendous 4th quarter performance by Eli Manning. If the previous 4 games hadn't proved it, 9-14, 152 yds and 2 TD in the biggest pressure quarter against a top defense..that might do it. 2) Hitting Brady 18 times. Part of what allows Brady to be so dominant is that he's never touched, he's only hit a few times a game. On Sunday, Brady was not only sacked 5 times, but knocked of his feet 18 times. The Giants' front four was tremendous, and the difference make in the game. 3) No big plays from the Pats. As I said in the preview, a key was to limit big plays. No Maroney 50 yard runs, no Moss 60 yard TD bombs, no pick sixes. The Giants made the Pats sustain long drives to score, of which they could only produce 2. 4) The Patriots' arrogance. Mostly this was demonstrated by the genius head coach opting to bypass a 48 yard FG in a dome and go for it on 4th and 13. I don't buy the long FG argument, if you can't trust your kicked to a 48 yd FG in perfect conditions, then why have a kicker. They went for it because Belichick was saying 'you can't stop us'. I think a lot of Pats went into the game with that attitude, and it contributed to their demise.
This upset happened for a few reasons. 1) A tremendous 4th quarter performance by Eli Manning. If the previous 4 games hadn't proved it, 9-14, 152 yds and 2 TD in the biggest pressure quarter against a top defense..that might do it. 2) Hitting Brady 18 times. Part of what allows Brady to be so dominant is that he's never touched, he's only hit a few times a game. On Sunday, Brady was not only sacked 5 times, but knocked of his feet 18 times. The Giants' front four was tremendous, and the difference make in the game. 3) No big plays from the Pats. As I said in the preview, a key was to limit big plays. No Maroney 50 yard runs, no Moss 60 yard TD bombs, no pick sixes. The Giants made the Pats sustain long drives to score, of which they could only produce 2. 4) The Patriots' arrogance. Mostly this was demonstrated by the genius head coach opting to bypass a 48 yard FG in a dome and go for it on 4th and 13. I don't buy the long FG argument, if you can't trust your kicked to a 48 yd FG in perfect conditions, then why have a kicker. They went for it because Belichick was saying 'you can't stop us'. I think a lot of Pats went into the game with that attitude, and it contributed to their demise.
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