Monday, March 29, 2010

Jordan, From Player To Owner

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New Jersey also gets a face over - A new face will now be seen in the NBA owners committee as well as a familiar one. Mikhail Prokhorov or better known as Russia's richest man, recently agreed to become a principle owner of the New Jersey Nets. And although he's new to both the team and the NBA, the man made sure he got familiar with Nets fans right away. While attending a game at the Izod Center where the Nets play their home games, Prokhorov approached a couple of fans who were wearing bags on their heads and began chewing them out, showing how prideful of the team he just might be. Why bags you ask? Still attending games for a team that currently owns the league's worst record of 9-64 could be quite embarrassing. And as we've often seen in other sports, mostly football, brown paper bags are a useful item for those trying to hide their identity.

With incidents like this, the Russian mystery man that no one knows too much about will soon get the recognition he needs. The other newest member of the NBA owners committee, needs no further introduction. Earlier last week, the league approved of Michael Jordan's purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats. With sole possession of the Charlotte franchise, Jordan becomes the first ex-player to be named a majority owner of an NBA team. The sport of Hockey seen a similar situation as Canada's Mario Lemieux became the owner of the team he played 17-seasons with once upon a time -- the Pittsburgh Penguins. One accomplishment Lemieux has over the field, is that he's the only person to win the Stanley Cup as both a player and a owner. A feat Jordan also hopes to one day achieve, as he has the player part down with a total of 6-NBA rings.

MJ, who's most recent job before heading to Charlotte, was his front office position with the Washington Wizards, as he served as the team's Director of Basketball Operations as well as the minority owner. But despite the presence of arguably the greatest player to ever step foot on the hardwood, the team still proved to be unsuccessful. And when a team can't overcome its issues even with the help of Michael Jordan, things just aren't meant to be. But since his tenure in Washington, he says he's much more passionate and went as far as comparing himself to Mavs owner Mark Cuban. But as smart of an owner Cuban is, I don't think Jordan wants to compare himself to Cuban, who's been known for getting a bit too close to his players as well as getting too caught up in the game.

Upon his new position with the team, Jordan played a little 1-on-1 with Bobcats rookie Gerald Henderson. And just like the speech he gave during his Hall of Fame induction, Jordan brought his cocky attitude to the court. While attending one of the team's morning shootaround's, Jordan challenged the former Blue Devil to a game of H-O-R-S-E, where he lost not once, but twice to an alum of the team he grew up hating as a child. And just like in this year's college basketball season, Duke came out victoriously over North Carolina. To make matters worse, Henderson is currently shooting a dismal 34 percent from the field. Hopefully the two game beating will teach Jordan a lesson, because no one likes a cocky person let alone a boss.
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Back to the Mikhail Prokhorov - paper bag situation, now that I think about it, I'm surprised Mikhail didn't approach the fans and ask for a bag of his own...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

San Francisco Giants 2010 Preview

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The countdown to baseball's Opening Day has begun
as teams get set to kick off the 2010 season, a week from tomorrow. With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, the Giants have only one thing on their mind for the new season, and that's winning the pennant. Since the 2003 season, the Giants have been idle from the playoffs and are still seeking their first World Series championship since relocating to the bay area in 1957. The Giants haven't won a World Series tittle since the 1954 season in New York, giving them a championship drought of 55 years, currently the third longest behind the Chicago Cubs (101 years) and the Cleveland Indians (61 years). But with the Barry Bonds era over and years of rebuilding, many believe the future is bright for the team that lay's low in the city by the bay.
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With the lack of offense over the past few years, pitching has truly become the team's hallmark. But with a slimmer Pablo Sandoval and Aaron Rowand returning from spring workouts, the team hopes to improve at the plate. One area the team addressed from last season, is the issue at first base. This offseason, the Giants took a chance by acquiring Aubrey Huff who's coming off a poor year hitting just .241. But so far this spring, Huff has continued to look a lot like the power hitter the Giants have been seeking. His defense however, is still a work in progress. But with a stellar glove in Travis Ishikawa, the battle for first base may be a close one. And with the return of Bengie Molina behind the plate who re-signed with the club for a 1-year deal, don't rule out any possibility of prospect Buster Posey playing at first either.
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Another key acquisition the Giants made in the offseason, was the signing of veteran Mark DeRosa. Granted how versatile the 12-year veteran is, skipper Bruce Bochy will be able to move him around the field where ever and whenever he needs to. With last year's Giants squad often showing offense from time to time, GM Brian Sabean is confident enough that with the addition of these two bats, the team can be lethal. One player that made a splash last season that will be returning to the San Francisco ball club, is Juan Uribe. With second baseman Freddy Sanchez expected to start the season on the disabled list, Uribe could fill the void when needed if he isn't platooned at shortstop with Edgar Renteria. With the growth of Pablo Sandoval, the team will no longer have to rely on the slowest guy in the organization -- Bengie Molina. Despite his snail pace speed, the team has relied heavily on the 2-time Gold Glove Award winner as he earned the nickname 'Money Molina'. But with Buster Posey under his wing, his speed will no longer be a liability in the future.
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The Giants are coming off a year in which they won their most games since 2004, and as mentioned before, are eying their first playoff appearance since 2003. Carrying the ball club for the past few seasons, Giants starters combined for a 3.58 ERA last year which ranked 2nd best in the majors, only behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (3.41 ERA). Much thanks came from another Cy Young campaign from Tim Lincecum. Both Lincecum and righty Matt Cain had strong seasons, being named to the 2009 All-Star game NL roster. Last year's Giants pitching also posted an opposing batting average of .234 which was the lowest in the big leagues and the 63 combined wins matched those posted by the starters of the World Series champion New York Yankees. As this franchise has proved over the past few years, pitching is key and it'll be nice to have a lot of last year's arms on the team for many years to come. And as any pitching dominant team should do, the Giants re-signed most of their young arms.
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In his first year in which he was eligible for arbitration, both the Giants and Tim Lincecum avoided the situation hours before the two met in court by agreeing to a 2-year deal worth $23 million dollars. And as early as today, the Giants made it official that starter Matt Cain, set-up man Jeremy Affeldt and closer Brian Wilson all signed extensions with the club through the 2012 season. Affeldt, who signed last season as a free agent, was named Setup Man of the Year in 2009 by MLB.com's This Year in Baseball Awards, posting a Major League-Best 33 holds. For what it's worth, he also led all left-handed relievers and ranked third overall with a 1.73 ERA last year. Wilson on the other hand, appeared in 68 games in 2009 and has accumulated 79 saves over the past two seasons. With Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito and now Cain all under team control through the 2012 season, its nice to see the Giants show some commitment, recognizing young talent locking players and giving extensions for what looks to be a very bright future for many seasons to come in San Francisco.
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Saturday, March 27, 2010

Could Don be Gone?

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McNabb out, Kolb in? - For whatever reason, the Philadelphia Eagles have built a reputation for having more than one decent player at the quarterback position at the same time. Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb all seen playing time on the field last season and could all fill a starting role if needed. And after planning to keep all three, the Eagles have begun to at least listen to offers for their over populated QB position, including their most prized possession -- Donovan McNabb. Over the past year or two, McNabb has been rumored to trades, but the organization along with coach Andy Reid have made it clear that those rumors remained just that. But 10 years with the franchise and no rings to show for, talks regarding a trade are once again brewing.

This past Wednesday at the owners meeting, Eagles head coach Andy Reid touched on the subject by saying, "I'm currently listening to offers, I'm not saying we're doing anything, but we're keeping our ears open." Immediately as the news broke, the St. Louis Rams were rumored to be a possible suitor for the 6-time Pro Bowl QB. But with the first overall pick in this year's draft, Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford seems to be the man on St. Louis' wish list. As far as best fits go, ESPN's NFL Live believes another team in the NFC West would be the perfect destination for McNabb, the Arizona Cardinals. The man himself however, says if he were to be dealt, he would prefer playing as a Minnesota Viking which creates some more drama. Would the Vikings choose the a 33-year old McNabb over a 40-year old Brett Favre?

With the world not knowing what his next move might be and an unsure veteran in Brett Favre, depending on whether the Vikings are willing to wait for his decision, patience might be the key in this situation. Minnesota head coach Brad Childress, however, said he would give Favre as much time as he needed to make up his mind. Last season saw the 3-time NFL MVP return for his 18th year, as late as August 18th, less than a month before the start of the regular season. But if they plan to keep their word and wait for the never aging Brett Favre, McNabb may be off the market by the time his decision is made. Eagles back-up QB Kevin Kolb seen some brief action as the starter last year when McNabb went down with an injury. Despite a 1-1 record, Kolb became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards in each of his first two career starts. As for Michael Vick, well I'm sure you know about him by now.

Other possible destinations for McNabb, are the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. All of which are unsure of who the starting quarterback will be come the start of the 2010-2011 NFL season. Could this be the end of the McNabb era in Philly?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

NFL Overtime Rules Get A Makeover

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It's Official -
Plans for a new overtime rule in the NFL have been discussed for years, but never has the topic been on top of the list like it has been this offseason. For months now, the NFL has been on the verge of changing its overtime rules and almost two full months after the Superbowl, some changes will finally be made. Although they'll be adjusted them, the new rules will only apply to playoff games. In a 28 to 4 vote by the NFL team owners committee, 28 teams voted in favor of the new OT rule. One of the most surprising teams that opposed the proposed overtime ruling, is none other than the Minnesota Vikings.

In this past NFC Championship game, the world witnessed Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings lose to the eventual Superbowl champs -- the New Orleans Saints. In an overtime thriller, the home team Saints won the coin toss and kicked a game winning field-goal in the same drive. A field-goal that sent the New Orleans franchise to their first ever trip to the Superbowl where they went on to upset the highly favored Indianapolis Colts. Many thought the game between the Saints and Vikings was unfair and would have liked to see if the Vikings could have responded with a trip down the field of their own. But given the rules at the time, Minnesota never got a chance. The new rule however, will prevent a similar ending like that from happening again.

(Seen in Photo: Saints kicker Garrett Hartley, who hit the game winning FG.)
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The New Rules:
1. If first team with the ball scores a TD, it wins.
2. If first team with the ball makes a FG, other team will get an opportunity to tie or win.
3. If both teams make a FG, the next team to score wins.
4. Any score by opposing defense or special teams will end the game.

As I mentioned already, the rules will only apply to playoff games, BUT, that could all change in the mere future. The rules are scheduled to be discussed later and possibly passed to make them stand during regular season games as well. Another meeting is scheduled to be held come May in Dallas. As for my two cents, I think it was only a matter of time before a new overtime rule was finally put in place. Especially considering the team that won the coin toss was basically guaranteed to win the game. & Thankfully commissioner Roger Goodell didn't look into duplicating the overtime rule held in College Football. With that being said, we can all take a breather.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Washington's Mistake

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Hearing about a current Major League player linked to using drugs and or a banned substance in this day and age is no big mystery, but managers? Earlier this week, Texas Rangers skipper Ron Washington admitted to using cocaine after testing positive for the drug during the 2009 regular season. Sports Illustrated reports that Washington's failed drug test came prior to the All-Star break in July. The Rangers skipper who is in his fourth and final year of his contract with the ball club, offered to resign from the position, but the team's front office said no and made it clear that although they don't approve of his mistake, they're sticking behind him.

In an interview with ESPN, Washington revealed his cocaine usage was a one time thing and he stated it was a very bad mistake that he truly regrets. The Rangers organization is no stranger to drugs, as the team went threw a similar situation with Josh Hamilton who had numerous run ins with drugs before coming clean and finding faith. My whole take on this is, if players get a second chance then why shouldn't managers/coaches? Which is why I agree with the Rangers organization for not pulling the plug on Washington's career in the Lone Star State. Since obtaining the managerial job in 2007, the Rangers have improved year after year, finishing 2nd in the division in back-to-back years after a 4th place finish in his first year at the throne.

Many sports writers and analysts have Washington's Rangers competing with the Seattle Mariners in hopes of knocking the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim out of sole control of the AL West. A division the Southern California team has owned since 2007.

(Seen in photo: Manager Ron Washington and outfielder Josh Hamilton)
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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Hunter's Bad Choice of Words

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Hunter's mouth gets him in trouble -
Adding to the list of bizarre things players have said and done away from the playing field, is Los Angeles Angels outfielder Tori Hunter. Known by players and fans alike for his courageous body of work in the charity field, Hunter is seen as one of the nicest guys in all of baseball. Not to mention he's a pretty nifty player on the field as well both offensively and defensively as he 3-time All-Star and owner of nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards. Also worth mentioning is his newest piece of hardware, the Branch Rickey Award he obtained in 2009. The award given to most outstanding player in recognition of their exceptional community service. But something Hunter recently said to the media, has stirred up quite the controversy.

In a USA-Today hosted committee, a discussion was brought up involving the decreasing number of black players in the Major Leagues and the many dark-skinned latino players that are often categorized as blacks, a topic Hunter had quite an outlook on. "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' ... As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad."

After taking heavy fire over the internet for his questionable comments, Tori said he meant no harm or disrespect to Latin American players. And after his firestorm of criticism, Hunter looked up the definition for the word that raised the most eyebrows -- 'impostor'. "I'm not going to apologize," Hunter said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. "I told the truth. I'm sorry if I used the wrong choice of words. It wasn't a racist word. I can't believe people take that as racism. Maybe it was the wrong word, but I do too much in the community to make this one word ruin anything."

Honestly, I don't think Hunter is racist, but there's no denying his choice of words were rather shitty. Thankfully guys like Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and former Angel teammate Vladamir Guerrero agree with me and think his use of the word 'impostor' is what sent the internet into a rage. But I'm sure there's still an amount of ball players out there that regardless of what Hunter says now, are still gonna continue to take what he said the wrong way. And I wouldn't be too surprised if the first pitch Hunter seen by Mariano Rivera (just an example) was a fastball aimed at his cranium.

To young blacks, the truth is baseball no longer has the interest nor the type of black iconic figures to look up to that sports like football and basketball have nowadays. In basketball you see guys like Kobe and LeBron that kids in high school look up to as role models and things they wanna grow up to be. Blacks in baseball aren't necessarily the last of a dying breed, but it's going to take a lot more than guys like Ryan Howard and a bag of peanuts to get black kids to want to put on a glove and some batting gloves rather than put on a pair of Jordan's and want to shoot a 12-foot jumper.
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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Throwback Thursday x Vic Power

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This edition of Throwback Thursday, we take a look back at not just the career, but the life of one of baseball's most influential pioneers. Born Victor Felipe Pellot Pove, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Victor served a 12-year career in the Major Leagues where he played first base for such teams as the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles/California Angels and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring in 1965. Prior to signing with the Yankees in 1951, Vic played Minor League ball in the French-Canadian town of Drummondville, Quebec. There in Canada, was where the name 'Vic Power' was created.

With mostly white players on his team and throughout the league, Victor was often laughed at by the French-speaking crowd, whenever his name [Victor Pellot] was announced. At first he assumed he was being laughed at because of his dark skin color. However, he soon learned the real source of the laughter was not poked at his race, but rather his last name. Victor's last name 'Pellot' resembled the similar-sounding word 'plotte' which is slang for 'vagina' in the Quebec French. In response, he played under the name "Vic Power". The name 'Power' also came from an odd source, as his mother's name Maximina Pove was often misspelled by her teacher in grade school. Thus resulting in Vic's reasoning behind his new chosen stage name.

Back in the United States, Vic found himself playing in the Yankees farm system, where he was sent to the organization's Triple-A team in Syracuse, New York. Despite being the Minor League batting champion in 1953, he was not invited to Spring Training. It was just a year later when Vic saw his first action in a big league uniform, playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, and becoming the team's first Puerto Rican born player. Power was a 4-time American League All-Star and went on to win seven Gold Glove Awards, all coming in consecutive seasons from 1958-1964. Among his career totals, he finished with 1,716 hits, 126 home runs and 658 rbi's. Although he didn't put up jaw dropping numbers offensively, he was better known for his slick often criticized one-handed defense. Something he was good at while at the plate, however, was his plate discipline. Vic proved to be one of the harder batters to fan, having only struck out 247 times out of 6,046 at bats.

Known as one of the game's premier defenders while on the field, Vic Power became just as well known for what he did off the field as well. To those that understood him, Vic was remembered by his teammates, baseball historians and fans for his sharp wit and dark, deadpan humor, a lot of which was directed at the way black and Latin ball players were treated at the time. In Spring Training, Vic had endured many racist moments during segregation having experienced life in the Southern United States. One of which has been forever remembered by most Hispanic baseball enthusiasts and was even mentioned in Roberto Clemente's biography. While knowing very little English, Vic walked into a southern whites-only diner and sat at the counter. A waitress soon approached Power telling him, "Sorry but we don't serve Negroes here." Power promptly replied, "That's okay, I don't eat Negroes, I just wanted some beans and rice."

On November 29, 2005, Power died in San Juan, Puerto Rico from cancer at the age of 78. Although he's not with us to this day,
Victor Pellot has been considered by many islanders to have been one of Puerto Rico's greatest baseball players and a legend. More on his baseball career can be found in the 2005 American documentary Beisbol.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Heads or Tails?

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In New Jersey, something as small as a coin toss has angered an entire fan base. In walking distance from the old Giants Stadium, a new playing field is being built and is set to open its doors for the 2010 NFL season. The only problem is, there's two teams calling the new state of the art stadium their home, causing quite the controversy in terms of who will be playing their first. NFL commissioner Roger Godell made the decision by flipping a coin to determine who will get to show off the new venue first. & Guess who won. That's right, the Giants. With the win of the good old fashion coin toss, the New York Giants will play the first regular season game at the new Meadowlands Stadium, while the Jets are stuck watching from a television screen.

With one of the two organizations excited, the other is left disappointed to say the least. Since sharing stadiums with their New York counterparts, the Jets have been seen as the little brother to the Giants. And now that their moving to a new stadium not named after the G-Men, things don't seem to be starting off any different. Hopefully for the Jets, the grass will be much greener in the new stadium, considering since the Jets made the move to Giants Stadium in 1984, they've been yet to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. While the Giants on the other hand, have obtained 3-Superbowl rings. If you ask me, I say a match-up between the two should take place as the first ever game played at the new Meadowlands stadium, but noooo, that would make too much sense now wouldn't it?

Luckily for Gang Green, the Jets will get to take the field for the first time the following night for their home opener on Monday Night Football, less than 24 hours after the Giants break the stadium in on Sunday. Like its predecessor, the new stadium will be the only NFL stadium shared by two teams. However, unlike Giants Stadium in which the Jets were a junior partner, the new stadium will be a 50/50 partnership between both NFL teams. The new stadium will seat 82,500 fans, including 10,005 club seats and approximately 218 luxury suites, making it the third largest NFL stadium in total seating after the Washington Redskins' FedEx Field and Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. As seen in the movie 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' Giants Stadium will soon be no more and will be vanished, this time with the thanks of a wrecking ball.
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Bears Go On A Shopping Spree

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Continuing the plethora of offseason moves in the NFL, the most coveted player in all of free agency has found a place to play. Coming off an 8-year tenure with the Carolina Panthers, defensive end Julius Peppers signed a six-year contract worth $91.5 million dollars with the Chicago Bears. Also adding to their roster, former Viking running back and back-up of Adrian Peterson -- Chester Taylor, who signed a four-year, $14.1 million dollar contract. However, Chicago's shopping spree didn't stop there as tight end Brandon Manumaleuna also signed via free agency, helping solidify the Bears as one of the busiest teams this offseason.

The addition of Peppers alone makes the Bears defense a strong one and will be sure to keep the opposing quarterback on his toes at all times. Peppers is a 5-time Pro Bowler and is the Panthers all-time sacks leader, having tallied 81 total sacks. Along with line backer Brian Urlacher, the Bears have one of most feared defensive duos in the game. But that's if Urlacher can stay healthy. The 2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year underwent surgery last season after dislocating his wrist in the 2009 season opener, causing him to miss the entire season. Similar to Chester Taylor's role in Minnesota, he'll play a back-up role behind another good RB, Matt Forte. As for TE Brandon Manumaleuna, he will be joining one of the top young tight ends in the game today -- Greg Olsen, in what I'm guessing will be a back-up role as well.

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Lucy, I'm home! - Also finding a place to call home, is former Cleveland Brown Derek Anderson. The 26-year old QB signed a 2-year, $7.25 million dollar deal with the Arizona Cardinals earlier today. Anderson will be competing for the starting job with 2004 Heisman Trophy winner -- Matt Leinart. Leinart, who seen brief action at the starting position behind Kurt Warner, will be alongside Anderson fighting for the job much thought would be his a long time ago. In spite of leading the USC Trojans to a BCS National Championship in 2004, and becoming the school's all-time leader in career touchdown passes and completion percentage, Leinart is yet to play to his potential. With Kurt Warner retired and now out of the picture, could this be his year? Derek Anderson sure hopes not.

Other Key Additions: FS Marlin Jackson to the Philadelphia Eagles, S Antrel Rolle to the New York Giants, RB Larry Johnson to the Washington Redskins, and QB David Carr to the San Francisco 49ers.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Downfall of Milton Bradley

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One athlete who is no stranger to controversy and both on the field and off the field antics, is Milton Bradley. The 11-year veteran has played for eight different teams, and his behavior could easily be one of the main reasons why. But his most recent run in with the media, could be his most questionable. In an interview with ESPN, Bradley claims he received lots of hate mail from Cubs fans while playing with the organization, and said it was almost all racial related. The troubled 2008 AL All-Star also said, "Unless you're a black Superman in Chicago like Ernie Banks and Andre Dawson were, they'll [the fans] get on you." Milton went on to say that he felt like he was trapped inside his home as if he was kept hostage, afraid to go anywhere.

I hear where he's coming from, but I hope he's not trying to use the race card as an excuse to why he didn't perform as well, which is what it's starting to sound like. Besides, high expectations come from the Wrigley faithful when you sign a 3-year deal worth $30 million dollars. Not to mention, former Cub teammate Derrek Lee seems to be doing just fine in a Cubs uniform and has been a fan favorite since joining the team in 2004, despite being African-American. In his one and only season with the Cubs, Bradley finished the year batting .257 with 12 hr's and 40 rbi's. His mediocre 2009 performance led to a trade to Seattle in exchange for starting pitcher Carlos Silva. Only one of many moves the Mariners have made this offseason, hoping to return to the post season for the first time since 2001.

Take some of Bradley's other on the field antics into consideration. During his brief stint with the San Diego Padres in 2007, Milton had an altercation with first base umpire Mike Winters. Padres manager Bud Black tried restraining him while the two got in each others face. While being held back by his skipper, Bradley fell to the ground tearing his ACL in the process, resulting in him missing the final week of the 2007 regular season. But his most memorable incident with the Cubs, came in an inter-league match-up against the visiting Minnesota Twins. With two men on base, Bradley caught a routine fly ball in left field, then threw it into the stands, unaware of how many outs there were. With only 2 outs instead of the 3 Milton had suggested, the umpire allowed both base runners to advance two bases.

Although his idiotic souvenir toss into the stands didn't lead to a suspension, what he said in an interview on September 20th did. While talking to the media, Bradley was quoted as saying there is "negativity" with the organization and the city environment and "you understand why they [Cubs] haven't won in 100 years here." He then said he was uncomfortable with his presence with the Chicago Cubs. General Manager Jim Hendry felt Bradley's remarks were disrespectful and announced he would be suspended for the remainder of the season. If you ask me, I say those comments alone could have easily led to the Cub fans expressing their hatred towards the left fielder.

What have we learned today? We've learned that Milton Bradley is a bigger cancer to the team than he is a contributor. Now that he's in a Mariners uniform, it'll be interesting to see whether he can stay put with one organization more than a few years, or if his demeanor will get the better half of him. Personally, I think he's a ticking time bomb and it's just a matter of time before he goes off and has another one of his little hissy fits. I'm just thankful he's not on my team.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

L.T. to N.Y. x T.J. to K.C.

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In one of my more recent posts -- Happy Trails x L.T. & Thomas Jones, both Tomlinson and Jones were looking for an organization to call home after being released by their former teams. And just two weeks later, both players have found a place to play, with one of them actually taking the former job of the other. When the New York Jets cut ties with their running back of 3-years -- Thomas Jones, many speculated it was to give rookie stand-out Shaun Greene more playing time and sole possession of the starting position. But now that L.T. will be donning a Jets uniform, the possibility of Greene being the front man is unlikely. On March 14th, the former 2006 NFL MVP who was cut by the Chargers, agreed to a 2-year deal worth $5.1 million dollars.

As for Thomas Jones who was cut by New York, despite having a career year (1,402 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns), the 2008 Pro Bowler will now serve his duties in Kansas City with the Chiefs. Jones signed a 2-year, $5 million dollar contract on March 9th. He'll form a tandem with Jamaal Charles, who led Kansas City in rushing last season with 1,120 yards and seven touchdowns. For Tomlinson, it was either New York or Minnesota as the top suitors for landing the 5-time Pro Bowler. Sources say Brett Favre was even a factor in trying to lure L.T. to Minnesota. Although his efforts obviously weren't enough to help the Vikings reel him in, it could answer the repetitive question of 'Will Brett Favre be returning again next season?' But with Favre, the world may never know...

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At the end of the day, I question the move the Jets made, considering Jones had one of the best, if not the best year in his career, opposed to L.T.'s worst season in the NFL. & It's not like the Jets improved age wise by getting much younger, both players will be 31 years old once the season starts with Jones being 10-months elder than Tomlinson. They released someone who has grown accustomed to the Jets offense, registering back-to-back phenomenal years, for a player who's numbers have descended year after year. Sure L.T. might help sell a few more jersey's, but other than that, I don't get the reasoning of the move one bit at all.

The team L.T. now works for is bulking up on defense as well. A week and a half prior to the acquisition of Tomlinson, the Jets made a trade with San Diego for L.T.'s former teammate -- CB Antonio Cromartie. The signing has me pondering whether or not the 2007 Pro Bowler Cromartie played a similar role like Favre, as to trying to encourage him to play next year in New York. Regardless, the best defense in the league just got a whole lot better with Cromartie's addition. For someone who has some baby momma issues, a large sum of the money Cromartie will be making this year, is going towards paying off his child support. The Jets new cornerback has 7 different children, from 6 different woman, in 5 different states. I'm guessing this dude's never heard of a condom?
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No Batman & Robin in Cincy

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Continuing the surprisingly busy early offseason, numerous trades and acquisitions have taken place. But one of the biggest headlines, is what could have been done, but wasn't. After the Buffalo Bills expressed their decision to not offer wide-out Terrell Owens a contract to return for next season, the media went into a craze, with rumors of Owens possibly landing in either Cincinnati or Baltimore. But now, both destinations are just about out of the question. While the Ravens decided to trade for Arizona's Anquan Boldin, the Bengals decided to take a much younger approach by signing free agent and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Antonio Bryant. With the contract Owens seeks and the role he expects to play in, Boldin's signing pretty much cancels any chance of Owens becoming a Raven.

In Cincy, prior to Bryant's signing with the team, T.O. was scheduled to visit with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis for dinner. But just hours before the two were expected met, Owens was informed that the club instead found its man with Antonio Bryant, sending T.O on a flight back home to Atlanta. As much as the world wanted to see T.O. donning the black and orange stripes, no man wanted to see the 6-time Pro Bowler with the Bengals more than Chad Ochocinco. With the Bills not offering Owens a contract, the thought of having Ocho and T.O. alongside one another made for a perfect story. Even #85 thought so, by making public via twitter. "Man it don't take that damn long to sign on the dotted line, lets go dammit!!! You can be Batman i will be Robin, lets go!!" My favorite part of the discussion, was what Ocho said later, "Oh and Carson is gonna be ALFRED."

With T.O. stuck on the outside looking in, little interest has been shown thus far, as no team wants a drama queen on their team, nor are they willing to dish out big bucks for a 36-year old veteran who is coming off of his worse year since 1999 when he played for the 49ers. Owens played his one and only year in Buffalo last season finishing with a lackluster total of 829 yards and 5 touchdowns. But will the slim interest in one of the game's best wide receivers of all-time force him to retire and hang it up once and for all? Personally I don't think so, but things can't be looking too promising in the eyes of T.O. right now.
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Monday, March 15, 2010

UCONN Eying UCLA's All-Time Record

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One sport that I hardly ever cover in my blog, is women's basketball. But what the UCONN program has done as of late is definitely worth mentioning.

The UCONN women's basketball team won its 72nd consecutive game by defeating Syracuse last Sunday and is threatening the longest winning streak in sports history yet again. The lady-Huskies already own the longest winning streak in the history of women's college basketball, surpassing the previous record of 70 consecutive wins, also held by the Huskies (2002-2003). But the longest winning streak in sports history, would belong to the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team who won a record 88 straight regular season games from 1971-1974 under head coach John Wooden, better known as the "Wizard of Westwood."

But what's so spectacular about the lady-Huskies undefeated run, is that they've been in this position before having already reached the unheard of 70 game winning streak plateau. Not to mention the margin of victory that they've been winning by. During their current streak, no game has been decided by less than double digits, proving just how far ahead UCONN is from the rest of the competition. But despite the popularity the untouchable mark that the lady-Huskies have established, the streak definitely can't be good for women's college basketball.

After winning the 2009 national championship, the UCONN lady-Huskies were honored at the White House and met with president Barack Obama as seen here:
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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Happy Trails x Derek Anderson

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Express Yourself -
Have you ever said something to someone and then tried to take it back like you didn't mean it? That's something former Cleveland Browns QB Derek Anderson can relate to. Upon being informed of his release by the team on March 9th, Anderson made sure he didn't go quietly. "The fans are ruthless and don't deserve a winner. I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured. I know at times I wasn't great. I hope and pray I'm playing when my team comes to town and (we) roll them." The frantic Anderson said, referring to an knee injury he sustained during the 2008 season in a game against the Colts. But just one day later, the Oregon State Beavers all-time leader in career touchdowns and passing yards, tried taking a different approach.

After putting his team of 5-years on blast, Anderson seemed a bit apologetic towards the fans he called "ruthless", hoping to take back all he said. "Those of you who got to know me personally from covering the Browns over the past five years, know this was out of character for me. I wasn't taken out of context, but I was speaking out of frustration after my career with the Browns came to a close. I had some great times playing in Cleveland, especially during the 2007 season, and I met some great people and made many lifelong friends along the way. I'm looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life." Anderson's first full year in 2007 seen him throw for 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, helping pave the way to a Pro-Bowl, capped off by a 10-6 record for the Browns. But since his Pro-Bowl season in '07, Anderson has seen little success. Inconsistency would then become a factor for the Browns QB as injuries came into play.

After 7 starts in 2009, Anderson would own a 42.1 passer rating to go along with a dismal 3 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. All of which resulting in his departure. The 26-year old is expected to gain interest from several teams and rumor has it he will be paying a visit to both Arizona and Seattle later this week. As for the Browns, the team has acquired both Jake Delhomme who was recently released by Carolina, and former Seattle back-up QB Seneca Wallace who was picked up in a trade. However, the QB possession isn't full just yet, as the Browns are hoping to get their hands on either Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen or Oklahoma's 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford who is projected to be the number one QB taken in this year's NFL Draft. But with the 7th overall pick, the chances of landing Bradford are slim.

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Breaking News: The Cleveland Browns have parted ways with Brady Quinn as well, sending him to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Full-Back Peyton Hills, a 6th round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and a conditional late-round pick in the 2012 Draft.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Delhomme out, Vick in?

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The Delhomme era is over -
After seven long years in Carolina, the Panthers are now moving on without the man that helped get them to the Superbowl in 2003. An emotional Jake Delhomme was seen in a press conference where he announced that he was released by the team. The 2005 Pro Bowl QB was cut by Carolina after having the worst season of his 10 year NFL career, throwing for 8-touchdowns and 18-interceptions. So far, only the Cleveland Browns have shown interest in the Panthers all-time leading passer. With Delhomme out of the picture, Carolina is now seeking a QB to compliment their dominant run game of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, thus opening a window that could fill the needs of both the Panthers and former NFL superstar - Michael Vick.
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According to the Gangsta Grillz radio show in Atlanta, Georgia, Vick expressed his desire to play for Carolina and potentially being the starting QB of the squad. A job Vick hasn't held since the 2006 season, due to his suspension in August of '07. In an interview, Vick went on to say he likes Carolina's uniforms and he would get to play his former team [the Falcons] twice a year. However, it appears the Eagles will pick up Vick's second year option, resulting in another back-up role with Donovan McNabb. That's if McNabb isn't traded. Although it's unlikely a trade dealing the 6-time Pro Bowler McNabb will go down, trade rumors have been hovering over him since the 2007 season. And now that Vick has payed his dues both behind bars and behind McNabb, I think it's time to give the former first overall selection some playing time as a starter.
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Fun Fact: Something you may not know about Michael Vick, is that prior to his 1st overall selection in the 2001 NFL Draft, Vick was drafted in the 2000 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, despite not playing baseball in college at Virgina Tech.

Character of the Week x Mike Golic

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So I blogged a few days ago about the Prince Fielder - Barry Zito bean ball incident, which in itself is pretty comical, but the funniest thing regarding the whole ordeal, is what ESPN radio mogul Mike Golic had to say about the whole thing. On his talk radio show 'Mike and Mike in the Morning' alongside Mike Greenberg, Golic (the heftier one of the two) decided it was appropriate to rant on the subject. Although he lacks the normal baseball logic one would need to successfully debate the incident, Golic gave it his all by calling Zito a "coward". "Every Milwaukee player was in on it, so why not bean ever player on the team if you're such a tough guy", said the sloppy overweight and out of shape former NFL defensive lineman. But as one could tell, Golic clearly missed the purpose of the pitch. Not to mention beaning every Brewer player like he suggested would lead to a ginormous fine and suspension among other things. Besides, after 2 or 3 hit batsman, Zito would've been tossed out of the game. But again, remembering it was Golic who made these remarks, I don't think he knew that. It's obvious who the brains on that show is when it comes to every other sport that isn't football. Golic, stick to football my friend...

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Big Ben's Big Mistake

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Making airwaves in the world of sports, is the breaking news of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger being committed of sexually assaulting a 20 year old college student over the weekend. According to the female victim, while partying at a nightclub in Milledgeville near the campus of Georgia College & State University, Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in the women's restroom. Although the 28 year old star quarterback denies all allegations, saying "No sexual assault occurred", Milledgeville police are still investigating. The woman who has not been identified claims to have been attacked by Roethlisberger, but his story differs. Ben claims the woman slipped and injured her head after the two had contact.

Roethlisberger, a 2-time Superbowl Champion and 2-time Pro Bowler who's better known as 'Big Ben', is facing a similar incident which occurred in July of '09. According to Andrea McNulty, Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in his hotel, while in Lake Tahoe for a celebrity golf tournament. Big Ben has also been the unfortunate victim of a motorcycle accident, in which he suffered numerous broken bones to the face. The accident took place just four months after winning his first of two Superbowl's. All together, Big Ben has made just as many if not more headlines off the field, than he has on it. And with yet another run in with the law, it'll be interesting to see whether or not his team will finally take action and if this will effect his career in the NFL.

The media will nitpick at anything, especially those filed under scandalous. Although this may not be the equivalent of sleeping with 12 other women while being married, could this possibly ease some pressure off of Tiger Woods?

A return for the Ages x NHL takes a Hit

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With the Winter Olympics coming to an end, the NHL resumed play last week, meaning players who represented their country in the two week event were able to return to their original teams. One notable return, was that of Buffalo Sabers goalie Ryan Miller. Miller single-handedly kept the U.S. Hockey team in contention throughout the tournament, before coming up short and having to settle for silver when losing in an overtime thriller to team Canada. Coincidentally, Canadian hero Sidney Crosby was also making his return in the same building. Sid the kid scored the game winning goal to win his country a gold medal in their home made sport of hockey, by slipping the puck past Miller 5-hole to send both the arena and the country into a craze. But returning to the States, you would think he would have gotten the biggest applause of the night granted Crosby was in his team's arena, right? Wrong.

During player introductions, the Penguins public announcer addressed Miller and his outstanding effort in the Olympics that eventually won him MVP of the tournament. Despite being on the opposing team, the crowd roared and even gave him a standing ovation. When their very own superstar player Sidney Crosby was announced, he too was mentioned for his Olympic play. Upon his introduction, the replay of his game winning goal that put Canada back on top of the hockey world, was seen on the JumboTron, leaving the home crowd in boo's. The reaction among the Penguin faithful reminded us just how heated the rivalry between both countries has gotten in the sport of hockey. & Although the American born, Michigan native Ryan Miller was unable to keep the All-Star cast that was team Canada from spoiling the U.S.'s first gold medal in hockey since 1980, Miller joins an elite group of heroes and will forever be remembered for his brilliant effort in this past Olympic games.

Crosby, who has been referred to as Canada's savior for his late game heroics in the gold medal game, has also been said to be the best Penguin since Mario Lemieux, who now owns the team. We all know Crosby could care less about what the Pittsburgh crowd thinks, because it is he who brought them their first Stanley cup (last year), since the 1991-92 season. I'd give it a week or two before Pens fans forget about the whole thing and let their guy who just so happens to be the best player in the league, off the hook. Miller was awarded the night off, with Pittsburgh using that to their advantage, winning the game 3-2.
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Cook's wrongdoing leads to New Rules - Another headline in the NHL since the Olympic break came to an end, is the recent news of the league looking into banning fights. Hockey in this year's Winter Olympics had the highest television rating in Winter Olympics history, and many think the friendly, non-physical environment played a major role in it's success. However, some fans, like myself, think banning fights would make the sport less interesting. Keep in mind, this isn't the first time the league has considered outlawing brawls. One thing that does need to be outlawed however, is blind-sided hits. They're already illegal in the sport, but a small fine and a game or two suspension isn't going to prevent them from happening.

This past weekend seen the most recent episode of illegal hits, as Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke's shoulder knocked Boston Bruins Marc Savard out with an illegal blow to the head. Savard received a Grade 2 concussion and could miss the remainder of the season. Cooke is no stranger to suspensions for head checks, as he has had 2 separate two-game suspensions already for similar incidents. Although he's a repeat offender, he will not be suspended this time around, as officials have reviewed the altercation and found nothing illegal about the hit. But next season with different rulings on hand, referees will have the upper-hand and the authority to determine how extreme the punishment to those who commit similar incidents is.
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Monday, March 8, 2010

Welcome to the Family x Ozzie Guillen

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The hottest fuse in the MLB just made a Twitter account. That's right, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is the newest member of the social network, as he confirmed to the media earlier last week. The thought alone of the White Sox skipper having a Twitter account sounds like a recipe for disaster, considering Guillen has been notorious for speaking his mind along with calling out players and officials on the baseball diamond. The story has even caught the attention of White Sox GM Kenny Williams. Williams was not thrilled upon receiving word that his skipper will be interacting to others on the world wide web. However, Ozzie did mention his tweeting would be about life and not baseball. But isn't baseball his life?

"No comment ... and make sure you write that it is a no comment with a head shake from side to side,"
Williams said when being asked for his take by the media. Guillen responded, "Listen, I'm a grown man. "A lot of people think I do stuff without thinking or talking to people. Any information out there, I'm not stupid enough where I will say, 'We're going to make a move today.' ... That's not the idea. I'm not going to give fans the message before I give it to the media, it's never going to happen. The twitter is like what I am doing today, have fun with it. It's all personal."

Even with Williams' displeasure, Ozzie has made it clear that nothing will get in the way of his tweeting. Both Guillen and Williams have met since then and went over the subject.
"I feel like I was doing something wrong," Guillen said. "People are treating me like I was a murderer or something, or steal someone's money or didn't pay my taxes. If this thing bothers the White Sox or Kenny or Jerry then we'll talk about it. I talked to Kenny about it. I said what it was. He can see what I say. If that thing offends anyone, beat it because I didn't do anything wrong."

Although Guillen is yet to say something controversial via twitter, it's only a matter of time, with baseball's opening day less than a month away. About a month or two ago, I would have clowned on Ozzie for creating a twitter account as I did everyone else that had one, but given how dead my social life has been since moving to the outskirts of Henderson, I too have joined the Twitter family (hypocritical, right?). Some look at it as a way to express your emotions and sometimes vent, but this could be a perfect way to promote and plug his new reality series "The Club" which will begin airing on MLB Network in July. One thing I do give Ozzie credit for, however, is what he said considering his online family. "I won't have any followers, because I follow no man."

If you 'tweet', you can follow the man himself -- OzzieGuillen, and can follow me as well -- FraserKnowsBest.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Original Pranksta

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Jones has his wine intercepted - A little something that will be sure to spark a fire in what seems to be becoming somewhat of rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints, is what took place this past weekend at the showcasing of the NFL scouting combine. Indianapolis, Indiana, was the scene as tons of scouts and college hopefuls filled Lucas Oil Stadium. But away from the cathedral the Colts call home, the world champion Saints were in town for their staff dinner, which took place at St. Elmo Steakhouse. While ordering a specific bottle of wine, Saints head coach Sean Payton was informed that the last bottle was reserved for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The drink of choice? -- 2007 Caymus Special Selection cabernet sauvignon. After convincing the waiter to let his party have the bottle instead, the Saints pulled off a little prank of their own.

Hoping to get back at the team that put an end to their hopes of a perfect season last December when Tony Romo and the Cowboys edged out Drew Brees' boys 24-17 at the Superdome, Payton and friends left an empty bottle for the Cowboys owner with a hand-written note attached. "WHO DAT! World Champions XLIV, Sincerely, Sean Payton." At first thought, you would think the prank would leave billionaire Jerry Jones the urge to want to just puke in his soup, but given Payton is a former employee of his, the two took it more as a joke than anything. The next night when Jones and the Cowboys showed up to dinner, they were greeted with both an already consumed bottle of wine, and a humorous Sean Payton. Jones laughed about it and said he was going to take the bottle back to Dallas as a keepsake. However, the bottle was broken later that night on accident...So they say.

We all know the breaking of the bottle was no accident, as well as we know both Jerry Jones and his cast of players took it more as an insult than anything. Although the date is not yet known, the Cowboys will get a shot at revenge next season as the Superbowl champion Saints will pay a visit to Dallas' brand new stadium for the first time. Also the hosting stadium of Superbowl XLV. Before receiving his first head coaching job in 2006 with the Saints, Payton served under Jerry Jones' Cowboys as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for then head coach Bill Parcells. With his jokes aside, Payton had nothing but good things to say about his former boss, "He is someone that has always been good to me. It was very funny, Jerry and I have a great relationship."
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Saturday, March 6, 2010

What Goes Around Comes Around

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Zito hits Fielder to settle score -
Last September when the Giants were in town for a match-up against the Brewers, both teams found themselves in the late-innings of an afternoon matinee. With playoff hopes on the line, Prince Fielder stepped up to bat in the 12th inning of a 1-1 tie game. With the count 0-1, Fielder blasted off the very next pitch thrown by San Francisco's Merkin Valdez, sending the ball into the right-field bleachers and the crowd in a craze. However, the biggest story would come from what the 270lb slugger would do next. While rounding the bases and pulling his jersey out from under his belt, Fielder approached home plate with his peers and fellow teammates waiting for him. Prince then hurdled onto the plate as the rest of the brew crew fell over simultaneously in bowling pin fashion, creating quite the controversy.

The choreographed celebration was shown all over the sporting world, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of Giants fans and players alike. Six months later, both teams would meet again, this time in Scottsdale, Arizona for a Spring Training game. With Giants southpaw Barry Zito on the slab, the San Francisco ball club would have it's first shot at revenge. With Fielder at the plate against the Giants for the first time since his game winning home run, Zito let the Brewers slugger know that they didn't forgot nor appreciate his walk-off performance he put on six months prior, by plunking him in the back with the first pitch he seen in Spring Training.

I may not be the biggest fan of retaliation, but in the way Fielder celebrated his walk-off shot as if he scored a game-winning touchdown in an NFL end-zone with the likes of Chad Ochocinco or T.O., I think it was every bit necessary. More importantly, I was more than glad the two got it over with during a preseason game and not during the regular season. Fielder, who called the fastball he received in the back "unexpected", took the nice guy approach as he underhanded the ball back to Zito while trotting to first base. "They have to do what they have to do. Whatever," Fielder said when being asked about it. "I didn't see anything coming, but they have to do what they have to do. It's not going to take it away. It's chronicled. ... It is what it is. I hit the home run. Hit me. If that's what you've got to do, then that's what you've got to do."

Zito on the other hand, played the role of an oblivious man, responding as if last September's game never took place. Zito claimed it was an accident when being asked in a post game interview if it was an act of revenge. "No, we were just going with fastballs [inside] right there," Zito said. "It got away. The ball was running off." It's obvious the bean ball was thrown to send Fielder a message, but commenting as if it was on purpose would be the same as ratting yourself out it any other case and could have resulted in a fine and or suspension. Both are something the MLB has been known for dishing out when players or managers admit to beaning players of opposing teams.

I respect Zito for being the one who took the chance of possibly being bumrushed by the hefty Fielder, but if Zito needs to focus on anything, it's living up to that 7-year $126 million dollar contract he signed prior to the 2007 season. A signing that has ever since been a mistake to say the least. I'm surprised Fielder didn't turn into a madman and go off on a rampage like he did in L.A. last season when a Guillermo Mota's fastball payed his thigh a visit. Fielder stood at home plate staring Mota down merely asking 'Why?' before storming the Dodger clubhouse once the game had ended. (For more on the Mota-Fielder incident, check out: Not so Prince Charming)

Let's hope both teams concur about one thing as Giants skipper Bruce Bochy simply put it, "Let bygones be bygones."
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Friday, March 5, 2010

Throwback Thursday x Wilt 'The Stilt' Chamberlain

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This edition of Throwback Thursday, we take a look back at one of the greatest games and accomplishments in sports history. This past Tuesday marked the 48th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain's famous record setting performance in which he score 100-points in an NBA game. Since his record setting feat, tons of players have tried their luck at the century mark, but have all failed. Only a handful of players have even came close. & By close I mean 30+ points shy. The closest any player has came to reaching Chamberlain's remarkable point total, was Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant who punched in an 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in the 2006-07 NBA season. Just to prove how dominant the 7 ft 1 in Chamberlain was, the former Kansas Jayhawk owns the record for the most 60+ point performances, having done it a total of 32 times. Both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are tied for second on the list respectively, with 5 each.

On March 2, 1962 in a game against the New York Knicks, a near empty crowd of only 4,124 fans who came to see Chamberlain and the Philadelphia Warriors, witnessed history being made at Hersheypark Arena in Hersey, Pennsylvania. But prior to the monstrous game Chamberlain would have on the court, the game between both teams served as any other regular season game. & At half-time, Wilt had already registered 41-points. But to his coach and fellow teammates, the 13-time All-Star was having just another stellar performance. It wasn't until the fourth quarter when the team realized Wilt was on pace to score 100-points. When the Knicks noticed the offensive outburst Chamberlain was having, they tried quintuple-teaming him. And when that didn't work, they tried fouling anyone BUT Chamberlain, just to keep him from shooting the ball. However, the Warriors stuck to the plan, "Feed the ball to Wilt."

With less than a minute to play, Chamberlain stood at 98-points. Having all five men on him at once, Wilt broke free and stuffed an alley-oop slam dunk with 46 seconds left to reach the century mark. The arena exploded in a frenzy, with over 200 fans storming the court, resulting in a 9-minute standstill. The game eventually resumed play with the final score of 147-169 in favor of the Warriors, setting what was then a record for the most combined points in a game by both teams. But with Wilt reaching what many thought was impossible, the high score was overshadowed by his colossal performance. As Wilt's team celebrated the milestone, the Knicks players on the other hand, were left profoundly affected. Knicks center Darrall Imhoff was branded as the player who let Chamberlain score 100 on him, although he only played 20 minutes and fouled out in the fourth quarter. Two nights later, both teams met again, this time in New York. Imhoff played all 48 minutes and received a sarcastic standing ovation for holding Chamberlain to 54 points.

When asked if the 100 point game was his most memorable moment, Wilt replied it was one of his favorites, but the favorite, as that tittle belonged to the match in which he grabbed an all-time NBA high 55 rebounds against perennial Boston Celtics rival Bill Russell. Although there is no actual footage of the game in existence, we are stuck salivating over this famed photo of Wilt holding up a paper with "100" written across it. The photo has been referred to by many as the "ultimate picture" of Wilt Chamberlain.
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Nicknamed 'Wilt the Stilt', among the many records and accomplishments he accomplished, Chamberlain is a former Rookie of the Year Award winner, 2-time world champion and 4-time NBA MVP. Before splitting his NBA career with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, Wilt spent a year with the tricksters of the hardwood, The Harlem Globetrotters.


Among other notable accomplishments in his illustrious career, Chamberlain has claimed to have slept with over 20,000 woman during his NBA career which made him famous. But that story lives to be told another day.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Happy Trails x L.T. & Thomas Jones

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9 Productive years in SD, and no ring to show for -
As early as it is in the NFL offseason, this week is expected to be one of the busiest with players showcasing what they've got in the NFL scouting combine, hoping to find a job and get selected in this year's NFL Draft. Only a month removed from the conclusion of the 2009 NFL season, teams have already begun to make headlines and adjustments to their rosters for next season. But none have made bigger news, than that of the San Diego Chargers. Just last week, the team has decided to part ways with their running back of 9 years -- LaDanian Tomlinson, or better known as LT. The former 2006 NFL MVP holds just about every Charger franchise record in each offensive category possible. From the most all-time Charger rushing yards (11,760), to the most all-time career touchdowns as a Charger (150). It's almost hard to believe LT's now seeking a job, considering his offensive resume is endless.

However, since his 2007 campaign, Tomlinson's numbers have dropped drastically in such categories as: attempts, yards, touchdowns and average yards per carry. 2009 served as his only year in the NFL in which he did not reach the highly coveted 1,000 yard plateau, finishing the season with 730 yards rushing. But to say the current record holder for the most touchdowns in a single season doesn't have anything left in the tank would be unfair. Personally I don't think LT's capable of registering another 1,300+ yard season, but anytime he's on the field, he poses a big enough threat. Now that he's on the free agent market, I don't see the 5-time Pro-Bowler having any trouble finding a suitor, but not for the price LT has grown accustomed to making. However, Tomlinson won't settle with just any team and says he "wants to play for a tittle contender."

Also making the news, is LT's backup RB Darren Sproles. Planning to take another route, the Chargers have said they won't be tendering a contract to the speedy Sproles, making him an unrestricted free agent.


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New York to get a lot Greener - San Diego isn't the only organization bidding farewell to it's play makers. The New York Jets have reported that RB Thomas Jones will be released by the team, with 2009 rookie sensation Shaun Greene taking over at running back. Jones, the AFC's starting running back in last year's NFL Pro-Bowl, led the AFC in rushing just a year ago, tallying over 1,300 yards. Although it's not yet known if San Diego is a potential destination for Jones, the team's best bet would be to target a back in the Draft. Clemson's C.J. Spiller and Cal's Jahvid Best will both be available on April 22nd when the NFL Draft takes place, but with the high number draft pick the Chargers own, it's unlikely either one will land in the arms of San Diego.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Chew on This

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Similar to the NFL (National Football League) which has been often described as the No Fun League by many players, most notably Chad Ochocinco for being fined time and time again for his touchdown celebrations among other questionable on-field antics, the NBA has gotten a lot less fun and a lot more strict as of late. The league has even gone as far as banning the chewing of straws on an NBA court. A habit that has recently gotten popular in the Dallas Mavericks clubhouse, made famous by the newly acquired Caron Butler. Butler has been seen often chewing on straws during pregame shoot around in Washington where he recently played before being traded, but never has it gotten the popularity and media attention it's received since landing in the big 'D'.

Upon his arrival in Dallas, Butler has not only brought excitement to both Mark Cuban and Mavs fans alike, but he has also brought with him a trend that could be just as dangerous as it is addicting. At least that's what the NBA thinks. After Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki and former Wizards teammate Deshawn Stevenson were seen gnawing on a few straws before a home game in Dallas, the league has taken action. And after a week long debate, officials have decided to outlaw the chewing of straws completely, creating one of the more dumber rules in all of sports if you ask me.

Prior to the NBA Trade Deadline that hit earlier last week, the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards agreed to a deal that would send Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross to the nation's capital, as Caron Butler, Deshawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood were all sent Westbound to Dallas. Although it wasn't considered a blockbuster deal, the trade has become somewhat of a boost for the Mavericks, as they've posted a 7-1 record since the trade. But will the addition of Butler be a big enough move to help Dallas compete with the Lakers for the Western Conference tittle? Mark Cuban think so. As for Caron's chewing habit, I suggest he picks up a pack of Stride gum, one stick will be sure to feed his needs all game long.

A.I.'s 2010 Season Comes To An Early End

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The Last of A.I.? -
One former NBA superstar who's been on the move more than he's been on the court as of late, is 11-time All-Star Allen Iverson. The 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player has been granted an indefinite leave by the Philadelphia 76ers to care for his ailing 4-year old daughter. Iverson's absence has led to many asking, "could this be the last we see of A.I. this season if not his career?" Instead, keeping us from pondering this question any longer, league officials have reported earlier today, that 'The Answer' won't be returning to the Sixers for the remainder of the season. Iverson's decision to sit out for the rest of this year creates a new question yet to be answered, "Will Philly give him another chance to put a story book ending to his career?" There's no one athlete that the City of Brotherly Love loves more than Allen Iverson and to see his illustrious career come to an end like this, what a disappointment it would be.

Iverson, a 4-time NBA Scoring Champion has already missed a handful of games this season, including the NBA All-Star game, due to personal reasons. & Although he didn't put up All-Star caliber numbers, his popularity proves just how much his skills are respected throughout the league and how much he is liked by the fans. Sure he isn't averaging the 31.1 points he averaged in his MVP campaign, but he's still fun to watch and helps fill seats, something the Sixers desperately need. If Iverson does decide to hang it up for good, he will go down as one of the decade's most dominant players and is a for sure hall of famer in my opinion.