Watching the Celtics struggle over the last month it becomes clearer each day that the title won in the spring of 2008 better be enough for the short term because there are no more banners to be had from this team as it currently exists. We have watched a team get old and very old almost overnight. Of course we knew they were old, we knew that it was unrealistic to expect a team with this many players this old could not continue to succeed over the course of the grueling playoff schedule in the NBA. Last year in series with Chicago and Orlando without Kevin Garnett the Celtics looked like a championship team that was missing one of its great players.
This year even with Garnett they have not appeared to be the same team. Games are being lost in the 4th quarter to younger, stronger teams. The ability of this team to play defense late in the games seems to be gone.
Is this fixable. I am not sure. The idea of the team winning any best of seven series against teams such as Atlanta, Orlando or even the newly resurgent Chicago Bulls seems unlikely. The teams bench has been hampered by injury. Also unhelpful however has been Doc Rivers seeming refusal to do anything to use his Big three for fewer minutes each game. Wins are important, but is increasingly apparent that this team will not go deep into the playoffs with the players and player rotation currently that exists. Glenn Davis, who was nothing short of a force in the playoffs last year, has not been used in any kind of regular capacity and certainly not in a way to make the team and him stronger. Pierce. Allen and Garnett have fought injuries and none of have seemed to be playing well at the same time as the others.
To me it would seem that the only answer to get this team deeper into the playoffs would be to rest the Big 3 more, try to involve the bench in a deeper way and realize that where you go into the playoffs in terms of seed means little for a team that has struggled both at home and away. It will be the health of the team that matters.
This will not solve anything long term. Ray Allen will be gone after this season. Kevin Garnett's contract will at the end turn out to be an albatross as his skills diminish. The Celtics will need some inventive trades and a few lucky draft picks to avoid a slow decline to the mediocre. The championship was a great season, and was well worth it.
The team was not built however in such a way to perpetuate long term success. We will pay the price for that.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Baseball
We love all sports in our house. We will even watch tennis and golf. However no sport comes close to baseball. We are a baseball family. My daughter even says, with chagrin often times, that she was raised by baseball.
Pitchers and Catchers report in less than a month. We cannot wait.
Baseball Tonight's theme music is to my son as important as to the Johnny Carson theme music was for me in my teenage years.
We love Baseball
Pitchers and Catchers report in less than a month. We cannot wait.
Baseball Tonight's theme music is to my son as important as to the Johnny Carson theme music was for me in my teenage years.
We love Baseball
College Basketball Heating Up
We watched a bit of college basketball this weekend. I watched the first half of Michigan at Purdue, a bit of Texas at UConn and Duke at Clemson. I enjoy college basketball very much. The environment of the game compared to the NBA does not compare. I do not enjoy many of the players. I still and never will understand all of the chest thumping and never ever ever understand that tattoos are a good thing but have resolved to not think about those issues.
The games are good, the players are talented and if I might put a plug in for HD TV the games on ESPNHD are amazing. Colorful, bright and loud.
The final aspect however is for the big games the commentary of Dick Vitale and Bob Knight. Whatever you might have thought of Knight as a coach few could find fault with what he brings to the table as a commentator. Dick Vitale, for some might be too over the top, I however find his exuberance a real addition to the experience. I also believe that Vitale is a good man, who cares about the sport and the kids. I have seen films of motivational speeches he has done and would love for my son to hear him in a gym telling him about the risks of drugs. I respect him and enjoy him.
What ESPN does better than anyone else is with their Sat night game of the week, be it college basketball or football in the fall, is to make you feel like you are part of the event and to feel the emotion of it as well as just watching it.
As the NCAA tournament approaches I know where I will be Saturday nights at 9
The games are good, the players are talented and if I might put a plug in for HD TV the games on ESPNHD are amazing. Colorful, bright and loud.
The final aspect however is for the big games the commentary of Dick Vitale and Bob Knight. Whatever you might have thought of Knight as a coach few could find fault with what he brings to the table as a commentator. Dick Vitale, for some might be too over the top, I however find his exuberance a real addition to the experience. I also believe that Vitale is a good man, who cares about the sport and the kids. I have seen films of motivational speeches he has done and would love for my son to hear him in a gym telling him about the risks of drugs. I respect him and enjoy him.
What ESPN does better than anyone else is with their Sat night game of the week, be it college basketball or football in the fall, is to make you feel like you are part of the event and to feel the emotion of it as well as just watching it.
As the NCAA tournament approaches I know where I will be Saturday nights at 9
Colt/Saints Win- Manning vs Brees
Yesterday we witnessed a great playoff game and a a great quarterback. First the great game. The Saints and Vikings went back and forth for sixty minutes and then resolved that was not enough and took us to overtime. They then decided that all the calls that were at least debatable and that the possibility of this being Brett Favre's " last game" was not enough controversy, thus the team that got the ball first in overtime won the game. Before we look at all those issues lets talk about the game. The Saints Drew Brees was very solid. The Saints defense was opportunistic. The game, to me, however, seemed to be more about what the Vikings did and did not do. The Vikings fumbled the ball, late in the first half a Favre handoff in the red zone got away, the Saints recovered. Brett Favre returned to the recent playoff Brett Favre and threw picks that were a result of his forgetting he cannot make those throws in big games and come out unscathed. This game was captivating. It was not exactly well played.
We will now hear this week about the inequities in the sudden death overtime system. When watching a game like this it is almost impossible to think that there might not need to be a fairer way. However, statistics seem to show that the system as it is devised works. I recently was told by Colin Cowherd in his debate about this issue that 52 percent of teams who win the coin toss win the game. That is a very minute percentage for those that have an advantage that is seen to be so large. In a game such as this it is magnified but it was not as if the Vikings did not have a chance to stop them. Fourth down would seem to have been a good time to do so. When your team loses a game like the Vikings did the rule seems unfair, any objective analysis will later determine that sudden death works.
In the AFC game the J E T S Jets won the first 25 minutes of the game leading 17 to 6 and bringing the believers to their feet. However this just gave a precept for Peyton Manning again to prove that he is currently the greatest quarterback in the game. While there are a few quarterbacks that are very good consistently, Drew Brees being one of them, Peyton Manning is the best in the game, and perhaps the best there has ever been. Watching the game yesterday what I notice more and more of Manning is watching him come to the line early in the play clock and change the play based on the defensive set. He is the best I have seen at this.
One last point when watching Tom Brady this year I noticed several times at the end of the game that Brady does a disappearing act. Brady,especially after a loss, does not have anything to say to opposing quarterbacks,coaches or players. Tom is up the tunnel like Giselle has the limo running. In the big picture this is not a huge issue but when Lebron James failed to congratulate Orlando last year it was an issue. The contrast between Favre, Manning, etc and Tom Brady at the end of the games is significant. In our house examples of sportsmanship are pointed out. Tom is invisible in these cases.
We will now hear this week about the inequities in the sudden death overtime system. When watching a game like this it is almost impossible to think that there might not need to be a fairer way. However, statistics seem to show that the system as it is devised works. I recently was told by Colin Cowherd in his debate about this issue that 52 percent of teams who win the coin toss win the game. That is a very minute percentage for those that have an advantage that is seen to be so large. In a game such as this it is magnified but it was not as if the Vikings did not have a chance to stop them. Fourth down would seem to have been a good time to do so. When your team loses a game like the Vikings did the rule seems unfair, any objective analysis will later determine that sudden death works.
In the AFC game the J E T S Jets won the first 25 minutes of the game leading 17 to 6 and bringing the believers to their feet. However this just gave a precept for Peyton Manning again to prove that he is currently the greatest quarterback in the game. While there are a few quarterbacks that are very good consistently, Drew Brees being one of them, Peyton Manning is the best in the game, and perhaps the best there has ever been. Watching the game yesterday what I notice more and more of Manning is watching him come to the line early in the play clock and change the play based on the defensive set. He is the best I have seen at this.
One last point when watching Tom Brady this year I noticed several times at the end of the game that Brady does a disappearing act. Brady,especially after a loss, does not have anything to say to opposing quarterbacks,coaches or players. Tom is up the tunnel like Giselle has the limo running. In the big picture this is not a huge issue but when Lebron James failed to congratulate Orlando last year it was an issue. The contrast between Favre, Manning, etc and Tom Brady at the end of the games is significant. In our house examples of sportsmanship are pointed out. Tom is invisible in these cases.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Can Kids Admire Athletes
Charles Barkley advised us all years and years ago that he was not a role model. He has worked hard since then to prove to us he spoke the truth. Does an athlete have a responsibility to live his life to a standard deemed acceptable to society.
Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Vick, Roger Clemens, do we have any reason to expect that any athlete can live up to the scrutiny of our media. How many of us living with the wealth, power and facilitators these athletes have could live a life to be proud to tell Mom about.
I have told my children that your models of behavior should be people you doing the right thing. Your parents, teachers, police officers and such. Of course many of these people fall down to. So who is a hero. What is a hero.
Superman does not exist anymore. The superhero movies we see now always show the hero with a dark side. The lines are grey everywhere. Very little is black and white defined, everything is shades of gray.
For me during games I always point out sportsmanship when we see it. Football games where the players celebrate like they just won the game after making a tackle, basketball players thumping their chest when they make a basket. I am old school, excitement has its place but act like you have been there before.
We can name a list of athletes that we think are admirable. We then wait for the next sports bulletin and hope that what we hear is about this athlete we have held up as a role model. Politics is the same, but are the politicians different now or is the relationship between the press and the pursued as it were different. My guess is much more of the latter than the former. Would JFK have become President in todays culture. Never, not a chance.
I do not know who a hero is. It was simpler when I was a kid, I do not recall ever having a hero of mine when I was little become a non hero after the fact. Today it is an everyday event.
I still like Tim Wakefield. I hope that he is not taking steroids to throw that 65 mph knuckleball. I think I am safe. Do you?
Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Vick, Roger Clemens, do we have any reason to expect that any athlete can live up to the scrutiny of our media. How many of us living with the wealth, power and facilitators these athletes have could live a life to be proud to tell Mom about.
I have told my children that your models of behavior should be people you doing the right thing. Your parents, teachers, police officers and such. Of course many of these people fall down to. So who is a hero. What is a hero.
Superman does not exist anymore. The superhero movies we see now always show the hero with a dark side. The lines are grey everywhere. Very little is black and white defined, everything is shades of gray.
For me during games I always point out sportsmanship when we see it. Football games where the players celebrate like they just won the game after making a tackle, basketball players thumping their chest when they make a basket. I am old school, excitement has its place but act like you have been there before.
We can name a list of athletes that we think are admirable. We then wait for the next sports bulletin and hope that what we hear is about this athlete we have held up as a role model. Politics is the same, but are the politicians different now or is the relationship between the press and the pursued as it were different. My guess is much more of the latter than the former. Would JFK have become President in todays culture. Never, not a chance.
I do not know who a hero is. It was simpler when I was a kid, I do not recall ever having a hero of mine when I was little become a non hero after the fact. Today it is an everyday event.
I still like Tim Wakefield. I hope that he is not taking steroids to throw that 65 mph knuckleball. I think I am safe. Do you?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Nfl Predictions Results
In most playoff prediction contests geting half the games right lets you advance to the next week. If that is the case then I do get to advance, but to me getting two out of four games right is not something I am proud of. There is no pattern to the mistakes, I did not get burned on two upset specials, I just picked the wrong upset.
In our first game we took Arizona to upset New Orleans Saints. This prediction may have been the result of my hoping for a Favre/Warner matchup but that did not happen. The New Orleans defense abused Warner and may have sent him well on his way to retirement. The Arizona defense is not good, in fact it is bad and Drew Brees and company beat them up.
Minnesota was the favorite in their game against Dallas but Dallas was considered to be a team on a mission. Mission ended. Minnesota destroyed Dallas. They clearly were the better team.
In the AFC Indianapolis defeated Baltimore. Indianapolis did not light up the scoreboard, they won the game comfortably, but not so much so that it seems a given they will keep advancing.
The surprise of the weekend was the New York J E T S. Rex Ryan the man who will not shut up might well have a reason to talk. The Jets with a great running game, a young quarterback in a controlled offense, and a defense which is getting better by the week are scared of no one. Perhaps they should not be.
In our first game we took Arizona to upset New Orleans Saints. This prediction may have been the result of my hoping for a Favre/Warner matchup but that did not happen. The New Orleans defense abused Warner and may have sent him well on his way to retirement. The Arizona defense is not good, in fact it is bad and Drew Brees and company beat them up.
Minnesota was the favorite in their game against Dallas but Dallas was considered to be a team on a mission. Mission ended. Minnesota destroyed Dallas. They clearly were the better team.
In the AFC Indianapolis defeated Baltimore. Indianapolis did not light up the scoreboard, they won the game comfortably, but not so much so that it seems a given they will keep advancing.
The surprise of the weekend was the New York J E T S. Rex Ryan the man who will not shut up might well have a reason to talk. The Jets with a great running game, a young quarterback in a controlled offense, and a defense which is getting better by the week are scared of no one. Perhaps they should not be.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Baseball Commissioner for the Day
The local sports radio station has been running a survey about what would you do if you were the Commissioner of Baseball. What rule changes would you make to better the game. Baseball is a sport that has problems. Being a person who loves baseball like a member of the family I would love to make the game stronger and better.
The first thing I would do is put a hard salary cap in place. At the same time I would put an equally hard minimum salary floor in place. Teams that take their profit sharing and make money before they sell a ticket are just as destructive to the integrity of the game as are the Yankees and their too high payroll. Baseball is a different sport than football. Each team has an ability to make a local television and radio contract. Seattle and Texas even with a YES or NESN network would not generate the revenue the Yankees and Red Sox do. They just would not, baseball is not followed with the same intensity in other markets. For this reason the salary cap will need to be a large number. But the key is that these numbers both on the high and low end must be fixed. By doing this teams that do well and generate local media revenue will be profitable. If an owner spends the bare minimum under this new formula he will, in the absence of payroll taxes, not make money. The impetus will be to, as we are often told, to spend money to make money.
In recent years we hear about teams being made for the Playoffs as if the game changes in the postseason. The game, however, does not change but the scheduling does. When the Yankees go through the postseason with three starters this is an indication that the off days are too commonplace. An off day when the teams go from one site to the next is acceptable but that should be the only off day. If a game is rained out schedules for future games should be tightened up even if it means eliminating a scheduled off day. To me the postseason should measure the same things as does the regular season and a team with the best starting 5 rotation should not suffer in the postseason against a team that has three aces and two terrible pitchers in the 4 and 5 slot. Perhaps they would still lose the series, but they should not be at a competitive disadvantage in a series schedule that inherently favors the team with 3 pitchers.
More on this subject later but these are two solid ideas on how to improve the game we love.
The first thing I would do is put a hard salary cap in place. At the same time I would put an equally hard minimum salary floor in place. Teams that take their profit sharing and make money before they sell a ticket are just as destructive to the integrity of the game as are the Yankees and their too high payroll. Baseball is a different sport than football. Each team has an ability to make a local television and radio contract. Seattle and Texas even with a YES or NESN network would not generate the revenue the Yankees and Red Sox do. They just would not, baseball is not followed with the same intensity in other markets. For this reason the salary cap will need to be a large number. But the key is that these numbers both on the high and low end must be fixed. By doing this teams that do well and generate local media revenue will be profitable. If an owner spends the bare minimum under this new formula he will, in the absence of payroll taxes, not make money. The impetus will be to, as we are often told, to spend money to make money.
In recent years we hear about teams being made for the Playoffs as if the game changes in the postseason. The game, however, does not change but the scheduling does. When the Yankees go through the postseason with three starters this is an indication that the off days are too commonplace. An off day when the teams go from one site to the next is acceptable but that should be the only off day. If a game is rained out schedules for future games should be tightened up even if it means eliminating a scheduled off day. To me the postseason should measure the same things as does the regular season and a team with the best starting 5 rotation should not suffer in the postseason against a team that has three aces and two terrible pitchers in the 4 and 5 slot. Perhaps they would still lose the series, but they should not be at a competitive disadvantage in a series schedule that inherently favors the team with 3 pitchers.
More on this subject later but these are two solid ideas on how to improve the game we love.
Friday, January 15, 2010
NFL Playoff Predictions
For Football fans this coming weekend is one of the great weekends of the year. The games to determine who will play for the conference championships look to provide some very interesting games.
In the AFC the Indianapolis Colts will play the Baltimore Ravens while the New York Jets will travel to San Diego to play the Chargers. I am not a football expert such as many you see on television but I think I can predict as well as most. Indianapolis will host the Baltimore Ravens who embarrassed the Patriots last week. Not withstanding the Baltimore connection to both teams it is difficult the bet against Indianapolis. Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the game and while the Colts put it in neutral at the end of the season there is no reason to believe that they will not return to the form that had them as the Super Bowl favorites for most of the season. I will bet on Peyton and the Colts to find a way to win.
The Jets have played well as the season ended but the Chargers are the hottest team in football. I have the Chargers and the underrated Philip Rivers winning here.
In the NFC many are ready to believe that Dallas is ready to make a run to the Super Bowl. Standing in their way are Brett Favre and the Vikings. The Vikings struggled the last third of the season while the Cowboys have been nothing short of dominant. My pick here are the Vikings for the simple reason that the Brett Favre story is too good to end. He will find a way to win.
The game I most look forward to seeing is Arizona visiting the Saints in New Orleans. The Saints after starting 13 and 0 lost their last 3 games. Now with the bye they have sat for two weeks mulling how they are going to restart the machine. Kurt Warner, mulling retirement himself, threw 5 touchdowns last week. Perhaps I am letting my personal preference for a good story win out but I think that Arizona will find a way to win this. A Kurt Warner-Brett Favre match up to go the Super Bowl may be too good to look forward to.
In the AFC the Indianapolis Colts will play the Baltimore Ravens while the New York Jets will travel to San Diego to play the Chargers. I am not a football expert such as many you see on television but I think I can predict as well as most. Indianapolis will host the Baltimore Ravens who embarrassed the Patriots last week. Not withstanding the Baltimore connection to both teams it is difficult the bet against Indianapolis. Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the game and while the Colts put it in neutral at the end of the season there is no reason to believe that they will not return to the form that had them as the Super Bowl favorites for most of the season. I will bet on Peyton and the Colts to find a way to win.
The Jets have played well as the season ended but the Chargers are the hottest team in football. I have the Chargers and the underrated Philip Rivers winning here.
In the NFC many are ready to believe that Dallas is ready to make a run to the Super Bowl. Standing in their way are Brett Favre and the Vikings. The Vikings struggled the last third of the season while the Cowboys have been nothing short of dominant. My pick here are the Vikings for the simple reason that the Brett Favre story is too good to end. He will find a way to win.
The game I most look forward to seeing is Arizona visiting the Saints in New Orleans. The Saints after starting 13 and 0 lost their last 3 games. Now with the bye they have sat for two weeks mulling how they are going to restart the machine. Kurt Warner, mulling retirement himself, threw 5 touchdowns last week. Perhaps I am letting my personal preference for a good story win out but I think that Arizona will find a way to win this. A Kurt Warner-Brett Favre match up to go the Super Bowl may be too good to look forward to.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
College Basketball
We love college basketball. For me what makes college sports so enticing is the environment. Looking at the home fans at a Duke basketball game or the college football stadiums with 100,000 people all dressed in the same color makes you feel the event as much as see it. Here in Maine we go to the Alfond and see Maine play basketball and it is a very, very, pale imitation of big time basketball. Maine hockey in its strongest times has provided a big time atmosphere, albeit one on a small scale. But any arena completely full can be an exciting place to be.
Watching the college basketball games on an HD big screen television is a brighly lit, digital audio masterpiece. Dick Vitale or Bobby Knight explaining the action and you can almost feel like you are at the game. The players are incredibly talented. Talented to a level we usually have never seen before in Maine. The best players in College Basketball are now usually freshman who play one year before they continue their progression to the NBA. I have mixed feelings about this process.
I like the idea of players going to school for an education and the NCAA insists you call these players student-athletes but it is just not the case. Traditionally players who will make the pros have no more thought to being a serious college student for the full four years than does a recent MBA graduate plan to make a career at that non profit he works for one summer. It is just a step to the big money.
College sports reeks of big money. It is not what we like to think it is. Perhaps it never was. That said when my sons and I can sit down and watch North Carolina visit Duke at Cameron and enjoy the spectacle we are not thinking about money. We are enjoying watching great basketball in a great location coached by great coaches with a great commentary ( if you like Dickie V that is.)
Like most things in life you can enjoy it for what it is or lament what it is not. In our house to this point we still can enjoy it for what it is. I hope it stays that way.
Watching the college basketball games on an HD big screen television is a brighly lit, digital audio masterpiece. Dick Vitale or Bobby Knight explaining the action and you can almost feel like you are at the game. The players are incredibly talented. Talented to a level we usually have never seen before in Maine. The best players in College Basketball are now usually freshman who play one year before they continue their progression to the NBA. I have mixed feelings about this process.
I like the idea of players going to school for an education and the NCAA insists you call these players student-athletes but it is just not the case. Traditionally players who will make the pros have no more thought to being a serious college student for the full four years than does a recent MBA graduate plan to make a career at that non profit he works for one summer. It is just a step to the big money.
College sports reeks of big money. It is not what we like to think it is. Perhaps it never was. That said when my sons and I can sit down and watch North Carolina visit Duke at Cameron and enjoy the spectacle we are not thinking about money. We are enjoying watching great basketball in a great location coached by great coaches with a great commentary ( if you like Dickie V that is.)
Like most things in life you can enjoy it for what it is or lament what it is not. In our house to this point we still can enjoy it for what it is. I hope it stays that way.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Lane Kiffin to coach USC
Lane Kiffin after leading Tennessee to a 7 and 6 record in his first season coaching the Vols football team has accepted the vacant head coaching job at USC. Kiffin, an assistant at USC for 5 years under former coach Pete Carroll, will take over one of the top programs in the country.
Tennessee fans are feeling betrayed and certainly the administration there was surprised by Kiffin's departure. USC now, instead of losing many recruits which might have been on the fence due to Carroll's leaving, will gain additional recruits that will follow Kiffin from Tennessee to Southern California.
No one can really blame Kiffin. Playing in the SEC Kiffin would always have been swimming upstream against Florida, Alabama and the rest of the conference. Certainly in time he would have competed for a conference and perhaps even a national title but the road is much clearer for him to succeed at USC.
USC is the power of the PAC 10 and will likely remain so even if the NCAA penalizes the program. No, this should not have come as a surprise to Tennessee. I was surprised that Pete Carroll left USC but on consideration it made sense. This for Kiffin does as well.
Who loses in this situation. Some players committed to one coach will not be able to follow, they may not adjust to the next program as well. Fans will say they are hurt but realistically fans will turn on a coach in an instant. One more 7 and 6 season and Kiffin may have been on the way out in Tennessee.
College coaches now make millions of dollars a year. College Football makes hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Money buys many things. It does not buy loyalty. I believe I have heard a quote from W C Fields years ago. It goes something like this.
He asks an attractive young woman if she will go upstairs with him for a price. She says she would consider it. He says how about for two dollars. The young woman insulted says " What kind of a girl do you think i am?" W C responds " That my dear has been established, all we are doing now is naming the price?"
Lane Kiffin, Pete Carroll like that young woman had a price. College administrators have no one to blame but themselves. Until loyalty is a two way street both sides get what they deserve.
Tennessee fans are feeling betrayed and certainly the administration there was surprised by Kiffin's departure. USC now, instead of losing many recruits which might have been on the fence due to Carroll's leaving, will gain additional recruits that will follow Kiffin from Tennessee to Southern California.
No one can really blame Kiffin. Playing in the SEC Kiffin would always have been swimming upstream against Florida, Alabama and the rest of the conference. Certainly in time he would have competed for a conference and perhaps even a national title but the road is much clearer for him to succeed at USC.
USC is the power of the PAC 10 and will likely remain so even if the NCAA penalizes the program. No, this should not have come as a surprise to Tennessee. I was surprised that Pete Carroll left USC but on consideration it made sense. This for Kiffin does as well.
Who loses in this situation. Some players committed to one coach will not be able to follow, they may not adjust to the next program as well. Fans will say they are hurt but realistically fans will turn on a coach in an instant. One more 7 and 6 season and Kiffin may have been on the way out in Tennessee.
College coaches now make millions of dollars a year. College Football makes hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Money buys many things. It does not buy loyalty. I believe I have heard a quote from W C Fields years ago. It goes something like this.
He asks an attractive young woman if she will go upstairs with him for a price. She says she would consider it. He says how about for two dollars. The young woman insulted says " What kind of a girl do you think i am?" W C responds " That my dear has been established, all we are doing now is naming the price?"
Lane Kiffin, Pete Carroll like that young woman had a price. College administrators have no one to blame but themselves. Until loyalty is a two way street both sides get what they deserve.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mark McGwire admits Steroid Use
Yesterday we watched the sun rise and the night get dark. We know this will happen. We also heard Mark McGwire admit that he had used steroids. We also knew this would happen. McGwire admitted he had used steroids on and off during his career including in the fabled year 1998. Does this mean the record should not count? Most would say it should not.
What do we make of this? Rodriguez, Clemens, Bonds and McGwire all now implicated as steroid users. Manny and David from the Boston Red Sox World Series winners as well. As a Red Sox fan I do not feel those championships are tainted as it appears that was the environment of the day. But what a terrible era in baseball.
My youngest son when we are watching a baseball game will ask many questions about the players as they parade up to the plate. Is he a good player? Does he hit homeruns? Does he use steroids? How do we answer these questions? Every player that joins the steroid admission club makes the doubt an even more constant issue.
Last evening I picked my oldest son up from practice and advised him of what the days news was. He was not surprised as this was common speculation. Still, he then proceeded to go down that list we all as baseball fans now have of the admitted users. He talked about how now every player is tainted. A player that has a good season instantly has people questioning what he has done to do so. Does he use steroids?
We love baseball in our house. It is religion. Throwing the first ball in the spring is a very meaningful experience. My children play. We watch the Sox each night. The end of the season is a black armband day for our family. This steroid scandal does not diminish our love of the game. We have kids in little league, on school teams, junior leagues and all stars. We watch the players but we love the game. I think this is what baseball fans have to do now. Love the game and hope that the players that are hurting it stop doing so.
The players are only part of the problem. Major league baseball owners, officials and probably the hot dog vendors knew and have known for many years that steroids were flooding the game. The drug program in place is now one with teeth. Every player but Manny shudders at the thought of being called out for a 50 game suspension. Manny, he just thought it was nice of them to give him a vacation during the season, but the program is working. It is my understanding that HGH is not a drug they can test for yet so certainly many steps need to be taken.
Until baseball gets all of admissions out of the way we are going to continually be like small children hearing the truth about Santa Claus. Children sometimes when they discover the truth about Santa do not know what they have lost, we as parents, however, we always know. It is the same with these steroid admissions. When David Ortiz was linked to steroids last summer the look on my 11 year old sons face said it all. He no longer believed in Santa Claus. Again.
What do we make of this? Rodriguez, Clemens, Bonds and McGwire all now implicated as steroid users. Manny and David from the Boston Red Sox World Series winners as well. As a Red Sox fan I do not feel those championships are tainted as it appears that was the environment of the day. But what a terrible era in baseball.
My youngest son when we are watching a baseball game will ask many questions about the players as they parade up to the plate. Is he a good player? Does he hit homeruns? Does he use steroids? How do we answer these questions? Every player that joins the steroid admission club makes the doubt an even more constant issue.
Last evening I picked my oldest son up from practice and advised him of what the days news was. He was not surprised as this was common speculation. Still, he then proceeded to go down that list we all as baseball fans now have of the admitted users. He talked about how now every player is tainted. A player that has a good season instantly has people questioning what he has done to do so. Does he use steroids?
We love baseball in our house. It is religion. Throwing the first ball in the spring is a very meaningful experience. My children play. We watch the Sox each night. The end of the season is a black armband day for our family. This steroid scandal does not diminish our love of the game. We have kids in little league, on school teams, junior leagues and all stars. We watch the players but we love the game. I think this is what baseball fans have to do now. Love the game and hope that the players that are hurting it stop doing so.
The players are only part of the problem. Major league baseball owners, officials and probably the hot dog vendors knew and have known for many years that steroids were flooding the game. The drug program in place is now one with teeth. Every player but Manny shudders at the thought of being called out for a 50 game suspension. Manny, he just thought it was nice of them to give him a vacation during the season, but the program is working. It is my understanding that HGH is not a drug they can test for yet so certainly many steps need to be taken.
Until baseball gets all of admissions out of the way we are going to continually be like small children hearing the truth about Santa Claus. Children sometimes when they discover the truth about Santa do not know what they have lost, we as parents, however, we always know. It is the same with these steroid admissions. When David Ortiz was linked to steroids last summer the look on my 11 year old sons face said it all. He no longer believed in Santa Claus. Again.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The End of the Brady era?
Tom Brady is human. Tom Brady throws interceptions. Tom Brady can lose a playoff game at home. All of these things are true. I am not a Tom Brady apologist but something else needs to be said. The Patriots loss yesterday was not a Tom Brady loss.
The Patriots are broken. The defense has been poor all year. Teams throw on them at will and yesterday the punishing runners of the Ravens did the same.
This is a team that went 11 and 5 which was a good season. Many teams would welcome this. Patriot fans are spoiled and want more. The fact is they do not have the weapons at this time to win playoff games in bunches. Yesterdays game had a start that would not be replicated if they played again each Sunday for the next six months. But Baltimore was and is the better team.
Tom Brady cannot have to throw the ball for the team to be successful. His receiving targets are not enough. Ben Watson was invisible this year and Randy Moss was not the Randy Moss Tom Brady needs. Will Moss come back next year, will he return to his former self? He might, but the more likely scenario is that the Patriots have gotten all they can out of Moss. He checked out this year and he may not be coming back.
Tom Brady may not be a great quarterback anymore. Then again he may still be. What he is not right now is a great quarterback with the New England Patriots. As they exist right now he will not be anytime soon.
The Patriots are broken. The defense has been poor all year. Teams throw on them at will and yesterday the punishing runners of the Ravens did the same.
This is a team that went 11 and 5 which was a good season. Many teams would welcome this. Patriot fans are spoiled and want more. The fact is they do not have the weapons at this time to win playoff games in bunches. Yesterdays game had a start that would not be replicated if they played again each Sunday for the next six months. But Baltimore was and is the better team.
Tom Brady cannot have to throw the ball for the team to be successful. His receiving targets are not enough. Ben Watson was invisible this year and Randy Moss was not the Randy Moss Tom Brady needs. Will Moss come back next year, will he return to his former self? He might, but the more likely scenario is that the Patriots have gotten all they can out of Moss. He checked out this year and he may not be coming back.
Tom Brady may not be a great quarterback anymore. Then again he may still be. What he is not right now is a great quarterback with the New England Patriots. As they exist right now he will not be anytime soon.
Pete Carroll leaves USC for Seahawks
Pete Carroll is leaving USC. As recently as this past fall all was well in the land of Trojans. Carroll's tenure at USC has been very successful with two titles and the restoration of USC as a national power. This year cracks appeared in the program. Investigations into possible wrongdoings, the loss of valuable assistant coaches, and on the field a defense which was nothing short of horrific on many occasions.
Carroll will move to Seattle and break the bank with his offer from Seattle. I hope he is successful. I have my doubts. When he coached in the NFL previously his record was unimpressive. Recent ventures into professional coaching from successful college coaches have not provided a strong track record. It is a different game, a different environment.
Still, in this case, the decision is a good one for Carroll. He leaves USC with his reputation intact. Unless the NCAA bloodhounds find a smoking gun it should remain so. If after a few years he is unsuccessful in Seattle he will easily be able to return to the college ranks.
Seattle will be a good environment for Carroll. It remains to be seen if his style will work better this time around. i hope it does.
Carroll will move to Seattle and break the bank with his offer from Seattle. I hope he is successful. I have my doubts. When he coached in the NFL previously his record was unimpressive. Recent ventures into professional coaching from successful college coaches have not provided a strong track record. It is a different game, a different environment.
Still, in this case, the decision is a good one for Carroll. He leaves USC with his reputation intact. Unless the NCAA bloodhounds find a smoking gun it should remain so. If after a few years he is unsuccessful in Seattle he will easily be able to return to the college ranks.
Seattle will be a good environment for Carroll. It remains to be seen if his style will work better this time around. i hope it does.
Arizona defeats Green Bay 51-45
The Arizona Cardinals defeated Green Bay 51-45 yesterday in an NFL game that was the highest scoring NFL Playoff game. in history, Defense was not on the menu in this game, until overtime that is. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers continued to show that he is on the verge of becoming one of the premier quarterbacks in the league while Kurt Warner showed why there is not doubt he still is.
This game was a shootout. As we watched the 4th period unfold when Green Bay scored to tie just inside of the two minute warning my thought, and I expect many people felt the same, was that Green Bay scored too early. This would have been the case except for a short field goal inexplicably kicked wide. Kurt Warner who had easily moved the team into field goal position must have wondered if he wanted to retire after a game such as this.
But in overtime attempting a third down conversion to prevent Arizona from getting the ball back Aaron Rodgers was stripped of the ball and that ball ended up in the end zone in the hands of Arizona's own Karlos Denby. This seemed to be the only time the defense was on the field but it was the ending Arizona fans wanted.
Kurt Warner will lead his team into New Orleans next week. New Orleans who has come into the post season with a three game losing streak will hope to prove that those meaningless games were just that.
Watching Warner dismantle Green Bay's pass defense with 5 touchdowns and remembering his last few seasons in Arizona it becomes apparent that Warner should be destined for the Hall of Fame. Watching Warner the question that consistently comes to mind is between his stints in St. Louis and Arizona where was Kurt Warner. How could such an obviously talented quarterback fail so miserably in his tenure with the New York Giants. If Warner had not had that interlude in between those successes one wonders what his overall place in NFL history might be.
Kurt advises he is considering retirement. Knowing what we know about him whatever decision he makes it is assumed that he will not do a Favre and change his mind. Warner's history of concussions is well documented and he has proven to any and all that he is a great quarterback.
When this season ends for Kurt I hope he does retire. He has been a classy individual, it would be a great lesson for him to retire as he has played, the right way.
This game was a shootout. As we watched the 4th period unfold when Green Bay scored to tie just inside of the two minute warning my thought, and I expect many people felt the same, was that Green Bay scored too early. This would have been the case except for a short field goal inexplicably kicked wide. Kurt Warner who had easily moved the team into field goal position must have wondered if he wanted to retire after a game such as this.
But in overtime attempting a third down conversion to prevent Arizona from getting the ball back Aaron Rodgers was stripped of the ball and that ball ended up in the end zone in the hands of Arizona's own Karlos Denby. This seemed to be the only time the defense was on the field but it was the ending Arizona fans wanted.
Kurt Warner will lead his team into New Orleans next week. New Orleans who has come into the post season with a three game losing streak will hope to prove that those meaningless games were just that.
Watching Warner dismantle Green Bay's pass defense with 5 touchdowns and remembering his last few seasons in Arizona it becomes apparent that Warner should be destined for the Hall of Fame. Watching Warner the question that consistently comes to mind is between his stints in St. Louis and Arizona where was Kurt Warner. How could such an obviously talented quarterback fail so miserably in his tenure with the New York Giants. If Warner had not had that interlude in between those successes one wonders what his overall place in NFL history might be.
Kurt advises he is considering retirement. Knowing what we know about him whatever decision he makes it is assumed that he will not do a Favre and change his mind. Warner's history of concussions is well documented and he has proven to any and all that he is a great quarterback.
When this season ends for Kurt I hope he does retire. He has been a classy individual, it would be a great lesson for him to retire as he has played, the right way.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Vlad Guerrero signs with Texas Rangers
This news did not get a huge headline. Vlad is no longer the feared hitter he once was and he is almost exclusively a DH at this point in his career. However if he gets 500 at bats with half of them in Texas with the ball flying out on those hot nights Vlad could easily hit 25 homeruns and bat 300. This could be a quiet but very profitable pickup for the Rangers
New York Jets Impressive Win
Rex Ryan said they were the favorite. Of course that might mean more if he was not talking every week. " Speak softly and carry a big stick" seems not to be a phrase that Coach Ryan ever learned. But whatever else might be said Coach Ryan deserves credit. With 10 wins in the very competitive AFC this to this point has been a successful showing for the Jets.
Mark Sanchez who has had his ups and downs this year has proven if nothing else to be ready for the big stage. Playing mistake free football ( no interceptions in his last three starts) has been key to his success. Not trying to do too much has been critical to his success. Will Sanchez develop into a superstar quarterback is a question we do not the answer to but is Sanchez a winner. The answer as a rookie seems to be yes.
Thomas Jones who proved to be a great asset to my fantasy football team ( Championship Fantasy Football team I would say were I not so modest) is the perfect running back for a rookie like Sanchez to play with has been a consistent performer. His end of he year of stats will require a double take by many who did not notice how strong his play was all year long.
Darrelle Revis might well be the Defensive Player of the Year playing cornerback for the Jets. His collection of bruised egos of superstar wide receivers is growing week after week.Chad Ochocinco will attest to this fact.
Can the Jets win next week? Despite what Ryan says the chances are slim. Sanchez is no Joe Namath, a movie ending is not in the cards this year, but Ryan and Sanchez deserve much credit for the the success of the Jets this year.
Mark Sanchez who has had his ups and downs this year has proven if nothing else to be ready for the big stage. Playing mistake free football ( no interceptions in his last three starts) has been key to his success. Not trying to do too much has been critical to his success. Will Sanchez develop into a superstar quarterback is a question we do not the answer to but is Sanchez a winner. The answer as a rookie seems to be yes.
Thomas Jones who proved to be a great asset to my fantasy football team ( Championship Fantasy Football team I would say were I not so modest) is the perfect running back for a rookie like Sanchez to play with has been a consistent performer. His end of he year of stats will require a double take by many who did not notice how strong his play was all year long.
Darrelle Revis might well be the Defensive Player of the Year playing cornerback for the Jets. His collection of bruised egos of superstar wide receivers is growing week after week.Chad Ochocinco will attest to this fact.
Can the Jets win next week? Despite what Ryan says the chances are slim. Sanchez is no Joe Namath, a movie ending is not in the cards this year, but Ryan and Sanchez deserve much credit for the the success of the Jets this year.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Adrian Gonzales to Boston?
The recent signing of Adrian Beltre seems to dim the chances of Adrian Gonzales joining the Boston Red Sox anytime soon. While I am sure the Red Sox would listen to an offer they could not refuse, one of those offers will not soon be coming from San Diego. Red Sox nation seems to believe that because Gonzales is what the Red Sox need that he is what they will get.
His offensive numbers, his opposite field power, even his great glove seem to make him the perfect candidate to play first base for the Red Sox. Of course those same attributes make him attractive to many other teams. If the Red Sox end up flirting with acquiring Gonzales in July and trade the farm system for him an extension would seem to have to be part of the deal.
The only thing worse than not getting Mark Teixeira would be getting Adrian Gonzales to replace him and having him leave shortly thereafter. Only in this case Clay Buchholz and one of the many prospects the Red Sox label as untouchable would be waving from San Diego. It would kind of like losing the girl of your dreams only to work hard to get another girl of your dreams only to lose her. We do not want Theo to feel rejected twice.
Gonzales would be a great fit and the Red Sox do have a legitimate chance to get him in the next year. Red Sox fans should remember though that their owner John Henry likes to pretend he does not have enough money to pay a luxury tax. They still have a team that throws money around enough to make most of the teams, and their fans, jealous so not sympathy will be extended to them, nor should it be. Unlike the Yankees fans, however, expecting the best deal to happen just because it seems to make perfect sense is not always a given. Mark Teixeira proved that.
His offensive numbers, his opposite field power, even his great glove seem to make him the perfect candidate to play first base for the Red Sox. Of course those same attributes make him attractive to many other teams. If the Red Sox end up flirting with acquiring Gonzales in July and trade the farm system for him an extension would seem to have to be part of the deal.
The only thing worse than not getting Mark Teixeira would be getting Adrian Gonzales to replace him and having him leave shortly thereafter. Only in this case Clay Buchholz and one of the many prospects the Red Sox label as untouchable would be waving from San Diego. It would kind of like losing the girl of your dreams only to work hard to get another girl of your dreams only to lose her. We do not want Theo to feel rejected twice.
Gonzales would be a great fit and the Red Sox do have a legitimate chance to get him in the next year. Red Sox fans should remember though that their owner John Henry likes to pretend he does not have enough money to pay a luxury tax. They still have a team that throws money around enough to make most of the teams, and their fans, jealous so not sympathy will be extended to them, nor should it be. Unlike the Yankees fans, however, expecting the best deal to happen just because it seems to make perfect sense is not always a given. Mark Teixeira proved that.
Tony Kornheiser IS back on the radio
The aforementioned Tony Kornheiser is back on the radio. That last column inspired me to see what program he was on these days as I knew he had left Sirius/XM. I see that he is back on the radio on ESPN 980 out of Washington. It appears to be available for listen on the stations website as well as thru Itunes podcast etc. I have not listened to the show, and being from Washington may have a more hometown slant than his national show did but if your like me and have been missing some of his long time segments such as Old Guy Radio it might be worth checking out.
ESPN Sportsnation
This program which can be seen on ESPN2 at a variety of times but often around 4 PM eastern is quite a hit in our house. Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle cohost an hour of surveys, polls and running commentary on the days sports headlines. It is not earth shattering but it works. It seems to have a little less yelling back and forth as the Around the Horn and other shows of that ilk. Beadle is a good match for Colin Cowherd who like many of the folks you see and listen to everyday has grown on me. The show is just fun.
When I see that my 14 year old son has taken the time to TIVO this show I know that it must have an appeal to the younger sports crazed set as well. Or maybe he just likes Michelle Beadle. My guess is that it is a little of both.
A few years ago Colin Cowherd took over the radio slot previously held by Tony Kornheiser. Tony was not for everyone. The fellows at my office though, we loved the Tony show , so consequently were not enamored of Colin. Over time he has become more familiar but I for one believe he works better on television than radio.
Or maybe it's his sidekick.
When I see that my 14 year old son has taken the time to TIVO this show I know that it must have an appeal to the younger sports crazed set as well. Or maybe he just likes Michelle Beadle. My guess is that it is a little of both.
A few years ago Colin Cowherd took over the radio slot previously held by Tony Kornheiser. Tony was not for everyone. The fellows at my office though, we loved the Tony show , so consequently were not enamored of Colin. Over time he has become more familiar but I for one believe he works better on television than radio.
Or maybe it's his sidekick.
Alabama Wins BCS Championship
The College Football championship was decided last night in what can only be called an anticlimactic game. When Colt McCoy went down with an injury the game was all but decided. Texas did not quit, the touchdown and the onside kick recovery gave them hope of coming back from that half time deficit. Soon Texas had it to 26-21 and one has to assume that most people with no dog in the hunt had to be rooting for Texas and their freshman quarterback. It was not to be and soon Alabama had pulled away and got their National Championship. They deserved it. Alabama might well, probably would have, won the game even with Colt McCoy in the game. The shame is that we will never know. That, however, was not Alabama's fault and their championship should not be diminished because of it.
Will the Sox get Aroldis Chapman
We all have heard that the Sox payroll is right up against the luxury tax and that John Henry is adamant that they will not go over. With that in mind it seem unlikely they can make this happen. Some speculation exists that the Red Sox could make this happen if Chapman were to accept a minor league deal. With all the teams clamoring for his services it does not seem likely to me that Chapman would have any reason to accept a deal such as that unless he has an overwhelming desire to play for Boston.
This does not even take into consideration about what we think Chapman's potential is. As has been proven consistently simply throwing 100 miles an hour does not mean he will be successful. He has to be coachable, have secondary pitches, and a strong work ethic. The Sox own Daniel Bard who most are convinced will become a dominant closer would have trouble if all he were to throw were the fastball even at the 98 to 100 he hits on the gun.
Taking all things into account this deal seems like a stretch unless the Red Sox talent evaluators, whose predecessors seem to have taken " Go west young man " a little too literally, see something that makes them as certain as one can be in this situation of his future success. Arizona and San Diego, where Theo's disciples currently sit in the GM chair, do not have the budgets to even think about these sort of risky deals. It would be interesting to know if they did if they would be in on the Chapman sweepstakes.
This does not even take into consideration about what we think Chapman's potential is. As has been proven consistently simply throwing 100 miles an hour does not mean he will be successful. He has to be coachable, have secondary pitches, and a strong work ethic. The Sox own Daniel Bard who most are convinced will become a dominant closer would have trouble if all he were to throw were the fastball even at the 98 to 100 he hits on the gun.
Taking all things into account this deal seems like a stretch unless the Red Sox talent evaluators, whose predecessors seem to have taken " Go west young man " a little too literally, see something that makes them as certain as one can be in this situation of his future success. Arizona and San Diego, where Theo's disciples currently sit in the GM chair, do not have the budgets to even think about these sort of risky deals. It would be interesting to know if they did if they would be in on the Chapman sweepstakes.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
BCS Championship Alabama vs Texas
Tonight is the night we see Texas play Alabama. Alabama who defeated Florida quite easily in the SEC Championship and Texas who escaped with a win over Nebraska in the Big 12 championship should be a good matchup. I think based on their most recent games most people think Alabama will win this game and some think they will win easily. I am not so sure, Nebraska's defense became more and more impressive as the season developed as their shutout of Arizona in their own bowl game attests. The SEC and Big 12 are powerhouse conferences and lets hope that we do get a game worthy of the national title. If not well like when were kids playing ball Boise State wants everyone to know " they got the winner "
Bert Blyleven Not Elected to Hall of Fame
Bert Byleven again missed being elected to the Hall of Fame yesterday coming up just 5 votes short or less than one percentage point below the required 75 percent needed. It is assumed that next year he will finally make it and if that happens no one can really be upset. Blyleven does have some very good numbers. His career ERA, strikeouts and an impressive 60 shutouts prove he was a very good pitcher for a long time. Blyleven pitched on a great deal of mediocre teams however his career winning percentage was solid if not spectacular.
I think were I to have a vote Mr. Blyleven would just miss my vote. Looking at his numbers year by year one does not see a pattern of dominance. The Hall of Fame to me represents numbers but it also should mean that during one stretch of a players career he was feared, that he was among the best at his position and for everyone to know that. I do not think Bert Blyleven was this pitcher.
In current terms when the Yankees come to town you know CC Sabathia will give you a tough game and you fear it. The opponent knows the chances are slim for a victory and everything will have to break right. A J Burnett will pitch game 2 of that series and while you know he could go 8 innings and strikeout 12 and be totally dominant the opponent also knows that Burnett could walk six in 3 innings and be out of the game in the 5th.
Clearly Blyelven played in a different era and was a much better long term performer than AJ Burnett. Complete games had much more value and he was as dependable as they come. He was a leader on clubs that did not have many top performers. He was an asset to every team he played on including some World Series teams late in his career.
What he was not, to me anyway, was a pitcher whose career screams Hal of Famer.
Next year however he will be voted in.
i will not lose any sleep over it however. But when AJ Burnett is on the ballot...
I think were I to have a vote Mr. Blyleven would just miss my vote. Looking at his numbers year by year one does not see a pattern of dominance. The Hall of Fame to me represents numbers but it also should mean that during one stretch of a players career he was feared, that he was among the best at his position and for everyone to know that. I do not think Bert Blyleven was this pitcher.
In current terms when the Yankees come to town you know CC Sabathia will give you a tough game and you fear it. The opponent knows the chances are slim for a victory and everything will have to break right. A J Burnett will pitch game 2 of that series and while you know he could go 8 innings and strikeout 12 and be totally dominant the opponent also knows that Burnett could walk six in 3 innings and be out of the game in the 5th.
Clearly Blyelven played in a different era and was a much better long term performer than AJ Burnett. Complete games had much more value and he was as dependable as they come. He was a leader on clubs that did not have many top performers. He was an asset to every team he played on including some World Series teams late in his career.
What he was not, to me anyway, was a pitcher whose career screams Hal of Famer.
Next year however he will be voted in.
i will not lose any sleep over it however. But when AJ Burnett is on the ballot...
Andre Dawson
Andre Dawson was elected to the Hall of Fame yesterday. I remember him with the Red Sox near the end of his career, He was by all accounts a solid individual and teammate and was still a productive bat when in Boston. I read an article the other day by a pundit stating that in his youth with Montreal when they were competitive he was the definition of a five tool player. I do remember the outfield the Expos had at that time. Warren Cromartie and Ellis Valentine with Dawson in center. He won the MVP years later after being traded to the Cubs. One of the few players to win the MVP with a last place team I think.
Andre Dawson in the Hall of Fame is one of those votes that does not elicit a passionate response from me. Being an American League kid growing up I did not see him play much. I suspect that for those who did see him play his election was as overdue as Jim Rice was for me last year
Congratulations to the Hawk
Andre Dawson in the Hall of Fame is one of those votes that does not elicit a passionate response from me. Being an American League kid growing up I did not see him play much. I suspect that for those who did see him play his election was as overdue as Jim Rice was for me last year
Congratulations to the Hawk
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