Sports Thoughts: Because Life is the Ultimate Sport.
something goofy in the state of basketball . . .
Most notably a comment made by Rene Portland on the pre-game show today. If PSU wins their game today, they'll be forced to act as the visitors in all ways except the jersey in the next game. As the lower seed, Va Tech isn't going to give up its home bench, as they are playing (foolishly, unfairly but that's last time's rant) on Va Tech's home court. Stupid, stupid, stupid. And such is the state of the NCAA.
So the Eagles won the T.O. battle. Or did they? I think if any coach can knock this guy off his ego trip, it would be Andy Reid. His system doesn't allow for it. Not to mention, the Philly fans won't put up with it. There is only one ego player in Philly, and that's Iverson, and he's worn out his welcome. Heck, the front desk guy at the gym, who is Iverson's number one fan, has had it with Iverson's antics.
But, they got a DE, they got their playmaker wideout. They need freakin' cornerbacks now. And they need to draft a decent running back (not Clarett please). And I'm going to miss the freakin draft because I've got to go to a baby shower. Not what I want to be doing on draft Saturday. But the daughter wants to go. I'm too nice.
And in good news, looks like Roenick will be back next Saturday. We should all be so tough. Yeah, including me. I whine about going to the gym when I have stomach cramps. And JR is going to play hockey -- and I suspect and expect him to play full tilt (this is the guy who provided the check in all-star game) -- weeks after shattering his jaw. What a stud.
who comes up with this stuff . . .
Lady Lions receive a number one seed. So they go to the home court of the, what, number 8 seed? Then, if they win, they have to go to UConn, home of the number two seed? How stupid is that? How stupid and unfair -- ridiculously unfair -- that UConn never has to leave home? Not just this year, but every year. Every freakin' year, they play Rounds 1 and 2 on their home court.
Do I think they should be playing in the BJC? Yes and no. Yes, if that's the way things work, if you are going to give home court advantage to a team, it should be the number one seed, not the team the tournament directors want to see playing for the national championship (really, isn't the world getting tired of UConn, in the same way we're tired of the Yankees?). But really no, I don't. I don't think that any team should be given home court advantage over another team.
I am glad Purdue didn't get a number 1 seed. Not that they didn't deserve it . . . I'd probably have given them a number 1 over Texas or Tennessee. But I got sick of listening to the chickie on ESPN who thought that a 1-point victory in the tournament usurps two big losses in the regular season. With all the tournament bullshit, one must wonder why they play the regular season. Team wins tourney, team gets automatic bid. In some conferences, that means the team who won the regular season championship has to sit at home. Regular season be damned. One bad game and 3 months of work are meaningless. Who comes up with this stuff? It's as bogus as the BCS, yet why isn't everybody screaming about it? Besides me.
can you believe it . . .
I got bored watching the Avalanche play last night. The game was dull. There weren't even any good hits, at least not while I was watching. Most excitement was a couple Abie saves and Joe -- my Joe! -- Sakic getting time in the penalty box. Eh, it was an extra close up of him. But still, it was a very boring game. And I rarely find hockey boring. It was almost like watching soccer! Ugh. If I had been in the Pepsi Center last night, I would have demanded my money back. The teams mailed that game in.
I gotta figure out which Phillies game I want to go see this summer. Okay, all of them, but that doesn't do me any good. I've got to pick one or two and order tickets before everything is sold out. I want my chance to see this team play. On paper they are so good. On paper means shit. Injuries. Slumps. Laziness. Anything could screw up this team's World Series. Blows me away how everybody says they are the best team in the east, blah, blah, blah, but nobody talks about them in the same way they are talking about the Cubs, Astros, BoSox, or Yankees. All right, so the Yankees are in a class by themselves (or are they? I'm a firm believer in team chemistry. Will this team have it? Can A-Rod perform under a microscope? Is Sheffield's best years behind him? Who they heck will pitch? Not to mention the hole in the infield). Maybe it is a good thing no one talks about the Phils. Don't jinx 'em, I always say.
could it really be the end . . .
Jeremy Roenick is talking about retirement. Getting nailed in the face twice in a couple of months with a hockey puck surely wouldn't be fun. The first time left a scar Herman Munster would be proud of. The second time left a shattered jaw and a 9th concussion. JR is not sure he'll be able to come back to play hockey. Hockey loses (please ESPN, should he retire, give him the seat next to Barry Melrose. Pretty please????).
But I was thinking last night about athletes and injuries and playing hard. While one side of my brain is adjusting to the Flyers without number 97, the other side is picturing the guy who was flat on his face on the ice one moment, then waving to the New York fans in the Garden, then on the phone doing interviews, then at the Wacovia Center two afternoons later and interviewed during the game broadcast. That part of my brain thinks JR will be back -- and sooner than we can imagine.
What a difference between guys like JR and wussy athletes (a lot of football players come to mind) who can't play if they have the sniffles. If Rush Limbaugh wants to know why I like Donovan McNabb -- the game he played with a broken leg. Detmer wasn't ready to come in (see NFC Championship game to see how that works), and the Eagles needed to win. Donovan was able to keep playing and he threw a gazillion touchdowns. With a freakin' broken leg. The guy is a player. That's why I like him. Don't give me that rib injury shit, either, because I think he would have toughed it out but Reid made an executive decision. I don't want a guy like Terrell Owens or Keyshawn Johnson on my football team because I can't stand cry babies. I never liked Deion Sanders because he was too wimpy to hit anybody -- might scratch himself or something.
Jeremy Roenick is an example to athletes everywhere. Take your lumps and your injuries but get up smiling. If you don't love what you are doing well enough to go all out, then get out and go home. Or at least, don't come to Philadelphia and play for my teams.
spring is in the air . . .
Even with 3 feet of snow still covering the ground. Yesterday it was warm enough to walk around with the coats unzipped and no hats and the Cafe had tables set up outside, with people sitting at them.
But even if we had a blizzard and temps in single digits, it would still be spring time. Pitchers and catchers reported this week. Woo hoo! It is baseball season, baby. I'm dreaming of the crack of the bat, the loveliest of all sounds. (Damned aluminum pings)
I noticed that now the Cubs picked up Maddux, the Phillies have dropped from "best pitching staff" and "best starting rotation" consideration. Seriously. Two months ago, the sports gods have been touting the Phils' staff as the very best, on paper. The other day I saw a poll question: Pick the best rotation in baseball. Cubs. Yankees (does A-Rod pitch now?) A's. Red Sox. Houston. In one fell swoop, the Phillies rotation has gone from best to unmentionable among the elite. Go figure.
But the season hasn't started yet. Anybody can be good on paper. Right now, Randy Wolf has as many wins as Maddux, Prior, Wood, Petitte, Hudson, et al.
The very best news, of course, is that Pat Burrell went to camp early, very early, to get his swing in order. And maybe smooth out his relationship with the manager??? Because he's working with Bowa as well.
Oh yes, I also heard the Phanatics head has been recovered. But I may have heard that in my sleep. A headless Phanatic on opening day at the new ballpark (how weird is it not to say the Vet??) would not be a pretty sight.
thoughts i'm thinking . . .
Forgive me if you've seen it, but this is one of those rants I need to get off my chest. I've been ranting for days about it, and I've already posted it at my alter ego site.
I was reading a little blurb in Sporting News, a blurb that claimed Kelly Mazzante (nor Penn State nor the Big Ten) could not claim that Kelly has the Big Ten scoring record because she bettered a man. Because girls basketball and boys basketball can't be compared.
Now, I've watched a lot of basketball in my day. The men and the women use the same court. It has the same three point shot, the same foul shot, the same height. The majority of women cannot or do not dunk, so right there you eliminate the easy, gimmee basket. The only difference is the woman's ball is a little smaller, but then, so are her hands. That's it.
As far as I can tell, the baskets are earned the same way. They equal the same points. The games are the same length. Maybe the men and the women can't compete each other, but all things being equal -- and in basketball, they pretty much are -- Kelly's points add up to more than the points scored by the guy in Indiana. Period. She scored more points than any basketball player in the history of the Big Ten and should be honored as that record holder.
Okay, that rant is over. New one to begin . . . Now.
I lost a lot of respect for the Sporting News and am considering not renewing the subscription. Not only the foolish things said about women's basketball, but the goofball comment in the article saying the Braves would win the National League. Anybody who reads this blog knows I hate the Braves and love the Phillies, but I also think I'm rational about things. Even when it comes to Larry Bowa. I don't know who will win the National League. Anything can happen. Injuries. Flukey seasons. Monsoons. And players today are so coddled that Bowa's, ahem, enthusiasm for the game might be over the top for them. (To say he lost it for the team last year though is ridiculous. I didn't see him out there blowing saves.) But to say that Bobby Cox has a calm demeanor in the dugout?!?!?!?! Oh come on. That's over the top. You've got to wonder if the writer ever watched a Braves game (and how can you miss them. They are on tv all the damn time.)
And in other news . . . will watch The Season featuring the Colorado Avalanche tonight. Taped it from last night. Can't wait.
oh baby . . .
What could be better? Joe Sakic scores a hat trick in the all star game. Every score means a close up. And a hat trick mean an MVP. An MVP means a trophy presentation close up AND an interview. I'm in heaven . . .
You know, I read all these blogs, women who sigh and go ga-ga over Johnny Depp and rock stars and other movie stars, and I don't. Those guys don't do anything for me. Well, Tommy Shaw maybe. But I love athletes. Mostly hockey players. I think it is the hair -- they have it and they wear it long.
Okay, so Joe's dreamy, yada yada, but he is a damn good hockey player and THAT's what I especially like. Those guys at the top of their games are sexy.
Now it is almost time for Lady Lion basketball. Then the pro bowl. It's a sports orgy today.
