This time of year really is a slow time in the world of sports. College football has yet to even start practice. SEC Media Days does, however, provide those of us that feel football deprived a little something to chat about. NFL players have yet to report to training camp. Though, there's plenty of "hooplah" surrounding Big Ben, OchoCinco, and T.O. to keep NFL junkies busy. The only thing going on is Major League Baseball. So, on this slow Thursday in the sports world I turned all of my attention to the Day Games on TV.
I watched my Atlanta Braves blow a game against Barry Zito and the Giants. A game that could have and should have been won if not for little league mistakes by a certain few players. The Braves had been hot. Heck, they still can be considered hot as it was just their 2nd loss since the All-Star break. Still, every loss hurts when the Phillies are on fire. Not to mention the Phils are on the brink of maybe landing Roy Halladay for the rest of the season.
To get to my point. On what I thought would be a very boring Thursday laying on my couch, watching the Braves, and recovering from meltdown mode after hearing about the recent transfer rumors surrounding our football team, something amazing happened. I keep up with the Rays quite well because they are my 2nd MLB team. While keeping track of them on MLB.com, I noticed that through 5 innings they had no hits, no runs, no walks, and had reached on no errors. The boys from the South Side of Chicago were up 5 to 0 and one Mark Buehrle had a perfect game going. It really isn't that rare to see a guy working perfect to 3 or 4 or maybe 5 innings every now and then. But I kept watching and the Rays went down 1, 2, 3 in the sixth, too. Again in the 7th. Finally, with the Braves seemingly out of the game, I switched the channel over to ESPN who had live coverage of the White Sox/Rays when Buehrle was pitching. With two outs in the top of the eighth Pat Burrell lined a frozen rope that landed just an inch or two foul down the 3rd base line. Causing me and the 30,000 plus watching at U.S. Cellular Field to gasp for air. Burrell then lined out to end the inning, securing the perfect game through 8. After an uneventful bottom of the eighth, Buehrle threw a 2-2 fastball to Gabe Kapler. I thought it was over. That is until ChiSox CF Dewayne Wise went way up over the centerfield wall and brought it back to preserve the shutout, no-no, and perfect game. The catch was miraculous. Everyone in the stadium thought it was gone, including Buehrle himself. Wise bobbled the ball while falling to the warning track before he finally secured it in his left throwing hand. I jumped off the couch cheering for what was, is, and will be one of the greatest catches of all time. The feat wasn't complete yet. Buehrle battled back from a 3-1 count to strike out Michel Hernandez. Then, on the verge of history, got Jason Bartlett to ground into a 6-3 putout that had to be nerve-racking for White Sox shortstop Alexi Ramirez.
Watching Buehrle and his teammates dog pile on the mound provided a aesthetic experience for me. You can't help but cheer for a guy on verge of such an achievement. The last 2 perfect games I witnessed live on television. Both times against one of my teams. Both times I cheered for the opposing pitcher. When Randy Johnson threw his perfecto against the Braves in 2004 I was standing in my living room cheering as he struck out Eddie Perez to secure his place in pitching immortality. Today, I cheered for Mark Buehrle as he set down my Rays in order. 27 up, 27 down. I feel that I more or less cheer for the game of baseball, rather than cheering against my team.
These storybook moments live in baseball history forever. These moments are the reasons that baseball is and forever will be America's Past-time. "Heroes will be remembered. But legends never die." The legends of past generations will never pass. The Cy Youngs, Honus Wagners, Christy Mathewsons, Ty Cobbs, Joe Jacksons, Babe Ruths, Lou Gehrigs. Those names will never be forgotten. Baseball has always been here. Baseball will always be here. On the long days of summer when seemingly nothing else is going on in the world of sports, there's always that day game. One of those day games just provided my generation with a legend that will be remembered decades from now. I mean, think about it. In 130+ years of professional baseball there have been a total of 18 perfect games thrown. Eighteen. The rarity of that accomplishment is what makes baseball America's game.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
It's July, and I'm still not in football mode,
What is wrong with me? Usually, at this point of summer I'm begging for the start of football season. I am usually arguing with my Mississippi buddies on how we will get them in the Egg Bowl this year. Usually talking about which top recruits are going to make an impact this season. I ponder on which game will be our big upset. I'm working with numbers in my head to figure out which combination of wins and losses will get us to bowl eligibility. I am usually wondering how bad LSU will beat us this year. None of that is going through my head this July. Honestly, I'm just ready for November. Not for the Egg Bowl, not for Bowl eligibility, not for a big upset over the Tide. Simply put, I'm ready for basketball.
Not that I'm totally against the start of football season. I do hold hope like most fans. Something I wouldn't have if we had the same man pacing the sidelines as we did last year. Coach Mullen does give me a little optimism for years to come. Just not this year. Not with this schedule. Not with this offensive line. Not with the same ole 5 and a half foot quarterback. I'm a realist folks. I know that we simply don't have the talent to match up week in and week out in a conference the Detroit Lions would struggle with week in and week out.
I do think that we will see vast improvement in all three phases of the game. Offensively we should put up more yards and points. We should have more entertaining games than the 3-2 shootouts of our last coaching regime. The spread offense CDM has put in will help our weak offensive line. It will keep the defense on its toes. And, hopefully, we will be able to put a good enough product on the field to let Mr. Russell redshirt, saving him for some good years down the road. Defensively we should have a much improved in pass rush and better core group of linebackers. Our secondary definitely took a hit with the loss of Pegues, Fitz, Glanton, O'Quinn, etc. Our defensive line will surprise some folks, though. We will have to rely on that to help our inexperienced secondary out against the more pass heavy teams. On special teams we will see the most improvement. (Poor Croom just had no idea here. All fingers point to the Keith Andrews/Adam Carlson debacle here. Along with the 4th and 4 from the Georgia 27 with 2 minutes to go and down 3 points, "let's punt".) We finally have a consistent place kicker and an all-american punter. Hell, if we had had that last year we would have gone bowling.
Even with some positives, we have to look at the whole big picture. Yes, we will be better because we now have a coach with a higher football IQ than my girlfriend. But, everyone else around us will be better, too. Our schedule is not easy. Arkansas will be better, LSU will find a QB, Auburn has plenty of talent, we go to a strong Vandy team, we go travel to Commonwealth to play a decent UK team. Who does that leave? Oh yeah, 3 home games. Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Well, there's some good news. More on that in a minute.
To the games I think we should win. Jackson State- We should win this game by 5 or more touchdowns. Anything less than that is a loss. For no reason should a Div. 1AA SWAC school come in and beat us. Especially one just 2 years removed from a loss to Delta State. Houston- I don't care that they beat us by 70 points once. I don't care that they beat us every time we've played them this decade. They're still a C-USA team and if we're ever going to compete on a national level we have to beat these teams on a consistent basis. While I think we should win this game, I don't know that we will. That's what the Croom years did to my confidence. More of the same goes for the game at Middle Tennessee State. Do not even get me started on why we are traveling up to Murphreesboro for a football game. Some of Larry Templeton's dumbass moves are still haunting us. This is a trap game. We did not totally dominate them last year. We will be the biggest home game in the history of their football program, much like La Tech last year. The Blue Raiders will be up for this one. Still though, we should win. However, like I previously stated, I don't have any confidence when I say that. We might lose.
That leaves Georgia Tech as the only opponent not mentioned thus far. I expect them to come to Scott Field and totally dominate us much like they did last year. They have one of the best coaches in college football with Paul Johnson. They use a run-heavy offense that torched us for nearly 500 rushing yards last year. Mark it down. We won't even be in this game at half-time. Be ready for an early exit to the Junction for some happy times with Jack, Jim, and Crown.
I expect us to win 4 games this year. Too much newness and not enough talent to break through like the rebels did last year. I expect a year much like Arkansas had last season. Lots of ups and downs, maybe an upset win over a big opponent. In fact, that is my prediction. 4-8 with wins over J-State, Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, and.... wait for it.... LSU. We will finally get over the hump and beat the Bayou Bengals for the first time since our magical 1999 campaign.
While this seems very pessimistic, I'll admit that it is. That's the way I am about football right now. Glass half empty. I can't be any other way. All of that centers around my hatred for Mississippi. I can't get up for our football season because I know how good theirs is going to be. The rebels are gonna be good folks, really good. This is their year. All the stars have aligned for them. I am drinking the red and blue kool-aid much like all the national sports media. They have the quarterback. They have the coach. They have the schedule. They need only win 2 tough home games against LSU and Bama and they're packed for Atlanta. At which point their run should end against Tebow and the Gators, but who knows? Strange things happen in championship games. Nonetheless, this is the year of the rebel. The year they have been waiting for since 1963. Mark this down too. The rebels will win the West and go to Atlanta. I don't know what will happen from there. I expect the rebels to play in the Sugar Bowl, no less. With some luck in early December, they might play for it all. I hope and pray that I eat my words for this, but I just don't see it happening. I'll elaborate more on that later.
When I get around to it I'll go through my full predictions for each game this season. Hopefully, I'll be more optimistic by then, probably not though seeing as how good TSUN is going to be this year.
Not that I'm totally against the start of football season. I do hold hope like most fans. Something I wouldn't have if we had the same man pacing the sidelines as we did last year. Coach Mullen does give me a little optimism for years to come. Just not this year. Not with this schedule. Not with this offensive line. Not with the same ole 5 and a half foot quarterback. I'm a realist folks. I know that we simply don't have the talent to match up week in and week out in a conference the Detroit Lions would struggle with week in and week out.
I do think that we will see vast improvement in all three phases of the game. Offensively we should put up more yards and points. We should have more entertaining games than the 3-2 shootouts of our last coaching regime. The spread offense CDM has put in will help our weak offensive line. It will keep the defense on its toes. And, hopefully, we will be able to put a good enough product on the field to let Mr. Russell redshirt, saving him for some good years down the road. Defensively we should have a much improved in pass rush and better core group of linebackers. Our secondary definitely took a hit with the loss of Pegues, Fitz, Glanton, O'Quinn, etc. Our defensive line will surprise some folks, though. We will have to rely on that to help our inexperienced secondary out against the more pass heavy teams. On special teams we will see the most improvement. (Poor Croom just had no idea here. All fingers point to the Keith Andrews/Adam Carlson debacle here. Along with the 4th and 4 from the Georgia 27 with 2 minutes to go and down 3 points, "let's punt".) We finally have a consistent place kicker and an all-american punter. Hell, if we had had that last year we would have gone bowling.
Even with some positives, we have to look at the whole big picture. Yes, we will be better because we now have a coach with a higher football IQ than my girlfriend. But, everyone else around us will be better, too. Our schedule is not easy. Arkansas will be better, LSU will find a QB, Auburn has plenty of talent, we go to a strong Vandy team, we go travel to Commonwealth to play a decent UK team. Who does that leave? Oh yeah, 3 home games. Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Well, there's some good news. More on that in a minute.
To the games I think we should win. Jackson State- We should win this game by 5 or more touchdowns. Anything less than that is a loss. For no reason should a Div. 1AA SWAC school come in and beat us. Especially one just 2 years removed from a loss to Delta State. Houston- I don't care that they beat us by 70 points once. I don't care that they beat us every time we've played them this decade. They're still a C-USA team and if we're ever going to compete on a national level we have to beat these teams on a consistent basis. While I think we should win this game, I don't know that we will. That's what the Croom years did to my confidence. More of the same goes for the game at Middle Tennessee State. Do not even get me started on why we are traveling up to Murphreesboro for a football game. Some of Larry Templeton's dumbass moves are still haunting us. This is a trap game. We did not totally dominate them last year. We will be the biggest home game in the history of their football program, much like La Tech last year. The Blue Raiders will be up for this one. Still though, we should win. However, like I previously stated, I don't have any confidence when I say that. We might lose.
That leaves Georgia Tech as the only opponent not mentioned thus far. I expect them to come to Scott Field and totally dominate us much like they did last year. They have one of the best coaches in college football with Paul Johnson. They use a run-heavy offense that torched us for nearly 500 rushing yards last year. Mark it down. We won't even be in this game at half-time. Be ready for an early exit to the Junction for some happy times with Jack, Jim, and Crown.
I expect us to win 4 games this year. Too much newness and not enough talent to break through like the rebels did last year. I expect a year much like Arkansas had last season. Lots of ups and downs, maybe an upset win over a big opponent. In fact, that is my prediction. 4-8 with wins over J-State, Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, and.... wait for it.... LSU. We will finally get over the hump and beat the Bayou Bengals for the first time since our magical 1999 campaign.
While this seems very pessimistic, I'll admit that it is. That's the way I am about football right now. Glass half empty. I can't be any other way. All of that centers around my hatred for Mississippi. I can't get up for our football season because I know how good theirs is going to be. The rebels are gonna be good folks, really good. This is their year. All the stars have aligned for them. I am drinking the red and blue kool-aid much like all the national sports media. They have the quarterback. They have the coach. They have the schedule. They need only win 2 tough home games against LSU and Bama and they're packed for Atlanta. At which point their run should end against Tebow and the Gators, but who knows? Strange things happen in championship games. Nonetheless, this is the year of the rebel. The year they have been waiting for since 1963. Mark this down too. The rebels will win the West and go to Atlanta. I don't know what will happen from there. I expect the rebels to play in the Sugar Bowl, no less. With some luck in early December, they might play for it all. I hope and pray that I eat my words for this, but I just don't see it happening. I'll elaborate more on that later.
When I get around to it I'll go through my full predictions for each game this season. Hopefully, I'll be more optimistic by then, probably not though seeing as how good TSUN is going to be this year.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Passing the time, getting ready for football season...
I was laying around the house the other day and I realized how I've neglected my blog for quite a while. Well, I figure with football season approaching fast, I need to get off my lazy ass and actually write something. I'll get in to football talk soon. As for now, how bout a little something to pass the time. An entry on my favorite sports teams. Sound boring? OK... I don't really give a rat's ass. Read something else.
MLS- Chicago Fire
English Premier- Manchester United
FCSpanish Premera- FC Barcelona
Serie Italiano- AC Milan
Ok, so I couldn't give two ***** about soccer unless the USA is playing or the MSU Ladies are playing.
As for the REAL sports. Gotta love my Atlanta Braves. Most underachieving franchise in the history of the game. Honestly. 14 straight playoff appearances and only ONE World Series ring. Grew up watching them on WTBS. True beauty watching Maddux carve up the opposition on the corners, Glavine use a power/finesse approach, and Smoltzy and Wholers blow guys away. Not to mention home grown guys through the Atlanta farm system like Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko, Chipper Jones, Mark Lemke, Andruw Jones, Rafael Furcal, etc. More recently, when I was coming into manhood, my dad gave both me and my brother hats of the two new expansion teams. My brother got an Arizona Diamondbacks hat, and me, well let's just say I got screwed. Up until last year that is. I have cheered for the Rays since 1998. Enduring 10 consecutive losing seasons only to see the magic that happened last year. They did it the right way too. Building from the bottom up. No one year wonder teams like the Marlins and Dbacks did. They built a franchise. One that now, will be competing with the Yanks and Sox for quite a while.
NFL- Grew up a huge 49er fan. Mom was in love with Joe Montana, so naturally, I sided with her. Lived a great decade with Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, even Terrell Owens leading the 9ers to the playoffs, year after year. I liked the Saints a little bit bc of Pops. But once Aaron Brooks was crowned the Savior of the Franchise, I hated them. Haslett was an idiot. After the front office got smart, I decided to come back to the Saints. Moreso because of the hard times that have hit San Fran. But watching that magical run the year after Katrina was special for this whole part of the country.
NBA- Not that I care too much, but I like the Dallas Mavericks. Dampier is a major reason why. Plus I think Mark Cuban is a genius. And they are the only regional team worth a dang. I love to watch the Cavs though. No player in the League today even compares to King James. Not even Kobe. I'm sorry, no contest.
NHL- Who cares? Really? When it does come time to decide the winner of Lord Stanley's Cup, I always check to see if the Ducks are playing. I guess thats because I grew up watching Gordon Bombay take a bunch of misfits, put a Duck jersey on them, and suddenly they were winners. Therefore, making me a follower of the Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles. I also enjoy watching Sid the Kid and the Pittsburgh Penguins. I still consider the Miracle on Ice the single greatest moment in the history of sports. It gives me chills just thinking about what our countrymen did on that frozen pond in Lake Placid that February. And that upset wasn't even for the Gold Medal.
Tennis- The only non-team sport where I dont cheer for individuals just on their nationality. I cheer for the women based on sexuality, or rather how good they look on the court. Always cheer for Miss Maria Sharapova because the more she wins, the more I get to watch her. As for the men's side, A Rod and James Blake are can't misses nowadays. The only decent American players with a shot at winning any of the Grand Slams. I do, however, respect Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Those two are so far ahead of the rest of the field. Rarely does anyone ever come close to beating these guys. No one beats Nadal on clay and Federer was ranked #1 for what? 5 straight years?
Golf- Love Tiger. He's, plain and simple, the best. No one compares. He works harder than anyone ever has. He has more mental toughness than I could ever dream of having. I can't hit a drive straight if a bird is tweeting in the background, much less with $2 million on the line. Plus, I want to see the best of my generation beat the best of my father's generation. And when Tiger gets number 19, I will call my dad and say "sorry, time for Jack to step aside". Other than Tiger, I love watching Lefty. Great guy. Fan favorite. Family man. When he finally broke through and won that elusive major at Augusta National, I jumped up and down, much like the entire gallery on the 18th that day. One of the greatest moments I have witnessed in golf.
Nascar- Again, who cares? I was into it once upon a time. But since then, have found much better things to do on Sundays than watch cars go around in circles for 3 or 4 hours. Always was and Earnhardt fan though. Now cheer for Little E because I'm loyal and follow bloodlines. Still, don't really care, though.
I'll try to keep this thing up a little more often. Don't hold me to that though. I have much more important things on my mind. Like my own golf game. Or the new lady in my life. Or getting ready for the 12 credit hours I'll be taking this fall. Sounds like a lot right?
MLS- Chicago Fire
English Premier- Manchester United
FCSpanish Premera- FC Barcelona
Serie Italiano- AC Milan
Ok, so I couldn't give two ***** about soccer unless the USA is playing or the MSU Ladies are playing.
As for the REAL sports. Gotta love my Atlanta Braves. Most underachieving franchise in the history of the game. Honestly. 14 straight playoff appearances and only ONE World Series ring. Grew up watching them on WTBS. True beauty watching Maddux carve up the opposition on the corners, Glavine use a power/finesse approach, and Smoltzy and Wholers blow guys away. Not to mention home grown guys through the Atlanta farm system like Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko, Chipper Jones, Mark Lemke, Andruw Jones, Rafael Furcal, etc. More recently, when I was coming into manhood, my dad gave both me and my brother hats of the two new expansion teams. My brother got an Arizona Diamondbacks hat, and me, well let's just say I got screwed. Up until last year that is. I have cheered for the Rays since 1998. Enduring 10 consecutive losing seasons only to see the magic that happened last year. They did it the right way too. Building from the bottom up. No one year wonder teams like the Marlins and Dbacks did. They built a franchise. One that now, will be competing with the Yanks and Sox for quite a while.
NFL- Grew up a huge 49er fan. Mom was in love with Joe Montana, so naturally, I sided with her. Lived a great decade with Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, even Terrell Owens leading the 9ers to the playoffs, year after year. I liked the Saints a little bit bc of Pops. But once Aaron Brooks was crowned the Savior of the Franchise, I hated them. Haslett was an idiot. After the front office got smart, I decided to come back to the Saints. Moreso because of the hard times that have hit San Fran. But watching that magical run the year after Katrina was special for this whole part of the country.
NBA- Not that I care too much, but I like the Dallas Mavericks. Dampier is a major reason why. Plus I think Mark Cuban is a genius. And they are the only regional team worth a dang. I love to watch the Cavs though. No player in the League today even compares to King James. Not even Kobe. I'm sorry, no contest.
NHL- Who cares? Really? When it does come time to decide the winner of Lord Stanley's Cup, I always check to see if the Ducks are playing. I guess thats because I grew up watching Gordon Bombay take a bunch of misfits, put a Duck jersey on them, and suddenly they were winners. Therefore, making me a follower of the Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles. I also enjoy watching Sid the Kid and the Pittsburgh Penguins. I still consider the Miracle on Ice the single greatest moment in the history of sports. It gives me chills just thinking about what our countrymen did on that frozen pond in Lake Placid that February. And that upset wasn't even for the Gold Medal.
Tennis- The only non-team sport where I dont cheer for individuals just on their nationality. I cheer for the women based on sexuality, or rather how good they look on the court. Always cheer for Miss Maria Sharapova because the more she wins, the more I get to watch her. As for the men's side, A Rod and James Blake are can't misses nowadays. The only decent American players with a shot at winning any of the Grand Slams. I do, however, respect Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Those two are so far ahead of the rest of the field. Rarely does anyone ever come close to beating these guys. No one beats Nadal on clay and Federer was ranked #1 for what? 5 straight years?
Golf- Love Tiger. He's, plain and simple, the best. No one compares. He works harder than anyone ever has. He has more mental toughness than I could ever dream of having. I can't hit a drive straight if a bird is tweeting in the background, much less with $2 million on the line. Plus, I want to see the best of my generation beat the best of my father's generation. And when Tiger gets number 19, I will call my dad and say "sorry, time for Jack to step aside". Other than Tiger, I love watching Lefty. Great guy. Fan favorite. Family man. When he finally broke through and won that elusive major at Augusta National, I jumped up and down, much like the entire gallery on the 18th that day. One of the greatest moments I have witnessed in golf.
Nascar- Again, who cares? I was into it once upon a time. But since then, have found much better things to do on Sundays than watch cars go around in circles for 3 or 4 hours. Always was and Earnhardt fan though. Now cheer for Little E because I'm loyal and follow bloodlines. Still, don't really care, though.
I'll try to keep this thing up a little more often. Don't hold me to that though. I have much more important things on my mind. Like my own golf game. Or the new lady in my life. Or getting ready for the 12 credit hours I'll be taking this fall. Sounds like a lot right?
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