Jay Bruce, the Reds phenom made his big league debut. Went 3-3, scored two runs, drove in two, stole a base. I say he should quit now. True, no Hall of Fame, no huge contracts, but he could tell his grand kids, "Nobody ever got me out."
What's the opposite of perfection? Oh, that would be "umpire". Watched the Nationals and Brewers the other day (lay off, somebody had to) and Don Sutton made the comment the umpire's strike zone was low and it would benefit the two starting pitchers. Assuming he was right, and watching the game it sure looked that way, who gave individual umpires the right to adjust the rule book strike zone? Want to know why games last three hours? Because umpires call the game their way and assume the players should adjust.
It could be worse. You could have a whole league structure trying to hand one team the championship. Start with the mysterious trade of Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Lakers. The Grizzlies didn't even try to get another offer and ended up with Kwame Brown and some draft choices who won't be around when the team goes broke, which is a distinct possibility. David Stern must believe he's commission of the ABA. At least that league had decent officiating, which after the Lakers (who else) were gifted Game 4 against San Antonio on a last second no call is more than you can say for the NBA.
Speaking of the Grizzlies, notice how many NBA teams are on life support? Eight teams drew less than 15,000 a game this season. The league wants to kill of Seattle. The Bobcats are slipping beneath the waves. Indiana is about ruined for the pro game by the player's antics. New Orleans should go out of business, but the league will keep the Hornets afloat rather than suffer the bad press from abandoning the Big Easy post-Katrina.
Don't you wish there was a Charles Barkley out there who could walk up to the real Charles Barkley and ask him what he could possibly be thinking? It's time to get Sir Charles out from behind the mike and give him a distraction so he won't feel the need to gamble. In all seriousness, the answer is coaching. Too bad nobody has asked the question yet.
Heard a rumor there is still hockey being played. It's almost June. Has to be a hoax.
Here's a first. Tony Stewart compared to Alfonso Soriano. Why? They both had it and dropped it in the same week. I don't buy Bob Brenly's knock on Soriano. He's not that bad an outfielder and what happened to him against the Pirates has happened to the best outfielders in the game at one time or another. Besides, if not left field then where? As for the Stewart, the glass half full crowd will tell you it's a good sign he was in it with a chance to win at the end. And they're right.
As for the "gift" to the lakers, go to L.A. Law's blog and watch the video. Barry clearly plants his feet then moves both feet before Fisher ever touched him without a dribble. That used to be called traveling. We could go forward from there and talk about Barry clearly lowering his shoulder into Fisher and Barry dribbling before shooting AFTER the contact so that would be a non shooting foul wouldn't it unless you're allowed to dribble after the foul and then get continuation. Not in our lifetime.
Funny how Pops, Duncan and Barry all said nobody is going to call that a foul in the playoffs yet you know they're "cheating for the Lakers". LOL
I got into an argument with a co-worker today about the level of manipulation that goes on with the NBA. I'm glad to know there's one other person who agrees with me.
It's no surprise to me that so many NBA teams are on life support. All they do is hype up the teams in big markets and/or with superstar players. The rest get treated like dirt. As I've said before, bandwagoning, not team loyalty, is what the NBA encourages.
Thanks for reminding me of that Soriano error. That was a "yell-at-the-TV" moment.
Jay Bruce has to keep playing if he wants to be ahead of the famous John Paciorek.
Nique-I freely admit. Don't like Phil Jackson, don't like the Lakers, not real fond of Kobe (who, by the way, spent most of the off season rolling his teammates under the bus).
That does affect my viewpoint. Then again, I still honestly believe the league put the fix in on the Gasol trade in exchange for some future consideration when the Grizzlies want to leave Memphis. And, I believe that Donaghy was correct when he asserted in his court papers that some officials favor certain teams and affect the outcome of games. The NBA just doesn't seem entirely on the level these days.
