Lately, I don't have enough time to put into writing full blown topics on sports news so here are a few of my thoughts on varioius topics.  I tend to do this on Sundays, hence the title, Sunday Socal Rants:

• A-Rod:  Why is his "hah" thing such a big deal?  Yeah I know its Bush league, but did that really cause the third baseman to miss the catch?  When I see an NBA game and all the fans behind the basket waving things to distract a player at the charity stripe, this seems so trivial.  If you ever attend an NCAA game and hear fans yelling and screaming at opposing players then you will see how meaningless this really is.  It sounds like some of you should go root for Gonzaga or some other Catholic school where taunting is outlawed.
• Dale Earnhardt:  Is he really that good of a driver that people are making all this fuss over landing him on their team?  Hendricks Motor Sports doesn't want him and that should tell you something.  Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart are all better drivers and even guys like Mark Martin have performed better over the last few years.  I think it's mostly name recognition because wins certainly are not a factor in wanting this guy or you would choose 10 other drivers for your team.
• LeBron:  I would not bet against the Cavs when they play the Spurs this week.  Of course, I still think the Pistons are cursed by having Flip Saunders as a coach and then bringing on one of the most unlucky players ever in Chris Webber.  The Pistons never stood a chance and will never win another NBA title as long as Flip is at the helm.  LeBron is the real deal and belongs with the big boys.  Hopefully this is just one year of many to come and in the future the East will be a battle ground between the Cavs and Heat for supremacy.
• NHL:  Does anyone really care that the Ducks and Senators are playing for the Stanley Cup?  I have seen zero on the major networks and I don't even know who is carrying the games on the TV.  It should be a big deal, but it isn't.  Of course the US is owning Canada again in what is essentially a Canadian sport.  Sorry Dan!
• Roger Clemens:  He is now scratched from his first start because of some tightness in his groin.  Geez, I get tightness in my groin every time I see Sharapova serve a tennis ball.  I think it is all a ploy so that Roger can get his first start against the cellar dweller Pirates.  He is sure to get a win against them, but oh how sweet it would be if the Buccaneers could somehow steel that game away from the Rocket. I have a feeling this is the deal that will eventually cost Brian Cashman his job.
• French Open:  Almost as bad as hockey but we do still have one lone American contending.  Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals, but then again does anyone really care.  Since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi left center court, I just can't get into tennis.  As much as I like Andy Roddick, the Americans don't have anyone that can stand toe to toe with Roger Federer.  Of course we do have the Williams sisters, but tennis is only 25% of their life, and you just can't win forever when you are not dedicated to your sport.  No matter how dominate you once were, the Williams sisters are finding out they can be beaten.
• Floyd Landis:  He doesn't stand a prayer in his arbitration meeting.  With a manager trying to black mail Greg Lemond, any appeals chance he had is now shot.  The guy cheated and we are about to see the first Tour de France title ever stripped, stripped from an American.  Somewhere, I think Lance Armstrong is smiling because he is just so lucky it wasn't him.  Armstrong is the Barry Bonds of cycling.  He never tested positive, but was he really clean?
• Hank Aaron:  No one wants to say it, so I will.  Aaron is a very bitter old man.  The guy is a legend and an ambassador for the game of baseball.  He went through hell breaking Ruth's record and he should know better than anyone what Barry is going through.  He should attend the game or at least make an effort to attend.  Also, he should publicly support Bonds as he approaches his record.  Aaron probably used "greenies" which are not only illegal but are also on MLB's banned list of substances.  If they are not performance enhancers then why are they banned?  They do allow players to get up for games and perform and if Aaron used them then his record is just as tainted as Bonds.  Get real Aaron and become a stand up guy.  Bonds will break your record and you can look classy or petty.  Which one is it going to be?

That's all I got for now, but I am sure I will start fuming over something else this weekend.  I have graduation ceremonies this week as well as baccalaureate services today so I might not respond to any comments that quickly, but feel free to leave your opinions below.

SoCalSportsFan

 

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year.  It is one of the only times where millions of Americans sit around a table with tons of food stuffing their faces without worrying about Robert Atkins, (may his soul rest in peace.)  Today as I plan on sitting in front of the TV and watching three NFL games I thought I would share all of the many blessings I have as well as a few that I can think of for some of our favorite athletes.

Eli Manning:  He should be thankful for a running back that has helped deflect all the criticism leveled towards him and the unfair comparisons to Philip Rivers.  Eli does not have an LT in his backfield, but he does have Tiki who went out on a limb and put the blame on the coaches for the loss.

Michelle Wie:  She should be enormously grateful for the over 8 million in endorsement deals she has from Sony and Nike because after this year finding that kind of money is going to be hard to do.  In order to be resigned by companies, they like to see you win, something Wie has not done yet.  Eventually she will win against the ladies, but these sponsors were hoping to see her contend against the men and that ain’t happening!

Sean Merriman:  While he sits out his suspension for four games the Chargers are 3-0.  Now if the Chargers don’t make the playoffs he can not be blamed.

Tiger Woods:  Elin Nordegren, enough said!

Isiah Thomas:  That he still has a job.

Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds:  They should both be thankful that they never tested positive for steroids, unlike Floyd Landis.

Roger Clemens:  Same as Lance and Barry, but also that he is allowed to pitch home games only and still makes millions of dollars.  What’s more amazing is that he will be in high demand come next April.

Alfonso Soriano:  Enjoy that huge paycheck while you remember that you are playing for the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs:  They get Pinella for a manager, they sign a huge bat, and now Colangelo is interested in buying the franchise.  This may be the Cubbies year.

 

As for me, I am thankful for a wife, four kids, my health, and all my friends at this Fox Blogging site.  After all, if you have a family that loves you and you are healthy and able to enjoy it, what more is there?  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

SoCalSportsFan

The UCI, the world governing body for cycling, announced that a high profile rider was guilty of using steroids.  Speculation quickly has moved towards Floyd Landis because he has withdrawn from two races since his heroic win at the Tour de France.  Landis’ own team, Phonak, has put a memo on its website saying Landis had high testosterone levels during the race.  (I can see why his testosterone level is rising in the photo above!)

What does all this mean?  Where in the world is Floyd Landis?  Is he cleaning his system while in hiding?  Can he really be so stupid as to use steroids while riding?  The answers to all of these questions are sure to come out soon. 

It means that an American may not win the title this year.  It means that cycling is indeed the dirtiest sport on this earth.  It means that Armstrong may have been right to dump Landis from his team.  It means that Landis may never ride again.  It means that if you cheat, you will eventually get caught.  (Unless you are Bonds and Armstrong)  My guess is that he is guilty.  My guess is that he will blame all of this on his ailing hip.  My guess is that his career is finished unless he somehow can prove he is innocent.  Ulrich's team has already let him go sparking possible lawsuits.  The plot thickens, as does the blood when taking EPO. 

Ulrich is a one time tour winner and a five time runner up to Lance Armstrong.  Basso, another strong contender during Lance’s heyday,  is also suspected by the UCI.  One thing you can say about Lance, even if he did use steroids, he was never caught.  Sounds a lot like Barry Bonds!

SoCalSportsFan

*Since posting this report, more has come out about Landis positive test.  We now know that team Phonak has suspended him until his second sample can be tested.  I also find it ironic that they will not come right out and say Landis tested positive for steroids until his second sample is checked, but in the case of Armstrong, he was accused without the second sample.  Granted, they can never test his second sample because all of his samples were used up in their ongoing witch hunt.

Also, interesting to note, Landis' mother said she would be very disappointed in her son if he did steroids, but she understands the temptations are out there.  These are devout Mennonites and very hard working people.  I hope Landis is innocent, but this case is snowballing fast and it is beginning to look like an avalanche.*

Back in January I started writing a series of posts that I called SoCal’s Daily Affirmations.  I have written with that byline three or four times.  The nice part of this format is that I get to address several issues in one post and then dispense my advice to the people I am writing about in the format of an affirmation from Stuart Smalley.  What that really means is that I could not find one topic that I wanted to rant about so I chose four.  Today I am going to tackle Barry Bonds, Pat Riley, Lance Armstrong, and Larry Brown. 

Barry Bonds is still the most feared baseball hitter in the game and also a threat in other ways.  Last night in the game against Oakland, with one out and the bases loaded, Blanton walked Barry with four straight pitches.  The A’s would rather walk in a run than give Barry a shot at a grand slam.  That speaks volumes about how feared his bat still is.  Bonds is still one of the all time greatest players in my book and he proved it again this past week.  He was on ESPN for a web gem earlier, robbing someone of a HR with a great catch over the wall and then last night he steals a base.  Looks like his knee is feeling better which can only mean one thing, he is playing next year.   Watch out Henry Aaron!  I see Bonds at DH next season and becoming the ALL TIME HR holder.   Barry, please repeat after me, "I can hit with power, I can take walks, I make 20+ million a year, and I can still even steal bases; gosh darn it, who cares if people like me!

The NBA season is over and the Miami Heat are the champions.  For those who don’t believe me, I predicted this would happen way back on December 12 when Pat Riley was made the coach of the Heat.  Go back and read my post which did not garner even one comment.   Many felt it was unfair of Riley to force Stu Van Gundy out and replace the coach with himself.  Well the Heat have their championship and Riley another ring so maybe it is time to acknowledge that Pat coming back was a good thing.  I know all the talk about Dwyane Wade being the reason they won is out there, but Riley was the catalyst to this organization winning it all.  He was the architect of this team and he needs to get his due.  Pat repeat after me, "I can still slick what hair I have left back, I know how to coach, I am mentioned in Glory Road, my players like me, and gosh darn it, I can outdance Shaq."

Lance Armstrong admits to taking EPO and other steroids according to his former best friend, Frankie Andreu, (Gee, I wonder why they aren’t best friends anymore!)  Betsy Andreu, Frankie’s wife, also says she heard Lance admit to using steroids as he was talking with one of Armstrong’s cancer doctors back in 1996.  For the record, this should come as no surprise.  Lance will deny and no one will be able to prove it.  It is all hearsay and Lance has provided an affidavit from his doctor saying he did not admit to taking steroids.  Sounds a bit like the Bonds’ case if you ask me.  Leaked grand jury testimony, attorney-client privilege, and doctor-patient relationship are just a few of the so called sources of information, none of which can be verified.  Barry and Lance will never be proven to have taken steroids because of these types of sources of information, but in our hearts we will always know that both of these men took them.  Assuredly, just as Barry took steroids, Lance Armstrong did take EPO, and in my opinion that should not diminish his record seven Tour De France titles.  What Lance did on a bicycle is equal to or even greater than what Babe Ruth did with a bat.  His record  seven wins may stand forever in the cycling world.  And while taking EPO is risky, almost every cycler who is competitive has taken EPO or other designer steroids at sometime during their career.  Armstrong is no exception.  Did he take EPO from 1999-2005, no one knows for sure, but like Barry, Lance can say he has never tested positive for anything.  That should count for something.  Lance repeat after me, "I am the best cyclist to ever live.  I was paid lots of money for riding a bike, date beautiful women, and now get paid huge appearance and endorsement fees.   I will not stress out about steroid allegations that will never be proven.  I beat cancer and gosh darn it, I should be glad that I am alive!"

Larry Brown is out and Isiah Thomas is in as the coach of the New York Knicks.  Dolan is an ####.  Isiah has single-handedly destroyed the Knicks franchise.  He brought in two guards who are not compatible, over paid, and then fired a legend so that he could coach again.  Honestly, if you wanted to coach that badly, you should have just stepped up to the plate and hired yourself last season.   Why bring in Brown for 10 million a year only to fire the guy at the end of the season.  Brown will land on his feet somewhere, Sacramento, and the Knicks are going to pay through the nose for firing him.  Don’t think you will be able to avoid a huge buyout on his contract because of his roadside interviews because any judge or arbitrator will rule in Brown’s favor.    I for one think Brown is one of the top three coaches in the NBA and the Knicks organization fired the wrong guy.  The only positive for Thomas is that the Knicks only won 23 games so anything he does will look better next year which just might give Isiah one more year.   Larry repeat after me, "I have an NBA championship ring, a college championship ring, and one of the best records in all of basketball.  I am glad to be out of NY and I don't know what possessed me to go there in the first place, (10 Million reasons).  I will coach again and when I do it will not be with three of the biggest egos in the NBA, Marbury, Francis, and Thomas.   Gosh darnit, I married well and have enough money that I should enjoy life without all the hassles.  Watch out Hubie!"

SoCalSportsFan

(On a side note, I find it very difficult not to type Isiah as Isaiah, which is the traditional spelling for that name.)

Barry has been off to a slow start and who can blame him.  The Giants had two games postponed by rain and now there are more allegations of perjury and of a possible grand jury indictment.  I am amazed by the hate I see for Bonds and also the lack of knowledge by many people who seem to think this means Barry is going to jail.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I don’t believe our government is wasting precious tax dollars investigating a possible perjury charge by a baseball player, because I would believe just about anything when it comes to our legal system.  People can sue for the most absurd reasons and often times even win.  Our government can find time to convene Senate hearings about steroids but can not close our borders.  A federal prosecutor can find time to chase perjury charges against Barry Bonds but not find time to prosecute illegal aliens.  That should tell you what is really important to our elected officials and even worse, that we allow them to do so.  Government waste is at an all time high as our officials spend pork on their own pet pig projects and stopping is nowhere in sight. 

As for Barry, well he may or may not have perjured himself.  In the end, let’s not forget that he was given immunity for any grand jury testimony that he gave to the feds the first time he appeared.  Secondly, anything he has said off the record about steroids, all the denials, can not be held against him in a court of law.  He can only be found guilty of perjury if he did indeed lie to that grand jury or another legal proceeding with intent.  Just because a book was published saying he has been taking steroids since 1998 is not proof he lied.  In fact, the evidence against him in the book comes from “sealed” grand jury testimony.  Don’t get me started on the meaning of “sealed”, but suffice it to say that even if someone did unseal that testimony for these reporters, it is this same testimony where Bonds claims to have taken the “Clear” and the “Cream” unknowingly.  So if you want to use other people’s testimony to catch Bonds in a lie, you would have to get them to say he took steroids.  The only people who would know that is Victor Conte, Greg Anderson, and maybe Bonds’ personal physician.  BALCO founder Victor Conte insisted Thursday, March 30, that he never gave performance-enhancing drugs to Barry Bonds and that a new book that makes those claims is "full of outright lies."  The personal physician will be allowed to hide under the cloak of secrecy afforded him by the physician/client privilege.  And you can bet that Greg Anderson will not say anything against Bonds. 

This is the same federal government that brought in Sosa, McGuire, and Palmeiro for their take on steroids.  Rafael denied taking steroids in that “official” testimony before the Senate committee and yet tested positive just weeks later.  Has the federal government thought about going after Mr. Palmeiro for perjury?  Not on your life, although that would be easier to prove than going after Bonds because Rafael does have a positive test, something that Bonds has never had.  Some have said that Kimberly Bell, Bond's mistress could testify against him and that would be enough.  If that were the case, then Jose Canseco's testimony against Palmeiro should be enough to prove Rafael perjured himself during the Senate Committee hearings. 

One thing that I have learned about athletes in general is that they are usually dumber than they think and eventually slip up and get caught at whatever it is they are trying to get away with.  Affairs are eventually found out either by children born out of stupidity or extortion of mistresses.  Hidden drug use is suddenly uncovered.  Steroid users finally test positive.  Not in Barry’s case.  He has never tested positive, period!  And he has been tested numerous times.  Lance Armstrong was accused of steroid use and the vast majority of fans came to his defense.  Why?  Because they like Lance and he is a cancer survivor.  The truth is, Lance probably did use EPO, a red blood cell stimulator.  Cyclers need more red blood cells so that they can supply their muscles with the oxygen needed to pedal.  Back when he supposedly used EPO it could not be tested for, and we will never know for sure so I give Lance the benefit of the doubt and believe him. 

As far as jail time goes, Victor Conte and Greg Anderson were both given very meaningless sentences and so even if Bonds were found guilty surely he would be given what amounts to a slap on the wrist by the feds.  Conte and Anderson both got less than 4 months actual jail time.  The so called “Ringleaders” of the whole steroid issue get measly months in jail and everyone thinks Bonds will go for years.  Known drug users like Doc Gooden are only now receiving jail time after being caught multiple times on cocaine.  Come on!  Barry will still be swinging his bat long into September as the feds drag their feet on yet another issue.  It took Ken Star how many years to investigate Bill Clinton?  How about Patrick Fitzgerald who is investigating Lewis Libby?  He is still investigating others while Libby goes to a grand jury. These guys get paid for dragging their feet.  Once they find one defendant, they keep investigating because they know their time will eventually run out as a “special” prosecutor.   If anything our government knows how to do well, it is how to drag its feet.  I will refrain from starting down that path as it is a dark one, but suffice it to say that Barry will pass Babe Ruth for second on the all time HR list sometime in May.  The secret grand jury will eventually decide to either go forward or quit but either way if it does go to trial Bonds will be found innocent of any crime.  I predict a judge will throw the case out if it does go to trial, and again, granted how sloppily our government proceeds into these quagmires, I have no doubt it may go to trial.  I just wish that the powers that be would let us get back to baseball and forget about steroids.  Let the new MLB policy work as it should to prevent future problems.  Let’s all move on and watch as we get some new rookie sensations to follow like Chris Shelton or the resurgent veteran like Jim Thome.  I am excited about this season as should every baseball fan.  Don’t let the feds take our joy away.

 

SoCalSportsFan