Where do I begin? So much to talk about, and yet so little time to post. That is why I enjoy these weekly rants where I can vent all the frustrations for an entire week, or in my case the past month.
BCS: It looks like no one wants to be number two in the BCS. Certainly Kansas can control their destiny, but I think Missouri will beat them to win the Big 12 North, and then they will have to beat either Texas or Oklahoma to face LSU in the BCS final. Of course, that is assuming LSU wins the SEC Championship which is no easy task. They will have to face a Georgia team that is looking tougher with each passing game.
Kevin Garnett trade: Back when Danny Ainge pulled the trigger on Kevin Garnett, I was one of the few who said it was a brilliant move. People kept saying, "They can't win without a bench!" Well guess who is looking brilliant now? Yep, the Celtics are rolling and Minnesota is struggling. Jefferson is great, but without a supporting cast the Timberwolves are right where the Celts were last year, in last place. You need superstars in this league to win. The Celtics have three and are well on their way to winning the East.
Oden or Durant: Once again, it shows you why you don't sign a big man who only plays one injury ridden year of college. Big guys are prone to injuries, and Oden is no exception. When you are trying to make that number one pick, a big man is always the way to go, if he has proved himself in college. Big men like Shaquille Oneal played for three seasons and proved he could take the pounding. So did Patrick Ewing, Kareem, and Mourning, but not Oden. People made fun of Durant for not benching more than his weight, but Seattle is very happy Portland went big. Durant is strong enough to lift a basketball, shoot it in the air, and sink a 3 pointer when the game is on the line. That is strong enough for me.
Barry Bonds: Well it took the feds 4 years to bring an indictment, and I say it will take another 4 for anything to stick. Perjury is one of the hardest crimes to prosecute someone for. Not only do they have to prove you are lying, but they have to prove intent. Victor Conte has gone on record that Barry was not given steroids, as has his personal trainer Greg Anderson. Unless they have a smoking gun somewhere, and I don't mean that so called positive test, they will have to do a lot better. So far they have only had to try Barry in the court of public opinion, a place he will always lose, but in a real court where witnesses are cross examined it will be a different story. Let's see Kim Bell and a few others stand up and testify and we will see how they like being put on trial. Barry will never see any jail time nor will he be found guilty. The one thing this possibly accomplishes is keeping him from suiting it up next year.
There is an argument to be made that Barry Bonds cheated and his records should have an asterisk next to them. I for one disagree because I think the fact Barry hit so many homeruns during an era when pitchers were juicing just as much as he was makes his HR feat all the more remarkable.
The fact is that people do not always take steroids just to bulk up and hit for power. Pitchers have known for a long time that taking steroids will help them recover quicker and allow them to throw harder. Paul Byrd is the latest pitcher to have his name associated with HGH. Roger Clemens has long been suspected, and once the list is printed from George Mitchell’s report we will all see just how many pitchers have benefited from steroids.
Say what you want about Barry Bonds, but just be fair and call out all the cheaters when the list is printed. If you want an asterisk next to his name in Cooperstown, then you might as well put one next to the Rocket. He didn’t come back without a little help from somewhere. It is pretty scary now that all of these “rejuvenation” clinics are having their records revealed. Who’s next on the list? Pedro, Curt, or Randy Johnson would not surprise me at all.
It has been so long since I have had time to devote to Fox Sports that I almost feel like a stranger. I see new names on the blog site all the time. While I have some great ideas on topics I want to write about, my time is so limited because of my obligations at school that I just can not do it justice and spend the time with my family that I need. That doesn't mean I am not interested in what is going on in here; in fact, I have a few questions I would like answered if anyone has the time.
1. Who won the Miller Nascar writing competition?
2. Why does Fox have a whole tab dedicated to the NHL and yet not one headline about the start of the season?
3. Why does soccer even have a tab?
4. Why doesn't Marion Jones get the same kind of treatment Barry Bonds does?
5. Why would George fire Torre without a replacement in mind.? Reminds of one A.J. Smith firing a Marty for a Norv.
6. Why don't we see more of the Dallas Cowgirls?
7. Why did the Masters give ESPN two days of coverage for next year?
8. Why do we keep hearing about how great teams are with losses and not enough about teams that are undefeated?
I'll stop with 8 for now, but when I find time I will write some on some of those great topics I have in mind.
Marion Jones: Everyone who take steroids can find someone to blame, but ultimately the person who ingests, injects, or inhales is responsible. What ever happened to the old public service announcement, "Just say no to drugs." That PBA should apply to steroid use as well. Landis, Ankiel, Jones, are just the latest to admit or be caught using steroids, but su####ion abounds about many more. If they just learned to say NO, this wouldn't be a topic of discussion.
Duke LAX Boys: So now they are suing Nifong, the City, the lab, and anyone else they can to get restitution for their ruined lives. While I hate what happened to them, I am not a fan of lawsuits. The only silver lining is that if Nifong is any representation of the type of attorney that will defend the defendents, the Duke boys should win hands down.
Isiah Thomas: What can anyone say about Thomas? He is an ####. He makes terrible business decisions about players, salaries, coaches, and now his own employees. I don't think Anucha Brown Sanders deserves 11-12 million dollars for being called a "####", but did Thomas really think his flashy smile could sway a jury? If she can get that kind of money for being hit on, I wish a few teachers would hit on me and call me a pimp. Since when did being called a few names warrant so much money? This is just another example of how insane our legal system has become. I don't like Thomas, but the jury award is way out of line.
Tony Romo: Every year in Dancing With The Stars someone stays longer than they should, but eventually the best dancer wins. From Jerry Rice to Wayne Newton, those guys should have been voted off much earlier than they did or will, but the cream always rises to the top. I think Romo is the Wayne Newton of this year's Dancing With The Stars. He can't sustain his level of play for much longer, but he is fun to watch because he appears to love the game. I hope I am wrong on this one, but I keep seeing the image of Romo fumbling a snap during the playoffs, and wonder if he can handle the pressure of stardom.
MLB: Who says the NL isn't interesting? I think the Rockies vs the D'Backs is about as interesting as it gets. If I were the Red Sox or Indians, I would be worried about facing either of those teams. They are both very hot at just the right time. Of course Cleveland is looking like a city of destiny as well. First the Cavaliers make it to the finals, then the Browns win against the Bengals even after giving up 40+ points, and now the Indians are playing to win the AL Championship Series. This should be a great October.
Why is MLS still being forced upon us. It's bad enough that Fox gives a TAB to soccer and an entire site dedicated to soccer, but give it a rest. The women beat England in the WWS semifinals and the main page major headlines have to do with Georgia beating Alabama, NFL, and Baseball, as it should be. There are those on this blogging site who continue to tell us to open our minds to soccer. Soccer is a great game, the world loves it, but America doesn't. That is not being close minded, we just have more to do here than watch hours of keep away with a ball to see one score. Other countries, especially third world countries, can not afford to have lush green fields to play a game that requires alot of equipment like football, but they can have a dirt pasture and a ball. Soccer is the world's most popular sport, but consider that many of the places where soccer is huge have nothing else to keep them occuppied. Mexico, Brazil, and most of Africa are truly poor countries where children are lucky to grow up with any sports equipment at all. Americans are more fortunate and more well rounded. I don't have to enjoy soccer nor do I have to embrace it. I am a "free" man living in a free country and I choose to watch the NFL, MLB, and the NBA.
Floyd Landis is not the first cyclist to use steroids, but he is the first to have his title stripped from him. For the record, his appeal doesn't stand a chance. Why have we heard so little about this by the ESPN analysts, and yet Bonds was crucified without one positive test? Landis is the "FIRST" to ever have his title stripped and Bonds is not the first or last to use steroids. No doubt a double standard exists based upon the whims of the media.
Barry Bonds will play again next year, but in the AL as a DH. I am excited to see that happen because he will most certainly get into the 3000 hit club and it will be interesting to see if he continues to lead the league in walks. People complain that he is not an everyday player, but as a DH, he can play ever day and he has tremendous value. His on base percentage and slugging percentage was up there with the best. Good luck Barry on your quest ofr 3000 hits and a sure fire HOF career.
Isiah Thomas: Fire the guy Dolan. It's embarassing.
NHL: Almost as bad as soccer. The season is underway and no one even knows about it. I had to check to see how many games have been played.
Norv Turner's Chargers are 1-2. It's too late to worry now, but LT is suddenly human and the vaunted Chargers' defense is suspect. And who says coaching doesn't matter?
Troy Glaus finally spoke to reporters today only to say that he had no comment on the current situation. His name has been linked along with Rick Ankiel's in the HGH buying scandal from an internet pharmacy in Florida. Glaus says he understands that reporters have a job to do, but hopes they will respect his position at this time. Maybe Troy is being confused with the ancient Grecian Hero. Certainly he was trying to look like him.
In other words, what Glaus is really saying is that he took HGH along with other steroids ordered from this pharmacy. The news report says he appears shaken. Once again, this can only mean he is upset because he is guilty. If he were innocent, he would come right out and say it isn't so. Unlike Barry Bonds, he is not under a sitting grand jury nor is he being prosecuted by a federal investigator. This whole story is the result of the feds attempting to shut down internet pharmacies which prescribe HGH and other steroids without as much as an office visit.
It is a quandry that all sports are in and as the truth unfolds we are going to see many more names surface. Roger Clemens, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and many more could all find themselves staring at allegations of using performance enhancers. What will MLB do then? My solution is to set up stringent testing now, lable this era with an asterisk, and move on. The players union and MLB will have to agree to blood testing so they can pick up HGH because it is not detectable yet in urine tests which is the only test that is being used in MLB. Cyclists have to submit to blood tests, so why not baseball players. Of course I think HGH is an even bigger problem in the NBA, but no one wants to admit it. How many high school kids are taking HGH right now to grow an extra couple of inches. It is the perfect time for them because their bone plates are still not fused and they can grow taller without the fear of acromegly, or caveman head syndrome as I like to call it.
Of MLB is not the only sport with steroid problems. One look at the NFL and WWE and one can realize that steroids have always been an issue. From Lyle Alzado to Chris Benoit, steroids will always be used where athletes are looking for an edge. Bodybuilders have been using them for decades and no one tried to clean up those sports. It was only a matter of time before they infiltrated every other league. One has to wonder if Bud Selig has been taking them as well. After all, it appears he has no balls to do anything about them. Maybe it's because his have shriveled up from taking all that Rogaine.
Troy Glaus can bemoan his situation all he wants, but one thing is for sure; when you come out with no comment you've said a mouthful.
Way back when everyone was clamoring for Bonds' head, I told you he would never go to jail nor would he be prosecuted for steroids. I've written numerous posts about HGH and its legitimate use under a physician's care. Well now we have Rick Ankiel saying he never took anything without a doctor's prescription. The truth is that he did have a doctor's prescription. Just like Wade Wilson and a host of others.
It doesn't matter if HGH is really a legitimate cure or treatment for what was ailing Ankiel. All that matters is that he had a legal prescription. If so, he was following the law and he will not get into any trouble with the feds or local authorities. The federal authorities want to shut down internet sites where certain medications are sold and they should try to find these doctors who prescribe these substances and take away their licenses. But until they do, anyone who purchases drugs online is doing nothing illegal.
People who use medical marijuana are not breaking the law and similarly people who order HGH online with a valid prescription are just using a loophole in the system to take the drugs they want. In San Diego, you can qualify for medical marijuana for headaches and obtain a prescription for poor eyesight. Students at Grossmont High School actually carry medical marijuana cards to school and then arrive high for classes. Does anyone believe that smoking a joint is a valid medication for the littany of ailments you can find at online sites that qualifies it for a prescription? Not me, but it is legal. HGH may not be a valid cure for anti-aging, but as long as it is advertised as such, prescribed, and sold online legally, Ankiel and others will not be prosecuted. As long as they took it before 2005 they won't suffer from MLB either or they will hear from the players' union. It is a sticky situation MLB is in, but one of their own making. Before it's all over we may find Bud Selig is taking HGH to grow balls to handle this situation.
SoCalSportsFan
*I provided a link above to the site where Ankiel ordered from, THARC. Take a look at the touted benefits of HGH: Strengthens the immune system, Lowers Blood Pressure, Fights Wrinkles, Eliminates Cellulite, and much more*
Wow, it has been a very busy August. I can't remember a busier school opening, and this is why I have been absent of late. I may not be on here as much this semester, but I can always stay active in Fox Sports through my fantasy teams. One in which I always enjoy is the Fox Pro Football Pick'em. I created a league for us at Fox Sports. Join up and let's all match our wits each week and play for bragging rights.
Team ID: 53100
Password: Foxsports
On to my rants:
Michael Vick: He is guilty. He will serve time, and he will return to football. Someone will pick him up and I doubt Goodell will suspend him permanently from the NFL. I also believe he should be allowed back in one day, but if I were an owner I would not pick him up. Lucky for Vick, there is a God, or better yet an Al Davis.
Eric Gagne: Suddenly this move doesn't look so brilliant. The Red Sox do have a good closing staff without Gagne, but if the Yankees make it in as the Wild Card it's all over for Boston. A-Rod may get his ring this year.
NFL: Is anyone else ready for some football? Preseason is too long. I'm ready for the real action where the stars play. LT sits out in San Diego every year and I am ready to see how the Chargers will do this year. They have the talent to win the whole thing, but they have one little problem; it's called their head coach. Norv Turner has never won anything in his life, except the privilege of being a head football coach. That privilege should have been revoked after his horrible stints in Washington and Dallas, but alas the Chargers fire a guy who went 14-2 to hire Norv. The stars must have been aligned when Norv was born because no one inherits a team with such talent with a record like his. Good luck Norv!
Michelle Wie: Another season comes and goes and we here less and less about Wie. It's too bad she could have been really good.
Tiger Woods: Another major and another great season. I still do not think Woods will surpass Nicklaus in major wins, but has anyone ever played in fewer events each season and still wins 40% of those they enter? Fatherhood, marriage, and a new coach haven't slowed him down, so maybe he will pass Jack up. If he does, how far will he go?
Barry Bonds: Now that Aaron's record is in the rear view mirror, all the sports reporters have seemed to stop covering Barry. Meanwhile, he just keeps on hitting home runs. He may get to 770 this year, and if he does, I think he will play one more season to try and reach 800. Still no indictment in the foreseable future, so the only thing that can stop him is if he refuses to play. I sure hope he lands in a Yankees uniform next year and gets a ring before he retires.
Someone asked me the other day where I had gone. I'm still here, but with the start up of school just a week away, I am putting in overtime to get our school ready. With last minute teacher hiring, training of new teachers, ordering of furniture, interviewing parents and children, and switching offices, it has been extremely busy these last two weeks. One of my history teachers was called out to Iraq this week as well so I had to take him out to lunch and say goodbye. With all that is going on, I plan on posting on the weekends. Whoever said that principals don't work in the summer has never been in education.
There has been alot of speculation about whether or not Barry Bonds will be rested now that he has broken the HR record. Many analysts and Bonds haters have said he will now sit out the rest of the season or be played sparingly, but that is not how I see it. In fact, Bonds has hit two more HR since his record breaking number 756 blast. He has three this week and shows no sign of slowing down. The truth is, the Giants pay Barry way to much money to have him sit, and his production is better than anyone else on the team. Barry will still take an occassional day off, but he will play the bulk of the rest of the season. I would expect that he will hit another 10-15 homers along the way.
As for next year, Barry will continue to play. I would expect him to finally join an AL team and DH for at least one more year. Barry knows his new record is not safe from A-Rod if he stops now, and he has endured too much to allow his record to be so easily surpassed. Also, he can still play. If he can hit 40 HR as a DH, there will be teams clamoring for his services. The fact is Barry can still hit the ball with the best of them. He is like the Enegizer Bunny: He keeps on going, and going, and going. Just think how much more productive he could be without having to play the field. As it is, he has 25 HR not playing every day, over 57 RBI, and batting over .280. Get used to it, we haven't seen the last of Barry Bonds.
Before the ink dried on the KG trade contract, sports fans and journalists began to question the merits of this goliath move by Boston and Minnesota. There is no question that in my mind that Boston overpaid for Kevin Garnett, but it brings up an age old question. It is the same question the Lakers have been faced with since the departure of Shaquille O’Neal and it is a question that every franchise will face at some time in their future. Should you build for the future by developing young players or should you try to win now by trading for high priced free agents?
Danny Ainge is being criticized for trading away Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, and two first round draft picks. No one really cares about his trade of Theo Ratliff or Sebastian Telfair, but overall this trade was brilliant. Ainge has been a terrible GM up to this point. Some of his draft picks and trades have been very questionable, but he had amassed some very good young talent. Al Jefferson is capable of a double double every night and is a wonderful talent along with Gerald Green. Ryan Gomes also added depth to the Celtics bench, but the simple fact is that Boston was not winning with these guys. By trading for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics are guaranteed to win more games than they have in the past five years while they were developing all of that young talent. The name of the game is winning. If you lose as a coach or GM, then eventually you will be fired. The Celtics are now very relevant in the East and they will win more games.
The Timberwolves are now loaded with young talent, but will they win in the West? They have lost Kevin Garnett which was bound to happen after this year anyway, so Kevin McHale did a masterful job of swindling Danny Ainge into giving him essentially an entire team for one player. McHale now has enough pieces to trade for a Shawn Merriman or another free agent in the future. One would assume they will let Ratliff go and Telfair’s days are numbered. With two more draft picks the Timberwolves are in a great position for rebuilding, which is something they had to do once KG departed. The problem is that McHale wasn’t winning in the West with KG and the players he received from Boston were not winning in the East with Pierce. What makes anyone think that the T'Wolves will win with this Celtic team minus Pierce in the West? Still, for McHale it appears to be the best he could get for KG from anyone.
The first knock against the Celtic GM is that the players he acquired, Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, are aging while Jefferson, Gomes, and Green are all very young. Kobe and Iverson are also aging, but wouldn’t you trade for one of those guys if they were available. Mitch Kupchak took a lot of heat for not pursuing an aging Jason Kidd, but the fact is that superstars tend to stick around longer than young talent that never develops. Garnett, Allen, and Pierce are not that old and Ainge now has 5 years to develop more raw talent or trade for new players in the future.
The second problem some have with this trio is that their combined salary is around 60 million and that leaves very little room to work with under the cap. To me this is a moot point, because teams like New York and Dallas spend well over the salary cap. Their payrolls are the two largest at 89 and 83 million respectively. Spending more does not guarantee a playoff spot, (Just ask the biggest spender of all, Isiah Thomas, and let's see what it brought him), but for the Celtics if they open up the checkbook and bring in a few roll players this team should be very good.
So do you win now or win later? It all depends on your team and your situation. Boston needed to win now and it appears they will. Minnesota, because of the eventual loss of Garnett, needed to rebuild which means they will win later. Without the trade both GMs would be on the hot seat this year, but now both will get a temporary reprieve. Boston overpaid for KG which makes McHale look brilliant, a hard thing to do these days, and Ainge pulled off acquiring two superstars. The Celtics will win more games in the East than they did last year and they should make the playoffs where they will have a chance to advance. Winning will put fans in the seats, sell more merchandise, and cure all that ails this once proud franchise. I say it was a Win-Win for both teams.
SoCalSportsFan
*The Boston Red Sox did not win a World Series until they finally opened up their pocket books and started spending like the Yankees. It also appears they are well on their way to winning another title, but they had to spend 100 million on Dice-K to get there, and they are still spending like mad picking up Eric Gagne. Sometimes, spending does equal wins.*
Troy Glaus finally 
Of MLB is not the only sport with steroid problems. One look at the NFL and WWE and one can realize that steroids have always been an issue. From Lyle Alzado to Chris Benoit, steroids will always be used where athletes are looking for an edge. Bodybuilders have been using them for decades and no one tried to clean up those sports. It was only a matter of time before they infiltrated every other league. One has to wonder if Bud Selig has been taking them as well. After all, it appears he has no balls to do anything about them. Maybe it's because his have shriveled up from taking all that Rogaine.
Way back when everyone was clamoring for Bonds' head, I told you he would never go to jail nor would he be prosecuted for steroids. I've written numerous posts about HGH and its legitimate use under a physician's care. Well now we have 
People who use medical marijuana are not breaking the law and similarly people who order HGH online with a valid prescription are just using a loophole in the system to take the drugs they want. In San Diego, you can qualify for medical marijuana for headaches and obtain a prescription for poor eyesight. Students at 
Someone asked me the other day where I had gone. I'm still here, but with the start up of school just a week away, I am putting in overtime to get our school ready. With last minute teacher hiring, training of new teachers, ordering of furniture, interviewing parents and children, and switching offices, it has been extremely busy these last two weeks. One of my history teachers was called out to Iraq this week as well so I had to take him out to lunch and say goodbye. With all that is going on, I plan on posting on the weekends. Whoever said that principals don't work in the summer has never been in education.
There has been alot of speculation about whether or not Barry Bonds will be rested now that he has broken the HR record. Many analysts and Bonds haters have said he will now sit out the rest of the season or be played sparingly, but that is not how I see it. In fact, Bonds has hit two more HR since his record breaking number 756 blast. He has three this week and shows no sign of slowing down. The truth is, the Giants pay Barry way to much money to have him sit, and his production is better than anyone else on the team. Barry will still take an occassional day off, but he will play the bulk of the rest of the season. I would expect that he will hit another 10-15 homers along the way.
As for next year, Barry will continue to play. I would expect him to finally join an AL team and DH for at least one more year. Barry knows his new record is not safe from A-Rod if he stops now, and he has endured too much to allow his record to be so easily surpassed. Also, he can still play. If he can hit 40 HR as a DH, there will be teams clamoring for his services. The fact is Barry can still hit the ball with the best of them. He is like the Enegizer Bunny: He keeps on going, and going, and going. Just think how much more productive he could be without having to play the field. As it is, he has 25 HR not playing every day, over 57 RBI, and batting over .280. Get used to it, we haven't seen the last of Barry Bonds.
Danny Ainge is being criticized for trading away Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, and two first round draft picks. No one really cares about his trade of Theo Ratliff or Sebastian Telfair, but overall this trade was brilliant. Ainge has been a terrible GM up to this point. Some of his draft picks and trades have been very questionable, but he had amassed some very good young talent. Al Jefferson is capable of a double double every night and is a wonderful talent along with Gerald Green. Ryan Gomes also added depth to the Celtics bench, but the simple fact is that Boston was not winning with these guys. By trading for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics are guaranteed to win more games than they have in the past five years while they were developing all of that young talent. The name of the game is winning. If you lose as a coach or GM, then eventually you will be fired. The Celtics are now very relevant in the East and they will win more games.
The Timberwolves are now loaded with young talent, but will they win in the West? They have lost Kevin Garnett which was bound to happen after this year anyway, so Kevin McHale did a masterful job of swindling Danny Ainge into giving him essentially an entire team for one player. McHale now has enough pieces to trade for a Shawn Merriman or another free agent in the future. One would assume they will let Ratliff go and Telfair’s days are numbered. With two more draft picks the Timberwolves are in a great position for rebuilding, which is something they had to do once KG departed. The problem is that McHale wasn’t winning in the West with KG and the players he received from Boston were not winning in the East with Pierce. What makes anyone think that the T'Wolves will win with this Celtic team minus Pierce in the West? Still, for McHale it appears to be the best he could get for KG from anyone.
The first knock against the Celtic GM is that the players he acquired, Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, are aging while Jefferson, Gomes, and Green are all very young. Kobe and Iverson are also aging, but wouldn’t you trade for one of those guys if they were available. Mitch Kupchak took a lot of heat for not pursuing an aging Jason Kidd, but the fact is that superstars tend to stick around longer than young talent that never develops. Garnett, Allen, and Pierce are not that old and Ainge now has 5 years to develop more raw talent or trade for new players in the future. 
The second problem some have with this trio is that their combined salary is around 60 million and that leaves very little room to work with under the cap. To me this is a moot point, because teams like 
