Friday, June 30, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 29, 2006

Jose Canseco is returning to baseball. He has signed with the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League. He will be their designated hitter and pitcher. This should be interesting. He has pitched one inning in his major league career and was not very good. I will be looking for updates on this.

Coco Crisp, the man with the best name in baseball and breakfast, made a great catch to help save the game for the Red Sox last night. Unlike most catches where the fielder makes it look harder than it is, this was a very difficult catch to make. As if Sox fans did not love him already, he may have reached Paplebon status after that catch.

Mark Cuban has come out and said that any involvement in the Pittsburgh Penguins should he be part of the new ownership group would be minimal. I think it is time Gary Bettman sat Cuban down and begged him to be active if he gets the team. Talk about public relations for a struggling franchise.

Condolences to Lamar Odom and his family after losing his infant son the other night. Losing a child has to be one of the most hard, if not the hardest thing, to deal with in life.

One last thought: Renaldo Balkman. Isiah Thomas claims Phoenix would have taken Balkman with the pick after New York. Mike D'Antoni says he was not even on their radar. Renaldo Balkman.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 28, 2006

The NBA Draft was a barrage of trades, probably the most in quite a few years. In a couple of days, I will write a bit of a recap, but until then, some quick thoughts...
Big Winnner (team): Memphis - Trading for Rudy Gay and Alexander Johnson and drafting Kyle Lowry puts the Grizzlies in position to make a serious jump in about two years.
Big Loser (team): New York - Renaldo Balkman.
Big Winner (player): Marcus Williams, Kyle Lowry, and Alexander Johnson - Though selected in the 20's, both point guards are going to playoff teams where they can be mentored by the incumbent PG. Johnson was expected to go in the first round, but falls to to the second round to a playoff team in need of his skills. In time, he will play a significant role.
Big Loser (player): Sergio Rodriguez - He was selected by Phoenix, which would have been a great fit to play behind and be mentored by Steve Nash, but was then traded to Portland, which already has a young point guard in Jarrett Jack. Rodriguez would have benefited from playing in Phoenix's system.

The Red Sox beat Pedro Martinez in Fenway. Isanyone surprised he left to go to the National League?

The Tigers, White Sox and Twins all won yesterday. Again. All three teams are 9-1 in their last 10. They have a ridiculous record over their last 50 or so combined games. There is great baseball playing played in the American League Central (at least at the top). Meanwhile, Joe Mauer continues to hit (2-3, up to .392).

Mark Cuban and Dan Marino are in discussions to join a group trying to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins. The NHL should want Cuban involved. He will bring excitement and charisma to a league in need of it. I hope it works out. Cuban might very well be the best owner in sports.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 27, 2006

It was reported yesterday all over the sports world that Peter Gammons needed surgery following a brain aneurysm. Gammons is one of the best sports reporters in sports, not just baseball. I mean, come on, his face is on the twenty dollar bill. Best wishes on a quick recovery to the Baseball Hall of Famer.

I love it when players make me look good. The day I mention a possible run at .400 by Joe Mauer, he goes 5 for 5 to raise his average to .389.

The Red Sox won their 10th straight game yesterday 9-4 over the Mets. The Yankees lost to the Braves 5-2 and placed another everyday player, 2B Robinson Cano, on the disabled list. They are now separated by 3.5 games in the American League East. Maybe this is the season their places in the standings reverses.

The NBA Draft is tonight. I still stick with the picks I made on Sunday, but given the volatility of the draft, even the "experts" may not come close on predicting the order. I will do a follow-up on the draft sometime in the next few days.

The NFL will begin including amphetamines on their list of banned performance-enhancing drugs in 2007. You just know the other major sports are watching Major League Baseball and trying to be proactive to avoid similar situations.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

A Great Read: Chad Ford's What If? Mock Draft

If you are an ESPN Insider and wonder what tomorrow night's NBA Draft might have looked at under normal circumstances, check this out. One can dream, right?

Summary of the Day: June 26, 2006

Has anyone noticed the season Joe Mauer is having? After four hits (and five RBIs) last night, he is hitting .377. That high of an average would be amazing for anyone, let alone a catcher. I wonder if he can make a run towards .400.

David Ortiz had another walk-off hit for the Red Sox yesterday, a single to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning against the Phillies. I think David Ortiz is a great hitter and he has been very clutch, but his heroics have blinded many to the fact that he is still, in my opinion only the second best hitter on the team. Manny Ramirez is a definite Hall of Famer, possibly on the first ballot, while David Ortiz may go down as the best designated hitter of all-time (he would need a few more gigantic seasons to have a Hall of Fame chance). To me, that is a huge difference.

James Dolan, owner of the New York Knicks, publicly stated that Isiah Thomas has one season to turn the team around, saying "He made this bed. There's nobody better than him to make this thing go forward." I would assume the Knicks will do better under Isiah than under Larry Brown, if only because Isiah will play the younger players and give the veterans more freedom, but I still do not see a .500 record. Speaking of Larry and Isiah, here is a fun little read.

A minor league manager had a huge tantrum the other day. I have yet to see any footage, but the recaps I have read give you good detail. Apparently, he got a seven game suspension. I probably would have given him three, since despite all his transgressions he never made contact with the umpire, but seven is also reasonable.

Roger Clemens makes his second major league start of the season today against the Detroit Tigers. Ten years ago, he had his second 20 strikeout game in Detroit, after doing the same against the Seattle Mariners ten years before that. He may be "due" for another 20K game, but it will not come in only his second start of the season against the best team in the major leagues (though they do strike out a lot). Maybe he will get to face Milwaukee, Atlanta, or Florida (the three easiest teams to strike out) later in the season.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Summary of the Weekend: June 24-25, 2006

Barry Bonds hit his 719th home run on Saturday, then aggravated his knee on Sunday. I still think his ego will bring him back next season, but I think the odds of his retirement after this season are rising.

Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame wide receiver and Cubs draft pick, recently signed a contact with the baseball franchise, but still wants to play football and become an NFL draft pick. Though he will be earning money to play minor league baseball, this will not jeopardize his eligibility to play for Notre Dame in the fall. This looks like just another case of the NCAA appearing contradictory. At the time of the 2006 Winter Olympics, Jeremy Bloom, a wide receiver and return man for the University of Colorado and Olympic skier, was deemed ineligible to play college football after receiving endorsement money for skiing. Bloom is now with the Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted in the fifth round. It seems odd that a player can earn money from one professional sport but still be considered an amateur athlete for another while a player who earned endorsements from one sport is not.

The Detroit Tigers (yes, those Tigers) became the first team to win 50 games this season, yet they are only one and a half games ahead of the defending champion Chicago White Sox. This could go down as one of the best division races in recent memory. At this point, both teams would make the playoffs, with the White Sox being the wild card, but you know both teams want the bragging rights that come with a division title.

Wimbledon begins today. Though Federer lost the French Open final, he is still the favorite, having won three in a row. We will see if he can add to his impressive resume, one which has put him in conversations discussing the best tennis players of all-time.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

My NBA Mock Lottery

With the NBA Draft three days away, it is time for me to do a mock draft of the lottery picks. This one will be a little different though. I will tell you who I think will be taken in each spot, as well as who I think should be drafted. So without further adieu...

1. Toronto Raptors
They probably will take: Andrea Bargnani
I think they should take: Bargnani

I expect Bryan Colangelo to do what everyone thinks he will. That is a good thing, because Bargnani is the best prospect available.

2. Chicago Bulls
They probably will take: LaMarcus Aldridge
I think they should take: Aldridge

There are rumors of a trade, and for a while the talk was of Tyrus Thomas heading to Chicago, but John Paxson should (and probably will) take the player that will make the biggest impact on his team.

3. Charlotte Bobcats
They probably will take: Rudy Gay
I think they should take: Gay

Gay is the most physically talented player in the draft, and adding him to the Bobcats shifts Gerald Wallace to shooting guard and gives them a very long, atheltic team. They would still need a shooter, but can address that need through other channels.

4. Portland Trailblazers
They probably will take: Adam Morrison
I think they should take: Tyrus Thomas

Morrison is a popular name who happens to be from a school in the Pacific Northwest. That should not decide his draft position. The same goes for Brandon Roy, though I think he would be a better pick than Morrison. Both play the same position as Martell Webster, the team first pick from last year. Darius Miles has one foot out the door, and in Thomas they get a talented "combo forward" and again, the best player available.

5. Atlanta Hawks
They probably will take: Shelden Williams
I think they should take: Brandon Roy

It is rumored that The Landlord has a promise from Atlanta. For their sake, I hope they fulfill this promise by trading down. However, Roy should be their pick here. Putting him in a backcourt with Joe Johnson at the point, with Roy occasionally handling the ball, the Hawks could make a solid playoff run. They could also go with a true point guard and pick Marcus Williams.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves
They probably will take: Tyrus Thomas
I think they should take: Adam Morrison

Thomas may fall into their laps, and if he does, I do not blame them for taking him. However, I do not think he should be available for them. Adam Morrison would be. Morrison is projected much higher than I think he should be, but he would be a good complimentary scorer to Kevin Garnett with the sixth pick.

7. Boston Celtics
They probably will take: Marcus Williams
I think they should take: M. Williams

Delonte West is not the answer at the point guard position. Williams is the floor general this team needs with its young core.

8. Houston Rockets
They probably will take: Brandon Roy
I think they should take: Rodney Carney

They need a shooter. Roy would be a solid pick here, but in my scenario, he is off the board. Carney, however, gives them a solid and improving shooter with great athleticism. His defense will allow Tracy McGrady to focus more on offense and possibly save his back a little bit.

9. Golden State Warriors
They probably will take: Patrick O'Bryant
I think they should take: O'Bryant

They could take a point guard here, but O'Bryant has more upside than any PG available and still fills a need. Rather than play Ike Diogu at center, they could trade Diogu or Troy Murphy for an heir to Baron Davis.

10. Seattle Supersonics
They probably will take: Rodney Carney
I think they should take: Shelden Williams

Seattle has two very young and raw centers. A shooting guard or small forward to spell Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis would be a wise pick, but taking a great interior help defender to help the youngsters would be the best for the team.

11. Orlando Magic
They probably will take: Randy Foye
I think they should take: Ronnie Brewer

As much as they need a shooter, more importantly they need a big guard to pair with Jameer Nelson. Taking Redick here would severely hurt the backcourt defense.

12. New Orleans Hornets
They probably will take: Cedric Simmons
I think they should take: Simmons
There may not be another team with as glaring a need for size as New Orleans. Simmons is the best available big man, and a very good fit next to David West.

13. Philadelphia 76ers
They probably will take: Ronnie Brewer
I think they should take: Rajon Rondo

Brewer would be a good fit, but again, I have him being selected earlier. Philadelphia could use a true point guard. Rondois the best pure point guard available and his length would allow him to be in the backcourt at the same time as Iverson.

14. Utah Jazz
They probably will take: J.J. Redick
I think they should take: Redick

Redick is best suited for a team with a lot of pieces already in place that needs a sniper. Utah is the best example of the right home for him. This would be a match made in heaven.

If I have a chance before the Draft, I will continue both mock drafts, but without all the detail. At this point in such an unpredictable draft, teams could go a bunch of different ways.

Now, finally, for some pre-Draft awards:

Slippery Slider Award - Adam Morrison
As someone being projected as a possible number one pick, I see Morrison dropping when all is said and done. He may not fall as far as someone else, but there is a big difference between falling out of the top five and falling from the middle of the first round to the end of it.

Smartest Move - Bryan Colangelo
Bargnani is the guy he wants. He is in position to take whoever he wants. He should not try to play games. He may be able to trade down and still get Bargnani, but why chance it? I say he will keep the first pick, and kudos to him if he does and takes the young Italian.

Luckiest Team - Minnesota Timberwolves
When their pick rolls around, either someone will have dropped to them that should not have, or a guy that would be a great fit will fall into their laps. Kevin McHale should be a happy man.

Luckiest Player - LaMarcus Aldridge
In Chicago, Aldridge will automatically become the interior scoring option, if not the primary scorer. He will also go to a team that made the playoffs this past year and should only get better. That is not a bad scenario for the second overall pick.

Same Man, Different Uniform

This past Thursday, I watched Pedro Martinez pitch for the New York Mets. While this is not a new occurrence, there was a different feeling to this game. In the winter of 1997, the Boston Red Sox acquired Pedro from the Montreal Expos in exchange for pitching prospects Tony Armas and Carl Pavano. Pedro was coming off Cy Young Award-winning season in Montreal, yet we really had no clue about the amazing moments he was going to deliver to Red Sox Nation.

What made Thursday's game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets so different was that I was witnessing Pedro pitch live. I was attending my first ever game at Shea Stadium and the man who once captivated my feelings as a Sox fan was now throwing the ball for a new team. When players leave your favorite team in order to pursue greater fortunes or a new beginning with another club, you often lose your allegiance with said player. I felt that way with Mr. Martinez, at least initially I did. Soon after arriving into our seats on Thursday, my brother and I found ourselves cheering for Pedro and standing with anticipation on every two strike count. While he is not the same flamethrower he once was, he is still an amazing artist to watch on the mound. Cincinnati batters were caught staring at 60 miles per hour curve balls and then flailing aimlessly at 92 mile an hour heaters. This man with a fragile shoulder is still one of the best pitchers in the game and a wonderful site to behold.

While I may never cheer for Pedro with the same feelings I did while he pitched for Boston, I will never forget the moments he gave me from a fans perspective. I, for one, am very glad I got watch him throw one more time, in person, it is a thrill that I will never forget.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 23, 2006

Did anyone see Miguel Cabrera get an RBI hit off of what was supposed to be an intentional ball Thursday night? That was undoubtedly one of the plays of the year so far. I am sure most pitchers and hitters take it for granted that when and intentional walk is signaled, play essentially stops. This should change going forward.

Jose Contreras won his 16th straight decision for the White Sox. Maybe he could not win in New York, but was he really given a chance?

The Orioles are the frontrunners to sign Russ Ortiz, just released by the Diamondbacks after posting a 5-16 record with a 6.94 ERA in a season and a half with Arizona. My question is, "Why?"

Lots of trade talk, lots of rumors of promises. This is the last five days before the NBA Draft. Sometime this weekend, I will do a mock draft which will show which talk I believe to be true.

Former Brave Tom Glavine won his Major League leading 11th game for the New York Mets last night, while John Smoltz was hurt and removed from the second inning of his start for the Braves, which broke a 10 game losing streak for Atlanta. Is this just a further sign that the Braves' run atop the Eastern Division is over, while the Mets just might be the team to beat?

Friday, June 23, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 22, 2006

Larry Brown was fired by the New York Knicks yesterday, replaced by the man who hired him, Isiah Thomas. Didn't this happen a couple of months ago? The Knicks are stating publicly that they will not pay any of the balance of the contract, which happens to stipulate that any contract dispute would be mediated by Commissioner Stern. The fun is not over yet.

Roger Clemens made his season debut last night (5 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks, 2 ER), losing to Francisco Liriano and the Twins. Overall, Clemens did not look bad, just a little rusty. Once he gets more of a feel for pitching again, he will be more than fine.

The United States was knocked out of the World Cup after losing to Ghana 2-1. Considering soccer's popularity worldwide and the number of youth soccer leagues in the U.S., it is rather surprising that professional soccer does not seem to stick with Americans. That, even more than their brief stay in the competition, is why Freddy Adu, the 17 year old phenom, should have made the team.

The Toronto Raptors hired Maurizio Gherardini as their assistant general manager. Gherardini had been the GM of Euroleague powerhouse Benetton Treviso during a very successful run for the franchise. With the growing emphasis on international scouting, this is a move that makes a lot of sense. The Raptors, and specifically Bryan Colangelo, deserve a lot of credit for allowing the internationalization of the NBA spread beyond the court.

Joe Thornton edged Jaromir Jagr for the Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player) of the National Hockey League after a spirited battle atop the points leaderboard. Alexander Ovechkin won the Calder Trophy over Sidney Crosby, the highly touted prodigy and "next Wayne Gretzky". These awards cap off a successful return to the ice for the NHL. With a young duo like Ovechkin and Crosby to market, the NHL is in good shape one year after the lockout.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 21, 2006

Jose Reyes hit for the cycle yesterday, the ninth Met to ever do so. Reyes seems to be coming into his own this season. Already armed with great speed and regarded as an excellent defender, he has shown more plate discipline and power this season, already setting a career high for walks and tying his high for home runs (both set last year in 161 games, he has played 69 this season). Only 23 years old, could he get even better?

Roger Clemens gets his first start in the majors of the season tonight against Francisco Liriano and the Twins. He will be limited to 100-110 pitches, which I would think should get him through six innings. What can we expect from the Rocket? Based on his performances in the minors combined with the mediocre Minnesota lineup (22nd in the majors in runs, 23rd in OPS, and 27th in home runs), I would expect him to allow one or two runs while striking out four or five batters, and likely leaving the game with a chance to win. See the latest "Writers Chat" for more on Clemens' return to baseball.

The Toronto Raptors, still revamping the roster, traded Eric Williams, Matt Bonner and a 2009 second round pick to San Antonio for Rasho Nesterovic and cash. Until next week's NBA Draft, the news around basketball is mostly trade and draft rumors rather than actual transactions. That is the only reason this trade is even on the radar.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 20, 2006

Congratulations to the Miami Heat on winning the NBA Championship and to the Dallas Mavericks on a great regular and postseason. Last night's Game 6 may be the swan song for two Miami players, Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton. Both players have had great careers and it would not surprise me, now that each has a ring, to call it a career. Dwyane Wade was named the Finals MVP, which is a sign of not only his strong play in carrying the team, but also the shift in Shaquille O'Neal's status from "dominant force" to "supporting star". Shaq has obviously slowed down quite a bit; he did not take over any games in the Finals as he has done previously.

The Chicago White Sox scored 20 runs in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The question on everyone's mind is, "What is wrong with Mark Mulder?"

Major League Baseball announced that, again, the league that wins the All-Star Game gets home field advantage in the World Series. I guess the powers that be are still convinced this is a good idea.

The NBA Draft is in one week. I still believe that Andrea Bargnani should be the number one pick, but it is very tough to tell. There has not been this much chaos this close to the draft in many years. Rumors of trades are rampant, and there may be a few that actually take place. With no superstar power in this draft, some trades to shake things up would be welcome. Please look back before draft day, as I will post a mock draft and some other predictions.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The Writers Chat: Roger Clemens returns to the Astros

Session Start: Tue Jun 20 21:41:07 2006

Josh: So Clemens finally starts on Thursday. Personally, I am glad to see him back, but I would have loved to see him come back to Boston.

Joe: I think his return is good for the game, but I am thrilled he is not back with the Red Sox.

Josh: The idea of him returning, coming full circle, and finishing his Hall of Fame career where it started did not appeal to you?

Joe: As a die-hard Sox fan, I have no interest in seeing him return. The day he left for the Blue Jays, I never wanted to see him wear a Sox jersey again.

Joe: Honestly, if he was going to return, I feel the best place for him would be back with his hometown Houston Astros, instead of leaving another group of fans upset with him.

Josh: Fair enough. Do you agree though that he is a top five pitcher of all time, if not higher?

Joe: As long as you only count games with no pressure.

Josh: You make a good point. His adjusted ERA is eighth all-time, but he is only a .500 pitcher in the postseason.

Josh: Do you think he can bring Houston to the postseason again?

Joe: If the Astros were in the American League, I would say no, but with the National League so watered down. But when you combine him with a real ace in Roy Oswalt, I can see them grabbing the wild card.

Josh: How many games do you think he can win, assuming 20 starts?

Joe: Well, he only won 13 last year, so I think 8 would be a great season for him.

Josh: I say he has to win at least 12. That would be $1 million per win.

Joe: Glad you brought up the money part, that is another reason I am glad the Red Sox did not waste money on him. It is a ridiculous amount of money for half a season.

Josh: That is why he had better win at least 12. If not, that is going to hurt.

Summary of the Day: June 19, 2006

Carolina held off the Edmonton Oilers and won the Stanley Cup last night. Congratulations to both teams on a great run throughout the playoffs, especially Edmonton, an eight seed who came within 60 minutes of hockey immortality. The fans in both cities deserve recognition also, especially the fans of the Hurricanes. Fans in Raleigh were terrific, rooting for their team while standing for the whole Game 7 according to the television announcers. Hockey and North Carolina do not seem to go hand in hand, but the Hurricane faithful would argue otherwise.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 548th home run last night, tying Mike Schmidt for 11th place on the all-time home run list. While cause to celebrate, this is also an unfortunate reminder. Those who have watched Griffey his entire career expected this moment to happen years ago, but injuries unfortunately slowed his pursuit. Without the injuries, we might have seen Griffey approaching 700 home runs and a spot in the top four of the all-time list rather than still knocking down the door of the top ten. Though Griffey is still a sure Hall of Famer, his injuries deprived him, and baseball fans, of something that could have been very special.

The 20th anniversary of the death of University of Maryland forward Len Bias was yesterday. As Joe mentioned in his blog entry last week, his death was the beginning of a downward spiral for the Boston Celtics, the team that had just won a championship yet still had the second pick in the NBA Draft which they used to select Bias. Bias was on the road to superstardom. The Celtics were excited to have him bridge the gap between the Bird era and the next run of championships. Mike Krzyzewski mentioned him in the same breath as Michael Jordan. Unfortunately, an overdose of cocaine two days after the draft kept him from ever playing in the NBA. His mother has been on a crusade since his death to educate young people about the risks of drug use, and from what I have read has had tremendous success. As tough as her loss was, she is not letting his death be in vain.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Summary of the Weekend: June 17-18, 2006

Edmonton dominated on Saturday night to beat Carolina and tie up the Stanley Cup Finals with Game 7 slated for Monday in Raleigh. After their respective performances, it would not be a stretch to see Edmonton, despite being the road team and the more inferior team during the regular season, favored to win.

Miami kept the home teams undefeated in the NBA Finals, beating Dallas to go up three games to two. Two of Miami's wins have been very close, the last one in overtime, so they have hardly got the series wrapped up. Dallas is definitely feeling pressure, and a blowout win for the Mavericks in Game 6 would not surprise me.

Ricky Williams gained 97 yards on 18 carries for the Toronto Argonauts in the Argos' season opener, a 27-17 win for Toronto. 72 of his yards came in the fourth quarter. It was a very impressive performance, and it is only just the beginning.

Phil Mickelson had his first U.S. Open title in his grasp with one hole to go, but a double bogey cost him. It appears that rather than play conservatively with a one stroke lead going into the 18th hole, he attempted to go out with a bang. That bang was replaced with a whimper right off the tee. No longer without a major title on his resume, I think perhaps Lefty might have gotten a bit cocky, or perhaps even attempted to have a Tiger moment, and tried to put on a show rather than just play the hole. He is not Tiger Woods; Tiger does not put on a show, he just is a show.

The NBA Draft is a week and a half away, and yesterday was the final day for college and international players to withdraw from the draft. As always, there are some surprise names remaining in the draft, probably more than in past years. However, with the strong class expected to be eligible next year, lead by rising freshman Greg Oden of Ohio State, this is the year to take a chance. Despite the belief that this draft is one of the weakest in memory, and it may be in terms of star power, the draft does appear to have a significant amount of depth.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 16, 2006

Tiger Woods missed a cut at one of the four majors for the first time as a professional today. I am guessing he thought he was ready to play mentally (following the death of his father) and assumed that would help him overcome not being physically ready (out of practice). I am guessing he was not ready on either count. He should take a little more time off and maybe spend some time on the course with his thoughts. Given some more time, I would not be surprised to see him come back with a vengeance.

The Miami Heat have matched the Dallas Mavericks at two wins a piece in the NBA FInals. While Game 3 was a squeaker, Game 4 was a blow out (Dallas had only seven fourth quarter points). Now a best-of-three series, I expect Miami to win Game 5 (due the one game suspension of Jerry Stackhouse), before Dallas sends the series to a seventh game with a win in Game 6. It has become a much better series than the first two games would have indicated.

Another day, another DUI charge. This time, it is Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect B.J. Upton. This is the second major incident involving a prospect from, in my opinion, one of the most promising young teams in baseball (the first being Delmon Young's bat toss). I still do not understand why these guys think they can get away with stupidity like this.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Summary of the Day: June 15, 2006

In a new feature, either Joe or I will summarize some of the important sports stories of the day. At the same time, we will provide our own perspective on each of the stories. Please feel free to point out stories we miss that you might think are important.

And now, some stories from the day:

Ben Roethlisberger issued an apology to his team, his family and his fans today. In his statement, he promised to begin wearing a helmet when riding his motorcycle. While his actions before today are questionable, I am glad he has accepted responsibility and has assumed the role of an example of what not to do. Thank you Ben for acting like a role model in the wake of your accident. Good luck with your recovery.

The Edmonton Oliers managed to win on the road to narrow the Carolina Hurricanes' in the Stanley Cup Finals to three games to two. The Oilers were already the underdog, having entered the playoffs as an eight-seed, before winning only one of the first four games. Personally, I have a problem rooting for a hickey team based in a city below the Mason-Dixon Line, so I have been rooting for Edmonton. Carolina has played very well, and if they win they will have earned it. I would love to see the series get to a seventh game in Raleigh.

Michael Jordan is now part owner and managing member of basketball operations of the Charlotte Bobcats. After an unspectacular tenure at the helm of the Washington Wizards, Jordan gets to run a team in his backyard. The agreement gives his Airness a share of other businesses run by Bobcats owner, Bob Johnson. It should be interesting to see how two very strong willed businessmen work together and whether Jordan can rid himself of the bad taste in his mouth left after his divorce from the Wizards.

State of the Boston Celtics

If this article had been written 20 years ago, it would start with something like this:
“The Boston Celtics have just won their unprecedented 16th National Basketball Association Championship. They have defeated the Houston Rockets with a dominating performance in a six game series. In last thirty years, the Celtics have won over half of all NBA championships. This is the franchise that has retired 16 numbers in honor of their legends, legends such as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek and Larry Bird who have lead this team to plateaus unmatched in basketball history. Only the New York Yankees and Montreal Canadiens can come close to rivaling the Celtics' success.”

Growing up in the 1980’s watching Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale dominate the league was a dream come true for a young basketball fan. The Celtics’ clashes versus the Lakers are what transformed me into the basketball fanatic that I am today. The Boys in Green had reached the point where anything less then winning the title would be considered a disappointing season. Being only nine years old at the time of the 1986 Finals, I assumed this domination would be an annual ritual. However, the string of greatness had reached the end of its path. Now, 20 years later, we have seen just one conference finals appearance and no team that even closely resembles a championship caliber one since that last champagne bath. The question is, “What happened to our Boston Celtics?”

In my opinion, the end of the dynasty began with the death of former Maryland star Len Bias, the young man who was supposed to eventually take the reins from Larry Legend. The Celtics were fortunate to have the second overall pick in the 1986 Draft, via trade, coming off a championship season. Bias was viewed as a young, talented addition to an already powerful team. Bias was expected to contribute right away, but his untimely death contributed to a depleted bench which put unnecessary strain on the bodies of our tremendous starters. When you combine this tragedy with the rise in power of the Bad Boys in Detroit and the Michael Jordan-lead Bulls, the Celts were in serious trouble. A few years later, with injuries becoming too overwhelming, the Celtics captain called his career to an end. This is the point where Len Bias would have really helped the franchise; he could have taken over the captaincy following Bird’s departure. Instead, the Celtics leadership was turned over to another young but talented forward from Northeastern University. Reggie Lewis was fast becoming one of the most prolific scores in the league. “Maybe the Celtics could overcome the earlier tragedy” was the thought that crossed the mind of the fans. Instead, a second devastating event hit the C’s; in the summer of 1993 Lewis, after previously collapsing on the court during a playoff game, collapsed and died of a heart ailment.

In the 13 years following his death, the Celtics have had nothing but disappointments on and off the court. They have dealt with poor coaching, misguided management or just lousy players. A few years ago, Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce lead the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, but anyone who knows the game of basketball knew the team was playing over their heads; there was very little chance of banner number 17 being raised.

This takes us to today, 20 years after the last title with a franchise that did not even make the playoffs in a pathetic Eastern Conference. Finally, however, the skies seem to have brightened for the Celtics; they actually have the look of a team on the rise. The team has a solid mix of young players such as Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Delonte West and Kendrick Perkins. When you combine these kids with Paul Pierce and the seventh pick in this year’s draft, this team actually has the feel of potential winner again. After 20 years, all I can say is, “It’s about time.”

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Young players these days...

In the last two days, two highly prominent young athletes have made very questionable decisions and made headlines because of it. Whether it is ego getting in the way of sound decision making or just plain ignorance, you have to wonder what goes through the minds of these players and others like them.

Yesterday, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steeler and the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. According to reports, Roethlisberger collided with a car coming in the opposite direction that was taking a turn. Roethlisberger was thrown into the windshield then onto the ground. He suffered a broken jaw and nose, and laceration on the back of his head, lost or chipped teeth and other injuries, apparently minor, to his knees. He underwent surgery and is now in serious but stable condition. Roethlisberger was not wearing a helmet while riding.

Last night on Sportscenter, ESPN re-aired a nearly year old interview with Roethlisberger in which he explained why he does not wear a helmet while riding. He noted that the state of Pennsylvania does not require him to wear one. In response to advice he received on whether to wear a helmet, he talked about how he does not consider himself a risk-taker and he is always careful.

Less than 24 hours after Roethlisberger's accident, J.J. Redick was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. The former Duke basketball player and all-time leading scorer in the Atlantic Coast Conference is in the process of working out and interviewing with teams that may select him in the NBA Draft on June 28. Most mock drafts have him being selected in the late lottery, some as high as the eighth pick. In his workouts, Redick has been trying to put to rest the assumptions made about him, specifically that he is only a shooter/scorer, but slow on defense and not a great passer.

The charge of DWI will not help his case, but how much it will hurt is not clear. It may be overlooked considering he has been considered a model student-athlete. The only cost could be a slightly tarnished reputation. However, his draft stock may take a hit, which would hurt both his reputation and his wallet. Dropping from the eighth pick to the 14th pick could cost as much as $500,000.

Both Roethlisberger and Redick are in situations where they have a lot of attention at a very young age. They are some of the best in their respective sports. To jeopardize that in any way, to me, seems ludicrous. Anyone can get in a motorcycle accident or have a few drinks to relax, but to not wear a helmet or drive a car after those few drinks is irresponsible. Hopefully, both players will realize the folly of their ways and accept that they are in position to be role models. Maybe, someday, a child will survive a bicycle accident because he heard about Ben Roethlisberger's accident and how after it, he always wore a helmet. Maybe, someday, some guys playing pickup basketball will go out for drinks afterward, but pick a designated driver because they remember J.J. Redick, and know it could have been a lot worse.

All else aside, I wish Ben Roethlisberger nothing but the best in his recovery, and hope to see him on the field as soon as possible.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Changing of The Guard in Fenway

Just two short years ago, the Boston Red Sox won a World Series with a starting rotation featuring just one starter under the age of thirty. The talk throughout the league was that the Sox pitching staff was reaching the end of its line and the future was extremely cloudy. There was Pedro Martinez and his shoulder, Derek Lowe and his psyche problems, Curt Schilling and his ankle and a host of other problems.

How quickly the times have changed. The Boston pitching staff has gone from one of the oldest in the league to quite possibly the best rotation for the near future. After letting Pedro and Lowe leave as free agents, trading pitcher/musician Bronson Arroyo and losing the always out of shape David Wells to numerous injuries, the Sox are now undergoing a youth revival. Former Marlin ace Josh Beckett, now 26, was acquired this past off-season, David Pauley was brought up from Double-A to replace Wells to throw a gem in Yankee Stadium in his second major league start, and the phenom otherwise known as Jonathan Papelbon was made the closer and his 0.30 ERA and 20 saves show how he is shutting down American league batters. If that were not enough, today, June 10th, we are going to watch highly regarded lefty Jon Lester make his much anticipated Fenway Park debut versus the Texas Rangers. Lester has been the prize target of teams trying to acquire young pitching talent; a lefty who throws in the mid-90’s is such a rarity in baseball. I, for one, am looking forward to watching these kids challenge American League hitters for years to come.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Finally...The NBA Finals

It is the Miami Heat against the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Championship. This series has the potential to be one of the better battles in recent memory. A lot has been made of the various storylines that surround this matchup. However, to me, the biggest storyline is the impact the outcome will have on the legacies of many of the central figures. For example:

- Pat Riley is trying to end an eighteen year championship drought to win his fifth title as a head coach. While not considered the greatest coach of all-time, adding a championship would move him that much closer to the top.

- Shaquille O'Neal has three championships and three Playoff Most Valuable Player awards. A win in this series though would be his first without Kobe Bryant as his teammate. Already considered one of the top centers in history, and the top center by some, Shaq could silence the doubters and enhance his reputation as the most dominant player of his era.

- Dirk Nowitzki, at this point in his career, should be considered the best internationally born and trained NBA player ever. He would also be the first player whose training came entirely outside the United States to lead an NBA Championship team. Dirk Nowitzki is to the internationalization of the NBA what Kevin Garnett was for the youth movement - pioneers of a new era.

- Dwyane Wade is considered one of the top two players from the highly regarded 2003 NBA Draft and one of the top players in the League. However, only one player from that draft has an NBA Championship ring (Darko Milicic). In the race to be the best player in the League (and from that tremendous draft class), a championship would be a significant addition to Wade's resume.

A close seven game series would be ideal in my mind. If one team will win the series in five games or less, it would be Dallas. I am not sure I have a preference on a winner, but I do have a prediction... Dallas wins in six games.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

College Basketball at Its Best

In what can only be called a controversial decision, both in timing and merit, the NBA has finally installed an age restriction. After years of watching high school kids skip college by the half-dozen for the dream of millions of dollars, the League has finally put an end to the madness. I, for one, could not be more excited; I love college basketball and the entire mystique that comes with it.

The typical college season brings nearly six months of incredible excitement, and the final month is arguably the greatest three weeks of the year for a sports fan. March Madness allows us to watch a mid-major like George Mason knock off a highly ranked, underachieving team like Connecticut or the super athletes of an underdog like Louisiana State taking down a team everyone loves to hate, like, the Blue Devils of Duke. You may also see a defending champion like perennial power UCLA lose to a team full of walk-ons from Princeton. Every year brings new Cinderellas and disappointing Goliaths; no other sport produces this kind of excitement. Thanks to the NBA’s age limit, the upcoming 2006-2007 season will see the best class of high school players in years take bring amazing talents to the college hardwood. The lineups that North Carolina, Kansas, Florida and Ohio State will put on the court could rival the best four lineups of any season in college basketball history.

Here’s hoping all these young men realize how great a time college can be, and they decide to give us a few years of buzzer beaters and heartbreakers. Give me the Cameron Crazies, cheers of Rock Chalk JayHawk and Rick Pitino’s boys with their 40 minutes of full court press over the NBA any day.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Ricky Williams' Crazy Ride

Ricky Williams, the man for whom Mike Ditka once traded an entire draft, has now taken his game up to the Canadian Football League. Williams came into the NFL after a prestigious college career, which included winning the 1998 Heisman Trophy, for the University of Texas. However, for a player with unlimited talents, his professional career has been nothing short of controversial. First, the highly scrutinized trade that brought him to the Saints was just the start of this bizarre professional career. Never before had a team relinquished all of its draft picks for one player. Williams then hired rapper Master P to broker his first contract, a highly incentive-laden contract that quickly became a joke throughout the NFL. After spending his first three years in New Orleans, where Ricky had what many would consider solid but unspectacular seasons, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins. In Miami, his career finally took off; during his first two full seasons Ricky ran for over 3,200 yards while averaging more the 4 yards per carry.

However, trouble once again found the talented but peculiar star. In what could only be considered a bizarre decision, Ricky decided to end his NFL career. His reasons for retirement varied from a lack of love of football to his displeasure with the NFL’s drug policy. Following a one year hiatus from football, Williams came back to the Dolphins for the 2005 season, but not without serving a four game drug related suspension. His season started off extremely slowly, but by the end of the year he was back in what seemed to be top form. Williams averaged 4.4 yards per carry, which was the second highest total of his career.

Now at the age of 28, Williams has been suspended from the NFL for one full season after failing his fourth drug test. Instead of taking a second season off from football, Ricky has decided to take his talents to the Canadian Football League. Starting this Sunday, he will be wearing the uniform of the Toronto Argonauts. This is the franchise that once captivated the league with the exciting Doug Flutie running the show. How is this new adventure going to turnout? The only guarantee is that, with Ricky involved, it will be interesting.