Alright, lots to weigh in on. My fantasy team is kicking ass. The US soccer team fell short. The English soccer team stunk up the joint. Pedro Alvarez: Not as good as advertised. Stephen Strasburg: As good or better than advertised. My career: in the toilet. The Penguins: getting more defense. My trade of Brian McCann for Josh Hamilton: brilliant.
I am so tired of Stephen Strasburg, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. Lets take them individually. I get it. Strasburg is the best pitching prospect since Nolan Ryan, maybe ever. I get it. He's really good. Do I really need a pitch break down on the Bottom Line on ESPN? No. I don't. I can't imagine anyone who does. Aside from scouts but its there job to know this stuff, but regular people? I think not.
Lebron would be silly to sign anywhere other than NY or Chicago. That is where the money is, right? LBJ want to become a 'Global Icon', why not let chicago promote your image without the pressure of the NYC media.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Its Official: The Steelers are the Bengals
Ben Roethlisberger is a lucky guy. He's young, famous and rich. And drunk. And a pervert (allegedly). And an idiot. I support the heck out of the guy on the field, and I can even defend riding a motorcycle without a helmet and partying with coeds in his first few seasons with the Steelers. But when you sign a contract worth $102 million, you must be responsible.
Rent a restaurant if you really want to go out drinking and invite as many prostitutes as you want. Pay for it! You have the cash! You don't have to worry about getting caught with a Denny's waitress like Le Tigre. Or a Nazi-sympathetic "model" like Jesse James. Or Madonna, like A-Rod. Its just disappointing to finally have a franchise QB (the first since Terry Bradshaw) who 28 other teams would love to have, only to have him turn out to be an a-hole and self-centered jerk off the field (in spite of the charity work Ben does). We Steeler fans like to think that the Rooneys hold their employees to a higher standard, though that is not necessarily true.
James Harrison, Domestic Abuse. Cedric Wilson, Domestic Abuse. Santonio Holmes, multiple offenses including drug possission, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and the latest flap of assault in an Orlando, you guessed it, nightclub. Plaxico Burress, possession of a firearm without a license (he's just an idiot and deserved to shoot himself in the leg). Jeff Reed, public drunkeness and property damage. Justin Strzelczyk, hit and run (dies in a fiery crash with police in pursuit). Najeh Davenport, Domestic Abuse (and breaking and entering to deficate in a girlfriends hamper while in college at Florida State).
This is just a short list. There are many examples of criminal behavior on the banks of the Three Rivers from the 1970's and 1980's as well as many allegations of rampant steroid use during the Super Bowl years. I really wasn't alive then so I thinkt hat someone else should concern themselves with that. I don't want the Steelers to cut Ben, and I think most Steeler fans would agree with me. If this case goes to trial though, it has to be the third strike (motorcycle accident derailed an entire season, and sexual assault charges in Reno in the summer of 2009 being strikes #1 and #2). Cut him and go with Dennis Dixon for a year, see how he does and then draft or trade accordingly. A collective fanbase's patience is running thin with Ben, unfortunately in spite of recent heroics that shows just how good he really is.
Fantasy Update
Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball - Sandlot 2010
The Sandlot waiver wire has been ablaze in the week since the draft. Back on a Boat (inspired by The Greatest Rap Song Ever Written, 'I'm on a Boat' by The Lonely Island) has been involved in two trades, swapping Cubs SS Ryan Theriot, a 25th round selection, for Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew with the Evil Empire. Then, The Boat traded slugger Mark Reynolds for Kevin Youkilis, the Greek God of Walks.
The roster as it currently stands:
Bats: Brian McCann, Adrian Gonzalez, Jose Lopez, Elvis Andrus, Kevin Youkilis, Jayson Werth, BJ Upton, Adam Lind, Julio Borbo, Adam Jones, Geovany Soto, Chris Davis and Stephen Drew
Arms: Matt Cain, Cliff Lee, Tim Hudson, Clay Buchholz, Jorge De La Rosa, Brandon Webb, Randy Wolf (who will be dropped, I lost my internet connection on this pick), Carlos Marmol, Ryan Franklin, Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch and Brandon League.
Back on a Boat, in a position to be on top. Thats what she said.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Well, That Stunk
Last year was a much happier time for us Pitt fans.
Xavier 71, Pitt 68. Gibbs and Wanamaker both miss threes as time expires. So much for a wasted #3 seed.
The Fifth annual Sandlot Fantasy Baseball league draft also stunk for me. Every player I really wanted went before I could take them. Overall, the roster looks solid and I am expecting to compete again this season.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
I Need to Talk About Sports
Its round two of the NCAA Tournament and I am at home bouncing upsets (#1 Kansas to be be specific) off of my wife, who doesn't know the difference between Cole Aldrich and Cole Ortiz (Fred Prinze Jr in day 8 of '24'), to get her opinion. This just doesn't seem right. I need an outlet, basically. I won't do live updates or breaking news, its basically just a public journal to help me interact with my old friends and new friends about not only Pittsburgh sports related topics, but the broader view of the sports landscape. I love the running journal so that may pop up from time to time. I encourage comment as well. So, to start with, lets get the formalities out of the way.
I was born and bred on the banks of the Three Rivers (Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio, for those uneducated) in Pittsburgh, PA. Naturally, my allegiances lie with the Stillers, the Pens, the Panthers and in a distant fourth in 2010, the Buccos. The 1993 NHL playoffs, the 1995, 1997, and 2001 AFC championship games, the 2009 Elite 8, and the 1992 NLCS were six of the most painful memories of my life. My teams were favored in every one of these games, yet they all came up short. It happens, we try to move on, but as much as I admonish Eagle fans for taking a loss hard, I too can remember like it was yesterday, little-used Francisco Cordova shooting a single through the infield and 77-year-old Sid Bream "racing" home to win the game for the Braves in October 1992, or as I like to call it, the end of the Pittsburgh Pirates. So maybe I am able to compartmentalize more than most, but I try not to let it affect me day to day.
A couple of important points about my thoughts on the landscape of sport and other relevant topics: I respect athletes but don't idolize them. I stopped that when I turned 30. I don't live in my parents basement. I do love the Steelers, Pens, Pitt Panthers and Pirates, but I am also a fan of the Indiana Pacers. Reggie Miller is my favorite basketball player of all time and the reason I wore #31 when I played high school basketball back in the 90s for the Hopewell Vikings.
Lebron James is hype. He will never win a title without a dominant center, and anyone who says he (or Kobe for that matter) holds a candle to MJ is crazy. That being said, I don't watch the NBA on a regular basis. Its glorified streetball, and I cannot be convinced otherwise.
I love the NCAA Tournament. The first weekend is basketball at its best and purest. I can only compare it to watching one of my teams compete in the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup Finals or the Final Four (notice I left out the World Series). I don't understand the play-in game aside from more exposure to the tournament, but really, its not like it needs more exposure. I mean I was able to watch the Pitt game on Friday on my desktop at work.
Teams I cannot under any circumstances stomach (in no particular order): the Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Flyers, any team that Allen Iverson/Terrell Owens/Chad Johnson/Tim Tebow/Ray Lewis plays for. (Hey, a two-fer with Ray Lewis!) Blackhawk High School athletic teams (any sport), Moon High School athletic teams (any sport), Aliquippa High School athletic teams (any sport), Duke basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers, any team that is representing Boston or New England, WVU Mountaineers (any sport), the Detroit Red Wings, the Atlanta Braves, the Denver Brocos, the Oakland Raiders, my friend Ben's fantasy baseball team, my friend Mike's fantasy football team(s) (only because I can never beat them).
I don't care that Tiger Woods cheated on his wife. At least he is interesting now. Tiger is possibly the richest athlete ever, who traveled 90% of the time to faraway lands in search of buried treasure and golfing trophies. Really, she expected something else? My only surprise was that he picked up a Denny's waitress. Nothing against Denny's waitresses of course. I am just waiting for the tell-all book.
I don't care for Peter King or Don Banks. My favorite bands/musicians are Stephen Lynch, Flight of the Conchords, the Beastie Boys, Guns N Roses, and Lady Gaga. American Idol is good for one thing: making money for Fox. I love Seinfeld, The Office, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, but after I saw all 53 episodes of Arrested Development, I can't see how any show could be as funny as that one is. I am eagerly anticipating the movie in 2011.
Lastly, the inspiration for the title of this little experiment is Section E18 at the Civic Arena, now known of course as Mellon Arena, home of the Stanley Cup champion Penguins. For years, when #66 Lemieux was playing and Jaromir Jagr was in tow, my dad took me to games at the Igloo and we sat in section E18, in the mezzanine, behind and to the right of one of the goals. These are some great memories for me, so I wanted to pay tribute to that. Anyway, on with the fun.
Tomorrow: Pitt Panthers vs. Xavier Musketeers, 4:50 EST. Will not be watching this live so don't text. And at 7 pm, the Sandlot conducts its 5th annual fantasy baseball draft. Updates a coming.
I was born and bred on the banks of the Three Rivers (Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio, for those uneducated) in Pittsburgh, PA. Naturally, my allegiances lie with the Stillers, the Pens, the Panthers and in a distant fourth in 2010, the Buccos. The 1993 NHL playoffs, the 1995, 1997, and 2001 AFC championship games, the 2009 Elite 8, and the 1992 NLCS were six of the most painful memories of my life. My teams were favored in every one of these games, yet they all came up short. It happens, we try to move on, but as much as I admonish Eagle fans for taking a loss hard, I too can remember like it was yesterday, little-used Francisco Cordova shooting a single through the infield and 77-year-old Sid Bream "racing" home to win the game for the Braves in October 1992, or as I like to call it, the end of the Pittsburgh Pirates. So maybe I am able to compartmentalize more than most, but I try not to let it affect me day to day.
A couple of important points about my thoughts on the landscape of sport and other relevant topics: I respect athletes but don't idolize them. I stopped that when I turned 30. I don't live in my parents basement. I do love the Steelers, Pens, Pitt Panthers and Pirates, but I am also a fan of the Indiana Pacers. Reggie Miller is my favorite basketball player of all time and the reason I wore #31 when I played high school basketball back in the 90s for the Hopewell Vikings.
Lebron James is hype. He will never win a title without a dominant center, and anyone who says he (or Kobe for that matter) holds a candle to MJ is crazy. That being said, I don't watch the NBA on a regular basis. Its glorified streetball, and I cannot be convinced otherwise.
I love the NCAA Tournament. The first weekend is basketball at its best and purest. I can only compare it to watching one of my teams compete in the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup Finals or the Final Four (notice I left out the World Series). I don't understand the play-in game aside from more exposure to the tournament, but really, its not like it needs more exposure. I mean I was able to watch the Pitt game on Friday on my desktop at work.
Teams I cannot under any circumstances stomach (in no particular order): the Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Flyers, any team that Allen Iverson/Terrell Owens/Chad Johnson/Tim Tebow/Ray Lewis plays for. (Hey, a two-fer with Ray Lewis!) Blackhawk High School athletic teams (any sport), Moon High School athletic teams (any sport), Aliquippa High School athletic teams (any sport), Duke basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers, any team that is representing Boston or New England, WVU Mountaineers (any sport), the Detroit Red Wings, the Atlanta Braves, the Denver Brocos, the Oakland Raiders, my friend Ben's fantasy baseball team, my friend Mike's fantasy football team(s) (only because I can never beat them).
I don't care that Tiger Woods cheated on his wife. At least he is interesting now. Tiger is possibly the richest athlete ever, who traveled 90% of the time to faraway lands in search of buried treasure and golfing trophies. Really, she expected something else? My only surprise was that he picked up a Denny's waitress. Nothing against Denny's waitresses of course. I am just waiting for the tell-all book.
I don't care for Peter King or Don Banks. My favorite bands/musicians are Stephen Lynch, Flight of the Conchords, the Beastie Boys, Guns N Roses, and Lady Gaga. American Idol is good for one thing: making money for Fox. I love Seinfeld, The Office, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, but after I saw all 53 episodes of Arrested Development, I can't see how any show could be as funny as that one is. I am eagerly anticipating the movie in 2011.
Lastly, the inspiration for the title of this little experiment is Section E18 at the Civic Arena, now known of course as Mellon Arena, home of the Stanley Cup champion Penguins. For years, when #66 Lemieux was playing and Jaromir Jagr was in tow, my dad took me to games at the Igloo and we sat in section E18, in the mezzanine, behind and to the right of one of the goals. These are some great memories for me, so I wanted to pay tribute to that. Anyway, on with the fun.
Tomorrow: Pitt Panthers vs. Xavier Musketeers, 4:50 EST. Will not be watching this live so don't text. And at 7 pm, the Sandlot conducts its 5th annual fantasy baseball draft. Updates a coming.
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