NBA Loses First Two Weeks, and Why Fantasy Basketball Sucks

NBA Loses First Two Weeks, and Why Fantasy Basketball Sucks.

Time for Change

I appreciate everyone reading my blog….i will be moving to blogspot because it’s a little better

here’s the link:

http://bestsportsthoughts.blogspot.com/

ELECTION SEASON

Enough about sports, lets talk politics…..

I wonder what team Joe the Plumber likes?

I have to think that he Roots for the Steelers

Since its election season here is a poll-

An Interview With Hank Steinbrenner

I recently did not get an opportunity to interview Yankees boss Hank “the tank” Steinbrenner, but if I did i think this is how it would go.

Hi Hank, thanks for letting me interview you

-This better be worth my time, I’ve only got another day or two to come out with a ridiculous statement and I haven’t thought of one yet.

– I promise this will be worth it….the first thing I want to know are your thoughts on this past season

– Well if Bud Selig and those other nimrods in the MLB offices were smart, they would get rid of the divisions and just give the World Championship to the team with the highest payroll. They also need to get to this century and make everybody use a DH. They should know that our pitchers aren’t taught how to run the bases. When Bud is done, I hope that I am elected commissioner so I can right the wrongs.

-Ok Hank, good luck with that….what was your favorite part of this year?

-It had to be the All-Star game. It was nice to see all of those future Yankees on one field.

– You honestly think you are going to get all of the American and National League All-stars on one team?

– No, stupid, that’s impossible….The AL guys would be in the majors and the NL guys would start in the minors….maybe if they played baseball like it was this century they could get a shot…but until then, the only field they will see is the one in Scranton.

– You really are just like people say aren’t you?

– If they say smart, handsome, executive of the year, then yes I am

– Well this has been a waste of my time Hank…thanks for nothing

– If by waste of time you mean the best interview you’ve ever had…than your welcome

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON BABY!!

Now that baseball season is officially over for me (the Yanks are done) and I am done getting crazy about it,

I must turn to the gridiron for comfort. Here are my picks for the division and wildcard winners

AFC EAST- Buffalo Bills- THATS RIGHT BILLS FANS, THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR!!!! Tom Brady is hurt,

I know I wasn't the only one saying "yesss!!" when Mr. Brady got hurt

the Jets are the most overrated team in football (more on that later). The Bills have a revamped defense, one of the best running backs in the league and a very smart quarterback who is not named J.P Losman.

James Hardy will prove to be a key red zone threat and Lee Evans will show that he truly is a top-notch receiver.

AFC North- Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben and Co. have been there before and are in a weak division…nuff’ said.

AFC South- Indianapolis Colts- Yes, they are struggling. Yes, Bob Sanders is hurt, but Center Jeff Saturday will return soon and as long as Peyton Manning is under center, the Colts will take a weaker than expected AFC South.

AFC West- Denver Broncos- This will be not be a walk in the park. The Charges gave the Broncos a run for their money in week 2 and they will do the same for the rest of the year.

AFC Wild Card- Patriots and Chargers- The Patriots were never a one dimensional team and all they know is winning (other than the last Superbowl). Quarterback Matt Cassell does not have to put out a Brady-like effort in order for this team to succeed. The Chargers missed the Superbowl by one game last year. With an overall weak AFC, Phillip Rivers and L.T should be able to lead their team to the playoffs.

NFC East- Cowboys- They have an explosive offense and a pretty solid defense (other thanthat Monday against the Eagles) Don’t worry Giants fans I haven’t counted you guys out yet.

NFC North- Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers is playing like he has something to prove. Oh, wait, he does. He has shown (so far) that he is a smart quarterback with a lot of confidence. It helps that they are in a terrible division.

NFC South- Carolina Panthers- They are playing solid defense but they will face stiff competition from the Buccaneers. Their entire season rests on the arm and leadership of Jake Delhomme. If he gets injured, give the division to the Bucs.

NFC West- This division is barely worth writing about. The Matt Leinart-less Arizona Cardinals will roll with the division. I honestly don’t think they will lose a divisional game.

NFC Wild Card- Giants and Eagles- The Giants now know how to win and it may be ugly at times, but they will find a way to get into the playoffs. The Eagles have a high powered offense and a defense good enough to help them win games. Donovan McNabb looks even stronger and healthier than he did four years ago.

SUPERBOWL WINNERS

Here is my Gutsy (dumb) (wishfull thinking) (Chris Berman 49ers Bills) (you gotta believe) pick-

Bills defeat Packers 24-17

Here’s what will probably happen

Cowboys beat the Patriots 41-27

One more thing…..the New York Bretts are overrated….even if he is God’s gift to football

D’Antoni is all about the money

Mike D’ Antoni has officially signed with the Knicks for a 4 year 24 million dollar deal. I personally think he is nuts for taking the job and this proves that he is all about the money. If he wanted to contend for a championship he would have went to the Bulls who have a perfect team for the run and gun offense that he runs. I would have loved to see Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon in his system, but instead the world will now get to see Eddie Curry huff and puff his way down the floor and Nate Robinson try to pretend that he is Steve Nash. It ain’t gonna work and if the Knickerbockers win a championship in the next 5 years I will eat my own sock.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY….ON SECOND THOUGHT…STAY

The Yankees were rained out today but it may actually be a blessing in disguise.  The Yankees need a rest after playing some hard games against the Indians and the Tigers.  The big help is that the Bombers can now switch up the rotation they way they want it to be.  Pettitte is scheduled to pitch on Monday, with Chein Ming-Wang following him up on Tuesday against the Rays.  Mussina will most likely be after Wang.    The Mets are the next opponent and it looks like Darrell Rasner (who has been pitching outstanding baseball) will open up the series for the Yanks this Friday.  Look for my preview of the Subway Series later in the week.

THE TOP TEN BASEBALL MOVIES OF ALL TIME

The title says it all…here are my top ten baseball movies of all time.

#1 Bull Durham-

Great cast and even better characters (Nuke Laloosh, Crash Davis, Annie Savouy) Kevin Costner plays a Minor League catcher who is brought in to help an up and coming pitcher with a golden arm, but no brains. Always remember that baseball is a simple game; “You throw the ball, you hit the ball, and you catch the ball.”

#2 Major League

(1,two,and three put together even though three wasn’t that good) Again, great cast and great characters. The down and out team with an evil owner and some crazy players (Wild Thing, Cerrano, Willie Mays Hayes) is in the cellar and climbs out to win the pennant.

#3 The Sandlot-

Smalls, Benny The Jet Rodriguez, The Beast, The Great Bambi…I could go on and on

#4 A League of their Own-

Hands down the best line in baseball movie history is uttered by Tom Hanks: “Are you crying?…There’s no crying in baseball!” This movie does a great job of entertaining the audience while also showing a historical time in sports. I always hate it when Kit’s team wins in the end.

#5 The Natural-

“Pick me a Winner” Roy Hobbs is a mythical ball-player who comes out of nowhere to lead the New York Knights. Hobbs has a past that nobody knows, except for one sportswriter (Robert Duvall). Hobbs uses his lightning struck bat “Wonderboy” to shatter some lights in one of the best scenes in baseball movie history.

#6 Field of Dreams-

Kevin Costner builds it, and “he” comes. Along the way he meets some characters from baseball’s past and fights the foreclosure of his farm. If you didn’t cry when his dad shows up you have no heart. I even heard Kim Jong-iL cried when he saw it.

#7 Pride of the Yankees-

A timeless classic in which Gary Cooper portrays the life of Lou Gehrig. Cooper (who looks at lot like Gehrig) delivered a great performance that showed Gehrig on and off the field. Babe Ruth played himself.

#8- 61*-

Billy Crystal directed this great movie which everyone could enjoy. Barry Pepper (Roger Maris) and Thomas Jane (Mickey Mantle) look just like the men that they portray. This movie focuses on the summer of 1961 when Mantle and Maris chase the homerun record by Babe Ruth. This film does a great job of showing how Maris suffered under all of the pressure from the fans and the media.

#9-The Bad News Bears (the original with Walter Matthau)-

The worst team in the league with the drunkest manager of any Little League team anywhere. Matthau tries to recruit better ballplayers as he tries to turn the team around.

#10 The Scout-

Brendan Fraser players a young country kid who throws over a hundred miles an hour. He is found by a scout (Albert Brooks) who tries to control and help the young kid get to pitch in the Major Leagues. The last part of the movie is great with Fraser climbing to the roof of Yankee Stadium to try to get out of pitching the game.

Just missing the cut- Eight Men Out, For the Love of the Game, Cobb

One note: The documentary “Baseball” by Ken Burns isn’t on the list because it is so well made that it blows away anything on this list.

Write a comment, tell me your favorites.

JOBA AND HIS FIST PUMP

So more and more players have had it with Joba Chamberlain pumping his fist. I say to them-DEAL WITH IT!

Seriously, it is a joy to see players who react like that when they accomplish something. Plenty of pitchers and hitters have done it before so leave him alone. If you don’t like it, don’t strikeout. I’m talking to you David Dellucci. Good for you that you didn’t do anything when you hit the home run, thats your style. Manny stares at all of his hits because its his style. Every player reacts differently to the situations they are put in and should only be judged if they are actually physically hurting someone else; not if they are hurting another player’s feelings.

Joba is not crazy…these guys were crazy-

Turk Wendell-

The guy wore animal claws and teeth for a necklace. He also would crouch when the catcher stood up, slam the rosin bag down after an out, and also leap over the baseline when leaving the field. He was a great guy who spoke his mind. He became a fan favorite when he joined the Mets in the prime of his career.

John “off his” Rocker-

He would scream as he threw the pitch towards the plate. He would have been a raging lunatic even without taking steriods. He also spoke his mind but didn’t say stuff any New Yorker or any good minded person would want to hear.

Mark “The Bird” Fidych-

Probably one of the greatest characters of the 70’s. This guy would talk to the baseball before he threw it…it worked for a little while, he won the Rookie of the Year in 1976.

Wade Boggs-

Not really crazy, but arguably the most superstitious person to play the game. His most famous superstition was eating chicken before every game. He also woke up at the same time every single day and took exactly 150 ground balls in practice. He was even rumored to have drank over 50 beers on a cross-country flight once. Everything paid off with Boggs being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

My point is that everybody has a personality, whether it is leaping over the baseline (Wendell), screaming at batters (John Rocker), or eating chicken (Boggs). The many different personalities that baseball has seen have helped make it the great game that it is today. God Forbid we watch someone who actually looks like they are enjoying the game. Keep on pitching Joba, and remember to be yourself and…oh yeah…

Keep pumping those fists!

I Feel Stupid…and Man of the Year

So a few days after I say “if Cano doesn’t hit, Alberto Gonzalez is gonna take his job”, the Yankees made a move…..They sent down Gonzalez and reactivated Wilson Betemit who had been on the DL.

Since I was dumb, I wanted to write about some other dumb things in sports:

-Fans who only yell “you suck” to players…real original…get some better material…. study anything Red Sox fans do to Arod..remember those blond-haired masks and stripper poles last year?

-Red Sox Fans who yell at little kids wearing Yankees gear….sadly, it’s happened

-throwing a perfectly good hat on the ice when a player gets a hat-trick….my question is where do all those hats go?

-sticking with hockey….why throw a perfectly good squid onto the ice? (Detroit Red Wings fans…I’m talkin’ to you)

-QuestTech (baseball’s system that monitors umpires)- Seriously, let the umpires call the game without second guessing themselves

-curling- see my earlier post about the olympics

…………………………….

I would like to take this opportunity to nominate Ozzie Guillen for man of the year. His expletive- laced rant is something that writers dream about. If I read between the curses correctly, Guillen said that he is sick of being compared to the Cubs who haven’t won the World Series in a hundred years. God Bless a sports guy that isn’t afraid of being politically incorrect. Speaking of that…should I have even said “God Bless”? I’m waiting for an atheist to comment on my wall about it…. Either Hank Steinbrenner (who I will nominate soon) or Ozzie Guillen will win the Man of the Year award……You can count on that