The thoughts of a serious sports fan.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Eastern Conference Playoffs and the Dirty Heat
Dear NBA and the Miami Heat,
We the fans, with the exception of some Miami bandwagoners, want this to stop. Pittman needs to sit out the rest of the playoffs and part of the next season without pay. What he did was assault and pure thuggery not basketball. Udonis Haslem needs to spend the rest of the series on the bench as well. You cannot retaliate. Hansbrough's foul though hard was clearly unintentional. He was actually going for the ball. This isn't the mafia. You (I'm talking to you Lebron and Wade) can't call a hit out on someone because you feel slighted.
NBA, your refs needs to do the job they're supposed to do and not the one that you tell them to. Their job is to make honest and unbiased calls to ensure the safety of both player and fan and maintain the integrity of the game. Their job is not to call fouls as the TV ratings dictate. Is an Miami/Boston Eastern Conference Finals a lot sexier and a lot more lucrative than an Indiana/Boston ECF? Of course, but it does not matter. You need to suspend both of them and you should have suspended Dwayne Wade for this little gem. You will lose fans this way. Do fans watch for the stars? of course, but we also watch for the competition and definitely not for this.
Okay, I'll stop. I don't want to, but I will. Watching that type of "basketball" just pisses me off. I hope the Pacers let Lebron and Wade know that kind of crap is unacceptable if the NBA doesn't have the stones to.
The unfortunate nature of fouls like that is that it completely detracts from some fantastic basketball. I should be talking about two Eastern Conference semi-finals that are 3-2, not the pathetic acts of a few. Unfortunately after watching Monday night's Boston/Philly beat down and Tuesday night's Miami/Indiana whipping (with a bit of assistance from the refs) these series seem all but done. I still think that Indiana has a better chance than Philly to actually force this to a game 7 if they actually play their game (passing it to Hibbert) and let Miami know they're not going to be pushed around. Mmm... a good hard foul on Wade would make me happy. Sorry, but yeah Philly looks cooked. Not that Brandon Bass is going to light them up again, Ray Allen is going to shoot so terribly either. Neither the talent not the experience is there. Tonight should send the Celtics easily to the ECF.
The Miami/Indiana series has the potential to keep going it all just depends on who shows up tonight: the
jump shooting/ soft Indiana jokes or the pound it inside Indiana Eastern Conference contenders. I hope it is the contenders. I would love to see Miami get pounded and force this to 7 games. As for a prediction, I can't say I have to high of hopes for the Pacers after all, they are still the Pacers. Who is the leader on that team? Granger? If he is he is the wrong type of leader. he loves to shoot jump shots and that's not what they need to beat the Heat unless they catch lightning in a bottle. So I would assume the Heat finish the Pacers off Thursday even if it is begrudgingly. Come on Pacers!
As for the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston/Miami should be pretty crazy. Though, I am not a fan of KG (Kevin Garnett [He talks too much trash and is too dirty for my liking]) it's nice to know that if Miami's thugs decide to "get big" against the Celtics KG will let them know that it's not happening. I actually hope KG does talk some trash specifically aimed at "choking" Lebron and Juwan Howard (I would hope for Dexter Pittman because that would be even more entertaining, but he had better be suspended) comes to talk to him about it. That would be quality television. We'll look more into this if it actually happens.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Too long... and the NBA playoffs
I mean this title in two different ways. It has been too long since I have posted and honestly I realized that my previous posts (for the most part) were too long and took me too long to write and that is why I stopped writing. I love sports vehemently. I watch it, live it, breath it, but that doesn't mean I have to write 5k+ words each time I post. So I am going to post more frequently with less words. Well, enough of that.
Gimme some NBA playoffs!
Well, first on a side note (that will hopefully better explain my playoffs break down) that might let you a little more into my head (if you care) on how I view sports. I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but for the most part in sports I adore players not teams (with a few exceptions - the Braves and Duke Basketball and even then with Duke it is primarily because of Coach K that I initially liked them). I don't really have many criteria of what makes me like a player or not like them and I am sure it is fluid from player to player. One that almost always grabs my attention and adoration is greatness - who doesn't like Jordan? From what I can tell he seems like a jerk, but he's the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time). There are few sins that would knock him from my list of players I like. Hard work is another. Grittiness is one more. I love to watch a player play through all obstacles - pain, exhaustion, mental anguish. To exceed when the odds are stacked against us is one of the things that makes humanity great and it is rarely better personified than in sports.
That is one reason I find it increasingly difficult to hate Kobe. I mean I want to. He is a Laker. They are essentially the New York Yankees (which I hate with a passion) of the NBA: the stuck up, overpaid objectification of a spoiled whiny society (Los Angeles). Seeing all the stars at the Lakers games only makes it worse. But the way Kobe plays through broken fingers, hobbled knees, and basically any sickness I almost want to get his jersey. Lebron is the opposite. Watching Lebron only manages to amplify all of my negative feelings towards him. He has everything going for him unrivaled athleticism and ridiculous talent, but no heart. When Deshawn Stevenson of the Pacers did the choke gesture for Lebron I honestly had no problem with it. I don't care if he is a back up player who never plays. HE WAS RIGHT. Lebron only chokes. He only passes the ball away. He's made clutch shots before, but none that really matter. The most anti-clutch thing he has ever done is sign with the Miami Heat so he would no longer have to be "the man" on his team. He could let Dwayne Wade be that. Weak. MJ would never do it. Kobe would never do it.
That is why it was a pleasure to watch the Pacers dismantle the Heat this past weekend. Wade and Lebron scored 70+ in a game and the game was still really really close the entire game. On the off chance they get through the Pacers and even get to the NBA Finals the Heat will get embarrassed by either the Thunder or the Spurs (most likely the Spurs). The East has no chance.
Speaking of the Thunder and the Spurs, I love how after sweeping through the first two rounds of the playoffs the Spurs are just now getting some love from ESPN. If any large market team (say the Heat) was on an 18 game winning streak with 8 straight wins in the playoffs it would be the only story on ESPN. They would have called up the NBA and have them engrave the NBA Championship Trophy so they could take pictures of it. The Spurs? Finally get an article saying that they are half decent and have a decent chance of winning the championship.
The Thunder are great example of a team I want to like (Durant [Greatness], they are small market [underdog], James Harden [fun to watch], but struggle to because of Westbrook and Perkins. Westbrook is a "point guard". There is a difference between a point guard and a "point guard". Chris Paul is a point guard. He passes first and scores to make the offense open up more. It is a lot easier to get your teammates open when your defender has to take you seriously. Westbrook is a "point guard". He gets the title in the box score but on the floor he shoots first and passes only to get himself more open on later possessions. Never and I mean never, unless Durant is not playing or plays a quarter of the minutes Westbrook plays should Westbrook take more shots than Durant. Durant is on the cusp of greatness. Arguably the best scorer in the NBA and one of the best the NBA has seen, yet Westbrook who is billed as a "point guard" frequently does. It is painful to watch. Kendrick Perkins - he just seems like a jerk. He works hard, which I respect, but when all you do is scowl and complain it hard to want you to succeed. One last complaint and this goes for the Clippers. Blake... stop. Stop complaining. I want to like you. I love your high flying game. You are fun to watch, but don't milk fouls. Don't complain to refs when you get fouled. YOU CLIMB ON TOP OF PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T CALL IT! If they called every foul you committed your game would not be nearly as fun or effective. So, just stop.
Anyway, Thunder - San An will be a good series (yes, the Lakers are done most likely tonight). ESPN's constant underselling of the Spurs will catch up with them. The Thunder should put up a good fight and I doubt a sweep, but the Spurs should pull it out in 6. Their depth and experience is impressive. This is the best Spurs team I have ever seen and that includes all the previous championship teams. They are my pick to win it all. We'll have an East wrap up later this week.
Gimme some NBA playoffs!
Well, first on a side note (that will hopefully better explain my playoffs break down) that might let you a little more into my head (if you care) on how I view sports. I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but for the most part in sports I adore players not teams (with a few exceptions - the Braves and Duke Basketball and even then with Duke it is primarily because of Coach K that I initially liked them). I don't really have many criteria of what makes me like a player or not like them and I am sure it is fluid from player to player. One that almost always grabs my attention and adoration is greatness - who doesn't like Jordan? From what I can tell he seems like a jerk, but he's the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time). There are few sins that would knock him from my list of players I like. Hard work is another. Grittiness is one more. I love to watch a player play through all obstacles - pain, exhaustion, mental anguish. To exceed when the odds are stacked against us is one of the things that makes humanity great and it is rarely better personified than in sports.
That is one reason I find it increasingly difficult to hate Kobe. I mean I want to. He is a Laker. They are essentially the New York Yankees (which I hate with a passion) of the NBA: the stuck up, overpaid objectification of a spoiled whiny society (Los Angeles). Seeing all the stars at the Lakers games only makes it worse. But the way Kobe plays through broken fingers, hobbled knees, and basically any sickness I almost want to get his jersey. Lebron is the opposite. Watching Lebron only manages to amplify all of my negative feelings towards him. He has everything going for him unrivaled athleticism and ridiculous talent, but no heart. When Deshawn Stevenson of the Pacers did the choke gesture for Lebron I honestly had no problem with it. I don't care if he is a back up player who never plays. HE WAS RIGHT. Lebron only chokes. He only passes the ball away. He's made clutch shots before, but none that really matter. The most anti-clutch thing he has ever done is sign with the Miami Heat so he would no longer have to be "the man" on his team. He could let Dwayne Wade be that. Weak. MJ would never do it. Kobe would never do it.
That is why it was a pleasure to watch the Pacers dismantle the Heat this past weekend. Wade and Lebron scored 70+ in a game and the game was still really really close the entire game. On the off chance they get through the Pacers and even get to the NBA Finals the Heat will get embarrassed by either the Thunder or the Spurs (most likely the Spurs). The East has no chance.
Speaking of the Thunder and the Spurs, I love how after sweeping through the first two rounds of the playoffs the Spurs are just now getting some love from ESPN. If any large market team (say the Heat) was on an 18 game winning streak with 8 straight wins in the playoffs it would be the only story on ESPN. They would have called up the NBA and have them engrave the NBA Championship Trophy so they could take pictures of it. The Spurs? Finally get an article saying that they are half decent and have a decent chance of winning the championship.
The Thunder are great example of a team I want to like (Durant [Greatness], they are small market [underdog], James Harden [fun to watch], but struggle to because of Westbrook and Perkins. Westbrook is a "point guard". There is a difference between a point guard and a "point guard". Chris Paul is a point guard. He passes first and scores to make the offense open up more. It is a lot easier to get your teammates open when your defender has to take you seriously. Westbrook is a "point guard". He gets the title in the box score but on the floor he shoots first and passes only to get himself more open on later possessions. Never and I mean never, unless Durant is not playing or plays a quarter of the minutes Westbrook plays should Westbrook take more shots than Durant. Durant is on the cusp of greatness. Arguably the best scorer in the NBA and one of the best the NBA has seen, yet Westbrook who is billed as a "point guard" frequently does. It is painful to watch. Kendrick Perkins - he just seems like a jerk. He works hard, which I respect, but when all you do is scowl and complain it hard to want you to succeed. One last complaint and this goes for the Clippers. Blake... stop. Stop complaining. I want to like you. I love your high flying game. You are fun to watch, but don't milk fouls. Don't complain to refs when you get fouled. YOU CLIMB ON TOP OF PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T CALL IT! If they called every foul you committed your game would not be nearly as fun or effective. So, just stop.
Anyway, Thunder - San An will be a good series (yes, the Lakers are done most likely tonight). ESPN's constant underselling of the Spurs will catch up with them. The Thunder should put up a good fight and I doubt a sweep, but the Spurs should pull it out in 6. Their depth and experience is impressive. This is the best Spurs team I have ever seen and that includes all the previous championship teams. They are my pick to win it all. We'll have an East wrap up later this week.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Where is the ball?
Where Is The Ball? - The most popular videos are here
I know it's been a while but... this is an once in an ever video kind of like the Randy Johnson bird ball video
I know it's been a while but... this is an once in an ever video kind of like the Randy Johnson bird ball video
Monday, July 25, 2011
A splendid drunk fan tackle
Now that the NFL had finished its petty squabbles I think it's time they try out this security guard out for a team:
I'd pay to see him drill wide receivers and QBs like that... especially if he wore his security uniform.
I'd pay to see him drill wide receivers and QBs like that... especially if he wore his security uniform.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Quality Lebron Burn
I know it has been a while but I just found this little gem today and had to share it.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
World of Sports (WOS) 6/20-6/26/2011
Four Major Sports
They saw a total of 2 Drafts (NBA and NHL if we can consider it a "major sport"), 90 games (MLB), and a bunch of assuredly boring but optimistic labor talks (NFL) (There might actually be a season! Actually I am feeling more and more confident that there will be).
In case you missed either of the two drafts here are the run downs of the top ten of each:
NBA Draft Round 1 Picks 1-10
full rundown of the 2011 NBA Draft
NHL Draft Round 1 Picks 1-10
"The Cycle" - A brief summary of this past week in Major league Baseball
Despite a good week of baseball upon which I will soon elaborate the biggest and most disappointing news of the week has to be the injury to St. Louis Cardinal's first baseman Albert Pujols. Right when Pujols was starting to get heated up his wrist gets fractured and he goes on the 15-day Disabled List. The Cardinal's went on to win their game Monday night against the Kansas City Royals, but it is a major blow both the Cardinal's and baseball as Pujols still remains baseball's most dangerous hitter.
However, amongst Major League Baseball's innumerable games fans were privileged to see some spectacular performances by two of its rising young pitchers.
Justin Verlander (10-3, 2.38 ERA, 124 Ks) of the Detroit Tigers may have produced the most dominant performance of the week in his 8 innings work this past Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks with no earned runs and 14 Ks, but for the week overall he was outdone by James Shields (8-4, 2,29 ERA, 117 Ks) of the Tampa Bay Rays. Shields shut down both the Florida Marlins (6/19) and the Houston Astros (6/24) this past week for two complete games allowing a total only 7 hits and 1 earned run over 18 innings of work.Well done sir.
This Week's Golden Bat Award: J. J. Hardy of the Baltimore Orioles who batted .444 on week with 3 home runs, 6 runs batted in, and 7 runs scored.
Top Five Records of the Week 6/20-6/26/2011:
Atlanta Braves 5-1
Tampa Bay Rays 5-1
Los Angeles Angels 5-1
San Fransisco Giants 4-2
New York Yankees 4-2
Meanwhile in Sports (while America was most likely not watching)
The soccer world was a buzz as the conclusion of multiple male tournaments came to pass and the biggest women's tournament was on the cusp of beginning.
The Gold Cup (North American National Team Tournament) - The United States managed this week to beat Panama on Wednesday and then lose miserably to Mexico in the Gold Cup Final on Saturday. The U.S. has looked all out of sorts the entire tournament with uninspired match after uninspired match. The first time they played Panama on the 11th of June it cost them to the tune of a 2-1 loss. This week, however, they were able to avenge their loss with a 1-0 win thanks in large part to Landon Donovan and the sudden emergence of the U.S.'s star of the future of 8 years ago Freddy Adu. Their inspired play carried on for the next 22' of their match against Mexico as they scored two goals to go up 2-0, but quickly petered out as Mexico stormed back for four goals starting in the 29' for a 4-2 victory. Though the loss of a tournament is always painful it is the seemingly growing distance between the U.S. and Mexico which has to be more painful. Mexico appears to have a plethora of young buddings stars while the U.S. has a dearth. The U.S. can perhaps take some solace in Adu sudden improvement for at the age of 22 there seems to still be time for him to become the savior he was thought to be.
Copa Santander Libertadores de América (South American Club Team Tournament) - In a spirited match FC Santos defeated C.A. Peñarol 2-1 and things did end with a bang as brawl ensued after the final whistle. The Fight can be viewed on YouTube.
U.S. Track and Field Championships - Walter Dix emerged as America's favorite to challenge Jamaica's Usain Bolt by winning both the 100m and 200m, but his 100m time was still .76 off of Bolt's record, which is a lot of time in in the 100m dash. The women's field remained more convoluted with Carmelita Jeter taking the 100m and Shalonda Solomon winning the 200m.
College World Series - The field narrowed to two, Florida and South Carolina, for an all SEC finals. USC won a 3-2 13 inning epic against Virginia to advance while Florida defeated Vanderbilt 6-4 in 9.
Nascar - After quite a struggle, including a radio rant, Kurt Busch got his first win of the season with a 4s win over Jeff Gordon.
Wimbledon (Tennis) - The first three rounds came to a conclusion with most of the top players still standing. The only notables to fall were Andy Roddick (8) in straight sets to Feliciano Lopez (6-7, 6-7, 4-6) and Na Li of China (6-3, 4-6, 6-8)
NOT SPORTS (My favorite non-sport related things of the week)
True Grit - Jeff Bridges and unknown 14 year girl (Hailee Steinfeld), wow! If you haven't seen it and are a fan of awesomeness see it.
Cat says what? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP3gzee1cps I'm still not convinced this is real.
Feel good flash-mob of the year - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOyTNtsWyY I am not sure what language this is in, but you still get the idea.
If I missed anything or you have any thoughts, comments, or questions leave them in the comment box below or e-mail me at shannon.samuelc@gmail.com
They saw a total of 2 Drafts (NBA and NHL if we can consider it a "major sport"), 90 games (MLB), and a bunch of assuredly boring but optimistic labor talks (NFL) (There might actually be a season! Actually I am feeling more and more confident that there will be).
In case you missed either of the two drafts here are the run downs of the top ten of each:
NBA Draft Round 1 Picks 1-10
full rundown of the 2011 NBA Draft
NHL Draft Round 1 Picks 1-10
| Pick # | Name | Pos. | Team | Former Team |
| 1 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | Edmonton Oilers | Red Deer |
| 2 | Gabriel Landeskog | LW | Colorado Avalanche | Kitchener |
| 3 | Jonathan Huberdeau | C | Florida Panthers | Saint John |
| 4 | Adam Larsson | D | New Jersey Devils | Skelleftea |
| 5 | Ryan Strome | C | New York Islanders | Niagara |
| 6 | Mika Zibanejad | C | Ottawa Senators | Djurgarden Jr. |
| 7 | Mark Scheifele | C | Winnipeg | -- |
| 8 | Sean Couturier | C | Philadelphia Flyers | Drummondville |
| 9 | Dougie Hamilton | D | Boston Bruins | Niagara |
| 10 | Jonas Brodin | D | Minnesota Wild | Farjestad |
"The Cycle" - A brief summary of this past week in Major league Baseball
Despite a good week of baseball upon which I will soon elaborate the biggest and most disappointing news of the week has to be the injury to St. Louis Cardinal's first baseman Albert Pujols. Right when Pujols was starting to get heated up his wrist gets fractured and he goes on the 15-day Disabled List. The Cardinal's went on to win their game Monday night against the Kansas City Royals, but it is a major blow both the Cardinal's and baseball as Pujols still remains baseball's most dangerous hitter.
However, amongst Major League Baseball's innumerable games fans were privileged to see some spectacular performances by two of its rising young pitchers.
Justin Verlander (10-3, 2.38 ERA, 124 Ks) of the Detroit Tigers may have produced the most dominant performance of the week in his 8 innings work this past Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks with no earned runs and 14 Ks, but for the week overall he was outdone by James Shields (8-4, 2,29 ERA, 117 Ks) of the Tampa Bay Rays. Shields shut down both the Florida Marlins (6/19) and the Houston Astros (6/24) this past week for two complete games allowing a total only 7 hits and 1 earned run over 18 innings of work.Well done sir.
This Week's Golden Bat Award: J. J. Hardy of the Baltimore Orioles who batted .444 on week with 3 home runs, 6 runs batted in, and 7 runs scored.
Top Five Records of the Week 6/20-6/26/2011:
Atlanta Braves 5-1
Tampa Bay Rays 5-1
Los Angeles Angels 5-1
San Fransisco Giants 4-2
New York Yankees 4-2
Meanwhile in Sports (while America was most likely not watching)
The soccer world was a buzz as the conclusion of multiple male tournaments came to pass and the biggest women's tournament was on the cusp of beginning.
The Gold Cup (North American National Team Tournament) - The United States managed this week to beat Panama on Wednesday and then lose miserably to Mexico in the Gold Cup Final on Saturday. The U.S. has looked all out of sorts the entire tournament with uninspired match after uninspired match. The first time they played Panama on the 11th of June it cost them to the tune of a 2-1 loss. This week, however, they were able to avenge their loss with a 1-0 win thanks in large part to Landon Donovan and the sudden emergence of the U.S.'s star of the future of 8 years ago Freddy Adu. Their inspired play carried on for the next 22' of their match against Mexico as they scored two goals to go up 2-0, but quickly petered out as Mexico stormed back for four goals starting in the 29' for a 4-2 victory. Though the loss of a tournament is always painful it is the seemingly growing distance between the U.S. and Mexico which has to be more painful. Mexico appears to have a plethora of young buddings stars while the U.S. has a dearth. The U.S. can perhaps take some solace in Adu sudden improvement for at the age of 22 there seems to still be time for him to become the savior he was thought to be.
Copa Santander Libertadores de América (South American Club Team Tournament) - In a spirited match FC Santos defeated C.A. Peñarol 2-1 and things did end with a bang as brawl ensued after the final whistle. The Fight can be viewed on YouTube.
U.S. Track and Field Championships - Walter Dix emerged as America's favorite to challenge Jamaica's Usain Bolt by winning both the 100m and 200m, but his 100m time was still .76 off of Bolt's record, which is a lot of time in in the 100m dash. The women's field remained more convoluted with Carmelita Jeter taking the 100m and Shalonda Solomon winning the 200m.
College World Series - The field narrowed to two, Florida and South Carolina, for an all SEC finals. USC won a 3-2 13 inning epic against Virginia to advance while Florida defeated Vanderbilt 6-4 in 9.
Nascar - After quite a struggle, including a radio rant, Kurt Busch got his first win of the season with a 4s win over Jeff Gordon.
Wimbledon (Tennis) - The first three rounds came to a conclusion with most of the top players still standing. The only notables to fall were Andy Roddick (8) in straight sets to Feliciano Lopez (6-7, 6-7, 4-6) and Na Li of China (6-3, 4-6, 6-8)
NOT SPORTS (My favorite non-sport related things of the week)
True Grit - Jeff Bridges and unknown 14 year girl (Hailee Steinfeld), wow! If you haven't seen it and are a fan of awesomeness see it.
Cat says what? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP3gzee1cps I'm still not convinced this is real.
Feel good flash-mob of the year - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOyTNtsWyY I am not sure what language this is in, but you still get the idea.
If I missed anything or you have any thoughts, comments, or questions leave them in the comment box below or e-mail me at shannon.samuelc@gmail.com
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