While watching the Celtics-Bulls play 700 overtimes, this series reminds me a lot of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celitcs-Hawks.
AKA Bird vs. Nique
AKA Brent Musburger's "You are watching what greatness is all about."
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swine Flu Day 7.2
Let it be known that it's officially a Red State that takes Swine Flu Paranoia to a new level!!
From ESPN.com
Alabama officials have shut down all athletic events following the discovery of likely cases of swine flu in Huntsville.
"Right now, we are being advised by our Medical Advisory Committee to shut down all activities until further notice," said Steve Savarese, executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. "We hope to be able to resume activities by next Tuesday, but right now we must study the situation and take it one day at a time."
The move means the Alabama state track and field championships, scheduled for May 1-2, will be rescheduled. All other postseason activities scheduled through May 4 in sports including baseball, soccer, softball and golf are postponed until further notice.
"This is not something we want to do," Savarese said. "Right now, we want to be cautious."
On Tuesday, Texas officials postponed all public high school athletic and academic competitions on Wednesday until May 11 because of the swine flu outbreak.
School officials say 53,000 students are out of school due to concern over the virus, and dozens of schools were closed to be sanitized. With 16 confirmed cases of swine flu in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry announced a disaster declaration Wednesday for the entire state.
"This is a particularly contagious virus that is easily transmitted by contact," ESPN medical analyst Dr. Michael Kaplan said. "Any physical contact or inhalation/ingestion can infect another person. While most flu viruses are more virulent or dangerous for the very young and old debilitated individual, this strain seems most devastating to the young healthy adult."
SI is the new ESPN.....
Well, first we learned that Jay Cutler, and not Tom Brady is the best quarterback in football. Then we learned that Dwyane Wade is the best player in basketball(well that one is true).
Now this bit of premature ejaculation from the folks at the Illustrated...
Don't get me wrong, I love Zack Greinke's story, I love Zack Greinke's fastball, and I love Zack Greinke's production in the Freakin Fantasy Baseball League. But unless Johan Santana has become a Kansas City royal and turned in 57 for 23, Zack Greinke ain't the best pitcher in baseball.
Come to think of it, maybe I should be careful what I ask for.....
NOTE: If you want some tangible statistical evidence, Greinke's best full season, was last year, where he managed a 13-10 and a 3.47 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. Johan does that in his sleep.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Maybe Osama Bin Laden is Responsible for Swine Flu?
I don't mean to make light of the horrible swine flu epidemic going on now. But come on, is this not a little excessive? I'll trust that the Democrats won't treat this like their own Republic terrorist scare tactic.
And yes, this image is from a Mexico City airport. But CBS4, one of the local Miami stations, had video of Miami passengers walking around in oxygen masks. And as of 1 AM, there are no Florida cases of swine flu.
Heat-Hawks GM 5 Thoughts: Bringing a Hockey Mentality to Miami
Here's the bottom line from Atlanta's 106-91 victory over the Heat in Game 5:
More so than Dwyane Wade's 29 points through back spasms-which did not seem to be as severe as we all thought.
More so than the defense, going from GM 2-4 lockdown style back to its decrepit GM 1 style. Possibly even worse.
More so than the balance of the series, which is now obviously in Atlanta's favor, even though I fully expect the Heat to send it back to the ATL, and think they can pull off a GM 7 W.
The bottom line is the most ridiculous, despicable, classless, and childish thing I've seen in a longtime from an NBA playoff game: Josh Smith's between the legs dunk attempt. Yes in a playoff game.
It happened with the Hawks up 18 and 4:16 left. A errant D-Wade pass leads to a 3-0 Hawks break. The ball ends up in Josh Smith's hands. And although the respectful thing in that spot is a quick, non-flashy dunk, we all know respect is not in J-Smooth's vocabulary.
But apparently hot dog and flat out punk is. Smith attempts a between the legs, Isiah Rider like jam. Seriously. I'm not kidding. And the ball goes into the fifth row. Which would have been an embarrassing enough highlight if Atlanta's down 20 instead of up 20.
Sure, the Heat was plenty irate after the game, with Erik Spoelstra eluding to ATL trying to "embarrass" his team. But that's not good enough. Somebody needs to absolutely FLATTEN Josh Smith's punk-ass in Game 6. And by that somebody I mean the "Enforcer", the "Grande Gato", Jamaal Magloire.
Do it early in the game, on his first drive. It will fire up the Heat. It will absolutely embolden the AAA crowd. If they win, its setting a tone for Game 7. If they lose, its setting a tone for next year. And it just needs to happen, even if it leads to a suspension for Magloire. Some things just cannot be tolerated. Especially against a team ingrained in Pat Riley's culture.
More so than Dwyane Wade's 29 points through back spasms-which did not seem to be as severe as we all thought.
More so than the defense, going from GM 2-4 lockdown style back to its decrepit GM 1 style. Possibly even worse.
More so than the balance of the series, which is now obviously in Atlanta's favor, even though I fully expect the Heat to send it back to the ATL, and think they can pull off a GM 7 W.
The bottom line is the most ridiculous, despicable, classless, and childish thing I've seen in a longtime from an NBA playoff game: Josh Smith's between the legs dunk attempt. Yes in a playoff game.
It happened with the Hawks up 18 and 4:16 left. A errant D-Wade pass leads to a 3-0 Hawks break. The ball ends up in Josh Smith's hands. And although the respectful thing in that spot is a quick, non-flashy dunk, we all know respect is not in J-Smooth's vocabulary.
But apparently hot dog and flat out punk is. Smith attempts a between the legs, Isiah Rider like jam. Seriously. I'm not kidding. And the ball goes into the fifth row. Which would have been an embarrassing enough highlight if Atlanta's down 20 instead of up 20.
Sure, the Heat was plenty irate after the game, with Erik Spoelstra eluding to ATL trying to "embarrass" his team. But that's not good enough. Somebody needs to absolutely FLATTEN Josh Smith's punk-ass in Game 6. And by that somebody I mean the "Enforcer", the "Grande Gato", Jamaal Magloire.
Do it early in the game, on his first drive. It will fire up the Heat. It will absolutely embolden the AAA crowd. If they win, its setting a tone for Game 7. If they lose, its setting a tone for next year. And it just needs to happen, even if it leads to a suspension for Magloire. Some things just cannot be tolerated. Especially against a team ingrained in Pat Riley's culture.
This Team is Pathetic Part 106
Johan Santana seriously should ask to be traded. I know it's been one year, and five starts, but the most pathetically mediocre team in baseball doesn't deserve to have its starting rotation bolstered by the game's pitching god.
Because of my Heat/Clear Channel responsibilities, I haven't had an opportunity to be locked into baseball as much this first month or so. But you better believe I watched today's disaster with the Marlins.
I thought going into this year, warts and all, the Marlins were going to win the division. They have potentially the best 1-4 in baseball, a lineup that will mash 200 homers and a good-enough bullpen. The Phillies are the defending champs, but are no ones idea of a constantly elite team. The Braves upgraded, but don't have the big power hitter, or a good enough bullpen. And the Mets did what the Mets always do.
2007, the Mets participate in the worst collapse because their lacking a front-line starter, have a lousy bullpen, a terrible bottom of the order, plus a lack of leadership, fire, and players who can come through in the clutch. So what's the response? Throw 150 million dollars at the best pitcher in baseball, and expect him to also close/set-up, occupy the 6-9 spots, and be the one to bat in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs on October 1st.
2008, to say the Mets leave a mediocre manager but a great person(Willie Randolph) twisting in the wind would be the biggest understatement since saying Dwyane Wade is the entire Miami Heat. He gets let go in the most embarrassing job termination I've ever seen. Still, the Metropolitans start to surge under Jerry Manuel despite having a horrific bullpen, a lousy collection of 6-9 hitters, a lack of leadership, fire, and players who can come through in the clutch. Sure enough, they cough up a 3 1/2 game September lead and blow it AGAIN. At the hands of the Marlins AGAIN. What's the response? In any other corporation, the architect of the Titanic wouldn't get a chance to create the Exxon Valdez.
Except for the Flushing baseball club of course. They reward him with a four-year extension.
And Omar Minaya goes out and implodes the bullpen, but does nothing at second base, nothing at the corner outfield spots, nothing at catcher, nothing in shaking up the clubhouse, and leaves the clutch opportunities in the hands of non-clutch performers. Oh yeah, and amidst all of that, Johan Santana having the best pitching season I've seen from anyone since Pedro Martinez 1999. But because he has 15-8 to show for it instead of 23-4 on any other team, no Cy Young.
So what do we have for 2009? A 9-12 start. A lack of clutchness, fire, and consistent hits. A bullpen that's better but not completely fixed. Horrible pitching from inconsistent arms. And oh yeah, Johan Santana with a 1.10 ERA. 1.10, but is only 3-1 in 5 starts. Why? Because the lineup has managed all of 13 runs in his five starts. Seriously are you kidding me? Does this team do this on purpose? These questions have to go through Johan's head.
Now of course this team will rebound, take a division lead from June/July to the end of September, and then blow it again. And this time, Omar Minaya will fix the back of the order, while not touching the rest of the starting rotation, or lack of clubhouse leadership, or clutchness. So time to guess what will be the downfall in 2010?
Maybe it will be your superstar pitcher saying he doesn't want to be around the organization Joe Beningo once said was run like a "corner deli."
We're Back......
All good things must come to an end. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you probably will soon.
In the meantime, as they say, when one door closes, another opens. I don't think they meant to apply that to blogging, but it works here.
We're up and running again!
In the meantime, as they say, when one door closes, another opens. I don't think they meant to apply that to blogging, but it works here.
We're up and running again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
