Amazing? Try Average or Annoying

Since we're on the topic of annoying announcer homerism with the Steve Holman uproar, may I suggest watching the beginning of the Marlins-Cubs day game on FSN Florida, and hearing Rich Waltz say "The Amazing Alfredo Amezaga is in the lineup again."

The amaaaaaazing Amezaga. You mean the guy who's batting 250 with 2 RBIs and a wait for it, wait for it, 639 OPS this year? Amaaaaaaazing alright!

I'm scared to ask what happens if the Amaaaaazing Amezaga's OPS climbs above 700?? Guess he becomes the best multi-position player since Pete Rose.

Get Off the Ledge Heat Fans....

I picked the Heat to beat Atlanta in 6 games, before losing to Cleveland in 6 games at the start of the playoffs. Well, another prediction gone wrong, at least the first part of it.

So in danger of jinxing the Heat again, I'll offer this prediction: The World won't be watching LeBron James Sunday. They'll be watching Heat-Hawks Game 7.

Heat fans take note, because I've gotten too many calls from people asking "So this series is over, right?"

1. Miami is at home- The Heat were 28-13 at home, 15-26 on the road in the regular season. And all the factors that ignite a team at home, rub off this team any more.

2. Dwyane Wade is getting healthier- Watching GM 5, to me, DWade's back spasms were not as much of a factor as he probably thought they were. Hence why he was playing very tentative in the 1st half, and much more aggressive as the game went on. And he should also be more of a factor on defense, an area non-existent for the Heat in GM 5.

3. Guess who's not healthy?- Besides Luther Head and the Moon-man.....sorry this is a pro-Heat blog. Al Horford has been ruled out of tonight's game. And Marvin Williams is still out. That leaves the Hawks, a depth-challenged team to begin with, boasting a lineup of Bibby, Johnson, Smith, Evans, and Solomon Jones with Flip Murray and Zaza Pachulia coming off the bench. Frightening.

4. The Heat will kick Atlanta's ass physically- I've read plenty of voices, including some I respect tremendously, say that it would be unwise for Miami to try and send a message to Josh Smith. Sorry still not buying it. Look, they don't need to start the 2009 version of the Brawl at the Palace. But there can still be a major benefit to a message-sending hard/flagrant foul. The crowd will go nuts. The Hawks, an extremely soft team, will become tentative. And not that I'm endorsing intentional injuries, but if it happens, then its minus three Atlanta starters. And worse comes to worse, the Heat can win a Game 7 without Jamaal Magloire if that's what it boils down to.

So you're telling me that in a series where both teams are very evenly matched, that I shouldn't be picking Miami to win in a backs against the wall scenario, when they are at home, with a healthier playing against a Hawks team without two starters? Not going there.

Miami 101, Atlanta 93.

-As for Hawks old-school announcer Steve Holman, the most vilified person in Miami since Fidel Castro, calling the Heat "street thugs" and Erik Spoelstra "Little Spoesltra" is a little much. But as he said on Dan LeBatard's show yesterday(hear the interview HERE), it's his shtick. Basically, he's a wanna-be Johnny Most who did the same thing and never took hear for years in Boston. So I'm not as outraged as the rest of Heat Nation. But he isn't exactly painting an accurate picture of the basketball game for those who can't see it.

-Picture is courtesy of Sun-Sentinel.com.

Video: Pyramid is Back?

So while tuned into Dan Patrick's radio show today(on my former station-the one that has more balls than anybody), DP says in the middle of the show the producers of the new "Pyramid" game show contacted him about possibly hosting it.

Which I guess validates this article. Which is a great thing!

As somebody who fondly remembers the USA early 90's game show block, Dick Clark was the pyramid guy and the game show host. Not the American Bandstand or New Year's Rockin Eve guy.

So here's hoping that new Pyramid turns out like this:



And not like this:



What other classic game shows are need of a good remake? And notice I said good cause there's plenty of turdish ones.

Video: NBA on NBC Will Never Be The Same!

File this one in the Oldies But Goodies Section since this video circulated around the blogs a few months ago.



But since we've been elsewhere for the last year, we'll be catching up on a few things.



Such as John Tesh rocking out.....on the old school answering machine. And then with the 25-piece band.



DA DA DA DA DA DA DAAA DA DAAA

Video: Another Great Celtics Playoff Series

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."

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.