Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Getting Older
As many sports gamers are prone to do, I have always used the create-a-player feature to add myself (and occasionally friends) to my favorite teams. Led by the newly fabricated players, my teams have won Stanley Cups, Lombardi Trophies, and Larry O'Brien Trophies. Lately, however, I have found myself adding my son to the games instead. I guess that is a sign of getting older when you no longer can consider it feasible to add yourself as a freshman shooting guard who pushes the Terps to a national title. I know, all too well, my limitations when I struggle to create my shot against the other 30-somethings at the gym, but my son's potential is limitless. In the past year, he has pitched his team to Omaha for the College World Series, and led them to the Final Four in Atlanta. I, of course, couldn't be prouder. My 3-D version of my son though, has different thoughts. After the Final Four run, he announced his intention to transfer to rival Virginia. What is the matter with these kids these days?!
Fantasy Trades
So, I recently discovered the "Trade Machine" on ESPN.com. With this fabulous invention, I was just able to acquire Kevin Garnett for the Wizards by only giving up Antawn Jamison and Etan Thomas. I hate to see either of them go, but Etan and Brendan Todd can't play nice and Antawn for K.G. is a no brainer. This may hurt team chemistry and there will undoubtedly be a rough initial stretch as team leadership is sorted out, but we should all expect a trip to the NBA Finals this spring. Making things extraordinarily convenient is that the T'Wolves are in town this evening to play the Wizards, so Garnett need only to take a short walk over to the home team's locker room to try on his new uni. Welcome to DC, K.G.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Sim-ple-mind-ed
Just a few words as I rail against one of my top sports pet peeves...
As I was watching the end of Maryland's much needed win over the previously unbeaten Clemson Tigers today, I hear the Comcast Center's fans chanting "o-ver-rat-ed". I just want to make sure I am clear on the message here... The team the Terps were about to beat were not as good as everyone thought they were because Maryland could beat them? And furthering that logic, Maryland's victory should be devalued because Clemson just isn't that good? Got it. Good chant.
As I was watching the end of Maryland's much needed win over the previously unbeaten Clemson Tigers today, I hear the Comcast Center's fans chanting "o-ver-rat-ed". I just want to make sure I am clear on the message here... The team the Terps were about to beat were not as good as everyone thought they were because Maryland could beat them? And furthering that logic, Maryland's victory should be devalued because Clemson just isn't that good? Got it. Good chant.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Congratulations Cal!
Though I am a few days late, I just wanted to take a moment and offer a congratulations to Cal Ripken Jr. on his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cal's amazing streak and career numbers are even more impressive now considering the revelations of the past few years regarding the widespread use of steroids during his playing career. It is fitting that he will enter the Hall with Tony Gwynn. Ripken and Gwynn are two players whose actions, both on and off the field, indicate they are eligible for induction into the Integrity and Character Hall of Fame as well.
I am still convinced, with all due respect to Brett Favre, that Cal's streak is the most impressive consecutive games streak in sports' history. It is true that the quarterback position takes lots of punishment in a high-contact sport. However, Cal often had about 20 hours to be ready for his next game, played at baseball's 2nd most physically demanding position. To put it in perspective, just think about how you feel the day after a pickup game as compared to how you feel a week later. Then think about how you'd feel after 160 games over 180 days.
I am still convinced, with all due respect to Brett Favre, that Cal's streak is the most impressive consecutive games streak in sports' history. It is true that the quarterback position takes lots of punishment in a high-contact sport. However, Cal often had about 20 hours to be ready for his next game, played at baseball's 2nd most physically demanding position. To put it in perspective, just think about how you feel the day after a pickup game as compared to how you feel a week later. Then think about how you'd feel after 160 games over 180 days.
Ravens v Colts
In response to a friend's blog post where the opinion is offered that "after this game...it's over. Baltimore has to stop playing the "you stole our team" card. Sure, Baltimore had to sit out for quite a while...but in the long-run, they got a better team... and a Superbowl Championship...that's more than Indy can say! So this game is the final time to play that card. After that...people can still be free to hate the colts...but have to let go of the "they were ours." Because the Ravens ARE yours. And they're better."
I have to respectfully disagree with the opinion that a Ravens' victory puts an end to the "you stole our team" card. The anger is directed toward the Irsays, not Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. The Ravens' recent success has been great for the city of Baltimore, but the wounds of the past are still there.
I think the whole issue comes down to history. As a lifelong "homer", I was a Colts fan and am now a Ravens fan. It still pains me when I see the current commercial on NFL Network for the complete Colts history and see highlights of Johnny U to Lenny Moore spliced with highlights of Manning to Harrison. And I think the NFL Films people see the injustice of it all too. During the commercial, they always refer to it as the complete Colts history. Only at the end when they show you the DVD cover do you see that it is the "Indianapolis Colts" Complete History.
From a Ravens' fan perspective, I would feel uncomfortable if we were cheering our beloved Baltimore Browns on Saturday. I am glad Cleveland kept the name and the history. A Jim Brown ceremony in Baltimore would be a crime. I don't know how the people of Indianapolis feel about it, but I would think they would rather buy a Indianapolis Colts Complete History DVD that began with the story of their inaugural team, led by quarterback Mike Pagel (Arizona State class of '82).
I have to respectfully disagree with the opinion that a Ravens' victory puts an end to the "you stole our team" card. The anger is directed toward the Irsays, not Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. The Ravens' recent success has been great for the city of Baltimore, but the wounds of the past are still there.
I think the whole issue comes down to history. As a lifelong "homer", I was a Colts fan and am now a Ravens fan. It still pains me when I see the current commercial on NFL Network for the complete Colts history and see highlights of Johnny U to Lenny Moore spliced with highlights of Manning to Harrison. And I think the NFL Films people see the injustice of it all too. During the commercial, they always refer to it as the complete Colts history. Only at the end when they show you the DVD cover do you see that it is the "Indianapolis Colts" Complete History.
From a Ravens' fan perspective, I would feel uncomfortable if we were cheering our beloved Baltimore Browns on Saturday. I am glad Cleveland kept the name and the history. A Jim Brown ceremony in Baltimore would be a crime. I don't know how the people of Indianapolis feel about it, but I would think they would rather buy a Indianapolis Colts Complete History DVD that began with the story of their inaugural team, led by quarterback Mike Pagel (Arizona State class of '82).