This is bad news for US Soccer...
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=486362&cc=5901
Beasley's greatest asset is his speed, the guy is lightning quick down the left side. A knee injury like this not only affects him and the team in the short term, but he could possibly never be the same, and not have that first step that made him so dangerous even after the surgey and rehab.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3135091&name=chang_jen
Friday, November 30, 2007
Lucky me
It is always nice when you have the privledge of watching two of the best at something go up against eachother. Bird / Magic. LT / AP. You get the picture.
This past sunday, I had the honor, nay the privledge of watching the two best at being terrible Qbs that i have ever seen. Eli Manning vs. Tavarias Jackson. Now im not going to discuss Jackson, he is crappy and no one cares. But Eli? Now that is one of the all time train wreck games of a supposed franchise qb. And you know what? its time to pull the plug.
Its not that his stats are bad, they aren't generally, his qb rating is solid and at the end of the year you can look at his stats and convince yourself that he wasnt that bad. Dont worry though, he really is. The guy is not a winner in any sense of the word. ive heard that he is getting skewered in the media at NY for not getting emotional. ive heard that you cant ask a guy to change who he is. Thats a defense? Dont ask a QB of an NFL team to be emotional? that is who he is? seriously? seriouslar? I believe the QB is supposed to be a leader. Ive yet to meet a successful leader that wasnt emotional. That didnt wear everything on his sleeve when it came to the success of his team. Get rid of this guy now, he isnt winning a super bowl . . .ever. Thats the goal right, just one and done in the playoffs isnt the end game for the giants. At least it shouldnt be. Trade him now while he is young and you can trick the 9ers that he still has a future. Let fans of another town have to deal with him. There were throws last week that could have been called for intentional grounding if they werent intercepted first; he had no idea where his receivers were. And it wasnt like he was gambling / gunslinging a la Brett Favre for these picks. They were standard 8-10 yard routes over the middle. Absolutely terrible. How can an owner watch this guy and not think they need a new QB.
Get rid of him that is the only option.
quick thoughts.
A: I want the Red Sox to trade for Johan Santana.
B: I am ok giving up Ellsbury, Buckells, whomever. its friggin santana.
C: SANTANA!
D: The knicks are a joke.
E: GO SAINTS!
This past sunday, I had the honor, nay the privledge of watching the two best at being terrible Qbs that i have ever seen. Eli Manning vs. Tavarias Jackson. Now im not going to discuss Jackson, he is crappy and no one cares. But Eli? Now that is one of the all time train wreck games of a supposed franchise qb. And you know what? its time to pull the plug.
Its not that his stats are bad, they aren't generally, his qb rating is solid and at the end of the year you can look at his stats and convince yourself that he wasnt that bad. Dont worry though, he really is. The guy is not a winner in any sense of the word. ive heard that he is getting skewered in the media at NY for not getting emotional. ive heard that you cant ask a guy to change who he is. Thats a defense? Dont ask a QB of an NFL team to be emotional? that is who he is? seriously? seriouslar? I believe the QB is supposed to be a leader. Ive yet to meet a successful leader that wasnt emotional. That didnt wear everything on his sleeve when it came to the success of his team. Get rid of this guy now, he isnt winning a super bowl . . .ever. Thats the goal right, just one and done in the playoffs isnt the end game for the giants. At least it shouldnt be. Trade him now while he is young and you can trick the 9ers that he still has a future. Let fans of another town have to deal with him. There were throws last week that could have been called for intentional grounding if they werent intercepted first; he had no idea where his receivers were. And it wasnt like he was gambling / gunslinging a la Brett Favre for these picks. They were standard 8-10 yard routes over the middle. Absolutely terrible. How can an owner watch this guy and not think they need a new QB.
Get rid of him that is the only option.
quick thoughts.
A: I want the Red Sox to trade for Johan Santana.
B: I am ok giving up Ellsbury, Buckells, whomever. its friggin santana.
C: SANTANA!
D: The knicks are a joke.
E: GO SAINTS!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wait a Second...
After yesterdays Devil Rays-Twins trade, can someone explain to me why it is a foregone conclusion that the Twins should trade Johan Santana now? The Twins just traded a guy that projected to be in their starting rotation for a player who will be 22 years old on opening day and was as highly touted a prospect as any over the past 15 years. From my view the Twins have a chance to compete in the American League next year. Why not run with that?
The Twins can have a top of the rotation of Santana and Francisco Liriano. Now I know Liriano is still a question mark, but recovery from Tommy John surgery has become more and more common place in the game of baseball. A full recovery should be expected. Maybe not by opening day, but by midseason. After those two you have a trio of decent options in Kevin Slowley, Boof Bonser and Scott Baker. Not to mention the possible options of a cheap free agent/trade acquisition or minor league option. Not the greatest rotation in the world, but good enough where they felt they could trade from a strength.
As far as the line-up goes, you now have a middle of the order of Morneau, Mauer, Cuddyer and Young. I strongly believe that Delmon Young could put up bigger numbers next year than Torii Hunter gave them. Hunter, while great defensively and great in the clubhouse was never a top offensive performer. In addition, there are a lot of trade options out there for a center fielder. From the sounds of it, they may have an opportunity to get a guy like Coco Crisp, Tony Gwynn Jr. or David DeJesus. I am not making this team out to be the '27 Yankees or whatever but they could easily put together a line-up with more firepower than they have been used to in recent years.
Lastly, we always know how great the Twins bullpen and manager is. Gardenhire is probably the most underrated manager in all of baseball. I never hear his name amongst the top managers, but every time I see the Twins play they are playing harder than the other team. They are just a tough team, no matter who is injured and where they are in the standings. They go hard into second, they go first to third on a single, and they always find themselves in one run ballgames. There is no reason the this franchise should basically throw in the towel for this season by trading their best play and also the best pitcher in the game.
I know what people are thinking...if the Twins can't afford to pay Santana when he becomes a free agent, then doesn't it make sense to trade him and get a boatload of good young players? I understand that. What about this though? You go into the season with Santana and you make a run for a title. If at the trading deadline you think you are out of it then trade him to the highest bidder. I have trouble believing that you are not going to get top dollar for him then as opposed to now. Heck, you might even get more. Imagine the bidding war if the Red Sox and Yankees are within a game of each other at the time. Or if the Mets are two games behind the Braves. There will be hysteria unlike any trading deadline since Randy Johnson was traded to the Astros a few years back. Remember that the Mariners got both Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen in that deal. Not bad at all.
All I am saying is give your franchise and your fans a chance. This way you can still trade Santana if you think that is best, or you can potentially find yourself in the playoffs. There is no chance you can compete in the AL Central next year without Santana. It is just way too tough of a division. The one advantage you have on the rest of baseball is Santana. Don't get rid of him before giving your fanbase one more chance to win. I think that would go a long way to showing your dedication to the people of Minnesota and winning. Oh yeah, and remember the absolute worst case scenario of not making the playoffs and not trading Santana? Well, you still get two draft picks when he signs somewhere else. Not great, but it is something that would help you restock your farm system. You need your fans loyalty going into a new stadium in a couple of years (especially since it is outdoors...imagine those April games in frigid Minneapolis).
Knicks...
The NY Post said it last week and that is the Knicks are already looking at Chris Mullin to replace Isiah. I am going on record right now in saying that I support that pick 100%. Look at what he was able to do in Golden State. Traded peanuts for Baron Davis. Pulled off a steal in getting Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson for Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy. He also drafted Monta Ellisn(second rounder) and Andra Beidris. Probably most importantly, he was able to convince his owner to rehiring Don Nelson, who he had a major beef with in the past. Mullin has shown a lot of balls in making risky deals, and more often than not he has wound up on top. The Knicks are a major project, and I want a guy who knows not only the League, but the City as well. Mullin is a St. John's and New York legend. He would be around for a long time. You know what though? This just makes way too much sense for it to ever happen with the Knicks. Good article below....please read.
Lastly...look for me at the Knicks/Celtics game in Boston tonight. I will be the one with the orange and blue blindfold over my eyes.
http://nyobserver.com/2007/life-knicks-hell
STKAFI
The Twins can have a top of the rotation of Santana and Francisco Liriano. Now I know Liriano is still a question mark, but recovery from Tommy John surgery has become more and more common place in the game of baseball. A full recovery should be expected. Maybe not by opening day, but by midseason. After those two you have a trio of decent options in Kevin Slowley, Boof Bonser and Scott Baker. Not to mention the possible options of a cheap free agent/trade acquisition or minor league option. Not the greatest rotation in the world, but good enough where they felt they could trade from a strength.
As far as the line-up goes, you now have a middle of the order of Morneau, Mauer, Cuddyer and Young. I strongly believe that Delmon Young could put up bigger numbers next year than Torii Hunter gave them. Hunter, while great defensively and great in the clubhouse was never a top offensive performer. In addition, there are a lot of trade options out there for a center fielder. From the sounds of it, they may have an opportunity to get a guy like Coco Crisp, Tony Gwynn Jr. or David DeJesus. I am not making this team out to be the '27 Yankees or whatever but they could easily put together a line-up with more firepower than they have been used to in recent years.
Lastly, we always know how great the Twins bullpen and manager is. Gardenhire is probably the most underrated manager in all of baseball. I never hear his name amongst the top managers, but every time I see the Twins play they are playing harder than the other team. They are just a tough team, no matter who is injured and where they are in the standings. They go hard into second, they go first to third on a single, and they always find themselves in one run ballgames. There is no reason the this franchise should basically throw in the towel for this season by trading their best play and also the best pitcher in the game.
I know what people are thinking...if the Twins can't afford to pay Santana when he becomes a free agent, then doesn't it make sense to trade him and get a boatload of good young players? I understand that. What about this though? You go into the season with Santana and you make a run for a title. If at the trading deadline you think you are out of it then trade him to the highest bidder. I have trouble believing that you are not going to get top dollar for him then as opposed to now. Heck, you might even get more. Imagine the bidding war if the Red Sox and Yankees are within a game of each other at the time. Or if the Mets are two games behind the Braves. There will be hysteria unlike any trading deadline since Randy Johnson was traded to the Astros a few years back. Remember that the Mariners got both Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen in that deal. Not bad at all.
All I am saying is give your franchise and your fans a chance. This way you can still trade Santana if you think that is best, or you can potentially find yourself in the playoffs. There is no chance you can compete in the AL Central next year without Santana. It is just way too tough of a division. The one advantage you have on the rest of baseball is Santana. Don't get rid of him before giving your fanbase one more chance to win. I think that would go a long way to showing your dedication to the people of Minnesota and winning. Oh yeah, and remember the absolute worst case scenario of not making the playoffs and not trading Santana? Well, you still get two draft picks when he signs somewhere else. Not great, but it is something that would help you restock your farm system. You need your fans loyalty going into a new stadium in a couple of years (especially since it is outdoors...imagine those April games in frigid Minneapolis).
Knicks...
The NY Post said it last week and that is the Knicks are already looking at Chris Mullin to replace Isiah. I am going on record right now in saying that I support that pick 100%. Look at what he was able to do in Golden State. Traded peanuts for Baron Davis. Pulled off a steal in getting Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson for Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy. He also drafted Monta Ellisn(second rounder) and Andra Beidris. Probably most importantly, he was able to convince his owner to rehiring Don Nelson, who he had a major beef with in the past. Mullin has shown a lot of balls in making risky deals, and more often than not he has wound up on top. The Knicks are a major project, and I want a guy who knows not only the League, but the City as well. Mullin is a St. John's and New York legend. He would be around for a long time. You know what though? This just makes way too much sense for it to ever happen with the Knicks. Good article below....please read.
Lastly...look for me at the Knicks/Celtics game in Boston tonight. I will be the one with the orange and blue blindfold over my eyes.
http://nyobserver.com/2007/life-knicks-hell
STKAFI
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Couple Things...
First on the Celtics. Can we relax on the title talk? Who have they beaten so far? I know they look great, but can they at least get a chance to play a San Antonio, Dallas or Phoenix before we praise their greatness? In addition, what happened last night when they played the defending Eastern Conference Champs? They lost. What happened when they played that other Eastern Conference team that is off to a hot start (Magic)? They lost. They are off to a very nice start (11-2), but they have a long way to go. At different times they will have to overcome an injury or two and probably the ineptitude of their coach. They will win their division and compete for the Eastern Conference title. That is as far as I am going. Until I see them at least play an elite Western team (especially on the road) I can not consider them in that class.
Now on the upcoming baseball winter meetings...
One thing is clear and that is that there are going to be a some big moves. Guys like Johan Santana, Dan Haren, and Miguel Cabrera could all be moved. In addition to guys like Joe Crede, Huston Street, Eric Bedard, and Delmon Young. There are big rumors all over the place.
On the Santana front. Let me say one thign as a Mets fan. For all the heat Omar has taken recently, let it be noted that he has been trying to acquire a number one starter since the 2006 trading deadline. At that point he made strong moves to try and get Roy Oswalt and Jason Schmidt. After the season he bid $39 million on Dice-K, only to have the red Sox blow everyone out of the water. He offered Zito in the $90 million range, but was not going to go up to the ridiculous terretory that the Giants went to. He is now going to make aggressive offers for Santana, Bedard and Haren. Some people feel that the Mets don't have the prospects to get a deal done. Maybe they don't. One thing is clear though and that is that Omar among the most aggresive GMs at these winter meetings.
In the end I think Santana will come down to the Yankees and Sox. If the Red Sox are willing to give up Ellsburgy they have a shot. If not, then the Yanks will grab him with an offer built around Hughes and Melky. The Angels will end up getting Miguel Cabrera. I hope the Mets get Haren, but due to his reasonable contract other teams such as the Diamondbacks will be able to put in offers for him as well, which will make it tougher for the Mets. In the end I think Omar will have to offer more than he was originally willing in order to get one of these aces. In addition, for insurance I can see Omar being able to acquire a Jose Contreras on the cheap if he is willing to pay the remainder of his contract in ful (two years $20 million). Not a bad option for the end of the rotation. If you can go into next year with Pedro, Haren/Bedard/Santana, Maine, Perez, EL Duque/Contreras as a Met fan you would have to be extremely happy. By next week at this time we will have a much better idea of where the Mets and every other team in baseball are at.
STKAFI
Now on the upcoming baseball winter meetings...
One thing is clear and that is that there are going to be a some big moves. Guys like Johan Santana, Dan Haren, and Miguel Cabrera could all be moved. In addition to guys like Joe Crede, Huston Street, Eric Bedard, and Delmon Young. There are big rumors all over the place.
On the Santana front. Let me say one thign as a Mets fan. For all the heat Omar has taken recently, let it be noted that he has been trying to acquire a number one starter since the 2006 trading deadline. At that point he made strong moves to try and get Roy Oswalt and Jason Schmidt. After the season he bid $39 million on Dice-K, only to have the red Sox blow everyone out of the water. He offered Zito in the $90 million range, but was not going to go up to the ridiculous terretory that the Giants went to. He is now going to make aggressive offers for Santana, Bedard and Haren. Some people feel that the Mets don't have the prospects to get a deal done. Maybe they don't. One thing is clear though and that is that Omar among the most aggresive GMs at these winter meetings.
In the end I think Santana will come down to the Yankees and Sox. If the Red Sox are willing to give up Ellsburgy they have a shot. If not, then the Yanks will grab him with an offer built around Hughes and Melky. The Angels will end up getting Miguel Cabrera. I hope the Mets get Haren, but due to his reasonable contract other teams such as the Diamondbacks will be able to put in offers for him as well, which will make it tougher for the Mets. In the end I think Omar will have to offer more than he was originally willing in order to get one of these aces. In addition, for insurance I can see Omar being able to acquire a Jose Contreras on the cheap if he is willing to pay the remainder of his contract in ful (two years $20 million). Not a bad option for the end of the rotation. If you can go into next year with Pedro, Haren/Bedard/Santana, Maine, Perez, EL Duque/Contreras as a Met fan you would have to be extremely happy. By next week at this time we will have a much better idea of where the Mets and every other team in baseball are at.
STKAFI
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
0-11
Whatever. This sucks, and there's nothing that can be said or done really.
Trent Green
Ronnie Brown
Zach Thomas
Jesse Chatman
Ricky Williams
Yerimiah Bell
Matt Roth
Renaldo Hill
Travares Tillman
The injury list goes on and on.
6 Losses by 3 points or less, including last nights disgusting sloppy mess of a 3-0 loss with 17 seconds left.
After all the injuries I can't really blame anyone, in addition, the guys have played everyone very, very hard and play for 4 quarters. Something you cannot say about many teams that have such a dismal record.
John Beck has shown glimpses of being a decent NFL QB, fairly mobile and a pretty good arm. Needs to calm down though and slow his footwork, maybe in time. And Ricky made a nice cameo appearance. Odds that he was getting high in the bathroom during the weather delay last night? 2:1, 3:2? Anyone? That injury looked like it hurt though.
Cam Cameron, on the other hand, has been a disgrace. He has made terrible calls in the front office, as well as on the field. This guy has one, maybe two more years to show he can be a head coach in the NFL or he needs to be shown the door.
This week against the Jets is as winnable a game they will see for the rest of the season, an 0-16 record will be staring them in the face with a loss.
What else? UConn made it a game by scoring on their opening drive against UWV, but it was over before the teams even took the field, too much of a talent difference. Maybe in a few years the Huskies will be able to compete with the best.
Random poll question: As of now, who has the better college football program? Connecticut or Nebraska.
Exciting games played by LSU/Arkansas and Kentucky/Tennessee.
In other news, the Staples High School football team got spanked on their home field on Thanksgiving day by the Greenwich Cardinals (home of HOF QB Steve Young) for the FCIAC Championship.
Went to the Celtics game Friday. These guys are really, really good and honestly do not see a team in the East that can beat them in a seven game series. It is impossible to guard all 3 of Allen, Pierce and Garnett. Not possible. You can shut down one, and even hold down another, but it is not possible to stop all three. They even match up very well against the best of the West in the Spurs and Mavs. Not so much against the Suns, but if they could reach the finals and somehow play the Spurs or Mavs, I see no reason why Boston couldn't take home another championship in another sport...
...kill me now.
Trent Green
Ronnie Brown
Zach Thomas
Jesse Chatman
Ricky Williams
Yerimiah Bell
Matt Roth
Renaldo Hill
Travares Tillman
The injury list goes on and on.
6 Losses by 3 points or less, including last nights disgusting sloppy mess of a 3-0 loss with 17 seconds left.
After all the injuries I can't really blame anyone, in addition, the guys have played everyone very, very hard and play for 4 quarters. Something you cannot say about many teams that have such a dismal record.
John Beck has shown glimpses of being a decent NFL QB, fairly mobile and a pretty good arm. Needs to calm down though and slow his footwork, maybe in time. And Ricky made a nice cameo appearance. Odds that he was getting high in the bathroom during the weather delay last night? 2:1, 3:2? Anyone? That injury looked like it hurt though.
Cam Cameron, on the other hand, has been a disgrace. He has made terrible calls in the front office, as well as on the field. This guy has one, maybe two more years to show he can be a head coach in the NFL or he needs to be shown the door.
This week against the Jets is as winnable a game they will see for the rest of the season, an 0-16 record will be staring them in the face with a loss.
What else? UConn made it a game by scoring on their opening drive against UWV, but it was over before the teams even took the field, too much of a talent difference. Maybe in a few years the Huskies will be able to compete with the best.
Random poll question: As of now, who has the better college football program? Connecticut or Nebraska.
Exciting games played by LSU/Arkansas and Kentucky/Tennessee.
In other news, the Staples High School football team got spanked on their home field on Thanksgiving day by the Greenwich Cardinals (home of HOF QB Steve Young) for the FCIAC Championship.
Went to the Celtics game Friday. These guys are really, really good and honestly do not see a team in the East that can beat them in a seven game series. It is impossible to guard all 3 of Allen, Pierce and Garnett. Not possible. You can shut down one, and even hold down another, but it is not possible to stop all three. They even match up very well against the best of the West in the Spurs and Mavs. Not so much against the Suns, but if they could reach the finals and somehow play the Spurs or Mavs, I see no reason why Boston couldn't take home another championship in another sport...
...kill me now.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Two Post Turkey Day Treats
Before I get started here, I would just like to admit to everyone because Carey stayed at my apartment this weekend, I was forced into watching a combined 1 minute and 32 seconds of the MLS Cup this past Sunday. Houston came back from behind and won 2-1 to take the cup for the second year in a row, handing New England their third straight MLS Cup loss in a row, and will be forever known as the Buffalo Bills of the MLS. When will the torture stop for Boston sports fans? I do not know.
Seriously though, back to real sports. As any sports fan knows, there are a few NFL games on Thanksgiving every year, with typically the Packers, Lions, and Cowboys. However, because the NFL season has been all but wrapped up by the Patriots, I won't waste any one's time discussing the T-Day games.
2007 will mark the first year since I can remember I won't be in my hometown for my favorite night of the year and statistically the biggest bar night of the year in the U.S., the night before Thanksgiving Day (thanks a lot for moving to Florida, Mom). Although I won't be the typical dance machine everyone is used to that night, fortunately, I recently discovered two treats I will be able to enjoy as alternatives.
The first is that I will be attending the Celtics/Lakers game in Boston on Friday night. Not only is this game traditionally one of the greatest sports rivalries ever, but this year, the game should be particularly entertaining, and certainly a lot more worth watching than in recent years. Last year, I probably would have shrugged at learning I would be going to this game, but now it's different. Not having a true NBA will allow me to enjoy the game even more as I will be able to enjoy the game as a fan of truly great players and just root for a good game. Two of the most talented, flashy, and future hall-of-fame players will be going head-to-head in Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. In addition, I will be able to enjoy seeing former UConn Huskie Ray Allen in action. It's been difficult to go see a quality basketball game in the Tri-state/New England area in the past few years, and this will certainly be a treat.
A day after the game, I will be able to sit back and literally watch the UConn Huskies football team play for the Big East title and an automatic BCS bowl birth. Yes, you read the correctly, the UConn football team, playing for a BCS bowl game. Amazing. This will not be an easy task as the squad travels to Morgantown to face the electric and explosive West Virginia Mountaineers. Realistically, I do not expect a win, nor do I really expect a close game. However, it will be very entertaining nonetheless to be able to see a football team, that just graduated to a FBS (D-IA) team a mere five years ago compete for a conference championship. A team which was picked to finish seventh out of eight in the Big East this year. It's always fun to root for the underdog, especially when the underdog is my Alma-mater.
Quick shout out to all who joined me at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic last Friday, it was a blast. Even though IceCold couldn't stay up for the whole thing. Dip!
Seriously though, back to real sports. As any sports fan knows, there are a few NFL games on Thanksgiving every year, with typically the Packers, Lions, and Cowboys. However, because the NFL season has been all but wrapped up by the Patriots, I won't waste any one's time discussing the T-Day games.
2007 will mark the first year since I can remember I won't be in my hometown for my favorite night of the year and statistically the biggest bar night of the year in the U.S., the night before Thanksgiving Day (thanks a lot for moving to Florida, Mom). Although I won't be the typical dance machine everyone is used to that night, fortunately, I recently discovered two treats I will be able to enjoy as alternatives.
The first is that I will be attending the Celtics/Lakers game in Boston on Friday night. Not only is this game traditionally one of the greatest sports rivalries ever, but this year, the game should be particularly entertaining, and certainly a lot more worth watching than in recent years. Last year, I probably would have shrugged at learning I would be going to this game, but now it's different. Not having a true NBA will allow me to enjoy the game even more as I will be able to enjoy the game as a fan of truly great players and just root for a good game. Two of the most talented, flashy, and future hall-of-fame players will be going head-to-head in Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. In addition, I will be able to enjoy seeing former UConn Huskie Ray Allen in action. It's been difficult to go see a quality basketball game in the Tri-state/New England area in the past few years, and this will certainly be a treat.
A day after the game, I will be able to sit back and literally watch the UConn Huskies football team play for the Big East title and an automatic BCS bowl birth. Yes, you read the correctly, the UConn football team, playing for a BCS bowl game. Amazing. This will not be an easy task as the squad travels to Morgantown to face the electric and explosive West Virginia Mountaineers. Realistically, I do not expect a win, nor do I really expect a close game. However, it will be very entertaining nonetheless to be able to see a football team, that just graduated to a FBS (D-IA) team a mere five years ago compete for a conference championship. A team which was picked to finish seventh out of eight in the Big East this year. It's always fun to root for the underdog, especially when the underdog is my Alma-mater.
Quick shout out to all who joined me at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic last Friday, it was a blast. Even though IceCold couldn't stay up for the whole thing. Dip!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Here we go!
It's about time.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3112487
Felon? Jail time? We shall see.
Oh, and Arod is a Yankee again.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3112799
Funny how's these two are already so inter-twined and their breaking news comes out within hours of each other...
...to be honest, I'm very nervous for the Mitchell Report to come out.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3112487
Felon? Jail time? We shall see.
Oh, and Arod is a Yankee again.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3112799
Funny how's these two are already so inter-twined and their breaking news comes out within hours of each other...
...to be honest, I'm very nervous for the Mitchell Report to come out.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
John Sterling on WFAN today
John Sterling called into WFAN today. Any other day this would not be news, but today was different. Now John might not be my first choice to sit back and listen to a game on the radio, but he's been around a while and probably knows his way around baseball insiders. I'm paraphrasing here, but according to Mr. Sterling, on a scale from 1-100, the chances of Alex Rodriguez suiting up as a New York Yankee next year is 101.
In related news,
http://www.mlb.com/players/rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407
Looking ahead, if the Yanks get Arod back (probably for less money then they would have thought), sign Rivera and somehow make a trade for Santana (which would most likely involve either Cano or Hughes)...we might have ourselves an AL East race worth watching again for years to come.
The question remains...do Yankee fans want Arod back?
In related news,
http://www.mlb.com/players/rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407
Looking ahead, if the Yanks get Arod back (probably for less money then they would have thought), sign Rivera and somehow make a trade for Santana (which would most likely involve either Cano or Hughes)...we might have ourselves an AL East race worth watching again for years to come.
The question remains...do Yankee fans want Arod back?
They Deserve Each other
They do. The whole lot of them. Dolan, Isiah and Marbury. They have created this monster and it appears that it finally could be coming to an end. These three men are the faces of this Knick run of the past four years. This utterly pathetic run of horrid play on the court, disputes off the court and front office ineptitude of comic proportions.
When looking at this specific Marbury/Isiah dispute part of me feels that it is about time. For too long Isiah has protected Marbury while he has not performed up to expectations on the court. Everyone remembers Isiah as a great player and an even greater leader. A player with true grit and heart. Those are two adjectives that have never been uttered in the same paragraph, let a lone sentence as Steph Marbury. Yet Isiah always defended him. He took his side against Larry Brown. He sided with him against the media as well on numerous occasions. Isiah frustrated so many fans and NBA experts by siding with a guy who may have had as much talent as himself, but was the opposite kind of player. Isiah was the definition of a winner (and sore loser), while Marbury would put up numbers (only him and Oscar Robertson have averaged over 20 points and 8 dimes per game over their career) while never getting out of the first round of the playoffs. He is a prototype coach killer and TEAM killer.
At this point though Isiah is finally doing what he should have done years ago. Giving Stephon some tough love. Not standing by him just because he felt that he needed to justify is signature trade. It is too little, too late. So much damage has been done to this Knick franchise on so many different levels that this should be the first of a series of very tough and embarrassing situations in order to break up this team from the top down. Steph is gone. I don't care is he returns to the team, in all intents and purposes he is out of here. The team will struggle on the court and then Dolan will have to finally place some accountability on Isiah. The dire state of the Knicks has reached such epic proportions that if Dolan does not act prudently on this the fans may actually rip up the Garden floor.
For the future, who knows. I say bring in a new GM and let him find his own coach. There is a lot of talent on this roster but it is just not the right atmosphere for success, plus the players do not seem to fit together. With the right moves (find a great shooter and true point guard to start) the Knicks can be good in a short amount of time around David Lee, Zach Randolph, Ronaldo Balkman and others. At this point more than ever though Dolan needs to think about where the franchise once was and the depths to which it has plummeted. He owes it to the Walt Fraziers, the Willis Reeds, the Patrick Ewings and the Charles Oakleys to end this nonsense now. And if that is not enough, then he owes it to the fans who have been by this team for the past 62 years.
STKAFI
When looking at this specific Marbury/Isiah dispute part of me feels that it is about time. For too long Isiah has protected Marbury while he has not performed up to expectations on the court. Everyone remembers Isiah as a great player and an even greater leader. A player with true grit and heart. Those are two adjectives that have never been uttered in the same paragraph, let a lone sentence as Steph Marbury. Yet Isiah always defended him. He took his side against Larry Brown. He sided with him against the media as well on numerous occasions. Isiah frustrated so many fans and NBA experts by siding with a guy who may have had as much talent as himself, but was the opposite kind of player. Isiah was the definition of a winner (and sore loser), while Marbury would put up numbers (only him and Oscar Robertson have averaged over 20 points and 8 dimes per game over their career) while never getting out of the first round of the playoffs. He is a prototype coach killer and TEAM killer.
At this point though Isiah is finally doing what he should have done years ago. Giving Stephon some tough love. Not standing by him just because he felt that he needed to justify is signature trade. It is too little, too late. So much damage has been done to this Knick franchise on so many different levels that this should be the first of a series of very tough and embarrassing situations in order to break up this team from the top down. Steph is gone. I don't care is he returns to the team, in all intents and purposes he is out of here. The team will struggle on the court and then Dolan will have to finally place some accountability on Isiah. The dire state of the Knicks has reached such epic proportions that if Dolan does not act prudently on this the fans may actually rip up the Garden floor.
For the future, who knows. I say bring in a new GM and let him find his own coach. There is a lot of talent on this roster but it is just not the right atmosphere for success, plus the players do not seem to fit together. With the right moves (find a great shooter and true point guard to start) the Knicks can be good in a short amount of time around David Lee, Zach Randolph, Ronaldo Balkman and others. At this point more than ever though Dolan needs to think about where the franchise once was and the depths to which it has plummeted. He owes it to the Walt Fraziers, the Willis Reeds, the Patrick Ewings and the Charles Oakleys to end this nonsense now. And if that is not enough, then he owes it to the fans who have been by this team for the past 62 years.
STKAFI
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Ugh
The way I used to feel about the Eagles, I now feel about the Cowboys. I fuckin hate them. I hate their owner, I hate their coach and I hate their QB. Any time I see that shit eating grin on any one of them I get annoyed. I guess what I am trying to say is that while at 4PM today I felt that they were overrated, I am now giving them some respect, albeit through hate. They have an extremely explosive offense and a surprisingly stout defense.
The biggest adjustment I see in the Cowboys is that they now prevent big plays by the other teams offense. They are confident enough in their front seven that they do not need to bring extra guys in the box to stop the run and they can sit back and play everything in front of them.
Anyway, enough of that babble. To me there are two ways to view this game.
1. The difference in big plays on offense. The Cowboys has a 25 yard TD and a 50 yard TO to Terrell Owens. The Giants meanwhile were not able to make that big play over the top. In fact, I do not remember them really taking a shot over the top through the air. That is the first time all season I can say that. I don't know if Plaxico's ankle was bothering him or if Manning was just trying to stay disciplined against this Dallas D that was giving him the underneath stuff. Either way, the Cowboys were able to make the big plays while the Giants were not.
2. Two potential Giant TD were negated by penalties. The kickoff return and the Droughns TD run. Either one would have tied the game. I know the kickoff was down at the one, but I assume the Giants would have pounded it in.
We know Manning did not play a great game. He had a couple ridiculous play clock violations and threw a couple picks (one on a hail mary at the end of the game which meant nothing). My feeling now is that the Giants are still a good team and they now have to rebound and play well next week. They still have the ability to win 10 or more games and be in the playoffs. The Giants are probably as bitter as I am and I bet they would want nothing more than another shot at these Cowboys in January.
Going forward for the Giants there are two things that should be focused on. One is something that has been lingering for a while now. The Giants do not have a reliable third WR. Eli probably threw 80 of his passes to Plax and Shockey. That needs to change. Secondly, the Giants need to get back to what they did the six games before this Dallas game. Getting to the quarterback. The Giants did not get very much pressure on Romo and when they did he was able to break contain pretty easily. If the Giants are going to play as aggressive as they did today, then they need to get to the QB or they are leaving their secondary pretty vulnerable.
Anyway, the Giants can basically concede the division. They are currently 6-3 though and still have a very good opportunity to make the playoffs and even have a home playoff game. Next week is a key game in Detroit though. When you look at the state of the season and the franchise what the Giants really need in order to save the coaches job and see some improvement in the QB will be winning a playoff game. So here they are. They are not in the class of Dallas right now, but there is still a long way to go in this season. I can't feel good right now, but a win next week could do a lot for their playoff hopes.
STKAFI
The biggest adjustment I see in the Cowboys is that they now prevent big plays by the other teams offense. They are confident enough in their front seven that they do not need to bring extra guys in the box to stop the run and they can sit back and play everything in front of them.
Anyway, enough of that babble. To me there are two ways to view this game.
1. The difference in big plays on offense. The Cowboys has a 25 yard TD and a 50 yard TO to Terrell Owens. The Giants meanwhile were not able to make that big play over the top. In fact, I do not remember them really taking a shot over the top through the air. That is the first time all season I can say that. I don't know if Plaxico's ankle was bothering him or if Manning was just trying to stay disciplined against this Dallas D that was giving him the underneath stuff. Either way, the Cowboys were able to make the big plays while the Giants were not.
2. Two potential Giant TD were negated by penalties. The kickoff return and the Droughns TD run. Either one would have tied the game. I know the kickoff was down at the one, but I assume the Giants would have pounded it in.
We know Manning did not play a great game. He had a couple ridiculous play clock violations and threw a couple picks (one on a hail mary at the end of the game which meant nothing). My feeling now is that the Giants are still a good team and they now have to rebound and play well next week. They still have the ability to win 10 or more games and be in the playoffs. The Giants are probably as bitter as I am and I bet they would want nothing more than another shot at these Cowboys in January.
Going forward for the Giants there are two things that should be focused on. One is something that has been lingering for a while now. The Giants do not have a reliable third WR. Eli probably threw 80 of his passes to Plax and Shockey. That needs to change. Secondly, the Giants need to get back to what they did the six games before this Dallas game. Getting to the quarterback. The Giants did not get very much pressure on Romo and when they did he was able to break contain pretty easily. If the Giants are going to play as aggressive as they did today, then they need to get to the QB or they are leaving their secondary pretty vulnerable.
Anyway, the Giants can basically concede the division. They are currently 6-3 though and still have a very good opportunity to make the playoffs and even have a home playoff game. Next week is a key game in Detroit though. When you look at the state of the season and the franchise what the Giants really need in order to save the coaches job and see some improvement in the QB will be winning a playoff game. So here they are. They are not in the class of Dallas right now, but there is still a long way to go in this season. I can't feel good right now, but a win next week could do a lot for their playoff hopes.
STKAFI
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Incredible
After a short break, Im back and blogging again which is relatively exciting for you, the reader, I am sure. My own personal sports world has had a little bit of craziness recently. The Red Sox, as I am sure you may have heard, won the World Series. Its a decently big deal. I hope they resign Lowell but I do not think it is absolutely necesssary like some in Boston think. The feeling around here is that resigning Lowell is life or death. They also think that signing A-Rod would be the biggest mistake the franchise could make. Me? I want to sign both of 'em and plop A Rod over at short. I dont ask for much, I know. The point is, Boston fans are stupid, similarly to the fan bases on a whole of every major sports team. They would boo him for the first few at bats but after a home run or two, all would be forgiven.
Plus the lineup would be
D-Ped
Youk
Ortiz
A-Rod
Manny
Lowell
Drew
V-Tek
Ellsbury / Crisp
Now that is just fun.
On another front, we have the 'Aints. Who are back. The receivers finally remembered how to catch the ball and they are absolutely killing it. Obviously this is fantastic news for everyone involved and the playoffs are within reach.
Both those things are incredible, but they do not hold a candle to the ridiculous display that I had the pleasure of witnessing last night. Those Boston Celtics are back. You had to love the whispers coming out of training camp that the "Big 3" were clicking. You had to love the stories. For example, when in Minnesota, Garnett was always the first in the gym and the last out. On his first day when he showed up early, Pierce had already been there for a half hour, Allen for an entire hour. Garnett said something along the lines of "Well, I guess we are gonna play for real then this year" Just those little things that made me and others think, this team is gonna be fun. They might just be able to dominate.
Thus far? They have shown that they can crush it. They can win the close ones, they can blow out opponents without even blinking. Last night, they crushed Denver's own Big 3, a Big 3 that isnt too shabby at all. 77 - 38 at half? Are you kidding me? It was one hell of a sight. One that I will not soon forget. Honestly, the "look what I found" christmas morning feeling is the only way to describe every single behind the back pass followed by an open slam. Its a great feeling where you just start laughing hysterically because its too fun. If you get a chance, look at the ESPN recap of the game online, Tony Allen has that same hysterical cackle after the Garnett alley-oop. Check it out, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Someone should not be allowed as much fun as Boston fans had last night watching the Pierce, KG, Shuttlesworth show.
The outlook? Well, its great. Right now, Im not sure anyone in the East can play with these guys. But then again, right now it doesnt look like they remember how to lose. I am psyched that by buddy and I locked in a season's worth of tickets to this team at 15 bucks a game. Its awesome, 4th row in the balcony, I feel the resentment from the Celtics sales guy everytime I email him. It is fantastic. Its even a little incredible.
Plus the lineup would be
D-Ped
Youk
Ortiz
A-Rod
Manny
Lowell
Drew
V-Tek
Ellsbury / Crisp
Now that is just fun.
On another front, we have the 'Aints. Who are back. The receivers finally remembered how to catch the ball and they are absolutely killing it. Obviously this is fantastic news for everyone involved and the playoffs are within reach.
Both those things are incredible, but they do not hold a candle to the ridiculous display that I had the pleasure of witnessing last night. Those Boston Celtics are back. You had to love the whispers coming out of training camp that the "Big 3" were clicking. You had to love the stories. For example, when in Minnesota, Garnett was always the first in the gym and the last out. On his first day when he showed up early, Pierce had already been there for a half hour, Allen for an entire hour. Garnett said something along the lines of "Well, I guess we are gonna play for real then this year" Just those little things that made me and others think, this team is gonna be fun. They might just be able to dominate.
Thus far? They have shown that they can crush it. They can win the close ones, they can blow out opponents without even blinking. Last night, they crushed Denver's own Big 3, a Big 3 that isnt too shabby at all. 77 - 38 at half? Are you kidding me? It was one hell of a sight. One that I will not soon forget. Honestly, the "look what I found" christmas morning feeling is the only way to describe every single behind the back pass followed by an open slam. Its a great feeling where you just start laughing hysterically because its too fun. If you get a chance, look at the ESPN recap of the game online, Tony Allen has that same hysterical cackle after the Garnett alley-oop. Check it out, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Someone should not be allowed as much fun as Boston fans had last night watching the Pierce, KG, Shuttlesworth show.
The outlook? Well, its great. Right now, Im not sure anyone in the East can play with these guys. But then again, right now it doesnt look like they remember how to lose. I am psyched that by buddy and I locked in a season's worth of tickets to this team at 15 bucks a game. Its awesome, 4th row in the balcony, I feel the resentment from the Celtics sales guy everytime I email him. It is fantastic. Its even a little incredible.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Halftime
It has been a couple weeks since I wrote about the Giants. At the beginning of the season I felt that the Giants were being underestimated and that they would have a surprisingly good season. After the first couple of games I was ready to throw in the towel. It wasn't that the Giants lost their first two, but instead of how they lost them. It was the worst defensive performance I had ever seen by Giants team. Since that goal line stand in that Week 3 Washington game the Giants have not looked back. They are 6-2, having lost only to the top two teams in the NFC.
This week the Cowboys come to town. The 7-1 Cowboys. The Cowboys who put a beating on that Giants defense in Week 1. Look, time and time again we realize that no game is a must-win unless it eliminates a team altogether. With that being said though, I feel that this week will show a lot about where the Giants are going this year. Can the Giants lose this week and still go far in the playoffs? Sure. A playoff run is much more likely though if the Giants to win this week and have this propel them to a 13-3 or 12-4 type year.
Go back one year ago. The Giants were 6-2 and about to face undefeated Chicago in Giants Stadium. The Giants got off to a good start, and then fell apart in the second half of that game and in turn the season. The Giants need to have a strong second half in order to save their coach's job. People are not talking about it now, but the Giants really have not shown us anything different than last year until they perform in the second half and the playoffs.
Another very important issue is the play of Eli Manning. Not much has been made of his play so far because the Giants are doing so well, but he really has not played that well. He had a great opening game in Dallas and since then he has been very mediocre. I have been one of his biggest supporters, but this is the type of game where Eli needs to come to play if the Giants are going to reach that next level. He has the running game, the support from the defense and an array of receivers. At this point there is reason for him not to step up. I know his shoulder may not be 100% for this entire season as a result of that play in Dallas opening night, but now is not the time for excuses.
Lastly I want to point out one funny thing. As I said before, after the first two games of the season I honestly felt that the Giant defense was as bad as any I have ever seen and the worst by far from a Giants team. At this point though I am putting this defense on a level with any Giant defense since Parcells was here. They are in the quarterback's face all game and they force turnovers. They have speed, they hit hard, and they have ball hawks. I am not saying they will shut down Dallas this week, but they will beat them up physically and will put the Giants offense in a position to win the game. It will be up to the offense to take that opportunity and capitalize.
Other Stuff...
This week the Cowboys come to town. The 7-1 Cowboys. The Cowboys who put a beating on that Giants defense in Week 1. Look, time and time again we realize that no game is a must-win unless it eliminates a team altogether. With that being said though, I feel that this week will show a lot about where the Giants are going this year. Can the Giants lose this week and still go far in the playoffs? Sure. A playoff run is much more likely though if the Giants to win this week and have this propel them to a 13-3 or 12-4 type year.
Go back one year ago. The Giants were 6-2 and about to face undefeated Chicago in Giants Stadium. The Giants got off to a good start, and then fell apart in the second half of that game and in turn the season. The Giants need to have a strong second half in order to save their coach's job. People are not talking about it now, but the Giants really have not shown us anything different than last year until they perform in the second half and the playoffs.
Another very important issue is the play of Eli Manning. Not much has been made of his play so far because the Giants are doing so well, but he really has not played that well. He had a great opening game in Dallas and since then he has been very mediocre. I have been one of his biggest supporters, but this is the type of game where Eli needs to come to play if the Giants are going to reach that next level. He has the running game, the support from the defense and an array of receivers. At this point there is reason for him not to step up. I know his shoulder may not be 100% for this entire season as a result of that play in Dallas opening night, but now is not the time for excuses.
Lastly I want to point out one funny thing. As I said before, after the first two games of the season I honestly felt that the Giant defense was as bad as any I have ever seen and the worst by far from a Giants team. At this point though I am putting this defense on a level with any Giant defense since Parcells was here. They are in the quarterback's face all game and they force turnovers. They have speed, they hit hard, and they have ball hawks. I am not saying they will shut down Dallas this week, but they will beat them up physically and will put the Giants offense in a position to win the game. It will be up to the offense to take that opportunity and capitalize.
Other Stuff...
- I am watching the Knick game right now. I have heard that Iverson has lost a step, but I can not see it on this night. He has controlled the game offensively and pretty much done what ever he has wanted. If he can play at this level consistently through out the year, then Denver will definitely be a team to be reckoned with out West.
- One major negative about this Denver team is that they do nothing defensively. They can score with anybody, but I do not know if they can keep up with the San Antonios or Dallases with this lack of defense. I know Kenyon Martin is not playing tonight, and that definitely may have some impact on this.
- Another player not yet in a groove for the Knicks is Eddy Curry. So far the Knicks have looked much more to getting Randolph the ball down low, while Curry has gotten much of his points on dunks and ally-oops. Curry has always been a guy who can disappear for long stretches on the floor. This does not bode well for that.
- Might as well give my thoughts on Pats/Colts. Basically I feel the same as I did before the game. The Pats can beat the Colts in Indy in January, but the Colts can not beat the Pats in Foxboro in January. The Colts defense looked good on Sunday, but they are not a big hard hitting team. They are built on speed, especially with those defensive ends. That does not fly in the potential cold, snow and ice of New England. That is why this was a must-win for the Colts. I don't really want to hear about the injuries from an Indy perspective. The bottom line is that Harrison has a degenerative knee condition so you can not expect much from him the rest of the year. In addition, Indy was up 10 points in the 4th quarter. They just could not get stops in the 4th quarter and they really had trouble containing Wes Welker on punt returns. New England moved the ball at will in the 4th quarter and had great field position to start their drives. That Pats are still long way from 19-0, but right now they are in a class of their own in the NFL.
- Last thing on the Knicks game. There was a foul called probably with less than a second left on the clock but the buzzer sounded. Everyone was ready to let the game be over, but Isiah Thomas went over to the referees right away to make sure they put time left on the clock (after he saw George Karl and other Nuggets go to the locker room). You talk about class in sports. Well, when the Knicks were losing they started fights (Nuggets) and made accusations about other players being dirty (Bowen), etc. Well now they are showing how to win with no class as well. At least when the Patriots run up the score or do things to irk the other team they have 3 Super Bowls and a Hall of Fame coach to validate them. The Knicks have a sexual harrasser and a punk ass squad.
The Name Game
Now that the NBA season is fully upon us, combined with the fact that I'm extremely bored and nothing in particular interests me recently in the sports news world, I've decided to play the name game.
What is the name game, you ask? Great question. The name game is a game where I take my friends that have one point or another visited, written, or participated in this blog (including myself) and compare their current life situation to a current NBA player. I say current because if I did any player to play in the NBA, it could take me hours to conjure up such a list. First names will be used sparingly, and nicknames will be substituted when appropriate. Here we go:
Nillz: Yao Ming - Not only because they look very much alike, but Nillz, like Yao is typically a solid contributor when available. However, both have problems staying on the court for a full season.
Sonny: Jay Williams - Lots of potential coming out of college, but after a specific motorcycle accident, has become completely irrelevant. Constant comeback tries have failed miserably and doesn't look like will ever be a factor again.
Blade: Brian Scalabrine - White, pasty, and while he brings energy and the occasional boost every once in a while, what else is there? Oh, and I heard Scalabrine loves the chew.
Tysybuns: Shaq - Absolutely dominant during his college days and early career. But after meeting his wife and consistently coming into camp fat and out of shape year after year, stock has dropped considerably.
Carey: Steve Nash - Would rather be playing soccer and looked much cooler with long hair.
Wolfy: Wally Szczerbiak - Lit it up in college. Yet while not being too harsh on the eyes, has not been much of factor throughout his NBA career.
Downey: Joakim Noah - Tall, lanky, funny looking dude who's new to the scene. Typical glue guy who can light up a media room with his upbeat humor.
Devo: Tim Duncan - Solid all-around, but because of his fundamentally sound style of play, and typically laid back personality, considered boring by many.
Shooter: Stephon Marbury - New York has turned out to be not such a great place for him. A straight up clown. Great player to interview, media is always excited and entertained by anything that comes out of his mouth.
Murph: Chris Duhon - Has lost his starting spot at point, but check out the dudes ears.
Ev: Greg Oden - Tends to be less flashy and on the quiet side, but still has a great sense of humor...who am I kidding, its for the sole reason I believe Oden has a horse-sized dong.
JoJo: Eddy Curry - We know the dude can score but its the only skill he posseses, and his weight is always an issue.
Choppers: Ron Artest - Terrific all-around player, and contributes in all aspects of the game, but obviously has a screw loose.
NelHA: Sam Cassel - Solid leader who's heading into the latter stages of his career. But what's up with the huge dome piece?
Hard-Cor: Stephen Jackson - Len Bias would be the obvious choice here if we were doing all-time NBA players, but Jackson works almost as well. On and off locker room guy and can do it all on the court, but tends to get out-of-control from time to time.
Rambone: Eduardo Najera - One of two Mexican-born players in the history of the NBA. Can get feisty when needed.
Curtin: Antoine Walker - Notoriously known for his poor work ethic. Lazy and overweight. Does anyone really want this guy on his team?
Katzo: - Dirk Nowitzki - All-around player and potential MVP candidate. Has his off nights but can light up a stat sheet at any point in time.
Let me know if I have left anyone out, or if you have any other good comparisons for the current roster.
What is the name game, you ask? Great question. The name game is a game where I take my friends that have one point or another visited, written, or participated in this blog (including myself) and compare their current life situation to a current NBA player. I say current because if I did any player to play in the NBA, it could take me hours to conjure up such a list. First names will be used sparingly, and nicknames will be substituted when appropriate. Here we go:
Nillz: Yao Ming - Not only because they look very much alike, but Nillz, like Yao is typically a solid contributor when available. However, both have problems staying on the court for a full season.
Sonny: Jay Williams - Lots of potential coming out of college, but after a specific motorcycle accident, has become completely irrelevant. Constant comeback tries have failed miserably and doesn't look like will ever be a factor again.
Blade: Brian Scalabrine - White, pasty, and while he brings energy and the occasional boost every once in a while, what else is there? Oh, and I heard Scalabrine loves the chew.
Tysybuns: Shaq - Absolutely dominant during his college days and early career. But after meeting his wife and consistently coming into camp fat and out of shape year after year, stock has dropped considerably.
Carey: Steve Nash - Would rather be playing soccer and looked much cooler with long hair.
Wolfy: Wally Szczerbiak - Lit it up in college. Yet while not being too harsh on the eyes, has not been much of factor throughout his NBA career.
Downey: Joakim Noah - Tall, lanky, funny looking dude who's new to the scene. Typical glue guy who can light up a media room with his upbeat humor.
Devo: Tim Duncan - Solid all-around, but because of his fundamentally sound style of play, and typically laid back personality, considered boring by many.
Shooter: Stephon Marbury - New York has turned out to be not such a great place for him. A straight up clown. Great player to interview, media is always excited and entertained by anything that comes out of his mouth.
Murph: Chris Duhon - Has lost his starting spot at point, but check out the dudes ears.
Ev: Greg Oden - Tends to be less flashy and on the quiet side, but still has a great sense of humor...who am I kidding, its for the sole reason I believe Oden has a horse-sized dong.
JoJo: Eddy Curry - We know the dude can score but its the only skill he posseses, and his weight is always an issue.
Choppers: Ron Artest - Terrific all-around player, and contributes in all aspects of the game, but obviously has a screw loose.
NelHA: Sam Cassel - Solid leader who's heading into the latter stages of his career. But what's up with the huge dome piece?
Hard-Cor: Stephen Jackson - Len Bias would be the obvious choice here if we were doing all-time NBA players, but Jackson works almost as well. On and off locker room guy and can do it all on the court, but tends to get out-of-control from time to time.
Rambone: Eduardo Najera - One of two Mexican-born players in the history of the NBA. Can get feisty when needed.
Curtin: Antoine Walker - Notoriously known for his poor work ethic. Lazy and overweight. Does anyone really want this guy on his team?
Katzo: - Dirk Nowitzki - All-around player and potential MVP candidate. Has his off nights but can light up a stat sheet at any point in time.
Let me know if I have left anyone out, or if you have any other good comparisons for the current roster.
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