"When the Game Was Ours"
This book was written by Larry Bird & Magic Johnson with Jackie MacMullan. I was told this book would contain their story as we had not heard it before. Honestly though, I feel as if the book was just another retelling of the same stories. Maybe I need someone to point out the new content for me but I really felt I had heard these stories all before. I suppose we were given some official insight into the minds of these two superstars but mostly they were just confirming what many had speculated for years. Maybe that is why the stories didn't seem fresh, we had already assumed we knew the truths.
In summation I can not endorse you paying $25+ to buy this book. It might be a nice read if you have not read either of their previous autobiographies or any of the previously written books on the players or their teams.
Pete Rose's ban from baseball to be lifted?
Pete Rose should be in the baseball Hall of Fame. He is the all time hit leader and was a great baseball player. As a human being he would probably not be in anyone's Hall of Fame.I think the guy is a scumbag. I would never go near him and probably wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire. The Hall of Fame shouldn't be about that though. It is about baseball. It is the same Hall that has Ty Cobb in it. The Ty Cobb that was a notorious racist. The HOF wants to be so pure and a beacon of all that is good. It really is only a museum. It is letting politics taint its vision of the history of the game. Rose has a lifetime ban from baseball and this is what is keeping him out of the Hall. I think he bet on baseball and I think he is guilty of the more egregious, betting on his OWN games. Does this mean he should be out of the Hall of Fame? Definitely not. He was great at PLAYING THE GAME. Which is what the Hall should dictate.
Pete Rose is always around Cooperstown during HOF weekend. He is at card shows and other baseball related events, always looking to parlay his name (or autograph) into some quick cash. This is yet another reason that I think he is a dirty, scummy man. It just seems like it is always about selling something and getting paid with him. Why can't the Hall just induct him into the hall but ban him from advertising himself as a HOFer? That would be the simplest solution. I'm not positive it is doable though.
The reality is I only think Rose makes the Hall posthumously where he is finally honored but he can no longer use this label for his own personal gains and taint the legacy of the Hall.
Labels: Sports
Thanks Beautiful
Nomar returns but does anyone still care?
It was in 2004 that Nomar decided he wanted out of Boston. The sox then dealt him and won the World Series. It seems like everyone got what they wanted. I had ill will for Nomar those last couple of years, thanks to his clutch time pop ups. I enjoyed mockign him the next couple of years but at this point, who cares?
Labels: Sports
Bring on the Whale!
The Boston Bruins open their 2nd round playoff series on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes (formally the Hartford Whalers). Carolina is the #6 seed and is the lowest remaining seed in the playoffs as the Bruins beat the #8 Canadiens and the #7 Rangers lost last night in a game 7.
Fri May 1, 2009 @7:30 PM @BOSTON
Sun May 3, 2009 @7:30 PM @BOSTON
Wed May 6, 2009 @7:30 PM @carolina
Fri May 8, 2009 @7:30 PM @carolina
Sun May 10, 2009 @7:30 PM @BOSTON
Tue May 12, 2009 @7:00 PM @carolina
Thu May 14, 2009 @TBD @BOSTON
No preview against the Hurricanes would be complete without the GREAT Brass Bonanaza song.
Labels: Sports
Baseball's newest Hall of Famers: Rice and Henderson
Rickey made it as expected with 511 votes for 94.8%. Jim Ed Rice made it in his 15th and last year of eligibility with 412 votes for 76.4%.
Just missing the cut were Andre Dawson (361 votes, 67.0%), Bert Blyleven (338 votes, 62.7%), Lee Smith (240 votes, 44.5%) and Jack Morris (237 votes, 44.0%).
Mark McGwire only received 118 votes (21.9 percent) in his third year of eligibility. He had gotten 128 his previous 2 attempts. He was a border line hall of famer before steroids and even less now apparently. He was a one dimensional player and even though that one skill (power) is on that writers usually love, it was not enough.
Labels: Sports
What's G - Gatorade's new commercials
If you watched football on sunday then you were forced to see Gatorade's new commercials. The "What's G" commercials appear to be in coinciding with the rebranding of gatorade as "G". I had to double clutch this weekend to ensure I was buying the correct product. Even worse was I could not find what flavor I was buying. It looked orange but I have been fooled before by the god awful citrus flavor.
Back to the commercials. These commercials are almost shot with a "live" camera filter. They people look very creepy as we pan over them. I'm not exactly sure how this effect is created but it freaks me out a little. I also find it curious that they are using lesser known "Athletes" to promote their product. Demographic grab? Missy May and Jabberwocky are going to get more people to drink your beverage?
I'm not a marketing guy but I know these commercials freak me out and I know when a product is making a desperate "hail mary" to a younger audience. The shortening of the brandname to a "hip" phrase, such as G, is a definite grab for the youth market.
Labels: Sports, Television
Perfection?
For the second season in a row NFL fans were treated to a historic season. Last season the Patriots won 16 regular season games to end the season perfected. This year it was the Detriot Lions who submitted a perfect season. A perfect losing season that is. The Lions finished the season winless and tieless. A perfect 0-16 season. Truly a record of futility that will be tough to match. Only the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers had finished a season without a win. That season was only 14 games long which means the Lions were able to lose an additional 2 games with the NFL's current 16 game season.
Not surprisingly the Lions head coach Rod Marinelli was fired this morning in the wake of this historic season.Labels: Sports
11-5 not enough
When is an eleven win season a failure? When it fails to qualify you for the playoffs. I am not about to complain about the weak western division winners making the playoffs. I consider the system fair and balanced and usually takes the best teams. It is a system designed to protect a strong division from beating up on itself and not producing even 1 playoff team. However the reverse can also happen and let let lesser teams sneak in. It is a system that has been in use for years and is more often than not fair.
The Patriots came out and did all they could do this week. Winning in tough conditions in Buffalo. In the end though, it was not enough.I'm proud of what this team has done in the face of injuries. I'm not proud that they had a few mental lapses cost them the playoffs (receivers dropping the ball, defenses not closing out opponents drives on third down). I'm surprised at the improvement in Miami, but expect them to take a step backwards next year before becoming serious contenders in 2 years. I am also not surprised by the failure of Favre and the Jets. I am happy to see 2 teams (Miami and Baltimore) seize their opportunities and not let the Patriots sneak in. I thought for sure Baltimore would fold under the pressure. Maybe they are contenders after all.
All in all this season is a failure. We have set the bar high in New England. Championships are all that matter. Not winning the title is a failure, but there are many positive signs to be taken from this season. Lots of individual spotlights and accolades. The play of Mayo is a bright spot for this defense going forward. Matt Cassel did well for him self but probably will be doing it for another team next year. Gostkowski has proven himself as a worthy successor to Vinatieri (if he had not already).
Labels: Sports
Red Sox unveil new uniforms.
The Red Sox unveiled a new logo, new road uniforms, new secondary road jersey, and a new hat that goes with the secondary road jersey.
The red sox new primary road jersey harkens back to the road jerseys they wore in the 80s. I believe the uniform in 1986 was similar but had more of a block lettering whereas this uniform has the styled font much like the current uniforms.
These aren't ugly but the lack of red is disturbing. I believe we are the RED Sox not the blue Sox. This uniform is just kind of dreary and doesn't really pop. Not sure how they expect this to increase jersey sales because it is not the kind of shirt people would rush out to buy.
Now I actually do like this jersey more. The Boston is nice and crisp red with the white outlining on the navy shirt. The shirt does have a slight batting practice feel to it. I wonder what pants they will wear with it. Probably their grey road pants. That might make it look even more batting practice like. It's not bad.
This is actually a uniform I would consider buying. If I actually bought uniforms. I wouldn't be surprised if this alternate jersey becomes more popular than the new primary road jerseys.
I have plenty to say about the hat however. I absolutely hate this one. It's not that I don't like the logo. I do like the logo. The problem lies with the outlining of the hat. If you are putting the logo on the navy hat why would you outline the logo in navy as well? Wouldn't you want to use white (or even red) in order to make it pop?
I will not be wearing this hat anytime soon. I just think the navy outlining makes it look amateurish. I wish they would give it a shot with a white outlining. Or maybe they could have put the new logo on a red hat (with the navy brim like in the 70s). That might help the logo as well. That might even be a hat I would buy.
Now these home alternate jerseys look to be very similar to the alternate home jersey they already use. The big selling point on this jersey is that it actually is red.
I liked the red jerseys before and I still like them. Not sure I would want to see them all the time but as an alternate I like it.
Overall I am underwhelmed by the changes. I don't have a good picture of the tweaked logo yet but it looks like it is just the "hanging sox" logo you see on the hat. That logo is nothing really new as it has been used by the team in the past.
Labels: Sports
Red Sox unveil new uniforms and logo
The Red Sox will unveil their new road jersey, alternate jersey, alternate cap (which you’ve already seen), and primary logo.
The hat was leaked early by new era and as expected the hat is bogus. Why the heck is it outlined in Navy when the background is navy? Make this outlined in red or white and maybe it would look better. However, as it stands, this hat is ugly.More on this after the press conference.
Labels: Sports
Really ARod?
It was really easier when we called you gay. Now you leave a pretty blonde wife for this ... this thing?
Really? What the heck is going on with this woman. Is it all just age? Is it the kabbalah? Was it touching Britney? Madonna you are a very creepy looking person who is likely to give children nightmares. Please go away so the children will stop crying!
Thank you.
Labels: Celebrities, Sports
A Lot of Culture
It's like a baby New York!
Oh ya, the Phillies won the world series in what had to have been the longest world series game ever. It took over 47 hours to complete.
Labels: Sports
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
With injuries we may be getting very familiar with this running back from Mississippi.
As a senior in 2007, became only the second rebel runing back to reach the 1,000 yard single season mark twice in his career, gaining 1,137 yards rushing... Posted five 100-yard rushing games to go along with six touchdowns... Earned a career high 226 yards on 33 carries and one touchdown against Missouri
Labels: Sports
Brett Favre, still a douchebag
Several sources have told FOX Sports that Favre earlier this year phoned the Detroit Lions prior to their battle versus Favre's old team, the Green Bay Packers, and gave them a rundown of the nuances of what Green Bay does on offense. According to the sources, Favre actually spent over an hour on the phone with Lions coaches, who were connected with Favre by then-team president Matt Millen.
While the Lions still lost and the Packers and Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers played well, it's still baffling that the Packers legend would spend such a significant chunk of time giving tips to an opponent of his long-time franchise.
Yes the very same "sportsman of the year" and all around "good guy" Brett Favre has attempted to sell out his former team. Why would he do this? To make himself look good. He can't have Aaron Radgers look good. This would make it seem like the Packers made the right move. I am so sick of this man.
Listen Brett, it was bad enough when you conspired with Michael Strahan to taint the sack record by taking a dive, but now telling your former team's opponents little secrets to beat them? This is too far.
This former drug addict is not a good guy. He has always been selfish. Look at his play. Always forcing bad throws to try to be the hero. He practically stole the perfect season from the Pats by throwing a ton of interceptions against the Giants and allowing the only team capable of beating the Pats to reach the super bowl.
Thanks Brett.
Labels: Sports
Sox Come From Behind! Win 8-7
Sox come from 7 down to win with 8 unanswered runs!
They now trail the Devil Rays in the series, 3 to 2, as the series heads back to Tampa.
Labels: Sports
Want to get updates as I blog?