Good morning everyone, I trust that you all enjoyed your Cinco de Mayo. Hopefully more than the Hawks did. Usually I don't get satisfaction out of watching the team that eliminated my favorite team get trounced (since it is only an indication that we may have lost by 58 or so [poor Hornets]) , but I have to admit, that was pretty satisfying. Why? Because the Atlanta Hawks are quite possibly the worst team in the area of sportsmanship in the NBA.
EVERY time a foul is called against them there is a complaint, particularly from Mo Evans and Josh Smith. They can do no wrong, yet every time they miss a shot they expect a call. It's like a team of Kobe Bryants and Allen Iversons with less skill. It's irritating. Just play ball guys.
Anyway, last night had nothing to do with sportsmanship though. LeBron James was just ridiculous. Get used to it folks...I suggest watching this championship run and deciding whether you're gonna love or hate the kid because the NBA will be his dominion for the next decade. He will be that guy going forward. He has scored 25 points or more in every game of the postseason so far. Most impressive is watching this him after a steal. Sometime during the 2nd quarter he picked Joe Johnson's pocket and took off looking for an outlet pass...he covered half the court in about 6 steps! He's a freak.
Speaking of freaks, how about Albert Pujols (pronounced POO-holes according to ESPN) is absolutely the best in Major League Baseball. If anyone is going to win the Triple Crown in our lifetime it is this guy. All the attention is given to all the juicers and to Manny being Manny, yet a guy who does it ALL is covered minimally on a national level. Don't get me wrong, everyone knows who Pujols is, and that he is one of the best. But I contend the guy may arguably be the best player ever. Think about it, there's nothing the guy doesn't do. His batting prowess is well-documented, but he has a superb glove. Last year he won the fielding Bible Award which recognizes him as the best 1st baseman in both the AL and NL.
The thing that upsets me most is that if this guy played for the Sox, Yanks, or Mets, he'd be the highest paid, and most lauded player in the media. That's not to say St. Louis is not serious about their baseball, it is just and indictment of the imbalance of media attention. What has A-Rod done lately on the diamond? Still, I have heard his name at least twice as much as Pujols'. Then we wonder why there is a nasty cycle in sports with younger generations emulating guys who have no business being role models.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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good stuff. glad to see you're back up and runnin. i enjoy your columns.
ReplyDeleteLOL on the Hawks crying, Sasha Vujacic might have to get traded there, he'd fit right in.
ReplyDeleteI still find it hard to believe the Lakers got Ariza for Maurice Evans and B. Cook...highway robbery.
Albert is a beast, can't deny it, but Manny has re-invigorated L.A. baseball so despite his shortcomings as a person, I love what he brings to the Dodgers.
This is your usual great material, Pete. Atlanta has that annoying quality to complain whenever the call goes for LeBron. But they'll soon be crying the blues when they get swept away.
ReplyDeletePujols is phenomenal; he does his work without the fanfare of an A-Roid or a Manny, but he's easily the best player in baseball. St. Louis creates the type of low-key atmosphere that allows a player to thrive; think how happy Roger Maris was when they got him out of purgatory in New York!
I've favorited the site, and I'll see if I can subscribe later. Take care!
Site's lookin' clean, brother. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteAnd there ain't no sense in hatin' Bron Bron. He's gonna own the league for the next decade.
Let me know if you want my bio. And as soon as I get my new template up, I'll put a link up to SRM.