Roger Clemens Is Bored

TEXAS - Roger Clemens has announced that he will come out of retirement! Again! Who will he pitch for, you ask? The better question is, who will he pitch to. And the answer is: his son, Koby Clemens, in the Texas League (AA minor leagues) home run derby next Wednesday. Koby is second in the league in home runs, and is in the midst of a breakout season in his young career.

Roger Clemens hasn't pitched since 2007, when he laced up his spikes for the Yankees, but rust shouldn't be a problem for the 47 year-old. He'll have to change his mental approach though - instead of trying to strike out his son, he'll be serving up 75 mph fastballs in the hope that young Koby (age 23) can clobber a few over the fences.

P.S. For Koby's sake, hopefully his dad helped him "workout" before the contest. And by "workout" I mean take steroids. Excuse me, allegedly take steroids. (Sorry, I couldn't resist).

Harry Potter 7

I know this is primarily a sports blog, but with the release of the newest Twilight movie, "Orbit" or whatever it's called, I figured I would inform our readers of another development in the fantasy realm. On Monday, the official trailer for the seventh Harry Potter movie, "The Deathly Hallows", premiered online to rave reviews (reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes have already awarded the film 100%).

Although there are no vampires AT ALL in the Harry Potter series, myself and the rest of America are very excited about the film's November release. Now you can be too.

Enjoy.

Are We Seeing The End Of Roger Federer?

16-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer was ousted by underdog Thomas Berdych in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon (an event he was won 6 of the last 7 years) in an unceremonious 4 sets. For the better part of the last decade Federer has been easily the most dominant player in tennis and on the grass courts of the All-England in particular (only Pete Sampras could rival such a dominating run). We are used to seeing Fed make it all the way to the finals without dropping a single set in the past but the tide may finally be changing. Federer dropped the first two sets he played in this year’s tournament to an unranked qualifier, a previously unthinkable event. He has played a shaky tournament throughout and an early exit seemed in the cards. The question must now be asked: Are we seeing the end of Roger Federer’s run of dominance?

It’s certainly too early to give up on Fed completely but a quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon to anyone other than Rafael Nadal shows that his skills have to be diminishing. Federer is now 28 which is old for a tennis player (like a 30-year old NFL running back or 35-year old MLB slugger) and certainly one cannot expect his game to get any better as he gets older. On the flip-side Federer won the Australian earlier this year and nobody saw any flaws in his game just a few months ago. I think Fed will gradually fall back to the pack and that the days of almost every Grand Slam final matching up Federer and Nadal are likely over. Fed is too good not to remain a force in tennis for a least a year or two more but it may finally be time for Rafael Nadal to take his rightful place as the undisputed World’s number 1 (he is the ATP’s #1 ranked player already).

Having said all that I believe that Roger Federer is the kind of special athlete who will rise above all the speculation is going to receive over the next few weeks. He could have just had a bad tournament and been nagged by some previously unknown injury but it is too early to tell at this point. Federer still has the US Open later this summer to prove his doubters wrong and I would be more than happy to see that from such a class act. For now though we can only wonder.

As a side note this may finally be the there when Wimbledon sees its first English Champion since 1936 in 4th seeded Andy Murray. He still has powerhouses Novak Djokovich and Nadal to go through but he’ll have every single person in the stands pulling for him as well as many around the world, myself included.

The Truth Joins The Free Agent Market

The day before the most heralded NBA Free Agent period in history begins, Celtics forward Paul Pierce enacted his contract’s early termination clause and joined what was already the most star-studded class in free agent history. Pierce’s announcement may have come as a surprise to some but his decision makes a lot of fiscal sense. Pierce will forego the more than $20 million that he is owed by the Celtics next year but will be well positioned to ink a deal worth over $90 million during the next four years which would take him into the twilight of his career (Pierce would be 36 by that time). In all likelihood Pierce will give the Celts the first crack at signing him but he’ll have a number of options and here’s why:

Most importantly Pierce will never have a better market in which to cash in big time than this offseason. That may seem odd considering he will be playing second fiddle to the James-Wade-Bosh triumvirate who will be the core targets of every NBA team with enough cap space (Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Cleveland, Miami etc.). However Pierce’s monetary value will actually be heightened because of this as teams that fail to land one of the big three will feel a lot of pressure from their fans to make some sort of splash during free agency (these teams have been shedding cap space at an unprecedented rate to position themselves and all lack a true centerpiece). The huge contracts that will be signed by the big 3 will also be used as leverage by Pierce and his agent to pump up his value (the top free agent contracts in any sport generally serve to define how the rest of the market will be valued, players will compare themselves in every which way to a player that has signed for big money and teams are hard-pressed to argue, especially if they’re desperate). Pierce is pretty much guaranteed to make bank this offseason wherever he signs.

I would still think Pierce is mostly to re-sign with the Celtics and pretty much ensure that he will finish his career there. He is a smart guy and he knows that his value as a player could have been greatly diminished by the time his current contract ended if he suffered from age and injuries. Pierce has also given himself the option to have some influence over how the Celtics’ roster shapes up next year with the threat to sign elsewhere if he doesn’t like the team’s makeup serving as his trump card. This new development adds yet another level of intrigue to what should already be an incredibly exciting NBA offseason.

What To Make Of Mike Vick

Philadelphia Eagles QB Mike Vick made headlines this past weekend after a shooting took place outside of a Virginia nightclub that was hosting Vick’s birthday party last Thursday. Vick’s attorney Larry Woodward maintains that Vick was neither present at the scene of the crime nor the nightclub itself when the shooting took place. Vick has stated that he had already left the party and had been gone for some time before the shooting took place. Virginia Beach police have further stated that Vick “is of no interest to us” in regards to the investigation after Vick spoke with Police and was reported as being “fully cooperative”. Vick did not learn of the shooting until Friday afternoon while he was holding a football camp at Hampton University and running drills with former teammate Roddy White.

The main point of intrigue regarding Vick is that the victim of the shooting was Quanis Phillips who was one of Vick’s co-defendants during his conviction for dogfighting several years ago. As a part of his probation Vick is prohibited with associating with any of his convicted co-defendants although it is unknown at this time whether or not Phillips was invited to the party or if he had any interaction with Vick whatsoever.

The NFL is also investigating to the facts to determine if there is any culpability on Vick’s part. Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that Vick’s margin for error would be “extremely limited” when he lifted his suspension last summer. It’s sad to see Vick involved in another criminal investigation after it had appeared he was back on the right track following a 23-month prison sentence when he returned to the NFL and joined the Eagles last August 13. It will be interesting to see how the NFL choosing to react to this situation especially considering that Vick appears to have almost no involvement with the shooting that was reported at 2:11 AM, nearly 2 hours after Vick said he left the club with Roddy White.

I hope Vick faces no serious repercussions because he appeared for all the world to be doing his best to atone for his crimes, a process that will likely take up the rest of us profession career. Vick only received limited playing time last season but showed flashes of his former self as the season progressed. I believe there is a solid chance that Vick can be the secret weapon Head Coach Andy Reid thought he was getting this coming season. With a year of conditioning and learning the system under his belt as well as a better idea of what works and what doesn’t I think Vick will fit much more snuggly into the versatile Eagles offense in 2010. Vick will also benefit from being the full-time backup QB this year behind first-year starter Kevin Kolb after the departure of Donovan McNabb to Washington. Don’t be surprised to see an increase in the flashes of brilliance we caught from Vick at the end of last year (including a 75-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin in the playoffs) as he is likely to get many more reps this season. Granted he does need to avoid any consequences from the commissioner’s office and perhaps I am being a little too optimistic but if he does do well next year, you heard it here first.

Bienvenidos a Miami?

There's been tons of speculation as to which team Lebron James will sign with once the NBA free agency period begins on July 1st. His main options include New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Miami. Nobody has any idea where he will end up (most sources say Lebron himself is still undecided), and when asked the question, most of the "experts" name one of the four cities before admitting something like, "But nobody knows for sure." Gee, thanks guys.

Yesterday though, Fox's Stephen A. Smith made a bold prediction regarding the resolution of the NBA's largest off-season story. Smith said to Dan Patrick:

I got a call last night from a source and I double-checked it with another and they told me essentially that LeBron James and Chris Bosh are going to tag team and go together and join Dwyane Wade in Miami.

Around 10 o’clock last night or so I heard the news and stayed up for a few more hours and made a few phone calls and I felt comfortable enough to go with what I reported.

I believe it’s highly likely, I wouldn’t say anything is a done deal with LeBron James until it’s signed.

If Smith is right and Lebron ends up in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh this off-season, it could spell the beginning of a Heat dynasty. And why not? We already know that signing high-profile free agents can help a team win, like the 2008 Celtics. Miami's "Big Three" would consist of two of the best guards in the NBA, and a young, athletic big man with room to improve. That makes for a scary outlook in the Eastern Conference for years to come.

FIFA's Response To Criticism Of World Cup Officiating: Censor Replays Of Match Action... What?

Alright I’m sick of FIFA and all their crap. There have been at least half a dozen terrible officiating calls during the World Cup that have either disallowed legitimate goals or allowed illegitimate ones. They have been incredibly blatant and have had a serious effect on the outcomes of matches considering how few goals are scored in the World Cup and how a change in the scoreboard can seriously alter how the two teams play the rest of the match in terms of momentum, strategy and heart. The two most grievous offenses were England’s no-goal against Germany that was clearly a yard past the goal line and Argentina’s first goal against Mexico where the goal scorer Tevez was several feet offside. Those two calls were much worse than the phantom calls that removed a pair of US goals against Slovenia and Algeria (which were still terrible in their own right) because it only took a single replay to show just how wrong the referees had been. In both cases every player and coach as well as everyone in the stadium for that matter could see the injustice and most were demanding that the refs overrule their decision.

This kind of thing has happened before and FIFA maintains their stance that they “will consider using electronic replay” but for some reason nothing ever materializes. In my opinion FIFA thinks way too highly of itself and its product and doesn’t want to “taint its tradition” with modern technology. They seems to have this idea that human error is an integral part of the game and if a referee misses a call at high speeds then the plays should just deal with it and move on.

They hammered this point home this week by announcing that they will now censor the replays of live action shown on the stadiums’ big screens in response to criticism of officiating, specifically citing Mexico’s protest over Argentina’s second round goal which was sparked after the replay showed how offside the Argentines were. I am personally amazed at the hubris FIFA and their officials are showing us right now by not being willing to admit their mistakes until well after the match in which they happened so their mistakes cannot be challenged. Now they won’t even show replays when they mess up so players and fans won’t get mad at them. That is simply cowardice.

I can understand not overturning poor calls on congested plays in the box like the ones that robbed Team USA. A good comparison can be seen in NFL officiating; there is holding along the offensive line on almost every single play and it is up to the refs to judge how egregious the infraction is, sometimes they get it right, sometimes they make bad calls. The point is you can’t go back and review every penalty because you’ll start finding penalties on every single play and the game will go nowhere. However when it comes to reviewing goal scoring where it is 99% clear what the correct call is and where the outcome of the game is likely on the line then it is time for referee’s to shelve their pride and make the right call. Or at least admit right then and there that the referee didn’t get a good look at a fast-moving play and was unable to make the correct call.

(Remember the Ed Hochuli call a couple years ago that basically gave the Broncos a win over the Chargers after he blew whistle early on a fumble that would have won the game or San Diego? Hochuli blew his whistle on a fumble initially thinking it was an incomplete pass thereby stopping the play and preventing the Chargers from making the recovery which they easily would have done. Hochuli immediately admitted that it was his fault for blowing the whistle but the rule book states that they play is dead and so he basically said that it was his error that screwed the Chargers but he couldn’t change the rulebook. Hochuli took a lot of heat but also earned a lot of respect for admitting that he was wrong, it was just the nature of the rules and in the aftermath the injustice didn’t seem nearly as bad.)

FIFA simply has no sack (they are a soccer organization after all) and want to sit back on this “human-error and tradition” crap to deflect any legitimate arguments. All they need to do is look at replay in the NHL. There was a perfect example during the NHL finals where the Fiyers scored on a puck that replay showed to be clearly be passed the goal line. The ref initially ruled no-goal because it was hard to tell at such fast speeds. Play continued for several minutes before there was a stoppage but during that time replay officials were able to see the replay and realize their error. They took the opportunity at the first possible stoppage to review the play where it was ruled a good goal and the clock was reset. The NHL literally erased several minutes of game time because they missed a pivotal goal but quickly moved to rectify the error and serve justice, not a single person had a problem with it.

Now why can’t FIFA do that?

NBA Draft: Kentucky G John Wall Taken First Overall (Duh), Ohio State's Evan Turner Number Two

In a move that surprised no one in the sports world the Washington Wizards selected super-star Freshman John Wall who came off of a brilliant rookie campaign at the University of Kentucky last year under John Calipari. Wall was anointed to be the Number 1 overall selection after his first game in college last season, simply because he is just that good. He's got athleticism, speed, can shoot, can throw it down, you name it he's got it. He compares very well to Derek Rose, another diaper dandy produced by Calipari at Memphis at few years ago, who was also the first pick in the draft by the Chicago Bulls and has met expectations so far. Wall has everything it takes to become one of the next generation of stars in the NBA along with Rose and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant to name a few. Now he has to put aside the hype and put the work in to become truly great, I don't think anybody wants to see another Michael Beasley formerly of Kansas State.

I really liked what the Philadelphia 76ers did with 2nd overall pick by taking last season's Naismith Player Of The Year in Evan Turner. Turner is a versatile SG who averaged over 20 points and 9 rebounds a game last year for the Buckeyes. Turner is the kind of all-around scoring threat that the Sixers haven't had since the days of Allen Iverson (not including the 20 or so games he played this year before flaming out). Andre Iguodala has become the face of the franchise and while he is a talented player he doesn't have the ability to make big shots to win games that is so necessary to being one of the NBA's elite (just ask Kobe). I think Turner can help right the ship in Philadelphia which had a rather dreadful season last year. Only time will tell with these guys but Wall and Turner are probably as close to a lock in the NBA Draft as you are going to find.

Seriously Adidas, Go F*ck Yourselves

I generally try to keep it neutral on this blog but I've recently come across Adidas new marketing campaign and am now compelled to boycott all Adidas products for the rest of my life. Just when I thought George Lucas had run out of ways to shameless milk the cash-cow that was once (and now only partially is) one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of cinematography, he goes and sells Star Wars out to Adidas so they can pair it with David Beckham and Snoop Dogg. This new "Originals" campaign (seriously how f*cking original is splicing up some of the best scenes in the Star Wars Trilogy?) is repulsive to me. What's the point? If this were in the music world and somebody made a mash-up like this and burned it for me I would immediately pop the CD out and break it... then throw it out the window and run it over with my car... repeatedly. I don't know what Adidas is unveiling in January but I can guarantee you it will be stupider than these commercials. I can't even begin to go in to detail about how I feel about this because my language will offend far, far too many liberal activist groups and get myself blackballed by the ACLU. I don't even know why I'm posting this videos.

Soccer Links

Yup, I've caught Soccer Fever like many other Americans with the events of the World Cup. I'm really into it, and yesterday's game featured a moment that will live with the great ones in american sports.

Anyway, all this soccer watching I've been doing has been great, but I can't help but lament about something. At least for this month, don't you wish guys like Lebron James, Anquan Boldin, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Desean Jackson, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, Adrian Peterson, and Josh Smith - guys with tremendous size and athleticism - had been born with a soccer ball at their feet instead of whatever else they had? I mean, I can't help it considering there's nothing going on right now besides baseball. Just imagine McNabb clearing the ball from the center back position, down the left sideline to a streaking Desean Jackson, who doesn't score a touchdown, but crosses it to Randy Moss awaiting the header in the 6' box. Or Lebron shouldering through three defenders and feeding Kobe on a run. I'm not saying I'd rather see these guys on a soccer pitch than a football field or a basketball court, or that I don't like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey (I do), I'm just saying that the rest of the world isn't getting a true taste of american athletics when they see our squad. Sure, these guys are great, but with how difficult it is to make it as a professional football, basketball, baseball, or hockey player these days, it's a shame that more of today's athletes weren't introduced to (or didn't stick with) soccer when they were younger.

Anyway, here are some cool videos of some of the top goal-scorers in this World Cup. Enjoy, and GO USA!

Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon -

Lionel Messi - Argentina -

Steven Gerrard - England - (my favorite video)

Christiano Ronaldo - Portugal

Kaka - Brazil

Clint Dempsey - USA

Landon Donovan Saves USA Soccer In Stoppage Time

It took more than 90 minutes of regulation time but the US World Cup squad and captain Landon Donovan were able to avoid a major disappointment and advance out of group play by beating Algeria 1-0. The US needed a win and a win only today to advance after England took a 1-0 lead early in their match against Slovenia. The boys in blue (or in today's case white) played aggressively the entire contest but could not find the net thanks to a combination of missed shots, great Algerian goaltending and more tough officiating (a Clint Dempsey goal was disallowed in the 20th minute on a poor offsides call). Most US fans were feeling an inevitable sense of dread as the game crept into the final minutes knowing that a 0-0 draw would eliminate both teams. Thankfully the leaders of Team USA saved the day in the 91st minute as G Tim Howard started a terrific counter-attack with a long outlet pass to Donovan up the sideline who found striker Jozy Altidore streaking into the box. Altidore then sent the ball into the middle where Dempsey put a shot on Algerian goalkeeper Rais M'Bohli (who was downright stingy throughout the contest) who stopped it but couldn't control the rebound that came out to Donovan who buried the biggest goal is US World Cup history.

This victory means a whole hell of a lot to Team USA and its fans. Not only have they advanced to the knockout round and won our group for the first time since 1930 but the team also showed us a level of patience and maturity that bodes well moving on in the tournament. There was plenty of cause for frustration throughout this game for the US but they never let it bother them and persevered to the final whistle. Nobody besides the Argentinians have displayed a consistently superior level of play in this World Cup which leaves the field wide open for this US team. I'm not saying I'm predicting the US to make a run at the Cup (yet...) but with so many 1-0 games it doesn't take a whole lot for a major upset, especially when a team comes together and plays with heart which I think is what we saw today against Algeria. The dream of Team USA lives on.

In other World Cup news the French National Team completed their WC disaster with a lifeless 2-1 loss to South Africa yesterday. The French team was in shambles after striker Nicolas Anelka was dismissed from the team after criticizing his coach after their opening 0-0 tie against Uruguay. The French team refused to practice after the dismissal and simply fell apart as a result, losing their final two games. This was an example of terrible management as it is pretty clear that everyone on this teamed hated their coach and refused to play for him. I honestly can't say France deserved any better considering they shouldn't have even qualified for the World Cup after a blatantly missed handball in qualifying screwed Team Ireland and landed France in the tournament.

                          Avoir les Bleues

After Group Play I think Argentina, Germany, Brazil and Portugal are the teams to beat.

Strasburg: Most K's Ever in First Three Starts

MLB.com - In case you've been under a proverbial rock these last couple weeks, you're aware of the success of baseball pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg. In his first start (6/8/10) he recorded 14 k's over 7 innings and didn't allow a walk. That's not just a great performance because it's his first start. That's a great performance because only 6 guys have done that, ever. In his second start, he only (only?) struck out 8 batters, and in his third start, last night, he recorded 10 k's. However his total of 32 strikeouts over 3 starts smashes the former record of 29, set in 1971 by Astros pitcher J.R. Richard.

With Bryce Harper on his way to the Nationals as well after being selected first overall in the 2010 draft, there could be some exciting years to come in the Nation's Capitol.

USA Completes Stunning Comeback Against Slovenia, Then Gets Royally F*cked By Terrible Referee

The USA soccer team fell behind 0-2 in the first half against Slovenia this morning and looked like a lifeless bunch at half time. Team captain Landon Donovan would not let his team go gently into the night however and scored a terrific goal early in the second half to cut the lead to 1-2. The USA played their hearts out for the rest of the contest and were rewarded for their effort with an 82' equalizer by coach's son Michael Bradley. The US appeared to have taken a 3-2 lead several minutes later as Maurice Edu buried a shot off of a Donovan free kick from just outside the box. However, the referee had blown the whistle and disallowed the goal despite the fact that the replay showed not a single infraction on the US side during the kick. In fact the only call that could have been made was on a Slovenian defender who was holding Bradley which should have resulted in a penalty kick. The rest of the match finished without much excitement as the US appeared a bit deflated after the bad call.

Referee Koman Coulibaly made a mockery of officiating throughout the entire contest. He missed a number of important fouls, gave entirely too many harsh yellow cards to players to both sides, was slow in making some obvious calls and made at least half a dozen phantom calls including a terrible handball call on the USA's Robbie Findley (that clearly went off of his face) resulting in his suspension for the next match for getting his second yellow. The US team is undoubtedly happy to have earned the draw and kept their hopes of advancing beyond group play alive but having the potential game-winner disallowed really seemed to take the wind out of their sails in the final minutes. That replay will be shown again and again and Coulibaly will certainly be criticized for the rest of the tournament.

As disappointed as I was at that no-goal, I have to admit that the world just saw karma at its finest. The US would have lost their opener to England if it wasn't for G Robert Green gift wrapping one of the softest goals in recent memory. Those two breaks certainly balance each other out and while it would have been nice to see the boys in blue grab a win and 3 points in group play, they really can't be upset with the position they are in now, especially after getting behind by two goals early. The US is now hoping for a draw between England and Algeria to give them the best chance of advancing and really need a win in their final game to have a go at this. At this point though, a lot is out of their hands.

Kobe Does Work, Repeats As Champ And Finals MVP

I'm going to let Jack write the real treatise on the outcome of last night's Game 7 but of course I still have some thoughts. First of all I was very impressed by the all around quality of play last night, this was a hard-fought, back and forth battle the whole way. I have nothing but respect for Kobe and the Lakers for being able to come out on top. I have a feeling this one meant more to Kobe than last year's win over Orlando, there's nothing anyone can take away from his performance. In the final minutes it looked like it was about to become a two-man slugfest after Paul Pierce stifled Kobe's dunk attempt (a move that would have sealed the game for the Lakers even with 2:30 left in the 4th) and decided to try and take over. On one possession Pierce pulled down an offensive board and demonstratively shooed PG Rajon Rondo away as if to say "This is my ball and my game." Unfortunately for the Celtics, Pierce tried to split the defense and drive the lane only to be rejected by Pau Gasol sending the ball (and momentum) went back to LA. The Celts were able to get a number of big 3-pointers in the final minute to keep it close but two clutch free throws will 11.7 seconds left by Sasha Vujacic (who hadn't taken a shot all game) sealed the deal.

As great as Kobe played for the entire series and the entire postseason in general. The deciding factor in this game was the play of Pau Gasol down the stretch. Besides his great defense on both Pierce and Garnett, Gasol made all the shots down the stretch that he had to as Boston did its best to stymie Kobe. There was one late shot in particular where Gasol went to the basket, had the ball rejected while it was still in his hands in mid-air and yet was able to hold and finish an incredible little off-balance floating for the bucket. All in all this was a great series from start to finish and even though I thought the Celtics were going to pull it off, I am nothing short of impressed with the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Celtics vs. Lakers Game 7: Anything Else Would Be Uncivilized

It's really fitting, isn't it? A game seven between the Celtics and the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Although the two have only played such a match (sorry, I'm in 'soccer mode' right now), everyone kind of had a feeling that it would be the outcome of the 2010 series.

If you read my last Celtics post, I said that the Celtics would probably come out flat, leading to a Lakers win and an inevitable game seven. What I didn't see coming (and what Rhett deftly pointed out - I guess Boston media forgot to mention it) was the injury to Kendrick Perkins early in the first quarter of Sunday's game. The incident itself was deflating enough, but the ramifications of the big guy's torn MCL and PCL (as reported by Perkins himself) could be far worse. It could be a field-day for Bynum and Gasol.

Rasheed Wallace will be the one mostly responsible for filling Perk's absence. For me, this is a hit or miss situation. I can't question 'Sheed's effort in the playoffs, and I have no doubt that he'll come out guns blazing tonight. What if he gets hurt though? It wasn't too long ago that he suffered back spasms in the Conference Finals, and he could be just another awkward landing away from a repeat occurrence.

I agree with Rhett though (and most of the sports media nation) when I think that this game seven is going to come down to the stars of each team playing well. The key matchup of the game will be Pierce vs. Kobe. The two are the respective hearts of their teams and are the most likely to lead their squads in points. If Pierce wins that matchup though, Ray Allen finds at least a happy medium, and 'Sheed pesters Pau Gasol enough, I believe the Celtics can escape LA with another NBA title.

Game 7 Bound

Facing elimination the Los Angeles Lakers came out like gang-busters in front of their home fans and beat up on a lifeless Boston Celtics team from the opening tip to the closing whistle to earn a much needed 89-67 victory last night to force a Game 7. The Lakers got production from everyone on their bench including Ron Artest and Derek Fisher who struggled in the games played in Boston. There was an electricity in the Staples Center in Los Angeles that we have seen before in these playoffs as the Lakers’ fans would not their team’s season end last night. On the other side Boston came out like a team playing with a 1-game cushion. There was no effort, no hustle, no urgency and simply no heart as they got outplayed by Los Angeles for the entire contest.

Personally I don’t think many people were surprised (except for a particular correspondent on this blog who may now not be so certain of an upcoming Celtics victory parade this coming weekend – maybe he should stop getting all of his material and ideas from Boston Barstool – but I digress) as you knew the Lakers were going to put together their best game in a win-or-go-home situation, especially when everyone besides Kobe mailed it in the past two games. This is the kind of series that really needs 7 games to be solved and we weren’t disappointed.

I think there is a much bigger story from last night that a lot of people may be overlooking as we head to Game 7. Celtics C Kendrick Perkins went down with a knee injury in the 1st and did not return, his status for Thursday remains uncertain which is a bad sign for C’s fans as no matter what Perkins will not be at 100%, maybe not even close. Perk has anchored the Celtic defensive effort that got them this far and was the sole reason they were able to shut down Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard time and again during the Eastern Conference Finals. Lakers big man Andrew Bynum may be playing hurt but will be posed to have a big day tomorrow if Boston if forced to start Glen Davis. Their only depth behind Davis is former Duke standout Shelden Williams who looked pretty awful last night including botching a wide-open dunk under the basket on his first touch.

Despite all of that this Game 7 will come down to the stars. I’m personally excited for a showdown between Kobe and Paul Pierce. I’ve been saying that Paul Pierce will decide this series and it really looks to be shaping up that way. I think most people can agree that Kobe is going to have another great game tomorrow night, this is his 7th trip to the NBA Finals in 14 seasons as a pro. If Pierce can flip that proverbial switch I’ve been talking about than everything will fall into place for Boston: Rondo will only be asked to make his handful of electric plays in transition, KG will only be called upon for his mid-range jumper and Ray Allen will be able to chill on the perimeter and drain killer 3’s. No matter what these teams are too good and too experienced for this game to be anything but an instant classic.

Big 12 Looks To Survive

After weeks of speculation it turns out that the Big 12 Conference isn’t going to dissolve the way many of thought it would. There was a great deal of controversy this NCAA football offseason as the Pac 10 and Big 10 both extended significant offers to a number of Big 12 schools to come and join them. Both the Pac 10 and Big 10 are able to provide much more lucrative television contracts and revenue streams that simply weren’t available in the Big 12 despite the conference’s storied success on the gridiron. The Pac 10 and Big 10 have performed poorly in recent years as major programs like Michigan and UCLA have seemingly fallen off the map allowing the SEC to become the most dominant force in college football. With the inevitable downward spiral that will be the USC Trojans over the next few years the situation for the Pac 10 became even more dire. Last week Nebraska made the decision to leave the Big 12 and join the Pac 10, everyone assumed Big 12 powerhouses Texas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M would follow suit during the next few days. I think many people were surprised by the breaking news on ESPN’s bottom line when it was announced that Texas had informed the Pac 10 that they would be sticking to together with Oklahoma and A&M and that all 3 teams would remain in a now 10-team Big 12.

I’m relieved that the Big 12 will not be disintegrated because it would entail a sort of paradigm shift in NCAA football with such a large scale re-alignment. While it would have been sad to see the tarnishing of the traditions of Big 12 football I think the biggest victim in this whole process would have been the University of Kansas. The Jayhawks have always been a perennial basketball powerhouse but have never fielded much of a football team. Considering there is so much more money in college football compared to basketball it is likely that Kansas would not have been offered an invitation to join either the Big 10 or Pac 10. Kansas basketball would have most likely wound up playing in the Mountain West Conference for the foreseeable future which I believe would be a major blow to their program. As it is Nebraska will be the only major school to leave the Big 12 and really that isn’t that big of a loss, despite being ranked at the end of last season the Cornhuskers haven’t been a factor since 2001 when they played for the National Championship under the leadership of Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch (see below). The Big 12 will certainly have a new look next year but all in all I think a major miscalculation was avoided.

Cool Luggage, Pau

Obviously this comes from Barstoolsports, and it's a photo of Lakers forward Pau Gasol taken the other day as the Lakers boarded a flight from Boston to LA. That being said, can the Celtics honestly lose to someone wearing that? A satchel? I don't think so.

There are a few people who might disagree with me though...

View HERE

HERE,

HERE,

and most importantly, here (below)

Interleague play is in full swing this year as the Mets travel to Cleveland to take on the Indians beginning tonight. The Mets boast a 5-1 record against the AL after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles on the road this past weekend (granted the O's are a league worst 17-47 this year but... you know... whatever). The Amazins are a season-high 7 games over .500 at 35-28 and have gone 15-5 in their last 20 contests and moving within a game and a half of first place Atlanta. They have won 4 straight games and 8 of the last 9 and look to keep on rolling as they hand the ball to ace Johan Santana tonight. Santana has once again suffered from a lack of run support and shoddy bullpen work this year, compiling only a 4-3 record despite his 2.96 ERA (which is all the more impressive considering that includes a start in which he gave up 10 earned runs in 3.2 innings).

The team's recent success can be attributed to the stability of both the starting rotation and the starting lineup. With Mike Pelfrey's emergence as one of the NL's top pitchers alongside Santana and pleasant surprises provided by journeyman knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and 31-year old Japanese rookie Hisanori Takahashi the rotation has finally started to take shape over the last few weeks. It now appears that the final piece of the puzzle may have fallen in place with the return of lefty Jonathan Niese from the DL who turned in one of the best pitching performances in Mets history in his last outing, tossing a 1-hit, 9-inning shutout where he retired the final 21 batters he faced and struck out 6 compared to 0 walks.

The Mets could be poised to go on a serious roll and some of their slumping bats have begun to heat up including 3B David Wright (who hit two 2-run HR's and a double in Sunday's 11-4 over Baltimore giving him 47 RBIs this season, good for 3rd in the NL) as well as SS Jose Reyes and RF Jeff Francoeur. Hell even LF Jason Bay hit his first HR on the road this season and his first anywhere in nearly a month this weekend. Mix that together with some surprise power from utility-man Chris Carter (who hit a pair of 3-run HR's as a DH this weekend) and the continued success of rookie 1B Ike Davis and the Mets are sporting a simmering recipe for success.

The Indians have struggled so far this season posting a 25-37 record but the Mets cannot afford to look past them as they get ready for a weekend showdown against their cross-town rivals at Yankee Stadium. The Mets took 2 of 3 from the Yankees in Citi Field earlier this year but both teams are playing a different brand of baseball at this point in the season. I get the feeling that this is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Subway Series since 2006 but first the Mets have to take care of business in Cleveland during the week.

The Home (Road) Stretch

Don’t get me wrong, the NBA Finals aren't over yet. Not nearly. The Celtics are still going to win, but clinching the series in LA is going to be no easy task.

Nobody thought the C’s could even make it this far. Sportscasters and journalists all across the country wrote them off as an over-the-hill team of geriatrics that had no business playing on Kobe’s court. That prediction came true, eh?

I usually reserve such gloating exclusively for the Pats and Bants because I know those teams can back up the talk (I’m a little more cautious with the Red Sox), but the incredible momentum swing that happened during games four and five of these series has me glowing with Celtic Pride (a pretty appropriate movie plot for the 2010 Finals).

The series had an interesting feel to it throughout the first three games. The Lakers finished the stretch up 2-1, and appeared to dominate the Celtics despite relinquishing the middle game. The loathsome stars of the west coast demonstrated their superiority over Boston's green and white. Pau Gasol put on a show-stopping masquerade in L.A., leading more than one Boston talk radio host to question whether he was the best big man in the NBA. Kobe turned heads too, but his performance was nothing out of the ordinary, consisting of impossible jump-shots, relentless head-fakes, and infinite mouth-scowls (I know ‘mouth’ doesn’t belong there, but I like the continuity).

They didn’t beat the Celtics though. The Celtics beat the Celtics. Paul Pierce looked pouty when he couldn’t bring the ball up court, and Rondo lacked the authority to take the ball to the rim. Ray Allen was invisible (almost literally) for two of the three games, and KG played like the Monstars just robbed him of his basketball powers. The performance of the referees can’t be ignored either. I hate blaming officials for a loss because I believe a team shouldn’t put itself in a position where an official can alter a game. However officials shouldn’t make the game about themselves: people tune in to watch the players, not the old people in gray workout shirts and all-black sneaks. Blowing the whistle as often as they did disrupted the rhythm of the games and dissipated any momentum that either team developed. It makes for bad basketball. Ask anyone. Foul shots can decide a game, but they don’t necessarily make that game entertaining or enthralling.

You know where the excitement has come from these last two games? From the Boston-freaking-Celtics. Pierce, Allen (R & T), Rondo, Garnett, Perkins, Davis, Robinson, Wallace, Scalabrine (gotta show him some love) have ALL flipped the switch for games four and five, invigorated by the home crowd’s “Beat LA” (read: F*ck LA) chant. Hopefully they can sustain that energy 3,000 miles away, and if they can, I see a Celtics victory in Game Six. More likely than not though, they'll endure a slight drop on Tuesday night and deliver the Lakers a Game Seven at home. If sports have taught me anything, it's that the Celtics' team-first philosophy will carry them over Kobe Bryant (and the Lakers). Just ask Celtics Town's Jay King. Being the greatest player in the NBA sure is cool, but it doesn’t garner you a Jordan-esque fifth ring. Ask the Pittsburgh Steelers: winning the “one for the thumb” takes a team effort. Or at least a team effort led by an accused sexual offender...

Hm. Maybe LA has a (mug)shot after all...

Fiiiiinally, Jack Has Come BACK...to Blogspot.

Hello hello internet sports fans. It's great to be back on the web and I have to thank Rhett for that tremendous introduction. My name is Jack, and to answer your first questions, yes I am a National Champion, and everything you've heard about brickbreaker is true (Rhett doesn't lie). As for my love of puppies though, the Rhett-man was a bit off-base. The only puppies I like haven't been seen this side of the USA Network since 1999.

Rhett (or R-Diddy as he's known on the mean streets of Hartford) correctly diagnosed my Boston/New England bias as well. I'm going to try to keep it kosher for most of you New Yorker's though because I understand not everyone loves Boston sports like I do. I mean, the Bills still have fans and they lost four Superbowls in a row. Four. In a row. At least you still have NY salt potatoes. And Eli Manning.

Eli f****** Manning.

So like I said, I'll try to lay-off the NY-bashing, but forgive me if a few comments slip out here and there. Hopefully though, this is the beginning of a great relationship between myself and Rhett's readers, one that will prove fruitful to both parties. And if not, at least I'll get to annoy some native New Yorkers in the process.

Expansion Announcement: Introducing New Name And New Contributing Writer Jack Abbott

For those of you that didn't go to Trinity College this past year my roommate Jack and both began sports blogs (or rather I began and he followed suit at my suggestion). We've decided to join forces and expand this blog which will now revert to its original title: Two Sports Cents, effectively immediately. The aim here is to double the blog's content output and to counterbalance the large proportion of Philadelphia Eagles and New York Mets news that gets posted (at least a little).

Jack will introduce himself (to those who don't already know him) and put up his first posts soon. I should warn anyone from New York that he is an avid Boston Sports fan so don't be surprised if you notice a bias in his analysis. Jack is a former D-III Baseball National Champion (and hasn't shut up about it for the past two years) who has a BrickBreaker high score over 30,000 and loves puppies (see above). He is also a former TSPN football analyst and I have some examples of our work below.

TSPN Football Preview vs. Amherst '09


(Note: My piece only took one take. That's harder than you'd imagine if you take a look at our blooper reel)

TSPN Football Preview Bloopers
(WARNING: Contains adult language... A shit-load of it)

Worst Reporters Ever (TSPN) - Watch more Funny Videos

Celtics Take 3-2 Series As Finals Head Back To LA

It was Paul Pierce early, it was Rajon Rondo late and it was stingy defense throughout the contest that gave the Boston Celtics a much needed 92-86 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals despite a spirited 38 point performance from Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics led throughout most of the contest but the Lakers were able to get within 4 in the game's final minutes to keep the issue in doubt. The Celtics benefitted from an officiating mistake after Kobe hit 3 consecutive free throws to close within 5 with 1:30 left in the 4th quarter. The Celtics held the ball and got it to Ray Allen for a 3 as the shot clock expired, Allen failed to hit the rim on the shot and possession should have gone to the Lakers however it was too hard for the refs to tell in real time and the Celtics retained possession with a fresh 24.

Paul Pierce was on fire in the 1st half and early in the 2nd, which allowed Boston to weather Kobe's 19-point barrage in the 3rd quarter. Kobe was on his game in the 2nd half but the rest of his team failed to show up preventing LA from making much headway. The Celtics were charged-up late thanks to the energy provided by PG Rajon Rondo whose hustle plays were the difference in the game's final minutes. Once again the Celtics got contributions from all of their players including 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks from Kevin Garnett. The versatility of this team's offense has been very evident in Boston's 3 wins so far in the Finals. The series now moves back to Los Angeles where it will be do or die for Kobe Bryant and his supporting cast. If the rest of the Lakers come out as flat in either of the next 2 games as they did tonight then the Celtics will be hoisting another NBA Championship banner soon.

I expect Kobe to be at his absolute best in Game 6 as he returns to his home court in a must-win elimination game. He is too good and too determined to be anything but spectacular. It's hard to foresee the Lakers losing Game 6 at home after dropping their last 2 in Boston so I think we all need to get ready for a thrilling Game 7 showdown for the NBA Title this week. I think Boston will pull it out in the end but wouldn't be surprised to see Kobe take over and try and win this thing by himself, he's capable of it.

World Cup Opening Weekend: Germans Emerge As An Early Favorite

The highly anticipated World Cup began play this weekend in South Africa. Many of the world's top teams were in action over the last few days including France, Germany and England however there has yet be any particularly compelling contests so far. The much awaited opener for the USA against England looked like it could be a complete disaster after the red coats scored in the opening minutes. The US was largely outplayed but was able to scratch out a 1-1 tie after Clint Dempsey received a gift from God and got the equalizer on a shot that England's goalie Robert Green now famously couldn't corral. The star for the US was G Tim Howard who played a terrific game in net despite sustaining a rib injury in the first half. Howard's health and play in goal will be vital to the team's success if they hope to advance further in this tournament.

No team had yet to distinguish itself as a serious contender in the first few games, most notably France who scuffled to a 0-0 tie against underdog Uruguay. That is until Germany took to the pitch in Sunday's final game against the Socceroo's of Australia. The Germans were simply a well-oiled, offensive machine as they cruised to a 4-0 victory against the Aussie's. The score could have easily been much higher considering the number of chances the Germans had on offense. Germany is a perennial contender at the World Cup and this edition looks to be no different.

USC To Face NCAA Punishment

According to an ESPN source the NCAA is likely going to slap the USC Trojans athletic department with a number of sanctions following an investigation of possible violations by the football and men’s basketball teams. The investigation came after a number of allegations were put forward citing recruiting violations for superstar players like Heisman winner Reggie Bush and basketball phenom O.J. Mayo, all of which turned out to be true. If the Trojans are found culpable it has been reported that football team will face 2-year ban from bowl games, a reduction in scholarships (a number that could be 20 or more) and will likely have to forfeit wins starting from at least the 2004 season. In the last decade under now former Head Coach Pete Carroll the Trojans won 7 Pac-10 titles and a pair of National Championships. It is possible that all of USC’s success over that time could be completely erased from the books like we saw with the University of Michigan’s men’s basketball program of the early 90s during the Fab 5 years.

A lot of people were surprised when Pete Carroll left USC for the Seattle Seahawks this winter but it’s looking more and more like he made the right decision to get out when he did. Carroll had been revered as a college coaching God with all of his success during the past 10 years but now he reputation amongst the coaching ranks will be tarnished. The NCAA has not banned a football team from postseason play in the last 7 years but an Infractions Committee spokesman was quoted as saying they wanted to make an example of USC, I can’t really disagree with that thinking.

These sanctions will have a serious impact on college football in California and the Pac-10 in general, in fact it will probably have an effect on college recruiting throughout the country. Under Pete Carroll the Trojans brought in the best High School athletes year after year and maintained a talent pool that drew the ire of every other team in the Pac-10. In addition to dominating the state of California, USC was also notorious for pilfering some of the best players from the North-East and other regions where there aren’t many prestigious football programs. The bowl ban and scholarship reduction is going to cripple USC’s football program for years to come but may go a long way to restoring the former glory of many other teams in the Pac-10 like Cal and UCLA who have fallen into mediocrity as USC rose to astronomical levels since 2000. The NCAA is essence is going to break up the Trojans’ recruiting monopoly so you can expect to see a lot more talent on teams that have competed with USC for recruits in the coming years. Head Coach Lane Kiffin will have a tough task ahead of him and may be regretting taking his dream job after spending only one year as the coach of the Tennessee Volunteers before jumping ship. Then again he has the opportunity to prove that he really is a great coach if he can steer USC through the next two years and re-establish one of the Nation’s most glorified programs in the coming years.

As an endnote it will interesting to see how the rest of Pete Carroll’s career pans out. He was a failure in his first attempt at NFL head coaching with the New York Jets and New England Patriots before coming to USC. I never thought Carroll was a particularly good game-planner or play-caller, he was simply a terrific recruiter who won games with talent alone. Now it appears he brought that talent in thanks to illicit means and if he cannot succeed at the helm of the Seahawks I feel many college programs will be very skeptical of hiring him where only a few months ago they would drooling at the opportunity. In an off season filled with college football shakeups, USC’s punishment will have far-reaching implications.

Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup in OT of Game 6

Got to hand it to the Blackhawks, they were the superior team in this series and showed it in games 5 and 6. Too much offense, too much depth and the Flyers were simply out of gas. I was impressed with how Philadelphia was able to rally in the 3rd period but ultimately this series was all about Chicago. It sucks that they had to celebrate in Philadelphia and the refs could have done a much better job signaling the game-winning goal in OT that everyone on the ice seemed to miss but it was a good game and a good series regardless. Get 'em next year.

Also former Flyers Centerman Jeremy Roenick cried on national TV in case you missed it

Flyers Face Elimination Again Tonight, 8 PM

The puck drops on tonight on game 6 on the Stanley Cup Finals in Philadelphia where the favored Chicago Blackhawks hold a 3-2 series lead and look to eliminate the Flyers on the road. That will be a difficult task as a home team has yet to lose a game in these finals and the Flyers have won their last 7 games at the Wachovia Center this postseason.

After falling in an 0-2 hole the Flyers rallied to win both games at home before the series shifted back to Chicago. After a series filled with close games the Blackhawks showed up ready to play in game 5 by jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the first period. The Flyers were able to mount some offense of their own but the Blackhawks’ offensive attack was simply too much as the home team earned a 7-4 victory. Chicago’s effort was spearheaded by Dustin Byfuglein who had been largely absent in the first four games of the series thanks to effective defense from the Flyers’s Chris Pronger.

Both teams have suffered from inconsistent goaltending in this series with the Flyers taking the worst of it in game 5. Michael Leighton had been stalwart in the net after replacing the injured Brian Boucher in round 2 of the playoffs, leading all playoff goaltenders in GAA, Save % and Shutouts entering the Finals. Leighton’s struggles in the first period of game 5 forced Flyers’ coach Peter Laviolette to pull him in favor of the freshly healed Boucher, who fared only slightly better. While there is no official word on who will start game 6 Laviolette has hinted at Leighton who has seen much more action lately but don’t be surprised if coaching staff has a short leash with him.

As we have seen the Flyers have been in this position before this postseason and will once again need everything they have in order to stave off elimination. They’ll need to be motivated by the home crowd and perhaps more importantly by the image of the Blackhawks carrying the Stanley Cup all over their home ice.

Trying To Find Some NFL News

The months of May, June and July are the doldrums of NFL news updates after the NFL draft in late April. For most of us this is simply too long of a time to wait, especially after the impending conclusion of the NBA and NHL seasons in the next week or so. I decided it was time for some NFL (read Eagles) news, even if there isn’t really that much to talk about.

The Philadelphia Eagles began their final series of voluntary OTAs this with two notable absences. Pro-Bowl CB Asante Samuel has left the team because of a recent death in the family while electrifying WR DeSean Jackson is a holdout because he is unhappy with his contract situation. I’m not really bothered by this hold out because it is entirely a business decision and Jackson has displayed absolutely no animosity toward the team despite voicing his desire to be paid what he deserves. It is unlikely that Jackson will receive the contract extension he is seeking this offseason for two reasons. First the Eagles’ management has been notoriously stinging when it comes to contract extensions and has rarely caved to players’ holdouts and trade demands (a relevant case is that of CB Sheldon Brown a few years ago, the often-underrated Brown wanted a contract extension after a terrific 2007 campaign and demanded an offseason trade. The Eagles had him under contract through last season and played hardball knowing Brown was nearing the end of his NFL effectiveness. There was no ill will afterwards and Brown continued to be a stalwart fan favorite for the next two seasons.) Secondly the prospect of a lockout following the 2010 has become a near certainty at this time and teams are clearly unwilling to commit large salaries and years to players in the face of that. In fact don’t expect any major contract extensions anywhere in the league this summer (with the possible exception of a guy like Colts QB Peyton Manning, but then again he’s no run-of-the-mill NFL superstar).

Offseason holdouts have become a normal procedure for players seeking a pay increase and don’t carry the same sinister implications they used to. Generally the only really serious holdouts tend to come from highly drafted rookies like Michael Crabtree last year or Jamarcus Russell in 2007 which lasted nearly the entire season. Everyone in the Eagles’ organization knows that DeSean Jackson deserves to be paid like one of the best WRs in the game (which of course he is) but they are further limited by a rule which only allows salary increases of up to 30% on existing contracts. I think the best way the team could handle this situation would be to hand Jackson a big chunk of guaranteed money in excess of $10 million. That would allay his contract demands and allow him to get back to work with QB Kevin Kolb as he prepares for his first season as the team’s undisputed starter. I believe the Eagles’ offense is set to explode this year in a way most people don’t think possible. People tend to forget that starters Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy were rookies last year despite their heavy workload. Jackson and Maclin had very similar rookie campaigns and we all know what happened in Jackson’s sophomore season, if Maclin can come anywhere near the production we saw from Jackson last year it could be a long 2010 for NFC secondaries.

On a side note that Washington Redskins have been courting former Eagles RB Brian Westbrook. The ‘Skins have been stockpiling veteran running backs this year with additions of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker but I wouldn’t be surprised if they shipped Parker out in training camp if they brought Westbrook in. If Westbrook can be somewhat healthy in 2010 he could be a nice albeit not-as-explosive safety blanket for QB Donovan McNabb. Personally I wouldn’t mind seeing that reunion, especially since I am much more content with their replacements in Philadelphia and am only minutely concerned that those two might come back to haunt the Eags.

Strasburg Dominates in MLB Debut

Washington Nationals rookie SP Stephen Strasburg made perhaps the most anticipated debut in the history of the MLB on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He didn’t disappoint. In fact he was nothing short of brilliant and dominating. Strasburg hurled 7 very strong innings with the only blemish being a 2-run homer on a good piece of hitting by Delwyn Young of the Pirates. Other than that one pitch I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a guy pitch as well as Strasburg did. He allowed on 4 hits over 7 while striking out a somewhat ridiculous 14 hitters and walking none. Strasburg finished his start by striking out the final 7 batters he faced and by the end of his outing they didn’t even stand a chance.

Last season Strasburg’s college coach, HOF player Tony Gwynn, said he thought Strasburg could have been an All-Star right then (a month before he was the number 1 overall selection). I immediately dismissed that idea as one of those hype-building statements coaches and scouts like to make about athletes to increase their exposure. After watching a single Strasburg start I realize I was wrong. Very wrong.

Strasburg has four terrific pitches: a 100 mph 4-seam fastball, a mid- to high-90s 2-seam fastball (that moves more than most MLB sliders), a changeup that he can throw any time for a strike and a power curve that has sharp, late movement. Strasburg can get a strikeout with any of those 4 pitches and to make matters worse for hitters has impeccable control of all of them.

Now obviously once there’s enough tape hitters around the league will have a better idea of what Strasburg is trying to do on the mound but then again there’s plenty of tape on guys like Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum and that hasn’t seemed to stop them from winning Cy Youngs. Stephen Strasburg is simply the real deal. Period. Unfortunately this guy now pitches in the NL East and the Mets will have to face him multiple times a season for years to come. This guy has 4 “out” pitches and again can throw any of them at any time in the count, that’s is a rare talent, Nolan Ryan-like talent.

Stephen Strasburg has arrived, MLB hitters beware. 

I Could Listen To Shaq Talk Forever

On Winning

“I’ve won at every level, except college and pro.”

“I’ve succeeded at every level, except high school and college.”

After winning the state high school basketball championship:

REPORTER: Shaquille, what do you attribute your team’s success to?

SHAQ: I attribute it to me.

SHAQ: Everybody always talks about winning.  Phil took us to the Finals four out of five years.  We won three years out of five.  To my math, that’s 60% of the time.

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER: You can count?

“Phil took us to the finals three out of the five years and you want to fire him and want to bring in Mike Krzyzewski? Come on, man. That’s like being married to J-Lo, then dropping J-Lo for a girl that’s 5-10, 480 (pounds).”

(After Game 3 of the 2004 NBA Finals, when the Lakers lost to the Pistons 88-68)

REPORTER: There was a certain part of the game when you were getting the ball down low and you were scoring every time, and then it seemed like you guys went away from that.

SHAQ: Yeah. The story of my life, buddy.

For more quotes follow this link:

www.shaqquotes.com