By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- I don’t have any experience in the matter, but I would imagine living away from your native country would be difficult to do. Especially when you end up living away from home, in a place where they don’t speak your language.
Fausto Carmona came to the United States last year from the Dominican Republic and signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. Both sides probably thought they made a huge mistake. Carmona was placed into the closer role, but he never ended up with even a single save. He blew nine of them in nine opportunities, and ended the 2006 season with a record of 1-10.
I know that if I was in the same situation Carmona was in, I would have given up and gone back home. But that is what makes Carmona so special; he spent the off-season working as hard as he could to become a great pitcher. Then, when Cliff Lee got injured early in the season, he got his chance to become a starter. He has not disappointed.
Carmona (13-4) has an ERA of 3.31, and is tied for the most wins in the Major League. He has become a ground ball specialist; forcing three ground ball outs for every fly ball out. He is every manager’s dream pitcher with nasty enough stuff that he could become an eventual Cy Young winner. His turnaround is unbelievable and unprecedented, but it doesn’t appear to be a fluke.
The Indians got lucky in this case, finding the future ace of their pitching rotation. And oh yeah, they are only paying him $387,500. That is about three percent of what the Yankees are paying Andy Pettitte, and he has six wins. Go figure.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Cubs continue unlikely run
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- When the Chicago Cubs spent over $300 million during the busy off-season, many expected the Cubs to at least be better. But it didn’t start out that way.
On June 1st the Cubs were 22-30, and looked to be getting worse. On that day Carlos Zambrano, the ace of the pitching staff, got into a fist fight with catcher Michael Barrett. Zambrano then had a record of 5-5. On the very next day, manager Lou Pinellia came out to argue a call that was clearly correct; ending with him kicking dirt on the umpire and getting a three game suspension.
But things have since turned around. Michael Barrett was traded a little more than a week later, and Zambrano got hot. Since the fight with Barrett, Zambrano is 8-2 with an ERA under 2. He now has the most wins of any pitcher in the National League, and could make a run at the Cy Young.
Some other guys have turned it around as well. Pitcher Ted Lilly (10-4) has gone 6-1 since the Lou Pinellia outburst, and has become a very consistent second man in the rotation. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been as hot as any hitter in the game. Ramirez has upped his average from .299 on June 2nd to .321 as of this morning. The Cubs have finally found that third baseman they have been searching for years to find. They can thank the Pirates for that.
Was all of this success a direct result of Lou Pinellia’s outburst? Maybe not, but you better believe it had something to do with it. Many said Pinellia was not the right man for this job; many were wrong.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- When the Chicago Cubs spent over $300 million during the busy off-season, many expected the Cubs to at least be better. But it didn’t start out that way.
On June 1st the Cubs were 22-30, and looked to be getting worse. On that day Carlos Zambrano, the ace of the pitching staff, got into a fist fight with catcher Michael Barrett. Zambrano then had a record of 5-5. On the very next day, manager Lou Pinellia came out to argue a call that was clearly correct; ending with him kicking dirt on the umpire and getting a three game suspension.
But things have since turned around. Michael Barrett was traded a little more than a week later, and Zambrano got hot. Since the fight with Barrett, Zambrano is 8-2 with an ERA under 2. He now has the most wins of any pitcher in the National League, and could make a run at the Cy Young.
Some other guys have turned it around as well. Pitcher Ted Lilly (10-4) has gone 6-1 since the Lou Pinellia outburst, and has become a very consistent second man in the rotation. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been as hot as any hitter in the game. Ramirez has upped his average from .299 on June 2nd to .321 as of this morning. The Cubs have finally found that third baseman they have been searching for years to find. They can thank the Pirates for that.
Was all of this success a direct result of Lou Pinellia’s outburst? Maybe not, but you better believe it had something to do with it. Many said Pinellia was not the right man for this job; many were wrong.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
I feel bad for...
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND-
Aaron Harang (Cincinnati Reds)
What, who? Exactly. Harang is the ace of the Reds pitching staff, but few know who he is because he is on one of the worst teams in the league. Harang has a 10-2 record with a 3.45 ERA, and oh yeah his team is 42-58. He has accounted for almost 25 percent of his team’s wins, and just last night, he pitched 10 innings and didn’t even get the win. He would be a Cy Young candidate and eventual winner if he was somewhere else, but that is just the reason I feel sorry for him.
Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner)
He had just finished taking care of Pacman Jones, Chris Henry, and Tank Johnson, and was probably feeling pretty good about himself. But then it got a whole lot worse: Michael Vick, an icon in his league, was indicted for dogfighting. I don’t know that any commissioner has had more to deal with in his tenure then Goodell has had to deal with in his last two years. It is completely unfair, but he is doing an outstanding job- at least to this point.
Phoenix Suns
If you read my column yesterday (first of all, thank you), then you know about Tim Donaghy and the NBA scandal. Well, after I wrote that column I went to ESPN.com and read a story written by Bill Simmons. It was extremely well written and pointed me in the direction of YouTube. YouTube is a video site where any person in the world can post a video about any topic. There was a video on there that showed Tim Donaghy clearly blowing calls to help the Spurs and hurt the Suns during Game 3 of that series. It was absolutely pitiful, and totally blatant.
NOTE: ESPN’s Bill Simmons made a great point in his Sports Guy column, something all basketball fans need to think about. When next season rolls around and a bad call is made against your team, you are going to wonder if it is fixed. Tim Donaghy has ruined the NBA as we knew it.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND-
Aaron Harang (Cincinnati Reds)
What, who? Exactly. Harang is the ace of the Reds pitching staff, but few know who he is because he is on one of the worst teams in the league. Harang has a 10-2 record with a 3.45 ERA, and oh yeah his team is 42-58. He has accounted for almost 25 percent of his team’s wins, and just last night, he pitched 10 innings and didn’t even get the win. He would be a Cy Young candidate and eventual winner if he was somewhere else, but that is just the reason I feel sorry for him.
Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner)
He had just finished taking care of Pacman Jones, Chris Henry, and Tank Johnson, and was probably feeling pretty good about himself. But then it got a whole lot worse: Michael Vick, an icon in his league, was indicted for dogfighting. I don’t know that any commissioner has had more to deal with in his tenure then Goodell has had to deal with in his last two years. It is completely unfair, but he is doing an outstanding job- at least to this point.
Phoenix Suns
If you read my column yesterday (first of all, thank you), then you know about Tim Donaghy and the NBA scandal. Well, after I wrote that column I went to ESPN.com and read a story written by Bill Simmons. It was extremely well written and pointed me in the direction of YouTube. YouTube is a video site where any person in the world can post a video about any topic. There was a video on there that showed Tim Donaghy clearly blowing calls to help the Spurs and hurt the Suns during Game 3 of that series. It was absolutely pitiful, and totally blatant.
NOTE: ESPN’s Bill Simmons made a great point in his Sports Guy column, something all basketball fans need to think about. When next season rolls around and a bad call is made against your team, you are going to wonder if it is fixed. Tim Donaghy has ruined the NBA as we knew it.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Gambling with the Game
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- Tim Donaghy had an alleged serious gambling problem, and he took it way too far. Gambling with your own money is one thing, but gambling with the integrity of the NBA- over the line. Now the question becomes “How much will the league be affected?”
The NBA is already starting to draw fewer fans because of the fact that the players don’t always leave it out there on the floor. In select playoff games, sure, but what about the 17th game of the year- or the 30th? For one thing the season is too long, but that is beside the point.
To be completely honest I have mixed emotions on the effect Tim Donaghy will have on the NBA. I don’t think it will make too many fans stay home and forget the game, but I believe television ratings will suffer dearly. Who is going to watch a game where the players aren’t trying and the officials could be cheating? Not I.
On ESPN’s prime time television show, Pardon the Interruption, Dan Levetard made a great point. If one ref is convicted (Donaghy), then who’s to say that more refs aren’t like him and shave points in the same way? Or coaches? Or even players? David Stern has a serious issue on his hands, one that is going to hit the league much harder then Ron Artest did when he went flying into the stands. If anything Artest’s incident brought in more viewers- for a couple of weeks anyway.
Until he is taken to court, Donaghy better be protected because he himself is in extreme danger. Think about all of the people in the nation that are die-hard basketball fans. And what about if he does end up going to prison? He is going to have to be put in a room by himself because he will even be hated by the other inmates. Donaghy faces a long road ahead of him- one that will make him pay for gambling with the NBA.
The only thing Stern can hope for now is that another official is not found to be shaving points in the way Donaghy did. If that happens then watch out- the NBA could be done, forever.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- Tim Donaghy had an alleged serious gambling problem, and he took it way too far. Gambling with your own money is one thing, but gambling with the integrity of the NBA- over the line. Now the question becomes “How much will the league be affected?”
The NBA is already starting to draw fewer fans because of the fact that the players don’t always leave it out there on the floor. In select playoff games, sure, but what about the 17th game of the year- or the 30th? For one thing the season is too long, but that is beside the point.
To be completely honest I have mixed emotions on the effect Tim Donaghy will have on the NBA. I don’t think it will make too many fans stay home and forget the game, but I believe television ratings will suffer dearly. Who is going to watch a game where the players aren’t trying and the officials could be cheating? Not I.
On ESPN’s prime time television show, Pardon the Interruption, Dan Levetard made a great point. If one ref is convicted (Donaghy), then who’s to say that more refs aren’t like him and shave points in the same way? Or coaches? Or even players? David Stern has a serious issue on his hands, one that is going to hit the league much harder then Ron Artest did when he went flying into the stands. If anything Artest’s incident brought in more viewers- for a couple of weeks anyway.
Until he is taken to court, Donaghy better be protected because he himself is in extreme danger. Think about all of the people in the nation that are die-hard basketball fans. And what about if he does end up going to prison? He is going to have to be put in a room by himself because he will even be hated by the other inmates. Donaghy faces a long road ahead of him- one that will make him pay for gambling with the NBA.
The only thing Stern can hope for now is that another official is not found to be shaving points in the way Donaghy did. If that happens then watch out- the NBA could be done, forever.
Friday, July 20, 2007
MLB News and Notes
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With the All-Star break now behind us, every Major League game means so much more. Here are some of the top stories from this week.
Bad News Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals received even more bad news on Thursday night when they found out that their pitching ace, Chris Carpenter, was going to have Tommy John surgery. This means that Carpenter, who has been on the DL since the second day of the season, will miss the rest of 2007 and part of ’08.
How awful could things get for St. Louis? After winning a World Series a year ago, everything has fallen apart. I give the Cardinals credit for hanging in there after they lost all five starting pitchers from last year, and have had to deal with top hitters like Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, and David Eckstein on the DL. If the Cardinals think they really have a chance to catch the Cubs and Brewers in the division, then they need to make a move for a starting pitcher right now. The trading deadline is in a little over a week, and they need all the help they can get.
Sabathia gets win No. 13
C.C. Sabathia had a fantastic first half of the season- nobody can debate that. But he has looked like a completely different pitcher in his last three starts. He has lacked command, given up several home runs, and has failed to work deep into the game. If the Indians have any hope of catching the Tigers in the AL Central, then they are going to need Sabathia on top of his game.
My personal opinion on the situation is that Sabathia is a little bit worried about his future. He loves playing in Cleveland, and wants to remain an Indian as long as possible. But he remains the only core guy not to be signed to a long term contract. Designated hitter Travis Hafner received a four year, $57 million last week, and manager Eric Wedge was resigned through 2010. I think Sabathia is worried that he is going to be offered more money by some other team and may have to leave Cleveland behind. That remains to be seen, but it is a possibility.
Barry Bonds hit home runs No. 752 and 753 on Thursday to pull him within two of Hank Aaron’s record. He is scheduled to play today and Sunday in Milwaukee.
The Boston Red Sox continue to struggle. Boston, who leads the AL East, has lost eight of its last 11 games, and holds just a seven game advantage over the Yankees.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With the All-Star break now behind us, every Major League game means so much more. Here are some of the top stories from this week.
Bad News Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals received even more bad news on Thursday night when they found out that their pitching ace, Chris Carpenter, was going to have Tommy John surgery. This means that Carpenter, who has been on the DL since the second day of the season, will miss the rest of 2007 and part of ’08.
How awful could things get for St. Louis? After winning a World Series a year ago, everything has fallen apart. I give the Cardinals credit for hanging in there after they lost all five starting pitchers from last year, and have had to deal with top hitters like Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, and David Eckstein on the DL. If the Cardinals think they really have a chance to catch the Cubs and Brewers in the division, then they need to make a move for a starting pitcher right now. The trading deadline is in a little over a week, and they need all the help they can get.
Sabathia gets win No. 13
C.C. Sabathia had a fantastic first half of the season- nobody can debate that. But he has looked like a completely different pitcher in his last three starts. He has lacked command, given up several home runs, and has failed to work deep into the game. If the Indians have any hope of catching the Tigers in the AL Central, then they are going to need Sabathia on top of his game.
My personal opinion on the situation is that Sabathia is a little bit worried about his future. He loves playing in Cleveland, and wants to remain an Indian as long as possible. But he remains the only core guy not to be signed to a long term contract. Designated hitter Travis Hafner received a four year, $57 million last week, and manager Eric Wedge was resigned through 2010. I think Sabathia is worried that he is going to be offered more money by some other team and may have to leave Cleveland behind. That remains to be seen, but it is a possibility.
Barry Bonds hit home runs No. 752 and 753 on Thursday to pull him within two of Hank Aaron’s record. He is scheduled to play today and Sunday in Milwaukee.
The Boston Red Sox continue to struggle. Boston, who leads the AL East, has lost eight of its last 11 games, and holds just a seven game advantage over the Yankees.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
What should Falcons, NFL do?
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- I know it is all anybody has talked about for the last two days, but it is such a huge story that I have to comment on it. I mean to read just how gruesome the alleged dog fighting was, it absolutely blows my mind.
The indictment says that Vick and his “buddies” held dog fighting rings; fighting the dogs very near to death. But this is what really gets you- the losing dogs were killed by means of electrocution, hanging, drowning, or gun shot.
This dog fighting took place in 2001, just before Michael Vick’s rookie season in the NFL. Why would a kid that is about to make millions of dollars start doing something cruel and unusual like this? Did he have something against dogs? I don’t understand how anybody could get entertainment out of this type of thing, it is completely disgusting.
I would like to say that the NFL should act immediately and suspend Vick, but that would be the wrong thing to do. What happens if he is found to be innocent in court? Roger Goodell needs to wait until the legal process takes its course, and then go crazy. If Pacman Jones gets suspended for the entire season when he has not yet been convicted with anything, then Vick should get several years for what he is up against right now. Not only was he fighting and killing dogs, he was also gambling, and he lied to the commissioner about his involvement in the matter. The NFL’s image has deteriorated steadily over the last several years, and this incident is going to hurt it even more.
Vick has left the Falcons in a very sticky situation. So many of the fans in Atlanta are upset by what has taken place that I don’t know how many people are going to show up for games next season. They can’t cut Vick because he ties up way too much of their salary cap and they would be left with hardly any money. They can’t trade him because nobody wants him. And he can’t play because he is going to be tied up with his court hearings most of the time. Joey Harrington is going to have to step in and start, and the Falcons will win seven or eight games and miss the playoffs. But football will take the back seat to what is going on with Vick, which is such a shame for the rest of the guys on the team. Vick was the whole reason anybody came to see this team play in the first place- and the only reason they ever played on prime time. The excitement he could provide was unlike any other; key word there being was.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- I know it is all anybody has talked about for the last two days, but it is such a huge story that I have to comment on it. I mean to read just how gruesome the alleged dog fighting was, it absolutely blows my mind.
The indictment says that Vick and his “buddies” held dog fighting rings; fighting the dogs very near to death. But this is what really gets you- the losing dogs were killed by means of electrocution, hanging, drowning, or gun shot.
This dog fighting took place in 2001, just before Michael Vick’s rookie season in the NFL. Why would a kid that is about to make millions of dollars start doing something cruel and unusual like this? Did he have something against dogs? I don’t understand how anybody could get entertainment out of this type of thing, it is completely disgusting.
I would like to say that the NFL should act immediately and suspend Vick, but that would be the wrong thing to do. What happens if he is found to be innocent in court? Roger Goodell needs to wait until the legal process takes its course, and then go crazy. If Pacman Jones gets suspended for the entire season when he has not yet been convicted with anything, then Vick should get several years for what he is up against right now. Not only was he fighting and killing dogs, he was also gambling, and he lied to the commissioner about his involvement in the matter. The NFL’s image has deteriorated steadily over the last several years, and this incident is going to hurt it even more.
Vick has left the Falcons in a very sticky situation. So many of the fans in Atlanta are upset by what has taken place that I don’t know how many people are going to show up for games next season. They can’t cut Vick because he ties up way too much of their salary cap and they would be left with hardly any money. They can’t trade him because nobody wants him. And he can’t play because he is going to be tied up with his court hearings most of the time. Joey Harrington is going to have to step in and start, and the Falcons will win seven or eight games and miss the playoffs. But football will take the back seat to what is going on with Vick, which is such a shame for the rest of the guys on the team. Vick was the whole reason anybody came to see this team play in the first place- and the only reason they ever played on prime time. The excitement he could provide was unlike any other; key word there being was.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
What's wrong with Milwaukee?
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- I know everybody is probably wondering why I am not writing about Michael Vick this morning. After all he was indicted for dog fighting in 2001, but that is beside the point. Vick does not deserve the attention for what he did, so I am not going to give it to him.
Reports yesterday said that there is “no chance” of Yi Jianglian playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. His Chinese team will reportedly block him from making a move to the United States. Who is at fault here?
When it was first reported before the NBA Draft that Yi did not want to play for Milwaukee, I took the side of the Bucks. I mean you had to figure that this guy was all talk and that he wasn’t going to give up that large sum of money and stay in China. However, Milwaukee should have at least been a little cautious when it wasn’t even allowed to send any of its representatives to see Yi workout. But, what is wrong with Milwaukee? Would he rather have played in Boston? Charlotte? Atlanta? I highly doubt it. But even if he was against the Bucks, this is the NBA Draft, the team has the choice. Many guys don’t initially want to go to the team they are drafted by, but they suck it up and play anyway. They don’t pout and beg for a trade.
What is going to be done now? In my opinion, if Yi refuses to play and says that he will stay in China until the next draft, then David Stern should ban him from the league forever. It would be completely unfair to the Milwaukee Bucks if you let him come back into the draft and be drafted by another team. This guy is making a mockery of the league (an even bigger one) and he is setting a terrible example for future international players. Be a man and take your $3 million a year- or stay home in China never to be heard from again. Whichever you choose, do it without pouting. Thank you.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- I know everybody is probably wondering why I am not writing about Michael Vick this morning. After all he was indicted for dog fighting in 2001, but that is beside the point. Vick does not deserve the attention for what he did, so I am not going to give it to him.
Reports yesterday said that there is “no chance” of Yi Jianglian playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. His Chinese team will reportedly block him from making a move to the United States. Who is at fault here?
When it was first reported before the NBA Draft that Yi did not want to play for Milwaukee, I took the side of the Bucks. I mean you had to figure that this guy was all talk and that he wasn’t going to give up that large sum of money and stay in China. However, Milwaukee should have at least been a little cautious when it wasn’t even allowed to send any of its representatives to see Yi workout. But, what is wrong with Milwaukee? Would he rather have played in Boston? Charlotte? Atlanta? I highly doubt it. But even if he was against the Bucks, this is the NBA Draft, the team has the choice. Many guys don’t initially want to go to the team they are drafted by, but they suck it up and play anyway. They don’t pout and beg for a trade.
What is going to be done now? In my opinion, if Yi refuses to play and says that he will stay in China until the next draft, then David Stern should ban him from the league forever. It would be completely unfair to the Milwaukee Bucks if you let him come back into the draft and be drafted by another team. This guy is making a mockery of the league (an even bigger one) and he is setting a terrible example for future international players. Be a man and take your $3 million a year- or stay home in China never to be heard from again. Whichever you choose, do it without pouting. Thank you.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
To sit or not to sit
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With Barry Bonds just four home runs shy of Henry (Hank) Aaron’s record, every game is becoming more important. But assuming he hits three more home runs, should the Giants sit Bonds until the next home game?
To me this is not even debatable, there is no way Bonds should break the record on the road. It would be terrible- not only for Bonds, but also for the league and the fans. He would be booed like anything and the record would forever be tainted. Granid it is already going to be tainted because of steroid use, but if he doesn’t do it at home it will be so much worse.
As I watched the Cubs play the Giants on ESPN last night, a game that was obviously on the air to showcase Bonds, I realized something about San Francisco. Bonds had benched himself earlier in the day because of “swollen ankles” and the remaining Giants lineup was unimpressive. If Bonds was not on the roster, I am not sure anybody would ever come to the games. What to see Randy Winn and Omar Vizquel? The Giants are old and really need to start rebuilding. Because once Bonds is gone, so are the fans and the nationally televised games. My advice- trade Bonds as soon as he breaks the record. He will have a high trade value at that time, and will give the Giants some guys in return that will help them start to turn things around. With the current roster the Giants have, it could be years before they make another playoff run.
MLB News and Notes
The Cubs traded C Rob Bowen and a minor league pitcher to the A’s for veteran C Jason Kendall.
Indians manager Eric Wedge agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland through 2010.Marlins pitcher Scott Olson was suspended for two games for insubordination. However, he will not even miss a scheduled start. Have a good vacation
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With Barry Bonds just four home runs shy of Henry (Hank) Aaron’s record, every game is becoming more important. But assuming he hits three more home runs, should the Giants sit Bonds until the next home game?
To me this is not even debatable, there is no way Bonds should break the record on the road. It would be terrible- not only for Bonds, but also for the league and the fans. He would be booed like anything and the record would forever be tainted. Granid it is already going to be tainted because of steroid use, but if he doesn’t do it at home it will be so much worse.
As I watched the Cubs play the Giants on ESPN last night, a game that was obviously on the air to showcase Bonds, I realized something about San Francisco. Bonds had benched himself earlier in the day because of “swollen ankles” and the remaining Giants lineup was unimpressive. If Bonds was not on the roster, I am not sure anybody would ever come to the games. What to see Randy Winn and Omar Vizquel? The Giants are old and really need to start rebuilding. Because once Bonds is gone, so are the fans and the nationally televised games. My advice- trade Bonds as soon as he breaks the record. He will have a high trade value at that time, and will give the Giants some guys in return that will help them start to turn things around. With the current roster the Giants have, it could be years before they make another playoff run.
MLB News and Notes
The Cubs traded C Rob Bowen and a minor league pitcher to the A’s for veteran C Jason Kendall.
Indians manager Eric Wedge agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland through 2010.Marlins pitcher Scott Olson was suspended for two games for insubordination. However, he will not even miss a scheduled start. Have a good vacation
Monday, July 16, 2007
The Bibby Effect
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- It has been less than a week since the official start of NBA free agency, and yet several moves have already been made. Steve Blake signed with the Blazers, Derek Fisher headed back to the Lakers, Grant Hill made the move to Phoenix- just to name a few. But the Eastern Conference champions from a year ago want to get into the mix and make a move to help the franchise.
The Cavs had an over-achieving season when they reached the NBA Finals a year ago, we all know that. That was especially true when they met the Spurs without guard Larry Hughes; it became LeBron James versus the world. General Manager Danny Ferry wants to make sure his team is prepared for a much improved Eastern Conference, besides the fact that he would rather not be swept again this year.
It was rumored that the Cavs tried to trade away Hughes and Eric Snow on draft day, but both deals fell through. Now there have been several different trade propositions that would allow Cleveland to acquire PG Mike Bibby from the Sacramento Kings. Reports in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Saturday said the Cavs offered forward Drew Gooden and guard Damon Jones, with a third team- possibly the San Antonio Spurs- causing the deal to fall through.
The question I see stemming from all of this talk is “How much SHOULD the Cavs give up in order to get Bibby?” Mike Bibby is a fantastic player. He is at an age (29) where he should be solid for the next several years. However, Cleveland has to be careful about giving up a guy like Drew Gooden. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is getting old and Anderson Varejao, assuming he is re-signed, will never been an offensive threat. That would leave Cleveland with a strong exterior and nobody that can score close to the basket. If possible, the Cavs should get rid of Larry Hughes, Damon Jones, and a future draft pick to get their hands on Bibby, and hold to Gooden for dear life.
Gooden is a player that was outstanding in college when he played for the Kansas Jayhawks, but most experts said he was not big enough to be a good NBA player. He is beginning to prove them wrong. Gooden was a large part of the Cavs Finals run last year, and has become a solid scoring threat in the low post. He is still not a great defender, but he makes up for it with he great hustle. Just imagine Cleveland with a triple threat of James, Bibby, and Gooden- the Cavs could be looking at a trip back to the NBA Finals sooner than expected.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- It has been less than a week since the official start of NBA free agency, and yet several moves have already been made. Steve Blake signed with the Blazers, Derek Fisher headed back to the Lakers, Grant Hill made the move to Phoenix- just to name a few. But the Eastern Conference champions from a year ago want to get into the mix and make a move to help the franchise.
The Cavs had an over-achieving season when they reached the NBA Finals a year ago, we all know that. That was especially true when they met the Spurs without guard Larry Hughes; it became LeBron James versus the world. General Manager Danny Ferry wants to make sure his team is prepared for a much improved Eastern Conference, besides the fact that he would rather not be swept again this year.
It was rumored that the Cavs tried to trade away Hughes and Eric Snow on draft day, but both deals fell through. Now there have been several different trade propositions that would allow Cleveland to acquire PG Mike Bibby from the Sacramento Kings. Reports in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Saturday said the Cavs offered forward Drew Gooden and guard Damon Jones, with a third team- possibly the San Antonio Spurs- causing the deal to fall through.
The question I see stemming from all of this talk is “How much SHOULD the Cavs give up in order to get Bibby?” Mike Bibby is a fantastic player. He is at an age (29) where he should be solid for the next several years. However, Cleveland has to be careful about giving up a guy like Drew Gooden. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is getting old and Anderson Varejao, assuming he is re-signed, will never been an offensive threat. That would leave Cleveland with a strong exterior and nobody that can score close to the basket. If possible, the Cavs should get rid of Larry Hughes, Damon Jones, and a future draft pick to get their hands on Bibby, and hold to Gooden for dear life.
Gooden is a player that was outstanding in college when he played for the Kansas Jayhawks, but most experts said he was not big enough to be a good NBA player. He is beginning to prove them wrong. Gooden was a large part of the Cavs Finals run last year, and has become a solid scoring threat in the low post. He is still not a great defender, but he makes up for it with he great hustle. Just imagine Cleveland with a triple threat of James, Bibby, and Gooden- the Cavs could be looking at a trip back to the NBA Finals sooner than expected.
Friday, July 13, 2007
A-Rod, Ichiro- Worth the Money?
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With constant talk of contract negotiations and extensions thrust upon us, it is only fair to break down the situations at hand. Are these guys worth the money they are getting?
Let’s start with A-Rod. Yesterday the Yankees agreed to go against what they normally do and talk about contract extensions during the regular season. However, Rodriguez was not interested, saying “I think it would be selfish on my part to talk about my contract status when our team desperately needs wins.” The latest estimates have A-Rod getting anywhere between 30 and 40 million dollars a year with a new contract. There are only about four or five teams that could afford to pay him that kind of money, but is he worth it? Absolutely not. The Yankees do not need Rodriguez. They already have Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu, and other big names that will put fans in the seats. A-Rod has never been a part of a winning program and it won’t start now. The Yankees would be wise to spend the money on pitching, something they need more than anything else right now.
However, if a team like the Angels wanted to bring in A-Rod, then I could maybe see them spending that kind of money. The Angels need another star that will get people talking about them, but like the Yankees, they would be smart to spend their money on pitching.
Ichiro’s situation is in a whole other ballpark. It has been reported that the Mariners have agreed to pay Ichiro $100 million over the next five seasons, which would average out to about $20 million a year. This is a very smart move by Seattle for a couple of reasons. First of all, Ichiro is a great player who gives this team a chance by getting on base. He is the best hitter in the game, and arguably the best lead-off man. The second, and biggest reason this is a good move is because of the fans the Mariners get from Japan. Ichiro is one of the most popular men in his native country, and Seattle gets a much larger fan base with him around. He puts people in the seats, and that is what it is all about, being a business and all. Smart move by the M’s, now if they could just figure out what happened to Mike Hargrove. But that’s a topic for another day.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With constant talk of contract negotiations and extensions thrust upon us, it is only fair to break down the situations at hand. Are these guys worth the money they are getting?
Let’s start with A-Rod. Yesterday the Yankees agreed to go against what they normally do and talk about contract extensions during the regular season. However, Rodriguez was not interested, saying “I think it would be selfish on my part to talk about my contract status when our team desperately needs wins.” The latest estimates have A-Rod getting anywhere between 30 and 40 million dollars a year with a new contract. There are only about four or five teams that could afford to pay him that kind of money, but is he worth it? Absolutely not. The Yankees do not need Rodriguez. They already have Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu, and other big names that will put fans in the seats. A-Rod has never been a part of a winning program and it won’t start now. The Yankees would be wise to spend the money on pitching, something they need more than anything else right now.
However, if a team like the Angels wanted to bring in A-Rod, then I could maybe see them spending that kind of money. The Angels need another star that will get people talking about them, but like the Yankees, they would be smart to spend their money on pitching.
Ichiro’s situation is in a whole other ballpark. It has been reported that the Mariners have agreed to pay Ichiro $100 million over the next five seasons, which would average out to about $20 million a year. This is a very smart move by Seattle for a couple of reasons. First of all, Ichiro is a great player who gives this team a chance by getting on base. He is the best hitter in the game, and arguably the best lead-off man. The second, and biggest reason this is a good move is because of the fans the Mariners get from Japan. Ichiro is one of the most popular men in his native country, and Seattle gets a much larger fan base with him around. He puts people in the seats, and that is what it is all about, being a business and all. Smart move by the M’s, now if they could just figure out what happened to Mike Hargrove. But that’s a topic for another day.
JJ's Midseason MLB Awards
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
1. What would you pay to have Alex Rodriguez on your team? Is he worth $30 million a year?
2. Was is smart of the Mariners to re-sign Ichiro to a contract that pays approximately $20 million a year?
A.L. MVP- Magglio Ordonez (Tigers)
I know that this sounds ridiculous, but why not? Ninety-nine percent of sportswriters in the nation have Alex Rodriguez in this position, but look at where his team is in the standings. The Yankees are not going to make the playoffs, and the Tigers are one of the best teams in the Major League. And, Ordonez is hitting a league high .365 with 13 HR and 72 RBI. Right now he is the MVP, no questions asked.
A.L. CY Young- C.C. Sabathia (Indians) (12-3 3.58 ERA)
This guy is simply unbelievable; if you have never seen him play, I highly recommend it. Sabathia works quickly and efficiently each and every night he is on the mound, and works himself out of jams better than any pitcher I have ever seen. His pitching style is very similar to that of Carlos Zambrano, but he has a leg up because he doesn’t let his emotions get to him. He is a workhorse who almost always works into the eighth inning, and provides some much needed relief to the bullpen. Sabathia will win 21 games this season and lead his Indians to a division title.
A.L. Rookie of the Year- Daisuke Matsuzaka (Red Sox) (10-6 3.84 ERA)
This one is very easy, and I am almost positive that he will end up winning this award at the end of the season. The only way he won’t is if he somehow gets himself injured and has to miss time. Daisuke has lived up to the hype, and will become the Red Sox ace at some point in his career. He too is a thrill to watch, and his strikeout ability is second to none. Watch for this guy to make some serious noise in the postseason, and win 18 games in the regular season.
N.L. MVP- Prince Fielder (Brewers)
Although this one is very easy to choice at this point in the season, I don’t think Fielder will take away the hardware at the end of the year. He had a great first half with 29 HR and 70 RBI, leading his Brewers to a division lead, but Milwaukee is not going to win the N.L. Central and he is going to fall off. My other N.L. MVP candidates include the Cubs’ 1B Derek Lee, the Mets SS Jose Reyes and OF Carlos Beltran.
N.L. CY Young- Brad Penny (Dodgers) (10-1 2.39 ERA)
Penny didn’t start this year’s All-Star game because he received that honor a year ago. He hit the wall in the second half last season, but I think he will stay motivated and keep the pressure on with the division up for grabs. I think if the Dodgers win the pennant then Penny takes home the hardware, but if the Padres win it then Jake Peavy takes it home. Should be an interesting race.
N.L. Rookie of the Year- Mike Fontenot (Cubs)
The Cubs were pleasantly surprised when they called up Fontenot and received some production. Nobody expected him to do what he’s doing; maybe it’s because he was teamed with his old friend and teammate Ryan Theriot. In 28 games this season Fontenot is hitting a .356 with 3 HR and 16 RBI. He has 37 hits in 114 at-bats and is playing very well in the field. I think he will deserve this award at the end of the season, and will definitely be in the discussion.
1. What would you pay to have Alex Rodriguez on your team? Is he worth $30 million a year?
2. Was is smart of the Mariners to re-sign Ichiro to a contract that pays approximately $20 million a year?
A.L. MVP- Magglio Ordonez (Tigers)
I know that this sounds ridiculous, but why not? Ninety-nine percent of sportswriters in the nation have Alex Rodriguez in this position, but look at where his team is in the standings. The Yankees are not going to make the playoffs, and the Tigers are one of the best teams in the Major League. And, Ordonez is hitting a league high .365 with 13 HR and 72 RBI. Right now he is the MVP, no questions asked.
A.L. CY Young- C.C. Sabathia (Indians) (12-3 3.58 ERA)
This guy is simply unbelievable; if you have never seen him play, I highly recommend it. Sabathia works quickly and efficiently each and every night he is on the mound, and works himself out of jams better than any pitcher I have ever seen. His pitching style is very similar to that of Carlos Zambrano, but he has a leg up because he doesn’t let his emotions get to him. He is a workhorse who almost always works into the eighth inning, and provides some much needed relief to the bullpen. Sabathia will win 21 games this season and lead his Indians to a division title.
A.L. Rookie of the Year- Daisuke Matsuzaka (Red Sox) (10-6 3.84 ERA)
This one is very easy, and I am almost positive that he will end up winning this award at the end of the season. The only way he won’t is if he somehow gets himself injured and has to miss time. Daisuke has lived up to the hype, and will become the Red Sox ace at some point in his career. He too is a thrill to watch, and his strikeout ability is second to none. Watch for this guy to make some serious noise in the postseason, and win 18 games in the regular season.
N.L. MVP- Prince Fielder (Brewers)
Although this one is very easy to choice at this point in the season, I don’t think Fielder will take away the hardware at the end of the year. He had a great first half with 29 HR and 70 RBI, leading his Brewers to a division lead, but Milwaukee is not going to win the N.L. Central and he is going to fall off. My other N.L. MVP candidates include the Cubs’ 1B Derek Lee, the Mets SS Jose Reyes and OF Carlos Beltran.
N.L. CY Young- Brad Penny (Dodgers) (10-1 2.39 ERA)
Penny didn’t start this year’s All-Star game because he received that honor a year ago. He hit the wall in the second half last season, but I think he will stay motivated and keep the pressure on with the division up for grabs. I think if the Dodgers win the pennant then Penny takes home the hardware, but if the Padres win it then Jake Peavy takes it home. Should be an interesting race.
N.L. Rookie of the Year- Mike Fontenot (Cubs)
The Cubs were pleasantly surprised when they called up Fontenot and received some production. Nobody expected him to do what he’s doing; maybe it’s because he was teamed with his old friend and teammate Ryan Theriot. In 28 games this season Fontenot is hitting a .356 with 3 HR and 16 RBI. He has 37 hits in 114 at-bats and is playing very well in the field. I think he will deserve this award at the end of the season, and will definitely be in the discussion.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Best NBA Duo
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With a busy off-season filled with trades and free agent signings, a legitimate question arises: Who has the best NBA duo?
A couple of new duos have already been created in the Eastern Conference, some that have the potential to be very effective. Orlando added Rashard Lewis to complement Dwight Howard, Charlotte added Jason Richardson to complement Gerald Wallace, Boston added Ray Allen to complement Paul Pierce. All three of those situations have a similar quality, something that will ultimately hold them back. Those three teams all added players that play the same position as the star they already had. It makes very little sense, but because it is rarely done I don’t have any precedent to set it against.
You would assume that the best duo has to come out of the West since it has become such a dominant league. Phoenix has the combination of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, San Antonio has Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, Utah has Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, Dallas has Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitski, Denver has Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, and Houston has Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. It remains to be seen if Jerry Buss will add anybody to complement a very angry and confused Kobe Bryant. But of all of those duos, I would have to say that a healthy combination of McGrady and Yao is the best right now. It would be easy to make a point for Parker and Duncan because of their numerous championships, but they have a better supporting cast and therefore a better team. Houston has McGrady and Yao and that is it. Until they add the third piece, the Rockets are going to continue to be a one and done team.
If, and I use that word lightly, the Lakers somehow end up with Kevin Garnett, then he and Kobe would become the best duo. Bryant is the most dominant player in the game today, and if you give him a strong inside presence without an ego, then it should work out well. L.A. could also add Jermaine O’Neal and it would have a similar effect, just for a longer period of time.
Of the newly created duos in the East, I think the Magic are the best off with Howard and Lewis. They already have a rising point guard in Jameer Nelson who can feed them the ball, and with Howard becoming better and better, this team should be very hard to beat. Look for them to win a couple of playoff series in the next year or two.
We still have what looks to be a busy off-season in front of us, but it already figures to be a much more exciting season than last year. Stay tuned.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With a busy off-season filled with trades and free agent signings, a legitimate question arises: Who has the best NBA duo?
A couple of new duos have already been created in the Eastern Conference, some that have the potential to be very effective. Orlando added Rashard Lewis to complement Dwight Howard, Charlotte added Jason Richardson to complement Gerald Wallace, Boston added Ray Allen to complement Paul Pierce. All three of those situations have a similar quality, something that will ultimately hold them back. Those three teams all added players that play the same position as the star they already had. It makes very little sense, but because it is rarely done I don’t have any precedent to set it against.
You would assume that the best duo has to come out of the West since it has become such a dominant league. Phoenix has the combination of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, San Antonio has Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, Utah has Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, Dallas has Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitski, Denver has Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, and Houston has Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. It remains to be seen if Jerry Buss will add anybody to complement a very angry and confused Kobe Bryant. But of all of those duos, I would have to say that a healthy combination of McGrady and Yao is the best right now. It would be easy to make a point for Parker and Duncan because of their numerous championships, but they have a better supporting cast and therefore a better team. Houston has McGrady and Yao and that is it. Until they add the third piece, the Rockets are going to continue to be a one and done team.
If, and I use that word lightly, the Lakers somehow end up with Kevin Garnett, then he and Kobe would become the best duo. Bryant is the most dominant player in the game today, and if you give him a strong inside presence without an ego, then it should work out well. L.A. could also add Jermaine O’Neal and it would have a similar effect, just for a longer period of time.
Of the newly created duos in the East, I think the Magic are the best off with Howard and Lewis. They already have a rising point guard in Jameer Nelson who can feed them the ball, and with Howard becoming better and better, this team should be very hard to beat. Look for them to win a couple of playoff series in the next year or two.
We still have what looks to be a busy off-season in front of us, but it already figures to be a much more exciting season than last year. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
La Russa Crazy, Selig Undecided
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- When Tony La Russa decided to bring along his Gold Glove first baseman, Albert Pujols, I imagined he’d get in within the first four innings. But we didn’t see him in the fourth, or the fifth, or even the ninth.
What was Tony La Russa thinking? Albert Pujols finished second behind Prince Fielder in All-Star voting for first basemen, and yet he never saw the field. Even in the ninth inning with the game on the line, Pujols remained in the dugout. After the Mariners J.J, Putz walked J.J. Hardy, Francisco Rodriguez came in and walked Derrek Lee and Orlando Hudson. That meant Aaron Rowand had a chance to bat with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth. Rowand flied out and the game was over. After all the times Pujols won the game for La Russa in the past, he never even got a chance here.
"It's the All-Star Game. He can do what he wants," Pujols said Tuesday night. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here."
I don’t know what La Russa’s strategy was here, or if he even had one. Maybe he thinks an angry Albert will ignite his home run hitting and ultimately the team. But I think this will have a negative result, something the Cardinals clearly do not need right now.
All the talk lately has surrounded Barry Bonds and whether or not Bud Selig will attend his game the night he breaks the record. I have heard it explained in every which way, but let me tell you right now, it means absolutely nothing. The media can make it what they want, but it does not matter if Selig shows his face or not. Everybody already knows how he feels about Bonds and the record, so simply coming to a baseball game is not going to change that. Besides the fact that if he were to be seen on the big screen, he would probably be booed. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not but more and more people are coming over to Bonds’ side. Through all of these troubles, and all the cameras following him around, Bonds continues to control himself in such a manner that is making America forget about what he has done.
Major League Baseball currently has some angry folks, but everybody has to be angry sometime, right? Besides, if everybody was happy then it really wouldn’t be competition.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- When Tony La Russa decided to bring along his Gold Glove first baseman, Albert Pujols, I imagined he’d get in within the first four innings. But we didn’t see him in the fourth, or the fifth, or even the ninth.
What was Tony La Russa thinking? Albert Pujols finished second behind Prince Fielder in All-Star voting for first basemen, and yet he never saw the field. Even in the ninth inning with the game on the line, Pujols remained in the dugout. After the Mariners J.J, Putz walked J.J. Hardy, Francisco Rodriguez came in and walked Derrek Lee and Orlando Hudson. That meant Aaron Rowand had a chance to bat with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth. Rowand flied out and the game was over. After all the times Pujols won the game for La Russa in the past, he never even got a chance here.
"It's the All-Star Game. He can do what he wants," Pujols said Tuesday night. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here."
I don’t know what La Russa’s strategy was here, or if he even had one. Maybe he thinks an angry Albert will ignite his home run hitting and ultimately the team. But I think this will have a negative result, something the Cardinals clearly do not need right now.
All the talk lately has surrounded Barry Bonds and whether or not Bud Selig will attend his game the night he breaks the record. I have heard it explained in every which way, but let me tell you right now, it means absolutely nothing. The media can make it what they want, but it does not matter if Selig shows his face or not. Everybody already knows how he feels about Bonds and the record, so simply coming to a baseball game is not going to change that. Besides the fact that if he were to be seen on the big screen, he would probably be booed. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not but more and more people are coming over to Bonds’ side. Through all of these troubles, and all the cameras following him around, Bonds continues to control himself in such a manner that is making America forget about what he has done.
Major League Baseball currently has some angry folks, but everybody has to be angry sometime, right? Besides, if everybody was happy then it really wouldn’t be competition.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The Beast of the East
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With the NBA Draft behind us and trade rumors calming down, it is time to take a look at the new Eastern Conference. After a night filled with trades and surprises, the East has a different look; and different contenders.
When we arrive at the 2007-08 playoffs next year, the Eastern Conference could be represented by several teams that haven’t been there in years. Of this year’s playoff teams Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, and New Jersey have done nothing to improve their chances. Sure the Nets re-signed Vince Carter, but neither he nor Jason Kidd or getting any younger, and Mikki Moore is also a free agent. Toronto let Morris Peterson slip away and have not added anyone to complement a very talented Chris Bosh. Cleveland is still yet to add anyone to take some of the pressure off of LeBron James and Detroit is becoming old news.
The teams that have helped themselves significantly so far include the Magic, Bobcats, Celtics, and Hawks. Orlando slid into the playoffs as an eight seed a year ago, swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round. Dwight Howard is a heck of a player, and after adding Rashard Lewis, this team becomes a true contender. The Magic will be a five seed at worst next season.
Michael Jordan is desperate to win now, and he showed that on draft night. After trading the draft rights to Brandon Wright for Jason Richardson, he was highly criticized by almost every professional sports analyst in the country. But he made the right move. The Bobcats have a roster full of young kids that have never proven themselves, and with a star like Richardson, this team is a solid big man away from being up there in the East. If they could become part of the Kevin Garnett deal, who knows what could happen.
The Hawks are in a similar situation. With a dominant player like Joe Johnson, this team is only a big man away from being a top team in the East. They had a great draft with Al Horford and Acie Law, and now they have to convince Amare Stoudamire that he wants to be a part of this new era in Atlanta Hawks basketball. I see the Hawks as a playoff team next season regardless, either a seven or eight seed.
Finally, the Celtics. Boston has a golden opportunity to get back to the playoffs if they can land a solid inside presence. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen provide a great scoring duo, Rajon Rando is a fantastic defender who also has the ability to get in the paint, and Al Jefferson is a rising star in this league. If they could come up with Kevin Garnett, the Celtics would be a top four team in the East, no questions asked.
So as the off-season rolls on, the “Beast of the East” remains unclear. A lot of it could depend on how the Kevin Garnett saga comes to an end. But one thing is for sure; it is going to be one crazy year.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With the NBA Draft behind us and trade rumors calming down, it is time to take a look at the new Eastern Conference. After a night filled with trades and surprises, the East has a different look; and different contenders.
When we arrive at the 2007-08 playoffs next year, the Eastern Conference could be represented by several teams that haven’t been there in years. Of this year’s playoff teams Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, and New Jersey have done nothing to improve their chances. Sure the Nets re-signed Vince Carter, but neither he nor Jason Kidd or getting any younger, and Mikki Moore is also a free agent. Toronto let Morris Peterson slip away and have not added anyone to complement a very talented Chris Bosh. Cleveland is still yet to add anyone to take some of the pressure off of LeBron James and Detroit is becoming old news.
The teams that have helped themselves significantly so far include the Magic, Bobcats, Celtics, and Hawks. Orlando slid into the playoffs as an eight seed a year ago, swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round. Dwight Howard is a heck of a player, and after adding Rashard Lewis, this team becomes a true contender. The Magic will be a five seed at worst next season.
Michael Jordan is desperate to win now, and he showed that on draft night. After trading the draft rights to Brandon Wright for Jason Richardson, he was highly criticized by almost every professional sports analyst in the country. But he made the right move. The Bobcats have a roster full of young kids that have never proven themselves, and with a star like Richardson, this team is a solid big man away from being up there in the East. If they could become part of the Kevin Garnett deal, who knows what could happen.
The Hawks are in a similar situation. With a dominant player like Joe Johnson, this team is only a big man away from being a top team in the East. They had a great draft with Al Horford and Acie Law, and now they have to convince Amare Stoudamire that he wants to be a part of this new era in Atlanta Hawks basketball. I see the Hawks as a playoff team next season regardless, either a seven or eight seed.
Finally, the Celtics. Boston has a golden opportunity to get back to the playoffs if they can land a solid inside presence. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen provide a great scoring duo, Rajon Rando is a fantastic defender who also has the ability to get in the paint, and Al Jefferson is a rising star in this league. If they could come up with Kevin Garnett, the Celtics would be a top four team in the East, no questions asked.
So as the off-season rolls on, the “Beast of the East” remains unclear. A lot of it could depend on how the Kevin Garnett saga comes to an end. But one thing is for sure; it is going to be one crazy year.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Surprise HR Leaders
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- He was the most criticized man in professional sports last season, and is making up for it in this one. While it was hard to feel bad for a guy making over $25 million a year, Alex Rodriguez was still producing, just not like this.
A-Rod had 35 home runs and 121 RBIs all of last season. Those are considered to be good numbers, but this year he is not human. Nobody expected this guy to come out and do what he’s doing; in fact, nobody thought he would be in a Yankees uniform. At the All-Star break, Rodriguez has hit 30 home runs and has driven in 86. He has silenced the critics for the time being, and is playing better baseball than anybody else in the entire league.
The National League home run leader comes from the other end of the spectrum. Prince Fielder, only in his second professional season, is one of the lowest paid position players in the game. Fielder’s salary in 2007: $415,000. However, he has recorded 29 home runs and has driven in 70; somebody better get their check-books out.
Fielder is a guy that has had to prove plenty of people wrong himself; those who said he was too fat or too lazy to play professional baseball. He hit just 30 home runs all of last season, and yet he appears to be chasing 60 this year. Fielder is a guy that is naturally big and is clearly not involved with steroids. It is great to see a young player performing so well at the highest level.
So will the power continue to come for A-Rod or will he fall into the hole like last year? Will Fielder push the Brewers to their first division title in who knows how long? Only time will tell, and a long time at that.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- He was the most criticized man in professional sports last season, and is making up for it in this one. While it was hard to feel bad for a guy making over $25 million a year, Alex Rodriguez was still producing, just not like this.
A-Rod had 35 home runs and 121 RBIs all of last season. Those are considered to be good numbers, but this year he is not human. Nobody expected this guy to come out and do what he’s doing; in fact, nobody thought he would be in a Yankees uniform. At the All-Star break, Rodriguez has hit 30 home runs and has driven in 86. He has silenced the critics for the time being, and is playing better baseball than anybody else in the entire league.
The National League home run leader comes from the other end of the spectrum. Prince Fielder, only in his second professional season, is one of the lowest paid position players in the game. Fielder’s salary in 2007: $415,000. However, he has recorded 29 home runs and has driven in 70; somebody better get their check-books out.
Fielder is a guy that has had to prove plenty of people wrong himself; those who said he was too fat or too lazy to play professional baseball. He hit just 30 home runs all of last season, and yet he appears to be chasing 60 this year. Fielder is a guy that is naturally big and is clearly not involved with steroids. It is great to see a young player performing so well at the highest level.
So will the power continue to come for A-Rod or will he fall into the hole like last year? Will Fielder push the Brewers to their first division title in who knows how long? Only time will tell, and a long time at that.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The Athletic Way
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- It is a topic that has been highly debated about this time of year. The Fourth of July marks a day of fireworks and family time, but it also marks the famous hot dog eating contest on ESPN.
The question the nation has been debating for some time is “Are these ‘eaters’ considered athletes?” Let me start out by saying how amazing it is to eat 59 ½ hot dogs in 12 minutes; that seems almost impossible. However, I do not consider these animals to be athletes.
Baseball, football, basketball, soccer, swimming- these are all sports that require a person to stay in excellent physical shape, and besides football, all of them make you healthier and increase your chances to live a longer life. This hot dog eating contest is wrong in every sense of the word. It is certainly not healthy to consume more hot dogs in 12 minutes than most people consume in a year. It more than likely takes years off of the lives of the individuals “competing” and will cause them to have all sorts of internal problems at a young age.
Now these eaters are going to come back with the argument that “Hey, this is very competitive, so it has to be a sport.” Give me a break. Video games can be competitive, and they certainly are not a sport. Or maybe they will say “But we have to train for a long time to get ready for this, so of course we are athletes.” Please. Drinking gallons and gallons of water does not constitute a training regimen, only a very boring afternoon where there was nothing else to do.
So these so-called “athletes” can pig out all they want in tomorrow’s eating contest, and people will watch, but only to make fun. These people need to find a real sport to get themselves into, and beer drinking doesn’t count.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should these competitive eaters be considered athletes?
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- It is a topic that has been highly debated about this time of year. The Fourth of July marks a day of fireworks and family time, but it also marks the famous hot dog eating contest on ESPN.
The question the nation has been debating for some time is “Are these ‘eaters’ considered athletes?” Let me start out by saying how amazing it is to eat 59 ½ hot dogs in 12 minutes; that seems almost impossible. However, I do not consider these animals to be athletes.
Baseball, football, basketball, soccer, swimming- these are all sports that require a person to stay in excellent physical shape, and besides football, all of them make you healthier and increase your chances to live a longer life. This hot dog eating contest is wrong in every sense of the word. It is certainly not healthy to consume more hot dogs in 12 minutes than most people consume in a year. It more than likely takes years off of the lives of the individuals “competing” and will cause them to have all sorts of internal problems at a young age.
Now these eaters are going to come back with the argument that “Hey, this is very competitive, so it has to be a sport.” Give me a break. Video games can be competitive, and they certainly are not a sport. Or maybe they will say “But we have to train for a long time to get ready for this, so of course we are athletes.” Please. Drinking gallons and gallons of water does not constitute a training regimen, only a very boring afternoon where there was nothing else to do.
So these so-called “athletes” can pig out all they want in tomorrow’s eating contest, and people will watch, but only to make fun. These people need to find a real sport to get themselves into, and beer drinking doesn’t count.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should these competitive eaters be considered athletes?
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sosa Snubbed
By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- When the All-Star teams were announced on Sunday, there was one player left off that left people scratching their heads: Sammy Sosa.
The Texas Rangers are a terrible team and everybody knows it. There is nobody on that team that sticks out as the face of the franchise. When you think about the Red Sox you think about David Ortiz, Derek Jeter with the Yankees, Albert Pujols with the Cardinals. But the Rangers just don’t have “the guy”. Last year it was Michael Young; he made the All-Star team and had the game winning hit in the 9th inning of the All-Star game. But he certainly should not be on the team this season, it should be Sosa.
Sosa is fourth in the American League in RBIs with 63, Michael Young has 48. Sosa is ahead of David Ortiz, Ivan Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Paul Konerko, and he doesn’t even play everyday. He is ninth in the American League in home runs with 14, ahead of Ortiz, Ramirez, Jermaine Dye, and Magglio Ordonez.
I understand the fact that his batting average is low at .262, but this guy is putting up the numbers and deserves to be a member of the All-Star team. Michael Young was selected for the simple fact that he was there last year and produced, but he has done absolutely nothing this year that makes him an All-Star.
Now onto the topic that the rest of the nation will be discussing for today and probably the next several days: Barry Bonds. Bonds was selected as an All-Star starter for the National League, a position that was chosen by the fans.
When I heard about this story I was surprised but not shocked. I strongly disagree with the decision, but the fans want to see a guy like this in the big game. If they are going to pay the money to go out and see the All-Star game, there has to be a guy like Bonds playing in it. However, Bonds is putting up pretty big numbers- not All-Star starter numbers, but big numbers. His fielding is atrocious, but he is batting .304 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs. Is he better than Alfonso Soriano, no, but this selection is not as pathetic as people are making it out to be. Apparently Barry has more fans than we thought.
When the Mid-Summer Classic takes place next week, think of how great it could have been to have Sammy on board; Sosa and Bonds. I guess we will never know.
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- When the All-Star teams were announced on Sunday, there was one player left off that left people scratching their heads: Sammy Sosa.
The Texas Rangers are a terrible team and everybody knows it. There is nobody on that team that sticks out as the face of the franchise. When you think about the Red Sox you think about David Ortiz, Derek Jeter with the Yankees, Albert Pujols with the Cardinals. But the Rangers just don’t have “the guy”. Last year it was Michael Young; he made the All-Star team and had the game winning hit in the 9th inning of the All-Star game. But he certainly should not be on the team this season, it should be Sosa.
Sosa is fourth in the American League in RBIs with 63, Michael Young has 48. Sosa is ahead of David Ortiz, Ivan Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Paul Konerko, and he doesn’t even play everyday. He is ninth in the American League in home runs with 14, ahead of Ortiz, Ramirez, Jermaine Dye, and Magglio Ordonez.
I understand the fact that his batting average is low at .262, but this guy is putting up the numbers and deserves to be a member of the All-Star team. Michael Young was selected for the simple fact that he was there last year and produced, but he has done absolutely nothing this year that makes him an All-Star.
Now onto the topic that the rest of the nation will be discussing for today and probably the next several days: Barry Bonds. Bonds was selected as an All-Star starter for the National League, a position that was chosen by the fans.
When I heard about this story I was surprised but not shocked. I strongly disagree with the decision, but the fans want to see a guy like this in the big game. If they are going to pay the money to go out and see the All-Star game, there has to be a guy like Bonds playing in it. However, Bonds is putting up pretty big numbers- not All-Star starter numbers, but big numbers. His fielding is atrocious, but he is batting .304 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs. Is he better than Alfonso Soriano, no, but this selection is not as pathetic as people are making it out to be. Apparently Barry has more fans than we thought.
When the Mid-Summer Classic takes place next week, think of how great it could have been to have Sammy on board; Sosa and Bonds. I guess we will never know.
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