This will be delicate subject because it involves the greatest basketball player of all time and will actually be a little negative. Not anything negative about MJ but about the era he played in and the players he played against.
To start lets talk about those two puppets that everyone seems to be getting sick of seeing on TV. Kobe and Lebron have become the face of these playoffs and almost everyone assumed that the two would roll through the playoffs and collide in an epic Finals match up made for prime time TV. Along the way Vitamin Water, Nike and etc tried to get ahead of the game by releasing ads about the two best players in the NBA. With both the Lakers and Cavs in dogfights in the Conference Finals, many people have gotten sick of the hype build up for both players. This is where it ties in to MJ.
MJ was the first ever guard/forward to come along and control the game the way he did. Before MJ the game went through the post and the teams that won titles won titles with excellent post play, but then MJ came along and showed that a truly dominate guard/forward could take over a game/series and the offense could still work smoothly. Fast forward to today's NBA, the best players are all hybrid players. Now its a league that plays a style similar to Jordan's Bulls and this leads to the nonstop Jordan comparisons for the elite players. Luckily for today's NBA there are 3 players who can live up to the comparison D-Wade, Kobe, and Lebron.
When Jordan was playing he was the only one of his kind. The best guards of the time were still traditional shooters and passers like John Stockton, Mark Price, and Clyde Drexler. The league was still a big man league with David Robinson, Hakeem, Ewing, and the emergence of Shaq. What this meant was that there was still only one player playing the style and swagger of Jordan. SO naturally he became the face of the league because he was so unique.
Now fast forward to today, Lebron, Kobe, and D-Wade are the unique guard/forwards in the league that runs through the guard/forward position. Now instead of one unique player like MJ there are 3 or more depending on who you consider an elite player. So this leads to the overexposure of all 3 because the league does not want to leave another behind.
SO the problem with MJ was that he was so unique and so unchallenged at his position that it made publicity for the league easy, but in today's game we are blessed with multiple MJ style players and this means 3 times the publicity and advertising for those 3.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Not much to say
Not much to say today...
UEFFA Champions League Final was spectacular and I was thoroughly pleased that Manchester United lost. Not to mention the fact that Lionel Messi probably clinched Player of the Year of Christiano Ronaldo made it even sweeter.
Kobe the facilitator? Kobe takes only 10 shots but sets the table for the rest of his team and the Lakers get the big win to go up 3-2. I am left wondering if he really set out to do that or knew he did not have it and made the adjustments. Either way a spectacular display and makes me wonder if this means we will see a pass first Lebron tonight since the two just seem to go back and forth all playoffs long.
Ill be back tomorrow with thoughts on what could be a devastating night for me or the start of the greatest comeback in Cavs history.
UEFFA Champions League Final was spectacular and I was thoroughly pleased that Manchester United lost. Not to mention the fact that Lionel Messi probably clinched Player of the Year of Christiano Ronaldo made it even sweeter.
Kobe the facilitator? Kobe takes only 10 shots but sets the table for the rest of his team and the Lakers get the big win to go up 3-2. I am left wondering if he really set out to do that or knew he did not have it and made the adjustments. Either way a spectacular display and makes me wonder if this means we will see a pass first Lebron tonight since the two just seem to go back and forth all playoffs long.
Ill be back tomorrow with thoughts on what could be a devastating night for me or the start of the greatest comeback in Cavs history.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Fathers Dilemma
After the Cavs heartbreaking loss last night to fall behind 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, I was especially devastated. Not just because the Cavs had the lead and lost it only to battle back and seem to have the game won only to lose it in overtime, but because it seems barring another King James miracle this much ballyhooed Cavs season will end well before it was supposed to end.
As a Cleveland sports fan I have almost learned to accept disappointment, but it seems the more I try to accept it the more each loss hurts and such is the never ending cycle for the Cleveland sports fan. My love for Indians, Cavs, and Browns was passed on to me by my father, who I wanted to be like and so I naturally started cheering for the teams he cheered for and I feel that most sons follow teams that have been passed on from his father. It is one of those unique bonds that make sports so enjoyable.
Now I am expecting my first child in late July, and if it is boy, (I pushing hard for Mark Price Stromberg as the name) I will put in an awkward position. Do I introduce him to the life of Cleveland sports fan? Or do I keep my rooting interests to myself and let him figure out his own teams? I mean as father can I knowingly bring a life of pain and suffering as a fan of franchises that continually break your heart?
On the other hand how could I allow for my kid to pick teams that he has no true allegiance to follow? What is he picks the Yankees, Patriots, or Lakers? Can I live with my son to root for a bandwagon team?
This my dilemma. I do not want Mark Price Stromberg to feel the pain I have already felt from Cleveland sports, but at the end of the day I want to be the one who takes him to his first Cavs, Indians, and Browns games. So unfortunately for Mark Price Stromberg he will most likely have to suffer through the next 50 years of Cleveland sports futility and heartache.
That is unless Lebron James carries the Cavs to a miracle comeback and a NBA title...
As a Cleveland sports fan I have almost learned to accept disappointment, but it seems the more I try to accept it the more each loss hurts and such is the never ending cycle for the Cleveland sports fan. My love for Indians, Cavs, and Browns was passed on to me by my father, who I wanted to be like and so I naturally started cheering for the teams he cheered for and I feel that most sons follow teams that have been passed on from his father. It is one of those unique bonds that make sports so enjoyable.
Now I am expecting my first child in late July, and if it is boy, (I pushing hard for Mark Price Stromberg as the name) I will put in an awkward position. Do I introduce him to the life of Cleveland sports fan? Or do I keep my rooting interests to myself and let him figure out his own teams? I mean as father can I knowingly bring a life of pain and suffering as a fan of franchises that continually break your heart?
On the other hand how could I allow for my kid to pick teams that he has no true allegiance to follow? What is he picks the Yankees, Patriots, or Lakers? Can I live with my son to root for a bandwagon team?
This my dilemma. I do not want Mark Price Stromberg to feel the pain I have already felt from Cleveland sports, but at the end of the day I want to be the one who takes him to his first Cavs, Indians, and Browns games. So unfortunately for Mark Price Stromberg he will most likely have to suffer through the next 50 years of Cleveland sports futility and heartache.
That is unless Lebron James carries the Cavs to a miracle comeback and a NBA title...
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Crisis in the NBA
If you watch the NBA on a regular basis then you probably already now where this post is heading. There is a major problem in the NBA right now and it is with the one area David Stern never wants to talk about, the officials.
The officiating in the playoffs has been downright atrocious this postseason, and we keep getting closer and closer to the point where the fans are getting fed up. This is not a Tim Donaghy situation, where games are being fixed. It has to do with the actual quality of the officials and frankly as a fan I am feed up.
The biggest problem is the lack of consistency. During the basketball game that broke out during the foulfest that was Game 3 of Cleveland-Orlando, there was absolutely no consistency in the calls. Delonte West was trying to body up Turkalo on defense and was called for a foul every time, but on the other end when Lebron came off screens defenders were banging him the whole time with no foul. Its either a foul or it isn't and frankly I do not care how they call it because both would be considered fouls but it needs to be consistent.
The flagrant fouls and technicals have also been way to severe. In playoff basketball the fouls are going to be harder and while there have been some deserving flagrant at the end of the day the officials need to let the players play. Anthony Johnson's elbow was the typical example of this because there was no malicious intent it was just playoff basketball. The technicals are even worse because the refs are taking emotion out of the game. There seems to be no rhyme or reason and the fact that Kobe is two technicals from being suspended seems a bit ridiculous. The Denver-Lakers series has been overrun by technicals and flagrant fouls and eventually its going to result in someone being suspended for a vital game.
I know there is probably no way to fix this problem this postseason but in the off season this issue needs to be address for sure. I know I do not know if I can sit through another postseason marred by terrible officiating, and I have a feeling I am not the only fan who feels this way.
The officiating in the playoffs has been downright atrocious this postseason, and we keep getting closer and closer to the point where the fans are getting fed up. This is not a Tim Donaghy situation, where games are being fixed. It has to do with the actual quality of the officials and frankly as a fan I am feed up.
The biggest problem is the lack of consistency. During the basketball game that broke out during the foulfest that was Game 3 of Cleveland-Orlando, there was absolutely no consistency in the calls. Delonte West was trying to body up Turkalo on defense and was called for a foul every time, but on the other end when Lebron came off screens defenders were banging him the whole time with no foul. Its either a foul or it isn't and frankly I do not care how they call it because both would be considered fouls but it needs to be consistent.
The flagrant fouls and technicals have also been way to severe. In playoff basketball the fouls are going to be harder and while there have been some deserving flagrant at the end of the day the officials need to let the players play. Anthony Johnson's elbow was the typical example of this because there was no malicious intent it was just playoff basketball. The technicals are even worse because the refs are taking emotion out of the game. There seems to be no rhyme or reason and the fact that Kobe is two technicals from being suspended seems a bit ridiculous. The Denver-Lakers series has been overrun by technicals and flagrant fouls and eventually its going to result in someone being suspended for a vital game.
I know there is probably no way to fix this problem this postseason but in the off season this issue needs to be address for sure. I know I do not know if I can sit through another postseason marred by terrible officiating, and I have a feeling I am not the only fan who feels this way.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Kobe doing Decoy??
I think Phil Jackson is an amazing coach. He is an all timer and only needs one more title to give him 10 worlds title rings. The triangle offense allowed for Jordan to dominate and it was Phil who really got Jordan and the Bulls over the top and launched and allowed for their dynasty to take over the NBA.
However sometimes he lets his greatness disrupt his team. What I mean is that sometimes he seems to over think the situation. Basketball is a simple game at heart and too much thinking and too much strategy can hurt more than help. Call it the curse of the genius, but sometimes the smartest people cannot accept that the obvious solution is the right one because it is obvious and they feel that it cannot be that simple.
Last night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Phil Jackson fell victim to the curse of the genius. Trailing by 3 with with under 5 Phil called timeout and drew up a sideline inbounds play that went to Derrick Fisher. Fisher missed a contested 3 badly and the Nuggets got the board and the win.
Now I realize Fisher has knocked down huge shots but this postseason he has been dreadful from 3 point range. In my opinion that play has to get the ball into Kobe's hands. He is without a doubt the most clutch shooter playing in the NBA today, and to not get the ball in his hands in inexcusable in that situation.
Afterwards, Phil said he did not want Kobe to get the ball because the would probably get doubled or fouled immediately. This strategy makes sense on paper but the fact remains: YOU HAVE KOBE ON YOUR TEAM! I will take Kobe trying a contested 3 over anyone else. Worst case scenario Kobe lets the double team come and he finds a teammate for a wide open 3.
I think this was a classic example of over thinking the game of basketball. Almost anybody else would have called the play to Kobe and lived with the aftermath. In this case Phil over thought the situation and his team suffered.
In the NBA you live and die by your franchise player, and the Lakers have one hell of a franchise player. In this case Phil fell victim to the curse of the genius. I can promise you if the Lakers find themselves in the same situation Phil will call Kobe's number. After all true genius is learning from your mistakes and changing your strategy.
However sometimes he lets his greatness disrupt his team. What I mean is that sometimes he seems to over think the situation. Basketball is a simple game at heart and too much thinking and too much strategy can hurt more than help. Call it the curse of the genius, but sometimes the smartest people cannot accept that the obvious solution is the right one because it is obvious and they feel that it cannot be that simple.
Last night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Phil Jackson fell victim to the curse of the genius. Trailing by 3 with with under 5 Phil called timeout and drew up a sideline inbounds play that went to Derrick Fisher. Fisher missed a contested 3 badly and the Nuggets got the board and the win.
Now I realize Fisher has knocked down huge shots but this postseason he has been dreadful from 3 point range. In my opinion that play has to get the ball into Kobe's hands. He is without a doubt the most clutch shooter playing in the NBA today, and to not get the ball in his hands in inexcusable in that situation.
Afterwards, Phil said he did not want Kobe to get the ball because the would probably get doubled or fouled immediately. This strategy makes sense on paper but the fact remains: YOU HAVE KOBE ON YOUR TEAM! I will take Kobe trying a contested 3 over anyone else. Worst case scenario Kobe lets the double team come and he finds a teammate for a wide open 3.
I think this was a classic example of over thinking the game of basketball. Almost anybody else would have called the play to Kobe and lived with the aftermath. In this case Phil over thought the situation and his team suffered.
In the NBA you live and die by your franchise player, and the Lakers have one hell of a franchise player. In this case Phil fell victim to the curse of the genius. I can promise you if the Lakers find themselves in the same situation Phil will call Kobe's number. After all true genius is learning from your mistakes and changing your strategy.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Lebron James
Now I will admit I am a biased observer due to my love for the Cleveland Cavs but I think not enough has been made of Lebron James performance last night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Yes the Cavs lost the game but in my humble opinion I think Lebron's effort could be considered one of the top 20 playoff performances of all time.
It was not just the 49 points it was the fact that he shot 67% from the field. Not only that he did it with the full arsenal of moves 3 pointers and mid-range jumpers when the Magic tried to pack everyone into the paint. When he did get an opening, he took it to the rim with authority and had some incredible finishes. When neither of those were open he posted up and unleashed post moves that only a few players in the league could match.
It was not just the 8 assists. It was the way that down the stretch he did not force up bad shots when he was double and tripled teamed. He just calmly found the open teammate and trusted them to knock down jumpers. Honestly he could have had 12 or 13 if the shooters for the Cavs had even an average night of shooting. His court vision has always been great but hid ability to read defenses is a lost art in today's game.
It was not just his rebounding and defense. He seemed to always be coming down with the big boards or huge block when the team needed it.
It was all of that but the image I will remember is Lebron diving on the floor in the closing seconds to try and get a jump ball. How many All NBA players do you see doing that in today's game?
At the end of the heartbreaking loss. I was left in awe as a bloody Lebron had to be helped off the court after spending everything he had and more. In a game where his team did not even have its C game he put them on his back in the 2nd half trying to save the home court.
If there was ever any question of who the best player in the game today is, it was answered emphatically last night. Lebron was at a level that very few players can even dream of reaching.
It was not just the 49 points it was the fact that he shot 67% from the field. Not only that he did it with the full arsenal of moves 3 pointers and mid-range jumpers when the Magic tried to pack everyone into the paint. When he did get an opening, he took it to the rim with authority and had some incredible finishes. When neither of those were open he posted up and unleashed post moves that only a few players in the league could match.
It was not just the 8 assists. It was the way that down the stretch he did not force up bad shots when he was double and tripled teamed. He just calmly found the open teammate and trusted them to knock down jumpers. Honestly he could have had 12 or 13 if the shooters for the Cavs had even an average night of shooting. His court vision has always been great but hid ability to read defenses is a lost art in today's game.
It was not just his rebounding and defense. He seemed to always be coming down with the big boards or huge block when the team needed it.
It was all of that but the image I will remember is Lebron diving on the floor in the closing seconds to try and get a jump ball. How many All NBA players do you see doing that in today's game?
At the end of the heartbreaking loss. I was left in awe as a bloody Lebron had to be helped off the court after spending everything he had and more. In a game where his team did not even have its C game he put them on his back in the 2nd half trying to save the home court.
If there was ever any question of who the best player in the game today is, it was answered emphatically last night. Lebron was at a level that very few players can even dream of reaching.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
To Foul or Not to Foul
Let me get on my soapbox for a while and rant about a trend I dislike.
Intentionally fouling when up by 3 under 10 seconds. Now just to preface I understand it is 100% the most strategic play and almost always resorts in victory so please do not think I am just some idiot who does not understand the game. I am strictly speaking from and entertainment point of view.
Is there anything more exciting than a buzzer beater? I love seeing the madness of a point guard running up the floor as time is running out trying to decide if he is going to pull up and shoot or look for an open teammate. Now it seems that we have been robbed of this joy by the intentional foul.
Think about it for a second there is no other sport that rewards a team for fouling in the clutch. Imagine if this rule worked in football. Imagine this scenario from the Super Bowl. Big Ben leading the Steelers down the field down by 7 in the last minute. Right before the snap the entire Cardinals defensive line jumps offside. The refs then tell the Steelers they have to kick a field goal because the Cardinals jumped offside! There would be massive uproar because the odds of the Steelers recovering an onside kick and then scoring would be slim to none, and yet when this same strategy happens in basketball everyone applauds the great strategy.
I have been burned by not fouling multiple times in my life most recently when Xavier was on the verge of knocking off #1 seed Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA tourney in 2007. Xavier missed a free throw with 5 seconds left and Ron Lewis went down and buried a 3 to tie the game and send it to overtime. Was I upset? Yes. But I know I remember that game 100 times more vividly than if Xavier had fouled and won.
So while I know I am in the minority and am going against simple basketball logic but please coaches stop intentionally fouling up 3 int he last seconds. I would much rather see a memorable finish than a boring free throw ending.
Intentionally fouling when up by 3 under 10 seconds. Now just to preface I understand it is 100% the most strategic play and almost always resorts in victory so please do not think I am just some idiot who does not understand the game. I am strictly speaking from and entertainment point of view.
Is there anything more exciting than a buzzer beater? I love seeing the madness of a point guard running up the floor as time is running out trying to decide if he is going to pull up and shoot or look for an open teammate. Now it seems that we have been robbed of this joy by the intentional foul.
Think about it for a second there is no other sport that rewards a team for fouling in the clutch. Imagine if this rule worked in football. Imagine this scenario from the Super Bowl. Big Ben leading the Steelers down the field down by 7 in the last minute. Right before the snap the entire Cardinals defensive line jumps offside. The refs then tell the Steelers they have to kick a field goal because the Cardinals jumped offside! There would be massive uproar because the odds of the Steelers recovering an onside kick and then scoring would be slim to none, and yet when this same strategy happens in basketball everyone applauds the great strategy.
I have been burned by not fouling multiple times in my life most recently when Xavier was on the verge of knocking off #1 seed Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA tourney in 2007. Xavier missed a free throw with 5 seconds left and Ron Lewis went down and buried a 3 to tie the game and send it to overtime. Was I upset? Yes. But I know I remember that game 100 times more vividly than if Xavier had fouled and won.
So while I know I am in the minority and am going against simple basketball logic but please coaches stop intentionally fouling up 3 int he last seconds. I would much rather see a memorable finish than a boring free throw ending.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A note to Gary Bettman
Dear Mr. Bettman,
I know you are in the middle of the postseason but you may not have noticed that the NHL is still considered a niche sport by many people. I figured I would offer a few solutions to how you can become relevant again.
1. Eliminate at least 2 struggling teams- There are too many teams and not enough true talented players to keep things level. So eliminate a few of the struggling ones like Phoenix and Florida in order to save some money. This will allow for the the talent to be dispersed amongst the league which will result in more parity.
2. Move at least 2 more teams back to Canada- Hockey is a Canadian sport and the game is dominated by Canadians. So the more franchises in Canada the more successful the league will be. Lets say we move Tampa Bay and New York Islanders to Canada and instantly you have more rivalries between the Canadian teams. As well as a better chance of Canadian teams making the Stanley Cup Finals which the sport drastically means. Lets face it the Canadians are the most fanatic hockey fans so the more teams they can follow and get into the better. Ask yourself this would you rather see Carolina fan base or the fan base of a 2nd Toronto team in the finals?
3. Get the Playoffs on a Major Cable Network- There is no excuse for the NHL playoffs, arguably the most intense and grueling playoffs, not to be on a major network. I know its a money thing but for the good of the sport take a little less money and get the NHL playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, etc. The sport is at an all time high and there is no reason for it be on channels that are triple digits. If ESPN can show the MLS and WNBA they can find room for playoff hockey games but you need to realize that a short term loss on TV money is worth the additional fans gained by being on national TV.
4. Versus- If Versus feels very strongly about having hockey then let them cover the regular season. They can have exclusive rights for the regular season for the next few years as the fan base grows. The regular season is not covered seriously anyway so any money you get for it is an added bonus.
5. Make the Center Ice Package significantly cheaper- I know this seems like a risk but trust me if you make it cheaper more and more puckheads like myself will order it. I know as much as I love hockey, I am not going to be willing to pay over 75 bucks for the season pass. If you make it $70, I promise there will be a dramatic increase in the sales.
I know these may be drastic measures for a Commissioner who seems to be determined to make this league fail but I have faith that you can pull your head out of the sand and make progress.
So please Gary take action and lets get the NHL back where it belongs as the 4th major sport. The talent in the league right now is too good and the games are too enjoyable to not cash in on this opportunity.
Sincerely,
The Book of Sports
I know you are in the middle of the postseason but you may not have noticed that the NHL is still considered a niche sport by many people. I figured I would offer a few solutions to how you can become relevant again.
1. Eliminate at least 2 struggling teams- There are too many teams and not enough true talented players to keep things level. So eliminate a few of the struggling ones like Phoenix and Florida in order to save some money. This will allow for the the talent to be dispersed amongst the league which will result in more parity.
2. Move at least 2 more teams back to Canada- Hockey is a Canadian sport and the game is dominated by Canadians. So the more franchises in Canada the more successful the league will be. Lets say we move Tampa Bay and New York Islanders to Canada and instantly you have more rivalries between the Canadian teams. As well as a better chance of Canadian teams making the Stanley Cup Finals which the sport drastically means. Lets face it the Canadians are the most fanatic hockey fans so the more teams they can follow and get into the better. Ask yourself this would you rather see Carolina fan base or the fan base of a 2nd Toronto team in the finals?
3. Get the Playoffs on a Major Cable Network- There is no excuse for the NHL playoffs, arguably the most intense and grueling playoffs, not to be on a major network. I know its a money thing but for the good of the sport take a little less money and get the NHL playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, etc. The sport is at an all time high and there is no reason for it be on channels that are triple digits. If ESPN can show the MLS and WNBA they can find room for playoff hockey games but you need to realize that a short term loss on TV money is worth the additional fans gained by being on national TV.
4. Versus- If Versus feels very strongly about having hockey then let them cover the regular season. They can have exclusive rights for the regular season for the next few years as the fan base grows. The regular season is not covered seriously anyway so any money you get for it is an added bonus.
5. Make the Center Ice Package significantly cheaper- I know this seems like a risk but trust me if you make it cheaper more and more puckheads like myself will order it. I know as much as I love hockey, I am not going to be willing to pay over 75 bucks for the season pass. If you make it $70, I promise there will be a dramatic increase in the sales.
I know these may be drastic measures for a Commissioner who seems to be determined to make this league fail but I have faith that you can pull your head out of the sand and make progress.
So please Gary take action and lets get the NHL back where it belongs as the 4th major sport. The talent in the league right now is too good and the games are too enjoyable to not cash in on this opportunity.
Sincerely,
The Book of Sports
Monday, May 18, 2009
Weekend Thoughts
My thoughts from the weekend of sports
Game 7s in the NBA- Can you say disappointment? I mean I figured that Lakers would win but that was not even enjoyable to watch unless you were a Lakers fan. I mean the game was so out of hand that ABC was already showing promos for the Lakers Nuggets Western Conference Finals in the 3rd quarter. Game 7 in Boston was a little more interesting but still you never really got the feeling that the Celtics were going to make it close. I cannot wait for the Conference Finals as it looks like we have two very good match-ups. My picks are Cavs in 5 and Lakers in 7.
The Preakness- It was a spectacular build up between Mine that Bird and Rachel Alexandria and it absolutely lived up to the billing. This has been one of the best Triple Crowns in recent memory and I really hope that both horses race in the Belmont because if they both run the same race in the Belmont Mine That Bird wins down the stretch.
Red Wings vs Black Hawks- The Hawks but up a huge fight but they just could not overcome the Red Wings depth. As much as I would love to see this series go 7 and be an all time classic, I just see the Red Wings being too deep and too talented. I see the Red Wings winning in 5 and roll on to a 2nd Cup tittle.
Baseball- I watched a few games this weekend but I just have trouble getting into it this early and it doesn't help that my Indians currently have the worst record in the majors. So I am having trouble fully immersing myself in baseball.
As a whole it was an OK weekend but as the playoffs heat up I fully expect bigger and better things to come.
Game 7s in the NBA- Can you say disappointment? I mean I figured that Lakers would win but that was not even enjoyable to watch unless you were a Lakers fan. I mean the game was so out of hand that ABC was already showing promos for the Lakers Nuggets Western Conference Finals in the 3rd quarter. Game 7 in Boston was a little more interesting but still you never really got the feeling that the Celtics were going to make it close. I cannot wait for the Conference Finals as it looks like we have two very good match-ups. My picks are Cavs in 5 and Lakers in 7.
The Preakness- It was a spectacular build up between Mine that Bird and Rachel Alexandria and it absolutely lived up to the billing. This has been one of the best Triple Crowns in recent memory and I really hope that both horses race in the Belmont because if they both run the same race in the Belmont Mine That Bird wins down the stretch.
Red Wings vs Black Hawks- The Hawks but up a huge fight but they just could not overcome the Red Wings depth. As much as I would love to see this series go 7 and be an all time classic, I just see the Red Wings being too deep and too talented. I see the Red Wings winning in 5 and roll on to a 2nd Cup tittle.
Baseball- I watched a few games this weekend but I just have trouble getting into it this early and it doesn't help that my Indians currently have the worst record in the majors. So I am having trouble fully immersing myself in baseball.
As a whole it was an OK weekend but as the playoffs heat up I fully expect bigger and better things to come.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Why I Love Hockey
I am a puck head and not ashamed to admit it. However the regular season is a little too long and there are at least 8 too many teams. So the playoffs are where I go to get my NHL fix, and since my beloved Columbus Blue Jackets made their first ever playoff appearance this season, and were promptly swept by the Red Wings (Game 4 was robbery by the officials and you cannot convince me otherwise!) it allows for me to watch countless hours of playoff games with no real rooting interest. This means i can just sit back and appreciate all that is great about playoff hockey.
Playoff hockey is amazing because of the intensity and nothing beats the intensity of a Game 7 in sports but for some reason a hockey Game 7 stands out even more. The feeling that one dumb penalty, one bad pass, or one spectacular play can completely wipe out 6 previous games. So naturally I was practically giddy at the upcoming schedule of 3 game 7s in 2 days. Of coarse much to my dismay the Pens-Capitals game was over before the 2nd period started.
So naturally after the letdown from that game I downgrade my excitement to carefully optimistic. Yet despite my feelings the NHL delivered all I could want and more.
First the Red Wings and Ducks deliver a 3 period battle that had me on the edge of my seat. As the clocked wound down in 3-3 tie, you got the feeling that it was heading for a great ending. Sure enough Bill Cleary scored and Joe Louis Arena crowd nearly blew the roof off the place. The Next 4 minutes were a blur of bodies and shots as the crowd grew louder trying to will the Wings to hold off the Duck's final surges. There is almost nothing as exciting as the last 2 minutes of a 1 goal game except...
Overtime in a Game 7 and that is exactly what the Bruins and Canes delivered. This is the ultimate in drama. Every shot makes your heart skip a beat and even better the officials put their whistles in their pockets and let the teams go at it. This combination is what makes playoff hockey so great. I cannot even remember most of the overtime as it was a nonstop rush of huge hits, great opportunities, even better saves, and players pushing themselves through fatigue I cannot even imagine. When the game finally ended I went to bed with a huge smile. The NHL had delivered two amazing game 7s and made me remember why I love watching the NHL playoffs.
As I got into bed, I had to grab my BlackBerry and get on ESPN.com. I was so wrapped up in the NHL playoffs I had forgotten that their were two pretty significant NBA games tonight.
So please people watch the NHL playoffs. I don't care if you have never watched a hockey game. If you see a Game 7, do yourself a favor and find someone with Versus because every so often the sports gods reward you with the two classics that were delivered tonight.
In my book the NHL playoffs are where amazing happens.
Playoff hockey is amazing because of the intensity and nothing beats the intensity of a Game 7 in sports but for some reason a hockey Game 7 stands out even more. The feeling that one dumb penalty, one bad pass, or one spectacular play can completely wipe out 6 previous games. So naturally I was practically giddy at the upcoming schedule of 3 game 7s in 2 days. Of coarse much to my dismay the Pens-Capitals game was over before the 2nd period started.
So naturally after the letdown from that game I downgrade my excitement to carefully optimistic. Yet despite my feelings the NHL delivered all I could want and more.
First the Red Wings and Ducks deliver a 3 period battle that had me on the edge of my seat. As the clocked wound down in 3-3 tie, you got the feeling that it was heading for a great ending. Sure enough Bill Cleary scored and Joe Louis Arena crowd nearly blew the roof off the place. The Next 4 minutes were a blur of bodies and shots as the crowd grew louder trying to will the Wings to hold off the Duck's final surges. There is almost nothing as exciting as the last 2 minutes of a 1 goal game except...
Overtime in a Game 7 and that is exactly what the Bruins and Canes delivered. This is the ultimate in drama. Every shot makes your heart skip a beat and even better the officials put their whistles in their pockets and let the teams go at it. This combination is what makes playoff hockey so great. I cannot even remember most of the overtime as it was a nonstop rush of huge hits, great opportunities, even better saves, and players pushing themselves through fatigue I cannot even imagine. When the game finally ended I went to bed with a huge smile. The NHL had delivered two amazing game 7s and made me remember why I love watching the NHL playoffs.
As I got into bed, I had to grab my BlackBerry and get on ESPN.com. I was so wrapped up in the NHL playoffs I had forgotten that their were two pretty significant NBA games tonight.
So please people watch the NHL playoffs. I don't care if you have never watched a hockey game. If you see a Game 7, do yourself a favor and find someone with Versus because every so often the sports gods reward you with the two classics that were delivered tonight.
In my book the NHL playoffs are where amazing happens.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Welcome
Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Brian Stromberg and this is The Book of Sports Blog. (Not to be mistaken with the ancient decree of King James I from 1617, although I feel if he could have blogged he would have.)
My goal of this blog is to use it as a forum to express my opinions on all things sports. I will try to write something new everyday but I cannot make any promises. I have a variety of friends that may make guest appearances and who knows if this thing takes off, we could even see podcast.
Two thing you must know about me before we start...
1. My teams are University of Michigan, University of Xavier (where I attended school), Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavs, and Columbus Blue Jackets. (If you follow professional soccer I love Bayern Munich)
2. I have the tendency at times to be a homer for my teams. So I ask that you cut me a little slack.
So I hope you give it a chance and if you like it forward it on to friend.
Lets get the show on the road...
MLB WRITERS
Let me preface by saying I have no respect for steroid users. This era has been marked by huge numbers and even more huge muscles. I have not made a final decision on steroid users and the HOF but with every new player busted it becomes more obvious that almost everyone was juicing during the past 10-15 years. If this is the case then I believe that the voters should vote solely based on numbers. Although I do think there should be some additional arbitrary punishment for steroid users allowed in the HOF. I don't care if they make a steroid era wing in the HOF, unanimously decide that no one who is linked to steroids can get voted in until 5 additional years of voting have passed, or some other form of arbitrary punishment. At the end of the day I still am undecided but the fact remains if the HOF is going to continue to add new players I would much rather have it be truly great players linked to steroids (oxymoron but I swear it makes sense)than fringe players from past decades.
However this is not my bigger concern. My problem is with the writers and baseball personality's that keep saying "I cannot vote for Player A or B because they have disgraced the game of baseball by taking steroids". Disgraced the game of baseball? Where do baseball fans draw the line of disgrace? The MLB started playing in the 1880's and did not allow African American players till the1950's, and in the past 60 years has actually had something called the Negro League. The Boston Red Sox arguably one of if not the most popular team in the MLB was one of the last teams to embrace African American players. Are the pre-Jackie Robinson eras considered a disgrace? No, in fact many people will call it the the glory days of baseball without even thinking about the fact an entire race of players was banned.
Is it a disgrace when pitchers throw at a batter's head in order to send a message, or even go as far as Bobby Jenks, who openly admitted he was trying to throw behind the head of Ian Kinsler? No, people say its part of the game and MLB manages to fine Jenks a whole $750 for the offense. Last time I checked a 97 mph fastball can do significant damage.
What about bench clearing brawls? What other sport allows for not only a fight to break out but encourages everyone to run on the field to get involved? I mean at least the NHL it usually is just two guys going at each other while everyone else watches. And yet again people tell you that these brawls are part of the tradition of the MLB.
Did anyone say we should keep George Brett out of the HOF because he was caught trying to bend the rules with pine tar? (I realize steroid usage is a much worse offense but the intent of the illegal amount of pine tar is still to gain an illegal advantage, which is the same advantage juicers are going for.) No, in fact his over the top reaction is often the most visible highlight of his career.
The Shot Heard Round the World? Bobby Thompson and the Giants were stealing signs. Yet it is considered to be one of the most memorable moments in baseball history.
You get my point. It seems the only thing in MLB history that is off limits and will earn you no chance of HOF is gambling on baseball so if your keeping score the most heinous offense a baseball player can commit is gambling on baseball or taking steroids, everything else is just part of the game.
So, do steroid users really disgrace the game? If you say yes, then ask yourself is there really that much integrity of baseball left to disgrace?
So you can tell me that Manny, Bonds, Big Mac, Sosa, Clemens, A-Rod, and etc were juicers and should be punished. You can tell me they broke the rules and that makes them cheaters. You can even tell me that they do not belong in the HOF and you will not get too much of an argument from me. However, do not tell me that they are disgracing the great game of baseball. In my book the great game of baseball lost the great a long time ago.
My goal of this blog is to use it as a forum to express my opinions on all things sports. I will try to write something new everyday but I cannot make any promises. I have a variety of friends that may make guest appearances and who knows if this thing takes off, we could even see podcast.
Two thing you must know about me before we start...
1. My teams are University of Michigan, University of Xavier (where I attended school), Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavs, and Columbus Blue Jackets. (If you follow professional soccer I love Bayern Munich)
2. I have the tendency at times to be a homer for my teams. So I ask that you cut me a little slack.
So I hope you give it a chance and if you like it forward it on to friend.
Lets get the show on the road...
MLB WRITERS
Let me preface by saying I have no respect for steroid users. This era has been marked by huge numbers and even more huge muscles. I have not made a final decision on steroid users and the HOF but with every new player busted it becomes more obvious that almost everyone was juicing during the past 10-15 years. If this is the case then I believe that the voters should vote solely based on numbers. Although I do think there should be some additional arbitrary punishment for steroid users allowed in the HOF. I don't care if they make a steroid era wing in the HOF, unanimously decide that no one who is linked to steroids can get voted in until 5 additional years of voting have passed, or some other form of arbitrary punishment. At the end of the day I still am undecided but the fact remains if the HOF is going to continue to add new players I would much rather have it be truly great players linked to steroids (oxymoron but I swear it makes sense)than fringe players from past decades.
However this is not my bigger concern. My problem is with the writers and baseball personality's that keep saying "I cannot vote for Player A or B because they have disgraced the game of baseball by taking steroids". Disgraced the game of baseball? Where do baseball fans draw the line of disgrace? The MLB started playing in the 1880's and did not allow African American players till the1950's, and in the past 60 years has actually had something called the Negro League. The Boston Red Sox arguably one of if not the most popular team in the MLB was one of the last teams to embrace African American players. Are the pre-Jackie Robinson eras considered a disgrace? No, in fact many people will call it the the glory days of baseball without even thinking about the fact an entire race of players was banned.
Is it a disgrace when pitchers throw at a batter's head in order to send a message, or even go as far as Bobby Jenks, who openly admitted he was trying to throw behind the head of Ian Kinsler? No, people say its part of the game and MLB manages to fine Jenks a whole $750 for the offense. Last time I checked a 97 mph fastball can do significant damage.
What about bench clearing brawls? What other sport allows for not only a fight to break out but encourages everyone to run on the field to get involved? I mean at least the NHL it usually is just two guys going at each other while everyone else watches. And yet again people tell you that these brawls are part of the tradition of the MLB.
Did anyone say we should keep George Brett out of the HOF because he was caught trying to bend the rules with pine tar? (I realize steroid usage is a much worse offense but the intent of the illegal amount of pine tar is still to gain an illegal advantage, which is the same advantage juicers are going for.) No, in fact his over the top reaction is often the most visible highlight of his career.
The Shot Heard Round the World? Bobby Thompson and the Giants were stealing signs. Yet it is considered to be one of the most memorable moments in baseball history.
You get my point. It seems the only thing in MLB history that is off limits and will earn you no chance of HOF is gambling on baseball so if your keeping score the most heinous offense a baseball player can commit is gambling on baseball or taking steroids, everything else is just part of the game.
So, do steroid users really disgrace the game? If you say yes, then ask yourself is there really that much integrity of baseball left to disgrace?
So you can tell me that Manny, Bonds, Big Mac, Sosa, Clemens, A-Rod, and etc were juicers and should be punished. You can tell me they broke the rules and that makes them cheaters. You can even tell me that they do not belong in the HOF and you will not get too much of an argument from me. However, do not tell me that they are disgracing the great game of baseball. In my book the great game of baseball lost the great a long time ago.
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