Sports Views

Anyway, here I am, defender of the trendy pick, picking the Astros in six. I think the White Sox are being given credit for the serious flaws of their playoff opponents thus far. The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels did not have much starting pitching to speak of when they played the White Sox. The Red Sox never had dependable starting pitching this season, and the Angels were exhausted after their five game series with the Yankees and with the loss of their ace, Bartolo Colon. Most teams would have folded to a well-rested White Sox team under similar situations.

Somewhere along the line, the poets and bards of baseball decided there were better stories out there, better tales of endearing futility that unfolded under more mystical circumstances, than the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros, two relatively boring franchises that simply never won. So, the poets and bards turned teams like the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs into the darlings of folklorists and merchandise salesmen, while the White Sox and Astros merely kept losing in relative obscurity.

Second, in 1992, the Sox traded its most promising (although at the time raw and inconsistent) slugger, Sammy Sosa, to their cross-town rivals for the aging, breaking-down George Bell. Six years later, of course, Sosa and Mark McGuire would captivate a nation in a home run battle for the ages that would revive a sport damaged by strike (more on that coming). Although Sosa’s legacy would end up crippled by a corked-bat controversy and rumors of steroid use, he single-handedly brought the Cubs franchise back to life. Fans started coming through the turnstiles just to see Sosa and didn’t stop even after he got run out of town

Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens come to town Sunday for a grudge match with the Chicago Bears. Keep the wife and kids away from the TV because this ain't gonna be pretty, folks. Both the Bears and Ravens try to win with the same strategy: Tough, tough defense and mistake-free offense.

The Dallas Cowboys have a couple of problems they need to fix. They can't run the ball, they can't throw the ball, and they can't catch the ball. Oh and their players have LITTLE COCKS as was shown on this FOX news clip. (Oct 15th)

I was surprised to see Bernie Williams only has 275 career home runs. All those post-season homers made me think he had more regular season power. Alex Rodriguez, meanwhile, has become the Barry Bonds of his time, suffering through one miserable post-season after another. As the Braves keep demonstrating, the post-season is an entirely different game.

In Spain, there is one king sport. Unlike North America, where you can enjoy good baseball, hockey, basketball, american football, etc, spanish people are in general, completely addicted to soccer. It is so engraved in society that there is seldom any mention of any other sport in the media. But there is one thing that is the same (as far as I know) all around the world, and that is the importance that is given to some unimportant small issues. Today, spanish papers seemed incredibly worried about Ronaldo’s ankle which is sprained for two weeks than a few other people who have won world championships, or are repreenting SPain at the highest level in global sports, and obtaining medals nonetheless. I know this to be true in The US aswell. The New York Times would rather report that Terrell Owens prefers one training field to another than report that a man who had his leg amputated after cancer is triumphant in a paralympic global decathlon. In my opinion not only is this ridiculous, but also the fact that newspapers or newspaper sections call themselves “Sports” which is obviously not the case, as they whould cover a much wider array of news to read about different subjects.

I’m sorry but this is all just too much. Don’t get me wrong I love the pairity the NFL brings to the table, but would someone please act as they should. The Eagles don’t get blown out by Dallas. The Jets can’t possibly have a turn-around season on their fourth option at quarterback this year, especially since he’ll be celebrating his 42nd birthday on November 13th when the Jets visit Carolina. I don’t care how good they are, the Bengals are not allowed to be 4-1, this is principle people. And how in God’s name are Miami and Cleveland both at .500? Please football gods, I implore you, as a faithful football junkie, give me something I count on. Give me something to believe in. Oh, and one more thing, please let Brett Favre and the Packers continue to get ravaged. I know last week was an accident. I forgive you.

Other nominees included Josh Paul of the LA Angels for not completeing the play that cost the Angels the game, ya its his fault I mean common you learned in little league keep playing til you hear the ump give the final out. So yeah if Terrell Owens caught a pass and fell down no he's not down someone has to touch him, so if Brian Urlacher is standing next to him and doesn't do shit and TO runs and scores a touchdown ITS URLACHERS FUCKING FAULT, just like its Paul's fucking fault, stfu Angel fans this is what I'd like to call payback for the Steve Bartman shit we had to endure 3 years ago, and sadly I still want to gouge that fuckers eye's out. I bet I know a certain catcher who won't make the team next year if the Angel's don't beat the white sox. Okok well nominate the umpire Doug Eddings to just to shut you crybaby cali whiners up, yes he was unclear, yes he motioned like he was out BUT HE DIDN'T SAY YOUR OUT, but still your right it was a bogus call. And finally how about Dr. Phil for just being a slapdick.

In 1946, the New York Yankees became the first baseball team to travel by plane.

Everyone knows that Giambi's coming off the juice was the single-most biggest obstacle he faced this season. It's just plain lazy, and somewhat irresponsible, for the Associated Press to pretend it isn't so.

After Cashman came or Joe realized that Wang got rocked, I can't remember which, the conversation transitioned to the Macha release in Oakland. Neither Jon Miller nor Joe Morgan could make heads or tales of it. Was it a firing? Was he released? Did he quit? Apparently, "negotiations ended after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract" was too ambiguous for the duo and the booth got quiet until the top of the 9th with Jeter up to bat. The Yanks were down 5-3 and it was time for Mr. October. Joe said, "Derek Jeter makes things happen. He's been shutout at the plate tonight and he doesn't walk or steal much but he makes things happen." *Strike* "You can really count on him to do it for you." *Strike* Joe never explains how. He never has an analysis but a non-walking, non-stealing shutout Jeter makes things happen. When #2 struck out, Joe said, "I mean, he really makes it happen." It was like Jeter hit a gamebreaking triple and wasn't actually on his way back to the dugout. Around this time, I muted the telly and watched the rest of the game in silence.

i hate it when sportscenter is dominated by baseball coverage. the vikings sex cruise was interesting though. houston rockets cut charlie ward, they are finally moving yao ming to the point a la joe johnson.

For those of us who love golf, and love to watch great golf, Mallon’s plight was appalling. How could one of the LPGA’s established, recognizable players—a past U.S. Open winner!—not have a hat or shirt sponsor? To the people who sign endorsement deal checks, I guess, it was a wise move. Who watches women’s golf, anyway? Enter Michelle Wie and her immediate $10 million in endorsement deals. Now, some LPGA veterans might be spiteful or resentful that they never made this kind of dough. The smart players, however, should be grateful: Wie’s deals pull up the market value of LPGA sponsorship across the board. More people will watch LPGA events to see Wie, boosting viewership, along with, presumably, the willingness of companies to sew their logos on shirts and hats. All of this will happen regardless of whether or not she wins immediately. As long as she continues to bomb the ball and at least makes a go at several championships (as she already has), she will continue to be a draw for the LPGA. Now, if she completely fizzles (think Jennifer Capriati in her early years), then all bets are off.

Stoudemire had “microfracture” surgery, which is a fancy way of saying that a doctor drilled a hole in a bone near his knee. I’m not a doctor, though I’ve been known to play one (wink, wink), but I can’t imagine that causing a second injury to fix a first one is the kind of thing doctor’s do on a whim. Other famous basketball players who have had the surgery include Chris Webber, Jason Kidd and Jamal Mashburn. What do they all have in common? They all have bad contracts and can’t jump anymore.

Did the white sox not look incredible while winning their first series since 1914? In a series billed as the best offensive team in the AL versus the best pitching in the AL, the real story was white sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Forget Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. Forget Paul Konerko and Juan Uribe. The series came down to Ozzie Guillen. The man was the head of a team that has the perfect combination of power, speed, small-ball, fielding, and the key to their win today...pitching. If the white sox can manage to win it all this year, which playing in their current state of mind, is very possible, we should all look back on one moment in game three of the ALDS as the key to a championship run.

He and David Ortiz are fairly close in their hitting stats (.321/.421/.610 for Rodriguez vs. .300/.397/.604), but in a close race I am giving the nod to the position player who fields his position well rather than the designated hitter. Others on my ballot: Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, Johan Santana, Miguel Tejada, Mark Teixeira, Michael Young, Travis Hafner, Mark Buerhle, Jason Giambi.

When I was in Beijing, this last summer, I have walked through the gates of the Forbidden City. I was amazed to have seen basketball courts within the walls of a city once forbidden for ordinary people. Now those ordinary people are enjoying themselves by playing “balls”. This couldn’t be possible without China’s greatest hero: Yao Ming. The influence he has got over China’s youth is incredible.