Welcome to another Wednesday here at the Gab. We’re halfway through the week and getting closer to the official start of summer. Looks like I’ll be spending Memorial Day in Cincinnati. My fiancé is wedding dress shopping. I wonder if I could talk her into a Reds game…

Speaking of summer, the Tigers-Indians series was as exciting to watch as I thought it would be. Well, Friday was a bit of a one sided affair, but as a Tigers fan it was nice to see. Just about everyone got a hit. Andy Dirks even got a home run. After that, however, the Tigers lost their grip. Ubaldo and the Tribe outdueled Verlander on Saturday. Then the Tribe got some late game hitting to beat the Tigers on Mother’s Day. If the weekend was any indication, these two teams are going to give each other grief all season.

I’m a bit surprised the White Sox aren’t being more of a problem. Alex Rios is acting as the team’s offense. The problem is he’s leading with a .279 average. He also has the team lead for almost every other meaningful hitting stat. Their offensive stats are just too close to what they’re giving up. They have a stud pitcher in Chris Sales and Jake Peavy has matched Sale’s 4 wins. After those spots, things get hazy. It doesn’t help that the Tribe and Royals added so many pieces in the off season. The Twins, while underachieving the last few seasons, also look in better shape. Mauer hitting .343 is always a good sign.

Not surprisingly, the AL East has started off super competitive. Last week, the division boasted a three team tie for first between the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles. As of now, the Yanks have a one game lead over the Os. While NY might’ve lost Hafner for a stretch, they’ll be getting Granderson back. Those spare parts have done their job and kept the Yankees respectable.

I came across a video celebrating the Seattle Mariners and their recently departed radio play-by-play man Dave Niehaus. It’s by Macklemore, the Thrift Shop guy. I usually don’t go for his style, but I’ll admit I liked Thrift Shop. It’s catchy and has an actual message, which I find lacking in the hip hop genre. This song lets me know he might have a little more where that came from. Plus, I’ve yet to hear anyone celebrate the Mariners in song…

It’s been an interesting career for Titus Young lately. Following his release from the Lions and his 10 days with the Rams, Young has spent more time in trouble with the law than his former Lions teammates combined. In fact, he was arrested 3 times last week. A home owner admitted he almost shot Young when he entered his home. Few people have had such falls.

Young’s father has recently offered some explanation. According to Richard Young, Titus Young suffers from a psychological disorder. What disorder, however, was not named. Young’s father also mentioned that the disorder took hold following a concussion Young suffered in his rookie season. The only problem: Young was never diagnosed with a concussion. Young’s father also mentioned that treatment would only take 6 months if Young followed the doctor’s instructions. I don’t know a whole lot about neuroscience, but I imagine brain disorders take longer than 6 months to overcome.

These explanations make me wonder if his condition is hereditary.

Still, Bears receiver Brandon Marshall has reached out to Young. Marshall suffers from a personality disorder, but has received treatment. Marshall is adamant that Young should step up and enter a similar program.

Manti T’eo’s girlfriend has been voted the 69^th hottest woman on the planet according to Maxim. I don’t feel too bad for Manti on this. He’s gonna have to get over this. I feel worse for women #100-70. How bad would it be to get ranked behind nothing?

No one is having a better week than this guy...

Well, thanks as always for stopping by. Hope this week keeps going as fast as it has been. A good friend of mine just got a job as an emergency room technician after a few years of working valet at the same hospital. Luckily, it seems like he was shmoozing while he was parking. Needless to say, this calls for a few beers. I leave you as always with your word of the week.

sit of shame, noun

Sometimes viewing greatness on television even in high def does not do greatness justice.  It has to be witnessed in person.  Such was the case with the Rangers 5-0 stomping of the Capitals in Game 7 on Monday.  Seated about 15 rows up behind the Rangers cage, I got a bird's eye view for 2 periods of how the best plays his position.  For each challenge, Lundqvist was in perfect position to make the perfect play on the frustrated Capital forwards.  It was not so much the need to make the cat-quick save, although he certainly could do that, as it was the precision in body positioning that always covered the maximum net with the minimum of effort.   

Lundqvist's efforts were augmented by superior shot blocking.  In game 7, the Rangers blocked 27 shots - nearly as many as made it through to goal.  In fact, many would be scoring chances were defused by a Ranger stick or shin pad.  There is no question that the Rangers commitment to Team Defense was a major factor.   

No Capital was probably more frustrated than Alex Ovechkin.  For any number of shifts, OV did all he could to position himself to score.  He was flying all over the ice doling out hits and trying to rally his team.  In end, Ovechkin said it best himself: "In my mind, it was Lundqvist. They have great team, no doubt about it, but Lundqvist was unbelievable. Just unbelievable.From where I was sitting, it was hard to argue.  Congratulations Rangers on a dominant Game 7 and a Series Win over a good Capitals team. 

I've got nothing today for the Q-o-t-D...So...

What would you like to ask the Beeze?  Any Question...I'll answer them in the evening after I'm home from work, and get the family situated...Fire away...

My Princess...looking so much like one for her junior prom.

Greetings from the Hoodwood, where the locals wish that Tiger and Sergio would just get into a brawl and be done with it. But we all know it would just be a catty slap fight if they did.

NBA: Are the Grizzlies the team that could take the Heat down?

I still want to know what the fuss is about. I still think that the Heat is still the team to beat in spite of the rabble rousing series that they are in with the Bulls but it seems that all of a sudden that the Memphis Grizzlies have become the sudden “it” team in the NBA, with the Warriors rollicking series with Spurs going at least 6. The Grizzlies could actually be the team that awaits the winner of that series. The Grizzlies after spotting the Thunder the first game in OKC, the Grizzlies have won 3 straight including a thrilling 103-97 OT game 4 win.  The Thunder have suddenly discovered for all his bad shooting foibles and reckless charges to the hoop. Russell Westbrook was a lot more valuable to the Thunder than a lot of people thought. He forced defenses to play straight up and Kevin Durant got a lot more clean looks than he does with Westbrook out. The Grizzlies seem to come at you in waves, Zach Randolph is one of the most underrated big men in the league who seems to roll off yeoman like performances every game. Randolph and Marc Gasol are two of the potent weapons in the Grizzlies game. The Grizzlies are in some ways the Anti-Heat. They play a grimy, gritty game and focus on defense much like the Bulls but instead of the yapping Joakim Noah or the ebullient Little Nate Robinson, they have a number of under the radar players and a bunch of a “Hey didn’t he used to be…” types. Gasol is quietly shedding his previous image of Pau’s dumpy baby brother and has been a real force in the blocks averaging better than 21 points,  8 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals( take a deep breath)  in the 3 games against the Thunder so far. How underrated is Gasol? He was named defensive player of the year, but left off of the All-NBA defensive 1^st team. Huh? How does that work?

The Fed Ex Forum is becoming a house of horrors for opposing teams as the building gets and stays loud. The Thunder, who are used to having teams be intimidated by their own raucous fans in the OKC are getting the business themselves on Beale Street. The Thunder need to reclaim the home court advantage or they will be going home a lot earlier than anyone expected. But there are many that are liking the Grizzlies as the team that has the defensive power to slow the Heat down and the star power and scoring to stand tall with the defending champs

NHL: Wings keep on flying while the Caps and Leafs gaffle it…again

There was a point where many people wrote of the Detroit Red Wings. Being a long time fan, I was geninuely concerned late in the season when the Red Wings were on the outside of the playoff line. I heard some taunts from folks that hate the Wings that they were done for, but a late season burst got them into the playoffs on the final day.  But playing against the Ducks many people figured that the Wings would be easy pickings for the Pacific Division champs, but the Wings kept coming back, losing the first game but won the second to steal home ice advantage, promptly lost it in game three, tied the series again in game four, faced elimination after losing game 5, and after blowing a 2 goal lead in game 6 was on the brink of going out in OT but won that game and stunned the Ducks in Anaheim a 2^nd time to win the series and send #2 seed home. They now face the Blackhawks who swept aside the 8th seeded Wild in five. Aside from a late March blowout all the games were close. Many pundits figure the Wings will be easy picking for the rampaging Hawks, but playoff hockey is a funny bird in itself.

Meanwhile in the East, the Capitals were supposed to roll over the Rangers who were just happy to be in the postseason and avoiding the Pens, and after winning both home games looked like that they would roll over the Rangers but the Blue Shirts won the next two at MSG and evened the series but the Caps seemed to be in control with a thrilling OT win in game 5 but the dramatic goal by Mike Riberio was stunningly the Caps last…of the series. The Caps got shut out in game 6, and despite the Rangers horrid record in road game 7’s came apart like a weak bill in the Senate. The Rangers thrashed the Caps in game 7 by a stunning 5-0 tally. It was an ill coda to a tight series and yet another playoff flameout by the Caps.  My friend John Walton is the play by play voice of the Caps and I just feel for him after another heartbreaking playoff loss.  Finally up in Beantown, I was getting set to have to talk both Sully and Mo down from the ledges after Leafs roared out to a 4-1 3^rd period lead in game 7 Monday. My buddy Guido, a big Leafs fan was already celebrating. He was saying that he knew that the Leafs could beat the Rangers. There was one problem, the Bruins got off the mat and scored, and scored and scored. Patrice Beregon scored in OT to complete the stunning comeback and while the Bruins celebrated being the first team to comeback from a 3 goal deficit to win a 7^th game, the Leafs had to face yet another playoff disappointment. Oh Canada! The Senators are now Canada’s last hope to bring the Stanley Cup back north of the Border where it hasn’t been since 1993…

MLB: What is up with the umps these days?

For reasons I cant explain, I have problems with umpires when I play softball. I get annoyed real easily by them, invariably I will end up trading insults with them and get the gate.  I couldn’t be a MLB player or manager because I would get run from way too many games by the way the umps will make the most bizarre of calls sometimes and then sit back with the mentality of unquestioned authority.

Item:  Oakland loses a home run when an apparent blast in the 9^th by Adam Rosales is reviewed and ruled to be a double off the wall. When replays clearly show that it hit a railing in the stands above the left field wall in Progressive Field. The A’s Bob Melvin is just about beside himself at the ruling and gets run by ump Angel Hernandez. Rosales doesn’t score though the A’s load the bases in the 9^th and the Indians get the win.

Item: The Astros make a pitching change during the 7^th inning in their game last Thursday against the Angels. Wesley Wright was brought into the game and was in the middle of his warm up throws when rookie manager Bo Porter ran on to the field to pull Wright before he faced a batter and replaced him with Hector Ambriz. Porter made the change because Angels skipper Mike Scioscia pinch hit Scott Cousins for Luis Jiminez. Scioscia argued that Porter could not make the pitching change until Wright had faced at least one batter. The umps led by crew chief Fieldin Culbreth disagreed and allowed the change to stand. Scioscia lodged a protest (why do they do these things when they are never upheld) which was made moot when the Angels won the game. It turns out that Scioscia was correct, Wright had to face a batter.  Culbreth ended up getting a 2 game suspension. Umps blew another call that they should know the rules on.

Item:  Ump Tom Hallion gets into it with Rays pitcher David Price telling him to “throw the damn ball over the plate” during a game on the 2^nd, Price later recounted that Hallion cursed at him repeatedly. Hallion called Price “a liar” when asked about the sequence of events as recalled by Price by a reporter. Hallion and Price were both fined for their actions

For their part, the umps continue to have that mentality that they are

Now the umps scream that they are only human. We’re not talking about the Don Denkinger blown call in the ’85 World Series or Jim Joyce’s egregious missed call on the grounder that should have been the 27^th out in Armando Galarraga’s perfect game. Those calls have been acknowledged as missed and in the latter case, Joyce cuts a sympathetic figure as someone who acknowledged that the missed the call and felt truly bad” NBA refs are getting that way as well. Joey Crawford being the most notorious of egotistical refs I know that umping and refing are tough, thankless jobs but in the case of more than a few umps, they let their ego get in the way of the “Im the ump and Im right.

PHAT DAP/HEAD SLAP

Phat Dap

Ive always liked Matt Kemp, he has a cerebral game and is one of the more dangerous hitters in MLB. But I became a big fan of his after his act of kindness to a dying fan last week in San Francisco. Now keep in mind that the Dodgers are in the middle of a horrible start to the season, and were in the process of getting swept by their hated rivals. At the conclusion of a game, Kemp went over to the fan, Josh Jones and started out by giving him an autograph. Then proceeded to give him his uniform jersey, hat and spikes. Jones, who cant speak and is wheelchair bound due to his illness had a bright smile.  Watch the video and if you get something in your eye,  Im not one to clown on you for it, I had the same problem.

Classy act by Kemp who put aside his slow start to make a fan’s day. And Hoodwood hopes that Jones keeps fighting strong against cancer.

Head Slap

To former Lions wide receiver Titus Young. I was at first going to give him the head slap for getting arrested twice in a 24 hour period. Young was arrested on the 5^th for suspicion of DUI in Moreno Valley California and then again 14 hours later for trying to break into the impound lot to try to get his car back. But it gets better. Young was arrested again  just this past Friday in San Clemente for felony burglary and misdeamenor resisting arrest. Young was released by the Lions right before the Super Bowl might have a hard time finding gainful employment after these brushes with the law. What special kind of stupid does a person have to be to get arrested three times in a week?

That’s the view from the Hoodwood, until next post fellow sports fans!

Welcome to the tantrums where Uncle B.O.B. laughs at the fact that you find the most common sense when it comes to current events coming from, you guessed it, the Comedy Channel.  Yes, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert make far more sense than all of the news outlets combined.

MLB.   St. Louis is an incredible organization and what their pitchers did to Colorado on Friday and Saturday - somebody better call the cops.  Going 47 batters before giving up a hit?  How ridiculous is that?  I've never even heard of that.

San Francisco Giants went 4-3 this week, struggling w/Philly then taking three out of four from Atlanta.  A bit disappointing of a week and the relievers are starting to drop like flies with Affeldt out on the DL, now Casilla hurts his right knee.  Nevertheless, they are still two games up in the NL West over Arizona.

Oakland A’s had a horrific week going 1-6 at Cleveland and Seattle.  Lots of day to day injuries and shuffling the lineup.  Pitching is killing this team, and the hitting is starting to revert back to last season.  Shake yourselves Oaktown.

NHL.   So far so good for me and the NHL Playoffs.  San Jose advances and gets LA in the second round, the Frenchies got smoked, and the Islanders threw a scare into those dirty Penguins.  But you really gotta look at Toronto and say nice job boys.  Nobody expected this.

Ottawa/Pittsburgh should be fun...as should San Jose/LA. 

NBA.  Steph Curry is incredible, and every time you throw dirt on the Warriors, they come strong.  Now the series is even at two and the Spurs are struggling hard.

Looks like Memphis is gonna beat up a weakened OKC team, Chicago is looking to play football, and Carmelo Anthony is shooting way too much.

NFL.  Tim Tebow’s NFL career is over, but not in a way that he ever envisioned.  No team wants to take a chance on a guy because of “the circus” that surrounds him and that’s a shame because despite a lot of talk, he has the ability to help a team.  When he looks back to wonder “what happened?”, I would suggest to Mr. Tebow that he did a horrible job in stopping the press from being so obnoxiously douchy when it came to him.  He should have cut it off quickly and succinctly, perhaps taking a note from Shane Falco in “The Replacements” and say, “Talk to player X, he’s the real hero…” – don’t give the media anywhere to go with that.

Considering Titus Young’s behavior as of late, I can only imagine what kind of crap he got away with up in Boise.  Dude must figure his NFL career is DOA because this dude is going Pac Man all over the place.

Golf.  Is Golf so desperate for press that we have to hear about Tiger getting liquored up and falling down some stars at “the boom boom room” and having some contrived (and sissified) bullshit stirred up with Sergio Garcia?  How stupid is this???

Speaking of Sergio Garcia - toughen the hell up son.  If Tiger is that far in your dome that it affects your play on the links, get off the course because you've got bigger problems.