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Q-o-t-D 5/25/13 |
| Posted by TheBEEZER 14 Hours Ago
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Okay, we have one Baseball position in this series...Outfield...I've noticed, the biggest factor for the most part seems to be offensive numbers...well, except when 3B...Read More
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 Recent Activity Items: 90  Recent Activity Items: 70  Recent Activity Items: 65  Recent Activity Items: 56  Recent Activity Items: 56  Recent Activity Items: 41  Recent Activity Items: 39  Recent Activity Items: 36  Recent Activity Items: 26  Recent Activity Items: 26
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Hey Gabbers, welcome to another Wednesday. I am getting started with my classes at Wayne State today, but I spent last night out with IHM, my dad, and a few other folks at the pool hall. Pool is definitely a game of skill and finesse, neither of which I posses much of. Still, fun stuff.
I spent part of the weekend going to a card show. Still kind of a sad affair compared to what I remember. I only bought one item, an Alan Trammel starting line-up. They had a Mike Hennaman too, but I decided to go with the Tram alone. My dad, of course, spent time finishing up his NFL/MLB team sets.
They didn't have anybody signing, but I had some thoughts about it. I can remember catching some of the old Tigers like Gates Brown or Auerrolio Rodriguez. They would generally sign for free, or maybe a buck or two for multiple items. I think I had to pay a slight bit more for Mickey Lolich. I've recently seen current Tigers like Danny Worth or Don Kelly charging upwards of $20 per autograph. I don't get it.
Now my bro used to collect autographs. He'd send away for them and would usually at least get a pic. He didn't have to pay much. Frank Thomas asked for $5, but it went to a children's charity. I see this as more of a sign of the disconnect between the players and fans. And as Fan82 said, we kinda lie back and take it. I don't want to pay $20 for a guy who had a good year or so. I don' like paying for old timers either, but I can see why they would charge something. I'd get tired of people asking me for autographs every time I go out in public. I think that a lot of leagues, esp NFL/NBA, need to do something to reconnect and at the very least discounted autographs may help close the gap some.
The Nationals are looking to bring Stephen Strasburg back to the bigs for a debut this season. He's scheduled to make his start Sept. 6. of course, the question arises as to why. The Nats are clearly out of it. If Strasburg hurts himself, the teams will be ridiculed. Even if he does well, it seems kinda moot at this point. The one plus side, more fans will come in to see Strasburg pitch. The money rolls in for the ownership. I wonder when they'll bring Bryce Harper up?
Speaking of pitchers, Justin Verlander won his 20th game last weekend. He's had a great year and is considered the favorite to win the AL Cy Young. Jim Leyland recently went on record saying he backs JV for MVP. This opens up the debate of whether a pitcher should win the MVP. As for me, I say so if the pitcher is that dominant. Denny McClain was certainly just that and was a huge part of the Tigers success in 1968. While Verlander has been great, he's hardly the biggest part of the team. The Tigers have had key upgrades at short stop and catcher. We've also had some great pick-ups at the trade deadline.
Personally, I believe that position players should normally win the award. McClain was an obvious exception in 68, but rarely has a pitcher stepped up enough to win. Guys like Bautista or Granderson should be chosen. So, what do you say Gabbers? Is JV even the Cy Young favorite? Does he have a shot at MVP?
Last week, ScottJax77 got our first troll on the site. Congrats man. For a reward, here's a special video.
http://youtu.be/mDREg5nRCbs
Well, hate to keep it short, but I have class tomorrow. I'm also hoping to find a sweet gargoyle for my sister's upcoming wedding. Thanks for reading and for any thoughts you leave. As always, here's your weekly vocab.
free balding, noun
The act of going out in public with a bald head that is normally covered by some sort of cap, hat or other head covering.
"Hey Trev, what happened to that greasy old cap you were wearing?"
"I decided to wash that fukkin thing so now I have to go FREE BALDING all weekend".
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Hoodwood actually has two football teams. Both of the are named the Black Bandits but obviously play in different leagues. But in a stroke of marketing genius, both play in the same venue with home schedules mirrored opposite. In lay terms Hoodwood Stadium is hosting a game every week, whether it’s the Hoodwood Chocolate City Black Bandits or the Great Midwest Football League or the Hoodwood Black Bandits of the HHFL. Heres a rundown of both teams
Hoodwood-Chocolate City Black Bandits
2010 Record 9-5 1st in Lombardi Division, defending GMFL Champions
The Bandits are the gold standard of the GMFL, in the 21 seasons of play they have won 9 titles including the last two and four of the last five. The Bandits are used to drafting low but have traditionally have drafted smart worked the waiver wire as an artform and haven’t had a below .500 since the league went to head to head competition in 1992. The worst record that this team has had was 6-6-2 in 2005. Keep in mind that this league has traditionally been very tough. The Bandits are one of the league elite but ironically have few of the records, The leagues only unbeaten regular season, most consecutive wins and most points in a season belong to other teams. The Bandits win when it counts
Rosters-Starters
QB Brees
RB-DeAngelo Williams
RB Ryan Mathews
WR-Larry Fitzgerald
WR Reggie Wayne
WR/TE Kenny Britt
Defense- Eagles
K Stephen Gostowkowski
Bench
Matt Hasselbeck-QB
RB- Mark Ingram, Ryan Torain, Ronnie Brown,
WR- Brandon Tate, Mike Crabtree, Derrick Mason,
Defense-Atlanta
Butler County-Hoodwood Black Bandits- HHFL
2010 Record 4-10 4th in All World Division
These Bandits are poor country cousins to their more successful namesakes and are perpetually jinxed and snake bitten by unlucky top draft picks that get hurt or have subpar seasons. This team is the mirror opposite to the other team having had only 1 playoff season in 6 seasons of play and that was with a 7-7 record in 2009. That team ironically knocked a long time nemesis (a team that they had never beaten in 10 tries) off in the semifinals before getting hammered in the championship. Looking for a move to the elite the 2010 team suffered a painful setback. Losing their first three games out the box with none being remotely close. But these Bandits ironically were 3-5 with a real chance to get back into the playoff hunt in which no one was really taking control of, facing their nemesis in week 9 and the opportunity to make a statement the Bandits were clobbered 111-42 and went on a 5 game losing streak. The Bandits did win a rematch at season’s end but it was a pyrrhic victory, as the win cost them the #1 pick. This team needs the magic its affluent namesake has for a solid 2011 season.
QB-Matt Ryan
RB-Adrian Peterson, Knowshon Moreno
WR-Larry Fitzgerald, Dez Bryant
OP-Austin Collie
Defense-Ravens
Kicker-Garrett Hartley
Bench
QB-Joe Flacco
RB-BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Darren Sproles
WR- Mario Manningham, Robert Meachem
D-Falcons
K- Stephen Gostokowski
Both of the teams look fairly similar, AP was the #2 pick in my draft in the HHFL, I got Brees and Fitzgerald in back to back picks in the GMFL. I gobbled up Fitzgerald in the 2nd round in the HHFL as well. If asked to explain why I do so well in one league and so bad in the other it defys logic. I might acquire a throwaway team in Yahoo for shits and giggles but these are my two long time teams.
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We're one week closer to the start of the 2011 NFL season, and still the national media can't seem to keep Jerry Richardson's name out of their mouths. It's as if they have some sort of quota they have to meet, like they have to talk shit about Richardson at least 8 times during any calendar year or they will have their media privileges revoked or something. I just don't get it.
By now, I'm sure you have all heard the story about the evil Jerry Richardson and the boy Cam Newton, and how Richardson told Newton that he wasn't allowed to get a tattoo as long as he was the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. I'm sure you've read the story from the eyes of the national media, who enjoy crucifying Richardson as if he were the Holy Son himself, and they get pleasure out of watching him suffer whilst transfixed upon the old rugged cross of internet media.
If you like, I would be glad to set the record straight on what really happened between Cam Newton and Jerry Richardson that afternoon in Charlotte, because unlike the national media assholes who have nothing better to do than make Richardson their personal bulls-eye for their bow of yellow journalism and quiver of poorly researched facts, I know how the conversation really went, because I know the kind of person Jerry Richardson really is.
Some of you may be quick to discredit my view on the situation at hand, and you may have a fair argument if you were to go that route since I happen to be a staunch supporter of Mr. Richardson's football team. But, please save the "he's a homer, this is bullshit" arguments for another time and another place, because in this instance I am merely providing the truth from an objective point of view, rather than allowing my bias to take over like those national media assholes who like to allow their negative view of anything Panthers related supersede the truth of what really happened.
This is the gist of it: When interviewing Cam Newton before the draft (as any good owner would do if he had the #1 pick in the draft), Jerry Richardson asked Newton if he had any tattoos. Newton's response was a respectful "No sir, I don't." In response to Newton's answer, Richardson said "Good, I'd like to keep it that way."
That's it. There was no castigation of Newton. There was no stern look followed by an hour long lecture on the "proper" way to behave oneself. There were no racially-motivated remarks. Richardson didn't say "That's good, because if you do get a tattoo I'm gonna trade your ass the first second I can." He didn't have him chained down inside a cage during the interview, and he wasn't cracking his whip violently while cackling in the moonlight and threatening Newton with a good lashing if he didn't act right. It was a simple request. A request from a man who would soon become Newton's employer. He said he preferred that Newton refrained from getting tattoos. He didn't say that Newton wasn't allowed to get them. There's a huge difference between the two statements in both wording and meaning, and that's something that the national media refuses to understand, because it discredits their penchant for bashing Richardson at every opportunity.
You see, Jerry Richardson isn't some evil old codger that hates everyone like the national media would have you to believe. He's just old school, and there's nothing wrong with being old school. He's stern, and he's a hell of a businessman, but he's also fair and kind. He's well respected within the league. FYI, the primary reason he was chosen to represent the owners during the CBA negotiations is because the rest of the owners knew that he wouldn't back down and would see to it that they got the best deal possible. Not only is he respected by his fellow owners, he's also well respected by most of his players. Of course there are players on the Panthers who aren't buddy-buddy with Richardson, but there are players on every team who don't respect their owner, so this makes Richardson no different than any other person who owns a professional sports franchise.
Expanding on the "he's respected by most of his players" point for just a moment, it also needs to be said that the story that circulated around the national media a few months back about Richardson bashing Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in front of the NFLPA and Owner's Committees during early CBA negotiations is complete and utter horse shit. This story was fabricated by former kicker Jay Feeley (who wasn't even in the room at the time the rumored bashing took place), and the fabrication was validated by Drew Brees, who later told the media that he didn't feel that Richardson was being condescending towards Manning or Brees. But, according to the national media, Richardson is just an old fart who hates everyone who doesn't do things his way, and unfortunately thanks to the dickwads at ESPN and Pro Football Talk, this is the common belief regarding Richardson's character.
Thankfully you guys have me around to set the record straight, or you would fall into the same trap that John Q. Football Fan falls into by believing the ludicrous lies that are spread around by the likes of Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who is nothing more than the NFL's version of Perez Hilton -- a pimple on the ass of sports journalism that needs to be popped so the pus can drain out and provide relief to the afflicted. Thankfully I am here to provide that relief, because I'll be damned if I'm going to let some media douchebag talk shit about my team's owner and get away with it.
Ok, that last line was biased homerism, but I swear that's the only part of this article that was. The rest of it is the absolute capital-T Truth. Hopefully this helps you understand the reality of what happened, and hopefully this helps you realize that Richardson isn't the devil's younger brother like the national media would have you believe. I also hope this helps you realize that Cam Newton isn't a trouble making douchebag either...at least not since he's been drafted by the Panthers. How you feel about his alleged issues at Auburn and what he does on the football field are stories for another day.
And, before I go, one last thought. If Cam Newton wanted to get a tattoo, don't you think he'd have already done that by now? He's 22 years old. You can legally get a tattoo in most states at 18. If he really wanted to get a tattoo, he's had 4 years to make that choice. Isn't it possible that he really is a good kid who just doesn't want to ruin his marketability by getting a bunch of tattoos?
Think about that...
If you have any thoughts you'd like to add, feel free to add them in the comments section.
Until next Monday...
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(Since our regularly scheduled 2.0 Sunday blogger is unavailable, I took the liberty to take the spot. Feel free to kick me out at any time... dvt )
My son and daughter both live in Huntington Beach, home of the U. S. Little League Champions, but I must say this... Montana got jobbed by the system today. It's a double elimination, so it has to be a double elimination throughout the ENTIRE tournament. Both teams have beaten each other once. Montana still only has one loss and deserves another shot at HB... The same goes for Mexico... just one loss, yet Japan is in the title game...
Stinks...
dvt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLNOpoQztFo
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High school football started today in the Phoenix area. The only problem with this (I love high school football) is that the temperature today was 117 degrees, which is the hottest day ever recorded in August in Phoenix. Indeed the last four days were 116, 114, 115, and 117. Sure we are in the middle of a desert here, but the average temperature at this time of the year is supposed to be 104. It was still 108 at 7:30 this evening, so most of the games were delayed 2 hours because of the extreme heat. The professional teams like the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals play in air conditioned stadiums, not so with the high school teams. As I type this at 10:10 PM, it is still 102 degrees. If you can imagine how uncomfortable it was for the fans to watch these high school teams, just think about how hot it was for the football players.
Phoenix is a city, much like Venice and also New Orleans, that simply was built in the wrong place. 4.7 million live here in the metropolitan area, and if it were not for the importation of water and the invention of air conditioning, there would be no one residing here. I live in a 1600 square foot house and the electric bills for the summer months of June, July, August, and September average about $350 a month. When everyone else is experiencing winter, it is like spring here and my electric bill drops to about $60 a month. The rest of the nation has four seasons, Phoenix has only two (spring and hell). So when spring arrives and stays for about eight months, please do not berate me if I brag about the weather. I went through four months of hell to live the good life.
We are heading towards the stretch run for major league baseball, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are a month away from finishing a last place to first place transformation from 2010 to 2011. It is going to take a Herculean effort for the San Francisco Giants to overtake Arizona, the Dbacks have very good starting pitching and excellent relief pitching, something that they severely lacked last season. Arizona also is a much better hitting team than the Giants, so we will see if they can hold onto their 3 game lead. This writer says they will and that the defending World Series Champions will be dethroned.
NCAA football is beginning this next week, and the landscape of the college football world is topsy-turvy. The PAC-10 is now the PAC-12, the BIG-10 is actually the BIG-12, and the BIG-12 is actually the BIG-10. You have to be a fan of the game to understand, suffice it to say there have been major changes. We are also just two weeks away from the NFL game. There is nothing in sports quite like the football season.
I connected with a long lost first cousin through Facebook this week. Mike I am sorry that we hardly got to know one another in our lifetimes, but I want you to know that your father was always my favorite relative. He was so funny and so friendly and giving. He and your mom would come to visit my mom and dad a couple times a year (on their way to Las Vegas), and although I never had the pleasure of getting to know you and your brothers and sisters well, I did get to experience your parents and to know them. I saw a couple of pictures of your father on Susie’s Facebook page, and all these great memories came pouring back into my brain. He always insisted that they take my family to the best restaurants in Phoenix because it was also his profession and he wanted to compare. I will always cherish the day that he had me visit you in Toledo. I will never forget the great time that we had at the racetrack (and the money we won because of your shrewd tipster friend) because of his generosity. I find myself always reminiscing about the good old days because the bulk of my life resides there.
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