NBA weekend, Kentucky, Jerry Buss, all this and more in this weeks edition of…

This and That

Sorry this is late. I worked 12 hours and just got home. Please excuse any grammar or spelling errors.

Ben Pike, a football player at the University of Toledo, has left the team so he could be with his fiancee as she undergoes treatment for leukemia. Pike is a foot, 3-inch 260-pound defensive lineman who would have been a starter next season. Ben was informed in January that his fiancee, Ashlee Barrett, leukemia had returned. Ben Pike thought it was more important to turn his attention to his future wife then to play football. A very noble thing to do.

Does anyone feel sorry for the Kentucky baseball program? Nah. They have have the number one recruiting class year-in-year out so why should we. Come to think of it How come Wiltier hasn’t picked it up. He was the #3 center in the nation in his recruiting class. Then again Poythress was #3 as a SF, Goodwin was #3 as a SG. Noel wasn’t going to make the Wildcats that much better.

Calipari, listen up, when you live by the one-and-done, you die by the one-and-done.

Congratulations to Danica Patrick in becoming the first women to win the pole in any Sprint Cup Race. Danica averaged 196.434 mph in winning the pole.

With winning the pole position, and how she conducted herself in interviews after the achievement, you can see that Danica is maturing as a NASCAR driver.

Coronado High School Basketball student team manger with special needs, Mitchell Marcus, played for the first time in his four years with the team during a game versus their rival team, Franklin High.

Peter Morales, Coronado’s head coach, stated that "Mitchell has been a big part of this team and this team's success," said Morales. The only way he could reward Marcus was to give the senior something special: He wanted Marcus to suit up. "It was going to be a surprise for him, so during our shoot-around Tuesday, I gave him a uniform, and his eyes just sparkled. He was ready for the moment," said Morales. "That would have been enough," said Amy Marcus, Mitchell Marcus's mom. So with the team leading by 14 points coach Morales put Marcus into the game. "We were so grateful the kids got us a big enough lead that everyone felt comfortable letting Mitchell in, which was amazing," said Amy Marcus. "It gave you chills and just to hear the crowd go Mitchell, Mitchell, Mitchell," said Morales. "There aren't words to describe it. But the entire section, the whole Coronado section was standing up and cheering. There was not one person sitting down," said Amy Marcus. Coronado’s players kept giving Mitchell the ball and he just kept missing. With time winding down the ball was in rival Franklins possession. But in the classiest act of the year, Jon Montanez, a Franklin player had the ball, he then passed the ball to Mitchell. Mitchell took the shot and he made it. "That was just the most incredible sportsmanship I've ever seen," said Amy Marcus. The crowd rushed the court, lifting Marcus onto their shoulders, chanting, "Mitchell! Mitchell!" "To put away the rivalry for a persons special moment in his life, was just amazing," said Morales, who also credited the Franklin team, coach and officials for their sportsmanship. "I was bawling, just bawling. Every mom around me was bawling," said Amy Marcus."The kids from both sides did everything possible to make Mitchell's night be beyond anyone's expectations, with such a rivalry between the two schools, everyone dropped the rivalry," she added.

There needs to be a change to the NBA All-Star game. It has no real shooting. Yeah they shoot a little three pointer here and there or another outside shot every 6 minutes to make the purists happy. But, for the most part it is simply a slam-a-jam contest, that quite frankly is getting boring.

Sorry to say, but to make it more competitive, the NBA all-star game is going to have to do what baseball did, and that is the winning conferences best team gets home court advantage for the NBA finals.

Ah, but to make it more interesting the following rules should apply:

All teams must be represented. If a team is not represented by a player as a starter then they will be selected as a substitute So if one team has 3 starters on the team and one from two other teams, then a player from each team (total of 12 players) should be added to the team for a total of 17 players. If the other conference has only two starters from the same team and three player from three different teams then they can have 12 players added from other teams, but at least one player from every team must be represented.

All players must play a minimum of 3 minutes.

I like the shooting competition because you at least have to shoot the ball around the three point line. The dunk contest sucks because for the most part its the same type of dunk.

How about passing skills? Have garbage cans lined up in different positions and different heights and angles (something like the NHL’s shooting skills contest), . Have a timer of 45 seconds and see how many basketballs a player get put in the garbage can. For each successful pass $1,000 goes to the players charity. The winner of the contest will get $100,000 for their favorite charity.

A legend, in the world of owners has passed away. Los Angeles Lakers owner, Jerry Buss died at the age of 80 of kidney failure. In the steal of the century Jerry purchased the Lakers, Kings, The Forum and 13,000 acres for only $67 million (that was a lot back in 1979). Turning his reign the Lakers won 19 Division Championships, appeared in 16 Finals and won 10 NBA Titles.

Til Next Time

Scott

The All-Star Game,

decides home field advantage

for one of the teams  involved.

One of Bud's better ideas,

kind of like inter league play.

But if it is truly for the player's association,

then why don't they play?

Why do the stars picked by the fan's back out

of the game, is it a waste of their time?

Is it because they know their team does not have a chance

to play in October? So why should they care

who wins the game.......

I call for a one year ban from the ballot,

if you are voted in and decide not to play.

You will have to be a write in, lets see how many votes you get then.

Just speaking my mind, in the image of DVT, if it were Kaline,

Aaron or Yaz they would attend......

Have you forgotten who this game is for?

The FANS you Assholes, they voted you in....

I do not always watch the Derby, and the other generic events,

I sometimes even skip the game,

because Fox's coverage and Joe Buck is so lame.......

So have a great time for those of you who will be watching,

I will probably watch cartoons with Noah

or work in one of my classes,

This is one idea however Bud,

you should have thought through.

Kind of like moving the Astros to the AL,

instead of your Brewers.........

Thanks for those of you that stopped by,

feel free to leave comments good or bad.

I do not hate the All-Star game itself,

I just think Bud has turned something

I loved to watch, into a joke.

​A dumb idea...

I have NEVER liked it...

From the very beginning...

Putting a masterpiece...

In the hands of amateur partisans...

As biased as letting the President nominate a Supreme Court Justice...

It’s a popularity contest...

Oh yeah...

He had two great seasons...

Eight years ago...

Never mind the fact...

He’s batting .220...

And has a .289 On Base Percentage...

I guess I forgot to look at the stats...

And then you take this game...

A game that has meaning...

More meaning than any other of its kind...

More credibility, too...

In THIS game they actually play a thing called...

Defense...

Do you see that in the NFL Pro Bowl???

Or the NBA???

And NHL All-Star games???

Nope...

Hmmm...

Here comes a ground ball...

I’ll just let it roll between my legs so the fans can see more runs...

Like they do in the three other leagues...

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

Fades back to pass, touchdown!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

He shoots, he scores!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

Another bucket by Lebron!!!

He just broke Wilt’s scoring record!!!

Umpire...

Do you have a softball in your bag???

So I can lob it slow-pitch style???

And here they take this All-Star Game...

After they have already put it into the hands of the fans...

And then they say...

“Let’s make it for home field advantage in the World Series...”

Brilliant!!!

And now we have voting on facebook...

And Twitter...

And My Space...

And the Home Shopping Network...

My wife even says she voted for Pujols on American Idol...

Before he hit his first home run...

But remember...

You only get 200 votes per site...

Per email address...

So the jobless...

And the lifeless...

Can vote to their little hearts’ contents...

I don’t care if they get it right every once in a while...

Just like...

Pin the Tail on the...

Don Quixote...

Ya know...

It’s just plain stupid...

I can’t remember the last time I voted...

But I do remember what I did when I voted...

I took my ballot...

And I pointed to a random position such as catcher...

And then I pointed to a random name at that random position...

And then I randomly told my son or daughter...

“Pick a number from 1 to 25...

And whatever random number it was...

I started from that random spot on the ballot...

And I counted...

Until I got to the random number...

And then I stopped on a random name...

Whoever it was...

And punched a random hole into the random card...

Sometimes with...

Other times without...

A random hanging chad...

Just to show my kids...

How ridiculous it is...

To have the fans vote for the All-Star Game...

Frankly...

I have better things to do in my random life...

Like write this random blog...

Or a cute quip on facebook...

Or Twitter...

Or the Home Shopping Network...

So you can have you All-Star Voting, MLB...

As for me...

I ain’t wasting my random time...

I’m too busy doing more important things...

Like watching wrestling...

dvt

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http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061109120654/uncyclopedia/images/1/12/MonaLisa.jpg

http://fineartamerica.com/contestlogos/logo1-1-popularity-contest.jpg

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/fourfactorsexample1.png

http://blog.nj.com/yankees_main/2009/09/large_hairston0901.JPG

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2004/Nov/12/sp24a2_b.jpg

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http://www.thedashingfellows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/don-quixote-film.jpg

Call me old fashioned, call me whatever you like, but I have absolutely no problem with proclaiming my love of the MLB All-Star game. The Major League Baseball showcase of its best players just feels more like a real game than any of the other so-called All-Star games.

Part of the appeal for me is the individual characteristics of the major league parks. Unlike the other sports, each has its own feel, its own flavor so to speak. Seeing the best players stroll into some of those parks and try to make them their own is one of those ultimate rewards of watching the yearly tussle between the American League and the National League. This year’s game will be played in one of the best of the older ballparks, Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City. Kaufman Stadium doesn’t have the unique crevices and turns of some of the newer parks. Instead, it has one of the finest backdrops in all of baseball.

So being in the All-Star spirit, I decided to fill out my ballot last night. I wait until we’re closer to the end of the voting before I make my 25 votes count. I do this because I want a solid picture of just who I am voting for and I want to make sure I am voting for the right guys. I don’t vote for favoritism or along team lines. I vote for whom I feel are the best players thus far at each position.

And here is who I voted for in the American League and why. National League will follow tomorrow.

American League

·         1B – Konerko, Paul

At first, I was ready to award this selection to Prince Fielder for the fine season he is having in Detroit, but then I remembered that there is another MVP candidate in that division making more noise. That would be Konerko, who has been absolutely insane to start 2012, pounding out a batting line of .381 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI, and that is despite being hit in the face earlier this season. Like I said, out of his mind.

·         2B - Kipnis, Jason

My first surprise pick, but Kipnis is the man right now. Ian Kinsler and Dustin Pedroia have both been solid as well, and Robinson Cano is coming around, but Kipnis has been a godsend on a team that has struggled offensively. A .280 average with 8 home runs, 30 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases is all-star worthy.

·         SS - Jeter, Derek

As a Red Sox fan, I hate to do it but there is no better shortstop deserving of the All-Star nod than the stalwart Derek Jeter. He leads the American League with 71 hits, he sports a .336 average and has scored 28 runs at the age of 38. Boston’s Mike Aviles and KC’s own Alcides Escobar are worthy of the nod as well, but Jeter is still king of the pile after all these years.

·         3B – Cabrera, Miguel

Cabrera was a slow starter in 2012, but he has gotten himself back on his normal pace in a hurry. At .315 with 9 home runs and 41 RBI, Cabrera is mashing, and he hasn’t been too shabby at third base, despite every pundit’s misgivings. Texas’ Adrian Beltre is also raking on the season and could easily be the selection here with his own .319, 10 HR, 34 RBI batting line, but Cabrera gets my vote.

·         C – Pierzynski, A.J.

Perhaps one of the most disliked men in the entire game, Pierzynski is nonetheless having his best season of this career while the White Sox are making some solid noise in the division. AJ is checking in at .299 and has matched his total from a year ago with 8 home runs. He may not win the popularity contest, but he deserves to be at the game.

·         DH - Ortiz, David

With the Royals hosting the event, you could easily see Billy Butler winning the nod as the DH, especially given that he’s pounding the ball and is one of the most underrated hitters in the game, but Ortiz has been out of his mind to start 2012. Big Papi has authored a batting line of .323 with 12 home runs, 35 RBI, 35 runs, 18 doubles, and a mean OPS of 1.003. All of that without the help of Adrian Gonzalez is the line-up. Can you say stud?

·         OF - Hamilton, Josh

Okay, this one goes without saying. Hamilton has been the monster masher in baseball this season and in a walk year no less. Any guy hitting .368 with 21 home runs, 57 RBI, 39 Runs, and a 1.184 OPS through just 47 games doesn’t need to be justified for the All-Star Game. He just gets the automatic bid.

·         OF - Jones, Adam

I may have mentioned somewhere else just how big of a season Adam Jones is having. He may be the biggest reason why Baltimore is where they are as of this writing. The center fielder is batting .314 with 16 home runs, 34 RBI, and 38 runs scored, all while playing gold glove caliber defense in center field.

·         OF - Viciedo, Dayan

The final surprise pick on my list is another member of the White Sox. Back at the beginning of the year, I named Viciedo as one of my break-out candidates for 2012, and he has not let me down. As of this writing, he is batting a steady .291 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. Keep in mind though, that he’s done most of that raking in May, with a .351 average, 8 home runs, and 24 RBI in the second month of the season. He is just heating up folks and could be in for a monster year.

Pujols is all right by me?? Braun beat his rap, yeah!! NBA All-star game all this, and more, in this edition of

It looks like the Los Angeles Angels have stopped the “El Hombre” campaign being used for Albert Pujols.

Out of respect for Ted Williams, Albert never wanted to be referred to as “The Man” in any language.

It's an emotional issue for Pujols because he became acquainted with 90-year-old Musial in his 11 seasons playing in St. Louis. In 2010, Pujols asked St. Louis media and fans not to call him "El Hombre."

"I still have the same respect for him as I had, not just for what he's done in baseball but for what he did for his country," Pujols said. "That's something you have to appreciate."

Musial served in the Navy during World War II and has worked extensively with the United Service Organizations, as well as several other groups and charities. Last year, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Okay so Ryan Braun’s suspension was overturned. No big deal. I guess the arbitrator, Shyam Das, saw something that most people have overlooked. Maybe, just maybe Dino Laurenzi Jr, didn’t follow the proper procedures. I believe he took the sample the proper way, he may have even stored them the proper way. But according to the rules, you have to send it out immediately via Fedex. No that is where the problem is. Laurenzi says there was none open at the time where as Braun’s attorney claims there were 5 FedEx locations within five miles open until at least 9 PM and one in which is open 24 hours. That’s is how Braun won his case. In fact more ballplayers could end up winning their cases because Dino has mentioned this isn’t the first time he has taken samples home until the next day.

Baseball is considering suing to reverse the decision. Wow. Shyam Das is highly respected by MLB for how he handles his arbitration cases, I guess until he actually went against MLB.

It was easy to get off. Braun was lucky while others were not. What got him off was proper procedures were not followed as per the collective bargaining agreement. All the others were hear-say, I didn't take it versus the samples that said they did. If the proper procedures were used on Braun he would have had to do his 50 game suspension.

In the I didn’t know this was a rule folder…..

During the local broadcast of the Florida/Georgia basketball game, the announcer mentioned a rule that I would imagine a lot of people don’t know about. This rule concerns team warm-ups before the game. It states that no dunking during pre-game warm-ups. If a team does so, a technical is called, and will be enforced before tip-off.

It is in Section 6. Class B technical infractions, Article 1e, A team member dunking or attempting to dunk a deal ball before or during the game, or during any intermission.

For some reason I did not enjoy the NBA all-star game. For some reason, call me old school, but were was the defense. How about making an attempt to play like it meant something.

I also didn’t like the fact that Wade fouled Kobe in the face. Busted his nose and now he has a concussion. 

Just purchase 6 tickets to see the United States Soccer Team play Scotland in a World Cup friendly on May 26^th at 8pm. I am excited as this will be my first World Cup event.

Til Next Time

Scott