For all of you Jeopardy! fans out there, we will get to the answer to this probing question by Alex in a moment.  First we have a few issues to cover in the Wide World of Sports before we deal with Sergio's telling reply.  Also, I found it terribly difficult to concentrate on writing a blog entry on the heels of "reading" the Beez's last blog post...most distracting!...where was I?

The Indy 500 and what has to be Q's Ultimate Dream Ride...or mine!

Lindsay Czarniak, the ESPN host of the Indy 500, got what has to be the ride of a lifetime going for a tour of the Brickyard in a two seater with Mario Andretti  (settle down, Q).  According to Lindsay, who was interviewed today on a D.C. sports radio show, Mario took it up to around 200 mph for their little run around Indy.  She said - no surprise - that it was a total thrill.  I am happy to see Lindsay moving up to the big time at the 4 letter monolith...she grew up here in D.C. under George Michael and has a real sense for sports.  I don't think GM would have had it any other way.  As for the race, it has been over 40 years since an Andretti has seen the checkered flag...can Marco break through?  He is on the front row, so he can't complain about the start.  Sunday should be fun.

As for the NHL....

We have the team everyone was ready to hand the Stanley Cup to just a couple of months ago on the brink of elimination by the ever durable playoff giants, the Detroit Red Wings.  It has turned our happy chief's smile into a frown.  As it stands, we are looking at Conference finals of LA - Red Wings and Bruins - Penguins.  The only thing that is certain is that I will not have a dog in this fight. I don't really care for any of those teams to win.  One thing should provide some solace to all dedicated hockey fans and that is that is is frickin' hard to win the Stanley Cup.  The regular season means exactly nothing except that you get to play...no President's Trophy, no end of the season run, no health issue matters...the Cup is a whole different beast.  There may be a secret recipe that comes only from drinking from Lord Stanley's Cup, but outside of that secret club, the rest go uneducated and generally unfullfilled.

The NBA to me is a joke league...

I don't generally live in the world of conspiracy theories...except when it comes to the NBA.  Is a coincidence that the Lakers and Celtics always seem to get magically reloaded with talent when they are down?  In this fluke year for the Lakers, nobody thought that the combination of Dwight Howard and Kobe would not bring wins and another championship run...Howard just is a bozo and killed it, but the talent was there.  Is is just a coincidence that after losing LeBron that the Cavs have won the Lottery 2 of the last 3 years?   How is that this league survives when half of its teams have NEVER even played for a title?  Franchises that win that aren't named Lakers or Celtics or Bulls or Spurs win a title on average every 30 years.   

Ok, so we will see a Heat - Spurs final...now there's a surprise.  Here's another one - the same teams in it now, will be in it next year. 

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Revisited

In my review of MLB last week, I forgot to include the Umpires in the Bad to Ugly category.  We continue to have umpires ruining the outcomes of ball games even WITH instant replay.  What is obvious to all of us - a ball hitting off the wall above the HR line - is not obvious to the MASSIVE egos that wear the black.  Unlike their brethern in football, the umpire is afraid to go under the hood and make a call - oh my - they may have gotten it wrong.  On close plays, umpires often are incorrect.  It's not because they are aren't skilled, it's because the play is so fast it defies the human eye - but NOT the camera.  Com'on Blue, get the calls right.   And why not do something to help the plate umpire with balls & strikes?  I am so tired of seeing a plate umpire ruin a game.  Watch a game just concentrating on balls & strikes - even the best are not that great.  They could use pitch track to at least tell the umpire if the ball goes over the plate or not.   Baseball - please fix the umps.

And finally, the answer to Double Jeopardy....

As Sergio says, "Who is Tiger Woods?"  Alex:  Sergio, you and Fuzzy got that one right.   Thank you "gentlemen" for showing us what a racist looks like on the golf course yet again.  I met one of the Golf Channel hosts who had a drink or two I think who had not too many kind words for Sergio a couple of years ago.  Then I saw Feherty's interview and thought maybe that was a misjudgement.  Now we see that the real Sergio came out.  Yes Tiger is a prima donna and yes he seems like any one of a number of colorful terms, but really?  going Fried Chicken on him?  A) It's not original as Fuzzy Zoeller said it first.  B) It is just tauting him for being black, not for being an ass, so what is the point of that? and C) the only person hurt by that is Sergio.  He just looks like a douche bag...which he confirmed for all of us.  I can only imagine the taunting he is going to hear at the U.S. Open in a couple of weeks.  

For all of you who have served our Country over the years, we thank you for your dedication and service.  To our fathers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers and great grandfathers who may have fought and suffered or died in defense of our Country, on this solemn weekend we remember you.  Have a happy and special Memorial Day Weekend.

After a long time away, the Friday Finger Pop is back...A little bit of this, and a bit of that...and a little bit of sweet asses, perfect for finger popping!

First off, the New York Rangers finally showed some signs of life Thursday night against the Boston Bruins...The Rangers pulled out a 4-3 OT victory on a goal from Chris Kreider, off of a great feed from Rick Nash...I've been begging for Torts to play Kreider more...The kid is a play-maker and a goal scorer, on a team that doesn't score much...He's got great speed, and slick hands...When he gets ice time, he makes things happen...

That said, While I'm a die hard Rangers fan, I have trouble seeing them winning three more straight against the Bruins....Boston has 4 solid lines...Plenty of depth...Including on the Blue line, as proven by rookie D-man Torey Krug, who has been amazing to watch in this series...

Mmmmmm, that looks finger poppin' good!

I saw a little bit of ESPN's Outside The Lines Thursday afternoon...They had a bunch of talking heads, all up in arms because Robert Griffin III's father, Robert Griffin II said he wants to see his son run less...Why would anyone be shocked by this? 1. Don't all dads want to see their sons stand in the pocket and throw bombs!?! 2. He saw his son get a concussion, and get his knee wrecked twice in his rookie season...Who the fuck wouldn't want their son run less? You'd want to see your kid have a nice long career instead of getting crippled within 3...

Somehow these jokers were appalled that a father would stick his nose into this serious football discussion...How dare he have an opinion...Only ESPN gasbags are allowed to have those! I'd be willing to bet this snippet came out, because some asshole reporter asked Mr. Griffin if he'd like to see his son run the ball less....And then let the media frenzy begin! Crap like this is just ridiculous...

Oh yeah, that's pop worthy!

I spent a couple hours Thursday pitching to my baseball team...Little Beeze is swinging the bat great...Seriously, he's looking like one of my top 6 hitters...I have 3 girls who are swinging the bat really well...two are lefties...The one has this leg kick that she starts as soon as my motion starts...It threw me off at first, but it works for her...She was cranking it...I made a number of self defensive stops...Then I have a boy who loves hitting...And he swings with aggression...He looks to kill everything....His foul balls scare people...And when he makes solid contact it's oer you or through you...Even the kids that struggled at first, took all the tips and started finding their groove...We're going to have a good line-up...Saturday morning we'll be practicing again, and that one is going to 90% fielding...I'm looking forward to that...So is my arm...

A while back I wrote THIS about sexual abuse within USA Swimming...Justice has been slow in these cases, but a small amount was served THURSDAY...Rick Curl's sentencing is hopefully just the beginning, as now even more questions are being raised...

Does it seem wrong to post another pop-tastic ass at this point...Maybe...But, what the hell!

Have a good weekend gang!

The Beeze.

It’s another week and another installment of talking sports. Let’s go right to bat with this weeks issue.

NHL Update

The Boston Bruins have a commanding lead over the New York Rangers lots of blood in this one. What I don’t get is one of the local news stations on Wednesday was talking about how bloody Tuesdays game was. Last time I looked it was Hockey and guys get stitches without missing a shift. Sure Zedino Chara was bleeding and a few kids from the Rangers but that’s NHL Hockey. The news was acting like it was awful and horrible just part of the game.

The Penguins just looked unbeatable last night Syd the Kid scoring his 7^th playoff goal and the Senators looking a bit lost out there. The Penguins have a 3-1 lead.The Sharks and The Kings are battling with that series tied at 2. Both teams winning in their own buildings. Finally, the Black Hawks are trailing in their series with the Red Wings 2-1 . The Black Hawks should bounce back and take this series but then again the Wings also could be this years LA Kings just getting hot at the right time.

NFL

OTA ok I have seen this term thrown out there. I thought it meant Oklahoma Transportation Authority but it has a whole new meaning in NFL terms Organized Team activities. It’s May who cares. They use to call that mini camp but since as a society we don’t use whole words any more Mini Camp is OTA. There is no doubt this was either media creation or PR guy with this term.

Brian Urlacher called it a career after 13 years with the Bears . When he was at the top of his game was there anybody who hit harder. Urlacher was sidelined after a hamstring injury last season. He was unhappy with the Bears offer of 2 million. For 1year and not a lot of interest from other teams. Urlacher said yesterday that he would not play up to his standards and was happy he only wore 1 jersey. I think we may not have heard the end of Brian Urlacher. I think if the right team shows interest or need help you may see him back.

MLB

It’s a funny thing here in Boston people a continuously talking about David Ortiz batting and he is on a roll batting at .351. However, sliding under the radar is Dustin Pedroia who has been on a tier himself batting .332 and has hit in 12 of his last 13 games. John Farrell also hasJohn Lester and Clay Bucholz both having good years Bucholz is 7-0 and Lester is 6 and1. I have always said the John Farrell is the best thing to happen to Josh Beckett he has struggled without him. Farrell is the calming influence that has also tweaked Lester from his awful 2012 season and has kept Bucholz on the field. The guy knows pitching.

LIl Lanz

There was a Pitching and Catching clinic Sunday for minor Little leagues a few of us coaches ran it. I bring Lil Lanz and he is Mr. Noodle arm. Just not stepping and throwing being lazy about it. So I'm getting pissed at him because I know when he wants to throw he has a pretty good arm. remembering he wanted go to this thing he was awful. So he and I doing errands and we run into the guy I coached with last year and says to him Matt hows your throwing it wasn't prompted he says you had a pretty strong arm just needed some accruarcy. I'm not sure of that statement got to him but we had a game later on Sunday he was playing 3rd just was making solid throws with good form. Not sure what's up with him. Of course being the true hockey kid he is The teacher in school last week asked him a question . He answers I don't know but the Bruins won last night. As the Mrs. says he can't remember his name half the time but ask him about some Russian hockey player he tell you all about him.

Behind The Mask

I was doing a Little League game the other night it was minor little league game that I was doing as a favor for an assignor. I didn’t want to do the game and questioned why I took. It ended up being one of the better games I had all year it was 1-0 game. The kids mostly 9, 10 and 11’s pitched solid and made plays. There was a kid on second  Line drive as he was running to third gets him square in the back Not sure how so I a called him out for interference which is the right call. The kid didn’t understand why he was out the coach did a good job explaining it. I went over to the coach after the inning and saidI hate to call a kid out on that but that’s the rule. The coach says this kid has been up 25 times and has K’d 23. He finally gets on base and that happens to him.My reaction was that poor kid and the coach just agreed and the game went on.

Weird weather here in MA. The weather people have been predicting late May temps and what has been happening it starts to get up there rain and fog move in around 3:30 or 4pm and the temps just drop. I was doing a game Tuesday afternoon The sun was out as we were changing we decided not to wear Jackets. I was on the bases I froze my rear end off. Game started fine I was talking to some fans and I said great weatherThey laiughed as the offered me an extra blanket.

Greetings from the Hoodwood, where the locals are praying for our peeps in Oklahoma, stay Okie strong Hoodwood sends its love and prayers.

NBA: Another Knick flameout

I think its funny that there were so many that thought that the New York Knicks were really going to beat the Pacers. After they had nearly choked away their firsr round series with the Celtics. They got smoked in the 1^st game with the Pacers. But the Knick fans shrugged it off as so much that their squad was tired from the battle royal with the Celtics. It seemed validated when they routed the Pacers in game 2. “See!” Knick apologists like Colin Cowherd said. The Knicks will roll and win it in 5. Problem was the Pacers weren’t having any of it. They bounced the Knicks in games 3 and 4 in Indy and the Knicks were pushed to the brink. Winning a game 5 handily, the so called experts said that all the pressure was on the Pacers. Win in Bankers Life Fieldhouse Saturday night in game 6 or face a winner take all showdown game 7 in MSG, after racing to a big lead the Pacers had to weather a barrage of 3 pointers by the Knicks by Iman Shumpert (that’s where Nerlens Noel gets the hightop fade look from) JR Smith (where had he been) and fought back into the game. Unheraled Chris Copeland made a couple threes to start the 4^th, and the Pacers were on the ropes. When Smith drilled a 3 to give the Knicks a 92-90 lead and the Pacers Paul George missed a mid ranger jumper it look like the Knicks could deliver the knockout blow and Carmelo Anthony who was having a monster game and would finish with 39 points would head to the bucket when this happened…

The Pacers were busting out the Kool-Aid and I was ready to bust out some Funkadelic on the 8 track...It was a funky block party in Nap-town and the Knicks were just not hip to the beat. After the block they just seemed to wilt. The Pacers got back to back buckets from former Bearcat Lance Stephenson including a critical 3 point play on a driving layup and getting fouled by JR Smith who was having a miserable series and just was not the same player after getting that one game suspension in the Celtics series. The Knicks would never get close to the lead again and the Pacers rolled home to a 106-99 win it was ironic that Smith took the last shot for the Knicks a 25 footer that missed of course Smith scored only 15 points on 4-15 shooting. Melo had 39 points but he and Smith were two of only three players on the Knicks scoring in double figures, Shumpert had 19 points on an efficient 6-10 shooting. But the other geriatric Knicks, Jason Kidd, Amare Stoudamire, and Kenyon Martin scored under 5 points. Raymond Felton was 0-7 and was shutout. The Knicks won 54 games and Im trying to figure how. 11 of the 16 so-called experts polled on ESPN picked the Knicks and of course look like fools. The Pacers now face the Heat whom they’ve beaten twice in 3 tries. I think the Heat will in 6 but the Pacers will be a tough out.

What happened to LA Sports

I remember a piece a couple decades ago that was written about the New York rap scene it literally asked “Has New York fallen the fuck off or what?” Now the death of the New York rap scene has of course been greatly exaggerated and the Big Apple rap scene continues to thrive. But the same question could now be asked about the LA sports scene. Of course with no pro football there is no movement in that front in the city of Angels. Speaking of Angels, they and the Dodgers looked to make big splashes with high priced acquisitions. The Angels already bolstered with the signings of Albert Pujols last year and then the Halos then acquired Josh Hamilton. With those feared sluggers the Angels looked to be the real bully of not only the AL West but the AL as well. But the Angels have struggled mightly at 17-27 are 11 games behind the rolling Texas Rangers only the neophyte Houston Astros are further back. Across town in Chavez Ravine the Dodgers are just as bad at 18-25 are only 7 games behind the Giants but are just not playing well. Dodger management has publicly stated that they are nowhere close to firing manager Don Mattingly but the lineup that is packed with stars like Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Andre Eithier and Carl Crawford  is just not producing runs. The Bums are -36 in run scoring differential. If it wasn’t for Clayton Kershaw the Dodgers pitching would be lifeless. With the slow return of Zach Greinke the Dodgers are 5-12 this month after starting at exactly .500 The Dodgers and Angels are the bull teams for interleague next week and face each other but the excitement of the first round of the Freeway series just elicits yawns and wonder of which Angelino baseball team will stink it up more. The mediocrity isn’t limited to the baseball teams, both basketball teams were bounced out of the NBA playoffs in the 1^st round. Though the Clippers won their first ever division title, and roared out to a 2-0 first round lead they then dropped the next four against the Grizzles and were sent home. The Lakers (stop laughing) were pretty much destroyed when Kobe Bryant went down and Dwight Howard just wasn’t able to pick up the slack. They were swept by the Spurs. Wow, who is facing off in the Western conference finals??? The Grizzlies and Spurs. Hmmmm. I know dvt, I know the Kings are repping strong as the defending Stanley Cup champs and are thumped the Blues in their first round Stanley Cup playoff series. They also have won their first two games at Staples against the Sharks. But they lost game 3 and may be in some serious trouble.

Phat Dap Head Slap

Phat Dap

I don’t think Ive ever given someone Phat Dap two weeks in a row but given the situation, I think this merits it. Dap to Dodgers CF Matt Kemp who immediately pledged $1000 donation for every homer that he hits from now until the All-Star break for the victims of the OKC tornadoes. Kemp got off to a good start on his pledge homering Monday in a Dodger win. Matt Kemp is fast becoming one of my favorite players and one fo the good guys in the sporting world

Head Slap

A pair to Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods who just cant let their little spat go. Woods bluntly said “No” when asked had he ever thought of picking up the phone and calling Garcia to mend their tiff. And while the response garnered some chuckled from the assembled media at the AT&T invitational, Garcia was not one laughing, he stated at a London Press junket that he thinks that Woods “called him a whiner which may be true but it’s the first honest thing that he has said in 15 years. This war of words is getting silly and it makes both golfers look petty and like a pair of whiny bitchy schoolgirls. The media is eating it up but I would have expected more from both. Let the rivalry be on the golf course with good play not catty he said, he said shit.

That the view from the Hoodwood for this week, Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Yeah, some people want you to keep quiet...I know plenty of people want me to be quiet...But we know that just isn't going to happen...Sometimes shit needs to be said...Even if it upsets people...Why hold it in?  'Cause some one on facebook may unfriend you?  They aren't your friend if they can't take you telling the truth, or sharing how you feel about something...

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist caught some shit for venting his frustration after the Rangers lost game one to Boston Thursday night, in OT...Lundqvist was upset with himself for the 3-2 loss...But he also voiced his frustration with the teams lack of offense so far in the playoffs...He said what every single Rangers fan has been saying for weeks...But people thought it was wrong for him to call out his teammates...Why?  Why can some hack write about how horrible the power play is, but the guy carrying the team can't?

I'm not joking, I read a blog that pointed out that Lundqvist hasn't been good in OT...Well, couldn't that also be pointed at the rest of team for defensive breakdowns, and lack of scoring!?!  There was even a comment that Thursday night Lundqvist wasn't at his best...Well, the 2 previous games he threw shutouts...And yeah, if you watched closely, he wasn't at his best...And with that said, he made 45 saves on 48 shots...And his teammates blocked over 20 shots that night...If not for Lundqvist, Thursday night, the Rangers would have been destroyed...So he blew off some steam, and rightfully so!

But things got worse...Sunday the Bruins blasted Lundqvist and company 5-2...I had hoped Henrik popping off would have charged them up...And actually some of the Rangers did look like they took it up a notch...But the Bruins had a lot more jump...The series goes back to New York now...I'm not worried yet...The Rangers just need to do what they did against Washington...They'll be alright...

-Saturday horse racing took a ding again...They've been dying for a Triple Crown winner but it won't happen again...Just as favorite, Orb started to make his move, Titletown Five and Departing tried making their own moves, and pinched Orb in...He got stuck in the pack and couldn't do a thing...I had Departing winning, (Thanks Eddie Olczyk) but no one was catching Oxbow...That horse ran a hell of a race...With that said, I'll still be watching the Belmont...there are a number of exciting horses, and this thing should be wide open.

-Saturday morning Little Beeze and I headed off to our first baseball practice...Things are running behind this year...New organization running the league, and they're trying to figure it out...The practice was good...I've got a lot of good hitters...And my two best fielders, are girls...They both have great baseball sense...I can already tell it's going to be a good season...Had a number of parents that stuck around and helped out...Nice change of pace!

-Cleveland weather update...We have officially skipped Spring and are into Summer...80 degrees this weekend and my kids wanted to go ice skating Friday night...

And when we weren't at the Rink, or Baseball practice...Little sis, wouldn't leave big brother's side...

-And lastly, The Cleveland Indians...I'm shocked...There has been a lot of rumbling about the Tribe having low attendance...Well, considering a 24oz Pabst cost $10, Parking $20...And every road in the City is ripped up or closed...and the last two seasons the team fell apart after the All-Star Break, I'm guessing people are playing it safe with how they spend their money...It also doesn't help that while the Tribe is playing great, all the Sports talk shows in town are talking about the fucking Browns for some reason...

Have a week...

The Beeze.