Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Baseball Fan Free Agency

Full disclosure, I have never been a huge baseball fan. Growing up I fell in love with the Toronto Blue Jays because I lived in Syracuse and that was their Tripe-A farm team. The back-to-back World Series titles were the pinnacle of my baseball fandom. Once Major League Baseball canceled the World Series in 1994, I was done. In the years since, I have been a casual observer. I have always keep up with the Blue Jays, but this time of year usually turns me off because they are always out of the American League pennant race (damn you Red Sox and Yankees). For this year, I have decided to do something new. I have now exercised my right as a fan free agent and will declare my allegiance to a team I want to follow for the playoff run. I hereby announce that the Milwaukee Brewers are my team for the rest of the 2011 season (Toronto, I will see you next April). Here are my top 5 reasons:

5- The Brew Crew is on pace to win the National League Central (up 10 games as of today) looking for their first divisional title since 1992. This would ensure a playoff spot so I can hopefully go well into October still interested in baseball.

4- Ryan Braun. He is a legit MVP candidate. He may be the most underrated player as both a hitter and fielder in the bigs.

3- Prince Fielder. Anyone who was able to smash a dinger out of Tiger Stadium as a kid (true story) is worth watching. Plus, he too is a front runner for MVP and he can absolutely crush the ball.

2- Nyjer Morgan. This dude is just downright hilarious. He is a must see post-game not matter what he did during the game. Never heard of him? You Tube his name, sit back, grab a beer and enjoy the personality. It’s all about Plushdamentals, kids.

1- I can faithfully drink to a team named after beer!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sports Shorts-August 18, 2011

It's been a while, but we are back in style so let's get this new blog started.

Checking my (sports) shorts wondering whatever happened to Ozzie Canseco.

* This new, old scandal at "The U" will give us a good idea as to what the NCAA really is. Miami should get the death penalty. After all, what they have done in this current scandal along with everything over the last quarter century, clearly shows they have lacked any institutional or moral control for a long time. SMU was the only school ever to get the death penalty and what they did pales in comparison. If the NCAA only slaps them on the wrist, the NCAA will prove what we have all known for a long time, it is really not about student-athletes, it is all about the money.

* Can anyone explain why Jim Thome becoming the 8th player to hit 600 career home runs got almost no press, while the media drooled over Derek Jeter becoming the 28th player to get 3,000 hits? Oh yes, because Jeter is a Yankee and Thome is a Twin. I'm wonder how the stories would have played out if Thome was in the Bronx and Jeter was in the Midwest. If you take the 'roid boys out, Thome is in a much more elite class and should have got more recognition.

* In light of all the NBA players opting to sign overseas, I got a laugh when Delonte West tweeted he applied at The Home Depot. Don't for a second think West is being noble by taking a "joe" job. Take a look at his arrest record. I am sure he is not allowed out of the country (or within 25 miles of LeBron James family) so the Depot is probably his best option.

* I took my son and his friend to the Buffalo Bills training camp on Tuesday. It was odd to see the Bills in white helmets. I was always a big fan of the red helmets, but I am an even bigger fan of why they went to red helmets in the first place. If you don't know the story, check out this piece (http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Untold-uniform-stories-Fergie-behind-helmet-color-change/363e8e60-8573-42ac-8f4a-2bb56169e127) from Chris Brown on www.buffalobills.com and the true story of how former QB Joe Ferguson was behind the switch.