WOOF!!!! - Onto Albuquerque

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000003

No other comments are needed. The article and score speaks for itself.

Devil's Advocate - Mark McGuire Hearings

From time to time I'm going to be posting devil's advocate comments about various subjects. The reason I'll write these columns is not because I always support a various position. I'll be writing these posts because I like poking holes in people's arguments (especially when people are wrong or simply do not have the desire or drive to educate themselves about a given subject). The reason why I do this is I just like to get people thinking about other points of view that they may or may not have considered and then let them make their own decisions about a given topic.

A prime example of an article that I WILL be writing about is the about the whole Todd Bertuzzi incident and how the the wrong people didn't get punished at all.

That said, this first post is about Mark McGuire's statements about whether or not his supposed steroid usage should be the basis of all the attention it's getting in the media and all the talk about whether or not he should be considered for the hall of fame or not.

Last week I got my haircut at a sports Barbershop and I got into a conversation with my Barber about the issue and we both came to the same conclusion about the issue.

What McGuire did during his time as a Major league player should not be used or counted against him as there were no policies at that time in Baseball. Furthermore, what are the fans paying for watching McGuire (and other perennial home run hitters) hit home runs or to just watch a game?

Should steroids be illegal in baseball? Hell yeah!

Steroids have no part in organized sports (professional or amateur). There is no grey area here everyone should be doing their part to ensure that performance enchancing drugs are permanently removed from organized sports.

Let's face it, kids today are stupid enough to enact a 'monkey see, monkey do' attitude when it comes to the sports icons and their use of Steroids. Furthermore, is seems to me that part of the issue here is not performance enhancing drug usage in MLB but some parents/coaches simply aren't doing their part to educate their kids about issues such as steroids.

I find it appalling that no one in the media is mentioning the responsibility of the parents, coaches and other actual role models in athletes lives. It should be the responsibility of the media to focus on this aspect. However, in reality I know that will never happen given the sensationalism of the media in this day and age.

I remember a Nike commercial with Charles Barkley, in the days of 'way back', stating that 'I am not a role model'. This quote holds true today as sports figures are not role models, this responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of parents. Parents and other adult like role models should be the ones taking responsibility for the raising (or the lack of properly raising) and education of their children when it comes to issues about steroids.

I've personally have had to take steroids for medical reasons twice in my life. Once in High School when an idiot freshmen chucked a shotput into my knee (it was an accident). The second time I had to take steroids was after getting into a head-on collision with an LTD type car from the 70's. (You know the ones that people envision as pimp mobiles that are boats on four wheels). I should also note that I was riding a bicycle in this head-on accident. In this hit-and-run accident I tore open my right knee and right elbow right down to the bone (no broken bones mind you). Instead of giving me the option for surgery, the doctors prescribed me steroids to repair the tears/holes in my arm and leg. I was also given steroids in my High School track accident. As a result of both of these incidents, I have permanent side effects of the these two incidents of Steroid usage.

Had I known the all of the possible side effects of using Steroids for these two incidents, I would have never given my doctors authorization to use Steroids as a solution to repair my injuries (and never will again if the situation arises).

Anyways, I'll stop rambling and end this post on a funny note.

As the last few notes of Phish's 'David Bowie' end and a cover of ZZ Top's 'La Grange', again by Phish, chime in my headphones I can't help to bring up one of the most hilarious observations from my Barber about Jose Canseco.

(I'm paraphrasing here)


If Jose Canseco stated that he was able to scan and identify the people that took steroids while he was playing baseball, how come (if memory serves) when he was playing for the Texas Rangers he couldn't stop a baseball from landing on his head and going over the fence for a Home Run. It seems to me his scanning abilities aren't all that great.

heh

Pacquiao/Morales II - This Satruday!! Don't miss this one!!!!

I had the opportunity to watch the first matchup of these two fighters last may. The first fight ended up in a draw after Pacquiao had knocked down Morales early in the bout and dominated the fight from there. To me, the outcome of this fight, a draw, is a prime example of everything that is WRONG in boxing today. Pacquiao clearly won the fight yet it ended in a draw.

If this match isn't on Pay-per-view, I'll probably hole up in a bar with my trusty laptop and do a write up about it.

This bout should be one of the better matches of the year and probably one of the biggest for some time to follow. If you like to watch a good boxing match, check this one out. If the first match is an indication of what's to come, you all are in for a treat!

Morales -vs- Pacquiao
MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Sat, Mar 19, 2005
9 PM EST/6 PM PST

Here's a link to the HBO PPV Information




Here's some links about the bout:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4349361.stm

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=872

http://ringsidereport.com/Smith3182005.htm

Sports Humor for all of you - CBC's 'The Instigator'

This is a weekly cartoon mainly aimed towards the hockey world but the creator also focuses on other sports too. Check out the Archives link for some of his classic work.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/instigator/

MLB Congressional Witchh....hearings - Part II

Did you all catch Congress ripping MLB and the Players Union Reps this evening on why they have a 'Five Strikes and you're out' policy and the rest of society does not have that luxury.


Anyone notice how the MLB and MLB players union reps were being roasted during East coast prime time as opposed to earlier in the day?

Things that make you go hmmmm.....

MLB Congressional Witchh....hearings

I got bored watching these hearings as I would rather watch grass grow than hear the ramblings of yet another example of the taxpayers money going towards hearings that really don't deserve the priority that congress and the media are giving it.


Some things worth noticing:

- Given that congress is making this an important issue, have you all noticed how lots of Congressperson's seats are not occupied during these hearings. Nice message they're sending to the public. "This is an important issue, but I can't attend it."

- Former Nebraska Coach now Nebraska Representative Tom Osborne is on the Congressional panel.

March Madness finally begins!

3/16/05

I'm sitting here camped in front of the boob tube watching the last part of Gonzaga Coach Mark Few's press conference getting ready for the yearly display of the most pure form of Basketball left on this planet. Sorry, the NBA lost that title many years ago. Let me put it this way, I share the same view as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett did following his rookie season: "They're (the NBA veterans at the time) a bunch of old guys that foul a lot." Let's face it, not much has changed over the years.

Anyways, what is the draw to the NCAA tournament for fans from all walks of life?


There is no form of spectator sports on the planet that can replace the level of competition that comes from vying for a Championship like the NHL playoffs, the World Cup, the Super Bowl (minus the terminally putrid pre-game and half time shows), the Memorial Cup, MLB playoffs, the list goes on and on.




I'm now watching a pro UW preview of the UW/Montana where the starting center of the Grizzlies re-injured his sprained ankle during practice. Of course this was all following a load of shit talking from the Grizzlies aimed towards UW (“Mmmm Karma” as Homer Simpson might say).





As I attended the University of Washington many moons ago (ok attended is a very loose term...remember kids 'Don't let School get in the way of College'!) during the Don James era of UW Football we had lots to cheer about. Seeing sites, in person, like two thirds of a capacity Rose Bowl crowd wearing purple and/or gold on a consistent basis and road trips to away games as far away as Stanford or Berkley simply because we knew the Dawgs (as we so affectionately call the UW) were more than likely going to win. It wasn't an ego thing it was more of a sense of confidence in the talents and abilities of the given team that the UW put on a playing field. As a long time UW fan we haven't had that feeling in Men's basketball for quite some time.

Even aside from the UW I’ve personally witnessed championship atmospheres from many different vantage points like driving to and from my Home (at the time) in Seattle to Vancouver B.C. to attend Playoff Home games of the NHL Vancouver Canucks (that's drive to Vancouver and from Seattle for every single game...no overnight or extended stays).

Another example would be watching World Cup (When France hosted the World Cup) games in Austria, England, Holland, and Germany. Now when I say watch games, I watch from a fan prospective.

In Innsbruck, Austria there was a HUGE big screen TV set up in the center of town (by the river) where fans from all around would watch every single game. Even though Austria didn't field a team in this World Cup, the passion for Championship games was on display for every game.

In Holland, I witnessed Amsterdam turn from a Ghost Town (no joke...not even the legendary pick pockets and theifs were around in the city) when their team played to the biggest party I have ever seen in my life after a Holland victory.

Anyways, Having a Men’s Basketball team that has a chance to win it all is a new tradition for us UW fans especially since the UW football program was sent on a one way trip into the stone age (thanks to the ineptitude of the now former head of the UW athletic department) everyone in UW-town finally has got a team to stick by and cheer about damnit! We haven’t seen a team this good since former NBA player Detlef Schrempf played under then UW coach Marv Harshman.

Other than cheering for the UW, I'm just a fan of great championship games where not only the best 64 teams actually come out on top but the officials aren’t the third team on the playing surface (::cough:: NHL Playoffs ::cough::). This is probably the best all around championships that serious sports fans can get their competitive fixes.

Come to think of it these Championship series may be a temporary solution to all you NHL fans who are, by now either in a fetal position or going through serious withdrawals following the cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL Regular Season.

To me, the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament is a Championship where the numerical ranking of teams does not always apply. As I believe actor and NCAA fan Billy Bob Thornton stated in an NCAA tournament special not too long ago, this is a tournament where a proverbial David can actually slay Goliath on a potentially consistent basis.

By now the last teams of the countless NCAA Basketball Championship bar and office pools are being finalized the excuses to miss work to watch the tournament games are now being polished before final presentation and the final bets are being made in Vegas. I personally need to finalize my TV times for this week to check out as much of the action as possible.

So as I am anxiously awaiting the UW band to chime out 'Tequila', which is the REAL UW fight song and pre-game beverage (Damn, I need to head to the Liquor Store!) I'm really looking forward to the ever lasting memories that are about to take place in this tournament.

Does Chelsea FC have the Premiere League title all locked up?

After reading the news today and having watched all of the very impressive Chelsea 4-2 victory over FC Barcelona (3/8/05), you can't help to wonder if the title is all but locked up for Chelsea.

For those of you who aren't familiar with European Football (Soccer in the US), Chelsea is the European equivalent of the (MBL) New York Yankees and (NHL) New York Rangers in the payroll sense. The only exception is that Chelsea has the chemistry to match the talent that the Yankees and Rangers severely lack.

Links:
http://www.chelseafc.com

Seattle Supersonics Looking for reworking of Key Arena debt

According to an article posted On the Seattle Times Web Site dated March 16, 2005, the NBA Seattle Supersonics are asking for public support in the reworking of the debt remaining on the 1995 renovation of the former Seattle Center Coliseum into Key Arena. The Key Arena is the current home of the NBA Seattle Supersonics, the WNBA Seattle Storm, and the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds.

As much as would like to support this I can't help but to keep thinking of the decision made by former Sonics owner Barry Ackerley to not include potential NHL franchises when remodeling Key Arena into it's current state today.

In the very least, the powers that be in the Sonics organization could have hosted NHL pre-season games at a Key Arena configured for hockey. For example, the Sonics could have hosted a few pre-season games with the NHL Vancouver Canucks especially since there are a considerable number of Canucks (and NHL) Fans in the Greater Seattle/Tacoma area many of whom I know are Season Ticket owners (Full, Partial, and/or Ice Pak) or are fans of other teams that make the drive to Vancouver to see their teams play in person.

For those of you not familiar with Key Arena's configuration, I would recommend going to Ticketmaster's website and open up seating plans for the Sonics and Hockey. In the NBA configuration, seating is approximately 18K+ and for Hockey the seating is approximately 14K.

I can almost guarantee the taxpayers of Washington are sure as hell not going to pay for Barry Ackerley's lack of vision in not designing and implementing an arena that would have been able to hold more than just Basketball and Concerts. Not only that the taxpayers are going to have a tough time letting something like this pass through. As I see it, the lawmakers in Olympia have more important issues on their plate like solving the transportation issue(s), the budget crisis, the economy, blah, blah, blah.