Here come the Hawks!!

The NHL has some great action this playoff season. The Hawks and Wings  hammer it out in a seventh game that was almost more than I could take. The Kings win in 7 over the sharks and the Bruins hammer the Rangers in 5. For the first time since 1945 the participants in the semi finals have each one the Stanley Cup each of the last 4 years. The Kings are looking to repeat their feat this year while the Penguins Hawks and Bruins are looking to repeat their recent success. Anyone of these teams could win the the Stanley Cup so ill make an uninformed prediction Pens in 6 and the Hawks in 7. The action should be fast and furious and i will be watching closely. Lets GO HAWKS!!

Flash and Dash meet the old school Spurs.

I must confess that a match up between the Spurs and Heat is a good one. The Spurs with their version of the big 3 playing solid fundumental basketball facing the flash and dash of the James Gang. Miami is trying to establish itself as the dominant team in the current NBA while the Spurs are trying to reclaim past glory winning 5 titles in a 14 year period. I think Miami has more pressure on them to defeat the Spurs because they are expected by most fans and media to repeat as champs. The Spurs with their veteran team have a chance to debunk the Heats claim of being a great team and reestblish themselves as a dominant force in pro basketball. The Grizzlies found out that the Spurs old school defense designed to callapse inside on both Zach Randolph and Mark Gasol did the job. The Spurs on offense run the pick and roll very well and they shoot the basketball effectively. The Heat are smaller and better at the fast tempo game and they play very good defense. James is fantastic and if Wade and the others contribute the Heat are a difficult match up for any opponent. Miami will win the series in 6 games unless the Spurs can effectively make James more of a passer and assist guy and Duncan and the rest of the Spurs can rebound and score effectively throughout the series.

Silence is golden.

A friend of mine commented to me that he wasnt going to renew his season football tickets this next season. He is a big fan like me so i ask my buddy why he made his decision.. I figured it might be the high ticket prices which are unreasonably high for college football games or just that the time committment on Saturday was too much for him and he wanted to spend the fall doing other things. Nah he said its not that its the unbelievable noise at the stadium. He wasnt talking about crowds being excited or the marching band being where his seats were he was talking about all the artificial noise being pumped in around the stadium. The speakers being blasted so that the stadium announcer and all the video commercials on the giant message board could be heard for 20 miles. Noise is constant at the major sporting events now so that even if you wanted a quiet moment to think about the game it is almost impossible. Every baseball player is now introduced for his time at bat with a rock balad or foot stompin diddy.What has happened to those golden moments of silence during a game when you could actually think about the game?  It seems like promotors in sports these days try to make everything an epic event complete with every kind of distraction you could possibly create. You cant even hear applause at the football venue anymore because the STATE FARM Auto ads are blaring at every timeout. The speakers are so loud at the ends of the field that the cracking of the pads and the roar of the crowd can no longer be heard because the rock music between plays has started up and you cant hear yourself think. I know that kids now become bored if they arent entertained every possible second but could we at least turn the noise down long enough for my ears to stop ringing and my eyes time to see the game?

GO GRIZ!!!

Koby and Shaq ruined the Lakers for me in the 90s and since then ive been searching for a new team to root for in the NBA. The Memphis Grizzlies hard nosed style and excellent defense are convincing me they are the team im looking for. Hollins is a good coach and Randolph Gasol and Conley are good players who play hard and exciting basketball. I considered the Bulls but the memory of jordan made me forget that possibillity. The knicks are chokers and full of drama plus spike Lee is annoying so they are out. The Celtics are the kings of the NBA but i confess im not a hard core Celtic fan which all boston fans are so the celts are not my choice. The Spurs are good and should be respected with Duncan and pops but they are about as exciting as watching paint dry.  The choice is obvious lets break out the BBQ listen to some excellent blues music and root for the GRIZ!!!  GO GRIZZLES!!

Second Triple Crown?

Orb may have fallen short in his effort to win the Triple Crown but Miguel Cabrera may be on his way to his second straight Triple Crown in major league baseball. He is hitting a sensational .387 and has 47 runs batted in. He crushed three homers Sunday night in Texas and despite the Tigers losing the game Cabrera doesnt seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Miguel is a big time talent and despite his troubles off the field i think he deserves credit for being the GREAT hitter that he is.

Dodgers talk. Giants win.

The Dodgers are probably going to fire Mattingly but the blame for getting their asses kicked all season long should be shared by ALL the players and management. .We heard all the hype about the new management and new players that is exactly what it has been so far lots of hype and no results. Either stinks. Crawford? Gonzales? Handley? All either injured or no factor. I saw the closer #31 with a 5+ ERA and wondered who the hell is this guy? After he pitched i said ....WHY the HELL is he the closer? There was alot of noise at seasons beginning by MAGIC and the new ownership about winning a championship but that is exactly what it is TALK.The Dodgers TALK a big game the Giants PLAY a big game. 2 world Series titles and virtually no hype at all while doing it. The Dodgers have 2 legitimate ball players #22 and #27 and the rest of the bums better grow a set and earn some of that 200 million dollar payroll.

Pitcher protection.

Major League Baseball is investigating the possibillity of pitchers wearing protective gear. While i feel bad for any pitcher who suffers from a line drive injury i think the possibillity of pitchers wearing masks and helmets is a silly idea.The better idea is for coaches and instructors to teach pitchers how to field their positions better. I am also suspicious that MLB is not all that concerned about player safety but instead concerned about being sued by a pitcher for not protecting them from the hazards of baseball. The fact is that all sports have an inherent risk of injury when played at a highly competive level. Athletes assume the risk when they take part in competition. Having medical staff at the athletic sight is sufficient protection for the athletes in competition. MLB doesnt need to comprise the performance of its players because of the fear of injury lawsuits or anything else over protective men in suits can think of.

Sports pain.

Everyone has exprienced the pain of watching their favorite sports teams lose a big game. Names like Bobby Olive Mark Wade and Greg Frey may not mean anything to the average sports fan but to me the mention of these names causes me ESP ......Extreme Sports Pain.  Greg Frey and Bobby Olive teamed up to beat Iowa on a last second touchdown pass.Mark Wade lead the UNLV Runnin Rebels back from a 21 point deficit in a final eight showdown during the 1987-88 season. The pain from these loses was so painful that I can still remember key plays and situations during the losses.I couldnt eat for at least a day and i didnt watch any sports television for at least a week. I was actually in Kinnick Stadium for Frye to Olive and I sat their untill every person left the stadium.I can remember Wade grinning as he dribbled out the clock and crushed my dreaam of seeing Iowa in the final four for the second time in my life. Perhaps those disappointments have tempered my feelings when the Hawks struggle during a bad season. Was the pain worth the chance at a big victory for my team? Absolutely it certainly was.

Notre Dame wimpy IRISH.

Before im convinced that Notre Dame football is back for good let me call BULL on the irish backing out of their series with Michigan. I realize that the games with Navy and Purdue are vitally important but i think thats not a good move for college football.Their linebacker has a fake girlfriend and almost wins the Heisman because of it. Bama clobbers their cocky asses in the title game and now no more Michigan?  Notre Dame football wasnt really a factor in college football for 25 years and if they keep on making really stupid decisions thats exactly where they will end up again.

Dodger hero.

LA Dodger Matt Kemp is one of my favorite baseball players. After what he did in San Fransisco after a 4-3 Loss to the Giants he has also become one of my favorite people. A young man who is battling cancer was at the game and Matt came over to sign a baseball and meet him. The young man can no longer speak so Kemp said hello and gave the young man his #27 uniform his cap and shoes. The expression on the young mans face was priceless. Kemp made the statement that he believes that some things are more important than baseball and that he tries to use baseball as an opportunity to make others happy. Matt Kemp is not only an outstanding baseball player but someone who puts sports in its proper perspective. Im glad he represents my team. Go Dodgers and GO #27.

MOM......

 Mom : I love you.  Im sure you are fine and that you have made heaven a home and the children there very welcome and happy. All your children both natural and babysitted are doing fine. Jenny is yanno being Jenny she is loving your grandsons and fighting with terry as usuall. Dad is fine still working Gambling and living life happier than ever. He misses you so but remembers you often. Clyde misses you the most but she has kept her promise to you. I worry that her sadness may sometimes give her the blues but i know her family loves and keeps her going. Mom i miss you but im sure your excited about anna. She is a wonderful woman and we are happy together. I love her alot and she loves me too. Thanks Mom for all you did for me and all you continue to do for everyone here.  The joy you must feel now has got to be amazing and all the heavens must give you plenty to keep you busy. Please know that you are thought of and loved with all my heart.  Please pray for all of us and i look forward to seeeing you again when the Lord calls me home. rick

Nascar leadership questionable.

For about a three year period I became a Nascar fan and enjoyed and appreciated all the sport had to offer. Im no longer interested in the sport on a serious level because the officials at the head of Nascar are ridiculous both in terms of disapline for team infractions and also determining a season champion. They have no problem finishing a race in darkness and rain endangering the safety of the drivers but if one of your car parts is centimeters too big your in big trouble!! The priorities of the governing arm of the sport are confusing and just plain STUPID. After crushing Matt Kenseth for a car part infraction they arbitrarily reduce the penalties and give no reason for any of their actions. Their idea to make the 12 races at the end of the season carry more weight than the previous 26 is great for fans but takes away from the value of a championship. If you place 12th through two thirds of the season in a 42 car field are you really deserving of the chance at a title?  Nascar is terrific at marketing their sport and the drivers and crews are generally the nicest people in all of sports but the govering body within NASCAR is AWFUL.

The say hey kid.

Happy Birthday to baseball great Willie Mays. The say hey kid is 82 years old today and I consider him to be the best all around baseball player to ever step between the lines. More than just a stat stuffer Mays performed on the field and carried himself with class throughout his baseball career. Mays cracked 660 homers accumulated 12 gold gloves and was an excellent base runner. Being a Dodger fan it is hard to root for the Giants but Willie Mays deserves to be remembered as an all time GREAT player. He unlike some of todays so called star players didnt need to grab headlines with his mouth he earned the headlines with his hustle and passion for the game. Mr. Harper you are a good ball player WILLIE MAYS was A GREAT PLAYER I suggest you live a little longer play a little harder and show some respect.

Wheres Derrick?

The Chicago Bulls have my respect and admiration.  The flu virus and various injuries have not dampened their toughness and grit during their playoff  battle against the Brookyn Nets. Derrick Rose needs to step it up and show the same courage his teammates showed during their game 6 loss on Thursday night in Chicago.Noone expects Rose to play 40 minutes at full speed his first time back but he needs to be the leader that the Bulls believe he is. Derrick made the statement that he wants to come back when he is able to move on instinct again and not think about his movements. The problem with that is he cannot get that automatic movement untill he is able to mentally overcome his fear. Overcoming fear only happens when physical movement begins. Doctors have cleared Rose to play and his pressence in game 7 against the Nets might just be the emotional lift the Bulls need to win and advance to the second round against the Miami Heat.

Courage defined.

Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first lie is that if you disagree with someones lifestyle you must fear or hate them. The second huge lie is that to love someone is to agree with everything a person says or does. I dont hate anyone or fear anything accept God and I love many people who do and say things that i completely disagree with. I cannot profess to love God and hate my brother or sister but I believe i would do them both a great disservice if I fein support for something I do no believe is right. Moral courage is not defined by accepting or tolerating something you disagree with it is instead defined by standing up for something you wholeheartedly believe is true when everyone else disagrees.