Tomlinson Tats

It feels particularly good to get affirmations about certain things. Like when you see a star player sit on the bench as his team crumbles in front of him in a playoff game and you just get that feeling deep down in your stomach, like you just at a bad deviled egg. Then years later you hear something, I don’t know, something as ridiculous as that same player labeling himself with ink of his NFL teams.

If you’re thinking of LaDanian Tomlinson you’re spot on.

Can't you just see the pain in his eyes as Dr. Pure rips him... again.

It’s not that I’m a Broncos fan and he was Charger. It is that he is a selfish, no-good, over the hill, stuck up fool. He was quoted in a press conference after a playoff loss saying, “I’m a classy player”, and also said “They take after their coach [Pats coach Bill Bellichick]”. There is nothing more classy than picking a fight after a game, leaving the field forgetting to shake hands with your opposing number and then call out the other teams coach for what his players do. Oh yeah, nice.

Now, in the latest installment of Tomlinson’s Theatrics he got the J-E-T-S logo on his calf. And its not the first time he’s done this. Already on his left calf is the Chargers Lightning Bolt (2001-2010) in honor of his nine years there. That’s something you joke about doing in the sauna at the NFL Combine as you wait to get drafted, not actually do it.

But if you don’t believe me take a look for yourself.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5335726&categoryid=2459789

[And I refuse to refer to LaDanian Tomlinson as LT, because there is already and LT and you have to earn an acronym. MJ, OJ, TD, TO.]

Is it really the World Cup?

Okay, so I know we are all disappointed about the US losing in the 2010 World Cup. But as we come back to the real world where all there is to talk about is the destination of Lebron James.

Was there really a chance for the Stars and Stripes to grab the Cup? No. It was fun, but realistically we had no shot, Landin Donavan even said so.

Who does have a shot? Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Portugal.

Who's really vying for this Cup??

So what I’m saying is eastern South America and the Iberian Peninsula has a shot to win the World Cup.

And it’s just not this year; past champions include Brazil (5), Italy (4), Germany (3), Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), France (1) and England (1). All past winners touch at least one other past winner, excluding England.

So is it really the “World” Cup?

US Open

The 110^th US Open is getting underway today; the majesty combined with the toughness makes Pebble Beach a must watch. It makes all the average golfers (me) feel good about themselves. Even the pros struggle sometimes.

But there’s no time to waste…. My pick is Jim Furyk.

Let's-go-Jim-fist-pump.

He swings like he is trying to kill a rattlesnake in a phone booth. His nickname is ‘Grinder’. And he has proven that he can win the US Open (2003 Champion). But in a tournament like this one you need more than just a gut feeling to pick a winner. He’s the 5^th ranked player in the world, 6^th in driving accuracy, and 6^th in scrambling. The stats speak for themselves.

If you think Tiger is going to win you probably also think a Babe Ruth was named after the candy bar. Tiger looked average at best at Memorial, and I can’t wait til he blows up at Pebble. Phil, that’s a decent pick, but still no. He cannot win at a course where 4 over is probably going to win it. He may make a run, but he won’t pull it out. And don’t pick the field because there hasn’t been a player outside the top 50 in the world win it in the modern era of golf.

With a firm and fast course on our hands we’re looking at a very exciting weekend ahead. Bogeys are going to be a good score on some holes, and a birdie is going to be a series of miraculous shots. So get ready for some snowman, and some scores in the 80’s in the 2010 US Open.

Bryce 'Almighty'

Being the avid poker player that I am, NOT, I know that having been dealt an Ace is a good thing. And having 2 is crazy good.

And in the world of amateur drafts, Rule-5 signings and international bargaining, the scouting and evaluating talent is a real crapshoot. You never really know how a player will turn out, if they ever even make it that far. So to pick a true winner is as lucky guess.

And Boris’ money makin’, flame throwin’ client Stephen Strasburg has sure made the Nationals win the lotto. He had electric stuff last night in the nations capital. He struck out 14, 2 ERs, 0 walks in 7 innings of work; in other words he made the Buckos walk ya plank. The Ex-Expos need not be worried about this star in the making.

Bryce Harper on the cover of SI at 16....

But, okay, it was the Pirates whose best player is also their smartest, Ohlendorf. But they are still major league hitters. He hit 100mph on the gun several times over the course of the game, and you could just tell that when he needed a little giddy-up-and-go on his fastball he just reared back and fired it. And like any great starting pitcher will know, it’s the secondary and third pitches that made you unhittable. Strasburg mixed in his 79-83mph curveball that dropped off the table faster than my veggies at the dinner table. He also had the changeup that he could locate on the corners keeping the batters honest and sometimes sent them packing.

And okay, it was one start. But he looks anything like this the rest of the season the league better be counting down the days til next Strasmas.

But with all the hub bub about Strasburg I think the real story, the real prodigy is slipping under the rug. Due to the expansion of the Nationals they receive the first pick # years in a row, giving them all the help in the world to make it work. And their 2^nd Number One pick happened to be Bryce Harper.

He scares me. He hits for power, to all fields and plays his position better than anyone his age.

And I know this maybe the most ridiculous proposition in the world to this date, but I believe (without seeing this kid play a game, mind you) can play and should play in the MLB this year. Not next year, not the year after. Don’t waste his talent in the minors, don’t let him get injured before he has a chance to play. If he even shows a glimpse of greatness bring him on up. And since we’re on the subject, don’t let Harper play catcher anymore. We need to get him out from behind the plate and to first base. Save his knees and save his career. Just like the AL MVP last year, Joe Mauer, his career is going to be shortened by all the beatings they get behind the plate.

So this might be a scary proposition but bringing him to the big leagues THIS year would be a great idea. And if he is good as people say he is then there’s no time to waste.

John Wooden

John Wooden, where do I start?

I’ve looked online all day for inspiration and maybe a little fact or quote that nobody has found that could give me a unique perspective on him, and I have yet to find one.

But that’s the real beauty about his genius. It was the mere simplicity that he took life and basketball.

One of my favorite stories of the great John Wooden is when highly touted Bill Walton came to UCLA. Walton was a prized high school talent and UCLA had already won 3 consecutive National Titles. The first day of practice and all the freshman were wide eyed in Polly Pavilion. Coach Wooden brought all the freshman in the locker room. He told them to take of their shoes and socks. He then proceeded to show the soon to be All-American Walton how to put on his socks the right way.

Wooden teaching Lew Alcinder.

He wasn’t just the best coach ever; he was the best teacher ever. And he took pride in that. Wooden constantly said that was extremely grateful for the game of basketball to allow him to teach and his messages to be spread. But you can’t tell me that without the game of basketball he wouldn’t have been as influential on everyone.

His ‘Pyramid of Success’ hangs on my wall to this day and his philosophies reverberate in my head on a daily basis. My favorite being, “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail”, but there are numerous I could have chosen from. I urge all of you to read his books, listen to his philosophies and attempt to be as great of a man as he was.

RIP John Wooden

YES and NO

What literally every one and their mom (seriously, my mom asked me about it) is talking about is Armando Galarraga, Jim Joyce and the call. And although it is a big deal, it’s that bad and I’m just torn on the whole controversy.

Can this be the image of MLB?

Should the call be overturned? Yes… and no.

YES: This kid was one out away from a moment and accomplishment that only 20 players before him in the history of baseball has anyone done. It was dramatic slap in the face to MLB and Bud Selig that there needs to be instant replay in the game of baseball on more than just the home runs. It won’t slow down the game and there would be no implementation of it on ball-strikes calls. What is there to lose? Nothing, people will be happy and who are you to not give back a call like the one that occurred and give Armando his perfection. And this type of thing already happens, an official scorer can go back the next day and give a guy a hit instead an error or vice versa. Keep the integrity of the game and give the kid his historic moment back Bud.

NO: Human error is a big part of the game. In the 1985 World Series between the same exact play occurred, and I mean the exact play. (So this call is obviously an extremely tough call to make; pitcher coming touching first, ball coming, and runner coming. There is a lot going on and a lot to keep track of in this situation. Hardest call in baseball outside of balls and strikes??) The Reds got the bad end of the deal on the call, went on to lose the game and eventually the World Series. Although Armando didn’t get what was rightfully his it was just a perfect game, no other implications, his team did win the game and he didn’t loss the World Series due to it. So is it a big deal? Plus look at how Jim Joyce and, most importantly, Armando Galarraga dealt with it. Armanda had a grin on his face because he knew he just lost his perfect game on a bad call, but did not argue, did not say a word. He then went on to get the next batter out for his first ever complete game shutout and he couldn’t be happier about that. After the game Jim Joyce looked at his call on replay and was torn up about how he single handedly took this game away from this kid. He was genuinely apologetic. The next day they met at home plate, Joyce in tears and Armando still grinning. Isn’t this a boost for baseball’s integrity? It may not seem so now, but Armando took it in the most valiant, unselfish, glorified way possible. He should be applauded for what he did. And Joyce is upset at himself and taking responsibility for his actions. When is the last time that happened in MLB?

Okay, so like most things, there is no black and white here. But is there any doubt this is good for baseball? NO. With a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals and a popular Stanley Cup Finals and all people are talking about is baseball. With there be an advancement in replay in baseball? YES. Was this game perfect? Yes and No.

YES/NO: Armando Galarraga, can I test drive that convertible Ford gave you yesterday???