NFL
So...Arlen Specter is back again...what else is new...? Well....for one thing, now he thinks that the NFL isn't doing an adequate job in the investigation of the videotaping allegations about the Patriots...wanting an independent investigation. This coming at the heels of the Matt Walsh interview, in which Walsh apparently alluded to the Jets taping as well...Oh yeah...blame your rival and bring them down too, why dontcha?
The biggest thing that irks me in this entire issue has got to be the complete ignorance by Specter, and this point has been hammered in by many people, many times (but he just won't stop...) YOU ARE A UNITED STATES SENATOR....act like one....You should be concerned about sports, but when you have huge issues facing the country, interfering in an NFL investigation shouldn't be your primary concern. People are paying almost double at the gas pump what they did last summer, and you're saying that the Patriots videotaping takes priority over that? It takes priority over capping carbon emissions? Over the War in Iraq? Over the BUDGET? You have GOT to be kidding me....
Specter needs to get his hands off of the issues that he does not have a valid reason to interfere with. Commissioner Goodell has already proven that he is capable of investigating issues that could bring down the credibility and integrity of the NFL, let him do it again.
This does not only apply to Specter either...Something needs to be done about Congress getting its priorities in order. Steroids? Come on guys...get it together or we won't re-elect you...
TENNIS
Sad day for women's tennis fans, as now they have lost the women's closest equivalent to Roger Federer. Over her career, she won four French Opens and seven total major titles. The retirement at age 25 is just a testament to the amazing physical taxation that playing tennis brings. With the schedule that these players take part in, this should come as little surprise. Tennis players basically play non-stop from the Australian Open in January until November, when the season ends. There is basically a two month break, which is not really a break. The training that takes place just wears on the athlete's body...so retirements at this age should not be that surprising...and anyway, she HAS made over $19,000,000. (And if you didn't know, I'm talking about Justine Henin....thanks GOAT)
MLB
Which team did you think would be leading the AL East halfway through May? The AL Central? The NL East? Unless you are a homer, you probably didn't think it'd be the Rays, Twins, and Marlins (respectively). But, are they for real? Or is it one of those early season success stories, like the Royals a few years back?
The Rays have a legitimate shot at the playoffs this year. Think I'm crazy? Well...they have an ace, Scott Kazmir, a legit two, James Shields, and a solid three, Matt Garza. They've got power in Carlos Pena and Eric Hinske, a budding star in B.J. Upton, and the speedy outfielder in Carl Crawford. In other words, the Rays have all the pieces that they need to form a solid campaign at the AL East crown, or at least the Wild Card....
The Twins, on the other hand, took a completely different approach...they mixed the young and the old to have a 1-2 punch of Livan Hernandez and Nick Blackburn. The Twins don't win pretty, never have, probably never will...but they have one of the smartest managers in the game in Ron Gardenhire, and they can score runs when they need to...Just not when Boof is pitching....With the way that the Central has come down from last year, I think the Twins have a very good shot at the title with 85 wins...a goal that is very realistic...
The Marlins are the team that no one thought would go anywhere at all...especialy after trading their superstar...but they've proven that they are a contender....Florida scores runs. Simple as that. They are 7th in MLB in runs scored and they have the most HRs this season. However, there is no way that they make the playoffs this season. The Braves are good, as they always are, as are the Phillies, and the Marlins pitching staff is not going to hold up in a three team race for the title.
-SS
Revisiting the '98 NBA Lockout
Comments (15)
The Marlins are finishing in 3rd, at best. The Twins are finishing in second at best, behind the Indians. The Rays are finishing 3rd or 4th, behind the Sox, Jays, and Yankees.
Congress doesn't need to be involved in sports, when they have pressing issues that concern the Americans, more than sports do. Gas prices, as you mentioned, and the war in Iraq. Those are the two biggest issues in America today, and the Senators are worrying about a little scandal that Goodell has taken care of already. They need to get priorties in order.
dyhard is Up North 7/10-7/13 | 05/14/08, 10:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood bloggage. Nice job touching on Henin, too.
Bigdleech | 05/14/08, 10:49 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog. Love the Twins mention, lol.
0x NBA/NFL Champion | 05/14/08, 10:55 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe Rays don't have a good bullpen, and they're not going to sell off the farm for one. Also, you forgot to mention Evan Longoria.
85 wins won't win the AL Central, not with the Win-dians.
thehemogoblin | 05/14/08, 10:55 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog though.
thehemogoblin | 05/14/08, 10:55 PM
Report Offensive CommentHard to mention Longoria when he's hitting .222...
Super Squirrel | 05/14/08, 10:56 PM
Report Offensive Commentor was it .210....
I get him and Pena mixed up...but Pena isn't a high average guy to begin with...
Super Squirrel | 05/14/08, 10:57 PM
Report Offensive CommentWell said, Squirrel. Thanks.
Tracy00214-No More Mullets! | 05/14/08, 11:00 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnd you forgot Delvin Young. Oh wait, they pawned him off on some crappy team.
Bigdleech | 05/14/08, 11:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentMaybe that is because I got his name wrong. sorry, delmon.
Bigdleech | 05/14/08, 11:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhere did I get delvin?
Bigdleech | 05/14/08, 11:06 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnd you forgot Delvin Young. Oh wait, they pawned him off on some crappy team.
Bigdleech's laptop is working! | 05/14/08, 11:02 PM
Hey.....
Super Squirrel | 05/15/08, 04:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog, but no mention of the NBA playoffs? Also, it would help to mention the athlete you are talking about in the tennis section.
G.O.A.T. | 05/15/08, 08:04 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog, but no mention of the NBA playoffs? Also, it would help to mention the athlete you are talking about in the tennis section.
G.O.A.T. | 05/15/08, 08:04 PM
I really don't follow the NBA enough to write a legitimate blog on it...I could probably bullsiht some stuff about the home court team getting all the calls, but I really didn't feel like it last night....
Super Squirrel | 05/15/08, 08:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment"People are paying almost double at the gas pump what they did last summer, and you're saying that the Patriots videotaping takes priority over that? It takes priority over capping carbon emissions? Over the War in Iraq? Over the BUDGET? You have GOT to be kidding me...."
Whoa...it's not taking "priority" over any of those things.
You have to understand that Congress deals with hundreds of issues simultaneously, not just the most important. When you realize what a HUGE impact professional sports are economically, you'll understand why our representatives want to make sure those businesses are run properly. Just as when they investigated Microsoft on two separate occasions. Especially when they enjoy anti-trust exemptions most corps don't.
All Specter is doing is asking questions. Goodell brought that on himself and the league with the hush-hush way he "handled" spy gate.
Let's say it came out that Exxon-Mobile "punished" some top execs for wrong doing then burned the evidence of said wrong doing claiming it was handled, and 3 months later it came out that Exxon wasn't exactly forthcoming with everything they knew about the situation. Don't you think that would draw some attention from the Justice department and on capitol hill? It damn sure better.
As much as we fans would like to think these multi-billion $ leagues exist solely for our enjoyment, that simply isn't the case.
Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox | 05/16/08, 04:49 AM
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