Some of My Sports Knowledge

Seattle Seahawks Site

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:47:36 GMT

Hello, this dwade speaking, and I just wanted to let you know that I am now the official Seahawks writer of diehard101.com. The site that I am posting these Seahawks' blogs on is this: http://seahawks.sportsbloggingnetwork.com/

Check it out, please. Especially if you're a Seahawks fan!

Completely Messed Up: Halfway through the MLB Season- AL

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:39:33 GMT

If you take the time to look back on the 2008 MLB season you will think: This is completely messed up! Well guess what; your right! The 2008 MLB season is full of Cinderella teams; cellar to stellar players; comeback player; first to worst; and no-name all-stars! First, they changed their name and totally changed their franchise: The Rays. They reached 50 wins 2 days ago, which was one month and one day faster than they ever had. And they did this after just last year winning only 66 games, and being outscored by as many runs as games that they played: 162. Now they have outscored opposing teams by 58. 220 run turnaround. Wow. And they're doing this while having the lowest payroll in the MLB, their most expensive player only costing 6 million dollars. Their total pay roll: just a little over 43,000,000. Alex Rodriguez's individual payroll this year: 28,000,000. Wow. And they aren't really doing it with stellar play from their team members: leader in average- .280. Leader in homers- 15. Leader in RBIs- 47. Leader in wins- 9. Leader in ERA- 3.47. Another Cinderella team: the Florida Marlins. But, I, personally don't believe they are a Cinderella story, because they are getting outscored this year. They just have a lot of hype because they were atop of their division. So I'll just move on. After saying one more thing: A-Rod has a higher salary by more than 5 million than the Marlins. So, I will give them some props. Now, the cellar to stellar players. Featuring Ian Kinsler, Milton Bradley, Josh Hamilton, Xavier Nady, Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye, Jason Giambi, Jose Guillen, Justin Duchscherer, Cliff Lee, John Danks, Joe Saunders, Vicente Padilla, Shaun Marcum, and George Sherrill. Now, that is only the AL. I will tell you these players stats now: Ian Kinsler has a .324 average, 13 HRs, and 50 RBIs. Milton Bradley has a .321 average, 16 HRs and 49 RBIs. Josh Hamilton has a .308 average, 19 HRs and 80 RBIs. Xavier Nady has 10 HR and 49 RBIs. Carlos Quentin has a .284 average, 19 HRs and 61 RBIs. Jermaine Dye has a .301 average, 18 HRs, and 50 RBIs. Jason Giambi has a .264 average, 17 HRs, and 46 RBIs. Jose Guillen has a .277 average, 13 HRs and 61 RBIs. Justin Duchscherer is 8 and 5 with a 1.91 ERA. Cliff Lee is 11 and 1 with a 2.26 ERA. John Danks has a 2.50 ERA. Joe Saunders is 11-4 with a 3.06 ERA. Vicente Padilla is Vicente Padilla is 10 and 4. Shaun Marcum has a 2.65 ERA, and George Sherrill has 27 saves! That is all I have for you today. Thanks for reading!

Why I screamed Owch! Yesterday

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:38:12 GMT

Yesterday, I went to my baseball game, as confident as ever. My team was undefeated, and nobody could touch us.

We were unstoppable. I was unstopabble.

So far that year, over our first three games, I had been 11 for 13 with 13 stolen bases. 10 runs. On the mound I was 3-0. My team had won by 6, 10, and 10. Today looked like another routine game. Even though the other team was undefeated, a kid on their team, their pitcher, said we were going to kill them.

He was scared of another kid on my team, my best friend on the team, and he should have been. This kid had already hit 2 ground rule doubles off two of the best pitchers, after him, who was at first. He had faced 10 batters, and struck out 9 of them. He was untouchable.

We were untouchable.

We had, on average, stolen about 15 bases per game. Nobody could throw us out. We were the best team that a-lot of the other coaches said they had seen since 2002, when a team beat every they faced by at least 10.

My coach told me that I was starting on the mound today. I was looking for my best stuff, because my girlfriend was in the stands. I had my best stuff in warm-ups, looking better than ever.

We batted first, and I was lead-off. I came up, ripped one to third on an 0-2 count, and got a single. My coach told me to go on the first pitch. I did, an jetted down to second. The ball was over thrown, I popped out of my slide, and headed toeards third. My coach sent me home, so I went. They had no shot at me. I made it standing up. The catcher looked pretty steamed.

We scored 4 runs that inning, and were looking at the peak of our game. I got on the mound, and faced my girlfriends little brother. I got him down 0-2, but then I tried to impress my girl a little, and put a little extra heat on it. The ball rocketed toward the plate. The batter look suprised at the pitch, but he adjusted and hit it down the third base line.

I walked the next guy on 5 pitches, and by then the lead-off man had stolen third. The guy was walked ran on the first pitch, a ball. No throw from our catcher. Runners on secondand third, no outs. The next two pitches were balls, but I took a little of my next pitch, and he bounced it highup the middle. It seemed like it was going over my head, but I jumped and stretched for the ball, nad caught it. But I fell on my back. The run scored, but I was able to get the guy out at first.

The next guy was their clen-up guy, about two times bigger than me. I got him down 0-2 by blowing it by him. My catcher put one finger down and patted his left inside leg. Inside four seam fastball. I hit the spot perfectly, but the boy fought it off and popped it up to the outfield. My centerfielder dropped the ball. Triple.

The very next pitch was a passed ball, and the guy came hustling home. My catcher flipped the ball to me, and I got ready for a collison. Then, I noticed that the guy running home was their catcher. He was mad, head down, running straight at me with full velocity. I was scared. I put my glove up, ready to get hurt. But, then, down he slid. But with his cleat aimed at my already sore shoulder.

Then it came. The biggest collison of my life. CRACK! I heard my shoulder. I went down, and hard. my glove flew out of my hand. My shoulder felt like a huge hammer had just been slammed down on it. There was no way it couldn't be broken, I thought. Safe! The ump yelled. The other team's coach, also mine, was astonished at that call. I was crying and screaming like crazy. My arm had went numb. I couldn't feel it. My coach came running out. He had known me since I was 4, and he hadn't heard or seen me like this.

Our assistant coach, also a firefighter, said he felt one of my bones moving around in my shoulder. He walked me to my car. I was taken to the ER, took X-Rays, and waited. It took two hours of me waiting in the room for them(watching The Office, 30 Rock, and something else)until I got results. Good news! Nothing was broken! They sad the worst it could be would be a fracture, probably just a pull.

Practically my whole team came to visit, but the only one who had anything significant to say was the person I told you about earlier. He took over, and struck out everyone he faced. 17 strikeouts. Crazy. Then, he told me that he hit one over the fence. Just the second guy so far this year.

For me, he said.

We won, 9-3.

For me, they said.

And I also got the official win on the mound.

And they won.

And they killed.

For me.

Odd Blog #2: Delayed Trade Deadline Summary Poem

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:44:58 GMT

Again, I know this is delayed, but, here you have it:

I don't like to move

I leave behind all my friends

But in the NBA many horses took there hooves

And looked to make new friends

As many players were traded

To a new home

The memory of them in their original home faded

Because they moved to a new home

Their old team thoguht that they were useless

So they cast them off

I can't believe that Seattle acquired such a mess!

They got no one for the players they cast off

In Dallas there was a big trade

As J- Kidd moved back

A big change in Dallas, that made

Because Jason Kidd moved back

Over in Cleveland there seemed no hope

Because no help was what LeBron was getting

And LeBron threatened that the answer to staying was nope

And then suddenly there was help LeBron was getting

There were many other trades

But those were just notables

Some needed to buy for their new home shades

Others to take them off that were notable

Odd Blog #1: Delayed Shaq Trade Poem

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:42:03 GMT

I know this is delayed, but, here's my poem about Shaq moving to Phoenix.

There was a big man

Who in Miami was playing in the sand

Then he heard he was to be traded

To a place that was defiantly not shaded

The place was called Phoenix

And many people thought that Shaq wouldn't mix

As the Suns played run- and- gun

But speed, people thought Shaq had none

He said that he will make them better

That on defense, he would be a netter

He wants to prove them wrong

And now I'm singing this song

The Basketball Brain: Issue 9: Evaluating the Best Players

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:50:26 GMT

This is evaluating the best players in the NBA.

I took who I thought was the top 5 NBA Players, came up with a scoring system, and ranked the top 5 using the scoring system. Now remember, this is only this season.

My top 5, no order:

LeBron James

Kobe Bryant

Chris Paul

Dwight Howard

Yao Ming

Scoring system: add PPG, RPG, APG, BPG, SPG, then subtract TOPG.

So, here we go.

Yao Ming proccess:

22.0 ppg

10.8 rpg

2.3 apg

2.0 bpg

0.5 spg

Add that all up, and you get 37.6.

Then subtract the

3.3 TOPG

and you get a final sscore of 34.3.

Next, Dwight Howard:

21.8 ppg

14.5 rpg

1.3 apg

2.4 bpg

1.0 spg

and you get 41.0.

Then subtract

3.2 TOPG

and you get a final of 37.8.

Now, Chris Paul:

21.3 ppg

11.0 apg

4.0 rpg

0.0 bpg

2.7 apg

add it up, and you get 39.0.

Subtract the

2.5 TOPG

and you get a final of 36.5.

Now, Kobe Bryant.

28.2 ppg

6.1 rpg

5.3 apg

0.5 bpg

2.0 spg

to get 42.1.

Subtract

3.4 TOPG

and you get 38.7.

Now, the final proccess to go through before I find my list, LeBron James.

30.8 ppg

8.1 rpg

7.4 apg

1.1 bpg

2.0 spg

Add it up, and you get 49.4.

Subtract

3.4 TOPG

from that and you get a final of 46.0.

Now, the final list using my top 5( if I had used my personal top 10, the top 5 outcome would probably be different, but this is my personal top 5 order using my scoring system, which, I admit, is flawd. I'll work on it to possibly make a near- perfect top 100 one day.)

1. LeBron James- 46.0 total points.

2. Kobe Bryant- 38.7 points

3. Dwight Howard- 37.8 points

4. Chris Paul- 36.5 points

5. Yao Ming- 34.3 points

So, there you have it. My personal top 5.

Yes, its a flawd system, but hey, nobody's perfect!

As Hannah Montana would say:

Nobody's perfect!

I got to work it!

Again and again

till I get it right!

How I know that, I do not know.

In a later issue, I might have a more perfect, well, not more perfect, but better system.

Maybe.

I'll work on it, and try to make my top 5 more accurate.

I accept suggestions on any basketball topic to blog on!

See you March 19th!

I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Basketball Brain!

The Basketball Brain: Issue 8: The Student in an Athlete

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:49:04 GMT

Okay. This blog dosen't directly regard basketball. But it regards college sports in general.

There is a problem in sports today.

That's the intellect of the future of the sports.

In the past, many great athletes have been smart.

John Heisman went to Law School.

Dominic DiMaggio was invited to go to a good academic college.

Michael Beasley himself is very smart.

Those are just a few examples.

However, if you look at sports in general. That's where I see the problem.

You see, I've always looked up to a guy named Steve Nash. He has persevered through a lot of things, many changes of homes. But I love him because of the leadership he shows on the court, and the role model he is off the court.

But then my love of him dropped just a little, don't get me wrong, he's still my favorite sports player, but I became a little less found of him when I read his Wikepedia Biography. It said:

As his team competed, Nash's grades in his classes dropped as he was absent numerous times.

Before that point, I had always compared myself to Steve- a pass-first guard with a sweet shot to go along with being a great person. I never knew about his academic records.

But, Nash isn't the only succesful basketball player who dosen't have good academic records. There are many, many others. But that one just stood out to me.

Now, I believe that part of the reason for academic failure with many college sports players is due to the fact that they don't have much time to study due to practices, but I know that there are ways to find time.

I mean, come on! If John Heisman passed law school while practically re-creating the game of football, these college players who are just playing the game can surely pass regular classes.

But, there is still hope for the future of student athletes. I saw on ESPN during football season that one Rutgers player was very stressed because he recieved his first A-.

I can relate, I had an anxiety attack because I recieved my first ever B.

Good thing it was only a mid-term.

So, there is hope, me, Michael Beasley, and a Rutgers guy.

Against everyone else..........

The Basketball Brain: Issue 7: I'm Upset

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:10:59 GMT

"It's no fair." What I said about the Memphis- Tennesee game.

"Joey Dorsey had a hurt right pinkey." Was my cover-up.

*Cry* after a game you haven't heard about, my game.

"Whoop-ee!" After the Tennessee- Vanderbilt game.

Okay. It all started the night of "the game." Memphis-Tennesee.

I watched the beggining of the game, but then it got boring when Memphis gained a comanding lead. I fell asleep at about half-time.

When I woke up in the morning and watched my daily dose of Sportcenter, I was shocked. Memphis had lost! How?! I was in a certain mood where you would not want to be around. Memphis is my fourth favorite team! And they were finally #1! Undefeated, even! I wasn't happy at all.

I had to go to my AAU basketball game at noon, and I was in for it. Everybody there are ban-wagon riders for Tennessee, exept one, who is a Vol faithful. When I got to my game, I made the announcment that Joey's pinky was hurt (that's not real, just so you know)to my team, and our back-up Small Forward(I'm starting SF), Hefty Lefty as he's known on this website, said "That dosen't matter!"

I retorted:"He couldn't shoot!" And it went on like that until we started 2-Ball, our warm-up drill.

Then everyone was like, "The Vols are #1!". I'm like "It's not official yet."

They were like: Shut-up- It's a lock." I just kept on assuring them that it wasn't official yet. Then our back-up PG said "They beat #1 as #2, it's official!" I just persevered.

We lost all three games that day. Then we lost the next day in the first round to the one-seed. They had a guy who was two times taller than everyone else.

Fast-forward to last night, on my other team. Tournament- Quarter Finals. 3 Seed vs 4 Seed. We were 3 seed.

It was tied at the end of the first quarter, but then I went in. I'm PG on that, but back-up.

I lit up the place. They put there best guy on me, and I was on him. I shut him down. He scored two points. I had 2 fast breaks against him, 1 of those And One, and a three. I scored 8 points that quarter. We were up by 8 at the beginning of the second half.

Then, coach benched me for a breather(I didn't need one), and started the other PG. He scores the most points a game for us.

At the begining of the fourth quarter, it was tied, because we basically only have three players who are really good: Me, the other point guard, and our SF/PF, who leads our league in boards a game.

They doubled me and the other PG, and shut him down, but I drew a couple of shooting fouls. They put there big guy, who is huge, on our SF/PF.

So, 16 seconds left, game tied, I have the ball. I broke the double, drove to the basket, and was fouled by their big man.

Two shots.

I miss them both. Our SF/PF got the board, but then the other team ripped the ball from him. We kept them in check on the other side of the court, and we got the ball. Our PG took the ball up the floor, and took a three, and......................

missed.

So, here comes overtime.

They killed us in overtime, and ended up beating us by three.

It was announced that I made the All-Star game, which was to be played after the Championship game.

So then I went to bed early. I didn't what to think about the game.

When I woke up today, I was overjoyed.

Tennessee lost!

Whoo-pee!

So, that makes up for the Memphis and my losses.

So, the morale of this blog is: there were a-lot of upsets since I wrote my last Basketball Brain!

The Basketball Brain: Issue 6: Midseason Awards

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:26:15 GMT

My midseason awards are as follows:

MVP- LeBron James

Why? Leads the league in points, and is an all around great player. Carries the Cavs on his back.

Stats: PPG- 30.2

RPG- 8.0

APG- 7.4

FG%- .482

3PT%- .313

FT%- .710

TOPG- 3.4

SPG-2.1

BPG- 1.1

Sixth Man of the Year- Manu Ginobili

Why? Puts up starting numbers, averaging 20 ppg and leading the Spurs in scoring.

Stats: PPG- 20.0

RPG- 5.0

APG- 4.6

FG%- .452

3PT%- .409

FT%- .830

TOPG- 2.9

SPG- 1.7

BPG- 0.4

Coach of the year- Byron Scott

Why? Led a horrid Hornets to one of the Best in the West.

Last Year Record- 39-43

This Year Record- 36-15

Key Trades- None

Executive of the Year- Danny Ainge

Why? Made the best off season moves of anyone- maybe the best moves ever!

Last Year Record- 24-58

This Year Record- 41-10

Key Trades- Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2008 and 2009 First Round Draft Pick for Kevin Garnett; Wally Szczerbiack, Delonte West, and Draft Rights to Jeff Green for Ray Allen and Draft Rights to Glen Davis

Most Improved Player- Dwight Howard

Why? Was a good player, now is a great player.

Stats(Last year in parentheses): PPG- 21.4(17.6)

RPG- 14.5(12.3)

APG- 1.4(1.9)

FG%- 59.6(60.3)

3PT%- 0.0 because of no attempts(50.0 because of 2 attempts)

FT%- 59.5%(58.6)

TOPG- 3.2(3.9)

SPG- 1.0(0.9)

BPG- 2.5(1.9)

Rookie of the Year- Kevin Durant

Why? Leads all rookies in points by far. Can grab boards and dish.

Stats: PPG- 19.4

RPG- 4.1

APG- 2.2

FG%- .402

3PT%- .282

FT%- .865

TOPG- 2.8

SPG- 1.0

BPG- 1.1

Defensive Player of the Year- Marcus Camby

Why? Is a SICK defender. 14 and a half boards and 4 blocks. That's sick.

Defensive stats: DRPG- 11.0

RPG- 14.3

BPG- 4.0

SPG- 1.2

Remember, I'll write about anything if you just suggest it.

Issue 7 comes out Februray 27th.

Leave comments.

Basketball Brain: Issue 5: Jason Kidd

dwade82697 RIP DaMasta/Cincy — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:52:48 GMT

Destination Dallas?

No more New Jersey?

Draft day again?

What are you talking about?

What I'm talking about is Jason Kidd.

Coming out of California, many teams showed interest in the triple double machine. The managers and general managers thought he showed resemblance to possibly the best point guard ever, Magic Johnson. But, somehow, he didn't go first in the draft. Some dissapointment named Glenn Robinson did. When the Mavericks drafted him, their record improved by 23 games. Mostly thanks to Jason Kidd's NBA leading 4 triple-doubles.

In his sophomore year, his team didn't very well, ending with only 26 wins. Though Jason didn't dissapoint. He became the first ever Maverick to make the All-Star game, being second in the league in assists with 9.7 and 4th in the league in steals with 2.2. He also racked up 16.6 points a game and 6.8 boards a game.

His third year, however wasn't good for J-Kidd or his teams(either of them). He was traded to the Suns 22 games in, and at that point in the season, he hadn't even averaged double digits in points. But he had averaged 9.1 assists and 4.1 boards a game. His Suns tenure that season was pretty similar, except a little better. He averaged 11.6 ppg, 9.0 apg, and 4.8 boards. Two of the great PG's of the 21st century played on those Suns that season, though at different times, as Steve Nash was shipped to Dallas in that trade. Jason had a career high so far for team wins that season, with the Suns winning 40 games.

Fourth year. Stayed with the Suns that season, and led them to a new career high 56 wins and the third seed in the West. Jason had a great individual seasons that year, with 11.6 ppg, 9.1 apg, and 6.2 rpg. That was a great season for Jason, his team winning and him having a really good season. But things only got better from there. That season marked the beggining of great seasons to come.

The next season, at the 5 year milestone, the NBA had a lock-out so there were only 50 games playes. During that time, the Suns had a 27-23 record. The Kidd started all 50 games, posting career highs in points with 16.9, assists with 10.8, field goal percentage with 44.4%, and steals with 2.28 per game. He won the NBA player of the month for April with 20.1 ppg, 10.4 apg, 6.6 rpg, a 49.0 fg%, and a 86.1 ft%.

Season #6: 1999-2000. Over the 67 games that he played, Jason averaged 14.3 ppg and a league leading 9.7 apg. But get this: this point guard finished with a higher rpg than more than half of the NBA's starting center, 17 of 29, at a 7.2 rpg average. His team finished with a 53-29 record, good enough for a 4th seed in the West.

In his seventh season, Jason had many accomplishments. He had 7 triple-doubles, 20 20 point games, was an All-NBA player for the third consecutive season, had 16 rebounds against the Mavericks on Februarary 28th, had an NBA record 14 turnovers in one game, led the league in assists for the third straight season at 9.8 per game,.2 assists a game away from a double-double average, 16.9 ppg and 6.4 rpg, was an All-Star game starter with 11 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds,and 2 assists in that game. Was fourth in the league with 2.0 spg, and much, much more that I won't list because of the length that would be if I listed all his accomplishments that season. But, sadly, there was one down side to this season. He was arrested for assaulting his wife, Joumana and he had to attend anger managment classes.

In his eighth season in the years of 2001-2002, J-Kidd had 14.7 ppg, a career high 7.3 rpg, had 9.9 assists per game, 2nd in the league, and was 3rd in the league with 2.13 spg. In the 82 games he played, Jason had a league leading 8 triple-doubles and was fourth in the league with 44 double-doubles. The eight triple doubles set the single season Nets record, and gave him the all-time career triple-doubles for the Nets. Oh yeah, he was traded to the Nets that year! He also set the all-time single-season record for assists in Nets history. The Nets had a 52 win season and earned a trip to the Finals, but they lost there.

The 2002-2003 season was a good year for Jason. He was All-NBA and All-Defensive Team 2nd Team. He had 18.7 ppg, 8.9 apg, 6.3 rpg, 2.24 spg, and was 41.4% from the field. He became the first Nets player ever to lead the league in assists, was the first Nets player in 20 years to play in consecutive years, adn in that game, had a double-double with 11 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals. He set a career high in points, free throws attempted, free throws made, and field goals made. Was the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December with 20.0 ppg, 9.1 apg, 5.5 rpg, 2.1 spg, and the Nets had an NBA best 12-3 record. J-Kidd led the NBA guards in double-doubles while leading the Nets to a 49 win season, but, another Finals loss.

The next year, Jason led the league in assists with 9.2 and re-set the Nets franchise record with 9 triple doubles. He was t-14th in the league with 34 double-doubles. He had 4 games with 30 or more points, the Nets were 8-1 when Jason had a triple-double, besame just the 23rd player ever with 10000 points 6000 assists, had 14 points and 10 assists in the all-star game, had 15.5 ppg, 9.2 apg, 6.4 rpg, and 1.82 spg. All these accomplishments led to an All-NBA Selection and an All-Defensive second team selection. The Nets had a 47-35 record and lost in the second round to the Pistons.

I'm not going to cover these last 3 years, as yoou probably remember them.

So, J-Kidd may be traded to the Mavs if Devean eventually agrees to go to the Nets.

He's had a great career, and is a lock for the Hall of Fame. Good luck wherever you go, Jason!

Remember, I'll accept suggestion on what to right about.

Issue 6 coming out Februrary 20th!