FanNation

Random Thoughts

Glad to see the Lakers win, first of all. Pau Gasol, Luke Walton, Derek Fisher, and Ronny Turiaf remind me of an old-school style team, to go along with the best basketball player in the league. I would love to see Celtics-Lakers in the finals, I think the league could stand the ratings boost too.

 I was watching a minor league baseball game in Southern Maryland last night, and it really illustrated how important it is to throw strikes no matter what level you are on. The home team walked seven or eight batters on the night, including three in a row during the fourth inning. There were a total of nine runs scored between the two teams by guys who were walked. That is a crazy number to me. 

NBA referees

It's a shame that all of the scandal that happened this summer with Tim Danaghue is still affecting the league. No matter what, every time you watch a game now it has to sit somewhere in your mind that it's all fixed. Especially watching Lebron play, nobody but NOBODY gets calls like this man. As a Knicks fan, I remember when the same kind of stuff happened with Jordan. The difference was that while Jordan got calls, the refs made sure it was equal on the other end. Nobody called a flagrant on Ewing and then turned around and let Horace Grant take somebody's head off. The officials either call things too touchy in a physical game or let it get out of hand before trying to reign it back in. It seems that as the game has changed, officials have forgotten how to do their jobs. Forget that Dick Bavetta, who routinely receives the worst reviews of any official in any sport is referring some of the biggest games of the year. Until the officials reach a new standard that allows them to perform at the highest level possible, it will be impossible for the NBA to ever reach the levels it had in the late 80s and early 90s. Oh, and get rid of that stupid no-charge circle in the paint. It takes away any defense under the basket. Play the game the way it's meant to be played, don't adjust to make it easier for the guys who can jump but never learned any skills like body control in the air.

Pirates

As a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, it bothers me when I read countless blogs and newspaper clippings with negative attitudes. Granted, the organization hasn't been competitive for some time, but it seems as if most fans are just flatout synical these days. One fan constantly bashes the manager and the new ownership (which really has nothing to do with the team, yet) when they lose a game, but amidst any sort of a winning streak, the blog is not surprisingly blank. If you update about your "favorite" team only when they lose or to say "I told ya so, they suck!" then maybe you should just choose another team. That goes not only for Pirates fans, but anybody else too. Take pride in your team, or find the most alluring bandwagon.