The Republic of Sport

eightyeight

eightyeight's Comments

Posted Tuesday September 15, 2009, About: Why Ripken won't work for Orioles

As woeful as the Orioles are, Cal probably doesn't have the scratch to buy the team, and certainly not at the price Angelos would demand. He would have to be part of a larger ownership group and even at that point, he wouldn't likely be a majority owner. Still, he would be an inspiring front-office face for the fans. Also, whoever is in Cal's ownership group is immaterial since a pack of baboons gang-humping a cardboard box could run a team more effectively than Peter Angelos.

Posted Monday June 08, 2009, About: NHLPA exec: Pull the plug on Phoenix

Good luck finding that on TV outside of the markets that have a team.

Posted Friday May 29, 2009, About: Suspect claims selling steroids to Caps

A common misconception about steroid use is that it's used to build massive muscle bulk. There is certainly that effect, but the largest reason that all pro athletes are drawn to PEDs and steroids in particular has nothing to do with actual "performance" enhancement, but rather about recovering from injury more rapidly. The reasons for stimulant use are obvious, but the fact is that hockey has easily one of the most grueling seasons of any major pro sport. Baseball may schedule 162 games per team and there is generally a lot more cross-country travel, but no body takes a pounding over the course of 8 months like a hockey player's does.

Posted Thursday May 28, 2009, About: Suspect claims selling steroids to Caps

I would also argue that if he indeed did sell PEDs to the Washington Nationals, they appear to have been a fairly useless product.

The reality is that PEDs are used in every major professional league. Mind you, I'm not talking about heavy hitters like anabolic steroids and HGH, necessarily. Stimulants and cortizone shots can be classified the same way too, I've always felt.

Posted Monday May 11, 2009, About: Hamilton mayor loyal to Balsillie's move

I am all for the "Back to Canada" movement.

Bettman and the NHL rolled the dice on a few lukewarm markets and though the ad money and merchandising might have been better, the gate numbers were pretty bad. The NHL is better off with a rabid Canadian fanbase in as many cities as possible over the long run.

Posted Wednesday May 06, 2009, About: NHL fighting Coyotes move to Canada

Gary Bettman, let my people go!

Posted Sunday March 01, 2009, About: Sources: Nats pushing for GM's exit

This is pretty short-sighted. I agree with the previous comment completely. It's ridiculous to expect a complete real estate overhaul in the span of a single baseball season, particularly when the current condition of the real estate market is as terrible as it is. If significant improvements haven't occured by the time we reach year 5, then yeah, we can raise eyebrows. Anyone who has know DC for many years will remember the state of Chinatown before the Verizon (originally MCI) Center was built on top of the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro stop. It doesn't even resemble the same place anymore. The economic boost that a downtown stadium can provide a city is immense, and has very little bearing on the quality of the team. Remember that there were a great many years that both the Wizards and Capitals were horrendous teams, but the neighborhood still benefited from their proximity.

Posted Sunday February 22, 2009, About: Why Red Sox are unpopular in Japan

Yay for healthy international relations!

-preps for Canadian citizenship test-

Posted Wednesday February 18, 2009, About: Why Penguins fired Therrien

Are you a robot? A Flyer-hatin' web-bot? What has the world come to?
Also, "Hardy har har?" Seriously? I haven't seen that expression since Scooby Doo. Are you a member of Mystery Inc.? Are you... Daphne? You're hot.

Posted Tuesday February 10, 2009, About: A-Rod agitates Yankees

Actually, I would imagine that if A-Rod puts up crazy power numbers early on, this discussion will do ANYTHING BUT go away.

Posted Saturday February 07, 2009, About: Sources: A-Rod tested positive in MVP season

HO-LEE crap.

This story is only getting to get much much worse.

Posted Wednesday February 04, 2009, About: Lindros victim of NHLPA infighting

Eric Lindros was Superman until he ran into Kryptonite... I mean, Scott Stevens.

Posted Tuesday February 03, 2009, About: Jays interested in Millar

You get the sense sometimes that Millar would gladly suit up in the Wally costume and bounce around the Fenway stands if the Sox asked him to, such is his lust to be back with them.

Posted Saturday January 31, 2009, About: Boras slowed Varitek-Red Sox deal

Rex,
Tex IS Mark Teixeira.

Also, if you're going to compete for a playoff spot in the AL East, you can't hand out millions of extra dollars for heart & soul. Heart & soul don't get on base and they don't drive in runs. Varitek is absolutely invaluable to the pitching staff, and I'll give you that. At this level however, you CANNOT have any glaring holes in your lineup, especially in the American League. Considering his numbers the past two years, Varitek is more than adequately compensated by $5 million.
Boras kinda screwed the pooch on this one, which gives me no end of delight. He's also the proud owner of the most punch-able face in sports today.

Posted Friday January 30, 2009, About: Cherry chat costs teen his job

Hmm, very interesting. If it's indeed true that Steele's learning issue makes him forget or ignore rules then I would say Global Spectrum has dropped the ball on this one. One does wonder what these "other infractions" are that Vella is referring to...
Regardless, I think Global Spectrum is going to back off from their stance on this one a little bit.
I will say this, though: if they have a policy that on-air talent is not to be chatted-up by employees, and the kid medically has issues adhering to the rule (which is a little stupid, but still a company policy), then maybe they're doing him a favor by having him work in the TV truck for a bit as a reprimand. If you read the whole article, they didn't actually fire the kid, just took him out of the building and have him working away from the talent.

Posted Thursday January 29, 2009, About: Source: Urine samples link Bonds to steroids

Barry did steroids? Whoa.

Wait, I'm just being handed by an urgent bulletin from one of our field reporters... yes, Jim, he reports that water is still wet. You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen.

Barry Bonds, steroid user. And water, wet.

That's some damn fine grade-A reportifyin'.

Posted Thursday January 15, 2009, About: Next Winter Classic in new Yankee Stadium?

I agree. Boston v. Montreal at Fenway is a no-brainer. I like the Rangers vs. most anyone at Yankee Stadium. If we want to continue the Original Six love, though, why not Rangers v. Maple leafs to round out the slate?

Posted Wednesday January 14, 2009, About: Astros don't want Clemens around prospects

Well, if Clemens is peeping and leering at the rookies in training camp from behind his stalker hat and pedophile sunglasses, I completely understand.

Posted Sunday January 11, 2009, About: Pedro interested in Marlins

Methinks the Red Sox knew very well what was going on with his body ripping apart at the seams and the Mets were all too happy to be blind to that.

Posted Sunday January 11, 2009, About: Jagr open to Penguins return

Thanks. Okay, so not as early as I thought. Still, hard to be captain after two seasons even.

Posted Sunday January 11, 2009, About: Pedro interested in Marlins

"... but the interest doesn't appear mutual."

Wow. Shocker. Could this be because of:
A) His age (a suddenly older than usual 37)?
B) The fact that he made 25 starts in the past TWO years?
C) The fact that he pitched 137 innings in that same period (an average of 5.5 innings per start)?
D) All of the above?