A Couple Steps Forward, A Few More Back

A Couple Steps in the Wrong Direction

Last night I turned on ESPN to check out my beloved Indians take on the Red Sox. All the players insisted that this series doesn't mean anything more than any other series. But we know the truth. This two game set means something to both of these teams. The Indians were sitting at a dismal 5-7 record; not the type of start I had expected from a team that many pundits picked to win the World Series. Last night seemed to be what would set the Tribe back on track. They pitched well, played good defense, and had some timely hitting. Until the 7th inning. They let the Red Sox chip away at a tenuous 3 run lead and handed the game over to Joe Blowrowski. And guess what? By the time he hit the dugout its 6-4 Sox.

Now its only about 13 games into the season and every team has the time to turn it around. But it can get pretty late in the season pretty quickly. The Tigers have are 3-10 and have the worst record in baseball. They can't stop giving up runs and are finding it increasingly difficult to score 8 runs per game. But the sad truth is this: the Indians are only 2 games better than the Tigers. And what troubles me even more is that Eric Wedge is really trying to win games. He's using Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt almost every day, like this is some sort of late September pennant race. I think its time that the Tribe make some call ups to address the closer situation. Adam Miller should get an opportunity to close games out and if he doesn't work, then put in Kobayashi or Betancourt. The fact of the matter is, Joe Blow served up an 81 mph fastball right down the pipe to Manny Ramirez. You don't save games that way. And for the Indians, a 5-8 record can turn into a 13-20 record real quick. Hopefully they can get the season turned around before the bell tolls for them.

Up and Comers

I had the chance to watch the Yankees and Rays play last night as well. First off, the Yankees may really be in trouble. Their starters are not going to get the job done this season. Wang is solid as always and Pettite is good for a few quality starts per month. But Kennedy and Hughes need to be more consistent. And as the season progresses, the innings are going to pile up and they will be fatigued. The Yanks bullpen looked dismal against the Rays last night. I don't know who was pitching, but he got blasted twice by BJ Upton and Evan Longoria.

Speaking of which, BJ Upton is a star in the making. He has the speed, the fielding, and the hitting acumen to make him the next Torii Hunter a rung above Torii Hunter. Pairing him with Evan Longoria really gives the Rays a potent lineup. And don't forget about Carl Crawford in the mix. This team can be really exciting to watch this year. All they need is some consistent pitching, and thats about the hardest thing to come by nowadays in the Majors.

The Diamondbacks also seem to have a young and exciting team. Their rotation is stacked at the top with Dan Haren and Brandon Webb. The jury is still out on Micah Owings but he looks to be promising. They also have the other Upton brother Justin who is batting .388 right now and is near matching his older brother's power numbers. The third basemen Mark Reynolds has been putting up some impressive numbers to start the season but its unlikely that will last. If he can keep up a certain percentage of that pace, then the Diamondbacks could have a very good team that knows how to win (as evidenced by their 90 win season last year with a negative run differential).

Whats even more interesting about this seasons is that the supposed basement teams are leading their respective divisions right now. The Orioles are on top in the East, the Royals in the Central, and the A's in the West. Nothing is really guaranteed right now. But if they stay on top for another month, they'll have a good lead going into midseason and the supposed contenders will have to play catchup. The teams in most danger right now are the Indians and the Tigers. I don't think the Royals can keep up their current pace, but the White Sox have found their batting groove and have the pitching to win ballgames down the stretch. I just hope the season doesn't get too late too fast.

Sorry Ladies and Gentlemen, The Olympics are Political

Quit whining you Olympians. You of all people should know that the Olympic games are inherently political. When you have athletes representing their countries in competition with athletes from other countries, well, that is political. That 100 yard dash might as well be a battle in the Sahel region of Africa. Except without the genocide and starvation. And people win stuff made of precious metals instead of plundering the stuff. If the Olympics weren't political, then it'd just be athletes from around the world showing up for a huge sporting event. The biggest draw to the Olympics is that nations are pitted against each other in competition.

However, this isn't necessarily friendly competition. During the Cold War all we cared about was defeating the Soviets. Even though they accused us of doping and we accused them of doping; when in reality they were all probably doping. The point is, the Olympics have been used in the past to further political ends because nations can make a point without consequence. Remember in Munich, Jesse Owens dominated his German counterparts and put to rest the "supremacy" of the Aryan race. And Germany used the Olympics to demonstrate the power of German technology by broadcasting the opening ceremonies across the world.

Arab terrorists killed Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972 and the whole world saw because the world pays attention to the Olympic Games. If the Arabs had done the same thing during some international meet in Djibouti, nobody would have paid attention. The Israeli's would just be more deaths chalked up to the Arab-Israeli conflict. President Carter's boycott of the 1980 Olympics drew attention to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the atrocities being committed in that nation. When a powerful nation refuses to participate in the Olympics, everyone wants to know the reason. It is the best publicity a cause can get. If we want to take the politics out of the equation, then we have to take the countries of the games and therefore defeating the purpose of the games altogether.

Currently there have been protests at the Olympic torch relays across the world due to China's crackdown in Tibet a few weeks ago. I understand that for the athletes carrying the torch it is a moment of honor that they will cherish for a lifetime. And I genuinely feel for them when some idiot with a fire extinguisher charges them en route and tries to put out the sacred flame. But with the calls from world leaders such as Nicolas Sarkozy and President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies, the athletes must understand that its a well calculated policy move. The world can pressure China immensely to improve their dismal human rights record without any consequence. China won't cancel the games because that would only hurt them economically. Nor can they lash back because then the calls for reform would be justified. By hosting the Games, they have opened the floodgates to criticism from the international community. And if getting China to treat its citizens like humans takes a boycott of the opening ceremonies, then athletes should understand and acquiesce.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

What a tournament! Even though the Final Four went according to plan and the four top seeds made it, this will be one to remember. We still had a Cinderella in Davidson and Stephen Curry. The little team that could beat Georgetown and Wisconsin behind Curry's silky smooth jumper. Not to mention the fact that Davidson was one possession of defeating the eventual champion Jayhawks.

But more importantly we didn't have a UNC-UCLA finals matchup. I'm sick of these schools always dominating the national spotlight. UNC is a media darling and an 18 wheel bandwagon for fairweather fans across the nation. Sure North Carolina has a rich basketball tradition, but so do a lot of other schools. They've been living off Michael Jordan's legacy for the last 20 years and will probably continue to do so. But fans forget that UNC probably doesn't have as rich a tradition as the East Coast bias would have us believe. Before the Michael Jordan era, UNC was hardly a tournament regular but had some finals appearances to their credit. Honestly, they are small beans compared to UCLA.

The Bruins have inarguably college basketball's greatest tradition. They won 10 titles in 12 seasons under the great John Wooden with 7 of those being consecutive. But due to their location on the left coast they are mostly forgotten about and take a back seat to UNC and Duke during most of the season. I really wouldn't have minded a UCLA - Kansas finals because it would have pitted two very good basketball teams with rich traditions against each other. And plus, I probably would have won my bracket (which didn't dictated who I was rooting for). However, the game that fate provided us was more than adequate.

I loved this Memphis team. Ever since they narrowly missed the tournament a few years ago due to an excruciating loss in the Conference USA finals to Louisville, they've been my darling. That loss occurred after Darius Washington was fouled on a 3 point attempt at the buzzer. He collapsed at the line onto the floor after failing to tie the game in what was probably the greatest moment of pure sports agony I've witnessed on a nationally televised event. I can't do the moment justice with words, so just watch it. Appropriately, Memphis' national title dreams were dashed by their inability to hit free throws in clutch situations. This has plagued them this past season and ever other season. I don't understand why Calipari doesn't make this a focus of his practices. Or Boeheim for that matter.

However, through my strange allegiances in college basketball, I've always had a crush on Kansas. My traditional teams have been Arizona, Kansas, Texas, and Michigan. Obviously Syracuse had made its way into the rotation because of my affiliation with the school. But I always love to see Arizona, Kansas, and Texas do well. And I probably used to give them a little more credit than they deserved in past brackets.

This Kansas team was too talented not to have won a title in their tenure. They had to put up with Roy Williams basically deserting them for UNC. Brandon Rush and a few of the underclassmen could have left after that, but they stuck with Bill Self and righted the ship. And they exacted their revenge clinically on Williams' UNC team in the semifinal game. Congrats to the Jayhawks and Tigers for giving us a thrilling championship game. Either way, I would've been happy with the outcome. That being said: Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

Seriously Lebron?

Vogue:


Remind you of something? Probably this:


Do you need to be the first for everything Lebron? Regardless of how it affects your image or that of African Americans in general?

Sometimes You Just Gotta Sit Back and Enjoy

I used to be a huge NCAA Tournament nut. There would be brackets strewn across the floor of my room in a mad rush to find the perfect one. Drafts and drafts of possible outcomes were constructed in the hopes that one would become prophecy, or close enough to win me $500. Even if the ultimate prize didn't come to fruition, there was always the opportunity to defeat and humiliate my dearest friends; who were, for a week in March, my most hated opponents. And then came the two weeks of gut wrenching drama where curses were voiced in the presence of parents and tears were spilled at lunchroom tables. Then one year, I decided to discard the shackles of ESPN.com's bracket and to enjoy the game as neutral observer with no interest. Ironically enough, it was the best tournament I've engaged in.

Filling out a bracket is akin to setting your future in stone. Once the ink has dried, there are no changes of heart available. Your decisions have been set and your emotional attachment must be unwavering. But how were you supposed to know that Michigan State can't shoot free throws or that Gonzaga can't play defense? As I religiously followed the games on CBS, and cursed the network for not playing the games that mattered to me, I found my allegiances shifting but were restrained due to the commitment I had made with the bracket. To me it was a bond of pride and integrity that could not be violated even in the most dreary of circumstances. The bracket was my legitimacy in the world. It was my deal with the devil. If it went bust, so would my sports soul. And afterwards, nothing I had to say was worth anything in the eyes of anyone.

So what did I do? I quit the game. I took the easy way out and refused to play anymore. Once I had predicted a Syracuse Kansas final in 2003, it was over for me. There was nothing more I could achieve and the path to the perfect bracket wasn't worth the unforgiving ride and stress. And as I watched the tournament from the vantage point of a free man, I reached a higher level of consciousness. I was finally liberated. I could root for one team at the start of the game and the shift to the other team if they were playing better. I had nothing invested in the outcome of second class basketball played by kids my age in a format that decided the luckiest and not the best. And you know what? It was incredible.

Now I can enjoy March Madness with full appreciation for the event. Yeah, I filled out one bracket this year online. But I did very little research and clicked whichever team my mouse pointed to. If I win, fine; if I don't, who cares. I've come to the realization that I don't need artificial incentives such as money or pride to enjoy sporting events that I'm completely neutral to. It's like using drugs to find happiness or a hooker to find sexual fulfillment. Cheap and ultimately empty. But hey, I'm not judging you. If you want to beat that asshole in the office that thinks he knows everything about sports, have at it hoss. Just know that there is a realm of existence higher than the one you're on. Transcend my friends. Transcend.

I went to the Drury and my favorite Briere was a Miller

A delightful little limerick for Buffalonians of all ages circa 2005-2007. Now, however, only one player remains from this once proud triumvirate. Its not just that the Sabres broke the collective hearts of Buffalo by losing two straight Eastern Conference Finals series, but its that even after last seasons gut punch by the Ottawa Senators (insert Danny Heatley murdered someone reference) there was the promise of so much more. With such a strong nucleus of players and speedsters coming up from the affiliate Rochester Americans there was a feeling that the Sabres would be a perennial powerhouse in, not just the East, but the NHL.

The inscrutable loss of Briere and Drury, and the later loss of Brian Campbell (at least they got something in return) has wiped away any sense that the Sabres will challenge for a Stanley Cup. So now there appears to be one man left:

Miller enters the last year of his contract next season. The Sabres must lock him up for the long term this summer. The Sabres forwards and defensemen must make a strong showing to prove to Miller that it is worth it to sign long term. They have to string together some wins and sneak into the playoffs to prove to Miller that this team can win. Otherwise, his long feared return to Michigan (he played college hockey there) to play for the Red Wings might very well come to fruition.

If the Sabres can't re-sign Miller, they may be forced to trade him in March, like Campbell; or worse, watching him walk away in May and gaining nothing in return. Then the last vestiges of a humorous limerick about drinking will be gone, and with it, the identity of the Sabres team as a whole will be lost.

Guarded Optimism

This past weekend was the opening of free agent season in the NFL. And, in keeping with feeding the nation's appetite for football satiated, ESPN had full coverage of the "event". One of the more surprising things to come out of the event was the blitzkrieg launched by Browns GM Phil Savage. In fact, the Browns were so active and apparently productive that ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen decided they are fit enough to make a run for the Super Bowl next season. I talked with my dad over the weekend and he says the same sentiment has, expectedly, permeated the Cleveland talk radio scene.

Has reason been abandoned by everyone? Perhaps Senator Obama's message of hope transcends politics in Ohio and is now lifting everyone's sports aspirations. I'm not trying to make the argument that whatever the Browns have done early is terrible and they'll most certainly flop. What I'm saying is that maybe we should take a step back and look at the road ahead and assess the potential pitfalls the team faces next year.

First, the Browns play in the AFC. I'm sorry NFC fans, but your conference is a stone throws away from being the Eastern Conference in basketball. You know every year who is going to make the playoffs, but after that it's chance. And I'm sorry Giants fans, but you guys benefited from that this year and miraculously pulled off the ultimate win. In the AFC, however, the competition is evenly spread out and there are more good teams to contend with. The entire AFC South had a winning record. The AFC North had two 10 win teams and the East had the Patriots and oppressed Bills (who are good but recently have been at the mercy of the Patriots and quarterback controversies). The point is, no matter what schedule you play in the AFC, a 10-6 season is not easily repeated. Especially if a good number of those 10 wins came down to the wire.

Appropriately, the Browns have one of the more difficult schedules in the AFC next season. They've pulled the NFC East next season which includes the Redskins, the Giants, Cowboys, and the Eagles. The Giants are getting hit hard by free agency but they are the champs and have proven that they can win games. The Cowboys will probably win the division again and will again be the NFC favorites next year. The Eagles are the perennial wildcard team that nobody can predict and the Redskins are always one step away from being above average. They also play the AFC South which, as mentioned above, had a winning record throughout. The Colts, Jags, and Titans made the playoffs last year and the Texans have been improving consistently. Then there's the issue of playing the AFC North teams and the second place teams from every other division. When its all said and done, the road to the playoffs is going to be tough - much less to the Super Bowl.

Third, the Browns were so successful last year on the play of unproven stars. Sure Braylon Edwards had 12 TDs and 1200 yards receiving last year. But nobody thought he would be the receiver he became. Next season, defenses will be looking to shut him down. Jamal Lewis also had a great season, but he was injury free and came into the season with a chip on his shoulder. He wanted to prove he wasn't as washed up as it seemed he was. What's to say that his history of injury doesn't haunt him during summer camp? There is no such guarantee. I will say, though, that the offense is greatly helped by the addition of Dante Stallworth. Although his raw receiving ability is questionable and his contribution may be limited, he is a legitimate threat that may take some pressure off Edwards and provide Anderson with another outlet. Speaking of Derek Anderson...

Does one season make a quarterback? Sure he threw 29 touchdown passes, but he also let loose about 20 interceptions. There is no denying that he has the physical assets to become a top flight quarterback. But top flight quarterbacks have the intelligence and poise to compliment their physical stature. Anderson played well against teams like the Patriots and Steelers in mid season. But when the Browns' playoff life was at stake against the Bengals, he completely broke down and threw 3 interceptions; two of which directly lead to the Bengals scoring. Now, this may seem a bit harsh a criticism for a guy who led an upstart team to 10 wins in the AFC, but it isn't without merit. Anderson has the able Brady Quinn at his heels in the depth chart. If he struggles early on and exhibits no ability to pull it together, his leash will be short. And if Romeo Crennel faces another QB controversy, GM Phil Savage will not be so keen to keep him in the director's chair after spending so exorbitantly this past weekend.

Finally, the Browns defense is terrible as of right now. Sure their pass rush has been significantly upgraded and their linebacker corps is quick to the ball, but their secondary is atrocious. And they just traded their best cornerback in Leigh Bodden. The safety position is solid with Sean Jones, who I think is one of the better safeties in the NFL. However the Browns need to find a cornerback to compliment second year player Eric Wright. The only problem is that they've already spent a ton of money on the defensive front and traded away their first 3 April draft picks. So they have to rely on their depth chart stepping up or a late round gem. Both options are risky and hardly ever pay off in the end.

So, yeah, it is safe to say that the 2008 Cleveland Browns are already a better team than the 2007 version. But their schedule is considerably more difficult this year and their offensive weapons (save Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius) are somewhat unproven. Is the talent enough to overcome the increase in degree of difficulty and can the players maintain the level of play from last year? Those are two big variables that lead me to hold off on my opinion for next season. The Browns could very well end up being the team that makes big offseason moves but flops when the games are played.

One thing I do know though: When the 2008 season kicks off, I'll be looking towards the playoffs no matter what I just wrote. Welcome to Cleveland.