Just because these players' names either sound cool, or are so simple (John Buck) that they have to be recognized and rewarded.
American League:
Catchers:
John Buck - Kansas City C
Kenji Johjima - Seattle C
Infielders:
Nomar Garciaparra - Oakland 1B
Asdrubal Cabrera - Cleveland 2B
Yuniesky Betancourt - Kansas City SS
Jack Hannahan - Seattle 3B
Placido Polanco - Detroit 2B
Jhonny Peralta - Cleveland SS
Outfielders:
Scott Podsednik - Chicago LF
Jacoby Ellsbury - Boston CF
Nick Markakis - Baltimore RF
Melky Cabrera - New York CF
Designated Hitter:
Willy Aybar - Tampa Bay DH
Starting Pitchers:
Clay Buchholz - Boston SP
Joba Chamberlain - New York SP
Gil Meche - Kansas City SP
Jarrod Washburn - Seattle SP
Brian Bannister - Kansas City SP
Relief Pitchers:
Rafael Betancourt - Cleveland RP
Boof Bonser - Minnesota RP
Brandon Duckworth - Kansas City RP
Jason Isringhausen - Tampa Bay RP
Octavio Dotel - Chicago RP
Fernando Rodney - Detroit RP
Jeremy Accardo - Toronto RP
National League:
Catchers:
Yadier Molina - St. Louis C
Robinzon Diaz - Pittsburgh C
Infielders:
Micah Hoffpauir - Chicago 1B
Tadahito Iguchi - Philadelphia 2B
Yunel Escobar - Atlanta SS
Edwin Encarnacion - Cincinnati 3B
Troy Tulowitzki - Colorado SS
Kevin Kouzmanoff - San Diego 3B
Outfielders:
Raul Ibanez - Philadelphia LF
Elijah Dukes - Washington CF
Frank Catalanotto - Milwaukee RF
Wily Mo Pena - Washington LF
Colby Rasmus - St. Louis CF
Starting Pitchers:
Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati SP
Yovani Gallardo - Milwaukee SP
Cole Hamels - Philadelphia SP
Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles SP
Micah Owings - Cincinnati SP
Relief Pitchers:
LaTroy Hawkins - Houston RP
J.J. Putz - New York RP
Scott Schoeneweis - Arizona RP
Pedro Feliciano - New York RP
Jonathan Broxton - Los Angeles RP
Francisco Cordero - Cincinnati RP
Huston Street - Colorado RP
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Pedro v Zimmer & Artest v Pistons Fans
These two incidents were two of the most infamous sports incidents in the past few years. But for what reasons? Because two athletes were defending themselves against over zealous attackers?
It's been a few years but these two things came to mind today and it's time for those who cut up Pedro Martinez and Ron Artest to shut up.
Pedro may have thrown at hitters during his rivalry with the Yanks but that's baseball - a traditional, albeit stupid, part of baseball. So when Pedro was standing there by himself during the 2003 ALCS Yanks/BoSox brawl and Don Zimmer suddenly charged at him in a malicious, vengeful manner, what did you expect Pedro to do, stand there and take a punch? Get real fools. Any one of us would defend ourselves if some angry man came charging at us, even if he was 72 years old. Let's be fair to Pedro. He was taken by surprise and essentially brushed Zimmer aside by simply holding his head in a quick, instinctual reaction and throwing him down, pretty much sparing him the potential harm he could have faced had Pedro clocked him.
And as much as Ron Artest is a giant douche, he too did what any one of us, with balls that is, would have done. If you're lying there and someone throws a beer on your chest, are you going to stay there and say "ohh that's okay, I actually needed a beer bath, thanks man!"? I didn't think so.
It's a perfectly normal human reaction to do what Artest did and jump into the stands and go after the punk who threw the beer. That pansy David Stern banned Artest for the rest of the season in order to set precedent and prevent other players from entering the crowd but you can't deny that what Artest did is what most people would have done. So for all the critics who say athletes should never get into it with fans and that what Artest did is wrong, put yourself in that position and see if you wouldn't do the same. The only guy in sports media that I can recall preaching the same thing as I have here is Bob McCown of the FAN 590 sports radio in Toronto and I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but at least he had the right opinion on this issue, unlike so many others out there.
It's been a few years but these two things came to mind today and it's time for those who cut up Pedro Martinez and Ron Artest to shut up.
Pedro may have thrown at hitters during his rivalry with the Yanks but that's baseball - a traditional, albeit stupid, part of baseball. So when Pedro was standing there by himself during the 2003 ALCS Yanks/BoSox brawl and Don Zimmer suddenly charged at him in a malicious, vengeful manner, what did you expect Pedro to do, stand there and take a punch? Get real fools. Any one of us would defend ourselves if some angry man came charging at us, even if he was 72 years old. Let's be fair to Pedro. He was taken by surprise and essentially brushed Zimmer aside by simply holding his head in a quick, instinctual reaction and throwing him down, pretty much sparing him the potential harm he could have faced had Pedro clocked him.
And as much as Ron Artest is a giant douche, he too did what any one of us, with balls that is, would have done. If you're lying there and someone throws a beer on your chest, are you going to stay there and say "ohh that's okay, I actually needed a beer bath, thanks man!"? I didn't think so.It's a perfectly normal human reaction to do what Artest did and jump into the stands and go after the punk who threw the beer. That pansy David Stern banned Artest for the rest of the season in order to set precedent and prevent other players from entering the crowd but you can't deny that what Artest did is what most people would have done. So for all the critics who say athletes should never get into it with fans and that what Artest did is wrong, put yourself in that position and see if you wouldn't do the same. The only guy in sports media that I can recall preaching the same thing as I have here is Bob McCown of the FAN 590 sports radio in Toronto and I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but at least he had the right opinion on this issue, unlike so many others out there.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
NHL All Name Team
Based on how cool their name sounds when saying it:
1st Line:
R.J. Umberger (C), Columbus Blue Jackets, born: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Justin Abdelkader (LW), Detroit Redwings, born: Muskegon, MI, USA
Cal Clutterbuck (RW), Minnesota Wild, born: Welland, ON, CAN
Garnet Exelby (D), Atlanta Thrashers, born: Ste. Anne, MB, CAN
Hal Gill (D), Pittsburgh Penguins, born: Concord, MA, USA
2nd Line:
Kyle Brodziak (C), Edmonton Oilers, born: St. Paul, AB, CAN
Bates Battaglia (LW), Toronto Maple Leafs, born: Chicago, IL, USA
Chuck Kobasew (RW), Boston Bruins, born: Vancouver, BC, CAN
Kevin Bieksa (D), Vancouver Canucks, born: Grimsby, ON, CAN
Dennis Seidenberg (D), Carolina Hurricanes, born: Schwenningen, GER
3rd Line:
Kyle Chipchura (C), Montreal Canadiens, born: Westlock, AB, CAN
Darcy Hordichuk (LW), Vancouver Canucks, born: Kamsack, SK, CAN
Dan Hinote (RW), St. Louis Blues, born: Leesburg, FL, USA
Wade Brookbank (D), Tampa Bay Lightning, born: Lanigan, SK, CAN
Andy Wozniewski (D), Pittsburgh Penguins, born: Buffalo Grove, IL, USA
4th Line:
Brandon Dubinsky (C), New York Rangers, born: Anchorage, AK, USA
Riley Cote (LW), Philadelphia Flyers, born: Winnipeg, MB, CAN
Guillaume Latendresse (RW), Montreal Canadiens, born: Ste-Catherine, QC, CAN
Francois Beauchemin (D), Anaheim Ducks, born: Sorel, QC, CAN
Josh Gorges (D), Montreal Canadiens, born: Kelowna, BC, CAN
Goalies:
Wade Dubielewicz (G), Columbus Blue Jackets, born: Invermere, BC, CAN
Ilya Bryzgalov (G), Phoenix Coyotes, born: Togliatti, RUS
Antero Niittymaki (G), Philadelphia Flyers, born: Turku, FIN
1st Line:
R.J. Umberger (C), Columbus Blue Jackets, born: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Justin Abdelkader (LW), Detroit Redwings, born: Muskegon, MI, USA
Cal Clutterbuck (RW), Minnesota Wild, born: Welland, ON, CAN
Garnet Exelby (D), Atlanta Thrashers, born: Ste. Anne, MB, CAN
Hal Gill (D), Pittsburgh Penguins, born: Concord, MA, USA
2nd Line:
Kyle Brodziak (C), Edmonton Oilers, born: St. Paul, AB, CAN
Bates Battaglia (LW), Toronto Maple Leafs, born: Chicago, IL, USA
Chuck Kobasew (RW), Boston Bruins, born: Vancouver, BC, CAN
Kevin Bieksa (D), Vancouver Canucks, born: Grimsby, ON, CAN
Dennis Seidenberg (D), Carolina Hurricanes, born: Schwenningen, GER
3rd Line:
Kyle Chipchura (C), Montreal Canadiens, born: Westlock, AB, CAN
Darcy Hordichuk (LW), Vancouver Canucks, born: Kamsack, SK, CAN
Dan Hinote (RW), St. Louis Blues, born: Leesburg, FL, USA
Wade Brookbank (D), Tampa Bay Lightning, born: Lanigan, SK, CAN
Andy Wozniewski (D), Pittsburgh Penguins, born: Buffalo Grove, IL, USA
4th Line:
Brandon Dubinsky (C), New York Rangers, born: Anchorage, AK, USA
Riley Cote (LW), Philadelphia Flyers, born: Winnipeg, MB, CAN
Guillaume Latendresse (RW), Montreal Canadiens, born: Ste-Catherine, QC, CAN
Francois Beauchemin (D), Anaheim Ducks, born: Sorel, QC, CAN
Josh Gorges (D), Montreal Canadiens, born: Kelowna, BC, CAN
Goalies:
Wade Dubielewicz (G), Columbus Blue Jackets, born: Invermere, BC, CAN
Ilya Bryzgalov (G), Phoenix Coyotes, born: Togliatti, RUS
Antero Niittymaki (G), Philadelphia Flyers, born: Turku, FIN
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Hitting The Post
It's about time we clarify what hitting the post in hockey and soccer means.
I'm sick of sportscasters saying "he beats the goalie but can't beat the post".
Stop right there. How exactly is the goalie beat if the puck or ball didn't go in the net? I'm pretty sure that a goalie standing in front of the net on the angle that they do reduces the amount of net the shooter can shoot at, therefore eliminating much of the scoring space available. This is why the shooter had to aim towards the outer part of the net, which often results in hitting the post if not missing completely. Does this not mean the goalie did his job by covering most of the net and forcing the shooter to shoot at the part of the net that is more difficult to score in?
Let's say the shooter shoots and the puck or ball misses the post by 1 mm. Was the goalie still beat? Let's say it's not 1 mm and actually grazes the post. Suddenly now the goalie is beat?
If the shooter did not score, THE GOALIE WAS NOT BEAT!
End of discussion.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
CIS Football & Basketball
Let's just say that Canadian Inter University football and basketball are total rubbish.
I've got no problem with a bunch of students playing the game for fun, but when radio or TV personalities regard CIS football or basketball as great games with great athletes and complain that Canadians don't watch it enough, that's crossing the line.
How can anyone figure these are great athletes playing great ball? These are athletes who were not good enough to play in the US.
How can anyone watch these games in person or on TV? There's only so much you can take when passes are constantly dropped, punts are kicked a mere 11 yards, field goals are routinely missed from 20 yards plus, and balls get nothing but air when shot anywhere outside of 10 feet from the rim.
The only entertaining aspect of watching, is the comedy of errors put on during these games.
CIS football and basketball is fun for the student athletes to play, but fun for us to watch? Hell no. And please don't tell us it is because if you do, you are simply ignorant.
I've got no problem with a bunch of students playing the game for fun, but when radio or TV personalities regard CIS football or basketball as great games with great athletes and complain that Canadians don't watch it enough, that's crossing the line.
How can anyone figure these are great athletes playing great ball? These are athletes who were not good enough to play in the US.
How can anyone watch these games in person or on TV? There's only so much you can take when passes are constantly dropped, punts are kicked a mere 11 yards, field goals are routinely missed from 20 yards plus, and balls get nothing but air when shot anywhere outside of 10 feet from the rim.
The only entertaining aspect of watching, is the comedy of errors put on during these games.
CIS football and basketball is fun for the student athletes to play, but fun for us to watch? Hell no. And please don't tell us it is because if you do, you are simply ignorant.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Car Accidents Can't Hold These 2 Footballers Down
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) - French InternationalOne of the most skilled and creative wingers in world football.
When Ribéry was two years old, he and his family were involved in an automobile accident in Boulogne-sur-Mer after colliding with a truck. Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries that resulted in over one hundred stitches and left two long scars down the right side of his face.[1]
Honours:
Galatasaray
* Fortis Turkey Cup: 2004-05
Marseille
* UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005
Bayern Munich
* DFB-Ligapokal: 2007
* German Cup: 2008
* Bundesliga: 2008
France
* FIFA World Cup 2006: Runners-up
Individual
* French Player of the Year: 2007, 2008
* German Footballer of the Year: 2008
* UEFA Team of the Year: 2008
1. ^ "Ribery: Lucky to be alive". The Sun. 1 July 2006. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article54215.ece. Retrieved on 14 March 2009.
Joleon Lescott (Everton) - English InternationalOne of Everton's best players.
Lescott was hit by a car when he was five years old. He suffered severe head injuries, the scars of which are still visible today.[2]
Honours:
England
* 6 caps
2.^ a b James Daly (2006-11-25). "Joleon Lescott: 'The accident made me more determined to make the most of what I have, but my brother has probably been the greater inspiration...'". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/joleon-lescott-the-accident-made-me-more-determined-to-make-the-most-of-what-i-have-but-my-brother-has-probably-been-the-greater-inspiration-425701.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-18.
*special thanks to www.wikipedia.org
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Greatest Sports Team of All Time?
1992 US Olympic Basketball Team, a.k.a. The Dream Team? Yes.
Dave - 2 rings, 1 time MVP, 10 time all star, 8 time All Defensive Team, 1 time Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, 1 time College Player of the Year
Pat - 11 time all star, Rookie of the Year, 3 time All Defensive Team, 1 College ring, 1 time College Player of the Year
Larry - 3 rings, 3 time MVP, 12 time all star, 3 time All Defensive Team, Rookie of the Year, 1 time College Player of the Year
Scottie - 6 rings, 7 time all star, 10 time All Defensive Team
Mike - 6 rings, 5 time MVP, 14 time all star, 9 time All Defensive Team, 1 time Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, 1 College ring, 1 time College Player of the Year
The Glide - 1 ring, 10 time all star
The Mailman - 2 time MVP, 13 time all star, 4 time All Defensive Team
Stockton - 10 time all star, 5 time All Defensive Team
Mullin - 5 time all star, 1 time College Player of the Year
Barkley - 1 time MVP, 11 time all star
Magic - 5 rings, 3 time MVP, 12 time all star, 1 College ring
Laettner (Token College Player) - 1 time all star, 1 College ring, 1 time College Player of the Year
*special thanks to www.wikipedia.org
Dave - 2 rings, 1 time MVP, 10 time all star, 8 time All Defensive Team, 1 time Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, 1 time College Player of the Year
Pat - 11 time all star, Rookie of the Year, 3 time All Defensive Team, 1 College ring, 1 time College Player of the Year
Larry - 3 rings, 3 time MVP, 12 time all star, 3 time All Defensive Team, Rookie of the Year, 1 time College Player of the Year
Scottie - 6 rings, 7 time all star, 10 time All Defensive Team
Mike - 6 rings, 5 time MVP, 14 time all star, 9 time All Defensive Team, 1 time Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, 1 College ring, 1 time College Player of the Year
The Glide - 1 ring, 10 time all star
The Mailman - 2 time MVP, 13 time all star, 4 time All Defensive Team
Stockton - 10 time all star, 5 time All Defensive Team
Mullin - 5 time all star, 1 time College Player of the Year
Barkley - 1 time MVP, 11 time all star
Magic - 5 rings, 3 time MVP, 12 time all star, 1 College ring
Laettner (Token College Player) - 1 time all star, 1 College ring, 1 time College Player of the Year
*special thanks to www.wikipedia.org
STOP WEARING THE WRONG GEAR!
Please stop wearing the gear of other teams and other sports to a game that features totally different teams. Just because you're at a football game, that does not give you licence to wear the gear of other football teams. You either wear the gear of one of the teams playing or you don't wear any sports gear at all.Alhough, it is somewhat acceptable to wear a hat or shirt of another hometown team to a different sport like wearing a Jays hat to a Leafs game. At least you're reppin' your city.
There are two main reasons why people commit this sin:
1. They want the opportunity to wear their gear whenever they can, often because they spent a fortune on it. They can wear it on the street on any given day, but it feels more special to them when they can wear it to a sporting event.
2. They want to belong. A big part of sports is the feeling of togetherness and comraderie. This is especially true in college sports which is why you'll see 99% of a stadium wearing one colour. In a neutral event like the International Bowl as shown above, people do not want to spend the money on a $15 tshirt of one of the participating teams or make the effort to find one, which is understanable, but please don't wear some other football shirt that's hanging around in your closet if you don't have the proper gear.
Wearing the wrong gear at sporting events is the scourge of sporting society.
*This rule also applies to vacations. Don't wear a Mexico tshirt while you're vacationing in Cuba.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Best Logos of the Best International Soccer Teams
1. Classic and beautiful.
2. Simple yet complex. Again, can't go wrong with a lion.
3. Much needed new design is now complete. Much better than previous one.
4. Pretty because of the 5 stars representing 5 world cups.
5. Birds always make for a good logo. But this logo is getting old now. New one is in order.
6. Another one past it's prime, but the leaves around the logo add some class.
7. Actually too regal for a sports logo, but it's better than the next logo.
8. Just a terrible design that would rank in the 4th percentile or so worldwide.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Not Enough English in England
What is it with the lack of English players and coaches on the top teams in the EPL?
10-15 years ago there were plenty on the top teams. But now there are but a few at most in the starting lineups and first teams. Hell, Arsenal practically have none and regularly field a starting XI without an Englishman.
And there's the coaches. Apparently English coaches are not qualified or competent enough to coach the top teams nowadays:
Man U: Ferguson = Scottish
Arsenal: Wenger = French
Liverpool: Houllier = French, Benitez = Spanish
Chelsea: Gullit = Dutch, Vialli = Italian, Ranieri = Italian, Mourinho = Portuguese, Grant = Israeli, Scolari = Brazilian, Hiddink = Dutch
England: Eriksson = Swedish, Capello = Italian
When England did have a home manager, they picked one of the worst, Steve McLaren. His decisions during his tenure, especially during the Euro qualifying campaign only showed his incompetence.
10-15 years ago there were plenty on the top teams. But now there are but a few at most in the starting lineups and first teams. Hell, Arsenal practically have none and regularly field a starting XI without an Englishman.
And there's the coaches. Apparently English coaches are not qualified or competent enough to coach the top teams nowadays:
Man U: Ferguson = Scottish
Arsenal: Wenger = French
Liverpool: Houllier = French, Benitez = Spanish
Chelsea: Gullit = Dutch, Vialli = Italian, Ranieri = Italian, Mourinho = Portuguese, Grant = Israeli, Scolari = Brazilian, Hiddink = Dutch
England: Eriksson = Swedish, Capello = Italian
When England did have a home manager, they picked one of the worst, Steve McLaren. His decisions during his tenure, especially during the Euro qualifying campaign only showed his incompetence.
College Nicknames?
The following is a list of BCS college football team nicknames that people would have no idea what they mean unless they saw the logo or followed the sport:
Bruins (bear), UCLA
Aggies (agriculture), Texas A&M
Sooners (native indian settlers in the state), Oklahoma
Jayhawks (Jayhawkers were guerillas from Civil War), Kansas
Gamecocks (fighting chickens), South Carolina
Volunteers (the state had a lot of people volunteer for wars), Tennesseee
Commodores (rank in military, held by Cornelius Vanderbilt), Vanderbilt
Crimson Tide (red water that rolls over stuff to kill them), Alabama
Razorbacks (hog), Arkansas
Yellow Jackets (wasp), Georgia Tech
Terrapins (turtle), Maryland
Tar Heels (nickname of the state and it's people), North Carolina
Cavaliers (gentlemenly horsemen), Virginia
Hokies (gibberish word that someone used to get attention), Virginia Tech
Hoosiers (people of Indiana), Indiana
Buckeyes (a nut/tree), Ohio State
Boilermakers (steel worker/crafstman), Purdue
Obscure and arcane team names like these is one of the many reasons why we love college sports and a reason why it sets college sports apart from the others.
*Special thanks to www.wikipedia.org
Bruins (bear), UCLA
Aggies (agriculture), Texas A&M
Sooners (native indian settlers in the state), Oklahoma
Jayhawks (Jayhawkers were guerillas from Civil War), Kansas
Gamecocks (fighting chickens), South Carolina
Volunteers (the state had a lot of people volunteer for wars), Tennesseee
Commodores (rank in military, held by Cornelius Vanderbilt), Vanderbilt
Crimson Tide (red water that rolls over stuff to kill them), Alabama
Razorbacks (hog), Arkansas
Yellow Jackets (wasp), Georgia Tech
Terrapins (turtle), Maryland
Tar Heels (nickname of the state and it's people), North Carolina
Cavaliers (gentlemenly horsemen), Virginia
Hokies (gibberish word that someone used to get attention), Virginia Tech
Hoosiers (people of Indiana), Indiana
Buckeyes (a nut/tree), Ohio State
Boilermakers (steel worker/crafstman), Purdue
Obscure and arcane team names like these is one of the many reasons why we love college sports and a reason why it sets college sports apart from the others.
*Special thanks to www.wikipedia.org
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