The Lakers dynasty…Celtics dynasty…Yankees Dynasty…all the way to the Ming dynasty. Dynasties are hard to come by these days. Whether it be little league baseball or Major League baseball, nothing lasts forever. Kids move, districts are re-aligned and players get disgruntled with ownership. My brush with dynasty greatness came in the early years of my life. The Roseville Youth Baseball Association provided us with the opportunity. Like many little league teams, we all had played together since t-ball and had all grown into pretty good baseball players. In 1997 we went 15-0 and won the league championship and were running the table in the RYBA. Things looked great for the future. Unfortunately, two buddies of mine grew out of baseball and moved onto other sports while I signed up too late for the season and couldn’t get onto the team that I had been on since I was a t-ball-er. My former team went on to have another great season while I was stuck playing with kids who couldn’t tell what end of the bat to hit with. The point of the story is that no matter what age, dynasties do not last forever (even in RYBA baseball).
We’ve already looked at how parents and league commissioners have ruined rivalries in professional sports. Now I want to change gears and see how the creation of free agency has ruined rivalries in professional sports.
Until 1975, professional sports teams could exercise what was known as a “reserve clause”. With this, teams could sign players for a number of years and at the end of this contract they could choose to sign them for longer or release/trade the player in question. The only way that someone leaves the team is through being released or traded. Players had no say in which team they played for, they were merely property of the owner of the team. You always hear that Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees not “traded”. If you ever heard today that Randy Moss was “sold” to the New England Patriots…there would be a slight problem. Players are no longer the property of owners and they have a great deal of rights now. These rights were gained by the creation of player’s associations and free agency.
On a fateful day in ’75, Dodgers pitcher Andy Messersmith and Expos pitcher Dave McNally set the wheels in motion for the eventual demise of rivalries in sports.
Both were unhappy with the offered contracts from their respective teams and went to an arbitrator wanting to be able to hear offers from other teams. With one swift decision, arbitrator Peter Seitz awarded Messersmith and McNally the right to play for another team. Free-agency had begun.
It is interesting to hear what the MLB Commissioner at the time, Bowie Kuhn, had to say about Seitz’s decision and the birth of free agency,
"I'm confident had I resolved the Messersmith-McNally grievance, a free-agency system would have been negotiated that would have worked out better for the fans than the one we have today," Kuhn says. "I didn't have a specific system, but one should have been created."
It’s like Kuhn was like Senator Bail Organa in Star Wars Episode 3…when the Republic turned into the evil Empire and he was just sitting there watching as the horror begun. A nerdy reference I know, but a good one nonetheless. He really felt that he could have come up with something better but the fact of the matter is that he didn’t.
Before free agency, players often remained with their teams for their entire careers. The same guys would be on the same teams each year. Bad blood would carry over from season to season because the players and fans would return the next year ready to fight for bragging rights. In a crowded professional sports area like New York, teams like the Giants and Jets fought bitterly for so many years and the rivalries were intense. As I mentioned in part 1, the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is the most famous and intense rivalry in professional sports today. How do you think that it survived for so long? For so many years, it was the same guys that were coming back year after year to fight for pride. There was always Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Doerr and Foxx year in and year out. Every year, animosities were fostered more and more because the same guys who hated each other and the same fans who hated each other came back every summer to beat the snot out of the other team. None of them had the option of leaving their team. So in turn, players were loyal and played for the sheer glory of playing baseball…not for money.
So now we turn to 1975 up until the present. Free agency has been around for 32 years now and within the last decade we have seen the biggest impacts of how it is ruining rivalries in professional sports. At the time of conception, free agency seemed like a small occurrence in the professional sports scene. What people didn’t fully realize is that it would roundhouse kick the door open for contract deals that would involve multi-millions of dollars in value. Players have become seemingly greedier in professional sports. A great example of this comes from a player who is currently running away with the AL MVP race like Lance Armstrong in the Alps.
In 2000, after the Mariners had lost to the New York Yankees in the ALCS, Alex Rodriguez would make one of the most important decisions of his young career. He decided to test free agency and no longer be a Seattle Mariner. After Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson were traded, A-rod was the cornerstone of the Mariner franchise. He had the potential to follow in Ruth’s footsteps as he did for the New York Yankees... “Safeco Field…The house that A-rod built…”. Sounds a little weird I’ll admit, but the potential was there. He was the first shortstop in 11 years to start for the AL All-Star team that was not named Cal Ripken Jr. He was coming off some injuries but still managed to hit 41 HR’s and 132 RBI. There’s a saying that “for money, one will do almost anything”. Rodriguez auditioned and nailed the part for this role in the new movie “Greediest Athlete Ever”. He left a very talented Mariners team for a Rangers team that had finished 5th out of 4 teams (yes…they were that bad). He was making $ 4.3 million for a team that was thisssclose to getting to the World Series and now he was going to a team that makes today’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays look like Murderer’s row. A-rod didn’t just take a pay raise…he raised the bar for professional sports contracts for what may be forever. For 10 years and $252 million dollars, A-rod sold his soul to the green monster. No, not that one…the one that represents the ever popular concept in our society…greed. To me, because of A-rod’s clear showing of money over mind, professional athletes have lost all credibility to say that they are not greedy. A player today can ask for $60 million like a 15 year old asking his parents for a couple bucks to go to the movies. Since 2000, we’ve seen Kevin Garnett ($126 million), Alfonso Soriano ($138 million), Gil Meche ($55 million…for what?!) and my personal favorite…Barry Zito ($125 million for these numbers…). Because of baseball’s lack of salary cap, we see most of these mega deals here, but other sports have their monster deals as well. Who can forget one of the more recent bone-headed moments when it comes to contracts. Now, because of his severe stupidity, Sprewell goes from putting down jumpers at The Garden to putting down money for law suits. Players have gotten more and more greedy and selfish.
Since the inception of free agency in professional sports, there has been more money given to athletes than ever before. Due to this, many players no longer play for the sheer enjoyment and pride of their sport but for the money instead. When players come right out of high school and get a $ 90 million shoe deal, why even play for the sake of playing if they are just going to give you money without even seeing you play in the NBA? Along the same lines, if you can move to a terrible team but make so much money that Donald Trump blushes, why not do it?
Rivalries used to be about pride and playing the game. Guys didn’t play for the money because there really wasn’t much to be earned. Guys stayed with teams for their whole careers, connected with their respective cities and fought for everything they earned. Unfortunately, with the amount of money in professional sports, rivalries are being ruined. Guys sign 5-6 year contracts and then move on like those last 5 or 6 years didn’t even happen.
The players are the big winners and the fans are on the losing end of this situation. Until things change, we may never see rivalries return to what they should be…about pride and for the game.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Where Have all the Rivalries Gone? Part 1
When you think of rivalries, what comes to mind? Longevity? Geography? Fights and verbal sparring? Well, all of these things fit the definition of a rivalry. They range from Packers/Vikings, Pistons/Lakers to the ever storied Red Sox/Yankees. Rivalries in sports are what keep us all watching. Without them, sports would be emotionless competition. Competition with emotions running high and a great deal of pride at stake means so much more. Growing up in Minnesota, you are born and bred to hate the Green Bay Packers. Walk around the Mall of America and tell me how many t-shirts you see that say “My favorite teams are the Vikings and whoever plays the Packers” (the same shirt can be found across the river, but reverse the order of the team names). Same goes for the Red Sox and Yankees. You can’t go to a Red Sox game without hearing “Yankees Suck!” at some point throughout the game (even if the Yankees aren’t in town). Rivalries are still strong today, but there is something missing. There is some aspect of the rivalries that has been lost in translation as our society has moved along in the last 20 years. Who remembers the way that the Pistons literally man-handled Michael Jordan and the Bulls? What about when Pete Rose charged into catcher Ray Fosse during the 1970 All-Star game? Or even Kevin McHale throwing punches during the Celtics’ glory days? What do all of these have in common? They all fall into the “the way things used to be” category.
I do not condone violence in sports, but doesn’t it seem that sports were more enjoyable to watch when there was a small possibility of someone flipping out and causing a bench clearing brawl? In the last 5 or 6 years, networks have seen some of the lowest ratings in their history for professional sports. I think that there were maybe 6,000 people across the world that watched the Cardinals/Tigers World Series last year (to be fair, it was an absolutely horrendous display of baseball by both teams). The fire and electricity that is often infused into rivalries has been put out. There are still enjoyable rivalries to watch, but they are not the same. I only have two things to blame for this lack of fight in rivalries: Crazy Parents and League Commissioners.
Parents: This story from a couple weeks ago will get us started off on the right foot. A St. Paul father felt that his 12 year old son was not getting enough playing time on his little league team. After yelling and swearing in the dugout area, the coach and other league brass asked the father to leave the field area. The next day, after watching his son not play again, he reportedly called the coach and threatened that he would “shoot him down like a dog”. Naturally, the boy’s father was arrested and charged with threatening the coach. Supposedly, the father has past troubles with being a little too into his son’s little league career. Look, I’m sure that your son is the next Cal Ripken Jr. in the making, but I’m sure that the coach had a good reason to not play your son. Maybe those sand castles he was building at short stop looked nice…
Anyway, this is becoming a problem. More and more recently, we have been hearing stories about parents who are interfering in their children’s athletic lives.
Here are some quick examples:
1. Dad rushes onto wrestling mats ...
2. A Great Slideshow by Ben Meiner and Jon Adams
3. “Playing football for West Caanan is NOT the opportunity of a lifetime!”
4. The Piece De Resistance
As you can see, parents have been taking things a little too far. Our society in athletics has turned so violent at the hands of parents, that we’re telling kids that they can’t be aggressive anymore. This in turn, may turn kids away from sports or make them more passive in the sport that they play. I am currently at a tennis camp in California for the summer and each week we get kids who would much rather hold a Playstation controller than a tennis racket. And at the end of the week, it’s the parents who come up and grill us about their child’s evaluation. If your child is 11 years or older and can’t tell the difference between swatting a fly and hitting a forehand…it may be time for a change of venue. Between the 1960’s and 80’s, there were too many parents who had failed athletic dreams. Now we all have to deal with those people as parents and their kids who are all the next Michael Jordan even though he may be running down the basketball court with his hands down his pants (Everybody Loves Raymond, Season 6, Episode 8 of that season). Because of parents involving themselves too much, kids are falling away from being emotional and competitive in sports. They are getting right to the roots of this problem.
So now that we’ve been down the boulevard of broken dreams, it is time to look at the league commissioners. Instead of ruining things at the base of the tree, they are just chopping off branches at the top.
Let’s look to November 19, 2004. I feel that this was the day that aggressiveness in pro sports was forever changed. NBA fans had already witnessed the brawl between the Knicks and Heat in the ’97 playoffs (who can forget Jeff Van Gundy being dragged on the floor like a rag doll). What was different with this situation in ‘04 was that the fans were involved. Ben Wallace was fouled by Ron Artest, unnecessarily hard for what the score was, and Wallace retaliated by pushing Artest. After this, Artest was brought off the court and…well…the video should explain the rest. This was an absolute disaster in Detroit. You can’t see it in the video but after the game, reports surfaced that a fan had thrown cup of beer at Artest, which caused him to go into the stands. You can blame the players until you are blue in the face, but there has to be responsibility pinned on the fans as well.
146 games combined was the total for suspensions between the players involved from the Pistons and Pacers. As well as some jail and probation sentences for the fans involved. Still, some people argued that the player’s suspensions were too much.
Let’s fast forward to 2007 on December 16th. The Knicks and the Nuggets were involved in a similar altercation (sans the involvement of fans). Mardy Collins fouled JR Smith a little too hard and they began to argue. Things were seemingly normal until Nate Robinson’s 4’6” frame came into play. He pushes Smith and then Carmelo Anthony takes a swing at Collins and then runs away like a coward. Anthony got 15 games (the most of any player involved) and Nate “too short” Robinson got 10 games. Again, many argued that David Stern had done a poor job dealing with the suspensions and violence in the NBA. This would set up the final situation.
Game 4 of this year’s Western Conference finals in the NBA. Steve Nash drives up the side of the court and is checked into the boards by defensivem…sorry…defender Robert Horry. This was on top of the already heated situation of Bruce Bowen kneeing Steve Nash in the groin earlier in the series. Immediately following the game, talk had arisen that Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw would be suspended for one game for leaving the bench during the situation. Notice on the video how the leave the bench area but then are seen holding other teammates back from going any further. David Stern is about as flexible with rules as Bud Selig is good with figuring out extra inning All-Star games. ESPN’s Bill Simmons wrote a great piece about this situation a couple days after it had happened. Because of a very lame rule in the NBA, the Suns’ hopes of beating the Spurs were crushed. David Stern had struck again. His lack of understanding competitive athletes in a heated situation led to, what I felt was, a bad decision on his part. Guys can’t even defend their teammates anymore but the NBA wants passion. What kind of message does that send to the players?
Professional sports have seen its ups and downs the last couple of years. 2007 was no exception. With the rise of parents becoming violent when dealing with their kid’s athletics and league commissioners inability to control violence and in turn their inability to deal with it, sports are quickly becoming less and less emotionally based. The age old rivalries are becoming more and more faceless and boring. What will save them?
I do not condone violence in sports, but doesn’t it seem that sports were more enjoyable to watch when there was a small possibility of someone flipping out and causing a bench clearing brawl? In the last 5 or 6 years, networks have seen some of the lowest ratings in their history for professional sports. I think that there were maybe 6,000 people across the world that watched the Cardinals/Tigers World Series last year (to be fair, it was an absolutely horrendous display of baseball by both teams). The fire and electricity that is often infused into rivalries has been put out. There are still enjoyable rivalries to watch, but they are not the same. I only have two things to blame for this lack of fight in rivalries: Crazy Parents and League Commissioners.
Parents: This story from a couple weeks ago will get us started off on the right foot. A St. Paul father felt that his 12 year old son was not getting enough playing time on his little league team. After yelling and swearing in the dugout area, the coach and other league brass asked the father to leave the field area. The next day, after watching his son not play again, he reportedly called the coach and threatened that he would “shoot him down like a dog”. Naturally, the boy’s father was arrested and charged with threatening the coach. Supposedly, the father has past troubles with being a little too into his son’s little league career. Look, I’m sure that your son is the next Cal Ripken Jr. in the making, but I’m sure that the coach had a good reason to not play your son. Maybe those sand castles he was building at short stop looked nice…
Anyway, this is becoming a problem. More and more recently, we have been hearing stories about parents who are interfering in their children’s athletic lives.
Here are some quick examples:
1. Dad rushes onto wrestling mats ...
2. A Great Slideshow by Ben Meiner and Jon Adams
3. “Playing football for West Caanan is NOT the opportunity of a lifetime!”
4. The Piece De Resistance
As you can see, parents have been taking things a little too far. Our society in athletics has turned so violent at the hands of parents, that we’re telling kids that they can’t be aggressive anymore. This in turn, may turn kids away from sports or make them more passive in the sport that they play. I am currently at a tennis camp in California for the summer and each week we get kids who would much rather hold a Playstation controller than a tennis racket. And at the end of the week, it’s the parents who come up and grill us about their child’s evaluation. If your child is 11 years or older and can’t tell the difference between swatting a fly and hitting a forehand…it may be time for a change of venue. Between the 1960’s and 80’s, there were too many parents who had failed athletic dreams. Now we all have to deal with those people as parents and their kids who are all the next Michael Jordan even though he may be running down the basketball court with his hands down his pants (Everybody Loves Raymond, Season 6, Episode 8 of that season). Because of parents involving themselves too much, kids are falling away from being emotional and competitive in sports. They are getting right to the roots of this problem.
So now that we’ve been down the boulevard of broken dreams, it is time to look at the league commissioners. Instead of ruining things at the base of the tree, they are just chopping off branches at the top.
Let’s look to November 19, 2004. I feel that this was the day that aggressiveness in pro sports was forever changed. NBA fans had already witnessed the brawl between the Knicks and Heat in the ’97 playoffs (who can forget Jeff Van Gundy being dragged on the floor like a rag doll). What was different with this situation in ‘04 was that the fans were involved. Ben Wallace was fouled by Ron Artest, unnecessarily hard for what the score was, and Wallace retaliated by pushing Artest. After this, Artest was brought off the court and…well…the video should explain the rest. This was an absolute disaster in Detroit. You can’t see it in the video but after the game, reports surfaced that a fan had thrown cup of beer at Artest, which caused him to go into the stands. You can blame the players until you are blue in the face, but there has to be responsibility pinned on the fans as well.
146 games combined was the total for suspensions between the players involved from the Pistons and Pacers. As well as some jail and probation sentences for the fans involved. Still, some people argued that the player’s suspensions were too much.
Let’s fast forward to 2007 on December 16th. The Knicks and the Nuggets were involved in a similar altercation (sans the involvement of fans). Mardy Collins fouled JR Smith a little too hard and they began to argue. Things were seemingly normal until Nate Robinson’s 4’6” frame came into play. He pushes Smith and then Carmelo Anthony takes a swing at Collins and then runs away like a coward. Anthony got 15 games (the most of any player involved) and Nate “too short” Robinson got 10 games. Again, many argued that David Stern had done a poor job dealing with the suspensions and violence in the NBA. This would set up the final situation.
Game 4 of this year’s Western Conference finals in the NBA. Steve Nash drives up the side of the court and is checked into the boards by defensivem…sorry…defender Robert Horry. This was on top of the already heated situation of Bruce Bowen kneeing Steve Nash in the groin earlier in the series. Immediately following the game, talk had arisen that Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw would be suspended for one game for leaving the bench during the situation. Notice on the video how the leave the bench area but then are seen holding other teammates back from going any further. David Stern is about as flexible with rules as Bud Selig is good with figuring out extra inning All-Star games. ESPN’s Bill Simmons wrote a great piece about this situation a couple days after it had happened. Because of a very lame rule in the NBA, the Suns’ hopes of beating the Spurs were crushed. David Stern had struck again. His lack of understanding competitive athletes in a heated situation led to, what I felt was, a bad decision on his part. Guys can’t even defend their teammates anymore but the NBA wants passion. What kind of message does that send to the players?
Professional sports have seen its ups and downs the last couple of years. 2007 was no exception. With the rise of parents becoming violent when dealing with their kid’s athletics and league commissioners inability to control violence and in turn their inability to deal with it, sports are quickly becoming less and less emotionally based. The age old rivalries are becoming more and more faceless and boring. What will save them?
Monday, July 2, 2007
I'll Miss You, Metrodome
This year I have been lucky enough to see some pretty great baseball stadiums. We drove up from school to the beautiful Miller Park in, what I like to call, the “hidden gem of the Midwest”….Milwaukee, WI. I got to see the Twins as the away team for the first time in my life and it was just as much fun as I had hoped. Driving up to Miller Park on I-94 is a whole life experience in itself. If you’ve never seen Miller Park, it is amazing on the horizon. The retractable roof looms over the skyline and once you’re inside, there’s not a bad seat in the place.
I’m in LA for the summer and we were lucky enough to take part in the “Freeway Series” between the Dodgers and the Angels. It was me and my buddy’s first time at Dodger stadium. For opening in 1962, the stadium is still in great condition. According to Ballparks.com, Dodger stadium is the cleanest ballpark in the Majors. It by no means was dirty…but cleanest in the majors…I don’t know about that. This experience was enough to be a whole different article later down the road.
Being from Minnesota I, like many other pour souls since 1982, have had the true pleasure of attending games at the Metrodome. There is nothing in the world that says “great baseball” like a Teflon covered toilet filled with Dome Dogs, field-turf and a team from 1993-2001 that could make the Bad News Bears look like the Yankees. In a conversation recently with someone from Kansas City, she told me that “Kaufmann Stadium is not that nice…it’s kind of dirty…” Clearly, for any Twins fans reading this, this statement is kind of frustrating right? Kaufmann Stadium, although home to the Royals, is one of the most beautiful stadiums in the Majors. Waterfalls, baseball outdoors, real grass and a wall that is the same height all around. She hasn’t been to the Dome before, so there isn’t any first hand experience, understandable.
The Twins have gotten legislation to build the new park (and if I have anything to say about it…Ron Coomer Stadium) and it should be ready in time for the 2010 baseball season. We were there when Governor Pawlenty signed the bill that finally got the stadium to be built and it was a pretty emotional moment for me.
Why?
Because deep down inside, I am going to miss the Metrodome.
I know…I know…it sounds terrible. I’ve told people that with each half inning spent in the Dome…your soul dies a little bit. Only a handful of the seats face home plate, there’s a baggy in right field that is covered with a huge Dodge Ram ad and the bullpens are so accessible to fans that I feel like I’m waiting for the call from Gardy.
But these are the things that make the Dome so special. With all of the new stadiums being built, the Dome and Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay are the only places that you can go to see indoor baseball. I’ve never been to Tropicana Field, but I’m pretty sure that it is better than the Metrodome. Unlike when driving up to Miller Park, I don’t get that “takes my breath away” feeling. I get that “I should have stopped at 5 cups last night” feeling. The Dome smells like hot dogs and stale air. My butt usually falls asleep around the 4th inning or so and proven by Lew Ford a couple of weeks ago, the Teflon cover can make a bad fielder look even worse.
Another thing I noticed that separates the Dome from real stadiums is the fact that at real stadiums (i.e. not the Dome) they don’t drive vehicles onto the playing field. Chevy was out in full force at Dodger Stadium and they drove a Cobalt onto the warning track and backed it off quickly. If you’ve ever been to a Twins game or even a Vikings game, you will see a Dodge Ram pull onto the right field “grass”…a man tear across the field on a snow-mobile and even a stupid little bear whip donuts on an ATV before and after games. When your playing surface can double as a parking lot, monster truck race course and an obstacle course for fly balls…it is time for a new stadium.
When all is said and done…I’m going to miss the Metrodome. With no retractable roof at the new park, expect some rain/snow/sleet/tornado/flash flood delays. You may be thinking to yourself “rain/snow/sleet/tornado/flash flood in April-October?...Doubt it”. Well in that case, you are probably not from Minnesota. Minnesota weather makes “The Day After Tomorrow” look like “Weekend at Bernie’s”. Trust me Minnesota fans, the thought will cross your mind of you missing knowing exactly what to wear to the Dome every time. 72 degrees with a light breeze for 82 games a year. As a buddy of mine puts it, “rain or shine…there was always a game”.
So come 2010, we will have to say goodbye to the Metrodome and hello to the new Twins park. I will say my goodbye vocally…but the Metrodome will always be in my heart….and stomach.
I’m in LA for the summer and we were lucky enough to take part in the “Freeway Series” between the Dodgers and the Angels. It was me and my buddy’s first time at Dodger stadium. For opening in 1962, the stadium is still in great condition. According to Ballparks.com, Dodger stadium is the cleanest ballpark in the Majors. It by no means was dirty…but cleanest in the majors…I don’t know about that. This experience was enough to be a whole different article later down the road.
Being from Minnesota I, like many other pour souls since 1982, have had the true pleasure of attending games at the Metrodome. There is nothing in the world that says “great baseball” like a Teflon covered toilet filled with Dome Dogs, field-turf and a team from 1993-2001 that could make the Bad News Bears look like the Yankees. In a conversation recently with someone from Kansas City, she told me that “Kaufmann Stadium is not that nice…it’s kind of dirty…” Clearly, for any Twins fans reading this, this statement is kind of frustrating right? Kaufmann Stadium, although home to the Royals, is one of the most beautiful stadiums in the Majors. Waterfalls, baseball outdoors, real grass and a wall that is the same height all around. She hasn’t been to the Dome before, so there isn’t any first hand experience, understandable.
The Twins have gotten legislation to build the new park (and if I have anything to say about it…Ron Coomer Stadium) and it should be ready in time for the 2010 baseball season. We were there when Governor Pawlenty signed the bill that finally got the stadium to be built and it was a pretty emotional moment for me.
Why?
Because deep down inside, I am going to miss the Metrodome.
I know…I know…it sounds terrible. I’ve told people that with each half inning spent in the Dome…your soul dies a little bit. Only a handful of the seats face home plate, there’s a baggy in right field that is covered with a huge Dodge Ram ad and the bullpens are so accessible to fans that I feel like I’m waiting for the call from Gardy.
But these are the things that make the Dome so special. With all of the new stadiums being built, the Dome and Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay are the only places that you can go to see indoor baseball. I’ve never been to Tropicana Field, but I’m pretty sure that it is better than the Metrodome. Unlike when driving up to Miller Park, I don’t get that “takes my breath away” feeling. I get that “I should have stopped at 5 cups last night” feeling. The Dome smells like hot dogs and stale air. My butt usually falls asleep around the 4th inning or so and proven by Lew Ford a couple of weeks ago, the Teflon cover can make a bad fielder look even worse.
Another thing I noticed that separates the Dome from real stadiums is the fact that at real stadiums (i.e. not the Dome) they don’t drive vehicles onto the playing field. Chevy was out in full force at Dodger Stadium and they drove a Cobalt onto the warning track and backed it off quickly. If you’ve ever been to a Twins game or even a Vikings game, you will see a Dodge Ram pull onto the right field “grass”…a man tear across the field on a snow-mobile and even a stupid little bear whip donuts on an ATV before and after games. When your playing surface can double as a parking lot, monster truck race course and an obstacle course for fly balls…it is time for a new stadium.
When all is said and done…I’m going to miss the Metrodome. With no retractable roof at the new park, expect some rain/snow/sleet/tornado/flash flood delays. You may be thinking to yourself “rain/snow/sleet/tornado/flash flood in April-October?...Doubt it”. Well in that case, you are probably not from Minnesota. Minnesota weather makes “The Day After Tomorrow” look like “Weekend at Bernie’s”. Trust me Minnesota fans, the thought will cross your mind of you missing knowing exactly what to wear to the Dome every time. 72 degrees with a light breeze for 82 games a year. As a buddy of mine puts it, “rain or shine…there was always a game”.
So come 2010, we will have to say goodbye to the Metrodome and hello to the new Twins park. I will say my goodbye vocally…but the Metrodome will always be in my heart….and stomach.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Garnett's Gotta Go
“With the 5th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft…the Minnesota Timberwolves select Kevin Garnett from Farragut Academy, Chicago, ILL.”…
At this time, no one other than Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale thought that this kid from Mauldin, SC was worth the risk. Although he was named High School player of the year and McDonalds All-American game MVP, with a draft filled with several proven collegiate players (i.e. Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace) it seemed that with the 5th pick that the Wolves would/should have taken a player who had been through the college level. The Wolves took a huge risk in taking a player straight from high school, the first time it had happened since 1975. Who was that player? Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins. Exactly 20 years later the Timberwolves take a chance on another 6’11” high school student with freak-ish abilities and with the exact same pick, coincidence?...I think not.
This was the legacy and mysticism that surrounded Garnett’s career from the beginning. Unfortunately, until he wins a title, he will only be remembered for one thing. From 1997 until 2004, the Timberwolves could not make it past the first round of the NBA playoffs. Every year, Garnett was criticized by the legends that he idolized the most. Who can forget when Magic Johnson was on TNT and more or less called out KG by saying that he was being too un-selfish. This killed Kevin to hear his idol say this. That summer, KG worked harder than he ever had. Unlike previous years, the Timberwolves had done some hard work as well. With the signings of veterans Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell, the Timberwolves had the most seasoned team since their conception in 1989. It proved a great move as the Wolves went 58-24 and made it to the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Lakers in 5. The 2004-2005 season started with the Wolves being an early favorite for the NBA title after keeping the core of their team. Unfortunately, the team fell apart. Cassell and Sprewell had contract disputes and longtime coach Flip Saunders was fired midseason to be replaced by Kevin McHale.
Since then, the story has been the same. Garnett gets older and the Wolves get younger. He has been in the league now for 13 years and even though he is only 31 years old, his prime years are coming and going quickly. With many trade rumors lately surrounding KG, the Timberwolves and Garnett NEED to part ways.
The Timberwolves and Garnett must face it, he is getting older and they aren’t getting better. With so many years of being beat on, working hard and having to carry the team, we must look at Garnett’s age in dog years. I believe you have to multiply by 6, this would make Garnett…about 186 years old. Now, obviously this is a bit of a stretch but you really have to put in perspective the stress that has been put upon Garnett since he’s been in the league. If the Timberwolves plan on winning in the future they need to get something in return. Teams around the league know that he is getting older and if the Wolves want any value for Garnett, now is the time. Statistically, with the exception of his 2004 MVP season, Garnett’s numbers have slid somewhat. Still one of the most consistent and dominant players in the league, you can’t help but notice that he is getting aged. The ’06-07 season saw Garnett’s shooting percentage dip to its lowest total since the ’01-02 season (.476/.470). The only statistic that has gotten better with time has been his rebounding average (averaging an even 13.0 RPG since 2004). Yes he has intangibles, but the statistics don’t lie. No team is going to trade away their young nucleus for an aging player with maybe 2 or 3 good years left in him. If this franchise feels it has any future in the NBA win column, now is the time to trade.
But the NBA also needs this to happen. Who are some players that come to mind when one thinks of greatness in the NBA. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. What do these players all have in common? They all were part of championship teams. The NBA lives on the legacies of its greatest players. It would be a blow to the NBA to have a player as great as Garnett to have the career he has had and end it with no titles. Imagine Bird or Magic with no titles. No one would be talking about Magic’s great passing skills or Bird’s automatic shot without the sentence “He was one of the best who played without ever getting a title”. Unless Garnett is traded to a title contending team (i.e. NOT THE CELTICS), that phrase is all that we will here for years to come, “Kevin Garnett, he was one of the best who played without ever getting that title”. It will eat away at Garnett and it will hurt the NBA as well, to have a player of his caliber never hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The Wolves also owe this to Kevin. Trading Garnett to a contender would be the utmost showing of respect that they could do. The amount of trust and respect that Garnett has put into Taylor and McHale is innumerable. I actually calculated what McHale and Taylor could give Garnett in return for the amount of respect he has put in them. Along with a trade (to a title contender) they would have to give him a lifetime supply of Chipotle (with the options of no beans), a chance at the Governorship of MN for 2011, a shot on American Idol and a stipulation that when he is retired he can be the new host of Price is Right. Throughout the 7 years of losing in the first round of the playoffs, Garnett was asked if he’d want to be traded. It was the same response every year, “I don’t just jump ship, and I’ve committed myself and here for the long haul.” Year in and year out, Garnett put faith into McHale and Taylor and they let him down. Out of the 12 years that he’s been with the Wolves, only one year have they respected him enough to put together a team that could get him the championship. They’ve abused Garnett’s loyalty. If the McHale and Taylor have any shred of dignity and respect for Garnett, 2006-2007 will have been Garnett’s last of a great career in Minnesota.
Many will argue, mostly in Minnesota, that Garnett should not be traded. I, just as much as the next person, want to see Garnett ride into the Minnesota sunset with the Larry O’Brien trophy in hand. Unfortunately, the sun may have already set for Garnett in Minnesota.
At this time, no one other than Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale thought that this kid from Mauldin, SC was worth the risk. Although he was named High School player of the year and McDonalds All-American game MVP, with a draft filled with several proven collegiate players (i.e. Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace) it seemed that with the 5th pick that the Wolves would/should have taken a player who had been through the college level. The Wolves took a huge risk in taking a player straight from high school, the first time it had happened since 1975. Who was that player? Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins. Exactly 20 years later the Timberwolves take a chance on another 6’11” high school student with freak-ish abilities and with the exact same pick, coincidence?...I think not.
This was the legacy and mysticism that surrounded Garnett’s career from the beginning. Unfortunately, until he wins a title, he will only be remembered for one thing. From 1997 until 2004, the Timberwolves could not make it past the first round of the NBA playoffs. Every year, Garnett was criticized by the legends that he idolized the most. Who can forget when Magic Johnson was on TNT and more or less called out KG by saying that he was being too un-selfish. This killed Kevin to hear his idol say this. That summer, KG worked harder than he ever had. Unlike previous years, the Timberwolves had done some hard work as well. With the signings of veterans Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell, the Timberwolves had the most seasoned team since their conception in 1989. It proved a great move as the Wolves went 58-24 and made it to the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Lakers in 5. The 2004-2005 season started with the Wolves being an early favorite for the NBA title after keeping the core of their team. Unfortunately, the team fell apart. Cassell and Sprewell had contract disputes and longtime coach Flip Saunders was fired midseason to be replaced by Kevin McHale.
Since then, the story has been the same. Garnett gets older and the Wolves get younger. He has been in the league now for 13 years and even though he is only 31 years old, his prime years are coming and going quickly. With many trade rumors lately surrounding KG, the Timberwolves and Garnett NEED to part ways.
The Timberwolves and Garnett must face it, he is getting older and they aren’t getting better. With so many years of being beat on, working hard and having to carry the team, we must look at Garnett’s age in dog years. I believe you have to multiply by 6, this would make Garnett…about 186 years old. Now, obviously this is a bit of a stretch but you really have to put in perspective the stress that has been put upon Garnett since he’s been in the league. If the Timberwolves plan on winning in the future they need to get something in return. Teams around the league know that he is getting older and if the Wolves want any value for Garnett, now is the time. Statistically, with the exception of his 2004 MVP season, Garnett’s numbers have slid somewhat. Still one of the most consistent and dominant players in the league, you can’t help but notice that he is getting aged. The ’06-07 season saw Garnett’s shooting percentage dip to its lowest total since the ’01-02 season (.476/.470). The only statistic that has gotten better with time has been his rebounding average (averaging an even 13.0 RPG since 2004). Yes he has intangibles, but the statistics don’t lie. No team is going to trade away their young nucleus for an aging player with maybe 2 or 3 good years left in him. If this franchise feels it has any future in the NBA win column, now is the time to trade.
But the NBA also needs this to happen. Who are some players that come to mind when one thinks of greatness in the NBA. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. What do these players all have in common? They all were part of championship teams. The NBA lives on the legacies of its greatest players. It would be a blow to the NBA to have a player as great as Garnett to have the career he has had and end it with no titles. Imagine Bird or Magic with no titles. No one would be talking about Magic’s great passing skills or Bird’s automatic shot without the sentence “He was one of the best who played without ever getting a title”. Unless Garnett is traded to a title contending team (i.e. NOT THE CELTICS), that phrase is all that we will here for years to come, “Kevin Garnett, he was one of the best who played without ever getting that title”. It will eat away at Garnett and it will hurt the NBA as well, to have a player of his caliber never hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The Wolves also owe this to Kevin. Trading Garnett to a contender would be the utmost showing of respect that they could do. The amount of trust and respect that Garnett has put into Taylor and McHale is innumerable. I actually calculated what McHale and Taylor could give Garnett in return for the amount of respect he has put in them. Along with a trade (to a title contender) they would have to give him a lifetime supply of Chipotle (with the options of no beans), a chance at the Governorship of MN for 2011, a shot on American Idol and a stipulation that when he is retired he can be the new host of Price is Right. Throughout the 7 years of losing in the first round of the playoffs, Garnett was asked if he’d want to be traded. It was the same response every year, “I don’t just jump ship, and I’ve committed myself and here for the long haul.” Year in and year out, Garnett put faith into McHale and Taylor and they let him down. Out of the 12 years that he’s been with the Wolves, only one year have they respected him enough to put together a team that could get him the championship. They’ve abused Garnett’s loyalty. If the McHale and Taylor have any shred of dignity and respect for Garnett, 2006-2007 will have been Garnett’s last of a great career in Minnesota.
Many will argue, mostly in Minnesota, that Garnett should not be traded. I, just as much as the next person, want to see Garnett ride into the Minnesota sunset with the Larry O’Brien trophy in hand. Unfortunately, the sun may have already set for Garnett in Minnesota.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
NBA Lottery Mock
Well it’s that time of year again. Surrounded by the first day of summer, baseball games, sun burns, the annual burning of California and oh yeah…the NBA draft!!!
In Minnesota, we have come to know June 28th as “great…now the whole world thinks we’re idiots” day. For most teams, it is a day of hope and a new beginning. Some how, McHale usually puts that feeling in you like he kicked you in the gut and then stole your wallet to take your sister out on a date to never call her back again. Kevin McHale has made screwing up drafts a science. Let’s take a quick look at some first and second round draft blunders by McHale.
1996: Trades for Stephon Marbury…could have had Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal or could have kept Ray Allen
1999: Draft Louis Bullock in the second round at 42…Manu “can’t stay on my feet for more than thirty seconds” Ginobili goes 57th to the Spurs. Guess who made his respective team?
2003: First year since 1999 the Wolves have a first round pick. This is an exact conversation between McHale and Taylor… (Well…maybe not exact…but close I’m sure)
McHale: 26th pick?....I heard about this kid from London who only played High School Ball
Taylor: Kevin…we don’t need another High School-er…why not go for a seasoned collegiate player?
McHale: well sure…but he’s got great up-side…plus his vertical is 42 inches!!!
Taylor: Can he shoot, rebound, dribble…or even tie his shoes?
McHale: ……his vertical is 42 inches!
• Missed : Josh Howard (ACC player of the year, great fit on the Mavs now), Leo Barbosa, Kyle Korver
Here are my predictions for the 2007 draft (Due to the fact that the Wolves and Hawks are still in the NBA…my draft may not be completely accurate)
1. Portland : Greg Oden/C
• Has the potential to be one of the best big men in the history of the game. Blazers want another Bill Walton and Oden has the potential to be a force in the growing West.
2. Seattle : Kevin Durant/SF
• Resembles another Kevin Garnett. Versatile for his size and can play inside or outside. Not a big banger but will the strength coaches in the NBA, he will grow. Could save the Sonics franchise from moving and could turn things around.
3. Atlanta : Mike Conley/G
• Best guard in the draft. Showed that he could carry the load without Oden on the floor. He has to work on his shooting somewhat, but should make a great guard in the league. Hawks need a guard…but may be tempted to take Al Horford with this pick. It’s Atlanta…they might draft Courtney Paris (a href="http://sooner.nmn.speedera.net/pics5/0/VO/VOOCWJZCNRBQJYQ.20060315203800.jpg) if they have the chance.
4. Memphis : Al Horford/F-C
• Behind Durant and Oden, Horford is the most complete player in this year’s draft. The only reason that this doesn’t work is if Atlanta takes him with the third pick. In that case, taking Mike Conley should be a no brainer for the sad sad Grizzlies.
5. Boston : Corey Brewer/G-F
• Improved his lottery chances with great NCAA tournament play. A solid 2 or 3 that can shoot and slash to the inside. Good personality and a good head on his shoulders. This has the potential to change if Boston trades this pick to another team for a veteran. I see it happening, but for the sake of space and time, let’s just assume that no trade occurs.
6. Milwaukee : Brandan Wright/F
• Great up-side to Wright. Played at a big time school at a big time level this year. Size for his position is a concern but with the same thing going for Durant, he can bulk up. Only draw back is that Milwaukee needs size right away, and Wright is not it. This pick can go about 80 different ways.
7. Minnesota : Yi Janlian/C / Joakim Noah/F-C
• I see this pick going either way as well. It really depends on what Boston does. If Boston trades for KG like many are saying is going to happen, look for Yi to drop a little bit. If Boston keeps the pick, I see Brewer first but Yi is a close second. Minnesota brought in Noah for a workout and Noah has plenty of upside. Great energy and could help KG on the boards. Unfortunately, KG doesn’t need help on the boards. He needs help in the Win column and I don’t see Noah being that help.
8. Charlotte: Joakim Noah/F-C
• Would give good help down low to Okafor. For a franchise that has struggled greatly, Noah could help get fans in the seats.
9. Chicago : Spencer Hawes/C
• Energetic big man with a lot of energy. Fits in well with the Bulls right now; young, energetic and fills their big man needs. Wallace rebounds, but is only 6’9”. Hawes can rebound and be a force in the small east.
10. Sacramento : Tiago Splitter/C
• Kings need size and the big Brazilian bruiser could help immediately. The only way this pick doesn’t happen is if Artest steals the draft card and changes it to his name along with all of the artists on his music label.
11. Atlanta : Al Thornton/F
• With the Hawks getting their PG need at # 3, they look here for quickness and size. Thornton, at only 6’8” plays bigger and is a great inside/outside player. Will compliment Joe Johnson, Conley and Shelden Williams. Look for the Hawks to win at least 31 games this year (which only puts them 3 games out of an 8 spot in the playoffs)
12. Philadelphia : Julian Wright/ F-C
• Had a solid year at KU. One of the best and most versatile players in the Big 12, playing at a historical school. Only downside is that he played the role of Houdini too many times at KU. Needs to show up consistently in the NBA.
13. New Orleans : Jeff Green/ F
• Great year next to Julius “Dr.” Hibbert at Georgetown. A very nice compliment to a team on the rise in the West. Philly could take Green at 12, but NBA sources say that Philly likes Wright’s upside a little bit more than Green’s.
14. Clippers : Thaddeus Young/ F / Nick Young/ G / Acie Law IV/ G
• This can go with either of these three because the Clippers need everything but the kitchen sink right now. Reasons to draft all three…
Thaddeus Young : Great young talent. Almost too good to pass up at this spot. I expect the Clippers to take him at this spot.
Nick Young : One of the most athletic players in the draft and a great guard…this youtube clip ought to show you why... Nick Young on YouTube
Acie Law IV: Best player in the Big 12 this year not named Kevin Durant. After seeing him single-handedly beat KU this year (a great moment that did not go without its fair share of pinches from a certain someone) I was sold.
In Minnesota, we have come to know June 28th as “great…now the whole world thinks we’re idiots” day. For most teams, it is a day of hope and a new beginning. Some how, McHale usually puts that feeling in you like he kicked you in the gut and then stole your wallet to take your sister out on a date to never call her back again. Kevin McHale has made screwing up drafts a science. Let’s take a quick look at some first and second round draft blunders by McHale.
1996: Trades for Stephon Marbury…could have had Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal or could have kept Ray Allen
1999: Draft Louis Bullock in the second round at 42…Manu “can’t stay on my feet for more than thirty seconds” Ginobili goes 57th to the Spurs. Guess who made his respective team?
2003: First year since 1999 the Wolves have a first round pick. This is an exact conversation between McHale and Taylor… (Well…maybe not exact…but close I’m sure)
McHale: 26th pick?....I heard about this kid from London who only played High School Ball
Taylor: Kevin…we don’t need another High School-er…why not go for a seasoned collegiate player?
McHale: well sure…but he’s got great up-side…plus his vertical is 42 inches!!!
Taylor: Can he shoot, rebound, dribble…or even tie his shoes?
McHale: ……his vertical is 42 inches!
• Missed : Josh Howard (ACC player of the year, great fit on the Mavs now), Leo Barbosa, Kyle Korver
Here are my predictions for the 2007 draft (Due to the fact that the Wolves and Hawks are still in the NBA…my draft may not be completely accurate)
1. Portland : Greg Oden/C
• Has the potential to be one of the best big men in the history of the game. Blazers want another Bill Walton and Oden has the potential to be a force in the growing West.
2. Seattle : Kevin Durant/SF
• Resembles another Kevin Garnett. Versatile for his size and can play inside or outside. Not a big banger but will the strength coaches in the NBA, he will grow. Could save the Sonics franchise from moving and could turn things around.
3. Atlanta : Mike Conley/G
• Best guard in the draft. Showed that he could carry the load without Oden on the floor. He has to work on his shooting somewhat, but should make a great guard in the league. Hawks need a guard…but may be tempted to take Al Horford with this pick. It’s Atlanta…they might draft Courtney Paris (a href="http://sooner.nmn.speedera.net/pics5/0/VO/VOOCWJZCNRBQJYQ.20060315203800.jpg) if they have the chance.
4. Memphis : Al Horford/F-C
• Behind Durant and Oden, Horford is the most complete player in this year’s draft. The only reason that this doesn’t work is if Atlanta takes him with the third pick. In that case, taking Mike Conley should be a no brainer for the sad sad Grizzlies.
5. Boston : Corey Brewer/G-F
• Improved his lottery chances with great NCAA tournament play. A solid 2 or 3 that can shoot and slash to the inside. Good personality and a good head on his shoulders. This has the potential to change if Boston trades this pick to another team for a veteran. I see it happening, but for the sake of space and time, let’s just assume that no trade occurs.
6. Milwaukee : Brandan Wright/F
• Great up-side to Wright. Played at a big time school at a big time level this year. Size for his position is a concern but with the same thing going for Durant, he can bulk up. Only draw back is that Milwaukee needs size right away, and Wright is not it. This pick can go about 80 different ways.
7. Minnesota : Yi Janlian/C / Joakim Noah/F-C
• I see this pick going either way as well. It really depends on what Boston does. If Boston trades for KG like many are saying is going to happen, look for Yi to drop a little bit. If Boston keeps the pick, I see Brewer first but Yi is a close second. Minnesota brought in Noah for a workout and Noah has plenty of upside. Great energy and could help KG on the boards. Unfortunately, KG doesn’t need help on the boards. He needs help in the Win column and I don’t see Noah being that help.
8. Charlotte: Joakim Noah/F-C
• Would give good help down low to Okafor. For a franchise that has struggled greatly, Noah could help get fans in the seats.
9. Chicago : Spencer Hawes/C
• Energetic big man with a lot of energy. Fits in well with the Bulls right now; young, energetic and fills their big man needs. Wallace rebounds, but is only 6’9”. Hawes can rebound and be a force in the small east.
10. Sacramento : Tiago Splitter/C
• Kings need size and the big Brazilian bruiser could help immediately. The only way this pick doesn’t happen is if Artest steals the draft card and changes it to his name along with all of the artists on his music label.
11. Atlanta : Al Thornton/F
• With the Hawks getting their PG need at # 3, they look here for quickness and size. Thornton, at only 6’8” plays bigger and is a great inside/outside player. Will compliment Joe Johnson, Conley and Shelden Williams. Look for the Hawks to win at least 31 games this year (which only puts them 3 games out of an 8 spot in the playoffs)
12. Philadelphia : Julian Wright/ F-C
• Had a solid year at KU. One of the best and most versatile players in the Big 12, playing at a historical school. Only downside is that he played the role of Houdini too many times at KU. Needs to show up consistently in the NBA.
13. New Orleans : Jeff Green/ F
• Great year next to Julius “Dr.” Hibbert at Georgetown. A very nice compliment to a team on the rise in the West. Philly could take Green at 12, but NBA sources say that Philly likes Wright’s upside a little bit more than Green’s.
14. Clippers : Thaddeus Young/ F / Nick Young/ G / Acie Law IV/ G
• This can go with either of these three because the Clippers need everything but the kitchen sink right now. Reasons to draft all three…
Thaddeus Young : Great young talent. Almost too good to pass up at this spot. I expect the Clippers to take him at this spot.
Nick Young : One of the most athletic players in the draft and a great guard…this youtube clip ought to show you why... Nick Young on YouTube
Acie Law IV: Best player in the Big 12 this year not named Kevin Durant. After seeing him single-handedly beat KU this year (a great moment that did not go without its fair share of pinches from a certain someone) I was sold.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Three Reasons You Should Watch the College World Series
5 hours and 40 minutes….
Nope, that isn’t the amount of time I had to wait for a delayed plane to fly out to LAX. It also isn’t the amount of time it took for this years Academy Awards to finish.
5 hours and 40 minutes is the amount of time it may have taken for people around the nation to realize that the College World Series is one of the most exciting events on the yearly sporting calendar. Every year people flock to the 5th wonder of the world, Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. for some of the best baseball in the world. This is the time for schools that aren’t very big in other sports to get on the athletic map. During the CWS, we can see Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, UC-Irvine and even the Rice Owls. We also see the schools that are just good at everything else as well; Florida State, UNC, Texas and the list goes on. This argument is made every year with college football and college basketball, with people arguing why college athletics are better than professional athletics.
I am here to make a statement, the College World Series NEEDS to be a bigger event nationally. I’m talking filling out brackets, watching in bars and maybe even throwing in Gus Johnson to announce the games.
I won’t make any exceptions. The CWS may in fact be one of the most underrated athletic events in the nation, maybe even the world (right next to Olympic curling…that is for a later article).
Here are my top reasons why EVERYONE should be watching the CWS…
1. Excitement
You can’t tell me that, if you watched SportsCenter or even saw the Cal-State Fullerton/UC Irvine game, you didn’t get goose bumps or think to yourself, “Wow, what an ending!” Just like a lot of the other collegiate athletics (namely March Madness and the ever popular BCS games) the College World Series is full of exciting moments. Other collegiate sports are often compared to their professional counterparts, i.e. the Major Leagues. In comparing College baseball to MLB baseball, both have their fair share of excitement. Let’s even compare the playoffs of both leagues. Last year, the World Series pulled its worst ratings since…well…the year before. A big reason for this drop off? The 1994 players strike. Since 1995, the World Series ratings have gone up and down…mostly down. The CWS has always been storied among college athletics pundits, but it is somewhat becoming more popular on a national level. There is a certain excitement of watching Rice play Texas that is missed watching the Yankees play the Devil Rays. The major leagues have their ever storied rivalries (Red Sox/Yanks….Twins/White Sox…Cubs/White Sox…A.J. Pierzynski/whatever teams he used to be on) but every game of the College World Series is a rivalry. Not due to geographical reasons or historical reasons, but the fact that every single kid on those teams doesn’t want to go back home empty handed. There are no shoe deals or contracts that guarantee reward even if they lose. All there is for reward is the national title or nothing at all.
2. History
The first College World Series was held at Hyames Field at Western Michigan in 1947. Yale took on Cal in a best of three series in Kalamazoo, MI. I know that the first question that comes to mind is, “Who was Yale’s first baseman?” Well, maybe not the first question. The young first baseman for the Yale Bulldogs was none other than our 40th President, George H.W. Bush. In an interview with ESPN.com, President Bush noted that
“We thought about it a lot and talked about it in the locker room. A lot of us on the team were veterans and we had come back from the war, so maybe that made it a little less apprehensive. On the other hand, it didn’t deduct from our enthusiasm and our desire to win…”
The CWS only lasted there for 1 more year (Wichita, KS for the ’48-49 season) after the Yale/Cal series. It was then moved to Omaha to Johnny Rosenblatt stadium. Other than Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, there may not be another current baseball stadium that is as historical as Rosenblatt stadium. The MLB World Series is held at different parks pretty much every year, which gives it some variety. Yet the CWS has been held in the same place every year since 1950. This makes Omaha somewhat of a Mecca for baseball fans across the nation. It’s like going to the same sports bar with your buddies for every celebration or to Grandma’s house every Christmas. There is history oozing out of the stadium and every game that is played there. There are new baseball stadiums built every couple of years now and the history rarely travels with the new stadium. The one thing constant about the CWS is that every year, even with different teams, they all return to the Mecca of college baseball.
3. Emotions/Chill factor
There are many great story lines that surround this year’s CWS. My two favorites deal with UC-Irvine. The first is the fact that their season was nothing near dominating at all. They handled playing Cal-Fullerton mid-season by taking two out of three from them at Fullerton’s stadium but lost two out of three to Cal Poly the following weekend. Seeing this and putting them in the CWS against Texas and Wichita State would normally spell doom. The fact of the matter is that they swept Texas and Wichita State away from California and pushed their way into the CWS. They come off as one of those “teams of destiny” that we always hear about during any playoffs and any level. Their only loss in the CWS was to Arizona State and coincidently enough, as I write this the day after their exciting win against Fullerton, the Anteaters of Cal-Irvine just beat Arizona State and Ollie “Ollie-Oxen Free” Linton had the game winning single in the 10th to vault UC Irvine into an elimination game with Oregon State tomorrow night. The other story of the CWS was between the coaches of UC-Irvine and Cal-Fullerton. Irvine’s coach Dave Serrano used to pitch for Fullerton’s coach, George Horton at Cerritos College.
"The bad news is I had to say goodbye to my mentor, coach, friend, my second father, a guy I love a lot," Serrano said. "That's the toughest part about it, seeing his team eliminated. I wish our win hadn't been at their expense, but we went into this knowing one of us would be happy and one of us would be sad." – UC Irvine coach Dave Serrano (San Jose Mercury News)
There are always those “student becomes the teacher” storylines (often times in football and basketball) but in the CWS it is much more meaningful. So many games are played in a baseball season and emotional moments are extra emotional in the CWS. Serrano, after the game, told Horton that he loved him. HOW MANY SPORTS ARE YOU GOING TO HEAR THIS!? With all of the news about John Amaechi coming out of the closet and Tim Hardaway’s comments, such things may be a touchy subject. This game is so emotional that people don’t even think twice when they hear things like this. Watching the last inning of the UC Irvine/Fullerton game was an 8 on the chill factor scale. Each play was more intense than the next. The instant classic was started with Josh Fellhauer throwing out Taylor Holliday at home, preserving the game for one more batter. Then the .318 average Bryan Peterson came to bat, with the game on his shoulders. His single up the middle gave UC Irvine the win and put a cap on one of the most classic games of the 60 year CWS history.
5 Hours and 40 minutes….how much more do you need?
Nope, that isn’t the amount of time I had to wait for a delayed plane to fly out to LAX. It also isn’t the amount of time it took for this years Academy Awards to finish.
5 hours and 40 minutes is the amount of time it may have taken for people around the nation to realize that the College World Series is one of the most exciting events on the yearly sporting calendar. Every year people flock to the 5th wonder of the world, Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. for some of the best baseball in the world. This is the time for schools that aren’t very big in other sports to get on the athletic map. During the CWS, we can see Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, UC-Irvine and even the Rice Owls. We also see the schools that are just good at everything else as well; Florida State, UNC, Texas and the list goes on. This argument is made every year with college football and college basketball, with people arguing why college athletics are better than professional athletics.
I am here to make a statement, the College World Series NEEDS to be a bigger event nationally. I’m talking filling out brackets, watching in bars and maybe even throwing in Gus Johnson to announce the games.
I won’t make any exceptions. The CWS may in fact be one of the most underrated athletic events in the nation, maybe even the world (right next to Olympic curling…that is for a later article).
Here are my top reasons why EVERYONE should be watching the CWS…
1. Excitement
You can’t tell me that, if you watched SportsCenter or even saw the Cal-State Fullerton/UC Irvine game, you didn’t get goose bumps or think to yourself, “Wow, what an ending!” Just like a lot of the other collegiate athletics (namely March Madness and the ever popular BCS games) the College World Series is full of exciting moments. Other collegiate sports are often compared to their professional counterparts, i.e. the Major Leagues. In comparing College baseball to MLB baseball, both have their fair share of excitement. Let’s even compare the playoffs of both leagues. Last year, the World Series pulled its worst ratings since…well…the year before. A big reason for this drop off? The 1994 players strike. Since 1995, the World Series ratings have gone up and down…mostly down. The CWS has always been storied among college athletics pundits, but it is somewhat becoming more popular on a national level. There is a certain excitement of watching Rice play Texas that is missed watching the Yankees play the Devil Rays. The major leagues have their ever storied rivalries (Red Sox/Yanks….Twins/White Sox…Cubs/White Sox…A.J. Pierzynski/whatever teams he used to be on) but every game of the College World Series is a rivalry. Not due to geographical reasons or historical reasons, but the fact that every single kid on those teams doesn’t want to go back home empty handed. There are no shoe deals or contracts that guarantee reward even if they lose. All there is for reward is the national title or nothing at all.
2. History
The first College World Series was held at Hyames Field at Western Michigan in 1947. Yale took on Cal in a best of three series in Kalamazoo, MI. I know that the first question that comes to mind is, “Who was Yale’s first baseman?” Well, maybe not the first question. The young first baseman for the Yale Bulldogs was none other than our 40th President, George H.W. Bush. In an interview with ESPN.com, President Bush noted that
“We thought about it a lot and talked about it in the locker room. A lot of us on the team were veterans and we had come back from the war, so maybe that made it a little less apprehensive. On the other hand, it didn’t deduct from our enthusiasm and our desire to win…”
The CWS only lasted there for 1 more year (Wichita, KS for the ’48-49 season) after the Yale/Cal series. It was then moved to Omaha to Johnny Rosenblatt stadium. Other than Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, there may not be another current baseball stadium that is as historical as Rosenblatt stadium. The MLB World Series is held at different parks pretty much every year, which gives it some variety. Yet the CWS has been held in the same place every year since 1950. This makes Omaha somewhat of a Mecca for baseball fans across the nation. It’s like going to the same sports bar with your buddies for every celebration or to Grandma’s house every Christmas. There is history oozing out of the stadium and every game that is played there. There are new baseball stadiums built every couple of years now and the history rarely travels with the new stadium. The one thing constant about the CWS is that every year, even with different teams, they all return to the Mecca of college baseball.
3. Emotions/Chill factor
There are many great story lines that surround this year’s CWS. My two favorites deal with UC-Irvine. The first is the fact that their season was nothing near dominating at all. They handled playing Cal-Fullerton mid-season by taking two out of three from them at Fullerton’s stadium but lost two out of three to Cal Poly the following weekend. Seeing this and putting them in the CWS against Texas and Wichita State would normally spell doom. The fact of the matter is that they swept Texas and Wichita State away from California and pushed their way into the CWS. They come off as one of those “teams of destiny” that we always hear about during any playoffs and any level. Their only loss in the CWS was to Arizona State and coincidently enough, as I write this the day after their exciting win against Fullerton, the Anteaters of Cal-Irvine just beat Arizona State and Ollie “Ollie-Oxen Free” Linton had the game winning single in the 10th to vault UC Irvine into an elimination game with Oregon State tomorrow night. The other story of the CWS was between the coaches of UC-Irvine and Cal-Fullerton. Irvine’s coach Dave Serrano used to pitch for Fullerton’s coach, George Horton at Cerritos College.
"The bad news is I had to say goodbye to my mentor, coach, friend, my second father, a guy I love a lot," Serrano said. "That's the toughest part about it, seeing his team eliminated. I wish our win hadn't been at their expense, but we went into this knowing one of us would be happy and one of us would be sad." – UC Irvine coach Dave Serrano (San Jose Mercury News)
There are always those “student becomes the teacher” storylines (often times in football and basketball) but in the CWS it is much more meaningful. So many games are played in a baseball season and emotional moments are extra emotional in the CWS. Serrano, after the game, told Horton that he loved him. HOW MANY SPORTS ARE YOU GOING TO HEAR THIS!? With all of the news about John Amaechi coming out of the closet and Tim Hardaway’s comments, such things may be a touchy subject. This game is so emotional that people don’t even think twice when they hear things like this. Watching the last inning of the UC Irvine/Fullerton game was an 8 on the chill factor scale. Each play was more intense than the next. The instant classic was started with Josh Fellhauer throwing out Taylor Holliday at home, preserving the game for one more batter. Then the .318 average Bryan Peterson came to bat, with the game on his shoulders. His single up the middle gave UC Irvine the win and put a cap on one of the most classic games of the 60 year CWS history.
5 Hours and 40 minutes….how much more do you need?
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