Ironic?

I guess you might say that Michael Vick is one of the people that you thought you would tell your grandchildren about when you were old and gray. Well now he has cemented his place in Hall of Shame. I can't think of a quicker fall from grace. Rose, Tyson, Rocker, just pick your best argument for an illustration. This is; dare I say, epic.
Michael Vick was the quarterback that broke the mold, coming off his performance in the National Championship game against the Seminoles of Florida State in 2000. From all accounts that I have read, and heard, the guy was a caring, giving person. He has done a lot of good with the money he got from playing in the NFL. Dan Reeves, Frank Beamer, and countless others have been interviewed by multiple media outlets. I haven't found a damning statement from anyone that had a relationship with Vick. That said; I'm sure there is some guy that will try and get his 15 minutes of fame from this horrific event. So shame on him too.
Vick has let everyone down. I know that there are people in the Falcons fan base that will say he was framed, but there is an idiot born each minute, so go figure. It is inexcusable. To pit anything against another for getting your jollies, is just sick. People are all bent out of shape because it was dogs, and I get that. They are defenseless creatures, unless trained to do harm.
Mr. Vick probably deserves more than he will get; however what I'm having a problem wrapping my head around is, Where did all this morality come from?
We have had stars, or better yet, just people in your own neighborhood that beat their wives. People are getting shot in the street for no reason whatsoever. Children are being abused by adults, just to be let out on the streets again to repeat the offense. Where are the picket line at those trials?
I'm not happy to say this, not in any way. If you thought it was going to be hard to explain to your grandson that Barry allegedly used steroids to achieve his Home Run record, try putting a good face on for the kid when he finds out the guy playing killed "Fluffy".
Vick will probably get a year, and a half in the clink to think about his transgressions, and be glorified in the Big House, by his fellow perps. The NFL will ban him for a year, thus allowing him to return around 2010. Probably not as a quarterback, but with his athleticism someone will find him a place.
After Monday's plea, he will start a PR campaign the likes even Washington D.C. has never seen. For some reason it makes me wonder if he fooled so many people all this time, can you ever really trust the guy? I'm starting to believe Vick's reputation will be ironically like that of the pit bulls he bred. STOP! Audience Participation Time! Please reread the last sentence, and when you get to pit bull, insert your minds eye here.
Unfortunately, his dogs will be put down because they could never be pets, they won't get a second chance. Mr. Vick will. Then we will see if you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Point?

Well another Major on the PGA Tour has come to its logical conclusion, with the guy in red holding the trophy. After Woods dropped that 63 on Friday, there was really no reason to watch. Everybody in the tournament went to bed that night playing for second. That said, I watched the back 9 after a great brunch: Eggs Benedict, Key Lime pie, and Glenlivet neat. Anyway, to the point.

I watched Tiger methodically play the course in his "Sunday Red". He played the last 3 holes knowing he had the tourney in the bag. After a 3 putt bogey at the 14th, Woods sunk a birdie putt on the 15th hole. As he watched the ball drop in, he pointed right at the hole. That was the moment. You usually see that fist pump he is well known for, or some other gesture that causes the crowd to go wild and his playing partner melt. This time that guy was Stephen Ames, who shot a 6 over 76. He started the day in second, and ended up tied for 12th. Tiger's point was basically saying, "That's the shot that put it away."

As a side note, I would add that it was good to see his wife and newborn also wearing "red" to celebrate the win. If you had a chance to see how fast he dropped that ball into his pocket, you know he is keeping that one for his mantle. Special day, special guy.

That's not a Real Name!

In my never-ending quest to write articles no one cares about, I give you this one on team names. I have thought about this on and off, usually when I see the Devil Rays, Jaguars, or Timberwolves mentioned. I dug out this article from 2001 which quickly states the categories:

In the not-too-distant past -- think post-Chicago Staleys, pre-Chicago Fire -- professional team names tended to emerge from five generally accepted categories: uniform colors (White Sox, Red Sox, Reds, Browns); local industry, geography and lore (Packers, Astros, Lakers, Trailblazers); American Indians (Chiefs, Redskins, Blackhawks, Braves); nautical aggressors (Pirates, Buccaneers, Raiders, Vikings); and animals (Broncos, Rams, Colts, Bucks). [SOURCE]

Other than the fact that the Cleveland Browns were not named after their uniform color but the head coach at the time (Paul Brown, against his initial wishes, and who is pictured above rooting through potential Bengals helmets in the late 60's), this states the situation fairly clearly. For the sake of sanity, I am not considering college teams or any sport outside the Big 4 (well, three and a half). The tops in my book:

1. New York Yankees. Classic, and invokes an automatic, knee-jerk emotional reaction like "F*&! the Yankees" or "Hell yeah!" Involves an aspect I feel one needs in a the classic name - you can't envision it in another town, say, the Las Vegas Yankees . Say what? (Although there are exceptions to this below.)
2. Boston Celtics. Another classic. Like the Yankees, the Celtics' history helps them. One thinks half the town hails from Northern Great Britain even though this ain't exactly the case.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers. I think Pittsburgh would be a shell of a town (more than it already is) without the Steelers. Good name, localized, and unmovable. Although their recent addition of new mascot, Steely McBeam, is almost enough reason to drop them off this list entirely.
4. Dallas Cowboys. May deserve higher ranking on this list, but while the Cowboys do get an emotional reaction not unlike the Yankees, they lack a certain umph for me which I can't really explain. God help you if you meet a Cowboys/Yankees fan though.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs. It may be hockey, but it's a good name. Proceed with caution when naming yourself after a foliage however.
   
6. Chicago Cubs. Not localized, but definitely unmovable. The Cubs are classic for their ineptitude, and thus their fans carry that stigma as well. Should they actually make it to the World Series one day some of the mystique will surely vanish.
7. Green Bay Packers. Even worse than the Steelers, should the Packers wither and die they would most definitely take the city with them. Localized, classic, unmovable, and certainly the reason 90% of the town still lives there.
8. Tie: Philadelphia 76er's and San Francisco 49er's. Both great names which can't really be applied anywhere but where they are.
9. New Orleans Saints. Completely embodies the town for some reason. You might move this name, but it would never be the same.
   
10. Houston Astros. Great name, although I wish they had kept those uniforms which made us adjust the tint on the TV.

Honorable Mention:

• Boston Red Sox
• New England Patriots
• Milwaukee Brewers
• San Diego Padres
• Detroit Pistons
• Cleveland Browns (only team named after an actual person)
• Hartford Whalers, wait...nevermind.
  

These teams are not in because they moved the unmovable name (and other reasons):

1. Los Angeles Dodgers. One dodges trolley cars in Brooklyn, not paparazzi in Santa Monica.
   
2. Los Angeles Lakers. Hey LA, pick your own name why don't you? Of all the teams in LA only the Kings (ZZzzz...) came up with their own name. I think.
3. Utah Jazz. You've got to be kidding me.
4. Indianapolis Colts. Just because you did this foolhardy thing in the middle of the night does not mean we didn't notice.
   

Names we want back:

1. Washington Bullets
2. Houston Colt .45's
3. Cincinnati Clowns
   

And now, for some of the worst:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Carolina Panthers
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Anaheim Mighty Ducks
9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Tennessee Titans
    

Now it's your turn...the Polls for Best & Worst Team Name:

Image Conscious?

Imagine Nolan Ryan standing on the mound in the bottom of the 9th, no hitter, two outs, and no runners on base. The manager walks out, puts his hand out asking for the ball, as he says, "You've reached your pitch limit." Twelve-year-old Daniel Inmacolato had this happen to him in a summer baseball camp.

This is the first year that the 85 pitch count will be in effect at the Little League World Series. In the past a child could throw six innings - the equivalent of a complete game. This year pitchers will be limited to 85 pitches per outing. Pitchers who throw more than 20 pitches in a game may not pitch in consecutive games. A pitcher who throws 46 or more pitches in a game must rest at least two days before pitching again. Gone are the days when a team with two good pitchers could get through a series. This new rule may lead to a dilution of the pitching quality in Little League.

Each year kids get better at putting the bat on the ball. This means every foul ball counts in your pitch count. If you run a few counts 3-2, you're gone in the fifth. So who pitches the 6th? The bullpen. With the volatility that is the "Bullpen" even at the Major League level, we are a short hop from set up guys and closers for the Little League managers to worry about. Some say it will develop more talent, but look at the expansion of the MLB and the way it diluted the pitching in the majors.

They are youngsters, so I understand the facts of arm fatigue, and injury. When I played you threw until you couldn't get guys out, and in more than one league at a time. I felt for Daniel as I read the account of him kicking the dirt, wanting the no hitter. That changed when I got to the end of the article and I read, "I like playing in the field, because if the other team makes runs, it's not my fault.'' I know he is young, but finger pointing is not good baseball. What in his playing career has made him think it is the pitcher's fault for runs to score? Or that it is not the shortstop's fault that runs score.

Someone needs to tell the kids that it is not if you win or lose, but how you play the game. With an attitude like that I'm wondering if the coaches are sending the right message, or if it is just a sign of the times.

Chew on this Lassie!

I heard about this last week but it slipped my mind until I ran into it today...for the dog that has everything:

The Michael Vick Dog Chew Toy

For only $10.99 (plus S&H) your dog can gnaw on Mr. Vick's rubber cranium. Some of the proceeds supposedly go to raising awareness for animal abuse, however, I would not be surprised if that awareness begins and ends with a bumper sticker on the owner of this website's new Mercedes. And remember:

Disclaimer: Vick's Chew Toy is a fictional character. It's use is not intended to harm anyone living or dead. It is a novelty character and a pet chew toy. Vick's Chew Toy is being used to bring awareness to animal abuse. Any similarities to The National Football League MVP and All Star Michael Vick are false. The image of Vick's chew toy used on our website is not an exact representation of Vick's Chew Toy, however, satisfaction is guaranteed.

Satisfaction is guaranteed! And that is not Michael Vick. My bad.

Oh, by the way...

Barry Bonds hit home run #756 last night, giving him sole possession of number two on the all-time list comfortably behind Sadaharu Oh who checks in with 868.
"Oh's record doesn't count," you say?
"He played in Japan," you mention?
"The Yomiuri Giants don't play in the National League," you point out.
Whatever, I say. Check out these facts:

1. Led the League (the "League" is プロ野球 or Puro Yakyū or Nippon Professional Baseball) in home runs fifteen times, including thirteen straight seasons.
   
2. Led the League in RBI's for thirteen seasons.
   
3. He was a five-time batting champion and won the Japanese Central League's (NPB is split into the Central and Pacific League's, like the National and American) batting triple crown twice.
   
4. While Oh was there, the Yomiuri Giants won eleven championships.
5. Oh was named the Central League's Most Valuable Player nine times and was an All-Star team eighteen times. [SOURCE] (I have seen various versions of these numbers, like he was an All-Star 20 times, but you get the idea.)
   

That's pretty good. "Yeah, but he played against inferior talent." I hear you. I just don't believe you. At last glance, Ichiro is pretty good. Daisuke Matsuzaka ain't a bad pitcher by any means. Hideki Okajima has an astronomical ERA of 1 this year. Are you trying to tell me that Dennis Springer, Rick Vanden Hurk, and Mike Bacsik make Barry Bonds' number more legitimate? Bonds hit HR's 71 and 72 off Chan Ho Park (admittedly, South Korean) in 2001. And who's to say that Babe Ruth would have hit 714 HR if MLB had been integrated? Is his record diminished because a fairly decent sized contingent of good to great baseball players wasn't allowed to suit up and play on the same field?

If the recent influx of international talent has shown us anything, it is that the United States does not have a demonstrable edge in baseball talent over the rest of the world. Give Oh his due. A good case for Oh is HERE, with links to further statistical analysis as well.

Not only should he be in the Hall of Fame, we should recognize his home run total as well. At the very least it gives the players yet another number to shoot for - and as a baseball fan I love those numbers to shoot for. It's funny how that works. I always thought Roger Maris' 61 in '61 was holy ground - a number that was much more fascinating on a pedestal way up there than as a number anyone should actually approach. Then lo' and behold it was surpassed six times in three years (1998-2001), three times by Sammy Sosa alone.

Put Oh in the Hall, tell Barry he has 112 to go, and give me call when A-Rod gets to 860.

300?

Mr. Bonds hit his 755th Home Run a couple nights ago, tying him with Hank Aaron for the all time lead. He will finish this season with around 770. That's what the mark will be for A-Rod, who became the youngest player to hit 500 homers. So you see, that number is attainable.

On the other hand, Tom Glavine got his 300th win the other night. This number may be farther away from being seen again than any other number in baseball. The closest people to it are Randy Johnson at 284, but he's going to try and comeback after his 2nd back surgery at 42 years old. Mike Mussina at 245 is a grinder and a Yankee, but what happens when his contract is up at the end of the season? Are you throwing 10 million at an aging guy again? With the current swirl around the YES network being up for sale, and the rumors of "The Boss'" health in decline, the Yankees could be also. David Wells has 235 wins, but he's a coronary waiting to happen. You can't carry that weight and get another 65. 225 sees Jamie Moyer who spends too much time on the DL. Curt Schilling is at 213, but he came up in 1986. Do the math. Pedro Martinez is in the 200 club by 6, and he has no chance of getting a sniff of 300.

Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games, Rickey Henderson's 1,406 stolen bases, and Pete Rose's 4,256 hits are astronomical numbers. Even Barry's 73 homers in a season is mind blowing, but fresh in our collective memory. Baseball is a numbers game, and these numbers may be imaginable but only if you're a fan. 300 wins has been placed into a new group of numbers - the numbers that are set in stone as we watch these things happen. The one caveat to 300 wins is that most team's starters are only going 6 innings an outing and bullpens are the soft underbelly of the team. Long gone are the days of complete games and dominate closers going one inning.

Professor's Poll: Here's a list of some of the "unattainable" numbers in baseball. Feel free to add your own with the "Other" answer.

Griffey Deserves All-Time Best Billing

Here is a spattering of comments from The Sporting News.com forum, which I find typical, concerning Ken Griffey Jr. and the "What Could Have Been" scenario:

...Ken Griffey Jr. has the most beautiful swing in baseball. He has used it with tremendous power over the past decade and a half but he had a potential for much, much more. wvthundr

..Still one of the greatest outfielders though. Will unfortunately go down as one of the "how good would he have REALLY been" stories... hotlanta25

...If it weren't for Griffey's injury problems I could easily have seen him on pace to either break Aaron's record this year or next. It's a shame that he had to go through all the problems he has had because when he is healthy he is still as deadly as ever. tbeals7

It's sad to think about the talent being wasted by injuries with Junior Griffey... MFazio23

You get the idea, and I know you have heard it all before. I think this is the wrong way to evaluate Griffey. Unfortunately for him, he has had the bad luck to have his misfortunes at the end of his career instead of the beginning. I rarely hear anyone saying, "Well, Sandy Koufax would have been one of the best ever if it weren't for those first six years of his career." (In which he averaged six wins and a 4.04 ERA.)

Sure, Griffey might be pushing his way further up all-time lists if injuries had not come calling. But is anyone claiming Jim Brown is not one of the best, if not the best, football players ever because he only played nine years? Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the best baseball players ever. Period.

As a Reds fan I regret not getting Griffey's best years here in Cincinnati. That said, he had enough "best years" in Seattle (and has been nowhere near a "bad" player, when healthy, in Cincinnati) to easily be considered with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Ted Williams on the short list of greatest outfielders of all-time. In fact, when the All-Century team was announced in 1999 Griffey was the only active position player who made the starting lineup. (Griffey finished 8th. Barry Bonds? 18th. And remember, Griffey is five years younger than Bonds.)

Has Griffey become a worse player since 1999? Much less so than Willie Mays was with the Mets. Stop the, "Well, he could have had 700 HR by now" talk. Ted Williams could have had some insane numbers had the Japanese not bombed Pearl Harbor. Babe Ruth might not have had the numbers he put up had baseball been integrated. (That topic is for another day...)

I understand discussions such as this - comparing eras, who's the best and who's a bum, etc. - are why sports talk radio exists and are near-and-dear topics of sports fans everywhere, including myself. The four letter network appears to revel in this inanery lately with their Who's Now and top 50 future football Hall of Famer shenanigans.

Stop evaluating Griffey on what coulda-shoulda-woulda been. At age 30 Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the greatest players of all-time. Today, at age 38, he is still one of the greatest players of all-time. And my oh my, what a swing....

Smoke?

While sitting back and taking a look at the landscape that is the Michael Vick show, it seems that the other shoe which could drop may be Shaq-sized. With one of the original defendants [Tony Taylor] in the dog fighting case copping a plea, rolling over, and getting ready to drop a dime on the elusive QB, it makes sense to me to think this thing is going to mushroom into a three ring circus.

I would like to say that I have been torn about weighing in on the Vick issue because in the United States, "You're innocent until proven guilty." I hope that justice is served and the truth comes out. It looks bleak in the Vick camp, but what about the other two defendants without a few million to lawyer up? The pressure got to one defendant already, which leads to the smoke.

The fact that the original warrant for the property was for a marijuana charge...and the person [Devon Boddie] for whom the drug warrant was issued is not named in the dog fighting indictment...I would say the chances that he is singing are pretty good. He is the cousin of Vick, was living in the house, and proclaimed Vick had no idea. If Tony Taylor is truly honest and spills the beans on what went on in that house, things could go from bad to worse. Shortly after Vick signed his rookie contract, Taylor was living at the house after finding the property and having it built.He apparently left the kennel over a money dispute in 2004. Go figure?

From the way people are backing away from Vick you would think he was radioactive; and if Federal Drug charges come down in the superseding indictment, he will be. People think the government is going after him due to his celebrity status, but that $100 million contract he signed gave him Steinbrenner style backing for whatever enterprise he chose. The chances drugs were not a part of the house that "Bad News Kennels" occupied seems a long shot, since the original problem was drug related. All of these actions seem to be linked by the culture of 'the hood.' Money is power - backing a book for breeding dogs and dog fighting allowed the defendants to be automatic players in that subculture.

Feeling Bud's Pain

No better reason to snap out of a brief hiatus than to check in on the fine commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig. Seems Bud is having a bit of an issue attending baseball games. In this article from The New York Times we get a brief glimpse into the horror that is the life of a baseball commissioner:

Commissioner Bud Selig was at Dodger Stadium to watch Barry Bonds pursue Hank Aaron’s record again on Wednesday night, but Selig did not sound like someone who was thrilled to be in Los Angeles.

“This has been a tough experience, I don’t mind telling you,” Selig said.

Selig did not elaborate, but he seemed to be referring to something more than the flights and the hotel beds. Counting Wednesday’s contest against the Dodgers, Selig has attended eight of the Giants’ last 12 games. After delaying his decision for months, Selig is shadowing Bonds. For now, anyway.

“I don’t think anybody can say I haven’t made a Herculean effort,” Selig said. “In fact, I have a lot of people who are stunned I’m still at it.”

“I’ll do this as long as it’s practical,” Selig said.

Man, I'm feeling you brother. No one hates tripping across the country in my G-4, staying in 5-Star Hotels, and having to attend freakin' baseball games like I do. Bud, let me add my name to the lengthy list of those who are stunned, absolutely floored, that you are still at it.

"Herculean effort?" Some may scoff at this use of Roman mythological hyperbole. But they are not the ones who have to eat room service at the Four Seasons (Quail? Again!!?), sit in those ergonomically incorrect seats in the owner's box, and actually have to watch Barry Bonds every game. The correct answers to the questions are: (1) "No, I will not sign your baseball."; (2) "No, I will not wave to the fans." and; (3) "Pete Rose? Never heard of him." (Feel free to print that out for a handy pocket reference card). I know you don't want to be a part of this - Hank Aaron is your buddy. And we all know you were only the interim commissioner during the whole (alleged) steroid craze.

"Practical?" I think the days of practical are long past Bud. Go home, get some rest (1020-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets? Like cardboard!), and prepare for what portends to be an arduous journey to that hell hole known as San Diego this weekend. We (or at least, I) feel your pain Bud. In fact, why don't you just resign. That'll show 'em.