I have been getting sick and tired of people in sports calling the Brewers and Cavaliers cocky. These are two young teams who love to play and are having fun doing it.
First I will break down the Cavaliers and how they are not cocky. Led by Lebron James the Cleveland Cavaliers had one best regular season's in recent history. They won the most home games in the history of the NBA, part of that was the confidence that they had going into each game. With their crowd behind them, they were a lovable team that you could tell was having a great time playing. They had more enthusiasm to play the game then any team I can remember in recent history. People would have problems with them because of the dances they did before the game or not taking the game serious enough. I disagree with this critics because it was this fun attitude that helped them win and it never showed up the other team. With a pregame dance ritual as long as it isn't in the face of the other team I don't think their should be such a fuss over it.
The Brewers are another young team with a passion for the game. They believe in each other and love comign to the ball park everyday. One of the biggest misconceptions of what they do is after the game when they untuck their shirts. People think it is showing up the other team when in fact it is to show respect to Mike Cameron's father. Cameron is the Brewers' leader and has un-tucked his jersey after victories since the beginning of his career. It's a tribute to his father, a blue collar worker who would untuck at the end of a hard days work. His teammates in Milwaukee picked it up, and made it a team thing. This is a silly thing to call them cocky about. It just seems like many times national commentators or opposing managers call this a cocky, brash group of guys and I just get annoyed by it. Anytime Ryan Braun watches his homerun, he is so arrogant. But Albert Pujols watches every homerun until the fan who caught it is done celebrating; and nobody says anything.
But that's just my TWO CENTS FROM THE NOSE BLEEDS
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Best shot of the............
(Blogging from Majic Office, shout out requested by Michael Jurken)
When watching Lebron James' game winning shot against the Magic in game, I thought, "that shot was the best shot I have seen in....." and I wondered how good was that shot. It was the best shot I have seen this playoffs... this season...and Lebron James' career... but was it the best I had seen in the last five years? Was this the best shot at the end of game I have ever seen in my life. Is this shot better than Jordan's pushoff of Bryon Russell.
LEBRON'S SHOT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIO2Ug8jq3E)
When saying something is the best shot many things need to be considered: importance of shot and game, difficulty, and situation of the series. While I do enjoy James' shot it was game two, not a game six or seven to end a series. Jordan's ended his first career, many great shots of my lifetime to end series maybe have more significance. But although it did not end the series with the Magic being up 3-1 the series may be over had he not hit it. If they do come back to win the series it could have just as much significance as any game 7 shot. The difficulty of the shot rivals any last second playoff winner I have seen, it being a fade away three pointer with a hand in his face. Jordan's great shots were from the elbow or a little inside three point line, this shot was a bomb.
The significance of the shot is I believe while Jordan had many shots at the end of his career to solidify his greatness, I believe this shot is first of many of young James' career that will define him as clutch. In previous seasons many times Lebron could be seen missing shots at the end of games and key free throws, this however I feel will be a thing of the past and clutch Lebron will be the thing he will be remembered for.
The real question with the Cavs is will they find ANYBODY who can play with him. I wonder whether the Cavs without Lebron could beat this YMCA basketball team (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiX0lFlbB1E). Mo Williams is shooting 33% in the series and West and other players are spotty and average at best. Its a shame Lebron does have a Pippen that will make him unable to match Jordan's rings.
When watching Lebron James' game winning shot against the Magic in game, I thought, "that shot was the best shot I have seen in....." and I wondered how good was that shot. It was the best shot I have seen this playoffs... this season...and Lebron James' career... but was it the best I had seen in the last five years? Was this the best shot at the end of game I have ever seen in my life. Is this shot better than Jordan's pushoff of Bryon Russell.
LEBRON'S SHOT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIO2Ug8jq3E)
When saying something is the best shot many things need to be considered: importance of shot and game, difficulty, and situation of the series. While I do enjoy James' shot it was game two, not a game six or seven to end a series. Jordan's ended his first career, many great shots of my lifetime to end series maybe have more significance. But although it did not end the series with the Magic being up 3-1 the series may be over had he not hit it. If they do come back to win the series it could have just as much significance as any game 7 shot. The difficulty of the shot rivals any last second playoff winner I have seen, it being a fade away three pointer with a hand in his face. Jordan's great shots were from the elbow or a little inside three point line, this shot was a bomb.
The significance of the shot is I believe while Jordan had many shots at the end of his career to solidify his greatness, I believe this shot is first of many of young James' career that will define him as clutch. In previous seasons many times Lebron could be seen missing shots at the end of games and key free throws, this however I feel will be a thing of the past and clutch Lebron will be the thing he will be remembered for.
The real question with the Cavs is will they find ANYBODY who can play with him. I wonder whether the Cavs without Lebron could beat this YMCA basketball team (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiX0lFlbB1E). Mo Williams is shooting 33% in the series and West and other players are spotty and average at best. Its a shame Lebron does have a Pippen that will make him unable to match Jordan's rings.
But that is just my TWO CENTS FROM THE NOSE BLEEDS....
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Winning the Argument
I never thought I would see the day when a manager won an argument with an umpire during a baseball game. But as I watched the Brewers, Twins game on Sunday evening the unthinkable happened...
Set the scene:
Two men our on for the Twins and red hot Joe Mauer comes to the plate. An inside pitch strikes the hands or bat of the Minnesota batter, the medical staff comes out and there is a little confusion on the call. After the staff talks with Mauer he goes to take his base, at which point the manager Ron Gardenhire comes out to argue the call. As the fight continues both the umpire and Gardenhire seem to be very livid both arguing their points. Mauer keeps pointing to his hand with had a bruise on it.
Gardenhire leaves with a look disgust as if he did not get his message across. All of the sudden the umpire says take your base. Without speaking with any other umpires, using video evidence, or anything other helpful devices; decides to change his mind from the compelling argument given what he believed to be a young Johnny Cochran.
The next batter Justin Morneau hit a grand slam to ensure the sweep of the Brewers.
My problem was not so much with the fact Mauer was hit or not, it was the reversal. I almost wish at moments like this umpires could be have microphones like NFL refs to tell us what the hell they are thinking. It just makes me think maybe we should look for a compelling young debater like Tom Cruise as Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men, rather than Ken Macha who is more like Lionel Hutz from the Simpsons.
or
But that is just my TWO CENTS FROM THE NOSE BLEEDS....
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Brewers Rolling....
Brewers had another impressive win tonight, getting 6 good innings from Bush and another solid save from Trevor.
Brewers look as good as I have even seen them in my short life. They seem to be clicking on all cylinders. People are going to need to pick it up with the absence of Rickie, but some Brewers have not been playing to their full potential thus far.
JJ Hardy has yet to find his rhythm that he has been in the last few years. Corey Hart's power numbers and batting average also are not where they were last year and during his torrid spring training. It seems as if the Brewers are going to see whether McGehee, Gamel, CC, and Hall can hold down the infield without their second basemen. But I believe Melvin will pull the trigger if the right deal comes along and those guys are under achieving.
Brewers look as good as I have even seen them in my short life. They seem to be clicking on all cylinders. People are going to need to pick it up with the absence of Rickie, but some Brewers have not been playing to their full potential thus far.
JJ Hardy has yet to find his rhythm that he has been in the last few years. Corey Hart's power numbers and batting average also are not where they were last year and during his torrid spring training. It seems as if the Brewers are going to see whether McGehee, Gamel, CC, and Hall can hold down the infield without their second basemen. But I believe Melvin will pull the trigger if the right deal comes along and those guys are under achieving.
Weeks out for the Year
Well many are ready to write off the Brewers once again after the heart-breaking injury of Rickie Weeks; I believe it is another opportunity for the young Brewers to find a new superstar. Mat Gamel's recent promotion seems as if it could not have come at a better time. While the true reason for his promotion was to hit as DH during the inter league play I believe that this Weeks' injury means Mat Gamel will be a regular starter for the Brewers. I see versatile Bill Hall stepping up as an everyday 2B and Gamel and Craig Counsell splitting time at 3B. I think Ken Macha is going to show off his creativeness with lineups. I think Corey Hart will have to step up as the leadoff with speed and lack of power this year.
I see our new lineup as follows:
1. Hart RF
2. Gamel 3B
3. Braun LF
4. Fielder 1B
5. Cameron CF
6. Hall 2B
7. Hardy SS
8. Kendall C
9. Pitcher
I also think another option is trying to move up Escobar and toy with Hardy, Hall, Gamel, and Escobar to find the hottest 3 at 2B, SS, and 3B.
I see our new lineup as follows:
1. Hart RF
2. Gamel 3B
3. Braun LF
4. Fielder 1B
5. Cameron CF
6. Hall 2B
7. Hardy SS
8. Kendall C
9. Pitcher
I also think another option is trying to move up Escobar and toy with Hardy, Hall, Gamel, and Escobar to find the hottest 3 at 2B, SS, and 3B.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Brewers- 5-16 - 5/18
This Friday I walked into Busch Stadium for the first time excited to see my first place Brewers for the first time this regular season. The game started and the Brewers did not look good with Yovanni giving up a two run home run. Then I heard Aunt Em yell, "DOOOOOOOOORRRRRTHYYY" and a twister seemed to consume Busch Stadium. I realized soon, "I wasn't in Milwaukee anymore." Because we were just close the roof and problem solved, nice going Cardinals with the new Stadium. (In all seriousness an awesome stadium, not everybody can afford retractable roofs.) As we sat there waiting to hear whether the game was cancelled we thought, so we are through an inning and a half what are the rainout rules. It just so happens when the game is rescheduled the game starts from the first inning. Meaning because of the great Busch Twister, Yovanni ERA is saved.
But Brewers are truly turing up the heat and seem to be the team to beat right now in baseball. With their starting pitching putting up gritty performances night after night and the bats showing up in clutch times, it looks like Playoffs aren't so unreasonable Mora (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwq7BYOnDrM). I know too early to say that but I am loving the team right now.
Awards this week
Week MVP: Trevor Hoffman
9-9 Saves and hasn't given up an earned run or walk. Don't know if he will keep it up but so far so good for Hells Bells
Pitcher of the Week: Jeff Suppan
Usually makes me need to go to confession after all the swears I yell at the TV when he is pitching but he pitched a gem on Saturday to retire Cardinals hitters
Hitter of Week- Rickie Weeks
I feel like I was going to vomit preseason when I heard about Rickie's "potential" and Suppan's "experience" but I guess people were right about him. His near cycle had Chad Moheller at the edge of his seat thinking he would be bethrowned for last Brewer to hit for the cycle.
Year so far Awards
MVP: Mike Cameron
MVPitcher: Yovanni
Hitter: who needs brains when you got Braun
Comeback: Rickie Weeks/ Craig Counsell
Surpise: Middle relievers stepping up (Difelice, Stetter, Coffey)
Most Valuable Coach- Dale Sveum, thanks for your work with Rickie, agressiveness pays off for some hitters (http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/45155312.html)
Just first Brewers post of many....
But Brewers are truly turing up the heat and seem to be the team to beat right now in baseball. With their starting pitching putting up gritty performances night after night and the bats showing up in clutch times, it looks like Playoffs aren't so unreasonable Mora (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwq7BYOnDrM). I know too early to say that but I am loving the team right now.
Awards this week
Week MVP: Trevor Hoffman
9-9 Saves and hasn't given up an earned run or walk. Don't know if he will keep it up but so far so good for Hells Bells
Pitcher of the Week: Jeff Suppan
Usually makes me need to go to confession after all the swears I yell at the TV when he is pitching but he pitched a gem on Saturday to retire Cardinals hitters
Hitter of Week- Rickie Weeks
I feel like I was going to vomit preseason when I heard about Rickie's "potential" and Suppan's "experience" but I guess people were right about him. His near cycle had Chad Moheller at the edge of his seat thinking he would be bethrowned for last Brewer to hit for the cycle.
Year so far Awards
MVP: Mike Cameron
MVPitcher: Yovanni
Hitter: who needs brains when you got Braun
Comeback: Rickie Weeks/ Craig Counsell
Surpise: Middle relievers stepping up (Difelice, Stetter, Coffey)
Most Valuable Coach- Dale Sveum, thanks for your work with Rickie, agressiveness pays off for some hitters (http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/45155312.html)
Just first Brewers post of many....
America's Sport?
While we are in full swing of MLB Baseball and football is months away I start to question, "What is America's most beloved sport?" While no one questions the history and mystique of the game of baseball do Americans care as much about baseball anymore or has football everyone's true interest.
First off, when thinking of "America's pastime" immediately baseball comes to everyone's mind appreciating the historic game as the national sport. Names like Ruth, Mantle, Dimaggio, Robinson, Mays, and Aaron are household names that sport fans find sacred. The history at Fenway, Wrigley, and Yankee Stadium (former) give the leauge its character and defines the American Dream. Baseball for years was the purest form of sport in the United States and the most popular, this trend however seems to be going away.
With the steriod era, tarnishing the historic records and corruption surrounding the leauge's greats many question where the league is headed. In recent years attendance has hurt and television ratings have dipped accordingly. Some of the most sacred things in baseball are the records, that is why during the 1998 the Home Run race between Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr. reenergized "America's Sport". People who never watched baseball in their life started following how well each slugger was doing, seeing if they had any "juice" the next day to hit another home run. The sport seemed to be back and McGwire and Sosa were saving it. Then steriods started being talked about and people were doubting many sluggers accomplishments. With Ken Caminiti and Jose Cansesco leading the "rat fest" player's credibility started to become flushed down the toliets like used syringes. When Barry Bonds broke McGwire's record in 2001, he was booed and people seemed to not want him to break the record. When he broke Hank Aaron's record in 2007 he was seen as a cheater who did not deserve the record. He recieved similar treatment as Rodger Maris did in 1961 during his pursuit to break Babe Ruth's single season home run record.
Through the continued finding of players using steroids the best players of the generation are coming down, the sport seems to be losing fans. With stars like Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, Rodger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmerio, Barry Bonds, and many others people start to wonder, "Who didn't cheat?" The game has lost its interest in the United States and for a game that is so rooted in history, the books have been "cooked" because of the "Cheaters Era".
Football has the competitiveness, drama, fast-pace, and physical attributes to become America's new pastime. Football has become culture to high school towns, college towns, and football cities across the country. The amount of interest that the shorter season draws from is overwhelming. The Super Bowl has become a unofficial National holiday. Texas high school football games draw more fans than Florida Marlins or Pittsburgh Pirate games. College towns live for the football season to begin so they can have something to talk about and do for their entire fall. While I know because of the Minor League system ruins the good talent in College Baseball, I think I could tell you very little about anything that has ever happened in College Baseball.
America love the fact that they can watch max 20 games in a season and don't have to sit through the entire 162 game season. Fans don't have patience to sit through long 9 inning games with long breaks between. Some people question with all the down time whether baseball should be considered anymore of a sport then poker, (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177441-pastime-mere-fun-and-games), they gave so nice love to the Sausage Race though. People just don't have the same love for the two sports. People tailgate the NFL Draft, I don't even know if people know there is a MLB Draft.
There are so many more points I have about the reasons why the popularity is different but I would love to hear your views. When I say AMERICA'S VIEW, it doesn't mean mine. I LOVE BASEBALL, and I love watching every pitch of Brewers game, however I think I am a minority in the country. Maybe I am wrong though?
Other Issues that Arise
NFL- parity
NFL/ MLB- Salary Cap
NFL/ MLB- Goodell, Selig
NFL- Nobody cares about Steroids?
MLB- More Loyal Fans? Red Sox, Yankees?
And many others I can't even think of but let me know what you think is America's game.
First off, when thinking of "America's pastime" immediately baseball comes to everyone's mind appreciating the historic game as the national sport. Names like Ruth, Mantle, Dimaggio, Robinson, Mays, and Aaron are household names that sport fans find sacred. The history at Fenway, Wrigley, and Yankee Stadium (former) give the leauge its character and defines the American Dream. Baseball for years was the purest form of sport in the United States and the most popular, this trend however seems to be going away.
With the steriod era, tarnishing the historic records and corruption surrounding the leauge's greats many question where the league is headed. In recent years attendance has hurt and television ratings have dipped accordingly. Some of the most sacred things in baseball are the records, that is why during the 1998 the Home Run race between Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr. reenergized "America's Sport". People who never watched baseball in their life started following how well each slugger was doing, seeing if they had any "juice" the next day to hit another home run. The sport seemed to be back and McGwire and Sosa were saving it. Then steriods started being talked about and people were doubting many sluggers accomplishments. With Ken Caminiti and Jose Cansesco leading the "rat fest" player's credibility started to become flushed down the toliets like used syringes. When Barry Bonds broke McGwire's record in 2001, he was booed and people seemed to not want him to break the record. When he broke Hank Aaron's record in 2007 he was seen as a cheater who did not deserve the record. He recieved similar treatment as Rodger Maris did in 1961 during his pursuit to break Babe Ruth's single season home run record.
Through the continued finding of players using steroids the best players of the generation are coming down, the sport seems to be losing fans. With stars like Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, Rodger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmerio, Barry Bonds, and many others people start to wonder, "Who didn't cheat?" The game has lost its interest in the United States and for a game that is so rooted in history, the books have been "cooked" because of the "Cheaters Era".
Football has the competitiveness, drama, fast-pace, and physical attributes to become America's new pastime. Football has become culture to high school towns, college towns, and football cities across the country. The amount of interest that the shorter season draws from is overwhelming. The Super Bowl has become a unofficial National holiday. Texas high school football games draw more fans than Florida Marlins or Pittsburgh Pirate games. College towns live for the football season to begin so they can have something to talk about and do for their entire fall. While I know because of the Minor League system ruins the good talent in College Baseball, I think I could tell you very little about anything that has ever happened in College Baseball.
America love the fact that they can watch max 20 games in a season and don't have to sit through the entire 162 game season. Fans don't have patience to sit through long 9 inning games with long breaks between. Some people question with all the down time whether baseball should be considered anymore of a sport then poker, (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177441-pastime-mere-fun-and-games), they gave so nice love to the Sausage Race though. People just don't have the same love for the two sports. People tailgate the NFL Draft, I don't even know if people know there is a MLB Draft.
There are so many more points I have about the reasons why the popularity is different but I would love to hear your views. When I say AMERICA'S VIEW, it doesn't mean mine. I LOVE BASEBALL, and I love watching every pitch of Brewers game, however I think I am a minority in the country. Maybe I am wrong though?
Other Issues that Arise
NFL- parity
NFL/ MLB- Salary Cap
NFL/ MLB- Goodell, Selig
NFL- Nobody cares about Steroids?
MLB- More Loyal Fans? Red Sox, Yankees?
And many others I can't even think of but let me know what you think is America's game.
Two Cents From the Nose Bleeds
Today is May 18th, I just got just done with my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin. I have decided I want to start gathering my thoughts on a website. I have many interests but I think my expertise would be sports. What I am going to try to do is to discuss my view on many different topics in the different sports arenas. I want to do a few in depth analysis on certain problems with sports and any else I think is thought provoking. I will be honest a lot early will be based on the Milwaukee Brewers because that is what is important right now in my sports life but I will try to bring a lot of different topics up. Feel free to add your own posts to TCFTNB, working on the acronym for the site, maybe 2CNB. But excited to get this started, hopefully somebody reads it once in a while.
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