If you're a stock car racing fan, you know the "chase" is on. But how does all this stuff work, anyway?
Near as I can tell, the Top Ten drivers after 20-some races in the "regular season" qualify for a 10 race "playoff". This is all determined by points. Drivers get so many points for a win, finishing 2nd, 3rd, etc. They get points for leading the most laps in a race. They get points for leading just one lap in a race. There's owner points, sponsorship points, and for all I know, maybe the guy with the cutest girlfriend or wife gets a few points for that.
Points can be taken away too. Sometimes it's OK to trash another guy's car at 190 MPH, but if the instigator's car is a quarter of an inch off at post-race inspection, that's gonna cost him points. Ramming a member of his pit crew might be acceptable, but don't run over an air hose.
A NASCAR guy can race at high speeds with a totaled car that a state trooper would pull over on the interstate as being unfit to drive, and that's just fine -- but if a tire-changer missed a lugnut on an otherwise perfect car -- they get busted.
Besides the top 10 drivers, there's 2 "wild cards" in the "chase" field. They had to be in the top 20 for the regular season, and the rest is based on points. Wins score points. Top 5 finishes score points. Top 10 finishes score points. Depending on what team they drive for, that might score some points. If they and their crews were good boys and didn't get in a fight with another driver/team, they might not lose any points. And how dumb are the crew chiefs to think they might get away with using an illegal part these days when it comes inspection time? Those guys tear the whole car apart, engine and all. Do they really think they're going to miss something? That can result in a major loss of points.
Points for this, points for that, and at the end of the day, if you can figure out how all this works, you shouldn't be watching NASCAR. NASA is looking for people like you. Something about rocket science. These folks have more points flying around than a tornado on a cactus farm.
There's a better way, especially when the "chase" begins.
However the qualifiers are determined, it should be just THEM on the track at the last 10 races. The other cars/drivers/teams go home. That's the way it is in every other sport. All the riff-raff is doing is wasting tires, sheet metal, gasoline, sometimes causing wrecks, and mostly getting in the way.
If the also-rans insist on racing, fine. Let them do it a day or 2 earlier on the same track amongst themselves. Preferably when the souped-up "trucks" race. Get rid of that anyway. Ever watch one of those? There's NOBODY in the stands. The only things running are the trucks, the cameras, and the announcers' mouths.
As the 10 race, 12 car "chase" progresses, drop whatever car is last in points after every 2 races. When it comes down to the last 2 contests, there would still be an 8-car field. That's enough cars to allow for drafting, high and low lines around the track, and pit strategy. More important, reset the points. Everybody starts with none. Come playoff time, other teams in pro sports don't get spotted a few points because of what they did in weeks before -- and neither should these guys.
In the next to last race, a win is 8 points, on down to last place being worth one point. Forget laps led and all that other crap. Same for the final race.
We've boiled it down to the best of the best, and whoever racks up the most points in a 2-day competition is the champion.
They do it that way on Jeopardy! and that's good enough for me.
However, if it's STILL a tie after those 2 races amongst 2 or more competitors, then it's time for sudden death. Bring the cars into the pits, let the crews put on fresh tires, make adjustments, and put enough fuel in them for a 5-lap shoot-out. They pick numbers out of a Richard Petty hat for starting positions.
One lap under the yellow and drop the green. Winner take all 5 laps later. Those guys would have run thousands of laps over the year and now it all comes down to the last five to see who gets the pot of gold.
It would be all-out, no holds barred, balls to the wall racing to determine a champion.
In the end, what could be better than that?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Hanging with Hank Jr. and Henry
So ESPN fired Hank Williams Jr over a few political comments. Or maybe Hank quit when they yanked his iconic Monday Night Football song from airing on 10/3. All depends who you want to believe. It doesn't mattter anyway. It's akin to which party filed first for a divorce. When it's over, it's over, so who cares?
I caught some flak over this last time, but I'm digging in. When it comes to Hank vs. politicians, this should be a no-brainer. A few reasons:
Hank may talk about enemies but he can't start wars resulting in massive loss of life. Politicians can and do.
Between Hank and politicians -- ask a straight question and you'll get a straight answer from one of them, and BS from the other. Guess who's who?
Politicians tour the country and hold $1000 a plate fund-raisers, where the people get a plate of good food and a 20 minute boring speech. This is for hard-core partisans.
Hank tours the country, his concert tickets are available for well under a C-note, people sneak in good booze, and get a 2-3 hour kick-ass concert. This is for hard-core partiers.
Hank fell off a mountain once, and suffered life-threatening injuries. It took a lot of operations to put him back together again.
Politicians routinely have affairs, get caught with their hands in other cookie jars, see their popularity falling in polls and consider it career-threatening. It takes a lot of "spin" to put them back together again.
Hank has his bandmates, who are immensely talented at playing a particular instrument and keeping the music flowing. If you don't like the show, you don't have to go to another one.
Politicians have their "closest advisors", who are immensely talented at playing a particular issue and keeping themselves feeding at the trough of taxpayer dollars. If you don't like the show -- tough. You're stuck with them until the next election.
Hank writes most of his own stuff. Politicians don't.
Hank doesn't need a teleprompter. Politicians do.
If Hank breaks a string on his guitar while playing, it's no big deal. He handles it, and the show goes on without missing a beat. Nobody much notices.
If a single hair gets out of place on a politician during a TV interview, the tape is stopped, eventually edited, they go back to the make-up room for some more goop, and the show goes on without missing a commercial. Nobody notices that either.
Hank spoke of Obama, Biden, Hitler, Netanyahu, Boehner, and whomever. They're tossing him off the air for this? If that's the case, then we should silence people named Limbaugh and Stern. Throw in Beck and Carville as well. They all have strong opinions, either liberal or conservative. Take your pick, but if you're going to get rid of one, you have to get rid of the other, to be fair.
Back to Monday Night Football. Hank's gone, so somebody has to fill that spot, right?
My spiritual advisor Henry seems to think Kid Rock is on deck. That would kinda fit, though I still think Kid Rock is a latter-day clone of Ronnie Van Zant, the original lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who died in a plane crash over 30 years ago. The voice, the hair -- facial and otherwise -- the mannerisms, the stage presence, everything. They even look alike. Check it out. Of course, unlike some other famous Henrys. this one isn't from the House of Tudor. More like the House of 2 More. Despite his genius, sometimes I think maybe he should have stopped at Old No.6, but that's a story for another day.
Getting back on point here, I've given you a few reasons why I prefer Hank Williams Jr. over any and all politicians and couldn't care less about what he had to say about the whole sorry bunch. It's his opinion, and he's entitled to it.
But the # 1 reason why Hank is better than a politician?
If you go to see Hank, the ladies won't show up in those stupid red "power" dresses, trying to project some sort of "image". The only people that haven't caught on to that little charade yet is THEM.
It's possible my friend Henry might consider saying, "How dumb ARE you anyway, bi---?"
But perhaps it would be better to defer to a certain talking-head NFL panel. If they were viewing tapes of these women, I have little doubt they would reach a unanimous conclusion, and utter those famous words......
"C'mon, man".
I caught some flak over this last time, but I'm digging in. When it comes to Hank vs. politicians, this should be a no-brainer. A few reasons:
Hank may talk about enemies but he can't start wars resulting in massive loss of life. Politicians can and do.
Between Hank and politicians -- ask a straight question and you'll get a straight answer from one of them, and BS from the other. Guess who's who?
Politicians tour the country and hold $1000 a plate fund-raisers, where the people get a plate of good food and a 20 minute boring speech. This is for hard-core partisans.
Hank tours the country, his concert tickets are available for well under a C-note, people sneak in good booze, and get a 2-3 hour kick-ass concert. This is for hard-core partiers.
Hank fell off a mountain once, and suffered life-threatening injuries. It took a lot of operations to put him back together again.
Politicians routinely have affairs, get caught with their hands in other cookie jars, see their popularity falling in polls and consider it career-threatening. It takes a lot of "spin" to put them back together again.
Hank has his bandmates, who are immensely talented at playing a particular instrument and keeping the music flowing. If you don't like the show, you don't have to go to another one.
Politicians have their "closest advisors", who are immensely talented at playing a particular issue and keeping themselves feeding at the trough of taxpayer dollars. If you don't like the show -- tough. You're stuck with them until the next election.
Hank writes most of his own stuff. Politicians don't.
Hank doesn't need a teleprompter. Politicians do.
If Hank breaks a string on his guitar while playing, it's no big deal. He handles it, and the show goes on without missing a beat. Nobody much notices.
If a single hair gets out of place on a politician during a TV interview, the tape is stopped, eventually edited, they go back to the make-up room for some more goop, and the show goes on without missing a commercial. Nobody notices that either.
Hank spoke of Obama, Biden, Hitler, Netanyahu, Boehner, and whomever. They're tossing him off the air for this? If that's the case, then we should silence people named Limbaugh and Stern. Throw in Beck and Carville as well. They all have strong opinions, either liberal or conservative. Take your pick, but if you're going to get rid of one, you have to get rid of the other, to be fair.
Back to Monday Night Football. Hank's gone, so somebody has to fill that spot, right?
My spiritual advisor Henry seems to think Kid Rock is on deck. That would kinda fit, though I still think Kid Rock is a latter-day clone of Ronnie Van Zant, the original lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who died in a plane crash over 30 years ago. The voice, the hair -- facial and otherwise -- the mannerisms, the stage presence, everything. They even look alike. Check it out. Of course, unlike some other famous Henrys. this one isn't from the House of Tudor. More like the House of 2 More. Despite his genius, sometimes I think maybe he should have stopped at Old No.6, but that's a story for another day.
Getting back on point here, I've given you a few reasons why I prefer Hank Williams Jr. over any and all politicians and couldn't care less about what he had to say about the whole sorry bunch. It's his opinion, and he's entitled to it.
But the # 1 reason why Hank is better than a politician?
If you go to see Hank, the ladies won't show up in those stupid red "power" dresses, trying to project some sort of "image". The only people that haven't caught on to that little charade yet is THEM.
It's possible my friend Henry might consider saying, "How dumb ARE you anyway, bi---?"
But perhaps it would be better to defer to a certain talking-head NFL panel. If they were viewing tapes of these women, I have little doubt they would reach a unanimous conclusion, and utter those famous words......
"C'mon, man".
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Responding to comments
I truly appreciate any and all people that take the time to read what I have to say in this blog. Some will agree and some won't with my points of view. There's an occasional compliment, perhaps a suggestion for a future topic, which I'm always open to, but sometimes my style of shooting from the hip will get me flat-out chewed up and spit out by people that strongly disagree. That's just the way it goes. As they say, "It ain't personal", at least not to me.
If you've read this blog for any length of time, you've likely noticed that I've responded to a lot of reader comments, especially the ones that are tearing me up. I attempt to do so in a light-hearted manner, acknowledging their point, and maybe poking a little fun back at them, and myself as well. My stuff isn't meant to be taken seriously. I get ideas, throw them out there, and see what happens. It's not like I just came down from the mountain with the tablets -- ya know?
However, technical problems have occured. For some reason, I'm temporarily unable to respond to comments made in my own blog. Nobody seems to know whether the problem lies with Blogger, Google, or even the Oakland Press web site. I'm not tech-savvy and am trying my best to get this problem resolved with people that know a lot more about such things than I do. Time will tell, and yes, I've heard a lot of complaints from people I know that can't seem to get their comments through either, or at best, have to use the "anonymous" option, as a last resort. Sometimes even THAT doesn't work and they've given up entirely.
That being the case, I would like to respond in this post to 2 blog comments I received recently.
To the reader that ripped me for the Justin Verlander bit --
I don't remember being on a banana boat, but I do seem to have a vague memory of riding shotgun in a turnip truck. Anyway, is it a bad sign when I wake up in the middle of the night and belt out Harry Belafonte's "Dayo", for no apparent reason? As for the blog? Not to worry. It will probably get worse. How long will I be doing it? Take that up with OP sports editor Jeff Kuehn. Who do you think got me into this mess in the first place, anyway?
To the reader that tore me up over Hank and Adolph:
That was good stuff. Thing is, if a child of mine were to marry into 10 different scenarios, as you suggest, I think polygamy laws might come into play. This is Michigan, not Saudi Arabia, or maybe Utah. Beyond that, their preferences are their business -- not mine. When they get wings, they'll fly wherever life takes them. Honesty, being respectful, and if you make a mess -- then clean it up yourself, are good things. And there's that little detail about turning the lights off when you leave a room. As for music? Can't think of anything I don't like. Well, maybe when somebody pulls up next to me at a stop light and the bass from their sound system is making my whole car vibrate. That can be annoying. Even went to an opera once. Loved the costumes, and the outfits the performers wore on stage weren't too shabby either, ahem, but I had no idea what they were singing about. Not sure, but I think it was Italian.
If you've read this blog for any length of time, you've likely noticed that I've responded to a lot of reader comments, especially the ones that are tearing me up. I attempt to do so in a light-hearted manner, acknowledging their point, and maybe poking a little fun back at them, and myself as well. My stuff isn't meant to be taken seriously. I get ideas, throw them out there, and see what happens. It's not like I just came down from the mountain with the tablets -- ya know?
However, technical problems have occured. For some reason, I'm temporarily unable to respond to comments made in my own blog. Nobody seems to know whether the problem lies with Blogger, Google, or even the Oakland Press web site. I'm not tech-savvy and am trying my best to get this problem resolved with people that know a lot more about such things than I do. Time will tell, and yes, I've heard a lot of complaints from people I know that can't seem to get their comments through either, or at best, have to use the "anonymous" option, as a last resort. Sometimes even THAT doesn't work and they've given up entirely.
That being the case, I would like to respond in this post to 2 blog comments I received recently.
To the reader that ripped me for the Justin Verlander bit --
I don't remember being on a banana boat, but I do seem to have a vague memory of riding shotgun in a turnip truck. Anyway, is it a bad sign when I wake up in the middle of the night and belt out Harry Belafonte's "Dayo", for no apparent reason? As for the blog? Not to worry. It will probably get worse. How long will I be doing it? Take that up with OP sports editor Jeff Kuehn. Who do you think got me into this mess in the first place, anyway?
To the reader that tore me up over Hank and Adolph:
That was good stuff. Thing is, if a child of mine were to marry into 10 different scenarios, as you suggest, I think polygamy laws might come into play. This is Michigan, not Saudi Arabia, or maybe Utah. Beyond that, their preferences are their business -- not mine. When they get wings, they'll fly wherever life takes them. Honesty, being respectful, and if you make a mess -- then clean it up yourself, are good things. And there's that little detail about turning the lights off when you leave a room. As for music? Can't think of anything I don't like. Well, maybe when somebody pulls up next to me at a stop light and the bass from their sound system is making my whole car vibrate. That can be annoying. Even went to an opera once. Loved the costumes, and the outfits the performers wore on stage weren't too shabby either, ahem, but I had no idea what they were singing about. Not sure, but I think it was Italian.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The perfect storm, Detroit style
Barring a major earthquake, a monster tornado, or nuclear war, the Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears at Ford Field next Monday night on national TV. This will be the first time the Lions have been on MNF since -- hmmm -- I don't remember who was the President then. Maybe one of the Roosevelts or Harrisons. Beats me. At any rate, that game's gonna happen. I dare say Ford Field will be packed and the rest of the nation is beginning to wonder what's up with the Lions anyway? They're supposed to be a punch line, not one of only 2 undefeated teams in the NFL. They'll be watching.
Let's look at the baseball playoffs and consider what could have happened. Yes, Texas eliminated Tampa Bay, but what if the Rays would have won that series? Let's further assume the Detroit Tigers prevail over the NY Yankees in the deciding Game 5 of the playoffs. That would have set up a Detroit - Tampa series with the Tigers having home field advantage. The first 2 games would have been played at Comerica Park.
Sure, the TV gods pretty much decide when games will be played, but as long as I'm making this up, what might have happened if it rained for a couple days in Detroit over the next weekend and the baseball playoffs got delayed? It's the American League Championship Series. That means any games played Mon-Fri will be played at night. The prime time thing. If the National League Championship Series had already played 2 games, that might have forced even the TV people into scheduling a Tiger-Tampa game on Monday night
Now THAT would have been something. Ford Field rocking and rolling with the Lions-Bears -- and right across the street Comerica Park doing the same with the Tigers-Rays. The perfect storm, Detroit style.
However, I suppose there's pros and cons to everything.
That would have been a very good time to own a sports bar anywhere in that neighborhood, or even work at one.
But a very bad time to be looking for a parking space. I mentioned Roosevelts and Harrisons above. Usually parking for a game in Detroit will cost you about a Jackson. If this storm had come together, you'd likely be looking at Grant. Up close and preferred parking might have even gone above the Presidential level. Try Franklin.
Maybe it's just as well it didn't happen.
Let's look at the baseball playoffs and consider what could have happened. Yes, Texas eliminated Tampa Bay, but what if the Rays would have won that series? Let's further assume the Detroit Tigers prevail over the NY Yankees in the deciding Game 5 of the playoffs. That would have set up a Detroit - Tampa series with the Tigers having home field advantage. The first 2 games would have been played at Comerica Park.
Sure, the TV gods pretty much decide when games will be played, but as long as I'm making this up, what might have happened if it rained for a couple days in Detroit over the next weekend and the baseball playoffs got delayed? It's the American League Championship Series. That means any games played Mon-Fri will be played at night. The prime time thing. If the National League Championship Series had already played 2 games, that might have forced even the TV people into scheduling a Tiger-Tampa game on Monday night
Now THAT would have been something. Ford Field rocking and rolling with the Lions-Bears -- and right across the street Comerica Park doing the same with the Tigers-Rays. The perfect storm, Detroit style.
However, I suppose there's pros and cons to everything.
That would have been a very good time to own a sports bar anywhere in that neighborhood, or even work at one.
But a very bad time to be looking for a parking space. I mentioned Roosevelts and Harrisons above. Usually parking for a game in Detroit will cost you about a Jackson. If this storm had come together, you'd likely be looking at Grant. Up close and preferred parking might have even gone above the Presidential level. Try Franklin.
Maybe it's just as well it didn't happen.
Hank Williams Jr. and Adolph Hitler
Hank Williams Jr. has been doing the lead-in song to Monday Night Football for over 20 years. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? has become an icon. Any MNF fan not in a coma is aware of it.
Now he's in trouble and they yanked him off the air, at least for now. It seems Hank mentioned the names Obama and Hitler within a few sentences, along with a few others, notably John Boehner, the current Speaker of the House, while giving his opinion on the current state of politics, and in this hyper-sensitive politically correct society, one shouldn't do that, I suppose.
I've been to several Hank Williams' concerts and, think what you will of his music, he's a superb musician. He writes most of his own stuff, sings, and can play the guitar, keyboard and drums. At Pine Knob (it will always be that to me) Hank could get everybody on their feet, people dancing in the aisles, and have the bikers and rednecks screaming at the top of their lungs. 5 minutes later, he might throw a change-up with a ballad and make some of the big girls cry. That's the epitome of a performer.
But I guess it's not about that. People in the public eye aren't supposed to mention the name Hitler, though I don't know why. The dude's been dead for 66 years. Did he commit atrocities? Of course. So did a lot of other people in history. How many millions of his own people did Josef Stalin do away with? How about Genghis Khan? Body count unknown, but likely in the millions. The Spanish Inquisition? Probably the granddaddy of them all was the Crusades. We can talk about all of that stuff but the name Adolph Hitler is off limits, for some reason.
Am I defending Hank? You betcha. He's an American citizen and can exercise his First Amendment freedom of speech rights whenever he wants to. Personally, I agree with him. Obama and Boehner playing golf together doesn't make a lot of sense. While there's a remote chance they might actually agree on something in private, there's probably about the same chance the highest seniority season ticket holders at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park would have of doing the same thing. The odds are slim or none, and Slim died a while back.
So he compared Hitler and recycled current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the same scenario. Big deal. Nevermind that Ben was a little boy when Adolph died, and modern-day Israel wouldn't be created until 3 years later, so obviously the time frame was hypothetical. Further nevermind there was never a direct comparison between Barack and Adolph. And if there was -- so what? Agree or disagree, but the man's got a right to say it. I'll go a step further. Hitler was white. Obama is considered to be black. Boehner used to be orange, but they fixed that. Can I say those things? I just did, because it's only stating the obvious.
If MNF wants to be closed-minded about it, then they can keep him off the air. That's their call. If YOU want to be closed-minded, then don't go his concerts, buy CDs, shirts, caps, or whatever.
I'm glad that, so far, Hank hasn't given in to the pressure and groveled with an apology like so many others have done before for merely speaking their mind.
If he comes around to Pine Knob again -- I'll be there.
It's a family tradition.
Now he's in trouble and they yanked him off the air, at least for now. It seems Hank mentioned the names Obama and Hitler within a few sentences, along with a few others, notably John Boehner, the current Speaker of the House, while giving his opinion on the current state of politics, and in this hyper-sensitive politically correct society, one shouldn't do that, I suppose.
I've been to several Hank Williams' concerts and, think what you will of his music, he's a superb musician. He writes most of his own stuff, sings, and can play the guitar, keyboard and drums. At Pine Knob (it will always be that to me) Hank could get everybody on their feet, people dancing in the aisles, and have the bikers and rednecks screaming at the top of their lungs. 5 minutes later, he might throw a change-up with a ballad and make some of the big girls cry. That's the epitome of a performer.
But I guess it's not about that. People in the public eye aren't supposed to mention the name Hitler, though I don't know why. The dude's been dead for 66 years. Did he commit atrocities? Of course. So did a lot of other people in history. How many millions of his own people did Josef Stalin do away with? How about Genghis Khan? Body count unknown, but likely in the millions. The Spanish Inquisition? Probably the granddaddy of them all was the Crusades. We can talk about all of that stuff but the name Adolph Hitler is off limits, for some reason.
Am I defending Hank? You betcha. He's an American citizen and can exercise his First Amendment freedom of speech rights whenever he wants to. Personally, I agree with him. Obama and Boehner playing golf together doesn't make a lot of sense. While there's a remote chance they might actually agree on something in private, there's probably about the same chance the highest seniority season ticket holders at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park would have of doing the same thing. The odds are slim or none, and Slim died a while back.
So he compared Hitler and recycled current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the same scenario. Big deal. Nevermind that Ben was a little boy when Adolph died, and modern-day Israel wouldn't be created until 3 years later, so obviously the time frame was hypothetical. Further nevermind there was never a direct comparison between Barack and Adolph. And if there was -- so what? Agree or disagree, but the man's got a right to say it. I'll go a step further. Hitler was white. Obama is considered to be black. Boehner used to be orange, but they fixed that. Can I say those things? I just did, because it's only stating the obvious.
If MNF wants to be closed-minded about it, then they can keep him off the air. That's their call. If YOU want to be closed-minded, then don't go his concerts, buy CDs, shirts, caps, or whatever.
I'm glad that, so far, Hank hasn't given in to the pressure and groveled with an apology like so many others have done before for merely speaking their mind.
If he comes around to Pine Knob again -- I'll be there.
It's a family tradition.
Monday, October 3, 2011
The good, the bad, and predictions
It was a good day for Detroit sports fans. The Tigers beat the Yanks and the Cowboys self-destructed in Arlington to hand the Lions an improbable win. Prognosis: The stars have aligned perfectly for the Lions so far this year. Next week's Monday night game against the Bears will be a big show garnering national attention, but it's really not that important. It won't get interesting until the Packers come to town on Thanksgiving. Aaron Rodgers and Co. won't take them lightly like they did last year. Assuming both teams stay healthy until then -- that will be the true reality check.
It was a bad day in Philly. The Cardinals came back from being down 4-zip to beat the Phillies and the Eagles squandered a 20 point lead to lose to the 49ers. Prognosis: Falling behind by a wide margin early in games seems to be a formula for winning lately -- but I wouldn't recommend pursuing that strategy as a game plan too often.
Over the weekend, UM pulverized Minnesota to the tune of 58-0 and MSU went down to Columbus and finally beat the Buckeyes 10-7 -- minus a certain head coach and QB you probably heard of, plus a few more starters finishing up their suspensions. Prognosis: The UM-MSU game will be hyped in this state, but neither team is even Top Ten caliber on the national landscape. Brady Hoke was a great hire for UM, but depending so much on a running QB won't get it done against good teams. Give him a couple years to get his own personnel and let's see what happens. State fans may get all geeked about UM coming to East Lansing in a couple weeks, but they're not the worry. The following week Wisconsin comes to town, and their QB might be the best kept secret in the country. That guy is a younger version of Michael Vick with his escapability, running, speed, and great throwing arm. The Cheesers are really good on both sides of the ball and their only weakness appears to be the lack of a decent placekicker. The following week the Spartans have to go to Nebraska and those guys are the real deal too. If they beat both those teams they'll likely jump into the Top Ten, but I think they're gonna get hammered 2 weeks in a row. Prognosis: UM and MSU both wind up in lower tier bowl games.
The Red Wings are about to start the season, but that won't become interesting until after the Super Bowl is over. Prognosis: Wake me up when the playoffs start.
The Pistons? Are they still around? Do you care? Prognosis: They're terrible. New owner Tom Gores needs to clean house, including Joe Dumars, and start over.
I think there was a PGA golf tournament in Las Vegas and somebody's probably playing soccer or tennis somewhere. Prognosis: The US will never be any good at soccer because all our gifted athletic kids dream of playing on a big stage for big bucks. Ain't gonna happen in soccer. As for the other 2 sports, where players can actually use their hands? Next April, at the Master's golf tournament in Augusta, just might be a defining moment for Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. If he's to mount a comeback, that will be the time and place to show it. It he misses the cut, it might be time to stick a fork in him. The best have crashed before. The first tennis major is the Australian Open. I've never seen it. Time zones being what they are -- it must be shown in the middle of the night or something. Funny, I can remember watching the America's Cup yacht races several years ago that happened somewhere around New Zealand, I think, but could never figure out how to tune in the tennis from Down Under. Beats me. Maybe I'll have to wait to see them slip-siding away on the clay at the French Open.
On a personal note -- summer's over. The leaves are starting to fall, the equivalent of a kiddie sized Chinese army will invade my front porch on Halloween, and then things will only get worse. Prognosis: Winter sucks.
(This has no place in a sports blog but so what? Here's a standing ovation to Andy Rooney, the long-time curmudgeon of 60 Minutes, who did his last broadcast earlier tonight at the age of 92. If I ever grow up, I want to be just like him. Prognosis: That ain't gonna happen either.)
NASCAR's "chase" next time. Prognosis: It's too complicated. The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method would be a lot better.
It was a bad day in Philly. The Cardinals came back from being down 4-zip to beat the Phillies and the Eagles squandered a 20 point lead to lose to the 49ers. Prognosis: Falling behind by a wide margin early in games seems to be a formula for winning lately -- but I wouldn't recommend pursuing that strategy as a game plan too often.
Over the weekend, UM pulverized Minnesota to the tune of 58-0 and MSU went down to Columbus and finally beat the Buckeyes 10-7 -- minus a certain head coach and QB you probably heard of, plus a few more starters finishing up their suspensions. Prognosis: The UM-MSU game will be hyped in this state, but neither team is even Top Ten caliber on the national landscape. Brady Hoke was a great hire for UM, but depending so much on a running QB won't get it done against good teams. Give him a couple years to get his own personnel and let's see what happens. State fans may get all geeked about UM coming to East Lansing in a couple weeks, but they're not the worry. The following week Wisconsin comes to town, and their QB might be the best kept secret in the country. That guy is a younger version of Michael Vick with his escapability, running, speed, and great throwing arm. The Cheesers are really good on both sides of the ball and their only weakness appears to be the lack of a decent placekicker. The following week the Spartans have to go to Nebraska and those guys are the real deal too. If they beat both those teams they'll likely jump into the Top Ten, but I think they're gonna get hammered 2 weeks in a row. Prognosis: UM and MSU both wind up in lower tier bowl games.
The Red Wings are about to start the season, but that won't become interesting until after the Super Bowl is over. Prognosis: Wake me up when the playoffs start.
The Pistons? Are they still around? Do you care? Prognosis: They're terrible. New owner Tom Gores needs to clean house, including Joe Dumars, and start over.
I think there was a PGA golf tournament in Las Vegas and somebody's probably playing soccer or tennis somewhere. Prognosis: The US will never be any good at soccer because all our gifted athletic kids dream of playing on a big stage for big bucks. Ain't gonna happen in soccer. As for the other 2 sports, where players can actually use their hands? Next April, at the Master's golf tournament in Augusta, just might be a defining moment for Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. If he's to mount a comeback, that will be the time and place to show it. It he misses the cut, it might be time to stick a fork in him. The best have crashed before. The first tennis major is the Australian Open. I've never seen it. Time zones being what they are -- it must be shown in the middle of the night or something. Funny, I can remember watching the America's Cup yacht races several years ago that happened somewhere around New Zealand, I think, but could never figure out how to tune in the tennis from Down Under. Beats me. Maybe I'll have to wait to see them slip-siding away on the clay at the French Open.
On a personal note -- summer's over. The leaves are starting to fall, the equivalent of a kiddie sized Chinese army will invade my front porch on Halloween, and then things will only get worse. Prognosis: Winter sucks.
(This has no place in a sports blog but so what? Here's a standing ovation to Andy Rooney, the long-time curmudgeon of 60 Minutes, who did his last broadcast earlier tonight at the age of 92. If I ever grow up, I want to be just like him. Prognosis: That ain't gonna happen either.)
NASCAR's "chase" next time. Prognosis: It's too complicated. The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method would be a lot better.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Baseball has become wimpy. Exhibit A - Justin Verlander
Poor Justin. All hyped-up for Game 1 of the baseball playoffs against Yankees' ace CC Sabathia at Yankee Stadium and Mother Nature rained on the parade. The story went viral. OMG, how will this affect Justin and when will he pitch again? Break out the ice packs, masseurs, ultra-sounds, geisha girls with their fans, and some beautiful goddess feeding him grapes to soothe the pain and calm his nerves.
To all of which I say -- is this what baseball has come to? Somebody needs to start manning-up.
Verlander threw about 25 pitches before the rain came, and now it's said he'll be back in action on Sunday -- on short rest. What the hell does he need rest for? It's not like he just climbed Mount Everest or ran a marathon. He only threw pitches for one inning in a baseball game, and now he needs a day off?
Evidently, this is what MLB has come to. In olden times, some pitchers would throw both games in a double-header. Starting 50 games a year wasn't unusual because they had "rubber arms".
(They didn't need 8 or 9 guys in the bullpen. One or two were enough. That just takes up roster spots from guys that can actually play. And what's up with long relievers, middle relievers, set-up men, and closers, anyway? If your starter and 2 other pitchers can't get it done -- then you lose the game. Go on to the next one.)
These days, starters are on a "pitch count". Evidently, they have "tiffany" arms. They're expensive and are to be admired, but if one little thing goes wrong, the poor things just might break -- and we couldn't have that-- even though they likely make as much money per start as some neighborhoods make in a year.
Not that long ago, double-headers were routine. Every team had them, and they made for a terrific family outing at the ball park. Typically, the first game would start at about 1 PM, and finish up at 3 or 3:30. Both teams would go into their locker rooms, take a short breather, put on clean uniforms, and come back out for the second game -- at about 4:00. Not any more.
On the rare occasions double-headers are played these days, it normally involves a make-up game that Mother Nature got in the way of earlier in the season. At that, the first game will go off at 1 PM, but with all the "relief" pitchers involved, usually won't finish until at least 4 PM. Do the players go into the clubhouse, catch their breath, put on clean uniforms and come back out for Game 2? Oh hell no.
That second game isn't going to happen until maybe 7 PM. What are the players doing for those 3 hours? Nobody knows for sure, but I'd guess taking naps, playing cards, and tweeting might be in play. Or maybe this is more ice, massage, geisha, and grape time. More important -- what are the fans supposed to do? Twiddle their thumbs? Eat more hot dogs? Drink more beer?
Everybody forgets that Mom and Dad left home at 11AM for a day at the ballpark with the kids. They likely already knew they'd have to skip a house payment to pull this off, but by the time the second game's over at maybe 11PM, the kids have fallen asleep, and probably have school the next day. Mom and Dad have to load them back in the car, drive home, get to bed well after midnight, and get up the next morning to go to work themselves.
All of this because millionaires want to relax for a few hours in a luxurious clubhouse? Something is horribly wrong with this picture, but I digress.
Look at it this way. In 1968, pitcher Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers took the mound for Game 7 of the World Series on 2 days rest against the mighty Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals -- arguably the best pitcher in the game at that time. Lolich had pitched on 3 days rest the whole year. As you know, Lolich and the Tigers won that game.
Since those days, baseball players are supposedly in much better physical condition. They have weight rooms, trainers, physical therapists, and eat healthier. Most have off-season regimens they follow to stay in shape. In the past, before the money exploded, even the stars of the game were working second jobs selling cars, insurance, or whatever. They smoked, drank, womanized, and carried on in any number of ways. But guess what? When it was game time -- they were ready. The Hall of Fame is full of guys like that.
But now poor beleaguered Justin has thrown 25 pitches, so he must have his due rest. He can't possibly be available for a couple days, at least.
The saddest part of all this is that the media and most fans have bought into it.
Not me. The dude's getting paid more money EVERY YEAR than the average fan and his/her entire family will make in their lifetimes. For that, he should be willing to pitch until his arm falls off, if necessary.
Isn't this the same guy that led the major leagues in innings pitched this year? Are we back to the "rubber arm" thing again?
Evidently not. He needs a few days off to recover from the devastating effect 20-some pitches took out of him.
The poor dear. Bring on the massages and grapes.
But I still think it's wimpy. As fragile as newborns are -- even THEY don't get babied THAT much.
To all of which I say -- is this what baseball has come to? Somebody needs to start manning-up.
Verlander threw about 25 pitches before the rain came, and now it's said he'll be back in action on Sunday -- on short rest. What the hell does he need rest for? It's not like he just climbed Mount Everest or ran a marathon. He only threw pitches for one inning in a baseball game, and now he needs a day off?
Evidently, this is what MLB has come to. In olden times, some pitchers would throw both games in a double-header. Starting 50 games a year wasn't unusual because they had "rubber arms".
(They didn't need 8 or 9 guys in the bullpen. One or two were enough. That just takes up roster spots from guys that can actually play. And what's up with long relievers, middle relievers, set-up men, and closers, anyway? If your starter and 2 other pitchers can't get it done -- then you lose the game. Go on to the next one.)
These days, starters are on a "pitch count". Evidently, they have "tiffany" arms. They're expensive and are to be admired, but if one little thing goes wrong, the poor things just might break -- and we couldn't have that-- even though they likely make as much money per start as some neighborhoods make in a year.
Not that long ago, double-headers were routine. Every team had them, and they made for a terrific family outing at the ball park. Typically, the first game would start at about 1 PM, and finish up at 3 or 3:30. Both teams would go into their locker rooms, take a short breather, put on clean uniforms, and come back out for the second game -- at about 4:00. Not any more.
On the rare occasions double-headers are played these days, it normally involves a make-up game that Mother Nature got in the way of earlier in the season. At that, the first game will go off at 1 PM, but with all the "relief" pitchers involved, usually won't finish until at least 4 PM. Do the players go into the clubhouse, catch their breath, put on clean uniforms and come back out for Game 2? Oh hell no.
That second game isn't going to happen until maybe 7 PM. What are the players doing for those 3 hours? Nobody knows for sure, but I'd guess taking naps, playing cards, and tweeting might be in play. Or maybe this is more ice, massage, geisha, and grape time. More important -- what are the fans supposed to do? Twiddle their thumbs? Eat more hot dogs? Drink more beer?
Everybody forgets that Mom and Dad left home at 11AM for a day at the ballpark with the kids. They likely already knew they'd have to skip a house payment to pull this off, but by the time the second game's over at maybe 11PM, the kids have fallen asleep, and probably have school the next day. Mom and Dad have to load them back in the car, drive home, get to bed well after midnight, and get up the next morning to go to work themselves.
All of this because millionaires want to relax for a few hours in a luxurious clubhouse? Something is horribly wrong with this picture, but I digress.
Look at it this way. In 1968, pitcher Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers took the mound for Game 7 of the World Series on 2 days rest against the mighty Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals -- arguably the best pitcher in the game at that time. Lolich had pitched on 3 days rest the whole year. As you know, Lolich and the Tigers won that game.
Since those days, baseball players are supposedly in much better physical condition. They have weight rooms, trainers, physical therapists, and eat healthier. Most have off-season regimens they follow to stay in shape. In the past, before the money exploded, even the stars of the game were working second jobs selling cars, insurance, or whatever. They smoked, drank, womanized, and carried on in any number of ways. But guess what? When it was game time -- they were ready. The Hall of Fame is full of guys like that.
But now poor beleaguered Justin has thrown 25 pitches, so he must have his due rest. He can't possibly be available for a couple days, at least.
The saddest part of all this is that the media and most fans have bought into it.
Not me. The dude's getting paid more money EVERY YEAR than the average fan and his/her entire family will make in their lifetimes. For that, he should be willing to pitch until his arm falls off, if necessary.
Isn't this the same guy that led the major leagues in innings pitched this year? Are we back to the "rubber arm" thing again?
Evidently not. He needs a few days off to recover from the devastating effect 20-some pitches took out of him.
The poor dear. Bring on the massages and grapes.
But I still think it's wimpy. As fragile as newborns are -- even THEY don't get babied THAT much.
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