Pittsburgh Pirates's Pittsburgh Pirates friend's fan blogs

Earlier today, the Celtics awarded point guard Rajon Rondo with a 5-year contract extension believed to be in the neighborhood of $55 million. I like Rondo as a player but I’m a bit concerned about banking the future on a mercurial 23-year-old hot shot with a burgeoning prima donna complex and a history of instigating senseless scuffles.

Critics say Rondo lacks a consistent jump shot but I disagree. He’s basically money with that 15-20 foot baseline jumper. He’s not a three-point shooter but the C’s already have Ray, Pierce and Rasheed chucking the long ball on a regular basis. Furthermore, with Rondo’s speed, jump shots should be used as a last option anyway.  

What primarily concerns me is Rondo’s attitude and potentially divisive personality. During the course of his three-year career, he has engaged in numerous (and mostly pointless) altercations with other players. In addition, word is he is aloof from teammates and generally unresponsive to coaching or advice. That Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers actively shopped him this past off-season should speak volumes about management’s doubts and concerns. While supremely talented (I would rank him among the top-five point guards in the league), I think the C’s should have waited for the season to play out before making this kind of commitment to such a young and generally unproven player.

Continue reading "C's Banking on Rondo"

Its recently been brought to my attention that, over the past couple of weeks or so, my readership has doubled from 2 to 4. Thanks to these good natured and sympathetic followers, I’m left to wrestle with a serious question: Do I quit while on top (never had I anticipated the blog becoming this great a success), or do I continue to dribble out these “bi-weekly” blunderbusses, even though there is likely nowhere to go from here but down?

I’ll continue…

Lets see… The Red Sox lost. It was a rough series. I was in San Francisco and missed most of it. Jonathan Papelbon is a turkey, Daniel Bard is the second coming of Rod Beck (‘90s Rod Beck, minus the mullet and a metric ton, give or take). Lets can Pap, keep Bard and save everyone from another year of Pap’s guido shenanigans…. The Celtics won a pre-season game against Toronto the other night and Tommy Heinsohn almost invited an unknown rookie named Lester Hudson to the altar. Should be another interesting season for the C’s, provided Tommy is allowed to pursue his increasingly befuddling tangents, wherever they may take him… I’m mildly afraid for the Patriots this week. The Titans are not a 0-5 team, regardless of what their record might indicate. This is the exact same team (minus Albert “Stomp-On-Your-Face” Haynesworth) that went 10-0 to begin the season last year. And they have Jeff Fisher patrolling the sidelines, who, aside from looking like a 70’s highway cop, also happens to be a damn fine coach.   

Continue reading "Late Night Rant"

Frankly, I never liked her much to begin with. Last night, though, Serena Williams' boorish display put her on that rare pedestal with the king of self-delusion, Roger Clemens, as far as sheer idiocy and misplaced machismo is concerned. Williams may or may not have foot-vaulted during match point of her semi-final match against Kim Clijsters yesterday at the U.S. Open. What should be un-debatable is that her obscene and ridiculous death threat directed toward the unsuspecting lines-woman following the questionable call was the most gross and uncalled for display by a professional athlete this year. Please, don't twist this into some skewed positive, claiming that Serena showed us her true passion for the game last night. This was a terrible event in front of thousands of spectators and millions watching from home. Really ugly. 

Continue reading "Serena Out of Control"

When I was a lad growing up in suburban Massachusetts I idolized Michael Jordan. I'd do the whole "3 seconds on the clock, Jordan takes the ball up the court..." shabang while shooting hoops in the driveway (the difference being that most of my buzzer-beaters were clangs). If MJ had told me to wear my skivvies on my head to school one day I probably would have done so.

By the time I turned 15 or so, though, I realized that Jordan wasn't much without a basketball in his hands. I realized that he did next to nothing off the court unless it was to market or promote some product aimed toward his own financial gain. Jordan the public figure, I determined, equalled butkis. I've pretty much held this opinion ever since his (final?) retirement following the 2003 season. 

Continue reading "Jordan Impresses in Heartfelt HOF Acceptance Speech"

The main problem with Brett Favre’s ongoing retirement-waffling situation, aside from its sheer ridiculousness, is that it undermines the importance and value of training camp and the essential team building shenanigans that occur then and there.

Say what you will about Favre’s career, his past exploits and how he might have “earned” a little deferential treatment. I maintain that no player --not Lofa Tatupu, not even Y.A. Tittle-- should be allowed to stroll through the back door of a team's practice facility halfway through training camp, blindside two quarterbacks (who had been giving it their all since the beginning of July) and call into question the moral framework of an entire organization. Really, what message are the Vikings (and, specifically, Brad Childress) sending here? That it doesn’t matter how long and hard you train and work, if there’s an old geezer who doesn’t know when to say when, then you’d better be prepared to ride the pine? Favre single-handedly undercuts the team dynamic and, if I were a Vikings player (soon—I’m getting into shape), I’d have a difficult time trusting the organization from here on out. 

Continue reading "The Vikings Message"

         Ah, summer's end. The kids are getting ready for school, the Pirates are firmly ensconced in last place, and hurricane season is in full effect. Time for some pre-season football!
    But first, let's talk about the latest breaking news out of Philadelphia. If you missed it, Michael Vick is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Millions of football fans across the nation collectively are holding their breath, wondering exactly when and how Donovan McNabb is going to make an ass of himself over this. Can't wait.
    In other news, Donte Stallworth will miss the entire 2009 season without pay, the ruling coming down from Commissioner Goodell after the Browns' star wide receiver was found responsible for vehicular manslaughter. I have a hard time feeling sorry for Stallworth, but I beleive he has acted as professionally and responsibly as possible since the accident. Unlike other NFL troublemakers, Stallworth has followed policy to the letter, taking full responsibility for his actions. I firmly beleive that the remorse he shows is genuine, and whether he plays again or not, he will always regret the loss of another life at his hands. I hope other sports stars learn a lesson from him . . . not only about driving under the influence, but also about accepting responsiblity for your actions. Could have been worse.

Continue reading "Preseason: Vick, Stallworth, and The Ziggle . . .plus a Steeler victory over the Cardinals"

David Ortiz is the latest in a fearsome lineup of would-be hall of famers to be dragged under the worn tarmac of performance-enhancing drug speculation. In keeping with the overall theme from my previous, related posts, I would advocate for the lifetime ban of this once-proud slugger (if proven guilty), as I would for any player caught cheating the national pastime. One day, when the smoke finally clears (whenever that day may be), Major League Baseball could be faced with a cold reality: maybe 90% of ballplayers juiced. Maybe Cal Ripken, Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols, Greg Maddux, Rickey Henderson-maybe they all were cheaters.

If Bud Selig had the testicular fortitude to draw a line in the sand, he would have done so by now. Pete Rose is banished from the game for betting on his team to win games. And yet we slap blatant, omnipresent cheaters with 50 game suspensions? Manny Ramirez returns to Mannywood and is marketed just as feverishly as before his suspension? There is no consistency in Major League Baseball.

Continue reading "Initial Reaction to Ortiz Story"

There's been a less-than-pleasant bed bug infestation at the humble chateau de Bisbee/Duah. It began, as these things so often do, as a minor disturbance, a hole in the screen we thought, undoubtedly allowing in some pesky mosquitos. My negligence to nip the problem at the bud resulted in the realization of great bed bug civilizations, though, and a few nights ago I was roundly bludgeoned into a schizophrenic mess. I've remained this way since, basically-- sleeping on the living room floor while visions of human-sized arthropods and Hanley Ramirez batting lines dance through my head...

Anyway, forgive my somewhat more-scatterbrained-than-usual writing today. I've gotten enough sleep over the past three nights to be legally admitted into an asylum. This being said, here are some thoughts on Wimbledon:

Continue reading "Grumblings of a Senseless Insomniac/ Breaking Down Wimbledon"

Almost exactly a year ago I wrote and published my first blog in this here forum of journalistic excellence and opinionated sports debate. I recounted the pitfalls of a thoroughly disappointing Lakers-Celtics Finals, one that should have been steeped in drama, history and haymakers but was instead hampered by flops, bricks, and poor decision-making. I find it fitting to sit here on this most unceremonious of anniversaries (does anyone still read this? if you’re out there, send money) and begrudgingly opine on yet another, equally disappointing Finals. 

The Lakers thoroughly shellacked the Magic the other night to seal their 15th championship and catapult Phil Jackson, that opportunist of opportunists, past Red Auerbach on the all-time, championship list. I’d be remiss not to briefly point out what an insufferable pickle-eater Jackson is. The guy carved a hall of fame career by loitering around the likes of Michael, Shaq and Kobe (a trio you’d have to think a blind donkey could coach to some degree of success) and then he rewards himself by donning a yellow cap, highlighted with a self-righteous Roman numeral “X”. God..

Continue reading "Another Disappointing Finals"

The Penguins did what everyone said they couldn't do. They beat the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in game seven of the finals. Marc Andre Fleury played the game of his life. What a great save he made on Nicklas Lidstrom as time ran out on the Red Wings. But that being said, Max Talbot won the game for the Pens with his two big goals in game seven. The Penguins still found a way to win the game with the best player in the league missing half of the game. Malkin deserved to win the Conn Smythe trophy with all the great plays he made in the finals. I hope they don't lose too many guys in the off season, because I hope they repeat next season. Way to go Pens!

Continue reading "Stanley Cup Champs"