The Sandlot

Sipping the Haterade

2014-07-15T22:30:00.000-04:00

The following is a piece that was inspired by brainstorming my response to LeBron returning to the Cavs. I am in the process of crafting a LeBron-specific piece (which will follow shortly), but unexpectedly, what started as a preface to LeBron turned into a whole separate piece about an essential aspect of sports fanaticism; hating...

Life is full of four-letter words. Some are pleasant; others, not so much. What I can say about four-letter words, or words with any number of letters for that matter, is that they have to be read or heard in context. There may be universal perceptions of words, but most words usually carry more depth than their face value lets on.

Hate. "Hate is a strong word," is a common response to the word's use. "You're such a hater," is also a common response used to call someone out for being openly critical. Hate is a four-letter word that carries a lot of weight, but also a lot of complexity. Not unlike "love," hate communicates an extreme end of the emotional spectrum. That said, it also communicates the next level of the word "dislike." Think about it - you can love your spouse, pizza, USA Soccer, and your co-workers, but all in different capacities. Well, shouldn't "hate" have the same elastic clause available to its use?

Hating can be evil, malicious, dark, and poisonous; but it can also be entertaining, communicative, and fun. In fact, my message is about just how valuable hating can be in creating healthy and interesting competition. I hate LeBron James, New York hates Boston, I hate VCU basketball, Madison Square Garden hates Reggie Miller, I hate Derek Jeter, and Bears fans hate Packers fans. None of the above indicates a hope, wish, or desire for neither injury nor physical harm; rather, it describes the fanatical desire for competitive failure or struggle.

The sad thing is that in our current culture of "spreading the wealth around," over-sensitivity, pampering, and argumentative twenty-somethings with active social media accounts; healthy hating has become a crime. This crime is usually portrayed through an accusation of "drinking the haterade." A crime I'm happy to say I've committed plenty of times (as admitted above). As an avid sports fan, my advocacy is for all of us to be able to hate in peace. All's fair in love and war right? So let the Sox hate the Yankees and the other Sox hate the Cubbies, let me hate Derek Jeter because he got drafted in the right place at the right time and owes the Yankees more than they owe him. Let the Garden hate Reggie for all those clutch 3-pointers, and let Maryland fans hate JJ Redick for how money he was with that jumper (ok, it was a little harsh, but even he was smirking during those foul shots). Let the Tide roll with hatred when they line up against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, and let Navy hate Army every December. Let Duke fans hate Tyler Hansbrough's childish and whiny face, and certainly let Cleveland Cavs fans hate LeBron for the selfish, attention-seeking stunt he pulled in July 2010.

Hating is what makes fans (short for fanatics!) that much more passionate about purpose, rivalry, and high-stakes encounters. But I beg you to hate realistically, because there is absolutely a threshold of moderation. Please, please, please, never hate the way that Dodgers fans did to Bryan Stow in the parking lot, and never ever hate the way that Harvey Updyke did to those oak trees in Auburn. The people who abuse the moderated zone of hatred, turn it into the evil word that we know it to be, and shouldn't be imitated or excused. The abusers of hate however, as with most things, are in a minority and are not representative of everyone else.

That's not to say that there is no space for disapproval in sports either though. In fact, for me, below the people who I "hate on" for fun, are the people that I "can't stand" for legitimate reasons. The two that jump to mind involve the last two Super Bowl champions. I couldn't stand watching Ray Lewis be glorified by the media and then hired by a Disney company, after being an accomplice to murder a decade earlier (innocent until proven guilty at its best). And I also couldn't stand Pete Carroll being glorified as a "great man" for leading the Seahawks to a championship, but it being taboo to mention how he left the USC Trojans in shambles, particularly the student athletes who paid the price for his wrongdoing. I may be criticized for my opinions on the things that I can't stand, and that's fine, but that's not haterade, that's trying to bring awareness to sad realities...and if you think it's just a case of me "hating" the Ravens or the Seahawks winning, you are sadly mistaken. I loved seeing O.J. Brigance win that trophy, and seeing Russell Wilson perform at the highest level.

To be honest, I can truly say I am thankful for the players who have allowed me to hate for fun. Thank you LeBron, for not being Ray Lewis, and just being someone I could root against on the court and laugh at your childish TV special. Thank you Rex Ryan for not being Pete Carroll, and just being an over-confident, foot-loving coach who I could make fun of because you were in my division. You see, any true sports fan knows that haterade is part of the game, and it makes it fun. And the best case scenario is that you never have actual reasons to hate somebody, rather, just an annoying player that you can hate like you hate Mondays.

Just because some people taint the use of alcohol, do you stay sober? Just because some people drive recklessly, do you always hold the needle on the speed limit? And just because some people hate with evil, does it mean that you can't pour passion into your fanhood? I certainly hope not. So don't go around chugging haterade beyond reason, but I'd hate to see all the fun you'd miss out on if you didn't at least take a moderated sip.

"All In" for Who?

2013-05-07T08:30:00.000-04:00

It was Saturday, April 28, 2012 when the city of Chicago froze. With 1:22 left in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, the whole city held their breath. And after Derrick Rose tore his ACL in that moment, as the city now anxiously awaits his return, some fans still haven't exhaled.

At the beginning of this NBA season, Adidas (the company who signed Rose, hoping to ride the Bulls superstar to success, the same way Nike did with his predecessor) released a commercial that vaguely profile the injury and Rose's efforts at a return to the court. The commercial ended with a simple tagline "all in for d rose," as if to say "let's cheer for this guy to make it back, cause we love him and we need him." In addition, Adidas made an attempt to trend a Twitter hash-tag (define hash-tag here for out-of-date readers) that simply read, #thereturn. What an awesome commercial it was - in fact, even today when I watch it, I get goosebumps from the emotional response that the TV spot invokes; compassion, inspiration, determination, heroism, nostalgia.

Now, before I begin my inevitable criticism of Derrick, let me preface by saying what a great player he has been up to this point. I have to admit first though, never shy to criticize professional athletes off the court, I did lose a chunk of respect for Rose when news came out about his invalid SAT score, followed by the NCAA vacating his only college season. That said, his offense didn't effect many lives, and he responded to it in the best way; with humility. Derrick Rose's NBA career has been many things, but his humility is near the top of that list. Never one to "talk smack" in the press or draw attention to himself, D-Rose simply goes about his business day after day on the court, and did so to the tune of an MVP award at the age of 22, the youngest player to do so in league history. Oh yea, Derrick is the only other Bull to win the award besides a guy with the initials of MJ...pretty good company to keep. He is a grinder, who works tirelessly to guide his team to a competitive season every year - not just by scoring tons of points, but by effectively facilitating a fluid offense and by being a tenacious defender.

So there is all my love for D-Rose, and now for my acknowledgement of judgment, before I make my case against him. Like anything we experience in life, each and every human in the world reacts in their own way to different situations, and nobody is to blame for that. What is easy for one person is hard for another, and vice versa. What is scary/painful/upsetting for one person can be funny/inspiring/motivating for another. I often try not to judge other people for their personal responses to the stimuli of life, as I know that I respond in my own way for my own reasons as well.

Despite all that, I am judging Derrick Rose. It appears that ACL recovery time-frames vary from person to person, but they can take as quick as 6 months, and sometimes as long as a full year...both time-frames have passed in Rose's case. In fact, he was cleared for basketball activity by team doctors in mid-February. Since then, he has practiced full-strength with the team for a while now, but still no word on a return to live action. Recently, with the Bulls facing several other team injuries in the playoffs, speculation has intensified as to if and when a now healthy Rose will return to help his team out. Rose has been quoted as citing muscle memory and mental preparation as the reasons he is only "90 percent." And more than anything, Rose's brother, Reggie, has used the situation to draw attention to himself by occasionally "releasing updates" about D-Rose's status (all updates have proven inconsequential, but now people know Reggie's name, which is probably all he wanted).

Ok, ok, most of you probably know this whole saga already, so what's my beef? My beef is that, we see this situation all the time in different venues of life. Different individuals blow up situations in their lives to be these monumental difficulties or obstacles, and it then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that has tripled in size from the actual issue. It's like jumping in a cold pool - you think, debate, and hesitate until jumping in the pool has become such a burden that it's not even about the temperature anymore, it's just about convincing yourself to answer the bell. Charles Swindoll has famously said, "life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it," and quite frankly, he couldn't be more correct.

Don't get me wrong - I think what the Nationals did with Stephen Strasburg was right, and that the chances the Redskins took with Robert Griffin were wrong. Please let me be clear, I don't want to downplay the importance of proper discretion toward physical injuries. In light of that, Derrick Rose has said himself, that this is not a physical issue, he is 100% physically healed, and so my critique is of his attitude, more than anything else.

Are the Bulls turning heads without D-Rose on the court? Sure they are, they just beat the Miami Heat last night with Rose, Kirk Hinrich, and Luol Deng on the bench, but any team could always use a former MVP for a boost. The Bulls have been fighting off injuries, and have done so well, staying alive in a 7-game first round battle with the Brooklyn Nets, and now only needing to win half of their next 6 games against the Heat in order to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. My argument is that the timing could not be better for "the return" to happen, than right now. As sports fans, we often times (if not all the time), dramatize situations to play out like a movie in our minds. Who can blame us? That's why we're sports fans (short for fanatics). Most times we hope for the buzzer-beater, dramatic comeback, walk-off homerun, but those situations aren't always realistic. What I say in this situation is that the only thing making "the return" unrealistic is D-Rose's attitude. Stop focusing on what could go wrong if you come back, and focus on what could go right. If I looked at the stats about why I shouldn't drive on an American highway because it could be fatal, then I would never get in a car. What usually makes life worth living is that it takes sacrifice, determination, and facing our fears, to achieve the greatest intrinsic rewards.

At the end of the second Batman movie, The Dark Knight, Batman has a line he delivers, "Sometimes the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes, people deserve to have their faith rewarded." Couldn't be more true for D-Rose in this moment. It doesn't matter why he doesn't feel confident enough, he just needs to trust himself, and more importantly, the fan base who has been patiently waiting for "the return" to not just be a tagline but a reality, deserves more than an explanation - they deserve to be rewarded.

Friday, May 10, 2013 @ 7:00pm is Game 3 against the Heat, and the first one of the series to be played in Chicago at the United Center. I think it should be the first one D-Rose plays in, after a 377-day drought where his team has held it together long enough and could use their leader now more than ever. From a generation that watched Jordan play through the flu in the NBA Finals two decades ago, I think D-Rose can find a way to play through his mental demons. Ultimately, what I am trying to say here, if I'm saying anything, is - Adidas asked us to support "the return" and be "all in for d rose," well the Bulls have shown that they're all in, the Chicago faithful are all in, and general sports fans like myself are all in...the only person left is Derrick, to who I say, we're all in, where are you?

#thereturn

Fool's Gold

2012-10-03T12:55:00.001-04:00

With it being the last day of the regular season and both the Angels and Phillies eliminated from playoff contention, I felt like this point just needed to be made...

It is notably ironic that when Albert Pujols signed his recent contract with the Los Angeles Angels, that his average annual salary tied him for third on the list of active players, with none other than Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee (A-Rod and Ryan Howard rank 1 and 2).

There was a concept that I've repeated back-to-back off-seasons, mainly to my younger brother and a few close friends; in winter of 2010 it was that Cliff Lee needed the Texas Rangers more than the Rangers needed him, and in winter of 2011 it was that Albert Pujols needed the St. Louis Cardinals more than the Cardinals needed him. The two players' relationships with their former teams held high levels of intangible value in different ways. It turns out that both of these players believed themselves to be bigger than their now ex-teams, and went chasing after what I deem as "fool's gold."

We'll begin chronologically with Lee. Cliff served as somewhat of an x-factor in the Rangers' 2010 run to the World Series. Texas had acquired him from Seattle in July of 2010 hoping to benefit from his proven postseason mettle, showcased with the Phillies in the 2009 playoffs. Adding Lee to the front of their rotation, along with ace CJ Wilson and a potent offense, helped Texas steamroll through the American League (including the defending champion New York Yankees) and make it to the World Series. Though they would eventually lose to the San Francisco Giants, the Rangers had a lot to be excited about for the future, with the potential of a full season behind the arms of both Lee and Wilson. The obstacle between them and that future would be re-signing Lee to a contract during the off-season.

Cliff Lee at his introductory press conference

To shorten the story about a lengthy exercise of contract offers including both the Rangers and the Yankees (the Yanks have this habit of buying up the talent that kicks the crap out of them in the playoffs. see: Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, etc.), the bottom line is that Cliff Lee signed a 5-year $120 million contract with the team who snuck in through the back door of negotiations at the last minute, the Phillies. The alleged deal-breaker was that the Rangers weren't offering as much guaranteed money and that Lee was also demanding a 7-year contract from them. At that point, the Rangers decided that although Lee was a more than worthy investment, the things that he was demanding might put the team's future financial situation in limbo and that risk was more daunting than the risk of thinking about life without Cliff. So with the Rangers offer still standing on the table, Lee declined and became a Phillie. How arrogant for Lee to think that he was SO important as to make greedy demands of the team that just got him out of a hopeless Seattle situation and brought him to the World Series. From the Rangers angle they knew it would be a very tough void to fill, but were confident enough in the holistic organizational structure that they had built, and were justly rewarded with another trip to the World Series in 2011.

In that World Series, they faced the Cardinals, who after defeating the Rangers in seven games, faced their own dramatic free agent situation with living legend, Albert Pujols; just one year after Texas' contractual dance with Lee. St. Louis had tried to avoid this debacle, attempting to negotiate in January 2011, before the final season on Albert's contract began, offering a 9-year deal that would pay the slugger $198 million (far from chump change). Pujols is quoted as saying that he was "insulted" by this offer, that would have paid him until he was a 40-year-old, despite an inevitable decline in performance; he then said he didn't want to negotiate until after the season, naturally giving him a chance to test the free agent waters. Again, to shorten a long story of contract offers involving several teams, the Cardinals went as high as 10 years and $220 million (what many critics would say is over-paying for what will likely be only 3-5 high performance years); yet that was again not enough, as Albert Pujols on January 5, 2012 signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The contract offers much more than face value, however...

According to ESPN, other perks include:

• A hotel suite on road trips.

• Four season ticket packages to home games over the next decade.

• A luxury suite at the ballpark for the Pujols Foundation, his charitable group, for 10 home games a year.

• The right to buy a luxury suite between first base and third base for all home games.

• The Angels' deal was so complicated that it includes three separate agreements: His playing contract, a marketing deal and an agreement to enter a 10-year, personal-services agreement following the playing contract's expiration or Pujols' retirement, whichever is later. That will pay $1 million annually, but because it is contingent on Pujols actually working for the team, it is not considered guaranteed money for the purposes of baseball's luxury tax.

• Including all three agreements, Pujols could make up to $268.75 million over 20 years.

These are the things that Albert felt were more important than continuing to don the only jersey he had ever worn before. The Cardinals, much like Texas a year before them, were willing to go above and beyond for what they felt was a key piece of their franchise, but they just weren't going to be bullied into going all the way to the moon for someone. If sports has shown us anything, it is that no player, no matter how talented, is completely indispensable. There may be some efforts that are unrepeatable and performances that are unforgettable, but Derek Jeter makes it easier to see Don Mattingly go, Aaron Rodgers makes it easier to see Brett Favre go, and Dwight Howard makes it easier to see Shaq go; that's just the way it is. And to the beat of that drum, CJ Wilson made it easier to see Cliff Lee go and David Freese, Carlos Beltran, Alan Craig, and company have made it easier to see Pujols go. The only way to insure that it's near-impossible for someone to feel like it's easy to see you go, is to stay while you still can (see: Cal Ripken Jr, Tony Gwynn, and most recently Larry "Chipper" Jones).

Albert Pujols at his introductory press conference.

And so we now will begin a postseason on Friday that won't feature Cliff Lee's Phillies, or Pujols' Angels. The lesson to learn from the two examples here is the same. With Lee it's a bit simpler - he had the chance to be the mainstay in the development of a modern-day baseball dynasty, the fans viewed him as a mid-season savior, and he had nothing to prove, only more accomplishments to achieve. He opted for the guaranteed money with a group that wasn't a team, rather a NL version of the Yankees - a bunch of high-priced square pegs, trying to be put in a round hole. What that earned him was an early exit in the 2011 playoffs and a seat on his couch for the 2012 ones. Not to mention that this summer, Texas was in talks to reacquire Lee at the trade-deadline...talks that I'm sure to Lee's disappointment didn't work out; I believe the appropriate phrase is "shoulda, coulda, woulda." Unfortunately for most professional athletes, though physically grown men, it takes them till much later in their careers to realize that there are few things that are truly just "about them." Cliff made his decision about "Cliff" and not about wanting to be a part of something. Well, I hope Cliff is happy, because he isn't a part of anything special...but the Rangers sure are. Perhaps it's poetic irony that CJ Wilson made the same decision to abandon Texas one season after Lee set the example, as Wilson left town for a fat payout in LA, becoming Pujols' teammate...I suppose that selfish minds think alike.

Looking back at Pujols now, his situation is arguably more complex than Lee's because he gave up much more than promise or convenience, he gave up an opportunity that would've put him as close to baseball immortality as one can get. He had logged 11 years in St. Louis, winning 2 World Series, breaking records, and writing a historic legend with each passing season. The benefit to "staying" is that though you will clearly be overpaid in the back half of your contract, the fans and even organization will forgive you because they look at your entire body of work from Day 1. Meanwhile, in LA, Albert's body of work from his past was only relevant in getting him the contract. In terms of actually getting respect and validation from the fans, he will be judged only on what he has done as an Angel, from 2012 to 2022; which it doesn't take a math wiz to know his numbers may be good during that stretch, but simply won't be as good as they were in St. Louis. Albert could've stayed in St. Louis, potentially won several more championships, and in 10 years gotten a league-wide send off similar to what Chipper has received this year. Instead, Albert voluntarily chose to remove himself from the pedestal that idealistic sports fans look to, the one where a guy will choose his team over the payout, where his relationship with the fans and culture is bigger than his relationship with his ego. Gone are the days of an Albert Pujols that we revere as having a historic career, and now we have a man, just like most of the other big talents in the game, who followed his nose to the scent of the greenbacks. Also to the scent of a mediocre regular season that has the Angels sitting at home this October, a place they would've been sitting much sooner, had Mike Trout not kept them in it this long.

Ironically, this year in the college classes I'm teaching, I required the students to read Jon Krakauer's Where Men Win Glory, which chronicles the life of former NFL linebacker Pat Tillman. I am using this book with the class to demonstrate several leadership concepts, one of which is loyalty. If your wondering what a truly dedicated player looks like, allow me to share with you what Pat said when he turned down a 5-year, $9.6 million offer from the St. Louis Rams to play for the Arizona Cardinals at close to the annual league minimum of $512,000. When Pat's agent begged him to take the money from the Rams, he simply said, "Look, Frank, the Cardinals drafted me in the seventh round. They believed in me. I love the coaches here. I can't bring myself to take the offer from the Rams." Now do I expect every professional athlete to be as gracious as Pat? Of course not, but I guess we were all just hoping that we'd find one more along the way.

With the recent Penn State cover-up, many sports critics have questioned the idolatry that we participate in as sports fans; pledging love to certain players, building statues to other men, defining part of who we are through personalities of men that we don't even know. That said, it's hard not to - sports is an unscripted play, it's a drama just like any other form of entertainment and we can't help but fall in love with certain characters in the plot. The hopeless wish of any sports fan in the viewing audience, the "fool's gold" that we chase is that maybe, just maybe, the characters we look up to will actually be better than common, mistake-ridden people. That they won't just be the Average Joe who follows his natural selfish instincts, that they'll transcend "what most people would do," and land at "what most people wish they could do," they'll prove to us that they were worth our trust, they'll be the exact thing we hoped they would be, our hero.

You blew it Albert, you blew it Cliff, and plenty of other people have blown it before you, but even more, you demanded the big stage and bright lights for your failure. And so the stage was set, the contracts were signed, and we rolled out the red carpet. But the joke is on you, because this year's postseason performance includes acts by your former teams, and you're merely another paying member of the viewing audience. I hope you don't miss the pedestal, because once you've stepped down, you can never again taste the true gold of professional sports - teamwork, trust, success, and the authentic adoration of your fans. Instead you chased the gold that you could put in your wallet, the kind that you can stash in a bank account, the kind that you can flaunt to the world...you thought it was what you wanted at the time, but as you sit there staring at other people playing in the postseason, wearing what was once your uniform, you'll realize what a fool you are, surrounded by your fool's gold.

Why The Celts Have The Edge

2012-06-09T12:41:00.001-04:00

A concept that is often discussed in our culture today is the amount of power and influence that the media has, particularly in the realm of politics. Well I would argue that their degree of power and influence extends to the realm of sports as well.

There was a piece I wanted to write over a year ago when the VCU Rams defeated my beloved Kansas Jayhawks in the 2011 NCAA March Madness tournament, as part of their dream journey to the Final Four. I was going to focus on how the media was the team that beat the Jayhawks, not the Rams. I'm not trying to minimize the enormous accomplishment of VCU, but the fact of the matter is that if that game was played in a closed gym, with no fans, no cameras, and no reporters, the Jayhawks would have squashed their competition.

Too bad for Kansas, that's not how sports work these days.
High profile sports are almost as much about what is going on off the court as it is about the talent that's actually on the court. Momentum, attitude, revenge, pride, fear, and confidence, are just as much skills to be considered as the physical threats of speed, strength, size, and game smarts. By time VCU ran into the high-seeded Jayhawks, they had a nation full of underdog fans pulling for them, and a strong media following in their corner, pronouncing them as the best thing since sliced bread. The Jayhawks found themselves with nothing to gain and everything to lose, while the Rams were looking at the exact opposite situation. Though the Rams played at their highest level to win the game, it was the fact that Kansas didn't play at their highest level that cost them the chance to win. When a team like VCU can keep it close, an NCAAB tyrant like Kansas is no longer just playing basketball, their fighting against the demons in their head of a possible loss to a double-digit seed.

Transitioning the discussion to tonight's Game 7 in Miami - I know that many people say they "hate" the NBA. I get it. The games seem pointless because a double-digit lead at halftime is worth about just as much as a Matt Hasselbeck guarantee in overtime. I don't disagree, and won't watch much NBA regular season for that reason. However, I can admit that the NBA playoffs are something I truly enjoy following because I don't have a favorite team, and can unbiasedly enjoy the drama that ensues over the two-month postseason. With that in mind, I'll weigh in on tonight's game.

Rewind to about two weeks ago. You have a geriatric, slow, and injured Boston Celtics team (the Perkins-Green trade never looked more dumb) matching up against a youthful, star-led, and fast Miami Heat team. The only dispute in the sports media world was whether or not the Heat would be able to pull off the sweep, or if the Celts could steal a game.

Through the first two games of the series, everything went according to script - the Heat were up 2-0, Boston looked slower than ever, and despite outplaying the Heat in Game 2, they still couldn't win. For all intents and purposes the series was over. The media was already beginning the discussion about the break up of Boston's core players, and starting the dramatic storyline of LeBron James having another shot at a ring. Not so fast, say the Celts.

Boston would proceed to win back-to-back games at home and entered Game 5 having outplayed Miami in 3 of the 4 games of the series. But what were the storylines heading into Game 5? Boston still had no chance - Miami was convincingly favored to win at at home, giving them a chance to win one of the two final games to make it to the finals. Boston still had very few people outside of the New England region thinking they could win. (That's not to say that the majority of the country wasn't rooting against LeBron...but when cash was being put down, it was largely in Miami's favor.)

Meanwhile, let's explore the mindset that entered into the heads of the Heat players down the stretch of Game 5 (holy crap, if we lose this game, we can't win in Boston). Soon the momentum started to swing - doubt found itself on the side of the Heat, while the aging Celtics were fueled by stealing a win nobody thought they could have. End result; Celtics win Game 5, go up 3-2, and have now out-played the Heat in 4 of 5 games in the series.

Enter Thursday night. Oh how the winds have changed. You can't find a reporter on any corner of the planet who will admit to predicting a Miami sweep just a week ago. All of a sudden, everyone is rocking out their best green & white, as it's a foregone conclusion that the Celts are going to wrap things up at home. In fact, the main storyline in the media for the 48 hours between Game 5 and 6 is that the Heat are already done, is Erik Spoelstra going to be fired? Are the "big three" going to be split up? What will Pat Riley do? And all that other blah, blah blah.

Time to look back at those "off-the-court skills" I mentioned earlier. The Heat were now the underdogs with something to prove. The media was literally treating them as if they had already lost the series, so in theory they had nothing to lose. Meanwhile the Celtics had some demons haunting them, 1) they were 11-13 in recent closeout games heading into Game 6 and 2) oh no, if they lose Game 6, how could they ever win Game 7 in Miami? And so, the Celtics, a team that managed all their success in the series via being doubted and forgotten, had now become the team with the expectations...expectations that I was confident they wouldn't (really couldn't) live up to.

You see, if you played this series in a closed gym - no cameras, no microphones, no reporters, the Heat would win in 4 or 5 games easy. Yet again, that's not how we do sports these days. And that is what has given the Celtics a chance to be competing in a series that they physically can't handle, and it is what will once again give them the edge in tonight's Game 7. The only way the Celtics can win ANY game against the Heat is when the intangibles are on their side, which they weren't in Game 6.

If sporting competitions always went to the side with the best physical skills, nobody would watch and there would be no market for gambling or odds because it would be too easy to win. It's the dramatic storylines, the inevitable mystery of who can bring their A-game, who has the most to prove, who can make the big shot with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and who is most cohesive as an operating unit; it's those things that decide team-related outcomes, not odds. It's because of intangibles that the Green Bay Packers didn't win the Super Bowl, that the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series, that the 1980 USA hockey team won the gold medal, and that the United States of America won the Revolutionary War...all unlikely outcomes.

Now I'm not saying that underdogs always win and that favorites always lose. It's simply not true. I am saying though, that on a situational basis, you can use the intangibles surrounding a game to predict the outcome better than you can based on the stats or any physical talents.

So, here's why I'm taking Boston tonight. The tables have turned yet again - like the beginning of the series, nobody is giving the Celtics a chance, the people who had them wrapping it up in 6 have disappeared (oh how 48 minutes can make a difference), the talk is back to how old and slow the Celtics looked in Game 6, and it is apparently a foregone conclusion that we will have a Heat/Thunder showdown in the Finals. In fact, the Heat are favored by 7 points against a team that has outplayed them in 4 out of 6 games! (If you're putting money down on this game, taking the spread for Boston looks pretty good to me).

What we stupidly forget, because we are such an immediate culture that lives in the "now," is that this is how the Celts prefer it. They like having no chance. KG likes being told that he is old. They like their backs against the wall with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Game 6 was an abomination, LeBron played his best game while KG, Pierce, Rondo, and Allen all arguably played their worst games. As a team Boston went 1-for-14 from downtown. It's hilarious to me that pundits are using Game 6 as a credible source for a Game 7 prediction - that's like using the tabloids as scholarly sources in a biography.

On the other side, the Heat have now redeemed themselves, and have earned a shoulder's-full of expectations to go with it. There is now no doubt that they will win, which makes the thought of losing that much more unbearable. LeBron couldn't have choked in Game 6 where critics were already speaking of his demise, but now how does he back up such a masterful performance? The distance to fall is that much greater.

If there has been one consistency in this series, it's that the team with something to prove comes out on top. Now of course Miami has something to prove over the course of a whole season, but I don't think that applies tonight. Tonight, in a concentrated context of one game, Miami has allegedly "already won." It is Boston that is too old, too slow, time to hang it up, blew their chance in Game 6, outmatched by LeBron. It is the Celtics that now have the Heat right where they want them...looking down on them from the pedestal of expectations. A pedestal that I anticipate Boston is now emotionally refueled to climb.

Predictions: Rondo limits his turnovers, Pierce doesn't foul like an idiot and shoots well, KG reasserts his dominance in paint, Allen, Pietrus, and Dooling make some timely 3's, LeBron drops a "contained 40" (which is sad, but true), and then when the game is over - Twitter explodes and the apocalypse happens 6 months early, everyone at ESPN acts like they saw this coming, and most importantly, some little kid repeatedly shouts "good job" as LeBron walks through the tunnel for the last time this season.

Boston 91, Miami 87.

Like Game 5, Paul Pierce will again have to be "The Truth" for the Celtics to grab Game 7.

Zoom Out

2012-01-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

This isn’t one of those pieces about “appreciate your finances, because there are poor people in the world.” While that’s very true and you should count your blessings, that message is repeated quite often, so I’ve got something else for you to appreciate.

I don’t know if I’m ever going to catch it. You know, that feeling we all chase as if we can finally be “caught up” in life. To-do lists - we all have several of them. Sure there’s the “work” to-do list, but what about the “you” to-do list…yea, that’s the one that we really never catch.

Life is ambiguous, and ambiguity really sucks. Or does it? I woke up this morning with my first full-night sleep this week. Tuesday through Thursday consisted of nights where I worked till 2:30, 1:30, and 2:00, respectively (yes, all AM times). That’s nothing though – plenty of people probably worked to the early hours of the next morning on all five days, others have kids that don’t let them get the full night of sleep on Saturday morning, and some people have weekends that are busier than their weeks. All duly noted.

Do you ever have so much to do, that when you get free time, your mind stalls out because you don’t know which task to start and how? Do you feel like the minute you pay your bills for the month, that the next month’s bills find their way to your mailbox? Do you feel like you don’t even know if you enjoy your hobbies anymore, because you haven’t done them in so long? Have you not done your hobbies in a while because you can’t justify them as an effective use of time? Are you moving so fast to get to a life destination, that you’re cheating yourself of the opportunity to enjoy the journey?

The point is simple: life is a struggle…and we’re darn lucky it is. The struggle is the purpose. The struggle defines you and it gives value to your goals when you do reach them. 86 years of struggle gave indescribable meaning to a 2004 World Series victory in Boston, and over a century of struggle will someday give meaning to a championship title on the north side of Chicago.

I realized this week, as my time was accounted for from one hour to the next, and I was fighting just to reach Friday at 5:00 (which turned into Friday at 6:30); that I should zoom out and appreciate it all. There are people in this world, rich or poor, who don’t have a struggle to define their purpose…giving them little to fight for. When I got to grad school a few years ago, all I had was my schoolwork and a part time job to keep me busy, I have never been more bored in my life. In those moments of no struggle, I learned to appreciate the hectic times of my past, and also vowed to never complain about being busy ever again. As I moved from one thing to the next yesterday, fighting to get myself to the weekend and starting to stress, I reminded myself of that internal conversation from several years ago, I zoomed out, and smiled…I was grateful to be back “in the thick of things.”

We all get to do life once. That’s not supposed to be philosophical, it’s just reality – we get to “do” life one time. How are you using your time? Just to get from one point to the next? Take in the journey, every second of it (good and bad), it defines you. We wouldn’t be awed by the renewal of spring without the bitter cold of winter. The holidays wouldn’t have need for celebration, without the other 340 “ordinary” days of the year. You never know how life is going to change, and how you might miss something that you once despised. Don’t save all the fun things for the day that you “catch up,” because you might never get there. Heck, I’m not saying to stop chasing, I know I’m still shooting for it, but just make the chase an enjoyable one. So attack the to-do list, but also make time for friends, make time for family, make time for hobbies, make time for zooming out and appreciating it all – read books, watch movies, take vacation days, go for walks, play board games, listen to music, do puzzles, have lengthy phone conversations, do service, ask your spouse out on a date, play with your kids, keep in touch, drive slower, get lost, exercise, give hugs, smile, relax, maybe even do some coloring.

Your time is the most valuable commodity that you own; make it count.

2012 NFL Playoffs: Deja Vu

2012-01-06T21:48:00.004-05:00

According to the Mayans this will be the last NFL postseason that we ever have. If that is the case, we will definitely be ending the history of the league on a high note. After a long off-season which featured much ambiguity as to whether football would even be played in Fall 2011, the league, owners, and players reached a deal that ended the strike in time to get us a full season. The only loss was some time to prep through preseason games and workouts, but that’s far better than having an adjusted schedule, like the NBA. Imagine if the NFL started at the end of October with teams playing on Sundays AND Wednesdays…yea, crazy.

So the storylines of this year were plenty. After the prequel of the strike, things got under way quickly with the Aaron Rodgers/Drew Brees shootout on opening night. I remember that one fondly because I thought Rodgers’ three 1^st quarter touchdowns were just the beginning of a big fantasy night, as my opponent and older brother, was featuring Brees in his lineup. Sure enough, Brees ended the night with more fantasy points, but Rodgers came out with the W…the first of 13 in a row to start the season.

In addition, 2011 featured the Buffalo Bills circling the wagons better than most, with a 4-1 start, including a comeback win over Bill Belichick’s notorious Patriots. Then, shortly after dipping into their savings account for Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills followed up their hot start with a 2-9 finish. Other top storylines included Jim Harbaugh’s turnaround of the 49ers, leading them to a division crown and first round bye, despite his 16-6 loss to his big brother and the Ravens on Thanksgiving.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Cam Newton’s dominance, the Colts’ almost “defeated” season, the Dolphins’ 6-3 finish to an 0-7 start, the Texans investing in their own personal hospital since their players (mainly any QB named Matt) were maxing out bed space in Houston, the Bears losing their top two offensive threats in consecutive weeks, the Chargers underachieving and not firing their coach (wait I thought that was 2010, or 2008, no maybe 2009…meh, too hard to keep track), Rex Ryan talking the talk while being unable to walk the walk (maybe he should walk on a treadmill this off-season), the “dream team” in Philly finishing at a nightmarish 8-8, and of course Tim Tebow charming people into thinking he can play quarterback, followed by reality setting in and him closing the season with QB stats that ranked 34^th in a 32-team league.

And now time for the main reason we are here today, some futures picks for the 2012 NFL playoffs. Before getting into the actual picks, I will make some standard disclaimers. I’ll then follow up the picks with a couple of game notes, but there will be no lengthy game-by-game analysis…I’ll leave that to ESPN and their 297 hours of pre-playoff coverage and speculation.

> The Curse Has Been Lifted – After hating the New England Patriots for most of my life and being unable to remain neutral in picking their games, I can now admit that I am a recovered hater. I still strongly dislike the Patriots, but after they gave Tim Tebow the beating that he deserved, I felt like the Grinch with my heart growing to at least respect the Pats. So there is no more issue with me not picking the Patriots just because I hate them.

> The TOR – When in grad school, one of my student employees noted that I made many of my sports picks based on the “Inzirillo Theory of Redemption.” This theory claims that despite some statistical data, certain teams have a marked intangible advantage over an opponent because of their momentum and mindset based on a previous experience. For example if two teams, in any sport, had fairly comparable talent but one was on a 5-game winning streak, and the other a 5-game losing streak, I would be hesitant to pick against the latter of the two, because they are “due for a win.” Just wanted to put that out there, as it might come into play for some of my picks.

> The Loneliest Number – One truly is the loneliest number and this year’s lonely team is the Denver Broncos. They are lonely because the 11 other playoff teams fall into the category of “have a chance to win a Super Bowl.” The Broncos are a Marion Barber fumble away from not being in the playoffs and were lucky to back their way in with a loss at home to Kansas City…and the QB (Kyle Orton, #redemption) that they chased out of town. Of course there are teams that are more likely to go all the way than others, but any of the 11 teams could win and it wouldn’t be a total shocker. However, if the Broncos win on Tebow’s 3/29 passing, 26 passing yards, 38 rushing yards, and somehow 2 receptions, it will simply confirm that December 21, 2012 will indeed be the end of the world.

> New Kids On The Block – This year’s playoffs feature a balanced roster of teams with six returners and six teams not featured in the 2011 postseason. Of the six newbies, the Broncos have already been addressed, while the Bengals and Giants are not unfamiliar to the playoff scene. That leaves us with the Texans, Niners, and Lions. Houston will be playing in the first playoff game in franchise history, San Francisco hasn’t played a postseason game since 2002, meanwhile Detroit has not been to the playoffs since 1999 and they haven’t won a playoff game since 1991. One of these teams has a wildcard game on the road (DET), one has a wildcard game at home (HOU), and one has a first-round-bye (SF)…should be interesting to see if they can succeed despite a lack of recent postseason experience.

> Time To Pee Or Get Off The Pot – The Ravens, Giants, and Patriots have all won a championship in this century, but they also all haven’t done much lately in terms of postseason success. Year after year all three teams are in the thick of things, and then they either narrowly miss the playoffs, or get eliminated before things get serious. Meanwhile the Falcons are making their third playoff birth in the last four years, but have yet to notch a win. Will one of these mainstay competitors finally step up to the plate?

> The Champs Are Here – Not only is it fascinating that 12 of the last 15 Super Bowl titles were won by franchises that are in the playoffs this year, but the last four consecutive SB Champs are in the postseason pool. The Giants, Steelers, Saints, and Packers have won the last four championships, respectively. Clearly there is some longevity to their dominance, can one of them claim their second title in a 5-year period?

And now for the picks (home team in Italics):

Week 1.

Texans def. Bengals

Saints def. Lions

Giants def. Falcons

Steelers def. Broncos

Sure, the Texans have lost three in a row, but it was after they clinched the division. I’m not saying that they lost on purpose, but they didn’t have their backs against the wall. I think they will bring everything they have in a must-win game and TJ Yates manages a good game. As for the Saints, here’s the theory of redemption at play – after Seattle upset them and dealt them a first round exit last year, the Saints will have playoff redemption on the mind…no way they lose at home. The Giants seem to only lose games that they are clearly supposed to win (see: Redskins, Seahawks, Redskins again). So due to the fact that they aren’t a run-away favorite against Atlanta, I like them to come through. In addition, the Falcons wedged their way into the playoffs with a soft schedule down the stretch – their Week 7 win against Detroit is their only victory against a team with a winning record this season. Finally, although Tebow is getting lucky with a few Steelers injuries, their defense will still own him. And listen people, let’s not freak out if Denver pulls off a miracle, remember how quickly the hype about Seattle’s 1^st round upset died last year after the Bears sent them home.

Week 2.

49ers def. Saints

Steelers def. Patriots

Ravens def. Texans

Packers def. Giants

These four games were the hardest to pick. In a straight matchup at a neutral site I would take the Saints over SanFran, but there are too many advantages for the Niners. SanFran will be well rested AND at home, where their only loss was to Dallas in overtime in week 2. New Orleans has been so inconsistent on the road, with shocking losses at Tampa Bay and St. Louis earlier this season. That, in addition to the 49ers having more time to game-plan for Brees gave the Niners the very slight edge in my book (can’t wait to see Vegas’ line on that game). Moving on, I was tempted to take the Pats to prove how much I am not biased against them, but the truth is to just look at what their swiss cheese defense gave up to Tebow. The Steelers solid offensive system, plus their proven ability to contain Brady gives them the edge. And yes, I checked, Belichick has gone 0-2 against a non-division foe in the same season before (2006 Colts). I’ll take the Ravens over the injured Texans, with Baltimore having more time to prep and due for a big playoff win - great season for Houston though, definitely something to build on. Finally, I wanted to pick the Giants to upset the Packers, the way that they did to the Pats in Super Bowl XLII, but there is just no way they can go to Lambeau and win.

Conference Championship.

Steelers def. Ravens

Packers def. 49ers

Again employing the theory of redemption I cannot see the Ravens beating the Steelers three times in the same season, even if they are hosting. Plus the Ravens have been too inconsistent this season to beat a team that is so solid on both sides of the ball. When it comes to the NFC, the marked advantages the Niners had over the Saints will both be gone – they will now be on the road, and at equal resting/prep time with a superior Packers unit.

Super Bowl.

Packers def. Steelers

I hate doing this to the Steel City, but we haven’t had a repeat champion since the Pats in ‘04/’05, and we haven’t had a repeat SB matchup since Dallas and Buffalo in ‘93/’94, with the Cowboys winning both times. I just think that the Packers match up well against the Steelers, and Aaron Rodgers is excellent indoors. As of last year’s SB, Rodgers' dome passer rating was 111.5, and that number has only increased this season. I think it will be another great game, like last year, and only showcases the lasting dominance that both of these franchises have in their respective conferences.

SB XXVIII in 1994 was the last time we witnessed a repeat matchup.

Now, what do I know? I’m just a guy with a laptop. I’m hoping that I can outdo myself from last year’s picks where I went 8/11 in playoff games. But the simplest truth about football is that on “any given Sunday” any team can beat any team. Either way, right or wrong, and especially if the Mayans know what they’re talking about, the NFL playoffs will be going out with a bang, and they sure are going to be great to watch.

Seat 22

2011-10-01T20:43:00.003-04:00

Competition. It is at the root of almost everything that we do. To compete means to battle, to work hard, and potentially to struggle. So why do we like it so much? Why do we as human beings seek out competition and weave it into the many threads that construct the meaning of our lives? I think it’s because that battle, that struggle to succeed, is what defines us. You can only measure the quality of your success by the magnitude of what sacrifices it took to get there.

We are emotional beings, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Some people may have thicker skin than others, but that just means their struggle is that much more personal to them and they protect that truth with walls of sternness. What no individual can hide from is the fact that competition exists all around us – on a practical scale, we compete against each other as individuals, we like to place friendly wagers when we disagree so that we can be rewarded for “being right,” we compete against tough material in the classroom, or the impossible economy in the workplace. Then on an intangible scale we compete against standards, the status quo, doubt, adversity, and what is usually referred to as the impossible.

We sometimes forget that all these arenas of competition exist, because we want to pretend that we are passive beings whose lives are not defined by competition. Well nobody is fooling me. And so while this article is about sports, I wanted to lead in with a reminder that even if you’re not a sports fan, you are still a competitor, which should give you an adequate frame of reference for what I have to say…

It was unreal on Wednesday, sitting in seat 22. It all ended right where it started. And this 24-year old author was taken back to the spring of 1994. It was the tail end of my time in 1^st grade and I was a scrawny little kid with a lisp that could rival nails on a chalkboard. On a storybook spring morning, 45 minutes north of New York City, my dad was headed out the door for the Pony League coaches meeting. This was a big day because not only did you get the team roster and equipment, but you also got the uniforms.

I had been waiting for this day for a while – my older brother Joe had already played two seasons of little league by now and had jerseys from the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs to prove it. Now it was my turn to get a jersey…finally.

I sat in my parents’ bathroom and watched my dad shave, which had become part of my routine in getting up early during the week to see him off to work. Then as he brushed his teeth, I asked him to please try to get Mets jerseys, which at the time sounded something like “Daddy, pleaschh try to get the Metschh.” Joe was a Yankee fan, and in the same way that Joe loving Batman and Chip had made me favor Robin and Dale, I wanted the Mets to combat Joe’s Yankees.

My dad said he would try, but that a lot of people were going to try for the Mets. I said that was fine, and just hoped for something to separate me from Joe – so no Yankees, Astros, or Cubs, and I’d be a happy camper. Then, in the moment where my Dad walked out the door, my mother unknowingly changed my life forever when she said, “Frank, if you can’t get the Mets, get that new teal team – they will be easy to see when I pull up to the parking lot so I know what field you guys are playing at.” My dad came home that sunny April Saturday with a black trash bag of teal jerseys, and though it wasn’t what I had asked for, I threw on that #6 Marlins jersey for the first time and it still hasn’t come off.

Where it all started...

The Florida Marlins entered the league a year before I entered the world of baseball, but because it was during the player strike, I like to think that the two of us came into baseball together. Knowing that they were a new team and I was a new player, it stuck. I’ve been a fan of the Marlins for my entire life, and many people have come to reference me as the only Marlins fan that they know. As I grew up through the 90’s, the Marlins became synonymous with my young identity. As a Catholic school attendee, uniforms were a must, but every once in a while we were rewarded with “play-clothes.” Consistent as the sunrise, every time I got a chance to wear play-clothes, I made sure to sport some Marlins gear, to show people that I was proud of being the only Marlins fan they knew and that I could give two craps about the Bronx Bombers.

I could continue on and tell you the whole timeline of my Marlins fanship – but I’ll stick to the highlights. I’ll never forget 1997, coming home from school during the NLDS to catch the afternoon Game 1 between the Marlins and San Francisco Giants. I then remember having to play the Atlanta Braves who were on the early end of their NL East supremacy with a historic pitching rotation. After dispatching of the Braves in 6 games behind Livan Hernandez’s dominance on the mound, it was on to the Cleveland Indians for the big money. I remember the only regret I had in winning the World Series that season was that it wasn’t against the Yanks.

A 5^th grader at the time, I went to school the next day, like a kid in a candy store, only to have the Yankees fans take away my celebration, “you’re lucky you didn’t have to play us, we would have crushed you.” Though a completely irrational argument, because the Yankees weren’t even good enough to get out of the first round that year, that was my first exposition to the true mantra of Yankees fans; gloat when we win, excuse when we lose (see the argument: we have 27 rings). It made the sweetness of my first championship (which, by the way, came much earlier than the Yanks’ first franchise title) taste sour.

Fortunately for me, karma seemed to take note that it now owed a debt to me. In 2003, I witnessed what I believe to be the best pair of pennant battles in my lifetime; the Marlins taking on the Cubs and the Boston Red Sox battling the Yanks. After a dramatic seven game series with the Cubbies, the Marlins had won the NL Pennant, making them 2-for-2 in such situations (that’s a better win percentage than the Yanks can boast…for those of you keeping score at home). The next night was Game 7 of the ALCS, and for the first and only time in my life, I rooted for the New York Yankees. When Aaron Boone hit that homerun I was speechless; six years after I heard my first jab about how the Yanks would have dominated the Marlins in the World Series, it was now time for Yankee fans to do something they often failed to do, back up all that trash talk. Too bad they weren’t up to the challenge.

In 2003 the Florida Marlins dominated the New York Yankees behind two wins from Brad Penny, an 11^th inning Alex Gonzalez walk-off homerun, and a 5-hit series-clinching shutout behind the arm of World Series MVP Josh Beckett. The next day I had the opportunity to tell Yankee fans something that I had wanted to say from the moment they ruined my first championship, something that most baseball fans long to tell them today – shut up. But I didn’t. I didn’t gloat, I didn’t rub it in, I didn’t want to sink to their level. I had taken junk throughout the whole series without saying anything, especially when we went down 2-1, but on this day, the day after we were crowned champs, my silence was deafening.

I know that people will continue to make fun of the Marlins, their two “fire sales,” their poor attendance, and their predominantly sub-par performance. I’ll tell you what though, I’m glad I didn’t end up with a Mets or Cubs jersey back in ‘94, otherwise I’d still be waiting on my first big win, instead of having celebrated two unforgettable ones.

So there I sat in Section 102, Row 8, Seat 22, on Wednesday, literally taking hundreds of pictures as if it would help me to absorb the moment. I was joined by over 34,000 other spectators who came out to say goodbye to the only sports team I’ve ever loved.

It was unreal to be a part of something like that; to have taken the whole ride with a team and then to be there in person to witness the end of an era. What I did realize is that the Florida Marlins that I knew while growing up had started to fade away a long time ago. Ever since the team was bought by current owner Jeffrey Loria, the team has been changing. Loria, who was literally handed a World Series capable team, assumed ownership in 2002, and then took credit for the Marlins Championship season in 2003. That series-clinching tag by Beckett on Jorge Posada was the end of the real Florida Marlins.

Since then the Marlins have wheeled and dealed, slowly trading away all of their World Series contributors. Whether the media would agree with me or not, as a true fan, I will tell you what it felt like since 2002. It felt like Loria was a very selfish owner. The most basic example is how he slowly transitioned teal out of the team’s color scheme simply because he didn’t like it – I guess 10 years of history doesn’t count for anything. In addition, Loria and his stepson, team president David Samson, have been adamant about taking credit for all of the Marlins successes and none of their failures. They seem to have been more interested with leaving their mark on the team, than with the team leaving their mark on the field. Right or wrong, bitter or unbiased, that’s a fan’s perspective; and I’m sure that I’m not alone.

The truth is that since 2003, the Marlins have been fading away into a team that was “once upon a time,” and this past Wednesday was just the official book-end on an amazing run. I hope that the Miami Marlins, set to enter the world of Major League Baseball on 11/11 of this year, can carry at least a little bit of the Florida Marlins legacy. It’s too soon to tell right now how it will feel – if I will be as diehard about the Miami fish as I was about the Florida ones. I think it will be ok though, because as I sat there in seat 22 this week and looked at this father and son in front of me (both sporting some Marlins gear), I thought that some day I’ll take my little boy to see our Marlins play.

Getting my pic with a fellow "life-er"

This article is my tribute to the Marlins, and all that they have brought to my life. The Marlins taught me how to believe in the impossible, how to be an underdog, and how to never give up. Looking back on the years, I can say that I cheered for them passionately and defended them at every moment. Maybe it’s something I picked up from my New York stomping grounds. Clearly I’m not shy about my distaste for the Yankees, but I cannot deny the bond I have with those diehard fans from the Bronx – we both love our teams.

And that’s the connection. As much as competition can pit us against each other; whether it’s a fellow student in the classroom, a co-worker at the office, a player on the field or another fan in the stands, competition is something that brings us together. If we listen hard enough, competition is a language that we all speak, just in different dialects. But it’s important to appreciate that, to know that people can have the same level of investment in different things. And so while I love to watch the Yankees lose, I will never hesitate to throw their fans a bone, because I know how dedicated they are.

Seat 22. I can officially say that I am the last person to ever sit in that seat in the history of the Florida Marlins. And I will be there on 4/4/12 this spring to be the first person to sit in a seat (number TBD) in the history of the Miami Marlins. Words cannot describe the way that 18 years flashed before my eyes as I sat in that stadium. I remembered the few good seasons, the many bad ones, all the jokes I’ve had directed at me, and all the wishful predictions I’ve made. And then just when I thought the experience had been capped off, they play the top 10 moments in Marlins history up on the stadium big screens. By time they got to number 1, I knew who I would see. I knew I’d see the man whose picture has been above my bed since I was 10 years old.

Surely enough, as goosebumps filled my arms, Edgar Renteria was up on the screen in the bottom of the 11^th inning. It was 10/26/97 all over again and I was sitting on the floor of my parents’ bedroom after midnight. And then, as if on cue, Edgar took that Charles Nagy pitch and lined it up the middle of the infield to send Craig Counsell home to a mob of ecstatic Marlins. It was over. We did it. And then I was back in 2011, sitting in Sun Life Stadium for the last time, eyes filled with water. I stood on my chair and applauded with the other 34,000 strong, said thanks so much for the ride, grabbed my game program, picked up my camera, and for the last time said goodbye, to seat 22.

The Buc Starts Here

2011-07-20T23:00:00.004-04:00

This might not be the piece that you're looking for. In fact, if you've become accustomed to the sports-talk of our time, it's probably not. This piece is not going to speculate, criticize, lecture, or know better than anyone else. This piece will not talk about what the Pirates have done. It will not talk about what the Pirates might do or should do. This piece will not talk about who the Pirates were, who they could be, or who they should be. Plain and simple, because there is not enough focus on just this one thing, this piece will talk about what the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing.

I've started to notice it; in these last few months. It's only my second season working for the team, but something was different. I used to be the only bicycle on the rack outside the stadium; but I suddenly found myself hoping to get a spot. Hoping for a parking spot...on a bike...are you kidding me? No I'm not, it's really been that full. I remember last season, going out to sling t-shirts on a weeknight, and making jokes about how we could give out two to each fan in attendance. Not anymore. Now you can sling in any direction you want because on a Tuesday night there's over 26,000 fans hoping to grab one of the 20 shirts that we give away.

I remember leaving the stadium after working a game during the '10 season and having the Clemente Bridge all to myself as I biked back across the river. Last night, for the first time ever, I had to take the Warhol Bridge because Roberto's route had more traffic than the Fort Pitt and Squirrel Hill tunnels combined. I remember that as employees we could request tickets almost any night that we wanted because "the Pirates don't sell out, except for Opening Day." Hah, not anymore...and what a good problem to have. I remember that when we got assigned to raise the Jolly Roger, it meant being stuck at the stadium till the end of the game to see if the Bucs could mount a miraculous comeback. Now if you get the job of "flag" it means you get to hang around to watch the latest edition of "Hammer Time," and then elevate the skull and crossbones on Greg Brown's cue.

In what's said to be a "football town," who just a year ago was talking non-stop about the outcome of the adolescent behavior of their quarterback; there's been no talk of pigskin around these parts lately. Even with the NFL strike providing plenty of potential storylines, mum has been the word. Truth is, this summer there are more important things going on then football speculation, it's called baseball season. Around here they call it "Bucco Fever," but I call it hope, because I've felt it before and I know what it looks like.

I'd love to be able to claim that I am a lifetime or die-hard Bucco fan, but that wouldn't be fair to the people who have truly earned those distinctions. I myself happen to be a Florida Marlins fan, and that is why I know what all this "hope" looks like. I've been a fish fan since I was in 1st grade, when they joined the league in '93, and growing up in New York it was no easy task as I was the butt of many jokes. The Marlins were an eye-sore more often than not, but they sure had their moments of hope and glory. Winning it all in '97 was a semi-underdog story, but that team was pretty well built with a nice size price tag. It was in '03 that they truly shocked the world. I remember bits and pieces from that summer, when I started to hope. It was twice that bench player, Mike Mordecai, hit a game-winning homer in extra innings. And then in another game when the pinch hit king, Lenny Harris, roped a hit off of the then-dominant Eric Gagne to spark a come-from-behind win. It was the little moments like that, that you won't read about in Sports Illustrated or see on ESPN that gave me hope. I remember when it got to September of the '03 season and all of a sudden the Marlins would be televised nationally twice a week, and they'd always make it into the first 10 minutes of SportsCenter, sometimes as the lead story. I remember having mixed emotions, being ecstatic that the team I always loved was finally getting attention, but bitter about the people who all of a sudden were cramming their way onto my bandwagon.

It was shortly after the Marlins won it all on '03 that I started to follow other teams around the league more consistently. Naturally, I chose to keep my eye on the underdogs...I guess I felt for them, and wanted to see them succeed. One of those teams was the Pirates. I started tracking their progress my freshmen year of college ('06), identifying favorite players like Chris Duffy, Ronny Paulino, and Mike Gonzalez. Sure enough, now a few years later, I find myself in Pittsburgh not only rooting for, but working for the team that had played 100 seasons by time I was born. And as I spend more time at the park, I recognize the ever-present hope that I myself experienced in 2003.

Again, this piece is not going to talk about what might happen though, and if you think I'm speculating about the Bucs winning the World Series, please do not let me confuse you. My point is that when an underdog gets hot and people start jumping on the bandwagon (cough cough, John Kruk, who is an obvious Phillies fan) it's easy to start wanting more. And I've witnessed it around the park - trade speculations, playoff speculations, optimism, pessimism, etc.

I wrote this piece to say lets stop worrying about how bad the Bucs have been in the past, or how great they might be in the future, and just enjoy the fact that they are playing some inspired ball, right here, right now, in the present. What a gift to a city that so adores their sports teams.

And so what if it doesn't last forever. Some analysts are already speculating about when the demise might come, when they might fall out of it, or cool off. There's really no need to look ahead at the schedule, because the Bucs have been doing great one night at a time. And even if they fell out of the race, they could hold their heads high, because we know it wouldn't have been for a lack of effort. I mean wow, what a summer that they've given to the fans so far.

Home of the Buccos

Although I won't speculate, I will note some facts. I know that like those aforementioned Marlins moments, the Bucs have had a few of their own this summer - from a late-inning McKenry homerun to a Josh Harrison bare-handed scoop at the hot corner, these kids are giving this town a reason to hope. And if you think it's just the players you are dead wrong. When baseball magic starts to kick in, there are several factors at play. It takes a lot of things being in the right place at the right time, but once the cycle gets going, it can be pretty special. First the team needs to matter enough to get fans in the seats. Then the fans inspire the players and give them something to play for. Next thing you know you've got a storybook summer. A winning baseball team doesn't need big salary players, famous names, or the biggest national fan base. They just need fans who can count on their players and players who are confident in themselves. All it takes is a glimmer of hope, which is what the Bucs have right now. And while that's good enough to enjoy, regardless of how the next 10 weeks go; it would be pretty special to see the Pittsburgh atmosphere transform from a city who is hoping, to a city who is believing.

What a treat for me. This franchise and fan base have endured 18 years of sub-500 seasons, and in only my second year living in the city, I get to see them make a run like they haven't made in close to two decades. I couldn't be more happy for them. This winter at the team's preseason event, PirateFest, I got a chance to spend some time talking to Jeff Karstens (RHP). The guy didn't have a big head, or glance past me as someone who wasn't worth his time; rather, he held a regular conversation and didn't seem at all concerned with getting somewhere else. Furthermore, earlier this season the team had a "photos with the fans" day, and I got to manage the line at the tent where Josh Harrison (IF), Garret Jones (OF,1B) and Jose Veras (RHP) were sitting. The three of them could not have been more kind to the fans, giving high-fives, making jokes, and staying past the deadline to take a few extra pictures. So I root for those guys when I see them out on the field, just as I root for their teammates who appeal to my underdog spirit.

And so, though I can't say I've endured 18 years of pain, or that I'm a Yinzer, or that I was raised on Primanti sandwiches - I can say that as a sports fan, being in this city at this time is something I'll never forget. And win or lose, hang in or fall out, no matter how the season ends, I'll continue to tip my hat towards that beautiful ballpark that lines the Allegheny and say, "let's go bucs."

Breaking The Mold

2011-05-28T15:55:00.002-04:00

So it's almost been a quarter of a century that I've been kickin' it on this planet and I've learned two solid facts. Life is a funny thing and the world is a funny place. I currently find myself at one of those proverbial forks in the road, and it has recently led me to take a step back and just stare for a little bit.

Life is funny because it is totally unpredictable. Like the weatherman predicting rain for this entire week only to have the sun beam beautifully every day, you can have expectations or even "sure things" planned in your life, but it really only takes one second to change it all. Even right now, before I finish this post, my phone could ring with great news about x, y, or z and I would be on top of the world; or it could ring with bad news about the health of a family member and I would be devastated beyond reason. Between the moment the phone rings, and the moment that I actually hear the news, my entire life could be changed. And that is why life is funny - because the only way to figure it out is to live it.

The world is funny because the world doesn't know what it wants. If the world was a man, I would describe him as hypocritical, indecisive, or dramatic. I think of two phrases here, "less is more" and "silence is golden." In recent years these phrases have helped me to bite my tongue more often than not, and I'm glad for that. I have realized that you add more value to what you say, based on the infrequency with which you say it. Like paper flyers used as advertisements, anything that is too frequent becomes routinely tuned out. I've also come to believe that you should not proclaim things that have not yet come to you. Again, less is more and silence is golden. Not to go biblical on you guys, but there is a gospel passage where Jesus tells us that when arriving to a table with two seats open, leave the one to His right side open, and sit in the seat at the far end of the table. Better to sit at the far end and be called to the Lord's right side, than to sit near the head of the table and be told that you are in the wrong chair. Ok, I'm done with analogies, I think you get the concept by now. My point is that I don't think the world plays by these rules. The world thinks that any time he has something on his mind he can say it, without reservation. The world is a flake. He sets these standards and expectations, he tells us to abide by a cultural code and how there is a common path we all need to travel. But then he also encourages us to walk off the beaten path, and define our own destiny. The world has no concrete values, he changes them based on each and every situation, to the extent that if we as people rely on the world, we are stashing money in a bottomless pocket. And that is why the world is funny - because he is the first to talk, but the last to act.

Another thing that is funny to me is how as I've gotten older, I've started to place more value in the meaning of Disney movies. For instance, I'm pretty confident that as we age, we all can understand pretty well why Peter Pan doesn't want to leave Neverland. Who would want to leave Neverland? Simply put, Neverland is the shit. To leave is to become part of the world, part of a system, part of the man that always talks but never acts. My intent here is not to exaggerate, because I know that there are countless men and women who are more than happy with their lives, who are successful, and who have great families. That being said though, there's nothing quite like Neverland - there's really no rules, no stress, and no settling for less.

I firmly believe that the world has norms because he is insecure. We create standards as a society because we are too afraid to make our own decisions. Then, we get so accustomed to those norms that life carries on as plainly and complacently as Pleasantville. It is at that point when the world changes his mind, and he tells us to be different. He tells us to fill ourselves with color among this world of black and white. He tells us that we should be breaking the mold.

The truth is, I agree with the world on this point. We should be breaking the mold, because that is truly how evolution is implemented. One generation uses the norms of the previous generation as a foundation to building their own brand new norms. That is how animals and bacteria evolve, so why not us? Well there is a significant problem with the evolution of humans - the ego. Animals and bacteria can evolve easily because it seems to be a purely natural process rooted in biology. Our evolution as a species is rooted more in our intellect than anything else, so our emotions naturally become involved. The most keen observation I've made in my life is that more often than not, the people who walked the road before us don't like it when we try to walk further than them, because if they couldn't do it, why should we be able to? And so that brings us back to Pleasantville, where everything is black and white, and life is the way it's always been.

The core issue here is that most of us have lost the ability or awareness to break the mold. I think for that to change, we need to learn how to break our own personal molds before we worry about the societal ones. That brings me back to my fork in the road - a fork that I'm sure people graduating from any level of education (or life for that matter) face more often than not. The fork of "where do I go from here?" There could be two paths in front of you, or there could be 20; so how do you choose? We receive all types of influence while staring down the fork in the road - influence from friends, family, mentors, and the world himself. The world tells us to dream, but not too big; to challenge ourselves, but not beyond reason; to avoid paths that are too safe, but also ones that are too risky; and to do something we love, but only if we get paid well for it.

I'm starting to believe that the world wants us to be "different" then the norm, but only the type of "different" that exists within the norm. And if we want to be more than permissibly different, the world tells us that it can't be done because it hasn't been done that way before. What it comes down to is that I think we have lost track of what it truly means to be a pioneer. The people who created the acceptable form of today's "different" were making it up as they went, probably to the tune of many nay-sayers. So what is the bigger challenge for today's emerging adults? Is the true test the one that has you travel a direction that you've never walked before? Or is it the one that has you find out if you have what it takes to master one path before jumping to another?

Maybe, just maybe, the boldest step to be taken by anyone at a fork in the road is to walk down the path that you can hear calling your name. And to others, this path may be too safe, too dangerous, too plain, or too complicated; but that's why they get to choose their own paths as well. The people who we look to for guidance and wisdom got to where they are because they followed the wind down the path that they knew was for them. So perhaps it's helpful to gauge what our mentors might see; but at the end of the day the best way to truly break the mold society has placed us in, is to face our paths on our own, listen for the wind, and simply start walking.

Look Out Below

2011-01-07T23:55:00.001-05:00

It's about that time for the highly anticipated NFL playoffs. After a long season of impressive comeback stories (Vick, Big Ben), surprising contenders (Chiefs, Bucs), and disappointing pretenders (Vikings, Cowboys, Chargers), we have it narrowed down to the field of 12 (really 11, but we're obligated to include the Seahawks). Looking at this year's Wildcard Weekend matchups you could really make an argument for any team to win any game. In fact, with the exception of the Seahawks, Chiefs, and Jets, any of the other 9 teams could win the Super Bowl and I don't think it would be a surprise.

Enough small talk though, here's some key points that I'm thinking about for this year's postseason...

> A River In Egypt...Denial - I have hated the Patriots for so long, that I am actually incapable of envisioning them as the Super Bowl Champs. Some people just want to see a team lose because they hate them, but I actually believe the Patriots cannot win because I despise them so much. So off the bat, there is some bias here. At the same time they DID lose to the Browns, so they are far from invincible.

> The Two Dark Horses - I'm a firm believer that a team with something to prove, or a team that has been insulted is a most dangerous team. Ironically enough, in this case, it's the two Super Bowl contenders from last year. Due to the Colts having several players in the infirmary along with the Steelers and Pats hogging headlines, the Colts are a forgotten team this year. Though I would give the Jets a 10% chance of pulling off a first round upset, it's hard to ignore that the last time the Colts were forgotten about in the playoffs, they won it all. As for the Saints, I don't know how an 11-win team can fly under the radar, but for whatever reason some people are even picking Seattle to beat them in the 1st game...are you kidding? Watch out for an angry Saints team.

> One Man Show - I never really believed when one defensive player got a ton of hype on a football team, because basic math says there are too many guys out there for one guy to change the game. Meet Troy Polamalu. Over the last two seasons the Steelers are 5-7 without him, and 16-4 with him. He literally takes their defense from average at best, to nearly impenetrable. In the playoffs the best defense usually prevails...it's hard to pick against the Steelers.

> Getting Over The Hump - It's fitting that the Jets, Ravens, Eagles, and Packers are playing on "wildcard weekend" because they are all definitely wildcard choices. All four of them have made several playoff appearances in the last decade, and they have all faced early exits, as well as making deep runs. That being said, the only time one of them took home a ring was when the Ravens did it in 2001. Any one of them could get hot for 4 games and make a deep run.

Enough beating around the bush though - if you put a loaded nerf gun to my head and forced me to pick, here's what it would look like (home team in italics):

Week 1
Saints def. Seahawks
Packers def. Eagles
Colts def. Jets
Ravens def. Chiefs

Week 2
Patriots def. Ravens
Steelers def. Colts
Packers def. Falcons
Bears def. Saints

Conference Championships
Steelers def. Patriots
Packers def. Bears

Super Bowl
Packers def. Steelers

While I am being too lazy to offer game-by-game analysis, I will defend my ultimate pick. The Packers have lost 6 games this season. Four of those losses were by 3 points, and the other two losses were by 4 points. They went into Atlanta where the Falcons are supposedly invincible, and only lost by 3. AND they went into New England and only lost by 4 points, with Matt Flynn at quarterback.

Clay Matthews leads a potent Packers defense.

The common theme here is that the Packers have had a chance to win every game this season, despite a non-existent running attack and an Aaron Rodgers concussion. It all falls back to the strength of their defense. Of all the playoff teams, how many could lose their best player and still compete? The Colts without Manning...done. Steelers without Troy...done. Pats without Brady...done. Falcons without Matt Ryan...done. Saints without Brees...done. Eagles without Vick...done. Ravens without Ray Lewis...done. Bears without Urlacher...done. Jets, Seahawks, Chiefs...they're done anyway. Sure, not everyone will be playing without their best player, but my point is that the Packers have proved the depth of their team throughout the season. Despite having the worst seed in the conference at #6, the Pack are looking poised to make a deep run, so the rest of the league better look out below.

Giddyup Cowboys!

2010-11-25T13:48:00.002-05:00

Alright, we know what happened - nobody is trying to deny it. The Cowboys tanked; they totally tanked. They talked all this big game before the season started, and they didn't back it up. They lost their pro-bowl quarterback. They let teams walk all over them. They waited way too long to give Wade Phillips the heave-ho. They even lost to the Vikings...ouch. And most embarrassing of all, after so much hard work to get the new stadium built and to land the 'big game,' their home will be another team's celebration station for the Super Bowl...or will it?

True to form, always in support of a great underdog story, let me tell you why the Dallas Cowboys may be dead, but not quite buried. The way that they have played the last two games, particularly on the road against the Giants, is only surprising to us because they were 1-7 prior to those games. For example, if we rewind back to late August and looked at the schedule, we probably would have said how these mid-season games with the Giants and Saints would be evenly-matched, or maybe even in favor of the Boys. But now because they are 3-7 we allow that to dictate our expectations. While that mindset is valid to an extent, I like to look at it from a different angle and say that the way the Cowboys have played under Jason Garrett the last two weeks is how they are actually capable of playing all the time; it's actually how they should have been playing all season. So if any team could run off an eight-game winning streak to close the season, I wouldn't put it past the Cowboys that we thought we would see this season.

By no means would it be an easy task - with two games left against the Michael Vicks...oh, I mean the Eagles, and with a game to play in Indianapolis, the Cowboys would definitely need some favor from the football gods to pull it off, that's for sure. My point is that it is not out-of-the-question for them to pull out some big wins in some close battles. And if they can, teams better watch their backs. Because in the event that the Cowboys can sneak into the playoffs at 9-7, they are the last team that I would want to play. In John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership he speaks about the concept of The Big Mo, which is his reference to motivation. Heading into the postseason, the Boys would have some serious Mo on their side, and once you're in the playoffs, your record really doesn't matter anymore.

Tony Romo is hoping that he will have a good reason to return in December.

So will this immaculate turn-around happen? Probably not. Will the Cowboys finish 9-7? Doubtful. If they do finish 9-7, will that be good enough to make the playoffs? Not likely. And on the long-shot that they sneak in to the postseason, will the Boys be able to win a ton of do-or-die games on the road? Don't count on it. But despite all of the odds against them, I am putting Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on upset watch today for their Thanksgiving showdown in Dallas. After the last two weeks there's no doubt that the players in that Dallas locker room are thinking about hitting that 9-7 mark. And if they can defend their home turf today, the worst nightmare of many teams will start to grow, because those same players in that same Dallas locker-room won't be thinking about 9-7 anymore, they'll be believing it.

Yanks Down, But Not Out

2010-10-20T15:50:00.000-04:00

"Don't let us win one." Those were the famous words spoken by Kevin Millar of the Red Sox before Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, when Boston trailed the Yankees, 3-0. The Yankees proceeded to lose Game 4...and Game 5...and Game 6...and Game 7. Even if you are up 3-0 in a series, and 10-0 in Game 4, and you have recorded 26 outs - it. does. not. matter. The simple fact of sports is that it ain't over till Roseanne sings.

In 2003, the Florida Marlins trailed the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in the NLCS. They had stolen Game 1 at Wrigley Field, and then proceeded to lose three in-a-row, including Games 3 & 4 at home. Even if they could win Game 5, they would have to go back to Chicago and beat Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, back-to-back, at Wrigley, a task that had never been achieved by any team...ever. As a Marlins fan, I remember feeling defeated, especially when talking about it with my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Hicks...a Yankee fan. Despite our back-and-forth banter, I received the best perspective from him. He said, "so you're down 3-1, so what? Chris, you think the Marlins are the best team, right? You think that they should be World Champions, right? Well then if anybody can pull off a comeback from being down 3-1, all the while defeating two pitchers in a row for the first time, it would be the World Champions...don't you think?" That's when I realized, that if the Marlins were supposed to be World Champions, that they would be the one team who could get out of the deepest hole...and get out of a deep hole, they did.

Fast forward to 2010. The Yankees stole Game 1. Then they lost three in-a-row. Now, even if they win Game 5, they would have to win back-to-back games, in Texas, with one of them against Cliff Lee...someone they can barely hit, let alone defeat. So what? If the Yanks are the best, winning three straight games is nothing. Now sure, they could very well be eliminated from the postseason three hours from now, and I wouldn't be surprised. But as someone who received a great 'pick-me-up' mindset from a Yankee fan when I thought my boys were down and out...I thought, despite my unhidden hatred for the Bronx Bombers, that I would return the favor.

I'll be rooting against you C.C., but let's see what you've got...

Play For Today, Not Tomorrow

2010-10-10T13:04:00.000-04:00

"I don't care about Game 7, I'm trying to win Game 6." ~ Jack McKeon

I don't have a lot of time here, as the first pitch is in less than 5 minutes, so there isn't going to be a lot of statistical backing and what not - but for what it's worth, I wanted to point this out...

The Texas Rangers have had a great season. They removed the LA Angels as perennial division champions, have played great baseball, and won the first two games of this year's ALDS on the road in Tampa. I'd love to see them win, especially because they have the best chance to shut the Yankees up. That being said, what the heck is manager, Ron Washington, thinking!?

I just checked the starters for today's game and saw that Tommy Hunter is on the bump for the Rangers. Shouldn't that read, "Cliff Lee," in the paper? He threw on 3-days-rest all of last postseason, so there's no reason he can't do it this year. Going back to McKeon's quote, he said that about starting Josh Beckett on 3-days-rest in Game 6 of the 2003 World Series, while leading the Yankess 3-2. He wasn't going to "take it easy" in Game 6 to set up Beckett for Game 7. Why? Because anything can happen in a Game 7.

I have no doubt that Washington would be starting Cliff Lee if he was down 2-1, so why not start him when you are up 2-1 and can put the series away at home? Don't get me wrong, Tommy Hunter could pitch great today - but if he doesn't, yea you'll have Cliff Lee on the hill in Game 5, but it's still a final game, in the other team's ballpark, so anything can happen...even if Cy Young is pitching. Not to mention, if you go to Game 5 and win with Cliff Lee, you now lose him for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees.

C'mon Ron, get with the program. And oh yea, good luck today...please prove me wrong.

Familiar Territory

2010-10-07T18:00:00.001-04:00

"The hero is the great motivator, the magician, the person everyone will count on when things get tough. They have unshakable character and style. They do things everyone else wants to do but is afraid to try. Heroes are symbolic figures whose deeds are out of the ordinary, but not too far out. They show - often dramatically - that the ideal of success lies within human capacity." ~ Corporate Cultures (Deal & Kennedy, 1982)

The day was Wednesday, October 22, 2003. The Florida Marlins were trailing the New York Yankees 2-games-to-1 in the World Series, after just having lost their first home game 6-1. The Fish were in danger of going down 3-1, and having to play 2 of their final 3 games at Yankee Stadium. Starting pitcher Mark Redman had performed poorly in the postseason, as had Dontrelle Willis; and both Josh Beckett and Brad Penny would not be rested enough to pitch Game 4. What was Florida skipper, Jack McKeon to do? Simple, give the ball to Carl Pavano.

Pavano, in October 2003

Pavano, at this point in his career, had been labeled a severe disappointment. As the stud prospect who was acquired by the Montreal Expos when they traded away Pedro Martinez, Pavano was once expected to become an ace worthy of going toe-to-toe with someone of Pedro's stature. Pavano had under-performed year in and year out in Montreal, and then was traded to Florida as a giveaway in a deal that brought Cliff Floyd to the Expos in July of the 2002 season. With 2003 being his first full season, Pavano posted a mediocre 12-13 record with the Marlins, and had an earned run average of 4.30. So naturally, when it came to the Marlins postseason run, Pavano was not in the plans.

Then something strange happened - Jack McKeon got desperate. With the Marlins digging for some reliable bullpen help against the Giants in the NLDS, Pavano pitched a total of 2.2 innings in Games 2, 3, and 4 - giving up no runs on only 1 hit. Then, amidst one of the greatest attempted comebacks in NLCS history, the Marlins turned to Pavano, in Game 6 against Mark Prior and the Chicago Cubs. McKeon gave Pavano the ball for the first postseason start of his career, as the Fish trailed 3-games-to-2. Facing elimination, the Marlins would have to defeat Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, back-to-back, at Wrigley Field...something that had never been done...ever. Pavano took the ball and went to work - going 5.2 innings, giving up 2 runs - not the best outing, but he kept his team within striking distance, and on that night, Steve Bartman took care of the rest.

So back to the 22nd, McKeon gives the ball to Pavano again, this time in an 'unofficial' must-win game against none other than Roger Clemens. Clemens would be a tough opponent, not just because of his remarkable track record, but because this was likely to be the final start of his career (so we thought, at the time). How did Pavano respond? He went 8 innings, threw 115 pitches, surrendered no walks, and gave up only one run. His performance was the heroic effort the Marlins needed to get back in the series...and after Alex Gonzalez's walk-off homer that night, they would never lose again.

Now what is the point? Well tonight, here in 2010, the Minnesota Twins need someone to step up. They need that person who is the great motivator and magician that creates success out of tough times. So naturally, they are giving the ball to Carl Pavano. The Twins have lost 10 straight postseason games, they haven't been out of the ALDS since 2002, and they are sick and tired of having the lead role in baseball's version of the movie Groundhog Day, where they just keep getting knocked around by the Yankees. Ironically enough, they face an 'unofficial' must-win to tie the series - and 2 of the next 3 games will be played in the Bronx. That puts Pavano in some pretty familiar territory, especially because he'll be opposing yet another Yankee legend...Andy Pettitte.

We keep hearing the critics mention how if the Twins want to beat the Yanks this time around, they need to do something different, they need to play the Yanks in a way they never have before - simply put, they need to stop being intimidated. So in the moment that they need a leader, at the time that they face the daunting possibility of heading to the Bronx down 2-0, when they feel like it's just the same old story - they'll lean on a guy who has once again fallen off the map and fallen short of expectations...expectations that he created in October of 2003. This time it's a shot at redemption for both the Twins and the man on the mound. The Twins look to get back in this series, and Pavano looks to get back on the big stage. Tonight Carl Pavano takes the hill at Target Field, and the Twins need him to be something more than just an average pitcher...they need him to be a hero.

Go get 'em, Carl.

And So It Begins...

2010-10-06T07:50:00.007-04:00

After driving for a long six months, we've finally arrived...it's time for playoff baseball.

So let's start off with a word association game - what do David Ortiz, Mike Scioscia, Albert Pujols, and Joe Torre all have in common? The fact that they will all be watching playoff baseball this October, not playing it. Over the course of the last decade, we've become accustomed to Ortiz, Scioscia, Pujols, and Torre all playing frequent roles in the drama that is the MLB postseason. This year, those guys are being replaced by names like Joey Votto, Tim Lincecum, C.J. Wilson, and Aroldis Chapman.

With postseason play beginning this afternoon, and a ton of new faces on the postseason scene, everyone is trying to anticipate how this year's playoffs will play out. The usual arguments will be made - one's about the importance of pitching, the intangibles of momentum, and the pricelessness of previous experience - but how can we narrow down which two teams will be left standing, come the last week of October? Well there is really no way to be sure of who will outlast the competition, but what we can be sure of is that October baseball always promises us some extraordinary drama. It's fitting that on the eve of the playoffs, ESPN aired their movie "Four Days In October" - recapping the unprecedented and embarrassing collapse of the 2004 New York Yankees, and the defiant curse-breaking effort of the Boston Red Sox. The film reminds us that no matter what we think on day 1 of the playoffs, anything is truly possible...

And without further adieu, here is the 2010 MLB Playoff breakdown:

ALDS, Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays: Rangers in 4

The Rays could be the first of many upsets this offseason. Although the Rays are considered the main heavyweight in the AL, having clinched the best overall record and home-field advantage, the Rangers are no bunch of slums. Sure, people will point out that Rangers' ace, Cliff Lee is 0-3 against the Rays this season, including an 0-2 record at The Trop, where he will pitch this afternoon - but if I've learned anything about predicting playoff baseball, it's that preexisting stats really don't matter. That being said, I totally expect Cliff Lee to pick up where he left off last postseason...baffling hitters left and right. All the Rangers really need to do is steal one game in St. Petersburg, where all 36 Rays fans, Dick Vitale included, don't really add much as an intimidating "10th man." In fact, I think the obnoxious catwalks at Tropicana Field present more of a home-field advantage than the Rays' fans do. If the Rangers can get back to Arlington with a win, I am confident that they will take both games at their home ballpark, which will be stoked to host their first playoff game since 1999. After all, the Rangers have something to prove and are glad not to be playing the Yankees - since the Wild Card era (1995), Texas has been to the playoffs three times ('96, '98, '99) and has won only one game...losing all three ALDS appearances to the Yanks.

ALDS, New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins: Twins in 4

As is the same story every year since the beginning of time, Yankees fans will irrationally argue with anyone as to why they are destined to win the World Series. Well, the Twins won't easily forget last year, where they worked so hard to claim a postseason birth, only to have the Yanks sweep them out. Francisco Liriano may not be on the same level of 'acehood' as C.C. Sabathia, but the Twins' pitching staff is more complete than the Yanks' at this point. Believe it or not, New Yorkers, there will come a time that Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera won't be able to pitch as well as they did in the 90's, and this is the year that the Yankees' "core 4" start to show their age. With redemption on their mind and a brand new ball field, full of fans who are amped up to host Games 1 & 2 in sub-50 degree temperatures, the Twins might not even need to take a game in the Bronx to secure their first ticket to the ALCS since 2002.

NLDS, Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies: Reds in 4

It has baffled my mind since 2007, but I have to give the Phillies credit, because they have somehow been able to play up to their constantly over-hyped reputation. Ok sure, they have a great-looking big 3 for their rotation, and while pitching is critical in the playoffs, you still need to score runs! The Reds offense has been explosive this season, and they will continue to be, here in October. One thing that I have noticed about the Phillies is that they really only play as well as they think of their reputation - when public opinion doubts the Phillies, they doubt themselves, and then we see the real Phillies. I think that if the Reds can make a suspected god bleed in Game 1 or 2, the Phillies will start to shake in their boots, and will implode, to the Reds delight. The Reds pitching is not as good as the Phillies pitching, but it's not bad. Also, I think that Aroldis Chapman, and his 105-mph fastball will have a large roll to play in the late innings. I would love to see a Phillies-Giants matchup so that the G-men can prove they have a better rotation, but I just honestly don't see the Phillies living up to expectations here. Oh yea, look for Halladay to have some postseason debut jitters, and I think the Reds jump behind Edison Volquez to steal Game 1 today.

NLDS, Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants: Giants in 3

I don't think that anybody wants to see Bobby Cox go out like this, and I would have picked the Bravos to beat the Reds or Phillies, but the Braves drew the short straw and have to play the Giants in round 1. It's no secret that the Braves ran out of steam towards the end of the season, and as much as they want to "win one for the gipper," the Giants' rotation is just too good. I said at the end of last season that the Giants were the best team to not make the playoffs last year, and that if the Giants had made the playoffs last season, they probably would have won the World Series with the rotation that they have. Well this is step 1 for the Giants to show the world that - when you have a staff of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and added bullpen help from Madison Bumgarner and seasoned veteran, Barry Zito - there is no way you will lose two games in a row...ever. Powerful sweep here for the G-men.

ALCS, Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins: Twins in 7

In one of the least-watched ALCS matchups in recent memory, the dynamic duo of Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson will force the Twins to a Game 7, but the Twinkies' home-field advantage and team mindset will prevail, landing them in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1991. The Rangers will walk away with their heads high though, having played for their first pennant since 1945, when the franchise was still the Washington Senators.

NLCS, Cincinnati Reds @ San Francisco Giants: Giants in 5

This is the series where people will finally wake up and say, "wow, the Giants pitching is really good." Despite the fact that there offense is often criticized, the Giants have the perfect type of role-playing offense that compliments a dominant pitching staff in the playoffs. Congrats to the Reds for making it this far, but this won't be much of a series.

World Series, Minnesota Twins @ San Francisco Giants: Giants in 6

If the Yankees had the pitching rotation that the Giants had, we would be re-naming the Cy Young award after them. But because they do their own thing, quietly, over in the city by the bay, nobody has taken the time to notice them. Not only to the Giants boast three Cy Young awards on their staff (Lincecum '08, '09 & Zito '02), but they also made key offensive pickups throughout the season. Buster Posey should win rookie-of-the-year, as long as the Jayson Heyward hype doesn't overshadow Posey's better numbers - Pablo Sandoval should return to his heroic, clutch performances of last season - and Brian Wilson can close the door on the 9th inning with the best of them. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know why you couldn't see it coming sooner, or why Vegas gave them 20:1 preseason odds, but I present to you your 2010 World Champions, the San Francisco Giants.

Enjoy the games today, we'll see ya in 2011.

I Am The Captain Of My Soul

2010-07-31T23:30:00.004-04:00

Well, it would be far too severe of an understatement to say that I waited longer than I should have to see Invictus. The 2009 film, directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring Morgan Freeman with Matt Damon; is a story about South Africa, former President Nelson Mandela, and the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Along with being a stand-out in the category of inspirational sports films, Invictus doesn't come without its underlying themes and firm value-based messages. The movie's core is defined by its title, "Invictus" which is the title of a poem by William Ernest Henley. "Invictus" is translated from Latin as "unconquerable," and was the poem that [as is revealed] got Mandela through the duration of his prison-stay, one day at a time.

The poem reads...

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

The content of the poem gives us a first-hand look into what inspired Nelson Mandela as a leader. Mandela has always been an interesting figure to me, since I studied him back in my sophomore year of undergrad. He is a man who has been to the very bottom and the very top; experiences that make him a leader that many people can relate to. The simple fact that he has been both a prisoner and President of the same nation gives us just a taste of the transition that we went through.

Anyway, the point of this piece isn't necessarily a tribute to Mandela or the movie, but rather something that they both put on display for whomever wants to learn from it. Guts. Having some guts to be the "captain" of your own soul. When the world tells you that something "can't be" or "shouldn't be," you have a choice - bow down to the world, or stand up to it. Without change - concentrated, intentional change; everything will always be the same. The same problems, the same solutions, the same everything. Invictus shows us that Nelson Mandela wasn't ok with "the same," and so he did something about it.

In the movie, when asked why he was allowing a hated icon [the Springboks] to remain intact, Mandela replied, "If we take away what they cherish, we just reinforce the cycle of fear between us. I will do what I must to break this cycle, or it will destroy us." Mandela was willing to choose what he knew would be effective, regardless of the resistance he knew he would face; he was the captain of his soul.

And now to the meat and potatoes of this article - politics. The reason why I am a registered Independent is because I don't buy into party politics. I'm sure when the idea was put into place, there were good intentions - but let's be honest, it hasn't worked too well lately...at least not in my lifetime. In fact, even before parties were hatched in American politics, we were forewarned by George Washington himself, to avoid political parties. Ha, we put his face on the dollar bill, revere his leadership as legendary, give him his own holiday...but we still think we know better than him?

Take what Mandela said and apply it to our current political system - all Republicans and Democrats do to each other is "reinforce the cycle of fear" that exists between them. One party trashes the other while they hold office, then when there is a change in representation the newly elected party spends all their time undoing what the previous party did, only to be ousted four years later. A cycle that is slowly but surely "destroying" our country. Look at our reputation around the world - in very few places are we respected, whereas in most places we are feared or hated. So how do you garner that respect? Respect yourself first. We are all on the same team, we should start acting like it.

In Invictus we see that once the country started to overcome its differences and support the rugby team together as a nation, was when the good things started to fall into place. And so instead of worrying about how we can exploit the failures and honest mistakes of our own countrymen for personal and selfish gains, we should look at how we can assist our fellow brothers and sisters for national gains. And so as food for thought, I'll close with the slogan that was on the 1995 South African rugby banners...

One Team, One Country.

You Just Never Know

2010-07-22T08:01:00.001-04:00

Who woulda thunk?

Diamondbacks prove that Mariano is mortal. Giants and Angels go to 7 games in the West Coast World Series. Marlins swim up-stream. Red Sox shock the world. White Sox play in first World Series since the 50's. Cardinals are the "Champs," but only win 83 games. Red Sox don't shock anyone. Phillies make Jimmy Rollins look like a modern-day Nostradamus. Yankees finally nail down the right formula. Wow, what a decade.

All these wonderful and dramatic story-lines defined the first decade of this new millennium, how the heck could we even begin to anticipate what the next ten years will bring? Who are we kidding, we can't...and that's the magic of this wonderful game. The last storyline that preceded a new decade was the 2000 Subway Series with Mike Piazza dodging bat ammunition from Roger Clemens. We had no idea, then, what to expect over the next ten years. We couldn't even fathom what the Red Sox winning a World Series would look like...let alone coming back from 3-0 against the Yankees. We didn't know who Albert Pujols was!! Or Miguel Cabrera, or Carlos Beltran, or Joe Mauer, Tim Lincecum, Grady Sizemore, among others... . Michael Lewis' New York Times Bestseller, Moneyball, hadn't been written yet. We didn't know anything about the decade's most popular General Manager, Billy Beane, renowned statistician Bill James, and the concept of sabermetrics was foreign to our minds.

And here we are, ten years later. The Cubs still haven't been to a World Series, the Royals haven't contended for anything, the Yankees and Red Sox still try to out-move each other in the off-season, and the Pirates still have not had a winning season. But that's what makes it interesting, all it takes is one moment for all of that to change. The next Albert Pujols could be playing in his first season this year (cough cough, Jason Heyward) or he could be in his freshman year of high school, or he could even be signing up for his first year of tee-ball this Spring. The bottom line is that we don't know what this decade holds for us as baseball fans - but we can be sure of one thing, when we hit 2020 and look back over these upcoming 10 years, we will be able to sum it up with one word, "wow."

For starters, just look at the memorable occurrences that have already taken place in the first half of the season. We've had perfect games from Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay, and Armando Galarraga...kinda. We've seen the Major League debuts of young kids with superstar potential - Jason Heyward, Steven Strasburg, Buster Posey, Michael Stanton, Carlos Santana, etc... . And in terms of looking at it from the decade perspective, we're only just teeing off.

But let's look closer at the season now - we're one half of the way in, and although we've seen a couple of surprising team performances this year, a true student of the game knows that it is way too early to put much stock into the standings at this point of the season. The best example in recent memory, of counting chickens before they hatch came in the 2005 season, where the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles were both in first place of their respective divisions at the all-star break. Meanwhile, the two teams finished in 5th and 4th place of their divisions, respectively.

So my message - with all the aforementioned in mind - is to take it all in and enjoy it for what its worth. If you're a Reds or Padres fan, who knows how long your surprise success will last...so, soak up the moment. If you're a Pirates fan, you must never forget the frustration you feel right now because some day, it will make the success you experience taste that much better...so, soak up the moment. If you are a Mets or Braves fan, experiencing a season of roller-coaster emotions, appreciate the fact that your season has meant something from day 1...so, soak up the moment. This wonderful game is all about soaking up moments - from the amazing moments of the last decade, to the earliest moments of this next 10 years, soak them all up, enjoy them for what they are worth, and never get too attached to how things "are" because all it really takes to change everything is, well, just a simple moment.

For kicks and giggles, here are some end-of-the-year predictions...

*wildcard

AL East.

Boston

New York*

Tampa Bay

Toronto

Baltimore

> Half of Boston's roster is in the infirmary, and they are still keeping pace. Just wait till they get healthy - getting Victor Martinez, Josh Beckett, and Jacoby Elsbury back in the second half is like making 3 blockbuster trades at the deadline.

AL Central.

Minnesota

Detroit

Chicago

Cleveland

Kansas City

> I think that the Twinkies have the most balanced team, which will the give them the ability to outlast the Tiggers and the ChiSox. Although big props to the Sox for getting red hot in the middle of the season.

AL West.

Texas

Los Angeles

Oakland

Seattle

> Cliff Lee to the Rangers pretty much solidifies their first NL West title in a while.

NL East.

Atlanta

New York*

Florida

Philadelphia

Washington

> The Phils have been playing way above their level for far too long - ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the real Philadelphia Phillies. And you shouldn't be surprised at the Mets - they've been playing way below their level for far too long - ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the real New York Mets.

NL Central.

St. Louis

Cincinnati

Chicago

Milwaukee

Pittsburgh

Houston

> Great run for the Reds, but once the Cards get Penny back - that rotation is going to be out of control, period. Matt Holliday just needs to catch the ball in the postseason.

NL West.

San Francisco

San Diego

Los Angeles

Colorado

Arizona

> San Francisco might have the best starting rotation in all of baseball, and once their 2-time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum, get his act together, they won't be losing many games. They should probably pick up another bat before the waiver deadline in August though.

ALDS. NLDS.

BOS def. MIN(4) / NYY def. TEX (4) STL def. NYM(4) / SF def. ATL (5)

ALCS.

BOS def. NYY (7)

NLCS.

SF def. STL (6)

WS.

SF def. BOS (7)

Pay It Forward

2010-04-01T09:48:00.001-04:00

May I please have a McChicken sandwich, a chipotle BBQ chicken wrap, and a medium vanilla milkshake? That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is my go-to order when I pull up to a McDonald's drive-thru window. And as we approach this first Monday of April, I am more excited about it then I have ever been.

Now, given that I've got a half-marathon coming up on May 2nd, I have no intention of eating McDonald's until I wake up from my post-race collapse. That being said, why then would I be excited about my McDonald's order on Monday, April 5th? The answer is - I am excited about my order because of what I will be doing with it.

This Monday, many of Major League Baseball's teams will kick off their home schedules with Opening Day festivities. Opening Day is one of the most popular days on the sports calendar because it is a fresh start, a clean slate for all teams. It is the sign that Spring has sprung, and every team, even the Washington Nationals, are mathematically tied for first place on Opening Day. I am excited to say that I will be attending my first Opening Day game ever, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, where the Pittsburgh Pirates will host the Los Angeles Dodgers. I am excited for the atmosphere, the excitement, the energy, the weather, and everything in between. Again though, I remain equally as excited about my McDonald's order.

Opening Day is likely to be the one day in the entire 162-game season where every game will be a sell-out, meaning that there will be a maximum amount of people flocking to baseball stadiums, this Monday.

Since moving to Pittsburgh this past August, I have developed a running course that often takes me over the Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge, and past PNC Park. When the weather was good, and a few times when it was bad, I would notice less fortunate, potentially homeless individuals sitting on the bridge asking for some donations. Some of them entertained with instruments, and others just greeted you with a smile, hoping for some help. Every time I ran by, I had nothing but my I-Pod, and I always felt bad about having nothing to offer. And so I decided that this Monday, when I am walking across the bridge to the ballpark, for an experience that is likely to make my day - I will take my favorite meal from McDonald's with me, and give it to the first needy person I see on that bridge...in hopes of making their day.

It's perhaps ironic that I will have the opportunity to "pay it forward" on a bridge that was named after a man who knew how to pay it forward with the best of them. For those of you who don't know, Roberto Clemente, though famous for his on-field accomplishments, was even more famous for the way he left this world - in a plane crash, while flying to deliver supplies to the needy. And so in the spirit of Roberto Clemente, and in light of the fact that so many people will be walking across streets and bridges alike to arrive at their Opening Day destination - I ask and encourage all fans reading this, who plan to attend an Opening Day game this Monday, to make it a day of paying it forward. On your way to the ballpark, stop at McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, KFC, or even your favorite local pizza place, grab your favorite meal, and then when you get close to the stadium, spot the person that needs the food more than you do, and pay it forward.

Still need convincing? Well, there's no better way to save yourself some calories then by making someone's day. And odds are, in giving up that favorite meal of yours to someone who really needs it, you will probably enjoy that meal more than you ever have.

So please take the time to pay it forward this Monday, and "be the difference." Thank you.

Sometimes, 'Sorry' Just Isn't Enough

2010-01-18T13:59:00.001-05:00

Sports writers. They cannot succeed entirely on their own talent...they need help, mainly from the athletes that they cover. Help in developing good rapport and respect around the league. Help in setting up interviews to get the first-hand scoop on a big story. Help in being welcomed as a 'writer' and not exiled as a member of 'the press.' Sports writers are always asking athletes for help and let's face it, they need them. So where does the balance come in? Well aside from having the ability to portray their stories from a certain angle, a select few sports writers have a power that turns the tables and makes the athletes need them in return. Long after their playing time is over and long after they have been out of the public spotlight, athletes need sports writers if they want to achieve ultimate sports glory and be inducted into the Hall of Fame (HOF). Right there, that's it, that is the one thing that gives a sports writer any type of edge over an athlete. With that power comes an important responsibility; for the writers to make appropriate decisions that will set the tone of their respective sport for centuries to come.

And so here we sit, two weeks after Andre Dawson was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it's already old news. Why? Because just last week, Mark McGwire rocked the baseball world and admitted his use of both steroids and human growth hormone (HGH). Did he rock the baseball world because he took performance enhancing drugs? Haha, no, we've known that for a while now, Mark. But he rocked the world, because he finally acted like a man and admitted it. And now all the pressure falls off his back and onto the baseball writers with HOF votes. In just a short 50 weeks, it will be time to vote again, and McGwire will be on the ballot - will he have convinced enough people that he deserves a spot? I sure hope not.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that McGwire apologized. I think it's great that he owned his mistakes. But if anything, his confession should only solidify the fact that he should never be inducted to the Hall. This is the National Baseball Hall of Fame we're talking about - not the National Honesty Hall of Fame, or the National Apology Hall of Fame. Should McGwire be rewarded for admitting that he did something wrong. If I had a HOF vote, I definitely would honor him with my respect and admiration, but not my vote. Personally I am proud of him, but professionally, I am disgusted. I don't know, maybe it's the country we live in - we seem to pity people if they have the guts to admit something regardless of what they did. Our legal system is specifically designed to reward people with a plea bargain if they admit to a crime, rather than hold them accountable for the offense they committed. So what's the message? If you cheat - in sports, life, or business - as long as you don't get caught red-handed, and tell the truth after the fact, you get a free pass.

You know what, that's a personal choice, if the general public wants to forgive and forget, live and let live, and all those cutesy sayings...fine. But that doesn't change what McGwire did in relation to the sport of baseball - which again, is what he hopes to be inducted to the HOF for. McGwire claims that, "I wish I had never played during the steroid era...I can't say enough how sorry I am...It ripped my heart out." My question to McGwire is, are you sorry that you took steroids, or sorry that you got caught? It is often in professional sports that athletes are not sorry about the actions that they took, but the results that followed. Well, when I was a toddler, I learned that if you do something wrong, there is a consequence - why should the rules be any different for grown men?

I took a White Collar Crime class in undergrad, and dropped it after two weeks because I couldn't handle the exams - but I learned one of my most valuable lessons in that class: the majority of people are not well behaved because they are good people, they are well behaved because they are deterred. This illustrates the concept that in most cases, we abide by the law, or moral and ethical codes because we fear the consequences, not because we truly believe in those codes. Obviously that cannot be an absolute concept because as lousy as this world can be, it also has the potential to be unbelievably great; there are people who help others "just because," there are people who save lives "just because," there are people who do what they love simply because they love it and they spread that passion like a brush-fire, there are people who make good choices because they believe in those choices and what they stand for. Oddly enough, those great people, those life-changing volunteers, and momentum building mentors are not in the public spotlight very often, because they would rather spend their time making a difference instead of drawing attention to themselves.

My point is that if McGwire was sorry, truly sorry, this news would've came out five years ago. But the fact of the matter is that the reason he couldn't tell us, the reason he had to deal with this secret "ripping his heart out," was because he couldn't get legal immunity. Oh, so he couldn't get a free pass on the crime he committed? If McGwire was authentic in wishing that he had "never played in the steroid era," then he would've admitted it at the get-go and accepted the consequences. At the same time, I understand that no normal human being would openly admit something that would earn them prison time - but then he shouldn't act all noble and say "I wanted to tell everyone."

McGwire said, "If I didn't get immunity, I could face prosecution...Here I am sitting there and wanting to tell my story, but the immunity didn't come through." He went on to say, "I did this to protect myself and my family. Anybody in my position would have done the same thing. I took the hits for five years. I took the bullets to protect my family." First of all, please do not include all of us in your cowardly acts and assume that "anybody would do the same thing." So what I hear is, 'I wanted to tell the truth, but I would've had to face consequences, so I was forced to settle for the pain of having to not come forward with the fact that I cheated.' Wow, what a courageous move Mark...you are such a humble man.

Ok, so now that we've established that McGwire was only willing to admit his mistakes without having to face consequences, let's look at another concerning issue - McGwire claims, and I believe he truly feels this way, that "the only reason I took steroids was for my health purposes. I did not take steroids to get any gain for any strength purposes." Here's the problem Mark, it is common knowledge that one of the key components of getting stronger is muscle recovery. So by taking steroids for "health purposes" is directly correlated to gaining more strength. You cannot have one without the other. But, even if we took strength out of the picture, staying healthy is what enabled McGwire to break all the records he did - so whether he took steroids for strength or not, it still had a drastic impact on his numbers.

And if we want to take longevity out of the picture and operate under the assumption that he 'would've been healthy anyway,' his numbers are still inflated. The reason for this is that - despite McGwire's claims that "I was given this gift" genetically and that he would've hit the same amount of homers despite steroids - there is no way his strength wasn't impacted. For example, I agree that reaction speed, instinct, and bat speed are all natural talents that can't be inflated by steroids - so I'll give you that, Mark. BUT, by turning quickly on an inside pitch and getting the bat on it, the amount of strength applied directly correlates to how far the ball goes. So hypothetically a non-steroid hit to the gap = a steroid hit over the wall for a home run...both with the same applied bat speed.

The bottom line is that I am happy to see Mark apologize, I'm happy to see him as the batting coach for the Cardinals, and I am excited that Tony LaRussa said he might add McGwire to the playoff roster in the Fall. Despite all that excitement, I have zero doubts that McGwire's entry to the HOF would ruin baseball. And I don't just single out Big Mac - I say all of them should be out...all the cheaters - McGwire, Bonds, Clemens, Pettitte, A-Rod, Giambi, Canseco, etc... . They are great players, all of them. And they all would've been great without the steroids, but they made the greedy choice to want more, and there needs to be consequences, otherwise what's the message - cheat, apologize, and it's all gravy? If there is one person on this planet who deserves to be more angry than anyone else about the 'steroid era' it's Ken Griffey Jr. Junior could have and would have been the best player of all time if he had a clean bill of health all the way through, but he was hampered by injuries and sat on the bench and in rehab, watching as these cheaters continued to inject themselves to points of physical longevity and added strength.

To quote the great Dick Vitale on the matter, "they all belong in the Hall of Shame." If Pete Rose gets banned from the sport for betting - then these guys should feel lucky that they still get to be a part of the game by playing, coaching, etc... . So please sports writers, to send the right message to young kids, to high school kids, college kids, minor league players, and to all the major league guys who played by the rules - don't let the cheaters into the Hall, it will taint the game forever...

A Night To Remember

2009-11-04T19:07:00.002-05:00

Wow.

If you are a true baseball fan, you've go to be feeling like a kid in a candy store tonight. It'll be a cool night in the Bronx, 47 degrees, 9mph winds, and a clear sky that will have the night filled with stars in the air and on the field. And last but certainly not least, there will be a pair of aces on the mound, and what a pair it will be.

In the Yankee corner - Andy Pettitte, 37 years old, the most experienced postseason pitcher in the history of the game, and notorious for rising to the challenge of a big game. And in the Phillie corner - Pedro Martinez, 38 years old, storied enemy of the Yankees, and a member of the historic 2004 Boston Red Sox team that banished the Curse of the Bambino at Yankee Stadium. Between the two of them, they combine for 54 postseason games pitched with a record of 23-12.

Pettitte is a career Yankee (minus a 3-year sabbatical with the Houston Astros) and a no doubt, first ballot hall-of-famer when the time comes. He also has to be one of the most respected Yankees of this generation - infamous for his glove covering his face, his hat pulled tightly down over his brow, and through the tunnel the two create, peers his overpowering glance of determination. Any Pettitte is a competitor; he celebrates a big out, but not for himself, rather for his teammate that made the play, he doesn't talk trash, he doesn't guarantee victories, he doesn't make excuses, he gives credit where credit is due, even if to an opponent. Simply put Andy Pettitte is a true "ballplayer" and one could only hope he remains an ambassador of the game for a long, long time.

And on the other side Martinez - an 18-year veteran of the game who has definitely come full circle. Another first ballot hall-of-famer, who spent 7 years of his career making his mark on the hearts of Bostonians everywhere as well as on the dramatic history of the Red Sox organization. Pedro was a go-to pitcher in his prime, and when you saw him on the list of pitching probables for the day you knew the Sox were going to win. In his time in Bean Town, Martinez posted a record of 117-37, so on average his record was 17-5...wow. Then he went to the New York Mets where all good careers go to die (i.e. Carlos Baerga, Mike Piazza, Johan Santana, etc...) - he had 4 atypical seasons, plagued by injuries. But now Pedro is back for perhaps one last chance at glory. Like Seabiscuit and Red Pollard coming back from injury to obtain past success - it is not necessarily within the realm of physical law to determine the ability of a player like Martinez, that's too shallow. For what he lacks physically is compensated by his eager heart, his fierce determination, and the immense amount of wisdom he has grown since his time in Boston; making him as formidable an opponent as ever.

Perhaps it is poetic justice that the game of baseball is the only main sport not limited by time, because tonight, in the new Yankee Stadium, time will truly be irrelevant. Not just in terms of game length, but for the two studs opposing each other on the mound age will be of little, if any significance. The only role history will play is that each competitor is likely to fuel themselves with powerful memories of the past, where they have faced each other many times before. There will be no limitations on either pitcher - this is, for a fact, the last game they will pitch in the year 2009, so they will both be prepared to reach back and give it everything they've got, and then some.

I am prepared to be wrong and disappointed, but to be honest, I don't think the laws of the universe would allow it. This game is meant to be, and will be, one of the best games in the history of the Major League postseason. And as a true baseball fan I can honestly say that regardless of who wins, I just can't wait to sit down, turn on the TV, and be a blissful spectator of two guys doing what they love, and doing it exceptionally well.

Take It Like A Man

2009-11-03T13:43:00.003-05:00

So after making the decision that I'd rather see Babe Ruth in a speedo than see the New York Yankees win the World Series, I started to realize how difficult it would be to stand by the Philadelphia Phillies. They aren't making it easy to root for them, that's for sure. First there was the guarantee by Jimmy Rollins that they'd win in five games, "six if their nice," - well Jimbo if you're going to win it has to be in Game 7, so what happened to your cute little prediction? Ok, that doesn't even matter, I'm over Rollins' arrogance, and now my frustration is purely centered on the Phils' manager, Charlie "I should read a coaching" Manuel.

If you've seen a Charlie Manuel press conference, you probably agree with me when I say that Charlie needs to take it like a man. Manuel has developed a nice little routine of heading to the podium after a loss and putting on his cranky pants. He answers every question with a tone of "how dare you ask me something so dumb," and he also defends every decision he makes like it was the right move and it just happened, coincidently, not to work out. Well, in trailing the Yankees 3-2 in the World Series, there seems to be quite a few coincidences costing the Phillies their season. I was really expecting the Yankess to lose this Series as a result of Joe Girardi's mismanagement - but what I underestimated was Manuel's incredible ability to mismanage his own team.

Granted, Manuel is riding high now because the Phils won Game 5 behind ace Cliff Lee, but that's not a big surprise, we all expected Lee to win and he did. And there's a great chance that the Philadelphia takes Game 6 in a Pedro Martinez vs. Andy Pettitte showdown for the ages. So where did Skipper Chuck go wrong? Well we could start with Game 2 when he let Pedro go back out to the mound for the 7th inning, but we'll let that Grady Little-esque moment slide. Lets look at Game 4. The Phils had just lost Game 3, at home, with their former ace, Cole Hamels on the mound. So how does Charlie respond in a must-win game? He sends out his #4 starter, Joe Blanton, on the mound against the Yankees ace, C.C. Sabathia - genius idea Chuck. In his post-game cranky pants session, Manuel was asked, "Charlie, Cliff Lee said he was willing to pitch tonight, if he had insisted he wanted to pitch, would you have gone with him?" Manuel's quick and degrading response was, "Nope, absolutely not." Wow, how insightful; thanks Chuck, great explanation.

In pregame discussions, many said that Manuel wasn't starting Lee because he had never pitched on three days rest before. Who cares!? It's not like he's making him drive blindfolded or something; pitching on three days rest isn't dangerous, it's just uncommon because this generation's pitchers are so pampered. In the current age of pitch counts, 6-inning starts, and 1-inning saves, we forget that pitchers of previous generations threw until the cows came home, and they didn't even have Tommy-John surgery, or all this medical pampering available! Regardless, starting a short-rested Lee is still better than a well-rested Blanton. Many will say "well, Blanton didn't pitch that bad." Ok, true. But guess what, he didn't pitch that good, and I guarantee that Lee would've pitched better and probably won.

So now let's look at the big picture. Let's say Pedro out-duels Pettitte tomorrow, who is on the bump for Game 7? In the Yankee corner, their ace, at home, Sabathia - and in the Phillie corner, choke artist of the '09 playoffs, the guy who can't even win at home and is now on the road, in the hardest postseason building to win at, Hamels. Perfect. Lee will only be on two days rest for Game 7, so even if he is available, there are two concerns - 1, Lee will only be able to pitch limited innings whether it's in a start of in relief. 2, if Manuel is willing to use him on two days rest, why didn't he use him on three days rest in Game 4??

Right, I know - if I know so much and I can complain about the problem, what is the solution? I'll tell you what it is. Start Lee in Game 4 and win, tying the series at 2-2. Then, you save Pedro for Game 6 in the Bronx because he can win there, and in Game 5 you give the ball to...Jamie Moyer. That's right, old man Jamie Moyer. I say this for multiple reasons - 1, Moyer has been out of the rotation for a while and the Yankees would have to look back to August to find film on him. 2, it's a great change of pace - all these pitchers, Sabathia, Lee, Hamels, Pettitte, Blanton, even an aging Pedro, rely on bringing some low-to-high 90's heat. Jamie Moyer changes a hitter's entire approach, first he has to roll his wheel chair out to the mound, then he has to use his cane to stand up, and then he throws a nasty 88 mph fastball...on a good day. In the same way that Tim Wakefield's knuckleball can baffle any lineup, so can Moyer's finesse. 3, by pulling Hamels out of the rotation, you now have someone reliable in your bullpen, and should probably use him as the closer, this way Lidge can't blow any more games. The postseason makes us forget, but the Phillies had the most unreliable bullpen in baseball in the 2nd half of the season, they could use a change of pace. 4, Moyer has experience...I mean like dang, he is living proof that dinosaurs once roamed the Earth. He knows what he's doing on the mound, he knows how to control a game, and how to come through in the clutch. And 5, by starting Lee in Game 4 that makes him available to start and win a potential Game 7, so even if Moyer loses and the Phils go down 3-2 as they are now, the outlook for the next two games is much better.

Doesn't seem so complicated to me, so why not try it? Oh that's right, Charlie didn't think of it, so he won't do it...because clearly anything that Chuck thinks of has worked perfectly. Don't get me wrong, managers will always be second-guessed by fans and media, and it's a lot harder to make the call before you know what will happen. However, it's not so much Manuel's managing that I'm frustrated at, it's his attitude. Don't you dare go to that podium and make someone feel dumb for asking you a perfectly valid question. You got paid big money to make the right decision, and you messed up...big time. So go to that podium, admit your mistakes, and for crying out loud...take it like a man.

Going Down A Short Road

2009-10-29T16:54:00.003-04:00

So did you ever take a second to ponder why they call the the leader of a Major League Baseball team a manager, and not just a head coach? Well, it's because they manage. They are supposed to manage the game and talent in a way that will produce a favorable outcome for their team. Without a good manager, good talent is easily wasted, and with a great manager, sub-par talent is sometimes well utilized to an extent that produces unexpected results. Why don't other sports have managers? In football you have a head coach, but then you also have coordinators for offense, defense, special teams, quarterbacks, linebackers, etc. In basketball you have a head coach and he or she designs plays, coordinates substitutions, and calls timeouts; but the execution of the game is in the hands of the players. In hockey, it's a similar situation to basketball - line changes, play calling, and timeouts are all coaching responsibilities, but execution resides with the players. Looking back to baseball, you have many coaches, but one manager. The manager sets a lineup and pitching rotation that change daily based on matchups, he can stop the game at anytime he wants to adjust the circumstances of the game, and every decision he makes does not just effect one game, but potentially the next four...especially in the playoffs. Ultimately baseball players have the power to execute a play, but a manager has the power to execute a game, season, or championship run. The bottom line is that a big league manager makes or breaks a team's season.

Okay, okay, so what's the point? The point is that Joe Girardi is on the verge of managing the New York Yankees into the end of their season...and not they way that Yankees fans expect it to end. In my playoff predictions, I got virtually every single thing wrong, but now Girardi is giving me a chance to be right about one thing - his poor managing will be the demise of they Yankees Championship run. How so? He is starting A.J. Burnett tonight, and leaving one of the most successful postseason starters in history, Andy Pettitte, on the bench.

It doesn't matter that Pettitte is on 3-days rest, this is what he came to the Yankees for, to pitch big games in the playoffs. I don't care what Burnett's numbers are at home this year, or how he has better "stuff" then Pettitte. Pettitte is not a great postseason pitcher because of the amount of wins he has, rather it is because of the type of wins that he has - HUGE wins, wins that bail the Yankees out of a tight spot. He is notorious for winning after a Yankees loss in the playoffs. The last time the Yanks were in the Series [2003] they lost Game 1 of the ALDS, ALCS, and the World Series. Andy Pettitte started, and won Game 2 in all three series.

Okay, there's the backround - fast-forward to present day, Thursday, October 29th. The Yanks are down 1-0 to the Phillies, after C.C. Sabathia, their high-priced ace came up short in Game 1. They are going with Burnett because that was the "plan" and he has good numbers at home, but who cares!? He's going against Pedro, in danger of heading to Philly down 2-0! I'm sorry A.J. but your very thin playoff resume does not give you much of a chance in such a big game.

Now let's get back to the concept of managing. Starting Burnett tonight will be felt in more than just one game. Lets say the Yankees lose tonight, head to Philly down 2-0, win Game 3 behind Pettitte, and C.C. gets bested by Cliff Lee again in Game 4. Now in a season deciding game on the road, Joe Girardi will have to put the Yankees season in the hands of Burnett, unless Chad Gaudin will get the ball (yea right). Now let's look at it the smart way, the Yankees win Game 2 behind Pettitte, then Burnett has a better chance against a struggling Hamels in Game 3 and the Yankees could be up 2-1. Or even if Burnett loses on the road, like everyone is afraid of, and C.C. loses Game 4, putting the Yanks down 3-1, guess who can save the Yanks in Game 5 and bring the Series back to the Bronx - Andy. Freaking. Pettitte. Really, this isn't rocket science, but Girardi can't seem to put the pieces together. As a manager, you need to set yourself up so that in the event your back is against the wall, you can put your best team on the field. And let's face it, the Yankees best team isn't on the field unless #46 is on the mound with his hat pulled down over his head, and his glove covering his face.

Now, baseball is a game of crazy occurrences, and Burnett could very well win tonight. But I'll be honest, in my humble opinion, that with Pedro pitching in the Bronx and the Phillies craving a 2-0 lead...he won't.

A Rock And A Hard Place

2009-10-28T17:20:00.004-04:00

So tonight is Game 1. Game 1 of a World Series matchup that has unbiased fans everywhere scratching their heads. Who do I root for? Who do I dislike more? How did this happen? These are just a few of the confounding questions that have made their way through the heads of baseball fans around the country ever since Mariano Rivera struck out Gary Matthews Jr. on Sunday night to end the ALCS.

It is no secret that baseball is a game fueled by passion; not just for the players, coaches, or the executives involved, but most importantly for the fans. People go through the ups and downs of their lives; they go to college, they get married, they have kids, they lose loved ones, they leave old jobs and start new ones, but as James Earl Jones but it in The Field of Dreams, "the one constant has been baseball." This game, and the team that any one of us decides to cheer for becomes and remains a part of our identity; through wins and losses, summers and winters, joys and sorrows; the game is always there, March through October, year in and year out.

And so as a result of that passion, teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees have developed very strong fan bases; fan bases that are sometimes too strong for their own good. In fact, the arrogance of Yankees fans over the last few decades, and of Phillies fans for the past few years has grown both groups many enemies. With that being said, many fans find themselves wondering who they'd like to see win this year's championship for the simple fact that there is no underdog.

Usually, fans who have lost their teams in the playoffs or regular season cling to the underdog because underdogs are unpredictable, their exciting, they play like they've got nothing to lose. Well the 2009 World Series doesn't have an underdog, you've got the defending Champions of the 2008 season defending their title against...well...the defending champions of the last century. We could've had Joe Torre and the LA Dodgers fighting to return to past glory, or the LA Angels fighting to win one for their lost teammate Nick Adenhart, or the jump-start Rockies trying to imitate their miracle run of 2007. But no, instead we've got the Phils and the Yanks.

So no matter who wins, the fans of the underdog lose - it's like a real life version of Alien vs. Predator. Either way, we'll have to listen to Yankees fans brag about 27 rings or Phillies fans brag about back-to-back Championships. And to add to the arrogance of fans, you can see it in some players as well - Jimmy Rollins has Phillies fans everywhere calling him a prophet because he predicted that the Phillies would win the division in 2007 and would win 100 games in 2008. With both predictions coming true, Rollins has taken his arrogance to a new level, now predicting that the Phillies will beat the Yankees in five games or, "six if their nice."

The bottom line is that either way we'll have to listen to someone brag, but at least we'll also get to see someone eat their words. The point is that let's hope that this never happens again; we all love for our team to be the one in the World Series, but if it can't be us, at least let it be an underdog that we'd all love to see pull off a miracle.

Until that day comes, as much as we hate it, we've all got to sit down tonight, turn on the TV, listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver welcome us to the broadcast...and for what its worth, enjoy the game.

The Best Month Of The Year

2009-10-07T13:43:00.003-04:00

From the chill of the breeze to the smell of the air, there is nothing better than walking outside, taking in the atmosphere, and realizing that it's time for playoff baseball. Today is day 1 of the MLB postseason and it couldn't come any sooner. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the front page of today's edition of USA Today says it all. The picture of the Minnesota Twins jumping around in pure excitement, following their 12-inning win in last night's one-game playoff against the Detroit Tigers, is an innocent reminder of how much the game of baseball is defined by passion.

In recent years, Major League Baseball promotions have used the phrases "I live for this," "I love this game," and "This is beyond baseball," to describe the emotional moments that have defined the game's history. These phrases are embodied by every fan who gets chilled to the bone by the voice of a radio broadcaster calling a walk-off homerun. Baseball is a magic that humbles people to their youngest, most innocent form. For the big tough ballplayers who complain about their salaries, they are reduced to childish dog-piles when winning a big game. And as for the people who are spectators, the fans, the businessmen who work endless hours in "big-boy jobs," they are reduced to tears as the game of baseball usually can make or break their year.

No matter who it is, when you walk into that ballpark, hit the power button on your HDTV, or turn the knob on your radio - you have removed yourself from the toils of everyday life, and you have allowed yourself to yet again be captured by this most wonderful game.

With that being said, let's take a look at this year's postseason and join fans around the world in making some bold predictions...

*Division Series*

*Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Rockies win in 5.
As much as the Rockies record is inflated by having 21 wins against the Padres and Diamondbacks, they still have a flare for the dramatic and can take advantage of a dismal Philadelphia bullpen. The Phillies have a rotation that could stifle any lineup, with Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Pedro Martinez leading the way, but unless they each throw complete game shut-outs, the bullpen is going to be a valid concern. The year of the Phillies was 2008 and they don't seem to have the same magic, especially with their 'leader' Hamels complaining about playing back-to-back day games instead of talking about how excited he is for the postseason.

*St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Cardinals win in 5.
Despite having the best record in the National League and claiming home-field advantage, many critics might see the Dodgers as the underdogs in this series. With potential co-Cy Young winners Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter at the front of a 4-man playoff rotation, I find it hard to bet against the Cardinals. Not to mention a lineup that is poised to do damage with one of the best 3-4 combinations around in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. The Dodgers struggled down the stretch, losing 5-of-6 to the Pirates and Padres, before taking 2-of-3 against the Rockies to end the season. Manny has yet to find his groove, and the rotation has been confusingly inconsistent. If LA pulls it off, I can guarantee it will be thanks to the arms of Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf.

*Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Yankees win in 4.
As much as the Twins have shocked the world with their September heroics - winning 17 of 21 - all good things must come to an end. The fact that the Twins could barely inch out the Tigers is a statement of what a mis-match it is for them to try and tackle the Yankees. Simply put, the Yankees are a titan of a competitor and just have two many weapons to fall anywhere short of dominating the Twins. No disrespect to the Twins, they have all the heart in the world, but used 8 pitchers in the 1-game-playoff and are coming into the ALDS with their rotation all out of sorts. The Twinkies will steal a game, but the Yanks will make quick work of this series. This season was a great way to end the Metrodome's lifespan though.

*Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Red Sox win in 5.
This was a tough call, especially with the Angels having a lot to play for as they continue to remember lost teammate Nick Adenhart. The Angels bring many pluses to the table - a fantasy team for a lineup, the rally monkey, revenge from last year's early exit agains the BoSox - but Boston's pitching will again prove to much to handle for the Halos. The 1-2 punch of Lester and Beckett, plus a rejuvenated Dice-K and the best bullpen of the 8 playoff teams is an equation that equals a Red Sox victory.

*Championship Series*

*Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals win in 6.
Unlike 2006 when the Cardinals made it to the World Series on a fluke with an 83-win season, this year they will earn it. The Wainwright-Carpenter tag team is as good as we've seen this decade, comparing to Johnson-Schilling (2001) and Schilling-Beckett (2007). After going 1-6 against the Rockies in the regular season, the Cardinals will find their groove and send the resilient group of athletes packing.

*Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Red Sox win in 7.
We haven't seen this match-up since 2004 when the Sox re-wrote history as they came back from being down 3-0 to the Spankees. This time the teams will take a more balanced path to Game 7. This series will likely be more exciting than the World Series itself, as it promises to have quite the set of pitching duels. We will finally see a balance of competition after the Red Sox posted 8 straight wins in regular season head-to-head contests and the Yankees took 9 of the last 10 I think the Burnett vs. Beckett showdown in August was a great preview of the type of atmosphere we can come to expect in this year's ALCS. The X-factor in this series will be the managerial showdown between Joe Girardi and Terry Francona. In Girardi's first trip to the playoffs as a manager, he needs to earn a few stripes before being able to get into the World Series. Many forget that it was Girardi's poor managing that held back the 2006 rookie Marlins from completing a late-season playoff run. Also, the Sox pitching staff will prove to much for the Yankees to match in a long series like this one.

*World Series - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Red Sox*

Red Sox win in 7.
In a rematch of the 2004 World Series, we may have a contest that goes more than 5 games for the first time since 2003. Pitching will continue to define the 2009 postseason as these two teams of red throw ace-quality pitching on the mound game after game, inning after inning. Not to mention the batting showdowns of David 'Big Papi' Ortiz and Jason Bay opposing the Pujols-Holliday dream team. Count on both teams to bring it, and bring it hard. This will not be an easily won World Series, but the experience of the Red Sox and the passion that their home crowd will bring to Game 7 will be the deciding factor.

Give The Man A Break

2009-07-29T16:16:00.005-04:00

So just a few days ago, there was all this buzz in the afternoon about Bud Selig reconsidering Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball. Then by time the evening edition of SportsCenter had come on, they were saying the Bud said "no."

Now I don't know the details of the whole situation - where the rumor came from, why it got squashed, or how everything really played out - but this isn't about that. The fact that the topic even came up, was enough to get me thinking that Pete Rose should be reinstated to Major League Baseball.

What crime can be so wrong that you ban a man from a sport for life? Now maybe back when it happened it seemed terrible and that he should never be allowed near the game again, but things have changed. Let's be honest, if current baseball players can get caught cheating - by taking steroids and intentionally trying to alter their performance, and therefore, the outcome of the game - and if it's their first offense, they receive a 50-game suspension. Then if they get caught again, they still aren't thrown out of the sport.

In comparison, if a lifetime ban is the ultimate punishment, and Pete Rose has that for gambling (never against his team) and lying about it, but other players can cheat and lie about it and only miss out on 50 games, what message does that send? I'll tell you what message it sends, it says that taking steroids "isn't that bad." Right? Is that the message you want to send Buddy Boy?

In my opinion, steroids aside, I think Pete Rose deserves a second chance. People go through life getting 3rd and 4th and 10th chances all the time, but this poor guy makes one mistake, wasn't mature enough to own up to it, and now has to suffer for the rest of his life? Even prisoners with life sentences go up for parole! I think that Bud Selig doesn't have the gahones to make a bold move, and is sitting on "precedent." Well I think that's BS, because Bud is the one with the power to change the status quo, and it's his responsibility to make the decision and own it.

Aside from opinion, the bottom line is that if Bud feels the ban is appropriate, then he has to balance out the standards. If Pete Rose's actions deserve a lifetime ban, then any player who tests positive for steroids should be banned for life; the first time. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Lets face it, due to all the negative publicity, and attention there players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGuire face worse chances of making it to the Hall of Fame because of their actions. But at least they have that chance! If the people who have been delegated votes are truly worthy of the responsibility they have been given, then their decision to let Rose in or keep him out of the Hall is good enough for me.

Pete Rose should be reinstated in full capacity - eligibility for the Hall of Fame, eligibility to be around the game, and eligibility to be a big league manager again. I'm on your side Pete, I'm routing for you. And maybe one day when Theo is the new commish, we'll have you back.