United States soccer fans finally got what they wanted Wednesday night—goals, and lots of them.
Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and Brian Ching all netted goals in Chicago against Trinidad & Tobago.
After two games of 1-0 scores against Guatemala and Cuba, many U.S. fans had an uneasy feeling heading in to last night’s game against T&T, and understandably so. The ability to finish is one of the most important aspects for any player in the game, and the United States had been lacking badly in that area as of late.
Hopefully now the fears have subsided, and confidence is growing within the team.
The United States benefited greatly from a quality pitch and agreeable weather en route to their third consecutive win of the qualifying campaign, and even bigger lead among their group.
The first half of the match consisted of the U.S. controlling possession, a familiar theme in their three games of qualifying. A foul committed against DaMarcus Beasley in the ninth minute set up a free kick for Landon Donovan along the left sideline. Donovan sent in a beautiful cross to the foot of Michael Bradley as he flicked it home, leaving the keeper no chance to save.
Later in the first half, Clint Dempsey worked a quick give-and-go with Beasley that left Dempsey with the ball at his feet just inside the box. The Fulham man put in a low and powerful shot towards the far post, which gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the 18th minute.
The last score of the night came on yet another set piece. It involved Beasley again, who whipped in a tight cross that Oguchi Onyewu was able to get a head on. Although it wasn’t directed at goal, Brian Ching was in a good position and headed it home in the 57th minute.
That was the highlight of Ching’s night, as he yet again campaigned for Jozy Altidore or Kenny Cooper to take his spot as striker on the national team.
U.S. Coach Bob Bradley made three subs in the second half. Ricardo Clark took over for the underwhelming Sasha Kljestan, the much maligned Eddie Johnson came in for Brian Ching, and Eddie Lewis replaced a visibly spent Clint Dempsey.
All in all, it was a great effort by our boys. Quick one time passing, great reception of the ball and making the right pass for the majority of the match usually bodes well for a team that was much more talented than T&T.
Match Judgments
· Once again, Brian Ching was his normal, underperforming self.
· Michael Bradley is looking more and more like the holding midfielder everyone expects.
· Clint Dempsey is having fun on the pitch.
· DaMarcus Beasley isn’t 100% yet, but he will be soon.
· Oguchi Onyewu is the scariest player on the pitch every time.
· Tim Howard is very, very good.
Match Ratings
GK, Tim Howard, 7: Minded his net superbly, very vocal, and encouraging especially after Steve Cherundolo saved a sure goal in the second half.
LB, Heath Pearce, 5: Defended well, but not much more. Once again worked everything to his left foot and wasn’t noticeable in attack.
CB, Carlos Bocanegra, 6.5: Worked well with Onyewu on the back line and defended capably. Some of his poor clearances will be taken advantage of against tougher opponents.
CB, Oguchi Onyewu, 7: Defensive master didn’t lose a header and cleared the ball well. Could have improved on his outlet passing.
RB, Steve Cherundolo, 7: Needed a strong game after missing the match against Cuba with a red card. Was only beaten once defensively, but made up for it by saving a goal in the second half. Pushed up well to work with Dempsey and Donovan.
CM, Sasha Kljestan, 5.5: Still haven’t enjoyed watching him play. His touch and decision making is a bit off, needs to improve his passing. Provided support defensively.
CM, Michael Bradley, 7: Great distribution, smart switching of the ball, and no yellow cards! Signs of improvement from the 21-year-old Bundesliga starlet.
LM, DaMarcus Beasley, 6.5: Working his way back in to form after knee and hamstring injuries. Flashed his speed at times and sent in a good cross on Ching’s goal.
CAM, Landon Donovan, 7: Once again the most consistent player on the pitch. Great touch, smart passing, and great help defensively when needed. Donovan is quickly becoming the player this team needs him to be.
RM, Clint Dempsey, 7: Notched his fourth goal in his last four WC Qualifying games. His confidence and scoring touch are back. Provided good defensive help and passing was much better. His first touch still needs work.
F, Brian Ching, 5: Provided a good body with his back to the goal, and held the ball well. His first touch, finishing, passing and decision making were regrettable at best. Jozy Altidore, what’s your cell phone number?
Subs
M, Ricardo Clark, 5: His speed and energy was much needed in the second half. A few bad passes and his poor decision making need to be remedied in order to crack the starting line-up.
F, Eddie Johnson, 4: A sub needs energy and Johnson did not possess that last night. He needs to get his mind right if he wants to start. Brian Ching is gift-wrapping it for someone.
M, Eddie Lewis, 5: The ageless wonder proved he still has a powerful cross with his left foot as he came on for a slowing Dempsey.
Friday, September 19, 2008
USA vs. Cuba: Player Ratings and Match Observations
A 1-0 win for the United States on the road in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying is always a good result.
The United States men were calm and confident in Cuba. Nothing too exciting and only one time did I witness a completely bone-headed move (DaMarcus Beasley I’m sorry for picking on you).
I can’t get over seeing the “Cuba Cinco” in the stands. What bravery, what defiance, what loyalty all wrapped in one.
In case you are not aware, the United States has a trade embargo on Cuba dating back to 1962. This also limits travel to, and spending money in the country. A few journos and not much more were given temporary visas to cover the game; however, no U.S. fans were legally allowed to attend the game.
Seeing these five fans in the stands, wearing American Flag bandanas over their faces with sunglasses and “Fidel” caps, almost brought a tear to my eye.
Politics aside, the team looked good. Not great, not average, but good. They were knowledgeable in nearly every situation, making the right pass, avoiding turnovers, controlling possession—all key ingredients to winning on the road.
For the U.S. team to get three points, after beating Guatemala on the road, is a great way to start qualifying. Six points in two games, and sitting atop their group, has to be a much needed confidence boost for a team currently ranked 28thin the world by FIFA.
Although these road wins are nice, much more will be needed once the United States gets to the next round, and more importantly, the World Cup in South Africa.
What will be needed? Perhaps more than one goal. I love seeing Tim Howard record clean sheets and seeing the team defending as a whole, but the lack of creativity and scoring chances does not bode well for tougher games when two and three goals will be necessary for wins and advancement.
Snap Judgments
I want Jozy Altidore! No offense to Brian Ching, but his lack of ability to finish really upsets me. I want to see that 6’ 1’’ beast of a forward running around, jumping over, and finishing in front of the Cuban defenders.
Clint Dempsey looked, for the first time in a long time, like he wanted to be on the field. He finally had his legs ready to run and readily pressured the ball. In Dempsey’s last couple of matches, his body language and lack of hustle has really upset this fan and probably countless others.
He had a solid shot on goal, near post, way too quick for the keeper to recognize and stop. Earlier in the match, he also created another chance by giving a through ball to himself and running by two Cuban defenders only to botch a pass. Or was it a shot on goal?
Landon Donovan is simply great—so quick, so confident, so skilled. I would really like to see him cross the pond again and play in Europe. Although his time in Germany was considered average at best, it seems he is ready to take another stab at it. He is the closest thing the United States has to a super star and he needs to be playing alongside players like that to take his game to the next level.
Match Ratings
GK, Tim Howard, 8—Another shutout. American fans are getting spoiled.
RB, Frankie Hejduk, 6—Loads of energy is always a good thing at his spot. Defended capably and pushed well to partner with Dempsey on the right flank. Anything is better than two yellow cards (Steve Cherundolo)
CB, Oguchi Onyewu, 6—Marked well what the Cubans considered strikers. It seems no one wins headers over him, even Goalkeepers.
CB, Carlos Bocanegra, 6—Teamed well with Onyewu again. Their communication and feel for each other gets better every game.
LB, Heath Pearce, 5—I’m still not a fan of Pearce. It seems he is too scared to attempt a clearance with his right foot. Many times he worked his way to the sideline and you could tell he only wanted to use his left. This needs to change.
CM, Maurice Edu, 5—Started off poised and played well in the first half. Tired legs and poor decision making in the second half need to be remedied.
CM, Michael Bradley, 5—When is the last time you saw Michael Bradley not get carded in a match?
RM, Clint Dempsey, 7—Pressured well, ran his tail off, and put in the games only goal. Not bad for someone who seemed to have been losing his motivation.
CAM, Landon Donovan, 6—Seems to always make the right play. His red cleats looked good too.
LM, Damarcus Beasley, 4—Looked tired and slow. He had to change cleats a few times, although that didn’t help when he blew an open goal.
F, Brian Ching, 5—Good target man. Held the ball well and made a good pass to Dempsey to set up the score. How many more times will we see him miss solid chances before Jozy Altidore gets the start?
The United States men were calm and confident in Cuba. Nothing too exciting and only one time did I witness a completely bone-headed move (DaMarcus Beasley I’m sorry for picking on you).
I can’t get over seeing the “Cuba Cinco” in the stands. What bravery, what defiance, what loyalty all wrapped in one.
In case you are not aware, the United States has a trade embargo on Cuba dating back to 1962. This also limits travel to, and spending money in the country. A few journos and not much more were given temporary visas to cover the game; however, no U.S. fans were legally allowed to attend the game.
Seeing these five fans in the stands, wearing American Flag bandanas over their faces with sunglasses and “Fidel” caps, almost brought a tear to my eye.
Politics aside, the team looked good. Not great, not average, but good. They were knowledgeable in nearly every situation, making the right pass, avoiding turnovers, controlling possession—all key ingredients to winning on the road.
For the U.S. team to get three points, after beating Guatemala on the road, is a great way to start qualifying. Six points in two games, and sitting atop their group, has to be a much needed confidence boost for a team currently ranked 28thin the world by FIFA.
Although these road wins are nice, much more will be needed once the United States gets to the next round, and more importantly, the World Cup in South Africa.
What will be needed? Perhaps more than one goal. I love seeing Tim Howard record clean sheets and seeing the team defending as a whole, but the lack of creativity and scoring chances does not bode well for tougher games when two and three goals will be necessary for wins and advancement.
Snap Judgments
I want Jozy Altidore! No offense to Brian Ching, but his lack of ability to finish really upsets me. I want to see that 6’ 1’’ beast of a forward running around, jumping over, and finishing in front of the Cuban defenders.
Clint Dempsey looked, for the first time in a long time, like he wanted to be on the field. He finally had his legs ready to run and readily pressured the ball. In Dempsey’s last couple of matches, his body language and lack of hustle has really upset this fan and probably countless others.
He had a solid shot on goal, near post, way too quick for the keeper to recognize and stop. Earlier in the match, he also created another chance by giving a through ball to himself and running by two Cuban defenders only to botch a pass. Or was it a shot on goal?
Landon Donovan is simply great—so quick, so confident, so skilled. I would really like to see him cross the pond again and play in Europe. Although his time in Germany was considered average at best, it seems he is ready to take another stab at it. He is the closest thing the United States has to a super star and he needs to be playing alongside players like that to take his game to the next level.
Match Ratings
GK, Tim Howard, 8—Another shutout. American fans are getting spoiled.
RB, Frankie Hejduk, 6—Loads of energy is always a good thing at his spot. Defended capably and pushed well to partner with Dempsey on the right flank. Anything is better than two yellow cards (Steve Cherundolo)
CB, Oguchi Onyewu, 6—Marked well what the Cubans considered strikers. It seems no one wins headers over him, even Goalkeepers.
CB, Carlos Bocanegra, 6—Teamed well with Onyewu again. Their communication and feel for each other gets better every game.
LB, Heath Pearce, 5—I’m still not a fan of Pearce. It seems he is too scared to attempt a clearance with his right foot. Many times he worked his way to the sideline and you could tell he only wanted to use his left. This needs to change.
CM, Maurice Edu, 5—Started off poised and played well in the first half. Tired legs and poor decision making in the second half need to be remedied.
CM, Michael Bradley, 5—When is the last time you saw Michael Bradley not get carded in a match?
RM, Clint Dempsey, 7—Pressured well, ran his tail off, and put in the games only goal. Not bad for someone who seemed to have been losing his motivation.
CAM, Landon Donovan, 6—Seems to always make the right play. His red cleats looked good too.
LM, Damarcus Beasley, 4—Looked tired and slow. He had to change cleats a few times, although that didn’t help when he blew an open goal.
F, Brian Ching, 5—Good target man. Held the ball well and made a good pass to Dempsey to set up the score. How many more times will we see him miss solid chances before Jozy Altidore gets the start?
Maurice Edu’s Move to Rangers More Than Just Another Transfer
Maurice Edu has made the most important move of his career. Edu received a work permit to play for Glasgow Rangers in the Scottish Premier League this season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
His move to Rangers will pay more dividends than one can imagine. The initial reaction of, “He gets to play in Europe with the best of ‘em”, although vital, isn’t the most important aspect of his transfer.
His opportunity to play at this high of a level for this extended period of time will be the most complimentary to his improvement.
Think about it.
He just played in the Olympics against talented youngsters from Japan, The Netherlands, and Nigeria. The Nigerians, in the Olympic Finals against Argentina tonight, looked completely beatable even though playing 11 on 10 against the United States. (Thanks you very much Michael Orozco)
After the Olympic Games, Edu traveled to Guatemala and played 20 minutes of a World Cup Qualifier in an extremely tough setting against some of the dirtiest players on the planet today (insert four or five names from the Guat. Starting XI).
Follow that with a move to Scotland where Football is nearly the national language. The Rangers’ current squad is currently slim to none due to a rash of injuries to the all important midfield. Edu should see significant playing time alongside one of his compatriots.
Damarcus Beasley also suits up for Rangers. His mentoring Edu will be the most important task to developing, in my opinion, a player with an upside in the top three of the United States current young players (Altidore and Adu being the other two). Too many times has an American youngster made the trip across the pond only to struggle with self-confidence and little playing time (see Landon Donovan when he went to Germany).
Beasley, who has seen his share of the European scene with PSV Eindhoven and Man City before the Rangers, has arguably adapted the best to his time overseas. Who better for Edu to be with than the man with the most success in a foreign country?
As mentioned before, Rangers’ current squad has been hit hard lately with the injury bug, most notable being their captain and center midfielder Barry Ferguson. Although Edu will not receive the captain’s armband, starting at center mid is very feasible.
Even if Rangers’ manager doesn’t give Edu a shot at such a demanding position as center mid, center back is not out of the question. Edu showed he was the United States’ most talented, capable, and confident defender in the Olympics. His confidence on the ball is something never before seen from an American back line player, and quite refreshing.
Whether hanging with Beasley, new teammates, or tutoring under Manager Walter Smith, Edu is in position to learn the ins and outs of a much faster, more physical game than MLS currently has to offer. Who can complain with that? Certainly not Maurice, and I know it won't be coming from his supporters on this side of the Atlantic.
His move to Rangers will pay more dividends than one can imagine. The initial reaction of, “He gets to play in Europe with the best of ‘em”, although vital, isn’t the most important aspect of his transfer.
His opportunity to play at this high of a level for this extended period of time will be the most complimentary to his improvement.
Think about it.
He just played in the Olympics against talented youngsters from Japan, The Netherlands, and Nigeria. The Nigerians, in the Olympic Finals against Argentina tonight, looked completely beatable even though playing 11 on 10 against the United States. (Thanks you very much Michael Orozco)
After the Olympic Games, Edu traveled to Guatemala and played 20 minutes of a World Cup Qualifier in an extremely tough setting against some of the dirtiest players on the planet today (insert four or five names from the Guat. Starting XI).
Follow that with a move to Scotland where Football is nearly the national language. The Rangers’ current squad is currently slim to none due to a rash of injuries to the all important midfield. Edu should see significant playing time alongside one of his compatriots.
Damarcus Beasley also suits up for Rangers. His mentoring Edu will be the most important task to developing, in my opinion, a player with an upside in the top three of the United States current young players (Altidore and Adu being the other two). Too many times has an American youngster made the trip across the pond only to struggle with self-confidence and little playing time (see Landon Donovan when he went to Germany).
Beasley, who has seen his share of the European scene with PSV Eindhoven and Man City before the Rangers, has arguably adapted the best to his time overseas. Who better for Edu to be with than the man with the most success in a foreign country?
As mentioned before, Rangers’ current squad has been hit hard lately with the injury bug, most notable being their captain and center midfielder Barry Ferguson. Although Edu will not receive the captain’s armband, starting at center mid is very feasible.
Even if Rangers’ manager doesn’t give Edu a shot at such a demanding position as center mid, center back is not out of the question. Edu showed he was the United States’ most talented, capable, and confident defender in the Olympics. His confidence on the ball is something never before seen from an American back line player, and quite refreshing.
Whether hanging with Beasley, new teammates, or tutoring under Manager Walter Smith, Edu is in position to learn the ins and outs of a much faster, more physical game than MLS currently has to offer. Who can complain with that? Certainly not Maurice, and I know it won't be coming from his supporters on this side of the Atlantic.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Another Rangers Rookie Shows Strength of Farm System
Jon Daniels pulled another rabbit out of his minor league hat.
Rookie Matt Harrison, just called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, threw seven strong innings as he out-dueled All-Star Joe Saunders to earn his first major league victory.
This victory came at a time when the Rangers need for quality pitching is a must. After this series with the Angels, they face yet another first place team in the Chicago White Sox this weekend.
Harrison, acquired from the Atlanta Braves last summer in the Mark Teixeira trade, offered a bit of relief to Rangers fans after Eric Hurley was placed on the DL with a strained hamstring.
The rookie left-hander, who had to wait nearly an hour to pitch due to a rain delay, allowed only two runs in his first start.
Harrison wasn't the only Rangers rookie to make some noise. Chris Davis sent his fifth home run over the fence in center field to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Josh Hamilton added two RBI to up his major league leading total to 87 and Ian Kinsler extended his hit streak to 20 games with a double to right-center in the sixth inning. Kinsler is now batting .337 on the season as he continues to show why he should be the All-Star starter at second base.
Jon Daniels seems to have figured out this whole General Manager gig. The Rangers battery, Harrison and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, were both parts of the Teixeira trade. Two more pieces of that trade, 20-year-old Neftali Feliz and 19-year-old Elvis Andrus, are currently at Double-A Frisco and two of the organizations top prospects.
Vicente Padilla has been scratched from his start tonight and another rookie, Michael Ballard, will be given a chance to further prove the depth of the Rangers minor league system. In his last start, Ballard threw 8.1 innings while giving up one earned run and striking out six.
Hopefully Jon-Boy will continue to keep up this magic show.
Rookie Matt Harrison, just called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, threw seven strong innings as he out-dueled All-Star Joe Saunders to earn his first major league victory.
This victory came at a time when the Rangers need for quality pitching is a must. After this series with the Angels, they face yet another first place team in the Chicago White Sox this weekend.
Harrison, acquired from the Atlanta Braves last summer in the Mark Teixeira trade, offered a bit of relief to Rangers fans after Eric Hurley was placed on the DL with a strained hamstring.
The rookie left-hander, who had to wait nearly an hour to pitch due to a rain delay, allowed only two runs in his first start.
Harrison wasn't the only Rangers rookie to make some noise. Chris Davis sent his fifth home run over the fence in center field to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Josh Hamilton added two RBI to up his major league leading total to 87 and Ian Kinsler extended his hit streak to 20 games with a double to right-center in the sixth inning. Kinsler is now batting .337 on the season as he continues to show why he should be the All-Star starter at second base.
Jon Daniels seems to have figured out this whole General Manager gig. The Rangers battery, Harrison and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, were both parts of the Teixeira trade. Two more pieces of that trade, 20-year-old Neftali Feliz and 19-year-old Elvis Andrus, are currently at Double-A Frisco and two of the organizations top prospects.
Vicente Padilla has been scratched from his start tonight and another rookie, Michael Ballard, will be given a chance to further prove the depth of the Rangers minor league system. In his last start, Ballard threw 8.1 innings while giving up one earned run and striking out six.
Hopefully Jon-Boy will continue to keep up this magic show.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
All-Star Selections Overshadow Successful Rangers Road Trip
p>Four wins. Four all-stars. For this Rangers fan, that equates in to a fairly successful road trip.
Our Rangers made their last ever regular season trip to Yankee Stadium this past week. For Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Milton Bradley, they have at least one more time to visit.
They will make the trip to the Bronx later this month as they have been selected to represent the Texas Rangers in the mid-summer classic.
Perhaps the most deserving and unappreciated Ranger is Ian Kinsler. His production from the lead-off spot this year has been nothing short of spectacular.
Kinsler leads the American League in hits, extra base hits, runs, total bases, and stolen base percentage (23 out of 24) just to name a few. I guess we know who is accounting for the majority of Josh Hamilton's RBI this season.
One of the biggest adjustments Kinsler has made this year is his willingness to take a pitch up the middle or to right field. Remember last year when Kinsler started on a tear hitting all those home runs in April and then struggled to keep up that pace?
Now he is simply letting the ball get deeper in the zone and taking it wherever the pitch is placed. I wonder if he picks Michael Young's brain about any of this.
The Texas Rangers return home to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington tonight to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a four game series in an extremely pivotal AL West matchup.
We need to bring out the brooms. As of today, the Rangers are 7.5 games back of the Angels. With a sweep, it would bring that number to 3.5 games.
The Angels possess one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball and have three pitchers in this month's all-star game.
What will prevail between this matchup? Big bats or power pitching? Hopefully the well documented "jet stream" at the Ballpark will help some of those Rangers hitters climb ever closer to the AL West lead.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Saban A Snake
Nick Saban is a snake. That's about it. His handling of the University of Alabama head coaching offer was absolutely terrible. He said there was no way he was going to be the Alabama head coach. Now he's running from Miami as if he were imprisoned there. That's all I have to say. No more talk about that snake.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
AI & Melo...Striking Fools Good
"Oh my gosh! Allen Iverson is headed to the Nuggets! They are going to be so good for each other!"
The reaction of fans across the country to the AI trade was something similar to this tunnel visioned statement, and at first glance, is almost accurate. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson are the #1 and 2 scorers in the league and now they are forced to co-exist. Kobe Bryant and Gilbert Arenas would almost be better off.
Allen Iverson pulled an elementary school basketball move. "I don't like who my teammates are....I don't want to play anymore." How did the Philadelphia brain trust respond? "Let's give him what he wants, besides, he won't even come to practice." They shopped him around and waited for the right....how do you say it....opportunity to show itself. How convenient; Carmelo Anthony gets suspended for 15 games. Now the Nuggets need someone to fill their scoring void. Allen fits the part, except for the fact that he ranks 261st in the league in field-goal percentage! This stat may be a little misleading, so let's get to the bottom of this. AI is shooting .413% on the season. He is only 15 spots ahead of the notorious Antoine (no his first name is not misspelled) Walker. When asked why Antoine Walker attempts so many three point shots, he quickly replied "because there aint no four pointers".
Some people are quick to point out that with Carmelo out for fifteen games, Allen Iverson will be able to keep the ship afloat. OK. Is that really all that an NBA franchise wants to do with their team? "Let's have him come here and make sure we don't lose too badly." If Carmelo sits out for 15 games, the Utah Jazz will run away with the division.
Let's forget about the records or actual statistics and just look at the character issues we face here. Anthony has appeared in thug videos and about two years ago was charged with drug possession. Carmelo lucked out when his friend bit the bullet and signed an affidavit taking the punishment. Iverson reportedly threw his girlfriend out of his house naked. So the Nuggets decide to throw these two together. "They will be fine".
When Iverson was in Philadelphia, he controlled the game, took the shots, and was still upset. Now in Denver, he faces the possibility of being the second option. Look for this off season to provide the real "Answer".
The reaction of fans across the country to the AI trade was something similar to this tunnel visioned statement, and at first glance, is almost accurate. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson are the #1 and 2 scorers in the league and now they are forced to co-exist. Kobe Bryant and Gilbert Arenas would almost be better off.
Allen Iverson pulled an elementary school basketball move. "I don't like who my teammates are....I don't want to play anymore." How did the Philadelphia brain trust respond? "Let's give him what he wants, besides, he won't even come to practice." They shopped him around and waited for the right....how do you say it....opportunity to show itself. How convenient; Carmelo Anthony gets suspended for 15 games. Now the Nuggets need someone to fill their scoring void. Allen fits the part, except for the fact that he ranks 261st in the league in field-goal percentage! This stat may be a little misleading, so let's get to the bottom of this. AI is shooting .413% on the season. He is only 15 spots ahead of the notorious Antoine (no his first name is not misspelled) Walker. When asked why Antoine Walker attempts so many three point shots, he quickly replied "because there aint no four pointers".
Some people are quick to point out that with Carmelo out for fifteen games, Allen Iverson will be able to keep the ship afloat. OK. Is that really all that an NBA franchise wants to do with their team? "Let's have him come here and make sure we don't lose too badly." If Carmelo sits out for 15 games, the Utah Jazz will run away with the division.
Let's forget about the records or actual statistics and just look at the character issues we face here. Anthony has appeared in thug videos and about two years ago was charged with drug possession. Carmelo lucked out when his friend bit the bullet and signed an affidavit taking the punishment. Iverson reportedly threw his girlfriend out of his house naked. So the Nuggets decide to throw these two together. "They will be fine".
When Iverson was in Philadelphia, he controlled the game, took the shots, and was still upset. Now in Denver, he faces the possibility of being the second option. Look for this off season to provide the real "Answer".
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Zito or Veto?
Jon Daniels has to strike gold in the oil rich Texas soil. Tom Hicks needs one of his “calculated risks” to actually produce some return. Forget about A-Rod. Forget about “The Ho”. A shortstop with an average glove can not win a World Series. The Ho was never the front line starter that was advertised. Eric Gagne is a great pick-up. Paying $6 million for a pitcher that recorded the most consecutive saves of all time is nothing to turn up your nose at. I’m sure Akinori Otsuka is smiling from his metroplex home.
Kenny Lofton, although twice as old as me, is still two times as fast and hit .301 last year with the Dodgers. Jon Daniels is being smart; he hasn’t let go of any of his potential all-star infielders and hasn’t fallen into the trap of paying an overweight designated hitter $100 million for two more years of solid production. Aggressive, but smart. That has been the Rangers motto ever since The Ho and A-Rod’s true colors were shown.
The $60 million dollar investment in Kevin Millwood last year wasn’t a foolish offer. He was the ERA leader for the American League in 2005. So why not offer a little more dough to a pitcher who has shown he can pitch with success at Ameriquest? Barry Zito has averaged 213 innings a year with the Oakland A’s and has persevered through losing two of his running mates in Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson. If Jon Daniels lands Zito, that would make a starting rotation of Zito, Millwood, and recently re-signed Vicente Padilla. That’s three 15 game winners at the front of your rotation. What other teams in the MLB have been able to score that? Oh ya, the dynasty of the Atlanta Braves during their run of 13 consecutive divisional titles just to throw one at ya.
The time to stop talking and actually make a run at the division is now. Morale was high after the first half of the season. The Rangers were a couple of games in first place even with Mark Teixeira only belting nine home runs. What happened in the second half? The Rangers inexperienced back-end of the rotation wore out and so the slide began. With Ron Washington at the helm, Barry Zito has become very intrigued with the idea of living in Arlington. Hopefully we don't scare him away.
Ya Baby.
Kenny Lofton, although twice as old as me, is still two times as fast and hit .301 last year with the Dodgers. Jon Daniels is being smart; he hasn’t let go of any of his potential all-star infielders and hasn’t fallen into the trap of paying an overweight designated hitter $100 million for two more years of solid production. Aggressive, but smart. That has been the Rangers motto ever since The Ho and A-Rod’s true colors were shown.
The $60 million dollar investment in Kevin Millwood last year wasn’t a foolish offer. He was the ERA leader for the American League in 2005. So why not offer a little more dough to a pitcher who has shown he can pitch with success at Ameriquest? Barry Zito has averaged 213 innings a year with the Oakland A’s and has persevered through losing two of his running mates in Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson. If Jon Daniels lands Zito, that would make a starting rotation of Zito, Millwood, and recently re-signed Vicente Padilla. That’s three 15 game winners at the front of your rotation. What other teams in the MLB have been able to score that? Oh ya, the dynasty of the Atlanta Braves during their run of 13 consecutive divisional titles just to throw one at ya.
The time to stop talking and actually make a run at the division is now. Morale was high after the first half of the season. The Rangers were a couple of games in first place even with Mark Teixeira only belting nine home runs. What happened in the second half? The Rangers inexperienced back-end of the rotation wore out and so the slide began. With Ron Washington at the helm, Barry Zito has become very intrigued with the idea of living in Arlington. Hopefully we don't scare him away.
Ya Baby.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Three Strikes & You're Out
The University of Oklahoma football team has dismissed quarterback Rhett Bomar and guard J.D. Quinn permanently. Bomar and Quinn "worked" at an auto dealership for a few hours a week and received large sums of money. Wow. Good call guys. I could just imagine those two snickering at work saying "dang dude we're getting paid for not doing anything!" (insert awkward high five here). Rhett Bomar is no stranger to controversy. He was busted for having a party at his house and a received a Minor in Possession at the Hornets game in his sophomore year. Bomar has created quite a high profile around the greater Oklahoma City area. He was a nationally recruited quarterback coming out of high school, and after multiple recruiting efforts, signed with Oklahoma. He redshirted his freshmen year and took over the starting job in the second game of his sophomore season.
Other than having a somewhat successful end of the season, Bomar did not make any headlines except in the criminal report section of The OU Daily.
The first thing that came to my mind when I was told Bomar was paid for work not performed: Maurice Clarett. How appropriate. A young talent with a big head. Someone who thinks they can take on the world. Well, Rhett, no pun intended, but your "party" stops here.
Thanks for the fun, thanks for the memories, and thanks for the heartache. C Ya Bomar.
Ya Baby.
Other than having a somewhat successful end of the season, Bomar did not make any headlines except in the criminal report section of The OU Daily.
The first thing that came to my mind when I was told Bomar was paid for work not performed: Maurice Clarett. How appropriate. A young talent with a big head. Someone who thinks they can take on the world. Well, Rhett, no pun intended, but your "party" stops here.
Thanks for the fun, thanks for the memories, and thanks for the heartache. C Ya Bomar.
Ya Baby.
Training Camp Memoirs
Cowboys training camp is in full swing. Super Bowl aspirations blow in the California breeze. Many of the starters on offense and defense are carrying an "I'm ready for this" attitude. What a difference one, if not two years, makes. Let's reflect.
Quincy Carter was expected to take the Cowboys to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Little did we know of his substance abuse. Lance Frazier was a starting cornerback while Terrance Newman was still trying to adapt to the NFL. Now Newman is poised to make a run at the Pro Bowl. Marcellus Wiley and Leonardo Carson were mainstays on the defensive line. Wiley had 6 tackles for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
Just because the Cowboys haven't had a playoff appearance in the last two years doesn't mean they aren't better. They are. With excellent drafting and free agent signings, Bill Parcells has loaded this team with talent and character (still awaiting a flare up from T. O.).
Only one question lingers: Can they put it all together? Bill Parcells has made it no secret he wants to win now, and let's face it, he's not getting any younger. Drew Bledsoe isn't exactly the fountain of youth either. The offensive line has been retooled, once again, possibly starting three new faces. The young defense will have to produce some points of their own if the Cowboys hope to be a serious contender. Bradie James will have to become the leader and show the other players how to play like a professional. Two years ago, James was looked at as an afterthought, now he stands to be the Cowboys leading tackler two years in a row.
So, once again, can it all come together? That's for the 2006 season to know, and for us to find out.
Oh ya, Cool Runnings is one of the best movies of all time.
Ya Baby.
Quincy Carter was expected to take the Cowboys to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Little did we know of his substance abuse. Lance Frazier was a starting cornerback while Terrance Newman was still trying to adapt to the NFL. Now Newman is poised to make a run at the Pro Bowl. Marcellus Wiley and Leonardo Carson were mainstays on the defensive line. Wiley had 6 tackles for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
Just because the Cowboys haven't had a playoff appearance in the last two years doesn't mean they aren't better. They are. With excellent drafting and free agent signings, Bill Parcells has loaded this team with talent and character (still awaiting a flare up from T. O.).
Only one question lingers: Can they put it all together? Bill Parcells has made it no secret he wants to win now, and let's face it, he's not getting any younger. Drew Bledsoe isn't exactly the fountain of youth either. The offensive line has been retooled, once again, possibly starting three new faces. The young defense will have to produce some points of their own if the Cowboys hope to be a serious contender. Bradie James will have to become the leader and show the other players how to play like a professional. Two years ago, James was looked at as an afterthought, now he stands to be the Cowboys leading tackler two years in a row.
So, once again, can it all come together? That's for the 2006 season to know, and for us to find out.
Oh ya, Cool Runnings is one of the best movies of all time.
Ya Baby.
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