Thoughts on Life and Sports`

Sad to See Him Go

2010-06-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

Last week saw the passings of such legends as John Wooden (former UCLA head coach) and Gary Coleman (actor). However, it was a retirement, not a death, that hit me the hardest.

When Griffey announced last week that he was leaving the game of baseball after 22 seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, it actually brought I tear to my eye. Never again would we see Griffey take a monster swing for the fences or chase down a fly ball in the outfield.

I know I was not alone as a child and teen who grew up in the 1990s a fan of the future hall of famer. Griffey, who became affectionately as The Kid when he mad his debut as a baby-face 19-year-old, was revered far and wide.

Junior deserved all the respect he received. During the 1990s, all with Seattle, Griffey had arguably the greatest decade in the history of baseball. By the time he signed with his home-town Reds to start the 2000 season, The Kid had hammered 398 home runs. After knocking 40 taters in his initial campaign in southeast Ohio, Griffey seemed well on his way to obliterating Hank Aaron's all-time record of 755 home runs (since passed by Barry Bonds).

Along with the taters he hit, Griffey appeared in the All-Star Game every season of the 90s. He did so again in 2000. Not only had Griffey enjoyed a historic decade, he was going to take the nation on a great journey of seeing the greatest career, maybe in the history of sports.

Unfortunately, a rash of injuries began 2001. Griffey played in just 111 games (out of 162) that season. He followed that up with three straight years of playing 83 games or less. The prime years of his career were lost to injury after injury. 2005 and 2006, although comeback seasons, were seasons cut short by bumps and bruises.

When you think about the time lost, it makes the 630 home runs Griffey hit (fifth all-time) all the more staggering. A player who misses more than half his games in the first half of his 30s is not supposed to go down as one of the greatest sluggers of all time, more like just a very good one. That lends all the more credence to just how great that decade of the 90s truly was. In a decade, Griffey set himself up to be talked about with guys like Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, who all had great season for 15 years or more.

Even more impressive about that Player of the Decade status is Griffey did it without taking the steroids that many of his brethren took. Many of the greats from the 90s (most notably Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmerio) have been tied to performance-enhancing drugs. Griffey was clean (at least that is the prevailing thought) and outdid them all.

Yes, Bonds eventually broke Aaron's hallowed record, but the fruits of an injury-free career that Griffey did not enjoy helped Bonds to the career home run mark. If Griffey had stayed healthy throughout the 200s, who knows how many longballs he'd have mashed. 800, likely. Perhaps even 900. He would have had otherworldly numbers.

Griffey was truly a joy and unique talent to watch in the 1990s. It would have been nice if the 2000s had been a follow-up to the previous decade, rather than the numbers enhancers they ended up being. Because of the injuries later in the career, some people forget how great Griffey was for 10 years. For 10 years he was the absolute greatest and for that, we should all say 'thank you!'

Will a Title Keep LeBron in Cleveland? Not so Sure

2010-01-25T10:17:00.001-08:00

The entire city of Cleveland is nervous about LeBron Jame's pending free agency, and rightfully so.
The city and team stand to lose perhaps the greatest athlete to ever take a field or court in the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

However, where I feel most people error is in the logic the James will bolt if the team fails to win a championship. It's true that LeBron wants nothing more than to win a title. I think it's also true he wants nothing more than to win a championship for his home town that has not celebrated a title in 46 years.

If the Cavs win the NBA Championship in June, what is really keeping LeBron around? It would seem as though he may think his job in Cleveland is finished and he can pursue other career paths with no regrets.

The Cavs may be best off to the get to the NBA Finals and lose. I say this as someone who wants nothing more than to see a Cleveland team host the ultimate hardware. However, let's say the Cavs do reach the Finals, put up a good fight and lose. It is progress. They are still better than any other potential destination LeBron may consier this off season. He will still have something to prove, which is a championship can be won on the Lakefront. I could see him reupping for 3-5 more years if the Cavs are still close, but not quite there.

If the Cavs win it all, I really think LeBron will go elsewhere. Having brought a trophy and parade to his hometown, he may decide to give a bigger city a try. James strikes me as someone who is motivated by having something to prove. After a title in Cleveland, he may want to see if he can take a team like New York or Chicgo from the bottom of the league, back to glory.

While this blogger would love to see Cleveland win a championship, he can wait one more year, once LeBron is resigned and still has something to aim for in Cleveland.

The Greatest

2009-12-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

Muhammad Ali was known as "The Greatest." In boxing circles, that was true some 30 years ago when he was racking up championships and knock outs. It undoubtedly stands true today that Ali was the greatest the fight game has ever known.

However, the debate rages on as to who the greatest, most well-known athlete of all time may be. I credit this discussion to semi debate I had with my girlfriend over the weekend. When the news of Tigers Woods' automobile accident broke last Friday, I called him the most well known athlete in today's world and perhaps ever. My knowledgeable girlfriend, brought up the name Michael Jordan.

And so it goes on - the debate over who is the greatest athlete we have ever seen. Is it Woods? Is it Jordan? Is it someone else all together?

Jordan transcended his sport of basketball. He was a pioneer when it came to athletes making millions in commercials. His face was all over advertising - from underwear, to sports drinks. He won championships on multiple continents, winning Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.

Perhaps most importantly, Jordan globalized basketball, helping to make the game popular and successful in other countries.

While Woods can not be credited with making golf a global sport - it was popular in other countries long before Woods came around - Tiger can be credited for perhaps saving the PGA.
Without Woods, the PGA really has nothing to draw fan interest. Television ratings are typically poor for events that do not involve Woods or do not see him in contention at the end.

Like Jordan, Woods' mug can be seen all over the advertising industry. He has won tournaments and majors all over the world - more so than MJ. Woods has good shot of breaking his sport's most hallowed record of 18 major victories, currently held by the great Jack Nicholas. By that token, Jordan never broke major career NBA records. Although that could be due to his taking the better part of two years off to pursue a failed baseball career.

So the debate rages - Woods or Jordan? There seems to be no one else who has transcended their sport quite like these two and became an absolute global icon. Tennis' greatest, Roger Federer, does not have the national appeal of Jordan and Woods. Football is not globalized enough to pick anyone from that sport. Most of baseball's legends, especially recent, have been tainted by scandal.

This discussion really does come down to Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. It is a photo finish, but this blogger would have to say, in the ended, Woods will go down as the greatest, most well-known athlete ever.

The final item putting Woods over the top is, when all is said and done, no other golfer will even come close to Tiger's category. He will retire as hands-down the greatest golfer ever. In Jordan's case, while it is hard to argue he is greatest basketball player ever, you can have a discussion. Names like Oscar Robertson and perhaps, some day, Kobe Bryant and LeBron Jame could be considered better overall players than Michael.

Tiger is unquestionably the greatest his sport and maybe any sport has ever seen.

Cleveland's three-headed monstrosity

2009-09-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

After 45 years of mostly ineptitude, I think Cleveland's sports teams have finally reached a collective rock bottom.

Yes, it has been 45 years since the 1964 Browns gave Cleveland its last major sports championship. That is the longest stretch for any city that boasts at least three of the four major sports.

The Browns have never won a Super Bowl. The Cavs have never won an NBA Title. The Indians have not been World Series Champions since 1948. All have had their moments of glory in the last 45 years, but none have quite been able to break through.

The Browns of the 80s, the Indians of the 90s (and 2007) and present Cavaliers have all knocked on the door of greatness, but have not been able to bring the big trophy to our fair city.

Even with all the bad luck these teams have had over the years, the here and now is the worst things have ever been. I'm convinced of this. I can not remember a day I opened the newspaper and all three teams were full of bad news as they are today. Here's the run down.

The Indians, with Cy Young winner Cliff Lee leading the rotation and catcher Victor Martinez powering a potent line up, were supposed to contend for the American League Central Division crown. Instead, amid injuries and an imploding bullpen, the Tribe pulled the plug on wasted season in July. The club traded Lee and Martinez, along with several other key veterans. After a recent 11-game losing skid, the Indians stand at 64-92, headed toward one of their worst records in a long time.

The Indians do at least have a good crop of young players, who give hope for better days in the future. Those days, however, are not in the immediate future.

On the lakefront, the Browns are not much better than the Indians. In fact, sadly, they may be worse. On Sunday the Browns lost 34-3 in Baltimore to drop to 0-3. They were outscored Sunday by the Indians! Sunday's Ravens debacle might have been the worst game this team has played since its rebirth in 1999. That's saying something with the bad football we've seen in the last decade.

Head coach Eric Mangini can't decide on a quarterback (neither has been any where near effective). The defense is a mess and the only play-maker on offense has trouble catching the ball (WR Braylon Edwards). This team is not getting better any time soon.

Finally, there's the Cavs. This is supposed to be the city's saving grace. after a franchise-record 66 wins last year and nearly going to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years, the Cavs made waves in the offseason. They traded for future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neil and added free agents Jomario Moon and Anthony Parker. They are expected to team with a strong rost already in place, headed by megastar LeBron James, to contend for an NBA Title.

However, this being Cleveland, nothing comes easy. Just as preseason practices are getting underway, Delonte West is giving the Cavs a giant headache. The guard, and one of Cleveland's top players was arreste two weeks ago for carrying a loaded weapon in Maryland. He should get off with a suspension. That's the good news. The bad news is West, who battles depression, was a no-show at practice today. It was an unexcused absence. A season of such great promise off to such an inauspicious start.

Now, the Cavs may rebound from this setback to gain basketball's ultimate prize and bring some sports pride back to this city. For now, though, Cleveland's sports teams have hit rock bottom. This is not a good day to be a Cleveland sports fan and tomorrow doesn't look much better.

Fall - the greatest season

2009-09-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

Those of you who follow me - all 1 of you at the moment - know this space is generally reserved for my thoughts on sports. Well, I'm going to stray from that here and go with the Life portion of my blog title for now.

I woke up this morning to a great thought - fall is essentially here. I love fall! The leaves are changing, the weather is a perfect 60 degrees, football has started and the World Series is right around the corner (OK, so I can't write without throwing sports in somewhere).

Let's start with the weather. I am not a warm-weather person, simple as that. I hate sweating in the summer heat. That is no concern in the fall. Fall weather is great (at least early, before it gets really cold in mid-November).

The sights and smells of fall make it a great time of year. Leaves changing colors, the smell of the crisp, cool air and the aroma of pumpkin pie. It all blends to make the season quite enjoyable.

Of course, there are the sports. The World Series, also known as the Fall Classic. To me, this is the best of all the sports championships. The thoughts of a packed stadium of fans going nuts on an October night beat out any other championship thoughts in my books.

Football is in full swing, as well. The greatest sport. It goes away for 7 months - longer than any other sports offseason. Most nights of the week (thanks to college football scheduling) are filled with football in the fall.

Just around the corner, too, is basketball season. For a Cleveland sports fan, like me, this means finally watching a team that has a chance to win a title - go Cavs!

Finally, at the tail end of Fall, we get the greatest holiday of them all - Thanksgiving! I can think of no better way to spend a day than with family, watching football and eating great food!

Overall, Fall rocks! This morning felt like fall. While most get a spring in the step, quite literally, in Spring, I had an extra jolt this morning. Or was that a result of all the coffee?

Viking Favre

2009-08-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Brett Favre takes his first snaps as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

I'm not sure how I feel about that above sentence. On one hand, I'm a huge Favre fan and thrilled to see him playing again, even if it is a preseason game. On the other hand, I'm also a Green Bay Packers fan and a bit disappointed to see him donning the purple of the hated Vikings.

(Okay, those of you who know me are surely saying about now, "I thought you were a Browns fan!" Yes, I am. They are my first NFL love. However, when they took their three-year hiatus from the league thanks to (insert derogatory word here) Art Modell, I turned to the Packers to be my rental team. They will always hold a place my football-loving heart for those three years, 1996 - 1998.)

Anyway, back on topic. Having cheered on the Packers, and only the Packers, for several seasons, I became a die-hard Favre fan. In fact, he is one of my top two favorite NFL players of all time. He has nearly every major quarterback record. However, my favorite of all his records is the NFL games played streak. Proof that, unlike many of his QB brethren, Favre is tough as nails.

I have a respect and admiration for Favre. Although I don't appreciate his infamous retire, unretire routine, I still love watching him play the game of football. I am thrilled he will do this for a 19th season.

Still, I can not get over the fact that he is playing for the enemy. One part of me wants to boo and ridicule him. Another part wants to cheer him and hope he can go out on top, with a Super Bowl title (that is, of course, unless the Browns find a way to win the Super Bowl this year!). I believe most Packer fans feel this way.

Last year was different. After retiring, following the 2007 season, Favre changed course in early Summer, 2008. He decided he wanted him back. The Packers organization decided it did not want him. Favre went to the Jets. The Jets are hardly a rival. Besides, the Packers brass came off as the bad guy in that situation. He was still the lovable hero for the Green Bay faithful.

This year is different. This time, he twice said he was finished. Okay, great! We'll forget that disappointing season in New York and think of you squarely as a Packer. Can't do that so much now that you're a Viking, Brett. You have let down Packers Nation.

So, whether to boo Brett or cheer Brett? Well, I think I will continue to cheer Brett, but hope he continues to lose at the Metrodome - the one place he struggled to win while with the Packers. Now it's his home field. Good luck Brett - hope the Vikes lose.

Why Now?

2009-08-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

Where was this three months ago? Where was this one-and-a-half months ago, even?

I'm talking about the hot streak the Cleveland Indians are currently on. The Tribe has gone 12-6 in their last 18 games and have won five of their past six series. Most recently they took two-out-of-three games each from their Central Division rivals, the Twins, Tigers and White Sox. Those happen to be the three teams in contention for the Central Division crown.

All of this might have mattered a couple months ago when a hot streak could have put the Indians in contention for the division and a berth in the postseason. Instead, the Indians are bunch of rookies, with a few good players sprinkled in, simply hoping to prove they deserve a Major League paycheck next year.

As the Indians do most years under manager Eric Wedge, they got off to another disastrous start this season. The Wahoo Warriors were out of contention before the calendar turned to Summer.

With little hope for the present, the Indians traded away high-priced (though not by New York and Boston standards) stars Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee. Both, by the way, were still under contract for next season. The Tribe also dumped salary in the form of trading Ryan Garko, Raffael Bettancourt, Mark DeRosa and Carl Pavano. According to the Dolans, the trades were necessitated because the team was set to lose $16 million this season and it wasn't looking good for next year, either.

That's all well and good, but the Indians essentially waved the white flag on not only this seaons, but 2010, as well. Trading their ace and most potent offensive weapon does not bode well for next year.

This would not be so upsetting if not for the frustration that has become the Indians' light switch. Since the club began trading away its top players for prospects and hopeful future stars, they have been on a role. This happened last year when the Tribe traded away reigning Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia after a slow start. Sabathia left, the Indians went on a role and finished 81-81. This duped everyone into believing the Tribe could contend this year. Oviously, we know what happend as the team sits at 48-63. An 11-game deficit in the division would take a miracle to overcome.

While, working back to contention this year seems impossible, working back to respectability does not. The kids have shown some life. Andy Marte may actually amount to something. Jhonny Peralta has been raking of late. Of course Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are still around. Youngsters Matt LaPorta, Trevor Crowe and Carlos Santan give hope to a strong offensive nucleus in the future.

as for the pitching staff, sans Lee, Fausto Carmona has looked almost like a No. 2 pitcher in his two starts back from the minors. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers are finally looking like they belong in a Major League pitch rotation. Justin Masterson, a converted reliever, threw four strong innings in his first start for the Tribe last week.

With that, a continued run of success is possible. Finishing the year with a respectable 75-80 wins does not seem far fetched. Once again, the Indians will be setting us up to believe they can content in the weak Central Division next year. I'll be left pondering what this team could be with Lee and Martinez anchoring it.

Of course, trading palyers midway through the season and playing well once it's too little, too late only masks the true issue for this team. That is Eric Wedge and his inability to have the team ready to go when the season starts.

Slow starts in 2004 and 2005 cost the Indians a playoff spot both years. Each season the Tribe got red hot late, but sputtered down the stretch. In 2007, the Indians played respectable ball early and got to within a victory of the World Series. Since then, in 2008 and 2009, promising Indians squads got off to slow starts, sabotaging what could have been glorious years.

This lack of early-season success has to fall on Wedge. It is the manager's job to have his team ready and he, clearly, is not doing that job. I won't sit here and say who the Indians should have on the bench next year when the season opens, but I do not believe it should be Wedge.

I do not want August to hit for yet another season and wonder what might have been had the Indians played like this in April and May. I want to see a packed Progressive Field when the Tribe plays well late. Not a spattering of a crowd simply there to work on a tan.

In Cleveland, we are tired of what might've been. It's time to get rid of Wedge and prepare for what could be.