Olympic Highlights!

I’ve been consuming the olympics on an almost nightly basis for the past two weeks.  It’s been way exciting, and I’ve really enjoyed getting into the Olympic spirit and all that.  Here are some highlights for me….

1) The Obvious…OK, Michael Phelps is totally awesome.  There’s no two ways around it.  He is on the very short list of possible “greatest olympians of all time”.

2) Informative pieces by Mary Carillo.  OK, I like these because every time she comes on the TV, me and my friends immediately start doing our Will Ferrell-Janet Reno impressions.  Her voice is so manly, that it puts my own to shame.  And seriously, I didn’t know all that stuff about panda bears and Chinese calligraphy.

3) The Redeem Team – USA Basketball is looking great and our defense is looking fantastic.  I’ve watched the China game and part of the Spain game.  I’m going to tape the gold medal game tonight, because it comes on at 2:30am.  The only thing that sucks is that all the games are at like 8am in the morning.  Seriously, I know these games are in China and all, but that is stupid.  They should rebroadcast or something.

4) I know there’s more sports than swimming, gymnastics, volleyball and diving, but this is all I’ve seen on the primetime broadcasts.  I think thats dumb too, but I know that these are the sports that are happening from 8am-10am over there.  Still, really dumb.  Rebroadcast.

5) The men vs women arguement.  OK, buckle up because I have to go off on this one.

While we were watching Misty May and Kerri Walsh do some awesome things one day, one of my roommates, obviously a little too impressed by their dominance (which I’m completely happy about, don’t get me wrong) attempted to present the idea that he believed that our women’s team could defeat our men’s team in a match.

This could never happen.

I repeat: THIS COULD NEVER HAPPEN.

I politely told him that I thought he was completely crazy for thinking that, and he asked me if it was because they were women, and I told him “ABSOLUTELY”.  They he huffed and said “OK” like, “wow, Jim, you are a chauvinistic/misogynistic jerk for thinking that”.

Here’s my thoughts.  I’m not saying that these women couldn’t beat any men.  They would certainly beat a lot of them.  But what we are talking about are olympic athletes who are at the top of their sport for each of their genders.  In general….

- Men are taller.  Kerri Walsh, the taller USA women’s volleyball player is 6′2″.  Philip Dalhauser, the taller USA men’s volleyball player is 6′9″.

- Men are stronger.

- Men are faster.

Period. End of story.  If these teams played each other 10 times, I predict that the men would beat the women 10x in a row.

I’m not saying these women aren’t good.  They are amazing and I’ve really enjoyed rooting for them.  They have a ton of fire, and that’s one of the things you really notice about these amazing people.  The competitive fire!  The competition gets them going!  They want to win!  They need to win!

So I made my arguments and my roommate still wouldn’t concede.  He was like “I guess we just disagree”.  I don’t think this is a matter of opinion though.  Its a matter of right or wrong.

Baseball Stats – the Save

Here’s a link to Jim Caple’s article on ESPN regarding how overrated the ’save’ statistic is.  I think the most interesting part of the article is the idea that eventually, we may see the best relief pitcher – today’s closer – pitch the 7th/8th innings when the game is actually on the line.  Caple cites a study which shows that in the last 73 seasons, a team will winning the game entering the 9th inning will win the game 95% of the time, regardless of pitching strategy (closer, closer by committee, etc). 

In other words, it doesn’t really make sense to spend tons of money on a closer (unless your closer happens to be a future HOFer like Rivera or Hoffman). 

So thanks, Cincinnati, for  paying a guy >$8 million this year (and $35 mill for the next three), who hasn’t even pitched 50 innings, and who has already 6 blown saves.  There’s nothing like spending 10% of your payroll on one guy who throws 15 pitches every three days.  The team would have been just fine closing with one of their other ten relievers, rather than wayyy overspending on Francisco Cordero. 

Cordero’s stats are remarkably similar to Sherrill’s…yet Sherrill is making $7 million less.   Sherrill’s blown saves are easier to take, given that he’s still young and is making less than $1 million.

Kevin Millar, King of Awesome

Obviously I’m not talking about his stats, though you must admit this has been a good year for Kevin. For those of you who haven’t been following the O’s lately, and who can blame you, there’s been a little bit of drama lately.

Danial Cabrera has been suspended for allegedly throwing at A-Rod intentionally, and Edwar Ramirez of the Yankees has been suspended for retaliating by throwing over Kevin Millar’s head. I don’t really care about any of that. If we had to mention every time Cabrera hit a batter or was ejected we’d need a whole new blog. What is really awesome about this is the quotes from my man Millar about the incident. Here they are:

“One hundred percent,” Millar said when asked if he thought the pitch was intentional. “I was upset they threw him out of the game because he’s really good hitting. He’s a cute little fella, he didn’t throw that hard and he doesn’t have very good stuff. So it’s probably a good idea they threw him out, because it probably would’ve been in Monument Park.”

“There just needs to be a thing about how to throw at a guy, that’s all. Stay in the waist-below, it’s part of baseball. You don’t want to mess with anybody’s career,” Millar said. “He doesn’t throw that hard, so it wouldn’t have hurt, but I wouldn’t have minded facing him.”

“If they can’t throw in,” Millar said, “then throw down, that’s all it is. It’s not a big deal. Ramirez tries his little heart out, but I love facing him. He doesn’t have many out pitches. [He's] fortunate he’s in the big leagues.”

And with that, I say thank you to the King of Awesome, Kevin Millar.

Bye Bye, Junior

I was fortunate to see Junior Griffey play two weeks ago…possibly for the last time?  He approved a trade with the ChiSox today.  This isn’t one of those “never met expecations” or “countdown to the next injury” posts, because those are over-done anyway, but rather, I’m just sad to see him go.  I heard his 600th HR on the radio as it happened, have seen him hit a walkoff double to win a game in extra innings, and saw him make the best defensive play I’ve ever seen in a game vs Detroit (when he was with Seattle, but that’s beside the point).

Farewell, Junior, and may ye get the ring ye seek so heartily.

Team USA Basketball – Likes & Dislikes…

Today I watched Team USA basketball pretty much destroy Team Canada in a warm up game that took place last night out in Las Vegas.  USA put down a Steve Nash-less Canada by a score of 120-65.  I thought I would put together a list of things I like about Team USA, and things I do not like.

Likes.

1) They run like crazy.  They pretty much play a pre-Shaq Phoenix Suns style of offense.  Very up and down and fun to watch.  They take a ton of shots, and so they will likely score a lot.  They have 3 excellent playmakers in Kidd, CP3 (crotch puncher) and Deron Williams, so it should be good.

2) Kobe.  For my money, Kobe is the best player in the world.  He consistently amazes me by the type of shots and plays that he can make.  He is poetry in motion.   Rather than be the scorer we would expect him to be (and that he is on the Lakers), he has chosen to be a defensive stopper, asking to guard the opposing teams’ best perimeter players.

3) The inclusion of role players.  In the 2004 Olympics, where team USA took home a disappointing Bronze medal, the team suffered tremendously for lack of players who could do all the little things (like play defense and hit open jump shots) that often make a team successful.  Enter Tayshaun Prince and Michael Redd.  Tay Tay brought in solely for his defensive prowess, and Redd brought in for his jump shooting (6-8 from 3 point range against Canada with 20 points).

4) Dwayne Wade.  He looked awesome against Canada.  It was a true return to form for Wade, who suffered and played through a pretty lousy shoulder injury last season with the Heat.  There is a reason they call him “the Flash“.  He is so quick, and plays with reckless abandon, and somehow manages to look cool and collected at all times.

5) Our defense.  To call Team USA’s defense “tenacious” would be an under-statement.  They are constantly running and poking at the ball.  They made Team Canada work tremendously hard during every possession.

OK, now Dislikes…

1) Number one has got to be Coach Mike Krzyzewski.  Like most people who attended the University of Maryland (Fear the Turtle), I hate his freaking guts.  I don’t care if he’s a good coach, or if the players are really responding to him.  He is the devil.

2) Lebron James.  O, I hate him too.  He is so cocky and confident, and he seriously thinks he’s the best player on the planet.  You will never be as good as Michael Jordan!  NEVER!!!  Your commercials suck!

3) Lack of front court size.  Even with Dwight Howard on the team, I worry about us down low.  Bosh, Howard and Boozer are our go to guys in the middle and not one of them is over 7 feet.  Howard is the only true center.  I would feel much more comfortable if we had Tyson Chandler instead of Carlos Boozer.  I think we may get abused in the middle.

4) Our Uniforms.  The back of our Unis have some sort of sparkly designy thing going on, and it’s unnecessary and ugly.  Plus, we are rocking the Ohio State-esque small tops with large, baggy shorts/manpris.  I don’t think I like that look.

5) Our egos.  As cool as it is to watch our team completely annihilate the opposing team, do you really need to pound your chest and scream after dunking on guys who are no where near NBA talent?   We should have more class than that.  Also, I think we are more prone to defeat because, in general, I don’t think they think they can be beaten.  They have some players who are capable of making some truly boneheaded plays, and they need to respect these opposing teams, or they will pay for it.

So yeah, overall, its basketball, and its the best team in the world (probably), so I’m into it.  I predict gold.

The Redskins just got a lot better. And dancier.

I’m happy my first Redskins post is something I’m excited about.  The Redskins traded away two draft picks to get the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Jason Taylor.  Since the Skins have shown they dislike draft picks so much, that’s like trading away two peices of melba toast for a Star Crunch at the elementary school lunch table.  And I’d have to say, I’m on board with the Taylor Express.  Here’s a list of things that excite me about Jason Taylor:

• 2006 Defensive Player of the Year (I just said that)
• 6-time Pro Bowler
• 117 sacks, 41 forced fumbles, 7 INT’s
• Is the all-time leader in defensive touchdowns for defensive lineman
• 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year
• When he sacks a QB, he might do this with Fred Smoot as his partner
• He looks like the Silver Surfer

Honestly, who knows how the Redskins are going to do this year?  They have a first time head coach, new coordinators and coaching staff, and a new offensive system.  But the one thing that has stayed relatively the same is the defense.  The D Coordinator, Greg Blache, has at least been coaching with the team for a while and has experience with the players.  The Skins also have Andre Carter on the D Line, who had 10.5 sacks last year should be a great bookend with Taylor.  If the Skins are going to make another run into the playoffs, it’s going to now have to start with the defense.

And while we’re here, I’m taking a peek at the Skins’ schedule and it might be their easiest in the past 10 years.  They play Arizona, St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Cincy, and Detroit.  I mean, both Ohio teams?  How much more of a cake-walk can you get, right Eric?  If we go 3-3 in the NFC East, we’re on our way to at least a 10 win season.  At least. 

That’s exciting!

Heading to the Ballpark Tonight

I’m heading out to the ballpark to see the Reds take on the Mets.  Maybe Frank knows this, but does Mr. Met ever travel with the team?  It would be sweet to see the Reds and Mets mascots duke it out, considering they are both people with a giant baseball for a head. 

Anyway, I was looking for an excuse to post this picture.  The more I think about it, the better it is.

Story of the Year Part II

This is non-sports related, but a fantastic story nonetheless, so I thought I’d share. 

Extreme Makeover/Home Edition just built a house 3 doors down (like the band) from a friend of mine here in Cincy.  Here is the story of the Akers Family, recepients of the new house:

“They had their first child Christian in 1998, and then two years later they had their second child Brooke. When Brooke was only 15 months old, she was diagnosed with Type II Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Ginger and Greg were devastated, but loved their children and knew that their faith in God would help them handle having a child with a life-threatening disease.  In 2004 their third child Faith was born with SMA as well. Once again, Greg and Ginger faced another challenge. As if this wasn’t enough for one family to handle, Christian was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2005.  That’s the same disease that his father had been suffering from since he was diagnosed in 1992.”

So the Akers lived in a Bi-Level house (similar to that on 38th in MD), which you can imagine is probably the worst type of house for two kids with wheelchairs to live in.  The Akers’ new house is much more accessible and should improve the family’s home life dramatically.  The Akers family returns home this morning; Jenna will be at our friends house and hopefully get some pictures when they “move that bus!”

More proof that Cincinnati is a rockin’ awesome place to live…

Story of the Year

Um…did anyone see the Josh Hamilton home run rampage last night?  I did.  I’m trying to think of a word to describe it, but I don’t think that’s possible.  Maybe the closest word to describe it is “impossible.”

Here’s a link to the video compilation of his first round heroism, courtesy of the blog Awful Announcing.

If anyone needs a new favorite player to root for, he’s emphatically made his case.  He’ll also be taking over the ESPN headlines for weeks to come.

Hit Tracker

I came across an interesting website today, Hit Tracker.  Here, home run data are compiled and true home run distances are computed.  I checked out Adam Dunn, who has 26 home runs at the All-Star break.  He plays half of the time at Great American Ballpark, a field known for being a hitter’s ballpark.  Some analysts (no, I don’t have any hard evidence to back it up, but just take my word for it) discount Dunn’s hitting performance, saying that he would have far less home runs if he played in a pitcher’s park.  Checking out this site, though, proves that most of his home runs would be dingers in every ball park. 

Anyway, its a cool site to waste some time on if you’re bored (which you probably are if you are reading this).