Been too busy to post lately, so here are a few riffs about what has been on my mind:
* Something is missing in your sports life when you are reading dispatches from the African Cup of Nations.
* There isn't a chance in hell I can stomach the absurd hype that will soon reach a fever pitch over a NE/NY Super Bowl. I've tuned out. The Patriots run at history holds all the interest for me that Bonds' HR chase did, though in this case I imagine I will tune in for some of the actual game. As for #756, I'm pleased to say I still have no idea what the count was, where the pitch was, what it was or where the ball landed. I've never seen the AB or heard the call and only seen the first part of the swing peripherally because media saturation has made it impossible to avoid. To date, I've always managed to turn away. It's the gay porn of sports to me.
* Non-League Havant & Waterlooville get to make a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool in the FA Cup's 4th Round ties on Saturday and I believe Sky is broadcasting it in the UK, though there is no indication their sister station FSC is picking it up here in the States. C'mon, this is great stuff. A bunch of semi-pro guys up against the Champions League runner up and one of the Premiership Big Four. Sure one of Havant's big scalps to date is Notts County and this match has blood bath written all over it, but it's easily the most compelling match being played on Saturday. Genuine David and Goliath always is and it's being played at a storied venue. It's the guys from Hickory showing up to play at the Butler Fieldhouse. It's why I canceled office hours as a teaching assistant to go to Assembly Hall in Champaign on Friday afternoons to watch Illinois' Class A tourney. There is something magical about watching a bunch of kids from a town of 1,200 (like where I grew up) walk on to the court of a major arena for the first time while someone in the crowd holds up the tried and true sign, WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE TOWN, PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS. Chelsea v. Wigan in another FA Cup tie instead? Blah.
* The Illini basketball team is beyond redemption. Truly embarrassing to watch. No fire in the belly. No leadership. Nothing worth wasting any more time on. It is absolutely gutting to see a team whose veterans cut their Big Ten teeth with the purposeful and focused early Weber teams, just roll over. This quote after the Michigan win says it all:
"Really, the Indiana game gave everyone some motivation and definitely picked the guys up,'' (Brian) Randle said. "Me and Shaun (Pruitt) ... gained a better understanding of what we need to do. We were lacking as leaders and role models in how we played. But that game got us going for tonight.''
Huh?!?! This came from the mouth of a fifth year senior half way through the season. Jesus, I've heard of steep learning curves but this takes the cake. And apparently those leadership skills are highly perishable as they had clearly passed their sell-by date before the Purdue loss on Saturday.
* Things are little better on the Cardinal front. With quotes like this, I think we can safely say La Russa is simply phoning in what little 2008 optimism he can muster:
La Russa: "I think we're going to have a competitive lineup one way or another. You have to pitch to win. And we have a chance to pitch it."
Translation: Wow. In the 2008 race to the bottom of the toilet, bet the Trifecta: Cards to win, Turd to place, TP to show.
* On the plus side, I have to give Mo credit for pulling off the Glaus/Rolen deal. I think it helps the Cards. I still haven't seen the details of the Molina deal yet. That motherfucking Mardi Gras pop-up ad on the P-D website infuriates me so much I just close the window every time I see it so I don't know if I'll ever read about it. I still think we are 200 mediocre starting rotation innings short of playing .500 ball.
* I see that La Russa kicked Adam Kennedy in the balls for being a no-show at the Winter Warm Up. Normally, I couldn't be bothered to give a shit who shows up for these idiotic things but if anyone deserves a kick in the balls it's Kennedy. So, well played Tony.
* That brings me to a couple of new BCTP entries for deciphering mediocre signings speak:
Manager: "He brings a great work ethic to our team."
Translation: Not much talent, but we need something good to say about him.
Manager: "He will be great for our team's chemistry."
Translation: Not much talent, but we need something good to say about him...and we can't say he works hard.
* Something is missing in your sports life when you are reading dispatches from the African Cup of Nations.
* There isn't a chance in hell I can stomach the absurd hype that will soon reach a fever pitch over a NE/NY Super Bowl. I've tuned out. The Patriots run at history holds all the interest for me that Bonds' HR chase did, though in this case I imagine I will tune in for some of the actual game. As for #756, I'm pleased to say I still have no idea what the count was, where the pitch was, what it was or where the ball landed. I've never seen the AB or heard the call and only seen the first part of the swing peripherally because media saturation has made it impossible to avoid. To date, I've always managed to turn away. It's the gay porn of sports to me.
* Non-League Havant & Waterlooville get to make a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool in the FA Cup's 4th Round ties on Saturday and I believe Sky is broadcasting it in the UK, though there is no indication their sister station FSC is picking it up here in the States. C'mon, this is great stuff. A bunch of semi-pro guys up against the Champions League runner up and one of the Premiership Big Four. Sure one of Havant's big scalps to date is Notts County and this match has blood bath written all over it, but it's easily the most compelling match being played on Saturday. Genuine David and Goliath always is and it's being played at a storied venue. It's the guys from Hickory showing up to play at the Butler Fieldhouse. It's why I canceled office hours as a teaching assistant to go to Assembly Hall in Champaign on Friday afternoons to watch Illinois' Class A tourney. There is something magical about watching a bunch of kids from a town of 1,200 (like where I grew up) walk on to the court of a major arena for the first time while someone in the crowd holds up the tried and true sign, WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE TOWN, PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS. Chelsea v. Wigan in another FA Cup tie instead? Blah.
* The Illini basketball team is beyond redemption. Truly embarrassing to watch. No fire in the belly. No leadership. Nothing worth wasting any more time on. It is absolutely gutting to see a team whose veterans cut their Big Ten teeth with the purposeful and focused early Weber teams, just roll over. This quote after the Michigan win says it all:
"Really, the Indiana game gave everyone some motivation and definitely picked the guys up,'' (Brian) Randle said. "Me and Shaun (Pruitt) ... gained a better understanding of what we need to do. We were lacking as leaders and role models in how we played. But that game got us going for tonight.''
Huh?!?! This came from the mouth of a fifth year senior half way through the season. Jesus, I've heard of steep learning curves but this takes the cake. And apparently those leadership skills are highly perishable as they had clearly passed their sell-by date before the Purdue loss on Saturday.
* Things are little better on the Cardinal front. With quotes like this, I think we can safely say La Russa is simply phoning in what little 2008 optimism he can muster:
La Russa: "I think we're going to have a competitive lineup one way or another. You have to pitch to win. And we have a chance to pitch it."
Translation: Wow. In the 2008 race to the bottom of the toilet, bet the Trifecta: Cards to win, Turd to place, TP to show.
* On the plus side, I have to give Mo credit for pulling off the Glaus/Rolen deal. I think it helps the Cards. I still haven't seen the details of the Molina deal yet. That motherfucking Mardi Gras pop-up ad on the P-D website infuriates me so much I just close the window every time I see it so I don't know if I'll ever read about it. I still think we are 200 mediocre starting rotation innings short of playing .500 ball.
* I see that La Russa kicked Adam Kennedy in the balls for being a no-show at the Winter Warm Up. Normally, I couldn't be bothered to give a shit who shows up for these idiotic things but if anyone deserves a kick in the balls it's Kennedy. So, well played Tony.
* That brings me to a couple of new BCTP entries for deciphering mediocre signings speak:
Manager: "He brings a great work ethic to our team."
Translation: Not much talent, but we need something good to say about him.
Manager: "He will be great for our team's chemistry."
Translation: Not much talent, but we need something good to say about him...and we can't say he works hard.
Comments
I've always thought the US Open Cup should be more democratic than it is. It is ironic that the British FA Cup is much more egalitarian than the United States' equivilent, which divides teams into aristocratic (MLS) and pleb (everyone else) divisions.