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Wow What A Hockey Game!

Posted by on 1 March 2010, 9:31 am

Let me start by admitting that I am not a hockey fan.

I have been to three total Rangers games, and two of them left at the end of the second period.

My dad never had hockey on TV, and the only mention of the word was because my Uncle had been the hockey team captain at Syracuse.

Tonight watching my home-team USA lose to Canada, I had many moments where I was inspired and felt connected to the sport.

No one could ask for a greater three+ periods of hockey, the definite highlight of these Olympic Games!

Watching the sudden death OT goal was crushing, and I could not imagine how the players must have felt.

Goalie Ryan Miller skills are bar-none extraordinary. Miller well deserved winning MVP, as the team was there because of his amazing tending of the goal. Miller’s gracious leadership in defeat showed his MVP character to match .

Standing on the ice as the host team’s country cheered was so painful to watch on TV. For a moment silver never felt so blue.

Team USA did not made a city, or a state, but an entire country so prominent in defeat.

To tie a game with less than 30 seconds is a real team of champions, which Team USA will understand once they come home.

To view sportsmanship of a group of authentic gentlemen is rarified air in the sports world.

As the great Muhammed Ali once said,

I never thought about losing, but now that it’s happened, the only thing is to do it right. – Muhammed Ali

Team USA did it right.

The gold would not have gained the sport of hockey as many new fans; because winning the silver metal took such courage and was all heart.

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To Walk In A Mets Fan’s Shoes

Posted by on 27 February 2010, 6:32 pm

Hearing and reading all the baseball predictions, I started to imagine what if I were a Mets fan.

For the fourth straight season, the New York Mets are predicted to be contenders.

Reports of players working extra hard this off-season give false hopes in the eyes of the disgruntled fans. Even Jose Reyes is ready to turn around the team.

Should or could Mets fans trust the team again?

Only with real hesitation and coming to terms with a mindset of hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

It is up to the Mets organization to get back to amazin’ again, and a managerial change is anticipated in my opinion.

My guess or convictions lead me to forecast the fictitious newspaper article below to be the turning point:

‘HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY METS FANS!’

Welcome back, Bobby Valentine! The Mets have officially named Valentine the Manager for the second.

 
Valentine, replaces current manger Jerry Manuel.

Mid-season 2008, Mets GM Omar Minaya‘s most improper firing of Willie Randolph, lead the Mets to select Manuel as his successor. Hence, the group has been nothing but Un-Amazin since.

With the team on the cusp of being in real contention, Minaya cannot afford another failure or he will get the axe next.

Unfortunately, for Manuel getting just swept by the Mariners, and with Reyes appearing frisky again, a change is needed.

Valentine, was in this same place in 1996 and turned around a struggling Mets team; leading them to two consecutive post-season appearances, and a trip to the 2000 World Series.

Valentine only past issue Mets GM Steve Phipps did not see eye to eye at all, which ended in Valentine getting fired. Phipps was Minaya’s mentor, so surely Minaya pushed personal issues aside and proves his priorities are genuine.

When Valentine left the Mets, he had substantial success as a manager in Japan. This is a good fit for both sides.

Manuel is lucky to have been given the opportunity to try again with a healthy Mets team; but he even knew any signs from the past would be a wave goodbye.

Baseball is not a game where you get a lot of chances; it is too unpredictable and the Mets front-office made the right move.

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I’m Going To Mannyland

Posted by on 26 February 2010, 1:43 pm

Manuel Aristides Ramirez Onelcida, also known as ‘Manny’, is a baseball player; who dominates sports headlines as the baggy pants,

English: mannywood banner in downtown LA

Image via Wikipedia

Bob Marley style dreadlocks ex-Red Sox turned LA Dodger outfielder.

As a player, Manny’s stats are staggering, with 500+ home-runs, 21 grand-slams, 9 silver sluggers, 12 time all-star, holds the post-season home run record of 28, has two World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox.

The list goes on about his athletic endeavors, but Manny is also known for just being himself.

‘Mammy being Manny’ is notoriously repeated as the explanation for the well-known antics, of the only MLB player busted for performance-enhancing drugs.

There is no denying that Manny is reckless. He is legendary for his careless statements and prima-dona behavior, but at the same time it is comic relief.

Manny takes bathroom breaks during games and in Fenway Park the Green Monster was also his office as he used his cell phone in between innings.

As a Dodger, Manny got ejected mid-inning of a game. He left the field and the stadium, to go have dinner.

In 2005 and 2008, the Red Sox were invited to the White House by the President to congratulate them on winning the World Series. Manny was a no-show both times.

President Bush even joked around about Manny’s repeated absence and same reason, “I notice Manny Ramirez isn’t here, his Grandmother must have died again”.

To say Manny likes to get his way is an understatement. It’s a consistent theme of being the bad-boy, but Manny’s talent makes him a badass. Continue reading ‘I’m Going To Mannyland’ »

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Damon's Detroit Dreams Come True

Posted by on 24 February 2010, 12:36 am

Johnny Damon is no longer a Yankee, at last Damon accepted a one-year, $8 million dollar contract from the Detroit Tigers.

For Damon dreams came true, as we just learned that Detroit has always been Damon’s first choice. Even after the divorce with Red Sox Nation, the Yankees were his reinforcements after the Tigers.

Sounds about right?

Doubtful, but suppose after playing in the Bronx and not getting asked back on a team that won the World Series. A World Series, that according to Damon the Yankees would not have won without him.

No doubt, Damon had an at bat, followed by a super steal in Philly during Game 4 of the Word Series that kept the game alive but a lot of players came up key to win the game.

Damon is angry, but the brainwashing by Scott Boras is the reason he is no longer in pinstripes.

Johnny Damon is an excellent teammate, and he will hold the lead-off spot for the Tigers perfectly. I wish him all the best, but it was time for a change.

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Even In Sports, It Takes Two To Tango

Posted by on 20 February 2010, 12:25 pm

The last few years, the sports world, has become its own Hollywood.

Apologies for off-the-field behavior are getting more attention than the sports themselves.

From a coach flicking the bird at the Pro-bowl, to the world’s biggest athlete admitting to sex affairs with hookers and prostitutes. These mishaps have been flooding media headlines everywhere.

A single story, breaking numbers for most consistent days on a front cover of the New York Post is now a sports record also.

The greatest press conference to date got televised on more channels than the Presidents State of the Union Address.

This is so telling to a greater extent than PED’s or smoking weed. The priorities of not just the United States, but of the world today is making the sports world a joke.

The pretext of athletes not being celebrities has never been connected, because just as movie stars, you bring pleasure to millions.

For athletes it’s just going to work. The problem is that industry requires individuals to not take advantage of it’s popularity and temptations, but this does not only fall on the athlete’s shoulders.

As fans, cheering at contrivance is our responsibility to assist in victories, but this needs to stay there. It is time to stop pointing the finger at athletes without taking some of the blame.

Fans are no better for taking pictures of an individual with only selfish purposes of making money, or admitting to affairs in order to get an Extra correspondent job.

I am a sports fan and I apologize for my fellow fans behaviors.

To my peers, true sports fans do not get a bye off-the-field because of what we are not, so stop embarrassing the rest of us.

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Can Joe Girardi Repeat In 2010?

Posted by on 19 February 2010, 8:28 am

Last season’s switching of Damon and Jeter in the line-up, gave the Yankees a one-two impact that was hands-down, the best in the league.

Probably, the principal managerial choice of Joe Girardi made to date. It worked instantaneously, and made everyone wonder why Jeter had ever been in the second spot.

Jeter’s consistency of getting on base, shadowed by Damon’s hard switch-hitting bat will be a hard act to beat. Both players benefited, and so did the team.

Could it cost the Yanks a repeat? Can that kind-of chemistry be replaced?

It is going to impossible to do again, so how can Joe tweak the line-up?

Factor in the downgrade at DH, because Johnson is not equal to Matsui.

Johnson high OBP is irrelevant because getting on base requires running and being injury prone that is not his best option. So all the walks he draws will be useless if he gets thrown out constantly.

Granderson, a lefty-hitter is a powerhouse against right-handed pitchers. He has always been weak against lefties, but K. Long is a batting coach god so let’s see what he can do.

Still, who should be Jeter’s punch-buddy?

Let me play Girardi for a moment, and give the first thoughts of possible batting order:

Jeter

Granderson (swap Granderson and Johnson against lefties)

Tex

Arod

Cano

Johnson

Posada

Swisher

Gardner

Granderson has the speed for a perfect two hitter, and if he can lower his number of strikeouts this would be a nice fit. Continue reading ‘Can Joe Girardi Repeat In 2010?’ »

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Baseball’s Always On My Mind

Posted by on 14 February 2010, 3:24 am

Lady Loves Pinstripes will be back to daily blogging on February 19th, as recent elbow surgery has my right arm in a sling until the stitches come out.

Baseball season is about to start and I could not be more thrilled with anticipation of a Yankee replication. Also, looking forward to seeing how are new additions feel to the team, along with are regulars. Hope it will be thrilling, and I am referring to on the field, not actions that cannot change anything but harm the game I love so much.

Baseball is always on my mind, and can’t wait for my second season to begin.

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