Posts

Showing posts from May, 2006
Cover for Reach Past Your Limits

Get My Motivational E-Book "Reach Past Your Limits"
Click here for information on all of my books.

Phils Bring Wrong Type of Attitude

Blaming the manager for what ails the Phillies is too easy. Charlie Manuel doesn’t “play” well in Philadelphia (no pun intended). His southern draw and expressions make him an easy target for fans who care more about the tough-guy image of Philly fans more than the teams they supposedly root for. But the fact is this team seems to be underachieving, and their bipolar act is getting old. There’s also been too many suggestions that keeping players happy is too high of a priority. Jimmy Rollins was dropped in the lineup for one day. The Phillies’ own broadcast reported that Bobby Abreu had been penciled in to leadoff the day he was suddenly out with back spasms. Just last night Chris Wheeler went on and on about how Manuel wants to keep Rollins happy and “bouncing around the dugout.” This isn’t speculation. This isn’t Howard Eskin grinding an ax against Abreu or Wheeler. These are facts. Why drop a guy in the lineup for one day? If Manuel didn’t back down to his “star” shortstop, he didn’

NBA Conference Finals Picks

After squeaking by the Spurs, it seems obvious the Mavericks will face the Pistons in the NBA Finals. Even though I think the Mavs were handed a couple games in the conference semis, and that the Spurs absolutely choked last night — how the hell do you foul up 3 with under 30 seconds on a LAYUP? — there’s just no way Phoenix can handle them. If Jason Williams was playing better, I’d be tempted to discard the surviving half of my Finals prediction. But I think Detroit will win another grueling series, and send the Heat home.

Improving the NBA Playoffs

The NBA is having one of it’s most exciting playoffs in years, with 3 of 4 conference semifinals reaching game 7. As I hold on for dear life with my series picks, I can’t help but offer a few suggestions to make the playoffs even better next year: · Give Disney (ABC/ESPN) another five years on the contract to fire Bill Walton. He’s an idiot. He overstates everything, is usually wrong, has an obnoxious delivery, comes off as though he’s some guardian of what constitutes greatness despite having had a mediocre NBA career, and his main objective appears to be kissing the ass of players he deems great. Plus, it bears repeating, he’s an idiot. · Shut Mark Cuban up. Yes, he made tons of money elsewhere, and gets to live the dream of owning a team. Fine. He doesn’t need to be shown on camera every five seconds, or asked his opinion on anything. He tries to play the every-day-guy role one minute, and the forward-thinking NBA owner the next. He whined like a little girl when Jason Terry was sus

Random Thoughts

Just some random thoughts on sports in recent days/weeks: Charlie Manuel finally rips into his team and they go on a 12-1 tear. I admit I thought the Mets would cool off the Phils, and that the rain-shortened finale of that series was lucky for them. But after the Phillies swept the Reds, I’m starting to believe again. Upcoming series with Boston and the Yankees should tell fans how excited we should get. If you don’t think the NBA cowers to Mark Cuban, watch a tape of Saturday night’s Spurs-Mavericks game. Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points, all but 6 of which were from the foul line — and he missed three foul shots. The refs handed the one-point win to Dallas. I’m tired of Larry Brown . . . again. Now, he’s reportedly being bought out in New York after one season. It may not even be his fault this time, but enough is enough. Whoever produced O.J. Simpson’s version of Punk’d in which he pretends to sell his infamous Bronco should be slapped. Hard. Stephen A. Smith actually did a good sho

NBA's Second Round Playoff Picks

After going 7-1 in playoff series of the first round of the NBA postseason and hitting my suggested 5-team for fun only parlay, the quarterfinals seem much less secure. I said Detroit would beat San Antonio in the Finals, but the way the Spurs looked against Sacramento has me nervous. Miami didn’t look great against Chicago either. So, can Dallas and/or New Jersey pull their respective upsets? Ultimately, I’ll say no, but might avoid both series beyond simply picking them. Odds will likely make doing anything more than picking Detroit and Phoenix to move on worthless. For the record, I’ll take San Antonio, Phoenix, Detroit, and Miami, to move on but would stay away from anything more than friendly picks. (The Phoenix-L.A. odds aren’t up yet from what I’ve seen.)

Black Eye Awaits Philly

Another black eye is coming for the Philadelphia sports fan. You know it. I know it. The media can’t wait for it. Barry Bonds even knows it. In all likelihood, Barry Bonds is going to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list for Major League Baseball in Philadelphia this weekend. Without a doubt he will lustily be booed because everyone knows he’s a product of steroids . . . allegedly. If it ended there it would be fine. But this is Philly, so, of course, it won’t. Somebody with beer muscles, or just natural stupidity, is going to do something extra dumb. My guess is a 20-something punk from South Philly or Manayunk will want to prove that this is Philly, a blue-collar, hardnosed town, and you can’t pull the wool over our eyes. So, he’ll through something. Or run out on the field. Come Monday morning the media will have another on the list of what’s wrong with Philadelphia fans. Editors at papers throughout the country are no doubt already holding column inches for the story that i