Friday, January 31, 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2020
The Ethics of Tabloids
We in society make our decisions based on what we know and the information given. When you're in a media whether its TV, radio, newspapers, anything, you have to present it in a manner that is professional. You have to put your thoughts on it based on evidence, information, and what people have said. You'll get positive and negative feedback, and that's what makes tons of stories of subjective, even if the information is true or false. A sense of ethics, morals. Then you have places like TMZ and Inside Edition that make it easy to hate journalism. I said this over a year ago regarding Kareem Hunt's incident. It's no different than ambulance chasers.
The first to report the death of Kobe Bryant was through TMZ. And the backlash they are getting is severe and rightfully so. When you have an LA County sheriff slam them for reporting it first, that's very telling. A petition on Change.org as of the 29th has over 400 thousand signatures for the TMZ show to be cancelled. It brings forth the story that happens every time. Whenever this site is in the news, they are usually in the sight of controversy. And this is something they have been doing since 2005.
A place like TMZ has no morals or values or any kind of professionalism. With the story being told immediately, it brings forth the question of their morals. All they are looking for is views, money, and notoriety. Of course, founder Harvey Levin is saying he was given permission to report the story. I don't buy it. Because if it was within the first hour, someone like Vanessa Bryant or the surviving members of the Altobellis, Mausers, and Chesters, would not have said anything. They would be upset and weeping instead of telling TMZ what happened. If it was a car accident, sure, but without confirmation of the identities of the deceased, it's premature within that first hour to say that Bryant was dead.
While TMZ deserves to be scrutinized, people like Ellen Pompeo make themselves look bad. Despite signing that petition, which I don't think will get it cancelled, she went into a rant that makes you wonder if she was talking about Levin or Harvey Weinstein. It was less a rant on how the site is run and more on women being abused and assaulted. Seems like an excuse to bring up a personal vendetta on guys, which is disturbing. For being a lead in TV for over 15 years, you'd think she'd have better judgement or at least be in the loop of what's happening. It makes for a bad situation. There's more bad stuff to TMZ than abuse and assault and stuff that happens to more than just women. Bad journalistic integrity.
I'll end with this. Sites like TMZ need to be held accountable for their actions when it comes to reporting. And there needs to be hefty fines for when they cross the line. It's sad that things can't be reported in a good manner because of wanting to be the first to cover it. But I hope they get cancelled or shut down one day. The less of these tabloids, the better.
The first to report the death of Kobe Bryant was through TMZ. And the backlash they are getting is severe and rightfully so. When you have an LA County sheriff slam them for reporting it first, that's very telling. A petition on Change.org as of the 29th has over 400 thousand signatures for the TMZ show to be cancelled. It brings forth the story that happens every time. Whenever this site is in the news, they are usually in the sight of controversy. And this is something they have been doing since 2005.
A place like TMZ has no morals or values or any kind of professionalism. With the story being told immediately, it brings forth the question of their morals. All they are looking for is views, money, and notoriety. Of course, founder Harvey Levin is saying he was given permission to report the story. I don't buy it. Because if it was within the first hour, someone like Vanessa Bryant or the surviving members of the Altobellis, Mausers, and Chesters, would not have said anything. They would be upset and weeping instead of telling TMZ what happened. If it was a car accident, sure, but without confirmation of the identities of the deceased, it's premature within that first hour to say that Bryant was dead.
While TMZ deserves to be scrutinized, people like Ellen Pompeo make themselves look bad. Despite signing that petition, which I don't think will get it cancelled, she went into a rant that makes you wonder if she was talking about Levin or Harvey Weinstein. It was less a rant on how the site is run and more on women being abused and assaulted. Seems like an excuse to bring up a personal vendetta on guys, which is disturbing. For being a lead in TV for over 15 years, you'd think she'd have better judgement or at least be in the loop of what's happening. It makes for a bad situation. There's more bad stuff to TMZ than abuse and assault and stuff that happens to more than just women. Bad journalistic integrity.
I'll end with this. Sites like TMZ need to be held accountable for their actions when it comes to reporting. And there needs to be hefty fines for when they cross the line. It's sad that things can't be reported in a good manner because of wanting to be the first to cover it. But I hope they get cancelled or shut down one day. The less of these tabloids, the better.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Acknowledging Bryant's Past; Touchy?
There's a lot of great things to say about the career of Kobe Bryant. But we also have to touch the dark moments of the late NBA legend's past. But there's a time to say this stuff, and I believe we're past the grieving point to where I think it's safe to talk about the rape allegations that occurred in 2003. And unfortunately for Felicia Sonmez, she picked the worst time to bring that up. From reading the stories, the Washington Post reporter tweeted an article about the rape story not too long after his death. I believe it was within hours of what happened.
I said this on Twitter and I'll say the same thing. I have mixed feelings on what Sonmez brought up. I do believe we have to acknowledge that. It is a part of his past. You can't ignore it, regardless of where you stand on whether you think the rape happened or not. But it is the case of too soon. She was suspended, but reinstated. She admitted it was ill timed to bring that up, but held her ground a little bit. I don't think a suspension was worthy. I would have given her a verbal warning about this. She also said about wanting to tell the truth. That's a slippery slope to say because everyone has their own version of the truth. And obviously, it has triggered both sides of whether Bryant committed this crime or not.
There is also from reading comments about saying it because of sexual abuse victims. I think that's the worst thing to discuss because I feel like it would trigger bad memories. And with the high profile stories, it makes it hard to believe what happens to some people. A problem with today's world is stuff like the MeToo movement and any of that garbage. It makes it harder to know the truth and separating fact from fiction and whether or not some of them try to gain 15 minutes of fame through it. I don't think that's what Sonmez was trying to do on purpose, but like I said, too soon. Some other people are under fire for that as well.
It's as I said in the title, touchy. A very touchy subject. Even with where you stand, Bryant was not a perfect player. That's what happens when a brash and very young player joins the league before college guys get drafted in. Not to mention maturity and all that. But I'll end it with this. Sonmez was within her rights to bring it up, but should have waited until right around this time. There is such thing as sensitivity for any kind of incident, but you have to be very careful with how you talk about said incident to a victim or someone that knew a victim. This outrage on both sides is far from over.
I said this on Twitter and I'll say the same thing. I have mixed feelings on what Sonmez brought up. I do believe we have to acknowledge that. It is a part of his past. You can't ignore it, regardless of where you stand on whether you think the rape happened or not. But it is the case of too soon. She was suspended, but reinstated. She admitted it was ill timed to bring that up, but held her ground a little bit. I don't think a suspension was worthy. I would have given her a verbal warning about this. She also said about wanting to tell the truth. That's a slippery slope to say because everyone has their own version of the truth. And obviously, it has triggered both sides of whether Bryant committed this crime or not.
There is also from reading comments about saying it because of sexual abuse victims. I think that's the worst thing to discuss because I feel like it would trigger bad memories. And with the high profile stories, it makes it hard to believe what happens to some people. A problem with today's world is stuff like the MeToo movement and any of that garbage. It makes it harder to know the truth and separating fact from fiction and whether or not some of them try to gain 15 minutes of fame through it. I don't think that's what Sonmez was trying to do on purpose, but like I said, too soon. Some other people are under fire for that as well.
It's as I said in the title, touchy. A very touchy subject. Even with where you stand, Bryant was not a perfect player. That's what happens when a brash and very young player joins the league before college guys get drafted in. Not to mention maturity and all that. But I'll end it with this. Sonmez was within her rights to bring it up, but should have waited until right around this time. There is such thing as sensitivity for any kind of incident, but you have to be very careful with how you talk about said incident to a victim or someone that knew a victim. This outrage on both sides is far from over.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Bad Boys For Life Review
I had some skepticism with Bad Boys for Life. I've liked the first two films and I wasn't sure where this was going to go. A different crew involved in production. But with all that aside, this was a rather good film in its own way. It's not in that Michael Bay style of action, but it knows when to save its best moments.
Life in Miami is still good for the cop duo of Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey. But with Marcus becoming a grandparent, the idea of retirement pops up. In the midst of this comes a Mexican gang lead by a mother and son. Long ago, things got ugly and are exacting revenge on the people that put them away. With operations in Miami, it gets very personal for Marcus and Mike. A new group to help them and figuring out the reason why for revenge, it's a ticking clock to stop the bloodshed.
If there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's the personalities. And kudos for sticking to Martin Lawrence and Will Smith because anyone else leading it would be a box office disaster. Marcus is still one to want to keep things peaceful until the shooting starts. And Mike is still a guns blazing type of cop. There's a good balance also of having humorous moments in it, having drama, and creating action when necessary. Although an expensive budget at 90 million, it's not reliant on explosion after explosion, and that's saved for the second half of the film.
There's more of a focus on story, and some of it does dig into Mike's past. Not many returning characters, but there is the return of Marcus' wife and daughter. Not to mention Captain Howard, who is still stressed as ever for the blunders. The new bad guys lead the story very well. A new division for the Miami Police makes for interesting moments, but are very competent in achieving their goals. Nothing feels over the top. While a popcorn flick at points, it's not fully in your face with it.
Like anything set in Miami, the cinematography is in line with getting the vivid colors, the nightlife. Other than the picture quality, some of it feels like Miami Vice. But it also gets the gritty aspects of it in scenes where the action is about to unfold. Speaking of that, it's intense. Marcus and Mike don't always win their battles. And that makes all the more satisfying when they rise to the occasion. Never a boring moment. Add in a hip hop approach along with a score that has you on your toes, and the movie delivers on what many have been waiting for since 2003.
Bad Boys for Life is one to see in the theater. While it may not teach old dogs new tricks, they can adapt to being different while retaining what made them cool.
Score: 7.5 out of 10.
Life in Miami is still good for the cop duo of Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey. But with Marcus becoming a grandparent, the idea of retirement pops up. In the midst of this comes a Mexican gang lead by a mother and son. Long ago, things got ugly and are exacting revenge on the people that put them away. With operations in Miami, it gets very personal for Marcus and Mike. A new group to help them and figuring out the reason why for revenge, it's a ticking clock to stop the bloodshed.
If there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's the personalities. And kudos for sticking to Martin Lawrence and Will Smith because anyone else leading it would be a box office disaster. Marcus is still one to want to keep things peaceful until the shooting starts. And Mike is still a guns blazing type of cop. There's a good balance also of having humorous moments in it, having drama, and creating action when necessary. Although an expensive budget at 90 million, it's not reliant on explosion after explosion, and that's saved for the second half of the film.
There's more of a focus on story, and some of it does dig into Mike's past. Not many returning characters, but there is the return of Marcus' wife and daughter. Not to mention Captain Howard, who is still stressed as ever for the blunders. The new bad guys lead the story very well. A new division for the Miami Police makes for interesting moments, but are very competent in achieving their goals. Nothing feels over the top. While a popcorn flick at points, it's not fully in your face with it.
Like anything set in Miami, the cinematography is in line with getting the vivid colors, the nightlife. Other than the picture quality, some of it feels like Miami Vice. But it also gets the gritty aspects of it in scenes where the action is about to unfold. Speaking of that, it's intense. Marcus and Mike don't always win their battles. And that makes all the more satisfying when they rise to the occasion. Never a boring moment. Add in a hip hop approach along with a score that has you on your toes, and the movie delivers on what many have been waiting for since 2003.
Bad Boys for Life is one to see in the theater. While it may not teach old dogs new tricks, they can adapt to being different while retaining what made them cool.
Score: 7.5 out of 10.
Monday, January 27, 2020
A Mamba's Legacy (Reaction)
This shit feels surreal. It's going to dominate the headlines this week and maybe next week. But the fact that this happened, the disbelief is through the roof. Like many, the shock is still there for what happened to NBA legend Kobe Bryant. As the story has filtered in, he was on his way via helicopter to a travel basketball game with his teenage daughter Gianna. Something happened and the copter crashed, killing all nine people. Too early to determine until the NTSB investigates and puts out their report whenever that happens. Other casualties are reported to include Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli and his family, which the daughter played for Bryant's team.
Quickly on his career, Bryant was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets. However, the LA Lakers got him via a trade, trading away Vlade Divac. At that point, they were playoff contenders, but a far cry from where they were at the start of the 90s. With young guys and additional talent like Shaquille O'Neal coming from Orlando, the franchise was back, winning three Finals in a row. Even through struggles, Bryant found redemption after rape allegations. With better understanding, he was back in form at the end of the 2000s, winning another two titles before injuries late in his career, which he played his final game in 2016.
Before I say my reaction to what happened, obviously there is the basketball side we have to talk about. For guys like me in their late 20s, early 30s, this was the Michael Jordan of our generation. I'm not the biggest basketball fan and not huge on the Lakers, but you can see why they are coveted and hated. Bryant always had that knack for being in the tightest situations and delivering most of the time. One example is the 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 81 points in the victory. It's hard to turn it into words, but there was a drive to him that made him put everything on the line just for the sake of championships and creating that legacy that inspire youth to be him.
When I heard about it, I was stunned. And at work, word spread. It's hit home to a lot of people throughout the world. You don't need to be a fan of sports to know how devastating this is. When you add in Bryant's daughter to the casualty, that makes it ultra sickening. Come mid April, and it will mark four years since his final game. This is the kind of shit that makes you reevaluate life. Not to mention that at 41 years old, there was more he was prepared to do. I think that's the most saddening thing about it. Someone that young to be killed without reaching his full potential in a post NBA life.
This is a huge blow for the NBA. Tons of current and former people involved the sport expressing condolences. Everybody and their mother being shocked at this tragic event. And the same can be said for the other victims involved with the locals of the towns that knew them. Hopefully, a thorough investigation finds results for the cause of the crash. Not a good way to almost end the month of the new decade
Quickly on his career, Bryant was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets. However, the LA Lakers got him via a trade, trading away Vlade Divac. At that point, they were playoff contenders, but a far cry from where they were at the start of the 90s. With young guys and additional talent like Shaquille O'Neal coming from Orlando, the franchise was back, winning three Finals in a row. Even through struggles, Bryant found redemption after rape allegations. With better understanding, he was back in form at the end of the 2000s, winning another two titles before injuries late in his career, which he played his final game in 2016.
Before I say my reaction to what happened, obviously there is the basketball side we have to talk about. For guys like me in their late 20s, early 30s, this was the Michael Jordan of our generation. I'm not the biggest basketball fan and not huge on the Lakers, but you can see why they are coveted and hated. Bryant always had that knack for being in the tightest situations and delivering most of the time. One example is the 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 81 points in the victory. It's hard to turn it into words, but there was a drive to him that made him put everything on the line just for the sake of championships and creating that legacy that inspire youth to be him.
When I heard about it, I was stunned. And at work, word spread. It's hit home to a lot of people throughout the world. You don't need to be a fan of sports to know how devastating this is. When you add in Bryant's daughter to the casualty, that makes it ultra sickening. Come mid April, and it will mark four years since his final game. This is the kind of shit that makes you reevaluate life. Not to mention that at 41 years old, there was more he was prepared to do. I think that's the most saddening thing about it. Someone that young to be killed without reaching his full potential in a post NBA life.
This is a huge blow for the NBA. Tons of current and former people involved the sport expressing condolences. Everybody and their mother being shocked at this tragic event. And the same can be said for the other victims involved with the locals of the towns that knew them. Hopefully, a thorough investigation finds results for the cause of the crash. Not a good way to almost end the month of the new decade
Friday, January 24, 2020
Thursday, January 23, 2020
MLB Hall of Fame 2020
Three guys. Three different stories. That's your MLB Hall of Fame class for this year.
The obvious one getting in was Derek Jeter. Brought up in 1995, he became the starter the following season because of Tony Fernandez's injuring his elbow. And the rest is history. Five World Series, over 3,000 hits, many clutch hits and many accolades to a storybook career. Caveats include his defense and the whole wins above replacement nonsense. But he led in a good way. He never had any baggage. No bad image considering New York City. What can else can you say. He was meant for Cooperstown. He'll see that at the end of July.
Last year of eligibility and Larry Walker gets his call. A Montreal call up in 1989, he got better every year with them. Did a lot of damage when he went to the Colorado Rockies in 95. Batting titles, an MVP award in 1997. Gold gloves, most of his All-Star appearances. His stats are not the greatest for what he did for 17 years, but the awards and what he was able to accomplish as an outfielder give him the big recognition. And that's why he's the first ever Rockie in the Hall. Maybe Todd Helton is next to join whenever that happens.
Last is Ted Simmons. A 20 year veteran who spent many years in St. Louis and played for two other teams. A catcher most of his career, he may not have many awards, but his stats are not bad for retiring following the 1988 season. Over 2,400 hits, nearly 1,400 RBI's. One of the guy's the Veteran's Committee thought would be a good addition to Cooperstown. Can't comment on much else, but it seems deserving considering the era of baseball he was in.
This year should be interesting. How much of a crowd will show up? I think bigger than 2007 on account of Jeter. But we'll see if his huge fanbase and the support of Walker's fans make it to the Hall in July.
The obvious one getting in was Derek Jeter. Brought up in 1995, he became the starter the following season because of Tony Fernandez's injuring his elbow. And the rest is history. Five World Series, over 3,000 hits, many clutch hits and many accolades to a storybook career. Caveats include his defense and the whole wins above replacement nonsense. But he led in a good way. He never had any baggage. No bad image considering New York City. What can else can you say. He was meant for Cooperstown. He'll see that at the end of July.
Last year of eligibility and Larry Walker gets his call. A Montreal call up in 1989, he got better every year with them. Did a lot of damage when he went to the Colorado Rockies in 95. Batting titles, an MVP award in 1997. Gold gloves, most of his All-Star appearances. His stats are not the greatest for what he did for 17 years, but the awards and what he was able to accomplish as an outfielder give him the big recognition. And that's why he's the first ever Rockie in the Hall. Maybe Todd Helton is next to join whenever that happens.
Last is Ted Simmons. A 20 year veteran who spent many years in St. Louis and played for two other teams. A catcher most of his career, he may not have many awards, but his stats are not bad for retiring following the 1988 season. Over 2,400 hits, nearly 1,400 RBI's. One of the guy's the Veteran's Committee thought would be a good addition to Cooperstown. Can't comment on much else, but it seems deserving considering the era of baseball he was in.
This year should be interesting. How much of a crowd will show up? I think bigger than 2007 on account of Jeter. But we'll see if his huge fanbase and the support of Walker's fans make it to the Hall in July.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
1917 Film Review
It's been in the theater for almost a month, but it's been out nationwide for over a week. I heard a lot of good things about 1917. Add in that you don't see a movie set in this era of war, that's a treat in itself. This is a different kind of a war film and the cinematography is what stands out to help push a unique perspective and flesh a story within a day in film time.
The story is about two British leftenants Scofield and Blake. Orders are given to them by their general to get to another part of the battlefield and into territory. From there, they must send a message to a colonel that they must not advance and attack the Germans, who have planned a fake retreat to attack them. Potentially, 1,600 men could be killed, which includes Blake's younger brother. It's a race to deliver that message before the next day. Journey through no man's land.
It's a very simple concept. That's the best I can say about the film. But like anything involving war, there are plenty of obstacles. You can't talk about this without talking the cinematography. Sam Mendes and Roger Deakins put up a very difficult task to direct parts for the former and the lengthy takes for the latter. There are parts where you can notice the cuts, but the way they transition to those are nice set ups. The idea of it being a race against time, they don't let up on the lengthy shots. It keeps you glued to the screen.
Add in the production design to it and the amount of authenticity to World War I, it goes above and beyond the intentions. That trench style of battle during that era, the explosive traps, the tanks and planes. Just about everything is given a lot of care. You also take the lighting in the cinematography and some of the scenes are suspenseful. Pure suspense on whether the Germans will get these guys. And there is no filler to the story. I don't think the sound is award winning worthy, but still a very strong effort.
Other than one or two scenes, it keeps moving at a decent pace. The acting is solid and doesn't rely on big name actors for the main characters. There's a reason this is being heralded by many. And it's a good tribute to Mendes' grandfather, who legitimately fought in WWI. 1917 is a must see in the theater. The uniqueness and being in a different help and the set up is one of the most interesting films to see this year.
Score: 9 out of 10
Monday, January 20, 2020
NFL Conference Recap
We got the teams. Now for quick thoughts.
Pat Mahomes is lethal and the reason Kansas City won on Sunday. Rallying twice from 10 points down to take over and get the team to the title game for the first time since the 1969 season. A defense that shut down the Tennessee Titans run game. Ryan Tannehill put up decent enough numbers, but not enough. Outside of a run game, the Chiefs look poised to make a big stand with Andy Reid in two weeks.
San Francisco ran and ran. Raheem Mostert was the hero in the 49er win against the Green Bay Packers. Over 200 yards and four scores puts them in as the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Mistakes for the cheese heads and a poor run game stalled the offense in the first half. By the time they got rolling, it was too little, too late. A questionable defense couldn't do anything against Kyle Shanahan's running back tandems and the Niner defense made the plays when they needed to.
The advantage goes to San Francisco right now because of their strengths in every facet. Passing is the weak link due to not needing to use it. But Jimmy Garoppolo will have to throw for at least 170 despite the Chiefs run defense not being too elite and a better secondary. But San Fran's defense has to close the windows on Mahomes' throwing and contain him to where he can't scramble or make those throws to get those first downs. And the run game for the Chiefs has to show up. It can't be there for the second half and that's it. When it comes down to it, it should be a match up that can be very good. At the very least, this should be a more entertaining game on paper compared to last year.
Prediction: San Francisco wins 30 to 21. It will be a tight game at points.
Pat Mahomes is lethal and the reason Kansas City won on Sunday. Rallying twice from 10 points down to take over and get the team to the title game for the first time since the 1969 season. A defense that shut down the Tennessee Titans run game. Ryan Tannehill put up decent enough numbers, but not enough. Outside of a run game, the Chiefs look poised to make a big stand with Andy Reid in two weeks.
San Francisco ran and ran. Raheem Mostert was the hero in the 49er win against the Green Bay Packers. Over 200 yards and four scores puts them in as the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Mistakes for the cheese heads and a poor run game stalled the offense in the first half. By the time they got rolling, it was too little, too late. A questionable defense couldn't do anything against Kyle Shanahan's running back tandems and the Niner defense made the plays when they needed to.
The advantage goes to San Francisco right now because of their strengths in every facet. Passing is the weak link due to not needing to use it. But Jimmy Garoppolo will have to throw for at least 170 despite the Chiefs run defense not being too elite and a better secondary. But San Fran's defense has to close the windows on Mahomes' throwing and contain him to where he can't scramble or make those throws to get those first downs. And the run game for the Chiefs has to show up. It can't be there for the second half and that's it. When it comes down to it, it should be a match up that can be very good. At the very least, this should be a more entertaining game on paper compared to last year.
Prediction: San Francisco wins 30 to 21. It will be a tight game at points.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Under Met Advisement
Saw it coming. The pressure would mount on the New York Mets Amidst the firings for the sign stealing scandal, Carlos Beltran was fired from his managing job before he could even manage a game. I don't think they had a choice. New York is one of the toughest sports cities to impress and the idea of a cheater managing didn't sit well.
Although he was a player during the 2017 season, he was the only player implicated in the MLB reports. How much involvement would be the next logical question, but he would be protected by the players union. I think that's the most frustrating part is that none of the players got punished. But it would be difficult because of Rob Manfred's relations with the players association not being good for one. Two, the amount of involvement varies and other players play for other teams. Three, it wouldn't do any good with the union in the way. One day, players will have to take their lumps and accept their own punishments.
And if I'm the Mets, I would be embarrassed about how stupid their advisor Jessica Mendoza is. I've never liked her on ESPN. She adds no value to a broadcast and hasn't since 2015. I don't know if she's that brain dead, but to go on about Mike Fiers and saying he shouldn't have said anything? She was speaking on behalf of ESPN, but Fiers exposed the Astros cheating to the world. Without it, who knows how much more cheating could have happened.
I see it as a conflict of interest considering the firing of Beltran right around her comments about Fiers. The suggestion on removing Mendoza from Sunday Night Baseball is a thought, but that could be ESPN revitalizing their major sport broadcasts. That's not to say Mendoza is that terrible, but she doesn't belong on an MLB broadcast. Have her do softball games or as some newspapers said, work pre-game and analyze the specifics of players for the match ups for the Sunday night game. But her comments cast a dark shadow over her.
I'm not a Met fan, but even I would be in disgust with this week. Like I said, they didn't have much choice with Beltran and the Mendoza comments are mind numbingly bad. This will go down as THE worst week for MLB as a whole in its 150 years.
Although he was a player during the 2017 season, he was the only player implicated in the MLB reports. How much involvement would be the next logical question, but he would be protected by the players union. I think that's the most frustrating part is that none of the players got punished. But it would be difficult because of Rob Manfred's relations with the players association not being good for one. Two, the amount of involvement varies and other players play for other teams. Three, it wouldn't do any good with the union in the way. One day, players will have to take their lumps and accept their own punishments.
And if I'm the Mets, I would be embarrassed about how stupid their advisor Jessica Mendoza is. I've never liked her on ESPN. She adds no value to a broadcast and hasn't since 2015. I don't know if she's that brain dead, but to go on about Mike Fiers and saying he shouldn't have said anything? She was speaking on behalf of ESPN, but Fiers exposed the Astros cheating to the world. Without it, who knows how much more cheating could have happened.
I see it as a conflict of interest considering the firing of Beltran right around her comments about Fiers. The suggestion on removing Mendoza from Sunday Night Baseball is a thought, but that could be ESPN revitalizing their major sport broadcasts. That's not to say Mendoza is that terrible, but she doesn't belong on an MLB broadcast. Have her do softball games or as some newspapers said, work pre-game and analyze the specifics of players for the match ups for the Sunday night game. But her comments cast a dark shadow over her.
I'm not a Met fan, but even I would be in disgust with this week. Like I said, they didn't have much choice with Beltran and the Mendoza comments are mind numbingly bad. This will go down as THE worst week for MLB as a whole in its 150 years.
Cleaning House of Hinch and Cora
MLB suspended Astro manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow for a year along with a 5 million dollar fine, and the loss of first and second round draft picks for this season and 2021. Not too long after Jim Crane, the owner, fired both of them for their parts in the cheating scandal of the 2017 season.
The suspensions didn't bother me I thought it was fair enough. But I was a little surprised to see them get fired. And then it went to Boston where the front office "fired" Alex Cora on account of that and the 2018 season with him as the Red Sox manager. MLB hasn't punished him, but if it's not a life ban, then it's bound to be a couple years.
Hinch has a lot of regret on not stopping the cheating. But it damages his reputation. He'll be back in a stadium, but it will take time. How long, that depends on how teams feel about bringing him on or if a team is willing to risk having him be a manager. Capable of getting wins. Luhnow is not going to be a GM for anybody on account of denying any involvement. You cheated, man. And I don't think Cora will ever be involved with a baseball team ever again. Two straight years of scandals and it brings his rep to the bottom. There is no way he will ever recover.
Some say the titles should be stripped. There is a thought that the Dodgers should be awarded the World Series trophies.That's not gonna accomplish anything. The damage is done. Rewriting history is not going to magically make Clayton Kershaw or Yu Darvish feel any better. But I would vacate the trophies. Houston and Boston would have to earn their championships without this electronic sign stealing.
This mess is far from over and the varied opinions regarding Mike Fiers telling the world about it is going to be a story for this 2020 season. Oakland vs Houston or Boston is going to be your weekend prime time games if they can squeeze them in that way.
The suspensions didn't bother me I thought it was fair enough. But I was a little surprised to see them get fired. And then it went to Boston where the front office "fired" Alex Cora on account of that and the 2018 season with him as the Red Sox manager. MLB hasn't punished him, but if it's not a life ban, then it's bound to be a couple years.
Hinch has a lot of regret on not stopping the cheating. But it damages his reputation. He'll be back in a stadium, but it will take time. How long, that depends on how teams feel about bringing him on or if a team is willing to risk having him be a manager. Capable of getting wins. Luhnow is not going to be a GM for anybody on account of denying any involvement. You cheated, man. And I don't think Cora will ever be involved with a baseball team ever again. Two straight years of scandals and it brings his rep to the bottom. There is no way he will ever recover.
Some say the titles should be stripped. There is a thought that the Dodgers should be awarded the World Series trophies.That's not gonna accomplish anything. The damage is done. Rewriting history is not going to magically make Clayton Kershaw or Yu Darvish feel any better. But I would vacate the trophies. Houston and Boston would have to earn their championships without this electronic sign stealing.
This mess is far from over and the varied opinions regarding Mike Fiers telling the world about it is going to be a story for this 2020 season. Oakland vs Houston or Boston is going to be your weekend prime time games if they can squeeze them in that way.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Stopping Early in Sport
The idea of retiring early has become a common thought in the last five years. Dominant players in the sport they are in only to announce they are done. With the NFL, Andrew Luck announcing his retirement at the start of the season sent shockwaves and a bit of anger. A guy like Luke Kuechly, it shouldn't be a surprise.
With the surprise retirement, some wonder what he will do next. Is he a Hall of Fame guy? I think he could be. But I'll take a reason why he is hanging up the cleats. His health is a big factor. For the last five years, he has battled concussions. There's a point where how much more he can do himself is going to be a factor to wanting to commit to keep playing the game.
It's not just the physical side that guys like Kuechly have to deal with. The mental side is another one. A guy with multiple concussions is going to have mood swings and find themselves in a different place. Not being as sharp is always a thing, but injuries and longevity, they play a role. You can't blame him for leaving the game early. Fans need to understand that. You can't put a price on life after the game. Kuechly will be remembered as one of the greatest Carolina Panthers to be on that team. Hopefully, whatever profession he goes to, he can succeed and accomplish a lot and make the best of the post-football life.
With the surprise retirement, some wonder what he will do next. Is he a Hall of Fame guy? I think he could be. But I'll take a reason why he is hanging up the cleats. His health is a big factor. For the last five years, he has battled concussions. There's a point where how much more he can do himself is going to be a factor to wanting to commit to keep playing the game.
It's not just the physical side that guys like Kuechly have to deal with. The mental side is another one. A guy with multiple concussions is going to have mood swings and find themselves in a different place. Not being as sharp is always a thing, but injuries and longevity, they play a role. You can't blame him for leaving the game early. Fans need to understand that. You can't put a price on life after the game. Kuechly will be remembered as one of the greatest Carolina Panthers to be on that team. Hopefully, whatever profession he goes to, he can succeed and accomplish a lot and make the best of the post-football life.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Uncut Gems Review
These little movies do garner a bit of attention. Surely, the idea of Adam Sandler being in a serious film. The plot of Uncut Gems looks interesting. I was expecting something different in terms of the character. I'm not truly disappointed, but this is an actually decent film.
Sandler is Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner in New York City. He gets his hands on a rock that came all the way from Ethiopia that has all these gems that are worth potentially millions. One of the driven stories involves Kevin Garnett, who plays himself and wanting it for good luck. This is set in the spring of 2012, so right around the NBA Playoffs. In exchange, the rock for the Celtics championship ring. Things go off the rail for Howard as he owes money to mobsters and is so fixated on gambling, debauchery and other stuff that it affects a lot of his personal life.
Regarding the story, it's not anything completely original, but the characters create the necessary drama to keep the plot moving. Sandler makes Howard insecure, bumbling, frustrated. Tons of personality emotions that parlay into trying to make the most money out of that rock he gets. And no matter how much satisfaction he gets out of certain situations, he has the moments where it goes down the drain within a millisecond.
The cinematography has some great lighting and gets the grittiness of New York City along with some of the nightlife. There's a couple shots of the universe that are zoomed in at first ultra close on a object and goes into the realm of the galaxy. I don't know how to critique the music. There's a sense of retro and modern mixed, but I would argue it works to its advantage rather than being a hindrance.
The supporting cast is solid. I would have two concerns. It is a little over two hours, so bear that in mind. Second, I'm not sure how people will view the ending of it. I was a little surprised, but looking now, I could see it happening. That's what I would wonder if that would ruin or help a person's viewing of it. Sandler did a good job as Howard. Not his best performance, but it is up there. I would at least try to see this in the theater if it's still playing. Small films like these help keep Hollywood on its feet from the overabundance of comic book movies.
Score: 7 out of 10
Sandler is Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner in New York City. He gets his hands on a rock that came all the way from Ethiopia that has all these gems that are worth potentially millions. One of the driven stories involves Kevin Garnett, who plays himself and wanting it for good luck. This is set in the spring of 2012, so right around the NBA Playoffs. In exchange, the rock for the Celtics championship ring. Things go off the rail for Howard as he owes money to mobsters and is so fixated on gambling, debauchery and other stuff that it affects a lot of his personal life.
Regarding the story, it's not anything completely original, but the characters create the necessary drama to keep the plot moving. Sandler makes Howard insecure, bumbling, frustrated. Tons of personality emotions that parlay into trying to make the most money out of that rock he gets. And no matter how much satisfaction he gets out of certain situations, he has the moments where it goes down the drain within a millisecond.
The cinematography has some great lighting and gets the grittiness of New York City along with some of the nightlife. There's a couple shots of the universe that are zoomed in at first ultra close on a object and goes into the realm of the galaxy. I don't know how to critique the music. There's a sense of retro and modern mixed, but I would argue it works to its advantage rather than being a hindrance.
The supporting cast is solid. I would have two concerns. It is a little over two hours, so bear that in mind. Second, I'm not sure how people will view the ending of it. I was a little surprised, but looking now, I could see it happening. That's what I would wonder if that would ruin or help a person's viewing of it. Sandler did a good job as Howard. Not his best performance, but it is up there. I would at least try to see this in the theater if it's still playing. Small films like these help keep Hollywood on its feet from the overabundance of comic book movies.
Score: 7 out of 10
Monday, January 13, 2020
2020 NFL Divisional Recap
Another series of wheels in motion.
Another round of Derrick Henry and a huge win for the Tennessee Titans. Add 195 rushing yards and a stingy defense to beat the Baltimore Ravens. Every facet coming in at the right time. The Ravens not having a good running attack combined with an unprepared defense. But then you have adversity like the Kansas City Chiefs. Pat Mahomes' arm got them out of a 24 to nothing deficit to win 51 to 31 against the Houston Texans. A tighter second half on defense, better running of the ball. Bill O'Brien may have coached his last game with the Texans.
We have the not surprised results of the NFC. San Francisco played strong defense in their win against the Minnesota Vikings. Tevin Coleman has been valuable in the ground game and Jimmy Garoppolo played decent enough. The Vikes were sloppy running the ball and a couple special teams mistakes doomed them and their usually good defense. Green Bay survives a late attempted comeback against the Seattle Seahawks. Aaron Jones scoring and running keeps them in games. Otherwise, Hollywood Rodgers is not on the level of where he has been in years past and the defense almost choked. That should question how big of a test it will be when they face the 49ers on Sunday.
In three weeks, I believe we will see a San Francisco/Tennessee Super Bowl in Miami. At this point in time, the former's defense can hang with the best. The latter plays it old school on offense. Keys for the other teams: If you're Green Bay, be aware of the run and don't forget about Jones. If you're Kansas City, run the ball to provide enough balance and keep eye on formations when playing defense. Mike Vrabel is laying down the law with the Titans. These Conference Championships should provide good entertainment and tight match ups.
Another round of Derrick Henry and a huge win for the Tennessee Titans. Add 195 rushing yards and a stingy defense to beat the Baltimore Ravens. Every facet coming in at the right time. The Ravens not having a good running attack combined with an unprepared defense. But then you have adversity like the Kansas City Chiefs. Pat Mahomes' arm got them out of a 24 to nothing deficit to win 51 to 31 against the Houston Texans. A tighter second half on defense, better running of the ball. Bill O'Brien may have coached his last game with the Texans.
We have the not surprised results of the NFC. San Francisco played strong defense in their win against the Minnesota Vikings. Tevin Coleman has been valuable in the ground game and Jimmy Garoppolo played decent enough. The Vikes were sloppy running the ball and a couple special teams mistakes doomed them and their usually good defense. Green Bay survives a late attempted comeback against the Seattle Seahawks. Aaron Jones scoring and running keeps them in games. Otherwise, Hollywood Rodgers is not on the level of where he has been in years past and the defense almost choked. That should question how big of a test it will be when they face the 49ers on Sunday.
In three weeks, I believe we will see a San Francisco/Tennessee Super Bowl in Miami. At this point in time, the former's defense can hang with the best. The latter plays it old school on offense. Keys for the other teams: If you're Green Bay, be aware of the run and don't forget about Jones. If you're Kansas City, run the ball to provide enough balance and keep eye on formations when playing defense. Mike Vrabel is laying down the law with the Titans. These Conference Championships should provide good entertainment and tight match ups.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Price of Jeopardy's Fortune
I think we take game show hosts for granted. But they are part of television. You think Jeopardy, you think Alex Trebek. Price is Right, Bob Barker and Drew Carey. Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak and Vanna White. But what about when they're gone. Barker finished in 2007 with Carey replacing him. Assume the other two shows will, too.
I'm amazed that Trebek is still working on Jeopardy. And that comes with pancreatic cancer going to stage 4. Typically, that's the stage you can't recover from. I can't imagine the amount of pain he has to go through. Even if he doesn't take the chemotherapy, that stuff has to be brutal. But he keeps trucking on and the show is doing its greatest ever matches. When that ends, it's going to be a bittersweet one for the show as it may be one of his final big moments, pending how much longer he is still around and how bad the cancer spreads.
I wouldn't argue the same concerns were there for Sajak when he had surgery a while ago. Nothing cancerous, but still. Considering he's in his 70s, that's still no easy task to get rid of whatever was blocking one of his intestines. The wonder of who might replace him, that's not an easy task, either. But, Sajak seems like he would go the route of Barker. Keep going until he feels like he is finished and retire from Wheel of Fortune.
The tough thing with game shows is finding a host to handle the contestants. Show restraint when things go awry. Have the enthusiasm with the showcases and end of show moments. It has to be somewhat stressful, even if it was someone with 20 plus years experience. But these hosts know when the best time to stop. Newer generations will have their version of Sajak, Barker, and Trebek. Nostalgia or no nostalgia, these shows keep coming, but none of them have the impact and longevity of these three.
I'm amazed that Trebek is still working on Jeopardy. And that comes with pancreatic cancer going to stage 4. Typically, that's the stage you can't recover from. I can't imagine the amount of pain he has to go through. Even if he doesn't take the chemotherapy, that stuff has to be brutal. But he keeps trucking on and the show is doing its greatest ever matches. When that ends, it's going to be a bittersweet one for the show as it may be one of his final big moments, pending how much longer he is still around and how bad the cancer spreads.
I wouldn't argue the same concerns were there for Sajak when he had surgery a while ago. Nothing cancerous, but still. Considering he's in his 70s, that's still no easy task to get rid of whatever was blocking one of his intestines. The wonder of who might replace him, that's not an easy task, either. But, Sajak seems like he would go the route of Barker. Keep going until he feels like he is finished and retire from Wheel of Fortune.
The tough thing with game shows is finding a host to handle the contestants. Show restraint when things go awry. Have the enthusiasm with the showcases and end of show moments. It has to be somewhat stressful, even if it was someone with 20 plus years experience. But these hosts know when the best time to stop. Newer generations will have their version of Sajak, Barker, and Trebek. Nostalgia or no nostalgia, these shows keep coming, but none of them have the impact and longevity of these three.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Thursday, January 9, 2020
More Signs of Stealing
From the same guys that brought forth on The Athletic. Same scenario, different team and approach. The 2018 Boston Red Sox did sign stealing via a replay room. Similar to what the Houston Astros did the year prior, they had cameras aimed at a catcher to figure out signs. Their method was different as they got someone to go into a replay room near the dugout. With a runner on second base, they could signal what kind of pitch was coming. I'd guess maybe if they were to steal a base.
This could go either way. Regardless, it is bad because of Alex Cora. He's already in major trouble for the Astros stuff when he was a bench coach. With this, it hurts him even more. And Boston has gotten in trouble. The reason why stricter punishments will happen is because of them and the Yankees towards the end of the 2017 season stealing signs electronically for the former, and improper dugout phone use in the latter. On a technicality, it can be construed as cheating and it kind of is. But how much of it is cheating?
What Houston did is no doubt huge cheating. With Boston, I don't know. But I think this could happen to anybody. Any team could do that to steal signs. Then it becomes a game of cat and mouse in these games until the league intervenes. Add in the fact that the 2018 Red Sox won the World Series, it adds a lot more to the investigation. Wins do make that difference between getting the divisional seed and the wild card one. But I could see Cora getting suspended. Add in the Astros situation and the idea of a lengthy ban could be the reality.
If it's a problem then do what some people are saying. Get rid of the replay rooms and move them somewhere else. Away from every person directly involved with the teams. With punishments a couple weeks away for Houston, I'm not sure a slap in the wrist is something Boston will get. Cora better get used to the idea soon that MLB has his head on a plate. Hope it was worth it because championships don't mean anything when two straight years of scandals tarnish your seasons.
This could go either way. Regardless, it is bad because of Alex Cora. He's already in major trouble for the Astros stuff when he was a bench coach. With this, it hurts him even more. And Boston has gotten in trouble. The reason why stricter punishments will happen is because of them and the Yankees towards the end of the 2017 season stealing signs electronically for the former, and improper dugout phone use in the latter. On a technicality, it can be construed as cheating and it kind of is. But how much of it is cheating?
What Houston did is no doubt huge cheating. With Boston, I don't know. But I think this could happen to anybody. Any team could do that to steal signs. Then it becomes a game of cat and mouse in these games until the league intervenes. Add in the fact that the 2018 Red Sox won the World Series, it adds a lot more to the investigation. Wins do make that difference between getting the divisional seed and the wild card one. But I could see Cora getting suspended. Add in the Astros situation and the idea of a lengthy ban could be the reality.
If it's a problem then do what some people are saying. Get rid of the replay rooms and move them somewhere else. Away from every person directly involved with the teams. With punishments a couple weeks away for Houston, I'm not sure a slap in the wrist is something Boston will get. Cora better get used to the idea soon that MLB has his head on a plate. Hope it was worth it because championships don't mean anything when two straight years of scandals tarnish your seasons.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Geeks and Jocks Episode 25
25 Episodes. Hopefully make another 25.
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-25-2020-Vision-ea1gd9
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-25-2020-Vision-ea1gd9
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Multiple Channels, One Show
If there's one constant now that begin in the last decade, it's knowing how much a network will milk a movie or show. Or in a desperate plea for ratings one show (awards) gets airtime on a company's group of channels.
Does The King of Queens need to be on four channels? It's on TBS, Paramount Network, TV Land, and it's now airing on Lifetime. For a show to qualify for me, local affiliates don't count. Things change every year due to the limited budgets of your affiliate. But with that example, it's definite overkill compared to most other channels. With other shows, it's usually one or two channels.
Turner is doing whatever they think is necessary to get people to recognize Impractical Jokers by putting it on a couple of their channels. Another overkill is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, which is on three different channels. Bob's Burgers and Family Guy are in that same treatment as Law and Order. The Simpsons is starting to get on multiple channels. Long ago, the CSI shows were on two or three channels. The big name crime shows seem to get the multiple channel treatment. Although this is a small sample, it feels more common than you think. Thankfully, there's still shows that are on one channel.
What I predict for cable is that they will keep losing their identities and it will all be the same things you see on every channel. Nothing will stand out and the commercials will get longer to where it's seven or eight minutes because they keep losing viewership. I'm not sure if commercial free channels like Turner Classic will still be a thing. But this trend will accelerate at some point in the decade. I'm not saying now, but in the foreseeable future.
Does The King of Queens need to be on four channels? It's on TBS, Paramount Network, TV Land, and it's now airing on Lifetime. For a show to qualify for me, local affiliates don't count. Things change every year due to the limited budgets of your affiliate. But with that example, it's definite overkill compared to most other channels. With other shows, it's usually one or two channels.
Turner is doing whatever they think is necessary to get people to recognize Impractical Jokers by putting it on a couple of their channels. Another overkill is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, which is on three different channels. Bob's Burgers and Family Guy are in that same treatment as Law and Order. The Simpsons is starting to get on multiple channels. Long ago, the CSI shows were on two or three channels. The big name crime shows seem to get the multiple channel treatment. Although this is a small sample, it feels more common than you think. Thankfully, there's still shows that are on one channel.
What I predict for cable is that they will keep losing their identities and it will all be the same things you see on every channel. Nothing will stand out and the commercials will get longer to where it's seven or eight minutes because they keep losing viewership. I'm not sure if commercial free channels like Turner Classic will still be a thing. But this trend will accelerate at some point in the decade. I'm not saying now, but in the foreseeable future.
Monday, January 6, 2020
NFL Wild Card Recap
A crazy weekend for football.
The Tennessee Titans put up a show and defeated the New England Patriots. Strong running from Derrick Henry kept the Titans in the game and Mike Vrabel's intelligence on having penalties on fourth down in the fourth quarter helped secure a big win against his former team. The future of New England lays in question with coaching opportunities and potential loss of big players. Lack of big plays killed them. Tennessee plays huge underdog against Baltimore.
I call it The Comeback II. Just the opposite. Down 16 to nothing, the Houston Texans rebounded and beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime, 27 years and a day to the day the Bills beat the Oilers in a huge comeback for the ages. Deshaun Watson showed he can hang with the best and the defense had a great second half. Buffalo faltered with the second half. Josh Allen still has work to do and progression will help him and the team make another run next year. Houston gets a chance to eliminate Kansas City, which they did in the regular season.
Another year, another New Orleans heartbreak. Again against Minnesota, the Vikings won in overtime, eliminating the Saints. Kirk Cousins gets the coveted first postseason win, Dalvin Cook puts up good numbers and the defense held their own despite letting them tie it up. Drew Brees can only do so much with a poor running game and the cobbled up secondary was not a match for the Vikes receivers. Minnesota can play upset against San Francisco.
Same score, different week. The Seattle Seahawks beat the Philadelphia Eagles again. Russell Wilson was the main factor for the offense. Half his passing yards went to rookie D.K. Metcalf. And as always, the young defense made the Eagles night horrendous, including a head injury for the often hurt Carson Wentz. Josh McCown did okay. Miles Sanders proves he can be good, but no threats outside of tight ends hurt Philly's chances. The defense not showing up is another issue. No NFC East team was going to win a game, regardless of who they were going to face. Seattle can be the nightmare once again to Green Bay, who they haven't played in the postseason in five years.
The Divisional Round should bring a lot of excitement and dare I say maybe some big upsets. No New England makes it a lot more intriguing.
The Tennessee Titans put up a show and defeated the New England Patriots. Strong running from Derrick Henry kept the Titans in the game and Mike Vrabel's intelligence on having penalties on fourth down in the fourth quarter helped secure a big win against his former team. The future of New England lays in question with coaching opportunities and potential loss of big players. Lack of big plays killed them. Tennessee plays huge underdog against Baltimore.
I call it The Comeback II. Just the opposite. Down 16 to nothing, the Houston Texans rebounded and beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime, 27 years and a day to the day the Bills beat the Oilers in a huge comeback for the ages. Deshaun Watson showed he can hang with the best and the defense had a great second half. Buffalo faltered with the second half. Josh Allen still has work to do and progression will help him and the team make another run next year. Houston gets a chance to eliminate Kansas City, which they did in the regular season.
Another year, another New Orleans heartbreak. Again against Minnesota, the Vikings won in overtime, eliminating the Saints. Kirk Cousins gets the coveted first postseason win, Dalvin Cook puts up good numbers and the defense held their own despite letting them tie it up. Drew Brees can only do so much with a poor running game and the cobbled up secondary was not a match for the Vikes receivers. Minnesota can play upset against San Francisco.
Same score, different week. The Seattle Seahawks beat the Philadelphia Eagles again. Russell Wilson was the main factor for the offense. Half his passing yards went to rookie D.K. Metcalf. And as always, the young defense made the Eagles night horrendous, including a head injury for the often hurt Carson Wentz. Josh McCown did okay. Miles Sanders proves he can be good, but no threats outside of tight ends hurt Philly's chances. The defense not showing up is another issue. No NFC East team was going to win a game, regardless of who they were going to face. Seattle can be the nightmare once again to Green Bay, who they haven't played in the postseason in five years.
The Divisional Round should bring a lot of excitement and dare I say maybe some big upsets. No New England makes it a lot more intriguing.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Imperfect Man, The Perfect Effort
The perfect game is an ultra rare sighting for Major League Baseball. But it is an extremely rare thing when it occurs in a playoff game. With the passing of Don Larsen recently, a lot have talked about his World Series outing in 1956.
When you think of Yankee immortality of the early 20th century, you think Ruth, Gehrig, Dimaggio, and a few others. The 50s was a continuation of how great the 40s were and guys like Mickey Mantle and Larry "Yogi" Berra continued the dominance. The closest I have seen is the second half of the 90s. They took a chance on Larsen in 1955, coming off an abysmal 54 season where he went three and 21. Arguably, his best years were with the Yankees, which he spent five years with in a 15 year career. But it was a stunner he was given a chance to pitch game 5 of the 56 World Series.
Looking at the stats, he only went an inning and two thirds in his other start. Whether he would have been ready to pitch again more than likely was a thought. He did and his recognition is through that perfect game. Two other Yankees have done that well after his, but as regular season games. Say what you will about his career, which is not a good one, but he has place in the Bronx. Nothing can change what he was able to pull off.
Larsen may not have been the go to starter, but at least his place in sports history is something you may never see again.
When you think of Yankee immortality of the early 20th century, you think Ruth, Gehrig, Dimaggio, and a few others. The 50s was a continuation of how great the 40s were and guys like Mickey Mantle and Larry "Yogi" Berra continued the dominance. The closest I have seen is the second half of the 90s. They took a chance on Larsen in 1955, coming off an abysmal 54 season where he went three and 21. Arguably, his best years were with the Yankees, which he spent five years with in a 15 year career. But it was a stunner he was given a chance to pitch game 5 of the 56 World Series.
Looking at the stats, he only went an inning and two thirds in his other start. Whether he would have been ready to pitch again more than likely was a thought. He did and his recognition is through that perfect game. Two other Yankees have done that well after his, but as regular season games. Say what you will about his career, which is not a good one, but he has place in the Bronx. Nothing can change what he was able to pull off.
Larsen may not have been the go to starter, but at least his place in sports history is something you may never see again.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Who Wants to Coach? NFL 2020
Another year, another set of coaches that got let go. Not as big compared to last year, but some names will be propped up.
Carolina and Washington got rid of their guys before the season ended. Ron Rivera had struggled the past two seasons following a turnaround 2017 season. Quarterback issues and a mediocre defense hurt the end of his tenure. And obviously Washington had enough of Jay Gruden. There was always a problem with the team and this year included everything. Since I've been around in 1992, they've been to the playoffs six times. And the GM Bruce Allen was let go too. I don't know if anyone of my generation will see DC win a Lombardi trophy anytime soon.
Not a huge surprise Giant coach Pat Shurmur was fired. Kind of was expecting a return, but even that was a low expectation. Turnovers and defensive issues hurt his two year tenure. Chicago got rid of four coaches while retaining Matt Nagy as the head coach. Make or break for 2020 if they want a return to glory like 2018. Surprised Freddie Kitchens was fired from Cleveland. Eleven coaches since 1999 for the team. Too much constant change. Whoever takes the job should have it somewhat easy, but needs to make them consistent. GM John Dorsey also parted ways so who know what they'll draft.
Jacksonville retained Doug Marrone after stories sounded like he would be fired. Like Nagy, this will be make or break. Playoffs for 2020 or else he's let go. They need a stable quarterback, draft some defensive guys, and get the ground game back to being good. That's what I predict. And Dallas at this moment has not made their decision on Jason Garrett. I think he'll be fired. Why delay the inevitable? As some said, Jerry Jones is putting on a show. Garrett has great talent on the field, but no results. Two playoff wins in his tenure. Until Jones is gone, I don't think we'll see Dallas win another Super Bowl. Nothing is ever good for him.
The most coveted job is going to be in Carolina and New York. I would add Dallas, but it's a risk taking one solely because of how Jones wants to run the team. Same with Cleveland, but too much ineptitude is the reason. Washington is a last ditch effort unless someone thinks they can turn them around for good. See what happens, I guess.
Carolina and Washington got rid of their guys before the season ended. Ron Rivera had struggled the past two seasons following a turnaround 2017 season. Quarterback issues and a mediocre defense hurt the end of his tenure. And obviously Washington had enough of Jay Gruden. There was always a problem with the team and this year included everything. Since I've been around in 1992, they've been to the playoffs six times. And the GM Bruce Allen was let go too. I don't know if anyone of my generation will see DC win a Lombardi trophy anytime soon.
Not a huge surprise Giant coach Pat Shurmur was fired. Kind of was expecting a return, but even that was a low expectation. Turnovers and defensive issues hurt his two year tenure. Chicago got rid of four coaches while retaining Matt Nagy as the head coach. Make or break for 2020 if they want a return to glory like 2018. Surprised Freddie Kitchens was fired from Cleveland. Eleven coaches since 1999 for the team. Too much constant change. Whoever takes the job should have it somewhat easy, but needs to make them consistent. GM John Dorsey also parted ways so who know what they'll draft.
Jacksonville retained Doug Marrone after stories sounded like he would be fired. Like Nagy, this will be make or break. Playoffs for 2020 or else he's let go. They need a stable quarterback, draft some defensive guys, and get the ground game back to being good. That's what I predict. And Dallas at this moment has not made their decision on Jason Garrett. I think he'll be fired. Why delay the inevitable? As some said, Jerry Jones is putting on a show. Garrett has great talent on the field, but no results. Two playoff wins in his tenure. Until Jones is gone, I don't think we'll see Dallas win another Super Bowl. Nothing is ever good for him.
The most coveted job is going to be in Carolina and New York. I would add Dallas, but it's a risk taking one solely because of how Jones wants to run the team. Same with Cleveland, but too much ineptitude is the reason. Washington is a last ditch effort unless someone thinks they can turn them around for good. See what happens, I guess.
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