Ron Zook to do Scheelhaase Rock?
By Adam Barone
8.24.2011
meAnBoysports.com
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Love this, though I’d say that the Cubs’ territory spreads quite a bit farther west into the “unincorporated territories.”
Is Replay Necessary in Baseball?
By Adam Barone
7.26.2011
Umpire Jerry Meals put himself in a tough spot on Tuesday night, ending the 19 inning game between the Pirates and Braves by making a uniquely controversial call, as seen in the video above.
If you look closely at the replay from the angle of the pitchers’ mound, it appears that Meals was correct, Pirates’ catcher Michael McKenry did miss the tag.
The majority of media outlets seem comfortable overlooking that though.
Close plays like this one have regularly sparked swarms of media-driven cries for instant replay in baseball.
Though I’m not a fan of taking the human element out of the game, it’s completely unfair to expect umpires to see in person what we see on television with replay in high definitition, slow motion and from countless angles.
Adding replay, however, will change the game more than most fans realize.
Many safe-or-out calls, for example, go the way of the defense without arguement from the runner simply because the throw beat him to the base. The fact that he wasn’t tagged in time is overlooked frequently, igniting no controversy at all.
Furthermore, different umpires, though the rule book dictates otherwise, employ different strike zones. The “feeling out” of the strike zone by both the pitcher and batter from night to night is part of what makes baseball fun to watch.
We’re treading on thin ice here, baseball fans. Let’s be mindful of how we manipulate the game that shaped our childhoods.
**FOLLOW**
The spoils, on display in the East Room of the White House.
Attention, Tom Ricketts:
I want one of these.
I want all my fantasy drafts to be karaoke drafts this year!!!
Houshmandzadeeeeeeeehhhhhhhh!!!
Getting pumped? Cooling off? Whale imitation?
Whatever works.
That was my entrance in the old WWF games for Super NES. Copier…
Football!
Finally, we might have football.
I really don’t care about litigation or negotiation or why which guy will now be a free agent.
Get in camp.
Sign some people.
Tackle somebody.
Score me some fantasy points.
Jordan Owns LeBron—Let’s Finally Settle This
By Adam Barone
7.20.2011
Michael Jordan’s greatness towers over that of LeBron James.
James’ athleticism transcends his era, similar to Jordan’s physical dominance when he stormed the association’s upper echelon of stars in 1984.
But Jordan’s competitiveness, killer instinct, and refusal to lose have arguably no legitimate rival. He never lost an NBA Finals, going 6-0 and winning six NBA Finals MVP Awards compared to LeBron’s disappointing 0-2.
Jordan also averaged a full five points more per game in the playoffs than LeBron has, scoring 33.4 per tilt versus James’ 28.0. That includes Jordan topping 60 points once, 50 points eight times and 40 points 38 times in the playoffs. LeBron has nine career 40 point playoff games.
Jordan also has countless game winning and buzzer beating shots to his credit, while James has consistently either deferred to a teammate or come up short in the clutch. Jordan simply refused to lose. The idea that the opposition had gotten a leg up on him only made him angrier and more competitive.
Jordan’s five MVP awards will be nearly impossible for James (2) to reach while playing alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
James’ mere one regular season scoring title is trumped by Jordan’s 10, which includes a dominant 37.1 points per game in his third season. James’ high is 31.4.
Jordan also beats LeBron defensively, recognized as an All-NBA First Team defender nine times compared to James’ two.
The arguement that Jordan played on better teams may have held merit during LeBron’s early years in Cleveland, but not in Miami. Aside from Scottie Pippen, the best players Jordan played with included Dennis Rodman and Horace Grant. Neither had the skill of Bosh (when considering Wade equivelant to Pippen). Despite joining a team that included quality role players like Mike Miller, Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers, LeBron was still unable to prove his greatness in the Finals, falling to the mediocre Mavericks. And if the 2006-07 Cavs were good enough to make the Finals, they were good enough for LeBron to lead them to the title.
Jordan, leading teams filled with role players like Toni Kukoc, Randy Brown, Jud Buechler and Ron Harper, carried his team to victory over teams led by countless superstar players like Magic Johnson and James Worthy, Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter, Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, and John Stockton and Karl Malone—twice!
This comparison is absurd! Anyone who thinks its valid either didn’t get to see Jordan play live or has forgotten his greatness.
About meAnBoysports.com
By Adam Barone
An almost-daily reflection of the Chicago sports scene flavored with the cynicism and impatience it deserves.
An almost-daily reflection of the Chicago sports scene flavored with the cynicism and impatience it deserves.
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