After Cleveland lost Game one of the Eastern Conference Finals you could feel the Rock-City shockwave from here. If Lebron couldn't get to the finals after getting the best record in the league he's sure to jump ship in the 2010 free agent summer of love, right? The speculation about him going with Jay Z to the Nets or the Dolans with the Knicks was hot and heavy until it looked like Cleveland might win a title. Now, it's open season until he inks a deal in 13 months or so.
We don't talk college baseball much (may be should) but what went down at Reckling Park Saturday was amazing. Two high school teamates going at it on the hill, racking up pitch counts that would make Nolan Ryan proud. Kansas State's A.J. Morris threw 144 pitches and beat Ryan Berry's 125 pitch performance. The two played together in Humble. And Texas beating Boston College in 25 innings was fantastic stuff. The 7th inning stretch "cubed" in the middle of the 21st inning is worth noting in addition to all the other record smashing details.
The VanderKid enjoyed his first Dynamo game on Saturday and now assumes all soccer teams score three goals in a five minute span. The atmosphere at a Dynamo game is fun and lively. There's not a bad seat at Robertson. It's affordable and all the trimmings, if not the game, will hold the kids' attention for a couple of hours. Vanderboy's best friend's mother, Danica Dawn Johnston sang the anthem and Oh Canada. I lobbied with Dynamo brass for her to become the Kate Smith of the team.
I love NFL off season coverage as much as anyone but the big networks have to get a clue and go deeper into their stories. I don't need 20 minutes of footage of Tom Brady throwing a football to no one in particular. And another Brett Favre non story is only slightly more entertaining than a Rachel Ray re-run. How about something on how Jacksonville plans to bounce back? Is San Francisco going to be any good? Does Arizona have any business being mentioned as a contender again? Will New Orleans play defense? I find this info interesting. I like a juicy Tom-Giselle story as much as anyone but don't necessarily need to know what they had for breakfast.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
The perfect cure for the Rocket hangover was the Texans hitting the field at the Methodist Training Center.
Thoughts from Day 1:
All the stars looked fine. I wish Dunta was there but we hope to see him opening day.
Brian Cushing passes the eye test. I walked into the facility and he was three fields away and just looked huge. He looked like a vet in the way that he carried himself. So far so good in the very early going.
James Casey wants to make an instant impression. He laid out for a pass and said Gary Kubiak wasn't happy because he wants his players upright this time of year. Casey will become a fan favorite (if he isn't already).
Antoine Caldwell looks like a third round theft at center. Darnell Jenkins is fighting for a WR spot. He got on the roster as a special teamer when Bolden went down last year and it will be interesting to see if he can stick around.
Dan Orlovsky can play (at least in shorts). You've heard me rave about his potential because he put up pretty good numbers for one of the worst teams in league history. Now watch him flourish in this productive system. He's finally getting good coaching. We all know Schaub needs to stay on the field but Orlovsky looks like a good insurance policy.
Arian Foster is a big back who has an opportunity here after a rocky final year at Tennessee. He needs to prove to the brass that they need not scan the waiver wire for RBs with size. Speaking of...Here's wondering if seeing Chris Brown healthy and strong is just a big tease. If he could stay healthy we are talking about the perfect compliment to Slaton. However, that is a gigantic IF.
Thoughts from Day 1:
All the stars looked fine. I wish Dunta was there but we hope to see him opening day.
Brian Cushing passes the eye test. I walked into the facility and he was three fields away and just looked huge. He looked like a vet in the way that he carried himself. So far so good in the very early going.
James Casey wants to make an instant impression. He laid out for a pass and said Gary Kubiak wasn't happy because he wants his players upright this time of year. Casey will become a fan favorite (if he isn't already).
Antoine Caldwell looks like a third round theft at center. Darnell Jenkins is fighting for a WR spot. He got on the roster as a special teamer when Bolden went down last year and it will be interesting to see if he can stick around.
Dan Orlovsky can play (at least in shorts). You've heard me rave about his potential because he put up pretty good numbers for one of the worst teams in league history. Now watch him flourish in this productive system. He's finally getting good coaching. We all know Schaub needs to stay on the field but Orlovsky looks like a good insurance policy.
Arian Foster is a big back who has an opportunity here after a rocky final year at Tennessee. He needs to prove to the brass that they need not scan the waiver wire for RBs with size. Speaking of...Here's wondering if seeing Chris Brown healthy and strong is just a big tease. If he could stay healthy we are talking about the perfect compliment to Slaton. However, that is a gigantic IF.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The national media is perplexed by the Rockets-Lakers series. Plenty of scribes have questioned everything about the Lakers from their players' resolve to their head coach's health. But few have pointed out how good the Rockets really are. This team is ocean-deep and has developed the type of chemistry people write books and songs about.
What if TMac and Yao were completely healthy? Would this team be charging for a title or would they be absent the type of togetherness they've developed under adversity? We'll know that about the time we know what would have happened if Matt Schaub had stayed healthy all through last Texans season.
I keep thinking how proud Daryl Morey must have been watching the remains of a roster he constructed, coached by a man he hired, take down the Lakers in a big playoff game at home to force game 7.
Who was the MVP of game 6? Scola set the tone with low post offense in the first half that wasn't the more pie-in-the-sky type of early point production we saw in game 4. Landry was fantastic in the 2nd half. But Brooks served notice that he might indeed be a special player. After all, because he's only in his second year we probably haven't seen the whole iceberg.
Yet the Rockets are all about defense first. It's easy to get swept away in scoring but to hold the Lakers to 80 in a big game is almost as tough as getting Jack Nicholson to remove his shades in public.
Game seven puts a ton of pressure on a Laker team that has to get to the finals to consider this an acceptable season. The Rockets are way ahead of that curve. This team has exceeded all relative expectations and continues to play with a passion that could take it one precious step further. Despite getting blown out their last time in L.A. no one should be shocked if they stop and shoot their way into the conference finals.
What if TMac and Yao were completely healthy? Would this team be charging for a title or would they be absent the type of togetherness they've developed under adversity? We'll know that about the time we know what would have happened if Matt Schaub had stayed healthy all through last Texans season.
I keep thinking how proud Daryl Morey must have been watching the remains of a roster he constructed, coached by a man he hired, take down the Lakers in a big playoff game at home to force game 7.
Who was the MVP of game 6? Scola set the tone with low post offense in the first half that wasn't the more pie-in-the-sky type of early point production we saw in game 4. Landry was fantastic in the 2nd half. But Brooks served notice that he might indeed be a special player. After all, because he's only in his second year we probably haven't seen the whole iceberg.
Yet the Rockets are all about defense first. It's easy to get swept away in scoring but to hold the Lakers to 80 in a big game is almost as tough as getting Jack Nicholson to remove his shades in public.
Game seven puts a ton of pressure on a Laker team that has to get to the finals to consider this an acceptable season. The Rockets are way ahead of that curve. This team has exceeded all relative expectations and continues to play with a passion that could take it one precious step further. Despite getting blown out their last time in L.A. no one should be shocked if they stop and shoot their way into the conference finals.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Ron Artest says he's the victim of "profiling" when it comes to officiating and he's right. Friday's late hard foul was in no way a Flagrant 2. But the profiling is exactly why he needed to keep his nose clean in game two and not go after Kobe. That was just tempting fate.
Kobe as (insert whatever description you want here including but not limited to chippy, dirty, edgy) as he is, still backed up Ron after game three saying it was just a hard foul on Gasol or at worst a Flagrant 1. He also said after game 2 that Ron should not have been ejected.
The Rockets offense drove off the road on Friday and the Lakers found their three point stroke making for a one game hole in the series score and the loss of home court advantage. But did anyone seriously think it was going to be easy? The Rockets actually match up very well against L.A. but the Lakers happen to have one of the best two players on the planet.
Kobe seemingly hits any shot even while being defended by elite stoppers like Battier and Artest. Does he practice with a mannequin strapped to his body?
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We gave out our One-Month-into-the-Season Astros awards this week and Wandy won my 'Cy Young' even before he beat the Padres Friday. It was an easy one to hand out. We didn't even hand out an MVP because the team is in a funk and, really, who would you pick?
Michael Bourn has improved in his OBP and average to earn MIP honors. The Rolaids reliever is Latroy Hawkins who has hardly been perfect but remains a great story after getting plucked off the scrap heap last season.
Kobe as (insert whatever description you want here including but not limited to chippy, dirty, edgy) as he is, still backed up Ron after game three saying it was just a hard foul on Gasol or at worst a Flagrant 1. He also said after game 2 that Ron should not have been ejected.
The Rockets offense drove off the road on Friday and the Lakers found their three point stroke making for a one game hole in the series score and the loss of home court advantage. But did anyone seriously think it was going to be easy? The Rockets actually match up very well against L.A. but the Lakers happen to have one of the best two players on the planet.
Kobe seemingly hits any shot even while being defended by elite stoppers like Battier and Artest. Does he practice with a mannequin strapped to his body?
------
We gave out our One-Month-into-the-Season Astros awards this week and Wandy won my 'Cy Young' even before he beat the Padres Friday. It was an easy one to hand out. We didn't even hand out an MVP because the team is in a funk and, really, who would you pick?
Michael Bourn has improved in his OBP and average to earn MIP honors. The Rolaids reliever is Latroy Hawkins who has hardly been perfect but remains a great story after getting plucked off the scrap heap last season.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Houston fans have officially bonded with Yao Ming. If there wasn't before, there's love there now. Before, the feelings were tempered. They ranged anywhere from disappointment to infatuation, from affection to disillusionment. But now sporting love flows.
Sure, we'll still see some games where he fades or moments where his size and lack of speed make him look a tad out of place. But after delivering arguably the biggest Rocket win in 12 years, he has taken our hearts in hand.
Some people keep saying not to get too swept up in the Rockets game one win. Why? What are you waiting for?
This is why we love sports. Our teams navigating through uncharted waters with great treasure waiting to be discovered.
If the Rockets are capable of winning game one, they are capable of winning the series. Why hold your emotions back? Would you rather turn your head and focus on the financial crisis?
Enjoy life! Brooks didn't force his shots and racked up 19 points. Artest has played two really good games in a row. Wafer was a non factor and it didn't matter. Sure there's a long way to go but the Rockets didn't even play that well and still won fairly comfortably.
Yes, L.A. will get better. Gasol was off. Odom was nearly listless. Kobe was almost mortal. Fisher is still looking for Aaron Brooks.
But this Rocket team is turning things up a few notches as they continue to tap their recently found chemistry. Remember, the current version of the Rockets is still in its infancy. Compared to Jordan and Pippen going for number six, Yao and Artest are just getting done with personal introductions.
Bring on game two and throw your heart on the court. If it ends up getting squashed, so be it. Savor the ride. There are Clippers, Knicks and Grizzlies fans (to name a few) who would love to have your basketball problems.
Sure, we'll still see some games where he fades or moments where his size and lack of speed make him look a tad out of place. But after delivering arguably the biggest Rocket win in 12 years, he has taken our hearts in hand.
Some people keep saying not to get too swept up in the Rockets game one win. Why? What are you waiting for?
This is why we love sports. Our teams navigating through uncharted waters with great treasure waiting to be discovered.
If the Rockets are capable of winning game one, they are capable of winning the series. Why hold your emotions back? Would you rather turn your head and focus on the financial crisis?
Enjoy life! Brooks didn't force his shots and racked up 19 points. Artest has played two really good games in a row. Wafer was a non factor and it didn't matter. Sure there's a long way to go but the Rockets didn't even play that well and still won fairly comfortably.
Yes, L.A. will get better. Gasol was off. Odom was nearly listless. Kobe was almost mortal. Fisher is still looking for Aaron Brooks.
But this Rocket team is turning things up a few notches as they continue to tap their recently found chemistry. Remember, the current version of the Rockets is still in its infancy. Compared to Jordan and Pippen going for number six, Yao and Artest are just getting done with personal introductions.
Bring on game two and throw your heart on the court. If it ends up getting squashed, so be it. Savor the ride. There are Clippers, Knicks and Grizzlies fans (to name a few) who would love to have your basketball problems.
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