Greensboro, NC – In case you were wondering about the recent trend of sporadic e-mails, I’ve been dedicating my nighttime hours to a candlelight vigil for Paris Hilton. Ok, on to some serious matters. I don’t know the WWE too well, but I’m sure that everyone saw the news on how Chris Benoit went on a murder-suicide rampage this past weekend. Just because Congress doesn’t deem the WWE a “professional sport” means it’s exempted from PED (performance enhancing drugs) testing. While that quack of a commissioner, Bud Selig, believes that he’s finally tightened the belt on steroid testing in baseball, wrestling officials and Congress turn their heads at the likes of Chris Benoit, Hulk Hogan, and “The Rock.” The Benoit murder-suicide may be a result of one of the number of side effects of steroids: “Roid Rage.” What if Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire, or Barry Bonds were in Benoit’s shoes this past weekend? It would be front page news everywhere! Instead, beat writers are infatuated with Jason Giambi “talking” to the officials of the Mitchell Investigation (a panel appointed by Selig to accumulate facts on steroid use in baseball).
--
I’ve advocated for years that fans should not be allowed to vote for players in the All Star games, no matter the sport. “Fans” vote on names, not their 1st half actual statistics. For example, in 2005, Barry Bonds didn’t play in a single game until September of that year. Nevertheless, he was voted the All Star starter for the outfield that year. Same goes for basketball – don’t tell me Allen Iverson was an All Star this year. He sat out several games because he didn’t want to play for Philly. I, myself, like voting. But, it comes down to name over numbers every year. This year’s biggest snub has been Edgar Renteria of the Braves. He’s displayed the best numbers for any NL shortstop and he’s not even in the top 5 of voting. Jose Reyes, the current leader, definitely deserves to be in the game. J.J. Hardy, who had a stellar April and early May, is in second. He’s since fallen to mediocrity. Solution: MLB should stop handing out the ballots in mid-April. Wait until Memorial Day – that supplies the fan enough time to digest two months worth of statistics.
--
This & That:
-- It’s quite possible that the Nationals may tweak their uniforms next year in preparation for the new ballpark.
-- No doubt about it, Jeremy Guthrie, plucked off the waiver scrapheap, should be the lone Orioles’ rep in the All Star game next month.
-- It’ll be interesting to see how many boats will be parked in McCovey Cove for the Homerun Derby in San Francisco. I’m sure we’ll see the “redneck yachtclub” out there: jet ski’s, pontoon boats, yachts, canoes, and kayaks. Nobody will be able to move out there. The only way that one will obtain a homerun ball is if it lands on their boat.
-- If the Braves aren’t 5 games over 0.500 by the break, expect them to be sellers at the trading deadline.-- Kudos to Dmitri Young for actually fulfilling a “second chance.” The football players (Tank Johnson, Pac-Man Jones, et al.) who are on their fourth and fifth chances will always be portrayed as villains (in my book).
2 comments:
I dont think the general public should be allowed to vote for the All-Star game. The MLB Association (or whatever) should choose just as they do when deciding the Cy Young award and whatnot. Obviously most people voting arent paying attention to the stats and I dont think another 2 months of numbers is going to force literacy on any of them. When it comes to things like this, an oligarchy is always best. Bread and circuses for the rest!!
I agree with you in the whole voting thing but someday I will be out there in the McCovie Cove on a kayak dressed either like Ronald McDonald or in a Chicken Suit.
Post a Comment