The Smokin' Sports Gun

A Fresh Look At this Michael Vick Thing

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:06:28 GMT

Now I'm sure all of you were suprised as hell when you either A: got a e-mail saying I posted a new entry or B: for strange reason decided to look on here and just your luck found something new. One thing I would like to say is that I was stuck and upstate New York basically away from all media when this Michael Vick dog fighting allegations came into fruition, so when I got back into the real world it was almost basically old news. But of all countless stuff you probably already read on this I doubt non of them will be like this and I feel I have I bit of a broader veiw because i wasn't here to sucked into the Media hype of it all.

The allegations invovling the Atlanta Falcons star quarterback are obviously serious. The first thing we have to remember is simply that they are allegations. From what I could the absolute media circus surroudning this was out of control. This is was not just sports news this a top story on every general news station, hell it was on Nancy Grace! Which is the first proof that the idea of athlete with the name and the stature of Michael Vick going down to the law in a case this is so mind blowing that people hope it's true just for the gasps and the oohs and aahs of it. This huge athlete in American sports goes to jail for dog fighting, just the sheer backlash and reaction to be a media bombshell which it turned out being should tell you something. All that aside you do have to look at this from the perspective of a human being because this hits a variey of issues that it needs to be hit with America as a whole. The first you have to do to make a judgement, is actually look at the case itself.

You look at the evidence itself and it does not look too good for Mike Vick, but there huge difference between being liable because illegal activity was done on his property and being involved in the actual dog fighting business and cruelty to the dogs. The charges themselve say that Vick was involved with the dog fighting, he attended fights, and he was involved in the cruel, punishing of dogs that weren't able to put out. Now I do not have a degree in crime, or law of anything of the sorts, but I can tell you as most people who can sit back, and ignore that it's big name cantell you, so far the government has more circumstancial evidence than anything connecting him. And in the court of law or in general really circumstancial evidence shouldn't mean a damn thing because it's just that, circumstancial.

Personally, I have to tell you, if it was determined that Mike Vick was responsible for all that he was accused of you, the media or a person in general is going to throw down the guantlet you will, but you cannot let the prospect of such an event lead you to judge, jure, and execute before him anything has happened. The main problem with this is that people in general consciously or in probably more subconciously want the conviction because it would be such a landmark case if he were convicted and because the general idea that their sick of these spoiled athletes and their bullshit, quite simply put.

Just look one of those alledged in the dogfighting case Tony Taylor changed his plea to guilty and signed a statement saying vick supplied almost all of the money for the operation. Though, he was not guaranteed a lighter sentence, I don't see how if from pleading not guilty, to guilty and outing his supposed partner. There was some incentive from some source because first of all Mr. Taylor was facing less than anyone else implicated, and the authorities, and everyone involved pulling to as PETA said "Sack Vick" are more than willing to give up something to Taylor, to take down Vick because what it would mean. And the attitudes like that of PETA is what greatly contributing to the veering off of the Amercan vantage point of this thing.

More than anything else the thing that has turned my stomach other than the damage done to the dogs, was the signs sponsored by PETA reading "NFL SACK VICK". I understand organizations like that work hard countless hours for the cause so it can grow. And for an organization such a PETA this was a golden oppertunity, but if you're fighting for treatment of animals don't comprimise the fair treatment of human beings. Because what they did (PETA) was saw that dogs were disgustingly persecuted and saw big name attached to it, and decided they wanted to take that person down regardless of anything else, but if the effect it would have for animal rights. Sure it would have affect for animal rights but if the big name guy wasn't the one responisble don't decided you want takehim anyway because the great effect it would have on your organization, that's exactly what PETA has selfishly done. That entire organization is out of control right now and went to the point to slander companies such as Nike who Vick has endorsement with just so they would drop his endorsements.

Mike Vick has been a victim of his own celebrity in this. And it's not just oppertunities for animal rights organizations. Put it this way there are many dog fighting moguls much more powerful in this business the Michael Vick ever alledgedly was with Bad Newz Kennels, some of them who have helped with the bring down of Vick to save themselves. That being said, there's no way in hell that if this particular investigation didn't have the name Mike Vick attached to it that it would jump from a Surry County investigation to a Federal Investigation. The name Vick is what make this case so high profile, and that's the only name that's going to matter at the end of this.

And from a fans point of view, I totally understand the attitude of being sick of these acting like the rules don't apply to them (though they really don't to any other kind of celebrity) and it's time they put away. And it's not that Ameirca as a whole is blatantly predjudice, but subconsciously they see Vick as another one these black athletes, not knowing how to act with money. They see him with the conrows and doo-rag and that's America think.

And not to turn this into a race issue, because though race may not be a forefront it defintely plays a bit of a role. Jack McCullum of Sports Illustrated put it best when talking how two white sports fans from Boston no less, came down to support an African-American from the south when the majority of America does not, how it should be a kumbaya moment for America. And that Ameirca should stop and think for a second that if two white Bostonians came all the way to Virginia to support Mike Vick that we should step and look into this before making rushed judgements. With already seen the negative effects of that from the Duke Lacrosse case.

THE NAMES OF THESE DUKE LACROSSE PLAYERS WERE PERMANANTLY MAMED BECAUSE THE PRESS JUMPING THE GUN

And also as sports fans you should remember that this is not TerrellOwens being accused or someone not generally liked by the fans or media, this Michael Vick. Someone liked throughout the league and all of sports but that's easy to forget because put it like this. If it were another well-liked, well-respected quarterback named Peyton Manning whose only significant difference from Vick is background and race being was accused of this, would the reaction be the same and would the media and fans be so quick to condemn him? I don't have answer that question, reading this you know the answer to that question. And that's becuase when you look you see basically the steroe-type of a black athlete that people consciously and subconsciously possess, and predjudices in general almost everyone subcounsciously possesses. Peyton Manning would get the benefit of the doubt and Michael Vick obviously has not.

May I also remind you that it has been less than 40 years since the Civil Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson, giving all equal rights in America. So although that seems like a long time ago it really wasn't and most people with power an assets to have an affect on this wanting Michael Vick convicted including writers, are over the age of 40. Also consider the fact that in Virginia pass the Mason-Dixon line racism is still prevelant especially in older people (like people over 40) so defintely are people who want Vick locked up regardless especially with the history of African-American men on trial in th esouth. And on the heels of incidents with Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson and others, this was an oppertune with fans sick of athletes off-field behaviour for the media and people in powerto give America an unfavorable perspective towards Vick.

Understand, I am in no way saying Vick didn't do what he's accused of because there's obviously a legit chance he did. But before you personally in your mind put Vick in a jumpsuit and haul him off to San Quentin, think about everything involved, and not just be pissed causing a knee jerk reaction. And think about before you make anymore judgements like this, because the more stereo-types are removed, and everyone is given their fair shake, the better off EVERYONE will be.

Just The Beggining

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 05:50:08 GMT

I doubt anyone is going to read this as long as it's been since I've updated but what the hell I have something to talk about and actually have time to talk about it.

All winter when you thought about the New York Mets one image flashed before you eyes: Home plate Umpire Tim Welke ringing up Carlos Beltran on Adam Wainwright’s nasty 0-2 curveball abruptly ending an incredible 2006 campaign. And though it may not have resonated the entire winter I can personally say I felt it when they showed the clips of the two teams introducing us to the 2007 baseball season. No words characterized the previous season for the Mets better than ones John Miller used in the intro “For one team a job almost complete”. 97 wins, tied for best record in baseball, a team that seemed to be on their way, however, a job almost complete. And although we didn’t pick up exactly where we left off the schedule makers knew exactly what we doing because you couldn’t have asked for a better match up for opening night.

Seeing the Cardinals celebrating what won, celebrating what they took from the Mets right in front of their faces was exactly what this team needed to be motivated for the season. So they could see what an inferior team took from them right in front of their faces as reminder that they really need to get it done this season and this postseason. And judging from the response they gave us in their impressing 6-1 victory over the so-called World Champions on Opening Night the message came through loud and clear. Glavine showed that some things do indeed get better with age going 6 innings giving up only one run. And the offense, they did exactly what this team was put together to do putting up 6 runs on Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals’ bullpen.

Someone in the Cardinals PR department must have really known to stretch the celebration as much they could seeing as having to deal with the Mets this year they weren’t going to have much to celebrate afterwards.Because they decided to present the World Series rings on the second day of theseason after putting up the World Series banner on the first. Talk about giving the opponent a real reason to play. Despite only scoring two unearned runs and having the other two driven in by the pitcher the Mets also took care of business in the second game. Again, behind the supposed weakness of the team, the starting pitching of (41?) year old starting pitcher Orlando Hernandez giving up only 1 run in 7 innings. And the Mets had started brand new season 2-0.

Sweeping the defending World Champions, the same team who ended your year last season, to begin this season would be quite a statement. And that just what the Mets intended to do going to the third and final game of the series. And guess who was pitching for the Cards? Making his first career start, former Mets closer, the immortal Braden Looper. As many runs as he gave up in one ninth inning while pitching for the Mets, imagine how many he would give up against this lineup in 5 or 6. Not so fast…through the first 5 innings Looper had the Mets shutout! However Carlos Beltran’s first homerun of the season, a two run shot got the Mets on the board for the first runs of the game. Looper finished with a respectable line but a homerun from Reyes and yet another from Beltran got the bats really going en route to a 10-0 victory which really showed what this lineup can do. The really story however was the masterful performance of John Maine pitching 7 scoreless surrendering only one hit to the Cardinals lineup.

Beltran after his homerun

And there it was! The New York Mets went into St. Louis against the defending champs who eliminated them in playoffs and pulled off the sweep! And not only did they pull the sweep they did in a dominating fashion. Although it was only three games, just a small taste, those three games told you a lot. There were a few very important things to be noted here.

The first is by far the National League’s most potent offense touched up the Cardinalsfor 20 runs in just three games, which for most was to be expected. The second is that we have confirmation that our defense is not going to let us down, but rather it looks like it should be exceptional turning 7 double plays in the first two games and getting a couple web gems from Moises Alou and Jose Valentine in the series. And the third and most important is that pitching, the supposed achilles heel of the New York Mets that the Steve Phillips of the world (and we all know why he’s never going to say anything good about us) used as a reason to say the Mets weren’t going to finish well gave up 2 runs in three games. And particularly the starters showed the Mets have at least a solid first three. And with the other two being young former top prospects with Rick Peterson as the pitching coach I don’t think we really have anything to worry about. So overall I believe we should just sit back, relax, and watch this team play. This three game sweep of the Cards is just a little preview of what’s to come.

The MLB Season that was

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:30:15 GMT

Well, we had one helluva MLB season in 2006, now 162 games are done for all 30 teams. For 22 of those including the no longer defending World Champions Chicago Whitesox it's all done, wait until Spring Training once again. And it only seems like yesterday that it was Spring Training. Another great summer in the books. Now it's time to look back from the stories, to the awards, to the oncoming post-season.

The Tigers surprise everyone. Coming into this season, no one would've been surprised if the Tigers had finished in last. Especially with Jim Leylands comments about not knowing anything about the American League. Looking at the Royals I take that back, second to last, where some people including myself had the them finishing. Jim Leyland got his crew together and had a season no one expected. Though it might be ended very quickly by the Yankees in the first round, great season to everyone in the organization.

The greatest road trip ever. If there were any doubt about the Mets at the beggining of the season this let them know there were for real. Going on a road trip, out west from New York no less, the New York Mets went out west and went 9-1 against the Phillies, Dodgers, and Diamndbacks, two of which are or almost were in the playoffs. And in the one loss they almost came back from a 8-1 deficit against the Dodgers to finish 8-5 after a new pitcher killed the rally.Even after the gmae they didn't miss a beat. At that point when the road trip was over the Mets could've played sub .500 ball for the rest of the season they would have still won 90 games.

The Marlins finish respectably. The Marlins '05 season was left for dead. A payroll of 15 million in which Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran is making more this season alone. They threw a whole bunch of minor leaguers out there and finished 78-84 being in the wildcard race until the final two weeks after being 20 games under .500 in May. ANd had a winning record at a point in mid'late september. Great season there.

Anabel Sanchez throws first no-hitter in 2 1/2 years. Marlins Rookie (wow you haven't said that often this year) Anabel Sanchez threw the Marlins 4th no hitter (and to think the Mets still don't' have one) and the MLB's first no-hitter in 2 and a half years. Ironically against the team that had the last no-hitter. The last out was a heart-stopping web gem by Haney Ramirez in which you hoped the play was made with the runner barely being called out. Now hopefully the Mets get what they are due next season.

The Arrival of Ryan Howard. The Phillies were very high on him when he was brought up in 2005. Based on that I picked him with the last pick in my fantasy draft (lucky me). As you can imagine I won my league. But not only did Howard beat the then MVP front-runner David Wright at the Homerun Derby (as I predicted) he lead the MLB in homeruns (58), RBI's (149), while having a .313 average despite striking out 181 times. He should win MVP.

Those were the top stories of the season besides a very grim(sley) one. Now time for the awards.

AL Manager of the Year: Is there any question? Any doubt? Jim Leyland, period end of story. The Tigers are no where without him.

NL Manager of the Year: Willie Randolph had way to much talent to even be considerd and had the executive of the year Omar Minaya to boot. Joe Girardi had nothing and had a winning record at some point in Septemeber after being 20 games under in May, with a very fragile emotional group with little confidence and will be the first manager to win manager and get fired by his team.

AL Rookie of the Year: When you heard why the Tigers were doing do well this year you heard about the young piching (and Kenny Rogers). And the posterboy for that Young pitching was Justin Verlander. He finished with a 3.63 which did not reflected how dominiating he truly was. There's really no one in the AL that can challenge him either.

NL Rookie of the Year: When you have another rookie finish with 110 RBI's call me. Despite the ridiculous seasons for rookies by Marlins Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla (all-star), Ryan Zimmerman was just to good. .287 110RBI's and a should be Gold Glove should be more than enough for him to take home the prize.

AL Cy Young: Only 7 times in Major League History has one pitcher lead there league in wins, ERA, K's, and innings pitched. This year was one of them. For the third year in a row Johan Santana has kicked ass in the second half and again he'll be rewarded with a Cy Young.

NL Cy Young: Only one pitcher in N.L. finished with an ERA under 3, was the ace for a team in the playoff hunt until yesterday, and still had the neccesary 15 wins. Enough said, Roy Oswalt.

AL MVP: see AL Cy Young. Yes you heard me right . The most valuable player on a team no one expected to win was Santana, and there record when he pitches is ridiculous. Without him the Twins would be no where despite the emergence of Liriano. They went 17-1 in a span of 18 games that brought them back his record in those was 3-0. And for all you Jeter guys it's understandible but look at the lineup around him, no way.

NL MVP: What can you say about the season Ryan Howard has had. The organization quits on the season and one young player says " I don't give a f**K" and keeps them in the wildcad race until the very end. Despite having Chase Utley he carried the team and not only that he was far above rest in numbers. I understand the people who support Pujols because of the load he does for the Cardinals, but Howards is undoubtably the pick.

The post-season is starting , you all now my pick to win it all. I predicted a subway series in the preview and it looks to be on that route.Let's see what happens.

Ping!

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 01:21:34 GMT

Yes I'm back peoplez, and hopefully to stay for a while. I hope I haven't forgotten how to write (as if). We'll anyway the Mets are rolling, we just got a new commissioner of the NFL (which scares me to death) but what I am going to talk about is a universal sports issue, and a universal sports problem is you ask me.

Unless you've be watching ESPN commercials you probably don't know though, if you have an internal clock it figures it's due, the Little League World Series will be starting really soon. And unless you're Kalen Pimentel and getting all of your outs by K's, every at-bat you're pretty much going to here the sound "Ping!" That got me thinking last night, though I've said it was a pointless idea before I really thought about it, deep into it. I would love to talk to the person who invented metal bats. Ask him what his motivation was because the whole idea makes no logical or humane sense.

Let's start by going back to history of baseball, the idea of a game such as baseball originated in Africa with Africans playing a similar game with sticks. You can even go back just 50's years ago when boys in New York City were commonly playing stick ball. And I can guarantee you when Abner Doubleday wrote the the rules for the game of baseball the idea of hitting the ball with anything but lumber was not even an idea it was so far off the radar screen. Baseball is the game where history is more important than any other game, baseball history is most magnified and it makes no historical to use metal bats before anything.

Now lets get to right now, when a kid is playing in little league they're ultimate goal is to be in the MLB. Now yes usually that dream fades when it becomes unrealistic, or if they're not good enough. That doesn't change the fact that most players experience with baseball when they still have those MLB dreams is with metal bats in Little League. Because the fact is in the MLB or any level of professional baseball operated by the MLB there is no metal bats. So with kids wanting to get there why even bother starting them out like that. Because most of those fade, but when you start getting scouted in high school and college it only makes it worse.

When a professional scout is coming to watch a high school player or going to NCAA game the hope is that the players they're scouting might one day be good enough to play and be effective where it counts which is in the MLB. Using metal at those levels only makes it harder for scouts to project the players ahead, and only makes it harder for a player to find himself because they'd be playing an entirely different game in pro baseball. And it also makes it a difficult adjustment in the minors because truth be told most high school players right now have never held a wooden bat. So maybe they never become anything, despite all the talent in the world, because metal is all they know. So many different unnecessary rings get thrown into the whole process because of them.

The best way to describe it is you don't see how far someone throws a tennis ball, to see how much of a gun an outfielder would have playing baseball. And that's what you're essentially doing with scouting players, the only difference is in baseball the only way to win games is to score runs and you do that by hitting, so the single most important thing you do in a baseball game is the one most faultily decided? And unfortunately right now in American Sports the answer is yes.

What makes this problem worse is that this is not one of these problems where one person or even a group of people can make a huge difference. The only rules regarding bats in most high school, college and AAU leagues is what kind of metal bats can be used. And even if they were to decided to allow wooden bats the people who use them wouldn't be able to keep up with the competition despite any talent they may possess. That's the only reason I use metal bats is because I'd fall behind the rest of the competition if I didn't. It's actually detrimental as far as going to the pro level is concerned because I can't use one any further than college, and there's a hard adjustment.

He can't use that kind of stick (notice the term stick = WOOD) any further, what's the point?

All that being said we haven't even gotten to the problem that most people (not including myself) who are against metal bats have with them. Now I don't think we have to get into Newton's 3rd Law of Motion "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction" because we all know if a 80-90mph pitch going to batter it gets hit back to the pitcher even harder when hit right back to him. And the way a ball can bounce off a metal bat especially wth human force exerted on it becomes very dangerous. The velocity by which a metal bat can hit a ball back to a pitcher compared to wooden bat is incomparable, no comparison.

Many promising pitchers careers have been ended extremely early do to the these shiny devils, even infielders. No lie, I've even seen a ball hit so hard of a metal bat that's it's gone THREW A LEATHER GLOVE into a fielders face and he had to go to the emergency room. It's obviously to much for person to play a game with and if they're going to try to solve it by taking away the force a ball can come off them, you might as well get rid of them all together because again, there's no point.

Now, the NCAA, whatever the National high school sports authority is, AAU, Little League, and anyone else running baseball should have rules against them and then people will just stop buying them. If not we can take it to congress and get them outlawed, which I think should happen anyway. And I don't want to here they have more important things to do. Because if they can take the time in the midst of the war in Iraq along with the other international chaos to stick their noses where they don't belong in the MLB they can surely do something that physically affects a much larger group of people in our country.

Gone

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 06:18:29 GMT

Not that I have been writing anything for the last month anyway, but for the next two weeks I'm gonna be gone without access to a computer. When I come back I'll start writing again, the Mets are gonna be hot, they'll be alot to talk, this sites gonna be something again.

Good Luck Mets!

Keep the Mets spirit alive because I will be back!

All-Star Game = No World Series Effect

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:29:13 GMT

There's a lot of topics and controversy going along with the All-Star game right now so I'm just going to tell you how it should be.

First of all the game shouldn't have [ish] to do with the World Series. Besides the fact the the managers don't really do whatever they can to win the game, even if they did lets talk the concept of doing that anyway. Though the All-Star is the best of each league it doesn't not mean that league is better and should get home-field advantage. In one league all the races could be close because they have overall better players while in another league it could not even be close but because the ones who made it for that one are better than the ones who made it in the league with close races they may win while they don't have better players. And that's assuming better players mean better league...which is not true. And that's assuming you play to win the game...which you don't.

Secondly, still assuming you play to win the game (which you don't) just because you have better players does not mean you have a better league. You can have better players in general in one league but the other league could have better teams. And in the end you don't bring the team leading the divisions to play each other for home-field advantage and see which league won the series (though that's an idea). And that's still assuming you play to win the game...which you don't.

Now lets get to the fact that even all the other stuff I mentioned were fair (which is impossible) the managers don't play to win the game. They try to get everyone in, and evidence of that was the all-star game tie in 2002 after 12 innings which they overtaxed closers to get that far. The game is supposed the very best players playing to have fun that's why everyone watches, the fact that it decides the World Series doesn't't really draw anymore interest. So on top of everything else it was a bad business ploy.

All and all this was a horrible idea on so many levels, you can only use only one thing I mentioned just to throw the idea away. As just proven this was a bad idea on literally so many levels.

But then again that's Bud Selig for you.

U.S. World Cup Situation

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 04:28:38 GMT

Now before all you see this is soccer, and forget it like I might have a few weeks ago, just take on second and listen. Last week I got a real appreciation for what the World Cup and soccer really was. I saw people who weren't American-born but a appreciating it, because it only come around every 4 years. Now I know where may be country-prided out with the Olympics and the WBC already this year, but in reality despite how it's looked at in American, soccer is the sports of the world. And you know what else, believe it or not soccer is very entertaining. And a lot of goals is really a bad game, the best game I've seen was Germany 1-0 win over Poland. Try to watch it, but if not anything else at least support your country playing the sport of the world.

Now as many of you probably already know the U.S. lost it's World Cup opener to the Czech Republic, and today in a must-not lose game tied with Italy to stay alive in this World Cup. However the U.S. would've and should have won it's match against Italy had it not been for the referee.

Now the referee officiating this game had a history before the game, so you were already coming in, with someone who really had no business officiating a game with such magnitude. In 2002 he has been convicted of intentionally corrupt officiating which is why he didn't get to officiat the World Cup in '02. So in a bright move by FIFA they bring in a this same referee, to officiate in '06. And to top that off this guy is Italian and they have a corrupt Italian referee officiate a game which Italy is involved, just genius. And what could have gone wrong did go wrong. The U.S. would have won 2-1 but after a U.S. kick into the net, the ref decided he himself was in the way so what was a goal was ruled a no kick by the soul official.

...Even more important is the fact that Ghana just stunned the Czech Republic beating the team that was one of few many thought would win, 2-0 in their first World Cup...

...that changes everything...

So now here are the scenarios:

Had Ghana Lost:

U.S. (0-1-1) plays Ghana (0-2-0) AND Italy (1-0-1) plays Czech Republic (2-0-0)

If Italy wins > U.S. is gone

If Czech Republic wins and U.S. wins > Comes down to goal differential of U.S. And Czech Republic for second spot

U.S. Loses > U.S. is gone

Had Ghana lost + U.S. not gotten screwed:

U.S. (1-1-0) plays Ghana (0-2-0) AND Italy (1-1-0) plays Czech Republic (2-0-0)

In my opinion Italy would win wanting the bracket and too good to be out and If U.S. wins > It would come down to goal differential between U.S., Czech Republic, and Italy

Czech Republic beats Italy + U.S. wins > U.S. is in

Czech Republic beats Italy + U.S. loses > Comes down to goal differential between U.S. and Italy

Italy wins + U.S. loses > U.S. is gone

Had U.S. Not Been Screwed Period (the way it should be):

U.S. (1-1-0) plays Ghana (1-1-0) AND Italy (1-1-0) plays Czech Republic (1-1-0)

For every team "you win, you're in" the way it should be decided and should've played out

How It (unfortunately) Is:

U.S. (0-1-1) plays Ghana (1-1-0) AND Italy (1-0-1) plays Czech Republic (1-1-0)

If U.S. wins + Italy wins > U.S. is in

If U.S. wins + Czech Republic wins > Comes down to goal differential between U.S. and Italy

If U.S. wins + Czech Republic and Italy tie > Comes down to goal diffrential with U.S. and Czeck Republic

If U.S. loses > U.S. is out

...a clue to all: unless we beat Ghana by 4 goals Thursday out goal differential to anyone is not going to be good...unless we light Ghana up...don't count on it happening...

...by the way if Ghana beats us their in...

Thursday is going to be a crazy day, and whoever ends up second (if weren't screwed we could have been first) will have to play Ronaldhino and Brazil in the next round, not good. If the U.S. and Ghana get through I'll be cheering for whoever does, but I'm hoping it's the U.S.

Hopefully our flag will still be there Friday

You ain't got nothing on Barry Bonds

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 01:50:31 GMT

Barry Bonds has never failed a drug test. Despite all the rumors, suspicions, and what has become common knowledge to baseball fans that he was on steroids, the fact still remains Barry Bonds has never failed a drug test. When Barry Bonds was on the verge of breaking Mark McGwire single-season homerun record, which he did end up breaking everyone who wasn't a hater was excited. Then why now has most everyone become a Barry Bonds hater? The answer is there weren't too many people who weren't Barry Bonds haters to begin with.

Barry Bonds is the most feared player in the history of baseball. And for a while that was respected by writers, 7 MVP's tell you that. The reason they gave him the MVP's is because what he was doing was too great, it had never been seen in the history of baseball and like him or not, not respecting what he did would be disrespecting baseball. Barry Bonds should be the cover baseball even right now, he's still packs more fans than anyone else and he still makes the MLB more money than anyone yet the same people who he's making the money for continue to spit in his face. No matter what you say, do, or accuse him of, it won't change the fact the Barry Bonds is the greatest player in the history of baseball.

That being said, the better question is what has he done to change most people's minds? Has he publicly admitted to taking steroids? No. Has he done anything out of the ordinary to say he doesn't care? No. Has his personality and attitude towards the media changes at all since he's gotten to the major leagues? No. All that's happened is that it's come out that many ball players were taking steroids and he's been suspected. And now a popular knock on him is that he's an asshole, but they weren't saying that before, the press is looking for an excuse to put the name of Barry Bonds in vain any way they can.

And now let's get to the point that there is absolutely no proof whatsoever. What happened to our constitution us Americans boast about that makes us the greatest place in the World? It says pretty clearly there innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. So as far as the constitution goes he's innocent. As far as fair human reasoning based on it he's innocent. As far as the very values we base our everyday lives on Barry Bonds is an innocent man! Anyone can make a report saying he said he unknowingly used steroids to a grand jury, but there's no proof. Anyone can put anything in the paper to build any kind of case against him because there's no proof what they're saying is wrong. And just because there's been a media explosion ganging up on Barry Bonds fans have given into it, or used it as an excuse to anyway.

The media has found an opportunity to absolutely destroy Bonds just because of a suspicion, and they've taken it and taken advantage of it to convince the public. Why such hatred to a man that was once being praised. First off, Barry Bonds does not like the media and has not interacted well with the media throughout his entire career. So they're trying to back at him by making all the fans that once liked him to not like him anymore either.

Another reason, whether you'd like to admit it or not is racism. When you think about it only 40 years ago there were laws that showed blatant and utter racism against blacks and most people were just fine with it. And since the laws weren't put an end to until 1970, right now in America as it stands people 45 and older learned racism as a way of life. And at the point where you're almost 10 years and all you've known is racism you're entire life a couple of laws aren't going to change that. Most members of the press are over 45 years old so racism towards anyone shouldn't be a surprise. And the only reason they weren't challenging Bonds before like they are now is because it was impossible to challenge what he was doing and the chance really wasn't presented. So you can't tell me that racism is not a reason the media has been hating on Bonds and you can't tell you tell that those same people in the media don't influence the everyday fan's opinion on sports.

So now why don't you like me?

Answer him. After taking into consideration everything I said find one reason not to like Barry Bonds. It's not his attitude, it wasn't that before, there's no reason for it to be that now. Why? There's no proff he is or ever was on steroids, and if you follow the constitution by which you live by you can't hold paper thin accusations against him either. Being fair there's only two things you can think of with Barry Bonds. One, he's the most feared player to ever play the game, and two, he's never failed a drug test.

What New York Baseball Is

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 03:06:18 GMT

As I'm sure all of you know the Mets are playing the Dodgers tonight and had just played the other former New York National League baseball team in the Giants.

Most of you, well really all of you don't know that Dodgers are my second favorite baseball team, and had they stayed in Brooklyn even with the creation of the Mets, I'd still be a Brooklyn Dodger fan right now. And the Dodgers were actually my favorite when I was little, I'm a 100% Mets fan, but he Mets symbolize more than just another baseball franchise.

The Mets are the symbol of what New York baseball used to be, why New York is the baseball capital of he world, and why the hall of fame is in New York state. Before the late 70's when the Yankees got Reggie Jackson and they became New York's team (until 1985-1988) National League baseball was New York baseball. The Mets blue and orange is for Dodger Blue and Giants orange. The Mets really have the honor and the burden of representing the times where there were 8 straight subway series World Series. When a New York team was in the World Series 14 out of 16 times between 1947-1963 when the National League was beast. Baseball's Golden Age.

The Mets carry a Burden of a time when New York was baseball, and National League baseball was New York Baseball. And the question you might ask is what does that have to do with now? Well not for nothing but all baseball is a history, breaking a record, winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years, the changing and making of history is the reason true baseball fans watch the game. That's what baseball is!

And though we are the team, for the time, right here, right now. This team right here, right now, when the Yankees are down and falling we're just getting better needs to take back New York. And needs New York baseball not be frowned upon by the rest of the nation because of the spending the Yankees to win, but looked up upon because the Mets are the team and New York once again becomes the place. That's what the Mets need to do right here, right now, we even have the media on our side now. So we are the team for the time. That's what we need to do.

We did our part so far we beat the Yankees, and if you ask me we're going to have to beat them again in the World Series. But all that that I stated is all the more reason we need to beat the Dodger and the Giants, and remind them what they left back here in New York. A represent New York York National League baseball that left for the money.

That's why I love Mets because they're the replacement of NY National League Baseball. I'm sure a lot of you think I'm getting into to much but whatever.

So that the real reason, whether they just made it to be a corny phrase or not:

We are the team.
This is the time.
We are the Mets.

Happy Birthday!

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 04:45:55 GMT

Happy Birthday! Today this blog is officially one year old! Though one year ago when it got started it was Sports Flames (which really was an unheard of name that could have stuck) this site has gone through many transformations, from the name, to the design, to the style of writing. It's really hard to believe I've kept this thing for one year. It's been crazy here are some stats about this site in it's first year:

-it has accumulated over 7100 hits

-has had three different names: Sports Flames, Nearing Draft Age (very briefly), and of course right now The Smoking Sports Gun

-has had exactly 90 different entries written it

-and undeniable amount of people that have looked at something a little different after reading it here

Humble Beginnings: My June '05 Entries (favorites-must read)

Overall, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to come to this site, and hopefully we have another successful year. :-)