The poker craze hit a few years ago (I would say it's been within the last five years) and since then poker is on TV constantly. There was a point where it was on multiple times per day.
I got into the poker craze in about 2001, after the first time I saw Rounders. I started watching the World Series of Poker around then and have watched at least some of it every year since then. I didn't watch much of the other poker shows except when there wasn't anything else to watch.
It seems like this has tailed off a bit, since poker isn't on nearly as much as it has been (or at least I don't notice as much). But recently I have noticed Mixed Martial Arts is showing up more and more. I live in Chicago, and just peeked over the next few days on cable and there is MMA on four channels over the next few days, some of those (Vs. and Spike) multiple times. Some of this is like reality/documentary-type shows, not just fights. I estimate over the next 3 days I could conceivable record 10 hours or so of MMA-related television. That's pretty impressive.
I feelings are still mixed (some pun intended) on MMA, because it seems like the action ends too fast. The last couple of fights I saw didn't make it out of the first round and they spent most of the time on top of each other on the ground. It is cool to just watch two guys all out try to hurt someone but I am not sold on my long term interest yet.
Regardless of my personal feelings, the sport is taking off like crazy. That is evident by the number of hours that is broadcast weekly. I think poker has lost some of it's mainstream pizazz (although I know it's still popular to many to play) but Mixed Martial Arts is only to get more popular.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Billy Donovan pulls a "Reverse Saban"
Billy Donovan made a shrewd move on Sunday night, pulling a "Reverse Saban." It sounds like some sort of X-Games move. Donovan who, after a week of deliberating, accepted an NBA job and then like two days after the announcement and contract signing, changed his mind and decided to go back to Florida.
I was stunned on Friday when I heard the news. I really didn't think he would take an NBA job this year. I thought he would go back to Florida and if he struggled, take a look in a couple of years. I was even more stunned that he would pull a move like this. He's such a likable guy. Like Coach K (easy Duke haters) I find them very easy to root for. But I am very bothered by this whole performance.
When Nick Saban adamantly said he wasn't leaving the Miami Dolphins then just a couple of days later left, he was burned at the stake. I am wondering why there isn't more outrage in this situation? He had a week to deliberate and even signed a contract. Now he stands to get out of it and go back to Florida. I bet a lot of people wish they could take a new job, then change their mind and go back to their old job. I don't think a lot of jobs would let you do that. And certainly the people at both jobs wouldn't like you so much.
This is just another example of the double standard people get in the world of sports. Poor Anthony Grant loses out on his "dream job" and now Orlando needs a new coach. Plus they offered Donovan a crazy amount of money that whatever NBA "recycled" coach is going to make them match (or try to). It's really too bad too because like I said, I liked Donovan. This is a major lost in respect points though.
I was stunned on Friday when I heard the news. I really didn't think he would take an NBA job this year. I thought he would go back to Florida and if he struggled, take a look in a couple of years. I was even more stunned that he would pull a move like this. He's such a likable guy. Like Coach K (easy Duke haters) I find them very easy to root for. But I am very bothered by this whole performance.
When Nick Saban adamantly said he wasn't leaving the Miami Dolphins then just a couple of days later left, he was burned at the stake. I am wondering why there isn't more outrage in this situation? He had a week to deliberate and even signed a contract. Now he stands to get out of it and go back to Florida. I bet a lot of people wish they could take a new job, then change their mind and go back to their old job. I don't think a lot of jobs would let you do that. And certainly the people at both jobs wouldn't like you so much.
This is just another example of the double standard people get in the world of sports. Poor Anthony Grant loses out on his "dream job" and now Orlando needs a new coach. Plus they offered Donovan a crazy amount of money that whatever NBA "recycled" coach is going to make them match (or try to). It's really too bad too because like I said, I liked Donovan. This is a major lost in respect points though.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Cubs fight a metaphor for their season?
Let's get this out of the way. I am a Sox fan. So if you think I am being biased, I might be.
Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett came to blows in the Cubs dugout after Barrett make an error (or two) and Zambrano gave up a bunch of runs. After the scuffle, they told Zambrano to leave, and apparently Barrett snuck down and started up the rumble again in the clubhouse. Barrett ended up in the hospital with a "busted lip."
So what do we make of this? Zambrano is and always has been crazy. He's only 26 and I assumed that by the time his major league career ended he would be a historic nut case. He was supposed to be the Cubs ace and win the Cy Young and help take this team to the World Series. He had an awful April, but Cubs fans assured me that was natural and he would get better. A month later, he still sucks. So people have cried injury, but whatever the case, it just fuels his lunacy.
Barrett, of course, got into it with another volatile guy, A.J. Pierznski last season. I assumed that was on A.J. but now that Barrett has been in the wrong place at the wrong place twice, it makes you wonder. It's understandable that he is frustrated, despite his 7 HRs and 25 RBI (both on pace for career highs), his hitting line .241/.290/.412 is on pace for his worst since joining the Cubs in 2004.
So the question is, what to do? I would suspect Barrett will miss a game or two, but will they keep Zambrano from his next start? I think it's only fair. But long term, this just makes people start asking questions, MLB Trade Rumors is already talking about one or more of them moving. My Cubs fan buddy says that with the Cubs ownership in a state of flux, Zambrano is gone after the season anyway. They could trade him now while his value is high and actually get something decent for him. Barrett isn't worth nearly as much and is a free agent at the end of the season. Maybe you trade both of them.
It's hard for me to feel bad for Cub fans because they kept bragging about Soriano and how good their team would be (read: good enough to win a crappy division) but it's sad. They spent so much money on crappy players and are just going to continue to suck.
Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett came to blows in the Cubs dugout after Barrett make an error (or two) and Zambrano gave up a bunch of runs. After the scuffle, they told Zambrano to leave, and apparently Barrett snuck down and started up the rumble again in the clubhouse. Barrett ended up in the hospital with a "busted lip."
So what do we make of this? Zambrano is and always has been crazy. He's only 26 and I assumed that by the time his major league career ended he would be a historic nut case. He was supposed to be the Cubs ace and win the Cy Young and help take this team to the World Series. He had an awful April, but Cubs fans assured me that was natural and he would get better. A month later, he still sucks. So people have cried injury, but whatever the case, it just fuels his lunacy.
Barrett, of course, got into it with another volatile guy, A.J. Pierznski last season. I assumed that was on A.J. but now that Barrett has been in the wrong place at the wrong place twice, it makes you wonder. It's understandable that he is frustrated, despite his 7 HRs and 25 RBI (both on pace for career highs), his hitting line .241/.290/.412 is on pace for his worst since joining the Cubs in 2004.
So the question is, what to do? I would suspect Barrett will miss a game or two, but will they keep Zambrano from his next start? I think it's only fair. But long term, this just makes people start asking questions, MLB Trade Rumors is already talking about one or more of them moving. My Cubs fan buddy says that with the Cubs ownership in a state of flux, Zambrano is gone after the season anyway. They could trade him now while his value is high and actually get something decent for him. Barrett isn't worth nearly as much and is a free agent at the end of the season. Maybe you trade both of them.
It's hard for me to feel bad for Cub fans because they kept bragging about Soriano and how good their team would be (read: good enough to win a crappy division) but it's sad. They spent so much money on crappy players and are just going to continue to suck.
Friday, June 1, 2007
For those who gave up on LeBron, shame on us!
I am definitely not alone in giving up on LeBron James. Let me be serious for a second, I didn't "give up" on him, but just everything I saw about him made me think he would never be in that top echelon of all-time NBA players. I never felt the intensity, or saw the passion that you see from like Kobe or Garnett or someone like that. Granted, he's 22, but we have been waiting for him to bust out, and he hadn't.
This was all of course, until last night.
This Cavaliers team really sucks. The third leading scorer on this team is freakin' Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Are you kidding me? This team has a lot of holes, starting with their incompetent coach. Then LeBron gets torn apart for passing on the last shot and giving the rock to Donyell Marshall. Seriously......It's not Duncan dishing it to Horry or 'Sheed giving to Chauncey Billups, it's DONYELL MARSHALL!!!!
Like any well-respected 22-year old LeBron said "the hell with it" and took it upon himself. He played better since "the pass", and went out and scored 29 of his team's final 30 points (!), made the tying shot in overtime, and led his team to victory. Thanks to LeBron, this team is up 3-2 and could be going to their first ever NBA Finals.
It doesn't matter if LeBron gets there now, or wins if he does, because we now know what he is capable of. Get a shooter he can drive and kick it out to (e.g. Jason Kapono, Luther Head, Leandro Barbosa) and a better presence down low and he can be a force. LeBron can do so many things that even he gets some decent players around him, he is going to be a force. Unlike Garnett or Duncan where they would need good guards, or Kobe who needs a point guard or post scorer, LeBron can play anywhere.
Now that we have seen what he can do, it's only a matter of time before he wins. I just hope Cleveland doesn't blow it.
This was all of course, until last night.
This Cavaliers team really sucks. The third leading scorer on this team is freakin' Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Are you kidding me? This team has a lot of holes, starting with their incompetent coach. Then LeBron gets torn apart for passing on the last shot and giving the rock to Donyell Marshall. Seriously......It's not Duncan dishing it to Horry or 'Sheed giving to Chauncey Billups, it's DONYELL MARSHALL!!!!
Like any well-respected 22-year old LeBron said "the hell with it" and took it upon himself. He played better since "the pass", and went out and scored 29 of his team's final 30 points (!), made the tying shot in overtime, and led his team to victory. Thanks to LeBron, this team is up 3-2 and could be going to their first ever NBA Finals.
It doesn't matter if LeBron gets there now, or wins if he does, because we now know what he is capable of. Get a shooter he can drive and kick it out to (e.g. Jason Kapono, Luther Head, Leandro Barbosa) and a better presence down low and he can be a force. LeBron can do so many things that even he gets some decent players around him, he is going to be a force. Unlike Garnett or Duncan where they would need good guards, or Kobe who needs a point guard or post scorer, LeBron can play anywhere.
Now that we have seen what he can do, it's only a matter of time before he wins. I just hope Cleveland doesn't blow it.
Why oh why?
I have had a personal website for a long time. I post about sports all the time. I want to post about sports more, and decided to create a blog focusing on just that. I don't expect anyone to read it, and don't care if anyone does. I will keep posting.
But if you do read it, let me know what you think.
But if you do read it, let me know what you think.
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