Sunday, March 28, 2010

Raider fans deserve better.

The Oakland Raiders have the best fans in the NFL, I am one of them. We deserve better than what owner, Al Davis, is bringing to the NFL playgrounds every year. We blame everything on Al Davis, who has lost his sense of football. The man who has shrouded himself in questionable draft picks, miserable coaching decisions & a negative compulsion to keep running the show the way he wants it to be run needs to step down soon. We deserve much better than Al Davis now. Thank you for all that you've done for the Raiders, it's time for someone who knows football the way you used to. Mr. Davis, you need to go.


Lebron James is a classless act.

I am a fan of Lebron James, the most talented physical specimen to ever grace the NBA hardwood. He can control the game whenever he wishes. He can pound the opposition at will with his bodybuilder body. He can outrun the defender with his cheetah-like bursts. He has also become an Einstein-like mind of the game. However, he remains a classless act. From not shaking Dwight Howard's hand at the end of the 2009 Eastern Conference playoffs to him claiming in an ESPN report that "he could win the scoring title every year." I don't want to forget his habit of wearing an NY Yankees cap at public events insulting the city of Cleveland who will do anything to make sure he stays in a Cavaliers uniform. His on-court theatrics with his teammates are often over the top & a display of his lack of professionalism. For a man who doesn't have an NBA title ring, he talks way too much but still needs to clean up his act.

Can the switch be turned on?

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing lasidasical basketball. It's nowhere near championship level. The way they are playing almost guarantees them an early playoff exit. A first round match-up with the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder would be a tough challenge for the Lakers if they continue their recent play. The popular theory is that the Lakers can turn on the "on" switch when the playoffs begin, which some of their players attest to. The ideal situation for a championship contending team is to go into the playoffs with momentum. These Lakers are in a difficult situation with Bynum, Odom, Walton & others with injuries. They struggle finding rhythm on offense at times & don't have a sense of urgency at the moment. However, this is still the most talented team in the NBA with arguably the best player in the game & the best coach in the game. If there is a team that can turn the "on" switch & win the NBA title, it is these Los Angeles Lakers.


Avoiding Infamy

On Friday, March 26, the New Jersey Nets defeated the Detroit Pistons 118-110 bringing their record to an unimpressive 9-63. However, this record avoids great embarrassment as the New Jersey Nets avoided having the worst record in NBA history held by the 72-73 Philadelphia 76ers at 9-73. The New Jersey Nets on paper are not a terrible basketball team. They have great back court talent & a franchise center in Brook Lopez. They should have a better record than the one they currently have. The Nets suffer from poor chemistry & lack of discipline to the worse degree. They fired a terrific coach in Lawrence Frank at the beginning of the season, there are issues in their front office & half of their roster is full of underachieving talent. They will need one more win to avoid a tie, but New Jersey faces quite an uncertain future. At least they avoid infamy.


Your turn, Barry.

Several months ago, Mark McGwire confirmed the long suspicions of MLB fans as he admitted to his use of steroids during a hall of fame career. Such acts are coward but I commend Mr. McGwire for coming out with the truth. It will damper his chances of getting in to the MLB Hall of Fame but I imagine that he now sleeps better every night. As the new batting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, he also gains the respect of his players & the reconciliation process is already underway.

There is now one more hall of fame career whose word we await, Barry Bonds. Unlike Mark McGwire, who never denied steroid use (just actively chose to never discuss it), Barry Bonds has furiously denied steroid use. His career numbers are representative of a player who received a "significant boost" towards the end of his career. He claims "hard work" was the reason for consecutive MLB seasons. We will see, but we expect an explanation soon.


Were still waiting for the dress to come off.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Don't tell him he's too old.

There is a 47 year old starting pitcher in Major League Baseball & he's a starting pitcher for one of the best teams in baseball. Meet Jamie Moyer, one of the most consistent pitchers to ever play baseball. Once an elite pitcher, he no longer has the arm strength of his younger days. He pitches with wit, intelligence, & suave. He will be easy to find. He's a starting pitcher for the National League champion of the past 2 years, the Philadelphia Phillies. At 47 years old, he will be pitching every 5 days. He deserves every tip of the cap.


Mad Scientist gets Madder!


The mad scientist is up to dirtier tricks in March. He's found new mixtures in the names of Northern Iowa, Cornell, & St. Marys. Every year, were dazzled with Cinderella, but Cinderella multiplied this year. These Cinderellas are upgraded from years past, these have dominant interior play & steady handling from the back courts. The mad scientist may not be done. The existing elements on the NCAA periodic chart are no longer safe. Having All-Americans on your team no longer guarantees you a championship. Chemicals made of heart, grit & a beautiful mix might just do the job. Only time we'll tell but history says human nature always goes back to course.

P.S. The mad scientist will be stopped in his tracks. Kentucky will win the NCAA championship.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

1st Annual Lakers Fan Jam

Fan Jam was a gift from the Los Angeles Lakers to the fans. Many Laker fans have been waiting for a fan jam as many other smaller market NBA teams have fan jams every year. I was in attendance for this first annual event but I left disappointed. My favorite Laker wasn't present, Ron Artest. Lines for autographs rounded out to summer Six Flags 4 hour line waits. The room was too small for the amount of people corralling inside. I'm optimistic next year will be much better, at least I hope so.





Getting Ready for World Cup Mania!


The Winter Olympics are over & the ice is melting. The grass is growing & the animals are beginning to graze on the lands. The most popular sport in the world comes to South Africa this Summer 2010 for the greatest tournament on Earth. The World Cup gets more viewers than all sporting events in the United States put together. I am watching the countdown to the World Cup, more anxious & excited each growing day. Get those soccer jerseys out, the mania will be coming to a town near you very soon.



The March Madness Scientist


The irrational world of Einstein's Quantum world parallels with the world of College Basketball. There is no science to March Madness. There is no teacher that can teach "The Big Dance." March Madness is beautiful because it's unpredictable. I spent two days researching all 64 teams in hopes of establishing the perfect bracket. This is what came to fruition:


I believed with stern confidence that I had the winning bracket. After the first day of play, I came to a disappointing 10/16. A friend of mine who doesn't watch college basketball also completed a bracket & finished at an impressive 14/16. When I asked her why she chose the teams she chose, she replied with "The names of their school sounded cooler than the other." (-_-)

March Madness is truly run by a Mad Scientist.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Tiger Woods Will Be Forgiven

Tiger Woods has the talent to be & eventually will be forgiven as he returns to the game of golf. To put it into perspective, winners are forgiven. This isn't the case for someone as Michael Vick who was a feel good story but never a winner. Kobe Bryant has rectified his image because he is a winner. Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer to ever live, amidst the controversy, he will be forgiven because he is just that.

Tiger's key to forgiveness:

Handle Talent w/ Caution.

Brady Quinn has the makings of a great NFL quarterback, he was just never given the chance. I watched him as a star at Notre Dame University & saw a potential great NFL quarterback. He was drafted into the Cleveland Browns during a confusing quarterback situation. Derek Anderson had a Pro Bowl year & the Cleveland Browns drafted Brady Quinn as their quarterback of the future. Perhaps it was a popularity pick as Brady was raised in Cleveland & called it his home. Derek Anderson followed with a terrible year which opened up the spot for Brady Quinn. Quinn came into the year as a starter & played decently despite a terrible offensive line, an inconsistent running game & a continuously changing offensive philosophy. Today, he was traded to the Denver Broncos which already has a starting quarterback in Kyle Orton. I remain optimistic that Quinn will take over the starting job in Denver, he is too much of a talent to waist. Handle talent with caution.

\



LA Dodgers Go to Taiwan

One of the beautiful aspects of MLB baseball is it's expansion into foreign territories. This past week, a select group of members of the LA Dodgers & manager Joe Torre took a trip to Taiwan to play three exhibition games against Taiwanese teams. In addition, the Dodgers hosted several baseball clinics for baseball players. Hong Chi Kuo & Chin-lung Hu, two Taiwanese players of the Dodgers came along on the trip. It's a beautiful sight to see the love of baseball shared all over the world.



Ron Artest stylist in demand.


Ron Artest has brought an intensified toughness, mental strength & style to the Los Angeles Lakers as they bid for a 2nd consecutive title. Ron Artest has been one of my favorite NBA players ever since his entrance into the NBA. A true New York street baller who is proud of his rough upbringing & embraces it in his NBA play. However, the base of his eccentric flair lies in his mane:

Ron Artest through the years:



May we look forward to his next creation.



Manny Pacman is afraid of Floyd Mayweather


Manny Pacquiao looked like a fool after his unimpressive victory over Joshua Clottey. Before I berate Manny Pacquiao, I extend my congratulations to Manny Pacquiao on an expected win over Joshua Clottey on March 13, 2010 at the 8th wonder of the world, Cowboys Stadium. As a Filipino American, his importance to the Philippines makes every victory a special occasion for Filipinos. However, a victory of Joshua Clottey doesn't compare to an opponent that should of been, Floyd Mayweather.



As Manny raised his arms in celebration, the crowd looking for Tylenol after screaming "Manny" all evening, it was a glorious sight until the post-fight ringside interview with Manny. Manny Pacquiao & his celebrated trainer, Freddy Roach took several shots at Floyd Mayweather & his boxing camp. I couldn't have thought of a more classless act after a victory.

I strongly believe that Manny Pacquiao is the reason Floyd Mayweather wasn't opposite of him Saturday evening. It was Manny Pacquiao's reluctance to agree with a drug policy that wasn't even asking for too much that the greatest fight in the last half-century didn't happen (not that it won't ever happen). I'm still angry at Manny, one of our Filipino heroes, but it's your fault that Mayweather wasn't your opponent last night.