In some regards, this weekend was very good for Pittsburgh sports teams. The Penguins won two games and are now atop the Atlantic Division, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament to the surprise of just about everyone in the country, and the Pittsburgh Pirates season hasn't started yet, so they haven't lost any real games yet.
However, with the latest allegation against Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and Penguins' Matt Cooke nearly decapitating Boston Bruins' stud player Marc Savard, it's hard to focus on the positives from above.
For the second time in the past year, Big Ben has a woman accusing him of sexual harassment. There is not a lot of information regarding this latest episode, but whether Ben did it or not, he should know better. Stay away from college bars after midnight.
Look at Pacman Jones, Darrent Williams and Plaxico Burress to name a few. All of them had different problems that all stemmed from putting themselves in bad situation. Jones made it rain at a strip club and caused all kinds of trouble, Williams got into an altercation that led to him being killed later in the night and Burress shot himself and got put in jail for it. All of these problems could have been avoided if these men avoided the late night scene.
I'm not saying Ben can't go out. He is entitled to have himself a good time. But do you need to do it at that time of night and in that place? Being a star athlete comes with responsibility. You're not just an every day person. When you go out, people notice. You need to hold yourself to a higher standard and realize there are situations that you need to avoid.
Authorities have not charged Roethlisberger, and they may not come at all. This may all be an attempt by a young woman to get a payday or her 30 seconds of fame. But then again, she could have a case and Ben has embarrassed himself, his teammates and the whole Steelers organization.
Now for Cooke. He needs to be suspended for at least five games. Looking at the replays, I don't think he was trying to hit Savard in the head, but that doesn't mean it wasn't reckless. He wasn't really looking at wear he was clipping Savard, he just went through him while looking where the puck went.
I don't know if there have been more shots to the head this season than most, but it's certainly getting more attention than in previous seasons. Either way, the NHL needs to make a firm rule that they follow with every one of these hits. Regardless if there was malicious intent or not, there needs to a minimum suspension to prevent these actions. How many players, elite or goon, need to be carried off on stretchers before this happens.
By the way, I would have had an Oscars blog if I cared about the Oscars. Seriously, how many award shows do these actors need?
Third Eye Blind - Can You Take Me
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
I can't stand Facebook invites
Why the heck are people sending me Facebook invites to events there is no way I'm going to? Seriously, I haven't been a student in college since December 2007, stop sending me invites to the Weekend comic at the college bar.
This is irresponsible Facebook spamming. If you're going to send out these mass invites, take the time to look over the friends you are sending it to and don't send it to people in Pittsburgh if they event is in North Carolina. It's not that I don't want to support some of these charitable events. They sound lovely and like good causes, there is just no way I can make it.
I know I can't be alone in getting multiple e-mails every week regarding similar events. Hell, there is probably a Facebook Group about the issue. Hell, there are probably multiple groups of this kind. Of course, I'll never know that because I try to avoid groups. They are just plain stupid.
Maybe my issue is with Facebook as a whole. For years I have been saying I would get rid of it, but it's part of my job now.
Messed up, right?
The Pittsburgh Penguins theme song
This is irresponsible Facebook spamming. If you're going to send out these mass invites, take the time to look over the friends you are sending it to and don't send it to people in Pittsburgh if they event is in North Carolina. It's not that I don't want to support some of these charitable events. They sound lovely and like good causes, there is just no way I can make it.
I know I can't be alone in getting multiple e-mails every week regarding similar events. Hell, there is probably a Facebook Group about the issue. Hell, there are probably multiple groups of this kind. Of course, I'll never know that because I try to avoid groups. They are just plain stupid.
Maybe my issue is with Facebook as a whole. For years I have been saying I would get rid of it, but it's part of my job now.
Messed up, right?
The Pittsburgh Penguins theme song
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Are soccer goalies lazy people?
For some reason or another, soccer goalies are crazy bunch. They are not asked to make 20 to 40 saves a game like hockey goalies. Heck, 10 shot on goal is a high number at the elite levels. With this in mind, why is it these goalies go absolutely nuts when they have to make a save?
I'm not talking about being pumped up for making a great stop, though. I'm talking about when they get dribblers right at them and they immediately start screaming at their teammates.
It's one thing if it was only every now and again, but it's not. I'd also give goalies a free pass if the opposing team has no right getting the shot off. But with some guys (talking to you, Tim Howard of Team USA) it seems like every friggin' shot that gets by the defense and to the keeper is cause for an uproar.
This leads to the question in the title of this post. Are goalies lazy athletes? That's like a surgeon getting pissed off every time he needs to go to the ER and save a life. It's your job, and you're paid well for it, what's the big deal about actually having to perform?
I have multiple problems with these actions from goalies. First, players should not constantly be calling out their teammates in the public eye. Not just calling them out, but flipping out on them so much that in the HD era viewers can see every drop of saliva flying from the goalies' mouths. Second, it appears to be a cry for attention, even though a great save gets a player 10 times the amount of attention yelling at teammates and appearing angry does. Third, it's just immature.
But maybe goalies aren't lazy. There are other explanations for their outbursts. They could hate their jobs and wish they were strikers. They could be taunting the opposing team for bringing weak sauce.
I don't believe any of those for a second, but thought it fair to bring them up.
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
I'm not talking about being pumped up for making a great stop, though. I'm talking about when they get dribblers right at them and they immediately start screaming at their teammates.
It's one thing if it was only every now and again, but it's not. I'd also give goalies a free pass if the opposing team has no right getting the shot off. But with some guys (talking to you, Tim Howard of Team USA) it seems like every friggin' shot that gets by the defense and to the keeper is cause for an uproar.
This leads to the question in the title of this post. Are goalies lazy athletes? That's like a surgeon getting pissed off every time he needs to go to the ER and save a life. It's your job, and you're paid well for it, what's the big deal about actually having to perform?
I have multiple problems with these actions from goalies. First, players should not constantly be calling out their teammates in the public eye. Not just calling them out, but flipping out on them so much that in the HD era viewers can see every drop of saliva flying from the goalies' mouths. Second, it appears to be a cry for attention, even though a great save gets a player 10 times the amount of attention yelling at teammates and appearing angry does. Third, it's just immature.
But maybe goalies aren't lazy. There are other explanations for their outbursts. They could hate their jobs and wish they were strikers. They could be taunting the opposing team for bringing weak sauce.
I don't believe any of those for a second, but thought it fair to bring them up.
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
Monday, March 1, 2010
Crosby 2, Ovechkin 0
Throughout the course of the past five NHL seasons, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin have raised their rivalry to one of the best feuds in sports.
Objective analysts (if there are such things) and fans are constantly debating who the better player is. And while Ovechkin won the Rookie of the Year over Crosby and has two MVP trophies to Crosby's one, I'm pretty sure Crosby has had the better career to this point. Sunday just confirmed it.
Ovechkin's awards are all individual accomplishments that are nice, but in the end mean nothing. Crosby has a Stanley Cup and now a Gold Medal. What does Ovechkin have that can begin to compare? He's a great player, there is no disputing that, but put his successes next to Crosby's and it's not close. Wait, I'm sorry. A bronze medal is pretty sweet.
Crosby also played a huge role in both of those wins. Crosby scored the most goals in last year's playoffs and then scored the winning goal in overtime to secure the gold for the Canadians. It's not as if Sid was along for the ride. Neither victory happens without him.
Of course, this rivalry could get a lot closer this summer the way the Capitals are playing, but I'm sticking to my guns in saying their goaltending won't hold up when it counts.
Capital fans, the stubborn fools they are, will no doubt blame the defense, the rest of the Russian squad, Evgeni Malkin, the country of Canada, curling, officiating, global warming and just about everything else you can think of for Ovechkin not getting a gold or a Stanley Cup for that matter. But the man isn't a leader. He can take over a game, but can he rally a team around him and will them to win a championship the way Crosby has already done multiple times? It's yet to be seen.
The Clash - Tommy Gun
Objective analysts (if there are such things) and fans are constantly debating who the better player is. And while Ovechkin won the Rookie of the Year over Crosby and has two MVP trophies to Crosby's one, I'm pretty sure Crosby has had the better career to this point. Sunday just confirmed it.
Ovechkin's awards are all individual accomplishments that are nice, but in the end mean nothing. Crosby has a Stanley Cup and now a Gold Medal. What does Ovechkin have that can begin to compare? He's a great player, there is no disputing that, but put his successes next to Crosby's and it's not close. Wait, I'm sorry. A bronze medal is pretty sweet.
Crosby also played a huge role in both of those wins. Crosby scored the most goals in last year's playoffs and then scored the winning goal in overtime to secure the gold for the Canadians. It's not as if Sid was along for the ride. Neither victory happens without him.
Of course, this rivalry could get a lot closer this summer the way the Capitals are playing, but I'm sticking to my guns in saying their goaltending won't hold up when it counts.
Capital fans, the stubborn fools they are, will no doubt blame the defense, the rest of the Russian squad, Evgeni Malkin, the country of Canada, curling, officiating, global warming and just about everything else you can think of for Ovechkin not getting a gold or a Stanley Cup for that matter. But the man isn't a leader. He can take over a game, but can he rally a team around him and will them to win a championship the way Crosby has already done multiple times? It's yet to be seen.
The Clash - Tommy Gun
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Why oppose blood tests for HGH?
I was reading a story on ESPN.com regarding HGH testing in the NFL. The league wants to use blood tests, but the players' union is opposed.
Why?
Are these grown men afraid of shots? Do they think they will get disease from contaminated needles? Or are these players afraid they are going to get caught?
My skeptical nature screams that this is a maneuver for the players to buy time in order to get a new masking agent. But that's just me. A link to the full story is below.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4940922
Why?
Are these grown men afraid of shots? Do they think they will get disease from contaminated needles? Or are these players afraid they are going to get caught?
My skeptical nature screams that this is a maneuver for the players to buy time in order to get a new masking agent. But that's just me. A link to the full story is below.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4940922
Tomlinson, Westbrook unemployed
In the span of two days, two of the best running backs of the decade were released by their teams.
Former MVP and future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson was dropped by the San Diego Chargers, while the Philadelphia Eagles cut one of the most versatile backs in recent memory in Brian Westbrook. Both had down years this past season. Tomlinson only averaged 3.3 yards per carry, while Westbrook was sidelined for eight weeks with an ankle injury and concusssions.
This in a common, ugly and logical story when it comes to the NFL. Unlike the other major sports, where teams make poor personnel decisions and are stuck paying huge salaries to scrubs, the contracts in the NFL don't have a lot of guaranteed money attached. That's how an MVP can go to unemployed in three years.
Now I am in the minority when I say I think Tomlinson still has something in the tank. While he is no longer elite, he was still very effective as a goal line back (12 TDs last season) and look at the line blocking for him last season. Tomlinson's O-line wasn't opening holes for anyone. They could pass protect as good as anyone, but they weren't getting any push in the rushing game. Darren Sproles, the other Charger running back, only had 343 yards and a 3.7 yard per carry.
Call me crazy or still in awe of Tomlinson's glory days, you know, back when it seemed as if the first guy to reach LT2 could never bring him down, but I think Tomlinson has two more years of 1,000 yard seasons if given the right chance. Now watch, he'll sign somewhere and not break 500 yards.
On the other hand, I think Westbrook should retire. The man has never started a whole season, and multiple concussions to a running back is just scary. I enjoyed watching him, but to me he needs to walk away and not risk permanent damage.
Billy Joel - I Go To Extremes
Former MVP and future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson was dropped by the San Diego Chargers, while the Philadelphia Eagles cut one of the most versatile backs in recent memory in Brian Westbrook. Both had down years this past season. Tomlinson only averaged 3.3 yards per carry, while Westbrook was sidelined for eight weeks with an ankle injury and concusssions.
This in a common, ugly and logical story when it comes to the NFL. Unlike the other major sports, where teams make poor personnel decisions and are stuck paying huge salaries to scrubs, the contracts in the NFL don't have a lot of guaranteed money attached. That's how an MVP can go to unemployed in three years.
Now I am in the minority when I say I think Tomlinson still has something in the tank. While he is no longer elite, he was still very effective as a goal line back (12 TDs last season) and look at the line blocking for him last season. Tomlinson's O-line wasn't opening holes for anyone. They could pass protect as good as anyone, but they weren't getting any push in the rushing game. Darren Sproles, the other Charger running back, only had 343 yards and a 3.7 yard per carry.
Call me crazy or still in awe of Tomlinson's glory days, you know, back when it seemed as if the first guy to reach LT2 could never bring him down, but I think Tomlinson has two more years of 1,000 yard seasons if given the right chance. Now watch, he'll sign somewhere and not break 500 yards.
On the other hand, I think Westbrook should retire. The man has never started a whole season, and multiple concussions to a running back is just scary. I enjoyed watching him, but to me he needs to walk away and not risk permanent damage.
Billy Joel - I Go To Extremes
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Giant "who cares?" for Tiger's statement
Tiger Woods will be breaking his month-long silence tomorrow. Every sports station, and all media for that matter, are flooding their programming with previews for the press conference, and I'm already annoyed.
He won't be answering any questions. He is going to make a statement to a small group of friends, family and a select few journalists. He will probably apologize for being addicted to sex, letting his family and fans down and losing millions of dollars in endorsements. Well, maybe he won't apologize for that, but he's probably thinking it. The PGA and golf fans alike are hoping he will announce when he will return to golf, and they are crossing their fingers it's soon.
I am not going to watch or listen to the statement. Not just because I will be at work, but because I think it is overshadowing the Olympics and the great achievements happening every day in Vancouver.
I can't remember the last time three Americans won three gold medals in three separate events on the same day in the Winter Olympics. But I know it happened Wednesday, and those athletes are not getting as much publicity as Tiger announcing he is going to announce he is sorry on Friday.
Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White and Shani Davis kicked ass for their country, but the man who cheated on his wife with a baker's dozen of women gets more attention. I understand he is Tiger, and many consider him the greatest athlete on the planet (he's not even the most dominate player in his sport, that title belongs to Roger Federer), but why does the media need to treat it like a WWE event? Tons of hype that is going to leave everyone unsatisfied because it's fake.
The man just spent how ever many months lying those who are the most important to him. You think three months of being women's public enemy No. 1 is going to cause him to have a change of heart and spill his guts to us?
Tell us when you're going to golf again and be done with it. I don't care how sorry he is. It's none of my business what he does with his personal life. It's not the media's business. We shouldn't care if he is sleeping around, but that's just the kind of society we are in right now. Who our favorite celebrities are sleeping comes off as more important than the great feats of those we should be giving all the attention to.
Once again I have only contributed to the problem and I am sorry. I advise you to boycott the statement and just hear from someone else when Tiger is coming back.
Tom Petty - You Wreck Me
He won't be answering any questions. He is going to make a statement to a small group of friends, family and a select few journalists. He will probably apologize for being addicted to sex, letting his family and fans down and losing millions of dollars in endorsements. Well, maybe he won't apologize for that, but he's probably thinking it. The PGA and golf fans alike are hoping he will announce when he will return to golf, and they are crossing their fingers it's soon.
I am not going to watch or listen to the statement. Not just because I will be at work, but because I think it is overshadowing the Olympics and the great achievements happening every day in Vancouver.
I can't remember the last time three Americans won three gold medals in three separate events on the same day in the Winter Olympics. But I know it happened Wednesday, and those athletes are not getting as much publicity as Tiger announcing he is going to announce he is sorry on Friday.
Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White and Shani Davis kicked ass for their country, but the man who cheated on his wife with a baker's dozen of women gets more attention. I understand he is Tiger, and many consider him the greatest athlete on the planet (he's not even the most dominate player in his sport, that title belongs to Roger Federer), but why does the media need to treat it like a WWE event? Tons of hype that is going to leave everyone unsatisfied because it's fake.
The man just spent how ever many months lying those who are the most important to him. You think three months of being women's public enemy No. 1 is going to cause him to have a change of heart and spill his guts to us?
Tell us when you're going to golf again and be done with it. I don't care how sorry he is. It's none of my business what he does with his personal life. It's not the media's business. We shouldn't care if he is sleeping around, but that's just the kind of society we are in right now. Who our favorite celebrities are sleeping comes off as more important than the great feats of those we should be giving all the attention to.
Once again I have only contributed to the problem and I am sorry. I advise you to boycott the statement and just hear from someone else when Tiger is coming back.
Tom Petty - You Wreck Me
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