This is one of the most exciting times for sports junkies like myself. We just had the MLB, NBA and NHL drafts, and we are about to start up training camp in the NFL. But, the most important decision that will affect mankind will be made somewhere around July 8th. Why July 8th, because that is the day the NBA players can sign a contract with new teams.
Now, I was being sarcastic about the signing affecting mankind, but that seems like what it has become. After the LeBron summit in which he invited Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and Joe Johnson to figure out where everyone was signing, LeBron is still the key. Once he signs, everyone else will follow.
But this is getting ridiculous. Every time I tune in to Sportscenter, or listen to sports talk radio, there is LeBron. He has dinner with Joe Johnson, they must be signing together. It makes no sense to me at all. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but this is too much.
LeBron, I get it. You were never recruited, so this is what you want. Great. Awesome. Good luck. But there is no reason to talk about it everyday. Figure out that you and Bosh are going to sign together in Chicago and do it. Just be done with it already.
Like always, I would love to hear from you. Send me something at john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com
Peace.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Greatest Ranger Ever?
This past week, Michael Young became the Texas Rangers all-time leader in hits. He passed Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez with his 1748th hit.
It got me thinking. Where exactly does Young fit on the list for greatest Texas Rangers' player of all-time?
Let's make a list: Pudge, Juan Gonzalez, Rafeal Palmeiro, Ruben Sierra, Nolan Ryan, Jim Sundberg, Buddy Bell.
I would put Young ahead of Bell and Sundberg right away. Not only is he great offensively, but defensively as well. Nolan doesn't make the cut because he only played here 4 seasons. Now Pudge, Juan, Sierra, and Raffy put up better numbers, but all 4 have been linked to steroid use.
That leaves Young standing alone. Even if you take out some of the things like steroids, I would probably still take Young.
He brings leadership to a team that has been growing ever since the Alex Rodriguez trade. He shows that he is the ultimate team player by moving positions, not once, but twice. He moved from 2nd base to shortstop to accommodate the selfish Alfonso Soriano. He then moved from shortstop to 3rd base for Elvis Andrus. The move for Soriano pissed me off. It hurt the team defensively. The move for Andrus was handled incorrectly, but was ultimately the right move.
Young has made himself one of the most clutch hitters in baseball, and is one of the most respected players in all of baseball.
I look at it this way: If Michael Young was on the New York Yankees, he would be a national hero, and a World Series champ and making about $20 million a year. In other words, he would be Derek Jeter.
That being said, I think Michael Young is hands down the best Ranger right now and of all-time, and the younger players coming up, have a great role model to look up to.
I almost feel like the Rangers should send the Toronto Blue Jays a thank you note after every game for giving us Michael Young for Esteban Loaiza.
I can't wait to see Michael Young go in the Hall of Fame, wearing a Texas Rangers' hat. He is a true baseball player, and someone I am proud to be a fan of.
Please send any feedback to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com.
It got me thinking. Where exactly does Young fit on the list for greatest Texas Rangers' player of all-time?
Let's make a list: Pudge, Juan Gonzalez, Rafeal Palmeiro, Ruben Sierra, Nolan Ryan, Jim Sundberg, Buddy Bell.
I would put Young ahead of Bell and Sundberg right away. Not only is he great offensively, but defensively as well. Nolan doesn't make the cut because he only played here 4 seasons. Now Pudge, Juan, Sierra, and Raffy put up better numbers, but all 4 have been linked to steroid use.
That leaves Young standing alone. Even if you take out some of the things like steroids, I would probably still take Young.
He brings leadership to a team that has been growing ever since the Alex Rodriguez trade. He shows that he is the ultimate team player by moving positions, not once, but twice. He moved from 2nd base to shortstop to accommodate the selfish Alfonso Soriano. He then moved from shortstop to 3rd base for Elvis Andrus. The move for Soriano pissed me off. It hurt the team defensively. The move for Andrus was handled incorrectly, but was ultimately the right move.
Young has made himself one of the most clutch hitters in baseball, and is one of the most respected players in all of baseball.
I look at it this way: If Michael Young was on the New York Yankees, he would be a national hero, and a World Series champ and making about $20 million a year. In other words, he would be Derek Jeter.
That being said, I think Michael Young is hands down the best Ranger right now and of all-time, and the younger players coming up, have a great role model to look up to.
I almost feel like the Rangers should send the Toronto Blue Jays a thank you note after every game for giving us Michael Young for Esteban Loaiza.
I can't wait to see Michael Young go in the Hall of Fame, wearing a Texas Rangers' hat. He is a true baseball player, and someone I am proud to be a fan of.
Please send any feedback to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
2010 NBA Finals = Boring
The 2010 version of the NBA Finals can be summed up in one word...BORING.
The story lines that the media is trying to create just are not there. The one that I hear the most is, for Kobe to be considered one of the All-Time Laker greats, he has to beat Boston. So let me get this straight, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain are not Laker greats. They only won one title and it was against the New York Knicks. That makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Kobe Bryant has 4 rings. If he wins this year, he gets his 5th, which would put him on par with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It doesn't matter who you beat as long as you are considered the champs.
But, that is what this series has come to. There are no story lines. This is not the 1980s. Nobody really cares about teams anymore.
The NBA has become all about the players. I don't have a problem with that, but it makes for a boring finals. If each team had a marquee player, then it would be all good.
If it was LeBron vs. Kobe, then we have something. What about Dwight vs. Gasol? I would watch. Even, Nash vs. LeBron. It would be exciting.
The best thing about the NBA is also its biggest flaw.
Back in the 1980s, everyone had their team. People loved the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers. Later in the decade, it was the Detroit Bad Boys, and the Chicago Bulls.
Even in the 1990s, you had the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets. They were all teams. They were not individuals.
When you think of Cleveland you think LeBron. Miami equals D-Wade. Dallas - Dirk. Lakers - Kobe. Denver - Carmelo.
This has become a superstar driven league, and when one of the teams doesn't have a true superstar...you get this year.
Don't get me wrong, I love Boston because they play as a team. There is no one guy that does it all. Rajon Rondo will be there in a year or two, but not right now.
I just miss following teams, and the fact that you knew everyone on the team you followed. Down here in Dallas, I know I am one of the few guys that could name the entire roster. Most people can name Dirk and Kidd, and that is about it.
I really want the NBA to go back to a team first mentality, but I am afraid that just is not going to happen.
Bottom line, nobody outside of Boston and Los Angeles really cares who wins this series. That includes me.
Peace out. John Conner
As always, I would love your feedback. Send it to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com
The story lines that the media is trying to create just are not there. The one that I hear the most is, for Kobe to be considered one of the All-Time Laker greats, he has to beat Boston. So let me get this straight, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain are not Laker greats. They only won one title and it was against the New York Knicks. That makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Kobe Bryant has 4 rings. If he wins this year, he gets his 5th, which would put him on par with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It doesn't matter who you beat as long as you are considered the champs.
But, that is what this series has come to. There are no story lines. This is not the 1980s. Nobody really cares about teams anymore.
The NBA has become all about the players. I don't have a problem with that, but it makes for a boring finals. If each team had a marquee player, then it would be all good.
If it was LeBron vs. Kobe, then we have something. What about Dwight vs. Gasol? I would watch. Even, Nash vs. LeBron. It would be exciting.
The best thing about the NBA is also its biggest flaw.
Back in the 1980s, everyone had their team. People loved the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers. Later in the decade, it was the Detroit Bad Boys, and the Chicago Bulls.
Even in the 1990s, you had the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets. They were all teams. They were not individuals.
When you think of Cleveland you think LeBron. Miami equals D-Wade. Dallas - Dirk. Lakers - Kobe. Denver - Carmelo.
This has become a superstar driven league, and when one of the teams doesn't have a true superstar...you get this year.
Don't get me wrong, I love Boston because they play as a team. There is no one guy that does it all. Rajon Rondo will be there in a year or two, but not right now.
I just miss following teams, and the fact that you knew everyone on the team you followed. Down here in Dallas, I know I am one of the few guys that could name the entire roster. Most people can name Dirk and Kidd, and that is about it.
I really want the NBA to go back to a team first mentality, but I am afraid that just is not going to happen.
Bottom line, nobody outside of Boston and Los Angeles really cares who wins this series. That includes me.
Peace out. John Conner
As always, I would love your feedback. Send it to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com
Sunday, June 6, 2010
WTF Big 12
I am a little confused with all the maneuvering within the college football landscape for one reason and one reason only; Why isn't the Big 12 looking to add teams rather than subtract teams?
From the beginning of the 2000-01 college football season, the Big 12 has had a team in the BCS National Championship game 7 times. You would think that would give the conference a little pull.
When the broadcasters and sports experts talk about power conferences in football, it is the SEC and the Big 12. I would think the Big 12 would be adding to the conference instead.
And I can think of 3 teams that I would go after first. You would need to add 2 teams to the North division and 2 teams to the South division. The South division would be easy. TCU makes the most sense. It was with the South teams in the Southwest conference, and already has established itself as a football power. The other team is Arkansas. They were better suited here, and had a great rivalry with Texas. It just makes sense. The North is a little more difficult, but I would start with Boise St. They want to play with the big boys and now the could. The other options could be BYU , New Mexico or Colorado St., or something of that nature. If they felt like invading other conferences, they could go after a Big 10 team, or even a couple of Big East teams. The possibilities are endless.
With Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska as football royalty, I don't understand why they are moving. The Big 12 should be dictating where the college football landscape goes.
If they add TCU, Arkansas, Boise St and say BYU they become the best football conference in the country, and stay in the conversation for basketball and baseball.
Maybe I am naive. Maybe Texas wants to leave, but it just seems to make more sense for them to add. It seems that this week, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has given Missouri and Nebraska until next week to decide if they are staying or not. If they do, surprise the rest of college football, and send invitations to TCU, Arkansas, Boise St, and BYU, and make this the Big 16.
Texas wants to be the top dog in college football, well the best way to do that is to win the toughest conference. Right now, that is the SEC, but the additions of those 4 teams, either puts you on par, or even a notch above them.
I just can't seem to figure out why they would even consider moving, especially to the PAC 10. If you throw out USC, it is a mediocre conference. Even USC may go down a little bit without Pete Carroll, and the fact that the Reggie Bush fiasco just won't go away.
Bottom line, if I am the Big 12, I start being the aggressor. Go get the teams you want, and build the mega conference. Don't sit around and let lesser conferences pick you apart so they can get some recognition.
Here is how it would look:
North - Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado, Boise St, BYU
South - Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Arkansas, TCU
That is dominant!
By 2012, I want this to be done, and let there be no doubt which conference is the dominant football conference...The BIG 16.
Thanks, and as always, if you have a question, comment, or want to chat, send me anything to:
john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com
From the beginning of the 2000-01 college football season, the Big 12 has had a team in the BCS National Championship game 7 times. You would think that would give the conference a little pull.
When the broadcasters and sports experts talk about power conferences in football, it is the SEC and the Big 12. I would think the Big 12 would be adding to the conference instead.
And I can think of 3 teams that I would go after first. You would need to add 2 teams to the North division and 2 teams to the South division. The South division would be easy. TCU makes the most sense. It was with the South teams in the Southwest conference, and already has established itself as a football power. The other team is Arkansas. They were better suited here, and had a great rivalry with Texas. It just makes sense. The North is a little more difficult, but I would start with Boise St. They want to play with the big boys and now the could. The other options could be BYU , New Mexico or Colorado St., or something of that nature. If they felt like invading other conferences, they could go after a Big 10 team, or even a couple of Big East teams. The possibilities are endless.
With Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska as football royalty, I don't understand why they are moving. The Big 12 should be dictating where the college football landscape goes.
If they add TCU, Arkansas, Boise St and say BYU they become the best football conference in the country, and stay in the conversation for basketball and baseball.
Maybe I am naive. Maybe Texas wants to leave, but it just seems to make more sense for them to add. It seems that this week, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has given Missouri and Nebraska until next week to decide if they are staying or not. If they do, surprise the rest of college football, and send invitations to TCU, Arkansas, Boise St, and BYU, and make this the Big 16.
Texas wants to be the top dog in college football, well the best way to do that is to win the toughest conference. Right now, that is the SEC, but the additions of those 4 teams, either puts you on par, or even a notch above them.
I just can't seem to figure out why they would even consider moving, especially to the PAC 10. If you throw out USC, it is a mediocre conference. Even USC may go down a little bit without Pete Carroll, and the fact that the Reggie Bush fiasco just won't go away.
Bottom line, if I am the Big 12, I start being the aggressor. Go get the teams you want, and build the mega conference. Don't sit around and let lesser conferences pick you apart so they can get some recognition.
Here is how it would look:
North - Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado, Boise St, BYU
South - Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Arkansas, TCU
That is dominant!
By 2012, I want this to be done, and let there be no doubt which conference is the dominant football conference...The BIG 16.
Thanks, and as always, if you have a question, comment, or want to chat, send me anything to:
john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com
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