Sports...on the Rox

quick hits

2008-03-06T23:22:00.005-06:00

Brett Favre "officially" retired today. It will be extremely weird not to see #4 behind Center at Lambeau in sub-freezing weather. I do not believe Aaron Rodgers is the QB of the future for the Packers; rather, I think it will be the young draft pick that arrives a few years from now in Green Bay.
I've learned to look at my team more subjectively than anything else in Spring Training. For example, I have no idea how J. D. Drew has been performing down in Fort Myers the past few weeks, and I don't care. What do I care about? He's walking around the clubhouse these days, joking with Papi, Lowell, and Youkilis. He's talking to reporters, giving them insight and stories. He's smiling. He appears excited to be there. Also, and probably as a rationale for everything last year, Drew's newborn baby is no longer in intensive care and undergoing surgery, which is great. All of these signs lead me to this bold prediction: J.D. Drew has a kickass bounceback year in 2008(.300/.450/.425).
Speaking of subjective Spring Training notes, I was kinda irked by Papelbon's public comments the other day about his contract status. I feel that until a player's first arbitration hearing(or the contract agreed to that covers arbitration), he shouldn't wine, speak, or voice any of his feelings about his contract or what he's worth. You are under the team's control during this time, so just deal with it. But thankfully, the Sox and Paps agreed to a 1-year deal today worth around $775,000 with incentives. This takes him through one year of aribitration, and I think it's a great deal for Paps, considering he's only a year removed from shoulder injury. The Sox will lock him up long-term in the next few years.
Every game in college basketball should have SOME form of video cameras there to document the action for the public, either later via the internet or at primetime Sportscenter. Case in point: I will never see the hilights of the Dawgs' heartbreaker at Vanderbilt last night. Yeh, I probably don't want to relive what I heard on the radio, but I just want to see how close Shan Foster was from his OWN three-point line when he drained those last 7 3's. Ridiculous.
Believe it or not, my parents have not been to one MSU baseball game during the entire 14-year era of Horne children on this campus. I went many years ago, but I haven't been to a game since I've been in school here. So to remedy the problem, my parents are coming up for a weekend series in April against none other than those pesky Vanderbil Commodores.

-RBDS1
Currently Drinking: Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan...I love coming home.

The Bulldogs Ride to March

2008-02-27T10:53:00.005-06:00

I have been absent on here for far too long, especially considering the (relatively) amazing football season MSU experienced and our very aggressive run at the SEC West title in basketball. That being said and excuses aside, I'm back baby!

The Bulldogs have thrown together a great year of basketball. Aside from our loss last week at Oxford, I have not been (too) displeased with our on court showing. At Arkansas is always tough for us, but we made that one up and the UT game could've gone either way there at the end and our poor freshman made a freshman mistake.

We face Auburn today, then an extremely tough road schedule (Florida & Vandy) before finishing up the season at home against LSU. Speaking of Vandy, did anyone watch that game last night ? Pretty incredible. In true basketball fashion for a big game, the Commodores' fans decided to all wear the same color to the stadium. Which is it going to be, black or gold ? Oh, I know! How about WHITE. That way on television it is a stadium full of white shirts with the expected visiting UT crowd wearing orange. That's a stadium full of UT colors... aren't Vandy students suppose to be smart? Poor choice. However, they did come out the gates blaring and barely gave Tennessee time to catch up before pulling away for the win. That is going to be a tough game for us.

Yes, March brings March Madness. My second favorite time of the sports year (if you don't know what's my first, stop reading this, go stand in front of the mirror, and punch your teeth out). If we can win at least two more games we should be making an appearance at the NCAA tourney. No more NIT crap, please. Stansbury has become state's winningest basketball coach this season so I hope we can reward him with a trip to the big show.

not for the faint of heart

2008-02-12T15:52:00.001-06:00

I think we can all agree that out of the 4 major sports in America(or 5, if you count soccer), hockey is by far the most dangerous. If you happen to disagree, then just read on. In case you haven't heard by now, during this past Sunday's contest, Florida foward Richard Zednik was cut my his teammate's skate as he(the teammate) was upended. I present to you some of the cameras that caught the action.

Please be advised that these videos are quite graphic.

Now another look with bettter resolution. I suggest just going to the 1:20 minute mark on the video. Again, this one is VERY graphic. Just watch what happens right before(and after) he hits the ice.

And just for an historical perspective, check this video out from 1989; the goalie is Clint Malarchuck of the Buffalo Sabres, which is exactly the same team that Zednik and the Panthers were playing on Sunday. WEIRD.

Currently Drinking: Earl Grey tea with honey(I feel terrible)

Prospect Primer

2008-01-06T11:08:00.000-06:00

A good primer before the season. Baseball America says we have the 2nd best farm system in baseball(shocker), but here's a quick writeup and overview of it. Might wanna write down some of the names, as you are sure to see them in a big league Sox uni this summer.

Baseball America Top Red Sox Prospects

Currently Drinking: A nice hot Latte

Boston's painful fall

2007-11-19T13:12:00.001-06:00

The city of Boston just can not catch a break in the sports world.

ESPN Page 2: Caple: Beantown Blues

*Thanks to the Horne for his find- now if we could just get him writing some posts

Dog Day Afternoon

2007-11-11T09:49:00.000-06:00

But this one did not star Al Pacino. No, this Dog Day belonged in the hands of the MSU football and basketball players. Much more so on the gridiron than the hardwood though.

#22 Alabama arrived early yesterday morning to face one of only three teams in the SEC that hasn't been ranked this year, us. This Mississippi State Bulldog team has looked better and better every game this season though, won big games against giant killers Auburn and Kentucky, and was coming off a by week of what I'm sure was colossal walrus sized work outs.

By 11:05 AM, Davis Wade Stadium (pictured above) was at a new school record capacity of 56,188 and nearly one out of three people had a cowbell in hand. There would be no cries for more cowbell this day.

In an immediate disappointment, freshman QB Wesley Carroll threw an interception on his first attempt, not only turning the ball over to the Tide in our territory but quelling Carroll's quest for the NCAA freshman record for most attempts without an INT of which he was just two shy. Our namesake shining through, the Bulldog Defense held Bama to a field goal and got the ball back in our hands.

After two more FG by Bama and only one from State, Alabama fought it's way to inside the MSU 10 yard line where a touchdown seemed imminent. After two battles at the line trying to run the ball into the end zone, a third down call for a throw led to the day's game changing play. Bama's QB is rushed and scrambling, and in his attempt not to be sacked, hurls the ball into the end zone and into the waiting arms of a Bulldog defense-man. With one good block, the ball is returned 100+ yards for a TD and the lead after the extra point. And this was all with less than 20 seconds in the half.

Coming out after halftime, the dawgs were rejuvenated. Allowing only one more field goal from Alabama and tacking on an offensive touchdown, the Bulldogs finished the final drive of the game with a sack that had been brewing all day, to let time expire.

Bama fans sure were proud of their million dollar coach, but our Alabama alumni coach, for the second year in a row, knew what it took to take Saban down.

Go Dawgs!
and not to let our basketball team go unnoticed
Go Dawgs!

the World Series in 50 seconds

2007-11-02T23:54:00.000-05:00

It was fast. It was painless(for the Sox). And it was oh-so-glorious. We now sum up the last leg of the 2007 Red Sox Championship run...

I am sure Trevor will have a season recap soon. I'll give my thoughts when I have no more work to do (read: mid-December).

-RBDS1

Papelbon is my hero (and I wish my boyfriend)

2007-10-21T23:26:00.000-05:00

Okay so not really my boyfriend, but I love him as much as any heterosexual can love another heterosexual.

Dice isn't bad either, and Beckett is the ALCS MVP, and I wish Schilling was my biological father.

Red Sox are going to the World Series for the second time in four years. Papelbon (a MSU grad) got the save in game 7 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians and life couldn't be better. I pretty much have a crush on Jonathan, he's so goofy, so country, and such a damn fine game closer. He came in for a full six outs (for the first time this year) and he destroyed them, with noted help from our outfield (Coco Crisp and Jacoby "the Kid" Ellsbury).

Its funny how a sport I had nothing but disdain for is now my favorite sport to keep up with and by far evokes the most emotion. I yell, I clap, I curse, and I love it.

Back from a 3-1 deficit to win 3 games in a row to win the ALCS at home in front of the best fans in any sport in the best town in all sports (you want to argue that?? Red Sox, Patriots, BC, and the Celtics).

It's 11:30pm local time, I have class in the morning, I just cracked a beer, and am probably going to have a few more.

Long live baseball

Go Sox

*you like the pic? that's our dry erase board, home to all RedBullDawgSox sports

Currently Drinking: Samuel Adams Cream Stout

ALCS Game 5 live blog

2007-10-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

I am now a profound supporter of replay support for Major League Baseball. Manny hits a two run home run in the 3rd inning and its ruled A SINGLE!? -T
Beckett comes after the bottom of the 3rd striking out two of three -T
The ground rules for Jacobs field may say that hitting the yellow line is a homer, but seriously, all umpires present actually saw that little piece of material fly up? Yeh. Right. -H
Okay, so maybe it hit the wall. Seems like different ground rules in different parks is something the commentators would do well to acknowledge. -T
...especially Tim "Fountain of all Baseball Knowledge" McCarver -H
10 GIDP in this series. That's pathetic. -T
Beckett is settled. 40 pitches thru 4 -T
For those of us in Mississippi tonight: local news, for the love of Allah, make the "Storm Weather Watch Forecast Team Radar Tracker 5" ticker about 20 font sizes smaller. -H
And we've been watching Severe Weather News instead of the game for a whole inning. Well we've been watching Gameday on Horne's computer, going to try and Slingbox the game directly from Boston -T
Had to watch our baseloaded out via Gameday. Trevor not happy. Titan angry! - T
I love Beckett. Besides the actual one (Paps), Beck's is a bulldog and you better take him serious -T
How many times are we going to have a missed play due to a glancing blow off the webbing? -T
Here's a shoutout to my bro Will. Because of the numerous and timely Weather updates, we've got the computer out and watching my brother's Slingbox via the tv. You can't stop us, evil weather Gods!!! - H
Beckett. Damn. -T
YOUK! -T
Do Grady's ladies like seeing his face in the dirt and no baseball in his glove, cus I do -T
Sizemore does not = Crisp/Ellsbury -H
Single most inconsistent ump. Ever. Of all-time. In the history of the world. -T
10 Ks -T
20-to-1 odds we see Papelbon this game. I'm just sayin. -H
Perez "Hilton" throws the ball to right field instead of the short stop. E1 -T
Lugo makes a perfect 3rd baseline bunt to advance the runners, and makes the single. Based Juiced -T
Perez going back to bench "jail" Get it? Like Paris Hilton? -T
PASSBALL. No DoublePlay. 5-1 (I think that's the first time we've actually said the score) -T
2 walks. Papi to bat with bases load...
sac fly 7-1 -T
If Beckett doesn't come back in the 9th, he has 11 Ks and was still hitting 96mph after 100 pitches -T
Paps is lights out. 2 Wins Away.

I know it's not the most precise live blog ever, but hey we didn't have all night to just write, we had a game to watch.

Go Sox

Who Is Worse?

2007-10-14T00:38:00.000-05:00

Henig or Gagne

Really, which is worse? That's all I got.

ALDS Review

2007-10-10T10:34:00.000-05:00

First up to bat, Red Sox and Angels. These two teams were pretty well matched in the regular season so a post season league division series should have proven to be quite the contested match up. However, this was not to be. Granted the other guys did not look as impressive as Beckett did in his 4 hit, complete game, shut out. Dice and Schill both brought their stuff and went deep in the game, both picking up the win. Actually Curt became the oldest pitcher in post season history to earn himself the W.
The second game seemed like it might was possibly going to maybe become kind of a close game, but then Manny being Manny hit his first ever post season walk off home run. A ball that soared a good 60 ft above the monster and continued to rocket over the freeway and possibly into the next state.
The third game with Weaver pitching for the Angels had some back story to it. Earlier in the year when Papi sent one sailing into right field, Weaver and his golden locks got all tied up in knots because, as he claims, Ortiz watched his homerun for too long before beginning his stroll around the bases. Next time he was to face Papi (G3) he would not forget that. Weaver made good on his promise to sitting down Ortiz, at his first at bat. Second at bat however, Papi again let loose his arm cannon (with broken knee attachment) and sent Weaver's pitch past Pesky's pole. I don't know if he stared at this one too long or not because following Ortiz, Manny showed Weaver the same respect and sent a ball past the fence and into the stands. And that was as close as the Angels came to winning a game. They are now 0 - 10 I believe, correct me if I am wrong, in post season games against the Red Sox.

The Yankees put up a good fight for game 3 of the their contest and took the series to 2-1 Indians. But the tribe would not be denied. After winning a game when their starting pitcher (Clemens) only lasted three innings, the Yanks pulled Wang after only 2+ innings and garnishing Moose's first ever relief appearance. In a true Moose's career slide performance, the Indians took it to the bottom of the ninth with a 8-5 lead. The Yankees, as they always do, tried to make some last of the game heroics with Abreu belting on into the third deck and bringing the Yanks within two.
Flashback, after game two Steinbrenner said that if Torre lost this series it very well could be his last. That coupled with A-rod's option to opt out and the likely hood that Posada, Rivera, Petite, and others would not be returning if Torre gets axed made for an important game aside from play off contention.
Back to the game, the last three outs by the Yanks were at the bats of Jeter, Posada, and A-rod. How does that sit with the Yankee fans. Apparently not too badly since the following day I see a girl in a Yankee Universe tshirt. I going to go ahead and say they day after you are eliminated from the play offs isn't the best day to flaunt your allegiance to what is now more than ever a dead dynasty.

He is, dare I say, "En Fuego!"

2007-10-04T10:17:00.001-05:00

or do you prefer "Atsui Desune!" ? Okay, fine. Have it your way. Beckett was hot, like on fire hot. Just look at this screen capture of a recorded conversation between Mike Lowell (3B) and Josh Beckett (P) at last night's game one against the AL East division winning LA Angels
Lowell: "Dude, you curve ball is crazy awesome. How are you pulling the string that hard?"
Beckett: "What? Did you say something Mike? I can't hear you because my hands are on fire."
Lowell: "Oh Crap! No more high fives for you."

Seriously. These two are hands down the stars of the BoSox this year. Mike Lowell with his 120+ RBI season (most ever by a Red Sox 3B) and Beckett as the only 20 winner in the Majors. Both added to their glory last night in Beckett's full game, shut out, 4 hitter (with 8 K and 0 BB). Lowell tacked on another ribby to pad the Sox lead to 4-0. Beckett retired 19 straight after the Angels first hit, and Lowell was featured in the Top Ten plays for a defensive snag and throw out at first.

I think our seemingly near brush with division defeat at the hands of the Yanks was just a perfectly orchestrated maneuver to get all our boys back to health. Youk went yard at his first at bat, followed later by Ortiz smoking a two run shot around Pesky's. Ortiz and Manny both got on the bags all night. CoCo had a patented stretched out catch to continue Beckett's sit down numbers. The Sox looked untouchable last night.

The Angels looked like this deer at the hands of Beckett. Dead.

Quick recap of the other two games. Rockies fought off the Phills to take the series to Colorado with a 1-0 lead and the Cubs fell to the adder's bite as the D-backs gain the upper hand.

I love postseason. Except that it is on TBS, but that's a topic for another post. As for now, go Indians!

Last Night's Drink: Smithwick's. Found it at a gas station, go figure.

*To help our reader discern which of us writes which posts I am going to put my signature at the end of my posts

-M. Trevor Acy

There's only one Wednesday, there's only one OCTOBER

2007-10-03T10:42:00.000-05:00

This might be the greatest piece of apparel ever created. I would sell a kidney to see a true yanks fan with one of these one at any point in the post season. I thought the yanks not making it to the post season would be the best thing ever but no, I was wrong; this is way better.

Updates have been shy I know. The two of us have been super busy with school and while that is no excuse, I'm using it anyway. We've made time to watch some football and of course never miss a sox game, but after that hiatus we don't have the time to sit down and write about it because we have to make up for the time spent watching. It's very confusing.

Quick football news, Mississippi State looked decent against South Carolina. I think our defense looked the worst it has all year, but I was starting like our community college transfer Riddle. So what happens? He tears his ACL, Henig starts practice this week, and we're faced to choose between Michael "I don't know which players our mine" Henig or a true red shirt freshman who has 4.2 seconds of playing time in the SEC. Personally, I'll go with Carroll. Our only two loses coming from a top 20 and top 5 team don't disappoint me too badly, but Riddle being our does. Honestly, I'm just praying that UAB doesn't upset us.

Baseball; It starts today. The last 160+ days have all been warm up and weed out. This post season is shaping up to be one of the best in a long long time.

Red Sox win the division with the best lead in baseball with a very possible Cy Young winner in Beckett and even more than likely Rookie of the Year with Pedroia.
The cast of teams is one of the best mixes in recent memory. Teams that haven't made it in years are all in.
The Rookies winning 14 of 15 to force a play off game versus the Padres which was one of the most incredibly odd baseball games ever. A home run not called so and the walk off score not touching the bag all. Not too mention the all time leading saver Trevor Hoffman giving up the game.
It is possible, though I'm not saying it will happen, to have a Red Sox / Cubs World Series. Holy Bejeezus
D-Backs in it for the first time since the Unit and Schiller devastated the Yankess
Phillies winning the division in the last regular season game, destroying the Mets after 159 games in the lead.
While the AL MVP is probably locked up with Arod, the NL race is a tight one and should prove to make that league worth watching even before the WS

I could go on and on but I'll stop there. Make sure to leave comments with why you think this post season is one for the record books

alot going on, little to talk about

2007-09-24T10:33:00.000-05:00

It was, as usual for this time of year, a pretty busy weekend in the world of sports. However, I really did not watch as much as I would normally and for good reason. It was Bulldog Bash weekend in Starkville. That is always our second home game of the season where we have live entertainment (though usually not that great, and this year was no exception) but any excuse is a good excuse to go to the old cotton district, eat a lot of food, kick back a few, and walk around bumping into people and not remembering girls' names. We got kind of a late start that night because baseball was on. And it turned out great, Sox won and the Yanks lost. It's just about as good a night can get right? Anyway that brought the magic number to clinch the division down to 7 (it is down to 6 presently) and then we hit the town.

Saturday, we headed over to a friend's place where his little brother (currently in culinary school) decided he would cook all day. We didn't stop him. After watching Ole Miss lose to Florida and bits of other college games, we headed to our own night game versus Gardner Webb University.

Yes, Gardner Webb. Power House of the Atlantic Sun Conference, and sometimes the Big South Conference. How are they in both, one can only guess. Not to be too cocky though, it wouldn't be the first time a small school had an upset (a la Michigan) but considering it would not be that big of an upset, we did not fret too much.

In good fashion, our dawgs decided to show up and play. Henig is out with his broke "fill in the blank" so we have freshman barely out of cap and gown throwing the ball. Compared to Henig, they look okay (better footwork, slightly better arm, same bad pass decisions) but where we decided to shine this game other than on defense was our run. Sure in true bulldog form we would try a run right up the center tailend and get all of 1.3 yards. But when we would option outside or anything we would carry a good 5 yard minimum. This goes back to years ago when we would throw to the tight end maybe twice a game and get 12 or 13 yards everytime. Why not do what works more often? Either way, with defense in great form as usual (except for a couple of drives) we squeaked it out of the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Did I forget to mention that? It was the MSU Bulldogs vs the Gardner Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

How great is that? I won't harp too long, but it is very nice to have 3 wins in our first 4 games. Granted our schedule becomes invinitely more difficult from here on than our last three games. Even UAB for our homecoming is a bit daunting. But hey, for first year our suspension I think we are looking very promising, especially considering the age of our not broken QBs.

Weekend Update with Norm Macdonald

2007-09-17T11:30:00.000-05:00

2-1. That's the MSU Bulldogs' football record right now with the one loss coming from #2 LSU. Granted the wins have been over Tulane and Auburn but both are teams we have lost to in the past year. Maybe Croom is on to something this year. In each of the three games are defense has looked good and with each game our offense has looked better. Henig is out 4-6 weeks with a broken (fill in the blank). I'm okay with that because I'm not too hot on the guy. He looks scared in the pocket, has bad foot work, and more often than not makes very poor pass decisions. Our two little guys that filled in for him Saturday both looked more comfortable behind the line, although did show signs that they were indeed freshman. I am completely satisfied with the way our defense has been playing, especially versus Auburn. We look like we once did, and for what reason we became known as the bulldogs. Very agressive on the line with a hard hitting back.

Quick NFL side note. The Patriots rolled over the Chargers yesterday. Wasn't even that interesting to watch. Videos or not, the Pats are stacked. Now if we could just get the Chargers back into their baby blues and dress Belichick like a head coach instead of a bum trying to find half a hamburger in a refuse bin. The Bengals and Browns had a record breaking game though. Both QBs threw for 6 TDs in one of the highest score NFL games ever, if not the highest. I should probably look that up, but it's the NFL so I don't really care.

Painful three game series between the Red Sox and Yankees came to fruition yesterday. With the Yankees taking two of the games following two top of the eighth inning charges. Ironically enough a buddy of mine was over at the apartment for those two games but not the one Saturday in which the Sox won 10-1. So long story short, he's never invited over during Sox games again.

I love this kid. Jacoby Ellsbury is everything a minor league prospect call up is suppose to be and more. He is the fastest thing around the bases I have seen in a long time, steals bases so well that Reyes looks bland, can hit for yard, and uses those wheels effectively in the outfield. I repeat, I love this kid. Actually I love all our rookies. If the Sox can manage to hold on to all of them for a few years, we are going to be dynamite. Pedroia is nearly a shoe in for Rookie of the Year and Dice-K is still making an argument for a Cy Young if not Rookie of the Year. I think the Cy will go to our boy Beckett though, which is fine because he is on top of his game this year.

Notre Dame is 0-3. Ha ha ha. I wish Michigan would have lost though. Ole Miss drops the ball to Vandy. Florida and LSU aren't worth mentioning, we all know how they fared. And USC held up their end versus Nebraska.

Go Dawgs.

Don't be Sad Wally

2007-09-15T10:51:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I don't know what happened either Wally.

Last night the Red Sox held a commanding five run lead over the Bronx Bombers until the top of the eighth. In retrospect I probably ran my mouth too much because usually getting into a bullpen battle with the Yanks can only end well for your team and we had Petite out by the sixth inning. None the less in true New York fashion the first eight batters reached for the Yanks in the top of the inning topping it off with the go ahead run which Boston was not able to redeem in the following two innings. Boston needs these wins badly, but not as badly as the Yankees want them. Two more nights, two more games. Tonight the two clubs' aces (Beckett, Wang) face off and tomorrow the old guys hit the mound in their first face off in six years (Schilling, Clemens).

For now, the magic number holds at 11.

Go Sox

Money in the Bank. Well, Out of it

2007-09-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

500K out of your personal pocket would more than bankrupt most. But not Mr. Belichick. Granted that is still a huge sum of money it isn't going to keep the Patriots' head coach from eating at fancy Boston restaurants. Throw in another 250K that gets docked directly from the team and you would think that would hurt the once glorious dynasty, but I'm going to disagree. The fans will end up paying for that. Either in ticket price gouging or increased food and beverage prices.

The draft picks is where they are going to get hurt, no doubt. Having to give up a first round draft pick is huge, except that it will only go into effect if they make it to the play-offs. If they don't, they still lose second and third rounds which will sting but not like it will if they lose their first pick. So, will Bill make the boys take a dive to keep that pick and take the hit later in the draft?

I have to say, $750,000 is a lot of money and losing picks is a pretty big penalty for cheating. Honestly though, I expected more given the new commissioner's attitude toward his noble sport. I don't know why but I was expecting something like:

The Patriots only get three downs
Tom Brady must play blind folded the rest of the season
Pats touchdowns only count for 4 points with no extra point attempt

or something along those lines.

Funny how in a sport that requires perhaps the most physical contact, people are getting in trouble for stealing signs, and then in baseball (one of the least physical contact sports) where there are 1,000,000 signs given every inning people are getting caught trying to bulk up.
Go Figure.

Tom Brady's Home Videos

2007-09-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

If you have three Super Bowl rings, play for an alleged "dynasty" in football, and date the world's most beautiful women and get caught having inappropriate video tapes, let it be of the bedroom with Giselle and not of stealing signals from the Jets.

THE JETS? Come On

Okay so it wasn't really Brady's doing, but I think you get my point. After one whole week of regular season play the team to beat is cheating. No wonder they are so good. As soon as the Jets story broke, we heard that the Pats might have cheating in the Packers game too. Just how long do you think it is going to be before speculation starts flying that they cheating in one of the Super Bowls? I give my over / under at one day, and that's assuming Skip isn't talking about it as I write this.

I'm going to go with my gut and say they haven't been cheating all along. I think they tried something stupid because of last year's upset or some idiot tried to rationalize it by thinking that if you can steal signals with your eyes (which is legal) why can't you use a camera lens. Even before this, the Pats were a fan favorite to go all the way this year regardless of the end of last season.

It is kind of nice to have a little bit of the spotlight out of MLB's eyes and onto another sport dealing with breaking the rules. Although the steroid hype has died down despite two players being found guilty of using HGH and testosterone in the last couple of weeks. I wonder why that is? Couldn't have anything to do with Bonds breaking the all time home run record and now it's not hot news because the Giants still suck? No, of course not.

This week's prediction: Patriots get docked some draft spots and maybe a fine (although that is pointless and just hurts fans) and A-rod belts two more homers, at least one off the Sox this weekend, but Red Sox still take at least two games from the Yanks by that time putting the magic number into single digits.

Cheers

Tulane's Green Puddle

2007-09-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

A week after being torn a new one by the LSU Tigers, my Bulldogs took a trip down to New Orleans to take on in-state neighbor Tulane. So the competition isn't quite the same, but seeing as how Tulane came to MSU last year and beat us it was still an important game.

Take note, the game was held in the Superdome and other than this sentence there will be no mention of hurricane Katrina.

Man does New Orleans stink. Literally. It's actually quite odd. I do not think there is another city in the country that you can walk down the street and within four seconds go from saying how the street smells like urine to following your nose to some of the best smelling food in the world. Then immediately back to smelling fecal matter and beer induced vomit. No matter, I love New Orleans.

I was surprised with the fan base that showed up for the game. MSU usually has a pretty good showing in LA, but I would say about 70% of the attendance was clad in maroon and white. Glad we can still rally behind a football team that just got it's tenth win over the past four years.

Our offense had improved from last week. Henig still looked a little poor with his footwork and definitely made some bad pass choices but still it was not a seven interception game. Our run looked much better, particularly the blocking for the run. Defense was more or less stellar with one TD off an INT. However, after our first two TDs our defense let Tulane score the equalizer on the very next possession.

I'm glad we won, the team needed it badly going into next week's game at Auburn (ouch). If Tulane had shown up more though, I do not believe we would be celebrating the win. We owe the Green Wave as much appreciation for only playing up to the level of a moderately deep puddle for our win as we do to our dogs.

But here's to New Orleans for always knowing how to show college students a good time.

My NFL Predictions

2007-09-07T09:32:00.000-05:00

I am by no means the biggest NFL fan. When you don't have a team in state (granted N.O. isn't that far away) it is just hard to really adopt a team when they play such few games (what is it now like 7 games a year?). But it is football and I love to watch it none the less, unless there is a more interesting *read "any" college game on. I'm actually heading to New Orleans tomorrow for the MSU v Tulane game, which hopefully will at least be a good game, unlike the likes we can look forward to against Auburn and West Virginia. Either way, Gardner Webb: Bring It On.

Enough bull, here are MY NFL PREDICTIONS

Announcers make too many mentions of how the Saints have revitalized New Orleans since Katrina
Only 22 Pro athletes get arrested for violent crimes this season
Everyone still doesn't know that the Cardinals are also a football team (and just barely a baseball one)
Romo cries, again
Though sentencing isn't until Dec. no one shuts up about Vick
Nearly all of the college drafted players will be disappointments, most notably Quinn
Seriously, Reggi Bush rushes for 100+ yrd in more than 5 games
The Super Bowl will include two of these teams, Colts, Bears, Cowboys, Pats, or Saints (it isn't going to be that exciting, all the good teams last year are the good teams this year)
Favre surpasses Marino in many records making him "the best QB of all time", but Peyton will set pace to eclipse Favre's records if Brett ever does retire
And finally, Eli will learn to count to ten without using his fingers

And there you have it, my 2007 NFL predictions.

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The Prodigal Son Returns

2007-08-14T20:28:00.001-05:00

So yes, I am back. Actually I've been back for two weeks but I didn't slow down one bit. The first weekend back I headed to Natchez for a Food and Wine Festival. Nothing sports related other than playing a few rounds of Bocce ball. Then this past weekend, Horne, Sox Gal, Miss Rookie, and myself took the long drive to Camden Yards for two games against the Red Sox.

I won't go into too much detail, mainly because I'm just tired. Sox won one and lost one of our witness, and lost the one previous to our arrival. Go Figure. The O's who we have something like a .946 winning percentage against over the last half decade and we drop two out of three while we're there. Still, it was most of our first trips to Camden (Sox Gal with the only prior) and goodness is that a beautiful park. If Fenway is the epitome of a vintage stadium then Camden is definitely the shinning beacon of what a new one should be. Not a bad seat in the house (luckily for us since our seats Sunday were on the last row of the top deck) and plenty of food vendors with ice cold brews including Smithwick's and Guiness on tap. Oh yeah.

Everyone is all in an uproar about the Yanks winning streak since the break. I've always been one to stand back from a mid season streak and go... it doesn't do you any good in July to win 20 out of 25 if you drop 15 out of 20 in Sept. But that's just me. As I'm writing this they are getting the royal bejeezus kicked out of them by the Orioles (again, go figure). Of course the on again off again relationship between our baseball bats and baseballs has us trailing the Devil Rays... so frustrating to have such amazing pitching and then no one can find their swing. Still it's nice to be able to rely on a two run lead instead of having to have a seven point spread.

Of course I haven't lost faith. Not one bit. The Yanks are heading into a tough section with their schedule culminating with a face off against us (my first to watch since May). And on top of that I'll be back in Starkvegas with Horne and Miss Rookie to enjoy it.

Well that is my "return to the post" post. Nothing special, but at least you know I'm not dead.

I picked up Moneyball from Henry and am very excited about reading it. Money and baseball, could their be another book more up my alley? I think not.

Oh yeah, and I hate Joe Morgan still... probably more even. Sheesh.

Currently Drinking: Sweet Tea. Nectar to the gods.

Joe Morgan, you dumbass

2007-08-07T17:16:00.001-05:00

Trevor and I talked about this for some length today, so I figured I'd share it with our faithful audience.

Today in a chat session on ESPN.com(many of which are available to me because of an awesome gift to me of ESPN The Magazine), Joe Morgan fielded a question:

Rick in San Diego: Do you think there is often too much weight and kudos given to individual stat data accomplishments in what is supposed to be a team sport?

Joe Morgan: Finally, somebody that understands the game! You're right. Statistics are overrated. What you do to help your team win is what it's all about. These stats like OPS, it doesn't tell you what you do for the team. To my opinion, to help the team, you drive in runs or score runs. That helps the team. That's how you should be judged.

Being a recently baptized "Moneyball baby," I quickly copied, pasted, and emailed this quote to my email in hopes of posting. I just couldn't let this go.

So Joe says statistics are overrated. Are they? Possibly. But it's doubtful. If there is anything Billy Beane and Co. have showed us, it's that even if you focus 100% on statistics and have a cold, hard relationship with your players and managers, you'll WIN games, and you'll be in CONTENTION. From 1999-2004, no team did that better with less money than the Oakland A's. So for that point alone, Joe should be slapped. With a bat. By David Ortiz.

As for the next part, well, Joe is just an idiot. "These stats like OPS, it doesn't tell you what you do for the team." REALLY, Joe? Did you seriously just say that? For those of you with not exactly as much free time devoted to baseball stats as I am, I'll try to explain.

OPS. It stands for "on-base plus slugging." It's a handy way to look at how a player(or team) bats for power, as well as how well he(or they) get on base. Let's break each of those components down further.

On-Base Percentage(OBP). It's basically what it sounds like. It is how many times you reach base safely in the absence of errors or fielder's choices, divided by how many official at-bats you have plus the "unofficial" at-bats. So it's:

(hits + walks + hits-by-pitch) / (at-bats + walks + hits-by-pitches + sacrifice flies)

Slugging Percentage(SLG). A power rate statistic, slugging percentage is just the total bases you earn per official at-bat, or:

(total # of bases) / ( at-bats)

Add OBP and SLG together and you get OPS.

So back to the argument at hand. Joe Morgan said OPS doesn't tell you what you are doing for your team. Well thankfully for my side of things, the hard work has already been done. The guys over at Hardball Times did an analysis over every season of baseball, and they looked at the correlation of runs scored with a host of different parameters, including our lovely OPS statistic.

Their results? As it turns out, OPS and runs scored have a correlation coefficient of .955, which in statistics means that OPS is GREATLY related to run production(with a value of 1.000 meaning they are entirely related).

Do some more tinkering, as HBT did, and you square that term, and you get a coefficient of determination(CoD). If the CoD is 1.000, there is a 1-to-1 perfectly linear relationship between the two variables. OPS and runs scored have a CoD of .913. That means that OPS is almost perfectly linear with respect to runs scored.

So how does this help us? Well, if you(or your team) have a high OPS, then you are scoring some runs. Last time I checked, runs are how you beat your opponent. And I'm no expert, but I'm rather certain THAT is how your teams win. So Joe Morgan, OPS DOES show you what you are doing for your team. It shows that you are contributing to runs, and that is quite important in the grand baseball scheme of things.

Trevor and I have long hated Joe Morgan, but this is just another reason that supports our stance. I'm not saying Joe Morgan isn't knowledgeable about baseball(although he doesn't), but if he doesn't accept well-proven ideas and theories, or if he hasn't stepped into the modern era of baseball in the past 30 years, then he doesn't need to spreading his "know-how" with America, let alone telling them "they finally understand baseball."

I say "Good DAY, sir!"

Oh yeh, and if you check that Joe Morgan Wikipedia article, you'll find more boneheaded remarks by Joe regarding Moneyball. What a complete, utter, dumbass.

Currently Drinking: Coors Light (leftover from the wedding weekend)

no, Jonathan, "watchis" isn't a word

2007-07-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

Two things you should already know about me:

1) I wish I had tons of money.
2) I wish the Red Sox and Fenway weren't so far away.

But now, these two things are magnified even more.

The Red Sox hold this thing called Picnic in the Park every year at Fenway. This year the picnic was yesterday. Check out some of the SWEET things they auctioned off this year:

A two day hunting trip with Mike Timlin and Tim Wakefield
A pizza party for 10 of your friends with special guest Mike Lowell.
Personal meeting with Daisuke Matsuzaka in addition to watching batting practice from the warning track AND great seats to the game
Dinner for 4 with the Schillings at THEIR HOME in the offseason
A game of scrabble with Jonathan Papelbon(my personal favorite)
A video game session before a game with Dustin Pedroia

You can check the rest of the auctioned items here. Pretty cool stuff. I heard on NESN today that they raised about $350,000 for charities.

Currently Drinking: screwdriver(I have OJ, I have vodka. Why not?)

i hate this guy

2007-07-15T12:03:00.000-05:00

I hate Scott Boras. He's a spineless, gutless agent that always costs teams more than they should pay for a player. As you know, he was the major reason the Matsuzaka negotiations took so long to finish. The Sox had the advantage of paying the posting fee to Dice-K, so ONLY they were able to talk to him; Boras was unable to use Free Agency bidding as his leverage.

Boras clients are always advised by him to test the free agent market when their contracts are up, causing teams to overbid against the market for the player they want.

So that's the main reason I hate this guy(and most other GMs in the business). But now, Boras is trying to mangle in the on-field happenings of his agents. More specifically, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Apparently, Boras is upset with the pitch counts of the $100 million dollar man, and he made his thoughts public.

But this is why I love our manager. His response to Boras' statement(that was asked by a reporter this morning):

"You know what, I've got a lot of respect for Scott, I really do. [But] he can run the pitching when he lets me run the contracts, how's that? Is that a fair tradeoff?"

That's right, Boras. Fuck off. Let the manager do the managing. Let the the pitching coach handle the pitchers.

Currently Drinking: water(gonna run after the Sox game)

(slightly late) midseason report

2007-07-14T15:18:00.001-05:00

Yeh, ok, I'm a little past the All-Star Break, but we're still close enough to talk about the first half. I wont go through each player and give a grade(like most places online are wont to do). Instead, I'm gonna touch on aspects of the team and give my opinion as to where things stand.

Offense
The Sox offense in the 1st half, although not on par with the 2003-2004 bats, was definitely more potent than most predicted before the season. The Sox are 1st in the AL in on-base % (.358) and 4th in slugging (.437). They lead the AL in walks by a huge margin (382 to Oakland's 340). They're getting on base, and they're hitting for decent power, which will almost always lead to runs(they're 4th in the AL in Runs Scored). Lowell, believe it or not, has been our "power" hitter, but if the first two games after the break are any indication, Papi and Manny are going to have monstah 2nd halves.

High Point: The Sox going back-to-back-to-back-to-back off rookie Yankee pitcher Chase Wright
Low Point: Julio Lugo

Fielding
The Sox fielders have the 5th best fielding % in the AL with .985, and they have a total of 51 errors. They are obviously not as good as that awesome 9 were last year(66 errors TOTAL), but they've shown huge improvements the past few weeks. Coco Crisp and Youkilis could very well win Gold Gloves at season's end, and Pedroia is a serious contender for that piece of hardware as well.

High Point: ANY catch made by Coco Crisp.
Low Point: Mike Lowell has 13 errors so far. He had SIX all last year.

Starting Pitching
This pitching is good. Very good. Beckett leads the way in his Cy-Young caliber season, followed by Dice-K and Schilling. Curt threw a good side session yesterday, and there is hope he will be good-to-go not too long after August 1st. Beckett leads the league in wins, and Dice-K is in the top 5 in strikeouts. I'm hoping we see Lester up soon, although he has struggled(from what I have read) in his past few outings. I can understand that the Sox don't want to rush a guy that just went through cancer mere months ago. A Schilling-Beckett-Matsuzaka rotation in the playoffs would be S-I-C-K.

High Point: Schilling almost getting a no-hitter.
Low Point: Schilling almost getting a no-hitter.

Bullpen
Can we all agree that the bullpen has been the strongest part of this year's team? These guys are lights out all the way. Now with Manny Delcarmen back in the bigs and having confidence, we have a righty set-up man, a lefty set-up man(Okajima), and one the best closers in the game(Papelbon). You get the starter through 6 innings, and you can pretty much go home. Okajima has been nothing short of amazing, leading the majors in relief ERA with .810. Unreal.

High Point: Okajima making Barry Bonds look retarded at bat.
Low Point: A-Rod's go-ahead homer in the 9th inning against Papelbon.

1st Half Surprise
Dustin Pedroia. No question about it. This guy had a lousy call-up session last year in September, but coming into Spring Training he shed about 20 lbs. and had a new work ethic. This guy started slow in April, but after a few days off and some help with hitting coach Magadan, he's been en fuego. The Rookie of the Month in May, Pedroia almost seems like he puts maximum effort into his swings, yet he doesn't just hit for power. He spreads it around the field, rarely strikes out, and is very Youk-like in his at-bats. Oh, and he's an awesome fielder too, committing just THREE errors all year in almost as many chances as the rest of the AL 2nd basemen.

1st Half MVP
You know, at the beginning of the season, I would have said David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez. As it turns out, the 1st half MVP for me is none of ther than that Japanese pitching import that has been absolutely deadly on the mound. No no, I'm not talking about the Dice-man. I'm talking about Hideki Okajima, the left-handed specialist that DOESN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE BATTER when he pitches. To think, this guy was mainly brought in to make Matsuzaka's "transition" easier. Now, he(along with Pedroia and Dice) is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate.

2nd Half Outlook
The Sox are in great position to take home the AL East title. Barring a complete collapse, and if the majority of the guys stay healthy(or take time off to rest), they can easily win 100 games at this pace. Another bullpen arm might be nice, but if they can take everyone into October with good health, they'll be in good shape.

What worries me:
David Ortiz. He has a torn meniscus, but it has no inflammation. He says he can play on it through the rest of the year, but he may need surgery after the season. This is obviously what has kept his power numbers at bay this season, although he is crushing doubles left and right and still getting on base, second only to Detroit's Magglio Ordonez. If he needs to rest, thanfully we have such a large lead in the division that we can give him that day off if need be. I still hope that he gets surgery this offseason and fixes it, and I REALLY hope this doesn't come back to bite us in September/October.

Bold Predicitons:
The Sox will somehow surprise us and make us MUCH better by the July 31st deadline by pulling a trade that we haven't even thought about.

Jacoby Ellsbury will be to the 2007 Red Sox in October what Dave Roberts was to the 2004 team. Mark my words.

Currently Drinking: Michelob Ultra Amber(an awesome discovery by the Sox Gal)

maybe I'm in the minority

2007-07-10T16:56:00.001-05:00

...but I absolutely love how the All-Star game decides home-field advantage in the World Series. Although it's not usually the norm, I highly disagree with Eric Wilbur on this issue.

I mean, I guess it really depends who your team is or for whom you are playing. Yeah, I'm rather certain Gil Meche of the Royals or Michael Young of the Rangers couldn't care less as to whether the Red Sox played 4 games at home during the Fall Classic. Likewise, I'm certain a player like Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates is indifferent as to whether his NL representative in the Series has the field advantage. Those guys just don't care.

But take a look at the starters for the AL. All of them are on serious contenders for the pennant. And the pitchers? All but Bobby Jenks and Gil Meche are currently on teams vying for a playoff berth. My point is clear. Sure, there will be a few on the All-Star squads that couldn't give a shit about home field advantage in the World Series, but they will be GREATLY outnumbered by those that do, which puts some meaning into an otherwise meaningless game.

Yes, I know. It's supposed to be an exhibition. But in all honesty, I didn't care AT ALL about the Midsummer Classic until 2003, when the rule to decide homefield in late October was put in place(granted, it was created from the debacle known as the 2002 All-Star Game, but that's another issue that's been talked about quite enough). Hell, I didn't even have a team in the summer of 2003 before August, yet I still watched the two leagues duke it out because it MEANT something. It was compelling. There WOULD be ramifications. Sure, the Yanks lost that year because they ran into a 23-year old name Josh Beckett, but still. Because the Marlins had to win it IN Yankee Stadium made it that more appealing.

The fact of the matter is that I watch the game now with more scrutiny than ever. Sure, the whole nation gets to see players like Okajima on the national stage, but if you're anywhere close to a baseball fan(and watch ESPN or FOX once every 2 months), you should know who he is. The game is fun to watch because it's an awesome collection of talent, but it's also fun because you KNOW your team(if they're in contention) wants to win the game. Luckily for me, my team has sent 6 of their best to ensure this happens.

Top 78 Reasons to Watch the 78th All-Star Game(from Page 2 on ESPN.com). It's hilarious.

Here's to hoping that Michael Young repeats his performance last year and knocks in the winning run. Com'on American League!

Oh, and since tomorrow is the day after the All-Star Game(read: NOTHING in professional sports is happening), I'll post my midseason report card of the Sox.

Currently Drinking: Dr. Pepper(my first carbonated beverage in awhile...oh so good)

a false sense of superiority

2007-07-07T22:35:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm too exhausted from that 13-inning marathon the Sox just lost to blog much. My half-season review will have to wait tomorrow. The bullpen was steller once again, but of course someone had to take the loss, and unfortunately it was Paps. And I absolutely HATE the tv announcers for the other teams when they do the broadcast. They freakin' hate on every player on the Sox; Remy and Orsillo never do that. Eyugh. Hopefully I'll get the NESN broadcast tomorrow.

And I'm sure everyone in Detroit is saying how the Tigers are the best team right now because they have taken the first two from the Sox. Yeh ok. You beat us against Tavarez and our fill-in for Schilling. Please. We showed we were the better team earlier in the season at Fenway anyways. Dice is on the mound in a little over 12 hours, so we'll see how well your bats work then.

Currently Drinking: water(I'm doing the unthinkable and running tomorrow morning)

Joe Torre...or evil cult leader?

2007-07-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

So I'm watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom tonight, and I realize that Dr. Jones wasn't fighting the evil voodoo shaman Mola Ram. He was fighting Joe Torre!!!

If only Mola Ram had Scott Proctor to do his evil bidding.

Speaking of Joe Torre, and my omni-present desire to make fun of the Yankees and their woes, here's a shot of Alex "my wife is a crazy bitch" Rodriguez in the dugout after the Yankees lost yet another game:

Aww, is little A-Rod gonna cry?? *sniff* *sniff*

Real sports news tomorrow. We'll talk about the midseason break, All-Star selections, and the perfect example on how NOT to have an at-bat(also known as Julio Lugo).

Currently Drinking: Dos Equis Amber(the roommate keeps buying it)

an interesting perspective

2007-06-29T22:53:00.000-05:00

In case you didn't know, the Boston Globe's Red Sox page is a GREAT source of information regarding the team, especially the left side of the page. Tons of good blogs and posts before, during, and way after the game. Anyways, over the past year or so of being a loyal boston.com reader, I've gotten to know the editors and beat reporters rather well. The one with my favorite writing style (and humor) is Amalie Benjamin. Her live "game blogs" are very informal, and actually quite funny.

A few days ago, boston.com revived an old segment that they did last year, entitled "The Sox I know." It is audio commentary(usually a few minutes) about each Sox player told by certain Boston Globe sports reporters. Last year it was done by Bob Ryan(boo), and this year, you guessed it, it is being done by Miss Benjamin. Check it out here. This week's players are Dice-K and Mike Lowell. It's just kinda cool to hear how the reporters that cover the team describe the players...as they know them.

And in case you didn't know, RBDS2 is in the Land of the Rising Sun for the next month, so it's all me for 30 days. Please try to contain your excitement.

Currently Drinking: Chocolate Milk(the best way to end the night)

maybe this should be a regular feature

2007-06-27T19:35:00.000-05:00

So I may have judged too early a few posts ago. THIS commercial(from waaay back) is awesome. Glavine and (especially) Maddux are some of the dorkiest guys to ever wear a major league uni, but thankfully they knew how to make fun of themselves.

Currently Drinking: Dos Equis Amber

sports roundup

2007-06-26T21:07:00.000-05:00

No no, don't check your internet connection. It's really me. And this IS a new post. Just calm down. The last few weeks have been kind of crazy, and that has led to very little time for sports bloggin'(other than the occasional video of Terry Tate laying the smack down). Last week the Sox Gal and I attended the Red Sox series in Atlanta. It was glorious(like the Sox-themed caricature?). Sox took 2 out of 3, and we gave them their first back-to-back shutouts by an AL team in a looooong time. Beckett looked awesome. Schilling did not; guess that's why he's on the DL now. We also(and by we, I mean the Sox Gal) got tons of autographs. Can you say "Youuuuuuuuk"?

Anyways, lot's to talk about...

The whole Mark Buehrle deal. Apparently this deal was nowhere even close, ever since White Sox GM Kenny Williams wanted more/better prospects than Theo was willing to give(like Jacoby Ellsbury). No problem with me. Buehrle would have been a luxury, not a necessity.
I know this is weeks old, but it appears the Yankees watched all of Schilling's near-no-no, and they were cheering against him. Bastards. Just shows you that the players do indeed care about rivalries. Or, they just hate Schilling. Either is plausible.
Apparently, Renteria loved playing against the Red Sox, to show them "they were wrong." Yeh, ok Edgar, keep saying that. Granted, the Sox haven't exactly excelled in the shortstop position since Cabrera left after 2004. But dude, you sucked. I'm sorry.
Speaking of O-Cab, he tore into the Yankees fanbase a few weeks ago. Haha. Man I loved that guy.
Jon Lester hasn't exactly looked like himself the past few starts in Pawtucket, but thankfully there's no huge rush. Kason Gabbard steps in for Schill tonight in about 14 minutes. He got the "W" when the Braves rolled into Beantown last month.
Back to the Atlanta trip...boy do casual Sox fans suck. Tons of middle aged men asking for Sox players' autographs, and they don't even know who it is they're getting 'graphs from. Shame.
Then you have the 97% of them who only know 3 players on the Sox roster: Papi(they think that's his real name), Manny, and this new Matsuzaka fella. And they scream their names over and over again. Quite annoying.
Wimbledon has started. My FAVORITE of the Grand Slams! And seriously, how could you not like a tournament that has "The Championships" in its title? I'm obviously rooting for my leading lady, Miss Sharapova. We all know the men's tournament will be a joke. They should just give the trophy to Federe already.
As part of my birthday present last week, my father sent me several books. I'm currently reading Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. Absolutely amazing book.
I'm also reading The Physics of Baseball. For an engineer like me, it's paradise: baseball and science. Sweetness.
I also got Baseball Prospectus 2007 from my parents. Basically every stat and every record for every team and player in the big leagues. LOVE IT.
The Sox Gal came up with this idea a few days ago: She, Trevor, Miss Rookie, and I are gonna take a road trip up to DC in August. Who just happens to be playing in Baltimore at that time? Yup, you guessed it.
And finally, ESPN.com's Page 2 did this cool little write up of the 101 sports events you HAD to see before you die. Most are pretty good, but I'm gonna have to disagree vehemently with #49. They are WAY OFF.

And with that, I'm off to watch the Sox face off against the Mariners. MLB.tv is a wonderful thing.

Currrently drinking: Coors Light (in a bottle. they're just fun to open)

Roger Clemens...in 2057

2007-06-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

Ok, this has been a big hit on Boston.com the last few weeks, so I figured it was its time to come to Sports on the Rox. It's funny, in my opinion, as it's not that far from the truth. You may also think it's kinda creepy in some respects, but then again, so is a professional organization resting their entire playoff hopes with $28 million on a 45-year old past his prime, right?

Currently Drinking: St. Paul's Lager (I have no idea. It's just the beer my roommate left in the fridge this weekend.)

And Another Thing

2007-06-21T12:39:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update. The third installment of the Pre-season rankings just came out and guess what... MSU is currently ranked 17th. The only other SEC team ranked higher than us is UT right now, but we all know that is bollocks. Actually they are looking pretty formidable but that's okay, I'd rather be ranked lower and climb my way to the town than have a slippery slope to descend. Alabama also makes it into the Top 25 at #24 but they have had health problems plague their best players.

I'm not leaving them out, currently Florida is not in the Top 25 though they received votes. They did make it in the second poll but no longer. Arkansas also has been receiving votes but have yet to break through into the top list.

In outer SEC news, Ohio State also is no longer in the Top 25, dropped out in the third round of polls. UNC is in 1st presently but my (used to be) darkhorse favorite Memphis is right behind them in second.

For the whole list CLICK HERE

Survey Monkey

2007-06-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

Found this cool website that lets you make quick and simple surveys. So I'm trying my hand out at one. Please fill it out, it won't take two minutes.

Click Here to take survey

College Talk

2007-06-20T10:19:00.001-05:00

So State did not have too great of a showing in Omaha, but being the only team from the SEC to advance that far I still am proud of my DiamondDogs. But now that baseball is over (in terms of college) for MSU what should we look forward to? Obviously our baseball team will still be balling next season, so that's great. Football season is the closest... but the crown jewel of SEC sports, football is not such at MSU. With Croom in a contract year (I think, I've heard and read about seventeen different things) who knows, we could break out and have a .500+ season maybe. I need something I can be a little more enthusiastic about though. Oh yeah, BASKETBALL!

The Dawgs are shaping up to one hell of a formidable team this year. We were good last year, but had many areas of improvement. Losing nearly all of one class seems like it would hurt us, on paper. In all actuality, losing the Delks and Goodridge, I think, couldn't be better. But that's not the starting point. Let's examine this team a bit.

Jamont Gordon: He scared us a little bit months ago when he decided to join Charles Rhodes in the NBA draft. Smartly, and luckily for us, someone told him he probably wouldn't go first round so he pulled out and is going to play with State "one mo'again." He was good last year, working his way up to great after finally being coached into a real player making double-doubles and a record tying triple-double in the last few weeks of the season last year. And this year he's going to be even better. Rivals.com has him listed as the #1 Point Guard in the Nation in their power listings right now. Yeah, #1... Nation...

Charles Rhodes: Also went into the draft but did not gain his sense nearly as quick as Gordon, however earlier this week Rhodes also pulled out. Meaning he can't even become a free agent (like he would have if he had stayed in). With Varnado and Rhodes down low with JaGo wheeling and dealing we already have a formidable offense and two of the SEC's best defensive players.

Jarvis Varnado: I loved this kid last year. He kicks 7x the amount of ass that Goodridge did with about a thousand less turn overs. I really have no problem seeing Goodridge gone. I'm calling it right now, Varnado to lead the SEC in blocked shots next season. Bookmark this page, I said it first.

Everyone else already with us: We were so great last year because of our bench. We were very deep team. With Ben Hansbrough, Barry Stewart, and the Delks we were set. I see nothing but better seasons from lil'Hans and baby-faced Barry (that kid is nails) but we are losing two good, and I stress the mediocrity of the word good, players with the Delks. Offensively they were okay, draining threes at good moments and they came up with a lot of important defensive plays too. But in reality they were just good. No outstanding numbers. They could be clutch some of the time, and honestly I think the fact that they are twins added to people's appeal. They'll be missed, but not that much.

The Recruits: This is where we rock. Check these two kids out.

Romero Osby: Ranked at #10 in his position (Power Forward) for his recruiting class. A four star recruit made up of 6ft 8in and 230lbs.

and

Scotty Hopson: Ranked at #8 in his position (Small Forward) for his recruiting class. Also a four star recruit who is 6ft 5in and 185lbs. Rivals.com has some video footage of this kid and he is going to more than pull the Delks weight.

The only down side to these two great prospects right now is they are class of '08 so we may not be seeing them. But I'm a long term kind of guy. With our solid team still together from last year along with more play time for some of our bench guys (please be Stewart, please be Stewart) we are easily going to be a contender again for the SEC Championship and a good bid for the NCAA tourney.

Go Dawgs.

"Omaha...sweet"

2007-06-10T20:49:00.000-05:00

Such was the body of the text message my brother Will sent me mere seconds after Mississippi State's Mich Moreland struck out Clemson's Taylor Harbin to end the Super Regional sweep in front of a record breaking crowd at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi.

So the Dawgs are headed to Omaha after a 9 year hiatus. It's pretty exciting. Especially after we were picked to finish last in the SEC West this year. That's why "predictions" are just that.

No long post today. Just a big CONGRATS to our fellow maroon dirt dawgs, and we wish them the best of luck. We'll be watching every game on ESPN and ESPN2. We can only hope Oral Hershiser will be doing the tv commentary along with Dan Shulman(a voice like butter).

GO DAWGS!

Currently Drinking: the rest of the Coors Light Josh left over here after Game 1

big ups to Damon...no, not THAT Damon

2007-06-06T17:27:00.001-05:00

As funny/true as the video is, I probably say the same silent prayer that the rest of New England is thinking: "Please don't come back to bite us in the ass. Please don't come back to bite us in the ass. Please don't come back to bite us in the ass. "

Currently Drinking: Milk(I really need some beer, don't I?)

thank you, Mike Lowell

2007-06-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we don't realize how the game of baseball affects people and their families. We also tend to overlook how professional baseball players are human being as well.

Peter Gammons, in his latest Insider Blo g, talks about how Robinson Cano, after the Red Sox beating last Friday, was upset at Lowell practically elbowing the 2nd baseman in order to break up a possible double play. Cano complained after the game, and many in baseball seemed to reciprocate that view. Many called Lowell a "cheap-shot artist." Lowell was just giving the Yankee middle infield a taste of what A-Rod did to Pedroia weeks back, but that's not the point. Gammons goes on to cite this story from the Boston Herald that showed the REAL Mike Lowell. I've pasted the short article below.

In a family’s darkest hour, Mike Lowell [stats] offered a bit of light.

Courtney Butcher couldn’t have been more excited about the prospect of sitting in Fenway Park [map]’s Green Monster seats for the Red Sox [team stats]’ April 22 game against the Yankees. It was an excitement evidenced in a phone conversation to her father, Jim, two days earlier.

That, however, would be the last time father and daughter would speak.

An hour after Jim’s conversation with Courtney, the 18-year-old was killed in a car crash on a country road in Leicester. Also killed in the accident were teenagers Nathan Plaza, Bryan Rossik and Julianne Caron.

Two nights after the tragedy, Courtney’s favorite player, Lowell, and the rest of the Red Sox played the game the University of New Hampshire freshman was supposed to see. Right on cue, Lowell launched one of the Sox’ four straight home runs near the spot Butcher was supposed to be.

Then, in the seventh inning, Lowell did it again, this time sending his homer even farther. The blast prompted ESPN announcer Jon Miller to say, “That one is headed to New Hampshire!”

The Butchers took notice.

Through a family friend, the Butchers got word to Lowell the following Tuesday regarding what happened. The Red Sox signed one of his game jerseys, writing “Courtney, may God be with you. Rest in peace.”

A day later the shirt was hung near Courtney’s casket during her wake and is encased at the Worcester family’s home as a reminder of their daughter.

But Lowell also added something else that Tuesday night, after personalizing the memento - another home run, this time coming after a momentous prediction.

“They told me he said he would hit a home run that night,” Jim Butcher said. “It was just a tremendous thing he did.”

When asked last night, Lowellindicated it was the least he could do.

“If it can lighten the load for people who are going through tough times, then that’s great,” he said. “You want to make people feel better any way you can in that situation.”

Amazing story, eh? Thank you Mike Lowell for not only being a great example to kids everywhere and great ballplayer, but thank you for being an amazing human being.

Currently Drinking: Chocolate Milk(protein, baby!)

Dual Post

2007-06-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

The post is a two-fer, so feel extra special! First off, commenting on Horne's latest post: I love the Yankees this year. Bet you never thought you'd "hear" me say that, but I do. Everything they touch turns to dust.
Ex: Red Sox got an awesome Japanese import so we better do the same... and send a 40+ Million dollar investment to the minors. We should fire our strength and conditioning coach... and send over half our starters to the DL. We should pick up Clemens to easily coast us past the Red Sox... and have him hurt before he makes it to the majors.

They can't do anything right for once and it's hysterical. And that's without looking at some of their prize possessions falling terribly short of expectations. A-rod could not have cooled off faster if he'd been dropped into liquid Oxygen, despite his homer last night. I'm not positive that Abreu is still alive. Cano and Cabrerra have been shells of themselves of yesteryear. And Jeter continues to prove his mediocrity at shortstop. Oh yah, and they are TIED with the DEVIL RAYS. Yes, the team that usually ends up 20 or more games behind in the ALEast is TIED with the Yanks.

It is such a strange feeling to not be constantly trying to catch up. I find myself saying things like, "that sucks we lost. we better shape up less our lead be cut to a single digit." It's great for the moral of the team and all of our players aren't having to press themselves, taking days off when needed and giving much needed field time for utility guys like Pena and Cora (who both have been performing brilliantly). Roger could not scare me less if he were a fluffy pink teddy bear kissing a puppy.

Part Two:
Just to tell everyone, I went to the MS Braves game last night at Trustmark Park. For minors, that place is awesome. There are tons of vendors, modestly priced food and beverages, not a bad seat in the place, and respectable ticket prices. Best of all, if you buy the cheapest tickets ($5 to sit in the outfield grass or picnic tables) and the stadium doesn't fill up you can move to the base line seats with no hassle.

It was a great game by Seattle's farm the DiamondJaxx. That lead changed three or four times coming down to a bottom of the ninth walk off single by the Braves. I really got into the game (hell it's baseball right) but I must say like those Braves that came before them (Saltalamacchia & McCann) the MS team has some great players with fantastic baseball names. I will surely be attending more games this summer and I highly recommend you do as well if you have the opportunity.

worst deal ever?

2007-06-04T17:47:00.001-05:00

It appears our old friend Roger Clemens has some groin problems. Hmm, I could have sworn I read that somewhere before. The Yankees pushed his start back after he admitted to having problems with his special area after his 3rd minor league start.

Clemens got an MRI today, and (shocker) it revealed he has scar tissue on his right groin. Even so, Clemens says he's gonna pitch on Saturday at The Stadium against the World Series-bound Pittsburgh Pirates. Even I'm skeptical that he's gonna make that start, but let's say that he does make it. If he does, then that means he will have signed to a major league contract. Right now, he's on a minor league contract, and that pro-rated 28$ million is not his. Only when he signs that contract does he get the money. So, let's assume for a minute he signs the contract and becomes a big leauge player in time for Saturday's game.

As the Fenway Faithul cheered last night: "Where-is-Rog-ah? Clap. Clap. Clap-Clap"

The Yankees will have played 59 games at that point(that will be there 60th game). SO, that means, 103 games will remain in their schedule, or 63.58%. That means Clemens will get about $17,802,400 for the season. If Clemens was perfectly healthy and in 1986 form, he'd start about 20 games. BUT, we all know that if he's hurtin now, he WILL miss a start or two at some point. So, we'll say he starts 18 games at the most during the rest of the season. Given his pro-rated salary, that comes out to $989,000 per start. BUT, we all know that Clemens wont get through the 6th inning during most of these games, so the bullpen will be relied upon to close it out. And we all know from the first two months of the season that the Yanks bullpen sucks ass. So, we'll put Roger's win total to about 10, and that's being VERY generous, considering he wont get many decisions. SO, that puts Roger's salary at $1,780,240 per WIN.

If Roger somehow got biomechanical arms and surgically attached Papelbon's adamantium shoulder, then started 10 straight games, and he won all ten of those games, AND the Red Sox lost 10 games in a row, the Yankees would STILL be 2.5 games behind the Sox. You realize how funny that is when you consider that the Sox haven't lost 3 in a row all season.

Yup, this Clemens looks like a sound investment, Yanks.

Currently Drinking: Shiner Bock (I'm on kick, what can I say?)

our golden boy

2007-05-26T23:15:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I think it's high time our first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, gets recognized for something other than his amazing ability to get on base and hit for power. Sure, he's up there right at the top ranking in terms of extra-base hits, OBP, SLG, and OPS for all 1st baseman, but it's about time he should get recognized for his glovework. Ladies and gentlemen, Kevin Youkilis has not made an error at first base since July 21, 2006. Lemme say that again, JULY 21, 2006! That is freakin' unreal. If there isn't at least SOME talk of Youk for the Gold Glove Award by the All-Star Break, I will be sending some angry emails. Yeh yeh, I know that first base is on the wrong end of the defensive ability specturm, but still. If voters look towards those players who are also well rounded, then look no further than Youk.

Youuuuuuuuuuk!

Tonight Youkilis continued his 18-game hit streak, as well, hitting .443 in that span. And yeh, he didn't make an error.

Sox up 11.5 games on the Yanks after tonight's win. Thank you, L.A.!

And it seems Bonds has cooled off quite considerably from his blistering pace early in the season. The Bonds HR Pool Countdown could get interesting in the coming months...

Currently Drinking: Milk(it does a body good)

Top 10 Tuesday returns!!

2007-05-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

Again, keeping with new tradition, here it is, the list of My Top 10 Sports Sounds

#10 a college football tackle

Sure, the NFL players are bigger and probably stronger, but you can’t say that they go after every play with as much emotion as a college football player. When they hit, they’re doing it for the pride of their school and the pride of themselves, and you can tell by the replays, especially when they are mic’d up. The sound of 250+ lbs. hitting another poor soul on the college gridiron is like a well composed orchestra for the ears….except with more broken bones and casts.

#9 Whitney Houston singing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXV

The Anthem gives me chills no matter when I hear and who sings it, but this version is just breathtaking, to say the least. Considering that the Gulf War was at its peak and thousands of American soldiers were overseas instead of at home with friends watching the big game, the song took on an added meaning and purpose. And I don't care what you say about Whitney's personal life, but that woman can SING. If you have never heard this Whitney's performance of the Anthem, then please, I beg you: do your ears a favor.

#8 CBS SEC football opening theme

This is the sound I look forward to hearing most come fall(except of course the sound of a Red Sox Championship Parade through Boston, but I digress). When you hear it, you know you are about to watch an uber-physical matchup between SEC teams on a Saturday afternoon. It gets you kinda pumped up about it, too. (Click the title to hear it)

#7 a perfect NHL pass

NHL games are fun as hell to go see, but part of what makes it great is the sounds. The sounds of bodies thrown against the boards, the sounds of skates hitting a fresh sheet of ice, and the sounds of a puck hitting the stick right on the tape. Not really sure why, but this sound has always appealed to me. You hear it, and you immediately know the pass was dead on, and if you hear several of them in succession, you know that someone is in prime position to score or either moving the puck extremely well in the offensive zone. Pretty cool that you can tell all that just from listening to passes, eh?

#6 cowbells at an MSU football game

Sure, we’re not the best in the conference, but damn do we love our Dawgs when they’re on the field. Bring in a visiting team like Florida, and the cowbells are found in all corners of Davis-Wade. Yeh, they’re illegal to bring in, but even some of the gate-workers allow them in sometimes, knowing deep down they like the sound of a thousand cowbells rung simultaneously as the road team is going for 3^rd and long.

#5 FOX MLB opening theme

The theme is awesome in the regular season, but when they play it before a postseason game(especially a postseason game featuring the Sox), it’s absolutely impossible not to get pumped up. (Click the title to hear it)

#4 a batter hitting the meat of the bat on the ball

Few things are sweeter than the sound of a David Ortiz jack or Manny Ramirez bomb as it’s leaving the batter’s box at blistering speeds. That initial CRACK of the bat lets you know by sound alone that the ball is going somewhere….far, and that it was hit……hard.

#3 Sweet Caroline at Fenway

I’ve been lucky enough to see 3 games at Fenway so far in my life. They won 2 out of those 3 games, and I can honestly say that hearing the crowd sing along Sweet Caroline in the middle of the 8^th inning in both of those games was aural euphoria. The smartest fans in baseball know when things are going right, and they let it be known by screaming(sometimes accompanied by belching) the lyrics to Neil Diamond’s song at the top of their lungs.

#2 MSU basketball crowd just before tip-off/after victory at the Hump

I will agree wholeheartedly with Trevor in saying that there really is no other place like the Hump on gameday. And there’s nothing like hearing the 2000+ student section singing the Hey Song all by itself long after the band has stopped playing it. When you watch the Dawgs on tv next year en route to their Final Four berth, turn the volume up a notch right before tip-off, and you will hear school spirit at its finest.

And when the game’s over and we’ve won, well it gets even better as the students once again take the reigns from the MSU band and continue singing Na Na Hey Hey through the final buzzard and until the teams depart the court.

#1 MSU basketball player introductions accompanied by the Bulls warmup theme

I’ll say it right now. It doesn’t get any better than this. Although they’ve since changed the player introduction theme to some Metallica shit, we all keep hoping they will once again return to the song we to which we grew accustomed during our first few years of college. The lights go down, the spotlight turns on, and the track begins rolling. One by one, the starting 5 Dawgs are introduced, and the crowd goes absolutely apeshit. It’s a combination of music, crowd, and personal yelling that make this the best sound in all of sports.

Comments, suggestions, ideas of your own favorite sports sounds?! Something I left out?? Leave us a comment!!

Currently Drinking: Water(apparently, I was dehydrated earlier this week)

10

2007-05-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

My Ode to the No. 10

10 by Trevor

you are how many toes and
fingers given me
and how high I can count
on each of these
for a first down you must win
the fight of ten yards
and ten is the number of games behind
the stupid Yankees are

Top 10 Tuesday

2007-05-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

I really like this idea. Hope Horne doesn't think I'm stealing his thunder but I want in on the action. There will probably be some similarity but hopefully some stark differences as well.

Trevor's Top Ten Sports Days/Events of the Year. *with one exception

#10 MLB Off-Season

Baseball is far and away the sport I pay attention to the closest now a days. Besides everything about the Sox I try to keep up with what players are hot, who's not, who's hurt, etc... all season. But I'd be lying if I said that stopped after the World Series. I easily keep up with trade rumors, retirement (and out of retirement) moves, and all the mud slinging that takes place in the winter.

#9 Superbowl

Of course this is going to be on here. I like football, and grew up a football fan most of all compared to the other sports but in the last couple of years, it just seems that it is going the way of the NBA (which didn't make the list at all). It's becoming a very single player sport and I hate that. I have to admit I got a little caught up this year with four teams duking it out for an undefeated season (only lasted 8 games) but it got me interested and when it came to the Superbowl there I was like half the country in a friend's apt eating 47 pounds of chips and dip watching the game.

#8 Nadal vs Federer

I love tennis. It might be my favorite sport to play along with soccer and watching tennis is surprisingly fun too. I love the singularity of it. Emotions in this sport are top notch. Really any grand slam event would suffice but after last week's events I had to put what is now the biggest rivalry in the sport. Federer is unstoppable... unless he's playing Nadal. A week or so ago they scheduled a crazy looking game on a half grass, half clay court to see who was really the better player (Federer wins everything on grass, Nadal wins everything of clay). Federer has reached that point where he's so good you have to not like him a little bit, so when Nadal takes the court sporting his ever present head band and capris and defeats Federer it feels great.

#7 Any Game at The Hump

Humphrey Colosseum. One of the best college basketball venues in the country relative to its size. We don't have extreme numbers the likes of Duke or UK but man do we bring the house down. Every game is post season intense whether we're playing Alabama Birmingham at Montgomery or Florida. Despite smaller numbers Bulldog fans easily get as loud as some of the largest arenas (and that's without our obnoxiously loud cowbells). If you ever have a chance to see an SEC basketball game at MSU, take the opportunity.

#6 BCS

Horne's right. The BCS (despite her flaws) is a great series. No other sport comes close to the number of high profile games. Not too mention the refreshing break from a play-off post season. Just Bowl games baby! All over the country for a period of a two weeks there are vast numbers of people painting themselves and wearing stupid hats for their Alma Mater. Every game is important and each game feels it. Even if your school didn't make it to a bowl you still have teams you want to win and lose in almost every game. The Outback bowl is still a piece of crap though. Don't ask.

#5 Sox vs Yanks

Who saw this coming? I'll be as impartial as I can. Despite my allegiance to those who don red socks, this is still a great series every time. Their truly isn't a bigger rival in pro sports and is right up there with UNC / Duke basketball and Ohio / Michigan football. Compound that with the complete opposites of the team members, staff, and owners and this series is heart-throbbing. Every pitch you sit at the edge of your seat, with every swing you are either hoping it sails 500ft or praying it doesn't. And it's not over till out 3 in the 9th, as this series has proven time and again.

#4 ALCS

Continuing with baseball. The American League Championship Series is usually better than the World Series itself. Aside from the fact that more often than not it can end up being the previous stated match up of Sox & Yanks but aside from what every National League fan will tell you, the American League is just better. True, the NL puts out a good team or two every year with real aspirations for the ring but the AL always has a minimum of about four that are each as good enough to go to the World Series and that's where the ALCS comes in. There is an in house hatred for other AL teams. Sure you play with all your heart at the WS but it's usually against a team you haven't played all year or at most one series with. The ALCS is a time for vengeance, revenge, or continued domination. There is just something different in the air.

#3 NCAA Basketball Tournament

My favorite month is definitely March when it comes to sports. Opening Day was a contender for the list but The Tournament is bigger still. Technically it should probably be first on my list but I cheated with #2 and am extremely biased when it comes to #1. The NCAA Tourney is as good as it gets as far as play offs are concerned. So many teams each having to fight through one to get to the other, and all for the glory that comes with being the BEST in college basketball. Pro sports could learn a great lesson watching grown men cry at missing a free throw or the immense jubilation from nailing a three-pointer as the red light cuts on. The loyalty players feel towards their colleges, and the loyalty us spectators have to our respective college is something pro teams can't hardly compete with. Brackets are incredibly enjoyable to make out and follow. You end up competing with friends as the teams compete on the court. This tournament is the epitome of what sports is suppose to be all about.

#2 The World Cup*

Okay, I know the topic is Sports Events of the Year but I have to include this, sorry. This is like the NCAA Tourney on super steroids. Loyalty to a college doesn't compare to the patriotism of these players. The US is still a baby when it comes to the world's sport. Point in case, soccer IS the world's sport and the Cup proves that time after time. Near the top of the "Things to do in my lifetime" list is go to an overseas World Cup game. Whew... I can't imagine it. I love this thing, and I think the hiatus between Cups in part has to do with it's allure. In pro sports here, you get a year of bragging rights tops unless you can repeat. With the Cup you have years to enjoy while others sulk and plot their triumph. The World Baseball Classic is trying but the World Cup, if only for a span of a month or so, really unites the entire world and enjoys a game. How powerful is that. Watch some of the Cup commercials. They really are moving when you think about it.

#1 The Egg Bowl

I know it hasn't been that exciting for a while now, but the Egg Bowl is still the most important day of the year to me. I was born with maroon and white blood and taught to hate those that bore the blue and red of Col. Reb. In no other collegiate sport is the match up more important than in football and the Egg Bowl proves that. It's quite queer that even in a 4 or 5 win season, you really can justify it if you just win the Egg Bowl. Sometimes it's actually even sweeter when the dawgs haven't done that well and the rebels have and then to upset them in the last game of the season. Everywhere you go for a period of about a month, whether it be church, grocery store, the mall, you can hear people singing Hotty Totty or Go to Hell Ole Miss. It might not be the biggest rivalry in college football, but it sure is as far as I'm concerned.

You'll notice the increase in length of the descriptions as you move down the list. I think that in and of itself is a good representation of just how much each of these events mean to me. Please comment or leave your own abbreviated top ten list.

top 10 tuesday

2007-05-16T00:40:00.000-05:00

I figured I might try to start a new thing on here. So I thought a Top 10 list would do the trick. Maybe it will be a weekly thing, who knows. So without further adu, I present my Top 10 Sports Days/Events of the Year:

#10 Wimbledon

I could have easily put any of the other Grand Slam tennis events on here, but this is THE premier tournament. Hell, it even has the subtitle "The Championships," so you know it's a big deal. It's during the summer, so it's hard to miss, which is probably why it's the one I watch the most.

#9 Super Bowl

I've never had an NFL team, nor do I think I ever will. But man, I can't help but get caught up in the hype with this game every year. Come game time, I know every side story, every injury, and every player's college. It's fun as hell. And hey, sweet commercials always help.

#8 Avalanche/Red Wings

This would be much higher had all(or most of) the networks not dropped their NHL broadcasting contracts after the strike. It's hard to catch an NHL game now if you don't have the Vs. network or NHL Center Ice. These games used to be every other night on tv when it wasn't baseball. But still, when this matchup happens to be on the NBC Game of the Week or on at someone else's house, I have to watch. The rivalry may not be as fierce as before, but it's still played with tons of itensity and fanfare. I love it.

#7 Stanley Cup Playoffs/Finals

The Stanley Cup Playoffs is the best postseason tournament out there in terms of absolute difficulty. Four rounds, each a best-of-seven. Wow. And best of all, no more shoot-outs. You play overtime until someone scores. You wanna talk about intense, then you want to talk about a triple-OT Game 7 of a Conference Championship between two bitter rivals. It's really hard to beat that.

#6 All-Star Game/HR Derby

The All-Star break gives me a chance to actually take a breather from non-stop score checking, stat tabulating, and game watching that I am doing the first 3 months of the season. I don't care what your opinion is, but you have to admit that the All-Star game is f'in fun as hell to watch now that World Series home-field is on the line. Ok, yeh, if you're a Royals fan, then you probably wont care, but you get my point. The HR Derby is just great, old-school fun. Seriously, it's who can hit the ball the farthest. How awesome is that?

#5 March Madness

Only closely behind the BCS, the March tournament just makes it impossible not get caught up in it. Brackets, pools, and potentially major bragging rights for years to come, this is the best excuse to get into collegiate sports. Seeding doesn't automatically determine success, but the danger of a Cinderella upset is always present, and that adds to the drama, if at all possible.

#4 Bowl Championship Series

By far the best collegiate event in my opinion. The BCS bowls are always fun, but when it comes down to the final two teams from a pool of 350+, it's pretty intense. Like the Super Bowl, you know everything about this game before the first kickoff.

#3 Red Sox vs. Yankees

I doubt that I really need to explain this one. Granted, I wasn't a Sox fan while the Yanks racked up 4 rings in 5 years, but I know that I hate the way they run their organization, I can't stand some of their players, and I am damn tired of their winning the division every year. So is it far fetched to think I anticipate these regular season games more than any others?

#2 October

Yup, that beautiful month when the leaves have already begun to change. It's also when the push towards the World Series begins, and if my team is in it, then the excitement increases exponentially. Each game and at-bat is do-or-die, and there is absolutely NOTHING like a Game 7 in October. Trust me, I've watched a few of them as they happened(and some via ESPN Classic).

#1 Opening Day

My absolute FAVORITE sports time of the year. Everyone gets a clean slate, and everyone starts out tied for the division lead. Hope is in the air, and you have your eyes set on that championship trophy. If you won the title the previous October, then you get your rings today, so that's always a plus. The smack talking is at one of its highest peaks, and you begin to realize what you'll have to do to smack back. You've watched your team play through spring training. You've seen their strengths, and you've seen their weaknesses, but you just want to see how they pan out when games count. It's with this momentum that the season begins, and it just gets more and more enjoyable each year.

So there you go. Agree with me? Disagree? Have your own choices for favorite sports events of the year? Let us know by leaving a comment!!

Currently Drinking: Milk(it goes great with Nilla wafers)

a tale of two Steves

2007-05-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

I guess this is a program note more than a blog post, but if you have any interest in the sport of baseball, I highly suggest tuning in to the late edition(post 9:00pm CT) of Baseball Tonight. The host is now Steve Berthiaume, who is probably my all-time favorite Sportscenter anchor. Steve left ESPN a year ago to do some work with the New York Mets television network, but has since returned to Bristol. He does Sportscenter every now and then, but his main job has been the late edition of Baseball Tonight.

Steve is fun to watch/listen because he uses pop culture references all the time in his highlights. In addition to his classic catch-phrases from Sportscenter("Kick save and a beauty...kick save..........anabeaut-y!", "We're playing Name that Molina, and for those of you scoring at home, the answer we were looking for is Yadier. Yadier", "He's open.....for thrae", etc.), he mixes it up with some very clever wording and descriptions. So yeh, if you're ever sitting in front of your tv around 11 pm or so, tune it to ESPN and check out Steve Berthiaume. He's hilarious(and informative).

Now for the Steve I hate. It's none other than Steve "just believe the opposite" Phillips. He is quite possibly one the biggest idiots in the history of baseball. Seriously, whatever he says on tv, just go with the opposite. You really can't go wrong. I distincly remember his saying that Dice-K would not settle on a contract with the Red Sox, he'd then return to Japan and go to the Yankees the next year, and the Sox would have to push for Roger Clemens. Yeh, good going there, Steve-o. He may have been a good GM(he DID draft David Wright and Jose Reyes while with the Mets), but his "insight" into the game of baseball is just retarded. So be warned; if you tune into Baseball Tonight, you may get the good Steve(Berthiaume), but you may also get the bad Steve(Phillips) to go along.

Sorry for no pictures of these guys. Hardly any on the internet.

Currently Drinking: nothing, but I am seriously eyeballing the newest batch of Newcastle my father has made. Still weeks away :(

Quite the Intermission

2007-05-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since my last post and while there are no excuses I have had finals, my friends' graduating, a trip to TN, moving home to Madison, preparing for Mother's Day, and getting ready to see Miss Rookie and Horne off for the summer for their respective internships and thus have been busy to say the least. I was gearing up for a post on the Clemens deal but my colleague has beaten me to it.

Let the record show that I could not be happier about Roger "will do back flips for a dollar" Clemens is going to New York. Bill Simmons (the closest thing to Red Sox god besides Peter Gammons) said he has having a hard time working up disdain for A-rod and Posada anymore and now that The Rocket will be back in pin stripes he has a legitimate reason to hate the Yanks again. I'm with you Bill.

we don't need him

2007-05-09T23:51:00.000-05:00

As all of you no doubt already know, our old friend Roger Clemens has decided to come out of retirement(again) to sign a 1-year, pro-rated $28M deal, with the New York Yankees.

At first glance at that sentence, you all probably think that I was mad, jealous, or at the very least mildly upset upon first hearing this via my brother’s text message on Sunday. But the very first thing I sent back to my brother (who has lived in Boston for years now) was “we don’t need him anyways.” That sentence really surprised me after I sent it to my brother and thought about it. Here was a 7-time Cy Young Award winner, a 345+ game winner, a 2-time 20 K in a game pitcher, and a 2-time world champion. And I didn’t care that he wasn’t coming to the Fens to bring his career full circle?

It’s weird, but yeh, I honestly couldn’t give a crap about it. Our team is SOLID, and we aren’t even near our peak yet. Our top 3 starters are mowing them down left and right(with Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett leading the way), while Wakefield is 2^nd in the AL in ERA. And we all know that Lester is mere weeks away from his first start of the year after recovering from cancer. That was it right there; our rotation was already star-studded and packed from front to back. I really don’t want a 6-inning(at most) pitcher with a history of groin problems screwing that up.

Clemens says he didn’t come back to the Yankees for money or to prove anything. He says he just wants to bring NY another championship. And to that, I call BULLSHIT. Everyone knows that Boston is in the best shape right now to win the World Series. You live and die in October by pitching, and you cannot say we are unequipped in that aspect. Can you imagine a 5-game series in which the opposition could face a barrage of Schilling-Beckett-Matsuzaka-Schilling-Beckett?! Are you seriously kidding me?! The Yankees will be lucky if any of their current starters(and one more that is coming in the next few weeks) will be standing on his own two feet come September. It also doesn’t help Clemens’ argument in that both the Red Sox and Astros wanted Roger to have a longer buildup time before coming back to the majors. They each wanted him to eye for a July return, which would of course mean less money, which was something we know Roger really really didn’t want.

So the countdown has begun until Sox/Yanks series at Fenway begins on June 1st. Clemens is expected to return by then, and one of those days could easily be his first start of the year. Can you imagine what the reception will be in Boston for the Rocket?! My god, he is going to get absolutely reamed by Sox Nation, and I can’t wait to hear it.

And speaking of that game, I think I am with Eric Wilbur on this one. It is entirely plausible that Jon Lester could be making one of his return starts that very same weekend in Boston, meaning he and Clemens could match up. How awesome would it be if the Sox gave Lester the #21 jersey(what Clemens wore with them)? Like Clemens back in the 80s, Lester is the prized, most celebrated young prospect in the organization, so why not give him the number and give Clemens the ultimate slap in the face to say “we don’t care anymore”?

I can honestly say I’m uber-pumped about the return of Lester. We need a lefty in our rotation, and his stuff his FILTHY. He can also dial it up to 96-97mph when needed. He was rolling at 7-2 last year before going out with cancer. He is going to be a staple of our rotation for years to come, and it’s gonna be fun to watch.

Other stuff that has had me talking…

This whole Schilling/Bonds ordeal. I love Schiller to death, and I know he likes to have the spotlight on himself, but man, why did he say that? Even worse, he didn’t even get his facts straight, nevermind that he talked about Bonds’ family and such. It was completely stupid, and I’m glad Curt apologized today on his blog. Maybe we can get this past us.

It all makes me now think of that mid-June series when the Giants visit the Red Sox. What kind of circus is it gonna be if Bonds is at 755 when he steps into Fenway(entirely possible at this point) on a day when Schilling is pitching? To be honest, it kinda scares me. I absolutely do not want one of my boys to go down I history as one that gave up the meatball to-end-all meatballs to Bonds. I just hope he breaks the record way before he gets to Boston or way after.

Currently Drinking: My dad’s own home-grown brew!

this is why we rock

2007-05-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

And you wonder why people say that the SEC is the best football conference out there.

the reason why spell check alone is not enough

2007-04-29T15:52:00.000-05:00

So I log onto mlb.com to check some stats during our 7-3 BEATDOWN of the Yanks today(I'm willing to bet the division cellar probably feels comfy by now), and I was greated with this. Sometimes, you just need someone to look it over before you hit "OK."

Yuup. Exactly.

At any rate, GO SOX! Best record in April!

Currently Drinking: Water(lame, I know, but I'm paying the price for last night)

the Monster vs. Godzilla

2007-04-26T22:01:00.000-05:00

You know it's a great week when it starts off with your team sweeping their most hated rivals at home for the first time in 17 years. I guess merely stating that they swept doesn't even do them justice.

The Red Sox beat the Yankees by coming back in 3 straight games, games in which the Yankees gained the lead TWICE in each. The Red Sox beat the Yankees by absolutely mauling Mariano Rivera's cut fastball that hung way too along over the plate, skyrocketing his ERA and keeping him save-less for the year. The Red Sox beat the Yankees behind Dice-K's ability to pitch inside to A-Rod, effectively cooling him down for the time being. The Red Sox beat the Yankees with an earth shattering, record-breaking display of back-to-back-to-back-to-back homeruns which sent Chase Wright into the depths of minor league ball for the forseeable future. And it can't go without saying that the Red Sox were victorious this past weekend because of their phenomenal bullpen. Yup, that very same one that was supposed to be the "weakness" of this otherwise talented club(talking to you, Steve Phillips).

Maybe it's the fact that the Sox are 3 games ahead of the 2nd place team(Toronto) in the AL East, or that the Yankees have lost 6 straight and are chillin' in the bottom of the division, but I'm GREATLY looking forward to this weekend's rematch in the Bronx. This comes as a drastic change from years prior when I would worry about just comint out of The Stadium with one victory out of three. Not any more. Our pitching is solid(although the big 3 won't be up this weekend), but our bullpen has carried us, and our bats are just now starting to heat up. But there is yet another reason I look forward to the series this weekend, more specifically, the game tomorrow.

One hails from the Seibu Lions, the other from the Yomiuri Giants, but both are certified Mega-Stars in Japan. Of course, I'm talking about Dice-K Matsuzaka and Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui. I really am intrigued, as well as anxious, to see how this matchup plays out. Matsui did not play in the Fenway beatdown last weekend due to injury, but rest assured he'll be in the Bombers' lineup when things kick off at 7:00pm.

You thought Japan stood still for the Ichiro/Matsuzaka epic a few weeks ago? Well, the whole island may explode after tomorrow night. It will be Dice-K dazzling assortment of damaging dishes against the quick bat, powerful pull, and Matsui's knack for really hurting Red Sox pitching over the years. I won't be able to help the fact that every time they meet tomorrow I will have Duel of Fates ringing in my head. In Japan Dice-K was known as The Monster, while Matsui was often called Godzilla. Appropriate titles for such an epic matchup in the Bronx, don't you think?

The Monster will face off against Godzilla tomorrow night.

Currently Drinking: Water(gotta start hydrating the body for the weekend activities)

Intra-Division Rule 2.04b

2007-04-26T21:15:00.000-05:00

Friday will have Boston swinging the bats in the unholiest of unholies and Dice-K making his Bronx debut (hopefully bringing back his ever popular plug A-rod and Jeter pitch). So what do you do when there are five days in between the continuation of the Sox-Yanks series? You keep up with the differences in games, watch the Sox pull 2 out of 4 games, and obviously root for who ever is playing the Yanks.

While keeping up with the Tampa Bay-Yanks games this week I realized that I always want Tampa Bay to beat anyone in our division since they are never a playoff threat. The Rays are always about 76.3 games behind (when they have a good year) by the end of the season and therefore it is always beneficial for them to beat anyone else in the division; mainly the Yanks. It is a bit ironic since if I really wanted them to win every time Tampa played the other teams in the AL East then they would indeed be a playoff threat, but don't boggle your mind with that kind of thinking.

It didn't take long for me to figure out what was really going on though. I just want the Yankees to lose. Right now they are battling it out with Tampa Bay for last in the division and are playing a series with Toronto. Now, logically you would want the team further back in the division to win to keep both teams as far as possible from you in the lead, but not here. I don't care if Toronto stays just as many games behind the Sox. I want the Yankees to be embarrassed (and yes, losing 6 in a row is embarrassing to The Boss, believe me). I'll take my chances with playing the Jays or Orioles in the ALCS just to have New York not even make the wild-card (in fact that would be almost as good as winning another World Series... almost).

Needless to say, this week has been great. Sure the Sox lost two, but they won 5 of their last 7. The Yankees however have not won a game since stepping foot in Fenway this year. I don't care how great of a year A-rod is having as long as his team is still losing. What does that say about the collective team when one of their players is having (as much as I hate to say it) one of the greatest months in the history of the game and they can not win. The series this weekend is sure to be a heated one and I plan on watching it with a microscope.

Quick shout out to Willy Mo Pena. I swear this kid is the mixed up love child of Big Papi and the Great Bambino. He has got such an Ortiz presence at the plate and just like the Babe there are only two outcomes to one of his at bats; K or HR. Tonight he played awesome (both offensively and defensively) but his big at bat game in the eighth with the Sox down 2-1. Baltimore brings in their closer Ray who subsequently loads the bases and pitches a meatball of a slider to Pena and he makes contact. As stated, contact = grand slam. If he could get his swing under control he could easily be one of the best hitters in the game.

Currently drinking: Natural Light (I like a little bit of class every now and then)

Japanese Rookie Saves the Day

2007-04-20T21:30:00.000-05:00

Nope, not Matsuzaka. Hideki Okajima comes in for the ninth to pitch to the meat of the Yankee lineup. Jeter, Abreu, & A-rod. And he gets the save.

I don't have the patience to sit at my computer right now and type out the game to you. I'm sure Horne will have a detailed post later or at least a link to a good one. Sure A-rod had a good game (2 HR) and Schilling had some ER against him, but down 6-2 in the 8th doesn't mean jack with this team. I'm going to have to toot my own horn a little bit. I called the mess out of this game. Varitek had a great game with 3RBI and a HR which I didn't call but at dinner I said that Crisp was going to come out of his hitting slump (that's been almost a year since his broken finger) and sure enough he hit the gap just when he needed too. Also Cora is easily the best unsung utility hero. Comes in for Pedroia and gets the hit we need and makes two key plays in the 9th.

I love this feud. Every game feels like post season play. It's only the first of 18 games versus the Yanks and we were standing, pacing, screaming, and cussing for three and a half solid hours. We didn't have to bring Paps in (he has pitched two straight nights), Okajima proved he has good stuff (retiring A-rod for the first time tonight), and my favorite moment being Rivera blowing the save. I am not scared of "the best closer of all-time" anymore. Actually haven't been in, oh I don't know, about three years (2004 if you can't do the math). I'll let Horne fill you in on all the details. Make sure to watch the highlights. Late inning heroics at its best tonight. Dammit I wish the game got picked up tomorrow.

Go Sox!

Currently Drinking: Sam Adams Honey Porter

thoughts and notes

2007-04-17T23:42:00.000-05:00

I don't really have one topic in particular to talk about, so I'm just going to do the whole stream-of-consciousness thing.

Dice-K got another loss today, but man he did he look good when he was on: 10 K's, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB. He had that loss of control in the 4th, but other than that, he was dealing. Our offense just couldn't get much going agains Gustavo "I'm the Joker" Chacin.

I take that back. Wily Mo hit an absolute BOMB against Chacin in the top of the 3rd. This thing hit the TOP of the glass(the old restaurant) in straight center field at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. They said it was 442', but really, how do they measure those? Anyways, it's one of the longest homeruns I have ever seen. Incredible.

Is it just me, or is the whole idea of not having a shootout in the NHL playoffs an awesome idea? The first night of the playoffs showcased a FOUR overtime thriller between Dallas and Vancouver. How exciting that must have been for those people there. That's over twice the value for their money.

So ESPN has this great channel, ESPN Classic, but the only damn thing they EVER show is boxing. Seriously, who actually gets excited about watching a boxing match from decades gone by? I am willing to bet that many more people would be interested(me included) in watching the horde of classic games from the sports of tennis, football, soccer, baseball, and hockey from over the years. Until they change something, I'm going to reference that channel as ESPN Boxing.

Just noticed moments ago that ESPN picked up Friday night's Sox/Yanks game featuring Schiller against Pettite. If FOX will show the Sox game on Saturday(instead of Cards/Cubs...how exciting), then the whole series will be viewable from my living room. As it stands now, Beckett gets the call on Saturday against *insert A-AAA Yankee player here*, and Dice-K gets to shine on Sunday Night Baseball against Chase Wright, who got the W tonight for the Yanks(and has never pitched above AA).

Speaking of the Yanks, I'll admit it...A-Rod is going to have me nervous every time he comes up to bat this weekend. He's on an absolute roll, and that's not good. Their offense is ridiculous, so I just hope that while their rotation is in shambles we can gain some ground. Of course, this assumes we can actually beat the Blue Jays the next few days.

Over the past few weeks I have noticed this one guy in class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first time I noticed him he had a Cubs hat on. A few days pass, and he has donned a Royals hat. Okay, two different leagues, but I still don't approve. THEN, mere days later, he walks in with a Cardinals hat on. So he has hats from two teams in the SAME division in baseball! WTF. The icing on the cake was when he came in today with a Mets hat on. Seriously...what the hell.

With that in mind......Trevor and I have been talking about this for some time, and we're going to start posting excerpts from our future #1 bestseller book on what it takes to be a Fan for your team. This INCLUDES rules about what kind of hat you wear for your team. So keep your eye out for those posts in the near future. They should be informative as well as entertaining.

And the whole Tim Duncan thing is just retarded. I hate the NBA.

It was announced today that Vince Young will grace the cover of Madden NFL 08. Shall we begin now to count how many days it takes for him to sustain a season ending injury?

Currently Drinking: orange juice(I'm on the tail end of recovery from strepp throat)

"Fans" and Their Hats

2007-04-11T09:32:00.000-05:00

For this semester I have taken it upon myself to be the newsfeed for my Japanese class on Daisuke Matsuzaka. My teacher (井田先生) is full-blooded Japanese and is actually quite interested in baseball. So today I announced that for Dice-K's Fenway opener, he will be pitching against Ichiro Suzuki.

To my surprise, a guy in class had on a Mariners hat. You have to understand that in a Japanese class, someone besides me liking sports would be like one of them not liking anime. Anyway, I find out that this might actually be legit. The guy is from Seattle and has only been living in MS for a few years. Kudos to him for sticking by his team my man, kudos indeed. Nonetheless, things take a turn for the worse. I ask him if he'll be watching the game tonight since it'll be Matsuzaka versus Ichiro. His response, "What is that, soccer?"

...

Let that sink in. Here's a guy, from Seattle, with a Mariners hat on and he didn't recognize the name Ichiro. I'll give him Dice-K because I guess it would be possible to not know him yet, very unlikely but possible. However, not knowing Ichiro is completely deplorable if you are hailing as a Mariner fan. The guy is easily one of the greatest imports to the sport of all time with a life-time batting average somewhere around .890, a rocket cannon for a throwing arm, and is the fastest thing out of the batter's box since that big wheeled robot from Base Wars for NES.

He has received six consecutive gold gloves and shows no signs of stopping that trend this year. He has got one of the quickest swings in all of baseball. He was the second guy to ever be named League MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same year (Fred Lynn did it first). He has had over 200 hits in each of his six seasons, which is just stupid crazy. He was the first player to have a 50-hit month (August 2004). If this isn't convincing enough that you should definitely know this guy, continuing reading accounts of his incredible record breaking career here.

In no manner am I down playing Matsuzaka's ability but he has some enormous shoes to fill before he can come anywhere close to being the best Japanese player in the MLB.

I seem to get my post on in the AM, guess I'm going to have to change that so I can fulfill the what I'm drinking section. Instead of currently, I'll give you this.

Last Night's Drink: Horne senior's homebrew

Sox Tonight

2007-04-08T13:40:00.000-05:00

Sox on TV tonight at 7:00pm (8:00 Eastern) on ESPN for Sunday Night Baseball. I hate Joe Morgran and the K-Zone is one of the single most inaccurate things to ever grace a sporting event, but none the less it is Boston. Sadly I'm probably going to be missing the game Wed. night so everyone watch and tell me how it goes.

Go Sox.

thank you Jon Kerry...sort of

2007-04-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

It seems that the Baseball Gods prevailed after all. About a month ago, MLB and DirecTV agreed to a seven-year agreement worth $700 million that would have given the satellite giant exclusive rights to MLB Extra Innings. Extra Innings is the tv package that allows you to watch all of your out-of-market games, which is perfect for someone who lives very far away from their baseball teams.

That contract agreed upon in March was basically Major League Baseball giving all its fans the bird. No one with cable packages(TimeWarner, etc.) would be able to pick up the E.I. package, and they'd be without a way to watch their favorite team during the season.

It seems however, that the smarter heads have prevailed. John Kerry(a Sox fan, btw) urged the FCC to look into this contract immediately after it was announced, and countless other higher-ups objected to this ludacris deal as well. After enough debate, baseball decided to keep the package on all cable systems throughout the U.S., beginning immediately.

This is AWESOME news. I'll be in Tennessee this summer for an internship, and I was seriously thinking about buying the Extra Innings package until I found out about the DirecTV deal weeks ago. I was crushed. But now, all seems well. I can't think of anything better than seeing my Sox play almost every night. Awesome.

Currently Drinking: lots and lots of water. I came down with something yesterday. Not fun.

Revisiting the Revelation

2007-04-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

Part C

Thinking of my previous post about the Red Sox and how I came to connect with them I discovered another possible reason for my affinity. The thought occured to me while watched the Yankees / Devil Rays game Monday. If you read our timeline post you'll see that I do not care much for the Yanks. In fact, I hate them. To illustrate, as much as I like the Red Sox I do not own any articles with the Boston logo simply because I am still not too sure if I am a true enough fan having no direct ties to Boston (this is excluding a gift I received from a friend that is a knock-off jersey). I do however own a YH hat. What is YH? It's a Yankee Hater, and that's what I am. It's really sharp, it looks like the NY logo but instead it shows my disdain for the bombers. As pictured here ->

Now it is more than obvious that one reasons I came to love the Sox is because we both hate the Yanks. Indeed I hated the guys in pinstripes long before I was a Boston guy. Which also reminds me of the early 90s. I was a die hard San Fan 49ers fan back in the day and not just because of home-grown Rice or one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time (Can-do-it Montana not Concussion Young). While I came to love those guys and everyone else associated with the team, I originally became a fan of the gold diggers because they were the rivals of the Dallas Cowboys who I hated dearly (Sorry Mal). They were one of "those" teams that dropped big dollars on big stars and you could just sense the smugness about them. Likewise when it was the Bills facing the Cowboys in Super Bowls XXVII & XXVIII I was rooting for Buffalo. It's just how it goes with me I guess. I'm much better identifying things I don't like and thus can easily decipher what it is then that I must like depending on what it is that I don't like.

So, the season starts off in a very familiar place with the Sox behind the Yankees. It's routine for us to be playing catch up, though I don't know if you can call it that after only one game. Either way I'm still so incredibly happy that baseball season is here. Finally I have something to talk about that only about three people care to listen to. Thanks Horne, Regg, and Miss Rookie.

By the way, I'll try to keep you all updated with how her schooling of America's Pastime in general and specific Sox knowledge is coming along. She's a bright one. I expect great things.

Between Opening Night & Day I've had plenty of beer for the week. A refreshing coke it is.

Barry Bonds Homerun Pool

2007-04-04T09:59:00.000-05:00

Well, the baseball season is in full swing, and we thought we'd make things fun by starting a "When Will Barry Bonds Break Hank Aaron's All-Time Homerun Record" (or as I like to call it, WWBBBHAATHR) contest.

The rules are pretty simple. Leave us a comment on here telling us on what day you think Barry Bonds will BREAK Hank Aaron's all-time homerun record of 755 homeruns. Remember, this is NOT when he will tie the record, but when he will break it. Barry currently has 734 homeruns in the bank, so that means he'll need 22 more to pass ole' Hank. And with that information, I wish all of you good luck.

The winner of the contest will be the person who is CLOSEST to the day, either over or under. The prize? You'll get an autographed softball from your two favorite sports bloggers, Henry and Trevor, of course!

You can see on the right where Trevor and I think Bonds will perform the feat:

Henry: August 15th (away game at Atlanta, the site of Aaron's record breaker)
Trevor: August 2nd (away game at Los Angeles Dodgers)

The deadline to submit your picks is April 8th by the start of the Red Sox/Rangers game on ESPN.

2007 Red Sox Opening Day Blog

2007-04-02T18:15:00.000-05:00

09:14:09 Mornin. It’s early. Drank way too much last night in anticipation of today. Trying to clean up the place in preparation for the big game. -H

09:18:58 Just got up despite having an 8:00am class. Henry saying “drank way too much” could not be more accurate. Jalepenos, BudLight, and Pina Coladas do not mix well. Got to suck it up for more beer and brats today. -T

09:48:07 Just went to get my apt. and mailbox keys replaced. It was a long weekend, don’t ask. Got our newest edition of ESPN Magazine. The one with Ryan Howard on the front (great guy) and in the corner where it talks about what else is in the magazine it says “& the Lovable A-Rod.” He is the only guy in all of the MLB that would have something like that. -T

My game prediction

A-Rod H:1 AB: 4 E: 2 R: 0 RBI: 0

10:37:54 Went to the store with Horne, got the brats and beer. Just got my secret recipe brewing some ribs in the oven and about to watch two hours of pregame such and such before the Yankees take the field versus the NY & Boston killers Tampa Bay. Go Rays! -T

10:54:19 Just finished paying bills. The total for this month’s rent had 33 cents tacked on. Coincidence? –H

11:29:12 Steve Phillips is calling the Reds game today, meaning he won’t be in KC for the Sox game. Thank God. –H

11:31:13 It’s really looking like Bonds is gonna break The record this year. It’s really only a matter of when, it seems. -H

11:35:47 Horne and I are talking about putting a prediction countdown to when the two of us think Bonds will break it. Should be on the site as soon as we get the internet running in our apt. again. –T

12:05:11 First up, Yankees-Devil Rays. Opening Day is here! Scott Kazmir…that kid is good. I’m off to class, so I’ll catch the end of this one. –H

12:09:50 Just to reiterate… It’s OPENING FREAKING DAY -T

12:17:33 A-Rod misses routine pop foul but manages to make a very ballerina-esque jump. He is given an E for his pathetic efforts. 1^st Inning Error ! -T

12:21:55 Just in from the stat room: At this pace, A-Rod is projected to make 162 errors this season. –H

12:30:40 A-Rod K’s. And with that, I’m out. I’m handing the baton to Trevor for the next 1.5 hours. Godspeed. –H

12:44:24 Jeter makes a bad throw to first in top of 2^nd. Credited with the E. –T

12:58:48 So Henry introduced me to his new book “Baseball Between the Numbers” and I was reading the chapter discussing whether or not Jeter deserved his gold gloves. As I’m reading the line about new fans thinking Jeter’s first name was “Pastadiving” because the phrase “Past a diving Jeter” was uttered so often during broadcasts, a relatively routine ground ball toward second bounced past a diving Jeter allowing the Devil Rays to score a run. –T

1:01:58 By the way, the article surmised that Jeter in no way deserved his gold glove since in 2004 he attained, for the first time in ten years, only an average fielding performance. –T

1:11:52 A-Rod grounds out. Keeping track that’s 0-2 with 1 E. –T

1:18:33 McCann for the Braves hits first homer of the season a few minutes ago. Just thought I’d mention it. –T

1:36:43 Elijah Dukes (TB) joins the elite club of having his first ML hit be a homer. –T

1:40:46 Yankees third Error. Phelps cuts off a throw to home plate allowing a run to try and throw out Crawford heading to second but instead throws to the left of Jeter and it sails into the outfield. Tie game at 3-3. –T

1:51:49 A-Rod flies out. 0-3 w/ 1 E. –T

2:01:13 Just hits me. I’m juggling THREE baseball games on tv. The season has started. The Red Sox are about to be on and the game will count for something. Papi’s slugging and Paps saving here we come baby! -T

2:36:55 Annnnnd I’m back. As to be expected, I was completely worthless in class. Yanks are winning. Damn. T-minus 32 minutes until Sox baseball! –H

2:41:42 Miss Rookie just arrived! Very exciting that this is her first regular season game as a part of Sox Nation. –H

2:53:24 The whole crew surprises us, we are now 6 strong for the Sox game. Baseball bringing people together for over a hundred years. –T

3:25:18 Game is under way. Unfortunately, we have Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. Jon is OK, but Joe is unbearable. I’m calling it right now: at some point in this broadcast Joe will mention his playing time on the Reds and how they were the best ever. Papi drives in the first RBI of the Sox season. That puts him on pace for 3,392,321 RBIs. Awesome.

3:49:01 Welcome to your first Opening Day, Pedroia. We call those singles. You can’t turn one into a double. Unless of course your first name begins with D- and ends with –aveRoberts.

4:09:07 Pulled the ribs off the grill and they were falling off the bone. Delicious. Just call me The Grill Master. Now come on Sox and get some slugging going on. –T

4:33:29 This hurts -T

4:58:24 It’s like we have never seen a curveball before. That is ALL that Meche is throwing. Argh. The great thing with this team/lineup is that you know there is ALWAYS a chance. -H

5:00:50 Annnnd welcome to America, Okajima. First pitch: JACK to right-center. –H

5:27:14 Okay, so maybe we wont score 900+ runs this year. It’s OK though, cuz Meche’s outing today will be THE highlight of KC’s year. Watch. -H

5:33:07 Thank you for swinging, Julio. Got Pedroia and Lugo on base…OBP Machine(aka Youk) is up…then it’s Papi, then Manny. We got something brewing, folks. -H

5:41:12 Papi strikes out with two on and two out in the top of the 8 with the Sox down by 5. Definitely not the norm. It’s OK; he’ll be eating those situations for breakfast throughout the season. -H

5:53:06 Travel Channel? India? What the HELL are you talking about, Jon Miller? -H

6:00:30 Top of the 9^th. My rally cap is officially on. -H

6:02:29 Wily Mo fans. I swear, if that boy ever begins to make consistent contact with the ball, we’re gonna see 600 ft. home runs. -H

6:04:20 Mike Lowell gets his 1^st of what is sure to be many, many, many doubles. -H

6:06:31 Bleh. What a crappy game. I would have been happy had we played well, but honestly, we didn’t. We got Beckett on the hill for Wednesday, and I’m pumped. He had a great spring, and I’m ready to see him in year two of his AL tenure. You can be sure that the Sox bats will not be as quiet the next go around.

The Initial Attraction & Later Revelation

2007-03-28T08:03:00.000-05:00

Part A: 2007 & 2003

I realized last night what it was that made me identify with the Red Sox. In case you were unaware, since even students here were unaware, that my MSU Bulldogs were playing in the NIT Final Four game in NYC. We had so far played brilliantly, to the point that I think we could have easily been in the Elite Eight of the NCAA depending on our matchups. West Virginia is nothing to scoff at to be certain but we could win this game, we could win any game. The start was a bit unnerving but in true dawg fashion by the end of the first half we were 14 points up and on a run. We usually come out after halftime and give up a 6 or 8 point run but not today. We were still on our run, they couldn't touch us. J-Go was on fire with his assists, the colossus of Rhodes was standing brilliantly, Hans was everywhere, Slater was weaving his magic; it was beautiful. Then something happened. Our shots didn't stop falling, and we didn't stop playing our aggressive D, but something happened. With a little less than 3 minutes left our lead was down to six, which isn't too shabby and that's when it happened.

Miss Rookie (my girlfriend) says "if we blow this game..." I stop her right there. When you are winning you simply don't say that. Hell, you don't talk about losing if when you are losing until the game is OVER. But that wasn't the only reason I stopped her. I felt it too. Impending defeat and for no good reason other than we are the Bulldogs of MSU and that's how the pieces fall every time. The whole game Horne and I were talking about how MSU doesn't get any love from announcers even when we are playing great, on a five game win streak, and 72 points ahead. Now I know why. Dogs up two with 2.1 seconds on the clock and WVU inbounds the ball, puts up a three over Gordon's head that nearly reaches orbit and falls through the hoop barely even hitting the net. We lose, WVU goes to the championship game.

Later last night it hits me. I understand now. I know why I became a Boston fan, and it is not a pretty story. It's because of this feeling that I connected with Red Sox nation. At the time the Sox hadn't won the World Series in 85 years. They had an arch rival that was perpetually better than them (hey, I hate the Bombers as much as anyone but let's face it, the Yanks had been to half of the big shows in the last decade usually downing the Sox in the ALCS). Boston fans were always the same, thinking this year was going to be different, this year was special, this year we have the team. And like clockwork, things broke apart, bad calls, horrible plays, and just damn bad luck always happened. And that's how a young high school grad from Mississippi could feel so right with a baseball team so far away.

Part B: 2004

Down three games to none, down going into ninth inning, down for the season... AGAIN. And then Roberts stole. See my previous article. He stole second and the world changed for thousands of people across the country. The world changed for Pesky. 85 years did not matter, only one year did. That's what it took and now there is never that nagging feeling that the gods of baseball are going to screw us over anymore. If ever we lose a game it was our fault and it's okay because we'll be back tomorrow night. This year, just like 2006 and 2005, looks more promising than the last even though we didn't win the WS in the last two years.

So how is last night's loss in the Final Four of the NIT like the 2004 ALCS? It's not. It's like the 2003 ALCS. We lost a game we should have won. We lost despite playing exceptionally well. We lost on a freakin' buzzer beater (okay that didn't happen in 2003). Next year is what I'm talking about. We are losing only two seniors, only one of which really plays. We have 11 freshman and sophomores, most of which are already starters and amazing. We lost in the SEC tourny to a traitor's team (Ervin on Arkansas). We tied for the division title with our rivals (UM). We got shafted out of the big show (NCAA). Any of this sound familiar. Maybe they don't all line up with 2003 and that one series, but they definitely all line up with the Sox. Cultivating young talent, a player we loved going to another team, having to share the spotlight with our bitter enemies, not making it again to the dance. The Bulldogs are my local Red Sox and I'm calling it now, watch us next year. Watch our recruitment. Watch us win the West and maybe even the SEC outright. Watch us dominant the SEC Tourny. Watch us go to the NCAA and go round for round with the best. We are the local Sox, we are Rocky Balboa, we are perpetual underdogs. We are the BULLDOGS.

The One that Started it All

2007-03-27T10:04:00.000-05:00

Over a month and a half ago, I posted a blog on myspace that really got the ball rolling for Horne and I to start Sports...on the Rox. In a very Bill Simmons-esque way I'd like to share that article again on here for everyone that did not get to read it on the first go round.

Monday , February 19, 2007
" Where were you when...

It is a question that every generation has a different question to.
Where were you when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor ?
Where were you when Kennedy was shot ?
Where were you when the WTC was attacked ?
AND
Where were you when Roberts stole second ?

It is a question that has defined a new and old generation of Red Sox fans. It is the first question a true fan asks someone that they are not too sure about a newcomers faith. Everyone that watched the now most famous series ever that is a real Sox fan or was then and there born a Sox fan knows the gravity of the question and usually is answering it before it's asked. I, for one, was sitting in my tiny apt. room watching the game, drinking a Sam Adam's (because that's a rule), and it happened. I woke up my roommates on a number of occasions after the steal but that was by far the most emphatic of my increasingly girly exclamations. My old self died and I was reborn a blue and red Yankee Hater. Years later I will be asked this question in a Houston area Buffalo Wild Wings by a man I just met and by answering it honestly I was immediately inducted into his circle of trust; which would come in handy months later.*

The point of this isn't to dwell on the past, though of a sweet moment in sports history it will forever be, but to talk about the future. Spring training is getting underway and there is no place better on earth right now than Ft. Meyers, FL. The Red Sox are shaping up to be one hell of a formidable team this year. We have super-star, MSU grad. fireballer Papelbon assuming a place in the starting rotation**, the million dollar rice thrower Dice-K, the single greatest veteran any team of any sport could hope to have, and the last of the knuckleballers all pitching not too mention back from the dead Lestor, and the "if I find my groove" ace Beckett. We have new legs in the infield and outfield, and all the best bats returning to the plate. And the only captain you want hitting your archenemy square in the face. It is indeed a good year to be a Boston fan.

In God and Theo We Trust. Go Sox!"

*I know that the first paragraph can be found in the all time world's worst worded articles collection. What I wanted to convey did not translate well.

**Yah, I was wrong. Not my fault though. Until last week it was still understood that Paps would indeed be starting. Now they are saying his shoulder is made of something similar to Wolverine's adamantium. So he'll be closing the door again and damn is he looking impressive so far this spring. Good thing too, our would be closer Hansen had a go at the Reds yesterday and to put it mildly, it was ugly... real ugly.

Most of the article still relates though. I could not be more stoked about the season with the way our team is shaking down. I like the move we've made in the last two years from offensive powerhouse to defensive juggernaut. New pick ups besides ones on the mound look solid too. Lugo impresses me every time I watch him, while Drew is healthy can easily be one of the best outfielders in the game today (knock on wood). Pedroia will get his first real chance to step up this year and the three games I've seen him in so far, this kid can hit for base or yard. Then the likes of Manny of Ortiz will still be showering the upper levels, nothing even needs to be said about that tandem. As much as I absolutely adore Schilling and Wakefield, it is very exciting to see Theo's dream of a young, farmed team with potential all-stars coming into being rather than dropping too many dollars on guys who can't hack at it like they use to. And that plan also allows for the big dollars when you need them (cough cough Matsuzaka). What can you say about that guy. No one knows what this kid throws, or even how many different pitches he has. Last week the Pirates' batters that faced him, and were subsequently sat down after Ks, went to a laptop computer to watch their at-bats just to try and figure out whether that was a breaking ball or a moving fastball. That's awesome. I hope I don't have anything due next Tues. because I surely won't be doing any work whatsoever.

Currently Drinking: Coca-Cola Zero. It's 10:24AM, give me a break.

taking a closer look

2007-03-22T16:29:00.000-05:00

Just goes to show you that once you think you know all about this game, you realize that you really have no clue.

In an announcement today, the Red Sox revealed that Jonathan Papelbon will be reprising his role as the baby-faced badass closer(those last words were mine, not theirs). I first got wind of this news when I rushed home to see the Sox play against the Phillies on ESPN this afternoon. Right as I get into the apartment and turn on the tube, Erin Andrews(and her sexy self) was telling Gary Thorne and Jonathan Kruk all the breaking news. I immediately let out a scream, followed by many, many, holyshit, holyshits.

Some of you might remember that Paps went down the last month of the season with a shoulder sublixation. According to both him and Tito, Papelbon's shoulder is many more times stronger now, thanks to his dedication to winter therapy and workouts. He will be monitored closely, and he will never pitch more than three games in a row. All the trainers and doctors on the Sox staff like this idea, and they would never sign off on this if they feared for his arm's safety.

Curt Schilling also posted a good read on Paps' return to the pen. I highly suggest reading it.

What is probably my favorite angle on this story is how the whole idea came about. It wasn't because Theo and Co. were panicking at the thought of Jole Pineiro closing out games in September when things were tight. It wasn't because Timlin is going to start the season out on the DL. And it wasn't because they didn't think Paps could handle the starting role.

Plain and simple, Papelbon is the closer again because THAT is where he felt he belonged. He said he hasn't been able to sleep well at all this spring because of his desire to close. After consulting his family and the captain, Paps walked into Francona's office on Tuesday and let him know how he felt. And since the Sox brass had been discussing this(just as an option) for some time, the transition was an easy one.

"This is something I'd like to do the rest of my career. Forget about starting. Go out (as a closer), chase records and hopefully do for the Red Sox what Mariano Rivera does for the Yankees."

On the flip side, Julian Tavarez will slide into the 5th spot in the rotation, but I don't think it will be a permanent one. Jon Lester has had an excellent spring amidst recovering from cancer, while Kason Gabbard and Kyle Snyder have also shown brilliance the past weeks. I firmly believe one of those three will supplant Tavarez by the All-Star break, and JT will move back to relief(where I think he fits best).

It's an exciting time to be a Sox fan, for sure. I guess we get to look forward to sub-0.50 ERAs, massive K-per-IP numbers, and the return of the Papelbon Save Meter. Oh, and how about an MVP candidacy?

I think I share Bill Simmons viewpoint when he says:

"I like feeling safe in the ninth, holding a trump card in every close game -- one who thrives in his particular job more than anyone else at any other position. Maybe it defies all logic, but I hope Jonathan Papelbon stays my team's closer for the next 15 years."

Well said, Bill. Now let's play some ball.

Currently Drinking: water,but very soon I'll have my hands on a home-brewed Dubbel from my father :)

Addendum to Sports Lane

2007-03-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

Great idea I must agree, but I'm going to add a little practicality to it. Everyone that works in a grocery-esque shop would either have to be given a copy of a book of questions to ask or learn all the knowledge of all possible teams... this is much too large an undertaking. Also, there needs to be some sort of proof that there is indeed a game coming on, otherwise people would exploit the system. So here is my proposed addendum.

Instead of having to wear regalia of a team, or know certain facts AND instead of having the employees look this information up or be aware of what games are being played when, the system should utilize a "fastpass" type program. Like at Disney World or those new swipe and pay debit card systems. For instance, you go online to "mysportspass.com"* and fill out information pertaining to yourself and which teams you want to incorporate for your sports lane usage. Say you can only have 3 teams that constitute you using the lanes. You enter all this in and pay a nominal fee and in a few days your sports pass arrives in the mail. Now when you go to the store or entering a freeway you can just swipe your card. A network keeps up with all games being played on each day and will verify if one of your teams is doing so. This eliminates you having to have apparel on (though I agree with Horne you should anyway) but mainly it would be to expedite the process and reduce human interaction. This is suppose to be fast right? People checking you out at Kroger are hardly ever speedy, so I don't want my arrival to watch a game reliant on how quickly they can look up the Red Sox schedule and ask me a question.

The whole concept I think is great though. If only we ruled the world.

Currently in the COBI computer lab and thus not drinking...

*not a website for this system, just a for instance

sports lanes

2007-03-17T12:40:00.000-05:00

I think it’s high time the commercial world starts using Sports Lanes. I’ll illustrate what these are with a case-in-point:

This morning my father and I went into the city to run some errands(and also pick up some Krispy Kremes, a requirement whenever I come home). Knowing good and well the Dawgs would be appearing on ESPN, at the last minute we stopped by the Kroger in Madison to pick up some brew. Dad goes in to pick up the Newcastle while I wait in the truck. He ends up taking almost fifteen minutes. FIFTEEN minutes for a six-pack!?!

Dad returns to tell me the story of how he got in the express lane, yet the old lady in front of him took all……day……long to fill out her check. My dad is attempting to get his beer and get to the game in time, yet this geriatric obstacle is holding him back. Now, the point of this story isn’t to bash against the elderly. Far from it. Rather, I’m trying to push for the inclusion of a checkout line in all grocery stores that caters to the sports fan trying to get home(or to the bar) in time for the game. A Sports Lane, if you will(like that, Trevor?).

Think about it. No more worrying about not returning in time from your last-minute runs to the store to pick up dip or cheetos that you somehow forgot. You get your item, head to the Sports Lane, and if you show some form of identification for the team you are going to watch, then you obtain instant checkout clearance. It’s that simple. Forms of identification include, but are not limited to: team apparel, driver’s license from state of team, or championship ring from a team’s world title year.

Although you SHOULD be wearing team apparel the day of the big game, they would allow you to advance if you can answer a simple trivia question about your team. Of course, being the high-speed Sports Lane, you have to answer within 3 seconds. If not, then to the back of the line.

It could end there, but it really shouldn’t. Dad I pack up the truck and head up the highway. T-minus 30 minutes until tip off. Lo and behold, ole granny two-step decides to drive at a brisk 42 mph in front of us on the 55 mph highway. Why isn’t there an outdoors Sports Lane for cars? Have a simple toll booth-like area to enter, and using the same rules as the grocery store(proper sports ID or knowledge of team playing), you are allowed through. The speed limit will depend on how close the game time is. Within an hour, 65 mph. Within 30 minutes, 75 mph. Within 15 minutes, 95 mph. Within 5 minutes, well…it’s really up to you how fast you wanna go at that point.

Just something I’ve been thinking about…

Currently Drinking: Newcastle (my dad and I are on a kick, what can I say?)

straight from the Sox Gal

2007-03-12T21:40:00.000-05:00

She just got out of the Red Sox/Yankees spring training game this evening(Sox won 7-5, Drew went yard for the first time this spring), and on her way out she sent me this text:

" Um wow. I just ran into Jason Giambi walking out of the stadium. He was signing autographs right outside my section. Man is he ugly! "

:)

Currently Drinking: Newcastle(Pops was buying, so why not?!)

a look into the future

2007-03-08T16:21:00.000-06:00

Baseball America recently released their annual Top 100 list of the best up-and-coming young players in the game. Check out #33, #51, #81, #83 and that little guy at the top of the list, Mr. Matsuzaka. I first heard of #33 Jacoby Ellsbury early last year. He has speed, power, and excellent range in Center. Look for him to be manning the Fens outfield next year. I predict he will also get a September callup this year as well. #81 Daniel Bard also made news last year when the Sox picked him in the 1st round(28th overall) with their first pick. This guy can ba-ring the heat...100 mph consistently. #51 Clay Buchholz gets very high marks from resident baseball guru at ESPN, Peter Gammons, almost on a weekly basis.

It's always exciting to know who is going to be The Next in a Boston uni; ever since my friend Paul told me about Papelbon before I knew about Papelbon, I've tried to be ahead of the curve of the media and pick up on the new guys before they get here.

Also worth mentioning, this year's Baseball Prospectus is out. It has pretty much every stat, every projection, and every sabermetric category you can think of for any player or team. It is, in a word, awesome. This would make a fantastic gift to yours truly, but more than likely I'll get this bad boy ASAP anyway.

And it seems Curt Schilling has copied our idea for blogging. It's kind of a compliment, really...

shout outs

2007-03-08T16:01:00.000-06:00

Now that our little blog is well underway, I guess we should give out the credit for portions of our creation. First off, the name. One of Trevor's original ideas for the site name was "Sports on the Rocks," blending our love for sports and adult beverages together. Well, we also wanted to convey our passion for Boston's baseball club, as well as the overall idea of sports. In comes Daryl Emerson, pitching the idea of our current title, "Sports on the Rox." So we'd like to give a big THANKS to Daryl for the creativity!

Next, we'd definitely have to give another THANKS to the Sox Gal for coming up with our signature name on here. I actually refer to it as our Call Sign. You can see it on the right and below each post: RedBullDawgSox. It's actually quite descriptive for this site if you look at it.

So there you go. Some of the brilliant minds behind the blog(other than mine and Trevor's, of course).

And as stated in the title, we are all about sports...with a little beverage flavor added. So from now on, we'll list whatever beverage we're drinking at the time of the post. Hopefully it will be entertaining. So to get things kicked off right...

Currently Drinking: one Coors Light(celebration of the beginning of Spring Break)

And this is why I hate the Yankees

2007-03-07T09:42:00.000-06:00

I hate them. They are worse than the Black Plague or any of the Biblical ones. They are the Bronx Bombers, they are the New York Yankees, they are a bunch of punks.

For as long as I can remember, before I came to love the Red Sox, back when I was this close to being a bandwagon Braves fan... I hated the Yankees. It's not a dislike or disdain for them. It is a pure cold hatred, on par with the Dallas Cowboys over the early 90s. And here is just one of the many reasons:

Former NY Yankee, Gary Sheffield made statements on Monday that MLB's only walking dead player Alex Rodriguez will have his best year yet in New York. First off, Gary previously shot his mouth off at the Yankee management about how poor of a job they have been doing over the past few years. I reserve no respect for a player that can not come out and say what problems need to be addressed in their own club and has to wait until he is half a continent away before he points his finger and makes excuses for his performance at his previous ballpark. Then to turn around just a few days later and say that A-rod is going to have his best year ever after having his worst post-season makes about as much sense as saying Pippen is going to come back and lead his team to four straight NBA titles.

The funny thing is why Sheffield thinks Alex is going to have a great season. Earlier this year A-rod made statements to the press that his relationship with Yankee short-stop Derek Jeter has deteriorated over the past six years. If you haven't read that article, I highly recommend it for all the incredibly homo-erotic content. Click here to check it out.

Sheffield claims that since A-rod has finally admitted that him and Jeter are no longer having dinner dates multiple times a week and staying over at each other's houses as often as they once did that he will play better. I am sure that the reason A-rod went 1-14 in the post season last year (that's a remarkable .071 avg.) was simply because every time he went to the plate he was frustrated as to why Jeter stood him up at Original Stan's Pizza last night. Yeah Right! Alex played horrible all year and it stood out in Sept. and Oct. The guy is over-rated, over paid, a cheat, and a whinny little punk.

Ahhh... The good old days

from the "it surprises no one" department

2007-03-05T18:39:00.000-06:00

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2788871&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

The Hump is beautiful at 7am

2007-03-04T18:31:00.000-06:00

Check me out over there, I'm all dressed up. That's because you should look nice when you are Division Champs!

That's right, my MSU Bulldogs crushed Alabama in a 91-67 blowout today. With the win we tie with rival University of Mississippi for the top spot in the Western Division of the SEC. Our divisional record of 7-3 bests Ole Miss's and grants us the #1 spot for the SEC tourney. If you didn't watch the game then you missed one of the most dominating defensive performances of the season by any team.

Ben Hansbrough wins my personal MVP of the game award with 13 points and a truckload of defensive hustle. Where ever there was a loose ball or a rebound up for grabs, Ben was there. Every player on the team showed up to play with fantastic performances including all out effort by my man Dietric Slater putting up 10 points in his last home effort and Jarvis Varnado having a personal best 10 points and 8 rebounds.

With only losing Slater after the season, we are one basketball team to watch for in the next three years. You can bet on it. We've been receiving a lot of flak lately for being in the top spot for our division with only a .500 record. This is something that everyone in the SEC and the West especially has been preaching for years. Standings have a strength of schedule rating but they don't have a strength of conference rating. Every year without fail in any sport in the SEC an unranked team will beat a ranked team which more often than not includes a top 10 ranked team. So yes, 8-8 is not all that impressive but how many teams in the SEC this year beat Florida (previously ranked #1) or came extremely close like our down to the buzzer loss to the Gators. Half of the teams in the West had positively looking seasons but could not sweep the conference which is no surprise. Take Bama for instance who was ranked decently high earlier in the season along with Vandy later, both teams of which we had 13 and 24 point wins over.

Point in case despite the means, the end equals us with a No. 1 seed going into the SEC tournament. If we do moderately well to winning the thing, we can easily have a bid for the NCAA tournament. 1996 anyone?

Go Dogs!

pitching lines

2007-03-03T23:21:00.000-06:00

Dice-K(Friday): 2.0 innings pitched; 25 pitches, 19 for strikes, 3 Ks, 1 hit

Papelbon(Saturday): 2.0 innings pitched; 26 pitches, 18 for strikes; 4 Ks; 0 hits; 0 baserunners

Those are pretty self-explanatory, so I won't digress, but if you check out the clip of Matsuzaka giving up a lead-off double on his first competitive pitch for the Sox, you'll notice the guy is made of steel. He isn't get fazed AT ALL. Yeh, I know, it's early, like I said before. And yeh, it was Boston College for crying out loud, but I'm just impressed with his composure. I think it's something you absolutely have to have to be successful in Major League Baseball, let alone Boston. I absolutely can't wait to see him stare down Ichiro during the first home series in April. I'll be glued to my tv, for sure.

tickets, please

2007-03-01T23:02:00.000-06:00

Today, for the 4th straight year, the Sox Gal and I successfully got our hands(well, we will in 3-4 business days) on tickets to see our beloved Old Towne Team play. They're coming down to Atlanta to visit Andruw, Chipper, and Bobby at Turner Field on June 18, 19, and 20.

Over the years we have actually gotten a really good system down. We both log onto the ticket site right before they go on sale. When the hour is at hand, I go to work on Game #1 of the series; simultaneously, she starts on Game #3. Normally we'd use separate cards, but due to minor problems, we had to use my card today. After we both make our first purchase, I move on to Game #2. We ended up with field level seats(along the 3rd base or 1st base lines) for all 3 games(dugout seats are usually sold out), with our seats on rows 12, 26, and 26. SWEET!

In related news, the Sox have begun their Spring Training games. Yes I know, it's quite early, but it's always great to see your team coming together. Yesterday Schill was VERY sharp, throwing 15 of his 19 pitches for strikes. Today the team split squads to play the Twins and Northeastern University, with most of the regulars staying to play the Huskies. Beckett allowed a single to his first batter(hey, at least it wasn't a HR), then mowed down 5 of the next 6 he faced via the K. Beckett obviously didn't feel sorry for his opponents. Observers say he worked his breaking pitches ALOT, which bodes well after season in which he threw the heat over 70% of the time.

And you all know what happens tomorow...Dice-K gets the ball against some lowly collegiates. God bless those kids...

The Matsuzaka Era for the Sox begins tomorrow

I'm going to be honest

2007-03-01T17:33:00.000-06:00

I was going to post and detail the EXACT same stuff that Trevor just wrote about. Touche, my friend.

So....uhm....read his post. It's good.

A Quick Correction

2007-03-01T08:48:00.000-06:00

After further investigation and some insight from a fellow sports-thusiasts, it turns our my previous post isn't entirely complete. This is good news for us MSU fans, and not so great for all you Rebels out there. Just the way I like it.

Last night, my dogs lost to the razorbacks of Arkansas in a fiercely competed game that came down to the final moments and free throw %. Our % was of course disenchanting as usual for close games when it matters most and the pigs couldn't miss. Not a good combination for us. So we drop to 7-8 along with everyone else in the West except LSU and Arkansas. So we have that four-way tie like I previously said but here is the funny thing. MSU does not necessarily have to have Ole Miss lose this weekend for us to move into first. Wait, even with the same record as Ole Miss or Auburn, State will be in first by themselves? That is correct.

Here's how it works out. The tie-breaker system in the SEC plays to our advantage. Here is how SEC Sports puts the scenarios. All things of course are hinged on us winning versus Bama.

" Mississippi State (7-8) can secure the West No. 1 seed and a share of the West Division title with a win versus Alabama.
If Mississippi State and Ole Miss are tied at 8-8...........
Mississippi State would earn the West No. 1 seed due to their 7-3 division record compared to Ole Miss' 6-4 mark.
Ole Miss would be the West No. 2 seed and earn a share of the West Division title with a first-round bye

If Mississippi State and Auburn are tied at 8-8...........
Mississippi State would earn the West No. 1 seed due to their season sweep over Auburn.
Auburn would be the West No. 2 seed and earn a share of the West Division title with a first-round bye"

So there you have it, if we win it does not matter what the outcome of any other game is, we will have won the West .

The game Sunday is going to be nuts. Of course I would rather MSU have clinched our position ahead of time but there is a certain excitement about a season coming down to the last game.

Go Dogs!

MSU and the SEC

2007-02-27T11:08:00.000-06:00

For as good as my beloved Bulldogs are this year, it has been a mediocre season. The dawgs and good for nothing UM Rebels are tied for the lead in the Western Division (SEC) with a disappointed 7-7 conference play record. Wednesday both teams will be playing then UM has a game on Saturday versus still possible first place contender Auburn and State has a game on Sunday against also still possible first place contender Alabama. Obviously each game is important for both teams since they are duking it out for first but there is also a gravity to the situation because of what teams they are both playing. While State's opponent for Wednesday Arkansas is not all together out of the competition, the Ole Miss - Bama game will be a lot more important. Depending on the outcomes of three different games on Wednesday there could be anywhere between a four-way tie for first (all with teams batting less than .500) or a sole team in first.

The games this weekend only lend more to the madness. However you want to look at it, this season, the SEC tournament, and the NCAA tournament will all becoming down to the last week of regular season games for four teams. Which ever school comes in the first in the West will be given a first round exemption in the SEC tournament which is more than handy. Also, first place in the West pretty much guarantees a bid in the NCAA tournament. So it you can see the importance of it all.

I have faith in my bulldogs. We are a young team sure and the season has been sad for the whole division but we are very much a second half team when it comes to crunch time and as I've explained I think this is absolutely crunch time. They have been a lot of fun to watch this year and while I'll be sad to see my personal favorite player leave us (D. Slater) I know next year will be even more excited and we will be even better.

Go Dawgs.

We're here!

2007-02-26T12:12:00.000-06:00

Obviously, we have just started. Bookmark now and stay tuned for a fully detailed blog site!

-The Sox Bloggers