Things ....We Learned......From the Week-end

In this small,  southern,  college town.....

 The week-end....gave us graduations.....end of school days.....NBA play-offs........MLB inter-league play.......Hockey play-offs.....Nascar....and......a hint of summer.

Things we learned:

Boston and Los Angeles.....will .....again play in the NBA finals.

The Atlanta Braves.....won 5 in a row....and are now in 2nd place.

The Cleveland Cavaliers ....fired their coach.

B P.......has an ugly....oily....mess on their hands in the gulf coast.

Lena Horne.....has died.

 The Super Bowl....will be played in New Jersey.....in 2014....outdoors.


Jose Lima.......former MLB all-star pitcher....has died....at age 37.

An interesting week-end....Have a great week!


 

A "Walk-off".....Grand Sam

Let's hear it ......for those Atlanta Braves.    For the 2nd straight game.....those Braves have won a game in their last at bat....

Today........a "walk-off" ......grand slam!


From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Last Updated: 4:40 pm | Thursday, May 20, 2010

A 9th-inning nightmare
The Atlanta Braves scored seven runs in the 9th inning, capped off by a walk-off grand slam by Brooks Conrad that went off the glove of Laynce Nix, to beat the Reds 10-9 this afternoon.

And.....from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

 

Atlanta Braves

Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

A grand 9th-inning comeback

The Braves put together a rally for the ages, highlighted by Brooks Conrad's grand slam.

Final 1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9   R H E Cincinnati 0 8 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 9 13 4 Atlanta 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 7 10 10 1

W: Kimbrel (1-0)   L: Cordero (1-3)

Cin HR: Votto (10) Nix (2)

Atl HR: Conrad (3)

Preview | Box | At the Park | Recap

Oh....To Be an Atlanta Fan...It Ain't Easy......

That roller-coaster ride ......we rode with our ATL teams the past 6 days.....went a little like this:

The "best of times"......

Over the week-end.....5 wins.......in  3 days.   The Braves swept the Astros 3-0......And the Hawks went into game 6.....at Milwaukee.......Friday night......beat the Bucks.   Then came back to the ATL   Sunday to close them out in game 7.

5 wins........3 days.

And then?

The "worst of times"........

Tuesday comes........The Braves lose their 9th in a row on the road.......and the Hawks?

They lose by 43........Yes.........43!

To Orlando........in game 1!

Tonight.......well......hang on........the roller-coaster ride......continues.

Things From the Week-end.......

Yeah....yeah....We  know it's a little late......this being Wednesday....but....

I don't know if we're smarter.......but.......the week-end did teach us this:

The Atlanta Hawks  cannot win on the road.

The Atlanta Braves  cannot win......at all.

The Boston Celtics....are alive......and well.

The Dallas Mavericks.....are over-rated....

The L A Lakers.....are in deep trouble.

The Denver Nuggets.....miss their coach.

The San Antonio Spurs.....Have come back from the dead.

There.....there.........I do think we are a little smarter.....You?

A New Low.....Even for Philadelphia

We all know  all about the Philadelphia fans......Booing Santa Claus.....etc.

Now.......Philly Fan....has stooped to a new low:

Police: NJ man purposely vomited on Phillies fans

 

 

In this undated photo released by the Philadelphia Police Department, Matthew Clemmens is seen. Clemmens, 21, of Cherry Hill, N.J., is facing charges after police say he intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl in the stands during a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game on Wednesday, April 14. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Police Department)

 

A New Jersey man was jailed after he intentionally vomited on an off-duty police captain and his 11-year-old daughter in the stands during a Phillies game, police said.
Matthew Clemmens, 21, of Cherry Hill, N.J., was charged with assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and related offenses for the incident at Wednesday night's Phillies-Nationals game. He was being held Friday on $36,000 bail.

Clemmens made himself vomit on an off-duty police captain and his daughter after a companion of Clemmens' was kicked out for unruly behavior, police said.

Clemmens retaliated by vomiting on Michael Vangelo, an off-duty Easton police captain, and his daughter, Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said.

"It was the most vile, disgusting thing I've ever seen," Vangelo said Friday. "He has two fingers down his throat, he lunges forward and vomits on myself and my 11-year-old."
Vangelo said he tried to push his children safely behind him, and Clemmens punched him in the face. Four or five fans in the next section rushed to help, Vangelo said. They held him until police arrived _ someone punching Clemmens in the face as he tried to break free _ and an officer was also hit with vomit, Vanore said.

Clemmens' listed phone number is disconnected.

Only......in the city of "brotherly love".........

African Americans.......and Baseball

There are......a lot of "blacks" in Major League Baseball.   But.....few are United States born African Americans.    Latin players are plentiful......and yes......they are dark skinned.....but  they don't speak the language ......(English).   Thus........they.....are not  African Americans.

Why?

Many theories.....Today the best African American athletes go for football and basketball.   In the intercity,  it's much easier to get a basketball,  a court,  a net.......but baseball?   You need gloves.....and bats......and balls.......a field.....bases.....shoes with cleats...... and you need them for every player.   Cost money.    

Still.....it is sad to see the state of baseball ....today.

Check this out from USA Today:

By Bob Nightengale,

USA TODAYFewer African Americans in MLB; All-Stars remain unsigned

MINNEAPOLIS — Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day today. But 63 years after he broke the game's color barrier, the number of African-American players continues to suffer, with 9.5% of them making opening-day rosters, according to USA TODAY research.

"He would turn over in his grave if he saw the lack of African Americans playing ball," Minnesota Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson said.

MLB had its first increase in African-American players in 15 years in 2009 when the number climbed to 10.2%, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. This year, though, there were 17 teams with two or fewer African-American players on their opening-day roster.

"It makes you wonder a little bit what's going on," said Hudson, who this week questioned whether racism was a factor in former All-Stars Jermaine Dye and Gary Sheffield being unsigned.

Dye has hit at least 27 home runs in each of the last five seasons but batted .179 after the All-Star break in 2009. He and Sheffield, 41, have turned down several contract offers.

MLB, which announced Wednesday that players and coaches will wear Robinson's retired No. 42 today as they did a year ago, says it hopes young stars such as Jason Heyward, B.J. and Justin Upton and Prince Fielder will help reverse the trend.

"We have more programs dealing with this issue than we ever had before," MLB spokesman Rich Levin said. "We continue to work very hard at increasing the number of African Americans."

Four African Americans are MLB managers, three are general managers and two are high-ranking officials in the commissioner's office.

"(MLB) will have you think things are better," agent and former pitcher Dave Stewart said. "It's not better. It's up to players to speak (out)."

Things ....We Learned......From the Week-end

Today......we feel smarter....for we learned a few things...

Holyfield, 47, Wins by Knockout

The 47-year-old former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 knockouts) knocked out 41-year-old Frans Botha (47-5-3) of South Africa with 2 minutes 5 seconds left in the eighth round Saturday night in Las Vegas. It was Holyfield’s first fight since Dec. 20, 2008.

Wow.....is Holyfield still fighting?


Baseball is back!  The boys of summer have begun their marathon run.....of fun.   My beloved Atlanta Braves are 3-3.   Thus .....a .500 team.   No more...no less.

Tiger......is .....still ....Tiger.   Stripes don't change....Tiger Woods is ultra competitive.  And after taking 3 months off,  he shoots an 11 under par to place 3rd at the Masters.   And ....he drops a few "f-bombs" along the way.

Phil Michelson .....is a great golfer......and a likable human.   We have new found respect for Phil.  His wife and mother are both fighting breast cancer.   And Phil continues to fight the demons that say he can't win the big ones.   Well,  yesterday.....Mr. Phil.....won the Masters.

This yellowish green dust.......known to us down here as....pollen....is getting on my last nerve.

Spring is nice......don't you think?   75 degrees......clear......no humidity?

I'm smarter.....are you?

On this Day.....

Today is Sunday, April 11, 2010

Today in
Sports History
1921 - The first live sports event on radio took place this day on KDKA Radio. The event was a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee.

1940 - Andrew Ponzi set a world's record in a New York pocket billiards tournament when he ran 127 balls straight.

1947 - Jackie Robinson became the first black player in major league baseball history. He played in an exhibition game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1999 - Spain's José María Olazábal won the 63rd Master golf tournament.

2001 - In Johannesburg, South Africa, 43 people died during a stampede at a soccer match at Ellis Park stadium. Another 160 were injured.

Divorce.......MLB Style...Update

Cheaper....to keep her....

This guy.......is learning the hard way.  Once you have ....money.......it takes a great deal of money......to keep......said money.

From our friends at TMZ.com.....(those people are everywhere):

L.A. Dodgers Wife - It's Expensive to Be Me

Posted Mar 1st 2010 6:08PM by TMZ Staff

Now we know why the L.A. Dodgers divorce case between Frank and Jamie McCourt is so high-stakes ... it costs a bundle to be them.



Jamie submitted an expense declaration with the court in her quest for $988,845. Here are some of her MONTHLY expenses:

- Expenses for Holmby Hills home - $202,715
- Expenses for L.A. home - $9,007
- Expenses for Malibu home - $151,054
- Expenses for other Malibu home - $88,106
- Expenses for Cape Cod house - $93,279
- Expenses for Willowbend house (we don't even know where that is) - $5,048
- Expenses for Vail house - $7,784
- Expenses for Cabo house - $2,530

In all, the homes cost her $568,829 a month. Her total nut is almost twice that. But in her declaration, Jamie says she was only pulling in $166,667 a month from the Dodgers. Someone missed their home ec classes!

More McCourt Divorce

• Jamie McCourt -- I'm No Cheater
• Jamie McCourt in A League of Her Own
• Dodgers to McCourt Judge -- Please Butt Out!

Things ....We Learned......From the Week-end

Okay.....so we're a day late......It's Tuesday instead of Monday.   Big Deal.  Consider it  three day week-end.

Anyway.......A few things.....which made us smarter....things.......we learned:


If......you don't have "Skype"........you're missing out on one of the more revolutionary inventions of internet video calling known to mankind.    All you need is a web cam ....... and a download:( Download)

Trust us.........it's free.....it works....it's great!


The Hawks......finally won a game.....in Utah:
 

NBA team ends unlikely 17-year drought

A huge 3-pointer with 2:28 left secures a victory for the Hawks in a state that's been unlucky. » Last won in 1993

• Hawks want Ilgauskas
• Iverson done in Philly?

You may have heard this story.....the USC running back that nearly lost his life in the weight room.  Well.....he's back.  And....about to audition......for the NFL.  Good reading:

NFL hopeful comes back from near death

Stafon Johnson will audition for the pros with the same move that nearly cost him his life. » His NFL chances

• More on Stafon Johnson
• Tebow changing delivery

Short shorts.......

I thought my .....buffalo wings were slamming.....but Zaxby's .....are really good.

It's .......a really bad feeling.......having a blow-out.....on I-85.....going 75mph.

Surprise... surprise.......The USA......is leading in the medal count.

Baseball.......is back.....spring training is here.

My daughter......says "Avatar"  is a ...."must see" movie.

Sunday......I did my taxes......and.......no....I didn't cheat.

Tires........make all the difference in NASCAR......and on my company vehicle.

Is ......spring.......ever going to get here?

I do .....feel a lot smarter now......Do You? 

Things....Learned....From the Week-end .....that was...

Interesting .......very interesting.

But......are we smarter?

We sure knew......this:

Mark McGwire Admits Most Obvious Thing Ever

Posted Jan 11th 2010 3:14PM by TMZ Staff

Mark McGwire is finally confessing ... he used steroids. Duh.

In a carefully written, blame-shifting statement, McGwire said, "I wish I had never touched steroids ... It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

McGwire said he took steroids during the 1998 season when he hit 70 home runs, then a record.

Your move,  Bonds.

Well.........duh.........you think?

And.....from the......"Don't drink and Drive Department....while out on bail....for a manslaughter rap" .......here's.......Jayson:

Jayson Williams Blasted When He Crashed

Posted Jan 11th 2010 3:05PM by TMZ Staff

Jayson Williams' blood alcohol level was .24 -- 3 times the legal limit -- when he crashed his SUV last week ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Williams was arrested for DWI after his vehicle swerved across four lanes of traffic before striking a tree in NYC early Tuesday morning.

Williams fractured his neck in the accident. He was arraigned in the hospital.

More Jayson Williams

• Witness: Williams Drove into Oncoming Traffic
• Jayson Willams Arraigned Live from Hospital
• Jayson Williams -- Caught on Tape

And.....an update.....from the gunslingers of D.C. :

Wizards Players to Testify in Gilbert Arenas Case

Posted Jan 11th 2010 12:30PM by TMZ Staff

Three Washington Wizards players -- including captain Antawn Jamison -- will testify today before a grand jury in the Gilbert Arenas/Javaris Crittenton gun case, law enforcement sources tell TMZ.


Our sources tell us Arenas has already been called in by the U.S. Attorney but he made it clear he would not testify on grounds of self-incrimination. We're also told Crittenton has lawyered up and took the same position as Arenas.

We're also told head coach Flip Saunders came to the grand jury last week. We don't know if he actually testified in front of the grand jury or just spoke with the U.S. Attorney.

As we first reported, cops are still looking for Javaris' gun -- which witnesses have told cops he tossed into a laundry basket after the confrontation with Arenas. Our sources say someone from the team wheeled the basket out of the locker room. D.C. cops are looking at surveillance video to see if there's a shot of the basket being wheeled out.

Both players could be indicted on felony gun charges.

Monday......short shorts:

Hell of game.....Sunday night.....Cardinals and Packers......I missed it....had to work.

The Atlanta Hawks......destroy Boston Friday......and lose by 32 to Orlando...Saturday...

The Lady Dogs.......are 16-0!

"Skype"........is pretty cool........video phone...Make that bed up....people can see......

It was so cold today......you fill in the blanks.....

Don't know.......if I am a little smarter.....but ......I feel.....like an Einstein...... 

Sammy Sosa.......goes......Michael Jackson

Say it ain't so.......Sammy....

Seems former MLB star, Sammy Sosa.......thought he was .......too black!

From our friends at "Young, Black & Fabulous":

Oh......how sad.

Can a brother .......just be ......a brother??????

Sammy says,

“It’s a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed. . . . I use [it] to soften [my skin], but [it] has bleached me some,” the ex-baseball star told the TV network Univision.

“I’m not a racist.I live my life happily . . . I don’t think I look like Michael Jackson.”

Oh Sammy...........oh ...really?

On this Day.....

From our friends at ...........On-this-day.com:

Today is Saturday, November 7, 2009



Today in
Sports History
1936 - The New York Americans beat Toronto in the first coast-to-coast radio broadcast of a hockey game in Canada.

1962 - Glenn Hall set an NHL record when he played in his 503rd consecutive game as a goalie.

1963 - Elston Howard, of the New York Yankees, became the first black player to be named the American League's Most Valuable Player.

1965 - Bart Starr (Green Bay Packers) was sacked 11 times by the Detroit Lions.

1968 - Red Berenson (St. Louis Blues) scored 6 goals in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Blues won the game 8-0.

1973 - New Jersey became the first U.S. state to permit girls to play on Little League baseball teams.

1983 - Ali Haji-Sheikh (New York Giants) kicked his second 56 yard field goal.

1988 - Sugar Ray Leonard knocked out Donnie LaLonde.

1991 - Magic Johnson (NBA) announced that he had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, and that he was retiring from basketball.

1992 - The Phoenix Suns played their first game at American West Arena.

1999 - Tiger Woods became the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win four straight tournaments.

Divorce.......MLB Style

A follow up story ...........from our friends at TMZ.com:

Jamie McCourt Strikes Out in Court

Posted Nov 5th 2009 1:15PM by TMZ Staff

Frank McCourt won't have to see his wife around the office -- at least for now. A judge just shut down Jamie McCourt's bid to be reinstated as CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers.


And, in a scene straight out of "War of the Roses," the judge ruled Jamie gets exclusive rights to the family swimming pool in Holmby Hills between 6 AM and 2 PM.

The judge also ruled Jamie gets exclusive use for now of the couple's Malibu home, each gets 2 trips to their various homes to remove their valuables and neither one can remove the other's name from their credit cards.

Frank fired Jamie last month after the bitter split in a marriage that lasted nearly 30 years.

More McCourt Stories

• Jamie McCourt's BF Called 'Liar' By Ex
• Jamie McCourt in A League of Her Own

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/#ixzz0W1Zs1ZP9

Two Cities.........Two Views

Give them their due........

The New York Yankees won a world series.......for .......the 27th time. 27!!!

First.......a view from the Philly papers:





















Now.......let's hear it for those Famous NY tabloids:

Hump Day.....News & Views

Wednesday......."Hump Day".....

Some "stuff".......we're following:

From the "I want to be like Plaxico" files.....we give you this story:

	Dodgers' Padilla hurt in gun incident LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla was treated for a gunshot wound after being accidentally shot in the right leg.

Guns........and pro athletes........just don't make a good mix.....period!


In case you missed it:

NFL: New Orleans 35, Atlanta 27

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Drew Brees passed for 308 yards and two TDs Monday and the New Orleans Saints held off a late threat to get a 35-27 win over Atlanta.

Atlanta had their chances on Monday night......But Matt Ryan threw 3 interceptions....one , a pick 6 the other way. The Saints are now 7-0......But.....

Falcon fans should rely on history. In their 40 something year existence, the Saints have never made it to the Super Bowl......and ........they will not ......this year.

These are the New Orleans Saints.....mark our word......the wheels will come off......be it injuries, bad luck........or both. This is a cursed city......and the football gods will never let these Saints......go undefeated.......much less .......win a Super Bowl.


Alright......we were wrong:

NBA: Atlanta 97, Portland 91

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Jamal Crawford led all scorers with 27 points Tuesday and the Atlanta Hawks used the fast break and a dominant inside game to down Portland 97-91.

We thought the Hawks would never win on the west coast.......Last night, they proved us wrong. This Jamal Crawford dude.........can ball!


MLB's World Series.....enters game 6:

The News ...

Phils' Victorino will play despite finger injury - The Associated Press

NEW YORK — All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino was in Philadelphia's starting lineup Wednesday night for Game 6 of the World Series despite a finger injury. Victorino was struck on his right index finger by a fastball from AJ Burnett in the first ...

This has been an entertaining series.....and a ratings success for Fox. MLB has learned a valuable lesson: Let the games start earlier. In the past, the first pitch would not be made until around 9:30 eastern standard time. This year, the games start promptly at 7:57 pm. Meaning......MLB.......has all of us on the east coast.......watching......instead of sleeping.


People born on this day.....you just might know:

Actress Loretta Swit (MASH) is 72.
Actor Ralph Macchio ( The Karate Kid) is 48.
Survivor host Jeff Probst is 48.
Actor Matthew McConaughey is 40.
Rapper-producer Diddy (Sean Combs) is 40.


Finally......I hope you guys voted yesterday......No , I did not.......but we didn't have any races going on in this small, southern, college town.

Finally......finally.....I actually heard......Christmas music......in a store I was in yesterday....and we're just barely into November....Go figure!

Things......We learned from the Week-end

If......it's Monday.....


Then we should be a tad bit smarter........For ....we learned a few things.....from the week-end.


Two college football programs.......very over-rated: Georgia and USC......


Two college football teams......that are "pretenders": Oklahoma State and Iowa....


Brett Favre..........is still.......one heck of a quarterback.........

The NFL football NY Giants.........have some serious problems.....

The Tennessee Vols........are a pretty decent football team......

The Oakland Raiders.......are a bad football team.....

The Atlanta Hawks.......cannot win .......on the west coast.....ever.......

The NY Yankees.......will win the world series....

NASCAR.......is only as good.....as the last spectacular......wreck....

And ........the most important thing we learned? Set those clocks back......before....going to bed. If not.........Sunday mornings on a Daylight Savings Time week-end.......can be .....shall we say......a bit confusing.

ESPN......The Moral Compass?

The world wide leader....in sports.....is also making itself the moral compass of our society....

Too much power? Maybe......But if you work for ESPN.....you had better watch what you do....what you say......and .....how you say it.

From our friends at TMZ.com:

ESPN Benches Bob Griese for 'Taco' Crack

Posted Oct 26th 2009 8:35PM by TMZ Staff

Can anyone at ESPN keep a job? The network suspended Bob Griese today for a racist remark he made about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

While he was calling Saturday's Minnesota-Ohio State game, Griese made a crack about Montoya saying he was "out having a taco." Montoya is Colombian.

ESPN is yanking Griese off the air for one week, and a rep for the network says Griese "understands the comment was inappropriate."

Yesterday ESPN fired baseball analyst Steve Phillips after news broke of his sex scandal with a production assistant.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/#ixzz0V5rLwMym

Why we Hate New York

A few more reasons.....why we hate New York.....and their arrogant ways ....displayed once again by these tasteless tabloid headlines:

Love & Divorce........American Style

From.......TMZ.com:

Dodgers Owner -- Cold as Ice

Posted Oct 23rd 2009 7:02PM by TMZ Staff

There's a reason Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt bleeds Dodger blue -- judging from the way he fired his wife of 30 years ... his blood is colder than ice.



TMZ obtained the "Notice of Termination" Frank MAILED to his soon-to-be-ex wife Jamie -- who was fired from her job as co-CEO of the team the day before the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs. Mind you, this letter was sent just 2 weeks before the couple's 30th wedding anniversary.

The letter begins, "Dear Jamie -- This is to inform you that your employment with and positions as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairperson of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, as well as any and all of the positions that you hold ... are hereby terminated effective immediately."

Though hard to believe, it gets even colder:

"Because your employment is held at-will, the Organization is not required to have cause to terminate your employment and may do so for any reason or no reason at all.

However, your actions, including, but not limited to, your insubordination, non-responsiveness, failure to follow procedures, and inappropriate behavior with regard to a direct subordinate, have made this decision necessary."

And for good measure, we've also learned Frank locked Jamie out of her office today. We're told Jamie called her assistant and asked her to open the office door -- she was informed her key no longer worked.

Nice touch Frank.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/23/dodgers-owner-cold-as-ice/#ixzz0Uo1VQmys


Our Take :

Frank.........you haven't a clue....

You live in California.........

She ......will .......get 50%....

You........fired .....your wife......publicly.........

Best case scenario........you end up with the starting pitching......and the Dodger infield.....She ends up with the outfield........and the bullpen.

This is going to get ........real ......ugly.........real.......fast.