It must be Wednesday........
And according to the calenders made available to us........there are 52 of these.....in a calender year. That means 52 "Hump Days". Wow!
In this southern college town, the temperature's rising........Summer..........looms. The "hazy, hot & humid" days........await us. As we crank up our AC's ........and fans.......and other cooling devices.........let's take a look at what's happening around us.......sports........and otherwise.
Magic vs. Lakers..........
Not what the networks wanted......(Kobe vs. LeBron was what ABC was hoping for).....but an intriguing match-up just the same.
Disney Land vs. Disney World............A tale of two franchises.....L A, is in the finals for the 30th time.......the Magic? Only their 2nd.
The Lakers will have Jack Nicholson (long time fan....and the "joker") sitting court side.......The Magic will have Orlando resident, and the best golfer of the planet, Tiger Woods.
Both are led by a player who came straight from high school to the pros........Kobe (Lakers) ........and that man child, from south Atlanta..........Superman himself........Dwight Howard.
The coaches? Phil Jackson has nine rings.........championship rings.......Stan Van Gundy? Weren't they gonna fire him last year?
Regular season meetings? Orlando took 'em both. They last met........61 games ago....
Make no mistake...........Orlando is the real deal..........and they present match up problems for most of the NBA...........
But............the Lakers' front line..........is too big.......too long........too much range.......and they have the x-factor........in that cold blooded.......game on the line ..........cut-throat shooter....in Kobe.
Lakers...........in 6.
A Williams-less.......French Open.......
We don't follow tennis.........except for the William sisters , Venus and Serena.........Well, both have been ousted in the on going French Open Tournament. Bad for tennis........but a lesson for both girls.
Yes.......we know you both want more out of life than tennis.....and you're both capable of "multi-tasking" ...........But........
Tennis...........is what made you famous.......
Tennis ..........is why .......you both have made a fortune....
Tennis..........put the Williams family on a path of greatness...........
So........a note..........and some advice to Serena.......and Venus ........How about getting back to some .......training?
Tennis training..........working on .......your game. Playing in more tournaments to learn more about your competitions' game.
It can only help..........For when it all boils down..............in the end.......with all your "fashion statements"...........Hollywood connections..........and sexy dress lines..........
You both..........are still ........two women..........playing a rich.....white.....sport.......of spoiled elitists............You gave us a reason ..........to watch.
So.......we're begging..........get back..........in the game.
Happy Trails........Tom Glavin.......
Atlanta releases Glavine
Today, the Atlanta Braves released the 300 plus win left handed pitcher........a shoo-in hall-of -famer.....The cash strapped Atlanta franchise chose the economy way. Cut Glavin........before he was with the ball club 90 days........Meaning they won't have to pay him a $3 million bonus.
At 42..........Glavin.......vows to pitch again..........in the big leagues.......for somebody.
Tom..........get a grip. You're 42........you've never been a "power pitcher".....You've lived.....on "the corners" and "outsmarting" hitters.
Brand new day..........Retire..........gracefully..........
Things........I ........think I think:
My daughter got her a teaching job.......Middle school math.......May the "force" be with her..
My "great nephew" turns a year old this week-end.......
My step-daughter, Sharmain........graduates from boot camp.....in the US Army tomorrow........at a fort in South Carolina.......I'm proud of you girl!
My garden? With the help of a little watering and fertilization .....it's doing well.
Have a great ........Hump Day!
From 1991 to 2005.......
The Atlanta Braves were the most successful team in all of Major League Baseball, winning an unprecedented 14 consecutive Division titles. Throw in 4 World Series appearances, 1 World Championship, and one could argue......this was the team of the '90s.....and part of the 2000's.
From 1991's "worst to first" season.....to the championship in 1995......to extending their Eastern Division dominance through 2005.....The road to the NL pennant....always went through Atlanta.
Professionalism..........It was taught and practiced in the farm system. From the Braves rookie leagues, to A , AA , and AAA clubs. How to throw.....how to catch....fundamentals....
Player development was a high priority and a major key to success.
But time changes.....people change.......the world around us changes.
The 2008 Atlanta Braves.....well, they are just an average franchise. For the 3rd year in a row........the road to the NL pennant.......will not be going through the ATL.
And .....as is always the case.....it starts at the top.
First, there is the ownership. No longer are the Braves owned by one individual.....Ted Turner sold his majority stake to AOL-Time Warner..........who sold it to a conglomerate , Liberty Media in 2007......
General Manager , John Schuerholz has stepped down.......long time pitching coach Leo Mazzone left.....and Manager, Bobby Cox is only signing one year contracts these days.
The "darlings of the nineties"........that pitching staff of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddox.......well ........2 of the 3 still are trying to pitch for the Braves (Maddox is with the San Diego Padres).....but both are on the disable list.......and both are now over 40 years old.
Prospects from the minors?
Who knows........with all the injuries this year......and all the call ups from the AA and AAA teams........No one has stepped up.....to become the next Chipper Jones or Brian McCann.
Trades?
Without 5 ........or even 4 star prospects........they can't get a front line player in return.
Solution?
Blow this team up and start over. This is not New York.....Atlanta will be patient....but it has to be done right. Development of the farm system has to be tops .......again. The focus must continue to be on the development of young arms......
Hire a successor to Cox........Nobody lives forever.......get a young, hungry manager, who knows the game of baseball.
Get back to basics........bunting.....stealing a base every now and then?
But the reality of it all is simple......
Instead of a "Brave New World"..........
2008 has given us ....a "Grave New World"
The Atlanta Braves......need a crash course in Economy 101......
$12.5 million........1 future star catcher (Jarrad Saltalamacchia), and 3 minor league prospects.
This what the Braves gave up in the trade for Mark Teixeira almost one year to the day, in hopes of making a play-off run.
Well.......the Braves didn't make the play-offs last year.......
And yesterday.......they traded Teixeira.....to the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem ..........for an average 1st baseman and a minor league pitcher.
And.......no.......they won't make the play-offs .....this year either.
It was an expensive lesson for the normally shrewed Atlanta front office.
Major League Baseball........has come down to the following:
If....you're the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Redsox........you buy the best team money can buy......
If.....you're the Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins........you build your team with the draft, good scouting, and a great minor league system.
There is no in between.
It is quite apparent, the Braves should go back to what made them a near dynasty in the 90's.......a great minor league system (from A ball , to AAA).....focusing on good young pitching.....
This year.......Atlanta.......instead of developing young arms.......tried to go back in time...putting their investments in the likes of Tom Glavine.... John Smoltz.....and Mike Hampton.......
It did not work!
Atlanta will again.......for the 3rd straight year........miss the post season.
Time to start getting returns on the investments......
