Say it ain't so A-Rod

I believe in giving people a second chance. People make mistakes and deserve a chance at redemption, but there comes time when a person has to say enough is enough. That time has come for Alex Rodriguez

Now I was willing to accept that he took steroids. At least he came out in the open and admitted that he made a mistake. But when Sports Illustrated senior writer Selena Roberts broke that A-Rod was tipping his pitches well, that’s just inexcusable.

Don’t get me wrong I don’t approve of his steroid usage but that really only affected Rodriguez own stats, but by helping the opposing hitters he cost many player’s careers and their salaries.

Rodriguez allegedly signaled opposing hitters what his own pitchers were throwing in blow out games. In return Rodriguez expected to have those hitters do the same for him when he was having an off night. It just blows my mind that someone would stoop so low. A-Rod is talented he shouldn’t have to do this to be the best. It’s really disgusting.

People say he should just be suspended. I personally feel that he should banned from baseball for life. He has brought nothing but trouble to baseball and the world of sports. He should have to return every dollar he has ever made. He has no character what so ever and hope remembers that karma is a you know what.

The Best of the Rest

It happens every draft. There are a few good guys that are left undrafted. These players were great in college but some teams just didn’t want to take a chance on.

Graham Harrell
I feel really bad for Graham Harrell. First he wasn’t even invited to the Heisman ceremony and then he doesn’t get drafted. In his last three years he threw for over 15,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. Maybe he was the product of the system he was in but ask yourself this? If Rudy Carpenter went to Texas s Tech would he have thrown for that many yards? Probably not. Sure Michael Crabtree is a rare talent but I still think he would have had a productive career even if Crabtree wasn’t there. It’s just the system around him. I feel should take a chance to him. He is a very accurate passer and be a quality back up for some team.

Status: Signed with the Cleveland Browns

P.J. Hill

The Wisconsin Winnebago left Madison as the third leading rusher in school history. He rushed for 1212 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is a big bruising back, but he was also very injury prone. Teams probably questioned his character after Hill was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving on March 16. He would make a quality short yardage back for some team.

Status: Signed with the New Orleans Saints

Ian Johnson

What a difference a year makes. Last year Johnson and the Broncos pulled the upset over the Oklahoma Sooners and he proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend. A couple years back Johnson was a highly touted NFL prospect. As a sophomore he rushed for 1714 yards and 25 touchdowns, and the next year he rushed for 1000 yards with sixteen touchdowns. This year the team decided to pass more and Johnson’s numbers paid the price thanks to this change in philosophy. He would make a great receiver out of the backfield. Think of Brian Westbrook just not with the same explosiveness.

Status: Signed with the Denver Broncos

Chase Daniels
He led his team to the Big 12 South Championship and was a top three Heisman candidate. I don’t care if he was in a system, numbers are numbers. While at Mizzou he threw for 12,515 yards and 101 touchdowns. In his senior campaign he threw for 4,335 yards, 39 touchdowns, and only 18 interceptions. He has talent. I really hope someone takes a chance on him.

Status: Signed with the Washintgton Redskins

The Man, the Myth, the Legend Welcome to the Desert Beanie Wells

Looks like the Arizona Cardinals still have a little magic left from last year’s Super Bowl season, when they were able to get Chris “Beanie” Wells with the 31st pick in this year’s draft.

Now I have been an Ohio State fan all my life (sorry ASU but you don’t even come close to Ohio St. football) and I’m school you on Beanie Wells just in case you didn’t know.

Wells is from Akron, Ohio. It is also the home of Lebron James. They are actually pretty good friends. He went to Garfield high school in Akron. There he was a parade All American. As a Senior he rushed for 2,134 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was named the number one recruit in many publications. He would sign with The Ohio State University.

Now at a school like Ohio St. Beanie had to wait his turn to become a starter. His freshmen year he shared carries with Antonio Pittman. He did rush for 576 yards and seven touchdowns on only 104 carries. Not bad for a freshman.

Sophomore year was the time Beanie exploded on to the national stage. In his 2007 campaign he rushed for over 1600 yards and fifteen touchdowns and was named an 1st team All American and a preseason Heisman candidate for the 2008 season.

But injuries slowed down Beanie’s race to the Heisman but it didn’t slow down his production. He still rushed for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns in only ten games. In the Tostitos Fiesta bowl he rushed for 106 yards on only 16 attempts.

He has drawn many comparisons to a faster Jamal Lewis. He is 6’1 235 and very physical. He has very good instincts and awareness. He cut back ability is phenomenal. At the combine he ran a 4.59 forty time and did 25 reps of 225. He is perfect combination of speed and power. And with Edgerrin James probably on his way out Wells will be an outstanding replacement. The combination of Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells will be a great one two punch.

If Wells can stay healthy he has the ability to be one of the best backs in the National Football League. He has that much potential and he is on a team where people focus so much passing game that running lanes will open right up for Wells. Hopefully this will keep Anquan Boldin happy. I doubt it, but hey stranger things have happened to this franchise before.

Before I go I got to say something about the Oakland Raiders. One name, Darrius Heyward-Bay. What the f%#@ !?! A 4.3 forty does not make a great wide out. At least the Lions try to become better I don’t know what the Raiders are doing. Someone please tell them the object of football is to win. The Oakland Raiders are by far the worst franchise in sports.

Why Sports?

Where amazing happens

One night I was asked a very simple question. Somebody asked me why love sports? Now most people give simple answers, but its question every sports fan should contemplate at least once on theor lifetime.

For me sports are my world. Sports are the only place that brings people from different cultures together. Only in sports will an overweight man be half naked and not seem out of place. Only in sports will you find a family with all their faces painted and know thats normal.

Sports are more than just entertainment. They are a way life. Sports are everything that makes life interesting. From drama of a game seven, to the excitement of a game winning play. From the sweet taste of victory to the sour taste defeat sports are just a reflection of the world around us.

Hope. Sports provide hope that anything can happen. That if a team or individual works hard enough and believes in themselves, nothing is impossible. Don’t believe me. Remember Michael Phelps inch of a win, the Giants topping the undefeated Patriots, Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open on one leg, and The Boston Red Sox actually winning a world series (well they've won a few now). In time where the news is filled with terrorism and the woes of the economy I think its nice to have something postive to believe in.

Seconds are an eternity in sports. Anything can happen in a second. Championships can be won and lost. Ordinary people can become legendary. Childhood dreams are fulfilled and curses are created. It is timeless moments like these that make sports so great.

Can you think of anything else that combines drama, tension, excitement, sadness, and happiness all rolled into one? Can you think of something that is always changing, evolving as we speak?

All I’m trying to say is to give sports a chance because if just give it a little, I promise you will receive so much more in return : D

To go where no blasian has gone before... NASCAR

Phoenix International Raceway in all its beauty

I have covered many sports in my short career. I have been to ASU football, The Phoenix Open, track events and the Diamondbacks but nothing compares to the experience I had at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR).

Now I’m a love all sports. From basketball to power walking. So when I had the opportunity to experience a NASCAR race how could I refuse? I wanted to find out how people are entertained by 1,000 upon 1,000 of left turns.

I first started on the hill outside of PIR. These are like the cheap seats in baseball. You can see everything and some of the most die hard fans are out there. There were a bunch people who had tarps, were barbecuing, and were just having a great time. I met a man who was happy to explain the history of NASACR to me.

People use to their fast cars to out run the Feds. After the need for the wheel man ended these people asked themselves what they could do with their fast cars? They decide to race them and that was how NASCAR was created.

So after being educated on the history of NASCAR I wanted to go into the infield. You know, the place where all the RV and trailers are. Seeing the race from this perspective has totally changed my view of NASCAR. Just seeing how fast the cars move in person is ten times better than watching it on TV. The pit crews are always contemplating on what to do next, theirs oil flying everywhere, and people are always in constant movement. Let me tell you something. You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced a pit stop. It really one of these most exciting few seconds in sports. Just to see what happens in those few seconds is amazing.

After being blown away by the race I wanted talk to some of these die hard fans that are the infield. They are like their own little community. There were kids watching the race and playing football. Most guys were just sitting around drinking beer, barbecuing and having a great time. With all this going on I stopped and thought to myself where I have seen this before in sports? Then it dawned on me. It is just like tailgating for a football game, but instead of doing for a day NASCAR fans do for the entire season. I met people from places such as Tennessee and Arkansas. I was really impressed with their commitment to their favorite sport.

I actually met a nice young lady named Oakley. She was kind enough to give me a tour of her RV. She told me that it was passed down from her Grandpa and that most people inherited most of their mobile homes. She said that NASCAR was a way life. That people don’t just watch it, they live it.

I truly have a new respect for NASCAR. It is something I want to experience again. No matter what people say I feel NASCAR is a sport and do not judge unless you get a chance to experience it for yours

The Suns Have Gone Cold

The sun has finally set in Phoenix.

The Suns were once the talk of the NBA. They were fun, fast, and exciting. They would at least put up at least a 105 points a night. Even when the Suns didn’t win at least fans could expect to be entertained for the night. Back in those times other franchises would envy the success the Suns had.

Before this year’s disappointing 45-36 record the suns had posted up impressive numbers. During the span of 2005 and 2007 Phoenix posted a record of 177-69. They even post two 60 wins seasons, but the 2005 season was the beginning of the end for the Phoenix Suns, and it all started with Joe Johnson.

Joe Johnson was one the main components of the Suns early success. He was fast, explosive, and a scorer. No Sun’s fan can forget when Joe Johnson shot two heroic free throws after he cut his eye open. This year alone Johnson has averaged 21.4 points and 5.8 assists game. He has help lead his team to the four spot in the Eastern Conference. In the trade with the Atlanta Hawks they receive a player named Boris Diaw.

Diaw soon became a crowd favorite. He was very active on offensive end of the floor and won the Most Improved Player Award. That year Steve Nash won his second consecutive MVP award but it still wasn’t enough. The Suns would fall in six in the Western Conference Finals against Dallas Mavericks. Another year another missed opportunity.

The 2006 and the 2007 looked like another promising season for the Suns. They won the Pacific Divisions and everything was looking right for a championship run. Funny, nobody told that to the San Antonio Spurs. After Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw got suspended for game five (they were suspended for going on the court when Robert Horry pushed Steve Nash) the Suns just looked out of sync game six and fell to the Spurs 114-106

2007 was a brand new start for the Suns. Steve Kerr became the new general manger. He immediately began to make changes. The Suns traded fan favorite Shaw Marion for the Shaquille O’Neal. The trade was supposed to propel the Suns to the playoffs but instead it bought them a first round exit to the San Antonio Spurs.

The 2008 season was the year everything was suppose to come together. O’Neal had adapted to the team and they were now coached by defensive minded coach Terry Porter. It should have been a recipe for success but instead it lead to a disaster. Plain and simple the Suns look lost this year. They were a team without identity and it surprised no one when the team fired Terry Porter, but even with new interim coach Alvin Gentry the Suns still weren’t able to make the playoffs.

As of today the Suns are 48-36. The future is not bright in Phoenix. O’Neal, Nash, and Hill are getting up and age and Stoudamire could be gone in 2010. The Suns have had their opportunity but now it is nothing but a memory. For the next few years Sun’s fans will have to remember the good times and, unfortunately always wonder what could have been.

The Game of Life

Happy Easter to everybody. I hope everybody had a great day spending time with their family and friends. It are days like these that people should cherish in their memories. A person never knows when they will needed for a higher calling. On April 9th, 2009 Nicholas James Adenhart answered that call. Something like this is bigger than baseball and bigger than sports. Adenhart touched the lives of many. Sure he was a good pitcher but he was even a greater human being. Teammates loved him and they said he was always smiling and always laughing. He always had the knack to bring the best out of people. On that faithful Wednesday night Adenhart had the game of his life. He pitched six shutout innings against the Oakland Athletics. This was probably one of the happiest moments in his life. The world wanted see more but his time on this plane was up. Adenhart had another game to play but it wasn’t going to be in any ballpark. His big smile and ability to bring happiness to people was needed elsewhere. So on this great Easter Sunday let us not mourn the death of Nicholas, instead let us celebrate a life. The life of a man who was not with us long, but in his short time here was able to teach the world so much. As human beings we are not remembered by are material possessions but by the good we bring in the world, and for that reason Nicholas James Adenhart will live forever in the hearts and minds of everyone.

This just makes me laugh

Woods Watch 2009

Eye of the Tiger

Do not fear. This is not the time Tiger starts to play. Today he shot a 72 and was two under par, but still there is nothing to worry about. Everybody knows that Tiger doesn't start playing until the weekend. Think about this way. Would you still be watching if Woods was dominating the field after two days of play? No, you would be watching baseball or basketball or trying to discover the meaning of life.

Actually I feel Tigers slow start brings for viewers to golf. People will sit and watch just waiting for Tiger to start his comeback. It is this suspense that keeps people coming back for more. The rest of the field at The Masters knows this as well. Just his presence alone makes golfers play that much worse. He is the Michael Jordan of golf. Players admit that they are not intimidate but inside they praying for a miracle. Both are the best at what they do and Tiger always finds a way to persevere. So just wait everybody. Its just a matter time before my favorite Blasian (a combination of a black and an Asian) makes a run for yet another green jacket.

The Diamondbacks are better then ever

After last years mid season debacle the Diamondbacks are back and ready to make a statement. Last year they were leading the National League West for 153 consecutive days until the Manny Ramirez led Dodgers came stole the the title.

But that was then and this is now. It's true the Diamondbacks are young but they have lot of upside to them. Justin Upton, 21, and Chris Young, 25, have the ability the be great in this league. They have great veteran leadership from likes of Tony Clark and Felipe Lopez. Left Fielder Conor Jackson also the ability to be a solid player. I would like to see the D'Backs attempt more steals this season. They are a fast team and I would like to see them show off their speed more often.

When it comes to pitching the D'Backs have one the deepest rotations in baseball. Cy Young runner up Brandon Webb will continue to prove his dominance. Dan Haren is good for at least 16 to 18 wins. The acquisition of Jon Garland will add even more depth to this remarkable pitching staff. Max Scherzer has some nasty stuff and can become a quality starter. Doug Davis is the wild card. Sometimes he can be spectacular other days he can be a D'backs fans worst nightmare.

But if the Diamondbacks want to make a run at the pennant the will have stop striking out. The numbers don't lie. Last year Arizona had 1,287 strikeouts, that was second most in baseball. The team swinged and missed 346 times with runners in scoring position, and batted a league low .251 batting average.The young guns didn't help much. Mark Reynolds had a record breaking 204 strikeouts. Upton had 121 and Snyder had 101.

But if the D'backs are able to make contact on the ball and if the pitching is as strong as it was last year Arizona has the capability to win the NL West and make a run in the playoffs

Cutler brings life to "DA BEARS"

Everybody knew that it was only a matter of time before Jay Cutler left Mile High. The question was more where then when. Well we know now that Cutler will be heading to Chicago. The Bears probably feel like a kid who just got a brand toy for Christmas. Yeah this is like if a kid received a sports car in the morning.

The Bears have been looking for a solid starting quarterback for about a couple decades now.
Here's a list of some of the quaterbacks who paid a visit to Chi-town.

Harbaugh, Tomczak1991: Harbaugh1992: Harbaugh, Peter Tom Willis, Will Furrer1993: Harbaugh, Willis1994: Erik Kramer, Steve Walsh1995: Kramer 1996: Kramer, Dave Kreig1997: Kramer, Rick Mirer1998: Kramer, Steve Stenstrom, Moses Moreno1999: Shane Matthews, Cade McNown, Jim Miller2000: McNown, Matthews, Miller2001: Miller, Matthews2002: Miller, Chris Chandler, Henry Burris2003: Kordell Stewart, Chandler, Rex Grossman2004: Grossman, Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzel, Chad Hutchinson2005: Kyle Orton, Grossman2006: Grossman2007: Grossman, Brian Griese, Orton2008: Orton, Grossman.

I give credit to Rex Grossman. He was able to lead his team to the Superbowl, but in his 2007 campaign Grossman stayed true to his name. He threw four touchdowns and seven interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 67.1.

The old saying goes defense wins championship but whats the point if you can score any touchdowns. Year after year you can always find the Bears near the bottom of most offensive rankings. Well, except rushing attempts and yards of course. Cutler will change all that though. He is an accurate QB with a cannon for a arm. He won eight games with an imaginary defense. In other words: The man has skillz.

I am interested to see how Cutler will do without his stud wide out Brandon Marshall. The fourth year receiver out of Central Florida had 1265 yards, 104 receptions, six touchdowns, and a trip Hawaii. Last year Devin Hester only had 665 yards receiving. Hopefully Cutler can change that.