Last_Blast's Blog

Kevin Garnett's critics have often said that he is not one of the all time great NBA players because, as they imply, he doesn't :"take his game to another level" in crunch time or in the big games.   I say that's nonsense.   Garnett doesn't take his game to another level because he doesn't have another level to go to!   KG plays full speed, full time and because of the latest example of this, Garnett has been suspended for one game by the NBA. Fine, it's a small price to pay for the effort Garnett gives every single night.

Saturday night, November 15, 2008 in Milwaukee Garnett was slapped in the face on a shot by Bucks center Andrew Bogut.  In retaliation and in the heat of the battle, Garnett pushes Bogut back in the face with an open hand.  Double technicals were called at the time.  But three days later, after reviewing the tapes, the NBA decides that Garnett's actions are worthy of a one game suspension.

This is fine with me on several levels.  The NBA is being consistent with their discipline. When there are "shots to the head" by players there are usually suspensions involved.  The league has been consistent with this.   The other level is Garnett and his level of play.  Like I said, he knows only one speed and again, this is a small price to pay for the consistenly high effort and level of play Garnett gives every game.

Butch

On sunday October 26th, at halftime of his teams game with the Seattle Seahawks Mike Singletary didn't like the way his San Francisco 49ers were playing.  So to let them know how much of a butt kicking they were taking, Singletary reportedly unbuckled his pants and let them drop to the ground while he spoke to his players.  Mike says " I needed to do something to dramatize how bad we were getting our tails whipped.  There were other ways I could have done it, but I think I got my message across"

I don't think Singletary is crazy I actually think he will be a good head coach and a winning one.  I'm not condoning dropping your drawers every time you want to make a point.  but drastic times call for drastic measures and i think eventually Singletary will win.  If not in San Francisco, then eventually somewhere else in the NFL.

butch

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Former Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant should be in the hall of fame and now, deservedly, he's got another chance to get there.

Tiant is one of ten players ,announced on Tuesday September 16th, who are on the latest Hall of Fame ballot for Veteran Committee voters.  The Veterans committee is made up of a 12 person panel that includes Hall of Famers Bobby Doerr and former sox manager Dick Williams.  9 votes out of the 12 are needed for election.  This has been said by many other people, many other times but if Catfish Hunter is in the Hall of Fame then Luis Tiant should be in the Hall.  They have virtually identical career numbers.  Voting results will be announced on December 8th at baseball's winter meetings on December 8th.   Tiant should be voted in.  He deserves it.

CAREER STATISTICS

PLAYER                   W  -  L      ERA     CG    SHO                  POST SEASON RECORD

CATFISH HUNTER  224-166     3.26     181    42               10-2       3.26

LUIS TIANT            229-172     3.30      187   49                 1-2        2.86              

What happened in Denver's Mile High Stadium on Sunday, September 14, 2008 was a bad mistake at a very bad time by one of the most respected officials in NFL history.  It was human error.  Ed Hoculi, the referee who made the call, admitted a day later he blew the call and for those people who are crying that replay should be used in this situation that is wrong.  This is human error at a very bad time.  But it is the latest example that sports are played and officiated by human beings. Human beings who are not perfect and mistakes are made.  There is nothing that can be done about it.

Here's what happened on the play. Denver has the ball inside the San Diego 10 yd line.  There are 30 seconds left in the game.  Denver is trailing San Diego by 7 pts.  Denver quarterback Jay Cutler drops back to pass.  As he goes to throw the ball he bobbles it and it falls to the ground.  Hoculi calls it an incomplete pass and the whistle blows.  A day later, after seing replays Hoculi says he made a mistake and it should have been called a fumble.   Denver went on to score a touchdown on the next  play to pull within one point. they then went for a 2 pt conversion and made it to win the game.

Some people are saying replay should be used in this situation to be able to get the call right and overturn it.  What they are missing in my opinion is that the whistle blew.  Even though the call was wrong, the whistle blew and that is the key.  Football players are taught to play until the whistle blows.  If you use replay in this instance you are asking players to keep playing after the whistle blows.  This would be disastrous.  Football is dangerous enough.  If you ask players to keep playing after the whistle blows then you are asking for injuries and big trouble in my opinion.

This was a bad mistake and Denver took full advantage of it by scoring.  They still did have to score by the way.   No rule changes should be made because of this.  It is the latest example that players and officials are not perfect. If you want perfection then get machines to play the game.  Heck just play Madden football or some other computerized game.

Butch

If you consider the NY post classless for their headline on Monday September 8, 2008 that read:  "Yahoo! Brady out for year".  Then what do we say about a website called believemerch.com

Take a look at the T shirt this site is selling.  It reads: "Bernard Pollard Fan Club, Established September 7, 2008"  and in the middle of it , it has Tom Brady's number 12 crossed out with the red Ghostbusters line through it. 

A quick click around this site reveals that it's run by a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan.  So let me get this straight.  Steelers fans, according to this site, are supposed to take pleasure from Brady's pain?  Whatever is below classless, I think we just saw it.

Butch

The NFL has implemented a new code of fan conduct as of Tuesday August 5, 2008.  The league is now warning fans who misbehave at NFL games, that they can be ejected from stadiums and barred from coming back if they don't comply with their new code of conduct.

Good for them.  If you've ever gone to a Patriots game or any other NFL game you know that it is a huge committment, both in time and financially.  And while everyone likes to enjoy the game and possibly have a few beverages also, nothing ruins the experience more than drunken idiots who think they should be as physical or verbal in the stands as the players are on the field and have no disregard for other paying fans.   Players that break the rules on the field can be penalized and punished and now the same holds true for the fans in the stands according to the NFL.

The ban includes the following:

Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal.

Drunkenness and signs of alcohol impairment that result in irresponsible behavior.

Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.

Interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field.

Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.

Verbal or physical harassment of fans from the opposing team.

While much of this is common sense, often times fans don't use common sense at a pro football game, but now they will be forced to or they will pay a price.  The league says that the code of conduct will be mailed out to fans and also posted in stadiums.  The league also says that teams have the option of adding additional provisions to the code based on local circumstances.  I say good for the NFL.  

Butch

Did you know Indy race car driver, Milka Duno, before this dust-up with Danica Patrick? Unless your a racing enthusiast or know anything about Venezuelan models, then I doubt it. That is why I say, more power to you, Milka! Take full advantage of your 15 minutes of fame now. I haven't seen anyone in a better position to do that since William Hung or Monica Lewinsky ( yes, I think Monica is shameful, though). So you go girl, but just do everyone a favor and stop racing now! According to people who know racing, you are dangerous on a race track and other peoples lives are in danger.

Milka is an interesting cat. This 36-year-old Venezuelan former model actually also holds four masters degrees, including one in Marine Biology. George Costanza is jealous. Duno may be both sexy and smart, but she also happens to be slow -- so dangerously slow on the race track that fellow Indy car driver Dario Franchitti's celebrity wife, Ashley Judd, thinks Duno should be banned from racing. There are two women who want you out, Milka!

So again Milka, I say, you go girl. Capitalize on this 15 minutes of fame, just stop racing.

Butch