The Atlanta Braves finally cut ties with the once-thought-of face of the franchise Jeff Francoeur last night. The Braves sent the rightfielder to the division rival New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Ryan Church. Church is considered to have an above-average arm and will hit from the left side of the plate. Church played mostly rightfield before Mets CF Carlos Beltran went down with an injury and Church shifted to center.
After a promising start to his career in 2005 and 29 home runs in his first full season in 2006, Francoeur has slowly seen his power numbers decline with a trip to the minors last season and a recent benching with Atlanta this season. Francoeur's numbers thus far this season are well below expectations as he has struggled to hit just .250 with 5 home runs and 35 RBI. Church meanwhile has hit .280 with two home runs and 22 RBI. The Braves will also send the Mets over $200,000 to even out salaries between the two players. The Braves and Mets open up the second half of the season next Thursday at Turner Field.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
At LAST a line!
For the past few years, the Georgia Bulldog running game has done well DESPITE the offensive line. It seems the last two years have seen Georgia mixing and matching, patching up with Freshmen and sophomores. And the offense last year did REALLY well DESPITE losing Trinton Sturdivant before the season began.
Those two seasons have both led to the 2009 season. This offensive line should be better than the solid line of 2005 and 2006 and might be AS GOOD (or perhaps better?) than the 2002 line which was dominant and paved the way for Georgia winning the SEC title.
Will the loss of LG Tanner Strickland hurt? Sure it will. You also have one of the Davis boys coming off surgery and missing all of Summer and spring practice AND Sturdivant returning from knee surgery. Yes there are question marks, but the depth this line has.......yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah BOY!
Let's start at Left Tackle. Trinton Sturdivant played LT his true freshman year and was all-freshman SEC and AA if I remember correctly. He suffered the knee injury and Clint Boling stepped in and nary missed a beat. Boling will likely move back to RT this season as The Big Stur should be anchored back in, protecting Joe Cox's, Aaron Murray's and Logan Gray's backside. If you want a little depth, Boling would move over or AJ Harmon would get on the field. Austin Long is probably the long-term replacement, but the freshman from Memphis will undergo surgery, from the last thing I read.
Left Guard will likely find junior Chris Davis starting, though Vince Vance got some PT there last season. Strickland had been pushing for reps here, but he is gone this year. Davis played well last season and is a vet on that line.
Center. You've got to love it when the coaches think so highly of a true freshman and say that he's "nasty" that they plug him in the middle and not worry about it for the next four years. That's what they did with Alabama's Ben Jones and I am not worried. Dude handled it as a true freshman and there is NO REASON to think he won't be doing the snaps for the next three years. Love it when someone is NASTY! freshman Dallas Lee and Kevin Perez offer depth at the spot.
Right Guard. As a freshman last season Cordy Glenn started here, then shifted out to RT when Boling was swapped to LT. Now that Big Stur is back, pushing Boling over, Glenn will likely move back inside. Big Bean Justin Anderson got plenty of reps last year at the right guard so he will play some quality minutes you can rest assured. Ben Harden was a stud in high school and will likely see some action too this season. But the more tackles you have on your line, the better. Love Glenn at guard.
Right Tackle. Despite the fact that Cordy Glenn starred here last season, Clint Boling will move back to the spot that he starred at two years ago as a freshman. Glenn would be the first one over as a backup, I would think. Don't discount 6'6 Josh Davis or 6'8 Vince Vance seeing time here if necessary. And you would think that Chris Burnette would get his apprenticeship here as a freshman or maybe in 2010 as a redshirt frosh, with the idea that he would eventually take over maybe in 2011.
The line has players that will pass block and road grade to help the running game. It is ALWAYS good to have a strong line as it helps a new QB get comfortable (he isn't worried as much about eating turf) and it gives the new RB piece of mind to know that HOLES ARE COMING. As dynamic as the offense was last season (scoring when it needed to in the UK game, final drive v Auburn, GT game for some examples) this season the numbers might be better because of a better line. Cox will have time to find Green or Brown, Moore or Charles and hit them in a good space. Thomas, Samuel, King and Jackson will be able to find holes. The offense this year will start in the trenches and I feel good entering this season with ? marks in the backfield as long as the line is strong. Same questions lingered in 2005 and look what happened.
And this line is better. (Too bad Florida is on the schedule...)
Those two seasons have both led to the 2009 season. This offensive line should be better than the solid line of 2005 and 2006 and might be AS GOOD (or perhaps better?) than the 2002 line which was dominant and paved the way for Georgia winning the SEC title.
Will the loss of LG Tanner Strickland hurt? Sure it will. You also have one of the Davis boys coming off surgery and missing all of Summer and spring practice AND Sturdivant returning from knee surgery. Yes there are question marks, but the depth this line has.......yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah BOY!
Let's start at Left Tackle. Trinton Sturdivant played LT his true freshman year and was all-freshman SEC and AA if I remember correctly. He suffered the knee injury and Clint Boling stepped in and nary missed a beat. Boling will likely move back to RT this season as The Big Stur should be anchored back in, protecting Joe Cox's, Aaron Murray's and Logan Gray's backside. If you want a little depth, Boling would move over or AJ Harmon would get on the field. Austin Long is probably the long-term replacement, but the freshman from Memphis will undergo surgery, from the last thing I read.
Left Guard will likely find junior Chris Davis starting, though Vince Vance got some PT there last season. Strickland had been pushing for reps here, but he is gone this year. Davis played well last season and is a vet on that line.
Center. You've got to love it when the coaches think so highly of a true freshman and say that he's "nasty" that they plug him in the middle and not worry about it for the next four years. That's what they did with Alabama's Ben Jones and I am not worried. Dude handled it as a true freshman and there is NO REASON to think he won't be doing the snaps for the next three years. Love it when someone is NASTY! freshman Dallas Lee and Kevin Perez offer depth at the spot.
Right Guard. As a freshman last season Cordy Glenn started here, then shifted out to RT when Boling was swapped to LT. Now that Big Stur is back, pushing Boling over, Glenn will likely move back inside. Big Bean Justin Anderson got plenty of reps last year at the right guard so he will play some quality minutes you can rest assured. Ben Harden was a stud in high school and will likely see some action too this season. But the more tackles you have on your line, the better. Love Glenn at guard.
Right Tackle. Despite the fact that Cordy Glenn starred here last season, Clint Boling will move back to the spot that he starred at two years ago as a freshman. Glenn would be the first one over as a backup, I would think. Don't discount 6'6 Josh Davis or 6'8 Vince Vance seeing time here if necessary. And you would think that Chris Burnette would get his apprenticeship here as a freshman or maybe in 2010 as a redshirt frosh, with the idea that he would eventually take over maybe in 2011.
The line has players that will pass block and road grade to help the running game. It is ALWAYS good to have a strong line as it helps a new QB get comfortable (he isn't worried as much about eating turf) and it gives the new RB piece of mind to know that HOLES ARE COMING. As dynamic as the offense was last season (scoring when it needed to in the UK game, final drive v Auburn, GT game for some examples) this season the numbers might be better because of a better line. Cox will have time to find Green or Brown, Moore or Charles and hit them in a good space. Thomas, Samuel, King and Jackson will be able to find holes. The offense this year will start in the trenches and I feel good entering this season with ? marks in the backfield as long as the line is strong. Same questions lingered in 2005 and look what happened.
And this line is better. (Too bad Florida is on the schedule...)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Have we seen this before?
For as much ballyhoo as has been made of the sparkling debut of Braves rookie Tommy Hanson (4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his first six starts, with a fifth win going by the wayside after a blown save), Braves fans should not yet anoint this guy the savior of the franchise. Atlanta has been treated to hot starts before, some even more impressive than Hanson’s.
In 1990 Steve Avery arrived in Atlanta as 20 year-old phenom ready to take on the world. Avery struggled to a 3-11 record, but in his first full season, the 21 year-old posted an 18-8 record with a 3.38 ERA. Avery threw three complete games and tossed in a shutout. Following an 11-11 campaign in 1992, the lefty gave his best season as a Brave with an 18-6 record. After the 1993 season though, Avery’s career spiraled down and down and down until he left Atlanta for stints in Boston and Detroit. In Avery’s seven years with the Braves, he made one all-star team and went 72-62 with a 3.83 ERA. Many consider him the last true ace the Braves have developed for Atlanta’s benefit. Jason Schmidt and Adam Wainwright have both blossomed with other teams.
In the off-season leading up to the 2005 season, the Braves acquired Jorge Sosa from Tampa Bay and Sosa helped lead the Braves back to the postseason with a 13-3 record. Sosa’s 2.55 ERA and ability to get out of jams helped the Braves win the franchise’s most recent division title. However Sosa could not sustain the success and the next season was all downhill to the tune of a 3-10 record and a trip out of town. He was shipped to St. Louis for spare parts and left many fans wondering what had happened and promising never again to be hoodwinked by the early success of a young hurler.
Clearly now though you want to think that Hanson will be able to sustain his early success. Hanson was the first pitcher ever to win the MVP of the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League. Hanson dominated Class AA-Mississippi last season, even firing a seven-inning no-hitter. This spring Hanson was arguably the most effective pitcher at the team’s spring training camp. He showed a quick fastball, a knee-buckling curve and a masterful breaking ball. The Braves brass felt he needed to polish up in Class AAA-Gwinnett and he did until his June 3 call-up. Now that the 22-year-old right-hander is wearing the Atlanta tomahawk, he has energized the Turner Field crowd in a way that Sosa never did, but Jeff Francoeur did after his 2005 promotion. People have flocked to the Ted for Hanson’s starts and Hanson has delivered. Recently Hanson ran off 26 straight scoreless innings, three more than the current streak of the reigning Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum. The boy wonder has allowed just 10 runs in 36 innings and seven of those came in his debut, a game the Braves won. In fact, the Braves are 5-1 in his starts and though the strikeouts and the triple-digit radar gun readings haven’t been as Paul Bunyan-esque as everyone expected, perhaps it is because people were expecting too much. This was the centerpiece of the proposed trade for Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy that Braves GM refused to part with. This was the guy that would help ease Braves fans’ concerns after John Smoltz was allowed to leave the team after 20 years.
And perhaps it is in John Smoltz where Braves fans have seen this before. Smoltz led the Braves to the World Series in just his third full season with Atlanta before going on to the 1996 Cy Young award, 8 all-star game appearances, 210 wins and 154 saves. Braves fans should hope that Hanson is most like Smoltz, who constantly reinvented himself and gave the franchise 20 years of greatness and with Atlanta became the winningest pitcher in postseason history.
Hanson must keep a level head and not let early success get to him. He is surrounded by veterans of the game such as Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox, and his battery mate, Brian McCann, is one of the best catchers in the game. He has the tools to be great and the potential to sustain the success. The key will be to realize that potential and become a mainstay in Atlanta for years to come. Braves fans have seen other pitchers come and go; they are hoping he is more Smoltz than Sosa, more early-Avery than late-Avery.
In 1990 Steve Avery arrived in Atlanta as 20 year-old phenom ready to take on the world. Avery struggled to a 3-11 record, but in his first full season, the 21 year-old posted an 18-8 record with a 3.38 ERA. Avery threw three complete games and tossed in a shutout. Following an 11-11 campaign in 1992, the lefty gave his best season as a Brave with an 18-6 record. After the 1993 season though, Avery’s career spiraled down and down and down until he left Atlanta for stints in Boston and Detroit. In Avery’s seven years with the Braves, he made one all-star team and went 72-62 with a 3.83 ERA. Many consider him the last true ace the Braves have developed for Atlanta’s benefit. Jason Schmidt and Adam Wainwright have both blossomed with other teams.
In the off-season leading up to the 2005 season, the Braves acquired Jorge Sosa from Tampa Bay and Sosa helped lead the Braves back to the postseason with a 13-3 record. Sosa’s 2.55 ERA and ability to get out of jams helped the Braves win the franchise’s most recent division title. However Sosa could not sustain the success and the next season was all downhill to the tune of a 3-10 record and a trip out of town. He was shipped to St. Louis for spare parts and left many fans wondering what had happened and promising never again to be hoodwinked by the early success of a young hurler.
Clearly now though you want to think that Hanson will be able to sustain his early success. Hanson was the first pitcher ever to win the MVP of the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League. Hanson dominated Class AA-Mississippi last season, even firing a seven-inning no-hitter. This spring Hanson was arguably the most effective pitcher at the team’s spring training camp. He showed a quick fastball, a knee-buckling curve and a masterful breaking ball. The Braves brass felt he needed to polish up in Class AAA-Gwinnett and he did until his June 3 call-up. Now that the 22-year-old right-hander is wearing the Atlanta tomahawk, he has energized the Turner Field crowd in a way that Sosa never did, but Jeff Francoeur did after his 2005 promotion. People have flocked to the Ted for Hanson’s starts and Hanson has delivered. Recently Hanson ran off 26 straight scoreless innings, three more than the current streak of the reigning Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum. The boy wonder has allowed just 10 runs in 36 innings and seven of those came in his debut, a game the Braves won. In fact, the Braves are 5-1 in his starts and though the strikeouts and the triple-digit radar gun readings haven’t been as Paul Bunyan-esque as everyone expected, perhaps it is because people were expecting too much. This was the centerpiece of the proposed trade for Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy that Braves GM refused to part with. This was the guy that would help ease Braves fans’ concerns after John Smoltz was allowed to leave the team after 20 years.
And perhaps it is in John Smoltz where Braves fans have seen this before. Smoltz led the Braves to the World Series in just his third full season with Atlanta before going on to the 1996 Cy Young award, 8 all-star game appearances, 210 wins and 154 saves. Braves fans should hope that Hanson is most like Smoltz, who constantly reinvented himself and gave the franchise 20 years of greatness and with Atlanta became the winningest pitcher in postseason history.
Hanson must keep a level head and not let early success get to him. He is surrounded by veterans of the game such as Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox, and his battery mate, Brian McCann, is one of the best catchers in the game. He has the tools to be great and the potential to sustain the success. The key will be to realize that potential and become a mainstay in Atlanta for years to come. Braves fans have seen other pitchers come and go; they are hoping he is more Smoltz than Sosa, more early-Avery than late-Avery.
The Roomies turn on Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia
Last night, sanity FINALLY won out. You don't see that all that much on reality TV, especially on MTV. Usually the sane party always goes to war with the insane party, and the insane party's fringe members never cross over to the light. They stick because of loyalty (gender, race, socio-economic standing) and the insanes usually declare victory when the sane party walks away because YOU JUST CANNOT ARGUE WITH CRAZY (or drunk) PEOPLE!
Last night though, the sane party scored a victory and you know across TV's landscape, all of the members of the various Sane party factions celebrated. I'm sure Brooklyn's Chet & Ryan, Survivor's Sierra, Taj and Brendan, The Hills' LC, and A Shot at Love's Bo are rejoicing right now. Their foes Sarah, Coach, the rest of the Hills cast and Jersey, I WOULD say are feeling bad for fellow-crazy Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia, but probably not. Crazy people probably think that Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is getting screwed over.
Why am I chalking up a victory for the sane roommates? Ummmm, let's see. Ayiiiiiiiia hooks up with a chick, despite the fact that her BOYFRIEND at home calls her everyday, then she pitches a fit after Joey spits on her taco (get over it. what, are you out 69 cents? YOU ARE IN FRIGGIN' MEXICO, where tacos are GIVEN TO YOU FOR FREE WHEN YOU GO OUT TO EAT!), she destroys a $1000 guitar, then she gets all uppity when Jonna doesn't want to hang with her. She LEAVES the rest of the group...TWICE (once on an excursion and once at a club), and she doesn't have her girls backs and LATER will SPY on them. Then she goes off on her "Soulmate" Jasime and then on her "first" Emilee. And she drops an "at least I wasn't f-ing adopted." Umm, is that an insult from a Hooters waitress who had one abortion and then another kid out of wedlock? REALLY? That is your insult? WOW. that really hurts.
But she WAS leading the RW:Cancun Party, which featured Emilee and Jasmine (the fringe members), until E&J had a talk with the sane party leaders CJ and Bronne (somehow the VOICE OF REASON of this season. Who'da figured?) and the fringe pairing jumped parties. Now it is 7 v 1 and Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is off being crazy all by herself while the other seven get along. WOW. and the weird thing is, Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia thinks that the other 7 are jerks and she is cool. Isn't it usually the opposite in those cases? If you are alone and everyone else is crazy, YOU are the crazy one. Just saying.
But Crazy people rarely (read: NEVER) see that logic. Thankfully Joey, CJ, Bronne, Derrick, Jonna and now Emilee and Jasmine are sane and maybe they'll vote out/send home Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia. It could happen. And I hope it does soon. But the producers probably won't let that happen because she causes the drama.
And on a sidenote, how come the Producers never just give the Roommates paper plates, cups, and plasticware? EVERY SEASON the roomies fight about cleaning up. It is a tired formula and always a subplot in one of the episodes. Yesterday it was Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia writing a note that "if you can f-ing eat, you can clean up." I would get pissy too I guess, but then I'd remember that I was in Cancun and I'd just wash what I used or what I needed and leave everyone else's stuff in the sink. (Or if I'm in a resort, I'd call room service, perhaps?) But please, next season in DC, just use paper plates or plastic. PLEASE? I am sick of the same argument over and over. It is getting to be boring TV. Like Cheaters.....
Last night though, the sane party scored a victory and you know across TV's landscape, all of the members of the various Sane party factions celebrated. I'm sure Brooklyn's Chet & Ryan, Survivor's Sierra, Taj and Brendan, The Hills' LC, and A Shot at Love's Bo are rejoicing right now. Their foes Sarah, Coach, the rest of the Hills cast and Jersey, I WOULD say are feeling bad for fellow-crazy Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia, but probably not. Crazy people probably think that Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is getting screwed over.
Why am I chalking up a victory for the sane roommates? Ummmm, let's see. Ayiiiiiiiia hooks up with a chick, despite the fact that her BOYFRIEND at home calls her everyday, then she pitches a fit after Joey spits on her taco (get over it. what, are you out 69 cents? YOU ARE IN FRIGGIN' MEXICO, where tacos are GIVEN TO YOU FOR FREE WHEN YOU GO OUT TO EAT!), she destroys a $1000 guitar, then she gets all uppity when Jonna doesn't want to hang with her. She LEAVES the rest of the group...TWICE (once on an excursion and once at a club), and she doesn't have her girls backs and LATER will SPY on them. Then she goes off on her "Soulmate" Jasime and then on her "first" Emilee. And she drops an "at least I wasn't f-ing adopted." Umm, is that an insult from a Hooters waitress who had one abortion and then another kid out of wedlock? REALLY? That is your insult? WOW. that really hurts.
But she WAS leading the RW:Cancun Party, which featured Emilee and Jasmine (the fringe members), until E&J had a talk with the sane party leaders CJ and Bronne (somehow the VOICE OF REASON of this season. Who'da figured?) and the fringe pairing jumped parties. Now it is 7 v 1 and Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is off being crazy all by herself while the other seven get along. WOW. and the weird thing is, Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia thinks that the other 7 are jerks and she is cool. Isn't it usually the opposite in those cases? If you are alone and everyone else is crazy, YOU are the crazy one. Just saying.
But Crazy people rarely (read: NEVER) see that logic. Thankfully Joey, CJ, Bronne, Derrick, Jonna and now Emilee and Jasmine are sane and maybe they'll vote out/send home Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia. It could happen. And I hope it does soon. But the producers probably won't let that happen because she causes the drama.
And on a sidenote, how come the Producers never just give the Roommates paper plates, cups, and plasticware? EVERY SEASON the roomies fight about cleaning up. It is a tired formula and always a subplot in one of the episodes. Yesterday it was Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia writing a note that "if you can f-ing eat, you can clean up." I would get pissy too I guess, but then I'd remember that I was in Cancun and I'd just wash what I used or what I needed and leave everyone else's stuff in the sink. (Or if I'm in a resort, I'd call room service, perhaps?) But please, next season in DC, just use paper plates or plastic. PLEASE? I am sick of the same argument over and over. It is getting to be boring TV. Like Cheaters.....
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Midweek Entertainment report 7/8/09
Lester is finally in the ground, Desi's fashion makes Paris Dizzy, and Real World goes lezbinen....
Ladies and gentlemen, the Midweek Entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLACPCLAP
Paris Hilton stirred up the drama last night in her quest for a new BFF by adding talking baby dolls (does she REALLY think that people will buy those dolls? REALLY? Well, I guess because 'they're hot!') and that caused Amanda to steal David's shoelaces and then, when David made the observation that Amanda's boyfriend was probably cheating on her (she is such a beyotch, he probably isn't cheating as much as leaving her) and then she grabbed his clothes to throw in the pool. When David got up to get his clothes back he was accused of "putting his hands on her!" Ummm, if he got his clothes back, and happened to graze her arm....gimmie a break. Then Tiniecia for WHATEVER reason decided to get involved and called David white trash. Ummm, Tiniecia, why are you insulting ANYONE? Honestly...You should be glad that you are still on the show. HONESTLY.
At the end of the day though Amanda, David and Tiniecia all get to stay (thank you producers) and Desi goes home because she has no fashion sense. Whatever. The producers made the right call. Of all three: Amanda, Dave and Tiniecia, none have a shot to win. She should have sent them all home. And for the record, David apologized, but the girls did not. Dave said it right too: why should he care if the other girls (stephen included) like him. He is only there for Paris to like him. WHICH IS TRUE! I might have even played the conspiracy card too, ie, they see him as competition so they are trying to get rid of him. But you know what Paris, this isn't a competition to me; this is a chance for me to find a new best-ie. She would eat that up!
In clips for tonight's Real World Cancun, the promo asks, "who would be the first roommate to hookup?" then shots of Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia and the other Hooters waitress are shown. Ummmm, Joey hooked up the first night, as did Bronne (like the paper towel) with the girl's mother! OH, MTV meant with each other.....Isn't MTV going to the Lezbinen well a little early in the season? This could mean trouble....OR THE BEST. SEASON. EVER. Let's hope it is the latter. Hey, the OC went to the LEzbinen well early and it brought Olivia Wilde into our lives (sorry, SKIN). So that wouldn't be a bad thing. Too bad Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is involved.
Finally, Lester's body was laid to rest yesterday. Oh, you might know him as Michael Jackson. His memorial service was yesterday in LA and 18000 of his fans were in attendance (a little weird, isn't it?). 11 year-old daughter Paris noted that Chester was "the best father you could ever imagine." Ummm, really? If I was imagining the "BEST FATHER" the phrase "child molester" wouldn't be on the list of qualities.
Al Sharpton continued to feed this child's ignorance by saying "Wasn't nothing [sic] strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with." Apparently to "The Rev" raping children isn't strange. And usually when someone DOES sexually abuse a child they go on trial. I guess THAT is the strange part for Sharpton. That he had to GO ON TRIAL for sexually abusing children. I shouldn't really listen to Sharpton though as he still hasn't apologized to the Duke LAX players after the woman came out and said, "yeah, I was lying." So until Sharpton apologizes, maybe he shouldn't make any comments on anything else.
Oh well, no more children will have to live in fear of the King of Pop, as in putting wine into their soda Pop and then luring them into his bed. The world is rid of a child molester. Thank goodness. Maybe THAT'S why everyone is celebrating...
Have a great week everybody!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Midweek Entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLACPCLAP
Paris Hilton stirred up the drama last night in her quest for a new BFF by adding talking baby dolls (does she REALLY think that people will buy those dolls? REALLY? Well, I guess because 'they're hot!') and that caused Amanda to steal David's shoelaces and then, when David made the observation that Amanda's boyfriend was probably cheating on her (she is such a beyotch, he probably isn't cheating as much as leaving her) and then she grabbed his clothes to throw in the pool. When David got up to get his clothes back he was accused of "putting his hands on her!" Ummm, if he got his clothes back, and happened to graze her arm....gimmie a break. Then Tiniecia for WHATEVER reason decided to get involved and called David white trash. Ummm, Tiniecia, why are you insulting ANYONE? Honestly...You should be glad that you are still on the show. HONESTLY.
At the end of the day though Amanda, David and Tiniecia all get to stay (thank you producers) and Desi goes home because she has no fashion sense. Whatever. The producers made the right call. Of all three: Amanda, Dave and Tiniecia, none have a shot to win. She should have sent them all home. And for the record, David apologized, but the girls did not. Dave said it right too: why should he care if the other girls (stephen included) like him. He is only there for Paris to like him. WHICH IS TRUE! I might have even played the conspiracy card too, ie, they see him as competition so they are trying to get rid of him. But you know what Paris, this isn't a competition to me; this is a chance for me to find a new best-ie. She would eat that up!
In clips for tonight's Real World Cancun, the promo asks, "who would be the first roommate to hookup?" then shots of Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia and the other Hooters waitress are shown. Ummmm, Joey hooked up the first night, as did Bronne (like the paper towel) with the girl's mother! OH, MTV meant with each other.....Isn't MTV going to the Lezbinen well a little early in the season? This could mean trouble....OR THE BEST. SEASON. EVER. Let's hope it is the latter. Hey, the OC went to the LEzbinen well early and it brought Olivia Wilde into our lives (sorry, SKIN). So that wouldn't be a bad thing. Too bad Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is involved.
Finally, Lester's body was laid to rest yesterday. Oh, you might know him as Michael Jackson. His memorial service was yesterday in LA and 18000 of his fans were in attendance (a little weird, isn't it?). 11 year-old daughter Paris noted that Chester was "the best father you could ever imagine." Ummm, really? If I was imagining the "BEST FATHER" the phrase "child molester" wouldn't be on the list of qualities.
Al Sharpton continued to feed this child's ignorance by saying "Wasn't nothing [sic] strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with." Apparently to "The Rev" raping children isn't strange. And usually when someone DOES sexually abuse a child they go on trial. I guess THAT is the strange part for Sharpton. That he had to GO ON TRIAL for sexually abusing children. I shouldn't really listen to Sharpton though as he still hasn't apologized to the Duke LAX players after the woman came out and said, "yeah, I was lying." So until Sharpton apologizes, maybe he shouldn't make any comments on anything else.
Oh well, no more children will have to live in fear of the King of Pop, as in putting wine into their soda Pop and then luring them into his bed. The world is rid of a child molester. Thank goodness. Maybe THAT'S why everyone is celebrating...
Have a great week everybody!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Best EVER? Hardly
I know that we live in the SportsCenter era, where ESPN, in an effort to garner ratings will immediately declare EVERYTHING "the BEST EVER," as long as it has a sponsor and it was aired on its station. NBC fell victim to it too on Sunday when the announcer (not McEnroe, but the other creepy-looking guy) boasted, "And Federer has won the greatest match in Wimbledon History!"
Ummm, no. He lost last year to Nadal. Remember?
This past Sunday, yes I was glued to the TV, but I would hardly call the match, "the greatest ever!"
Nope. Not when I also watched last year's Wimbledon.
That match, the back and forth, the rallies, Nadal v Federer WAS the best, at least that I've seen in my 27 years. Last Sunday's match was more "Everything that is WRONG with men's tennis," than "best ever."
Roddick is a zonetastic server and he has grown as an all-around player. He was not broken until the 30th game in the fifth set. 38 straight service holds. But all you ever saw was ace, ace, ace, ace-Game Roddick. Ace, ace, ace, ace-game Federer. Very few rallies and when there were, Federer was in control, save for a few great shots from Roddick. I just never got the feeling, after Roddick blew the 4 second set points that Federer wasn't going to win. Roddick had a shot at a break in the fifth, up 15-40 in ONE of those games, but you knew Federer would win it. And he did.
Last year Nadal and Federer went back and forth, giving it their all. This year, it was just BIG BOOM, BIG BOOM and change courts. Yes I watched and rooted for Roddick, the American, but while he and Federer played the LONGEST, it wasn't the best. Exciting only because it was an American. If Choke-a-vic or Murray had been there, I certainly wouldn't have watched the BOOM BOOM POW show. Just boring. Certainly not the best ever.
Reduce the power of the rackets and give me more rallies. Then you can see the better players and better tennis. But as tennis is now....kind of lame. Shots, not POWER, does it for me on the tennis courts. Maybe I'm by myself.
And I AM rooting for Roddick, but really only because he is an American. I want him to expand his game, which he has started to do, but learn how to return a serve and conduct a rally. That's all I ask.
Ummm, no. He lost last year to Nadal. Remember?
This past Sunday, yes I was glued to the TV, but I would hardly call the match, "the greatest ever!"
Nope. Not when I also watched last year's Wimbledon.
That match, the back and forth, the rallies, Nadal v Federer WAS the best, at least that I've seen in my 27 years. Last Sunday's match was more "Everything that is WRONG with men's tennis," than "best ever."
Roddick is a zonetastic server and he has grown as an all-around player. He was not broken until the 30th game in the fifth set. 38 straight service holds. But all you ever saw was ace, ace, ace, ace-Game Roddick. Ace, ace, ace, ace-game Federer. Very few rallies and when there were, Federer was in control, save for a few great shots from Roddick. I just never got the feeling, after Roddick blew the 4 second set points that Federer wasn't going to win. Roddick had a shot at a break in the fifth, up 15-40 in ONE of those games, but you knew Federer would win it. And he did.
Last year Nadal and Federer went back and forth, giving it their all. This year, it was just BIG BOOM, BIG BOOM and change courts. Yes I watched and rooted for Roddick, the American, but while he and Federer played the LONGEST, it wasn't the best. Exciting only because it was an American. If Choke-a-vic or Murray had been there, I certainly wouldn't have watched the BOOM BOOM POW show. Just boring. Certainly not the best ever.
Reduce the power of the rackets and give me more rallies. Then you can see the better players and better tennis. But as tennis is now....kind of lame. Shots, not POWER, does it for me on the tennis courts. Maybe I'm by myself.
And I AM rooting for Roddick, but really only because he is an American. I want him to expand his game, which he has started to do, but learn how to return a serve and conduct a rally. That's all I ask.
Paul Mac is sad over the Braves
Paul Mac might be the second biggest petite Braves fan I know (myself included) and the biggest petite ATLANTA Braves fan. Heck the guy even used to host the Braves post-game show! He knows what he is talking about! (And what he doesn't, he has the Score Atlanta Braves beat writer backing him up!)
I had a guy actually bring up Colorado's 21 game winning streak as if that just happens all the time. Um. Colorado could hit and Matt Holliday has been eerily quiet even though he plays in Oakland.
This is where cliches just kill people. Pitching wins championships... great pitching beats great hitting..... um. No. NO IT DOESN'T!
Great pitching keeps you in games. Offense wins it for you. Atlanta was in the postseason what, 15 straight years... why? Pitching. But they only won once...even when they had their best offensive years because the other teams...always hit better than we did. Philly won last year... because they had better more consistent offensive players.
Now you want to trade the actual good acquisition in the off season in Vasquez and your only true starting shortstop in the Organization in Escobar for an outfield stick you could have had in February? That's just dumb. That article (Mark Bradley's in the AJC, discussing who the Braves should trade for. Options included Matt Holliday from Oakland, Mark Teahan from KC, Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego) was just ripping from ESPN though.
Adrian Gonzalez is the best player in San Diego. They aren't going to do us any favors... and trading for him would leave you without a shortstop and the best performing member of your rotation right now.... dumb.
The Braves are dull and they are going to be dull if they don't exercise patience which I believe they will, but Wren is going to HAVE to ask for more money next year. If they had 16-20 HR's in left (whatever Dunn has right now), they could certainly be at .500 or better at this point. He's no worse in left than Anderson.
Once again this year, halfway point.... non-competitive. I guess I can't complain though for 15 years a lot of fun players to watch have played here.
I had a guy actually bring up Colorado's 21 game winning streak as if that just happens all the time. Um. Colorado could hit and Matt Holliday has been eerily quiet even though he plays in Oakland.
This is where cliches just kill people. Pitching wins championships... great pitching beats great hitting..... um. No. NO IT DOESN'T!
Great pitching keeps you in games. Offense wins it for you. Atlanta was in the postseason what, 15 straight years... why? Pitching. But they only won once...even when they had their best offensive years because the other teams...always hit better than we did. Philly won last year... because they had better more consistent offensive players.
Now you want to trade the actual good acquisition in the off season in Vasquez and your only true starting shortstop in the Organization in Escobar for an outfield stick you could have had in February? That's just dumb. That article (Mark Bradley's in the AJC, discussing who the Braves should trade for. Options included Matt Holliday from Oakland, Mark Teahan from KC, Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego) was just ripping from ESPN though.
Adrian Gonzalez is the best player in San Diego. They aren't going to do us any favors... and trading for him would leave you without a shortstop and the best performing member of your rotation right now.... dumb.
The Braves are dull and they are going to be dull if they don't exercise patience which I believe they will, but Wren is going to HAVE to ask for more money next year. If they had 16-20 HR's in left (whatever Dunn has right now), they could certainly be at .500 or better at this point. He's no worse in left than Anderson.
Once again this year, halfway point.... non-competitive. I guess I can't complain though for 15 years a lot of fun players to watch have played here.
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