16 LOB last night. At one point the Braves were 0-13 with runners in scoring position and dating back to last Sunday 0-20.
But the team rallied after rookie Charlie Morton put them in an early hole. In the bottom of the 7th, with the team trailing 5-0, the bottom of the order (including Frenchy and Lil'Bridge) then PH Greg Norton drove both in. NICE. 5-2. Then with one out, Chipper Jones drew a walk to load the bases.
Now Lil Tex comes up with a chance to REALLY do some damage....and he rolls over a ball that THANKFULLY Chase Utley boots and can only get one out. That would score a run, but runners on second and third with two outs, BMac dribbles one to Utley and the inning is over. Philly puts three more on the board and the final score read 8-3.
The Braves needed to sweep this series and now they CANNOT AFFORD to lose either of the next two games if they want to stay in this race.
BUt back to my point. The team CANNOT seem to get the big hit and that, IMO, would fall at the feet of the hitting coach. Terry Pendleton hasn't done that good a job, or even a job at ALL these last few seasons. Chipper doesn't listen to him. BMac doesn't listen to him. Frenchy DOES and look how he is struggling. This guy just isn't doing his job. You think MAYBE he could encourage Tex to go the other way? You think he could fix KJ's problems. You'd think he could get Escobar to become a young A-Rod circa Seattle 1998-2000.
But he isn't. At SOME point he needs to take responsibility, right?
And as far as fellow on-air talent saying that "Boy, Braves fans will miss Bobby Cox when he's gone," I miss what Bobby Cox right now. Because he is a shell of what he once was. And if THIS is what he is now and would be for next season as well, why not just make a change after the season and get the rebuilding underway? Yes I would miss having the Bobby Cox of 1991-2005, but we haven't had that one the last two seasons. Just saying....
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
So England is racist...
PLEASE note the heavy sarcasm used in that title.
Both Serena and Venus Williams were "forced" to play tennis for gobs of money on Court 2 at Wimbledon yesterday, instead of Centre Court or Court 1 at the All England Club. Court 2 is often referred to as the "Graveyard of Champions," and both Venus and Serena had singles matches there as well as their doubles match at the Graveyard.
Both couldn't believe that they would be sent to the Graveyard, while Roger Federer (the #1 Men's seed) and Rafael Nadal (the Men's #2) got to play at Centre and Court 1. Brit Andy Murray even got preferential treatment over the Williams sisters, because, well, he's British.
Defending champ and 4x winner Venus btw is the women's 7 seed while Serena is the No.6 seed. Just noting that fact. (Why so low? they don't play all that often, unless it is a Grand Slam. I guess those fashion shows are a little too important than the Lipton Championships leading up to these events.)
The sisters were disbelieving, even thinking that the schedulers got the court assignments wrong while their mother and coach Oracene Price went one step further. She told reporters, "I guess they wanted to put them on the jinx court so they could lose."
Yep, just a big old conspiracy to get the Williams sisters out Ms. Price. Between this woman and father Richard (wasn't that his name) acting like a crazy man, it is no wonder why everyone outside of America (and even some Americans) find it hard to root for the Williams sisters.
Listen ladies, while your competing in the finals against each other is always exciting (actually not, since in your early matches it always seemed like one was laying down for the other. let's see you two REALLY play!), that was kind of 4 years ago. You know, BEFORE you stopped really caring about tennis and started going into fashion (Venus) and acting (Serena). When you two WANT to play, watch out, but that doesn't come along too often unfortunately. Just saying that as someone who DOES watch a lot of tennis.
If you want to play on Centre Court, then keep winning and you will find yourself there on Saturday, BOTH of you. And PLEASE give us a match for the decades, not the follow-thru of a coin flip that you two did in the locker room before the match.
And PS, you are getting PAID 750,000 Euros to win and 375,000 Euros to finish second (just as much as the gentlemen) so how about we NOT worry about where we are playing and just play.
Both Serena and Venus Williams were "forced" to play tennis for gobs of money on Court 2 at Wimbledon yesterday, instead of Centre Court or Court 1 at the All England Club. Court 2 is often referred to as the "Graveyard of Champions," and both Venus and Serena had singles matches there as well as their doubles match at the Graveyard.
Both couldn't believe that they would be sent to the Graveyard, while Roger Federer (the #1 Men's seed) and Rafael Nadal (the Men's #2) got to play at Centre and Court 1. Brit Andy Murray even got preferential treatment over the Williams sisters, because, well, he's British.
Defending champ and 4x winner Venus btw is the women's 7 seed while Serena is the No.6 seed. Just noting that fact. (Why so low? they don't play all that often, unless it is a Grand Slam. I guess those fashion shows are a little too important than the Lipton Championships leading up to these events.)
The sisters were disbelieving, even thinking that the schedulers got the court assignments wrong while their mother and coach Oracene Price went one step further. She told reporters, "I guess they wanted to put them on the jinx court so they could lose."
Yep, just a big old conspiracy to get the Williams sisters out Ms. Price. Between this woman and father Richard (wasn't that his name) acting like a crazy man, it is no wonder why everyone outside of America (and even some Americans) find it hard to root for the Williams sisters.
Listen ladies, while your competing in the finals against each other is always exciting (actually not, since in your early matches it always seemed like one was laying down for the other. let's see you two REALLY play!), that was kind of 4 years ago. You know, BEFORE you stopped really caring about tennis and started going into fashion (Venus) and acting (Serena). When you two WANT to play, watch out, but that doesn't come along too often unfortunately. Just saying that as someone who DOES watch a lot of tennis.
If you want to play on Centre Court, then keep winning and you will find yourself there on Saturday, BOTH of you. And PLEASE give us a match for the decades, not the follow-thru of a coin flip that you two did in the locker room before the match.
And PS, you are getting PAID 750,000 Euros to win and 375,000 Euros to finish second (just as much as the gentlemen) so how about we NOT worry about where we are playing and just play.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Call me a mad trade scientist!
It seems that despite the Braves’ best efforts to fold this season away due to injuries, the Phillies are NOT letting them go quietly into the night. Atlanta is still in this thing! True the team is under .500, but the division crown is still within reach as the team has nearly reached the all-star break. With a HUGE series against the Phillies starting tomorrow, this team could find itself only one game back come July 4. So it might not yet be time to unload everyone like Tex or Gonzo for prospects for the future. Let’s officially make one last charge at this thing and begin the rebuilding this offseason after Tex departs, but not before giving the Bravos two first round draft picks.
First things first, an outfield bat is needed. Mark Kotsay is slated to come back, but with Chipper Jones likely headed to the DL, it looks like LF Brandon Jones will stick around. Unfortunately Jeff Francoeur is struggling to hit his weight, and I think he could be the one to go. In Cincinnati, it appears that Junior Griffey may be headed out, and super-youngster Jay Bruce could shift to CF when Griffey does go. I say send Frenchy to Cincy (a change of scenery might do him a world of good) and in return, demand Homer Bailey. The Reds appear to be willing to depart with Bailey over Volquez and Cueto, and if they can get a guy with the talent that Francoeur has displayed in the past, that is a deal they should jump all over. On the Braves end of it, Bailey is the young power pitcher that will sit at number five in the rotation this season, then steadily move up over the next few years. Imagine a rotation of Huddy, Jurrjens, Reyes, Bailey and Morton for the next three years. Sounds good to me. Bailey has the stuff to be a No.1 or 2 if he reaches his potential. Outfield candidates that could replace Frenchy include a stopgap in Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh or Raul Ibanez from Seattle. I don’t think it would take TOO much to pry those guys from their situations, especially Ibanez from Seattle, where that organization seems to be purging everything that Ichiro doesn’t like.
Another move I might make if I was in charge of things, with Chipper Jones likely to go on the DL and perhaps miss quite a bit of time down the stretch is calling Ken Williams of the Chicago White Sox and ask if Joe Crede is still available. The Chi-Sox have been waiting for Josh Fields to come to the bigs for a while, and Crede was actively shopped this past off-season, but his low average was scaring some teams off. He is hitting .271 right now with 15 homers and would look good in the 5 hole for the Braves. When/if Chipper does come back, you can rest Jones or pinch hit Crede, whatever. Then after the season, if Crede leaves via free agency, you are looking at a comp pick from MLB. If you choose to resign him, move Chipper to first and tell him it will help save his body for the future.
In essence, I am trying to pull a Billy Beane here, rebuild while reloading. I am rebuilding with Homer Bailey and reloading in the sense that, Jordan Schaffer will be ready to do next season and an outfield with Schaffer, Diaz, Blanco, Kotsay (you’d resign him. His options are limited right now, and I think he’d be happy to return), and Brandon Jones would suffice. Even add Nady to the mix (he could play some first as well should Chipper get hurt next season) and you have a lineup that could do some things. If you get Crede for the stretch run this season, and you DO make it to the World Series, you have your DH right there.
These are moves that make sense to me and I don’t think acquiring Ibanez and Crede would break the bank and as far as giving up Frenchy, you are getting a great young arm with huge potential. You’ve usually got to give something to get something and Homer Bailey benefits me more right now that a slumping Frenchy does. All I’m saying.
First things first, an outfield bat is needed. Mark Kotsay is slated to come back, but with Chipper Jones likely headed to the DL, it looks like LF Brandon Jones will stick around. Unfortunately Jeff Francoeur is struggling to hit his weight, and I think he could be the one to go. In Cincinnati, it appears that Junior Griffey may be headed out, and super-youngster Jay Bruce could shift to CF when Griffey does go. I say send Frenchy to Cincy (a change of scenery might do him a world of good) and in return, demand Homer Bailey. The Reds appear to be willing to depart with Bailey over Volquez and Cueto, and if they can get a guy with the talent that Francoeur has displayed in the past, that is a deal they should jump all over. On the Braves end of it, Bailey is the young power pitcher that will sit at number five in the rotation this season, then steadily move up over the next few years. Imagine a rotation of Huddy, Jurrjens, Reyes, Bailey and Morton for the next three years. Sounds good to me. Bailey has the stuff to be a No.1 or 2 if he reaches his potential. Outfield candidates that could replace Frenchy include a stopgap in Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh or Raul Ibanez from Seattle. I don’t think it would take TOO much to pry those guys from their situations, especially Ibanez from Seattle, where that organization seems to be purging everything that Ichiro doesn’t like.
Another move I might make if I was in charge of things, with Chipper Jones likely to go on the DL and perhaps miss quite a bit of time down the stretch is calling Ken Williams of the Chicago White Sox and ask if Joe Crede is still available. The Chi-Sox have been waiting for Josh Fields to come to the bigs for a while, and Crede was actively shopped this past off-season, but his low average was scaring some teams off. He is hitting .271 right now with 15 homers and would look good in the 5 hole for the Braves. When/if Chipper does come back, you can rest Jones or pinch hit Crede, whatever. Then after the season, if Crede leaves via free agency, you are looking at a comp pick from MLB. If you choose to resign him, move Chipper to first and tell him it will help save his body for the future.
In essence, I am trying to pull a Billy Beane here, rebuild while reloading. I am rebuilding with Homer Bailey and reloading in the sense that, Jordan Schaffer will be ready to do next season and an outfield with Schaffer, Diaz, Blanco, Kotsay (you’d resign him. His options are limited right now, and I think he’d be happy to return), and Brandon Jones would suffice. Even add Nady to the mix (he could play some first as well should Chipper get hurt next season) and you have a lineup that could do some things. If you get Crede for the stretch run this season, and you DO make it to the World Series, you have your DH right there.
These are moves that make sense to me and I don’t think acquiring Ibanez and Crede would break the bank and as far as giving up Frenchy, you are getting a great young arm with huge potential. You’ve usually got to give something to get something and Homer Bailey benefits me more right now that a slumping Frenchy does. All I’m saying.
North of the Border, EH!
I was out of town over the weekend, so sorry for no Braves blogs. Here is the section on the games I submitted for Score. Enjoy.
With a bit of momentum, the Braves headed north to Toronto for a three game set with the Blue Jays, a team that recently welcomed back a two-time World Series champion manager in Cito Gaston. In the first game, Mark Teixeira got the Braves off to a great start with an early home run and drove in three of the Braves four runs as Atlanta took game one 4-0. Jair Jurrjens pitched eight strong to collect his eighth win of the season and Blanco scored a run and drove another home in the win. In game two, ace Tim Hudson was rocked hard, allowing six runs in five innings as the Braves missed on a chance to get back to .500 on the season with a 9-5 loss. The Braves trailed 6-1 heading into the eighth, but managed to rally thanks again to a Teixeira home run, but the bullpen allowed the Blue Jays three runs in the bottom of the frame to end any hopes of a rally. In the rubber match, Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes pitched gallantly, going seven innings and striking out five, but an Alex Rios RBI knock plated Marco Scutaro for the game’s only run, and Reyes dropped to 3-6 on the season.
IN OTHER NEWS …
Injured centerfielder Mark Kotsay went 2-3 in a recent rehab assignment in AA Mississippi, but folks left the ballpark talking about one of his temporary teammates, Tommy Hanson. The Braves pitching prospect struck out 14 en route to tossing a no-hitter vs. Birmingham and improving his record to 4-3 on the season. Kotsay is hoping to rejoin the team this week… Pitcher Mike Hampton recorded two strikeouts in 2.2 IP of a rehab start for the Braves Gulf Coast League affiliate. Hampton is slated for three more starts (two in Class-A, one in AA) before Braves officials will make a decision about his future with the big club.
Finally Yunel Escobar returned to the lineup in Toronto after missing last Wednesday’s game with the Brewers. Some thought that Escobar was sat out due to his ejection from last Tuesday’s contest, but he suffered from a sore shoulder following a head-first dive into first base to avoid a tag. Escobar had just reentered the lineup that day after missing time due to a strained hip flexor.
With a bit of momentum, the Braves headed north to Toronto for a three game set with the Blue Jays, a team that recently welcomed back a two-time World Series champion manager in Cito Gaston. In the first game, Mark Teixeira got the Braves off to a great start with an early home run and drove in three of the Braves four runs as Atlanta took game one 4-0. Jair Jurrjens pitched eight strong to collect his eighth win of the season and Blanco scored a run and drove another home in the win. In game two, ace Tim Hudson was rocked hard, allowing six runs in five innings as the Braves missed on a chance to get back to .500 on the season with a 9-5 loss. The Braves trailed 6-1 heading into the eighth, but managed to rally thanks again to a Teixeira home run, but the bullpen allowed the Blue Jays three runs in the bottom of the frame to end any hopes of a rally. In the rubber match, Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes pitched gallantly, going seven innings and striking out five, but an Alex Rios RBI knock plated Marco Scutaro for the game’s only run, and Reyes dropped to 3-6 on the season.
IN OTHER NEWS …
Injured centerfielder Mark Kotsay went 2-3 in a recent rehab assignment in AA Mississippi, but folks left the ballpark talking about one of his temporary teammates, Tommy Hanson. The Braves pitching prospect struck out 14 en route to tossing a no-hitter vs. Birmingham and improving his record to 4-3 on the season. Kotsay is hoping to rejoin the team this week… Pitcher Mike Hampton recorded two strikeouts in 2.2 IP of a rehab start for the Braves Gulf Coast League affiliate. Hampton is slated for three more starts (two in Class-A, one in AA) before Braves officials will make a decision about his future with the big club.
Finally Yunel Escobar returned to the lineup in Toronto after missing last Wednesday’s game with the Brewers. Some thought that Escobar was sat out due to his ejection from last Tuesday’s contest, but he suffered from a sore shoulder following a head-first dive into first base to avoid a tag. Escobar had just reentered the lineup that day after missing time due to a strained hip flexor.
Cool off from the July 4 heat!
It is hot outside. Extremely hot. As the calendar flips to July, it is only going to get hotter. This Friday is the Fourth of July, aka’s America’s birthday (but that is up for debate. I would argue that the official Independence Day for America is when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown and America OFFICIALLY became a country and no longer a colony, but that’s another debate) should be incredibly hot. And if you don’t want to brave the heat just to watch the same fireworks display you saw last year, let me give you a cool alternative: stay in and watch one of the most underrated sports movies of all time. You will still feel VERY patriotic!
Cue up your DVD player and throw in Miracle. The movie, in case you didn’t know, is the story based on the 1980 US men’s hockey team that went on to claim gold at the Lake Placid games. This movie has EVERYTHING you want from a sports movie: an underdog story, the token funny character, the “we’ve reached bottom, now let’s build up TOGETHER” angle and several goosebump scenes. And the best part: WE WIN! That’s right, America wins. You can’t ask for anything more on July 4.
This movie gives you a look at several of the key players as well as a look at the coach, and the best part is, the actors were hockey players that were turned into actors. Some they really are in a way underdogs. They clearly are not true Hollywood standouts like Clooney playing Jim Craig with Matt Damon as Mike Eruzione or some crazy concoction like that. That made everything seem a little more real. They overacted at times, but that is perhaps how the REAL players would have acted.
Kurt Russell gave a fantastic performance as coach Herb Brooks and his speeches going into the semi-final round vs. USSR got ME fired up. I WANTED to play the Soviets in that game.
And even though you KNEW what was going to happen at the end, you still will find yourself cheering wildly when Al Michaels drops his “Do you believe in Miracles? YES!” line. I could not stop smiling and I always seem to raise my arms in triumph when the team wins the gold. It makes me proud to be an American.
So if you are looking for a fresh alternative, check this movie out and beat the heat. If you want a double feature, grab Rocky IV, but Miracle is my pick. And if you don’t get goosebumps when, after a grueling extended workout session designed to break the boys down, Rizzo screams out, “Mike Eruzione, Winthrop, Massachusetts. I play for, the United States of America!” then I don’t believe you have a soul.
Cue up your DVD player and throw in Miracle. The movie, in case you didn’t know, is the story based on the 1980 US men’s hockey team that went on to claim gold at the Lake Placid games. This movie has EVERYTHING you want from a sports movie: an underdog story, the token funny character, the “we’ve reached bottom, now let’s build up TOGETHER” angle and several goosebump scenes. And the best part: WE WIN! That’s right, America wins. You can’t ask for anything more on July 4.
This movie gives you a look at several of the key players as well as a look at the coach, and the best part is, the actors were hockey players that were turned into actors. Some they really are in a way underdogs. They clearly are not true Hollywood standouts like Clooney playing Jim Craig with Matt Damon as Mike Eruzione or some crazy concoction like that. That made everything seem a little more real. They overacted at times, but that is perhaps how the REAL players would have acted.
Kurt Russell gave a fantastic performance as coach Herb Brooks and his speeches going into the semi-final round vs. USSR got ME fired up. I WANTED to play the Soviets in that game.
And even though you KNEW what was going to happen at the end, you still will find yourself cheering wildly when Al Michaels drops his “Do you believe in Miracles? YES!” line. I could not stop smiling and I always seem to raise my arms in triumph when the team wins the gold. It makes me proud to be an American.
So if you are looking for a fresh alternative, check this movie out and beat the heat. If you want a double feature, grab Rocky IV, but Miracle is my pick. And if you don’t get goosebumps when, after a grueling extended workout session designed to break the boys down, Rizzo screams out, “Mike Eruzione, Winthrop, Massachusetts. I play for, the United States of America!” then I don’t believe you have a soul.
Best theme park EVER!
I traveled to St. Louis this past weekend on an in-n-out trip (Arrived Friday night, left early Sunday morning), but Saturday I went to the BEST THEME PARK EVER! Grant Farms.
OK, so maybe it wasn't a real theme park, but you could see the Budweiser Clydesdales and take a tram all around the farm to the petting zoo. There, they had elephants and turtles and camels and llamas and goats, etc. The elephants even did a show. Pretty cool. And if you were wondering the price of admission to get in.....NONE. Free that's right.
But as cool as that is, let me get to why it was the best park ever. Since Budweiser owned it....They gave away free beer.
Yeah, you read that correctly. FREE BEER. And not just a little shot glass of free beer. They opened a bottle and poured you a full beer. (Or Bacardi product). You could walk around with free beer. They said, "only two samples per person" but they didn't keep track of that. It was like the Cheers party. Simply fantastic.
Boil it down, I took a picture with the Clydesdales, I fed a camel, and I drank free beer.....and it didn't cost a penny! NICE!
Best theme park EVER!
Now if only I could find a Zaxby's theme park!
OK, so maybe it wasn't a real theme park, but you could see the Budweiser Clydesdales and take a tram all around the farm to the petting zoo. There, they had elephants and turtles and camels and llamas and goats, etc. The elephants even did a show. Pretty cool. And if you were wondering the price of admission to get in.....NONE. Free that's right.
But as cool as that is, let me get to why it was the best park ever. Since Budweiser owned it....They gave away free beer.
Yeah, you read that correctly. FREE BEER. And not just a little shot glass of free beer. They opened a bottle and poured you a full beer. (Or Bacardi product). You could walk around with free beer. They said, "only two samples per person" but they didn't keep track of that. It was like the Cheers party. Simply fantastic.
Boil it down, I took a picture with the Clydesdales, I fed a camel, and I drank free beer.....and it didn't cost a penny! NICE!
Best theme park EVER!
Now if only I could find a Zaxby's theme park!
Friday, June 27, 2008
How come the NBA draft isn't as celebrated as the NFL?
I don't understand it. I just don't. I thought last night was great. There was drama as far as WILL THE HEAT TAKE Michael Beasley? If they do, will Shawn Marion pitch a fit because he is relegated back to third banana status that made him force out of Phoenix? Where will Kevin Love go? Will a WNBA team try and draft Brook Lopez? Who are these Euros? Will Dickie V's head explode?
ALso, WAY more trades involving PEOPLE take place in the NBA draft, opposed to the NFL draft, where it is just pick for picks. We get to see folks trade hats.
But for some reason we celebrate the NFL draft, but not the NBA draft. Why is that?
I guess it is because we all love college football WAY more than college basketball and we care more about the NFL than the NBA. We won't see these "lottery picks" do anything for a while because their teams are terrible, whereas in the NFL, the picks could lead you to the playoffs within a year or two. Plus no one watches the NBA until playoff time opposed to EVERYONE watching the NFL EVERY WEEK!
It takes the players a few years to really grow up too because of the ages of the draft picks (Euros as young as 18 or frosh as young as 19 opposed to juniors, three years out of high school, minimum of 20 years old entering the NFL) The NFL players are more likely to make an impact RIGHT AWAY before they are more mature than the NBA players.
I don't know. I just think the drama is better in the NBA, at least the lottery, as long as they are taking players that are ready to play next season! Quit picking the Euros that stay in Spain for 4 years then magically appear on rosters of the Spurs out of nowhere and dominate. There should be a limit on how long you can hold the rights. maybe 9 months. They have to be on your roster by the trading deadline, otherwise you lose the rights. While I do like the idea of better players entering the NBA, make them stay in Spain those five years, but NO ONE drafts him, THEN he comes over. It was boring listening to Fran last night talk about how, in 4 years this guy will make an impact because he is staying in Greece. I wish the NBA would do a minimum three years or two years or something with a minimum of 24 years old from Europe before they could be draft. If the Euros want to be drafted before 24, come to the states and go to college for two seasons and THEN you CAN get drafted.
I guess it is more exciting watching Matt Leinart get drafted because you watched him for three seasons at USC and now he is starting on your team (and you know he WILL be) instead of drafting Matheiu Leinhardt from Sweden and waiting for him to finish his 4 year contract with the Amersterdam Beavers before he comes to the Cardinals.
I just think the NBA draft is fun because I follow all of college basketball too, not just March Madness like most people and I am assuming THAT is why the ratings are down.
Sorry for the randomness of this, but I think the NBA draft should be MORE celebrated. Too bad Billy Knight wasn't here to MESS it up for the Hawks! PS, if the Hawks still had that #15 pick Roy Hibbert would have been nice down low with Horford and Smith around him. Or even a guy like Robin Lopez for energy off the bench, I would have been fine with. PLUS he could have done appearances for the Atlanta Dream too! ANd a second round pick with Bill Walker available, would have been nice. Then you could have let JChill go and sign and traded JSmoove and not felt bad. I might be tempted to call up the Charlotte Bobcats and see what Raymond Felton is available for. Just saying......
ALso, WAY more trades involving PEOPLE take place in the NBA draft, opposed to the NFL draft, where it is just pick for picks. We get to see folks trade hats.
But for some reason we celebrate the NFL draft, but not the NBA draft. Why is that?
I guess it is because we all love college football WAY more than college basketball and we care more about the NFL than the NBA. We won't see these "lottery picks" do anything for a while because their teams are terrible, whereas in the NFL, the picks could lead you to the playoffs within a year or two. Plus no one watches the NBA until playoff time opposed to EVERYONE watching the NFL EVERY WEEK!
It takes the players a few years to really grow up too because of the ages of the draft picks (Euros as young as 18 or frosh as young as 19 opposed to juniors, three years out of high school, minimum of 20 years old entering the NFL) The NFL players are more likely to make an impact RIGHT AWAY before they are more mature than the NBA players.
I don't know. I just think the drama is better in the NBA, at least the lottery, as long as they are taking players that are ready to play next season! Quit picking the Euros that stay in Spain for 4 years then magically appear on rosters of the Spurs out of nowhere and dominate. There should be a limit on how long you can hold the rights. maybe 9 months. They have to be on your roster by the trading deadline, otherwise you lose the rights. While I do like the idea of better players entering the NBA, make them stay in Spain those five years, but NO ONE drafts him, THEN he comes over. It was boring listening to Fran last night talk about how, in 4 years this guy will make an impact because he is staying in Greece. I wish the NBA would do a minimum three years or two years or something with a minimum of 24 years old from Europe before they could be draft. If the Euros want to be drafted before 24, come to the states and go to college for two seasons and THEN you CAN get drafted.
I guess it is more exciting watching Matt Leinart get drafted because you watched him for three seasons at USC and now he is starting on your team (and you know he WILL be) instead of drafting Matheiu Leinhardt from Sweden and waiting for him to finish his 4 year contract with the Amersterdam Beavers before he comes to the Cardinals.
I just think the NBA draft is fun because I follow all of college basketball too, not just March Madness like most people and I am assuming THAT is why the ratings are down.
Sorry for the randomness of this, but I think the NBA draft should be MORE celebrated. Too bad Billy Knight wasn't here to MESS it up for the Hawks! PS, if the Hawks still had that #15 pick Roy Hibbert would have been nice down low with Horford and Smith around him. Or even a guy like Robin Lopez for energy off the bench, I would have been fine with. PLUS he could have done appearances for the Atlanta Dream too! ANd a second round pick with Bill Walker available, would have been nice. Then you could have let JChill go and sign and traded JSmoove and not felt bad. I might be tempted to call up the Charlotte Bobcats and see what Raymond Felton is available for. Just saying......
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