A Nightmarish Precedent

Who doesn't love a good underdog story? Me...(DISCLAIMER: I was perfect in the East Region and had one of my better years with my bracket picks)



With both shoes ON for a change

Even so, I am and have never been a big fan of underdogs or cindarellas. (I mean she wears glass slippers and leaves them all over the place...worse than a Kardashian..)

Sure the American Dream is based on them, and many would tell you there's nothing about me that screams "Favorite!"  But you can't tell me every so often it's not fun to watch a team dominate from the beginning of a season to the end. (Ie. Jordan's Bulls) Unless you live in Utah of course (See 97' and 98' Jazz)..

Ok, maybe I'm still in the minority, but I'm certain the majority didn't expect the 2011 NCAA Tournament Underdog to be Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). 


He didn't...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKbnRSIjjPk&feature=player_embedded
And neither did he..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ace6MPGIY2w&feature=player_embedded
Clueless analysts aside, five wins against five major conferences (Pac 10, Big East, Big 10, ACC, Big 12) and three games with 12 3-point field goals and VCU is Final Four bound.  Lucky? Possibly.  But, the Rams performance demands respect.  VCU is now the first team to go from the First Four to the Final Four (this is the first year the tournament has gone to 68 teams, instead of 64)
So, while the city of Richmond celebrates
http://www.buzzfeed.com/sportsfeeder/vcu-fans-take-to-richmond-streets-to-celebrate-tea-2h2q
college basketball fans should cringe.  VCU's run has now opened up a pandora's box of sorts. 

Do you know any of their names?

Selection Sunday was filled with controversy, because many thought Colorado and Virginia Tech were more deserving of Tournament bids than VCU and University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB).  But, unless you were a Buffalo or Hokie alum you got over it by Tuesday.  Now though, you can't help but wonder if this year's Final Four would have featured Colorado or Virginia Tech as well.

Many will say the selection committee seeded teams incorrectly, giving good teams poor seeds..But there was no argument, VCU and UAB didn't deserve to make this year's tourney.  Which begs the question..should the tournament allow more teams to participate?  More expansion?  Because if one of the last teams in the Tournament is Final Four worthy....

For now though, what seemed like fiction for VCU will reach its non-fictional conclusion this weekend.  And whether the glass slipper fits or not for the Rams, the 2011 Tournament will serve as a prelude to plenty more chaotic tournaments.  

Peer Pressure

Another day, another court appearance for LiLo

The East coast is covered in snow, Lindsay Lohan is in court, Chris Brown is angry and college students are partying. All of these seem to be year long occurrences, so unless you own a sun dial or an iPhone, good luck deciphering the month and date...But before you head to your nearest Apple Store, lets take one more look at the headlines...

Brackets, bubbles, TIElighters, Jayhawks, Blue Devils, Golden Bears and Eagles, Spiders and Huskies, Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery yelling about something...sounds like March Madness......
AND
Barry Bonds is on trial.

Ah, March 2011 is finally upon us.

Bonds of course holds the single season (73) and career (762)  home run records, but many believe he did so on steroids..a BIG no no..

Bonds claimed during the notorious BALCO trial that he, "Never knowingly took steroids." He thought he was being given a "flaxseed oil." Knowingly or unknowingly, Bonds admitted he took steroids. But, the federal government believes Bonds perjured himself and seeks "justice." 

And anyone that watches Law and Order (SVU, LA, Criminal Intent, Trial by Jury Conviction, UK) and I thought there were too many Survivors.....realizes a trial needs a jury.

688 times during his career, the former Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants left fielder had his fate decided for him via an intentional walk...now his fate rests in the hands of 12 jurors.



Flaxseed Oil worked?

But how does the government plan to find 12 peers to Bonds ("a jury of his peers")..

For starters, I've never met anyone with a size 9 hat....

Here are a few of the questions asked of potential jurors. And remember, the ideal juror knows as little as possible about the case, probably is not a sports fan, hasn't really heard of Bonds and can deal with the issue of steroids in a fair and impartial manner....

"Have you previously served on a jury?"
This is like a 1 vs. 16 matchup...very simple..Yes or No

"Have you ever followed trials closely on TV, radio or in the news?"
  Of course! What else was there to watch on a Thursday? Jersey Shore?..

"Do you write your own blog or post comments to another blog?"
  Unless you're familiar with Vlahos' Voice..then no.

"Have you attended a professional baseball game in the last five years?"
  I didn't realize my love of cracker jacks was admissible.....Hey, who's on trial here!?

"Should government agencies be involved with pro sports and governing the use of steroids?"
  The government should get rid of the BCS, and stop filling out brackets!

"Do you have a favorable opinion of Barry Bonds?"
   bahahahah, LOL...oh you're serious?

"Can you think of any reason that would prevent you from being a fair and impartial juror in this case?"

The last question gets at the heart of the problem.  If you've heard of Barry Bonds, it's virtually impossible not to have an opinion about him. One way or another. The man is a polarizing figure.  If you've attended a baseball game and didn't drink ten $8 beers, you have some opinion on steroids in baseball. 
During his 22-year career, Bonds had virtually no peers, so how exactly do you plan to find 12...?

By no means am I saying this trial is unfair. Ridiculous? Yes. Karma? Yes.

Nobody seemed to mind when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire looked like professional wrestlers hitting baseballs 700 feet, but when baseball's "bad guy and malcontent" did it...Things stopped being fun..it was time to get moral. Those in support of this trial say, "We will know the truth about the Steroid Era and Barry Bonds."

What else is there to know? The players (pitchers and hitters) were on steroids, ballparks were smaller, the baseballs may have been juiced, and the bats were harder. And Bonds "admitted" he was on steroids. What else could we possibly want or need to know?

So enjoy watching the government spend our money prosecuting a BASEBALL PLAYER because he hit too many home runs on drugs....

And I thought gas prices were a waste of money.

"I am not a crook."

A Crying Shame

There are a few unwritten rules in society....you
-don’t wear white after Labor Day 
-don’t talk with your mouth full
-the guy has to pay for dinner on the first date (even if dessert is the most exciting part of the date)
-and men aren't allowed to cry...
That last unwritten rule is the most scrutinized. Some people say men can't cry because it makes them seem soft or feminine.  And that men shouldn't cry because they are supposed to express their emotions in a more masculine way, or not at all.  Personally I think it depends on the situation.
Crying over the death of a loved one..good crying

Crying at the end of Toy Story 3..bad crying

What about when it comes to sports?  Should men cry when they get injured or fail? Again it depends.

Tear three knee ligaments..good crying

Former NFL Coach Dick Vermeil at every press conference...bad crying

Dick Vermeil press conference

In 1992 Tom Hanks told the world, "There's no crying in baseball!"

But what about basketball?

After losing its fourth straight game, the Miami Heat became exhibit A. 

(left to right)
Biggest Ego, Bigger Ego , Big Ego

Miami lost Sunday to the Chicago Bulls at home, 87-86 after blowing a double digit lead.  The loss ended a week that saw the three UmmEgos (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) lose at home to the New York Knicks (who Cleveland is 3-0 against this season)..blow a 24-point lead at home to Orlando..and lose by 30 in San Antonio. 

Except for the Spurs blowout, Miami had a chance to tie or win each of these games in the final seconds, only to have one of its three UmmEgos..er..stars miss the shot. (Miami is 1-16 in the final seconds of games when attempting to tie the score or take the lead this season..worst in the NBA)

Upsetting? Yes. Devastating? You bet. Worth crying about?.....
Following the game, Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra, mentioned at his press conference that some of his players were crying in the locker room.  The first question that comes to mind is...who? In a time where athelete's hearts and will to win is questioned isn't it good the Heat care this much?
Definitely, but I don't think the players (whoever they were) were crying because they were sad about the loss.  Maybe they just got the news that their Ipad is outdated..(thanks Steve Jobs and Ipad 2). Maybe someone was upset Charlie Sheen can't see his kids... Or maybe they were just frustrated.

While everyone wants to examine if the players should or shouldn't be crying, the real question is why Spoelstra felt the need to mention it.  What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. (It's like Vegas, minus the slot machine bells and cigarette smoke).  The 40-year-old coach has been questioned all season, due to his lack of experience and questionable offense (he doesn't have one).  However, this is a firable offense.  He didn't just throw his players under the bus. He made the bus driver back up over them and run them over another time.  Earlier in the season LeBron bumped Spoelstra on the sideline during a timeout..it was clear the players didn't respect their coach.  Following Sunday's comments, they have no reason to trust him either. So, the debate whether men should express their emotions by crying rages on, but if Spoelstra is fired at the end of the season, don't expect anyone in the Miami locker room to shed a tear...

Can I get you a Kleenex coach?
Sorry Bosh used them all...

ENOUGH ALREADY!

Charlie Sheen being Charlie Sheen

  Charlie Sheen, (hopefully you're still reading) Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson or Ochocinco, Brett Favre, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and LeBron James.  What do they all have in common?  No, only Sheen has tiger blood coursing through his veins (his words).  All of these men are talented at what they do, but no one can remember what exactly that is...

   It seems that every yahoo with a camera, and a pair of wireless microphones has interviewed Sheen in the past week.  Asking him about his wide array of problems or strengths depending on whom you ask...The man who starred in Major League and Two and A Half Men, is two and a half interviews away from complete irrelevance.  True, one reason Sheen's CBS hit was so successful is because the script mirrored his real life, but did anyone realize it was this out of control?

   
Sheen's behavior is similar to that of star wide reciever, Terrell Owens, who has held press conferences in his driveway while doing situps.  Owens has cried over his quarterback, had an alleged suicide attempt, ran 50 yards to the Cowboy star in Dallas (as a member of the 49ers) to say "Look at me". I could continue my rant about Owens, but sadly it won't have anything to do with his 1,078 career catches and 153 TD receptions (Hall of Fame worthy numbers).



Terrell Owens and the imfamous press conference



    There's Bengals wide reciever, Chad Johnson or Ochocinco, who changed his surname TWICE..enough said. Pitcher, Roger Clemens, who isn't known best for his 7 Cy Young Awards anymore..Instead he is known for his federal trial about steroids and perjury.  Before that it was the retiring and unretiring...allow me to introduce you to legendary quarterback, Brett Favre.  Not only does the man spell his own last name incorrectly (pronounced Farve..spelled Favre) he has never met a camera or microphone he hasn't liked. When he approaches a microphone it's breaking news.."Is he retiring, or is he going to tell us what he ate for lunch?"





A-Rod's GQ Photo Shoot



  There's Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who is more well known for his ridiculous steroid story, and the actresses (Kate Hudson, Madonna and Cameron Diaz..not in that order, but who knows) he dates.  Instead of his pursuit to become the "Tainted" All Time Home Run King, GQ photoshoots with mirrors, self portraits as a centaur and tanning in Central Park define him.

  

   And LeBron James.  The only man in American history who felt the need to televise an important life decision.  Imagine if your choice of breakfast cereal included 40 media affiliates, a teleprompter, a boys and girls club and Jim Gray?  "Well Jim..after not much thought, I've decided to go with the Frosted Flakes over Cheerios...I hear they're great!!"

   To quote LeBron, the media is faced with a simple question.."What should I do?"  If a public figure, or entertainer has something to say shouldn't I cover it?  Isn't that newsworthy?  Maybe at first..But hearing Brett Favre hold a meaningless press conference in September is not breaking news.  It shouldn't hijack ESPN airwaves.  WORD TO THE MEDIA..If you interview Charlie Sheen it is no longer exclusive.  The first or second interview he did may have been newsworthy....But, I see Sheen on TV now, more then I ever used to see Dan Rather.

  While the media can't be blamed for these men's ridiculous behavior it certainly does not discourage their actions.  Unless news organizations make some serious changes, the athlete's and actor's names will change, but the overblown sensationalized coverage will not.