Wednesday, July 22, 2009

This isn't news, but here you go anyway

The subject of one of the most annoying (and kinda racist) ad campaigns of all time, the Taco Bell Chihuahua, has died at age 15. Godspeed, Gidget!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Argument Ender

As of yesterday, 59 year-old Tom Watson was leading the British Open, and Tiger Woods failed to make the cut. I think this safely puts to bed the discussion of whether golfers are athletes, and for that matter, whether Woods deserves "super athlete" status.

Similar to how Barry Bonds put it after passing Babe Ruth...y'all can't talk about Tiger Woods anymore.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

And Hamilton doesn't even have the Chinese following of Yao Ming...

Josh Hamilton, TEX: .298 OBP, .428 SLG, 6 HR, 24 RBI (152 AB), voted to start all-star game.
Alex Rodriguez, NYY: .411 OBP, .548 SLG, 17 HR, 50 RBI (199 AB), not voted into all-star game.

Now, I'm no fool...I know all-star voting is not based solely on statistics. But apparently it's way better to have done cocaine than steroids.

Sometimes, you just don't get to gloat, revisited

About a month and a half ago I wrote this post, (yes I just linked to myself) taking a moment to mock the David Beckham soccer explosion that never happened. I thought I was the only one who remembered, but today I realized I'm not alone. Author Grant Wahl has written a book called The Beckham Experiement, detailing the failed venture. One of the most interesting bits from the book, which I heard Wahl say in an interview with WTEM 980's Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban, was how Beckham's contract was not $250 million as was reported, but about $33 million. A nice heap of money still, but not quite what we thought. (The $250 million number was invented by Beckham's publicity team.)

Oh, and Victoria Beckham becoming a star in America didn't quite happen either.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

They're as good as money

Regarding the state of California giving "I.O.U.'s" to people because they are broke - Is anyone else reminded of Dumb and Dumber, when Lloyd and Harry spent all the money in the suitcase, but made it all right by filling it up with I.O.U's?

Sunday, July 5, 2009

It would be nice to have that kind of job security

I am convinced that in these down economic times, the best way to feel safe in your job is to be way overqualified, and way underpaid, for your current position, to the point that it would be downright foolish for your company to let you go. Now that's job security!

PS: If my employers are reading this post, I'm definitely not talking about me.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

On clinging to past greats

Another thought that was planted when I called Mariano Rivera the greatest pitcher ever...

I'd say baseball is romanticized a little more than any other sport, in that players from the distant past are held in the highest regard compared to today. For instance, you can't find many people who would say that George Mikan would dominate, or even be the 12th man on the bench, in today's NBA. Likewise, you can't find many that would say Red Grange would be a great contemporary NFL player.

However, if you talk to enough baseball fans, you'll run into a decent amount of people who say Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, or Cy Young was the greatest baseball player ever. I think that claim would be laughable, especially given the level of competition they played against. But I mention it to set up my point that sports evolve, and generally the people playing them today are the most athletically gifted, best trained, and (sadly), some are the most chemically enhanced.

A dominant center is no longer 6'7", and offensive and defensive linemen in the NFL are no longer 250 LBs, the way they were 50 years ago. Baseball isn't quite as size-related, but players are bigger and stronger than ever - though again, some chemically enhanced. Giving the players of the past access to today's knowledge about nutrition and training would be a different story...but arguing that you could bring them into today's game as they were, and saying that they could compete, is again, laughable. Another example I like to think of in terms of comparing eras: Imagine Bob Cousy running around in today's NBA with his chest-high, one-armed dribble. He'd be robbed more than...well I'm lazy with metaphors today, but I'm thinking of something to do with the seedy parts of Detroit, or Mesa. Hey, I never claimed to be Dennis Miller.

Back to baseball, I give a genuine nod to Pedro Martinez in his relatively short yet incredible prime years, as being among the best ever. Sandy Koufax was also remarkable for a short burst - but with his career finishing over 40 years ago, we again can run into era comparison problems. Though at least he played his entire career post-integration, so at least we're getting closer. I'm still not sure exactly where to draw the "modern era" line, but I'm thinking the past 25 years is a good time frame in which you can safely compare players, in all three sports. I think Bird, Magic, and obviously Jordan, could still be great in today's NBA. Walter Payton would still be the best running back in this era, and Lawrence Taylor the best linebacker. And Jamie Moyer, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson could still play in the major leagues today. (Wait, bad example, those three are still playing today.)

Anyway, I do believe that in all major sports we are currently seeing the best athletes ever. So I can safely say, overall, give me Rivera...anytime.