Take these with a grain of salt considering I'm a Yankees fan. But I try to be as unbiased as possible.
AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox (Wild Card)
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles
AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians
AL West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves (Wild Card)
3. Florida Marlins
4. New York Mets
5. Washington Nationals
NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
NL West
1. Colorado Rockies
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. San Diego Padres
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum
AL Manager: Ron Washington
NL Manager: Jim Tracy
I don't know shit about rookies.
ALDS Yankees vs Twins: Yankees
ALDS Red Sox vs Rangers: Red Sox
NLDS Phillies vs Cardinals: Cards
NLDS Rockies vs Braves: Rockies
ALCS Yankees vs Red Sox: Yankees
NLCS Rockies vs Cardinals: Cardinals
World Series: Yankees vs Cardinals: Yankees
-Matt
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The true meaning of the word "Icon"
Shawn Michaels. The Heart Break Kid. The Showstopper. The Icon. The Main event. Mr. WrestleMania. All of those phrases have been used to describe Shawn Michaels, but here is another one. Hero. I don’t mean hero in the sense of the men and women of our armed forces, police officers and fire fighters, but sports hero.
Ever since I can remember HBK has been my favorite wrestler. I don’t know if it was his look, his attitude or his in ring skill or a combination of it all, but he was always my number one guy. As an 8 year old kid I was at Madison Square Garden in 1994 at WrestleMania X. That was a time where wrestling was real and there was no internet, rumors or spoilers in my world. At the time I had no idea how big an event WMX was. When you are 8 you are just in awe of everything.
On the card that night you had brother vs brother and 2, yes 2 WWE title matches, but the one match from that night that people remember is the ladder match. I was in the very last row at the top of MSG so I basically had to watch the monitor, but it was an amazing experience. The one thing I remember is that HBK had his pants pulled down and his bare ass was there for us all to see as he jumped off the ladder, pants down, onto Razor Ramon.
Maybe that match is what started my love affair of Shawn Michaels. What I love about HBK is his attitude about wrestling. Forget what an asshole he was before he found god and changed his life. I wasn’t part of that world and frankly, didn’t want to be. Shawn was the best and I didn’t want to hear anything bad about him. He always had the attitude of whether you are at WrestleMania at MSG or a house show in Iowa, you should give the people the best match of the night. That, in a nutshell, is why I love Shawn Michaels.
Now jumping some 16 years later, Shawn Michaels was saying goodbye. I knew he was retiring. I knew the Undertaker was going to win and honestly, I wanted him to. I never want the streak to end, but it wasn’t until Raw the next night that I began to feel sadness. I never expected to feel this much sadness and depression. But the man who never put on a bad match and entertained me for hours and hours was no more. Was he really leaving? Why? He can still wrestle now like he could 16 years ago. And that isn’t an exaggeration, it’s a fact.
Look at last years Mania. HBK vs Taker 1 was the greatest match I have ever seen. HBK still has it, but there is nothing left for him to do. Its time for him to be with his family everyday, instead of traveling. Me being selfish and ignorant I always said HBK would always be there, but that’s not the case. He’s doing what no wrestler ever does, retire on top. Not because he has to, but because he wants to.
After Raw went off the air I had that feeling in the pit of your stomach, like the one you get when your team gets eliminated from the playoffs or your vacation from school just ended. The feeling of sadness.
I’ve had an HBK poster on the outside of my door for as long as I can remember. Its from circa 1995 and I will never take that down. It always reminds me of how great Shawn was and still is. I also have a plaque from when he won his first WWE title with a piece of the ring. That is one of the coolest moments in wrestling history and at a simple glance I have tons of memories come to mind.
Writing this I realized that I have absolutely no writing skills and suck at expressing what I want to say. But I think you get my point. HBK isn’t just some wrestler that was fun to watch won’t be missed, he will be missed. Just seeing his name on the card for whatever show you happen to be going to or watching, you knew you were going to get the best that man had to offer on that given night.
It’s a philosophy that I wish I could live by. Always give 100% at everything you do no matter what you are doing or where you are doing it. I don’t know how if I will feel sadness when I decide to watch one of my HBK tapes or DVDs, but I’ll tell you what I will feel; joy.
There isn’t a match I’ve seen with Shawn in it that I thought “well that was lame.” The man put his heart and soul into doing what he loves and entertaining us. I can’t express how happy I am that HBK found what he needed to find to turn his life around. Sure his born again persona wasn’t the most entertaining, like his badass fuck the world attitude from the mid to late 90s, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens inside the ropes.
So Shawn thank you for the hours and hours of joy you have brought me (and millions) and congrats on an amazing career, turning your life around, having a family and going out on your own terms. To me you are the greatest wrestler who has ever lived and it was a privilege to have seen you in person. Raw and the WWE will not be the same without you.
-Matt
Ever since I can remember HBK has been my favorite wrestler. I don’t know if it was his look, his attitude or his in ring skill or a combination of it all, but he was always my number one guy. As an 8 year old kid I was at Madison Square Garden in 1994 at WrestleMania X. That was a time where wrestling was real and there was no internet, rumors or spoilers in my world. At the time I had no idea how big an event WMX was. When you are 8 you are just in awe of everything.
On the card that night you had brother vs brother and 2, yes 2 WWE title matches, but the one match from that night that people remember is the ladder match. I was in the very last row at the top of MSG so I basically had to watch the monitor, but it was an amazing experience. The one thing I remember is that HBK had his pants pulled down and his bare ass was there for us all to see as he jumped off the ladder, pants down, onto Razor Ramon.
Maybe that match is what started my love affair of Shawn Michaels. What I love about HBK is his attitude about wrestling. Forget what an asshole he was before he found god and changed his life. I wasn’t part of that world and frankly, didn’t want to be. Shawn was the best and I didn’t want to hear anything bad about him. He always had the attitude of whether you are at WrestleMania at MSG or a house show in Iowa, you should give the people the best match of the night. That, in a nutshell, is why I love Shawn Michaels.
Now jumping some 16 years later, Shawn Michaels was saying goodbye. I knew he was retiring. I knew the Undertaker was going to win and honestly, I wanted him to. I never want the streak to end, but it wasn’t until Raw the next night that I began to feel sadness. I never expected to feel this much sadness and depression. But the man who never put on a bad match and entertained me for hours and hours was no more. Was he really leaving? Why? He can still wrestle now like he could 16 years ago. And that isn’t an exaggeration, it’s a fact.
Look at last years Mania. HBK vs Taker 1 was the greatest match I have ever seen. HBK still has it, but there is nothing left for him to do. Its time for him to be with his family everyday, instead of traveling. Me being selfish and ignorant I always said HBK would always be there, but that’s not the case. He’s doing what no wrestler ever does, retire on top. Not because he has to, but because he wants to.
After Raw went off the air I had that feeling in the pit of your stomach, like the one you get when your team gets eliminated from the playoffs or your vacation from school just ended. The feeling of sadness.
I’ve had an HBK poster on the outside of my door for as long as I can remember. Its from circa 1995 and I will never take that down. It always reminds me of how great Shawn was and still is. I also have a plaque from when he won his first WWE title with a piece of the ring. That is one of the coolest moments in wrestling history and at a simple glance I have tons of memories come to mind.
Writing this I realized that I have absolutely no writing skills and suck at expressing what I want to say. But I think you get my point. HBK isn’t just some wrestler that was fun to watch won’t be missed, he will be missed. Just seeing his name on the card for whatever show you happen to be going to or watching, you knew you were going to get the best that man had to offer on that given night.
It’s a philosophy that I wish I could live by. Always give 100% at everything you do no matter what you are doing or where you are doing it. I don’t know how if I will feel sadness when I decide to watch one of my HBK tapes or DVDs, but I’ll tell you what I will feel; joy.
There isn’t a match I’ve seen with Shawn in it that I thought “well that was lame.” The man put his heart and soul into doing what he loves and entertaining us. I can’t express how happy I am that HBK found what he needed to find to turn his life around. Sure his born again persona wasn’t the most entertaining, like his badass fuck the world attitude from the mid to late 90s, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens inside the ropes.
So Shawn thank you for the hours and hours of joy you have brought me (and millions) and congrats on an amazing career, turning your life around, having a family and going out on your own terms. To me you are the greatest wrestler who has ever lived and it was a privilege to have seen you in person. Raw and the WWE will not be the same without you.
-Matt
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Fighting in the NHL
The NHL is like no other sport out there in the sense that the players can literally police themselves on the ice. In basketball, if you get fouled hard and take exception to it, there is nothing you can do. In baseball if you get hit by a pitch, you can charge the mound and get kicked out of the game and suspended. But in the NHL if you fight you get 5 minutes in the box. That’s it. The people who don’t like fighting in hockey are usually the ones who don’t understand it. They probably think it’s just a bunch of macho guys trying to show who is tougher, but that’s not it. Fights in hockey are caused by two main reasons. 1) To shift momentum of the game. If you team is looking sluggish and or losing in the game, the team “enforcer” sometimes can pick a fight with the other team “enforcer” to try and get the guys on the bench going. And 2) to protect fellow teammates. If someone on the other team hits (legally or illegally) your teams star player, the enforcer will usually step up and say “were not going to have any of that” and thus “standing up” for his fellow teammate. This can get guys on the bench pumped up and bring the team closer together. I for one love fighting in hockey and there is nothing better than seeing Mike Rupp (of the Devils) square off with Colton Orr (of the rangers) in a battle of heavyweights.
There is debate on if they should take fighting out of the game or at least put some rules in to help prevent major injury. The usual injury you’d see in a fight is a bloody face or a busted up hand (most of the punches landed are on the helmet and that has to hurt), but you could also fall and smash your head on the ice. Some people think you should have to keep your helmet on during a fight to prevent a serious head injury from falling. Overall I think fighting is a good thing and fans eat it up. Aside from scoring a goal, the fans are never louder then when a fight breaks out. Allowing guys to fight and settle their “beef” with each other right away, not letting it linger, is a good thing. After the fight is over both buys go to the box and that’s that. If you didn’t let guys fight you would see more cheap shots, like Todd Bertuzzi’s attack on Steve Moore (in which Bertuzzi sucker punched Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice, which broke Moore’s neck. Let the guys fight and sit in the box for five minutes. I can say for sure that more people enjoy the fights then not and I can’t see anyone not watching a hockey game because of fighting. Fighting has been a part of hockey forever and taking it away would be like making the NFL a touch football league.
-Matt
There is debate on if they should take fighting out of the game or at least put some rules in to help prevent major injury. The usual injury you’d see in a fight is a bloody face or a busted up hand (most of the punches landed are on the helmet and that has to hurt), but you could also fall and smash your head on the ice. Some people think you should have to keep your helmet on during a fight to prevent a serious head injury from falling. Overall I think fighting is a good thing and fans eat it up. Aside from scoring a goal, the fans are never louder then when a fight breaks out. Allowing guys to fight and settle their “beef” with each other right away, not letting it linger, is a good thing. After the fight is over both buys go to the box and that’s that. If you didn’t let guys fight you would see more cheap shots, like Todd Bertuzzi’s attack on Steve Moore (in which Bertuzzi sucker punched Moore from behind and drove his head into the ice, which broke Moore’s neck. Let the guys fight and sit in the box for five minutes. I can say for sure that more people enjoy the fights then not and I can’t see anyone not watching a hockey game because of fighting. Fighting has been a part of hockey forever and taking it away would be like making the NFL a touch football league.
-Matt
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Federer vs Nadal
Federer vs Nadal is one of today's top sports rivalry's. Being a Yankees fan and living through the Yankees - Red Sox rivalry, I must say that this is just as exciting. For a while there I thought Roger was going to dominate mens tennis for the next decade. The man just seemed to never lose. Five straight Wimbletons, five straight US Opens and three Aussie opens put him at 13 majors. Just 1 shy of Pete Sampras' all time record of 14. For most people reaching the semis at the Aussie open, finals at the French, finals at Wimbleton and winning the US Open would be a great year, but not for Federer. Last year, in what most call the greatest tennis match of all time, Federer fell for the first time in 5 years at Wimbleton to Nadal. He did manage to rebound and win the US Open later that year, but the Roger Federer we knew is no longer with us. His kryptonite is one Rafael Nadal. Nadal's great defense, speed, and lefty spin is just too much for Roger to handle. I am often awake at 3:30 in the morning anyways, so I was able to watch a ton of the Aussie open and after Federer destroyed Andy Roddick and Nadal survived a tough test from Fernando Verdasco the dream final was set. I watched the entire match from 3:50am to around 8ish and it didn't fail to live up to the rivalry. Now it wasn't the Wimbleton match from last summer, but I was very entertained and into it. Rafa had just gone over 5 hours only 2 days before and throughout the first 4 sets you could see he was tired.
The key moment of the match was the tie break in the 3rd set that Nadal won. I feel that if Roger had one that, he would have won the match in 4 sets. But he gave Nadal life and he could see the Aussie open title just 1 set away. Roger did battle back and win the 4th set, so it came down to a 1 set match. I mean, would you want it any other way? No of course not, but the 5th set was very dissapointing, especially for a Federer fan like myself. By watching Nadal, you'd never know he went over 5 hours just 2 days before the final. He looked as fresh as ever in the 5th set. It seemed like Roger lost his nerve and got completely destroyed in the final set to give Rafa his first hard court major. With the exception of the French open, their matches usually go the distance and never dissapoint. As a tennis fan I would sign up for a Federer vs Nadal final every major, but as a Federer fan who wants to see him break Sampras' record I wouldn't. I honestly dont see Roger ever being able to beat Rafa again. I think its in Rogers head and we are going down the road of a one sided rivalry. If you don't watch tennis or find it boring, watch one of their matches. The extensive rallies and amazing points will get you totally hooked. Here's to a Federer - Nadal final at the French Open this year and hopefully a Federer win to give him 14 majors and his first at the French. Nothing will ever equal Yanks vs Sox, but this comes as close as you can get.
-Matt
The key moment of the match was the tie break in the 3rd set that Nadal won. I feel that if Roger had one that, he would have won the match in 4 sets. But he gave Nadal life and he could see the Aussie open title just 1 set away. Roger did battle back and win the 4th set, so it came down to a 1 set match. I mean, would you want it any other way? No of course not, but the 5th set was very dissapointing, especially for a Federer fan like myself. By watching Nadal, you'd never know he went over 5 hours just 2 days before the final. He looked as fresh as ever in the 5th set. It seemed like Roger lost his nerve and got completely destroyed in the final set to give Rafa his first hard court major. With the exception of the French open, their matches usually go the distance and never dissapoint. As a tennis fan I would sign up for a Federer vs Nadal final every major, but as a Federer fan who wants to see him break Sampras' record I wouldn't. I honestly dont see Roger ever being able to beat Rafa again. I think its in Rogers head and we are going down the road of a one sided rivalry. If you don't watch tennis or find it boring, watch one of their matches. The extensive rallies and amazing points will get you totally hooked. Here's to a Federer - Nadal final at the French Open this year and hopefully a Federer win to give him 14 majors and his first at the French. Nothing will ever equal Yanks vs Sox, but this comes as close as you can get.
-Matt
Saturday, July 12, 2008
R.I.P Bobby Murcer
Today is a sad day for the baseball world as Bobby Murcer has passed away. From only seeing him on TV he seemed like an amazing person who loved baseball and the Yankees very much. Not only was he a great player, he was a great announcer and he will be missed very much. Old Timers Day will never be the same. Thanks for the great memories!
R.I.P Bobby!
-Matt
R.I.P Bobby!
-Matt
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
New York Yankees Drinking Game
I've seen a few Yankees and Michael Kay drinking games out there so I thought I would put my own twist on them. Shots or drinks.
Yankees Part:
Home Run - 2 shots
Triple - 3 shots
Stolen Base - 1 shot
Derek Jeter grounds into a double play - 1 shot
Derek Jeter swings at the first pitch - 1 shot (if he gets out 2 shots)
Robinson Cano swings at the first pitch - 1 shot (if he gets out 2 shots)
Bobby Abreu actually swings at the first pitch - 2 shots
Jason Giambi hit to the left side of the field - 2 shots
Broken and/or shattered bat by any player - 1 shot
Mariano Rivera breaks and/or shatters a bat - 1 shot
Andy Pettitte pick off - 2 shots
Chien-Ming Wang double play - 2 shots
Joba fist pump - 2 shots
Jose Molina or any other catcher throws out a runner - 1 shot
Outfield Assist - 1 shot
Anyone gets hit by a pitch - 1 shot
Any Derek Jeter and Ford commerical - 2 shots
Get the trivia question right - 1 shot for everyone else playing
Michael Kay and the Yankees announcers part:
The announce team is shown on camera (during the game, not pre game) - 2 shots
Kay talks about the fallacy of the predetermined outcome - 1 shot
Kay says the word aforementioned - 1 shot
Kay says if you are just joining us - 1 shot
Kay says for those of you who are new to the game - 1 shot
Kay says the little girl with the curl - 1 shot
Kay laughs uncontrollably - 2 shots
Kay says oh what a play - 1 shot
Kay says if you are scoring at home - 1 shot
Kay mentions the martini glass shift - 1 shot
Kay talks about Chien-Ming Wang's influence on the Taiwanese economy - 1 shot
Kay mentions that John Flaherty tried to catch Tim Wakefield in spring training - 1 shot
Kay calls the fake to third fake to first the Jeff Nelson move - 2 shots
Kay mentions how Paul O'Neill always has food brought to the booth - 2 shots
Kay or anyone mentions a Jeterian swing/hit by Derek Jeter - 2 shots
Kay mentions another announcer who isn't in the booth that night - 2 shots
Kay talks about how Frank Catalanotto is from Smithtown Long Island - 2 shots
Kay mentions that Jarrod Washburn looks like Kiefer Sutherland - 2 shots
Kenny says look out - 1 shot
David Cone calls Ken Singleton "Singy" -1 shot (for every 5 times)
Whenever there is a "visit from our friends at the fox business center" - 1 shot
-Matt
Yankees Part:
Home Run - 2 shots
Triple - 3 shots
Stolen Base - 1 shot
Derek Jeter grounds into a double play - 1 shot
Derek Jeter swings at the first pitch - 1 shot (if he gets out 2 shots)
Robinson Cano swings at the first pitch - 1 shot (if he gets out 2 shots)
Bobby Abreu actually swings at the first pitch - 2 shots
Jason Giambi hit to the left side of the field - 2 shots
Broken and/or shattered bat by any player - 1 shot
Mariano Rivera breaks and/or shatters a bat - 1 shot
Andy Pettitte pick off - 2 shots
Chien-Ming Wang double play - 2 shots
Joba fist pump - 2 shots
Jose Molina or any other catcher throws out a runner - 1 shot
Outfield Assist - 1 shot
Anyone gets hit by a pitch - 1 shot
Any Derek Jeter and Ford commerical - 2 shots
Get the trivia question right - 1 shot for everyone else playing
Michael Kay and the Yankees announcers part:
The announce team is shown on camera (during the game, not pre game) - 2 shots
Kay talks about the fallacy of the predetermined outcome - 1 shot
Kay says the word aforementioned - 1 shot
Kay says if you are just joining us - 1 shot
Kay says for those of you who are new to the game - 1 shot
Kay says the little girl with the curl - 1 shot
Kay laughs uncontrollably - 2 shots
Kay says oh what a play - 1 shot
Kay says if you are scoring at home - 1 shot
Kay mentions the martini glass shift - 1 shot
Kay talks about Chien-Ming Wang's influence on the Taiwanese economy - 1 shot
Kay mentions that John Flaherty tried to catch Tim Wakefield in spring training - 1 shot
Kay calls the fake to third fake to first the Jeff Nelson move - 2 shots
Kay mentions how Paul O'Neill always has food brought to the booth - 2 shots
Kay or anyone mentions a Jeterian swing/hit by Derek Jeter - 2 shots
Kay mentions another announcer who isn't in the booth that night - 2 shots
Kay talks about how Frank Catalanotto is from Smithtown Long Island - 2 shots
Kay mentions that Jarrod Washburn looks like Kiefer Sutherland - 2 shots
Kenny says look out - 1 shot
David Cone calls Ken Singleton "Singy" -1 shot (for every 5 times)
Whenever there is a "visit from our friends at the fox business center" - 1 shot
-Matt
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Boston Celtics
Over the month or two, from draft night or to the biggest trade for one player in NBA history, we have seen the Celtics improve their team so dramatically that they might be in the hunt for their 17th NBA Championship. With a starting lineup, of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. You have a real contender in the Eastern Conference.
Wait...What....Reggie Miller. Thats right folks, let us stack this starting five even more. Lets go with, KG, Pierce, Allen, Reggie Miller, and Kendrick Perkins. The only man in that starting five you have no idea who the heck he is, is Kendrick Perkins.
The Celtics are going to make some noise in Boston and it has been a long, long, LONG time since a lot of noise has been coming out of the Fleet Center, or now, the TD Banknorth Garden.
PS: If you ever want to venture out to see this team play, make sure your over 25. Otherwise no beer or alcohol for you. They have problems with fake id's. Folks...They have big problems and they arent the fact that they cant tell fake from real... It is Boston what can you say.
Bill
Wait...What....Reggie Miller. Thats right folks, let us stack this starting five even more. Lets go with, KG, Pierce, Allen, Reggie Miller, and Kendrick Perkins. The only man in that starting five you have no idea who the heck he is, is Kendrick Perkins.
The Celtics are going to make some noise in Boston and it has been a long, long, LONG time since a lot of noise has been coming out of the Fleet Center, or now, the TD Banknorth Garden.
PS: If you ever want to venture out to see this team play, make sure your over 25. Otherwise no beer or alcohol for you. They have problems with fake id's. Folks...They have big problems and they arent the fact that they cant tell fake from real... It is Boston what can you say.
Bill
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
