It's been a long time...

There are a couple of reasons I haven't written lately. 1. There's nothing to write about. and 2. I have been real busy. Neither is a good reason, I should be able to find some time a couple of times a week to write some magic.

Anyhow. The Celtics won the NBA title this year. First, I really don't care. I'm just happy that I'm not going to have to deal with Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter yelling at me. So that's good. Second, if I remember correctly, the Celtics sucked last year and Danny Ainge traded a couple of scrubs for Kevin Garnett and look what happened. Maybe Danny Ferry should take some lessons.

As an aside, I was at Tower City at the CD place when I was in High School checking out some CD's and looked up to my left and there was that tall ass Danny Ferry standing next to me. That was pretty cool. He could have been such a great pro. I think he's done a great job with the Cavs so far. Give him a couple more years and I think he's going to bring a championship to Cleveland. Or at least another finals appearance. Injuries decimated the Cavs this year and I don't think people played up to their billing....

Whoa??? Did that just happen??? I blacked out for a minute..

Moving on. Joe Tiller is getting rid of all the fat on the Boilermaker football team. I can't find the email, but he booted another WR off the team a couple of weeks ago, maybe a month or so. He was caught stealing rubbers from a local supermarket. Couple of things. He could have been stealing much worse. It's still a little embarrassing buying those things. And to add insult to injury, the judge he had to stand before was Les Meade. I had this guy as a Business Law professor at Purdue. He was probably the best professor I had at Purdue. He enjoyed what he did there, it showed. He enjoyed teaching. He was very memorable! I probably remember 3 professors at Purdue, and he's the only one that I remember for the right reasons. Great class! I still tell people that play the lotto that they're just paying "taxes for idiots."

Purdue football has to get their shit on straight this year. It's Tiller's last year, he's turned the program around, and then turned the program around again. I know they're probably never going to be a Michigan or Ohio State or Penn State, but they need to be in the top half of the Big 10 each year. And they've been struggling to be that for the last couple of years. Let's hope his booting off the a-holes will shape the rest of the guys up, just like Painter did.

I'm not even going to talk about the last couple of Tila Tequila's and Real World's. I've never seen anything like either of them. I can't even put into words what's happened to MTV.

And that's about it. Hopefully it won't be a week and a half to the next entry...

The Real World?????

I've been a big Real World Fan for years. There was a point when it was a very interesting social experiment in which they would put strangers of differing backgrounds, races, religions, sexual orientations... and see how they interact with each other. And it was very interesting. Good personalities, interesting interactions, and it generally seemed they all ended up better, more well-rounded people for the experience.

Not anymore.

Each episode of this Real World - Hollywood is more amazing than the other. This is the most vain, egotistical, ridiculous, horrible bunch of people MTV could have found.

One of them, Joey, ended up in rehab after being in the house for about a week. He's now back in the house and with the exception of Sarah, nobody is the least bit sensitive to his situation. Not even close. He was home for about 30 minutes, everybody was sooo happy, they're all going to help him through this tough stretch in his life. They're all going to do everything they can to be supportive and help poor Joey through his addiction. They're all going to help, maybe starting tomorrow, because we all have to go out, get completely fucked up, come back to the house at 4:30 AM with about 4 new people they met that night, wake Joey up, mere hours after he got back from Rehab. The poor guy is a mess. He needs some decent people around him. This group is probably the worst group he could possibly be with.

Will is just pathetic. He falls in love with every girl he meets. He's had a "kindergarten crush" on all of the girls in the house, 3 other ones that have come back to the house, Janelle from one of the other horrible Real Worlds', and probably the woman that is their boss at IO.

Sarah is the only one with a conscience. And to be honest, I don't know why she's there? She actually cares about people, about others, about the addiction that Joey is going through. She appears to be the only one that doesn't have an agenda.

The stripper is just a horrible person. She claimed that she cared about Joey's addiction. But she very obviously doesn't give a shit about anybody but herself and her "singing career".

Kim is just a dumb blonde. Doesn't have a clue.

And the worst of the worst is this Greg guy. Talk about not giving a shit about anybody but yourself! I don't know how anybody would ever speak to this guy. We're finally put out of our agony and he got kicked out last night because he didn't understand that he had a job that he had to show up for. "...I want to be a high fashion model..." is the only thing he said. Sooo fucking pathetic. The best part of the show was when he got kicked off, not one of the roommates stood up for him. None of them said a word. In fact, I believe there was a little smile that came across Dave's face.

He's been playing all these pranks too. He put rocks in Will's bed. He put money on his own bed, he cleaned the floor with Kim and Sarah's toothbrushes, he stole Sarah's undies... Call me crazy, but aren't pranks supposed to be funny??? Because none of the "pranks" were the least bit funny. He's just a fucking moron!

And he was upset that nobody stood up for him. What a jackass.

How any of these people get through life is beyond me????

I'm not even going to put up pictures of these people. I'm just annoyed. How far has this show fallen from where it once was.

Not to mention all of the other horrible programming MTV is showing right now. I can barely remember the days of when they actually played Music Videos.

Is This Really What All The Fuss Is About???

So I caught a little of the MMA thing on CBS last night. I had never really watched this except for when I was in Cancun on spring break when I was in college and something similar was playing on the TV in the bar I was at. Anyhow, I don't think I'll be tuning in anytime soon.

I flipped it on pretty late and got to see the final 2 fights of the night. When I turned it on, I was hoping that I hadn't missed this Kimbo Slice guy I kept hearing about on Sportstalk Radio and PTI. All I heard was about how much a beast this guy was and he's apparently the greatest fighter in MMA history. He was dominant. He was unbeatable. He's never lost. He knocks guys out in mere seconds. He IS what MMA is all about.

Well, when he was announced they commentators told me he was 2-0 in his MMA history with 2 KOs. Wait, I thought this guy was the greatest ever in the history of the sport?? How can he possibly be 2-0?? Shouldn't he be something like 40-0 if he's the supposed greatest the sport has ever seen??? Since this is broadcast on network TV, and not the Versus network, or ESPN 14 or some other no-name channel, this has to be the real deal, right? I must have heard wrong, no way he could be 2-0.

Apparently his claim to fame is his YouTube videos of him street brawling. Whatever.

So the fight finally gets started and I watch these 2 guys proceed to pummel each other for the first 5 minute round. There were about 4 times that I said to myself, "...this is over, no way this guy is going to stand up to the greatest ever Kimbo Slice..." But this guy, whoever he is, just kept fighting back.

By the end of the 2nd round the 2 were completely winded. They were lying on the ground, Kimbo was taking about 60 seconds worth of forearms to the head. Neither of them could move. I kept waiting for something amazing to happen, but they both just stayed in the corner of the ring, Kimbo getting pounded on. The announcers were more exciting than the fight. Sure, they were beating the shit out of each other, but nothing was really happening. The great Kimbo was just lying there taking the beating. The other guy was just, well, I don't know what he was doing??

To end the misery, Kimbo put about 4 solid shots to the head of the other guy and the ref jumped in to end the fight. All the announcers kept saying was that "...this was sooooo controversial...." What?? This guy was about to get killed!!!! 2 more shots to the head, and he still would have no idea what his name was!!

In conclusion, I'm not really impressed. I just don't have that much aggression in my body to watch 2 guys in a ring beating the hell out of each other. But I have also heard, from a couple of different sources, that this was a horrible display of what MMA is all about. Kimbo Slice is nothing more than a circus act. The other guys that were shown on the telecast were not the top notch guys in MMA. And I also read that CBS completely f'd up the show, it ran an hour too long, they were introducing people twice, and they were doing way too much talking and way too little fighting.

I'm not saying that Kimbo isn't a complete bad-ass. He is! The guy is huge. Quite a fighter. But apparently in the realm of MMA he's got quite a bit of work to do. Maybe I'll tune in again, I guess it depends on how good or bad my day has been until that point?? Who knows??

TV is real bad these days.

Oh, and one other thing I noticed about the fight last night. When Kimbo was getting acknowledged as the winner, there was some dude in his corner. This guy was fucking HUGE!!! I mean, HUGE!!!!!! I wish I could find a picture of him, this dude was enormous!! He was like the SNL skit about the All-Drug Olympics when Kevin Nealon pulls his arms off when he's trying to clean 1500 pounds! He was comic book huge!

In better news, Manny Ramirez hit his 500th homerun and is a .312 lifetime hitter. Impressive. He just hits. A lot of fun to watch!

The Indians just lost 2 of 3 to the Royals, they've scored 3 runs in the last 2 games. I don't even know what to say? I guess I should be happy I no longer live in Cleveland because I'm sure I would have watched every miserable AB this season and be even more upset than I already am about their dismal season.

Out of his Misery

Looks like Hafner is finally headed to the DL. Apparently he has had some shoulder problems that a cortizone shot wasn't able to heal. Since he's not the only weak link in the Indians miserable batting order, this is going to be a good thing for both him and the team. They're hitting a putrid .236 at the plate. That's good enough for worst in baseball. I can't imagine it's too far off of the major league record for worst ever.

The real sad part of this is that the pitching is lights out. From CC in the 1 spot to Laffey in the 5. They've been solid. Especially in the last month. It is a shame that it's all being wasted because they can't get anybody on base.

I think the semifinals of the NBA thing are over. If the Celtics won tonight it's goign to be the Lakers and Celtics in the Finals. I'm sure I won't be tuning in. But this matchup reminds me of the wonderful days of Lakers vs. Celtics on the Sega Genesis. Back in the day when the NBA was watchable. That was such a great game. Such epic battles. Oh the memories.

Back to the Indians. I think they've won 3 games in the last 3 weeks. That includes a 5-4 victory over the Royals tonight. And they're still within earshot of the AL Central leading Sox. Who I think are leading by default. The AL Central, which was supposed to be the best division in baseball, is probably the worst. The Indians and Tigers were supposed to be title contenders. The Tigers, and their $137,290,196 payroll, are 9 games under .500. That's sick. The Indians just suck. Their $78 million payroll is meager in comparison.

Speaking of payrolls, the Yanks are in the top spot, $207,108,489, and bringing up the rear is the Marlins, no surprise there, at just over $22.5 mil. I would also like to add the A-Rod and Giambi are both making more than the entire Marlins roster. Read that again. A-Rod is making $28 mil this year. That is over $4 mil more than the ENTIRE MARLINS ROSTER COMBINED!!!!!

That makes me sick.

I don't even want to get started on Giambi. All I'm going to say is that he's getting paid over $23 mil and he's not even hitting .250 with 27 RBIs. Hope he's enjoying himself.

I guess it's tough to hit when you're off the juice.

It sucks having no time...

I have been real busy lately. Working 2 jobs, getting paid like I'm earning unemployment. So is life. I guess this is becoming a weekly recap of the big stories instead of a daily. Whatever, I don't think there's anybody reading anyhow...

First, the Indians haven't won since late May. I don't think they've scored over 2 runs in a game since early May, so I should consider them lucky. They've got a 3-3 tie against the Sox tonight, and I'm already considering it a loss since they can't seem to score more than 3 in a game. So I'm sure the pen, probably Borowski in his first appearance off the DL, will earn the loss. Should be exciting.

No Hafner in the lineup again. No Garko. The Indians are just wasting good start after good start because they can't get any offense going. I blame Wedge for this. At this point, he has to resign to the fact they have to manufacture some runs. Tonght they have 3 solo homeruns. Victor hit a double. I don't think it's possible for him to hit the ball any further.

Martinez still doesn't have a homerun.

And Jim Thome is still getting booed every time he steps up to the plate. Hopefully he hits a homerun here...

I was gone all day yesterday and when I got home I really wanted to see some highlights. I turned on SportsCenter. All they had were press conferences from the NBA game and hockey highlights. I find nothing more miserable than and interview with Kobe Bryant telling the media what he was thinking when he made that ju mper in the 2nd quarter to cut it to a 2 point deficit. Miserable.

Danica Patrick whined like a little bitch after she got hit on pit row in yesterday's Indianapolis 500. Again the little 5 year old had a hissy fit after something bad happened to her in a race. She tried to go after the guy, I don't even know who it is, that bumped her into the rail and put her out of her misery.

For starters, I'm not a race fan. I do, however, find myself watching the 500 every year. I have done so since I was little. I was always a Bobby Rahal fan, because of course he is from Ohio.
It's a race where cars are going over 200 mph. Things are going to happen. Tony Kanaan got knocked out by one of his teammates. And yes, he was a little salty in the post-race interview. Who wouldn't?? But he didn't go stomping his feet like a 5 year old?? Little Bitch Danica got out of her car and tried to confront the guy that knocked into her.

Now, what the fuck was she going to do when she got there??? Seriously??? Was she going to try and pick a fight?? She said in her post-race interview that "...it's a good thing I didn't make it down there..." What??? What was she possibly going to do?? Pick a fight with the guy and his pit crew?? What happens if she tried to throw down and this guy knocks her on her ass?? He's thrown out of Indy, fined, women's groups would be all over him, he would be chastised in the media... I couldn't imagine??

I understand that she was bent out of shape when she got knocked out. I get it. I'd be pretty upset too. But the fact that she got out of the car, started stomping her feet like a 5 year old? Grow the fuck up. Learn how to check your emotions. You look like a fucking loser acting that way. I have a 6 year old daughter. She does not stomp her feet when I tell her that she can't have that plastic crap they sell at Toys R' Us if something doesn't go her way. If she does, she gets a very stern talking to and assures me it will never happen again.

Was she seriously going to throw a punch when she got down there?? Grow up. Bad things happen. And in the words of Denis Leary, "Life sucks, wear a helmet."

Oh wait, I'm watching the Indians offense, there is something on TV more miserable than Kobe talking to the media....

Cabrera just Kd swinging at a ball way out of the zone with guys on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, score tied at 3, in the bottom of the 8th. Hey Wedge, ever hear of a squeeze play?? Or is Asdrubal supposed to hit that 3 run homerun? Figure it out Wedge?????

The LeBrons of Cleveland Blow It Again

The Cavs lost game 7 to the Celtics today. LeBron showed up, put up about 40 points, but threw up a miserable layup try with about 20 seconds to go to seal the deal for the Celtics. Their offensive strategy of everybody standing and hope LeBron has a good game is only going to take them so far. About this far.

Whatever. It's just another Cleveland sports team getting close, but not nearly close enough. I'm actually pretty happy, now I don't have to suffer watching anymore NBA this year. Watching them stand, shoot and miss, and complain after every single fucking play no matter what happens is just painful to watch. I saw more complaining after foul calls in the last 3 games than I think I have seen in the last 10 years of college ball. It's just painful to watch.

And what warrants an "Intentional Foul"??? I saw PJ Brown put his arms around guys more times than you'd see on North Halsted. How the league warrants that not being 2 shots and the ball is WAYYY beyond my brain capacity. All it does is slow the game down to a snail's pace and make it that much more unwatchable.

Not to mention the Boston crowd screaming bullshit after every single call just got old. I'm pretty happy my 6 year old wasn't watching, let alone being at the game! I'm so tired of Boston and their fans.

Enough about that. More good news out of Cleveland. The Reds completed a sweep of the Indians today. Looks like Hafner is more of a mental case than we thought. He only got 2 plate appearances, an RBI base hit on Friday and a walk today. We really need him to get back into the groove. I see that he's raised the average up to .228, but he needs to hit at least .300 the rest of the way to help this team. The pitching has been solid, other than the 3 run jack Kobaishi gave up to Dunn in the 9th on Satruday. The starting pitching has been lights out. We have got to get some hitting!!

And Bill Belichick is still denying any wrong doing in the whole spygate thing. I honestly can't wait for this whole thing to disappear. Apparently now he is saying that he stretched the rules to make it alright to videotape the opposite sideline looking to pick off signs. What a dirtbag.

The Cavs, Indians Pitching, and The Unstoppable Lance Berkman

Well start off with the bad today. The Cavs. I'll be honest and say that I don't watch a whole lot of NBA ball. I just can't get into guys not trying and standing around and horrible jump shooting and the amount or arguing the players do with the refs. But, when the Cavs are in the playoffs I, being from Cleveland, am required to watch.

So I've watched most of the Cavs-Celtics series. Which sometimes means the game was on when I was reading, or the game was on when I was working, or making dinner... You get the picture, I just am not that interested.

But when LeBron James missed as many shots, who am I kidding, I think he took 4 shots in the first 2 games, the rest of the 45 he missed were layups, it is just painful to watch. Not only that, but the offensive strategy of, "...Give LeBron the ball, and the rest of you get out of the way. If he feels like passing the ball, look ready, otherwise, just stand there!" Is just miserable. And now that Daniel Gibson, the only guy that can hit a jumper with some regularity, is out with a shoulder something. I think they're pretty much finished.

There is no way the Cavs should have lost game 1. Same with game 5. This series should be over. But, when LeBron starts missing, the offense just falls apart, because there is no No. 2 option. I don't think there ever was a No. 2 option.

If the Cavs had some sort of offensive strategy, like moving around and trying to find an open shot/lane, Lebron would be averaging his 30 points and probably 15+ assists. Oh yeah, I guess you need one of those guys to be able to hit a regular jumper too.

Learn how to hold a lead guys...

Anyhow, The Indians pitching is unreal! The starters went 44.1 innings without giving up a run! Cleveland completed a 6-1 homestand in which it allowed runs in just four of 64 innings! If the O can start to generate some runs, these guys could be dangerous. Cliff Lee has given up 4 earned runs in his 7 starts. He's 6-0 with an ERA of 0.67. CC has started to really show signs of life pitching real well in his last 4 starts, and Carmona is getting back into the shape he was in last year. If these 3 can rub off a little on Byrd and their 5th starter (Laffey, Sowers, Westbrook) or whoever else it may be, look out. Pitching wins championships...

My one problem I have with Wedge is that he doesn't manufacture runs. I understand that waiting for the 3 run jack is a good way to score some quick runs, but when Hafner is having the problems that he's having, Victor is having trouble hitting for power, and Garko blows, where are you going to get that 3 run bomb at?? Sizemore should steal at least one base everytime he gets on. Maybe this could put some pressure on the pitchter, and get a ball up to one of these guys and they could get back on track. Maybe a hit and run sometime? Put Dellucci in motion with Hafner at the plate, take the decision out of his time at the plate and force him to make contact.

Victor is, or maybe was, leading the league in hitting. As I was sitting at work the other day on my lunch break I was checking out the league leaders. And there's Victor, up at the top, I think he was hitting .344 at the time. But had only scored 9 runs. The next lowest total on that list had scored 17 runs, I don't remember who it was, but that's just horrible. All those times on base have been completely squandered by the guys hitting behind him, Hafner and Garko. Wedge has got to do something to get these 2 back on track.

I did see that Hafner rose his average up to .222. So it looks like he's showing signs of breaking out, but he needs to get Berkman hot in order to get things really turned around.

My solution for the Indians offense? Not that anybody is listening, but they need 1 of 2 things. Either a power hitting outfielder/3rd baseman to hit in the 4 spot after Victor, before Hafner. Or they need a leadoff 2nd baseman. So they could then have fast 2nd baseman/leadoff hitter, Francisco, Sizemore, Victor, Hafner, Garko, Peralta, Blake, (other outfielder insert here).

Which brings me to my final subject. Lance Berkman and Chipper Jones. These guys are hitting out of their mind right now!!! Chipper is hitting .416 right now and Berkman is hitting somthing like .546 over the last month or something!!

I don't even know what to say. This is simply amazing. They just hit. If Chipper can stay healthy, which will be a feat in itself, he has an opportunity to really do soemthing special. And if Berkman can keep this up, he's going to do wonderful things on my fantasy team for the next 3 seasons!

Good Stuff!