tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81925451729965080532024-03-05T01:00:18.864-08:00Belle of the BallGrowing up with a stay-at-home dad, it's no wonder I became a rabid sports fan while still in diapers. By now, my sportsfanitis has reached dangerously high levels that can only be satiated by writing about the world of sports in this blog.Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-8733946431773938992009-05-30T21:32:00.001-07:002009-06-07T20:31:39.958-07:00The Dating Game: Playoffs EditionMaybe this is just limited to the female perspective (I suspect that it is) but I've always viewed my relationships with sports teams like one might view romantic relationships. <br /><div><br /></div><div>Most of us start dating at birth--usually because we've been betrothed from day one to a team of our parents' choosing (usually it's Dad's choice). Although we may have our struggles, and may at times question whether or not our parents' choice has been a blessing or a curse, at some point we affirm the relationship with non-verbal vows that are very similar to those that couples exchange at the altar. Though we may never say it out loud, our hearts commit for better or for worse (in good seasons and bad) until death (or a Baltimore Colts-type situation) do us part.</div><div><br /></div><div>For me, I was betrothed at birth to two teams--the Florida State Seminoles and the Atlanta Braves. To this point, I have been faithful to both in good times (National Championships, World Series) and bad (cheating scandals, playoff heartbreakers). Sometimes we get mad at each other, sometimes we say things we don't mean, but at the end of the day we accept our relationship for what it is.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the NFL and the NBA that have been more of a struggle for me. I fell head over heels for the Jaguars when they came on the scene in '95, but we went too far, too fast and they wound up breaking my heart. They chose Mark Brunnell over me, and I took it hard. I rebounded for a short time with the Washington Redskins, but that ended before it really began when they decided to trade Brad Johnson and hire Steve Spurrier. Recently, the Jags and I have gotten back together, but the future of our relationship is still uncertain. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Facebook terms, "it's complicated."</div><div><br /></div><div>The NBA is an entirely different story. I feel like I've been playing the field there for decades. I dated the Bulls in the mid-nineties (really, who didn't?) and showed some interest in the Magic back in the Shaq and Penny Hardaway days. Back then, Orlando was the new kid on the block in Florida sports (I should say north-central Florida sports, the Heat came on the scene then too, but my sleepy town in North Florida might as well be on a different planet than Miami) and I was attracted to them, but then came the lockout. After that, I went through one of those periods where you're convinced that all teams are bad and you're happy to be single and not tied down to any one situation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I probably would have stayed on the outskirts of the NBA had it not been for my college roommate, Alicia, who happened to be a die-hard Lakers (read: Kobe Bryant) fan. Based on her recommendation, I started a casual relationship with the Lakeshow (as she calls them) and though content, I never felt a spark. Not like I do with the 'Noles, the Braves and even sometimes, the Jags. The Lakers are like that gorgeous guy you date because he's just so damn attractive, even if his personality isn't so great and he's got a sketchy history (at best).</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, I rode out the Lakers train for a few years and maybe I would still be on it, if the Magic hadn't come along this season and swept me off my feet.</div><div><br /></div><div>The new kid on the block just showed up at the class reunion with a lot more muscle, a swanky ride, and a lot of class. Suddenly, I'm wondering if fate was at work all along. Maybe the Magic and I were meant to be together and it just took us a while to figure out--we had to go through all those difficult times to reach this moment when their success has stepped in to offer a glowing light during the dark times of my Period of Bitter Unemployment (heretofore known at my PoBU).</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe...just maybe...this is love.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or maybe this was a really elaborate way for me to justify jumping on the Magic bandwagon as they head to the finals for the first time since '95. </div><div><br /></div><div>You be the judge.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later days,</div><div>(AND GO MAGIC!)</div><div>Shannon</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-62586679275345581292009-03-26T21:57:00.001-07:002009-03-26T22:02:59.442-07:00Don't Get Too Discouraged, But......that post on a woman's view of women's sports won't be coming this week. I know you're disappointed, but for both our sakes I need you to try and keep it together. My multiple diatribes on different issues within the broader category of women's sports is going to have to wait until I get back from a family vacation to the mountains (and with a nine-hour car trip up there, I'll have plenty of time to get my thoughts together on the subject).<div><br /></div><div>Until then, enjoy the ongoing March Madness (UConn!) while I catch-up on my ESPN the Mag back issues and maybe snag a little time with some baseball preview mags. </div><div><br /></div><div>Later days,</div><div>Shan</div>Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-55917725147974773622009-03-24T19:52:00.000-07:002009-03-24T22:36:39.264-07:00Moving Past Bitter To Baseball...Enough time has passed since Florida State's OT loss to Wisconsin on Friday that I'm starting to see the vaguely silver (or at this point, gray-ish) lining to this whole season.<br /><br />Though I am admittedly biased, it's a pretty impressive accomplishment for a non-basketball savvy school in the midst of a major scandal to make it to the championship match in a decidedly basketball-savvy conference. Let alone for that same team to finally break into the NCAA Tournament after what seemed like an almost a permanent pity invite to the NIT.<br /><br />So for that, I will give my 'Noles a round of applause. Just like I said as we were getting the snot beat out of us by Duke in the aforementioned ACC Championship game, Florida State's slogan this season should have been "Hey, we're just happy to be here!" I'd like to think that we needed this moderate success and its introduction to what it can bring us like a kid needs training wheels.<br /><br />I have confidence that our young team will return to The Dance next year, and though I am loathe to admit it, I attribute most of that confidence to Coach Ham.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I always liked Coach Hamilton. My interactions with him when I worked at FSU were always pleasant and my respect for him has never been in question. But after so many buzzer-beater losses and so many years of promising athletes who came and went without any team accomplishments to speak of, I became skeptical of Coach Ham and thought that perhaps when the new athletic director came in, he might be on his way out.<br /><br />Now I realize with a little bit of perspective and understanding of the situation, that Coach Ham has been fighting a tough battle since he came to Florida State. How do you go about recruiting basketball players at a football school? How do you entice recruits to play in the ancient, smelly halls of the Donald L. Tucker Center beneath the half-dozen faded yellow jersies that make up the school's scant roundball history? Especially when the competition in your conference is so fierce. I mean basically the best recruiting package you have to offer includes football season tickets and the chance to be on the court with some of the best teams in basketball a couple times of year (while they kick your ass in your only televised games of the year).<br /><br />And even when Coach Ham did find the right pitch and the right athlete, it wasn't enough. Whether it was Al Thornton minus a supporting cast, or Von Wafer deserting after one year, things just never quite added up. On top of that, the NCAA became the waffle kings when it came to pulling FSU from the unsteady surface of The Bubble, giving one excuse after another for why the team was relegated to the embarassment of the NIT year after year.<br /><br />But finally--FINALLY--the pieces have come together for Coach Ham. He's got a young team loaded with talent and although they may not have gotten as far as they wanted to this year, they have laid the building blocks for the future of FSU basketball. Though it will hurt to lose Toney Douglas, if (and that should be a size-72 if) the Seminoles' promising new cast returns, next season will be just as good.<br /><br />However, while I have moved past the bitterness of the loss as a fan, I have not moved past my overall bitterness toward the ACC and its royal screwing over of my bracket. Big props to Wake Forest, Boston College, Florida State, and Clemson for punking out in the first round. Thanks a lot guys. Way to represent. And don't think that just because those guys are out I'm going to turn my conference support to UNC and Duke. Bump that. I'm sticking by my pick to win the whole shabang, UConn.<br /><br />Well that's more than enough yammering for tonight! Tune in later this week for a blog on women's sports (it's not what you think, I promise) sparked by the thirty minutes I spent watching my other FSU basketball team lose in the NCAA Tournament last night (like once wasn't enough).<br /><br />Later days!<br />ShanBelle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-16844096765160149962009-03-19T19:55:00.000-07:002009-03-19T20:22:24.213-07:00You Win Some, You Lose SomeDammit Clemson.<br /><br />I've only got two losses on my record for 12 match-ups right now and one (Butler) was relatively inconsequential, but dammit Clemson I had you in my Final Four! You were doing so well this year and even though you had a rough go at the ACC Tourney, I thought you'd rally for The Dance!<br /><br />Whatever. I did call the Maryland over California result so I guess the ACC hasn't totally let me down. Now I just need UNC to follow through against LSU and my bracket won't be a total mess...<br /><br />Still, if I think my 10-2 record thus far is dismal, my mini magic eight ball is shooting .500. It picked Butler over LSU as well, but it had Maryland over Cal. So essentially the mini magic eight ball is about even with flipping a coin at this point...<br /><br />At any rate, here's my bracket (click on it to see the full-sized image):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEMuoxJqA37KQ7x0cj3n9EuFfPPLEcuo4qQmSRH-LRRYEY3_A4RYnOEdicbj1CN2aYrDE8eiltf4jdFeIXEyNzPd1vfWIHHYl5m5efYmpihV2F2PI0DRNLBYDSxo88qBeNbN4DmEp4aQ/s1600-h/bracket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEMuoxJqA37KQ7x0cj3n9EuFfPPLEcuo4qQmSRH-LRRYEY3_A4RYnOEdicbj1CN2aYrDE8eiltf4jdFeIXEyNzPd1vfWIHHYl5m5efYmpihV2F2PI0DRNLBYDSxo88qBeNbN4DmEp4aQ/s320/bracket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315100881336470882" border="0" /></a><br />With Clemson out, I'm going to amend my South region and put 2 Oklahoma over 10 Michigan, then 3 Syracuse over 2 Oklahoma, then 1 UNC over 2 Oklahoma. If UNC can squeeze past LSU and get Lawson back, I don't know if there's anyone who can slow them down before the Final Four (not that I really thought Clemson would but you know you have to take a few risks on these things, otherwise it's not exciting...or painfully devastating when bad picks make you look like an idiot).<br /><br />Also, for those of you keeping up with our other bracket at home, the last of the three spots in the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions Finals will be decided tomorrow night. My two favorites (Ben Bishop and Aaron Schroeder) unfortunately fell into the same semi-final threesome, so only one of the two will take on Larissa and Dan (aka Eyebrows McGee) in the finals.<br /><br />Ben is the underdog, with just four wins during the regular season, while Aaron and the third contestant Mark Wales have five each. Still, I think he'll be cooler under pressure than the other two, so I'm going to lay my money on the dark horse in this one.<br /><br />As for the finals next week...I'm giving it to Larissa. She's gutsy but realistic on the wagers, quick on the buzzer, and of course she knows her stuff. She trampled her opponents tonight and even with a commanding lead going into Final Jeopardy she risked a lot and was the only one of the three who knew the answer (Anubis, the Jackal-headed Egyptian God).<br /><br />Alright sports fans! That's all for tonight! You know where to find me tomorrow--Jeopardy at 7:00 p.m. and 5 FSU vs. 12 Wisconsin at 9:55 p.m.<br /><br />Later days,<br />ShanBelle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-63006088852094005432009-03-18T22:40:00.000-07:002009-03-18T22:55:29.802-07:00Two Foam Fingers Up for the Jaguars<div>I was relieved to find out that my <a href="http://blogs.usatoday.com/thehuddle/2009/03/espn-jaguars-cu.html">Jacksonville Jaguars cut ties with WR Matt Jones</a> earlier this week after he was sent to jail for violating his plea deal. They should have cut him last year when he was arrested on cocaine possession charges in the first place, but I'll accept that they gave him a second chance. Clearly, however, that second chance was not appreciated by Jones. <br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/mattjones.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 334px;" src="http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/mattjones.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Sure it seems frivolous to cut one of the most talented wide recievers on your roster for drinking beer with his friends on a golf course, but the situation with Jones is so much bigger than that. He clearly has a substance abuse problem (not a good thing for anyone, let alone a professional athlete) and what's worse, he didn't take the situation seriously enough to obey the orders of the plea deal that kept him out of jail in the first place. </div><div><br /></div><div>I understand that athletes are just human beings like us. They make mistakes, especially the young ones with truckloads of money and the aura of power that being a top-notch athlete creates, but the regulations of their job shouldn't be any different than any other job. If Bob the Accountant went to jail for a week because he violated his parole, do you think his company would let him take vacation time and return to work like nothing happened? Hell no. Bob would be on the street with so many other Americans out of the job right now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Matt Jones needs to show some appreciation for the fact that he has a skill that can provide for him and his family as long as he lives. He'll get a chance with another team, and maybe this time, he'll keep it between the lines. But I'm glad that team won't be the Jaguars. </div><div><br /></div><div>Adios Matt. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Shan</div>Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-53720981547658780352009-03-18T21:46:00.000-07:002009-03-18T22:37:45.899-07:00It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!<div><div>Have you filled out your bracket yet? <div><br /></div><div>I'll be honest...I'm having a hard time choosing between Ben and Aaron--they're both so cute and obviously brilliant, but the way Aaron turns and watches the other contestants give their answers kind of drives me a little nuts. It might be the reason I have to give Ben the upperhand.</div><div><br /></div><div>What? Why do you look so confused? I'm talking about my bracket for the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions--what did you think I was talking about?</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh! March Madness! Is it that time of year again? Gee, I hardly noticed. I mean, it's not like my alma matter/lifelong favorite sports team is going to The Dance for the first time in over a decade....</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2009/03/15/22/447-fsuseed.embedded.prod_affiliate.56.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2009/03/15/22/447-fsuseed.embedded.prod_affiliate.56.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 216px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">YEAH RIGHT! I'm overjoyed that my 'Noles finally broke free of the NIT after finishing second in the ACC Tournament last weekend and claimed a five seed in the east division. Of course, that exuberance does come with a little bit of a bitter aftertaste. I mean, I did spend five years in the stands and on press row at the Civic Center watching my team bumble one loss after another in the waining seconds of several games. I also cheered my little heart out at our NIT home games, rushed the court when we beat Duke (twice) and Wake, and hid under press row when everyone else rushed the court when we beat Florida. And then what happens? They FINALLY get their act together the season AFTER I leave and make it into the Tourney.</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">But that's for another blog...</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">This one is about my tournament bracket, which I agonized over for several hours Sunday night. In fact, I was so torn over a few match-ups that I had to turn to my trusted friend and confidante--my mini magic eight ball. Accordingly, my first round picks are below, along with denotations for my agreements and disagreements with said eight ball. </div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">Although it was a difficult decision, I did not take FSU past the third round of the tournament--but it wasn't difficult for the reasons you might think. I am, like most FSU basketball fans, quite jaded when it comes to my team. The aforementioned heartbreaks that I experienced over and over again in my five years at FSU are like old wounds that still ache in certain situations. I had to fight the urge to write them out after the first round, still believing in my heart of hearts that given our Seminole luck, we will choke early and hard. </div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">Actually, my friend Alicia and I were discussing our pessimistic attitudes toward our beloved Noles and we decided that given our history, the most likely outcome of the tournament is that Florida State will beat the odds, win the whole shabang, then have the NCAA declare us ineligable to raise the trophy because of our cheating scandal and therefore decide to award the NCAA Championship trophy to the winner of the NIT, which in this scenario would of course be our arch rivals, the University of Florida Gators. </div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">(Side note: The Seminoles bid into the tournament is even more enjoyable given Florida's status in the NIT. Guess they should have let Tad Teto channel his super powers on the basketball court...or maybe they shouldn't have elected to incorporate jean shorts into their uniform this year...)</div><div><br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lf_qBmk_zXfIlWJ5qwNYac-iFnMUvqJJI4ShBTP4st3a-pU8swHwiJYblWwF6hwPK058nxiYtGIqEyH7UhEsOcaPvzD1aI0ZcIHNv-LGOpg2ITmFAseLST2XhN7DdwpmMTGmbNSJCMQ/s1600-h/gatorsbball.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lf_qBmk_zXfIlWJ5qwNYac-iFnMUvqJJI4ShBTP4st3a-pU8swHwiJYblWwF6hwPK058nxiYtGIqEyH7UhEsOcaPvzD1aI0ZcIHNv-LGOpg2ITmFAseLST2XhN7DdwpmMTGmbNSJCMQ/s320/gatorsbball.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314764653458493122" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Alright folks. Check out the picks, lock in your final answers, and buckle down for the best sporting event in collegiate sports.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good luck and GO NOLES!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Shan</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2009 NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND PICKS:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">MIDWEST</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1 Louisville over 16 (Alabama St over Morehead St)</div><div style="text-align: left;">8 Ohio State over 9 Siena</div><div style="text-align: left;">5 Utah over 12 Arizona</div><div style="text-align: left;">4 Wake Forest over 13 Cleveland St</div><div style="text-align: left;">6 West Virginia over 11 Dayton</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 Kansas over 14 North Dakota St</div><div style="text-align: left;">7 Boston College over 10 USC</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 Michigan St over 15 Robert Morris</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">WEST</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1 UConn over 16 Chattanooga</div><div style="text-align: left;">9 Texas A&M over 8 BYU</div><div style="text-align: left;">5 Purdue over 12 Northern Iowa</div><div style="text-align: left;">4 Washington over 13 Mississippi St (8-Ball Disagreed)</div><div style="text-align: left;">6 Marquette over 11 Utah St</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 Missouri over 14 Cornell</div><div style="text-align: left;">10 Maryland over 7 California (8-Ball Pick)</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 Memphis over Cal St Northridge</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">EAST</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1 Pitt over 16 East Tennessee St</div><div style="text-align: left;">8 Ok St over 9 Tennessee</div><div style="text-align: left;">5 FSU over 12 Wisconsin</div><div style="text-align: left;">4 Xavier over 13 Portland St</div><div style="text-align: left;">6 UCLA over 11 VCU</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 Nova over 14 American</div><div style="text-align: left;">7 Texas over 10 Minnesota</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 Duke over 15 Binghampton</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">SOUTH</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1 UNC over 16 Radford</div><div style="text-align: left;">9 Butler over 8 LSU (8-Ball Pick)</div><div style="text-align: left;">5 Illinois over 12 Western Kentucky</div><div style="text-align: left;">4 Gonzaga over 13 Akron</div><div style="text-align: left;">6 Arizona St over 11 Temple</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 Syracuse over 14 Stephen A. Austin (8-Ball Disagreed)</div><div style="text-align: left;">7 Clemson over 10 Michigan</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 Oklahoma over 15 Morgan St</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-63759574007180668582009-03-05T21:56:00.000-08:002009-03-05T22:18:20.430-08:00Back to BidnessI could make a lot of excuses as to why I haven't gotten around to updating this blog in eight months, but the truth is...I needed a break.<br /><br />Not from the busy world of blogging (I'm not *that* lazy) but from sports. I know there are many sports fans who would shake their fingers at me for such a comment, but the truth is--no matter how much you love the sports world, it can become overwhelming. Especially when you're going to school for sports (I just finished my master's in sports management) and working in sports (I was working as a graduate assistant in FSU's media relations department).<br /><br />I got burned out, but I'm ready to get back in the race.<br /><br />Spring training is underway, which means I'm gearing up for eight months of heartbreaking disappointment at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. I took last season off from the Braves--I know, I know. You're shaking your head and telling me that real fans don't take breaks, but I think in order to maintain a *healthy* relationship with your sports team of choice, sometimes it's important to have your space.<br /><br />As soon as I saw the Braves' starting rotation last year with Smoltz and Glavine I knew I would be pulling my hair out of my head by the end of the season if I followed the team with my usual zeal. I just didn't think I could stomach the inevitable collapse that would surely befall a team with two starting pitchers over the age of 40.<br /><br />A year later, I still think it was a good decision on my part. I'm ready to enter into this season with fresh eyes and without the jaded disappointments of last season still fresh in my mind (though I can't really say the same for the 23 seasons prior to that which I've had to endure).<br /><br />Okay maybe I'm already rolling my eyes at Derek Lowe, but come on...<br /><br />I am, in fact, such an advocate of sports relationship breaks, that I've recently advised my friend Alicia to take a year off from her devotion to the Tampa Bay Bucs. Not only did the Bucs ever so rudely snip Chuckie's cord, they also had the nerve to drop longtime Bucs (and more importantly, former Seminoles) Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks. THEN they had to go and pick up Kellen Winslow. As a Florida State fan, I view Kellen Winslow as the poster child for everything I hate about the University of Miami.<br /><br />Knowing that my fellow alum Alicia feels the same about Winslow (and Brooks and Dunn...haha, not to be confused with the country duo) I listened to her panicked phone call last Friday with patience, then suggested that perhaps she needed to take a break.<br /><br />Of course, she said no.<br /><br />But I think that once she sees the full scope of the massive restructuring the Bucs are going to go through over the next few months, she might come around. It's not that you should kick your team to the curb every time they do a little offseason shuffling, but when they suddenly and inexplicably dismiss the coaches and players you love and are most attached to while also picking up one of your known sports enemies, I think maybe it would be in everyone's best interests to take a step back.<br /><br />Well, that's all the advice this doctor can offer for now. I'm glad to be back and I *promise* you'll be hearing from me more in the future (unless of course you feel the need to take a break from me because of what I just said...hmm...maybe I should reconsider).<br /><br />Later days,<br />ShannonBelle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-80446497433151064052008-06-13T22:21:00.001-07:002008-06-13T22:53:05.835-07:00To Glimpse A Moment Of GreatnessIt's really a crime that I haven't updated this blog in almost a year when in fact the last 11 months have afforded me some of the most spectacular sports moments I've ever witnessed in my twenty-three years of breathing.<br /><br />And most, if not all of those moments have been directly related to a man by the name of Walter Dix.<br /><br />Prior to starting my graduate assistantship at Florida State last summer, I had only a very vague knowledge of track & field. I knew we had a good team and I knew Walter Dix was a good runner, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. Looking back on it now I am ashamed that I worked in Sports Information as an intern for a year--let alone that I followed Seminole sports for 22 years--without knowing more about one of the greatest sports there is and one of the greatest athletes who's ever been a part of it.<br /><br />If you don't know (and obviously I am obligated to excuse you if you don't) Walter Dix is very possibly the greatest collegiate sprinter of all time. Going into his final race tomorrow, here in Des Moines, Iowa at the NCAA Track & Field Championships, Dix holds 17 All-American honors and 7 National Championships in the four years he's been at Florida State.<br /><br />But the awards and accolades (and trust me, there are many more beyond those) don't really tell you who Walter Dix is or why his story is so amazing. There are two parts to the Walter Dix phenomenon that make him such an incredible specimen to the world of athletics.<br /><br />Part One: Walter Dix did not start formal weight training until this year.<br /><br />Consider some of Dix's competitors in the top collegiate sprint events--football players like Trindon Holliday and Jacoby Ford, even Dix's own teammate Michael Ray Garvin. Those men have muscles stacked upon muscles stacked upon more muscles. Any sprinter would tell you it takes good weight training to tone your muscles to push yourself to faster speeds.<br /><br />But Walter Dix had never set foot in a weight room until this year.<br /><br />That means his accomplishments coming into this season--15 All-American honors and 7 national championships--came from pure, unharnessed talent.<br /><br />Period.<br /><br />Part Two: Everyone (and I mean everyone) thought he should go pro last year--except him.<br /><br />After three incredible seasons at the helm of the two-time national champion Florida State track and field program, absolutely no one would have batted an eye if Dix snatched up the Wal-Mart Superstore-sized prize that Nike dangled in front of him last year. I've heard hints at how much the number was, but I'd rather not say in deference to Dix.<br /><br />I will say, however, that it was probably three to four times as much money as what any other college athlete would have snatched up without a second thought.<br /><br />The funny thing is though, I think it could have been three to four times more and Dix wouldn't have spent more seconds that it takes him to run the 100m dash on average (10.2) to make his decision. He was determined to stay at Florida State even after his own father told him to go pro and his coaches told him to go pro. In fact, I'm 99% positive he could've sat the Pope down and laid out his options and the Pope would have looked at him and said, "For Christ sake son, go pro!"<br /><br />(Okay maybe not those exact words)<br /><br />How refreshing to find an athlete who actually has his priorities in order? Someone your kids can look up to and model their own lives after? Because with Dix it's not just about the money he turned down, it's about the kind of character it took to do it. Unfortunately, his type of athlete is becoming very close to extinct.<br /><br />I can tell you this much. After I finish my tenure at Florida State within the next few weeks, no matter where my career goes from here, I will never forget what it's been like to be part of the glow that surrounds Walter Dix.<br /><br />There are athletes who come along once in a blue moon who make you forget (at least for a few minutes) about all the Michael Vicks and the Pacman Joneses and the Barry Bondses, but rarely--if ever--do you find an athlete who can make you remember why you fell in love with sports in the first place.<br /><br />Walter Dix is that kind of athlete.<br /><br />No matter what happens tomorrow--no matter how Walter Dix finishes his career in the 200m dash or how Florida State finishes in the team standings--I will never forget the season I spent with Walter Dix. Ever. I've built a shelter for it in my mind and another in my heart (and another in this blog) so that I can carry it with me in every way possible through the rest of my career and my time on Earth.<br /><br />If you think I'm biased or just totally off base, call my bluff and watch Walter Dix run his final collegiate race tomorrow on CBS at about 3:45 p.m. central time.<br /><br />Do it.<br /><br />I dare you.Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-57671656338334207772007-08-07T21:23:00.000-07:002007-08-07T22:18:17.649-07:00The view from inside the moment...By my expert estimation, I'd say approximately 456 million people are currently logging on to their various blogs and message boards to write about something that happened thirty minutes ago on national TV. Not an every day something, not an unexpected something, but a once-in-a-lifetime something that will change a sport and the nation that calls it a past time.<br /><br />Twenty years from now, I will tell my children that I was sitting on my Wal-Mart futon in my PJs talking sports with my roommate when the crack of a bat and the flicker of a thousand flashbulbs marked the moment of history being made. The funny thing is, my roommate Alicia and I were talking about how, for all the controversy surrounding it, we wanted to see the moment when it happened. We wanted to be in it, in the drowning pull and the skew of the lights that makes what's already bigger so dangerously close to immortal. And then it happened.<br /><br />To be honest, I don't know how I feel about Barry. I want to hate him. I want to hate what he has done to my favorite sport. I want to hate the way he plays this game. But I can't. Because as a rational human being, I just can't make a case against him. The truth is, he hasn't done anything to the sport--or at least not anymore that each of us fans has done. By tuning into the Giants games for the last two nights, just like I tuned in to every Cardinals and Cubs game a few years ago, I am playing a role in propagating this thing that I want to loathe for making a beautifully crafted game of patience and practice into a circus spectacle.<br /><br />I think what we have to accept as fans, is that just like everything else in the world we live in, the sports we love are going to grow and change with the times. I do believe Barry did steroids, just like Jose, Mark, Sammy, and a long list of other popular players. They did it because they were trying to keep up. Because like it or not, this sport that I love is their job, and just like everyone else they want to do their job the best they can--even if it means doing something they know is wrong.<br /><br />Could you honestly tell me that if you, John Smith the accountant, were falling behind at work while your co-workers Dick and Jane just zoomed through their daily routines and got praise from the boss every day, that you wouldn't accept a little pill that would help you keep up with them and increase the longevity and performance you can sustain in your career? We live in a competitive world as it is, but the sports realm only amplifies that competitiveness because it's the sole element of the game. You have to get the edge up on your opponents, or stand to lose everything.<br /><br />I will say this--the one thing that sticks in my craw about Barry is the same thing that sticks in my craw about T.O. and Kobe and every other athlete who wants to act like he is bigger than the sport. No matter how great an athlete you are, you will never equal the size of the game. Long after you are gone and the last memories of your existence are framed in some Hall of Fame, the game will still be played. Someone else will break your records. Someone else will become the next you, just like you were the next somebody else.<br /><br />So don't act like you own it all, and don't draw the media to your side just to tell them how miserable they have made your life. You wouldn't be who you are or do what you do if somebody wasn't there to watch it. Besides, can you really say that a paycheck with eight or more zeros doesn't cover the hassle of the media circus? It is one thing for one of the most popular athletes in the world to be followed ceaselessly by the press, it would be another if the aforementioned John Smith had to leave his office every day with his $30,000 a year paycheck in his pocket only to deal with a crowd of flashbulbs and tape recorders asking him how he could have missed that transaction last month that left one of his accounts unbalanced or how he plans to replace the Excell document that his computer mysteriously destroyed while he was eating his $6 cheese sandwich in the company cafeteria. John Smith doesn't get paid enough to deal with that, but athletes do. If they wanted to take a major salary cut and act like their job is more like everyone else's job, they could be treated accordingly. Until then, suck it up.<br /><br />I'm glad I saw Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run. I'm even glad I witnessed the near deaths of a hundred plus people scrambling for a piece of leather and lace, and then the ten-minute interruption in the game for an impromptu (but very well-orchestrated) ceremony that brought a tear to everyone's eye--particularly the eyes of the Washington Nationals whose faces seemed to express the sadness that can only come from knowing that losing this game would be the highlight of their season.<br /><br />Many people will wax eloquent about tonight's events, from now until eternity. Who knows exactly what it will do to this sport, but I sincerely hope that it will help bring baseball back into the forefront of the nation's attention as it deserves. And maybe if it does, the devil horns on Barry's head will turn into tiny support posts for an itsy-bitsy, almost invisible, rusted out and 'roided up halo.<br /><br />Maybe.Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-16675709467982091142007-08-02T19:44:00.001-07:002007-08-02T21:36:41.381-07:00Smell the #9Okay folks, I need you to be with me at this moment. It's the bottom of the ninth and the Braves, in true Atlanta fashion, have choked their lead and are now tied at 9 at home against the Astros.<br /><br />Also--Barry Bonds is at bat with the potential to hit his 755th career home run. You may have heard about this, it's kind of a big deal.<br /><br />Okay over in the Braves side of the split screen we've got Brian McCann trying to pull out the win. Jeff Francouer's on deck. Oh great, 6-3, goodbye Brian. Here comes Jeff.<br /><br />Barry's still up on a 3-2 count, he was walked his last at-bat. Oh what do you know, base hit to left, guess tonight's not the night.<br /><br />OH! Francouer got on with a fumbled ball in the infield--I didn't see the exact play on account of Barry. Maybe I should hold a press conference to cry about how he's interrupting my life and disrupting my family.<br /><br />Kelly Johnson, it's all on you. He's 0-2 and just swung for the fences on a sinker. Great job, Kel. Way to watch the ball.<br /><br />Super, Chuck James. In case you don't know this kids, a little tip for t-ball, you always want your pitcher at the plate in a two-outs, bottom of the ninth, tie ballgame situation. That's great. Oh he took a lighthouse round on a sinker, too. How 'bout you keep your bat on your shoulder idito? Qualis is on the mound for the Astros by the way...<br /><br />We're 1-2. Check hit a liner to short and the Braves are going to extras. Great. You're going to stick around and keep me sane right? RIGHT? Sure you are. What choice do you have?<br /><br />Commercial break: Rush Hour 3. I think it's a bad sign for a movie that when I first saw the trailer I thought "...there was a Rush Hour 2?" Incidentally, it should be illegal for Jackie Chan to make sequels. Chuck Norris on the otherhand--why hasn't he capitalized on the cult Chuck Norris is badass movement? Have you seen the Chuck Norris fact generators? They're hysterical. Of course, part of what makes it funny is that Chuck Norris clearly takes himself so seriously, so if he started playing into it, it might not be so funny.<br /><br />Okay we've got Ron Mahay on the mound. Who the hell is he? He's 2-0 with 28 game appearances, that's okay, I guess. Can't say I've heard of him, but so far he's up in the count 1-2. Ty Wittington is at bat. Ooh, struck out looking. Ta-ta Ty.<br /><br />This Mahay guy has a rugged, Robert Redford in The Natural handsome thing going on. Yes let's talk about my new favorite Brave, Mark Teixiera. More on how I feel about that trade later.<br /><br />Count is 2-2 on someone. Not sure who. The announcers are, ever so helpfully, talking about how Bobby Cox is anti-music in the clubhouse. Flyout to Jeff, sorry whomever that was. Oh he's the DB who hit the grand slam off Soriano that got us here (or as the announcers are calling him "Grand Slammy") Mark Lamb. Two outs.<br /><br />Come on Mahay, so far so good. Mark is 3 for 5 against Ron (I like to use first names, makes it more personal). Through the five spot up the middle to center, runner on first. I don't much care for Mr. Mark Lamb.<br /><br /><br />Ooh Brad Ausmus. Hot, but I hold a grudge for the yellow-line edging homer in the playoffs two years ago that lead to that excrutiatingly long extras game that the Braves lost (of course). Biggio is on deck. Shit. Come on Mahay. Way outside, 2-1.<br /><br />4-3, we're going to the top of the Braves' order for the bottom of the tenth. Oh look, a commercial for Shanghai Noon. Is Jackie Chan personally sponsoring this game? What the hell?<br /><br />How are we feeling on the new Cuba Gooding, Jr./Michael Jordan Haines commercials? I think it would have been great in say, 1995. You could have thrown in a couple of "show me the underwear" lines and it would have been a Super Bowl favorite. But now? Were Larry Bird and Dennis Franz not available?<br /><br />Oh a standing ovation for Biggio. That's nice. See what good sports we are in Atlanta? Or maybe we just appreciate genuine athletes who make all their noise on the field (I'm looking at you, Barry).<br /><br />Willie Harris at the plate. He falls behind 1-2 immediately. Qualls is still on the mound. Houston should really change the lettering on the back of their jerseys, it's hard to read. BLOOPER INTO RIGHT, Harris on first. Oh snap, it's on bitches.<br /><br />I love the chop. Have I mentioned that before? I love having a racially insensitive gesture that's applicable to both my favorite teams. It makes me feel really good about myself and where I stand on political correctness.<br /><br />My boy Matty Diaz is up now. One of only two players to ever play for my favorite teams (the Noles and Braves). Bet he loves the chop, too. He's trying to bunt and doing a crappy job of it. Come on Matty. I think it's the goatee. 0-1. Qualls is repeatedly checking Willie, who admitedly stands a good chance of burning them any second now. Okay three times in a row is enough Qualls, move on.<br /><br />Another shitty pathetic bunt attempt from Matt. The announcers say he's not accustumed to bunting. Well he should be. The only members of this team who are excused from knowing how to bunt are Chipper, Mark, Andruw, and Brian. The rest of you need to know how to get some kind of hit even if it's a bunt.<br /><br />Fouled away, 0-2. REPRESENT FOR THE POLITCALLY INCORRECT INDIAN SPIRIT HERE, MATTY! Way outside--Ausmus was getting ready to throw on Harris but he didn't go. Or maybe it was a wild pitch. Either way we're at 1-2. Another check on Willie.<br /><br />Aaand that's the third Brave to fan a sinker. I'm thinking he's using that on most of his 2 strike counts, maybe we shouldn't swing. Chipper just hit into a double play on his first pitch, hello eleventh inning.<br /><br />I really wasn't anticipating this when I started writing, but now I'm in it. Don't you hate that about extra inning games? You start out just wanting to check the score, maybe just catch an inning or two, but you get sucked in. I'm now fully invested in this game--it could go twenty innings and I'd still be here, writing the world's longest, most pointless blog. But who cares? What else do I have to do? Do you like how I ask questions as though my screen is going to answer me? Maybe I have social problems.<br /><br />So far, no more Jackie Chan commercials. I consider this a good sign.<br /><br />Oh shit I forgot Biggio is up. Son of a bitch. Yes, yes thank you announcers for versing us in how Biggio likes to hook the first pitch down the line. Apparently Ron was aware of this too, he put his first throw in the basement. Okay and his second. Alright, come up Ron, he ain't swinging. Liner to third, thrown out at first. Nice toss by Willie. Peace out Craig.<br /><br />Burke's up. We're 1-1 after a near plate-crossing bunt. Hit it back to the pitcher, we're at two outs. Oh great. Chipper's hand got clipped on the last pitch when Qualls came inside. CHIPPER YOU CANNOT GET HURT AGAIN! It's going to take you and Teixiera just to balance out Andruw's patheticness this season. At least he's still in the game.<br /><br />Okay apparently Chipper's alright. He just snatched a ball at short and with a toss to Mark put us into the bottom of the eleventh. Great.<br /><br />When did we start calling TV shows Television Events? How do we always come up with these new terms for old things? Five years from now will we be calling them Television Occurences? Another Rush Hour 3 commercial. Super. How many people do you think Chris Tucker has killed for getting in his face and screaming "DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH?" I'm guessing at least 10.<br /><br />We've got Trever Miller on the mound now for the 'Stros. He looks like the adult child of Randy Johnson and Harry Potter. Come on Teixeira. Thank you for not swinging at three consecutive ankle balls. And another. A four-pitch walk. What a concept. No other Brave could stand there and take that. Jeff Francouer would have swung for the Fulton County line on ever one of those.<br /><br />Andruw's up. It's sad to say that's almost completely irrelevant. I am loving the positioning of Mark between Chipper and Andruw though, very good move. No one's skipping over Chip to get to Andruw now (although they might be skipping Mark for the same reason, but at least we have another power hitter to back it up). We're 2-2. You think he's going to fan a low ball? I do. Oh guess what? He just did. Stevie Wonder saw that one coming.<br /><br />Brian's back up, we've now been through the order since I started this blog approximately eight hours ago. No strikeouts for McCann tonight. We're at 2-0. Randy Potter's not that good. He thought they'd swing at him like they did Qualls but obviously he's not fooling anybody. We're now at 3-0. Thanks Brian, for paying attention to Mark's at-bat. Good news for Randy Potter though, Jeff's on deck. Anyone else think Brian McCann looks like Turtle? I'd be willing to bet he's heard that nickname--and Jeff's his Vince.<br /><br />Just that quick we're at a full count. Don't swing. Oh but he did. Hello out number two. I'm sorry, I spoke to soon about Randy Potter. Apparently he did have some magic up his sleeve. Jeff's going down in four pitches, I call it now. Let's see.<br /><br />Pitch One: Ball (no swing, nice Jeff).<br />Pitch Two: Fouled back.<br />Pitch Three: Strike over the outside edge of the plate.<br />Pitch Four: OH NO HE DID NOT. Jeff just got hit. Guess who's joining Alex Fernandez in the pantheon of pitchers who have hit my favorite Braves' players? RANDY POTTER. He hit him hard, too, in the left hand. Oh no. Oh Jeff. If I were there I promise I'd kiss it and make it better. He's staying in the game on first.<br /><br />On the positive side, I was right about it taking four pitches (but he didn't go down, well except literally-speaking in pain). Wow they said the pitcher's name (Miller) and I actually didn't know who they were talking about because he's now assumed the name Randy Potter in my head.<br /><br />Kelly Johnson at bat, two on. Let's go Kelly. Aaand we're behind 0-1. Randy Potter comes in and Kelly defensively fouls it off. Shit. Tipped and caught, here we come twelfth inning. Great. We just blew our best opportunity. I now hate Randy Potter.<br /><br />If someone is actually reading this, mad props to you. Please comment for me just so I'll know you exist.<br /><br />Ron's still up for the Braves. We've got, it looks like Lance Berkman--yes I'm finally getting confirmation here, Lance Berkman already behind 0-1. Line drive is Harris, makes the throw with two hours to spare (Lance, you should think about eating the Krispy Kreme *after* you pick up few miles on the treadmill).<br /><br />Thank you Mark Teixeira for telling Mahay to lay off a ball rolling foul. What do you think is going through Mark's head since the trade? He's got to feel a little bit like he just got shipped out on the short bus.<br /><br />Lee's got a left field hit for a single. The announcers are still discussing whether or not Kelly Johnson tipped the last pitch of the eleventh. Let's move forward fellas. Shit. Base hit, Lee's running for all he's worth, arms flailing at all. He's on third (Lance Berkman, take notes). Barry's up to bat again, we're on split screen. How about we do small picture-in-picture so I can see the game I really care about?<br /><br />Double shit. Sacrifice fly to center to score Lee, we're now down 10-9 (and Barry popped out, of course). Great. You know what's going to happen right? The Braves are going to scrounge up another run in the bottom of the 12th to keep this going. They haven't tortured me enough to choke yet. They've got to drag it out a little longer.<br /><br />Lamb's up again. Runner on second. Brian McCann just fumbled a catch. Super. Kelly Johnson channels Bill Buckner for a single up the middle and another run for the Astros. Fan-tastic. Did TBS turn the game off and switch to the umpteenth showing Major League or what? Bobby, hey Bobby, do you have anyone warming up? Why is Mahay pitching his third inning? Have I mentioned that I hate Mark Lamb?<br /><br />Brad Ausmus (or if you're the announcers, Brad Lidge) is at bat again. We've got two outs. Can we please end this now? Come on Ron, you've got to have something left. Bobby's not gonna do shit now. He's probably taking a nap in the dugout as we speak, it's way past his bedtime. He's not even going to be able to stay up long enough to see Wheel of Fortune on TiVo tonight, he'll have to watch it over breakfast in the morning.<br /><br />2-2 on Ausmus. Oh there's Bobby, scratching his head. Do you think you ever get too old to care? You're like "Yeah I'm just doing this because I don't have many career options at sixty-two and I'm not quite ready to retire." Oh great, Mahay walked Ausmus. We've got two on. CAN ANYONE ON THIS TEAM GET ONE MORE BLEEPING OUT SO WE CAN ALL MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES?<br /><br />Mahay's not channeling Robert Redford so much anymore. More like Kevin Costner right after the table saw accident. The announcers are telling us not to count out the Braves' offense. Um, I think I counted them out back in the eighth after the grand slam tied the game. I'm just being honest.<br /><br />It's now 11:40, by the way. I have to work at nine in the morning, in case you're wondering. Munson's at the plate watching Mahay play dodge-the-plate. Uh-oh, swing and a miss. Now let's see what Mahay has at the plate--oh wait, unlike he does on defense, Bobby doesn't hesitate to yank his pitchers in an offensive situation. He's probably had a pinch hitter warming up for six innings.<br /><br />Another Shanghai Noon commercial If you're keeping track at home, my "Dead to Me" list now includes: Jackie Chan, Randy Potter, and Mark Lamb. Just putting that out there.<br /><br />Excuse me, why is there a Pamprin commercial in the middle of a baseball game? Apparently their marketing people don't believe in demographics research, that's great.<br /><br />Did I not tell you this was going to turn into the world's longest, most pointless blog? I don't care, I'm posting it anyway. No one reads my stuff anyway. I'm just keeping myself awake here.<br /><br />Here's the real Brad Lidge, now on the mound with his 2-1 record. We've got the Brad-Brad show now between the mound and the plate. Let's finish them off. Oh what a surprise! Bobby's put the last available position player at the plate for Mahay. He looks like a chubby Billy Ray Cyrus. I've got high hopes. He just got lucky with a blooper over Lidge that Burke couldn't come up with. I told you they weren't done torturing me yet. Did they just say Chubby Billy Ray's name is Corky?<br /><br />Willie Harris up now. We're 1-1 on Willie. The score is 11-9, in case you missed that. Lidge is in the dirt. The Astros like the low stuff. Maybe because we swing at it almost every time. I'd like to see a stat after this game on how many sinkers we swung on. I'd wager a guess that, percentage-wise, it's probably 75-80%. We're 2-2. Splitter, swing, strike.<br /><br />Matty Diaz again. He looks about as confident as Paris walking into jail the second time. Fouled off the first pitch. Yes announcers, I'm sure Matt would like to atone for his previous at-bat, but he won't. When the Braves suck, they suck. They hate me.<br /><br />OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHIT. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME. HOME RUN WE ARE TIED AGAIN.<br /><br />What the HELL did I tell you people? WHAT DID I SAY? I told you they wouldn't let it go this easily. MATTY! MATTY! I LOVE YOU! POLITICALLY INCORRECT INDIAN MASCOTS ROCK!<br /><br />Man I really hate this team. Why can't they just go out in peace? I'm telling you, they will lose this game. They do this to me everytime. I count them out, they come back. They pull me along until I'm so into it I'm ready to crawl through the screen and sweep the plate clean myself. It's freaking ridiculous. Why do I let them do this to me? It's like an abusive relationship, I can't walk away. They have like, fifty of my CDs.<br /><br />Chipper's up, full count. Walk. He-llo Mark Teixeira. Man I am so involved in this now. I'm going to cry when they lose. Are you catching the reverse psychology attempts? Mark you will be my favorite Brave forever and always if you drive in this run and end this now. COME ON MARK.<br /><br />Ball one. Mark's like the new and improved Javy Lopez. And by that I mean he's vaguely Hispanic and attractive. And he plays for the Braves. But you get my drift. It's 11:54. If we win this game I will do a victory lap around my house. Teixeira retires on a high fly to left.<br /><br />Great, Andruw. Do we have any pitchers who can pinch for him? I mean really, I'd take Bob Wickman at the plate over Andruw at this point. I'm sorry to say it, but is he even hitting .250? Oh now we're hearing that our last pitcher is Villareal and he pitched two last night. Jesus. They're talking about throwing in Tim or John.<br /><br />We're 1-0 on Andruw. Make that 1-1 as Andruw practically drools on himself as the ball whizzes through the strikezone. And again. Andruw, are you really going to argue that? Does it really matter? We all know how this at-bat is going to end. Tipped with a bounce back to the net. We're locked at 1-2. Has Andruw regained all the weight he lost before last season? It appears so.<br /><br />Wild pitch, Chipper to second. OKAY ANDRUW, A HIT WINS THIS GAME AND WE ALL GET TO GO HOME. YOU CAN GO GET DRUNK, GORGE YOURSELF AT THE VARSITY, WHATEVER YOU WANT. He's going to split you again, WATCH IT. Or swing and take us to the thirteenth. Son of a bitch.<br /><br />It's now midnight. Nine o'clock is going to come awfully early in the morning. I'm going to finish this and Google is going to tell me this blog is too long to post and I'm going to cry. I'm fighting the urge to dig out my Braves hat and put it on. In my past experience, that tends to be the kiss of death. I mean, I feel certain they're going to lose anyway, but I don't want to help things along.<br /><br />I'm calling Alicia. As much solace as I'm getting from writing this, it's getting to the point that I need really human interaction. She's telling me that I shouldn't be surprised, this happens every time I watch. It's sad because she's right. Bobby appears to be nodding off in the dugout. What do you think it would take for him to tell someone to just swing at everything so they can end this and go home? I'd say another inning.<br /><br />We're 3-1 on somebody. Oh and he just walked. Great way to start off, Oscar. Do you realize we have NO eligible players left? Short of sending in John or Tim to pinch hit, which I'm not sure is even legal. I don't care Oscar, put it down the pipe so we can end this. With every pitch I feel another piece of my soul dying.<br /><br />It's funny that my favorite thing about baseball is also my least favorite thing about baseball. I love not havin ga time limit because it lends the sense of possibility to everything. You can be down by five in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and still have a chance (though a small one) of winning. Whereas in timed sports like football and basketball, if you're down by ten with seconds on the clock it's pretty much over.<br /><br />A good bunt (take notes Matty) puts a runner on first, now we're intentionally walking Berkman to put two on for Lee. Lee pops out to center, two outs. Ty Wiggington is coming back up. I feel like I'm stuck in purgatory.<br /><br />Wiggington snaps the first pitch to Harris for a quick out and we're going to the bottom of the thirteenth. I've got ten bucks on seeing Jackie Chan's face in the next two minutes.<br /><br />Mad props to all the fans who are still at the game. At least I'm in my air conditioned room in my PJs. Mark McLemore is now pitching for the 'Stros. Brian McCann at the plate. Ball one. Brian is batting .265? But we traded our back-up catcher? Really? I mean it's not that I don't like Teixeira, but...sinking line drive sends Brian back to the dugout. Bobby's up from his nap.<br /><br />Jeffrey. Strike one. I'm saying five pitches this time. Swing and a miss. Did I say five? I meant three. He's not swinging on this one, I call it. True story, he stayed still on the sinker, 1-2. Called on the outside corner, excuse me I don't think so. That was not a strike, sir. That was low and out. My view from my desk chair is very clear. Jeff and Bobby are not happy.<br /><br />Kelly Johnson is up. Two outs. And a "flare" into left center. Do you think the announcers have a list of adjectives ready to use on every hit? Oscar is up, what with no one on the bench to take his place. Great. This is a great situation. Barry should be coming back up soon, I'm sure we'll switch over there again.<br /><br />I love when games go into extras and the announcers run out of things to talk about--BASE HIT OSCAR! Way to go! Didn't see that coming. We've got runners on first and second with Willie coming up. Man he had ugly form on that hit, but whatever works. He looked more surprised than anyone. Oh we're full into the chop now.<br /><br />COME ON WILLIE! END THIS! END IT I SAY! Do you think pitchers take it especially bad when other pitchers get a hit off them? It seems like that would burn you up more than anything. Oh and Willie struck out. We're headed to fourteen. Cheese and rice this is ridiculous. And we're playing Midnight Train to Georgia. Do they keep that on cue especially for late games? How appropriate.<br /><br />It's 12:17 by the way. I'm looking at seven hours of sleep tops at this point. Guess who's eating their cereal at work in the morning? *Points at self* I think I'm losing my mind. Is there a Guiness Record for longest blog? Seriously, I'm going to look it up. Hold please.<br /><br />I love the internet. Thirty seconds and I've got my answer--Guiness has not yet started using any blog-related categories. It's only a matter of time though, and I'm telling you, this one's going in there.<br /><br />Oh boy, it's Barry time again! That means the Braves are going to do something crappy. They're showing Eddie Perez in the bullpen like maybe we can activate him if we hit fifteen. How long do you think we'll go on with this for Barry? Wouldn't it be torturous if he went into a slump and never hit 755? I think it would be God's way of making a statement on the steroids issue. Sacrifice bunt puts Lane (?) on second with one out. Barry popped out again. I'm telling you, the Bambino put his heavenly hot dogs down just long enough to put a curse on that big-headed man. He's not going to hit shit for a while.<br /><br />Ausmus again. In the interest of keeping you as up to date as possible with my current situation, I feel I need to inform you that my butt has now officially fallen asleep. Ausmus swings at a third strike and we're at two outs. Here's how I would like this to end: Oscar gets another K, we hit the bottom with Chipper at bat first, he gets a base hit, Teixeira hits a homer, and we all walk around saying "Salta-who?" for the rest of the season.<br /><br />Ball one on somebody. Really, who cares at this point. The Astros all look alike. This is my observation for the night. They're not a very racially diverse team. That's all I'm going to say about that. We're at 2-1. Base hit, the 'Stros are up 12-11. Can we give up now? Tank it like the Celtics and save some energy for tomorrow.<br /><br />What upsets me the most about this, is that I can almost gurauntee that this game will not matter in the long run of this season. The Braves will come back and at least take the Wild Card if not the east pennant. Then they will choke in the first round of the playoffs--but not in three games, no. They will win the first one, lose the next two, win the fourth, force a fifth and then choke in extra innings after blowing a huge lead.<br /><br />Out three, we're heading to the bottom. Diaz, Jones, Teixeira coming up. More Shanghai Noon commercials. I hate Jackie Chan. Have I said this? Let me say it again. I HATE JACKIE CHAN. And Cuba and Jordan. When did Jerry Maguire come out? IMDB says 1996, well I was close with my '95 reference. My bad.<br /><br />Moehler out for Houston. Diaz at bat. Moehler has no career saves. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Base hit, Matt Diaz. If they tie this up, I'm going to give out. Please either lose it or win it right here. Chipper at bat. Hit a homer. Hit a homer. HIT A HOMER. PLEASE! Stee-rike. Or not.<br /><br />From a removed, baseball-loving perspective, this is actually a really good game. As a Braves fan, not so much. Oh look, Chipper not only didn't hit a homer, he hit a double play. Why would you even take that chance? At least get under it and leave the runner on, damn. You're not going to catch the same hole as Matty did.<br /><br />It's on Mark's shoulders. He wins it or loses it right here. Personally I'm at the point of not caring which, I just want it to be over so I can get ready for bed. I'm looking at less than seven hours of sleep now. That doesn't make me happy. Good news is, it is a half-day, so my bed and I will hopefully be reunited for a blissful nap in the late afternoon.<br /><br />Even count at 2. Come on Teixeira. Learn how to be a Brave and just strike out. Full count. Well it doesn't matter, even if he gets on, Andruw is a mortal lock to put this baby to bed. Oh wait, Teixeira just struck out.<br /><br />Did I not tell you that would happen? I knew from the beginning that they would lose after torturing me mercilessly. I feel like I just went through five hours at Guantanamo. But I let them do it to me, I guess it's part of being a fan.<br /><br />Alright enough of all this. Thanks for sticking with me and goodnight.Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8192545172996508053.post-82024791243512270582007-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:002007-06-28T21:11:24.123-07:00Kick Off<span style="font-style: italic;">I've had this blog set up for several months now and have yet to actually write anything on it. I'm not sure why--I could generate a list of excuses, but what does it matter? The point I finally realized yesterday is that I should just go ahead and put something up because (a) There are 100-1 odds no one will ever read it and (b) There are a million other people on the world wide web who generate blogs full of pointless rants and writings every day (myself included) so why obsess over one blog like it's a column in The Mag? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So here goes nothing...</span><br /><br />I maxed out my allotted votes for the MLB All-Star line-up today. I'd been meaning to do it for a while, but it wasn't until I saw the prompt on <a href="http://www.atlantabraves.com">atlantabraves.com</a> during my daily website rounds that I finally got around to it (because really, without a job, school, or any sports that I'm interested in on TV, what else do I have to do?).<br /><br />The funny thing about voting for me, is that I don't keep up with the daily stats of any players that don't wear an Atlanta Braves uniform. I'm sure this is probably the case for most people--if you have a favorite team, of course you're going to vote party lines. It's ironic, because I think it's what most people also do when it comes to voting for less important things like, you know, politicians and whatnot.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Side tangent:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is especially true for me, because I'm registered to vote in my parents' home county instead of the one I actually live in, so I could not possibly care less who the town elects for mayor, sheriff, mosquito control board, etc. (By the way, my hometown really does elect a mosquito control board and if you live in Florida, you know how serious the mosquito problem is and therefore understand the necessity for such a panel). So I just go down the line and vote for the democrats. </span><br /><br />So anyway, that's basically what I did today--at least for the NL ballot. Picking my eligible Braves (Scott, Kelly, Edgar, Chipper, Brian, Jeff, Matt, and Andruw) was like picking a date between Matt Damon and Joakim Noah. Or really, Joakim Noah and anyone (Ted Bundy and Charles Manson included). Admittedly during my 25 votes I may have thrown a few in the direction of Stephen Drew, but only because of my faithfulness to Florida State (see criteria below).<br /><br />On the AL side, it was really a free-for-all. I had to bring order to the situation by developing an extremely complex criteria system (finally putting my Future Problem Solving skills to use) that went something like this:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Criteria #1:</span> Plays for the Braves<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Criteria #2: </span>Played for Florida State<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Criteria #3:</span> Is hot<br /><br />Obviously Criteria#1 is out, in the case of the AL (hence the dilemma). Criteria #2 only applied to JD Drew (and in the NL of course, Stephen). That left me needing to use Criteria #3.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Side tangent #2:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By the way, if you're sitting there thinking I could have just not voted, you're wrong. Voting in any form is my God-given right as an American and therefore I feel like I have to use it whether I need to or not, just because I can. That's just the American Way (you know, doing something completely unnecessary for no reason at all). </span><br /><br />Now, my third criteria could have been batting averages or slugging percentages--any kind of statistic really--but that would have taken a chunk of time from my day I could have otherwise spent napping or watching the NBA draft (which is, brain activity-wise, maybe one step away from napping).<br /><br />I could also have chosen veteran players I know to be generally good, but I have to assume everyone else will vote for those people (this could also be called the Sanjaya Principle--voting for someone you assume no one else will vote for--if applied in this situation by too many people, it could lead to the Rangers flushing the AL line-up).<br /><br />But instead I chose something more simple and obvious for my third criteria--The Hot Factor. As I have said before, <span style="font-style: italic;">"You can take the sports fan out of the girl, but you can't take the girl out of the sports fan"</span> (and before you say it, that is not meant to be a double entendre).<br /><br />At any rate, this criteria lead me to select Joe Mauer, Grady Sizemore, and Alex Gordon (had he not conflicted with Mauer, Jason Varitek would have made the list as well). I also threw in a vote for Nick Swisher in the spirit of Moneyball (it's not a criteria, just a cause).<br /><br />For the remaining slots left unfilled (because I wasn't familiar enough with the players to know who was hot or not) I went with the old stand-by, vote for the Red Sox because it pisses Yankee fans off (this is not a criteria, it's a fact of life).<br /><br />So there you have it, my all-star ballot. I feel comfortable that it will have little to no affect on the actual team selection--most likely none of the Braves will wind up as starters--but it's okay. I tried, just like I try to watch my team whenever they're on TV--only to wind up babbling to myself like a crazy person because Bobby leaves his pitchers in too long (insert glaring eye gesture at Will Cormier) and Andruw is back to his old habits (read: swinging at every ball whether it's over the plate or over the state line) and Bob Wickman looks like the iceberg that sank the Titanic (though he does sink a few batters from time to time).<br /><br />But I digress.Belle of the Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11289785356694446896noreply@blogger.com0