A Quote
One of my favorite basketball players, Chris Bosh, had this to say about his return to Toronto (from the Miami Herald):
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Pretty much every arena that we've been at -- [players] have been extra motivated, fans have extra motivated to either talk crap or cheer a little louder, but I'm ready as I'll ever be, so bring it on."
Wait...what? Bosh went on to say that he marked this game on his calendar as soon as he saw the schedule. Ok? Because the Raptors fans have been so nasty, so vitriolic since you left? Huh?
By saying this, Bosh comes off as extra desperate to be regarded as equal to Dwayne Wade and LeBron James, both in terms of game and in terms of attention. Give it up, man. None of us ever heard one thing about Toronto fans burning your jerseys or rampaging through the streets angrily, shattering store windows and flipping police cars. They pretty much took it on the chin when you strung them along, hinted all along that you definitely might return as a free agent, and then departed for Miami. This attempt to manufacture venom is, frankly, kind of pathetic.
P.S. - General manager Brian Coangelo's comments (that Bosh's 2nd half effort last season was sub-par) don't count, because you were talking about the fans, not management. SO THERE.
A Video
The highlight of my week was the beginning of a series of videos from Colorado Rockies spring training (courtesy of the Denver Post). Here is a video with a catcher's view of batting practice. While it is not exactly professional video, the fact that the crack of the bat is pretty much the only sound is excellent.
A Photo
From ESPN.com, here are some photos of former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson. Hot off the lukewarm NHL wire, he has been traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for another goalie, Brian Elliott. Early in the season it looked as if the Avalanche were poised for a fun season. Not so much. In the midst of an altogether underwhelming stretch in Colorado sports, those who noticed will tell you that this stretch by the Avs may be the worst yet: eight straight losses, Peter Forsberg's return and then instant retirement, and finally culminating with a 9-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Less than a year removed from being the hero going into the playoffs and the goalie of the future, Anderson is gone. He has only been one of many huge disappointments this year.
So now the goalies are Peter Budaj and Brian Elliott...I have an idea for a Pepsi Center campaign: "COME SEE THE AVALANCHE! You're guaranteed to see a lot of goals!"
A Tweet
@jimrome: Can't wait for Albert Pujols to scratch a check for the kids, say "I'm taking my talents to Chicago!"and fire up the smoke machine WWE style
We can only hope that this season does not turn into baseball's version of the LeBron pre-free agency season. Albert is off to a good start though, as his self-imposed deadline passed for a new deal with the Cardinals (he wants 10 years and $30 million a year). Oof. That would mean that he would be paid that much when he is 40, 41, and 42. Even if Albert shatters every hitting record there is, that contract would inevitably be a franchise-crushing anchor for whichever team took it on...the Chicago Cubs or anybody else.
I am definitely troubled by the way Albert has dug in, if only because his main goal in seeking a new contract is that it is bigger than Alex Rodriguez's. I cannot really explain why this is bothersome otherwise, but it just does not feel right, and if he does ultimately leave at the end of the season, he'll disappoint the best fans in baseball. And they definitely deserve better.
A Week...
...until the NBA trade deadline. And until a potential flip-flop by this blogger. As of this morning (Friday, not Thursday) reports are that the Nuggets are close (again) to dealing Carmelo Anthony to the Nets. And I stand by my shouting that they should trade him. But it is also looking like management may wait him out and call his bluff as far as whether he would really leave millions of dollars on the table to leave as a free agent.
My flip-flop has to do with my comparisons to what happened to the Cavaliers and Raptors last year, which really come up short here. With the NBA's collective bargaining agreement about to expire, there are no real comparisons to the rather unique 'Melo drama. The extension currently offered by the Nuggets would pay Anthony significantly more than anything he can ever get if he walked in free agency. It also may be more than any player can get under a new CBA, which means he has to sign before the current one runs out to be "grandfathered in" with a larger deal. The new CBA might also include the implementation of a franchise tag, which would further protect the team. So they do not run the same risk as the teams last year (potentially) by letting this play out.
If the deadline passes with no trade, it becomes a game of chicken, and at this point I am more inclined to believe that Carmelo will not leave that money on the table. I still prefer the plan that guarantees that the Nuggets get value for a franchise player...but...
...I understand the method to management's madness if no trade happens. It also explains why the trade rumors of late have had the Nuggets asking for a king's ransom, whether the proposal to the Knicks that would have landed them three starters or this one with the Nets that would get them multiple players and four (!) first round picks.
A Question
How inflated/fat/bloated is Bengie Molina's ego (see what I did there)? In this article about veteran players who are still available, Bengie says he wants starting catcher money and guaranteed playing time or he might retire. I know Bengie has remained relatively productive, but I can't imagine this threat of retirement is going to scare any team into thinking, "OH MY GOSH! We HAVE to sign Bengie Molina....before he retires!"
Links
Tom Verducci writes about the Albert Pujols situation http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/02/18/pujols.chapman/index.html?eref=sihp
Bill Simmons ranks the trade value of NBA players http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110217
Tracy Ringolsby provides his potential sleeper teams for the upcoming season http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-sleeper-teams-may-surprise-fans-and-oddsmakers-021711
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