|
|
 |
||||||||||||
|
|
Home |
|
Red Sox |
|
Patriots |
|
Celtics |
|
March Madness |
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Random Notes - April 10, 2003 
These have certainly been tense times of late with the country at war and most of the cowardly, inept,
envy-stricken world criticizing every move the American government makes. The end of the war is near
and that should provide great relief to Americans, no matter what your opinion of the administration's
actions. Americans, for or against the War in Iraq, should also be very proud of the job performed
by the American Military. These men and women showed great courage, skill, determination and humanity
and made sacrifices that most of us will never understand. The War proved that the American Military
is not only the most powerful in the world, but also the best trained. The world owes the United States
and Great Britain an enormous debt of gratitude for ridding the world of one of the most evil dictators
in history (or at least removing him from power). Unfortunately, most of the world's nations are
ungrateful weasels so no one in the Armed Forces should hold their breath.
There is of course nothing funny about war in itself, but it did provide a backdrop for some comic relief.
I was thrilled to see that Robert "The Chief" Parish will be inducted into the
Hall of Fame this year. When I first heard the story, I needed to double-check and make sure Parish's
induction was for the Basketball Hall of Fame and not the High Times Hall of Fame.
Ironically, France is starting to remind me of the University of Notre Dame
football program. Both France and Notre Dame still regard themselves as superpowers while the everyone
else recognizes that they have fallen deep into the second tier. I guess the difference between the two is
that the French Army would never participate in anything as physically demanding or dangerous as a tackle
football game.
Clearly, Theo Epstein is not well-versed in Red Sox lore. Any true Sox fan knew that picking up longtime
Yankee reliever Ramiro Mendoza was exceptionally bad for team karma. Does the name Mike Torrez ring a bell?
I imagine that if the Sox had picked up Babe Ruth during Spring Training in 1927, the Babe would have batted
.212 with 9 homers that year.
I love the addition of the speedy Damian Jackson to the Red Sox bench. It will be a wonderful thing to
have a guy that can come off the bench and steal a base in a tight game in the late innings. The Sox
haven't had a player like that since ... well, forever.Now on to the New Idiot List The BostonSportsHub.com Idiot List - 02/20/200310Martha Burk Martha Bark (oops, I mean Burk) has become a household name for her endless attacks on Augusta National for not allowing women to be members of its presdigious golf club. Burk's true idiocy stems not so much from the fact that she is attempting to force Augusta to accept female members, but because she equates the private club's exclusion of women to the exclusion of minitories. Any person with a shred of sense knows that those are two very different issues. There are probably thousands of health clubs in the United States that exclude men. I wonder if Martha's group would protest that? I think not. 9 The Portland Jail Blazers No team is a bigger waste of god-given talent than the gang of thugs known as the Portland Trail Blazers. Blazer player names have been on the police blotter almost as often as the box score this season. This reminds me of a joke a heard on sports radio this week -- Question: Ruben Patterson, Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire are all in a car, who is driving? Answer: The Police. 8 San Diego Chargers I have always rooted for the San Diego Chargers, from the great teams of Dan Fouts to the lovable losers of recent years. That is why I was deeply disappointed when the Bolts spent $47 million to sign former Ohio State dirtbag (funny how those last three words always seem to end up together) David Boston. Apparently, Boston's drunk driving arrest and positive tests for both cocaine and marijuana didn't scare away a San Diego team longing for offensive firepower. To sum it all up: Junior Seau out; David Boston in (at least after his four game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy). What is wrong with the world? 7 United States Basketball Olympic Selection Committee They are idiots for even suggesting that Allen Iverson be invited to play on the United States Olympic Basketball Team. Iverson is clearly one of the twelve best American players in the NBA, but how can anyone suggest that he is the type of person we want representing our country? 6 The New York Rangers For the sixth consecutive season the New York Rangers, with the highest payroll in the league, will fail to earn a spot in the National Hockey League Playoffs (let's not forget that more than half of the league qualifies for the NHL playoffs). Given the consistent failures on the ice and their bulging bank account, I would have to say that the Rangers are the most poorly run organization in all of professional sports, including the Cincinnati Bengals. 5 France The French remain at #5 on the BostonSportsHub.com Idiot list. Not only have the Cheese-eating surrender monkeys (as Homer Simpson calls them) stabbed America in the back to protect their own self-interests, now they have indicated that they will withhold humanitarian aid that would go to the Iraqi people. We can only hope they don't trade the humanitarian aid for wine, cheese and Jerry Lewis DVDs. 4 Pedro Martinez I can't believe that I'm saying this: Pedro Martinez is acting like a first class idiot. Pedro has cried and whined about one thing or another since the day he arrived in Boston, but most of what he has said in the past has been excused because of what he has given the Red Sox and their fans on the mound. Pedro's comments of late, however, are inexcusable and cannot be ignored. He complained all Spring because the Red Sox had not exercised his 2004 option for $17.5 million, claiming in the press that he might leave the Red Sox at the end of his contract if they didn't exercise the option by Opening Day. In an amazing show of good faith (and probably poor judgement) the Sox exercised the option a season early, putting themselves squarely on the line for an extra $17.5 million if Pedro suffers a career-ending injury this season. No franchise that I can recall has done such a favor for an athlete. Shockingly, Pedro responded to this unique show of good faith by complaining even more because the Red Sox have not extended his contact beyond 2004 (Pedro will earn $32.5 million over the next two years). All this while the country is in the middle of a war. His comments make no sense other than to illustrate that he has become one of the greediest, most spoiled players in all of professional sports. I for one, am getting tired of this garbage and I imagine that the Red Sox are too. 3 Martin Sheen We have heard plenty of anti-war sentiment (or more appropriately, grandstanding) over the past few months from loud-mouthed celebrities, including Michael Moore, the Dixie Chicks and Sean Penn. For some reason, these people feel the need to step out of their limos and mansions to explain to all of us why they know so much about the plight of the underprivleged. Among these celebrities, no one has been more annoying than Martin Sheen. Sheen endlessly criticizes the Bush administration and never fails to find the cameras while doing so. What I find hardest to believe is that a man who cannot even properly raise his own son (Charlie's exploits are legendary) feels that he has the right to tell others how to run an entire country. Maybe his role as the President on The West Wing has gone to his head. 2 The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Selection Committee Last month, you heard me sound off on the atrocious job done by this year's Committee, led by Chairman Jim Livengood. The Committee's snub of Boston College in favor Alabama was easily the most ludicrous selection any committee has ever made. So outrageous in fact, that I think there is a legitimate reason to believe that someone was paying off a favor. There was also the BYU debacle and the bizarre placement of #3 seed Syracuse closer to home in the Regional Semifinals and Finals than #2 Pittsburgh, a move that helped pave the way for a Syracuse Championship and an early exit for Pitt. 1 Flag Burners I don't have a huge problem with American citizens protesting the War in Iraq. The "do nothing and hope it all works out" platform doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but I can appreciate someone's right to peacefully and legally make their opinions heard. After all, what could be more American, or a better example of freedom, than that? What I cannot tolerate is Americans burning American flags as a form of protest. The American flag represents the hard work of the people that built this country and those that have given their lives to protect it. Words cannot fully describe the contempt and utter disgust that I feel for American citizens who purposely burn the Stars and Stripes. The only down side of our freedom is that is gives ungrateful human garbage the right to commit such an act. I think it is safe to say that if you are at the stage where you are burning an American flag, it is time to find a new place to live. I hear France is nice this time of year. |
NOTES ARCHIVE
|
