Well I don't know if I can top yesterday's inspirational post, but I will try to give all my loyal readers out there something to chew on today. Welcome to the Tuesday edition of "the stache," where the weather begins to take a turn for the better and I suffer through another weekly class of yoga (man it sure is painful to be inflexible). I really appreciate all the support yesterday's true story of the "Two Bald Men," has gotten in the press over the last 24 hours or so. I did not realize I could touch so many lives through the words that I write. There will be, I'm glad to say, more stories of similar inspirational nature to follow in the weeks and months to come. Now onto to today's topic.
Over the last few days I have noticed a lot of positive things happening in the sports world as well as a lot of negative things that have occurred. The theme for today's blog will be centered around the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly of the sports world.
Batting leadoff today, i.e. the Rickey Henderson (arguably the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of professional baseball) spot, is Championship Week for college basketball. It is actually closer to two weeks, but ESPN can call it whatever it wants, they got the money to do so and frankly who cares its fun and exciting. Today we have the start of the Big South, Horizon, and Ohio Valley conference tournaments, with many more to be starting up over the next few days. This is where the real season begins for college basketball. This is where you have the Cinderella stories where teams that struggled in the regular season have a chance to make amends by winning a few games and winning there conference tournament. Last year brought us the improbable run of the Georgia Bulldogs, who finished dead last in their conference during the regular season and went on to win 4 straight games, winning 2 in one day due to tornadoes in the Atlanta area, and saving their head coach's job making the NCAA Tournament. The year before that we had Syracuse make a run in their conference tournament to boost them into the NCAA Tournament inder the guidance of guard Gerry McNamera. This is where miracles happen. This is what gets my gears going again, March Madness, its awesome baby!
With every good there comes a bad and in this case it has to be the World Baseball Classic. For those that are not familiar with the WBC, it is a 16 team tournament featuring players, some major league ballplayers and some that are not, representing their home country in a two week time period beginning later this week. I understand the premise behind it, wanting to get exposure for the game world wide, the pride players get from playing for their home country. I get it, but what I do not like is that interrupts the players regular routines. You see, this tournament occurs every 3 years. Players that are chosen to represent their countries have to alter their normal routines to get ready for this tournament that occurs a couple weeks before the real baseball season begins. This can and has led to injuries and ineffectiveness by many of the players that have participated in it. It is a glorified exhibition tournament that does not replicate the feelings that I get when I watch the World Cup, which is what baseball is trying to emulate with the WBC. I am sure there is more I could gripe on, but I want to move on to bigger and better things.
Switching gears a little bit to the track and field sector. I would like to give major props out to German Fernandez of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Over the weekend at the Big 12 Indoor Championship, Fernandez, a true freshman, set an NCAA record for the mile, running it in a superb time of 3:55.02. Very impressive by a very smooth and talented runner. Remember the name you'll be hearing a lot about him soon.
Staying in track and field, my thumbs down goes to Alan Webb. The U.S. record holder in the the mile (3:46.91) finished second in the 1500 meters to Rob Myers at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis this weekend. Myers, no slouch himself, with a personal best of 3:53.78 in the mile, edged Webb by .09 seconds this weekend. Webb has struggled pretty much since he set the American record in the mile a couple years ago. He struggled in 2008 (an Olympic Year), never hitting top form and failing to make the Olympic team in his primary event the 1500m (109m short of the mile for those of you unfamiliar with the conversion). All he had to do was get into the top 3 and he finished fourth in the trials. His poor race tactics, probably coming from a lack of collegiate racing (he spent only 1 year at the University of Michigan before turning pro after his freshman year,) showed in that race. I think and many will agree with me, that he was probably peaking his training to be fast for the Olympics in mid-August instead of early July for the Olympic Trials. Not a bad idea but considering the depth of American middle distance runners now, his training should probably have been altered slightly. The one quote that bothered me that he said about this weekends race was: "At least I'm still in the race." That's not what American record holders in the mile should be saying.
What's good in the NBA? LeBron James and Dewayne Wade certainly are and they put on a show last night against each other in Miami last night. LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Dewayne Wade's Miami Heat 107-100, but that's not the main story.
LeBron's line for the night: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists.
Wade's line: 41 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 7 steals.
Wow, what a game from these two stars of the 2003 NBA Draft. They matched shot for shot with each other, making spectacular play after spectacular play. They did it selflessly, dishing out passes to their teammates, and making the plays necessary to win the game. Which at the end of the day is all that mattered. Maybe we'll get lucky and see these two matchup in the playoffs, hopefully not at the expense of my hometown Atlanta Hawks, but what a series that could be.
The bad, Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, one of the NBA's most disappointing teams after making the playoffs the last 2 years, got humiliated by yesterday's blog hero Shaquille O'Neal and the Phoenix Suns 133-113 last Friday. Shaq put up the most points he's scored in 6 years by putting up 45 on the hapless Raptors. Who at 23-38 have the second worst record in the Eastern Conference, come on Bosh, Toronto, you are better than that. Quit whining that Shaq was camped out in the lane all night and man up and play some defense. I'm guessing the Raptors underestimated the heart of a champion. They are going to lose Bosh (a.k.a. RuPaul), one of the most talented and gifted players in the league in the summer of 2010 when he becomes a free agent available for anyone to sign. It appears Mr. Bosh and the Raptors have mailed in the season. It's unfortunate and a shame.
Well I hope you enjoyed today's edition of "the stache." We will be back tomorrow to talk more things sports and whatever crosses "the staches" desk.
"Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
Happy Championship Week, enjoy the WBC if you like, and hugs and handpounds for all.
mb
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