Sportsattitude

Random thoughts on the world of sports at mid-week…

The Cavs-Celtics game last night was not my idea of a great defensive struggle, or a battle of fierce warriors, or any of that other garbage some folks crank out when scores are in the seventies.  That 76-72 Boston win was as ugly a game as you don’t want to see in the post-season.  LeBron James “led” the way at 2 for 18 from the floor.  Paul Pierce 2 for 14.  Ray Allen…paging Ray Allen…hello?  I hate ugly basketball.  Great defense.  No.

While I am posting this, I just saw Detroit’s Chauncey Billups’ left leg go one way and his right the other, crumpling to the floor in Orlando.  The extent of his injury is yet to be revealed, but when your legs go in opposite directions and you continue to the ground, the end result usually is not so good.

I am a huge non-fan of horse racing, feeling the horses are not born wanting to be pushed in such a manner, let alone whipped along the way.  I felt this way long before the Barbaro incident (which was a daily event in my part of the world as he was trying to survive in a nearby animal care facility).  I am a lover of all animals and have never understood why there hasn’t been more of a push to end horse racing, similar to the cries for the desired demise of boxing.  In boxing, however, the opponents chose to participate.  Horses don’t get that chance.  Ergo, why I’m ok on boxing but not horse racing.  Now, I’m not going to compare horse racing to dog fighting - oh wait, I just did.  Fueling my fire is a report today six racehorses from a Burlington County (NJ) farm tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.  I am sure after the Derby debacle horse racing is going to edge a little closer towards the dog fighting scale on the charts.  Whatever it takes to make it go away is fine by me. 

Omaha, Nebraska has been tentitively promised their role to continue to host the annual College World Series competition through 2035.  When I first started watching college baseball’s championship week from Omaha, I like many were charmed by the scenes of the local folk filling up the park, seeing the grill smoke rise from the sidelines, rooting for the underdog or the occasional local entry, etc.  But now, I can’t figure out why they don’t rotate this around to other parts of the country that would likely show the same level of support.  It’s not like you’re trying to sell out the Superdome.  Each CWS in Omaha, you can count on several delays for tornado watches…temps in the triple digits…or arid dust storms…I think it would breathe some new life in the event if they shuttled it around each year.  I don’t get Omaha.  ESPN trying to make it out to be “Field Of Dreams” each year - I don’t get that either.  If you want it to be “Field Of Dreams,” start with the use of wood bats. 

The Feb. 1st, 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa will feature 30-second commercial spots that will cost advertisers on NBC’s telecast $3 million.  I think with the way things are going these days, I’d pocket that money.  Wait - here’s an idea for all you companies with that kind of money to burn - buy a spot…run whatever insane, stupid advertisement you wish…but also donate an equal amount to a charity.  If you’ve got $3 million, you’ve got $6 million.  Folks need all the help they can get these days.  That would truly be a patriotic act for America’s unofficial holiday - if you’re going to ante up that kind of coin to push your crap on us, do something that actually helps people and make a real difference in some lives.

Hockey returned to Philadelphia this week.  After our Flyers being flat-out the WORST team in the NHL last season, they only find the Pittsburgh Penguins between themselves and a Stanley Cup finals berth.  When these two teams played at the end of the regular-season, much was made of the Penguins’ effort (or lack thereof) that led to them drawing Ottawa in the first round instead of Philadelphia.  Well, after the Flyers pulled off what I think were upsets against both the Caps and the Canadiens…here we are.  Game 1 at the Igloo in Pittsburgh Friday night.  I spent a year in Pittsburgh and it is one of my favorite cities…and I was almost as much a Pens fans growing up as a Flyers rooter.  It’s fun when you have a series in any sport to watch where you’d be pretty much content with either team winning…easier on the fingernails as well.  No sport in its playoff format can be as maddening to watch as hockey…absolutely nerve-wracking for the true fans of their respective teams.  Having grown up in the era of the 70’s Cups here in Philly, it’s nice to see the Orange & Black competitive once more.  They’ll have their hands full with Pittsburgh, but they did with Washington and Montreal and came out victorious.  Should be a great series.