What A Retard...
For some reason, I find this very very funny. Give it a listen you're "feelin good"...
Spaniards Win Euro
For the 5% of the US population that watched the European Championships this past Sunday, the finale ended in Vienna with a spectaculr show of football. My pick for Euro 2008 captures the crown. It was good to see Aragones leave on a high note for the Spanish side. I was content with whoever won, but it was good the see that the better team won tonight. Spain played more attacking football, were more dynamic, creative, and dangerous in the final third. Germany's main guys - Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Klose - didn't show up to the game, and Spains creators - Iniesta, Xavi, Torres - played an excellent game.
So the devils are gone. The second round chokes are gone for Spain, the June 22 penalty kicks curse is over, Spain has finally won something in 44 years. And rightfully so, with a team set with David Villa, Torres, Fabregas, Iniesta, David Silva, Puyol, Casillas (with Pepe Reina on the bench), its definitely a solid team on paper.
Finals players of the game:
Man of the Match:
Fernando Torres
With blistering pace up front, Torres wanted the ball more than anybody on the pitch. Philip Lahm, yet again got beat on defense and allowed a goal. He was like that against Turkey, and the trend continued. With continuous pressure on the Germany back four, Torres was unlucky not to get a couple goals, breaking through on a couple of through balls and just hitting the post on a fantastic header from a Serio Ramos cross.
Bitch of the Match:
Michael Ballack
The bridesmaid stays one, as he fails to win another trophy. Whether this guy is in the Premiership losing to my Red Devils, or in Moscow losing in penalties, or for Germany losing in World Cups and Euros, this guy just can't get it done. Its not because he is short of talent (his goal against Austria was one of the best goals of the tournament), but its his inability to bring an attitude of a leader, a champion. Complains far too much, doesn't show up for big games, plays dirty and was at the ankles of every Spanish player, this guy needs to change the way he approaches matches. Sure it was commendable to come back from a calf injury to play, but the fact that you're arguing with players and with the ref isn't helping your case. And when you were down in the second half it was your turn to step it up and lead your team, and you couldn't. Lastly, you play for Chelsea, you're a bitch.
And for all the others who didn't watch the match, Michael Phelps broke his world record in the 400IM. And Carlos Zambrano looks ready to pitch again.
Another Guy's Take on the Warriors Draft Night...
I'm going to be honest, I'm not sold on Anthony Randolph...yet. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm almost positive I weigh more than him and he has NINE inches on me. So as you can imagine, when I first heard his named called by my beloved Warriors, I was not jumping up and down. To tell the truth, I was hoping for a potential backup to Stack in the mold of Donte Greene or CD-R. According to Mully, I got my back-up to Stack, seeing as he thinks AR will play the 3. Now, I live in SEC country and I saw him play when Georgia played LSU (and saw Richard Hendrix but more on that later). The kid is a baller but his shooting leaves a lot to be desired. If he ever wants to play in Nellie's system, especially at 3, he is going to have to develop a range of more than 15 feet. Which I believe he can. The kid (i can say that now seeing as almost the whole lottery is younger than I am. i don't yet know how that makes me feel...) is only 18 and is said to be by one scout "A Chris Bosh starter kit". Sounds good to me and should sound good to eager Warriors fans.
My opinion on Richard Hendrix is totally different. I think he is a solid player who can come in and contribute now. He is in the Maxiell/Bass mold which is EXACTLY what the Dubs need. My friend in Georgia text messaged me after the pick and said "I once got up to Hendirx real close and the only thing i could think of was that that this is a very large black man next to me." Music to my ears. A bruiser who can become a Paul Milsap for us and guard the Turiafs and Boozers of the league is always welcome on any of my squads. Welcome to the team Dick.
Now for those of you who, like me, think it is an eternity to the next season to watch these guys need fear not. Vegas Summer League is almost upon us. It starts July 10th and can be seen on NBATV and I am assuming NBA.com. I checked the schedule and guess who has the very first game at 1pm on July 10th at the Thomas and Mack Center? You guessed it, the Warriors. I love summer league, if only for the fact that you get to see random guys light it up. Remember Belli's 37 point performance last year? No one else does either...
As a side note, how about the Blazers? I am pretty sure Pritchard pops in NBA 2k8, picks association mode, chooses the Blazers, and plays around with the roster for three hours a day. The guy flat out loves his team and wants to see it succeed. I can not argue with any of his picks and seeing him land Jarryd Bayless while unloading Jarret Jack and Josh McRoberts was a stroke of genius. Bayless/Roy/Webster/Aldridge/Oden. That is a scary team and the funny part is, Oden is probably a shoe in for rookie of the year. Very intriguing and nasty team for probably the next decade.
As another side note, how much fun is NBA 2k9 going to be? There is going to be so many good teams in the league next year, I may venture out of my 2 or 3 team comfort zone. The Warriors will still be my fav tho. My new fav line-up will be Boom(assuming he is there. I will post my thoughts on him in a diff post)/Stack/Randolph/BWright/Biendris, with ellis coming in for stack and boom at different times. For those of you who have the game on PS3 and can't wait for next years updated roster... I mean NBA 2k9, here is the link for a roster file that has all of the new rookies in the free agent pool, plus updated rosters (not including the draft night trades, you will have to do that yourself): http://www.mediafire.com/?2mjdam9ywpy.
One random fact: Anthony Randolph's chosen number.... 4. A certain former Warriors rookie of the year wore that number. Make of it what you will...
Anyway, I am sure there is much more talk about, but I have to get back to work. This blogging thing seems fun and I will try and get in some more posts in the near future. One Dub...
Sura's Corner NBA Draft Thoughts
In one of Chris Rock's stand-ups, he talks about marriage and speaks hypothetically about being dragged to a wives-driven event. He was then thrown into a circle of husbands, with the wife saying, “He likes baseball just like you.” And then you are sitting with other awkward men talking baseball and being pissed off while the wives gossip amongst themselves while all the males are bored out of their goddamn minds.
With that being said, welcome to bored shorts. This site is basically a bunch of dudes talking about whatever is on the male mind. You’ll read about “John” stories, techno jargon/news, some sports, and even some babe grades. For me, onto the NBA draft.
You would think that ESPN would assign guys who would actually analyze the picks and not give generic responses because well, the average sports fan would not park his behind on the couch for 4 hours to listen to David Stern be his condescending self. He just flat out comes off that way. Instead we have Stuart Scott and his glass eye and Jay Bilas with his generic scouting reports of wingspan size, bouncy athletes, and the occasional freak of an athlete. It’s a great excuse to not do anything for four hours and learn about the skill level Serbian basketball players. I’ll go through some of the winners and losers and attempt to read Warriors GM Chris Mullin’s mind.
Winners
New Jersey- Bilas had Brook Lopez as the third best prospect in the draft. Indeed there was a huge drop off after Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley but three was a little high for the “better” twin. But at ten? Huge steal. Brook has pretty good range for a seven-footer. The future pairing of him and Sean “Big Time” Williams has a pretty good outlook and it could be worse (Jason Collins and Aaron Williams…ouch). Memo to the Clippers and Grizzlies, this is how you rebuild a franchise on the fly. Bye bye Jason Kidd. Bye bye Richard Jefferson. Hello young assets and cap room. LeBron 2010 in Brooklyn anyone?
Portland-Kevin Pritchard is quickly becoming the NBA version of Billy Beane. The guy flat out loves the NBA draft. He somehow turns the #13 pick, Jarrett Jack, and Josh McRoberts into a combo guard in the mold of a Chauncey Billups/Gilbert Arenas type of talent in Jerryd Bayless. He also landed Frenchman Nicholas Batum and Joey Dorsey, a poor man’s Ben Wallace. While the Phoenix Suns and other teams sell their first round picks for luxury tax purposes, Pritchard has the draft down, almost to an exact science. Aldridge, Oden, Bayless, Roy, Outlaw, and NO Zach Randolph. All done in the past couple years. Wow.
Losers
Minnesota/Memphis- Not a fan of either OJ Mayo or Kevin Love at the next level, especially Love valued as a top five pick. Great role player at the best, but not a franchise savior type of guy. But this trade does not make sense for either side. With Mayo and Conley anchoring the guard spots for Memphis, Rudy Gay slides over to the three. He can’t guard anyone. Now you have Mayo guarding NBA shooting guards every night, Conley as a small point guard, and Gay displaying trash can defense. Maybe the Dubs won’t finish in last in points allowed per game next year. Speaking of defense, the T-Wolves will have no one to protect the rim in the future, assume McHale envisions an Al Jefferson, Kevin Love front line for the next decade. Both are small for the PF/C spots and both can’t jump. Jefferson basically has one post move (turn left shoulder) and Love will have a hard time against athletic NBA PFs. Just don’t get the reasoning of this swap.
Charlotte- Brook Lopez fell right into the Bobcats’ lap and they draft another small point guard at No. 9 when they already have Raymond Felton? Felton hasn’t broken out yet so his trade value hasn’t reached full potential and Augustin is 5’11”. Not that many small point guards can start 82-plus games in the NBA. Past three drafts for Air Jordan: Morrison, Brandan Wright (traded to GSW), and Augustin. Could probably do better.
Golden State- The Warriors didn’t come out losers in this draft in the long term, but I really thought they needed another scorer off the bench. When a former D-Leaguer (Kelenna Azubuike) is your most productive guy off the bench, you need some more depth. I thought Mully made a huge mistake in not trading a future second rounder and cash for Chris Douglas-Roberts. Quirky scorer who could be productive now for the Dubs as a second rounder. However, Anthony Randolph was the right and safe choice. What Mullin is doing is acquiring assets, exactly what Danny Ainge did with Boston. At 18 and 20-30 pounds underweight, there is no way Randolph contributes next year to the Dubs playoff run. But he and/or Wright could be the next centerpiece (a la Al Jefferson) along with the ten million dollar trade exception in a blockbuster trade that brings a star player to the Warriors. If they can’t pull off a KG like deal, at worst you have a good future core with Monta, Andris, B-Wright, Randolph, and Marco.
That is all I have on the NBA draft. I’ll cap my entry off with a few fantasy baseball tips.
1. Trade for Erik Bedard. If you want to win your league, you’ll have to do something risky. Bedard could help during the playoffs as a potential fantasy ace. Even though he got hurt last year, he had a 2.69 ERA after the all star break last year and 72 Ks in 60 innings. I got him for Jay Bruce and Bengie Molina, two guys I would also sell high NOW.
2. Get Granderson. The buy low period on the Tigers CF may have passed, but he’s a stud. I would value him as a top 12-15 OF for the rest of the year. His home run total is still low as are his SB, but if you could get him for a third-tier SP or second-tier SP, DO IT.
3. This is general advice, but this is the time of year when all catchers start to deteriorate. If you have anyone except Posada (who was hurt for part of the first half), see what you can get, especially in a packaged deal. If you could land a struggling player like Cano or Byrnes, it’s worth having a mediocre catcher for the rest of the year.
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