Major League Baseball -- Opening Day!

Opening Day.

Catching a whiff of that favorite dish mom used to make when you were a kid.
The smell of granpa's pipe.
The aroma of freshly mowed grass.

Like those odors bring back a childhood memory.
The sound of those two words "Opening Day" do the same for me.

Baseball is a sport with a rich history and has held firm to many of it's old-fashioned ways.
Held so firmly, in fact, that many sports fans have moved on.
As our youth's attention spans get shorter and life moves quicker, the market grows smaller for MLB.
MLB, like the sport of baseball itself, is a relic of former times.

Today's MLB fans are a dying breed...dying of old age.

We should admire MLB for its uncompromising views on modern sports technology (they still refuse to use replay in the World Series) and it's gentlemanly mentality (there are many unwritten rules players must follow as a show of respect).

There's very little flash in the sport, which is probably why the young folks don't like it.
Today's youth want to see someone celebrate every achievement.
The NBA and NFL are far better suited for that.

But, c'mon.
These MLB guys are hitting a ball 3inches in diameter traveling at 95mph using a 42" piece of wood. What's not to like?

MLB baseball is closer than the NBA or NFL to what a sport should be.
The strategies are subtle. There is more team mentality. And coaches have a bigger effect on outcome.

There is a chess-match at play with every at-bat, every pitching change, and every pinch-hitter.
As a sports-fan, you have got love that.

If your dad and/or grandpa are still around -- watch a game with them this opening weekend.
They''ll love you more for loving baseball.

Batter up!

 

Remember

BillyCock Mafia...Take that to the bank wich-ya' Foo!

Richard Jefferson -- Bust

The NBA's San Antonio Spurs may hold the best record in the league, but for how long?
Injuries kept their Big Three, Manu, Duncan, and Tony Parker out of Monday nights home game against the Portland Trailblazers.

Some would say Spurs' small forward Richard Jefferson was out of the game too.
Only, RJ wore a uni, ran up and down the court, and defended (kind of), and gave other occasional appearances of actually being in the line-up.

What I'm trying to say is, Jefferson sucked.
But, that's not news and it's not new to people following the Spurs this year.

On a night when the Spurs were in desperate need of some leadership, scoring, and athleticism because 4 of their 5 starters were on the bench (Antonio McDyess also sat out with back spasms) is it too much to expect your $8million+ man to do a little something to help the club --- scratch that, for $8mil+ he should be doing A LOT of something to help his shorthanded club.

RJ is 4th on the roster in earnings, but he's never earned it.
He was a huge disappointment to the Spurs last season and most team supporters excused Jefferson by noting that he was unfamiliar with the Spurs' system.
This year (his 2nd with the team) started out in a way that supported that theory.
His play was solid on both ends of the court and he looked more comfortable in those first two months than he did all of the season before.
But, by the end of December, that was all gone.
Since December, there has not been even an occasional game wherein he has shown the promise he showed at the beginning of the season.

Jefferson has not reached his career average of 16 points since February 4th in a game against the lowly Sacramento Kings.
And while he's above 40% for the season in 3point shooting, that percentage remains high only because of the many 1-for-1 nights he has from behind the 3point line.
Remove those 1-for-1 nights and his average is well below the 40% mark.

Which brings us to Monday night's game against Portland.
On a night when he had neither Manu or Parker taking shots away from him, and on a night when he had neither McDyess or Duncan clogging the paint, here is what the Spurs got from Jefferson:
2-for-5 from the field, 1-for-3  3 pointers, 2-4 free throws, 6 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 turnovers, and 7 points.

To put those stats into perspective.
Jefferson was matched point-for-point by his following teammates:

Undrafted guard Chris Quin, Fellow-forward Steve Novak, and guard/forward Danny Green....the same Danny Green that the Spurs waived last November then resigned earlier this month.

A few things stand out about all of the above players who matched or surpassed RJ's point total versus Portland.
1. Not one of them is a starter for the Spurs.
2. They all played fewer minutes than did RJ.
3. All of them are in their first season with the Spurs

Point #3 is really poignant -- Remember how much RJ sucked his first year?
Hell, Danny Green is in his first MONTH.

What should also be mentioned when reviewing the stats is that Jefferson only had 4 points until hitting a meaningless 3-pointer in the final minute and well after Portland had the game in hand. And up until that final minute, 2 of his 4 points were from free throws.
What's that mean? That means Richard Jefferson was only able to muster ONE bucket in the midst of a game that did not include the Spurs' Big Three players.

That production - and I use the term production very loosely here - is terrible considering he was on the court for over 25 minutes of game time.

Given the available players for Monday's game, the importance of the game (Lakers are catching up quick for first place in the West), and the expectations once held for RJ, by my math $8mil + 25minutes + 7points - 0 assists = BUST.

Whatever the Spurs' plans are for the post-season, Spurs fans better hope they don't include relying on RJ for anything outside of garbage time minutes...because garbage is all they are getting from him.






BC for life FOO!

VCU Wins - Everything Is Right With The World

Despite the news from Japan, the unrest in Libya, and our struggling American economy, I went to bed last night knowing everything was right with the world....all thanks to Virginia Commonwealth's win over Kansas in San Antonio, TX 71-61 yesterday.

Should yesterdays final score surprise anyone?
Should Kansas players and fans bow their heads in shame?
Of course, not.

Cypress Hill's B Real...Oh...
My bad, it's VCU Coach Shakur Smart

There is no shame for Kansas.
They are in good company amongst the teams shocked by VCU's coach Shakur Smart and his team.

VCU had already beaten teams from the PAC-10, Big East, Big 10, and the ACC before Sunday's game against Kansas.

On and on VCU has marched, gaining strength with every stunning upset.
And Kansas was just another step.

The VCU's unlikely success through this year's NCAA tournament is precisely why most college hoop fans love to watch the dance this time of year.
It's called March MADNESS for a reason.
There is also a reason it is not called March Just-What-You'd-Expectedness.
(Besides the fact that Just-What-You'd-Expectedness is not catchy enough for a good advertising campaign.)

Every year, college basketball has a Cinderella team making it at least to the Sweet 16.
And VCU fits that mold so perfectly.
They are the very definition of a Cinderella team.
Many TV sports talking-heads felt they didn't deserve a spot in the tournament.
And, once they had been selected to participate, most of them picked against them every step along the way to San Antonio.

Yet, look at them now.
On to Houston, Tx and The Final Four.

Big-ups to Coach Smart and his team of over-acheivers.
Thanks for keeping the spirit of the NCAA tournament alive and thanks for restoring my belief that all is right with the world.



Respect the BC Foo!

Cowboy's Dez Bryant - Past His Prime

Dez is not washed-up.
He's just getting started as a great NFL receiver.
But he is past his "Prime" -- as in Prime Time.

It's been widely reported that Dez was recently kicked out of an upscale Texas mall.
Your typical media personalities (not reporters, personalities) were reporting that Dez was forced out of the mall because his pants were sagging and/or that Dez had been arrested for the transgression.

The facts are these:
Dez was not wearing sagging pants, someone in his group was.
Dez was not arrested for the incident, he was simply escorted out and disallowed from re-visiting the mall for a few months.

Actual footage of the Dez Bryant incident...sort of.

What Dez Bryant has confessed to is using profanity towards mall security after one of them shoved him in the back as they left the building.

Now, Bryant's one-time mentor Deion "Prime Time" Sanders has spoken out against Dez for being dishonest and for needing help beyond what Deion can give him.
Sanders even went so far as to call Dez "ignorant".

My problem with this?
What Sanders claims Dez is guilty of is exactly what Deion was guilty of in his NFL "prime".
If anyone can help Dez, it should be Deion.
Deion Sanders was the poster boy of selfish behavior, materialism,  and media-whoring when he played in the NFL.

Yet, Deion states he will not attempt to mentor Dez any longer because Dez represents a risk to the youth in Deion's youth program.
What?
Wouldn't Sanders' support of Dez in these matters and eventual success in helping Dez become a better-grounded man be the best thing to show his youth program participants just what all is possible with positive thinking and positive living?

It's a shame. But, Deion is using his youth program as an excuse.

The truth is, Deion's not talking to Dez because Dez quit on his Under Armour deal last summer.

The deal between Under Armour and Dez Bryant was put together by Deion Sanders, but fell apart after Dez decided to wear Nike shoes instead.
Somehow, Deion must have really stood to benefit from that deal.
In fact, according to Dez, Deion has not returned any message from him since that deal with Under Armour fell apart.

Sounds like someone was using Dez for personal gain to me.

No one but Deion will ever know what he missed out on when Dez walked away from Under Armour.
But, we all should admire Dez for walking when he did.
Bryant said he decided not wear Under Armour because the shoe's fit was not to his liking.
So he went with Nike instead.

I believe him. And here's why:
Dez walked away from a lot of money to wear Nike.
Nike does not endorse Dez and has no deal in the works.
So Dez Bryant simply wore Nike because it gave him the better fit, he didn't wear Nike for a better pay-day.

I don't think we could have expected the same sound judgment from Deion Sanders when he himself was in need of "help" and "ignorant" as an NFL superstar.
Deion would have limped his way through a full season wearing Speedo water shoes on the field if Speedo had forked over enough green.

So please Deion....give us a break already.
Dez Bryant is probably better off without you.
Any help he needs should be given by someone who actually cares about Dez.


The Billycock has spoken...Foo!

Beauty And The Beasts -- Sponsored By The NBA

Has there ever been a more polar opposite night in the NBA?
I doubt it.
First we got the beasts, then we got a real beauty.

The game between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks was almost as bad as the snoozer between the Portland Trailblazers and the Washington Wizards.

Both games were ugly.
Both were over by half-time.

As an indication of how bad these games were, yours truly -- the Godfather, even had a hard time watching the Bulls game despite my love of D-Rose's hoop skills.

Imagine my dismay when I realized the third and final game of the night was a match-up between the L.A. Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.
Uh-oh...I didn't think my heart could take another blow-out....I was sure I'd die of boredom.

L.A. is in a battle with Dallas for the #2 spot in the Western Conference and home-court advantage if the two should meet in the post-season.
The Suns had already beaten the Lakers in L.A. earlier this season.
There was no chance the Lakers would overlook them again.

What I expected was the basketball equivalent of a glass of warm milk chased with a double shot of NyQuil.
What I got was the most thrilling game of the season!

I don't know how the Sun's do it.
But, the Lakers can't seem to shake them when playing at home.
The Suns make the Lakers look very beatable.

What a game!

Lakers 139, Suns 137...in TRIPLE OT!

The 2 earlier games were the NBA's version of Patty and Selma Bouvier (look up the Bouviers if you don't know).
Suffice it to say both games were UGLY!

After all that earlier ugliness, it was very satisfying to watch the Lakers and Suns play a game that was the NBA's version of Jasmin Cadavid...very hot nice.

*Note: if you don't know who Jasmin Cadavid is, I highly recommend you forget the Bouviers and look up Jasmin instead. 
Here's a taste...

Daaaaayyyuuuuuumm Foo!

Glad you are still with me....I didn't expect you to come back from a Jasmin Cadavid gallery.

You now how good Jasmin looks.
So, if you didn't catch the Lakers/Suns game, you must be asking, "Was the game really that good?"
Answer: Yes! Yes it was.

The game (like Jasmin) was beautiful.
Both teams left it all on the court and it could not have come on a better night for the NBA.

The Phoenix Suns may not be the Suns of a few years ago.
Yet it will be a shame if they don't qualify for the playoffs.
Last night's match-up versus the Lakers only showed how much basketball fans stand to lose by not having Steve Nash in the postseason.

And the Lakers?
Well, Kobe looked real good...especially in the 3rd OT.
And the L.A. supporting cast looked good around him.
So, Coach Jackson and Laker fans should be happy.

But, the real winners were the viewers who weathered through two very ugly beasts earlier in the evening only to get one true beauty before bed.

Dallas Cowboy Has Gone MADD!

Dallas Cowboy tight end Jason Witten is MADD.
No, he's not pissed about looking like a sissie in the proposed Hilfiger-designed Dallas Cowboy uni.
He's MADD as in Mother's Against Drunk Drivers.

As if that's not cool enough...his MADD efforts are in conjunction with an appearance in an Archie comic book.
You remember Archie, don't you?
He's the high-school dude from the town Riverdale that hangs out with Jughead and the hotties Betty and Veronica.
Yes. That Archie.

Witten will appear before Archie and the other students at Riverdale High to talk about the dangers of drinking alcohol in Archie comic book No. 217
Yeah, the story is only about 8 pages long and yes, Witten didn't really show at the high school...remember it's a comic strip, everyone but Witten is a cartoon character, and Riverdale doesn't exist...but, this is still cool.

Nice work J-Witt........now about those ugly-ass uni's....

Caption from Archie No. 217

The BC Mafia Foo!

The Chicago Bulls Are For Real

Are the Chicago Bulls for real?
Despite a loss to the lowly Indiana Pacers this weekend, they have been having a hell of a stretch the past few weeks.

The Bulls are playing better than any contenders in the Eastern Conference.

That they are looking much better than Miami and Orlando is no surprise to me.
But that the Bulls are looking so much better than the Boston Celtics?
Now that is VERY surprising.

Here's why I pick the Bulls to win the East:

The BC Godfather in his D-Rose hoodie

1. My pick for NBA MVP: Derrick Rose
He should be MVP by a mile.
Who can guard him in a 7-game series? No one.
Teams will be forced to double team D-rose.
It's up to the his supporting cast to make or break the season for the Bulls.
Should the Bulls find themselves out of the play-offs, it will not be Rose's fault - I assure you.

2. Boozer is a solid big man.
Carlos Boozer can hold his own against any NBA Forward/Center.
Despite the ankle injury right now, he's listed as day-to-day...which means the ankle is not serious.
Boozer will be ready for the play-offs...and well-rested.
Bulls fans can expect nothing short of exceptional play from this guy nearly every night come playoff-time.

3. Loul Deng is averaging nearly 18 points a game this season.
He is an able-bodied forward and pretty darn good from beyond the 3-point line.
His contributions will increase as more teams focus on double teaming D-Rose in a play-off series.

4. And, my favorite Bull after D-Rose, Joakim Noah
Noah is the kind of player we all want on our team.
He provides the team with some toughness and compliments Boozer very well.
Joakim is averaging a double-double for the season and his style of play is well suited to the physical play we will see in the playoffs.

The Chicago Bulls may play in the weakest division in the NBA.
But do not be fooled...They are for real.
The team has the tools and the toughness to earn the Eastern Conference Championship.

Besides, anyone watching Eastern Conference B-Ball right now should have a hard time believing anyone in the East can beat the Bulls 4-out-of-7 games...especially if the Bulls have the home-court advantage.




Respect the Billycock Foo!