- 09:20 PM
- 04/17/24
I vote the league gets rid of Stern and gets someone that knows how to run a league and bring in more fans instead of running them away. To many teams to watered down talent and to little interest. Hey Folks, what ever happend to Shaq. It seems maybe with his new series that he may want to move back to Hollywood and get some acting lessons. Maybe his new show will score higher than his team.. I know it has already started anew and the slow finals have just finished. Remember EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM...maybe something else to talk about that isn't as boring as the last 4 games. Rumors about are Bryant going to Chicago and Kevin M to Lakers via Seattle. Listening to the radio talk shows the last 7 or 8 days has been quite an experience. ARod to Angels to play SS and Cabera to 3rd. Steinbrenner is down with Alzeimers and O'Neal coming back to LA all in a day on the Sport Radio talk shows. Oh yeah, the best is Jerry Buss's son trashing Bryant in a column. I say bring back MAGIC.
posted by ucla512 at 04:05 PM on June 15, 2007
I understand what the old man is trying to say. And that is the real problem here to begin with. The owners were the ones making millions and millions of dollars for years before any of that big money started to go to the players. O keep reading in some of the statements money isn't a bottomline valve. Why do people pay these huge amounts of money to see games is beyond me. You could stay at home and watch most of it on the television and not come near paying what the fans do attending games in person. Someone said Jack Nickolson pays over half a million for his courtside seats. It proves a point that the people who have the money will just about pay anything to go to the games, but the only yardstick per say that determines what a player is "worth" is the what will the owners pay for them or to have them play for them. I do agree there is nobody worth the kind of money that is being paid out in baseball. It is a never ending cycle of expanding payroll to keep up with the owners that are willing to pay these types of salaries. This whole situation just makes absolutely no sense. What about minor league baseball the general admission is still around 5.00 a game and in some incidents the games are just as exciting as the major leaguers...
posted by ucla512 at 03:53 PM on June 15, 2007
According to the rating the least watched NBA finals in years. And if you watched any you would have seen the reason why. James didn't show up because the defense of the Spurs didn't let him. It was completely boring basketball.............I can say I would have rather watched the NCAA playoffs they were far more interesting and had better basketball than the NBA games. A TEAM IN THE NBA FINALS SHOOTING 28% FROM THE FIELD....they didn't deserve to be in the finals and the champions didn't shoot much better. Someone wrote that the NBA had better bring back the teams of Magic and Bird maybe they are closer to the truth that we know......28%..28%.....28% I hope somebody shows them how to improve over the off season. James said last night that the Spurs were the better team and even though I am not a real NBA fan anymore they have nothing to put their heads down for at least they made it to the finals.
posted by ucla512 at 01:59 PM on June 15, 2007
If Crawford is one of the highest rated refs then we are in for one long playoff. No matter how you look at it Crawford is the one at fault if Duncan didn't do anything. But what if he did say something behind his back that Crawford heard? I refuse to take either side here because there has been to many things going on with the NBA Rules and Refs over the last several years. No calls some calls real calls bad calls just to name a few. Maybe you are right about other types of players. But the rules of the game should be enforced for all not a select few or only at the beginning of games.
posted by ucla512 at 04:58 PM on April 17, 2007
You gentlemen missed the point here.. Duncan says one thing and then crys the blues about everything..Only thing I was saying is stand up for yourself and quick being a big baby to the refs. Right or wrong here isn't the question I was stating..both of you are very young and don't remember what it was like during the 60-70s' the refs during those periods didn't take any crap from the players at all. Right or wrong good or bad the refs are here for a reason and all the players crying moaning acting and other bull s___ doesn't matter.As far as the 2nd T is concerned if the player even so much as looks at the ref funny or whatever it is not an abuse of power to give him another one. The refs are running the game not the players and the position of the league is to shutup and play. I am not saying that that is right but even before Stern's took over the NBA it has been that way. They call the game one way in the beginning and then different at the end. And a whiner like Duncan should have known to just turn around and walk away because it will get him exactly what happened a double T and he was gone. And we will never really know what Crawford said to Duncan if he did call him out or what. If he did Crawford must be on something because look at the size difference. Duncan isn't a fighter and I serious don't think Crawford is either. Whether Crawford knows the difference between a valid foul is something that has been questioned not only this year. A bad ref is a bad ref. But look on the other side and do you wonder how much Stern's is running the show. Has he told them to not call fouls for certain players and maybe more on others? Looking at some of the games this year makes you wonder who is in control during the games. I am saying plainly here there is two sides to every coin...Two stories and it still doesn't make sense. If you two have been watching many of the NBA games this year, you will have seen that the wrong refs or refs out of position to call the calls is being made all the time..Last week in a Laker game a foul was called by the outside ref who had no ability to see the play much less make the call. Sometimes the out of positional ref may see something that he determines is a foul, live with it, but too too many times it is being done and completely ruling the games being played. Yerfatma didn't mean for Duncan to start a fight or jump down his lying throat. But to put it is language even you young guys understand quick being a such of a MOANING CANDYASS and stand up for yourself..
posted by ucla512 at 02:40 PM on April 17, 2007
What the hell does Stern know? He couldn't tell the difference between double dribble and caring the ball over...If Duncan can't be a man and get in Crawfords face after the so called challenge then don't do anything. Maybe put groves on them and have at it for 2 rounds of 3 minutes each to settle it. Once a crybaby always a crybaby...Grow up Duncan and do your own fighting for a change...
posted by ucla512 at 01:12 PM on April 17, 2007
Here's for more pizza,beer, steriods and peanuts at the baseball games'
posted by ucla512 at 01:05 PM on April 17, 2007
Sorry Howard T, Didn't mean to insult you... Yeah, you are completely right about all the "journalistic freedom-public's right to know" crap.... Ratings mean money and the bottom line is now money... There is a old saying "people who can do people who can't write" to something of that effect it still fits..Ichiro leads by example, as does a lot of other players, but the writers want to sell papers to pay there salary whether the story is true or not or even worth while. Ratings,circulation, sensationalism, press, coverage and absolute stupidity of the sports writers of todays' game is what is causing all the bad journalism. But it cost to much for the players to go after these individuals in court so they just let it go and move on.
posted by ucla512 at 01:03 PM on April 17, 2007
More action happening in the stands then on the field..Pizza at a baseball game next thing you know it will be steak and mushrooms or maybe lobster and shrimp with a side of stuffed sole..What ever happened to just plain old baseball food...Hotdogs, peanuts and beer? In some of the parks of today, I think the vendors and resturants make more money on food than the ticket sales. Last year I went to a Dodger game and had dinner at the Clubhouse and it cost almost 150 dollars by the time we left to enjoy the game. Then 30 dollars more for beer and peanuts the whole evening cost over 350 dollars for the four of us. When I was a kid my father use to have season tickets for the Los Angeles Angels of the PCL in the early and mid 50's and he only had to pay less than that for all the games and that included parking.. The dollar has become the bottom line now and the players are making way to much money. No player is worth 25mil a year and the only players I can think of that were worth over a million were Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan and of course the Babe.. Sandy and Nolan put people(fans) in the seats every night. I can never remember less than full capacity at Dodger Stadium 56,954 for any of Sandys' games and the same everywhere Nolan pitched.. At todays' prices that is about 3.3 million per game more profit...times 60 starts between them that works out to 198million dollars. Figures don't lie and show me any player today that when he plays draws a full house everytime out....Not going to happen today or in the future... Historic fenway park is still one of the greatest placest to watch a game next to Dodger Stadium and I hope they don't replace it.
posted by ucla512 at 12:52 PM on April 17, 2007
Political correctness sucks...Come on people act like adult men and women here. I am sure Dorrence did not act out any type of sexual harassment towards his players..Everyone is reading way to much into this incident..Whether or not this appears credibilty or not is something between the coach and players to settle. If any coach, man or woman, can honestly say that that players or coach hasn't thought someone is hot or very good looking or is thinking of them as something other than a player is, sorry to say, not be truthful to themselves. It for you that don't know is called HUMAN BEHAVIOR plain and simple. Men are attracted to women and woman are attracted to men and that is how the world goes around....Everyone is too too sensitive about all this racist, sexual hasassment, bias behavior. All of us need to stop always looking for the worst in people and go back to the enjoying the games and teamwork aspect of sports. We all understand that it will never go away in some form or another but it must stop being the focus every time you turn around.
posted by ucla512 at 11:47 AM on April 17, 2007
Nothing wrong with being a purist except in today's game it won't work. Baseball is watered down just like the other sports. Too many teams and not enough really good players. It would seem that about 40% of the players today would not be considered good enough to play 20 years ago. Add in the fact that MLB has fooled around with the rules and balls. The wild card is in fact, great for baseball and the fans...So is intra league play during the season..It allows all the fans in both leagues to see at one time or another all the best players. Say what you will the pros and cons of the wild card format is multi-faced and will always remain so. You either like it or dislike it....
posted by ucla512 at 11:30 AM on April 17, 2007
Everybody but the American Indians are illegal aliens here, if you want to get down to the basics.....The moronic jerk we all call agents or scouts that all doing all this with the approval of the major leagues only have one thing on their minds...$$$$$$$$$$$bottom line here is people will go to the games to see these illegal aliens because they like the sport and enjoy watching baseball whether it is being played by illegal aliens or not...
posted by ucla512 at 11:19 AM on April 17, 2007
The problem with todays' sportswriters is that they only want to write something that impresses the readers. I haven't seen a writer lately that is anything special except TJ Simmers who may write something you don't like but is fair and does ask the questions that most of the other writers haven't got the guts to ask. Keane was a moron and took a lot of crap for not putting him on the MVP ballot. Hell, if he had had a vote for the Hall of Fame he most likely wouldn't have voted for him either.
posted by ucla512 at 03:30 PM on April 12, 2007
howard t, trust me I was sitting in the stands with my father and he did give Keane that gesture. He walked across homeplate tipped his hat to the fans and then turned towards the sportswriters box and to quote you "flipped him the bird". Years later, when he took over the Washington Senators, I asked him at a Angel game as he was standing on the dugout steps if he remindered doing that. He just smiled and winked at me. i just asked my brother and he said as he entered the dugout was when he looked up and gestured something to that writer. '
posted by ucla512 at 03:23 PM on April 12, 2007
Come on Caple, give Ichiro a break.....If you think so little of him why don't you put on the cheats and play centerfield yourself, or like most of the sports writers of today you most likely can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Some players can't or won't step up to the plate at the time the team needs them. For whatever reason it should be respected. Maybe he feels that unlike his World Team he doesn't have the complete respect of his Seattle teammates. All your sports writers like to do is take pot shots at anyone and everyone. This idea of Ichiro stepping up sounds very familiar to one Boston sportswriter that was always on Ted Williams. You are too young to remember either Ted Williams or the writer, but he left Williams off the MVP ballot the year he hit .406 and the Yankee Clipper won the award for hitting 56 straight. The writer, whose name I don't remember, paid for it later after Ted hit his last homer in his last at bat in the Majors and turned after touching homeplate and gave him a gesture with his middlefinger pointing up to the pressbox. Fitting then and maybe fitting now......
posted by ucla512 at 11:42 AM on April 12, 2007
We all know that there has been cheating in baseball since the beginning, spitter, marking and cutting up the baseball, grease you name it , it most likely has been done at one time or another. But let's put up a question here that may really get everyone going'. If they did cheat in the old days what is the difference now in cheating with drugs and steriods? Looking at that side of the question really puts you up against the wall so to speak if your position is for or against. Was Ruth eating a couple of hotdogs and drinking beer better than Bonds doing steriods to make himself stronger? Yes, there is a real difference here. One got bigger by eating himself to his size and the other did it with drugs/steroids. One got slower as he got older and the other stayed the same and hit the ball further than before. Common sense tells you that Bonds did it to keep himself to get ready for baseball and that what he did was cheat. But Ruth cheaped too in his own way, as a pitcher I am sure he had a spitter, he cut the ball with his belt and god knows what else. But after he moved to the outfield the only cheating he did was eating himself out of shape. It is apples and oranges to try to compare the two except they both were great baseball players with unbelieveable talent. Ruth went to the Yankees as a hitter and we all know what he did after coming from Boston. Numbers that haven't been close too in some areas. HR's per at bat, lifetime slugging percentage, RBI's, walks (in same among of at bats), some pitching records that even today seem out of this world. What a lot of fans forget about the BABE is that when he went out to the outfield he was 6'3" 185-190, ran like a gizelle, stole bases, had a throwing arm in the outfield that even today people would talk about. Number one in Hall of Fame in anyone's book. Bonds when he went to the Giants from Pittsburg had hall of fame numbers already. But he went from about 195 to 240 in a couple of years and starting hitting huge homers out of the blue. The drugs don't make you hit the ball, that is a god given talent, but it does let you hit it further. Makes you stronger and the balls travel further. Since it looks this year and last year that he isn't taking them anymore and the homers are extremely less often and quite a bit less further, the question now is very simple and completely direct....Did he take HGH, steroids, or what ever. Anyone with a brain can do the math on this one 1 + 1 = 2. He is not as strong as in previous years and don't come back with his age crap, he is 42 or 43 and it doesn't disappear overnight like it did with him. But, getting back to the original question or idea cheating. Is there or is there now a difference between then and now that is the question. Lets' See.......
posted by ucla512 at 03:02 PM on April 10, 2007
BI, a lot of kids in South and Central Americas don't even wear shoes playing baseball. Nike could give a rats ass about any of the sports unless they are making $MONEY from them. If Nike had any brains, no heart and common sense, they would give away lots of shoes(seconds) to the Americas kids teams so that they too can have "Nikes" to play in and do some unbelieveable ads doing it. Think of the headlines in the morning papers everywhere Nike gives back to the kids who can't afford the price of a pair of baseball shoes. If it cost them 20mil in inventory it would be worth 5 times or more that in goodwill. But again we have to remember the motto of Nike "bottomline does it make us any money'.......Do they charge any of the players for using their shoes, doubt it, but I am willing to bet anything that they right off what they give to the players 100%.
posted by ucla512 at 02:21 PM on April 10, 2007
The word CLASS ACT ,HEART and PASSION are the first words that come to mind when you mention the name JACKIE ROBINSON.. I consider myself very lucky because I got to not only see him play but to know him somewhat over the years. He is a legend at UCLA not only for his baseball but remember he was an All-American football player as well. There wasn't a sport that he couldn't play well. But what he represented to all americans was his ability to play the game of baseball to his greatest ability. 150% all the time any time any where. I first was introduced to Jackie my freshman year at UCLA and he was just getting out of baseball, but he had the time to stop and talk to a young freshman asking I am sure the same questions that had been put to him for years but he just sat down and we talked for over an hour and I missed my US History class but it was entirely worth it. Lucky me! I got to see him so many times either at UCLA or other events including Dodger games that it seemed like everytime I turned around he was coming down the street. Let us just say that JACKIE ROBINSON showed all of us how to play the game of baseball from the beginning until the end. Myself I put him in the class of John Wooden because he presented to all of us someone that all could look up. JACKIE ROBINSON DAY was a long time coming and maybe baseball should have gotten off its' butt a long time ago to give him what he had coming and due many many years ago. Number 42 will be remembered not only by UCLA people but all the individuals that ever played against him but were lucky enough to see him. This should be a national baseball holiday for all members of baseball from Little League thru the Major Leagues.
posted by ucla512 at 11:50 AM on April 10, 2007
Black hand, When your school puts up 9 more championships and 99 total then you can talk. 7 in a row means you have a long way to go before you can even bring up the subject. Florida deserved to win this year because they finished on top when it counted most at the end. I know how good Florida is academically and with there outstanding sports programs. But two titles don't mean jack when I go on campus and look at 99 NCAA trophies sitting in the Pauley Sports Center and 11 NCAA Championship banners floating down from the ceiling. When you start talking about athetic acheivement you had better come with more than just 2. The list goes on and on. You start at with basketball, track, waterpolo, softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis and gymnastics. And as far as NCAA Basketball goes John Wooden and the UCLA bruin run from 1964 thru 1975 has no equal. There isn't a coach in American that doesn't thank Coach because believe me he is the one that made March Madness what it is today. He won with no player over 6'5' and with 7'footers and also teams like Wicks, Rowe and Patterson 6'8", 6'7" 6'10" and beat a Jacksonville team that was suppose to beat them in the ground, but I remember seeing Sidney Wicks block Gilmores' shots time after time and UCLA ran them into the ground. Without UCLA BASKETBALL we wouldn't be enjoying all the March Madnesses over the last 29 years. Talk is cheap and you know what walks...Deeds Deeds Deeds. Most of the players today don't really know Coach Wooden. He didn't and doesn't talk trash and is going to be remembered as what the true meaning of college basketball is all about. His methods maybe old fashion and today somewhat behind the times but his teams then and now could be put together from different eras and still work as one. Hand, I want to apoloize if you took something I said wrong, my brother graduated from Florida and I still to this day love to stick it in his eye because he is always talking crap and the only way to shut him up is facts and deeds. So Congrats to the Florida basketball team and wait until next year.
posted by ucla512 at 08:27 PM on April 03, 2007
Each university has it own required eligibilty and at UCLA it is higher than the NCAA's level. And as far as an easy class load, no such animal exists at UCLA. bperk the NCAA's APR is academic and I don't know how you or anyone could know about programs failing to make the grade because it is not subject to public knowledge. The NCAA's system, like the NCAA, sucks the big one. The education at any of the universities is only as good as you the student makes it. You get out of it what you put into it.
posted by ucla512 at 08:01 PM on April 03, 2007
PublicUrinal, The ranking of the college/ranking is not the ranking program I was talking, while, Florida a a very good school, and according to you or the usnewsedu....is 47th ...bottom line here is academics and the ranking that both schools try to keep up. Unless you have a 3.75gpa and at less a 1200 on your sat, UCLA won't even look at you. The jocks all have to maintain a 3.0 or the programs will not allow them to play. The University school systems in California are one of the hardest to get in. A jock is a jock at any school but the system at UCLA will not allow anyone to get in whether or not they play sports. Academic criteria is the determining factor at UCLA and has been since J.D. Morgan and Wilbur Johns were AD's and Chancellor Young was running the school in the 1960's. I know people and relatives that have attended both schools and it is harder at UCLA than at Florida. The medical school has no peers and the Law, Education,History,Languague, Engineering, Architecture rate with anyone in the country. And the last academic rating I read put UCLA in the top 3. bperk, I don't need to look up the academic requirements to Florida because I know they are not as high as in the University system in California. Both schools are outstanding in all their merits, whether, it is the sports programs or academics. Mr. Urinal you are pessing in the wrong pot. I respect the whole system of education in both Florida and California. Higher education is something all of us need to succeed in todays' world.
posted by ucla512 at 04:15 PM on April 03, 2007
In regards to the original comments at top of page....TRY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES and 99 that is 99 NCAA Championships in all sports and no school is even close to them. Greatest programs of all time not hardly and really not even close. Like to know the scholartic requirements to go to Florida as compared to UCLA. Hey, guys we have started somethiing big here. Lets try to compare programs......
posted by ucla512 at 01:02 PM on April 03, 2007
What ever happened to the 9 dollars converse black or white all-stars. Anybody looked at the price today. Somewere between 39 and 49 dollars at your local Big 5 sporting goods store or Footlocker. When converse first came on the market they only had to worry about Jack Parsells and they were really for playing tennis. Converse still even today are great shoes for playing street or gym basketball. Adidas started out selling for 20-30 dollars and everyone was having fits. Try getting a pair for until 50 dollars today and some of them go for 150+. Anybody know if anyone in the NBA is still wearing converse all-stars?
posted by ucla512 at 10:30 AM on March 30, 2007
All these displays by the players, on both sides, are the things that cause the players and fans alike to get all worked up and in some cases fights/riots and unwanted behavior occurs. We all know it is a game and it is suppose to be one of having fun, sportsmanship, etc...but the last few years it has gotten completely out of hand. In your face behavior should be held to a small roar. We all know about the Raider Fans , fanatics, and some real crazy individuals. All these sports are suppose to be for the fan enjoyment. But tell me you enjoy going to a game that if you say something that some moron fan doesn't like he is going to push your face in for you. And in some of these games, pros and college, you take your life in your hands just going to the game. The whole thing comes down to control. The NFL wants to control everything because that means money and the bottom line in the NFL is MONEY.........The NFL & NCAA are two peas in a pod. Control and Money runs everything. So trying to get the NFL to change something like the overtime rules, as bad as it is and completely unfair to both teams, is like trying to get blood out of a rock. Or better yet get Al Davis to change his offensive ideas. The best thing to do is to go back to the original rules regarding OT and that is keep playing until someone wins the game. Another quarter until someone wins the game. I don't believe that there has been that many games going beyond maybe two OT's in the last 50 years. Hell, TV and the NFL would make more money if the games went on extra time. More commericals, etc...
posted by ucla512 at 09:46 AM on March 30, 2007
All you guys had better go look at the film of the oldtimers..If you think Shaq because of his size would dominate you got to be smoking something other than cigarettes. Upseld was one of the strongest guys in the league and Nate Thurman use to keep Wilt fairly even,. For the records Nate was over 6'10" and extremely mobile something that Shaq isn't and never will be. And as far as Wilt goes, he didn't have to back over guys, he would stop and turn and finger roll the ball into the hoop except over Nate and later Lanier and Kareem. Let me tell you gentlemen a story that I was lucky enough to witness. It was during the late 60's and Wilt was playing for the Warriors. He turned in the key and put up one of his sometimes hook shots, and little Tommy Hawkings of the Lakers all 6'5"a jump up at least 12+ inches over the rim and blocked it back in Wilt's face. The look on Wilt's face was one of disbelief and then he took the ball out of the air and in your face dunk over Hawkings, Mel Counts and Rudy LaRussa. But the real story was later that year Wilt was going against Tom McChery nd Wilt kind of lost it when Tom jumped on his back as he went up for a dunk. Wilt picked him up and threw him 5 or 6 rows into the courtside seats. Big Tom 6'7 or 8 about 285lbs came out of the seats carrying a folding chair with him and started at Wilt, who just stood there and smiled kind of saying to him OK come on then. Tom looked at Wilt then at the chair and looked around and then just put the chair down and came back on the court. Nothing said nothing done. You want respect not fear this is one instance that shows nothing but the respect that Big Tom had for Wilt's strength and real lowkey attitude for playing. Everyone keeps on saying all the players in the old days were small. Yeah, Bob Lanier, was real small 7' 330 size 22 shoes. Mel Counts was over 7 feet(slim) maybe 230-240 on a good day. Bob Pettit wasn't a small person either. Well over 230. Elgin was 6'5" 235-240 and even today is the only 6'5" forward to average over a 1000 rebounds and 38.7 points per game. A believe me there was nobody in the NBA that wanted any part of Elgin driving to the hoop. Even in todays standards Elgin Baylor stands out as oneof the strongest and most intimating player of any era. Sportnut, right on. Shaq could be so much more than he is. As he had gotten older he has lose so much of his abilities around the hoop. On the other hand, when Wilt came to the Lakers he started to play defense so that nobody drove the middle on him or the Lakers and when Jerry got hurt one year, he decided to score and if my memory serves me, he average well over 35 points for a period of time that was needed until Jerry came back. Shaq doesn't play like that, and to honest after watching with the Lakers for all those years, I don't understand why he doesn't. The three top centers in history all played great defensel. Bill, Kareem, and Wilt. All three were never credited with any many blocked shots because they didn't keep track of that stat until well into Kareem's career. He looked like he wasn't trying on the floor but believe me the reason nobody tried to take it to the middle is the fact that 99% of the time you would have the ball back in your face or Kareem would pick it out of the air and off to the other end. Walton was known for that in high school, college and the pros. Everybody is talking smack about this or that but when it comes to comparing you younger gentlemen had better look at the film highlites and history archives of the NBA from past to present. We all know there is a difference between then and now but you need to watch how the game was played by a quote to Sportnut "the days when true men played the game, not a bunch of egol grabbing sissys." Opinions are opinions and everyone has one. In the other sports a lot of things have changed, some for the good some for the bad, but in basketball the bottom line will and always will be put the ball in the hoop and stop the opponent from doing so as often as you.
posted by ucla512 at 11:53 AM on March 29, 2007
All you young guys should really looked at what the players were doing back in your descriptions of the dark ages of the NBA. Last time I look Imhoff was 6'10", Upseld may have been small but I can tell without even blinking that Shaq couldn't back in on him like he does to all the smaller centers today. You remember Dr J, Connie Hawkins, all those guys flew in the air and as far as WiLT AND Kareem are concerned Shaq couldn't or wouldn't keep up. Shaq should be one of the most dominating centers in NBA history but he isn't for whatever reason. The oldtimers may not have been bigger faster stronger quicker than todays players but played the game from one end to the other. They were not perfect but my money is on a team of Wilt, Kareem, Elgin, Jerryl, Oscar, Walt, Tom, KC, Westly, Nate, Bob Pettit, Cousy and other to many to name to take any and all on at there primes. Wouldn't even be close. Lil brown bat , the whole point isn't the 5th but the fact is he did take or ingest steriods and has increased his size, strength, speed and endurance and ability to recover sooner but doing so. The steriods can't hit a baseball but they do allow it to go further. Look at his stats since going to SF. Now that he is off(Is he) the stuff more long outs, less HR's in more at bats and doesn't recover as quickly from injury as he did a couple of years ago. Old timers RULE and that is the way the cookie crumbles.
posted by ucla512 at 01:33 PM on March 27, 2007
boirnicon, once again you didn't look at the over all picture of Bonds. He had the stats to be in the Hall of Fame when he went to SF. But you look at them since 95-95 his size and weight increase and power increase. Nobody in his right mind can say he doesn't belong in the Hall. But fact is, without question, he used steriods to increase his power and strength. Steriods don't increase your hitting abilities because that is something that was god given. But it does allow you to hit the ball further and a pop fly without drugs is an out but a pop fly under steriods has been proven to go further and therefore a homerunl. The debate isn't whether he did but should he be rewarded for doing it. As far as Shaq is concerned he hasn't delivered the stats to be considered in the top 5 centers. Why maybe you can tell me. He should be rebounding at least 18-20 a game and completely dominate the inside but he doesn't do it day in and day out. You go look in the record books at you will see Chamberlain averaged 25 rebounds a game and remember he also average 50 points a game one year. I don't give me that bull shit about he played all the time. Yeah, he did, but he played against the best talent all the time. The league is watered down to a point that some feel that basketball today is too large for the player pool. 20 years ago 40% of the players now wouldn't have made the NBA. Shaq is the best true center in the last 10 years but looking at what else is in the league I don't know how much that counts. I am obivous older than you, but I went to UCLA in the late 50's and early 60's and have the opportunity to see all the players from that era and todays. I ask you to name me one player today that can stand with Elgin, Walt, Wilt, Kareem, Michael, Jerry, Bill, Nate, Oscar and the list goes on and on. You watch the games that those players played and how they played and maybe you would see that the differences between then and now are far greater than the players are bigger stronger faster blablabla. Heard it for years from my kids and now grandkids. I am not an old man living in the past. But there isn't very many players today that would have been able to make it like they are now. As great as Jordon was he would have received the protection from the refs and his pushing off , walking, carrying the ball over great charges to the hoop would have went for not. Walt Frazier, Tom Haliceck, West, Dave Bing, Dick Barnett and all those guards would have broken him in half. West would have picked his pockets as would have Walt and Tommy H Casey Jones, Ok maybe I am a little bit overstating but the NBA today isn't as tuff or hard ass as before. Shaq has the tuffness to hang with them but the others no way in helll. My grandfather use to play with the Babe in the late teens and early 20's and he use to talk about all the players of the era in all the leagues. Gosh Gibson, Paige, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Babe, Lou , Lefty Grove, Young, but he lived to the late 70's and it was amazing to talk to him because he always was saying the say and me except that he was witnessing all the eras he talked about The players today are different than 20 years ago so maybe it is a discussion that will always be opinionated and bias one way or the other. But one thing hasn't changed and that fact is you still have to put the ball in the hoop, rebound, play defense and won. Like Chick use to say "Win baby Win".
posted by ucla512 at 03:20 PM on March 26, 2007
Bornicon, Don't keep sticking up for OJ Mayo attitude and actions. 3 suspensions, mouth that roared, thinks th at basketball world revolves around him, the list goes on and on over the last 2 years. He is going to have to stand up like a man and be counted when it counts. Period no ands ifs or buts. Like all of us he will answer for his actions and comments as he goes up the professional ladder. For him good luck and I only wish that something doesn't happen to him that brings him downs or causes more problems than he can handle. As for comparing Bonds, Shaq be serious, one Bonds has built his succes on drugs ...look at his rookie card w/h and you will see that he gained 35 lbs betweens seasons and grew about 12% and medically the only way to do that is will drugs . Shaq is a un achiever. He should have been averaging 18+ rebounds and 30+ points due to his size and abilities. He isn't even in the top five centers in history. Can't or won't shoot freethrows, has no moves to basketball but power, defensive should be a far better defensive player than he is. 4 rings speaks alot but talent wise he has hardly even shown us the dominating abilities to completely control the game. Granted today there really isn't any true big centers but thata should have allowed him to take games over but he seldom did.
posted by ucla512 at 04:26 PM on March 23, 2007
bdaddy, You just hit the nail on the head with your comments. If he shows this much indifference to his own players and the ref's what the hell is he going to be like at 18 19 20 and as far as the pros go Look no further then Attest. The fact that he did all those things(behavior problems during the game) throwing elbows, ref authority , coaches authority, what else has to happen to finally find out about him. His attitude and behavior, being specific, is what has happened in his last few games and all-star appearances...No 17 year is has done enough to merit not getting into line with the programs and rules and regulations of life. This kid, and a 17 year old is a kid, maybe really a great individual and some of this maybe way out of line because we don't know him. But his last impressions on the court leave much to be desired. All we can do is hope for the best and wish him well and good luck. It still looks to everyone outside that something is going on with him. What a waste of talent if he ends up in trouble and causes any problems for himself or his family.
posted by ucla512 at 03:58 PM on March 22, 2007
Bornicon, Mayo's ability is without question some of the best. He looks on the floor to be in better control of his game then James was coming out of high school. It isn't his ability that has been put in question, but character is something that with this attitude seems to be missing at this point. And as far as these so called All-Star games are concerned not all the best high school kids are playing in these games. You must know how political all that has become. By his whole attitude Mayo is putting himself, in a way, that he is bigger than the game. What high school tells major university coaches what to do and quote "I will call you" . If he does have this kind of attitude than no matter who coaches him there is going to be some very large problems. Talent wise I think he brings more to the table than James did because is a far better shooter than James was. But you can't really compare apples to oranges anymore than we can compare Elgin Baylor to Jordan. When he finally plays the cream will rise to the top or go bad and turn sour.
posted by ucla512 at 02:45 PM on March 22, 2007
I think all you guys are to young to remember CHocolate thunder when he came out of high school and played inthe NBA. He really is the only successful big man to go from high school to the pros. Everyone is saying he is playing against 17 and 18 year olds, and trust me Mayo cannot and will not be able to do to the pros what he is doing to the high school players. And the only controversy surrounding Mayo is his attitude. Big time and if what everyone is saying about him then Floyd won't be able to handle him. Basketball under FLoyd is TEAMWORK and Mayo doesn't seem to act within that type of framework if he is already telling coaches what they can do and can't do. The word spoiled brat comes to mind. Just watch him o n the court. Ability yes, able to make others better only time will tell. The NBA already has enough primadonnas on with the fat guy and little hood and yes the want to be fighter and wife beater on the Kings.
posted by ucla512 at 01:16 PM on March 22, 2007
Somebody better be pretty sure you want someone like Mayo representing your university. He has already shown some tendencies that are not what a university basketball program needs. There is no questioning his abilities but he needs a lot of growing up to do. Class he doesn't have and if he keeps up this type of behavior it will come back to bite him in the butt. He is beginning to sound like the kid from Ohio State a few years ago that thought to much of himself and look were he ended up......
posted by ucla512 at 10:49 AM on March 22, 2007
Guys, We all have beat this Rose thing to death...Facts are all in and according to the rules of baseball and the hall betting on baseball while a player and or manager cause you to be banned for life and not able to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Yes, he does have the numbers to be in the Hall but I believe that until baseball puts in Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was acquitted and found innocent, Rose should not be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Anyway, enough of this Rose crap, on to what is important the NCAA Basketball Tournment. It already has had some very good games this morning. Texas Tech out, Stanford out should be a very interesting tournment.
posted by ucla512 at 02:07 PM on March 15, 2007
Well Folks, Once again the NCAA Committee shows everyone what they don't know about seeding teams for the tournment. I sat and watched the seeding on Sunday and couldn't believe what I was seeing coming on the screen. Just like in the past they have left teams off that are very deserving on being in the tournment. Everyone get on here and goes on about this or that East Coast favorite I am sure everyone is bored to death with it. But one thing remains and that is the committee is without question that biggest group of know nothings that run the greatest event in college sportsl. The teams that hold there own are quite obvious to all. UCLA Florida Ohio State Wisconsin Kansas all stand out this year but some of the other teams that were named to the tournment very large questiions are being asked today. Maybe the selection should be done without any names on the selection ballots just there records for the year and the strength of schedules so that it will simple for even the selection committe to pick the teams in the tournment without showing any bias. It would be a perfect world if that were to happen but we all know the NCAA is anything but perfect
posted by ucla512 at 07:23 PM on March 12, 2007
Yeah, Coach K to the try a put a spin on the real fact of this matter, his team is made up of dirty players. Sports nut you put a spin that Rudy was suckered punch, but the facts of that are very different. I was at that game and Kermit saw someone running into the play and just turned to defend himself and caught Rudy squared on the jaw. Acc ident. But the Duke matter was pure and brutal cheap shot. It seems that now that Duke in on the down side it has to go to cheap shots at the teams and players that are better. Coach K will be happy because he has another type of this player coming in next year from Southern California Kelly. This kid will fit right in to that style of playl. Shame on Coach K for trying to tell everyone it was a accident but when you look at the films of that play it clearly was done with thought in mind.
posted by ucla512 at 12:56 PM on March 06, 2007
Once again the coward that Bonds is shows up. His is so afraid people and the press will judge him a bigger liar then he already is. Once again I am extremely glad that his father isn't alive to see this happening. His father was a very good baseball player in his own right and I am very sure that he never had to take drugs to keep himself competing at that level.
posted by ucla512 at 12:16 PM on January 11, 2007
The BCS is a real joke. Besides the eastern bias not all the teams within the NCAA system are really represented. Until they(NCAA) and school adms decide to do away with all the conferences and have a playoff system like the basketball NE<NW<SE<SW<W<N<S<E etc...then you can have everyone participate in a real national championship.l The other side of this coin is just greed......plain and simple....there is not one ad in the NCAA system that will vote for getting rid of the conferences and going to a playoff system that would allow all to go to the national championship game. The big schools make millions in TV and Radio revenues and the games in their conferences. SC isn't willing to give away the millions in TV revenue it gets from appearing on national television and neither is ND going to give up that much money.....BOTTOM LINE is the $$$$$$$$$$$..not just for the schools but the NCAA makes millions on all the sports by being in control. Sometimes the NCAA remembers me of the moron that ran the Olympic committee for all the years and had the greatest athelic in history give back his medals because he got 5 dollars for playing a baseball game during one summer. Avery Brundage was the worst thing that could have happened to the games. Like the NCAA he wanted to control everything.
posted by ucla512 at 12:17 PM on January 09, 2007
After all is said and done, President Gerald Ford, will be remember by all of us as a complete person. He was loved not only by his family and friends but by all we came into contact with him. He may not have been the greatest golfer in the world but he tried and loved the game as he loved his family and country. I for one would like to salute him for being there when he was needed. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE. It doesn't matter if you are of either political party , President Ford , was truly a man for all seasons. Good bye and thank you for serving your country.
posted by ucla512 at 04:08 PM on December 27, 2006
Because one player cheats, lies, uses drugs etc etc..that all are in the same situation. Regardless of his stats by all the rules and regulations of baseball Pete Rose doesnot deserve to enter the MLHofF. They are scores of players that played the game as hard as Rose and some of them aren't in the Hall. Rule number 1 states that anyone betting gambling on baseball shall be banned from the sport and from any of its other activities.
posted by ucla512 at 11:34 AM on December 25, 2006
come on guys, weak schedule, that is so out side the borders of NCAA Division I Football. 58 touchdowns in any league, weak or not, is still unbelievable. Brennan with most certainly get a shot at the Pros and judging by what he has shown these last years will do OK. Lots of really great QB's didn't play in leagues like the Big 10, Pac 10, SEC and ACC. He will do according to his ability and the players he is put with.
posted by ucla512 at 11:10 AM on December 25, 2006
Rose may have the stats to get into the H of F but there is more too the H of F than stats. He is a liar, drug user and cheat and for over 17 years kept saying "I did not bet on baseball or any of the teams I played or managed" come guys, so he said he was sorry. He wants everybody now to feel sorry for him and yet he sits himself down across the street from the Hall and sells his autogragh and other Rose junk. I said before and I will say it again, Pete Rose doesn't deserve to go into the Hall of Fame until they elect Shoeless Joe Jackson. Who didn't bet on baseball and was found innocent of all charges of fixing the 1919 World Series. And if memory serves me batted over .380 during that series. As a batter who put his bat on the ball. Pete Rose was as good as they came. But he destroyed his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame by doing all the things that put him into the position he is today.
posted by ucla512 at 12:14 PM on December 20, 2006
If the lawsuit has any merit then he should be allowed to continue with the suit and in the long run win on the grounds that the team is resposible for the mascot and any and all injuries or harm done by him. Peterson is entitled to compensation if the injuries were caused by the mascot, who was acting within the bounds of the team concept as a mascot and therefore entitles the plainiff Peterson to compensation under the law. It also could be considered a workers compensation injury and that opens up a whole new sets of rules and regulations. The team would be better off coming to some kind of agreement before it really gets out of hand. In a jury trial the award maybe bigger than what the original suits was asking for. If you look at what the teams are making in profits, 20 million, doesn't seem like a lot of money over a 5-7 year career.
posted by ucla512 at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2006
lMaybe Melo should due some time in the slammer for A&B. What does everyone think? It is extremely apparent that he is a big coward to hit and run especially after the fact when everything was settling down. Why doesn't the league president just put the gloves on these two and make them go 10 rounds and then see how they want to still fight on the court. 15 days isn't enough when you remember Kermit Washington got a year off for hitting Rudy T even through Rudy was the one coming into the fight. I was there that night and saw the whole thing from start to finish. It wasn't a pretty site, but the only thing Kermit did was try to protect himself from someone coming in from behind him. It looks like the NBA should now stand for NATIONAL BOXING ASS. Is it going to be more of the same as the tempers start to come into play more and more this season and then we have the playoffs. Maybe the Boxoffs are more to the point. I think everyone is really had it with all these premadonnas, just a bunch of spoil rich kids doing what they want and acting out whatever comes into there simple little headsl. In the sixties when Elgin and Jerry came to LA, basketball was fun to watch, especially those two. Fighting in the NBA was unheard of, sure there were enforcers on every team, the Lakers had Rudy LaRusso and Elgin himself. There was anyone in the NBA that would start something with Elgin, partly because of his demeanor and mainly because he was considered one of the hardest and strongest forwards in all basketball. How many 6'5" 235 guys you know can average over a thousand rebounds a year, 38 points in a league were he was considered small and with guys like Wilt, Nat T, Walter Bellamy, Wes Upseld big men to say the least. None of them wanted any piece of Elgin. And at least these men would hit you from the front and come in like some coward and sucker punch you.
posted by ucla512 at 12:52 AM on December 19, 2006
jerseygirl, thank you for reminding me. I didn't even know that the caps were locked on . I was watching a tape of the UCLA & Texas A&M when I was typing the comments. Thanks again UCLA512
posted by ucla512 at 12:35 AM on December 19, 2006
I guess 10 NCAA Basketball Championships, 27 first team All-Americans, a winning percentage of over 86% in the NCAA's isn't good for Basketball. I really don't understand anybody going after Coach. Coach Wooden lived as he preached day to day. He taught his students to always be prepared for whatever comes, be it in life or on the court. He had many players that disagreed with him but all will tell you today that he is still respected by anyone who knows basketball. What made UCLA so dominate for so many years was his ability to get the most all of his players. On the court or in life it was always the same for Coach. He was and always will be Coach. He did so many things for the UCLA program and the NCAA that all the coaches and players of todays program should continue to remember that the March Madness we know now started with the UCLA teams of 64 and 65. He and UCLA set a mark that will never be passed or equaled for that matter. Some other coaches have suggested that anybody could have done what he did with the talent that he had. Since 1975's NCAA Championship team there has been many talented teams playing and yet nobody has come even close to doing what the UCLA Bruins and Coach John Robert Wooden did in that span of 12 years with 10 National Championships. The NCAA should forever be thankful that we have had Coach aroound for as long as he has been here. I really think that even in todays' game his tactics, methods and the fundamental ways he attacked the game would be as successful as they were 30 years ago. Players change but remember one basic factor hasn't that being basketball is still basketball. Be it offense or defense without both you will never win.
posted by ucla512 at 11:28 AM on December 13, 2006
IT IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE AGENTS IN BASEBALL LIKE SCOTT BORAS AND THE GREED THAT HAS COME WITH THEM THAT BASEBALL IS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING THE THIRD SPORT. TOO MUCH MONEY AND THE PRICES THAT ARE CHARGED TO SEE THE GAMES TODAY HAVE REALLY STARTED A LOT OF THE FANS TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THERE SPENDING. YES, I KNOW THAT LAST YEAR WAS THE BIGGEST ATTENDANCE IN HISTORY BUT THE PRICES ARE DRIVING THE SMALL FAN FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE GAME. NO PLAYER IS WORTH 25MILLION A YEAR. I HAVE BEEN A BASEBALL FAN SINCE I REMEMBER IN THE LATE 40S LISTENING TO THE WORLD SERIES ON THE RADIO, MOSTLY THE DODGERS AND YANKEES, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I LOOKED FORWARD TOO WHEN SCHOOL STARTED BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR THE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES. AND WHEN THE DODGERS MOVED TO LA IN THE LATE 50S I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A GRANDFATHER THAT ALSO LOVED BASEBALL AND WE WENT TO ALL THE GAMES WE COULD. MY FATHER HAD SEASON TICKETS TO THE LA ANGELS FROM 1960 UNTIL HE DIED IN 1980 AND I KEPT THEM UNTIL DISNEY DOUBLEDD THE PRICES IN ONE YEAR SO AFTER ALMOST 30 YEARS I STOPPED GOING AND BUYING SEASON TICKETS BECAUSE OF THE PRICE NOT ONLY OF THE TICKETS BUT EVERYTHING ELSE AS WELL. PARKING, FOOD ETC..... HAVE GOTTEN SO FAR OUT OF HAND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY ONESELVES WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY OVER 100 DOLLARS PER HEAD FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. IT JUST ISN'T BASEBALL THAT PRICES HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. THANK HEAVEN FOR TELEVISION BECAUSE YOU CAN WATCH AND ENJOY WITHOUT HAVING TO SELL YOUR FIRST BORN TO PAY FOR ATTENDING A SPORTS EVENT.
posted by ucla512 at 05:05 PM on December 12, 2006
Lineman, dead at 36, Exposes Brain Injuries
Upshaw has been a complete tool for Tagliabue for years now and look what has happened again to a former retired NFL player. We all know who is to blame. Upshaw was talking crap on Mike Ditka last week about the things he was saying about his former league and how he didn't care about his players when he was a coach. I think it would be great to put the two of them in a locked room for a while. My money is on Big Mike.