SportsLife: Exceeding Expectations

Seldom in life does anyone live up to others’ expectations. It is a difficult thing none of us are perfect and yet when we people are in the public eye they are often expected to be. Many of my boyhood idols have fallen by the wayside. Two of my heroes however have exceeded my expectations.

As I tuned in to SportsCenter at night the last few weeks to catch the events I missed, the stories I had heard too much of and the highlights I had probably already seen, I began to think about some of the people in the sports industry that I have admired who have let me down. Some have on the field meltdowns, many fall short in their personal lives, seem have even had criminal charges.

In the few encounters I have had with sports celebrities that did not involve a remote some are rude and short not that I blame them or even find fault. I will never understand what they go through on a daily basis and certainly we all have bad days. Some were warm and friendly, but two made me feel like a million bucks. When I look back at these two men I admire I do not first recall a homerun or dunk or even a famous interview. The first thing that comes to mind is the way they made me feel how they treated me like I was the celebrity.

I grew up watching the Murph on the superstation, a two-time MVP and outfielder for my favorite team the Atlanta Braves, I first met him as a young boy. He signed a ball for me and shook my hand and spoke to me. I was thrilled. I continued to follow his career and would have the chance of meeting him in a few more situations. Each time he was exceedingly kind and treated me with great respect.

A sports journalist who made his way from Boston to the sports capital in Bristol. In the summer a few months prior to his hall of fame induction, I met one of my adult heroes. It was a warm summer morning during batting practice in RFK Stadium in DC as I slid my way towards his direction and handed him a baseball as he stood on the field behind home plate. He signed the ball and I congratulated him on his Hall of Fame Induction. He was very humble and gracious. My wife asked if we could snap a photo he replied absolutely and then turned to walk away. I figured he must have gotten distracted and was thrilled with my encounter. As I began to leave I turned and saw him entering the bleachers. He approached me and put his arm around me. He went out of his way for the photo with me. We continued to talk and he spoke with me and my wife for what seemed like a half hour. It was probably much briefer, yet the experience was not.

Peter Gammons is a Hall a Famer and Dale Murphy should be, but both more importantly are Hall of Fame people. If you ever get to meet them, you will leave feeling like the one with a plaque in Cooperstown. I know I did.

Four6Three Questions of the Week?

It is time for a little reader participation.  We want to know what you think on the following questions so leave us your comments or we will never know.  Comments can be one word or one page, but let us and the rest of the Four6three readership know what you think on this weeks big topics. 

Is Ryan Howard worth $25 million a year for the next 5 years?

Which teams were the NFL draft's biggest winners & losers?

After a week of playoffs what is your NBA Finals matchup?

Answer any or all of them and we will post the answers.  Feel free to debate amongst yourselves too.

Friday Farewells for April 23, 2010

This weeks edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by higher education or lower education depending on where you attend. 

First Round Hopes. Many draftees saw their hopes and dreams of being a first rounder or even a first day draft pick disappear last night.  Among those were quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, but not Tim Tebow who looked as surprised as everyone else when he was drafted by Denver.  Other notable prospects that were not drafted in the first round this year, ME.  Goodbye Ginormous Signing Bonus! A box of tears for all the stuff I could have bought.

Games.  Big Ben will be missing 6 games with a possibility to have it reduced to 4 while Edison Volquez, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, will miss 50 games for use of performance enhancing drugs.  The difference between the two suspensions is that Ben will actually miss his games.  Volquez is on the disabled list recovering from surgery and his suspension will be over long before he ever is ready to pitch again.  So if your going to cheat kids, do it while your on the disabled list.  Sad to miss games you won't miss?!? Ben can't complain!

Sweep.  The two number one seeds: the Lakers & Cavs both had hopes of resting up for second round matchups after sweeping the eight seeds, but that was before the Bulls and Thunder came to play.  Can these teams win more than one game and actually make it a series? Time will tell, but my money is on the Thunder to win at least one more game.  As for the Bulls you better enjoy this one.  One tiny tear is forming on the west coast of my face...never mind that is a bead of sweat.

Self Respect. In the middle of the night the Pittsburgh Pirates search for something they never lost something that somebody stole.  That somebody was the Millwaukee Brewers, who beat every ounce of pride out of the Pirates with a 20-0 win (Yes, this is baseball). I know some like to be humble, but there is a difference between being humble and being humiliated.  Sorry this was the latter.  20 tears of pain! 

65.  The NCAA has signed a $10.8 billion contract deal with Turner and CBS to broadcast every Men's Tournament game live.  The Tourney will also likely expand for next year to 68 teams giving us not one, but four play in games.  This expansion is better than the alternative of 96 teams which would have diluted the tournament and killed the NIT.  The 65 format was foolish anyway having one of the one-seeds play a team that already played and the other three not.  It was confusing who played it (it was not always the number one overall seed), when it was (Tuesday night?), and why?  At least this will work equally in all four regions.  A little nervous anytime you mess with perfection.

 

University of Arkansas School of Law.  Third-year law students at this fine institution have attended their last classes EVER.  Congratulations and good luck on Finals and the Bar or whatever else you will be doing! Buckets full of tears of joy, laughter and happiness.

Do you feel about Friday Farewells the way first-year law students do about the law library, cannot get enough? Well we made it easy for you, just click here.

NFL Draft in Primetime

Below are my picks for the inagural NFL Primetime Thursday night draft. Coming up with this list was a mix of bingo and pin the tail on the donkey and consulting a guru known as THE PEACHANATOR.

1- Sam Bradford- Rams
2- Ndamukung Suh - Lions
3- Gerald McCoy- Buccaneers
4- Russell Okung- Redskins
5- Bryan Bulaga- Chiefs
6- Trent Williams- Seahawks
7- Eric Berry- Browns
8- CJ Spiller- Raiders
9-Dan Williams- Bills
10- Derrick Morgan- Jaguars
11-Bruce Campbell- Broncos
12- Sergio Kindle- Dolphins
13-Joe Haden- 49ers
14- Jimmy Clausen - Seahawks
15- Rolando McClain-Giants
16- Jason Pierre Paul- Titans
17- Anthony Davis- 49ers
18- Mike Iupati- Steelers
19- Brandon Graham- Falcons
20- Kyle Wilson- Texans
21- Jermaine Gresham- Browns
22- Dez Bryant- Patriots
23- Jerry Hughes- Packers
24- Earl Thomas - Eagles
25- Devin McCourty- Ravens
26- Demaryius Thomas- Cardinals
27- Charles Brown- Cowboys
28- Ryan Mathews- Chargers
29- Jared Ordick- Jets
30- Colt McCoy-Vikings
31- Kareem Jackson- Colts
32- Sean Weatherspoon - Saints

College Baseball Update

College baseball is in crunch time as the ACC and SEC battle for conference dominance and Arizona State stands a top all four polls.  Texas is close behind rank 2nd in 3 out of the 4 polls.
In the RPI however, it is Arizona State and Arkansas sitting 1 & 2 respectively for the second staight week.  The great thing about the RPI is it ranks 1 to 301 so you can see where your favorite team is whether it is Fullerton at 15, BYU at 82, Longwood at 180, Utah Valley at 193, or Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 293. 
Attendance in the SEC has been huge, the top four in average attendance are SEC schools. 

This weekend features a couple of huge matchups in the SEC.  Arkansas travels to Gainesville for a big matchup against the Gators.  The other huge matchup is a battle of two SEC West teams the Ole Miss Rebels and the LSU Tigers both battling for positioning.  All for of these teams are battling to be possible National Seed wih LSU, Florida, and Arkansas appearing to be the most likely right now, but with a strong finish Ole Miss could be there.  The pitching matchup of the weekend is Friday night as LSU's Anthony Ranaudo faces Drew Pomeranz of Ole Miss.  These are the two best draft eligible pitchers in college baseball and arguably the two best period.  Tune in to watch it at 7:00 pm ET on ESPNU.

Playoffs? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game.

PLAYOFFS? (Click Playoffs for 20 seconds of fun video that make this post make more sense.)

Yes Jim, the NBA Playoffs are here and the boredom of the first round has officially set in.  Most of these teams just hope they can win a game.  Its hard to talk about playoffs when the NBA makes us suffer through four games of the Cavs vs. Bulls, Magic vs. Bobcats etc.  Yes, all the lower seeds in the Eastern Conference just hope to win a game.   We these first round series were ever expanded from five to seven games is beyond me! Okay so not really, it is all about MONEY-- dilluting down the basketball in order to sell more tickets and more TV games. Thanks again David Stern! Not only have you extended horrible series, you have established rules that make the game less exciting.  The only thing worth watching in the first round thus far was the scuffle at the end of the Celtics vs. Heat Game 1.  Back in the 80's & 90's this was common practice and it added some passion to the PLAYOFFS! Like Jeff Van Gundy riding Alonzo Mourning's leg like a pogo stick at the bottom of a fracas. 

Please take us back to the old school ways so we can once again talk about the PLAYOFFS!

Friday Farewells April 16, 2010

This edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by your local convenience store, please thank them for the convenience. 

Farewell:

Regular Season.  No more games that really don't matter.  It is playoff time in the NBA and now the season starts for 16 teams.  The best part...no more NETS.  Hallejuah!

Possible Charges.  Big Ben is not going to the Big Pen.  The District Attorney has stated that he will not be filing charges against Pittsburgh's quarterback.  Fortunately for Ben, being a moron is not a crime in the state of Georgia.  Insert Law and Order's gavel noise here.

Draft Picks.  In a trade to acquire Ted Ginn from Miami the 49ers have traded a 5th round pick.  Really a 5th round pick for a decent wide reciever who is blazing fast and still has upside.  Now we know why the Dolphins make Hootie cry.  Only wanna be with you.

Home court.  In a horrible performance the Jazz went from possibly having the 3 seed and home court to the 5 seed against Denver and will do so without Andrei Kirilinko and possibly without Carlos Boozer.  What a shot to the kisser this is, OUCH!

Home ice.  There is no place like home unless you are the Washington Capitals. The Caps gave up home ices losing Thursday night to the 8 seeded Canadiens in overtime.  Ovechkin please don't leave early, the NHL TV ratings need you.

If you have a fever and the only cure is more Friday Farewells here you go.

Phil's Green Jacket Doughnut Dash

This is why we love golf and why we love Phil; Monday morning you can eat all the Krispy Kremes you want while wearing what you won on Sunday.  This picture was snapped Monday in Augusta at the local Krispy Kreme.  You gotta love a guy with enough personality to pull this stunt and nice enough to let the workers snap a photo at the window. 
Congratulations you just won the Masters what are you going to do next? I am grabbing the kids and going to Krispy Kreme.
For the Full story go to CNN.

Four6Three Fantasy Baseball Round-up

The Four6Three Fantasy League known as the Sandlot is under way and only half the league is still undefeated while the other half has yet to taste victoy.  In order to keep everyone informed we will do a weekly round-up of all the matchups (as long as I won that week).  So let's get to it.

This week Deuce's Dominators lived up to their name dominating the Dodgers by 76 points the biggest victory of the week. 

Think blue is survived against Utility Men, by squeezing out a 27 point victory thanks to a 65 point week by Tim Lincecum.  Think blue was saved by a Giant this week, go figure. 

In the rivalry game of the week Heavy was able to barely survive a fierce battle with Small Fry by just 3 points.  Ryan Howard's 35 point week for Small Fry proved not to be enough for Heavy's balanced attack.

GO BRAVES was destroyed by El Champ, despite its superior name.  El Champ was able to put together the largest output of the week with 304 points.

Two Cardinals, Pujols and Holliday lead Penguin past the Randolphs in the Battle of the Brothers.  Penguin's 144 offensive points proved too much for The Randolphs.  The Randolph will try and get back to the basics he learned during his time at Shadow Manor, but that maybe difficult going up against Deuce's Dominators this week. 

WEEK 1 Matchups (winners in green)

Deuce's Dominators 302.00  vs.      Dodgers 226.00

think blue 289.00                     vs.      Utility Men 262.00

small fry 278.00                   vs.      HEAVY 281.00

GO BRAVES 229.00              vs.      El CHAMP 304.00

Penguin 234.00                             vs.      The Randolphs 213.00

WEEK 2 Matchups & current scores

Deuce's Dominators 47.00      vs.     The Randolphs 23.00

Dodgers 40.00                vs.     think blue 25.00

small fry 73.00                  vs.     Utility Men 54.00

GO BRAVES 32.00     vs.     HEAVY -8.00
Penguin 38.00                  vs      El CHAMP 9.00

MASTERPHIL!

Watson had us wishing, Couples had us hoping, but eventually only Lefty was able to make the storybook ending come true.

  

In a week of returns to golf the biggest noise was not made by Tiger's return to the PGA and the Masters, but by Amy Mickelson. Battling cancer she made her first trip to follow her husband Phil at Augusta. Phil was at his best dialing in those kamikaze type shots that make us love him and curse him at the same time.

Despite an errant drive on the last Par 5, that put him squarely behind two trees, Phil did what Phil does. He went for the green in two hitting a perfect iron that had just enough to carry the creek bed onto the green. Phil went on to sink the pin high putt for eagle giving him a three-stroke lead, which proved to be insurmountable.

After he birdied the 18th to add an exclamation mark on his tournament championship he embraced his wife and kids as tears rolled down his cheeks. Maybe, just maybe it is possible to be the best golfer and a great husband and father. At least this week it appears so!

In other news, Scott McCrying plots to steal one of Phil’s three green jackets and appeals the PGA to have an asterisk next to Phil's name for use of performanced enhanced wedges (Sorry I just can't let this one go).

This post is dedicated to the biggest fan of Lefty I know, Grandma Hoppy.

I hope you enjoyed every minute of it!

Friday Farewells for April 9, 2010

This edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by our friends in the Burg: Uncle Dave and our biggest fan Cindy we appreciate your readership and more importantly your subscription fees.
It is Friday once a again so we must say so long to another week in sports.

Farewell:

Spring Training. So long meaningless games. Hello Opening Week! Major League Baseball is back after another winter of hibernation. Every team after the first week is still in the hunt for the pennant. Yes, hope springs eternal. I can’t stop crying I am so happy.

Hoosiers Sequel. Thanks to Duke and Coach K the blockbuster hit of 2010, Hoosiers the College Years has been cancelled. The film was set to feature the Butler Bulldogs and their ball boy/coach Brad Stevens, who was to be played by Zack Ephron. The real Coach Stevens (not Zack) just signed a deal to coach Butler through 2022 at which point they are excited because he will be old enough to drive. Buckets of tears, Hoosiers is my favorite movie.

Break from Football Season. College Spring Football is in full swing Arkansas went outside the box and instead of scrimmaging itself it played St. Louis who it beat 32-8. The Billikens were able to score a touchdown late and add the two point conversion. Oh wait my bad… this was a college baseball game. The game included 30 hits by the Razorbacks and was mercifully, for the fans, called after 6 ½ innings. After playing the hogs the billikens cried boo hoo hoo all the way home.

Hiatus. Tiger resumed playing golf yesterday at the Masters and I resumed writing after a few days off, both monumental breaks with huge ramifications upon the sports industry. This may prove the golf course is the only place he is comfortable and others are comfortable with him. No tears yet, but judging by the way he played the tears are about to return for the other competitors.

Fighting Sioux. University of North Dakota will change its nickname from the Fighting Sioux after a board decision and four year legal battle. The NCAA decided that the name was “hostile and offensive”. Members of the Spirit Lake Sioux however were trying to prevent the change. Fighting is such a derogatory word that I can see why the NCAA called it “hostile and offensive”. I am a member of the OBAGFWC, Organization to Ban All Go Fight Win Cheers. I think these cheers are hostile and offensive to opposing teams and their fans. They incite things like trying to beat (mega hostile) and defeat (ubber offensive) others. I think North Dakota should go with the Olive Branches, the Peace Makers (catchy slogan, “blessed are us”) or the Tying Sioux because clearly Native American names are not offensive or the Native American Tribe members wouldn’t be trying to keep them. It is those darn adjectives like fighting it did in the Illini and now the Sioux. Tears that this used up money in this economy for a four-year legal battle, wait no come to think of it that is exactly where money should go to people with law degrees. How do I sign up?

Perfect Season. After a 2-0 start I had dreams of the perfect season for my Atlanta Braves. Perfection was still possible only 160 more to go. The Cubs dashed all those hopes yesterday with a 2-0 win over the Braves. Don’t worry about me I am sure I will be okay…maybe?!? The Cubs cheated I just know it I don’t have any proof yet, but I know it happened!

If you are like Cindy and cannot get enough of Friday Farewells click here for more.

SVU on ESPN!

My alma mater Southern Virginia University had a video on ESPN's new show SportsNation with Colin Cowherd.  This is not quite how I envisioned SVU's highlight reel debut, but hey any publicity is good publicity.

Check this out. Click here ==> THE DUNK.


This is from a few years ago back when I was still roming the hill. 

Vlad where you at? Apparently on ESPN.

Congratulations... I Guess?

I have been trying to think all day about how to congratulate the Duke Blue Devils and well it has been almost 24 hours since the almost greatest shot in championship history went just long so here it goes.

Congratulations DUKE on destroying the hopes and dreams of the Butler Bulldogs and the Butler mini-nation.

Congrats on ruining an what would have been an amazing night for everyone that roots for the underdogs.

Congratulations that you worked your way through the easiest bracket imaginable. 

Congrats that you made the ugliest national championship game even uglier by winning it.  Many are calling this the greatest championship game ever.  The greatest game does not involve teams going more than five minutes between field goals. 

Congratulations on telling kids everywhere that where you go to school no matter how hard you work matters. 

Congrats on playing the worst officiated game in college basketball history.  I am by no means advocating that Duke won becuase of the officials only stating that the game was officiated horribly fo both teams. 

And most importantly congratulaions on causing me to lose my bracket! I am man enough to admit I had Duke getting upset by Louisville in the 2nd round.  Rick Pitino I blame you entirely (Man enough to admit my mistakes, but apparently not man enough to take responsibility for them).   

Sorry I just had to post this again it gets me every time.

Thank You Notes

After a month of laying low, I decided to return to action and get caught up on my Thank You notes.

Thank You April Fools for bringing out the best in pranksters every where and the worst in Kenyon Martin. (who refused to play in the playoffs until someone revealed who filled his car with popcorn)

Thank You Indy Star for publishing the craziest picture I have seen since this little diddy.  

Thank You Opening Day for brightening the day for at least a day for a Mets fan.

Thank You Neil Diamond for almost persuading me to be a Red Sox fan.  He still has it my friends!

Thank You NBA Green Week, I truly believe those headbands 29 players wore will save our Earth.

Thank You Nets for offering Coach K a huge coaching gig, allowing the rest of us to see how depressing losing the championship could be.  Really it is never that bad Mike, don't do it!

Thank You NCAA Tournament for bringing out the lame excuses in us all.  "Well I really thought Butler would make the Final Four but just clicked on Kansas instead".  Congrats true fans.

Thank You Don Nelson for putting the Golden State Warriors in the headlines, first time since PJ vs Latrell.

Coach K, You Devil!

The Four6Three's photo of the day is from the sports section from today's Indy Star.  The photo says it all!

Do you think it was inappropriate, dead on, or just a funny joke?
Let the Four6Three know what you think.  Leave us a comment or Tweet us.

Friday Farewells for April 2, 2010

This Final Four edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by the number 4 & the letter F (I have spent way too much time watching television with my 2 year-old daughter).

Farewell:

Freedom. Cleveland Browns tackle Shaun Rogers attempted to board an airplane, but was arrested. He was not however arrested because he took up two seats, but because his gun and bullets with him apparently did. So in a role reversal the tackle was tackled by airport security. Taking a loaded gun in your bag with you on an airplane produces the same results as a bad roll of the dice in monopoly, both land you directly in jail without passing go. Tears? Oh yes a few tears of laughter at his stupidity & at the thought of twelve TSA officials trying to take down this mammoth of a man.

Mind. Jim Playfair coach for the Abbotsford minor league hockey team bid farewell to his mind and self respect with his tirade.  I can't say more except if you have 53 seconds watch this meltdown. The only tears will come if you attempt to read lips.

John Wall’s Player of the Year Award. The AP apparently didn’t believe all the hype it was responsible for creating and made the correct decision choosing Evan Turner from Ohio State as the AP’s Player of the Year. Some may disagree with this decision, but they are wrong. Hard to feel bad when they got it right.

Privacy. The probe into Santonio Holmes alleged assault of a college student will be reactivated. The difference this time the victim will cooperate. Holmes is said to have thrown a glass at the student, hitting her in the face resulting in a laceration. TMZ has already reserved curbside parking at Holmes’ house along with the rest of the paparazzi. The upside his quarterback Ben knows a good attorney. Innocent until photographed looking guilty.

Championship Hopes. This just in UNC’s championship hopes vanished last night well at least for the NIT. Roy Williams stated what we all knew, that winning the NIT is not in his hopes and dreams. It is not in my hopes and dreams either Roy.

Security Guard. If you want to keep your job at Lucas Oil Arena, you probably should not mistake the coach of the Butler Bulldogs for a player. This is what a security guard did to Coach Brad Stevens on Thursday. Feel bad for the guy, but really Stevens doesn’t look old enough to play he looks like one of the player’s little brother. I feel your pain Brad, I got asked why I was skipping my Junior High Classes last Friday.

Olympic Roster Spot. USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo has informed Dwayne Wade & Lebron James their roster spots for the Olympic Roster is not guaranteed if they skip this summer’s World Championships.  Both have indicated the plan to take this summer off.  No King, No Flash…No Gold Medal?Gulp!?!

Anonymity. Four6Three is no longer unknown as we received a comment from the Famous Dan Brown. No not the author of The DaVinci Code & Angel’s & Demons, but the one who runs podcasts and blogs. Yes Dan you are the famous one in our eyes and we would like to invite you to make a guest appearance on the Four6Three. Ecstatic someone famous is leaving comments, next stop ESPN.

Are you like Jo Dean Gates and can't get enough of Friday Farewells wll then here you go?

College Football To Move To Playoff In 2011

A Congressman aid said there is a rider to a major bill that is "95% likely to pass" that would change college football's post season forever.  This congressional aid said the bill has not been news because members of Congress are now talking to the NCAA hoping they will disolve the BCS first.  Congress would prefer to allow the NCAA to save face and do the right thing. 

The bill would disolve the BCS for antitrust issues because of the competitive advantage it gives to BCS Conference schools.  The bill would require the NCAA to adopt an 8 or 16 team playoff format.  The aid is a former college roomate of mine and very reliable, but not as reliable as a solid April Fools Joke.