Friday Farewells

This weeks Friday Farewells are bought to you by your local shrub.  


Farewell:


Sweep.  The Celtics suddenly went from dominating to filling out applications for the AARP.  Seriously, the Celtics have aged two-years per game in this series and they were not young to begin with.  Combine the onset of osteoporosis with all their injuries and their coach Doc Rivers may have to suit up.  I think he probably still has game.  Three tears for the Celtics because I know how it feels to get old.  


Jobs. Hello prison.  Federal agents are now investigating the Kansas Ticket Scheme.  Maybe, I need to get into ticketing that seems to be where all the money is.  Well the Jayhawk staff will have to do the Jail-House Rock Chalk! Tears only from my bad Rock Chalk Jayhawk Joke.

Cash. Lots of coin was lost this week due to comments made about upcoming free-agents most notably Lebron James.  Lucky for Steve Kerr and Mark Cuban two of the people that lost money the NBA has found it & will take good care of it by donating it to a charity.  Phew catastrophe avoided.  
 
Cloud of Suspicion. Hello Thunderstorm of allegations.  A 15-month investigation has lead the NCAA to allege 8 MAJOR violations against the UConn Huskies Men's Basketball Program.  Farewells in the near future include: Scholarships, Post-Season Play, Allowable Telephone Calls, Recruiting Contacts, Possible TV Games, and HEADS, which will be rolling soon.  Tears, not too many, it hurts to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar.  

Shrub. Need I say more.  Tears, I prefer watering eyes, but yes a few from the pine needles getting me in the eye.




If you are feeling the urge to rip out a shrub or just want some more light reading go here.

Thoughts on a Thursday

Well the Magic have indeed extended the series now we'll see if the advantage shifts to Boston because NBA ratings will be best if it is Lakers Celtics.

Another thought 

Those of you who follow the Four6Three on twitter know that a big Mets fan has bagged on the Phillies for not hitting now that teams know they were stealing signs from the bullpen. I for one think stealing signs as long as it is not done with hidden Cameras, nonplayer spies, or any other technological source is not only okay, but admirable. Teams & players that steal signs or relay pitches that the pitcher is tipping are to be commended! Stealing signs from the bullpen is no different. My freshman year I warmed upa pitcher all game in the left field bullpen because the shortstop was signalling pitches to the outfielders. I would then signal our coach who would verbally relay the pitch to the hitter. All of this would take place from the time the catcher gave the sign until the time the pither delivered. Cheap, low, dirty, No Way! That is called smart baseball!

Final thought 

Speaking of smart baseball one thing that is not smart is not respecting the game.  Playing with your hat on backwards, your pants sagging & talking to teammates about nonbaseball items while plays are going on is unacceptable. What was worse was the short-stop squatting, the pitcher licking his fingers on the rubber, the umpire not having a clue, & a batter watching his 301 foot homerun like it was 500 feet. He was still at home when it landed. If I had been pitching the next 
kid would have been choking on his own teeth & Mickey Mantle who hit his gigantic homerun could explain to him why he was eating out of a straw for the next 3 months. By the way is it illegal to play with your shirt tucked in?

Ticket Scandal Rocks Jayhawks

Do not use tickets inappropriately. Student-athletes and coaches are not the only ones that can hurt their athletics program and their own futures by using tickets inappropriately. Kansas recently had a problem in their ticketing department where staff members have been siphoning off tickets and reselling them for personal profit. The report cites that 5 Kansas athletic department employees and one consultant inappropriately resold tickets over the last five years.  The value of these tickets is estimated at over $1 million and maybe as high as $3 million. All of the participants are no longer with KU athletics. This ticket scalping scheme was executed in many different facets from premium seats sold to boosters to tickets being sold to brokers. The one thing in common was that the employees always kept the money. The full extent is as of yet unknown as the independent investigators were only able to go back to five years in record. This activity allegedly involves other Universities as well and a Federal Investigation is underway.

Referees Extending Series?

Tim Donaghy yesterday on the Dan Patrick Show stated that officials are told how certain games are to be called & that teams down in a series are given the advavtage. Those of you not familiar with Tim or those of you whohave selectively blocked him from you memory, he is a former NBA official who was guilty of betting on games he officiated.

Now Tim may not be the most credible source, but questions still linger whether the NBA encourages their officials to call things certain ways in order to extend series or worse to determine series winners? Is that the reason the Celtics lost game 4 & Lakers lost game 3 & 4? Is that the reason the Suns have shot twice as many free throws as the Lakers the last two games. Is it just a conspiracy theory from a uncredible source or is it confirmation of something we all have wondered about? Maybe we'll never know or maybe we really don't want to know!

Tough as Nash

I knew he would come back he has gotten a lot more stitches than that & still came back & was effective. This is from an NBA coach & it isn't about Willis Reed or Bill Lambeer, but a skinny Canadian. Greg Popovich knows a thing or two about toughness and yet after his Spurs knocked Steve Nash senseless this year he came back after receiving stitches in the lockerroom and carved up the Spurs to complete the Suns sweep. His face looked like Stallone in Rocky IV after being pounded by Drago the Russian. Cut him Mick! It was nothing new as he got pummeled by the Spurs in the playoffs before this year. Apparently it is also not the last, as he broke his nose in game three against the Lakers & then snapped it back into place HIMSELF! The break will require surgery so th Suns series is done right? Wrong! Nash practiced Monday & will play in game four. If you like toughness, grit, and scrappy then Nash is the guy for you. Hopefully Nash & the Suns can hold serve at home & we can all watch as grit takes on the Hollywood glamor for all 7 games. If it doesn't play out that way it is not because the Suns point guard lacked toughness.

Welcome to Utah

I know this is a sportsblog, but at times I delve into my life as a matter of selfishness. During my commute to work this morning I began thinking of what sports are played in Utah during he last week of May. Here is what I came up with:
Hockey
Bobsled
Skiing downhill & cross country
Speed Skating
Figure Skating
Anything Indoors
You guessed it, it snowed! It is MAY!
While the rest of the country is playing tennis, golf, & baseball Utah is ski jumping & snow boarding. Welcome to Utah!

Friday Farewells for May 21, 2010

This edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by our friends, family, and Fayetteville.  We love you all!

Farewell:

Drama. The NBA playoffs are know devoid any drama as both series appear to be blowouts and possibly sweeps.  Phoenix still has a chance to defend home court, but as for Orlando they have renamed Amway Arena the Orlando Garden.  Hopefully if things play out the Celtics can do in the finals what no one since the Thunder have done and that is give the Lakers a fight.  Wake me up when it's over.

Suspicion.  Any suspicion surrounding cyclist Floyd Landis's use of performance enhancers is no longer as he has admitted to using PED's for most of his cycling career.  We appreciate your honesty Floyd.  There is nothing we appreciate more than someone who is 100% honest about cheating almost 100% of the time.  What a conundrum, at this point I am neither sad nor surprised.

Doug Collins. A fantastic NBA announcer will leave TNT to head back to the bench where he is most notably known as the former coach of Michael Jordan.  Doug is a fantastic analyst we hope he is as successful on the sideline.  Mix of joy and sadness.

Joe DeRosa. Say it ain't so Joe.  NBA referee Joe DeRosa has been suspended for throwing a ball at a fan who was heckling him.  Reports vary as to whether the ball was flipped, tossed, thrown, chucked or launched at the fan, regardless what was DeRosa thinking.  Is refereeing a NBA basketball game so easy that you can start refereeing fan behavior? DeRosa has bigger problems than some heckler like why the Magic are livid at how the games have been officiated.  Joe, I am not sure if you know this or not, but there is security at NBA games provided by the arena.  You do your job and they will do their's.  Besides the extra focus might help you do a decent job and then you probably won't get heckled so bad, well until word of this spreads.  Good officials are not noticed, throwing a ball at a fan gets you noticed.  I cry only because I tune in to watch basketball and get to watch people referee instead.


Playing for yourself. Southern Miss is now playing not only for its own post-season hopes, but for Brett Favre's future.  Brett in an attempt to take the pressure off his forty-year-old self, put it where it rightfully belongs on 18-22 year old college baseball players.  Favre has told the Golden Eagles that if they make it back to the College World Series in Omaha he will suit up again for another NFL season.  At least this gives us some sort of timeline for Brett's return even if it is dependent on a college baseball team.  So we will wait to see if the world's greatest flip-flopper will play NFL football or go to his rightful position, politics.  Tears? Yes, because for the 17th straight year I have to listen to the summer long debate about whether Favre will return.     


Fayetteville, U of A, and Friends. On a personal note we have moved to Utah and had to say goodbye to the town we love, the University we graduated from, and the friends we will miss forever.  Tears all the way to Lincoln, Nebraska which probably stopped due to dehydration so whenever we are fully hydrated they will probably continue (in Utah that could be mid-June). 


If you need more Friday Farewells because you to are dehydrated from dessert air and sadness click http://four6three.blogspot.com/search/label/Friday%20Farewells.  

Pagan Holiday

It pains me to write about a Met (that is my brother's role here at the Four6Three), but Angel Pagan was celebrating a Pagan holiday yesterday.  He hit an inside-the-park homerun against the Washington Nationals yesterday and if that was not enough he started a triple-play.  This is the first time a team, let alone a player, has had a triple-play and an inside-the-park homerun in the the same game.  Although hitting for the cycle or throwing a perfect game is the hallmark of a terrific game this although maybe easier is even more rare.  Congratulations Mr. Pagan you will forever be the answer to a trivia question.  
The Mets, however, in true Mets fashion still lost the game. It looks like when the Mets are involved it storms even on holidays.

The Great Blogging Hiatus Is Over

I am writing today from the friendly confines of Farmington Utah, as the Four6Three refuses to be written anywhere not starting with the letter "F".  I have recently graduated, accepted a job, and moved across the country all in about the last three weeks.  I call this the triathlon of life.  It has been an unusual, busy, and hectic last three weeks to say the least.  Through all of this my blogging has suffered.  I apologize to all my readers, yes both of you.  I pledge now to publish more regularly and effectively.  Not because anyone cares, but because I need to write as my creative outlet.  Okay so it may not be so creative and for the first week or so I may have the writer's equivalent of Steve Sax's disease and not be able to even create a sentence ala Chuck Knoblauch.  By the what is it about people with crazy last names losing the ability to throw the ball sixty feet; Jarrod Saltalamacchia can't get it back to the pitcher.  The true reason is I need a sense of normalcy and something familiar to cope with leaving Fayetteville.

All though I have not blogged much over the last three weeks this has not slowed down the sports world, which has caused me to reflect.  During this period of reflection I have realized that maybe the world of sports does not really revolve around me and would continue on without me.  This was devastating at first, but then I realized the Razorback baseball team is in a three week slump, the Jazz were swept out of the playoffs, and the Braves have found the cellar in the NL East, so maybe the teams I truly care about still need my attention to survive.  So hopefully if nothing else my blogging will bring more positive vibes to my teams and hence greater satisfaction to my own life as my fandum basically determines my own self-worth.  So I plan to be more dedicated to my teams I cheer for, my blog, and my team I belong to my family of which I have recently realized I am not the MVP, star, or even starter, but a nice role player who comes of the bench.  I am perfectly okay with this role as long as we win, but if a losing streak starts I may go to the media demanding more playtime.    

I hope the U of A law school class of 2010 is with me in a renewed dedication to the things we love.  Yes, that includes you Mr. Gates.  

Gammons

Sometimes when you move you find things you thought you had lost long ago, and other times you find things you wish you had lost long ago. This picture was one I thought I had lost but was excited to find, proof I met the man- Peter Gammons.

College Conference Realignment

The Big Ten is rumored to have offered membership in the conference to Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, and Notre Dame. 
This got us thinking if they all accepted what would this do to the rest of the conferences.  Below is our possibilities of what would happen within about 2-3 years if the conference realingment snowball starts rolling. 

Pac-10 would add:
Colorado
Utah

SEC would add:
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State

Big 12 would add:
TCU
BYU
UNLV
Boise State
Houston
Memphis or Tulsa or possibly Fresno State.  If they added all 3 they could be the Big 14.

WAC & what is left of the Mountain West would basically merge.  Some teams like Louisiana Tech may fill possible voids in Conference USA. 

This is just our thoughts let us know what you think.  It is a fun conversation anyway!

SportsLife: How do you define a great man?

I was once told that if you really want to get to know a man you go to his home.  I believe that is true.  When you visit a man at his home you get to see him interact with those he is closest.  You also are in his comfort zone and away from yours putting you at his mercy so to say.  The warmness and hospitality he shows you gives you a glimpse of his heart.

The other way to know a man is to look at his sons.  Most sons with great father's eventually become great men themselves.  Of course their are exceptions, but those are just that.  If you meet and know a young man who is terrific there is a high probability his father is likewise.  It helps to confirm that truth when the son says things like, "my father taught me that."

I recently had a close friend and teammate who lost his father.  Although I did not know his father well, I believe there was something great about this man.  I visited his home with my teammates from Southern Virginia University.  We were shown what true southern hospitality is all about.  Not only did they feed a terrific meal to a whole baseball team they then let us sleep in their home.  Warmth, kindness, and love for fellowman were experienced.  I also have spent countless hours with his son, who I would define as one of the kindest, warmest people you will ever meet.  I do not know for sure, but I am guessing he learned some of that from his father.

Nick we are sorry for you and your family's loss, but we rejoice in knowing you will be with your father again.

Attention Atlanta Hawks!

Due to the lack of rapid communication in today's society the Atlanta Hawks missed their opening game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.  In order to prevent a future problem, I am sending them a telegram to inform them about their next game.

Attention Atlanta Hawks Game 2 of your current playoff series is Thursday night in Orlando! -Stop
You are playing a team called the Orlando Magic and they are pretty good so you might want to show up. -Stop
We are sorry we missed you Tuesday night. - Stop
Due to your failure to appear you have spotted the Magic a 1-0 series lead. -Stop
The Magic have some players you might want to guard, including a very tall guy named Dwight. -Stop
If you are unable to attend please send a replacement of professional quality. -Stop
The bums that filled in for you Tuesday were pretty pathetic. -Stop
Good new is you may be only three games away from summer vacation. -Stop
Send me a postcard. -Stop
All the bests, The Four6Three -Stop

I hope they get it on time.  They should, I sent it by two-day pony.  It was cheaper than homing pigeon.

More BCS Power

The following is an excerpt from an article I am currently working on entitled Busting The BCS.  It analyzes the BCS's possible antitrust violations.  This excerpt is focused on the two new bowl games announced for next season.  If you are interested in the entire article let me know and I will post more or create a link so it can be read.  Senator Hatch, that includes you.

College football is growing and yet the schools and conferences reaping the benefits are BCS members.  There have been two new bowl games added for next season and continuing on for four years, the four teams that will be invited will all be from BCS conferences.[1]  The New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium in New York City will match-up the third-ranked team from the Big East and the sixth-ranked team from the Big 12, while the Dallas Football Classic will pit the sixth-ranked team from the Big Ten against the seventh-ranked team from the Big 12.[2] This is just one more example of how the rich continue to get richer and how the BCS bowl games are not the only place where Non-BCS schools are excluded.  The BCS perpetuates the disparities between members and non-members in many areas other than the difficulty in playing in the Orange, Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, or BCS National Championship bowl games.  These examples clearly demonstrate the anticompetitive effects the BCS has on college football.  

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[1]Associated Press, NCAA Approves 35 Bowl Games For Next Four Years, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5129612 (last visited May 4, 2010).

[2] Id.

SportsLife: Fans, Ask For What You Really Want!

As I attended a Razorback Baseball game this week with my trusty two and a half year-old side-kick Aleksandra I learned an important lesson about being a fan.  As the Razorbacks fell behind early to Auburn four to nothing, they were trying to mount a rally in the bottom of the fifth.
The Hogs got the lead-off runner on base and I hollered, "Come on we need a hit." 
Aleksandra stopped dancing to the introduction music for the next hitter and looked at me and stated, "Daddy, we have a hit."
I replied, "We need another hit."
"Two hits."
"Yes, two hits."
"Two hits or Five hits?"
"Five hits would be awesome."
She then yelled emphatically "Come on, we need Five Hits!"

The Razorbacks did get those five hits and even more as they went on to win.  So next time your at a sporting event ask for what you want, you just might get it.