Two interesting notes from the Nats

Two interesting notes from last night's Washington Nationals game, a rather mundane 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road. The first one sports related, Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez became only the fifth catcher ever to reach 300 homers with his second dinger of the season. He joined a very short list featuring Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Carlton Fisk and probable juicer Mike Piazza. All of them, save for Piazza, are in the Hall of Fame.

The other note from the game was political. A small group of fans in left field caused a delay the first inning by draping a sign addressed to Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick over the outfield wall to protest the new immigration law in Arizona. A law, it should be noted, that the libertarians at the Clarion Content strongly oppose. Government should not have the power of racial profiling. Plate umpire Angel Hernandez halted the game when he saw the large sign that read: "Mr. Kendrick ... Stop the hate. Say no to SB1070." It is unclear why he felt compelled to do so. The Diamondbacks and their owner sent a security guard to pull the sign off of the wall. Ironically, Hernandez, widely considered one of the very worst umpires in baseball, is Cuban.

Tampa Bay baseball

Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field
First of all, it is in St. Pete!!! Secondly, how you gonna call a dome a field!?!

Saw this note in the New York Times today, "It is the first time in franchise history, the Rays said, that they have sold out three consecutive games. " That sort of says it all about Tampa Bay baseball, even as good as the team has been the last few years, they can't sell tickets.

Is it time to start considering moving the franchise to Durham, NC? The 2010 Census will show massive population growth for the Durham area. Much as we love the Durham Bulls, maybe it is time we had our own Major League team.

Hustle plays

The difference between winning and losing frequently simply comes down to hustle. It is one more reason why sports is such an excellent metaphor for real life. More often than not, consistent hard work is a trump card. As Ben Franklin once said, it is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration.

The Kansas City Royals underlined that distinction last night in their game with the New York Yankees. The difference between winning and losing culture is often defined by hustle and effort. It helps to have the talent on your side too, and the Yankees surely do. If you are the Royals, and you do not have the talent edge, lack of hustle all but guarantees losing.

Two critical plays that could have had the Royals in a 6-6 tie last night, rare, oddball plays, both failed to come to fruition because of the Royals lack of hustle. In the first inning with two out as Wilson Betemint tried to stretch a single into a double, Jose Guillen loafed around third base and trotted home at about one quarter speed. Based on where Betemint hit the ball maybe Guillen thought the double was a sure thing. But the Yankees leftfielder Brett Gardener hustled all the way, scooped up the shot down the line, and fired a bullet to second base to just nail Betemint. What is rare about the play is that Guillen failed to score from second, because the out was recorded at second base just before he touched home. It should not have even been close, going at half speed Guillen scores easily. But that is not how things are going for the Royals and it cost them a run.

Witness a repeat of the same kind of mistake in the top of the 7th inning, with the score still 6-4, a struggling C.C. Sabathia was taken out of the game. Dave Robertson, a less than stellar Yankees reliever, got the second out on an infield pop-up with two guys on base. Then he struck out the next batter Willie Bloomquist, however, Jorge Posada displayed some of his usual shaky defense (he had already cost the Yanks a run with an error) and fumbled strike three. Bloomquist half-assed out of the box and lollygagged it down to first assuming he was a dead duck. Posada attempted to throw the ball into rightfield, a superb play by Mark Teixeira saved the ball, and another error for Posada. Only because Bloomquist was not running hard was Teixeira able to recover and beat him to the bag for the third out.

Winners run hard all the time, losers run hard only when they think it matters. And that is why they lose, losing and failure are reenforceable cultural norms, and Royals have a losing culture.

Says it all

The Clarion Content warned that Michael Beasley was a malcontent and that he was going to be a bust before he was even drafted. Last week the Miami Heat traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for two second round drafts picks and a bag of peanuts.

This quote from the president of Beasley's new team, the Wolves, says it all, "He has developed a really good support system around him this past season in Miami. He has hired people to help him grow up."

Oh yeah, nothing straightens a messed up young person out like hiring people to help him grow up.

Yeah, maybe if those people are Marines.

LeBron's move

LeBron James defined his legacy with his off-season free agent move to the Miami Heat. He will never enter the discussion of greatest player ever. As numerous commentators have pointed out, Jordan would not have gone to play with a competitor because he couldn't beat them. Bird and Magic didn't scheme to team up, they schemed to beat one another's teams.

NBA veteran Jon Barry pretty well summed it up on ESPN Radio today, paraphrasing, "I'm okay with this type of move when you are a veteran on the downside of your career and still haven't won a title. Then fine, team up with another guy or two, to give it a run, but when your one of the two or three best players in the NBA and you are only twenty-five..."

The Clarion Content loves that quote for the subtext, the understated understood element, "one of the two or three best players in the game..." ?!? LeBron James was considered no less than the second best player in the league, likely the best player, a mere twelve months ago, according the standard accepted order. But since he clearly does not have the killer instinct of Kobe, witness Game 5 versus the Celtics, and since he accepts that he is not even the best player on his own team, deferring to D-Wade, suddenly LeBron is at most the third best player in the league.

And have no doubt, this is common knowledge in the NBA intelligentsia, from Charles Barkley on down. There is a defined pecking order in NBA locker rooms. And when a guy at LeBron's age and career arc accepts that he is not the alpha dog, then clearly, he is not the alpha dog.

¿Quién sabe? Maybe he is the fourth best player in the league? Dwight Howard has been to just as many Finals, and his Magic have dominated LeBron's teams in the playoffs...

John Wall & LeBron have something in common

What do these two guys have in common? ........Zero titles.

Our advice? Don't believe the hype!

Here are the two best from Bill Simmons's huge batch of LeBron related emails:

"My friend Max's reaction to the LeBron special and signing: "This country was founded upon the practice of defying egotistical kings."

"You know how happy Carrie looked at the prom? And when the pig's blood was dumped on her you couldn't help but empathize? And when she went on her rampage you were actually kinda rooting for her? That's how I feel about the city of Cleveland right now."

As for the draft, John Wall can't defend, isn't that big, does not have a great outside shot, can't play the pick and roll game yet, and has been troubled throughout his short career, but he is the next big thing? We think not. The mentalist, DeMarcus Cousins, has an equally good chance to star as the uber-quick, but nothing else, John Wall.

Then again, there is nothing like getting your NBA tutelage from real pros like Gilbert Arenas, so maybe it will go well for Wall.

Interesting Sports links

Two of the Clarion Content's local Durham sports contributors each sent us interesting links this week. The first was from a non-Yankees fan, who was privileged to attend a Yankees victory over his beloved Seattle Mariners last week in New York. It is a fascinating video explanation of how Mariano Rivera's cut fastball works so effectively, check it out here. Excellent graphics.

The other link is reading not video, so their lazier bums amongst you, may have to slog your way through it. It is well worth the read. A local Durhamanian, who unverifiably claims to be at least halfing-English, sent us a Wall Street Journal article about how English Premiership soccer style regulation could be used to solve college football's conference realignment woes. Read it here. It is not a bad suggestion. Do not kid your self into thinking that the recent mini-compromise made this issue go away. It will be rearing its ugly head again soon. The money is too much and too arbitrarily divided.

Dan Gilbert's open letter

This man is angry with LeBron...

If you are following the LeBron James free agency saga then you probably have heard about Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert screed after LeBron left town. It was vitriolic. We have reprinted the full text below. All CAPS are from his original. It should be noted that by making the James deal a sign and trade, the Cavs did not get screwed as badly as they could have been. Instead they got two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a $16 million trade exception. Gilbert also reduced the price of the LeBron James fathead from $99.99 to $17.41 the year legendary traitor Benedict Arnold was born.

Full text of the letter

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
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The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Look out for the Rays!

Note the empty seats in the background behind Carl Crawford, who busting it for home...

Are you one of the doubters that think the Tampa Bay Rays aren't for real? Well we have news for you, they are and for at least a couple years to come, even if they don't get their stadium issues straight. Check out their Triple-A club, the Durham Bulls. They are the defending champions of the International League, and they are leading the league with the best record again, going into tonight's play.

This even though former Bulls like Longoria, Price and Wade Davis are excelling with the big club. The Bulls are a mix of young stars, like speedster Desmond Jennings and wily vets like Dan Johnson. Throw in an all-time best name candidate like J. J. Furmaniak and they have an ace pitcher to keep your eye on at the next level, Jeremy Hellickson. He is a comin' on, and so are the Bulls and so will the Rays on into the foreseeable future.

It is too bad that they can't draw in St. Pete! Will they forced to move? They would surely like to at least relocate within the area.

Related?

Rumors abound that Rays pitcher David Price is the long last brother of the Geico caveman...



Two for the Price of one?

You be the judge.