Hey there. It's been a while since I did a blog about sports. And with a lot of sports issues going on, I figured now is a good time to give my two cents.
1. Baseball and Steroids: What went down Monday (Aug. 1) when Baltimore's Rafael Palmiero got suspended ten days for violating MLB's steroid policy clearly shows that this issue is still a very strong subject and the way baseball and the players who are caught with it has a long way to go.
Now, I watched the news back in March when Palmiero vehemently denied in front of Congress that he never ever took steroids. Period. To hear him say that back then and to find him busted several months later shows how much stock we take in what he says.
Which brings up another issue, I find it amazing that after these players get busted for failing the policy, the one excuse they use over and over again is that it was taken unintentionally or accidently and that they never deliberately taken them. I'm sorry, but that excuse goes right up there with my dog ate my homework or the check is in the mail. I'm sure back in the spring, MLB and all it's teams have crafted a list of what's safe and what's not as far as supplements go.
So the players definitely should've known better and to not go to that excuse. Because in the court of public opinion, that line doesn't wash. Some, not all of them, had to know and were just stupid to get themselves caught. Especially Palmiero, after his flat out denials a few months ago.
I find it a shame that a few weeks ago Palmiero was celebrating the fact that he hit the 3,000 career hit plateau and now his entire career and potential Hall of Fame credentials are on very shaky ground because of this incident. What's even sadder is the fact he has no one to blame but himself for the situation he's in now.
2. The NHL is Back: So the guys in the NHL finally got off their stubborn streak and put together a collective bargaining agreement a couple of weeks ago.
Well, whoo-hoo.
Forgive my sarcasm, but this should've been done ages ago, instead of costing the entire 2004-05 season because both sides were so hard-headed to look at the big picture. And look what happened, the players who were so hell bent on not having a salary cap now have a salary cap. And they made out less than they would've even back in that last minute attempt to save the season back in February. And the owners, even though they kind of won this showdown, still wound up losing a ton of money and revenue because of what went down.
Now the league hopes to make a lot of changes and new additions (shootout to decide games, no more red line, etc.) to try and win back the fans who, like me, were pissed off over this joke of a lockout. Will I return to the NHL to see my hometown team, the Red Wings, play again. I don't know. Part of me says maybe, but another part of me is still mad that we lost a whole season over something so stupid. So, if I do come back, it's going to be a while before I get over this.
3. Larry Brown: Now, I'm glad that NBA coaching legend Larry Brown won his first NBA title with my hometown team the Pistons last year and came within a game of winning two titles in a row. But I have to say I'm glad that sorry soap opera of whether he's going to coach in Detroit or New York is over, since the Pistons fired him and the Knicks picked him up. It was getting way out of hand with him and the constant rumors during the crucial playoff season and he was getting to be the coaching vagabond that all those hoop fans knew about him thru the years. The Pistons front office grew tired of this and had no choice but to let him go. Now, he's signed a five year megabucks contract with the Knicks and the town is over the moon, thinking that he'll be the final piece to get them back to the NBA title. To be honest, that team has way too much baggage in my mind to see that happening. And, I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves that club after a couple of years when he yet again becomes restless. Now, once again I say thanks for leading my team to the title, but as far as I'm concerned, Larry Brown has more than worn out his welcome in Detroit. It's the Knicks' problem now.
4. Lance Armstrong: Now, I don't normally talk about cycling, but I have to give mad props to Lance Armstrong for winning his seventh straight Tour de France cycling race a couple weeks back. Since this was his last competitive race, I can't think of a better way for him to go out on top. Even more amazing considering several years ago, he was literally fighting for his life when he was diagnosed with cancer. For him to not only come back from that, but to win what's considered the world's toughest cycling race seven years straight is quite an achievement. Nothing else to say about that but congrats Lance and may you have a long enjoyable ride into retirement.
That's it for now. Blog at you later.
