A Glimpse at the Real World: No More Finals

This May is the first in the past 5 years, that I haven't pulled an all nighter, and I've got to tell you, I think I miss them. No not the finals part, but the fact that I felt that by pulling an all-nighter I could feel better about that fact that I didn't go to a single class all semester. My all-nighters usually consisted of a few "scooby-snacks" a tall boy or two of blue Monster, and at least 3 or 4 Xbox breaks. I think I actually looked forward to the all-nighters, especially when your friends are around the same table doing the same exact thing as you, trying not to go off on a 2 hour break downloading music just because you thought of one song you liked.

Hi Hater, Bye Hater

America

Fuck Yeah

The Awkward Catcher-Pithcer Meetings on the Mound

There's usually a time for a pitcher on the mound who isn't throwing well or starting to show signs of fatigue.  Sometimes you can't even smell the strike zone and you're in another world.  Whatever the case may be the pitching coach or catcher is going to come out and talk to you.  And if you're playing in front of an away crowd the chirps can get nasty.

Your coach signals for your catcher to go out and have a chat (settle him down).  You see him coming... do you meet him halfway to be courteous or should you stare him down until he gets all the way here?  What could he possibly say that would help me turn things around?

"Hey let's mix in some outs"? I've had catchers come out and say "let's pretend we're talking because I don't have anything to say and neither do you".  I've heard some jokes on the mound and the type of discussion usually depends on the pitcher.  Sometimes it's about a chick in the crowd, sometimes it's about a party, and sometimes it's strictly baseball.

Some catchers like to pretend they know what they're telling you and it's always about your front side flying out.  There's no way you can watch my mechanics as you're trying to catch.  But for some reason it loosens up the pitcher and actually helps.

Mel Kiper Is A Joke

I hate watching the pre draft ratings and mock drafts because it's never anything close.  Mel Kiper has no clue what he's talking about.  If he was the owner of a team he would pick every year because he is terrible.  His "best available" is a joke.  He didn't even have Newton going in the top 10 picks... If you didn't already know Newton went first overall.

Bangs is it at it again

Is this serious?

Madden Cover: Peyton Hillis

I'm not sure how Aaron Rodgers isn't on the cover but he's not.  EA Sports created a 32 player tournament to allow the fans to vote for the cover of the new Madden.  Hillis beat Rodgers in the semifinal and Vick in the finals.  If you didn't watch this past NFL season you wouldn't even know who Peyton Hillis is.  Don't get me wrong-- Hillis is a beast but he plays for a terrible team... Just seems like Rodgers would be a little more fitting for the cover of Madden.

Losing and Skids

Every team loses... it's going to happen in a 56 game season but no one should take losing lightly because every loss hurts.  So much time is invested in a single season (morning lifts, runs, practice) and it should hurt if you're invested in the team.     

But just as there's a right way to win, there's a right way to lose.  In a "good" loss you played well enough to win but the other team made one or two bigger plays.  Maybe it was a pitch in a tight situation, a big hit, or a great defensive play.  In these losses you leave the park feeling a little bit better knowing that you played well enough to win but you just got beat.

Bad losses are avoidable-- usually it's guys going through the motions and a lack of focus or effort.  It's the games where pitchers don't challenge hitters and walk guys, hitters have bad approaches at the plate, or bad defense that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Your offense can run into some good arms.  A couple guys might start struggling at the plate and all of a sudden it spreads throughout the team.  Sometimes no matter who you put on the mound you can't seem to get anyone out.

Just about every team hits a losing skid and it comes in many different forms.  It's either the offense, pitching, defense, or a combination of the three.  Good teams turn it around and bounce back from a loss or skid while bad teams experience a "snowball" effect.

What is ESPNU thinking?

The "featured" college baseball game on ESPNU right now is Bethune-Cookman and Coppin State.  There isn't a better game to broadcast than this game?  I thought the whole idea of broadcasting games was to increase viewers and awareness of college baseball.  You can't tell me this game is helping the cause.

Mark Cuban Hit In Face Last Night

From USA Today-

Mark Cuban was having some fun with Portland Trail Blazers fans last night, but then someone at the Rose Garden kicked the antics up a notch and tossed something that hit the Dallas Mavericks owner in the face.

"Somebody hit me in the face," Cuban told the Dallas Morning News. "Somebody threw something and it hit me."

The incident happened with 6:56 left in Portland's victory.ESPN Dallas.com reported Cuban was encouraging fans to boo him by putting a hand to his ear, and that extra security was added to where Cuban was sitting, behind the Mavs' bench.

Honestly, Cuban's antics ask for fans to hit him in the face.  You're playing in Portland surrounded by Trailblazer fans.  What do you expect?  Go up to the press box where you belong. 

Arkansas Hit-By-Pitch

If I was going to get tossed I would definitely go at it like this kid did.  This is an old video but hilarious nonetheless.