Dan Snyder and that Six Flags Magic
September 28, 2007
The Motley Fool is the place to go if you want to know the latest tips on investing and financial knowledge. So it’s fitting that they do a piece on Washington’s most famous money-machine, Dan Snyder.
This piece is dealing with Snyder’s pet project on Route 202, Six Flags America. A theme park that was once struggling has showed significant gains in guest approval, customer service and cleanliness; things that ultimately amount to turning a profit.
Snyder’s history in the NFL has largely been comprised of trying to buy a Super Bowl with a fantasy roster, so it’s a little surprising that his hands on approach is working with Six Flags. Kudos to him and his business ventures, but jeers to the ridiculous parking fees that follow every venture he’s a part of.
If the Baltimore Orioles Are So Juiced Up, Why Are They So Horrible?
September 28, 2007
Some things are just obvious, like the power differences in Major League Baseball with new drug testing in place. Before they were instituted, record breaking home run totals. Since, their back down within the stratosphere.
So it’s interesting that the Baltimore Sun has an article today regarding how many current and former Baltimore Orioles keep having their names brought up in the steroid conversation. I won’t diminish the sources or research of the writer, Dan Connolly, but I think an obvious question would be that if Orioles management knew that a multitude of players were juicing and let it slide, shouldn’t the club have been much better in the last few seasons?
Or at least have given some of that good stuff to their pitchers?
Maybe its just me, but teams that had players juicing had decent clubs. When you think about the Sammy Sosas, Mark McGwires, and Barry Bonds of the world, their teams may not have been upper echelon, but they were competitive. The Orioles have been bad for a while, which means one of two things; they allegations are just that, or the players were so lame that even performance-enhancing drugs couldn’t help them.
Either way, it looks bad for the birds. If the rest of the league was juicing and the Orioles weren’t, they should’ve at least broke out the syringes to stay competitive, especially in the years were some substances weren’t banned. If they were juicing and were still wack, they should be even bigger laughing stocks than they are now.
How Many Receivers Can the Washington Redskins Sign?
September 28, 2007
Rumors flying about the Washington Redskins signing seasoned veteran Keenan McCardell have hit the sports talk radio circuit. HailRedskins.com has the scoop from Sports Talk 980 on McCardell signing after two visits with the team that drafted him in 1991.
Let’s see, Todd Pinkston got cut, Reche Caldwell got signed two weeks ago, and now here comes Keenan. I’m sure the run-oriented offense isn’t going anywhere, but given all these signings, two things are apparent: Clinton Portis might be verified in being so upset, and Brandon Lloyd might want to make some connections on DaBidness.com to shore up that rap career.
Alana Beard is Tougher Than You. And Me.
September 28, 2007
Did anyone else know that Alana Beard was playing the entire season with a torn labrum? I know I didn’t, and this is exactly the reason why I should be a full-time blogger for somebody’s daily. I shouldn’t be wasting my time with senseless activities like a day job, when I could be pounding the pavement with a trusty laptop and trying to outdo the likes of Agent Steinz.
She had surgery last night and is expected to recover in time for the 2008 season. I can’t believe I’m the only one that didn’t know this, especially since she was a gamer throughout the season. Beard averaged 18.8 ppg, made an appearance in the all-star game, and nearly led the Washington Mystics to the playoffs. Even crazier, she tore it playing for Team USA before the season even begun.
Beard has game and heart, unlike me. My calves still hurt from toting boxes up a total of 15 stairs in my new house, and I didn’t want to come to work this morning. I guess I just love the attention of 10 regular readers that much.
Gaming With Gilbert Arenas
September 28, 2007
VH1.com maintains a blog called Game Break, where the newest and latest in video games is the hot topic. Today’s entry features a Q and A with Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas, and talks about his love for video games that goes as far back as NBA Live 95′. A sample:
HG: How serious do your online sessions get?
GA: A couple of weeks ago, I sat playing Halo 2 for 14 hours straight. I had some sandwiches ready because I knew I’d be playing a long time. But I didn’t think it would be that long. Fourteen hours, although I did take a bathroom break.
That’s not too surprising, I recently played Madden 08′ for about eight hours straight. I suck at Halo, so I didn’t get the recent edition. But if you want to get yourself some, the gamertag is jc03msu.
Come get yourself some, Arenas.
What Would Jared Jeffries Do?
September 28, 2007
Deliberations for the blockbuster lawsuit facing Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks began on Thursday. It’s a compelling case to say the least, as a floundering franchise and its head coach/president are at the center of a controversy involving sexual harassment, lewd behavior and mismanagement. With all of this swirling around the New York City streets like so many discarded copies of the NY Post, there’s only one question to ask:
What Would Jared Jeffries Do?
Why does no one care what this man thinks? On an overpriced roster, he is one that regularly does not have his name in print for stupidity or inconsistent play. Sure, the former Washington Wizard only averaged four points and four rebounds in 55 games last year for the Knicks; but Jeffries stands for justice, and its important that we hear from him on such a hot button topic like this lawsuit.
Look at the footage of the fight with the Denver Nuggets last season. Who was that guy getting his jersey stretched out while being restrained? In a metropolis full of beautiful women, with his millions, have you ever seen him on Page Six caught in an alleged love triangle? No, the venerable Jared Jeffries leaves that to the Jeters and Tikis of the world.
He makes less than Jerome James and Malik Rose, and logged more minutes last year than both of them combined. But does he complain? Is he a prima donna about it? Not at all.
It would only be right to get such a moral and humble individual to be the face of the franchise during such a tenuous time. Never mind that Gilbert Arenas once called him Curious George on a nationally televised game when introducing the starting lineups; Jared Jeffries is a man for all seasons. And in what looks sure to be another cold winter for the New York Knicks, Jeffries has the heart to warm the city back up to root for a struggling franchise.
Rutgers University and Racism - Here We Go Again
September 28, 2007
The University of Maryland has a pretty big football game against Rutgers University tomorrow afternoon. They’ve lost two consecutive games in conference, it will be a televised game against a nationally-respectable team.
But that won’t be the topic of discussion. Instead, it will be another issue of racism hovering over the Rutgers campus. As if Don Imus’ comments about the women’s basketball team weren’t enough, now a professor at the state university for New Jersey has made comments about athletic scholarship enabling academically unprepared students at the collegiate level, most notably, minorities. A portion:
“If you were giving the scholarship to an intellectually brilliant kid who happens to play a sport, that’s fine,” Dowling said. “But they give it to a functional illiterate who can’t read a cereal box, and then make him spend 50 hours a week on physical skills. That’s not opportunity. If you want to give financial help to minorities, go find the ones who are at the library after school.”
I don’t see anywhere in this story if the professor has been fired or not, but I do see where the president of the university and the Rutgers athletic director have denounced the comments. Sadly, a large portion of it is true; many programs invest in the talents of an athlete, but not the development of their academic prowess or their professional preparation for when football is over. That’s not an issue specific to minorities, but considering that the achievement gap between minorities and whites is so large, I can see where it enters the question.
This is a double-edged sword, as athletes bear a responsibility to further and perform in the classroom as any other student does. Granted, they make a huge sacrifice for their scholarship and for the benefit of the school, but it all comes down to being a student. Was it a good call to make commentary focused on minorities? No. Is it a good call for athletic departments to allow their players to falter academically, while still passing courses and making GPA requirements? No. Their are ways both sides can improve on this issue, but for this weekend, Rutgers will be caught on the losing end no matter these race games are played out.
Moving Day!
September 25, 2007
Moving into my new home! Be back soon!
Washington Wizards Allergic To Post Presence
September 24, 2007
In another move to jettison beloved yet offensively challenged post players, the Washington Wizards let full-time hustle machine and future chemical engineer Michael Ruffin sign with the Milwaukee Bucks. While Ruffin never really showed anything offensive in his spot minutes, his hard play and intensity was much welcomed on a team allergic to defense and a franchise that once counted Ben Wallace as a roster member.
It’s yet to be determined if Ruffin will receive a Calvin Booth-like send-off from Wizards loyalists, but his play and his community service will be missed. In other news, if this off-season has been any indicator, Darius Songaila looks like he could do a lot of Wizards fans proud next season.
Will it be Third Base or a New Team for the Baltimore Orioles’ Miguel Tejada?
September 21, 2007
The on-off again relationship between shortstop Miguel Tejada and the Baltimore Orioles is off again. Recent reports out of Charm City have had Tejada all but demanding a trade, as he has done a couple times in the past. Simultaneously, the not so lovable losers have openly considered that if Tejada does return to the team, it will be playing third base.
Tejada has made a number of errors (15) in the field this year, on his way to a career-low .969 fielding percentage. On the season, he’s batting just a shad under .300 (.298) but only has 17 home runs and 76 RBI. A large portion of these numbers, however, have to do with sorry team mates, and an extended stay on the disabled list earlier in the season with a fractured wrist.
Tejada has been a solid player for the Orioles for a number of years, so to trade him and his high salary might not work for more reasons than just the numbers. Tough call for Tejada and the club, who both want to win, but have the darnedest time figuring out what to do until the wins start coming.
