Edition 41 “Thugs R Us”

Now I know that most people take no interest in watching preseason basketball, but with no big baseball or major football games on tonight, I took a peek at the Lakers vs Nuggets preseason game.  A rematch of the Western Conference Championship from this past season.  Two very talented teams that will be in the thick of it again this year.

Anyways, in the middle of the 2nd Quarter, Lamar Odom and Chris Anderson picked up a double technical.  Things were getting physical in the paint as Anderson continued to jabber at Odom and get under his skin..well he did.  Lamar shoved him and the madness ensued with Kenyon Martin, a tough guy in his own right breaking things up.

Watching the one they call the “Birdman” tonight made me realize that he has almost no talent.  He has gotten into the League on his raw work ethic and outstanding shot blocking ability.  But there is an intangible that he possesses that will keep him in the League for years to come barring any mishaps off the court.  And it is not his ability to get kicked out of the league for taking banned substances, though he has succeeded in this before.  He is a master of getting under people’s skin. Chris is a master trash talker.  This is what he does on a nightly basis.

I really feel George Karl only keeps the Birdman around to get under the skin of the opposing team’s power forward or center.  How would you like to have your role on a team be inciting frustration from your opponents.  Anderson spends the whole time while he is on the floor jabbering, talking trash, playing with way too much physicality, and smiling.  He loves being the bad guy and embraces this role.  He also looks the part with his mohawk, headband, and body full of tattoos.

Well frankly, I think this is a joke.  The Birdman makes 3.7 million a year to pick up fouls, block shots, and goad opponents into technical fouls.  One of his famous lines has been, “Its time for the Birdman to fly.”  You know it is time for the Birdman to fly.  Fly out of the League…

Stay tuned for edition 42.

-Kraze

Edition 40 “This isn’t Aerospace Engineering Joe”

The Yankees once again failed to clinch a birth in the World Series last evening in a 7 to 6 loss to the Angels.  Time and time again Joe Girardi has over thought situations and not gone with his gut.  Well he is at it again..

There has been talk of possibly reshuffling the pitching rotation to make sure CC is ready to pitch game one in the Series.  Mr. Girardi, you have to get to the World Series first my friend.  Nothing will be given to you by a tough, never say die, Angels team.  Do you remember what happened in 04 against the Sox?  Lets not have a similar breakdown this time around.  This Yankees team has been too dominant all year not to play in the World Series.

But micromanaging has become a reoccurring theme around the league it seems like in today’s day and age.  I wonder why games take so long..maybe it could be because managers bring in 4 or 5 pitchers every game.  The simple math of it is, managers who do not over think situations commonly win.  Prime example in Joe Torre.  The man has won consistently for the past 13 years by keeping it simple.  Managers who keep it simple show confidence in their players which rubs off on how they respect their managers and generally how they perform on the diamond.

So Mr. Girardi, take a chill pill, and let Andy Pettite do what he has been doing his whole career.  He has the most playoff wins for a reason.  Well let him get number 16 and send the Yankees back to the promise land. 

On another note, the ultimate micromanager himself, Tony Larussa is having doubts about his return to the Cardinals.  Tony consistently overthinks situations and is doing the same now.  He is debating whether the fire is still there.  Either it is or it isn’t.  There is not to much to think about Tony.

Girardi needs to take some notes out of Joe Torre’s book and just let his guys play and not turn this into aerospace engineering.  Just keep it simple..

Stay tuned for Edition 41

-Kraze