SportsHoncho

Back from Vacation

Finally back from a week long vacation to Lake Powell in southern Utah.  Let me just say that, this is one of the greatest ways to spend a vacation.  On a boat, wake-boarding, swimming, tubing and trying to catch lizards, all day long.  To top it off my 5-year-old Jake skied with a horseshoe ski for 20 minutes and eventually was able to get up by himself.  I am sure his highlight was saying "Hit it," followed closely by the crash (he was practicing the crash, on the houseboat deck before we took him out).  We even got Drew, my 2-year-old, up on the horseshoe for a few minutes (he had to do it, since his big brother did it).

Now I'm back, I will be pushing hard this week to get ZipCodeSports.com development completed and the website launched. 

....and luckily next week I am going on another boating trip to Bear Lake.

WHO's 'Bored' NOW?

I'm bored with ESPN's 'Who's Now' contest.  Anybody else? 

I thought it started with great potential, but has kind of lost its luster.  I'm sorry I just don't think that ESPN is providing any value with their "Who's Now" contest.  They are asking people to compare athletes from different sports and vote on who is more popular.  Doesn't this belong in the back of a high school yearbook somewhere? 

I see a couple of major problems with the contest.

1. Its really boring listening to celebrities talk about who's now and try to convince us to vote the way they are going to vote.  (I do however, like it when the SportsCasters, mostly Mike Greenberg, make fun of the celebrities.)  I normally turn the channel when they go to Stuart's panel of experts, because I could really care less of their opinions.
2. We are asked to compare athletes from different sports, which is difficult without the athlete's sport being in season.  A-Rod is going against Kobe Bryant in the next couple of days.  Although I personally would vote for A-Rod, because I hate the Lakers, it is unfair that it is the NBA's off season and so the only thing in the news is the achievements of A-Rod, and of course, the trade whining of Kobe.  I know, I know, we should be smart enough to compare subjectively, but that will not happen.  When Tiger takes on LT next week, there is no way LT would loose if we were in week 12 of last years NFL season, but right now, Tiger will probably win.
3. Also, the fans of a particular sport may skew the results by voting strictly for their favorite sport.  In reality, if your favorite athlete is not included in the bracket, you still want you favorite sport to come out victorious.  Look at the sports left; Tennis, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Racing, and the relatively unpopular ones that have been completely eliminated; Skate Boarders, Soccer, Volleyball, Swimmers and others (I don't recognize some of the athletes names, they are so obscure, maybe a Badminton legend is in there!).

Those are a couple of reasons why I think an ESPN executive is asking "How did that intern talk me into doing this?" and "Is he looking through his Yearbook again?"

Update on ZipCodeSports.com

This is summer and I live in Utah, so I try to spend as much time as possible (usually more than I have available to me as 'PTO') at one of the lakes.  Last week it was Flaming Gorge, next week Lake Powell and in a couple of weeks, Bear Lake. 

Along with reporting on current sporting news and interesting games that I have attended, I will use this blog to discuss issues about the website, ZipCodeSports.com. 

Just as an update, we are getting very close to taking down the "Coming Soon" sign and launching the full site.  We are in the final stages of testing and fixing, before launch.  The website is working incredibly well and it is amazing how many sporting events occur across the country.

For those interested (and those who read this blog, Hi Mom), I have most of the Professional Baseball leagues (MLB and Minor Leagues) on the site and before launch I will be adding ALL NCAA football games to the site, ALL divisions, over 3500 games for this fall.  I hope to add the NAIA and the NJCAA football very soon.

Please email with any questions you have about ZipCodeSports.com or if you want a Launch notice email (email me)

Say it ain't so, Dan!

Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN. 

Sad day.  When I started watching SportsCenter, it was Dan, Rich, Kenny, Stuart and Keith.  Keith left, Rich has left, Kenny makes me giddy every time I tune in and he is in the chair, but he is used very sparingly.  Now... Dan is leaving.  Stuart Scott is the last pillar, and I hope he lasts as long as the Greek Parthenon.

Dan hasn't done SportsCenter for a long time, but he was still a big part of ESPN, with his radio show and specific TV responsibilities.  He was the only radio talk show host I enjoyed listening to (I will expound on my loathing to listen to Jim Rome, Stephen A. Smith, Colin Cowherd, Dick Vitale and others, in the future, but now is not the time.) 

I am going to just enjoy the last month of the Dan Patrick Show.  Dan, I hope the best for you and really hope you end up doing a radio show elsewhere and soon... so I don't have to listen to those mentioned.

Hated him, learned to like him, loved him and now, sorry to see him go.

Derek Fisher.  Read story here.

Hated him when he played for the Lakers, well, to be fair, I hate ALL Lakers.  Plus, he did make some pretty big shots against the Jazz over the years.

Was surprised when Utah traded for him, with apprehension of being forced to like and cheer for him.  Darren, my brother-in-law who is a big Jazz fan, struggled mightily over this transaction.

I didn't think he was ever awesome for the Jazz, but he obviously brought some great things to the franchise, namely leadership, confidence and competitiveness.  He was liked by the fans throughout the season, but then they fell in love with him during the Golden State playoff series, when he took care of his family first and  contributed to the team when he could.  (He flew in from New York and entered game 2 of the series at the end of the 3rd quarter.  He entered the stadium to a huge cheer, provided a spark to the team, had a, I think, huge game and helped the Jazz win in OT.)

You have to respect him for deciding that his family is his priority and only after they are secure, will he pursue basketball opportunities. 

Now he has shown us his character, along with the attributes he displays on the court and for the team, I am very sorry to see him go.