SportsHoncho

Wife's are finally able to enjoy the game

Bubble-Breaker and Tetris.

Salt Lake Bees with the Kids

Salt Lake Bees versus Oklahoma Redhawks and the kids have been active (whining, crying and asking for stuff), so we... OK my wife, has been unable to enjoy the barn burner, 4 to 12 in the top of the sixth. Bring on the fireworks so we can leave!

This post is my trial run for using my iPhone to blog.

Grading the SportsHoncho's NBA Playoff Predictions:

Below are my predictions and my self-grading system in red, which is arbitrary and really just a relative percentage.  If Boston can beat the Lakers, giving me 0% on that series, I will come out of the playoffs with a... carry the 2.... 60% grade.  WHAT, I FAILED!?!  (Lakers winning in 6, will give me 67%, sweet a D+).

I really thought I had done better than that on these predictions and this post was going to prove my NBA genius...  I will publish this anyway, even if it shows that I can't guess how the NBA or Stern orchestrate playoffs to their liking.  No, I don't think the NBA or Stern tell refs to change games, but Yes, I do believe NBA refs collectively suck at their jobs.  

Round 1
Lakers over Nuggets in 4 (100%)
Mavericks over Hornets in 6 (0%, Hornets won in 5)
Suns over Spurs in 7 (0%, Spurs won in 5)
Jazz over Rockets in 6  (100%)

Celtics over Hawks in 4 (70%, in 7)
Pistons over 76ers in 6 (100%)
Magic over Raptors in 7 (75%, in 5)
Cavaliers over Wizards in 5 (80%, in 6)

Round 2
Lakers over Utah in 7 (80%, in 6)
Suns over Mavericks in 5 (0%)

Celtics over Cavaliers in 5 (75%, in 7)
Pistons over Magic in 4 (80%, in 5)

Conference Finals
Lakers over Suns in 7 (50%, Lakers over Spurs in 5)
Celtics over Pistons in 6 (100%)

NBA Championship Finals
Lakers over Celtics in 6 (Come on Celtics, make me 0% for this series)

NBA Playoff Predictions:

Here are my predictions for the NBA playoffs, in case you were wondering.  As a Jazz homer, I would love to put them into the finals (I have read/heard a couple experts do it).  However I think the western conference is too strong and contains the two teams I don't think the Jazz can beat in a series; San Antonio and Los Angeles.   

Round 1
Lakers over Nuggets in 4
Mavericks over Hornets in 6
Suns over Spurs in 7
Jazz over Rockets in 6

Celtics over Hawks in 4
Pistons over 76ers in 6
Magic over Raptors in 7
Cavaliers over Wizards in 5

Round 2
Lakers over Utah in 7
Suns over Mavericks in 5

Celtics over Cavaliers in 5
Pistons over Magic in 4

Conference Finals
Lakers over Suns in 7
Celtics over Pistons in 6

NBA Championship Finals
Lakers over Celtics in 6

Uuuggh, the Lakers and Kobe win the title.?  I can't imagine a worse scenario.  Kobe will get more arrogant and prickish. 

The Western Conference champion should win the title, so if the Jazz do get through the Western Conference playoffs, they will raise the trophy.  The Western Conference champion will have come through a tough Western conference season and playoffs, hardened and ready to dispatch whoever the East gives them, even the Celtics who are definitely good and by far the best from the East.

A Vicious Circle

Since I have never been a big baseball fan, this post is rare.  I average one minor league game per year, the Salt Lake Bees.  We attend the July 24th game, a state holiday in Utah, with the largest draw being the post game fireworks, both my wife and boys love 'em.  A New York Yankees game last year was my first ever major league game.  The Dodger game a couple of weeks ago was my second.  Major League games in my first 32 years: 0.  Major League games in the last year: 2.  My interest in baseball is obviously skyrocketing.  Who is my favorite team, then?

It starts with my brother-in-law, Darren.  I have been in my wife's family for almost 11 years now and at a minimum, I talk to Darren weekly.  We golf together, go to Jazz games together, Holly and I go out with him and his dates regularly.  I had no idea he was a Red Sox fan until about 3 years ago.  He  will argue to death that he has always been a Red Sox fan, but cannot explain how I failed to notice or know this until 3 years ago.  Is it coincidence that this came out when they started to be good again?  Another annoying factor is that Darren is the only boy, with 4 sisters who cherish, love, No... they outright worship him, including my wife, and they defend and agree that he has been a lifelong Red Sox fan.  In fact, most of them claim Red Sox Nation as their own.

Who is my Team?  The New York Yankees.  Thats right, Jeter, Posada, Matsui, Alex,... THE New York Yankees.  Now I could lie and say that I have been a long time Yankee fan.  I could lie and say,... uggh I love the Steinbrenner's.  I could continue the lies and say I have followed them since I was knee-high.  But I won't.  I am a Yankee fan to bring balance to my family and mostly play a devils-advicote Yankee fan to this family of band wagon Red Sox fans.  Stupid reason? Yes!  I HAVE, however, always liked Jeter, and what other team out there is a bigger thorn in the Red Sox' side?  That's why I am a Yankees fan.

Darren's explanation of the recent resurgence of his fandom, is that a couple of high school buddies who are Yankee fans, have always been overbearing in their dominance and now that the Red Sox has immerged, he has gained interest again.  Annoying Yankee fans (high school buddies) bred an annoying Red Sox fan (Darren), which bred a new NOT annoying Yankee fan, me... thus a Vicious Circle.

"Vicious Circle" was stolen from the latest book from Robert Littell, one of my favorite author's.  The book is about the unrest in the Middle East and Israel, based on that magnitude, I think it applies.

A couple of negative thoughts, before March Madness

Here are my issues with Conference Tournaments, specifically the Mountain West Conference (MWC) Championship:

• Conference seasons are easily enough to determine who should go to the post-season.  Period.  After a 16 or 18 game conference season, the teams have proven where they rank.  Taking into account the non-conference games they play, this should be enough to place them in the 'Dance.' 
• Several tournaments, including the Mountain West Conference (MWC), are played on the home court of a conference team. I don't have a problem with this, IF THAT TEAM EARNS that privilege.  The MWC has played on UNLV's home court for several years and created an unfair home court advantage for them, they have won the tournament 2 straight years.  The conference tournaments need to be played on: 1) Major neutral arena, 2) Rotated arbitrarily through the league, or 3) Played on the home court of the Conference's Season Champion.

Is this whining?  Yes!  Is it going to change?  No!  Its just my thoughts and issues with conference tournaments. 

Now lets talk March Madness.  I know this tournament isn't perfect either;  Legitimate teams get left out (ASU, Virginia Tech), Unworthy teams are allowed in (Baylor, American), and Some bad/lopsided games in the first round.  However, even with these flaws, I can't complain.  I love this tournament, watch all the games I can, cheer for the underdogs, cheer for everyone Duke plays, and come up with creative reasons to miss work on Thursday and Friday. 

We have one day before the tournament starts, I have filled out 12 different brackets and looking for more groups to join, I still don't have my 'illness' lined up for Thursday, but working on it and am stocking the fridge for the weekend... Its March Madness!

ENJOY THE TOURNAMENT!

Indoor Football?!?… Can it satisfy my desire for the college football season?

There are some games that when modified rules are incorporated, enhance the base sport to make it funner, faster and better.  Dunk-Ball in my parents backyard, for instance, is by definition basketball, but with some subtle rule changes make it an amazingly fun game for a bunch of 6' white guys.  Some of the better rule changes are:

• Lowered basket.  The basket is set to about 8'6" so that this bunch of 6'2"-and-under white guys can play above the rim and feel like Michael Jordan.  Its a home-made adjustable basket, that can go from 7' to 11' tall.  I don't think it has ever been put above 8'6" for years.
• Goal-tending.  You can goal tend any shot, except 3-pointers which follow the international rule of 'fair game after it hits the rim'.  This rule gives the shorter white guys, who can't jump, some advantage.
• Back-court line.  The half-court pad is small, even 3-on-3 gets a little crowded, and the back-court line to switch possession between teams is 10 feet from the basket and so you can get a rebound, stick your foot behind the line, jump and dunk it without having to dribble it once.

Between me and my 3 older brothers, and slew of friends, this court was heavily played throughout the 80's and 90's.

Our family went to the Utah Blaze game on Saturday, and I am not sure rule changes have made this football game funner, faster and better.  The game was:

• TOO loud  - The music and PA announcer was always on and the volume control was pegged at 10.
• TOO slow - I really thought the game would be faster, but I think the cheerleaders and promotions team was on the field more than the players.
• TOO boring - The game didn't get me excited as mush as real football.  There are some cool aspects, live kickoffs off the screens, hits against the walls, but overall its not that exciting.
• TOO much scoring - Every possession results in a TD, the rules (see next item) are such that the offense can move the ball and score too easily.
• TOO many weird rules - I realize that some rule changes are in order for this modified game.  However I do not agree with rules that hinder strategy or hobble the athletic ability of the players.  For instance "Illegal Twisting" was called on a defender.  Reading into the rules a little bit revealed that defenses couldn't stunt or twist to break from their blocker.  This means that the defender can only try to go over or through the blocker and not use talents to get around them.  Another rule is that there is no blitzing, only 1 of 4 defensive backs can rush the QB. Also, there was a kickoff that hit the net and after a couple of bounces ended up in the hands of the kickoff team for a touchdown.  However there was a penalty flag down and the TD was called off for (I think I heard this right), "the kickoff team passed the 5 yard line before the receiving team touched the ball."  WHAT?  Isn't the kickoff into the nets and the subsequent rebounds integral to the excitement of the game, and they have made a rule to tone it down?

In my opinion, there were too many rule changes and hindering rules to make the game exciting enough to keep my attention.  I really wanted this to fill the void of college football, but didn't even keep my attention for 4 quarters, we left at the end of the 3rd quarter. 

I am willing to go to another game in the future, due to some mistakes made by me.  My wife and I brought our boys, 2 and 5, which needed to be entertained most of the time, so I couldn't concentrate on getting into the game.  My wife has already said she will not go again, but I will give it another shot, but I am not TOO optimistic about its outcome.

March Madness is right around the corner.

College football is over, yeah I know its been over a month; that doesn't mean I'm not already nostalgic.  An incredible Super Bowl has been played and now its time to turn focus to college basketball, and soon March Madness will be under way.  March Madness is one of the top sports tournaments around and produces intense games and fans.  Fortunately, Salt Lake City gets the tournament every few years, with the West Regionals (3rd and 4th rounds) coming in 2010.  With this, I, family and friends have been able to see some incredible games, here are a few that come to mind:

• In 2003, Kyle Korver's Creighton BlueJays playing a very good second half, but falling short in the end.  I remember Korver being an incredible shot during that game and was very pleased when the Jazz brought him for another scoring option.  (For some reason, I remembered incorrectly that he played for the Vermont Catamounts, who also played that day... good thing I researched this a little bit.)
• Also in 2003, Arizona/Gonzaga's, 2nd round, 2OT game that had the entire arena standing and cheering for last 5 minutes of regulation and both OT's.  More incredibly, I would say even with the relatively close proximity to both schools I remember the crowd was locals cheering for the underdog Gonzaga.
• UNLV's 1990 Championship run started in Salt Lake.  This team has been dubbed the 'Best' tournament team by Rivals.com.  I was fortunate enough to see this team 4 times over the 1990 and 1991 seasons.  Both 1990 tournament games in Salt Lake, and then the following year when they played Utah State, we traveled both to Logan and Las Vegas to watch this team.  I may be biased, but I completely agree with the article... this team was dominating.  UNLV started the game in Logan on a 16-0 run that included a timeout.  This is significant only because at USU, the fans have the tradition of standing until the Aggies score.  Every UNLV player, including the guards, had a dunk in the game (I don't know why I kept this stat, I think it was because the game was so lopsided).  Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon were awesome to watch.   
• Along with these games in Salt Lake City, I also attended the 2005 Championship Game in St. Louis, between Deron Williams' Fighting Illini and North Carolina.  After this game, I told my brother-in-law that the Jazz HAD to get Deron Williams.  He will probably reluctantly admit to this, due to me reminding him ever since, probably monthly.

Check out ZipCodeSports.com to see if any March Madness games are close to your home town or plan a trip around one.  Also, get your 2008 March Madness Tournament tickets at

Fans HATE that guy! Unless, of course, he's on your team

You know who I am talking about. Those players that the entire league's fan base hates, except the fans from the team he plays for. This came up recently as the Jazz were playing the Spurs. I am guessing 90% of you already know who I am talking about… Manu Ginobili.  Watching him play your team is very frustrating, and I am guessing playing against him is extremely frustrating. He is an amazing player; guards well, drives well, finishes tough shots, makes amazing lay-ups in traffic, just plain hustles (he had 10 points in 9 minutes, off the bench in the first half) etc…, but there is just something you hate about him, unless of course, you are a Spurs fan.  (I don't condone Mehmut's behavior, but it is only Ginobili... and he probably made that shot anyway.)

He creates contact and he draws the foul, he draws non-fouls, he sweeps potential shot blockers' body and arms, recklessly goes into the lane and will eventually hurt someone, and just annoys players throughout the game. It also doesn't help that he has reached "star" status with referees and 'gets' calls that other don't. Two instances in the Jazz game that epitomizes his play:

1. Ginobili was defending Korver, following him around a screen, which was completely stationary and Ginobili instigated a little contact with the screener and fell dramatically down to the ground. The play was away from the ball and the referees attention, so as soon as he hit the floor a foul was called. As a Spur fan you laugh and think, 'Ginobili drew another non-foul, he is soooo good at that! Awesome we get the ball.' As a Jazz fan you are screaming and cursing the ref's family.
2. Against Korver, Ginobili was driving baseline and drew a blocking foul on Korver and made a shot, which at first looked like a good call, until I saw the replay. Korver was guarding him parallel to the baseline, forcing him deep under the basket and Ginobili jumped into Korver to get a better position to shoot and made a shot. Korver didn't move or jump and it should have been called a charge, and other players would have been given the charge, but not Ginobili. Again the ref's family felt a little sharp pain from my curses.

These are just two of the things I remember, but I know I was pissed at him, cursing him and cursing the refs because of Ginobili (and their families) throughout the game. However if I were a Spurs fan, I would 'LOVE HIM,' and probably for pretty much the same reasons I hate him as a Jazz fan.

That made me wonder whose 'Game' I hate the worst. I am not talking about them personally or politically or anything else, I am talking about their 'Game.' For example… Bill Laimbeer, I mean who didn't hate that guy on the court, except of course Pistons fans. I think you get what I mean, and looking through the current rosters here is my short list and why:

1. Manu Ginobili.  See my novella above.
2. Bruce Bowen. I admit he is a great defender, however he gets away with a lot in that defending. He is strong and without making it look like a foul, can push a player from what they want to do. He is also reachy, always quickly swiping at the ball and most often getting a little arm with it.
3. Baron Davis. I loved watching him at UCLA, and love his game, when he shuts up. I am pretty sure that he goes through 12 kleenex boxes a game. He cries more than anybody in the league and about everything. He is that older dude you play with at the gym, who has lost 4-5 steps and makes up for it by grabbing people and crying at every call, for or against him.
4. Sam Cassell, see explanation for Baron Davis, they are twins separated at birth.
5. Kobe Bryant, for the sheer fact that no matter what the reality is, he 'gets' the call.

Wow, it looks like only the Western Conference produce annoying players, or it may be that I never see the Eastern Conference guys play. Its also strange that the Spurs have #1 and #2. I never said this was going to be unbiased… I am a Jazz fan after all. Who did I miss?

I am really sick of Bob Knight.

I admit it, I liked Bob Knight.  He was brash, funny, did whatever he wanted, and didn't really care about anyone else.  After closely watching his interviews over the past couple of weeks, I realized that I only had this opinion of him because I only saw and watched the highlights/lowlights of his rants through SportsCenter.  A few nights ago, I cringed as I saw him bring his grandson into the press box.  My first thought was, 'I've seen this before,' (see picture on the right). The entire room was uncomfortable with the situation and what might happen.  So Bob obliged them and throws the kid up in the air.  I was truly scared, Bob was wingin' it and looked as if that was the first time he had thrown the kid in the air. 

 

Then last night, Bob won his 900th game, and treated the press conference like Bill Belichick treats them, as a nuisance and a burden.  He gave no meaningful information, swore at a couple of questions asked, didn't want to talk about the 900th win, and pretended that it didn't mean anything.  The last time he tried to convince us that a record meant nothing (the most wins record) he wept for a couple of hours after the game.  The best part was that he then pouted about how much attention Joe Paterno got for his 500th game and indicated that he, Bob Knight, did that 25 years ago.  So he is telling us 'No Big Deal' one second, then he is jealous of attention other coaches are getting the next. 

Bob, you are officially off of my likable coaches list, you've "Jumped the Shark" and I probably should have realized and proclaimed that several years ago.