Votto refused to congratulate Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd on his performance — one that helped the National League claim home-field advantage in the World Series — because Votto’s temporary teammate comes from a despised division rival.
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“I don’t like the Cubs,” Votto said. “And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back. But because he made that really cool play, it turned out to be a really cool experience. I’m really glad we got the win today.”
I’m all for players being friendly towards each other whenever they damn well please. If Ortiz and Jeter want to chit-chat before a game, good for them. But I want them to be doing it because they want to do it, not because they feel obligated.
I’m glad Votto decided to put passion for his team above being extra friendly to a stranger. He was on the field, even if it was the All-Star field. Not only is his behavior acceptable in the given context, but it’s laudable.
That said, Cubs-Reds? Really? That’s the rivalry he thinks is important?
“Andrew Kurtz, 24, of New Brighton, one of the 18 men who take turns posing as pierogies in a crowd-pleasing race after the fifth inning of every game at PNC Park, was dismissed by the team Thursday because he posted disparaging remarks about the Pirates on his Facebook page …
“(His message was) aimed at team president Frank Coonelly, general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell. It read: ‘Coonelly extended the contracts of Russell and Huntington through the 2011 season. That means a 19-straight losing streak. Way to go Pirates.'”
They really did do him a favor. The Pirates haven’t been good in forever.
I was angry with the NHL for helping Refuffalo against the Bruins. Fortunately, the Bruins still won their series because, well, Ryan Miller can’t do it all, even with the men in stripes helping his team. Then I was even more angry when Refadelphia was given the right to not take penalty minutes despite deserving them. But at least they lost to a better term in the end. And at home. Fuck you, Philly fans. You are the worst fans in sports. (You’re still number 2, New York.)
But none of that represented a fundamental problem with the NHL. This was an issue of terrible reffing in two series I watched closely. And, sure, the reffing was pretty bad throughout the playoffs besides where the Bruins were involved. It wasn’t as bad as the two Bruins series, but it was bad. But again, that isn’t typical. There isn’t a fundamental issue with the rules or reffing in general in the NHL. It’s still the most exciting sport there is.
And until now I thought soccer was on the exact other end of the spectrum. Take this video for instance.
I don’t care enough to look up the names of those involved, but basically the Nigerian player (green) went to kick the ball as the Greek (white) player picked it up after it went out of bounds. It was obviously just a reflex: “Hey, a soccer ball! Kick it!” It doesn’t appear he made much contact, if any, but that doesn’t matter. Soccer is filled with a bunch of divers, so the Greek player hammed it up, falling to the ground like he tore 11 ACLs. (Yes, 11.) This got the Nigerian player a Red Card, kicking him out of the game. And all because soccer is such a mamma’s boy sport.
If someone tries to get a call in hockey and overdoes it like that, he may well get the call, but he’ll also be given 2 minutes for diving. The NHL doesn’t accept this weak, hamming-it-up play that soccer embraces.
But as it turns out, that isn’t the other end of the spectrum. The NBA is nothing but feather-touch penalties. Brush a guy with the ball? Foul. Make contact with the ball and maybe touch a loose jersey? Foul. Look at a guy wrong? Foul. That’s all it was last night during the final 45 minutes of Game 7. (And by 45 minutes, I mean 7:30 minutes of actual clock time.)
It seemed like the entire game rested on who could make the most free throws. And in order to do that the NBA has made virtually everything a foul. Not that the players don’t embellish or ham it up. They do. But the NBA and people like David Stern (the worst commissioner in sports – don’t worry, Goodell, you’re a close number 2), hold most of the blame. And it is blame. Game 7 of the 2010 NBA finals was perhaps the worst sporting event I have ever watched, worse than the 2006 World Series where the ‘Champion’ Cardinals didn’t win anything (the Tigers just lost, is all).
NBA basketball is the antithesis of what a good sport, such as hockey, should be.
In the interest of full disclosure, everyone who reads this blog knows I’m a Boston/New England sports fan. But my interest in basketball, especially the NBA’s nancy-variety, is extremely limited. I wanted the Celtics to win by default, but I’m far from torn up over their loss. What bugs me more is that I wasted so much time watching such a terrible, terrible sport.
“It was inappropriate for him to be out there on the field,” the commissioner told KYW Radio. “Unless I read something to the contrary, that officer acted appropriately. I support him 100 percent.”
Who said it was appropriate for the kid to be out there? Hundreds of fans do this every year at baseball games, they eventually either stop running or get tackled, and then get charged with minor ‘crimes’. I’m not sure who is arguing against that consequence. The point, instead, is that tasers haven’t been necessary in all those instances, so why now? My best guess is that this cop is lazy, doesn’t exercise, and was bitter at the fact that a younger, healthier person was easily destroying his fastest running pace with a mere light jog. If he isn’t mature enough to let people who are in shape do the job he is incapable of properly handling, then he needs to be given a paper pushing gig in an office somewhere. It’s silly to take out his anger over being fat on a 17 year old doing what 17 year olds will do. (And come on, the kid was wearing Phillies gear at that. Have some hometown pride.)
“From the preliminary look at it, it appears that the officer was within the policy,” said Vanore, adding that he did not know what may have transpired before the video started. “He was attempting to make an arrest and the male was attempting to flee.”
To where, exactly, was he attempting to flee? Third base? Where was he going to go?
Phillies spokeswomen Bonnie Clark said the police department is investigating the matter and discussing with the team whether using the stun gun was appropriate.
Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore told The Philadelphia Inquirer police internal affairs will open an investigation to determine if the firing “was proper use of the equipment.”
Given the apparent internal investigation, it’s worth noting how unprofessional it was of Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey to comment on the story with his “100 percent” support.
Here is a YouTube video that probably won’t stay up very long.
Also, despite Philly fans being almost as bad as New York fans, it was nice that they booed the obese officer.
For the Sake of Science 