Francisco Rodriguez has been one of the best relief pitchers in baseball since he broke into the majors with the Anaheim Angels in 2002. His massive strike out rate made him an immediate sensation and garnered him the nickname "K-Rod." He became the full-time closer for the Angels in 2005 and in 2008 he had the most prolific season of any closer in MLB history.
Part of what makes him successful is an unconventional delivery that makes it very difficult for the batter to predict the location of the pitch. The ball could be headed towards the backstop or the outside corner of the plate. Of course, K-Rod is not sure where the ball is ending up, either. Because of this a typical K-Rod save will involve walks, full counts, and lots pitches. His tendency to allow base runners while pitching at a deliberate pace led to his other less flattering nickname, "Twenty minutes of terror."
In a different life, Francisco Rodriguez would have been a tightrope walker. The final out is often not recorded until the bases are loaded or the go-ahead run is in scoring position. But just as easily as he works into trouble, K-Rod can wiggle off the hook. (The 2012 season not withstanding) This leads to a very specific emotion for the fan of the team he's closing for: The thrill of almost defeat.
As any baseball fan will tell you, few things are more demoralizing than a blown save. A 2-0 9th inning lead that turns into a 3-2 defeat can sour an evening more than locking your car keys in the ignition with the engine running. But a 2-1 victory with the tying and go-ahead runs stranded in scoring position, well that's something else entirely. You've already pictured the game-winning (or losing, depending on your perspective) hit safely nestling itself into the outfield and you've felt the sting that comes along with that. But instead of actually feeling the sting, you get to feel the same sense of relief as when you get pulled over for speeding and let off with a warning.
When you think about it, narrowly avoiding a come-from-ahead defeat is just as exciting as a come from behind victory. Then again, maybe I'm wrong. What do you think?
8.01.2012
7.19.2012
Talented Tantrums
Terrell Owens. Mario Balotelli. Carlos Tevez. Ndamukong Suh. Allen Iverson.
Anybody could tell you two things that all of these athletes have/had in common:
1. Immense talent.
2. Childish attitudes.
There is no doubting the big-play ability of Terrell Owens, the stunning strikes from Mario Balotelli and Carloz Tevez, the toughness of Ndamukong Suh or the quickness of Allen Iverson. But there are many out there that doubt the overall impact a person like that has on a team. Of course we have to weigh the pros and cons, and don’t forget, when considering what the team would be like without them, it is pure speculation. Too many of us get caught up in the “what if,” rather than just discussing the facts.
So let’s discuss the facts of Terrell Owens for a minute. The man is an entertainer, whether you like him or not. And what is an athlete if not an entertainer? Nobody in their right mind watches sports for a reason exclusive from being entertained. Terrell Owens was a player whom you couldn’t stop paying attention to, because you knew at any given moment, something amazing or amazingly ridiculous was about to happen. There’s everything from a first down catch against Green Bay in the playoffs, to pulling a Sharpie from his sock, to posing on the star in Dallas.
Now Mario Balotelli, in my mind, is almost like a younger Terrell Owens on a bigger scale. On a world scale, Manchester City and the Italian National Team are much bigger than the Dallas Cowboys. Now Balotelli, or should I say “Bibotelli,” is not in the press quite as much...perhaps because he doesn’t do shirtless workouts on his driveway for the media. But speaking of shirtless, his “Why Always Me?” antics sure got some press, as did his removing of his shirt after crushing a goal against Germany. And on that point, it’s always you because it’s always you, Mario. It’s as simple as that. Now he will go from a temper tantrum, to a fight with his coach which results in him being told he will never play for his club again, then being instrumental in them lifting the trophy...all the way to scoring two monstrous goals in the Euros to send Italy to the final against Spain, only to become practically invisible in that game.
These are only two examples of many. But what do you think...does the good outweigh the bad? Are the clutch shots, spectacular goals and tackles for a loss worth the on field antics, locker room disasters and media nightmares? You tell me.
Anybody could tell you two things that all of these athletes have/had in common:
1. Immense talent.
2. Childish attitudes.
There is no doubting the big-play ability of Terrell Owens, the stunning strikes from Mario Balotelli and Carloz Tevez, the toughness of Ndamukong Suh or the quickness of Allen Iverson. But there are many out there that doubt the overall impact a person like that has on a team. Of course we have to weigh the pros and cons, and don’t forget, when considering what the team would be like without them, it is pure speculation. Too many of us get caught up in the “what if,” rather than just discussing the facts.
So let’s discuss the facts of Terrell Owens for a minute. The man is an entertainer, whether you like him or not. And what is an athlete if not an entertainer? Nobody in their right mind watches sports for a reason exclusive from being entertained. Terrell Owens was a player whom you couldn’t stop paying attention to, because you knew at any given moment, something amazing or amazingly ridiculous was about to happen. There’s everything from a first down catch against Green Bay in the playoffs, to pulling a Sharpie from his sock, to posing on the star in Dallas.
Now Mario Balotelli, in my mind, is almost like a younger Terrell Owens on a bigger scale. On a world scale, Manchester City and the Italian National Team are much bigger than the Dallas Cowboys. Now Balotelli, or should I say “Bibotelli,” is not in the press quite as much...perhaps because he doesn’t do shirtless workouts on his driveway for the media. But speaking of shirtless, his “Why Always Me?” antics sure got some press, as did his removing of his shirt after crushing a goal against Germany. And on that point, it’s always you because it’s always you, Mario. It’s as simple as that. Now he will go from a temper tantrum, to a fight with his coach which results in him being told he will never play for his club again, then being instrumental in them lifting the trophy...all the way to scoring two monstrous goals in the Euros to send Italy to the final against Spain, only to become practically invisible in that game.
These are only two examples of many. But what do you think...does the good outweigh the bad? Are the clutch shots, spectacular goals and tackles for a loss worth the on field antics, locker room disasters and media nightmares? You tell me.
2.07.2012
Shirtless and I know it
Pictures of Rob Gronkowski dancing shirtless with LMFAO after the Patriots' Super Bowl loss were posted on Deadspin yesterday. Naturally, these pictures were not universally embraced by everybody because the Super Bowl is, well, kind of important. Furthermore, losing the Super Bowl is generally not cause for celebration. Even so, there are two reasons why the pictures should be embraced by fans.
First, despite the popularity and perceived importance of the Super Bowl, it's still nothing more than a game. A game that can cause a city to erupt in joy or sink into a deep depression, but a game nonetheless. If nothing else the pictures place the importance of the Super Bowl in its proper context. Sports are here to entertain and bring people together.* That Gronkowski was partying after the loss is a reminder of this. Besides, it's not like Gronkowski is a brain surgeon partying after a bad day at the office.
*I have a theory that devastating losses are actually a source of enjoyment. Why? They're experiences shared by thousands, if not millions, of people. All of a sudden two fans that never met have something in common because they both experienced the same thing. The catharsis of commiserating about a tough loss with a fellow fan (even if they are a total stranger) is a hidden joy of following a team.
Second, as a sports fan, I do not want the players on the my favorite team to react to losses the same way after I do. For example, I watched the Packers' infamous 4th & 26 game at the house of a close friend. After the Packers lost in overtime I abruptly left and proceeded to blow off a belated Christmas party I was looking forward to attending. I want the players on my favorite teams to care about the games they play, but if they cared the same way I do they would be incapable of completing even the most pedestrian of plays. The pictures of Gronkowski are reminders that professional athletes and fans have a bit of a different perspective on things. If you're a fan of the Patriots, this should be more comforting than anything else.
To a certain extent I am happy these photos surfaces because they remind us of these important facts. To another extent I'm dumbfounded as to why cameras are allowed around athletes at parties. But that's a post for another time.
2.05.2012
Do people watch sports to be entertained?
The Green Bay Packers just completed one of the most entertaining seasons in franchise history. They set team records for wins (15), points (560), and passing touchdowns (51). They also were undefeated at home during the regular season and swept the division for the first time in their history. If this was not enough, Aaron Rodgers won the MVP in a landslide vote. The 2011 season should be one Packer fans cherish forever, but instead it's going to be viewed as a failure.
Of course, there is a very good reason for this: They were Super Bowl favorites that failed to win the Super Bowl. After blowing through the regular season the Packers saved their worst for last and were soundly beaten at Lambeau Field by the New York Giants. It was an ugly game that was by no means enjoyable to any Wisconsinite, and it does cast a dark shadow over the season. But should it?
Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called the season a "total failure:"
The outright beating from the Giants rendered a 15-1 season an outright failure. There is no other way to say it, no other way to consider it. Given the gravity of the situation, it might have been the worst performance of the Mike McCarthy era, shutouts by the Bears and losses to a winless Tampa Bay included.
The only reason the Packers' 2011 season can be considered a total failure is if you do not watch the Packers to be entertained, but rather you watch the Packers solely because you hope to see them win. In this sense you are like a roulette player that only plays because of the chance to win money. You may not actually enjoy the act of playing roulette and you may even dislike it, but if it all goes right and the ball lands in the right slot you're going to feel a rush that only winning money can deliver. The same goes for sports. However much you actually like watching the games is not as important to everyone as feeling the thrill of victory. This, I think, is a much larger reason for the popularity of sports in American than people realize.
There is no right way or wrong way to watch sports. However, too many people miss out on enjoyment because they fail to embrace amazing things that are happening right before their eyes. Aaron Rodgers had one of the most incredible seasons in NFL history and was a nearly flawless source of entertainment, but because of how the season ended people are going to fail to appreciate this as much as they should.
It's perfectly fine to watch a game because you want to see your team win. But there is often a lot of enjoyment to be extracted from losing efforts, and this is not a good thing to miss out on. To paraphrase an old adage: it's not whether you win or lose, but if you were entertained.
Of course, there is a very good reason for this: They were Super Bowl favorites that failed to win the Super Bowl. After blowing through the regular season the Packers saved their worst for last and were soundly beaten at Lambeau Field by the New York Giants. It was an ugly game that was by no means enjoyable to any Wisconsinite, and it does cast a dark shadow over the season. But should it?
Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called the season a "total failure:"
The outright beating from the Giants rendered a 15-1 season an outright failure. There is no other way to say it, no other way to consider it. Given the gravity of the situation, it might have been the worst performance of the Mike McCarthy era, shutouts by the Bears and losses to a winless Tampa Bay included.
The only reason the Packers' 2011 season can be considered a total failure is if you do not watch the Packers to be entertained, but rather you watch the Packers solely because you hope to see them win. In this sense you are like a roulette player that only plays because of the chance to win money. You may not actually enjoy the act of playing roulette and you may even dislike it, but if it all goes right and the ball lands in the right slot you're going to feel a rush that only winning money can deliver. The same goes for sports. However much you actually like watching the games is not as important to everyone as feeling the thrill of victory. This, I think, is a much larger reason for the popularity of sports in American than people realize.
There is no right way or wrong way to watch sports. However, too many people miss out on enjoyment because they fail to embrace amazing things that are happening right before their eyes. Aaron Rodgers had one of the most incredible seasons in NFL history and was a nearly flawless source of entertainment, but because of how the season ended people are going to fail to appreciate this as much as they should.
It's perfectly fine to watch a game because you want to see your team win. But there is often a lot of enjoyment to be extracted from losing efforts, and this is not a good thing to miss out on. To paraphrase an old adage: it's not whether you win or lose, but if you were entertained.
2.03.2012
All Quiet on the Transfer Front
During this January’s transfer window, you nearly could have heard a pin drop. A whisper here and there about a rumour of a guy who may have possibly thought about signing with a team somewhere, or something. That’s about all there was as far as legitimate stories went during this year’s first window.
Many are chalking this up to the new UEFA spending regulations. For one, I firmly support the idea of putting a hold on how clubs can spend, considering the fact that the enormous amounts of debt accrued by various clubs could be detrimental to the sport long-term. However, I think there is more to it than that.
I believe that owners and managers alike are scared, and for good reason. What if they shell out a bunch of money on the next Fernando Torres? Who, mind you, is not in a “slump.” The kid does not have it anymore, at least not while with Chelsea.Then, with these new regulations in place, they could severely hamper or even destroy their team’s chances over the next couple years. Or what if a team tries to buy a big-name player to fill the void of someone they have recently lost and gets a dud out of it, not unlike Liverpool signing Andy Carroll?
The risk vs. reward of some players is astronomical. No, I’m not talking about the Mario Balotellis of the world. From an objective standpoint, he is pretty much all reward with little risk. Sure, he is a circus act of a “professional” if I ever saw one, but he does not carry the same kind of baggage or hurt his team like a Carlos Teves does. Balotelli can make you shake your head, roll your eyes, and get distracted but he is still a more than adequate contributor and an overall help to the team. Tevez is on a whole separate level. He has all the skill in the world, and none of the motivation, especially considering he will not fulfill his role as a player by playing when he is told (see: Champions League vs. Bayern Munich).
Now while I think that is the primary reason, there could be other motivations to be sure. One possibility is that more teams are realizing the benefits of developing players through a strong youth system, and through scouts who can inexpensively pick up younger talent. For examples of this look at players like Jack Wilshire, Wojciech Szczesny, Lionel Messi and the many fantastic products of the renowned Ajax academy. Of course that’s not to say there is not large amounts of money that go into developing players, or that those players won’t end up moving to a different club after you developed them, like Ashley Cole did. But it is much cheaper than $80 million for a player who scores 3 goals in 32 league games (see: Fernando Torres).
The January transfer window is typically the quieter of the two, and this year proved that better than most. Perhaps that is due to owners and managers being afraid to get a bust...but I also would not mind a summer full of big moves for the likes of Tevez, Demba Ba, Didier Drogba or Honda.
Many are chalking this up to the new UEFA spending regulations. For one, I firmly support the idea of putting a hold on how clubs can spend, considering the fact that the enormous amounts of debt accrued by various clubs could be detrimental to the sport long-term. However, I think there is more to it than that.
I believe that owners and managers alike are scared, and for good reason. What if they shell out a bunch of money on the next Fernando Torres? Who, mind you, is not in a “slump.” The kid does not have it anymore, at least not while with Chelsea.Then, with these new regulations in place, they could severely hamper or even destroy their team’s chances over the next couple years. Or what if a team tries to buy a big-name player to fill the void of someone they have recently lost and gets a dud out of it, not unlike Liverpool signing Andy Carroll?
The risk vs. reward of some players is astronomical. No, I’m not talking about the Mario Balotellis of the world. From an objective standpoint, he is pretty much all reward with little risk. Sure, he is a circus act of a “professional” if I ever saw one, but he does not carry the same kind of baggage or hurt his team like a Carlos Teves does. Balotelli can make you shake your head, roll your eyes, and get distracted but he is still a more than adequate contributor and an overall help to the team. Tevez is on a whole separate level. He has all the skill in the world, and none of the motivation, especially considering he will not fulfill his role as a player by playing when he is told (see: Champions League vs. Bayern Munich).
Now while I think that is the primary reason, there could be other motivations to be sure. One possibility is that more teams are realizing the benefits of developing players through a strong youth system, and through scouts who can inexpensively pick up younger talent. For examples of this look at players like Jack Wilshire, Wojciech Szczesny, Lionel Messi and the many fantastic products of the renowned Ajax academy. Of course that’s not to say there is not large amounts of money that go into developing players, or that those players won’t end up moving to a different club after you developed them, like Ashley Cole did. But it is much cheaper than $80 million for a player who scores 3 goals in 32 league games (see: Fernando Torres).
The January transfer window is typically the quieter of the two, and this year proved that better than most. Perhaps that is due to owners and managers being afraid to get a bust...but I also would not mind a summer full of big moves for the likes of Tevez, Demba Ba, Didier Drogba or Honda.
1.26.2012
This Blog (Test)
This blog has been started by Kyle and Mike. We are here for the purpose of not just writing sports news, opinions, or analysis. We are here to have a conversation, to dialogue with each other and with you about the sporting world yesterday, today, and the future.
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