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EndScore Interview: Redleg Nation’s Chad Dotson
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Front Office, Kudos, MLB,
EndScore recently had the great privelege to interview Redleg Nation‘s Chad Dotson, a passionate Cincinnati Reds fan who shows his Reds love through one of the best baseball blogs on the internet. He shared his thoughts on his blog, the current Reds team, and what he thinks of the new Reds ownership.
EndScore: Can you tell me about Redleg Nation (RN) - how it started, when, etc.?
Chad: Sure. A couple of years ago, I began to think I’d enjoy writing about the Reds on a regular basis. I’m a lifelong fan of the team, and I enjoyed the Reds blogs that were out there, but I felt that there was a place for another, different type of Reds blog. So I went about designing the page and getting things set up.
Meanwhile, I made the decision to seek out different contributors. I’m a member of a Cincinnati Reds listserv, and there were several members of that listserv that I thought would make excellent contributors to the blog. So I decided to make it a group blog, invited a few others to join in, and it took off from there. We’ve had a blast with it.
EndScore: So how many bloggers are there on RN?
Chad: We have six bloggers, and each person has their own area of expertise, so to speak. This season, we’re trying to focus more on the Reds minor league system, and having five other contributors makes it easier to follow everything. Our talented group of contributors are Bill Lack (who is the founder of the Reds listserv), Chris Garber, Matt Malott, Chris Wilson, and Tom Diesman.
Click to continue reading EndScore Interview: Redleg Nation’s Chad Dotson
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New Orleans Saints Running Back Reggie Bush and the Jersey Number Confusion Saga
Posted by Jeff Chan Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Gear, Kudos, NFL,
There is still doubt as to whether Reggie Bush will be able to wear his favorite number 5 on the back of his jersey come the start of the NFL season. Figures from retailers have cooled off in sales, because of the uncertainty. Although to us, that is not the big story. The big story is a heart-warming, charitable one. Bush will donate 25 percent of all royalties he will receive as a result of jersey sales toward Hurricane Katrina charities regardless of what number he has on his jersey. That wasn’t the only good charitable act Bush has been apart of recently. Bush recently contributed $50,000 to the Holy Rosary School, a learning disabilities school in Louisiana that was in danger of closing. I just want to get give my applause to Reggie Bush for his good deeds in the age of the spoiled and pampered athlete.
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| Darren Rovell
As The Knicks Turn
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Front Office, NBA, Rumors,
It all seems like a done deal at this point. And I’m not talking about the rumors of Larry Brown being bought out of the remaining four years of his contract for $40 million turning into actual fact. If you followed the Knicks, it was almost an inevitability like a Grant Hill injury. No, I’m talking about something else, something every Knicks fan knows and I hope doesn’t pay for anymore.
The front office is as shaky as Trina’s (ahem) in one of her videos.
Seriously, with all of the mistakes the front office committed, (Jerome James anyone?), Larry Brown is going to be the fall guy? I’ve even heard that one of the reasons why the front office is thinking about letting Brown go is because they can’t meet the personnel demands of Brown, such as getting a shot-blocker. James was supposed to fulfill this role, but couldn’t do a lick to earn more than 9.2 minutes per game. Some may say that Brown didn’t establish a rotation, which was a problem and I wouldn’t disagree, but seriously, no one was doing what they needed to do night-in and night-out to earn the playing time besides Jamal Crawford (no, that isn’t a long typo) and Channing Frye before he got injured.
But, when you’re given lemons, you either try to make lemonade OR, apparrently, have your dad take your pitcher of water and gallon of ice away from you.
Click to continue reading As The Knicks Turn
Rafael Nadal Wins Tournament and Ties a Clay Court Record
Posted by Jeff Chan Categories: Athletes, Championship, Kudos, Tennis,
In a grueling five-hour, five-set match, Rafael Nadal defeated the number one seeded Roger Federer for the third time this season. This match has so many interesting tidbits to digest - not only did Nadal fight off two match points, this match also featured three tie-breaker sets. This was the championship match for the Rome Masters tournament, and the win gave the 19 year old Nadal his 16th title for his career, tying him with Bjorn Borg. Oh, Nadal tied a Men’s record with 53 straight clay court victories as well. Nadal has won nine straight tournaments on clay court. The loss by Federer gives him three for the 2006 year, all at the hands of Nadal. The clay court for non-tennis fanatics makes the ball move a bit slower which gives the faster players more of a chance to succeed against the hard-smashing, ace-serving big guys of tennis.
Read More | ESPN
I’m not a New Jersey Nets fan, but I’m disappointed the Nets couldn’t defend their home-court. The Miami Heat won the two road games at the Continental Airlines Arena and can finish the Nets off at home in Miami tomorrow night. The poor New Jersey Swamp Dragons couldn’t repeat their regular season success versus the Heat. If the Nets aren’t able to hold on, it will be doubly disappointing for the Garden State sports fans because the New Jersey Devils were eliminated out of the playoffs as well. The only solace I can take out of this is that the game sent Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter crying home back to his 40/40 club. I would like to root for Dwayne Wade but, there are too many players that aren’t likable on the Heat roster including: Jason Williams, (the older and not wiser) Gary Payton, and Scott Skiles abuser- Antoine Walker. I know coach Pat Riley just lost his mom recently but he needs to get picked on as well. The fake brown hair dye above his grey sideburns has to go. It just makes him look even sleazier than a guy who would fire his coach just so he can take the team to the NBA Finals himself and take all the credit.
Detroit Pistons Forward Rasheed Wallace Guarantees a Game 4 Victory
Posted by Jeff Chan Categories: Athletes, Editorial, NBA, Playoffs,
Rasheed Wallace must drive Detroit Piston fans crazy. After a no-show performance in Game 3, Rasheed Wallace has guaranteed a game four victory. Rasheed states that Game 4 will be the last game in Quicken Loans Arena (Man, I hate the name of this venue) this season by winning tomorrow night and closing out the series in Game 5 in Detroit. Bold words by a guy who scored only 11 points and shot 3-11 on Saturday afternoon. Not only did he shoot badly, but he was letting Anderson Varejao get in his head. Anderson Varejao! Varejao is a high energy bench player like Eduardo Najera or a Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams; he shouldn’t be getting the better of an all-star caliber player like Rasheed Wallace. Towards the end of the game, Detroit was still in the game, and you could see Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton as the only players that were willing to take a shot towards the end of the game. Hamilton was running around the court trying to get free, like he was on his last bar on Boost Mobile power, not receiving any picks along the baseline. Not only that, Rasheed was just standing in the way, not setting a pick for Billups or posting up. I could imagine Billups going nuts in his head during the fourth quarter, I mean, he’s not going to pass to Ben Wallace for offense, and Tayshaun Prince can’t create for himself unless it’s on a fast break. Tonight it’s put up or shut up time for Rasheed Wallace.
Read More | ESPN
Hideki Matsui Apologizes For Injury… Huh?
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB,
I cannot believe Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees, actually apologized for getting hurt. Seriously, this blows my mind.
When was the last time you heard of a major star in a major media capital apologize for getting hurt? Something that he had no control over. In fact, if you watch the play on which Matsui broke his wrist, Matsui was hustling for the ball and almost made a dynamite catch!
And he apologizes?
I think American sports needs more Japanese-type humility and integrity. Okay, before all of you “patriots” start yelling at me to go back to Japan then, let’s be serious. All we read about American athletes, for the most part (and I understand it sells papers and what not), are all the wrong they’re doing. Of course, we never hear about the 90% or so of players doing good things, such as charities, building learning foundations, and all things that makes athletes “good people.”
But we don’t even need to see or read about all of these wrongdoings. We can just watch the actual game. How much chest-thumping, jogging to first base on a high fly ball, or lazily missed blocks do we see every season in various sports? A TON! We’re talking pre-surgery (oh, just admit it already!) Star Jones multiplied by ten, a hundred, a thousand…
It’s refreshing to see a player actually give a darn about his team and his sport. We need more Hideki Matsui’s in American sports. Lord knows we don’t churn out anymore Barry Sanderses, Magic Johnsons, or Cal Ripkens.
Now excuse me while I go pack my bags for Japan.
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect, Cole Hamels, made his MLB debut tonight against the high-powered Cincinnati Reds, who led the National League in runs scored coming into tonight’s matchup. So, how did Hamels do?
He went five innnings, giving up only one hit, but five walks, along with zero runs and seven strikeouts. Of his 92 pitches, only 51 were strikes, which is not a very good ratio, especially for Hamels who was dominating Triple A hitters before his call-up.
But, consider the following numbers Hamels put up in three Triple A games this season - 23.0 innings pitched, 0.39 ERA, 0.48 WHIP (walk + hits per inning), 36 strikeouts, and pay attention, only ONE walk. I think it’s safe to say that the bases on balls problem shown tonight by the 22-year-old left-handed rookie was a case of nerves. And if the bottom of the second inning was any indication, he’ll get over it really soon.
In the that inning, Hamels walked Adam Dunn, then Brandon Phillips, and finally Javier Valentin. So with the bases loaded and two outs, Hamels struck out opposing pitcher Elizardo Ramirez. Granted, it was the pitcher he struck out, but that could have been a very big inning for the Reds and it was a bases loaded situation, always a nerve rattling situation.
So, how does the future look for Hamels? He should continue to do well, but will in all likelihood be inconsistent to some degree, which is almost always the case with rookie pitchers not named Dwight Gooden. Hamels should continue to make hitters miss the ball and get better command, but my concern for him is Citizens Bank Park and the hitters dimensions it offers.
Nonetheless, it’s hard to find lefties that can hit the mid-90s and come back with a ridiculous changeup that will make batters buckle their knees or stare incredulously. Hey, that sounds like the Minnesota Twins’ Johan Santana… Hamels can only hope he’s as good as him.
If his debut is any indication, Hamels is on his way.
Detroit Lions Trade Quarterback Joey Harrington to the Miami Dolphins
Posted by Jeff Chan Categories: Athletes, Front Office, NFL, Trades,
The trade became official earlier today and the Miami Dolphins have their insurance quarterback in Joey Harrington. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins for only a 2007 sixth-round draft pick and the pick can be elevated to a fifth-round pick if Harrington reaches a certain threshold of playing time. This fan for one was happy to see Harrington leave town. Harrington was the overall number three draft choice in the 2002 draft behind David Carr and Julius Peppers. Overall, the majority of the 2002 first round draft picks have been disappointments. The Lions have given up on Harrington after four seasons by signing three quarterbacks in the off-season, including Jon Kitna, Josh McCown and Shaun King. Most NFL teams go by the philosophy of you’ll know if a player is a solid quarterback after 48 games, and Harrington has not had success in 58 games as the Lions QB, but the Lions were an unusual circumstance of being bad from top to bottom in their organization. If Dante Culpepper is not ready to start the season, Harrington is assumed to start for the Dolphins opening week.
Read More | Len Pasquarelli
Will Albert Pujols Be King in 2006? I’m Thinking No.
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB,
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Albert Pujols’ game and character. I think if Barry Bonds wasn’t around, Pujols would have three or four MVP’s and not just the one he received last season. We all know the improvments he’s made over the past several seasons in every aspect regarding his hitting and even his defense… can you imagine having someone who rakes at the rate he does AND plays Gold Glove caliber defense? The former is why I’m absolutely ecstatic that I have him on most of my fantasy baseball teams!
In any case, I’m lauding Pujols a lot here, but I just don’t think he’ll break the single season homerun record of 73 set by the aforementioned Bonds.
Click to continue reading Will Albert Pujols Be King in 2006? I’m Thinking No.
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