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4/25: The Good And Bad Of Sports Discussion

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kkktookmybabyaway

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Swift Terror was talking about stupid callers to talk-radio shows, and even though there are some gems in the RIGHT-WING RADIO world, the best ones, in my opinion, call in to sports-based shows. Say what you will about Mark Madden back when he was a WCW employee, but his local sports radio talk-show in the Shittsburgh market is entertaining, and the best part of his program is when he opens it up to the callers. Yesterday as I was driving home I heard this genius call in and suggest the following: The Steelers should trade their compensation draft picks, or whatever those things are called that they got for losing some key free agents over the last season or two, and get Matt Leinart. Then, the Steelers could have him on the sideline for a year or two while Ben Roethlisberger played until Matt was ready to take over the job. God I love this town.

 

I don’t consider myself a sports expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I hate fans that over-analyze everything imaginable when it comes to their favorite team or player. When I was in high school sure I knew the batting average of just about every player in the major leagues, but then I grew up. I don't remember the exact time when I realized that my days of memorizing who was on every NHL’s team checking line was over, but sometime during the 1994-95 NBA season I was watching a game and realized I hardly knew any of the players from either team. From then on I haven’t followed sports as closely as I once did, although I still enjoy watching games; I just don’t know the minor-league history of every player that I’m watching.

 

This entry is not meant as a diss to the people that still follow sports; whatever you want to do with your free time is fine with me (besides, I don’t want to insult Bored just yet because I want him to do a review of the 1984 battle to see which shortstop had the best fielding percentage in the National League). I just chose to do other constructive things with my time, like play video games and watch movies. In a way, I’m glad we have the Boreds and Al Keipers at this place, because you can get in-depth perspectives of a variety of subjects related to the sports world and not have to spend any of your own time looking at the back of baseball cards. These guys are certainly better to listen to than one kid I knew in high school. After the Pirates lost in the ’92 NLCS, he gave me his opinion of what the Bucs should do if they were to contend for a fourth division title. He said, “You know, if the Pirates went out and got some pitching, like say that Randy Johnson guy, they might be a pretty good team.” He also added, “Also, if they went out and got another good hitter, like Ken Griffey Jr., I think they could get to the playoffs again.” Genius.

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besides, I don’t want to insult Bored just yet because I want him to do a review of the 1984 battle to see which shortstop had the best fielding percentage in the National League.

Oh that's a challenge bitch!

 

Ozzie Smith, duh.

 

I fully agree that most people who decribe themselves as diehard sport fans typically don't know what the hell they are talking about, which probably includes me I'm just better at thinking I know what I'm talking about. You also touched on probably my most hated sports fan trait...fantasy GM's. Everyone thinks that their team can package a few scrubs to get a team to give up their star player. I can remember Warriors fans in the mid-90s putting together every hairbrain trade to get Hakeem Olajuwon as if somehow the Rockets were looking to get rid of him.

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But how many win-shares (or glove-shares) did Ozzie get?

 

Who were the Warriors offering? Speaking of Golden State, I remember one year they had several mid-first round picks, which meant they were going to draft a bunch of "ok" players; nobody able to get them deeper in the playoffs. Don Nelson had this sad look when asked if they tried to move up in that year's draft. (I think Chris Gatling was picked with one of those selections, if that helps.)

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That'd be the 1991 draft. They had the 15th, 16th, and 25th picks. Gatling was the first one and he was servicable. Then they drafted Victor Alexander who was just a big tub of lard. The last pick was Shaun Vandiver who never played a game in the NBA. Oh well not like Warriors draft picks ever workout and the ones that do usually leave under ugly circumstances (Chris Webber, Latrell Sprewell).

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But how many win-shares (or glove-shares) did Ozzie get?

 

Not that you really care, but he earned 187 win shares for his hitting, and 140 for his fielding. Only Honus Wagner and Bill Dahlen earned more win shares based on fielding alone. And no I didn't figure this out myself, I just happen to have the book handy.

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