Precious Roy

Having played both sports, competitively and for fun, I disagree. It's really not that hard to put contact on a ball, throw a strike or field, and I think anyone with a degree of athletic ability can pick it up enough to be competent with players on their own level. Baseball is, in basic terms, more skill than athletics, but we're talking basic competence for a pickup game here and there, not hitting/throwing pro pitches with all sorts of movement and speed changes. Throw the ball hard over the plate, and swing equally hard, it's not rocket science, and nobody's asking for pro skill sets. If you can throw any sort of curve or slight semblance of a changeup in this hypothetical pickup league you're gonna look like F'n super ace supreme. I mean, who DIDN'T play little league and/or babe ruth? The basics. The thing is, not so many people keep playing after that. I also think you're understating the skill it takes to be a competent offensive basketball player, I know kids that have played for years, been coached at various levels, and still aren't very good skill wise (dribbling/passing/shooting), though it's true that someone who can run, d and board will always have a place, even if they can't contribute much on offense. And it's not at all an issue of age diminishing skills, and basketball is MUCH more demanding on your body than baseball. How many 30-40+ yr olds do you know that have the stamina and are in good enough shape to run full court basketball on a regular basis without completely blowing up or injuring themselves? Every 30 and 40 yr old guy I know who plays basketball is a total fitness nut. Baseball is a lot less intense, only brief bursts of aerobic activity, which is why softball is so popular with chubby duffers who like the ability to stand or sit around and do nothing 80% of the time as much as they like running out a grounder or flyball once a game. Baseball is viewed as a lazy man's sport. What I'm asking for is those same 20, 30, 40 yr olds who keep in good shape and play basketball...to play baseball, and it doesn't happen, and it's not because baseball is too hard or too physically demanding, because it isn't, it's because it's just not as popular as some of y'all want to believe....

I think they might have stumbled on to something tonight with him losing to Benoit. There's potential in him going on a losing streak, all the while holding onto and bragging about his guaranteed shot. But you walk a fine line there, as not every match would come off as well as tonight's did and it could hurt Edge in the eyes of the fans just as easily as it could be good for his character..... I liked him losing tonight though, and snapping post-match, great booking. The Benoit/Edge stuff is amazingly full of depth, and it's got the vibe of something they can pick up at any time without losing any of the intensity. Plus, Benoit really brings out a side of Edge I like to see in-ring, ie. the one who's constantly on his toes and doesn't slack off. Orton had this effect on him as well, Jericho seems to have the opposite effect....

Perfect. GREEN QUARTER!

Where? Eastern Europe and South America. Baseball is popular in all of Latin America, Asia, and the Netherlands. A substantial portion of their athletes come from Central America, and the asian contingent grows every year. all throughout Europe, South America, Africa, Asia...... I'll give you baseball in Latin America, but it's pretty much non-existent in Europe and Africa. Soccer I left out of the discussion because I was speaking strictly of the American big 3, but that's obviously still #1 worldwide And if baseball were more popular on a recreational level it wouldn't be so fucking hard to find a game. All you need is 18 guys w/ gloves, 1 bat and a couple balls, which shouldn't be THAT hard to find if everyone supposedly likes baseball so much. I see double that in weekly turnout at some of the weekly pickup b-ball games I attend, and know a shitload more people who own basketballs than baseball gloves. Recreational basketball leagues are a dime a dozen, good competition too, but all you can find "weekend warrior" wise for baseball is shitty softball leagues, because nobody plays. Believe me, I wish people would just show up at local parks to play pickup baseball, but it only happens in the movies...

Well, congrats go out to Roy Williams and the UNC players. I had no rooting interest at all in this game, but poor Roy would have probably had a nervous breakdown if they gave that away

Did Trish go to OVW? Have Christy work with Finlay behind the scenes, and if she's got it her work will improve, and if not then just stop having her work. And I know it's kayfabed, but seriously keep her away from Lita. I have to agree with the people who credit her for her enthusiasm, it's a good sign. They've invested too much time and money into her to send her to OVW at this point, I doubt it will ever be considered as a serious option.

Yeah, except she got cheered for it

NBA ratings and attendance aren't really relevant. What about college basketball? High School basketball? Basketball's popularity is on par with baseball and football, and as far as people who actually play the sport, both organized and recreationally, I'd wager to say it's the most popular. Certainly the biggest internationally of the "big 3".

M-E-T-S! METS! METS! METS!

OF Chet Lemon

I can see him falling into the Tazz/Rhyno trap, Vince seems to have a problem with "undersized" brawlers not named Foley. If they gave him a good push I see no reason for him not to get over, he's got a lot of intensity and personality, but more likely he'd be used as a JTTS

It really doesn't matter if he was the best at the time, he was one of the best, and certainly competent enough in-ring, not to mention popular and charismatic, to be world champion. The six to eight months leading up to Mania was arguably Booker's peak, match wise, in the WWE. He was having much better performances than Hunter at the time, and Hunter was the champ. Anyway, Shelton's character and mic skills need some improvement, but he's definitely got the goods to main event some day.

RHP Ramon Martinez

I'm a basketball man, and football is great, but IMO nothing beats a tight postseason baseball game

.233 .287 .336 That's his line in 38 playoff games, 146 at bats. Ugly.

He made a couple crucial errors in the 01 playoffs, a few in the series, and didn't hit shit

RHP Mark Fidrych fuck it

OF Juan Pierre

I think the Angels are clearly the best team in the west. No "ace" but 4 reliable starters, Scot Shields, K-Rod and a good pen, and a pretty complete lineup. Plus Vlad Guerrero is a major diference maker on offense, all he does is knock in runs. Seattle is the only team I could see making a run, I think they could win 90, but only if the pitching comes together, which is a big if. They've definitely got the offense though. Oakland is too young, this will be a learning year for them, they could start making noise in '06.

The New York Highlanders : (stats are there because they're in my notes for reference, career averages, and I'm too lazy to edit them out when I copy and paste) Lineup: 1- 2B Jackie Robinson ® - .409obp .474slg 2- SS Derek Jeter ® - .385 .463 3- LF Lance Berkman (S) -.416 .563 4- CF Joe DiMaggio ® - .398 .579 5- 1B Jim Thome (L) - .410 .569 6- RF Vlad Guerrero ® - .390 .589 7- C Joe Torre ® - .365 .452 8- 3B Ray Dandridge ® - .355ba Bench: - OF Brian Giles (L) .411obp .555slg - 1B/3B/OF Pedro Guerrero ® .370 .480 - 1B/2B/SS/3B/OF/C/P Martin Dihigo ® - C Mike Lieberthal ® .340 .452 - OF David Justice (L) .378 .500 - 2B/SS/3B Mark Loretta ® .366 .414 Rotation: 1- RHP Addie Joss 1.89era .97whip 2- RHP John Ward 2.10 1.04 3- LHP Jimmy Key 3.51 1.23 4- RHP Tim Hudson 3.30 1.22 5- RHP Orel Hershiser 3.48 1.26 Bullpen: MR/SSP - LHP Barry Zito 3.41 1.23 7.00 MR- RHP Jim Maloney 3.19era 1.26whip 7.8k/9 MR - LHP Jerry Koosman 3.36 1.26 5.99 MR - LHP Dan Plesac 3.64 1.20 8.74 SR - RHP Armando Benitez 2.85 1.17 11.37 CL - RHP Lee Smith 3.03 1.26 8.7 RESERVE: - 1B Cecil Fielder ® .345 .482 Home Field: Yankee Stadium (circa. 1937-1973 ) Manager: Joe Torre

My favorites of the new year so far: Beck - Guero Mars Volta - Frances The Mute M.I.A. - Arular Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze Bloc Party - Silent Alarm MF Doom - Live From Planet X Might have missed an album or two, but those are the ones that jump out

You couldn't find a better picture than that? He looks like he lost the ball while looking at someones hot dog. LMAO

1B Cecil Fielder

Matt Hardy?

Joel Pinero, who was pretty bad, and Moyer was HORRIBLE last year. I liked this team on paper with a healthy Bonds, but they're sunk if he misses half the year. I'm not as down on the Alou and Matheny signings as Al (Matheny is more trustworthy than Torealba calling a game with their young staff) because the team is dealing with such a small window of opportunity. Alou won't hit 39 again, but he's still a damn good hitter, and should benefit from his dad managing and having Bonds (when he's healthy) hitting next to him. Omar Vizquel makes no sense to me, but signing Benitez was a great move IMO. Neither San Diego or Los Angeles blows me away, so if things break right I see San Fran right in the hunt.