Shawn Green says Adios

You might have missed that Shawn Green retired yesterday. Its not huge news because Green isn't a Hall of Fame player. He had a few great years with the Dodgers, but the last couple years with the D'backs and Mets were uneventful and his numbers declined. But when I think of Shawn Green, I will always remember two distinct things. The first is that Green was notorious for always giving away his batting gloves after hitting a homerun. Kids that were sitting near the dugout would expect a pair of his batting gloves once he knocked one out...that’s a cool thing to be known for. The second thing I will always remember about Green is that he took his Jewish faith so seriously that he would skip games if they fell on the Yom Kippur holiday. To see someone have a conviction outside of their sport/ career and then honor that commitment is something that deserves to be acknowledged.

Green will not be talked about as a superstar. But he will always be known for a few odd accomplishments. 1) He hit 4 HR in one game (tying a MLB record). 2) He had 7 HR over a 3 game span...a record. 3) Lastly, Green had 19 total bases in one game (vs. Brewers in 2002).

Is it possible to tame Tiger?

I watched the final 36 holes (it actually was only 29 holes) of the Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday. Tiger Woods vs Stewart Cink. Two pros going at it, trying to win one hole at a time. I mean, Stewart Cink isn't a chump. He joined the PGA tour in 1995, one year before Tiger. He has staying power, he has won before and he is a professional golfer. But yesterday, Tiger made Cink look like a child on the course. Tiger beat Cink by 8 holes with 7 left to play. That means that Woods was up by so many holes that they ended the final round 7 holes early because it was impossible for Cink to catch up.

We have heard it said, but if it hasn't sunk in yet make sure you dwell on it. We are watching the most dominant athlete of any sport all-time. Sure Jordan had athletic abilities that no one else had, and Gretzky dominated a sport from the start to the end of his career. But Tiger has won with ease, especially over the last 9 months. Golf looks more and more like the Tour de France. They play 3 rounds, Tiger is up and on Sunday he just rides into the 18th green and takes the trophy. The problem is, golfers are supposed to be challenged on the final day, its not just a relaxing round to cruise through. Lifting Tiger up this much is tough for me to do, because he is apart of the "Furd." But when I see someone absolutely tear apart a sport and everyone who partakes in that sport, I feel obligated to recognize it.

Tiger has remained dominant because of one major thing: He somehow doesn't get tired of winning and every weekend its as if he hasn't won before and he has that newcomer drive to win for the first time. That in itself is phenomenal. Think about past Champions in every sport. Often, after a team or player wins a Championship, they become lackadaisical and lose that "I will do anything to win because I have been dreaming about it my whole life" mindset. Tiger is always craving victory and he never settles for second or for just a 1 shot victory. Its like he is a child and he simply wants to be told by his parents that he is the best and in his mind in order to do this he must destroy his opponents. Tiger is unbelievable...and I would make plans to watch him in Augusta April 10-13 because you will probably watch something very special.

The Value in a Big Man

Since Shaq was traded to Phoenix last week, everyone has debated whether he really makes them into a contender or if he is just a washed up old guy trying to stretch out his career. You won't find a firm answer here because like everyone else I think alot depends on how healthy he is and how effective he can be with the fast pace offense the Suns run. However, while thinking about Shaq in Phoenix and also about Dwight Howard in Orlando (did you see what that guy did in the Slam Dunk contest?), I made this observation. Going back to 1980, there have only been 2 teams that have won an NBA Championship that didn't have a dominant big man...In fact, almost all these big man would be considered the Greatest 50 players of all-time. The two teams are the Chicago Bulls (1991-1993, 1996-1998) and the Detroit Pistons (2004). The Bulls were obviously led by MJ and Scottie and their big men over the years consisted of guys like Bill Cartwright, Bill Wennington, and Luc Longley. The Pistons from '03-'04 had Ben Wallace. I am not saying these guys weren't good, but they aren't great. Other than those 2 teams, every Champion has had a great big man on their team. Here is the list:

2006-07- San Antonio Spurs- Tim Duncan
2005-06- Miami Heat- Shaquille O'Neal
2004-05- San Antonio Spurs- Tim Duncan
2003-04- Detroit Pistons (An exception; Ben Wallace)
2002-03- San Antonio Spurs- Tim Duncan
2001-02- Los Angeles Lakers- Shaquille O'Neal
2000-01- Los Angeles Lakers- Shaquille O'Neal
1999-00- Los Angeles Lakers- Shaquille O'Neal
1998-99- San Antonio Spurs- David Robinson/ Tim Duncan
1997-98- Chicago Bulls- (An exception; Luc Longley)
1996-97- Chicago Bulls- (An exception; Luc Longley)
1995-96- Chicago Bulls- (An exception; Luc Longley)
1994-95- Houston Rockets- Hakeem Olajuwon
1993-94- Houston Rockets- Hakeem Olajuwon
1992-93- Chicago Bulls- (An exception; Bill Cartwright)
1991-92- Chicago Bulls- (An exception; Bill Cartwright)
1990-91- Chicago Bulls- (An exception; Bill Cartwright)
1989-90- Detroit Pistons- Bill Laimbeer
1988-89- Detroit Pistons- Bill Laimbeer
1987-88- Los Angeles Lakers- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1986-87- Los Angeles Lakers- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1985-86- Boston Celtics- Kevin McHale
1984-85- Los Angeles Lakers- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1983-84- Boston Celtics- Kevin McHale
1982-83- Philadelphia 76ers- Moses Malone
1981-82- Los Angeles Lakers- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1980-81- Boston Celtics- Kevin McHale
1979-80- Los Angeles Lakers- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar


What this means is that we have had 27 years of Champions (granted some have won multiple times) and almost all teams have a big man that as part of the foundation of their team. Furthermore, if you take out the best player ever (Jordan), every Champion except the '04 Pistons had a great big man. These are straight facts and rosters that I have laid out and so you have to decide what you think of this information. I am not suggesting that you should bet your savings account on the Suns winning it all simply because they picked up Shaq. But the Suns have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the last 5 years and have not made it to the finals and all along they were missing one thing: a big man.

Kimbo Slice and Dwight Howard...men among boys

Tonight I witnessed two men that are freakishly crazy: the MMA fighter Kimbo Slice and the NBA star Dwight Howard.

Kimbo fought Tank Abbott in Miami. He dominated knocking him out in under a minute. To see 280 pounds fall flat on the ground is quite a sight, especially when one upper-cut from one man did it to him. Kimbo made himself famous via YouTube with his crazy street fighting performances and finally he has honed his skills for organized fighting. But this dude is scary and honestly, he could kill someone and not even care or realize what he did. We conducted an interview with Kimbo a few weeks back and here is a quote about how the MMA ring is different the fighting in the streets.

"You know, I go out there and I get angry and I get mad, but I ain't got to worry about gettin hit over the head with a nine, tazed or maced in the face. I can just be me." -Kimbo Slice-

The other freak of nature is Dwight Howard. I mean, a guy who is 6'11 , 265 lbs with hops like him is unmatched. The guy is scary and he proved it tonight with his "soon to be classic" dunk performance at the all-star festivities. Not only did the dude have the guts to sport a Superman cape, but he actually stepped up to the plate. Most people would crumble with the weight of Superman riding on their shoulders....but Howard met the challenge and literally soared through the air. The bottom line is that Howard is the most gifted physical specimen in the NBA and that includes Lebron James. No body right now has his athleticism, his size and his skills. I know Lebron, Kobe, Carmello, Durant and other guys are being talked about as the best faces for a franchise, but I think that Howard may just be the best single player a franchise could have because of his skills on the court, his media savvy and his likable personality....get him some help on the floor!

Did you know hockey players plan fights?

Roaring Rory's Wife

I was at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA for the first round of the Northern Trust Open. I decided to follow the group that had Lefty, Hunter Mahan and Rory Sabbatini in it. When Tiger's at a tournament its easy to know who you should follow, but when he isn't its a tough decision and I figured the group with an always smiling Mickelson, a young and talented Mahan and an always volatile Rory could make for a fun group. Of course Rory had his usual blow ups. He asked Mahan to mark his ball when Mahan wasn't on the green. He yelled "there are three of us, not just one" to the volunteer workers when they accidentally opened the ropes as Mickelson walked by and before Sabbatini got out of the way. But the biggest blowup of the day came from Rory Sabbatini's wife. On the 9th hole (they played the back nine first), I was sitting near the ropes watching the groups on the green. The green was shaped like a jellybean and the pin was uphill on the opposite end of Sabbatini's ball. Because of the distance, Rory decided to chip (mind you he is on the green and while there is nothing wrong with this, many people feel you can be more accurate with a putter than with a wedge). Right before he hit, a guy in the gallery standing right behind me mentioned to his friend that this is another one of Rory's idiot moves. As soon as those words came out, a lady sitting on the other side of me stands, points at him and says "you better shut up." The guy asks why (in a sarcastic tone) and the lady responds with this beautiful diatribe: "Because you are a naive b**ch and if you don't stop talking about things you don't know anything about, then I will b**ch slap you right here." At this the guy felt his manliness being questioned and he came back with a few choice words of his own. This word fight lasted for a good 2 minutes before the lady finally threatened to spit in the guys face before storming off.

Of course I had to investigate. So I left my post and followed the lady as if I was a fan just looking to catch a glimpse of my favorite golfers. As Rory left the green to head to the clubhouse, he saw this lady, in her black leather Uggs, diamond bracelets and trendy designer sweater and hat, and went over to give her a kiss. When he got near, she said this: "Rory, there is a guy who is talking crap and you need to take care of him." After he refused to take care of the fight his wife started, the two walked off to the clubhouse where Rory submitted his below average round of 72. And you thought Rory was the hot head...can you imagine if these two ever get in a confrontation with eachother?

Welcome to Sports From the Inside-Out

I love sports, so naturally that makes me want to write about and discuss sports. But this blog will be unique. I work at a news station in Los Angeles in the sports department...that means everyday, tens, if not hundreds of stories come to us and we have to decide what we will show on the tube. Obviously everything doesn't make the show, but that doesn't mean it isn't interesting. I hope to give you the reader an unique yet informed opinion on the different sports stories that happen everyday.
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