Sportscolumn.com – Page 149 – Sports News and Commentary

The Swingin’ A’s

There are no handlebar moustaches to be found. No skin-tight plaid bellbottoms, either. And there’s no basket near the door for your keys. But the Oakland A’s are certainly doing their best to re-earn the nickname “The Swingin’ A’s”. By charging the mound against the Angels Tuesday, Jason Kendall scared away any remaining perceptions that the A’s are still the fun-loving, beer-chugging misfits they once were. Gone are the Lost Boys carrying out Jason Giambi’s never-grow-up credo; in their place is a group of veteran castaways who have taken control of the team, and instilled a fighter’s mentality. Given the way these A’s play, don’t be surprised if they end up in a few more scraps before the year’s over.

Dallas Mavericks

Who do the Mavs really want next?

Post author By havegoodgetgive
Post date May 2, 2006
2 Comments on Who do the Mavs really want next?

The Dallas Mavericks are officially the first team into the second round of the playoffs. Now they must wait for their opponent to be determined between the Kings/Spurs series. If you are a Maverick, who do you really want to see in the next round? There seems to be a lot of pros and cons with both of these teams going into what could be a seven game series. Along with the wait for a challenger, there is also the dilemma of what to do during the time off.

MLB General

Rocket Set for June Launch

Post author By JustSports4u
Post date May 2, 2006
7 Comments on Rocket Set for June Launch

The imminent return of one of Baseball’s best hurlers is scheduled to take the mound sometime in June according to Jim Molony at MLB.Com. The Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers are holding their collective breath as to exactly when the future Hall of Famer will take the mound.

NBA General

MVP: Most Valuable or Most Vague?

Post author By wtt02005
Post date May 2, 2006
2 Comments on MVP: Most Valuable or Most Vague?

The crowning of the next championship team is nearing simultaneously with the crowning of the season Most Valuable Player. About eight players are in the running for the award, and I will not be the first to say that they all deserve it. The media clearly has a tough decision ahead of them, but what exactly is the criteria they will base their decision on? In years past, the award was the domain of dominant centers and power-forwards. It was not until last year that point guard Steve Nash surpassed Shaquille O’Neal to win the award.

Nash changed the MVP award, and with so many deserving candidates, it might change once again. My top four for the award are Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, Steve Nash, and Kobe Bryant. How does the award change based on the recipient?

Houston Texans

What Are They Thinking?

The Houston Texans and Charley Casserley will be the laughing stock of the NFL after taking Mario Williams with the number one pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

NBA General

Most Valuable Snub

Nash Awarded MVP in Deepest Field Ever

It was my belief that the player who was to be honored as the NBA’s most valuable player was supposed to be a guy who made his team achieve more than what they would have without him. Therefore, I find it hard to swallow the idea of awarding Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash his second consecutive most valuable player award. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Kobes/Lakers) both were much more valuable to their team than Nash ever was this year. I understand and credit Steve Nash as being the catalyst of the Phoenix Suns success. However, Kobe and LeBron were not only the catalysts of their respective teams; they were the entire chemical solution of their squad. Unlike the aforementioned MVP candidates, Steve Nash had the luxury of being on a team with much better talent around him, including an all-star and MVP mentionable in forward Shawn Marion. But many Nash supporters will shield all anti-Phoenix complaints with, “Amare Stoudamire was out all season.” True yet irrelevant. The Suns reloaded their roster with talented players that make the supporting casts of Kobe and LeBron look mediocre at best. I guess most valuable player “just ain’t what it used to be.”

MLB General

D.C. & Capitol Hill Politics Intertwine MLB Ownership

Post author By Diane M. Grassi
Post date May 1, 2006
1 Comment on D.C. & Capitol Hill Politics Intertwine MLB Ownership

If MLB expects to continue to be referred to as America’s Pastime, it will need to do a far better job of recruiting right here at home, where there still remain a ton of great athletes from the black community. But they will not find them on Capitol Hill or in ivory towers, but rather in their very own backyards.

Tennessee Titans

Air McNair Grounded

Wondering why the heart and soul of the Tennessee Titans is out in the cold? Read on.

NFL General

The Biggest Losers: The 2006 NFL Draft

Post author By FHenkel
Post date May 1, 2006
4 Comments on The Biggest Losers: The 2006 NFL Draft

by Frank M. Henkel

The only article funnier than a mock draft article is the one that grades a
draft the day it takes place. A quick glance of Pete Prisco’s draft grades show
that the Texans failed miserably with the first overall pick, but somehow
managed, along with six other teams, to get an “A” for the weekend. Mel Kiper,
traditionally stingier with the high marks, failed to divvy out a single high
mark to any of the 32 teams, but like Prisco, did not admonish any of them with
“D’s” or “F’s”, either.

So who is right? Which team had the best draft this weekend? Honestly, nobody
will know that for at least five years. The reason so many “experts” grade the
draft before the ink dries is because we love to read the grades.

Several things, though, are immediately evident. Certain players lost a lot of
money on Saturday. A couple of general managers sent clear messages to their
respective coaching staffs. A couple of teams were outfoxed. Although we will
not know the true busts of this year’s draft for the better part of a decade,
the real losers are already well defined. Let us look at five of the biggest
losers from the 2006 NFL Draft.

NFL General

Our Look At The NFL Draft

by Trevor Freeman

Let me just tell you what my Saturday consisted of. At 11:30 A.M I strolled into the New York Jets draft party at Hard Rock Café in Times Square. Before you ask, I will point out that I wore an Oakland A’s hat so there was no cheating on my beloved 49ers. Between my friend Chuck and I, we knocked out 38 Miller Lites (according to the receipt we should frame). Not too shabby. Got to meet Mark Gastineau and obtain autographs from Jonathan Vilma and Erik Coleman amongst others. It was a good time all around. A lot of football was discussed and much of this NFL Draft breakdown was written in my head while listening to drunken commentary. Without further ado, here are our comments on the draft………….