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Man On A Rant: JDWC

By JDWC, Section Site related
Posted on Sat Nov 12 2005 at 11:14 AM EST
More on: (all tags)

These rants seem to be very popular on this site, and I've decided to try it out. These problems I have are long overdue!

In today's rant: What's up with the dress codes in professional sports? Who's going to be the unfortunate team to sign T.O.? Why does everyone like to think USC won't be playing for a National Championship this year??

My first order of business concerns the dress code of the NBA. I think it's ridiculous that players have to wear certain things on the sidelines and before games. David Stern, comissioner of the NBA, believes this will give the NBA a more 'professional' appearance. You want a more professional appearance? Get the Pacers and Pistons players in an anger management course, stop letting Kobe Bryant do whatever he wants, and teach Shaq how to shoot free-throws. I don't know about other sports fans, but I don't even enjoy watching the NBA anymore, and not because of the stupid dress code. I'd rather watch the NCAA any day because there's way more excitement, and nobody is worried about the guy on injured reserve who's sitting in the first row wearing a throwback jersey and a doo-rag.

While on the subject of dress violations, the NFL needs a little training too. Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and  safety Sean Taylor were each fined for 'dress code violations'. Portis was fined $20,000 for wearing black shoes that didn't match the rest of the team, one striped sock, and an 'unapproved' eye shield. Taylor was fined $5,000 for wearing TWO striped socks. God forbid. What in the world do they need to be so picky for? Did those striped socks give them an advantage over the opposition? Did those black shoes make Portis faster?

Since we're on the subject of the NFL, let me give you my opinion on the Minnesota Vikings: Blech!!! I'm not a Vikings fan, but watching them fail every year when they have such great expectations disgusts me! Daunte Culpepper has a better QB rating in the games he hasn't played in then when he was playing! Trading Randy Moss was supposed to benefit their team right? I can't even name the guys that replaced him. And, their so-called, 'upgraded' defense is...where? The only player that's playing well is Fred Smoot and he's not playing well on the field.

So the Philadelphia Eagles finally figured out how much easier it is to play without T.O., huh? Sure, they probably have no chance at a return to the Super Bowl with him at home, but I'm sure the locker room is a much more peaceful place now! So this raises the question: What will happen with T.O.? Will the Eagles keep him next year? Bring him back later this year? Trade him? Release him? In my opinion, get rid of him! It worked for the 49ers right? Oh...on second thought keep him. Just the thought of playing at the 49ers' level may be reason enough for the Eagles to bring T.O. back.

I know the baseball season is over, but what is wrong with the Houston Astros?? I can still rant about it because Roger Clemens should have easily wrapped up another Cy Young award this year, but instead lost to St. Louis' Chris Carpenter because Clemens had only 13 wins. Obviously, something was lacking in Clemens' starts because he had an ERA under 2.00. That's ridiculous. How many games did Clemens start in which the Astros scored only one run or failed to score at all? Anyway, that's irrelavent because the Rocket needs to retire now. He's had an amazing career, he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and now he just needs to settle down and watch his son's career blossom (Besides if I'm Koby Clemens, do I really WANT to catch my dad's pitching??).

Now, my favorite thing to do since the baseball season ended is wonder: What is wrong with Theo Epstein's brain? What else is wrong with Manny Ramirez's brain? What finally got into Frank McCourt's brain? Epstein was a young, successful G.M. in charge of one of the most promising, most popular, richest franchises in baseball. Then suddenly, he just up and leaves? That is so many aspiring G.M.'s dream job, and Epstein just gave it up. I don't understand.

Manny Ramirez is one of the great sluggers of our time, not to mention one of the great characters (see: phantom cut-off, Green Monster urination, 'Manny being Manny'). He can make a case for Cooperstown with his career offensive numbers and is probably in the best situation in baseball playing left field for the Red Sox and getting paid VERY well to do so. Why would you want to leave such a great place? The city is great, the stadium, the team, the franchise, the fans, the teammates, the money, the chance for another World Series ring -- all these things in Boston are great. You know you're accepted somewhere when you are on a first name basis with everyone that knows of you. But Manny is unhappy? Once again, I'm baffled.

All hail Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt! Get on the ground and kiss his feet! McCourt finally made the decision to fire General Manager Paul DePodesta after a 70-win season. Unfortunately, the damage is done. Paul Lo Duca is gone, they don't have a third baseman, and Hee Seop Choi still takes up room on the roster and the payroll. Seems like everyone's leaving early from Dodger Stadium: the G.M., the manager and coaches, the good players, and like always, the fans.

What's all this talk about USC not being in the National Championship game? Just because they are so good, they have become the team that everyone loves to hate. Matt Leinart is not having as sensational a year as last year, but he is still a man among boys in the NCAA. Reggie Bush is the most exciting player in football at ANY level, and the USC defense is doing their thing. Let's hold off on the talk of Texas going undefeated because of Vince Young, USC's going to lose to UCLA or Cal, yadda yadda. Let's wait until Texas plays someone decent (other than Baylor of course) and then see how they, and their stud quarterback perform. I'll admit, Young is the clear front-runner for the Heisman, but he'll really earn those votes if they play against a good team. And, not if, but when USC meets Texas in Pasadena, we'll see who shows their true Heisman form (aka Bush and Leinart, not Young).

Back to baseball for my last few complaints. You know what I've hated hearing recently? "The Braves won't win the division again in 2006 because Leo Mazzone left." And, along with that: "Watch out for the Orioles in 2006 now that they have Leo Mazzone." Give me a break. The Braves will be just as good without their pitching coach, especially if they sign another decent pitcher for injury insurance purposes (Paul Byrd, anyone?). The Orioles still have one major problem. He goes by the name Sidney Ponson. I expect the Orioles' staff to be better this year, but they also need many other improvements to contend. Sosa and Palmeiro need to go (along with their supply of pills, syringes, and corked bats), and Brian Roberts needs to be healthy and stay healthy. Also, B.J. Ryan doesn't look like he's coming back, so they need to find a good closer to replace him.

I have two issues with the San Francisco Giants. First, Randy Winn pisses me off. As an avid Dodgers and A's fan, it is very bothersome to see a sub-par player get traded from a sub-par team to the Giants to add depth to their bench. Then, he goes on a hitting tangent...what'd he hit 14 homers during his short stint at the end of the year? Anyway, it made me angry to see that success last year by Winn. I have nothing against Winn himself, I was just jealous. But, they signed Winn to an extension. I hope they don't expect him to keep playing like he did last season, because I'm sure that won't be the case (at least I hope). Finally, my last problem has to do with the Sultan of Steroids, the BALCO Bomber, the King of the Cream and Clear himself, Barry Bonds. I will be extremely disappointed when he passes Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron on the all-time home run list. He will be illegitimately remembered as the home run king. It's unbelievable to me that he hasn't tested positive yet. It's one thing to lift weights and gain muscle mass, but one's head is not supposed to grow along with their egos and the length of their home runs.

Whew! That's enough ranting for me. Comments are always encouraged and welcomed.