Well sports fans, this was almost the greatest sports weekend that I can remember since the 1989 World Series. I must admit, when it began, I wasn’t even thinking about sports much this weekend beyond the BYU-utah (uncapitilization intentional as a sign of disrespect). But then Friday night came and we watched the BYU-Louisville basketball game. I knew that this was a strong BYU squad, capably of winning the conference, and was hoping that they would be able to come within 10 points of the sixth-ranked Cardinals, a favorite early season pick to go to the final four. What I witnessed though was a team that was in control the whole game and who looked like they belonged. The finally score was actually closer than the game really was. Tavernari was awesome and Plaisted learned how to go to his right (a minor miracle if you had watched his first two seasons). We won and visions of an actual victory in the NCAA tourney began to dance in my head. The next night though I felt might get embarassing as we were to face North Carolina, the #1 team in the country.
But before that supposed humiliation, there was the BYU-utah football game. We are obviously the better team, I read a column that compared position players from each team and the only spot on the field that was a clear win for utah was the kicker, they might also have a slight edge in the secondary. That was it, every other position was clearly in favor of the Cougars. Last year, of course, we won on the last second miracle toss to Hairline (a greek god in my eyes). This year, I wanted a blow-out, instead I was treated to another wonderful, heart-wrenching victory on BYU’s last possesion. Quickly I decided it was better that way, I wanted utah fans to suffer the most they possibly could, and to win in this manner two years in a row had to be excruciating. Excellent! By the way, the supposed strength of utah over us, the secondary, gave up a fourth and 18 to our best receiver, and there was no one around him. This in addition to totally blowing the coverage on Hairline last year.
Then comes the “so close” part of my story. BYU vs. UNC. Dick Vitale commented that he had to scramble that morning to find out about BYU as he was already prepared to call a Louisville v. UNC game. I forgave him though as he proceeded to complement BYU, especially Plaisted (who earned himself a ton of money next year in the NBA draft), for the next two hours. We played hard and stuck with them in the first half, we were down, but I was pleased, again, I just wanted to stay within 10 points. Then something miraculous happened, with seven minutes remaining we had the lead. Incredible, the greatest upset in BYU history was in the making. Greater than any football game as we have been at least respected for the last 30 years there. Then reality hit, we lost by 10, within my earlier parameters, but brutal after watching the game. In fact, I say we lost by 6, the last points were all fouling to try and stop the clock. Still, a fantastic showing, and one that has led the Cougars to be ranked at 21. Good stuff, great weekend.
Finally, Sunday night, Eagles v. Patriots. Tammy and I were ecstatic to see our team on t.v. as since we left Jersey, the opportunities have been few and far between. It did stink that we were the biggest underdogs in Vegas history, actually causing most bookies to stop taking bets. We were facing superteam. First possession, Feeley throws and interception for a score and it looks like the rout is on. Then something funny happens, Feeley gets his mojo back and we go ahead on two touchdows. We even recover an onside kick, holy moses, did someone kidnap Andy Reid (BYU alum)? Second half, we are right there, marching with about 4 min left and down by three. We are within field goal range, short third down attempt. Feeley throws a killer interception and it is over, we had the “greatest team ever” on the ropes with a backup qb, and then it was over. So close!!!
To just increase the pain a bit too, John Beck (BYU alum) lost 3-0 when his idiot coach didn’t kick a field goal, and his idiot receivers couldn’t catch the ball, thus causing his Dolphins to fall to 0-11. Brutal.
Just need to keep saying to myself, 1989 World Series Champions, sweep baby! That, and suck on that utah.
CurveBall City formally apologizes for pretty much everything it ever wrote about Kennedy, and passes sincere condolences to his family.
In what we can only hope and pray is not a chilling sign of things to come, Marco Scutaro – the most useful, reliable and popular player in Oakland for the last four years or so – was traded to the Blue Jays for two jobbers today. Apparently his prospective 2 to 2.5 million dollar salary was just a bit too hefty for the front office to handle, and it was decided that we’d be better off with two career minor-league pitchers instead.
Gone, baby gone.
Allow me to get my biases out in the open – I love Scutaro. Absolutely love him. I love that he gave us a solid replacement every time one of our brittle-boned infielders went on the DL, I love that he bats with those enormous Mickey mouse-style battings gloves, I love that he boasts walk-off hits off just about every premier closer in the American League, and I loved the way his teammates beat the absolute crap out of him at home plate following sad hits. Most of all, I love him for his bases-clearing double in the 2006 ALDS, the hit that clinched the series for us and set off a SCU-TAR-O chant that was probably the loudest crowd reaction I’ve ever heard for a single athlete.
Perhaps I shouldn’t be too suprised – I made out out a mock 2008 roster about a week and a half ago – which I would have posted to the site already, if stuff hadn’t fervently insisted on going down – and while it never occurred to me to leave Scutaro off of it, it troubled me that I didn’t have a spot for Donnie Murphy. Problem solved - if Murphy can indeed prove to do everything Scutaro can at a fraction of the price. Maybe he can, but that still doesn’t make Scutaro expendable – not when our starting shortstop has Laffy Taffy where his ligaments should be.
So I’m not happy about this (and I’m really not happy that I’m going to have to tell my wife about this – she loves the little Venezuelan more than I do, and she was alread threatening to never go to another game after we lost Frank Thomas), but my unhapiness stems from more than my Marcaffection. It stems from the fear that this is just the beginning of a “rebuilding” phase for the team – where anyone with a marginally high salary or the slightest bit of trade value is shipped out. And if Marco Scutaro was deemed too costly to hold onto, it’s a sure bet that no one is safe.
And here’s the thing – it’s not like we lost a good player and gained value in return. We lost Scutaro and got two largely-ineffective, Double-A pitchers in return, giving us what is in effect the most pathetic salary dump ever. I can accept a ”rebuilding” process if absolutely necessary (and I’m not convinced that it is), but shouldn’t we be rebuilding with, you know, potentially good players? When, exactly, are we rebuilding for?
So I’m not happy about this.
And just wait ’til that Haren trade comes through.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3112487
And let’s not be happy about this, okay? This is not happy news. This is depressing, this is disgraceful, and this combined with the upcoming Mitchell Report means that we’re not putting the whole steroid business behind us anytime soon.
Can’t we just start the season in December? Y’know, get some games to distract us?
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