*The American Pastime was struck another blow by being voted out of the 2012 London Olympics. This is the first time a sport has been voted out of the Olympics since 1936 [water polo]. Softball was also given the big, ugly ax. Both have been on shaky ground for a while. Baseball, unlike basketball and hockey, was devoid of star power. MLB wasn't onboard with letting the top players participate in the games. Not to mention that the USA wasn't even IN the baseball competition in Athens 2004. Softball was nailed after the blitz the Americans put on everyone last summer - it was thought of as a sport that really wasn't worldly.
So Jenny Finch's day in the sun is gone....and so are a bunch of minor leaguers and fringe players. What sports take their place??? Could be golf, rugby, squash, karate or roller sports.
However, their will be a World Cup of Baseball coming...and most baseball lovers can get their dream matchups here without the Olympic restraints.
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*With Ray Allen staying in Seattle and Michael Redd sticking in Milwaukee....this just goes to show everyone why I love the NBA's economic structure. Every player has the right to go "on the market" to get their value. However, it is designed that the top value can be given to you by your current team. So...the stars who want to get paid tend to stay at home, unless the bond has been broken there...then they do leave. And if the star wants to leave...then there usually is a trade [see: Shaq, TMac, Vince].
Baseball is heading into it's trading deadline month...where you will see stars on bad teams become stars on good teams for a bunch of prospects. Those prospects will turn into stars that in a few years will be traded back to the good teams. In football....trades are very rare...and it is even more rare that a player gets his true market value. Again, props to the NBA!!!
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*Speaking of NBA free agency....now that the big dogs are settled, it is time to look at the next tiers. Word is that Larry Hughes is set to go to Cleveland [apparantly taking the LeBron bait]. Cuttino Mobley may be heading to Denver to take care of that pesky shooting need they have. Sharif Abdur-Rahim is headed to New Jersey to join up with fellow Cal-alumn Jason Kidd. And Brian Scalabrine has already agreed to a 5-year deal with Boston.
In other NBA news, Minnesota's Eddie Griffin is currently sitting in a Houston jail for probation violation for "consorting with disreputable people", Meaning...dude was hanging out with some people with their own issues with the law.
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*Michelle Wie is on pace to become the first woman to make the cut on the men's tour in 60 years. How old is she again?? Which makes you wonder when a woman will actually "break the barrier" in the men's games? Will we see a woman hockey, baseball, football or basketball player??
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*There are currently 25 players in the NBA that have Maximum contracts. Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Jason Kidd, Allan Houston, Allen Iverson, Shawn Marion, Grant Hill, Tim Duncan and Andrei Kirilenko are the ones that are still with the team that gave them their max deal [however Pierce and Kidd could be dealt, while Finley and Houston may be released soon]. Keith Van Horn, Baron Davis, Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, Chris Webber and Antawn Jamison were all dealt in the last 12 months. Penny Hardaway, Stephon Marbury and Jalen Rose were dealt not much before them.
2 comments:
I believe that polo (the one with horses and mallets) was the sport that was eliminated in 1936, not water polo. Water polo has been an olympic sport for over or near 100 years.
No, water polo was cut out then. It was reintroduced in the late 30's because everyone missed the exciting action.
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