The Sports Thread

[GiveMeGore]

We frequently go back and forth with a post or two on various other threads. Figured it's only right to have a segregated thread for all things sports. So what's on your minds sportsfans!?

As we all know summer belongs to baseball. Plain and simple. This is when the season starts to get freakin sweet. The wild card races begin to come relevant and it's where the men seperate from the boys. Frauds go south in the standings while the teams that have developed depth hang tough and make their run.

The Giants needed to obtain a stick for that lineup, man. Don't know what they were thinking.....  they're pitching is down right dirty! Lincecolm, Cain, Zito, Johnson (when heathy) and sprinkle in a kid in Sanchez who twirled a no-no earlier this season. LA pretty much locked up that division in May but the wild card in the NL is wide open.

PK....my condolences regarding your beloved Reds. They hit their wall........HARD. It's a shame about Volquez. Team had potential but like we both agreed on this past winter.... no sticks. They got one of the worst offenses in the league. Marge Schott I'm sure has pictures of Dusty Baker in her brimstoned cell just peppered with dart holes.


NFL preseason games start up in a short couple of weeks. Looking forward to the Pats season with Brady back at the helm....  Philly looks like they're going to be real strong if they can stay healthy. Also looking forward to New England putting T.O flat on his arogent piece of shit ASS twice this year. Bills will suck again.

[WL Paynecraft]

Good idea on the sports thread.  I've hijacked more than one horror thread with sports-related musings.

I don't watch baseball at all, but I am looking forward to college and pro football.  Can't wait.

Does anybody else here watch MMA? I watch the hell out of it.  Haven't missed a ppv in years.

[GiveMeGore]

I absolutely LOVE college football. Alot more than the NFL thats for sure. There is NOTHING in this world better than a crisp fall Saturday afternoon, sipping on some Autumn styled brew, soaking in a Notre Dame game on the couch while 100,000 screaming fans and alumn watch on....    Obviously I'm a big ND fan, but college football in general is just terrific. The SEC has been a treat the last few years.

I loathe MMA. I've watched my fair share of fights......can they be down right electric? Sure. Do I take pleasure in watching some cat get knocked out of his fucking shoes on occasion? Who doesn't? But at the end of the day..... my opinion is that it's nothing more than a barbaric exhibition of meatheadary at it's finest. I appreciate the hard work and effort these fighters put into their craft.....I really do. But you're training to get into a ring with another meathead and fight with virtually no rules till one of you isnt standing. Good FOR you, you fucking meatball. I'm sure none of these guys will have health/mental issues after retirement either. Mark my words too....someone WILL die in the ring sooner than later. I'm surprised it hasnt happened yet. Then what? They going to continue to hold these "matches" after someone gets killed? I can smell a contravery in the making.....  just waiting to happen

[b0bo]

I absolutely LOVE college football. Alot more than the NFL thats for sure. There is NOTHING in this world better than a crisp fall Saturday afternoon, sipping on some Autumn styled brew, soaking in a Notre Dame game on the couch while 100,000 screaming fans and alumn watch on....    Obviously I'm a big ND fan, but college football in general is just terrific. The SEC has been a treat the last few years.

I loathe MMA. I've watched my fair share of fights......can they be down right electric? Sure. Do I take pleasure in watching some cat get knocked out of his fucking shoes on occasion? Who doesn't? But at the end of the day..... my opinion is that it's nothing more than a barbaric exhibition of meatheadary at it's finest. I appreciate the hard work and effort these fighters put into their craft.....I really do. But you're training to get into a ring with another meathead and fight with virtually no rules till one of you isnt standing. Good FOR you, you fucking meatball. I'm sure none of these guys will have health/mental issues after retirement either. Mark my words too....someone WILL die in the ring sooner than later. I'm surprised it hasnt happened yet. Then what? They going to continue to hold these "matches" after someone gets killed? I can smell a contravery in the making.....  just waiting to happen

It is a very barbaric sport, but thats what appeals to me. I do enjoy watching two dudes trying to beat the shit out of eachother until one of them is unconcious or taps out due to lack of oxygen to the brain or thier limb about to snap. Someone will probably die eventually and it may or may not cause alot of controversery to the sport.
I refuse to watch UFC in partticular anymore since that ass clown Brock Lesnar got a title shot with a 1-2 record. It is appaling how much of a push the dude has gotten merely because of his size. I dont agree with how he can drop 30 pounds before the weigh in just to dump it all back on before the fight to outweigh his opponent by 30-40 pounds.

[Splatterscribe]

I don't watch baseball at all, but I am looking forward to college and pro football.  Can't wait.

I could not possibly agree more with this comment. I'm ready to claw my eyes out for a Rams, 'Fins and Hurricanes fix.

[GiveMeGore]

I don't watch baseball at all, but I am looking forward to college and pro football.  Can't wait.

I could not possibly agree more with this comment. I'm ready to claw my eyes out for a Rams, 'Fins and Hurricanes fix.

How many on the field fights the Canes got in em this year? The U has gone from the elite in college football to the punkass gangbangers of the south. I used to be a huge Miami fan when I was a kid...   any light in that tunnel Splat?

[Splatterscribe]

How many on the field fights the Canes got in em this year? The U has gone from the elite in college football to the punkass gangbangers of the south. I used to be a huge Miami fan when I was a kid...   any light in that tunnel Splat?

I have no idea..but I'll be watching anyway. 

Besides, I have a bigger issue with the news circulating down here that the 'Fins may be considering offering a spot to Michael Vick. Look, I'm all for forgiveness, but this runs a little deeper than that. I have an ethical issue with offering a man so completely and fully busted for making money off of acts of sadistic cruelty towards animals a chance to step back into the spotlight and earn in a year what most people won't see in their lifetime. Think about this:  Pete Rose is being denied entry into the MLB Hall of Fame for the offense of gambling, but a man who ran a dog fighting ring might actually play pro football again. I definitely stand in oppostion to allowing Vick to return to the NFL and I'm sickened by the mere idea that he could end up on the Dolphins roster.

[GiveMeGore]

Hey man.......   he did the crime and guess what? He did the time. So now what? What do you want Michael Vick to do? If someone gets convicted of any crime and is forced to spend a year or two in jail....when they're released, what are they going to do? I would think go back to the career or trade they once knew. Vicks career was in the NFL. I'm not condoning what the man did.....  but let him try and make a living.

I think the Pete Rose comparision is a stretch. MLB is a private company no different than any other company. Rose violated a COMPANY rule....not a law that is enforced by the United States government. He broke company policy and was punished....by the company. Vick broke a law....and was punished by the government. No one's doing time in SanQunetin for betting the over/under on a Cowboys-Giants matchup.

I actually hope Vick finds a home with an NFL team and is successful. And dude, if I were a Miami Dolphin fan.... I would be chomping at the bit to get Vick in a fin uni. The "wild cat" offense if you will....  won't do anything but help that teams chances with Vick taking either direct snaps or getting the ball via options, screens and gadget plays.

[PumpkinKing]

Pete Rose is my idol. Growing up, he was what I strived to be in baseball. I was good, but had to bust my tail to be good enough to start. Same with Rose. I really took the gambling and lying to his fans personally, but the man is human and prone to mistakes just like the rest of us. He should be reinstated so he can be in Cooperstown like he belongs. I agree he shouldn't be allowed to manage again, sadly.

Baseball is my favorite sport, but I love football, too. Go Crimson Tide and Panthers!

[GiveMeGore]

Pete Rose is my idol. Growing up, he was what I strived to be in baseball. I was good, but had to bust my tail to be good enough to start. Same with Rose. I really took the gambling and lying to his fans personally, but the man is human and prone to mistakes just like the rest of us. He should be reinstated so he can be in Cooperstown like he belongs. I agree he shouldn't be allowed to manage again, sadly.

Baseball is my favorite sport, but I love football, too. Go Crimson Tide and Panthers!

I agree man..... how can the all time leader in HITS not be in the Hall? When you get up to the plate, what's your goal? TO GET A HIT. And guess what? Rose got more hits than any other player in the illustrious 140 someodd years of baseball. Should he manage or be part of any current game? Of course not....but give the man his plaque. 

I mentioned the SEC PK.....   it's good stuff. Those boys down in Alabama, Florida, LSU, etc..  know how to do college football RIGHT. It's been great to see the majority of the teams in that conference compete on a national level. With my beloved Notre Dame being utter crap for the most part since Lou Holtz left me....   I appreciate quality college football on a consistant basis like the aforementioned teams.

Go Clausen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WL Paynecraft]

I don't believe that MMA is as barbaric as it's made out to be.  There is an inherent level of violence involved sure and some matches have gotten pretty bloody.  But the participants are very well-trained competitors in a controlled environment with a set of rules that must be obeyed.  There is a referee to enforce those rules and to make sure that nobody gets hurt too bad.  There is a doctor on hand that monitors both fighters.  There is also protective gear and weight classes.  In addition, these are willing participants who usually exhibit excellent sportsmanship.  This isn't the gravel parking lot of Rick's Tavern at 2:00 AM.   

In addition, there is alot of science and technique involved.  Jujitsu is pretty sophisticated and requires much discipline to be effective.  MMA has come a long way since teeth were flying and people were getting beat senseless back at UFC 1.  As a matter of fact, UFC 101 is happening this Saturday.  100 events have passed since then.   

If somebody dies in the Octagon, it would have to be from some freak pre-existing brain or heart condition.  That's unlikely though, due to the rigorous pre-fight physicals and the NSAC (or whatever state they are in) sanctioning the event.

I was annoyed at Brock getting a title shot so soon as well.  He made a believer out of me though.  Half the problem with this situation is the fact that the Heavyweight weight class is so vast (207 to 266).  Most weight classes are 15 to 20 pounds.  HW is like 60 pounds.  If you aren't 260 pounds, you have a pretty decent size disadvantage in that division.  However, if you split that weight class up, you will dilute the talent pool.  Tough call. 

[Splatterscribe]

Hey man.......   he did the crime and guess what? He did the time. So now what? What do you want Michael Vick to do? If someone gets convicted of any crime and is forced to spend a year or two in jail....when they're released, what are they going to do? I would think go back to the career or trade they once knew. Vicks career was in the NFL. I'm not condoning what the man did.....  but let him try and make a living.

I

There's a world of difference between making a living and setting someone up to be a celebrity again.  Do you really think that if Vick hadn't been busted, he would have magically had a change of heart and stopped dog fighting? Bullshit. He'd still be doing it. I hope he does make a living, I don't want to see the guy living in the street or anything, but he shouldn't be allowed access to fame and fortune again. He had his shot and he abused it by engaging in a pasttime where he got his kicks exploiting the violent death of animals.   Let the guy work on a dock or in a warehouse or something to earn his keep..then we'll see if he wants to spend his cash on dog fighting again. As for his doing time...shit, are you kidding?  He barely did change for that. And I don't excuse what Pete Rose did..it also sucked and ( as PK pointed out) betrayed a lot of fans,..but nothing had to die violently because of what he did.  As to the 'Fins: I'd rather see the Dolphins lose without Vick than succeed with him. Some things are more important than touchdowns.

[GiveMeGore]

Well who's to say what a man can or can't do for a living? Last I checked we're in a democracy. Vick had a hobby that was shared by thousands of people in this country (dog fighting is a BILLION dollar industry in this country alone).....it was a sick and demented hobby but let's not kid ourselves and pretend he's the only one holding fights. Let me repeat....  he did the crime and did the time. Let the man move on from his mistake. He'll NEVER again in his entire life have any connection with dog fighting.......you can't argue that (I assume) so let the man suit up and play some ball.

I think my side of this debate just simply stems from the fact I don't give a good god damn what athletes do off the field. They're no different than any other prick making this local 10 oclock news. Don't give a fuck about John Smiths goingson in PrickVille, Illinois.... so I don't care who's injecting themselves with whatever, setting up dog fights, smacking hoes, smoking crack etc....      Suit up and perform a sport on my TV for my pleasure. End of story....anything else, Jimmy Crack Corn.

 


Moving on......big series in the Bronx this weekend. Bombers laid a smack down on beantown last night in the first of a 4 game set. I don't think it's such a huge series as the media wants to play it out to be. It's a 4 game series in early August between 2 playoff contenders where they'll probably split 2 games a piece. Great stuff though..... looking forward to a chill weekend with the BoSox-Yanks and the WGC with Tiger, Phil, Ernie, and Goosen in the mix. Beautiful......

[GiveMeGore]

Anyone see the brawl yesterday at Fenway? Good stuff. People just hate Youk, man. Just rubs people the wrong way. Especially pitchers apparently.

[Splatterscribe]

I realize it's only preseason..but I must have woken up in an alternate reality or something today, because I'd swear that the NFL scoreboard says that the Bengals beat the Patriots.

I don't like the Pats..but that's a sentence I never thought I'd be able to type.