Thoughts from Cleveland and more

So I had a rare weekend off, as I drove to Cleveland on Saturday for the wedding of my oldest friend.  Three hours of sleep after a Sports Express Friday night and up before dawn to pack up and be on the road to make a rehersal in downtown Cleveland. 

Despite reports to the contrary, the city is still standing after Lebron's decision and the people haven't fled.  Though you might not be able to tell given the Royals-Indians series.  Actually the KC players were staying at the same Marriott that the guests for this wedding were staying.  Never saw any of them, though I doubt I'd recognize even Zack Greinke if I fell on him.  But they did have a nice "don't ask for autographs" sign in the lobby.  Seriously guys, if anyone actually spots you at a hotel in Cleveland you should be kissing the ground they walk on.

Okay, so Bubba Watson looks like Derek Lowe's long lost twin.  That's just weird.  Sorry, I'm watching ESPN's coverage of the Ryder Cup, in Newport, Wales, just a short hour trip across the UK from Bath, the new home of my good friend Jonny and his fiancee, Christina, and got distracted.

So I told everyone at the wedding rehearsal that I would be avoiding sports at all costs while I was there, especially football, to let everyone know that I'm not all about work all the time.  There were just two problems with that.  One, everyone kept asking me about my job and what kinds of sports and stories I've covered.  Can't complain there, that's part of the reason I'm in this business, can't deny that.  (Doesn't really help with the ladies, though.  Somehow my stories about high school football, the Saratoga Race Track and Irish Road Bowling in West Virginia just don't seem to impress.  D'oh!)  The other problem with trying to avoid sports was that we had some down time on Sunday in the hotel lobby, waiting to take pictures, and we were parked in front of the TVs, in which football was front and center.  (Though the Browns-Ravens game was boring enough not to get to involved, the ticker kept me glued to the Patriots score and my fantasy team.)  There's just no escaping sports during football season.

The wedding itself on Sunday was great and I was honored to share the special day with my buddy and his wife.  Unfortunately my old friends, the Red Sox, intervened a little having beat the Yankees two straight games, and another win Sunday could have set the Sox up to make a run at the Wild Card.  Luckily the Bosox blew it and after both Mo and Paps blew saves, Okey WALKED in the winning run in the 10th inning.  Perfect way for the Sox chances at a playoff run to end.  (In reality it was a long shot anyway.  Boston would've had to win every game and the Yankees lose almost all of them.  Yes they play a few more games this weekend against each other, but there was really no chance.  Plus if the Sox had somehow made it, their pitching was just way too unreliable again this year to make a run.)

Back to football.  Yes the Pats beat the Bills, but 38-30?  With Fitzpatrick at QB for Buffalo?  That just shows you that this defense is still unreliable, just like the Sox pitching.  The Sunday Night game showed off the two teams who will probably be vying for the AFC East title.  Miami and the Jets both played great, and the 'Fins nearly pulled off the comeback.  But nearly doesn't count and the fish will be pissed heading into the Monday Night game against the Pats.  And yes, the Jets are for real.  Imagine if Revis was actually playing?  (Think he's milking the injury?  I think he is.  He didn't get all the money he was after in training camp, so he won't be giving his all this year.  That's just what I see from him.)  Love seeing Favre continue to struggle.  Brett, give it up, you have a problem, an addiction to football.  Someone get this man into football rehab so the Vikings can move on, and the Packers, too.  Speaking of which, how did Green Bay manage to lose to Da Bears and what is going on in Chicago?  Big surprises in store, indeed.  This week, Donovan returns to Philly and expects to be cheered.  I guess someone has to, right, considering the Redskins fans are probably ready to string him up to the top of the Washington Monument for losing to the freakin' RAMS!!!  Seriously, not just a loss, but a 14 POINT LOSS!!  That's just awful.

NBA Training Camps are open and that means an entire season dedicated to the latest news out of South Beach and Lebron's moronic attempt to win a championship by going with Wade and Bosh to the Heat.  The latest is that he's blaming racism and the media for the negative reaction to his stabbing Cleveland in the back in front of a national TV audience and even shunning the Bulls, who actually would have been the best fit for his talents.  (And New York, too, but seriously, Lebron would have been REALLY stupid to go to either the Knicks or Nets at this point.)  This is all fine with me.  Whether it's this year or down the road, Lebron will probably win a title with this group.  But you know what would be hilarious?  An even older Celtics team, who added Shaq and the other O'Neal, Jermaine, knocking them out because Miami doesn't have a good enough center to match up with either O'Neal, or Dwight Howard for that matter.  Anyone remember who played for the Eastern Conference Finals last year?  Oh right, it was Boston and Orlando, and it may very well be again this year.  What really bugs me is that not many people are talking about the Lakers.  Great, that's just what we need, Kobe & Company coming into a season as back-to-back champions and feeling like no one respects them.  Wonderful, the rest of the West doesn't stand a chance.  At least everyone realizes that Lebron is now hated and no one outside the state of Florida who is a real NBA fan will be rooting for Miami. 

Anyway, it's time to wrap this up.  This weekend it's back to business, with Sports Express and a full weekend of football and the final games of the MLB regular season.  This Saturday, Utica College will host St. John Fisher in the first ever home night game in UC history.  Let's hope the Pioneers can pull off the win.  At the exact same time, Whitesboro and Camden will be playing, on a Saturday Night!  Why are they not playing this game on Friday?  It's a direct conflict for me.  D'oh!  My Friday game will be Cazenovia at Oneida instead.  Hopefully the Indians will give powerhouse Caz a tough game.

Until next time, see you all later!

WELCOME

Hello everyone, my name is Mike Levin and I'm a local sports anchor and reporter for a small market TV news station in Central NY in the Utica market.  I'm originally from Boston and frequently return there to see my family, specifically my parents and my brother's family.  (I love being an uncle!  My two nephews are just the coolest kids.)

Anyway, I'm starting this blog as a way to expand on my thoughts of the sports world, which I don't get to do a lot of on air.  I do have Twitter and Facebook pages, but those give limits.  So here there are NONE.

Most of the people who will read this will likely know me well, or at least will have met me or seen me on the air.  So you'll probably understand my sense of humor.  If not, I apologize if I offend anyone.

In any case, WELCOME everyone!  I look forward to talking sports, and maybe a few other things as well!