The "Hot Rod" visits the Mohawk Valley

Once again I've been negligent in my blog.  It's been five months since my post-Super Bowl entry and since then nothing.  But here I am again, just hours after one of the greatest interview experiences in my life, when I had the honor of talking to professional wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper!

The "Hot Rod" was at the Field of Dreams Complex in Schuyler to be a part of 2CW's "Bagpipes & Boilermakers" event.  He was joined by his son, Colt Toombs, an up and coming MMA fighter and pro wrestler himself.  Colt was supposed to take on 2CW's "Juggernaut" Jason Axe, but was unable to compete due to an injury suffered the previous night at an event in Watertown.  (Too bad, because I was curious to see how good Colt was.  Apparently he's half of a championship tag team in the northwest.)  Instead another of 2CW's rising stars substituted as "Piper's son," Colin Delaney, who ended up winning.  The "Hot Rod" even donned a ref's jersey when the assigned striped shirt was knocked out.

It was great to hear the bagpipes in person once again and see the 2005 WWE Hall of Fame and 2007 Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (in Amsterdam) inductee in action and on the mic!  I'm pretty sure the last time I saw Piper in person was at a WCW Monday Nitro event at TD Garden in Boston (then known as the Fleet Center) back in June of 1997, during the midst of the nWo and Monday Night Wars era.  I've never seen him this close though, and even at 59 years old, he can still thrill a crowd like no one else.  Especially this group of about 400 rabid fans at 2CW.

Before I get to the incredible thrill of speaking to the "Hot Rod," however, I've got to mention how impressed I was with 2CW.  From the top down they're exactly what you want from a small, regional promotion in pro wrestling.  Kevin Parker is the man behind the scenes running the show and also doubles as a ringside official named "Jack Trades."  (Aptly titled as he does a little bit of everything, but  mainly keeping everyone involved in the production, from the wrestlers to the ring crew, working together.)  When I originally heard that Piper would be coming to the Mohawk Valley, I contacted the promotion through their website and Kevin got back to me, saying I could have all the access I wanted, from interviewing the "Hot Rod" to shooting video of the event to promoting it on the air and our website earlier in the week.  Kevin is a local boy, though he usually works out of Syracuse as 2CW holds shows all over the state, from Rome to Binghamton to Oswego among others.  

Their wrestlers are mainly up and coming young talents who hope to one day make a big promotion such as WWE or TNA.  Most people don't think much of pro wrestling (like my own mother who always hated my interest in it as a kid) and consider it to be not much more than a bunch of neanderthals yelling and pretending to beat each other up.  My days of defending it died out a few years back, but in just one night, 2CW reminded me why I caught on back in my youth.  While most of the moves are staged and the outcomes of the matches predetermined, it's still an entertaining art form when those moves and outcomes are executed the right way.  (Ever launch yourself in the air directly onto someone else on the floor?  That doesn't tickle.)  The characters are pretty over the top, like "Bin Hamin," an anti-american character from Iran, similar to another legend of Piper's era, the Iron Shiek.

The most underrated wrestler on the card was Mike Mondo, who challenged Isys Ephex for the 2CW championship belt.  Mondo was in the WWE a few years back as a character named "Mikey," a member of a male cheerleader-like group known as the "Spirit Squad."  I knew as soon as I saw him that he had been in the big time, as he had a certain look that only the top guys have.  Although he didn't win the title, the 2CW fans showed their appreciation for his work after the match, giving him an ovation as he was helped to the back.  This is a common occurrence at shows with fans who understand how the business works.  There's a lot of politics involved and the most hard working and talented guys don't always win.  That's why "smart" fans will show their appreciation whenever someone like Mondo gives them a great show.

Although they don't often come this close to Utica, 2CW usually does a handful of shows at Kennedy Arena in Rome every year.  Plus, they'll be at the NY State Woodsmen's Field Days for a few shows August 16th & 17th in Boonville and their special guests will be "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Mickie James.  I can definitely see myself going back to cover a few of these shows in the future.  And yes, it has always been a dream of this broadcaster to be a part of a wrestling show as an announcer, referee or whatever.  In fact, during intermission, yours truly was almost as popular for the fans in attendance as the wrestlers!  I was hoping to get some video of the wrestlers who came out to sell their t-shirts and mingle with the fans, but instead I ended up taking a bunch of pictures with a handful of kids who were in awe of seeing the local sports guy.  (One little girl asked me to smile for her, then she and her brother posed with me, trying to emulate my smile!  Reminded me of my nephews, who are always copying all of my bits!)

But back to the reason I was there in the first place.  "Rowdy" Roddy Piper is one of the guys I grew up watching and idolizing.  He was always one of the most hilarious talkers in pro wrestling, from his mic work during interviews, as well as his "Piper's" Pit segments and even when he shared a broadcast booth with the likes of Vince McMahon, Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  This was the guy I wanted to be, as he combined athleticism along with the best communication skills of anyone in the mid-1980s through the 90s as well.  

As he walked into the building the legend greeted me warmly, asking me where I'm from and if I've got family.  "Yes sir" I say. "Most of them live in Boston, where I'm from."  I think of my brother, who got me into wrestling in the first place, from the MTV bits to the "Hulk Hogan's Rock N' Wrestling" cartoon, in which Piper was the big bad villain.  He asks me if I've got kids.  "No sir, not yet."  I think of my parents and how much they've always hated wrestling.  They reluctantly bought me the "Wrestlemania VII" show on Pay Per View for hitting the proverbial home run at my Bar Mitzvah.  Kevin then tells him that I'm a big fan.  I blush a little and think about Double J, my best friend from college, who's a much bigger wrestling fan than I'll ever be.  (Thanks to him I wound up in the fourth row ringside at "Wrestlemania XV" in Philly.)  He sees that my camera and mic are set up and says "You're all ready to go!"  "Yes sir, Mr. Piper," I say, until I ask, "should I call you Mr. Piper or Roddy?"  "Call me Hot Rod!" he exclaims as son Colt joins him for some support and to chime with a few classic bits of his own.  While I didn't get to see him wrestle, Colt's certainly got enough of his dad's personality to make it big one day.

Piper's battles with Hulk Hogan are well documented, from the "War to Settle the Score" leading up to the first "Wrestlemania" show at MSG during the height of the "Rock N' Wrestling Connection" era, which helped launch MTV as a media entity.  But he also feuded with Hogan during the nWo/Monday Night Wars era I mentioned earlier, with the two switching roles.  In 1985 Hogan was the "good guy" and Piper was the villain.  But in 1996, Hogan was the evil leader of the nWo and Piper showed up to give "Hollywood," as Hogan called himself, a "Reality Check."  While Hogan and Piper have always maintained a professional respect for one another, there's always been a heated personal rivalry between the two that will likely never fade.  

Piper also has a well-known dislike for Mr. T., with whom Hogan teamed in that first "Wrestlemania" show.  T and Piper would square off a year later in the second "Wrestlemania" show, during which they had a boxing match, instead of a wrestling match.  The "Hot Rod" and the man who once played "Clubber Lang" in Rocky III had a real life hatred that still simmers somewhat today.  (Apparently they still trade hate mails.)

Along with the original "Wrestlemania" show, Piper's fondest memory in the business was at "Wrestlemania III," when he fought "Adorable" Adrian Adonis (a native of Buffalo) in what was Piper's first "retirement match."  While the "Hot Rod" won with help from Brutus Beefcake, who would help shave Adonis's hair (thus kickstarting Beefcake's "Barber" gimmick), Piper was planning to step away from the business to film the movie "They Live" and just enjoy life a little.  The reason the Adonis match stands out in Piper's memory is that the event drew over 90,000 fans to the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, a crowd that set an indoor attendance record at the time.  I wish I would've had time to ask him about the crowd at the Hoosier Dome five years later, at "Wrestlemania VIII," which looked eerily similar to the one in Michigan.  In Indianapolis, Piper wrestled family friend Bret "Hitman" Hart for the company's "Intercontinental Title."  That match is considered my many, including myself, to be the best pure wrestling match of the "Hot Rod's" career.  

Like the Bret match, there are many other great moments in Piper's career I would've liked to talk about.  His ongoing friendship and rivalry with Ric Flair, who's in some big time trouble financially, for one.  I would've also asked him about another of my favorite guys I mentioned earlier, the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  It would've also been fun to talk about his infamous "dog collar" match against Greg "The Hammer" Valentine at the original "Starcade" show in 1983, before Piper's big run in the World Wrestling Federation.  

A lot of his life and career is covered in the WWE's DVD "Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story," like his most infamous "Piper's Pit" segments.  In my conversation with him, the "Hot Rod" referred to two of the most hilarious, when he humiliated lowly wrestler Frank Williams, as well as the time he broke a coconut over the head of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.  Piper also made a mention of painting himself half black for a match with "Bad News" Brown during "Wrestlemania VI" in Toronto and something about calling the late Andre the Giant.  On the DVD, Piper recounts the story of how Andre poured out the solution he needed to clean that paint off his body, so Piper had to cross the border painted half black.  

He's had a fantastic and colorful career in an industry that's often called "Sports Entertainment" and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper will forever be known as one of the greats to ever compete.  For a few brief moments, I had a chance to speak with this legend and while he abruptly ended it, it was clear he'd talked enough for the moment.   It was time to move on, for "Hot Rod," son Colt and yours truly as well.  But at the very least, this was a highlight of my broadcasting career.

Super Bowl Weekend and Pick

I really thought the Patriots would do it, but the mistake I made was comparing this year's team to last year's and forgetting that the only reason they were even in the Super Bowl last year was because the Ravens blew two big plays that cost them the AFC Championship.  That's why I picked the Ravens to win it all before the season began.  Anyone remember that I had the Ravens over the Packers?  (crickets chirping)  Yeah, I didn't think so.  Maybe that gives me a clean slate as to whom I should pick to win Super Bowl XLVII between Baltimore and San Francisco, eh?

I was actually happy for the Ravens, making it back to the big game after beating my Patriots.  That is until the Patriot haters, especially Ravens LB Terrell Suggs, decided to treat the Pats like the Yankees.  I understand that people are still angry about Spygate, but seriously, and Marshall Faulk I'm talking to you, Belichick and the Pats paid their penalties for Spygate already.  It was your esteemed Commissioner, Roger Goodell, who levied the largest fines in league history onto New England for it.  But NFL teams, specifically the Saints, didn't learn their lesson from Spygate, and are continuing to break rules and are cheating to win.  That's why the Saints fines were higher than the Patriots.  Because the Pats came first.  Even so, I'll never truly believe the Pats, and my people, the Patriot fan base, will ever be as arrogant as Yankee fans.  We don't have the history of being good for as long, quite frankly. When I was growing up, the Patriots were one of the laughing stocks of the league.  Before Kraft and Parcells there was Rod Rust and Tommy Hodson, Hugh Millen, Mosi Tatupu, Tony Eason and the team that got trounced by the Bears 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.  Even the great Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson oversaw two pretty laughable seasons at the helm in New England.  I'm sorry, but this idea that Belichick, Brady and the rest of the Pats are arrogant and terrible and the worst human beings ever is just ridiculous.  They got beat fair and square and I give credit to Baltimore for getting the job done, no cheap penalties, no reason for New England fans to cry foul.  Give it a rest already people.  I am.  No more talk of the Patriots in this entry.

Super Bowl Weekend is very interesting this year.  In addition to the big game, locally we've got two big ECAC West hockey games between the top two teams in the conference, UC and Hobart, both at the Aud.  The Pioneers beat the Statesman at their place two weeks ago, so you can bet Hobart will be out for revenge.  The first game is Friday night at 7 and the second is Super Bowl Sunday at 3.  Yep, it's right before the big game and will end just before the pre-game ceremonies commence.  Friday night at 7, there's also a huge high school game at Kennedy Arena in Rome.  RFA, undefeated in league play, hosts C-NS, whose only league loss so far this year was an early season setback at home to the Black Knights.  The game should decide the #1 seed in Division I East, unless something strange happens.

In the NHL, the only game we'll see locally Friday night is Blues-Red Wings on NHL Network.  On Saturday they've got two games, Devils-Penguins at 1, then Bruins-Leafs at 7.  (That Jersey game will also be on MSG+)  CBC's got Sabres-Canadiens at 2, then MSG has Rangers-Lightning at 7.  Super Sunday has a number of games that might split the hockey crowd, especially with UC playing at the Aud.  On NBC, thus on NEWSChannel 2, Penguins-Caps is at 12:30, then Senators-Canadiens at 2 on CBC, Devils-Islanders at 3 on supposedly both MSG and MSG+, though I'm guessing one of them will have Panthers-Sabres here in CNY.

College Basketball is also all over Super Bowl Weekend as well, with Syracuse visiting Pittsburgh at noon on Saturday, as well as another Big East game at 2, Notre Dame-DePaul.  Plus Oklahoma State-Kansas at 4 in the Big 12, Ole Miss-Florida at 7 in the SEC, and a battle of two top 3 teams as Michigan visits Indiana at 9 in the Big 10.  On Super Sunday there's three more Big East games, with Providence-Villanova at noon, then Marquette-Louisville and USF-UConn, both at 2.  There are plenty of other games all over the place as well that I haven't mentioned that are just too numerous to go through.

The NBA also has some interesting games, with Bulls-Nets, Bucks-Knicks, Heat-Pacers and Lakers-Wolves on Friday.  Saturday there's Kings-Knicks and Hornets-Wolves.  For some reason there's no Sunday games on ABC, which I think is a bad call.  But Clippers-Celtics is on NBATV at 1, though I don't like Boston's chances now that Rajon Rondo is out for the rest of the year with a torn ACL.  Ah yes, the Rondo injury.  Just the latest setback to Boston Sports, who rode an incredible run of success that will likely never happen again.  All four pro teams won at least one title between Super Bowl XXXVI in early 2002 until the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.  Plus Boston College and Boston University collected a few NCAA Division I Hockey championships as well, but the downturn had to start eventually.

As for the big game, I've been going back and forth as to whom I think will win as well as who I'll be rooting for and it's not the same for me.  I could really care less who wins, but I actually wouldn't mind seeing San Fran win their sixth title.  More than Baltimore getting number two anyway.  Too bad I have to stay with the Ravens, since I picked them at the beginning of the season.  MIKE'S PICK: RAVENS 22, 49ERS 20

By the way, Ray Lewis, I do not believe you.  I think you used that deer antler spray with the banned PED, which is why you were able to come back from a supposed season ending injury so fast.  That's just my opinion and I'm entitled to it.  Same for you A-Rod.  Why exactly did the Yankees give him a ten year contract in 2007?  No matter how good any athlete is, ten years is way too long of a deal and every team that signs a player to one has regretted it in the end.  Yep, that's how I'm ending this entry.  Boo you PED players!!!

Why the Patriots will win the Super Bowl (I think)

Yes I am a Patriots fan and obviously will be rooting for them this week when they host Baltimore in the AFC Championship for the second straight year.  But Bill Belichick's team really didn't deserve to win last year and got lucky at the end of the 2012 AFC Championship.  This year I am confident in my Pats, that not only will they find a way to beat a Baltimore team that's pretty darn good and oh by the way, the team I picked to win the Super Bowl before the season began, but also take home the Lombardi trophy two weeks later.

I obviously wouldn't be shocked if the Ravens pulled it out and got to the Super Bowl one more time for the retiring Ray Lewis.  Joe Flacco was simply incredible in getting Baltimore back in the game late Saturday in the Divisional Round and that 70 yarder was fantastic!  He played better than Tom Brady in last year's AFC Championship as well, but he and the Ravens still didn't win the game.

Sorry, it's tangent time.  Jim Boeheim is on Sportscenter this morning.  At first I was going to rant on why he's talking to them when he barely speaks to the Syracuse media, but actually he's giving the same responses to Hannah Storm that he gives to all of us.  We'll see if she mentions James Southerland, who was deemed ineligible by the school prior to this past Saturday's game against Vanilla-Nova.  Wow, BOEHEIM mentioned Southerland!!  Apparently there's a chance he'll be back this season and Boeheim says he's been working really hard.  Sorry, I just rolled my eyes, not because I don't believe how hard Southerland works, just that if he's worked so hard, how did he become ineligible?  The Orange are going to Louisville on Saturday and the Cardinals should be the #1 ranked team, since they were #3 last week, and both #1 Duke and #2 Michigan lost.  JB says there's 10-15 teams that have a chance to win it all this year and 5-6 more that are good enough to make the Final Four.

Anyway, back to the Patriots.  Their defense has been their big issue the last few years, pretty much since they lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.  But that unit has improved a lot in the past year and they have some big play potential, as shown against Houston when Rob Ninkovich made that Tecmo Super Bowl-style leaping interception.  But even more important is how good their running game has become, with Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen stepping up.  Well, Woodhead got hurt yesterday, so Vereen broke out with three total touchdowns and picked up over 120 total yards.  Ridley was one of the mainstays for my 12-2 fantasy team this year, the Rick Rollers!  Hmmm, that gives me an idea: Check it this out if you have a chance!  It's the perfect mix of the RR, Family Guy and Back to the Future!

New England did lose uber-Tight End Rob Gronkowski to another injury against the Texans, but they've still got Aaron Hernandez, another of my fantasy guys.  (Though after a great regular season, I lost to Jill Reale in the playoff semis!  Had to settle for third place, d'oh!)  Tommy Terrific has plenty of weapons with which to choose, so that shouldn't be a problem.  I expect a close game against Baltimore, though, as the Pats defense would have to make some pretty big plays to go up as big as they did against Houston.

If they do take care of business in another AFC Championship game, the Pats would get the winner of San Fransisco and Atlanta, who face off in the NFC Championship game.  I'd love to see the Falcons personally, with former Boston College QB Matt Ryan and future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez.  But I also think they're a better matchup for the New England than the 49ers, who have a very tough defense, to go along with quite the prolific offense, with Colin Kaepernick officially arriving on the playoff scene.  (Did you see what he did to Green Bay?  He set a new QB playoff record with 181 rushing yards, and also passed for 263 more, scoring four total touchdowns!)  Even so, a matchup between the Patriots and 49ers could be very intriguing as well, with both Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh guaranteed to throw some interesting plays in there, just to throw the other one off.  But I would give the advantage to Belichick, who's been there plenty of times before.

So yes, I'm a biased Patriots fan, but I'm just feeling it.  New England is going to win the Super Bowl to solidify the Hall of Fame careers of Brady and Belichick... At least that's what I think is going to happen.  Besides, the Patriots currently have the longest title drought of any of Boston's pro sports teams.  If they win again, then the world will make sense again... because then the Red Sox will be the ones with the longest Boston drought.

HOF Fallout

I'm not surprised that no one got the necessary 75 percent needed from the writers to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I was hoping to see at least Jack Morris get in, but that didn't happen.  Instead we have no one going to Cooperstown from the writers ballot for the first time since 1996.  What's worse, with the new format of the veterans ballot, the three inductees for the class of 2013 all died about 70 years ago.

The real losers in this situation are the good folks of Cooperstown, who depend on all the tourists who come in for Induction Weekend.  With a class of Jacob Ruppert, Hank O'Day and Deacon White, you can't expect too many people to make the trek from all over the country this year.  The Hall is planning something extra, like honoring guys such as Lou Gehring and Rogers Hornsby, who didn't have an induction during wartime, but I doubt it will bring in too many fans.  What they need is a big turnout by the returning Hall of Famers, who should make themselves available to the public as much as possible.

Most members of the media have been blaming the writers for not electing anyone this year.  Why?  Because they didn't elect guys who used performance enhancing drugs to become great?  Yep.  What does that say about you, that you actually want cheaters in the Baseball Hall of Fame?  It's deplorable and anyone that says someone like Sammy Sosa deserves to be in Cooperstown is just not getting it.  I also hope Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro never get anywhere near the Hall and based on the low vote totals for all three, I think that's a safe bet.

Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, however, both received about 36%, and depending on how much added support they get in subsequent years, they may both get in someday.  In fact, as I said in my last blog entry, even without the PEDs, they would've had HOF numbers.  But it's the way both disgraced the game that will take them a long time, if ever, to get elected.

Here's my question.  Why now, are people saying we should ignore the honesty and integrity clause as stated to me last week by Hall President Jeff Idelson and just let the cheaters in?  While I agree that figuring out everyone who was a user is way too difficult, at least we know Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire and Palmeiro did.  So if we're not allowing Pete Rose and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, two of the greatest ever who made mistakes that (at least in the case of Rose, who knows about Shoeless Joe) have shown remorse for what they did, why should we let in these guys who won't even admit their guilt?  (I guess McGwire did admit it, but his non-PED numbers don't impress me enough to say he's a Hall of Famer.)

I guess it just shows where we are as a society, cheat to win, eh?  I say no to them all, and even though I said in my last blog I said I would vote for Mike Piazza, not anymore.  The reason is sad, though, because Jose Canseco implicated him.  I hate Canseco, but how sad is it that he's the one telling the most truth about the Steroid Era in baseball, which by the way, is still going on, folks.  We may never truly get by it, as long as players are continuing to find ways to cheat the system.  But at least the players union has officially agreed to in season HGH testing and that's a great step to moving on.  I hope I'm wrong about Piazza, though it doesn't really matter what I think.  Besides, his 57.8% on this year's ballot will likely go up in the next few years and my guess is he'll get it eventually.

Here's something else to remember about the Baseball Writers:  they rarely ever elect anyone in their first year eligible, unless they're a very special player.  Craig Biggio may have been a 3,000 hit guy, but I think his 68.2% this year had more to do with it being his first year on the ballot, as opposed to accusations of PED use.  Biggio made a statement saying he thought the voters were lumping him in with the steroid guys, but I don't think that's the case.  I'm sure there are some who do have doubts about Biggio, mainly because he shared a locker room with admitted user Ken Caminiti, but I'm pretty sure next year he'll get at least 75%.

Another likely inductee in the future is Curt Schilling, whose 38.8% was better than Clemens or Bonds!  It usually takes pitchers longer to get into Cooperstown anyway, but my money's on Schill to get in eventually.  (I wouldn't be surprised to see former Red Sox aces Schilling and Pedro Martinez go in the same year.)  Jeff Bagwell's 59.6% in his third year may get him in eventually as well.  Like Biggio, Bagwell is often associated with Caminiti, which has hurt his chances as well.

My biggest problem with this year's vote is the non-PED guys who were slighted, namely Morris, Lee Smith and even Fred McGriff, who got less votes than Bonds and Clemens.  He'll never make it in, even though I think his numbers, which are completely clean, should be good enough.  I'm not a big fan of Tim Raines being a Hall of Famer, but with 52.2% in just his sixth year on the ballot, he'll probably make it in eventually.  Originally I felt that if Morris didn't make it in this year, he'd have no chance next year.  But then again, based on how this year's vote went, the only first ballot guy that's a definite I would say is Greg Maddux.  There's a chance Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine and even Mike Mussina and Jeff Kent, could all get in, but based on voting history, I would not be surprised if all four were held back.

Besides, if Biggio and even Morris get enough for election next year, along with Maddux, that's a pretty good class of 2014 and that's without even considering the veterans ballot.  In 2014 the Expansion Era committee will be back and four of the great managers of the era will be up for the first time: Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa and Lou Pinella.  So the fact is the Class of 2014 will be the one that will be the big one some expected this year.  I guess it's just too bad that big manager crop for the vets committee wasn't this year, because that would've been a lot better.

But once again, I feel for the people of Cooperstown.  It's going to be rough getting people to show up to honor three very old school inductees.  It's too bad they didn't reinstate Shoeless Joe this year and have him be elected by the vets committee.  Can you imagine Jackson's family flanked by Ray Liotta, Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones in an homage to "Field of Dreams?"  That would've been the perfect draw this summer.

The Most Controversial HOF Ballot in History

There's no question in my mind that the best part about covering sports at WKTV is that Cooperstown is in our market.  There's no place closer and the folks in town watch us more than any other news station.  Cooperstown, I've said many times, is my "happiest place on earth," (Between April and October anyway) because it's known, whether true or not, as the "Birthplace of Baseball."  I've covered every type of HOF related event in the Coop and I always feel blessed when I get to talk with President Jeff Idelson and the many baseball legends, whether they're enshrined in the Hall's Gallery or not.

In just a few days, the Hall will announce the results of the most controversial writers ballot in history.  Some of the top guys in the modern era of baseball are eligible for the first time, but many of them are considered cheaters, for their alleged use of performance enhancing drugs.  Some have the bad luck of being on this ballot.  Guilt by association may hurt two that should be easy first ballot Hall of Famers.  There's also a few holdovers from last year's ballot that have pretty good chances to make it as well.  So I decided, like many sports fans like to do, to figure out whom I would vote for, if I had the chance.

First and foremost, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa.  All three obviously have the stats to be first ballot Hall of Famers, but because of PED allegations none will get in this year.  Sosa I don't think will ever get in, because his numbers are pretty much all linked to cheating, whether through PEDs or even corked bats (he was caught with at least one during his career).  Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, who have each been on the ballot a few years, are in the same boat.  Bonds and Clemens, however, both had monster numbers before either touched anything extra.  I honestly feel that both deserve to get in.  But I wouldn't vote for either this year, because of what Mr. Idelson told me when I interviewed him this week, reminding me about Rule 5 in the voting guidelines: "Voting shall be based on player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."  Yes both Bonds and Clemens deserve to get in, but it wouldn't be on my vote this year.  (Probably not next year either, when Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas will be first timers, or the year after that, when Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz are first timers.)

I feel differently about Mike Piazza and Craig Biggio, however.  I feel bad, because each are the best at their position of this era, but each are also quietly suspected of using, though no one's ever officially accused them.  Piazza has the best offensive numbers of any catcher, EVER.  427 HRs, 396 as a catcher, including nine seasons of hitting at least 30.  His career batting average was .308 and he drove in 1,335 RBI, six times hitting over 100 in a season, with the second longest streak in MLB history, 15 straight games with at least one RBI, in 2000.  Only nine others hit 400 HR, hit over .300 for their careers and didn't strike out more than 100 times in a season.  Among those names are Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.  Piazza was also a 12 time All-Star, the MVP of the game in 1996 and the NL Rookie of the Year in 1993.  Biggio had over 3,000 hits, 668 of which were doubles, putting him fifth all-time in that department.  He drove in 1,175 runs, scoring 1,844 and his 146 in 1997 were the most since 1932.  He's also the "King of the HBP," having been hit 287 times, the most in the modern era, second all-time.  A seven time All-Star, Biggio also won four gold gloves at second base.

The problem is Piazza and Biggio both seem too good to be true, even if both are 100% clean.  Biggio was close in the Houston clubhouse with admitted user Ken Caminiti, as well as Jeff Bagwell, who has been rumored to have been too close with Caminiti as well.  Bagwell is another story, as it's his third year on the ballot and solely by the numbers, he should be in Cooperstown as well.  But his numbers (449 HR, 1,529 RBI, 1,401 BB, .297 career AVG) just feel dirty to me.  Bagwell I wouldn't vote for this year.  But Piazza and Biggio I would.  MIKE'S VOTE: MIKE PIAZZA AND CRAIG BIGGIO

Curt Schilling.  Yikes.  Where do I begin?  I don't think it would be possible for me to impartial when it comes to this guy.  Whether or not the bloody sock in 2004 was a fake, Schil was one of the guys that delivered a championship to the Red Sox and I can never thank him enough for that.  He was also on the title team in 2007, though far less effective then.  In fact, his Hall of Fame credentials are really more from his NL days, with the Phillies and Diamondbacks.  When and if Schilling does make it someday, it will ignite some fantastic hat debates.  (Which of the three should he go in as?  Hey, you'll hear it this year between the Mets and Dodgers if Piazza gets in as well.)  As for Schilling's numbers: 216 wins, 3.46 ERA, 1.137 WHIP, 3,116 strikeouts (15th all-time), 20 shutouts, an 11-2 postseason record with a 2.23 ERA in those games.  He also had a fantastic 4.38-to-1 strikeouts to walks ratio in the regular season.  His three world series titles, two with Boston and one with Arizona in which he was co-MVP, speak for themselves and he was also in a fourth with Philadelphia.  But believe it or not, I also invoke Rule 5 with Schilling, at least for this season.  He's actually lacking in integrity in my eyes, whether it be "shilling" (pardon the pun) for GW Bush the day after winning the title in 2004 or his truly awful management of his video game company, in which he laid everyone off.  If I'm going to punish Bonds and Clemens, I'm just going to have to do it to Schilling as well.  Ouch, that hurts.

Jack Morris is a very interesting case.  It's his 14th year on the ballot and thanks to the strong pitchers on it for the first time next year, if he doesn't make it here, he's done.  Morris earned 66.7% of the needed 75% last year, which means he should get enough this year.  Does he deserve it?  254 wins, with at least 20 three times, 2,478 strikeouts, 28 shutouts, a 1.296 WHIP, a no-hitter in 1984 and five All-Star selections.  But Morris, like Schilling, was a big game pitcher in the postseason, where he technically won four championships, though he was really on great in 1984 for Detroit and in 1991 for Minnesota.  (He was part of the rotation for Toronto in 1992, but wasn't that good, then didn't even make the postseason roster in 1993.)  His ten shutout innings for the Twins in Game 7 of the 1991 Fall Classic is one of the great pitching performances ever.  It's for that reason I would vote for him.  Yes Schilling has better numbers, but he'll have his chance again down the road.  This is it for Morris and I'd like to see him get in.  MIKE'S VOTE: JACK MORRIS

Lee Smith is another toughie, as Dennis Eckersley was really the best reliever of that era, but had to convert from being a starter.  Smith was consistently the best reliever, pretty much all through the 80s, though he didn't break 40 saves until late in his career, 1991.  I never understood why the Red Sox got him in 1988, then swept him out by 1990.  He was a lot more reliable than his replacement, Jeff Reardon, but for whatever reason, he went to St. Louis, where he revitalized his career.  His 478 saves over 18 seasons were the most until Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera surpassed him and he finished 802 games, an MLB record.  His career ERA was 3.03, WHIP 1.256 and he struck out 1,251 batters.  He was a seven time All-Star and holds the saves records for both the Cubs and Cardinals, two bitter rivals.  You can debate whether relievers belong in the HOF if you want, but I say this is one guy who surpasses them all and if I could, I'd give him the thumbs up.  MIKE'S VOTE: LEE SMITH

There's no question that Tim Raines has great credentials as well.  A .294 career batting average and the NL champ in 1986, 2,605 hits, 1,330 walks, 1,571 runs scored (leading the league in both 1983 and 1987) as well as 430 doubles.  But it's stolen bases that are where Raines excelled, with 808 in his career, leading the NL every year between 1981 and 1984.  But that number only put him fifth on the all-time list.  Raines was a seven time All-Star and three time World Series champion, but only two of those titles came as a player, and it was when he was really more a reserve with the Yankees in 1996 and 1998.  I've never really thought Raines was quite good enough for the Hall and if I had a vote, I wouldn't give it to him.  The same goes for Julio Franco and Kenny Lofton, who both appear on the ballot for the first time.  Neither had as many hits, runs, or stolen bases as Raines, so they're both a no on my list.

Some people might make a case for David Wells, with 239 wins, 2,201 strikeouts, a 1.266 WHIP, two World Series titles and a perfect game in 1998.  But his 4.13 ERA and my general dislike for "Boomer" could never result in a yes vote for him, especially over Morris and Schilling.

Dale Murphy has no chance, though his kids have been campaigning hard, given that it's his last year of eligibility.  But even given how great a guy everyone says he is, his numbers just aren't good enough.  398 HR, with six seasons of at least 30, 1,266 RBI, five of at least 100, 1,197 runs scored and just a .265 career batting average.  He was an All-Star seven times and won five gold gloves.  It amazes me that he won the NL MVP twice, but I guess it's because offensive numbers were pretty low in 1982 and 1983.  I compare Murphy to my favorite player all-time, former Red Sox Dwight Evans, who was dropped from the ballot after just three years, in 1999.  "Dewey" hit 385 HR, 1,384 RBI, 1,470 runs scored, 483 doubles and also walked 1,470 times, nearly 500 times more than Murphy.  He only made three All-Star appearances, but won eight gold gloves.  There's no way Murphy is a Hall of Famer if Dewey isn't.

Now Fred McGriff on the other hand, is a different story.  I've never been a huge fan of "The Crime Dog," but always had a lot of respect for him and certainly never thought of him as a PED guy.  His numbers always seemed not impressive enough to warrant speculation, either a cheater or a Hall of Famer.  But as I broke down his credentials, I saw that okay, his 493 HR were seven shy of 500, but he hit at least 30 in ten different seasons.  He hit 1,550 RBI, with at least 100 in eight different seasons.  He walked 1,305 times, scored 1,349 runs, hit 441 doubles and was a career .284 hitter.  He was an All-Star five times, winning the MVP of the game in 1994, right before the strike by the way, and won a World Series title with Atlanta in 1995.  I like those numbers, though he's never going to make it this year after getting just 23.9% last year.  That's less than Alan Trammell and Edgar Martinez who are far less impressive and not even worthy of researching in my opinion.  McGriff, however, is and I would give him a yes.  (Though like Piazza and Schilling, his hat discussion would be crazy!  Five years with Toronto, Four and a half with both Atlanta and Tampa, plus a few years with San Diego, the Cubs and the Dodgers mixed in.  Oy!)  MIKE'S VOTE: FRED MCGRIFF

So looking back, I would've voted for five guys this year: Mike Piazza, Craig Biggio, Jack Morris, Lee Smith and Fred McGriff.  Curt Schilling might make my "ballot" in the future, and who knows, maybe Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will as well, but not this time.  In any case, it will be fascinating to see how the real voters see all these guys.  We'll find out Wednesday at 2 p.m. live on MLB Network!

Bills need some Lovie

After parting ways with head coach Chan Gailey and his entire staff, including former Super Bowl winning Defensive Coordinator Dave Wannstedt, Monday, the Bills are now looking for a new leader. I certainly don't know everything about the NFL and what it takes to build a winner, but I'd quite frankly love to see Da Bills go after Lovie Smith, who was dismissed by Da Bears Monday as well.  His record isn't exactly impressive, at 84-66 including playoffs, in his nine seasons in Chicago, but he was a defensive coach before taking the top job in the Windy City.  That's perfect for a Bills team that has a lot of defensive talent, but still has some big holes to fill.

Smith, by the way, has been to a pair of Super Bowls, one with Chicago, in which he lost to Peyton Manning and the Colts.  The second was as a Defensive Coordinator with the Rams, when they lost to Tom Brady and the Patriots in my favorite Super Bowl, number XXXVI.  (I wonder why it's my favorite?)  He's rumored to be considering the job in snowy, cold Buffalo, though he's also reportedly interested in Arizona as well, which if Smith goes by warmer climate, is obviously a no-brainer.  But hopefully that won't be the determining factor.

Smith is likely the leading candidate for any of the other six head coaching vacancies.  Seven teams, including Buffalo, Arizona and Chicago, fired their coaches on 'Black Monday,' with the others being the Chiefs, Browns, Eagles and Chargers.  The Eagles finally divorced themselves from Andy Reid, after 14 seasons and a grand total of ZERO Super Bowl titles, though he did lose one to the Pats.  But then again, I feel bad for Reid, after his son's death back in August.  Norv Turner in San Diego,  however, I don't feel bad for at all.  His six years with the Chargers were actually better than either of his previous head coaching stints, with the Redskins and Raiders, finishing 55-40, but just 24-24 and ZERO playoff appearances over the last three years.  Turner's actually a decent Offensive Coordinator, just not a good head coach.

Neither should be in the Bills immediate plans as Lovie, Ken Whisenhunt, the now former head coach of the Cardinals, as well as current Arizona Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton are the top candidates so far.  Apparently Buffalo will also talk with Broncos Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy as well as the one and only Doug Marrone, head coach of the Syracuse Orange!!  It would be fantastic, as someone who covers SU on a regular basis, to see Marrone make that jump, though if it's a choice between Smith and Marrone, I'd go with Lovie, since he's got the NFL head coaching experience.

In any case, Russ Brandon is the team's new President and CEO and will oversee GM Buddy Nix, who for now is still employed in Buffalo.  Hopefully the two will get together and find the right person for the job!

Back in the Arena

It's been way too long since I've been here, writing my thoughts on the sports world, whether it's across the nation and world, or locally in Utica, Syracuse and Central NY and I apologize for that.  A lot has happened in my life, with my promotion to Sports Director at WKTV in November being the biggest news.  It's been exciting, but also more work than I would ask on anyone.  One big problem is I haven't been able to get to the Carrier Dome to see the SU basketball team this year.  Hopefully I'll get some help soon, but until then, I'm on my own.  

Today is "Black Monday" in the NFL, where head coaches and GMs are dropping like flies, including Mike Tannenbaum of the Jets, a graduate of my high school in Needham, Mass, as well as Chan Gailey of the Bills.  I like Gailey, but he probably shouldn't been given another head coaching job in the NFL.  Unfortunately I doubt a lot of A-list coaches are anxious to move to Buffalo, which is a shame, because it seems like a pretty sweet place for football.  The fans are passionate and the league seems determined to keep it as the "AFC Green Bay" market, which is great in my eyes.  As far as Tannenbaum, I really hope he gets another chance.  The Jets mess this year was far from his fault and I hope other teams take note of that.  It was Woody Johnson and Rex Ryan that created the chaos, which is hilarious for me as a Patriots fan since Johnson seems okay with Ryan returning.

In other NFL news, Lovie Smith was fired in Chicago.  That's quite a surprise, since they finished 10-6, but when you look a little closer, you see they were a third place team that's barely made the playoffs during his tenure.  Maybe it was his time to go, though I would hope he gets another shot, maybe in Buffalo!!  One thing seems certain, that ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden seems to be the guy everyone wants as their new coach.  We'll see what happens in the next few days and weeks.

So another big question in NFL as the regular season winded down was Peyton Manning vs. Adrian Peterson for the MVP.  Until the last week or two, it was pretty even with support, but now everyone seems to think it's Peterson in a slam dunk.  I don't get it.  I'm not saying it should be Peyton in a landslide either, but to not compare how amazing both are?  If anything, this should be a co-MVP year, as both came back from brutal injuries to return to elite status.

Anyway, there's a lot to talk about, especially now that football is almost done and we're heading into full-time basketball season and I look forward to sharing my thoughts.

Yes, I admit it, Jeter is a Hall of Famer

Get ready for something you'd never thought you'd see from a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan.  I'm going to tell you why Derek Jeter is a first ballot Hall of Famer, no question about it.  It took me awhile to come to this conclusion, because during the Yankees run in the late 90s, Jeter was always the quintessential Yankee, a.k.a. the guy on whom I could direct all my hatred towards.  Now I look at him differently, perhaps because he's in the twilight of his career and I can appreciate him more.

I was having a conversation about Jeter a few weeks back with Jason Powles, born and bred Yankee fan and I admitted I thought Jeter was a first ballot Hall of Famer, but thought his numbers were overrated.  It was an interesting conversation, because we looked up his numbers that night and I discovered that his numbers are pretty good.  Not long after that I read an article in ESPN the Magazine by Peter Keating talking about Jeter being "overrated by fans, but underrated by statistical analysts."  For instance, he has a .306 average and an .845 OPS with runners in scoring position and two out throughout his career.  He also has averages of .324/.785 with the bases loaded and .309/.850 in the postseason.  Another interesting stat Keating mentions is Jeter's 1,719 runs scored in about 15 seasons, which is higher now, so it's even more impressive.  And in that time he's also reached base more than any other player.  He now has over 3,000 hits (after going 5-5 Saturday vs. the Rays) and will likely reach base 4,500 times before the end of his career (according to Keating).  That is impressive.

Most of my fellow Sox brethren have said that Jeter's numbers are inflated, especially his runs scored, because he played with guys who could knock him in.  But he still had to get on base and quite frankly the guys on his team weren't the big name big hitting guys he has now.  There were no A-Rods, Teixeiras or even Grandersons or Canos.  It was the Tino Martinezes, the Bernie Williamses, the Paul O'Neills and even the Scott Brosiuses.  Some of them were great players, but none of them Hall of Famers, except maybe Jorge Posada.  In fact, the Core Four, Jeter, Posada, Mariano Rivera and maybe even Andy Pettite (though he might be a stretch) should all be in Cooperstown someday, but they're probably the only members of the '96-'00 championship teams that will be there, as opposed to the '09 team, which could have eight in the HOF by the time they're done.

The reason Jeter is overrated by fans is that he hasn't deserved to make as many All-Star teams as he's made and he certainly shoudn't be a five time gold glover.  Maybe earlier in his career you could convince me that he was a better fielding shortstop, but that didn't happen, because his first came in 2004.  He's also one of those poster boys for the 21st century male athlete, meaning he's one of the reasons that non-baseball fans watch.  (i.e. women are interested because he's a good looking guy.  BARF!)  And that's the reason he gets endorsement deals, because companies know he'll help them sell their products.  So he's a great ambassador for the sport, like Tiger Woods used to be in golf and the way Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are for tennis, Sidney Crosby is for hockey and even Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are in basketball.  In fact, Jeter was the first, the one that set the standard for all the rest of these guys.  I personally don't really like any of them, because I think they come off as too wooden, too rehearsed, too perfect.  Give me Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, Big Papi and Pedro Martinez, Zdeno Charra and Tim Thomas, even old school Bill Parcells, the guys that aren't afraid to unload every now and then to speak their mind.  Hmm, can I think of any non-Boston examples?  I suppose Terrell Owens would be the best one, even though I can't stand him either. 

Over the past few months the subject of Jeter has come up in Cooperstown and all the guys I've heard talk about him say he'll be in when the time comes.  I specifically asked Goose Gossage about Jeter and he talked about him as if he was already a part of the group.  (Granted he's a fellow Yankee, but still I think he was being sincere about it.)  Even without the 3,000 hits I think #2 would have been a shoo-in.  Still, given the things Jeter's done already and all the thrills he's delivered to the Evil Empire, Saturday's performance may have been the best yet. 

His first inning single to give him 2,999 was average, ordinary, nothing special.  Number 3,000 was the opposite, a home run, just the third of the year for the light hitting Captain.  The only other player in MLB history to get 3,000 on a long ball was Wade Boggs, when he was with the Rays.  Can you believe that?  Jeter and Boggs seem the least likely of the 28 who have reached 3,000 to do it with a home run.  (I actually saw Boggsy get #2,000 live in person back in his Red Sox days at Fenway.  It was one of the lamest hits I've ever seen, with Boggs sliding into first.  Oy.)  But more importantly, #3,000 tied the score with the Rays at one.  Later, Jeter got a double to left to surpass the great Roberto Clemente for 27th all time on the hit list.  A single by Curtis Granderson allowed Jeter to score, another run created by the Captain.  He was a perfect 4-4 when his last at bat of the game came in the 8th, with the score tied at four.  Eduardo Nunez was on third, playing at third in place of an injured A-Rod.  There's a lot of talk that Nunez will be the eventual replacement at short for Jeter.  It was poetic as #2 came through again, with an RBI single up the middle to plate Nunez and give the Yankees a 5-4 lead, which Mo Rivera protected with a 1-2-3 9th. 

Jeter had come through again, like he's done so much during his career, helping the Yankees keep pace with Boston, just a game back in the AL East.  It was a fitting way for the Captain to make history and just another reason why the baseball world will someday converge on the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown to pay homage to the man and the legacy he will have left on the national pastime.  I hate to admit it, but it's true.

A little late, but still proud to be an American

Okay, so I meant to write this on Tuesday, the first of two days off, but I ended up having a crazy "weekend."  So this is a little late, but I still wanted to talk all about 4th of July weekend.  I've had the holiday off only once since I started working in the business, in 2008 when I was in West Virginia, although I had a bunch of days off around it the following year when I was in Albany.  (That year I went back to Boston for a few days, went back to Albany on the 4th, anchored the shows, stayed at my place overnight, then went back to Boston for a few more days the next morning.)

4th of July is one of those holidays that always seems fun to me, whether I'm working or not.  (And while I enjoy the fireworks displays, I really don't care about checking them out every year.  Kind of a waste of money we all can't afford anymore, wouldn't you say?)  This year I was even more content to work the holiday weekend, mainly because I just got back from a mini-vacation back in Boston, so I was ready to get back to work.

There's nothing that gets me in gear on the 4th more than the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.  I remember when ESPN starting carrying it every year, it was a big deal, because it's one of those crazy "not really a sport" events that for one day a year carries as much interest as the big sports.  Plus they had a little pipsqueak guy from Japan who kept winning every year.  Unfortunately Takeru Kobayashi has missed the event the last two years because of a contract dispute with Major League Eating.  I think it's just a ploy and he was just sick of losing the "Super Bowl of Eating" to Joey Chestnut, who won his fifth straight title this year.  In any case, it's a thrill to scarf down a few hot dogs of my own while watching the event, though I don't usually take the time to figure out how many I could eat at one sitting.  (I did this year though.  Probably no more than six, though I can't eat red meat anymore, so they'd have to be turkey dogs.)

Baseball is also perfect for the 4th, because it's still the national pastime and when the whether nice, I get a huge thrill from watching the game, whether it's on TV or in person.  I had the chance to do both this year, as I shot an NYCBL game at DeLutis Field in Rome, between the Thunderbolts and the Utica Brewers.  Captured a home run, some big hits as well as a few great catches before I left in the bottom of the fourth.  (The 4-3 Rome lead ended up holding up, so I guess I left at the perfect time!)  At night, I saw the return of #2 Derek Jeter to the Yankee lineup after a stint on the DL.  The Evil Empire was visiting Cleveland and despite the Yankees taking the lead, Jeter went 0-4, not gaining any ground towards his 3,000 hits (Which will likely happen this weekend.  Great, now I'll have to report on that.), and the Indians came back to win.  (Oh happy day!  But not too happy, because the Red Sox lost.  By the way, it's amazing how after everything that's happened this season, Boston and NY are still the top two teams in the AL and are only separated by a half game.)

I also have to mention the exciting 4th of July Weekend, with David Ragan getting his first ever Sprint Cup win (yeah Roush Fenway!), Novak Djokovic beating out Rafy Nadal in the men's final at Wimbledon and the US Women's Soccer team winning another game at the World Cup, throttling Columbia.  (The ladies then proceeded to royally suck against Sweden yesterday, meaning they have to beat a hungry Brazil team on Saturday in the quarters, otherwise the tourney's already over for the US.)  On the down side, the great Maria Sharapova lost in the Wimbledon women's final to Petra Kvitova, which is only a downer because of how tough it was to get Kvitova's name right every time I tried.  Oy.

On the local scene, Saturday morning I went over to Stonebridge Golf & Country Club, where I frequently go to drive golf balls, to shoot a tourney with some of the greatest Mohawk Valley hockey players ever.  I interviewed and subsequently followed former Clinton high coach Dave Litz (whom I haven't seen since I interned here back in 2006) and the hilarious Dick Popiel, whom I met a few weeks earlier, at the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame.  Popiel is a reporter's dream, because he has so many great moments and quotes.  At first I figured this would just be what we calll a vosot, but instead it became a nat-pack, because of all the great video I shot of Popiel and the group.  I'd never actually been out on the course at Stonebridge before, so it was cool to see it firsthand.  (I ended up going back there Tuesday to play my first real round of golf there.  I wasn't good, but had a few nice shots and after all, isn't that what playing golf is all about?)

Also this weekend, the MLB All-Star rosters were released.  I never thought I'd hear Yankee fans say that Derek Jeter didn't deserve to make it, but that's because C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were both snubbed.  (Granted, Sabathia had already said he wouldn't play in the game, but so did Justin Verlander and he still made it.)  Still, I think they got it right for the most part and I love that Toronto's Jose Bautista had the most votes, because it shows that a lot of baseball fans do actually follow the game.  (Ryan Braun from Milwaukee had the most votes in the NL, that too is pretty cool!  The Jays and Brew Crew having the most votes?  Amazing.)  The one thing that bothers me is that when fans are confused about who to elect at a particular position, they seem to go with the Yankee.  Why?  Because they're lazy when the offensive numbers don't point out the best.  Welcome to the post-steroids era, where PEDs are still in use (Andrew Jones even says that in ESPN the Mag this week), but offense is down and fans forget or don't fully know what makes a great player, other than how many homers he's hit.

By the way, the NBA began its lockout this week and there's good reason to expect them to lose the whole season.  Meanwhile, the NFL seems to be heading down the final road to end its lockout.  While I originally said I wouldn't mind not having football this year, I realize how dumb that would be.  What the heck would I run on Sunday nights at 11 for Sports Extra without the Giants, Jets, Bills and even the Saints and a few extra games here and there?  Yeah, we really do need the NFL.  It's a perfect time filler!

Here's a few links to the stories I did over 4th of July weekend. 
First, it's the hockey alumni golf tourney at Stonebridge: http://www.wktv.com/sports/Hockey-alumni-reunion-hits-the-links-124926499.html 
Second, highlights of the Brewers and Thunderbolts:  http://www.wktv.com/sports/Thunderbolts-hang-on-to-beat-Brewers-124986489.html 

Sunny Days in Cooperstown

I love Cooperstown.  One day, if I make enough money, I would love to live there from May-November.  It's such a beautiful place during the summer and since they play up the "birthplace of baseball" bit, I love it even more.  Some people say that Abner Doubleday didn't really invent the game there, but does that really matter?  It's the idea that this little town in the middle of New York state was the place the national pastime was born and thus it fits perfectly. 

The Baseball Hall of Fame is easily the best of all the Halls of Fame, because of its history and how it's run.  Jeff Idelson is the president of the Hall and I've spoken with him on several occasions.  He seems like a good enough guy, but most importantly, under his guidance, the Hall is constantly evolving.  If you go to the museum every year, it won't be the same from visit to visit and that's what's so cool.  They have exhibits that come for a year then leave, ones that have been around for years but change given new artifacts and results of the current MLB season. 

The Hall of Fame Classic was an idea that came to fruition two years ago, probably before that actually, because they couldn't do the old Hall of Fame Game anymore.  That was an exhibition between two Major League teams held at Doubleday Field that was fun while it lasted, but the one time I was there, the players weren't all that keen on it, especially the media session.  At the HOF Classic, the ex-players seem pretty stoked to be taking part and that shows in the interviews I've conducted in the game's first three years.  Mike Timlin, one of the key relievers on the 2004 Red Sox World Series team, made his second appearance.  "The Spaceman" Bill Lee was here two years ago and I got a hilarious quote from him then and another one this year.  (So funny we used it to open the 11pm show Sunday.)  Among the new participants I spoke with were Reggie Sanders, Frank Catalanotto, Willie Wilson and old Red Sox favorite Dave Henderson.  (Hendu in 1986 was interestingly enough on the Mariners when Roger Clemens struck out 20, then on Boston later in the year for their run to the World Series, even hitting a key home run in Game of the ALCS against the Angels, to keep the Sox alive, down three games to one.)

I didn't actually talk to any of the Hall of Famers on Sunday.  Instead, I went to Cooperstown on Saturday for a "Voices of the Game" program, where I grabbed Andre Dawson, Goose Gossage and Jim Rice (one of my idols growing up) before they shared memories of the game with fans at Doubleday Field.  I wish I could've stayed for the entire program, but I had to get back to Utica to shoot some highlights of the Yard Dogs football game with Glove Cities.  (Thank you Mike Mason for your 41 yard run at the start of the second quarter!  If I didn't get that my highlights would've been pretty boring.)  Rice was a challenge, because when I asked him about his expectations for the HOF Classic, he was either playing dumb or really didn't know what to expect.  Good thing Dawson was right there, because they joked about being old and fat and unable to play at all.  (That wasn't true with Rice.  He played the entire game and got a few hits!!)

I will say that this year we seemed to have less time for interviews than usual.  That's probably not true, but it felt like that.  And more importantly, I didn't get to talk with Ozzie Smith, which bothered me a little.  Perhaps he just didn't want to do TV interviews and I certainly wouldn't blame him if that's true.  (Phil Niekro didn't do any interviews at all!  Good thing I met him a few weeks back at the opening of the records exhibit.)  That being said, there was plenty of time and access to the fun all the guys were having on the field before the first event on Sunday, the Home Run Derby, won by Dmitri Young.  (Young also won the Player of the Game award, named after the late Bob Feller, who played in the first two Classics.) 

I feel like this year there also weren't as many fans, though the folks at the Hall told me they thought there were more this year than last.  Don't know if that's true, but it certainly could be.  I seem to remember the weather was hot last year, but this year there was a brisk wind that kept it bearable.  As we were leaving the stadium, my intern, Chelsea, suggested me get some Hawaiin ices afterward.  I've never had one before, but it was very good.  (Kind of a like a slush with multiple flavors, thank you Chelsea!)

The game itself wasn't actually that interesting, which is what you'd really expect from retired players.  But they played up the entertainment aspect of it, (I loved Niekro's Dude Love-like knee dance and Jon Warden's goofy antics.  Lee was pretty funny, too.) so overall it was another great time at the Classic.

Unfortunately this may be the last time I go to the Coop this season.  I may end up there at some point during Induction Weekend this year like I did last year, though probably not for the ceremony.  Even so, I've been lucky enough to visit the birthplace of baseball a lot this year.  Besides, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.

Check out the story I did on Sunday's festivities here: http://www.wktv.com/sports/Players-fans-enjoy-3rd-HOF-Classic-124169724.html.

Boston is still the center of the sports world

Unbelievable.  I am now watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the day after, since I didn't have a chance to do that live from start to finish last night.  Considering how this series started, I can't believe how the Bruins turned this series around and specifically how the officiating changed as well.  When the NHL didn't suspend Burrows for the biting incident in Game 1, he became the hero in Game 2.  Then Rome pulled that cheap shot in Game 3 and was suspended for the series as the Bruins picked up a blowout win.  Then there was word that the officiating would change, making sure it was tighter.  I figured these were all signs that the Bruins season would be over soon and the Stanley Cup drought would reach 40 years.

But then something strange happened.  What I figured was one bad game for Roberto Luongo became a regular shooting gallery of goals.  With the exception of a Game 5 shutout at home, Luongo was awful after those first two games of the series.  When the Bruins forced Game 7, I like many viewers, figured Luongo would get the magic back, but I also thought that something was, pardon the pun, brewing.  (Or is that, "bruin...")  My head said the Canucks would win, but my heart said somehow Boston would pull out the win and the Cup.

After nearly fifteen minutes of shutout hockey, Brad Marchand found Patrice Bergeron for the first goal of the game.  The next day, my buddy Double J, the biggest hockey fan I knew, said he knew it was over at that point.  Maybe, but this team has a history of giving up leads.  One thing about this goal:  I didn't see it live, because I was at Utica College covering the opening night of Kings of Kings, the summer basketball league that brings in huge college stars, like this year's headliner, Brandon Triche from the Syracuse Orange.  (There are a ton of local guys playing, too.  As soon as I walked through the door I saw Matt Welch from NY Mills as well as Walkery and Maurice Mills from Proctor.  Later I interviewed Pat Moore from ND & Colgate, Dave Golembiowski from Holland Patent and SUNYIT as well as Sean Burton from ND, who also went to my alma mater, Ithaca College.  Apparently he now plays pro hoops in the Icelandic league.  Sweet!)

Last year I was amazed at how busy the summer season is in the Mohawk Valley.  Between Baseball Hall of Fame events, the Boilermaker, the Turning Stone Resort Championship/the Notay Begay III Foundation Challenge, High School Football Previews, as well as college level and legion baseball.  Now we did lose the TSRC, but the NB3 is going to be much bigger this year, unless Tiger Woods pulls out, as expected because of his injury.  But even so, there's so much to cover and so little time to get it all done.  And quite frankly I love it.

Technically the summer began offically last weekend with the High School State Championships for all the Spring sports.  But in reality it really began with the final game of the last fall/winter sport, which is usually the NBA Finals, but not this year.  I'm now watching the B's skate around with the Cup and it's amazing.  Double J keeps telling me the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best in any sport and the celebration is also better than any others.  I definitely agree that one, the Stanley Cup is the best trophy, which he's also said, and seeing my team skating around with it is incredible.  I'd still say that NCAA March Madness is still a more exciting overall playoff, but nothing compares to the NHL in pro sports.  (I mean, last year I even got excited for the Blackhawks, of all teams.  And I really wanted Philly to win, because that's Double J's team.)

The Vancouver fans in the arena were actually pretty gracious and most of them stuck around to watch the Bruins parade around with the Cup.  (They even cheered for Milan Lucic, who was born in Vancouver and won a Memorial Cup with the Giants of the WHL.)  They gave their team a standing ovation that was probably undeserved given how pathetic they were, losing 4-0 at home in Game 7.  But still, it was a pretty classy gesture by the fans inside the building.  Outside, however, was another story, as fans rioted and caused a lot of damage, with over 100 people injured.  I really don't understand the whole, we're passionate fans, so let's get drunk and destroy things, mentality that occurs in these places.  I mean sure, Boston fans can get pretty rowdy and do some stupid things, but it's usually, as Boston Mayor Tom Menino would say, "a few knuckleheads."  (While we're at it Mumbles, how about a nice "They did it through teamwork" quote for the Bruins!  "They worked every day at it!")  This was just awful and I just don't get it.

In any case, I said before this series started that if the Black & Gold won, I wouldn't go crazy on the championship merchandise.  There's just a few problems with that.  First, the locker room shirt is really cool, with a cartoon trophy and I can totally see myself getting it.  Plus, both Father's Day and my nephew's birthday are coming up, so they'll make perfect gifts.  Amazing really, because I'm going to end up shelling out money I don't have for my #4 team, because quite frankly, they may not win again in my lifetime and the celebration, complete with the coolest trophy in sports, needs to be remembered.

So there you have it, The Boston Bruins are your Stanley Cup Champions.  That makes seven pro sports championships for Boston in a decade.  Plus four more NCAA Hockey titles by Boston College and Boston University makes it eleven major titles.  How does your favorite city stack come compared to that?  I know, you're all sick of hearing this, but you have to admit it's true.  Right now, Boston is the center of the sports world.  And you know what's scary?  The PATRIOTS have the longest drought.  Oy.

Boxing HOF and Nowitzki's Silver Hammer

I'm a very happy sports guy today.  I've been singing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" all morning, thinking about how Dirk and the Mavs were allowed to deliver the knockout blow to the "Heatles" last night in the NBA Finals:  Bang bang, Nowitki's Silver Hammer came down on their head...  Bang Bang, Nowitzki's Silver Hammer made sure, they were dead! 

The NBA Finals are over and Baby Bron Bron & Co. aren't the ones celebrating!  Could it be that the NBA really didn't want to hand the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Miami after all?  Although in thinking about it, I'd also say that Dirk winning the title is a much better fit for what the NBA is selling, legitimizing a top International player here in the states.  (See, even non-American players can lead a team to a title!)  Whatever the case, I am happy today, and more importantly happy for Dallas.  (I'll never root for any of their other three pro teams, especially the Cowboys, but also the Stars and Rangers, too.  I was pulling for the Giants in the World Series last year.)

How about Jason Terry, eh?  Dirk may have been named MVP, but Terry was the heart and soul of this team.  27 points to lead all scorers in Game 6, on 11-of-16 shooting.  That's a pretty telling stat, as were Lebron's: 9-of-15 for 21 points.  That's actually not that bad, but six turnovers, just four turnovers and six assists.  Plus, just four free throws attempted with only ONE made.  WOW!  The Heat were outscored by 24 points when James was on the court in Game 6 and the King's field goal percentage in the 4th Quarter during this entire series wasn't very good, just 7-of-21.  (He had 0 points in the last five minutes of every game that was within five points.) 

Wade, meanwhile, must have been hurt, because he shot just 6-of-16, though at least he actually looked like he wanted to win.  It's funny, because Chris Bosh, the third man of this "Big 3" that came together in the off-season has often been hailed as the third wheel, odd man out, etc., but he probably fits into Miami's team more than Lebron.  That's strictly opinion, though.  (I like Bosh, by the way.  Made sense for him to get out of Toronto and go to a team where he can be the second or third option.)  It was also funny to hear Lebron bash his critics, about how "All the people that were rooting me on to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before.  They have the same personal problems they had to today. I’m going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want with me and my family and be happy with that.”  Seriously Bron Bron?  Just shut your mouth and take it like a man.

I'll never like him, not just because he bailed on Cleveland, but the manor in which he did it, as well as his actual choice of teams.  If you were going to leave the Cavs Lebron, why not go to Chicago, which would've been a better fit?  Maybe because he was afraid to play in the constant shadow of Michael Jordan.  But tell me, were John Havlicek or Larry Bird afraid to play in the shadow of Bill Russell?  Were Joe Dimaggio or Mickey Mantle afraid to play in the shadow of Babe Ruth?  No, of course, not.  Which makes me believe that Lebron James, at least at this moment in history, will never be as good as all the experts said.  He's got the talent, obviously, but he'll just never be in the discussion of "greatest of all-time."  Unless of course the NBA bagjobs a title for him next year, if there even is a next year, with a possible lockout looming.  (Sound familiar NFL fans?)

Anyway, I digress, because the other big event yesterday, probably bigger for us sports folks in the Mohawk Valley, was the annual Boxing Hall of Fame Induction.  Some big names were enshrined, including Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone and Julio Cesar Chavez.  I ultimately didn't end up going myself, as one of our news photographers went for me, to make sure we got their speeches and I wouldn't have to leave early to produce my 6 p.m. show.  (Worked out well as I didn't get highlights from the Mets and NASCAR until late.)

The speeches didn't last long, though Stallone's was pretty good.  He talked about being a champion in your own life and of course, he finished with the obligatory "YO ADRIAN, I DID IT!!"  I still don't understand why people were knocking the Boxing Hall of Fame when Stallone was announced as an inductee last December.  He was elected as a screenwriter, not an actor.  Remember, he created the character on paper long before you saw him on screen.  A very powerful line from his speech was "it's not how hard you can hit, it's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, because that's what really does make a difference in your life."  The character of Rocky Balboa was just as important in raising the interest in boxing during the late 1970s and 80s as virtually any real boxer.

Tyson, on the other hand, was out of his element.  He frequently stumbled over his words and abruptly ended his speech.  Oh well, couldn't really expect much more than that.  He was there, even with Don King, a former inductee and one of the people who contributed to the downfall of Tyson's life, sitting up on stage as well.  "Iron" Mike is a very polarizing figure, but he needed to be in this Hall of Fame.  The one thing that would've been nice, is a media session with the big inductees.  Granted, Chavez doesn't speak English and Tyson would be tough, but at the very least, Stallone and Referee Joe Cortez.  (Actually, I did talk with Cortez, Friday afternoon while I was shooting my preview of the festivities.)  Needless to say, the Boxing Hall of Fame is very different from the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Check out these links to our Boxing Hall of Fame stories on WKTV.com:
http://www.wktv.com/sports/Tyson-Stallone-among-Boxing-HOF-inductees-123723974.html
http://www.wktv.com/sports/Tyson-Stallone-extended-inductions-123725094.html

Speaking of which, next weekend is the Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown.  I'll be going down there both Saturday and Sunday to check out all the fun and to interview a few legends.  I've been there each of the first two years and it's been great each time.  (I remember last year a player throwing his glove in the air to knock down a shot, which he then caught bare handed.  Not a legal play, but it's the Classic!  Having fun is the first priority.)

Tonight, the Bruins try to extend their Stanley Cup Finals series with Vancouver, in Game 6 at home.  I'll be hoping for that to happen and maybe we'll have a Game 7!!

Flushin' the TP, Baby Bron Bron and More

This is one of those sports days that just makes me laugh.  You've got Red Sox-Yankees, with first place in the AL East on the line, Game 4 of the NBA Finals between Miami and Dallas, plus lots of newsmakers, including Tiger Woods, Isiah Thomas, Aaron Rome and Terrelle Pryor. 

There were also high school softball regional games, but that's part of my duties as a local sports reporter, and not amusing in the slightest bit.  Even if the team I was covering, Adirondack, had won the game, I wouldn't have described it as amusing.  Maybe thrilling, but not amusing.  Unfortunately the Wildcats lost their first and only game we've shot all year.  D'oh!  Luckily, Hamilton won their game down in Binghamton, though we weren't there to see it.

One exciting piece of news from the WKTV front:  I received my "credential acceptance" letter from the Baseball Hall of Fame for next weekend's Hall of Fame Classic.  It's like getting a college acceptance letter, except you know before you open it what the answer's going to be.  (Although when I applied to Ithaca early decision they actually called to congratulate me on being accepted long before the letter showed up.  So I guess the credential thing really is just like a college acceptance letter, at least for me.)

By the way, this Sunday is the big Boxing Hall of Fame induction in Canastota, with Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sylvester Stallone among another big class.  Should be a media frenzy there, which would be the opposite of last year, when Howard Cosell's grandson was the highlight of the day.  A lot of random boxing folks show up for the weekend and last year the good folks at the hall set me up with an interview with Tommy Morrison, aka Tommy Gunn from Rocky V.  I'd be interested to see him back this year, maybe nose to nose with Stallone.  Is Burt Young still alive?  Maybe ol' Paulie can stand in between them.

By the way, I feel horrible for the family and friends of Oneida County Sheriff Deputy Kurt Wyman, who was killed in the line of duty Monday night.  Our station is covering all aspects of this tragedy, though I'd like to know some more about this nut job who shot him and what caused him to do it.  There's not enough how's and why's in this world, too many who's, what's and where's.

Anyway, back to the matters at hand.  The Red Sox scored three runs in the first inning against the Yankees and John Stirling and Susyn Waldman were ready to concede the game already.  (I turned the game on in my final few minutes coming back from the aforementioned high school softball game.)  They sounded just like my cousin Robert, the Yankee fan, during the 2003 ALCS.  (3-0 in the second inning, Robert: I concede, I concede!  Me: Robert, it's only the second inning!)  Then they got really pissed when Lester hit Teixiera on the knee.  It's only the first inning and the Boston bats got him a three run lead.  You really think Lester wants baserunners?  Anyway, despite the best efforts of Johnny Crapelbon, the Sox held on for the 6-4 lead.  Now we have a tie again for first.  (By the way, the AL East is still the closest in all of baseball.  Tampa is 2.5 out, Toronto 3.5 out and Baltimore 5.5.  Long way to go still.)  Apparently Joe Girardi is mad at Big Papi for flipping his bat after a home run.  I think he was still peeved that his first baseman went down and that meant Jorge "they don't respect me" Posada had to play first the rest of the game.  Seemed to work out okay for the Bombers though, because Jorgie went 3-for-3 with a ribbie and a run scored.  (By the way, Paps was only playing because he's appealing a three game suspension from his meltdown last weekend.  He may be the second youngest to reach 200 saves, second only to Eck, but I have doubts on whether he can get 200 more, or even 100.  Hope I'm wrong.)  It seems weird, the Sox and Yanks playing mid-week, but it's cool, the Boston nine are now 6-1 vs. NY this year.

Game 4 of the NBA Finals, I didn't watch, but saw the result.  Hahahahahaha, oh sorry I just saw Baby Bron Bron's stat line for the night.  8 points, EIGHT??  Wow, that's just hilarious.  Bosh and Wade both had good nights, though Bosh, like Lebron, had a poor shooting night.  James did have nine rebounds and seven assists, so in reality he had a decent game.  But other than that (can we call them something else other than the "Big 3?"  I mean seriously, I like ESPN's nickname for KG, Allen & Pierce, "The Boston Three Party."  Though it's actually a Four Party now with Rondo.  Can't we come up with something for these overrated, egotistical d-bags?), the Heat had nothing, while Dallas had several guys step up, especially Shawn Marion, although ironically, Miami shot much better as team than the Mavs.  Jason Terry made some big contributions, though he had an awful stat line from the field, 6-15.  Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points and 11 rebounds, but I guess he was battling a fever and wasn't great until the fourth quarter.  Guess the Heatles blew it again in the fourth and Dirk hit a big shot with 14 seconds left.  I like the idea that Dallas could actually win this series, not just because I'm a die hard Celtics fan and want the Heat to lose, but because it would be great for the overseas market, which I know David Stern loves.  I just thought he and the rest of the NBA Powers That Be wanted Bron Bron to win a title more.  This one really could go either way, because Miami just doesn't want to play in the fourth quarter.  You give a team like the Mavs an opening, they're going to take it.  It really could be 3-1 Dallas, but the Heat were lucky that Dirk missed his chance in Game 3.

Speaking of finals, Vancouver's Aaron Rome's been suspended for the rest of the Stanley Cup Finals after his head shot on the Bruins' Nathan Horton.  Too little, too late, though, because Rome's not the impact player that Horton is.  The NHL had a chance to send a message by suspending that punk Alex Burrows for his rendition of "Tree Bites Man," but instead the Canucks not only got away with it, but Burrows ended up being the hero of Game 2.  Everyone who thinks the Bruins are back in the series because they scored eight goals at home in Game 3 need to think again.  The refs will be clamping down on everything in Game 4, which means lots of penalty mintues and that doesn't favor the B's.  I'm thinking 5-2 Vancouver, with the series ending in five back in Canada.

So Tiger Woods is officially out of the U.S. Open, which is bad news in two big ways.  First, it means lower ratings for our coverage of the Open next weekend, but it's also likely that Tiger will be pulling out of the Notay Begay III Foundation Challenge at the Turning Stone on July 5th.  Can you imagine the media coverage if it ends up being the first event back or maybe even a test for him?  It would get so crazy up here, I can't even imagine.

I guess the Pistons are thinking about hiring either Isiah Thomas or Bill Laimbeer as their next coach.  Wow, is that story real?  Actually, Laimbeer might not be a bad choice.  He's actually had some success, albeit in the WNBA, but still, maybe a smart move on Detroit's part, though I still hate his guts.  But seriously, Isiah?  What is it about this guy that keeps landing him jobs?  He's terrible at everything having to do with basketball except playing the game, and as a Celtics fan, I would argue that he was overrated there.  Hey, I don't like the Pistons, so more power to you, morons.  Go and hire Isiah, see how many players you overpay and oh the games you will lose...

Finally, let's talk about Terrelle Pryor.  I remember when I worked in West Virginia and Rich Rod was trying to get him to go there and then when RR left WVU for Michigan, Pryor decided to go to the Wolverines' biggest rival, Ohio State.  Nothing amuses me more than major Division I College Football.  It's so obvious how corrupt it is, yet no one either wants or can do anything about it.  That's why I watch the games, enjoy the players, matchups and rivalries, but never really take a full rooting interest.  And I certainly don't worry about how many games a team has won, or whether they'll make a bowl game, unless of course, I'm covering said team, in which case, that's part of the package.  But Division I-A, sorry the FBS, is dirty, there's no getting around it.  That's why it's so funny to me when I see how shocked people are when a scandal erupts at one of these big schools.  If the NCAA really wants to send a message and make sure no one does it again, you give "The" Ohio State University the Death Penalty.  The same one given to SMU back in the 80s.  But it will never happen, because there's too much money at stake.  Ohio State is in the Big 10, which has a cable network that brings in a ton of moolah.  Pryor has been banished from being a Buckeye, doing exactly what he said he wouldn't do, mainly because he's being forced into it, and worse, he can't go into the NFL Draft, because that's already happened and they're still locked out anyway.  But I'm not crying for him, because he knew exactly what he was doing, he made his bed, yada yada yada.  He's not the first to cheat, he's just the latest, biggest name to get caught.  And unfortunately he won't be the last.

Hmm, I really don't want to end this on a downer, so how about a movie quote:  "El Guapo, here come the guns!"  -Three Amigos

Three Days in the 'Cuse

So I have to write some thoughts on the last three days, when I hauled arse out to Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, home of the Chiefs, AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.  The Section III High School Baseball finals were held there and quite frankly, two of the three games I shot had no business being there.  I mean seriously, Cooperstown vs. Sauquoit and NY Mills vs. Brookfield really should have been at either DeLutis Field in Rome or Murnane Field in Utica.  They should've figured something out to change those venues.  Anyway I digress, because we got highlights of all four games we needed, including Whitesboro winning their third Class A final in four years and Clinton falling in the overall B final.

Something weird happened on the first day, an afternoon contest between Mills and Brookfield for the D final.  Usually when you walk up the steps to the main concourse at ABS, you get a face full of wind.  But this time, it was so brutally hot with no wind that I felt nothing!  Setting up my camera at ABS is interesting, because you have to go behind home plate, with the net in front of you and if there's anyone sitting there, you're S.O.L.  That first day I had to go a little to the side of home, which unfortunately was directly in the sun.  While I remembered to put some sunscreen on my face, I really should've brought a hat.  What's really pathetic is that I could've done that all three days and guess what?  I forgot one every day!  Whoops.  Luckily the games were late enough in the day that the sun moved out of sight as to not sunburn my face at all.  On the third day I misplaced my sunscreen, so I got a little roasted.

Interesting note on Brookfield.  They're in our coverage area, are a little bit farther away than Sauquoit, closer than Mt. Markham, but we never ever shoot them.  I guess they don't have that many teams, but more importantly, never call in scores.  However, their baseball team is still undefeated, having beat Mills Tuesday to win the section and advance to regionals.  Even better, they'll be playing at DeLutis Monday, the only team in regionals playing in our area.  So that's a plus.

What can I say about Whitesboro?  They were down against Bishop Ludden, looking just anemic on offense in the early inning.  Down 2-0, 4-2 and 5-4, the Warriors rebounded every time and eventually exploded with a four run inning.  Ryan Watson shut the door in relief, channeling Pedro Martinez in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS against Cleveland, striking out nine in just four innings.  This is head coach Bill DeCoursey's final run at the helm, so his next loss will be his final game, unless Whitesboro wins their first ever state championship, which is certainly possible.  Watson then channeled A.J. Burnett in DeCoursey's post-game interview, hitting his coach in the face with a pie while we were talking with him!  I probably should have just left, without talking to the players, because they had a post-game meeting after DeCoursey's interview and it was already 10 p.m.  But I really wanted to talk with Watson and starter Matt Engler and needed some more sound for the rest of the weekend.  So at 10:15 I headed back to Utica, barrelling across the NY State Thruway, praying I wouldn't get pulled over.  Luckily that didn't happen and we were able to get highlights and the pie in the face on for the 11 p.m. show.  Whew!

Thursday could've been worse than it was.  Not to be a douche or anything, but I'm glad Clinton lost in the first game.  I felt horrible that this was the first Warrior game we shot of this year, but I found out that they were a .500 team before playoffs, plus the spring was more erratic than usual with weather.  I would've shot their B-2 championship game vs. Ilion Monday, but it was at 11 a.m. and I had worked late the night before.  Plus I knew I'd be working every day this week, so sacrifices had to be made.  If Clinton had won, I would've had to shoot post, which would have made getting back later even harder.  Cooperstown and Sauquoit ended at about 9:45 p.m., the time I had decided in advance I had to leave to get back to Utica, no matter what the score was.  Cooperstown had the lead early, scoring two runs in the top of the first.  But the Indians slowly came back and they took the lead on back to back beanballs in the bottom of the sixth.  (Okay, so they weren't really shots to the head, but beanballs sounds better than "back to back hit batsmen.")  I was worried the game would go to extras, but Sauquoit bailed me out, even though I couldn't stay to get post-game interviews.

Thursday was also the only day of the three where it wasn't 90 degrees with the sun in my face and my sweating bullets.  Instead the wind was stronger and the weather about 45 degrees.  Good thing I brought a warmer jacket, though it wasn't quite frankly warm enough.  Also M.I.A. on Thursday were the spiders that attacked my camera and tripod on Wednesday night as soon as the sun disappeared and the stadium lights were all that was left.  I splattered four of them right in a row, including what looked to be a black widow hanging on the camera's viewfinder.  Another annoyance was the camera's constant habit of randomly shutting off.  The only time it screwed me over though was in the Whitesboro game, when I missed the Warriors tying the game at four on a two run hit.

Ah, the joys of being on the road in the local tv sports/news business.  On the plus side, DeCoursey channeled Mills boys basketball coach Mike Adey after the Marauders won the state title this year in telling me I'm a good luck charm.  Adey told me I can't ever leave, considering how much success they've had since I started working here.  I didn't have the heart to tell DeCoursey that I wouldn't be heading to Albany to shoot their first regional game next Monday.  Sorry coach, but on the plus side, if you win Monday, I'll be at DeLutis to shoot your second regional game Tuesday.  So you've got that going for you... which is nice.

Memorial Day Weekend at the Hall

It's been an interesting Memorial Day Weekend.  I had it off last year to go to a wedding in Cleveland, but this time it's back to the norm on a holiday, anchoring from Friday through Monday.  If it was a boring weekend I probably wouldn't have been happy about it.  But that wasn't the case this time around, with baseball and softball sectional games all weekend, as well as the opening of a new exhibit on records at the Baseball Hall of Fame.  (And I apologize to the Whitesboro baseball team, because I had to sacrifice shooting your sectional semifinal game to go to Cooperstown.)

What interested me about this event was the opportunity to meet three Hall of Famers, namely Phil Niekro, Joe Morgan, and one of the all-time greats, Cal Ripken Jr.  (Now where's Mike O'Hara and Jimmy Flaherty from the movie Celtic Pride to kidnap him for being in a pennant race with the Red Sox...)  I'm always impressed by the job the Baseball Hall of Fame does with these types of events.  They always plan everything as perfectly as they can.  Memorial Day weekend is always huge for them, because it starts up their summer season, in which their hours are extended and they get ready for their two big events, the Hall of Fame Classic next month in which former players come to Cooperstown and play a seven inning exhibition, and the Induction Ceremony in July.  (This year's class includes second baseman Robby Alomar, pitcher Bert Blyleven and GM Pat Gillick.)

But back to the opening of One for the Books, which is the name of this new exhibit.  It's amazing and quite frankly anyone who's a fan of baseball needs to see it in person.  The displays are cool and I found myself checking them all out. (There's one that shows the average time it takes to drive from Yankee Stadium to Fenway Park, which is less than the time of the longest nine inning game in MLB history, in 2006 between the Yankees and Red Sox.)  The centerpiece is what's called the Top Ten Tower, in which you can not only find the all-time and active leaders in many categories, but also who were those leaders at any point in MLB history.  (Yes I did take a few minutes to check it out and I had to pry myself away from it, because I could have spent an hour there.)

The opening was pretty cool as well, because I got to interview Ripken, Niekro and Morgan.  While I had the honor of being the first to speak with Cal, I didn't monopolize his time, because the media members there all did seperate interviews and had a limited time to speak with him.  The Hall getting Cal to open this exhibit was perfect, given that he owns one of the most prestigious records in MLB history, consecutive games played.  There's a display for it that includes the clip of him breaking Lou Gehrig's record back in 1995, which Cal said brought back the memories of that game.  We also talked about the AL East, which is still the closest race so far in 2011, since he's a Baltimore guy.  Going against character, I didn't tell him I'm a Red Sox fan.  Weird, eh?  I did divulge that to Morgan, though, and we had a few laughs about that.  (I forgot to ask him about the '75 World Series, though.  D'oh!)  Niekro was very cool as well.  It's interesting, because he's been at each of the two previous Hall of Fame Classic games, but I've never spoke with him before.  (Guess there was always a bigger HOFer to grab.  Sorry about that Phil!)  Needless to say I'll be speaking with him again in a month when I go back to the Coop for the Classic.

In any case, I had a great time.  You can check out the link to the feature I did for my Saturday night sportscast here: http://www.wktv.com/sports/Baseball-HOF-kicks-off-season-with-new-exhibit-122788204.html

Looks like I'll be working every night this week covering baseball section finals and that's a'ight with me!!  We've got Ilion, Clinton, Sauquoit Valley, West Canada Valley, Cooperstown, NY Mills and Whitesboro all playing and I'm already missing Ilion-Clinton because it's this morning.  But hopefully we'll get all the rest.  It would've been cool to see VVS make it back to the Class A final against Whitesboro, but Bishop Ludden was the top seed and took care of business.  So hopefully the Warriors will get it done again, in head coach Bill DeCoursey's last season.  We'll find out Wednesday!