What Country Are You From?

When thinking about the WBC, I started contemplating Alex Rodriguez decision to play for the Dominican Republic. I think that's bogus. He was born in New York, New York. He's is 100% American, and he should play for the USA. I know he is of Dominican descent, but he played for the USA in 2006. Just for the sake of consistency, he shouldn't be allowed to play for another country in another tournament. The same should be true in the Olympics, and it is in hockey. Once you play for one country, you have to stay with that country. Now, in basketball it's a different story. Chris Kaman (born in Grand Rapids, Michigan) played for Team Germany in the 2008 Olympics. His eligibility was based on the fact that he has German ancestors. Bullcrap! This goes against the point of international competiton. The rules need to be more stringent. Players must choose a country to represent and stick with that country.

World Baseball Classic

Does anyone else think this thing is a joke? So many teams are holding their players out, that it's not really a competition pitting the best baseball players against each other anymore. Even Luis Mendoza (3-8, 8.67 ERA in 2008) of the Texas Rangers declined an invitation to join Team Mexico. If players of this caliber are declining the play in the WBC, what's the point? Some countries get pumped for it (Japan comes to mind), but many of the countries with true super stars don't care. I understand owners don't want to risk injury to their players. That's very legitimate to me. It just seems that if we are going to have this tournament, we should go all out or not at all.

Steroids Testing Policy

It has been said that the steroids testing policy has taken positive steps in recent years. I disagree. I think it has to be much more severe. David Ortiz said that if you test positive, you should be suspended for a year. I'll go further than that. If you test positive, you get banned for life. Why is there even an ounce of tolerance for steroid abuse in this game? The fact that there's any tolerance tells me that they're not serious about stopping this problem.

This is another nail in Bud Selig's coffin. He needs to go. First, the strike happens on his watch, and now to me, it seems he's done very little to purify the game from steroids. The bottom line in all sports is money, which is why Bud Selig remains the commissioner of major league baseball. Surely, the owners could find another man who could make them money, AND bring this game back from the brink.

A-Rod

When I was a freshman at good old Abilene Christian University, my Bible professor decided to take a poll of the class to see if Barry Bonds homer records should stand considering his alleged steroid abuse. Many of my classmates offered half baked observations and opinions, and after I'd had enough of that, I decided to offer my half baked opinion. I said of course it should stand, and with no asterisk. Everyone was befuddled that I would say such a thing, but I had an explanation. I said that for as long as there has been sports, competitors have looked to get an edge. No matter the sport, it's true in every case. Maybe the technology, and science has changed over the years, but the goal remains the same. The famous line is, "If ya ain't cheatin', ya ain't trying!" So, if this is really the mentality, who is really being cheated, if not a bunch of cheaters.

Well, here we are now. Apparently, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids back in 2003. There's just so much wrong with this. I really don't even know where to begin. Of course Alex Rodriguez is a jerk. Obviously, I believed this was possible. I'm just tired of it. Two of the greatest hitters of all time are cheaters. One of the greatest pitchers of all time is a cheater. RAFAEL FREAKIN' PALMEIRO is a cheater! When I found that out, I likened it to being told there was no Santa Claus for the first time. I still believe that cheaters are being cheated on the field of competition. It's just that now I have no idea anymore who is clean and who is not. Seemingly, it doesn't make much difference if you are clean or not because Alex Rodriguez wasn't 5 years ago, and we just now found out about it!

So, do I still believe that cheaters are the only ones being cheated? No. I have to believe there are clean players out there somewhere. I hope to God that players like Josh Hamilton are clean. If he wasn't clean, I could never ever ever watch baseball again. James Earl Jones' speach in Field of Dreams would be meaningless. Roy Hobbes would turn back into an aging Robert Redford. So who gets cheated in all of this? I do. You do. My unborn kids do. Everybody gets cheated. And you know what? I'm tired of being cheated. I want magic in baseball, and I don't want it to be chemically enhanced magic.

Dallas Stars Win 10-2

What a game! And what's more, I was there with a friend who had never been to a Dallas Stars game. I told my friend that my first game was a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that I hope he would be lucky enough to get such a high scoring game. Well, I guess he was, and then some. At the same time, it doesn't look like the Stars need much help these days. They have looked totally dominant in recent weeks. Steve Ott is turning into a real hockey player. I always knew he had it in him, he just needed the opportunity to flourish. This will make us that much better when Brenden Morrow comes back from his knee injury.

As things stand now, the Stars sit in 5th place in the Western Conference. They are nine points back of the 4th place Blackhawks. I imagine they will stick in the 5th spot, and maybe they'll challenge Chicago for that 4th seed. Either way, they likely will play each other in the first round. It's still a while before the playoffs, but I like that matchup. Chicago is a very young and talented team with two experienced netminders. Dallas is more experienced, and much tougher than the Blackhawks. It'll be fun to watch them battle it out for positioning, and maybe for a round in the playoffs.

Exciting time to be a Stars fan.

Satan...

I have seen his face...

and it is evil.

Super Bowl XLIII

Well, since I didn't get a pick right in the MLB playoffs and neither team I predicted to play for the Super Bowl didn't make it, I am gun shy about making predictions. However, I'll go for it anyway. Let me preface this by saying that I hate the fact that the Cardinals have a chance to win the Super Bowl. I think they are a clearly inferior team that got hot, which is apparently good enough to get you to a Super Bowl. At least in other sports it's a series, and generally the best team will win the championship. I'm just not a big fan of Cinderellas. If they win, I'll deal with it. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Think about it. Can we really call a 9-7 team a champion of anything? I hope it doesn't come to that. Now on to the prediciton.

I think the Steelers are the superior team. They have a more than functional offense, and a defense worthy of an immortal nickname given only to the legendary defenses of old. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have an amazing passing game and a mediocre running game. They couple this unbalanced offense with a defense that is probably better than it seems, but in no way compares with the defense the Steelers boast.

In my mind, Kurt Warner's going to have a to play the game of his life to win this game. If he can stay standing, he'll find somebody open. The Steelers can cover, but even the Steelers will have trouble covering four quality receivers on every play. The Steelers will do their best to beat the crap out of the Cardinals on both sides of the ball, and I have a hard time believing they will be ineffective. The Steelers aren't necessarily a dirty team, but they are a mean team. They want to hit you... a lot. The Cardinals are a finesse team without a real effective running game. This is a recipe for a loss for the Cardinals.

I don't think it will be a big blow out. I tend to think this will be a boring game, much like the last Super Bowl Pittsburgh was involved in. I think Pittsburgh will win in a low scoring game.

Ugh... what a bland football season.

UPDATE

It feels good to be right.