1:55 PM
GRIP
Showing posts with label MLB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLB. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2011
Is This Another Manny being Manny Move?
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Dodgers Fans and Giants Fans (VIDEO)
Okay, so I've been tip toeing around the idea of posting my thoughts on this particular subject since it occurred. Not because I am scared to speak my mind, but because I know it's such a touchy subject. I want to make sure I do it tastefully.
As many of you already know (Husky Blogged about this already), there was an incident that occurred at Dodger Stadium a few days ago involving a Giants fan and two Dodgers fans. I'm not going to go into every single detail, but if you are not inform I included this video for you, so check it out.
So, hear I go.
1. I'm tired of every one acting like they don't know how Dodger Stadium is. I'm not making any excuse for what occurred, but I'm so sick and tired of hearing people being interviewed and making it seem like it's a shocker that Dodger Stadium is NOT safe for everyone in attendance. Uhmmm maybe that's why tailgating is not allowed at the stadium. Hello!
2. Dodgers’ Organization: What the Fuck is wrong with Frank? I understand that the Dodgers are his “business” but stop fucking around and making it seem like nothing happened. The man is in a coma for crying out loud. What more do you want to happen for you to consider it a big deal? The way he has handled the media on this “isolated incident” has been simply horrible, and quite frankly embarrassing. That’s why your wife was about to take your ass in court.
3. So, when do we discuss what the real problem is at Dodger Stadium? Last I checked we shouldn’t have to hire a SWAT team to get from our cars to our seats while visiting a ball park. WTF? Stop blaming everything on security. How about we put some blame on Dodgers fans themselves. I’m a huge fan of the Dodgers (insert Husky’s Joke here), and have been since I can remember. I grew up 5 mins away from the stadium. For 27 years of my life I looked up to see the illuminating lights of the stadium light up the western part of the neighborhood. Learn how to act right people. Learn how to know where the limits are. Stop embarrassing us, the good people of L.A.
4. This is where everyone in the room might want to throw a pitch fork at me……..but, I’m very serious when I say this……..if you are going to ANY stadium and you are from the opposing team, be safe about it. Don’t sit there and try to argue and get all big and bad against a whole mob of fans. You are going to lose that battle. I, in no way, justify what anyone does to hurt another person, what I’m saying right now (sad to admit this, but it’s the TRUTH) people don’t know how to act right. I was up in Frisco in late November for a Rams vs. 49er game, and my nephews (2 of them) where terrified throughout the whole game. My nephew truly thought I was going to be hurt by someone in the stands who kept heckling us for being Rams fans. Again, I don’t condone any violence, but we have to be realistic about it. Until people realize it’s just a game nothing will change.
Lastly, my prayers go out to the family of the Giants fan that was hurt at Dodgers Stadium. It’s a travesty that such things occur at venues that are suppose to provide nothing but amusement and fun times for everyone. I hope he recovers quickly, and on behalf of all Dodgers fans I truly apologize for what happened to him on that day.
So many things make me sick to my stomach when I think about the incident. Why? Because this is bigger than baseball, this is bigger than the Dodgers and the Giants. This is the true depiction of what our society is evolving into (I use the word evolve loosely because we are truly going backwards as a people). Fuck the bullshit, all shit aside, how can a fucken mob of people (truly that’s what it is when exiting the stadium) walking out of the stadium witness a person getting beaten and not ONE, not ONE, single person intervene to stop the assault? That’s what truly makes me sick. Shame on you people who would just stand by and let another person be treated in such a manner. Shame on you for not stepping in.
So many things make me sick to my stomach when I think about the incident. Why? Because this is bigger than baseball, this is bigger than the Dodgers and the Giants. This is the true depiction of what our society is evolving into (I use the word evolve loosely because we are truly going backwards as a people). Fuck the bullshit, all shit aside, how can a fucken mob of people (truly that’s what it is when exiting the stadium) walking out of the stadium witness a person getting beaten and not ONE, not ONE, single person intervene to stop the assault? That’s what truly makes me sick. Shame on you people who would just stand by and let another person be treated in such a manner. Shame on you for not stepping in.
I’ve had enough.
Chub Out!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Manny The Old?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Happy & Sad Day To Be A Dodger Fan
When the Los Angeles Dodgers are winning, I am a proud Dodger fan.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers are losing, I still am a proud Dodger fan.
When Dodger Stadium is filled with people, I am an extremely proud Dodger fan.
However, when Dodger fans take their “fan-ness” too far, I am not proud to be a Dodger fan.
It seems that every year, every time the San Francisco Giants play the Los Angeles Dodgers, I wake up the next day and hear/read about somebody getting stabbed, shot, or injured. I mean, last I checked, this is baseball right? This is a Dodger game, not a Los Angeles Raiders game at the Coliseum, right? I’m not so sure anymore and it’s sad, because baseball has long been “America’s Past Time Sport”, and although in recent years, it would appear that the NFL has taken that crown, baseball is the one sport that has remained true (despite the steroid era) and pure to how the inventors of the sport had intended it to be played – more so than any other sport. Baseball was the one sport you can take your young daughter/son to, where upon their first bite into a dodger dog, first spill of nacho cheese onto their jersey, and where their first bite into those salty dodger peanuts were nothing short of an infusion of dodger blue into their blood stream – almost intravenously at that.
Baseball at Dodger Stadium should be synonymous with family fun, not homicide and chaos.
Unfortunately though, as much as I love Dodger fans, I don’t love those who take it too far as you will read in the article below:
It’s gotten to the point now, where fans of the opposing team do not want to attend the games out of fear for their lives and their family’s lives as well. It’s too bad and it’s really sad that fans don’t understand that having this “gang-like” pride ultimately hurts the team they love and hold so near and dear to their hearts (see Chub Johnson who has the L.A. logo tatted on his leg). When fans of the opposing teams cannot attend the games, ticket sales suffer and when that happens, the team is unable to buy the players needed to help the Dodgers win another Championship. That is just one major way being so barbaric hurts the team I love so much. It makes me angry really.
So yes, the “Boys In Blue” got a great win to start the season last night. It was close, it was awesome, and Kershaw was amazing. But on a night where the loyal Dodger fans have reason to cheer and furthermore, on a night when the people of Los Angeles were given multiple reasons to cheer as the Los Angeles Lakers also won in great fashion – for me, unfortunately it was a night that two San Francisco Fans had the worst experience of their lives. As if it wasn’t bad enough their team lost, they also almost lost their lives and for what?
Pride?
Nah, true Dodger pride is winning and showing pride with dignity and class. It’s the people who do this that truly know what being a Dodger fan is all about, and it’s these people that make me proud to be a Dodger fan.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Hall of Famer Duke Snider Dies
Sad Day in baseball fans especially for Dodger Fans. One of the greatest baseball players Duke Snider has passed away. He is known as one of the best center fielders to play the game. He will be missed by all.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Drugs: Are YOU "Positive?"
One hot topic as of late in the world of sports is Performance Enhancement Drugs (PED's).While these drugs come in many forms, (i.e. needle, pill, cream, or liquid) what once was considered an epidemic has since turned into a pandemic.
If you disagree, please reference Major League Baseball (MLB).
Not to single out MLB. There have been issues in Cycling as well, with several credible sources alledging that Lance Armstrong was a "doper". You can also reference the Canadian doctor who was said (allegedly) to have provided Tiger Woods with some form of PED. Let's not forget that there have also been cases in the NFL and in the Universal Fighting Championship (UFC) organization.
I would like to focus on the industry-leading organization that is UFC for a moment.
Believe me, I would love to sit here and talk about Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens etc., but to be honest, I could write an entire expose on MLB alone. I'll save such a post for later - I'm certain another MLB athlete will "come clean" in the near future.
Here are the facts:
On Septmber 18, 2010, http://www.sherdog.com/ reported that UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen flunked a post-fight urianalysis after his loss to Anderson Silva in the middleweight title fight that was the main event of UFC 117.
It was not immediately determined which substance was found in his urine, however, George Dodd, executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), told reporter Greg Savage that Sonnen received notice of the failed test on Friday. Apparently, all other fighters passed their tests - except Chael Sonnen.
Interesting, considering the fight was on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
It was noted that Sonnen is the second prominent UFC fighter in the last month(s) to be tied to steroids. The other was and is (allegedly) Shane Carwin.
One thing to note is, Chael Sonnen has since stated that he would be appealing the one-year suspension and the $2,500 fine issued by CSAC for a failed drug test.
Here is my take:
"Yawn!"
That pretty much sums up Chael Sonnen's situation in my eyes.
Sadly though, the reason I am callous to the recent findings has little to do with my interest in UFC fighting, which is minimal (growing rapidly though) at the moment, and everything to do with all the other sports and athletes who have collectively desensitized me to PED's.
Do I think it's okay to take PED's?
Absolutely not.
Do I understand why athletes do it?
Absolutely.
Now, before I go on, it is interesting to note that CSAC was aware Sonnen had failed prior to the fight, yet the fight went on. All that money involved, all those sponsors, of course the fight went on.
How stupid am I?
How dare I think mankind would ever put good, pure morals before greed.
I can literally sit here and tell you all the stories I've heard and witnessed first hand of high school kids who have coaches that ride them like Sea Biscuit at the Kentucky Derby day in-day out. This is the pressure that begins mounting at such a young age, and essentially mounts throughout their athletic career. They've got to be the best and as you all know, stop fronting people, most of you reading this have an Al Bundy, I once scored 4 touch-downs, scored 22 baskets, shot a 70, hit 3 home runs a game, or scored 4 goals in one game story to tell.
If you don't, you're either telling lies or you're straight up weak sauce.
Church! (*This saying is compliments of Chub Johnson)
The point I'm trying to make is, the pressure to be the best and to compete at the highest level is so severe, these same athletes who've had it drilled in their heads that they must be the best since even much younger than high school to be exact, are now adults doing anything to ensure they continue playing their respective sports at a high level so they can keep making that skrilla.
*Skrilla for the "ebonically" impaired is - money.
- You can pick up an urban dictionary at your local swap meet.
*A swap meet for the non-minority is...I kid! I kid!
It's actually really sad that parents put so much pressure on their children at such a young age, and it carries over to high school, college, and for those select few - into the pros.
So as society wades through the steroid era of sports, I for one wish everybody would just come clean. I am pretty sure the next Jose Canseco snitch will come out the wood work soon enough, so before your name ___________ (insert name athlete) is put on front street by the next Canseco wanna-be, just come clean, apologize, and move on with your life. After all, you don't want to wait and find yourself having to turn in your Heisman Trophy, losing scholarships, all of the above, or worse - find yourself in front of a jury and judge a-la Roger Clemens.
You know, the penalty for using a PED varies per sport, but going back to UFC and how they are handling the Sonnen issue. He is facing a one-year suspension with a $2,500 fine.
Are you kidding me?
I think I got that for running a red light in West Covina, CA!!!!
Just short of making the penalty for using a PED continuously more severe, I for one do not know what the answer is. Now, I am not going to sit here and profess to have a solution - or the solution. At the end of the day folks, I think you will agree with me when I say the following:
"Athletes alike - nothing will ever change until you look in the mirror and realize the harm you are doing to yourselves, which then affect others (i.e family, friends, fans, owners).
We, your family, your friends, your fans, will forever live in the shadow of the "steroid era" and each of you will forever be on much less borrowed time than what God initially had allotted you to have.
At the end of the day - is the juice really worth the squeeze?"
Well - is it?
I would love to hear from anyone who can talk about their experience using a PED, or from anyone who knows someone who has. If my rational is off base, please comment and let me know your opinion on the matter.
Either way, the human race is in dire need of an intervention, and consequently, the sports I love so much have been affected by such drugs.
Where is Dr. Dre folks - our athletes are in need of a DETOX!
*DETOX - if you don't know Dr. Dre or the Detox reference - Google it!
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