Oh man, we’re dangerously close to my least favorite time of year: post-Superbowl, pre-baseball. It’s already lurking. ESPN keeps talking about the flawed nature of the college football championship. Like I give a shit. Basketball is selecting its All-Star teams. Whoopdee fuck. Apparently, they still play hockey. I really, really wish I cared.
My winter sports malaise is setting in, making my inner child look something like this:
It’s even worse because the football playoffs seem so predetermined. I mean, if it’s not Patriots over Cowboys in Superbowl Whatevah, it’ll be Patriots over Packers. (Part of me hopes the Giants will make it and complete that upset they so brutally teased the fans with in the last game of the season. But really, probably not going to happen.) The sports world might just was well get on its knees and start giving Tom Brady the sloppy BJ it so badly wants to share. Andrea Kraemer’s eyes say it best:
Although not quite as clearly as the heaving “See you next Sunday.” I also enjoy how Brady tags in Randy Moss at the very end, as if to say “go nuts, buddy…. she’ll let you do ANYTHING.”
Oh, what will make that terrible month of February worth living? I fear it even now. Pitchers and catchers will start reporting to spring training near the end of the month. But will it be soon enough? Will I be able to suffer through another boring, boring, boring build up to March Madness, only to somewhat anticipate March Madness, then be let down when the 4 teams I choose to cheer for (George Mason because he was a character in 24, Gonzaga because it’s a silly word, Syracuse because I grew up near there and a 4th, flex team TBD) go out in the first two rounds.
Please. I implore you — gods, commissioners, owners and CEOs. Make baseball come back soon. And for smack Omar Minaya upside the noggin for me.
January 10, 2008 at 1:39 am
I tried to get back into baseball last year. After almost a decade of being nowhere near a major league team, I’m back in the Cincinnati area. I thought it would be easier to keep up with the sport if there was a local team to kind of root for. But alas, I got bored to death with it very quickly. I’m not even going to try this year. The Hall of Fame is my only connection with sports anymore, because they are still electing players that I grew up watching and there are a few more in upcoming years, but when we reaching 2013…I’m not so sure anymore. I just can’t root for A-Rod, or Jeter, or Bonds, or whoever else is out there in eligibility land. Once Tim Raines and Andre Dawson and Rickey Henderson get in, the field really dries up. It will be time to debate Barry Larkin’s worthiness, and then what do I have to look forward to after that? Oh to be a young man who cared about sports again.
January 10, 2008 at 1:48 am
i actually went through that with baseball about 10 years ago. i couldn’t have cared less. but then my college friends got me back into it, i reinvented myself as a mets fan (what the fuck was i thinking) and never looked back.
anyway JT, you’re stuck with a stinker of a team in Cinci… although the stadium is supposed to be dope and a lot of those guys hit the ball real far. i know the players today seem like robot-douchefaces, but it gets to be more fun when you start assigning them personalities… or going to the games and shouting out derisive things in person.
i will agree with you on one thing: barry larkin is at least a demi-god.
January 10, 2008 at 3:10 am
good luck in cincinnati JT! don’t give up just yet! now that hamilton is gone, it’s jay bruce time. should get pretty easy to get back into the reds this year with the #1 prospect in baseball about to arrive.
last years numbers in the minors (total, 3 teams – 133 Games):
.319AVG , 166 Hits, 87 Runs, 46 2B’s, 8 3B’s, 26 HR’s, 89 RBI’s, 8 SB’s
but… 47BB to 135SO
still, he could pan out.
and your ballpark IS nice.
baseball.
January 10, 2008 at 3:22 am
I’m actually more of a Cubs fan (have been since my first visit to Wrigley in 1989), but it’s just easier to root for the home team unless the Cubbies are in town.
January 10, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Barry Larkin = no doubt Hall of Famer. Which would mean something except I think that about the Hawk and Rock too, which apparently doesn’t jive with the collective mindset of the BBWAA. Well, at least a spot hasn’t been wasted on Jim Rice, yet.
January 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm
That Andrea Kremer take is phenomenal. Musta missed this one. You can almost hear the unspoken, “Michelle Monaghan didn’t know how good she had it, the stupid cow.”
And since the theme of these comments seems to be revolving around how into sports you are, it’s hard to get into baseball when your hometown team is the Pirates any year after about 91. anyhoo…
*end snarkmission*
January 10, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Shatraw,
I just figured out the solution to your february no sports problem (besides the obvious read Johan Santana rumors every day all day, which is my plan).
It’s this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE3RQhok7iI. It’s back.
January 10, 2008 at 8:21 pm
don’t worry, kablackquois. the pirates might be good again sometime in the next decade.
ah, i’m kidding. they’ll suck forever until they are bought and moved to las vegas. now, someone please move the friggin’ marlins to portland or something.
as for american gladiators, i’ve heard nothing but good things about it so far, skiff. except i don’t have a TV, so i have to travel to watch it. luckily, it films in my neck of the woods, so we’ll probably just go see it LIVE!
January 11, 2008 at 8:03 pm
luckily for everyone, NBC will do anything to get you to pay attention, so you can watch full episodes of your favorite shows(withina while of them airing) on nbc.com
unluckily for everyone, the traws, myself, and other baseball junkies will be whining and petulant children until we can go to spring training games or draft our fantasy teams.
i usually tide myself during the cold winter by reading baseball books, but i need new ones. i keep recycling ball four, the spitter and me, yaz, and moneyball.
SOMEBODY WRITE A SEQUEL TO MONEYBALL PLEASE!!!(nod)Gammons?
January 11, 2008 at 8:08 pm
i think all the major networks let you watch their shows for FREE on the net now. that’s part of the whole writers’ strike. the main part.
and speaking of moneyball, did you know there’s a billy bean who isn’t billy beane but is gay? i totally missed that one.
January 11, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Wow! I missed that too! I know I’m gonna rush off to the nearest bookery to get the sequel to Moneyball: ‘Going the Other Way’ by Billy Bean!
Fun!
p.s. gladiators is worth some gaze-time.
January 11, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Sports is someone lots of people like.
January 11, 2008 at 10:43 pm
What will fill the void post-football pre-basketball?
Might I suggest the once a week American Gladiators? We see it as a cheesy reality competition show now, but there was something magical about the original. Back in 1989, you got the feeling that those dudes were thinking:
“This is it. This is THE next big sporting event, and oh my god, here I am, one of the original participants! In 50 years they’ll think of me, Nitro, as the Abner Doubleday of my sport. Boxing might be dying, wrestling is fading, football isn’t really that big….all hail the next great American competition, American Gladiators!”
January 11, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I’m sticking with Ninja Warrior, thanks.
January 13, 2008 at 9:47 am
great, so in a nutshell, eick is gay and american gladiators is pretty cool. also, orange juice is good for you, alcohol makes you drunk, and internet poker is rigged.
but with ag, as in all major network sports telecasts, enough with the god damn 9 replays. and the announcers being forced to mention more products than howard stern.
great, the best thing i can look forward to in the next 7 days? eating at popeye’s. oooooh wait, i might get a haircut.
oh well at least hillary will make it all better.