All the Best.... Rickey Herderson

Many consider Rickey Henderson to be the greatest of all time, including himself. One of my favorite off-field sports clips of all time is the Rickey Henderson speech following his ascension to the top of the list for career stolen bases. Please take a few seconds to watch this clip via this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q1kcftSGug
Also, if you have a little more time, take a listen to radio host Jim "The Legend" Rome (a monacher that I have just given him) break down just how great Rickey Henderson really was...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WFW8uO8Jcw

The first clip of Rickey is such a classic! There will never be another player, or individual, like Rickey Henderson in baseball. That speech, "Lou Brock was the symbol of greatness... But today I am the greatest of all time! Thank you," as he raises his arms in the air. What many don't know, is that Lou Brock was in attendance that day.... I mean, not only did Lou Brock attend the game in which knew his legendary record would get broken, Rickey made sure to remind him and the entire baseball world, that Brock was officially and publicly de-throned. Most Baseball enthusiasts would agree with me in saying that this was a remarkably notable send off. I equate that type of occurance to something like the heir to the throne taking the Crown off of his father's head and telling him that he no longer deserves to be king, even though he might be still be entitled as such.
The reason for which I am writing about Rickey is because this year he has been placed on the Hall of Fame ballot. And if there is anyone who should be considered as having a guaranteed first ballot chance of being voted into the Hall of Fame, it is Rickey Henderson. I, for one, absolutely cannot wait or contain my excitement to hear what Rickey will say during his moment on stage when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
I will go out on a limb and predict that he will make "the greatest (speech) of all time."

All the Worst... Sean Avery

This guy never ceases to amaze me.
Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL for disparaging comments he made today in Calgary towards Flames Defenseman Dion Phaneuf and his girlfriend. Phaneuf's girlfriend is Elisha Cuthbert, also Avery's ex-girlfriend. "I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada," Avery said on camera this morning in Calgary. "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight." This quote coming directly from TSN.ca.
After breaking-up with Avery (I assume she dumped him), Movie and TV Star Elisha Cuthbert dated New York Islanders Forward Mike Comrie before moving onto Dion Phaneuf.
Is it just me or is she simply dating guys based on their skill level? Because as the order of her relationships with hockey players stands, she has significantly improved the talent per relationship ratio after every breakup. Anyhow, that's beside the point.
Avery waited for all the camera's to turn on, the microphones to be in his face, so that he could drop his clearly prepared line. He called over the media because he said he had one thing to say... So he pre-meditaded the "sloppy seconds" line and went out of his way to make it public...?!? Pathetic.

All the Worst...... Plaxico Burress

Before I start ranting about this for 15 to 300 paragraphs, I will give a very brief synopsis of this story.

Last week, New York Giants superstar Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress (Plax as seen above rocking the sweet shades, ice rock on his ear, Escobar mustache, and serious mountain goatie) was accidentally shot in the right thigh (the same thigh that he injured and was nursing back to health) while in a New York Club. This was the first report I read. However many more juicy details have surfaced since the first report was released. Yes, Plax was in fact accidentally shot in the leg while in a night club, HOWEVER, what was missing was that Plaxico was the shooter. OK, so I guess Plaxico, in the nightclub, with the chandelier... Ohhhh so close. It was Plax, in the nightclub, with a gun. Need more Clues... Me too.

Here is what I have been able to gather via multiple media sources:

a) Plaxico had a loaded Gun in New York Club Latina with a few buddies, including teammate NYG Linebacker Antonio Pierce.

b) Bouncers patted him down, found the gun. Questions ensued and it was agreed that because Plaxico was sporting some serious ice ( silver and diamonds on his ears and on big pendants hanging from his neck) along with a fat wad of cash, he would be a likely target for a mugging.... Therefore, obviously, he should pack heat just in case he got jumped.

c) Allowed into the Club, Plaxico gets liquored up.

d) Plax continues to get liquored up and fumbles his drink which causes him to fumble his gun, which was goes down his pant leg, he tries to grab in through his pants, and Bang.

e) The handgun was a 40 caliber, therefore it was likely an exit wound, especially at that range.

f) Plax doesnt let his buddies call 911 after the shot.... They go to Applebees to collect themselves (this part has been alleged but not confirmed) and make a decision on how to handle this.

g) Plaxico contacts his wife, who to amazement is amazingly an attorney, a practice which she is not likely amazing in. Upon hearing from her Plaxico she recommends that he go seek treatment at a hospital where one of her friends works.

h) Antonio Pierce took the gun from Plax right after the incident, to hide it for his friend and teammate. However, he later gave the gun back to Plax s wife.

i) The gun was not registered, or had an expired license, and Plax did not have a special concealed weapon permit.

j) He has turned himself into authorities and will plead not-guilty to criminal charges, which are likely to be possession of an illegal firearm and I would guess tampering with evidence or something along those lines.

So that is the story as I know it, thus far...

My take= Plax should never carry a gun. Especially when in public places, and most especially when does places are places where he will get liquored up.

Classic Take from the Jim Rome Show, this take won the Triple U award for the day (Unfunny, Uninspired, and Unreadable).. However I beg to differ, this one is right up my ally.

Plax, how the hell did you let that gun go off.... I mean you are a wide receiver, havent you ever heard of a Safety.......

Amazing.

All The Best... American Thanksgiving = Football

The NFL is my American Idol.
Does anyone else marvel at the prestige and colossal presence of the NFL like I do? I might be wrong here, and if I am please inform me, but has any other major sports league been able to, had the audacity to, and effectiveness to latch-on to a national holiday and make it their own. Because the NFL by all accounts took American Thanksgiving and turned it into Thanksforfootball day. Let it be clear that I would never undermine the meaning of Thanksgiving or ignore the importance of its historical tradition, however, if the NFL could own a holiday, it would buy it. Actually, it seemingly already owns it and would never sell it. On the last Thursday of every November, American families gather to feast and watch football, that for me exemplifies the brilliance of the NFL marketing genuis. In terms of television ratings, the Thanksgiving day games annually rank as the most watched games of the NFL regular season. For most american families, football on Thanksgiving is as common as the Turkey itself. I wonder if, obviously hypothetically speaking, still I wonder if the NFL didn't host games on the last Thursday of November for American Thanksgiving, would everyone forget about it this prized holiday?


Ok, fine. Most wouldn't, but I probably would.

All The Worst.... November 26th

BRADY QUINN OUT FOR THE SEASON
It has been announced by the Browns that the fracture in the tip of Quinn's index finger on his throwing hand is too serious to ignore. The second year QB just can't seem to get a lucky break, please pardon that awesome pun. Dr. James Andrews, if any of you don't know, who seemingly poses as the god of sports medicine because he deals with all the high end professional in need of diagnosis no matter what sport, told Quinn to hang up the pads for the remainder of the season. Quinn is expected to be the future franchise quaterback in Cleveland. For the Browns, it seems like the Delorean has flown back to the future carrying Quinn as its hostage. It seems like nothing is going right for Cleveland sports fans these days... This was announced the same day as all the major sports outlets were saying LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, will end up a New York Knick in 2010 because the Knicks gave up two players in trades to make some substantial cap space for the already dubbed "Summer of LeBron." And so now what little excitement and enjoyment most Browns' fans had watching their team play, will be assumed by the short stints of camera time spent panning the Dawg Pound and its crazy fans.

All The Best..... and..... All The Worst

In an attempt to shorten my blog entries, and more importantly capture your attention for more then 2.6 seconds, I have decided to implement a new format. As the title indicates, I will post two briefs stories detailing what I believe is the best story in sports and the worst story in sports. These posts will be accompanied by a brief explanations as to why I picked them as the best and worst. I am hoping to better detail some of the drama ( not necessarily baby-mama drama, but maybe) in the wild world of professional sports.
DON'T WORRY.... I will no doubt get the itch to write a full "editorial" piece, as I have been doing, when a story is rightfully deserving of such an honor. You can breath now.

Claude Lemieux Comeback... Come again?!

I read today that 43 yeard old Claude Lemieux plans to make a comeback to the NHL this season. What the bleep? What could possibly possess Claude ( I will refer to him as Claude from here on in to avoid any favorable comparison to #66 Super Mario Lemieux) to put a hold on his 5 year retirement to re-enter a younger, faster, and more skilled league then he has ever known?
The only thing that I can imagine that could prompt Claude to attempt, and I chose the word attempt on purpose, a comeback would be his realization that he isn't likely to be inducted into the National Hockey League Hall of Fame with his current resume. At 24 years of age, I often have to research older athletes to learn more about things like achievements and reputations, however Claude is one player that I remember clearly, but not because of his dazzling play.
I should do Claude justice and mention some of his impressive achievements before delving into why he was recently named to #1 position of ESPN's Top 10 Most Hated NHL Players of All Time list. Claude is ninth of the all time playoff scoring list, very impressive. He won 4 Cups, nice number of championships. He is one of eigth players to be have won 3 Stanley Cups with different teams, also impressive. In one of those cup runs, Claude scored 13 goals on his way to earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff mvp (one that Martin Brodeur should have won, at least in my opinion). Not a bad list of achievements.
Now for the most relevant synopsis of Claude's career. He was known around the league as the dirtiest, greasiest, and slimiest players of his time, if not of all time. (I know that slimiest is not an adjective recognized in the english language, however it works perfectly in this instance) The two most serious incidents by which Claude proved his merit as the slimiest are quite impressive. Firstly, during a scuffle with Jim Peplinski of the Calgary Flames, Claude bit Peplinski's finger.... Prompting Peplinski's famous response in the post game interview: "I didn't know the NHL allowed cannibalism..." Greasy.
The next incident was one that I will never forget. During the 1996 playoffs, Claude ran Detroit's Kris Draper from behind face first into the edge of the boards lining the Detroit bench. This was a disgusting hit, and talk about intent to injure.... This is a prime example, and did he ever injure. Draper suffered a broken jaw, nose, cheekbone, and eventually had complete reconstructive facial surgery. If you are not faint of heart, check out this youtube clip which contains a classic Claude sucker punch, followed by his hit on Draper, and the ensuing fight vs. Darren McCarty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W-JXDu1X-I

The San Jose Sharks signed Claude to a try-out contract yesterday... Let it be known that there is no chance that Lemieux can comeback with five years of rust build up and compete in today's fast paced NHL. The only possible explanation from the Claude perspective would be that he has a chance to receive another ring with the Sharks, who are arguably the best NHL team in this point in the season. Adding a 5th ring to his arsenal might help grease his way in the Hall.
From the Sharks perspective........ I don't know what G.M. Doug Wilson could possibly be thinking. Besides the fact that he and Claude are known to be friends, and that this type of announcement will no doubt stir up some media attention for his club, still nothing good could come of this for the Sharks. Actually wait, I'm wrong. Perhaps, Claude and Sean Avery might miraculously cheap shot each other at the same time, and if we are lucky enough manage to end each others' careers, then some good might come out of this.
A note to Claude, (who has recently started the season with the China Sharks of the Asia Hockey League the Sharks affiliate in that league) if you want to be inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame, which recognizes players who excelled in the game of hockey WHILE maintaining and adding to the INTEGRITY of the game, perhaps you should have played with more skill and integrity. If by chance Claude, you do get a ring with the Sharks this season, it won't be you who earned it and all of the hockey writer's who vote players into the Hall will know that.
Let the Circus begin.