http://espn1490thefan.comRSS feeds for The Fan - ESPN 149060http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3040/Top-5-Favorite-Things-about-the-NFL-Draft.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=3040http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=3040&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3040/Top-5-Favorite-Things-about-the-NFL-Draft.aspx Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} I've decided to mark the extravaganza that is the NFL Draft in the rarest and most random way possible: writing a blog about it. I love the NFL Draft.  I love the drama.  I love the discussions.  I love the random progostications that are very rarely remembered a week later much less a career later.  And I miss it 363 days a year.  I miss its musk.  I miss its scent. Without further ado, here is my top 5 list of things that I love about the NFL Draft: 1. Draft Day Trades - Is there anything more dramatic than when ESPN cuts to the podium early and you can see the Commish in the corner of the screen exchanging one note card for another and everyone is frantically trying to figure out what the trade is?  It combines the drama of a Special Report interrupting regularly scheduled programming with the awesomeness of any other major sports trade.  When there's a particularly big, early trade in the first round the buzz surrouning Radio City Music Hall reminds me of those moments when a dramatic verdict is read in court in some movie.  Even Day 2 trades are fun, albeit less dramatic.  For these particular trades, sometimes you're only warning is the logo of the team drafting magically changing to another team.  Seeing the logo actually change is as rare as seeing a shooting star but when it happens, its memorable.  Finally, the best part of any draft day trade is the Trade Details graphic.  Usually the screen is cut into two by a horizontal line with one team's trade detials on top and the other team's details on the bottom.  These usually require 7 minutes of intense studying to comprehend who/what was actually traded because of all the numbers involved and I'm convinced it was the ultimate motivation for the invention of the DVR.  Draft Day trade screems make IKEA instructions look simple.  I could spend another 400 words on the sheer awesomeness of Draft Day Trades, but lets move on. 2.  War Room Shots - ITs supposed to be the ultaimte window into the souls of the drafts biggest players.  Its called the War Room for crying out loud.  The fates of entire careers and franchises are determined by a few select individuals within the confines of this super secret lair.  We never hear audio for any information leaked is sure to sink an entire franchise, it would be like nuclear launch codes making their way into the hands of enemies.  Sounds pretty awesome, right?  Yet, every single War Room shot I've seen looks like a random conference room at your average business park.  Guys in shirts and ties reclining in chairs, likely popping peanut M7M's and doing nothing more than passing time.   It looks more like secret video of an office when the boss is away that you wouldn't want the boss to see.  We'll see occasional phones calls that have about as much urgency as a wrong number call. If I were in an NFL Front Office, I'd at least want to put on a show if I knew we were on a War Room cam complete with shouting matches, thrown pens, and lots of crumpled up pieces of paper.  3.  The Draft Pick Scroll - Call this a love/hate relationship.  I'm talking about the scroll at the bottom of the screen that quicklIy anc continuously recaps all the picks in that round.  I have the same relationship with the Draft Pick Scroll that I do with traffic lights.  When I get all green lights for a stretch, I love traffic lights.  When I'm getting all red lights, I'm a little frustrated.  When I'm hitting lights a split second too late to plow through the yellow, I'm capable of uncharacteristic violence and profanity.  Same with the Draft Scroll.  When I hit it at just the right spot to get caught up on anything I may have missed, I love it.  When I catch it at the same point over and over again that provides me with no new information, I hate the scroll.  Oddly, it seems every year I'm unnaturally and randomly in sync with one particular team on the Draft Scroll that I always get caught seeing when I glance at the scroll. 4.  Draft Pick Clock - The countdown during every selection that is everpresent in the bottom left corner of the screen, coutning down the seconds for when a fan base explodes in join, implodes with confusion and anger or shrugs with indifference.  It tells us exactly when we are going to have our answer but it also moves at a glacial pace.  Its the adult version of the Christmas Eve clock as a kid.  On Christmas Eve, the clock seems to move about 100 times slower than your average clock.  Same with the draft clock.  One time, I changed the channel as soon as the Detroit Lions were on the clock, watched an entire episode of Seinfeld , turned it back to the draft and the Lions still had 3 minutes left on the Draft Clock.  Turly a scientific marvel is the NFL Draft Pick Clock. 5. Draft Induced Dizziness - Known more commonly by its medical acronym, DID.  This condition is caused by the constant shifting that goes on during a 6 hour NFL Draft on ESPN.  You get whipped around from the main set (which, by law, must grow by one additional person each year) to the interview set on sight, to the reporter standing amongs the family tables, to the set back in Bristol, to the roundtable discusscion at the set of First Take, to the indiividual team camps (Ed Werder in Dallas, Sal Pal in Philly, if either one of these changes, it would be like the perfect couple everyone knows getting an unexpected divroce) to back to the main set for a few minutes, to the commericial break, back to the secondary set on site, etc.  If you read that without getting nauseous, its safe for you to watch the NFL Draft tonight. Ill have more thoughts tomorrow on tonight's NFL Draft.joehlerThu, 22 Apr 2010 22:03:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:3040http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1715/The-Curious-Case-of-Kurt-Warner.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1715http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1715&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1715/The-Curious-Case-of-Kurt-Warner.aspx Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}   I’ve started to think that the same people who decide on the Oscar nominations is the same group of people who elect new members for all of the Hall of Fame’s as identical sets of irrational fingerprints are found on each.  Its some sort of secret society of quasi-senile shut in’s who make Howard Hughes look like a social butterfly.   There’s no other way to explain the most recent set of Oscar Nominations or possibly the candidacy of Kurt Warner for the National Football Hall of Fame (more on that in a minute).   First of all, how can you whitewash Gran Torino from the primary Oscar categories?  No nod to Eastwood for Best Actor?  Best Picture?  Nada.  How about at least Best Director, the Gold Glove to Best Picture’s Cy Young and Best Actor/Actress’s MVP awar?  Robbed there too.  Its one of the most complete movies I can remember seeing.  It makes most dramatic or social commentary movies feel like Corky Romano 2.  It’s funny.  It’s thought provoking.  It's moving.  The character development is stunning.  It’s as funny as it is somber.  And at the end of the movie, you’ll hear more than a few embarrassed sniffles.  It’s a must see.  Trust me.   Now, one to more important issues.  Kurt Warner’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame.  Warner has started 16 games just 3 times in his career: 1999, 2001 and 2008.  All 3 of those seasons uncannily resulted in a Super Bowl appearance, including a win for the 1999 season.  Incredible to be sure.  But in between, Warner was unproductive, ineffective and irrelevant.  He was cut by the Rams.  He was dumped by the Giants.  He was an afterthought for 2 mostly forgettable seasons for the Cardinals.  His number of unproductive seasons (6) doubles the number of extremely productive seasons (3).  It’s not as if he wasn’t in the league for those 6 years.  He was.  He just didn’t do anything.   This is not a Sandy Koufax, Jim Brown or Steve Young case.  His dominance is scattered unpredictably over the course of a 10 year career.  Further, it can be explained by the situation.  Dick Vermeil, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Ken Whisenhunt are all very good reasons for any QB to have success.  How many Hall of Famers were a non factor for 60% of their careers?    This is not to say Warner is not one of the most compelling stories in NFL history or that his ascension is any less remarkable because of his lengthy period of NFL irrelevance.    Now, maybe if I could broker a deal with the secret society of Oscar and Hall of Fame voters that got Gran Torino on this year’s ballot, I’d be willing to accept the curious case of Kurt Warner as a Hall of Famer    joehlerFri, 23 Jan 2009 04:17:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1715http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1698/The-Arizona-Cardinals-are-doing-what.aspx#Comments1http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1698http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1698&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1698/The-Arizona-Cardinals-are-doing-what.aspx Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} If the Arizona Cardinals unexpected hosting of the NFC Championship game is any sign of things to come sports-wise in 2009, it’s going to be a crazy year.  Here are some other teams that may benefit from the Cardinals improbable run and further signs that 2009 is the year of the sports apocalyps They might as well start printing the NL Champion T-shirts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which for a change may actually end up staying in America, instead of shipped to some 3rd world country. NBA fans should braces themselves for a second half surge from the Clippers, who will shock the NBA world by playing their way into the NBA Finals and promptly announce they ceasing operations as a franchise.    In college basketball, Oregon State goes from winless in conference play in 07-08 to the Pac 10 Champions in 08-09 after winning the Pac 10 tournament.  The Beavers will be spurred on by some imaginary motivational force field that only exists when your coach is related by marriage to a new president.   The most shocking thing about the Cardinals game is how much tickets are selling for.  The game sold out in 6 minutes, which normally could only have been explained if the current Cowboys were playing the 93 Cowboys at Univ. of Phoenix stadium.  Since tickets are selling for 2,3,4 and even more times their face value, I think the Cardinals would be wise to implement some sort of test for people to purchase tickets.      Timm Rosenbach was: A) Prominent Phoenix Lawyer or B) Starting QB for the Cardinals   Fill in the Blank:  ________ Joyner and Clyde _______     Buddy Ryan’s defense was called the what?     Rob Moore played what position?  Ron Moore played what position?   The Arizona Cardinals logo is what bird? True or False: Phoenix is not Los Angeles. Name the last 4 Cardinal head coaches after Buddy Ryan.   If you can answer 4 of the questions above, you should automatically be comped tickets to the NFC Championship game.   If you can’ answer 4 of those questions, you should have to pay at least 5 times face value of your tickets to a Cardinal season ticket holder who has held his/her tickets for at least the last 5 years.   It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, we should give the first crack to, you know, actual Cardinals fans.joehlerTue, 13 Jan 2009 16:05:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1698http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1646/ArizonaTexas-AM-Thoughts.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1646http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1646&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1646/ArizonaTexas-AM-Thoughts.aspxArizona loses a tough one to Texas A&M on the road tonight that spoiled what was turning into a very solid Friday night for me.  I had just finished the best Bear Down Friday of the year, headed home, ate some Stouffers frozen lasagna aka God's gift to frozen dinners, and settled in to watch what I thought was an undermanned Arizona team struggle against  the Aggies. Instead, Arizona was not just controlling this game but dominating it for much of the first and second half.  Arizona ultimately went on to lose 66-65 after another questionable final possession.  Here were some of my thoughts from the game:  It was actually refreshing to have this game announced by the anonymous ESPNU announcers, who were actually very solid, but moreso than that did not dwell on Arizona's coaching situation too much.  Instead they used the following phrases, amongst others, to describe Arizona: "loaded with talent" and "supremely talented".  You can tell neither one has probably had the time or need to follow Arizona that closely and instead were just winging most of it but it was still refreshing to hear.  It was like taking a girl you are dating but unsure about to a friends get together and afterwards your friends have nothing but positive things to say about her.  It may not make those things disappear that you were initally worried about but at the time it made you forget about them.  That's how I felt about Arizona during this game, I almost forgot about the lack of a bench, etc., etc Jordan Hill's free throws this season remind me of the old NBA Live video games I used to play and maybe the new ones are the same but I havent played a basketball video game in years.  In the old video games, when you were shooting a free throw, you would have to stop a meter that bounced up and down  and a meter that bounced left to right and the quickness of the meter bouncing was determined by how bad the free throw shooter was.  For the best free throw, you would want to stop both meters in the middle, with some margin for error to still make them.  Jordan Hill's free throw meters this year would be extremely fast and almost always landing either to the extreme left or right and always at the highest point.  That was an incredibly long explanation to basically say Jordan has been terrible from the free throw line. I was really impressed with the way Zane Johnson was able to build off his performance against LMU against the Aggies.  Its not like he played lights out but he make some shots and didn't look like he was in the middle of a nightmare hoping to wake up like last year.  The only time he became a liability on the floor is when A&M pressed and Zane was forced into handling the ball. I was also impressed with Alex Jacobson's performance in the first half.  He gave some solid minutes and apparently has now even been programmed to shoot outside shots and dunk putbacks.  The story of the game is how Arizona controlled this game until Nic Wise fouled out with 7 minutes to go.  7 minutes!  Even Jordan Hill couldn't believe Wise fouled out that quick.  The Aggies seized the momentum and never relinquished it. Not long after Wise fouled out, Jordan picked up his 4th foul.  Of course, this nearly provided Arizona fans with the answer to a question they have no interest in discovering, "What happens when both Nic Wise and Jordan Hill foul out in the same game?".  The answer is pretty predictable.  Its like finding out the answer to a question like, "What happens when I kick this person in the groin?" or "What happens when I speed up when a police car is trying to pull me over?"  Not every question needs to be answered to know what the answer is. Shockingly, Texas A&M didn't go right after Hill after he picked up his 4th foul, settling instead on a barrage of what turned out to be highly effective jump shots.  Granted they still won but it was questionable strategy.  I'm fascinated by the interaction of the Arizona coaches on the bench with both the players and each other.  I also believe Dewey Pennell deserves his own cheering section at McKale. Finally, the last possession.  Clearly, Russ Pennell was affected by the UAB game where Nic Wise dribbled around before putting up an errant shot only this time it was Chase Budinger who did the honors.  They ran Chase off some screens and such but with exactly zero other actual threats from the perimeter on the floor for Arizona, it would have been better to run a play through Jordan Hill.  Also, can someone explain to me why Chase Budinger was inbounding the basketball with .3 second to go in the game.  Sure, its highly unlikely that with any lineup on the floor you are actually going to convert a tip in with that time left and the opponent knowing exactly what you are going to do but wouldn't you at least want the all world volleyball player with a 44 inch vertical leap on the floor?  joehlerSat, 06 Dec 2008 04:47:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1646http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1611/Football-on-the-brain.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1611http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1611&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1611/Football-on-the-brain.aspxWhat an interesting weekend of football.  We’ll have full coverage of it on today’s Happy Hour, but here were some things that struck me as interesting enough that I would sit down and type them out.  Either that or things that aren’t good enough for use on the air.  You decide. I’m already sick of hearing about what a testament to the toughness of the team Arizona’s 2nd half comeback was.  Grit, determination, toughness, resolve; theses are all words in some form that fans have been using to describe the effort.  The 2nd half effort may have shown those qualities in the team but here are some other words; unprepared, unfocused, sloppy, poor, shredded.  Those words describe the first half effort, which was just as much of a reflection of this team’s personality. That being said, what an amazingly entertaining college football game to watch. I also decided during this game that it does bother me that Oregon uses 73 different uniform variations.  There’s still a cost associated with producing all those jerseys probably offset by all the Ducks fans who then purchase the new merchandise but it’s still an off-putting move.  At some point in the future, Oregon will have uniforms made entirely off sewn together 100 dollar bills.  Did anything else remotely interesting happen in college football this weekend?  I don’t think so, unless I completely missed it which would be concerning because you know, it’s my job. Wait a second, they are now making movie trailers for video games?  That’s just annoying. Seriously, the NFL may have just had its Tim Donaghy moment.  The officials in the Steelers/Chargers game reversed a last second TD by Troy Polamalu because of an illegal forward pass.  This decision came AFTER reviewing the play and it was obvious to anyone that didn’t have gambling vision, that there was no forward pass.  The result of wiping out the TD?  The spread was preserved and covered by the Chargers.  There is absolutely no other explanation that makes sense.     Always a lot of fun to watch a football game in the snow, especially for the first time.  The aforementioned Steelers vs. Chargers game was played in true winter conditions.  Meanwhile, its sunny and 80 degrees here and somehow I’m the one jealous of the freezing fans. Lots more tonight on the show about Arizona football, Arizona basketball, the NFL and what ever else I can come up with between now and then.joehlerMon, 17 Nov 2008 16:35:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1611http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1555/You-must-watchlisten-to-this.aspx#Comments1http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1555http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1555&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1555/You-must-watchlisten-to-this.aspxThought I’d post some thoughts on the sports world and beyond since its mostly MLB playoffs this week… Television recommendation: Mad Men on AMC.  If you are under the age of 55, you’ve probably only tuned into AMC by accident, but that all changes.  Mad Men is in just its 2nd season and may already be one of my 5 favorite TV shows of all time.  It’s set in the 60’s at a Madison Ave. advertising company.  It was created by one of the main Soprano guys and the show is better than any other on TV right now. MLB Postseason   I’m fired up because the Phillies/Dodgers game tonight will be called by Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser on ESPN Radio.  I think Orel Hershiser may be the best baseball color commentator out there.  He brings such a unique perspective as a former player, coach and now parent to the game.  I’m stunned that he isn’t used more often.  Even for this series, he only gets games 3-5 and then Steve Phillips takes over for Games 6 and 7.  The thing I love about Hershiser is he’s able to not only draw on his experiences in baseball but he also is able to superbly describe the situation with deft clarity and detail.  So many former players get into the announcers booth and instead of being former players talking baseball, they try and do their best impression of what they think an announcer sounds like.  Chris Singleton being the most recent example. And Dan Shulman is the next great baseball PBP man for ESPN.  The most difficult thing for a PBP man to do, in my opinion, is master the art of setting up the color commentator as well as perfecting the art of voice inflection during key moments of the game. I’m not sure what this says about me, but I could talk announcing teams for an entire hour.  Wait, I know exactly what it says about me:  I have no life.  That sounds about right. Everyone is predicting doom and gloom for a potential Phillies/Rays series because of the disastrous ratings it would mean for Fox.  I didn’t know that many people were had profit sharing deals with Fox that the ratings actually impacted them. The Phillies and Rays are clearly playing the best baseball and deserve the potential berth in the World Series, why should it matter what the ratings are?  What if the series happens to be epic?  Let’s give the Series a shot no matter what the match-up is. And I think it will be the Rays and Phillies.   NFL WR Roy Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a bunch of draft picks, including next years 1st and 3rd rounders.  What is going on in Dallas?  The answer for Dallas was not adding another mouth at the dinner table offensively, it was shoring up their defense. My analogy on the show yesterday was:  Its like the family with 4 kids, who can barely have enough food for everyone trying to solve the problem by having another child.  Its just illogical. The real reason I’m upset about this trade is because it throws one of my fantasy teams into disarray.  I now will be starting TO and Roy Williams in a league the emphasizes WR play with 40 year old Brad Johnson trying to decide if he should throw it to them, Jason Witten or Marion Barber.  I’m not pleased.   Happy Hour returns for a quick show tomorrow before a potential full show on Friday, if the Phillies clinch tonight.joehlerWed, 15 Oct 2008 21:59:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1555http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1539/Weekend-Thoughts.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1539http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1539&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1539/Weekend-Thoughts.aspxWell I was all fired up to do a show today until the White Sox and Angels decided to delay the inevitable and force their respective series to Game 4.  After a busy weekend of baseball, Arizona football, NFL and college football I was ready to rant for a good 2 hours.  Oh and I almost forgot, the NHL season opener and the WNBA Championships!  So for now, it will have to wait until tomorrow, when Happy Hour returns for a full two hours.  In the meantime, a quick preview of what we’ll be talking about:   MLB Playoffs Fairly shocked that the Cubs rolled over so easily until I realized the Diamondbacks did the same to them last yea Why are they such an easy playoff team?  Its gotta be the pressure, there’s no other excuse Philly versus LA couldn’t be bigger contrast in fan bases.  Philly fan’s lives are at stake in this series; meanwhile there’s a good chance 5 out of 10 random people you would meet on the street in LA have no idea the Dodgers are in the playoffs. Let’s hope we get a competitive series, though it looks like the early line (according to, well, me) is for a Dodger win in 5 games Sure, the Angels may have won last night but they lost as well.  The game should have been over in 9 innings, but instead the Angels, and the Red Sox, were forced to use up most of their bullpen.  Its not as big of a deal for Boston, considering they are at home and have the series lead. When I saw the play in the top of the 2nd that led to the Red Sox clearing the bases and tying the game at 3, I had to check to make sure the Red Sox weren’t playing the Black Sox.  Bases loaded, 2 out and Jacoby Ellsbury skies a routine pop up a beyond 2nd base.  This wasn’t one of those bloop singles that lands in short center before anyone can get in good position to catch it but rather a pop up that stayed in the air for enough time for me to microwave my dinner, check my fantasy football leagues and play a game of Spider Solitaire.  Instead of being caught and ending the inning, 3 Angels including perennial Gold Glover Torri Hunter watched the ball drop between them, when all 3 had a legitimate shot of camping underneath it.  Just inexplicable. NFL How about them…Redskins?  Wow, talk about a physical, smart football team.  What does this say about Joe Gibbs?  Why do I feel the need to bring up a negative for team with so many positives?  This used to be the team that saw its best player dress up in costumes for press conferences and overpay middling talent.  Now it’s a team that doesn’t back down, overpowers you and has plenty of weapons offensively and defensively. How do people forget so easily that the Chargers are still a team coached by Norv Turner?  Shame on anyone who predicted them to win the Super Bowl. Who’s the best team in the NFL?  Still too early to tell.  The Giants schedule is about to get absolutely brutal.  The Titans won’t get the attention they deserve because they are, afterall, the Tennessee Titans.  And the Cowboys are too combustible to forcefully assert themselves as the best. Who’s the worst team in the NFL?  I couldn’t imagine the Lions, the Rams or the Benglas doing anything to take them off this list. joehlerMon, 06 Oct 2008 21:43:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1539http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1529/MLB-Playoffs-Day-1.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1529http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1529&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1529/MLB-Playoffs-Day-1.aspxA full afternoon of playoff baseball is in the books and I’ve got some thoughts.  Except for an unexpected nap (you know one of those naps where you wake up shocked it was only 15 minutes when you swear you had a dream that lasted several hours?) during the mid innings of the Phillies/Brewers game, I watched or listened to almost all of it.  Here’s my breakdown of each game but first some broadcasting thoughts:  Why am I not surprised to hear Michael Kay, the voice of the New York Yankees, broadcasting playoff games for ESPN Radio.  I don’t think ESPN can bear the thought of not having any Yankee connections during the post season.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see every Sports Center and Baseball Tonight peppered with people from the organization. So on ESPN, we get guys like John Kruk, Chris Singleton, Orestes Destrada, Eric Young and others breaking down baseball but TBS hauls in Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken Jr and John Smoltz?  So the channel I watch that covers nothing but sports gets out maneuvered by the station I only watch Seinfeld repeats on?  I find that interesting.  Plus during the games, we get excellent color commentary from Tony Gwynn, Ron Darling and Buck Martinez while the best the World Series can do is Tim McCarver?  Well played TBS, well played.   Phillies vs. Brewers Great pitching performance by Cole Hamels.  Hamels is really an interesting guy.  Southern California guy who doesn’t seem to outwardly exude much emotion, talks about holistic healing for his body, almost Barry Zito circa 2001 like.  The strange thing is he has thrived in Philly.  You know if he struggled in Philly, they’d jump all over his attitude but he keeps everyone quiet with his performance.  He’s a more talented, more mentally tough Barry Zito. There isn’t a whole lot to like about the Brewers lineup other than Fielder, Braun and maybe Hart.   Brett Myers takes the mound tomorrow.  Call me crazy for rooting against this guy.  He’s the same guy who a couple of years ago literally punched his girlfriend while out one night in Boston. I’d expect CC Sabathia to pitch the Brewers back into this series, I mean what else could possibly happen when he’s on the mound? Cubs vs. Dodgers Really an odd game to watch The Cubs were in control but then Dempster starts walking everybody and James Loney drills a grand slam into the centerfield bleachers.  After that, everyone got anxious and the 100 years failure reared its head in Wrigley. Carlos Zambrano pitches the biggest game of his career and after giving up 36 ER in 8 starts since August, excluding his no-hitter, it hard not to feel for Cubs fans. Anytime you lose at home in the first game of a 5 game series AND are forced to use your bullpen for nearly 5 innings, things aren’t looking good. Alfonso Soriano may be one of the most overrated players in baseball. Red Sox vs. Angels I’m not sure what happened, but I find myself naturally inclined to root for this Red Sox team.  I don’t have anything against the Angels, I just don’t like the idea of them advancing. Jon Lester is a great story.  Now if he would only wear his hat straight, I might be able to really pull for him. Vlad Guerrero was gunned down at 3B on a flare over 1B by about 99 feet.  He looked like he was running in quicksand.  Good lord, Vlad used to be one of the most freakishly athletic players in the league and once stole 40 bases in a season.  Now he looks like Lou Pinella could dust him in a race around the bases and he’s just 32.  After watching him run, I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Miguel Tejada shared the same birth certificate making machine. The other interesting thing about Vlad, who I believe is a Hall of Fame type player, is I literally know nothing about him.  I can’t remember ever seeing a sit down interview with him or a full length magazine profile.  Yet he’s one of the best players of the past 15 years in baseball. Back with another recap tomorrow.joehlerThu, 02 Oct 2008 05:22:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1529http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1487/NFL-Playoff-Picks.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1487http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1487&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1487/NFL-Playoff-Picks.aspxIts such a relief to have the NFL back in my life.  Too many Sunday's were spent socializing, being outside, visiting with family and other productive things and now I can look forward to every Sunday being 100% dedicated to the NFL and of course, fantasy football.  My only conflict is I've been playing basketball on Sunday mornings and now there is a direct conflict.  I enjoy this physical exercise I had heard so much about and I think it may actually be good for me but I'm not sure it can win a battle with the NFL. I made my NFL Playoff picks last week on the show.  My basic hope is that my two Super Bowl teams just make the playoffs.  I often will focus arbitrarily on one random stat or development on a team over another and it makes complete sense at the time but at the end of the season it was just complete nonsense.  Just scroll back to my MLB predictions.  Oh look, the Tigers added Miguel Cabrera, I'll just completely overlook their dreadful starting pitching and pick them to go to the World Series.  I may have even picked them to win the World Series but I'd rather not start my Monday off with a beat down of my sports self esteem. Here are my 2008 NFL Playoff Picks: NFC NFC East: Cowboys - I've dubbed it the :"Harknocks Hypnosis".  If you've watched HBO's Hard Knocks series on the Dallas Cowboys this season, you've come away believing they are the greatest team ever assembled.  Its the kind of propoganda you would normally only see in wartime.  TO looks like the best teammate in the world, Tony Romo looks nothing but destined to be a Super Bowl QB, Jerry Jones appears involved but not overbearing, the coaching staff seems to have the right number of players coaches and disciplinarians, I mean its just the perfect formula.  If you've never seen the show, you don't have to to realize this is the most talented team in the NFC, and possibly NFL, on both sides of the football. NFC North: Green Bay Packers - The youngest team in the NFL was so successful for more reasons than Brett Favre.  They have an active, aggressive defense; a strong, established offensive line; a fantastic trio of WR's; a solid ground game and a rallying cry this year.  I don't think the team is better off without Favre but I think they are capable of winning the NFC North. NFC South: New Orleans Saints - They could have one of the best offenses in the NFL this season and the additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis could be enough to solidify the defense.  Of course, I didn't factor this team potentially having to deal with not 1 hurricane this season but potentially 2 or 3.  Ultimately, the Saints prevail in an underrated NFC South. NFC West: Seattle Seahawks  Arizona Cardinals- The last charge of the old walrus, Mike Holmgren.  I really don't have a very compelling reason for picking the Seahawks in the dreadful NFC West but at the very least I get to compare him to looking like a walrus.  The Seahawks have a decimated WR corps, a terrible ground game, a bad offensive line, a rookie TE and a QB in Matt Hasslebeck that may have a herniated disc bothering him all season.  Why again am I picking this team?  Screw it, I'm changing to the Arizona Cardinals winning this division. NFC Wildcards: Carolina, Philadelphia. joehlerMon, 08 Sep 2008 16:12:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1487http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1459/Rejoice-Fantasy-Football-is-Here.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1459http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1459&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1459/Rejoice-Fantasy-Football-is-Here.aspxLike welcoming a good friend you haven't been able to see in several months, fantasy football has returned to my life.  You'd be this into fantasy football too if you're favorite team has been completely irrelevant in the NFL over the past 6 years. I was supposed to draft my first fantasy football team last night but some technical difficulties made it impossible so I'm forced to try and contain myself until Tuesday night. Its my 10th year playing fantasy football and like all great marriages, its just as exciting in year 10 as it was in year 1.  Sure, there have been some ups and downs but you get through those things together and it makes you stronger.  Thats not to say you don't have to get more creative and devote more energy as the years fly by.  By simply dedicating yourself to fresh message board posts, inventive team names and phone calls can help keep every fantasy football marriage fresh. Without further ado, here's my list of 5 potential sleepers for the upcoming fantasy season: 1. Reggie Bush - Seriously.  You have to feel pretty confident in your drafting skills to put too much of your season on the back of Bush, but the chance his talent will suddenly translate at the NFL level will be tantalizing for the final time this season. 2. LenDale Whie - Last year he was fat and injured and still rushed for 1,100 yards and 7 TD's.  This year he's just fat for now which likely means he'll be even better.  He may turn out to be one of the best #2 RB's a team could have. 3. Laurence Maroney - You know in China or other oppressive countries when there's a controversy or political dissident, the individuals responsible just kind of disappear and are never heard from again?  I was worried that happened to Maroney last year but Belicheck-style.  This year, I'd guarantee he has at least 5 TD's in the first 3 games of the season and a big year after being "corrected" by Belicheck. 4. Steve Slaton - He just has to beat out Ahman Green and Chris Brown.  It would be like a promising recent college grad beating out the burnt out 70 year old and the temp for the job.  Barring something unforseen, I would imagine Slaton gets a lot of carries.   I doubt he's a  consistent back, he may be too small, but I would expect him to have a handful of big games. 5. Michael Turner - A sleeper in the sense I think he'll be better than most projections.  He's likely to have a handful of 14 carries for 23 yards games but also a candidate to have several 150 yards and 2 TD games.  Much like many marriages, if you can take the bad with the good, you can enjoy Michael Turner this season. More Fantasy Football this week, with QB and WR sleeprs.  Also, don't forget about our Colin Cowherd interview tomorrow on Happy Hour and the exciting announcement we have planned for the station this fall.joehlerMon, 25 Aug 2008 16:17:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1459http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1440/Instant-Replay.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1440http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1440&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1440/Instant-Replay.aspxThis stuff with Bud Selig never gets old.  Seriously, I know I'm pretty harsh on the good ole Commish on the show but its impossible to not be entertained by the guy.  The latest development is with baseball's flirtation with implementing instant replay.  Initially, Selg wanted to "experiment" with instant replay and possibly use it next season.  Then, he acknowledged it could be used this year.  Then MLB was embarrassed when the LLWS decided to use replay.  Yes, Little Leaguers embarrassed Big Leaguers. I just dont understand the reluctance to use instant replay.  Its a good idea.  Home Run calls are hard to get right, especially in big moments so why not take advantage of instant replay.  The idea its going to lead to a slippery slope and instant replay will be used in everything from balls and strikes to outs on the basepahts is ridiculous.  We aren't turning over replay to some machines of a superior intellect that will suddenly take over decision making from MLB.  There's no need to fear the powers of instant replay.  Sure, people in the NFL still complain but its much better than not having it.  Baseball has fewer rules than in the NFL.  You are either out or safe.  Its a ball or a strike.  Its either fair or foul.  Instant replay only deals with one aspect.  Critics have claimed that "human error" is part of the history of the game.  Since when do we start championing mistakes and human error as the just cause over, you know, getting it right.  Plus, as long as baseball fans have Bud Selig as commissioner there will be plenty of human error for everyone to enjoy. I applaud Bud Selig for entertaining the idea.  Its time to implement it and be done.  No experimenting, there is no great unknown with instant replay.  Its not going to organically grow and take over baseball from Selig, though I'm starting to believe he may be considering this an actual possibility. Let's play ball.  And then use instant replay to make sure we got it right. joehlerFri, 15 Aug 2008 04:39:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1440http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1414/Dbacks-Surge.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1414http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1414&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1414/Dbacks-Surge.aspxAt this point of the season, no one is going to want to downplay a sweep, especially in a tight NL West race.  The Diamondbacks just got done dominating the San Francisco Giants on the road to bump their division leading record to 2 games above .500. We all hear reasons why the NL West is a disaster and the race is embarrassing but the only goal is to make it into the playoffs and from there, see where Haren/Webb can take you (with the way Haren is pitching lately, I thought it appropriate to put his last name first).  Plus, Arizona is doing one of the things it needs to do to win the division and that is beating teams they are supposed to beat.  Next on the list it to, you know, hit, score runs and beat the team they are competing directly against. Randy Johnson threw 7 shutout innings and extended his scoreless inning streak to 15.  I would expect a 44 year old man with a mullet to have an extended scoreless streak, just off the field not necessarily on.  The Big Unit has won 4 in a row and has been providing the kind of punch after the combination of Webb/Haren (I'll reverse it, just to keep things calm in the clubhouse) that if he is able to sustain it, may be the knockout punch on the Dodgers. Offensively, Connor Jackson is hitting over .400 over the past 10 days or so.  When Arizona's offense was really struggling, it was because the entire lineup was struggling and the Diamondbacks were doing nothing on the basepaths to jump start their offense.  Now, with one really hot bat, the rest of the lineup seems to be a little bit more relaxed and actually scoring runs.  The question is, how long will it last?  Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to plug along.  They kept pace with Arizona over the weekend and remain just a game out of first place.  They also made a trade over the weekend, acquiring 3B/OF Casey Blake from the Indians for two minor leaguers, one of which was former University of Arizona star Jon Meloan.  The trade adds a reliable veteran bat into the Dodgers lineup and could provide them with an offensive spark, at least thats what they hope.  I'm not so sure what kind of impact he will have though.  Blake has spent his entire career in the American League and will now jump right into a playoff race in the National League.  Thankfully for Blake, he's teammates with Andruw Jones so just making contact will automatically endear him to the LA faithful. The NL West race is heating up and as we enter August this week, the margin for error becomes slimmer.  The Diamondbacks have the early edge with their pitching and now offense starting to come around.  With the trade deadline just a few days away, with the Dodgers or Diamondbacks make another move?  Stay tuned.joehlerMon, 28 Jul 2008 15:54:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1414http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1387/Back-In-Action.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1387http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1387&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1387/Back-In-Action.aspxBack from vacation and while I'll spare you the written slide show of the tedious details, I did get to attend a couple of great baeball games and here are some thoughts.  I'll be back to blog later this week to get caught up on a few more items. AT&T Park - Saw the Giants take on the Dodgers, a rivalry that has been muted a bit since the Giants are terrible and the Dodger fans are well, Dodger fans.  If it was 2001, it could have been a classic pitching match-up featuring Barry Zito and Chan Ho Park.  Instead, it was probably the worst pitching match-up I could have seen.  The park is absolutely incredible.  If you are a baseball fan and enjoy the ballpark experience, AT&T Park is everything you've heard it to be.  Spectacular views, great amenities and a packed house despite the woeful Giants.  Plus, we took a Metrorail to the stadium that dropped us off right outside the gates and then took it home at about 10:30 PM and I didn't fear for my life, with the total cost being $6, take that parking!  I had a Super Dog and peanuts for some dinner plus a churro for desert that cost approximately $357.  Actually, probably more like $20 but still ridiculous.  I also couldn't resist purchasing a Tim Lincecum t-shirt jersey, aka shirsey.  I gotta support the skinny guys.  Dude throws 98 at 5"10, 170, gotta love that.  All in all, great ballgame experience. Dodger Stadium - Through my girlfriend's sister, we were able to get some free tickets to a Dodgers/Marlins game, otherwise my life probably would have ended without attending a Dodgers/Marlins game.  Hiroki Kiroda versus Ricky Nolasco.  I have Nolasco on a fantasy team, so this was a good time to get some good fantasy baseball karma working.  Dodger Stadium is as retro as you can get from the outside but once you get inside, it feels as modern as you need.  The game was sold out but about 20,000 empty seats remained well into the second inning.  By the 3rd, the place was packed.  I was on the look out for a Matt Kemp shirsey but at $30 bucks a pop it was $8 more than the Lincecum shirsey at the Giants stadium.  We had great seats 6 rows from the field, down the right field line between 1B and RF.  It was an odd angle for watching the action but because I was there with 2 marginal baseball fans, it was perfect to keep them in to the game.  Here, I tried the famous Dodger Dog, which they sell at EVERY SINGLE concession stand.  It was disgusting.  It was a normal hot dog color on the outside but a disturbing orange on the inside.  I added some chips and a cinnamon soft pretzel.  2 fun notes from this game: 1) Hiroki Kiroda's walk-up music is Everlong by the Foo Fighters, didn't see that coming and 2) Andruw Jones was 0-3 with 3 K's and was relentlessly booed every time to the plate, yet his walk-up music was "Don't Worry" by Bob Marley.  Classic. Overall, AT&T Park was just a completely unique ballgame experience and strongly recommended even if you can't name 3 members of the Giants starting lineup, which is completely possible for 95% of baseball fans.  Dodger Stadium was fun, despite the $15 dollar parking, and an underrated part of baseball history. joehlerTue, 15 Jul 2008 18:02:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1387http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1356/Same-Ol-Suns.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1356http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1356&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1356/Same-Ol-Suns.aspxNo show today because of the Diamondbacks/Marlins game.  It's a good thing too because I felt terrible today.  I haven't been sick in a long time but woke up this morning with a sore throat.  I would gladly trade a fever, congestion, headache, body ache, upset stomach for not having a sore throat.  Its brutal. Some Suns Draft Thoughts: The Suns are being widely praised for drating the defensive minded Lopez brother, Robin.  I think its a mildly disappointing to bad pick.  If this were 2004 or 2005, it would be a great pick for the Suns.  But they need scoring.  I know thats like saying the Bengals need another criminal on their team or Vince Carter needs another injury but the Suns are going to need scoring next year.  Without Shawn Marion for a full season, that team is going to lack some serious punch.  Who scores for them? Nash? Grant Hill? Shaq? Its pretty much Amare and very little off the bench other than Leandro Barbosa.  Its just too little too late.  And what happens when Shaq's gone after next season or injured this year?  You really think Robin Lopez is going to be able to start for the Suns at Center?  He barely started at Stanford.  The draft was ruined for the Suns when Brandon Rush was traded, though I would've like to have seen them take Mario Chalmers, Chris Douglas Roberts or even Donte Greene. I haven't decided which Lopez brother has the more feminine name.  I feel like I'm in a good position to judge this based on the fact that my name is Jody.  Though in all honesty, I think Robin and Brook are more feminine names than Jody.  On one hand, Robin has Batman and Robin to fall back on.  On the other hand, that's not really a trump card, all things considered.  On paper, Brook Lopez looks more feminine but saying Robin Lopez out loud sounds more feminine.  It would be a no brainer if Brook spelled his name with an 'e' on the end or Robin spelled his name with a 'y' instead of an 'i'.  Ultimately, I think Robin Lopez sounds more feminine.  I base this on a babbling brook seems more masculine than an orange chested robin.  There, thats settled. Quick notes: I thought the ESPN crew did a good job of keeping things moving and all seemed refreshed to be there but there was a complete lack of substanative basketball conversation.  I thought Stuart Scott was especially good as host I'm sure OJ Mayo was thrilled to be traded from Minnesota, considering going from LA to Minneapolis is kind of a culture shock for anyone much less a high profile basketball player.  Then he found out he was going to Memphis, the armpit of the NBA.  Jered Bayless needs to lighten up.  I love his intensity on the court and I think he'll be an excellent NBA player, but I've never seen him smile or joke around.  Even in the locker room after wins this season, he was always brooding or at best mildly content.  Also, the cream colored suit was an interesting choice but an improvement over his suit collection during the season when he was injured when he looked like he snuck something out of his dad's suit closet. Michael Beasely will never be a 20 and 10 guy in the NBA.  6'7 and playing PF?  Its all about hustle at that point and I just don't see that coming from him.  He'll be solid but not spectacular. I knew Ryan Anderson had to be a first rounder.  He was one of the more underrated players in the draft, in my opinion.  Arizona has now had the most draft picks selected in the NBA than any other college since 1989.  Did you see that Brandon Jennings?  You still think Europe will prepare you better for an NBA career?  I wish I could say good luck with that but frankly the whole situation makes it difficult to root for him to succeed, if he does in fact choose Europe. Have a great weekend, talk to you Monday at 4.joehlerFri, 27 Jun 2008 23:50:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1356http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1351/Tuesday-Happy-Hour-Blog--Shaq-and-Suns-Trades.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1351http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1351&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1351/Tuesday-Happy-Hour-Blog--Shaq-and-Suns-Trades.aspxA couple of thoughts for you on this Tuesday afternoon since the Diamondbacks once again are hogging all of the air time this afternoon: TV/Movie recommendations: I watched Gangs of New York over the weekend, its probably the third time I’ve seen it.  Its further proof that Daniel Day Lewis is probably one of the 5 greatest living actors.  If it was socially acceptable, I’d have a large Daniel Day Lewis poster hanging in my room, which would only be slightly creepier than a potential Hannah Montana poster.  Regardless, it’s a powerful Scorcese movie and for my money better than the Oscar winning The Departed.  Shaq Rap You know it’s the end of June when a ridiculous video of Shaq free styling about Kobe Bryant gets major airtime all over the place.  The worst part of this video is being subjected to a nearly 40 year old Shaquille O’Neal “free styling” and refusing to put to rest his dreams of being a hip hop icon.  I’ve heard better free styling from homeless people on 4th Avenue wandering aimlessly and playing the ukelele.      I just don’t get how this is a story to people.  2 super star players who each believe that they are responsible for a bigger percentage of the Lakers success than the other.  Kobe fgets back by getting Shaq traded to the Heat.  Shaq riles Kobe by winning a championship without him with the Heat.  Kobe has his best chance to win this year without Shaq only to perform miserably.  Add on top of that Kobe exposing Shaq as being unfaithful to his wife and its doesn’t take a bad video to realize these two guys aren’t the best of friends.     I at least enjoy the fact that they aren’t afraid of making it public and letting us all enjoy it.  Its not like they’re threatening each other.   “Kobe, how’s my a** taste?”  That’s perhaps the worst line I could ever imagine.  That’s like the freestyle lyrical equivalent to Nickelback lyrics.   Suns Draft Rumors are flying about the Suns possibly making a trade around this year’s draft and I love all of them.  Here’s a quick rundown of the rumors that are out there and what I think of them: Leandro Barbosa to Portland for Martell Webster and #13 pick – Would be a great trade for the Suns.  They get a young outside shooter who could thrive with the Suns and an additional draft pick to go along with the #16 pick.  With 2 first rounders the Suns could come out with both Brandon Rush and a big man like Kosta Koufos or Anthony Randolph. Boris Diaw to Toronto for TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the #17 pick – Not only would they get rid of the consistently disappointing Boris Diaw but they also do so while still being able to get some value.  See above for what the Suns could do with two first’s.  The wild card would be TJ Ford who could provide the Suns Barbosa’s speed but be a better passer and more reliable. Leandro Barbosa  and the #15 to the Clippers for Corey Maggette and the #7 pick – Another home run deal for the Suns who could use Maggette to replace Shawn Marion’s perimeter defense plus get a high draft pick to use on Russell Westbrook, Brook Lopez or Joe Alexander. Those are the three most prominent rumors so far.  Frankly, they sound too good to be true.  I’m firmly in favor of trading both Diaw and Barbosa.  I just don’t think they are the kind of reliable, productive bench players that championship teams need.  Additionally, they could be used to infuse some youth onto the roster, which would serve the team well next season and beyond.   More thoughts on the NBA Draft coming later this week.joehlerTue, 24 Jun 2008 22:32:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1351http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1346/What-My-Show-Would-Sound-Like-Today.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1346http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1346&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1346/What-My-Show-Would-Sound-Like-Today.aspxWith no Happy Hour today, I thought I’d still share some thoughts.  Its not quite as cathartic as speaking loudly in our cramped studios (sponsored by the Sports Zone!) so I usually end up going home and yelling blindly in the garage for about 15 minutes when I don’t have a show.  US Olympic Roster announced Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Carmelo, Kidd, Tayshaun Prince, Boozer, Bosh, Howard, Redd, Paul, Williams fill out the roster.   I think all of us can agree the United States has struggled in International competition in recent years, including an embarrassing bronze in Athens.  The biggest culprit has been, according to most, a lack of cohesion against international teams that play together for years and years; in other words, teamwork.  So, how is this team any different?  You have 3 guys leading this team who go by first name only; Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo.  After Kobe, you have Jason Kidd as your next veteran.  What do both Kobe and Kidd have in common?  A reputation that despite being more talented than just about anyone else to have ever played their position, they aren’t the leaders people expected them to be.  In fact, only 2 players from this years team have even won an NBA Championship in their careers.  Compare that to the original Dream Team in 1992 or in 1996 when there were double digit rings between the players and you begin to see why this team has struggled.  In 2000, a team that barely won gold had very little championship material and in 2004, only one player in Tim Duncan.  f this were the Olympics of advertising (and its slowly turning into that anyway), the United States would be beating everyone in endorsements like they beat Angola in 1992.  Despite all of that, there’s some serious pressure on this team.  The credibility of American basketball and in some respects, the NBA are on the line.  Someone please take Kobe off this roster.   Dbacks vs. Red Sox  Beginning today, the Diamondbacks start a 3 game series at Fenway, thus the reason Ill be playing Spider Solitaire all day (not really, but I suppose I could).  Arizona was swept by the Twins, including being baffled by Livian Hernandez on Sunday.   I’m convinced part of the reason Livo signed with the Twins is because they are affectionately known as the Twinkies and he just got confused.   Either way, not a good weekend for the Snakes, especially considering their lead in the NL West is now just 3.5 games over the equally hard-to-figure-out Dodgers.  Eric Byrnes returns to the lineup which for now just means more hair in the lineup, not necessarily any more power. Ill be blogging every day this week as I won’t be back on the air until Thursday.  joehlerMon, 23 Jun 2008 18:26:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1346http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1344/Arizona-Loses-a-Recruit-to-Europe.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1344http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1344&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1344/Arizona-Loses-a-Recruit-to-Europe.aspxWhen I first heard that Brandon Jennings was potentially considering bypassing his commitment to play at the University of Arizona to instead play in Europe before entering the NBA draft, I dismissed it as a remnant of the wild times in Tucson when rumors were being thrown around more often than beers on 4th avenue.  Either that or Brandon had apparently decided to pursue soccer as his new passion. Then Andy Katz decided to write about the story, complete with confusing quotes from Brandon Jennings.  Jennings says he feels Europe may actually prepare him better for the NBA than Arizona.  He says he's considering all options and even if he does come to Arizona, it would likely only be for a single season.   Jennings and his family have spent time with an attorney trying to figure out the right course of action should Europe be the best option. Of course, Jennings could render all of this speculation moot with a passing score on the SAT.  Its really that simple.  Its ridiculous to argue that Europe is a better training ground for the NBA than Arizona.  With the total salaries of Arizona players equally the GDP for some small European countries, there is no contest.  Its likely posturing on Jennings part to innoculate against the backlash from a potentially embarrassing situation. That being said, it does raise some questions whether Arizona is ready for the Brandon Jennings era.  He's already convinced he only needs 1 year, he has publicly stated Europe would be better for his development than Arizona and only pointed to the return of Chase Budigner as a reason he is excited to come to Arizona.  How does the rest of the team feel about this from their future point guard? At this point, I'm starting to feel like Arizona might not be ready for Jennings.  Arizona and Coach Olson are like a married couple who separate after 24 years of loving marriage because the husband flirted with someone else and it caused some problems. Only shortly thereafter the couple gets back together to try and recreate the magic from those first 24 years.  Except this time, they decided to hire a gorgeous babysitter that constantly threatens the renewed harmony in their life.  In this long winded analogy, Brandon Jennings would be the baby sitter. The point is, sometimes when something is in a fragile state of content, harmony, cohesivness etc., the worst thing to do is throw in another strong unknown.  Ultimately, its a risk the team and its fans would be willing to take.  Later this week we'll find out if Brandon Jennings passed his SAT or instead was spending his time getting his passport. (To read the Andy Katz article, sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story)joehlerMon, 23 Jun 2008 05:50:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1344http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1329/Default.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1329http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1329&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1329/Default.aspxIt seems like just about everytime I don't have a show because of the Diamondbacks, some huge news story breaks.  Today, it was the allegations made by Tim Donaghy.  You're probably familiar at this point with some of the allegations; NBA wanted a Game 7 in 2002, they targeted Yao Ming, officials were told not to eject star players, etc.  Fans of the NFL and MLB accept inconsistent calling because it doesn't constantly plague the biggest moment of every game.  In the NBA, its hard to watch an important game and not see at least 2-3 calls that could have gone the other way.  The NBA, and basketball in general, is incredibly difficult to officiate because officials make hundreds of judgement calls on plays that last a second or two. There's no easy solution for the NBA, but here are a couple of ideas: David Stern clones self and ref's every game - Its getting to a point in the NBA where no theory is too wacky to possibly be true.  You know the rumors about David Stern being connected and his penchant for hoarding power and controlling everything?  This would just be taking it to the next level.  Plus, as an added bonus, we'd be treated to his condescending sarcasm after each game. NBA eliminates ref's and players call fouls - If this were to happen, I'd immediately expect Charles Oakley to unretire, return to the NBA and win multiple MVP's until he's physically unable to move.  It would be fun to see which players would intimidate other players and which guys would never call a foul.  Whenever I've played pick up basketball, it takes approximately 1 possession to figure out which dude is calling everything and which dude is just there to play.  In this NBA, Dwight Howard reigns supreme and Tayshaun Prince plummets in value. Open gambling to all officials - If this happens, then it just becomes a skill for an official to out manuever the others and have a bigger impact on the outcome of the game.  Again, Charles Oakley would immediately become and official and the 3rd wealthiest man in America. Other than those ideas, there are a couple that could actually happen.  The NBA is long overdue for a change in leadership and a sweeping overhaul of its officiating.  Its shocking to think, but Bud Selig may actually outlast both David Stern and Paul Tagliabue, yet has overwhelmingly been the worst commissioner.  joehlerWed, 11 Jun 2008 23:28:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1329http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1319/Big-BrownBox-Store.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1319http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1319&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1319/Big-BrownBox-Store.aspxThe Belmont Stakes is this weekend with Big Brown looking to make some horse history.  It’s compelling but it’s definitely not the same as watching history unfold in another sport, you know a sport that doesn’t have a tiny human thrashing a ‘roided up beast around a track.  But because there is that history and tradition, there’s interest.  I would say the interest is and has been waning for several years. In fact, there’s a trend of similar sporting events that have always been on the periphery of the sports landscape struggling to get the same attention they once held.  It’s like watching the prom queen from high school who always had that one shining moment at the reunion promptly run face first into the wall. Here’s my crazy theory on why this is happening.  Horse racing, the Indy 500, tennis and a couple of other events are sort of like mom and pop stores.  They provide a quality product but not nearly at the same level as larger stores.  The major sports are basically Wal-Mart.  They’ve moved in, there’s access to them 24/7/365 with dedicated channels, year round network coverage and dedicated sites on the internet.  So the mom and pop stores are dying out because people don’t need them anymore.  There’s no such thing as a gap in the NFL season where a fan is left trying to find something else.  You can get daily coverage to not only the NFL but to your favorite team.  People just don’t have the interest level in these mom and pop events when they can go to Wal-Mart whenever they want and get exactly what they want.joehlerFri, 06 Jun 2008 23:32:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1319http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1315/Flip-Saunders--Phoenix-Suns--.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1315http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1315&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1315/Flip-Saunders--Phoenix-Suns--.aspxMany people are rushing to judgement that on the other side of the "=" sign will be "new head coach".  The Phoenix Suns have publicly stated that they would like their next head coach to be someone with head coaching experience.  That rules out just about everyone because in the NBA, coaches are recycled like I recycle plastic bottles So when Flip Saunders was fired as head coach of the Pistons today, he of the nearly 600 career wins and nearly .600 winning percentage, the same coach who has led the Timberwolves and Pistons to conference finals, coached the All Star team and led the Pistons to a franchise record 64 regular season wins, many people assumed he would be a candidate for the Suns job. There couldn't be a worse hiring out there.  If the Suns just let Amare Stoudamire coach the team they would have just a good of a chance at winning the NBA Title than they would with Flip Saunders. Saunders represents everything that Mike D'Antoni does, only he's not nearly as charming as Mike and doesn't have the moustache.  Saunders has routinely had big time success in the regular season only to see his teams flame out in the playoffs, several times when they were heavily favored.  Sound familiar?  Thats because that's exactly what the Suns have done the past 4 seasons. You don't send a message to the team or the fans about winning a championship by hiring a coach who has repeatedly crumbled under that pressure.  Its easier to believe that a coach with experience but not the stain of playoff disappointment, like Terry Porter or Kurt Rambis has a better shot at winning a title. At least we don't know how they'd respond in the face of championship pressure.  Flip folds. By the way, can you really imagine an million dollar athletes wanting to go to battle for a guy named Flip?  That may be the most compelling reason for not hiring him.  I just imagine Amare constantly harrassing him to do a flip and ingorning any coaching. If the Suns want to win a championship, they won't hire Philip Saunders. joehlerWed, 04 Jun 2008 01:19:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1315http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1288/Couple-of-Thoughts.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1288http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1288&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1288/Couple-of-Thoughts.aspxSome thoughts on a bunch of different things before the Memorial Day weekend.  I'll be going to Utah from Friday through Monday for a little getaway.  It seems every time I go away, the weather cools off in Tucson and I don't get to miss the 100+ degree weather.  And yes, I believe weather patterns revolve around my travel schedule.  That's how big Happy Hour has become. Arizona hired Reggie Geary as its 3rd and final assistant coach.  It was an inevitable hire for Coach Olson who not only gets a familiar face on his staff but repairs some of the damage caused by the handling of Geary's previous time at Arizona.  That's when he signed on as a coach but was moved to a pencil pusher position.  Geary will handle a bulk of the recruiting, which could be interesting.  He's never done this and I don't believe he can recruit any NBADL players he coached, although they would probably benefit from some more time in college.  Next for Arizona is Nic Wise and Chase Budinger.  We'll have more on those situations next week. The Diamondbacks have lost 2 of 3 to the Marlins.  Micah Owings and Brandon Webb both turned in terrific pitching performances but the Dbacks bats continue to fail them.  Another week of this and the conversation will inevitably turn back to "the Diamondbacks don't have a legit cleanup bat" and fans clamoring the team to make a trade.  Celtics vs. Pistons series is as tough to watch as advertised.  For me, this series has turned into one of those political pundit shows.  I probably should be watching some but every time I turn it on, I just can't stomach more than about 10 minutes.  This series seems destined for 7 games to the benefit of absolutely no one. The Lakers came back from a 20 point 3rd quarter defecit to beat the Spurs in Game 1.  Thats it, the series is over.  The Lakers are not only a better team but they now have a huge momentum advantage.  Other than that, one thing missing from the Lakers conversation is that Pau Gasol is really, really good.  Some people thought he was the European version of Shareef Abur-Rahim, the former Hawks All Star who turned into a terrible player when traded to a successful team but Gasol is anything but.  He is a really talented big man. Happy Hour will be back live on Tuesday at 4 PM.  Until then, enjoy one of the most underrated holiday weekends of the year, Memorial Day weekend.  Its a guaranteed 3 day weekend, unlike Christmas holiday or 4th of July which can fall on a Tues-Thurs or a Sat-Sun.   I measure holidays not on the significane represented by the day or the magnitude of the events on the day but rather if it conveniently allows a 3 day weekendjoehlerThu, 22 May 2008 22:35:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1288http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1282/Break-Out-the-Bubbly-for-Arizona.aspx#Comments1http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1282http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1282&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1282/Break-Out-the-Bubbly-for-Arizona.aspxArizona announced this morning that they were granting Emmanuel Negedu his full and unconditional release from his signed letter of intent and this may actually be the best news of the offseason so far. Yesterday on Happy Hour we discussed, for basically the entire show (I was able to get in a few jabs at the NBA Playoffs), whether Arizona should release him from his letter of intent.  The speculation from Negedu's coach and several other media outlets stated that Arizona was not considering a release at that point.  I strongly felt Arizona should release him, if at the very least, to avoid further public discussion about the reasons for the release.  The discussion also allowed me to introduce the corniest joke ever told on Happy Hour; calling him Emmanuel Nege-don't want to come to Arizona.  It was a joke worthy of being on the worst sitcom which is really any sitcom on ABC. I think Coach Olson and Jim Livengood's quick decision to grant the release is a good example of what can be avoided with decisive action.  This issue is now resolved and anything that happens will be just a foot note. Arizona has struggled this offseason to quickly resolve outstanding issues that have adversely effected the program and to an even greater extent, the publc perception of the program.  When issues linger, such as ambiguous reasoning for coaches being let go, a players transfer status, unfilled coaching vacancies, etc., they become explored, discussed, and repeated. Let's think about the last 24-48 hours for the basketball team. Two highly qualified new assistant coaches introduced to the media where they left a very positive impression, a combo guard from California commits to play next season, and Arizona reaches a quick decision on a tough situation.  Its been the best 2 day stretch for Arizona Basketball since any 2 days Kevin O'Neill didn't cuss a player out.  Actually, that probably never happened, so lets just say its the best 2 day stretch in a long time for Arizona.  joehlerTue, 20 May 2008 17:59:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1282http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1268/DAntonis-Decision.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1268http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1268&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1268/DAntonis-Decision.aspxMike D'Antoni had his introductory press conference as the new head coach of the New York Knicks today and already had to deny his first rumor.  No, it wasn't about whether he claims to have the greatest moustache in NBA Coaching history, rather about whether he in fact was already lobbying the team to trade Stephon Marbury. D'antoni later denied wanting to trade Marbury, which is perhaps the worst denial ever.  When you are just starting as a coach, why would you want to compromise your credibility by basically saying you don't want to trade Marbury.  Sure, you are preventing Marbury from becoming sullen but weigh that against the angry fan base.  D'Antoni should have been the one initiating the rumor instead of denying it because after all, Marbury is terrible. Mike also had to deal with his new GM Donnie Walsh mispronouncing his last name.  I would think if you are shelling out $24 million for a coach, you would have done enough research to be able to pronounce his name.  Maybe whatever Isiah Thomas has is contagious. D'Antoni ultimately left Phoenix because he didn't feel supported by GM Steve Kerr and believed they had different basketball philosophies.  He wanted to coach with a completely supportive GM and do things only his way.  This only works if you win titles, not only win in the regular season.  D'Antoni bristled at such suggestions from Kerr that he spend 10-15 minutes practicing defense, decrease Nash's workload and develop his bench.  Apparently, these logical, rational suggestions proved to be far too harsh for D'Antoni.  Getting obvious suggestions from his GM proved to cause a poisonous work environment for D'Antoni.  How's that for thick skin? And thick skin is exactly what he is going to need to succeed in New York.  With thousands of people believing they are GM's, D'Antoni will at some point long for the days of a suffocating work environment with Steve Kerr looming, demanding such unreasonable adjustments for a team that achieved 4 consecutive playoff failures.joehlerWed, 14 May 2008 05:32:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1268http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1241/Scherzer-debut.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1241http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1241&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1241/Scherzer-debut.aspxMax Scherzer made his first start last night for the Diamondbacks.  After pitching 4.1 IP with 7 K's out of the bullpen in his ML debut, I believe expectations for his first start began with complete game shutout and ended with perfect game with 27 strikeouts.  What happened last night was a solid performance but not nearly the dominance he flashed out of the bullpen.  He allowed 5 runs although just 2 of those were earned.  His fastball sat mostly in the low 90's and he showed good control of his slider.  He may have been holding back a bit on his fastball because it was his first start but he was still able to throw it past several Phillies. There's no doubt he deserves another couple of starts until Doug Davis returns.  Scherzer is still a much better option to start than Edgar Gonzalez.  I'd expect him to go back to the bullpen at some point and be a big weapon for the Diamondbacks in the second half of the season. Until then, after one start, maybe we can dial down the expectations to a complete game or a strikeout.  One of the other.  Oh, and 10 K's.joehlerTue, 06 May 2008 16:19:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1241http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1218/NFL-Draft.aspx#Comments0http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=4423&ModuleID=9012&ArticleID=1218http://espn1490thefan.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1218&PortalID=65&TabID=4423http://espn1490thefan.com/JodysBlog/tabid/4423/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1218/NFL-Draft.aspx Another year, another NFL Draft in the books and another 7 hours of my life that I will never have back.  But thats a good thing.  I watch the NFL Draft with such zealotry its eclpises most actual NFL games, in terms of the enjoyment I get out of it.  And to be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly sure why.  When I was asked recently by my girlfriend why I enjoy it so much, it turned into one of those "you wouldn't understand" answers which is basically code for "I'm embarrassed I'm unable to articulate why I dedicate an entire weekend to watching players who may or may not turn into productive NFL players".  Count me a victim of the NFL PR machine or just an absent minded sports fan who loves watching sporting events, either way, I'm a huge fan of the NFL Draft. This year's draft was a bit different.  Roger Goodell decided to try and speed things up and in the process ruined any semblance of suspense at the top of the draft when you could clearly hear the loudspeaker at Radio City Music Hall informing the crowd that a selection was made, followed by a shot of one of the prospects celebrating and then 2 minutes later, Goodell formally announced the pick.  I wish some of these NFL Draft prospects had a sense of humor and just started faking a cell phone call and then celebrating wildly just to throw everyone off.  I don't care if that player turned into the biggest bust in NFL History, he would go down as my favorite of all time.  Here are a couple of my other observations from the NFL Draft: -- Apparently ESPN decided for a "Minority Report" - esque theme for this year's draft.   Didn't that movie come out like 5-6 years ago?  What, was the Matrix the backup plan? -- Does anyone still like Berman?  He's become just like Champ in Anchorman when he starts rambling during lunch.  Hey Berman, why don't you sit the next one out, stop talking for while.  Everytime Berman started stumbling his way through a point and would finish, there would just be awkward silence from the rest of the panel. -- Speaking of which, did all 5 of these guys just meet each other?  Even Bill Belicheck and Matt Walsh have better chemistry than those guys. -- So Bill Belicheck wears a cut off hooded sweatshirt during some of the biggest games of his career, regularly conducts interviews in that same outfit but then busts out a pinke shirt/tie suit combo for 35 seconds of NFL Draft interview?  Someone's trying to do a little character damage control. -- Joe Flacco, meet Kyle Boller.  Kyle Boller, meet Joe Flacco.   I can't wait to hear stories from Baltimore about how they were bowled over by Flacco's ability to throw a football 60 yards from his knees. -- Chad Henne has the biggest chin I've ever seen on a human being.  He's like the personification of Quagmire from Family Guy. Back with a couple more updates later this week...joehlerMon, 28 Apr 2008 05:20:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1218