Remembering 2,131

I haven't been able to post here recently as I've been busy with work. But since today is Labor Day, and Labor Day this year happens to fall on September 6, I have the time to remark on the 15th anniversary of Cal Ripken, Jr. playing in his 2,131st consecutive game---breaking the record previously held by Yankee legend Lou Gehrig.

September 6, 1995 was the day I permanently fell in love with sports. By 1995 I was already firmly entrenched as an Orioles fan. My parents had begun preparing me for Cal's inevitable breaking of Gehrig's record sometime that winter, when they taped a Headline News interview with Cal before Spring Training that I must have watched upwards of twenty times in the months leading up September 6. My grandmother in D.C. began to send me clippings about Cal and the Orioles from the local papers in the mail and I was beginning to master the art of reading the daily boxscores in the sports section. On the morning of September 6, I remember delightedly spotting a "HR- Ripken" in the box score from the previous night and reading a short recap of Cal's hitting a home run on the night he tied Lou Gehrig's record.

That night my parents let me stay up and watch the record-breaking game all the way through the 5th inning---long enough to see Cal's home run in the bottom of the fourth and the spontaneous 22-minute standing ovation when the game and record became official in the middle of the 5th inning. When they finally sent me to bed way past my usual bedtime, I lay awake listening to the last innings on the radio and made sure my parents taped the conclusion of the game and the postgame ceremony.

The following morning I remember sitting at my desk in my 2nd Grade classroom, writing the boxscore from Game 2,131 over and over again, etching the names "Ripken," "Bonilla," "Anderson," and "Palmeiro" on the side of my times table worksheets. That afternoon I raced to the den as soon as I got home to pop in the VHS and watch the postgame ceremony my parents had taped. I even recall at one point deciding to memorize Cal's postgame speech, and I still remember bits and pieces of it to this day ("I know that if Lou Gehrig is looking down on tonight, he isn't concerned about someone playing one more consecutive game than he did, but rather he's viewing tonight as just another example of what is good and right about the great American game.").

I recently rewatched the record-breaking moment, thanks to the miracle of YouTube. I guess I've become cynical over the past fifteen years, because I was expecting the moment to come across as more contrived and less magical than I remembered it. To my great surprise, I was wrong. The extremely warm reception from the fans (when will there ever be another game delayed in the middle for a TWENTY-TWO MINUTE standing ovation) comes across as completely genuine. And Cal's iconic lap around the stadium---high-fiving fans, hugging family members, and shaking hands with each of the gracious and classy visiting California Angels---was far from contrived. Cal repeatedly recedes into the dugout but the fans nonetheless continue applauding until finally Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby Bonilla shove him out of the dugout after it becomes clear the fans aren't going to stop anytime soon.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the moment for me was ESPN's broadcast. They don't go to commercial and stay with the broadcast for the entirety of the ovation. And the announcers are virtually silent for the entire 22 minutes, just allowing the moment to sink in---a fact almost shocking given that the play-by-play announcer that night was the loquacious Chris Berman.

The guest list for that night was remarkable. The entire Ripken baseball family was in attendance, including Cal's wife and kids, former manager and father Cal, Sr., and former teammate and brother Billy. An array of Orioles legends showed up, including Earl Weaver, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer. In addition, the reclusive "Yankee Clipper" Joe DiMaggio, who had played with Gehrig, was there to witness the record-breaking night. And both President Clinton and Vice President Gore were in attendance---something unlikely to happen again at a sporting event for security reasons. President Clinton was even in the local radio broadcast booth with announcer Jon Miller when Cal homered in the bottom of the 4th (Cal had a way of rising to the occasion) and even essentially called the home run (scroll down for Miller's version of the story).

I was too young to really grasp it at the time, but that record was perhaps most important because of its timing. The 1994 strike had led to the cancellation of the World Series, and many fans had begun to sour on baseball. While today popular memory credits Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's chase of Roger Maris' single-season home run record in 1998 as the event that "saved" baseball, 2,131 came first and at a time when fans' loyalty to baseball was much weaker. Ripken's record was something that working-class fans could identify with and appreciate---a man who came to work every day for 13 straight years---and Cal's work ethic and loyalty to his hometown organization and fanbase endeared him to fans at a time when the relationship between the fans and the players and owners was particularly strained. And while the 1998 home run chase has since been tainted by accusations of steroid use, Ripken's record remains untainted and pure.

Fifteen years later, I'm still madly in love with sports. I guess September 6 is almost an anniversary of sorts. I've seen so many great games and incredible moments in sports over the past fifteen years. But none will ever top 2,131.

Alma Mater Alterations

My proud alma mater, Davidson College, unveiled today a new set of "spirit marks" (a.k.a. logos) that will debut this upcoming athletic season. I tend to be rather conservative when it comes to these sorts of changes, so needless to say I was initially rather disappointed with the new look. But after further thought and examination, I tend to have somewhat softened my stance on the changes. I thought I'd offer my thoughts on the various changes and since Davidson insisted on assigning me grades for four years I thought it's about time I returned the favor.

Labeling: F

The name "spirit marks" is an absolutely ridiculous phrase. What's wrong with the word "logo"? "Spirit marks" sounds like a corny name for face painted paw prints at a junior high pep rally. I also don't get the idea for having multiple "spirit marks" in addition to a "youth spirit mark," but I can live with multiple logos- JUST CALL THEM "LOGOS".

"Primary Spirit Mark": B

The "primary spirit mark" of the Wildcat face on a diamond background actually isn't terrible. It pays homage to the old logo, which seemed to be generally well-liked. I like keeping the diamond background and I agree that the old Wildcat probably was due for an upgrade (the old one looked it came straight out of Microsoft Word's clip art). The new Wildcat is a little cartoonish for my taste and seems slightly less intimidating than the old one. Still, it could have been worse. Also, I'm not sure while there are two different colors for the diamond background. I actually prefer the black background with this particular Wildcat over the traditional red diamond. Overall, not bad.

"Secondary Spirit Mark": A-

The secondary logo is a "Davidson D" with claw marks through it. Using the first letter of a school's name is a classic collegiate logo look, and I like the effect of the claw marks. While I was initially ambivalent towards the two-tone color scheme and the outlining, both features have grown on me with further consideration. The logo looks fine on its own, but it looks better on football helmets and especially integrated within the words "Davidson" or "Wildcats" (see images 3, 14, and 18 here).

"Tertiary Spirit Mark": D+

The phrase "tertiary spirit mark" sounds both pretentious and corny, and the actual look of the third logo is not much better than its ridiculous name. I'm not a big fan of paw print logos regardless. They seem pretty cliche and a little too obvious for any school whose mascots have paws (there are 29 Division I schools named Wildcats, Tigers, or Panthers alone). On top of that, apparently that red blob is supposed to be a letter "D," something I only was able to notice after reading the official press release. Not only does it not look like a "D," the paw print seems to rip off the University of Cincinnati's logo, expect ours looks worse. Fortunately, this is only the "tertiary" logo, so hopefully it won't feature too prominently.

Overall, I'm actually okay with the new look. The "primary" and "secondary" logos are pretty solid, although I hope the school cans both the phrase "spirit mark" and the "tertiary" look. Still, I'm a little disappointed they didn't attempt to recreate the classic 1950s-era logo of a well-dressed Wildcat working away at a typewriter, although that might have been a little too accurate depiction of a Davidson student's life.

Pu-Pu Platter of Stories

In honor of my recent cameo as a delivery driver for a local Chinese restaurant, I thought I'd deliver a post modeled after the biggest dish on their menu- the Pu-Pu Platter. That is to say, a seemingly unrelated compilation of individual dishes/stories thrown together on one oddly-named platter/post that nevertheless leaves you satisfied at the end.

Enjoy:

I. I caught part of Brazil's 2-0 victory over the USA in Tuesday's friendly soccer match at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. Only a handful of key players from either side's World Cup squads participated, with a lot of younger players getting big minutes. None shone more brightly than Brazil's Neymar, the 18 year-old scoring sensation. Despite an endorsement from the great Pele, Neymar was left off Brazil's World Cup roster by former head coach Dunga. In his senior national team debut Tuesday night, he tore apart the US defense and tallied the opening goal.

Neymar certainly seems to have all the makings of the next Brazilian superstar. He combines the flash of Ronaldinho with the precision of Kaka. And like most international soccer superstars, he has a proclivity for sporting funny haircuts (see above). He currently plies his trade at the club level with Brazilian club Santos, but it is only a matter of time before he moves over to a major European club- in all likelihood English powerhouse Chelsea. Remember his name in four years when 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil seek to take back the title for a record sixth time.

II. In the NBA, yesterday Houston, New Orleans, Indiana, and New Jersey pulled off a four-team, five-player trade. Deals like this tend to be confusing, so let me try to explain in the simplest manner possible:

The Rockets traded SF Trevor Ariza to the Hornets. The Hornets sent PG Darren Collison and SF James Posey to the Pacers. The Pacers sent PF Troy Murphy to the Nets. The Nets sent SG Courtney Lee to the Rockets. Got it?

Basically, the trade involved a bunch of decent role players moving from one lottery team to another. Still, the deal actually makes sense from a personnel and/or financial standpoint for all four participants. The Rockets sacrificed defense for salary cap relief, moving Ariza and his contract for an offensively as talented, cheaper, and younger player in Lee. The Hornets moved the likewise expensive and older Posey for Ariza and attempted to appease disgruntled star point guard Chris Paul by moving Collison. The Pacers got a two-for-one package, moving Troy Murphy for Posey and Collison, the latter their possible point guard for the future. And the Nets moved Lee in exchange for Murphy, a power forward who can stretch the defense with his shooting but also rebound, a nice compliment to star center Brook Lopez.

III. The Eagles asked a fan at their practice yesterday to remove the Donovan McNabb Redskins jersey he was wearing. Security told the fan in question the request came from head coach Andy Reid, though the team later denied that claim.

Regardless of whether this came from Reid or not, this is just ridiculous. The fan is an actual Eagles fan who said he wore the jersey "to get reactions from the fan base." The logic there is kind of amusing. I personally would never wear Yankees or Cowboys gear, even as part of a pseduo-social experiment. But to each his own.

As for the Eagles, how can you make a big fuss over this? All it does is make you look stupid. It's not like McNabb pulled a LeBron and left Philly out to dry. YOU TRADED HIM AWAY! Maybe you should focus on your actual practice instead of what jerseys fans on the sideline are wearing. Just a thought...

IV. Finally, the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals got in a bench-clearing brawl Tuesday night. The incident stemmed from Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips' comments describing his "hate" for the Cardinals and insinuating that they complain too much (in more vulgar language). When Phillips stepped into the batter's box in the first inning, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina stood up and began to express his disagreement with Phillips' comments. Things turned ugly when both men removed their helmets/masks and both dugouts cleared.

The highlights of the brawl included Johnny Cueto, the Reds starting pitcher that night, crazily kicking at Cardinals players against the backstop (Cueto has since been given a seven game suspension for his part in the melee). The Reds also wisely tracked down Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter (who had beaten them the night before) and managed to pin him against the netting of the backstop in a rather vulnerable position (fortunately for the Cardinals, Carpenter was not hurt). And the two managers, St. Louis skipper Tony LaRussa and Cincinnati's Dusty Baker, went straight for each other and held a passionate screaming match in the middle of the chaotic scene (LaRussa and Baker were the only participants who were actually ejected). Still, no one topped the utter rage of the Ohio woman who tried to order McNuggets during McDonald's breakfast hours.

Well, that's its for the inaugural Pu-Pu Platter, hope you enjoyed it.

Why I'm Still Rooting For Tiger

Tiger Woods shot a 7-over par 77 today in the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational, finishing a dismal week that saw him post a career-worst +18 in the four-day event. Given his highly-publicized trangressions off the golf course, I would venture to say that a fair amount of people are not at all saddened- and perhaps even happy- to see the once dominant golfer struggle mightily on the course.

But as for me, I'm still rooting for Tiger.

Now let me make clear that I in no way condone Tiger's many marital transgressions. I don't like his club-throwing and cursing after he hits bad shots. I agree that Tiger has been a poor role model. I don't feel sorry for Tiger because he is struggling on the golf course.

Still, I'm rooting for Tiger. I'm rooting for him because, as a sports fan, I want to see golf played at the highest level possible.

Tiger Woods at his best plays golf on another level from the rest of the world. No one, not even Phil Mickelson, can do the things Tiger Woods can on a golf course. Tiger hits shots that no one else can hit. He won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes, shooting -12 when no one else could even shoot even par. He won the 2008 U.S. Open playing 90 holes with broken leg. He's the most dominant golfer of all-time.

Some people may find it humbling to see him struggle on the golf course like a mere mortal, shooting +18. Me, I just find it sad that we're being deprived of witnessing greatness.

Don't you want to see sport played at it's highest level? Don't you want to see the best in the world at their best? Don't you want to see this again? I, for one, do.

If Tiger plays well again, fans will inevitably return to loving him. It's a veritable certainty.

The "comeback" is an American sports phenomenon. We love athletes who come back from just about anything- illnesses, injuries, or personal problems. The "comeback" story is so popular that it has become overplayed. The NFL and MLB both give out trophies to the "Comeback Player of the Year" in addition to the awards for MVP and Rookie of the Year.

Furthermore, American sports fans are quick to forget a player's personal transgressions in time as long as they return to performing well in the arena. Look at the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant was once villified for his highly-publicized infidelity, but now he is probably the most popular player in the NBA. His teammate Ron Artest iniated one of the ugliest episodes in sporting history by charging into the stands and brawling with fans in Detroit. Now Ron Artest has become a loveable figure and media darling- America's favorite crazy person.

If Tiger Woods resumes his winning ways, he will eventually win back the support of the general public. He'll be hailed for his "comeback" and announcers will gradually phase out any mention of his off-course failings. And if and when that happens, I'll have mixed emotions. In some ways the forgiving nature of American sports culture is commendable that we are so willing to forgive our fallen heroes. In other ways it's rather sad that we tend to forget athletes' personal transgressions and return them to atop a false pedestal.

I realize that this post probably comes across as contradictory. I recognize the contradictions in my own thought. If Tiger Woods does start to win again, he'll probably be let off too easily. But I'll root for him nonetheless, contradictions be damned. Just for my own viewing pleasure.

Super Early NFL Preview: Washington Redskins

It's a slow time in the sports world, so I figured I'd do some quick NFL previews. We'll start with probably the strongest division in football, the NFC East. Just for kicks, I'll go in reverse order-of-finish from 2009, so we'll start with the Washington Redskins.

Washington Redskins

2009 Record: 4-12 (4th in NFC East)

Head Coach: Mike Shanahan

Significant Additions: QB Donovan McNabb, RB Larry Johnson, RB Willie Parker, WR Bobby Wade, OT Trent Williams, OT Jamaal Brown, DT Maake Kemoeatu, DE Vonnie Holliday, CB Phillip Buchanon, P Josh Bidwell

Significant Losses: QB Jason Campbell, RB Rock Cartwright, WR Antwaan Randle El, OG Randy Thomas, DT Cornelius Griffin, CB Fred Smoot, P Hunter Smith

Major Offensive Issue: Offensive line. The o-line was ravaged by injuries last season and as a result was utterly horrific. The retirement of All-Pro LT Chris Samuels, release of G Randy Thomas, and season-ending injury to G Mike Williams means a lot of new faces along the offensive line. The key will be the play of the two new tackles, top draft pick Trent Williams and former Saint Jamaal Brown. Donovan McNabb is a significant upgrade at quarterback, but he desperately needs the line to give him enough time to find his targets. And the Redskins veteran running back trio of Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker desperately need good blocking as they lack some of the explosion and elusiveness they once possessed earlier in their careers.

Major Defensive Issue: Anytime a team switches from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, changes have to be made. Despite the national hullabaloo over where defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth fits in on the team, the key to the success of the Redskins defense lies in how the linebackers adjust to the new defense. 3-4 outside linebackers are really a hybrid between linebackers and defensive ends and spend a lot of time rushing the passer. For that reason Brian Orakpo, who registered 11 sacks as a rookie last season while splitting time between OLB and DE, should thrive in a 3-4. Andre Carter, the other projected starting outside linebacker, also tallied 11 sacks last season, but has spent his entire 9 year career at defensive end. Can he continue to rush the passer while also holding his own in pass coverage? Meanwhile London Fletcher has routinely been near the top of the list of the NFL's leading tacklers in his long career as a middle linebacker in 4-3 defenses. But Fletcher's smaller frame makes him less suited for a 3-4, where middle linebackers have to take on more blocks from offensive lineman and have less freedom. And how will he react to sharing the middle with converted OLB Rocky McIntosh. Talent-wise, linebacker is probably the deepest position on the entire roster, yet the adjustment to new roles across the board as a result of the change in defense makes it the area to watch.

Major Current Storyline That Should Have Little Effect On The Actual Season: The whole Albert Haynesworth saga is great for the media. And yes, his refusal to participate in the Redskins' offseason workouts was selfish. But he's under contract and the Redskins aren't going to trade him (and there aren't many teams that are willing to take on his huge contract given his attitude problems). Once he eventually passes Mike Shanahan's conditioning test seemingly designed for Haynesworth to initially fail and face public embarassment, expect Haynesworth to keep quiet and play. And if healthy, he will be an immense asset (no pun intended) to the defensive line, especially if he is able and willing to play both defensive end and nose tackle.

Key Schedule Stretch: Weeks 4-6 (@ Philadelphia, vs. Green Bay, vs. Indianapolis). The Skins should emerge from the first three weeks of the season (vs. Dallas, vs. Houston, @ St. Louis) no worse than 2-1. The next three games feature Donovan McNabb's return to Philadelphia, followed by visits from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers (the favorites in the NFC North if Brett Favre is actually retired) and Peyton Manning and the Colts, the latter on Sunday Night Football. The remainder of the schedule is quite favorable, so if the Skins can emerge from that stretch 4-2 or even 3-3 they should be in good shape to make a run at the playoffs.

Best Player Name: I figured I should throw something fun in here, and what better for a guy named Wheat to do then scour teams' preseason rosters for the coolest-named player? NT Maake Kemoeatu has the best name of the defensive players in a landslide. OG Kory Lichtensteiger is a another strong candidate for the honor. But I'm going to have to give the nod here to OT Selvish Capers, the Redskins' 7th round draft choice out of West Virginia.

Predicted Pro Bowlers: QB Donovan McNabb, TE Chris Cooley, OLB Brian Orakpo

Final Record Prediction: After studying the schedule, I've vacillated between 9-7 and 10-6. I'll go with 9-7 for now. And here's one more prediction for you: the season finale January 2 between the Redskins and Giants at Fed Ex Field will be for a Wild Card spot in the NFC.

Good Luck, Buck

So my beloved Baltimore Orioles, mired in last place with the worst record in all of Major League Baseball, announced yesterday that they have hired ESPN analyst and previous Yankees, Diamondbacks, and Rangers manager Buck Showalter as their new manager. Showalter replaces interim manager Juan Samuel, who took over the club after skipper Dave Trembley was fired in June.

It's no secret Showalter faces an extremely arduous task. Not only do the Orioles have the worst record in baseball, they haven't made the playoffs since 1997 and they play in by far the toughest division in baseball, playing upwards of 50 games annually against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays. The Orioles haven't even really been competitive for the past decade, their lone decent year in 2005, when they entered the All-Star Break second in the AL East and just 2 games behind Boston, but imploded in a disastrous second half marked by Rafael Palmeiro's suspension for steroid use just days after collecting his 3,000th career hit.

So what can Showalter do to right the ship in Baltimore? Here are a couple ways I think he could potentially turn things around (though it'll take a lot more than just a couple changes to fix this train wreck):

1. Let the kids play

This point should be rather obvious. The Orioles have nothing to play for this season. This is a time to let all the young guys play consistently at the big league level and see what they can do.

The Orioles have had a lot of hyped young hitters and pitchers debut in the past year and a half, and they've both achieved varying degrees of success and seen varying amounts of playing time.

This year has been rough on most of the Os' young hitters. Nolan Reimold looked like the solution to the revolving door in left field last year, hitting .279 with 15 HR and 45 RBI in 2/3 of a season last year. But Reimold regressed this spring and was demoted to AAA Norfolk, where he's only hitting .227 in 64 games. Meanwhile Felix Pie played well enough when healthy last season that the Orioles entertained thoughts of putting him in left and moving Reimold to first base or DH. But Pie has again spent most of 2010 on the DL. Catcher Matt Wieters has failed to live up to big (probably too big) expectations and is hitting just .248, though he did hit two home runs on Monday for his first career multi-homer outing. Third baseman Josh Bell has shuffled back and forth between the bigs and AAA the last month and seen sporadic playing time in Baltimore, though yesterday's trade of Miguel Tejada to San Diego should open the door for him to see more playing time.

Despite their struggles, now is the time for these young guys to get their hacks. Leaving them on the bench or in AAA only hurts their confidence. The absence of leadoff hitter Brian Roberts for almost the entire season has clearly had an effect on the entire offense. But Roberts is finally back and Showalter should start trotting out a team that could potentially look like 2011's Opening Day lineup card. As much as I appreciate the contributions of guys like Ty Wigginton and Corey Patterson, they don't figure into the organization's long-term plans. It's more important for guys like Reimold, Pie, Bell and Wieters to get the repetitions (and maybe a few more guys like Brandon Snyder deserve a September call-up).

The youth movement has been even tougher this year from a pitching perspective. Brad Bergeson, Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, and Jake Arrieta are a combined 10-27 and boast respective ERAs of 6.95, 5.46, 7.92, and 5.40. All of them except Matusz have shuffled between Norfolk and Baltimore and Bergeson even had a brief stint in the bullpen. Their confidences are down and they've had a lot of bad luck. It would be easy to say Showalter should consider shelving one or more for the rest of the year. But instead I think that Showalter should end all the instability in the rotation and just let the guys all know they're going to continue to get to pitch without fear of demotion. Expand the rotation to six guys (with veterans Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie) so that everyone can pitch while also avoiding overworking the young arms.

2. Trust Andy MacPhail

Buck Showalter has a history of quarreling with management during his past stints as a manager. In both New York and Arizona, he was fired despite successful tenures in part due to conflicts with management only to watch his former team win the World Series the following season. Orioles owner Peter Angelos has also had many disagreements over the years with his managers and front office executives. But Angelos in recent years has turned over personnel oversight to general manager Andy MacPhail and allowed him to work independently.

MacPhail for the most part has done an excellent job as general manager. In his first year he moved Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard to Houston and Seattle, respectively, for strong five player packages. For Tejada he got the powerful left-handed bat of Luke Scott and lefty pitcher Troy Patton, currently in AAA. The Bedard deal was arguably the organization's best trade since stealing Frank Robinson from the Reds for Milt Pappas and assorted junk in 1966. MacPhail reeled in Adam Jones, already a Gold Glover and All-Star in center field at just 25, and the aforementioned Chris Tillman (who's still just 22). In addition, the Orioles got closer George Sherrill who made the All-Star team in 2008 and last summer MacPhail shipped to the Dodgers for Josh Bell and hyped minor league pitcher Steve Johnson.

Showalter needs to put trust in MacPhail to continue to make smart moves rather than creating a power struggle over personnel decisions. Showalter has proven he can manage a baseball team and MacPhail has proven he can assemble talent. If the two can coexist then good things should come of their relationship.

3. Show some fire

This may sound bizarre, but I want to see my manager arguing calls and every now and then getting ejected from games. Former manager Dave Trembley rarely argued calls and even when he did he appeared to do so half-heartedly. I'm not saying I want my manager to act like this, but a little passion can show your players that you have their back and gain their respect. This

wonderful recent Sports Illustrated feature on Bobby Cox

suggests how the occasional well-timed ejection can be the perfect catalyst for success. Heck, check out this list of the top ten most ejected managers between 2004 and midway through 2009. Seven of the managers on the list have won a World Series and two more have managed in the October Classic. The only two on the list who haven't (yes I know that's 11 guys on a top-ten list, there's a tie for 10th place) are Eric Wedge and Ron Gardenhire and even Gardenhire has been highly successful with the small-market Minnesota Twins over the past decade, leading the Twins to the playoffs 5 of his 8 seasons in charge. And of course, the greatest manager in Orioles history is the fiery Earl Weaver, whose tantrums are the stuff of lore in Baltimore.

Strange as it may sound, there seems to be a strong correlation between frequent ejections and success for major league managers. For that reason, I hope we see a good amount of Buck Showalter doing exactly what he's doing in the picture above this post in an Orioles uniform.

Team USA Hoops Roster Analysis

It's late July, which means not much is going on in the sports world, especially from my perspective. There's nothing less interesting than pre-NFL training camp "stories", whether they concern rookies, veterans, or senior citizens (although stories like this are at least mildly amusing). I would care more about baseball if my beloved Orioles weren't utterly inept. So given my lack of excitement about those sports, I'm actually more interested in basketball right now, particularly the ongoing tryouts for who will represent Team USA at the 2010 FIBA World Championships.

All 12 members of the "Redeem Team" (a lousy nickname) that won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics have decided to sit this one out. So without Kobe, Dwight Howard, or the new Miami Heat trio, the 2010 version of the USA national team will be comprised of a younger group of players when it travels to Turkey next month under the leadership of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Tryouts are already underway, and today the roster was whittled from 19 to 15 players. For the most part, the cuts were not surprising. Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee was a surprise invite in the first place, coming to camp thanks to a strong summer league and a lack of depth in the post in the national team pool. Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, had an ankle injury that limited him in tryouts. My friend Zach and the seven other Charlotte Bobcats fans are sad to hear that forward Gerald Wallace was let go, but he's not a good shooter (shooting is a premium at the international level) and was outplayed by the other guys at his position. Meanwhile, myself and the four other Memphis Grizzlies fans mourn the cut of the great Grizzlies guard Ovinton J'Anthony (O.J.) Mayo, a victim of the numbers game in the backcourt.

The remaining 15 players will continue to battle in an attempt to make the final roster of 12 that will head to Turkey August 28th. Here's a breakdown of each remaining player from 1 to 15 (1 being the most likely to make the team and 15 the least likely).

1. Kevin Durant, guard/forward, Oklahoma City Thunder

The reigning NBA scoring champion, the 6-9, 21 year old phenom is hands down the best player in camp. At his size and with his skill set, he can play the 2-4 and would probably even excel if Coach K elected to play him at point guard or center.

2. Chauncey Billups, guard, Denver Nuggets

Billups probably isn't the best point guard in camp, but he's this high because he is a much needed veteran presence on an otherwise inexperienced team. He's also got an NBA Finals MVP, something no one else in camp can say.

3. Derrick Rose, guard, Chicago Bulls

The 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year is probably the second-best player in camp behind Durant. Even if another point guard like Billups is on the floor at the same time, Team USA will run their offense through Rose.

4. Rudy Gay, forward, Memphis Grizzlies

Even though O.J. Mayo is gone, I can find solace in the fact that the other member of the Grizz in camp is all but a lock to make the squad. The highflying scorer (see the picture) has a fat new contract and led the Durant and Rose-less Blue squad with 23 points in an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night in Vegas. His versatility means Coach K can deploy him at three positions.

5. Lamar Odom, forward, Los Angeles Lakers

The only other veteran presence besides Billups. He's a valuable member of the two-time defending NBA champions and has the most international experience of any player in camp, having been on the squad that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Although he typically plays power forward, Coach K gave him some run at center in the aforementioned scrimmage.

6. Tyson Chandler, center, Dallas Mavericks

While Team USA has lots of athletes with size, they are low on natural big men. Chandler's 7-1 frame and rebounding ability means he will probably make the squad and play big minutes by default. It will be interesting to see how he plays against generally smaller, more perimeter-oriented international competition.

7. Stephen Curry, guard, Golden State Warriors

As a Davidson grad I may be a bit of a homer putting him this high, but Steph Curry's game is made for the international level. He is the best shooter in camp and his three-ball will be a valuable weapon in busting the pesky zones most of the European teams typically employ. He also can play both point and shooting guard, another big plus. And the coach is also his little brother's college coach, if that means anything.

8. Kevin Love, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves

Another guy whose game adapts well to the international level. He's a superb passer and a good shooting big man with three-point range, but he also is a tenacious rebounder.

9. Russell Westbrook, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook, like Curry, can play both guard positions. He's an athletic freak and his speed will be a major asset. It also doesn't hurt that he's teammates with Durant and knows how to get the ball in the hands of Team USA's clear star.

10. Rajon Rondo, guard, Boston Celtics

If I were ranking these guys by NBA success, Rondo would be much higher. He's a walking triple-double at point guard and already has played in two NBA Finals. However, he's hurt by the fact that he is a poor outside shooter and is less versatile than guys like Westbrook and Curry.

11. Brook Lopez, center, New Jersey Nets

Lopez has been disappointing in camp and has battled some health issues, but he'll probably make the squad because of his size and the overall lack of depth in the post. If healthy, he's as good a rebounder as Love and Chandler and a better low post scorer than either.

12. Danny Granger, forward, Indiana Pacers

Either Granger or Andre Iguodala will likely make the final squad as a swingman. Granger has had a weaker camp, but has slightly more size and is a better three-point shooter historically. I give him the slightest edge.

13. Andre Iguodala, forward, Philadelphia 76ers

On the other hand, Iguodala is more athletic than Granger and had a strong performance in the recent scrimmage, scoring 17 points and going 3-3 from behind the arc. That showing coupled with Granger's minor calf strain suffered last week means it would not surprise me if Iguodala gets the nod over Granger.

14. Jeff Green, forward, Oklahoma City Thunder

Green is not a true back-to-basket post and is unlikely to make the squad over Chandler or Lopez. While he is as good an outside shooter as Kevin Love, Love is a much stronger rebounder. Given the plethora of talent on the wing in camp, there just doesn't appear to be room for Green on the final squad.

15. Eric Gordon, guard, Los Angeles Clippers

Gordon is a pure shooting guard and he's not as good a shooter as Curry. The other guards are all better ball-handlers. The Grizzlies homer in me sees no discernable difference between him and O.J. Mayo. But no matter, Gordon probably will only last with the squad a little longer than Mayo.

Introduction

I've thought about doing a blog with my thoughts about sports for a couple years. In theory, I should be able to pull it off.

For pretty much my whole life, I teetered between extremely passionate but still somewhat socially acceptable sports fandom and the dark and unhealthy abyss of utter sports nerdity. And while I may not be the next Homer, I've had a very good education and always done well on my various papers and essays despite frequently waiting until the last minuate to actually write them. But every time I think about starting a blog, I inevitably end up frustrated with coming up with ideas or what I write when I do have an idea and I end up just canning the whole blog.

But now, since I have an inordinate amoung of free time on my hands as a jobless recent college grad, I might as well give it a shot. So I'm going to make myself post here something at least once a day. Hopefully it will at least force me to write and maybe even a couple people will actually read this.