Dom's Dish - Late Mishmash Edition

Dom's Dish - Friday, April 25, 2008


"It's the most wonderful time...of the year" - I can't get that song out of my head, and I know that this isn't in fact the most wonderful time in a traditional sense (Christmas / Winter Holiday season) or even the sports sense (early September's start to the NFL season) - but you have to say, we're pretty damn close. We just came off a somewhat predictable, but still fun Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Masters just a few weeks ago, the final pushes for the NBA and NHL playoffs, the start of the MLB season and now, the NFL Draft! No, it's not September, it's April a close second - plus the benefit of the impending summer! No blood brother, it's not over yet.

Breaking News: Tyler Hansbrough is staying at UNC for his senior season. The National Player of the Year wants one more shot at a title with Roy Williams. Unfortunately he may need to do it without Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington - the sophomore back court - who are both declaring for the draft but not yet hiring agents leaving possibility they could return with "Crazy T."

Grandpa Larry Brown resigned yesterday as Executive Vice President of the Sixers of Philly, and according to his agent, he wishes to pursue a coaching position "in the NBA or college". Sixty-seven, Basketball hall of famer, former NBA and NCAA champion, fresh off helping re-build the Sixer franchise, and being forced out by Isiah in NY only 2 seasons ago he wants more?!?! Don't worry Isiah, you'll get yours soon enough. Anyway - I knew a man who used to see Larry Brown at a restaurant outside of Philly around 2000 when he was coaching the Sixers. I remember him telling me that he just exuded passion for the game of basketball. He's the Joe Paterno of basketball, never mind the 15-20 different houses he's lived in across the US. Does he just have Mayflower Moving on speed dial? (The number is 1-800-299-1700 in case you were wondering). Anyway, hopefully Larry heads back to school and coaches there - maybe he can stay there for 4 years and inspire the next generation to feel the love instead of the greed - not that Larry hasn't made a pretty penny (he actually owns the US Mint in Philadelphia - true story).

So, I was wrong. The Devils got spanked by the Rangers like they did all season long and the Flyers did beat Ovechkin. My buddy - let's call him "Boy" - has been on me to provide an update on NHL hockey - I guess "Boy" can't get enough information on the Flyers from the games he goes to, and he doesn't like my annoying text messages: "Puck the Flyers" "Flyers suck" "Nice seats, good to see you'll have a good view of Ovechkin scoring all those goals". Well "Boy", I was wrong please accept my apology. The Flyers are on a roll - the Celtics of Hockey with their amazing turnaround from last year's nightmare-ish season. They put it together the last 2 months of the season and the other "Marty" of the Atlantic Division - Buron -was hot as anything in the net. Breaking news though, they did lose last night to the Montreal Canadiens aka "Habs". And finally after twenty-something years I know what the hell "Habs" means - In French "Les Habitants" as in citizen - Canadiens - get it? Kinda like the Washington Cits of the NL East. Anyway - playoff hockey progresses. I really don't know why people don't watch it - not that no one does, just it's ratings are like half of "How I Met Your Mother" and like 1/100th of American Idol. Oh that's right, people can't follow the puck - I got news for you, the goalie can't always either - that's what's fun about it! So either way, turn it on and watch a game - there's not as much of a difference between East Coast and West Coast like there is in the NBA.

Baseball is back and although all the teams I follow aren't living up to expectations yet: Phillies and Yankees - it is early - another 140 games to go. Obviously, the Phillies are the team better built for the future, but with J-Roll on the DL and Ryan Howard acting more like the paper salesman than the MVP, it's looking kind of bleak...until you look at the rest of the team. Adam Eaton has pitched better and will hopefully pick up a win or at least a decision sometime soon. Cole Hamels' ERA is 2.75. Brad Lidge is 5-for-5 in Save conversions, throwing in the mid-90's. Brad Lidge, JC Romero and Rudy Seanez each have a 0.00 ERA out of the bull pen. And then of course there are the two early MVP candidates. You know you're thinking that. Pat the Bat is back: .355 8 25 RBI's with 18 walks. The nice .750 slugging ain't too bad either. He's no Chase Utley. Considered by almost every writer to be the MVP of last season in August before he went out with the broken hand, the numbers speak for themselves: .385 avg, 10 HR, 21 RBI, and 76 total bases for a .835 slugging percentage. And it gets better, J-Roll was finally convinced by relief pitcher JC Romero to go on the DL (be back after May 5) and Shane Victorino is already making a rehab start. If Howard comes around and J-Roll was their injury for the year, it could spell trouble again for the NL East. Oh, and here's a question for you - who for the SF Giants had the most combined RBI's the last 4 seasons? Barry Bonds? Nope, Phillies current Third Baseman Pedro Feliz whose meager 2.13 average has still produced 8 RBI's in the month with 3 HR's. It would be higher is Pat Burrell stopped clearing the bases in front of him. And I am happy with Feliz's defense thus far - 3 errors in 23 games. Pat the bat's turnaround = "a change in his batting stance" - damn, that's like a golf grip I guess. Maybe he should give Ryan Howard some advice? Maybe he will stop looking like an enormous Offensive Lineman taking a crap sprawled across the batter's box?

Oh that crazy NFL draft! I am gonna go out on a limb here and say Jake Long will be the first pick of the Miami Dolphins, and that there will be a whole lot of wheelin' and dealin' going on. Kansas City, Atlanta, the Eagles - all with multiple picks - expect to hear those names early and often. KC is reportedly looking to trade down for more picks. Atlanta is looking for more picks to build up their decimated franchise. The Eagles have traded up and down in recent years but really are looking for the best player available. With disgruntled Wide Receivers, aging QB's, leftover DB's and Franchise players left without signing their tendered offers, it has the potential to be hard to follow. There's no sense predicting picks - you can't believe a word NFL GM's say - see Jeff Ireland of Miami - but I will make some predictions as to who gets moved. Baltimore will look to move up for Matt Ryan so John Harbaugh can build his franchise around a QB like Andy Reid did in Philly. I think Philly will move up looking for an Offensive Lineman in the first round, then back later on. Chad Johnson will still be in Cincinatti and Shaun Alexander, fresh off his release will talk to Philly, if not sign with them. Jeremy Shockey will be traded, Anquan Boldin will stay, Roy Williams will stay all for now. I say somewhere in the area of 20 total trades in the next 2 days of the draft, if not 25, 30. If Chris Long is on the board still, he'll wind up a Raider. Darren McFadden's mom won't get her wish and he'll wind up in NY as a J-E-T Jet. The Patriots will move down from 7 to acquire picks - LB's and CB's. I say Glenn Dorsey at 2 - either to Atlanta or New Orleans (who would move up from 10). Who knows if I'm right? You gotta watch. Recap early next week.


Around the Balls:

Big-brown-oblong - Oh, the NFL draft is tomorrow. Be there.

Huge-orange - In case you're living in a bubble, the NBA Playoffs started and looks like all of the series that started 2-0 are back to 2-1. I'm looking forward mostly to the Suns being able to do the same tonight against the Spurs - or as we gringos like to call them "Los Suns y Los Spurs." I tell you what though, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul look pretty damn good after only 2 games! My money is on Chris Paul for regular season MVP though, but it's gonna be close. Ok if by "my money" I mean one dollar, and if by Chris Paul, I mean Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett. As for early off season news, Vince Carter of the Nets had minor ankle surgery this week. This can't be good news for the Nets and Jay Z - first you trade Kidd, now this? It's still early - their luck they'll get a top 5 lottery pick and be able to get Derrick Rose to replace JKidd. Beasley will be the number 1 pick though. Two months to the NBA draft on that awesome Wednesday night - they should do a weekend draft like the NFL. Guess it could be worse - a Tuesday or Thursday morning MLB draft?

Small-white-stitched - I've seen and pulled some odd and crazy pranks in my time, but the Boston fan who planted - pretty much literally - David Ortiz's jersey in the new Yankee Stadium, then blabbed it, then got it dug up and now Ortiz is off his slump - that guys got a death wish. One of the most heated rivalries in sports where fans in Boston rioted after their first World Series and the dude's a construction worker? Bet you he doesn't get much work anymore without plastic surgery and an alias. By the way, can someone dig up Ryan Howard's jersey at Citi Field? It's near the concession stand. It must have been that #6 jersey - or maybe it was that Rollins #6 from Reading?

Tiny-white - Well, Tiger tried. He was on a roll, but actually is human. Now after ONLY a second place finish at the Masters, he broke news a few weeks ago that he underwent knee surgery. Now granted, he's not scrambling around a 100-yard field or shooting jump shots from 25 feet, but I'm sure there could be some repurcutions.

Medium-green-fuzzy - Roger Federer finally won his first tournament of the year - it took him 3 1/2 months to do it, and te other dude had to withdraw near the beginning of the second set. Rafael Nadal hasn't made much noise either - guess that means they're waiting to ramp up for the summer tourneys? Guess Federer should stop chilling with Tiger and making those weird Phenom commercials? I'm just saying, I won't use that razor, so stop with the oddity.

Round-rubber-non - Danica Patrick made history last week as the first woman to win an Indy car, Formula 1 or NASCAR race. I was pulling for her and she got robbed a couple times. I wonder what influence this will have on other women in the sport of car racing.


Program Alert:
NBA Playoff Basketball- All weekend long. Suns/ Spurs 10:30pm tonight.
NFL Draft - Saturday 3pm - ??? ; Sunday 10am - ???


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For those new to "the dish", I once dreamed of being a sports-caster having my own column. Let me know if you don't like it, and/or want to be discontinued from the list. If you have another email address to send it to, send that to me also. For older issues of the dish, email me. domsdish@gmail.com or go to http://domsdish.blogspot.com

Dom's Dish - Incomplete Dish edition

Thursday, April 19, 2007

I would be remiss without mentioning the horror that happened down in Blacksburg, VA this week. It again reinforces how short life is and how there is so much more to this world and the billions of people in it, than we can all fathom. Any college, any town, anywhere that could have happened and in the blink of an eye, 32 innocent are dead (why do they include the idiot shooter in the count?). The only thing that irks me is the whole display that goes on afterward - the tons of reporters on campus there, but more related to sports, the hat thing. I just worry that sometimes it's taken too far and it becomes the "hip" or "in" thing to do - much like the NYPD and FDNY hats that are still worn. I still worry that sometimes people treat them as something to make them cool as opposed to what it should be - a reminder. Sometimes saying "we will never forget" goes a little overboard in my mind. The USA Today had a list of tragic events in "their lifetime" (the current VT college students) that included Challenger, Waco, Oklahoma City, the Atlanta Bombings, Columbine, 9/11, Columbia, the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, and now this. Those aren't all things I think of each day, but they're things I'll never forget. Some other things that will serve as a reminder, regardless: any mention of Oklahoma City, the word tsunami, and most obvious - I will never not think of 9/11 when seeing a 767-type plane bank on a turn. If you saw it live on TV or the tape of it hundreds of times, to me, it is the biggest reminder or symbol of them all. That being said the VT logo will never be seen the same.

Mark Buehrle (pronounced bur-ley) of the Chicago White Sox pitched a no-hitter Wednesday night! The first one of the season. Great accomplishment - he walked one base runner then threw him out - Sammy Sosa at first base. One corked-bat away from a perfect game!

Charlie Manuel is fired up! Trying to fight Howard Eskin during/after the postgame news conference? Good for him - that jerk needs a good whopping! Hopefully that will fire the team up? I mean something needs to happen soon, right?

The Joey Crawford / Tim Duncan incident is pretty funny. This isn't the first time Joey Crawford, the ref, has been accused of "gunning" for a player. After 31 years, maybe it's time to hang it up - and now that David Stern aka the God of basketball, has made his decision to suspend - maybe we'll see Joey Crawford refereeing some celebrity baseball game on MTV this summer?


Around the balls:
Giant-orange- The sixers won six of their last 10 games. I'm going on the record to say barring any major injuries to the new AI - the Sixers will make the playoffs next season and finish second in the Atlantic Division, if not better. With their pick and two others in the first round, likely around a #12, a low 20 and a high 20 pick (Denver and Dallas respectively), look for them to trade up or move one of them - the Andre Miller experiment worked and all the other talent has picked up. Then again, this is Philly - look at the Phils this season...
White-leather-stitched- Speaking of the Phils...how about Alex Rodriguez? Hit his 10th HR in 14 games! Now as much as I still don't really like Barry Bonds - he's up to 738 now and he actually is running the bases and playing the field. Who knows, maybe June 3rd at the Phils we'll see history?
Rubber-non- The Devils almost gave us all in Jersey a scare. Huge difference between going down 3-1 versus the even 2-2. Even 2-0 isn't bad to come back from. Brodeur has looked pretty bad this series - something about the Lightning - hopefully the home game Friday night is the one to get him back on track - close out strong in the Continental Arena!
Big-brown-oblong- Brian Urlacher was fined $100K for his wearing of a hat and drinking something at Super Bowl media day. In case you missed it - the NFL has decided to fine him and is now made public (possibly because of an appeal?) 2 months after the Super Bowl. He wore a "Vitamin Water" had and was drinking the stuff during media day - Vitamin Water is not an approved NFL sponsor, so they're not allowed to be displayed. I understand both sides of this, and I hope his sponsor gives him the $100K to cover the fine - all of the sudden I want to try one of them - their ploy worked!

Dom's Dish - April showers edition

Dom's Dish - Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Eddie Robinson passed away last night at 88, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. I don't remember much about Eddie, except seeing him but once a year for the annually televised Grambling / Southern football game, usually on NBC. The halftime show battle of the marching bands was always fun to watch, but so was Eddie, always in a suit and tie on the sidelines, directing traffic. Such a passionate and amazing man. Some amazing stats: 80% of his players graduated, 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, 408 wins, over 200 players that went on to the NFL, only 8 losing seasons in 56 - yes, fifty-six consecutive seasons as a coach, from 1941 to 1997. You really need to read this article to appreciate the hard times, and the class of man he was: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2825016

Florida won the NCAA Tournament. Even though I dislike them for one player and the school as a whole, it is still pretty impressive winning 2 in a row in this day in age, especially since all 5 starters returned for school this year.

Oh Lou Lamoriello! Three games to go in the regular season and he fires the coach of the NJ Devils, Claude Julien. I've never met the man, but after 20 years as the Devils GM, I feel I know him. Having had a slump in the past month: In February, the Devils were a hot 10-3, however for the month of March they were 6-8. With the playoffs right around the corner, perhaps lightning will strike again for Lou - he's twice had to make a coaching change late in the season for a playoff run - once in 2000 (Larry Robinson stepped in and they won The Cup and last year Lou stepped in after Larry Robinson left in the middle of last season. With all of this going on, and both side alleging no "bad blood", this doesn't appear to be an A.J. Smith/Marty Schottenheimer deal. Plus, the Devils have lots to look forward to: Martin Brodeur last night tied the record for wins in a season (47 - 2 games to go), and the Devils are in the driver's seat for the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Plus, Patrick Elias, Brian Gionta and John Madden are all healthy from their mid-season injuries. They don't score as many goals as most teams, but their #1 in goals against in the Eastern conference, thanks to Brodeur and their trap defense. (For those Devils fans in South Jersey, they will be on tomorrow night against the Flyers at 7pm on Comcast SportsNet. A win clinches the Atlantic Division for the Devils.)

For those that missed it last week, the "Peyton Manning" dude, can't change his name after all. As predicted right here in "The Dish" on February 8th, the judge did not allow it "...because it would be too confusing and might infringe on the privacy of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback." And I quote: "I'll tell you now, it isn't going to happen. He filed paperwork yesterday and now will have to appear before a judge to make this official." Now if only I put my emotions aside and predicted Florida would win it all, you all might have some more cashola in your pah-quettes!

Breaking News: Mike Doss, signs with the Minnesota Vikings. The best of the remaining free agents, the safety formerly of the Colts is now a Viking. No more chance for the Eagles, but you have to bet they at least contacted him...

Some randomness:
South Park - 24 "hill dog" - it was only a matter of time. Right in her sniz. Hope a few of you watched in laughter as did I. By the way, I got an email about the US Airways merger with America West Airlines from the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Ready for this? Ready? His name is H. Travis Christ. See that's the problem with US Airways! Your sales guy is Christ and he still can't control the weather in Philly!!!

Kelly Holcomb = Taylor Hicks? At least Kelly Holcomb is in his 30's though: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=66789

So, yeah, I had asparagus recently. Made it on the grill, wrapped in foil with some butter, and garlic powder. (I've had it like that before, but usually over the brother-in-laws, and usually with about "a few" beers, so I didn't notice it then.) I went to urinate later that night and almost passed out from the smell! Now, after a while, coffee "scented" urine, is nice. Asparagus urine is just wrong! Here's a tip - drink at least 48 oz of fluid next time you eat asparagus.

By the way, I hate when my bowling ball pours Portland Cement into my washing machine. Oh, and March: "Came in like a lion, went out like a lamb" - anyone else know what I'm talkin' about?

Finishing this up - I'm watching "Undercover Brother" on USA network. Chappelle, Doogie Howser, the Principal from "Boston Public" - I may have to do like Eddie Griffin says and get it on DVD. (I'll avoid driving like him though) Talking into my baseball mitt...

Around the balls:

Giant-orange- In a little smaller than giant - the Lady Scarlet Nights of Rutgers came up short last night in the championship game. Pat Summitt and the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee are just too good. That was Pat Summitt's seventh - yes, 7th, Division I Championship. Talk about impressive. Not too sure she was as great a cheerleader as Bruce Pearl was painted orange, but 7 Championships is nothing to laugh at. Neither is Candace Parker, though a very beautiful woman, she's a beast on the court.

White-leather-stitched- When is opening day again? JK - I bowed out early on the NCAA game Monday night to watch some of the Angels/Rangers game in Los Angeles, err...California, err...Anaheim. The game is really starting to grow on me - kinda like that skin tag on my left armpit!

Rubber-non- Only 2 or 3 games left in the regular season. Post-season hockey might be better than post-season basketball. No, it is.

Big-brown-oblong- Commish Roger Goodell met with Pacman Jones and Chris Henry yesterday and set up an "Advisory Committee"

Tiny-white- The Masters begins tomorrow and continues through Sunday (FYI, most golf tournaments are 4 rounds, in case you didn't know). I'm still taking Tiger. I'm not sure if he'll win by 12 strokes like he did in 1997, but Tiger is going for "one for the thumb".

Program Alert:

The Masters - coverage begins tomorrow, 4pm on USA.

Chevelle's new CD "Vena Sera" hit stores yesterday. I rate my "music" for my iPod by the intensity (speed/anger being a 5, mellow being a 1) - this CD has almost all "4's" on the Dom scale.

Links:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2825016 - Eddie Robinson - nice video on there

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2818261 - Brodeur article - not ordinary

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2823081 - Devils GM fires coach - more perspective

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2816559 - Peyton Manning name change guy

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For those new to "the dish", I once dreamed of being a sports-caster having my own column. Let me know if you don't like it, and/or want to be discontinued from the list. If you have another email address to send it to, send that to me also. For older issues of the dish, email me. domsdish@gmail.com or go to http://domsdish.blogspot.com