Instant (Over)Reaction: Chicago

This weekend had all of life's simple pleasures: new towels, peanut butter cookies, November Rain on the radio, beers and hot dogs with friends and of course, a Sounders last second victory.

My buddy J-Will and I attended a Mariners-Sounders doubleheader and luckily for us, the drama that was so sorely missing in the M's game was provided doubly during the Sounders game. I am usually not in the business of gushing over a game, but Saturdays game against Chicago had a little bit of everything. As always, some comments:

• Playing the role of villain was not Freddie Ljungberg, but centerback CJ Brown. He got into it with Nkufo. He fell down when the 5'6" Nyassi ran into him. And he talked trash to Alvaro Fernandez. It's easy for me to call him a prick because he's not on my team, but I know if he was on the Sounders he would be one of my favorites. A lot of teams have them. You know, the players only a mother could love. While he was able to draw Nkufo and Nyassi into getting cards, he wasn't able to get any of our boys to land a sucker punch even though he probably deserved it.
• I really appreciated how Ljungberg's return was handled by everyone involved. First off, Freddie was nothing but a class act in his pre- and post-game press conferences. When he left we all assumed it was because of some friction in the locker room, but he and his former teammates had nothing but glowing remarks for each other. Same goes for the front office - both parties realized that soccer if a business and were able to keep emotion out of it. Finally, the fans treated Freddie correctly during pre-game introductions by showing him our appreciation. Then in keeping with what we are about, we treated him like any other opposing player once the whistle blew.
• What else can I say about Alonso? For the past few weeks he has steadily been getting his bite back. Saturday he was charged up and won every ball that came his way. It's only fitting that he got the task of shutting down Ljungberg as Ozzie, not Freddie, was always the heart of this team. He really was the player of the match in my mind.
• Jeff Parke had an unfortunate call go against him, but he remains really really solid in the back. I know the team's MLS shutout streak of 351 minutes was stopped but it came as a result of a PK, which shouldn't really count.
• A few fans behind us were KILLING Nkufo all night. I mean, killing him. I'm not even sure I heard that kind of hate directed at Nate last year. Look, we can all agree that he has not lived up to billing so far. He has been bad. But, he remains the best target forward we have and should be starting. People should not expect him to be a forward like Montero because his role is different than Montero's. Yes his scoring needs to come around, but I am convinced that he still is doing a lot of little things to help this offense. It can't be a coincidence that they are undefeated in MLS play since he arrived.
• Tyson Wahl does a good job at reading the game, but his passes are still an area of concern. That being said, his run down the line and subsequent assist to Fredy was very nice.
• I cannot emphasize what a big win this this. Chicago still have three games in hand, but now trails us by 8 points meaning they would have to win each of those games to pass us. Considering they are 6-7-6 on the year, that may be a tall order. Currently we sit in 6th place with 32 points, five points ahead of 9th place Toronto. Some experts are sayin 44 points will get us into the playoffs - if that is true, that means a 4-4-0 record in the last 8. It is never easy in MLS, but with remaining games against NE, KC, Chivas and Houston (not to mention crucial matches against Toronto and Chicago) it should be easily attainable.
• Fredy Montero continues to be amazing this year. I told a friend walking out of the stadium that regardless of whether he scores or not, I have been happy with his effort this year alone. The past two CL games were not his best, but I think we can all give him a pass after being crushed by the freight train named Zach Thornton. He wasn't perfect Saturday night - in fact sometime I lost him on the field - but he took his two opportunities and calmly converted them. For a team that has a tough time scoring, his deft finishes are a welcome, welcome site. I think he may be playing his way into a European deal (or maybe a MLS DP spot as hinted at by Hanauer)
  

Now the attention turns to Wednesday's US Open Cup Semi-Final against Chivas. The thought running through my mind is that we will see wholesale changes to the squad, but I'm not so sure of that anymore. I have a feeling we will see Mike Seamon, Tyrone Marshall and Nate Jaqua, but those may be the only changes in addition to the return of Leo Gonzalez who was suspended from Saturday's game. I am really excited to be at Starfire when it's packed - a lot different from the days of old when we had 1000 people max at home games.

Phenominal Devastation

Never has news about an injury devastated me as much as today's news about The Phenom. ESPN broke the news that I had been expecting to hear even though every ounce of me hoped not to hear it: Stephen Strasburg needs Tommy John surgery and is going to miss 12-18 months.

This is just a crushing blow to a sport that hasn't seen talent like his since Kerry Wood in the early 90's. I'm not a Nationals fan. In fact, I support a team that is in the same division as the Nationals. Strasburg should have been destined to be an enemy, yet every time he pitched I was like a kid in a candy shop. Bulking home run hitters come around every year. Dominant, filthy pitchers come around once a generation.

The thought that Strasburg would throw his arm out was always a legitimate concern. The Nationals planned from the beginning to limit his innings in hopes of preserving his arm for the future. After all, there is compelling evidence that young pitchers who throw too many innings have a high rate of injury.

Strasburg threw only 68 innings this year in the majors, but combined with the 55 in the minors, he pitched 14 more than his previous high in college. When I look back, I can't definitively say that they misused him. He did not throw 100 pitches in any of his starts and at the first sign of arm discomfort, they held him out of his July 28 and Aug 3 starts. But in the end, they weren't careful enough. It's easy for me to say since hindsight is 20-20, but they should have shut him down completely when he first felt a pain in his arm. The past three starts meant nothing - the Nats were not going anywhere. But the organization decided to let him pitch, knowing damn well that he would increase the attendance for each game (Nats averaged 12k more when he started). And now they have set themselves back a minimum of two years and Jim Riggelman can get credit for being both Wood's and Strasburg's managers when they destroyed their arms.

Instant (Over)Reaction: Monterrey

I don't know what to say about last night's game besides that the better team won. If you watched the game, you know what I mean. Monterrey came into Qwest and beat us. The weathered the storm for the first 30 minutes and took advantage of two quality chances to beat us 2-0. Now, I know that we outshot them 17-7, but did anyone really feel that we were dominant?

Even though I have nothing to offer about the game, I do have two general comments.

1. First, I was upset by how loud Qwest was after Monterrey scored their goals. I knew coming into the game that Monterrey would be supported well, but it wasn't like there were Monterrey supporters every where you looked. In fact, green/highlighter yellow outnumber blue in the stands by a 9:1 ratio. The problem was that there were many Sounders 'fans', wearing rave green, who were also cheering for Monterrey when they score. Listen, you're allowed to have more than one favorite team, especially if they are from different countries. But you are not allowed to wear the colors of one team and then root for their opponent. I have no problem with Sounders fans taking off their rave green and putting on their hometeam's colors for the rare game against their hometown team. That is acceptable, but cheering for the opposition when you're in rave green is completely unacceptable.
   
2. Second, I am bummed to see us at 0-2 in CCL group play, but I think this will be good for us in the long run. I loved that the Sounders front office wants to win every game and every competition. That is what I want from them. Unfortunately, with 3 competitions and a tightly packed schedule, winning all 3 is IMPOSSIBLE. They need to focus on two of them or they are going to burn themselves out. I never really thought we were good enough to win the Champions League considering no US team has ever won in Mexico and the 4 best teams in the region are from Mexico. I am happy that we get to face some international competition, but never did I think we would conquer them all. So now that we are virtually eliminated from the competition, we can focus on two competitions that we CAN win - MLS and US Open Cup. This weekend is a big. Of all the teams below us, I am scared most of Chicago, not just because of their talent but because they have played 3 less games than us. If we can find a way to win that represents a 6 point swing and a HUGE advantage going into the final weeks of the season. So let's hope we get it done on Saturday and then turn around on Wednesday and use some fresh legs and Starfire home cooking to move to the US Open Cup Finals.
   

Three Random Things

I know I have been doing a pretty crappy job of blogging recently and that you don't want to see another list, but have to take time to mention three random things around the world of sports.

1. A North Korean soccer player, Jong Tae-Se, has been signed by German soccer team Bochum and scored two goals in his debut against 1860 Munich. I am simply amazed by this because I had no idea that any North Koreans played their soccer outside of the People's Republic. In doing a little more research I see that there are three players from their World Cup roster who play internationally - both Jong and An Yong-Hak (both born in Japan) as well as Hong Yong-Jo who plays in Russia.

I don't know all the politics and I'm sure any comments I have will come off sounding naive, but this has to be considered a big step, right? If North Korea is serious about their players gaining more international experience, then doesn't that mean becoming less isolated? That can only be a good thing.

2. I was at beautiful Lake Crescent the other day on a hike and I saw two men wearing Oklahoma City Thunder shirts. I was honestly unable to enjoy the view the entire time they were within close proximity to me. One guys wife was asking questions about boating to a local guy (who seemed not to care about the shirts) and it was obvious that they were oblivious (or really really really sinister). Anyways, I came across this article. While it in no way makes up for the Sonics leaving, it could be a small win for this town.

3. The UFL is signing some more big name football players (or at least they were big names at one time) for their upcoming season. Last year JP Losman was the biggest name. This year, the league has signed Jeff Garcia, Daunte Culpepper, Ahman Green, Dominic Rhodes and many others with NFL experience. The biggest news, however, is that Maurice Clarett, the one time OSU stud has been granted permission by a judge to travel to out of state to try out for the Omaha Nighthawks. All reports are that Clarett finally has his head on straight (he recently re-enrolled at OSU) and now we will see if he is in any kind of shape. Clarett has made a lot of mistakes in the past. Like all Americans he deserves a second chance and it looks like he might get one. The UFL is not a household name (I bet not one of my two readers has ever heard of it), but it is a start. I for one am hoping he gets a shot to turn his life around. First with an education. Second as a professional football player.

This is the time...

...for the Mets to step it up.

I know, I know. I publicly said they were done if they didn't sweep the Pirates. I am guilty of burying them. That being said, I take offense to all the cheap shots being directed towards them recently. Yes, their front office has does a terrible job. Yes, there players are getting into off the field stuff. Yes, metsblog.com rating is at 9%. But that doesn't mean that I appreciate ESPN New York doing a three part series on the New York Mess.

Guys, you are becoming a laughing stock. There is no way a team who is 1 game over .500 should be called the worst organization in baseball. Do something about it NOW.

This is the prefect opportunity to show that you are not a mess; that you have some pride; that you are a better than decent baseball team.

Friday Morning Five-Pack

Here is a Friday five pack to quench your sports thirst

1. I know soccer is not perfect. But I would like to reiterate that sports violence is not to soccer. Here is another clip of sports violence in basketball. Please watch and stop hating.

2. Let's talk Sounders for a second. Last night they started the group stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 road loss to Marathon of Honduras. The team struggled most of the night, but they had several chances in the second half and again were unable to get it done. It's not a terrible result given the difficulty of winning in Central America, but I think we all left the game feeling like we gave one away. Next week we host Monterrey. Before last nights match I was hoping that Terry Boss would get a look in goal with Graham, Scott, Fucito and Estrada getting the start. But now it looks like Sigi will need to stick with the starters to get the win before two consecutive away games. [I'm not sure how I feel about Marshall's foul, so Mike I would love to get your thoughts]

3. As previously mentioned, my feelings about the Mets are on a day-to-day roller coaster. After last nights 3-2 loss I am in a huge huge rut. How can you not take 3 of 4 from them? I know most Mets fans think the season is over right now, but I'm still trying to be hopeful. With that being said, if the Mets do not sweep the Pirates over the weekend their season is OVER.

4. Going camping with the in-laws this weekend. I just read that Facebook is adding a new feature where you can broadcast your location to all your friends. All they need is an iPhone and all of a sudden they find you and join you for a drink. Now I'm not here to bash facebook because I know the backlash I will get (it's kind of like Voltron but instead of 5 cats joining forces, it's 2 million bookfacers), but does anyone feel like this is getting out of control? It's bad enough that we are all accessible by phone and email at all hours of the day. But now, you're going to know where everyone is? How quickly before everyone knows when I am in stall #2 of my 5th floor office bathroom. Ridiculous.

5. Rick Reilly hosted Sportscenter the other night. Seriosuly, Rick Reilly. Has anyone ever seen him on camera before? He is terrible. Is Simmons killing him so much in readership that ESPN has decided to move him into another sphere? Hey Rick, bet you're regretting that decision to leave SI.

Be back on Sunday. Next week my thoughts on the '5 letter F-word', Melo to the Knicks and hopefully some MLS talk.

The Purest Form of Sports

When I was 20 I traveled 2.5 hours from NJ to Bristol, CT with my buddy Jay to watch the Mid-Atlantic finals of the Little League World series. Pequannock, a near by town who had just won the state title, had a seemingly killer team and we wanted to say that we had experienced 'big time' little league baseball, even if it was only from the stands. We traveled to Bristol since we had never made it to Williamsport, PA, home of the LLWS, even though it was less than an hour away from Bucknell.

It was an exciting game, but it was just a little different than any other sporting event I had seen. At stake was a trip to Williamsport, the magical place where all your Little League baseball dreams could come true. When you watched them throw curveballs, make diving catches and turn double plays, it was easy to fall into the trap of thinking these 12 year old boys were just like the professionals you see on your tv. But then you catch a glimpse of 12 year old Timmy crying in the dugout because he struck out with 2 outs in the 6th with runners on and you realize the beauty of the event. They're not professionals - they're 12 year old boys who love the game and love their teammates.

The LLWS is an event that focuses on teamwork and fellowship above all else. The boys are encouraged to have fun and enjoy the experience rather than on winning and losing. You can tell that the coaches get it (or at least they do when they are on camera). In professional sports, coaches who yell and belittle their players often are successful - in the LLWS I have never seen a coach that acts like a jerk. I don't think its a coincidence.

To me, though, the best part of the LLWS is the experience that young American boys get when they get to play on the same field as teams from other countries. Technically US and International teams don't play each other until the finals, but with the teams staying in the same hotels and watching each other games, its hard not to be in contact with each other. What a great message this sends. Here you are, a 12 year old boy from Iowa, and you watch a 12-year old from Caracas, VZ or Tokyo, Japan crack a big smile playing the same game that you love. As adults, we always accentuate our differences, but in LLWS our common bonds are stories.

Don't get me wrong, the kids want to win. They're competitors - you have to be to be the best at something. But their perspective on the game is refreshing. I have watched the numerous finals in the past and I have actually seen the losing team cheering for their counterparts. When you take a step back and think about it, you realize that you are watching the purest form of sports left in our country.

In addition to the games in Williamsport, ESPN is showing a lot of regional finals this year. It's a bit overkill, even to me, but instead of complaining, I am finding something else to watch so that I can save my viewing for the games in Williamsport. I know I am a little crazier than most - I don't expect you to watch Suriname vs Mexico in the semi-finals, but if you are getting fed up with professional sports, I do recommend that you watch the finals on August 29. I know you will be happy you did.

Still Hope for the Mets

It's been awhile since I've blogged about the Mets. Fear not, I haven't soured on them nor have I forgotten them. It's simply that there was not anything to write about. Once Carlos Beltran came back from the DL they became a boring, lifeless team. Suddenly the team that was grinding out wins with timely hitting and good base running was now swinging at everything and walking away with the bats in between their legs.

In the early part of the season, I cautioned Mets fans to be careful of setting expectations to high. After all, for every 10 game winning streak there was bound to be some tough times. It just happens that way. The only problem is that when it comes to the Mets, the hardest of times always seem to follow.

Right now my emotions change on a game to game basis. There is no such thing as blind hope. Win and it's sunshine and roses. Lose and its armagedden.

So with that in mind, a 3-1 win has got me thinking of what can still be. We are currently sitting at 59-59 with 44 games left. The next 12 come against Houston, Florida and Pittsburgh. I say we go 9-3 which would put us in a nice position for a late season run. And wouldn't you know it - we then have a three game series at Atlanta to really test us. If we can somehow get our bats going, watch out. Over the past 10 games,the Mets starters are 4-3 with a 1.43 ERA. 8 of those games counted as quality starts. Combine that with some hitting and we'll be dangerous. I know we sit 10 games out of first and 7.5 out of the Wild Card, but their are a lot of games left. We can still do this.

I'm all in again, that is until the lose again.

*******************

Can we talk about Jon Niese for a second? Dude is 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA. Over his past 10 starts, he has gone 7 innings in 6 of them. If you take away his dud on August 1 vs Arizona, his ERA in the past 10 is since the All-Star break is 1.81. Kid is dealing. Combined with Santana and Pelfrey the future is bright.

*******************

Rumor is that the Mets may try to void K-Rod's deal because he hurt himself in a non-baseball incident. Assault should not, in any way, be tolerated. But in a twisted way, maybe this will have a good ending for the team. We could definitely use that $12 million back. And hey, maybe it will even rally the team as they appear to be finally fed up with all the off-field distractions.

Instant (Over)Reaction: Chivas

According to popular rule, settling for a tie on the road is a good result. Most of the time I hold this as being true. Saturday night however, was not one of those times. A tie against Chivas is better than a loss, no doubt, but when you are playing the last place team you need a win. Simple as that. Add in the fact that all the teams chasing the Sounders in the playoff race have played less games and every point from here on out becomes crucial. Continue to win and determine your own fate. Give away points and hope for some help.

Not scoring against Chivas is frustrating and something I hope comes to an end when they travel north at the end of the season. Here are some comments on an overall boring game.

• Alonso's shot was a thing of beauty and I'm not sure how Zach Thornton was able to get a finger on it. When you look at Thornton you assume he is not very athletic, yet he continues to defy the critics (and his weight) to be a solid MLS keeper. He stillhas not conceded a goal in 4 games against Seattle - I can't wait for him to retire.
• Fredy got absolutely hammered by Thornton but was able to get up and walk away. The knock obviously affected his play, but I am pleased with the amount of toughness he showed.
• Jeff Parke and Patrick Ianni continue to play amazingly in the back. If you had told me that we would be without both our starting central defenders I would have been ready to throw in the towel. After two months together, I don't think their is any argument that they deserve to start. Hanauer will have some tough decisions to make when it comes to who is protected in the Expansion drafts since it is assumed that Hurtado will be recovered from his knee injury before next season. Either way, we have some depth and that will help offset the loss of any of these guys.
• At the 27 minute mark, J-Will says that Ianni reminds him of that 'midget French actor', who turns out to be Dominque Pinon. I think he might be on to something.
• Seeing Leo get the red card was frustrating because he obviously got the worst of the foul. However, when you watch the slow mow replay, you see his hand hit Trujillo on the head first. It wasn't deliberate, but MLS is trying to be consistent with all head contact. I am sad that he won't be in the next MLS game, but that just means that he can go the full 90 against both Monterrey and Marathon. He has 60 caps for the Costa Rican national team which means he won't be nervous playing in Mexico.
• We are all still waiting for the savior to score his first goal. Maybe its just me, but his play seems to have regressed a bit over the past few games. I am still not worried with the long term prognosis since talent always wins out, but hopefully he is able to turn it on sooner rather than later.
• I have been an MLS guy since Giovanni Savarese, Tony Meola, Antony de Avila and Tab Ramos played for the 1996 NY/NJ MetroStars, but having the EPL back on my tv screen Saturday morning's really accentuates how far the league has to grow.

Random TV review

Beginning today I am starting a new periodic column where I discuss random tv shows that I watched the night before. It may not be fun to read, but hell, I am going to enjoy writing it, so bare with me.

First up when I got home was a pre-season game between Baltimore and my Carolina Panthers. I turned the game on in the third quarter and Carolina coach John Fox decides to challenge a ruling on the field. I know that he needs to pretend like the game is important, but that was ridiculous. It was pouring rain and the third stringers were in - everyone just wanted the game to be over. The good point of the challenge was that I got to listen to Jon Gruden for a few more seconds. I am not going to lie - I think Gruden is great. I'm not sure anyone could have seen it coming based on his days as a coach, but Gruden always seems like he is having a good time and is by far the most knowledgeable guy in the booth. Two other quick thoughts:

• I am excited to see if Armanti Edwards, the QB from Appalachian St who led the upset over Michigan, can play a role in this offense. Gruden says that Fox will have a set of plays for him, most likely the wildcat.
• Carolina has 4 guys comepting for the starting QB job who have a combined 8 starts in the NFL. I really dislike Jimmy Claussen and hope that incumbent Matt Moore is able to keep the job. I think he has the skills and moxy to be successful and he was a fun interview with personal favorite Suzy Kolber.
  

After my daughter went to bed I had a few hours of free tv time since the wife was at a friend's place. Sportscenter showed footage of the Cincinnati-St Louis brawl. I feel like the number of brawls have been on the decrease and those that do occur are normally just slap fights. This one went to the backstop and guys were being pushed into the stands. I really hope to see some more games between the two because, as shown by Brandon Phillips comments, they really do dislike each other. After the brawl they showed an interview with JaMarcus Russell. It amazes me that he is completely out of the league. Normally when a #1 pick is a bust he can at least stick around the league for a few years as a back-up (see Time Couch, Ryan Leaf, Alex Smith), but there is not one team willing to throw him a line. It amazes me how wrong everyone was when they anointed him the next big thing after only a few great college games.

After Sportscenter I then turn on TNA Wrestling. It amazes me how poorly TNA is run considering the amazing talent they have. The writing and booking is terrible. Every week the storyline's change and every two months the wrestlers change how they act. How they book AJ Styles and Samoa Joe is a travesty. In my opinion, these are the top two guys in the company. Adding rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and Mr Anderson is a good thing, but they should work with Styles and Joe to create an awesome main event group, but they just aren't booked that way. Its' terrible. I'm trying to be less objective now that I have a daughter, but Velvet Sky looked fantastic last night. I loved the black top and hope she gets away from the Beautiful People role and can become a face. At the very least she deserves more airtime for being the least skankie of all the female wrestlers in the company.

While folding laundry it was Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals between the Devils and Anaheim. I definitely enjoyed the game because I heard some names like Turner Stevenson, Jeff Friessen, Pascal Rheaume that I haven't heard in 6 years and because I got to see Stevens, Niedermayer and Daneyko on the ice, something that Devils fans sorely miss. I still don't understand how Giguere won the Conn Smyth Trophy while being on a losing team. I get it - they would have lost 4-1 if not for Giguere, but they still lost. Unless Brodeur wins one more Cup, he will end his career with 3 Cups, but no Conn Smyth's - that my friends, is a travesty. Oh, and the final great thing about the game was the in game promo for Game 4 of the NBA Finals between San Antonio and New Jersey. What amazing week it was in June 2003 when the Devils and Nets hosted finals games only days apart.

Finally, it was the 11pm showing of Jersey Shore. Not just any jersey Shore, but MVP night on the Jersey Shore. "M-V-P of M-I-A supporting the GFF." I think my opinion of Pauly D and The Situation is changing - I actually think I want to hang out with them. Especially if Pauly is supporting the red kicks. Best part of the show - some girl's fake boob padding fell out in the hot tub. Naturally, the guys picked it up and starting playing catch with it. Just classic. I love the Jersey Shore.

It was a random night of tv for sure. We had football, wrestling, hockey and jersey shore. Pretty solid and worthy of a B+.

A Good Trade, But...

A four team five player trade was announced yesterday. This is the sort of thing I normally am not overly excited about, but since it involved my Nets, it's definitely something I need to talk about.

First off, I think the trade actually benefits all four teams, which is a rare occurrence in the NBA. Let's start with the Hornets who traded Darren Collison and James Posey to Indiana. Collison is worthy of being a starter in the league and was a big reason why the Hornets were shopping Chris Paul in the offseason. By shipping him out of town, I think it is a clear sign that they are planning to keep Paul and try to build a contender around him. In return they acquired Trevor Ariza from the Rockets, who instantly solidifies the defense and gives Paul someone to grow with. The Rockets then acquired Courtney Lee from the Nets. At first it appeared that they drew the short straw in this trade, but I respect GM Darryl Morey and assume that he knows what he is doing. The big reason he was not afraid to trade Ariza, a player who they overpaid for last year, was because they were over the salary cap for the upcoming season. While Lee isn't a world beater, he should fit nicely alongside Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin (assuming Martin can play some Small Forward) in a starting lineup that is suddenly getting smaller while the rest of the league gets bigger. The final piece to the deal was Troy Murphy being shipped from Indiana to New Jersey.

Overall, I think it is a good deal for them. In Murphy, they are acquiring a starting power forward who averaged 14.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a game last year. I've never been a fan of him personally (being a Notre Dame grad and hailing from nearby Sparta, NJ), but the numbers don't lie - only 11 other players in the league can say that they averaged a double-double per game. I think he can be a nice asset to the team in the short-term, so much that they should win 30-35 games this season. In the bottom heavy East, 38 might get you into the playoffs, so if they can just reverse some of their luck from last year, who knows what can happen.

Getting back to the trade - it had been speculated for a few weeks now that the Nets would be using their depth at shooting guard to acquire a PF. Most thought that Terrence Williams would be the one to leave town, not because the Nets don't like him but because he could fetch the most in return. In trading Lee, they give up an inexpensive asset (2010 salary: $2.2 million), but certainly not an irreplaceable asset. Not only do I think Anthony Morrow can make this team better than they were last year, but keeping T-Will is a huge coop by management.

Still, even with the above, I feel a little uneasy about the trade and the fact that Murphy is in the last year of his contract. Now I know most fans will disagree. They will say that his presence allows Derrick Favors to sit the bench and develop. They will say that his contract is an asset that makes him a valuable trade chip during the season. They say that he will help him win games more. I agree with all the above, I really do. But I can't help think that there is a lot of uncertainty with the whole plan. In order for this trade to be successful in the long run, they will need to do one of three things - 1) make the playoffs 2) turn Murphy into a long term commodity at the trading deadline 3) clear cap space AND sign Carmelo in the off-season.

We can discuss the first until we turn blue in the face (I prefer to be optimistic and think they have an outside shot), but think the second two are the key points. If they are out of the playoff hunt and trade Murphy, we need to get a player in return that has several years on his contract and who can help us win in 2-3 years. The problem is that those players are normally coveted by other teams and hard to pry away. If they don't acquire a long term asset, then at the very least clearing his contract will allow them to have ~$15 million next year to spend on Carmelo. The problem with this however is the same as with what happened this year with LeBron. The Nets won't be the only team going hard after Melo. If we don't sign or trade for him, then what? We'll have the same roster and will be another year older. That doesn't bode well for Prokhorov's 5 year championship plan.

So yeah, I like the trade right now. We won't be winning less than 25 games which is a 100% improvement from last year. But in order for it to be a good move, they need a few more things to go there way.

**************
While I'm talking NJ sports, a quick word on the Ilya Kovalchuk saga. As most of you know, an arbitrator rejected Kovalchuk's deal and he is now a free agent again. I'm not overly worried, because I have this sense that they will be able to work out another deal. The reasons are in my mind two-fold. First, he seemed genuinely happy to be with the Devils and how can one not be? I know, I get it - Newark sucks. But when you come from an organization like Atlanta, going to one with the commitment to excellence like the Devils is no doubt refreshing. Second, if he cares at all about his image, then doesn't he HAVE to re-sign? I mean, this guy was turning down big money from both Atlanta and LA to sign with the Devils, saying along the way that it wasn't about the money. So if you have a deal in place with one team for a crapload of money and it falls through for no fault of your own or the team, and you end up signing with another team, then isn't just about the money? It definitely seems that way to me. So if he wants to save face, then I think he encourages his agent to get a new deal with the Devils done.

Just Carry the Damn Shoulder Pads

The start of NFL training camp means a lot of things to a lot of people. I personally don't get caught up in anything that goes on except for the wonderful hazing rituals that rookies go through.

Every year we see the footage of a rookie being duct-taped to a goal post only to have freezing cold Gatorade poured on them. We watch the highlights, have a slight chuckle and move on. This year, however, rookie hazing has taken over entire segments on Sportscenter. It started with Cowboys rookie WR Dez Bryant refusing to carry Roy Williams shoulder pads. Ed Werner was treating the story in the same manner as if Tony Romo had just injured his knee for the year. Two weeks later, Tim Tebow got his head shaved to look like Friar Tuck. The entire sports world felt uneasy about what happened to God's messenger and all of a sudden we are all rethinking the idea of rookie hazing.

I am hear to say that people need to chill out. I am in no way condoning hazing within our high schools or colleges, but we are talking about professional athletes who are getting a shit ton of money to play sports. Hazing at the professional level consists of serving food for veterans, carrying the veterans' pads, dressing up in embarrassing outfits and singing for the veterans, getting terrible haircuts and having cold Gatorade thrown on you. These are all harmless acts and are meant to instill the idea of team into the rookies. I'm not a Tim Tebow fan, but I have to say that if I'm his teammate, I have suddenly gained a lot of respect for him after he went along with the Friar Tuck haircut. We are talking about a guy who is going to be endorsement gold and who will need to continue looking pretty. Yet he allowed his teammates to give him an embarrassing look because he is willing to do whatever it takes to be part of the team. That right there is the key to it all - you do what your teammates say because you are part of a team.
Of course the problem with this all is that high school and college kids read about this and start to believe that hazing is ok. Because they often can't control their emotions, hazing rituals go from wacky haircuts to cleaning up poop to drinking excessive alcohol to demeaning sexual acts to criminal acts. I still remember the stories of what my high school's football team had to do and it still repulses me to this day. Yes, professional athletes played a role in this, but policing of demeaning hazing is the responsibility of coaches, administrators, teachers and of course, parents. Kids need to realize the importance of being part of a team. They need to realize that to be part of a team you often need to sacrifice. But they also need to realize that no other person should be allowed to take their dignity.

Don't get rid of rookie hazing in professional sports. Giving the veterans respect (in an era where #1 draft picks become the highest paid players on the team before ever playing a down) and showing everyone that you are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team should be part of the game. Instead, let's come up with a new term to use when rookies carry shoulder pads, equipment or water coolers. Allow these acts to be praised, but make sure that the hazing rituals often seen with high school football teams or college fraternities are condemned.

Instant (Over)Reaction: Houston

One month ago, the Sounders sat at 4-8-4 and I wrote a column conceding the season and asked the Sounders to put all their attention into the US Open Cup and Champions League. Since that day, the Sounders have not lost in all competitions as they have advanced to the US Open Cup Semifinal's, the knockout round of the Champions League and are now 8-8-4 in MLS. With 28 points, that is good for 5th overall in the league.

There is a lot of season still to play. Anything is possible. But you have to think the rest of the league is kicking themselves right now for not putting a nail in the Sounders coffin. I mean, we were done and now somehow we are right back in the thick of things. I have a feeling we will be the team NO ONE wants to see if we make the playoffs.

A few comments on last nights game:

• I don't think there is any question that the Sounders are a better team without Freddie Ljungberg. This is not meant as a knock on Freddie, who I believe is still a high quality player, but he just never seemed to fit in with the team. I thought he looked great in the first half vs New York last night mostly due to the fact that Fire paired him up with Brian McBride which allowed him to run at attackers. This trade is looking good for both teams so far.
• The person most benefiting from the trade is obviously Fredy Montero. I think we are finally seeing what type of role he prefers to play. Last year when he was scoring goals at an alarming rate we just assumed he was a goal scoring forward who had the tendency to steal the ball from Ljungberg. Apparently the whole time he was playing out of place. With Blaise Nkufo now occupying the target forward role, Montero has been free to roam around the middle and now just score goals but make amazing passes. I'm not sure what was prettier last night - posting up the defender, turning and scoring or the deft little ball to Alvaro Fernandez for the second goal.
• While he commands a lot of respect every time he touches the ball, Nkufo still appears to be a little of our sorts with the rest of the team. Once he is able to get some chemistry, watch out.
• I saw the replay five times and each time I cringed at the terrible first touch by El Flaco. Luckily he was able to stay in front of the defenders and tuck the ball in the back of the net. Then after he scored, he sought out Montero and pointed at him for the whole stadium to see. Think about that for a second. This guy just got done starting a quarterfinal World Cup match and he is giving love to a new teammate who has never scored an international goal before? Pure class if you ask me. That's the stuff that will make you a legend in this town.
• I think Nyassi continues to impress with his play, but I have to believe that he is still the odd man out once El Flaco gets his fitness back. I mean, you can;t sit Fernandez and you can't sit Zakuani, which is too bad for Sanna.
• I love how Alonso will shoot from anywhere. Sure he only got one of 4 attempted blasts on frame last night, but boy what a weapon it is - especially since they can never score directly off a corner.
• All games are big, but next weekend's game against Chivas is a must win. Simply put - good teams beat bad teams. Chivas is the latter right now.
• I'm not a Houston fan but have always had a healthy respect for them. With that I can say that their dynasty is officially done. It looks like Kinnear waiting one year too long in rebuilding his team. The names are still there, but they're a year older and I just don't think they can keep up with the teams in the West.
  

600 Still Impressive

Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th home run yesterday and no one seemed to care. ESPN tried to make us care by featuring live look-ins to his at bats, but at the end of the day, he just can't avoid the steroid stink.

I don't need to tell you that baseball is in a tough spot. No other sport embraced statistics quite like baseball. Growing up I was one of several of my friends who could name the top 10 leading home run hitters of all time. The numbers 755, 714, 660, 586 and of course 61 all meant something. Then the steroid era hit baseball and players starting crushing records at an extraordinary pace. I was a freshman in college the summer that McGwire and Sosa shattered Roger Maris' mark and like most Americans, I didn't think anything was fishy. Baseball had just gotten over the strike, attendance was down and the home run chase was exciting. If any sports fan says differently, they are lying.

I'm not here to point fingers because I think everyone has some blame - MLB, owners, managers, players, media, fans - but I do want to discuss what to do with the record books.

I was listening to Around the Horn yesterday and JA Adande was saying that 600 is a big accomplishment because players in all different eras had one advantage or another and yet only 7 players have ever done it. You know what? He's totally right. Think about it. Babe Ruth never played against the Negro Leaguers (not to mention that he used a bat that looked like something out of the Flintstones). Roger Maris played more games in a season. Aaron and Bonds played during the days of expansion when pitching was diluted.
Add in the rule changes, the drug scandals (ie - cocaine in the 80's) and no two eras can be considered equal. Being one of seven players to have ever done something is astonishing considering that in 2010 alone, the Mets have given at-bats to 22 different players.

I am of the belief that you cannot take away what has already been done. You can try to clean things up and make them look pretty, but in the end they are what they are. There is no going back and erasing the past. All we can do is change how we think and act in the future.

Rodriguez has hit 600 home runs. That cannot be taken away (in the same way that you cannot erase the Fab Five or the Reggie Bush years - they happened, don't pretend like they didn't by erasing) so his name belongs in the record book. Records and stats are not meant to be subjective. If you are of the mind that some of his 600 should not count because he was on steroids, then that is something that should be tackled by the Hall of Fame, not the record books. Don't put an * in the record book - on his Hall of Fame plaque explain that he played during the Steroid Era and move on. Let the history books tell the story of the numbers, but don't change the numbers to suit the collective needs of purists.

Battle for the Future of MLS

Throughout the history of the league, Major League Soccer has been loathe to repeat the mistakes of their predecessor, the North American Soccer League. Instead of allowing the big markets to dominate by buying the highest quality players from overseas, MLS has been run under a single entity system with a rigid salary cap that values substance over style.

As the league has grown, the shackles have been lifted gradually. First there was the Designated Player rule in 2007 (known back then as the Beckham Rule) that allowed each team to spend as much money as they wanted on player with only a super small portion ($400k) counting under the cap. Teams used their DP spots on players like Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel, Freddie Ljungberg, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Claudio Reyna and Marcelo Gallardo. With soccer fandom at an all-time high in the US, MLS made a preemptive strike in allowing teams to have a second and third (if willing to pay a dispersal fee to the rest of the league) DP in hopes of catching the wave of World Cup veterans who were looking to leave the world of European soccer. So far it has worked. Just look at the names: Nery Castillo. Rafa Marquez. Blaise Nkufo. Alvaro Fernandez. Mista. And of course, the crown jewel of them all, Thierry Henry.

It's safe to say that the next few months will determine the future of the league as the big name markets continue to bring in expensive (and potentially over the hill) names while the smaller markets sit on their hands and try to build a cheaper alternative through the draft. In the past, big names have never meant success. Just ask MetroStars fans who got to watch names like Donadoni, Mattheaus, Branco, Djorkaeff and Reyna, but who have never seen a trophy lifted by the team. Instead, teams like Columbus, salt Lake and Houston, who have all built through trades and the draft, continue to be the model of success in the league.

The battle lines have been set. Its LA, NY, Chicago, Toronto and Seattle vs Columbus, Salt Lake, Houston and Dallas. Style vs substance. Superstars vs the common man.

If LA and NY are able to walk through the playoffs without breaking a sweat, other MLS teams will HAVE to follow their lead or prepare to insignificant for years to come (looking directly at you, New England).

As a supporter of the Sounders (a team who is willing to throw bucks around, albeit in a responsible way) I am excited by what the future holds. MLS will never be the EPL (and I'm not sure I want it to be), but if the league can grow such that every team has 5-6 world class players shrewdly mixed with the best domestic talent on every team then I think we are all in for a treat.

Trade Santana?

Two days ago I wrote that I was ok with the Mets standing their ground at the trade deadline. I talked about the long-term blocks that they have and how it was wise not to trade Ike, Niese, Mejia or Tejada.

A week ago, I suggested to the Mariners' front office that they beginning the rebuilding process by trading Ichiro. It was blasphemous, I know. But it was objective and had the best intentions in mind.

Fast forward to tonight and another game started by Johan Santana in which the offense scored less than 3 runs. The stats are damning. In 2-plus years with the Mets, Santana has started 82 games and has amassed a 37-21 record with a 2.90 ERA. Of those 82 starts, the Mets have scored 3 or less runs 37 times. Santana is 8-20 in those games with a 2.66 ERA.

I'm not even going to mention all the wins that the Mets bullpen has cost them over the years. The point is - I think Santana is wasting away on the Mets. He was on pace for 250+ wins, but if he stays with the Mets any longer, he'll be lucky to get over 200.

I think its time for me to ask the question - is it best for both Santana and the Mets if we trade him now? I'd love to hear from all my Mets buddies out there. Think about it - Santana is 31 and could fetch a pretty penny in return. I'm not saying that we need to get tons of prospects, but I bet we could get a quality young starter and a prospect or two. There is a precedent out their - look at the ransoms that Clif Lee and Roy Halladay got. You're telling me that someone like St. Louis, Cincy, Anaheim or the Red Sox wouldn't love to take him off our hands. I know he seems to be losing a little, but even on bad days, he can still be dominant.

So what do you think? Should we even entertain the idea of trading Santana? Is that throwing in the towel or a potentially smart idea?