So while I was on deployment, I got the opportunity to attend a Japanese Professional baseball game between the Yokohama Bay Stars and the Tokyo Giants. It was an awesome experience, so a few little things to get out of the way, they still have hot dogs, although they serve a much larger variety of food beyond that including sushi, yakisoba and a ton of other options. The thing that struck me the most though was the level of respect for the game and the opposing team. The fans absolutely love their team, and are as loyal as European futbol fans, they have chants, noise makers and are incredibly loud. The biggest difference though is that they are absolutely silent when the opposing team is at bat; instead of taunting they remain quiet to an almost scary level. Having grown up in the states and accustomed to jeering, taunting and heckling being part of our fanatic attitudes, I was a little bit in awe. The flip side of this is you cheer to the max during your at bat. I loved it, I could go to games like that all the time, really making me think about my own cheering/heckling methods. I went to the game as a command function and we had a blast, really trying to get into the spirit of the Bay Stars fans, giving high fives and running up and down the aisles. I also learned that the wave is not permitted at Japanese sporting functions, still not sure why but 3 ushers and 2 policeman (all at once) very politely informed me after I had 3 sections going that I could not continue, encouraging the crowd. I would rank my Japanese baseball experience in my top 5 sports experiences right now.

the Tribulation of Sports Stardom

Okay so I'm in the Seattle, Washington area for a few weeks and had the opportunity to catch a baseball game between the Mariners and Yankees Friday night. First off I think Safeco Field is a great park, very open, good views from most seats and a great variety of food (sushi, Thai and garlic fries to name a few options) if you get the chance go. My friend and I were 11 rows back behind the plate just off to the third base side providing us a great view. Now growing up in the DFW metroplex and the Texas Rangers I gained an affinity to disliking the Mariners as AL West rivals so I'm not partial to providing a spirited support of them even against the Yankees, but after 3 innings last night I found myself pulling for ....Alex Rodriguez.

Now you might ask yourself why a guy who's spent 5 of the last 10 years in Connecticut and learned to cheer for the Red Sox, would be drawn to support a player of the "Evil Empire?" Especially the one most Yankee haters would cast as the Darth Vader of that empire. Allow me to explain. It's the top of the first inning there are two out and Mark Teixeira has just blasted a home run about 400 feet over the right field fence when the announcer says "now batting...Alex Rodriguez". I knew it was coming as he approached the batters box the chants of cheater, A-roid, traitor and the like were bellowed throughout his at bat finally resulting in nice single to right field and the game continued on, and I gave very little thought to the whole thing, until the third inning.

Teixeira was at bat again and A-rod was in the on-deck circle warming up, when the the clamoring began again as a group twenty-something guys 2 rows behind me noticed him and started a chant of one guy saying "A-roid," and his buddies echoing with "he's a cheater." This time though I noticed the little boy directly behind me joining in with a few jabs of his own. This young fan had been very impressive up to this point, providing stats well beyond those on the jumbotron for most every batter, and exhibiting an eye for defensive strategies as well. After A-rod earned a walk I turned and asked the boy how old he was and was promptly informed he was 8 and 3/4, his dad explained to me that his first Mariners game had been a playoff game in 2001 against the White Sox when he was about 8 weeks old. To which I replied so he A-rod was never here while he's been alive? and the dad said right but he's a true mariners fan you just have to hate him. As the game progressed I started timing how long it took the fans to start heckling A-rod as he approached the on-deck circle, by his final at bat in the 8th it was about 9 seconds between him stepping out of the dugout to the first jeer and they got progressively more venomous as the time went on. Now do I think A-rod is a great guy? No. Do I think A-rod has made some bad choices? Yes. Does that mean 10 years later I want to see him verbally abused by an entire fan base? No. I think it's time for Mariners fans to let that go. Yes he broke your hearts by taking the money from Tom Hicks and the Rangers (who are now bankrupt) and yes he lied about using Performance Enhancing Drugs, which will probably be the thing that mars his career more than that contract in 2000. {On a side note both Joe Mauer and Ryan Howard signed contracts worth more than 24 million per year in the last off season, almost 5% more than the big contract A-rod signed back in 2000, and this upcoming year will see Albert Pujols probably shatter those numbers. } So Mr. Alex Rodriguez, I won't root for your team but I'm rooting for you to escape the shadow of your past mistakes and I forgive you. I hope you've learned from this and can help mentor the young players around you.

All of this made me wonder, is this what Lebron James will be facing in Cleveland for the rest of his career? I think it might be and that saddens me, because it exemplifies our lack of benevolence and mercy as a society. I don't remember sports without million dollar contracts and endorsements. The modern era sports star not only has to be great on his/her field of choice but also maintain a spotless public image. The players of my parents age I'm sure made bad decisions, but it wasn't everyones' business the media was focused on the game. So remember that our stars are people too and deserve forgiveness as well. By the way I don't think Lebron could've made a "right" decision. I think he made a good decision by going to Miami with Wade and Bosh.

King James reign over the NBA

Later this week the NBA free agency season begins, and the basketball world will accelerate it's orbit around Lebron James and where he will spend the next phase of his career. Since May 13th shows, people and websites have been running countdowns to July 1 when you can officially talk to Lebron James and his representation. Let me say now I don't care.

The last time I can recall this much hype about a free agent, it was one Alex Rodriguez in 2000. Who I think is a perfect example of why Lebron doesn't matter as much as the world thinks he does. Now while Lebron is limited to 25% of this years salary cap (14.5 million per year roughly) and some more if he signs with Cleveland (in case you're interested I don't think he will), and A-rod was limited only by greed which got him a small 10 year 252 million dollar contract, that will be the only difference between the two. While A-rod went on to be the focal point of angst for Rangers fans and how overspending will not fix your problems. He can teach Lebron one thing - you must have a team around you.

The most recent NBA Finals carried the same message, it was the Lakers not Kobe who won that championship. It was two teams, who pushed it to seven games. Even Jordan wasn't able to win without a quality team around him. That's why Phil Jackson has been so successful as head coach, managing relationships between players. So while Lebron can be the cornerstone of a great team he can not win a championship by himself. So where ever Lebron winds up Chicago, New York, Miami or elsewhere he needs another player to support him.

P.S. Brett Farve we all know you're coming back, so just announce it.

Greed and the college playoffs

So the last week of Conference shake-ups in NCAA football has just stirred up all my emotions from January and the debacle that is the BCS. So I'm going to cover some basics and explain what I feel is perhaps the most broke system in Sports.

So for starters the NCAA's purpose according to it's website http://tinyurl.com/38ubbmv is to "govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount." The part that gets me about this is not only the NCAA's (and most universities) willingness to downplay the fair, safe and equitable part of that mission statement when it comes to Division I Football (FBS). FBS is the only level of NCAA sports where a champion is not determined by a tournament or playoff system. The NCAA has been using a tournament to determine it's baseball, basketball and hockey all since the 1940's. The following five bowl games that have a tradition that is longer that that; Rose, Sugar, Orange, Sun and Cotton bowls. So why have they not instituted the same program in the FBS? The answer is money. The BCS total 5 games pay out over 83 Million to the schools involved, the remaining 30+ bowl games pay out a combined 43 million. That is a 40 million more that is not available to Non-BCS conference schools unless they are fortunate enough to gain a berth in those games. With a move towards 'Super Conferences' those smaller schools will be left out even more. All this is to say that I feel the NCAA must truly use it's oversight and install a Championship Tournament for the fair and equitable good of all their schools.

The Fastball, Stephen Strasburg and the chances of true Success

What do you think about when you hear the word fastball? I think of Nolan Ryan and then the scene in the Sandlot when Ham tells De Nunez to throw him the heater, and then goes deep into Hercules' yard.

Now in the last 2-3 years another group of young pitchers have evolved and drawing us back, Brandon Webb, Tim Lincecum and David Price and now Steven Strasburg. The debut of Stephen Strasburg has made me wonder how much pressure we as fans will put on the young Mr. Strasburg and if our ultimate 'judgement' of him will be fair. Mr. Strasburg is approaching his 22 birthday, yet he already bears the weight of what seems to be the entire Washington Nationals organization on his right arm, I don't think it's fair. When did hype start preceding the actual performance? Sometime this century I think and incredibly unfair.

The two pitchers who have had that kind of pressure really stand out to me in recent history; Kerry Wood - who's currently 80-66 over 12 years with 1478 k's, and Mark Prior - pitched for 5 years went 42-29 and 757 k's. They we're supposed to lead the Chicago Cubs back to the World Series, but between their injuries and "Bartman" those bleacher bums remained "cursed" and until the Cubs do win a series they will remain part of that cast.

So while I hold high hopes for Steven Strasburg and his phenomal potential, I'm leary of seeing him pushed to fast or being suffocated like Joba Chamberlin of the Yankees.

If you want to know more about the fastball my I reccomendThe Secret History of the the Fastball and the Improbable Search for the Fastest Pitcher of All Time by Tim Wendel, which not only covers some of the all time greats like Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson and my favorite Nolan Ryan, those who didn't succeed as well I'm not quite done but I highly recommend it.

*Book promo video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjOQatCEB4I

he also has blog here http://highheatwendel.blogspot.com/