Arguments Waiting to Happen
DeJon called me last night from O’Hare International Airport. His travel itinerary had been changed, leaving him with little prospect for sports blogging today.
When we had our big changeover here at the ‘Flies, Joe and I offered to help out on Sports Day when DeJon ran into complications and needed someone to start the arguments. DeJon called Joe in from the bullpen last week, so when this week’s complication arose, he gave me the call.
I also think he chose me because of the topic he wanted to offer today. Better said, he wouldn’t have called Joe with this one, since it involved, in DeJon’s words, a little “Bush-bashing.” Specifically, DeJon explained his desire that, since many of us turned Sandi’s political column into a religious discussion on the comment board, maybe we should offer up a little “Bush-bashing” on the sports page to even things out.
So here goes…
THE ONLY MAN WHO BELIEVES RAFAEL PALMEIRO
I guess if it looks to everyone in the world with access to television, newspapers, and radio that you lied to Congress except one person, the President of the United States wouldn’t be such a bad choice. That’s the lot of Rafael Palmeiro.
For those who ignore sports at every opportunity, but for some reason have chosen to read this article, here are the basic facts:
#1: Rafael Palmeiro is a 40-year-old professional baseball player nearing the end of an impressive career. He has long since passed the 500-home-run mark, and just recently, surpassed one of the most honored milestones in all of baseball by collecting his 3,000th hit.
#2: Palmeiro has long been considered a class act in the selfish world of professional sports. He has served as a spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, raised support for foster homes, worked with a program designed to discourage underage drinking in Hispanic markets, and built a youth baseball field in his hometown.
#3: Palmeiro has also been accused by attention-collector, Jose Canseco, of using steroids (read: cheating, to baseball fans) when the two of them were teammates on the George W. Bush-owned Texas Rangers. Canseco admits to using them himself and claims that steroid use ran rampant on the team.
#4: In March, Palmeiro and other baseball heroes were summoned to Congress to testify to the usage of steroids in baseball. Most of the players looked silly. In contrast, Palmeiro appeared to be a knight in shining armor, sporting a body not bulked up like a Popeye cartoon, and pointing a defiant finger at Congress declaring that he NEVER used steroids.
#5: Last week, Palmeiro was suspended by baseball for failing its steroid test after his testimony to Congress, based on a new steroid policy that Congress had criticized as being too lax. Palmeiro modified his claim to state that he never “intentionally” took steroids, a claim that most everyone finds suspect.
#6: Except the President of the United States, that is, who replied to the controversy by saying, “Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public, and I believe him. He’s the kind of person that’s going to stand up in front of the klieg lights and say he didn’t use steroids, and I believe him. Still do.”
Can anyone explain to my why? Why, that is, would a President who prides himself on bringing wrongdoers to justice state unequivocally that he refuses to believe something proven as fact? Does this communicate that President Bush’s standard for declaring right and wrong depends on his gut feelings over actual discovery?
Well if anyone reads the sports column, that ought to unleash a little argument…
:-)
ONE MORE TOPIC
After Ann mercilessly chided her husband last week for his open addiction to major media sports and called for greater diversity in the sports column discussions, it behooves me to bring up the topic of the most underrated sport.
The media goes nuts over baseball and football, basketball and NASCAR, and now even golf, but the attention of the media is not necessarily a referendum on which sports are actually the “best” sports.
On the comment board last week, I offered my personal definition of a “sport,” explaining that to me it must be an athletic contest that is scored objectively. With that in mind, I’d like to offer my opinion of the most underrated sport, along with seeking your opinions as well.
Hands down: Volleyball.
I may be a bit prejudiced, since that was my oldest daughter’s sport of choice. I’m sticking to my guns anyway. Volleyball is an awesome sport, and I would love to see it increase in popularity to the point that it becomes a popular spectator sport on par with the other biggies.
Anyone who takes the time to watch volleyball played on its highest level admits that what he or she witnessed is nothing short of awesome. It is both fast and powerful, and designed in such a way where there is lots of scoring and the ability for momentum to shift on a dime. It’s just a great sport.
It offers the speed and scoring of basketball, the power of football, and what I think to be baseball’s greatest feature, the lack of a clock, allowing any team to come back and win in dramatic fashion. All this combines to make it great for fans on every level.
There’s nothing bad about volleyball, minus its lack of media coverage. Period.
Your thoughts?
When we had our big changeover here at the ‘Flies, Joe and I offered to help out on Sports Day when DeJon ran into complications and needed someone to start the arguments. DeJon called Joe in from the bullpen last week, so when this week’s complication arose, he gave me the call.
I also think he chose me because of the topic he wanted to offer today. Better said, he wouldn’t have called Joe with this one, since it involved, in DeJon’s words, a little “Bush-bashing.” Specifically, DeJon explained his desire that, since many of us turned Sandi’s political column into a religious discussion on the comment board, maybe we should offer up a little “Bush-bashing” on the sports page to even things out.
So here goes…
THE ONLY MAN WHO BELIEVES RAFAEL PALMEIRO
I guess if it looks to everyone in the world with access to television, newspapers, and radio that you lied to Congress except one person, the President of the United States wouldn’t be such a bad choice. That’s the lot of Rafael Palmeiro.
For those who ignore sports at every opportunity, but for some reason have chosen to read this article, here are the basic facts:
#1: Rafael Palmeiro is a 40-year-old professional baseball player nearing the end of an impressive career. He has long since passed the 500-home-run mark, and just recently, surpassed one of the most honored milestones in all of baseball by collecting his 3,000th hit.
#2: Palmeiro has long been considered a class act in the selfish world of professional sports. He has served as a spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, raised support for foster homes, worked with a program designed to discourage underage drinking in Hispanic markets, and built a youth baseball field in his hometown.
#3: Palmeiro has also been accused by attention-collector, Jose Canseco, of using steroids (read: cheating, to baseball fans) when the two of them were teammates on the George W. Bush-owned Texas Rangers. Canseco admits to using them himself and claims that steroid use ran rampant on the team.
#4: In March, Palmeiro and other baseball heroes were summoned to Congress to testify to the usage of steroids in baseball. Most of the players looked silly. In contrast, Palmeiro appeared to be a knight in shining armor, sporting a body not bulked up like a Popeye cartoon, and pointing a defiant finger at Congress declaring that he NEVER used steroids.
#5: Last week, Palmeiro was suspended by baseball for failing its steroid test after his testimony to Congress, based on a new steroid policy that Congress had criticized as being too lax. Palmeiro modified his claim to state that he never “intentionally” took steroids, a claim that most everyone finds suspect.
#6: Except the President of the United States, that is, who replied to the controversy by saying, “Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public, and I believe him. He’s the kind of person that’s going to stand up in front of the klieg lights and say he didn’t use steroids, and I believe him. Still do.”
Can anyone explain to my why? Why, that is, would a President who prides himself on bringing wrongdoers to justice state unequivocally that he refuses to believe something proven as fact? Does this communicate that President Bush’s standard for declaring right and wrong depends on his gut feelings over actual discovery?
Well if anyone reads the sports column, that ought to unleash a little argument…
:-)
ONE MORE TOPIC
After Ann mercilessly chided her husband last week for his open addiction to major media sports and called for greater diversity in the sports column discussions, it behooves me to bring up the topic of the most underrated sport.
The media goes nuts over baseball and football, basketball and NASCAR, and now even golf, but the attention of the media is not necessarily a referendum on which sports are actually the “best” sports.
On the comment board last week, I offered my personal definition of a “sport,” explaining that to me it must be an athletic contest that is scored objectively. With that in mind, I’d like to offer my opinion of the most underrated sport, along with seeking your opinions as well.
Hands down: Volleyball.
I may be a bit prejudiced, since that was my oldest daughter’s sport of choice. I’m sticking to my guns anyway. Volleyball is an awesome sport, and I would love to see it increase in popularity to the point that it becomes a popular spectator sport on par with the other biggies.
Anyone who takes the time to watch volleyball played on its highest level admits that what he or she witnessed is nothing short of awesome. It is both fast and powerful, and designed in such a way where there is lots of scoring and the ability for momentum to shift on a dime. It’s just a great sport.
It offers the speed and scoring of basketball, the power of football, and what I think to be baseball’s greatest feature, the lack of a clock, allowing any team to come back and win in dramatic fashion. All this combines to make it great for fans on every level.
There’s nothing bad about volleyball, minus its lack of media coverage. Period.
Your thoughts?
posted by Al Sturgeon | 7:40 AM
13 Comments:
I agree that volleyball is one of the greatest and often neglected sports. Big Al you know how much I enjoyed being a part of volleyball played at the very best that high school could offer. The year that Crowley's Ridge Academy finished in the top 20 in the nation was awesome. Playing against some of the best teams in the country in Nashville was truly a sight to see. The athletic ability and the silent communication is hard to describe. Volleyball in northeast Arkansas does get more coverage than it may in other parts of the country, but to find volleyball on TV you must have the obscure Fox sports channels. Beach volleyball on the other hand has taken its game to the national networks and has had great response. (Could it have something to do with those swimsuits?)
So the President is STRONG, even when he is wrong and won't admit it? Okay. If that works for you...
:-)
Re: volleyball:
So to you, a sport must be accessible by short people to have wide appeal, right? At least horse racing finally makes sense to me - and midget wrestling. But I don't buy that golf and NASCAR have experienced a sudden rise in popularity because people woke up and noticed, "Hey, a short person could be good at this! Let's put it on television!"
You're basically insulting me by not giving credit to the other athletic-impairments that I specialize in: namely, slowness, the inability to jump, and lack of muscles. In these lights, I've taken pleasure in cheering for Larry Bird, Larry Bird, and Reggie Miller respectively. My biological heroes. My underdogs who shouldn't be successful, but are anyway.
Short people can not only appreciate the defensive specialists and setters in the world of volleyball, but also those freaks of nature who can jump out of the gym in spite of their height-impairment and wear out the other team with their killer jump serves & back row attacks.
Now, Al, why are you putting words in Joe's mouth and then trying to play off your comment with a smiley face? Rarely have I heard "if that works for you..." in polite tone... Come on, now, we're supposed to play nice. OK, OK, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Remember, no one is asking you to support or agree with the prez. We already know you don't. :)
For Palmeiro, if he knew he was taking then he's an idiot. If he really didn't know, then he's an ever bigger idiot. Now, as to how baseball is handling it...another post altogether.
No offense to anyone, and especially not Erica, because I know she is an exceptional player, but I just think Volleyball is boring.
Now I didn't put words in his mouth. A little bit before the smiley face, I put a question mark to ask if this is what Joe was saying. Your response indicates you assume this is not what he was saying. For the record, I didn't think he was saying that either. Just having fun, PTI-style.
(And the smiley face was intended to put "if that works for you" in that rare polite tone. Well, actually, it was meant for jesting sarcasm, but close enough!)
Baseball instituted a new policy, considered to be a bit lax by many, Palmeiro failed it, appealed, and lost the appeal. He has been tried and pronounced guilty of ingesting steroids.
Instead of saying "I'm disappointed" or something like that in light of what is, to baseball, the 2nd greatest sin next to gambling, the President said "I believe him" in spite of the evidence. That is very nice of a friend to say I guess, but a bit strange coming from a man who purports to be a baseball man, an advocate of personal responbility, and justice.
And heck, I'm just doing the post for DeJon. He asked me to do this!!!
Volleyball boring? Wow. That hurts.
:-)
Hey Joe, commenting at the same time!
Palmeiro has not been simply convicted in the court of public opinion. He's been convicted of steroid use. Period. Appealed and denied. Guilty. But the President won't acknowledge that...
Al, I don't think you're boring, if that helps any!
For the record, I find most sports boring. Golf ranks right up there at the top of my BORING list unless it involves Putt-Putt. I love baseball and college football, and even basketball, but only during March Madness. That's pretty much it for me. That's why I said no offense....
To volleyball: I thought your Webb/Iverson/Sproles/Meggett references were only related to height, thus linking them to volleyball's difficulties for short people. Reggie Miller & Larry Bird's height even I can't relate to, but their shooting ability, brains, and fearlessness led them to succeed in a game designed for either the huge/strong or the fast/leapers. I compare that to volleyball's defensive specialists, jump servers, and setters: they find a way to succeed in a sport designed for the human trees to dominate the outcome.
To wit: My favorite basketball player of all-time was Julius Erving. There was absolutely nothing about him that I could relate to (except his Converse shoes), but that didn't negate my love for the sport and the game. Everyone wanted to be "like Mike," too, not because he overcame odds, but because he was unbelievable.
I don't think that limits volleyball's potential for fans - that tall people have a great impact. You could become a Misti May fan, not because of her stature (although Dr. Watson could offer an argument for her bikini), but because she's an unbelievable athlete that can do amazing things.
In fact, now that I think about it, I think most people can relate to volleyball better than they can to football or golf. "Most" people have played volleyball sometime, more than they've played football or golf.
Just continuing the argument...
Just go to http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2124738 and read the story. Then tell me how anyone could believe Palmeiro.
Someone should tell Joe that he should be glad I share his love for his favorite sports and quit whining about the others. Some wives (most of the ones that I know, save Annie) absolutely hate all sports. So, Joey, count your lucky starts, dude. :)
Now you're talking some volleyball sense! It has definitely been labeled a girls sport, which regretfully, gives it marketing challenges. Also, in most high schools, it is played in the fall semester when football is king. Definitely a challenge to start a boy's volleyball team against that competition.
I'll tell you what, though, Joe. If you are a real sports fan, and I think you are, go watch San Diego State play Pepperdine or someone like that (yes, take your wife). You will be in awe of a great sport, and I expect a detailed blog report back from Whitney after the game!
To Palmeiro: Don't you think the Orioles would have crucified a trainer if that was even a possibility? Don't you think Raffy would have, too? And don't you think baseball would have supported ANY scenario like that to keep from doing this?
For a President who has had to weather the WMD issue and the Rove stuff, I don't think this was a smooth move.
I know he wants me to write his speeches for him, so here's what I'd say:
"There is obviously no doubt that baseball found an illegal substance in Rafael's body, and for that, he must face his suspension. Knowing Rafael's character personally, I'm inclined to believe that there must be some explanation to back-up his claims, but I'll admit that it's hard to imagine a scenario given the situation. Baseball must enforce its anti-steroid policy strongly, and so I must commend baseball for following through on their findings."
This, opposed to coming across as, "I believe Rafael in spite of any evidence..."
Joe: Yes, I am happy!!! Score one for sports diversity!
Whitney: Do you think beach volleyball is boring? What could be more fun than four half-naked men getting dirty on the beach? Just kidding. :)
Al: Thanks for a great post. Best sports article so far in the history of Desperate Houseflies!
Al, thanks for a great post. My loss for missing out on the discussion.
While I could say a little, 900 miles on the road drains my energy. But I must sing the praises of the Toyota Prius. 500 miles on one tank of gas! I did a manly dance after getting out (a little jaundiced) for the first potty break in +6 hrs... Manhood should be proud of our work today.
And just to add a little something to the mix on Raffy, about whom I could not possibly care less, honestly, I was just watching a show on Fox Sports, and in between the Sci-Fi sound effects, someone pointed out that Jose Canseco, of all people, in his tell-all book not only named Raffy as a steroid user but named the exact substance that Raffy just got caught using. There are lots of steroids and to name the exact one is a bit amazing. And I know that this is an over-made point, but any athlete who doesn't know what sort of substance they are putting into their bodies is intentionally being unintentional. Plausible deniability and whatnot. I'll actually give President Bush some credit here for sticking up for a friend. Much as I disagree with him on so much, his statement seemed more along the lines of I like this guy no matter what he does. So in this case, I won't jump on him. I'm willing to forgive someone for sticking up for a friend in the face of all evidence to the contrary. Bush's statement didn't seem to be all that bad to me.
Volleyball: love it. Fast-paced, and every single hit counts for something. And since I can't for the life of me hit a volleyball anywhere I want to hit it, I have lots of respect for those who can.
Mikey
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