Let me start by saying, I told you Billy Donovan would stay at Florida and not leave for Kentucky. I actually miss quoted myself the last few days when I said something like “on Thursday Billy Donovan will be introduced as the next UK basketball coach.” What I meant was “on Thursday Billy Donovan will not be introduced as the next UK basketball coach and instead stay at Florida while his ‘Big 4’ head to the NBA and he brings in a top recruiting class and tries to win National Title No. 3.” Glad we cleared that up.
Surprise, surprise. It was another very frustrating day yesterday for Cleveland fans. The Indians and Cavs both lost games they should have won. The Tribe lost on a HBP. Honest to God a “hit by pitch.” One day after praising the bullpen, they couldn’t get the job done. Roberto Hernandez had a stat line anyone would be proud of; 0 IP, 2H, 1BB, 1ER and 1 error. Solid. He allowed back-to-back singles, then had a throwing error on a pick-off throw to second that made even the Detroit Tigers’ pitching staff laugh. He walked the bases loaded and then hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch giving the Sox the 4-3 win.
Now that the Tribe can’t go 162-0, there’s a new streak brewing. Grady Sizemore has 3 home runs in 3 games. Can he hit a HR in every game this year? Obviously the easy answer is no but try looking into his eyes and telling him that. That is, if you don’t get lost in a sea of blue dreams.
Good luck today to all the fans going out to Jacob’s Field for the home opener. The forecast; 34 degrees, 20 mph winds and 30% chance of snow. Just pretend you are a Browns game and it might not seem so bad. And it will be better than a Browns game because the home team has a chance to win.
The Cavs continue to find ways to lose games. Last night against Miami, in a must win game, it was gawd-awful shooting that did them in, losing 94-90. They were down 15 in the fourth quarter but managed to come back and have a chance to win it on the last shot of regulation. The Cavs played great defense in the fourth quarter and, get this, made 17-of-17 from the foul line. They finally learned how to shoot a free throw. Good for them. Now if only they had a play at the end of the game besides Mike Brown calling his favorite play; “throw-it-in-to-LeBron-and-let-him-dribble-dribble-dribble-dribble-get-double-teamed-and-force-up-an-off-balanced-three-that-has-as-much-chance-of-going-in-as-it-if-Ira-Newble-took-the-shot-while-the-rest-of-you-stand-around-and-do-nothing.” Here’s a disturbing stat, James is 0-for-10 on 3-pointers to win or tie games this season, mainly because they are like the ones he took last night, double-teamed and falling away. The Cavs got back into the game because they took the ball to the hole and got fouled and made free throws. Going away from that on the final shot of the game makes about as much sense as trying to eat a steak with a plastic spork. Not this point I don’t see the Cavs winning a playoff series. They are too inconsistent and can’t win the close games like they were a year ago. Right now they have to play Miami in the first round and I don’t think anyone is going to bet against Shaq and even a 80% heathly Dwayne Wade in the playoffs. If the Cavs can’t beat a Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler-less Wizards team tonight, the Cavs are in some deep trouble.
Of course, the Heat should have won the game in regulation and it wouldn’t have even come down to LeBron’s “shot.” James Posey stole the ball from a Cav, I don’t remember who, then had a clean break-a-way for an easy dunk. No Cavs player even chased him down the court. So what does Posey do? He travels. My goodness he traveled. No one even on that side of the court and he took three steps to the hoop. And the extra step wasn’t even for a super sweet dunk. It was a simple two-handed boring dunk. The travel was so obvious the ref had to call it. Posey had this look on his face after the call like he had just walked into a surprise party for his Sweet 16 birthday. He couldn’t believe they called it and frankly neither could I even though it was more noticeable than midget streaking across the court.
Two stupid ways, but not surprising ways, for Cleveland to go 0-2 yesterday. But at least the stupid award of the day goes to Posey.
In non-sports news, Grindhouse opens this today. It’s a Quentin Tarantino movie and that says it all. I read a review and found out it is actually two movies in one. Trying to just follow along the review was challenging so I can only imagine what the movie is like, but I bet it will be entertaining. One of the characters, played by Rose McGowan, has a severed leg and in its place has a machine gun. My question is, if you were in that situation, what would you want your fake leg to be? I think I’m going with a keg.
