Roid-ger Clemens

Can the soap opera with Roger Clemens get any better? He's recording conversations without people knowing (in the guise of discussing a sick boy), he' losing it on national TV on a daily basis and the hole is getting deeper each time he opens his mouth.
I honestly think the Roger Clemens situation might qualify as one of my top 10 sports events of all time. Yes this is an event...actually better! The biggest jerk in sports (yes ahead of Barry) is getting lit up in the papers on an hourly basis. I'm hoping he'll keep getting the same bad advice his lawyer is giving him and have a huge meltdown in front of congress. I'm also excited to see Andy Petite's next round of lies when he sits in front of congress. I'll bet 2:1 he covers for Clemens. He didn't come clean the first time so why should we expect anything different now?

Skipping to the NFL playoffs I am pulling for the underdogs (in order- San Diego, Jax, Seattle) I would say the Giants but I couldn't stand seeing fans in New York celebrate anything. I'm actually already in draft mode. I'm hoping the Vikings find themselves a WR next spring. Jackson from Cal would be a nice fit.

Sweet justice for Clemens

The saying what comes around goes around was never more true this week than ever. Clemens steroids leak made my decade. To top it off his supposed "honest" friend Pettitte also gets nailed. The Yankees had 9 players identified on the Mitchell report during the 2000 World Championship. Apparently it's not just money that buys championships- Steroids do too!

Clemens arrogance finally came back full circle. It's a beautiful thing to know he'll live his life in shame rather than the "adoration for his remarkable workout and ageless skills". Can the Yankees have anymore shame than they've gone through since the "Choke" in 2004 up to now?

These Yankee stories are the gift that keeps on giving...

A-Fraud

So the Yankees are getting A-rod again. While I'm disappointed that he makes the Yankees a better regular season team I also realize I don't have to worry about the Yankees in October for the next 10 years. The thing that shocks me the most is he didn't wait for a bigger stage to announce the decision like he did during game 4 of the World Series. Hank Steinbrenner and A-Rod...A marriage made in heaven....

NBA action fantastic?

I pretty much kissed the NBA off about 3-4 years after Bird, McHale and the Chief left. As much as I hate to admit it I actually missed the Laker style of ball too. There was nothing like Celtics-76'ers, Celtics-Lakers in the early and mid 80's. After the Celtics-Lakers era the NBA turned to the Jordan era. That is where I stopped watching. The NBA became what it is today. Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Kobe are all to blame. They turned the game into an individual sport. Teams started to clear everyone out and let their star go one on one. The passing, fast break offense became a thing of the past. The Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns are about the closest thing the NBA has to the glory days.

This new look Celtic team has me excited for a couple of reasons. They pass the ball around, their willing to put personal goals aside for winning a championship, and they want to restore the Celtic franchise to it's glory days. I'm not saying I'm going to out and buy the NBA ticket but It is starting to bring back old feelings. I'm actually checking the scores on the nights they play. Unfortunately when I watch the Celtics it also means I have to watch the Kobe's, Wades, Carters and McGrady's.

Red Sox offseason moves

Last night I was at the BYU-TCU game. I was wearing my Red Sox sweatshirt. A guy sitting behind me said "The seasons over". I turned around and said "the seasons never over in Red Sox Nation"...I thought about that for a bit...The season doesn't really end. We're now in the "so-to-speak offseason" but this time of year is as important as any. This is the time of year when decisions are made to either bring players back or let them go. It's also the time to decide who will be be a good fit that would round out the team.

For the first time in forever I guess, I don't think the Red Sox have a lot of big needs. If they sign Mike Lowell the only thing I think we may address is adding depth to the bullpen. I think we need to get another lefty in the pen. We can't put a lot of innings on Oki going forward. He got a tired arm at the end of the year. We need to make him the lefty specialist facing a batter or two at most when he comes in.

I'm not a huge fan of the NBA anymore. After Bird left it has been hard to watch. Too many selfish players and not enough PASSING. I am however excited about the Celtics this year. I see a team willing to do anything. They are unselfish and doing all the little things. I'm tempted to bring out the "Celtic Pride" t-shirt.

A Dark Presence in the Force

Many of you have probably sensed a dark presence in the force lately. Yankee fans are grasping for anything and anyone that will listen to them (see picture to the right).

I personally will contribute one dollar towards therapy for every Yankee fan that is ready to make the conversion. Remember...the first step is admitting you have a problem. Those of you that are 4th, 3rd or 2nd generation Yankee fans...don't make the same mistake your fore fathers made. There is a way out!

The empire is dead!

Red Sox Heritage

I've had a couple people ask me how I became a Red Sox fan. It's pretty simple really. Back in 1974 I was watching a baseball game being played in Boston and when I saw the green monster and all the sights and surroundings of Fenway Park it was love at first sight. I don't think I really knew much about who they were or where they were from at the time. The next year the Red Sox played in the World Series against the Reds. I got to see the Red Sox on TV quite a few times thanks to their playoff run. Back then there was no ESPN or baseball ticket or the internet for that matter.

Several years later my brother served a church mission to Boston. He knew I was a Sox fan so he started sending me hats, batting helmets, t-shirts etc. That sealed the deal. My first trip to Fenway was back in 1991. My Dad took my brother Brett and I out there. Since then I've been too many times to count. I've been to Fenway at least once a year for the last 6-7 years. I've been to Opening Day 4 times since 2001. I even chose a project at work simply because it was located close to Boston (Hartford, CT). I try to hit the West Coast each year when the Sox come out to play the Angels or A's as well. For the record if you ever wanting to see them up close the Red Sox stay at the Anaheim Marriot when they're playing the Angels!

My family has all converted to Red Sox Nation over the last 15 years. The last few playoff appearances have been great to get decked out in our Red Sox gear (even the kids) and go crazy for the Sox. This last year we had 4 of the 5 brothers there opening day. We even had a niece born opening day so we knew it was destiny this year.

That is the short and sweet (although Laurie would call it the long and boring) version.

We have a little saying among my Red Sox buddies that is a motto our church also uses- "Every member a missionary". When I think about all of the people that have converted to Red Sox Nation here in Utah I say to myself....WELL DONE!