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!

World Series Champs...AGAIN!

Wow....1:25 AM and not even close to getting any sleep. The Sox have done it again. The Boston Red Sox are the 2007 World Series Champions. I've just watched Game 4 for the second time and sports center several times over. It never gets old. It's just now starting to hit me.

For those of you who don't watch sports you wouldn't understand. When you've followed a team like I have (1974 Red Sox) and you watch almost every game (162 games thanks to Direct TV's Baseball Ticket) it becomes a part of your life. The Red Sox are part of my extended family.

The greatest thing about winning the World Series last night was Laurie coming downstairs to watch the game with me. It was just her and me watching the Red Sox complete the sweep. She gave up her weekly Sunday night ritual of playing games and watching TV with her friends. As we watched the Red Sox shower each other with champagne Laurie brought down the Martinelli's sparkling apple cider. We celebrated right with them.

A big thanks to the 2007 Red Sox for making this a great year. A bigger thanks to Laurie for being supportive of my obsession with the Red Sox and for taking the time to share the special moment!

Boston Red Sox 2007 World Series Champions....wow that feels good to say that!

Sox lead 2-0

It's hard to not think about the celebration that is within the Red Sox grasp. I don't worry about choking like I used to with the pre-2004 Red Sox but anything is possible. The Red Sox are clearly the better team but the better team doesn't always win i.e. last years St.Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals had to be the worst team in the history of baseball to win a World Series.

I'm bummed out that we couldn't get tickets to the games in Colorado this weekend. We had tickets in the checkout process then the site timed out. Big time bummer....If the Sox win I am trying to decide if I fly out for the victory parade or wait till next year, hope the opening day lottery pans out and go then.

These last three weeks have made for a lot of sleepless nights and day dreaming. My mind and body is as ready for vacation as the Sox players.

Go Sox- Finish strong!

Ding Dong the Yanks are gone!

Why does it feel like we just won the World Series? Do I hate the Yankees that bad? YES! No more Johnny Damon, no more Joe Torre tears no more Yankee clutch in the late innings.

The Red Sox facing the Indians for all purposes is the World Series. This baseballs version of Colts-Patriots, or basketballs version of Spurs-Suns. The winner of this series will have to find a way to get up for a much inferior National League team.

I don't believe any Sox fan that says they wanted to face the Yankees. Too much stress and to much heartache if we were to have lost.

Bring on the tribe!

Jealousy from the Mrs

I'm getting the vibe from Laurie that she's worried about losing viewers. My blog seems to be captivating viewers from across the globe. I told her I would throw out a plug for her blog. If you're interested in reading non-sports material (which I don't know why anyone would) here's a good blog www.wimmerclan.blogspot.com

Red Sox: I'm feeling good about the Sox wrapping things up today. I will say I got a little nervous thinking what if the Sox-Angels series goes 5 games and we've got Dice-K pitching. I like Dice-K a lot but in many ways he's like Tim Wakefield. You never know what you're going to get. I think the Sox would be better served to hold Beckett till game 5. The problem is who would you pitch in game 4. Dice-K doesn't pitch well on short rest. If the Sox use Beckett as a potential game 5 pitcher they have the option that if the series doesn't go 5 games he's ready to pitch game 1 of the ALCS. If the series does go 5 games they've got their man on the mound.

Yankees: I can't think of a better way for Clemens to end his career today than the Yanks being eliminated from the playoffs. I've been getting a good laugh from the articles coming from the Yanks that the umpires should have called the game because of the bugs. Maybe my memory is short but wasn't there another team also dealing with the bugs... I'm suprised The Boss hasn't started up with conspiracy theories yet.

BYU football: The Cougs had a bye yesterday so not much to discuss. I was also going to talk about how much I despise the Utes but most of my readers already agree with everything I would have to say on this.

Vikings: The Vikes have a bye today. It's kind of a bummer because it's one less loss away from getting the # 1 pick. The Bears-Packers game tonight should be good. I don't like either team (especially the Packers) but it should be a close game. Brett Farve is the Roger Clemens of the NFL. He goes through the "I might or might not retire ritual" every year for the last 4 years. Both players are sucking up the fans pleading for them to stay, then comes time when they get to make the DRAMATIC announcement that they're going to play.

And on the 8th day Manny was created...

Welcome to the opening edition of the Commish Report. I told my wife that I was going to start my own blog so I could at least talk to someone about the world of sports.

Red Sox: After two games into the post-season things couldn't be aligning any better in the American League. The Sox are up 2-0 on the Halos while the Yanks are primed for another postseason swoon. My how things have changed that I'm thinking of the Sox as clutch and the Yanks as the chokers. These are not your fathers Red Sox anymore. Ever since 2004 the roles have reversed. It's still not over by any means but I'm enjoying the show thus far.

Vikings: The Vikings suck....not much more to say. They've got a great defense but no offense. Why is that we can never have the offense and defense on the same page. Back in the late 90's it was the offense dominating with the defense being the achilles heal. The Vikes are 1-3 after 4 weeks. Even though it's early I'm already cheering for them to lose in order to land the # 1 pick in next years draft. The Vikes are 1-2 skill players away from being a playoff caliber team.

More to come later- Next topic- BYU Football and why the University of Utah (all sports)sucks...