This Is What The Blogosphere Does To Me

I should have known that it was only a matter of time before I was back to my old blogging self. This blog is very reminiscent to the work found on firejoemorgan.com. FJM is a sports blog site that points out inaccuracies in statements, stupid things people say and other stuff about sports.

So, while browsing SalukiTalk, I found an article in the Daily Egyptian (the student paper at SIU) with the headline Bonds deserves to be cheered, not jeered. Of course, that hit me immediately so I had to read it thoroughly. After reading it thoroughly, I have to pick it apart, just like FJM does.

First, I'd like to go on record of saying that it is a well written article with some interesting views. However, I disagree. I'll just pick that apart. Remember my credo: "ya gotta crawl before ya walk."

This is a shame because Bonds is, without a doubt, the greatest baseball player of our generation.

"Without a doubt" is quite a strong message to make. Bonds is arguably the greatest player of our generation. Some would argue Ken Griffey Jr. My argument is that the greatest player of our generation is still in his prime, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is on the verge of being the youngest player to reach 500 home runs, and many believe that he will eventually surpass Bonds as the home run champion.

Unfortunately, though, Bonds is cast as a media-dodging, steroid-using jerk that has no respect for the game or the home run record...

With Bonds perception is reality, his image is his own doing. I will go out on a limb saying that he respects the game and the record, but knowing the baseball line he comes from (father Bobby Bonds and Godfather Willie Mays.) With baseball lineage like that, you better respect the game.

Many fans link Bonds to steroids and say he has tainted the game. Well, in his defense, there is no proof that he has used.

This is where EVERYONE is wrong. Dead wrong. It's called Grand Jury testimony in which Bonds admitted to unknowingly using "the clear" which he thought was flaxseed oil. OK, so the testimony was illegally leaked, but the man who leaked it is getting the punishment he deserves. Meanwhile, Bonds seemingly gets off scot-free from silly media types that ignore THE FACT that Bonds went in front of a jury and said he unknowingly took steroids. Next topic.

When Mark McGwire was in the process of breaking the single season home run record in 1998, no one raised an eyebrow. McGwire certainly had visual characteristics of a juicer - as does Bonds. The difference with McGwire, though, was that fans applauded him for his pursuit of history.

Let's go back in time to 1998, shall we? McGwire was seen in the same light as Bonds, a crotchety baseball figure dubbed by WSCR's Terry Boers as "The Big Red Penis" for his irritability around the media. However, McGwire opened up when he was befriended by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa. Sosa's fun loving act rubbed off on McGwire in what would become the summer that saved baseball. Bonds could have warmed up to Griffey and it could have been Sosa/McGwire II. It just wasn't meant to be.

Is it because he is black? Maybe. Is it because the media has portrayed him as an outcast? That certainly adds to it.

I can't believe he pulled the race card. Race has NOTHING to do with it, except for those who still march around with the Confederate Flag ignoring the process made in this country since Brown v. Board of Ed. One of (if not the most) beloved athlete of our generation is a black male, Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods is quite beloved, and he represents two minority groups! Race isn't an issue when it comes to Bonds. As for the media portraying him as an outcast: he requests a locker away from everyone else, a locker with stuff others don't have....and he even had his own TV show which really did the portraying for us.

Pete Rose gambled on baseball and lied to the nation for years but is still honored as a legend of the game. Ty Cobb was a documented jerk but is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Bonds is shunned.

While Rose is honored for what he did on the field, he is still banned from being in the Hall of Fame for breaking a rule. Cobb was more than a documented jerk, he was a known racist. Cobb is recognized for what he did on the field, but the racism is not acceptable. Bonds is shunned because that's what he has made himself out to be. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow.

Here's the kicker for me:
As unlikable a character he can be sometimes, Bonds deserves to be cheered in his chase of 755, not jeered.

I would like to thank JRNL-310 with Anita Stoner for teaching me to catch this red flag and immediately delete it from my writing. It's in the headline already...and besides that, it's already implied that you think that Bonds should be cheered, not jeered. You give your side with evidence, that's your job as a journalist. That line should just be cut out. I don't know if I should blame the writer or the editor.

That felt good to do that. Maybe someone from the DE will catch this and put me in the position I believe that I rightfully deserve: sportswriter.

Well, there's always next semester.

Writer's Block & An Epiphany: A Two Part Blog

This will be a very simple two part blog. And awaaay we go:

• I've been home for a little more than two months now and have yet to put out a poem. Alas, writer's block has gotten me down. And it's not classic writer's block where you don't know what to write about. I have a notebook full of ideas and concepts, yet I have been having problems putting things on paper. I've come to several conclusions on why this is happening.
• THERE IS NO DUE DATE. When it comes to writing assignments, I'm good under pressure. I do my best work late at night/early in the morning. There's no sense of urgency, that's one reason nothing has gotten done.
• I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH FREE TIME ON MY HANDS. Though I still have a lot of free time on my hands, it's nothing compared to how much free time I have in Carbondale. I spend my mornings with my grandmother, my afternoons at work, and I'm in bed by 11:30. Weird, I know.
• I'M IN A GENERALLY HAPPY MOOD. I noted earlier that my best work comes late at night/early in the morning. That, coupled with my frustrations makes for classic works in which I vent. Since I've been home, I've been generally happy---and it's hard to get at certain topics when you're smiling ear-to-ear.

• That brings me to my second topic, the change in me. I got bored one night and decided to read my old blogs from around a year ago, just to see what I was writing about. I direct you to my MySpace Blog from July 21 2006. In that blog I start with this line: "Life's guarantees: death, taxes and Lu writes about one of two things on his blog: women or the Cubs." And this is where I had my epiphany, I've changed so much in a year....and it's a good thing. I've noticed that I'm consistently happy now, unlike last year where I'd be happy for a day, then upset for a week. I've noticed that I'm not letting my issues with women run my life like they used to. Looks like I've got my priorities in line for once. I've also realized that when the Cubs are winning, I'm at my happiest. Some might think that's kinda sad, but I don't care. Because everyone loves "Happy Lu."

That's it. I just thought that I'd throw those two thoughts out there. I'd also like to note that a change in my attitude seems to coincide with the beginning of second semester. A lot has changed in the last year. People have come and gone and things have been a-changin'. I just hope to keep moving forward with the positive momentum and hopefully those things that plagued me in the past will finally fall into place the way that I thought they would.

And if the Cubs keep on their pace, all of that is going to take a back seat to "The Miracle On Addison Street."

:-)

Baseball's Second Half Begins Tomorrow

Yes, a handful of teams started the second half of baseball today, but I don't care about them. I care abou tthe team that resides at 1060 W. Addison St.....the Chicago Cubs.

Not too long ago, the Cubs were 9.5 games out of first, looking like the biggest waste of $300 million in the history of sports. Then came the turning points of this season. The dugout slugout between Michael Barrett and Carlos Zambrano. Then, Lou Piniella's classic tirade. Followed by the 10-1 rout of the Atlanta Braves.

If the Cubs go on to win the NL Central, I will point to that weekend as the point when the Cubs figured it out.

Some might say that Piniella (in his first year managing the Cubs) was asleep at the wheel for the first two months. I'd counter with that Piniella spent the first two months of the season unraveling the mess of a roster given to him by GM Jim Hendry.

Alfonso Soriano has moved from sub-par center fielder to All-Star left fielder. Cesar Izturis has been replaced by LSU's finest: Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot. Mark DeRosa has played like the super-utility man that he was advertised as. Carlos Marmol has pitched lights out in the bullpen and is the closer of the future. Michael Barrett is no longer with the team.

But that was the first half, it's time to move forward. Hopefully the Cubs will play like the team from June and early July, instead of the mopes that stunk up the joint in April and May.

By my math, the Cubs need to go 45-30 to finish with 90 wins. I said in the beginning of the year the 90 wins should win the division. I also said that the Cubs would win the division, not only because it was meant to be because of my epiphany last October or the special circumstances in the beginning of the year, but also because they were the most talented team (on paper) in the division.

For the Cubs to win the division however, the following five things must happen:

• Carlos Zambrano must pitch like the ace he is. Zambrano is 5-2 since "restarting" his season on June 6. He's a career second half monster. Expect big things from Big Z! (Hopefully starting with a big contract extension.)
  
• Derrek Lee must find his power stroke. Don't get me wrong, I love the .330 average and the .400+ on-base percentage---but D. Lee needs to slug some dingers for the Cubs offense to be clicking on all cylinders.
• Jason Marquis must avoid his second half slump. As good as Big Z is in the second half, the Grand Marquis isn't. His track record shows he goes cold when the weather gets hot. If #21 can be a .500 pitcher in the second half, I'd be happy.
• The bullpen needs to stay strong. The Cubs will have an interesting situation when closer Ryan Dempster returns from injury. I suggest putting Carlos Marmol in the 9th inning A.S.A.P. with Dempster and a revived Bobby Howry handling the 7th and 8th innings. Will Ohman has excelled as the lefty specialist and Scott Eyre is sitting at the end of the bench (thankfully.)
• The Cubs need to strengthen their offense. Somehow, someway....it must be done! Whether it be a blockbuster deal (Ken Griffey Jr.?) or something smaller (Ty Wiggington?) the Cubs need to improve their ball club. It will be a bit difficult with the Tribune seemingly hand cuffed by prospective owner Sam Zell, who is making life miserable for Cubs fans as long as Jacque Jones is on that roster. Someone should note that it is completely UNFAIR that someone in the White Sox ownership group OWNS THE CUBS! I'm not saying the fix is in....okay I am. I don't trust Bud Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf or anyone in MLB ownership circles.

Which brings me to this. Mark Cuban has sent in his bid to buy the Cubs. Please, let him buy the team. Please! I'll get down on my hands and knees. I'll go pick up Mr. Cuban at either airport and will be his personal chauffer to Tribune Tower to get the deal done.

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure more will come as long as the Cubs keep winning!