To those of you who may stumble across this blog and expect a rational well thought out piece on Irelands crushing exit from the world cup I warn you that’s not what this is going to be, instead this will be the ramblings of a fan still to bitter and angry about last night to use journalistic perspective on what occured.
Last night hurts it hurts that after a two year campaign that that’s how it ended, it hurts that Ireland played their absolute best and still are not going to be on a plane to South Africa, while a French team that showed no sprit and played at 70% will be. It hurts that pundits and analysts and even some Irish players blame the referee last night more than Thierry Henry saying the French thief was doing what anyone would have done ,it hurts that somehow his cheating is accepted part of the game and will be viewed by some as quote a brilliant piece of professionalism which in truth is just code for cheating and that’s what it was blatant cheating he handled the ball twice and still got away with it,he basically hand passed the ball maybe inspired by his trip to Croke Park last week to William Gallas who scored the goal, it hurts that when ever I watch the world cup and watch the French or see Thierry Henry play for Barcelona that all I will be able to think of is that handball, is the reaction on my dads face as the goal scored and the realisation set in that no we where not going to the world cup. It hurts that I force myself to watch myself to watch the replays in some sort of combination between masochism and blind hope that somehow the ref will blow his whistle and the goal wont stand but he never does.
For a small country like this the world cup even just getting to the world cup means everything we are realistic Ireland will never win a major trophy but we just want to get to the party and have a good time and see where we end up, we may never get laid by the really hot chick at the party but we will have a fun time trying.Yeah I know I am rambling now and yeah I know this probably sucks to read but fuck it my country was robbed of a world cup spot and its one if not the worst losses of my sports watching life I think I better stop writing now and go watch the replays some more to help the grieving.
Not only did the New York Yankees win their 27th world series but by winningsaid championship world peace broke, the global econmic downturn ended not that it seemed to affect the yankees in the firstplace and disease such as cancer,aids and the swine flu have beng eradicated in the afterglow of yankee victoryIf it was sunny in your part of the world you probably have the yankees to thank for that also.If winning the world series was not enough it is believed during the celebration parade that Yankee Cptain Derek Jeter will walk on the hudson river of course what i have said is less hyperbolic than what the new york media has suggested after the yankees won.the pharse everything is right with the universe now that order has being restored in the baseball world is another reason like we needed any to loathe the yankees.The truth of the matter is all the yankees win proves is that those who spend the most in mlb will be victorious and in the end is that really such a good thing for the baseball universe?
Baseball in Ireland. No that’s not a typo. it is indeed true and I am betting the possibility that a league exists which allows participants to use baseball bats for their intended purpose and not for what they are commonly associated with on the news in this country. Has never entered your mind but it does.
The league consist of six teams; the North Stars from Belfast, The Spartans, Black Sox,Twins,Hurricanes and the Greystones Mariners. It is comprised of an eclectic talent pool of players from America, Australia, South Amercia, England, Asia and, of course, Ireland. There are two leagues, the A league and the B league, the later a league for newer inexperienced players basically a developmentally league. We even have a national baseball team who came second in the European b-pool Championships held in Austria in 2006. There has also been an award winning film made on baseball in Ireland called the Emerald Diamond.
So what is it like to play in one of the minority of minority sports? Well I sat down with a member of the oldest baseball team in Ireland, the Greystones Mariners, and relative newbie to the sport, once described by baseball legend Ernie Harwell as “a ballet without music, drama without words.” Marcus Maher to discuss the weird, wacky, and interesting world of playing America’s game in Ireland.
So how does some one born and raised in Ireland ended up playing a game about as American as apple pie“I have a friend who is a big baseball fan and he was going to the open tryouts the Greystones Mariners were holding and I decided to go along with him and now a year later here I am on the team”. While some may look at the game of baseball as basically a jumped up, over- hyped game of rounders and a sport that requires little or no skill, see ball, hit ball, catch ball, throw ball, it is entirely different when you start to play according to Marcus.” oh god yeah” he responded enthusiastically when asked about how difficulty the sport was to play” it looks easy but it takes a lot of practice to learn the basic fundamentals of the game”. The great baseball player and icon Ted Williams sums it up perfectly “By the time you know what to do, you're too old to do it.” Marcus finds the most difficulty part of the game the hitting. “It’s hard to get used to the different speeds and locations a pitcher will throw the ball. For example he may throw a fastball on the inside part of the plate and the next pitch throw a curve ball that makes your knees buckle low and away from you”.
Now you maybe wondering as I was if baseball is so difficulty to play why play? Why not retire and take up another sport. But it’s the challenge of the game that is so alluring to Marcus” its an interesting game, there is so many variables that can happen in a baseball game no two games are ever alike. It keeps you on your toes”
Like its American counterparts the Irish baseball season starts in April but that is pretty much where the similarities end. The highest paid Major League Baseball Player, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, the Manchester Untied of Baseball, is going to earn a salary of twenty five million dollars this season and that is not a typo. While the highest paid player in our league is going to earn exactly zero euro. Baseball in America attracts crowds of tens of thousands of passionate supports into big gorgeous, state of the art ball parks with top class facilities for players and fans alike, while baseball in Ireland attract literally one man and his dog and the occasional passers by who stop with bemused looks on their face not understanding what is going or why indeed they have stopped to look at all. This it self can lead to some unique situation. “We had to stop a training session after a dog with diarrhoea used our field as a toilet” we have also had to stop games while dogs are removed from the fields we play in explained Marcus. Weather also plays a factor in baseball in Ireland. In America play is stopped for rain over here due to the climate come rain, hail, snow or a thunderstorm if a game is scheduled to be played it will be played.” I remember arriving to a game once and being handed a bucket and told to scoop of water of the field so we could play the game.” Yet this all adds to the uniqueness of playing baseball in Ireland.
Asked about some of the highlights and lowlights of his fledging baseball career Marcus responed”the best game I played in was 3 and a half hour game between us and the Black Sox. It ended up 36-26 after we blew a ten run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning but came back to score eleven in the next inning to win.” A report of the truly bizarre spectacle from the Greystone Mariners website reads as follows; “No that score is not a mis-print. In three and half hours, the Mariner and Black Sox 'B's managed to combine for a total of 62 runs. While the pitchers will be avoiding the stat book, hitters on both teams will be posting their averages to the major leagues. A 9 run Black Sox lead in the first looked ominous for the Mariners, but then so did the Mariner's 10 run lead in the 7th. But a game without logic was what we were witnessing. Long but no doubt fun to play in, it went to extra innings after the Black Sox did overhaul that 10 run deficit but with the Mariner's tacking on another 11 runs in the 8th, could they repeat their 7th inning effort? Thankfully for the Mariner's and anyone spectating, the answer was no”
Another time a game had to stopped “when these guys started throwing rocks at us as we played in Clondalkin, in the end the coaches of both teams chased them off with baseball bats”ok so maybe in my opening paragraph I lied about baseball bats being used for their intended purpose. Another game Marcus remembers is winning the B league championship “a game we were winning 11-0 then we went to sleep and the hurricanes came back to take a 12-11 lead but we went on to win it 13-12”. It was the first championship in the history of the Mariners.
Because baseball is a sport that flies under the radar funding is an issue and now that the Olympic committee has decide to drop Baseball from its schedule that will further impact the funding Irish baseball gets. When Marcus was asked what can be done to improve the game he responded “get more publicity attract more people into the game like Americans living over here, and more Irish people. and on the issue of funding reach out to some Irish Americans sugar daddy I guess” so until the Irish baseball equivalent of Roman abramovich comes along the game will remain in the shadows of Irish sport, played by a few diehards with a passion and love for a game so uniquely American but yet who play it with a unique Irish twist.
When you pay $78 million to a saviour you expect a heroic figure to ride into town on a white horse and with a track record of saving people. What the Detroit Lions got was a 21 year old fresh faced college kid out of Georgia with potential in Matthew Stafford.
Stafford is no sure thing for the lions as we have seen countless times in the past. College success does not always translate to the pros. The only guarantee that Stafford gives the lions is a chance of a fresh start. They could have gone after NFL proven Quarterbacks’ in the form of Matt Cassel and Jay Cutler but Lion’s management chose not to. Instead they chose to bet it all on red in the form of Stafford a gamble that could have serious impacts on an all ready inept franchise if it goes wrong.
Success for the Lions this year is a win a single win, an improvement over last years remarkable for all the wrong reasons winless season. While Detroit fans don’t expect Stafford to emulate the seasons of last year rookie QB’S Joe Flaco And Matt Ryan, they do expect the man who has just received the largest guarantee of money in NFL History to at least be average out of the starting blocks.
Stafford is now the face of a franchise for a town that is going through some very tough economic times and a team that the people of Detroit will turn to, to escape the harsh realities of being laid off and struggling to pay the mortgage. They may have a short tolerance if a kid who has just hit the lottery and being handed an obscene amount of money because he might be good falters. Matthew Stafford is now on the clock.
"He is the sole selector of the team," Shaun Edwards Lions defence Coach. And right there some how lost in the game of who was picked and who was snubbed, that the media played after the Lions Team was Picked is potential a sign of things to come for the Lions and the trouble that awaits them in South Africa.
Edwards said the above quote when talking about the omission of Wales Captain Ryan Jones from the lion’s squad. It is a fascinating choice of words that Edwards’s uses he could have just simply said it was a coach’s decision but instead seemed to imply that if it was up to Edwards Jones would be going but it was McGeehan’s fault he was not travelling. Now I understand Edwards wanting to remain on good terms with the captain of the country he coaches however it seem like a very politically motivated quote that suggest if things go wrong in south Africa Edwards will be more than happy to point a finger at McGechan to save his already falling star from plummeting further.
The choice of the welsh coaching team a year ago seemed like a good idea why not bring the masterminds behind the welsh grand slam along to coach the lions however their stock plummeted after this years disappointing results and they seem like more harm than good will come from there participation on the tour. Wales coach Warren Gatland already has suggested that the welsh players hate the Irish players more than any other team and with sets of players from those two nations making up the majority of the squad that could be a very divided and tense Lockeroom.
Edwards himself is an issue the man who many in the media that touted as the head coach of England a year ago is not enjoying much success at former perennial English Club Powerhouse Wasps said to be not the most personable guy in the world the man in his training style could lead to a clash or two with non welsh lions. The most explosive storyline of Rugby’s Summer Blockbuster the Lions Tour well may have Begun Yesterday.
With the start of the Baseball season mere hours away (thank god) it is time to conclude the first annual Bloop hit Baseball preview extravaganas with a look at the NL.
NL East Atlanta Braves: The Atlanta braves are a lot like Liverpool of the eighties the dominant team in their division but like Liverpool it’s being a long team since they have competed for the division title. The former Beast of the east have retooled their rotation with the additions of Javier Vasquez and Derek Lowe and placed on emphasis on defence an acknowledgement from gm frank wren that the Atlanta offsets is not going to scare anybody. While it does contain Chipper Jones and the finest young catcher in the Game Brian McCann the braves will have to manufacture runs, another year in the doldrums awaits the Braves.
Florida Marlins: The most exciting collection of young quality talent in the game led by superstar in the making Hanley Ramirez and the umber exciting Cameron maybin in centre field who adds a versatile to the marlins line up from last year with his base stealing threat to add lighting to the thunder of Dan Uggla and co. The top three starters in Ricky Nolasco, Josh Johnson and Chris Volstead all had big springs and look set for big season. But the marlins tendicIes to kick around the ball like a soccer team and question marks in the bullpen and back end of rotation may mean that this season is all about getting their youthful squadron experience for years to come.
New York Mets: New stadium, New Bullpen same old mets?Mets fans hope not a team plagued by bullpen issues last season and sectional meltdowns for the last two Mets gm Omar mina went out and seemingly remedy the problem by bringing in Closer K-Rod Ned juju. Puts to turn the last years biggest weakness into the teams strength no longer will manger jerry Manuel be playing a game of Russian roulette when ever he makes the phone call to the bullpen. Manuel in many ways was like MacGyver last year trying to get outs form a collection ineffective parts. The Mets will have no problems scoring runs with the quartet of face of the franchise David Wright, Speedster Jose Reyes and Beltran and Delgado and a rotation headed by Johan Santana makes the Mets a very strong team. A team that if they have a lead going into the 8th inning could mean it’s all over for opposing teams. And with the site of past failures blowing up when they tore down sheaf this meets team gets a clean slate to work with.
Philadelphia Phillies: They reigning and defending World Champion Phillies come back with largely the same team. They upgraded both offensively and defensibly in left field by replacing Pat the Bat with Rail Ibanez who hits for better average and plays better defence and who also drove in a 100 runs playing for a terrible Mariners team last year. A titanic battle between them and the Mets for the division title this season in the best rivalry in the sport and am saying that as a Red Six fan.
Nationals: The Highlight for the Nets this season is if they draft college phenol Stephen Strasburg otherwise nets fans can look forward to another last place finssh.A poorly constructed squad and a waste of Ryan Zimmerman’s talents. Battle between themselves, Padres and Oriels for the worst team in baseball crown
Division winners: The Mets
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: Make it a hundred and one years for the long suffering cub fans and Could we thought we had it bad with Ireland not winning a Grand Slam for sixty one years. The cubs have the deepest and most talented rotation in the NL and maybe the best top three stators in the game health depending in Dempster Zambraono and Harden. Add in a potent line-up that now has added balance with the addition of the definition of mercurial outfielder the volatile Milton Bradley the Cubs look set to run away with a third division title in a row. Whether that translates into October success is hard to say it’s hard for cub players to play for a hundred and one season of failure and a weak bullpen could hamper their drought busting dreams. Reds: My sleeper team the reds have built their club on pitching, speed defence all key components in winning baseball games. a good rotation boasting good young power arms in volquez and cueto,a line-up including the second and fourth placed rookie of the years Jay Bruce and Joey Votto and a decent bullpen makes the reds a serious threat to the cubs, maybe the lack of power could hinder the reds but defiantly a club on the right track.
Houston Astros; The Stros had a terrible spring where the strength of last year’s club the hitting looked surprisingly anemic.The key to the team is the bullpen but no use in having a good bullpen if you can’t score runs but then again spring training doesn’t really count and if berkman, Lee, Tejada and Pence can have good season the Astros could be good but a rotation with too many holes after Roy Oswalt means the Astro can at best hope for .500 Brewers: Just a brutal offseason for the brewers they lost their top two starters in sheets and CC and you just have to feel that the brewers missed their opportunity and the window has closed on this team for the foreseeable future. A rebuilding year for the Brew Crew
Pirates; they suck and will most likely make history with a record setting 17th losing season in a row.Atleast Pittsburgh fans have the Steelers
Cardinals: you can never count out a team that Has the Brain Of Tony Larussa and the out of this world talents Of the reigning NL mvp Albert pujols.Cardinal fans have fingers crossed that Chris Carpenter can return to his dominant self after injury plagued season have recently derailed him and in rookie flame thrower Jason Motte the Cardinals look to have a lights out closer but you get the feeling The Cards need every bit of larussa baseball knowledge to cobble together a competitive team.
Division winners: Cubs
NL West
Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks are load with what scouts say is young talent but when do the likes of Connor Jackson, Justin Upton and Stephen Drew show that they are more than just hype if they do combined with a solid rotation lead by All star pitchers Dan Haren and Brandon Webb the D’Backs could push the Dodgers all the way again this year. Bullpen a concern though.
Rockies: The loss of Matt Holiday will hurt the Rockies put their offense looks explosive still with the promise of a resurgent Todd Helton and power in Gareth Atkins the Rockies should score a lot of runs they will be hoping that Ubaldo Jimenez can continue his progression in to a quality starter however serious questions about the bullpen remain with the loss Brian Fuentes to the Angels and question marks about the final three spots in the rotation.
Los Angeles Dodgers Manny is back in Hollywood and will of course be the main source of offense and frustration about his off filed behaviour just how long the LA Manny honeymoon continues to last will be an interesting sub plot. The likes of Kemp and Loney and Either as support players helps the dodgers as does the best middle infield defence in the game in the form of Frucal and Hudson. Decent pitching but the loss of Derek Lowe should hurt relying on a breakout season from talented lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Padres: They should be terrible. A team that most likely will be blown up at some point during the season. Main question for padres fans this season what package of players does the team receive in return for Jake Peavy.
Giants: Giants another sleeper team if you ask me, A Very strong rotation with Lights out Tim Linceum and crafty vet Randy Johnson. Offense should improve from last year with a full season of Pablo Sandoval but they didn’t really improve the biggest weakness on the team and in my opiIOon should have made a more serious run for Manny who could be the deciding factor in the Division Race
With opening day just around the corner I thought it was the perfect time to break out the first annual Bloop hit baseball season preview extravaganza where I separate the contenders from the pretenders, the also ran’s from the non also ran’s the winners from the losers and any other cliché way of basically saying I pick teams I think are going to be good. But enough of this fore play let’s start...
AL East Baltimore Orioles: For the O’s a long season is in store. They are in the dread “rebuilding stages” and are as likely to be a contender as I am to date Megan Fox. But I and the O’s can dream. But it's not all doom and gloom for the Orioles they have some bright spots second baseman Brian Roberts, Nick Markais and young centre fielder Adam Jones should improve and the bullpen so long a weakness now maybe the teams biggest strength with the return of former closer Chris Ray to bridge to All-star George Sherrill and the exciting prospect of rookie catcher Matt Wieters,who some scouts predict to be the best catcher in the AL when he gets called up. But the rotation is a mess with the exception of Jeremy Guthrie and not enough power means the Orioles like my chances with Megan Fox are doomed from the off.
Boston Red Sox: Now in the Interest of Full disclosure I am a Red Sox fan so the following analysis will be clouded by either blind optimism or my pessimistic fandom and panic. The Red Sox by far have the deepest starting pitching staff in the league and maybe baseball. With Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Penny, Wakefield Smoltz, and the re-emergence of Clay Bucholz the Sox have a number of quality options available to them. The bullpen looks outstanding on paper buoyed by the Pick Ups of Ramon Ramirez and Saito.However, for my liking there is just way too many question marks on this team too many ifs and buts. If David Ortiz can be the power hitter he once was, If Mike Lowell can come back from his hip operation, If Jacoby Ellisbury can be more like the Jacoby Ellisbury of the 2007 playoffs then this team can win the world series but if none of those things happen then a 3rd place finish in the division is what awaits them.
New York Yankees: Well the global recession obviously didn’t affect the Evil Empire as they went on a spending binge that would even make Top Bank Officials blush with embarrassment at the money thrown around. The Yankees clearly won the offseason season with the additions Of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to bolster their starting rotation and Mark Teixeira to boost an already potent lineup.The only things that can stop the Yankees from winning World Series Number 27 is if father time catches up on the aging squad, how they handle playing without steroids (ok that was a cheap shot) and if the A-Rod circus causer too much of a distraction. A-Rod the highest paid played has potential to damage this team both on the field where he suffers from can’t get a hit when it matters the mostitisis and his bizarre behaviour.
Tampa Bay Rays: Last Years Cinderella’s are hoping that the clock hasn’t struck midnight and they turn into a pumpkin. That they don’t become the Jimmy Eat World, Dexy's Midnight Runners of the baseballing world one hit wonders. The perennial losers turned World Series participants last season are in danger of suffering from second season syndrome the disease that turns players away from the things that got them success in the first place teamwork, work ethic in to prima donnas with inflated egos. But in Joe Maddon the Rays have a good manger that should be able to squash any seeds of egoism. The rays also have a good young nucleus of potential superstars with the Uptons,Longoria and Pitching Phenomenon David Price waiting in the wings and upgrade at Dh in Pat The bat Burrell the Rays should still be good but you cant help but feel like they Rays are like Homer Simpson in the episode where he climbs the mountain thinks he has reached the top only to be told there is still more to climb. After what the Yankees and Red Sox did this if season.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jay are like an attractive girl who in any other bar would be the centre of attention but instead walked into a bar of supermodels. The jays are a good team but not good enough to hang with the rest of the AL east. Lead by star pitcher Roy Halladay the jays pitching staff has being decimated by injuries and with the exception of Alex Rios the jays like a potent threat in the line-up and have a .500 club written all over them.
Division Winner: The New York Yankees (Bastards)
Al Central
Chicago White Sox:Last Years Division Winners Come back to defend their crown with basically the same team. Josh Fields finally takes over at third base and last years stand out performer Alexi Ramirez moves to short and the Return of Carlos Quentin from a broken wrist the injury that basically killed the Whites Sox hopes of a deep playoff run. The Teams strength is its power and backed up by a solid Bullpen led by Booby jenks and strong pitching rotation in the form of Buerhele, Danks And Gavin Floyd the Palos look set to contend again however the team has question marks at centre field and has no athleticism in the team so Manger Ozzie Guillen Can’t really play the Brand of small ball that led too the white sox to glory in 05.
Cleveland Indians: a lot of people picked the Indians to win the world series but instead they underachieved and where hampered by Injuries to Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner.The Indians will hope the only positive of last season the breakout year for Cliff Lee can continue this year and that the Enigmatic Fausto Carmona can be consistent given the Indians a potential lethal one two punch. The Line-up should be boosted by the return of Hafner and Martinez and a lot of people predict that Shin Soo Choo will have a breakout year. That combined with The Grady Sizemore and a bullpen boosted by the Arrival of the Kerry Wood from Chicago could mean that the Indians World Series trip could arrive this year.
Detroit Tigers: My pick last year to win it all look in disarray. The same problems that plagued them last season remain poor starting pitching. All there starters underperformed and unless they can turn it around the tigers are as about as frigHTenting as a house cat. The line-up can hit but won’t be able to score enough runs to make up for a shaky starting staff and bullpen. Lot rides on the Arms of Verlander, Robertson, and Zumya if the tigers want to contend.
Kansas City Royals: The outside pick to be this year’s version of the Tampa Bay Rays. Built on Strong starting Pitching By former Braves architect Drayton Moore the trio of Grenkie, Meche, and Davies while no Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux have the potential to be very effective. The offense has being bolstered by the additions of Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs but at a cost to last years team strength the bullpen. If the pen can perform to a similar level as last years corp. of relivers and the front of there rotation can produce at least 15 wins each then maybe, just maybe there will be a royal coronation in the central.
Minnesota Twins Two key issues for the twins the health of Joe Mauer and How Francisco Lirano performs.Mauer is the key man for the twins but he seemingly has knees made of glass and has being hampered by a back injury so the twins could be without their most important offense weapon of a larger portion of the season.Lirano is a key in the rotation and if Delmon young can show on a constant level the talent that made him a number one pick the twins could bed in business however the key is the health of Mauer. Division Winner: The Chicago White Sox
AL West Los Angeles Angels This division is the angels to lose by far the class of the west. However the question has to be asked when they will finally make noise in the playoffs because once again they look like a team good enough to win a weak division but not good enough to be competitive in October. The losses of Francisco Rodriguez and Mark Texira don’t help the angles .while the pick ups of Bobby Abreu and Brian Fuentues are nice pickups they don’t scream difference makers to you. The strength of the team is its Starting Rotation but Lackey, Santana, and Escobar can’t get you hits when you most need it. The halos are good just not good enough.
Athletics: GM Billy Beane may have made the most sensational trade of the offseason when he acquired slugger Matt Holiday from the Rockies but the rest of the team he has put together are more of a splish.Added pop to the line-up in the form of Holiday and the return of the Giambino Jason Giambi improves the line-up but the starting pitching and bullpen is a mess. The most exciting thing A’s fans can look forward to this season is what kind of package of players they get in return for Matt Holiday when they trade him at the deadline.
Texas Rangers: Death, Taxes, and Texas Ranger lack of pitching at this stage are the bankers in life. As usual the Rangers lack of quality pitching will prevent them form being anything more than a fun team to watch if you enjoy high scoring baseball games. A tremendous line-up is once again going to be wasted because of the lack of pitching.
Seattle Mariners: The Kid Griffey is back which should but asses in Safeco as Griffey goes on a nostalgic tour. Need Erik Bedard to be like the pitcher he was two season ago. To have any chance. Another team in Rebuilding Mode
Division Winner Los Angeles Angels of anhaiem, California, USA and The world
Playoff teams, Yankees, Angles, Indians Wildcard: Red Sox AL Winner the Yankees.
Well that was exciting wasn't it? It was an Irish team they never make anything simple. Well from what I can remember I may have blacked out after Stephen Jones scored that drop Goal the last five minutes are a bit of a blur as I watched them curled up in a ball on the floor with the TV on mute because in the heat of the moment and in my insanity it was tony ward and Ryle Nugent who where causing the welsh to win O’Gara squeaked over a drop goal and Stephen Jones came yards short of kicking the most devastating moment of sports watching life over the bar. Never mind the fact we hadn’t won a grand slam in sixty one years that ball was in the air for a lifetime.
They say before you die or have a near death experience that you see your life flash between your eyes and as that ball headed towards the post I can confirm I did I saw the ray Houghton goal against tally in the world cup,Wexford beating Limerick in 96, the Red Sox winning the world series in 2004 and 2007 and Harrington winning his majors flash before my very eyes before the prayers of a nation where answered when the ball just ran out of steam and nestled safely in the arms of Geordan Murphy and grand slam glory was ours.
I write/blog this one day after the impossible came through the team that failed so abjectly in the world cup and last year six nations, the tem that critics started to label as chokers and mused that where getting to old and where shock horror past got what they so richly deserved. As a fan of a team you feel like in some way you bond with the team you support that in some way you have shared the same experiences the bitter soul crushing defeats and the victories and to see that giants like O’Connell and O'Driscolls and O’Gara’s and stringers that have toiled for so long on the journey to reach this destination finally win the big one is immensely stratification.
If the above is just rambling nonsense I don’t care am still a little shell shocked about it all. Am happy they won and am happy that my dad got to see it .After France snatched victory form the jaws of defeat in Croke park in 2007(I think ill forever be haunted by the sight of Vincent Clerc skipping in for the try)me and my dad sat in stunned silence until finally he got up and ruefully said to me "you know I have never seen Ireland win a Grand slam" and walked out of the room well yesterday he finally did get to see it even if he was in the back garden and missed the last five minutes. Next year is finally here we are grand slam champions recession be damned I can’t stop smiling.
While there have been many headlines so far in the early stages of the Annual NFL cattle mart where free agents studs flaunt themselves as the horse that will carry any potential suitor over the winning line. The eye popping 100 million that the Effective when he wants to be Albert Haynesworth got from the Redskins or the departure of long time eagles staple Brian Dawkins to the Denver Broncos.Perhaps the most surprising move to occur so far is the trade of Matt Cassel to the Kansas City chiefs. The fact that Cassel was trade at all is not the surprising part despite the excellent job the rookie QB did in bringing the New England Patriots close to the playoffs. The patriots are and never were going to be his team, not with the golden boy of the NFL Tom Brady lurking in the shadows. The surprise is that new Kansas City Chiefs General Manger Scott Pilio the former architect of the Patriots dynasty was able to acquire him for only a second round pick.When the Patriots decide to franchise Matt Cassel and keep him most figured that they would get large treasure troves of draft picks in return for the Gridirons version of Cinderella. It was thought the minimum bounty on the head of Cassel was someone’s number one pick. Instead all the Pats managed to squeeze from the Chiefs was a second rounder much to the bemusment of NFL talking heads.
Now the Patriots will say that the second rounder was better financially value, its a high second round pick so good talent will be still available to pick and if they had received the Chief’s first round pick they where not prepared to pay big money for a commodity unproven at the NFL level.Now that’s all well and good and indeed who am I to argue against Bill Belichick and his three super bowls in four years but surely the Patriots could have got a better deal. The rumoured interests of the Denver Broncos run by new head coach and former Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniel’s. Who wanted to bring his former protégé could have netted if the rumours where true the Patriots a lower first round pick and more. Or indeed if they could not find any other suitors for Cassel then the Chiefs why not demand there first round pick and trade it for my picks down the road.In the end the Chiefs have got them selves a steal if Cassel can prove that he is more Brady, Montana, then Maddox and Leaf ,then Kansas’s long term Quarterback issues have been sorted and all it cost was a second rounder By keeping there first round pick they can either pick player that will impact them straight away or trade the pick to get more to continue the rebuilding process.Its’s low risk high reward move for the ChiefsFor the Patriot however if Matt Cassel continues to play at the same level and beyond of his breakout season people will beginning to question fairly or unfairly whether Bill Belichick is the great football genius or That Scott polloi who to quote Bill Parcells who bought the groceries was the real reason for the New England dynasty.
And for Matt Cassel when he steps into the chief’s locker room and greets his teammates for the first time he may want to say a few kind words to Bernard Pollian.For without the pollian devastating tackle on Tom Brady that destroyed the golden boys knee Matt Cassel would not have His 14 million dollar contract.Oh the irony.
To those of you feeling nostalgic here is a video of Matt Cassel as a Patriot
