any sports fans here?

[primetime]

i notice that there arent too many sports threads on the board and always wondered why. the ones that do appear disappear quickly, without too much discussion. i see political threads hang around for a while, and those kind of threads are easy to start flame wars. sports can do the same, but in a different way. are there any sports fans out there that LOVE to talk sports? any sport, from football to badminton (i dont watch badminton, but wouldnt mind reading a thread about it).

i would prefer to discuss sports here, amongst generally good natured people, rather than actual sports boards because those are fights waiting to happen. i can get down and dirty too, but would rather have a "civil" discussion. anybody with me? for example, the NBA season has just ended and the Spurs won the title. congrats to them. but the question is, will they become a dynasty? with league MVP Tim Duncan and 14 million dollars in cap room, the Spurs can really make a run for another title. but the Lakers figure to be the top challenger. man, it's wierd calling the Lakers challengers considering they were champions for 3 years. anyway, besides the Lakers, who else? Sacramento? Dallas? Minnesota? the East? hahahahahaha, had to throw that joke in there. what about Lebron James? will he make an impact? will Jason Kidd leave the Nets? will the Lakers finally get a damn power forward? will the Clippers still be the joke of the league? will the Trailblazers have a team, or will half of them be in jail? so many questions, so few answers.

so c'mon sports fans, let's talk about something. sports is a major part of my life and would love to talk to other TMF members about sports. we can have a good, honest, clean debate without flaming each other. so, if there is any sport to talk about, let's get it going. let's actually see if we can have a long thread, so that the moderators have to give us our own sub forum😀

 

[Dave2112]

Ok, I'll dive in. I'm not a huge basketball fan, but this goes along with something I was thinking about today. After announcing that Tim Duncan was MVP, the paper posted the winners of the award for the last thirty years or so. In the last fifteen, only three or four people have won it. Also, basketball tends to run in "dynasties". The Lakers will go for three or four years, then the Spurs, or the Pistons. Of course, no one will match the Celtics run from 1958-1967 (?).

I think it's because basketball fields the fewest players among all pro sports. There's five guys on the court. A single standout player can have more of an impact than he could in football or baseball, hockey or soccer. Just a thought.

On the subject of sports...now that hockey and b-ball are done I can't wait for football to start again! I hibernate during the off-season! You know you're a football nut when NFL Europe starts looking good...😎

 

[gallodiablo]

Hey Prime,

I love sports and I will try and keep up with, and contribute to any sports discussion on this board as time allows me. As I write this, San Antonio is about to kick-off the Spurs' parade on the Riverwalk. There should be over 300,000 people downtown, lining the river, to watch the team float by on barges. They will end up at the Alamodome where another 50,000 will hold a rally and listen to the obligatory speeches. Let's face it. This city does love its Spurs. The draft is coming and the offseason will be very interesting. There are a lot of older vets out there that will have to make a decision as to whether they want to win a championship or get one last big paycheck. I got to go. I will be back soon.

Gallodiablo

 

[primetime]

On the subject of sports...now that hockey and b-ball are done I can't wait for football to start again! I hibernate during the off-season! You know you're a football nut when NFL Europe starts looking good...

ah, sports talk!!! you know Dave, you're right. now that basketball and hockey are done, the only thing left is baseball. now, i'm not a big baseball fan so the summer will seem kind of long, till my favorite sport, football, comes along. i wonder if this season's Superbowl champion will be a team that NO ONE thought would ever win a Superbowl. look at the last 4 champions. the Rams (2000), the Ravens (2001), the Patriots (2002), and now the Buccaneers (2003). who's next? the Chargers? the Lions? the Seahawks? or will the former "dynasties" finally return to form (49ers, Cowboys, Packers, Steelers)?? any predictions?

as for NFL Europe, i have been catching myself watching a game. hey, it's football. just like when i watched the XFL!!

 

[primetime]

as for the San Antonio Spurs. again, i have to congratulate them on winning the NBA title. i hope they enjoy the parade just like the fans because it is a pretty cool thing. the only thing about watching San Antonio celebrate is that it just seems wierd. for the last 3 years, i got to watch Shaq, Kobe, Phil and crew celebrate. you sort of get used to winning every year. oh well, next year will be good.

in your opinion gallodiablo, who do you think the Spurs will pick up for next year? are they going after a big man to replace David Robinson?

 

[JPie1]

I am a huge baseball fan and live for baseball season. I love the Yankees!!! They reign supreme!

 

[Dave2112]

Well, watching the draft and following the free-agency period, I'd say that this will be another year to see an unlikely Super Bowl winner. If I had to pick one from out of the "no friggin' way" bunch, I'd have to say Seattle. They always look good on paper, play good games and lose by three. Something has to break, and they could be this seasons' Pats. Other ne'er-do-well teams to watch for will be Detroit (good trades and Mariucci will light a few fires), Cincinnati (they finally have a decent defense-minded coach) and New Orleans (another team like Seattle that needs just this much to be a contender.

I think you're going to see San Fran fall back out (lousy coach, old, retiring players, no real recieving corp other than T.O. and no real dependable back). Dallas is years away from fielding a good team again, Parcells or not (and I can't wait to see how the Tuna and Jerry-the-sideline-walker-Jones are going to get along by game 3).

Atlanta could be coming on stronger, too. Depends on how well they play outside this year.

I think that lasting dynasties are a thing of the past in pro football. True parity has finally caught on in the NFL, with salary-caps, free-agency and pro sports' only real revenue-sharing program.

 

[milagros317]

I only follow one sport, but I follow it intensely. I am a baseball fanatic. Last night, I had the joy of watching my team, the Dodgers, crush the hated jints by the score of 8-2.

I follow one sport, but watch two. The other sport that I watch? Women's Pro Beach Volleyball.😀 (Lots of nice sole shots when they dive for the volleyball.)

 

[primetime]

hey Dave, you may be right about San Francisco. seeing that they are my favorite team, i have a bad feeling about this year. Dennis Erickson may do well, but i dont know, there is something eerie about it. i think maybe San Francisco is waiting for Holmgren to become available, then hire him. i think Erickson is only keeping the position "warm".

i think the Chargers might make a run. why? because they usually choke. they are my pick (or perhaps the Seahawks) to advance far, if not become Superbowl winners. what a wild and wacky NFL we have. damn salary cap. i miss the days when the 49ers for example can just buy a team. damn parity!!

oh yeah, as for Parcells. the Cowboys will rebound because Parcells is good in turning franchises around. look at the NY Giants, the Patriots and the Jets. as much as i hate to say it, but the Cowboys may be back.

here are my picks for division winners:

NFC West: San Francisco
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC East: Philadelphia
NFC South: Tampa Bay

AFC West: Denver
AFC North: Pittsburgh
AFC East: New England
AFC South: Miami

wild cards:
NFC- Seattle, New Orleans
AFC- Raiders, San Diego

 

[primetime]

hey Milagros, i like the Dodgers too! i dont follow them intensely until about August or so, and if they are contending. you like Kevin Brown? i think he is okay. not worth the money we shelled out for him though.

what do you think about the possibility of Mike Piazza returning? i thought i heard that may happen.




and as for JPIE1, the Yankees? why? i do have to admit they are a good team, but have they run their course? hmmmmmmm

 

[milagros317]

hey Milagros, i like the Dodgers too! i dont follow them intensely until about August or so, and if they are contending. you like Kevin Brown? i think he is okay. not worth the money we shelled out for him though.

what do you think about the possibility of Mike Piazza returning? i thought i heard that may happen.

When he's healthy, I do believe that Kevin Brown is worth the $15 million per year. I do have to hope that the Dodgers bought quality casualty insurance when they signed him, seeing how often he's been hurt.

With regard to Piazza, I find it hard to believe that the Mets would trade him. He's one of their best hitters, and a fan favorite in NY. But stranger things have happened. We'll have to see when Piazza is back from the disabled list.

 

[JPie1]

I think the Mets would be crazy to trade Piazza, he should finish out his career with the Mets. He fits NY

 

[Limeoutsider]

Larry Doby died 🙁 The Indians are long overdue

 

[milagros317]

Yes, very sad about Larry Doby, L.O.

I am old enough to have seen him (on television) play the outfield for the Indians and the White Sox. Of course, he was on the 1948 World Champion Cleveland Indians.

With regard to being due, the Indians' last World Series victory was in 1948, and their last appearance was in 1995. Sounds bad, but consider the Chicago Cubs: last victory in 1908, last appearance in 1945.

(My own team, the Dodgers: last victory and last appearance in 1988.)

 

[grippedchimp]

Hmm, no tennis or football/soccer fans then? Well, I'll wait till somebody mentions them.

 

[Bippy]

Sports Only One

Well am I a sports fan? Yeah. But only one, football. My team, Steelers! And boy was I glad with the draft, can't wait to see #43 Troy Polamalu, my boy from USC! Our team's roster is so far injured reserved free. I'm excited about both Kendrel Bell and Mike Logan's A-Okay health. And can't wait to see them in action! And what can I say about my Badass, Tommy "The Mayor" Maddox, a real treat to watch him play! I bought my NFL Sunday Ticket for this year over a month ago.

As far as who will be in the big game this year. I really don't wanna stick my neck out, it's up in the air. However, I know who'll be up there in the play-offs, the usual crowd that has been the past couple of years, San Fran, Philly, Packers, Tampa, Steelers, Raiders and I'll leave the rest of the spots for the surprise teams.

Also teams to watch: Atlanta, Detroit, Denver, Chargers....

It's gonna be another NFL blast of a season, can't wait!!!

 

[primetime]

hey Milagros, the reason why i think Kevin Brown is not worth the contract is because of the injuries. i cant even remember the last time he played a full season. i just hope the boys in blue continue to play well, although the lost to the Giants last night. but hey, 1 game out of 1st? i hope they continue to do well.

to gripped chimp, i do have to admit i am not much of a soccer fan, but i do like tennis. what do you think of the reception the fans gave Serena Williams? the French fans received a lot of flak, but then again in fairness, she did clown them pretty good before the Iraq war. if i was Serena, i would have expected it. in fact, knowing me, i would have played up to it. i would have gave them a reason to boo. but i still expect Serena to dominate the tour. she is damn good. on the men's side, the only real interesting person is still Agassi. the man just keeps playing great. who do you like on the tour?

for Bippy, i expect the Steelers to do well too. i like Bill Cowher and he usually gets the most out of his players. now that they got rid of Kordell Stewart (who should have stuck with "slash"), Maddox can shine. i remember his UCLA days, even his XFL days. Tommy is a good QB. also i forgot about Atlanta. Michael Vick is THE man. he will probably have a big year. damn, is it football season yet?

 

[Dave2112]

Primetime, you really think Denver's gonna take the AFC West with Jake Plummer at the helm? I'd take KC in that division, just because the others look even weaker.

It's going to be hard to tell until the first few games are played, though. These "on paper" things have a way of not coming to fruition.

The one thing I'm sure of is that Tampa Bay is going to be a one-season wonder. Just a feeling. I say they finish third under New Orleans and Atlanta.

 

[primetime]

oh yeah Dave, Denver is going to be real good. i always liked Jake Plummer. i mean, looked what he did with the scrubs in Arizona. he just has that "intangible" that makes him good. he is not the poster boy of QB's, but he gets the job done. i expect Denver's offense to be high scoring this year.

as for the Bucs, they wont repeat, but they will still be in the hunt. "Chucky" isnt going to give up the crown that easily.

 

[leomac]

I've monitered this forum in the spring for the last couple of years hoping someone was starting a fantasy baseball league.........maybe I'll do that next year, now that I know how to do it, if there's enough interest. Oh yeah, and by the way, GO CUBS!!!

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I'm a lifelong Washington Redskins fan...you know, the team with the owner who spent all of his school days in Special Ed. It would be nice if they had someone with a plan. Instead, they spent all kinds of money on a coach who fancies himself throwing the ball, something he hasn't done himself since the peak years of Leo Sayer. Ho hum.
Actually, I now have a soft spot for Tampa. Even if they hadn't won in the end, they went out and made my life a quite merry one when they stuffed the Philadelphia Eagles into a commode and flushed them. Driving a knife into the hearts of their ayhole, miserable fandom made me jump for joy for weeks on end. And, of course, beating Oakland the way they did was like chocolate icing...

 

[primetime]

the Cubs? with Sammy "Corky" Sosa? when the Cubs make the World Series, then we know the world is ending!! lol

the Redskins are a team that amazes me. when they stocked up on all of those free agents, i knew for sure they were going to be dominant. what the hell happened?

did anyone see or hear about that Lennox Lewis fight against Klitschko? once again, Lewis is the luckiest SOB ever. Klitschko was winning the fight, but they had to stop it because of a cut. Lewis feels that he won because he is that good. PLEASE!! he is the most overrated champion ever. he beat a Mike Tyson who was on medication (tell the truth, when have you ever seen Mike Tyson so lifeless during a fight? i could have beat Tyson that night!!), he never ever knocked down Evander Holyfield, and Lewis has a glass chin. he sucks. i cant wait for him to lose his title.

 

[leomac]

Yeah, I'm very disappointed in Corky. I'm all for trading him. I hope you're wrong about the world ending, tho, cause this is the year.

 

[Dave2112]

Yeah, that was a strange fight. Lewis got away with one. I still say he's a good fighter, though. That, and he has more class than a lot of other fighters.

Maybe this is just me, but I don't think Tyson should even be given anymore fights. The man has proven himself to be an ustable individual. If he wasn't famous, he'd still be in prison. If it were you or me who had pulled half of the shit he's pulled, you'd never see us again. I HATE it when celebrities get away with this kind of behavior. On top of that, he still makes money. He should be banned from boxing forever. You can't have a guy like that being a role model. That's like letting Martha Stewart run a brokerage house.

 

[Vasker]

As we write, the Mets are 15 games out of first and should be looking to dump payroll soon. A single against the Mets should be scored a double. Piazza can't reach second base. Piazza would be a great pickup for an American League team in the playoff hunt, (Blue Jays, Twins, Royal, etc.). He would have a great future as a DH. Robby Alomar is another American League player in a National League uniform. Now that the Mets dumped Phillips it's time to rebuild.