FIELD-ON-FIRE

Early on I speculated that Roger Clemens was merely trying to sway public opinion in his favor. That he was lacking any truth, that he was attempting to discredit his accusers via an overly righteous public relations campaign. Unfortunately this IS the case. Former player and self described “friend” Andy Pettite admitted to using performance enhancers. He also implicated Clemens, effectively siding with Prosecutors. Roger Clemens is not going to jail, whether for perjury or anything else, but perhaps the punishment will fit the crime anyway. This man will no longer be looked at as the greatest pitcher of all time.

He is eighth on the all time wins list, second in strikeouts, and fourteenth in innings pitched. Impressive statistics, but it must be said that perhaps his longevity was in part due to the use of performance enhancers.

You know what? Since this has been so rampant we may as well continue with it. It is obvious baseball ignored these actions, mainly because offensive production was drawing fans and money to the sport. Screw it, let PROFESSIONAL baseball players use HGH and steroids. Just let them do it. Each team will have a medical staff for just that purpose. To administer these drugs in the most organized manner possible. Soon enough America will forget about cheaters, because there will be no cheaters, only super human athletes with tree trunks for thighs. It will happen in the same way we forget everything, it will slowly fade…. Besides, all we really want is to be entertained, correct?

Greg Popovich, the Spurs head coach, was quoted in the LA Times as saying  ”What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension….There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense.”

WHAT? Are you kidding me coach? The only thing that doesn’t make sense about it is that now Tim Duncan has to guard somebody when the Spurs play the Lakers. And you won’t be able to count on Kwame Brown to hand the ball to your team five or six times. First off, the Grizz recieved two future first round picks out of the deal…. HELLO….. Secondly they got Javaris Crittenton. Anybody who has seen the kid play knows he can ball up, so relax coach, stop with the whining.

To me the trade is an example of the Lakers taking advantage of certain circumstances, that isn’t “beyond comprehension”…. It’s good management.

Now, if we’re going to start tossing out vetoes on trades we should have vetoed the trade that sent Caron Butler to the Wizards for the aforementioned Kwame Brown. Kwame has that sense about him of a bad luck charm, things just won’t go right for this guy on the floor. I for one am hoping he overcomes whatever mental barriers he has and starts performing.

So…. Rasheed Wallace has replaced Kevin Garnett in the All Star game? What about Josh Smith? He’s averaging 18 PPG 8 RPG 4 APG 3 BPG and 2 SPG…. If those aren’t All Star numbers, what is? I guess the 13 PPG and 7 RPG that Rasheed averages. Whatever…. 

It seems that the Miami Heat have some how swindled Shawn Marion from the Phoenix Suns. Shaq has to pass a physical for the trade to go through. I’m not exactly sure what Steve Kerr is thinking.

The Suns are giving up one of the most versatile players in the game for an aging center with bad joints. The best Shaq can do on the defensive end is make people think twice about driving to the cup. Shoot, he doesn’t even do that much anymore. The entire game plan of the Suns must change now.

Imagine this team trying to slow things down! Leandro Barbosa making calm post entry passes into Shaq? Talk about taking somebody out of their game. The Suns gave up scoring, active defense, finishing ability, and rebounds for what? Believe me, I’m down with Shaq, I really am…..

But this guy doesn’t have it anymore. You’d be better off trading for Erick Dampier.

As for the Heat, this makes them a hell of a lot better. They get an emerging Point Guard in Marcus Banks, and a running mate for Dwayne Wade. Now think of Marion and Wade running a two on one. I hope Sportscenter is ready…. I guess the Suns are thinking about a hard fought playoff series? I’ll tell you what, I’d rather have Shawn Marion, a guy who can make free throws and ignite the crowd.

Obviously nobody can know for sure how this will go, it is possible we will look back and call Steve Kerr a genius.

It’s also possible Kerr is shooting his career in the proverbial foot….

On another note: Dick Vitale will be back today calling the North Carolina/Duke game. He is fully recovered from throat surgery and ready to pump up America….

Dear NFL Films,

You now have a classic game to show on the NFL network for the next twenty years straight. Or until something better happens.

The Great Manning Escape is bound to live on in Boston… Mr. Bill Buckner: you don’t have to worry about shit anymore. These Patriots have upstaged you and outplayed you, so to speak.

I’m not sure anybody in the world besides Giants fans would have bet against this team. Seriously, if I said to you “Pick who you think will win the game, if you’re wrong I’m going to shoot you in the knee.” Who would you have picked? You would’ve picked the Patriots. David Tyree is The Man in New York right now. The Man. I will forever remember being in a room full of friends, and the ROAR that escaped us during The Great Manning Escape…. There is justice in this world….