I remember watching Casey come up the ranks of the Angels Organization thinking man... this kid has a beautiful swing. I really thought he would be good. He combined a sweet left handed swing with a vacuum based defense at first that sucked up anything within a 5 mile radius of first base. I remember a 2 homerun game he had years back with one one going to left and the other two center and I was thinking that this was the hallmark of the next great Angel hitter. He could hit for power and he did not try and do too much with the pitches often driving the ball to the opposite field. His development seemed to put him in the makings of a special player.
Then he got mononucleosis and it seemed to all come undone. He never seemed to get back to the promise he once had. The Angels felt like they needed a power bat in the ill-fated trade that brought the team Mark Texiera. He struggled in Atlanta, Seattle, Boston and was just released by Tampa Bay. With all that promise, what happened? I really thought I would be watching him in an Angel's uniform for a long time and was saddened by his trade. I hope Casey is given a shot somewhere and believe he has the talent to excel at the major league level.
See Article: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AjWKkuG4lQI8DJu7COXuFP0RvLYF?slug=ap-rayscuts
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Nuggets On Fire Post Carmelo-The Knicks With Carmelo-Not So Much!
Carmelo Anthony wrecked 2/3rds of the Nugget season with his drama and demand to be traded. Funny enough, he seems to be having a tough go in New York and the Knicks have not done so well. This may be an example of careful what you wish for.
As for the Nuggets, I am happy for Coach Karl and the team because their success and future was literally held hostage all season with Carmelo's spoiled and self-serving behavior. I am a little partial because I have always liked Coach Karl and still follow former UCLA Guard Aaron Afflalo. It is amazing when a team sheds a bad attitude, and young, hungry players immediately have success with increased roles and opportunities. Players naturally step up given the chance and that is exactly what we are seeing with Ty Lawson and many of the young players. At first glance, it sure looks like they are playing within the system, playing hard, working as a team and even enjoying the game. This enjoyment of the game is the part of sports that keeps us all connected. When teams play together and battle, while having each other's backs, you can certainly tell the difference. By the same token, when a selfish player betrays the team concept, and puts himself above the team, it certainly sucks the air right out of a team. The players don't enjoy the game and performance suffers.
Despite his talent, Carmelo has the propensity to play for the me, myself and I team. The Knicks have played poorly since his arrival and a recent picture of sulking Carmelo on the bench is worth a thousand words. He never played defense and combined with a player in Amare, who is also me first then team, and you have two superstars that play as individuals with no continuity, no flow and consequently stacking up losses. Neither Carmelo nor Amare have defense in their basketball dictionaries, and until they understand that defense wins championships, they will be photographed pouting on the bench while losing games. From a fan's view, when there are selfish superstars who can't work together and put the team first, the product of basketball is not as fun to watch or interesting. Right now, the Knicks are not fun to watch. Maybe that changes and maybe it doesn't. I for one and glad that in the end, Carmelo Anthony did more for the Nuggets by leaving than he did by staying and poisoning the team.
Congratulations Denver on a shrewd trade and giving an opportunity to some new blood to step up and peform. It appears your strategy is paying off.
As for the Nuggets, I am happy for Coach Karl and the team because their success and future was literally held hostage all season with Carmelo's spoiled and self-serving behavior. I am a little partial because I have always liked Coach Karl and still follow former UCLA Guard Aaron Afflalo. It is amazing when a team sheds a bad attitude, and young, hungry players immediately have success with increased roles and opportunities. Players naturally step up given the chance and that is exactly what we are seeing with Ty Lawson and many of the young players. At first glance, it sure looks like they are playing within the system, playing hard, working as a team and even enjoying the game. This enjoyment of the game is the part of sports that keeps us all connected. When teams play together and battle, while having each other's backs, you can certainly tell the difference. By the same token, when a selfish player betrays the team concept, and puts himself above the team, it certainly sucks the air right out of a team. The players don't enjoy the game and performance suffers.
Despite his talent, Carmelo has the propensity to play for the me, myself and I team. The Knicks have played poorly since his arrival and a recent picture of sulking Carmelo on the bench is worth a thousand words. He never played defense and combined with a player in Amare, who is also me first then team, and you have two superstars that play as individuals with no continuity, no flow and consequently stacking up losses. Neither Carmelo nor Amare have defense in their basketball dictionaries, and until they understand that defense wins championships, they will be photographed pouting on the bench while losing games. From a fan's view, when there are selfish superstars who can't work together and put the team first, the product of basketball is not as fun to watch or interesting. Right now, the Knicks are not fun to watch. Maybe that changes and maybe it doesn't. I for one and glad that in the end, Carmelo Anthony did more for the Nuggets by leaving than he did by staying and poisoning the team.
Congratulations Denver on a shrewd trade and giving an opportunity to some new blood to step up and peform. It appears your strategy is paying off.
Orange County Sewage Discharge To The Ocean: I Can't Get This Out of My Head
The Laguna Beach area has provided me with some of my life's fondest memories. It is a coastline where surfers, bodyboarders and other recreational ocean users have experienced the magic of an extraoridinary coastal region in Southern California. Aliso Beach as far back as I can remember has had a pollution problem. Why do we accept sewage being pumped to the ocean? Your kids are swimming in it!!! I have swam in it. Precious sea life lives in it and people consume that sea life as food. We need to wake up. We are actively killing ourselves. In December of 2010 and in a stretch where there had not been any rain for a full 72 hours, the lifeguard was telling parents to keep their kids out of the water due to sewage. There is always a contaminated ocean water sign up at the beach and we sit back and do nothing. Several months previously to that, I was told at Tenth Street Beach in Laguna by a lifeguard not to paddle out and that it was polluted. I asked how my friend had been in the water the day before and the lifeguard said the city, state and county was lacking funds to regularly test the water. Translation: We never know when the water is polluted and it may be that is is regularly polluted.
Here is where I get a little sickened. 2009 Census estimates the orange county population at just over 3 million people. Average bowel movements are 1-2 times per day for people. That is up to 6 million tirds a day that must be processed and we send it to the ocean at what we are led to believe cured levels. When the ocean smells and recreational ocean users are getting sick, something is wrong. It has gone on and on and on in Laguna. There must be a better way. I don't want to get sick doing something I love.
Here is where I get a little sickened. 2009 Census estimates the orange county population at just over 3 million people. Average bowel movements are 1-2 times per day for people. That is up to 6 million tirds a day that must be processed and we send it to the ocean at what we are led to believe cured levels. When the ocean smells and recreational ocean users are getting sick, something is wrong. It has gone on and on and on in Laguna. There must be a better way. I don't want to get sick doing something I love.
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