Sports Thoughts

I haven't written a sports post yet, so here are ten sports thoughts of Bennett Reid. I'll admit I made ten of them because that is the cool thing to do and sportswriters sometimes list ten burning subjects on their mind, so I'm following the trend.


1. Team USA, in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), will have a hard time if they keep treating each game as an All-Star game. For instance, last night they made substitutions half-way through the game so other players could get in. Jimmy Rollins was 3 for 3 at the time, if I recall, and they took him out so Jeter could get in. I say let the player finish out the game. However, after the substitutions were made Team USA did bat around and score like 8 runs. So I'm kind of eating my words. But, I don't think that will always be the case. Screw letting everyone play. I know some teams don't want their $20 million players getting injured. Well that's 'bunk' if you ask me, plus I really want to win. So stick with the starters, unless they are playing bad, and quit making this a freakin' beauty contest. I'm on board with Tommy Lasorda and his rant.

2. The Chargers are crazy if they don't re-sign Ladainian Tomlinsion. I still think he is one of the top 3 best backs in the NFL and has a few more years left. I'd like to see him go to another team though.

3. I'll give Terrell Owens his due and say he is one of the best wide receivers of his era, and maybe one of the best of all time. He's 2nd all-time in receiving touchdowns, behind Jerry Rice. However, he is by far the most annoying football player, and athlete of all-time. I am so sick of hearing about him. Half the problem is he is a media mates dream-come-true. I don't think I've gone a day since he joined the Cowboys without hearing about him, thanks ESPN. Plus, I'd hate to have him on my team. What a pain in the ass.

4. Finally, after suffering for about a decade, the Atlanta Hawks have constructed a legit team. It's hard anymore to find someone to discuss the NBA with (especially white people), then I tell them I'm a Hawks fan and they just apologize to me. Really it's kind of funny. But now I can talk about them with some pride and not get laughed at. Yes, I still follow the NBA and I think it is better than college basketball right now. There are just so many good players right now and it's become really competitive and fun to watch. So I'm predicting the Hawks will make a splash come playoff time, barring they are healthy, and have a chance (a little one) to go past the 2nd round.

5. I'm grateful that South Carolina has a good basketball team. It's made this year fun to follow them. However, I don't expect them to make it past the first round of the NCAA tournament. Why no confidence in my team? (You may ask) Do I have to explain why I have no confidence in the Gamecocks? Past experiences/history says all that needs to be said. However, being a realist blows, so I'm predicting them to make it to the Championship in the SEC tournament, and make it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. I also predict the Gamecocks to win the SEC East next year in football. Upsetting Florida and Georgia. Yeah, I'm not really a realist at all. But it is miserable being a Gamecock fan. I'd also like to see Clemson do good in basketball. I mean I'm sick of all the North Carolina schools and they are kind of... well I'm not good at being politically correct... they are gay, kind of pansies. I still hate Clemson, but I mean, no schools from South Carolina have been good in basketball, so why not.

6. I'm not 100% on board with the Redskins on the Albert Haynesworth signing because of the price, but I think it was fair. I'm glad to have him on the team and I think our defense is gonna whip some tail with him anchoring the D-Line. Now, the DeAngelo Hall signing was outrageous. $9 Million a year, for 6 years - $54 million. Way too much. Maybe I'll eat my words and he'll exceed expectations. I miss Sean Taylor. Before he was killed, I'm not kidding, between him and Chris Cooley, they were my favorite players (I like having a favorite offense and defensive player). That guy was nasty and I loved watching him play. He would've gone down as one of the five best Free Safeties of all-time. The Redskins defense hasn't been the same since he died, period.

7. Curious and anxious to see how the Braves are this year. I think the pitching staff is somewhat solid, a little unpredictable right now, but the outfield is gonna be the question mark and will be the major factor that decides the Braves performance. However, I am really excited because of the young guys in the outfield. They are gonna be fun, yet painful to watch this year. The addition of Garret Anderson was big and I am very excited about having him on the team. Screw the Phillies and the Mets, the Braves are taking the East this year. Go Braves!

8. Here are my early predictions for the Final Four:
Oklahoma - I think Blake Griffin is going to carry the Sooners and they will be the toughest team to beat.

UNC - Just too good and too deep, the guys on the bench would start for any other school. Hard not to pick them with Tyler Hansborough and Ty Lawson. So what if they lost three games, no one goes undefeated anymore.

Pittsburgh - I had to put someone from the Big East here since it is the best conference in the NCAA. I'm picking Pitt since they swept UConn. Hard to choose though, between Pitt, UConn, and Louisville. All three could make it, if in different brackets. Would've like to seen how Marquette played out if Dominic James didn't get hurt. It was also a really huge loss when UConn lost Jerome Dyson for the season. With him I'd predict a UConn vs UNC/Oklahoma final.

Washington/Villanova/Memphis - Just a funny feeling, one of these guys will make it. However, I'm going against the odds and picking Butler here. Why? Because I can and I'm speaking for everyone else in America when I say I'd like to see a small school make it.

I want to put Michigan St. in the Final Four, but I see them getting upset in the Sweet Sixteen.

I think Davidson definitely belongs. Having Stephen Curry is the deciding factor. Who would you rather see in the NCAA tournament, a crappy Big Ten school, like Penn St., Michigan, or Minnesota, or Davidson and one of the most popular players in College Basketball? I rest my case.
*The Big Ten is boring in basketball, just like football, and overrated. I seem to find more reasons to hate the Big Ten even more every year.

9. Baseball needs a salary cap, majorly. They need to structure it similar to the NBA. I think MLB is going to see a sting this year from the economy being in the tank.

10. I think the 'underdog' scenario is way over played. You know how you'll be in one of those situations where everyone is pulling for a certain team, like when the Miami Hurricanes were unstoppable in football so a lot of people bought a Miami Starter jacket, then they'd turn around and say they've always been a fan, especially since none of them were from Miami. So eventually everyone started hating them and pulling against them because there were a lot of bandwagon fans. Well, I feel the same way about the so-called 'underdog.' Sometimes it's cool to see an upset happen, however, it gets old when everyone is always pulling for the upset. It's almost a pity-thing, to pull for the 'underdog' every time sports are watched. It's become a trend.

Plus, they've had way too many 'underdog' movies. Every time a sports movie is put out anymore it's an 'underdog' movie. They are becoming nauseating.

Sports/Pop Culture Nugget:
"Eastbound and Down" is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. This may be an early assumption since I've only seen two episodes. However, I laughed hysterically, and I highly recommend it. It's about a washed up MLB Closer moving back to Shelby, NC and becoming a gym teacher. Also, recommend "Flight of Conchords" The two funniest shows on TV right now. These Sitcoms on regular cable, blah, compared to these two.