David Beckham USA Soccer Savior? Really?

There are times in American sports where hype never meets reality. Think Ryan Leaf, Brian Bozworth or Grant Hill. Now think David Beckham. He may not be in the same group as those other guys nor do those three get grouped together. What I'm saying is they none of them lived up to expectations imposed on them. I've grown old and tired of hearing about David Beckham being the savior for American Soccer.

The main problem with marketing him as the savior to a sport that has been dormant since the beginning of sports, is that he isn't a scorer in a sport where scoring is at premium. Beckham is only famous for one thing, his ability to score off of penalty kicks when he bends the ball over the defenders heads and into the corner of the goal. Hence the movie "Bend it like Beckham". I don't understand why the MLS and the LA Galaxy expect Americans to pay attention to an entire game to see maybe one play of his kicks, if at all. The American sports landscape is dominated by the big three of Football, Baseball and Basketball. Soccer for goodness sakes is as irrelevant as the NHL and we all know how popular that sport is today. So I'm having a hard time understanding why he is a savior to a sport that doesn't matter to the vast majority of Americans.

In my view American only pay attention to soccer once every four years. And if you can't figure out why that is then you really don't pay attention to soccer. The World Cup is played every four years, that's the time most people will tune in their TVs to watch. I myself am not a soccer person, I subscribe to those three previous sports mentioned above, but I will watch the World Cup not only when the USA boys hit the field but will watch other matches. But when it comes to the MLS and regular soccer it just doesn't hold our attention. If I asked you to tell me how many teams are in the MLS or name more than 5 teams you could you do it?

In my opinion here is what is wrong with soccer and why it can't capture Americas attention.

* There are too many tournaments within the MLS season that teams and players compete in. I looked at the MLS web site and counted 6 tournaments that are played throughout the year. Honestly that's just too much to keep up with. For example in David's latest injury, one that will sideline him for the rest of the year, he and his Galaxy teammates were playing in a Superliga tournament against Pachuca (who) and sprained his knee. Now this tournament is right in the middle of the MLS season. Can you imagine your favorite NFL team playing one Sunday against a CFL team in the midst of the NFL season, hell no. You wouldn't stand for it. But that's exactly what soccer does. Stop playing all these in season tournaments so people can focus on your season and your league.

* Soccer regularly has ties. We as Americans expect to see a team appear victorious. We don't pay enormous ticket prices and sit for 3 hours just to see a game end in a tie. Remember the outrage when baseball ended the All-Star game in a tie? We were outraged and to think that game was just an exhibition game, they wouldn't dare end a regular season game in a tie and ties in the NFL are a rarity.

* Scoring needs to increase. I say shrink the size of the field some, does it really need to be as big as it is? Other sports find ways to increase scoring. Baseball lowered the pitching mound, NFL pushed the kickoffs back and the NBA, well they just don't play defense.

* The MLS needs to change its name. Too many people think of the MLS in real estate terms. Change it to the NSL (National Soccer League) or maybe the ASL (American Soccer League). Okay this is a minor issue but seriously, the MLS (multiple listing service) was around way before Major League Soccer.

* In America we are used to sports in countdown mode, we start at 15 minutes and count to zero, 20 minutes to zero. Nope, not soccer. They count up and then have extra time at the end. We're a countdown society. Seriously, what if we changed New Years Eve, instead of 10, 9, 8, 7...1 we went 1, 2, 3, 4....10. Wouldn't work, that concept wouldn't be excepted. Soccer needs to start at 45 and count to zero and stop the clock for injuries and balls out of play.

I'll give MLS and LA Galaxy credit for trying to help a sport grow in a country that just doesn't care, but you can't expect David Beckham to save a sport from itself. Nice try. With his injury you're not relegated to the back page of sports yet again.

South Carolina in the Miss Teen USA Q and A

I know this isn't sports related but since it has has made the sports talk show circuit I felt the need to post it.

This video is of Lauren Caitlin Upton, no doubt a very beautiful young lady but definitely lacking some education, or at least it seems. She was chosen to represent S. Carolina in the Miss Teen USA contest. Her answer will no doubt leave you scratching your head in wonderment.




Here is the dialogue from the Q & A:

Question: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a world map. Why do you think this is?

Miss Teen South Carolina: "I personally believe the U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh...people out there in our nation don't have maps, and, uh, I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, the Iraq everywhere like, such as and...I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., err, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our...

Who will be Bonds's Al Downing?...

That question has been answered and his name is Mike Bacsik, pronounced (BA-sek). Who you might ask. His name again is Mike Bacsik and he will forever be synonymous with Barry Bonds, like two brothers attached at the hip. However you choose to view him, whether as a failure or as a legend, he was the one who gave up Barry Bonds's record breaking home run number 756, breaking the tie with Hank Aaron. And in case you aren't familiar with Al Downing, he is the one that gave up Hank Aaron's 715 home run when he broke Babe Ruth's record in April of 1974.

Now to who is Mike Bacsik?

He is a starting left handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, a team Bond's has now hit 64 home runs against, tying the Phillies. Bacsik, you could say in only 5 years in the MLB, has been a journeyman player. He has played for the Indians, Mets, Rangers and Nationals. He broke into the bigs in 2001 with the Indians, appearing in only 3 games, pitching in nine innings. He played with the Mets from 2002 to 2003 pitching in 16 games, 73.1 innings. He spent 2004 with the Rangers but started in only 3 games and 15.2 innings. He spent 2005 and 2006 in the minors. This year with the Nationals, he has started 16 games, including tonight, pitched in 85.1 innings and has given up 16 home runs including the historic one against Bonds.

He was born on November 11, 1977 in the lone star state in Dallas, Texas. He made his MLB debut with the Indians on August 5th, 2001. His career stats entering tonight's game is as follows:

Wins 10
Losses 11
ERA 5.11
Games 36
Games started 29
Complete games 1
Innings pitched 179.2
Hits 210
Runs 111
Earned runs 102
HR 29
BB 50
K's 79


View in History

Now who knows how history with treat this man. As a journeyman pitcher, when you give up a historic home run, you will always be remembered for that indelible moment. He's not a Smoltz, a Randy Johnson or a Greg Maddux, those are pitchers who's achievements wouldn't have been forgotten for this failure. Mike Bacsik, however isn't a household name, that is till tonight. History will always remember today as August 7th, 2007 the day Barry Bonds hit career home run 756 off Mike Bacsik. In 10, 20 or 30 years down the road he will be remembered chiefly for giving up this historic home run. Did you know who Al Downing was? Not until he served up Hank Aaron's 715th home run.


Remember Mike Bacsik. He will now be the answer to a certain trivia question forever.

755*

As if you didn't know what that headline meant!

Yes Barry "Juiced" Bonds hit career home run number 755, tying Hank Aaron's record that has stood since 1976. It's only fitting that he did it against the San Diego Padres whom he has hit more home runs against than any other team (84).

There's been a huge cloud of doubt that has hung over his head for the last several years and I for one never wanted to see this record broken, tied or ever attacked by Bonds. Its one thing to know it was earned and done the right way with Hank Aaron who carried himself with much more class than to have it hit by Bonds. I want so hard to be able to embrace this triumphant achievement, to be able to watch with excitement but I can't. There's too much disdain and too much doubt as to how he came to 755 and how he will no doubt pass it.

Remember back in 2001 when Barry hit 73, it was again an empty feeling. Unexciting and joyless. Maybe it was because just 3 years earlier Big Mac had just passed Roger Maris's 61, a number that had stood for 37 years. Or maybe it was just the unpersonable Bonds that made it joyless. At any rate, Bonds is no doubt enemy number 1 when it comes to breaking home run records and baseball fans. Now, I have a lot of respect for his career pre 2001 when he was with the Pirates and his early Giants days. He was the first in the NL to have 40 HRs and 40 SBs in one season, he was an immensely talented baseball player, he didn't need steroids, he was already one of the game's best players. Coming into that 2001 season he already had 494 Home runs to his credit.

So there's no doubting the talent he has just the way he came to 755.

How long will it stand?

Now there is no telling what Barry's final home run count will be, he is currently 88 hits away from 3,000 so there is speculation that he'll be around for at least one more year. But if you're wondering if his record will stand for the 31 years that Hanks did, it's not likely to last 10. Alex Rodriguez is the more likely candidate to break whatever number Bonds puts up. And the reason for that is if you compare the two at the same time in their respectful careers you'll find that A-Rod is ahead of Bond's home run pace.

Alex in his first 13 years and 1855 games has 500 home runs, Bonds in the same 13 years and 1,898 games had 411 home runs. So if Alex plays till he is 43 like Bonds and averages 27 home runs a season, he will find himself with 800 home runs. His last 9 years he's averaged 44 home runs and at that pace he will break 800 by the age of 38, a very real possibility.

So don't fret all you Bonds haters, A-Rod is quick to the rescue.

A-Rod hits 500th Home Run

Thanks A-Rod for nullifying my previous post, guess in my hast to put something up here I maybe jinxed myself and given you the motivation to get it done already.

Alex became the youngest player (32 years, 8 days) ever to hit 500 home runs, passing Jimmie Fox (32 years, 338 days). The home run came against the Royals and new acquired and former Brave, Kyle Davies who has now given up 13 homers in only 87 innings pitched. He now becomes the 22nd player to join the 500, which now-a-days seems to have a new member every month. By seasons end he should rank 17th passing Ernie Banks's 512 and just below Ted Williams's and Willie McCovey at 521.

This 500 club could also see 3 more added to the list by seasons end. Jim Thome currently has 489, Manny Ramirez 488 and Gary Sheffield at 478.

Congrats to A-Rod.

August 5th will be Milestone Sunday

In case you've been locked in a closet somewhere and haven't heard of the milestone trifecta that is possible in MLB; Bonds is chasing Hammerin Hanks' 755 HRs and currently stuck on 754, A-Rod is stuck on 499 HRs and Glavine is still waiting on 300 wins. They were aligned to set their respected individual records on July 31st, none of course were successful in their attempts.

Well here we go again, Sunday August 5Th. This will probably be the last time all three of them go for their milestones in the same day. That's because Glavine, being a pitcher, won't have the chance to pitch again till August 10Th and I'm pretty sure A-Rod or Bonds will have hit their home run by then.

If all three were to hit their milestone on that day, Sunday August 5Th will live in Baseball lore. I can't recall any day that would have the drama in so many places and situations. ESPN is already covering every at bat Bonds and A-Rod have had for the last week. If it were to happen, make sure you save the paper cause it will be one for the ages.

Earlier this year we had 2 players reach their milestones on the same day. That of course being Frank Thomas (500 HRs) and Craig Biggio (3,000 hits). But the three going to their career milestones are more popular and more well known than those two.

Game Times

The excitement begins at 1pm when A-Rod and his Yankees take the field against the visiting Royals. A-Rod will be facing Gil Meche, someone he has had a lot of success against. He has it .417 in 24 at bats with 4 HRs and 8 Rbis.

Bonds attempts to tie Hank Aaron at 4pm when his Giants play at San Diego. Bonds will be facing Justin Germano, who in his 3 at bats against, is hitless with no walks and one strikeout.

Tom Glavine takes the mound at 8pm against the Cubs at Chicago. In his only game against the Cubs this year, Glavine got a no decision in the Mets 5-4 win. He pitched 6 innings allowed 6 hits and 4 earned runs with 4 walks. Since 2002 Glavine is 1-4 in 6 games against the Cubs with an ERA of 7.09.

I'm back

After a long long layoff I'm going to get back to my posts. Not sure how much time I'll devote to this but I will be putting things on here periodically. I've had somethings brewing upstairs and been wanting to get them on here, besides, my buddy Jim at The Bushido Way has been urging me to get back to this. So bear with me on my return.