Believe the Hype or is it Too Untrue?

In Judaism the Talmud teaches of the Tzadikim Nistarim or the Lamed Vav Tzadikim. It is said that at all times there are 36 special people in the world, and that were it not for them, all of them, if even one of them was missing, the world would come to an end. (A quick lesson in Gematria; Lamed-Vav. Lamed = 30 and Vav = 6, hence Lamed Vav Tzadikim). It is said that these 36 people's role in life is to justify the purpose of mankind in the eyes of G-d. Tradition states that their identities may not be known to themselves or to others, and that if one of them were to realize this role, they would die and be replaced by another.

It's an extremely interesting concept, whether you are the religious type or not. But when I was re-visiting a sermon our Rabbi gave a few Yom Kippur or ago, it got me thinking. The idea of the Lamed Vavniks, as they are called in Yiddush, is a lesson that can be taught through sports as well.

I believe that at any given time there are 36 Superstars in ALL OF SPORTS. Not just in the US but worldwide. This group of 36 athletes are on earth to justify the purpose of sports in the eyes of the public. If one of them were to realize this role, they would die and be replaced by another... Vince Carter or Allen Iverson anyone?

They return to their anonymity as soon as their task is accomplished, 'concealing' themselves once again in a community wherein they are relatively unknown... pretty much any Olympian?

The lamed-vavniks do not themselves know that they are ones of the 36. In fact, tradition has it that should a person claim to be one of the 36, that is proof positive that he is certainly not one... Jose Mourinho!

These 36 have such "avanah" (humility) that it precludes against their self-proclamations of being among the special.They are all to humble to belive they are one of the 36... Phil Mickelson?

Very few Superstars are truly humble. However, in sports an athlete who day in and day out shows us that they are a superstar rather than saying it, THAT in itself is humbling. The mysticism of the Lamed Vavniks disappears if people know who they are, however there is nothing against conjecture. When Roger Federer makes a shot and you just stop and wonder how on earth it was possible. You can believe he is one of the 36.

As I debated who are the 36, fifteen were obvious. These players sell tickets and put people in the seats, when they are coming to your city it becomes an event you must see. These 14 make us wonder if what we just saw really happened.

1. LeBron James

2. Kobe Bryant

3. Shaun White

4. Lionel Messi

5. Roger Federer

6. Cristiano Ronaldo

7. Michael Phelps

8. Usain Bolt

9. Rafael Nadal

10. Kevin Durant

11. Sydney Crosby

12. Roy Halladay

13. Lance Armstrong

14. Alexander Ovechkin

15. Josh Cribbs

So who are the other 21? I believe the 36 Superstars can change at any given moment. During the NCAA Basketball Tournament, one buzzer-beater makes a player a superstar, but a weekend later that player can fade right back into oblivion. Could it be that player started to believe he was one of the 36? Something that is just not allowed.

Here is the shortlist for some that may or may not be part of this special group... Wayne Rooney, Kaka, David Beckham (undeservedly) Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Steve Nash, Albert Pujols, Stephen Strasburg (moves up as soon as he makes an MLB Start), Jason Heyward (already on his way to being 16), Ryan Braun, A-Rod, Mariano Rivera, Johan Santana, Peyton Manning, Andy Roddick, Venus and Serena Williams, Tiger Woods (clearly on the list until about 6 months ago), Phil Mickelson, Ryan Miller (if only because of his US Olympic performance) Candace Parker, The UConn Women's Basketball team, The Penn State Women's Volleyball team, Apollo Anton Ohno, a NASCAR guy, John Wall, Evan Turner, Brad Stevens (Yeah, coaches can be there).

But then again maybe this list is truly reserved for people like Former Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, softball player carried around bases. For Rick and Dick Hoyt, who form Team Hoyt (must see video). For Maurice Cheeks helping a young girl sing the National Anthem. For Jason McElwain, the autistic high-school basketball player, or even for his coach Jim Johnson who gave him the chance to play.

The Lamed Vavniks are not necessarily the best. But they are those who come through for us in a time of need. Sports is about escape, when we are in need of healing.

So later this week when you are watching the NBA Playoffs, don't forget, the Lamed Vavniks emerge from their self-imposed concealment and, by the mystic powers, which they possess, they succeed in averting the threatened disasters of a people persecuted by the enemies that surround them... LeBron James anyone?

Your Starting QB #7 Ben Roethlisberger

The first three excuses I can think of from Browns fans on why not to bring in Roethlisberger are as follows.

1. He's a sworn enemy on and off the field.

2. He has off the field issues.

3. Because of 2, he is suspended for the first 6 games.

Guess What. I don't care. Before I even get started, let me dispell these excuses (because you know what they say about excuses).

1a. If 20 years ago Jon Elway said "I feel sorry for the Browns franchise, if it weren't for me they may have won a Super Bowl by now." Would you say "sorry we really like Brian Sipe?" If after the shot Jordan said "I got lucky on the shot, I have a better chance of becoming a superstar playing alongside Price and Daugherty than Pippen. I'm sure you'd say "no no please stay away, we like losing to you all the time. Imagine Roethlisberger being flipped with Phillip Rivers in 2004. We wouldn't even be making this excuse. The simple fact that he once wore Black and Yellow is not means for not having him on your team.

2. Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident in 2006 was not an off-field issue, people get in accidents. He got hit, albeit he should have had a helmet on, but he wasn't doing wheelies in a parking lot. Roethlisberger's off field issue have come since 2007. Mike Tomlin was hired to replace Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh in 2007. Maybe this is a coincidence, but I think not. Anyone who thinks Cowher and Tomlin run the same type of NFL Team doesn't know football. Different coaching styles, different demeanors. To me there is a reason Big Ben's issue off the field have been in the post-Cowher area. I'm not calling Tomlin soft, but personally I'd rather have Tomlin tell me off than Cowher. Mangini is a character guy, he may not be as mean as Cowher but he's more like Cowher than Tomlin. Not to mention Holmgren wouldn't allow it either.

3. The Browns are not going to contend this year. So does the fact that Roethlisberger will have to sit the first 6 games (maybe only 4 depending on how well he cooperates) really matter. Of course not.

Excuses dispelled, now onto the good stuff.

The draft is about getting better right? Bradford, Clausen, Tebow, LeFevour, Dan Whalen are not names of guys who have won Super Bowls, not names of guys who have gone to pro-bowls. Anytime you can get a proven NFL QB your team is going to get better. Look at Washington, look at Minnesota. 1st Round QBs make ridiculous amounts of money. Roethlisberger will make less money than Bradford, he will probably make less money than Clausen (if Clausen goes Top 10). His contract is actually attractive, despite the fact we just paid tons of money for Delhomme.

As I write, ESPN sources report that the Steelers would be willing to trade him for a Top 10 pick. Meanwhile the Pittsburgh Beat Writer is saying they aren't (of course he is, journalistic nightmare for him right now).

I do not want the Browns taking a QB in the draft, but if they trade for Roethlisberger they aren't really taking him in the draft. Say they flip the 7th pick and one of their 3rd for Roethlisberger and 18 (the Steelers first pick). Obviously Eric Berry is gone. But Earl Thomas and Taylor Mays are both likely still there. There is no guarantee that Berry would even be there at 7. Let's weigh this... Proven Top 10 NFL Starting QB and the second or third best free safety in the draft or the best safety in the draft. Hmm? A couple years ago Taylor Mays was being compared to Troy Polamalu he was a Top 10 pick before returning to school. Some draftniks are saying Thomas might be better than Berry. So if those three guys all end up having similar careers. How can you argue against getting a 28 year old 2x Super Bowl Winning Quarterback in his prime versus grabbing Tony Pike in the 3rd round?

You get Roethlisberger with a trade, Delhomme starts until he comes back. Then you have two NFL QBs in stead of two guys who might one day be NFL QBs.

Holmgren and Mangini can turn him around, he will come out of his suspension a better man, and with a renewed spirit. If you don't want him on your team because he played a couple hours East of here, you really don't want the Browns to get better.

Last time the Browns had a shot at Roethlisberger they took Kellen Winslow. Huge character guy in that pick right? In 2010 they have a chance to fix it. Do it!

The Obvious Upset

Wait a second... is that I'm a Believer on the radio...Is it the Monkees version... what about Smash Mouth...What do you mean who is Smash Mouth... where are we 1966?

Yeah, I know the former Texas Western is a 26-6 team. So what if the Miners went 15-1 in the Jon Calipari Commemorative Conference. Who wouldn't be impressed by their 1-3 record against AP Top 25. The 3-4 against other teams in the tournament (including 1-2 against C-USA Tourney Champs Houston) is the stuff of legend.

That Out of Conference schedule was ridiculous. I mean who would have thought to play New Mexico St. in a home and home series. I can't blame them for scheduling Arkansas Pine-Bluff, heck they are one of only 17 teams that will go 1-1 in this year's tournament. Not even the Big XII coaches knew that Oklahoma was going to be terrible this year, apparently Blake Griffin was that good. And who can fault them for playing Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T a couple of teams with huge potential to finish in the Top 10 of a historically great mid-major like the MEAC. Ever since that 60 point win against the worst league-affiliated D1 program in the country this year, Alcorn St., these guys have been a lock to get to the Sweet Sixteen even if they lost in the finals of the conference tourney.

Their first round competition is some overrated mid-major from a joke conference that only has a .472 winning percentage in the NCAA tournament.

Yeah, I know the former North Western Christian University is a 28-4 team. So what, the Bulldogs went 18-0 in the Todd Lickliter Memorial League. Nobody is impressed with their 1-3 against the AP Top 25. The 3-3 against other teams in the tourney (including 1-2 against teams seeded 7 or better) is far from legendary.

That Out of Conference schedule was a cakewalk. I mean who schedules an early season Midwest tour against Northwestern and Evansville and follows it up with Minnesota. You have to blame them for not playing any potential play-in game winners, it just shows a lack of RPI knowledge. Not even the Pac-10 coaches knew that UCLA was going to be terrible, it's not like Jrue Holliday and Darren Collison were that good. You have to fault the Athletic Office and Coach for putting teams that barely had Top 10 potential in historically terrible mid-majors like the Missouri Valley and the MAC. Ever since that one-point loss to Clemson, I crossed this team off the list as an at-large, they are lucky then won the conference tourney.

Luckily for the Miners, we didn't go back 11 years earlier, these games aren't going to be played at Historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, because the hoops may be 10 feet tall there, but apparently they are taller in San Jose.

33rd World Cup Team

I love Ireland, I think they got shafted but their request for a 33rd team was so ridiculous it got me thinking.

How about FIFA allow a 33rd team of players who will miss the World cup in 2010. Guys that if it was up to FIFA would be in over almost anyone on Algeria, North Korea, New Zealand, Slovakia, Chile and South Africa

So here it is the World Cup's 33rd Team.
The 25 Man Roster of Players You won't see in 2010.

RULES:
1. There may be no more than 1 player from any country represented per position. Ex. Shay Given and Robbie Keane can be on the team, but Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko can't (unless we get creative and make Arshavin a winger)
2. There must be at least one player from each of the six associations (UEFA, CONCACAF, COMNEBOL, AFC, OFC, AFRICA)
3. The team must have a fair breakdown of players on it's 22 man roster. Ex. No team would carry 2 GKS, 5 Defenders, 5, Mids, and 13 Strikers

Goalkeepers 3--
Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea) - Cech isn't as good as he once was, but there is no doubt he is the best goalkeeper not going to South Africa. In 2008, he was voted the #4 keeper in the World behind Casillas, Buffon and van der Sar.
Shay Given (Ireland, Man City) - The argument that Given should be there anyway and the fact that we already have young inexperienced goalkeeper in Navas is why I put him on the squad over Igor Akinfeev (Russia, CSKA Moscow)
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Saprissa) - Navas is only 22 and already considered the third best keeper in CONCACAF. I know what your thinking, it's CONCACAF who cares? Considering he's behind Tim Howard and Guillermo Ochoa, that's not a bad spot to be. Akinfeev is better, but UEFA has enough on this team.


Defenders 8 --
Yuri Zhirkov (Russia, Chelsea) - Zhirkov is a left-back and the only defender to be named to the EURO 2008- All Tournament team that won't be playing in South Africa.
Sami Hyppia (Finland, Bayer Leverkusen) - The former Liverpool centre-back, will probably never see a World Cup. He plays for Finland and he's 36. But with 103 caps, and over 500 club matches he a good veteran fit with the next guy.
Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland, Manchester United) - Currently on loan to Sunderland, Evans is a 6'2, center back and only two months older than me. He might be a World cup away from really contributing to this team, but I'm pretty sure Northern Ireland isn't seeing the WC in 2014 either.
Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur) - You can never have enough good left-backs. Bale can even move up to a wing position. Him and Zhirkov would make it tough for a coach to choose who starts
John O'Shea (Ireland, Manchester United) - O'Shea is one of three Irishmen on the team, his abillity to move up into a defensive mid role is important, but he's likely start at CB along with Hyppia.
Christian Fuchs (Austria, VfL Bochum) - Fuchs is extremely versatile he can play in back, he can play central mid, and he can play winger. It certainly doesn't hurt him that he plays for Bochum either.
Ivan Cordoba (Columbia, Internazionale) - This guy has played 280 games for Inter Milan, pretty hard to leave him off the team. Yeah he's 33, but as of this moment the team doesn't have a right-back. At 5'8, Cordoba isn't a typical back, but his leaping ability is fairly well noted.
Darjo Srna (Croatia, Shakhtar Donetsk) - Srna is the captain of both his national team and his club team. However he takes much different roles. At Skakhtar he's the starting right-back. With Croatia he's a starting mifielder.

Midfielder 7 --
Yossi Benayoun (Israel, Liverpool) - Benayoun still might have a shot at playing in a World Cup, as Israel just keeps getting closer and closer to a big tourney. It seems like he's been around for a long time, but he's only 29. The most dynamic player in Israel, he scores pretty much everywhere he goes.
Kim Kallstrom (Sweden, Lyon) - It's rumored that he once knocked out teammate Adreas Isakkson on a free kick in training. Kallstrom is a natural born playmaker and can be put in any midfield role. Use him on the left-wing here and watch him create chances for Ibrahimovic and Berbatov.
Tomas Rosicky (Czech Republic, Arsenal) - The problem with Rosicky is that he plays the same position as Benayoun, is the same age and has really battled injury woes. The guy deserves the spot on this team, but might not be a starter.
Christian Noboa (Ecuador, Rubin Kazan) - Another attacking mid, but Noboa can play the wings as well. Easily the best midfielder in Ecuador, at 24 he's a name to watch.
Andrei Arshavin (Russia, Arsenal) - Is it cheating to call him a midfielder only so that Pavlyuchenko can get on the team? No, because Pavlyuchenko doesn't make the team. Arshavin plays mid on my team, because in a 4-5-1 my wing-mid should be a striker.
Luka Modric (Croatia, Tottenham Hotspur) - Since Srna plays defense for his club, it gives us a chance to put Modric into the team.
Hamit Altintop - (Turkey, Bayern Munich) - Altintop can fall into a defensive mid role, and that's the only reason I include him. I think there are better players out there.

Striker 7 --
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Barcelona) - Arguments that Ibra is the most in form player in the world right now might be true when it comes to club.
Osea Vakatalesau (Fiji, Ba FC) - The required Oceania choice might not be that bad. It's hard to know much about a player like him. All I know is that he played for the best club in Fiji and is on loan to a team in New Zealand. I can also tell you he has scored 36 goals in 23 international appearance. Granted the competition is not top class, but it's still and impressive run.
Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United) - honestly I don't care for him all that much, but he certainly belongs here.
Kenwyne Jones (T&T, Sunderland) - Trying to get some CONCACAF love here. Just goes to show that the teams that made the Cup are the teams that probably should have. (The same goes for Asia) With Costly, Palacios and Suazo at Honduras, and everyone else from USA or Mexico. It's just not a good conference.
Robbie Keane (Ireland, Tottenham Hotspur) - How can you leave the greatest scorer in Ireland history, and arguably the best in Tottenham history off this team? It can't be done.
Yasser Al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal) - Asia's only representative, Al-Qahtani is probably good enough to play for Championship English club. But the money in Saudi Arabia is better, he was a Saudi Premier League record transfer of 8.1 USD in 2005
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Manchester City) - I almost forgot Adebayor, and now I'm worried I forgot about a lot of African players. There are some very good African players, that we have no idea who they play for, we just no they are African, out there, and that's why I hate not being in the same Pot as them.

Honorable Mention
Igor Akinfeev (Russia, CSKA Moscow) - Akinfeev is going to be really really good, he's easily the best Goalkeeper in the World under 23 [and that's coming from a guy who really really like Joe Hart from Birmingham City]
John Arne Riise (Norway, Roma) - Riise is easily my favorite defender to score an own goal that sent a team through in Champions League. Riise is a strong defender and while that own goal may have cost him his job at Anfield, he fits in well at Roma.
Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia, Tottenham Hotspur) - Very tough to leave him off the list, but I can't feel that bad for the Russians, unlike Ireland, they shot themselves in the foot during the playoff.
Mido (Egypt, Middlesbrough) - On loan to El Zamalek where he started his career. Mido was once a top player but has since fallen off a bit.
Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) - just not what he used to be anymore, but still good enough to score goals in the World Cup.
Eduardo (Croatia, Arsenal) - he's good but if he picked the right team he wouldn't need to be on this list.
Damien Duff (Ireland, Fulham) - I just really like him so I'd bring him as a reserve.
Darren Fletcher (Scotland, Manchester United) - I thought fletcher was much older than 25, maybe I need to rethink that.
Seydou Keita (Mali, Barcelona) - midfielder finding his role well with Barcelona, gets the nod over Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid) and Mohamad Sossoko (Juventus) both Malian midfield mates.
Antonio Valencia (Ecuador, Manchester United) - still young but not quite ready to be in a group of players like those above
Marc Janko (Austria, FC Red Bull Salzburg) - same as Valencia, except he's a 6'6 striker.
Edin Dzeko (Bosnia, VfL Wolfsburg) - the 23 year old Christiano look alike is going to be a name that you get familiar with in a couple years
Mohamed Zidan (Egypt, Borussia Dortmund) - the simple fact he plays for BvB puts him behind Berbatov.

Professional Cricket League

As you can see by the invisible second and third editions of the EPL kits preview/review, I'ven't been writing much. But I finally found something to write about... cricket.

The USA Cricket Association (USACA, which is a great name in and of itself) announced earlier today that "it hopes 'top-class international cricket' will finally take root in America by launching the first professional competition, the USA Premier League." It's hard to believe that the crowd noise decibels at any event could ever match the name of the event. Seriously how many cricket players can you name? I can name 3, Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and a 4th guy and that's only because they were the 4 multiple choice answers for the 10,000,000 rupee question.

Investors have come up with numerous half-baked and/or poorly marketed sports ideas. For example pretty much every failed women's league of the past 10 years, the XFL comes to mind as half-baked, World TeamTennis the third time (only because I don't know if it was successful the first time) being another one. Oh you didn't know World TeamTennis came back?

The idea of a professional cricket league in the states is nearly as ridiculous as the idea that a professional curling league would be successful and here's why.

Look at nearly popular sports in the US... football, basketball, baseball and even the less popular ones like soccer and lacrosse. They can all be somehow adapted to a pick-up style game, in which full teams are not necessary and full field size is not necessary. Even hockey can be played with roller blades, a kick ball and a broom. Cricket doesn't work like that. It's played on a gigantic pitch... sorry boundary (this the proper term), and if you have never seen a game, basically it's baseball that is played in every direction. Where is a kid going to find 21 friends and a big enough place to play a game that none of the other 21 kids have ever seen in their lives?

New sports have to have a way to catch on with a young active generation (I say this knowing that the generation is not that active, but the ones who do go outside and play are the ones that are targeted by new sports). It's the reason more kids don't take up golf or tennis, they see it as standing around. Another reason it won't catch on with youth is... the awkward pitching motion. It's bad enough that Little Leaguers blow out their arms trying to throw curveballs. What's going to happen when they start trying this.


GOOD LUCK!


The scoring is confusing. Think running bases, with fielders everywhere. The one good thing Cricket might do is teach kids how to hit the cut-off man. Here's an example of a scorecard.

Australia - 1st Innings
M. Taylor      c. Richardson  b. Snell    12
M. Slater      LBW. Donald                57
D. Boon        b. de Villiers             68
M. Waugh       not out                   184
A. Border      c. Rhodes  b. Donald        0
S. Waugh       c. Snell  b. de Villiers   34
I. Healy       c. Snell  b. de Villiers    6
S. Warne       run out                    35
M. Hughes      st. Richardson  b. Cronje  10
C. McDermott   b. de Villiers             41
G. McGrath     LBW. de Villiers            9
Extras                             16
Total   141 overs          10 for 472

I imagine that would make a bit of sense if I had a clue what some of the intricate rules meant. But I don't which leads to the next problem...
Rules. There are so many rules in baseball that the average fan doesn't know, imagine taking all those average fans and multiplying the rules by two. You might have cricket.

As you know I am a huge soccer fan and sadly I know that soccer will always be behind football, baseball and basketball... even if the US does finally win a World Cup. But soccer certainly has it's niche. People who love soccer watch soccer. Do I think the MLS is a great league, absolutely not. Do I watch it? Yes, because I love to watch the game. Do I ever think I will watch a cricket match or test or whatever it's called? NO, absolutely not.

USACA seems to think they have a marketable sport that people will latch onto, saying "it wants to unlock the sport's potential in a 'massive market' and use the revenues from the new league to help spread cricket across the U.S. and form a competitive international team." My question to them, cricket has been played since the 16th century, and international matches have been played since 1844, very similar to when Baseball first started. The Ashes which is likely the sports biggest event after the World Cup began in 1882. If it hasn't even become a niche sport in 150 years, what makes them think a professional league is going to suddenly gain attention.

Before USACA goes through with this, they should really check their history. The XFL could not compete with the NFL, the ABA could not compete with the NBA and these are sports that are the same already American known games. Anyone would thinks that cricket could be successful in the States has apparently never watched a baseball game.

New EPL Kits Part 1

I'm due for another blog entry and it just so happens to be a jersey segment. I haven't checked Uniwatchblog, in order to see if they've already done it, so if they have well too bad.

Thankfully Newcastle have dropped out of the Premiership and we won't have to see this hideous away kit. I always though yellow and white stripes would look kind of cool, but yellow and creme never crossed my mind.

So we will go in alphabetical order...

If you are familiar with the Arsenal crest you know that it contains two shades of red, gold, white and navy. So they went with this as their away kit. I've never been much for the Gunners away kits 08/09 and 07/08. But the 09/10 kit is not terrible much better than some of the rumored designs.

Aston Villa are choosing not to go with brown and orange, despite their massive success under owner Randy Lerner, they will stick with claret and sky blue (not to be confused with West Ham who also wear claret and sky blue ... here's why.) Villa also sticks with Nike and came up with this. Interestingly enough, the back story is that the team has produced many great players for the England National Team, and they wanted to honour that. I find it funny that the jerseys look eerily similar to a different National Team kit (Villa is owned by an American and both keepers are US Internationals, in fact the only country with more than one player representation on the squad is the US.

Perennial, stay-uppers Birmingham City... put out this lousy effort as their away kit. Did Umbro even try? I wore this kit as a U-11 for Eastside Kickers, just replace the sponsor with three yellow stripes and a white stripe.

I've always kind of had a crush on the Blackburn half and half kits of old, in which one side of the jersey would be blue with the other being white. It was always different, then they had last years Away Kit, which I find classy. This year's away kit is less than intriguing, but it serves it's purpose.

Bolton, YIKES just a tad bit to much going on there. I feel like if I look at the bottom part long enough, a bear might pop out in 3D, I don't understand the point in having weird patterns on the part that should be covered by your shorts, but when untucked it's even worse. And BTW that patch is a POCKET! Just in case you forgot to leave your keys in the locker room. This is a Reebok Kit, but Reebok is no longer the lead sponsor, maybe they are trying to take vengeance here.

Burnley are making their first appearance into the EPL, and they wear... claret and sky blue. Simple seeing as how there is a good chance they are going to be right back in Championship after 38 games or so.

And my boys Chelsea are taking some knocks for this weird sublimated sports bra home kit
I'm actually a bit disappointed in these kits, because I hadn't heard the Abramovich was putting a team in Le Tour de France until I saw these. As much as I am not feeling the home kit, take a loot at the away kit and 3rd kit. They both have the weird bra thing going on, which is supposed to be clima-cool, but the stripes make it a bit less obvious. What sucks is that the Big Clubs change their jerseys every single year, my Yellow kit. Not just kits, but colors, after a few years of yellow they have gone away from it.

Wedge has to go.

Are the Indians a bad team this year? Or are they a good team with a manager who is unable to motivate them?

Obviously the bullpen issues can not be blamed on anyone but the pitchers in those situations, but there is no reason that the pen should be this bad.

In Friday's Plain Dealer, there is an article that says Wedge call out bullpen for... being lousy or something like that. This is after blowing a 7-0 lead to lose 8-7. Wedge was also ejected in this game, but one has to believe he still has say in the pitching decisions. There is no excuse for not going to a closer in a game that you should win. Instead they bring in a guy who hasn't pitched in three months, as the Guinness guys would say BRILLIANT!

However I'm not putting last night's loss entirely on the bullpen. The Indians are 2-2 in their last 4 games, and the two that they have lost, they have lost by one run. However, in both of those games an outfielder's inability to hit a cut-off man cost the team two unearned runs.
Ben Francisco's throw was way off line four days ago, which allowed both runners to move up and both of the runners scored on a single.
Shin Soo Choo throwing from Right-Field to third base to try and get Evan Longoria out bounced over DeRosa/Peralta's head and allowed Longoria to score and whoever hit it to move up to second. That guy also scored.

So the bullpen may be sucking but there is a lack of fundamentals on this team and that needs to be blamed on Eric Wedge. I've never been a big Wedge fan and I think it's time to move on.