by Timothy Weisberg | Jul 1, 2010 | Blog
The O-Dawg(left)-photo courtesy of Olivia Ruhland
It’s funny. I was never a real big Orlando Hudson fan, even for the majority of last season. You know the saying, “you never know how much you love someone until they’re gone.” Well, he did not die or anything, but this is a statement that resembles my take on the O-Dawg.
Although I am extremely happy for him in Minnesota, it saddens me that he will never be wearing Dodger Blue. An autograph session, along with interviews I have watched after severe O-Dawg withdrawals has made him one of my favorite players in the major leagues.
He is a flawless defender, with a range better than Derek Jeter, and quite arguably one of the best second baseman in the game right now. Which is what gets me. How could the Dodgers let someone go, someone who gave so much energy and toughness to the Dodgers.
Instead, Joe Torre benched Hudson through most of the playoffs, and started Ronnie Belliard. It makes me upset to think that a utility player would be used over a starter. It’s baseball. It is extremely difficult to be consistent every year. Every player goes through their slumps.
To me, a .286 batting average and a little less than 10 HR’s was not a slump for the O-Dawg. He’s a second baseman. What he provides is defense and a .300 10 HR, 50 RBI year. That’s all he needs to provide, and he has a bad month and you bench him? It is not right. Now you look at Belliard and see him how he really is: not an everyday player, and a utility player. That’s all he will ever be too. He doesn’t hit for any power, he is extremely inconsistent and his defense is mediocre at best.
No player deserves what the O-Dawg went through. I truly miss him, and wish he could have had a better experience in Los Angeles. I will always be rooting for you Orlando. Go Twins!
by Timothy Weisberg | Jul 1, 2010 | Blog
In a final attempt to put the west coast on the map, the Pac-10 conference has added the University of Colorado and the University of Utah.
However, this switching around of conferences has completely taken away from the idea of the student athlete and turned it into a giant business for each school. Granted the University of Colorado was already a struggling program, and had seen major disappoint over the past few years, including the bust recruit Darrel Scott (who transferred to UCLA after last season), and a measly performance in the Big 12.
What is even more compelling is the idea that the ends justify the means for the Pac-10 inviting so many schools to join their conference: they are desperate for national recognition and money. What a lot of people do not know is that it takes 12 teams in a conference to hold a conference championship game. What comes with this: TV time, an extra game to be played during a season, and a chance to be put on the national stage as a true BCS conference.
The SEC, ACC and Big Ten have dominated the marketing networks for years due to sheer dominance in regards to football. The Pac-10 however, is now the weakest link and is looking for ways to make more money and gain more national recognition. USC finished 7-4 last year, combine the recruiting violations and the end of a dynasty, the west coast is now officially dead in the college sports world. The solution: pick up teams to make a power conference, one that can be reckoned with. And some benefits to that: more networking packages to showcase the Pac-(whatever it will be named) championship, along with a guaranteed spot into a BCS bowl game.
The Pac-10, Utah and Colorado all got something out of this. It’s a two-way street down College Politics Way. Do I support the Pac-10’s major merger: no. Is it inevitable? yes. College football has officially become a business led by the conference committees and board of regents from each school. Let the merger begin.
by Timothy Weisberg | Jul 1, 2010 | Blog
I was reading an article in the Ventura County Star the other day about high school seniors choosing to attend community college instead of the four-year universities they got into: ones such as UC-Santa Cruz, CSUCI, Cal State Dominguez Hills, etc. Whether it was to be closer to family or for financial reasons, the author of the story who shall not be named implied that heading into the direction of a community college is a bad thing, and does not provide one with an ample opportunity for a quality education.
IT really sickened me to think a liberal news media would have the courage to imply that community college is a “cop out” and leads to know extended opportunities. Without community college, I would not be the person I was today. Some kids are just not ready to leave home at 17/18 years old, and take on the pressures of a four-year university. Not to mention the absurd costs to attend the college, along with the stress of applying for financial aid packages, registering for housing, and putting your life in place to be on your own in a matter of 3 months. Community colleges appear to be frowned upon, and are not given the credit they deserve. The story went on to say that community colleges cannot offer what the four-year institutions can. I beg to differ.
In fact community colleges offer the same valued education, if not better, then the four-year colleges for 1/25th the price. People do not understand what programs are offered at community colleges such as ROTC, Nursing, Vocational as well as different clubs and organizations that exist at the four-year. So you have to live at home, but then again, who likes sharing a dorm with two other people and you dont even get your own bathroom. I think its time to reconsider the demeanor of a community college, and ignore the ignorant biased media in what they believe is a road to failure. Some people just cant afford the high costs of a four-year.
Not only that, schools are being more selective in the admissions process and your safest bet for a better chance at acceptance is through transferring. For whatever reason the author of this article decided to believe that community college is the end of the road, I implore this person to think the opposite: look at the success stories of community college students and how going down this path created the same, if not better opportunity for their education. I know it did for me. IF it weren’t for community college, I would still be a biology major right now, wasting thousands of dollars on tuition for an education for a career in a job I did not want.
Community college is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a fresh start. Follow the yellow brick road of opportunity and don’t ever let anyone ever tell you what you can’t do. Shame on this writer for assuming that choosing a community college over a four-year was a bad thing. Your ignorance amazes me.
by Timothy Weisberg | Jul 1, 2010 | Blog
I never really envisioned myself ever watching soccer on television. Then there was the world cup. I think that the world cup stands for something more than just the game of soccer, and is a message to us all that team, pride, and unity, among other things, is what defines us as citizens. Whether you are a citizen of the US, England, Germany, or even the Ivory Coast, the World Cup has to mean something to each and every citizen of that respective country. To be honest, I think the MLS is a joke and could care less about professional soccer. However, the World Cup changes everything, and I think it should for everyone. You do not even have to follow sports, or be involved with them in any way. But the World Cup is more than just a game; it’s a way for people to come together and push aside all the problems, trials and tribulations many people face, to watch a game, and not just any game, the World Cup. Nationalism exists in all of us, and it never gets old to ride along with a chip on your shoulder, and cheer your country on. Or even other countries, who may not have the same opportunities, but get to put everything on the line in South Africa. Is the World Cup a symbolic representation of world peace? Might seemed farfetched to many, but that is exactly what it seems to do. Everything is put out on the table, and a worldwide ceasefire seems evident every four years.
by Timothy Weisberg | Feb 12, 2010 | Blog
Published on February 11, 2010
I was really starting to question the Lakers’ ability to repeat as champions after an embarrassing loss to the Denver Nuggets at home. The Lakers gave up 125 points, and put on a dismal performance on the defensive end.
Since then, Kobe Bryant has been out with an ankle injury, as well as Bynum on the sideline. For some reason, this gave the Lakers some motivation to play at the level they are capable of.
I rediscovered why I loved the Lakers after a dominating victory over the Utah Jazz on the road last night. It was ice to finally see the reserves step up.
When Kobe was in the line up, Laker fans were probably like me, hoping the reserves could just maintain the lead, or not have it trimmed too drastically while the Lakers’ starters were on the bench.
Against Utah, however, Jordan Farmar added 18 points, and even Sasha Vujacic started showing why he was offered a $5 million per year contract. Although his shooting game remains atrocious, he made key plays on the defensive end.
Rumor has it the Lakers were going to trade for Kirk Heinrich of Chicago, sending Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Adam Morrison or D.J. Mbenga. Last night’s victory over the Jazz impressed me so much that I now do not believe we need a dominant point guard to lead the triangle offense.
The triangular trade seems to be back in business for the pesky Lakers’ squad. The Lakers not only won on the road, but also cooled off a Jazz team that was hot enough to melt the Rockies. The Jazz had a 9-game win streak snapped, and had previous won 13 out of their last 14 games,
No Kobe, no Bynum, no problem.
Lamar Odom entered “Beast Mode” and scored 25 points, while adding 11 rebounds. Pau Gasol also stepped up, almost getting a 20/20 night for the second time this season, but finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds.
The reserves are back into the mix, and have proven critics that the Lakers do have some depth.
The Lakers won three straight with Kobe and Bynum sidelined entering the All-Star game, with the Western Conference’s best record at 41-13.
Maybe the injuries were the best thing that could happen to the Lakers.
Last night was a great quality team win, and since Kobe’s injury, the defense has stepped up drastically, and the play from the reserves has been impressive to say the least.
If the Lakers fix three areas of concern (two of which have been achieved since Kobe’s absence), they can prove why they are the NBA’s best team and the number one contender for an NBA championship: 1. Get healthy (in progress), 2. Play from reserves (so far check that), and 3. Play better defense (check that for now).
Improve in all these areas, and look out, here come the champions.
by Timothy Weisberg | Jan 28, 2010 | Blog
As if Orlando Hudson could not have a more disgruntled exit from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In a recent move that still dumbfounds me, the Dodgers resigned 34-year-old second baseman Ronnie Belliard. Ronnie Belliard was acquired in a trade on August 30, 2009 from the Washington Nationals, a trade that also sent Jim Thome from the White Sox to Los Angeles.
Orlando Hudson had been struggling to say the least, but Torre unexpectedly benched Hudson during the remainder of the playoffs. Although Belliard batted over .300 during his tenure with the Dodgers last year, he was certainly inconsistent.
Belliard at times would shine, coming up with clutch hits such as his RBI-single in Game 2 of the NLDS that kept the Dodgers alive after a “Holliday” gift. However, he often struck out a lot, and looked like Stevie Wonder trying to hit a ball off a tee-ball tee.
The Dodgers already signed veteran Jamie Carroll to a contract, and now they bring in another somewhat old guy into the picture. Granted it was a 1-year, 850,000 contract, Orlando Hudson is now for sure not going to be resigned.
In another predictable move, Hudson was not offered arbitration, and is now looking at the New York Mets or Washington Nationals (quite ironic since Belliard was acquired from the Nationals); a bad team and then another god-awful team—the Nationals will be considered successful if they lose under 100 games next season.
On top of this, the Dodgers are not giving Blake DeWitt a chance to show his true potential. He has constantly bounced up and down from the AAA-Isotopes to the major league club, and has shown he can hit, field, and be another great product out of the Dodger’s farm system.
However, Coletti feels the older Belliard has more to offer. I do not think so. And now I feel even worse for Hudson. He was an exciting acquisition last season, and now appears to be a total bust, when he shouldn’t be.
If it were up to me, offer Hudson arbitration—well he probably would not have accepted it since he was benched last season, so maybe you should not have benched him during the most crucial part of the season Torre. Not only that, but you were not on speaking terms with him about it? Are we missing the bigger picture here?
Who knows? All I can see is the Dodgers organization making moves that continue to puzzle many analysts and fans alike. This includes not offering arbitration to Randy Wolf, or putting money into signing an ace, which is what the Dodgers REALLY need.
In the meantime, Hudson: I wish the best for you, and it is unfortunate that the Dodgers organization screwed you over. Blake DeWitt could have served an excellent back-up to you. Now we have two old farts to compete for second-base, no dominant ace, and have lost Randy Wolf.
At least we avoided salary arbitration with all our other farm system successes. This is the year to shine Los Angeles. Get a dominant ace, strengthen that bullpen, and we have ourselves a contender for the National League pennant. We just have to get past those darn Phillies.
