Third and Blog

March 9, 2010

Detroit Lions: Doin’ Work

NFL Free Agency began last week.  The Detroit Lions have already made more noise than they did in Matt Millen’s entire tenure.  They’re likely overpaying guys, but hell, they pretty much have to.  Here’s a quick look at the moves they have made so far.

Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE

KVB has seen a steady decline, but he was a very productive DE under Jim Schwartz in Tennessee.   (more…)

March 4, 2010

Greatest Baseball Call Ever?

No, we’re not talking Bobby Thomson or Kirk Gibson homer runs.  Rather, Craig Monroe.  In the 2006 season, the Tigers made a run that will be remembered by all Detroit fans.  They seemingly hit a walk-off home run every other night.  This is one of the most memorable, if for no other reason than the call.

That’s Rod Allen folks.  The same guy that brought us this:

March 2, 2010

March = Spring Training

Filed under: Uncategorized — waymatth @ 12:26 pm
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With March comes spring training.  Baseball was always my first true love.  Growing up in Michigan, I grew up watching the greatest double play combination ever in Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker.  I watched Cecil Fielder hit towering home runs.  I grew up with Mickey Tettleton as my favorite player.  I always tried to emulate Tettleton’s “bubble gum” in his left cheek and Trammell’s spin move from shortstop when I played in Little League.

The one thing I looked forward to every year was Ernie Harwell’s definition of baseball every Opening Day.  In the spirit of the beginning of Spring Training, here it is.  Don’t be surprised if it re-appears come Opening Day.

Baseball is the President tossing out the first ball of the season and a scrubby schoolboy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm. A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That’s baseball. And so is the big, fat guy with a bulbous nose running home one of his 714 home runs.

There’s a man in Mobile who remembers that Honus Wagner hit a triple in Pittsburgh forty-six years ago. That’s baseball. So is the scout reporting that a sixteen year old pitcher in Cheyenne is a coming Walter Johnson. Baseball is a spirited race of man against man, reflex against reflex. A game of inches. Every skill is measured. Every heroic, every failing is seen and cheered, or booed. And then becomes a statistic.

In baseball democracy shines its clearest. The only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rulebook. Color merely something to distinguish one team’s uniform from another.

Baseball is a rookie. His experience no bigger than the lump in his throat as he begins fulfillment of his dream. It’s a veteran too, a tired old man of thirty-five hoping that those aching muscles can pull him through another sweltering August and September. Nicknames are baseball, names like Zeke and Pie and Kiki and Home Run and Cracker and Dizzy and Dazzy.

Baseball is the cool, clear eyes of Rogers Hornsby. The flashing spikes of Ty Cobb, an over aged pixie named Rabbit Maranville.

Baseball just a game as simple as a ball and bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. A sport, a business and sometimes almost even a religion.

Why the fairy tale of Willie Mays making a brilliant World’s Series catch. And then dashing off to play stick ball in the street with his teenage pals. That’s baseball. So is the husky voice of a doomed Lou Gehrig saying., “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.”

Baseball is cigar smoke, hot roasted peanuts, The Sporting News, ladies day, “Down in Front”, Take Me Out to the Ballgame and the Star Spangled Banner.

Baseball is a tongue tied kid from Georgia growing up to be an announcer and praising the Lord for showing him the way to Cooperstown. This is a game for America. Still a game for America, this baseball!

March 1, 2010

The Impact of Sports

Filed under: Uncategorized — waymatth @ 12:38 pm

Do you ever stop to think what sports means to you?  To the country?  Sometimes, it takes something tragic to make you think about these things.

September 11th conjures up a lot of memories to people. Everyone you talk to who was old enough to appreciate the day remembers where they were when they heard the news. You probably remember most details of the entire day. I was in my 4th hour German class when I heard. We had soccer practice after school, and inexplicably, a plane flew overhead when all planes were supposed to be grounded.

February 25, 2010

Ozzie Guillen on Twitter?

Filed under: Uncategorized — waymatth @ 10:23 am
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I don’t think this has been confirmed, but regardless, it should be entertaining.  Ozzie Guillen, or an alter-ego, is on Twitter.

So far, Ozzie has come up with these gems:

  • what I saw on the field today was a lot of grass…
  • 3 day of Spring Training and im already boreddddddd

Over/Under on fines in 2010?  I’ll set it at 13.5.

February 22, 2010

Why do I like Rich Rodriguez?

Filed under: Uncategorized — waymatth @ 11:51 am
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I get asked that question a lot.  People say: “He’s “ruined” your favorite football program… how could you possibly support the guy? “

I’ve documented why many times on this site and others.  The problem I really have is when tell me Rich Rodriguez is a bad person.  Because, that’s just not true.  The below video was taken at the Victory Rally in Ann Arbor yesterday.  It, again, illustrates the great person that Michigan has as their head football coach.  He’s someone that I don’t think I could possibly respect more.

February 17, 2010

All-Time Best Sports Rants

We, at Third and Blog, enjoy nothing more than a great sports rant.  I’m pretty sure I wasted full weeks worth of time in my four years of undergrad surfing Youtube videos with my friends for great sports rants.  Whether they come from coaches or players, they sure provide A+ entertainment.  Here are some of our favorites.  What did we miss?

My personal favorite, Herm Edwards:

Jim Mora:

Dennis Green:

(more…)

February 15, 2010

Have $55,000 lying around?

Filed under: Uncategorized — waymatth @ 11:25 am
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If you do, put a down payment on a suite to watch Michigan Football next year.  Pricey?  Yes.  But, the suites look pretty awesome: http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=61944

February 11, 2010

Firefox: Michigan Football Style

Filed under: Uncategorized — waymatth @ 1:56 pm
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For you sports fans checking Third and Blog daily with Firefox, check out this: http://www.getpersonas.com/en-US/persona/52461

There is a huge list of sports personas that can make your firefox theme more enjoyable.  I added  the Michigan football persona yesterday, and my browser now looks like this:

February 9, 2010

Determining the Greatest

John McEnroe, he of tennis and Mr. Deeds fame, came out today and said that Roger Federer is the best men’s tennis player of all-time. It caused me to think, who’s currently the greatest in each sport?  And who may they endorse as their predecessor in the future?

Football:

The Present: Peyton Manning

Yes, he has multiple less championships than Tom Brady and Joe Montana.  But, we’re talking about individual achievements here, and Peyton’s defense has been bad for years.  Peyton’s production throughout his career is unmatched.  He’s one of the most accurate quarterbacks you’ll ever find, he serves as the Colts de facto offensive coordinator, and he helps his offensive line a ton through his ability to avoid sacks.  Quick release, accurate, master preparation… there’s no one else that touches him.

(more…)

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