Wow a second rant. I think I found something new to hate. Flip-floppers. You know. Those people that say one thing at one point and under three monthes later have done a complete 180 degree turn on their opinion. The best examples occur with my roommate Beau. At the beginning of the football season he said that Pete Carroll was, "going to be a better coach than Parcells ever was." Mid-way though the season he said Carroll was okay, but still better than Parcells. In March, he says that Carroll is, "a cancer. And should be shot for the moves he's made with the Patriots." Talk about a 180 degree turn. I will admit that change is a very good thing. But a 180 degree turn in under a year I disagree with that. The fastest that my opinion did a complete 180 like that was 14 monthes. I said the Phillies were going to be real good in 1994. By the end of 1995 I was saying the Phils couldn't win even if the opposition gave them 20 runs. So I can't say I completely hate flip-floppers because I do that myself. Of course I don't have the heart to tell him that Carrol is not making the moves that the "Director of Pro-Player Development," who was hired when Parcells was there, is making the moves. They are having problems like this in Philadelphia right now. Rhodes would like to call the shots, but discovered that it was a conflict. SO, they hired someone to call the shots on players for them, but they went to a selection by committee method. Translation, No one has the balls or the ability to call the shots, so they resort to a method slower than the act of grass growing. AHHHH the NFL, even in spring it is one of those things still on my mind.
But it is spring, time for Stanley Cup playoffs, Baseball is starting up, and the weather is turning to baseball weather not football weather. Lord Stanley's Cup. The playoffs of the NHL. Hockey at its finest. Players slammed into the glass like pillows in a pillow fight. Goons chasing goons, goalies making saves they have no right making, rough tough physical hockey, Philly style. Teams that should make it to the finals: Philadelphia, New Jersey, and a possible surprise from the Dominator led Sabres for the East. In the West: Colorado, or Dallas. I don't think Detroit's defense can beat or even keep Detroit in games with Dallas or Colorado and with Osgood out indefinetly they need a miracle from Maracle and Hodson. Colorado has the talent, has the depth, and has St. Patrick of Roy. Dallas if its talent can get healthy, and Belfour plays like he can play can kick ANYONE'S ass. In the East the Devils of Jersey have Brodeur, and a defensive system. But the talent is not as good as it was in 95. The Sabres have Hasek. You saw what he did in the Olympics. Philly has talent, size, and a good coach. Goaltending is not a strength still BUT, the defensive core is better, the talent of the forwards has gotten better, and Lindros and LeClair now know what it takes for them to win a Stanley cup. Adding players like Gratton and Sillinger did not hurt either.
Baseball starts SOON. :) YEAH!!!!!!! Starting March 31, thirty teams will play 162 games each in pursuit of the chance to play in the playoffs that will lead to the Worlds Series. The defending firesale, Uhh, I mean champs Marlins are almost guaranteed not to win the championship. Which is very unussual. A defending champ that is all but mathematically eliminated before the season begins. Of course if they win then the last few strands of baseball's dignity will be severed forever and ever. The Orioles look good again. The catch for them is to stay healthy, and all of the old men to play like they are young men one last time before they retire. The Phillies on the other hand look like a even club. They will probably go 81 and 81. They have youth every where. It is hard to predict how good they will be because so few of their players have been around long enough to prove that they are good.
Well this page has probably got me into trouble with somebody, and is getting long. Until my next period of boredom.
D.A. Tater
