Yankees and Red Sox, What a Great Rivalry!

For disclosure, I am a long suffering Pittsburgh Pirate fan and really have no allegiance to either the Yankees or Red Sox, but when ever these two teams get together, I am interested in the results. The hatred between the two organizations go back to the Babe Ruth era and maybe further. This is one of those rivalries that makes the blood pressure of fans, on both sides, rise several points. The tension as the innings fade into the night, continues to expand as the final turn at bat approaches. No lead is ever safe. Clear the women and children from the streets, the hated Yankees are in town. Forget all of the activities going on in the "Big Apple" those bums from Boston are here. For decades the Sox died a thousand deaths because of the "curse". They had to sit back and watch the championships, continue to be collected by the Yankees. Today it is the Sox, that is spending as much or more then the Yankees to go for the, "ring". The season is still early and yet the intensity is very high. Either team would prefer, Baltimore, to win then to let the other villainous team lead. I don't know about you, but when we get into the dog days of August and into September, I will be watching as the best rivalry in baseball, plays out between the lines at Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium. 

The Heat are Tittering on the Edge.

I am breaking away from old sports to make a comment about new sports. I have to admit, like most Non-Heat fans, I am enjoying way too much, the Dallas Maverick's lead on the Miami Heat. I also have taken much joy in Lebron James' disappearances in the forth quarter. All greats in any sport lives for the end of a game to take over and drag their team over the finish line. They want the ball in their hands. This is what makes them great. James has become the pedestrian in a NASCAR race. Maybe he should play the first three quarters, then sit down and hope that somebody else will rise up and deliver. In a few days I may be eating my words, but I need some further proof before I start to compare James with some of the greatest athletes that have ever played sports. All I can say right now, is "Go Mavericks."

Roberto Clemente the Best I Ever Saw!

I know that I will be accused of be a homer when I say, Clemente was the best I ever saw, but he was. I had the opportunity to see him play in person many times and he never failed to show his greatness. Clemente had a rifle for an arm. It got to the point that when a batter got a base hit to right, he would not make a wide turn toward second base, because if he did Clemente would throw behind him and nail him. Runners did not try to stretch hits into an extra base, because Roberto could make a throw from any place on the field and gun them down. He had tremendous speed and could advance on the base paths or run down fly balls in right center field to anything hit down the line. Clemente was not considered a home run hitter, but when the Pirates asked him to hit for more power he delivered. He was a contact hitter and I can still see in my mind, when he would reach way out over the plate to slap a pitch into right field. When he approached the batters box, Clemente would go through a series of gyrations with his back, arms and shoulders. He would dig around the batters box, with his spikes as if a new highway was be planned. He would hold up his right hand to the umpire as he took several minutes to be prepared just right. Clemente would rarely take a swing at the first pitch, just look as it went past him. The pitcher could not completely relax and think he would just throw down the middle to start off with a strike, because just when you figured he would just watch the pitch he would hammer it somewhere for a hit. Clemente was an outstanding all-around ballplayer, and was unique. We will never have a chance to see someone like him again. I am just glad that I was able to watch one of the greatest of all time.