<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798</id><updated>2012-02-16T07:01:50.317-05:00</updated><category term='Cleveland Sports'/><category term='Brady Quinn'/><category term='Baseball'/><category term='Cleveland Indians'/><category term='Lebron'/><category term='Pittsburgh Steelers'/><category term='Arizona Cardinals'/><category term='PSL'/><category term='Cleveland Browns'/><category term='Americas favorite pasttime'/><category term='NFL'/><category term='Mike Vick'/><category term='Sports'/><category term='Art Modell'/><category term='Super Bowl 43'/><category term='Modern'/><category term='Cleveland'/><category term='Football'/><category term='Wingman'/><category term='Fanhood'/><category term='Monopoly'/><category term='Coaches'/><title type='text'>The Sports Porch</title><subtitle type='html'>An Attempt to water down, inform and tell the facts and my opinion here on the sports porch</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>20</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-3681543415649379809</id><published>2010-12-02T19:32:00.008-05:00</published><updated>2010-12-02T19:57:31.691-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='PSL'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Browns'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Indians'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Sports'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Monopoly'/><title type='text'>We need to make a stand</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Cleveland fans are generally great fans. But we DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER OUR TEAMS. Take the &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Lakers&lt;/span&gt; for instance. they have some of the best fans in the world but if they have one losing season all hell breaks loose, they get off the bandwagon and yell from the mountaintop in their discontent. As soon as they are unhappy they want changes. Jerry Buss knows that if he does not have a championship caliber team on the floor the seats will be empty. In this case the "fans" have control over the team and the owner. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;In Cleveland fans case we are so desperate for a winner that we will support a 5-11 team just so that they don't leave for another city. What we need to do is stand up to the shenanigans of the corporate sports world where they charge &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;PSL's&lt;/span&gt; just to build a freaking stadium that the owner could finance all on his own. We need to not go to games just because we want to go. we need to force them to make changes faster and not accept mediocrity for 12 years. We have been getting shafted by owners that are more interested in soccer than the real football team they inherited. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Cleveland sports fans are so passionate that I think we need to start a revolution and make the Browns and the Indians make changes. If we force them to make changes than we will have a much brighter outlook on a season and may actually enjoy it when you are at the game. Just a thought. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-3681543415649379809?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/3681543415649379809/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/12/we-need-to-make-stand.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/3681543415649379809'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/3681543415649379809'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/12/we-need-to-make-stand.html' title='We need to make a stand'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_KT0LsMgsDKY/TMg-d4gbmlI/AAAAAAAAAAU/sgZ9iXamYxE/S220/DSCN0401.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-2052182527738307088</id><published>2010-10-16T15:45:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-16T15:45:00.185-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Sports'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Fanhood'/><title type='text'>I am a Fan are You??</title><content type='html'>I consider myself a true sports fan. I am the guy who gets decked out for games. The one who knows a lot about his "hobby". The guy who will talk about sports at the most opportune times and the most inappropriate times. I am that guy that will be in a bad mood on Saturday or Sunday if my team loses in a fashion I deem unacceptable. My wife doesn't get "my hobby". Not that I don't blame her there is a lot to get. You have to be focused  for so many months out of the year. You have to be able to talk about your teams with passion and positivity at the flip of a switch. You have to be positive before the season starts and during the season uless it is going atrociously bad then you can just say there is always next year. I have heard and said this phrase a lot during my life. being from Cleveland I get a lot of grief from a lot of people  about out sports teams. I am a numbers guy. I like stats and percentages YPC, ERA, RBI, YAC, and so many others. I really hated math class in school but for some reason I love the numbers part of sports. I also the love the relationships that can be formed through sports. You can meet so many types of people through sports. So the question remains are you a true fan or just part of the bandwagon? Stay tuned and thanks,&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-2052182527738307088?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/2052182527738307088/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-am-fan-are-you.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/2052182527738307088'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/2052182527738307088'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-am-fan-are-you.html' title='I am a Fan are You??'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-8478017931048105140</id><published>2010-10-16T15:30:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-16T15:39:20.917-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The Game</title><content type='html'>This is the reason that we are all fans!! The teams go through hellish weeks beating up on each other, playing through heat, snow, injuries just so they can get a chance to play on Saturday's. There is a code that we all must follow when we watch it or we play it. There is always heartbreak and triumph. This is the season where we are less productive, happy or sad on Sunday depending on our team's outcome or performance. Our fortunes are put in the hands of 19-23 year old's and we love every moment of it. Why do you watch this game? I watch this game because I get excited at the sight of the leather and the weather. I love the smell of the freshly cut grass. The fact that a Goliath can go down at any moment to a team that didn't win any games the previous year. This is the time of year where rivalries are renewed year after year. This is where if you are from a certain region or school you either love or hate a certain school. To me the game is where it is all about. I am a bit of a purist. I love the fact that the trenches will win or lose you a game. I love the pro formation. I loved two-a-days when boys became men, they become leaders, where they put in blood, sweat and tears. I like many others no longer play the game that we love so much, I find myself getting that itch every August/ September of every year not to play the game but the camaraderie of the teammates and the family you have played with for the past so many years. That first game always means the most because it sets the tone for the rest of the year. Stay Tuned. Thanks,&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-8478017931048105140?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/8478017931048105140/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/game.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8478017931048105140'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8478017931048105140'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/game.html' title='The Game'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-6240961357071314725</id><published>2010-10-16T14:49:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-16T14:48:19.492-04:00</updated><title type='text'>What being a Cleveland Sports Fan Means To Me!!!</title><content type='html'>Some of you may find this post funny or down right depressing but here we go anyway. As most of you know I am a Cleveland sports fan (Is this really shocking to anybody). I have been a Cleveland sports fan for as long I can remember! I have seen amazing, depressing, excitement and frustration all in one weekend before. As a Cleveland fan I like to think of myself as the part of the minority in regards to the positive energy I get from Cleveland sports. In the beginning of each season I think about the positives that can come from the team and what the end of the year would look like if we brought home that coveted championship trophy to this torchered faithful sports town. the fact that we haven't had a championship in over 60 years drags down this city at the beginning of each year and when ever there is a coach or a bad performance in a series or we lose in game seven of a world series! I get a major Thrill to know that someday we will win that one thing that eludes this great town of being a real championship town. if we get to that point I believe that they will shut down the city for at least a week so that we can celebrate (Mardi Gras wont have anything on Cleveland).  So what does Cleveland sports mean to me?? That is a great question. Cleveland sports has given me a better appreciation for team sports. Since we get out hearts ripped out year after year. Its shows me the passion and love that this town has for "our" teams. Year after year we fill the Cleveland Browns Stadium to the max and watch with high expectations that this is finally the year. Or on opening day we pack "Jacobs Field" with high expectations. The expectations have been pretty low as of late we haven't really contended for anything since the 1997 world series. I hope that I live to see this great sports town bring home the coveted hardware. Until that time comes I will be rooting for those teams in C-Town until they make make those preseason chants come true.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-6240961357071314725?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/6240961357071314725/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-being-cleveland-sports-fan-means.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/6240961357071314725'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/6240961357071314725'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-being-cleveland-sports-fan-means.html' title='What being a Cleveland Sports Fan Means To Me!!!'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-8186089394123370899</id><published>2010-05-14T15:45:00.006-04:00</published><updated>2010-05-14T16:05:50.872-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Sports'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Lebron'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Sports'/><title type='text'>A whole lotta disarray!!!!</title><content type='html'>Oh where, Oh where do i begin? Do i begin with Rocky Colavito, Joe Table, The Curse? How about Red right 88, Elway, The Drive, Or the Kardiac Kids? What if I blogged about the Fumble, The M**ell Move, The years back on the Lake, or Lebron?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Ill take the latter. As most of you Know Cleveland has been tortured for more than 60 years. Why you ask because we are the only "Major Sports" town to not have won a Major Championship of any kind in any of the three Major sports in the last 60 years. The Last NBA Championship == Never. Super Bowl== Never. World Series== does being one out away in 1997 count? thought so. its been since 1948 in that sport. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seven years ago Lebron became to our Town and he was the Heart and soul of a city gasping for some sort of relevance in the world. We weren't looking for mediocrity, we were looking for the beginning of a new era in C-Town sports. He was going to get everything started just like the Red Sox did in 2004. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In 48 days Lebron is going to decide whether or not to stay in Cleveland where he grew up went to High School, Plays here and Lives here. (Akron) but who cares.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; If Lebron leaves when will Cleveland sports be relevant again? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Will it be when Holmgren finally gets us above .500, How about when the Indians have a better record than the Nationals? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't know the answer to that question but I do know that if Lebron leaves who is going to want to come to Cleveland and play for the Cavs, who will be worth at least 100,000,000 dollars less (that's Right one hundred million). As soon as he leaves Cleveland. Lebron is the only thing that is enticing in this town for Free agents.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; I guess in all of this i feel like this is what happens to Clevelanders when something good starts to happen and than bam your team is in Baltimore or you get knocked out in the eastern conference semi's.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; I am and will always be a Cleveland Sports fan no matter who is playing in town are just stopping by on there way to some where better! The Great Thing about Cleveland Sports Fans are we always come back and we are the Most supportive fans in the world even when we get our hearts ripped out. Live Well Love a lot!!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-8186089394123370899?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/8186089394123370899/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/05/whole-lotta-disarray.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8186089394123370899'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8186089394123370899'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/05/whole-lotta-disarray.html' title='A whole lotta disarray!!!!'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-8539363740413183374</id><published>2010-04-23T22:24:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2010-04-23T23:01:12.964-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Lebron V. Jordan</title><content type='html'>Here is a debate that is going to get totally heated. Who is better in their first six years in the LEAGUE. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lebron or Michael.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I really believe that it is going to have to go to Lebron not based on just pure talent (or that i am totally Biased) but on what he turned his teammates into and also how he transformed a city from a very proud but broken football town into a basketball city where that was always second fiddle to Baseball and the Browns and even the Buckeyes for that matter. Lebron has never had that go to wing-man that can assist him with 20-25 points or even 10-15 rebounds a night consistently. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lebron has never had a player like an antawn jamison or a shaq on his team. If Lebron had a Teammate of the caliber of shaq for more than one year before the end of his career I think Lebron would be rewriting the NBA history books. Jordan had a future hall of famer in Pippen as well as Rodman and Kerr. Lebron is a physical specimen with talent like no other he is a big as a p/f but has the skills, footwork, and quickness to play like a point guard. Hence seen during the 2010 NBA playoffs. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lebron doesn't just have pure talent he makes his mediocre at best teammates better. Lebron is like the Dan Marino of the NBA as of right know the best in the game but the talent that is surrounding him is not at the level where it should be. I know that you want to hear about Hardware? The Hardware will come. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am not taking anything away from Jordan as of right know he is the best and will be the best until somebody dethrones him. The Numbers don't play into Lebron's favor but as I stated previously the numbers game is only part of it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What did Michael mean to Chicago? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What does Lebron mean to Cleveland. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also stated before that this is only my opinion and lets face facts my opinion doesn't really matter.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-8539363740413183374?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/8539363740413183374/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/04/lebron-v-jordan.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8539363740413183374'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8539363740413183374'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2010/04/lebron-v-jordan.html' title='Lebron V. Jordan'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-444736319697827162</id><published>2009-10-21T20:50:00.007-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-21T21:03:04.146-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Browns'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Indians'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Art Modell'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Football'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Americas favorite pasttime'/><title type='text'>Give us a break!!!!</title><content type='html'>45 years with goal line stands, Chokes, Corked bats, Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, The Trades, and The Modell. I have been a life long Cleveland fan. I dont remember some of these and some of these are still in the back of my mind. Clevland is a very proud sports town, we are always optimistic at the beginning of the season and still go to games because we love our teams at the end of the season. Cleveland has been named the most tortured sports town by numerous sports sites. We havent won anything in over 40+ years. Boston and Chicago havent even gone that long with out a championship. They may have us beat in baseball but not combined sports titles. To me this is absolutely ridiculous the amount of time and energy and dont forget money that we send watching, spending money on or talking about the Teams in Cleveland. My worst moments in Cleveland Sports history was first and foremost the Move. It ripped a city apart. Modell tore our hearts out and fed them to his birds. I wonder what would have happened if the browns would have stayed with Belichik the coach. I believe the 2009 would look alot different than they do know. The city will never recover from that and we will never forgive Modell for that crap that he pulled. My other Moment has to do with a team that used to be really good than really bad back to great and know abysmal. The Cleveland Indians were two freaking outs away to winning a world series and they freaking blew it. So please Cleveland sports team give us a break and be out of character and win something sometime soon or YOU WILL start to lose the Cleveland Faithful for good. What are your worst Cleveland Sports moments.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-444736319697827162?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/444736319697827162/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/10/give-us-break.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/444736319697827162'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/444736319697827162'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/10/give-us-break.html' title='Give us a break!!!!'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-155537880574117559</id><published>2009-10-17T12:34:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2009-10-17T12:46:29.020-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='NFL'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Browns'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Coaches'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Football'/><title type='text'>Stop The Charade!!!</title><content type='html'>As you all know i am a Cleveland Browns fan! Art Modell tore our hearts out in 1995 when he moved the team to Baltimore. Since the Browns have been back in 1999 we have statistically been one of the worst teams in the NFL. I, frankly am sick of this. there is always optimism at the beginning of the year and then after about the first three weeks or so the optimism turns to anger. This has been an issue since Randy Lerner took over since his father Alfred Lerner's Passing. Me as a Cleveland fan often thinks about what needs to happen to the browns to become at least a respectable team instead of the product that they have one the field right know. I feel that Randy Lerner spends to much money on his precious FUTBOL team than he does on his actual football team. if you look at the best teams in the league what do they all have in common. Structure, high payrolls and consistency. Know these wont win you championships but it will definitely help with the process. Another thing that angers me is the fact that they don't give the coaches a chance to build a system. It is so hard to win in the NFL. Give the guy a chance to build the team and get the players he wants and implement his own system and rules. You cant expect to have a winner on the field if you get a new coach every three years. give the guy a chance to well do his job you are paying him for and coach the team. I know that i am just one fan but i feel like i am not alone in this. Thanks for tuning in.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-155537880574117559?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/155537880574117559/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/10/stop-charade.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/155537880574117559'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/155537880574117559'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/10/stop-charade.html' title='Stop The Charade!!!'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-5340620891483704709</id><published>2009-07-31T23:21:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-31T23:22:34.978-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Mike Vick'/><title type='text'>Mike Vick</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;This is a hot topic in the sports world lately.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="mso-tab-count:1"&gt;           &lt;/span&gt;I am sure that everyone has his or her opinion on this or about this situation. Here is my opinion. Mike Vick did the time for the crime. I do not like mike Vick and I never have. The biggest issue that I have is the fact that this guy gets 23 months in Jail for a crime that doesn’t involve human beings but Donte Stallworth can drive around drunk at 6 o’clock in the morning and only get 30 days in jail for running over and killing someone. This makes me want to do things and see how far I can take it with the justice system. There is something really wrong with the justice system there. If Vick is “conditionally reinstated” what we don’t know is the fact that he will be suspended, but for 1 game or 6. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;Can Mike get in shape to play and contribute this year at all? I think if he starts now that he can probably help someone out a little bit by the end of the year. I believe that he will need two years to get back to the weight and the speed of the game.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;If there is a team out there&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;and they want to sign Him than by all means I think that the contract&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;that he signs would have to have a lot of stipulations in it about&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;his behavior and the people he hangs around with, how he conducts his business practices where his money goes. If he does sign a contract with a team than this will be a guy that will be doing a whole lot of PSA for the SPCA and PETA. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"&gt;Mike Vick is the most hated man in sports right now and whichever team takes that marketing mess than more power to them, I just know that I would never want to walk the plank like that at any point in time. Like I said before the man is trying to earn his living back, if that was one of us you can forget about getting “reinstated” we would just get fired. I know he did a lot of horrible things and I want to believe that he truly learned from this and that he can go teach others about what he has learned what not to do&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-5340620891483704709?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/5340620891483704709/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/mike-vick.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/5340620891483704709'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/5340620891483704709'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/mike-vick.html' title='Mike Vick'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-7492574014058691742</id><published>2009-07-29T16:07:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-29T16:07:55.620-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Being A Cleveland Sports Fan??</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Being a sports fan from Cleveland has its advantages and disadvantages.&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;First I'll start with the disadvantages and give you something to&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;look forward to. Rooting for Cleveland sports teams is a lot like rooting&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;for the Cubs or the Nationals you just know that they are not going to win anything and that they will blow it. Then we have the Drive, The Fumble, The Owner, The Choke, Red Right 88, and there is always the infamous rip out hearts out and move us to Baltimore charade. Than there is the weather what's better than going to see a baseball game in October and&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;it's snowing the couple of times that the Indians have made the&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;playoffs I am pretty sure that I remember snow during these games. Then&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; w&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;e have the fans; Cleveland has some of the most intense and passionate fans in all of sports. We are passionate until you start to mess up and start losing and making dumb mistakes in the front office then it is like you don't even exist. I remember in the early nineties at municipal stadium&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;where the Indians played you could buy the cheapest tickets and move&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;down to the best seats in the house because they were that bad. And&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;now the advantage of being a Cleveland we have some really cool&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;looking stadiums including the Browns stadium and “Progressive field”. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;Yet again the damn fans are a great staple in the Cleveland sports scene we have always been there and we will always be there through it all thick and thin. We may&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;have false hope every year but we still come out and support. And yet&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;again the weather has also made both sides what is better than&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;watching a football game with a nice ground cover of the white stuff&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;and the weather be about 15 degrees. There is something about that&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up (could be because its frozen but I digress). Then there is the new slate of every year hoping and wishing that this will be your year that they will finally get that ring or that championship. Cleveland is a great sports town regardless of the advantages and disadvantages. If you have a team in the greater Cleveland area then I can guarantee someone will come watch it.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;I would take being a&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Cleveland fan over being any other teams fan even if it takes a Cleveland sports team another 60+ years to win a championship.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-7492574014058691742?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/7492574014058691742/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/being-cleveland-sports-fan.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/7492574014058691742'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/7492574014058691742'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/being-cleveland-sports-fan.html' title='Being A Cleveland Sports Fan??'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-536687626356272860</id><published>2009-07-28T21:21:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-28T21:22:20.211-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='NFL'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Cleveland Browns'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Brady Quinn'/><title type='text'>Cleveland Browns 2009 Preview</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;The 2009 NFL football season has come once again. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Here is a quick&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;analysis of what the browns need and what they can do. First off the&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;browns need a new owner point blank they will not get anywhere with Randy Lerner&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt;.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The quarter back situation is very unique for a couple of different reasons. First of all Brady Quinn is believed to be the savior of this franchise and a poster child for this town. Derek&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Andersen isn't that far removed from a pro bowl year. That might also&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;have to do with the fact that a lot of players were in contract years&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;and that nobody really knew who he was and what he brought to this team and this franchise two years ago. Brady Quinn needs to go into camp with the mentality that this job isn’t his so that he cant work himself into a “frenzy” and out work, out perform and “out lift” Derek Andersen. In Derek Andersen’s defense he technically does have the slight edge over Quinn because he has the most starting and NFL experience. Andersen needs to come in to camp with a chip on his shoulder. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;This is&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;going to be really interesting to watch this play out over the summer. All of the 2009 draftees are going to have to have a big year whether that is sitting the bench learning the playbook or working with the veterans on the practice team. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Than we move on to the offensive line where if we can stay healthy ad&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;stay on the field than I think that will really help our chances later&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;in the season. Alex Mack needs to be an impact player like Joe Thomas was two years ago.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Braylon Edwards needs to hold on to the football that's&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;of if he holds on to the football than that will open up a lot more of the offensive weapons like Jamal Lewis and the running game and also the rest of the receiving corps. ,&lt;br /&gt;Braylon may get the chance to go back to the pro bowl if he holds on to the rock. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Defense is&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;looking up if everyone bends and doesn't break and picks each other&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;up. The new line backing corps in this defense is going to have to step up right away and become players on the next level. Maiava and Veikune are going to be put in a tough spot because they are rookies and they have a big job to do. They have to step up where line backing has been a big weakness of Cleveland for a long time. Shaun Rogers is going to have to have another big year and be a big part of the leadership on this defense. Health is the biggest issue that this team has not just sickness&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;This team is rebuilding that is no question. But I believe that they are headed in the right direction with Mangini and his staff it may take a little longer than expected but I still expect great things from this team this year.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-536687626356272860?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/536687626356272860/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/cleveland-browns-2009-preview.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/536687626356272860'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/536687626356272860'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/cleveland-browns-2009-preview.html' title='Cleveland Browns 2009 Preview'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-5374429898637050568</id><published>2009-07-12T09:32:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-12T09:33:06.551-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Fans Dont Care</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;Apparently fans don't really care about steroids enough to condone it.&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take for example the charade that was out only a few weeks ago with&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Manny Ramirez. He tested positive for peds and served a fifty game&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;suspension. In the coming weeks he had to play a rehab start in the&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;minor leagues and the isotopes attendance was doubled. That's right&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;doubled just because of one player. During his suspension Manny was on the all star ballot in second or third place and would have been able to play when he came back if he would have been in the top three in voting for that position.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Than after the rehab game Manny&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;came back to the Majors and started in the game against the Padres and&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;he was not booed he was cheered like he was a hero or something. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;In addition to the cheering there were also a lot of L.A Dodger fans that came down from L.A. just to watch Manny return to the Major’s. The non-chalant dodger fans drove the 2 + hours it would take to get to San Diego just to watch a “dude” with dreads hit a ball.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun: yes"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;How&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;can you be a hero and an idol if you take an illegal substance? Fans&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;don't care as long as you are great at what you do and you are&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;entertaining. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"&gt;If you are out of baseball and you come out and admit it&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;than you can kiss your chances of going to the hall of fame good bye if&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;you were that talented. Fans want entertainment and if that means&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;padded stats than padded stats it will be. Remember the summer of Sosa&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;and McGwire that was top-notch entertainment. We all had to know that&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;baseball players just don't look like that and that they can't&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;physically do that. Well we looked the other way for so long that I&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;wonder what it will take to regain our trust and the image of the&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;league.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-5374429898637050568?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/5374429898637050568/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/fans-dont-care.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/5374429898637050568'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/5374429898637050568'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/fans-dont-care.html' title='Fans Dont Care'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-4217802815729060885</id><published>2009-07-12T09:22:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-12T09:23:56.197-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Manny Being Manny!</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Is Manny just being Manny or is he really that blasé blah that he&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;doesn’t realize that it's not ok to go to the bathroom in the outfield&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;or to tell the media that I was going to be taken out the next inning&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;anyway. Manny is a guy that is regarded as the best right-handed&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;hitter of our generation. Is he still that guy? I believe that he is.&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;There is nobody in the major leagues that can hit like this guy. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-tab-count:1"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;guess when you add in ped's than you have to be the best hitter in&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;baseball. What is going to be really interesting is the fact that we&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;are going to have to see him get back in shape the natural way and&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;really see if he is the most feared batter in the game, I guess only time will tell. I remember when he was with the Indians when he first came up and he would hit after Albert Belle. Manny was a good hitter than.&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; H&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;e is even better now.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;span style="mso-tab-count:1"&gt; &lt;span style="mso-tab-count:1"&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;If he continues to produce no one will even&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;remember that he took ped's and will to in the h.o.f. on the first try, as one of the greatest right handed hitters in the game, of a generation. If Manny doesn't come back to form as he was in years past than his legacy will only be that he is the best hitter in baseball only when he is on&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;ped's. I don't think that will happen though. I believe that Manny will pull through better than he was before.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-4217802815729060885?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/4217802815729060885/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/manny-being-manny.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/4217802815729060885'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/4217802815729060885'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/manny-being-manny.html' title='Manny Being Manny!'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-4657308591483297273</id><published>2009-07-04T17:07:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-07-04T17:09:38.451-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Majors vs. Minors the Debate</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;;" &gt;     I'm a fan of baseball as some of you might know. I am a fan of most leagues&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;and not a fan of some leagues. Ever since I was a little lid I always&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;rooted for the home town Cleveland Indians. Not because I didn't like&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;any body else but because that is all I knew. Since I have moved south&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;two years ago I have had the  experience of going to minor league games&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;of different levels. In my own personal experience a major league game has its ups&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;and downs. The ups are you get to see the stars of today. But with that&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;you get the big heads, the steroids, The drama  queen and the all about me mentality.&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With the majors you get to see  match-up that you would never see on a&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;baseball field like the Mets and Yankees rivalry or the Yankees and the&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;RedSox. &lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;;" &gt;   The major leagues offer a very entertaining entity but to a&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;very select crowd you almost have to be a baseball purist to go to&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;all 81 home games in a season. The minor leagues are so different but&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;yet they are both the same. With the minor&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;leagues you get to see the stars of tomorrow and sometimes even stars of today if they are either on a rehab stint or in the RedSox case to much talent at the next level. Minor leaguer's don't have the&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; outrageous contracts that some of the major leaguer's have. Don't get&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;me wrong I know that they get paid and get bonuses when they sign and&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt; get drafted but they truly love this game so much. Minor league games&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;are just a different atmosphere than a major league game and ball park.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size: 12pt;font-family:&amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;;" &gt;&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;  For clientele, (  fan base ) is different because when you go to a minor league &lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;game you have families and a lot of small children around. In between&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;innings they have activities for kids. The minors also don't have&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;those classic rivals and  match-up that you will consistently see on the&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;majors because players often move around so much from league to league&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;to major to minor's. I like the atmosphere of the minor league game but&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I like the classic rivalries and  match-ups that you get in the big&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;leagues.&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;If u had a choice I would probably choose a major league&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;game over the minor league game. I would choose this because I like the&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;environment of the minor league game and I also like the fact that I&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;will get to see the stars of tomorrow and some stars of right now. The minor league game presents more of&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;an opportunity to bring the whole family with contests and such. The minor league game offers you a little more bang for buck as opposed to the major league game.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://hoodiacounter.com/"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="http://hoodiacounter.com/count.php?c_style=15&amp;amp;id=4781" alt="hoodia counter" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-4657308591483297273?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/4657308591483297273/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/majors-vs-minors-debate.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/4657308591483297273'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/4657308591483297273'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/majors-vs-minors-debate.html' title='Majors vs. Minors the Debate'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-3779012668450624805</id><published>2009-06-11T20:57:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-06-11T20:58:58.783-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The Sports things i Want to do before i die</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In this post you will really find out slot about me not by where u&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;want to go or what I want to do but because of why I chose to do those&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;things. Hint I love history of all types!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I would really love to watch a cubs game from Wrigley field. Not just&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;because it's Wrigley field but because of the fact that it helped&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;shape a city and a sport and when you think of Chicago or baseball&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;what historic monument  always seems to come up?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;I also want to see an NFL super bowl not just because I want my team&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;in it bit because I have a passion for it. I also want to see the super&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;bowl love because I'm sure that nothing else compares.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next on the list will have to go to a game 7 world series. It doesn't&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;matter who's playing just a game 7 would be really great.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I would also love to be in the stands for a perfect game or a no&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;hitter. That would definitely be a feat that I think everyone will&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;agree on.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Than we will head to the NHL to a game 7 of the Stanley cup finals.&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Stanley cup finals I believe is the hardest and most grueling&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;championship to win.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The last sports event that I would like to see is a BCS championship&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;game with the correct #1 and #2 teams in the country. Now this may&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;never happen with the fact that the system is broken and may never be&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;fixed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This Is my sports bucket list. I hope you enjoy and this list helps&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;you with yours. Now I just hope I can start crossing some of these off&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#444444"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;in the near future.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-3779012668450624805?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/3779012668450624805/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/06/sports-things-i-want-to-do-before-i-die.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/3779012668450624805'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/3779012668450624805'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/06/sports-things-i-want-to-do-before-i-die.html' title='The Sports things i Want to do before i die'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-4126443642391680545</id><published>2009-05-23T20:08:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-05-23T20:09:29.831-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Why LeBron is not leaving Cleveland in 2010</title><content type='html'>&lt;pre style="text-align: center;"&gt;LeBron is not going to leave Cleveland in the summer of 2010? Why do &lt;br /&gt;you say? There are several reasons why? Because he has so much at stake &lt;br /&gt;in his career if he leaves a team and town that loves and needs him so &lt;br /&gt;much.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What if  LeBron leaves for New York and never ever wins a &lt;br /&gt;championship there! Than what is there to say? the cavs were so &lt;br /&gt;irrelevant for so long until the  LeBron came into town. Because if he &lt;br /&gt;leaves for New York than he will have to start from scratch with the &lt;br /&gt;team and rebuilding. The  Knicks are still in the NBA right?  LeBron &lt;br /&gt;already has a champioship caliber team that he helped mold and is a &lt;br /&gt;part of, he knows the team the guys and the city on which he plays. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't get me wrong I think New York is great but why didn't phoenix &lt;br /&gt;not won a championship when D'Antoni was there because his team doesn't &lt;br /&gt;play defense.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Yeah you can win allot of games by outrunning opponents &lt;br /&gt;and scoring 150 points a night but if the other team scores 130 than &lt;br /&gt;you have an issue with defense.  everyone knows that defense wins &lt;br /&gt;championships.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If  LeBron does in fact leave the throne for new York &lt;br /&gt;than Clevanders will  reminisce over what could have been just like when &lt;br /&gt;M moved the Browns to Baltimore. Dwayne wade also signed a short &lt;br /&gt;deal to become a free agent in 2010 maybe  Dwayne will come to &lt;br /&gt;Cleveland. It would be like Jordan and pippen. I don't think that &lt;br /&gt;anybody would stop them if that happened. Not even Shaq and Kobe in &lt;br /&gt;there prime. These are reasons why lebron is not going to leave the &lt;br /&gt;city of Cleveland "Akron".&lt;/pre&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-4126443642391680545?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/4126443642391680545/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-lebron-is-not-leaving-cleveland-in.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/4126443642391680545'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/4126443642391680545'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-lebron-is-not-leaving-cleveland-in.html' title='Why LeBron is not leaving Cleveland in 2010'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-2185697595891663022</id><published>2009-05-11T17:30:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-05-11T17:31:43.123-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Modern'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Baseball'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Americas favorite pasttime'/><title type='text'>Why are we so forgiving!!! (Sports Fans)</title><content type='html'>What do you think of when you hear the name Pete Rose? What bout Joe Jackson? How about roger Clemens or Arod? All of these names probably have been heard in your lifetime once or twice, especially with the controversies that they have been a part of. Why do we always seem to forgive the idols that. We grew up watching and wanted to hit or pitch like. Isn't Roger Clemens supposed to be one of the best pitchers of this generation. I believe that he is one of the most dominant pitchers of this modern era. But because he misremembered about a b-12 and lidocaine shot that was said, “to be injected” his legacy is now tarnished for all to see and judge. &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" mce_style="text-indent: 0.5in;"&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" mce_style="text-indent: 0.5in;"&gt;Why will we forgive him? Because sports fans are the most forgiving people in the world! If Clemens came back to he MLB and played for the Chicago Cubs, and the cubs won the world series because of his dominant pitching he would go down on the record books as the greatest pitcher of all time he would never have to buy a steak or drink on the city of Chicago foe the rest of his life. Wasn't Arod the guy that was supposed to clean up the sport of baseball, arid was supposed to beat Barry’s record and claim it as his own? Once arid claimed the title it was once again going to be pure. Arod may as well injected Bonds himself with the crap that he got himself into. Arod will still be forgiven if be hits another 50 home runs and tie Yankees won the World Series. That’s just how sports fans are. I wonder what Barry bonds think of Arod’s allegations. He is probably think now that his record is more pure than arose would be.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" mce_style="text-indent: 0.5in;"&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" mce_style="text-indent: 0.5in;"&gt;Let's take a look a different sport. Professional wrestling is a brutal as they come and you have to be in top physical condition to be any good( I now that this is fake and staged but you still need to be the best shape p your life) take a look at Hulk Hogan he was the greatest wrestler since Andre the giant. He always preached take your vitamins and protein and you'll be like the hulk. We come to fond put that he took steroids for years. What did the fans say? They looked the other way because it was great entertainment.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" mce_style="text-indent: 0.5in;"&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" mce_style="text-indent: 0.5in;"&gt;Jose Canseco admitted to steroids way before anybody else did and he got blackballed from the league. Shunned from teammates. He wrote a book that turned the MLB upside down he I'd now finally getting the respect that he deserves for trying to clean up the sport. (I also know that he was trying to get paid as well). Pete rose will never be I'm the hall of fame because of wit he did and said. It was wrong what he did but is it worse than tipping pitches to re opposing team to pad the stays is it worse than shaving points so thy you can get paid. Some where at some time all these actions that have been wrong will be forgiven maybe not publicly of by going onto the hall of fame bit people will forgive the Arod and Clemens of the world because that's why sports fans do. We forgive because we want our idols to be perfect and do no wrong. That's the American sports fan for you.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-2185697595891663022?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/2185697595891663022/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-are-we-so-forgiving-sports-fans.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/2185697595891663022'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/2185697595891663022'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-are-we-so-forgiving-sports-fans.html' title='Why are we so forgiving!!! (Sports Fans)'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-149577285484791918</id><published>2009-02-11T16:39:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2009-02-11T16:40:53.840-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Take a look at my Poll</title><content type='html'>There will be a post about the Poll at a later Date&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-149577285484791918?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/149577285484791918/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/02/take-look-at-my-poll.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/149577285484791918'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/149577285484791918'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/02/take-look-at-my-poll.html' title='Take a look at my Poll'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-8513558862172696798</id><published>2009-01-29T21:08:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-31T15:54:34.687-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Wingman'/><title type='text'>The wingman</title><content type='html'>Do you remember who Larry Bird's wingman was? What about Kobe's, Or Magic Johnson, How about Michael Jordan's. Yes all these people have multiple championships but they didn't do it alone. I don't think that they could have won the NBA championship with out there wingman. Take the the NBA Finals against the Cavs and the Spurs. Lebron was manhandled because he didn't have anybody that could take a blow. (this post is not directed at Cleveland). Because he didn't have a wingman they got swept by the Spurs in four games. I believe that the wingman is one of the most critical points of the game. Do you think the aforementioned players with multiple championships could win them with out the likes of Scottie Pippen, Shaq, Kareem, Bill Russell. Let me know what you think.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-8513558862172696798?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/8513558862172696798/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/01/wingman.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8513558862172696798'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/8513558862172696798'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/01/wingman.html' title='The wingman'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830470100380130798.post-478857616813676064</id><published>2009-01-27T17:29:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2009-01-27T17:38:17.513-05:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Arizona Cardinals'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Super Bowl 43'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Pittsburgh Steelers'/><title type='text'>Super Bowl 43</title><content type='html'>Will it be a true Cinderella story or is it history in the making? This coming Super Sunday the Steelers of Pittsburgh and the Cardinals of Arizona face off in what make to be a very entertaining game. The Steelers are going for record 6th Super Bowl title and the 2nd in 4 years. The cardinals are also looking at resetting the history because with a win because they currently have longest streak with out a championship. This will be very entertaining to watch, especially with two team from two totally different backgrounds but have everything to play for and everything to lose. Be standing by for the next update on the sports porch.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2830470100380130798-478857616813676064?l=sportsporch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/feeds/478857616813676064/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/01/super-bowl-43.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/478857616813676064'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2830470100380130798/posts/default/478857616813676064'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sportsporch.blogspot.com/2009/01/super-bowl-43.html' title='Super Bowl 43'/><author><name>Mike Baumann</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/18047481052905701551</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHFDdjGenDA/SX7nH7YAf_I/AAAAAAAAACw/-7UvoertuCE/S220/100_1380.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry></feed>
