Archive for May, 2009

Well, seems as though the Cavs have dug themselves a nice fat hole to climb out of.  Problem is while trying to climb out, Orlando keeps piling dirt on them with their big shovel.  Cavs have to win tonight or they are in big trouble.  Here are some stories from other great sites:

Royals Skipper Trey Hillman Spits In Umpire Paul Emmel’s Eyes * Detroit4Lyfe
Lebron James & Kobe Bryant Muppets One-On-One Nike Commercial * NESW Sports
Percy Harvin Dishes Some Dirt On Tim Tebow * The Viking Age
The Interweb: Star Wars Bathroom And Charlie Steiner’s Sweet Science * NESW Sports
Mr. T Butchering Take Me Out To The Ball Game * Total Pro Sports
Rehab Proving To Be Too Much For Jeremy Shockey * InGameNow
NBA Mock Drafts And Where NC Tar Heels Fab Four Sit * The 5th Corner
Jose Canseco Gets Pummeled By 7’2″ Korean Kickboxer * Chicago’s MMA
Albert Pujols Home Run Breaks Big Mac Sign * Sports Rubbish
Pretty Ugly Woman Starring Dirk Nowitzki And Cristal Taylor * Hoop Doctors
Steroids In MLB: Before And After Photos * Sports2Debate
Cavs Sign Ownership Deal With Chinese Group * FOX Sports
Brandon Roy’s Thoughts On The NBA Playoffs So Far * A Stern Warning
Indians Post Remarkable Comeback Against Rays * Tribe Daily
Lakers vs Nuggets Game 4 Recap * The No-Look Pass
Sharapova Gets A Nice Win To Open The French * Sharapova’s Thigh
Anthony Johnson Bloodies Mo Williams… Intentionally? * Talk Hoops
Where Have You Gone, Aramis Ramirez? * The Friendlyblogfines
NCAA Women’s Lacrosse? No Hot Chicks Here * The World Of Isaac
Manchester Soccer Player Says He Will Streak Naked If He Scores * Steady Burn

Well, the next step in modernization of Paneech.com is finally done.  The site no longer looks like a generic can of peas from Sparkle markets. 

Big props to Nat over at Heels On Hardwood for taking some time to design the new banner for me.  If you like basketball, especially Raptors hoops news, visit that site!

Big props also to my old pal Ethan at NESW Sports for his patience with my “technologically challenged” ways.  He has been a pillar for me since day one and I really am appreciative for his help.

Leave some feedback and let me know what you think!

Lebron James was the hero Friday night, hitting a three with one second left against Orlando to further his rapidly growing legacy.  Cleveland sports have been one failure after the next for over half of a decade.  These kinds of plays usually happen against Cleveland teams.  For years, this areas sports fans have had to endure memories of Michael Jordan hitting a shot over Craig Ehlo, John Elway and “the drive“, the Florida Marlins unlikely burst in the World Series… Sigh.

I cannot remember a bigger play in Cleveland sports history.  Usually the person Cleveland fans have banked on to deliver in the clutch comes up with some new and bizarre way to stun fans into waiting for next year.  The shot that Lebron made only won one game, but being down 2-0 heading back to Orlando would have been much tougher.  I sincerely feel those nine days off take a team out of “game shape“.  It got obvious in the third quarter of games one and two where the Cavs blew huge leads.

Yesterday I went to The Eastwood Mall in Niles.  It was pretty crowded and I could not believe the amount of people I saw wearing #23 Cavs jerseys.  People in this area who have rooted for Cleveland teams have waited a lifetime for that moment.  24 years ago, had I went to the same mall, I am sure I would not have seen Ehlo jerseys everywhere.  The other thing that impressed me was the window display of every sporting goods store was flooded with Cavs merchandise.  I asked clerks at a couple of the stores if they redid their displays this morning and unanimously was told, “no, we haven’t touched that window display for months”.

If Lebron can continue his heroics through the finals and secure a championship for the city of Cleveland I am not sure what to expect.  I do know that Cleveland fans everywhere are zoned in.  With a championship, Lebron James can carry over 50 years of grief to the dumpster.

The Mahoning Valley Thunder played a better game at Manchester despite losing, 56-42.  This Manchester team lost to Wilkes Barre / Scranton by just three points a couple of weeks ago, so it appears that the Thunder are constantly making improvements and becoming more competitive under the watchful eye of interim coach Brennan Booth.  Booth failed to pick up his first win as the interim coach, but this game was filled with positives to build on for this weeks game with Kentucky.

Blake Powers started the game at quarterback and had a couple of touchdowns for the Thunder.  Under tremendous pressure almost every play, Coach Booth opted to go with Davon Vinson, who is faster and a better scrambler than Powers.  Vinson ended up throwing a touchdown pass and an interception and was 17-27 for 195 yards.

With the score tied, 7-7, Manchester’s kickoff was misplayed off of the screen and they recovered for a touchdown.  On their very next kickoff, Clarence Curry took one the distance for the Thunder to tie the game at 14.  Down 21-14, Mahoning Valley made the switch at QB, and Davon Vinson responded, driving the Thunder down the field to tie the game at 21-21.  However, Manchester controlled the rest of the half and had a key interception in the end zone to stop a Thunder threat.  Manchester took a 35-21 lead to the locker room at half.

The Wolves took the second half kickoff and drove successfully to take a 42-21 lead.  The Thunder matched points with the Wolves in the second half, punctuated by a terrific CJ Brewer 39-yard TD catch late in the game.  It just proves that this team will not quit when they are scoring with an unrealistic chance to win at that point. 

Quorey Payne was solid again catching 8 passes for 117 yards.

For Mahoning Valley, life on the road remained difficult.  This loss was the Thunder’s 16th consecutive road loss and seventh loss in a row.  The high powered Kentucky offense will prove to be a challenge for Mahoning Valley this Saturday at The Covelli Centre.  Come out and support the team!

Great footage of the FOX 8 News team finishing up their newscast with one second left in the Cavs – Magic game.  They go from “wait until next year” to “CAVS WIN!” in just one second.  Hilarious video!

Hat Tip:  NESW Sports

Every once in the while, an athlete dies before he is done building on the positive legacy they have worked a lifetime to achieve.  Roberto Clemente was taken away from his family, the game of baseball, and the millions he reached out to before his time should have been up.  Few athletes cared about kids, about the human race, or world affairs like Clemente did.  Major League Baseball should pray for someone with this kind of attitude and natural ability to come along.  Let it be said, let it be written… There will only ever be one Roberto Clemente.

Roberto Clemente was born in Puerto Rico in 1934.  He grew up playing baseball and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954.  Clemente played 18 seasons, all with Pittsburgh.  He was a 12-time All-Star selection and won The MVP in 1966.  He also won 12 golden gloves and won the NL batting title four times.  He was named the 1971 World Series MVP.  I can go on-and-on about his onfield accomplishments but the other side of Roberto Clemente needs discussed.

Clemente was very active in his charity work for Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.  He often financed trips out of the money he made to provide baseball equipment and food to areas in need.  On December 31, 1972, the plane Clemente was traveling to Nicaragua in to provide food to earthquake victims crashed and Clemente was pronounced dead.  His body was never recovered.  In 1973, the Hall of Fame voted Clemente in posthumously, meaning the mandatory 5-year waiting period was waived.  To this day, Clemente is the only baseball player who did not have to wait five years to get in.  He was also the first Latin American elected to the Hall of Fame.

In his honor, Major League Baseball annually presents the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who is a great humanitarian.  He was also inducted into the Marine Corps Hall of Fame.

The right field wall at PNC Park is 21′ high in tribute to Clemente.

Few athletes in our time would have cared less about their next commercial or endorsement.  Few would have been courageous enough to get into a small plane for 16 hour rides to pass out food and supplies they paid for.  Thanks for the memories Roberto Clemente, there will never be another like you. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins are making things better for me considering that The Cavs gave Game 1 to Orlando.  Geno Malkin’s hat trick proves both he and Sidney Crosby are big game players.  A bit of Youngstown nostalgia in the above picture.  Harry Arroyo was briefly in the national spotlight as a boxing champion.  Arroyo still lives is Youngstown.  Here are some great stories to check out!

Top Internet Era Drunken Moments At The Indy 500 * Busted Coverage
Drew Barrymore Was Loaded At The Lakers-Nuggets Game * Steady Burn
Is Anderson Silva The Best Athlete Alive? * Fansided
What Were These Celebrities Really Thinking At The Lakers Game? * The World Of Isaac
Random Retro Baseball Player: Mark Gubicza * Sharapova’s Thigh
Steelers Visit White House, Give Hands-On Help To Troops * PSAMP
The Top-10 Movies About Baseball * In Game Now
Giants Lineman David Diehl Makes Comedy Debut, Makes Fun Of Brett Favre * Sports Rubbish
9 Classic Floyd Mayweather Moments * Hail Mary Jane
Yet Another New Kobe And Lebron Nike Commercial * Docksquad Sports
Jake Peavy Uses No-Trade Clause, Refuses White Sox Deal * FOX Sports
Dunks That Have Caused Some Damage * A Stern Warning
Akron Aeros Jeanmar Gomez Throws Perfect Game * Tribe Daily
Interleague Play Q & A * Baseball Reflections
Lakers vs Nuggets Game 2 Recap * Talk Hoops
Brian Kenny vs Floyd Mayweather Spunky Interviews * Zoner Sports
Penguins vs Hurricanes Game 2 Highlights * The Program

Having seen The Big Show last weekend at close distance I still cannot fathom how someone that big can handle the physicality of pro wrestling.  I know it is staged and the outcomes are worked in advance.  What I can’t get a grip on is how these guys travel over 300 days a year and perform night in and night out.  The Big Show is a marvel to me.

Paul Wight was born February 8th, 1972 in Aiken, South Carolina.  Wight was born with acromegaly, a disease of the endocrine system which never limits growth.  Andre The Giant also had this but Wight had corrective surgery on his pituatary gland which halts progress.  By the age of 12,  Wight was 6’2″, weighed 220 and had chest hair.  He attended Wichita State and played basketball there.  In the Wichita State media guide, Wight was listed as 7’1″, with a shoe size of 22.5 E, a ring size of 22.5, and a chest 64 inches in circumference.

Wight got into pro wrestling when he signed with WCW in 1995 simply known as The Giant.  His first-ever angle was interesting as he claimed to be the son of the deceased Andre The Giant and he was coming for Hollywood Hogan who killed his “father”.  The Giant remained in WCW until 1999 when he opted to head to WWE.  Wight debuted as Vince McMahons bodyguard in “The Corporation” stable.  He was performing under the name Paul “The Great” Wight for a few weeks before being renamed The Big Show.

Big Show was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling by management to work on his fast-rising weight and cardio.  He returned to WWE in 2001 and has been around ever since with brief abscences where weight seems to be an issue. 

Big Show is the only wrestler in history to hold WWE, WCW, and ECW championship belts during his career.

The real name of Paul Wight has seen its share of legal headaches.  In December of 1998, Wight was charged with exposing himself to a hotel clerk but not convicted due to a lack of evidence.  In March of 1999, Wight was charged with assault for breaking a man’s jaw at a hotel.  he judge found him not guilty.

Wight has a daughter with his first wife who he divorced in 2000.  He remarried just five days after his divorce was settled and has been happy since.

The Big Show has been misused in the past by WWE.  I can recall having to watch him job to people half his size (Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy).  I also hated that WWE scripted Floyd Mayweather to beat him at Wrestlemania 24.  If Show fought Mayweather in real life, he could squish him like a grape.  McMahon has to keep some reality in his scripts because he is such a genetic freak. 

Often compared to Andre The Giant, Big Show has never looked morbidly obese like Andre did near the end.  He is a much better athlete and used to be able to moonsault off of the top rope. 

Was a bad night…  The Cavs got beat at home, Adam Lambert got screwed on American Idol, the Red Sox beat Toronto and the Yankees won.  Here is hoping that the Pittsburgh Penguins can deliver tonight and make things better.

Kansas City Royals Fans Brawl In Kids Play Area * Sports Rubbish
Mo Williams Hits 3/4 Court Buzzer Beater * Hoop Doctors
Interactive Nintendo Punch-Out * NESW Sports
Citifield Toilets Are No Place For A Womans Arm * Total Pro Sports
Dwight Howard Tears Down The Shot Clock * A Stern Warning
The Tigers Are Raburning Hot * Detroit4Lyfe
Ohio State Football Preview * College Sports Fans
Washington Nationals Elevating The Blown Save Into An Art Form * Legend of Cecilio Guante
The Return Of Michael Vick * Ed The Sports Fan
Wife of Diamondbacks Pitcher Found Dead * FOX Sports
Dont Mess With Vince McMahon * YepYep
Blast The Hell Out Of Turkeys * Hugging Harold Reynolds
The Clippers Will Take Blake Griffin * Moondog Sports
Dear Lakers, You Shouldn’t Have Won Game One * The No-Look Pass
Cavaliers- Magic Game 1 Recap * Talk Hoops
The Sixers Select Charles Barkley * Zoner Sports
2009 Conn Smythe Candidates * The Program
MMA Fighter Kevin Casey’s Rap Video * In Game Now
Skip Bayless Disses Craig Sager On Twitter * Pac Man Jonesin
Mickelson’s Wife Diagnosed With Breast Cancer * The World Of Isaac
Mark DeRosa Already On Trading Block * Waiting For Next Year
Big Ten Football Expansion? * Eleven Warriors
Jake Peavy Headed To White Sox * Deadspin
Funny ESPN Commercials * Gunaxin

I think the clock is about done ticking for Eric Wedge.  The Indians found yet another way to blow a big lead last night against the Royals giving up two ninth-inning homers to lose, 6-5.  The writing is on the wall.  Wedge only started realizing about three weeks ago that his bullpen is terrible. 

Jensen Lewis and Jeremy Sowers have been awful almost every appearance.  Kerry Wood has self-destructed three times already this season.  Tony Sipp is tough but used in the wrong situations. 

The Indians starting pitching has not been brilliant, but will not be blamed when the axe falls on Wedge.  After the first couple of weeks of the season, the rotation has been solid.  The offense does not blow 4, 5, 6, and even 7 run leads.  Seven runs should be plenty for a team to win a game.  This bullpen would have trouble getting jobs at Burger King right now.

Wedge will be gone, I say no later than the end of June.  Why?  For one he is not a verbal leader.  He is passive and used to just watch the inner-destruction from the bench.  Feeling the heat, he has gotten a bit more assertive, but pales in comparison to longtime winners Lou Piniella, and even Dusty Baker.  Those guys are screaming at their players when they need to, not screaming about them way after the fact.

Cleveland is next to last in MLB attendance for a reason.  Part of it is because they have the second worst record. 

The most disturbing thing I have heard in years was that Cleveland might consider trading Victor Martinez rumors which are already swirling. 

HEY MANAGEMENT! Take notice.  You are in the weakest division in baseball and until you are mathematically eliminated, you have a chance to win it.  Don’t start dumping players unless they are in the bullpen when the game starts.  How Jensen Lewis is still on the roster is beyond me.  Kerry Wood will be able to start carpooling to The Cleveland Clinic with his new pal, Travis Hafner.  Once Wood reaches a degree of failure, he will say he is hurt so he has something to pin it on.  I do not have a crystal ball — but watch, see if I am wrong.

In closing, thanks Eric, you have been a good guy.  The promo tours you do in the offseason, the pat you give Jensen Lewis on the back after he gives up a big lead when you know you want to put your cleats in his ear, and the rough faced “I am struggling” look will all be missed but not unappreciated.

MANAGEMENT!  Go to the bullpen, Mike Hargrove is loose and ready to enter the game!