NBA Playoffs, Rip Van Griffey, and the Field of Dreams for sale!

The Back Porch podcast for May 13!


Thought #1

Does any one care about doping in the NFL? Some would say no, others would say maybe a little. Let's be honest with all the PEDs, hCGs, and other random acronym tagged drugs out there, it gets pretty confusing as to what does what and why it really makes a difference, much less effect a guy's game play. It makes it a little hard to care.

With the revote of Brian Cushing as the Defensive ROY on Wednesday you could argue that the AP writers aren't really that concerned about the possibilities of guys doping in the league. Whether that is entirely true is debatable, but I think it's highly more like that what they actually could care less about are the individual awards in the NFL.

Think about it, the NFL throws their individual award winners out at random after the season is over and unless it's the MVP or you're just a huge fan of the player, doubt you even pay attention to those names scrolling the bottom line. For all we know those awards could just be hand written certificates and a few McDonald's dollars. (by the way, what an awful gift. It's like a person is saying I could get you 5 bucks and let you choose what you to do with it, but instead I'm going to force you to slam 5 bucks of grease. Take that!) Do these guys even get trophies for these things?

Consider this; did you know when they were voting for Brian Cushing the first time? Could you have named one other person on that ballot? Probably not. It's like all those employee of the month awards you see on the wall at Wendy's, do you really care who was the best burger flipper in September of 1998? Nope, you just want your guy today to not under cook you're Chicken sandwich, not spit in your chili, and if possible, drop in more than two packets of ketchup.

College football does individual awards right. They have a big ceremony, bring in the families and coaches, and make a big deal out it. The guy wins, he tears up, hugs mom, and give a little speech. It's nice.

In comparison the NFL announces their winners during the middle of the day during the work week and then you might, MIGHT, get to see the winner interviewed on the phone during the evening Sports Center. No wonder a revote got more attention over the past few days than all the other original votings combined.

Thought #2

Ever heard, if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying? I've always associated that feeling directly with baseball. It's no secret that whether it's trying to get a edge by sneaking a team's sign or doctoring up the ball a little is fairly common, if not expected on some level in the game. In that sense baseball is kind of the anit-golf, aside from Tiger of course. (too soon?) In golf guys have to be honest, call things on their own honor, but in baseball if you aren't trying to lie your way to a call, you're not doing your team justice. It's like a tradition, that is unless you start to mix in technology, then things get touchy. It almost like you can cheat, but only if you cheat 1945 style.

Philadelphia Phillies Bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer learned this earlier this week when he was allegedly caught stealing signs from the Colorado Rockies catching using binoculars.

Whoa! Easy Mick. Listen, if you are going to steal signs, you have to do it old school just like everyone else, and with a big wad of chew in at the same time. No breaking out those wonder lenses from some science fiction novel. Yeah, you can mix in a decoder ring if you have to, but put the magic goggles away before everyone starts freaking out.

It's just another unwritten rule in baseball, you can cheat, but only in a way that your grandad can understand.