- The occasion of Terry Pluto's Farewell to Omar column gives me the opening to add my two cents to the discussion. I've been a baseball fan for 45 years or so, and Omar Vizquel is the best defensive shortstop I have ever seen. And I've seen Ozzie Smith, OK? I consider myself fortunate to have been able to watch what may have been the greatest defensive 2B-SS combination ever in Roberto Alomar and Vizquel during the 90's in Cleveland. Indians fans are so spoiled. We won't know how spoiled until we watch some mere mortal play shortstop every day starting next season. Omar definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. No offensive slouch, he has over 2100 hits now, and will likely end his career with over 2500. His career batting average is .275. Ozzie Smith's was .262. For a little more perspective, Cal Ripken's was .276. Defense rests.
- The NCAA may be interested in talking to Maurice Clarett again. Seems ESPN got some criticism after their original 4-part series because the only players they got to corroborate Clarett's accusations were what might best be described as "program casualties". They have now dug up some "name" players who actually played and/or graduated(?) to go on the record. Still, the charge that D-1 football players had "tutors" who helped with class assignments is not exactly the kind of groundbreaking journalism for which Pulitzers are awarded, ESPN. At least this time they're not quoting players who failed academically despite this scandalous tutoring assistance. Is there any name in sports that you are more tired of hearing in the news than Maurice Clarett? OK, not counting that one.
- A little over a month from now, Lebron James will no longer be a teenager. Tonight he scored 43 points in an easy Cavaliers win over the World Champion Pistons. Some folks thought it might have been LeBron's way of sending a message to Pistons' Coach Larry Brown for not playing him more during the Olympics. That case would have been easier to make had LeBron not handed Brown a thank-you note before the game in appreciation of Brown's gift on the birth of James' first child. The guy says and does all the right things. He doesn't bark at officials. He plays a lot of minutes but never stops working hard on both ends. He's a team leader at nineteen. He's the anti-Artest. Last year people said that if LeBron ever developed a reliable outside shooting game, he would be dangerous. Guess what? He's doing it, and doing it every night. Here's ESPN's "Skinny" on LeBron's performance:
SKINNY: James scored a career-high (and NBA season high) 43 points on Wednesday night. He shot 15-for-22 (68%) from the field and 11-for-12 (92%) from the line, and added six rebounds, five assists, three steals, two 3-pointers, a blocked shot, and a partridge in a pear tree.
- The Indians signed Bob Wickman to a new contract today, ending speculation that G.M. Mark Shapiro would actually wade into the free-agent waters in pursuit of a big-name closer. The "savings" (Wickman signed for only $2.75 million) will supposedly free up more money for the team to sign an established starting pitcher. Sorry, but I'll believe it when I see it. I like Wickman, and I hope they are going to try to groom Jason Davis for the closer job in 2006. But when Dolan opens up his wallet to sign any experienced, talented major league player at market price, and successfully lands him, then and only then will I be convinced that he is committed to bringing a winner to this city.
Posted by dan at November 25, 2004 12:13 AM