Bones To Pick

I have some bones to pick with various different topics in mind. These are just some of things that have been bothering me over the last few weeks or months. Take it as a rant or take it as gospel, the choice is yours.


A-Rod
Really? Well what really is to be taken out of this sudden change of heart. I mean he had ridiculous demands that were not to be met by any team in the league. Not because he is not worth the cash, but simply because teams cannot afford mortgaging their team in order to pay him each year. That's not really the part that bothers me though. Get paid what they're willing to pay you. You're not the fool for making more money, they're the fool for allowing it to get so out of control.
I loved reading over the past few weeks how Yankee fans "really" felt about A-Rod. How he was greedy and would be overpaid. How he was a joke and did not understand what it was to be a Yankee. How he wasn't as good as people think. How he couldn't handle the pressure of playing in New York. How he could easily be replaced by Miguel Cabrera, Mike Lowell, or a farm prospect. How they were glad that he was gone because now the Yankees could get back to the glory days when they didn't buy players, but produced them. Even the Yankee ownership and management aired their grievances and spoke their peace regarding A-Rod. My favorite "he never really fit in, and I didn't really like him anyways."
Now, all of a sudden, the media releases reports that he may be signing back with the Yankees. Yankee nation rejoices. Seemingly forgetting all the shit that they talked about him over the past few weeks. I'm not saying that any team should be pissed at the prospect of signing A-Rod, but have a backbone or some integrity. Look into the archives of periodicals, publications, message boards, blogs, and television shows if you conveniently forget all of the things that were said.
Please, there is nothing that ANYBODY can say to convince me that neo-Yankee "fans" are not a complete joke. You have proven it. Between A-Rod, Posada, and Rivera you have shown your true colors. None of those guys were worth the money when they were on the market (SHOCKINGLY that was only really since Monday), but now they're back as the saviors of days gone by.
This does not just extend to Yankee fans as fans of the Angels have done the same thing. Now that it looks as though he won't end up in Anaheim they have begun to utter similar remarks of "overpaid," "greedy," and other superfluous name calling.
Wake me up when things change and teams and their fans show some integrity. If you have an opinion then make it out of fact and stand by it. Don't simply change it because it's trendy or suddenly the deck is stacked in your favor. True colors come out in times of adversity and I think the world caught a glimpse of what those really are...



Buffalo Sabres

I guess I could categorize this section under the last one. We're 16 games into the season and people are already crying that the sky is falling. I understand that the Sabres are under .500 and have not been playing up to their true potential, but all hope is not lost. Can I put all of the names of the people writing this season off down on paper so that I can tell them not to watch the playoffs come April because they feel that this team "sucks."
Fair weather fans make me sick. Last year you could not find a ticket to a Sabres game for under $100 and now people are barely getting face value and some are not even sold out. ONCE AGAIN, have some integrity. Stand by your words or else don't speak at all.
What exactly does "playing like a $7M player" look like? Why does the fact that Vanek is making more money this year make anyone believe that he suddenly becomes a different player. Money does not change the ability of an athlete. It is continually mind boggling for me to see people arguing that he should be playing like a $7M athlete. Money doesn't make you a better player, being a better player makes you more money.
There is not shame in being a fan of the team that is only able to watch games once in a while. It is also o.k. to not be completely up to date with the latest Sabre or NHL news. However, do not walk around acting as though you're the mega-fan of the Sabre Nation. There are some people out there that watch/listen to every game, follow the NHL like crazy, have season tickets and actually go, and soak up as much information about the team as possible. It really comes across as insulting and pathetic to claim to be a huge fan when you're nothing more than a casual fan. There is nothing wrong with being a casual fan as it fills the seats and generates revenue for the team and the city. However, do not act as though you've been along for the entire 82 game ride when you've barely hung on for 10...



The NBA
Stephanie [sic] Marbury is a complete joke. One of the biggest cry babies in the sport and an embarrassment to those that work hard. Claiming that you have "shit" on Isiah Thomas and that he should "fuck" with you is complete garbage. You're trash, plain and simple. You were fined $195,000 for a temper tantrum in which you essentially took your ball and went home. You packed your bags and flew back to New York leaving your teammates to play without you for one game.
Awesome, we're all impressed. You certainly showed them. I mean you guys are 2-5 and haven't made the playoffs since 2004. You haven't won a playoff series since 2000 and are Championship-less since 1973. But who am I to criticize you Ms. Marbury? You are the man because you don't let any authority figure hold you down. You let your game do that...

Kobe Bryant is also on my list. I mean the guy only had to get a gag order from his team to stop his whining. In exchange for Kobe to stop "saying nasty things" about the Lakers the team agreed to pursue opportunities for Kobe to be traded. Wow, and I thought putting that huge rock on your wife's finger and crying in front of the world after you slept with a slut was your low point...



Cornhusker Football
A rabid and distraught fan decided to leave some nice voicemails for defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove. This "man" (used rather loosely) simply requested that Cosgrove go back where he came from before he fucking kills him. A second message reminded Cosgrove that he had 76 fucking points scored on him. Always classy to see a fan driven to such a breaking point where they are willing to make death threats against a coach. Perhaps there are deeper issues here than botched coverage and false start penalties. Here's a hint: Nebraska isn't very good...



I think that's enough for now as I'm sure the world of sports will give me more ammunition very soon...

Long Live Sports,

DG2