Out under the cover of darkness...

As expected, and as predicted by yours truly, Michael Vick was not only released from prison this morning but done so before 5am, under the cover of darkness. Vick was "slipped" out of Leavenworth in the wee hours of the morning no doubt to avoid a media circus that would normally await a highly anticipated celebrity de-carceration.
Unfortunately for Vick, the darkness eventually gives way to sunlight, and while he continues his "incarceration," inside his Hampton, VA mansion, the public is waking up to the reality that one of the biggest monsters in sports history is nearly a free man.
Yes, I use the word 'monster.' Without getting into the details I figure that description is accurate, a man who would torture animals in a sadistic way, a man who used common house pets as "training aids" for his fighting dogs, a man that took pleasure is punishing and eliminating losing animals, is for lack of a better term, a monster.
As the monster tries to "rebuild" his life, many on the outside, in the daylight want answers, and more importantly, want proof. Proof that Michael Vick can become a contributing member of society again, unfortunately the track record of problem NFL players getting a second chance isn't that great these days. NFL Commish Roger Goodell wants to make sure he see's genuine "remorse" for Vick's action. Will he be reinstate? Probably, the commish is harsh but is willing to give second chances no matter how many times he get's burned.
For the NFL to truly make a statement, Vick shouldn't be reinstated. It's time to stop allowing 'second chances' to athletes that think they can't be touched. Do you think a little time in the hole was enough to completely change the pysche of Michael Vick? I doubt it. Give him a 'second chance' and things might be good for a year or two, but eventually something else will come up and ego will convice him once again that he can't be touched.
But, Vick will be reinstated and some team will give him a chance. Fans will turn a blind eye and cheer for him again because he's on their team. It's amazing how outrage can turn to jersey sales and season tickets when someone is wearing the right colors. I have no malice towards Michael Vick, he does make me sick but my life will go on, as will his. In the daylight, in the spotlight, out of the cover of darkness. I hope he's ready for the sunlight, because the heat is about to get turned up on his 'new life.'

Western Conference Finals Preview and Prediction..

Well the Lakers decided to show up Sunday, and just in time too. Facing elimination, the 'Lake-Show', which could be more correctly described by it's spoof derivitive "Late Show," arrived at the arena in time to rid themselves of the pesky Houston Rockets in seven games. Yep, that Rockets team, who most of America figured to be done in four or five games, took the Lakers to seven, or more fitting, the Lakers let them hang around that long. Either way it's embarassing this series lasted that long.
'Kobe Doin' Work' premiered this weekend, let's hope for the Lakers sake the rest of the team follows suit, and does a little work starting Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets. Previewing that series I don't see a way that the Lakers team we saw in the semifinals can win this series. Turning every night into a crap shoot as to which team will show up may have been fine against the lowly Jazz and scrappy Rockets, but it sure won't do against the talented, loaded and flat-out rolling Nuggets.
As I look at this series I am intrigued by the match ups. Just how is Derek Fisher going to guard Chauncey Billups when he struggled against Aaron Brooks of the Rockets? I will give Fisher this, tale of the tape shows he's 34 and Billups is 32, a little better matchup than the 24-year-old Brooks that for sure. And if the Lakers can find more minutes for the 22-year-old Jordan Farmar, he might be able to push the older Billups up the court a little more. I still think Chauncey wins that matchup though.
For the Lakers, they need their bigs to step up. I'm talking about Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. While Bynum showed some signs of life in game 7, it's going to be a lot tougher with the likes of Denver's Nene down low alongside Chris Anderson who will no doubt give Paul Gasol fits.
Bottom line, the Lakers have to show up, and they have to win on the road. Denver hasn't lost at home since early March, while the Lakers hold a distinct home court advantage themselves. Denver is 3-23 over the last 26 at Staples Center. That doesn't factor in Chauncey very much but the task to win on the road is just as tall for the Nuggets who have to steal a couple at Staples as well.
Playoffs aren't all about talent, and that's what I keep hearing about LA. "They're still the most talented team in the league," yeah but talent doesn't get you too far in the post season when you're inconsistent, it's only a seven-game series. Denver has been consistent, the Lakers have showed up when it's convenient.
Predicition: Consistency beats out Convenience...Denver in 6.

Cheating? We've Seen This Before

Burt Sugar was on my show recently, the legendary boxing journalist is a huge baseball fan that recently penned a book about the Hall of Fame. When I posed a question about today's steroid users and alleged "cheats," he answered by asking me..."you think these are the first guys who ever cheated in baseball? The Hall of Fame is full of cheats." He also went on to point out that members of the baseball HOF are not as he stated "choir boys looking for a service."
The more I thought about his question the more I realized that cheating is simply part of sports, especially baseball. But cheating are like crimes, some are worse than others and are punished as so. While doctoring a baseball to help it break through the strike zone is like jaywalking, many would compare steroid use to murder...both heavily penalized with a certain slice of the population calling for the death penalty.
Not all cheating is created equal. We have "good cheating" believe it or not...things like scuffed baseballs, longer grass, etc. And we have bad cheating, steroids, gambling, and some dirty play that endangers other players (something Ty Cobb made a career of).
Did you know when Major League Baseball got serious about stopping the over-used spit ball in 1917 they allowed teams to keep two designated 'spitballers' on their roster? Or that 17 pitchers were grandfathered in and allowed to throw spitters their entire career...one of which lasted for 270 wins and finally ended in 1934.
Steroids are just this era of baseball player's cross to bear. While it's much more serious cheating than stealing signs or sliding high into second base, it joins the other scandals in baseball history that define an era. The 'Drug Era' will pass, players will sort themselves out and we'll come up with something else to give players an advantage over their counterparts. It's the American way, it's the baseball way.
I wouldn't expect anything less.

Manny...Being Manny. Jose being Jose

So Manny Ramirez tests positive for performance enhancing drugs and is suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball. Manny's giving us the canned answer "I didn't know, I was prescribed it..." Yada Yada Yada.
Are we baseball fans that stupid? Can we really believe another cheater who was caught red handed? Manny's statement released through the players union was to me more of an admission of guilt than innocence. Wouldn't you hold a press conference? Wouldn't you provide us with the prescription bottle? The Doctor's Name? Or the "medical condition" at the root of the prescription? No. He hasn't and he won't
I don't know what you think about professional wrestling, but back in the 1990's when Hulk Hogan was accussed of using roids, he hit the talk show circuit, went on late night TV and denied ever using (whether or not we believe him given pro wrestling's record is besides the point). The guy was convinced he was innocent, and he let us know. Manny's got to be more proactive, unless he's hiding something.
Manny already says he won't appeal the suspension (something an innocent man would). Prescription? Yeah, how many clinics were busted in Florida recently for "prescribing" drugs to people who didn't need them for medical conditions.
I hate to say it, but wasn't it Jose Canseco telling us just a few weeks ago that he was "90% certain that Manny would test positive for steroid,"? Wow, he's got a better batting average now than when he was playing. Jose is so far batting 1.000.
Sorry Manny I'm not buying it. Unfortunately you're lower than Barry Bonds, Barry never tested positive, never served a suspension, you have. Oh how the mighty have fallen.