Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 417 of 1503)

      2010 Belmont Stakes Predictions

      June 5, 2010 /

      I’m feeling pretty good after nailing Lookin at Lucky to win the Preakness and predicting that First Dude would finish in the money. So let’s see if I can’t flub up my picks for the Belmont Stakes, which starts tonight at 6:30PM ET.

      Win: Fly Down (5/1)
      The more and more I look at this horse and his odds, the more I love him to win tonight. He’s already beaten First Dude (who I loved as a sleeper in the Preakness) twice in his career and is coming off a victory at Belmont Park on May 8 (the G2 Dwyer). He also has three wins in his last four races, although it’s worth noting that he finished ninth the only time he didn’t win in those four outings. Still, all of Fly Down’s races have come on dirt and he obviously knows Belmont well. He’s my pick to click tonight.

      Place: First Dude (4/1)
      I have a soft spot for First Dude, who I picked to come in third at the Preakness even though he was a 22/1 long-shot. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I think there’s something special about this horse and if he isn’t worn out from his excellent outing at the Preakness, then I think he’ll finish in the money. Will he beat out a well-rested Ice Box (second at the Kentucky Derby)? It’s tough to say, but I think First Dude will be out in front at some point and if he has enough left in the tank, he should make the board.

      Show: Drosselmeyer (12/1)
      This is my dark horse (pun definitely intended, which is why I wrote it) for tonight. He’s improved in each of his last three outings dating back to the G2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds Race Course on February 20, and is coming off a sharp prep at the Dwyer (where he finished second to Fly Down). I think his running style suits the Belmont and as long as there isn’t a quick pace set early, I think he’ll hang at the end.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, horse racing

      Bills’ head coach Chan Gailey doesn’t know where Marshawn Lynch is

      June 5, 2010 /

      From BuffaloBills.com:

      Bills head coach Chan Gailey was asked about RB Marshawn Lynch and when or if he might practice when he appeared on the Shredd and Ragan show on 103.3 the Edge.

      “I don’t know,” said Gailey. “I have not talked to Marshawn. You’ll probably have to ask him. Somebody told me he was in town for a couple of days and then I heard he left town. So I don’t know. You’d have to ask him about that.”

      Bills’ safety Donte Whitner doesn’t know where Lynch is either:

      “I don’t know when to expect to see him,” Whitner said in regards to participating on the practice field. “I saw him two days ago. Other than that I really haven’t seen him.”

      There’s speculation that Lynch went back home to California, but nobody knows why exactly. Considering the team has, at the very least, discussed trading him at various points during the offseason, chances are he’s disgruntled about his role with the Bills.

      With Fred Jackson and rookie CJ Spiller already on board, Lynch is expendable in Buffalo. The problem is that the Bills seemingly can’t find any takers for the former first rounder. Seattle has been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Lynch and maybe speculation will continue to grow now that the Hawks have dumped LenDale White. Either way, it doesn’t appear that Lynch is long for Buffalo.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Roethlisberger looking forward to second chance

      June 4, 2010 /

      Speaking to the media for the first time since he rejoined the Steelers earlier in the week, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said that he was looking forward to a “second chance” and a new opportunity.

      From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

      “I’ve put a lot of thought into my life, decisions that I’ve made in the past that I’ve been sitting at home thinking about things. I’ve been working closely with the commissioner on ways to make changes, corrections. So, I’m looking forward to the second chance and a second opportunity, not just in football because I think everyone knows what you’re going to get in football, but in life. I think that’s what’s kind of more important.

      “A lot of them are personal things, you know, which is just something that I need to do. But it’s been neat being able to really re-evaluate my life and spend time with my family and kind of re-evaluate and re-figure what’s important in my life. That’s me … evaluating what I need to do and be smarter when it comes to certain things. Like I said it’s a new chapter and I’m looking forward to it and it starts with football. I’m glad to be back here … I’ll be talking to you guys a lot more.”

      There are no shortage of young, drunk women that are ready to fawn over athletes and regret their decisions later. So we’ll see if Big Ben has made wholesale changes and whether or not he’ll follow through on some of the things he said to the media today.

      And I hope he does change. Our society doesn’t need yet another athlete that has no concept of what it is to be a role model to kids. (Not that I think athletes should be role models anyway, but it doesn’t help when they publicly are accused of sexually assaulting not one, but two women in under a year.)

      On a related note, the Post-Gazette is also reporting that it’s “obvious” that Byron Leftwich will be starting for the Steelers in Week 1. Dennis Dixon has yet to work with the first team, although that could change when training camp begins later this summer.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      At what expense will realignment come for college football?

      June 4, 2010 /

      I had a buddy in college that routinely would engage me in the debate over what was “better”: Pro or college football.

      He loved college, I loved pro. Nobody ever won the debate and nobody ever will because it’s all a matter of opinion. But there we were, often hammered after too many adult beverages arguing the same points over and over again.

      Two of the things he used to argue in favor of college football were rivalries and tradition. He used to shove those two points so far down my throat that he often had to perform the Heimlich Maneuver just so I could start breathing again.

      I read today in the Houston Chronicle that Texas and Texas A&M might not play each other on an annual basis anymore if the Longhorns bolt the Big 12 for either the Pac-10 or Big Ten, and if the Aggies leave for the SEC.

      So much for rivalries and tradition.

      Texas belongs in the Big Ten like mayo belongs on an American hamburger. While it would be fun and exciting to watch the Longhorns play on a cold December day in Columbus, college football was built on its traditions. UT is supposed to play A&M and Oklahoma every year, just like Ohio State is supposed to play Michigan, Alabama is supposed to play Auburn, and Army is supposed to play Navy. Those rivalries and traditions are what make college football, college football.

      The novelty of realignment may be fun, but in the end it’s just that: a novelty. Here’s hoping the Big 12 doesn’t fall apart like a deck of cards over the next couple of months.

      Novelties wear off. Rivalries and tradition last forever.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Football, External Sports

      Burrell to make debut on Friday, Giants renew commitment to crusty old vets

      June 4, 2010 /

      It didn’t take long for the Giants to purchase the contract of Pat Burrell, who will make his debut tonight in Pittsburgh just days after San Francisco signed him to a minor league deal. After all, he’s old, and the organization is committed to old and halting their youth movement as much as possible. (See the signings or re-signings of Rich Aurilia, Edgardo Alfonzo, Bengie Molina, Dave Roberts, Omar Vizquel, Ryan Klesko, Jose Vizcaino and Neifi Perez – just to name a few – in previous seasons.)

      In calling up Burrell, the Giants had to make a roster move in the process, meaning 26-year-old John Bowker had to be optioned to Triple-A Fresno. Granted, Bowker was only hitting .207 at the time of the demotion, but the Giants, in all of their infinite wisdom, have decided that 82 at bats were enough to close the book on the outfielder for now.

      I have nothing against Burrell, per se. He could turn out to be a solid pinch hitter and I would much rather see him wasting away on the bench than Bowker. But it’s the Giants’ continued philosophy (if that’s what you want to call it) towards judging hitters that infuriates me. They never really gave Fred Lewis a chance and now he’s hitting .304 as the Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter. For as good as a Giant as Randy Winn was over the years, they stuck with him too long last year while a younger, more talented Nate Schierholtz rotted away on the bench. (Speaking of Schierholtz, where does he fit in with the addition of Burrell?) And I’m still not sure who Kevin Frandsen killed to have never been given a legitimate shot at sticking with the big league club either, yet Edgar Renteria is in his second year of wasting everyone’s time in the “City by the Bay.”

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      External Sports, MLB

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