TURNER FIELD-NICE PLACE

I attended the Braves-Red Sox game last Saturday at cozy Turner Field. While it isn’t Yankee Stadium, it is a great ballpark to watch a game in. The atmosphere is energetic.

Sightlines are good. While I am not a Braves fan, I wore a Braves hat simply because as a Yankee fan, I cannot root for Boston. Though, if truth be told, the Red Sox play like my Yankees used to and they are a fine team. Don’t be surprised if they make another World Series appearance this year. But, whether you like the Braves or not, you could do a lot worse then attending a game at Turner Field.

PRESSURE IS ON IN CLEVELAND NEXT YEAR

He may be 37 years of age but Shaquille O’Neal still packs a wallop at center. The Cleveland Cavaliers management are hoping the veteran center has enough left in the tank to help bring Cleveland its first NBA title next year. With O’neal’s arrival and LeBron James being in the last year of his contract and eligible for free agency after next season, the heat is on in Cleveland. Should prove to be an interesting season. 

ANOTHER TEAMS WANTS THE KING!

With the trade of 10 year veteran forward Vince Carter  from the NJ Nets to the Orlando Magic-freeing up some $18 million for the Nets, another team is added to the list of potential teams that want LeBron James’ services. Certainly, this move is a signal to the NY KNicks that the Nets intend to make James a serious offer to leave Cleveland for the NY-NJ market. The next 18 months should prove interesting indeed for one of, if not the best player in the NBA at present.

So long, Dusty!

Barely a mention was made in the newspapers but a world series hero passed away recently:James Lamar”Dusty” Rhodes. His three pinch hit home runs (along with Willie Mays great catch of a drive off the bat of Vic Wertz) powered the 1954 New York Giants(now San Francisco) to a stunning four game sweep over a Cleveland Indians team that won a then record 111 games. It was the high point of Rhodes baseball career. He later worked the tugboats in New York harbor. He passed away at his home in Nevada at the age of 81. He was a good ole’ boy from Arkansas who did good. Rest in peace.

I HATE TO SAY IT

My Yankees are not the Yankees of old. They are a shell of the team that won four world titles in five years under Joe Torre. Mark Teixera looks like the only one playing with any urgency. I hate to say this but it is true: The Boston Red Sox play like my Yankees used to- with fire in their eyes and ice in their veins.

QUITE A QUARTET!

The buzz about the Lady Devils state championship continues to create a buzz in Erwin. The four seniors who led the way: Whitley Hensley, Ali Gardner, Mikayla Treadway and Elizabeth Raby were not only all-star players but all-star young women. Hensley, a rock behind the plate and Treadway, the steady glove at shortstop, will be teammates at ETSU. Gardner, the speedy centerfielder with a lethal bat whose three run home run against Good Pasture turned out to be the game winning hit, has signed to play basketball at Milligan while Raby, a terrific defensive first baseman with a steady bat, will take her glove to Agnes Scott College in suburban Atlanta. All four seniors who were the heart and soul of the team will move on to college. This was quite a quartet and  they will not only be hard to replace but will be missed as well. Good luck, Ladies, and thank you.

Is The End Near For Rivera?

At 39, is the end near for Mariano Rivera?

Yes, it is! While he is among the AL leaders in saves as of this date with 12, Rivera’s velocity has diminished a bit this year(around 91-92 mph) but he is 39 years old and that is pretty good for a pitcher his age. But, before we put him out to pasture, lets celebrate a class act who is a symbol(along with Derek Jeter) of Yankee dominance. Both Rivera and Jeter will be inducted into Cooperstown when their time comes and it is well deserved. Let’s hope Rivera goes out in a blaze of glory in the next year or two- by that I mean another chance at a world series title for a franchise that has more history then some countries. After all, with all due respect to the Cardinals, Dodgers, Braves and Red Sox, the Yankees are major league baseball. No brag, just fact!  

Hang it up, Tom!

While I was a bit saddened by the Brave’s release of pitcher Tom Glavine, I wasn’t surprised. He has won two Cy Young Awards, 305 games, a World Series title and is a lock for the Hall of Fame. But, as we have seen before, ballplayers hang around past their prime and sometimes, embarrass themselves. He is 43, recovering from surgery and has made a fine comeback. But, he is 43 and it is time to hang up the spikes and end a great career.

ALL-TIME NBA TEAM

My All-Time NBA Team(s):

Guards: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan

Forwards: Larry Bird, Julius Erving

Center: Wilt Chamberlain

Coach: Red Auerbach

Second Team:

Guards: Jerry West, Oscar Robertson

Forwards: Rick Barry, Kevin McHale

Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Coach: Phil Jackson

Subs: Bill Russell, Dave DeBusschere, Pete Maravich, Walt Frazier and Bob Cousy

My All-Century Team

My All- Century Team:

First base: Lou Gehrig

Second base: Rogers Hornsby

Shortstop: Cal Ripken

Third Base: Mike Schmidt

Catcher: Johnny Bench

Left Field: Hank Aaron

Center Field: Willie Mays

Right Field : Babe Ruth

Starting Pitchers: Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton,

Tom Seaver, Juan Marichal, Walter Johnson, Bob Feller, Cy Young, Warren Spahn and Lefty Grove.

Relief Pitchers: Mariano Rivera, Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers.  

Designated Hitters: Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Stan Musial.

Manager: Joe McCarthy