Santa Clara...Basketball?

I love my college basketball.  As a Freshman at Santa Clara University in 2008 I watched the Santa Clara Bronco basketball team finish 16-17 (7-7).  It was great.  Our team was young, but future success seemed guaranteed with the help of freshman youngsters Kevin Foster (guard), James Rahon (guard), Marc Trasolini (center), and other solid, veteran players including Ben Dowdell (forward).  Head coach Kerry Keating appeared to have control of the program and the West Coast Conference only posed two true challenges for SCU: the St. Mary's Gaels and the vaunted Gonzaga Bulldogs.  My friends and I had a great feeling by the time we were Seniors our mighty Broncos would have made the tournament at least once.

The 2009-2010 season (my sophomore year) was a major setback for the program, finishing 11-21 (3-11).  Sharp-shooter James Rahon had since transfered to San Diego State, leaving both Foster and Trasolini to fill a major offensive void.  With losses to everyone from Gonzaga to Rice, Bronco players and fans hoped to come back the next season ready to play harder and win more - they did both.  The 2010-2011 season was a major success, statistically.  The Broncos went 24-14 (8-6) and were crowned Champions of the CIT Tournament.  Kevin Foster had a monster year with 20.2 PPG and 140 made three pointers, the most in all of NCAA D-1.  Marc Trasolini had a solid season averaging 12.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, while shooting 52% from the field.  However, over the span of Keating's four year career, players transferred and there was a lingering rumor amongst students that particular players flat out did not like playing for him.  Whether those rumors be true or false, my Broncos had a fantastic year and I actually felt my Freshman year dreams of NCAA Tournament fame maybe, just maybe, would become reality.

...Fast forwarding to present day 2012...

Well, this one sure is tough to write.  The Santa Clara basketball team has yet to win a game in West Coast Conference play.  Sitting in last place with an 0-8 WCC record, the Broncos are 8-13 overall and watching their season slip away in front of them.  For those who have not followed the season very closely, I know what you're asking: What the fuck happened? (Will Ferrell in Step Brothers voice, see link) Unfortunately, Marc Trasolini, our veteran post man, tore-up his knee in an exhibition game early in the year, ultimately ending his season.  This was undoubtably a major blow, but the team rallied together and won a nail bitter against the Big East's own, Villanova.  Finishing the preseason 8-5, the Broncos approached league play ready for battle against Gonzaga, St. Mary's, and newly added heavy weight Brigham Young University...too bad we forgot our armor, weaponry, horses, and battle strategy.  The Bronco basketball team has lost eight straight in conference and things are only getting worse.  To add insult to injury, Kevin Foster, the team's leading scorer and best player, was suspended indefinitely for Driving Under the Influence (if you have not heard that by now, you're living under a rock).

So, what is the problem?  To be honest, I don't know.  DUIs and season ending injuries certainly do not help, but the rest of the team cannot be 0-8 bad.  I know they aren't.  Players who could have added some experience have left (the aforementioned Rahon, PG Robert Smith, PG Troy Alexander) and those who are left to play have not had much experience other than Raymond Cowels and Evan Roquemore.  This is where I have to ask the obvious question: what is Kerry Keating doing?

Losing the team's top big man to injury is completely out of the coach's control, but what about everything else?  Let me be clear, I am not asking for a firing for two reasons.  First, I am not in the position to make that call, plain and simple.  Secondly, our Athletic Department signed him to a three year contract extension prior to this year so firing him would be pointless.  However, if I were a man in the position to make a call as important as this, here is what I would take into account.  An overall record of 66-68 is nice, 24-32 in the WCC is less than stellar, but not awful.  However, Keating's teams have only beaten Gonzaga once and St. Mary's once; arguably our two biggest rivals.  We have played these two teams close, taking both to overtime in different occasions, but a loss is a loss.  Rivalry in college basketball is everything.  With that said, rivalries are not quite rivalries if you win only one contest in five years as coach.  And how many players have left?  It seems at least a player or two transfers every year. Okay, it is not that many, but the players who primarily leave are point guards, also known as "the coach on the floor;" it is a pretty important position.  How can their be chemistry in the locker room and on the floor when players do not want to be there?

It is a confusing time for Santa Clara basketball fans.  We're not just losing some games, we're losing them all.  Personally, I have gone from watching live, to watching on my computer, to following the ESPN Game Tracker, to checking the morning paper the next day, and I know I'm not alone.  I want to be a fan and I want our team to finish games.  Hopefully our mighty Broncos can salvage what is left of this already disappointing season and win a conference game.  What a bummer.

On a lighter note, check out Will Ferrell's freak out as Brennan Huff from Step Brothers.  Ferrell and co-star John C. Riley have just realized they are being thrown out:

  

Prince Fielder to Detroit Rock City

As I am sure you have seen the news all over SportsCenter, mlb.com, espn.com, Facebook, and Twitter, Milwaukee Brewer's All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder signed a long term deal with the Detroit Tigers today.  With the help of agent Scott Boras, Fielder was able to sign a deal for 9 years and $214 million dollars.  Fielder is well known to fans due to his monstrous size and his colossal power at the plate.  While this is nice to various teams around the league, baseball GMs and Managers love him for a .299 AVG, 28 HR, 120 RBI, and a .415 OBP in the final year of his contract last season.

Greeting Prince in Motor City will be Cy Young winning pitcher Justin Verlander, who holds a career 3.54 ERA with 1215 strikeouts, and fellow All-Star Miguel Cabrera, a .300 career hitter.  Having already been a well known  playoff contender the last few years, the Detroit Tigers tune up their already outstanding line-up with Fielder.  Competition against teams such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, and the Texas Rangers will heat up even more with the Tigers now in the mix.  There is no doubt Prince Fielder can and will have a positive impact for the Tigers, but there is always the ultimate question: did Detroit pay the Prince too much?

Even though Albert Puljos made more this past off season signing with the Angels (10 yrs/254 mil) and Fielder's contract does not even touch Alex Rodriguez's Texas Rangers signing of 10 years and 275 million, the Prince still walks away from this deal having signed the fourth highest contract in the history of any sport.  No, I didn't type that wrong.  THE.  FOURTH.  HIGHEST.  IN.  THE.  HISTORY.  OF.  ANY.  SPORT.  I mean, what is going on here?  I like Fielder just as much as the next person and I would have loved to watch him launch baseball bombs into McCovey Cove next season, but c'mon.

If I told you to make a list of all the famous athletes you can think of, would Prince Fielder come fourth?  If I asked you to think of the five professional athletes most deserving of the highest contracts in sports, would Prince make that list?  Or the Top Ten for that matter?  I know, I know; different sports, with different revenues, with more exposure and more attraction, therefore more money to those who play.  But it's the principle.  I personally do not think Prince Fielder is worth $214 million dollars and if the Tigers want him that badly, they can have him.  In all honesty, in four years, which would only be half way through his contract, the Prince may be tipping at 330 pounds, and that unfortunately is no joke.

So what do the rest of you think?  Was Prince Fielder worth all that cash?  If so, why sign him for nine years?  If not, what would you have signed for and where should he have gone?    

Album Review: theHELL

With all these new bands coming out every other day, I have been waiting for one to dabble with some punk rooted sounds.  A new band that can infuse the catchy rhythms of pop-rock with the rawness of the 80s hardcore punk scene.  Well folks, I think we may have found something in theHELL...

For about the past year, Matt Skiba (lead singer/guitarist of Alkaline Trio) has hinted about getting together with Atom Willard (drummer in Rocket from the Crypt, Social Distortion, Angels and Airwaves) and recording an album under the moniker of theHELL.  Most of Skiba's updates would come randomly from his Twitter page and fans never knew whether to wait in anticipation or scroll through the rest of their newsfeed.  Well, an album has yet to hit the shelves, but an EP entitled "Sauve Les Requins" (French for "Save the Sharks") was released via iTunes on January 13th of this new year.

The EP is four tracks long, with only one eclipsing 2:30 minutes.  The one, "Gasoline," is the opening song and would work well as a first single.  The raw slashing of Skiba's guitar mixed with Willard's powerful, yet melodic drum beat are a perfect background for the repeated first line "Be careful what you wish for."  The song sounds eerily similar to any Misfits song, but the catchy beat is what sets "Gasoline," and the entire EP, apart from any of the 1980s hardcore punk scene. 

Alkaline Trio broke into the alternative/punk scene in 1996 with catchy music and dark lyrics focused on alcohol consumption, drug intake, distain for religion, and social fallacies.  However, after years of writing from tortured souls, the Trio's life outlook became significantly more positive and so did their lyrics.  Skiba is right back to his old Alkaline Trio days with theHELL, but his lyrics do not contain booze and drug references, rather an outlook on abandonment and what consequences will come.  Skiba's instrumentation has also captured that old-school punk sound of a raw guitar and simple chord progression.  "Vas Te Faire Foutre," off of theHELL's EP, is Skiba at his finest: musically, lyrically, and vocally.

Atom Willard, on the other hand, has been involved with several punk bands for the last twenty years.  While having played in several legendary bands, Willard's drumming talent has never been recognized for what it is.  Social Distortion, Rocket from the Crypt, and Angels and Airwaves, most particularly, are guitar focused bands and recording processes can most times drown out the drums in place of heavy guitars.  Not with theHELL.  Due to the band consisting of only two members, Willard is able to move freely through each song, leaving his mark on this new punk sound.  There are no guitar solos and not one second of the EP lacks percussion.  "R R R" and "Gasoline" are two tracks where Willard shines, pounding on the drums as if he were to say, "Do you assholes hear me yet?"

I have been an Alkaline Trio since my early high school days and I have always loved Atom Willard's drumming, but never in one million years did I think I would see my favorite frontman and a world class drummer come together to make music.  Both artists bring their own flare to "Sauve Les Requins" and a new flare is created in the process.  The album is fast paced, raw, angry, but most of all, it's just good new punk for those who want a taste.

Listen to "Gasoline:"

      

Best Bay Music for the Playoffs?

Saturday is a mere three days away and I have not been this excited for a playoff game since I was, I don't know, let's call it twelve years old.  Why twelve, some of you may be asking?  Well, I was twelve in 2002 and that is the last time the San Francisco 49ers made the playoffs.  That's right, it has been ten painful seasons of watching a poor coaching, sloppy play, and a run-run-pass offense since the 49er faithful have been able to welcome their beloved team into the playoffs.

Before I can sit down, objectively look at this game, and give you all a game review that does not have the 9ers beating the Saints for any reason other than my fanatical excitement, I thought I would take some time and celebrate first...  Most of my friends know I love my music and I feel plugging in an iPod, grabbing a beer, and talking about when the Vatican should beatify Jim Harbaugh is the best way to celebrate the 49ers entrance into the post season.  Without recognizing this joyous moment, none of us will be able to sit and watch the game.

With the 49ers in the playoffs and the Giants recently becoming World Series Champions, I am feeling an immense amount of Bay Area Pride.  That is the type of music I want to listen to going into Saturday's battle.  Let's get some discussion going on what the best type of Bay Area music there is in order to celebrate before kickoff.  I'm not just talking about "slappin' scrappers" or Killa Whale references, but all Bay Area music.  From Mac Dre to Tony Bennett, from Journey to Sly and the Family Stone.

I'll throw together a mix and will make sure to see all of you on Saturday in the Candle Stick Parking Lot.

Nate Robinson: Dunk Specialist or Warriors Solution?

As of yesterday, it became official the Golden State Warriors signed free agent point guard Nate Robinson.  Upon hearing this news, I was disgusted.  Another undersized guard full of tattoos, flashy athletic attributes, and a slight temper.  Sound familiar Warriors fans?

All basketball fans know Nate Robinson as the miniature point guard who dazzled while attending the University of Washington and is the only player in the history of the National Basketball Association to win the Slam Dunk Contest three times.  Aside from the high flying, gravity defying dunks Robinson has served as a role player for the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and, most recently, the Oklahoma City Thunder.  What Robinson has done for each squad has not been significant, but he has contributed.  Robinson has averaged 11.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 2.6 RPG in his six year career.  After trying to obtain all-star point guard Chris Paul and shot block specialist DeAndre Jordan during the offseason, this is the best the Warriors could do?  Typical.

However, after taking some time to think about the move the Warriors front office made, I no longer felt the need to sprint to my bathroom and induce vomiting.  For a quick moment I was unable to find a specific reason for this relief, but then it hit me - perspective.  All three of the teams Nate Robinson has been signed by are playoff teams, with the 'Tics obtaining a Championship in the last five years and the Thunder being a serious title contender this season.  Tiny Nate has not played a major role in the NBA yet because the teams he has played for have been solid.  The Warriors, on the other hand, have not made the playoffs since their magical 2007-2008 "We Believe" season and lost Jason Richardson, Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and other key members in the process.  This could potentially work.

The perspective comes into play when people realize this Nate Robinson signing is about the best the Warriors can do.  Oakland is not a major market like New York or Boston and it has been proven the Warriors will not be able to acquire all-star players without giving up their coveted Monta Ellis (that, in and of itself, is a different post all together) or a litany of young prospects.  With Stephen Curry hampered by an ankle injury that does not seem to be going away anytime soon, Robinson has shown he can run the point guard as a starter and may have to do so in the early going.  Nate Robinson brings not only veteran experience, but playoff experience to the ball club, as well.  Also, Robinson is reconnecting with David Lee for the first time since their stint in The Big Apple together; a fact many forget.

So, is the Nate Robinson signing the firework deal the Warriors were looking for initially?  Probably not.  But for this team, in this shortened 66 game season, the deal could help temporarily fix some of the problems they face in the guard play and on the floor in general.  Golden State's next game is tomorrow night, Friday, January 6, against Kobe Bryant and the hot Lakers, having won four of their last five.

Blog Creation

Ever since I sat down with my Aunt and Uncle on this past New Year's Day when they told me to create a blog and just start writing I have been thinking about how it should look.  I've tried different backgrounds, different fonts, stupid titles, witty titles, and everything in between.  It has now just occurred to me that the major reason I started this whole deal was to get some feed back on different things I have to say.  I want to take that one step further and get your thoughts on how to make the blog look better.  **Interactive head-nod by the reader**

SO, I know it's not the most exciting first topic seeing that it has nothing to do with what I would normally be talking about, but let's get some suggestions.  Should I get rid of the smiley faced picture?  Should I change the background?  WHAT SHOULD THE BLOG NAME BE?  I can't promise I'll listen to every suggestion and it's unlikely my blog title will be "Saggy Tits," but I do want a lot of aspects of this blog to funny and comical - get creative if you want.

Help a Tito out.

Inaugural Post

This is the first post of this brand new blog.  I have no clue where I want to go with it and I'm sure it won't cover any specific topic in the early going.  I'll cover music, sports, college, the work force, my personal opinion on all of these things, and anything else that may come to mind.  Hopefully I can get a few people to comment on pieces I write and share their opinions on whatever it is I have to say.

I know blogs are popping up all over the place and a lot of them say and accomplish the same things.  I know I want mine to be different...I just don't know how to do that yet.  So stayed tuned, I guess.