Friday (Maybe a boat) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on February 1st, 2008 – 8:22 AMBy Michael Rand
In honor of Jim, the birthday boy, we start of today’s musings with a line tossed around last night: why would you trade a boat for maybe a boat. The context, as usual for the past 48 or so hours, was the Johan Santana trade. We’ve taken the temperature of the average fan, and they’re pretty [redacted] upset about this trade. That’s no secret. What seems to bother folks the most is that there was no real centerpiece to the return package; not only are the four guys unproven, there’s not even one that makes you say, “In two years, if he’s everything they say he is …” The Gomez kid might be the closest thing to it, but he’s not it. Even the much-maligned KG trade brought in Al Jefferson, a clear No. 1 piece. With all that said (and we know it’s hardly news), let’s turn our attention now to Santana himself. There’s a fine line between being opportunistic and being greedy. Right now, he is way over that line. He has the Mets over a barrel right now (if you think the Twins botched this deal, think about the awkward position the Mets are in right now. Why would you ever let word leak out that you have acquired the best pitcher in baseball before you have signed him to the extension upon which the deal hinges. Santana and his agent see the good will they’re generating in New York and can pretty much name their price, which perhaps is why this deal still isn’t done). The NY Post says Santana is trying to push the deal over $150 million. Crazy money. Greedy money. Not enough to say good riddance (especially without that centerpiece) but enough to help understand why you trade a boat for maybe a boat. OK, we don’t need four baseball blogs on this site. What else happened?
*400 for Tubby. They might as well have played the season-to-date on paper instead of the court. Nothing has been terribly surprising about any of the Gophers’ 19 games.
*Ex-Viking Jim Marhsall says the ‘72 Dolphins would get blown out by this year’s Patriots.
*An interesting read about Tom Brady, reminding us that his path to stardom wasn’t exactly paved with gold. Or paved at all. If things had broken differently, he might be filling out TPS reports right now instead of … well, you know.
*One of our all-time favorite videos, at least the set-up: Fantastic Voyage by Coolio. How we supposed to get there? WE AIN’T GOT NO CAR. Fool.
*Fasola-link! Apparently “The Warriors” is showing in Cleveland tonight, which makes us sad, for the first time ever, that we’re not in Cleveland right now. Can you dig it!
18 Responses to "Friday (Maybe a boat) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
I’d say it was more like trading a boat for four keels. Except the boat you traded was already requiring a ton of cash for upkeep, and you weren’t 100% sure, but based on last summer, may have shown some early signs that it may be taking on just a bit of water, from all the wear and tear over the last few years.
As for the four keels, well, you don’t know a lot about them, but now you have the ability to build four boats, a little more in your image. True, none of the keels was as big as the boat you let go, but with four boats, you’ve got the potential for…the beginnings of a Navy?
I always wanted to start a Warriors crew called the “Tophatters,” we would run around the Upper East Side of Manhattan with our canes and monocles and beat the crap out of the Warriors or Misfits, or god forbid, the Lizzies.
S. U. Perrookie: I don’t know, the Lizzies can be formidable. If they corner you and start talking about how great the Sox, Patriots and Celtics are, they can annoy you into submission.
Santana isn’t greedy unless KG, Silva, Hunter, and every other player that holds out for as much money as possible is greedy. Part of the reason for him trying to get as much as possible is because the Players Association is putting pressure on his agents to make sure the salaries continue to increase. They want Santana to set the bar as high as possible. The funny thing is that Sabathia could possibly get a bigger contract because he will be a Free Agent at the end of the year and the Yankees are going to be swimming in money.
These ladies compare Johan to a Cow and the prospects to Green Beans. I guess they don’t like the boat analogy.
If they corner you and start talking about how great the Sox, Patriots and Celtics are, they can annoy you into submission.
Stu just poked a stick in-between the bars of the cage.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3225539
I would think that Arlen Specter would have more important things to concern himself with. Then again, what do I know? Apparently, he has time to make multiple phone calls about “Spygate” (did it happen at the Spygate hotel?). Good lord, I’m irritated by the government sometimes.
What really makes me sick is that I think that Specter might be a Giants fan who wants to find some way to go after the Patriots. I really hope that’s not the case. You’re a high-ranking government official, don’t make yourself a bigger piece of crap than being a politician already makes you.
coupla quickees coming here (my fav college line)
a) by defintion, anyone in sports simply cannot be greedy, since if we’re going to accept free enterprise (and what’s the alternative..Havana ?), then supply and demand applies. So, does anyone think the CEOs of the top Forbes companies are greedy ? Of course they are, but greed shouldn’t really be the hot topic. Opportunistic is more the right word, and as long as someone will pay him that ridiculous sum, Santana doesn’t have to play Gandhi and turn it down, Would you ?
b) and as a mind f..k, who started [redacted]. I always get so revved to offer up meaningful contributions when I see that word I know but in so many weird places..and
c) what distinguishes a beginning model, a successful model and a supermodel ?
and as a mind f..k, who started [redacted].
I believe our current president started it with the redaction of his military “service”. We just use it in place of “inappropriate” language for a “family blog”.
Carlos Gomez is a mystery box.
makes sense….as for the model nomenclature, is there some kind of correlation there where a superstar qb, esp. from the East Coast would get a supermodel as a [redacted]companion, while a rookie lineman from the Midwest would have to settle for a garden variety model ? Such vexing questions on a slow sports week..
stu-
your welcome for the assist.
in fact, i think we should be co-cows this week for that awesome display of teamwork.
I just read this on MSN….present at the Obama/Clinton debate were Diane Keaton, Jason Alexander, Pierce Brosnan, Rob Reiner, Stevie Wonder, Kate Capshaw, Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Whitford and Gary Shandling. Can’t these mother [redacted] self important people stick to NBA games ?
Seems like a good opportunity for The Teamwork Song.
Enjoy the Nightmare Fuel, everybody.
You’re killin’ me, Stu. Two Nick references this week.
I’m with Super Rookie - I think we need to start tracking assists. I aspire to be the John Stockton of RandBall.
Do you wear the shorts?
Thank you, Matt.
