richardk Blog Posts

Sox Win But Offense Sputters

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:21:20 PDT

The Chicago White Sox have talent. They have guys who can get on base, With Adam Dunn actually hitting home runs this season, he tied is total output in hitting his 11th HR the other day, the Sox can score runs. Paulie Konerko is again a threat at the plate. But the Sox also leave men on base and score in ways that call out ineffecient. The Sox had three straight singles to start the 9th, with the game wrapped up. However, you can't get as many runs with some of the games the BP has blown. Pierzynski drives in a run with a single. Now, there are men on first base and 2nd with no outs, and the Sox can't score another run. Alexei Ramirez hits into a double play and the next man grounded out to the infield. Yes, this game was just ab

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Indoor LaCross Riot

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:02:47 PDT

I gotta tell you, I saw a video of a LaCross game brawl that got out of control. The fight worsened when one team left their bench and raced onto the playing surface. This was indoor LaCross. I don't know what level of teams were competing. It looked like high school or semi-pro. But what really got me was this act of crazy behavior was scored to hard rock music! Oh, let's look at athletes gone wild and rock out of some badass guitar. I'll tell you what has gotten out of control, is the packaging of this violent, unsportsmanlike brawl gone bad. It ssems like hey, you know the video "Girls gone Wild", well, let's see some guys gone wild. Glorifying fights of this nature doesn't diminish it, it gives it a license to continue una

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Kings vs Rangers

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:35:46 PDT

It is pretty certain that LA will come out of the Western Conference playoffs. What remains much more in doubt is the Rangers-Devils series. NY has a 1-0 lead in the best of 7. But this series is by no means over. The Rangers play almost the oppositie of LA. They grind it out, slow down the game, and let their goalie become the anchor of defense. A goal or two is usually all the Rangers need to win a game. That pattern may remain in the Eastern Finals, but it will be sorely tested if NY plays the LA Kings.

The sleeping giant, that is the LA Kings, has woke up with a vengence. The Rangers play like the the little engine that could. It huffs and puffs its way toward the finish line.

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Bulls Fall in Philly 79-78

Thu, 10 May 2012 22:26:05 PDT

I am a long-time Bulls fan. I looked at the score in disbelief after not having seen the game tonight. I saw a brief low-light of how Asik missed two FT's late in the game, and how Iguodala hit 2 FT's with 2.2 ticks on the clock to win the game. Never mind the C.J. Watson's desperation heave at the buzzer was close---this was a game the Bulls should have won. Even without Rose and Noah. From what I can see, if you out-rebound a team by a lot, which Chicago did, you should win the game. The Bulls owned the boards. Luol Deng played like an All-Star. He had a double-double and came up big tonight. Carlos Boozer had a 1-11 night and that hurt. Why did Richard Hamilton see so many minutes? Ok, he had 19 points, but 37 minutes is a lot for a guy who has not played that long in a game in many weeks. That may be his most mnutes of the year. I know, he's had the big game experience. But if he's huffing and puffing, that's not going to score points. I like the Bulls so much. And it hurts to see a terrific team run into bad luck and bad games, particularly in Philadelphia. Kyle Korver did not score at all. Why? There needed to be more effort in getting a man who can shot the three in rhythm, in a flow, where he can do some damage.

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Cmon Bulls Win a Game

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:38:45 PDT

C'mon Chicago, win a home game in this crazy first-round matchup vs. the 76'ers. The injury bug has submerged this team which is taking on water fast. I hope they can step on a dry dock and salvage a game to extend this series.

This Bulls miss Rose obviously, and without Noah, they look ordinary. Joakim Noah is a heck of a player who does some big things like get offensive rebounds, play post-up defense, and creates screens for his teammates. Oh, he has a ton of double-doubles if you want to check. Every night it seems he scores 14 points and grabs 13 boards. Some nights, it's 17 rebounds. He is relentless on the glass and the Bulls miss that energy. It will be tough to win against a young, hungry team that has some talented quick guys, but "tonight's the night", as Phil Collins once sang. You have to win this game to move on to the next. I'd hate to see the season end on homecourt.

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Bulls In Shocking 1-3 Hole in Series

Sun, 06 May 2012 16:29:24 PDT

It has become a grim fairy tale for the Chicago Bulls. The team loses Derrick Rose, the reigning MVP, and team's leading scorer with a serious knee injury. Then in Game 3 Joakim Noah sprains his left anke and is forced to leave the game. The Bulls collapse in the closing minutes and hand over a crucial game to Philly. In today's game, the Bulls trailed 80-78 in the fourth quarter but the 76'ers made the big plays down the stretch and pulled away from Chicago. Now, the Bulls are a game from being out of the playoffs. A prospect nearly unthinkable a few weeks ago. But that's what injuries can do to a team. Especially, if you miss two starters. Chicago didn't make big baskets. The offense was bottled up and the defense gave up

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If Noah is Out Bulls are Done

Fri, 04 May 2012 21:04:28 PDT

Things went from very bad to practically life-support for the Chicago Bulls when Joakim Noah sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter last night. The Bulls had to change their game, and the 76'ers climbed back into a game they had no business winning, 79-74. I am not going to give you stats tonight. I am going to give you inpressions. This series is looking bad for the Bulls. If Noah can't suit up on Sunday, and that seems unlikely, the Bulls lose a key player. A guy who has so many intangibles, aside from great inside defense, and rebounding. Noah doesn't punish people, he justs does his job. If someone gets in the way, they may get roughed up. Tonight, Noah stepped on a Philly player and cried out in pain as he tumbled on the court ne

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The Latest Marmol Meltdown Is Enough

Thu, 03 May 2012 19:46:31 PDT

Here the deal on Cub's reliever Carlos Marmol. The hard throwing righty is either lights out, or it's All Hands on Deck. Marmol was in the game vs. the Reds to protect a 3-0 lead and a gem of performance by Ryan Dempster. Marmol walked guys, put runners in scoring position and Cincinnati scratched 3 runs to tie the game. They won it on the 10th. Marmol is boring. He doesn't get anyone out. His walk ratio per batters pitched is horrendous. Something like 25% of the guys he has faced, he has walked. You don't have to get a hit off him. Just stand there. When he is on and somedays he is, his slider is unhittable. The thing is with Marmol who don't know which pitcher will show up. The closer or the Blower. He has blown some games that were in the bag. And, that is hard to do. I used to like him. He thought he was going to be great. But, groom someone else for the closer role. Let some other pitcher try his luck. It has to be better than Marmol.

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Bulls on Brink

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:40:06 PDT

The Bulls were losing by 20 points, guys were jamming and dunking and roaming the paint with little resistance and the 76'ers walk away with a huge win in game 2. Suddenly, this has become a ssries. The loss of DRose looms so large now. Yes, the Bulls had a strong 2nd quarter and took a 7 point lead to half-time. But, what happened in the 3rd quarter? Philadelphia didn't go through the Bulls, they went over them with pinpoint passing, and a team of leapers who outplayed Chicago on their homecourt. I knew this series wouldn't be easy, but now Phladelphia has serious mo' on their side. They will continue to fly unless the Bulls find a way to stop them. It appears that the injury to Rose has taken the fight out of the Bulls and that is something

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Life Without Derrick In Playoffs

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:08:40 PDT

Chicago Bulls' superstar, Derrick Rose, is scheduled to have knee surgery to repair a torn ACL on his left knee. The Chicago Bulls have been in mental transition the past few days, trying to accept this loss and getting on with their playoff run. They've said all the right things. "We have more than enough." The Bulls did go 18-9 without Rose in the lineup. But this is the NBA playoffs. Tomorrow night, the battle begins with a sidelined Rose. Can the Bulls win this series without their big star? They probably will but it will be a real test. Guys are going to have to step up in energy output and effort. If the Bulls rebounded well, they have to rebound better. Expect the team to raise their game and the Bulls will

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