Heres the link to the post on SonicsCentral:
http://www.sonicscentral.c
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Airplane Banner at All-Star Game
Sonicscentral.com is attempting to put together funds to have an airplane with a banner flown in New Orleans for the NBA All-Star game. The idea is to put national attention on the issue of the Sonics leaving town and try and show how important the Sonics are to the city.
Heres the link to the post on SonicsCentral:
http://www.sonicscentral.com/bboard/viewtopic.php?t=6403
Heres the link to the post on SonicsCentral:
http://www.sonicscentral.c
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Top 10 Worst Seattle Sports Contracts
Adam, a regular contributor to the blog, pointed out that I somehow forgot to include the signing of Carlos Silva on my time line of the past couple months. Definitely a huge oversight on my part. However, maybe I overlooked the move due to the fact that Bill Bavasi throws around absurd contracts to pitchers like he's Rick the Peanut Man. I actually think Silva is a huge upgrade over both Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez (who wouldn't be) and I've even convinced myself that Silva could turn out alright. Of course I also convinced my self before last season that Jeff Weaver wasn't a bad gamble for a one year deal. Anyways, all this contract talk has got me thinking, what have been the worst ones over the years for Seattle sports teams? Without further ado, here are my top ten worst contracts given out by Seattle teams:
10. Scott Spiezio 3-years/ $9 million - A classic Bill Bavasi "gritty" signing, Spiezio hit .215 in his first season with the Mariners and .064 in 29 games before being released in his second season.
9. Bret Boone 4-years/ $33 million - Signed the extension after his huge 2001 season and did have two pretty good years, hitting 24 and 35 home runs and driving in over 100 runs in each season. Then in 2004, Boone hit 24 home runs, but drove in just 83 and hit only .251. In 2005, Boone played in just 74 games, hitting .231 before being traded.
8, 7 & 6. Shaun Alexander 8-years/ $62 million, Richie Sexson 4-years/ $50 million, Adrian Beltre 5-years/ $64 million - I put these three together, because they are all still playing out their contracts with their respective teams. Alexander signed the biggest contract ever given to an NFL running back coming off his MVP season, but has since rushed for a combined 1,600+ yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging 3.5 yards per carry.
Sexson did 34+ homers in both of the first two years of his contract, but he has struck out a combined 421 times in his three years as a Mariner and last season Sexson hit a measly .205 with a .295 OBP as the highest paid member of the team.
Although Beltre has improved steadily since his first year as a Mariner and was a solid contributor last season, he still has not hit more than 26 home runs, driven in 100 runs or hit for an average higher than .276. Beltre does supply Gold Glove defense at third base, but he signed the contract coming off a year in which he hit .334 with 48 home runs.
5. Grant Wistrom 6-years/ $33 million - Tallied 11.5 total sacks in three seasons with the Seahawks after recieving a $14 million signing bonus, the biggest ever given out to a Seahawk at the time.
4. Jeff Cirillo 4-years/ $27.6 million - After coming over from Colorado in a trade and signing the 4-year extension, Cirillo proceeded to hit .249 and 6 home runs for the Mariners. The following season Cirillo hit .205 in 87 games before being traded, with the Mariners eating most of the remaining money on the deal.
3. Vin Baker 7-years/ $86 million - After being brought over from Milwaukee in a trade for Shawn Kemp, Baker averaged 19.2 points and 8 rebounds per game and the Sonics won 61 games. Baker signed his massive extension after that season, but then began to steadily decline and would never average more than 16.6 points again. Baker was traded to Boston before the 2002-2003 season.
2. Calvin Booth 6-years/ $34 million - The Sonics gave this contract to Booth coming off a season in which he averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 55 games. In three years as a Sonic, Booth averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds before being traded for Danny Fortson.
1. Jim McIlvaine 7-years/$33.6 million - Another unproven big man at the time of his signing, McIlvaine played just two seasons with the Sonics, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds. On top of his poor play, McIlvaine has long been blamed for being part of the reason that Shawn Kemp was eventually traded.
10. Scott Spiezio 3-years/ $9 million - A classic Bill Bavasi "gritty" signing, Spiezio hit .215 in his first season with the Mariners and .064 in 29 games before being released in his second season.
9. Bret Boone 4-years/ $33 million - Signed the extension after his huge 2001 season and did have two pretty good years, hitting 24 and 35 home runs and driving in over 100 runs in each season. Then in 2004, Boone hit 24 home runs, but drove in just 83 and hit only .251. In 2005, Boone played in just 74 games, hitting .231 before being traded.
8, 7 & 6. Shaun Alexander 8-years/ $62 million, Richie Sexson 4-years/ $50 million, Adrian Beltre 5-years/ $64 million - I put these three together, because they are all still playing out their contracts with their respective teams. Alexander signed the biggest contract ever given to an NFL running back coming off his MVP season, but has since rushed for a combined 1,600+ yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging 3.5 yards per carry.
Sexson did 34+ homers in both of the first two years of his contract, but he has struck out a combined 421 times in his three years as a Mariner and last season Sexson hit a measly .205 with a .295 OBP as the highest paid member of the team.
Although Beltre has improved steadily since his first year as a Mariner and was a solid contributor last season, he still has not hit more than 26 home runs, driven in 100 runs or hit for an average higher than .276. Beltre does supply Gold Glove defense at third base, but he signed the contract coming off a year in which he hit .334 with 48 home runs.
5. Grant Wistrom 6-years/ $33 million - Tallied 11.5 total sacks in three seasons with the Seahawks after recieving a $14 million signing bonus, the biggest ever given out to a Seahawk at the time.
4. Jeff Cirillo 4-years/ $27.6 million - After coming over from Colorado in a trade and signing the 4-year extension, Cirillo proceeded to hit .249 and 6 home runs for the Mariners. The following season Cirillo hit .205 in 87 games before being traded, with the Mariners eating most of the remaining money on the deal.
3. Vin Baker 7-years/ $86 million - After being brought over from Milwaukee in a trade for Shawn Kemp, Baker averaged 19.2 points and 8 rebounds per game and the Sonics won 61 games. Baker signed his massive extension after that season, but then began to steadily decline and would never average more than 16.6 points again. Baker was traded to Boston before the 2002-2003 season.
2. Calvin Booth 6-years/ $34 million - The Sonics gave this contract to Booth coming off a season in which he averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 55 games. In three years as a Sonic, Booth averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds before being traded for Danny Fortson.
1. Jim McIlvaine 7-years/$33.6 million - Another unproven big man at the time of his signing, McIlvaine played just two seasons with the Sonics, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds. On top of his poor play, McIlvaine has long been blamed for being part of the reason that Shawn Kemp was eventually traded.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
"Almost Immortal"
That is the headline on ESPN.com with a picture of Ichiro and other players from great teams that didn't win championships. The article on ESPN's Page 2 ranks the 2001 Mariner team that won 116 games as the second biggest disappointment of all time. The Mariners tied the all-time wins record and then fell to the Yankees in five games. Seattle had another team on the list with the 1994 Sonics coming in at number 16 (the list has 18). The Sonics finished the regular season 63-19 that year, but then became the first ever one seed to lose in the first round to an eight seed (Dallas gave the Sonics some company last season when they lost to Golden State). The image of Dikembe Mutombo lying on the court clutching the ball at the end of game 5 no doubt still stings Sonics fans.
Isaiah Thomas: Where's the Buzz?
Anybody remember Isaiah Thomas? Once considered the top player in the state of Washington and originally scheduled to join the Huskies for this season, it seems as though Thomas has been lost in the shuffle. After his junior season in which Thomas was named the Seattle Times 4A State Player of the Year, he transfered to South Kent School in Connecticut to get his academics in order. At the time Thomas planned on spending only his senior season at South Kent and then joining the Huskies this past fall, but still had work left to do to become eligible and will now enroll at UW next fall. South Kent is a prep school, which allow students to play basketball post high school and still maintain all of their NCAA eligibility. Other Husky players who have come from prep schools are Justin Dentmon, Joel Smith, Joe Wolfinger and Matthew Bryan-Amaning.
Thomas has already drawn the obvious Nate Robinson comparisons, because of his height (he is listed at 5-8) and his leaping ability, but Thomas is actually a better shooter and more natural scorer than Robinson was coming out of high school. Thomas is probably best remembered for scoring a tournament record 51 points in a loss to Franklin in the 4A state semi-final game in his junior season. Thomas also sent the total tournament scoring mark with 129 points in just three games.
If Thomas were still playing ball in the Seattle area he might have been one of the more highly anticipated recruits in recent memory. He should have a major impact nonetheless and his outside shooting ability could no doubt be used with Ryan Appleby graduating. The Huskies 2008 recruiting class is ranked #13 by Rivals.com.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Alexander the (Once) Great
Shaun Alexander was on KJR yesterday and here is a quote courtesy of the Seattle Times' Seahawks blog on the possibility of restructuring his contract:
"You don't really do that with your foundation people. You do that with the people you aren't sure about," Alexander said. "I just don't think that they [the Seahawks] would do that. They're too classy for that."
Players the Seahawks aren't sure about? I'm guessing that Tim Ruskell probably has Shaun Alexander at the top of that list. Guys like Alexander make it all the more impressive to me that Tiki Barber was able to retire when he did. I mean is Shaun's ego really so big that he still thinks of himself as the star of the team? Or does he legitimately believe he still has gas left in the tank?
At this point I see Alexander's career similar to a relationship. When you first start dating a girl and everything is going great, you find ways to overlook her flaws, even find them cute sometimes. Then when when you hit a rough patch and things aren't going so great, those flaws begin to drive you crazy and eventually you just can't stand her anymore. When Shaun was rushing for 1500+ yards per season people didn't call him soft, they said he avoided contact. It wasn't that he didn't hit the hole hard, he was just patient. Shaun wasn't slow, he was deceptive. Well now those flaws stick out like Horacio Ramirez in the Mariners starting rotation. Sometimes in relationships it's best to get out before things get really bad and you can still be friends. That's what the Seahawks need to do with Shaun. Cut him loose while we can still remember him as the MVP running back who led us to a Super Bowl and not Shaun Alexander the running back who couldn't catch a pass or pick up a blitz to save his life.
"You don't really do that with your foundation people. You do that with the people you aren't sure about," Alexander said. "I just don't think that they [the Seahawks] would do that. They're too classy for that."
Players the Seahawks aren't sure about? I'm guessing that Tim Ruskell probably has Shaun Alexander at the top of that list. Guys like Alexander make it all the more impressive to me that Tiki Barber was able to retire when he did. I mean is Shaun's ego really so big that he still thinks of himself as the star of the team? Or does he legitimately believe he still has gas left in the tank?
At this point I see Alexander's career similar to a relationship. When you first start dating a girl and everything is going great, you find ways to overlook her flaws, even find them cute sometimes. Then when when you hit a rough patch and things aren't going so great, those flaws begin to drive you crazy and eventually you just can't stand her anymore. When Shaun was rushing for 1500+ yards per season people didn't call him soft, they said he avoided contact. It wasn't that he didn't hit the hole hard, he was just patient. Shaun wasn't slow, he was deceptive. Well now those flaws stick out like Horacio Ramirez in the Mariners starting rotation. Sometimes in relationships it's best to get out before things get really bad and you can still be friends. That's what the Seahawks need to do with Shaun. Cut him loose while we can still remember him as the MVP running back who led us to a Super Bowl and not Shaun Alexander the running back who couldn't catch a pass or pick up a blitz to save his life.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Return and Recap
It's time to get this thing going again after a two month hiatus. Let's recap the time I missed with a time line of important events.
December 9th - Seahawks look great in all aspects as they crush the Cardinals at home 42-21.
December 16th - Seahawks look horrible as they lose to Carolina on the road 13-10.
December 21st -
December 23rd - Seahawks once again look dominant at home beating Baltimore 27-6. A first round playoff win seems like a lock at home.
December 29th - Sonics beat Minnesota 109-90. How does a win against the worst team in the NBA land on a time line of significant events you ask? Just wait, you'll see.
December 30th - Seahawks continue their Jeklly and Hyde act, losing 44-41 to Atlanta on the road. Also, Seneca Wallace reaffirms why he isn't an NFL starting QB. Should I be worried that the Seahawks continue to show an inability to play defense and win on the road?
December 31st - Sonics lose to Philadelphia 98-90. No big deal, get 'em next time.
January 3rd - Sonics blow 20-point first quarter lead, lose to Phoenix 104-96. Looks like lottery tickets might be going on sale this week.
January 5th - Seahawks win a playoff game for the third straight year, defeating the Washington Redskins 35-14 (yes, even with Clinton Portis talking to you know who) . Bring on the Packers.
January 6th - Sonics lose to Washington 108-86. Ok, this might start getting repetitive, let's try it another way.
January 8th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 19th - Sonics lose. For those of you scoring at home, that's ten in a row.
January 9th - In response to questions about the weather for the upcoming playoff game in Green Bay, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren proclaims, "It will not affect the game at all. Weather will not be an issue." Oh, well isn't that a relief?
January 12th - Huskies lose on the road to USC and fall to 0-3 to start the Pac-10 season for the second straight year. Hey, it's cool, they started 0-5 in 2004 and still made the tournament. Glad there is always that to fall back on.
I know, I skipped over one other important event that happened on January 12th. I just figured we didn't need to go into that again. Agreed? Good, because this next event is equally as bad and I just can't skip it.
January 18th - Mariners re-sign Horacio Ramirez. Look, I understand how the arbitration system works in MLB, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. What other profession can you perform at the equivalent of having a 7+ ERA and still get not only a new contract, but a RAISE? I wonder why salaries for pitching have gone spiraling out of control? I just can't quite seem to put my finger on it. Hmmmm....
January 19th - Huskies beat Oregon State (it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win) and complete a sweep of the Oregon schools, putting themselves back in the thick of the Pac-10 race. Few things are ever guaranteed in sports, but one thing that is, is the Huskies beating Oregon at home in basketball. (That was the seventh year in a row) Now that I have said that, I'm sure the Huskies will lose next year.
Today - Breaking news just in while I write this, the Sonics have lost again. That's now 11 in a row for those of you scoring at home. (Side note: if anybody actually does score at home, please let me know. For all the times I have heard a baseball announcer say that, I have yet to meet anyone who actually keeps score at home.)
December 9th - Seahawks look great in all aspects as they crush the Cardinals at home 42-21.
December 16th - Seahawks look horrible as they lose to Carolina on the road 13-10.
December 21st -
December 23rd - Seahawks once again look dominant at home beating Baltimore 27-6. A first round playoff win seems like a lock at home.
December 29th - Sonics beat Minnesota 109-90. How does a win against the worst team in the NBA land on a time line of significant events you ask? Just wait, you'll see.
December 30th - Seahawks continue their Jeklly and Hyde act, losing 44-41 to Atlanta on the road. Also, Seneca Wallace reaffirms why he isn't an NFL starting QB. Should I be worried that the Seahawks continue to show an inability to play defense and win on the road?
December 31st - Sonics lose to Philadelphia 98-90. No big deal, get 'em next time.
January 3rd - Sonics blow 20-point first quarter lead, lose to Phoenix 104-96. Looks like lottery tickets might be going on sale this week.
January 5th - Seahawks win a playoff game for the third straight year, defeating the Washington Redskins 35-14 (yes, even with Clinton Portis talking to you know who) . Bring on the Packers.
January 6th - Sonics lose to Washington 108-86. Ok, this might start getting repetitive, let's try it another way.
January 8th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 19th - Sonics lose. For those of you scoring at home, that's ten in a row.
January 9th - In response to questions about the weather for the upcoming playoff game in Green Bay, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren proclaims, "It will not affect the game at all. Weather will not be an issue." Oh, well isn't that a relief?
January 12th - Huskies lose on the road to USC and fall to 0-3 to start the Pac-10 season for the second straight year. Hey, it's cool, they started 0-5 in 2004 and still made the tournament. Glad there is always that to fall back on.
I know, I skipped over one other important event that happened on January 12th. I just figured we didn't need to go into that again. Agreed? Good, because this next event is equally as bad and I just can't skip it.
January 18th - Mariners re-sign Horacio Ramirez. Look, I understand how the arbitration system works in MLB, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. What other profession can you perform at the equivalent of having a 7+ ERA and still get not only a new contract, but a RAISE? I wonder why salaries for pitching have gone spiraling out of control? I just can't quite seem to put my finger on it. Hmmmm....
January 19th - Huskies beat Oregon State (it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win) and complete a sweep of the Oregon schools, putting themselves back in the thick of the Pac-10 race. Few things are ever guaranteed in sports, but one thing that is, is the Huskies beating Oregon at home in basketball. (That was the seventh year in a row) Now that I have said that, I'm sure the Huskies will lose next year.
Today - Breaking news just in while I write this, the Sonics have lost again. That's now 11 in a row for those of you scoring at home. (Side note: if anybody actually does score at home, please let me know. For all the times I have heard a baseball announcer say that, I have yet to meet anyone who actually keeps score at home.)
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