The Final Stretch : CBSSports.com Blogs

Cubs vs. Rays: World Series Preview

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:44:02 EDT

I know it's early. We're not even at the All-Star break yet, but this interleague series has been as good as it gets. Could this possibly be a World Series preview? Again, it's too early to say for sure, but the Cubs are off to a great start and the Rays have almost as many wins as they did for all of last season. I just can't help it... After watching the first two games of the series, I can almost feel the cool air of October creeping in to my house.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies have the best record in the majors, at 45-27, which is a better start than they had for their 1908 championship campaign. It's a franchise so long overdue for a World Series title, that you would have expected the fans to lose hope a long time ago. And, most years, they probably do lose hope. But not this season. I think that even the much-abused North Side faithful may actually believe that this team can get it done.

My offer to Bill Parcells

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:46:40 EDT

I want Jason Taylor and the Miami Dolphins to stop and think about the current situation. Really think about it.

We all know that Taylor's a defensive stud, and that he was the only bright spot on a terrible Miami team last year, but it's obvious that Bill Parcells isn't too happy that Taylor is dancing and not at mini-camp workouts.

Now, think about this... There is no doubt that Taylor wants to be an actor after he retires from football, and at age 33, he knows that time is coming quickly. In fact, he's already started to plan that career. He didn't accidentally become the first active NFL player to compete on Dancing with the Stars. He knew that it was a great opportunity for him to build a relationship with a much broader American audience... and he did that. It's a savvy move, and you would have to think he will continue to dabble in other interests over his last few seasons.

PETA is clueless

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:15:44 EST

I don't know about anyone else, but I think PETA should find something else to complain about. Wanting to suspend Gabriel Saez, the jockey aboard Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby, is ridiculous.

The passing of Eight Belles was extremely tragic, and as a horse racing fan, I never want to see something like that happen. But, for PETA to say Saez knowingly pushed the filly to her death... that claim is completely unfounded. Vets at the Derby say there is no way Eight Belles could have suffered her injury before the race ended.

Think about what PETA is claiming... If it happened as those radicals suspect, than this horse was running on two broken ankles. Yeah, not very likely.

The injury occurred when the horses slow themselves down after the race. During that time, the jockey stands up (sorry, I don't know if there is a more correct term) to relieve the weight from the horse. If those ankles were broken before the race, there's no way she would have made it that far.

Almost Derby Day

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:52:08 EDT

One day until my favorite day of the year... Derby Day! The first leg of the Triple Crown! Well, maybe not my favorite day of the year, but you get the picture.

I don't think this is the year we find the next Triple Crown winner, but there's always that chance, and that's what makes it exciting. Whichever horse wins tomorrow will already be 1/3 of the way there, and then the anticipation will really start to build.

The chances are never great, but I can always hope.

Look at last year... All three races were spectacular, but three different horses won. I'm not taking anything away from any of those horses, but all horse racing fans would love to see a Triple Crown winner in their lifetime... and I haven't had the chance.

NFL Draft Grades

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:18:30 EDT

I'll start off by saying I am no expert, just an avid sports fan and took in my fair share of the NFL draft this weekend. Pizza, beer and some picks leaving me scratching my head. My mock draft exploded like many others mainly because we can't predict what trades might be made. Granted it is too soon to tell how this draft will pan out, but just based on needs, talent and potential I'll give this a shot. So without further ado here are my grades.

Arizona Cardinals: They addressed offensive line last year with Levi Brown but still needed more in this draft to open some holes for James and give whoever plays quarterback some time to throw the dam ball. They didn't had any depth at o-line until the 7th round, but they did address their secondary needs with their first pick.