Pretty excited about today's Mikkel Kessler-Carl Froch rematch from Froch's native England for Froch's IBF Super Middleweight title.
Their first fight in 2010 was the best bout of the "Super Six" tournament and saw Kessler win a close decision in his home country of Denmarrk.
Some thought Froch deserved the edge,but I thought Kessler deserved a close nod in a spirited bout.
In the interim,since the first fight,Froch lost to Andre Ward,then won the IBF belt with a dazzling performance over Lucien Bute before a KO defense of Yusef Mack.
Kessler has lost his belt to Ward before the Froch fight,which saw him take Froch's title and then vacate it due to eye issues that forced Kessler from the ring for a year.
Since then,Kessler knocked out Allan Green in a highlight film of a KO and then added a stoppage of Brian Magee.
The winner of the bout will likely leap to the top of a list for a rematch with Andre Ward,who does not have a ton of possibilities for lucrative bouts.
That rematch may not have a ton of cache' in the USA,but if Ward is willing to travel to Europe to battle the winner,that could add quite a payday to his pockets...
Froch is considered a slight favorite based on the Bute performance and the fight being held in England,but I can see the bout going either way,but I lean towards Kessler,who is more technically sound.
I think this should be another good one and well worth watching.
The bout will be shown live at six on HBO and then will be replayed at ten.
Not to the blog,which I realized today that I missed ours back in March,but to my wonderful wife,the lovely Cherie for 26 years.
It is amazing that I had the foresight at such an young age to make such a prescient selection.
It was not like I dated a lot (hardly at all) and with one exception before Cherie,I was not someone that pined away with huge crushes either.
For someone at 15 to know not only the person that he wanted to spend his life with,but then have that be the correct decision and live a terrific life with that person,well,that's pretty special. And lucky.
All things considered,I've been blessed with Cherie.
She tolerates things that few do and usually (in non-allergy season) with a smile and an knowing sigh of what she decided to live her life with.
So,she may not always feel blessed with me,but I know I have been blessed.
Sometimes,when life gets rough and I get pouty about decisions that I could take back,I think about what I have and I wouldn't swap it for the things that I have thrown away.
Jobs,money,possessions all would be nice,but it just would not be the same without Cherie being with me......
And I'll even make her happy with a rare picture of me to post here with her.
I hate taking pictures,I hate looking at myself because they,well,look like me and as Jim Bouton once said Joe Torre-I tend to dissolve camera lenses.
However,she likes them,so go figure....
Thanks for indulging me,I'll be back tomorrow with a quick preview of the Carl Froch-Mikkel Kessler rematch from England.....
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery for the second time in three years with another lucky appearance by Nick Gilbert,son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.
So now what will the Cavaliers do with the pick?
They could draft Kentucky's center Nerlens Noel,who ,despite coming off a torn ACL, would at least provide the defensive presence of a grade A shot blocker similar to that shown by last season's top pick Anthony Davis.
Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore is the best player in the draft,but after selecting Dion Waiters in last years draft,Cleveland may not want to select a guard with the pick as it is unlikely that Waiters could make the switch to small forward,which is a major need.
Georgetown's Otto Porter is the best small forward available,but does not rank with McLemore as a player or with the upside of Noel,so Porter would be a reach with the first pick.
Could Cleveland decide the best move is a trade?
A forward that can score would easily be worth the pick and one rumor that I would be all in for is obtaining Minnesota's Kevin Love.
I'd trade all four of the Cavalier picks (2 1's and 2 2's) for Love and still feel happy about the deal,but Cleveland will likely have to toss a player or two in as well.
There is always the chance Orlando at two could love a player above all and something of value could be obtained from the Magic.
If the Cavaliers prefer one of the three that Orlando does not,perhaps they could land their guy and pick up a future pick or even a serviceable veteran as well.
Cleveland insists that they will be a playoff team next season and this pick will go a long way toward such as either another top young talent will be added or perhaps a player from another team that could make a huge impact.
Botching this opportunity could mean the end for general manager Chris Grant and cost the team a chance to sign a certain player that is a free agent at the end of next season.
The month ahead looks to be quite interesting in Cleveland......
I feel guilty.
It's nine minutes away from the first pitch for a Hagerstown Suns game.
I have nothing to do and yet,I'm staying home.
Why?
Well,it just hasn't been that much fun this season.
It's been fun on the field,the team is winning,hustling and playing well,despite having few highly touted prospects and they are all nice guys in my dealings with them.
This has been the least enjoyable season of attending games at the Muni for me in years and I think I know why.
Nope,has
nothing to do with autographing either as for the most part,that has
been pretty good even if we have to yell a bit louder with the blaring
loudspeaker over our heads.
It's the atmosphere of doom and gloom around the facility.
It reminds me of the "Schleprock" character on the Flintstones,where every time that you saw the guy,he had a black cloud directly over his head.
I'm not calling out specific employees or specific fans,it just seems like this treadmill of indifference that has kept attendance down has now spread to the game itself.
It used to be that the team has its hard core followers that created an environment of excitement ,as small of a group as that was at times,that made the game fun to attend and it seems that finally the uncertainty that follows the team due to its future location has finally begun to wear people down.
I know it has worn me down a bit.
Even I have grown weary of talking about Bruce Quinn,City Councils,Fredericksburg or other destinations instead of the Hagerstown Suns and like the Chinese Water Torture,it simply wears you down and takes the fun away.
I still have had a blast going to Frederick and Harrisburg and I am really looking forward to later trips this summer that includes a southern trip,a game in New York and the Tri-City Valley Cats along with trips to the SAL and Atlantic League All-Star games,so this is not a "tired of baseball or tired of graphing" issue-it's an issue with my local team and that this entire "Should I stay or should I go" theme that surrounds the franchise.
I don't fault any one person,I think the Suns would love to have this resolved,the area would as well,but it seems like anything dealing with politicians,things go at such a glacial pace that nothing gets accomplished.
The citizens of Hagerstown didn't help any by voting out councilpersons that had the framework of a deal finished and replacing them with publicity hogs that are more concerned with keeping their name in the paper than with deciding this issue,but what's done is done.
Putting that aside,everything trickles down and when similar things happen in larger cities,rarely does attendance leap up in an attempt to keep the team,usually the result is a reluctance to emotionally (and financially) invest in a franchise that may not be around to return the love that you give out.
The Hagerstown Suns situation is very similar to many teams in larger markets,you get so tired of hearing about new stadiums or leaving town etc,that other than the most invested fan,you just throw up your hands and say to hell with them all.
The recent Sacramento Kings revival is the exception to this rule,but they had a dedicated mayor and council that busted their rear to save a team that they knew would never return if lost,so they had leaders that were prepared to do what it took to save the franchise,not this piecemeal,we just don't know what to do steps.
Add it all up and it is easy to see how the atmosphere is less than charged right now.
Game started and I'm here at home.
See you tomorrow.
A short guest column from my friend Jason in Binghamton on Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon. Jason's dad (hilarious by the way) specifically asked to have this in the blog and we are happy to accommodate his request.
Keep in mind that all guest columns are the opinions of the guest authors and not always the opinions of TRS....
"Let me tell you about Anthony Rendon in Binghamton this week.
Thursday he signed one of two for me and got my other card signed one of
my friends got it for me. Didn't go Friday,but far as I know from graphers
did not pick up a pen, Saturday was a rainout was there when they got
to the bus, his words were "not today,: guys" Sunday
doubleheader first game- didn't come over warming up. Second game didn't
stretch. After the game my father asked him to sign, he said "have to get
to the bus". my father told him,if you were that important they wait for
you and he said " you must be a piece of work."
Thanks Jason for the column and thank Dad too. I hope to see you guys sometime this season....
We finish our series on the Pirates prospects with a glance at eleven through fifteen in the system.
I hope to work on the Indians later this week.
11) Tony Sanchez C
The former first round pick in 2009 continues to slide down the list as he seems to find his level.
Sanchez did hit better in Altoona last season with the AA Curve and is off to a good start in Indianapolis,but in each case is seeing a second stint at each level.
Sanchez was not drafted for his bat,but for his arm and defense,neither of which have disappointed.
If Sanchez can hit even to the league average,he could be the starter in 2015 or at least a decent reserve.
That is not what one expects from a fourth overall pick,but some return is better than none....
12) Kyle McPherson RHP
McPherson challenged for a spot in the Pirates rotation,but didn't seem to be recovered from a 2012 shoulder injury.
That looked to be the case as after an assignment to AAA Indianapolis,McPherson was rocked in two bad starts and then headed to the DL until this writing.
McPherson has a plus curve,but the injury issues are beginning to fade his prospect status...
13) Wyatt Mathisen C
Mathisen was the Buccos second round pick last season and was thought to have possibly been a higher pick.
The high school product played shortstop as much as he caught as a prep,so he is a project defensively,but he is strong athletically and should be able to make the transition.
Mathisen's bat is thought to have power potential and could be the Pirates backstop of the future.
Mathisen is currently at Low A West Virginia....
14) Nick Kingham RHP
Kingham has gained velocity since turning pro and finished last season at Low A West Virginia strongly.
Kingham has improved a curve and refines a changeup in his assignment this season to High A Bradenton.
Improvement could see Kingham rise in the rankings next season and be a possible threat to the rotation in 2015...
15) Dilson Herrera SS
Herrera was a high cost signing from Columbia and the only reason that he ranks this low is because I am hesitant to rank international signees with little experience outside of complex baseball.
Herrera hits for average and could develop some power as well.
Herrera may have to move to third eventually,although that is far from a guarantee.
If I had to wager a guess on the player most likely to take the biggest leap in the rankings between 2013 and 2014,Herrera is my pick and might be this season's Alen Hanson as a breakout performer...
Herrera is currently at Low A West Virginia.
Check out our guest post on the 2013 Hagerstown Suns over at our friend Luke Erickson's site-NationalsProspects.com.
I take a look at the Suns over the first portion of the season and look at the prospects of the players.
Please take a look and look around over there as well.
Thanks to Luke for asking me to write a guest column!
Their first fight in 2010 was the best bout of the "Super Six" tournament and saw Kessler win a close decision in his home country of Denmarrk.
