Phillies Baseball…The Year That Brought a Phillies World Series

The Philadelphia Phillies finally broke a 28 year drought by beating the Tampa Bay Rays in game five of the World Series. For Phillies baseball fans it was the end of a long wait as there last championship came in 1983 when the Dr J led 76ers won the NBA Finals. It was a great season for the Phillies as they won their second straight National League east title. Read more

Tampa Bay Rays 9 = 8, We’re not Done Yet

When the Tampa Bay Rays hired Joe Maddon from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the the United States of America of the Northern Hemisphere they knew exactly what they were doing. Joe Maddon is one who knows to how to work with young players and is excellent in motivating his players as well.  Right after the All-Star Break Joe Maddon had shirts made up saying 9 = 8.

Everyone around the league didn’t know what it meant but the Rays knew and they showed it as well. 9 = 8, 9 People each day in the line up working towards one of the 8 playoff spots. Joe Maddon’s Message got threw to more than his Pitcher Big Game James Shields it inspired Fellow Ace Scott Kazmir.

Kazmir has been one of the biggest leaders of the young Rays team ever since he was acquired for a bag of balls from the Mets in a deadline deal a few years ago.  Kazmir is a Leader on the field and his fellow teammates aren’t too shy to come up and ask for advice from the former Baseball America Player of the Year in 2002.

9 = 8 rings so true for the Rays and many other teams, 9 guys every day striving for 1 goal, A playoff spot. I for one would like to see the Rays in the World Series showing how 9 = 8 can really come together to accomplish a goal not really seen in this day in age in American Sports.  A team is much better than the individual parts. 9 = 8, only if I would have thought if it first Joe Maddon.

JOSH HAMMER - OVERTIME SPORTSWEAR

Sports Owners….HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Why do sports owners in the major sports think they know more than the people they employ????  Most of the sports team owners in the major sports say they want to win, which just means they want to make their wallet bigger.  Then there are the sports owners who REALLY want to win and those are the owners who don’t trust the people they employ.  For instance, since it is the most recent news, Al Davis.  Why does he feel like he knows more than his coach or GM??? I know back in the day Al Davis has done a ton for the NFL and was a huge part in making the merger happen. Davis has himself been a Coach, GM, and Owner.  You can’t talk about the NFL or AFL without mentioning the two words, AL DAVIS, but that was then and this is now.  20 to 30 years ago I would have backed Davis even though I don’t care for him too much at all, but he is getting to controlling and hands on for an owner.  I know the Raiders are his baby and he brought them to the forefront in the NFL but AL, that was over 5 years ago. 6 coaches in 7 years, not too good for a once great team.

Jerry Jones is an other Owner who has taken on both jobs of Owner, and GM in the NFL.  Jerry Jones lives by the motto of “No Press is Bad Press”. Jones signs T.O., Tank Johnson, Pac-Man Jones and he takes on all of these guys not only for the sole purpose of everyone deserves a second chance but to get another press conference with the Cowboys logo on TV.  The guy who fires a legendary coach in Tom Landry right when he becomes owner must really want to make a splash and get some media attention right away.

Then in the NBA, you have Mark Cuban. What qualifications does he have to be so hands on??? I know he has always been a fan and I love a Fan being an owner but get your hands out of the cookie jar now and again Mark.  I love how honest Mark Cuban always is and how he treats his players but going around and running on the court after calls and trying to break up fights and such, not a great look for an owner.

George Steinbrenner and Son with the Yankees, need I say more???

I’m not saying owners should not keep an eye on their investments or their passions when it comes to their teams. Owners just need to trust.  They need to trust themselves that they made the right hire in a GM, Coach and so on and so forth. They need to trust that their guy is the right guy and making the right decisions.  If an owner acts like Al Davis and meddles in the day to day operations, then your team will end up just like the Raiders.

Josh Hammer - Overtime Sportswear