Coast2Coast Sports

MONDAY JULY 16TH

2007-07-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

Things have been a little hectic here at Coast2Coast's headquarters, so we're doing everything we can to keep bringing you news, notes, and other information from around the world of sports.

Be patient, please.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE RIVALRIES GONE? PART 2
In part two of this two-part series, Courtland Olson delves further into that question.

TUESDAY JULY 10TH

2007-07-10T11:45:00.000-04:00

<=> MLB All-Star Game, 8:07 pm Eastern, FOX - This time, it counts. Or something like that. Baseball's best go head-to-head in San Fransisco with the winning league earning home-field advantage in the World Series. Of course, there are other reason's to watch this game. Like Barry Bonds. Not only is he playing in the only stadium that won't boo him every time he breathes, but he's batting second. The last time Bonds batted second was either when he came in to pinch-hit on a double switch, or when he was half his current size and playing in Pittsburgh. The National League hasn't won since 1996, although they came close in 2002, which was also the year the American League didn't win either.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE RIVALRIES GONE? PART 1
In the first of a two-part series, Courtland Olson takes a look at the slowly-disappearing rivalry

TUESDAY JULY 3RD

2007-07-03T11:24:00.000-04:00

- Gilbert Arenas loves video games, and if you want to pretend to almost maybe but not quite be like Agent 0 himself, you should play these titles.

- Apparently, Tank Johnson wasn't drunk when he was pulled over in Arizona a couple of weeks ago. It's good news for him, because he didn't do anything illegal - other than put himself in another situation that could only result in a negative outcome for himself. Which isn't really illegal - just dumb.

ONE CITY, TWO STORIES
Grant Tunkel looks at how the beginning of the NHL's free agency period hit New York, whose two teams went in opposite directions

MONDAY JULY 2ND

2007-07-02T10:04:00.000-04:00

We here at Coast2Coast Sports would like to apologize for our absence from the Internet over the last couple of days. Some technical difficulties beyond our control (namely: thunderstorm-induced loss of Internet access) have prevented us from putting our blog up. But don't worry - we said we'd last longer than Roger Clemens, and so we'll keep on going.

- The Israel Baseball League survived its first week, and it looks like Bet Shemesh is already running away with it. The squad leads the 6-team league with a perfect 5-0 record, and the Blue Sox - yep, the Blue Sox - are led by 26-year old first baseman Johnny Lopez, who leads the team with four home runs in five games. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to have a MySpace page, but some of his fellow league members do, and their pages can be found at this link on the league website.

I'LL MISS YOU, METRODOME
Courtland Olson gets all choked up a couple of years early and he reminisces about the Metrodome, which will close up at the decade's end.

FRIDAY JUNE 29TH

2007-06-29T07:30:00.000-04:00

- Apparently, Woody Paige couldn't keep his hands to himself. The ESPN regular and former Cold Pizza panelist is being sued for sexual harassment by a former makeup artist for the show. We won't comment any further on this, but we will say that we wanted to sue Paige for his not-so-clever comments on the blackboard he hangs in the background when he appears on Around the Horn.

NBA DRAFT REVIEW
Grant Tunkel looks back at last night's NBA Draft

THURSDAY JUNE 28TH

2007-06-28T12:30:00.000-04:00

<=>7:30 pm eastern, ESPN - The NBA draft kicks off with the Portland Trail Blazers making the first selection, likely Greg Oden. Then comes Kevin Durant. Actually, we're getting ahead of ourselves. The draft will most likely begin with the New York crowd chanting something about firing New York Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas. After the chanting and first two picks are out of the way, everything else up in the air. It should be an interesting draft to watch, and will definitely be more fun than the NBA Finals. Although, I can't think of anything that isn't more fun than watching the NBA Finals. Maybe watching paint dry.
[Scroll down for more of Coast2Coast's NBA Draft Coverage]

COAST2COAST SPORTS' NBA DRAFT COVERAGE
Lottery Mock Drafts: Courtland Olson's lllll Grant Tunkel's

John Krizel tells you that Greg Oden will be great, but Kevin Durant will be better, and the SuperSonics should make the sexy pick over the safe pick

WEDNESDAY JUNE 27TH

2007-06-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

<=>4:00 pm Eastern, ESPN Classic – It doesn’t get any more clutch than this. Game six of the 1998 NBA Finals, Bulls at Jazz. Michael Jordan says goodbye by crossing over Bryon Russell and dropping a jump shot to win the game for the Bulls, their sixth championship with Jordan. He also had 45 that night. Did we ruin the ending for you? If you answered yes, we have two responses. One, what the heck have you been doing that you’ve never seen at least that final shot? And two, too bad – it’s worth watching anyway.

Coast2Coast Sports' NBA Draft Coverage
Grant Tunkel gives his view of how the lottery will go down, while Courtland Olson has his version of what will happen at the Garden tomorrow night

TUESDAY JUNE 26TH

2007-06-26T13:30:00.000-04:00

- There have been a lot of famous arguments between players and umpires in baseball history, but the one between Paul Lo Duca and plate umpire Marvin Hudson may be this year's best. After the New York Mets catcher disagreed with the umpire's call that made it 0-2, the latter tossed the former, and the former (that's Lo Duca, if you haven't followed) went ballistic. Eyes bugled, bats flew, shin guards soared - and now Lo Duca may be sitting. The rant that the catcher hopes his daughter didn't see has earned him two games. Lo Duca is appealing, but you'd have to think his chances are slim.

- Another absence could felt in New York in the next week, but this one is of gastric proportions. Champion hot dog eater Takeru Kobayashi has won the last six July 4th contests at the Nathan's on Coney Island in New York, but now may not attend this year's competition. Rumors swirled after the death of his mother earlier this year, but now there's a good chance that a recent development will keep him out of contention. Kobayashi has been diagnosed a jaw injury. Right now he's listed as day-to-day, and he's also the betting underdog. Coast2Coast will follow all the developments (and maybe even be there live for the eating extravaganza).

GARNETT'S GOTTA GO
Courtland Olson says it's time for the T'Wolves and their franchise player to part ways

SAY HALO TO BASEBALL'S NEXT DYNASTY
The Angels are really good - so good that Nick Kostopoulos thinks they'll be dominating baseball for a long time

HOT OFF THE STOVE
Grant Tunkel talks hot stove baseball with the July 31st trading deadline only a month off, and the two New York teams look to be wheeling and dealing

MONDAY JUNE 25TH

2007-06-25T07:14:00.000-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OREGON STATE BEAVERS, THE 2007 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS

- Yesterday was an eventful day in the world of Major League Baseball, so here’s the short of it:
o Former closer Rod Beck, 38, passed away. Details are still forthcoming, so all we’ll say is that the popular and outgoing Beck finished his career with 286 saves and was, for a time, the San Francisco Giants’ all-time franchise record-holder. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
o Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan came within three outs of a no-hitter, holding the Colorado Rockies to just one walk before Jeff Baker singled to lead off the 9th. McGowan finished out the game for his first career complete game and shutout. Teammate Frank Thomas homered in the fourth, and now sits at 499 on his career.
o The New York Mets beat the Oakland Athletics 10-2, completing the three-game sweep. It was the Mets’ first sweep at home all season and it capped off their first series win since May. It brings their record in the month of June to 7-14.
o The New York Yankees have now lost 5 of 6 after falling to the Giants 7-2. The Bombers seemingly had righted the ship with a 9-game winning streak earlier in the month, but since then the Yankees have floundered and are back to 11.5 games out of first.
o Ken Griffey, Jr. homered twice although the Cincinnati Reds fell to the Seattle Mariners 3-2. Junior’s two blasts put him at 584, one ahead of Mark McGwire to put him in seventh place all time

GRIFFEY WOULD BE KING
Barry Bonds will eventually become the questionable home run king, but Grant Tunkel examines a scenario that would make Bonds' reign brief - until Ken Griffey, Jr. took over

SUNDAY JUNE 24TH

2007-06-24T18:10:00.000-04:00

<=>7:00 pm Eastern, ESPN - All of a sudden, Oregon State finds itself one win away from repeating as college baseball’s champion. The Beavers defeated the Tar Heels 11-4 yesterday, putting them one win away from becoming college baseball’s first repeat champion in a decade. North Carolina must win tonight, or else they will have lost in the championship series for the second consecutive year. It’s win or go home for them, and it’s win and go home for the Beavers. Obviously, OSU’s trip back to the Pacific northwest would be a little more enjoyable.

NBA LOTTERY MOCK DRAFT
Courtland Olson throws down his version of how the lottery picks will play out

SATURDAY JUNE 23RD

2007-06-23T18:09:00.000-04:00

<=>7:10 pm Eastern, ESPN - The final chapter of the 2007 College World Series kicks off tonight with game one of the best-of-three between defending champion Oregon State and North Carolina. Coast2Coast's Courtland Olson gave you three reasons you should watch the CWS, but here are a few more. The Beavers (that's Oregon State) finished in the middle of the Pac-10 and their postseason chances looked bleak, but now they're aiming to become the first repeat champion since LSU in 1996 and 97. The Tar Heels (you should know that one) will look to exact revenge in this rematch of last year's final, a series that UNC lost on an 8th-inning error in the third and deciding game. If this year's series is anything like last year's, then you should be tuned in to every single pitch.

JUUUUUST A BIT OUTSIDE
Evan Weiss ponders the fate of the Nashville Predators, talking about the potential sale and move of a team that finished in the top-5 in the NHL last year

CLEMENS NEEDS TO STOP TALKING
Roger Clemens was full of excuses after his last start, but Grant Tunkel says that if the Yankees are to make the playoffs, he has to shut up and play

FRIDAY JUNE 22ND

2007-06-22T18:09:00.000-04:00

- This blog is only two days old, but perhaps we should close it down to direct the new SOAP Network series "As Elijah Dukes' World Turns." The oft-troubled Tampa Bay Devils Rays outfielder's saga took another twist on Tuesday, when he, his soon-to-be-ex-wife, and his mother all called in to a local radio show. First, his wife took shots at him. Then, when Dukes heard about it, he called in to defend himself in a 12-minute rant. Then, Dukes' mother Phyllis got her two cents in. And the absolutely bizarre situation took another turn when Dukes' mom admitted to selling cocaine after the radio hosts broached the subject of Elijah's incarcerated father, who went to jail for murdering someone over a busted crack deal. We couldn't make this up.

- More stuff we can't make up. Syracuse's ABA team is no longer the Bullies, thanks to pressure from local leaders. Apparently the name was too violent, and so the team has given in. The team's fans (I don't know how you could have fans if you've never played a single game in your arena) were given a chance to vote, but a popular choice - the Nationals - has been nixed by the NBA (in case that name sounds familiar, we've provided a familiarizer). The team has given fans the option of voting for one of five names (Bullz, Netz, Sentinels, Snowballers and Avalanche) or writing one in themselves. How about the Peacemakers?

POWER RANKINGS MEAN JACK
Peter Simones says that power rankings are absolutely worthless, and he even invokes Lindsay Lohan in the process

ROGER CLEMENS DESERVES A WARM WELCOME
Dan Loeterman believes Red Sox fans should celebrate Roger Clemens' return to Fenway rather than boo him

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR PROJECTIONS
Nick Kostopoulos rounds out his All-Star projections with his version of the NL's squad

THURSDAY JUNE 21ST

2007-06-21T13:41:00.001-04:00

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's finally here. Welcome to the official launch of Coast2Coast Sports, the sports blog that brings you news, notes, and opinions on the world of sports from all around the country.
Now, I know what you're thinking - who the hell are we, why should you read this blog, and what can I expect. Well, we are a bunch of people who love sports and want to write about it. You should read this blog because it will be informative and entertaining, and not always in that order. And you should expect this stuff to be good - very, very good.
And even though the hype surrounding this particular launch may not be as exciting as Roger Clemens' launch, and though our history may not be as stellar as the Rocket's, we can assure you this - we will last more than six innings every single time we go out there. Guaranteed.

- Last night, one of the great promotions in minor league history happened - Billy Donovan night for the Fort Myers Miracle, a class-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. I can't even say anything witty here because you just have to read the article, which says it all. But it does beg the question, what will they think of next - Bill Belichick day? Actually, I wouldn't even give him a minute. I'd just hand out copies of the cocktail napkin he resigned on. At least Donovan had the decency to create a drawn out, three-day media firestorm before bolting for Florida.

- Will this team ever do anything right? Daniel Snyder continues to assemble the worst team money can buy, and now the Washington Redskins may be facing even more internal turmoil. Apparently, rookie safety LaRon Landry injured himself playing paintball, and now rumors are surfacing that a teammate may have intentionally shot him in the groin. Now I know rookie hazing is commonplace in the NFL, but couldn't he have been hazed in a more mature way, like strapping him to the roof of one of Joe Gibbs' vastly-more-successful race cars for a few laps around Talladega?

TIME TO PAC IT UP
Grant Tunkel bids farewell to Pacman Jones, who - according to Grant - should be out of the league

THREE REASONS TO WATCH THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Courtland Olson tells you why you should watch the College World Series, an event that he says is incredibly underrated

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR PROJECTIONS
Nick Kostopoulos tells you who should make the AL All-Star team and who will just miss out (stay tuned for the National League breakdown tomorrow)

LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Andrew Lease reports on the resurgence of Oliver Perez, who has steadily become the ace of the New York Mets

SATURDAY JUNE 16TH

2007-06-16T18:47:00.000-04:00

This Thursday, June 21st, at 2 pm Eastern Standard Time, Coast2Coast Sports will be making its debut. Check back every day from then on as Coast2Coast's team brings you news, notes, and opinions from the world of sports all around the country every single day of the year.

Typically, Coast2Coast will be updated each day in the early afternoon with the day's news and notes and the blog's team - spanning from the West to the East - will be here to bring you coverage from every angle on any sport you can possibly imagine.

So once again, check back Thursday for the official launch as Coast2Coast kicks off the summer in style.