Goodbye to Will Leitch

If you will pardon me for a bit of emotional sentimentality, I have a personal message for Will Leitch, the founder of Deadspin, who is leaving his editor post today.

Will,

I hope you realize what you have created. Not just a wonderful website that let me escape from real life for a few minutes at a time, but a community. A group that shared their life in 10 word increments, and were so inspired by it that they reach out to meet and communicate in the real world. A society of people united both in their love of sports and the enjoyment they take in talking about them. The enormous number of people who have gone from lurker, to commenter, to bloggers themselves, all in an effort to better express their appreciation for what you started.

There are now dozens of new, different and often insightful voices out there talking about sports, life, politics or whatever they feel like. That, even more then this site, is your legacy. The fact that you inspired others to reach out and try to share their voice is a tribute to what you have done here, and something you should be remembered for.

As for me, being able to participate in the forum has allowed me to not only find my own voice, but has given me a place where, no matter how rough my life has been recently, I can always find enjoyment.

Thank you,

BHR

NBA Mock Draft

Well, the 2008 NBA is only hours away and its time for our official mock draft.  While we are not experts like Bill Simmons, we do follow the NBA and are relatively comfortable with our ability to beat most of the experts at predicting the first round.  Below are our picks, and a brief reasoning for each decision. All draft positions are set based on deals through 5PM tonight.

One bonus prediction that we would love to see blown; No one will outdo Samaki Walker’s draft day outfit.

1. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis.  The consensus #1 pick and best player on the board, Rose is a playmaker, a hometown kid and the safest bet on the board.  In a league where the PG is experiencing a return to prominence Rose has the potential to be a difference maker for a long time.

2. Miami Heat: OJ Mayo, SG, USC.  While Michael Beasley is the most talented player available, and has the most upside, reports have Heat Coach Pat Riley enamored with Mayo, who is the better fit for his system.  Miami wants to trade out of this spot but I don’t see it happening.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley, PF, K State. Last years top freshman, Beasley is a long and athletic.  While he is hounded by character issues from High School, there are no concerns about his ability.  Will pair well with Al Jefferson on the front line.

4. LA Clippers (from Seattle): Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA.  The Clippers made this deal targeting a PG with Livingston’s injury trouble.  Westbrook is the best defensive guard left on the board, and has the ability to play the off guard as well.

5. Memphis Grizzlies: Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana.  This team stinks and is looking at an extended rebuilding period.  A pure jump shooter like Gordon will fit in no matter who else Memphis brings in.

6. New York Knicks: Danilo Galinari, SF, Italy.  The top Euro prospect, Galinari can probably tolerate playing with a ball hog like Marbury, and can create his own shots when needed.  Maybe not the best athlete left, but all reports say the Knicks love him.

7. Seattle Supersonics: Jarred Bayless, PG, Arizona.  A great complimentary player, Bayless would look good getting the ball to Kevin Durant for the next decade.

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA.  Maybe not the best fit, but the best player left on the board.  Love brings a physical presence and a at worst will make a nice trade chip.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Brook Lopez, C, Stanford.  Lopez lets Okafor shift to the PF position, which is the main reason they will draft him.  Disappointing  workouts have dropped him from the top 5.

10. New Jersey Nets: Kosta Koufas, C, Ohio State.  This team is building a base for a LeBron signing next year.  Koufas will pair with the recently acquired Yi to make an imposing front line.

11. Indiana Pacers: Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU.  After trading O’Neil, Indiana needs size badly.  Randolph is long, athletic and can shoot.  His frame raises some concerns, but with a little strength training he can be a steal here.

12. Sacramento Kings: DJ Augustin, PG, Texas.  There is no question that the Kings are looking for a PG, and my bet is they go with the most proven one on the board.

13. Portland Trailblazers: Joe Alexander, SF, WVU.  A nice complimentary piece for a loaded Portland team.  Alexander can probably play at the 2, 3 and 4 when called upon.

14. Golden State Warriors: Donte Green, SF, Cuse.  Another case of taking the best remaining player.  Green brings a decent outside shot and can rebound well from the 3.

15. Phoenix Suns: Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas.  A potential replacement for Steve Nash, Chalmers can also play at SG for the next year or two.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas.  A high energy big, Arthur can run the floor well and will fit in with the system in place.  Not much upside, but a solid pick here.

17. Indiana Pacers: Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas.  Will play well with new PG TJ Ford, and brings a stable, veteran presence to a team sorely in need of it.

18. Washington Wizards: Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown.  I hate this pick as a Wizards fan, as Hibbert is the softest big man since Olowokandi, but I don’t see the Wiz passing on him if he is here.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. They need size and Lopez is the most experienced center left.  I don’t see them going with a Euro here.

20. Charlotte Bobcats: Courtney Lee, SG, WKU.  Good shooter, solid citizen.  The coachable Lee sounds like a Larry Brown guy.

21. New Jersey Nets: Nick Batum, SF, France.  While every report has him going to the Spurs, I don’t see him dropping. A true swingman, Batum is a nice compliment to the new bigs and will make a nice 6th man behind LeBron

22. Orlando Magic: Alexis Ajinca, C, France.  A project, Ajinca brings size to a team truly lacking in it.

23. Utah Jazz: JJ Hickson, PF, NC State.  He will be ready to play on day one, is willing to hustle and do the little things that help teams win.  Probably won’t be a star, but can be a solid contributor for a long time.

24. Seattle Supersonics: DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M.  He is a project, but Seattle can afford to wait.  Has the size to dominate in the paint.

25. Houston Rockets: Marreese Speights, C, Florida.  A solid prospect, Speights will make a good insurance policy for Yao.

26. San Antonio Spurs: JaVale McGee, PF, Nevada.  Too skinny, but can play all front court positions and can spell Duncan to keep him fresh for the playoffs.

27. Portland Trailblazers: Kyle Weaver, PG, Washington State.  Looks like a career backup, but should be a nice roleplayer for this deep team.

28. Memphis Grizzlies: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SF, Memphis.  This team needs to court the local fans and will go with the ballhandler who is already loved in Memphis

29. Detroit Pistons: Jason Thompson, PF, Rider.  He can rebound, is a skilled defender and should fit in well with a veteran Pistons squad.

30. Boston Celtics: DJ White, PF, Indiana.  A solid bench player who should compliment KG and Powe up front, White makes a great addition to a championship squad.

Bad Polar Bears

Want to attend a free Nationals game?

Want to participate in a meaningless protest?

Always harbored a furry fetish?

Well then, have I got a deal for you.  Apparently a group called “Strike Out Exxon” is offended that the Nationals new (and green certified) stadium has allowed Exxon to advertise on signs around the ball park. They claim that Exxon is the main cause of both high gas prices (the aren’t) and global warming (they produce the gas, they don’t burn it).  They claim that the Nationals have “sold out” to the interest of an evil company by allowing them to pay to advertise (and subsidize ticket cost) at the new park.

This has so enraged this coalition of eco-Warriors that they have decided to break out the ultimate weapon in protest: idiots in polar bear costumes.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the environment.  I support green initiatives and the Chesapeake Bay foundation, but I just don’t understand how exactly people dressing in polar bear costumes annoying families going to baseball games will actually accomplishment anything.  If anything, this group of what I can only assume are unwashed patchouli smelling college students will only create support for their opponents by annoying people who might otherwise be responsive to their complaints.  Much like the wandering polar bears during the anti-war protest in DC this spring I assume that these “activist” will manage to do nothing more then blockade traffic and wind up giving up the moment that they are inconvenienced.

Now, you are probably asking, what the deal I mentioned is.  Well, apparently this group of wackjobs is having so much trouble recruiting people to stand in heavy fur costumes this summer (shocker) that they have created a fun incentive to get people to volunteer.  The first five people who sign up to protest at each home game will be given a free ticket.  If you feel strongly about this cause (or want to scam a free ticket) you should email volunteer coordinator Lisa Lincoln and let her know that you are interested.  Apparently they are already short of people for this weekends’ games.

*Bromoblog does not condone the scamming of free tickets.  We think it would be wrong to show up, get your tickets and go enjoy the game.

**Bromoblog does not encourage the spamming of Ms. Lincoln’s email.  It is wrong to volunteer under a series of fake names to make Strike Out Exxon believe that they will have coverage for games when they will not.

***Bromoblog definately does not encourage people to volunteer to wear polar bear suits, only to bring their own funny or sarcastic signs with them.  Signs such as “Polar Bears Love Exxon” would also be innapropriate.  As would fake blood to put around the bears’ mouths.

Local Wrap Up

So admittedly we have taken our sweet time getting another one of these wrap ups out.  Honestly though, its been a pretty slow month locally.  The Wizards and Capitals were both eliminated early in the playoffs and since its summer there isn’t much going on at the college level.

We do hope to get a mock draft for the NBA out tomorrow for those who are tired of baseball.

And remember, if you think we forgot something, or you want to tip us off to a local athletic accomplishment you can email us at bromoblog@lycos.com

Colleges

Loyola won its first MAAC Commissioner’s Cup.  That means Loyola had the best athletic program in the conference over the past year, a pretty impressive performance from a tiny program.

Not to be outdone, Salisbury won their third Capital Athletic Conference All-Sports Award.

Maryland lost a couple recruits before they even made it to campus.  While this will leave the program thin it may be for the best.  Evens was a controversial recruit and Gilchrist is already on to his third college.

A number of local female athletes made ESPN’s Academic All-American team, an accomplishment that deserves more press then it receives.

Coppin’s Steve Delice came up short in his quest to repeat last season’s success.

Hockey

The Capitals really cleaned up at this years award dinner. Olie taking home the Hart and Pearson, and Bruce Boudreau winning coach of the year honors.   Not a bad consolation for a team that was written off for dead.

Baseball

Baltimore Orioles

38-36, 6-4 over the last 10.

7 games back of Boston for the AL East lead, 5.5 back of Tampa Bay for the Wild Card.

An impressive 8-4 in interleague play so far this season.

Now if they could just find a decent shortstop, and win an occasional game on a Sunday (one win all season)

Frederick Keys

34-36 for a dissapointing 3rd in the first half, started 2-4 in the second in a tough Carolina League Northern division.

20 year old Brandon Erbe is really starting to blossom.

Hagerstown Suns

34-35 in the first half, but have started 3-1 in the second half in the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division.

Bill Rhinehardt took All-Star MVP honors.

Bowie Baysox

41-33, 4.5 back of Akron in the EAS Southern Division, thanks mainly to a six game losting streak.

A number of the Orioles top pitching prospects are beginning to show their promise.

Delmarva Shorebirds

A 38-31 second place finish in the first half.  1-3 so far in the second half.

Delmarva put a pair of players in the All-Star Game.

Upcoming Event of the Week

Renew your Wedding Vows with the Baysox.  (caution PDF)

Kevin Millar’s New Look

Its rare that we at Bromoblog get to break a story, but we’ve got one tonight.

Kevin Millar came to the plate for his first at bat tonight with Platinum Blond hair and accompanied by “Ice Ice Baby.” Our source reports that this odd appearance is due to a wager on the NBA finals made with former Red Sox teammate Jason Veritek. We are trying to confirm this, and will hopefully have pictures and video up later tonight.

UPDATE: We have yet to confirm the winner of the bet, but Tim Wakefield has been mentioned as another possibility. We can confirm that the hair and music are a result of a lost bet on the NBA Finals.

UPDATE: We’ve got pictures and video of him coming up to bat with his new music. I’m sorry for the quality, I’ll try to track down better video. You have to listen pretty close.

Ironbirds

The short season Aberdeen Ironbirds have officially announced their opening day roster for 2008 and the roster is again loaded with local products.  We at Bromoblog have a few names that we recommend you watch over the next few months.

Andy Schindling, Pitcher, Bowie.  A 16th round pick in 2004, Andy played his high school ball for St. Johns in Bethesda

Brian Bent, Catcher, Ellicott City.  A 2005 draft pick, Brian is a product of Mount St. Joes and Catonsville CC.

Chad Durakis, Catcher, Lutherville.  This years 37th round pick, Chad was a four year starter for the University of Maryland

Eric Perlozzo, Second Base,  Cumberland.  Yes, thats the son of former Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo.  A late round pick in 2007 Eric earned a promotion from Bluefield to Aberdeen.  He played his high school ball for Bishop Walsh.

Other 2008 Draft picks on this years team are Catcher Caleb Joseph (7th round), Pitchers Richard Zagone (6th) Jason Gurka (15th), Outfielder Tom Baxter (24th) and Infielder Tom Edwards (28th).

Remember, if you are planning to attend any Ironbirds games this season (something we recommend) that they tend to sell out well in advance, so be sure to plan ahead.

Get your ticket information here.  The home opener is June 20th.

Best Draft Ever?

While Ozzie Newsome has deservedly gotten a lot of attention for his success for the Ravens in the NFL draft his best draft may have come before the Ravens officially came to be. In 1996 the Ravens had just officially moved to Baltimore from Cleveland, and were still working out of the Browns’ complex in Berea, Ohio when it was time for the annual draft. The Ravens had two first round picks, the 4th and the 26th and did not have a 3rd or 4th round pick.

Knowing that he would have a small margin for error with a new city, and a roster with a lot of holes to fill, Ozzie proceeded to have one of, if not the best, drafts in NFL history.

With the 4th pick the Ravens avoided taking the sexy pick of running back Lawrence Phillips and instead opted to take the top offensive lineman in the draft, Outland Trophy winner Johnathon Ogden, a big tackle out of UCLA.

The recently retired Ogden proceded to make 11 straight Pro Bowls at left tackle, impressive since he only played 11 seasons at the position (having spent his first season at guard). He also made 9 All-Pro teams and caught a pair of touchdown passes. Ogden protected the blind side of the Ravens’ rotating quarterbacks and led a bruising running game that won Super Bowl XXXV. He is expected to be a unanimous first ballot member of the NFL Hall of Fame and is considered, with Forrest Gregg and Anthony Munoz, one of the top three tackles in the history of the NFL.

Now normally, taking a player who would define the offense for the next decade would be enough to consider any draft class a success, but the Ravens weren’t done. With the 26th pick in the first round the Ravens took the 4th linebacker to go off the board, Ray Lewis, out of the University of Miami.

Lewis held his own when it came to awards and honors, making nine Pro Bowls, seven All Pro teams and twice winning the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, in the 2000 Super Bowl season and again in 2003. An energetic and boisterous player, Lewis has been called the heart of the Ravens record setting defense, and has been a fan favorite with his exceptional play and elaborate pre-game dances. Lewis is often considered the prototype of the new breed of linebackers, combining the aggressiveness and tackling skills of the traditional linebacker with sideline to sideline speed and exceptional hands. He has 30 sacks, 25 interceptions and has led the NFL in tackles five times. He was named a starter on Sports Illustrated’s All-Time team and will eventually join Ogden as a first ballot member of the Hall of Fame.

And Just so special teams weren’t left out the Ravens drafted Jermaine Lewis, a local player out of Lanham and the University of Maryland in the 5th round. Lewis made two Pro Bowls and two All Pro teams as a kick and punt returner. He had six return touchdowns, included his gamebreaking 84 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 2001 Super Bowl. The Ravens lost him to the Houston Texans in the 2002 expansion draft.

In addition to these exceptional player the Ravens drafted DeRon Jenkins, a two year starter at cornerback, Lineback Dexter Daniels, Reciever James Roe and Quarterback John Stark.

Well, ok, maybe they didn’t do as well with depth as they did in later years, but with only seven picks the Ravens managed to grab two of the top 40 players in the history of the league and a game changing kick returner.

Not too shabby…

*Oh, and if you were wondering about the jerseys that the players are wearing in the pictures above, the Ravens were so new they had yet to settle on a team logo or colors.

Jim McKay

As we settle down in front of our televisions today to watch our sporting event of choice, we can’t help but feel like something is missing. Jim McKay, the longtime host of ABC’s Wide World of Sports, passed away yesterday at his home in Monkton. It seems only appropriate that one of the great supporters of horse racing would die on the day of the Belmont Stakes. While McKay covered almost every sport imaginable, from barrel racing and the Indianapolis 500 to his record 12 Olympics, there was no sport he was more invested in then horse racing.

McKay was best known nationally for his gripping, and ultimately tragic, coverage of the Munich Olympics. After spending 16 straight hours covering the hostage crisis, his words “They’re all gone” was a stunning message to the nation about the massacre of the Israeli delegation.

While the rest of the nation will reflect on his loss, and share their memories of his career, Marylanders are feeling the loss even more acutely. While born in Philadelphia, McKay spent almost his entire life in the Baltimore area. A graduate of Loyola High School and College, he worked a both the Baltimore Sun and WMAR before moving on to national broadcast. Even after leaving for the big time, McKay was always involved in the local sports scene. A regular at local events, McKay was always willing to talk to fans about their teams. We can even forgive him for joining the Peter Angelos ownership group to buy the Orioles.

A great supporter of the racing industry in Maryland, McKay was responsible for the Maryland Millions Day event. A one day series of Stakes races for Maryland bred horses, it has become the second biggest racing event in the state (after the Preakness) and has spawned dozens of imitators around the country. As the industry struggles to survive without slots, it owes its continued existence to the extra money that this event has brought in to local trainers and breeders.

My suggestion to the Maryland Jockey Club and Magna Entertainment, rename Laurel Park in his honor. While the state has done well in honoring some of the great local sports journalist that have come before, like Sam Lacy and Shirley Povich, McKay deserves this extra honor. With the extra money that slots (if approved) will bring into the racing industry Laurel Park can become a cathedral to racing and a fitting homage to Mr. McKay. While the facility has seen better days, one can only hope that with Jim McKay looking out for it, it will succeed.

Additionally, I expect Peter Angelos and the Orioles to come up with an appropriate tribute as well. The Orioles have fallen short in honoring Elrod and were slow in saluting Wild Bill, and another transgression is inexcusable. If the game against the Pirates on the 14th does not include a video tribute and a ceremony to honor McKay I will be greatly disappointed in the Orioles.

So what

The Orioles announced earlier this week that they will be putting “Baltimore” back on the road jersey.  While this news has been greeted with overwhelming appreciation and celebration by certain members of the local media, I give it a big whoop de doo.  I know there has been a vocal movement for this change since 1972, when “Orioles” replaced Baltimore on the jersey, but I just don’t care.

While certain Schmucks love to blame the jersey for the Orioles struggles on the field and at the gate, I just don’t understand why anyone should really care.  For a majority of the fan base the current “Orioles” is the only jersey they have known.  In fact, the jersey only said Baltimore for 16 of the 52 year that the team has been in existence, hardly a legacy.  While there is understandably an older generation of fans who remember Frank, Brooks and all in the original jersey most of the current fan base, and all of the younger fans, equate the jersey with the current design.  Additional, the idea that they are “offending” the home fans by not putting the city name is laughable.  While I am not an economist I would be willing to bet that a majority of the fans in the stands and watching on television are not from Baltimore.  It’s also not like the Orioles are the only team without the city team on their road jerseys.  In fact, the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers, two of the teams with the largest and most loyal fan bases in baseball do not have their city names on either jersey.

While the Baltimore Sun and ESPN 1300 may celebrate this move after years of bitching and moaning, I for one wish they spent more time actually analyzing the moves that the front office is making.   I would like to know why this change merits all day radio coverage and front page newspaper coverage while most of the other “reporting” comes from press releases and the transaction wire.

Help Is On The Way

The Orioles are in last place, 6 1/2 back of the Red Sox and a game under .500 but don’t worry, help is on the way.

The Orioles have claimed Jeff Fiorentino off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.  The former Orioles farmhand, who made a brief appearance with the team in 2005 and 2006 is on his fourth team in the last 6 months.