“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
As the injury bug continues to
bite the Cardinals, one has to wonder how they can stay in or close
to first place. They lost Adam Wainwright to start the season, then
third baseman David Freese, outfielder Matt Holiday, second baseman
Skip Schumaker, pitcher Kyle McLellan and now superstar slugger
Albert Pujols have all spent time on the disabled list. Throw in
Lance Berkman’s loss of time due to a wrist injury and you have a
team that has lost more manpower than any team in the
division.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Yet they find a way to compete. The optimist would say, “Wow, can’t wait for everyone to get healthy.” The pessimist would say they cannot keep this up much longer. While the Cardinals have found a way to remain competitive, they have done it with Pujols in the lineup. While he is not having a Pujols-type season, he still commands respect that makes teams approach the Cardinals differently.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Berkman and Holliday can make any pitcher pay for pitching to them in key situations. But what are the Cardinals going to get from Colby Rasmus? He started off hot and now has found himself in a dreadful slump. It will be hard for the Cardinals to keep up offensively if he continues to fail. The young players like Jon Jay, Daniel Descalso and Alan Craig have saved this team. They will be counted on even more with Pujols out.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>As for the pitching, they have to be better all around. The starters have to go deeper and the bullpen has to come into games throwing strikes. With the biggest bullet out for 4-6 weeks in Albert Pujols, it will be a challenge to all. “font-family: Verdana;”>
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>LeBron and the Canucks “font-family: Verdana;”>
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Last week there were two major disappointments in the world of sports: LeBron James’ inability to be more proactive in his team’s quest to win an NBA Championship and the Vancouver Canucks.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>For James it has been a week of merciless criticism by anyone who could spell the word “b-a-s-k-e-t-b-a-l-l.” If there was ever a pile on, it was on LeBron.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Enter the Vancouver Canucks.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>They play in the National Hockey League. Still with me?
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>The Canucks were playing in the Stanley Cup Finals and had two chances to clinch the cup, one on the road in Boston and one at home in game seven. The Canucks were embarrassed at home in a game they were never in, losing 4-0.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>This was a team that showed no heart and no drive in the final two games, as they were collectively beaten by a score of 9-2. They rolled over as a team. No leadership, no fight. They just plain embarrassed themselves and their sport. They just flamed out.
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Unlike James’ disappointment, this story was simply ignored by the mainstream media. They just chalked it up to Boston being better.
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Better? Vancouver was the best team in the league from start to finish this season, and they laid an egg in a game seven? Spare me.
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Here is the kicker. After the game, the citizens of Vancouver decided to take to the streets and create a riot. Property was destroyed and over 100 people were arrested with at least 150 injured. An embarrassment to the city and to Canada.
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>So I ask you this question: with Lebron laying an egg and being part of a loosing team, what do you think would have been said if the people had taken to the streets in Miami and conducted themselves in the same manner as they did in Vancouver?
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>New Mizzou voice “font-family: Verdana;”>
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Congratulations to Howard Richards, who was recently named by the University of Missouri to be the radio color analyst for football. Richards was named to replace John Kadlec who is retiring.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Richards attended Southwest High School, where he was a standout offensive lineman. He later attended and played for Missouri, then was drafted in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys. After a seven-year career, he retired and went to work for the CIA. I would like to tell you more about that, but if tells me he might have to kill me, hence I will just tell you that is what he used to do. Richards also has a security firm that protects corporate executives overseas.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>The hire is a brilliant move. He is more than qualified to take on the position, and I predict he will do an outstanding job. Good luck, Howard.
