Return

Another lengthy hiatus from blogging.

A lot has changed in a short amount of time. I have a new job. I'm the sports information director at Millersville University. I'm moving to Mountville, Pa.

Anyone that has ever moved knows that there is much to do. The last two weeks, I've been to Sardis, slowly moving everything out of Erie. I'm basically trying to take only the essentials to Mountville at first so I can avoid renting a U-Haul. This Thursday, Mom and Dad are coming to Erie and packing everything up on truck and trailer and then we'll head down the road Friday first thing in the morning. It is, after all, a six hour ride. I start the new job on Monday.

It's almost embarrassing how much time I've missed with this blog and so much has happened since the last post, not just with my career but with my favorite teams.

The Boston Celtics knocked out the Pistons in six to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. This team is exasperating sometimes but last Friday, I was on the edge of my seat and was definitely not expecting the series to be over in six. Paul Pierce absolutely took over in the fourth quarter once again proving that he is one of the most underrated great players in the league. I would guess that if one were to list the top 10 players in the NBA, Paul Pierce would often be left off. But he is unguardable at times and for all those doubting Kevin Garnett's ability to be clutch; he doesn't have to be because Paul Pierce is.

I'm a long-suffering fan to be sure. Think about this. Since the Reds won the 1990 World Series, the Reds have made just one playoff appearance, the Bengals have made one, and the Celtics, while reaching the Eastern Conference Finals three times, are playing for the championship for the first time and have a real shot this time. Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen match up favorably to the cast of Pierce, Antoine Walker, Rodney Rogers, Tony Delk and Eric Williams. How did THAT team reach the conference finals?

Speaking of the Reds, Jay Bruce has made me look much smarter than Walt Jocketty. I said before spring training that he should be the starting center fielder. The team waited till the team dug itself a hole before bringing up and now he's having the most impressive first couple debut weeks of any player in league history. This kid is the real deal. He sprays the ball to all fields, covers the plate, gets a ton of pop with an easy swing, runs well, and has an infectious personality that has sparked the Reds. He's not nearly the athlete and won't be as great as Ken Griffey Jr., but I compare him to a better version of Larry Walker, which is setting expectations very high.

With that said, he won't and can't be the savior of the organization. One man shows don't work in baseball. Griffey couldn't carry a team in his prime. No one can. Winning takes a solid roster of 25. But Bruce, along with Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Joey Votto and Paul Janish are certainly some solid building blocks.