New blog

Hey All! I am changing my blog so next week you can find me at www.joesdugout.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Christmas in April

Now that one of the biggest off-the-field-days in the year for football fans is over, here are some of my thumbs ups and thumbs down about Day One of the NFL Draft-2009 Edition.

Thumbs Up: The New York Jets didn't take long to stir up the fans that attended the Draft when they traded with the Cleveland Browns and moved up from 17 to draft USC Quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth pick. Sanchez only had 16 career starts as a Trojan but the blood line is rich when you're speaking about USC and quarterbacks in the same sentence- Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel anyone?

Thumbs Down: I'll admit I'm not a Browns fan in any way, shape or form so this may seem a little biased; But I assure you, it's not. I like the fact the Browns picked up some more draft picks when they traded three times in the first round, but to do that and draft Alex Mack, a center from Cal, was a reach-at best. And, for them to draft two wide receivers in the second round when they passed up on guys like Michael Crabtree, Jermey Maclin, and Percy Harvin in the first round baffles me. I guess they wanted more bang for their buck.

Thumbs Up: Again, this may seem biased because I do like the Cincinnati Bengals but for ONCE the Bengals seemed to get it right. They drafted Alabama OT Andre Smith with the sixth pick to protect Carson Palmer then had ILB Rey Maualuga fall into their laps in the second round. It's amazing they didn't draft "Beanie" Wells and Pat White with those two picks because again, I am talking about the Bengals.

Thumbs Down: I really think Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders has lost his vision and hearing. Although Michael Crabtree looks like he's the next pre-madonna Wide Receiver in the NFL, to pass on him at seven and draft his position should cause a mutiny amongst Raider nation. Crabtree is the best WR to come out of College Football in years. I can't remember the last WR that had so much hype goin' into the draft- hype well deserved. The kid can do it all; Run vertically, across the middle. He's physical, fast and his hands are gold. Did anyone see his face after he wasn't the first WR off the board? A picture really does tell a thousand words, or maybe just one-pi$$%d.

When Day Two is over it's back to baseball, but wasn't it nice to get a full dose of football in April? Refreshing, if you ask me.

The Roughest Out of the Season

A month ago Nick Adenhart was pitching in Spring Training for the Anaheim Angels, prepping for the start of the 2009 Major League Baseball season

On April, 8, he was pitching his first regular season game-a game in which he pitched six innings, gave up no runs and struck out five batters- against the Oakland Athletics.

A few hours later, while driving home from the game Adenhart was killed in car accident; He was 23 years old.

It's not often sports makes you stop and think about life. They're usually a chance to escape reality. This however puts things into a whole different perspective.

At 23 years old he had so much to look forward to in life and not just baseball. A family, a home, all taken away from him in a split second.

Sometimes the world is cruel.

His teammates have honored him by wearing his number on their jersey's and a place on the center-field wall now bares his pictures. But could you imagine?

These guys have been together for a long time. During a season they see each other more than their families.

25 teammates and handful of mangers lost more then just a teammate- they lost a brother.

The team played the day after and won. They all said they knew he was watching. In these situations you have to move on and I'm sure Adenhart would of wanted that.

You could probably hear him from heaven that day in Anaheim, saying "play ball".

Adenhart's agent and coach react to his death: Youtube

A fan's tribute to Nick: Youtube

Read the full story.

Photo from accumind.com

He Must Be From Up North

Now, in a perfect world you'd click on my page and read a warm and fuzzy feel good story that might make you feel all sentimental inside.

Lucky for all involved, we've come to learn the world is far from perfect and we remember- the Cincinnati Bengals do still have a bunch of felons on their roster.

A day after the team announced the signing of Tank " waive my gun in the air" Johnson, it was reported by many media outlets that Bengals Cornerback Leon Hall was pulled over in Clermont County Sunday, March 5, around 3 a.m. and charged with DUI.

The kicker? He implicated himself.

He was cooperative and polite according to a report on ESPN.com, so much that he told the officer he had been drinking.

He did wha'-who-where-huh?

I've never had a DUI, nor have I ever been in trouble with the police, but even the tamest minds know this; Never under any circumstances do you give a police officer anything he can use against you.

Athlete or not.

I don't get pro-athletes and DUI's. They have money, yet they refuse to hire a driver or call a cab. I also don't get the guys that call themselves Cincinnati Bengals.

Since 2005, Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News reported that 16 Bengals players have been in some kind of trouble with the law.

Of those 16, Chris Henry and O'dell Thurman to me stick out the most. Both have been in all kinds of trouble and both have been suspended for games because of their behavior.

Hall has a couple of things working for him as he moves forward to resolve this issue, if he hopes not to be suspended by the Commissioner.

First, he's got a squeaky clean record. He's never been in trouble before and this will be his first time visiting the Commissioner under these circumstances.

Second and I believe most important, is the Commissioner has to be a little lenient with him. Once he digs up his file he'll see why.

Hall did go to Michigan, you have to feel a little sorry for him.

Gotta love public records: Check out a copy of Hall's court records.

*Photo by Brian Bahr

Goin' Green

When athletes think green, they're usually thinking about another big fat contract.

Not Chris Dickerson.

When athletes think charity work, they're usually thinking about next years taxes, looking for write-offs from that big fat contract.

Again, not Dickerson.

Now it isn't Dickerson doesn't think about big contracts that require charity work. I'm sure he does, what athlete doesn't?

Dickerson's dilemma?

On the field, he's only been in Major League Baseball about half a season, the rest of his professional career has been spent sweeping through the minor leagues.

Yet off, he's already done so much.

Last season, when the Cincinnati Reds traded away Adam Dunn, Dickerson was summoned from Triple-A Louisville to the big stage in Cincinnati. He brought with him a good glove in the outfield, a different approach to hitting, some speed and a recycling program that he hoped would catch on among his new team just as it had done his old.

He had already set-up shop in Louisville, putting recycling bins in the dug-out and hooking his teammates up with Eco friendly reusable water bottles. When he got to Cincinnati, the same and when media types caught on and the word spread, folks got interested.

Jack Cassel, a middle relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians who himself has only been a pro for three years, contacted Dickerson and out of the conversation weplaygreen.org was born.

Now I know what some might say, " big deal, guys going green," but Dickerson isn't established, he doesn't make millions. Heck, he didn't even know if he'd have a job this year. But he used his platform, not to demand a trade or another raise, but to be positive and in MLB anything positive that isn't a steroid test is a good thing.

Hal McCoy, hall a fame beat writer for the Dayton Daily News who covers the Reds on a daily basis weighed in by e-mail;

Joe: "I find it not only gratifying that a player who has not established himself has stepped forward to think about the environment, but he is actually back up his words by doing something about it, especially with his web-site. Chris is mature far beyond his years and it shows when he talks about his project. His eyes sparkle and his speech pattern speeds up. Just a great guy."
Hal

Meet Chris Dickerson, rookie cribs style; YouTube

Big thanks to Mr. McCoy, who took time out of his busy schedule to respond to my e-mail.

More Info; Cincinnati Reds

* Photo from MLB.com