With the 7th selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, San Francisco selects...

Before we get to that, allow me to applaud the fans in New York for booing Roger Goodell the moment he showed his face on stage. That may have been the best moment of the entire draft. For the most part, fans haven't really had an opportunity to voice their opinion regarding the NFL lockout and on the biggest stage, with all the networks on air, our voice was heard. Thank you.

Now, as a life long 49er fan, I have high expectations. Sadly, with high expectations come even bigger letdowns. A lot of people remember where they were the day Dwight Clark snatched that pass out of the air in the NFC Championship game, a lot of fans know where they were when Barry Bonds* hit the homerun to pass Hank Aaron. Well, I remember exactly where I was when Alex Smith was drafted. I was driving home from San Jose after a night of heavy drinking, I was exhausted and felt like garbage. I was listening to the draft on the radio and all I wanted to hear was the name of my favorite Cal QB Aaron Rodgers. Instead, I heard the name Alex Smith and with that I shut off the radio and drove home in hangover silence.

From that day forward I have not been excited about the draft. I know, we got some studs recently, Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis and we don't know about the guys from last year just yet. I just get the feeling that the Niners have no clue when it comes to drafting players. I had high hopes that yesterday would be different now that Harbaugh is manning the ship, but at 5:42 PM PST on April 28, 2011, it didn't feel that way. I felt like we were the laughing stock of the NFL and that's definitely not a good feeling. When there are pressing needs at Defensive Back, why not take Prince Amukamara? When you need a QB and your team just hired a QB guru, why not draft Blaine Gabbert?

With the 7th selection in the 2011 NFL draft, San Francisco selects Aldon Smith (WHO????) Linebacker from Missouri. I would imagine 97% of Niner fans had no clue who that guy was. I would imagine 90% of us were still confused, pissed off and uncertain after John Clayton came out and said the guy projects as an excellent pick, even if he could have been taken 8-12 picks later in the draft. Quick fact check. Aldon Smith (Niners should never draft a guy with first initial A last name Smith ever again) played in all of 22 career college games and broke his leg at the end of last season) but has huge upside and great potential.

I don't know if this guy is the next Patrick Willis, the next Rashaun Woods or if he will fall somewhere in between. What I do know is that this pick, with Blaine Gabbert being passed up by the Niners, is that we are faced with yet another year of Alex Smith. That makes me cringe. We have 11 more picks in this draft and I just hope they make some noise, get some guys who can play now and let's get a QB for Harbs to mold.

Phil "NIKE" Knight spreading the love across the Pac-12!

The day I stepped foot on the Eugene, OR campus in the fall of 2002 I learned how important the name Phil Knight was.  I won't get into the history of him since all of you should know who I am talking about (he's probably the only guy in the world that could sign his name with a Nike swoosh and get away with it).  University of Oregon has been blessed by Knight with his ever changing and first class design of not only sports gear and apparel but the creation of the best uniforms in the country.  Since Nike has been just a little successful in this department over the years they have started to venture into changing the look of a lot of other teams across the country.  The latest design popped up in Tempe, AZ.  Here's a link with more on the design and talk of the Devil's new uni's.  They look pretty slick, but as always Phil saves the best for the Ducks and it somehow always shows.

This just reminded me that the Oregon spring game is a week from Saturday.  Nothing like some good ole' college football to brighten up your Friday.  The countdown to Dallas has begun!  GO DUCKS!!!

Now I will leave you with some great highlights from last season.

Cheers,

Mr. A

Happy Birthday Brandon Belt. Here's a ticket to Fresno!

How's this for a Birthday present?  You wake up Wednesday morning to a call from your manager telling you to head to the Denver airport instead of Coors field for the final game of a three game series.  I know the guy hasn't performed the way we all have liked him to, but to do this on a guy's 22nd birthday?

Well I hope Belt kills it down in Fresno and is back real soon.  The guy is a professional in the making and will be up in the majors for good sooner or later.  Click here to read more about this story.

Cheers,

Mr. A

P.s.  Looking forward to this weekend's series with HOTlanta.  Can't wait until Timmy reminds the Braves of last season's playoff match-up when he dropped them for 14 K's.

Sharks mark their names in Lord Stanley's record books!

Last night the Sharks marked their spot in the record books tying the second largest come from behind win, down four goals, in Stanley Cup history.  Coincidently, the LA Kings in 1982erasing a five goal deficit for the largest comeback in Stanley Cup history.


Enough about the Kings.  I want to give it up to everyone of the Sharks players for not quitting last night.  This type of game could not only fuel a team to win a series, but maybe be the force that pushes them to the ultimate goal, LORD STANLEY'S CUP!

Don't forget to tune in on Thursday night.  GO SHARKS!

If you can't get to  a TV, tune into 98.5fm or online with Mr. Dan Rusinowski.

Cheers,

Mr. A

Kings' fans, be very afraid!

The shot missed around the Bay

I wasn't able to watch the game last night, but I was following the score on my Android. 3-0 in the 1st period. That's when I realized that the Sharks were about to choke away yet another game to the Kings. I was almost certain that they would lay down and quit. I checked the score again about 45 minutes later and it was 4-1 LA. Sharks didn't roll over and die, they scored and I felt like I still felt like they would lose. When I got home I wasn't thinking much about the hockey game, primarily because I'm still not a real fan. I don't set my days and nights around hockey. Hell, I can't even find time to set my days and nights around my first love, baseball, let alone hockey eh. Because the A's don't have a dedicated channel for their games, I turned on one of the Comcast SportsNet Bay Area channels (does the name need to be that long people?) and I saw SJ 5 LA 5 late in the 3rd period. That's where I picked it up. I had no idea how the Sharks came back to tie this game, I had absolutely no clue that they were about to pull off the unthinkable and I thought for a moment. How many fans shut off the tube because they thought the game was over?

When the game headed to overtime, I was running out of gas. A long day behind me I just wanted San Jose to win this thing early in the OT period and send those of us watching to bed with a smile on our face. That's exactly when Setoguchi nailed the shot missed around the Bay. I wondered again, how many people missed that shot? How many people went to bed thinking the Sharks are down 2-1? How many people woke up this morning, turned on the TV and found out that they missed one of the most incredible come from behind victories in NHL history? I guess that just means that more folks like me who are new to the sport will be tuning in Thursday night to watch game 4.

Sharks crown the Kings in OT thriller

For those of you who don't know me, allow me to be honest. I am not a hockey guy at all. I love me some baseball, football and basketball, in that order and I rarely watch hockey. I do enjoy playoff hockey and I have thank my boys Dan and Chris for helping me get on the train.

I still don't completely understand the icing penalty, I don't know all the rules and I am not screaming at the screen the way I do during each and every MLB game. That hasn't stopped me from enjoying some serious, brutal hits and some great hockey. I found myself planted in front of the tube last night watching just about every moment of that game and it was incredible!! The hard hitting is what draws a lot of fans to hockey for the first time and I'm one of them. What I've latched onto more than recently id the skill, toughness and desire of these hockey players. I love the energy at the Tank and I definitely need to get down there for a playoff game, eh.

What blows my mind about hockey is that unlike the NBA, hockey games are played every other day. I have no idea how these guys beat the shite out of each other and turn around to do it all again with such a short break. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Friday and it looks like I will be planted in front of the tube tomorrow at 7 for game 2 in this series.

Bonds found guilty, kinda sorta, but not really

Yesterday was a monumental day in the Barry Bonds perjury trial, I think. Barry Bonds was found guilty of obstruction of justice, a felony that comes with a possible 10 year jail sentence. The 3 counts of perjury were not proven by the Federal Government do the jury declared a mistrial on those 3 charges. I'm not a lawyer, but I have a pressing question. If Bonds didn't commit perjury, how did he obstruct justice exactly?

Whether you are a life long Giants fan who refused to face the simple fact that Bonds was doping during his milestone asterisk laced career or you stood up when his head and feet started growing at an alarming rate, you can agree on one thing. This trial was a complete and total waste of time and tax payer dollars. At the end of this we all know that it's highly unlikely that Bonds spends even a day behind bars. He will likely be placed on probation and get to wear a fancy ankle bracelet so the feds can monitor his every move for a few months. Well, that's not enough for me. I think he should be forced to repay the tax payers for this trial (which cost all of us roughly $6 million) and they should tack on another $6 million just because he can afford it.

I was never a Bonds fan. Not when he played at Arizona State, not when he was on The Pirates and definitely not while he played for The Giants. I have always felt strongly that he trashed the game of baseball with a smile on his face because he didn't really care about the game I love so much. He was a hall of famer well before he stuck a needle in his ass, but that wasn't good enough for him. Now, he will be forced to deal with the wrath of dorky little baseball writers who hold grudges like 11 year old kids who get their new sneakers ripped from them on the first day of school. At the end of the day, Bonds will likely make it to Cooperstown, he will likely avoid the asterisk next to his name on the plaque, but he will have to wait, and wait, and wait some more, which is all I can ask for considering that major league baseball turned their heads when this guy was juicing.

Niners won't be calling the Plummer this season

If there is a football season in 2011, which I really doubt, you won't be hearing Gary Plummer on the radio broadcast. Apparently he broke the players code and discussed the sexcapades of former players on a radio broadcast on Superbowl Sunday check it out here and it seems like the 49ers brass were not too thrilled about it.

Gary Plummer was an excellent on air voice, he was able to break down the game so the average fan could understand it and he will be missed. Even more importantly, his stupidity opens the door for a guy i can't stand, former Defensive Back Eric Davis. I loved Eric on the field and think he was one of the best guys to hear from, every now and again. I am not a big fan of Eric's on camera work and I hope that he gets better before we see football in 2012 because Gary Plummer left some very big shoes to fill.

The beard was back in full force last night!

Nice work Willy, way to strike out the side last night for you first of many saves this season.  I hope he never cuts it!

On a side note, is this beard real?  Rumor has it that comedian and actor Zach Galifianakis sports a fake beard by gluing one on for his particular roles.  Would B-Willy ever do such a thing?  I mean his beard is way out of control and even looks fake at times...You make the call!

 Peace,

Mr.A

"Gold jacket, green jacket who gives a sh*t!"

Check out this interesting info on the Dan Patrick Show about the green jacket.  Not so special after all?  You make the call.

Thanks for the link Jee!

-Mr. A

2011 NHL Playoffs are here! Go Sharks!!!!

Another season in the books and the San Jose Sharks are the pacific division champs for the fourth straight year.  Even with that title, the Sharks are going to have to proven they once again belong among the elite teams in the NHL because of how they have performed in the playoffs over the past couple of years.  The people in San Jose have been accustomed to cruising into the Stanley Cup playoffs but have been disappointed almost every year with an early exit other than last year.  This year is no different and time is running out on the core of this team.

Round one for the Sharks starts off at HP Pavilion on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.  Jumbo Joe, Patty, and crew should have no problem taking care of the Kings in this seven game series.  Look for their recent success over the past month or so to continue as one of the hottest teams in the NHL.  I predict the Sharks to take the series in five games.

With the famous words of the Razor (Ralph Barbieri at knbr), "Go Sharks!!! Amici's!!"

Cheers,

Mr. A

Welcome home the 2010 World Series Champs!!

If you are from my generation, the sound of that must be weird, crazy and heavenly all wrapped up in a tiny box with a giant bow. If you are from my parents generation and have been a San Francisco Giants fan since the first time the played by the bay in 1958, congrats. It must have been an extremely long wait and when Duane Kuiper coined the phrase "Giants baseball.Torture." he wasn't talking to us, he was talking to you.

Today's afternoon tilt with the rival St Louis Cardinals will likely be the craziest regular season game in the history of the franchise. Oh, if you are not sure about the rivalry between the Giants and Cards, you are really young and I'm jealous of you. Ask your Dad or your buddy who's my age and we can tell you all about "The Slide" and fill you in on the gory details. Think about this for a second. Today is the first day in most of your lives that you will see a banner raised that reads 2010 World Series Champions. That's an accomplishment that this baseball fan honestly believed would never come to fruition. I had this distinct feeling that San Francisco would be sailing in the same boat as Cubs and Indian fans. A life of futility and no ring to show for all your hard work, dedication and love for the team. Well, that's not the case.

Today is a new day in the history of the franchise, a new day for all fans, young and not so young. If you took the day off work to head to the park to watch the game, I'm jealous. If you took the day off to wake up late, hang out in the parking lot, eat BBQ and drink beer, I'm ever more jealous. If you are forced to work today and have a huge resentment at your boss b/c he/she refused to let you out of work to play with the other kids, I feel for you. From this day forward, you can erase the memories of 2002, 1989 and all the other horrific images that have been burned in your brain. Enjoy the game and be on the lookout for the one the crazy gold plated jerseys the boys will be wearing at the yard today to celebrate the moment.

FreaKKKKKKKKKKKKKing out tonight!

Quick shot of Timmy's new look!

Result: 7IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB, 13K's!

I think he'll have to come out with these new socks next week.  Way to go Timmy, keep it rollin!

Nice win G-Men!  Can't wait for the weekend, see you there on Saturday night.

Cheers,

Mr. A

Thoughts and prayers for Mr. Stow...... Go Giants!

After arriving in Santa Monica on Friday day I got a few calls about how I need to be careful while attending the Giants Dodgers game on Saturday after a fellow Giants fan got jumped by some classless Doyer fans following Thursday night's game.  I began to try and think about what happened to get this guy in the situation he ended up in.  Figured the security and Dodger fans would be a little different for the rest of the weekend, we had a great time at the Ravine and enjoyed the 10-0 crushing!

Back home in SF, I opened up my computer to find out the guy that got jumped, Bryan Stow, is in a coma as of Sunday.  To read more at sfgate about this story, click here.  Stow is a paramedic and a father of two.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to him!

Regards,

Mr. A

Live from the Ravine!

Go Giants!  10-0 domination!  One more tonight to split the series!  Check out some shots from around the Ravine at yesterday's game!

Cheers,

Mr. A