https://www.sportscardforum.com/blogs/828-Voice-of-the-Fan SportsCardForum is your source for everything related to sports cards for collectors and non-collectors alike! en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:45:21 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.sportscardforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.sportscardforum.com/blogs/828-Voice-of-the-Fan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2605-Sex-toys-at-a-WNBA-game-What-is-going-on-here Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:22:59 GMT Over the course of the last week, fans have tossed "sex toys" onto the court at various WNBA games. One fan was arrested in Atlanta, but there have been copycats.

It begs to ask, just what possesses these people to do something this irresponsible? It ain't a joke. There were incidents in Brooklyn & Los Angeles on August 5, the latter during a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network, which shares WNBA broadcast rights with Ion & ESPN/ABC. Even though it's not empty bottles or plastic cups, like you'd see at outdoor venues or in a WWE event, it's still a safety hazard for players, coaches, officials, and fans alike.

Now, I realize that a good chunk of the players & coaches are LGTBQ. Could that be the reason? I wish I had real answers, but as of now, there's no rational reason for any of this. You didn't see any of this during the just concluded pro softball season. Why pick on the WNBA?

For now, we may never know. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2605-Sex-toys-at-a-WNBA-game-What-is-going-on-here https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2604-Juan-Soto-wasn-t-the-whole-story-in-part-1-of-the-Subway-Series Mon, 19 May 2025 21:54:05 GMT As a life-long Mets fan, I can tell when the team is done dirty by the media, but not to the OCD levels exhibited by reddit. Heading into the Subway Series, part 1, on Friday, there were not one,... As a life-long Mets fan, I can tell when the team is done dirty by the media, but not to the OCD levels exhibited by reddit.

Heading into the Subway Series, part 1, on Friday, there were not one, but two narratives in the series. Yes, there was the backlash of Juan Soto leaving the Bronx to take the Mets' money for what figures to be the remainder of his career. But, oh, that ain't all.

Keep in mind that the Mets swept the 2024 Subway Series, 4-0. This year, it's 6 games. 3 at Yankee Stadium, 3 in July at Citi Field. The Yankees held serve, and won 2 of 3 in the Bronx, the final game invoking nightmares of another kind during the game-winning 6 run 8th inning. A throwing error by Pete Alonso recalled the 2015 World Series, and Lucas Duda making a similar blunder that all but gift-wrapped the Series for Kansas City, their 1st in 30 years.

All they wanted to talk about on ESPN Sunday was Soto, and how the Yankees' fan base felt betrayed. The Bleacher Creatures turned their collective backs on Soto on Friday in game 1. Soto actually did ESPN a favor by cancelling an in-game interview (which went to Brandon Nimmo instead), perhaps suspecting that the rowdies behind him would get the network in trouble with the FCC with the use of coarse language during the interview. No discussion about how the Yankees recovered from losing last year's Subway Series to reach the World Series, only to lose to the Dodgers.

The added attention on Soto proved to be a distraction that would cost the Mets. At least they can do the Yanks a favor and bludgeon the suddenly skidding Red Sox before welcoming the Dodgers Memorial Day weekend....... ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2604-Juan-Soto-wasn-t-the-whole-story-in-part-1-of-the-Subway-Series https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2601-Paul-Skenes-has-only-made-11-starts-He-s-the-National-League-s-All-Star-starter Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:01:13 GMT More than a decade ago, Stephen Strasburg was the hottest thing under the sun, and there was a push to have him pitch in the All Star Game. Didn't happen. Strasburg retired recently after injuries cut short his career.

Today, we're learning that Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes, who has been hyped to the moon since spring training if you follow MLB Network, will be the NL starter in the 2024 All Star Game July 16 in Arlington. After just 11 starts, including a near no-hitter in his last start. Having seen him pitch against the Mets last week, I can confirm he's earned the gig. Skenes was called up in May. If memory serves me correctly, and Nats fans can help with clarification, I think Strasburg was called up in June of his rookie season.

I've got this feeling that if the Pirates make a strong enough run to the playoffs, that might lock down NL Rookie of The Year for Skenes. You just have to hope that he doesn't get plagued by injuries like Strasburg or any of the other star hurlers in the league today. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2601-Paul-Skenes-has-only-made-11-starts-He-s-the-National-League-s-All-Star-starter https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2599-Of-history-hymns-and-haters Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:06:53 GMT For the 2nd straight year, and this is likely to become an annual tradition, "Lift Every Voice & Sing" was performed at the Super Bowl, right along with the "Star Spangled Banner" & "America The Beautiful".

Written early in the 20th century, "Lift" is gaining new listeners. Unfortunately, it's also generated plenty of hate from conservatives, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who whined about it prior the game. Last year, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert complained.

Deal with it, haters. "Lift" is here to stay.

For those of you who don't know the lyrics......:

Full lyrics of "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

Lift every voice and sing,

'Til earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on 'til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chastening rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

'Til now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who has by Thy might

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

For Gaetz, Boebert, and every other politician on the right who professes to be a Christian, this should be something they'd appreciate, but they're butt-hurt about it. Reba McEntire's rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" moved players on both teams, the Chiefs & 49ers, to tears. In time, "Lift" will do the same.

As for the game itself, a rematch of four years ago, Kansas City won in overtime, using the new overtime rules put into effect after the 2021 postseason, and I'm reading that players on both teams are still confused, including Kansas City's Mecole Hardman, who caught the game winning touchdown. After three years, because postseason games rarely go to OT, you'd think they'd have learned all the basics by now. Oh, well. Once again, the Niners took their collective foot off the pedal when they had the Chiefs down at halftime, and it cost them, more so than a torn Achilles tendon, which took Niners DB Dre Greenlaw out of the game early.

It was a great game, and if the haters don't like it, then maybe they can be strapped to chairs and forced to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger as "Agent State Farm" in a constant loop for 2 months....! ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2599-Of-history-hymns-and-haters https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2597-The-Belichick-era-is-over-in-New-England-Don-t-think-he-s-moving-on-just-yet Mon, 15 Jan 2024 22:26:28 GMT Bill Belichick needs 15 wins to pass the late Don Shula to become the winningest coach in NFL history. It's not going to happen in New England.

The Patriots parted ways with Belichick, with the official announcement made on January 12. Almost immediately, Belichick, proud owner of 8 Super Bowl rings, including 2 as an assistant with the Bill Parcells-era Giants, doesn't need to make a decision right away, and why should he? After 40+ years of coaching, he's earned the right to take his time to make his decision.

Recent headlines have him linked to Atlanta and Dallas. Even though he's reportedly had a good relationship with Cowboys owner/GM/president Jerry Jones, I don't think Belichick will want to just coach the Cowboys, and supplant Mike McCarthy after 4 snake-bitten seasons. Accustomed as he was to being coach & GM with the Patriots, I'd think Belichick would want the GM's job, just to show Jones, who thinks he knows everything about the game, how to make the best use of the talent he has. He'd almost certainly be given the coach & GM jobs in Atlanta or anywhere else, although going to Carolina and its mercurial owner, David Tepper, who's already shown he has the patience of a piece of onionskin paper, is also unlikely.

It was believed that Belichick wanted to prove he could win without Tom Brady. After 3 playoff-less seasons, it was clear that he didn't have the talent to prove his point. Mac Jones regressed faster than expected, and the balance of power had shifted in the AFC East from New England to Buffalo the last few years. Finishing in last place convinced Robert Kraft it was time to say good-bye to Belichick.

It's not the way Belichick wanted his career in New England to end.

Prediction: I think "Darth Hoodie" takes a year or two off to evaluate the NFL landscape, then, if he has the itch to coach again, he'll find a comfortable landing spot. Either that, or he'll settle for Canton and the Hall of Fame. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2597-The-Belichick-era-is-over-in-New-England-Don-t-think-he-s-moving-on-just-yet https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2583-Panini-is-overcharging-for-their-cards-That-needs-to-stop-yesterday Sat, 15 Oct 2022 21:15:25 GMT The card brands change on a seemingly weekly basis at the local Walmart. On Monday, I picked up two 15 count packs of Panini Chronicles football at $8 each, plus tax. Five days later, I was back, and... The card brands change on a seemingly weekly basis at the local Walmart. On Monday, I picked up two 15 count packs of Panini Chronicles football at $8 each, plus tax. Five days later, I was back, and the Chronicles were replaced with Panini Elite NFL and a ton of leftover 2021-22 NBA. 30 count packs for $12.

Hello, inflation.

Just because Panini is the only game in town when it comes to football, basketball, WWE, & UFC, the latter two licenses recently acquired from Topps, doesn't give them the right to charge $10+ per pack. It wasn't so long ago that a jumbo pack was just $5-6 per pack. Panini doesn't have a deal with the MLB Players Association, but I think they also overcharge for their jumbo baseball packs, too. They know the scavengers that hoard the cards for eBay resale don't care. Joe Average Fan does care, and I consider myself an average fan. Once Topps' deal with Fanatics kicks in, they'll probably raise their pack prices for baseball, but hopefully not to the obscene levels of Panini.

A simple 12-16 card pack of Topps baseball runs for about $3 per pack, and their jumbos remain at $6. If you're like me, and you don't like Panini's prices, then try to convince Fanatics to get new licenses for NBA & NFL cards. With Topps' reputation, fans could save money with Topps over Panini.

What do you think? ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2583-Panini-is-overcharging-for-their-cards-That-needs-to-stop-yesterday https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2582-An-quot-activist-quot-files-charges-after-getting-planted-on-television-He-is-an-idiot! Fri, 07 Oct 2022 19:19:11 GMT By now, you've heard about Direct Action Everywhere's latest pathetic stunt for attention.

Before we go any further, DAE is staging these in game protests, first during the NBA playoffs six months ago, and now during NFL games, to call attention to two of their number being on trial for abducting two piglets from a Smithfield Farms-affiliated farm five years ago, claiming the farm abused the piglets and other animals. Smithfield is owned by Glen Taylor, whom I believe closed the deal to sell off the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. It's not a coincidence that both times they've interrupted nationally televised football games, the Los Angeles Rams played in those games-----and lost them both.

Alex Taylor is milking his 15 minutes by alleging assault against the Rams' Bobby Wagner, Takkarist McKinney, or both. We've not gotten any updates since October 5. Taylor & DAE should've learned their lesson from their last stunt in September, when two female DAE operatives were similarly removed from the field, but they didn't.

In this writer's opinion, they're going about things the wrong way.

What DAE should be doing, since they have the resources to buy game tickets, is organizing a press conference to properly address their gripes against Smithfield. Unfortunately, their juvenile stunts will continue, ignorant of the fact that the reason they're not getting the press coverage they feel they need is because of other, more important, real world issues, such as the war between Russia & Ukraine, the fallout from Hurricane Ian, and a certain bloviator who can't go a day without needing attention for his various gripes, real or imagined.

Ultimately, Alex Taylor's case will be dismissed, and DAE will try again, because they're too ignorant to recognize a solution when it's right in front of them. Their loss, not ours. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2582-An-quot-activist-quot-files-charges-after-getting-planted-on-television-He-is-an-idiot! https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2579-An-Angel-without-wings Mon, 25 Apr 2022 15:18:49 GMT This was posted first on one of my personal blogs off-site earlier this morning. Edited because the photo that was included didn't transmit in transition:
================================================== =======
Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins shredded the officials after Memphis lost to Minnesota on Saturday, calling the NBA zebras "inconsistent" and "arrogant".

Jenkins has never met baseball umpire Angel Hernandez.

With the retirement of occasional crew-mate Joe West after last season, Hernandez is easily the most polarizing and unpopular arbiter in baseball. This is the man, remember, who threatened to file suit against MLB a few years ago for perceived discrimination against Latino umpires such as himself. After Sunday's Brewers-Phillies game on ESPN, Hernandez, an equal opportunity offender, made the NBA refs look like amateurs.

A fair number of umpires often have floating strike zones in that they'll call strikes as they see fit, not as it's mandated in the rule book. Hernandez is definitely in that category. Several strikeout calls against both teams were relatively inaccurate, a few inches outside the zone. It came to a head in the home 9th, with Philadelphia down, 1-0. Kyle Schwarber thought he'd drawn a walk against Brewer closer Josh Hader. Nope. Hernandez called strike three.

Schwarber spiked his bat and helmet to the ground, clearly frustrated. Hernandez, of course, ejected Schwarber on the spot. Hernandez's attitude was one of, my word is final. Deal with it. He exudes arrogance behind the plate. It wouldn't be so bad if you consider that he's interpreting his call as if to say the ball still crossed the imaginary box between the letters on the uniform shirt and the batter's knees, regardless of how outside the zone the batter perceives it to be.
Hernandez has heard the criticism from players, managers, team management, and media plenty of times in his career, but he's not going to change the way he does things. He quietly craves the spotlight when it's his night to call balls & strikes. We'll be hearing about his misplaced strike zone again and again before the season is over.

And he's giving his fellow Latino umps a bad rep. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2579-An-Angel-without-wings https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2576-Here-we-go-again-the-card-hoarders-are-back Tue, 22 Feb 2022 01:41:46 GMT Topps 2022 series 1 just went live less than a week ago. I waited until today to take a run up to Walmart to see about scoring some packs or a blaster box. Turns out that was a mistake. Nothing... Topps 2022 series 1 just went live less than a week ago. I waited until today to take a run up to Walmart to see about scoring some packs or a blaster box.

Turns out that was a mistake. Nothing was left. Only a few 2021 factory sets, priced at $60 each, were available, plus some WNBA and Nascar merch that went live earlier in the winter.

A clerk told me the shipments arrive in the morning, and, apparently, the card hoarding pseudo-investors of 2020 are back, lying in wait, ignorant of the frustration others have felt.

To those of you so-called "flippers": I invite you to check in and offer some explanation for this. This hobby is not just about you alone. It's for everyone, from grade school kids on up. It's not always about turning a profit, plus a nose up in the air to the rest of us. In other words, fellas, leave something for the rest of us! ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2576-Here-we-go-again-the-card-hoarders-are-back https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2574-How-a-Hall-of-Fame-career-falls-apart-again Mon, 03 Jan 2022 21:19:00 GMT I wrote this on one of my personal blogs earlier:
======================================
Mention the name "Touchdown" Eddie Brown to fans of the Albany Firebirds in the 90's, and you hear a lot of praise. Brown and the 'Birds left town after winning the 1999 ArenaBowl, but to many, Brown remained an area legend.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for his son, Antonio, who quit on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday while the Super Bowl champions were trailing the Jests in the 3rd quarter at MetLife Stadium.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians knew what he was getting into by bringing Antonio Brown to Tampa Bay last season on the recommendation of QB Tom Brady, who was a teammate of Brown's for all of 2 weeks in New England a couple of years earlier. Arians had been an assistant in Pittsburgh when Brown broke into the league. In the space of the last four years, Brown has now burned his bridges with four teams---Tampa, Pittsburgh, New England, and the then-Oakland Raiders.

So what happened to prompt this latest escapade?

Brown's been nursing an ankle injury, and he'd been back with the Bucs for just the second game after a league-enforced suspension for faking a COVID vaccination card. He told Arians and his assistants the ankle was bothering him to the point where he could not re-enter the game with Tampa down by two scores in a game where they'd eventually overcome the deficit---It was the Jests, after all---and win, 28-24. Arians then decided that Brown was no longer wanted.

You know what happened next. Brown shed his jersey, gloves, & shoulder pads, walked off the field, pausing only to do some junping jacks before exiting the tunnel, and waiting for a ride as the game continued without him. In effect, Brown put himself ahead of the team, and effectively quit.

Brown is part of today's diva culture with skill position players in football. Accustomed as he was to being the #1 receiver, he'd been supplanted in Pittsburgh by Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster. That he played one game in New England was a miracle. In Tampa, he couldn't be #1, not with Mike Evans already established as the Bucs' top receiver. And, then, of course, you had OJ Howard and a certain lunkhead better known now for playing a dork in a series of ads for a certain insurance company. Brady vouched for him in New England and in Tampa, and has been burned twice.

Brady, in a post-game presser, said that Brown needs compassion instead of scorn, as well as psychiatric help to solve his issues. The media is sure that he has played his last game. In this writer's opinion, there's only one team left that would tolerate his prima donna act. Maybe.

That would be Baltimore, where Antonio's cousin, Marquise, aka Hollywood, is their star receiver. You could picture the damage the cousins could do together, especially if Marquise can reach out to Antonio in a way no one else can. Family, you know.

Eddie Brown was the star attraction here in town when the Firebirds were here, and he gave back to the community. I'd imagine his heart is broken seeing Antonio became the next Terrell Owens. For all the wrong reasons.

Will Antonio be in Canton? At this juncture, no, and he only has himself to blame. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2574-How-a-Hall-of-Fame-career-falls-apart-again https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2571-From-champ-to-chump-in-one-easy-lesson Sun, 24 Oct 2021 12:24:04 GMT With apologies to Capital One's ad campaign, Dave Roberts had the easiest decision in the history of decisions. And he whiffed.

After Max Scherzer declared himself out of Game 6 of the NLCS vs. Atlanta due to a tired, or, dead arm, due to being used in relief in this postseason, Roberts, seeking to deliver a 2nd World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, had just activated David Price, who'd been left off the NLCS roster, after Joe Kelly, his game 5 starter/opener, was forced out by a shoulder injury in the 2nd inning of game 5.

Instead of giving the ball to Price, Roberts opted to move his projected game 7 starter, Walker Buehler, up to replace Scherzer, with Buehler pitching on three days rest. The Braves, not willing to choke away a 3-1 series lead vs. the Dodgers for the 2nd straight year, weren't having it. Eddie Rosario ended any chance of a Dodger repeat with a 3 run homer in the 4th off Buehler. The Atlanta bullpen did the rest, giving up a run the rest of the way, and it'll be Atlanta vs. Houston, two former NL West rivals back in the day, meeting in the World Series, while Roberts will be 2nd, 3rd, and 4th guessed by Dodgers fans and talk radio regulars all week. The biggest question, of course, would be, why activate Price if you're not going to use him?

Would Price have made a difference? I believe so. By not using Price, Roberts unwittingly screwed the defending champions out of the World Series.

I am reminded of a Patriots-Giants Super Bowl, in which coach Bill Belichick left Terrell Owens off the roster for the Big Game, when he could've been a difference maker, proving that even the best minds in sports have blackouts sometimes. Of course, the Giants took advantage, and beat New England.

As for Roberts & the Dodgers, this could be the end of their dynasty, which, like the Braves from the 90's and '00's, netted just one World Series. I shan't be surprised if Dodger management decides that Roberts will be expendable as early as next year. His luck has just about run out. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2571-From-champ-to-chump-in-one-easy-lesson https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2570-A-laser-pointer-can-be-hazardous-to-a-ballplayer-s-health-but-some-fans-don-t-get-it Sat, 14 Aug 2021 23:27:45 GMT In July 2009, all of America saw some Philadelphia Phillies fan shine a red laser pointer in the faces of St. Louis' Skip Schumaker and Julio Lugo. The umpires tried to find the perp, but the Philadelphia faithful protected one of their own, allowing him to escape.

12 years later, another red light disrupted a game between Boston and the Yankees. What was not clear was whether or not the perp in this case was caught.

Last night, some drunken moron shined his light on Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz AND Dodgers 1st baseman Max Muncy, prompting a stoppage of play. Once again, the scum escaped. Diaz K'd Muncy to end the frame, but Los Angeles recovered and won the game in the 10th inning.

I've also read of how a laser pointer factored into an NFL game involving the Detroit Lions and, I believe, Buffalo, a few years ago. The fan in that game was caught, and banned from returning to the stadium.

So why are these clowns doing this?

In some cases, you've got home fans trying to give their team an added, albeit illegal, advantage. You are risking the player's vision by shining the light in his eyes. Muncy's quick reaction prevented further trouble, and I'll give him his props for that. That both Muncy & Diaz were targeted says the fan was definitely inebriated and a bit confused, as he targeted Diaz first, then Muncy.

Now, I don't know if they were checking for laser pointers tonight at Citi Field, but they should. For the rest of the season. Next time, it could get worse if nothing is done to stop it. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2570-A-laser-pointer-can-be-hazardous-to-a-ballplayer-s-health-but-some-fans-don-t-get-it https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2553-The-frustration-of-having-no-product-to-buy Thu, 16 Jul 2020 16:40:31 GMT I often shop at a local Walmart to buy my baseball and/or football cards. I had been building Topps baseball series 1 for this year as far back as the winter, and recently traded for a good size lot... I often shop at a local Walmart to buy my baseball and/or football cards. I had been building Topps baseball series 1 for this year as far back as the winter, and recently traded for a good size lot to trim my want list to finish series 1.

Series 2 has since gone live, as have 2020 football cards, and I was lucky just to get 2 fat packs of Score 2020 football. Why is that, you ask?

Well, friends, being that we're in the middle of a pandemic that has seen "panic buyers" hoard hand sanitizer and other necessary items in the first weeks, it stands to reason some of those same "panic buyers" are now hoarding sports cards. I talked to a clerk at a Target 2 weeks ago, and she said she'd heard that people are buying up whatever's in stock and reselling on eBay, denying local shoppers a fair opportunity, in order to turn a profit.

These "panic buyers" are in it for themselves, ignorant of other collectors in their areas, and this has to stop. I found out that Walmart, and presumably also Target, buys their stock from a 3rd party vendor, who delivers when possible. A year ago at this time, even ten years ago, cards were readily available. Not so now, and it's going to be a while before we return to what was the status quo.

If you guys know anyone who's "panic buying" in your area, let me read about it in the comments box. I'd like to read some ideas on how to put a stop to this nonsense. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2553-The-frustration-of-having-no-product-to-buy https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2454-Scott-Boras-doesn-t-get-it-and-probably-never-will Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:47:46 GMT There are still some top level free agents waiting to be signed, but teams are, at best, hesitant about making any commitments. If those players, such as Carlos Gonzalez, Jake Arietta, and Mike... There are still some top level free agents waiting to be signed, but teams are, at best, hesitant about making any commitments. If those players, such as Carlos Gonzalez, Jake Arietta, and Mike Moustakas, wonder why, all they need do is check their speed dials for the culprit.

The owners, it seems, are tired of being fleeced by their agent/con artist, Scott Boras, who reportedly is advising Moustakas to hold out until after the entry draft in June, and thinks deals for Arietta and others are just a phone call away. Maybe they are, but Boras needs to understand that it's time to stop playing the shell game. Everyone knows he cons teams into overpaying his clients to help his bottom line, since he lives vicariously through them the same way La Loudmouth (LaVar Ball) lives through his sons, making the money he never made as a player. The time for that ended a looooooong time ago, but try telling that to Boras, dubbed the "Avenging Agent" by NY Daily News columnist Bill Madden, who thinks his irrational way of negotiating still works. Given that the regular season is just three weeks away as I write this, and the likes of Arietta and Moustakas are still on the shelf, and J. D. Martinez, another Boras drone, is just settling in with Boston, you'd think Boras would finally get a clue.

He won't. He's as stubborn as the day is long. He doesn't care about his clients, just his own wallet. If he actually cared, he'd have tried to stop Alex Rodriguez, for example, from ruining his reputation with his PED obsession. But, no, Boras, and other leeches like him, look the other way, as long as they get their money. Being that Boras is also a lawyer, you'd think he'd have tried to advise A-Roid (now with Fox AND ESPN) away from the PED's. Nope. The figures Boras tosses out to try to fleece potential "landing sites" for his clients are probably the product of his caffeine-filled hot air balloon of a brain.

The bottom line is this. As long as he keeps giving his clients bad advice just so he can fleece teams, Scott Boras is going to keep playing his con game, and baseball owners are going to stonewall him like this. To the players, I say, wake up. You have brains of your own. Use them. Stop letting this ambulance chasing scammer ruin your careers for his benefit. That includes his clients on the Mets, by the way (i.e. Matt Harvey). It's time to shut the con down. For good! ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2454-Scott-Boras-doesn-t-get-it-and-probably-never-will https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2450-The-biggest-mistake-in-Super-Bowl-LII-wasn-t-a-player-s-fault Tue, 06 Feb 2018 23:16:07 GMT Bill Belichick has been a coach, either as an assistant or as head coach, for more than 35 years, starting with his stint with the Giants under Bill Parcells. Seven Super Bowl rings later, you... Bill Belichick has been a coach, either as an assistant or as head coach, for more than 35 years, starting with his stint with the Giants under Bill Parcells. Seven Super Bowl rings later, you figure, he's bound for the Hall of Fame, despite the controversy surrounding the New England Patriots over the last 15+ years.

Super Bowl LII proved that geniuses are human, and make mistakes.

Three years after he clinched the Super Bowl with a game saving pick vs. Seattle, Malcolm Butler found himself playing only on special teams on Sunday night. Rumors are that he was kept out of the defensive starting lineup at the last---and worst---possible second because of some still undetermined violation of team rules. Belichick has been raked over the coals by FS1 & ESPN yakkers the last two mornings. It's bad enough he has a reputation of keeping his decisions literally close to the vest, and reluctantly admits anything at all to the media. With Butler off the field when they really needed him, the Patriots fell to Philadelphia, as the Eagles avenged a loss in the big game 13 years earlier.

Now, Belichick has to start from scratch. His defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, is gone (Detroit), and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels screwed himself out of future coaching opportunities outside of the Patriots by jerking Indianapolis around at the last second, and there were rumors even before the playoffs that Belichick might retire after the season. He had nothing left to prove, other than the fact that he needed to win without controversy for a change.

But, this isn't the first time that a personnel decision at the Super Bowl has come back to bite Belichick on his tuchis. Think back to the last time the Patriots & Giants met in the big game. Terrell Owens, who goes into the Hall of Fame this summer, was on the Patriots' roster that season, but was inactive for the Super Bowl. His absence, in my view, proved to be very costly, because if you have Owens on the field as an extra weapon for Tom Brady, he avenges his earlier loss to Big Blue, and we'd be talking about whether or not he'd be ready to retire as well. Sure, Owens was every bit the diva at receiver that Brady is now at QB, and on the back end of his career, as Brady is now. But to deny Owens a chance at one more Super Bowl? I'm surprised no one's brought this up in the 48 hours since Super Bowl LII.

Brady, I'm sure, will be back. As my brother & I were leaving a restaurant after dinner prior to the game, I suggested that maybe Brady wants to stick around long enough to get that revenge on the Giants, then retire. My brother snickered and said that Brady would have a long wait, since the Giants were terrible in 2017, and could stay that way for a while to come. Well, you just never know. Brady's ticket to Canton is already punched, but why linger any longer if you have nothing else to prove except what I just said?

The Patriots had benefited from the officials holding their flags instead of calling obvious penalties most of the season, but this time, that came back to haunt them, too. There is something to be said about karmic justice after all.

When the 2018 season starts, it'll be the same old, same old, depending on if the Patriots' division rivals can actually improve and catch up to them. Brady could turn into Dorian Gray, but that wouldn't stop the inevitable. For once, he & Belichick should do the smart thing, and walk away without any more chips on their shoulders. The message is taken from the title of an old Star Trek episode: "Let That Be Your Last Battleground". There's nothing left to prove, nothing left to do. Walk away now, and we'll see you in Canton in 2023. ]]> hobbyfan https://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/2450-The-biggest-mistake-in-Super-Bowl-LII-wasn-t-a-player-s-fault