Brent Blaze's Denver Nuggets fan blog

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/ryan_klesko_retiring_from_majo.

The Left fielder/first baseman was a key member of the 1995 Atlanta Braves who won the world series. From AP-

IRVINE, Calif. -- Ryan Klesko is retiring after 16 seasons in the major leagues, agent Joe Sambito said Friday.

Klesko, an All-Star in 2001 with San Diego, hit .260 last season with six homers and 44 RBIs in 362 at-bats for the San Francisco Giants. He played in only six games the previous year for the Padres because of shoulder surgery. The 36-year-old became a free agent following the World Series and didn't sign.

For his career, Klesko batted .279 with 278 homers and 987 RBIs. His best season was 2001, when he hit .286 with 30 homers and 113 RBIs.

Continue reading "Ryan Klesko retiring from MLB after 16-year career"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/ny_knicks_fire_coach_isiah_tho.

This news hardly comes as a surprise.

NEW YORK - Isiah Thomas couldn't win as coach with the players he assembled as president. Now, he's lost both jobs. Thomas was fired as the New York Knicks coach Friday after a season of listless and dreadful basketball, a tawdry lawsuit and unending chants from fans demanding his dismissal.

Thomas lost a franchise record-tying 59 games this season, and along the way seemed to lose the support of his players, who didn't always play hard for him the way they did last season.

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Thomas was hired as the Knicks' team president on Dec. 22, 2003, and he acquired Marbury from Phoenix weeks later. The Knicks made the playoffs that season, getting swept by New Jersey, but haven't gone back despite their annual spot atop the league's highest payroll list.

Continue reading "NY Knicks fire coach Isiah Thomas"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/nba_approves_sonics_move_to_ok.

In a vote that surprised no one, NBA owners approved a move of the Seattle Sonics to Oklahoma City by a margin of 28-2. The two dissenting votes came from Dallas owner Mark Cuban and Portland owner Paul Allen.

As a current resident of the great city of Seattle (it's great, really...save for the liberal loons who are currently running the asylum), I feel compelled to say something, even though I've been to exactly 2 Sonics games in the nearly 9 years I've lived here and watched maybe 2x that many Sonics on TV.

There's one person for latte-sippin', pseudo-intellectual, Jim McDermott-supportin' Seattle-ites to blame for the Sonics likely move to the hot wasteland of halter tops, fishnet football jerseys and rusty pickup trucks that is Oklahoma City: Starbucks' CEO Howard Schultz.

Continue reading "NBA Approves Sonics Move to OKC; Fans Screwed Again"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/qb_steve_mcnair_retires.php

He played 13 years in the NFL. Originally with the Houston Oilers, then with the renamed Tennesse Titans who he nearly took to a Super Bowl title, and finally with the Baltimore Ravens. Age and injuries finally caught up with McNair in 2007. McNair had a great career but after his dismal 2007 I think he made the right move by retiring.

The AP article is below the fold.

Continue reading "QB Steve McNair retires"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/fewer_blacks_in_mlb_but_why.php

The percentage of African Americans now playing in Major League baseball declined from 8.4% in 2006 to 8.2% this year. It is the lowest recorded level in 2 decades, reports ESPN.

That is disappointing to hear.

Growing up in Oakland, CA, we had a proud tradition of African American ballplayers who came from the tough, inner city neighborhoods of Oakland--such as Frank Robinson, Curt Flood and Rickey Henderson, all of whom greatly influenced the game during their careers, on and off the field. That's why I find it sad to hear that fewer blacks are playing to the game.

However, given today's societal climate, particularly when it comes to the diminished role of fathers are playing in the African American community, it's also understandable.

Continue reading "Fewer Blacks in MLB, But Why?"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/2008_nfl_football_schedule_is.p

Of particular note, at least for myself, is the Miami Dolphin schedule.

Sept. 7 NEW YORK JETS 1:00 pm CBS



Sept. 14 at Arizona Cardinals 4:15 pm CBS



Sept. 21 at New England Patriots 1:00 pm CBS



Sept. 28 BYE WEEK



Oct. 5 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1:00 pm CBS



Oct. 12 at Houston Texans 1:00 pm CBS



Oct. 19 BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00 pm CBS



Oct. 26 BUFFALO BILLS 1:00 pm CBS



Nov. 2 at Denver Broncos 4:05 pm CBS



Nov. 9 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:00 pm FOX

Continue reading "2008 NFL Football schedule is out"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/tiger_woods_has_knee_surgery_a.

Looks like his next tournament will be the US Open then. From Golfweek-

Tiger Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday and will miss at least four weeks while he recovers.

It was the third time Woods has had surgery on his left knee, the most recent in 2003 when he missed the start of the season. His agent said he had been experiencing pain since the middle of last year.

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The surgery means Woods is likely to miss The Players Championship for the first time, but should return in time for the U.S. Open.

Continue reading "Tiger Woods has knee surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/florida_gators_2006_bcs_title.p

It was broom and dustpan time in Gainesville last Friday.

The Gators' 2006 BCS National Championship trophy fell off of its stand in Florida's football offices and broke Friday, Florida's operations and facilities director Chip Howard said Monday.

Because Florida is preparing to move to its new offices, which are expected to be completed in July, Howard said the trophy was in a temporary location in an open area of one of the stadium's sky boxes.

"It was on a coffee table, and it was inadvertently bumped," Howard said. "It doesn't take much for the top of it to fall off."

The trophy was insured for $8,000, and the university has already put in an order to replace it. Howard said it should take about 90 days for the new Waterford crystal trophy to reach Gainesville.

Continue reading "Florida Gators' 2006 BCS Title Trophy Falls Off Stand, Breaks"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/golf_record_book_perils.php

As Peter F mentioned last night, Trevor Immelman won the Masters yesterday. Trevor played the best golf and was a deserving winner. Nobody lost this year's Masters, though some players blew sky high yesterday. Immelman had the lead after every round and withstood the pressure.

In my book Immelman is not a surprising champion. He was ranked 29th in the world. A good and solid player. Zach Johnson's win last year was more of a surprise, but Zach isn't a fluke champion either. Craig Dolch at the Palm Beach Post calls both Johnson and Immelman 'fine players' and I agree.

As I noted earlier, Trevor led the Masters from the beginning. Carlos Monarrez of Gannett News Services writes-

Continue reading "Golf record book perils"

http://wizbangsports.com/2008/04/some_guy_from_south_insert_cou.

Trevor (I called him Tim) Immelman wins The Masters by 3 strokes over Tiger Woods--the guy everybody else wanted to win.

An uneventful and rather lackluster Sunday of golf. But isn't golf always that way.*

*Beats watching players on my fantasy baseball team go on the DL. $#%%@

Continue reading "Some Guy From South (Insert Country) That Nobody Cares About Wins The Masters"