THE MEACHEM MEN THE MEACHEM MEN THE MEACHEM MEN

It's been a while

What happened?!

So today I log into Blogger and find the last time I blogged was on Jan. 14, 2009.

That's a total of 8 months and 27 days, roughly 345, 600 minutes. Or simply put, a really, really long time.

I feel like the Chad Ochocinco of bloggers.

He was critical of his 2008 season and I'm critical of my past blogs being too long; he has donned a gold mohawk and I've had a fohawk with a tail; we're both Hispanic by last name.

Plenty of parallels.

About me:

A lot has changed in my life since last blogging. And no, I didn't land a lucrative book deal like Ochocinco.

Back in January, I was trying to get experience to put on a resume for an internship, so I was covering and writing any article possible for the Daily 49er.

I really enjoyed the fact I was getting professional experience, and honestly, the internship wasn't something I really thought about.

Rather, like a rookie in training camp, I was concerned with doing the best possible job on every story.

Soon I became a staff writer, which is a title issued to someone who writes consistently for the 49er, and was really enjoying my job.

But unbelievably things would soon change for the better.

One of the assistant sports editors', Tucker Savoye, had to step down and I was asked to take over as assistant of the sports section.

Since that time, I have learned valuable information about what it takes to be an editor on a daily newspaper.

In addition, I was able to partially cover the Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball beat. As I got more clips, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try my hand at video.

After making a video, I decided to apply for an internship at KCBS/KCAL Sports, and ESPN's Jim Rome is Burning.

As fortune would have it, I got both positions! But I was only able to choose one due to the fact I needed to put full effort into the company I committed to.

So, the position I find myself in now is working as assistant sports editor, creating video packages for Beach News--a news program at LBSU--and interning at KCBS/KCAL Sports.

I really can't believe I'm in this position now. It's really an honor.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this blog and feel free to comment away!

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

He has “it.” Many others want “it.”

“It” being an uncanny ability to remain calm and collected under pressure; the ability to make efficient and dependable throws; the ability to remain energetic and enthusiastic during game time but still make intelligent decisions on the field.

Rookie Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco (see right) is the very man who possesses “it,” so much so that he is now commonly referred to as Joe “Cool.”

That’s right Snoopy, step aside and let a new Joe “Cool” enter the spotlight.

This kid out of NCAA division I-AA Delaware State University has seemingly done all that is asked of him and more. Flacco has maintained his “it,” made big time throws all the while playing, for the most part, mistake free football.

His passing totals for the first two games read as follows: 20 for 45, logging 245 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions. Plus he has no fumbles and has rushed for a touchdown.

Not too mind boggling but it works, especially for the Ravens style of football—pound the football via the running game and hammer the opposition with their defense.

Let’s face it, becoming the first NFL rookie quarterback ever to win two playoff games—on the road nonetheless—is no easy task.

In fact, in 42 years only six rookie quarterbacks before these playoffs had ever set foot under center. And only three have ever won their first postseason start.

Guess who was last to do it? The very man Flacco will be facing off against this Sunday in the AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger.

“Big Ben” was doing just what Flacco is doing this year back in 2004—keep his team in the game by not turning the ball over, make the right plays at the right time, and trust his defense to be the key factor in the game.

And although Roethlisberger lost the AFC Championship game to the eventual Superbowl champion New England Patriots, his efficient play transferred to next season as he helped the Steelers bring a championship to the city of Pittsburgh.

As the two quarterbacks face off Sunday there will be many intriguing factors and storylines.

The Steelers were victorious in the previous two meetings, 23-20 in OT and 13-9 but look out for the Ravens.

Both can be characterized as games of inches and questionable calls and I just do not think that things can go the way of the Steelers for a third time.

There have been 17 instances since 1982 of a team defeating another team three times, the last of which occurring in 2004—the St. Louis Rams over the Seattle Seahawks and the Greenbay Packers over the Minnesota Vikings.

The defenses involved are two of the staunchest defenses in the NFL.

With players like the Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs, and safety Ed Reed.

Or the Steelers defensive player of the year, linebacker James Harrison, linebacker James Farrior, and safety Troy Polamalu; how can anyone pick which defense they would rather have?

Assuming safety Polamalu’s calf strain limits him from being his normal, efficacious self the Ravens will have the advantage in this area.

Or how about whether or not Roethlisberger’s spinal concussion will cause him any trouble in this game?

He played well last game but it definitely still has to be a concern for the Steelers.

In addition, will Flacco be able to oust his mirror image of Roethlisberger?

He is playing so similar to the way “Big Ben” played in 2004-2005 and I am a firm believer that Joe "Cool" will get it done.

Also, what about the fact that a rookie quarterback is trying to lead his team to the Superbowl? What a great story that would be.

To sum it up, the rookie Flacco will pose a deep ball threat and play mistake free football.

He will be his calm and collected self as the Ravens will be victorious over the Steelers, 17-10.

Most quarterbacks take a couple of years to develop a comfort level (ask the Giants’ Eli Manning) that allows them to unleash their potential and become a legitimately dangerous quarterback.

Others just have “it.”

--

Sources: ESPN.com; NFL.com

Photo of Joe Flacco provided by DC Pro Sports Report

Photo of Ben Roethlisberger provided by NFL.com

NHL All-Star Game

Every year as a child there it would be on my calendar in big, bold, black letters--NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND!

The likes of Steve Yzerman, Pavel Bure, Mario Lemieux, Ray Borque, and Al MacInnis--just to name a few—all playing in the same game was enough to have me gawking at the very thought.

But as I got older, the luster began to wear off and I realized one thing: this is not REAL hockey.

In fact, most people would rather watch TiVo’d episodes of 24.

Eliminate it!

The game is a strong misrepresentation of what the sport is and I believe it is comparable to the comedic NFL Pro Bowl.

Quick-paced, blood-pumping, hard-hitting, teeth-jarring game that America loves is light years away from what Pro Bowl consists of. It is a game characterized more along the lines of being “powder puff.”

And the NHL All-Star game is in the same predicament. No fights; no big hits; minimal defensive effort.

It is no secret that the NHL is at the bottom of the totem in popularity and dollar value in comparison to the three other "major sports" (MLB, NFL, NBA) yet the game happens every year.

I used to love it and for kids nowadays it is great.

To be able to see all the talented, flashy forwards like Alexander Ovechkin, Dany Heatley, and Ryan Getzlaf.

Or tough, silky smooth defenseman such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Scott Niedermayer, Brian Campbell, and Zdeno Chara is definitely a heck of a sight to see.

But the game is neither economical nor substantive hockey promotion.

There needs to be fights, hard hits, and maximum player effort!

But this will never happen. Players do not want to be injured in a game that means nothing. And their effortless play is a reflection of the ratings.

Prime example: the 2008 All-Star game mustered an anemic 0.8 Nielsen rating.

Now it looks like this event is going to cost two premier players--Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk--playing time after the break due to a policy established in 2008.

According to the rule, players who are able to play in the game must attend unless they are injured like Sidney Crosby is this year (commissioner Gary Bettman thinks the game needs every player voted in by the fans to increase attendance).

Fans who purchased tickets months in advance—possibly to see Lidstrom or Datsyuk play—are now unable to see these greats.

No longer is the game I once loved going to show up circled on my calendar in big, bold, black letters.

Instead, I’ll probably just be checking what I have recorded on TiVo.

Sources: NHL.com; ESPN.com; Yahoo.com

Picture Source: cdn.nhl.com

Angels GM Tony Reagins...Keep Doing What You're Doing

Losing 12 of 13 games in the postseason to the Boston Red Sox would cause many teams—especially the New York Yankees—to spend millions of dollars on "marquee" players.

But spending millions of dollars on expensive "marquee" players would mean the organization is acting on emotion. And acting on emotion in sports displays weakness and desperation.

These spending sprees usually results in financial problems or frustration if the team fails.

Teams can make or win the World Series without a bunch of expensive free agents.

The Tampa Bay Rays nearly won it this year and they have a team salary nearly equivalent to the left side of the Yankees infield.

When the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were sent packing once again by the Red Sox, I was just like almost every other irate Angels fan: I wanted the team to start buying the prolific free-agents.

After allowing some time pass and reflecting on LAA General Manager Tony Reagins decisions so far, I have realized that he is handling the offseason the right way.

The man had the audacity to break off negotiations with closer Francisco Rodriguez who is becoming, in my opinion, one of the shakiest closers in the game.

Yes he had 63 saves in 2008--a Major League record--but he is becoming more hittable and rarely provided a save where he would get all three batters out without allowing someone to reach base.

Reagins then inked an All-Star closer in Brian Fuentes who is already at an advantage because few American League hitters have seen first hand his repertoire of pitches.

Add to that the fact that hitters will only face him maybe a couple of times a year and the Angels theoretically have a solid closer for a couple of years.

Also, Reagins extended the outfielder Juan Rivera’s contract for another three years.

Rivera will now have a chance to prove himself and is ultimately a temporary option for an aging Vladimir Guerrero. Given the opportunities, I believe Rivera will not disappoint.

In addition, the decision to halt the pursuit of Teixeira and Manny Ramirez by Reagins could work out in the Angels favor.

Make no mistake about it: it would have been fantastic if the Angels had signed Teixeira.

It was a lot of money though and the Angels would have been committed to Tex for a very long time.

Nobody knows what is going to happen in the next 8 years. Plus there are going to be plenty of other highly-touted and highly-skilled free agents in that span.

Now, Ramirez sounds like it would be a good signing but who knows how he would fit in to the “small ball” mantra the Angels follow.

Not signing these two players allows the Angels to have more financial freedom and maybe even allow them to sign a hitter like Adam Dunn or a former gold glove winner in Doug Mientkiewicz to fill the hole at first.

The Angels could possibly convince Dunn to play first base because they are perennial World Series contenders, even though he has gone on record saying he does not want to.

Also, it was announced today that the Angels signed manager Mike Scioscia to a contract extension through 2018.

Scioscia has been one of the top managers in the game since 2000 with the Angels, leading them to a World Series with in 2002, posting a .551 winning percentage in his 8 seasons.

No only that he has guided the Angels to division titles 4 of the past 5 seasons.

With a solid manager, a dangerous lineup of speedy small ball players, a deep rotation and a solid bullpen, the Angels will remain in contention.

Spending a lot of money on marquee free agents more often than not, results in failure to win the World Series.

Reagins has made the right moves and hopefully the logical business decisions will pay off in the long run for the Angels.