What started as trash talking on the court, has spiraled into all kinds of real life drama. On Monday night, the Boston Celtics played the New York Knicks and words were exchanged throughout the entire game between Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett. Part of Garnett’s game is psychological by trying to get into a player’s mind. Needless to say, Melo was having an off night and KG’s words started to affect him. Apparently KG made a comment about Anthony’s wife along the lines of, [your wife] “tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios”. Not the most clever line by KG, but it clearly worked because Anthony got so mad after that he waited for Garnett to walk out of Boston’s tunnel onto the team bus.
This resulted in Melo being suspended for a game, but the news that is coming out now, is even more revealing. It looked like Melo was not fully present at the game, like he had his mind elsewhere. Rumors are swirling that Melo and his wife Lala are currently on a break after they hit a rough patch in their marriage. The split reportedly happened about two months ago. The two have yet to comment on the split rumors, but it seems like this would make the most sense. Together or not, at least we get a brand new season of Lala’s Full Court Life! Don’t get too excited.
There were seven no-hitters this past baseball season. However, one stood out more than the rest. There is one franchise who seems to have the worst luck and has become the laughing stock of the MLB. Who might I be talking about? New York’s other team, the New York Mets. This organization has constantly been ridiculed for its awful contracts and lackluster performance. However, the Mets did make one impressive trade when they traded prospects for the Cy Young winner, Johan Santana.
Santana was one of the most elite pitchers in the game. However, when he came over to New York he was constantly plagued by injuries and never returned to what he was in Minnesota. Except for one night in July when he was spectacular. It was a game that the Mets were hosting the reigning World Series Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals. It was already expected to be a big game because it was Carlos Beltran’s first game back to New York since being traded.
Santana was pitching brilliantly and the Mets were actually giving him run support. Once it got to the sixth,seventh inning, fans started noticing that Santana had yet to give up a hit. Being used to disappointment, Mets fans assumed that there was no way he was going to go all nine innings nor would manager Terry Collins allow his ace to be overworked.
Now the Mets get to the ninth inning. Still no hits have been given up, but Santana is up to 115 pitches and still has batters to face. What to do? Collins surely didn’t know, but knew he owed it to the Mets fans who have waited 8,020 games to see a pitcher go all the way. Two outs in the ninth. Matt Holiday steps into the box. Strike 1. Strike 2. Can this really happen? Can Johan Santana really accomplish something Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Doc Gooden, and David Cone could not deliver to these fans? Strike 3, swinging at a change up! YES JOHAN SANTANA PITCHED THE FIRST NO-HITTER IN NEW YORK METS HISTORY!!!!! What an amazing feeling for the fans! Johan Santana, one of the most beloved Mets pitchers finally broke the curse. It was so emotional, Santana cried, Collins cried, and now I am tearing up thinking about it! It could not have happened to a better guy. What a great moment in sports!
The San Francisco Giants are starting to build a dynasty. However, this year it seemed more like destiny this year that led them to another World Series title. At every point in the playoffs, it looked like it was all over for the Giants, but they always found a way to get a big hit or a strike out in crunch time. The biggest moment for this team? It had to be in Game 4 of the World Series with the Giants up 3 games looking for the win and Sergio Romo struck out triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera. First of all, holding Cabrera in check was an accomplishment enough, but to get him looking? That definitely deserves a World Series title. Unfortunately, their accomplishment was overshadowed by Superstorm Sandy, but they deserve immense credit and that is why their World Series win is the number seven most memorable moment.
What a sad story during the holiday season. Reports are saying former MLB player Ryan Freel has committed suicide at the age of 36. Freel got his break in the majors in 2001 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He had a six year stint in Cincinnati, which he is most famous for. There was no apparent motive or suicide note left behind. However, similar to recent football suicides, concussions are being assessed as one of the possible causes. No matter what the cause, it will not bring this man back.
If you know anyone struggling with life or you are personally struggling, reach out! There are resources that will keep you anonymous. It doesn’t have to end like this.
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
It hasn’t happened since 1967 so it is a memorable moment for years to come. Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera won the triple crown. Cabrera led the league in hitting (.330), home runs (44), and runs batted in (139). Cabrera became the fifteenth player in history to win the title. He joins an elite class which includes Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Frank Robinson.
Cabrera was one of the most exciting players to watch. You never know if he would hit a home run, but this was the guy you wanted at-bat with the game on the line. Cabrera and the Tigers went all the way to the World Series. Unfortunately, they came up short and were swept by the San Francisco Giants. However, this guy is one of the best hitters I have ever gotten to watch and I expect to see his name in the running for future hitting awards.
If there was one player that would be consider “Mr. Reliable” it would have to be New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. The Captain always seems to be able to get a hit in the biggest moments so you can understand why fans would be so concerned when they saw their beloved hero on the ground unable to get up during the ALCS.
It seemed like nothing could go right for New York. Their big hitters Cano, Rodriguez, Granderson, and Teixeira could not buy a hit in the playoffs. Jeter was the glue that was holding this team’s hopes of another World Series title together. During the twelve inning of Game 1, Jeter made a diving play to stop a grounder hit by Jhonny Peralta and he could not get up on his own. Watching the trainers have to carry him off the field was not a good sign and it was later confirmed that he broke his ankle. It was the last he would play in the ALCS. What are the Yankees in the playoffs without Jeter? Definitely not the same time and it showed. The Yankees were swept by the Tigers.
The trade has officially happened. It took all weekend, but R.A. Dickey is off to Canada. The Mets have dealt the Cy Young winner, but it looks like it was actually a smart move. The Mets are notorious for making extremely bad deals, however, General Manager Sandy Alderson has vowed to change that and it looks like he has. While Dickey was a fan favorite, no one was sure how much longer he be in the National League. As a member of the Blue Jays, he will be in the American League and will not be required to hit.
The Blue Jays have made it clear that the plan to compete this year and adding Dickey was a great move. They now have a solid rotation after that mega deal with the Miami Marlins in which they received Josh Johnson and Mark Buerhle. While the Mets, on the other hand, are not quite ready to compete in 2013, but are making steps towards building a playoff team for years to come. First they locked up David Wright for the rest of his career, which was probably the best move they could make and instead of just letting Dickey walk, they received two great prospects in catcher Travis d’Arnaud and pitcher Noah Syndergaard. In addition, the two teams switched catchers the Mets sending Dickey’s primary catcher Josh Thole and the Blue Jays sending newly acquired John Buck. This is a great move for both teams and I am so happy the Mets are finally doing something right.
Major League Baseball already has plenty of talent. In 2012, we saw a new wave of young talent that blew people away. It seemed like the rookies were getting more attention than the veterans who paved the way for them. Two in particular being teenager Bryce Harper and twenty year-old Mike Trout.
Bryce Harper debuted in April for the Washington Nationals. It seems like ever since he stepped onto the baseball diamond, he has been the talk of the National League. He spent most of the time making unbelievable catches, but Harper was also a threat with the bat. He hit 22 home runs and drove in 59 runs. Not too bad for a 19 year old playing in the National League with Matt Cain, RA Dickey, and Roy Halladay in it. Harper helped take his team to the playoffs, but unfortunately they fell short to the Cardinals in one of the craziest series in postseason history. Harper did win the NL Rookie of the Year.
Mike Trout came into a team that had huge expectations. The Los Angeles Angels had acquired both CJ Wilson and Albert Pujols in the offseason. Somehow, Trout managed to garner more attention than Albert Pujols, pretty impressive in your first year. Trout has an incredibly impressive first season batting .326, hitting 30 home runs, and driving in 83 runs. He was even in the running for MVP and was only beaten out by Miguel Cabrera who got the triple crown for hitting. Unfortunately, the Angels did not make it to the postseason, but Trout’s individual performance was recognized by MLB when he was awarded the AL Rookie of the Year.
It has been officially announced today by ESPNDallas that former Texas Rangers star Josh Hamilton has signed a five-year deal for $125 million with the Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers have already been informed and we are now just waiting for an official announcement from the Angels. That is a SERIOUS lineup for the Angels: Pujols, Trout, Trumbo, and now Hamilton. Wow, the Angels clearly are a hitting team. Hamilton stayed on the market for so long because of his previous battles with drug and alcohol. Now he can make a fresh start and get a World Series title that has eluded him all those years in Texas.
In honor of today being 12-12-12, let’s look at some of the best athletes to ever wear the number twelve.
sportsastoldbyagirl 