Ms. Peanut

The event was back in the 1990's. I attended a autograph signing of former Negro League baseball players. The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of  African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. This was due in part to the prevention of Black players to play in the major leagues at the time. The leagues existed roughly from 1859 to 1951.

Even though I consider myself a sports guy, I admit I was thrown off when I saw this petite woman at one of the tables. In talking with her, I discovered that she was a player in the leagues. While I admit I don't remember all of the stories she talked about, she interested me enough that I got an autograph baseball from her.

Of course when I got home, the journalist in me got stirred up.

That player was Ms. Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, who passed this week at the age of 82. She got her nickname because of her stature, 5' - 3". She was one of three women players that played in the Negro Leagues. As with most players, she played more than one position while in the leagues. In fact, in her two year career with the Indianapolis Clowns, she batted .262. She was the first female pitcher to pitch in the League, sporting a 33-8 record. One of her teammates was Goose Tatum of the Harlem Globetrotters.

On June 5, 2008, Johnson and other living players from the Negro League Era at the time were drafted by major league franchises prior to the 2008 MLB First year Draft. Johnson was selected by the Washington Nationals, her hometown team.

Yet another reason why the Nats are my team.

In 2002, she wrote a book about her life story titled "A Strong Right Arm". I know what I'll be reading during my holiday vacation.

Season Greetings!!

Obsession?

Regular readers of my blog know that I am a avid fantasy football fan and player. I have been doing this for more than twenty years, attempting to predict which players will have the better performances week in and week out. This includes running my own league that has existed now for 22 years.

In the past, I have always said it was just a hobby. It's one of few things in my life that I kinda let what little hair I have down and become totally immersed.

But recently, I believe that my hobby has taken a turn. While I have done casual research in the past, I have stepped it up more that a notch. The fantasy shows that I didn't watch live I recorded to watch later...sometimes very late at night. Of course I watch the three hour show on Sunday mornings leading up to kickoff. Every Sunday. If I'm not on the Web, I'm listening to shows on Sirrus radio.

In other words, I think I'm caught up like a one night love affair.

What doesn't help with my concern is that it seems to be working. In the four leagues that I was in this past year, I have made the playoffs in two and have a chance to defend my championship in another. So my process works...right?

Am I really caught up? Should I just walk away? It's a lot to think about.

As soon as the season is over. Man got to have his priorities.

Solitude

This time of year I think of one of my favorite Billie Holiday songs titled "In my Solitude".

It usually starts with the end of NBA Finals. I take a complete break (almost) from sports. While I have kept my eye on my Nationals, everything else sports related (fantasy or otherwise) I've just had a "meh" attitude it. Kyrie. Meh. Summer NBA basketball. Meh. All the major sport drafts...well you get the ideal. I haven't even clicked to the NFL network this summer. This is the time where I put down the remote and slowly back away.

If I could, I would go to some far off piece of land where I couldn't be contacted and just get a little peace and quiet. A monastery where I could chant every day would be ideal. But I'm afraid that I may like it a little too much.

But as one of my favorite Law & Order detectives said, "...lets not get carried away."

I've replaced chanting with mock drafts. Replaced solitude and peace with draft parties, football parties and wait for it, more parties. I've started my fantasy football research and gearing up for the Nationals playoff run. In other words I'm ready. Ready to defend my football title in one league, manage my own league (which is entering it's 22nd year of existence) in another and get back into the overall general madness that is sports.

Like I always say, it's a hobby.






http://breezygsportspage.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @breezysportpage

First...again

The NBA is not the only major sport organization that will begin it's championship finals this week. The National Hockey League also starts it's finals. One of the major participants is defenseman Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban, better know as "P.K.". The two-time all star keeps the tradition going of black players in the finals that probably started with Hall-of-Fame goalie Grant Fuhr who won the Cup in 1983.

For me, when I see stuff like this, I always think...Who was first?

For that answer, we go back to January 18th, 1958. Willie O'Ree was a left winger who came up from the Quebec Aces to replace a injured player for the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadians. He became well, you know. While he only played two games that season, he returned in the 1960-1961 season to play 43 more games for his career. He also became the first black player to score a NHL goal, lighting the lamp on New Year's Day 1961 against Montreal.

What's more amazing is how he played when he was in the league. During the 1955-56 season in the Ontario league, he was struck in the eye by a puck. Eight weeks later, he lost 95% of the vision in his left eye. Somehow he was able to keep it hidden. "Alf (head coach) may have been informed about my eye but we didn't discuss it in great detail," O'Ree said. "He asked if I ever tried right wing. He moved me over there and I didn't have trouble seeing the puck. If I had moved over to right wing when I was with the Bruins, I might have scored more goals and been more of an asset."

If you listen to O'Ree, he sounds like any other Canadian kid with dreams of playing pro hockey: "Every chance I had, I was on the ice," O'Ree recalled. "I even skated to school. My dad squirted the garden hose on the back yard and we had an instant rink. I loved the feel of the wind rushing by as I flew along the ice. I loved the sound of spraying ice chips when I hit the brakes and spun around to charge back the other way. I loved having the puck on my stick and learning how to stickhandle. The speed that I could reach on my skates when I was stickhandling with the puck was like defying gravity."

Dreams can be so inspirational.

Fast forward to 2016. Winger Joel Ward (who used to play with the Capitals) said that he was inspired by O'Ree to play hockey and his number 22 should be retired like baseball's Jackie Robinson.

Why not?

It's here that I give my annual tribute to the Americans who do their best to keep our shores safe. This year, I'll keep it simple....Thank you for your service.

Beef

Am I the only one pumped up around here?

I always get "siced" (DC urban term for excited) up for the matchups between the local teams. Whether it's the Washington football franchise vs. the Ravens or the Orioles versus my Nats, I always get up for the local matchups. 

Full disclosure: In regards to football, while I am still 53% for the Washington football franchise, I am a full fledged member of Raven Nation. Reading of my past blogs as well as personal testimony from my boyz will support my claim. Like most relationships, it's complicated. Still, I can't wait for the Ravens/Washington Super Bowl.

As for the Nats versus the Birds, that's a whole different ballgame (see what I did there?). With the exception of the Ravens, I am all in with my local teams. While I won't wear the elaborate costumes of some fans, I'm just as much a fan when it comes to passion.

The two teams have their annual four game matchup this week. Since the beginning of this matchup in 2006, the Birds have won 31 of 53 games. They have won seven out of the last ten matchups. While we have the strong starting group with pitchers that include Steven Strasburg and last year's Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, the Orioles have the leagues top late inning guys in All-Stars Brad Brach and Zach Britton. Britton is currently undergoing a MRI with forearm discomfort. Might not be available for the series.

Cry me a river.

Maybe I'm hyped like this so I can have bragging rights over my boyz. Even though it's been a while, I'm still loving having a team to call my own that have no political issues to deal with such as the team name. In either case, I'm looking for a sweep.

A guy can dream can't he?

The Hustle

OK Caps, I get it.

The plan against the Penguins is to lose the first two games of your semi-final matchup, lull them into a sense of false security and then strike back and take the series in six or seven games. Very slick Washington.

It has to be the plan, right? While taking a tough loss in game one, they suckered Pittsburgh even more by playing hard in the first period in game two. They even went as far as having their goalie, Braden Holtby play so bad that he was taken out for the third period. I mean, he led the league with nine shutouts and was the league's best goaltender last year.

Well Caps, the setup is perfect. I don't think Pittsburgh has a clue. It's time for phase two.

Let's go Caps!!

I have had a love affair with hockey ever since high school. I was playing floor hockey when I hip checked a guy (of course I was a defenseman) into the seats. It was something that I saw when I watched games on TV. After I did it, I was waiting for the whistle, knowing that I had committed a penalty.

There was no whistle. It was a legal play. I've been in love ever since. It doesn't hurt that it's the one sport that the officials allow you to fight during the game to settle any differences that you may have.

My feelings for the sport were only amplified when my home team, The Capitals were founded in 1974. A team to call my own. While the Bullets and the Washington franchise were my main squeezes, the Caps were the girl that I always liked when I was growing up.

As things turn out, we go against the Penguins in second round of this year's playoffs. To give you an ideal of the intensity level, we like the Penguins just as much as the Ravens like the Steelers. That has only been enhanced by the recent history between the teams in the playoffs. The last four times the teams these teams have met, not only have the Penguins beat the Caps, they went on to win the Stanley Cup.  

The latest chapter between the two teams started Thursday night. If Cap fans can't stand the Penguins in general, they really can't stand their superstar Sidney Crosby. He staked the Pens to a 2-0 lead scoring his career 52nd and 53rd playoff goals in 53 seconds. Although our superstar Alex Ovechkin scored his 45th playoff tally of his own, it wasn't enough as Pittsburgh took game one 3-2.

This is usually the time where I would complain about how the Caps get seem to get beat by these guys in the playoffs and start to let down. But after watching game one, I see a different Caps team. This team  played hard the entire game and had no quit in them. Take away the two goals that Crosby scored and the Caps might be up 1-0.

But man, those Penguins are good. After all, they are the defending champs. But this year's Caps do not want you to cry them a river. That's because there is no crying in hockey.

- BreezyG

G.O.A.T - The Remix

One of my newer websites that I've checking out is from the League Ambassadors (www.leagueam.com). The guys are what I call the "new jacks" of the sports paradigm. They educate, debate and juggle the various sports topics of the day. You can holla at them through any of today's social mediums. On one of their recent shows, they brought up a topic that was intriguing: Mike or Kareem?

This can be a decent debate. Their careers actually did intertwine for five years (84-89). By the time Jordan got to the league, Jabbar had won his six league titles. Jordan took over (sort of) to start his own six year title run.

In the case of these two, timing was truly everything. When Jabbar entered the league, he basically did the same thing that he did both in high school and college: have a impact. He became a top three star (in scoring and rebounding) and after future Hall - of - Famer Oscar Robinson came over, he won the first of his championships. He  easily could have been the face of a still fledging league that was still trying to get it's sea legs.

With Jordan, it was a case of spontaneous combustion. He entered the league at a time when the league was creating it's identity (led by the Godfather of the league --David Stern). With the help of his swag (which wasn't really a popular word at the time but you get it) and his boy at the time Charles Barkley, they took the league to an entirely different level in terms of popularity and well, commercialism.

I can see why some would make a case for Jordan. He helped bring the bright lights to the league as well as make it the popular game that it still is. Now, while I won't make the connection that Jabbar was the Mike before Mike (in part because he didn't want to be), you can not deny his career achievements as well as his consistency. He was still averaging 23 points a game at age 38. While you have organizations like ESPN having him the greatest player in league history (ahead of Jordan), for me I still like Mike.

I still remember a dream I had when I was getting ready to play my dream pickup game with the greatest players in NBA history and I had first pick. It wasn't any doubt who my first pick was.

"Give me Magic".

Renewal

Today I submit my sports platinum card for renewal. Historically, I consider myself ahead of the game if I get two of the NCAA Basketball final four. It’s going to be even tougher this year. At least half the field has a legit shot at the title. So, without further ado…

East: Home of the defending champion Villanova Wildcats. Will take strong defensive effort in possible games against Wisconsin, Virginia and possible regional finalist Duke. One other team to keep your eye on is SMU. Otherwise, looking forward to a great regional final matchup between the Cats and the Blue Devils. Offhand I would give coach K the nod because he can coach. As the rap song says, …love him, hate him, ‘but you can’t ignore him.’ In this case, however, Jay Wright has grown himself as a coach. Picking Villanova to get a chance to repeat.  

West: On the other side of the country, you have a wide-open West. It seems that every team in this bracket has a story. You got Gonzaga, a team that always has a great regular season only to go down in flames in the tournament. Experts say that the Bulldogs have the easiest path to the final four. I say that there is no easy path to the final four at all. You also have Northwestern making their first appearance in the Big Dance as well as the Terps of Maryland. The team I have not mentioned is another Wildcat: The University of Arizona. They bring the A in athleticism. That’s part of the reason why I’m picking these Wildcats over the Bulldogs in this region.

South: In my opinion, the most competitive bracket of the tournament. From the Carolina Tar Heels to the Bruins of UCLA led by one of the top guards in the company (Lonzo Ball) to pro basketball factory Kentucky, any of these teams in this bracket has a five-game run in them. But at the end of the day I’m going with the #1 ranked Tar Heels in this bracket because of their bench and experience.

Midwest: I’ll keep this decision clear and crisp for you. I’m picking Kansas to win the Midwest (as well as the tournament), beating Louisville in the regional final. Possible party wreckers include Iowa State and Oklahoma State. I still have to mention Michigan State, who always plays well this time of year.

As David Letterman used to say every year, this is an exhibition not a competition, so please no wagering.

Oh, Canada

The BreezyG Sports Page ends the month with one of the staples of my blog that I take pride in: history.

Bernie Custis was a Washington D.C. native who grew up in Philadelphia excelling in football and track. From high school, he played quarterback for the Orangemen of Syracuse from 1948-50. He was the team MVP his first year. Some could say he was the forbearer for another great Orange player in Ernie Davis.

Mr. Custis was a roommate of future Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis while at Syracuse. Small world.

After college, Custis became the #6 pick of the Cleveland Browns. They offered him the safety position in part because the starting quarterback at the time was future Hall-of-Famer Otto Graham. When he refused, the Browns agreed to release him...as long as he agreed not to play for another NFL team.

Really?

The only other option he had available was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU). That later became the Eastern division of what is now the Canadian Football League. In his first year, on August 29th, 1951, he did become, wait for it, the first Black quarterback in the modern-day era. Not quite the first...Fritz Pollard took some snaps at quarterback in the 1920's.  He led the Cats to the playoffs but lost in the finals. He also made the All-Star team as well. Two years later, playing running back, he helped the Cats win the league title.

As a coach, he led Junior Canadian League teams to a 74-20 record and won three Ontario championships and two Eastern Canadian tittles. He was inducted to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

When you are destined to be great, sometimes it takes more than one door to be opened.

 

Boogie

I knew something was up when premier NBA center DeMarcus Cousins didn't play but two minutes in last night's All-Star game. That generally means that a trade is in the works. I know that Sacramento Kings General Manager Vlade Divac said earlier this month that "Boogie" Cousins was not on the trading block and that Cousins himself said that he wanted to bring the Kings back to the promise land, but whatever.


The New Orleans Pelicans have offered a deal for Cousins, sending their #6 pick from last year (Buddy Hield) along with two other players as well as their both of their draft picks in this year's draft for one of the premier centers in the league.


It's here that I have to say that I have to say that I have seen this movie before. Five years ago, there was a proposed trade that included All-Star guard Chris Paul and these same Pelicans. That trade was vetoed by then league "Godfather" David Stern for, wait for it, 'basketball reasons'. He was the then de facto owner of the Pelicans at the time. I blogged about that situation back in December of 2011 (The Plantation).


If this deal goes through, it immediately catapults the Pelicans into the playoff conversation. By getting Cousins, New Orleans will have the only two players that have averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds over the last four years. Anthony Davis (last night's All-Star MVP who set a record by scoring an record 52 points) is the other. The two have also combined for the most 30 point 15 rebound games (44) since 2012-13. Boogie has 26 of those games. Add competent point guard Jrue Holiday and seven footer Omer Asik (included in the deal), and like Maxwell would say you got a little somethin somethin.


On paper, I love the deal for New Orleans. They can now put Davis (and his improving 32% 3-pt shooting) on the wing and let Boogie do his thing under the rim. I wanted Cousins here with the Wiz (and his former teammate John Wall), league leading 19 technical fouls and all. In spite of all his stuff, he still is a four-time All Star running. I think the potential upside, as well as coming home (nearby Mobile, Alabama) will do wonders for him.


If the Pelicans become a playoff contender in the coming years, you can defiantly blame it on the boogie.

Dreams

Back in December of 2015, I did a blog about the astronomical odds of college football players that make it to the next level (Who’s Pimpin Who?) For the 2015 season, 255 out of the 15,842 draft eligible players were drafted. That’s 0.016% Less than two percent. A recent article by Rick Maese that I read rekindled my interest.

Actually, the article was a can of gasoline.

This article dealt with the top 100 high school football recruits from ten years ago. Let me give you the paperback version: of that top 100, only 39 were eventually drafted into the NFL. Out of that group, twenty are still in the league. Seven made the Pro Bowl. Four are deceased.

Some of the recruits from that class have familiar names. Cam Newton recently won the league MVP award. Dez Bryant, Eric Berry and Joe Haden are part of the Pro Bowl class. Other more infamous names include Rolando McClain who is currently under suspension for repeated substance-abuse violations and Aaron Hernandez, recruit #66 who is now inmate #W106228, having been convicted of murder. The facility he is in is an hour away from Foxborough, Mass., where his former Patriots teammates are preparing for this weekend’s Super Bowl.  

The reasons as to why the others didn’t make it are as varied as the football positions. For some it was a blown out knee here, torn ligament there. For others, it was self-inflicted robbery here, assault there. There are some who say that not making it was the best thing that happened to them.  

But at the end of the day, only one out of five of this group is still living their initial dream of playing professional football.  

By the way, the high school National Signing Day is this Wednesday.