Comments for Johnny228's Weblog

Comment on Big Brown Becomes Big Clown by johnny228

johnny228 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:45:26 +0000

Because of his meltdown, he will probably run again to prove this was a fluke.

I thought the NY Times article by Joe Drape was a good one. The horses just don’t train as hard as they do. Today, a hard workout is five to six furlongs. Why not let them go at it for a mile? And, why not work them more to get them fit and build up endurance and toughness?

They say that today’s horses are bred more for speed than endurance. If this is the case, why are the times that horses run no better than they were years ago? Secretariat (1973) ran 2:24.00 for the Belmont and that is still the stakes record. Da’Tara just ran 2:29.65.

They may have more front end speed, but in the end, the times have not improved. Roger Bannister broke 4 minutes for the mile in 1954. Today, the world record for the mile is 3:43 and change. Northern Dancer still has the third fastest time in Kentucky Derby history and that was back in 1966.

Comment on Big Brown Becomes Big Clown by tvnewsbadge

tvnewsbadge — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:28:55 +0000

I’m disappointed too, but given the bizarre meltdown, I don’t think we can form any lasting opinions of Big Browns place in history until he races (if he does) a couple of more times, when he’s healthy and maybe with a different jockey.

Right now there are just too many question with no answers.

I just can’t believe a horse that won the K. Derby and the Preakness in such a dominating fashion could have such a total meltdown without a reason.

TvNB

Comment on Concessions? by johnny228

johnny228 — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:14:14 +0000

You hit it right on the head. There is an obligation for the Kentucky Derby champ to run in the Preakness. If Big Brown wins the Preakness, he will go to the Belmont and regardless of whether he wins or loses, he will likely never run another race again. Simply put, he’ll be too spent to rise to the occasion once again and will be led right to the breeding shed.

Denis of Cork is sitting pretty. He finished third of 20 at the Derby and now, he can sit and rest to see how things shake out. If Big Brown wins the Preakness, Cork could come to the Belmont and try to be the spoiler. If not, he can take the rest of the spring off, run a race in late summer and then head to the Breeder’s Cup in October, and possibly run as a 4 year old before embarking on a stud career. He’’s the kind of horse that isn’t great enough to go right to stud, might not be great enough to win a classic race, but might be good enough to contend in the classics and win a less prestigious Grade 1, 2, or 3 stakes race and have a decent career. Of course, only the horse racing fan will remember a horse like Denis of Cork, the general sports fan will say “who?”

Comment on Concessions? by J. Rusak

J. Rusak — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:51:04 +0000

The change won’t quell anyone’s feelings, but it does make sense, given the current physical of the horses runnign today.

I think it really sez something about the state of affairs when Big Brown is apt to be the only horse going to the Preakness, from the Derby, and that only because he has to be.

J Rusak

Comment on Giambi is Yankees’ Biggest Problem by johnny228

johnny228 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:33:01 +0000

Nobody is a bigger Jeter supporter than me, he is a first ballot Hall of Famer—bit moving him to first base down the road would make sense.

Ernie Banks did it; Robin Yount did it; Derek Jeter can do it.

Comment on Giambi is Yankees’ Biggest Problem by Jonny Mac

Jonny Mac — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:21:10 +0000

Nice Call genius. Giambi is horrible, but Jeter is still a solid ss and is going nowhere yet my friend. Quit hating on the yankees!!

Comment on Quick Take: Clemens vs. McNamee by johnny228

johnny228 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:49:52 +0000

No, I wouldn’t cheat no matter how much $$$ it meant. When you die, all you have left for others is your reputation. Do something else for a living.

Who does to stand to gain from the argument? Clemens? McNamee? Politicians?

The real story is the Hall of Fame. It is easier for Pettitte and Knoblauch to tell the truth because they are not going to the Hall of Fame. For Clemens, his legacy is what he’s trying to protect. He didn’t do a very good job at it today. My goodness, he lied about the Jose Canseco barbecue party. Canseco, Clemens and all the other players are protecting each other, so they are tryting to throw McNamee under the bus. Canseco’s stories change with the weather.

Clemens is trying the Pete Rose defense. Deny, Deny, Deny and hope you slip into the HOF. How did that work for Rose? I don’t think it will work for Clemens either.

Thanks for reading.

Comment on Quick Take: Clemens vs. McNamee by Dumb non fan

Dumb non fan — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:53:17 +0000

The issue here is $$$$.
What motivates the other guy?
Who cares what anyone says or writes about the subject.
Look at who stands to gain from the argument.
That is the real story here.
Further to what any statement is, the reality is if you could make 50M in three years for three shots a year would you do it?

Comment on Federer’s Loss Good For Tennis by Geoffrey Zander

Geoffrey Zander — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:43:55 +0000

Good stuff Clarke baby!

Comment on Track Records by johnny228

johnny228 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:34:50 +0000

Don’t discount what the Bills did from 1990-1993. To win four consecutive AFC Championships will likely never be done again in the NFL—-or any sport for that matter. Yes, they did not capture the ultimate prize, but life is supposed to be about competing, trying and doing your best, and for the Bills to come back to the Super Bowl year after year shows that drive and determination. It took years, but now that time has passed, the football gurus are finally beginning to respect what the Bills did.

Ask the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals fans about losing Super Bowls. Those four teams have never played in one. I’d rather lose four than never be in one.

Forget about the New York/New Jersey thing. The Jets are actually incorporated and headquartered in Hempstead, Long Island, while the Giants are incorporated in New Jersey, so to be technical the Jets are more New York. That will all change when the new stadium is built in New Jersey!

That said, the Meadowlands is eight miles from Manhattan, closer than many places in New York.