The Blog Easy: Notes from a Triumphant Return

An opening homage to the wonderful city of New Orleans: great people, great city, great fun.

In fact, so much fun that it can actually keep me from watching sports (kind of).

A bit of catch up news:

The Penguins re-signed young forward Nick Johnson, who was impressive in his short time up with the big club this year.

The Blackhawks took a 3-2 lead last night in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night, beating the Flyers 7-4. I’ve decided that if the Blackhawks win, they should give the Conn Smythe to Patrick Sharp. With all due respect to Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the best player on the ice for the Hawks night in and night out has been Sharp. He may end up being a cap casualty after the season, and it would be a damn shame. Seems to be a good character guy and someone who is very deserving of his success.



Hossa Watch (through game 5): 1 Goal, 3 Assists.

The Pirates drafted high school pitcher Jameson Taillon with the 2nd overall pick in the MLB Draft tonight. Kid is a giant. 18 years old, 6’6”, 220 pounds, 98 MPH fastball, and now a doomed career since he was drafted by the Buccos.

Did they even win a game while I was gone?

Ben Roethlisberger came out and talked to the media for the first time after rejoining the squad. He answered a couple questions and moved on. It was really no big deal either way. I’ll hold my judgment for when he does an interview with the ladies from “The View”.



I know it’s now water under the bridge, but I feel obligated to address the Armando Galarraga/Jim Joyce perfect game scandal. Joyce has sincerely apologized to Galarraga and admitted that he made the wrong call. Many nasty things were said in the game’s aftermath about Joyce, in the media and by schmucks on the internet like me. Joyce seemed genuinely devastated by his mistake, and the guy deserves a break.

Honestly, what Joyce has done has elevated that moment to another level. In ten years, not too many people will remember the perfect games hurled by Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay, but all baseball fans will remember Joyce’s blown call. Inadvertently, Jim Joyce has immortalized the game that Galarraga threw.

It was, simply put, imperfect perfection.

More stuff tomorrow.

Edit: Shame on me for not mentioning the passing of former UCLA coach and basketball legend John Wooden. One of the most humble men the game has ever known passed away this weekend at age 99. He'll be sorely missed.

Gala-Robbery

It was history.

When Armando Galarraga stepped on first with the final out in his glove, it marked a tremendous personal comeback for a man who three weeks ago was pitching in the minors.

And then umpire James Joyce stepped in.

In what would likely be a top two or three "awful call of the year" regardless of the situation, Joyce called Cleveland Indian batter Jason Donald safe at first, although it was perfectly clear that Galarraga had beaten Donald to the bag by at WORST a half-step.

Galarraga's accomplishment would have been the third perfect game of the MLB season, a feat that has never been done. Now, it becomes a tragedy. A struggling pitcher who pitched the game of his life, and still couldn't catch a break. With one emphatic gesture, Jim Joyce put all celebrations aside, leaving Tiger Stadium in a state of incredulity. Even Jason Donald put his hands on his head in shock.

It is an utterly shameful night in baseball. An ignominious shadow has been cast over what should have been a beautiful moment. Even if Major League Baseball would overturn the umpires ruling (unlikely), it would still never be the same.

Galarraga deserved his moment. Jim Joyce made it his own.