As I sat in the press box at Larry H. Miller Field Monday evening covering the Provo Angels’ home opener, my mind started to wander on to various events going on in the world of sports.
Here are a few of the thoughts that came to my mind through the nine innings of the Provo Angels’ 7-6 loss:
I thought back to Saturday and the much-anticipated match-up of New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens and the New York Mets’ Shawn Estes.
The question was whether or not Estes would nail Clemens because of the cracked-bat throwing incident with Clemens and Mets slugger Mike Piazza two years ago in the World Series.
Since the NL’s Mets hosted this subway series, Clemens couldn’t bow out in favor of a designated hitter. He had to come to the plate to hit.
I sat on the couch in anticipation, hoping to see Clemens get plunked. In the third inning, I finally got what I was sitting on the edge of my couch for.
But all the hype soon ended as Estes’ attempt to hit Clemens failed when the throw went behind Clemens.
I have to give the umpires their props for keeping the game in order and warning both benches not to do it again. Even though I wonder how someone can miss a 240-pound target, I thought Estes still showed support for his teammates by making the attempt to hit the Yankees ace.
Plus, Estes and Mike Piazza got the best of Clemens when they both drilled home runs off the Yankee pitcher.
It still would have been nice to see Clemens get drilled, though.
Later in the game, I asked a reporter sitting next to me if he had World Cup fever. He put his hand over his forehead and said, “Nope.”
Well, I have World Cup fever.
OK, so I’ve got U.S. fever.
Watching the United States beat Mexico 2-0 in the middle of the night was exciting. The Americans played great defense and scored on two incredible goals.
Goalie Brad Friedel is the man. He has come up with unbelievable saves in the World Cup. He is also the first goalie to save two penalty kicks in the World Cup.
While I have no care for the rest of the World Cup, I will be up at five in the morning to watch the United States and Germany battle it out in the quarterfinals.
Sleep?who needs it?
Later in the Angels’ home opener as Casper led 7-3 late in the game, I thought back to the recently completed NBA finals.
Will anyone beat the Lakers? My answer is a resounding NO, as long as Shaq and Kobe and the supporting cast remains the same.
Shaq made every other center look stupid throughout the playoffs. Kobe was Jordan like in hitting crucial threes to help L.A. get past Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento and New Jersey.
While Shaq and Kobe victimize their defenders, the supporting cast of Robert Horry and Rick Fox are just as important. Horry is Mr. Clutch, nailing key jumpers to put the Lakers over the top.
As long as the nucleus is kept to together in L.A., the question should be: Who is going to play for second?
When I left Miller Park, the last thing that came to me was how lucky I am to work in a profession where I get paid to watch, talk and think about sports.
Steve welcomes feedback at: [email protected]