Thanks for the Memories, Mad Dog

Growing up, Jim "Catfish" Hunter was my favorite pitcher to watch as his Hall of Fame career unfolded for the Oakland Athletics and then the New York Yankees.

I was in the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum (I was nine) when Catfish returned to Oakland in 1975 with the Yankees and twirled a two-hit shutout against my A's.

The memories of Hunter's postseason success always stuck with me. As I've gotten older and now in my 40's, only one other pitcher has ever gained my appreciation to that level.

That pitcher is Greg Maddux.


In an age of high-powered offense and steroids, Maddux was a true artist on the mound. Never overpowering, the soft-spoken righthander was a master of location, movement, and changing speeds.

With respect to other greats of his generation, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez, Maddux is the top pitcher of this era and a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.

His 1995 season of 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 0.81 WHIP with 181 K's for a finesse pitcher for the World Champion Braves was the best season by a pitcher that I've ever seen.

Greg Maddux is reportedly going to announce his retirement on Monday.

There will never be another like him.

Pond Scum



I hate to tarnish this column with the dregs of society, the news is the news and this cannot be ignored.

There is so many good things about sports and its impact on society.

Sports brought O.J. Simpson into the eye of society in the 1960's.

Now convicted, his criminal behavior will take him out of society of a number of years.

You had it all, Orenthal James Simpson, and you gave it all back.

Goodbye and good riddance....... now go away.

Upset Alert

Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships.

With or without Percy Harvin, I'd be picking Alabama in today's SEC title game.


Tim Tebow is great, but 'Bama wins games the old fashioned way. On the ground and in the trenches.

The unbeaten Crimson Tide gets in done today over the Gators.

Alabama 30, Florida 28


Chalk One Up to Tradition

Back in the day, when both USC and UCLA played their home games in the LA Coliseum, each team wore the home uniforms for the annual Battle of Los Angeles.

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Kudos to Pete Caroll today for restoring that tradition when the Trojans take the field in their home uniforms.

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It'll cost Coach Carroll a few timeouts as a penalty, I hope those timeouts do not come back to haunt his team in their efforts to clinch the Pac 10 title today.