Free Agent Profile: Deandre Jordan

Center – Los Angeles Clippers – 6’11”, 265 lbs

Strengths

Good leaper. Height and length is very good for a center. He has the tools to be a really strong rebounder. He can finish around the rim with layups and dunks with ease.

Free Agent Profile: Caron Butler

Shooting Guard/Small Forward – Dallas Mavericks – 6’7”, 217 lbs

Strengths

Good all round player. His bread and butter is attacking the basket, but he has a really nice mid-range game and can extend his shot beyond the three point line.

Around the Web: 07/22/2011

One thing we like to do at 85% Sports is promote our friends, fans, and other great stories. Here’s what we got this week:

Riding the Pine: Divisions and Salary.

Yesterday, I looked at who is the best division in baseball. One thing I noted was I thought it’s funny how the geography matches up for each; Easts, then Wests, then Centrals. I’m willing to make a theory on this. Traditionally, the bigger markets are on the coasts. New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas. The Midwest has Chicago, and to some degree St. Louis (fan-wise) and Houston (Texas is a large market, right). We’ll see how my theory holds up.

Tiger Woods Fires Caddy

A buddy sent me this link about work about Tiger Woods firing his long time caddy Steve Williams. I really didn’t think anything of it, until I dug into the article.

The Best Division in Baseball?

Every year, the debate about which division in baseball is the best crops up, and this year is no different. Most always assumes the AL East is the best; the Yankees and Red Sox are annual favorites, and the Rays have been in the mix as well. Also, the Blue Jays normally play better than people think.

But is this the case this year?

Broadcaster Quits On The Air – Lake County Fielders

This was sent to me by my old friend Tim Wheeler.  If you never heard of Tim Wheeler, he has been the Official Scorer of Sam Lynn Ballpark and the minor league teams in Bakersfield for many years.  On May 23, 2009, Wheeler worked his 1,000th consecutive game.  Great guy and a treasure chest of baseball knowledge.  However, this is not about Tim, he just sent it to me.

If you click this YouTube video, you will hear the voice of Qumar Zaman, Play by Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Fielders of the North American Baseball League.

Retro Trade Analysis – Yankees!!!! Losers!!!!!!

Looking back at trades of the past for my Retro Trade Analysis, I started to talk with people about past trades.  As a Yankees fan since the 1970s, I experienced a time with that organization when they traded almost anything and anybody for the biggest name and those with the most potential.  However, I remember three trades in particular that may be the worst Yankees trades of all-time.  Of course, these trades all occurred in the 1980s.

Overrated? Let’s Discuss That. Pt. 1/3

All 3 are overrated according to a recent list on bleacher-report

Writers have to write. Even unpaid, unobligated folks like myself often feel the need to just write something and put it out. The burden for paid sportswriters in this digital age is far more present. This leads to a lot of news when there is no news. It also leads to terrible lists. Lists can be fun. I generally don’t grade them too hard. But sometimes one jumps out at you and it’s just so obvious that all the writer was doing was putting something… anything… out on deadline. A piece of work like that I have to address.

Weekend Sports Discussion: NFL Lockout

Based off the reports coming in, there could be football in the coming weeks. It’s expected that an agreement will be in place July 21st, right in time for pre-season camp to start.

Riding the Pine: Hodgepodge

I have a lack of focus for a column this week, so here are some random baseball thoughts…

Subtitle This: Brian Wilson

We all know Brian Wilson is kind of out there. Between his visit to the George Lopez Show, to his post save routine, to his appearance, we never know what we are going to get.

Until he shows up to the ESPY’s on Wednesday night…

NEWS RELEASE: Cardinals And Garcia Strike a Deal

ST. LOUIS, MO July 13, 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals Sr. Vice President & General Manager John Mozeliak announced today that the Cardinals have agreed to terms with pitcher Jaime Garcia on a four year contract with two club options. The Cardinals made the announcement this afternoon at a press conference at Busch Stadium.

MLB Power Rankings: 07/13/2011 – Mid-Season Edition

How about the Pittsburgh Pirates? In 2 years of Power Rankings, they’ve never been out of the bottom third. Where are they today?

These power rankings aren’t just who’s playing the best. I’ve created a system which ranks performance, run differential, and their farm system.

Vote for a Pace Mate

The Indiana Pacers have an annual vote for their cheerleader of the year – the Pacemate of the Year. My wife’s cousin’s girlfriend is in the final cut of voting. Here is the message he wanted to pass along: