There is crying in baseball; For Milton Bradley

There is crying in baseball. At least in the Milton Bradley version of it. And Shots Heard is not referring to some sort of board game. Almost a year ago to the day, Shots Heard wrote about just how much of a baby Milton Bradley is ('Message to Milton Bradley: There is no crying in baseball!!!!').

Now Bradley is back and crying some more and if Stewie Griffin were here he would be telling Bradley to go home and cry to his mommy, Cedric Benson style. How is it that the guy who pouts and cries the most is going to complain that the Cubs have a different set of rules for him? Such is the case as Bradley lamented following a confrontation between Cubs manager, Lou Pinella and himself, in which Lou Pinella told him to go home.

Bradley further cried, "Because of the mistakes I've made in my career, I don't get the leeway other guys get to a certain extent."

Yes! That is exactly the case you piece of expletive as Lou Pinella would say (and did say, according to both Pinella and Bradley). When you have a history, the consequences get tougher. Ever hear of Three Strikes And You're Out, Mr Bradley? And I do not mean baseball, but rather the California law that locks up repeat felons for life.

If Bradley thinks people want to take crap from people who are supposed to be learning their lessons and taking their lumps then he is dillusional. Bradley is lucky to even have a job, let alone be worried about rules regarding his behavior. The ole axiom, shape up or ship will undoubtedly be falling on him here. Shots Heard doubts that he realizes that.

Picture: Milton Bradley argues with an umpire

Courtney Lee: Shipped to New Jersey

Courtney Lee, your blown lay-up in the 2009 NBA Finals cost your Orlando Magic the chance to win an NBA Championship, what are you going to do next?

It is not going to be going to Disney World. In fact, Disney World is shipping your ass to New Jersey.

Lee refused to take responsibility for the loss in post-game interviews. His existentialism was lost on the Orlando front office. Obviously they did not want a guy around that refused to take any responsibility a game winning lay-up as the Magic trade him in a deal netted the Magic, Vince Carter. It is also no coincidence that problem child, Rafer Alston was dealt along with Lee.


On paper, one might think the Magic are the proverbial do what it takes to win now team. But truly, they would rather not have traded for an overpriced, high maintenance player like VC who is entering his twilight years, when Courtney Lee had already proven himself as a capable two guard that could start and play 35 minutes per contest.

Picture 1: Courtney Lee reacts to missing a would be winner in the 2009 NBA Finals.
Picture 2: Courtney Lee's misses a potential game winning lay-up in the 2009 NBA Finals.

Kobe's Lakers one and done?

Congratulations NBA fans. Coming off the weakest NBA season in a quarter century, you are now being rewarded with odious pronouncements designed to quell your minds into twirling rapturous beliefs that next year's NBA season will only transcend you into a golden era of star-studded domination.

We hear from some, the Lakers will absolutely repeat. Others mention that the trio of Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and Dwight Howard will only continue in their progression and thus they have been anointed the Eastern Conference's team to beat.

Now for the reality check. Should the hypochondriac, Kobe suffer a real injury, the Lakers are the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only that, even at full strength we saw how difficult it was for them to beat the various mediocre teams in the Western Conference.

Clearly, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are not the twin tower combo that is worthy of mention in the likes of David Robinson/Tim Duncan and Ralph Sampson/Hakeem Olajuwauon.

Lamar Odom will still be the guy that shows up on some nights and not on others. Kobe will still be the me-first player. And the Lakers will still have no point guard. Despite all of that, they are arguably as good as anyone. Last I checked, that is not the type of shortcomings that dynasties are made of.

The Magic still have a coach that only screams. It may be just as well, when you have up and comers like Courtney Lee who cannot accept responsibility for choking at the end of championship games. The Magic needed seven games to beat the KG-less Celtics. We can argue that they passed the Cavs as the second best team in the conference. But nothing about them jumps out as a championship pedigree.

We are exactly where we left off last year. The Celtics and Lakers are a smidge ahead of the rest of the competition. But with guys like Dwayne Wade and Dirk Nowitzki in the shadows, Jerry Sloan coached Utah Jazz teams and the like, we know that anything is possible and that the talking heads making definite claims are merely blabbing.

The draft and free agent signings will have a tangible effect on the balance. Not too mention, if the Spurs can do a quick remodeling, we know that the trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili when healthy are still the champion of champions in this current National Basketball Association.

Enjoy the 2010 NBA season, but know that absolutely nothing is in stone. As the great Doc Brown would say, the future is not written.

Free Funny Pencil Coloring Pages

what’s on your mind when you saw a pencil? Yes, writing or drawing! This is two things that I like. Writing makes my mind always trained to spice up all my ideas and feelings. While drawing gives extraordinary experiences. Until I can illustrate my future with very clear. Let’s get writing and drawing!

[via]

Free Funny Pencil Coloring Pages

what’s on your mind when you saw a pencil? Yes, writing or drawing! This is two things that I like. Writing makes my mind always trained to spice up all my ideas and feelings. While drawing gives extraordinary experiences. Until I can illustrate my future with very clear. Let’s get writing and drawing!

[via]

Independence Day Coloring Pages

freedom is the right of all nations in the world. All nations must be free from colonial countries. Every nation has the right to determine their own fate. Each nation must also be free from poverty, weakness and corruption. Come on .. freedom for our nation!

[via]

Independence Day Coloring Pages

freedom is the right of all nations in the world. All nations must be free from colonial countries. Every nation has the right to determine their own fate. Each nation must also be free from poverty, weakness and corruption. Come on .. freedom for our nation!

[via]

Happy Graduation Day Coloring Pages

Learning activity is very fun! Every morning, I prepare to go to study in school. Meet with friends and teachers, play and learn in the classroom with friends. Truly delightful! All students compete to be the best in class. They study diligently to get a high value, so they can graduate with the best ranking! Come learn the lesson

Happy Graduation Day Coloring Pages

Learning activity is very fun! Every morning, I prepare to go to study in school. Meet with friends and teachers, play and learn in the classroom with friends. Truly delightful! All students compete to be the best in class. They study diligently to get a high value, so they can graduate with the best ranking! Come learn the lesson

Serena Williams: You can take the girl out of the hood....

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life. Those are the classic words of Dean Wormer (Animal House). Serena Williams has at least two of those three attributes. Change the drunk adjective to selfish and we can just call it a derivative match.

Following her third round victory at the 2009 French Open, Williams went off on a diatribe about how her opponent Maria Jose Maria Sanchez was a cheater for not telling the umpire that a ball ruled in her favor had went off her arm and therefore the point should have went to Williams.

But there are three grotesque flaws in Williams's argument.

First, she is being a hypocrite. She would have never claimed that ball went off of her forearm if the roles were reversed. Williams has never overruled a call that was wrong that went in her favor.

Second, for Williams to complain so much, following a victory is sad even though replays confirmed that she was right about that particular issue.

Third, Williams sat there and went on about how she would never do anything to disrespect 'The Tour' or its players. But then in the very next breath she admitted to threatening Sanchez if she came to the net (following the cheating argument). Williams laughed it off stating that we should remember that she was from Compton.

Williams apologists may write it off that Williams was speaking tongue and cheek. But we should not be so gullible. While Williams may have been speaking light heartedly, this is really a Freudian slip that lets us view at the real her.

Remember that the Williams sisters dumped their father, who was also a money grubbing manager. But in that case, liquidity was thicker than blood. And it was that high life mentality that allowed the Williams sisters to live it up while their half sister was off living the crack whore life that would end up in a murderous ending.

It is Williams's me-first attitude that made her want to quit in the first round of one tournament due to a supposed injury. When she was informed that she would forfeit $75,000 she finished her match. Winning did not motivate her, just the thought of losing her payday, despite the fact that she has already pocketed $14 million in her career (to date).

But to add insult to alledged injury, William went on to complain that she could not be taking that type of hit in this economy as she would need that loot to spend on furniture for her new mansion. Does it make you feel good to know that Serena Williams thinks she feels your plight?

Williams that is ranked number two to Dinara Safina, who has not even won a major. This due to the fact that Williams would rather just show up for the much higher paying Grand Slams and take her camera time and metaphorical giant checks and pretend that we are all so much better for her making an appearance.

Williams is an overpaid bafoon. Her lack of character is what cost her the opportunity to be the female version of Tiger Woods. If you see her on television, just save yourself some life and flip the channel.

And on a side note to Maria Jose Maria Sanchez: Get a presentable name. You're in the big leagues now. Oh and you are also on Earth. You do not need two Marias in your name. You do not need a Jose in your name. Get with it lady. You better ask somebody.

Picture: Maria Jose Maria Sanchez gets in forearm by Serena Williams

2009 NBA Finals Prediction

2009 NBA Playoff Prediction Results (To Date): 10-4
2008 NBA Playoff Prediction Results: 15-1

Los Angeles Lakers vs Orlando Magic

Pick: Magic

Just about all the 'experts' have the Lakers. The proverbial geniuses had the Lakers over the Celtics in last year's championship series as well.

Truth be told this is the weakest finals match-up in the last quarter of century. Yet the seeming parity of the teams could make for one of the most exciting series in recent memory. How is that for irony?

Dwight Howard is the physical center that will finally challenge Pau Gasol. Shots Heard also likes the Magic's ability to spread the court against the Lakers mediocre defense. Had either the Magic or Nuggets hit shots as consistently as the Magic, the Lakers would have been dispatched already.

All of that said, the Lakers have a great player in Kobe Bryant who possibly learned in last year's championship that he cannot do it by himself. If he can keep the league's best regular season offense running on all cylinders then they may be able to consistently pour in points and turn solid leads into wins if Orlando goes cold from the arc.

Shots Heard really does not know who will win this series. The one thing we know is that if the Magic do win that it will not have anything to do with the 'Master of Panic,' Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy. We deeply lamented when Boston choked their 3-2 semifinals lead away. That meant more panicy yelling from Van Gundy on timeouts and useless press conference diatribes from the man that looks like a mix between hedge hog and Ron Jeremy. He is as smart as the lesser of the two also.

Picture: Orlando Magic head coach, Stan Van Gundy