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Written by Aaron Torres
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Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:33 |
 A few weeks ago I heard that James Gammon, the man who played manager Lou Brown in the Major League movies had died. Needless to say, I had mixed emotions.
On the one hand, you obviously never want to hear of anyone passing. And it's always especially saddening when the deceased might not be someone you know, but feel like you do, like Gammon, the no-nonsense guy's guy I remembered from the Cleveland Indians dugout. Even if I never met him, Gammon always seemed like a cooler, older guy you'd love to have a beer with.
At the same though, thinking back on Major League and Major League II brought back a lot of good memories. Like watching the original so many times with my parents that our old VHS tape eventually wore out. Or watching the sequel with my buddies in college dozens of times, and re-hashing lines like they were our own (For example, whenever one of our friends would get into an argument with his girlfriend, we'd always console him by quoting Rube Baker: "Women, you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Thanks Rube!).
As time has worn on though, a new debate amongst friends and family has come about: Why is actually better? Some think the high jinks of Major League II take away from the baseball that made Major League so great. Others are too busy laughing at the second to even think about the first. Some are torn.
Well, in honor of Gammon's passing, I've decided to go ahead and settle this debate once and for all.
Over the last week, I have re-watched each for the first time in years, and took copious notes along the way. All so that you, the reader, have the definitive answer to the Great Debate: Which is better, Major League or Major League II?
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Monday, 26 July 2010 10:48 |
 For some reason, I was in a particularly bad mood last Friday night.
I was tired. I was cranky. I was like Justin Bieber when his mom tells him it’s time for a haircut. Every little thing was pissing me off. And it only got worse when a few buddies called from San Diego, where they just so happened to be vacationing…without me. After a few minutes of small talk, I rushed them off the phone, claiming I was headed out myself. The truth was, I wasn’t doing anything except watching the Royals-Yankees game, and thinking things to myself like “Is this really my life?” and “Is it just me, or does Joba Chamberlain’s face get fatter every time I see him?”
It wasn’t until an hour or so later though, that I got my surliest. That’s when I was browsing ESPN.com, and saw a report that not only had New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul demanded a trade (that was old news), but that he had revised the list of teams that he’d consider being traded to. Wait, what?
Here was my bitter response via Twitter: “On a different note, who cares what Chris Paul’s preferred (trade) destination is? Here’s a novel idea, shut up and play out your contract.”
Now that a few days have passed, I’m happy to report that I’m not nearly as grumpy as I was on Friday night. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. And thankfully my friends are done with their vacation.
Even after those 72 hours though, my opinion on one thing hasn’t changed: Chris Paul needs to just shut up and play basketball.
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Friday, 23 July 2010 09:44 |
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 At this point in my life, I'm rarely overwhelmed by anything in sports anymore.
Sure every once in awhile there are some pleasant surprises: Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria, Stephen Strasburg's start against the Pirates, even seeing Danica Patrick in a bathing suit for the first time. But for the most part, sports are an endless conveyor belt of 7-2 baseball games, two touchdown football blowouts and Louis Oosthuzien's 32 stroke British Open victory. In other words, everything kind of runs together. Nothing sticks out.
So heading down to Baltimore for my first trip to Camden Yards this week, I wasn't really expecting to be impressed. Even after hearing good things from everyone I talked to, I was still a little dubious. After all, what could a 20-year-old ballpark, home to a last place team really offer?
A lot apparently.
Because I can't lie, I didn't just like Camden Yards. I loved it. Loved everything about it.
The stadium is the perfect mix of old school sports charm and new school comfort, creativity and amenities. While having the ambiance of a stadium built 50 years ago, Camden Yards offers everything you'd want out of a contemporary ball park: Great sightlines, amazing food, clean and accessible bathrooms, you name it.
So for those of you who've never been, what do you need to know?
Here are the answers, in my Idiot's Guide To Camden Yards...
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Friday, 16 July 2010 08:11 |
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 If you're like me and have been distracted by the World Cup and LeBron-gate over these past few weeks, you were probably shocked to learn that baseball's midway point is already upon us.
So to help you get into the swing of things as we head toward the playoffs, here are 50 Reasons To Be Excited For The Second Half of the season...
1. Major League Baseball Home Run Leader, Jose Bautista: So are we sure George Mitchell caught everyone who was using steroids? Just asking.
2. The Hope That The Cardinals Make An Unexpected Run To The World Series: Just to see Tony LaRussa managing the 2011 All-Star game in Phoenix.
3. The Ongoing Texas Rangers Bankruptcy Trial: You knew things were bad when reports came out last week, that Nolan Ryan was opening a lemonade stand.
4. David Wright and “The Situation”: I don’t care if the Mets end up making the playoffs or not. This video clip will always be the highlight of their 2010 season.
5. The White Sox Resurgence: Question: We always hear about Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein, but why doesn’t Kenny Williams ever get credit for being one of the elite GM’s in baseball? This roster has been made over more times than Joan Rivers face, yet here come the White Sox again, closing in on another division title.
6. The Pittsburgh Pirates: Going on 14 straight sub .500 seasons and counting. Well at least Pittsburgh still has that Roethlisberger guy… Umm, never mind.
7. The Summer of Strasburg: Strasburg has sold more jersey’s in six months than anyone ever has as a rookie. I don’t care what the experts say, he should have been on the All-Star team.
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 09:53 |
When news broke Tue sday morning that Yankees owner George Steinbrenner had passed, predictably, I got a few texts from friends asking if I was planning on writing about “The Boss.”
At first I hesitated. Too much had happened before I was even born. I had never met him in person. What perspective could I possibly give that a million other writers couldn’t?
Then I really started to think about George. Think about the way he ran his organization with the iron fist of a South American dictator. Think about the way he controlled every word that came in and out his clubhouse like the Russians controlled information during the Cold War. Think about the way he struck fear into multi-millionaire ballplayers and fired managers like they were clerks at CVS. Think about the way he was equal parts loathed, feared and at the same time respected by fans of the opposition.
I really started to think about how there might be a million more Mark Cuban’s in my lifetime. But there will never be anyone quite like George.
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Monday, 12 July 2010 12:01 |
 When I went to schedule a weekend getaway a few months ago, I figured early July would be the perfect time to do it, right in the lull between the NBA Finals and the start of football talk. Little did I know that by booking my vacation for July 9, I’d be leaving in the midst of one of the five biggest sports stories of my lifetime.
But of course that’s exactly what happened, and there I was at an Atlantic City sports bar Friday night, watching LeBron James, a player synonymous with one organization as much as any in sports, staring back at me in an ugly, white Heat jersey. I’m not even a Cavaliers fan, but the whole thing seemed like a bad dream.
Anyway, since I wrote an article LeBron leaving Cleveland for Miami last Friday, a lot has changed. Some good. Some bad. Most insignificant to the general public.
Without getting into too much of what I already wrote or too much of what I can’t possibly project (Like the economic impact of LeBron’s departure from Cleveland), here are some closing thoughts on the whole LeBron fiasco of the last couple days. Now hopefully the next time we discuss James, it’ll be for something he actually does on the court, rather than all of his actions of it.
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Friday, 09 July 2010 07:43 |
 If you’re looking for a coherent column on LeBron James’ Thursday night “Decision,” you’ve come to the wrong place. It ain’t happening. Not here. Not now. Not as everything we thought we knew about LeBron James is going up in smoke, much like one of his old Cavaliers jerseys.
LeBron James is going to Miami, we know that. But now that the greatest water cooler debate of our lifetime is over, the real questions begin.
Is LeBron the most selfish athlete we’ve ever seen? Or is he actually the most selfless, for deferring so much- including potentially his legacy- to Dwyane Wade?
Was LeBron ever the loyal guy he always claimed to be? Or was that all a ploy?
Maybe most importantly, after labeling LeBron the “Next Michael Jordan,” for the last seven years were we all wrong? Is he really just a more glorified Scottie Pippen?
I don’t have the answers to those questions, yet, but I do know this: LeBron made the choice we’ve all been waiting for, and ended up selecting the Heat. He will likely win multiple titles in South Beach, although we won’t know that for years.
All I do know is, that after the stunt he pulled on Thursday night, I’ll never feel the same way about him.
And I know I’m not alone.
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Thursday, 08 July 2010 08:43 |
 Like most of you, coming into this summer’s World Cup, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
Would I watch? Of course I would, if only because it’s my job to have an opinion on it. But would I care? That remained to be seen.
Well, here we are, now almost a full month after the start of play back on June 11, and I’ve got a confession to make: I’m a World Cup junkie.
I Google funny names and countries I’m not familiar with. I have conversations with my buddies that center around stuff like, “Is it just me, or does Andres Iniesta not look right tonight?” I’m even to the point where I can spell names like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Asamoah Gyan without looking them up, or looking down at my keyboard as I type.
What can I say, I love the World Cup.
It’s the only sporting event I know of- and correct me if I’m wrong- that combines the best players in the world in their sport, with seemingly life and death consequences, all to the backdrop of singing and dancing, with half the teams wearing goofy mismatched colors. Essentially, it’s what the World Series would be, if it was really was the World Series, rather than what it actually is, the American Baseball Championship.
Either way, with the Netherlands and Spain getting set for the final on Sunday, I did some reflecting. Here are 10 things I’ll remember from this World Cup.
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Wednesday, 07 July 2010 13:28 |
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 On Tuesday, Aaron was lucky enough to sit down with Oakland Raiders Rookie Defensive Tackle Lamarr Houston. This is a must listen for any Texas Longhorn or Oakland Raiders fan, including Lamarr talking about the following subjects...
- His unconventional route to the defensive line after being an All-State running back in high school.
- What it was like for him to come to Texas just months after the Longhorns captured the BCS National Championship
- How Texas Defensive Coordinator (And Head Coach in waiting) Will Muschamp helped him reach the NFL level
- His discussions with fellow Oakland rookie and former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain about last year's BCS National Championship Game
- What he hopes to learn from veteran Oakland defensive tackle Richard Seymour
- How Jason Campbell has already made his presence felt in Oakland
- What Lamarr's expectations are for his new team heading into the 2010 NFL season
To listen to Aaron's interview with Lamarr, please click here!!
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Written by Aaron Torres
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Tuesday, 06 July 2010 09:15 |
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 Is it just me, or is anybody else ready for some college football?
Between the teams, the packed stadiums, the prety coeds, Ryan Mallett's right arm and Jim Tressel's sweater vest, there are a million reasons to be excited about the start of the upcoming season. But here at AaronTorres-Sports.com, I'm about to give you one more: The opportunity to win a free copy of Blue Ribbon's College Football Yearbook, which, let me tell ya, is the ultimate preview guide in all of college football (I know it sounds like I'm trying to sell you a Juicer on a 2 a.m. infomercial right now, but believe me, this thing is legit. I got a PDF copy over the weekend, and I didn't see sunlight for two days. Seriously.).
Anyway, Blue Ribbon has given me one free copy to give out to one of my readers, and here's all you have to do to enter to win the magazine: Tell me the best college football experience that you've ever had. Easy enough, right?
I don't care what the experience was: A game you attended, a tailgate you were overserved at, meeting your favorite player or coach, taking a trip with your buddies to a big road game, spending a Saturday in front of the TV with your dog (Like me), even if you've never stepped foot inside a stadium, it doesn't matter. All I want is the details on an experience that you'll never forget, that somehow has to do with college football. That's it.
To enter, just post that experience in the comments section of this post, e-mail me at ATorres00@gmail, send me a message at Facebook.com/AaronTorresSports, get to me on Twitter @Aaron_Torres, again I don't care. Just get me your story, and get it to me ASAP. A one man panel of me will determine who has the best story, and the best story wins the yearbook.
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