A Plethora of Bearded Thoughts...

Photo Credit: Bestsportsphotos.com

There have been a few stories that have caught my eye recently in the world of sports, and in a perfect world I would have been able to address them individually... but alas, we do not live in a perfect world. So let the fun begin...

I would like to start with a story last week from women's high school basketball when a school beat another school 108-3. The team with 108 used all nine of its players, never used a full court press, and never stopped running it's offense. It didn't slow the game and just pass the ball around, because let's face it, that's kind of insulting to a team.

But I don't know what's most absurd with this story. Is it the fact a high school women's team dropped 108? Is it the fact that they didn't press, nor tried to run the score? Or is it the fact the other team only managed to make one basket in four quarters of basketball? Take your pick, but this is just absurd no matter what your take on it.

Here's the story on it.

Now how about the story about a West Virginia player quitting in the middle of a game? I haven't found anything on his side of the story, but apparently he used to start, was benched, and was getting virtually no playing time. But he got up, went to the locker room, and wasn't seen again.

As absurd as that is, based on Bob Huggins's comments after the game... he and Danny Jennings didn't get along... Here's the link to the story where you can see Coach Huggins's comments.

Gil Meche is retiring. Big who cares right? Some of you probably don't even know who he is... He's a pitcher for the Royals that got a giant contract for having a kinda sorta good season, and has been bad ever since. But why is he retiring? Because he doesn't feel he deserves his guaranteed $12 million. He said when he signed his contract he wanted to earn it, but feels like he's not earning it.

I gained a whole new respect for Gil Meche, and I wish more athletes had integrity like Mr. Meche here. When you walk away from your contract because you feel bad for not earning it, then you know you were playing the game for the right reasons.
Click Right Here

Lastly another baseball guy is retiring. Former Tiger starter Mike Maroth announced his retirement from baseball. Yes, the same Mike Maroth that lost 21 games when the Tigers lost 119. But Maroth was apart of the turn around here in Detroit, and he was a very solid starter, not good, but solid. He had an injury shortened season in 06, but he was big part of the Tigers' turnaround.

Maroth was traded from Detroit to St. Louis in 07, and that was the last time he was in the majors. He tried making it with the Royals and Blue Jays, but Maroth couldn't get back to the majors.

Mike was my boy, I thought he could have been a solid starter, nothing great, but solid and serviceable... Too bad... Official Story Link is Right Here.