Meet the Users: LASportsBlog
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by The Beast & LASportsblog
This is the fifteenth edition of the popular Meet the Users series, where The Beast will be interviewing a particular ArmchairGM user. The goal for the series is to allow all users to know each other better. The fifteenth edition goes to LASportsblog
1. How did you learn about ArmchairGM?
Well it would be easy to say DNL (aka Dan Lewis) e-mailed me and the rest is history, but first you have to know how Dan came to find me. I had written 2 sports articles my entire life before June of this year, a 2006 NFL Mock Draft and a World Cup 2006 USA Recap. But throughout the spring my buddy Jeff, who contributes around here sometimes usually Lakers stuff, told me he'd had enough of Bill Plascke and his hollier-then-thou preachings. We got to talking and decided that not only could we do better, we could each bring humor and knowledgeable, yet fan driven perspective to the sports writing scene in LA. So, I built a poorly put together site at lasportsblog.bravehost.com. After realizing it could be done better on Blogger we moved to LAFanblog.blogspot.com where you found me first Beast. I think you wanted to combine blogs but we weren't really prepared to be responsible to another writer to keep up what ever arrangement we made so we stayed separate. The next day Dan e-mailed and asked us to come aboard, I posted [ I Think I Belong In Brooklyn ]. I've come with a cynical and and keen eye on the L.A. sports scene, focusing my articles on the area I love and know. However, as many of you have come to learn I'm not always agreeable, usually controversial and I have little care if my comments insult you. But I don't bring debate without reason and I rarely strive to insult, but I'm not concerned if my thoughts, opinions, ideological views or ideas insult you, because your being insulted by my thoughts is your problem.
2. When the Dodgers hired Joe Torre last month, it indicated that they were in the "win now" mode. However, Ned Colletti said this week that the Dodgers were satisfied with their young players. Are you bothered by this? Should they trade some of their young prospects?
You know, I am amused by how this question is set up, knowing that Beast is my favorite Anaheim Angels fan! You know what, they Dodgers have a real promising line up for next season and James Loney, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton and Delwyn 'Pee Wee' Young need to stay in the system. But we also have more players in AAA like Andy LaRoche who have just as much potential as the aforementioned bunch, so I wouldn't be opposed to moving 3 or 4 of those guys to get a Santana like pitcher... well specifically him. The power bat at 3rd base needs to be addressed but I don't want to jinx the deal I want to happen by talking about it. I think to further answer your question, we CAN win now with the youth we have, the pitching staff needs another reliever; I'm fine going to battle with Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Chad Billingsley, Jason Schmidt and Esteban Loaiza. I also would like to see Jeff Kent traded, somehow, for something other then a bag of shite and cash considerations.
3. Lane Kiffin was not too popular while at USC. Is he the right guy to restore the Silver and Black?
Oh man, your the USC fan of this LA pair, I feel like I should ask you this question! But seriously I was aware of Lane's body of work at USC and the man is a hard worker with a special mind for the game of football. He has a great understanding of game management and already this season I've seen his ability to be a flexible coach, adjusting his gameplan to the in-game situation. He is going to have some bumps this year, but I see promise in him, his staff and this ball club. He is going to work from the top of each day to the bottom of each night to stand up to his promise to restore the "commitment to excellence." I am confident that he will fulfill that promise.
4. Historically, the Lakers have been one of the most success teams in the entire NBA. What will it take for them to get back to elite status?
I hate to say it Beast, but it's gonna take either Dr. Buss getting interested in running his basketball team again, or a sale of the franchise. This organization will not succeed under his son jimmy buss(no caps on the name for a reason.) This man has to decided that the Lakers are once again more important to him then 20 year old girls and poker games at Commerce Casino. His son's only basketball experience in his entire life is being the vice president of the LA Sparks where he sat in his box and watched a pre-built winner hang banners. Now he is suppose to be qualified to run the Lakers?!?!?! Give me a facking break Dr. Buss. If Dr. Buss is no longer interested in controlling the Lakers then he should sell the team to AEG.
5. You are familiar with Los Angeles sports as a resident and writer for the LA Sports Blog. How would you rank it as a sports city?
First off, I would say that Los Angeles gets a horrible rap as a sports city for 2 reasons: the media and the NFL. It is crucial to understand that a couple of things, first this town has two obsessions, the Dodgers and the Lakers. Everywhere you go in LA, the dark blue Dodger Fitted is on Korean shopkeepers and high powered producers. There is a reason the Dodgers average over 44,000 people a game each season, because it's where you go after work in LA. I've been on construction sites, high school teacher lounges, SONY Records Offices, Universal Studios literally all different areas and businesses in LA in the afternoon and the same question is answered the same way: "What are you doing tonight? - Going to the Dodger Game". Now this is where the media comes in, during broadcast the cameras pan outside the stadium and talking the commentators talk about the fans arriving late, and that's how LA people are. Well we'd love to get there on time if traffic wasn't so bad that it took you literally 2 hours to get 15 miles from work to the stadium. Los Angeles traffic is beyond a nightmare between 4-8 pm and to get to the stadium you have to take freeways and streets that were built in the 40s and aren't wide enough to handle rush hour traffic and 50,000 fans trying to get to their destinations. The city is always a buzz with Laker and Dodger talk all day everyday but we look really bad when the nation is watching. So with that explained I'll give you my top 10 sports cities.
10. Oakland - Warriors and Raiders fans are passionate, the people live silver and black.
9. Madison, Wisc. - Unless you've been there during Wisconsin sporting events you have no idea, they show up for EVERYTHING, hockey, basketball, football, women's soccer, whatever.
8. Cleveland - They may be losers, but they show up and support their teams anyway.
7. Seattle - Does it get much louder in the NFL then Quest Field? How about Husky Stadium in the Pac-10?
6. Philadelphia - What's a sports city list without Philly? Doesn't matter if you like them or not, those fans love their teams with undying passion.
5. Green Bay - The most unique sports market in America.
4. San Antonio - They host the final 4 every few years and it's always an A+ event, also they only have one major pro sports team. You know how the Spurs thank the fans for support?
3. Boston - A tradition of Celtics' success that is still makes them the banner franchise in the Association. The decade has been one of the Pats and Red Sox and another Celtics championship would make Boston the city of the decade. But this isn't my top sports cities from 2000-2009, it is my top cities of all time. So moving on,
2. Los Angeles - A tradition of winning and major sporting events that transcends sports into pop culture. LA has hosted the Olympics twice, is host to the Rose Bowl, several Super Bowls, the annual summer X Games, and 2 World Cup Finals. The Lakers are 12 time NBA Champions, UCLA has an unmatched basketball history and USC is one of the storied College Football programs. The city host 5 teams that are in the top 3 or leading their sport in attendance (Lakers, Dodgers, Galaxy, Sparks, UCLA Basketball.) UCLA now has over 100 National Championships in Division one, they are the only school to accomplish the feat. (I only wrote so much on LA because I wanted to save time defending how high i placed them.
1. New York - The Birthplace of the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, and Mets who combine for I believe 35 World Series Championships, that's a third of the total possible Series. Not to mention that the Knicks were winners about 4 decades ago, but still strongly supported. From what I hear it has strong support for it's hockey teams. Oh, and unlike LA, not only have they kept both their football teams, but the Giants and Jets have Lombardi Trophies in the case. New York is also the #1 Sports Media market.
