Tuesday Morning Thoughts: Horse Racing

Thoughts on horse racing, the NBA playoffs, hockey and Kobe "PR machine" Bryant.

1. Thank you Orlando. No more Perkin’s pouty/angry face.

2. Now, the NBA playoffs get interesting. Denver/Lakers, Cleveland/Orlando. But, I still think its Lakers/Cleveland. The refs will make this happen.

3. I watched highlights of the Preakness this past Saturday. No, I didn’t watch the 2 hour buildup for the 2 minute race. Sorry, but the rich dude from Kentucky’s struggle to get to the Preakness on his private jet because of a busted knee, just isn’t that interesting to me. But, the racing? I love it. Racing is simple and immediate. Just run as fast as you can AND in a minute or two we will know who won. There is something beautiful about seeing an animal just take off. No engines, just natural ability to accelerate (well, besides the steroids they likely provide these horses).

4. But the hardest thing about horse racing is naming the horse. Mind that Bird and Rachel Alexandra are okay names. Cigaro, Secretariat, and Barbaro are great names. They are like those great one-name Brazilian fubol player names (Ronaldo, Pele) If I had a horse, I would name it one of the following: Big Kahuna, Zico, or Calvara. Yep, Calvara it is. (Calvara is a reference to a rather old western-movie. If anyone can tell me the name of that movie, I will allow you to write anything you want on this website. You can provide the answer in the comment section).

5. While I love horse racing, I can’t stand the obnoxious and stuffy owners that parade around their prized horses. I understand these are southern traditions, but by in large, southern traditions are something I try to stay away from. But irrespective of that, the pursuit of dollars from breeding stud horses probably sickens me the most. I have no problem with owners who take care of their horses and make money off their private endowments. That’s American and that’s business. But you get the sense that if the horse no longer puts out, he/she gets put out.

6. The Cubs and White Sox have played for a couple of months now. They each have about 126 games remaining on the schedule. I wonder what the NCAA College Football people would think of the 162 game regular season? Is there any meaning to a regular season game, if it’s 1 out 162?

7. I know nothing about hockey. I’ve been to one Blackhawks game. I understand that the goal is for several very large men with many layers of padding to get a little tiny 3-inch puck into a very tiny goal that it protected by a very large man, with very large pads. That’s about it. But nevertheless, GO HAWKS!!!!

8. The Tribune ran a story Monday that quoted Angelo stating that he would have an open mind to signing Plaxico Burress. My only thought is… Who are you and what have you done with Jerry Angelo?

9. There was also mention that the Bears might want to re-sign Adewale Ogunleye. Not only am I against such a signing, but I would encourage the Bears to cut Ogunleye. He is an overpaid, fragile blocking dummy.

10. Peter King wrote his MMQB intro about the Colts. Big surprise. But, in his defense it must be very difficult to give equal coverage to all 32 teams. Some home team’s fans will always be upset. In this case, it’s typically the Chicago Bear fans. But maybe we should be happy that King doesn’t cover the Bears?

11. I watched parts of ESPN’s Spike Lee documentary on Kobe. I found it thoroughly un-interesting and totally manipulated. Kobe comes off too perfect and polished. In one long scene he’s seen cheer leading the Laker reserves as if he was a Lakers’ girl. I’ve never seen Kobe cheer any Laker player for 5 seconds, let alone the ½ hour cheer leading training camp he put on in the documentary. If Kobe were breasts, he’d be Double D fakes. It’s as if he was a genetically manipulated clone of Michael Jordan, only without the charisma (and of course, the basketball ability). When I hear Kobe talk, I don’t see a genuine athlete, I see a Hollywood PR firm. Of course maybe he is just that perfect. Either way, I still dislike him.