Maybe This Time: Will Matt Harvey Save the Mets?

Ever since I was a kid, my father has regaled us with tales of the greatest talents ever to grace the Mets – Tom Seaver and Dwight Gooden, each a triumph and a tragedy in their own right.

Seaver, nicknamed “The Franchise,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He led the 1969 Mets, a team which finished ninth in the National League the year prior, to an improbable World Series win. The trade that sent him to Cincinnati in 1977 is known as one of the great betrayals of the Mets’ fan base, who adore Seaver even now. Gooden earned his nickname “Dr. K” when he arrived in baseball with his 98mph fastball and a curve that fell off the table. He was the ace of an excellent 1986 Mets pitching staff that stole the World Series out from under the heavily-favored Boston Red Sox (or, as many put it, out from between Bill Buckner’s legs). Gooden, so talented and so young, fell from grace when he became addicted to cocaine. Drug abuse and overuse in his early career combined to reduce him to a more pedestrian talent, and he ended his career as a journeyman.

But the stories of these men persist: Seaver’s dominance, Gooden’s terrifying presence. My father’s stories always ended the same way: “You will probably never see a pitcher as good as either of these guys in their prime who pitches for the Mets.”

And then Matt Harvey came along.

I’ve seen players dominate at their position. I’ve watched Darrelle Revis, Patrick Ewing, and Mike Piazza all play for my teams in their primes. And I’ll say this without hesitation – no one, repeat: no one, has been better than Matt Harvey.

The term “phenomenon” barely begins to describe Harvey. He takes no-hitters into the 6^th and 7^th innings with regularity. He throws fastballs down the middle of the plate, and players like Joey Votto and Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton and Paul Goldschmidt and Bryce Harper can’t keep up. His slider makes hitters look silly, his change is dirty, his curve buckles knees, but oh, that fastball. It’s a thing of beauty.

And here’s the real kick to the shorts: he hasn’t played a full season of baseball yet. The guy is 24, he’s got 30-odd starts under his belt, and people are throwing the names Verlander, Smoltz, Cone, and yes, even Gooden andSeaver around. And I can’t help but agree. Why? Because I’ve watched him play. He’s not always perfect, and he certainly doesn’t win every time he goes to the mound. But his drive, his talent, and his cold, bulldog stare turn his numbers into something more than just a young pitcher having a great start to his career.

I feel that as a Mets fan I’ve been conditioned to expect the worse. Infield pop-ups give me heart palpitations, opposing pitchers terrify me when they come to bat with runners on base, and Mets bullpen appearances drive me to drink in order to dull the pain. But now, with our young hero on the cusp of a start in the All Star Game, I can’t help but think… You know what, Dad? I think this is the guy I’ve been waiting for in vain my entire life. Maybe this is the start of something better than what I’ve witnessed before. Seaver and Gooden were yours, but Matt Harvey… he’s mine.

Written by friend of the blog and lifelong Mets, Jets and Knicks fan, Mike Landes

My Top 10 Breakfast Spots in America (Mostly Boston)

Ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor to join the blog. Although I'll be making like the other contributors here and writing mostly about sports. I figured I'd start off by writing about something we can all get behind, food. I've compiled the top ten breakfast establishments I've been lucky enough to enjoy.

I hope you have the opportunity to check out some of these places and please add your favorites in the comment section. I'm always on the lookout for a good first meal of the day!

My Top 10 American Breakfast Spots 

1. Founding Farmers, Washington, DC - http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/ -- Definitely worth making a reservation during your next visit to the nation’s capital. Founding Farmers uses fresh, organic ingredients which produce delicious dishes. I recommend the Chicken ‘n Waffles along with a piping hot cup of Intelligentsia coffee. Having Intelligentsia coffee on the menu (brought in from the Chicago Café) gives Founding Farmers the nod over Centre Street Café. 
2. Centre Street Café, Boston, MA: Jamaica Plain neighborhood – www.centrestreetcafejp.com – After moving to the Jamaica Plain neighborhood, I couldn’t help but notice the lines every weekend outside Centre Street Café. I wondered why people would wait for up to an hour. Obviously there are other options in the city/neighborhood. Then, on a Friday off from work, I finally made my way in for breakfast. What a treat! The all-organic ingredients made for a top notch breakfast. The menu changes throughout the year, which sometimes made me long for a past dish. However, there is no shortage of delicious options. Top it all off with coffee on the house!
3. Mike’s City Diner, Boston, MA: South End - http://www.mikescitydiner.com/ -- Feeling hungry? Want to save a buck by combining breakfast and lunch (and maybe dinner)? Then come to Mike’s City Diner in Boston’s South End neighborhood for heaping portions at a reasonable price. If you’re feeling really hungry, try the ‘Emergency Room’: 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 3 pieces of bacon or sausage, home fries or grits, and toast. 
4. Sunny Point Café, Asheville, NC - http://sunnypointcafe.com/ -- If you’re into eating and drinking, then Asheville’s not a bad little spot. Sit on the patio or in the indoor dining room and enjoy a delicious breakfast menu that includes diner favorites, healthy options and some surprises. Sunny Point uses organic ingredients and the results are worth the drive out to the other side of Asheville!
5. Taste of Belgium, Cincinnati, OH: OTR or Findlay Market - http://authenticwaffle.com/ -- What started as a stand in Cincinnati’s Findlay Market, now includes a brick and mortar restaurant and bar. If you go with a friend, order a waffle and a crepe for the two of you. I recommend the waffle with whipped cream and strawberries. Since you’re in Cincinnati, you have to try the ‘Nati crepe: sweet batter, peppers, onions, goetta, provolone and egg. Outstanding!
6. Cora’s Coffee Shoppe, Santa Monica, CA - http://www.corascoffee.com/ -- This little spot on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, makes the list partly for its food and partly for its location. If you can, sit outside. The garden is beautiful and you can smell the ocean. As for food, you could go as simple as a bagel and cream cheese or go all out with the Kobe style steak and eggs. 
7. The Paramount, Boston, MA: Beacon Hill or Southie - http://www.paramountboston.com/ -- This is not your average diner. I can’t speak for the Southie location since it’s new. However, the Beacon Hill spot has been there since 1937. First, don’t dare walk in and grab a table. This is the deal, you stand in line to get to the grill, you give your order, and, by the time you make it to the counter to pay, you’re food’s done and there’s a table waiting. Don’t ask. It just works. By the way, the food’s delicious! I recommend the waffle with fruit.
8. Lucky’s Lounge, Boston, MA: Southie/Seaport - http://luckyslounge.com/?page_id=142 – See if you can guess where I’ve lived most of my professional, adult life? That’s right, Beantown. If you’re looking for something fun and different for Sunday brunch, then you must try Lucky’s. The food is solid (complimentary coffee cake appetizer at breakfast!). However, the main attraction is the music. Sunday brunch at Lucky’s is Sinatra Sunday. Enjoy your breakfast while local crooners serenade you with Ol’ Blue Eyes’ hits. Life is grand…
9. Elmo’s Diner, Carrboro or Durham, NC - http://elmosdiner.com/ -- They have a big menu, but they do it all well. It helps when you use fresh ingredients. From the waffles to the omelets to the quiche, it’s all delicious. In the college heavy Triangle of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, Elmo’s manages to pull a nice mix of young and old, singles and families, and hipsters and straight edge folk. I recommend the quiche, if you’re into that sort of thing!
10. Hathaway’s, Cincinnati, OH: Downtown Carew Tower -http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/32/361460/restaurant/Downtown/Hathaways-Cincinnati -- I’m a sucker for a classic diner. Notice I didn’t link to the restaurant website? It’s because they don’t have one. These folks stick to making short stacks, bacon and eggs and all the other diner favorites you’d expect. No frills, what you see is what you get! 

Honorable Mentions: Martin's Coffee Shop (Brookline, MA), Price Hill Chili (Cincinnati, OH - West Side), Popover Cafe (Upper West Side, Manhattan), Victoria's Diner (Dorchester, MA), Bongo Room (Chicago, IL - Wicker Park), Trident Bookstore (Boston, MA - Newbury St.), Sorella's (Boston, MA - Jamaica Plain)

Bon apetit! 

Happy Birthday America!

Nothing represents American decadence better than the annual Coney Island Hot Dog Eating competition, well, except for gambling on the outcome.  This year the line for number of hot dogs eaten by Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the six time defending champion, was set at 63.5 dogs.  Think about that, 63.5 hot dogs eaten in ten minutes, I am pretty sure that is more hot dogs than the average American consumes in a year.  My favorite play in the sport of competitive eating is without a doubt the “reversal of fortune”.  What is a reversal of fortune you ask?  It is exactly what you think it is, the dogs are intended to go down the throat, but sometimes the body does not agree with the mind, and you have a reversal of fortune.  Perhaps the most memorable and thrilling example was depicted in the epic showdown between Chestnut and Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi:

All I can say is thank god the belt is back on American soil, and congratulations to Chestnut for winning again today becoming the seven time defending champion.  Jaws crushed the over, setting a new record of 69 dogs consumed in ten minutes.  Although Americans were not treated to the elusive “reversal of fortune” today, we can always hope for next year.  To everyone who bet the over, be sure to spend your winnings on a traditional Fourth of July supply, like Chinese invented fireworks, or some Belgium owned Beer. 

Bobcats Draft Recap: Cody Zeller and why it is dumb to grade the draft

Last Thursday night the Charlotte Bobcats continued their streak of puzzling draft selections by taking Indiana power forward Cody Zeller with the 4^th overall pick.  By now, you have probably seen pundits criticizing Zeller, the Bobcats or both.  Why didn’t the Bobcats take Noel, Len or McLemore?  This must be another one of those “Michael Jordan” picks.  To many Bobcats fans, myself included, the Zeller pick was unexpected.  The professionals agreed.  ESPN draft analyst Chad Ford calls Zeller “a major reach” and Yahoo’s Kelly Dwyer (a no-talent clown) grave the selection a “D”.  He summarized his reasoning saying, “this grade has nothing to do with Michael Jordan’s drafting history oh wait yes it totally does.”

Allow me to offer my grade of the Bobcats 2013 draft:  Incomplete

It is ridiculous to grade a draft the night, week or even month following the draft.  Fans and analysts alike have to wait and see what other moves teams make and how new players develop in the summer league and their first few months in the league.  I love looking at draft grades a few years after to laugh at how off some predictions are.  Here are a few of my favorite examples of “Draft Grades Gone Wrong.”

2008 NBA Draft:  Giving the Milwaukee Bucks an A for drafting Joe Alexander, the Bulls a B for Derrick Rose and the Sonics/Thunder a C for Russell Westbrook. (Draft Express)

2009 NBA Draft:  An A for the Knicks after taking Jordan Hill?  How about a D for Milwaukee after grabbing Brandon Jennings?  Sometimes the pundits do get it right though and we should acknowledge them.  For instance, appropriately giving the Thunder a D for drafting Byron Mullens.  (CBSsports) 

2010 NBA Draft:  How’d that Ed Davis pick work out for you, Toronto? (A-)  Or grabbing Al-Farouq Aminu out of Wake Forest, L.A?  (A-)  I’m pretty sure none of the guys OKC drafted in 2010 are on the current roster. (B+) (Sports Illustrated)

2011 NBA Draft:  Any fond memories of Josh Selby in Memphis? (A) How about Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton and Shelvin Mack for the Wiz?  (A+)  (Yahoo!)

2012 NBA Draft:  Miles Plumee really earned that B+ for the Pacers, right?  Just kidding he got an F.  But did Kendall Marshall deserve a B+?  Probably not.  Thomas Robinson a B?  Terrence Ross an A?  (Fox Sports)

Sure, sometimes analysts get it right.  But more often than not, doling out grades shortly after the draft is a fool’s game.  So, before I get into my Cody Zeller analysis, just know there is a very good chance I am wrong.  However, I’ll be willing to bet he develops into a much nicer piece for the Bobcats than Chad Ford or Kelly Dwyer predict.  So let’s get to it with a Q & A.

Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore and Alex Len were all available for the 4^th pick.  Why didn’t the ‘cats grab one of them?

Hindsight is 20/20,so this answer now looks fairly straightforward.  The Bobcats already have a player like Noel in Bismack Biyombo.  Nerlens might have a higher upside, but he also has a torn ACL.  Biz can rebound and is a tremendous shot blocker.  Both are limited offensively.  It makes sense to stick with known quantity. 

Len is slightly different, but the same general idea applies.  Len is limited by injury and has the potential to do big things in the NBA.  But, he couldn't crack the All-ACC team this season so we have to question his upside.  If you are Charlotte and you already have offensively limited big man project in Biyombo, why take another one especially when his greatest asset could be that he used to by a gymnast? 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Bobcats were only going to take McLemore if they were comfortable letting Henderson walk.  The Bobcats have already given Henderson a qualifying offer making him a restricted free agent, so it looks like he is here to stay.  Plus, no matter how terrible you are as a team, and the Bobcats are bad, you don’t draft to replace your second best player.  Skipping over McLemore does make me curious about their strategy if Oladipo was on the board at 4.

What does Cody Zeller bring to the table?

First and foremost, Cody Zeller is not Byron Mullens, so there is dramatic improvement right there.  Yes, Zeller had a terrible game against Syracuse in the Sweet 16 and saw his draft stock (supposedly) drop for it.  But, he was a top 3 pick before the season and averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds a game in the Big 10.  Zeller can fill Mullen’s role as a stretch 4 and do a lot of things defensively Mullens never cared to do, like rebound and generally care.  With the addition of Patrick Ewing to Steve Clifford’s staff, we can be sure Zeller will receive the attention he needs to develop his post game and improve his interior defense.  We also know he can run which will be nice to see considering Mullens typically played between the 3-point lines.

Why did the Bobcats draft Zeller if they are going to sign Al Jefferson?

If you've followed free agency, you’ll see that the Bobcats are hosting Al Jefferson today in Charlotte.  Jefferson, the Utah big man, is one of the most sought after free agents whom most analysts have pegged going to a contender.  Jefferson has career averages of around 16.5 points and 9 rebounds a game.  He is known as a powerful low post presence and a terrible defender.  He will command around 10-12 million dollars a year.  If the Bobcats sign Jefferson, I think it is a signal they want to “win” now, as in win around 30 games instead of 25.  It will also spell the end of Brendan Haywood and Jeff Adrien ever seeing the court. (Looks like McBobs is leaving regardless)  They might also believe they will not make a splash in free agency next season no matter how much money they can clear up.  Having an established veteran on the team isn’t a terrible idea, especially since his addition will not keep the Bobcats out of next year’s loaded draft lottery.  I do not believe the Bobcats will sign Jefferson, not because they do not want to, but because he wants to play on a contender.  

Projected Starting Lineup WITH Jefferson:  Walker, MKG, Henderson, Jefferson, Biyombo.  (Zeller, Sessions, Gordon, Taylor in the rotation)

Projected Starting Lineup WITHOUT Jefferson:  Walker, MKG, Zeller, Biyombo. (Haywood, Sessions, 

Gordon, Taylor in the rotation)

This will do it for my NBA analysis for a while unless some big Bobcats news occurs.  I plan on writing about the 2016 Presidential race, the Washington Nationals and the British Open in the coming weeks.  

Best of the 2012-2013 NBA Season, Western Conference

Best of the 2012-2013 NBA Season, Western Conference

Now that we have caught our breath from the crazy, boo-David Stern-infused NBA draft (which has been extensively covered by my colleague Charlie Buck), we can turn our attention away from the business of the NBA and reflect on what we witnessed this past season on the court.

Sooooo... how was the West won? Basically to oversimplify things, Westbrook's injury changed a lot, and no other team was good enough to really challenge the Spurs.

1. Pop's System

Pop's system was 6 six seconds away from hanging its fifth banner for himself and his BFF Timmy. Energizer bunny clichés aside, the Spurs just keep on going and going, and they keep on quietly winning and winning. They acquire ordinary roster players and enable them to do extraordinary things. Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard are prime examples. Green was a pretty good college player that made huge contributions in the finals and was a major part of the Spurs' 3-2 lead going back to Miami. As an NC State alum, I was thankful that game 6 and 7 pushed the former Tar Heel Green out of the Finals MVP conversation. But you can't deny Pop's system and the beneficiaries of it, namely, any (role) player to play for him, the NBA as a whole, Pop's legacy, the city of San Antonio, etc. Gotta think the window is closing out in San Antonio.

2. Grit and Grind...

... And the brief reemergence of the NBA big man. It's down, but not out. The Grizzlies' starting five were heroic, playing at a high level despite a very limited bench. I remember during the playoffs where Memphis was so exhausted that Gasol and Z-Bo were walking up the court and they didn't start their offense until about 9 seconds left on the shot clock. That may be attributed to the fact that Z-Bo's likely has about 15% body fat and 3 inch vertical jump. Jerryd Bayless should never play on a serious playoff team and Quincy Pondexter, though decent, cannot be relied upon every game. But Z-Bo and Gasol gave Blake Griffin and company an old-school lesson in how less athletic big men work the post and rebound. The subsequent sweep from the hands of the Spurs reminded us of the limitations of big man-dominated teams, or teams without a bench, who knows. When grit and grind was good, it was really good. But big-man-centric teams flounder down the stretch in key possessions, and having guys who can create their own shot is a necessity in the playoffs. On a side note, RIP Lionel Hollins.

3. Denver Nuggets Regular Season

Key word: regular season. The Nuggets won a franchise record 57 games, finished third in the West, and posted a 38-3 home record at the mile high Pepsi Center. Yes, that beats Miami's record and their gold chain-laden fans' best efforts. Not bad for a team without a real star (sorry Andre Iguodala). The Nuggets rewarded arguably the best team in history by promptly firing the mastermind NBA GM of the Year, Masai Ujiri, and revered NBA Coach of the Year George Karl. To be fair, Karl is unbelievably inept in the postseason, and was without a doubt Curry'd this postseason. Who knows what the future holds for this team, but let's not allow the postseason shenanigans to give us amnesia about what happened out in Denver this year. Who won the Melo-drama deal between the Knicks and Nuggets? Both teams did but the Nugs just keep on rising, only to collapse in the playoffs again and again.

4. Kobe

The Mamba is the closest thing the league has had to a player-coach since... an actual player-coach? Yes, the NBA had one of those as recently as 1979, and legendary Bill Russell won two championships as a player-coach.... but I digress. Kobe basically willed the Lakers to a late 7th spot in the West, until his Achilles heel became his Achilles heel. Injuries are just the worst, man. He's about to turn 35 and can still ball. He will be back and will show us how young he is again, because he is Kobe Bryant and that's what he does. Just when we think he is obsolete, he drops 40 again (he has the third most 40-point games behind Michael and Wilt.) He finally enlightened the nation to Dwight Howard's immaturity, apathy, and the fact that he is a tremendous liability for a team, and now on his way out. (Phenomenal article on that by Grantland on the pseudo-Superman... Oh or how about "Pseuperman" as a nickname for Dwight. We'll keep working on that.)

5. Russell Westbrick

I mean, Westbrook. Myself included, many have criticized him for shooting too much when he has a scoring champ drifting along the wing. But we saw how important Westbrook is to this team that looked lost without him, missing his ability to break down a defense and get into the lane. If anyone was the winner from OKC's postseason demise, it was their enigmatic point guard. I mean I've never liked Westbrook, I've always thought he is too much of a punk, but he is a freakish athlete. Even Coach K loved his slap-the-floor defensive intensity. Injuries are a part of the game, but we can't help but wonder what could have been had Westbrook and Kobe not gone down.

Honorable Mention

Lob City: Too much flash, not enough substance. Doc will bring much needed culture of toughness and defense to this team. The addition of sharpshooter Scott Wood could change everything.

Golden State's Offense: Steph Curry, David Lee, and this group of gunslingers is on the rise. They also have as rowdy of a crowd as you get in the NBA.