OPINION —
IS THERE anything crazier than people weighing whether this year’s USA Olympic basketball team is better than the 1992 “Dream Team”?
While people love to compare the present with the past, there is no true way of determining a definite answer.
Was Babe Ruth the best baseball player of all time? Was Jim Brown the greatest running back of all time? Was Wayne Gretzky better than every other hockey player of all time?
The competition is much greater today in every sport and the training regimens and equipment are so much better. And the rules have changed in many sports. So how can you even answer those questions? If those old-time greats had today’s equipment how would they fare?
It’s like Hall-of-Famer Ted Williams — the last player ever to bat over .400 for a season — about 10 years before his death in 2002 was asked by a reporter how he would do against the current pitchers.
Williams, who had a career batting average of .344 and is regarded by some as the all-time greatest pure hitter, replied: “I’d probably bat about .250.”
The reporter had a surprised look on his face. So Williams said, “Hey, what do you expect. I’m 70 years old!”
The one good thing about the Dream Team comparison, however, is it hypes up the 2012 Olympic Games which are right around the corner. Still, who wouldn’t have loved seeing Michael Jordan going up against LeBron James if both were in their prime.
Hey, we can always dream!
ä Speaking about dreams — how about this nightmare. The Pittsburgh Pirates are beaten by the Stanford University baseball team.
The Pirates took Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with the 8th pick in the recent baseball draft. But Appel turned down an offer of $3.8 million to stay in college.
Admittedly, part of the problem was that there are restrictions on how much teams can now pay players depending where they are taken in the draft. But he was the only player taken in the first round who didn’t sign with a team. So you have to wonder if he just didn’t want to play for a team that didn’t have a winning record in the past 19 years.
Obviously, Pittsburgh is doing much better this season. But if you are a Pirates fan, you have to admit that watching the Bucccos lose their first game after the All-Star break Friday night because of a grand-slam homer, you were thinking: “Oh, no. Here we go again.”
But when you are a Pirates or Indians fan, pessimism comes naturally. Just like Cleveland’s final game before the All-Star break when they lost because normally great closer Chris Perez was shelled. Even though the guy had 24 saves in 26 chances this year, Indians fans were ready to dump him.
Nobody ever said being a Pirates or Indians fan was easy!
Sports
SPORTVIEW: Although we try, there's no way to compare past and present
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Hickory softball ousted by Warren; Reynolds, Sharpsville games postponed
Three District 10 semifinal playoff softball games were on the schedule Thursday, but only one was played due to the scattered storms that passed through western Pa.
Hickory suffered a 10-0, 6-inning loss to Warren in a D-10 Class AAA game at Allegheny College in Meadville. That game had a rain delay, but was able to be completed. The Reynolds vs. Saegertown game at Allegheny College and the Sharpsville vs. Iroquois game at Penn State-Behrend in Erie were postponed. -
Playoffs: GC, Hounds win; Reynolds, Sharpsville softball advance
The District 10 playoffs kicked off on Tuesday for 4 area baseball teams and 5 softball squads.
In Class A softball, Reynolds edged West Middlesex, 5-4, in an 8-inning thriller while Sharpsville ousted Rocky Grove, 5-0. In Class AA, Northwestern beat Wilmington, 9-5, and Harbor Creek defeated Mercer, 4-3. -
Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. - More Sports Headlines
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Hickory softball ousted by Warren; Reynolds, Sharpsville games postponed
