The Real Superman vs. Dwight Howard

"We as players, we always watch people before us," Shaquille O'Neal said.  "When I came in, it was Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon, guys who played like true centers who played inside.  What we have now are centers that are going to the European style, which is a lot of pick-and-roll.  Dwight Howard, who's a pick-and-roll player, some people say he's the best center in the league, but me being an old-school center, I'm going to go with [Brooke] Lopez and Andrew Bynum because they play with their back to the basket."

Shaq was speaking in a roundtable discussion for NBA.com when he made these comments.  Since they were made, Howard hasn't been handling them well, apparently.

"He hated the fact when he played that the older guys were talking about him and how he played and now he's doing the exact same thing," Howard said.  "Just let it go.  There's no sense for him to be talking trash to me.  He did his thing in the league.  He's one of the most dominant players to ever play the game.  Just sit back and relax.  You did your thing.  Your time is up.  So, I don't really care.  I don't really care.  He can say whatever he wants to say."

Easy, big fella.  Howard has been compared to Shaq in the past after playing for the Orlando Magic and using the nickname "Superman."  Everybody knows Shaq is basketball's only Superman, and Howard should have been out of the running as soon as he threw that ball in wearing the cape during the All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest.  And now, Howard's career path mimics Shaq's to the T at this stage in his career, starting in Orlando and moving to Los Angeles.

Shaq, never one to let anyone get the last word, all but closed the book on this "feud."

"You have to care to have a reaction," O'Neal said. "I've got businesses to run. I always tell people that in order to step in my shoes you have big shoes to fill. For him, he's going to have to at least win three [titles] to get people's respect."

The Big Aristotle

Caaaaan you dig ittttt? This video needs to explanation.

Not In Favor of Replay, But Something Needs to be Done About MLB Umpires

As expanded replay is being heavily considered in the game of baseball, the umpires sure are making a great case for its approval.

A new expanded replay system is being tested using camera and radar-based technologies to identify the truth behind fair or foul calls, and can even conclude whether a player is out or safe at first base.  Many are opposed to the new system, allowing human error to be a part of the game.  But a little too much leeway has been given of late, and maybe its time for a change.

“It would take a lot less time to go look at a replay than to go out and argue a call,” Mets manager Terry Collins said, “so why not get it right?”

It has been an issue for years, but this season, it seems like now more than ever Major League umpires are attempting to take over the game of baseball, exercising their will over games with idiotic calls and quick ejections.  And there are plenty of examples to back this up.

Does anyone remember the call made in early May by umpire Tim Welke during a Dodgers-Rockies game at first base?  Rockies first baseman Todd Helton picked the ball as Jerry Hairston Jr came across the bag, but the problem was, Helton was a good four feet off the bag.  Misfortune befell the Dodgers again on Thursday when Angel Campos tossed Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp for, as Kemp says, saying "let's go 'Dre" to Andre Ethier who was at the plate. (Listen to the video, you can tell Kemp doesn't say anything worthy of getting sent packing, yet Campos tosses one of the best players in baseball in the second inning because he can.)

Not enough evidence for you?  Alright, we'll keep going.  That same Thursday afternoon, A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy came off the front of the mound to make a nice sliding catch on a popped-up bunt, but home plate umpire Laz Diaz immediately ruled it a trap.  You can watch the video a million times, in no way does that even look like a trap based on how his glove is turned and how the ball landed in there.

Fine, but just one more.  Friday night, during the Orioles-Tigers game.  Jhonny Peralta grounds a ball to third, rookie sensation Manny Machado throws a laser to first baseman Mark Reynolds who, after watching the replay multiple times, makes an amazing tip-toe-on-the-bag diving pick for the out.  But then the impossible happens.  The umpires reversed the call.  They reverse an out call at first base.  Can that even happen?  Reynolds slams his glove down, and the second base umpire, feeling neglected that no one is yelling at him, immediately takes action, giving Reynolds the hook.

In all of these instances, expanded replay would help tremendously.  Umpires wouldn't be calling ridiculous strikes that are practically in the other batter's box, they wouldn't get a simple 5-3 putout horribly wrong and act like they're omniscient when someone argues.  I am adamantly opposed to expanded replay, but if this is what we're in for with Major League umpires for the remainder of this year and the future, something needs to be done.  And fast.