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This Bud's For You, NFL Draft Thoughts

This Bud's For You, NFL Draft Thoughts

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<!— 7: First Image Article —><!— 8: Article Text —>Unlikely division contenders
I know it's early, but have you looked at the standings lately? Who should be on top or near their respective division's lead? Why, none other than the Twins and Expos, of course. Isn't it nice to see the owners in baseball squirm a little? I am sure that Bud was hoping to see the Expos and Twins languishing at the bottom of their respective leagues. Furthermore, do you know where his Brewers are? You guessed it — near the bottom of the National league.

I know it is crazy to suggest that both Montreal and Minnesota will stay in contention the rest of the year, but a guy can dream, can't he? Wouldn't it be something if the Expos can outlast the Mets and Braves, and if the Twins can survive the Indians and White Sox? Old Bud and the networks want to see the large television markets in the playoff hunt, such as LA, Chicago and Philadelphia. Instead, small markets such as Montreal, Minnesota and Pittsburgh could be contenders. On the other hand, knowing Bud and the owners, they will pull a 1994 on us before they let the fans get their own way.

Will the World Cup succeed on U.S. TV?
Despite the fact that soccer is the biggest sport in the world, it has yet to capture the imagination of the American audience. With this year's World Cup being held in Japan and Korea, it is doubtful that the American audience will be able to watch any live games (not that American networks ever show any international events live to begin with). If the 1998 Nagano Olympics' hockey ratings were any indication, the World Cup will not be much of a factor on American airwaves.

American viewers have shown a genuine disinterest in the past for events that are not in their time zone. Just look at the ratings disparity between the '90 and '94 (held in US) World Cups. It's not that the sport of soccer is bad, it's just a little too strategic and methodical for the viewers (thus boring). The irony is that the most strategic and methodical of sports is baseball, and happens to be "America's Pastime." The mere fact that more and more kids are playing soccer in North America should give hope to the future of this great sport. But for the time being, a World Cup of soccer isn't embraced in the United States as much as it should be.

Is it all that smart to play McGrady hurt?
I know it is the playoffs. I know that Tracy McGrady is the best player on the Orlando Magic. But did you see his face during game 1 of the Eastern Conference's quarterfinal against Charlotte? It appeared that he was in excruciating pain. Not only did his team lose anyway, but he could have also injured himself further. Yet there he was pouring in 31 points in Orlando's game 2 win. Even though he played well, is it all that smart playing a guy that was in so much pain only a day or two earlier?

You would think that the Magic would have learned their lesson from rushing Grant Hill back to action earlier this year. You can see what kind of a factor he has been in this series. Since Orlando doesn't have the team to compete for a title this year anyway, what is the point in jeopardizing the health of your team's franchise player? The Magic should take a page out of the book of McGrady's old team: the Raptors. Despite making the playoffs, they refused to rush Vince Carter back this year. Magic coach Doc Rivers should just tell Tracy to go home and get better.

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