Home Run Derby

Tonight is the night of the most watched television event of the summer...the Home Run Derby.  There is hardly a more exciting play in baseball and, as well all know, chicks dig the long ball.  Here are tonight's contestants.

 

Albert Pujols

Ryan Howard

Adrian Gonzalez

Prince Fielder

 

and for the AL...

 

Carlos Pena

Joe Mauer

Brandon Inge

Nelson Cruz

 

I will say it over and over again.  I love the Home Run Derby.  There is no better All-Star game festivity in any sport that can compete with the the HRD.  NHL skills competitions are a ton of fun, but there is not one event that stands out as the best (maybe hardest shot or the shot accuracy contest).  The NBA has two marquee events in the Slam Dunk competition, which in my humble opinion, has declined in surprise since Vince Carter jammed the ball and his arm through the hoop (no offense to Dwight Howard, but copying Dr. J and then using your natural ability to leap over tall structures to jam on a higher rim says more about your athleticism than your dunking and creative abilities.)  I have always been a fan of the 3-point contest, but I couldn't tell you who won last year.  My point being is that every sports fan remembers the Home Run Derby.  Will anyone ever forget Josh Hamilton last year?  No freaking way, he said that there was a possibility of crushing a shot out of Yankee Stadium(something that has never been done) and then proceeded to come very close several times. 

 

Some people think that the HRD sucks.  I think they just want something to bitch about.  However, there is one glaring reason why the HRD is atrocious, and that is Chris Berman.  I agree with Mr. ShysterBall on that point. Chris Berman is to announcing what bird droppings are to my car.  They are there, and they are not going to stop happening, but it sure would be nice to park under a tree without creating a target, or listening to any major sporting event ESPN covers without having to listen to Boomer and his rampant hyperbole and crappy catch phrases.  Even if it means bleeding from the ears for 3 hours I am still going to watch the thing because it is as American and Apple Pie and Cheddar Cheese.

 

Oh, and if I did not need to say it.  Pujols FTW...Cruz and Mauer are dark horses.