Yao Ming Cleared!

The Houston Rocket's 7 foot 6 inch, 310 pound center has been cleared for basketball activities. This is great news for the Rockets and their fans. Yao has always been prone to injury. His most recent injury came in the 2009 play offs, where he injured his ankle. The injury put him out for the rest of the play offs and the whole 09/10 season. He is going to take things slow but also fill his days with work outs, rehabs and individual sessions to build his personal skills. Many people are counting on Yao to pick up right where he left off and are hoping that he will be a key player in leading the Rockets back into the play offs. All eyes will be on Yao for the next couple of months until the season starts. Here's to hoping he does everything we wish for and even more.

Goodbye, Lou.

Lou Piniella retired on Sunday, August 22, 2010 after a 16-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Piniella shocked everyone by following through with his plans of retirement...6 weeks early. He made the respectable choice to be by his 90 year old mother's side as she is very sick. It takes an earnest, loving, and honest man to do what he did. He stepped up and made the wise decision to place family ahead of fame and money. After the game Piniella stated, "Rather than continue to go home and come back, it's not fair to the team and it's not fair to the players.The best thing is to step down and go home and take care of my mother." In my heart I know he made the best and most respectable choice he ever possibly could have.

Facts about Lou Piniella and his career with Major League Baseball:

-His 1,835 wins ranks him among the managerial elite, placing him at #14 on the all time win list.

-He is the first manager in Chicago Cub's history to lead the team to back to back post season appearances.

-Piniella is 1 of only 5 managers to win the Manager of the Year award, 3 times.

-He has been in a uniform since 1962.

-He had the team at .500 within 3 seasons of being the manager, the first Cub's manager to do so in nearly 70 years.

O'Neal Joins The Celtics

The Boston Celtics definitely added a big name to their team today, and that would be none other than Shaq. Despite this being his 19th year in the NBA, Shaq still seems to be in pretty good shape. He will be able to help the Celtics and provide for them in ways that only  a veteran of the game like himself could. 

Houston Rockets Vs L.A. Lakers= 1/2 of NBA Opening Night

1/2 of this year's NBA opening night will be the Rockets playing at the Staples Center against the Lakers in L.A. Talk about some drama..As a Houston fan, I am for one am still bitter about the whole Ron Artest situation. It absolutely drove me crazy how when he was a Rocket(a very good one at that) he would taunt Kobe, and constantly pick fights with the Lakers,  and then all of a sudden he requests to go join them in their quest for another championship, and is all buddy-buddy with all of the players he used to talk so badly about. The Rockets/Lakers games have always been intense and fueled by lots of emotions. 

I know it is just a little early for this BUT,

How it looks for L.A. : 

The Lakers are coming straight off a great '09 season and a world championship. For their first game I expect them to have it together and play like nothing less than the champions they are. I think they will bring everything they have to prove that they are ready to dominate another season. 

How it looks for Houston: The All Star center Yao Ming will be playing for the first time since the '08 play offs. Yao is expected to be in great health, despite numerous issues with previous injuries. Despite not playing the whole 2009 season, Yao was constantly sitting on the bench with the other players and still participating in the time outs. If cohesion permits, I think the Rockets have a great chance at a very good season this year. 

 Game date/time : October 26, 2010 at 10:30 pm E.T.

Congrats Alex Rodriguez on #600!

Alex Rodriguez finally hit home run #600 of his career today August 4, 2010. He is only the 7th man in the history of Major League Baseball to reach this tremendous milestone. Other members of the 600 home run club include: Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds*, Ken Griffey Jr., and Willie Mays.  Many people are filled with doubt about the validity of A-Rod reaching this great feat. Their main complain being that he at one point in his career used performance enhancing drugs (steroids). I support A-Rod and all of his accomplishments because he was one of the few to come forth and actually admit his mistake, own up to it, and move on. Others who OBVIOUSLY have used steroids are still dodging the question and still refusing to talk about it, they will always be in denial. 

Interesting facts about Alex Rodriguez and his 600th home run:

-Youngest player ever to reach the milestone (35 years old)

-2nd Yankee in history to get 600 home runs

-He played 2,267 games to reach this record

- It 8,688 trips to the plate to make it happen

-It was his 255th home run as a Yankee

Last Game As A Little Puma: Saying Goodbye

Yesterday marked my last day as a Little Puma (hopefully not forever). It was a pretty sad day. The Little Pumas have become a part of the experience of Minute Maid Park. People were constantly taking pictures or coming up to us to talk about Lance Berkman. Of course there were those who never knew what we were dressed up as or why we would dress up. While dressed up people told us we were : tigers, lions, wallabes, kangaroos etc. I never quite understood why people thought we were tigers, our suits don't have stripes. Once people heard the full story behind who we were, I definitely think they appreciated us a little more. As soon as the news hit that Berkman was OFFICIALLY traded and that it was our last game to be dressed up, people were coming up to us thanking us, sharing their favorite memories of us..It was great. With the people coming up to us with nothing but kind words and well wishes, that really helped make it a little less sad. I remember the first time I ever saw The Little Pumas at an Astros game. I found out they represented and cheered on Lance Berkman "The Big Puma". I knew I would love to be one of them but I was way too nervous to ask them if I could join. Instead I lurked their website for awhile before asking the creator of the LP's (Bubba) if I could join. He said yes and the rest is history..I am so glad and thankful to have been a part of something so great and fun. I have nothing but well wishes for Lance as a New York Yankee. I am thankful that Houston had such a great player. He will always be a highly respectable baseball player. Thank you Lance.