Jessica Mendoza: Baseball Analyst

The title says it all. Jessica Mendoza. Baseball analyst. At least it should.

There was a big deal made of Mendoza being the first female analyst on ESPN's national baseball broadcast. And it was a big deal. And it wasn't.

You know why it wasn't? Because it sounded just like a baseball broadcast. And that is the best compliment I can provide.  It wasn't schtick. It wasn't a novelty. It was just providing a competent analyst an opportunity.

Did Mendoza ever play Major League Baseballl?  Nope. And neither did you.

Maybe as fan of tennis I'm used to a female voice. Mary Carillo is one the best in the business. Chris McKendry. Martina, Chrissie, Hannah Storm, Mary Jo Fernandez, etc. Nobody questions them calling men's matches. Nor should they,

So why is it a big deal that Jessica Mendoza is calling MLB? Because it's never been done before. Here's hoping to that it's never a big deal again.

The NBA: Interesting Series, Unwatchable Basketball

I generally do not care for or watch much NBA, especially during the regular season. Once the playoffs roll around, I usually give a cursory view until the finals when I'll watch more.

The first round this year has been so compelling, I have found myself watching more than usual. While the series have been interesting, the basketball itself has not.

I'll admit it, I just don't get the NBA game. There are periods of fantastic basketball interrupted by guys auditioning for parts in low-rent community theater.

I mean guys fishing for contact and acting as though they've been hit by a runaway train at the brush of a feather, or worse yet, with no contact whatsoever is not becoming of professional athletes.

I've seen flopping before (Vlade Divac anyone?), and I've seen some spectacular dives in soccer. But what is going on in the NBA is neither flopping nor spectacular. It's just really, really bad theater. As a casual fan, it turns me off and makes me think my decision to not really care about anything NBA is warranted.

For the diehards, have fun with rest of the playoffs. I don't see the excitement of the first round continuing. With the basketball unwatchable at times, I'll be concentrating on my blog and watching baseball. Maybe I'll tune in for the finals. Or maybe some series gets interesting. Other than that, I'm out.

Tragedy, sports and music

In the wake of Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon, West explosion and Oklahoma tornado; it seems a bit silly to be discussing sports and music.

That being said, sports and music have a tendency to unite.  And bring people together.

Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder has donated $1,000, 000 to the tornado relief efforts.  Matt Kemp, an Oklahoma  native, will donate $1,000 for every home run he hits between now and the All-Star break.  I'm sure many others are doing much.  Those are just two examples that we're aware of at the moment.

There is a huge rock/metal festival taking place in Oklahoma this weekend, Rocklahoma.  Many charity auctions will take place to benefit the tornado victims.  A charity/benefit concert is also in the works.  Again, this is all that we are aware of at the moment.

Life goes on.  Very differenetly for those affected by tragedy.

Here in the Cheap Seats, we mostly deal in frivolity, truth be told.  And that has it's place.  Right now we take a moment to pray for those affected, praise those who have responded and pray again.