My Q & A With a ''Heckler''

My recent run in with a heckler, inspired me to put together a special Q & A with the man himself. Pops Kehoe is our guest and he promises to give us a totally different perspective on the happenings in Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Pops, welcome to Vega sports and without further delay...let's get right to it!

EV- Buck Showalter was recently named the manager of the lowly Baltimore Orioles. Is Buck the man to right the ship?

Pops- As you know, the A.L. East is without a doubt the toughest division in all of baseball. However, you couldn't have picked a better man for the job! Not only did Buck have the Yankees on the front porch & knocking on the door, before impatient Yanks front office let him go. He was hired by the Diamondbacks 2 years before their first game ever & in their second year of existence were crowned division Champs! I predict that within 3 fulls season, the Birds will be threatening for a possible playoff spot!

EV- 3 seasons Pops? Now that is a bold prediction. With the trading deadline now officially past, who were the winners and losers among contending teams?

Pops- Well in my mind that would have to be the Texas Rangers. Not only did they get this years prized gem in Cliff Lee, they also acquired some nice extra veteran pieces Cristin Guzman & Jorge Cantu. Now for the losers, that award goes to the NY Mets FANS! With their team still within striking distance, Omar Minaya chose to sit back & watch the Phillies & Braves get stronger. I realize that not everyone has the wallet or farm system to go for the high profile type hired gun, but there were a lot of minor pieces out there to be had. Sorry Mets fans,, but I wouldn't ask Omar to assemble a team for a softball beer league!

EV- Very true Pops, unless...you drunk a ton of beer before the interview right? Lol. The New York Yankees made some headlines recently with their acquisition of Lance Berkman. Smart or dumb for the Yanks to go with a bat over pitching help?

Pops- Although Brian Cashman has made some very good deals in the past, he left me standing there scratching my head this year. Lance Berkman??? Did we really need another DH type of hitter that struggles against LEFTIES? The man has had a decent career, but this is a case of, "wrong place & wrong time." Kerry Wood on the other hand could prove to be a stable force as the setup man, however they still need a lefty in the pen. I could be proven wrong but I feel Austin Kearns is probably the best pickup!

EV- Indeed! Maybe the Yanks have a chance of aquiring Brian Fuentes off waivers IF the Angels fall out of the post season picture. Moving on to the gridiron, as NFL camps have opened and already some notable injuries. Should the Preseason be cut short or are injuries just inevitable?

Pops - Well ... simply by the nature of the game, there will always be injuries. However, as a fan I'd like to see the exhibition season cut in half & play an 18 game schedule. If a player is going to get hurt, I'd rather see it happen in a meaningful game. It would also give season ticket holders a break since they must buy tickets to those games. However, I'm not sure how this will sit with the players & the union. My only hope is that they at least address this issue & possibly work something out next year when the Collective Bargaining Agreement runs out.

EV- It does look like commissioner Roger Goodell is pushing for an 18 game season, so we may see that happen as part of the new CBA negotiations. Many NFL teams are choosing to go with dual runners to bolster their running attacks. Go back in time and tell us who was your most enjoyable running back to watch and why?

Pops- Ah the good old days! Well since you did mention "tandems", it brings me to what is no doubt my #2 pick, Larry Csonka! This man ran exclusively between the tackles & when teamed up with the slashing style of Mercury Morris carried the Miami Dolphins to a couple of Super Bowls, including the leagues only undefeated season. This tandem was also the first to have both backs over a 1,000 yards each! But my #1 most favorite back to watch was Earl Campbell! This man was amazing & if you ever get a chance to see footage of this guy, DO IT! Since he was a power back, his career was only roughly 7/8yrs. Teams would put 8 and 9 man fronts up trying to stop him! I mean this guy could have a safety on his shoulders, a linebacker around his waist, with a D-lineman at his legs & he would still square up the pads against anybody still left out there! So to answer your question, ...I like a good POWER running game! SMOKE BREAK!!!!! :)

EV- OK Pops. (Waiting intently)....ah..he is back! Pops, Earl Campbell was an absolute beast! I have always been partial to Jim Brown as my favorite, but you can't go wrong with either of those two all-time greats. Who are the true beasts from the east going in to 2010, AFC of NFC?

Pops- A couple of years ago this would have been a no-brainer! However my friend, the times they are a changing! Let's start in the NFC home to my beloved Giants. It kills me to say it but the Dallas Cowboys are at the head of the class in this division. The Boys are strong on both of the ball & are anxious to snap their playoff woes. That leaves my Giants & all the questions they bring, will they find the power running game? Will they be able to regain that killer "Defense?" Further down I-95 we stop in Philly where they play good defense but have a HUGE question in "was getting rid of Donovan McNabb a mistake?" Most people feel that Kevin Kolb is a lock to replace Donovan at the QB spot, but what if he starts slow & Michael Vick has a good training camp? Now we go down to DC and we have a proven winner in new head coach Shanahan. Even with a good roster, it usually takes at a least one season to work in a new system. Now you look at the AFC East and even with the lowly Bills, the rest of this division is scary! They're starting to show some age on defense but never bet against a Bill Belichick coached team! Throw in the emergence of Sexy Rexy Ryan lead Jets & the much improved Dolphin team and this division will no doubt be the Beasts of the East this year!

EV- That AFC east certainly looks like a must watch division this up coming season without a doubt. Is Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan's treatment of Albert Haynesworth, in making the All Pro DT take tough conditioning tests, foul or fair?

Pops- This is an interesting question. While it may have started out as something of a slap on the wrist, is now turning real ugly! We have two very successful egos going toe to toe & somebody needs to step in and let cooler heads prevail. Now this test was recently done by Mike Golic (co-host of Mike & Mike on ESPN) who happens to be 47 years old and is 16 years removed from the NFL & missed the required time by less than 2 seconds! So to answer the question, I say fair!

EV- All valid and informative points, and I must say you handled the pressure of each question like a true ''Heckler.'' Well that is all the time we have for now sports fans, but I would like to thank Pops Kehoe for joining me and taking the time out to answer some questions and for joining the blogging world. Thanks again Pops!

Pops- I'd like to thank you & your faithful followers for letting me be a part of your blog, and at this time I'd like to wish you Good Luck on your writing career & anywhere else life's path may send you!

EE- Thank you Pops, and on behalf of the followers...it was our pleasure!