Sports Then and Now

The Nets have been unable to get started this season opening with a record 18-straight losses.

With a 117-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the New Jersey Nets have set a new NBA record for futility at the start of the season.

Their 18th straight loss to open the season breaks the previous mark set by the Miami Heat in 1988-89 and matched by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999.

What isn’t particularly encouraging as the Nets look to try to end their run sometime before Christmas (or more preferably before Chanukah) is that few of the losses have been all that close.

The margin of defeat by the Nets has been under-10 points only five times all season. Their most recent single digit loss was on November 21 when the New York Knicks defeated the Nets 98-91 for one of their four victories on the season.

As it turns out, their best chance at victory was actually in the season opener against the nearly as awful Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nets led by 19 points in that game before the Wolves rallied to win in the final seconds. Minnesota went on to lose their next 15 games.

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In the 2008 U.S. Open, Venus couldn't capitalize on 10 set point opportunities in losing to eventually Champion Serena in the Quarterfinals.

There’s a certain commercial for the 2009 US Open—one where Serena Williams has two dolls in her lap.

“I’m gonna beat you, Venus,” Serena says, marching one doll over her knee into the other one’s face.

“No, you not,” replies the second doll in an elevated, falsetto voice.

Near Misses: the canvas on which is painted ugly, bitter things, the scope of which contains hidden beauty that lingers in the mind like the aftertaste of a fine, aged Scotch.

The subject of this series is not the winner, but the so-called “loser,” the one whose exit is at first bitter and burning like the first note of a 30-year-old Glenmorangie, but for whom the second note is sweet, nuanced, and lasting, just like said 30-year-old Scotch.

Richard Williams, their notorious, old father and coach, announced, when Venus won her first title, that his two daughter’s would ultimately find that their greatest rival would be each other.

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Grilli in 2008 photo while pitching for the Detroit Tigers

Though I confess that I already knew, but was sworn to secrecy, I’m excited to officially announce the signing of right-hander Jason Grilli to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians with a big-league invitation to spring training.

Grilli will be given the opportunity to compete for a spot in the bullpen. If he makes the big league club, he’ll earn $800,000.

Grilli, who has become a close friend and confidant through his work with the award winning children’s book, A Glove of Their Own, remained tight lipped about who he had officially signed with as a respect to his future employer. He had let a few in his inner circle know that he had signed and had Fed-exed his contract out on Sunday.

“I felt that that was the class way to handle things despite the fact that everyone wanted to know.” Read the rest of this entry →