L. J. Burgess (Columnist)

Joined 2 months ago

  • 14 articles written
  • 706 comments posted
  • 3 articles of the day

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L. J. 's Bio

I'm a homer ...

I found a "Top Ten Sports Movies" piece on BR ... "Bad News Bears" isn't on it.

Bring the torches.

L. J. Writes About

The Short List facts and information about L. J. Burgess

Favorite Athletes

#19 johnny U., #21 David Pearson, Matt Wieters, Bert Jones, Nick Markakis, Greg Maddox, Kyle Busch, Raymond Berry, Eddie Murray, Secretariat, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Al Bumbry, Frank Robinson ... lots more

Favorite Sports Teams

O's, Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Colts CFL, Phillies, #21 Wood Brothers Racing, #18 Joe Gibbs Racing, Sho'men LAX, Blue Jay LAX,

All Time Sports Moment

Secretariat at Belmont ... 31 lengths ? Babe's, Hank's and Roger's Home Run Records, Joe Namath guarantees a win !

Most Memorable Game Attended

1955 Dogwood @ Martinsville or the 1969 Mason-Dixon 300 Dover International Speedway

Most Unbreakable Sports Record

Hank's and Maris' Home Run Records, Joe's 56 game hit streak, Petty's 27 wins, 10 in a row in '67 or Cal's games played record

Ruth or Mays?

Ruth ... and Mays ... and Mantle.

Unitas or Montana?

Oh Please Hon !?!?

Jordan or Russell?

Dr. J by a universe.

Gretzky or Orr?

Dave Schultz

Pele or Maradona?

Pele ... 'cause I had no clue 'til then ... and no clue since.

Federer or Sampras?

I don't know enough about Soccer to choose. They all wear little shorts right?

Tiger or Nicklaus?

I blow my horn LOUD when ever I pass by someone taking a Tee shot. (no offense)

Petty or Earnhardt?

David Pearson ... better than both of 'em put together. What a gunslinger.

Schumacher or Senna?

Prost ... Fangio, uh Clark, no Senna or maybe Stewart, or Lauda, no, Prost ... dammit I can't choose.

Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, or Big East?

Pre-Expansion ACC ... go Wolfpack ... (go Terps!) (hope my niece doesn't see this)

Bulletin Board (115) Post a note »

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  1. by Zander
    about 18 hours ago

    Gary Maddox,

    You best be commenting on this series...I need all the comments I can get, an embarrassing showing thus far!

    Glad you're enjoying it. Tell your niece I say hey...

    Z

  2. by Adam
    1 day ago

    Only 2 HP? That's a rather big discrepancy from the 22 HP number talked about on ESPN...

    I have to wonder if someone didn't see this coming and downrate the engines. Hmmm.

    I just don't see Kyle Busch going from "Also ran" in a Hendrick car to "Unstoppable" in a new JGR Toyota, with Hamlin and Stewart (which may be an ulterior motive situation to get out of his contract) performing so average.

    Something just doesn't smell right here...

  3. by Brandon
    1 day ago

    LJ,

    Haha, as soon as I finish my thesis!!!

    My reference/question in regard to the 70s v. 90s was that I understand in the 90s EVERYONE was making money off of something. The internet boom was in its early stages, but there was an immense amount of prosperity, hell, gas was less then half the price it is today in North America. Was that same optimism around in the 70s?

  4. by Brandon
    1 day ago

    LJ,

    Thanks for the edits. I never have an issue with someone editing my work unless there is a major change made.

    That said, I am fine to agree to disagree. I understand what the steroid era has done for some, but I also understand what it has done for others. My only major issue is that people are trying to tarnish this era despite cheering for it in the midst of it's successes.

    That 70s v. 90s comparison might be an interesting one to look into. However, I wonder if the two vastly different economies of that time may have played a bigger role in the building or breaking down of the league.

    Thanks for the debate and the compliment.

  5. by Saraswathi
    1 day ago

    Thanks Joe for taking time out to visit my blog. Some articles and poetry is hid in private. Yeah, I am pretty radical (not of the communist kind though) in my opinions and have trouble convincing people that I am also moderate :-) For a short while in Minnesota I even signed on for RNC.

    Cheers!
    Sarah

  6. by Saraswathi
    1 day ago

    Hi Joe,

    Great to see your note, I guess we did good too ...

    Why are you not writing? I understand you are busy with your restaurant launch and all that, but Joe, you gotta pen some lines.

    :-) Smiles Always,
    Sarah

  7. by Andrew
    1 day ago

    Hm, inciting. Let me kick it around for a little bit and I'll tell you what I think.

  8. by Zander
    1 day ago

    Hey L.J.,

    Thought you might enjoy my latest column: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/40034-move-over-barry-bonds-thats-why-i-play-in-center-field-introduction

    Don't get a chance to write that often these days anymore, so would appreciate any comments you make in the threads =)

    Thanks as always,
    Z

  9. by Andrew
    1 day ago

    Hey! Thanks for the pick, L.J.!

  10. by Brandon
    1 day ago

    LJ,

    Actually, pitching altogether is something that the human body cannot take. The height of the mound does not add to that.

    There is evidence that without the 97 season, multiple teams were on the brink of filing for bankruptcy. I'm not sure if it was 3 or 5 and would have to look into it, but there were a good amount of teams that would have shut down their businesses after incurring loses from 92 onward.

    However, 97 and subsequently 98 saw a stream of revenues flow into baseball that had never before been seen. It will be interesting to hear those who blame steroids for the downfall of baseball, discuss how steroids built multiple ballparks which invariably brought in revenue that otherwise would not have existed.

    Lastly, I have no ego. I have admitted that I have so much to learn about baseball on multiple occasions. I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of individuals with a much greater understanding of the sport. I sit in the bleachers, next to bullpens, trying to understand how a ball held an eighth of an inch to one side or another, can cause the ball to tumble, slide, or both. Even when I one day understand that, I'm certain a new question will arise, a new fact to investigate, a new theory to dissect. Baseball, to me, is unlike any other sport in that there is an ongoing discussion within the community. Bill James wrote that the reason he began doing the research he did, was because he would hear something a radio broadcaster would say, and try (successfully in most cases) to prove it incorrect.

    That idea, in and of itself, is enough to tell me that an understanding of the game played in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, even today, is not an understanding of the game that is currently played. That is, the ideas and information are only as strong as the theorist, they will eventually be proven wrong.

  11. by Brandon
    2 days ago

    LJ,

    What's the legacy of a man who watches a crime and doesn't report it? What's the legacy of a man who breaks laws but doesn't admit it?

    Fact is, very few were not using steroids or some form of amphetamine. Those that were, good for them, they made a moral choice that probably cost themselves millions of dollars. Maybe they will be more healthy during their 'golden years'-although for most ballplayers, their 'golden years' begin at age 34-and maybe they will feel better about themselves.

    However, if they were so morally opposed to steroids, they could have been the horn blower while it was occurring. If they actually felt as though they were being short changed during this era, they would have been justified in going to the media.

    The problem is, even those who did not do steroids, it is impossible to argue they didn't do them for moral reasons. Chances are, those players did not see that steroids, in and of themselves, would make or break their careers. Chances are, these players are represented by Scott Boras who had spent the previous x amount of years telling the player that he is the best there is...

    I don't see the steroid era as an unfortunate one, however I do see it as one which has been given a bad name by fans who decided to turn the other way when steroids were saving baseball. I see double standards and terrible ethical decisions.

    Also, BDD is a wonderful website and one that I am absolutely thrilled to be apart of. The founder, Joe Hamrahi, is one of the hardest working men in the industry (when you couple his personal and professional life with the work he does with BDD). His vision is outstanding and he has done a fantastic job bringing aboard some of the most well known/respected baseball authors out there. To have written since December and already be apart of the BDD team is more then I could have ever imagined.

  12. by Jeff
    2 days ago

    Now is the point where Brandon informs you that the players that did not "cheat" by roiding up surely cheated in other ways - such as by speeding to the ballpark and jaywalking occasionally to get to the stadium on time. For all we know, these crimes affect a player's ability to hit HR's as much as injecting their bodies with anabolic steroids.

    Do not go down this path with him.

  13. by Brandon
    2 days ago

    LJ

    That's right, the difference between a .260 hitter and .300 hitter over the course of a season is a hit a week. In other words, something that one could not VIEW without statistics. To sarcastically call out someone who understands the value of statistics in baseball is to not know exactly how important they are. Consider that a .260 hitter would struggle to find a major league contract while a .300 hitter would strike it rich.

    Additionally, baseball history is very interesting. It's marvelous to look back at what hitters did prior to the technological revolution. How hitter's could memorize each and every one of their at bats, their teammates at bats, etc without the aid of video. However, that does not mean the game was better, nor does watching what those hitters did make an individual more wise in regards to the game.

    As for what I will say about the steroid era, I will say it how I remember it. As an era which stabilized and SAVED baseball. An era where a true understanding of the value of a player was discovered-although far from mastered. I will tell my grandkids that EVERYONE supported it and loved the results of steroids, but hated it when 'cherished' records were broken. I will ask them if they understand a double standard? Let them know that their great grandparents are alive because of the research that was conducted by scientists who admittedly use illegal steroids-a FACT.

    If my grand kids are cynical and believe that the home runs were entirely inflated by steroids, I will ask them how logical it is that hitters alone used? I will point to other eras in which power inflated, or deflated. I will show them how home runs post-testing showed little to no affect, as the players were outstanding athletes and the steroids may or may not have assisted in the home run boom.

    I will also remind them that the 'steroid' era also coincided with the 'information' era. They may try and pretend like other eras of baseball were better, but they truly did not know. The information was not out there to find out. There weren't around the clock sports networks. There weren't around the clock team networks. There wasn't a medium to send information at the click of a button...There wasn't anything but a few eye witnesses. The same people who jabbed the needles in the backs of McGuire and Sosa, also decided to throw a book at them.

    Lastly, I will tell my grandkids the epic steps in the game that steroids caused. They caused players to not only worry about being able to hit or throw a fastball, but how to take care of their bodies in a more athletic method. How pitchers concentrated on form and consistency, how hitters investigated through motion sensor products the exact motions of their swings and the optimum motions. How steroids not only may have boosted home runs, but how it added weight training, and various rehabilitation methods. I will show my kids the first Tommy John surgery 'victims' who were lucky to come back and have a career and then later pitchers who returned in under a year as more effective and stronger pitchers. I will remind them that without steroids, the focus on weight training wouldn't have occurred, and consequently, rehabilitation in baseball would have remained in the stone age-as it was meant to be!

    Baseball history is interesting, no doubt. But I wouldn't fool my kids into thinking that the sport was any better at any prior time. I will know that to be false. Progression is rarely if ever a bad thing and despite 'memories' of the 'good ol days', what would be happening in that day, would be better. I haven't watched a season of baseball and said, 'boy last season was a much better year, the players just don't seem to know what they are doing'.

    Lastly, whether I had 1 year, 10 year, or 100 years of baseball behind me wouldn't really make a difference. You don't know how much time I spend following the game, trying to understand every single part of it. My guess, is that I have a better understanding of baseball, past and present, then even the most die-hard 70 year old. While I may not have direct memories of what occurred in the 40s and 50s, or before then, I have read enough and evaluated it enough to understand it-at least as much as I currently can.

    The big difference, I understand that I can always learn more. I understand that with every passing day of baseball, a new chapter has been written and the sport is better for that. Not worse.

    But you probably still think a baseball player should be judged on how they look and their ability to hit .300, right?

  14. by Brandon
    2 days ago

    It's sad that an elderly person thinks they 'know the truth'...

    It's also sad that a mid 20 year old knows that he will never know the truth...

    Keep trying to use age as your resource.

    But as a question, since you are all knowing...

    What's the difference between a .300 hitter and a .260 hitter?

  15. by Brandon
    2 days ago

    LJ,

    That's fine. You probably think team's shouldn't have closers or relief specialists. You probably think the game is fundamentally flawed and that teams should have 4 man rotations.

    Additionally, you don't come off as a baseball fan. I mean, it seems as if you try to know everything about every sport. For me, I know that I don't know everything about the only sport I truly follow.

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