LEXINGTON, Ky. – The lights inside Rupp Arena had been off for 20 minutes, but Patrick Patterson wasn’t ready to leave. Not as long as there were still pictures to take, he said. Not as long as there were autographs to sign and fans to meet – especially the 4-year-old who had waited more than an hour after the game to talk to her favorite Kentucky basketball player. As Patterson reached over the rail to sign the girl’s program, a security guard grabbed him by the arm and directed him toward the tunnel. Rupp Arena was officially closed, the man announced. It was time for everyone to leave.
Two years later, Patterson still remembers how he felt as the girl dropped her pen, wrapped her arms around her father’s leg and began to sob. "It was terrible,” he said. “I didn’t have any choice but to walk back over there and sign her program and take a picture with her. I couldn’t make a little girl cry. She looked up at me said, ‘Thank you Mr. Patterson.’” The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Patterson paused and softened his voice. “It really is amazing,” he said, “how much power you have as an athlete, how much influence they can have on a little kid. It feels good to be able to make them smile.”Perhaps that explains why Patterson, a probable first-round pick in next summer’s NBA draft, ended up in the living room of a total stranger last week. After serving as an instructor during a Kentucky’s basketball camp for women, Patterson encountered a mother in the parking lot who needed a ride home because her husband had experienced car trouble.
As if offering to give her a lift wasn’t enough, Patterson followed her into her home and spent 10 minutes talking with her husband – an avid Wildcats fan – and their two young sons.
Patterson approves almost everyone who requests access to his Facebook page. As of Wednesday he had 4,992 friends. One of them is Heather Durham, a 14-year-old Kentucky fan with cystic fibrosis. Heather, who is on the waiting list for a double-lung transplant, had never met Patterson when she sent him an instant message a few months ago, so she wasn’t expecting him to respond. Patterson, though, spent the following two months offering encouragement to Heather during online chat sessions. Patterson took things a step further a few weeks ago when he showed up at the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital for a surprise visit with his new friend. Heather said the two of them talked for nearly two hours.
“He was so cool,” Heather said during a phone interview Monday. “He told me he’d be praying for me.”
Other than the nurses taking pictures of him with their cell phones, Patterson didn’t encounter any cameras or microphones or reporters as he left the hospital that day, mainly because no one knew he was there. Oftentimes visits by sports stars are organized by the athletic department and publicized with a press release.
This act of kindness, though, was all Patterson’s idea and something he didn’t even share with his parents or coach. “Patrick isn’t looking for attention,” Kentucky’s John Calipari said. “He’s not out chasing ambulances. He’s just doing what comes natural.”
The NBA is where Patterson will likely be soon. Professional scouts have pegged him as a probable top-20 pick in the 2010 draft. He likely would’ve gone in the first round in last summer’s draft after averaging 17.9 points and 9.4 rebounds as a sophomore, but a few weeks after announcing his intentions to turn pro, Patterson withdrew his name from the pool before he ever conducted a single workout.
Last night to Right Field bleachers made their voices heard.
Boy did we LAY into Torii Hunter. In away it almost wasnt fair as he took 8 innings of pure abuse from the rowdy crowd. It started early with just "TORII" "TORII" chants. But it continued to far worse. Numerous Chants not just some one screaming, but chants of . "TORII's gay", "HUNTERS QUEER"," GIRLS NAME", "I-CARLY" and your generic "FAGGOT" also numerous screams of you gay ass bitch, you bitch, Get off your knees queer, go hang yourself, Torii go drink Bleach, dirtbag, I fucked your wife, I fucked your Mother, Those kids arent yours, Your a piece of shit, jump off the Whitestone bridge and you scumbag. Even From the Mind of a 631's own Matt Cole had some winners... "WHERES YOUR DISNEY CHANNEL HUNTER, YOU BITCH".. and "HEY I DIDN'T KNOW TORII RHYMED WITH BITCHASS CUNT". I had some Good ones too that got the crowdy laughing including. "TORII GET OFF YOUR KNEES BOBBYS (abreu) GETTIN TIRED".. "GOD FORGIVES, THE BRONX DOESNT"..
BUt overall it was a sight to see everyone in the RF bleachers chant Torii Sucks almost every 3-5 Minutes literally. Believe me, it didnt help that he made that error in the 6th either, or heavily argued with the umpire earlier in the game. Did we get in his head.... i think so. Shortly after the error he was shaking head and we continued the abuse and his head shaking continued..
At the end of the night i just want to know how many middle fingers were flipped... I did it atleast 20 times.
Okay, so tonight the stadium was ROCKIN'. Their was a little less then 50,000 people... the rain probably scared em off...bitches. But those who were there.. boy was it goin wild. The game was Great.. Some how this was only the 2nd home game out of 84! To go with out at Homerun... WTF!!! CC dominated...He was. He was STELLER, Pitched on his Head....THe bleachers wow we got on Torii Hunter BAD. Not that i feel bad at all just sayin. Bobby Abreu got it too.
SLEEP WITH 1 EYE OPEN
Posted by Ed Tierney at 11:08 PM 0 comments
CC 2 strikes to Abreu....GOT emmmm. Bottom 8
Posted by Ed Tierney at 10:54 PM 0 comments
BLACK BETTY. Wooooo
Posted by Ed Tierney at 10:25 PM 0 comments
We really hatin on torii.... " Bitch faced cunt" was used. Numerous other hateful chants
Posted by Ed Tierney at 10:00 PM 0 comments
Arod got tha stop sign... He ran threw it. Was out by an inch
Posted by Ed Tierney at 9:46 PM 0 comments
Jeter had a chance.. Damn.. Were gna be in for a barn burner
Posted by Ed Tierney at 9:23 PM 0 comments
Fans are really gettin on torii hunter. Realy bad... I yelled TORII SWALLOWS. A fan replyed. " Only tory lane"
Posted by Ed Tierney at 9:17 PM 0 comments
CC!! Wow. Top of tha order
Wild INNING no one in our section is sitting... Good. How does tha ball fall idfk ask castillo
Posted by Ed Tierney at 8:21 PM 0 comments
Matt cole: vlad don't give a fuck hell hit the ball on a bounce... He thinks its fuckin cricket... Yankees up. Doooo itttt
Posted by Ed Tierney at 8:05 PM 0 comments
Dude. Swisher is a fuckin NUT. Thank god. And here we GO
Posted by Ed Tierney at 7:56 PM 0 comments
Here comes the rain. Ughhhhh fml
Posted by Ed Tierney at 7:40 PM 0 comments
Matt Cole: "my dad just told me to have fun n buy a 10 dollar hotdog"
Posted by Ed Tierney at 7:26 PM 0 comments
CC is to the pen... Warmin up... He's a big man. Damn
Posted by Ed Tierney at 7:25 PM 0 comments
Were in tha stadium...there is a definate buzz....
Posted by Ed Tierney at 7:20 PM 0 comments
Jus got here. Its wild. Its crazy. Special buzzzz about tn
Posted by Ed Tierney at 6:52 PM 0 comments
Crazy different types of hats seen. 96 98 99 00 01 03 world series hats all been spoted. The 2003 100th anni. The VT hats in dif colrs. 9/11 Flag hat too.
I was plesently surprised W/ all of the yankee regalia that was present @ h-ton station. Penn looked like a yankee warehouse. The D train, packed; lotsa drunks
SO here we go. Sorry NL fans, but this is the big time, these are the big boys, this is what we all want to see. The 2 teams with the best records in the MLB. The teams who scored the most runs this season and the teams who both swept their way into the LCS. They split the season series 5-5. The Mighty Yankees who last year were with out the post season while their counterparts were bounced in the 1st round vs the team of Destiny the LA Angels, i say that because they have dedicated their season due to the loss of pitcher Nick Adenhart. Those damn Yankees who, last time were in the ALCS blew a 3-0 lead, leading to the biggest collapse in sports history. The bombers opened up a new Cathedral this past season, the last time they did that was in 1923 and they won the Fall classic then, so why not now.
ESPNs Tim Kurkjian
(who provided us with insight on the NLCS)
posted these key's to the ALCS series.
Here are five questions:
Rodriguez
1. Is Alex Rodriguez on his way to a monster postseason?
It certainly looks that way. The look on his face when he drilled a two-out RBI single in Game 1 against the Twins was one of liberation, as if he was telling himself, "Yes, I can do this." Before there were only questions -- he had had only one RBI in his previous 16 postseason games -- and now, it appears, there is only redemption. The game-tying home run off Joe Nathan in the ninth inning, saving Game 2, was perhaps another epiphany for A-Rod: "Yes, I can also hit for power in the postseason." And then he did it again with a game-tying home run off Carl Pavano in the seventh inning of Game 3. Rodriguez hit five home runs in 24 at-bats against the Angels during the regular season. And more good news for the Yankees: It seems Teixeira has joined Rodriguez in this redemptive postseason. There were those around baseball who wondered if Teixeira was up for being his best at the most important time, and now we might have that answer. Teixeira's first home run in his postseason career also was the first walk-off HR of his career. It won Game 2, leaving the park in 2.88 seconds.
Abreu
2. How dangerous is that Angels offense?
It is relentless. They are the only team in history with 11 players with 50-plus RBIs, they tied the record for most players (10) with 100 hits and tied for the most players (nine) with 60-plus runs scored. "This is the best offensive team that I've been a part of," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. Never was that more evident than in Game 2 of the LDS, when shortstop Erick Aybar -- a great defender, but, like everyone else in the lineup, a difficult out -- drilled a two-run triple off Josh Beckett to break the game open. Abreu deserves some credit for the Angels' offensive turnaround: They scored 118 more runs than they did in 2008. Abreu is one of the game's most patient hitters, and the effect seems clear -- the Angels were last in the league in pitches seen last year, but fifth in 2009. Against the Yankees in 10 games this year, the Angels scored 65 runs. First baseman Kendry Morales went 12-for-32 with three homers. Catcher Mike Napoli went 11-for-22. Look for the Angels to do what they have done to the Yankees several times in the postseason in this decade -- putting pressure on the Yankees defense by running, and taking the extra base, at all times. No team went from first to third on singles more often than the 2009 Angels.
Molina
3. Will the Yankees catch Jose Molina in A.J. Burnett's starts?
They should, and this time, Jorge Posada should act more like the team guy he has always been. When Molina started in Game 2 of the LDS, Posada whined about it. He had a point; he had started 79 of the past 80 postseason games. No catcher in history had even come close to his starts behind the plate in the postseason. But this point is even stronger: Burnett pitches better with Molina back there in part because Molina is a much better defensive catcher than Posada (one major league manager said Posada has trouble handling pitches above his mask). Entering the postseason, Burnett's ERA with Posada catching was 4.96, which was the highest of any of the 10 catchers who had started at least 10 of Burnett's career starts, and was significantly higher than Molina's 3.28 with Burnett. So manager Joe Girardi chose the comfort of his pitcher over the feelings of his catcher. It has been done before. In 2000, Braves manager Bobby Cox started Greg Maddux's personal catcher, left-handed hitting Paul Bako, over Javy Lopez (24 home runs that year) against Cardinals left-hander Rick Ankiel in Game 1 of the LDS. Maddux gave up six runs in the first inning, but Ankiel was taken out in the second inning. Cox hit Lopez for Bako in the top of the second before he got an at-bat, but didn't pinch-hit for the next batter, Maddux, which had to be a first in major league postseason history, and likely a last.
Lackey
4. How good is that Angels starting pitching?
It was as good as any in the American League for the last month and a half of the season, and then it was even better in the playoffs against the Red Sox. In Game 1, John Lackey combined with relievers on the first shutout in club history in 53 postseason games, and handed the Red Sox (no extra-base hits) their first shutout in their past 69 postseason games. In Game 2, Jered Weaver was almost as good, stifling the Red Sox lineup. After those two, they have three more options to start a game, with Scott Kazmir, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana. The Angels will need four starting pitchers in the LCS, but they have five.
Sabathia
5. How good is the Yankees starting pitching?
Like A-Rod, CC Sabathia got rid of a lot of his baggage with a solid performance in winning Game 1 against the Twins. His career postseason ERA had been above 7.00. Those around him will say, and correctly, that in the past two postseasons he was exhausted by the regular season. Not this year. He got normal rest in the final two months, so he shouldn't be tired this year. The bigger question is Andy Pettitte, who had mild shoulder issues down the stretch, and was hit hard by the Angels this year: 0-2, 7.88 ERA, 21 hits and eight walks in 16 innings. Then there is a question about the No. 4 spot in the Yankees rotation. Will Joba Chamberlain get the ball, or will his two relief appearances in the LDS convince the Yankees that, at least for this postseason, he is better off in the pen? But if Chamberlain doesn't start Game 4, will the Yankees start Chad Gaudin?
As a Jets fan I find my self going to school (SUNY Brockport) in Bills territory, and it baffles me how this team even has a fan base at this point. Buffalo Bills fans are fascinating creatures to me. This team hasn’t been relevant since it lost 4 straight super bowls in the early 90s. Its shining moment of the 90’s was its most famous player being acquitted of murder….since then they’ve made the playoffs 3 times, the last coming in 1999, which they managed to lose in heart breaking fashion with the music city miracle…point is as a Mets, Jets, Islanders and Knicks fan I think I have it pretty bad. I’ve never seen one of my teams win a championship. Sadly is seems that the Islanders are about to pack up and move to Kansas City.
Some how though year after year the people of western New York manage to pick themselves up, break out the J.P Losman jersey and brand new throw back 81 and convince themselves it cant get any worse then last year. It seems that Bills fans don’t watch games expecting to win they watch to see how the Bills are going to loose. Take last years lost to the Cleveland Browns on a last second field goal by Phil Dawson on Monday Night Football and this past Sundays 6-3 Pop Warner like loss to the same Browns, this time the Browns were 0-4. Now don’t forget Leodis Mckelvins masterful performance against the Patriots in the season opener. The Bills don’t just lose. They find a new and exciting way to rip out its fans hearts and take a massive dump on them.
One of the best parts of Western New York is the people. They are a lot more polite and and relaxed then people in the Metropolitan area, but this is probably their biggest problem. They need to seriously stay enough is enough. A billboard is is a nice way to voice your opinion without hurting anyones feelings, but give me a fucking break; Dick Jauron is your coach. Your team is terrible. TO might be getting old and drops a lot of balls he should catch. Between him and Lee Evans all Trent Edwards has to do is drop back, maybe give fake a hand off to throw off the defense and air it out. Eventually someone in a Bills jersey is going to come down with it. If I rooted for the bills I would have slit my wrists a long time ago..Last year the bills started 4-0. People were decked out in Bills regalia talking shit all over the place, sure they knew it wasn't going to last and probably wanted to get their moneys worth while they could, before Dick Jauron started to fuck everything up, I cant blame them. But since then that’s the last sign of life ive seen from them.
This kid who started this billboard campaign isn't even from new york ….pathetic… letting some unemployed 18 year old from Pennsylvania do your dirty work. The best Upstate New York can muster is a bunch of drunks leaving Ralph Wilson stadium trying to steal a statue of Thurman Thomas, which a canadian loaded in his truck and took home for a safe keeping….makes me wanna be sick.
I cant say I sympathize with Bills fans. They don’t seem like they want to see their team improve. Its like the blind leading the mentally challenged. Im not saying they need to burn down Ralph Wilson stadium to make a point but at the very least have some pride..dont let CANADA sneak in and take your team right out from under you.
The Philadelphia Phillies vs. The Los Angeles Dodgers
GAME ONE TONIGHT
PHI-COLE HAMMELS VS LAD-CLAYTON KERSHAW
8:07 1st PITCH
TBS
ESPNs Tim Kurkjian posted these key's to the NLCS series.
1. How good is the Dodgers' bullpen?
It is very good and very deep. In 2009, it ranked first in the majors in ERA, batting average against and WHIP, plus second in wins. But it had 26 blown saves, tied with the Astros for most in the NL, and tied for second most in the big leagues behind the Mariners. The L.A. bullpen is loaded with arms, beginning with closer Jonathan Broxton, who throws in the upper 90s and was the hardest pitcher in the game to hit (average against was an MLB-low .165). George Sherrill gives the Dodgers a left-hander for the late innings, and left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo throws in the mid to upper 90s. The L.A. 'pen was terrific in the division series against the Cardinals, but one warning: The Dodgers' bullpen had a heavy workload this year. It had the fourth-most appearances, and third-most innings pitched, in the big leagues. In the past 20 years, the only team to advance to the World Series after being in the top 10 in bullpen innings was the 2007 Rockies.
Broxton and Utley
2. Can any team stop the power, especially from the left side, of the Phillies?
These Phillies are the second team in major league history to have three left-handed batters with 30-plus home runs: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez (the other team was the 1929 Phillies). This is where Sherrill and Kuo will be so important in the late innings, and where Game 1 starter Randy Wolf, a former Phillie, will be so important for at least two starts. Wolf had, by far, the best OPS (.417) against left-handed batters in the major leagues this year (Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey was next at .470). Clayton Kershaw, who likely will start Game 2, had the third-best OPS against left-handers at .489. If the Dodgers can throw the left-handers in the first two games at big Dodger Stadium, then have more of the sinkerball types (led by Vicente Padilla) for smaller Citizens Bank Park, they might be able to handle the Phillies' lineup. Howard went 3-for-28 with 11 strikeouts against the Dodgers this year, and Utley and Jimmy Rollins hit under. 200. But when those three big left-handed hitters are swinging well, to go with Jayson Werth, no staff will be able to stop them.
Hudson
3. How good is the Dodgers' bench?
It is very good and very deep. Teams with a good bullpen and a good bench always have a chance in the postseason, and few benches are more versatile and experienced than the Dodgers'. Jim Thome, Orlando Hudson, Juan Pierre, Mark Loretta, Brad Ausmus and Juan Castro provide the Dodgers with everything they need off the bench: speed, power, defense and flexibility. Keeping 11 pitchers in the first round gave manager Joe Torre more options than Cardinals manager Tony La Russa did. It was Loretta's game-ending hit against the Cardinals in Game 2 that turned the division series.
Hamels
4. What did we learn about the Phillies' pitching in the division series?
First, we know that Cliff Lee, who had never pitched in the postseason, certainly was ready, throwing extremely well in both his starts. But because he started Monday night, the earliest he could go is Game 2 in the NLCS, and that would be on short rest, as he did nearly without issue in Game 4 at Coors Field. That means Cole Hamels would start Game 1 against the Dodgers, as he did in the NLCS last year. Hamels gave up one earned run in 16 innings against the Dodgers. With Hamels, Lee, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ and Pedro Martinez, the Phillies have five starters for four spots. But Martinez hasn't pitched since Sept. 30 and has thrown only seven innings since Sept. 13. The bigger question, as always, is the Philly bullpen. Embattled Brad Lidge saved a 6-5 win in Game 3 with a scoreless ninth inning. In Game 4, after Scott Eyre faced the first four batters of the inning, Lidge came on to strike out Troy Tulowitzki with a nasty slider and end the game. But yet another warning about Lidge: In 3 2/3 innings against the Dodgers this year, he allowed eight hits and had a 7.36 ERA.
Ramirez
5. What benefit came from the suspension of Manny Ramirez?
Ramirez hit .355 the first half of the season, .255 the second half. With him not being Manny at the plate, and not carrying the team the second half of the season, or in the first round of the playoffs as he did last year, other Dodgers found their identities. It is still Manny's team offensively; he is still the key guy, their best hitter, and he did have three great swings in Game 3 against the Cardinals. But several Dodgers, including Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, were forced to take a bigger role offensively without Manny, or without Manny at his best. Ethier went 6-for-12 with five extra-base hits and two home runs in the division series. He hit four walk-off home runs this season (more than Manny or Ted Williams hit in their careers), and Kemp drove in 101 runs. Now, it seems, the Dodgers aren't waiting around for Manny to get a big hit. Now, others do.
Last Season the Phillies ended the Dodgers season in the NLCS winning the series 4 games to 1.
Series MVP Cole Hammels won 2 games enroute to the Phillies winning the pennant.
I will add another key to this series.
The Managers. Can Joe Torre rebound after being bounced last season by Charlie Manuel. Torre is historically the better manager but Manuel has the experience and the mind set of a Fall Classic Champion. This series will be a chess match. Who makes the first mistake wont necessarily mean the looser, even the last won may not mean much. I think it comes down to the minor issues that a manager makes. Those "gut feelings", should we pinch hit or take the extra inning with the starter. Whether to pinch run or not. Those are all keys to the game. Torre has also lost his last 2 LCS appearences. In 2004 as Yankees skipper and last season as the head man of the Dodgers.....overall I give the managing edge a PUSH
Cole is a 23 year old hailing from New York States Capital Region. He is a die hard Yankees fan. He is also a Pittsburgh Penguins dating back to the Lemieux days of the early 90's. Plays basketball in his spare time. Attended Plattsburgh State University
Robert Luckett
Rob is also 23 years of age and resides in Suffolk County. He is also a diehard Yankees, Islanders, Jets and Knicks Fan. Luckett is an avid Golfer and enjoys any type of pickup game. Hofstra University Graduate
Andrew Tilden
Tilden also 23 is a man of 631 origin, is a big time sports fan. A former college athlete Tilden now attends SUNY Brockport with aspirations to one day become a Physical Education Teacher. Like the others he enjoys any pickup sports game at anytime. Knicks, Jets, Mets and Islanders Fan.
Greg Stevens
The head of the Graphic design department, classifies himself as a starving artist in search of his big break. The 22 yr old enjoys basketball, baseball and Football. Big time New York Giants and Yankees fan is a huge New York Knicks aficionado.
Patterson approves almost everyone who requests access to his Facebook page. As of Wednesday he had 4,992 friends. One of them is Heather Durham, a 14-year-old Kentucky fan with cystic fibrosis. Heather, who is on the waiting list for a double-lung transplant, had never met Patterson when she sent him an instant message a few months ago, so she wasn’t expecting him to respond. Patterson, though, spent the following two months offering encouragement to Heather during online chat sessions. Patterson took things a step further a few weeks ago when he showed up at the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital for a surprise visit with his new friend. Heather said the two of them talked for nearly two hours.
Rodriguez
Abreu
Molina
Lackey
Sabathia
Broxton and Utley 
Hudson
Hamels
Ramirez
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