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Shanoff’s WUC: Galarraga, Lakers, USC, Bee!

Jun 4, 2010, 11:51 AM UTC

Today’s Calls: Lakers vs. Celtics, Armando Galarraga vs. Jim Joyce, LeBron vs. David Stern, USC vs. NCAA, Pac-10 vs. Big 12, Darrelle Revis vs. the Jets, Tiger Woods vs. Mediocrity, Bee vs. Belmont and More.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: The Imperfect Game created the perfect argument fodder.â†µ

â†µâ†µIt is worth repeating: Instead of being “only” the 21st perfect game (or, more banally, “the third perfect game this month”), Galarraga achieves baseball immortality for being perfectly imperfect.â†µ

â†µâ†µHow many regular-season games do you really remember? Maybe a “milestone” game -- so-and-so’s 3000th career strikeout or 300th win (and even those blur together). Maybe a super-high-K game. Maybe a no-hitter or perfect game. Maybe.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut this one? This one we will remember. Because it is much bigger than just a perfect game. â†µ

â†µâ†µ• It became the new linchpin for much-needed instant replay reform in baseball. (Yes, please!)â†µ

â†µâ†µ• It sparked a fierce debate about whether MLB should go back and selectively change history. (Bud passed, to his credit.)â†µ

â†µâ†µ• But what will stick with me most -- precisely because it will get no argument from anyone -- was the sportsmanship that was on display immediately after the blown call: Galarraga gracefully accepting the call; Joyce tearfully owning up to his mistake.â†µ

â†µâ†µYesterday’s moment at the plate before the game might have been the best part of it yet: Galarraga delivering the lineup card to home-plate umpire Joyce, who cried and apologized again, while thousands of Tigers fans cheered them both.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe two are now connected for baseball history -- and they represent the id and the ego of all sports fans: Joyce the id, the utter emotional investment with which we take our sports. Galarraga the ego, the realist that accepts that nobody’s perfect.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf one of them had freaked -- Joyce insisting he was right; Galarraga losing his mind on the field; even the time-release reaction from fans -- it would not have been nearly as powerful.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut in the way it played out, it offered up an ultimate model for fans, kids, other athletes, anyone. Improbably, the entire story turned out ... perfectly.â†µ

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â†µNBA Finals Game 1: The Celtics didn't just look beaten; they looked beat. It is more than possible that the gravity of age is finally catching up to them. Kobe and Co. looked like they were on a mission; for motivation, payback trumps repeat. (What a difference for the rematch having a talented big man and ferocious defensive player.)â†µ

â†µâ†µJohn Wooden hospitalized in serious condition: We can all pray for the best, but the most you can really hope for is that he is comfortable.â†µ

â†µâ†µLeBron Watch: President Obama has tacked, now endorsing LeBron staying in Cleveland. His folks must have done some polling and realized that voters in Ohio would actually vote based on that issue.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(As for the so-called “free agent summit?” Take it from David Stern: It ain’t happening. I liked Stern’s veiled jab at LeBron: Except for Wade, they would all be better off watching the Finals to see how champions do it. Zing.)â†µ

â†µâ†µUSC Scandal Report Not Out Today? Contrary to expectations, that’s what USC is saying. This week, next week: Does it really matter? Continue to maintain extremely low expectations that the NCAA will do much more to USC football than apply a slap on the wrist.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB Conference Expansion: Pac-16? After tons of hype over Big Ten and SEC expansion, the Pac-10 refuses to be marginalized, and is reportedly ready to make an offer to Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado. Can we all at least agree that the Big 12 is dead men walking?â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL Offseason: Darrelle Revis skipping Jets workouts? If I were him, I would be looking for a pay raise, too. And the Jets will give it to him (at least if they want to maintain those Super Bowl aspirations).â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Talking Points:â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Yesterday’s Best: King Felix is back.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Stras-Mania: He is SO ready.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Hot Seat: O’s Trembley out?â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Bryce Harper: Not helping rep.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Good Read: Griffey’s Top 10.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Weekend Watch: Halladay vs. the Padres.â†µ

â†µâ†µStanley Cup Finals: Looking ahead to Game 4. Let’s call it a must-win for Philly.â†µ

â†µâ†µWorld Cup: One week away! The latest drama -- Jozy Altidore’s sprained ankle. A week from tomorrow is the biggest soccer game in U.S. history, the World Cup opener vs. England.â†µ

â†µâ†µTiger Watch: 50th? Yeesh.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB Offseason: Arkansas as the new Ole Miss? (Only if you’re looking for an overhyped SEC team that should fall way short of expectations.)â†µ

â†µâ†µSpelling Bee Mania: Historically, I have done very well in picking winners at the Bee. Last year, I correctly picked Kavya Shivashankar to win it all. The secret -- as my fellow Bee handicapper Darren Rovell knows -- is Bee experience. Rovell goes with Aditya Chemudupaty. I’ll take 4-time Bee participant Neetu Chandak.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: Belmont. Yikes, without either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness winners, there is not much anticipation for this one, is there? Ice Box is the natural pick, but watch out for Uptowncharlybrown.â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff. â†µ

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