Knuckle Curve » hamilton rangers

Summer Fun in Baseball and other Sports

Stephen Kersey — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:12:25 +0000

At the b5media Sports Channel, we are really enjoying the summer. So, what do we do for summer fun? I’m glad you asked …

Ryan from College Fast Break tells us how he enjoys the summer without college basketball.
David from Every Morning Quarterback discusses how summer vacation is over … at least for NFL players.
Jodie at Gossip on Sports chats about how Dwyane Wade almost ruined her day at the beach.
Cherie from Dejuiced talks about her summer fun as baseball leads up to pre-season football and then college football.
Lyndsey at Girls Dig Sports tell us about her good times at the Gus Macker national 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Sandy at Green Posse talks about the British Open which begins on July 17th. She also discusses the ultimate sports fun this summer – the Beijing Olympics on Light The Torch.
Tony at Inside the Ballpark talks about the Midsummer Classic and his experience at the All-Star break festivities back in 2005.
Michael from Jab & Grapple loves WWE’s SummerSlam and reminisces back to the first SummerSlam back in 1988.
Jeanne at Hockey Beat tells us ways to enjoy hockey during the summertime.
Stephen at Hoops Fantasy discusses the fun of NBA Summer League. He also talks about the Home Run Derby over at Knuckle Curve.
Jyle loves about kicking around a soccer ball at The Footie and wearing your favorite pair of sneakers at Sneaks ‘N Gear.
Kori at The Fantasy Kickoff talks about preparing for your fantasy draft in the summertime.

What are you doing for fun this summer? Visit one of the b5 sports blogs and let us know about your sports summer fun.

Photo credit: istockphoto

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Josh Hamilton Video – Home Run Derby Video

Stephen Kersey — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:33:33 +0000

One of my funnest times in summer is getting in front of my television and watching the Home Run Derby. This year was quite the show.

Josh Hamilton didn’t win the Home Run Derby. Hamilton, however, did steal the show. The Texas Rangers outfielder hit 28 homers in the first round to set a new all-time record. Hamilton had a number of blasts over 500 feet that were just stunning to watch.

If you are a baseball fan, you owe it to yourself to watch this epic Hamilton Home Run Derby video. Hamilton, who we named as the AL MVP at midseason, is just an amazing story. If you don’t know the Hamilton story, read our Josh Hamilton biography. He’s gone from out of baseball to arguably becoming the best hitter in baseball.

Here is the Josh Hamilton video:

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Baseball’s Ultimate Feel Good Story

Stephen Kersey — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:34:38 +0000

Not too long ago, Josh Hamilton was out of baseball and addicted to drugs. Few wondered whether his baseball career would ever be resurrected, they just wondered if he’d live to see the next day.

Hamilton’s baseball journey started when he was the first overall pick of the 1999 baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2001, Hamilton was in a car accident and at that point started experimenting with drugs. He played sparingly in 2001 due to injuries and drug use. Between 2002 and 2006, Hamilton didn’t play baseball at all. He failed numerous drug tests and had many failed stints in rehab.

In 2006, Hamilton started getting his life back in order and started playing baseball again. He finally made it to the big leagues in 2007 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. However, during the offseason, Hamilton was traded to the Texas Rangers.

In 2008, Hamilton has been tremendous. He’s leading the American League in homers (19) and RBIs (76), while posting a .312 batting average. Hamilton is now clean, sober and playing the best baseball of his life. He’s truly the ultimate feel good story in baseball this season. And if he keeps it up, he could cap off his story with an AL MVP award.

Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is proving there is hope for everyone.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Is Josh Hamilton the Best Hitter in Baseball?

Stephen Kersey — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:12:40 +0000

Josh Hamilton has quickly gone from feel-good story to flat out stud. The Texas Rangers star outfielder might not be the best hitter in baseball but he’s no doubt the hottest hitter in the game. On Friday, Hamilton once again proved how hot he is by going for five hits in five at bats against the Houston Astros.

Of those five hits, two of the hits were for homeruns. He also piled up four runs, five RBIs and a triple as the Rangers beat the Astros 16-8. Texas has now won seven of their last nine games with Hamilton leading the way.

On the season, Hamilton is now hitting .314 with ten homers, 49 RBIs, 26 runs scored, 13 doubles and three triples. He’s leading all of baseball in RBIs and is tied for the AL lead in homers.

The Rangers acquired Hamilton in an offseason deal which sent Edinson Volquez to the Cincinnati Reds. Although the Reds could obviously use Hamilton’s bat, they have to be ecstatic with the production they’ve received from Volquez. The pitcher out of the Dominican Republic is 6-1 and has an ERA of 1.12. Volquez’s ERA easily is the best in the NL.

Josh Hamilton has to cool off eventually – right?

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve