Best of Yardbarker: Did Team USA's victory save the World Baseball Classic?
While all eyes are on the NCAA Tournament with trips to the Final Four on the line this weekend, there was another exciting tournament that wrapped up this week. We're talking, of course, about the World Baseball Classic, where the United States defeated Puerto Rico to capture the nation's first WBC title.
And with Team USA's victory, the World Baseball Classic (finally) lived up to its potential: "The U.S. fought for their survival and ultimately achieved it, and in the process they mobilized the entirety of global competition within the sport."
There were notable stars on both Team USA and Team Puerto Rico, but none of them has reached the levels of fame or individual success as Barry Bonds, MLB's all-time home run king. With the news that Bonds will return to the San Francisco Giants in a special advisor role. That inspired the "once again, Barry Bonds is the best power hitter in San Francisco" quiz: "Sure, Bonds is only back with the team in some sort of nebulous 'special advisor' capacity, but maybe the team should give some serious consideration to giving Bonds some ABs. Brandon Belt was the Giants' home run leader in 2016 with a paltry 17 and only the Braves and Marlins managed to hit fewer dingers than Bonds' former squad last season."
Bonds has been retired for a while now, last appearing in an MLB game in 2007. Here are some MLB players who may join Bonds in retirement after the 2017 season:
There are no stars quite like Bonds in the NCAA Tournament either, no matter how much Lonzo Ball's dad tries. That doesn't mean, however, that the tourney has been boring. Far from it. And with 16 teams remaining as of this past Thursday competing for those Final Four spots, we laid out which Sweet 16 team you should be rooting for, and while we know some of them are or will be going home, four will remain at the conclusion of the weekend: "Mid-major power schools everywhere have got to be rooting for Gonzaga. The Zags have been the jewel of a mid-major having consistent success for going on 20 years."
Now if we're looking for star power in the vein of Bonds, how about the two-time defending NBA MVP? The Golden State Warriors headed back to Oklahoma City for the second time this season, and while Kevin Durant was not in uniform as he recovers from injury, that didn't lighten the atmosphere. In fact, the NBA Referee Hotline Bling addressed Steph Curry pushing OKC's buttons: "Mr. Christon – what are you doing? Don’t fight Steph Curry! And don’t get in Russell Westbrook’s way when he’s trying to fight Steph Curry! And then after that, don’t let Steph Curry run down court unguarded and drain a three! And also, rent your place in Oklahoma City. Don’t buy! Trust us."
Curry and the Warriors certainly got the best Russell Westbrook and the Thunder Monday, winning 111-95, but as far as the aesthetic in the world of player exclusive sneakers, Curry is far from MVP material: "PE sneakers don't always hit the right notes with the audience. When Steph Curry's signature Curry 2 Low 'Chef' sneakers were released, they were and continue to be the source of endless ridicule for the bland look."
The good news is, despite the lukewarm reception to his sneakers, Curry has had all sorts of success, from his MVPs and NBA championship to his run at Davidson in college, which is among the great March Madness moments for current NBA players:
Now get ready to watch a quartet of teams cut down the nets this weekend, and enjoy the weekend.
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