STRANDED AT SECOND BASE

“Culling the thoughts that occur when you’re standing around waiting for something to happen”

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It appears 26 games is the un-crossable threshold for losing streaks. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ halted a 26-game losing skid on Friday night, one defeat shy of setting the all-time mark for consecutive futility in any of four major sports (MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL).

LEAGUE          CONSECUTIVE LOSSES          TEAM, YEAR(s)

NFL:          26          Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1976-77

NBA:          26          Cleveland Cavaliers, 2011

MLB:          24          Cleveland Spiders, 1889

MLB:         23          Philadelphia Phillies, 1963

NHL:          17          Washington Capitals, 1974-75

NHL:          17          San Jose Sharks, 1992-93

NHL:          38          Ottawa Senators (straight road games), 1992-93

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Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Daniel Gibson (1) is fouled during overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers broke their loosing streak beating the Clipper 126-119 in overtime. Jason Miller-US PRESSWIRE

It should be noted: The previous NBA mark for consecutive loses was held be none other than the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost 24 straight between the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons. Combine that with the Cleveland Spiders’ MLB-worst 24-game slide, the Browns’ 46-year NFL title drought and the Indians’ 62-year World Series hiatus and you begin to understand the misery it is to be a Cleveland fan.

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Forgive Connie Marrero for being a little nervous upon hearing that the Washington Nationals have announced new uniforms for the 2011 season.

The 99-year-old former Washington Senator is now the oldest living former Major Leaguer, after the passing of Tony Malinosky, 101, this week.

The ex-Brooklyn Dodger infielder’s death comes a day after the Los Angeles Dodgers announced plans to honor their heritage by wearing retro-Brooklyn uniforms for six games in the up-coming season.

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What’s more surprising? That legendary pugilist Jack Johnson invented the modern-day “wrench” while in prison or that legendary pugilist Jack Johnson was afforded the tools he needed in prison to invent the modern-day wrench?

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The Texas Rangers might part ways with 34-year-old third baseman Michael Young, claiming that they want to get ‘younger.’

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Nike founder Phil Knight has announced plans to entirely finance the new, $41 million state-of-the-art weight-training facility at his alma mater the University of Oregon. This debunks the old adage that uniforms cannot make the man.

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The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty announced in a Jan. 26 report that a 2009 stimulus bill aimed at homeless prevention and re-housing is out of money and, presumably, now living in the subway where it plays its guitar for tips.

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Scientists say they finally have enough tissue to clone a wooly mammoth within the next four to six years. Kind of cruel to re-create a very hairy animal during an era of global warming, isn’t it?

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 12th, 2011 at 12:40 pm and is filed under Sports, Stranded At Second Base. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.