Finally living up to the hype.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Oct. 6 could go down as one the important days in sports history.  It was such an important day that I should write a column about it.  And no, not because Duncan McMonagle made me.

Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, tossed only the second no-hitter in postseason history.  Conversely, in the NFL, the New England Patriots traded wide receiver Randy Moss to the team that had originally drafted him, the Minnesota Vikings.

Halladay's no-hitter is shocking because of the rarity of the feat.  As I read about it on the SportsCentre ticker, my eyes almost popped out of my head.  

The pressure of opening up a playoff series (and in this case, Halladay's first career postseason appearance) is massive.  He lived up to the hype and exceeded all expectations.  Most sporting events rarely live up to its hype; I can't even begin to tell you how many nights of work I've booked off to watch games that have turned out to be as interesting as back-to-back episodes of "Golden Girls."

We should expect someone like Halladay to go out and at least flirt with throwing a no-hitter every time he takes the mound.  Why not?  He's the best and we should expect nothing less from him.  It's just that we've been let down soooooo many times when it comes big names in big games.  I could list a hundred.  Kobe Bryant's lack luster game seven in last year's NBA Finals; Tiger's horrific season on the PGA; the NFL regular season opening game between the Saints and Vikings.  All bore fests and lackluster performances.

Halladay's performance proved to me that big time players still exist, but also that we should expect more of these types of efforts.  Joe Dimaggio once said, "there may be some kid seeing me play for the first time.  I owe him my best."  Not too sure if Marilyn gave Joltin' Joe that quote, but it's a good adage nonetheless.

My thoughts on Randy Moss will come after I eat my 7th pumpkin pie.