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BadRap.org has their usual Shot Fair in Northern Cali. I love these folks and will give them as much publicity as possible. They are our ambassadors for Pit Bulls..one of the most loving breeds on this planet. I do this as a tribute to my beloved Baby who left us two summers ago and is still missed on a daily basis.
Its the people that are bad, not the dogs folks..remember that.
The Lake Elsinore Storm, a Class-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, released a tongue-in-cheek statement announcing that the club has offered Bonds "a cushy Media Relations position (with slight pay cut from $19.3 million), full use of baseball facilities and of course expanded cubicle space with barcalounger and plasma TV."
Somehow, I don't see Mr. Steroid taking this job..does anyone else? ;)
I always thought John Daly had personal demons that didn't really tell us how good a human being he really is. I know what it's like to deal with a loved one that can not walk away from their addiction to alcohol.
But now..hell..Daly is a jerkwad..and a sad pathetic excuse for a human being. Not because he can't overcome his addiction to alcohol, or he likes women and their breasts..just that he is a jerk and a shell of his former self who refuses to deal with an addiction that can kill him and should end his career and ability to make money from that career. From a recent writeup about him on MSNBC:
Alas, John Daly has become Blutarsky, only without the dignity. What he has done with his career is the sports equivalent of stuffing his face with food and then slamming his cheeks with his hands to simulate the popping of a pimple.
Recently Butch Harmon, the esteemed swing guru who has worked with many of the game's greatest players — including Tiger Woods — washed his hands of Daly. Harmon told the Associated Press: "My whole goal for him was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life. And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk."
If you read the entire article..people are ripping Butch Harmon for going public with his thoughts about Daly..I say..Good on ya Butch..let the world know that feeling sympathy for John Daly is just a worthless endeavor.
Daly has tried to break his addiction to alcohol more times than I can remember. But that said..how many chances does one get? Five..ten? He has the money and the resources to tackle this horrible demon. Another piece from the writeup:
Harmon is being ripped in some quarters because he had the audacity to say out loud what everybody has known for years now: Daly is out of control, and he likes it.
Harmon went off after Daly spent a rain delay at a recent tournament working on his swing inside the Hooters corporate tent at the 17th green. Apparently, everyone was swinging in there. When the rain stopped, Daly had Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden caddying for him, which I guess is preferable to Daly serving as a coach for Gruden. Daly finished that first round with a 77, then he shot himself out of the tournament with an 80 in the second round.
One day after Harmon's rant, Daly tossed more moonshine on the fire by missing his pro-am tee time at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and was disqualified from the tournament. That's Arnold Palmer, as in the most distinguished golfer walking the earth, whose namesake event a troubled entrant disgraces at his own peril.
I just can't stand up for Daly any longer. He isn't worth my time or my support frankly. I hope he eventually finds the will to conquer his demons..but I am not betting on it..nope. This part says it all, for me at least:
He gets into tournaments now via sponsor exemptions, because he no longer has his full PGA Tour card. Sponsors want him at their events because he not only is a disaster magnet, he also attracts fans who revel in his trailer park charm and sympathize with his working class woes. They seek out photos with him and get autographs from him so they can say they once touched someone who once touched greatness.
Farewell Mr. Daly..I am sure you will manage to find a way to play a sport you love..I just don't think your a human being I need to feel sorry for any longer. Perhaps if you actually hit the bottom and had to live under a fucking bridge..you MIGHT realize how much damage you do to yourself and those that care about you. The fact that people and sponsors enable you doesn't help you deal with your disease..and I doubt you ever will.
It takes me back to being a young girl and sitting with my Dad around the radio. Being fixated on that little box with the lousy reception many times.
But today, I sat outside in the warm SoCal sun and I listened to Internet Radio, courtesy of MLB.com. It's not free..nothing is with those bastards..but the quality was good and there were plenty of commercials to get up and get something to eat or drink.
I laid back in my chair and listened to the Rangers announcers talk about the 'up and comers' that were invited to participate, some of the names ringing a bell or two. Bakersfield has the single A farm team for the Rangers. The stadium is right down the street from where I live. They are called the Bakersfield Blaze. They suck pretty much but hey..its local baseball.
My Padres beat them..9-5. It was a good day for the old man Greg Maddux who got the win. I remember when Greg would come to Qualcomm as a Brave..he never could win in that stadium ;) It was a split-squad game, so plenty of the Padres A ball players got to show what they had today too.
I don't mind listening to the games on the radio. But I do hope to see a couple of them via streaming video from the Peoria complex. It's a nice place, been there a few times when I lived in AZ years ago. All Spring Training facilities are small venues, but Peoria is considered the largest of all the Cactus League venues..which is great. Reminds me of seeing a good music set in a bar..upclose and personal ya know? The real cozy one is the Giants facility in Scottsdale. That is also the oldest I believe.
Personally, I think this bs move is all about control..and power. MLB has made shitty moves like this in the past. Like the one where they sued Yahoo and CBS Sportsline for offering real time stats online. They lost in court on that one.
Hope this one goes the same route. I hate control freaks. Seriously. From the Editor & Publisher linkage above:
Major League Baseball's new restrictions on the use of online photo images has drawn a protest letter from the Online News Association, a 1200-member group of Web journalists.
In the letter, sent Tuesday to Baseball Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig, the nine-year-old group objected to the new restrictions that include limits on the number of game photos online and the duration of time video can be placed on a Web site.
The restrictions are being placed on all media credentials for the upcoming 2008 baseball season, which begins later this month.
"These terms interfere with our members' ability to do their jobs as journalists and cover news of public importance," ONA President Jonathan Dube says in the letter.
A hearty FUCK YOU BUDDY SELIG..and I say that with all sincerity you dick.
He retires as the N.F.L. career leader in passing yards (61,655), touchdown passes (442), completions (5,377) and attempts (8,758). His 160 victories as a starting quarterback are also a record.
Much of Favre's legacy rests on his durability. He played in his last 253 regular-season games, and 275 games including the postseason, records for quarterbacks.
Buh Bye Brett..plenty will eulogize you. I would rather you just leave..sorry.
With everything having a link to crass commercialism lately..it should not come as a surprise that the owner of the Cubs and their home is considering selling the naming rights to Wrigley Field.
Such blasphemy! Its a travesty!
Its greed really. The new owner will be selling the Cubbie's and their stadium..the only question is if they will be sold together. Billionaire Sam Zell has this to say about the debate currently taking place about the Cubs and the naming rights to Wrigley Field:
"Excuse me for being sarcastic. But the idea of a debate occurring over what I should do with my asset leaves me somewhat questioning the integrity of the debate,"
You can read the testimony here. (pdf) The same judge also told the federal prosecutors to redraft their error-laden indictment. Per ESPN:
Among other information contained in the unsealed 149-page court transcript is evidence of an additional positive steroids test beyond the previously reported one in November 2000, sources familiar with the government's evidence told ESPN's T.J. Quinn. The U.S. Attorney's office had previously disclosed that Bonds tested positive for testosterone, but information about other failed tests has not been previously disclosed. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston ordered prosecutors to amend Bonds' indictment so that each of the five counts against him don't cite multiple statements that prosecutors say are false.
Prosecutors originally accused Bonds of lying 19 different times during his grand jury appearance, and charged him with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.
Illston agreed with Bonds' attorney Dennis Riordan that prosecutors must edit out many of the alleged lies or seek a new indictment, which could contain more charges.
I still don't understand why Bonds had the audacity to lie if there are in fact failed steroid tests..I mean come on..its a no-friggin-brainer!
So now, we all just grab a chair and some popcorn and watch the spectacle. Jeez, wotta load of bs. From the MSNBC writeup:
The probe could result in charges against Clemens of perjury, making false statements or obstruction of justice. Lawmakers did not ask for a similar investigation of McNamee. *snip*
IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, a key member of the government's prosecution in the BALCO drug cases, attended the hearing and watched from the second row.
In real baseball news..ITS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!! ST has begun!
Wow-freaking-wee. He told the Dodgers to kiss off a few years back. They treated him shabbily as I recall..but I am in awe of Sandy Koufax.
I remember listening to Dodger games as a kid. Him and Don Drysdale were one helluva combination. A lot like RJ and Curt on the Dbacks World Series winning team. I lived in AZ when they won that. Best WS I had ever seen. But I digress..
Probably neither of the two folks that read this blog are NASCAR fans..but I must publish this letter I sent off today in the hope that someone else will read it and send it to the idiots that run NASCAR. Yes I, a progressive female, love the hell out of NASCAR! You got a problem with that??
Dear Mike Helton and your Gestapo Minions,
I, Dusty ****, proudly and forcefully stand up for Robby Gordon and the #7 Jim Beam team's right to appeal the excessive and totally ridiculous 100-point penalty and suspension handed down by NASCAR following the Daytona 500.
I am a Tony Stewart fan but I can not sit by and watch this travesty of justice one minute longer.
I am sick and tired of the crap that passes for fairness in NASCAR. This action by you and your minions reeks of bat guano. What balls you have Helton, Pemberton and Darby, it isn't even a performance issue for the love of God! Just once in your worthless lives..let the penalty fit the crime!
Neither Robby nor his Crew Chief or team were deliberately attempting to circumvent NASCAR rules. The mistake was discovered by NASCAR officials during the very first inspection prior to qualifying which was more than a week before the Daytona 500.
What part of the above paragraph do you not understand? It's not rocket science gents!!
Robby's team changed out all 11+ noses on all of the new Dodge cars and the three built specifically for Daytona overnight. The approved nose was on his car in time for qualifying.
Top teams and drivers have been stricken with similar fines for intentional reasons, but Robby's team earned an honest 8th place finish in the Daytona 500 through tireless dedication, quality, and character - not because of rule violations.
Your decision unfairly penalizes Robby, his sponsors and ALL NASCAR fans. It's pathetic to say the least..its unconscionable to say the most.
If your ruling stands I, as a 20+ year fan of NASCAR, will seriously consider giving up the sport I love. I can no longer tolerate your bs and bravado that is meted out unfairly and without one ounce of common sense.
Robby is a man of true character and talent. As the only driver/owner to finish in the top ten this past weekend, he shows his dedication to the sport.
I request..no, I demand you show your dedication to the sport by dropping this crap now. It needs to end here gents..or your going to lose even more fans than you already have with your asinine rules changes and penalties that are arbitrary to say the least. You might be making new fans..but they are only replacing the old fans like myself and others that are sick and tired of all the crap you mete out on a weekly basis.
Each of you need to rent a pair of balls and rescind your penalty now!
Sincerely, Dusty **** B**********, CA
You too can send this letter to Helton and the gang..send it to:
Ah yes..it surely should shut the piehole of Clemens and his attorneys now wouldn't you say?
But I ain't holding my breath..like Marion Drew-Jones..he could lie for years before confessing the truth..but..to avoid a Barroid Bonds type of problem.. he might want to rethink that position.
Manny Ramirez who now wants to stay in Boston after years of bitching that he wants out..has switched agents. He has signed with..drumroll please..
Scott Boras. Boras, as most fans of baseball know..is the devil incarnate. From a May 07 writeup on Scotty:
Major League Baseball is a $6 billion-a-year industry, more profitable than ever. To Boras and his clients, that makes it a game of percentages on and off the field. As baseball revenues grow, so do salaries, thanks in large part to him. He was the first agent to sign players to multiyear $50 million, $100 million and $200 million contracts, as league revenues rose to $1 billion, $3 billion and $6 billion, respectively. Last year, he negotiated the largest contract ever for a Japanese player, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed with the Boston Red Sox for $52 million — after the Sox paid $51 million for the rights to sign him — and the largest ever for a pitcher, Barry Zito, who went with the San Francisco Giants for $126 million.
The Zito contract is a bust at this point..unless he does something this year..the Giants got hosed on that deal. His era last year was a whopping 4.53..up from 3.67 the year before with the A's. He also lost more games(11-13) than he won. I call it a bust because of the stats I just quoted..I could however be wrong..its been known to happen. I just hate how guys sign huge contracts and then promptly suck hind tit the following year..
Damn, if he doesn't deserve a friggin raise..who does? He will be eligible for Free Agency next year. He lost, but he won..ya know? From the writeup:
Even though he lost.."Rodriguez tied the record for the highest salary in an arbitration decision, a mark he shares with Alfonso Soriano, who lost his case against Washington in 2006, and Ryan Howard, who beat Philadelphia on Thursday".
Krod is the shit. I draft him within the first five rounds in every league. His era last year? Please..a magnificient 2.81 people!
He is still getting 10 large out of the deal. Last year it was a little over 7 large.
Bret Boone came out of retirement to sign a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on Monday, joining his younger brother, infielder Aaron, and their father, assistant general manager Bob, with the club.
Bret isn't a spring chicken either, by baseball standards..he's 39. Don't you just love this bit of nepotism?
He spent roughly an hour and a half apologizing to everyone and their mother. He refused to discuss Clemens and he doesn't think what he did was cheating..and the topper.. but he was desperate man!
Oh, and God will give him the strength to deal with all this. My question is why didn't God give him the strength to just say no to using HGH?
It drafts two days before the season starts..so if anyone pulls a hammy or tears their ACL, you should know about it. If you want to play..here are the particulars:
League ID 89091 password baseball
Draft is Live: Sat Mar 22 10:00am PDT
Only ten teams, and its Head-to-Head. It's on Yahoo, so you need a Yahoo ID (duh). Stats we use can be negotiable..but I have set up the basics I like. I also like more than one DL..since I pick some real winners usually ;p
Game for the bored among us: Flight of the Hamsters..ok, its not very nice..but its not real ok? Launch them suckers for points..I got a 78 ft in my first hamster flight..not bad eh? H/T to my blog bud in Palm Springs..the inimitable Friday Fishwrap!
The first game of this spring training season will begin in:
11 DAYS 12 HRS 44 MIN 18 SEC from now..
The big deal so far is of course..the Dodgers new manager..Joe Torre. With the ball and chain being a ferocious Dodger dog..I have to hear about this ad-naseum. I hate the Dodgers by the way, with every fiber of my being. When the Dodgers and Padres play each other..we are at opposite ends of the house.
Once again..My Padres are starting the season thin in the pitching department..and a big-assed hole in the outfield...from Scotty's take on my home team: Bud Black, not comedian Bill Murray, is managing this club, but nevertheless, it will be Groundhog's Day in Peoria again this spring. Stop us if you've heard this one: The Padres are loaded with pitching but lacking in sticks. Currently, the outfield lines up like this: Brian Giles, recovering from microfracture surgery in his knee, in right field; past-his-prime and brittle Jim Edmonds in center; and a big hole in left. Rookie Chase Headley, moved from the infield to be given a chance in left, perhaps? Right now, Scott Hairston is the clubhouse leader. Tadahito Iguchi will be an upgrade over Marcus Giles at second. Kevin Kouzmanoff will start much better at the plate this year than last. Still, Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, ageless Greg Maddux and Chris Young will have to pitch lights out. Two spring projects to watch: Rehabbing right-handers Randy Wolf and Mark Prior, each of whom could have a strong impact in Petco Park.- Of course they can have a strong impact..and I am sleeping every night with Brad Pitt too ya freak.
General manager Kevin Towers is adroit at bringing in damaged or declining players on one-year, incentive-laden deals that give them a chance to restart their careers.
Restarting their careers, how about buying old broken-down players all the while praying to GOD they will rise like a phoenix and give em one last decent year? Give me an effin break dude..Towers is an idiot..plain and simple...I can't stand KT and I think he has something very damaging on the owner John Moores or his ass would of been gone years ago.
And for the love of everything holy..we have the roomiest damn outfield in the NL..yet we have ZERO long ball hitters? WTF? Does this fact elude Moores, Towers and everyone else in the front office?
And the following vid is a nice exchange that shows how Clemens and his attorney's tried to pull a fast one on Waxman's committee..check it out..the transcript can be read here via TPM muckraker.
I just spent five glorious days in SoCal. At my youngest sisters house dogsitting. You can see the ocean from her front bay windows. The temperature was a perfect 75 degrees during the day.
I liked that. I needed that.
Now, back to the reality of life..damn it!
As for Roger Clemen's little tour through the halls of Congress..if he won't shut his piehole about this..why should we? He was doing everything but kissing babies it seems. But enough about ol Roger..baseball commences very soon...
02 DAYS 15 HRS 01 MIN 56 SEC- to be EXACT!!!!!!!!!!
And I can't freaking wait. GOD, I can't wait. Bring on the boys of summer ;)
36 year old Tony Clark is in the process of inking a deal with my hometown boyz..the Padres. For 900k and a single year..those Padres..they know how to wheel and deal don't they? said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Arbitration is now ongoing..there are still some big names in the mix. Frankie Rodriquez, the Angel's closer is one of those names, as is Josh Bard of the Pads.
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The Roger Clemens steroid controversy has reportedly taken another turn that could damage the star pitcher's claims that he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs.
According to a report by the New York Daily News, Brian McNamee, Clemens' former personal trainer, has turned over physical evidence to federal investigators that could support the findings in the Mitchell Report.
"This is evidence the government has that we believe will corroborate Brian in every significant way," McNamee lawyer Earl Ward told the Daily News.
McNamee's attorneys did not tell the paper the exact nature of the evidence, but the Daily News cited a source close to McNamee as saying investigators are now in possession of vials with traces of steroids and growth hormone, as well as blood-stained syringes and gauze pads that may contain Clemens' DNA.
Clemens gave a closed-door deposition to Congress on Tuesday, in preparation for next Wednesday's public hearing, and emerged from the five-hour session by saying "it was great to be able to tell them what I've been saying all along -- that I never used steroids or (human) growth hormone. I look forward to being here, I guess, in this room next week."
McNamee is slated to give a private deposition to Congress on Thursday, at which time he will likely talk about the alleged physical evidence.
"We will provide Congress with corroborative physical evidence that takes this case out of the he-said, she-said purview," another McNamee lawyer, Richard Emery, told the Daily News. "From our point of view, this corroborates that Brian told the truth from Day One and Clemens has not."
Here is the link to the NY Daily News piece referenced in the Sports Network piece.
Hot damn..I think its a selfish, bullshit move..but it is what it is..From WaPo:
Knight believed it was the best time to turn over the program to his son and assistant, Pat Knight, who was named his successor in 2005. Pat Knight said in a television interview that his father plans to be around the program. Texas Tech is 12-8, in sixth place in the Big 12 Conference.
Jailed quarterback Michael Vick can keep nearly $20 million in bonus money he received from the Atlanta Falcons following a ruling Monday by a federal judge.
The Falcons sought to recover the bonuses after Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges in a dogfighting operation. The bonuses were paid from 2004-2007.
A special master ruled in October that the Falcons were entitled to recover the bonuses. The Falcons argued that Vick used proceeds from a contract he signed in 2004 to finance his illicit activities.
But U.S. District Judge David Doty of Minneapolis ruled that the Falcons' recovering the bonus money would violate the NFL collective bargaining agreement. The agreement does not allow signing bonuses to be forfeited for years a player has already performed.
Arguments turned on interpretations of the collective bargaining agreement. At a November hearing, a union attorney argued that Vick's "roster bonus" should be treated the same as a "performance bonus," which can't be forfeited under the agreement. The league maintained that the roster bonus should be treated like a "signing bonus allocation," which could be forfeited.
Personally, I thought it was pretty smarmy for the Falcon's to go after his signing bonus for the years he did provide them services. Besides..the man is broke..his last known bank account was taken to provide services and support for the dogs that were taken from his property.
Two 'skins got in, Darrell Green and good ol' Art Monk. Tag's didn't make it..makes me smile don't ya know? The remaining new members are:
New England linebacker Andre Tippett, San Diego/San Francisco defensive end Fred Dean, Minnesota/Denver tackle Gary Zimmerman and a senior committee choice, Kansas City cornerback Emmitt Thomas.
Green was an awesome corner..you have to give him his props I think. It took Monk eight freaking tries to get in..wtf? I also think Andre Reed was one helluva WR..but it was his first year of eligibility. I loved watching Fred Dean work..I am glad he got in as well.
Pissed me off Ray Guy didn't make it too. Fuckers..Oh, and that Football HOF is one fugly friggin building..whats up w/ the phallus symbol too?
Seventeen finalists will be cut to seven, with at least four - and a maximum of seven - chosen for the Canton, Ohio, shrine by a panel of 44 selectors. To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum of 80 percent of the votes.
Paul Tagliabue gets another shot..yawn..
Darrell Green and Cris Carter are the only first-time eligibles who made the finals.
Art Monk and Andre Reed.- I say hell yeah to both these gents.
Guards Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Randall McDaniel.- Randall was a force.
Tackle Gary Zimmerman
The defensive finalists are ends Fred Dean and Richard Dent; linebackers Randy Gradishar, Derrick Thomas and Andre Tippett.
The Senior Committee nominees are Chicago Cardinals back Marshall Goldberg and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas
The final guy is punter Ray Guy.-Can I get an amen on Ray Guy please?
I was perusing CNN today when I found this video about the outcome for those 49 or so dogs rescued from Vicks property.
I was quite happy to see that only one of them had to be euthanized so far. As a former owner of a pitbull, it made my Sunday morning to watch the video and check out BadRap.org and DogTime's other videos about the pitbull's that Vick owned and inhumanely treated like mere chattel.
My pitbull Baby was horribly mistreated when she came into our lives, she was afraid of her own shadow and any loud noise would cause her to shake uncontrollably. She didn't know how to play or what toys were for. She was the sweetest dog I have ever had and not a day goes by that I don't miss her. She loved all the cats in our house, and both the smaller dogs as well. She died a year and a half ago from cancer. Her time with us was much too short. I am glad that Vick's dogs have been given a second chance at a decent, loving life and not just put down without a thought.
And so ends our post today..no sports really..just the love of a dog. We will resume our regularly scheduled bitchfest about sports tomorrow ummkay?
As I jones for baseball and await the Super Bowl..I amuse myself with the trades and signings that have taken place so far this off-season. Some highlights:
Michael Cuddyer got a nice contract extension from the Twinkies. Three years and he now avoids arbitration. Dollar figure: $24 million and an option for 2011.
Troy Tulowitzki signed a six year extension with the Rockies with an option for 2014. Dollar value of the contract: $31 million
The White Sawx signed Octavio Dotel to a two year contract. Dollar value: $11-million. He is joining a bullpen that blew 23 saves, had a 19-25 record and an ERA of 5.49. Dotel will earn $5 million this year and $6 million in 2009.
Yadier Molina signed a nice four year extension with a club option for 2012 with the Cards thereby avoiding Arbi. Dollar value: $15.5 million.
Damn, a whole lotta guys signed contracts this past week..thereby avoiding arbi. Check it out if your bored and/or craving some baseball news.
This handy list gives us an overview of who accepted arbitration, what they want and what the team offered. Book mark the lil sucker as it will keep track of who wins and who loses. Of course the wheeling and dealing can continue up to the hearing date. Arbi takes place between Feb 1st -Feb 21st.
To me..we all lose with these exorbitant salaries paid to grown men that play a child's game.
Speaking of grown men with the IQ of a child..watch OJ get his ass chewed out by the female judge
So he banned their asses from attending his upcoming press conference. Can't say that I don't blame him. Shoddy reporting should have a consequence in my humble yet outspoken opinion.
ESPN is reporting that Philip Rivers actually had a bit of surgery before the AFC Championship game. Rivers has a torn ACL and requires more extensive surgery to fix it.
Only 35 Days, 11 Hours, 47 Minutes till Spring Training..
Thank Jebus for the spread..and the fact that the Pat's didn't cover it again. Pat's have not covered the spread over the last four games I believe, including last week's 31-20 win over Jags, which, as you might recall, I won money on as well.
Its comforting since the Chargers sucked ass..seriously..it is. I would of loved to see them bust the Pat's streak..
Now it's time to get into roundball and hockey..yuk. Spring Training starts in 37 days..I can't friggin wait..
The coldest game recorded in NFL history was the "Ice Bowl" at minus-13 degrees played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. GB won 21-17. Its gonna be colder than that today.
I feel my Chargers will lose today, but not by 14 pts, hence I put my money on them. As for Green Bay..Buddha help those players today, its outright stupid to play the damn game in the evening in a part of the US that is lucky to get to 32 degrees by noon this time of year.
The Green Bay defense is young and that might not bode well for them in the second and probably coldest Ice Bowl of the day.
I was up at 6am and watched ESPN's OTL, it was a good show that dealt with the steroid issue and Dan Naulty's personal issues and guilt in taking steroids. He didn't come off as a whiner, so much as someone who knew what he was doing was wrong and regretted it then and now.
Enjoy your final football game day for this month..fucking yahoo's give us a two week break until the SB.
Why baseball owners want a Commish in his 70's is beyond me, but they have given Selig a three year contract extension. Bad things he has done via Sportsline:
1. Canceled the 1994 World Series.
2. Wasn't nearly as responsive as he should have been in a leadership role as anabolic steroids and HGH were getting a grip on the game.
3. Threatened Minnesota and Florida with contraction following the 2001 season, a ham-handed scheme that the Twins never deserved, would never hold up to legal challenges and that needlessly heaped more negative publicity on the sport.
4. Instituted interleague play, a hit at box offices in New York and Chicago that still doesn't make up for the deviation from the game's tradition.
Number four is a travesty for me. I will never forgive his tired ass for that one.
So to Mathman..I do apologize for not answering your meme..I will try to get to it soon..I swear. Life does have a habit of getting in the way sometimes.
Tomorrow, CSPAN will carry the MLB Steroid Hearings live starting at 9:30AM eastern and at the ungodly friggin hour of 6:30AM leftcoast time. You can watch online here..or on cable via CSPAN2
Perhaps the answer lies in what Indy did wrong more than anything. I mean..running the ball on 3rd and five isn't a standard play that I know of...Norv got lucky.
It paid off. I figured the Pat's would win but not by 15 points.
Can't bet on the Chargers tomorrow..just don't feel confident there.
The over was worth it too in the Pats/Jags game.
On the baseball front..Buddy Selig wastes more money and provides more lip service by creating a department of drug use. WTF? Mitchell recommended it, so it must be good, right? Fuck me running, get a load of this bullshittery:
MLB said the unit "will have broad authority to conduct investigations." The limits of the unit were not immediately clear. Will it place moles in clubhouses?
This crap is on my last nerve, seriously. The players now will have to keep lawyers on their payrolls too I guess. No one will trust anyone is my guess. Reminds me of trying to buy pot from a friend of a friend... who is very paranoid.
Could Barroid Bonds expect this length of sentence if and when he is convicted of lying to federal investigators over the same BalCo investigation as Ms. Jones?
The former Olympic track gold medalist was sentenced to six months in prison Friday for lying to investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs and her role in a check-fraud scam.
The money quote from maid Marion: "I ask you to be as merciful as a human being can be,"
Judge could of gave her longer. From Da Judge: He said Jones damaged two federal investigations with lies that came years apart, so "I don't think the criminal conduct can be written off as a momentary lapse of judgment or a one-time mistake, but instead a repetition of an attempt to break the law."
Sucks to be you Ms. Jones...hopefully Barroid was paying attention.
Can be found here. In other sports news CBS is reporting OJ is back in the slamma. Why can't they keep this asshat in there?
Something about rights I think..
He is supposed to have attempted to contact one of his co-defendants which was a huge no-no issued by the judge who gave him his freedom. I saw the hearing live, and the judge's biggest bitch and warning was that OJ better not try to contact them via emails or any other known method of communication.
The U.S. congressional hearing involving pitching stars Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and former trainer Brian McNamee was postponed on Wednesday until Feb. 13 so lawmakers can gather evidence and coordinate their investigation with the Justice Department.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was informing witnesses that the Jan. 16 session is being pushed back.
SI also has an "exclusive" interview with McNamee up here.
Makes my heart sing..Gossage is in the hall..but Rice didn't make it... he missed by 16 votes.
Gossage received 85.8 percent of the vote Tuesday, easily surpassing the 75 percent threshold for baseball's highest honor and becoming just the fifth reliever in Cooperstown's bullpen. The Goose received 466 of 543 votes.
He also had some choice words for Barroid and Clemens on steroid use..
I do advocate for relievers getting in the HOF. ;)
After watching The Rocket sit and seethe during his entire 60 minutes interview, I am left wondering a few things..
All the information against him IS hearsay. McNamee didn't lie about Andy Pettitte however. Was there incentive for McNamee to lie about Roger Clemens? A couple of choice quotes from Clemens during the interview:
"Twenty-four, twenty-five years Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch," he adds. "How can you prove your innocence?"
"Never happened," Clemens says. "Never happened. And if I have these needles and these steroids and all these drugs, where did I get 'em? Where is the person out there gave 'em to me? Please, please come forward."
Clemens then steered the interview towards the drugs he did do; lidocaine, B-12 and Vioxx. He stated he ate Vioxx like candy. Vioxx has been taken off the market because of serious risk of heart damage and strokes. Clemens was quite adamant that he worries if he will have any lasting effects from eating Vioxx like "skittles". He stated he was given numerous pain medications via injections from team physicians, who also prescribed the Vioxx to him.
I still don't know about this guy. I want to believe he didn't. I feel that there is also no way to explain how he could still pitch at the level he did after the age of 40. But he wasn't the only pitcher to still be able to get it done after 40; Randy Johnson did briefly, Phil Niekro and Satchel Paige, who pitched into his 50's are a few that come to mind. ESPN lists others who pitched into their 40's:
Man, how could I forget Nolan Ryan? All the guys named by ESPN are in the HOF.. like I said..I just don't know..and perhaps we never will, without concrete proof, who can say?
But if Clemens can prove his innocence..they need to string up McNamee..seriously.
I correctly picked the winnar's in both professional football games yesterday. I am batting a thousand at this point and I feel quite...well..I was going to say studly..but as a female that isn't what I was going for..
So, I feel very proud that I got both of them right. The ball and chain got both games wrong.
My financial future is secure at this moment. Then of course I will risk it all on the SuperBowl and lose my fucking ass. Bet on that.
The star pitcher Roger Clemens, his former personal trainer Brian McNamee and three others will be asked to testify under oath before a congressional committee at a hearing Jan. 16.
In addition to Clemens, the House Oversight Committee will call Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch and Kirk Radomski, according to a person with knowledge of the hearing who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk about it.
Radomski is the former Mets clubhouse attendant who admitted distributing performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of major league players. His cooperation with federal authorities after his arrest formed the heart of the report by Senator George J. Mitchell into what Mitchell called baseball's "steroids era."
The report said that McNamee, who worked with Clemens, Pettitte and Knoblauch, said he injected Clemens with steroids.
Clemens has denied that and the congressional hearing was called to question him about the factual issues he has raised with the report. He is scheduled to appear on the CBS program "60 Minutes" on Sunday.
All five people are being asked to testify voluntarily, but the committee has not ruled out subpoenas that would force them to testify. Either way, they would be testifying under oath.
Should be interesting..and on CSPAN hopefully ;) For the rest, click the linkage..
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About the Iowa Caucuses, *But Were TRULY Afraid To Ask By Don Davis
Sure, all you know-it-all political junkies think you know it all about the arcana of the Iowa caucus. But here are the cold hard facts that the mainstream media doesn’t want you to know:
Q. Which way is the “cross-over” vote expected to go?
A: As in most years, independents tend to vote Democratic, but this year the GOP is expected to draw the vast majority of cross-dressers.
Q. Is it true that if a candidate doesn’t reach the 15% threshold, there’s horse-trading among the caucus-goers?
A: True, but also trading of cows, pigs, chickens and goats.
Q. Doesn’t the entire caucus procedure violate the sanctity of the “secret ballot?”
A: Well, yes, but ever since The Bushinistas hired Diebold, the government knows how you’re voting anyway.
Q. Doesn’t the 7 p.m. starting time of the caucuses discriminate against single mothers and night-shift workers?
A: Sure, but that’s balanced out by the fact that the farmers also are excluded, since they hit the hay at 6 p.m.
Q. Isn’t it unfair that a small percentage of voters exercise such a disproportionate weight in the voting for the highest office in the land?
A: That’s only the case if you look at the number of voters in Iowa– if you look at their actual weight, then they’re actually underrepresented.
Q: How about the lack of diversity in Iowa?
A: While it’s true that blacks constitute only about 2.5% of Iowans, the largely German population traces their ancestry to such disparate regions as Berlin, Brandenburg and Bavaria.
Q. Ultimately, will voters value “experience” or “change?”
A: After 7 years of George W. Bush, the voters seem prepared to go for anyone experienced enough to give them the correct change.
It's according to a Sports Illustrated writer, but it is an interesting overview of his ballot and why he votes as he does. The writeup also tells us who is on the ballot this year. His picks for the HOF:
1. Rich Gossage.
2. Jack Morris
3. Andre Dawson
4. Rice
5. Dave Concepcion
6. Dave Parker
Its a decent list..check out the article to see who is close but no cigar and those who should never get the nod.
It was a good game by most standards..Eli listened to his big brother evidently and you know how it turned out.
For a take on the year in sports..read King Kaufman's Salon writeup here.
The ball and chain is in the playoff in my own league today. I tried to give him a few tips, but seing as how I finished at the bottom of my own fucking league..he wisely told me to shut the fuck up.
I did however win one league..it's not a total loss.
Leyritz was charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage, said Detective Kathy Collins, Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman. He posted the $11,000 bond and was released from Broward County jail.
Police believe alcohol was involved in the crash, though investigators are awaiting results of blood alcohol tests, Collins said.
Jimmy refused to blow for the cops. They still got a blood test. Of course if she wasn't wearing a seatbelt, it would be a tough case to prosecute on manslaughter I think..but maybe not. Photo is his mugshot.
At least it was only a one year contract. Lets pray he actually plays this year ummkay? He last pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 2006, when he made nine starts and went 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA.
His last good year? 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 2003.
Kevin Towers also signed another surgery guy..Randy Wolf. Why does Towers still have a friggin job with the Padres? Does he have pictures of John Moores fucking the neighbor's dog or something?
In other news, Roger Clemens' attorneys are earning their keep by investigating the allegations against The Rocket..good luck with that..seriously. Most of the information in the Mitchell report was unfounded 'he said' type of bullshit. No smoking guns, although I do have a tendency to believe it..why? Because the guy bulked up and seemed to get better with age..ala Barroid Bonds..but if they can prove otherwise..more power to em, I just don't see how you counter such allegations. It would be nice if someone had proof Roger bought HGH or roids in my book.
The Associated Press reports that Roger Clemens has granted his first television interview after the George Mitchell steroids report announcement with Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes. Clemens is one of the highest profile MLB players implicated in the report, and has denied any steroid use.
Clemens made the video announcement about the 60 Minutes interview on his web site.
"After Christmas, I'm [going to] sit down with Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes and I'll do an interview and he'll ask me a ton of questions on the subject and I'll answer them right there in front of him and we'll do all this again," he said. "I'm angry about it, to be honest with you. It's hurtful to me and my family."
CBS confirmed the interview is scheduled to air on January 6.
And he used the same tune as the Miller Lite commercial..trippy.
This display was the work of Carson Williams, a Mason, Ohio, electrical engineer who spent about three hours sequencing the 88 Light-O-Rama channels that controlled the 16,000 Christmas lights in his annual holiday lighting spectacular (from Christmas 2004). His 2005 display includes over 25,000 lights that he spent nearly two months and $10,000 to hook up. So that the Williams' neighbors aren't disturbed by constant noise, viewers driving by the house are informed by signs to tune in to a signal broadcast over a low-power FM radio station to hear the musical accompaniment.
I was losing both fantasy finals as of last night. I figured I was toast in both leagues since my bench players had more points than my active players..
wrong pigskin breath..
I won in the one league I figured I didn't have a snowballs chance in hell. Funny how that shit turns out.
Have a Happy Holiday and a Merry-fucking-Christmas if your into that sort of thing..
I always appreciated Rich on SC, as much as Olbermann or Dan..From the pages of Salon.com...The King:
Rich Eisen's "Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe," is a breezy, entertaining look at the first few years of the NFL Network, where Eisen hosts the flagship show, "NFL Total Access."
Eisen, 38, takes the reader through an NFL year, which both ends and begins again at the Super Bowl. Along the way he tells stories, none of which reveal any breathtaking secrets, but most of which are good for a laugh. You probably didn't know that NFL all-stars at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii spend a whole week trying to find out each other's room numbers so they can run up charges. Now you do.
The NFL Network may or may not be the center of the NFL universe, but it's certainly the nexus of coverage. Nowhere else can football wonks get live looks at the scouting combine and spring workouts. But what interests Eisen, who grew up on Staten Island with baseball as his favorite sport, is the NFL as a lifestyle.
Check out the rest of Kaufman at the linkage above.
The World Series ball is gone, and Jonathan Papelbon has an excuse: My dog ate it. The Red Sox closer insists it happened to the souvenir from the final out of Boston's sweep this year.
Really, Papelbon blamed it on his bulldog, Boss.
"He plays with baseballs like they are his toys," Papelbon told the Hattiesburg (Mississippi) American. "He jumped up one day on the counter and snatched it. He likes rawhide. He tore that thing to pieces. Nobody knows that. I'll keep what's left of it."
No one ever said you have to have an ounce of intelligence to be a pitcher..
Not that it breaks my lil black heart one damn bit, but there it is:
The judge called the hearing to decide whether the lawyers can still work for Bonds even though they previously represented other athletes who testified in the government's investigation into performance-enhancing drugs. *snip*
In court papers made public Thursday, federal prosecutors identified Bonds' new attorney, Cris Arguedas, as having represented disgraced track star Tim Montgomery and football players Chris Cooper, Chris Hetherington and Tyrone Wheatley, all of whom testified before the grand jury.
In addition, lead attorney Allan Ruby represented Bonds' personal surgeon, Dr. Arthur Ting, when he was called before a grand jury.
"Dr. Ting is likely to be a witness for the government at trial," the government's court filing stated.
Poor Barroid..he just can't catch a break can he? tsk..tsk..
Parcells and Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga agreed Wednesday on a four-year contract to be Miami's vice president of football operations, according to ESPN, which employs the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach as an analyst.
The Dolphins declined comment, only saying no contract has been signed, and no one at Huizenga's business office was authorized to comment when reached Wednesday evening by the Associated Press
It can't be the money, can it? Is The Tuna that desperate to get back into the game? Sweet Jesus in a thong..
What ever happened to dolphin-free tuna? ;p FoxSports has this to say about Billy:
The latest victim of Parcells' squirrelly-ness is the Falcons, who were a victim once before. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is not happy, and for good reason.
Here is Blank's statement:
"Late last night it was revealed to the media by a source outside the Falcons that we were close to reaching an agreement with Bill Parcells to lead the club's football operations. Prior to the information becoming public, we had reached an agreement in principle with Parcells, and we met with him this morning to complete the contract.
"At that time, we were made aware by Parcells that he was considering a revised offer from the Miami Dolphins. He later informed us that he would not be signing a contract with us." In other words, Parcells leaked the story about his Falcons deal, forcing the Dolphins to pony up more cash. Then Parcells backed out of the agreement with Atlanta and has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with Miami.
This is the most believable story in the history of sports.
