Man, am I glad to be back in the Commonwealth. A few days in New York's retirement community (i.e. Florida) had ole Rusty singing "Carry Me Home to Ole Virginee". Let's just say coons, alligators, crazy birds, and Rusty don't mix.

Rusty's travels kept predictions for the Brickyard from materializing, but if you watched that debacle of a race, don't reckon it much mattered. Goodyear really screwed us on that deal, and it's a real shame NASCAR's taking the blame. Shame on you, tire boy!

Now, we're coming back to Pocono and the rolling hills of Pennsyl-tucky. This is perhaps the oddest shaped track on the circuit. There's only 3 turns, and the infamous "tunnel turn" seems to always reak havoc on drivers. Pocono is a flat track with very very long straightaways. To run well here, you've gotta have a lotta horses under the hood, and an ability to make the car turn through the corners very well.

After his 2nd win of the season, and a uber-dominant one at that, Ole Jimmie's starting to show his true championship caliber. He runs well at Pocono, so Rusty's going to get on the bandwagon and pick him for this week's A List.

The B list is a bit more of a crap shoot. There are several drivers in that list who would run well, but as we get later into the season, I'm using up my good drivers. So, this week, I'm going to pull a new pony out of the stable. David Regan, who took over the #6 Roush Ford for the elder statesman Mark Martin, a few years ago, is slowly improving week to week. I'm gonna go with a longshot and put him in the mix for this week.

C List is Travis Kvapil. Poor fellow is so ugly it's funny. Reckon that's not a bad reason to pick'em.
A List
- J Johnson (48)
B List
- D Regan (6)
C List
- T Kvapil. (28)

When Brett Favre tearfully announced his retirement following last season, it seemed we were one of the very few sports blogs at the time that found it downright amusing.

Further, we wondered how many bloggers had the audacity to call out Laura Ingram for putting him in his place and questioning his manhood, when they have no qualms poking fun of every little misstep athletes make.

So now we wonder.

Can we laugh now?

Can we make fun of St. Brett?

Can we offer a collecting blogger appology for calling Laura Ingram every dirty word in the book generally associated with the female anatomy? Maybe her words seemed off at the time, but doesn't a "real man's" word mean something? Isn't a real man a man of honesty, integrity and loyalty?

Anyway, just for fun, let's take a look at some of those terms of endearment bestowed upon Ingram in March (WARNING - POTTY MOUTHS):

Crazy 'Woman' Calls Brett Favre 'Woman': "... but it's worth pointing out that FOX News commentator/yapcunt Laura Ingraham laid into Brett Favre for his emotional display at the press conference during which he announced his retirement." (With Leather)

Favre Found to Be Female; Will Never Be Successful Sports Blogger Now: "In a shocking development, wingnut batshit yapcunt radio host Laura Ingraham has revealed to the world that once-revered Green Bay Packers quarterback is, in actuality, a woman..." (KSK)

FOX News Commentator Calls Brett Favre A Woman For Crying During Speech: "That's right guys, it's NOT okay to cry, and you WANT a woman like Laura Ingraham in your life! Seriously.....I can't even put the words together to say how irresponsible and downright stupid that message is." (Awful Announcing)

Brett Favre is a woman, says someone who is sort of like a woman: "Upon further review, however, I think the fact that Miss Ingraham works at FOX News disqualifies her from being a normal woman." (Shutdown Corner)

Here's what some FanHouse commentators said..

"laura is a whora" (nyranger26)

"Sadly, whoever steals Ann Coulter's crown for Queen of the Harpies gets all her book deals." (JCN)

"Someone should punch that self-righteous bitch in the face." (Ned Yost is Kenny Rogers)

"LAURA INGRAHAM IS A STUPID BITCH - I DIDNT KNOW THERE WAS A USELESS IDIOT WHO CALLS HERSELF A JOURNALIST. WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OTF TIME THIS SCUM IS. I AM SURE BRETT IS REALLY LOOSING SLEEP OVER THIS. SHE MUST HAVE NEVER SEEN IT WHEN STEVE YOUNG RETIRED - GO GET A JOB YOU MORON,." (sarlocks)

"lura you suck ya bitch.if you would stop and think how much BRETT FAVRE Loved football,more then any football player in history.but no.bitch you suck." (joseph matusick)

---

HHR would like to thank Laura for saying what needed to be said. Despite the backlash she received, at least she stick to her convictions, unlike some sniveling little self-righteous effeminate QB.

• RandBall Q&A: A&R of “Joe Mauer Theme Song” (RandBall)
• College Football's Best Stadiums - Part 2 (Moondog Sports)
• Major League Baseball’s All-Time All-Ugly Team (Open Sports)
• Yao Ming Saves Olympians from Getting Lost in Translation (The Steady Burn)
• NY Area readers will appreciate this one: Hernia plea to WFAN: End this f*****g torture (The Sports Hernia)

...Damnit I can't get that out of my head.

Today at Gem Mint Ten:

• El Polonia

That's it. We've received a few Ugly Blogger submissions. We're naming names if we don't get more!

Click here to get your ugly on (and win $100 gas card).

So I am bored turdless at work and I am checking out Illuminati's blog over at phillyBurbs. He did an article today about men wearing shorts to the office. The article and picture is all kinds of wrong but something interesting popped out of the original NY Times piece.

When the hockey star Sean Avery took an internship at Vogue earlier this summer, the work uniform that the fashion-besotted left wing chose included a shorts suit that showcased his athletic calves.

So, Avery not only plays professional hockey but bags models and actresses, works with tons of hot women in the offseason, is a guest editor at Men's Vogue, gets his own hockey rule named after him AND can get away with wearing boy shorts.

I think I feel the incipience of a slight man crush.

Wait, I just pictured you in those shorts.

Let's make it official.

But the gentleman at my table has a real "Phil Helmuth" funk wafting from his person.

"So what of it?"

Gambler Makes Stink About Casino Ejection Due To B.O.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- A Brooklyn man who went on a shower-less 17-hour gambling spree at a New Jersey casino is demanding an apology for being ejected because of his body odor.

Ahh. A Philadelphia station reporting on a stinky New Yorker in a New Jersey casino.

They should have just tossed him into one of the pools at the casino's new Water Club.

But now the fun begins. Degenerate Philadelphia gamblers, no doubt with their own "brand" of effervescence, are sounding off on the story.

Go on, readers. Tell Fox Philly what you think.

(Personally, I agree with "JT": "Ten to one he was winning at the time. A casino wouldn't throw out a family of skunks as long as they were losing money.")

Much to his co-host Boomer Esiason's lament, former Jersey Guy Craig Carton (accompanied by producer and one-time Ron & Fez lackey, Al Dukes) proceeded with his megaphone-enhanced "Let's Get Brett [Favre]" crusade at Jets camp yesterday.

In case you missed it...

Jason
Giambi
showed
Brian
Roberts
who's #1!

This news was brought to you without entrée, preference or forethought.

Photo: aofg.blogspot.com

• Six Degrees of Derek Jeter (World of Isaac)
• THE “EMERGENCE” OF JEFF SAMARDZIJA (Zoner Sports)
• BOB ROUND 2: The Wham-Bam Thank You Ma'ams! vs. Major Gunns VOTE FOR US PEOPLE!!! (Epic Carnival)
• Lawsuit threatens bloggers right to free speech (Moon Dog Sports)
• Why the Phillies won't, but should, get Manny (The Third I)

Today at Gem Mint Ten:

• Macho Man

Don't forget to vote for the Iron Ref: Crowd Goes Wild, and to get your ugly on...!

I will admit. My two favorite shows on television not a part of the Law & Order franchise are the Travel Channel's Anthony Bordain: No Reservations and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.

I am such a tool that I actually have Zimmern's blog in my RSS feed.

Because of that, I know that on August 1 and 2 the Minnesota Twins and the Travel Channel will "team up to present Bizarre Foods weekend at the Dome," with Minnesota resident Zimmern doing a pregame TV interview and tossing out the first pitch.

Photo: KitchenTable.AndrewZimmern.com

$27 will get you "a ticket in the Twins' Homerun Porch, plus access to an exclusive pregame party which include some Bizarre Foods treats."

Any one who watches the show knows to be wary. "Bizarre Foods treats" no doubt means scrotum, penis, anus and intestines of some filthy animal that probably has a real "game-y" taste.

Would fans spend years belittling Pat Burrell for his perennial under-performance, only to scoff at the idea of trading him for a two-time World Series-winning, first ballot Hall of Famer and the greatest RBI producer of his generation when such rumors surface.

"No, seriously. I've ALWAYS loved Pat Burrell."
Photo: Finger Food

Phils-ville's Kevin Cooney adds " some things up on why this deal won’t happen."

Here's his justification and my rebuttal:

1) Ramirez is a locker room cancer. With the exception of the Jimmy Rollins episode, the Phils locker room seems pretty together.

Really? Seems like a fun-loving guy to me, aside from the whole punching out the traveling secretary thing.

But let's get serious. Charlie brought Manny up, and for all the Phils' skipper's shortcomings, he seems the perfect guy to keep Manny in check.

For the record, I believe you mean "Jimmy Rollins episodes."

2) Ramirez and Burrell’s numbers are eerily similar this season. Burrell’s probably a better defensive outfielder as well.

This season. Say no more.

The Phillies have been trying to unload Burrell for years with no success. If you can get rid of him, and suppose Manny doesn't work out, you acquire a greater bargaining chip and commodity in Ramirez. He either helps you himself or helps you acquire tallent.

3) Ramirez would likely want the Phils to pick up the $20 million option for next season- an event that probably won’t happen. Especially when Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels will likely get big awards in arbitration/new contracts over the winter.

And the Phils will likely underperform in the playoffs, if they in fact make them.

The move would electrify the city and make a frustrating Howard expendible.

If we are dealing in hypotheticals I'd ask, "What if Kevin Cooney had some real insight to offer readers?"

4) While the Phillies need a bat, they really need someone who can get on base- not just hit for power. If you take Burrell out and move Ramirez in, its the same beast.

Kevin Cooney just put Pat Burrell on the same level as Manny Ramirez.

Only in Philadelphia.

I believe it's called a "forearm shiver."

Great form. Great concentration. Head's up. Focused. Bang.

Take that, hippie.



H/T to reader Jeff the Greek.

The Fifth round of HHR's Iron Ref is on.

Click here for a look at this week's competitors and an overview of the contest. CAST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS.

Voting will be tallied at 5 PM EST on Thursday. Remember, winners will return to compete for the title of HHR's Iron Ref. If you are interested in competing, drop us a line.

This round's secret ingredient:

CROWD GOES WILD

East Coast Bias

There is wild, and then there is absolute Richter Scale bedlam. All four of us were present for the same volcanic eruption of emotion, and it changed our perspective.

January 17, 2002. Maryland fans had been waiting for five years to see the highly-ranked Terps beat Duke in College Park. The year before was crushing. Fans were ready to storm the court before Maryland lost the game in the most heartbreaking way possible, choking away a 10 point lead in 54 seconds.

The next year, hopes were high again. The Terps had jumped out to a 7 point lead in the first half and fans were starting to think they'd finally get to see a win over Duke. Jason Williams held the ball for the final possession of the first half and Terp fans were thinking how great it would be to go into halftime up by 5. Steve Blake had other ideas.

As Williams dribbled to run out the clock, he kept checking back to look at Coach K for instructions. He looked back once, twice, and the third time he tried, Steve Blake broke on the ball, timing his move perfectly. Blake was halfway down the court before Williams even knew the ball had been stolen. The entire building went nuts as Blake completed the play by making a very difficult layup around a recovering Williams.



The explosion of emotion is difficult to describe, because our desperate fascination with Duke makes no sense to most outsiders. The fact is that Duke had some psychological hold on not just our team, but our students as well. They can't be a more prestigious academic institution AND better at basketball, can they?!?! Steve Blake instantly TOOK Duke's mystique from them, and we knew this time was going to be different.



Jeff Pyatt

Most of us don't get to play in a packed stadium. We don't know what it's like to have thousands of eyes focused down upon us. And we sure don't know what it's like to make what would objectively be called "a crowd" go wild. But fortunately, defining a crowd is a subjective determination, and limitless glory and timeless anecdotes can come from even the presence of a small one. The following is based on real events, although much of it has been altered to make me look cooler. If you have a problem with that -- or if you're Canadian -- please feel free to send me an email, which I will eagerly ignore.

The Canadians are way ahead -- again. Not your stereotypically soft-spoken, polite pushovers, these Canadians are dirty, loud, boorish, insufferable and equipped with a combined 13-foot wingspan that have enabled each of them to stretch nearly half the distance between the sets of cups.

All night, they've dominated the table -- accumulating defeated victims; destroying interest; crushing hope. And after each successive victory, strutting around the table -- arms spread and head bobbing -- they've rubbed it in our faces, incessantly repeating "Are you not entertained?!?"

Down to our last lonely blue solo cup, we look across to see red cups with friends, six of them in a perfect ordered triangle. It seems we're destined to join the unfocused chatter surrounding us -- a fate that seems all the more sealed when -- plop -- a plastic miniature basketball, 4 centimeters in diameter, swooshes into our final drink.

But still, life -- albeit, very little. Armed with a shoot-til-you-miss retaliatory shot each, my partner and I could dampen defeat -- a task at which he miserably fails.

And with just me left, the unfocused chatter orders itself momentarily as the Canadians next victims scramble to prepare for our spot at the table and as my shot flies into the air.

Plop. Collective Sympathy. Plop. Intrigue. Plop.

Excitement.

Now, with half the remaining cups from only a moment ago, a single voice, perhaps sensing something special -- or perhaps unaware he is saying anything at all -- starts slowly and deliberately, "U... S...A.... U... S... A...." Others join in with hesitations and reservations. Plop. The chant moves faster and grows slightly louder.

"U.. S.. A!.. U.. S.. A!..." Plop. All hesitations and reservations are gone. Everyone is here. Everyone is watching. Everyone is screaming, "USA! USA! USA!..."

Plop... Overtime... And the Crowd Goes Wild.

Knibb High Football Rules!

Joe Student

NEW YORK - The National Football League held auditions today for the head position – the Judge And Chief-Know-it-all – of the newly created Office of Fan-Friendliness. The league-designated JACK-OFF will be placed in charge of making crowds around the country go wild in the 2009 season.

Highlights from the session:

Looking 4Mr.Goodell

Alright folks, we need someone to come in here and prove that they are the JACK-OFF we are looking for. Our league needs a real JACK-OFF: a representative who can carry across our message from the players and coaches to the fans and get them to really amp up their support.

…Who’s up first?

LostMyWoody

/dots “I”

/counts on field to be as mediocre as Big Ten…

“Next!”

ChalkSuxrs

/chaaaaaaaaants for everrrrrrrrrrr

/hopes Calipari won’t foul Chalmers

zzzzzzz….“Uh…wha?...Next!”

UAin'tSchmidt2Me

/makes a circle with belly…/kisses Andy Reid…

/dodges batteries…/waits for title

“Nope. Not our thing. Kinda scary.”

K-zhaGooGoo

/scrunches face…

/rich kids assemble tents behind him…

/bends over…/slaps floor…/replaces hips…

“Nah. Too collegiate.”

SchlockDaMunkE

/holds sign…

/flings poo at Bill Belichick

…/masturbates furiously…

“This is why we don’t have a team in L.A.”

CashlessClay

/dims lights…

/ plays music…

/starts fog machine…

“No, no, no! This is played out.”

LuvsPucks&Howe

/grows beard …

/throws octopus…

/riots, loots, burns Millen in effigy

“Uh…good, but I’m not sure we’re insured that well. Leave your info.”

NoDoubt aBowden

/rides horse …/hurls flaming spear into stage …

/parties with sexy undergrads…/suspended

“Hmmmn...Getting better, but still not perfect...Who else we got?”

GuyGoneJail

/pulls out wad of cash…

/turns camera on…

(…/shows t*ts)

/goes wild

“I am ready for some football! …This is perfect for the image the NFL has these days. You’re hired!”

/forgets to check IDs.../awaits trial

Tip of the cap to The Dugout, whose style taught us the grip on this change-up we are throwing.

----

Well there you have it. Three altogether different takes on CROWD GOES WILD. Cast your vote for who best used the secret ingredient in the comments. As Abe Lincoln once said, "Vote or Die, bitches." Or was the Puff Daddy? I always mix those two up.

• A Hinote indeed: Former Elk River star weds playmate (Rand Ball)
• NBA Players Can Be A Tough Sell (Sportz Undercover)
• WWE gets new GM..the guy from American Gladiators? (The Camel Clutch)
• Heidi stalking just moved to another level (Red Sox Monster)

Non Sports related but made us laugh

• Benningans goes bankrupt- Sorry Butters (Best Week Ever)

Last week when I received my Sports Illustrated in the mail, I noticed Michael Phelps was the cover athlete. Shortly after, I received this month's Men's Vougue which featured the swimmer in a fashion spread. I then saw a AT&T commercial with a "Phelp's Phan" and then Phelps practicing his Mandarin for Rosetta Stone.

Thinking back to when he dressed up as a merman for Disney, I began to wonder who thought this guy was such marketing gold. Forget the whole underage DUI thing. Let's look at the fact that he looks like a cross between the Oddities' Kurgan and Fred Gwynne and talks like he has a mouth full of cotton and pennies.

While I have no doubt Phelps is a world-class athlete, despite never seeing him compete, I'm not sure whether or not he is an upgrade from the last Olympic athlete that was shoved down our throat - ginger kid Shawn White who looks like a poor man's version of Budnick - the character Sam Drummond played in the Nickelodeon classic Salute Your Shorts.

In the beginning, e-mail was created for one purpose, to send to your friends the master list of dirty sex moves that are designed to make you noxious. To test your comprehension ability, I have created a quick game.

In the same vein to Adam Sandler's Sex or Weightlifting on the album What the Hell Happened to Me?, I bring you: Dirty Sex Move or MMA Move?

Today: Peruvian Necktie

For the answer visit HERE(4:28)

As always, it may be suitable for work, you know better than me if your boss is cool.

The Philadelphia faithful of the Yardbarker network are abuzz this afternoon after rumors began swirling that the Eagles are going to go after disgruntled Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez.

After pending deals Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Devin Hester, Torry Holt, Terry Glenn, and every other possible NFL receiver fell through, the Eagles turned their attention to a completely different sport and feel that Manny Ramirez can add a championship intangible to the franchise.

Yardbarker commentor and diehard Eagles fan YOPhillYBIRDZDAShitIN2008, who started the rumor, could not be reached for comment. In his blog, he did mention he was 'positive yo.'

More on this as it develops.

I barely notice the whole entertainment package that gets wrapped around the typical NFL broadcast. I turn the game on at kickoff and ignore everything that isn't game related. The only thing I did notice last season was Faith Hill and her cardboard dance moves and Great Adventure recording booth lip-sync job before every Sunday Night Football game. No artist or person could look more out of place.

Just like every other bad idea in sports, of course, it has to stick around.

Faith Hill To Voice NFL Theme Song – Again

The country superstar has been tapped again to perform "Waiting All Day For Sunday Night," the opening theme for NBC's Sunday Night Football, beginning with the first regular season game on Sept. 7. The song itself is set to the original Joan Jett song "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and was recorded by Hill in Nashville.

What the hell was Joan Jett doing that she couldn't change the lyrics to her own song and sing it? Pre-production on 'Light of Day 2' with Shakes the Fox? If you are going to give us crap, give us the original.

In addition to her theme-song duties, Hill will take part in a special – and humorous – ad campaign for the NFL. In the first spot, NFL players prepare snacks for Hill and her girlfriends.

"The promo piece is one of the funniest things I have ever seen," the singer said. "Fans will be in for a real treat getting a glimpse of these guys in the kitchen. We had a blast"

Faith Hill is number 3 on my list of people who probably don't know the first thing about comedy. TBS and my mother are numbers 1 and 2 respectively.

This is just another attempt at attracting woman to sports. If only the marketing reps and corporate suits in professional sports figured out the only thing that will attract women are compelling games. I don't see a woman sticking around for a three hour Sunday night football game because Faith Hill is doing the theme song and football players are doing comedy bits.

Only interesting and competitive games will get women interested in football. It's the same reason the men are watching.

And why do I have this feeling Tony Romo will be in one of the skits.

Urban Dictionary defines the name of the Eagles' backup quarterback's backup as:

AJ Feeley is a dirty professional football player with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers. The 6'3" 220-lb quarterback was drafted in 2001 out of the University of Oregon.

Also refers to skank hoes banging atop couches during thanksgiving.

Who knew?

Week 5 of Iron Ref begins today. We submit to you 3 more celeblogebrities who have agreed to brave HHR's Kitsch-en Stadium.

But first, the secret ingredient is....

CROWD GOES WILD

THE CONTESTANTS

East Coast Bias is the joint effort of four University of Maryland grads who have defied the odds and avoided homelessness. As the name implies, they cannot be bothered to stay up past 1 a.m. to watch any West Coast sports. As such, they firmly believe that USC has underachieved in the last decade, despite the contributions of Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier.

They're very different professionally, with two lawyers, a computer scientist and an aerospace engineering PhD candidate, and as sports fans, with the Steelers, Ravens, Redskins, Orioles, Nationals and Braves all represented, but they do share one unmitigated trait: a bitter hatred of Dook.

Jeff Pyatt, managing editor of RealClearSports, is a former biochemist turned political flak turned sports blogger. As a college pitcher, he holds a claim for worst player in NCAA history, bringing his ERA down from infinity to a more respectable 27.00. Pyatt currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, where he spends most of his idle time at the batting cage in hopes of becoming the Baltimore Orioles next third basemen.

Joe Student is the general manager/editor of Philly EDGE.com, a vapid entertainment and nightlife site focused on suburban Philadelphia. Though he has resided relatively near the city for most of his life, no Philly sports franchise has ever served as one of his favorite teams. Yet, the God of Sports has still found a way to punish Joe for his close-to-Philly existence by turning his beloved Orioles, Raiders and Knicks into three of the worst franchises in professional sports....And, yes, that is his real name.

For a full description of Iron Ref, please click here.

Maybe I have been watching too much Jon & Kate Plus 8 or maybe the Commercial CRitic is getting to the adverting industry, but it seems there has been a serious drop off of athletes in commercials. However, since the guys who write the nonexistent checks will soon show up at my door with socks filled with lemons, I better write about something.

The Hanes commercials with Michael Jordan have irked me for some time now. The latest one features Hollywood banter between His Airness and Charlie Sheen. This is quite the marketing ploy by the Hanes Corporation. It seems Hanes is seeking the 40-50 year old male cheating divorcee demographic.

The commercial is obviously geared toward showing the casual male or family side of the actors. For instance, the commercial begins with MJ on the phone asking if his mother received the flowers. Why mom?

Enter Charlie Sheen who is now more famous for his bitter divorce to wild thing Denise Richards than his brilliant acting in Hot Shot Part Deux. Teamed up with R. Kelly inspiring Jordan who Forbes recently ranked as having the most costly celebrity divorce, you have the Ace & Gary Dynamic Duo of family life.

The lifestyles of these two may be inspiration to some (prolific gambler, prostitute connoisseur), but I would guess that many of us would prefer to play basketball or have the work ethic of Michael Jordan rather than his family life. (I am still trying to think of a reason to be like Charlie Sheen). Hanes may want to rethink its use of MJ, although 7.6 percent of the population is a male 40 -50 years old, approximately 15.3 percent are divorced, 80 percent wear undershirts and .8 percent of males have a favorable opinion of Charlie Sheen, that could total up to a lot of t-shirts.

Personally, having apple children like the Fruit of Loom guys seems like a better future to me than being in the tabloids for harassing my ex-wife.

It's a phrase I just refuse to recognize.

The latest to utter it is the Eagles' "Master from DeMatha" Brian Westbrook.

To his credit, despite his vocal displeasure with his current contrat, BWest is in Lehigh at camp.

Said the Eagles' ultimate weapon:

"I'm here now. Hopefully for good, but it remains to be seen. I can't see the future. Hopefully if things go well we can get a deal done. I just want to give my agent an opportunity to talk and see if he can get something done. They're just talking about it and hopefully it will get done soon."

Philly sports columnist Jack McCaffrey (Trentonian; DelCo Times) bring up some great points in his piece today, noting the "sooner he [Westbrook] realizes which side is distributing the favors, the sooner he will get off the Eagles' case."

Here is McCaffrey's case:

• The Eagles took the risk on the undersized Division I-AA back, the one who once missed an entire season at Villanova with a shredded knee.
• The Eagles gave Westbrook a new contract, paying him $4 million a year.
• The Eagles showed the patience not to send out a thumb-breaker to take back the $3 million that they innocently overpaid Westbrook, who resisted returning the check.
• The Eagles give him every other practice off, to rest his temperamental knee. It is the Eagles who keep pretending he is not prone to injury.
• And the Eagles reportedly have offered to bump Westbrook's pay by $10 million. That goodwill apparently is enough of a business arrangement to have kept Westbrook from boycotting training camp.
• He is a downsized mid-major player who has been getting injured since he was in high school, and the Eagles have made him a wealthy man.
  
• He is under contract, a fair contract. And yet he is causing static, even when he is not holding out of camp.

Finally: "It takes a special level of greed for anyone to make the Eagles the sympathetic figures in a money issue. But Brian Westbrook -- a sensational player -- has perfected the art of overachievement."

I believe Westbrook will continue to be one of the lone bright spots on the team - provided he stays on the field - but i can't disagree that this guy shouldn't constantly thank his lucky stars for Andy Reid taking a flier on him and putting him in an offense that made him a millionare superstar.

Before he talks about "outplaying his current contract," he should retroactively prorate a refund on all the money he earned on the sidelines with injuries over the last several years. Clearly, in those cases he underperformed contracts built to pay him for entire seasons.

A little over a week ago, we noted the many talents and many careers of Scott Radinsky.

Through the wonders of social networking, and the fandom of teammate Matt Hasselbeck, we were able to catch a sampling of Seahawk Craig Terrill's alt-country rock stylings.


Here's video of the D Tackle out of Purdue holding his own with modern country icon Garth Brooks this week.



You can take a listen to his "12th Man Scream" and some other solid tracks at his MySpace music page.

GREASE TRUCKS!

The Asbury Park Press, most well known for detailing Ren McCormack's 8-yard post route against Sacred Heart in the late 90's, has since moved on to blow the lid off Rutger's Head Coach Greg Schiano and his "secret" contract.

Wait a minute...you are trying to tell me that a college football coach has clauses built into his contract the public doesn't know about? That's crazy talk, and I won't have it.

Turns out Schiano, who should have a statue of himself thrown up in Piscataway for taking Rutgers from a joke to a gem, has a provision in his deal that allows him to walk in 2009 if seats are added to the palatial Rutgers Stadium. In addition, he gets 250K from a sports marketing company that, among other things, helps promote the Rutgers brand.

I know people in the tri-state area generally aren't big on college football because there hasn't been a local team to latch on to, but in the places where college football is king, these type of contracts are the norm and you would probably find that Schiano is on the cheap side of things. One can only guess what has been worked into Bobby "I'm just going to the store for some milk" Petrino or Nick Saban.

Anyway, long story short, Rutgers should give Schiano whatever he needs to stay on board even if that means more seats in the stadium.

--Posted by Cadillac Mescalade

Happy Birthday, Sister McCormack.

• Drunk PSU Student Arrested in FB Building (The Sports Point)
• Moondog's Best College Stadiums (Moondog Sports)
• The Rookies Have Hit the Wall (I'm Writing Sports)
• Jordan Farmar Gives Back (Docksquad Sports)
• BBQ Sauce-Covered Burglars (Bugs & Cranks)
• What Would Aaron Rowand Do? (Phillsville)

Today at Gem Mint Ten:

• The Ace of Spades

Don't forget to get your ugly on...!

A non-sweaty, post-workout Obama with Judith Bonesky (not a pron name)

Barack Obama is so fit, he doesn't even sweat when he works out gushes a German reporter lucky enough to train next to the Senator with the "toned arms and a strong back."

(Seriously, that can't be a professional article. It's parody, right?)

Not Obama's Workout Mat.

Dayton Daily News staff photo by Dave ["Butt"] Munch

In case you missed it,
apparently
a real
pier-six
slobberknocker
went down
between the
Peoria Chiefs
and the
Dayton Dragons.

This news was brought to you without entrée, preference or forethought.

I love tailgating except for the bathroom situation. I have some 'turding in public issues' that I am working on with my therapist.

A long day of beer drinking and barbeque plus long lines at the Johnny-on-the-Spot can make for some urgent bathroom situations. That's why the Brown Corporation (punny) developed the Shit Box.

Shit Box is a lightweight portable cardboard toilet made specifically for outdoor use. The box pops up from a convenient 14 inch flat pack to a rigid, reusable, comfortable toilet. Each box comes with ten degradable poo bags.

So many words in that product description frighten me to the core.

...made specifically for outdoor use. (This is directed at trailer dwellers and Alabama fans. Outdoor use only.)
...reusable (Unless someone in your crew clocks in at over three bills. Chances are one of you does.)
...ten degradable poo bags (perfect for launching at opposing fans tailgating three rows down.)

What makes this different than a typical box from Staples? The silly little logo of(funny name alert!) Jack Shit on the side and it's $30 price tag.

Where you going to find the privacy in a parking lot full of drunk football fans to use this little gadget?

Beats the shit out of me. Give me enough beer I'll do it my pants. This is also something I am working on in therapy.

Photo: SI

Good read in today's Washington Times highlighting coach Paul Johnson's Triple Option offense that he brings to Tech after using it to post a 107-39 record at Georgia Southern and Navy.

Seeing it in action at Rutgers last year was a thing of wonder as the Midshipmen gave the favored Scarlet Knights a run. Should be fun to see how it translates in the ACC.

Says Johnson: "If we can execute the system, we can be pretty good," Johnson said. "It's been pretty good for a lot of years. That's why I kind of scoff and laugh when people say, 'This ain't gonna work.' It ain't like we're doing something that's never been done. We've been doing it for 20 years. It's worked at three different schools pretty good."

Georgia Tech Football Blog brings us Johnson's interview at the ACC kickoff meeting.

Are you ugly? Are you a blogger?

Then this contest is for you.

Times are tough. The housing market's shot. People worry about their financial well-being. War dominates the airwaves. Gas prices are through the roof.

Worst of all, we are bloggers - ugly social outcasts confined to our mother's basements posting our thoughts in between World of Warcraft sessions.

Why should only Hot Bloggers be recognized? They're just going to bitch and moan anyway.

We uglies are the lifeblood of the Interwebs.

It's time we show some pride in our grotesqueness.

If you think you are the ugliest blogger out there, we want to know.

Send us an email titled "Ugly Blogger" with your blog name, a photo and a 1 paragraph narrative on why you deserve the crown ("ugly" isn't always physical).

The winner, chosen by an esteemed panel of ten (confidential as of now to prevent tampering), will receive a $100 gas card compliments of HHR in hopes you'll get out of the house and away from the computer screen.

Entries are due August 1.

• UNC Wrestler Long Wang (Chicago Bull)
• LeBron Guarantees Gold (Intentional Foul)
• Don't Mess with Lenn Sekata (Bugs & Cranks)
• Gary Bettman Art Contest (Puck Daddy)
• Chris Anderson Returning to Nuggets as Lesbian (The Sports Hernia)
  

Today at Gem Mint Ten:

• Punch Out!

In case you missed it,
the army
reneges
on allowing
Caleb
Campbell
to play
in NFL.

This news was brought to you without entrée, preference or forethought.

“Before they’ve even crossed the 50-yard line, the Obama campaign is already dancing in the end zone with a new White House transition team...” –McCain spokesman Brian Rogers

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Norm Coleman is the Republican incumbent running in the highly-targeted Minnesota Senate race that pits him against unfunny comedian Al Franken and that rumors circulated would include Jesse Ventura.

Apparently, he knows his constituency.

Yet, still cant figure out how to avoid foul balls.

According to an article today at CIO.com, "Using IBM's Websphere Portal, MLB umpires can now get information on weather, player statistics and history to help them prepare for games."

While baseball is portrayed as old fashioned and slow, and issues like instant replay make headlines, the league continues to be out in front on the technology front as a whole.

Umpire Desktop is based on IBM's Websphere portal, an interface that allows users to mix and match widgets and pick what information they want from sources both inside the firewall and out. IBM and MLB say this will help umpires be able to customize their pre-game routine.

For instance, an umpire can use a widget from Google Gadgets to check the day's weather forecast for the city where he is about to umpire a game. He also can view a widget from MLB that shows him player history and warns him of past incidents between two players on opposing teams.

H/T: Tiffany @ Ultimate Banter

No, you hang up first!

On Tuesday we cited a Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal report that Brett Favre had used his "Packers issued" cell phone to communicate (illegally) with the Minnesota Viking staff.

Well shame on us for assuming the Sentinel-Journal was a legitimate source.

Today, ESPN is reporting "Packers didn't give Favre team-issued cell phone" according to sources of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

We'd expect this kind of irresponsible reporting from "full of shit" bloggers, not from genuine newsman.

• Bill Murray Q & A (Rand Ball)
• Does Liriano Have a Case? (I'm Writing Sports)
• Buckeyes refuse to forgive Carson (We Suck at Sports)
• Pucklife: An Air Hockey Documentary (Going Five Hole)
• Pushing Ballparks For Veggie Dogs (Real Clear Sports)

Today on Gem Mint Ten

• Da Meat is Off Da Hook!
• Sid Bream Raised Arizona

If you are a regular reader of HHR, you'll note that we usually skip big headlines stories.

Why? Because if you are reading this site, you probably saw them elsewhere already.

But, who knows. Maybe we have a handful of unique readers out there.

So, we are introducing a new feature today, "In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): Stories that were Spun to Death."

In case you missed it,
several
prominent
sports
websites
and
blogs
broke
news
and showed video of a fight going down in the WNBA.

This news was brought to you without entrée, preference or forethought.

On the day the Bush administration announced its opposition to tobacco regulation, we honor MLB's big dippers.

In collaboration with a fantastic new dip enthusiast site, RipDips.com, we present our favorite players at each position who are unashamed to pack a fatty on national television.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Rip Dip's Dip of the Week, sports fans.

P Bobby Jenks
C Jason Kendall
1B Prince Fielder
2B Chase Utley
3B Chipper Jones*
SS Hanley Ramirez
LF Pat Burrell
CF Johnny Damon**
RF Brian Giles
DH David Ortiz
Honorary Capt. Lenny Dykstra

*Larry + Chipper = "Lipper"
**Centerfield is sacred ground among smokeless tobacco users. Lenny Dykstra's influence will never be rivaled. That said, Damon packs a helluva pinch. Famous quitter Bret Butler roamed there, as does born-again icon Josh Hamilton.

To honor this select group I present this, from my college archives...

The once legendary and widely circulated "50 Signs You're a Dipper" list.

Brings a tear to my eye.

1. You know cool words like "fatty", "spitter", and "lipper"
2. You dip when you're depressed.
3. You dip when you're happy.
4. You've probably spent close to 750 dollars on bottled water only to see it poured out in the Pantry Parking lot.
5. You trim your fingernails in a specific manner to better facilitate the opening of a can.
6. Your dip collection is the pride of your dorm room.
7. You have a log of dip in your fridge at this instant.
8. The term "The Big Dipper" has no astronomical meaning to you at all.
9. You once hooked up with a girl, only to comment to your friends how much her breath mints made her taste like Spearmint Skoal.
10. You once made a girl cry for spilling your can of dip.
11. Once, after a friend poured his heart out to you about why his life sucked, you replied with: "That sucks. . . . .Wanna dip?" and it made him feel better.
12. More than once, you've gone hungry in order to have money for more dip.
13. You answer the question "Got any dip?" with the questoin "Am I Breathing?"
14. You have knowingly watched a guy you didn't know drink your spitter, loogeys and all, only to laugh as he puked in the sink.
15. You have dipped a half a can at one time.
16. You dipped in physics class only to spit in dirty beakers.
17. You've spilled a can of dip on the ground, but took a pinch off the pile before admitting the can had been lost.
18. You can pack a can to the tune of Stairway to Heaven.
19. You have engaged in masturbatory exercises while dipping.
20. You once sent an email to a buddy that consisted only of the word "dip" repeated over and over.
21. The afore-mentioned email meant a lot to your friend.
22. You cried when you thought you were giving up dip forever.
23. You once tried to quit and almost made it 72 hours without a dip.
24. Your ideal death would be "Death By Nicotine".
25. No matter how much you've done it, a hatred of smoking still burns red-hot deep inside you.
26. You've been kicked off an academic sports team for dipping.
27. You gain tremendous joy from making freshmen on your wrestling team dip.
28. You have once been awakened merely by the smell of dip in your room.
29. You brain instinctively tunes out a female voice speaking the words: "Eewwwww. That's nasty."
30. You watched the World Series just to see which pitcher had the biggest dip in.
31. If you meet a guy for the first time, no matter how big of a dick he is, if he's dipping, you think to yourself, "He can't be that bad."
32. When a friend mumbles to you, "Mmmmmm, mmmmmm." You understand him clearly to say, "Please, good friend, hand me my spitter."
33. One time, a guy you hardly knew gave you a free can of dip, you told him you loved him, and you meant it.
34. Your opinion of a zoo rests entirely on whether it posesses kodiak bears.
35. In a drunken stupor, you once had a conversation with the Bear.
36. You re-wrote the lyrics to Candle in the Wind to dedicate the song to Kodiak.
37. Your mom bought you dip for your 17th birthday.
38. At one time or another, you were kissing your girlfriend and thinking whether or not you had any dip in your car.
39. Your girlfriend threatened to leave you bc you dipped.
40. You called her bluff.
41. One of your most treasured memories includes sitting on a log in the woods behind your high school baseball field dipping Skoal Classic with one of your best friends.
42. News of a new kind of dip gets you all riled up for two weeks straight.
43. You own a cuspidor solely because you and your friends dipped your asses off for two months.
44. You have once said this: "Damn my lip hurts. Anybody got a dip?"
45. You once dipped Cougar bc it claimed to be dip.
46. Your girlfriend once gave you and your buddies a bunch of free dip.
47. Your intense fascination with Diamond Dallas Page can be traced to your subconscious association of the letters "DDP" with "DIP".
48. Your dentist told you to stop dipping.
49. You didn't listen.
50. Once you were stung by a bee, so you held a pinch of skoal cherry to your face.

I own a New York Giants Jeremy Shockey jersey. I bought it after his rookie year. I knew at the time he wouldn't end his career in a Giants uniform. Some players you just know will wear out their welcome, especially when the New York media starts digging, poking and proding.

The trade yesterday didn't shock me and it's much too soon to make a decision on the deal. Was it robbery or did the Giants just deal him to get rid of his attitude (real or percieved) in the locker room and huddle. Not sure. What I do know is Eli Manning progressed into a solid NFL quarterback after Shockey went down to injury. If the Shockey deal was a trade for a franchise quarterback playing to his ability for the next 10 years and this past season's Super Bowl victory then I will be glad to accept that trade.

This still leaves me with a useless jersey and a void of missing one of my favorite players on my favorite team. I am not going to lie I enjoyed Shockey's antics. I love how much he pissed off opposing fans. He is a player you want on your team and hate him with anyone else. If I could hang out with him in a bar or go on a fishing trip I'd do it in a minute.

So what is a fan to do when his favorite team and favorite player part ways? How do you end a sports bromance?

Here are a couple suggestions to help a fan heal:

1.) Remember the bad times- Remind yourself why he is gone. With Shockey, pick one of the easy drops. All those games he dropped an easy 1st down conversion then looked at his hands and slapped them together, smiled and jogged back to the huddle. Google the player's name and reminisce about every crushing loss the player had something to do with. Error, not hitting in the clutch, missing an open net, a terrible foul or anything that led to a terrible loss or wasted season.

2.) Be an adult- Don't call the fans of his new team and talk crap about him. It just makes you look bad.

3.) Write down how you feel- Like, in a blog. They seem to be all the rage.

4.) Pretend he doesn't exist- Get rid of the jerseys, pictures, posters (posters? really? are you seven?) lifesized cutouts and junk them all. When friends bring up his name pretend you've never heard of him. Refer to him as 'that guy' or 'a different time in my life.'

5.) No revenge sex- Don't sleep with his best friend or sworn enemy. You are better than that.

6.) Wish him well- Be the bigger person. Follow his stats and career and when friends discuss give him a 'good for him' and 'I only wanted him to be successful.'

7.) Rebounds never work- Don't put to much hope on the new guy. Take your time and ease into a new sports relationship. Play the field.

8.) You will meet again- It's small world and your paths will cross. Probably when his new team knocks your favorite out of the playoffs or he costs you money.


In the end, time heals all wounds. It will get better, I promise.

Artist Drew Sheneman at NJ.com posted this funny about RU football & the unending drama and debate surrounding Coach Greg Schiano's contract.

According to a story by The (Newark) Star Ledger's Josh Margnolin and Ted Sherman, not only was Sciano's contract lucrative (argument was initially made about the public funding such a paycheck), but apparently it was also laced with some good 'ol Jersey monkey business.

Last year Rutgers University football coach Greg Schiano shook hands on a lucrative contract extension that made him one of the highest-paid collegiate coaches in the nation. But that was only a piece of the deal.

Five months after agreeing to terms that will pay him as much as $2 million annually, Schiano signed a side agreement, providing an additional $250,000 a year through indirect payments that were never publicly disclosed, according to records obtained by The Star-Ledger.

In the addendum to his contract, dated July 2, 2007, Rutgers arranged for Nelligan Sports Marketing, the university's exclusive marketing agent, to pay the coach the additional $250,000 -- keeping the payments off the school's payroll.

The money was deducted from sponsorship revenues collected on the university's behalf by the marketing firm, but the amount was guaranteed by Rutgers. It was listed as a payment for "personal services" and was made to a limited liability corporation established by Schiano.

Keep chopping wood.

I have the option of working from home a couple times a week. In the morning I like to keep on ESPN, more for sports information and background noise than a real enjoyment. Segments like Titletown give me a chance to flip around to real news or VH1 Jump Start to keep up on bad music to dazzle the kids at dinner time. How about that Feist huh? Numbers have never been so fun!

I usually leave ESPN on until First Take. This is when I know it's not only 10 a.m. in the east but that all of the important sport news has been covered and it's time for unneccessary overanalysis from all the experts I heard from on Sportscenter.

This wasn't always the case. There was a time I actually didn't mind Cold Pizza. If anything I found it a breath of fresh compared to the typical ESPN studio show. Then ESPN went and changed the format of Pizza and changed the only program that made the worldwide leader seem to be in touch with their average viewer.

This is what I miss about the old Cold Pizza format;

1) 1st and Ten with Woody and Skip- Don't get me wrong, I can't stand Bayless and find Paige one notch above untolerable but the segments were entertaining. It was just a ripoff of the newly popular PTI but Paige could make me laugh and Bayless just said things to get the viewers attention. Bayless is still around but the segments seem to drag on for the entire show and his partner has changed too many times to mention. Now they've begun to fill the role with anyone who happens to stumble into the Bristol studio and has a buttoned shirt that can hold a mic. Last week was Nelly. No not Don Nelson. Nelly the rapper. There is no more left to say.

2) The 'apartment' set- Corny without a doubt but it was such a stark contrast to the typical ESPN show of Anchor 1 talking to Anchor 2 explaining Clip 1 or Anchor 1 and Analyst 1, 2 (and sometimes 3+) talking about Clip 1. They had the couches, bookcases, tables with coffee mugs, a kitchen set and everything that made it seem like the exact place the viewer was watching and felt most comfortable; their own home. Now it's just Crawford and Absolut Jacobson all corporated up and sitting behind a desk, or standing on the same exact set I've been staring at during Sportscenter, NFL Live, College Gameday, Midnight Bowling Today and every other ESPN studio show.

3) Moving from NY to Bristol- New York isn't the capital of the US but it sure is more of a hub of activity than Bristol, Conneticut. Is their anything in Bristol besides ESPN? I just checked. It's home to the American Clock and Watch Museum (Point-Willard). Call it an East Coast Bias (it's the only place I've ever lived) but it just seemed more alive in the 'city that never sleeps.' It also felt like Pizza was able to get better guests when they were homed in NYC. I am sure it's easier to snag celebs and atheletes who happen to be in NY than those that happen to be in Bristol, Connecticut. And to have to drag them away from the clock museum must be impossible.

ESPN will never admit a mistake but I think they will eventually regret getting rid of the old Cold Pizza format when First Take does no better in the ratings. It's just another example of how out of touch they are with the average ESPN viewer. Especially when it's just the same replays and analysis from the previous hour or Sportscenter.

Cold Pizza was at least digestable. First Take is just stale leftovers.

Deion Sanders was an amazing talent on the grid iron and to a lesser extent on the diamond. He doesn't seem to have that magic touch elsewhere in his life.

Tonight, I caught the very end of his family losing to the Ed McMahon family on Celebrity Family Feud. I remembered another time when Neon failed to sparkle.

Someone thought it would be a good idea to have him host the 2002 Miss USA pageant.

Please note the poor, poor attempt at dialogue, rivaling only his attempts at making a tackle on the corner during his playing career in therms of ugliness.

The fake inflection. The downright awkwardness. The ridiculous suit jacket. The shear beauty of it all.

Here's to you, Prime Time.



Online Videos by Veoh.com

And by "espionage" I mean "stupidity."

From Access Vikings:

As we await the NFL’s decision on the tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with Brett Favre, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

Three things are obvious here:

1. Favre is a snake with no regard for his team or its fans.
2. He probably also emailed the Vikes staff repeatedly from his Packers email account, with little or no restraint.
3. As a spokesman for T-Mobile, his credibility is shot, as he obviously does not patronize their services.

• Jennie Finch and President Bush Share the Look of Love (The Sports Point)
• Sox fans (seriously) offered alligator hunt (Red Sox Monster)
• On the DL talks to Jayson Stark (On the DL)
• Quiz: Do You Have the Makings of a Sports Blogger? (The Ghost of Wayne Fontes)
• Neil Best calls out a blogger? (The Bleacher Report)

Show of hands: How many of my fellow bloggers out there are aspiring authors or journalists? How many are already in the professional writing ranks? Hell, one member of our motley crue is among you.

Last week, I posted a screenshot from CBS NY's website noting how its content was in many ways similar to that of the average sports blog.

I read today at Awful Announcing that "ESPN.com has finished its roster of ex-newspaper reporters and has officially what it's calling the "ESPN Football Blog Network". There are eight NFL bloggers, one for each conference, and seven (soon to be eight) College writers for specific conferences."

Maybe I missed something.

I always thought the appeal of blogging was that it gave the average joe a medium by which to publish his thoughts to the world.

ESPN's "blogging network" seems merely an extension of Page 2, an online Around the Horn, an emporium of professional writers. Only instead of calling their work "columns" they are calling them "blogs."

A blogger, to me, is a guy like meech.one at The Fightins'. Regular guys with regular jobs who rant online in their spare time - that's whats appealing about them.

But think about the blogs you read. Those popular blogs I enjoy online and read faithfully - the Mottrams, The Big Lead, Awful Announcing, Brooks, Yardbarker Dewey are professional writers or commentators and are very good at what they do. But they blur the line between average fan and professional journalist. There has to be an inevitable disconnect between them and their readers.

Take Joe Sports Fan, for example. How can you be an average sports fan as your name implies if you spend your days not much differently than Bob Ryan or Woody Hayes - reporting on and opining on sports for a paycheck?

How different, really, is Will Leitch from nemesis Buzz Bissinger? They do they same thing, only in a different medium. They are both professional writers. Just like the crew assembled at ESPN's Football Blog Network.

The average fan doesn't go to Super Bowls, doesn't receive leaked memos from worldwide leaders, doesn't write books and isn't a part of a media syndicate.

Meanwhile, those who actually read these sites swing hammers, crunch numbers, fetch coffee or dig ditches. Some of these laborers and blue collar daydreamers spend company time giving their own thoughts and views, begging to be picked up by the Deadspins of the world, if for nothing else to humor themselves.

How many sports blogs are there out there? Half a million? 5 million?

Yet, to fill their roster of bloggers, ESPN in many ways did what Deadspin did - recruited from within their own ranks.

So, are bloggers really journalists; or are journalists really bloggers?

Would anyone argue that Deadspin's new head honcho isn't a journalist? He may or may not take offense to that.

Would you call the ESPN's new network of newspaper alumns, with resumes that include some of the biggest print publications in the country "bloggers?"

Seems to me it really doesn't make a difference to them, they are still getting paid to be employed in their chosen profession.

Just like some of your favorite bloggers.

This was immenient and now it's official.

Feds: Philly ex-anchor hacked colleague's e-mail

Federal prosecutors say former KYW-TV anchor Larry Mendte gained access to
Alycia Lane's accounts from home and at work — about 537 times between January and May alone — and shared some of the information he found with a reporter. Lane's attorney said the motive was jealousy, but authorities were silent on Mendte's motive and his method.

What does this have to do with sport? Paaaa-lenty

Lane's attorney Paul Rosen said he believes Mendte also was behind other leaks that got his client into the gossip pages, including one last year in which she e-mailed photos of herself in a bikini to NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen. Eisen's wife intercepted the pictures.

Chances are Mendte will plead guilty and get a minor slap on the wrist because of his past philantropic efforts. He will end up in an anchor desk somewhere by years end.

Punching the fake tan off former major leaguers, slapping cops, hijacking emails...you can't argue Philly has some interesting news personalities. Something has to keep people tuning in every day and the constant shootings are getting old.

The great singer-songwriter Stephen Lynch once crooned, "Jim Henson's dead and gone; But his Muppets will live on."

It looks like the Eagles are either looking to preserve Henson's legacy, or snicker at fans' expense.

Take a look at PhiladelphiaEagles.com's splash page this morning as they kick off camp in Lehigh.

Someone in the organization certainly has a sense of humor.

If Henson's taught us anything, he expressed it through his little green icon...

• Anger Management, Phillies Style. (Crashburn Alley)
• MiLB: GreenJackets To Hold Brett Favre Night (Sports Biz)
• The Real Patrick Kane Rookie Card (Going Five Hole)
• Big League Stew Interviews Howard Baines Statue (BLS)
• Lucky 10-year old racing puppet meets Tom Cruise (The Sports Hernia)
• Dwight Schrute PSA for Tennessee Vols Fans, Video (SEC FB Blogger)
• Luol Deng Puts in His 2 Weeks (Chicago Bull)

Reader Jeff the Greek passes along this picture of Red Sox Closer Johnny Papelbon getting his Jersey on...


Opps. Wrong picture. I meant this one...

Just remember, Johnny. To pull this look off...

You gotta be smilin'. You gotta be dancin'. You gotta be shakin' dat aaaaaaasssss!!!

The Fightins posted video last night of Jorge Cantu celebrating his walk-off by tugging on Scott Olsen’s balls.

We now understand what Dick Stockton meant by the 7-4 bulge.

Cantu grabs Olsen's balls
by TheFightins

The first place Phils and Mets will square off in a series at Shea starting tomorrow.

Before the first pitch, SNY analysts and former Mets Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez and Lee Mazzilli "will be on hand for a Q&A session hosted by Mets field reporter Kevin Burkhardt, followed by an autograph session."

Festivities begin at noon and run until 1:30 p.m.

In addition to free Cracker Jacks, ThunderStix and Mets pocket schedules, "SNY will be raffling off a chance to win a Mets DreamSeat, a David Wright Fathead and more."

So, if I read this correctly, they are not raffling off a Mets DreamSeat or a David Wright Fathead, but rather a "chance to win a Mets DreamSeat, a David Wright Fathead."

Interesting.

But come on, what self respecting Mets fan doesn't already own a David Wright Fathead?

SNY ought to pony up for one of these bad boys...

MSNBC's Willie Geist has a story about a Boston developer using a bikini model to help sell condos.

The Canton Park Condominiums in Canton, Massachusetts are giving away "a fabulous 2 bedroom condo" and "some other really great prizes too like Cash or Gas cards or Gift cards!"

What do you have to do?

One way is to write an essay or record a video submission telling them what make YOU the biggest Boston sports fan.

Take for example this typical submission:




Contest Links:

• Home Page
• YouTube
• You Tube (for video submissions)
• MySpace
• Facebook

OK. Maybe not Chase, but according to Matt P. at The 700 Level it could be his ugly brother. Good enough for me.

I thought I heard Stockton say that.

Never heard it put quite that way. But a Dick would know.

Photo: Eduardo Contreras/Union-Tribune

Eugene Wong won the Junior World (15-17) title at the Torrey Pines South Course on Friday.

He's a young kid, so we offer him some free advice courtesy of Al Czervik. No offense.

Joel McHale pokes fun at the Inside Edition interview with alleged A-Rod "Yankee Skank" Candice Houlihan, and in the process coins my new favorite term for promiscuous Chicago women.

Erin Andrews, in Gainesville filming for the horrific ESPN segment "Tittletown," talked with the campus' The Independent Florida Alligator about her "humbling" success and notoriety.

"I just want people to realize that there is more to me than being 5-10 and blonde. I actually do my own work, and I study a lot. People don’t know how much hard work goes into this.

I know that the window of people screaming my name isn’t going to last forever. I know that the next best young thing is going to come around sooner or later. I’m just trying to soak it all in while I can."

While we aren't as rabid as most Andrews fans out there (color us Wolf hounds), we admire the fact that she does bring credibility with her good looks. Which is a refreshing combination. She seems to recognize the inevitable environment that surrounds her given appearance and her profession's target demographic, and takes it all in stride, with class, restraint and humor.

Click Here, then proceed.

• Understanding the British Open Through Caddyshack (East Coast Bias)
• A Mets Fan Officially Enters an Alternate Universe (The Legend of Cecilio Guante)
• Blown dunks (Basektbawful)
• Manny Deserves Better (I'm Writing Sports)
• Tommy Jones Bowling With CP3 (Sports Agent Blog)
• What’s Wrong With Hasim Rahman’s Face? (Stet Sports Blog)
• Best full court shots ever (Where’s Ubaldo via Cuzoogle)

Today at Gem Mint Ten:

• Simpler Times

Please, Gilbert, Don't Hurt 'Em.

Gilbert Arenas really slapped the city(?) of Milwaukee around in his post this week at NBA.com:

Richard Jefferson going to Milwaukee …. HAHAHA! Oh man, now that is funny. When I heard that, I started laughing. Oh man, did I start laughing. You know why? Because every player hates Milwaukee. Nobody wants to live in Milwaukee. I’m sorry, Milwaukee, to come down hard on you, but no one in the NBA wants to play in Milwaukee. From him going from New Jersey, actually from New York (because he lives in New York), from New York to Milwaukee is like going … let’s just say it’s not going to sit well with you. That was a funny one when I heard that one. I know Yi is happy though.

Frankly, he's not breaking any new territory with his put-down of Wisconsin's piping metropolis. If 7-foot Chinamen dread the thought of heading there, I'd imagine NBA African-Americans who unwillingly get shipped off to the land of beer, brats and cheese might have a hesitation or two.

Well, bless the Charles F. Gardner's sweet heart for trying to justify the town as...well, "not so bad" and that some players like it there...they really like it there!

Stated Gardner in the Sentinel-Journal's Bucks Blog:

Not all NBA players have viewed Milwaukee as a place to be avoided. Ray Allen wanted to stay here and was genuinely disappointed when he was traded to Seattle, before he eventually moved on to Boston and won a championship ring last season. Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut seem to like Milwaukee well enough and have earned long-term contracts with the franchise. Desmond Mason came back for a second contract as a free agent, after being traded to New Orleans (and protesting vehemently) a couple years ago.

That was precious. I hope Mayor Barrett gives you the keys to the town and makes you an official ambassador, white bread.

Proving that brevity is indeed the second most important ingredient, This week's Iron Ref winner is that LOLJocks artist himself, Grimey.



We'll be the first to admit that voter turnout was at an all-time low, but that's because Iron Ref voting day isn't recognized as a national holiday. And it was raining. Plus it got minimal coverage in the news media, which as we know is biased against bloggers.

So congrats to Grimey, who joins the ranks, and will earn the right to compete to be the ultimate Iron Ref at a point in the future when this has gone on too long.

I've waited on posting my thoughts on the topic, only because I was certain that after the Becky Hammon "controversy" that came about with her joining the Russian National team, people would soon turn their patriotic wrath against Chris Kaman.

It never happened.

So in case you weren't aware, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-native has been lighting up the courts for the German team alongside actual German Dirk Nowitzki.


So why were we so adamant in chastising Hammon?

Was it because she did it for the money?

What's more American than capitalism? At least Becky lives more than half the year in Russia.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, became a German just this month and to my knowledge really has no other ties to the country.

Yet, we hear not a peep of criticism. No OTL specials. No coaches criticizing his Americanism.

I personally don't fault either athlete for their choice to play ball elsewhere. But I do fault critics for having a double standard.

Move over, Bill Swerski.

The SF Chronicle's Ray Ratto was a guest today on Jim Rome Is Burning's Forum. And while his mouth was talking about Brett Favre and the Pack, I have no doubt in my mind that the only thing running through his brat-fattened head was...

"Daaaaaaaa Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears."

• The Charles Barkley Golf Swing (The World of Isaac)
• Win a Date with Natalie Gulbis! (Steady Burn)
• Doug Glanville Laughs at Your Misfortune (Wax Heaven)
• Batman’s Rogues Gallery–Done NFL Style (FanSided)
• Game Time: Flip Cup Guys are coming (9-to-Fried)
• Time For Some All-Star Hair (FanIQ)
• Mexicans Love Dodgers' All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion (Mad Atoms)

Today at Gem Mint Ten:

• Back on Topps
• The Onion: A-Rod Channels His Inner Tommy Wheatley

It's official.

Mark this date down in infamy.

The bloggers have won, Mr. Bissinger.

As I'm on CBS' New York affiliate's website reading about race baiter Al Sharpton chiding race baiter Jesse Jackson, my eyes wandered toward the links on the right to check out some featured content...


What is this? I thought.

Is it a link to Epic Carnival where we are competing in a "boobie bracket?" (Go Vote.)

Is it a World of Isaac special?

No wait!

It's CBS' hard hitting news.

Home of Walter Cronkite and the late Dan Rather (he's dead, right?).

This is the largest media market on the planet.

So, it's only fitting that it's THE place to go when suckas gotsta know who the hottest babes in sports are!

Every time I see it, there's something about Tiger in that Gillette Fusion commercial with Federer and that other guy that creeps me out.

The it struck me. He's turning into Jerry Seinfeld.

I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now. - Navin R. Johnson

Merriam Webster added new words to the dictionary. Among them is fan boy, defined as 'boy who is an enthusiastic devotee, such as of comics or movies.'

Let's not joke ourselves, we all know who this word is referring to; Wooderson himself.

Ironically, two words referring to McConaughey were included this year, Merriam also added 'Texas Hold 'em', which is defined as 'that moment after a long run when Matthew and Lance hold each other ever so close.'

Next year's induction- Brokeback Mountain Bikers

It's no lie. Minor League Baseball's no-holds-barred approach to marketing via gimmickry promotions is a thing of beauty.

Our buddy Jim Baumbach at The Final Score points out the latest example by way of the Grand Prairie AirHogs.


From the Dallas Morning News:

On-field skits with Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez look-a-likes and Madonna's hits playing between innings were just a couple of ways a minor league team near A-Rod's former baseball home tried to cash in on tabloid fodder.

The Grand Prairie AirHogs, an independent team west of Dallas and a few miles from the home of the Texas Rangers, offered dollar tickets to fans wearing A-Rod jerseys or dressed as Madonna on Wednesday night.

Bravo.

Not for anything, but this looks like a hella good time.

Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg and Frank Robinson joined the President for the Tee Ball on the South Lawn All-Star Game yesterday.

Kenny Chesney joined in on the festivities and sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" after unveiling a new stamp commemorating the centennial of the song.




White House photos by Eric Draper and Chris Greenberg.

• Ye of the Slanty-Straight Brim: One of Baseball's Great Mysteries (Legend of Cecilio Guante)
• PITTSBURGH PIRATES: THE MOVIE III (Mondesi's House)
• AP makes 'uggly' error after All-Star Game (Red Sox Monster)
• The Temp does...the All-Star game (9 to Fried)
• NFL on Lookout for Gang Signs (The Sports Point)
• Roller Skating, Bald Guys...Barrymore Wants You (Steady.Burn.)

Was your dream growing up to be a Major Leaguer or to front a rock band? A former MLB reliever did both. And is still living those dreams.

After featuring his 1992 Topps card at HHR's Gem Mint Ten, we were tipped off by readers that former Major League pitcher Scott Radinsky is the lead singer for the California skatepunk band Pulley.

Radinsky, a career 42-25 lefty with 52 saves and a 3.44 ERA, spent time with the White Sox, Dodgers, Cards and Indians. In addition to being an ex-major leaguer and lead singer of a punk band, Radinsky currently serves as the pitching coach of the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and is the owner of Skatelab Indoor Skatepark and Museum in Simi Valley, CA.

Despite his numerous obligations, we were lucky enough to have caught up with Scott to ask a few questions and reintroduce him to sports (and maybe music) fans.

Hopefully I didn’t miss anything in this brief but eclectic bio of yours.

Music seems to have always been your passion. Was baseball something you were/are equally passionate about, or something you were just really good at and stumbled upon?

No. I think I have always had equal passion for both. I have always felt more comfortable with the guys in the band, though. I think we were all in it for the same thing, unlike baseball where you deal with a lot more personalities so it’s a little tougher to get 25 guys on the same page. Even though it’s called a “team.”

You're playing career overlapped significantly with your band career. And, from my understanding, cost you your gig with Ten Foot Pole. Any regrets or additional conflict in not being able to dedicate significantly more time to one profession or the other?

No. I don’t know if the band would still be around if it were a full-time venture. I think what’s kept it going for so long was that it hasn’t been full-time. I don’t really feel like I cheated either one. They have both been an important part of my life and have given equal effort to both.

How would you compare taking the mound in a Major League city with some of your experiences touring? How different are punk fans from baseball fans?

Not really the same. Baseball is [sic] by yourself out there, granted there is a team behind you. But it’s different. With the band I think we feel a little more like a working machine. As far as the fans I think its different as well. A lot more personable with the band. We get to have interaction with everyone before and after our shows and hang out. Baseball is more private once the game is over. Usually the closest you get to someone is when your signing an autograph.

How do you juggle running the park, singing in the band and coaching?

I am surrounded by some pretty good people. I could not run a business if there wasn’t someone I could trust. So I am lucky to have that. The band has been going now for over 20 years in this same format, so I think it’s safe to say it runs itself. We have all learned how to make it work this way and get the most out of it. Coaching, well for me its the same as when I was playing as far as the time it takes away during a year. So it has been easy for all of us.

How about life on the road with each. I'm sure our readers have dreamed for years about the tail they would pull as a rock star or professional athlete. Any repeatable tales from the road?

Actually pretty boring. Oh yeah we do have a DVD with a lot of craziness documented!!

Tell us a little about the DVD - its reception, the rationale behind putting it out and your experience making it.

Well, it’s pretty simple. Our friend who sells t-shirts for us when we go on the road was always filming everything and one day he said he wanted to put together a DVD. We all laughed thinking it would never happen. When he was finished we were all amazed. He did a great job and were all proud of him. I guess we thought it would be cool to see some behind the scene footage and us acting stupid. It really did turn out good. So far we have gotten a real good response from the people who have seen it.

Who do you consider your musical influences?

I still listen to a lot of the early 80's punk bands that got me into this. It was a time when this music was pure and unchartered and I think that's what still keeps me going.

Who were your favorite performers to either play or tour with?

I am not sure if I could remember all the good times we have had with all the different bands we’ve played with, but the first 2 that come to mind are Lagwagon and No Use For a Name, both who we are friends with and it was just like a vacation not a tour.

Excluding your own band, give us your essential 10-track playlist.

Don’t think I could narrow it down to just 10 songs, so I will list 10 bands:

Minor Threat, The Decendents, Black Flag, Lagwagon, Propaghandi, Adolecents, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Dead Fish and Black Sabbath.

And I forgot or didn’t have enough space to list the other 2000. Can anyone just name 10?

What athletes did you look up to coming up?

Being from Los Angeles, I grew up with the dodgers, so anyone who played with them during the 80's probably was on the walls of my room when I was a kid.

Who were your most memorable teammates or coaches to play with?

Most memorable teammate was Carlton Fisk. I had a locker next to him for my first 3 years. Dave LaRoche, my first pitching coach. Wow, there are a lot of good guys I respected so I'm sure I could mention a lot more. These are always the 2 that come off the top of my head.

How did you get involved with the skatepark?

[I] always grew up skating, so when I saw my first indoor skatepark I thought this would be a cool thing to do for my town. I did not know what I was getting myself into, but 11 years later it has been worth it. A lot of hard work and a lot of good memories there. So far the kids have had respect and appreciate it, so that helps to see through some financial loss at times to keep a good thing going.

What's next on the horizon? Do you plan to continue in each of these ventures, or do you see yourself concentrating on any exclusively?

I think this is my life. Nothing is exclusive, its all one big venture. We have a CD we recorded in March coming out soon, I think I am going to coach again next year, and I have 5 months off to fill candy machines at the skatepark. That’s my life. Pretty boring, huh?

Radinsky Links

Buffalo Bisons Coaching Staff
Skatelab
Wikipedia

Pulley Links

Website
Blog
MySpace
Buy stuff here
Pulley YouTube channel
Pulley Facebook

This has nothing to do with anything current, but it is a topic I have been looking to address for some time. As a grade schooler growing up when I thought of golf I thought of Arnold Palmer. He had video games named after hims, he had won a crapload of tournaments, he had the good looks, he had the pressed dockers, he had it all. He, along with a few others like Jack Nicklaus and Byron Nelson, was the game of golf.

Then in the late 90's this Tiger Woods guy comes along and just starts crushing the tour and loading up on trophies and basically dominating the game of golf. Now he has all the video games and the car commercials and the amazing wife, etc. Where does this leave Arnie? Arnie is retired now and, while he still is revered by those in the golf game, obviously Tiger has bumped him down the list of overall greats.

With that said, I may be alone on this but I think now with the emergence of Tiger, Arnold Palmer's greatest contribution to earth is not his golf game but rather the beverage he is known for creating, fittingly called "the Arnold Palmer."

For those not in the know this is a combination of iced tea and lemonade and is one of my most favorite drinks. I just feel like kicking my feet up on some hammock in the deep south as a steamboat rumbles by whenever I have a glass of AP. Many places and companies make it, but for my money nobody does it better than Arizona. I hope to some day star in an Arizona AP commercial with AP, perhaps as the golf announcer or something. You can also get the drink at golf courses and other places where people get dressed up just to eat lunch. Suffice to say, Chilis does not sell the AP, but consider my letter to them "in the mail."

Now I heard that Tiger tried to make a drink that was the AP with cranberry juice. First of all this is ridiculous, as a comic once said cranberry juice has been invading every other drink for a long time and needs to stop. I'm sure there is a political joke in there but just typing 'political' made me sleepy. Secondly, could we just back off Arnie here for a second and let the man have something. He obviously hit a goldmine when he stumbled upon this drink, and no offense to Tiger, but this is Arnold Palmer's time to shine once again. So here's to Arnold Palmer for making a great drink and finding a new outlet for his amazing talents after golf.

-posted by Cadillac Mescalade

It's HHR's turn in the boobie parade. Go Vote.

BOB ROUND 1: Nice Bum Where Ya Froms VS. Major Gunns

Seriously, if those two chicks aren't enough to at least get you to click the link and look I am going to ask you to stop coming to this website. I want nothing to do with you.

Apparently, Derrick Caracter may be walking through that door.

After months of publicly insisting that he had kicked Derrick Caracter off the University of Louisville men's basketball team for good, coach Rick Pitino has apparently come to the realization that 6-9 power forwards who can score in bunches and rebound in traffic are generally good for the overall health of your basketball program.

Granted, Caracter is not without fault - to hear Pitino say it, he's apparently the laziest person on earth. He misses curfew, loafs in practices, not a team first guy ... you get the idea.

However, and unless things have been completely kept under the tightest lock-and-key possible, Caracter's transgressions pale in comparison to those of other notable Louisville athletes in the past year.

And by pale in comparison, I mean robbing a convenience store with an Uzi. Subtle, I know.

Under the terms of Pitino's about face, Caracter will sit out this upcoming season. He'll have to pay his own way to school (I have a hard time believing that), will have to work out and stay in shape without the assistance of team trainers and physicians, and get his grades in respectable shape.

Pitino did the same thing years ago during his tenure at Kentucky with Scott Padgett, a talented-yet-unfocused freshman who showed up at UK not ready to buy in to what Pitino was selling. Padgett sat out, got his act together, became a dagger thrower for UK's 1998 championship squad, had a respectable NBA career, and now hosts a local sports radio show that airs on top of Mike and Mike.

If Caracter can get his act together, it's tough to imagine that his upward projection wouldn't rocket past that of Scott Padgett's (the radio gig notwithstanding).

So go to class Derrick and practice your free throws. Obviously coach thinks you'll be needed in 2009-2010.

The fourth round of HHR's Iron Ref is on.

Click here for a look at this week's competitors and an overview of the contest. CAST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS.

Voting will be tallied at 5 PM EST on Thursday. Remember, winners will return to compete for the title of HHR's Iron Ref. If you are interested in competing, drop us a line.

This round's secret ingredient:
CONTRACT YEAR



GRIMEY
(Now I'm just teasing Milton Bradley for his incident from earlier in the season where he tried to confront a TV announcer for talking shit about his "self-control problems." Milton is having an awesome contract year, just made his first All-Star team, and should definitely make some quality scrilla over the offseason. But should Milton Bradley happen to read this... well, I should probably go ahead and cover my ass. You know, just in case.)


----------------------------------------

Eric Gargiulo
Contract year! What really is a contract year in sports? If you think about it, the whole idea of a contract year is probably the most ridiculous thing in sports. Nobody wins. A team takes a P.R. hit if they let a player walk after a great season. A player loses millions if he can't produce in his final contract year. But what if nobody had to lose?

Pro wrestling is the only sport to benefit from a contract year. In 1997, WWE champion Bret Hart was not just wrestling in his contract year for the WWE. Bret Hart was wrestling a contract match. As WWE world champion, Bret Hart signed a deal with WCW. Hart was leaving as WWE champ and taking the gold with him. As Vince McMahon said in 1985, "Stand back!"



Not only did Bret Hart benefit by signing a contract with another franchise in his contract year, so did the franchise. The WWE was the greatest beneficiary of all with Bret Hart's new WCW deal. How would the WWE benefit from WCW signing a wrestler who was holding their belt?

The WWE and Vince McMahon screwed Bret Hart in Montreal 1997. Bret Hart refused to lose on the way out. The only problem with that is that wrestling is kind of fake Bret. Bret thought the only way he could lose is if Shawn Michaels really beat him. Vince called an early bell, the WWE got their belt back, Bret got the most publicity he had ever received, and everyone won.



So the next time a professional athlete is going into his contract year, think back to 1997. What if Andre Gurode turned around and sacked Tony Romo in the red zone last season? What if Cole Hamels just turned around and beaned Pat Burrell in the face with a baseball last week? What if Vince Young tripped Albert Haynesworth in the shower? Everyone could benefit in the AFC playoffs!

Teams need to take a lesson from Vince McMahon and turn one player's contract year into a contract year of their own. Everybody wins!


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ETHAN JAYNES
Wow! This is the big time. Iron Ref on HHR. To get ready for the challenge, I trained myself in ways that I had never dreamt of before. To do well, I knew I needed to be at my mental zenith, my witty pinnacle, my blogging Everest. Now, with my newly honed cat-like reflexes and wit par excellence… I give you my take on the contract year.



If I am known for only one thing it's posting videos. When HHR told me that this week's secret ingredient is contract year, it reminded me of only one thing—I only have one year left on my Verizon Wireless contract.



I read last week's entries and I got scared. What if people called me out on my bad writing? What if they pointed out that my total lack of actual blogging talent is masked only by posting embedded video that I didn't even create? What if people called me a sham? What if I am not ready?



Well, I am going to have to put up or shut up. This is the contract year post. As people look back on my blogging career, they will only remember this post. They will not recall the time I posted that Jim Grobe was going to be the next coach at Arkansas. They will forget all about the time I posted that Tommy Tuberville was going to be the next coach at Arkansas. They will only remember this post. This is go time. There is no backing out now. This is where the men are separated from the boys. This could be my shining moment. This could be the difference between doing guest posts on The Sporting Blog, or leaving fake anonymous comments under my own blog posts.



Anonymous Comment: The other guys did great but my vote is for Ethan. He is super. Where does he come up with this stuff? He took the secret ingredient and did so much with it. I can taste contract year in every dish that he served.
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Well there you have it. Three altogether different takes on CONTRACT YEAR. Cast your vote for who best used the secret ingredient in the comments. As Abe Linconln once said, "Vote or Die, bitches." Or was the Puff Daddy? I alwasy mix those two up.

Alright, It's time for Rusty to weigh in on this here little argument. Seems some nut over at an unnamed national sports news web site, posted a bonehead list of stadiums in the ACC ranked by toughness.

The Idiot's List

As you can imagine, several REAL ACC fans took umbrage with that list. Those responses are below.

Raleigh N&O

The Response Letter

Well, not to be out done, Rusty's crafted his own list of best stadiums in the ACC.

1. Death Valley (Clemson) - C'mon! 80K+ screaming South Carolina rednecks!!!!! What's more impressive than that? And the whole running down the hill, smacking the rock is just plain awesome. Purple and Orange is an ugly combo, but the orange crush of Death Valley is impressive and deserving the #1 spot.

2. Doak Campbell (Florida State) - As the largest stadium in the ACC and the home of the historically best team in the conference, this rightly deserves a #2 position on this list. While recent years haven't brought a lot of wins to the Seminoles, going into Tallahassee against Bowden is no easy task, and it's not made easier by the fans in the stands.

3. Lane Stadium (VA Tech) - This has topped the previous lists, but this newcomer to the conference will need to prove it's tradition over a longer period of time, before ole Rusty jumps it up to #1. That being said, I've heard tell of an insanely loud (and often cold) place to play football is right here in the high country of Virginia.

4. Carter Finley (NC State) - Numerous coaches both college and pro have remarked at the awe of the new Carter Finley. Not only does it inspire awe, but it's loud as anything. The venerable Bobby Bowden called it one of the loudest he'd ever been too. In recent years the product on the field has not been much to write home about it, but mark Rusty's words, TOB is going to improve that, and Carter might just move up this here little list.

5. Scott Stadium (UVA) - Admittedly, 1 of only 2 stadium's Rusty's had the privilege of attending, this is a surprisingly impressive place to watch a football game. With the arrival of Al Groh, the stadium has been enclosed on one side, and the traditional yuppy tie wearing fans have begun to don more appropriate Saturday afternoon attire. I too am confused by the Auld Lang Syne, but whatever, it works when thousands of fans are singing and swaying in unison.

6. Bobby Dodd (GA Tech) - It gets some extra tradition points for being the oldest in NCAA, but I would agree the crowd leaves a little to be desired from time to time. However, seeing as Rusty's a bit of a car fan, I love the whole Ramblin' Wreck idea. Mabye one of these days, they'll call Rusty to drive that thing on the field. Boogity Boogity!!!!

7. Dolphins Stadium (Miami) - They are going to be playing in an NFL stadium for crying out loud. Second of all, they couldn't even fill out the Orange Bowl consistently. Miami has been a HUGE disappointment to the ACC.

8. Byrd Stadium (Maryland) - First of all, to those who've never been, the TV angle at this field makes this place look much bigger than it is. One endzone is completely open, and the upper deck only covers 1 side of the field. The rest of the stadium is just a smaller lower bowl. Secondly, the fans are pathetic. I was there a few years ago for Maryland's homecoming. It was a close game at 1/2 time, but I swear in the 2nd half there were more Pack fans than Terp fans. Maybe they had to go burn mattresses or something.

9. Alumni Stadium (Boston College) - It's way too far north.

10. Kenan (UNC) - It's Carolina, and as Rusty's fight song says, "Go to H**, Carolina" . . . Pine trees? Give me a break!

11. Groves Stadium (Wake) - Does anyone even go to Wake games? I mean, they have a football team, and a pretty decent one, but there's only like 5,000 students at Wake to begin with, so they don't really have the diaspora to fill a stadium, much less put on a good fan showing.

12. (Duke) - Worst team in the NCAA's, nuff said.
Now, I'm sure folks will take some umbrage at Rusty's list. So,

Y'all come back now, hear?

Anyone catch the world of hurt security put on these two fan boys in center last night?

This Hamilton mug shot popped up at The Smoking Gun this afternoon. Leave it up to TSG to Rain on Josh's Parade. Then again, it's part of his story - one he doesn't back down telling. (If you haven't already, introduce yourself to said story).
TSG: "Josh Hamilton...was arrested in May 2005 following a drunken rampage on his 24th birthday. Hamilton was busted in North Carolina after punching in the windshield of a friend's truck and tearing off the vehicle's rearview mirror (he also broke a baseball bat over his knee)."

It seems some of our site traffic just can't wait for the games to begin.

Chase Utley's new badass persona only makes him more desirable.

Keep Chasing him, ladies.

$16. Cheap.

Our trusty New Era once again proved as accurate in picking winners as ESPN's baseball gurus. Sure, we all loved the Josh Hamilton show, but the idea was to pick the winner, not the runner-up.

Winner: Justin Morneau

"Expert" Picks:

• John Kruk - Utley
• Eric Young - Berkman
• Steve Phillips - Hamilton
• Sports Nation - Hamilton
• Hat - Sizemore

Friend of HHR Iceman Eddie was lucky enough to be in the 'House that Hamilton tore down' last night. Here is his take...

The scene is Yankee Stadium, the Cathedral, the House that Ruth Built, the only sports venue in America you can refer to as THE Stadium and have 95% of sports fans know what you’re talking about. I’m sitting in the main reserve section in right field to witness this years State Farm Home Run Derby. The idea seems a bit boring but actually turned out to be a pretty cool experience, here is what transpired.

I’m getting the full Stadium experience tonight, cruising on the number 4 train from Grand Central Station and walking down about half a block to gate six, where I enter the hallowed grounds. I’m traveling tonight with a friend of mine who was lucky enough to get a call from me this morning; just after I found out I was receiving these tickets. We will call my friend The Accountant. The tickets came from the offices of Major League Baseball, I have a friend who works there and apparently they could not sell this thing out. I was a bit confused by this as I know this is a huge event all across the league and from what I heard, it was basically a huge party with all sorts of people coming in from all the major league teams – then I got the tickets and looked at the face price - $450!!! Now bear in mind I was sitting in right field on field level, but seriously $450!!! Now it is clear why tickets were available.

So, I reach my seats and stare out at the lush green grass, the pure white lines, the classic blue padded wall, the enormous Yankee logo behind home plate, this place is fantastic. There are few places I have been to in my life that leave me in chills, few places that force memories to pop into my head over and over while I am there. This is definitely one of them. I began telling stories of past games to The Accountant, he hasn’t been to the Stadium since he was young, (he’s a Met fan). I remember the time Don Mattingly homered in the bottom of the 8th against the Orioles in a 1-0 Yankee win, Dave Winfield’s homer into the monuments against the Angels in a 7-1 loss, the 18-9 trouncing in what, at the time, was the longest game in MLB history, the stories go on and on.

Alright here we go, batting practice is ending, there’s a bunch of 9 year olds on the field and here is your host for the evening Michael Kay! Michael is excited to be here, you can hear it in his voice, either that, or he’s been knocking back martinis for the last 3 hours. I’m hoping for the latter, but I think he’s genuinely excited, good for him.

Just before the National Anthem, the stadium pays tribute to Bobby Murcer, a moment of silence, followed by thunderous applause and Bobby’s face up on the big screen, it was rather nice.

The anthem tonight will be performed by the stars of the hit Broadway play “Jersey Boys,” wait, what? That’s the best we could do? Now I’m nervous, the evening just took an odd turn. The grounds crew is now putting the finishing touches on some sort of stage near 2nd base. There is going to be a performance, a big name rock band is going to warm up the crowd with two songs or so we are told, before the sluggers come out and start socking dingers. But who? Who could it be? My mind is a flutter with possibilities. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for THREE DOORS DOWN! Wait, what? Now I am terrified, a lot of big name sluggers have bowed out of this thing as it is and we can’t even get a decent musical act to play two lousy songs?

Six excruciating minutes later they are removing the stage and we are about to get started. Dan Uggla leads things off and got the crowd into it a little bit. The first round seemed to go on for quite sometime and with first seven guys combining to hit 43 homeruns, some absolute moon shots, some barely clearing the walls all around the stadium, and a number landing in the upper decks in both left and right field. Chase Utley hit the ball the hardest, Justin Morneau and Lance Berkman shared the lead, and we were cruising along. Like I said, it started to drag a bit when Josh Hamilton came to the plate.

Roughly 30 minutes passed before he would leave the box in the first round. He slammed 28 home runs and absolutely electrified the crowd. Balls were flying to the upper deck and into the bleachers in right center field. Someone near by even said at one point he hit 13 in a row! People who never met before were high-fiving and Hamilton basically guaranteed that he was leaving the post Derby party tonight with the hottest girl in New York City, whoever she may be. As he got deeper and deeper into the round the crowd was hanging on every pitch and even got a little antsy when the pitcher missed the zone a few times. The couple in front of me took the chance to swap some more spit without missing a pitch. Fear not, Josh will get a few more to hack at before he’s done. And hack away he did, to the tune of 502 feet, he hit a ball that actually went over the bleachers, unreal! Two pitches later he hit one 504 feet, deeper into the bleachers, I started feeling sorry for the baseballs and the hands of the people catching these things. He continued to hit, 23, 24, 25, 26 – which disappeared into the Bronx night, I even heard someone say, that it hit the façade near the roof of the stadium, although there is no evidence to support that claim.

After his 9th out, (each man gets 10 per round) Josh received a standing ovation, slugged another couple of homers, I do not remember how many and finally bowed out of the round. Yankee Stadium was in awe and Hamilton’s name began to echo around the park, Ha-mil-ton! Ha-mil-ton! Ha-mil-ton! Good show young man, good show!

With the stadium still abuzz the second round was about to begin. Four hitters advance with their homeruns carrying over to create a two-round total and allowing the top two men to move to the final. So basically we are going to have a playoff for the right to face Hamilton in the final. No one was any closer then 20 homeruns and Josh actually cut his round short to save some energy. Justin Morneau out hit Ryan Braun and Lance Berkman to move on.

The final was anti-climactic at best. Each man received ten outs and had to begin again with zero homeruns. Morneau clubbed five and it looked like Hamilton had the thing won, all he had to do was slug six, surely he was in the zone and would have no problem with that. Couple homers and a couple outs later, Josh didn’t look so good, 5 outs, 6 outs, 7 outs, Josh lost his stroke. He finished with 3 and although he belted 13 more then Morneau for the night, those hit in the final round are the only ones that counted, (Morneau, 5 – Hamilton, 3)

Morneau took the trophy home but it was clear who had stolen our hearts on this evening. As we filed people were still chanting Josh Hamilton’s name. He stole the show tonight and helped me add to my collection of Yankee Stadium stories.

My apathy over the first four hitters has been erased with each swing of Josh Hamilton's bat.

Iceman Eddie from the RF awning:

"I might go down on hamilton tonight"

"Absolutely smoking the ball,unreal"

Just got a text from Iceman Eddie camped out in the right field awning at the Stadium: "Chutley hit the ball harder than anyone so far bit unlucky, just jacked over my head".

And if I am leading with that, you can imagine I find the first 4 hitters rather unremarkable.

However, it does appear that Laverne swallowed Shirley...

And Ariel was not impressed with Joe Morgan's choice of duds. "Yeah, that one's straight out of 1987."


It seems some of our site traffic just can't wait for the games to begin. Derby starts around 8.

Last year just prior to the playoffs, we conducted a little experiment to determine whether or not the prognostications of so-called MLB expert Steve Phillips was any more or less accurate than randomly picking teams out of a hat.

As you could have guessed, our New Era was as smart as Steve Phillips. Both "accurately" hit .500 in their LDS picks.

Well, the hat's back. Shortly, sluggers will step into the batters box in the House that Ruth Built.

As such, the 4-Letter's talking heads made their predictions. Well, so did New Era. Let's see what happens.

• John Kruk - Utley
• Eric Young - Berkman
• Steve Phillips - Hamilton
• Sports Nation - Hamilton
• Hat - Sizemore

• The 10 worst Home Run Derby participants of all time (Big League Stew)
• Home Run Derby Preview & Tater Tot Contest Results (Walk Off Walk)
• The 2008 Home Run Derby Drinking Game (Home Run Derby)
• Your Girlfriend’s Comments During The Home Run Derby (Nextround)
• Jimmy Rollins Baby Oil Salute (flatusyahu)
• Get Yourself A Sports Business Job (Sports Agent Blog)
• Baseball Break Time (The Ladies...)
• Best 3 basketball players to never make the NBA (Where's Ubaldo)
• How the National League West will be won ... by the biggest loser (West Coast Bias)

Today on Gem Mint Ten

• Your Crap

Ryan Braun.

How do I know? Because of my impatience. I hate waiting for anything. I got tired of ESPN and First Take reminding me 13,000 times this morning that the derby is tonight, in between segments of 1st and Ten with Skip Bayless debating rapper Nelly (I wish that was a joke). Jacobsen telling me to vote for who I think was going to win was pissing me off to no end. I wish ESPN would put up a meaningful poll like 'which ESPN personality will be the next to have a blog named after them.' (Smart money is on Van Pelt Hunter)

Does anyone under the age of 8 give a crap about the outcome of the home run derby? The only people interested are fans of the eight players involved only because they hope it doesn't ruin their swing for the rest of the season. I don't give a crap to vote or even watch so I decided to take matters into my own chubby hands and do an experiment that has just about as much chance of predicting a winner as any ESPN poll.

I played out the derby on MLB 2008. Braun wins over Berkman by launching 12 homeruns in the final round. Here are some other predictions I am making based on my simulation, ESPN's predictability and derbys from years past.

- Corey Hart's daughter and the kid drinking at the Cubs game are going to get TANKED and make some really bad decisions. He will never call her after tonight.
- The derby will last much longer then my 20 minute contest. One of Berman's stories and homerun calls will last even longer.
- Joe Morgan will remind us he once won the homerun derby and invented the periodical chart of the elements
- John Sterling and Suze Waldman will STILL get the homerun calls wrong.
- Someone will swing and miss because the cat jumped from the top of the couch onto his nuts
- Someone in the crowd will say the F word.
- Kenny Mayne will do something silly. That rapscallion.
- Someone in the crowd will say the F' word in Italian.
- 329- Number of MSM articles on Weds that will talk about how terrible Yankee Staduim is to visit.
- 52,000- Average attendence for a Yankee home game and the avergae number of people who already fucking knew that.
- 98- number of bloggers in attendence.
- 98- number of bloggers in attendence who are wasted and reak of beer and weed. (Hide Corey Hart's daughter)
- Josh Hamilton will celebrate a long homerun by pretending to sniff the first base line.

See, you aren't going to miss much. Go out and get hammered and make it home in time for the celebrity softball game.

While we generally shy away from T&A over here at HHR, recently we joined our gratuitous fellow carnies at Epic Carnival in a "fantasy" draft of...well...we're not really sure what the actual criteria was. Something about hot female athletes that weren't NCAAers.

Anyhow, on Wednesday our squad "HHR's Major Gunns" (named after WCW Misfit in Action Tylene Buck) takes on "Simon's Nice Bum Where Ya Froms."

Here's a quick peak at our squad:

• Lokelani McMichael
• Amanda Beard
• Bia
• Branca
• Biljana "Biba" Golic

Week 4 of Iron Ref begins today. We submit to you 3 more celeblogebrities who have agreed to brave HHR's Kitsch-en Stadium.

But first, the secret ingredient is....

CONTRACT YEAR

THE CONTESTANTS

Eric Gargiulo blogs about Pro Wrestling, MMA, football, music, television, and more for phillyBurbs.com. Eric's blog on phillyBurbs.com, "The Camel Clutch," is the most read blog on the site. Yahoo.com has taken articles and news from the blog and included them in their top news stories on their site. Columns from The Camel Clutch regularly appear on Yahoo Buzz and are voted number one overall in Yahoo Buzz regularly.

Eric has worked in the sports broadcasting business for 12 years. For the last 9 years he has been an announcer and host for several pro wrestling television shows, home videos, and pay-per-views. Eric is also the host of the radio show, Pro Wrestling Radio heard on WBCB 1490AM since 1999. Pro Wrestling Radio is the longest, consecutive running pro wrestling show on terrestrial radio.


Ethan Jaynes has gone sports blog crazy. He started with SEC Football Blogger last September. During the off season, he started NESW Sports. He now has Sports Blog Bucks, which is a sports blog about sports blogs. Yes, he has quickly become "That Guy". He has a beautiful wife of 6 years and an adorable baby boy that is about to turn 2. The profile pic is them both watching the 2006 Iron Bowl.

Ethan keeps on hearing about Blogfrica and wonders why it can't be Blogstralia or Blogmerica. Needless to say, he is the underdog to win this week. :-) In his spare time, Ethan also loves writing bios in third person.


Grimey is the creator of the blog LOL Jocks, where he takes photos of athletes and adds humorous captions (like the one pictured). The blog's one-year anniversary was celebrated across the nation early this July (you might recall the three-day weekend and the fireworks).



For a full description of Iron Ref, please click here.

Photo: CBS 2 Chicago

On Thursday, the 7-year-old attended his first cubs game.

Hours later he was at Children's Memorial Hospital fighting for his life while recovering from a skull fracture and blood clot after being struck in the head by a Ted Lilly foul ball.

Don't feel sorry for Dom because of his hospitalization. He is expected to go home early next week, and his doctor says his prognosis is excellent and "doesn't forsee any permanent speech and language problems resulting from the injury."

Feel sorry for Dominick for the fact that, should the red-hot Cubbies fail to win the Series this year, he will forever be associated with the likes of Steve Bartman and a Billy Goat. Delusional Chicago fans hate to accept the fact that a reason other than a fluke accident or "curse" could cause their team's perennial absence from the Fall Classic.

So rest assured, Cubs fans. When your beloved team collapses, you have a ready-made excuse at your disposal. Blame 'Lil Dominic.

Cubs closer Wood out of All-Star Game with blister

I know two of his fingers are just fine.

Except she doesn't break her nose and fails to make the catch. Matter of fact, it seems she was nowhere even close to making a play on the ball.

National Fast Pitch's "Shanel Scott tries to make the catch. Just obliterates the wall."

Meanwhile, the announcer describes Team USA slugger Crystal Bustos (who hit the bomb) as though she was Ryan Howard: "What is so impressive about Crystal Bustos is the pitch prior she is completely fooled on an off-speed. She almost spins herself around. Then she takes the next pitch and just drives it out of the ballpark."

As Brett Favre continues his annual jerking around of the Packers franchise and fans, a new T-Mobile commercial features Brett saying "Good Bye to Good Bye."

Thanks to Nationals Pride for the heads up....

Sources: Bowden, Rijo investigated in pair of probes of Dominican signings

Federal authorities and Major League Baseball are investigating Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo for their possible roles in a growing financial scandal involving the signing of players from the Dominican Republic, several sources familiar with the probe told ESPN.

Must not have taken that much cash, he could have bought some better wheels.


Pic lifted off LOL Jocks.

I used to think that Ben Doody was the best sports writer name on the planet.

That was until I read the byline on the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal's Brewers Blog for "Michael Hunt."

• Phillies Interested in the Brett Myers of Canada? OMFG! (flatusyahu)
• Mike and Mad Dog return to give us absolutely nothing (The Third I)
• China Takes its Walking Seriously (The Sports Point)
• Interview with former WWE diva Terri Runnels (The Camel Clutch)
• The most delicious mascot race ever (The Fightins)
• Paula Creamer has a lot of potential (World of Isaac)

Today on Gem Mint Ten

• Major Deer

GamePro.com reports that that Curt Schilling's game development company 38 Studios is developing a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) titled "Copernicus."

In the latest episode of the Jace Hall Show, Schilling "talked briefly about his new game development company, 38 studios...Though details are scarce...the most powerful weapon in the game is rumored to be a bloody sock (for real), a reference to the 2004 ALCS in which Schilling pitched in a bloody sock due to leaky sutures on his ankle."

Copernicus is the father of Copernican Revolution, which placed Earth at the center of the Universe. Sounds eerily similiar to Schillings opinion of his life and career.

Presidential candidate Obama to sponsor Cup car at Pocono race

Seems like ole Barry Obama's gonna sponsor himself a NASCAR ride. Gonna put that Obama logo on Ken Schrader's #49 at Pocono in a few weeks.

Now, ole Rusty's not going to get into the finer points of politics here, but he would offer this advice. If yer itchin to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, seems to me you'd wanna hitch your ride to someone other than the old Lil Debbie also ran. Nothing against Schrader, I actually like the guy, but you stand a better chance of getting Rusty to the opera than that car does at winning.

I guess Obama's not gonna mind seeing the #49 Obama car finishing 34th. We'll have to wait and see.

...calls Minaya's boys "God's children."

This time I'll try it without the flash. Smile and keep those eyes open. This one's going on the JumboTron.

Dammit, Chris. You're hopeless.

F*ck it. We're using it.

This guy hasn't had a hit since 1984. Terrible.

FAIL!

After close initial voting, DMtShooter pulls away at the end to be crowned HHR's third Iron Ref.

Very strong showing from each competitor. DMtShooter shocked everyone by digging deep and moving out of his Top-10 wheelhouse with an awesome display of cheapshottedness.

Well done all around. This competition gets stronger each week.

We have three interesting and diverse competitors lined up for next week. Look for their bios and the secret ingredient on Monday.

If you are interested in being a part of the contest, drop us a line. For those of you who have already expressed interest, sit tight. You'll be in the Stadium soon.

Remember, winners will return for a final showdown.

Hall of Fame

Week 1: Dewey Hammond
Week 2: Rob Iracane
Week 3: DMtShooter

The ever-astute fashion critic Ariel continues her assault on the World Wide Leader's talking heads. Yesterday she pointed out Brian Kenny's strawberries and cream-inspired Sunday best.

This would be better with the Benny Hill music in the background.

I failed to find Alyssa Milano at Citizens Bank Park today. Truth be told, I was more interested in finding Mr. Yuengling.

I did, however, find THE Pedro Feliz fan.

Word is that this kid needed to replace his old David Bell shirt.

• NCAA Football: Where Men are Made...or Arrested (Legend of Cecilio Guante)
• Drunk Soccer Ref Vid (NESW sports)
• High School Basketball Star Lance Stephenson is Bored (The Sports Point)
• Pulling a Livingston (The World of Isaac)
• John Madden weighs in on Brett Favre (The Camel Clutch)

From yesterday's game...

Ironic Manny is the missing letter that spells out 'Lost.'

From Extra Bases -Boston Red Sox blog

Rising costs might curb Rutgers stadium expansion

Rising costs are forcing Rutgers University officials to take a hard look at their $102 million football stadium plans in Piscataway. According to published reports, bids for the second phase of the project have come in higher than anticipated. Skyrocketing prices for fuel, concrete and steel are blamed.

Rutgers president Richard McCormack tells The Star-Ledger of Newark reducing the number of seats would be a last resort as they evaluate options.

Instead of reducing the number of seats, Rutgers officials are toying with the idea of making sure fans DON'T come to games until the entire expansion project can be completed.

These ideas include:

• bringing back Terry Shea and assuring some stadium emptying 1-10 seasons,
• Don Imus as Grand Marshall of the homecoming parade
• advertising 'gang members get in free' games around the Newark and Camden campuses

Did Jesse Jackson not learn ANYTHING from Chris Berman?

Great article by Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com on James Felton, a former basketball standout on the AAU circuit who bounced around the college scene and has passed away at the age of 27.

While the article focuses on his downturn after getting dunked on by Tracy McGrady at the famed ABCD camp 12 years ago, this hit home for me in a different way. It was February 2, 2002 when I was broadcasting Monmouth University basketball at Fairleigh Dickinson and our entire pre game talk was about a player who despite weighing some 300 pounds was a force on offense.

He was coming off 31 point game in his last outing, and despite scoring just 10 in a loss to the Hawks he was still a site to see. The guy averaged 20 points and 7 boards over the course of the year...All these years later I knew that I knew that name.

What I never knew was that he was supposed to be in the NBA or that he had enrolled at St. John's and Florida State, played for the Harlem Globetrotters, or that when he was in his prime at St. John's he weighed 100 pounds less. Apparently he never even really liked basketball, but you could have fooled me. Interesting how things turn out.

-posted by Cadillac Mescallade

I know most of the folks at HHR are estatic that Elton Brand pulled the old switcheroo on Baron Davis and signed a nice little 5-year, 82 million dollar contract. I got no problem with Brand heading back to the East (he is from Peeksill, NY...not to be confused with the Catskill and their animal farms), but the way in which it was done is a little jarring.

Brand has built a solid reputation as Mr. Good Guy. He stayed with the Clippers longer than anyone else would or should, and then it even appeared he had formed a plan with pal Baron Davis to make the Clips a power. B-Diddy went first- much to the chagrin of my friend Drew (a Warriors lifer) - and then Brand was to follow suit. But then a funny thing happened on the way to the Forum (now Staples Center)...he bounced.

Kind of reminds me of when you go out to eat with a friend and you guys agree to split an appetizer, "yeah dude- let's do the nachos." Then as soon as the waitress shows up and your friend says we're gonna get the nachos, then you go and say, "Nah, let me get a cheeseburger." It's kind of like that, only that doesn't involve 82 million dollars.

Anyway good luck Brand, it's only a matter of time before the Knicks are back in front anyway. And by "matter of time" I mean 7-10 years.

-posted by Cadillac Mescale

According to the very-reliable US Magazine, A-Rod confessed to a loose-lipped friend "six months ago" about his love for Jose Canseco's former Material Girl.

The friend told US, "He kept smiling, acting as if he was a little kid. He told me it was Madonna. I was shocked. [He] proceeded to say he was in love with her. I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't."

By February, according to the friend, "He said, 'She's my f--king soulmate, dude.'"

Big news in the world of NASCAR today.

Stewart to leave JGR, join Haas CNC as part owner

Smoke is leaving Gibbs and going to try and strike it out on his own. While it's official that Smoke is climbing out of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, it's still just speculation about what he'll be driving next. Rumors are that he's going over to Haas as a majority owner/driver. Even more rumors say he might be bringing ole Ryan "Rocket" Newman with him from Penske.

This is huge, y'all!!!! Tony was the leader of the pack at JGR, but 2 moves this past off-season have dealt a serious blow to that leadership post. First was the deal struck with Toyota. Smoke's a Chevy man, just like ole Rusty, and something tells me he just ain't diggin a Camry. Second reason is the Shrub. For whatever reason, and Rusty still ain't figured it out, the Shrub is a maniac this year, and I think it's taken some shine off of Tony. Denny is a hot young driver, but he still allowed Tony to bask in all his glory. Shrub just takes it away.

So, with Tony gone, where does that leave JGR? Apparently, Joey Logano, the next Jeff Gordon (HA!) is a shoe-in for the 20 car. He's a young kid, though. JGR would go from a team led by a 2 time champion veteran of the sport, to 2 guys who aren't old enough to buy a Budweiser. Scary thought if you ask me.

Well, whatever. I'm sure old Smoke will still make a good drafting partner for my boy June-bug no matter what team he's driving for.

I just saw on the scroll that Don Mattingly is expected to take over for Mike Easler as Dodgers' hitting coach following the All-Star break.

My only question is whether Henry Cotto, Butch Wynegar and Alvero Espinoza were available.