Exiting the Worst Day in Sports - "Linkin' Logs" (7/17/08)

Yesterday, you woke up and there probably wasn't a whole lot to do. The WNBA...Triple A All-Star Game...Olympic something or other...the news...ugh...nothing.

But today, its a new dawn...a new day...and new Linkin' Logs!

• As suggested yesterday and now reported in the New York Times, apparently David Wright and David Jonathan Drew were next up to pitch in the ASG.
• The Miami Free Press is reporting that the Marlins are interested in replacing Misty May's husband with Ivan Rodriguez.
• Uhhh...in news nobody really cares about, the Hornets have tagged James Posey and The Cavs are keeping their Boobie
• The Clippers continue their off-season bumblings...and Marcus Camby doesn't want to be there
• Holy Shit! Someone wants Kwame Brown?!
• The Vikings want Brett Favre...too bad the Packers are doing everything in their power to ensure that doesn't happen (you know, like keep his contract...and not release him)
• Ladies and Gentleman, the Philadelphia Flyers newest farm team...the LA Kings!
• Courtesy of Deadspin, apparently the Craigslist economy is thriving, as the guy who caught Rampage Jackson in a hit-and-run earlier (as if it wasn't obvious), is now selling his shredded tire...
• Heh, thanks TMZ - Jackson's Mugshot!
• And Thanks to AwfulAnnouncing, the best letter ever written to ESPN the Magazine...(Dear "the mag," you suck...)
• UPDATE: I found one more quick link you might like. Courtesy of ArmchairGM's Davis21Wylie, its the earliest season preview ever...(and yeah, its the NHL...Hockey's better than Basketball, deal with it)
  

A Case In Taking Yourself Too Seriously

The following is a paraphrased translation of what I believe I may have just read at Murray Chass' 'About This Website' section of his "website". The website that he says is not a blog but looks, reads, smells and tastes suspiciously like a blog:

"This is a site for baseball information, but not baseball information from other equally well-informed human beings that call their websites 'blogs'. I do not like the fact that there is a medium out there that thrives on the freedom of speech. When someone asked me what I thought about people who are exercising their right to free speech, I replied, "I hate them." Yeah, that's right -- I hate them and if you haven't noticed, I don't play around.

Why so serious?

"If you find yourself categorized under this new informational movement that I hate, you are more than welcome to come visit. If your a stat freak, fantasy leaguer or Red Sox fan than you can stop by too. Basically, I'm inviting pretty much the entire United States to come visit this website that is definitely not a blog because I hate them.

"This website will primarily appeal to older fans who probably won't visit because they don't know how to use the internet. Or if they did, probably wouldn't want to come to this site because as you can tell, I'm more or less an absolute dick. Did I mention I hate stat freaks? Especially the ones who like stats that try and give us a better perspective on a players overall value to his team? I mean, what is that? Is no one satisfied with plain old RBI's anymore?

"I will be writing everything on this site, but will be inviting people who will most certainly decline unless I offer to pay them. Even then, there's a good chance they will still decline. Although I am the primary writer on this site, I will occasionally post things from the third person, as if it is being posted by an omniscient being so that I can quote myself multiple times.

"If you like swearing, and I don't because I had a job that did not let me openly curse while working, than please do not swear on here. Swearing is bad, but openly defiling things that others spend hours upon hours of their efforts on is not bad. In fact, it's good! I hate blogs!"

Well there you have it. I may have been slightly off on a couple of things, but this is a blog -- so that's to be expected!

[A special thanks to FJM for bringing this hilarious event to my attention as well as consistently making me laugh my ass off.]

Was the All-Star Game Rigged?

I like baseball. Sure its really just what I do until football season gets here, but its easily up there as a sport I enjoy and love to drink and watch (football's so much more intense, you can never relax). But baseball's not without its oddities and given the Donaghy scandal of late in the NBA, the possibility of a controlled game seems more likely than ever.

Look, I'm not off my rocker here, some of the actions in the game certainly make this look the event look shadier than ever. Consider some of the facts

• By the 15th inning, there was little mention ot Bud Selig and his concern of the tie. There was some vocalizing of what we all were thinking by Buck and McCarver (this could end in a tie if things continue), but none were saying how completely effed Selig would be without a winner.
• All-Star voting resulted in Derek Jeter starting even though, at best, he's Ray Durham.
• Clint Hurdle conveniently used Brandon Webb (a starter) for only one inning before bringing in his final pitcher, closer Brad Lidge. I'm aware Webb pitched Sunday (I watched the game), but the fact of the matter is, Webb is a much better candidate to handle a few inning than Lidge. The result was pretty much a guaranteed ending, though it is rumored Hurdle was asking David Wright if he could pitch (and Francoma asking J.D. Drew the same).
• Both Hurdle and Francona used all of their players and when the game finally looked as if it would be deadlocked, some colorful strikezones were utlized to ensure Brad Lidge would be forcing his fastball high enough (even thought he low strike was being called all game)
• While the Stadium aired a Bobby Murcer Tribute in the 2nd inning, Fox didn't show one until the 11th, which is odd considering most networks don't plan those times of things (items that deserve a guaranteed mention) in extra innings...unless they know they'll occur
• A tie in this game would have guaranteed an uproar so loud from the fans Bud Selig wouldn't have survived the entire season, but a compelling game with the possibility of Selig having egg on his face but instead forcing us to watch 15 innings of mostly Dan Uggla butching the infield.

So the facts aren't perfect, but after some of the pitching moves and the late Bobby Murcer tribute by Fox, you had to start wondering...at what point did Bud call it in. Fox made no attempt to concern itself with Selig, but admitted a tie seemed possible. So you tell me, is it a massive conspiracy or am I completely full of shit?

All-Star Hangover Edition "Linkin' Logs" (7/16/08)

So you stayed up to watch the All-Star crapfest eh? If you were anything lke me, you were more upset it didn't end in a tie than watching the NL get Ugglafied. After watching Danny Uggla butched the infield during his time, it was a rare moment of "I could have done better," referring to the fact that anyone who played baseball at any level probably could have fielded better than the Marlins overrated second baseman.

Now that we're entering "worst day in sports" territory today, you've got to wonder why you even bothered watching. Oh well, at least you've got links!

• Jack Curry of the NY Times is reporting the Alan Huber "Bud" Selig is interested in the possibility of maybe considering providing the opportunity for umpires to elect the chance to review instant replays
• Also from the Times, Roger Clemens is what we layman call: effed.
• The Philly Inquirer is reporting that the wife beater will be back just in time to get whipped by the Mets
• The man who saved Brad Lidge may never be known...but the story is pretty entertaining
• The Denver Post reports the Nuggets have given up any hope of having a defense this year
• Brett Favre isn't retired and Ted Thompson is now very aware
• Sergei Federov is being sued by the atypical bank
• Yogi Berra agrees, SJP isn't all that hot...in fact, she's pretty ugly (and her face looks like a foot)
• And Finally, Phillies nation provides us with some insight into last night's game...I agree, it was a shame

What's With The Boss?

Maybe its just me? Maybe its just the news reports, but the video of George Steinbrenner delivering the ball for the first pitch clearly indicated some type of health issue. Me's thinks the boss had a stroke, contrary to a report in the New York Times.

With the slightly slanted face, inability to walk and his most recent disappearing act, all signs point to this possibility. And as someone who often disagrees with the boss's antics, I think I speak for most baseball fans when I say we wish him well regardless of what he somtimes (stupidly) says...the man loves the game. Speaking as someone who's had family members survive strokes, I know its not fun and I hope he can continue to live a meaningful life...

Then again, Hank's been pretty funny lately

Hamilton Breaks HR Derby Record; Morneau Takes Home Hardware

To my surprise, I logged in today and saw that nobody, that's right nobody has written an article about last night's historic homerun derby in Yankee Stadium. The derby was the very first, and very last HR derby to take place in the historic confines of Yankee Stadium, and it was surrounded by many stories.

First of all, the favorite, Josh Hamilton, set a record for most homers in a single round with 28 in round one. No, that was not a typo. Hamilton, who had to beat a drug and alcohol addiction just to get back to playing baseball, shattered Bobby Abreu's record of 24 in a single round, Abreu set the mark in 2005 in Detroit.

Hamilton had a dream of coming to Yankee Stadium and doing this, and he was just a few long shots short of the HR Derby title. Minnesota's Justin Morneau took home the hardware with his five third-round homers. Hamilton chose his 71-year old American Legion Baseball coach, Clabon Counsil, to throw to him during the derby. I guess his arm got pretty numb when he was done, especially after that dragged out first round.

Hamilton was, without a doubt the center of attention last night in NY, and deservingly so. I expect more of the same atmosphere for tonight's All-Star game as we say goodbye to Yankee Stadium.

Peter King Talks Moles

I normally don't like to rip shit professional writers for this particular poorly worded sentence or that incorrect hypothesis (afterall, we have integrity right?), but in this case, its something worthy of criticism and sometimes I can't resist.

An exerpt from King's most recent Monday Morning Quarterback:
"June 25, Clifton, N.J.: My wife had been on me for weeks -- months, really -- to get the burgeoning freckle/mole on my right forearm taken off, and so I saw a dermatologist who agreed it must go. I never would have gone on my own. Too busy. But I went. Mole removed. Size of an Atomic Fireball. Routine. Six stitches. Doc, Jonathan Gold, said I'm fine. Gave me 55 and 70 SPF sunscreen and told me to wear it. Life goes on."

"July 1, Clifton, N.J.: "I need you to come in today or tomorrow,'' Dr. Gold said on the phone. Oh? What for?'' "Your mole came back with a melanoma.'' Cancer. I think he said after that he thought it was contained within the original mole and tissue he cut out, but all I could think of is, What is this guy talking about? Isn't melanoma something for old people in the sun too long? "

"I go in the next day. The protocol for such things, I see on WebMD.com, is to cut out an area three-quarters of an inch in all directions to make sure the melanoma has not spread into the lymph nodes or bloodstream. The procedure was longer, and the smell of burning skin more intense as he burned and cut the innocent tissue away. "You'll always have a little dent in your forearm now,'' he said as he sewed up the gulf with 25 stitches, then looked down at his handiwork. "Looks like the laces on a football.'' "

"Heck of a job, doc. Thanks. Weird feeling. Much of the area between the wrist and the sutured wound I can't feel. Comatose nerves, hopefully. But an infinitesimal price to pay. And I never would have paid it if not for my wonderful wife telling me to take care of that little mark on the arm."

Then Peter gets a little preachy...look, I agree Skin Cancer is bad and I think you should try to prevent it...but seriously, I'm looking to read about football, not 3 pages on your vacation and how you almost had cancer. And I should learn from this. Ugh...

"I think if you take nothing else from this column, take this one little piece of Kingian advice: Wear your sunscreen every time you're outside in the sun for more than 15 minutes. It's something I wish I'd been more religious about over the last 30 years."

Sometimes Peter makes to too easy. If you're the leading football expert at (arguably) the top sports magazine in the country (maybe the world) and you're reduced to talking about moles...maybe its time to move on or admit its a bit slow this offseason.

That being said, Jemele Hill still sucks ( a hair better than Jason Whitlock...smaller tits though) Read more of MMQB here.

Brett Favre Breaks His Silence

Check out Brett's latest interview. He just can't seem to get this whole retirement thing right.