Glory Hole? Not For Andrews and Watson

Heeeeyyyyy there, Internet Nation! What's the good word?!

I've returned to action after my self imposed All Star break, and judging by some of your eagerness out there it seems that I'm just in the nick of time. Not to mention the fact that I learned on the History channel last night that not only is the world sure to end in December of 2012, but we'll be lucky to dodge asteroids, volcanoes, artificial intelligence, and nuclear war to even make it that far. So in the interest of time, I'll do as they do in Hollywood and "cut to the chase"...and then do a bunch of blow, crash my car into a minority family, and make it all better by doin' a few hours of community service...

So strap on your seat belts, dudes and duds, and let's do this thing before another naked, famous chick shows up on the Internet, and makes everything I'm about to write completely irrelevant...

First up, Erin Andrews...

I'm sure most most of you reading this have at least heard of the hotel "peephole" video taken of ESPN sideline hottie, Erin Andrews, in various states of undress. If you didn't get to to see it, allow me to summarize for you. She was nude, standing in her hotel room, doing her hair, and completely oblivious to the fact that she was being taped. Did she look smokin' hot, even through the blurry cellphone like quality of the video? Of course she did. Like I said to Frosco when he asked me how she looked "She looked like a black midget, how do you think she looked?!?!"

But as hot as Erin Andrews is, and despite the fact that I've longed to see her in all her nude-a-licious glory, I gotta say this video is one of the more despicable things I've seen in quite some time. And the way most media outlets have condemned it, while at the same time showing blurred stills of the event, has got me even more upset...

Matter of fact, I'm having what you would refer to as a classic "Frosted Mini Wheats" moment. The horny kid in me loves the fact that I've seen her naked, but the adult in me, the adult that has a grown sister of similar age, is disgusted at what was done, and can only imagine how embarrassed and mortified Andrews must be. And to be honest, I only checked it out thinking that there was a 95% chance that either A) it wasn't really her or B) the tape didn't really show what it claimed to show. Remember, this was right when this thing was breaking, so it's not like I'd had a chance to talk to 25 people about it before I saw it...

What makes matters worse, is that TMZ (the only media outlet I know of by the way that has the tapes but is refusing to air them or show still photos) is now reporting that more than one tape exists, and that the two or more tapes take place in multiple hotel rooms. Translation? STALKER! And to take a step further, the stalker is probably a member of the ESPN crew that she's traveling with. I mean, how else do you easily explain access to her hotel room like that on two separate occasions, in two different cities?...

It's truly sick, truly sad, and truly unfortunate. I mean, couldn't we have waited and hoped that she'd come around and done Playboy someday? Ya know, wait for her career to crap out, and do it as a last gasp at stardom? Call me old fashion, but I always thought that was the way to go. I would imagine her naked, wish for her to do Playboy, and when that never happens, curse her as a prude. Naturally that's not really fair to her either, but I'd say it's a much better approach than violating her privacy and making a girl that comes across as energetic and genuine, mortified and embarrassed beyond all conception...

Hey, I get it. In this dog-eat-dog, up-to-the-mili-second media world that we live in, desperate people are going to do desperate things for their piece of the pie. But come on. When you start spying on people when they aren't under suspicion of committing a crime, that's gotta be where I draw the line. I mean this is American, after all, isn't it? Not to say that this stuff doesn't go on in this country, but when it's plastered all over the Intraweb in such a blatant and malicious manner, that goes from a small invasion of privacy, to a flat out crime. From funny, to scary and disturbing. Whoever made this tape, I hope they gotta better look than they gave the rest of the world, because the only view they're gonna get from here on out is the floor of the state pen...

And now with Andrews off of any ESPN assignment for the next month and a half, you gotta wonder if a few blurred minutes of glory were even worth it for anybody at all. My vote, is a resounding NO!...

Hurry, back Erin. We miss you already. And as far as Playboy goes, we'll be patient...

Just don't test me, you sexy tease of a prude...

Just kidding, EA! I'll still be "in your game" any day of the week...


Next up, some musings on Major League Baseball. I figure it was the All Star Break after all that inspired my time off, so for me to continue glossing over this current season would just be irresponsible...

I've always been of the unpopular opinion (surprise, surprise) that St. Louis is by far and away the best baseball city in the country, and the All Star game didn't disappoint. Between the beautiful backdrop of the Arch, all the former All Stars in attendance, and the Ted Williams-like entrance of St. Louis legend Stan Musial, it was truly a sight to behold. And that's coming from someone who usually could not care less about shit like that. But hey, I was moved, what can I say? The fact that the game itself ended with an amazing catch by Carl Crawford? Simply icing on the cake...

Well done, St. Louis...

Oh and I must say, simply to flash back on my pink hat column from a few weeks ago, I did hear something funny the day after the game on WEEI's Dale & Holley Show. My point last week was that Boston fans would cheer for Benedict Arnold's stool if it stood in the batter's box and waived a hat with a little B on it to them, and Dale's words not only made me feel vindicated, but made me laugh at the same time. "How do the St. Louis fans not give Albert Pujols a better ovation?" Now that's not a direct quote, but it's pretty close, but come on Dale. Why don't they give him a better ovation? Because most fan bases don't wet themselves every time their best player comes up to bat. Again, well done, St. Louis...

As for Dale, as much as he seems like a really nice guy, this is just yet another example where he seems out of touch with reality. It's OK, though. With a new sports radio station starting up in Boston with the rites to the Boston Bruins, his days with his formerly dreadlocked partner may very well be numbered. At least that's my hope. Ever since Rome was taken off of the local airways, I've listened to Dale & Holley more and more, and it's only confirmed to me that they just don't work as a tandem. But listen to me, I'm rambling way off topic now...

Let's talk some Sox!...

I've been accused this season of neglecting the Sox, mostly due to the fact that they've been in first place for the bulk of the season. Seeing as I predicted a 3 way slugfest between the Sox, Rays and Yanks before the season even started, I find that criticism hard to come by, but I understand that not everyone can read everything I write, and I admit that I have been a little lax on my coverage. However, I'd like to echo a yearly phrase exchanged between my good friend, and New York Yankee diehard fan, Jared Hutter. "The season doesn't start until the Red Sox play the Yankees." And ya know what? That was true when we said it to each other back in our days up in Syracuse, but I think with the rivalry the way it is now, I think it would be more appropriate to say "The season doesn't start until the either the Sox or Yanks have caught and passed the other for first place." Not that I haven't been watching intently up until now, but as we delve deeper into Summer, and both teams have shown they're legit, this is where it starts to really get exciting. And with the trade deadline looming, and the Sox already making a few deals to get things started, things will only get more interesting to boot....

Theo Epstein is looking to get the right mix of players to jump start the suddenly anemic Boston offense, and you know Brian Cashman is looking for another arm to replace the limp Wang. New York's problem early in the year was that they couldn't pitch, but thanks to CC, AJ, and a reworked Phil Hughes in the bullpen, the Yankee staff could be adequately described as powerful and resurgent...

The Sox, on the other hand, have suddenly found themselves with no offense, and a rash of pesky injuries. Will they trade Brad Penny before the deadline? Not with Wake on the DL and Smoltz looking his age they won't. I don't care how good Clay Buchholz has looked. In my opinion, I think they should make a big trade involving some guys on the farm, or bring those guys up sooner rather than later and let them start to sink or swim. Trust me, I know Theo likes to bring these guys along slowly, but the pieces that push teams over the top are usually a big trade deadline acquisition, or an infusion of young talent from the farm. If he refuses to deal them? Fine. Then let them play. Bowden, Buchholz and Bard. I wanna see them on the field, or on another team, and ASAP. Don't view it as a rash move, because just having them play I don't think would be. View it as a jump start to the rest of the reason. Lord knows they need one...

Oh and don't think Tampa's going anywhere quite yet, either. As of today they sit just 5.5 in back of the Yanks, and only 3.5 in back of the Sox. This thing is just getting started, kids. Should be a nice little ride...

Next up, just a few quick notes. Had I not been on what Peter Griffin called "dipsalucious vacation," I probably would have gotten more in depth with these topics, but what can you do?...

Tom Watson
It was fun to watch you try to snag your 6th British Open title, Tommy Boy. Too bad you're too old, and you missed that putt on 18 because it was past your bedtime. And hey, Tommy. Have a Keith Richards Bomb on me. You drop a shot of jack into a glass of Ensure, and toss that sucker down the hatch. It's good for you, and it will probably help you forget how you just napped away what would have been one of the greatest major victories of all time...

Phil Ivey
Poker's greatest living player has made it to the final table at the World Series of Poker Main Event. He will enter the November finale 7th in chips, with 9.765 million, while amateur player Darvin Moon (what a name) sits atop the leader board with a staggering 58.93 million in his stack. In a summer in which Ivey has already taken down two bracelet events and collected over $3 million in prop bets, don't think he's not motivated to take this thing down. In 2005, the usually private Ivey told ESPN cameras that this tournament meant more to him than any other. and he's proven that not only with his deep finishes in recent years, but his reluctance to play in many other tournament circuit events. He is a cash game specialist, after all. Which makes his tournament success (youngest ever to 7 bracelets) all that much more impressive...

Good luck, Phil. As if you need it...

(The "November Nine" will return to the felt on Saturday November 7th, with blinds at 120K/240K)

Bud Selig
The commish went on Mike & Mike and said that MLB couldn't wait until the end of the season to determine who had World Series home field advantage because it would be a logistical nightmare for the cities that could possibly be hosting the games. Well correct me if I'm wrong, Bud, but wouldn't all teams and cities have the same time when the 8 playoff teams were determined? Before that, how would anyone be able to plan, anything? It's not like the NL and AL play their World Series home games in specific yet separate buildings. And how hard is it to figure out a few weeks in advance the possible World Series match ups? Answer, it's not. Matter of fact it's a formula a 5th grader could probably figure out without even having to stop playing Drug Wars on his TI 89. (I probably just dated myself)

So inept, that guy. Even for a shriveled Muppet...

Walter Cronkite
Never saw him do a live broadcast, but thanks to movies like JFK and Apollo 13, I felt like I grew up with Walter Cronkite. Especially in an age where journalistic integrity is just a novel idea, we could really use a guy like Walter...

RIP, Walter Cronkite. The voice of a generation. The voice of reason. The voice of the news...
The Sports Hub
It looks as if another contender is stepping into the ring to take a shot at current Sports Radio titleholder, WEEI in Boston. Now as someone that worked for a competitor that was crushed by EEI's presence in our market, I can tell you firsthand that this won't be an easy fight. I'll love having the new 98.5 The Sorts Hub (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1184964) as an option, it'll just be interesting to see if they can make it work. With the ability to air the Patriots and Bruins games, I give them a fighting chance, but the behemoth that is WEEI has withstood such challenges before and is usually able to rid the competition as if they were swatting a fly from their shoulder. Not only are they the most highly rated sports radio station in the state, but they dominate the entire country. They have a death grip on the most important and hardest to reach demographic in advertising, and you have to believe they aren't going to let it go without a fierce battle...

But who knows. Maybe this new station can harness their relationship with the Patriots and Bruins, and carve out their own little piece of the market. It's not impossible. Ya know, especially if they can get the right people...wink, wink...

Ruben "the Hurricane" Carter
The movie, The Hurricane, starring Denzel as imprisoned middleweight, Ruben Carter, has been on a lot recently, prompting people to ask me about it. Believe me, I'm always flattered when people ask my opinion of movies, usually because they only ask once. After they realize I'm more critical than a Harvard professor on the subject, they usually never ask again and write me off as someone that doesn't like anything. It's simply not true. I do like this movie, and do enjoy a lot of movies. Probably more than you've even seen! But, hey I have a point, this isn't just some pissing contest on how I appreciate movies more than you do. We all appreciate movies in our own way. If our tastes differ, so be it. I know I'm a movie nerd, and I've long since accepted the pros and cons that come along wit that...

My problem with The Hurricane, is that the movie only tells one side of the story. I know the movie is supposed to be based on Carter's book, which would make it his side of the story, but then the movie goes on to portray what they are showing you as iron clad facts. And it's just not the case...

They conveniently leave out the part where the cops pulled Ruben over only to find him hiding under coats in the backseat of his car. A car that matched the car leaving the scene, that had guns and bullets matching the murder weapons stashed in the backseat. Oh, and the fact that Carter, while at one time a top contender, had been 7-7 that past year and had slipped to 9th in his weight class. Or maybe that earlier that night, one of the men who frequented the bar Carter allegedly shot up, had gone into a black bar earlier in the day and shot one of Carter's close friends point blank in the head. Or how about the fact that the crooked cop depicted in the film never existed, and the detective that arrested Carter that night had never met him before in his life?...

Yeah, sometimes it pays to be critical, that way you don't go walkin' around soundin' like a fool when you proclaim the innocence of a man who's case you know nothing about...

I love movies as much as the next guy, probably even more, but it's irresponsible film making like this that tends to get me going. Sure I was able to discover the "truth" after a little digging, and people around at the time probably knew the deal, but you can't expect everyone to go through the same due diligence I did, or have such a depth of knowledge about that particular case...

Entertaining? Yes. And I agree that sometimes the "facts shouldn't get in the way of a good story," but make sure you take these things with a grain of salt. Hollywood tries to trick you, and if you let them, you'll end up chasing down the guy on the grassy knoll for the rest of your life. And that's no way to go about living...

Jeremy Mayfield
I promised a friend I would mention Mayfield, so here it goes. If you're surprised that NASCAR drivers are doing meth, then I have a Mark McGwire home run ball that I'd like to sell ya...

Paging Todd McFarlane...http://tech.mit.edu/V119/N3/homerun.3w.html


And now, onto the grand finale!

We've all heard it before. The person with the best shot at winning the NCAA tourney pool is the office secretary. AKA, the person with the least knowledge about the event in question. Pisses you off right? Well it's never really bothered me, seeing as I've made thousands (plural) of dollars competing in NCAA pools throughout the years, but whenever someone is viewed as an "undeserving winner," it tends to rub the other participants the wrong way, right? You know, like the guy who auto-drafts his fantasy football team, never tends to his roster, and still manages to make it to the Super Bowl year after year? Just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Well boys and girls, if you thought that was bothersome, you're gonna love to hear the story about my recent conversations with the current leader of my fantasy baseball league. Like the nerd I am, I saved the texts from said conversations, and thanks to my amazing memory, have a near verbatim account of our one personal interaction. Take a gander, and tell me that Joe Pesci doesn't describe my current fantasy season beautifully with his line from the classic movie Casino when he says "I'm dealin' with degenerate animals here"...

Personal Conversation
Now despite the fact that this person, for the sake of disclosure let's call him Ted, had been low-balling me with senseless trade offers all season, I still planned on giving him due props for being in first place. After all, I do still respect Ted's knowledge of the game, it's just that his fantasy actions have given me a little cause for concern. So I swallowed my pride, quelled the Rooch inside, and opened the conversation with...

ME: "Hey man, congratulations, you're having a great season." (white dude handshake ensues)

TED: "Ehhh, I don't know man."

ME: "Dude, what do you mean? You're in first place and your offense is stacked!" (I think I spilled a bit of my beer with my Italian hand speak)

TED: "Yea, but I'm losin' this week. And even though I have a good record, it seems every week I play somebody, they have their best week of the season."

ME: "Come on, bro. I'm in last place, here, and you're telling me you've been unlucky?!"

TED: "I have, though, that's the thing."

From there on, the conversation basically ended. Amicably, mind you, but it just sort of faded into the party atmosphere that was surrounding us, and it came to a natural end. As for the picture above, right after our conversation, a dog was hit by a police car at the party we were at, and Ted was never the same. The dog is OK, though, so nobody need worry. Just enjoy that crazy cat...

Now did you notice anything missing from our little interaction? Uhhh, how bout a "thank you"?! Geez. And people wonder why I don't give too many genuine responses and treat things with such irreverence. I offer an olive branch, swallow my pride, and all I get is a "I think you're wrong about how good I am"? Come on. And all that shit about having bad luck? That's coming from someone who already had been told, by me, about how ESPN.com basically did an entire expose about how my pitchers in particular had been getting screwed (12 losses in games in which my starting pitcher has gone 8+ innings and given up 1 or fewer runs). Oh and how about we toss in the fact that my best hitter, the guy leading the NL in hitting, spent 3 weeks on the DL with "stress related issues"...

Whatever happened to bragging, anyway. When someone congratulates you on doing well, someone you know wishes they were in that position instead of you, if you're not gonna thank them shouldn't you at least rub it in?! Pretty much the only two ways I could fathom a person going in that situation, is being humble in accepting your praise, or being brash, and throwing it right back in your face. I guess ole Teddy had his own way of handling it, though...

Text Conversation #1
This series of text's took place right after the start of our current head to head match up. A match up, I might add, that the unlucky, Ted, is winning right now, 11-3. Take note of where I Jedi mind-trick him...

TED: Sidebet?

ME: sure-I bet u make gross trade proposals-oops, I already won!

TED: Ha...Reynolds is ranked like 10th, there was nothing gross about that proposal...How many of your guys have 20+ hrs and 10+ steals?

BACKGROUND INFO
Reynolds is Mark Reynolds, 3rd baseman for the Diamondbacks, who TED had offered me for Johan Santana. Not a bad offer, matter of fact his best to date. But seeing as we'd already had conversations that for me to move Halladay or Santana I would need to be blown away, it just didn't fit. I mean my team is struggfest 2K9, but the one thing they can do is pitch. Adding just one bat, unless it's Pujols, isn't gonna do much for my anemic offense, while removing Santana would go a long way towards hurting my pitching.

ME: None-so by that logic you would give me Braun (Ryan Braun) for less than santana right? (Braun being ranked lower than Reynolds)

TED: If anyone else had reynolds #s ud make that deal...Ur basing your decision on name recognition...Either way, that trade proposal wasn't gross

ME: So y not braun?

TED: I would consider it for Halladay (ranked better than Santana)

ME: but hes ranked lower than Reynolds

TED: well see where he ranks in the end

ME: and i say the same about reynolds-u r just looking @ the name and not the numbers

ME: and for the record-that reynolds deal wasnt all that gross-funny tho that u assumed thats the one i meant (considering all his other proposals were far more lopsided)

TED: Well Slowey (Kevin Slowey, Twisn pitcher) was supposed to be back last wknd... But good news on the injury front, Quentins back

ME: OK?

And that's it. From there my Inbox truns into me asking Frosco about whether or not he's seen Erin Andrews naked, and all the predictable texts that follow thereafter. But you see what I did there? He accuses me of being superficial and phony pretty much, and then turns around and tells me I'm right and that we agree, while not realizing he said that at all. We both think Braun has nowhere to go but up, and Reynolds has nowhere to go but down.

If Mark Reynolds has better fantasy stats than Ryan Braun, then why wouldn't he be willing to trade me Braun instead? You think maybe it's because Reynolds is a perennial strikeout machine (204 last year, on pace for 224 this year) who's hitting a full 30 points higher than his average over the past 2 seasons, is on a team that has no offense, and has already been labeled a notorious streak hitter despite this only being his 3rd full season in the bigs? Yeah, I think that might just be it. The Pot just called the kettle black, my friend. The only problem, is that the kettle is from IKEA, and probably more of a light blue or a forrest green.

Again, just another conversation that I didn't quite understand, with a man who's baseball knowledge I still have loads of respect for. Truly a head scratcher. But wait, there's more!
Text Conversation #2
I'm at work yesterday, and I go to give a quick check to my fantasy team. Granted I check it all the time at night when I'm working Yankee games, but during this particular day game I was rather busy.

So, what do I see when I check the stats? Ricky Nolasco, he of the 6-7 record and the 5.77 ERA not only started for TED's team, but had made it through 6 scoreless innings, giving up just 2 hits while striking out 10 and walking 1...

ME: Nolasco huh?

TED: Ya he's ill. Lee wasn't too bad either last night.

(Lee='08 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee who ranks 6th in the league with a 3.15 ERA, who the night before needed 2 runs in the 9th to grab a 2-1 W...at the expense of my closer, Scott Downs, by the way. But, hey, let's not bring any facts into this)

ME: If by ill u mean has a 6 ERA than I agree

TED: I'd just focus on his stats after his demotion (to Triple A, earlier in the year)

ME: 11 runs in his last 12 innings pitched?

TED: Bump in the road

ME: haha ok TED whatever you say-keep livin the dream

At the same time I suggested to Frosco that I trot out a pitcher with a ERA close to a touchdown, and closer to 9 in his last 2 starts and see what happens. At least we were both able to get a goo chuckle out of it...

But again, the response I was looking for with my original text, honest to God, was this "right? hahaha." But he counters with "what? this guy is nasty, and you had a guy do just as well last night!"? Really, bro? I mean, I guess if you wanna look at my guy, the defending AL Cy Young winner and 6th in ERA, who is on that list I mentioned earlier and responsible for 4 of those 8 inning losses, and say I got fortunate for having him throw a CG with just one earned run, then I really have to start wondering whether or not you really know what you're talking about. And it's not like I was looking for some kind of apology, I just wanted him to admit it was as fluky as it obviously was! Listen, I'll admit that Nolasco has been streaky good, but when you're ERA for the year is 5.77, and 8.25 over the past 2 starts, I'd consider 6 innings of 2 hit, shutout ball a surprise more than anything else. And I'm sure the Florida Marlins would agree with me...

And it's not that I'm bitter about losing, not at all. Those that really know me, know that I really don't care about winning or losing. Sure I give it my all to win, and Lord knows I could use the money, but like I say virtually every week right here and to anyone that will listen, what I love about sports is it's unpredictability. It's the soap opera that draws me in, keeps me interested. I'm just as intrigued at how cursed my pitching staff is as I would be if I had a team full of no-names that had propelled me to 1st place. Is it as gratifying? Of course not, but that doesn't make it any less fun!

So do I make silly predictions? Of course I do. Am I wrong a lot? Of course I am. But that's the fun in it. We play in a guessing game where the outcome is always uncertain, yet at the end of the day, there's always an outcome. What could be better?

All I ask, is that when you do win in a game where there is fierce competition amongst your peers, act accordingly. Otherwise, you're nothing but a secretary shocked to see a stack of $20's on her desk...



And like that....poof!

I'm gone...

Catch you next week, kids...

100...

That'll Do, Pink Hats. That'll Do...

It's mid-morning on Wednesday...

I'm sitting in front of my computer, watching my Dunkin Donuts iced coffee sweat like a Sudanese hooker, and thinking of a way in which I can voice my displeasure of the masses, to the masses, over some of the events that had transipred over the last week. You know, my usual routine...

Then I happen to switch on my TV. I don't often brainstorm and watch TV at the same time, but seeing as I have more than enough mental acuity to pull the task off, I figured what the Hell...

Naturally, the TV turns back to the channel I had been watching the night before. One of the HBO's I'm pretty sure, as I prefer background noise when I go to sleep, and they usually provide the commercial-free goodness I crave. I even wanna say the movie I had been watching was Michael Clayton, but as I type that last sentence fragment I realize it was indeed The Beach, starring Leo Dicaprio, Tilda Swinton, and some hot french chick that totally gets naked and engages Leo in some sorta taboo, underwater intercourse. Needless to say, if you haven't seen it, you should head to your nearest computer and order that sucker up on NetFlix. And seeing as you're already at a computer, I'd say you've already been spotted quite the head start. So get on that...

But alas, as I turned on my TV the morning after, Leo and his idealistic group of world travelers were gone, and what remained was a film that I, as a staunch movie critic, can only describe as a "guilty pleasure". No, it wasn't Pootie Tang, for all of you that think you know me so well and are gonna beat me to my own punchline. This time, the guilty pleasure in question was none other than the 1996 children's smash hit, Babe...

Hey, what can I say? I'm a sucker for that movie. Like my good friend, Josh Astin, always says, "Talking animals are funny!". And in this instance, I couldn't agree more. That pig? Funny. That duck? Funny. Those freaking singing mice!? Flat out transcending!

So for the time being, I gave up my search for inspiration, and settled in to watch a few minutes of one the most heart warming tales of our time. My iced coffee, still drippin' sweat like Tim Donaghy after a game of "what happened to my innocence" with the boys in Cell block D...

But as I took a sip from my delicious beverage, and watched the little pig with a heart of gold try his best to become a sheepdog, my inspiration hit me like a ton of bricks...

The movie Babe epitomizes exactly how I feel about my place in the world of sports and entertainment. The way I see it, fans are the sheep, educated fans are Babe, and I am the wolf keeping them all in check. And more to the point, Frosco is Babe, because in my eyes not only is he one of the more well spoken and educated fans I know, but as we remember from last week's mailbag, there's also a striking physical resemblance...

But it all made perfect sense to me. After all, the inspiration I was originally looking for was a way in which to voice my opinion about the Boston appearances of both Nomar Garciaparra and Rasheed Wallace. And what better way to describe the reactions to both of their arrivals, than to call out all of Boston fans as complete and utter sheep! As is said in the movie by it's narrator "It was well known that sheep are stupid", and I'm inclined to agree with that description of the average fan. For better or for worse, they just aren't smart. Mostly because they don't care nearly as much as the true fans out there, but also mostly due in part to the fact that they don't pay attention, or treat sports how they would treat any other aspect of their lives...

I mean, come on, let's call a spade a spade, here, folks. When Nomar was traded in 2004, people were happy, weren't they? And why? Because he had blatantly quit on his team. Let me say that again so it sinks in. This guy "quit". He didn't leave town for more money, and he didn't leave to go play for his hometown team. He freaking quit. And with Boston in the middle of an intense pennant race to boot! Sure his departure was a little bittersweet considering the 7 Hall of Fame seasons that preceded it, but that in part is what also made it sting so much. How could a guy that had done so much for this team, been such an icon, just quit? And better yet, literally quit in an epic battle against the Yankees, a game in which Derek Jeter, his rivalry counterpart, went face first into the stands...

(note: obviously I'm working on a way to get my own set of animals, strap some dolls to their backs, and hold races for money in a nearby filed. So don't worry, I thought the same thing when I first saw this picture, and I'm all over it)

Now listen, I get the fan mentality. It's like when you break up with a girlfriend or have any falling out with someone. When you see them years down the road, you only remember the good times. OK, understandable. But a 2 minute standing ovation? That just shows how completely "pink hat" Fenway Park and Red Sox Nation have become. I said it before the game. Nomar would get a nice ovation because of the fans in attendance, NOT because of the way most of Red Sox Nation felt about his return. It was the wolf in me being both realistic and pessimistic, and surprise surprise, I was right on the money...

Fact is, even though I despise Nomar for the gutless way he left this team twisting in the wind, I wouldn't have been booing either. Not because I didn't think he deserved it, but because of the Pink Hat Nation that would have been standing next to me clapping, cheering, and unleashing a deadly stream of joy-juice into their #5 thong panties. If I stood up to boo, I probably would have been kicked out of the joint for being disrespectful, and given funny looks as security dragged me towards the parking lot. It's the fans in the park that got him his ovation, not anything he did on or off the field. They're the ones there for the "event", not the "sport". They're the ones that can afford to bring 5 year olds to sit in the 3rd row at $300 a pop. They're never gonna boo! Not Nomar, not anybody! They're more concerned with taking pictures on their BlackBerry's, and making sure they smuggled enough juice boxes in to keep the kiddies in check...

And that's what it's come to since that same magical season in '04 that saw Nomar moved at the trading deadline. Ever since then, the Pink Hats have taken over, the sheep are running wild. And believe me, I'm all for sportsmanship and letting people cheer if they want, I just think it's pathetic that such a rabid fan base was reduced to giggles and cheers because of the ignorant front runners that now call Fenway's luxury seats home. Cheering guy's like Damon who left for money is one thing, but the day that Fenway stood up to recognize Benedict Nomar and his now deflated physique, was the day I knew for sure that Red Sox Nation, had officially become, Pink Hat Nation...

A hero's welcome for a quitter, just because it's the "fashionable" thing to do. Truly sad. Hope all the FaceBook albums are worth it, ladies, because you're ruining it for the rest of us...

As for Rasheed Wallace, what can I say? We might as well just paint that bald spot on his head pink right now and be done with it. Never have I seen a town do such a 180 on a guy in such a short period of time. Oh wait, yes I have, and it's when we all universally ripped Nomar on his way out of town in 2004! But enough of that. Overnite, Sheed went from a malcontent and an egomaniac, to a gritty, passionate player ready to put the Celtics back over the top...

Um. Hello? Is this really what we've come to, here? Like I said before, I get the free agent and the fan mentality, but whatever happened to the days of trusting your judgement?

I for one love Sheed, always have and always will, but the reasons I love him have always been the same reasons everyone has hated him. He's brash, he's volatile, he's a ridiculously tough match up, and he's constantly bumping his gums, talking redic amounts of junk to anyone that will listen. I've always loved that about Sheed. To me, he played exactly how I would have liked to play had I been somehow fortunate enough to play at that level. His game just exudes confidence...

But now, the same people that hated Sheed when he played for Detroit, called him a thug when he played for Portland and labeled him a cocky SOB at UNC, are taking all that back just because he's donned the Celtic green. The person in me is happy for Sheed, happy that he's in a good situation and that people in this area might finally grow to appreciate him. And happy that I can watch him on TV whenever I want. The wolf in me, however, is more than a little pissed off. Sheed was my guy, and now all the PH's are gobblin' him up faster than Babe at breakfast. Sweatin' his jock and welcoming him as KG's wingman...

Hey, at least it's funny to hear various Ted's discuss the "should it be the Big 5 or the Big 6? What about Perk and Baby? Should they be in there too? Ya know, with Rondo?"...

Please, just do me a favor and go back to hating on Sheed, and loving JD Drew. I think we all got along a lot better when that was the arrangement, and in a case like this it's always best to let sleeping dogs lie...

But seriously, the "Babe" in me wants to help you sheep out, serve as the mediator. So let me leave you on this topic with this. When you don't like a player, first establish "why" you don't like him. If you then determine that it's the guys' character that you don't like, then please don't then chose to cheer for him when he happens to come and play for your team. It makes you look weak, it makes you look foolish, and it goes a long way towards making me very disenchanted with the society in which we live. I'm not saying you can't have a change of heart, but in an instance like this, for a 10 year track record to be washed away with a dash of green paint, that's not what this is. This is just another story of a bunch of sheep, and a guy who looks like he had a run in with a pair of sheers...

"There's a difference between drinking a beer while watching a game, and watching a game so you can drink some beer. If you do the former, you're a fan. If you do the latter, you're an alcoholic." An Oroochinal Thought

Think about it. I'm right, and you have a problem...

Oh and tell JD I said he still sucks...

Other News & Notes

All week rumors have been swirling about the possiblity of Roy Halladay (that's "Hal", as in Sutton, not "Hall" as in juvenile) landing with the Red Sox, thanks to Toronto GM JP Riccardi telling the media he was willing to listen to offers for him. Now while I don't think Riccardi is all that serious, and I don't believe it's likely Halladay lands in Boston even if he is traded, just the possibility has got me all worked up. I've been a huge fan since he tossed a complete game as a 21 year old rookie in 1998, and I've been closely following his career ever since...

What I've found interesting about Roy over that time, is that while many have admired him from afar via the box score, and viewed him once or twice a year in the traditional AL East match ups, their labeling of him as a "horse" in my eyes just doesn't do the guy justice. As someone that's had the Doc on his various fantasy teams for the better part of the last decade, the one thing I think is most underrated about Roy, is at the same time the one thing that makes him so spectacular. He's brutally efficient. People think he's a horse because they see all those complete games, but in reality he's not throwing any more pitches in that gem than any other ace would throw in a standard outing. Difference with Roy is, he throws far more strikes than even the average ace of a staff. He pounds the strike zone, and he throws strike 1 more often than anyone I've ever seen, one of the simplest, yet most effective things a pitcher can do if he's talented enough to consistently get away with it. But I guess that's the ability right there that makes him so successful. That, and his gamer mentality...

So obviously I would love to see Halladay on my Red Sox, and I wouldn't hesitate to deal all the prospects Toronto wants in order to obtain him. Not because I don't value those prospects, I do. But because they are, after all, just prospects. Bowden, Bard and Buccholz might guarantee you're "in contention" for years to come, but Hallday could very easily could make you a World Series Champion, today...

If JP's crazy enough to do it, I hope Theo's smart enough to let some of the young kids go in return. Not only for my sake, but for the sake of all the Pink Hats who are still "reeling" from not having a Championship to celebrate since the Celtics brought home banner #17...

We need a title quick! We don't wanna lose 'em!

And speaking of losing, here's some more vindication for yours truly on the redic streak of bad luck my fantasy team has had this year. Keep in mind, my pitching staff contains 2 of the top 3 guys on the list, and has combined for 12 losses in which they've gone 8 or more innings and given up 2 runs or fewer. Hey, I'm just sayin'...

Fantasy Karma Kicks Rooch In Junk
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&page=starting9/090708


Another example of Sheep vs Wolf. Last year's Wimbledon Final (Federer/Nadal) was far more exciting than this year's 5 set final, but thanks to the inclusion this year of Andy Roddick, Federer's latest triumph was heralded by many fair weather fans as one of the best matches they've ever seen. My response to that? You need to watch more tennis...

I look at it this way. The world of tennis closely mirrors the world of golf. Roger and Tiger are both worldly figures that dominate at the top. Roddick and Mickelson are the gritty Americans that will never be better than 2nd best. And Nadal and Sergio Garcia are the exotic, Spanish player that add an International flair to the game. Only difference in tennis, is that unlike Garcia, Nadal is actually competitive in big events. Oh and Sergio doesn't wear capris pants. At least not in public. I'm sure he rocks the "mankini" on the beach, but what he does on his time is his business. When he make s a fool out of himself on TV, that's my business...

Just thought I'd give everyone a heads up about the new "small" Altoids. They suck. Don't buy 'em. They don't taste like regular Altoids at all, and they're just way too small. OH and they make you look like a drug addict when you're always reaching into this tiny box for little, white things that you're putting in your mouth. That can't be good for the safety of your employment...

I've already seen one too many ads for Hayden Panettiere's new flick, I Love You Beth Cooper. Listen, Hayden. The next time I wanna see you in a movie, it's gonna be when you do the basement porno remake, "Remember the Titties" in which you reprise you're role as an innocent, young coach's daughter on an interracial football team. That, I'll watch. But I also understand I'll have to wait for you to become addicted to meth first. Good thing I'm patient...

Finally, you'll all be delighted to know that through various confidential sources in the know, I've been able to confirm what I've suspected all along. Dana Jacobsen is officially "furniture" at the ESPN main campus in Bristol. Now for all of you not familiar with fraternity slang, "furniture" means she's in the house, and used by the house's member's so frequently, that she might as well be a beer stained coach in the living room. Ya know, like a slam-pig? I'm sure you get what I'm sayin'. Who's she been doing the (very) nasty with, you ask? Well that remains under wraps...for now. But I will say this. If you see someone working with her on Cold Take, and they are remotely famous, there's a good chance she's let them cover her in Belvedere and tackled one of her Serenus-like man thighs...

And no, one of the people is not Buster Olney OR Tim Kurkjian. They're just really small, and that's just a really disturbing mental image. Besides, they know too much about baseball to be into shit like that. Right, Harold Reynolds?...

So there you have it. I know a lot of you out there are going to view my comments about fans as elitist, and I totally get it. It's just my hope that this elite wolf can bring some of you sheep over to my side, where the grass is green and the loyalties run deep. And perhaps if we both channel our inner Babe a little more often, we can actually find a common ground on which to converse.

Until then, stay away from Sheed...

Bah-Ram-Ewe! Bah-Ram-Ewe!

I'm outta here...

100...

Questionable Material...

You submitted your questions, and now I have your answers. It's the RoochNation mailbag, and it's exactly what you need to bridge the gap to a weekend no doubt filled with hot dogs, beer, and enough Patriotic sentiment to make William Wallace look like a traitor...

Get some, and enjoy...

Rooch,

I know you've always been a big fan of Michael Jackson's music, and often attempt to duplicate some of his more subtle dance moves. How do you feel about his passing away this past week? And a quick follow up. Who do you think will be the next celebrity to go?

Mike in Manhattan

Well, Mike. Quite the loaded question there, but I'll do my best to be thorough and concise.


To me, Michael Jackson was made up of 3 equally important and influential pieces. He was an amazing artist, a troubled child, and a despicable sexual predator. He brought love and joy to millions, while at the same time bringing pain and terror to God knows how many innocent children. Do they balance out? Not really. But it's his horrible childhood, and his disgusting father that almost force me to give him a pass. Not for what he allegedly did to those kids, mind you, but just a pass in how he will be remembered. I'm not saying forget what he did, I'm just saying there's no need praise this guy, or to drag his name through the mud now that he's gone.

Fact is, like many incredible artists or geniuses, he was unstable, unique and complex. It's what made him so great, and it's ultimately what led to his demise. He wasn't loved as a child. It's what made him cry out for attention and love in the form of singing, and it's what made him a monstrous predator once he finally came of age. He just didn't know what it really was to love somebody, and in some fucked up way, I almost think when he was molesting those kids, he thought he was helping them out. Giving them the love he never got as a child. Again, it's inexcusable and disgusting the things he's accused of doing, but in the upside down world that Michael Jackson existed in, disgusting shit like that was just par for the course. I mean just look at his dad. You try being exploited starting at age 8 and see how you turn out...

So to answer your question. I'll continue to enjoy his music, continue to perform his dance moves (Ah-he-he!), and always remember him as one of pop culture's most tragic figures. One of it's most important, most influential, and most disgusting. To me, remembering him any other way, just wouldn't be doing his career justice. Hey, if we're gonna learn from the past, we'd we well suited to remember it correctly, don't you think?


Brett,

With Phil Mickelson coming in 2nd for the 5th time at the US Open, I have to ask. Do you think Lefty is ever going to take that sucker down? And while I know you usually route against him, you weren't cold hearted enough to wish him ill will this time around, were you?

Keep up the good work,
Peter in Liverpool, NY

Thanks, Pete.

Your answers are as follows...

I don't, I was, and I will.

I don't. I don't think Phil will ever win the US Open, because despite his near misses, the narrow fairways and deep rough that are always found on the Open courses just don't really suit his game. And his "go for it" mentality that he's seemed to scale back on in recent years, will continue to burn him coming down the stretch if he keeps pulling driver on 18 and knocking down patrons attempting to grab some free grub at the hospitality tent...Oh yea, and he always seems to yank his putts on those slick greens come Sunday afternoon. So he's got that going against him, which is never good...Unless you're me, and then it's one of the most enjoyable experiences of your life...

I was. I was routing against Phil, because it's my second favorite thing to do when it comes to watching golf. The first being, of course, routing for Tiger to win.

And as for wanting Phil to win because his beautiful wife, Amy, has become stricken with breast cancer? Good God. If anything that made me want him to win even less! I mean of course I wish Amy nothing but a full and speedy recovery, and I'm sure a win would have lifted her spirits, but the way NBC and ESPN went about promoting the thing just made it so hackneyed and trivial that it made them all look pathetic. They made it sound like if Phil won, Amy was going to be magically cured right there on the 18th green!

I mean let's be serious here, people. Do you honestly think, that at the start of that US Open, Phil Mickelson was the only one in the field dealing with something like that? You don't think that maybe some of the other players had family members suffering from deadly or incurable disease? And that maybe since, I don't know, they aren't multi-gazillionaires like Phil that maybe, just maybe they could have used that prize money to actually help comfort their loved one's as they fight for their lives?

And trust me, I get it. It was a story, and seeing that's what sports' is all about, I get why they had to bring it up. But I say if you're gonna bring up Amy, then make sure you mention everyone else that's suffering too. Otherwise, you're nothing but another major corporation benefiting off someone who's suffering from cancer. And that's not cool in any book I own...

I will. I will, keep up the good work. Thanks again, Pete...

Next!


Dear Brett,

If there's one other person out there that you know that should be writing a blog, who is it and why?

Thanks
Paul in Cranston, RI

Thanks for the question, Paul.

Up until recently, I didn't really think any of my friends could come up with enough material for their own blog, but in recent weeks my buddy, Kevin "Frosco" Tomasso, has told me some stories that have got me thinkin' twice. Check it out...

In the last week alone, he's told me stories involving...

A) a bullet hole in his condo window

B) an old (deaf) man backing the car over his wife in his condo parking lot (don't worry, the woman managed to make it completely under the car due to the low speed of the event and was never hit by a tire)

C) him sitting in a lounge chair at his condo, only to find out a week or so later it was the same chair where a guy had recently taken his own life with a handgun

Sounds like a nice little neighborhood they got goin' there, doesn't it? Freakin' OK Coral, down there. I have expect to get a call later this week detailing an encounter with Doc Holliday down at the Piggly Wiggly...or in Frosco's case, the Hoggly Woggly...Yeah, it's a real place...

But no. Other than Frosco, I can't think of anyone else that should have a blog. Plus I think the new procedure now would be to start on Twitter, and build your way up to blogging. Once you can fill 140 characters with legit stuff, then maybe we'll start talkin' paragraphs...


Rooch,

You've been slackin' on your Red Sox analysis so far this summer. What's your take on Dice K, Papi, and the Sox chances the rest of the season?

100...,
Ryan in Providence, RI

You're right, Ry. I have been slackin'. But with the way this team has been pitching, it's hard to find anything worth bitching about without sounding like a spoiled Patriots fan clamoring for a 4th wide receiver.

Naturally, this team isn't perfect, but the great starting pitching, and league leading bullpen (2.90 ERA) are making things like Julio Lugo's ego and Dice K's struggles just fade into the background. Are they important issues? Of course they are. But the way this team has been pitching, Big Pepsi could hit a buck 25 for the rest of the season and I don't see it hindering their chances of making a legit run...

Of course as I type this the Sox bully is getting lit up like a menorah at Rod Carew's house, but it's gonna take more than one 10 run implosion to make me nervous...

That being said, Ry. Expect my Sox coverage to pick up as the weather gets warmer, and the sun actually starts to shine here in the NorthEast. And I'm still watchin' every game, so don't figure my knowledge is slippin' just because I haven't been writing about them...

But I know you would never think that....right? Nah, you wouldn't...


Moving on...

Rooch,

What's your opinion of the alleged leaking of the list of 103 players that tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003? Looks bogus to me.

Thanks

Peter M in Santo Domingo, DR

The List (allegedly): http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=283&f=2094&t=4464351

Well, Peter, aside from the fact that there aren't enough Yankee names on that list for my liking, most of the list seems right in line with who I would pick if I had attempt to make the list myself. And wouldn't you know it, a certain Boston DH made the list that just a few weeks ago both Jose Canseco and I outed as a probable steroid user and cheat...

Officially, I'm gonna wait to get some clarification on this thing's legitimacy. But based on what I know, I'd have to say if that list isn't authentic, then it's at the very least 75-80% accurate..

Now comes the fun part, though. Where Bud Selig deflects to the fact that the names were leaked by some crook in a courthouse, that the Player's Union should have destroyed those records anyway (as was their right), and that the list is just a sign of how far MLB's testing procedures have actually come. IE "We caught Manny this year, didn't we?"

Yeah, I'm sure that won't be a 3-ring circus. Oh well. At least Selig's already dressed for it, that creepy muppet...

Rooch,

What effect do you think the USA's victory over Spain, and close loss to Brazil will have on the state of soccer in this country? Somehow I think I know the answer to this already, but I figured I'd throw it out there anyway.

Steven in Attleboro

First and foremost, let me just get the obvious out of the way. I don't like soccer, never have, and probably never will. It has all the standing around of baseball, but without all the strategy, cool trading cards, tobacco usage and support of Alyssa Milano...

That being said, I think the United States loss in the Federations Cup Final to Brazil exemplifies how this country will always feel about professional and international soccer...

Up 2-0 at halftime to the best team in the world, and lose 3-2. Do just enough to pique your interest, only to end with the reassurance that the US will always be a second or third rate power...

Just like I said all season long about the Bruins, people are only going to get into US soccer when the team is good, and playing in important games. OK, understandable seeing this country's front running mentality. But the problem with soccer, is that there are so few events for the US to play in, and even fewer that are readily accessible to US TV viewers. Why? Because all the advertising money for soccer is in every other country but this one. So between the rare chances for success, and the inaccessibility for the viewers even in this day and age of satellite and OnDemand, I just don't think soccer is ever really going to catch on. I think it will eventually pass hockey in the ranks of overall popularity, but that's like coming in 3rd in a sprint between Usain Bolt, Michael Johnson and FDR...

But hey, not all is lost. If you really wanna see people pretending to be near death one minute, only to be running around and doing back flips the next, Intervention is on A&E every Monday at a much more viewer friendly time of 9 pm Eastern time...

Rooch,

I know you're a poker fan, and I know the World Series of Poker has been going on all month long in Vegas. Any big news coming out of there? Or is it just a bunch of people nobody has heard of winning obscene amounts of money? I know you spent some time there in rehab, so I figured you'd have some good sources...

Go Sox,
Dave in the Back Bay

You're right, Dave, as I have been following the World Series. And unlike years past, this year has already provided some exciting results for some of the World's best known professionals...

Jeffrey Lisandro, a well traveled pro, came into the '09 series with 1 bracelet to his name, but has added 3 more in a little less than a month by proving to be the best stud tournament player in the world. Lisandro won all 3 of his bracelets in stud variant games, taking down the $1,500 Stud event for about $125K, the $10,000 Stud Hi/Low event for $432K and the $2,500 Razz event for $188K. All told for the series, Lisandro has 6 cashes for a staggering $807,000. Throw in the fact that Lisandro and pro, Barry Greenstein, have a no doubt juicy prop bet with Daniel Negreanu and Erik Lindgren to see who can accumulate for Player of the Year points, and I'd say Lisandro is in line for one Hell of a summer...

Two other notable online pros, Brock "TSoprano" Parker and Greg "FBT" Mueller have also doubled up at this year's series. Parker snagged two "6 handed" titles in Limit and No Limit Hold 'Em early on in the series and has cashed for more than $800K, while Mueller took down the $10K limit event for $460K and the $1,500 No Limit Shootout for another $195K. These were the first bracelets for both of these well respected pros...

Last but not least, we have Phil Ivey, the Tiger Woods of poker. Ivey, considered the most feared player on the planet at just age 32, had won 5 bracelets coming into this year's WSOP, but none since 2005. Not a long drought by human standards, but seeing as Ivey was on a "bracelet a year" pace before 2006, logic would tell you that he was long overdue. And you would be right! The '09 WSOP has seen Ivey return in a big way, winning a 2-7 Lowball event for $96K and an Omaha/Seven Card Stud High/Low event for $220K. What's more, is that rumors around town (rather substantial, I might add), have Ivey collecting more than $3 million in bracelet prop bets that he had with other members of the Bellagio's legendary "Big Game". Sounds far fetched, but in the "Big Game" they regularly play at limits as high as 4K/8K, and Ivey himself has played at limits as high as 100K/200K when he was a member of the Corporation that took down billionaire, Andy Beal... ( http://www.pokerlistings.com/beal-loses-166-million-to-ivey-and-the-corporation-6113)

So a great series, so far Dave. It's just too bad tournament poker sucks to watch these days, and all the cool events I'd want to see aren't even being covered. Oh well. Here's to knowing the Main Event final table months before the average viewer. And here's to ESPN again editing down an epic heads up battle for the most coveted trophy in poker, to 3-4 hands...

Rooch,

Donte Stallworth killed a dude?

Kevin in Myrtle Beach

Yes, Kevin. Yes he did.

And judging by the sentence he got, I recommend that southeastern Mass and most of Rhode Island take notice. 30 days for gettin liquored up and taking out a guy that was just outside a crosswalk? Hell I'd give 60 days for most the fools I wanna run down with my car!

And I would only have to deal with my family when I got out of the clink. Stallworth has Sheriff Goodell...

Oh well. As despicable as Donte's "the guy just ran out in front of my car" story sounds to me, it still won't erase all the great memories Donte Stallworth gave to me during his time in New England. No, not on the field. I'm talking about when I saw him in Best Buy, and he pointed to a copy of King King and commented to a friend "that's what we used to call Charles Grant"...

Ha!

...but seriously, look out on the road. I got a list of names, a bottle of Old Grandad, and a car that already has paint missing and blood on the fender. Nothin' to lose, kids. Nothin' to lose...

Rooch,

At the risk of being laughed at, what did you think of the NBA Draft? You hate the NBA, but you love college hoops, so I'm interested to hear what you thought.

Keith in NA, MA

You know, that's a good question because even I would think I would be more interested in the NBA Draft than I actually was. My main problem is that the NBA almost seems Hell bent on forging that "just because you were good in college, doesn't mean you're a fit for the pros" mentality, and it takes all the fun out of it for me. I understand taking chances of developmental youngsters and Europeans, but watching guys like Sam Young and DeJaun Blair (and in other years guys like Celtics Glen Davis and Ryan Gomes) slip all the way into the second round in favor of guys that only have "upside" just really takes all the fun out of it for me.

So to answer your question, no I didn't really watch it, and I don't really enjoy it any more.

And for the 50th time, I have no idea why the T-Wolves drafted both Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn, and I have no idea what they are gonna do with them. My best guess, is that a franchise that excels in losing is continuing to do what it does best. Make mistakes. Big ones. It's just too bad Kevin McHale isn't still there to help the Celtics benefit from this latest apparent gaffe...

Then again, I wouldn't be interested in that either...

Rooch,

Yaaaa I've been busy flippin' over skateboards 'n burnin' 'em in celebration of the Lakers latest title, so I've missed what's been goin' on with your fantasy team. So what's the deal with that? Your team still beat or what?

Yaaaaa,
C. Mor in CA via Twitter on Steven from Laguna Beach's iPhone.


I'm not sure which image I like more. Cyrus dancing around a half smoldering skateboard OR the Laguna Beach fire department showing up to douse the fire with iced latte's from Starbucks...

As for my fantasy team, I've actually managed to move out of the basement for the time being, while still struggling for what I've simply deemed a case of "bad luck". No, I'm not talking about my guys hitting the DL harder than Ike Turner or the fact I've lost guys to "stress" and the flu. I'm just talking about being the victim of bad weekly match ups.

Example: Through the first 12 weeks of the season, my team ranks 2nd and 3rd in both ERA and WHIP, respectively in a 12 team league. During those same 12 weeks, in my head to head match ups in those two categories, my team is a lackluster 12-12-0...

(as I type this complaint about my match ups, both Johan Santana and Cliff Lee are getting lit up to the tune of 13 earned runs in just 9 innings pitched. Perfect example of why I can't win. Pitching is my strength. When it's good, I can't win with it, and when it's bad, I can't win with it.)

But hey, dems da breaks when you play in a head to head league like this, I'm just glad I was able to find some stats to prove to myself that I wasn't completely insane...

Rooch,

You have to be lovin' this Shaq to Cleveland deal. Any chance you become a Cavs fan now?
You are the coolest dude I know, and possibly the most handsome as well.

Keep up the stellar work,
Brett in Attleboro via his brain and his fingers

WAR - the adult alarm

I ask, because I still don't know. And with the latest news about 'Sheed possibly joing the Celtics, I'm really torn. What I do know, is that Chris Rock and Spike Lee need to get on the next thing steamin' to the Mistake by the Lake and start work on what should turn out to be the finest NIKE commercials ever created. They will be the Godfather of athletic apparell commercials...ya know, expect with black guys...and probably a lot of jokes instead of a bunch of mafia shit. But you get my drift...

I also know, that I wil buy a Rasheed Wallace jersey should he land in the Bean. Not because I like the Celtics (which I apprently can't remind you of enough/nobody ever remembers), but because Rasheed Wallace has been one of my favorite players to watch since he donned the Carolina blue with VC and Stack. What's up with that missing chaunk of hair he has on top of his head? I don't know. But I'm pretty sure it's what makes him so great...and possibly so angry all the time...

As for the "WAR-the adult alarm"? Well "WAR" is a term adopted by followers of Jim Rome's radio show that callers and emailers tack on to the end of a message in order to show support for something. They borrowed the term from the Auburn Tiger's cry of "War Eagle", which is something they chant for some reason in support of their team, despite the fact that their mascot is a Tiger. It's the south, go figure...

And the "adult alarm", you ask? Well it's right here for to you to see for yourself. Check it out...

Simply hysterical. MACAULLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! ORRFF!

Brett,

What's the deal with airplane food?

Jerry in NYC

Not now, Jerry. There's no time.


Rooch,

So how was Public Enemies this weekend, buddy? I'm eager to hear your review since the movie doesn't open until July 1st! You Ted...

Justin Lee from the Real OC
NY, NY

Touche, Justin. But hey, what can I say. I knew the movie didn't come out until July 1st, I just could have sworn I saw ads that there were going to be "sneak previews" pretty much all over the country this past weekend!

Well there weren't, at least not in this nape of the neck, and I was relegated to watching the "making of" Public Enemies on HBO. But fear not. I still plan on catching the flick in the upcoming weeks, and I'll be sure to give you a staunch, critical review once the piece of cinema actually absorbs into my eyes, brain and soul. So stay tuned...

Hey dude,

I hear they're opening a Sonic in western Mass somewhere. You should check it out and write a review of it in your blog.

Josh in Hoboken, NJ

You sir, are a liar!

After consulting the Sonic website, I have indeed found no truth to the rumor that a Sonic restaraunt, complete with tater tots, hot dogs, and enough slushie combinations to bust Phil Mickelson's gertle into a thousand pieces of Mandex and sweat pads, is making it's way to the Commonwealth. According to their website, the nearest Sonic location is a mere 138 miles away, in Kingston, NY...

Good news for you though, Josh, as the Sonic website also tells me that there's at least one location In Hasbrouk Heights, NJ. Sounds like it's right on the edge of a housing project, Josh, so I figure it'll be right up your alley. Just make sure to take a picture of the place getting robbed when you visit so I can throw it right up here for all the world to see...

And that's it, kids! Thanks for all your questions this week, and I hope did well enough to provide you with adequate answers...

Until next time. Keep on keepin' on, and always make sure to turn and run when you hear the adult alarm...

ORRRFFFF!

Happy 4th of July, everyone. And have a great weekend...

100...

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