Manny, Romper Room, and Superliga...ahhhh Summer in America..

Count me as one of those Red Sox fans who was the last to give up on Manny Ramirez. I don’t mind putting up with bizarre behavior to root for a winner. I am totally selfish like that. Right up until Tuesday night I felt the best move for the team was to keep Manny through the season. However, he essentially acted like a child in doing everything he could to be traded in the past two weeks. I like to think he cost himself money by acting in such an unprofessional way, but probably not. He will loose money because of his numbers. The fact is, statistics show the 2008 version of Manny is not the 2004 version. He even projected himself as somebody who would actually sabotage the team for the rest of the season even as they fight for a playoff spot. This included going into a proverbial “slow down” mode the last few weeks. Not running out a ground ball when your team is being no hit at home in the seventh inning against the best team in the league was inexcusable to me. Despite his talent Manny negatively impacted the teams chances of winning. There was word his teammates were fed up. Like when Kilborn left the Daily Show, it is the end of an era and hopefully a case of addition by subtraction.

Without Manny the Sox loose a great hitter, but it also puts an end to the “Era of the Diva”. The club should now be a hustling machine, and hopefully the club can invest the 20 million wisely this offseason. I do not think this is a projected salary dump. I also think this move will allow Tito to live a few more years, which is important considering the health issues he is dealing with. Manny put Tito in an awful position, even after Tito had covered for him for years. This pissed me off as much as anything.

Unfortunately, this situation destroys Manny’s legacy in New England. He was a supreme talent who never grew up. He is going to play well in the NL for the Dodgers and for whoever overpays him this offseason, maybe the Yanks. I think the Sox are letting go at the right time. Manny’s bat will continue to slow down, thus not justifying his detrimental behavior. They survived the “Post Clemens Era”, the “Post Mo Period” the “Post Nomar Period”, and the “Post Pedro Period”. They are the reigning World Champions; something tells me they will be fine. Manny on the other hand will have to deal with the “Curse of Mo Vaughn”, and hope he can even play another healthy season. My advice to him, sign with Royals this offseason even if it means a massive paycut. This will alleviate the pressure that Manny rejects from an obsessive fan base and allow him to play baseball and be accepted as “goofy” instead of a “cancer”.

I spent the last two days in Foxboro at Patriots Training Camp. The team looks solid, even with Vrabel, Welker, and Ellis Hobbs on the PUP list. Here are a few observations….

-Rodney Harrison has this “training camp” thing down. He has this “go through the motions, lay a heavy lick on an unsuspecting special team’s player, make the coach think you are the hardest working/baddest mother#@$%# on the field” tactic down. And that was just his second day playing thus far.

-Watching Tom Brady sprint the assignment coaches to the next stations and run laps after screwing up was awesome.

-Belichek yelling “Run though the line Maroney” was the best moment of two days. Forget all the hits and great catches and bottles of water for $3.75. Having the lead RB get called out by the head coach on sprinting drills was why training camp exists. Classic Double B.

-I now support social segregation of fans based on interest in football. 90% of the fans go to the free practices to get autographs. They are like leeches. Of this large group of people, 75 percent were made up of kids under 12. I was looking for some Disney Pixar character to show up and try to block field goals. Losers like me who analyze the drills and watched the interactions between coaches and players to better understand the team as it gets prepared for 2009/2009 because we love football are forced to deal with “whose number 17?” or “wow, Tom Brady is wearing number 16 today”. I should have been given special access, like Mike Reiss.

-Larry Izzo looks short, until you realize he is made of pure steel.

-Jerod Mayo didn’t impress, although there was not a lot tackling overall. Shawn Crable on the other hand looks to have all the physical tools.

-The competition for backup QB is fierce. Kevin O’Donnell is the real deal, but Matt Cassel knows the system and is a Brady clone except for his performances during the regular season. Matt G is a dynamic player, very Jeff Garcia-esque. It will be interesting month as this thing hashes itself out. My thoughts? We should trade for Favre.

-My relationship with the sun remains a tenuous one. Two days of intense sun exposure has me feeling cooked.

The Superliga semi final was enjoyable. The Revs picked up a well deserved victory. Mexican club Atlante was a crushed team by the 70th minute despite only being down by 1 goal. Atlante later resorted to immature tactics and disgraceful professionalism after the final whistle. Revs Defender Jay Heaps picked up a red Card after the game during the post match brawl. It would be a shame if he was forced to miss the final Tuesday night against Houston. I think this tournament is great, with the exception of the intolerance shown by drunk Americans and Mexicans alike. This situation thus proved the fact that Ignorance is the one true nationality.

I paid under $4.00 a gallon in both Mass and RI. Tell Shaq my ass tastes like the sour injustice of $4.23 a gallon in CT. Exxon can take that 11 Billion in the 2nd quarter and shove it. And M and O are talking about Paris Hilton. And I get stuck with Joe Lieberman. At this point I would prefer Matrix-esque mechanical overlords....

96 days out. Can you feel it?

A New Age in Baseball

The Tampa Bay Rays are for real. The Yanks and Sox age is showing bigtime. I know its July, but I will say this...

Jason Varitek is done for all intents and purposes as an offensive player. He has become Tony Pena. I wont bore you with the mind numbing stats, but its time to call up George K to get some AB's and push the Captain until the end of the season.

The Yankees offense looks like the Lakers at the end of game four of the NBA finals. Even with todays 2-1 win, I have never felt better about having a rookie Sox picther face the "heart" of the Yanks batting order, this includes the Mel Hall years....

The Sox offense scored more runs without Ortiz.....actually the rest of that statement is insane. They need him bad.

All of MLB is transitioning big time. Former Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez is the leagues best player....Edison Volquez is most exciting pitcher......A-Rod is getting a divorce...I mean, what else will this season bring?

After the god awful Pete Vesey Podcast, Simmons went huge with the great Rob Stone. I've talked to Stone at the great Morrone Stadium on the campus of the University of Connecticut Huskies, and at the PBA tour stop in Norwich. He's the man. totally down to earth, and the only reason I would ever watch bowling,.... let alone drive to Norwich.

The 08 version of the Stephan A Smith draft clip was fantastic. I couldn't go this year, and with the C's winning the world championship it was not a top priority...

The Boston Three Party Cometh...

Texas is the heart of the Western Conference in the NBA. This week the Boston Celtics became the first team since the '01 Sacremento Kings to sweep the Texas Triangle of the Spurs, the Rockets, and the Mavs. KG and the Truth were fantastic, playing incedible two-way basketball. Big games by Leon Powe, Sam Cassell, and James Posey allowed Ray Allen to come back against the Mavs fully healthy. Allen's huge late three pointer against the Mavs capped his return to the lineup in grand fashion. Next up, MVP candidate Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.

I have picked the UConn Men to run the table and win the National Championship. That said, they could very well lose their first game.

Enjoy the weekend, between basbeball drafts and basketball, it is my favorite weekend of the year! BEST Portfolio be damned...

Can I get a large Lobster Bisque please....

Before I start, i ust wanted to say that This was one of the greatest things I have ever seen on TV. The build up was fantastic and the outcome hilarious. Needless to say, TV needs more stuff like this.


On with the show...

So this is how democracy dies.

Everyone looks one way and the next day everything they felt was sacred has been manipulated and changed without any regard whatsoever. The past three weeks I have raved about the importance of college sports in my life. Particularly, this has crystallized around the resurgence of the UConn men’s basketball team. However, in the past two weeks, two games the team has played with Big East opponents were unavailable to me on TV. Now Saturday’s thriller against USF was on ESPN. Smart for them, it was a good game. However, here I am spinning my radio dial to 1080 am to hear the rapid fire delivery of Joe D and Wayne for UConn vs. Depaul. As a person who didn’t miss a UConn men’s basketball game from 1991-2006 this has been a disturbing chain of events.

The culprit my friends…. is ESPN.

Yes, my beloved world wide leader (Whose headquarters is 20 minutes from my apartment) has decided to screw a lot of people and move what would typically be apart of ESPN’s regional programming to its burgeoning college sports network. Last week the men narrowly beat Notre Dame at Gampel in a great game. However, I had to listen to it on the radio. In a weird turn of events, despite being able to have greater access to sports in every way, I find myself being forced to resort to the most primitive measures to follow my favorite college sports program. Similar things happen with football this past fall.

I can follow the Manchester United Red Devils on MUTV every week and they play in England. That’s the UK people. However, I can’t watch a game taking place twenty minutes from my apartment (I live 20 minutes from everything awesome in CT, its fantastic). It is life under the totalitarian rule of EPSN. Local loyalties and conveniences are sacrificed for the bottom line of the “state”. Right now on ESPN southern powerhouse UNC Greenville is playing Davidson. Now, I am sure this is an epic meeting of mid-majors. But come on. How difficult would it be to get the local affiliate to simulcast the game? Your telling me they would loose revenue gained from re-runs of The King of Queens?

People rose up against the NFL network over the Pats vs. Giants in week 17. Congress got involved. That turned out great for everyone. Now this obviously isn’t going to be on the same level, but it is the same practice. I already pay Comcast 100 bucks a month. Arlen Spector and the boys down in the PA just don’t care.

Who is fighting for the common man’s ability to watch their favorite sports?

Are you Che or Winston Smith? It’s a tough one…

On to Slow Strikes
-Terry Francona needs an extension. He deserves it.

-Coco Crisp better be ready to sit the pine this season.

-The Schilling situation could only happen to the Red Sox. You don’t see Greg Maddox injury himself in November and not tell the team for 3 weeks.

-Shawn Marion is happy to have no chance of making the playoffs. I will never understand professional athletes…

Threat Level Midnight

'Beware the fury of a patient man.' - John Dryden

One thing was learned Saturday night at the C’s preseason game at the The Sun, NBA super stars look great in casual Jay Petermen-esque sport jackets and relaxed fit jeans. They should have made an announcement "Fans,....Prepare for Boredom!!"

Other observations
The fact KG and The Truth did not play destroyed the night and made everyone recognize the need for these guys to stay healthy all season long. It was worse then hearing the words “Staring Stephen Baldwin”

The existence of the Gold Club-Groton has certainly increased the levels of Ho’s and Ho Wannabes in South Eastern CT 10 fold. I love it. I also don't live there...

The best part of the evening was the announcement of J.D. Drew’s grand slam. The place erupted. It was torture sitting there, watching the likes of Willie Green torch the shotty defense of Eddie House, thinking about what was happening at Fenway.

It is tough to be recognizable. I was sitting in the first row of people who had not officially pimped for The Sun could sit. It was about 7 feet from the court. Thus, the likes of Mike Gorman, Tommy Heinsoln, and Greg Dickerson were constantly walking passed me throughout the evening. They were often yelled at by the people in the stands for autographs or the effervescent “Where Gary?” To my knowledge nobody yelled anything to Ryan Rusillo.

Glen Davis is less a basketball player and more a Mack truck. If he somehow looses 40 pounds he could be the second coming of Anthony Mason. But that is a huge “if”. And notice how I didn’t say Charles Oakley.

You have not lived until you have watched the MLB playoffs and played the ponies with the degenerates at the Sports Book. It was like being the king of an island made of cigarette butts. Simply awesome.

Quick Comment on Joe Torre
It was interesting that Torre and the Ellen Dog Situation(The most ridiculous story in decades to get wall to wall coverage) got more pub then the veto of increases to the S-chip program (Husky B in CT). It was most interesting that somehow people thought the Yankees organization would handle the situation better then to offer 1 year at a pay cut. You inbred negative stereotypical pauns for Mass Media Conglomerates, trix are for pimpin. The only way this was ever going to end was with Torre trying to take the high road. It was funny how he only needed about 2 seconds to do it.

Friday night saw a nice victory by the UConn Football Huskies over the once powerful Cardinals of Louisville. I gave up on this game on three separate occasions during the evening. It was good to see them eventually rise to the level of a team ready to make the jump. They still have some huge games coming up, but it was a nice first step, especially coming off a terrible 1 point loss.

The Miami Dolphins are currently an abomination.

As for the Sox, all you can say is “Game 7”. It is all hands on deck. Win or GFY.

Game Three

Simply pathetic.

It was great to see Ortiz, Manny, Lowell, and Drew decided to get fine arts degrees at the "Nomar Garciaparra School of Swinging at the First Pitch in a Crucial Situation".

Also, if I hear one more time about Dice-K's exploits as a high school pitcher I am going to lose it. I don't care if he threw 300 picthes, it doesn't mean a pile of crap in America, especially if he can't get out of the 5th in the biggest start of his life. Joe Costig turned into Joe Buck by the second inning. I had to listen to the Mars Volta just to pass the time.

Until further notice Dice K will be refered to only as "Jake Westbrook's School Yard Biyatch".

We Strike!

I am boycotting Fox for starting baseball games after 8:00 pm. It is freaking insane. I will be damned if I find myself watching a sporting event that started at 8:30 that could have started at 6:30. TBS has proven “people will watch” if the game starts before primetime. The fact that I was watching game 2 of the ALCS at 1:00 in the morning on Sunday blows my mind. Like getting hit by lighting, it dawned on me that every person who was going to watch the game would have done so if it started at 4:30 in the afternoon. Typically I would not care on the weekends, but it is still bizarre to be throwing down your game at an establishment for three hours and then have the baseball still be on when you get home. It’s wrong Kyle….Its Wrong! and I cannot take it anymore. The bizarre ass Manatee’s that run that network must be stopped…

Did it not feel like Youkilis lining out in the 8th ended game two? At that point I knew it was not our night. And would someone explain to me why Eric Gagne is on the playoff roster? I would rather have Kyle Snyder or the ghost of Smokey Joe Wood over a lush like Gagne. Coco Crisp also must bring it to the Cleve or you can expect Jacoby Ellsbury to see a few at bats this week.

UConn finally played a quality opponent and lost in a game full of mental mistakes. If they get called for a few less offensive penalties, UConn would have beat Virginia handily.

Is the “parody” in College Football destroying College Football? South Florida is ranked 2nd in the country. Somewhere Bear Bryant is throwing up…

The overexposure of Payton Manning is one of the great social ills contributing to the downfall of Western Civilization.

I cannot wait for an in game advertisement to start out with “It’s the most unoriginal drama to hit network TV in years”…

Many people have said that having hot women as sideline reporters in sports sets women back. They are wrong, this does…which then inevitably sets up this.

According to Calhoun Jeff Adrian is working on "His three point shot". Oh my god....

The Patriots are a juggernaut.

This week....Dice K is going to be lights out....Matt Cassell will get a ton of reps in practice....and I will read at least one article on womens basketball....ugh....

Th shamrock shake is only 5 months away!

I Hate New York

This just in, Joe Torre just had Joba Chamberlin and Kyle Farnsworth start getting ready in the pen. Seriously, has any manger ever been rewarded more for trying to destroy a bullpen? I think Torre has to go, if for no reason other then that I am disgusted this is a topic of discussion every October after the Yankees are pasted by a team with half their payroll.

The question then becomes, who takes over the most storied franchise in American Sports? (My bowels just exploded). Insiders will continue to talk about the usual cast of characters; Tony Larussa, Dusty Baker, Larry Bowa, and Don Mattingly. Then there are the YES men, former Manager of the Year Joe Girardi and Paul O’Neil. For me, there is only one man who can fill this job.....….Bobby Valentine.

Bobby V has Three essential things going for him:
1. He is a true baseball man: The Yanks need to return to the NL style that pushed them over the top in the late 90’s. Torre has relied too much on Steinbrenner’s over the top spending and the constant flow of HGH, the Cream, and the Clear into the Yankee clubhouse.

2. He knows NYC: Bobby V cannot fold in the face of media pressure. This is a major factor for most who will be considered. Bobby V was respected by the media during his time with the Mets.

3. I cannot stand Bobby V: I think he is absolutely absurd. Bobby V is a cross between Peter Griffith and Mr. Burns. He is the perfect villain for people who hate the Yankees to project their vitriolic hatred for the Evil Empire. It was getting hard to hate Torre for his constant praise of Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek. This will make it easier for everyone.

So there you have it. It should be a one horse field. I figure Torre can the join the Sox as one of Tito’s bench coaches……….Well maybe not.

Hell, I love seeing the Yankees loose in October, maybe Torre should stay. The glory of a Bobby V hiring is that the Yankee's cannot get more talented unless they get a dominate Ace like Santana, and the Sox can outbid them. They just become even more dislikable.

They should probably just keep Torre to ensure they fill the new stadium. I just wish this didn't become an annual ritual. They should bring A-Rod back to. They are following Connie Mack's guide to making money in Baseball; do good enough to appease rational fans without paying the playoff bonuses for the ALDS and WS. More power to them, because the Curse of Giambi is alive and well....

Don't Tase Me Bro....

Your catchphrase of the fall ladies and gentlemen.

The recent swoon by the Red Sox has me wishing Tito and the lads could videotape opposing managers giving essential basestealing signs and specific pitching signs during thr game. PLAYoffs?

The recent news that Mike Terico is going to take the afternoon spot on ESPN radio begs the question, can a sports anchor's overexposure cause sports radio to suck even more?

I love the Mets. I could manage this team and win 89 games. What in the name of Billy Martin is Willie Randolph doing? The Nationals?...The Freaking Nationals?.......Meet the Mets....Don't Tase me Bro....

Is there a more bizzarre sport then College Football? It's nice to see Randy Edsall has followed the Jim Calhoun playbook; play awful teams early to build the fans hopes so they can be somehow disappointed when West Virgina puts up 30 in the first half.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish suck. period. But maybe now I can get tickets for Columbus Day weekend.

I have been asking around to find out if Dustin Pedroia is the greatest 2b in the History of the Red Sox. Jerry Remy and Jody Reed have been getting plenty votes.

The Juice is out on bail. I'll have to hide my signed "White Bronco Chase" poster.

High School sports are a trip. They are the closest thing to organized fascism outside of the Republican Party. They amount of media coverage it now gets is a sign of the apocalypse. And yet, nationwide participation is up. Reason number 7 million as to why Americans cannot read. Just amazing.

The recent commericals to try and build excitment for the 2007/2008 Boston Bruins is pure comedy. Your Boston Bruins ...At least your not getting tasered.

The Celtics are coming...The Celtics are coming.....

-Just Win Today

Pats role....

So the highlight of Sunday evening was watching Adalius Thomas excellerate like a sprinter after picking off Philip Rivers. Even a terrible loss by the Sox was not enough to dampen the fact that the Pats beat the Chargers down like rented mules. It was a sweet victory.

Obviously, Schilling should have thrown it in Jeters ear. Why is it that Pedro was the only Red Sox pitcher to recognize that intimidating Jeter was 90% the battle?

The second highlight of the evening was 30 Rock winning for Best Comedy. I have seen every episode, and feel it is the best comedy on TV not currently airing on FX.

Huge Day

Sox vs, Yanks
Pats vs. Chagers
Schilling vs. Clemons
The Pats D vs. LT
Bill Belichek vs. The World
Tiger vs. The Field
The Colbert Report vs The Daily Show
Grays Anatomy vs. House
Alec Baldwin vs. His Daughter
Me vs. The 50 "5 paragraph essays" I still have to grade by Monday...

I could go on forever. It is simply one of those epic days during the year when all our modern escapist traditions come together in an orgy of entertainment that precludes anyone from getting anything done. It allows all Americans to feel like one of those saucy frenchman who spends everyday after lunch lounging around a local bistro drinking and smoking to their hearts desire.

And for those of you wondering, I will get the essays done. Those 35 Prehistory tests on the other hand will wait until Monday during my first period prep.

I was asked on Friday what I'll be watching Sunday Night. The plan is to watch the Red Sox and listen to the great Gil Santos and Gino Capaletti announce the Pats game. It is the best I can do to ensure both games get the attention they deserve.

Man United's early struggles seem to be working themselves out. Rooney's rehab is coming around and the lads continues to scrap out victories. This weekends performance against Everton was poor, but the victory was sweet nonetheless.

Following the President's lead, the Dallas Cowboys just announced a "Mission Accomplished" on the 2007/08 season. Great work T.O.

-Just Win Today

Sports Fans…PREPARE FOR GLORY!......

AS the Summer Turns...

About a week ago I had resigned myself to the idea that I would not be playing Fantasy Football this year. After 12 years, the practice seemed to be getting old. This correlated to my annual attempt to forget about my fascistic love of sports and become an even more enlightened person.

And just when I thought I was out….They pull me right back in.


Today the nation saw the Boston Celtics take a huge step in returning to the Promised Land with the acquisition of Kevin Garnett. The move vaults the team to the top three of the Eastern Conference. That said, the team still needs to continue to build. A veteran point guard and low post presence will be essential if the team is to lift the Larry O’Brian Trophy 10 months from now. The team will have to jell, but a tremendous amount of excitement is in the air. I am confident the addition of an all-time great in KG and one of the great shooters in history in Ray Allen will make The Truth an even better player. I fear Rondo is not ready, but he has 2 months to figure it out.

While losing CT’s own Ryan Gomes came as a surprise, he is eligible for free agency soon and I would not count out him coming back. Either way….

The 2007/2008 Boston Celtics….Championship…..


At the exact same time, the lads from the Fens pulled off a deal that saw Eric Gagne come to New England to be a set up man for Johnny Paps. This is a huge deal, because Gagne has had a fine season and is one of the best in the game when healthy. The day also saw the Yankees; also in desperate need of relief pitching, give away their most used relief pitcher Scott Proctor for a 25 year old 3rd basemen. It may be time for Brian Cashman to matriculate at NYU, or ESCU.

The Sox now have the best pitching staff in all of baseball, as long as Schilling comes back healthy. Now all we need is the offense to explode.

The 2007 Boston Red Sox…..Championship……

The 2007/2008 edition of the New England Patriots are now in camp. Bill, Tom, Teddy, Troy, Richard, Vince, Rodney, Mike, Ben, Donte, Adailius, Mike G, Lawrence, Eugene, Rudy, and Randy. We still need an Asante on board, but…

The 2007/2008 New England Patriots…..Championship……...


The 2007/2008 Boston Bruins……3/4 ain’t bad…..

And oh yeah…….“P.Manning Dog Fights”…….….Championship….

Hitting the Fan

It always hits the fan on Wednesdays. Day one of Senior Final Exams is in the books.

Kobe Bryant went on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show and said he wanted the Lakers to trade him.
Just for Fun, listen to the podcast and then check out the ESPN Trade Machine.

And Yes, The Truth and Sebastian Telfair for The Black Mamba works salary cap wise. The Kobe/Yi combination could be huge.

The Tennis Channel. The most ill-conceived single sport channel idea ever.

Best headline I have seen in a long time…”Stray Rod”. Good to see A-Rod is taking his social ques from Stephen Jackson.

The Red Sox are a juggernaut right now.

With that said, someone call WEEI, I have a Potential Trade- Coco Crisp, Willi Mo Pena, Mike Bodin, and Manny Delcarman or David Pauley for Ichiro. They then would need to call up David Murphy or Jacoby Ellsbury to be the 4th outfielder. Anyone who read Ichiro’s comments in USA Today knows he could be had for a combination of MLB talent and prospects. Other the Roy Oswalt, it may be the only chance the Sox can get even better before the deadline.

It would make for such a plethora of riches, I break out into laughter like Red on the Bus to Mexico just thinking about it.

Big up’s to The History Channel. The program on Star Wars on Monday night was awesome. This morning’s History of Iraq from the beginning of time until today was the perfect Pre-Exam show to get me focused to proctor the test.

Lets Hope Cindy Sheehan missed it, because if she thought the War in Iraq was a lost cause before…damn….the show makes it clear nobody with exception of the Ottomans has been able to rule that region of the Middle East with any confidence since the Assyrians.

Lindsey Lohan returned to rehab. Another football league, the UFL, is being created to challenge the NFL. Just another case of losers not learning from history. Nothing in life sucks more then wasted talent.

Remember, when your up against it, Coffee is for Closers….So go out there and sell!