07/15/08

I know I’ve been late a lot lately, so I’ve been trying to find a solution. I’ve been really busy lately and haven’t had the time to write. So me and my messed up logic decides that I’m going to write more! That’s right The Sports Epidemic is going daily! Instead of taking 3 hours to write an incredibly long posts that no one reads, I’m going to write for 1 hour to make more manageable posts. I’ll also be adding a new section! This new blog is now available with half the fat of the regular!

Leading Off
-The San Diego Chargers are named after a credit card.


Free Throws
MLB
-How could I write this post without mentioning the (legendary) fight between Jose Canseco and Vai Sikahema. I didn’t watch this fight anywhere (although I did see clips) because apparently there were some media restrictions, but apparently Jose Canseco got beat down! Anybody who picked Jose Canseco to win this fight either has a brain defect or didn’t know that Vai is a former boxer and fought in the National Golden Gloves boxing tournament. But even I didn’t think Canseco would get KO’d in the first round!
Canseco had a 7-inch height advantage, but even with all those steroids packed into his body, he couldn’t take down a man who would have to reach up to shake his hand. I laugh at Canseco because every time he tries to gain popularity, it backfires. He started out on the Oakland Athletics where he was part of the bash brothers with teammate Mark McGwire, then there was steroids, then who can forget his books Juiced and Vindicated and now getting beat up by a 5-9 mini-me in 96 seconds. Next up for Jose: Dancing With the Stars.

-Part of the reason I’m so late writing this edition, is because I was watching the State Farm home run derby. Colin Cowherd may not like it, but that’s his loss. Josh Hamilton put on a show. Demolishing Bobby Abreu’s record of 24 home runs in one round with 28 of his own. He has Yankee Stadium cheering all night. He didn’t win the derby because he couldn’t match Justin Morneau’s (Canadian!) 5 homers in the last round. Morneau may have won, but this was definitely Hamilton’s night. He captivated a crowd and millions of viewers around north America with his awesome power (3 bombs over 500ft.), while also being able to share his story of overcoming a heroin addiction to playing in the MLB. Sounds like a winner if I ever heard one.

NFL
-I laughed so hard when I heard this story. Many of you may have heard about this before, but I had not. It turns out the Washington Redskins have been in a 16-year debate with the American Indians over the teams name. When I first heard this story I thought it was crazy. That is until I searched a little deeper. As it turns out the Redskins name may have actually been designed to be racially offensive. Time for a history lesson. In 1932 George Marshall bought an NFL franchise and called them the Boston Braves. The Braves then moved to Fenway Park in 1936 and renamed the team. Marshall was thought to be a racist and the name Redskins was thought to be a racial slur. I still think it’s crazy to debate a team name (hey I cheer for the New jersey Devils), but it turns out those Indians, err, native Americans, have a point.

-If you thought that you could get through this blog without me mentioning Brett Favre, then you thought wrong. The Favre situation has heated up with Favre asking for a release from his contract. Then the Packers telling him to go sit on the bench and back up Aaron Rodgers. I don’t know why the Packers said that. If they sit Brett Favre on the bench, they’ll be fired before they leave the stadium, especially with a community owned team. This is starting to get ridiculous though, on the part of Brett Favre. Just give us an answer. Are you coming back with the Packers or not. We just want an answer. Packers fans in Wisconsin are having rallies with cheese perched on their head, begging you to give them an answer. I’m all for some good suspense, but the summer heat is starting to get to me and I just think enough is enough.


7th Inning Stretch
-My friend is lazy, so he probably won’t write everyday. I’m just going to post this section when he gives me something.


Buzzer Beater
(The Buzzer Beater award will only be posted on the regular Tuesday, Friday and Saturday edition of the blog. Hey, that’s today!)
-The Buzzer Beater award for July 15 goes to…Josh Hamilton. Sorry Justin Morneau, you did your best, but I’m sorry to say that you didn’t deserve that home run crown. Congratulations to Hamilton on almost winning the home run derby in the house that Ruth built.

Tiger Woods - 1
Kevin Youkilis - 1
Jie Zheng - 1
Matt Kemp - 1
Roy Halladay - 1
Conor Jackson - 1
Rafael Nadal - 1
Justin Morneau - 1
Josh Hamilton - 1


Daily Dose
(I promised you a new section and here it is. I’ll give you the game/event to watch for every single day of the year. That’s 36, 525 times a century!)
-Today’s daily dose: The MLB All-Star game, duh!

-Remember, the next edition is tomorrow and don’t forget it!