07/30/08

I’ve been absent as of late, but I want you to know that there is a very good reason for this. It is a combination of my being on vacation and my relatively low work ethic. There, happy now? Let’s get to today’s edition.

Leading Off
-Answer to Thursday’s trivia question: Steffi Graf is the only tennis player to win all four Grand Slams at least 4 times.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
-John Wooden


Free Throws
(A lot of news to get to, but I’ve decided to keep this short or else I’ll never get this done.)

NFL
-If you think I’m going to talk about Brett Favre, then you’re wrong! I am indeed going to talk about the Green Bay Packers of which there is a very good chance that Brett Favre will not be a part of. I’m not sure who to blame in this scenario. I could blame the Packers for taking their time, not being decisive and giving Aaron Rodgers nightmares. Or I could blame Favre for coming back in the first place. It’s a rare occasion that I sit on the fence, but when there’s man-eating Alligator’s on either side, I find it very hard to jump off. One thing I can say though, Is that the Packers are doing nothing but hurting themselves by taking their time. The closer we get to pre-season, the less a team is going to want to bring in Favre and possibly mess up their chemistry. The Packers better make up there mind or they might find Favre showing up at Lambeau in purple.

MLB
-So, how ‘bout them Angels. I hear they just added a pretty good bat to the lineup. What’s his name again? Oh right, MARK TEIXEIRA! Yes that’s the .540 slugging, 40-home run hitting, Mark Teixeira that we’ve come to know and love. He was traded for up-and-coming 1st baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Stephen Marek. The usually timid Angels have finally decided to drop the gloves and come out swinging for the World Series, so to speak. This deal could, however, backfire on the Angels if they don’t win the series this year. Teixeira is in the last year of his one-year contract and is expected to demand in excess of $20M per season. A figure the Angels won’t be able to pay, if they expect to keep Vlad Guerrero and John Lackey, amid others on an all-star roster.

-This is breaking news that will already be broken by the time I get this posted. The Yankees have solved their short-term catching problems by acquiring a far more likable Rodriguez. Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez was traded from his Detroit Tigers for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. Instead of just calling up a minor-league catcher, Hank Steinbrenner had to prove his endless wealth by signing yet another multiple All-Star, this time a 14-time All-Star. But hold the phone just one minute, was this deal really worth it for the Yankees. When you look at the Yankees they have one glaring weakness, Pitching. Apparently Steinbrenner is more concerned with getting the better player than building a more complete team. Look at the Yankees lineup. A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, Abreu and Damon. Do you really think that another bat will help them that much. What will the Yankees do when Posada comes back? Did you think of that hank? A $200M roster and out of a playoff spot. What does that tell you?

NBA
-Quickly moving on to the NBA and with little time to spare. Tim “the tool man” Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his role in the NBA betting scandal. All that needs to be said is that the NBA is crazy if they think this thing is limited to “one rogue official.” I feel a feeling this thing is bigger than Barry Bonds’ right bicep. My intuition isn’t normally wrong, unless you count that Wimbledon match that I completely misinterpreted, but then again I’ve been saying that Favre will return since the beginning and look who’s laughing now. I have a feeling those calls Donaghy made to Scott Foster before and after games may have something to do with it. But It’s just a hunch.


Daily Dose
Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee Brewers (Hurry up it’s already started!)