Living La Vida Loca!  -Ricky Martin

Public Service Announcement:  12 games in a row.  Just completed  the sweep of the best team in baseball.  Handedly.  Willie Randolph:  “We ran into a hot ball club at the wrong time.”  You certainly did.  These are the kinds of streaks where championships are made.  The litmus tests.  The Sox passed with flying colors.  Coconut Crisp all hepped up on Red Bull.  Coconut Crisp manufacturing runs.  Coconut Crisp stealing runs away with defense.  Schill said it might have been the best catch he’d ever seen.  Loretta called it the “play of the year.”  As Coco’s thumb gets better, so will his bat.  Papi’s up!  What does he do?  Hit his 200th.  Hank Aaron, here we come.  Well at least Reggie Jackson.  These guys have not made an error in 16 games, tying a major league record.  Not your grand daddy’s Sox.  Curt Schilling feeling healthy for the 1st time since 2004.  It shows.  If not for Santana, the Thrill is having a Cy Young caliber season.        Read More »

Up all night so you don’t have to.

Public Service Announcement:  Ok here we go!  You want ‘em, you got ‘em.  Random Draft Notes.       Read More »

I’m A Newlywed, Not A Divorcee, And Everything I Do Is Funky Like Lee Dorsey.  -Beastie Boys

Public Service Announcement:  Alright, here we go.  The Red Sox express.  Ten games strong.  Next stop, October.  Keep putting those Yankees further back in the rear view mirror.  Caution: objects appear smaller.    

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Don’t call it a comeback!  -LL Cool J

Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go!  The Knicks are a complete joke.  The worst franchise in sports bar none.  Its just gross what’s going on over there at MSG.  The latest press conference confirms just that.  Doesn’t Mr. Dolan have any smart sons who could run the team? A daughter even?  I guess not because dumb son #1 James Dolan and company hosted an intimate gathering. Just the Knick beat writers.  Nobody else.  Truly courageous.  Dolan had this to say:  “I’m saying this with Isaiah right here.  Its his team.  He made this bed…He has one year, one season to make significant changes.”       Read More »

A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind, and won’t change the subject.  -Winston Churchill

Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go! I have been accused here in these pages of hating the Yankees too much. That I should relax. Take a valium. I’m too vengeful they say. I’m sorry people. I am a Red Sox fan. I will not be a Yankee apologist. I will not relent. Some folks, like Denis Leary, have grown complacent: “If they don’t win this year, I don’t care. I’ve got my championship. Waited my whole life…I got one. I’m done.” Are you out of your cotton pickin’ mind Denis. Are you? What the hell has gotten into you? I will not have my children’s children’s children endure the chants of 2004. In that horrible singsong chant. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.        Read More »

Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way.  -Superman

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go.  Workin’ the waiver wire.  Everybody wants to know.  Who do I pick up now?  Josh Q. has the answers:     Read More »

Josh Q. Public: Drop whines, drop dimes, drop hits, man when I drop, it’s ova wit. -B2K

Public Service Announcement:   OK, here we go!  First Ken Caminitti.  Then Jose.  Then Shadows.  Now this.  I mentioned briefly today about Jason Grimsley’s indictment.  Not to sound too much like Walt Frazier, but I had not fully digested the magnitude of the affidavit.  Holy Cow!  This cat names names.  A lot of them.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  The reason for the search and seizure conducted his home?  “Grimsley’s and other Major League Baseball players illegal receipt of the prescription drugs, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), and amphetamines…”  Yowza!  This all started on April 19^th.  Two kits of HGH were delivered to Jason by a US Postal Inspector.  A sting operation.  They stung him real good like.  He agreed to cooperate with the investigation.  Big Pussy style.  He was interviewed for two hours.  What a two hours it must have been.  Jason talked extensively about his receipt and use of steroids.  Jason talked extensively about his receipt and use amphetamines.  Jason talked extensively about his receipt and use of HGH.  Jason also talked extensively about “his knowledge of other MLB players receipt and use of athletic performance-enhancing drugs.”  Uh-oh.  Some guys are pooing their pants right now.  Selig too.  If you ask me, he’s as dirty as the dopers.  Oh ya, he didn’t know anything about this.  Right.  The US Postal Service did.  The IRS did.  They set him up and netted him. 

Here are some of the things he had to say:  Throughout the course of his career he used performance enhancing drugs, steroids, amphetamines, Clenbuteral, and HGH.  He used Deca-Durabalin after shoulder surgery because of its healing abilities.  Tommy John surgery.  Hmmmm.  Think he’s the only one?  Since MLB began its new drug testing policy, the only substance Jason says he used is HGH.  HGH can only be tested for with a blood test, currently not being done.  Again I ask, think he’s the only one?  In 2003 Jason says he tested positive for steroids.  I may be mistaken, but I do not remember hearing anything about it.  Amphetamines.  Greenies.  “That’s like aspirin; everybody has ‘em.”  Clubhouse coffee pots labeled leaded and unleaded.   Leaded laced with greenies.  Where’d they come from?  Latin players.  According to Jason, they are a major source for the speed.  They had “boxes of ‘em.”  Or the Cali teams.  They can get to Mexico fairly easily.  Grimsley said when he was with the Angels, this guy would come around selling bats, gloves, and speed.  Now comes the part where he names names.  Everything’s blacked out on the affidavit.  You can’t tell how many names he named, but there is a bunch. Cats that used HGH.  Cats that used steroids.  Cats with horrible back acne.  Cats that used greenies.  Trainers getting greenies.  Trainers who referred steroid sources.   “Boatloads” of players use this source.  Jason then called these suppliers in front of the investigators.  Story corroborated.  Names will get leaked.  Names will be made public.  If you didn’t believe Shadows then, do you now?  Believe this, a lot more athletes than we will ever know used.  Don’t be fooled.  Don’t let our love of the game cloud our vision.  From heroes to nobodys, they were doping. 

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

The People’s Choice

Public Service Announcement:  I just don’t get it.  How is this happening?  How is it possible?  Down 1 ½ games.  Lost two in a row to the Columbus Clippers.  The walking wounded.  Easy wins, right?  Nope.      Read More »

Any Given Sunday

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  Ouch!  This one smarts.  This one really smarts.  What will his team do without him?  He leads them in runs.  He leads them in home runs.  He leads them RBI’s.  He leads them to first place.  Without him, how far do they plummet?  What depths will they sink to?  Who will replace him?  The names that keep popping are Kevin Youkils and Connor Jackson.  But can the Greek God of Walks really replace The Latin God of Home Runs?  Can Conner Jackson toe the line?  Unfortunately those are the best names out there.  The other names?  Ben Broussard.  Lyle Overbay.  Justin Morneau.  Sean Casey.  All to be had.  Big Ben’s numbers are the best of that bunch, but I don’t know.  I just don’t trust him.  Who will they have to give up to get one of those guys?  Bobby Crosby?  Ian Kinsler?  These are the very important issues an owner has to deal with.  A fantasy owner.  King Albert Pujols was carrying my Hoboken Blue Sox.  In first place for over a month.  No looking back.   Then, next thing you know, Pop!  Aramis Ramirez hits a pop foul.  Pop! Winnie the Pujols feels a pop in his right side.  Pop!  Pop goes the weasel.  Pop! Pop go my Blue Sox.  We won’t know until later today what the real damage is.  We won’t know until later today how long he will be out.  We do know will be put on the DL.  We do know now this spells trouble for the Blue Sox.  We do know Alfonso Soriano can’t do this alone.  “If you told me right now he’d be out two weeks, I’d buy you dinner the rest of the year,” manager Tony La Russa said.  Me too Tony, me too. Me, and Pujols owners everywhere.

The Public at Large:

1.  My last word on soccer.  Regarding the popularity issue.  The reason soccer is so popular worldwide is because it is so inexpensive to play.  That’s it.  This is not a knock.  Just a fact.  All you need is a ball.  Period.  Hockey requires ice and skates.  Not an easy feat in Morocco.  Football & baseball?  The equipment just costs too much.  Especially in third world countries.  Basketball?  Ahhhh.  Basketball.  All you need is a ball.  This is why, years from now, basketball will be more popular worldwide than soccer.  It’s inexpensive and a better game.

2.  Mavs Vs. the Heat.  I gotta go with Miami.  Sure Disco Dirk has been great.   Don Nelson has to be smiling.  Wherever he is.  Probably coaching some YMCA team in Hawaii.  Sure the Mavs have an all round better cast of characters.  Sure Josh Howard has been a complete ball player.  Sure Jason Terry has looked tough as nails.  Sure Avery Johnson has this team playing defense.  Finally.  But, Shaq Daddy is ready.  He’s in shape.  He’s been there.  Three rings.  The best center in basketball by far.  Dallas just has no answer for this guy when he’s playing like this.  Oh ya, Dwayne Wade plays for the Heat too.  NBA Playoff Basketball.  I Love This Game!

3.  Don’t look now but the banged up Yankees are in first. There’s no doubt in my mind, by Friday, that will all change.

4.  Roy Halladay has quietly gone to 7-1.  Cy Young anyone?

5.  Suns lose.  It was a great run.  Nash proved he is the MVP of this league.  They shouldn’t have gone that far.  If Amare comes back healthy for real, look out.  This team will win a title or two or three.

6.  Stanley Cup finals.  To be honest, I don’t care.  If the Bruins are out, I usually don’t watch.  So, usually, I don’t watch.  This year, I had some interest in the Sharks.  Wanted Thornton to stick it to the Big Bad Bruins.  And I do do mean bad.  I kind of adopted the Devils since moving down here.  They’re gone too.  I guess there’s Edmonton and Samsonov.  But, a Canadian team?  I don’t know.  I guess I’m not watching.

7.  Remember Super Joe Charboneau?  I just like saying that, Super Joe Charboneau.

8.  Just saw this quote about Bobby Orr:  “The best fighter in the history of hockey was Bobby Orr. Nobody had better leverage on his skates and nobody had quicker hands, so he could have licked anybody he wanted to. If he wanted to.” – Johnny ‘Pie’  McKenzie

Public Figures:

1.  Making me feel young again.  Sort of.  Thirty-six-year-old Damion Easley, hit three dings in yesterday. Went 4-for-5 with seven RBI in the game.  That made him the oldest player in major league history to have a game of four or more hits, three or more homers, and seven or more RBI.

2.  Happy Birthday Travis.  Travis Hafner will remember this one: His grand slam was the big hit in Cleveland’s 14-2 win over the Angels. It was the 275th bases-loaded homer in Indians history, but the first one hit by a player celebrating his birthday!

3.  Hot start.  Dodgers rookie Matt Kemp went yard for his third straight game yesterday. Kemp, who made his big-league debut on May 28, concluded his first week on the job as the first player to have a three-game home run streak so early in his major-league career, just seven games in, since 1988.  Then, Cleveland first baseman Luis Medina connected in the fourth, fifth and sixth games of what turned out to be a 51-game, 10-homer career.

4.  Bronson Arroyo, remember him?  He went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs in his 7-5 victory at Houston. You have to go back more than a third of a century to find the last pitcher to get at least three hits and four RBI while “batting 1.000″ in a major-league game. Milt Pappas was the last one to do that, pitching for the Cubs in 1972, when he went 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBI in a 7-2 victory over the Mets.  Why can’t we get guys like Arroyo?

5.  Johnny Damon’s 10th-inning ding off Chris Ray provided the winning run in the Yankees‘ 6-5 victory at Baltimore. That lifted his career batting average in extra innings to .350, the highest among the 37 active major-leaguers who have had at least 100 extra-inning at-bats. Why can’t we get guys like him?

Public Spectacle:

Tommy Lasorda.  Sorry folks just audio but huh-larious. 

Peter Crouch doing the robot.  I know, after all my anti-soccer rants Englands own Peter Crouch.

Peace out homies!  Six, two and even.           

A Tour de Force

Public Service Announcement:  All right, here we go.  Lance Armstrong.  American hero.  Won the Tour de France.  Won it a record seven consecutive times.  Fought brain surgery.  Fought cancer.  Sportsman of the Year.  Yellow bracelets everywhere. Live Strong. Cheater. Cheater.  Cheater.          Read More »