All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.  -Galileo

Public Knowledge:

1.  This report is just the tip of the tip of the iceberg.  Like Chicago used to sing, “Only the beginning.  Only just the start.”  For every cat named in this report, there are many, many more who went unnamed.  Every clubhouse has their own Brian McNamee.  Every clubhouse has their own Kirk Radomski.  Every clubhouse has their own skeletons.

2.  The Roger Clemens’ of the world can save their outrage.  Save it for a rainy day.  Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away!  Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day!  Save it Rocket.  Save it everybody.  You had your chances.  500 of you did.  Only 68 of you had the courage to speak with Senator Mitchell.  Clemens’ mouthpiece Rusty Hardin told reporters that Roger had not been given the opportunity to defend himself.  Yes he had.  As did 432 others.  They chose not to.

3.  Everybody loves the list.  The list of the players.  The list of the cheaters.  The list of the users.  All the animals come out at night:  whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.  Not today though.  This rain wasn’t near strong enough.  But it’s not just the players who need a good dousing.  To me the most damning thing I heard was that of Gene Orza.  A former player claimed he had been given two weeks’ notice of a drug test by Orza.  Independently, Kirk Radomski stated that this former player had earlier told him the same thing about Orza’s statements.  Larry Bigbie also said that the same former player had told him the same thing about his conversation with Orza. 

4.  I still can’t over the fact the best hitter of our lifetime is dirty.  I still can’t over the best pitcher of our lifetime is dirty.  And don’t kid yourselves.  Don’t let them kid you.  They are dirty.  It’s still very overwhelming to me.  Now we gotta ask, who are really the best players of our lifetime?  Like how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?  The world may never know.  We may never know ’cause we may never know who was really clean and who wasn’t. 

5.  The big question I hear being tossed around is, is it worth it.  As Jayson Stark asked:  “Was it really worth all that money, all that time, all that trouble?  Was it really worth it to relive all those years of ugliness, shred all those reputations, embarrass the sport of baseball all over again?”  My answer is Yes.  Yes, yes, yes.  A thousand times yes.  The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.  America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers.  It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again.  But baseball has marked the time.  This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray.  It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.  Baseball itself needs to be good once again.  And if it means some folks’ faces are going to get dirty in the process, then so be it.  Remember, no one is bigger than the game. 

6.  Kevin Duckworth?  He is not actually implicated in steroids in any way but during the investigation of former Met clubhouse guy Kirk Radomski a personal check of his was uncovered.

7.  All I really need to know I learned in Juiced.  As compelling as the Mitchell Report is, Jose already told us.  In his book, Canseco claimed widespread use of steroids in Major League Baseball.  He named names.  Big names.  Important Names.  Superstar names.  Jesus Christ.  Superstar.  Do you think you’re what they say you are?  We didn’t think so.  We didn’t believe him.  No one did.  But following his story, several of those players, including Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, were called to testify before Congress about steroids in baseball.  And here we are. 

8.  More Jose.  Jose is convinced A-Broad should have been on the list.   Canseco:   “All I can say is the Mitchell Report is incomplete.  I could not believe that (Rodriguez’s) name was not in the report.”   Yowza!  Jose was right before.  Jose played with A-Broad.  It may be high time we start believing this cat.

9.  A sign the apocalypse is upon us?  Al Jazeera breaks in on the Mitchell Report.

10.  Rumors had it that rumors that the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols was on the list.   Because your kiss, your kiss, is on my list.  Because your kiss, your kiss I can’t resist.  The list of those implicated in the Mitchell investigation.  It turned out they were just that.  Rumors.  But if there is one thing I’ve learned from all this, it’s that nobody is above suspicion.  Nobody.  Not one new name could come out that would surprise.  Not Derek Jeter.  Not Big Papi.  Not nobody.

Peace out homies.  Six two and even!

This is a repost of the first blog I ever wrote.  Aril 16th 2006:

I am, I am, I am superman, and I know what’s happening.  -REM

Public Service Announcement: Who was on the juice?  That’s what everybody wants to know.  Who was on the juice?  Well, the jig is up. Everybody was.

You don’t believe me?  This we know: Barry Bonds testified to a grand jury that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was nailed in a steroid-distribution ring. Bonds says said he didn’t know they were steroids.  Who cares?  He was on the juice. Were the effects any less because he, “didn’t know.” 

The same goes for Gary Sheffield.  He was on the juice, wittingly or not.  Jason Giambi was a bit more candid; he graphically described to a grand jury how he stuck all kinds of needles into his body.  His brother, Jeremy confirmed, “If you don’t know … you must’ve been in a coma for two years.”  Good looking’ out Jeremy.  Well, at least you admitted your own juicing up.

While McGuire refused to “talk about the past” at the Grand Jury, he has admitted to using Andro, albeit, after an unsuspecting reporter noticed a bottle of the stuff in his locker. Ken Caminitti and Jose Canceco seemed to blow the lid off this whole brouhaha.  Brouhaha, ha ha ha.  Both these MVP’s dimed on themselves and everybody else.  And it’s not just baseball.

James “Lights Out” Toney, Heavyweight Champion of the World, for a day or two, tested positive for steroids, lost the Belt.  Bill Romanowski, three other Raiders, and a bunch of Panthers including a punter tested positive.  The list goes on: Lyle Alzado, Ben Johnson, and former hockey goon Dave Morrisette to name a few.   In 1998, the Tour de France was tarnished by a large-scale steroid scandal involving several athletes.  Heck even John McEnroe said he took “a form of steroid of the legal kind they used to give horses until they decided it was too strong even for horses.”  

Those are just the guys we know about for sure.  A Lenny Dykstra associate, bodybuilder and convicted drug dealer from Florida, claims he injected Nails with steroids “more times than I can count.”  More times than he can count?  That has to be lot.  Dykstra took the Phillies to the world series in 1993, led the league in runs and hits, and finished second in the NL’s most valuable player voting.  Think he was doing it? 

Cy Younger and underwear guru, Jim Palmer, seems to think fellow Oriole, Brady Anderson, was juicing in 1996 when he hit 50 home runs.  “I like Brady, and it doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy because he took steroids but I’m sure he wanted to enhance his performance.” Brady came into camp that year a behemouth, all muscle.  He hit fifty dings, and then before you know it, he starts getting injured, pulling muscles his body never intended him to have, and became the same old crappy player he was when the Red Sox traded him pre 1996. 

Bret Boone, 2001?  Looked like Arnold playing the infield.  He had one of the greatest seasons by a 2nd baseman ever.  Canceco says, “I hit a double, and when I got out there to second base, I got a good look at Boone.  I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was enormous. ‘Oh, my God,’ I said to him. ‘What have you been doing?’ ‘Shhh,’ he said.  ’Don’t tell anybody.’ ” Ya, you can count on Jose to keep his mouth shut. 

Raphael Palmeiro?  His surge of power and production began in 1993.  And for some strange reason, his home run total trickled down to 23 in 2004, when they started testing for steroids.  No big shock he got caught.  Sammy Sosa gets called before the grand jury for steroids and is caught with a corked bat. Geez, juicing with a juiced bat.  I could hit 25 doing that.

Here’s some more to chew on:  From 1900 to 1994, the major leagues averaged one home run per team per game only once.  Since 1995 it has happened every year.  In 1992 the average was .72, eight years later it had increased 62.5 percent, to 1.17.  From1900 to 1994, the magical barrier of 50 home runs in a season was surpassed 17 times. Since then, it has been done 18 times.  Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961 and his record stood for 37 years.  Players have hit 61 or more six times since 1998.  

Trainers knew about it.  Larry Starr was a major league baseball trainer for 30 seasons, 21 with the Cincinnati Reds and nine with the Florida Marlins.  One year, Starr was at the Reds’ spring training when he did a double-take. A minor leaguer walked into the clubhouse.  The last time Starr had seen him, the player was about 160 lbs soaking wet. He now was 38 pounds heavier, rippling with lean muscle.  The player told Starr that 38 pounds in three months were compliments of an anabolic steroid regimen, it didn’t surprise Starr.  It makes sense.  If a Triple-A ball player on the cusp had the option of juicing up or pumping gas for the rest of his life, and the stuff was already in the locker rooms, whats he gonna do?  

Management knew about it too.  When Caminiti got caught, his GM, Kevin Towers, said he knew about it.  He kept mum because of the team was doing so well.  Nobody likes a big mouth.  Towers was the first person in baseball management to acknowledge he knew about steroid use.  Commisioners knew about it. “I believe it, too,” says Fay Vincent, the baseball commissioner from 1989 to 1992.  “It’s hard to believe that anybody could not believe it.”  Everybody knew.  

The FBI called Major League Baseball and told them that players were on the juice.  They say they, “ alerted Major League Baseball i.e. Bud Selig’s office, … that Canseco was a heavy user, along with many others, and that they should be aware of it. . .I spoke to the people in their security office”.  The FBI?  C’mon, everybody knew.  If you listen to Canceco, even the President of the United States, ex-owner of the Texas Rangers knew. 

So, everybody did it, everybody knew about it.  So to call it a controversy doesn’t make any sense.  What controversy?  All you can do now is clean it up.  I’m not here to talk about the past.  Mark Mcgwire style.

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

This I know.  That I know nothing.  -Plato

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  So the list comes out in like an hour.  Woopy doopy!  This is great.  I dunno know why, but I can’t wait to see it.  Listy listy, who’s gonna be pissedy?  That’s what I wanna know. 

What are thses cats who were outed gonna say?  Is it gonna be more of the same?  More “See, I don’t even know what that is?”  More ”I did not get amphetamines from Mark Sweeney?”  More “I had a perscription from my on-line dentist?  More “Flaxseed oil?”  Snake oil.  I can’t wait to hear the outrage of Roger Clemens. 

The outrage of Rocket Roger Clemens who in the “twilight of his career” turned his 10-13, fat and lazy season with the Red Sox in ’96 around, and then suddenly transformed himself into a ’97 Cy Young  Toronto Blue Jay.  The outrage of Rocket Roger Clemens as he claims this can all be attributed to good habits and clean living.  The streets is talkin’ Rocket.  Jose’s talking.  Jason Grimsley’s talking.  Brian McNamee’s talking.  I can’t wait to hear your talking.  Oh ya, carry your own damn luggage!

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even! 

Gonna fly now.  Flying high now.  Gonna fly, fly, fly.  -Detta Little & Nelson Pigford

Public Service Announcement:  OK here we go!  By now you all know I cannot take my eyes off this freak show they call the New York Knickerbockers.  Call it morbid curiosity.  Call it what you like.  But for every Jo Jo the Dog Face Boy, for every bearded lady, for every General Tom Thumb, sometimes you get to see the Flying Wallendas. 

Last night was just such a night.  Last night I got see the future of the NBA and its name is Kevin Durant.  Last night I watched Kevin Durant score a game-high 30 points.  Last night I watched Kevin Durant go for a lay-up over David Lee.  No, stop, wait a minute.  Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman.  Please Mister Postman, look and see.  If there’s a letter in your bag for me.  Oh there’s a letter all right. A capital D. 

That stands for dunk.  Tremendous dunk.  Thunderous dunk.  Monsterous dunk.  Slam dunk the funk.  We love it.  We need it.  We gotta have it.  Can’t get enough.  That ever loving stuff.  Oh, that marshmallow fluff.  Windmills.  Tomahawks.  Three sixty, from the foul line, between the legs, double clutching, rock the babying, off the backboard,  dipsy-doo slam-jam-bam dunkeroo, baby!  I love this game!  I love Kevin Durant. 

I know it was against the lowly Knicks, but last night Durant was clearly the best player on the floor.  At age nineteen, he was the best player on an NBA floor.  Yowza!  In the second half he just attacked the basket.  Attacked with mesmerizing drives.  Attacked with paralyzing jumpers off the screen.  Attacked with a tantalizing 4-for-5 fourth quarter.  Attacked with a hypnotizing three to seal the deal.  Yes sports fans,  I’ve seen the future of the NBA and its name is Kevin Durant.

Public Acknowledgements:  PT Barnum, Marvelettes, Jon Landau, 5ive and the Seattle Post Intelligencer

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

I can’t stand it, I know you planned it.  I’m a’ set straight, this Watergate.  I can’t stand rocking when I’m in here ’cause your crystal ball ain’t so crystal clear.  So while you sit back and wonder why I got this fucking thorn in my side.  Oh my god, it’s a mirage.  I’m tellin’ y’all it’s sabotage.  -Beastie Boys

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  Eric Mangini.  I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart.  You broke my heart!  You broke all of our hearts.  Broke all of our hearts with your treachery.  Like Brutus.  Like Benedict Arnold.  Like John Walker Lindh.  Like them.  And now you must pay.  Pay dearly. 

Remember Mean Joe Green.  Remember when Mean Joe kept kicking the Cleveland Browns’ Bob McKay repeatedly in the nuts when he was laying on the ground?  That’s nothing.  Rememeber when Big Ben Davidson of Da Oakland Raidaz speared Lenny the Cool Dawson while he was rolling around in the endzone?  That’s nothing.  Remember when the Packers’Charles Martin came up from behind and body slammed Jim McMahon to the turf, separating his shoulder and ending the quarterback’s season.  That’s nothing. 

Payback may not come by such violent means, but payback will come.  It will come in the form of Brady to Moss.  Again and again.  It will come in the form of Brady to Welker.  It will come in the form of Brady to Gaffney.  It will come in the form of Brady to everybody.  Revenge will come.  Revenge is mine sayeth the Brain.  Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?  I think so, Brain, but how will we get the Spice Girls into the paella? 

Know this:  An NFL team averages eleven offensive drives pergame.  So a perfect game would be constituted of seventy-seven points.  The most points scored by one team in an NFL game is 72 when the Washington Redskins beat the New York Giants, 72-41, on Nov. 27, 1966.  Don’t count on this game being so close. 

Because of his ex-ballboy Mangini, Belichick had to write a check for $500,000 to the NFL.  Because of his ex-ballboy Mangini, Belichick lost a first-round draft pick.   Because of his ex-ballboy Mangini, all of Belichick past accomplishments have been put into question.  Super Bowls and all.  Brain does not forget.  He does not forget that it was Jets who drew first blood.  They drew first blood, not me.  They drew first blood.  They tried stealing players.  They tried stealing coaches.  And then this.  Then the snitching.  Now Mangini will get everything he deserves.  He will get the beating of his life.  And there will be much rejoicing in Patriot Nation.  Justice served.

Public Acknowledgements:  Godfather II, Pinky & the Brain and Rambo

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six two and even!

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.  -Benjamin Franklin

Public Knowledge: 

1.  Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome told the Chunichi Dragons he will not return next season, saying he wants to make a move to the major leagues.  Ahhh Major League, when these oddballs try to play hardball, the result is totally screwball.  Let the bidding begin.  Who’ll give me a hundred dollars?  One hundred dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya give me two?  The biggest bids should come from the Chicago Cubs, the San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox.

2.  Retired first baseman David Segui admitted Monday that he used steroids and purchased shipments from former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.  As you remember, Kirk Radomski admitted providing anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, Clenbuterol, amphetamines and other drugs to “dozens of current and former Major League Baseball players.”  Is it me?  I just don’t care any more.  I’m numbed by it all.  Nembutol numbs it all.  But I prefer alcohol.  I prefer the days of David Segui’s father.  I prefer the days of Diego Segui.  The opening game pitcher for the expansion Seattle Pilots.  Pitched for the Sox and a bunch of other teams for a while and then returned to Seattle as The Ancient Mariner.  I prefer those days.  And just so you know, Thank Heavens for Dwight Evans played with both David and Diego.  See that’s what I’m talking about.  That’s the kind fun stuff we should be discussing.  Not asterisks and needles.

3.  If there is anybody left in the world that still doesn’t believe the Patriots are the best team in football, they just don’t want to believe.  They will never believe.  They won’t believe when the Patriots run the table.  They won’t believe when the Patriots win the Super Bowl.  Then they won’t believe this Patriots team is the best football team of all time.  Enjoy it folks.  It’s the best you’ll ever see. 

4.  Jamaal Tinsley:   “All I wanted to do is have fun.”  What kind of fun are you expecting to have when three of your buddies are strapped?  When it’s still unclear if you were?  Those who know, don’t say.  Those who say, don’t know.  As old as I get, I will never understand the gun thing.  No rationalization will make me come around.  Don’t take your guns to town, son.  Leave your guns at home, Bill.  Don’t take your guns to town.

5.  Word has it the Twins are leaning toward a package of Jacob Ellsbury, infield prospect Jed Lowrie and relief prospect Justin Masterson, with the teams haggling over a fourth player in exchange for the Big Enchilada.  In exchange for Johann Santana.  Like Nike, do it!  Like David Starsky, do it!  Pitching wins championships.  You’re only as good as your next pitcher.  When your next pitchers are Johann, Boom Boom Beckett, Curt Schilling and D-Nice, you’re gonna win some ball games.  A lot of ball games.  Big ball games.  Important ball games.  No matter who is patrolling centerfield.  I know Elisbury is a mighty high price to pay.  So was Hanley Ramirez.  How did that work out?

6.  Michael Vick.  He was guilty.  He got caught.  That’s it.  Don’t go to bed, with no price on your head.  No, no, don’t do it.  Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.  Yeah, don’t do it.  When he comes out, there will be a team or two who will take a flyer out on this cat.  It will be up to him what he does with that.  Let’s hope at that time, he makes the right choices.

7.  I finally saw the Mayweather fight.  Saw it last night.  I know now what I always suspected.  Pretty Boy is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.  Not Manny Pacquiao.  Not Joe Calzaghe. (As I used to think.)  Not Bernard Hopkins.  Not nobody.   Mayweather has never lost, Rocky Marciano style.  Mayweather has never waivered.  Mayweather has never tired.  Mayweather has never faltered.  Mayweather has never failed.  He has always prevailed.  And I get the sneaking suspicion he always will.

8.  Sid the Kid.  And I do mean kid:

Peace out homies.  Six Two And Even!

Do what you want to do.  And go where you’re going to.  Think for yourself, ’cause I won’t be there with you.  -The Beatles

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  So the Knicks got embarrassed again last night.  Humiliated again last night.  Disgraced again last night.  At least Walt Frazier didn’t have to see it.  Didn’t have to hear the tumultuous boos.  Didn’t have to bear witness to the egregiously effortless performance.  Didn’t have to hear Isiah Thomas claim feigned innocence.  Didn’t have to watch him berate the fans.  Clyde had the night off.  St. Albans Queens’ own Kenny Smith did the game last night.  And that’s good news for one Walt Frazier. 

Clyde.  Clyde the Glide.  Clyde, thriving and surviving.  Clyde, dishing and swishing.  Clyde, swooping and hooping.  Clyde, bounding and astounding.  Clyde, out-muscling and out-hustling.  Whatever Knicks mystique there may be, make no doubt about it, it’s there because of Clyde. 

The coolest of the cool.  The hippest of the hip.  Any baddest of the bad.  Because I’m bad, I’m bad.  Come On.  You know I’m bad, I’m Bad.  You know it.  You can Willis Reed me.  You can Earl the Pearl me.  Heck, you can even Patrick Ewing or John Starks me.  But none of those of those cats match up to what Clyde means to this New York Knickerbockers franchise. 

Frazier presided over the Knicks for ten years from 1967 to 1977.  Frazier scored 19.3 points per game.  Frazier played in seven NBA All-Star Games.  Frazier was named to four All-NBA First Teams.  Frazier was named seven NBA All-Defensive First Teams.  He was one of the first cats to make stealing the ball an art form.  Quick steals.  Sudden steals.  Big steals.  1970.  Game Seven.  NBA Finals.  Reed hobbled.  Clyde scores thirty-six.  Clyde dishes out nineteen.  Clyde steals five.  Clyde steals one big one.  Steals one big one from Jerry West down the stretch.  Steals one big one from Jerry West down the stretch and goes coast-to-coast.  Coast-to-coast and the finger roll.  And one!  Ballgame!  Stole the ball and stole our hearts. 

That’s why I feel so bad.  I’m no Knickophile.  I’m clearly no Zekeophile.  As much as I revel in watching Isiah’s pain night after night, it pains me to watch Clyde watch these Knicks night after night. 

I’d love to know what Clyde is really thinking.  What is he really thinking about the sexual harassment suit when he carried himself with the utmost of class?  What is he really thinking about the highest payroll in the NBA when the most he ever made was $400,000?  What is he really thinking about last place in the Hot ‘Lantic when he only had one losing record with the Knicks and even then still made the playoffs?  What is he really thinking when Stephon Marbury flies the coop when Clyde was the ultimate team player?  On a team of ultimate team players.  What is he really thinking about the worst coach in Knicks history when he played for the best coach in Knicks history?  What is he really thinking about his beloved Knicks when it seems the only people they love are themselves?  I’d love to be a fly on the wall.  I’d love to hear what Clyde is really thinking.

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Lancelot Links:

1.  Beckham teaches Snoop Jr. to play soccer.  This Is London

2.  Classy Mayweather too good for Hatton.  Or anyone else.  Bad left hook

3.  Patriots/Steelers aftermath  Touching All The Bases  And here.  Mondesi’s House

4.  Jamaal Tinsley’s posse attacked by assault-weapon wielding clubbers.  I *Heart* Celtics

5.  What IS Jason Kidd Thinking?  Truth About It

6.  Golden State history lesson.  The Association

7.  The nickname Hall of Fame.  Hugging Harold Reynolds

8.  Thanks to Going Five Hole

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it.  -Sir Winston Churchill

Public Knowledge:

1.  So now Anthony Smith knows what everybody else knows.  What Bart Scott knows.  What Don Shula and Eric Mangini are gonna know.  You don’t tug on superman’s cape.  You don’t spit into the wind.  You don’t pull the mask of the ol’ lone ranger.  And you don’t mess around with the New England Patriots.  When you do that, you get embarrassed.  When you try to write checks your ass can’t cash, Tom Brady throws four TDs in your mug.  Randy Moss proves impossible is nothing.  Rodney Harrison makes big time stops.  So now it’s 13-0.  So now the Patriots face the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.  Revenge is a dish best served cold.  My guess is it’s gonna be frigid up in Foxboro next weekend.  Cold as ice up in Foxboro next weekend.  Willing to sacrifice up in Foxboro next weekend. 

2.  Speaking of the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.  You ever get the feeling that Mangini may just not have been ready to take this gig.  Maybe the guy the Jets made the youngest coach in the NFL was just a little too young.  A little to young to do a man’s job.  That maybe he should be still on the Patriots’ sidelines holding the camera.  Ya, that camera.  The one he used to hold.  I mean, you watched the game yesterday right.  Looked like all the Jets games this year.  Desperate. 

3.  Tom Brady is having a monster year.  Brett Favre is making us all feel young again.  That six-five, 230-pound quarterback with a laser rocket arm is still a six-five, 230-pound quarterback with a laser rocket arm.  But what about this Tony Romo character?  Romo was Harbaugh-esque yesterday.  The new Captain Comeback.  The new John Elway.  In his fifth NFL season, though only his second as a starter, Romo has rocketed into the elite category.  Houston Rocketed.  Johnny Rocketed.  Rocketed Richard.  Soon we’ll be saying Romo-esque.

4.  Isiah Thomas.  The new What Me Worry kid.  Despite back-to-back losses against the horrible Sixers.  Despite the fire Isiah chants booming from the Garden.  Despite being in last place in the Hot ‘Lantic Division.  Despite being 6-13 through Saturday.  Despite being 10-28 since owner James Dolan signed him to an extension nine months ago.  Despite losing to Golden State by 26 points, Philadelphia by 28 points, Denver by 32 points and Boston by 45 points.  Despite losing an $11.6 million judgment in a sexual harassment lawsuit.  Despite all that, Zeke was told by owner James Dolan that his job is not in jeopardy.  Alex Trebek is rolling in his grave.  Not for nothing, wouldn’t you love to hear what Clyde really thinks?

5.  DaWaaaaaaayne Waaaaaaaaade!  Flash looked awful flashy last night.  Flash a-ah.  Savior of the Universe.  Flash a-ah.  He’ll save everyone of us.  Flash a-ah.  He’s a miracle.  Flash a-ah.  King of the impossible.  Is he back?  Is it the shoes?  It sure looks like it.  Flash with thirty-five points.  Flash with ten dimes.  Flash, who had 33 points on Friday, who has scored 30-plus points in four of the past nine games, looks like the Flash of old.  Now if the rest of the Heat could just get on board.

6.  Hey Don Shula.  Hey Mercury Morris.  Ha ha ha ha!  Good thing you didn’t draft the Mighty Quinn.  Ha ha ha ha!  No champagne for you!

7.  Now I love Antoine Walker as much as the next guy.  Maybe more so.  Loved the shimmy shimmy shake.  Shimmy shimmy shaking the Celtics all the way to the Eastern Conference finals.  But this campaign by the Timberwolves to make him an All-Star starter is a little bit of a stretch.  Even Toine thinks so:  “Somebody out there must feel sorry for me.”

8.  The Reds still think they can get a deal done for Erik Bedard.  They’re not going to give up Jay Bruce to do it though.  That would mean Homer Bailey would likely be in the package.  Actually, it will probably take Bailey, Joey Votto and a top prospect to get the deal done.  I’d do it.  Do it in heart beat.  Erik Bedard is a stud.

9.  All of a sudden things are pretty quiet in Giant nation.  No Plaxico running his mouth.  No Shockey running mouth.  No Strahan running his mouth.  Quieter gentler Tom Coughlin?  I don’t think so.  I think the biggest is difference is the addition by subtraction of malcontent Tiki.  He’s the only one still running his mouth.  And he doesn’t even play anymore.

10.  Quick.  Who leads the NHL is assists?  Sid the Kid?  Joe Thornton?  Vinny LeCavalier?  None of the above.  It’s Marc Savard.  The biggest baddest Bruin of them all.  And you thought hockey was dead in Beantown.  Well, you were right, but it’s no fault of Savard’s.  Marc just came off a  career-best 12-game scoring streak.  Marc Savard may be the most unsung player in all of hockey.

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Ha ha ha ha!   12-0 bitches!