Archive for August 1st, 2006
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
The second winner in No Mas and SBL’s Summertime Drugs and Sports Fashion Giveaway is… Monponsett from High Above Courtside! Monponsett, who has long been SBL’s No. 1 listener, wins the super-fresh Phi Slamma Jamma tee by blowing our minds with the following addition to No Mas’ ‘Illustrated History of Recreational Drugs and Sports’…
“Red Auerbach had his victory cigar, and Marvin Barnes had his fat nostril duel with the Peruvian Light Infantry while sitting on the same bench that Bill Russell once graced (it was the same bench, too… the Boston Garden was a truly nasty building, and I miss it dearly).
Now, your humble Smurf has nothing against the occasional schniggedy-schnoutful of the White Man’s Burden… but when you are banging down what I’d gather were huge snorts of Tony Yayo with your head under a towel (as about 4000 children watched), it may be time for some lengthy introspection.”
Well said, Monponsett. Here’s her full, original post on Bad News Barnes and a Houston Chronicle story chronicling Barnes’ cocaine-on-the-bench exploits. Yes, truly an outstanding addition to the history in-progress, and we’re betting you — the collective you, that is – will match it with the next leg of the contest. The third winner will be announced on the next SBL, Thursday the 3rd, and awarded with this Rated Rookie t-shirt from No Mas that makes me jones for ‘86-’87 Donruss…
And for those just catching on, here’s how you enter the giveaway…
1. Add tothe history by emailing dcsportsguy@aol.com with notable incidents and examples that No Mas left out.
2. We pick the best ones and share them on-air and on-site (one per week).
3. Senders of chosen submissions get free No Mas t-shirts.
Previous winners…
Dave from Premature Jockularity:
“1979: After admitting in an interview that he spread marijuana on his pancakes, Bill Lee is fined $250 by then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
I witnessed the Spaceman tell these and other tales circa 1981 at a Boston University lecture, during which, while audience members asked questions, he guzzled from a Molson bottle he had hidden inside a rolled-up flannel shirt.”
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
As a Nats fan, it has been with great interest that I’ve watched them trade for Alfonso Soriano, then try to cast him away and now allegedly try to ink him to a long-term deal. My brother tears Washington GM Jim Bowden apart and Thomas Boswell is making his usual apologies for this, but Armchair GM’s Dan Lewis is the one making the most sense.
His post The New Economics of the MLB Trade Market is a fascinating and well-stated look at how smart teams can take advantage of free agent compensation by acquiring players such as Soriano in their walk year, low balling them in arbitration and then collecting draft picks from whichever team the guy ends up signing with. Here, I’ll let Lewis explain…
“In November, the GM should identify players entering their walk year who are likely to be Class “A” free agents. He should try and acquire these players, if the price is right… In calculating whether “the price is right,” the GM should have an eye toward trading the player over the summer, absent, of course, a need to keep the player for a playoff run. Basically, the GM should use the player’s “flip” value as a hedge against overpaying in November.
The old analysis would have the GM simply analyze whether the player, if added, would make the team better for the current season. But that analysis, as demonstrated above, is incomplete. The player does not lose value simply because the team fails to remain competitive. Rather, the player takes on a different value. He turns from on-field asset to trade-block commodity.
Because the incentive to acquire Class “A” free agents is high, the market for these players is increased. (That’s why the Rangers could give up three MLB-ready players for two months of Carlos Lee and a good prospect; if they can’t re-ink Lee, they’ll get two draft picks!)”
So if the Nats don’t re-sign Soriano, which I’m not convinced they’re even trying to do, they basically spent $7 million on his services (his salary is $10 million vs. Brad Wilkerson’s $3 million) in exchange for an astounding 40/40 season and two top-50 draft picks next year. Not bad for a GM who has taken as much flack as trader Jim Bowden has. And if you don’t trust me on the plausibility of all this, follow the link above for the full piece. It’s worth it for any true fan trying to stay in touch with an ever-changing market.
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
As a Nats fan, it has been with great interest that I’ve watched them trade for Alfonso Soriano, then try to cast him away and now allegedly try to ink him to a long-term deal. My brother tears Washington GM Jim Bowden apart and Thomas Boswell is making his usual apologies for this, but Armchair GM’s Dan Lewis is the one making the most sense.
His post The New Economics of the MLB Trade Market is a fascinating and well-stated look at how smart teams can take advantage of free agent compensation by acquiring players such as Soriano in their walk year, low balling them in arbitration and then collecting draft picks from whichever team the guy ends up signing with. Here, I’ll let Lewis explain…
“In November, the GM should identify players entering their walk year who are likely to be Class “A” free agents. He should try and acquire these players, if the price is right… In calculating whether “the price is right,” the GM should have an eye toward trading the player over the summer, absent, of course, a need to keep the player for a playoff run. Basically, the GM should use the player’s “flip” value as a hedge against overpaying in November.
The old analysis would have the GM simply analyze whether the player, if added, would make the team better for the current season. But that analysis, as demonstrated above, is incomplete. The player does not lose value simply because the team fails to remain competitive. Rather, the player takes on a different value. He turns from on-field asset to trade-block commodity.
Because the incentive to acquire Class “A” free agents is high, the market for these players is increased. (That’s why the Rangers could give up three MLB-ready players for two months of Carlos Lee and a good prospect; if they can’t re-ink Lee, they’ll get two draft picks!)”
So if the Nats don’t re-sign Soriano, which I’m not convinced they’re even trying to do, they basically spent $7 million on his services (his salary is $10 million vs. Brad Wilkerson’s $3 million) in exchange for an astounding 40/40 season and two top-50 draft picks next year. Not bad for a GM who has taken as much flack as trader Jim Bowden has. And if you don’t trust me on the plausibility of all this, follow the link above for the full piece. It’s worth it for any true fan trying to stay in touch with an ever-changing market.
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
“I won’t make a mistake”, Hisae Watanabe proclaimed at her open practice session for the media. The session was held in light of Watanabe’s August 4th showdown with Satoko Shinashi for the DEEP Women’s Flyweight Championship, within the confines of GUTSMAN Dojo today. Twice Watanabe took to the mitts, displaying the boxing skills that have earned her one of the highest KO ratings in MMA. After shadow boxing for 3 minutes, GUTSMAN Dojo President Naoki Sakurada took hold of the mitts while Hisae again pounded them with the force that has made her so revered.
“I have to really watch my pacing. I can’t be impatient or make one mistake, or else I’ll be thrown or possibly lose,” Watanabe commented regarding her gameplan for the fight, “Its a big fight but I’m definitely going to come out the winner.”
Reflecting on the possibility of gassing, Watanabe remarked,”In the first round, I’m going to relax and keep my tank full for later rounds.”
“My opponent tries to avoid striking so I’ll be looking to avoid grappling, as well,” Watanabe commented before ending the conference with,”I won’t make a mistake and I’ll win because of that.”
DEEP Executive Office Presents DEEP: 25th Impact
August 4th, 2006
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan
Doors Open: 17:30
Fights Start: 18:30
Tentative Fight Card (Card Subject To Change):
2R 5M
Andre Nishino (INFIGHT) vs. Shigeyuki Uchiyama (Team GRABAKA)
2R 5M
LUIZ (Zendokai Yokohama) vs. Yuki Ito (A-Square)
2R 5M
Chikara Sato (SK Absolute) vs. Hiroshi Kobayashi (U-FILE Camp Noborito)
2R 5M
Tomohiko Hori (Freelance) vs. Kazutaka Omigawa (Mach Dojo)
2R 5M
Tomoyoshi Iwamiya (Takada Dojo) vs. Kim Dong Hyun (CMA KPW)
2R 5M
Anthony Netzler (TEAM Boon!) vs. Muscle Hiranuma (Club EDO)
3R 5M
Isamu Sugiuchi (Team ROKEN) vs. Takeshi Yamazaki (Team GRABAKA)
3R 5M
Hidehiko Hasegawa (SK Absolute) vs. Ryan Bow (Kaminari Dojo)
3R 5M
Daisuke Ishii (Freelance) vs. Roan Carneiro (Brazilian Top Team)
3R 5M
Masakazu Imanari (Team ROKEN) vs. Fredson Paixao (Gracie Barra Combat Team)
3R 5M
Kousei Kubota (Freelance) vs. Jutaro Nakao (Freelance)
For The Vacant DEEP Women’s Lightweight Championship
48 KG, 2R 5M
Hisae Watanabe (Freelance) vs. Satoko Shinashi (Freelance)
3R 5M
Xavier Foupa-Pokam (TEAM Boon!) vs. Ryuta Sakurai (R-BLOOD)
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
You know, sometimes we worry about what we hath wrought.
It’s time for a Munchkin Timeline.
• Monday, July 24: The Kansas City Star offhandedly mentions that “The last living munchkin from “The Wizard of Oz” threw a surprisingly good first pitch before Sunday’s game — and won a backpack during the fifth inning dance-off.”
• Tuesday, July 25: We make note of the occurrence.
• Thursday, July 27: Tipped off by a commenter, we realize that there are, in fact, eight living munchkins.
• Tuesday, August 1 (Morning): The Kansas City Star name-checks us and says the Royals’ PR department claims it never said he was the last surviving munchkin.
• Tuesday, August 1 (Afternoon): We get kind of a perturbed email from Curt Nelson, marketing manager for the Royals (and a guy with a job we’re not sure we envy).
Mr. Carroll was never sought after as an “attraction” and he certainly was never billed that day as “the last living munchkin.” No press releases were sent out regarding his visit, no ticket promotions … nothing. Just a friendly gesture to a man we enjoyed meeting last year. Had a reporter been interested in actually reporting the facts instead of repeating a “story” they could have done so with a simple phone call. But for some it seems the fun of the “story” was clearly in “making fun” and therefore understandably the facts were not really pertinent. Now you can be counted among the informed regarding Mr. Carroll’s visit to Kauffman Stadium. Unfortunately your readers will remain among the “misinformed” which you may rectify should you choose to do so … and I hope you will.
Nelson even sent us the pregame introduction of Carroll, in which the PA announcer refers to him as “one of the last remaining munchkins.” So it appears the mistake was made by the Star, not by the Royals.
So. OK. Everybody out there appropriately informed? All rectified? Can we return to our previous period of nationwide peace? Good. We’ll now let the Royals’ marketing department get back to … uh … well, whatever it is they do. The Royals Wives Coat Drive is coming up.
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
So, Cory Lidle has left the Phillies and is heading to the Yankees. In an interview, he said he was excited about pitching in the Bronx because “over the last few years I haven’t had a clubhouse that expected to win with me.” This got back to Phillies reliever Arthur Rhodes, who was less than pleased.
“He is a scab,” Rhodes said. “When he started, he would go 51/3 innings and (the bullpen) would have to win the game for him. The only thing Cory Lidle wants to do is fly around in his airplane and gamble. He doesn’t have a work ethic. After every start, he didn’t run or lift weights. He would sit in the clubhouse and eat ice cream. … He shouldn’t say that, he shouldn’t say anything like that because he is a scab. He crossed the line when guys like me, Flash (Tom Gordon) and (Mike) Lieberthal were playing. He is a replacement player.”
We love it when players get pissed at other players for being replacements; it’s always beautiful to see an aged middle reliever get in touch with his inner Norma Rae. Lidle is listed on Wikipedia’s roundup of replacement players who made the majors, and his pitching in a spring training game in 1995 has been confirmed. There aren’t many players still around who were replacement players; the highest profile are Kevin Millar, Damian Miller and, uh, Lidle, we guess. Our own views on labor vs. management aside, it’s funny that people like Rhodes — who made nearly $4 million for his 5.12 ERA a couple of years ago — are still fired up about this.
Baseball Replacement Players [Wikipedia]
Brian Cashes In Yet Again [New York Post]
Old Wounds [St. Petersburg Times]
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
Few things tickle our fancy more than good old-fashioned fan panic. We have it every year with our Cardinals; no matter what might be going right, we’re always convinced the sky is falling. We do not root for our teams to win; we root from them not to lose. Looking at us while we’re watching an important Cardinals game is to see a man in agony — even if they’re winning. It certainly doesn’t seem as if it’s something that’s fun.
So we appreciate Dan Lewis’ essay in Walk Off Balk about why he’s convinced his beloved Tigers — having an amazing season that fans only dream of — are completely going to blow it this year. Detroit has an 8 1/2 game lead, is clicking in every aspect and just brought in a guy who seems born for FOX postseason features on The Mayor. It has been a season for the Tigers that, if you had put it together on a video game, you’d wonder if you had it on a setting that’s too easy. It has been beautiful.
Which is why we absolutely understand the notion that it will all collapse.
Unbridled Pessimism: The Fall Of The 2006 Tigers [Walk Off Balk]
Continue Reading August 1st, 2006
“Semtex” may be poised to explode on the Japanese MMA scene.
One of Britain’s brightest up-and-comers Paul “Semtex” Daley will make his Japanese debut on August 27th at Pancrase’s summer supercard, taking on Pancrase’s second ranked welterweight, Satoru Kitaoka. Daley, the Cage Rage British welterweight champion, is known for his exceptional striking skills, with a background in karate and muay thai. Daley sports a 11-4-2 mixed martial arts record in addition to a 6-3 muay thai record, with a combined 13 knockouts in those fights.
Kitaoka has had a rollercoaster year. He began the 2006 campaign with a majority draw against welterweight King of Pancrase Katsuya Inoue, nearly snatching the title, but was disappointed in May when he dropped a unanimous decision to Sambo specialist Daizo Ishige, who will now challenge for Inoue’s title on the card. Kitaoka will look to get back into the title hunt with a win over Daley, who has the opportunity to become the second foreigner to notch a recent win over one of Pancrase’s top welterweights, as American Carlos Condit stopped fourth ranked Koji Oishi last week.
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