Archive for March, 2008
Continue Reading March 29th, 2008
Southerners and the Civil War. That’s perhaps the one group of people more single-mindedly embittered by an event than Seahawks fans and Super Bowl XL. “How dare those refs flag Darrell Jackson for pushing off Chris Hope directly in front of an official!?” “Calling Sean Locklear for a clear holding call on Clark Haggans stalled one of our key drives! No fair!” A short-order cook in Seattle decided that he could takes no more and in one expectoration, he could dispel all the lingering bitterness.
Yep, a 24-year-old cook working in a restaurant near Seattle was arrested for spitting in a Steelers fan’s burger. Then cops found out he had some weed, which he blamed on the refs.
Deputies said the 37-year-old man in Steelers garb took his daughters to a Mile Hill Drive fast food restaurant Saturday evening, and “began trading friendly barbs about his team and their victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL,” reports said.
One employee told the man that he’d “better not say that to the guy that’s making your food,” but the man thought it was a joke, reports said.
Okay, I’ll cut the C-Hox fans some slack. This may have been justified. It’s all a matter of degree, really. Exactly how much “Steelers garb” are we talking about here? Wearing a jersey in the middle of March and talking shit? That’s a bit douchey. But if it’s just a hat and some friendly banter — not so bad.
Also, apropos of, uh, the Steelers, I guess, I think Barack Obama might be their next running back.
Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
As mentioned in New York Magazine this week, the Mets have a promotional flyer that says “It’s Time For A Little Revenge.” As NY Mag pointed out … hey, you’re the ones who choked.
That said, we, perhaps stupidly, like the Mets this year.
1. New York Mets. Come on, come on … sign Bonds in July. It’ll be fun!
2. Philadelphia Phillies. If last year was really all this is going to come to, one suspects Phillies fans will be less than pleased.
3. Atlanta Braves. Even though they no longer have the water taxis to Shea, we still want to get there for Tom Glavine’s first game there.
4. Washington Nationals. Elijah Dukes, Dmitri Young and Lastings Milledge. We can’t wait.
5. Florida Marlins. We will never tire of saying “Uggla.”
We showed us ours, now show us yours. And Monday we wrap up with the American League East.
Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
The mainland Major League Baseball season kicks off Sunday night, with the Nationals opening their new stadium. President Bush is slated to throw out the first pitch. Usually, he throws it to the home team’s starting catcher. Unfortunately for him, this year the home team starting catcher is all over the Mitchell Report.
So, as it turns out, the Nationals have removed Paul LoDuca from his duties, which was a surprise to him, and MLB.com. Poor guy, sure.
The White House said it played no role in determining who would catch the pitch. “Whatever the decision the Nationals make is up to them,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said by telephone Thursday. “In no way did we, or would we, raise any issues.”
Lo Duca said after Thursday’s final Grapefruit League game that he had no animosity about the situation. Lo Duca declined to speculate as to whether his role in the Mitchell report had anything to do with the decision.
By the way, boy, do we ever love that picture.
Nationals Replace LoDuca To Catch Bush’s First Pitch [Think Progress]
Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
Hey, they told me that there would be no food allowed on the ski lift. Thank you Home Run Derby, for making us laugh at costumed baseball mascots attempting winter sports once again.
That’s just impressive. As a former collegiate mascot, I can tell you that it’s tough enough to just walk around in a 6â²6â³ costume without stepping on a bunch of grade-schoolers. Let alone ski down a mountain.
More photos here, including a sad, sad wipeout by the hot dog.
The Milwaukee Racing Sausages Can Ski! [Home Run Derby]
Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
As many suspected would inevitably happen, the NBA had stepped in and ordered Mark Cuban to start allowing bloggers into the locker room. At last, those with Movable Type software can finally have the opportunity to see Devean George’s penis. Cuban, of course, isn’t taking this lying down.
In response, Cuban has said he is encouraging ALL bloggers to apply for credentials. You might take this as a positive thing if he weren’t saying it with such a smirk.
“Which means we will encourage all bloggers to apply, whether they be someone on blogspot who has been posting for a couple weeks, kids blogging for their middle school Web site or those that work for big companies,” wrote Cuban, a blogger himself. “We won’t discriminate at all.”
That’s pretty awesome, actually; Cuban is being a dick to prove a point, but it’s a good point: Seriously, then, what IS the difference? It’s really just a URL, right? What counts as “credentialed” again? If True Hoop weren’t at ESPN, would Henry Abbott be less qualified to come in the locker room?
Predictably, now the Associated Press Sports Editors are mad.
“With all due respect for the potential journalism talent in the middle school ranks, this rebuttal smacks with the tartness of sour grapes,” Fannin, managing editor for sports and features at the Kansas City Star wrote in an e-mail. “Is this really the standard the NBA wants to set for blogging?
“We’re not asking the Mavericks or Mark Cuban to discriminate,” added Fannin, who earlier in his career worked at The News. “We’re simply seeking a common-sense distinction between someone who blogs professionally as part of an accredited media’s beat coverage and someone who buys a ticket to the game.”
So now EVERYBODY’s mad. Say what you will about Cuban, but he’s no dummy.
NBA Tells Dallas Mavericks To Allow Locker Room Access To Bloggers [Dallas Morning News]
Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
For the third consecutive season, we are proud to introduce the Deadspin Baseball Season Previews. Yes, baseball is awfully close now; heck, they’ve even played real games in Japan.
Every weekday until the start of the season, a different writer will preview his/her team. We asked a gaggle of writers, from the Web, from print, from books, to tell us, in as many or as little words as they need, Where Their Team Stands. This is not meant to be factual, or dispassionate, or even logical: We just asked them to riff on why they love their team so much, or what their team means to them, or whatever.
Today: The San Francisco Giants. Your author is Rick Chandler.
—–—–—–—–—–—–—-
Sorry, Barry Bonds don’t work here no more. Moose out front shoulda told ya.
Yeah, Barry is gone. And so Mom, suddenly single, has packed everyone into the old station wagon and headed toward a big new life. It’s going to be scary at first, trying to raise a family on just her salary. But she had to break it off; Dad was always on the juice; he beat mother and ignored the kids. For his eighth birthday they took little Edwin to see him play, and Barry didn’t even show up (15-day DL, shrunken testicles). So Mom decided that she had been enabling him long enough. What has become of Barry now? Sadly, he lives in a van, down by the river.
The good news is that the Giants have started dating again. The bad news is that they’re mostly losers; not a potential husband in the bunch. When Will posted his NL West Preview on Thursday, he chose the Giants for last place, affectionately calling the pick “the easiest call in baseball.” That’s Will: Ever mindful of hurting my feelings. Here’s a likely Opening Day starting lineup (provided all are healthy), and you decide for yourselves. (By the way, I have a baseball with all of their signatures; and to give you an idea of how star-studded this lineup is, four of the players paid me to sign it).
• Dave Roberts, LF. A solid outfielder, but also often injured; missed a month due to elbow surgery last season. Overview: By taking one step in any direction will automatically cover more ground that did Bonds. Not nearly as much fun to heckle, though.
• Ray Durham, 2B. Dedicated veteran has just returned from a hamstring injury, and says his age will not be a problem. Overview: Was once John McCain’s babysitter.
• Randy Winn, RF. Is hitting .339 this spring, after a .300 season last year. Plus, he adds speed. Overview: He’ll have to patrol the entire field like Benny The Jet Rodriguez to make a difference.
• Bengie Molina, C. Is hitting .452 this spring with five homers. Fantasy owners take notice! Overview: Can he throw out anyone at second? Magic Eight Ball says: Ask again.
• Aaron Rowand, CF. Comes over from the Phillies where he hit .307 with 27 homers last season. Is hitting .305 this spring. But can he stay healthy? Overview: Ow! My spine!
• Rich Aurillia, 3B. Played for the Giants for nine seasons before departing for three seasons with the Padres, Mariners and Reds, then rejoining the Giants last year, when he hit .252. Overview: I’d feel better about this if he weren’t also second on the depth chart at every other position, including catcher.
• Brian Bocock, SS. Overview: ??? (hits own head with mallet) …
• Dan Ortmeier, 1B. Muscled six homers last season in the traditional power slot. Overview: Lord help us.
• Barry Zito, P. May have gone 11-13 last season, but he can buy and sell you. Overview: Took the loss against the Fresno Giants in a spring training game.
To make an impact: Pitcher Matt Cain “Mutiny;” second basemen Kevin Frandsen (will undergo surgery on Saturday for ruptured Achilles tendon), Eugerio Velez (hitting .303 with 14 stolen bases); outfielder Fred Lewis (may bat leadoff); P.A. announcer Renel Brooks-Moon; infielder Jose Castillo (acquired on waivers from Marlins Saturday); a host of others. Manager Bruce Bochy used 124 different lineups in 2007, to list them all here would be pointless.
So yeah, everyone mock the Giants. But here’s the thing: I didn’t attend a single game over the past two seasons, disheartened as I was with that hollow, Faustian home run record chase, and the typical behavior of the hometown faithful who chose to watch the games with their heads stuck in the sand. And now here’s this 2008 team, which the Chronicle is already calling The Bad News Giants; by all accounts perfectly awful in every respect. Their predicted last-place finish may indeed be the easiest call in baseball, other than the one I made to buy tickets for Opening Day.
Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sports, Business
One tiny little detail about NFL Head Coach ‘09 seems to have been buried at the bottom of EA’s announcement yesterday regarding the “Collector’s Edition” of Madden NFL ‘09. Turns out that Head Coach ‘09 is only available by purchasing the $90 special edition. Just to be clear: It won’t be sold separately.
Madden’s Marketing Director, Christopher Erb, says the decision was not made out of fear that the game couldn’t stand on its own, and explains it’s a way for the company to “reduce the price and make it a bonus to our fans.” He’s got a point, if it was at retail the two games separated would cost $120, but given the tepid response of the original Head Coach and its niche factor, this may be the best way to move units. Erb believes those who play Head Coach are hardcore Madden fans anyway and the company may consider releasing it as a separate title if there’s enough outcry.
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Continue Reading March 28th, 2008
So to get you up to speed, Chikezie is out on American Idol, but Isiah Thomas has avoided elimination with the Knicks. Of course it doesn’t seem fair, but that’s the world we live in. According to the New York Daily News, owner James Dolan and Thomas are inseparable pals, like Crockett and Tubbs on Miami Vice. However, Dolan is also saying that the next Director of Basketball Operations — let’s assume it’s going to be Donnie Walsh — is free to fire Isiah if he chooses. My guess is that the decision will be, “Yes, please.”
The New York Daily News, citing an unnamed source, reported Thursday that owner James Dolan prefers to keep Thomas on the sideline, though he won’t stop his next executive from making a change. “There isn’t a basketball executive alive who would keep Isiah as head coach, but Jim is telling whoever he interviews, ‘I would prefer to keep Isiah but you do what you have to do,’” the source close to Dolan told the Daily News. “If Isiah isn’t the coach, Jim still wants him to stay in the organization in some capacity.”
I can’t imagine anyone taking that job and agreeing to Isiah weighing him down for his first season. So if Isiah is out, then what? Would he even want to hang around the organization? Well, Bob Knight is probably tired of his rather lifeless ESPN gig by now, so Isiah could step in at the WWL next year, stop ruining the Knicks, and still be ours to enjoy. Everyone wins!
Report: Knicks Owner Wants To Stick With Isiah [MSNBC]
Could This Be The End Of Our Isiah Hero? [Deadspin]
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