Archive for July 1st, 2008
Continue Reading July 1st, 2008
Dwyane Wade’s plummet from fresh-faced NBA megastar to injury-prone cellphone salesman continues on its downward spiral, as the Miami Heat guard has popped up as the new face of Chinese-based “Sueper Sex”, a pre-intercourse “time delay capsule” according to Black Sports Online. (Via Sports Business Digest)
But not so fast: The image on the packet is the same one used on NBA Live 06 and was, according to Wade’s spokespeople, not authorized by the NBA star. So, this isn’t one of those situations where high-profile celebs get millions of dollars in Asia to promote blue jeans or beer. This is actually more comparable to when Ellen Griswold becomes the shower-dancing star of “The Hot, Wet Wife” in Italy.
Hopefully, D-Wade has a good lawyer in his five.
Dwayne Wade: Long, strong, and down to get the friction on! [Sports Business Digest]
From Finals MVP To Sex Pill Pusher [Black Sports Online]
Continue Reading July 1st, 2008
OK, it’s not a lock that Baron Davis is leaving the Warriors. But by opting out of the final year of his contract — leaving $17.8 million on the table in the process — it’s pretty clear that there was more to that dustup with Don Nelson in the Phoenix game than we were told. But while that may be true, a certain ESPN Cheese Doodle-loving personality says he knows a different reason for Davis wanting to leave. It’s because … he wants to be a New York Knick? What?
Stephen A. Smith, sounding unusually subdued and somewhat tongue-tied in a segment with Stewart Scott last night on the WWL, says that Davis’ dream has always been to be a Knick; which is evidence of insanity in many states.
The official line: Davis wanted to renegotiate his contract and the Warriors wouldn’t play ball, so he’s wading out into the market. Here’s hoping he’s signed by the Pistons, thus forming the awesomest beard combo in the history of basketball.
Golden State of Mind also examines possible Davis motives.
The Offseason Just Got Interesting [Golden State Of Mind]
ESPN: Baron Davis, Elton Brand Opt Out Of Contracts [Slam Dunk Central]
Continue Reading July 1st, 2008
So what happened to Jonathan Papelbon’s prediction of fisticuffs and other mayhem when the Red Sox returned to Tropicana Field? No brushbacks or punches or obscene gestures … all we got was some lame identity theft. Rays manager Joe Maddon spent much of Monday trying to cancel his debiit card, which was being used by someone to buy gas in New York. I did not pay extra to Comcast for white collar crime! Damn it. So The Rays prevailed 5-4, moving 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Boston in the East, and claiming the best record in baseball at 50-32.
Tampa has won six of seven and is 4-0 against the Red Sox at Tropicana. And to tell you the truth I’m already tired of them. When Dickie Vitale jumps on the bandwagon — as we saw here earlier — it’s time to turn the channel. Anyway it was the first meeting between the teams since June 5, when a donnybrook led to eight suspensions. One of those was James Shields, who went 6 1/3 innings for the win. B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered for the Rays. Coco Crisp didn’t play for Boston — he’s still serving a suspension for charging the mound in that June 5 game. Bad Coco!
• Slam Poetry. The Indians don’t like to see the bases loaded against them, so they empty them out as soon as possible. Cleveland has given up eight grand slams this season — most in the majors — which includes Nick Swisher’s effort in the White Sox’s 9-7 win. Swisher has two grand slams in four games.
• Big Happenings At The Bottom Of The Standings. Ken Griffey Jr.’s walkoff homer — No. 603 of his career — gave the Reds a 4-3 win over the Pirates.
• More Walkoff Goodness. Hanley Ramirez had a solo homer in the ninth to tie it, and teammate Josh Willingham homered in the 10th to win it for the Marlins, 6-5 over the Nationals. So unlike the Nationals to squander a lead like that.
• Wizard Cat Defensive Player Of The Day. Home plate umpire James Hoye. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was incensed over Hoye’s failure to issue a warning about throwing inside to Joe Mauer. Magic words were uttered, and Hoye ejected the manager. You have to kind of admire Hoye here, who did not act like a over-officious jerk, as umpires often do in arguments. Wizard Cat gives this ejection: Four wands.
Contact Wizard Cat at Wizardcat@live.com
