Random Ramblings by fred riecke, gamblersdata
…I love women’s Pro Beach Volleyball.
…If you were alive and watching baseball in the 70′s and 80′s, you no doubt remember one of baseball’s most unforgettable characters- Bill “Spaceman” Lee. Lee,now 63, is gearing up for yet another return to baseball, as the pitcher in an independent league. MLB.com reports Lee “signed a contract with the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League on Monday and is scheduled to pitch against the Worcester Tornadoes on Sept. 5.” Lee was an effective pitcher but in a class by himself (and Yogi Berra) when it came to quotes. The “Spaceman” nickname was thought to be an indication of more than a few Lee characteristics. Here is one of Lee’s amusing comments when asked about drug testing in baseball. “All through the sixties I tested everything.” Here’s my favorite Lee quote : “I think about the cosmic snowball theory. A few million years from now the sun will burn out and lose its gravitational pull. The earth will turn into a giant snowball and be hurled through space. When that happens it won’t matter if I get this guy out.”
…One of the big studios is talking about a Kurt Warner bio movie. Warner’s wife, Brenda, also inserts herself into Warner’s business, but I doubt the studios will agree with her choice of actors to portray Warner.
…Brenda Warner add…If Brenda had her way, Warner said, Denzel Washington would land the lead role. Huh? Uh, yeah.
…Lately, Darius Heyward-Bey’s disappearance from Oakland Raider practices has been, well, puzzling. The second-year player isn’t injured, but he
missed at least four straight practices with “fatigue.” Darius is a mere 23 years old. “I feel bad for the other guys out there and me missing,”
Heyward-Bey said. “But we’re working hard out there, so it takes a toll.”
…I wonder what he’ll think when he is Brett Favre’s age?
…If James Toney has any luck with his MMA debut, I think I know who may follow in his footsteps. Here is what Bernard Hopkins had to say about MMA
fighters. “I don’t wanna watch two grown men with panties on wrestling. I mean I’m from the hood we don’t, we don’t play that. To me I’m not buying a
ticket to watch two men with panties on, sweating, you know what I mean?”
…I wonder if that Longhorn tough guy football player that was pummeled by MMA”s Roger Huerta would agree!
…OK, I admit that Roger Clemens is a self-centered lying jerk. But I take no pleasure in the fact that the government is clamoring for his
prosecution for perjury. Why? It makes no sense to waste endless federal tax dollars to punish Clemens. . So prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that Roger
Clemens is a liar. We already know that. Legality aside, is this how you want your tax dollars spent? Shades of the worthless Congressional steroids fiasco.
…It is with some sadness that I report this because for all intents and purposes, he is one of the good guys in sports journalism. Early Saturday
morning in Los Angeles, Jay Mariotti was arrested for felony domestic assault after police found his girlfriend with “cuts and bruises“ following an
alleged altercation between the two. After spending the night in jail, Mariotti was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to appear in court on Sept. 17.
I can’t imagine what any “extenuating circumstances” could be involved, but I hope this is a mistake. Mariotti has been a long time columnist and also
appears on ESPN’s “Around the Horn.”
…Jay Mariotti add…Mariotti has written numerous columns decrying the violence in general and women in particular, that is part of the sports world.
…Manny To The Tampa Bay Rays? I’m sure tht some Dodger fans and McCourts in particular would love to unload this guy even though he is hitting above .300. There was a reason the Red Sox parted with him. Though he helped the Dodgers immensely in his first season, he might be the biggest reason that the Dodgers are mired in a morass of ignominy this year. Pity the Rays, White Sox or whatever team takes Ramirez.
…Want to make a profit owning a major league baseball team? So you buy the NYY, LA Angels, etc.? Maybe not. The AP reports that the Pittsburgh
Pirates have been able to turn a profit over the last three years – the same Pittsburgh Pirates that haven’t had a winning season in over 18 years.
Great for the owners; not so great for the fans.
…Antonio Margarito and his camp were somewhat optimistic that the suspension of his California boxing license would be lifted Wednesday. By Wednesday
evening that optimism was nowhere to be found. The LAtimes.com reports that the California Athletic Commission decided not to re-issue his boxing
license. But don’t worry. His bout with PacMan will no doubt be held in Texas which doesn’t have to abide by the California Commission’s rulings.
…Now that the Yankees have gone 13-0 without Alex Rodriguez this year, are we going to hear about how the Yankees really don’t need him on the team?
…Interesting time of the year as the MLB waiver deadlines are approaching. Fairly big name players are up for grabs during this time. The Detroit
Tigers are an example with Johnny Damon placed on waivers along with teammate Brandon Inge. More well known players will follow as contending teams
do whatever is necessary to move on to the post season. Others will take the opportunity to dump some salary and begin their quest for the future a little
early, or in other words, once they drop out of contention.
…Proving that having Michael Jordan as your dad isn’t all that bad, Marcus and Jeff Jordan apparently visited Las Vegas last week to visit dad’s
basketball camp. The camp, btw, sports a fee of $15,000 to participate. Here’s the tweet Marcus sent out over the weekend (for those of you who aren’t
followers): Last night was stupid… 35k at Haze… Totals 50k something the whole day.. Damn!! Going to the pool again today.. Gotta relax!
…Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth is now reported to have an illness called rhabdomyolysis. This is a situation which when muscle is damaged, it’s
released into the bloodstream and can cause kidney damage. This, allegedly, would be the reason he didn’t attend camp and has practiced only 5 times this
year. Evidently team doctors are puzzled. But new coach Mike Shanahan takes no prisoners. Shanahan said that if Haynesworth doesn’t practice,
Haynesworth doesn’t play.
…Another Twitter story courtesy of the Louisville Cardinals. Charlie Strong has named Adam Froman the starting quarterback for the season opener on
September 4th. Via Twitter. Here you go – @CharlieStrong10 – I’ve named Adam Froman as the starter for when we face Kentucky on Sept. 4 at Papa John’s
Cardinal Stadium 12 minutes ago. I wonder if he’ll tweet any line up changes during halftime.
…Haven’t heard much from or about former Cub home run crusher Sammy Sosa. Sammy had this to say in an interview with the Chicago Magazine: “My
numbers don’t lie…Those numbers are going to stay there forever.” Yes they will – in a section titled “The Steroid Era.”
…NBA boss David Stern showed some amazing restraint when dealing with weapon hoarder DeLonte West. The NBA gave West a 10 game suspension. Sounds tough, right? The 10-game suspension was for “carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife while speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle.” Do you think you or me would be out of jail yet under the same circumstances? Well, maybe me, because I’ve got a clean record. But you? Plus, I’d never be riding a 3 wheeled motorcycle. Okay, maybe I would – but only in the side car.
…Former Pete Rose hating MLB commish Fay Vincent was none too pleased about the Reds honoring Rose. Vincent ripped current commissioner Bud Selig
for attempting to “please everyone” by allowing the Cincinnati Reds to honor Pete Rose on the 25th anniversary of Rose’s setting the all-time hit record.
I’m for ripping Selig at anytime for anything. And he doesn’t try to please everyone – just the team owners.
…Dan McLaughlin—the primary play-by-play guy for the Cardinals on Fox Sports Midwest—was arrested on Monday for suspicion of drunken driving just
outside of St. Louis in Chesterfield. I know that nobody cares and no one outside St. Louis has ever heard of the guy. But athletes have had a
remarkably crime spree free week so I have to call’em as I see’em.
…Who knew that those Iowa Hawkeye fans were so rambunctious. The local sheriff in Iowa City says he might not have enough jail capacity to house
lawbreakers during Hawkeye home games. “Taxpayers of Johnson County have to pay $3,000 to $4,000 extra per weekend when the university has large
home football games,” Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said. I’ve got a new respect for the Iowans after hearing this.
…Michigan fans evidently have other issues. Cigarettes will not be allowed in Michigan Stadium this fall. The move has ignited some long-time puffers.
“This is just ridiculous,” said Tim Smith, a season-ticket holder. Plus, from Ann Arbor.com, Michigan has banned bringing water bottles into the stadium
and fans aren’t happy. Officials say the 28 water fountains should be enough to handle the needs of 109,000-plus fans. If not, fans can purchase bottled
water for $4 or request a free cup of water from concession stands. Sure, request a free cup of water from a concession stand! Right.
…The Florida football team has a running back, Chris Rainer. Rainer, no nickname yet, is the younger brother of former XFL legend He Hate Me.
..Look, I know this stuff isn’t interesting but where are the college and pro criminals hiding?
…Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is a 4/1 choice to win the Heisman Trophy. If he wins I will be shocked. He wouldn’t make my top 5. I would
choose Mark Ingram, Ryan Mallet, Kellen Moore, Noel Devine and long shot Case Keenum over Pryor.
