Cycling is Cool

Lance is the man As he closes the deal at the Tour …Nike wins again…

By the way, I hope no one minds me posting these links on Sunday Night. Busy Monday Morning ahead...

The National Treasure = Roger Clemens …

Fun with trades …

Turn out the lights! A’s Sweep Rangers in Arlington!!! …

Adam Morris Says it …

This team is done.

Now a game under .500.

Trailing the freaking Detroit Tigers in the wild card.

Time to trade Soriano, call up the kids, and begin building for next year.

And time for Tom Hicks to pull his head out of his rectum and take a good, hard look at the miserable job John Hart has done as g.m., particularly since the announcement last summer that Hart was retaining the position, and ask himself whether Hart really deserves to stay on any longer.

I have received plenty of questions about the new rules in the NHL. This section of Toronto’s website Is the best I have seen to answer all questions…

Ever seen Sidney Crosby? See him Here …

For those who are really sick (like me) Catch up with the Stars Farm System Here …

Many Ballplayers called out by this dude …for roids…including Gabe…idiot.

Vince Young calls out Jason White …I kid you not…

Brown said the team belongs to Young this year and the early Heisman Trophy contender said he's ready for that challenge.

"I'm the guy and I'm going to be the leader," Young said. "That's my role."
He takes that role personally, and even criticized former Oklahoma quarterback Jason White for what he saw as a failure in that area in the Sooners' blowout loss to Southern California in the national championship game.

"As a leader and as a quarterback you've got to keep everybody in the game," he said. "Jason White should have done more."

A Longhorn website decides to Predict the A&M season (I wonder how that will go)…Pretty amusing, though, unless you do not have a sense of humor…

The Real Story behind Gas Prices …

Going to tailgate with the Aggies? This Bus Rocks.com …could be for you…

How do you honor the man who has meant so much for you? That’s right. You name a penguin after Steelers Radio God Myron Cope …

Roush dominates at Pocono …

Whoever said you can't have too much of a good thing has never watched a 500-mile Nextel Cup race at Pocono.

Amen to that. I have decided that Pocono consistently offers the most boring non-road course races.



Kenny makes the smoking gun! …his family is proud…

Fun with Quality Starts

Since it is Saturday, I won’t be doing anything too crazy on the blog. However, here are the latest numbers regarding the starting pitching in Arlington. I like to tabulate quality starts, as they are seldom available elsewhere for you to track as the season goes along. Keep in mind, that in 2004, the Rangers had 61 quality starts, or 37.6% of their games. Here they are through last nights game:

Rogers: 19 starts, 15 quality starts (4/6, 4/11, 4/21, 4/27, 5/2, 5/8, 5/14, 5/20, 5/26, 5/31, 6/5, 6/17, 7/3, 7/9, 7/16)

There is no question, that Kenny is the best pitcher this team has had in a long, long time. 15 out of 19 is amazing.

Drese: 12 starts, 4 quality starts (4/5, 4/15, 5/7, 5/24)

Ryan Drese – R.I.P. June 7, 2005

Young: 20 starts, 8 quality starts (4/28, 5/3, 5/9, 5/27, 6/2, 6/13, 6/25, 7/17)

If you follow C.Y.’s pattern, he is good for almost a QS every other start since late April. Although his last 5 starts are concerning.

Park: 19 starts, 8 quality starts (4/13, 4/23, 4/29, 5/22, 5/29, 6/26, 7/1, 7/19)

Chan Ho Park has figured out how to pitch in Arlington. 5 for 9 at home, 3 for 10 on the road.

Astacio: 12 starts, 6 quality starts (4/9, 4/14, 4/19, 5/11, 5/25, 6/3)

The second best QS% on the team!

Rodriguez: 6 start, 2 quality starts (6/18, 6/29)

Wilson: 3 starts, 0 quality starts

Wasdin: 3 starts, 1 quality starts (6/28)

Benoit: 1 starts, 0 quality starts


Quality Starts by Month:
Through July 22nd game


April: 13 of 25 = 52%
May: 15 of 25 = 60%
June: 10 of 27 = 37%
July: 6 of 18 = 33%

Total: 44 of 95 = 46%

And since we are all amazed at this team being 16-23 since the waiving of Drese, I also ran the QS numbers for the starting staff before and after the morning of June 8th.

Through June 7 = 31 of 57 = 54%
June 8 - = 13 of 38 = 34%

In summary, the rotation is better than 2004, but still not good enough. Management, what are you going to do about that?

Friday in July

A big bag of nothing for your Friday Links. Then, get back to your TPS Reports...

Rangers lose with Rogers on the hill …fading away…

The scorching hot A's, who trail the Angels but are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers, made it 19 wins in their last 24 games even with their nemesis starting. Rogers was 6-1 against the A's since 2002, already defeating them twice this season. But he couldn't hold an early 3-0 lead and wound up with a no-decision in what could be his last start before he begins serving his suspension.

Any time Rogers starts and the Rangers lose, it is devastating – they fell to 12-7 for the season when their ace pitches. With the clock ticking on his time away, there is a more hollow feeling.

Never Fear! James Baldwin brought in for rotation …in 1999, this sounds like a wonderful pickup. Now, it is the 2005 version of Scott Erickson being brought in…

Shocking Sports Revelation of the Day: Tiger helps your ratings …

There's nothing more certain in golf: When Tiger Woods wins, the networks win. Woods' victory in the British Open on Sunday earned a 4.6 rating/14 share nationally for ABC. It was the highest-rated final round at the British Open since 2000, the last time Woods won the event. Saturday's third-round coverage drew a 41 percent ratings increase over the same day last year.

Mack Brown sees the Rose Bowl again …

Hockey Players Vent, then Ratify …

Gary Cogill tells us we must see this movie Murderball …

It is now or never for Jeff Gordon …strug-gel-ling…



10 Best English Strikers of All-Time …

Owens says he can leave Philly …

"It doesn't bother me," Owens said about Banner's comments. "When it all boils down to it, I'm doing what's best for my family. Not to stir anything up, but I don't really have to play for the Eagles, to be honest. I can go play with any other team and still be productive.

"If [Banner] feels that way, then get rid of me," he continued. "I have no gripes, no ill feelings toward any of the players on that team. This is business. They know how business is conducted. I've told them what I'm doing is for my family. If they can't understand that -- and if they feel like I'm a no-nonsense guy -- he wants to talk about Drew and I -- if we're problems then I feel like we can be adults about it. Trade me. Release me, and we can part ways like adults."

Finally, a victory for Tyson …

Larry Brown is all about Larry Brown …

Cookie Monster with Martha Stewart …

Genius! A tribute to Pulp Fiction …



Buy this shirt …



Or this shirt …

The Triplets Ride Home Together

Dallas honors the triplets this fall …I couldn’t suggest a better way to do it…

Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, the record-setting triumvirate that helped the Cowboys win an unprecedented three Super Bowls in the '90s, will go into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor next season.

They will become the 15th, 16th and 17th players inducted into the Ring of Honor on Sept. 19, when the Cowboys host the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday he didn't want it any other way.

"The Dallas Cowboys were the team of the 90s," Jones said. "When you look at what each of these men did for those teams that became the best in the NFL and how they complemented each other, it's fitting that Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith are going in the Ring of Honor together."

Lose 2 of 3 to the Yankees , lose 3 of 4 to Oakland, and drive home safely. Your season as a contender is OVER…

I kid you not: My Mom told me I have to read this story about Sara White Reggie’s wife and kids carry on …So, I obey Mom still (except for tattoos)…

Hitler street story …

Family Guy fans: Meet the real Peter Griffith …

And now, since I have very little time today, here is some more email:

Hey Guys,

Ok so Chan Ho pitches 7.1 innings and shuts down the powerful New York Yankees and the fans stand and cheer. That bothers you guys? Yes guys that's what fans will do, cheer for their team. Should they boo him because he left the game with giving his chance the chance to win as he did? Dude, you guys are losing touch with what we fans enjoy, the preexisting slant you hammer away at them with simply lacks substance and is unsubstantiated.

Fans like to cheer for the team they are rooting for, especially when they are a team that seemingly always hangs in there and continues to improve as they have over the last 2 years. This was the same station that prior to last year said there was no way they would improve and before the years started branded the organization and team hopeless...fast forward to the last day of the year fighting for the playoffs. You were way off then as you are now.

They are a fun team to watch, they perform the fundamentals extremely well and seem to come back and win time and time again. Buck is a pro.. a manager who has built 2 teams that ended up winning the World series with his foundation in place...they are building infrastructure with home grown and will add the hired guns when it fits, can't force it...see the 1980 Yankees ("Winningest" team in the 1980's that never won the big one) Buck had to rebuild and fight everyone who wanted to trade the early 1990's farm team for the next class of free agents... the guy knows what he is doing...hang in there they are a competitive and exciting team to watch...and a team that is being built to win. The players want to win NOW, yes that's not a news
flash, but to say Buck is losing the team is standard media hype that fans have gotten bored with.

Fact is, Chan Ho, Rogers and Young leaves them one pick up away from finishing with a flurry and a very good shot at finishing first...when they start rolling and start nipping at the Angels...its going to be exciting. You guys will look to find negatives or will you roll over and say you were off?

I love the show...but man you guys are too dark on the Texas Rangers. There is a great deal of positive here. Try and look at the whole picture, it may be brighter than you think.

Regards
Tom

Trust me, Tom, if they catch the Angels, I will take back every pessimistic thing I have EVER said about the Red shoes… They ain’t catching the Angels…

And this email for the people that want no more Kenny Rogers Talk:

What the heck else is there to talk about? The Rangers are mediocre at best. Boy, there's... half a segment for you. The NBA champs are just down the road (cue "La Cucaracha"). Even IF the Mavs had won it all, would you still be talking about it? The Stars are in the longest off season in sports history, although I suppose you could spend some time discussing Manny Malhotra's cornrows if you want. And Oxnard is still a little ways away. And it's always exciting to hear about undrafted free agent Loser McSpare dropping some passes before he gets cut. So you know what? All Kenny, all the time. SportsKenny 1310 The Ticket.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

P1 Alex

Personally, I look forward to Loser McSpare talk…

Finally, this on Buck and his tenure in Arlington:

Great topic.

I haven't heard the whole thing, but I do think you guys are underselling Buck. I have thought about this quite a bit. This team needed Buck.

The best thing Buck has done is run Raffy out of here. I know he is a Hall of Famer, but it sure seems that when he goes to a good team that they then start to tank. That is one of the reasons I think the Orioles will fade. But guys like Raffy & Kenny who are more worried about living in a cozy little town, put up their numbers, and get big contracts they think they deserve, are not conducive to rebuilding a franchise.

Will Buck's act wear thin? No doubt. Was his act needed? I think the answer is absolutley yes, and is needed for 1 more year. Buck has what some think are stupid rules (uniform for BP...) but they teach young players that this is a job, and they are there to win. Not just play a game and make big money. He either drives big league attitude out of players or drives the players out of the team. He had a hard time figuring out if Mench was a ballplayer or goofball. Maybe he helped Mench get better, and still didn't drive out the fun that the guy has playing ball.

Buck still needs to get Kinsler, Diamond, Danks, and Volquez under his grip for a year. Just to let them know what it takes to be a major leaguer. Once they have felt the wrath, then it will be time to get rid of Buck, and leave the team to Young, Blalock, Teixeira, and Cordero.

Robert
Azle

In honor of Bolivian Wormwood…

I will do better tomorrow, I promise….

Hello, Win Column

I was fortunate enough to be at the game last night in some prime seats (dreams do come true). What a game. Mussina and Park were both in control most of the game, but both teams have pretty menacing line-ups. A deflating run against spelled doom, until Hank the Tank bailed out the Rangers and Cordero closed the door with the normal drama. A good time was had by all…

The Rangers bash to a 2-1 win …

Chan Ho with a great outing …Despite walking the #9 man to start the 8th…

Bob,

Don't know if you've seen this. Sorry it's so large.

John Casey

Here is the picture, and please notice the odd sponsor name between the two Rangers:




Hockey looking at options to scoring problems …



Soccer Insider from Star Telegram …

FSN Southwest is scheduled to air a 30 minute pregame show of FC Dallas' new stadium Pizza Hut Park at 8 p.m. Saturday before the match against Real Salt Lake. The special will highlight the 115-acre facility with its 21,193-seat stadium and 17 amateur fields. An FSN camera crew taped interviews at Monday's practice with midfielders Ronnie O'Brien, Simo Valakari and Oscar Pareja and coach Colin Clarke. The special is also scheduled to profile FC Dallas forward Eddie Johnson.

Rosenhaus saves a life …seriously, I guess. But I am suspicious…

Feel-good stories and Drew Rosenhaus usually don't go together, but those very stars aligned Tuesday, and a young boy is alive because of it.

Burwell on why Goodenow must go …

Ratify this deal, then immediately fire the guy who created this awful mess. The NHL Players Association executive director is responsible for putting professional hockey in the marginal position it holds on the American sports landscape, with a huge assist from NHL commissioner Bettman. But while Bettman was merely following the marching orders of a powerful cabal of owners with his bite-your-nose-to-spite-your-face negotiating methods, Goodenow's crime against hockey is more insidious.

He sold the players the worst deal on North American soil since the Native Americans gave up the island of Manhattan for a sack of shiny glass beads. In the history of sports labor battles in America, Goodenow willbe remembered as the captain of hockey's Titanic, guiding his ship of fools on a journey into a sea of obvious disaster.

He kept telling anyone who would listen, "Trust me, there will never be a salary cap!" Goodenow defiantly preached that the only way there would be a salary cap in hockey would be over his dead body.

Well now, let's review the end:

1. They got a salary cap. 2. The players took a 24 percent pay cut on existing contracts. 3. The players lost an entire year's salary.

And for what? Oh yeah, did I mention that the NHL got a salary cap? And how about this little kick in the gut: Remember the offer that was on the table shortly before Bettman pulled the plug on the season? That proposed deal had a salary cap on the table in the neighborhood of $42.5 million.

Now it's a $39 million salary cap.

Heika with a solid timeline of the upcoming days in the NHL …

Stars owner Tom Hicks and Mike Modano's agent, Brian Lawton, said contract length will be the main factor in whether Modano returns to Dallas. Hicks said Modano will be "a great player for the next year or two." The Stars aren't likely to offer more than a two- or three-year deal. Lawton said Modano wants a four- or five-year contract. "If I could have the Mike Modano who won the Stanley Cup in 1999, then we'd sign him in a heartbeat," Hicks said.

Oh, I had no idea how long Modano would be a great player, but Hicks, the old hockey sage, says a year or two. Well, who knows more about the sport of hockey than him?

Liverpool to sign 6’7 Striker Crouch …

Finally, from the man who brought you Baseball Muse (see approved blogs), Brandon Wilson offers a New Rangers Blog ...excellent...

More on Modano

Stars Forward Mike Modano was in studio the other day, and the fireworks flew as we talked to him about his future with the Stars, or lack thereof. The single most important decision the Stars make this summer is what they do with Modano. From my conversations with the team, they have been clear that:

1) They want him back.
2) They want him back at the right price for the right term.

That second part is where the two sides are apparently stuck. Modano thinks he has 4-5 years left in this league, and while the Stars don’t disagree, they are not willing to gamble on it. They have offered two years, and remain firm on this, citing his last season’s numbers, and the obvious declining skills of the average player at the age of 35.

Mike seems to believe he has earned 3-4 years, and appears willing to accept it from any city that might offer it to him. With his much publicized financial issues, he knows this is his last chance at security, and cannot afford a hometown discount where he holds most of the risk (example: a series of 1 year deals like Steve Yzerman in Detroit).

So, now both sides wait. Modano waits to find out what the market will offer, and the Stars wait to see if his offer comes down.

I cannot swear that either side is right. Modano is not near the peak of his career. He has played a lot of hockey, and while he may have plenty left, perhaps not enough to spend the lion’s share of your money on. If you marry yourself to him, you may marry yourself to years of wishing you hadn’t. On the other hand, when you see him play right now, he still looks like the best player on the ice.

But I do know this. You would have a hard time finding someone more important to a franchise than Modano. He has been with them since 1988, and helped sell hockey to this city. He also is far and away the most recognizable player on a team trying to resell itself to the area after the lockout. He is the face of the franchise. He is the Stars version of Ripken, Banks, Favre, Yzerman, and Elway. He brought a championship here, and will be a no-brain Hall of Famer.

I think the Stars Must sign him. But, here is a sampling of your thoughts:

Listening to him talks reminds me eerily of the Steve Nash situation. This will be letting another beloved area star who might burn us but it might be better off in the long run. I think he's got it and I love guerin but if I have to make the choice give me MO.

Mike in Irving

-----------

Bob,

When I was 13 I went to a Dallas Stars Hockey camp with Mike Modano/Shane Churla as guest coaches. From that moment on I considered Mike Modano my Troy Aikman of the Dallas Stars. Sould he leave, this city will be lesser. Sad day indeed. Think you guys feel the same way.

Matt Hamilton

-------

Bob,

There is no way the Stars can afford not to sign Modano. He is the face of the Stars and is really the last of the favorites from the Stanley Cup team. I think we all took it when they traded away some of our favorite players for different reasons and assembled the uninspired team they have now, but I really don't think I could take it if they let Mike go over money or bad feelings. I have been waiting for the day that this mess would get sorted out and we could get back to hockey and have really been excited these last few days, but without Mike I don't know that it will be the same.

Did that sound gay?

Brian

------

Sports Sturm,

I TOTALLY disagree with your stance. The Cowboys showed that same loyalty to Emmitt Smith, and where did that get them? Salary Cap trouble and ancient legs and body. This is the SAME thing. Give him 2 years, no more. Anything more than that is foolish from a WINNING perspective. We want to win, not say, "Wow Mike, we really appreciate what you did for
us years ago. Here's compensation for that, even though it will hinder our salary cap for the next three, four years and keep us from bringing up the next franchise player. Come on, if this were the Cowboys, you'd be screaming at them. You both were against the Cowboys keeping Emmitt,
right? Why keep Mike? He's 35 guys. That's my humble opinion.

Thanks,
P1 Sean

-------

First, the obligatory, I love you guys.

BUT, I know why some people hate the media. You guys rip and rip on the owners for not being smart enough to not sign guys to big contracts, and they need to spend more money to bring in big time players to win...

Then with Mike you talk about the franchise owes him some loyalty, they should sign him to a long-term deal...

It is easy to play both sides. One day we live by the credo "It's better to get rid of a player a year to early than a year too late." The next day it's this team owes the player for past service and work. But the moment that a star player (Aikman) starts the decline it's rip them and rip the team for still having him around.

I don't hate the media, I just laugh at the quick switching of hats allmedia guys get to do. It's just like the year before Chan Ho was free all Norm could talk about was he was coming free and what a good signing he would be. Then once he was signed Norm rips it apart. I just get confused. Should teams sign free agents, cut players, build for the future, or reward players for past service?

Robert
Azle

------------

Thanks for all of your notes. To the last two who point out inconsistency in my views on aging Cowboys and aging Modano, here is my response:

I think I might have been wrong. Its really easy to say that you shouldn’t be loyal to someone else’s beloved heroes from their championship teams. But when it is your team that you enjoyed, you feel like they have earned the right to go out on his terms. I really am not sure there is a right answer. Ripken left when he wanted, and it may have hurt the Orioles franchise for a few years. Meanwhile, the 49ers got rid of Jerry Rice and Joe Montana, and at least in the case of Rice, they have not been competitive since. I guess each case is different, but looking back, Troy Aikman should not have finished a Chargers back-up, nor Emmitt a Cardinal. Do you let them play as long as you want? Probably not, but we also should not be in a rush to get rid of them.

Anyway, to you Aikman fans who were so annoyed by my views back in 1999 and 2000, I do want to concede that looking back, I have pondered how insensitive it must have sounded to those who watched Troy as a rookie and every down he ever played. I might like to have that to do over again.

Here is one more piece of email about a caller to the show who gave the obligatory, “players are greedy and I would play for free” rant:

With regard to a hockey caller today; I get extremely tired of hearing how "I would love to play football/hockey/whatever for money, but I have to go to work at a real job". Most of the callers who make this statement, could not even make it through a standard high school football - summer workout. You would not like to get tackled by a professional football player, or checked by a professional hockey player for a living. Furthermore, I suggest that you wouldn't do it for an entire season, even for millions of dollars. Let's not belittle the hard work that professional athletes have put in their entire lives to acheive the level of mastry that they have in their respective sports, by suggesting that you could leave your air conditioned desk to play their sport for millions of dollars.

Danny

Amen.

Links:

Deion’s new son …

In response to yesterday’s Horns fans making fun of Aggies, I was asked to post this picture by an Aggie:



Can’t we just all be friends?

Sports Impersonator strikes again …

Mac Engle with a fine article on the current state of the Stars …Including this most disturbing quote from Mr. Hicks:

“Use the [Texas] Rangers as an analogy," Stars and Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. "We want to build with a core of solid, young players and still mix in free agents to make it a better team."

I told you! I freaking told you that he was going to strip the Stars down to nothing just like he did to the Rangers!!!!! What he said there makes sense, unless you translate it to mean what Hicks means. Then the quote looks more like this:

“Like the Rangers, I plan on turning a profit,” Stars and Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. “We want to build with a core of cheap young players and still mix in cheap free agents who have one year contracts to make it a cheaper team.”

And people sometimes call me a cynic.

This is very cool: The current contract situations for every team in hockey …At least I think it is cool. And, on Bob’s Blog, that really counts for quite a bit. Here is the team with the least to worry about, but the most work to do:

Boston Bruins
Patrice Bergeron $825,000 $627,000
Tom Fitzgerald $625,000 $475,000
Ian Moran $600,000 $456,000
3 players $1,558,000

That’s right, kids. Boston has 3 players signed at 1.5 million dollars. How are they every going to sort that mess out. And people called Boston cheap…

Monday Sports Points

Well, on Monday Morning, it is too tough to narrow the weekend down to one particular sports point to begin the blog, so allow me to do some quick-hits:

1) – Tony Stewart appears to be the best car in NASCAR presently. What a month for the dude. Not so much for Jeff Gordon. We shall see how this plays out soon enough.

2) – Bernard Hopkins vs. Jermain Taylor was sweet. But despite the fact I had Hopkins winning this thing before the fight, there is no doubt that he was properly declared the loser of this fight. He wasted round after round early, and it made no sense to me. He then turned it on late in the fight, dominated rounds 9-12, but it was too late. He lost the fight, and now will wait for the rematch, which is no doubt right in time for the holidays.

3) – I love how when Tiger was just a wee lad, they always told me he would never be a legend. Now that he is a legend, they have to tell me that “St. Andrews is set up perfect for him” and “he may be on the verge of catching Jack for all-time majors, but let’s not forget that Jack had 17 2nd place finishes, too”. Love the media.

4) – Where was this planet before the ESPY’s? I don’t want to go back.

5) – The Rangers should likely begin plans for 2006. It starts with seeing what veterans have trade value. Kenny Rogers anyone? Oh, wait. He HAD value.

6) – I went to see the sport of ice hockey this past weekend. Perhaps you remember it. Well, after watching the Stars rookie scrimmage, I am ready to buy stock in big defenseman Shawn Belle. You may remember him as the player the Stars received when they sent St Louis goalie Jason Bacashihua. Belle is big and skates well. I think he may make the team this fall. We shall see, but the best thing was seeing hockey again. Good to have you back, boys.



Rangers defeated by Carrot Top …Lose 3 out of 4…

Ellis takes on the big magnificent Tuna …

Greg Ellis, the former No. 1 draft pick who has led the Cowboys in sacks each of the last four seasons, knows he isn't the player Bill Parcells is looking for to execute the new 3-4 defense.

At 270 pounds, Ellis understands he'll be at a size disadvantage. It's a reality that has him worried about keeping his starting job.

"I think I won't be in Dallas as many years as the organization or Jerry [Jones] expected me to be there," Ellis said by phone Friday.

"Do I want to be? Yes. I want to be in Dallas, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did something with me at the end of the season because I don't think Bill liked the way I came to him."

Ellis and Parcells discussed the position change in late May, when the club had a three-day veteran minicamp. Ellis, who did not talk about the switch publicly then, said the meeting became heated.

"There was some screaming," he said, "but I didn't scream."

A pretty funny concept: Beer League …

Whatever happened to: Vanderjagt hires Former Cowboys Coach Steve Hoffman …

Raising the Baseball HOF standards …

We have posted this one before, but here it is again, The Helmet Project …

Normally, I do not post stuff from message board threads, but here are two fairly exceptional items for you to check out:

Chan Ho Park Comedy …

Horns Fans find Aggie Pictures …Yikes…

Does Icing the kicker work? …

This just in: The Ballpark is a hitter’s park …

Great American Ball Park, so far this season, is the most home run-friendly park in Major League Baseball.

Entering the game Friday night, according to STATS Inc., there were 23.53 at-bats per home run at Great American. Ameriquest Field, home of the Texas Rangers, was second at 23.95.

RFK Stadium, home of the Washington Nationals, has been the most difficult place to homer. There have been 62.36 at-bats per home run.

Gabe Kapler is officially back! …

The Red Sox [stats, schedule] lost several marquee names to free agency after winning the World Series but no former player has been missed in the clubhouse more this year than Gabe Kapler.

The universally respected and popular reserve outfielder left for Japan late last autumn but he will be returning to the Sox after an unsuccessful stay with the Yomiuri Giants. The team announced following last night's 17-1 pounding of the New York Yankees [stats, schedule] that Kapler, who cleared Japanese waivers yesterday, had been re-signed to a major league deal.

Kapler, who reportedly experienced back problems in Japan, batted only .153 for the Giants before being deactivated more than a month ago. He will be placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Sox due to the back problem but is believed to be close to starting a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

``Gabe is a great friend to a lot of us,'' Trot Nixon [stats, news] said. ``If there's ever a guy who epitomized `team player,' it's him. It will be great to have him back in this clubhouse.''

Sports in Texas is fun …

Do NOT doubt Tiger

Tiger goes wire to wire at St Andrews. Major #10.

For Gribble, it will be Chaplin mustache #1.

Friday Links

That was Amazing. Especially Rich Harden’s revenge to the 3-0 count on Teixeira in the 7th. The Rangers had nothing for the A’s… Harden nearly perfect …

Harden, who lost to Kenny Rogers in Oakland in May despite pitching a six-hitter, was simply unhitable Thursday. He had command of every pitch and got the Rangers swinging early and often. He threw just 81 pitches. It was the lowest total by an Oakland pitcher in a complete game in the 17 years since that statistic has been kept.

Adam Morris Grades the Positional Players for the Rangers …



Hopkins versus Taylor Saturday night …And although I think Taylor will be a huge test, give me old man Bernard to do it again…

Hopkins, 40, doesn't believe Taylor can deal with the pressure of a big fight.

"His strength is his youth," said Hopkins, who is 14 years older than Taylor, 26. "But I'm the better athlete and the more experienced fighter. I will expose that. I believe I'm faster and I punch hard, and I have a better defense than Jermain Taylor."

And, by the way, The Executioner (Hopkins) is still #1 in ESPN’s Pound for Pound Rankings …

Star Telegram’s Media Insider …

FC Dallas has 6 All-Stars! …And if you haven’t noticed, Dallas has a VERY competitive squad now. It is well worth your American dollars to see them play. They open their new ground August 6th…

The starters include four FC Dallas players: forwards Eddie Johnson and Carlos Ruiz, midfielder Ronnie O'Brien and defender Greg Vanney. The other starters are midfielders Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Clint Dempsey and Shalrie Joseph (both of New England), and Amado Guevara (MetroStars); defenders Eddie Pope (Salt Lake) and Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City); and goalkeeper Matt Reis (New England).

Cubs Owner Mark Cuban???…

Jay Mariotti begs the Cubs to stop the stupidity of the 7th inning celebrity sing-a-long …And by the way, Mark Cuban sings today…

Bought anything cool on Ebay lately? How about the right to caddy at the British Open this weekend? …

Cutino Mobley joins the Mighty Clippers …



10 Worst Football Kits (Soccer Uniforms) of All Time …

Listen to the British Open on your Computer (voiced by our friends in the UK) Open Golf …

To Sign Modano, or Not to Sign Modano

Is it wisdom or loyalty that will cause you to sign Mike Modano? Either way, you have to do it. You cannot re-sell hockey to Dallas without Mikey-Mo. You just can't. We shall see what other big offers come his way to make Hicks/Lites sweat...

Colishaw on Modano and the Stars …

It doesn't help Mike Modano that he turned 35 this summer.

It doesn't help Mike Modano that he is coming off his poorest season, one in which he was outscored by Red Wings defenseman Mathieu Schneider, not to mention 108 other players.

It doesn't help Mike Modano that the Stars have millions of dollars committed to lesser players as the NHL enters its new salary-cap-restricted world.

None of the above should matter. Mike Modano should be a Star for life.

Heika rates the free agent market …

The abbreviated NHL off-season should yield plenty of free agents. While teams have the right to re-sign these players, they are unrestricted and sign with any team they wish. Staff Writer Mike Heika ranks the top-10 free agents likely to be available (with player, position, last team and age):

1. Peter Forsberg, C, Colorado, 31
2. Markus Naslund, LW, Vancouver, 31
3. Scott Niedermayer, D, New Jersey, 31
4. Mike Modano, C, Dallas, 35
5. Nikolai Khabibulin, G, Tampa Bay, 32
6. Adam Foote, D, Colorado, 33
7. Sergei Zubov, D, Dallas, 34
8. Pavol Demitra, C, St. Louis, 30
9. Paul Kariya LW, Colorado, 30
10. Alexei Zhitnik, D, Buffalo, 32

According to our Friends at Andrew’s Stars Page Current Payroll Figures for the Stars …

Player -- Compensation -- With Rollback
Bill Guerin -- $8,866,445 -- $6,738,498
Pierre Turgeon -- $6,000,000 -- $4,560,000
Jere Lehtinen -- $4,700,000 -- $3,572,000
Marty Turco -- $4,160,256 -- $3,161,795
Philippe Boucher -- $2,400,000 -- $1,824,000
Stu Barnes -- $1,500,000 -- $1,140,000
Jon Klemm -- $1,472,249 -- $1,118,909
Trevor Daley -- $600,000 -- $456,000
Jaroslav Svoboda -- $600,000 -- $456,000
Total -- $30,298,950 -- $23,027,202

Rangers claim they might buy ….

The Rangers, according to major league sources, continue to show interest in Kansas City's Mike Sweeney but don't want to give up Kevin Mench. They have scouted San Francisco Giants pitcher Jason Schmidt, and they continue to think about Tampa Bay reliever Danys Baez but know the asking price is still high.

Lovely, Tiger did not eliminate himself today. Tiger -6 leads the British Open …

Thanks to P1 Brian, here are some details on the new video game career of Marty Turco …

Video of Turco performing for the game people …

Lakers make a move for Kwame …

The Lakers have taken another bold step to remake their roster, agreeing in principle on a trade that would bring forward-center Kwame Brown from the Washington Wizards and would send Caron Butler and likely Chucky Atkins to Washington.

More on MLS Salaries ….Showing FC Dallas is now spending money

Saturday Night, a potential Fight of the Year as Bernard Hopkins takes on Jermain Taylor. I am very fired up about my chance to spend some money on this beauty. To get you ready, HBO is showing some recent fights from both men on Friday Night Including Hopkins big win over Oscar DeLaHoya …

I went on and on abou the 2 Nike Commercials I love that are currently in heavy rotation. The Lance Armstrong Press Conference … And 6-year old Tiger wins the British Open …

Jason Witten Profiled last week by Pasquarelli …

Get your Grubes T-Shirts HERE …

I know this will defeat some readers, but clearly, I don’t care. You know how in Late May Liverpool won the European Cup to end their season; Well, They are back. Liverpool wins its first Champions League qualifier …

Vieira leaves Arsenal! …Oh dear, for the Gunners…

Rosenhaus vs. Favre …

MLS to Milwaukee …