Halfway There

2 down, 2 to go for Boston …

Playing the blood-and-thunder game that marked their Bill Russell-Larry Bird glory years, the Celtics last night bolted to a 24-point fourth-quarter lead and hung on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-102, at the New Garden to take a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals.

In the midst of a championship banner drought that has spanned both Bush Administrations, the Celtics are two wins from a long-awaited 17th NBA title as they resume play at Staples Center in Los Angeles tomorrow night.

It's premature to be lighting cigars, but the possibility exists the Celtics have played their final game in Boston this year. The Red Auerbach Celtics won championships in Los Angeles in 1963, '68, and '69 and are slated to play three games (if needed) in California before bringing the series - or the trophy - back to Boston.

"It's nice to be up, 2-0," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "We've done what we should do. We took care of home, and that's what we should have done. Now we have to go on the road for us to keep attacking."

Certainly the Lakers will be happy to be playing 3,000 miles west of the Causeway Street gym. The high-flying Western Conference champs dissolved early in the second half of Game 2, falling behind by 24 before a furious rally pulled them within 2 in the final minute. Favored by most experts across the land, the Lakers are in a giant sinkhole as they head home.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson is trying to pass Auerbach by winning a 10th championship and sounded much like Boston's favorite redhead after watching his team take only 10 free throws compared with Boston's 38.

"I'm struck at the fact that Leon Powe gets more foul shots than our whole team does in 14 minutes of play," he said. "I've never seen a game like that in all the years I've coached in the Finals. Unbelievable. I think my players got fouled. I have no question about the fact that my players got fouled but didn't get to the line."
The unheralded Powe attempted 13 free throws and shredded the Lakers under the basket, scoring 21 points, many on dunks. Paul Pierce scored 28 points with eight assists in 41 minutes. Kevin Garnett added 14 rebounds and Rajon Rondo had 16 assists for the winners.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 for the losers, but he did little damage until the final Quarter. Bryant made only 9 of 26 shots in Los Angeles's 10-point loss in Game 1 and got off to a slow start last night before recovering with 13 in the fourth.

The Lakers search for answers ..

After two games of the NBA Finals, your heroes are coming home in a heap.

This is no fake. This is a forearm. And an elbow. And a shove. Lots of shoves.

The final images of Sunday's 108-102 Celtics victory were of a different type of green and purple.

The Lakers' faces are green, and their bodies are purple.

The Lakers trail this series two games to none after being embarrassed by the actor who previously used that wheelchair -- Paul Pierce bravely scored 28 points! -- and being beaten up by everyone else.

A toughness that was questioned has been answered. Right now, they're not tough enough.

A youthfulness that was feared has been realized. Right now, their kids are playing like kids.

Yes, the Lakers scored an amazing 31 points in the final eight minutes to cut a 24-point lead to four points.

But, no, it didn't matter, not when they didn't have anybody big and strong enough to stop Pierce from driving the lane and forcing two free throws.

And not when headstrong Sasha Vujacic didn't look for an open Kobe Bryant and threw up a three-point attempt that was blocked in the final seconds to essentially end it.

Their night in 10 seconds.

I don’t watch much tennis. In fact, I don’t watch any tennis beyond the French Final, the Wimbledon Final, and the last week at the US Open. But, wow, yesterday was as dominating as I have ever seen, as Rafa Nadal made Rog look silly …

So what was Roger Federer to do with the elusive French Open trophy once again in sight and Rafael Nadal looming larger than ever across the net?

Stay back and rally? Definitely not. Nadal was too quick, too powerful and too steady, with unforced errors creeping in as rarely as sunshine during this tournament.

Why not attack the net? More sensible indeed, yet Nadal’s dipping passing shots were so precise, so forceful that they kept requiring Federer to dig balls out of the dirt or twist his neck — smoothly, of course — to watch a winner land on the sideline or the baseline.

No, the answer for the millions of Federer fans worldwide who would like nothing better than for their man to win the only Grand Slam singles title he lacks was that there was no solution available to Federer in his current state of form and Nadal’s current state of grace.

In a final that rarely resembled anything other than one-way traffic, Nadal was at his clay-covering, forehand-whipping finest as he won his fourth straight French Open by beating up on the erratic, increasingly dispirited Federer.

The stunning final score — 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 — was the most lopsided result in a major men’s final since John McEnroe also surrendered just four games against Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon in 1984.

“I was walking out worrying about losing; it would have been impossible to imagine it would turn out like this,” Nadal said. “I think I played an almost perfect match, and Roger made more mistakes than usual.”

The victory was the finishing touch on one of the most dominant performances in Grand Slam history. The left-handed Nadal, whose record at Roland Garros is now 28-0, did not lose a set in this tournament. The last man to do that here was the Swedish champion Bjorn Borg in 1980, and Borg is also the only other man to win four straight singles title in Paris.

Your Tennis major winners since 2004 …

2004: Aus: Federer French: Gaudio Wim: Federer US: Federer
2005: Aus: Safin French: Nadal Wim: Federer US: Federer
2006: Aus: Federer French: Nadal Wim: Federer US: Federer
2007: Aus: Federer French: Nadal Wim: Federer US: Federer
2008: Aus: Djokovic French: Nadal

Rangers finish painful homestand …

Ten straight home games probably shouldn't be as taxing as the ones the Texas Rangers played during their longest stretch of the season at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

But long games, ragged pitching and hot temperatures can take a toll on any team. So, maybe the Rangers' 5-5 record doesn't look like a missed opportunity.

To some, it looks like they survived. The Rangers beat Tampa Bay 6-3 Sunday behind right-hander Doug Mathis and a makeshift lineup that salvaged a homestand split.
"I think it shows what kind of team we've got," left-hander Eddie Guardado said. "I'd say 5-5 is better than 0-10. We've got a lot to learn and a lot to do to improve, but if we keep on battling, we're going to do it."

German Duran hit a two-run homer on the day he was recalled from the minors, and solo shots by David Murphy and Ramon Vazquez helped secure Mathis' first victory as a big-league starter.

The bullpen pitched the final 3 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run as the Rangers avoided a sweep by the Rays, the only team that has won a series against them the past seven weeks.

"Mathis did a great job of making pitches when he had to," Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Mathis, who led 4-2 when he was relieved after allowing a two-run homer to B.J. Upton in the sixth. "He kept us in the ballgame."

The Rangers find themselves in the same place they were before the homestand began, a game under .500 (32-33). They won the first two games to climb a game above .500 for the first time since April.

But the bullpen broke down, and high winds turned Rangers Ballpark into a launching pad. Roster moves had to be made simply to get through another day, and catcher Gerald Laird had to play third base -- twice.

"We had some rough games there, so we'll be satisfied with it, but would have liked to come out a little better," Murphy said. "We're always trying to get way above .500. But we're just hovering there. It's not where we want to be."

A day off today should give the Rangers time to freshen up before a six-game road trip begins Tuesday at Kansas City. Neither Josh Hamilton (viral infection) nor Michael Young (groin) played Sunday, but the Rangers still managed 11 hits.

"We're a team, and I feel comfortable with whoever I put in there," Washington said. "The guys we had in there delivered, and that's why they're on this club."

The Rangers will play 18 of the next 24 on the road, a stretch that includes stops in six cities but no more than nine games without a day off. Sunday's win might help jump-start the stretch on a winning note.

Attendance is down …or are they just telling the truth now about the attendance? No offense, but there is no way they were telling the truth last summer about the crowds…

Considering the Texas Rangers have never averaged fewer than 25,866 fans per game since moving to the Ballpark, Sunday's crowd of 20,258 looked sparse for a weekend afternoon.

But it's right on course with the 22,667 the team is averaging this season. If that number holds, it would be the lowest average attendance for the team since 1986 (20,877).

Last season, the Rangers averaged 28,329 fans through the first 33 home games.

The low numbers may be a product of the economy, high gas prices, and the Rangers' recent history of poor performance, but new team president Nolan Ryan said the organization is doing the things necessary to get people in the building.

Ryan said the team is staying competitive in the American League despite fighting through challenges. But the dip in attendance has to be a chilling reality.

"I don't think you can really compare the attendance from last season at this point, because last year, we had New York in for a four-game series and we had Boston in twice," Ryan said. "So you really have to wait until you get the full season in before you can make comparisons like that."

While a team president often has to concentrate on attendance every day, Ryan said he is taking a more holistic approach to his new job.

"My focus isn't just on the business side of it, it's on the entire operation. But I think it's all tied together," Ryan said. "I think we have a good team, and I think we're working hard and playing hard, and that's the kind of team fans want to watch."

Sidney Ponson and Metallica in the same story! …

According to multiple club sources, the situation had been bubbling for days and came to a head in the last two days over a disagreement in Ponson's pitching schedule.

Ponson, who pitched on three days' rest (one less than normal) Wednesday, was told he'd get five days' rest before his next start, according to sources. He challenged the Rangers to release him.

The Rangers had asked Ponson (4-1, 3.88 ERA) to take an extra day of rest to keep Kevin Millwood on his normal four days' rest.

According to the sources, however, problems began to fester more than a week ago when the Rangers were in Tampa Bay.

The night before his start against the Rays, according to the sources, Ponson was seen late in the evening in the hotel bar. The next day, he lasted only five innings and allowed 12 hits in a 7-3 loss.

Club officials spoke with Ponson, 31, about comportment after the incident and reiterated the "one-strike" stance they took when they signed him in March. In essence, the club said it would cut ties if he had one behavioral issue.

By the time the Rangers made the announcement Friday afternoon, Ponson's locker had been cleaned out, and he'd left the clubhouse.

It's not the first time Ponson's behavior has caused a team to sever ties with him. In 2005, Baltimore released him a week after his second alcohol-related arrest in nine months. In 2004, Ponson spent 11 days in an Aruban jail for allegedly
assaulting a judge over an incident regarding Ponson's powerboat. Last year, an ineffective Ponson was released by Minnesota after just seven starts .

Also, while with Baltimore, Ponson was roughed up in an afternoon start at Yankee Stadium after leaving the club to attend a Metallica concert the night before.
"Everyone was familiar with his previous problems when we signed him," said club president Nolan Ryan, who also declined to discuss specific reasons behind the decision.

Here is a good email:

Hola Bob,

Big P1 and die hard Ranger fan who also happens to be a college baseball/draft writer for an online scouting/prospect ranking service, ProjectProspect.com. I just wanted to pass along some info about the Rangers first round pick that loyal readers of your blog may enjoy.

I reference a couple of previous PP.com (hehe, PP....anyway....) articles. One is a statistical look at the elite college bats in the draft: Here and one is a set of guidelines for judging college stats: Here .

Love the show, keep up the good work.
Merkin,
Lincoln Hamilton
Project Prospect

Josh Hamilton’s Dad calls radio show …

Anthony Henry to Free Safety, Ken Hamlin to Strong? …

Henry played safety his first three years of college and, in pre-draft interviews, Jacksonville told him he'd play safety. And when Cleveland eventually drafted him, the team basically said it would try him at corner, but that it would like him at safety as well.

"I think somewhere in my future I am going to play safety," Henry told me recently. "And if I did move, I would be OK."

The "if" seems almost unnecessary. The feeling at Valley Ranch is that the team can no longer pretend with Roy "Bambi" Williams, not in dime, not in nickel, maybe not at all. Nor are the Cowboys alone, as detailed in a recent dot.com offering by Clark Judge at cbssportsline. Four NFL GMs, anonymously of course, rated Roy's trade value. What they said was not jaw-droppingly damning but rather the usual critiques that were already circulating.

Can't cover. Needs scheme protection.

Praise also was sprinkled in, for his physical play and ability to make plays near
the line of scrimmage. I add this because balance is probably needed. The whole off-season has felt like one big, long bash session, and I even heard a few media types attribute this to you-know-who not being media friendly.

This does not matter. And if it does, it shouldn't.

This is not personal. By all accounts, Roy has good character and is a guy who does awesome things in the community. He just is clueless in coverage. Heck, two of the nicest guys on the team are Henry and Terence Newman, but the Cowboys still traded for Pacman.

Because Pacman gives them a better chance to actually win a playoff game in this lifetime. So does a flexible Henry.

Henry's experiment at safety is very much like adding Zach Thomas and re-signing T.O. It is all about doing whatever is necessary to finally reach the Super Bowl, regardless of egos and agendas.

Henry gets this. The day we talked he had been asked by the crowd if he felt at all crowded by Pacman and the two draft picks spent on cornerbacks.

"The more the better," he said. "Right now, I am still the starting corner. Whatever happens, if I get shuffled around, I will handle that when it comes.... I'm just going to go with the flow. If that is the best way for us to be successful and win a championship, then I am willing to do it."

Yes, Henry is a smart guy. He knows why, all of a sudden, after eight years in the league at cornerback, the Cowboys are tinkering with him playing safety. He is the answer to what everybody knows is a problem.

And a really, really good answer at that.

Ced Benson = Rocket Scientist ..

Bears running back Cedric Benson had nothing to say about his latest arrest on alcohol-related charges after being reached by phone Sunday evening. He did say the latest episode in his turbulent off-season will not prevent him from participating in organized team activities Monday.

There is considerable speculation that the Halas Hall appearance might be his last as a Bear.

Benson's football fate could be determined this week as facts are gathered pertaining to his Saturday morning arrest in Austin, Texas, on charges of driving while intoxicated. The arrest was the second in five weeks for the enigmatic running back; he was jailed on May 3 outside of Austin and charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

Following the first incident, Benson adamantly maintained his innocence, saying he wasn't drunk and claiming officers from the Lower Colorado River Authority mistreated him.

Benson has kept his public comments about the latest misstep to a minimum, though he indicated he would make a statement Monday.

According to a police arrest affidavit obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, an Austin officer saw a silver BMW with Texas plates cross three lanes from the right lane and come to a quick stop Saturday. The driver, Benson, failed to signal, and when the car stopped, a pedestrian jumped out of the way, according to the affidavit.

Benson, who told police he had one mixed drink of vodka and 7UP, had a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and a talkative and cocky attitude, according to the affidavit. He was unable to keep his balance without swaying and staggered while he walked, the affidavit said.

Benson's lawyer, Sam Bassett, said his client had 2-3 alcoholic drinks but performed well on the field sobriety tests, which he said were video recorded and will exonerate Benson when made public.

WMAQ-Ch. 5 reported Sunday night in a blog on its Web site that Benson sent a text message to reporter Peggy Kusinski, who is on maternity leave, declaring, "I aced the field test, check the video."

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, astonished that Benson would put himself in another difficult position within weeks of the first incident, said the organization would delve into the matter more deeply on Monday. In May, Angelo said he had no intention of cutting Benson after his first arrest, but he never expressed those feelings while talking with reporters Saturday at the Bears Expo at Soldier Field.

The Bears were considering moving in another direction even before Benson's off-the-field issues. As the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, the former University of Texas star has failed to live up to expectations through his first three seasons, averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per carry in 11 games last season after taking over as the starter for departed fan favorite Thomas Jones.

NHL ALL - Free Agent Team …

Darkon Rules



Tay and Weezer

It's On

Well, we are off to a great start in the NBA Finals. The Lakers and Kobe must deal with a little adversity, and the Celtics show they aren’t scared to knock down some huge shots in huge situations. Paul Pierce and KG were both up for it. This is going to be fun.

Bob Ryan speaks to his Celtics Nation …

Don't get cocky. Resist the urge to fire off that sarcastic e-mail to your old college roommate currently residing in Reseda. Just appreciate the fact that the championship of the world's greatest basketball league is once again being played in this town and that your Celtics are now one step closer to title No. 17.

It may not go down as a great game, but it was plenty recognizable as NBA basketball, and, in particular, 2007-08 Boston Celtics basketball. Holding the high-powered Los Angeles Lakers to 37 points in the second half, the Celtics defeated their ancient foe by a 98-88 score last night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant did not go off. But he will. He played a game very reminiscent of the two he came up with in Boston's two regular-season (Yes, we know: pre-Gasol) triumphs, shooting a shaky 9 for 26 while only threatening to take over the game. A few more like that and the Celtics will be making parade plans. Ah, don't count on it.

But there was a little lesson to be gleaned from last night's affair, and that was the following: The Celtics have a guy who can mess up your defensive plans, too.
I'll say it again. Paul Pierce is the most explosive offensive force who has ever put on a Celtics uniform, and he proved it in the third quarter when he scored 15 vital points as the Celtics turned a 51-46 halftime deficit into a 77-73 advantage and were able to protect it in the fourth, when the Lakers were never able to creep closer than 3 points (81-78).

Pierce did his vital third-quarter scoring in two bursts, sandwiched around a mysterious injury to his right knee. He started the third by taking a Kevin Garnett feed and laying in power lefthanded layup. He followed that by up-faking Vladimir Radmanovic, drawing contact, and then banking a three from the far right reaches of the Celtics' kingdom. This time, in contrast to the goings-on in Auburn Hills, Mich., he got the call, and he sank the free throw for an honest-to-God 4-point play. Bryant hit a jumper, but Pierce responded with a jumper in the lane, giving him 8 points in the first 1:13.

"That flurry they came out with in the third quarter put us back on our heels," said Laker mentor Phil Jackson.

The great drama came at the 6:52 mark of the period, when Bryant scored on a runner to cut the Celtics' lead to 62-58 and Pierce went down on the baseline, grabbing his right knee. He looked to be in great distress, and he was carried off the floor. No one had a handle on what had happened, and there was no way to regard this as anything less than The End Of Everything.

The anxiety lasted exactly 1 minute 45 seconds, which is how long it took Pierce to emerge from the locker room. It may have taken the fans a half-second to start thinking about a certain No. 33, who made a dramatic return to action after slamming his head on the ol' parquet in Game 5 of the 1991 Indiana series.

Larry Bird came back strong in that one, and Pierce came back strong in this one. The Lakers were leading, 71-69, on a Kobe right-corner turnaround when Pierce came down and drilled a right-wing three in transition to give the Celtics a lead they would never relinquish. P.J. Brown, whose 21-minute relief stint should have earned him the equivalent of a basketball "Hold," blocked a Lamar Odom baseline drive and Pierce hit a second 3-pointer in transition, sending the joyous crowd into a "Beat LA!" frenzy.

The Celtics have framed themselves as a defensive team all season, which is why neither Doc Rivers nor anyone on his staff was pleased with the Green and White performance in the first half. The Lakers shot 50 percent from the floor, and they had an impressive total of 14 assists affixed to their 19 baskets. Too many people were just too open, and it's never good for a team when Kobe shoots a tepid 3 for 10 and the Lakers are still leading by 5 points (51-46).

But that all changed in the second half, when the Lakers shot 13 for 39. They will, no doubt, cite painful in-and-outs, but the fact is they continually fired and missed.

Bill Plaschke writes back to Los Angeles …

He lay in a heap on the parquet floor, visibly weeping into the silk-suited sleeve of his doctor.

He was pushed in a wheelchair down a narrow back hallway, head down, season over.

Paul Pierce, the Boston Celtics captain, was carried from the opening game of the NBA Finals in the third quarter Thursday with an apparent serious knee injury that momentarily deadened and distracted the Lakers.

At which point, Pierce came running back to finish them off.

To nearly 50 years of delicious Celtics-Lakers lore, add a new apparent bit of chicanery.

Call it the Fake N'Shake.

The Celtics won Game 1, 98-88, on the momentum of a recovery that smacked more of professional wrestling than professional basketball.

When Pierce crumpled on the floor after being apparently faked out of his kneecap by Kobe Bryant with 6:52 left in the third quarter, the Lakers led by four points.

When he returned after just 1:45 had ticked off the game clock, the Celtics led by one.

The "Rocky" theme played. The crowd roared. Pierce hobbled out with drama dripping from every step.

He was so hurt, he immediately began sprinting around the stunned Lakers defenders.

He was in such pain, he hit consecutive three pointers late in the period that gave the Celtics the lead for good.

At which point, a Lakers season filled with colorful adjectives had been reduced to one word.

C'mon!

Afterward, Pierce played the part of the resurrected hero, shaking his head at the wonder of it all.

"You know, I think God sent this angel down and said, 'Hey, you're going to be all right, you need to get back out there, show them what you've got,' " he said.

The Lakers, meanwhile, were just shaking their heads, period.

"You know, you don't know what happens," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said of Pierce. "Guys can break a shoelace and go out, the pants break down, a drawstring falls apart."

Pierce said he heard his knee pop.

"Once I heard the pop, and I couldn't move it at first, I thought that was it," he said.

He was literally carried from the court. While the Lakers were staring at him, the Celtics were being inspired by him.

"I reminded them . . . there will be adversity and you've got to overcome it," Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said. "I said, this is it right here."

The Celtics responded, the Lakers retreated, and the game was never the same.

Rangers get a gem in Justin Smoak …

According to virtually every published scouting report, they may have landed the next Teixeira – or Chipper Jones – by selecting South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak with the 11th overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday.

The Rangers are having none of it.

"I don't think you want to compare any young player who has never played professional baseball to guys like that," scouting director Ron Hopkins said. "But this is a good player. We said we were going to take the best available player when we picked, and this was the best player."

The Rangers bypassed college lefty Christian Friedrich when Smoak became available, but the Rangers gobbled up three lefties in their next five picks: second-rounder Robbie Ross (57th overall), third-rounder Tim Murphy (83rd overall) and sixth-rounder Richard Bleier (183rd overall).

Maybe the Rangers didn't draw the comparison because they didn't really think they had much chance to grab Smoak, who hit .383 with 23 homers for South Carolina this season. In a draft supposedly deep in talented first basemen, Smoak, 21, was ranked as the top college player at the position by Baseball America. He was ranked as the eighth choice overall. The Rangers expected Smoak to be gone before the draft hit double digits.

But when the Florida Marlins passed on University of Miami first baseman Yonder Alonso to take high school catcher Kyle Skipworth with the sixth pick, it triggered a chain of events that allowed the Rangers to select Smoak.

Smoak is expected to receive more than "slot" money for the No. 11 pick, which is between $1.9 million and $2 million. The Rangers have until Aug. 15 to sign him. If they don't, they will be awarded a first-round pick next year as compensation.

"Our expectation is to do what we can to reach a fair compromise and get him out and playing," general manager Jon Daniels said.

Ross, who has a scholarship to the University of Kentucky, is also expected to receive more than slot money (approximately $550,000). Both Smoak and Ross are being advised by the same representative, Dustin Bledsoe.

Smoak’s bomb versus Clemson



And another…



Email predicting problems?

BaD Radio,

So, have you guys read this little snippit from the Scott Boris boy Justin Smoak where he sounds a bit too much like a certain former first baseman we had here not long ago?

Here is the quote: "I'm ready," Smoak told The State (S.C.) newspaper this week, "I've been here for three years, and you never know, I could definitely be back here for a fourth year. ... If you're going to ask me if I want to sign, I can't tell you it's no. ... But you just never know what's really going to happen."

-Drew

Edit (10:00am): It should be noted that while the quote may be true, Smoak is represented by Bledsoe, not Boras - Bob

Millwood gives the Rangers a great start …

By the official definition, Kevin Millwood didn't qualify for a quality start Thursday.

Try telling that to the Texas Rangers.

After watching starters wilt in the heat or get bowled over by the gale-force winds that have invaded Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, manager Ron Washington needed one thing – and one thing only – from a starting pitcher. He needed innings. And after a tumultuous start to a 9-4 win over Cleveland, innings are exactly what Millwood gave the Rangers.

In a 36-mph howling wind that often blew dust into the faces of everybody in the stadium, Millwood showed he could adapt to the surroundings. He allowed four runs before getting a second out in the first inning, then retired 15 consecutive batters while the Rangers battled, er, batted their way back into the game.

"You are just seeing determination," said Milton Bradley, who had three hits, including his fourth home run in his last nine at-bats. "He didn't let it all fall apart when it could have. He saved the ballgame."

Millwood, who had his start pushed back a day to attend to a personal matter, said the wind didn't make him alter anything after the first, but catcher Gerald Laird suggested the starter had better balance on the mound. As a result, he had better command, particularly of his sinking fastball.

"I didn't feel like I needed to make an adjustment. I thought the hits they were getting were coming on good pitches," Millwood said. "I wanted to make sure I didn't try too hard in the second."

The sinker came in handy in the sixth when Cleveland threatened again. After the Rangers tied it at 4, the Indians loaded the bases with three singles. But with two outs, Millwood got Shin-Soo Choo to swing through a sinking fastball to end the inning. Millwood let rip a little emotion after the strikeout.

And the Rangers let out a little cry of relief. The Rangers had gone three straight games without a starter reaching the fifth inning. The last thing the Rangers needed was to go to the bullpen early again.

The Euros are Here! …In High Definition!

The 16-nation tournament kicks off Saturday and should be the most competitive yet. It is being jointly staged by Austria and Switzerland, but it is neighboring Germany that could carry off the silverware.

Greece comes in as the defending champion, having upset host Portugal in the Euro 2004 final in Lisbon, but the Greeks were a surprise winner, an 80-to-1 longshot, and this time the traditional powers are favored.

Otto Rehhagel, the German who coached the Greeks to their title and is seeking to repeat, said the favorites should be, "the usual gallery of Italy, France, Spain and Germany."

Despite Greece's victory in 2004 and Denmark's similar surprise in 1992, Sweden Coach Lars Lagerback argued that "if you look at it historically, one of the big nations is likely to come out on top."

That means three-time winner Germany. That means former winner and reigning world champion Italy. That means two-time winner and 2006 World Cup runner-up France. That means, well, no, it doesn't actually mean Spain because the Spanish traditionally find a way to lose.

But it could mean the Netherlands, who haven't won since 1988, when Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit was on the team, along with current Dutch Coach Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, the third member of the all-conquering trio.

Chances are that by the time the final is played at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on June 29, it will be the Germans and the Italians, or the Germans and the French or the Germans and the Dutch, who will be taking the field.

Either way, the Germans figure on being there.

"There are many teams that are a little better than us in terms of technical quality or individual talent, but I believe that our enthusiasm and team spirit can compensate," German midfielder Michael Ballack said.

The continent's top player at the moment is Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, whose goals led Manchester United to the English Premier League and European Champions League titles over Ballack's Chelsea.

Portugal Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who coached Brazil to its 2002 World Cup triumph, said Ronaldo could crown an astonishing season with a victory in Vienna.

"I expect him to have a great Euro 2008 and prove himself to be the best player in the world," Scolari said.

All 31 matches are sold out and the tournament will be shown live in the U.S. on one or another of ESPN's platforms.

Euro 2008 TV Listings …Weekend Action:

Jun-07 01:30pm Portugal - Turkey

Jun-07 10:50am Switzerland - Czech Republic

Jun-08 01:30pm Germany - Poland

Jun-08 10:50am Austria - Croatia

Red Sox – Rays Fight from last night



UFC 85

The Truth Hurts

Well, Even if you hate them (and I do), we must admit that the Red Wings are the best team in the National Hockey League this season. And, they are also the Stanley Cup Champions. They must be congratulated, even though it pains me to do so.

They were dominant. And their best players (5,13,40,28) are all unassuming very quiet superstars who never offend anyone. That Zetterberg is just fantastic. And, the key to the series is that in Game 4 and Game 6 the Penguins had crucial 5 on 3 power plays and Zetterberg, Kronwall, and Lidstrom killed each of them off with relative ease. Chris Osgood was very solid, but Zetterberg was the clear Conn Smythe.

So, the off-season begins, and you Detroit fans get the last laugh.

One final question: I know it happens every year, but what is the deal with the healthy scratches dressing up for the handshakes and Cup skate? Isn’t it bad luck to be in the dressing room when the game is in doubt getting into your gear? What if the Penguins come back and win, the Wings walk back into their room bummed out and there is Aaron Downey and Chris Chelios in their uniforms because they want to hold the Cup? Odd.

Detroit Enjoys …

They had waited long enough and skated hard enough, endured sudden turns and crushing twists, until finally, finally, the Red Wings went ahead and took what they had to have, what they've been chasing all year, what they always believed was theirs.

They took it in gasping, grasping fashion -- fitting fashion, really -- with Chris Osgood swiping at Pittsburgh's final, desperate shot. As the puck slid past the open goal, the crowd shrieked and the horn sounded, and there was the briefest pause to see if it really was over.

It was. And then it began, and now it begins. The Wings leaped on the ice in celebration-exhilaration-exhaustion, and launched another rollicking Detroit summer.
In another terrific showcase of drama, the Wings beat the Penguins, 3-2, on Wednesday to win the Stanley Cup. They took this Cup with cool force, in their classically composed way, rolling into an enemy arena and quelling the noise. And in case anyone still wondered, yes it's true: What's old is new again, and the hockey world is back to Red again.

They had to shake off smothering pressure and pesky Penguins to do it, but the Wings did it with great defense and stellar goaltending by Osgood, with the relentlessness of stars Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, with pieces and poise from all areas.

They did it with a clinching third-period goal by Zetterberg, whose shot dribbled between the legs of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. The puck just sat there, for a second, two seconds, forever it seemed, until Fleury fell on it and knocked it in, and knocked the Penguins out.

From there, it all came spilling out, all the pent-up emotion and ramped-up talent, all the ingredients that made the Wings the best in hockey, and one of the most complete teams we've seen. As the game ended, that crushing three-overtime loss in Game 5 became just another obstacle hurdled, another piece of history.

"This is much more gratifying," said owner Mike Ilitch, comparing it to previous titles. "I'm not saying the (NHL salary cap) is because of us, but everybody wanted a fair shot. People expected us to go down."

And now they know: History always reprises itself, and so do the Wings. They shook awake old glory, winning their fourth Cup in 11 years, their first in six years -- Hockeytown reborn, or revisited.

There were the new stars, similar to the previous stars, aligning themselves as they have throughout this dominating season. One by one, they hoisted the Stanley Cup, and with it, they raised the banner of a new era, the first championship without Steve Yzerman as captain or Scotty Bowman as coach.

There was another humble, superb leader in Nicklas Lidstrom, raising the Cup for the fourth time, his first as captain. He also becomes the first European captain to win the Cup.

"I watched Steve Yzerman hoist it three times, and I'm very proud of being the first European," Lidstrom said. "So much history with this team, the great tradition, I'm just so very proud."

Rangers house of cards has significant foundation problems …

With their pitching staff in disarray, the Rangers prepared for the worst Wednesday.

That's exactly what they got in a 15-9 loss to Cleveland.

Starter Sidney Ponson, pitching for the first time in his career on three days' rest, couldn't get to
the fifth inning. The duo of relievers called up earlier in the day, Elizardo Ramirez and Kameron Loe, couldn't keep the game close.

But if there was one thing for which the Rangers weren't prepared, it was another fielding breakdown. Errors once again came in bunches and contributed to a pair of blown leads and four unearned runs.

The Rangers committed three errors. It was the fourth time this season they've allowed at least three errors in a game.

"It's on us to do everything we can to help our pitchers out," said second baseman Ian Kinsler, who committed one of the three errors. "The times when the errors happened were critical. We need to pick up the concentration a little there."

The pitching and fielding were such a mess, they completely rendered the offense's prodigious run-scoring ability meaningless. The Rangers pounded out six runs off American League ERA leader Cliff Lee in five innings, making it Lee's shortest and worst start of the season. He still ended up the winner.

The Rangers have scored eight or more runs in their last five games. They are 2-3 in those games.

The Rangers had taken emergency measures before Wednesday's game because the pitching staff had allowed 33 runs (31 earned) on 42 hits and 18 walks in the previous three games.

In that span, two starters – Vicente Padilla and Kevin Millwood – had to miss turns to attend to family matters. Another – A.J. Murray – suffered a strained rotator cuff. The bullpen had worked 15 innings in that span, leaving almost nobody available.

It there was one saving grace to the game, it was that none of the regular members of the bullpen had to work.

"We got our bullpen back tonight," manager Ron Washington said. "Things should start to fall in line."

But before it got better, it got worse Wednesday. When the night was done, the staff ERA, which had been 4.73 at the end of May, had risen to 5.10.

Today is MLB Draft Day, so let’s look at who the Rangers may snag at #11:

Evan Grant’s list …

Rangers writer Evan Grant ranks the club's most likely first-round selections and whether it's likely to require more than slot money to sign the player. The Rangers' first-round pick is No. 11, which probably will have a financial slot of $1.9 million-$2 million.

1. LHP Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky: Only the University of San Diego's Brian Matusz is a more polished lefty in this draft. Friedrich throws a fastball in the 89-94 mph range, a curve, a slider and a solid change. He's had some blister problems. Bonus situation: Should receive slot money.

2. 1B Eric Hosmer, HS Cooper City, Fla.: The destination of this Scott Boras client might be the biggest wild card in the top 12 picks. Some projections have had him going as high as third; some have had him sliding to the Rangers. A left-handed hitter, he has drawn some comparisons to the Los Angeles Angels' Casey Kotchman. Bonus situation: Seeking well above slot.

3. RHP Aaron Crow, Missouri: It's unlikely the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year would get to the Rangers. He has refined command of a fastball-slider combo but didn't throw many change-ups in college. He might have a higher ceiling than former Tiger Max Scherzer, the No. 11 pick in 2006 who is pitching for Arizona. Bonus situation: Likely to go above slot.

4. RHP Gerrit Cole, HS Orange, Calif.: Another Boras client who draws some comparisons to last year's top Rangers choice, Blake Beavan. He has a very projectable pitcher's body, has a recoil to his arm at the end of his delivery and has been labeled as being a little too cocky on the mound. Bonus situation: Seeking well above slot.

5. RHP-OF Aaron Hicks, HS Long Beach, Calif.: In its first two sentences, Baseball America's scouting report includes comparisons to Darryl Strawberry and Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones. Like Rangers 2007 first-rounder Michael Main, he could project as either a pitcher or outfielder. Bonus situation: Should receive slot.

6. RHP Andrew Cashner, TCU: The Rangers aren't likely to take the top local prospect because he projects as a reliever rather than a starter. They don't have a history of selecting relievers high, though Cashner might be the first player from this draft to reach the majors. Bonus situation: Should receive slot.

Baseball Prospectus Mock …

11. Texas Rangers

The Rangers would be pleasantly surprised to see one of the elite college players fall to them. Barring such a plummet, there’s been some talk of them selecting a college closer, as well as a late surge for high school pitcher Ethan Martin, one of the more athletic and projectable arms in the draft. In this scenario, Crow is just far too good a talent to let him slide any further, and as always seems to be the case, Texas needs pitching.

Selection: Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri

MLB.com Mock …

11. Texas Rangers: Andrew Cashner, RHP, Texas Christian

There have been four names mentioned prominently here: Cashner, Hunt, Aaron Hicks and SoCal high school pitcher Gerrit Cole. Georgia prepster Ethan Martin could still figure into the mix as well. But we'll stick with the guy in the Rangers' backyard for now.

Last week's projection: Cashner

And, lest we forget, the main stage is about to go Lakers and Celtics on us. Love it. I think I am rolling with Kobe and the Lakers in 7 dramatic, amazing games….
What has happened with Kobe v Celts this year? …

The grand totals show that in the two games, Bryant took 46 shots, which he made into 50 points, thanks in large part to being 17-20 from the line. He had only six assists, in the two games combined, and none of his teammates really got all that hot.

From beyond the free-throw line, again by my count, he finished 4-25 over the two games, and not surprisingly, the Celtics won both games easily. That means, to me, that the Celtics will almost certainly have to keep trying this approach. It's a no-brainer. If you were going to tweak anything, in fact, you might urge Allen not to play harder, but to be even more careful not to foul -- as the free throw line is where Bryant has been most efficient.

That means Bryant ought to be getting plenty of good opportunities to score from the perimeter. His ability to hit those shots, or to turn the space he can create for himself into opportunities for his teammates like Pau Gasol, could decide the series.
The only reason Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau might pause, is that San Antonio essentially just tried this same thing in the Western Conference finals -- with an even better defender, Bruce Bowen -- yet Bryant shot very well as the Lakers rolled.
For that reason, ESPN's David Thorpe imagines the Celtics probably are at least considering plan B.

"If you're Gregg Popovich right now, you're thinking that you executed your plan about as well as possible. You kept Kobe Bryant off the free-throw line. You shaded off of him, and forced him to make a shot, instead of getting to the line," explains Thorpe. "But now that the Lakers beat you, you might be wondering if maybe you should have tried beating him up all series long. Putting bodies on him again and again and hitting him hard. Sure he kills you at the line in the early going, but what happens in the fourth quarter, or in Games 2, 3, and 4? As the series grinds on, that tactic could make you look better and better. It might not work, but at least you don't have to deal with Kobe Bryant look fresh as a daisy in the fourth quarter of every game, which happened against San Antonio."

Will the Celtics let Bryant fire away from long-range, and if so, will Bryant convert?

If the regular season is any guide, there's a championship in the balance.

Need Tickets? …

It will probably become someone's memorable Father's Day gift: a seat right behind the visitors' bench at Staples Center to watch the Lakers and Boston Celtics that day in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Should the best-of-seven series, which begins tonight in Boston, go to a fifth game, that seat is available for $27,028.

The nation may be struggling with soaring fuel prices, high food bills and rising home foreclosures, but when it comes to the revival of the celebrated Lakers-Celtics matchup in the NBA championship series after 21 years, all economic indicators are up. Ticket prices and merchandise revenue have risen steadily through this postseason, as have television ratings and online hits, with an even bigger jump anticipated for the Finals.

StubHub, an online ticket service, is offering the Father's Day special with up to eight individual seats available at the $27,028 price. For a group, a 44-person suite is being offered for $51,431.
Prices, ratings are up

Numbers across the board document the appeal:

* Tickets: According to StubHub, the average resale price for the Finals is $772 in Los Angeles and $547 in Boston. In last year's championship series, between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs, the average was $366 in Cleveland, $311 in San Antonio. (Face value for the most expensive seat at Staples Center for the Boston series is just under $4,000.)

* Television: ESPN had a 3.3 rating for the postseason, a 38% increase over last year's 2.4. ABC, which will telecast the Finals, has had a 3.7 rating, up 28% over last year.

Though television executives won't predict blockbuster ratings for the Finals, a historic perspective certainly gives them hope. The rating for last year's Finals between the Spurs and the Cavaliers was a record-low 6.2, according to the NBA. It has been four years since the rating was in double figures. That was in 2004, the last time the Lakers reached the Finals. Their series against the Pistons got an 11.5 rating. In each of the three championship seasons by the Lakers at the start of this decade, the ratings reached double figures.

Owens Contract Details …

Here are the contract figures for Terrell Owens' new deal with the Cowboys:

Total: four years, $34 million
Signing Bonus: $12.9 million
Base salaries:
2008 - $830,000
2009 - $2.670 million (He will also receive a roster bonus of $3.1 million)
2010 - $7.5 million
2011 - $7 million

This year's cap number is $5.721 million, followed by $8.995 million (2009), $10.725 million (2010) and $10.225 million (2011)

What about WR help? …Albert Breer with more…

By my count, there are three receivers out there serving as objects of the Cowboys' affection -- Chad Johnson, Roy Williams and Anquan Boldin.

Boldin's sitting out OTAs, and things have been quiet around him of late, though he publicly said a while back that he's not demanding a trade. Likewise, Williams and Ocho Cinco are skipping voluntary workouts, but both are now saying that they'll be there for the mandatory stuff ... Just in case you missed all of that.

"I'm going to make a lot of money this year," Williams told the Detroit Free Press. "You all can look it up. They owe me 5.8 million this year. So why would I be mad? I'm not mad. I'm not missing OTAs because I'm mad at the Detroit Lions. I'm missing because my flights got canceled."

Meanwhile, Johnson said to ESPN, "Am I coming back? Of course I am." His teammates don't seem concerned.

I look forward to the Rucker Park Film …

Please Don’t Watch This if You Are Squeamish: Kimbo Slice makes Thompson’s Ear Explode



Kige Picks the Finals

Another Day in Paradise

And on what I hope is not the last day of hockey season, here are many stories about the Dallas Cowboys…and other stuff:
TO Signs for more money …

Owens, the Cowboys receiver and Jerry Jones, the owner, were laughing it up at the Texas Stadium Stadium Club on Tuesday as they announced a new deal.

Owens signed a four-year, $34 million contract that will keep him with the Cowboys through 2011. Owens will receive roughly $13.7 million this season.

As the owner and wide receiver smiled and ate popcorn contained in a big silver tub, Drew Rosenhaus, Owens' agent, was reflective.

In 2005, Owens made national news by doing sit-ups and curls in the driveway of his New Jersey home during a nasty departure over salary from Philadelphia.

In his first season with the Cowboys in 2006, Owens feuded with former coach Bill Parcells and wide receivers coach Todd Haley.

And there was the accidental overdose.

There was a belief among some people that Owens wouldn't survive another season with the
Cowboys. But Tuesday, Owens said he will probably retire with the team.

"We're going to get a happy ending," Rosenhaus said.

In some ways, this has gone better than expected for Owens, considering where he was a few years ago.

"I've always been high on myself as far as my character, no matter how people may try to tear it down," Owens said. "I know how I am as a person, and I think that has been misconstrued over the years of what type of person and what type of teammate I've been throughout the years."

Jerry Jones also looked back on Owens' first season in Dallas.

"The only thing in reflecting back is I know the No. 1 area was [the overdose] accident," Jones said. "I know that to be a fact. And then the other aspect coming in and getting used to the personality [Parcells] involved around here.

"I don't really want to give him a D-minus for that. You have to give the blame someplace else, too. It was a challenging situation."

But today, the Cowboys showed how much they believe in Owens, giving the receiver a contract comparable to his peers – something he's always wanted.

This off-season, the New England Patriots gave Randy Moss – Owens' biggest rival at receiver – a three-year contract worth $27 million.

"All that I ever wanted was to just get my market value," Owens said. "People want to bring up my age [34]. But I'm paid just like the top guys in the league and they are younger than me. Like the other 81. That speaks for itself."

Michael Silver not really impressed with the Pac Man Stories …

Six months from now, as Jones takes a punt to the house at Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, the young cornerback will have put the 11 Seattle Seahawks giving futile chase and his troubled past behind him. He’ll be heralded as a new man, a model teammate – a leader, even. After the game, everyone in the Cowboys’ locker room from Tony Romo to Terrell Owens will talk about what a great guy Jones is, how he was really just a misunderstood dude who simply needed to be placed in the proper environment to thrive.

You know, like Randy Moss last year.

Now kindly excuse me, the Tennessee Titans and the majority of their fans while we stick our fingers down our throats and make ourselves vomit.

I’m not saying Jones isn’t capable of turning his life around, salvaging his career and fulfilling the promise that had already turned him into one of the NFL’s most exciting players in 2006, a year after the Titans made him the sixth overall draft pick. He certainly should understand by now that he is one slip-up away from blowing his chance at getting paid millions to play football, possibly forever, and screwing up under such circumstances would be truly stupid.

But even if Jones has changed, and I’m skeptical, they’re not shedding any tears in Nashville over his departure. As one of Pacman’s former Titans teammates told me Monday, “By the end (of ‘06), guys were so sick of him and his antics and the uncertainty over whether he was gonna play that they just wanted it to be over. I think the way guys feel about (his reinstatement) is, ‘He’ll be a great fit in Dallas.’ ”

And yes, he was laughing as he said that last part.

Jones was suspended without pay April 10, 2007, less than two months after he was investigated following a Las Vegas strip club incident that left a bouncer paralyzed. Since being drafted, Jones has been arrested six times and has been involved in 12 incidents requiring police intervention.

That’s an extended pattern of some very dubious behavior – or, as Jones would call it, bad luck.
Talk to Jones’ former teammates and coaches in Tennessee, and the thing that stands out is the way he consistently failed to take responsibility for his actions. As the previously quoted ex-teammate says, “Every time he got in trouble, he would give his sob story about how he was ‘targeted’ to (Coach Jeff) Fisher, and then he would go and get in trouble again. It was never his fault. He was always the victim.”

Asked for an example, the player cited a morning shortly before the start of the ‘06 season on which Jones showed up at the team’s facility and told his coaches he couldn’t participate in practice. “He said he was sick – I don’t know if he was hungover or what,” the ex-teammate said. “He was lying there on the training table looking terrible, so they sent him home. That night he got in trouble at a club at 2 a.m. (after allegedly spitting in the face of a female patron whom he said had taken his wallet). He showed up the next day saying, ‘Oh man, they’re targeting me. She stole my wallet.’ We’re like, ‘Forget who stole your wallet. What the hell were you doing out at 2 a.m. when you were supposed to be sick?’ ”

The Titans sat Jones for that weekend’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons – a move that obviously didn’t change his behavior. He was suspended for the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 5, 2006, after another spitting incident at a nightclub. Shortly after the ‘06 season Fisher, one of the NFL’s most tolerant and player-friendly coaches, finally got fed up with Jones beyond the point of no return when he caught the player in a flat-out lie concerning his whereabouts, according to a source familiar with the situation.

That alone is enough to convince me that Pacman isn’t a guy I’d want on my team, but I don’t blame Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for acquiring him. The most Pacman will cost Dallas – aside from his incentive-laden contract – is picks in the fourth and sixth round of future drafts, and I think there’s a reasonable chance that being banished for more than a year has scared him straight, at least for the time being. One reason Jerry Jones is such a successful businessman and owner is because of his willingness to take risks, and if this one pays off, Dallas will have a supremely skilled player to add to a roster already overflowing with talent.

However, when I hear about the Cowboys’ strong support system and how it will be able to keep Jones out of trouble, I roll my eyes. As the former Titans teammate says, “They can tell him all they want how to handle certain situations, but the only way they can ‘support’ him is if they convince him to stay in at night. If he goes out, trouble will follow.”

We could all be proven wrong, of course, as I was with Moss in New England (at least for one season). The great thing about America – especially if you are a shutdown corner and nimble kick returner with blazing speed – is that second chances abound. Jones may well make the most of his, but in the meantime, I’d love to be spared testimonials about his character from people like Cowboys defensive tackle Tank (Say Hello To My Little Friend) Johnson. When I read that Johnson told Jones, “I will be your right hand,” why do I picture that hand holding a semiautomatic rifle?

For now, I’ll try to swallow my skepticism and brace myself for the inevitable narrative about Pacman’s rehabilitation, one which likely will have as much to do with how many games he helps the Cowboys win as it will with his actual effect on locker-room chemistry.

And I’ll give Pacman credit for one thing: He’s making me feel much less nauseous these days
when I write about a certain Patriots wideout.

Compared to Jones, Randy Moss really is a great teammate.

Terry Glenn headed for the unemployment line? …

The Dallas Cowboys want receiver Terry Glenn on their team.
But an NFL source said the Cowboys have told Glenn to either sign the $500,000 injury waiver for his surgically-repaired right knee or prepare to play elsewhere. And that time is growing short for Glenn’s decision.
Glenn is due $1.74 million this season. By signing an injury waiver, if he injures his right knee at any time, that $1.74 million would be nullified and he would be paid a pro-rated $500,000. If he was to suffer any other injury other than to his right knee, he would be paid the full $1.7 million.
Glenn is coming off two surgeries last season that limited him to appearing in the regular-season finale at Washington and the divisional playoff game against the New York Giants. He did not catch a pass against the Redskins. He had two receptions for 30 yards against the Giants.
The Cowboys are not allowing him to participate in their organized team activities or any other practice until he signs the waiver.

Roy is amazing …

Williams insists his teammates haven't lost faith in him. Sporting an "I am what I am” bracelet on his right wrist, he finds strength in religion.

"Ever since I've rededicated my life to Christ I've caught way more persecution now,” he said. "But it's a beautiful thing because I know it's a breakthrough coming for me. I welcome it. What makes me any better than Christ? He was persecuted and I've been persecuted. My teammates know where my heart is. They know where my mind is at.”

So, is he saying he is being persecuted because he goes to church?

Is he saying that Christ was persecuted for similar things that he is persecuted for?

Is he insane?
Rangers pitching still struggling …Jamey Wright? What the Heck?

Sure, an offense that might be the most dangerous in baseball continued to roll up runs at an obscene rate, but a patchwork job by a patchwork bullpen made it hold up in a 12-7 win over the Cleveland Indians.

It was the third game in a row the Rangers scored eight runs or more, the first of the three they won.

Credit Frankie Francisco and Josh Rupe with making the biggest pitches to help Texas get back to .500 (30-30) on the season. Credit Eddie Guardado with a gutsy performance throwing on back-to-back nights. Still, all the credit in the world won't make the bullpen better or more well-rested.

"We can't keep going like that," manager Ron Washington said. "We're going to have to pitch well and catch the baseball. You can't always outslug people."

Washington said before the game that he didn't plan any moves to support his bullpen. However, after his staff tossed 189 pitches Tuesday, Washington declared, "We've got to get something in here tomorrow."

Over the last three games, the Rangers have thrown 599 pitches and have pretty much worn out their entire staff.

Texas has used 14 different pitchers for a seven-man bullpen and has thrown more relief innings than any team in baseball this season.

"We have a lot of faith in our pitching," said shortstop Michael Young. "No one is in here saying everything is on the bullpen. We're a team, we've got to go out there and score runs. They've got their work cut out for them, and we have to support them as best we can."

The Rangers are trying to piece together their starting pitching this week. A.J. Murray took a spot start in place of Vicente Padilla and left in the third inning with a shoulder problem. Sidney Ponson will start tonight on three days' rest, and Kevin Millwood will pitch Thursday.

"Some of this is things that are out of our control and we've got to deal with it," Washington said. "The people we're going with the next three days have to pick us up."

The key, it appears will be relying on the offense. In what is becoming a typical Texas outing, the Rangers finished with 16 hits and five home runs. Milton Bradley had two, and Josh Hamilton, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Murphy had the others. Murphy ended up with four hits.

"We're just doing what we're capable of," Bradley said. "We've got a potent lineup."

Another day, another feature on Bacsik …

On Saturday, I went to talk about the Bonds home run and got a dissertation on the game. For a half hour, Bacsik, 30, offered an array of opinions on baseball’s problems and what could be done to make them better. I’m telling you, the guy could be commish some day.

“Well, I could get things a lot better,” said Bacsik, who is having a fine year in relief for the Clippers. “I really believe that. I just did a blog on how to improve the major-league draft. There’s so many things wrong with baseball. It’s a beautiful game, a great game, but there’s so many things, money and revenue- wise, they don’t take advantage of. They don’t do anything inventive and new.”

Some pitchers might have seen the Bonds homer as a curse. For Bacsik, it was a blessing. It gave him a name, but more important, it gave him a voice. He took the moment and embraced it. He was funny, self-deprecating, respectful of Bonds. The media loved him for it. The ESPN crowd gushed over him. They even gave him a gig during the playoffs. Bacsik created a stir by predicting that the Angels had no chance against the Red Sox and ripping Cubs manager Lou Piniella in the NL Division Series.

“I took a lot of heat on ESPN,” he said. “People were saying, ‘Wow, can he really say that about another manager or organization?’ Sure, because it’s my opinion and I believe in it. I hate it when someone comes on those channels and they just say great things about everybody.”

Bacsik has opinions that might offend the baseball hierarchy and the union alike. He thinks they should shorten the schedule to 144 games and increase the playoff field to 16 teams. Make it like hockey and basketball. Give more teams a chance and make the late-season games more exciting for fans in smaller markets. As for the statistics, they’ve already been tainted by steroids, so who cares?

He says baseball should find a way to make its draft more relevant. Let teams trade picks, the way they do in other sports. Put it on TV. Shut down the league for the day. Do more to promote college baseball. He also thinks they should slot draft picks by salary and take the sport back from the agents.

Agree with him or not, it’s refreshing to hear a pro athlete who has provocative opinions and isn’t afraid to share them. That’s what endeared Bacsik to the public after he gave up Bonds’ home run. He was honest and genuine, a welcome contrast to the home run king.

Some good Shield stuff …Sept 2 is coming!



George Lucas’ daughter is bloody …

The Force is strong with Amanda Lucas daughter of legendary Hollywood filmmaker George Lucas who made her mixed martial arts debut in Auckland on Saturday.

Amanda, who featured in three of her father's Star Wars blockbusters, slipped unnoticed into New Zealand last Sunday with a US all-female fight team.

The Americans took on an Australasian side in the Princesses of Pain event at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium. Amanda, 27, was pitted against Kiwi kickboxer Nicole Kavanagh in the 73kg MMA contest.

Footage of the bout should end up on a reality TV show planned around the formation of a women's international fight league.

Current affairs show 20/20 also covered the event.

Princesses of Pain promoter Belinda Dunne said Amanda's arrival created a buzz among martial artists but the billionaire's daughter had fitted straight in.

Hitler sings Jefferson’s theme very well

Hockey Season Continues!

Wow. Just when I had declared hockey dead, we see quite possibly the greatest Stanley Cup Finals game in years and years. I still highly doubt the Penguins can save us from a Detroit Cup, but if you watched the game, you saw a much better Sidney Crosby and Geno Malkin that might have you thinking they have figured something out…and the longer the series goes, the better they have become.

So your telling me there is a chance?

By the way, we would like to apologize to the buildings and vehicles of Detroit for the lack of fires last night. Sorry.

Penguins Stay Alive – Pitt Gazette …

This game was supposed to be nothing more than a 60-minute formality.

The Penguins had been penciled in as props, a 20-man ensemble charged with offering just enough resistance to keep TV viewers and the Joe Louis Arena crowd interested until Detroit earned the opportunity to parade the Stanley Cup around their home rink.

Did anyone expect genuine suspense? Yeah, right. About as much as a typical North Korean election.

These Penguins apparently didn't understand their season was destined to end last night.
And it didn't.

They earned one of the most dramatic victories in franchise history by defeating Detroit, 4-3, in triple-overtime of Game 5 to slice the Red Wings' lead in the Cup final to 3-2. Game 6 will be at 8:08 p.m. tomorrow at Mellon Arena.

"It's a huge game," winger Petr Sykora said. "We just wanted to get this one and go back to Pittsburgh."

Sykora scored the winner at 9:57 of the third overtime -- the fifth-longest game in Cup final history -- when he threw a shot past Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood from the right dot.

"I hated to see Petr Sykora get that puck," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "You just know it's going in."

The goal was Sykora's sixth of the playoffs, but his first on the road.

The power play that led to his goal was made possible when Detroit forward Jiri Hudler smacked Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi in the face with his stick and received a double-minor.

"I was just praying for blood," Scuderi said.

Although Sykora ended the game, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is the primary reason the Penguins won it. On a night filled with heroic efforts by both teams -- like Ryan Malone who earlier took a puck in the face, throwing himself in front of a Detroit shot in the waning seconds of regulation -- his might have been the most spectacular.

He finished with 55 saves -- a number of them breathtaking -- and came through with one of the most clutch performances of his career in his most important game as a pro.

"He stole the show for us," Malone said.

The Penguins won despite losing defenseman Sergei Gonchar because of an unspecified injury he received late in the second period. Gonchar left the ice long before Max Talbot scored with 34.3 seconds left in regulation to put the game into overtime, although he was on the bench for the third overtime and assisted on Sykora's winner.

Talbot's goal was a season-saver for the Penguins and was the payoff for coach Michel Therrien's decision to use him as the extra skater in a late-game situation for the first time this season.

Ryan Malone takes a puck in the face



Detroit News …

Party postponed. Put the Stanley Cup back in the box, for now.

On an incredible night of emotional swings, when the game seemed won and lost and won again about a dozen times, the Red Wings lost in crushing fashion, in the third overtime. As the clock ticked toward 1 a.m., Penguins right wing Petr Sykora fired a shot past Chris Osgood to beat the Wings, 4-3, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday.

All of sudden, the pressure grows. All of a sudden, the Wings' lead is only 3-2, with Game 6 Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

The winning opportunity was set up when Wings right wing Jiri Hudler was called for a four-minute high-sticking, giving the Penguins the power play.

It was an unbelievable turnaround, after the Wings fired shot upon shot, after they carried a lead into the final minute of regulation, on the verge of celebration.
The Wings had their chances -- oh, my, did they have their chances. But Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stole the game and killed the party, thwarting the Wings' furious flurries. The Wings outshot the Penguins by an astounding 58-32, but couldn't get the clincher.

How do the Wings shake this one off?

"We got no choice," Henrik Zetterberg said. "We're still confident. Game 6s have been very good for us. We just have to get fluids in, get our bodies ready and regroup."

Maybe the size of the moment hit the Red Wings flush in the face. Or maybe thoughts of parades and trophies danced too early in too many heads.

Or more likely, Fleury was just magnificent. The puck bounced crazily all night, off sticks, off crossbars, off skates. And yes, again and again, it hit Fleury, as the Joe Louis Arena crowd shrieked and gasped.

This was terrific drama, if you're into heart-stopping entertainment and ridiculous saves. The Wings overcame early nerves and a two-goal deficit with a furious rally and a relentless array of shots, but they couldn't get the winner, no matter how desperately they pressed.

Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Dan Cleary and others all had prime chances in overtime, and with every save, the exhausting tension mounted.

Another day, and more crazy stories out of Valley Ranch.

For instance, how about signing your soon to be 35 year old WR to a 4 year deal? …

According to multiple sources, the Cowboys and Owens on Monday agreed to a four-year deal worth $34 million, including $13 million guaranteed. An official announcement is expected today.

Owens, who turns 35 in December, was scheduled to receive a $3 million roster bonus today as part of the three-year, $25 million deal he received when he joined the Cowboys in 2006. Instead of making $7 million this season, Owens will earn roughly $13.7 million.

Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment.

The contract compares to the three-year, $27 million contract Randy Moss received from New England in March, although Owens is three years older than Moss.

In two seasons with the Cowboys, Owens has 166 catches for 2,535 yards and 28 touchdowns. He holds the team's single-season record with 15 touchdown receptions, set last year.

And of course, Pac Man is reinstated (sort of) …

Nearly 14 months after he was suspended by the NFL for repeated violations of the personal-conduct policy, cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones can return to the football field.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Mr. Jones on a limited basis Monday, allowing him to participate in the Cowboys' organized team activities, minicamp, training camp and preseason games. A final determination on a full reinstatement will be made by Sept. 1, six days before the season opener at Cleveland.

"This limited reinstatement is a step in the process," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in a team statement. "Adam is aware of the things that need to be done in order to take the next step."

Efforts to reach Pacman Jones and his agent, Manny Arora, were unsuccessful.

Mr. Jones was acquired April 27 in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. He will begin practicing with the Cowboys today as the team begins its third week of organized activities.

Mr. Jones – who had a meeting with Mr. Goodell two weeks ago in Atlanta – and the Cowboys were hoping for some sort of resolution so that the cornerback could work out with new teammates, study a new scheme with coaches and join the team's player-development program, which teaches life and financial-management skills. Former Cowboys player Calvin Hill is a consultant for the program.

According to the league, Mr. Goodell told Mr. Jones that "his continued participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a lawful and reliable manner. Jones will be expected to continue the personal conduct program established for him by the NFL and the Cowboys and to avoid further adverse involvement with law enforcement."

The Cowboys' decision to acquire Mr. Jones was met with concern because of his history – he has had 11 off-field incidents since being selected sixth in the 2005 draft by Tennessee – and the uncertainty of when, or whether, he would be reinstated.

Most recently, Mr. Jones paid a Las Vegas casino $20,000 after failing to repay three markers, or loans, he received in September. Felony theft and fraud charges had been threatened before he sent the payment.

Jerry Jones has taken risks on players before, with varying degrees of success.

One who worked out was wide receiver Terrell Owens, who agreed with the Cowboys on Monday to a new four-year deal worth $34 million, according to multiple sources. But the risk was less successful with defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman, who was battling a mental disorder. His skills had diminished when he joined the team in 1999.

Last year, the Cowboys signed Tank Johnson to a two-year contract while he was serving an eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.

"The maturation process is slower for some," Mr. Johnson said last week. "But once you reach that point, it's kind of the point of no return. You don't digress. You keep going forward."

Mr. Jones, who signed a four-year, $13.3 million contract with the Cowboys that included no guaranteed money, has said he understands this is a final chance.

He recently moved to Dallas and has met most of his teammates, while becoming close with two former Cowboys, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders. Mr. Jones took part in Jason Witten's charity bowling event last month and was part of a workout Mr. Sanders held at Southern Methodist University with several NFL and college players.

"I've been working with him daily, and he's my new fishing buddy," Mr. Sanders said. "He's thankful and eager to prove he's worthy of a second chance."

Rangers pitchers are not missing bats …

The Texas Rangers' lineup continues to score at a league-leading pace, and just about anyone who comes to the plate seems immune to recording an out.

Unfortunately, the same can be said about much of the pitching staff the past two days.

Rangers pitchers surrendered four home runs, 16 hits and nine walks as the Cleveland Indians opened a four-game series Monday with a 13-9 victory at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Spoiled in the messy pitching performance were a grand slam by Marlon Byrd and a two-run shot by Josh Hamilton. The Rangers have scored 17 runs the past two games, but opponents have scored 26.

"You've got to pitch," manager Ron Washington said. "I've been saying that since Day One. Our offense is a pretty good offense, and they're going to score runs. But their runs are no good if we don't hold the other team down."

The Rangers have the highest ERA in the American League and have allowed the most runs, hits and walks. The numbers the past two games aren't pretty, either.

The 26 runs came on 27 hits with 15 walks and seven homers. Ten pitchers the past two days combined to throw 408 pitches, and only relievers Josh Rupe and C.J. Wilson didn't allow a run.

Cleveland saw 224 pitches Monday. The Indians entered the game with the worst batting average in the American League at .233, and only Kansas City had scored fewer times.

But Cleveland jumped on Doug Mathis, who was making his third career start and second against the Indians. He didn't make it out of the fourth inning.

Casey Blake victimized the right-hander for two two-run homers and a three-run double as the Indians jumped to an 8-3 lead.

"That's what happens when you fall behind," said Mathis, has a 9.00 ERA. "You fall behind big-league hitters and you get the ball up in the zone, it's easy to hit."

Hamilton hit his 16th of the season in the third, giving him homers in three consecutive games. He enters today as the leader in the three triple-crown categories.

The Rangers forged an 8-8 tie with a five-run fifth, four of which came on Byrd's fourth career grand slam and the fifth for the Rangers this season.

Cleveland, though, took the lead again in the seventh. Ben Francisco clubbed a two-out two-run homer in seventh on the first pitch from Joaquin Benoit, who had relieved Eddie Guardado (0-1).

Problems mounted for Benoit in the eighth. He surrendered another home run, this one to David Dellucci, and walked four of the next five hitters.

Josh Hamilton switches agents …right before his extension is done? Hmmm.

Josh Hamilton's negotiations for a long-term deal may be held up a little by his decision to switch agents during negotiations that appeared to be progressing. Hamilton, a born-again Christian after returning from bouts with his drug addiction, explained to friends that he wanted to be with a Christian stable, so he switched agents from Matt Sosnick to Michael Moye as he seemed to be closing in on a long contract.

Devin Harris speaks about Avery …

In Dallas, they're still debating the relative merits of Jason Kidd -- and by extension, the wisdom of the not-so-dearly departed Avery Johnson, who allegedly has a selective memory over his role in the execution of the deal that helped submerge the already-sinking Mavericks.

Devin Harris doesn't really know what to make of it.

But it is remarkable that the Nets point guard, whom the Mavs admittedly loved, tends to side with Johnson after knocking heads with the coach for much of their 3 1/2 years together.

"It's good to know," said Harris, referring to Johnson's claims of protesting the historic deal of Feb. 19. "But there's not a lot we can do about it now. We were close, and this is his way of showing his allegiance to me. I don't think he was a big contributor to the trade talk when it was going on. He was giving his output -- a little bit, here and there -- to show it wasn't something he would have liked to do, just something he was compelled to do."

In other words, Harris actually thinks owner Mark Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson pulled the trigger without Johnson's full support?

"Possibly. They are the owner and GM, he's just the coach," Harris said. "I mean, you don't know. Obviously I'm just throwing it out there. I wasn't in the war room or behind the scenes when the move was going on."

Johnson, who was fired immediately after the Mavs were pummeled in the first round against New Orleans, had also claimed that Harris was "like a son to me." Harris validated that assessment.

"It developed into that" kind of relationship, Harris said. "The first year or two was a little (contentious). We didn't always see eye-to-eye, he was a little harder on me than I think he should have been. This last year, we developed a relationship that way."

So how does a "dad" trade his "son"?

"It is a business," Harris said with a shrug.

Another Hamilton Story – this one from 2004 …

Are the Sharks close to dealing Patrick Marleau? …wow. I hope they do. Big Mistake, but it would likely be done to allow them to keep Brian Campbell.

An NHL source — not connected with either team — advises that the Sharks and Columbus are indeed close to a deal. San Jose would send Marleau and another player (unspecified) to the Blue Jackets for their first-round draft pick — 6th overall in the NHL entry draft later this month — and right wing Nikolai Zherdev.

Now, of course, it’s hard to analyze the prospective exchange when you don’t which one of Marleau’s teammates would be accompanying him to the Ohio capital.

And I’m fully aware that 90 percent of the trade rumors out there never materialize. But this one might make sense if indeed Doug Wilson has decided he wants to start 2008-09 minus both his old coach and his old captain, and is willing to take a chance that Zherdev has overcome the bad rap that dogged him his first three season in the NHL.

First, Columbus could see Marleau as the skilled center who makes its big gun, Rick Nash, even more of a scoring threat. And in a deep draft year when the top 12 players are touted by some as ready to make the leap to the NHL, the Sharks would get their highest pick since 2003. As of now, San Jose doesn’t have a pick until the 4th round.

As for Zherdev, a year ago he was in Coach Ken Hitchcock’s doghouse and generally considered a selfish disappointment after being picked 4th overall in 2003, two spots ahead of Milan Michalek. But he seemed to get his act together most of last season, scoring 26 goals and a career-best 61 points –more than any player in a Sharks jersey other than Joe Thornton.

Still, Columbus simply may see that as improving his trade value.

On the financial side, Zherdev has one season left on his contract and will earn $3.25 million — less than half of the $6.3 million that Marleau will make each of the next two seasons under his new deal. That would certainly end any discussion of whether there’s enough money around to make a competitive offer to re-sign Brian Campbell.

Anyway, enough speculation for now. We’ll all know by July 1 whether Marleau is back for another go-round as that’s when his no-trade clause kicks in.

More Don Cherry Photos …

Commercial with an Upper Decker?




Papelbon teaches Okajima dice

Ugh.

It was all a magical Rangers weekend that was going to have the team in 2nd place by the end of the day. And then, baseball happens…

The Bullpen coughs it up, big time …

An hour after the Texas Rangers' bullpen got bombarded in a nine-run seventh inning that doomed them to a 13-8 loss to Oakland, the grounds crew was cleaning up at Rangers Ballpark.

A big cart was parked on the field, loaded with brooms of various sizes and styles.
Amazing that the Rangers haven't been able to put them to good use this season.

They have played 17 series this season of three games or longer. Not once have the Rangers been able to sweep their opponent. That confounding trend continued Sunday as the A's won the finale of a series against the Rangers after losing the first two.

Five times the Rangers have had a chance to complete a sweep this year. They are 0-5 in those games.

"Hopefully it's frustrating to everybody," said Jamey Wright, who had tossed 6⅔ shutout innings in his last four appearances but was shelled in the seventh inning. "It's really frustrating for me. I'm trying to figure out how we can celebrate some sweeps.

"Seems like we've had a bunch of opportunities, and we're just not able to finish them off. We had a great opportunity today, and I was the reason why we didn't finish it off today."

Wright had a 1.59 earned run average over his previous 14 outings, but he gave up two walks, a double and a single to start the seventh and the floodgates took forever to close.

By the time the bullpen finally got the third out, the A's had nine runs on six hits.

"Rough, we just had a rough time out of the bullpen," manager Ron Washington said. "That's the way it goes. You go out there and put five runs up [in the sixth] and think everything is good. But there's nine outs still to get. We had a rough inning."

Lost was a chance to move two games above .500 for the first time since late in the 2006 season. They also could have passed Oakland for second place in the AL West. Instead, the Rangers slid back to even for the season.

The story of Hobbs continues …

Josh Hamilton deserves the daily plaudits and accolades he receives these days.
Every one of them.

There is no better hitter in the American League, perhaps all of baseball, than Hamilton, with his .328 average and league-leading 15 home runs and 63 RBIs.
Besides, America loves a story of redemption.

Right now, there is none better than Hamilton's resurrection from the drug and alcohol abuse that induced his rapid fall from the top pick in the 1999 amateur baseball draft to 180-pound zombie in just a few years.

Following the Rangers' 13-8 loss Sunday to Oakland, Hamilton told his story to more than 500 fans who hung around after the game.

Hamilton and his wife, Katie, who is pregnant, spoke in a question-and-answer format
moderated by the Rangers' team chaplain. The club gets so many requests from church, youth and substance-abuse groups for Hamilton's story that they will produce a DVD of Sunday's session, which lasted about 30 minutes.

Every time you cheer a Hamilton bomb or gasp at a running catch he makes in center field, make sure you give credit to Katie Hamilton, the woman who refused to quit on Josh.

Her strength and fervent prayers inspired him to wage a battle against his addiction.

"I'd get really tired of praying for him, but the Lord was really faithful in renewing my strength," Katie said. "I'd go to bed, I'd swear that was the last time I was going to pray for him. I'm moving on and the next day I'd wake up with a new desire and strength to pray for him.

"The toughest part is being so frustrated and wanting so badly for them to have a productive and wonderful life and them not having the same desire for themselves."
Katie spent much of the first few years of marriage like millions of other folks who watch their loved ones battle substance-abuse issues every day in hopes they will overcome it before it kills them.

In case you have never seen it, here is the story Josh wrote for ESPN the Mag last July …very good read…

I've been called the biggest surprise in baseball this year, and I can't argue with that. If you think about it, how many people have gone from being a crack addict to succeeding at anything, especially something as demanding as major league baseball? If I hadn't been picked up by the Reds after the Rule 5 draft, which opened up a major league roster spot for me, I'd probably still be in A-ball. Instead, I'm hanging around .270 with 13 homers through 60 games with Cincinnati; not bad for a 26-year-old major league rookie. But the way I look at it, I couldn't fail. I've been given this platform to talk about the hell I've been through, so it's almost like I need to do well, like I don't have a choice.

This may sound crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing about my path to the big leagues. I wouldn't even change the 26 tattoos that cover so much of my body, even though they're the most obvious signs of my life temporarily leaving the tracks. You're probably thinking, Bad decisions and addiction almost cost him his life, and he wouldn't change anything? But if I hadn't gone through all the hard times, this whole story would be just about baseball. If I'd made the big leagues at 21 and made my first All-Star team at 23 and done all the things expected of me, I would be a big-time baseball player, and that's it.

Kyle Busch wins in Dover …

No matter how bad the race is, and this one was the snoozer of the season, Kyle Busch and his team find a way to win.

Busch easily won the Best Buy 400 Sunday, his fourth Sprint Cup victory of the year, without making a single on-track pass for the lead.

"We had a third-place car today," Busch said. "But we just had to get out front to beat them."

Quick work in the pits under green-flag stops put Busch out front in the No. 18 Toyota with 163 laps to go. Except for a brief reshuffling for the last green-flag stops, that's where he stayed.

"The guys on pit road did a great job for me all day," Busch said. "This is their win. I just drove a race to pace myself, but they won it for us."

Carl Edwards, the runner-up, couldn't say the same about his crew.

"I'm behind my guys 100 percent," Edwards said. "But we have to get better in the pits. That's the weakest part of our team. I felt we probably had the best car most of the race, but that last pit stop was a little bit slow. Kyle picked up a couple seconds on us in the pits today."

Winning races in the pits isn't what NASCAR had in mind with the new car. The problem is simple. The car out front is almost impossible to pass.

Things improved from the All-Star race at Lowe's to the Coca-Cola 600 one week later, but it was worse than ever Sunday at Dover.

"Clean air is king," Greg Biffle said. "The car four or five lengths back from the leader just can't get any closer."

It's the same thing we've heard 100 times this season. The new car has it's moments when it provides close racing, especially at short tracks and restrictor-plate races.

Then you see a yawner like Sunday and the questions start all over again.

Vegas posts the over/under numbers for the NFL season …

Vanderslice turns up in Canada …

Kicker Mike Vanderjagt, abruptly cut by the Cowboys during the 2006 campaign after signing a big-money (for an idiot kicker) deal in the offseason, has been unable to find work in the NFL since then. And so he's apparently giving up.

Vanderjagt reportedly will sign with the Toronto Argonauts, returning to the team for which he played through 1997, before jumping to the Indianapolis Colts according to Profootballtalk.com.

Vanderjagt, who kicked West Virginia University, is the most accurate kicker in NFL history. But he also has a history of missing key kicks, including the one he put into the Gatorade bucket against the Steelers to punctuate a stunning 2005 divisional playoff loss.

This is Old, but worthy: Chuck Morgan honored in So Ill in the paper …

In a booming voice that is so familiar to Texas Rangers baseball fans attending the games, Chuck Morgan announces, "Now batting for the Rangers, the shortstop, No. 10, Michael Young."

Chuck Morgan, or Chuck Gulledge, which is his real name away from the ballpark, has been the public address announcer for the Rangers since 1983, with the exception of a one-year stint in Kansas City in 2002.

Earlier this month, the seasoned veteran of the microphone worked his 2,000th consecutive game.

"Chuck's the most passionate Rangers fan I know," said Jim Sundberg, executive vice president of communications for the ballclub. "Besides his field announcing, he does a tremendous job with in-game entertainment. He puts his heart and soul into it."

Sundberg said working 2,000 straight games is no small achievement for Morgan.

MMA’s big show on CBS was not very good, IMO …

It sounded like such a good idea when the news broke a few months ago that CBS would broadcast a series of mixed martial arts cards in prime time.

But after watching its effort on Saturday’s Elite XC show from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the good news might be if CBS opts not to do another show.

These were supposed to be the professionals who would show the amateurs at the Ultimate Fighting Championship, who do their own production, how it’s supposed to be done.

And while neophyte play-by-play man Gus Johnson acquitted himself well and analysts Mauro Ranallo and Frank Shamrock didn’t embarrass themselves, the broadcast dragged on interminably.

There was more chatting than “The Tonight Show.” Fighters were introduced as they made long, slow walks to the cage, then were introduced again once they hit the cage. Given that the show went 45 minutes over its allotted time, what do you want to bet the ring walks will be eliminated if there is another show on CBS?

For some reason, particularly early in the broadcast, CBS chose to use its overhead camera to repeatedly show Elite XC’s skanky-looking cheerleaders doing nothing more than shaking their butts.

This wouldn’t have been so bad had there actually been a fight on the air every now and then. But after the show had been on the air for 32 minutes, there had been 61 seconds of actual fighting. When it was 70 minutes into the show, there had been just 2:12 of fighting.

The whole show was built around Kimbo Slice, the Internet-generated star whose street fights made him into something of a mythical figure in the sport before he’d ever faced a serious opponent.

Slice’s name and face was everywhere in the days and weeks leading up to the bout. Considering the way this dragged on, though, you have to wonder how many folks were still awake when the bell rang to begin Slice’s bout with James Thompson at 11:27 p.m. ET, nearly a full half-hour after the show was supposed to have been over.
While it was mostly C-level talent on display, the fighters by and large held up their end of the bargain.

And the ratings were pretty solid ….

The MMA Saturday Night Fights Elite XC event action scored 4.3 million viewers between 9pm-11pm, but it wasn’t enough to topple FOX’s dynamic Saturday duo of Cops and America’s Most Wanted. The MMA bout had small total viewer numbers but it hit the target with the coveted 18-34 youth, particularly the elusive 18-34 year old male television viewer.

The event had 1.9/6 18-49 rating (36% higher than the crimetime drama repeats) , a 1.9/7 among adults 18-34 (more than twice the season average .9 rating ) and a 2.6/10 rating among men 18-34, more than triple the season average of 0.7. In the 25-54 demo the fights had a 1.9/6 overall and a 2.6/8 among men.

CBS is bound to be pretty happy. I wonder if more young people would watch the CBS Evening News if Kimbo Slice was the anchor. Kidding. Kind of. Actually as our friends at the Silicon Alley Insider noted, Sumner Redstone isn’t particularly thrilled about the matches being aired on the broadcast net.

As alluded to earlier, the primary bout (Slice/Thompson) took place after 11pm, so the final numbers will be even bigger (and again are not included in these numbers) as that was no doubt the most watched portion of the fight. We’ll know the full numbers for the entire airing by tomorrow.

The NHL Stanley Cup Finals matchup where the Pittsburgh Penguins lost game 4 to the Detroit Red Wings to go down three games to one had 4.31 million viewers and a 1.6/6 in the demo, tying FOX for first.

Have you considered Octagon Global Recruiting …through the Dharma Initiative….

Genius of Gnarls Barkley – 2 years later



Chris Cooley’s Wedding