Labor Day with no CFL talk

So after watching that LSU-North Carolina line go all the way up to -10 from the -6 I got in at, had to be feeling pretty good about the Tigers on Saturday, especially when they rolled to a 30-10 halftime lead.  The final?  LSU wins by 6.  I push, and a crap load of people get smoked by Vegas.

This Toronto Blue Jays on SportsNet One bit is turning real interesting, with senior citizens mobilizing to protest. Guess the younger Jays fans don't really care a bunch.

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking like the first team since 1989 to miss the playoffs despite having three starting pitchers with ERA's under 3.00. That's hard to do.



With Matt Leinart released by Arizona, and so far, his former coach at USC Pete Carroll not exactly tripping over himself to get him to his new team in Seattle, doesn't that say a whole lot about Leinart?

Why is the Red Zone Channel not available in Canada?

The San Diego Padres have dropped ten straight to make what should've been a comfortable run to the NL West title a race again.  What is worse than that is their schedule down the stretch is brutal.  They've got seven home games this week against the LA Dodgers and rising San Francisco Giants, then a 10-game roadie through Colorado, St. Louis and at LA, then home to Cincinnati and Chicago, before finishing in San Francisco.

San Diego isn't the only divisional leader with some big concerns.  The Texas Rangers have Cliff Lee battling through some back issues, and now will be minus Josh Hamilton for a time thanks to some injured ribs.

I'm sure both the state of Ohio is thrilled that LeBron James is picking Ohio State to beat Miami this weekend.

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, now of Manchester City, is positioning his former team as small time relative to City.  Suppose he forgets that relative to his days at Arsenal, his contributions are small time at City.  Of course, Adebayor is also the guy who famously wore an Arsenal shirt in an interview last year, while he was a Man City player. 

Why paraphrase when the source nails it this brilliantly?  In this case, the source is Joel Sherman.  The subject: Derek Jeter.  Says Sherman: "If his name were not Derek Jeter, he already — at best — would be hitting eighth or ninth as the least productive performer in the daily lineup or — at worst — would be sitting a few times a week as the Yankees gauged if Eduardo Nunez could be the shortstop of the future, as early as 2011. But Jeter is so tenured that segments of the media still talk about giving him a three- or four-year extension this offseason at $20 million-plus annually. If he gets anything close to that, it will be based on emotion and nostalgia. And before someone says the Yankees must sign him because, well, he is Derek Jeter consider the reverse: Doesn’t Derek Jeter need the Yankees at least as badly as they need him? Or do you think Gatorade and Ford and the rest of his corporate partners want to keep selling brand loyalty through Jeter with him wearing a Cardinal or Tiger uniform?"


Good to see NFL analyst Dan Hampton, in discussing who he likes in Thursday night's opener that sees Minnesota visit New Orleans, suggest the Vikings need to "go down there and hit that town like Katrina."  Idiot.

$6.666666666666666 million is not the number of the beast

The Ilya Kovalchuk saga is finally over, and he know has an approved 15 year, $100 million deal with the New Jersey Devils, which is oh so fitting because that averages out to $6.666666666666666 million a year.  Of course, that continues to infinity, but thought one decimal place per year was fitting.  That deal, and deal like it, led to a quick change to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

One baseball man who goes back year's with Cliff Lee says he has no doubt he'll be pitching for the New York Yankees next year.  Me likes.   But speaking of Yankee pitchers, AJ Burnett is a career 22-21 with the Yankees (his great playoff run last year not included).  Over the last 15 years, that's the lowest win percentage among Yankee starters with 50+ starts.  Second lowest?  Javier Vazquez.  They're going to need one of them to show up - at least - come playoff time if they're to win championship #28.

Is the MLS rule that requires a certain number of Canadian players to be on the rosters of Toronto FC, and soon Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact, about to be eliminated in favor of a "North American player" quota?  It sure seems that way based on what TFC GM Mo Johnston is saying, and that only makes sense for a North American league.  Speaking of TFC, they'll be in tough tonight in Dallas what with it (1) being a road game and (2) three key players staying at BMO Field to suit up for Canada as they face Peru in a friendly.

Since August 15th, Derek Jeter is hitting .157, with more K's (12) than hits (11). Not what one would like in a contract year. Michael Kay, voice of the Yankees, said in his radio show that Hal Steinbrenner will make a fair contract offer to Jeter but he won't exceed it or go into A-Rod money or long years and is pragmatic enough that he'd let him walk. Especially given this year, that's a wise play to hold the line.  So if Jeter walks from 3 years and $60 million, is there anyone that offers much more than half that?  Boston?  Doubt they'd even do it.

There are over 50 NCAA football games on tap today. I got in early on LSU at -6. The line has since moved to -9 after word of North Carolina being down a dozen - yes, a dozen - players, almost all defensive starters, through a last minute suspension after some agent dealings. Inside info?  No, but I'll take luck like that. 

Since losing Justin Morneau, who was an MVP candidate until he got his bell rung against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Minnesota Twins have gone 33-18.


Most of the Euro 2012 qualifying went as expected, unless you're France, 1-0 losers at home to lowly Belarus.  But hey, at least the players knew the words to the anthem, a focal point ahead of the game for Les Bleus.  Then there was Portugal.  Good: scoring four goals.  Bad: Giving up four.  Worse: to Cyprus.  Worse still: at home.

Manny Ramirez has apologized - in English, even - for his behavior in his closing run as a Boston Red Sock.  Love how he praises himself for being such a stand up guy in apologizing.  Guess he forgets that the apology has been due for a couple years now, and that the only thing worse than people thinking you're a quitter is admitting you are.


Here's a look at the eight (alleged) "Code" violations by Washington National Nyjer Morgan in the past week or so.


Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson is picking the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl.  Good enough for me!


Finally a pair of videos to close things out, from the NCAA.


Another girls cat fight in NCAA soccer.  Sometimes the ladies are more vicious than the guys...



Awesome trick play in the Presbyterian vs. Wake Forest game a couple days back.  How do three guys lose the ability to hear the whistle at the same time?

Money May goes off...

Pittsburgh Steeler legend Terry Bradshaw isn't exactly taking up for his old team in suggesting that Ben Roethlesberger's suspension should be the full six games, and no less, for how he has behaved.  I don't always agree with Bradshaw, but you have to respect he's willing to go out there with an opinion that will ruffle feathers.  In response, the NFL has cut the suspension to four games.

NFL attendance is expected to fall this year, for the third straight year, to its lowest levels since 1998.  Guess the threat of no football in 2012 isn't exactly creating an urge to get to the games.  That, or people are realizing that the sport is a lot better on TV than it is at the game itself.

What to do if you're an NHL team struggling to sell seats?  Put advertising over said seats and make a few bucks that way.  Must make Gary Bettman so proud that his U.S. vision is panning out so swimmingly.

Euro 2012 qualifying gets into full swing with a pile of games today.  Spain, not surprisingly, are the early betting favs to win the tourney, with Germany just behind.  I've got a sprinkle on Croatia today at Latvia.  Should be a comfortable win.

Ever heard of "bubbling"?  It is the creation of a mormon who isn't allowed to look at porn.  Great stuff.

Cheryl Tweedy - aka the wife of Chelsea defender Ashley Cole - has a 2011 calendar.  If this is 2011, it is gonna be a very good year.

Nevermind the rest, but Jersey Shore's The Situation needs his own TV show.  That guy is freaking awesome.  Maybe we'll allow Paulie D to ride shot gun, with cameos by Vinny.  The rest can leave.  Not sure what was funnier, Sitch unwittingly hitting on a dude, or picking up a girl, taking her home and then leaving her waiting in the room while he went and had a bite and a smoke, and then when finishing with her telling her that he had called her a cab and it was time to go.

Nice to see Floyd Mayweather get racial with it in referring to fighting the "midget" Manny Pacquiao, saying he will force Pacquiao to "make some sushi rolls and cook some rice." He also said "we're going to cook him with some cats and dogs."  Have to laugh at his "what the fuck you gettin' a tattoo for if you scared of needles?" bit.

RM returns this afternoon...

Mega 90210 entry...

Here's the Florida Marlins situation, in short (as possible).  For years, the Marlins have cried poor - bad stadium, bad part of town, bad lease agreement that saw them get no parking revenue for example.  They claimed to be a money losing operation and kept squeezing Miami for a new stadium, a squeeze that ultimately worked and a new stadium is being built.  Recently, financial documents leaked that show they're not only nicely profitable and pocketing revenue sharing dollars rather than spending them to improve the team, but they've also collected millions in parking.  Buster Olney (ESPN Insider required) says the government should investigate.  And where is Bud Selig in all this?  He had to have known about this deception.  Guess he's and the feds are more worried about  PED investigations for guys out of the game that used in a time where there was no rule against it than protecting the people who support the team and are taxpayers.  Slimy, real slimy stuff, especially when your read the Marlins are among the most profitable teams in baseball.

For a purported "world championship", the World Basketball Championships sure doesn't have a big feel to it, does it?  Little coverage on TV and in papers, and no buzz at all. I'd wager if you asked 10 general sports fans, 3 max would know where the tourney is (Turkey, by the way).   Of all the team sports, only soccer gets it right on its own. The rest have their biggest stages at the Olympics.

Not sure why SportsNet stays with New York Yankee broadcasts through "God Bless America" in the 7th inning. Less sure why that and anthems remain part of domestic sports.

The European transfer window for its soccer clubs that just closed saw teams spend a combined £325,000, or $526,000,000 (Cdn). Crazy money.

I don't think the NFL going to 18 games will ultimately prove to be backbreaking for players bodies.  If anything, the lack of rest they get in the off season and with two-a-day camps has to do as much damage as anything.  But to hear Jerry Jones talk of how there are provisions in the CBA to go all the way to 22 games seems excessive.  Word is the move to 18 games will see each team play at least a game in a non-NFL market - think London, Barcelona, etc. - and add a second bye week.  The Super Bowl would push to mid-February and coincide with Ontario's Family Day weekend, which I'm all for.  What says "family" more than "daddy's hungover"?

Trademark looks in the NFL.  Yes, of course Wade Phillips blank stare when something goes afoul made the mix.  Not sure how "The Manning Look" didn't make it.  You know that one, the utterly stunned look when something goes wrong.

Almost a quarter of Toronto Raptors games this year will appear on SportsNet One, which isn't available to about half of Ontario homes right now, and more than half of Canadian homes.  This is what is known as providing a public service.  For me, SportsNet One has resulted in Yankee games on TV almost nightly, so am pretty happy with its arrival.

Cliff Lee has an ERA of 8.35 his last five starts for the Texas Rangers.  This is only slightly above his career average ERA pitching in Arlington, Texas.  For those thinking he'd resign in Texas: no chance.

A couple people of former New York Yankees - unnamed - say Derek Jeter's pride will make him insist he get A-Rod money in his next contract with the Yankees.  I know it is only money, and the Yankees could probably triple their payroll comfortably, but that's a mistake waiting to happen.  Jeter's defence his slipping, and so is his offence.  You want pride, DJ?  Sign for two more years, get your 3,000th hit sometime next year, maybe win another ring or two, retire.

Pitch F/X, which among other things, tracks pitchers speeds and locations, only has data dating back to the 2008 for regular season. But, Cincinnati Red Aroldis Chapman's 103.9mph fastball in his debut on Tuesday night was the fastest regular season pitch ever recorded. 103.9? Wow.

Audrina Patridge on Dancing With The Stars?  Interesting.

A whole heap of video here today, and all good stuff.

Up first, check out what Arizona Diamondback Adam LaRoche had played for teammate Kelly Johnson for his first two at-bats.  That's what you do when your team sucks, I guess.  Funny stuff.


A real baseball brawl last night.  Check this out.  Washington National Nyjer Morgan charges the mound, misses with a punch, and gets on the wrong end of a beautiful clothesline.


Another angle here, and Nyjer Morgan F-bombing the fans (not seen) and pounding his chest after getting tossed during a brawl.  Classy.  That said, throwing at the guy for doing something perfectly legal and not dirty is bush.


Oh I like the sounds of this!

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

In case you missed Roger Federer's "tweener" a couple days back, check it out.

Going into yesterday, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays had been tied in first in the AL East for eight straight days, a record in MLB.  A Rays curb stomping at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees beating of the Oakland A's resolved that, at least for a day.  The Yankees have had a share of first since June 22nd, but it is hardly a commanding lead, especially with a tough September ahead.

There have been 24 one-hitters thrown in baseball this year, if you were wondering.  Half of them against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Admittedly, part of that isn't true.

It is almost like we knew something yesterday in speculating that Matt Leinart might be a target for the Buffalo Bills.  Might have something to do with having three quarterbacks, which usually means you have none.  Come to find out the Bills, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants have all placed calls with the Arizona Cardinals to see if they're interested in dealing.

I haven't touched much, if at all, on the baseball money topic that has been bubbling the last week, but will tomorrow.  If you thought Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria - ex of the Montreal Expos - was slime before, you ain't seen nothing yet.  Just too big to cram in right now.

Continuing on yesterday's "booze is good for you" subject, got this pieces from KD that are simply amazing: what booze looks like under a microscope.  And what's more, you can buy these fine pieces as artwork.

The ever forward thinking UEFA - soccer's governing body in Europe - has issued a vuvuzela ban for Champion's League and Euro 2012 games.  They can't figure out how to know for sure if a goal is in or not, but this is pressing.

There are merely 59 NCAA football games kicking off on Saturday.  For fans of the college game, here are the Top 9 places to tailgate.  No argument with LSU.  Went there last year for Bukakke's stag and the scenery was spectacular.  The overflowing Johnny-On-The-Spots, not so much. I hate that our archaic booze laws in Canada don't allow this festival of fun to happen.  That, along with crazy ticket prices, are key reasons why the "Bills in Toronto" series has been such a bust.  Why pay to be fenced in and served way overpriced beer to the strains of Nickelback and the like when you can roll down the QEW to Buffalo and go wild?

Only two words needed to describe this one: Hipster Hitler.    Be sure to check out HH from "First Page" on.  So good.Maybe the best thing I've seen on the internet since Miranda Kerr in 3D.

Check out the Babes of the U.S Open, with extensive galleries of each.

And then there is this: Road Rage Cards.

Those crazy Icelanders are at it again.  Really need to grab me a jersey of this fine squad.

900 posts!

Yep, you read correctly in the subject.  900 blog entries completed.  Not sure if that is worth anything, other than needing my head examined, but here's to at least another 100 more.

Check out these attendance figures for last night in baseball action: 11,000, 18,000, 14,000.  Bottom end teams?  Nope, the playoff bound Tampa Bay Rays hosting Toronto, the NL East leading Atlanta Braves hosting the New York Mets, and the NL Central leading Cincinnati Reds hosting Milwaukee.

Gotta give much respect to the Boston Red Sox this year, as much as it pains me to say it.  They've been absolutely decimated by injuries all year to position players and pitchers alike, but have somehow managed to stay in the race the entire year and in third place, though they're looking about done trailing by seven games entering the final month.  If they get healthy for next year, the AL East is going to be real interesting again, with maybe even the Blue Jays a possibility to make some noise.  And no, 13 games out this year does not qualify as making noise.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the OHB heavily regrets coming back for one year.  In addition to be overweight and losing one of his fav targets in Sidney Rice for at least half the season, he's already taking injections in his wonky ankle.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is pushing for a return of the World Cup, which in itself is comical.  If this is a legit tourney, shouldn't it be regularly on the calendar like, oh, every other World Cup?  With it sounding like NHL participation in the Olympics in 2014 is not happening, now is as good a time as any.  Burke is suggesting every two years and to replace the IIHF "World Championships", though every two years seems excessive.  Then again, isn't like there are qualifiers to play really, what with the dozens handfuls of nations that play hockey in the world.

Last week's hockey summit in Toronto included discussion of a women's NHL.  Right, because that would ever fly.

Come to find out that heavy drinkers outlive non-drinkers.  So crack yourself a beer or dozen.  Repeat.

Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart - yes, he's still in the league - is a little bent that, well, the starting job isn't just being handed to him, I guess.  Very classy going to the media to ask the questions, though.  Am sure that is scoring points with his coaching staff and teammates alike.  If he's not careful, he'll soon be trying to sling the ball around Buffalo, which would be fun to watch in the wind.

Speaking of Buffalo, the over/under on Bills wins for the year is a mere 5.5, and you have to give extra to bet the under.  Ouch.  "And with the first pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select..."

A trio of videos to close things out for today, starting with the Top 5 goals in Italy's Serie A this weekend.  Slim pickings, however, what with the lack of them.


Check out this high school football vid.  Love how the running back goes about 35 yards in the wrong direction before deciding that treating the ball like a live grenade is the best way to dispose of it.


The Cleveland Cavs lost LeBron, the Indians stink, and if this is any indication, the Browns are in for a brutal year.  Check out Detroit Lions rookie Ndamukong Suh - one of the best names in sports, by the way - try to decapitate QB Jake Delhomme on Sunday night and the response of the Browns is, well, see below.

Weekend wrap

The Tampa Bay Rays, tied for the best record in the bigs, hosted the Boston Red Sox last night.  Big game, no?  You wouldn't know it by the empty seats in the pic at right.  Sad.

The Manny Ramirez deal to the Chicago White Sox is now done.  Manny, ever classy, had his last at bat as a Dodger yesterday and was thrown out for arguing balls and strikes with the bases loaded.  The strike?  Merely strike one.  Way to keep your eye on the prize, ManRam.

Frankie Edgar pounded out a five-round shutout of BJ Penn on Saturday night at UFC 118.  Not sure Penn is done, but a fast, scrambling guy like Edgar is a big match-up problem for him.  In the sideshow of the night, James Toney couldn't even come close to backing up all the junk he was talking as Randy Couture finished him barely three minutes into the first round.

Ahh, Toronto FC.  One game you have me believing you can go all the way if you can just get into the playoffs, a couple games later I've got a fork out for you.  As good as Real Salt Lake is, home draws will not do at this time of the year.

Been a while since we ran a Top 10 list, so here's a Top 10 Athletes Attacking Fans.

On a bit more of a serious note here, interesting project at CNN where they've got pictures taken of New Orleans five years ago after Hurricane Katrina hit and what the same spots look like today.  In many cases, not much has changed.  Pretty sad. The Lower Garden District picture (#21) is hilarious.

One game into the Spanish La Liga season and the talk is already of Jose Mourinho leaving Real Madrid to take over for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he retires. Wesley Sneijder, who used to play for Mourinho, says the thought of returning to England "turns [Mourinho] on".  Weird.
 
Loving Fox Soccer's weekly EPL roundup.  Check this out, especially Dimitar Berbatov's beauty for Manchester United.
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=55f36423-8667-4aca-a038-0ada1f915021" target="_new" title="">PL: Weekend Roundup</a>

A whole lotta football...

The Score may have lost the English Premier League, but they've got Italy's Serie A coverage this year, starting with a pair of games today in Udinese and Genoa at noon, and Roma hosting Cesena at 2:45pm. Me, I'm an AC Milan guy insofar as Italy goes but man are they ever an old squad.

Starting September 7th on GTV - Gaming TV - Gabriel Morency returns to TV with Richard Garner riding shotgun in a mostly gambling related show that will appear at 6pm weeknights. Am sure their old buddy at The Score, Cam Stewart, is thrilled. GTV appears in 5.4 million Canadian homes, a million less than The Score by way of comparison. Nice work on Morency's part. There's talk of a U.S. TV show soon too. 

Saturday night at BMO Field with TFC hosting Real Salt Lake at 7pm.  A dozen guys in a limo leaving a pub after Manchester United's 12:30 tilt with West Ham United to head to Toronto. What could go right here?  Not much I figure. Can't wait. Will be at The Brazen Head in Liberty Village if you're around. About 4ish I'd guess.

Call it the Curse of the Expos, if you will, but the Washington Nationals are paying for the karma of how they ended up in D.C. with brutal teams, and now the introduction of Stephen Strasburg to Tommy John Surgery after blowing out his arm last weekend.  Turns out the body isn't a fan of throwing 90+ off-speed stuff.  Speaking of, Aroldis Chapman should be making his Cincinnati Reds debut shortly.  Scouts are saying he hit 104mph on the gun this week with his fastball and a 91mph slider.  Here's a look at more of baseball's fallen phenom's.

Hard not to figure why CONCACAF - the regional soccer governing body - might have shady officiating, when you hear its President is on the take and involved in scalping tickets.  Very classy.

Pretty freaky videos of female tennis players in super slo mo.  More accurately, females, and Serena Williams.

Check out these pics of MLB managers when they were players.  Joe Torre looks bad ass with those 'burns.

Driving is chore enough for some.  But how about mixing in masturbation and watching porn on top?

It isn't often you see a professional sports team openly mock another one, but after Panama's Arabe Unido made a mockery of the game, manhood and anything one should have pride in, Toronto FC, via TFCTv, couldn't resist.  This is awesome, though it would have been better with the Benny Hill theme music (Yakety Sax) methinks. 

At tomorrow night's Toronto FC game, you can donate to Pakistan relief, and MLSE and the Canadian Government will match your donation.

Quickly here...

Quick one today as work made me, well, work. 

Nice to see Pete Rose weighing in on Roger Clemens, saying that he would be best served to come clean.  I'm sure the Rocket is thrilled to hear Rose coming off as the honest one in that pair.   Both should be in the Hall of Fame, in my book.  It is about baseball fame, not about the Hall of Nice Guys.  That, and if they let Ty Cobb in, they've lost the ability to play on guys morality.

Average attendance in Europe's four biggest soccer leagues for 2009/10:
Germany: 42,441
England: 31,150
Spain: 27,699
Italy: 24,603

Total payroll by league for 2008/9:
England: 1.90B
Italy: 1.34B
Spain: 1.15B
Germany: .98B

Revenues for 2008/9:
England: 3.35B
Spain: 2.27B
Italy: 2.16B
Germany: 2.15B

Top Paid player:
Spain: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, $17.1m
Italy: Samuel Eto'o, Inter Milan, $13.8m
England: Emmanuel Adebayor, Manchester City, $11.2m
Germany: Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich, $7.2m (31st highest paid in the worldy)
From: ESPN The Magazine, Aug 23 2010.  Yes, I typed that all out, just for you.  Cannot believe that Adebayor is the highest paid player in the EPL, especially a guy who is three or four down the depth chart at the moment.

Speaking of soccer, UEFA President Michel Platini says that video replay is not needed.  Platini, you're an idiot.

Check out this soccer commentator get brained.  Amazing.

RM returns by at 2pm this afternoon...

The fix is in, TFC on wrong side

Not sure if Jose Bautista has ever used PED's, but in light of all the conversation this week, hard not to laugh at this screen capture from a couple nights's ago.  If you haven't figured it out, look at the advertising behind him.  Last night's, his Blue Jays were on the wrong end of an 11-5 curbstomping at the hands of the New York Yankees.

It all seemed set perfectly.  A reputed so-so team, albeit on the road, hosting Toronto FC in Champions League play.  To make it better, the hosts goalie was named Jose Calderon.  Surely the Reds would score at will, no?  Nope.  In a game that was officiated so badly WWE officials would be red faced, TFC were 1-0 losers.  I have read Declan Hill's book called "The Fix" and quite honestly, after what I saw last night, he might be ready to add a chapter.  Nobody can be that inept, can they?

Tweets Bill Simmons, aka "The Sports Guy" on Chris Bosh not playing for the U.S. national team this summer:"I'm OK w/ Chris Bosh skipping out on Team USA, he didn't need any more big game reps. The 2003 NIT, 1 Olympics + 11 playoff games is enough."  Awesome.

Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels went 102 batters and 372 pitches between runs scored in support of him by his Phillies.  Ouch. 

A great career retrospective on Roger Clemens, from the fine folks at The Sports Pickle.

With UFC legend Randy Couture set to face former heavyweight boxing champion James Toney this weekend at UFC 118, here's a peak at the top 10 freak fights of all the times.  Toney, if you've yet to see, is taking smack talking to some impressive levels ahead of this one.  Seems positively annoyed that few are giving him a big chance in this one.  If he gets off a punch, sure.  If Couture gets in tight and gets him down, he's cooked.

Detroit Tiger Johnny Damon was placed on waivers a couple days ago and claimed by his former team, the Boston Red Sox, a team and city that as recently as last week he disparaged in an interview on The Michael Kay Show.  So with a chance to join a playoff contender, what did Damon do?  Weigh his options, and value his legacy as a Yankee far greater, says Lee Jenkins at SI.com, as he declined a move to Boston.  Well played, JD. 

The San Francisco Giants are .000944881889764 games out of the NL Wild Card position with 35 to go.  No, seriously.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have five of the world's seven highest paid soccer players. 

Bonus picture.  Check out a member of the U.S. Army Rangers - their elite crew - parachuting into the Texas Rangers game last night. Those pesky flag poles!

There's a Tiger on the loose!

Manchester City throttled Liverpool 3-0 yesterday in English Premier League play.  If Fernando Torres doesn't get healthy and find his game real soon, they're in for a horrible season.  Oh, and key midfielder Javier Mascherano refused to play yesterday.

Roger Clemens rejected a plea deal that would have saw him get no jail time in exchange for pleading guilty.  Call me crazy, but I think he actually believes he didn't take the spike.

Now this is good stuff. The Bleacher Report has put together a list of the 100 hottest athletes of all time.  Hard to believe they missed anybody when they went that deep.

If the Philadelphia Phillies didn't already regret dealing Cliff Lee, I'm sure the fact that one of the prospects they had sent back - Tyson Gillies - getting popped for cocaine possession, has them regretting it.  As for Lee, ESPN's Colin Cowherd put it out there yesterday that Lee is a New York Yankee next year.  Thanks for getting on board, Cowherd, been saying it here for months.  Lock, or I'll retire this blog permanently.

Speaking of the Yankees, they started five players last night with less than two year's major league experience.  All three relievers out of the pen were homegrown, too.  So much for the fools who think they only buy players. It was almost still enough to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.  Jose "The Question" Bautista hit his 40th home run and after staring down and spitting in the direction of David Robertson before circling the bases over the course of 30 seconds, can pencil himself in for a rib shot before too long.  Funny though that he made the jabbing motion of a needle when he got to the plate though.  Bautista took exception to an Ivan Nova pitch sailing high and well over the plate - near his head, in his estimation - to which both Jays commentators replied it was accidental.  Strange rage then, no?  What could cause that?

Is there a worse guy that gets tonnes of air time than SportsNet's Jason Portuondo?  The only name he gets right consistently is his own.

The Texas Rangers passed the torch around for an almost-no hitter last night against Minnesota.  Starter Rich Harden took it 6 2/3 before handing it off to the 'pen and they went into the 9th before Joe Mauer busted it up.  Also impressive?  Twins starter Kevin Slowey was working a no hitter through seven before being pulled.  See, this is what winning teams do - the right thing, not what they think will help them sell the odd ticket the next night like desperate teams do.

Tiger Woods is officially divorced.  Somewhere, Roger Clemens, LeBron James and the OHB are celebrating their push from the top headlines.  Okay, not OHB.  Here are seven pick-up lines to try on Elin Nordregen now that she's available again.  As for Tiger, how many whores do you figure he taps now?

Caroline Wozniaki won the Rogers Canadian Championship yesterday.  I only say this to introduce pictures of her in a bikini.

As if Dancing With The Stars didn't get big enough ratings, The Situation has joined on for the coming season.  How's that going to play with his GTL routine?

The picture today?  Sloan of Entourage fame (aka Emmanuelle Chriqui), if you didn't know.  What a season this year.

Weekend wrap

Damien Cox at the Toronto Star asks the question most would rather not contemplate, and that is whether Toronto Blue Jays feel good story Jose Bautista, who never in his career hit more than 20 homers but is about to double that this year, might be getting a little help of the pharmaceutical variety.

Lou Pinella announced that yesterday would be his last game managing, and the Chicago Cubs sent him out on the wrong end of a 16-5 loss to Atlanta. 

The Yankees final 13 games are against the Rays, Red Sox and Blue Jays, which will make things interesting. For the Rays, they play four in The Bronx from Sept. 20-23 and then their final 10 games are against bottom-feeding Seattle, Baltimore and Kansas City. So the Yanks probably had better have some cushion with 10 to play if they are going to win the division.

Who is the key witness in the Roger Clemens perjury case?  Clemens old buddy, Andy Pettitte. Funny reading that neither Clemens nor Brian MacNamee were found to be credible witnesses. The Sports Pickle says Roger Clemens will enter prison in a Red Sox cap.

After yesterday's win, the New York Yankees are a surprising 12-0 this year with A-Rod not in the lineup. Helps that MVP candidate Robinson Cano seems to go wild everytime he hits in the four hole. He had a mere 6 RBI yesterday.

Toronto FC were pounded 4-1 by the New York Red Bulls at home on Saturday, ending their much hyped unbeaten run at home.  They're in real tough with ten games to go for an MLS playoff spot.

I don't know what inflation has been since 1992, but surely the Pittsburgh Pirates spending $2 million more on their payroll this year than they did in 1992 isn't keeping pace.  But hey, they're profitable as hell.  Who cares about the 18 years of losing baseball?

They may have announced nearly 40,000 in attendance Thursday at the Rogers Centre for the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills pre-season game, but word is it was half that. Guessing the NFL didn't have this in mind when they booked the "Bills in Toronto" series. The attendance woes aren't confined to Toronto. The Tampa Bay Bucs fell in line with the Lightning and Rays in drawing sparse crowds as they barely had 30,000 show up to their Saturday game vs Kansas City.

Another wild weekend of English Premier League action with Chelsea winning its second straight by a 6-0 scoreline, this time over Wigan. Arsenal hammered Blackpool, also by a 6-0 score.  Newly promoted Newcastle United also joined that parade, with a shocking 6-0 win over Aston Villa. Manchester United and Fulham played an entertaining 2-2 draw. Up today at 3pm on TSN2 is a Liverpool visit to Manchester City. Should be a great one.  Hilites of the weekend's action here:
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=9467e988-9112-41b8-9f11-0016873e1559&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_articles" target="_new" title="Super Sunday Pus: Man Utd frustrated">Video: Super Sunday Pus: Man Utd frustrated</a>

Roger Clemens is being indicted for perjuring himself during his testimony in 2008.  What took them so long to get around to a mere decision?  Clemens faces 30 years in the Crow Bar Motel and up to $1.5 million in fines.  This is gonna get good.  Clemens tweeted "I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial."  Well that takes care of it.  Call off the trial!  And finally, the Sports Pickle weighed in with this gem: "Still not sure if a perjury charge is worse than being a Blue Jay."

Detroit Tiger Johnny Damon told The Michael Kay Show that you "can count on" the New York Yankees chasing soon-to-be-free agent Carl Crawford this off season.  Me likey.  He also said "no question" that he preferred playing in New York over Boston.

The NHL is experimenting with rule changes at a Mississauga rink this week.  Some of the changes are interesting, like one faceoff circle in the middle of each offensive zone, while others are lame, like being able to pick who to take a faceoff against when the original guy is thrown out.  Those, and others, discussed here.

I always thought "hot yoga" was about the temperature of the room.  No more.  It is hot yoga when 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood demonstrates moves.  Kudos to the camera man here for some fantastic work.

Here's an interesting stat:  in 2009-2010 Manchester United racked up 13,500 travel miles.  Houston Dynamo of the MLS racked up 54,700 miles.  North America is big, in case you were wondering.

If you're wondering what any MLS player is making, wonder no more.  The complete listing here, in order by team.  Toronto FC's Nana Attakora and Dan Gargan need to find themselves new agent, the kid is pulling a mere $40k.  Of course, that will change.  As for TFC's Julian de Guzman, he must show up to collect his pay cheque with a gun and ski mask.  He's pulling $1.7 million.

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got off another priceless blast, this time on the subject of Jim Thome no longer being with the Pale Hose - and why doesn't that term get used anymore? - and coming back to kill them with a walk off shot the other night.  Read here for that, and a collection of Ozzie's finer works.

In addition to being smokin' hot, and being able to talk like a badly overdubbed kung fu movie, Abbey Clancy has forgiven Peter Crouch over the allegations he got busy with an Algerian hooker.

OHB is back, the world yawns

OHB says this will definitely be his last year.  If he means on the planet, we accept. Looking forward to seeing the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and others send the sink at him.   The OHB says he "owed it to" the Minnesota Vikings to return.  Clearly, much has changed in the past week or two when the subject of owing the Vikes anything wasn't even uttered.  That, or he has changed his name to "Minnesota Vikings" and we're just finding out.

The Boston Red Sox are a perfect 9-0 against the LA Angels this year.  Struggling in Boston this year?  Scalpers, who say they're down 70% or more on Sox ducats.

Tony Dungy is by all accounts a decent guy, and football man.  But him suggesting that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell look into the language used by New York Jets coach Rex Ryan on NFL's Hard Knocks is laughable.  Dungy is the exception to the sporting language that applies universally - one of f-bombs as a starting point.  Interesting though that he took up for dog killer and herpes dispenser Michael Vick but wants to crack a guy for colourful language on HBO.

There are some handy blogs out there, but none I've seen in the game of soccer, from a Canadian perspective, than this one, that offers a daily update as to games being broadcast in Canadaland.

French and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was suspended for 18 games by the French Football Federation for the shenanigans in South Africa.  His response was to laugh, noting that he had no intention of playing for France again.  Typical French, one quitting, the other going to a war it knows it cannot lose.  Well, guess that part is rare.

A great collection of athletes getting hit in the face with balls.  Not that kind, Bukkake.

Those crazy Icelandic footballers are at it again.  A pair of videos here.  Not sure what wins for best celebration, but the baby one sure is creative.

TFC stun Mexican'ts

Toronto FC stunned themselves and their fans with an incredible performance in downing MexicanCruz Azul 2-1 powerhouse in the opening game of Champions League group play.  Martin Saric and Mista scored a pair of first half goals for a dominant TFC squad that could easily have led by two or three more.  That night at BMO Field made up for a lot of painful days and nights over the previous few years.

I'm sure that the people of Cleveland are thrilled to hear the news that LeBron James is open to one day returning to play for the Cavaliers. Going to go out on a very thick limb here and suggest that bridge is torched and they don't feel the same. What a tool.  James also told GQ that he didn't find Charles Barkley's attempts to be humourous when talking about LeBron to be very funny.  He's the only one who figures Chuck was joking.  LeBron also said his performances on and off the court even spoiled his own family.  Class act.

You're the Boston Red Sox, sitting third in the AL East. The LA Dodgers are likely to put former BoSox left fielder Manny Ramirez on waivers. Do you block the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees by putting in a claim, or let them have a stab at him?  Pretty wild scenario potentially, not to mention how ManRam might react to going back to a place he fought so hard to leave.  Defensively, however, ManRam remains in the AL East in the form of Toronto Blue Jay Travis Snider.  Nice butcher job last night. 

Werder Bremen and German midfielder Mesut Ozil is off to join Real Madrid.  Looks like new coach Jose Mourinho clearly wants to top Barcelona this year. Not sure how great a move it is for Ozil in a very crowded Real midfield with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Rafael Van der Vaert, Sami Khedira and more.  Only so many minutes and touches to go around.

My new nickname for fading Captain Derek Jeter: "Captain Crutch". It works on so many levels, tying in his gimpiness, his lack of range, and his lack of clutch performance. It does not include saying the Yankees can lean on him anymore.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of MLB umpires when a recent study by ESPN showed that 20% of calls made are wrong. No word on how heavy Joe West weighed in on those figures.

Didn't we say something about the OHB returning in time for the third pre-season game?  Guess what?  He's back.

K-Rod Drama Karma

Who says there is no karma?  New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriquez might be out of a job.  Seems the Mets are looking to void his contract for tearing ligaments in his hand last week while laying a beating on his father-in-law, an injury that ends his 2010 season.  Gonna make Christmas extra special in K-Rod's house I'm sure if he's jobless with $17 million down the drain, the remaining number on his contract.

In baseball, ESPN's Jayson Stark has come up with a stat called the CUS - "Criminally Unsupported Start" (ESPN Insider only).  That's when a pitcher goes 6+ innings but his team scores one run or less while he is in the game.  So real quality starts, real poor support.  If Felix Hernandez, currently 8-10, had won all his Criminally Unsupported Starts he'd be 19-3. Cliff Lee would be 17-1, Cole Hamels 15-4 and Johan Santana 18-3.  Some other interesting stats on Josh Johnson, who might well be the best in the game: he has 5 Criminally Unsupported Starts, and his Florida Marlins have scored more than four only once while he was in a game since May.  Crazier stat?  His bullpen has blown six games in which he handed the ball over with a lead.

Do Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs ever age?  Both were fantastic yesterday in Manchester United's 3-0 demolition of Newcastle United.  Could easily have been double that or more.  Gotta give some praise to the Magpies Joey Barton for his ridiculous mustache, something he's keeping until Newcastle wins.

If you wondered why the Buffalo Bills, with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, not to mention multiple (yes, MULTIPLE) other needs drafted CJ Spiller at running back, wonder no more: he's now the starter with the other two banged up.

Another night in which Derek Jeter could come up big for the New York Yankees in the ninth, and he came up oh so very small by hitting into another GIDJ...err...GIDP.  Captain Clutch is a fading myth.

Man owns pit bull.  Man has sex with said pit bull.  Man arrested.  Man will not be anybody's bitch in prison, methinks.

For a guy who some perceive to be having a terrible year, New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez' projected 30 home runs and a league leading 138 RBI sure don't seem too bad.

In a season of cameos, Chris Bosh on Entourage has to be the low point.  Could he have seemed more wooden in offering $1,000 for a bottle of vodka at a tequila party?  That's CB4, always just a little out of position.  Speaking of tequila, here's video of what happens when one tries to chug an entire bottle of Patron.  Step up there fella, get to the Cabo Wabo already.

How is it $2.50-$3.00 to fill an 18L bottle of water, but a litre of Evian costs $1.29?

It is well established that I think any football pre-season is a waste of time, but when I hear that New York Giant Eli Manning got busted up against the New York Jets last night, a video huntin' I go.  Question: if you're the Giants team doctor, how are you going to know if he's not displaying symptoms of a deeper head injury?  Dude sounds like he's concussed at the best of times.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...some good, some strange

Want a ticket to the Miami Heat home opener? The average ticket price is a mere $805 against cross-state rival Orlando.  How reasonable.  $805 with no guarantee LeBron James and Chris Bosh show up.

Since 2007, Boston Red Sox purported ace Josh Beckett's ERA is 4.46.  This season, he has recorded all of three outs after the 7th inning.  Good thing they signed him to a big extension this year.  Oh, and the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays own him.

No shortage of goals in the opening weekend of the English Premier League.  Champions Chelsea hammered West Brom 6-0, with Didier Drogba netting three.  Tottenham and Manchester City played a wild scoreless draw that should've seen Spurs win going away, if not for a fantastic game from Joe Hart in goal for City.  Blackpool made a shocking debut in the EPL with a 4-0 win over Wigan.  Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1, thanks to 'pool's goalie Pepe Reina dropping a last minute deflection into his own net.  The rest of the scores here.  Up today at 3pm, Manchester United host a returning Newcastle United, with a 3pm kickoff.

With an election not too far off in Ontario, Premier Dalton McGuinty figured it time to flip flop again and is now allowing MMA into the province.  About time, DM.  You don't have to like it, but there is no sensible reason to keep something that is legal in 49 American states and every other province in Canada out, not when your province could use the millions that will pore in each time the UFC touches down.  Word is a card is being worked for 2011 at Rogers Centre, which they're aiming to break the UFC's 30,000 attendance record.  My bet?  They blow that figure away.

San Francisco Giant Tim Lincecum has thrown the third most pitches in the bigs since 2008, and given his slight build and drop in velocity, is messing with his mechanics to try to hump the fastball back up.  That's a potential recipe for disaster.

One of the things most people would agree in soccer is not the best way to sort out a draw is penalty kicks.  Little disputing that among fans, or those who don't like the game (won't use "haters" because that term is so played).  So what is FIFA President Sepp Blatter musing on?  Going to the PK's in all World Cup games that finished tied.  Ridiculous.  For the record, I don't know that there is a perfect solution to games that go through extra time all square.  Continuing on indefinitely risks injury too greatly, particularly in the heat.  Allowing more subs only freshens teams up and takes away from the long time rules of the game only allowing three subs and the relative time boxing of the game.  Not sure what the right call is.  Thanks to GBVH for the (infuriating) link.

Have a great day.