Saturday, July 5th, 2008

33 times last year the Yankees scored 2 runs or fewer. This year, they're already at 28. It doesn't matter how good your pitching is, that will not get it done even in a year where offence is down 20.1% from the prior year. It is getting ugly in the Bronx, and even Derek Jeter is getting booed in the midst of his worst offensive season. Seriously, outside of Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez, are any Yankees having even average years?..there is $400 million in unspent cap money in the NFL. 4% of salaries to go rookie contracts. Sounds more and more like Roger Goodell's harping about the latter is a smokescreen towards larger labour issues, and saying he's concerned about proven players getting theirs has nothing to do with it. It has much more to do with the owners wanting more that 40% of the pie. This is not a good thing if you're thinking of labour piece in the best run league there is...the Edmonton Oilers are practically begging players to come their way - Jaromir Jagr the latest - with no success. Shame. Jagr is off to Russia to play...a 13 point season is good enough to grab an average of $1.5 million for each of three years if you're Georges Laraque in Montreal...the Colorado Rockies scored in every inning but the 8th to defeat Florida 18-17 last night...that great American tradition - the annual hot dog eating contest - had to go to a five dog eat off after Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi each crushed 59 dogs in 10 minutes. Chestnut won...MLS star and Canadian Dwayne De Rosario is coveted by FC Copenhagen...it will be Rafael Nadal facing Roger Federer Sunday morning in the Wimbledon final. Here's hoping Roger shuts up a log of doubters...how sad is it in this day and age that at least 15 minutes after a scoring change in the B.C. vs. Saskatchewan game last night, the CFL website is still behind? Bush league...after a dominating start for the Blue Jays, what did you expect from AJ Burnett other than getting lit up?...the big name in baseball's trade talks - C.C. Sabathia - is said to be going to Milwaukee. Say that again. Weird, no?...Jose Canseco's former lawyer is suing him. Odd...have a great Saturday.

Friday, July 4th, 2008 - Bust A Nut

The Ronaldo-to-Real talks are about to heat up in a big way. Sounds like Manchester United's ownership is ready to move the star midfielder. Chelsea has dropped a monster bid on Liverpool's Fernando Torres...seems A-Rod isn't the only one allegedly into musicians. His wife Cynthia is said to be shacked up with Lenny Kravitz...why pound Viagara when you can just munch on some watermelon?...the province of Ontario is said to be looking at adding sports betting at its casinos. With so many online options - like Pinnacle - I'd be more impressed if they served free booze like a real casino. That said, maybe they'd get rid of that scam Pro Line? Nah, of course not. That said, wonder what the big league commissioners would think about that? After all, one of the conditions of the NBA granting Toronto a franchise was the removal of NBA games from Pro Line...8 of 11 NFL coaches polled called New England Patriot Rodney Harrison the dirtiest player in the game...D-Backs catcher Chris Snyder suffered an injury I didn't know existed. A fractured testicle. Yep, the dreaded busted nut. Wonder if he'll be listed as "DL - Bag"...it's an all Williams broth, err, sisters, finale at Wimbledon...it's a double header on Friday Night Football on TSN with Winnipeg facing Montreal at 7pm (ET), and Saskatchewan at BC at 10pm (ET). I'm liking Montreal and B.C. to come through in close ones...a happy Fourth of July to our friends to the south

Jim Rome Is Burning...and rightly cracking on Brett Favre...and talking about fractured nuts.

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 - The Rich Get Richer

The home team in the Rays-Red Sox series is 12-0 this year...A-Rod is dropping his rod into Madonna? Say it ain't so, Alex. There's also word that he and wife Cynthia are Splittsville after five years of marriage...Chicago Bulls first overall pick Derrick Rose is NBA ready, getting clocked driving 106 mph at 2:58AM...could the Toronto Blue Jays be getting ready to call it a season? Matt Stairs might be going to the LA Dodgers...Roger Federer booked his place in the semis at Wimbledon with a win over Mario Ancic, who was the last one to beat Federer at Wimbledon in 2002. Incredibly, he only dropped all of ten points in his service games. For all the talk of how he was done, I really hope he continues destroying the field en route to another win...Marian Hossa best have some great crystal ball that tells him he'll not suffer a serious injury and have a great year. How else to explain how a guy that could pull 6 years plus at $8 million per signs for only a single season, albeit with Detroit?...for all the "Finger" jokes that have come since the Leafs signed Jeff Finger, I give you this RandoMango Original: I thought The Shocker took three Fingers?...in what will only embolden Mount Hank Steinbrenner, he railed about how the Yankees offence needed to "wake up" and then they went out and dropped 18 runs on Texas in a win...a fantastic piece from ESPN's Rick Reilly on how to go broke as a pro athlete. Some crazy tales in here...Brett Favre is musing about coming back? What a D-Bag. Aaron Rodgers told Jim Rome again last week that if he does, it will not be in Green Bay. Personally, I hope he gets out there and gets snapped in three...the Blue Jays are shopping AJ Burnett and looking for a shortstop. It took them this long to see David Eckstein has a frying pan for a glove, and John McDonald a wet newspaper for a bat?...have a great Thursday.

SportsCentre Right Now:

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 - NHL Madness

TSN ran a "Free Agency Frenzy" show yesterday afternoon and two of the analysts panned the signing of Jeff Finger by the Leafs as the worst signing of the day. Not hard to believe that the Leafs gave their fans the Finger. That, and they signed Cujo, to gales of laughter. In other news, Darcy Tucker got bought out, and ultimately got a raise when the Colorado Avs signed him taking his yearly average above what he was due to make in Toronto. Clearly, the system is flawed...as if I needed another reason to hate Chelsea, they've now inked Deco, easily my most hated player...personal seat licenses in the Dallas Cowboys new stadium are running anywhere from $2,000 to $150,000. How reasonable!...Canadians drink an average of 68.3 L of beer per year, well down the global charts. Czech Republic is tops at 156.9, followed by Ireland at 131.1 and Germany at 115.8. Even the U.S. is ahead at 81.6. And, we're just ahead of Portugal which is about as embarrassing as Canada's global soccer ranking. Do something about this this weekend, people...Mats Sundin is said to be leaning toward Detroit or the New York Rangers, despite a two year, $20 million offer from Vancouver...the Yankees are 20-8 against the Texas Rangers the last three seasons. Strangely, seven of those losses have come in New York...Toronto FC waited until the last 20 minutes before showing they had a lot more to offer than the Vancouver Whitecaps, but it was too late as the Caps won 1-0 in CONCACAF Champions League play. The upside? English Premier Leaguers Darren Huckerby and Paul Dickov were in the TFC owners box. Memo to Mo: Sign one or both. Now...if Jose Calderon went and fired his agent and only signed a one year deal with the Raptors, he just might be the most moronic negotiator ever. The Raptors also signed former second round pick PG Roko Ukic to back up Calderon...the way the Tampa Bay Rays are going, they just may run away with the AL East. They're now 2.5 up on Boston...have a great Wednesday.

PTI - (Tony + Mike) = Disappointing

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 - Happy Canada Day!

Did I hear right? Former Blue Jay Devon White was on that horrible show "Off The Record" on TSN and when asked if Roberto Alomar will make the Hall of Fame, gave the "next question" response? The answer is "yes", Devo. Today and every day...Warren Sapp on the disaster that is the Oakland Raiders: "stuff went on in that organization that shouldn't go on in sports. I don't think there's one person who knows who or what is making the call. Let's just say the Oakland experience is unique. The phone rings quite a bit on that sideline." I think Sapp knows exactly who that one person is, and he looks a lot like the Crypt Keeper...Ricky Williams predicts the Miami Dolphins will win at least nine games this year. Somebody best alert the NFL's drug testers, they've got themselves a red flag about to fly...Toronto FC host the Vancouver Whitecaps in another CONCACAF Champions League qualifier. Kickoff is 4pm at BMO Field, coverage is on CBC. I predict an emphatic TFC win today...almost forgot to point out that the "pick 'em all, Mango" for Euro 2008 finished at 16-15 and +$199. Not bad. Would've been far better if not for that swoon in the second week and the first three quarter finals. From the Spain-Italy game onward, I was Curt Hennig: Mr. Perfect...every MLB team is now at or beyond the half-way 81 game mark. Pretty safe to say nobody had the Tampa Bay Rays in first overall after 81 with a .605 win percentage...the Philadelphia 76ers might put in a big offer for Toronto Raptor PG Jose Calderon...for your viewing pleasure, an illustrated essay of the middle finger in sports...LeBron James didn't exactly go out of his way to cool the stories that he's New York bound once his contract is up. He declared New York his fav place, Brooklyn - where the Nets are heading to - in particular...a Happy Canada Day to everyone in this great land.

Monday, June 30th, 2008 - Spain Get It Done

As predicted here, the better team showed their colours and Spain won a fantastic Euro 2008 (video here). Better front to back, Spain really should've won the final by more than the 1-0 margin, such was their dominance. Germany only had brief spells of any effectiveness. Still trying to figure what angle Jens Lehmann was taking to the ball on Fernando Torres fantastic goal that came out of nowhere. Undefeated in 23 games and winners of every game in the tourney, Spain is a most deserving champion. Germany is going to have to put send some old war horses to the glue factory before 2010 rolls around. Michael Ballack is Mr. Second Place...one day 'til the NHL free agency window opens and as always, you can expect a few signings just after midnight tonight. Of course, those signings will all be conducted above board with no discussions taking place before midnight. Or not...don't look now, but the Detroit Tigers are finally over .500 and a mere 5 games out. Going in the other direction, the Arizona D-Backs are 21-33 since opening 20-8 to sit at .500 now...if you're Bryan McCabe, why would you invoke your no-trade clause knowing full well the Leafs have zero interest in you being part of their future? McCabe's never been the brightest light. Of course, he was the guy who during the lockout vowed that there would never, ever be a salary cap and he'd never play under one...a dead acccurate summary of why BMO Field in Toronto should stay the home of Toronto FC only, and not the Toronto Argos...Randy Moss is buying a NASCAR team? Here's hoping his car runs better routes than he does...Chris Osgood took the Stanley Cup to a pub in Plymouth, Michigan, and spent the night tilting the Cup for people who wanted to drink from it. That is freaking cool...have a great Monday.

ESPN SportsCentre Right Now:

Sunday, June 29th, 2008 - Euro Finale!

Spain vs. Germany wrap up what many are calling the best major tourney in history, and not sure I can argue against that. Here's hoping the final is as riveting as the lead-up has been. The Pinnacle account sits at +$71 and 15-15, with the final pick being Spain (+128). In my mind, they're a no-doubter today with better players in goal, in defence, the midfield, in attack and on the bench. That, and Michael Ballack is said to be hurting, but as I reminded a good German friend yesterday, it isn't like they haven't played without him most of the tourney anyways...Mariano Rivera has saved 54 games that Andy Pettitte has won. Incredible. One more and they tie the MLB record set by Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley...the Mets are a mere 9-8 in games started by Johan Santana, who is 7-7. $20 million don't buy what it used to...okay, John Carver, we get that you think playing the guy who didn't lose the game prior is good for team morale, but I have a hard time believing that Greg Sutton gives up the goal that Brian Edwards does to open a 2-1 loss to New England for Toronto FC...Terry Bradshaw contemplated retirement from broadcasting and unfortunately, chose not to...NFL Commish Roger Goodell is typically a straight-shooter. But him saying that the Buffalo Bills playing games in Toronto is anything but greasing the skids for a permanent move has to be a lie. That said, I absolutely love the stories coming out that the games in Toronto have yet to sell out. Maybe the $700 tickets have a little something to do with that?...a Verne Troyer sex tape?... somehow, the LA Dodgers didn't have a hit yesterday, and won...have a great Sunday.