Real Deal Beatdown

• Seems that Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios was put on waivers and claimed, allegedly by the San Francisco Giants, according to Buster Olney at ESPN. Hell of a chance for the Jays to shed some payroll for a guy with $60 million left on his pact.
• A day after getting smoked by the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox designated John Smoltz for assignment. Surely he's done, no? Also released with a .193 average: Jason Giambi by the Oakland A's.
• Speaking of the Yanks and Sox, they went a mere 15 innings before the Yankees won 2-0 thanks to an A-Rod bomb his first in 73AB's. Is he a "true Yankee" now? AJ Burnett only gave up a single hit over 7 2/3 innings. That's more like the AJ the Bombers signed. The Sox managed four hits on the night. The Yanks are now 4.5 up on the BoSox.
  
• Toronto FC were on the wrong end of a 5-1 beatdown by Real Madrid at a flash bulb popping BMO Field. Despite the scoreline, TFC actually acquitted themselves quite well in not looking to just kill the game to keep it close. In related news, Cristiano Ronaldo's legs are insured for $162 million Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star blasts Ronaldo's detachment here. Hilites here. Love that the guy in the picture is rocking an Al Bundy "Polk High" shirt.
  
• New Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler was asked which fans were better: those of Da Bears or those of his previous team, the Denver Broncos. Guess who he picked? Yep, Da Bears. What a stunner!
• the Toronto Argos were shutout last night. Yes, a CFL game in which a team was shutout. 25-0 at the hands of the Montreal Al's. Well, at least you can say there is a lot of "o's" in "Toronto Argos".
• Bukkake's selections for tonight notwithstanding, looking forward to tonight's UFC 101 card. Some of the main fights, with my picks in included: BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian (Penn is a killer at 155, and won't lose two straight); Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin (Forrest brings Anderson's best out of him, and gets beat as a result); Amir Sadollah vs Johnny Hendricks (Sadollah, only on personal preference as the UFC needs a guy with Amir's character), and loads more coming from Philly tonight.

Have a great Saturday!

Real Madrid invades T.O.

• Check out Baltimore Ravens Terrell Suggs t-shirt he wears under his gear every day. That's good stuff.
  
• The Cleveland Indians are poised to lose $16 million this year. That might explain their recent purge of big contracts, though they did manage to keep Grady Sizemore in the fold, at least for the time being. No doubt if they could ditch Kerry Wood and Travis Hafner, they'd do that in a heartbeat. Seems like a long time since the sold out "Jake" was rocking every night, no?
• Jeff Blair at The Globe & Mail wants to see the Toronto Blue Jays do something, anything, different. Hard to disagree, though you can't exactly say they haven't worked some young arms in this year, but his point about Kevin Millar is valid. Why play that guy when you've got younger options you can get some innings and AB's for the future?
• seems FC Shalke 04 of the German Bundesliga's fan base has upset some Muslims, who object to the usage of Muhammed in a song, even though they're merely saying he was just a fan of Shalke. Maybe Muslims prefer Bayern Munich?
• word is David Ortiz will speak about his failed drug test before Saturday's game in New York. Whenever you're ready, Papi, no sense rushing into these things.
• speaking of New York, the Yankees raked the BoSox for 18 hits last night in lighting up the pitcher once known as John Smoltz, and won 13-6, their first "W" against Boston in 9 tries . Check out this great piece on how the rivalry is hot again, and how just maybe the Sox and Yankees have changed roles of recent years. AJ Burnett has much to make up for tonight after two brutal starts against the Sox earlier this year. Josh Beckett is on the bump for the Beantowners.
• if you're a fan at all of an athlete that speaks his mind, whether you agree or disagree, and brings a bit of colour to a drab, cliche riddled world and is a hall of fame talent, then like myself, you'll miss Jeremy Roenick, who is retiring after 20 years.
• 18,000 showed up to watch Real Madrid practice at BMO Field last night. That's pretty impressive, though it is one of the best teams in the world. Can't imagine TFC does anything but get hammered by Real tonight. Coverage on GolTV and ESPN.
• the Washington Nationals have 10 days left to sign Stephen Strasburg, who some have called the greatest pitching prospect in the history of the game
• remember BJ Ryan? He's the one time Blue Jays closer who the Jays ditched because he was completely inneffective, especially at a salary north of $10 million. Ryan went to the Chicago Cubs and was working his way back with their AAA team, or at least he was until yesterday when he asked for and received his release. End of the road? Sure seems that way.
  
  

Toronto Rocks for Yankees

• The visit by Real Madrid to Toronto is expected to rake in $3-4 million profit for MLSE. Not a bad return for a million and change invested.
• There is life in Jim Balsillie's bid after all, after word came out that the judge ruling on the case will include Balsillie in the September auction of the team. I'd hate to be around Gary Bettman when that word came out. Love it.
• Seems odd that Eli Manning is making more than Peyton Manning now after signing an extension for 6 years and $97.5 million, if he sees out the entire deal through 2015. Of course, Peyton more than makes up for it with his seemingly endless endorsements.
• ESPN Insider says that the possibilities for Michael Vick this year are down to three: Baltimore, New England and Green Bay.
  
• The Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators are working on a three way deal with the Habs getting Patrick Marleau, the Sharks Dany Heatley and the Sens Tomas Plekanec and Jaroslav Halak or Roman Hamrlik. Interesting stuff in a relatively silent time of the off-season.
• The San Diego Padres released pitcher Mark Prior? You know you're done when...
• Vince Young is parroting his former college coach Mack Brown and saying he'll end up in the Hall of Fame, as well as winning a Super Bowl. Call me crazy, but he should set his sights on starting, for starters
• for a mere $800k, you can have a private box in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, called Cowboys Stadium. But wait - there's more! You'll need to still buy your tickets. And a pizza, free of toppings, will set you and your crew back $90. A six pack of beer for your buddies runs a mere $66. Who comes up with this stuff in any economic environment and thinks it is a good idea to let that pricing get out? Can't imagine those packages sell, but then again, it is the Cowboys and it is Texas.
• the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are set for a four game slate that means a whole lot to the Yankees, 0-8 vs. Boston this year. The Yanks could really take over the division if they win 3 of 4 or more, as they're coming in up 2.5. With John Smoltz on the mound tonight, it is lining up well for the Bombers. Jason Bay being out for what appears to be a pair of games doesn't hurt either.

Have a great Thursday!

• If Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge's ERA is 7.11, does that mean he never closes?
• Just days away from UFC 101 on Saturday night from Philadelphia. Shaping up to be a solid card, if not one that will suffer from the large shadow of UFC 100.
  
• Manny Ramirez RBI's last night were his first since July 22nd in a 17-4 LA Dodgers win over Milwaukee. His streak of no comments about the the 2003 failed test revelations remain intact. Post-game last night, the Brewers Prince Fielder tried to get into the Dodgers locker room after getting dotted in the ninth innning.
• Here's a interesting piece on the Toronto Raptors large international flavor. The Raptors have done much to overhaul their roster despite Bryan Colangelo once calling the 2008/9 roster the best he had assembled in Toronto. He best be revising that comment if a fickle fan base and Chris Bosh have much to say about it.
• Not sure about you but I like "Morency". I loved "Drive This".
• Tennessee Titans QB Vince Young's college coach at Texas, Mack Brown, told the Jim Rome Show he believes that VY will win the Super Bowl and go on to a Hall of Fame career. Make of this what you will.
• New York Yankee Johnny Damon is hitting a career .355 with four homers against Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay after last nights 2 for 4, including a homer. The Yanks won 5-3 including three round trippers. Halladay's numbers since coming off the DL are hardly overwhelming. The Jays are 1-7 in Halladay's last eight starts and the Yankees have scored 10 runs on 19 hits in their last two victories over Halladay.
• Toronto FC had a pile of chances - sound familiar? - but couldn't score and have bowed out of the CONCACAF Champions League after a scoreless draw at Puerto Rico.
  
• The Pittsburgh Pirates, as one example of what bad management can do, bring in $70 million in revenue before they sell a ticket or collect their revenue sharing cheque. They're spending $25 million on players, dead last in the league. Small wonder they've got a beautiful new park that nobody goes to. But hey, at least the city of Pittsburgh has the Steelers and Penguins.
  
• Terrell Owens show is charting at #797 in the latest Nielsen Rankings, something Jim Rome made sure he hilited. In response, T.O. has fired a few salvos back at Rome. Thank to TS for flipping that piece my way.
• speaking of Twitter, the San Diego Chargers Antonio Cromartie was fined by the team for tweeting that the nasty food at the Bolts camps the last couple years is why they haven't been a Super Bowl team.

That's all for today, have a great one.

Fedor flees to Strikeforce

• Has anyone heard a word from Roy Halladay since the trade deadline? Seems quite the cone of silence has descended upon the ace pitcher wanting out of Toronto. Former teammate and now New York Yankee AJ Burnett was regularly exchanging messages with Halladay leading up to the trade deadline, partly to urge Halladay to move to New York, and word from Michael Kay at ESPN Radio New York is that the messages stopped on Wednesday and Burnett told Kay that something wasn't right. Is Halladay super bent over how JP Ricciardi handled the situation? It'd be hard to believe otherwise, really.
• there could well be some hope yet for Jim Balsillie's bid to move the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton, as the Phoenix judge presiding over the case has ruled that the auction of the team will now be September 10th and that he may allow outside bids. Gary Bettman did not have a good day yesterday as a result, but really, it isn't personal.
• Fedor Emelianenko has inked a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce where he'll no doubt feed on a steady diet of lesser competition. Eventually, you'd think he'd want to go to UFC, no? UFC President Dana White had some pointed comments, as you might expect, at the bottom of that same link.
  
• Count Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic among those who aren't a fan of Brock Lesnar. Cro Cop best be careful or he'll end up on the wrong end of a beating from Lesnar sometime down the road, assuming he can even work his way into the title picture.
• it may be a bit too much crystal ball, but RM reader Big Daddy sends this piece from the Bleacher Report that looks at the future of the NFL and CFL in upstate New York (read: Buffalo) and how the latter may replace the former.
• one Steven Thompson of Burnley in the English Premier League tumbled into the beer garden in Portland during an exhibition match on Sunday. Thompson took it upon himself to get up, grab a pint off a table, take a giant swig and jump back into play. Awesome. Wonder what NFL Commish Roger Goodell would do if one of his players ever did that?
  

Check out the Alessandro Del Piero's penalty kick in the finals of the 2009 Peace Cup. Not sure what is funnier, Del Piero's effort, or the call of the commentator, which could also double as the best call since "Boom goes the dynamite", if not ever. Enjoy.

Tequila dropped from diet = 30 pounds lost?

• the most impressive part of the Detroit Tigers adding payroll in Jarrod Washburn is that they're paying $71 million to Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Jeremy Bonderman, Carlos Guillen, Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson, players either no longer with the team or of no use to the team this year.
• here are 20 things that make you look like a sporting doofus
• check out the trailer for The Ultimate Fighter, which will start on September 16th. 4 former NFLers, Kimbo Slice 11 others heavyweights are in the mix, and with Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson as coaches with a serious hate on for each other, this could be the best one yet.
• speaking of the UFC, turns out negotiations with Fedor Emelianenko didn't quite pan out and he won't be on board for the time being. Seems the UFC wanted a three fight deal. Fedor wanted a one time only affair.
• police station videos, mostly of drunks, hard as that may be to believe.
• Buster Olney says the San Diego Padres are aiming to drop their payroll to $20-$25 million in the next two years from the $75 million they were at to start this season. So much for Petco Park giving them the revenues to play with the big boys. Somehow, the Padres still managed to take 3 of 4 from the Philadelphia Phillies, outscoring them 17-10.
• New York Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle yesterday. He also tapped porn star Marey Carey. The 8-5 Yankee win over the ChiSox left CC Sabathia a career 6-0 when starting against Mark Buehrle.
• with fantasy football drafts around the corner, time for a look at the 8 personalities at every draft. So very, painfully, true.
• Tennessee Titan LenDale White dropped 30 pounds before coming into camp this year. A big diet change? Only if you think that by stopping Patron tequila consumption is a big dietary change.

Have a great Monday.

David Ortiz = Liar

• One lie begets another. First David Ortiz says he didn't know how he could've tested positive, and now comes word that he was notified years ago that he had failed.
• And the tale of Arturo Gatti gets curiouser and curiouser. First there was mystery as to how he had died which ultimately led to his wife being arrested for murder. Then came a ruling that it was a suicide. And now, his body was exhumed for another coroner's looksie in Montreal, who are not ruling out he was murdered. Very, very weird.
• Not only is the NHL looking into the Marian Hossa signing for whether there was a salary cap rules infraction, you can add the Chris Pronger extension in Philadelphia to the mission as well. Seriously, did the NHL figure these 10+ year deals some guys were getting weren't done with a wink from team to player?
• Remove the Edmonton Oilers from the list of those interested in Dany Heatley. Gonna be a tough year for Heatley if he's stuck in Ottawa with a coach he reportedly can't stand. Count San Jose and Montreal among those interested in picking the whiner up.
• The late Bobby Robson, a huge star in English soccer's history books, gave as good quote as Yogi Berra or Muhammed Ali. For example: "We didn't underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought." Plenty more here.
• Toronto FC drew 1-1 at New England despite playing nearly half the game a man down after a weak red card to Chad Barrett.Oh, and again they gave up a goal in the last 15 minutes.
  
• The Toronto Argos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers combined for 49 points. Over the course of two games. When did the CFL become so boring? The Bombers were 13-12 winners last night at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, which was booze free for the game. I'm sure that did wonders for the crowd in that snoozer of a game.
• how about the five hottest cheerleader outfits? You know, just for fun.
• check out the boxscore in the Chicago Cubs 9-8 win over the Florida Marlins last night for one of the weirder reads you'll see. Alfonso Soriano, for example, played left field, 2nd base, 3rd base, and finished playing 2nd again. He was not alone.
• check out Chase Utley's bit of payback Friday night in San Francisco after being thrown at. Awesome.
• even more awesome than that is David Beckham's free kick goal last night in a friendly against Barcelona played in front of 90,000 in L.A.
  

Have a great Sunday.