Stay classy, Joe

Joe Torre's reputation as a classy guy is about flushed now with a new book coming out next week. How else do explain him cracking on former boss Brian Cashman for not standing up for him after the 2007 season, when Torre had previously and repeatedly said he had? If not for Cash, he'd have been unemployed after he led the Yanks into the toilet with a 3-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Good of him to hammer A-Rod too, the guy who almost single-handedly took the Yanks to the playoffs in 2007 and made him even a possibility for 2008. Let's see what kind of manager he is if the LA Dodgers are minus Manny Ramirez. ManRam's the only reason Torre saw the playoffs last year, even in a garbage division. Stay classy, Joe...the LA Galaxy have set their sites on Newcastle United striker Michael Owen. I'd give that about no chance of happening in the next couple years, and why would they want Owen in any event? He's about as fragile as an athlete can be...current Galaxy star David Beckham, on loan with AC Milan, scored his first with the Serie A side and that will only escalate the talk he's going to stay beyond March...incredibly, 65% of respondants at an ESPN.com poll would rather have Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner lead their team in the Super Bowl than the Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlesberger, leading in every state but Pennsylvania. Count me among the 35% and come next Monday, that number will flip. Warner cannot handle a rush, and it forces him to make bad throws and fumble the ball. Big Ben doesn't rattle that easy, and hell, he can carry a couple would be tacklers if need be and complete a throw...any regular reader here will know I crack on the NHL regularly for being pretty dull to watch overall, but yesterday's 12-11 goalfest in the All-Star game may have been even worse than watching two skill-killing trap teams go at it. Perhaps I shouldn't be so harsh, what with my legendary hate of the All-Star game concept in all sports aside from baseball...how'd you like that for easy Prime Time Pickin's yesterday? The Boston Celtics dumped 74 points on the Dallas Mavs by the break and cruised to a 24 point beatdown. Have .500 well within my sites and the horror of that second week in January is starting to fade...have a great Monday, back later with your Prime Time winner.

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

What the hell is up with Brian Baldinger's finger?...incredibly, 67% of NBA players polled by Sports Illustrated picked the LA Lakers to win the championship. That's an overwhelming number. If the media had a vote, Chuck Swirsky would've voted for the Chicago Bulls...New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman is mastering the free agency game, dropping a big opening bid on CC Sabathia to flatten the market, and going under the radar on Mark Teixera and shocking everyone at the 11th hour. Heading into a new stadium and having $90 million come off the books could not have been better timed...oh, Stephen A. Smith still thinks the Yankees should sign Manny Ramirez...the Arizona Cardinals are the first team since the 1961 Oakland Raiders to trail by 28 or more at the half in consecutive weeks. They're one team that has something to show in Week 17, even when they really don't...two guys the NFL should mic on Sunday; San Diego Chargers QB Phillip Rivers and the Denver Broncos QB Jay Cutler. These two can't stand each other, and no doubt there will be some big talk on Sunday night...the Toronto Maple Leafs were drilled 8-2 by the Dallas Stars last night. The Stars have won three of four since dumping Sean Avery...come to find out there is an offence in the Toronto Blue Jays: a sex offence. A choreographer of one of the Jays dance troupes got busy with a 15-year old and - wait for it - taped the affair...I hate Notre Dame, their coach and their fans, but am super thankful they're one half of a Bowl game on an otherwise empty sports calendar tonight. They face Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. And where is Bukkake Bowl Picks?..Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki is talking of taking a paycut to help land one of the big free agents in 2010, the same time he is a free agent. Hey, isn't Chris Bosh from Dallas?...all the best to you and yours this Christmas Eve, and yes, back tomorrow!

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

Don't get me wrong, I hate the Boston Red Sox, but for the life of me, I can't figure why a team with as long a tradition as theirs - and recently, a winning one - would change their logo to "hanging socks" as well as their road uniforms...I was convinced for much of last night that there was no way it could be Saturday. After all, the Toronto Maple Leafs weren't featured on Hockey Night in Canada...as predicted, Hull did indeed give EPL leaders Liverpool a tough game in a 2-2 draw. As a result, Chelsea will most likely go tops again today as the busy Christmas schedule approaches...16-12-2 on the year of Prime Time Picks after Thursday's push, but going to ignore those and just call it 16-12. Already mentioned tonight's pick on Friday and it is the Dallas Cowboys at -3 as they host the New York Giants, minus Brandon Jacobs. It is a must win essentially for the Cowboys, not even remotely the case for the Giants. When one team is desperate, they're the play. That said, imagine the hand-wringing in Dallas if they lose tonight? Also like Miami (-6) and against all I normally believe in, Indy -17. I usually don't like giving that many points, but this one has beatdown written all over it. As always, drop your wagers at Pinnacle...oh, if you're thinking Jacobs is just saving himself for the playoffs, you must've forgot he's a free agent after this year...General Motors may end sponsorship of the Daytona 500. [Sarcasm] Why? [/sarcasm]...Francisco Rodriguez says the New York Mets are now the team to beat in the NL East. Seems a certain World Champion might have something to say about that. But, love the talk coming from the Mets and Phillies...Memo to Brian Cashman: if your plan is to get one of Mark Teixera or Manny Ramirez, go for the former...have a great Sunday.