The Cobra Kai open Grapefruit League play today

There's nothing like baseball injuries, as I've often said. Check out the latest in the picture at the right. Nice work, Tatis. Insert your joke in the commentary section as you will...
Manchester United is now unbeaten in a record 20 Champion's League games after their draw at Inter Milan yesterday, a game they thoroughly dominated. Inter manager Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in home games since February 2002, a streak extending across stints with FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan. Mourinho didn't stick around to shake hands after the game, but picked up a $600 bottle of wine to share with Man U manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the second leg in a couple weeks..ESPN's Bill Simmons called the New York Yankees the "Cobra Kai" of baseball. That is far more clever than Evil Empire. If you aren't picking up the reference, check this out...the Detroit Pistons were 4-0 when they made the deal for Allen Iverson. Since, they are 23-28, the first time they've gone sub-.500 over a 50 game stretch since 2000-'01. Now, it is hardly all Iverson's doing, but no doubt losing Chauncey Billups has hurt that teams mojo. Bet heavily on Iverson not being re-signed this summer. Wonder if A.I.'s new haircut is to soften his image for free agency?...Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware isn't worried about gag orders: he says Ray Lewis told him his dream is to play for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones best be listening with those pinned back ears of his...Chelsea host Juventus and Liverpool travel to face Real Madrid in today's headline matchups. Really like Real Madrid to knock off Liverpool. Speaking of the 'pool, you can no longer place wagers on whether manager Rafa Benitez will leave through quitting or firing after this season when huge wagers came in on the "he's gone" side that took the odds from 20-1 to even money. Translation: he's gone...was very interesting to see Toronto Raptors coach berating point guard Josee Calderon to pick up the pace and get the ball across centre quicker. Caleron is to flow and speed what snow shoes are to surfing...shame on me for missing that those coach killers the Toronto Maple Leafs cost another opposing coach his job. First it was the Pittsburgh Penguins Michel Terrien a few weeks back, and on Monday, it was the New York Rangers Tom Renney. That's the price of losing to a team almost entirely lacking talent...Toronto FC added a stud defender, and a Canadian no less. Adrian Serioux is going to be a fan fav at BMO Field for sure. He's the guy who famously drilled David Beckham early in his stint at MLS and when Beckham protested, coldly replied "welcome to the MLS". TFC is going to the playoffs this year, I guarantee it...back with your PTP later.

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

About the only thing that doesn't make sense about the big NBA trade that has Allen Iverson off to Detroit with Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess heading to Denver is the timing of it, less than a week into the season. The Toronto Raptors will get the first look at The Answer in a Pistons uniform Wednesday night. For my money, A.I. ranks as a top ten guy I'd pay to see watch in any sport in the last decade...John Daly says "nothing is going right in my life is right now." Umm, right now? But while we're at it, how about eight great J.D. moments...it has been seven consecutive drafts since the Dallas Cowboys drafted a quarterback. They might want to think about taking one next time around. Or two. The lack of a capable backup could well cost them a playoff spot this year...not sure if you were aware, but there is an election in the U.S. today...spotted next to legendary retired Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer at their 2-0 win over Aston Villa yesterday: Toronto FC coach John Carver, a former Magpie staffer himself...Mats Sundin is said to be less than a month away from his NHL return, destination unknown. For his sake and the Leafs, I hope it is not together again. He deserves better than the morons of "Leafs Nation" and the Leafs need to win fewer games this year, not more...the Brady Quinn era starts for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. Wonder if the Browns regret signing Derek Anderson to that big contract in the off-season? He looks a shell of the guy we saw most of last season. Given that the Cowboys traded that pick to Cleveland that netted Quinn, I expect him to be nothing short of a Hall of Famer, even for a former Domer...cannot wait for the baseball wheeling and dealing to get started. It is gonna get wild, with Milwaukee already offering 4 years and $100 million to CC Sabathia...16 of the last 17 times the Washington Redskins won the game immediately preceding the U.S. election, the incumbent party - the Republicans in this case - won the subsequent election. With the Skins losing last night, well, we know that streak isn't in play...that's now 10-6 and +435 on the year on Prime Time Picks. Hope you're playing along at Pinnacle...another day of Champions League group play goes today, with the final 16 spots in site for more than a few sides. I've got a small wager on Barcelona at -2.5 to pound Basel so will be watching that intently...have a great Tuesday.