Manny in or Manny out?

Finally the LA Dodgers and Manny Ramirez have gotten together and completed a two year, $45 million deal it appears, though ESPN.com reported it a done deal briefly last night before pulling back. Safe to assume that when Scott Boras pushed him to jump agencies over to him and opt out that he promised him a lot more than that when he was slated to pick up $40 million if he stayed with the Boston Red Sox...the World Baseball Classic is about to take another hit if the talk of there being a cyst in A-Rod's hip is accurate, as shown in a weekend exam. Maybe A-Rod is going the Jason Giambi route? First apologize, albeit with far greater detail than Giambi ever gave. Second, get some kind of mystery medical problem. Third step is to come back and kill the ball. Fourth, grow a moustache. Somehow, I think the latter would be impossible for A-Rod. Word is a cyst isn't a serious problem - just a bruise on bone - but will give the Yankees a good reason to pull A-Rod out of the WBC..tickets for the Tampa Bay Lightening can be had for $239. For the season. That's right, for $5.67 per game, you can get a seat in the upper bowl. Incredible value. And it isn't like only a handful of tickets are going at that rate - 20% of the arena is available at that price...the Seattle Sounders - the latest addition to MLS - are capping season tickets at 22,000 and will average north of 30,000 in their 32,000 configured Q-West Field...Chris Jericho could be the best heel in the history of wrestling...Andruw Jones is not exactly coming back hard after last year's terrible season: 1 for 9, 8 strikeouts...Manchester United's Darren Fletcher played last week's Champions League game hours after finding out his house in Manchester had been broken into while he was gone, and his fiancee threatened by a knife. He's the 14th player from Manchester or Liverpool - the cities and their four teams to be robbed this year while away...Nickelback's Chad Kroeger has a hockey rink in his basement big enough for three on three. Not a fan of them, but that's pretty freaking cool...the NHL Trade Deadline will be the talk of the day no doubt. Here's a look at some of the rumours overnight...tight PTP winner last night. Also had a narrow cover in the Houston Rockets as well. A sign of good things to come? Let's hope! Back with your pick later.

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Why unions are ridiculous, Part 4, 237, 226: the NFL Players Association is challenging the suspension and fine of New York Giant Plaxico Buress who, of course, shot himself in the thigh a couple weeks back. Wonder what the unions stance will be when he goes to the slam?...you know what I find hilarious? The fact that last year most of the Toronto media - and a majority of fans - hammered TJ Ford as a chemistry and locker room killer. I think Stevie Wonder could see that he's gone, and things are worse in Raptorland. This is a team that needs more than a few heart transplants based on what we've seen the last few weeks, and I'm not convinced a coaching staff or Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich and Jerry Sloan could get much more out of these guys. TJ and the Indiana Pacers are rolling in tonight, and if I'm Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, I'm hoping TJ falls flat because if it is a good night for TJ - and you know he's taking no prisoners - then I'm figuring my kid glove treatment from fans and the media the last couple years is about over in Toronto...since 1996 - the last time they won a playoff game - the Dallas Cowboys are 18-32 in December...Rando reader TS passes on this link to pics of the Montreal Canadiens practice facility. As you might expect, first class top to bottom...Molly Sims, Jamie Lynn Sigler, and a hilarious video from Andy Samberg of Saturday Night Live that makes "Dick In A Box" seem cryptic. And what's this I hear that Sigler is dating Turtle of Entourage for real? Talk about punching over your weight! Well done, Turtle...former Tampa Bay Lighting coach Mullet Melrose, axed recently, says he hopes the Bolts don't win another game all year. Keep it classy, Melrose...the New York Mets finally started getting some bullpen depth in signing Francisco Rodriguez. He'll do little to calm the nerves of Mets fans with his highwire act. Surprised the Blue Jays didn't offer out BJ Ryan to the Mets. He's cheaper than the three years, $37 million, and arguably as good, and the Jays could use that money elsewhere, not to mention getting some talent back...at CC Sabathia's request, Yankees GM Brian Cashman flew out to his home in California to meet with Sabathia's family. This can only be a good sign, also considering it is the third meeting in three days. Here's hoping Cash has a crystal ball and knows CC will stay healthy...have a great Wednesday.

Friday, November 14th, 2008

Evander Holyfield will fight Nikolai Valuev for one slice of the world heavyweight boxing championship on December 20th. This tells you all you need to know about the state of heavyweight boxing...Jose Calderon will miss at least a game? Memo to Pinnacle: I'm betting against the Raptors, money line...things I love about Hi Def: sports, Sarah Meehan, Kelly Kelly, Rachelle Leah...Nick Swisher is a Yankee? I think the Yankees have finally found a heart and soul guy like Paul O'Neill, provided Derek Jeter can't suck the personality out of him. And hey, they picked up Texeira - Kanekoa Texiera. Yes, I know the spelling is different, but the idea that Tex could be a Yankee has me moist...the MLB free agent season starts today, just over two hours ago. This is gonna be the best one in recent memory with the Yankees having lopped $90 million off their 2008 payroll. Here's a solid primer on who is available. It sounds like the Yankees will pounce on CC Sabathia, and fast..missed out on a Prime Time Pick yesterday, I blame this whole "not used to Thursday games" thing...rumors are flying that the Tampa Bay Lightning might soon be unable to meet payroll, which of course the NHL vehemently denies...the New York Jets are in first in the AFC East after a 34-31 OT win last night. Colour me shocked...Jason Blake wants to be moved from the Toronto Maple Leafs. No doubt they'd love to move him, if there was a big market for an overpaid goal scorer who can't score...Diego Maradona may quit as Argentina coach after a disagreement with a big wig in the Argentine FA. Hard to believe that situation would be volatile with the notoriously volatile Maradona, no?...UFC President Dana White says tomorrow's Randy Couture/Brock Lesnar fight will be the biggest pay-per-view fight in MMA history. Here's betting he's right...with three weeks to go, the amount of advertising for the Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins game in Toronto is incredible. Is anybody going to this thing?...in a result that should shock nobody, Cliff Lee is your AL Cy Young winner. Unlike the NL voting, there were not real candidates from winning teams that should've been ahead of Lee, unless you take the view a closer - Francisco Rodriguez - should be in the running..have a great Friday.