Winners and Losers

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is over and most of the contending teams made their respected teams better and some saw their talent drop. I figured that when I got home from work there would have been more transactions on ESPN.com, but a couple of names that will be in Cooperstown someday did make the July 31st deadline day very interesting. Here's a list of my winners and losers during the week of the deadline.

WINNERS

NEW YORK YANKEES - Far and away did the most before the deadline, and for once they made deals that we finally understand and makes sense instead of them just getting the big name just to get one. With key injuries to a couple of starters in their line up the Yankees did what they had to, to make another second half run and win the AL East. Hideki Matsui goes down in comes Xavier Nady. Jorge Posada goes down, in comes former League MVP Ivan Rodriguez. Kyle Fransworth gets traded for Rodriguez because they added Damaso Marte to help fill the void. Not to mention that they added a minor leaguer from the Washington Nationals in relief pitcher Jhonny Nunez to make up for the minor leaguers they gave up to Pittsburgh. I really love what the Yanks did to make their run. They were smart, they didn't get too crazy, and to me they are back as a huge force in the AL, again. The only problem I had with the Yanks was they didn't add a starter, but I guess you can't get everything.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM - The addition of Mark Teixiera from the Atlanta Braves for Casey Kotchman and Steve Marek was a huge move for a team that is already filled with great hitters. For the second straight year Teixiera is a victim of a deadline trade, but last year going to the Braves didn't involve the post-season. The Angels are well on their way to the post-season for another World Series title and have to be very happy with their acquisition of Teixiera. I had already thought that they were the front runners before the trade now I believe if they don't this will be a very disappointing season.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS - The Dodgers have had a very disappointing season offensive up to this point. They play in a wide open NL West where it seems to me that nobody really wants to win. Yet, before the trade deadline, not only did they add 3B Casey Blake who had a great postseason a year ago but they add, in my opinion, the greatest right hand hitter I have ever seen. Manny Ramirez and his entourage in his brain head to LA and gets to play for a coach that knows how to coach players with egos. If I am Joe Torre I am going to get a good night sleep before my weekend series knowing that he will be able to write Manny Ramirez in his line up. Dodgers will now be a major player in the NL West down the stretch, mark my words!

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Ken Griffey Jr. said that he would waive his no-trade clause to play for a contender to finally get a chance to play in the World Series. And he did exactly that! Junior going to the White Sox really shocked me, but I understand why they did it. Paul Konerko hasn't played well at all and they really needed to find a way to get him out of the lineup for the AL Central title run. Junior will be playing center field again, and I really feel he could get regenerated for the chance to play in the postseason again. Now, I realize this isn't the Junior of the '90s but he still has power and hasn't played for a contender for a long time. Time to step up "Kid"!

LOSERS

BOSTON RED SOX - Sorry Red Sox fans but it will be a struggle to make the playoffs now. Acquiring Jason Bay for Manny Ramirez was something that they had to do but like they knew, they couldn't and wouldn't get a good deal. Jason Bay is a great player, great human being, he was an All-Star, and I wish him well. But, when has this kid played for a team that wasn't in last place. It is going to be interesting how he handles playing in Boston, on that field, in the same position of a guy that was traded for him that won them 2 World Series titles. On top of all that, they still had to part ways with minor leaguers that have played in the majors as well. Top prospects RHP Craig Hansen and OF Branden Moss were also dealt in part of this major trade. I guess since none of us "really know" the situation in Boston we can only speculate that Manny was a bigger problem than we thought and they were willing to do anything, including missing the playoffs, to get him out of their clubhouse.

DETROIT TIGERS - I am going to make this short. Please tell me why you needed Kyle Farnsworth and wanted to part ways with a well known leader in your clubhouse in Ivan Rodriguez for a second half run with two teams still ahead of you. Still baffled!

NEW YORK METS, PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, TAMPA BAY RAYS - No deals made before the deadline only means that you are happy with what you have and are ultimately going to live with what you got. I don't want to hear anything from these organizations the rest of the year, especially the Rays! You finally....FINALLY have a contender and you want to save your money and keep the guys you have? You still need bullpen help, and it wouldn't hurt you to go after another big bat or a starting pitcher. You have never made the postseason, AREN'T YOU TIRED OF THAT!!!!!

Hottest Women in Sports

This is Romi Bean, she is a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos. She won a ton of online tournaments as the hottest cheerleader in the NFL tournaments last year. With training camp starting and the team cheerleader calenders coming out soon, I thought that it would be only fair to give a Hottest Women in Sports this week to a cheerleader.

The Best and The Worst

Back this week with The Best and The Worst, this time Fantasy style. I can't wait for my SFL Draft that I have to find some way to pass the time and talk about fantasy football with someone, so I will write about it. For the next couple of weeks, I'll be giving you the top 5 and bottom 5 players that are "sleeper picks" in each fantasy football position. We all know about the great L.T. and Moss and Brady, but the best picks are the ones that you are really unsure about, but make the pick anyway. In the league I have been apart of for 9 years, is now a 3 player keeper league, so once we start our draft and it very important to land the right players in the right situation. For the most part the best players are gone so you gotta be right on with your first couple of picks because if your not your doomed for a long season. I have had plenty of those!

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

It is safe to say that the San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, NY Giants, and the Minnesota Vikings are the class of the fantasy football defense/special teams position. With the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals far behind. Here are the teams in the middle of the pack that I like and dislike for the defense/special teams position.

BEST

1. DALLAS COWBOYS - As much as I hate to say it, this is my first team I would take off the board when I am ready for a defensive team. They are loaded on the secondary which I foresee forcing tons of turnovers this season. As well as, DeMarcus Ware looking like he is getting better with each season. Not to mention their offense spending most of the time on the field giving their defense rest, and forcing opponents to play catch up.

2. CHICAGO BEARS - Two words...Devon Hester! He is still the man, and I really don't see him flopping any time soon, even after a new contract.

3. GREEN BAY PACKERS - Their defense really made a statement in 2007. I can see them stepping it up even more in '08 with their stud linebackers, Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk.

4. TAMPA BAY BUCS - Playing in the NFC South helps but having a defensive mind like Monte Kiffin on the sidelines is better. Finished 2nd in points allowed and tied for 1st in takeaways.

5. CLEVELAND BROWNS - How can you not want this team in late November early December playing in Cleveland in front of that crowd. I want this team for the late fantasy season and into the playoffs. Snow is an owners best friend!

WORST

1. MIAMI DOLPHINS - The team's defensive play-maker is now in our nation's capitol, in Jason Taylor. And the team's heart on defense is now in Dallas, in Zach Thomas. This poor team's defense is going to be stuck on the field for 3/4 of the entire game because their offense sticks too! Picking Miami was a must in the past but now stay away. Parcells will get this team in the right direction but not this year. The player that Miami likes the best on defense is Channing Crowder, enough said.

2. ST. LOUIS RAMS - The addition of Chris Long will not help that much this season. Their core at linebacker is very, very thin. Which means lots of yards building up on this team this season.

3. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Looks like a top 10 defensive team on paper but they are not! So take their offensive players this year as well as the over, lots of shootouts for this team this season.

4. BUFFALO BILLS - They have really done their part by looking good on paper by getting Marcus Stroud from Jacksonville, but there is a reason why the Jags got rid of him. If you draft this team you can start them against the Jets and Dolphins but that's it.

5. DENVER BRONCOS - I had this team last season and they were so up and down I will never take them again. They have a great secondary but their pass rush is horrible. Not to mention that defensive/special team touchdowns are highly unlikely for whatever reason. Screw the Broncos!

Other sleepers I like this year are: Washington, Baltimore, Indianapolis, and New England

Cubicle Rage

Not like I really blame this guy, because if I was stuck in a office cubicle all day I would flip out too. This is not in the United States, but still pretty damn funny. This guy's boss goes over to him and discusses something and the dude just loses it! I really can't think of anything else that I would do if I was in that same office when this was happening than laugh at him!!!

Fifteen Years of The Sandlot

I am back again this week with my tribute to fifteen years of one of the best baseball movies of all-time, The Sandlot. Three players down, 6 to go. Let's get right to the starting pitcher for the sandlot crew.

KENNY DENUNEZ - The lone pitcher of the team, was far and away the most stylish kid of the bunch with his great wardrobe. You got what you expected from DeNunez on the field and off. He was a cocky, brash kid that loved nothing better than embarrassing you at the plate, like most pitchers do. DeNunez was very famous in the movie for the way he dressed, and being the token black kid with a latin name, I really never understood that. The best was the day he went to the mound against Benny and Benny hit the cover off the ball. Not only was he wearing khaki pants and a button up on the field, but how he was able to shrug off that kind of scene, which could have ruined his baseball career, really says a lot about his character. But, one thing that did bother me about him was the fact that he did nothing at all to help Smalls get the baseball over the fence. If you watch the film look for him during those scenes, hiding in the background is where he is. Which means to me that he really never liked the kid.

Kenny DeNunez was played by long time child actor Brandon Quintin Adams. The twenty-nine-year-old Adams was most famous for his role in the first two Mighty Duck movies, and has been on the big screen since the age of ten with his last one being in 2005. Adams started his career being in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker where he played Zeke 'Baby Bad' Michael in the Badder segment, a parody of Jackson's classic video for "Bad". He also was in the "Smooth Criminal" short film as well as the television shows Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Martin. As of today Adams is currently back home in Kansas and is a lesser known rapper, performing under the name B. Lee. As the story goes, DeNunez played in the minor league farm system, making it up to Triple A, but was never able to make it to the Majors. He currently owns his own business. He is a father and in his spare time coaches the little league team his sons play on, The Heaters. This is just a shot in the dark, but I am thinking why he never made it to the Majors was because he threw over a 100 pitches every day all summer long! And he ended up becoming one of those "father coaches" that acted like an idiot coaching his kids, wanting them to make it to the pros since he never got there which ultimately shortened their baseball careers. DeNunez, recently just underwent shoulder surgery for the 5th time this summer.

25 Years Ago Today

In honor of the final year at Yankee Stadium, here is a little tribute in Yankee Stadium history that happened 25 years ago today!

YANKEE STADIUM, THE BRONX, NEW YORK -- It started off as your seemingly average midseason matchup between two teams trying to keep pace in the playoff race. Sure, the Yankees/Royals contests were always tinged with a little extra emotion since their late 1970s playoff wars, but nobody was prepared for an ending as bizarre as the one yet to unfold.

Starters: Black vs. Rawley WP: Mike Armb LP: Goose GoosageSV: Dan Quisenberry HR: NYY - Winfield (2nd); KC - Brett (9th)

The Royals led, 3-1 after 5 ½ innings, but the Yankees stuck it to Royals starter Bud Black in the sixth. Don Baylor tripled home two runs, and Dave Winfield added a single to score Baylor, giving the Yanks a 4-3 lead that would hold up until the ninth.

Dave Murray, who had been nearly perfect in relief since entering the game in the sixth, retired the first two Royals he faced in the final frame. However, when U.L. Washington's grounder snuck through the infield, Billy Martin wasted no time and summoned his closer, Rich "Goose" Gossage to face Royals best hitter, George Brett.

It was a strategy that failed… sort of. Brett launched the second pitch he saw from the Goose into the right field stands. But even before he crossed home plate, Martin was out of the Yankees dugout and heading to confront home plate umpire Tim McClelland.

A curious Brett watched from the dugout as Martin and McClelland seemed to be examining the his bat. Eventually, McClelland summoned the other umpires, and after conferring with them, he laid the bat over home plate. That seemed to offer the solution he was looking for. Taking a few steps in the direction of the Royals dugout, McClelland pointed at Brett with his bat, and raised his fist to signal that he was out.

In a split second, a hysterical Brett was racing out of the dugout like his pants were on fire, lunging at McClelland behind a barricade of teammates and other umpires trying to restrain him. His game-winning home run was disallowed, it was explained, because of a seldom-invoked rule that required the pine tar on a bat to be no more than 18 inches from the end. When McClelland measured the bat against the 18-inch wide home plate, it was apparent that the pine tar easily exceeded that length. Rule broken, batter out, game over.

Naturally, the incensed Royals protested the game. And a week later, A.L. President Lee McPhail decided to uphold the protest, stating that Brett's bat didn't violate "the spirit of the rules." The umpires' decision was overturned, and the game was ordered to be resumed with the Royals up, 5-4, in the top of the ninth.

On August 18th, nearly a month after the game began, the two teams finally got around to playing the final four outs. Billy Martin made one last statement by inserting lefty Don Mattingly at second base and ace pitcher Ron Guidry in center, but it made no difference in the final outcome of the game. After Hal McRae struck out to end the top of the ninth, Dan Quisenberry quickly retired the Yankees in order in the bottom half.

Thus ended one of the more surreal games in recent baseball history. And it only helped cement the notion that baseball, at times, can truly be a game of inches.

Special thanks to mlb.com for supplying this article.

Random Thoughts Today

Sorry for my blog delay. Been working overtime and on top of that I just got another injury to my body to boot. The toe is doing a lot better thank god, but unfortunately for me I got an object stuck in my eye so my eye has been swollen for a couple of days. What's next? Anyway, got a lot I want to get to!

When I see the highlights of the brawl (catfight with a big dog) between the WNBA's Detroit Shock and LA Sparks I felt like I was back inside Chad's bedroom with the crew drinking beers on a Thursday night watching WWF. How anyone can tell me with a straight face that this was not a "staged" fight please come forward. The WNBA needed an audience and they got their best ratings ever this week with that. Good for you WNBA! Seriously, you grabbed the attention of the sports nation this week, so you deserve an applause. Next up for the WNBA, a mud pit fight between Candice Parker and Swin Cash!

On this blog you deserve credit when it is due, especially when you get ripped on this same blog. The New York Mets have been playing incredible baseball for the past month. Everyone has been attributing to the streaking Mets as well. From top to the bottom of the line-up, the bench, the starting pitching staff and the bullpen (somewhat). With their afternoon victory over the Jimmy Rollinless Phillies, the Mets have taken a game lead in the NL East. Rollins, showed up late to the ballpark today so he was out of the starting line up and ended up pitch hitting in the 9th to make the final out of the game, great punishment! So in honor of the great run the Mets are on, here's to my Met fan readers:

"L E T S G O M E T S!!!!!"

Justin Timberlake, in my opinion, was given a B+ for his efforts in the 2008 ESPY Awards. He is really a great showman when he is on the stage. Probably one of the best all-around performers today. Great job JT!!!

Last Saturday afternoon when Greg Norman was finishing his 3rd round, I do not remember which announcer said it but he said something that would turn Norman's weekend on Sunday. He said, "Norman has a chance to kill all of his last day demons and turn around a legacy that is tarnished with failures on the last day in Major titles." Right then and there I knew that Norman was doomed! Instead of killing "his last day demons" he made his legacy the same that it was if the tournament never even started. I really wish that he didn't tease us this weekend with his play because I was really pushing for the 53-year-old to win his third major championship. So nothing has changed Norman's legacy after the British Open, except the fact that he allowed his new wife, Chris Evert, to sneak on camera and give you the most cheesiest kiss ever. And finishing in third got you that much closer to paying off your divorce settlement!

I usually hate the fact that players holdout during training camp in the NFL, but this one I think might have a little gripe. -- Devin Hester, a two-time Pro-Bowler, who has electrified the NFL with 11 punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, skipped the Chicago Bears' first training camp practice Wednesday in a holdout. Hester really isn't getting paid like most play makers in the NFL, let alone Pro-Bowlers. Hester, is going to make less than a half a million this season which for once I can see a player having a problem with this. So, "Pay that man his money" and get him into camp Chicago.

Finally Brett Favre is still undecided, and it is really starting to piss me of with him part of my Keeper Fantasy League! MAKE A DECISION ALREADY!

Hottest Women in Sports

The person above is Misty May who is an American professional beach volleyball player. With volleyball partner Kerri Walsh, she is the 2004 Olympic Beach Volleyball Champion. The two of they are a stunning looking pair to watch on the beach, especially Misty who has the occasional wedgie while she plays. Not bad!

Fifteen Years of The Sandlot

I'm back again this week with my tribute to one of my favorite baseball movie ever, The Sandlot. Two of the starting nine players have already been posted in RF Tommy Timmons and 1B Timmy Timmons. Let's get right to player #3 of my tribute to the starting team of the sandlot.

BERTRAM GROVER WEEKS - The starting second baseman for the squad, was easily one of the more original characters in the movie. Even though each player had their own originality, Bertram was a dick, cool, an athlete, dorky looking, a rebel, and an individual all at once. Though he was tall for a second baseman he made up for it with his range. On top of that, he had the quickest release of the baseball in the county (note him turning two with "Yeah Yeah"). He was one of the biggest haters of Smalls making the team but quickly learned to deal with him. I don't know how he ever got the chewing tobacco and you know what I don't care. Just the fact that a kid his age was able to score some wins points from me. Also, let it be known that he was one of two players that rocked the black high top Converse kicks, which means to me that the kid's family had some money. His most famous lines of mine are easily:

"Beat ya!", when he slides into second in the big game. And:

"Let's ride!", with a big hunk of chew in his mouth.

Bertram was played by child actor Grant Gelt who was one of the few actors that didn't make his final appearance on the big screen, but it wasn't for long and nothing that major. The current 28-year-old that lives in California (pictured below), had minor roles up until 1999 with a stint on the tv show Boy Meets World and the movie Mutant Species. Before that, he made on the big screen in the 1990 films Avalon and Marked for Death, and in the Young Artist Awards was nominated for Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a TV Series for his parts in Northern Exposure and Eerie, Indiana. As the story says, Bertram Grover Weeks got really into the 60's and no one really ever saw him again. My guess is that he never touched a baseball when he became a freshman and was thrown out of the house at some point in high school and became that kid that everyone talks about who had so much potential. He got really into the 60s because he tried every drug in the book and finished his life in Las Vegas.

The Good, the Bad, and the Uggla

Say what you want about how you don't like the fact that the World Series home team is determined by the winning league in the All-Star game...or how you hate the fact that Scott Kazmir and Brandan Webb were forced to going to the bullpen and getting ready to throw in extra innings when they both pitched on Sunday and clearly were not suppose to play. Because either way that was the most, and I repeat, the most entertaining MLB All-Star game I have ever witnessed. Let's get right to it...

THE GOOD - The opening ceremony had me in chills throughout with most of the Hall of Famers in attendance having played in my youth. Yankee fan or not when Joe Buck announced Yogi Berra, it was a special moment. I heard all morning and later this afternoon about how the game was boring until Matt Holliday hit a homer for the first run of the game in the 5th inning. ARE YOU SERIOUS! The pitching was so outstanding making the sluggers look like fools at times. Great plays kept me in the game as well. From Ichiro's canon to second throwing out Albert Pujols going for two. To Miguel Tejada's game saving throw out falling down in the 10th, to Aaron Cook pitching out of the jam in that same inning, to Nate McLouth's perfect throw out of Dioner Navarro, not to mention catcher Russell Martin's pick on the throw. Michael Young saves the day for the American League for the second time in three years with another GW RBI. And finally just to watch these professional athletes from Yankees hugging Rays, to Twins hugging White Sox, after the game winning run scored. It truly was an awesome site to witness last night from the first minute to the last. I still gotta say that Bud Selig still looks good having the All-Star game mean something, now he just has to do something about the pitching situation.

THE BAD - Alex Rodriguez gets paid alot of money, a lot! And in my opinion he has a responsibility has a well-paid athlete to do his part. So while every All-Star starter was leaning on the top fence of the dugout cheering for their teammates for that day late in the game, A-Rod was no where to be seen. And when the AL scored the winning run, who was hugging A-Rod on the field...maybe Madonna on the carpet! Sorry Alex, you do this to yourself. You gotta be there! And you wonder why Derek Jeter is so well liked and you aren't! Jeter was probably the biggest cheerleader in the dugout and after the game hugging Michael Young. Rodriguez wasn't the only one to leave early, NL starter Ben Sheets left early, but to me if Sheets is pitching on Thursday or Friday then I will give a slight pass. Sheets is starting to make a name for himself and it would have been in his best interest to stay, since Alex left and we find out that you did as well.

THE UGGLA - Man, it was such a nice story when he came into the game about how his old man wished that his son would play in Yankee Stadium in the All-Star game. How he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft by Florida after he wasn't particularly highly regarded as a college shortstop out of Memphis, but the Arizona Diamondbacks picked him in the 11th round but weren't impressed either . And how now at the age of 28 an All-Star, great. Well, it wasn't a great night for him. In fact, will probably go down as the worst performance in the history of the All-Star game. Three errors, 0-4 with 3 strikeouts and a inning ending double play with the bases loaded. Thankfully for him all of the base runners that reached because of his errors never came around to score or I really don't know how this guy would cope. My father always told me, "The ball will always find it's way to you if you don't want it." And I really believe after his first error he wanted no part of any action the rest of the game.

Hottest Women in Sports

Francesca Piccinini, 29, is a female volleyball player who represented Italy twice (2000 and 2004) at the Summer Olympics. She was a member of the Women's National Team that won the gold medal at the 2002 World Championship in Germany. Would have liked seeing her this summer!

The Next Best Thing?

17-year-old Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio, is finally starting to get talked about. He will be entering the NBA Draft next year after declining 2 to 4 million dollar offers from Euro-leagues. Rubio was just added to Spain's Olympic team, so don't forget to catch a glance of him and see the next best thing to hit the courts in the United States.

The Best and The Worst

Trying to figure out what to write about for the Home Run Derby tonight, I couldn't think of anything better than give the best and the worst home run derby contestants since the start of the derby in 1985. This is kind of a "homer" blog but what the heck, all of you know how I am!

BEST

1. Ken Griffey Jr. - Of course! The only multiple champ in derby history (1994,1998,1999). Do I really need to say anymore.

2. Mark McGwire - Was a 7-time contestant winning the title once in 1992. McGwire was always good in the 1st round, but fell off after. He was amazing in 1999 at Fenway, which Griffey ultimately won.

3. Barry Bonds - Bonds was a 6-time contestant winning his lone title in 1996. Bonds, was always in every contest, never having a really poor performance.

4. Sammy Sosa - His first two contests he finished with only 3 homers. Then he got "juiced up" and won in his third appearance (2000) and finished second and third in his final 2 contests.

5. Dave Parker - Parker won the first ever derby back in 1985, and then came back and finished in second the following year. If your the first one to do anything you should make the list.

WORST

1. Mike Piazza - Hit zero homers in his first appearance in the derby in 1993. Wanting to prove to himself that he could do better he entered the derby the next year, and finished with another goose egg. LOL!

2. Jose Canseco - The big shot "Bash Brother" hit a total of 1 homer in two appearances at the derby (1986, 1990). He later wrote in his book that the pitcher that threw to him was on steroids.

3. Troy Glaus - Put up a zero back in 2001 as a member of the Angels. In 2006, he was a Blue Jay figuring that the change of teams would make a difference. It did he hit one!

4. Nomar Garciaparra - I don't even know why he entered this contest once, let alone twice. Nomar put up a goose egg in his first in 1997, then entered in 1999 at his home park of Fenway where he hit two.

5. Alex Rodriguez - You want to know why he is not entering this year, he has put up a total of 4 homers in his last two derbys (2001, 2002). And hit a total of 4 in his first in 1998.

Coolest Youtube Video Ever!

I was looking for a video about the home run derby and I came across this video. Sorry Red Sox fans!

Fifteen Years of The Sandlot

I got great responses so far with my first post of my tribute to one of my favorite baseball movies, The Sandlot. It has been fifteen years that we have had the opportunity to watch this great movie that reminds us of our youth. Yesterday I wrote about first baseman Timmy Timmons. Today, how can I write about Timmy and not write about his brother the next day. Without further ado, here's player #2 from the starting line up from the sandlot.

TOMMY TIMMONS - The starting right fielder for the team, was my least favorite player on the team, that really could have cost them the game against the home town little league team. Honestly Tommy, who bunts in a pick up baseball game? They show the highlights of the game in the movie and show you trying to bunt your way on, come on dude! And you ran around the bases like a "L7 weenie". To top things off, in Little League your left and right outfielders are distinguished as so:

left field=not an athlete -- right field=not a baseball player

Scott Smalls was the starting left fielder which I am fine with, and even show him hitting in the big game. While you are the right fielder and clearly are on the team because of your brother, who you constantly repeat every time the poor kid talks, "And actually played with it?!". How you weren't a bigger dork than "Smalls" in the movie is beyond me. Your wardrobe was bad, even for the 1960s. The best part was when your brother finally told you to "shut up, Tommy!" towards the end of the movie. Tommy, was played by child actor Shane Obedzinski, the current 26-year-old ultimately made his final appearance on the big screen after this movie. Obedzinski, was also in tiny roles in the movies: Cop and 1/2, Hidden Fears, and My Girl. Like they said at the end of the movie, the two brothers started out small, designing playground equipment and prefabricated tree houses. The Timmons brothers eventually became the first architects to build the mini-mall. My guess is that Tommy never left Timmy's side until they built their mini-malls and ended up killing Timmy's future wife because he still couldn't let go of his big brother.

Random Thoughts Today

Felon Matt Jones

I will start my "Random Thoughts Today" by letting all of you know that breaking your little toe in your foot is very uncomfortable. I did this to my foot Monday morning, waking up from a Sunday night banger. I have never felt pain like this in a very long time. Thinking that I just hurt it instead of breaking it wasn't good. Since I irritated my toes by driving to and from Jacksonville that same day then the following day to work on top of my uncle's roof. When I got home Tuesday and took off my shoe, the entire right side of my toes were blue. Sweet! Still feels like terrible, but the doctor told be if your going to break any part of your body your little toes are the way to go. Thanks doc, this doesn't really help me though! Lots of bad news on my thoughts today...

Matt Jones was arrested on a felony drug charge in Fayetteville, Arkansas is former college town. The 25-year-old Jones and two others were arrested early Thursday. The officers that were on the scene said that Jones was cutting up cocaine with a credit card inside his car. A police report said officers approached the car and an officer drew his handgun after Jones did not immediately show his hands. All I know is that this really hurts the Jacksonville Jaguars who Jones is a very big part of their offensive scheme. Now he will be easily looking at a 4 game suspension or more. Way to go Matt!

A former guard for the 2000 runner up Florida Gators in the NCAA Tournament was charged with rape. Teddy Dupay, was on a ski trip in Utah last month where woman claims that he beat and raped her. Investigators found two fractured ribs, bruises on her arm, shoulder and thigh. As well as, a swollen left eye and scratches on her back. The woman told police that she had had a relationship of two years with Dupay, but it wasn't known if it was current. Dupay acknowledged in court documents that he and the woman "got a little rough" but he did not rape her. "Little Rough" Teddy, huh? What the hell turns you on?

For some reason I am shocked that the New York Mets and Yankees didn't get their guys voted in for the All-Star game next week. David Wright in the National League and Jason Giambi in the American League were with a list of 4 others to get voted in by the fans to make the final roster spot on their respected All-Star teams. And both didn't get voted on by it peers with the game in New York. I am not saying that Cory Hart and Evan Longoria aren't deserving of making the team, I am just really stunned that the New Yorkers didn't get their guys in. Oh wait, now I remember...Everyone hates New York players!

I would really like to say what's on my mind about the newly released Seattle Mariner Richie Sexson, but I like to keep this blog as clean as possible. But this guy didn't do $#!* while with the M's. After signing a 4 year 50+ million dollar deal with the team he did nothing but looking good, striking out! In more than 2100 at bat he has had since signing with the team, he has struck out...ready for this 497 times!!! Here's another your outta here Richie. And don't come back!

Ken Griffey Jr. missed out on starting in the All-Star the last couple of days before the final tally was announced. Ryan Braun ended up beating him out, and can I say even with being a Junior fan...THANK GOD! I would have felt uncomfortable for Griffey if he was in the starting line up batting .240 with 12 homers. So Boston fans you better feel the same, because I don't give a flying you no what about being voted in by the players. Jason Varitek has no right being announced as an All-Star this year. Sorry Jason, if I were you I would have said, "No, thanks! I can't even bat my weight!". Now on this guy's career resume he will have an extra All-Star appearance. Nice!

And so you know I will not be a Tony Stewart fan anymore after him leaving Joe Gibbs racing earlier this week. Tony, do you realize that you are leaving a guy that is a pure winner?

Fifteen Years of The Sandlot

Today I am going to start a tribute to one of the greatest baseball movies of my time. While watching it on HBO the other day, it came to me how old I am, and that it has been fifteen years since the film came to theatres. What I am going to do is give a tribute to each of the players from The Sandlot, the actors that played that character, and what the character meant to the movie.

TIMMY TIMMONS - The left-handed first baseman was probably one of the most overlooked characters in the film. Not a great ball player, and we didn't get a sense of what kind of kid he was until we finally figured out that he was a smart kid when the movie got to "The Pickle" part of the film that they were in. At first, all that we knew about him was that he had a little brother on the team that constantly repeated everything that he said. Poor kid! Besides him getting left in the tree house after the vacuums exploded, his most famous part in my book was when "Squints" awoke from the pool and the camera went right to him up close and he said, "Oh man he's in deep shit!". Classic to hear that from an eleven year old. Timmy was played by Victor DiMattia who is currently 29-years-old and was last seen still living in California. This child actor's last film was Children of the Dark back in 1994. He was also seen before The Sandlot in minor roles on shows like Family Ties, Punky Brewster, Married with Children, and Growing Pains. He was also a voice in the hit cartoon movie Oliver and Company and starred as Dennis the Menace in Dennis the Menace: Dinosaur Hunter. I thought that Timmy showed great signs of making it as a baseball player with his stellar defense at first and a imaginative mind. With his brother, he became an architect and a contractor never getting the chance of his little annoying brother leaving his side.

Hottest Women in Sports

Jenny Adams ended up not making the Olympics for the second time this summer, but her looks got her an appearance on The Nutz. The 30-year-old, track and field American athlete, got famous after she appeared on the FHM magazine “Sexy Olympic” edition. Adams specializes in the 100M hurdles in which she finished sixth in the World Championships in 2003. Also, just missing the '04 Olympics by finishing in 5th. Track women have the greatest lower body!

My 1st NASCAR Experience

On Friday night, July 4th, I did something that I never would have envisioned myself ever doing. It was so different than anything I ever experienced, so much that I have been recovering from it since then (hence no blogs). That night, I went to (from what I am told) the most prestigious race track in the entire world, the race track in Daytona, home of the Daytona 500. The picture above is the end of the race, my seats were just in front of the finish line to the right.

The race was the Winn Dixie 250, Nationwide Series race in which I have no idea what that means other than it has no baring on the Sprint Nextel Cup. Normally from what I understand, the Nationwide Series includes up and coming racers with a mix of big names that just love to race. This race that I attended was filled with big names since it was in Daytona, but the only names that i was worrying about were Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. It was a very hot day and I had already started my boozing early in the day at a picnic. By the time we got to Daytona (25 minute ride tops) I was feeling a great buzz...from the alcohol! Slapping five with the local idiots and screaming, "LET'S GO JUNIOR!!" was a major highlight of mine on the way into the track. My buddy, who talked me into going, is a major fan of NASCAR, so needless to say he wasn't impressed with me making fun of the situation I was getting myself into.

We make our way inside and I was thoroughly stunned at how many beautiful women there were. I had heard rumors that lots of women love racing, but I did not believe it for a second. It wasn't just because I was feeling good from drinking in the heat, all the women I saw there were hot...well, there were some with "summer teeth". I grab 2-16 ounce cans of Bud Light for myself and we sit in our seats. I have never seen so many people wearing a shirt with a drawing of a person on it. These people are crazy, they really do live for racing! The cars start the race by circling the track twice so they can get the engines ready for take off when the green flag is waving. At this point when the cars pass us for the first 5 laps do I gain some respect to the drivers. These cars were flying! You never really get a sense of how fast they go until you have been to a race. After the fifth lap, my cans were empty so I went to get a couple of more. Get back to my seat at lap 9, I sit...turn my head to the left...then pull my neck muscle by turning to the right as fast as I can. This goes on for about 15 laps and 2 empty cans later. "Anybody need anything?". I had to get out of there, I go and take a piss in something that looks like a huge metal trash can, when a guy says to me, "Man, did see that move by Busch on lap 13!" "Crazy, right!", was the only thing that I could think of saying and then I got the hell out of there before I even finished peeing and grabbed two more beers. I got back to my seat for lap 25, I turn to my buddy, "Hey, how many laps are there?".

"100."

"Damn!"

Somehow I make it to lap 60 without leaving my seat. I am really starting to feel the booze now so I start screaming like an idiot, "Let's go Junior!!!!!" just to fit in. I call a few of my friends so that they can experience the incredibly loud engines when they pass us, just to amuse myself. Lap 75, still drinking, getting really bored, and have still not seen a crash! Pissed off is an understatement! I leave to take another piss, and grab some more beers, I have been down there so much that the girl gave me a free one. Thanks, that's the least that Daytona can do for me. I start to head back up to my seat while looking to see what lap we are on, when I bump into a cop. "Great race, huh, officer!" "Hell Yeah!", he says! Unreal, where exactly am I. We have less than ten laps to go when finally a car goes out of control, but misses all the cars and lands in the grass field untouched. "CAN I PLEASE SEE SOMEONE GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, DAMMIT!" Since there was a "caution" on the track, the race cannot finish in a caution, so what happens, two extra laps. Super!

Joe Gibbs racing ended up finishing in 1st and 2nd place by Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch respectably. I only knew the names of these racers because I had to look it up. I know that Earnhardt Jr. finished 3rd and when the race was over I figured out that Stewart never even was in the race because he was sick, lucky bastard! Walking out I was completely smashed, why wouldn't I be I really just sat through 100 laps of cars going around in a circle, and with no crashes to boot. I needed to drink to just get through this event. I really still don't get it! Why is the nation so into this sport? I think that this sport is for the easily amused. At least that I can say that I have been to Daytona and saw a race there, but I would never recommend to go to a race to any of my friends. Unless they would enjoy drinking in the company of fanatical fans that will go out of their way to bother you while you are pissing, and watching cars go around in a circle causing you to pull a muscle in your neck.

At least I didn't attend the Daytona 500 which is 200 laps...I can't even envision how I would be able to take that...even drunk!

Another Step Brothers Trailer

I hope that this movie doesn't disappoint, because I can't get enough of these trailers.

Random Thoughts Today

Feels like forever since I last did one of these. With lots of thunderstorms filled with lightning that past week, so I have been stuck in the house catching up on the world of sports. This will be my last post until the weekend, so to all my readers have a safe July 4th!

The first thought that I have today will shock everyone of my readers. I can not believe that I am actually posting this because of the ridicule that I will take for it, but here it goes. Tomorrow night, I will be attending my first NASCAR Race in Daytona. That's right! It is the Winn Dixie 250 that will be televised on ESPN. Now let me put this out there right now, I AM NOT A NASCAR FAN! My neighbor yesterday told me if I was to ever see a race for really cheap, with big names racing in it tomorrow night is the night. I said no at first. But, he was pretty convincing. He told me that watching a race in Daytona for racing fans is like watching a World Series game at Yankee Stadium, you just have to be there. Plus he told me that we can bring beer/alcohol into the track in a little cooler, and that really sold me! I am actually kind of looking forward to seeing what the hype is all about. The Pitbull has already told me that I am gone to him now, so I am ready for any razing that anyone wants to give. So if you are interested, the race starts at 8:00 on ESPN and if your looking for me, I'll be the drunk guy making out with a 18-year-old redneck chick...wait there might already be a few of those...damn, I am turning into a redneck!

This morning I do my usual routine, shit...shower...shave, then put on ESPNEWS. And what do you know, my Tampa Bay Rays did pull out the victory last night giving them a three and a half game lead over the swept Red Sox. You gotta love the Rays! Worst record last year to first place in the AL East heading into the All-Star break. This is so awesome. It was hard early on not to get on the bandwagon , but now it is just so sweet hanging on for the ride. One thing that got me thinking while they were coming back against a horrid Boston bullpen last night. How many All-Stars does this team have? They won't be getting any starters so it will be in the hands of Boston manager Terry Francona. Great! They could easily get 6 players in my opinion but I know that they won't. Maybe they will only get 2, and then the rest of the team will play for pride the rest of the year and win the American League Pennant (I placed a bet in Las Vegas, 25-1 shot for the Rays to win the Pennant).

Did anyone in their right mind watch the entire show of I Survived a Japanese Game Show. God knows that I could not. This show won't last a month. It is nothing like the great MXC that my crew use to watch every Thursday night and Saturday night before we went out to the clubs. Man that show is great. I still find it sometimes late at night on Spike but you rarely find it as much as you did years ago. My favorite event of the show was easily the spinning obstacle course that was above water the the contestants had to leap over obstacles and land staying balanced on the spinning platform. How no one died on that show is beyond me.

I am sure that most of my readers are tired of hearing about Brett Favre. Well, I will make this short. I realize that he is hurting the Green Bay Packers and not to mention Aaron Rodgers, with his inability to make a decision. But, really folks if he wants to play who honestly are we to say yes or no. If the Packers don't want to deal with it they can tell him to go elsewhere, otherwise just put up with it. The guy has done more for your franchise than you could have ever imagined.

Finally, for a little Olympic update. I just finished reading an article by Pat Forde about the Men's Swimming team, on how the happiest people in the world are the ones that are finishing second just to make the team and move on to Beijing in August. Why you ask? Because everyone of them that finish second is living their dream while a good swimmer that finishes third has to stay home and watch. It's unfortunate, because really in 8 of the events, 7 swimmers are fighting for one spot, because 8 races are those that have Michael Phelps in them and he will win them all. Just because..."He's good!".

Celebrity Sighting

Today I will begin another new edition to The Nutz. It is called "Celebrity Sighting". A celebrity sighting is when at any point I see a celebrity up close. It could be just in passing, at the bar, during a sporting event...whatever. Whenever I come across a celebrity, I will write about him or her. Let's get to the recent celeb I came across.

Last week I was asked by the head baseball coach of the local high school in my hometown to come to his baseball field and take a look at what could be done to fix up the dead sod and it's misshaping. Well, the coach, Jeremy Kitson, was telling me stories the last couple of weeks before about a man that had moved to Palm Coast that has been helping him out. The man he speaks of has tons of experience and I was even able to catch a couple of stories of his playing days with stars like Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, for example. His name is Woody Woodward. Woodward was a Major League player for 8 years with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and more noticeably being the shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds in the early 70s before Dave Concepcoin. In 1965 he led NL second basemen in fielding average. Later he was the general manager for the New York Yankees (1985-1988), the Seattle Mariners (1989-1999). In Florida he is more famous for playing and coaching at Florida State. Kitson introduced him to me, which I immediately thought should have been the other way around. The man is very knowledgeable of the game and the way he was explaining situations to the kids was like nothing I have ever seen. Not once did he get in the way or try to change Coach Kitson's mind during practice, it was pretty cool to watch. I asked him if he was the one that drafted Ken Griffey Jr. when he was the GM not knowing at the time that it was two years before his stint there. He said, "No, I wasn't there then but he was at the top of my list when I was with New York, but we already knew he wasn't going to fall past #1." He was really great to talk to very...personable. Like he was just a regular person, until he had to excuse himself for the conversation to take a private phone call from Johnny Bench. Kitson told me some stories that he told him about how much Joe Morgan was an ass to play with, worst than what the media tells, when he was with the Reds. Also, how when he was a shortstop, if Willie Mays hit a grounder to him, he knew that he had time to throw him out because Mays never ran anything out if it was hit right at someone. Suppose to be going out with Kitson and Woodward this week or next to a new sports bar that opened up in my town, hopefully I will hear more stories.

Some of his career accomplishments:

-was a career .236 hitter with only one homer

-played in four games of the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles

-notable draft picks

---Brad Ausmus 48th round (New York)

---Alex Rodriguez 1st overall (Seattle)

---Gil Meche 22nd overall (Seattle)

---Bret Boone 6th round (Seattle)

---Derek Lowe 8th round (Seattle)

---Barry Zito 59th round (Seattle)

-notable trades

---Mark Langston to Montreal for Randy Johnson (1989)

---Darren Bragg to Boston for Jamie Moyer (1996)

---Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe to Boston for Heathcliff Slocumb (1997)

---Randy Johnson to Houston for Freddie Garcia and Carlos Guillen (1998)

Hottest Women in Sports

I don't know what it is about Hope Solo! Maybe it is the way she expressed how she deserved to start in the FIFA Women's World Cup championship last year. Maybe it is her demeanor on the field. Or maybe it is how she keep balls away from her space. Whatever it is, I think that she is extremely attractive. At 5'9'', the 26-year-old is a 4-time Pac-10 first teamer from the University of Washington and will be the starting goal keeper for the U.S. Women's team in Sidney this August.

The Best and The Worst

After some time re cooperating from a long work week which involved me standing out in mid 90 degree heat with no shade and surrounded by more than a thousand soccer moms, I am back with my "The Best and The Worst" draft picks in NBA history from picks 5 through 1. Thank you to those that voted for the best #1 pick of all time. Hopefully ten years from now I will be able to put Chicago's Derrick Rose on the list. After much debate over the best, I am going to go with my public and announce a tie. Without further ado here is the top 5 best and worst #1 picks in the history of the NBA Draft.

THE 1ST OVERALL PICK

BEST

1. Magic Johnson 1979 LA Lakers - Johnson was the face of this franchise for 12 seasons, before announcing an early retirement because of the HIV virus. He was the ultimate showman in a city filled with them. Might be the best point guard in NBA history. If winning his first NBA title wasn't enough, he became the only rookie to take home the Finals MVP Award. Among his accomplishments, 5-time NBA Champ...3-time NBA MVP...12-time All-Star...3-time NBA Finals MVP...9-time NBA All-1st team...and a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary team.





1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1969 Milwaukee - At that time known as Lou Alcindor, he was an ultimate force for the Bucks, playing 6 seasons with the team winning the NBA MVP Award 3 of those seasons and a NBA Championship. Although Abdul-Jabbar always spoke well of Milwaukee and its fans, he said that being in the Midwest did not fit his cultural needs and requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles in October 1974. In 1975, the Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, and rookie "blue chippers" Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman. One of the worst trades in NBA history. His career achievements include: the all-time leading point scorer in NBA history, 6-time NBA MVP, 6-time NBA Champ, 19-time All-Star, 10-time NBA All 1st team, and a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary team.



3. Oscar Robertson 1960 Cincinnati

4. Hakeem Olajuwon 1984 Houston

5. Tim Duncan 1997 San Antonio

WORST

1. LaRue Martin 1972 Portland - A 6-foot-11 center out of Loyola, LaRue Martin entered the NBA with much fanfare in 1972. Unfortunately, he never quite lived up to the hype, spending four seasons on the Portland Trail Blazers’ bench before retiring in 1976. In four seasons Martin never scored more than 7.0 points per game, and he never shot better than .452 from the field. He notched both of those numbers during the 1974–75 season, when Walton missed most of the year with injuries. Martin retired in 1976, one year before the Blazers won their first NBA Championship. In four seasons he tallied 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

2. Pervis Ellison 1989 Sacramento

3. Michael Olowokandi 1998 LA Clippers

4. Art Heyman 1963 New York

5. Kent Benson 1977 Milwaukee

Other notables that were selected in the number 1 slot include:

Allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, Derrick Coleman, Kenyon Martin, Glenn Robinson, Chris Webber, Andrea Bargnani, Lebron James, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Andrew Bogut, Kwame Brown, Larry Johnson, Joe Smith, Elton Brand, Bill Walton, James Worthy, and Danny Manning