Cincinnati You Should Be Ashamed
Way to Piss Me Off
As a huge Major League Baseball fan that lives in a top 10 major city that does not have a big league club, stories like what happened in Cincinnati, Ohio really angers me. It’s hard enough being a fan that knows San Antonio would support such product and when a team like the Florida Marlins come to my town and use it as a pawn so the city of Miami can end up approving a new stadium deal so they wont move, today’s news again angers me even more.
In what was a makeup game from an April 10th rain out between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park drew fewer than 2,000 fans for the first game of day-night doubleheader. The game was basically played in red seat echo chamber. Fans could hear the players banter and the players could hear the fans chatter. In between the fourth inning, the video board showed one fan surrounded by empty seats and played Eric Carmen’s song “All By Myself.”
“You could hear everything, I think that makes it harder to focus when you can hear every individual comments,” Darnell McDonald said.
“I saw one guy who was missing a finger catch a foul ball, and I could hear him say, ‘That hurt like hell,’ but he caught it. That’s one of those days where everyone could get a foul ball and a T-shirt,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
It was a match up of the National League Central Division bottom dwellers and a lot of unfortunate things have happened since the original games was to be played in April. The Pirates went on another trading spree, only Ryan Doumit and Adam LaRoche are left from the lineup that manager John Russell wrote out that night .Every starter from that game for the Reds has been sidelined in the season with injuries and 18 players overall have gone on the disabled list.
Whether the big league club is trading away pieces or injuries have hit the club, people in that city don’t realize how good they have it by being able to watch Major League Baseball and that makes me extremely jealous but it pisses me off.
BLUEPRINT 3
Now that’s a genius commercial.
Hair Wars: Birdman Anderson
Fly Away
I don’t make any excuses that I can not stand this guy. He is an absolute joke to me,his stupid shenanigans are all about marketing himself and he brings no real game to the court. In a sideline interview during the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest, he uttered the line, “It’s time for the Birdman to fly,” before it took Anderson 19 tires to complete his dunk. After sitting through that, how about flying away? The NBA game will be a better place once he is no longer a part of it.
(Diss It)
Built In Excuse Brett
mo drama than a woman
The NFL season hasn’t even begun yet but Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Farve continues to dominate headlines. This time shortly before kickoff against the Houston Texans Farve suspects he may have a cracked rib. Favre hasn’t had an official diagnosis, but he says taking a deep breath causes discomfort adding “the damage is done.” The 39-year-old quarterback isn’t listed on the injury report.
Love the talent Farve brings to the field but hate the sack riding affair the media has with him.
UPDATE: Freddy Adu Loaned To Belenenses
FOUND
Recently SGE did a story on once promising U.S. soccer player Freddy Adu and his recent struggles with finding playing time. For Adu and his fans some good news finally arrived as a loan to Belenenses Eagles was completed today. Adu and S.L. Benfica never seemed to be a match for one another.
“Im excited about this new opportunity.Had to come down to the last day of the transfer window but it got done and I thank God,” said Adu.
How Adu will be used is up to Belenenses and it’s anyone’s guess if they will. Belenenses currently seventh in the Portuguese Liga might benefit Adu with some much needed playing time, so this year doesn’t turn out into another year waisted. U.S. coach Bob Bradley has already stated that Adu needs playing time and needs convincing that a spot on the 23 man roster bound for the 2010 World Cup, be taken up by Adu, assuming the U.S. qualifies.
Adu could make debut for Belenenses, curiously against Benfica.
“The Eddie Gaedel Story” Tonight on MLB Network
No. 1/8
MLB Network will air tonight MLB Network Remembers: The Eddie Gaedel Story, narrated by Bob Costas about 3’7” 65-lb Eddie Gaedel’s at-bat stunt between the St. Louis Browns and the Detroit Tigers for an MLB game in St. Louis in 1951. After Browns owner Bill Veeck concocted the idea, St. Louis manager Zach Taylor sent Gaedel, to the plate to pinch hit for Frank Saucier. When Gaedel had hinted to Veeck that he might be tempted to swing at a pitch, the owner promised to bring a rifle to the game and shoot him if he tried. Immediately,umpire Ed Hurley called for Browns manager Taylor, in which he showed a copy of Gaedel’s contract, as well as a copy of the Browns’ active roster, which had room for Gaedel’s addition.Tigers pitcher Bob Cain delivered four consecutive balls. Gaedel took his base (stopping twice during his trot to bow to the crowd) and was replaced by pinch-runner Jim Delsing. The 18,369 fans gave Gaedel a standing ovation.
The contract had been filed late in the day on Friday, August 17. Veeck knew the league office would approve the contract upon receipt, and that it would not be scrutinized until Monday, August 20. As a result of Gaedel’s appearance, all contracts must now be approved by the Commissioner of Baseball before a player can appear in a game. Gaedel finished his major league career with an on-base percentage of 1.000. His total earnings as a pro athlete were $100, however, he was able to parlay his baseball fame into more than $17,000 by appearing on several television shows. His “1/8″ jersey is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The piece will first air between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. CST and re-air throughout the night on MLB Tonight .
NFL’s Top Selling Jerseys
Top 5
NFLShop.com’s best selling jersey list comes from April 1 through August 28. Brett Farve of the Minnesota Vikings and Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles are the No. 1 and No. 4 in jersey sales even though their jerseys have only been available for a couple of weeks now. Vick’s jersey made the it in at No.4 without the help of Dick’s, one of the largest sporting goods stores, because they refused to sell his jersey.
San Francisco 49er fans better hope wide receiver Michael Crabtree and management agree on a contract or they will have waisted $79.99.
The entire list from sales on NFLShop.com:
1. Brett Favre, Vikings
2. Jay Cutler, Bears
3. Troy Polamalu, Steelers
4. Michael Vick, Eagles
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
6. Tony Romo, Cowboys
7. Mark Sanchez, Jets
8. Tom Brady, Patriots
9. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
10. Eli Manning, Giants
11. Terrell Owens, Bills
12. Peyton Manning, Colts
13. Hines Ward, Steelers
14. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
15. Jason Witten, Cowboys
16. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
17. Joe Flacco, Ravens
18. Matt Ryan, Falcons
19. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
20. Michael Crabtree, 49ers
Michael Irvin Joins NFL Network
Big Big Diamonds
Those who have missed Michael Irvin give his insight into the NFL on television, you won’t be deprived any longer as the NFL Network announced that it has added Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin to their broadcasting talent roster. Though the majority of the country does not have the NFL Network, like most of the city of San Antonio,but if you are one of the lucky viewers, your NFL Gameday just became a lot more exciting. Irvin, a five-time Pro Bowler, joins Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci on the Gameday coverage beginning Sunday, September 13. Following the afternoon games, he will recap and analyze the action on NFL GameDay Highlights with Sanders and host Rich Eisen.
It still amazes me that the largest money maker continues to rank third in viewership of their own network behind the MLB, NBA own channels, mainly because of fallout negotiations between the NFL and some of the countries largest cable company’s.
Redskins Ship Already Breaking?
hold on dawg you gonna ask me in front of my wife and everythang
Following the Washington Redskins 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots in the preseason, defensive cordinator Greg Blache made his weekly appearance on Comcast SportsNet’s post-game show and was asked a routine question about the performance of his defensive line. That’s when the fireworks started to go off. Beginning with an awkward exchange that had Blache turning the tables on host Trevor Matich, asking him what he thought of the defensive line, and then complaining about how the pass rush is the only thing he ever gets asked about. Blache was asked a perfectly legitimate question since the Redskins finished the 2008 season with just 24 sacks (29th in the NFL) and had just been served up by Tom Brady and the boys to the tune of 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half.
He’ll stop getting the same question when the pass rush actuallly produces some sacks or turnovers.
San Antonio Marathon Runner Gets 2-Year Doping Ban
Cheater
San Antonio based Olympic marathon runner Liza Hunter-Galvan accepts a two-year doping ban after admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs. The ban actually started on May 29, 2009 for the New Zealand native who said she had taken the banned substance three times earlier this year but claims to have been clean for her “entire career.”
This ends pretty much all possibility of Hunter-Galvan competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She has already competed for New Zealand in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics games, finishing 51st and 35th.Scott Newman, chief executive officer of Athletics New Zealand said
“It is abhorrent to think that a New Zealand athlete would choose this path.”
She also claimed she hadn’t known the substance she ingested contained EPO and she’d taken it only three times. That angered Jason Stewart, who ran the 800m for New Zealand at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games,saying:
“It’s the same excuse we always hear. It would just be refreshing if she came out and said . . . I cheated, I got caught, I rolled the dice and lost. I’m sick of hearing sh*t like this.”
Top marathoner Craig Kirkwood called her a “dirty drug cheat” and former elite 10,000m runner Robbie Johnston suggested she should never return to New Zealand. As a result of the ban Hunter-Galvan won’t be able to run this year or next in the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.
“The Journey” Documentary From Former Spur
I'm on my Grind
Former San Antonio Spurs Devin Green has a documentary The Journey chronicling his grind as he prepares for summer league with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Devin has played with such NBA teams as the Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat with each team ending up releasing Green. That’s not stopped him from achieving his dream of playing consistently in the NBA. Green now has a shot at making the Timberwolves roster and this past summer his life and shot where all taped to document his journey back into the NBA. Here’s the trailer,
Tough Loses For McAllister Park Little League
So Proud
The last two games for the McAllister Park Little League team didn’t go as they had hoped for in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Their game against Park View Chula Vista was just one of those crazy games that happen from now and then on the baseball diamond. It started in the first and just got away from them and where never able gain any kind of momentum. Losing in the U.S. Finals they where now headed to a consolation game versus Mexico this afternoon. The end result was another heart breaker, this time being done in by a late 6th inning home-run. Not the ending the boys from McAllister Park had envisioned after performing so strong early in the Little League World Series but the end result should in no way have them hanging there heads.
San Antonio is so proud of them. McAllister Park accomplished a feat that no other team from the area had ever done before. When you think of how many teams across the United States and the world that try to even reach Williamsport, McAllister Park stand and take a bow.
OH Ozzie
Deja Vu
Every baseball season the media gets front row seats to at least two or three of Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen tirades. After the White Sox lost to the New York Yankees 10-0 on Saturday night, we where treated to his latest spectacle. Guillen said he feels like he’s stealing money from chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, and he wishes he had another pitching option other than Jose Contreras. Contreras yielded six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings and only managed to get just one hit off Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre while committing three errors. The White Sox lost for the sixth time in last seven games.
“I’m embarrassed, and everybody in that room should be embarrassed. If they’re not embarrassed, they got the wrong job or they’re stealing money from baseball.I feel like I’m stealing money from Jerry, and that’s a shame. When you have more errors than hits, you better look yourself in the mirror and second-guess yourself. I’m second-guessing myself right now, making the wrong lineup every day. I watched Little League this morning … they were playing better than we did. At least it was more fun. This is not major-league baseball, sorry,” Guillen said after the game to reporters.
“If they don’t feel the way I feel right now, they’re full of sh*t,” Guillen continued. “There’s no doubt in my mind we’re better than this. But you get to a point where it is what it is. And my hope is getting less and less. It’s a long mountain, and the mountain is getting higher and higher every night. And if we’re going to climb to the top, maybe they need a cable car to get up there. But they’re not going to walk up there.
“I’m not a loser or a negative guy, but I’m real realistic. That’s my problem in the past when I’m so realistic and people get mad at me and they don’t like the way I do stuff or the way I talk. Well, if you don’t want me to talk that way, f*ck play better.
“I’m the one who should take the blame, and I will take the blame, 100 percent, no doubt,” Guillen said. “But give me some reason to take the blame. Give me some bullets to fight for you guys. Give me some ammunition.I wish I had another choice besides Jose out there.”
“A lot of people feel for Jose, believe me,” Guillen said. “It’s not about feelings. A lot of people feel bad for him, a lot of people feel sorry for him, a lot of people hate his ass. If he’s a failure, we hate his ass. [The other players], they feel for him, as a manager I love Jose. I wish for a better result for him. I do. I show him how much we love him to give him the ball every five days. Too bad it’s not working for him right now.”
We don’t need to keep seeing the same story played out of four consecutive awful outings, a blast, then a strong performance and all is forgiven. Till the next time. Hopefully this Groundhog Day script can finally end for Contreras. the White Sox have fallen to third in a wide open American League Central Division.
Stephen Jackson Says He’s Done, Get Him Outta There
Spit On Your C
Golden State Warriors captain Stephen Jackson has confirmed that he has requested to be traded to a playoff contending team pronto and has provided a list of such clubs.
“Um…I don’t think I’ll be a Warrior next year. I’m looking to leave…at this point, I’m 31 years old. I have four or five years left, I want to be in a situation where I can continually be in the playoffs and get another ring. So that’s where my mind is at now.”
Jackson specifically mentioned Cleveland Cavaliers, any of the three teams in Texas and the New York Knicks as the teams he’d like to play for. I personally didn’t get the memo that the Knicks where a playoff team. It’s a good thing he chose to sign a $28 million dollar extension in November guaranteeing him: $8.4 million in 2010/11; $9.2 million in 2011/12; $10 million in 2012/13
In nine seasons he’s played with the New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and the Warriors. But in the past five years Jackson has been charged with felony criminal recklessness and a number of other misdemeanors, including assault, disorderly conduct, and two counts of battery.
Glad to hear just three years removed from the playoffs, two years of missing the eighth seed but two games and nine months after signing your $28 million dollar extension you want to leave.
No Helmets & Pads Forces St. Paul’s College To Cancel Opener
No Pads?
Two days before St. Paul’s College was supposed to open the 2009 football season, the Tigers canceled Saturday’s contest with West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats. Division II St. Paul’s had ordered helmets and pads but the shipment hadn’t arrived yet. The game would not be rescheduled.
When St. Paul’s AD Leroy Bacote was asked how the team practiced without helmets and pads he responded saying the players did calisthenics in shorts and T-shirts. The contract signed with St. Paul’s has a clause that includes an undisclosed financial penalty for canceling a game. West Virginia Wesleyan will seek reimbursement for being charged for 40 hotel rooms that had been previously booked.
Adding to this bizarre story of no helmets, no pads is that game was to be played at local high school stadium about 20 minutes away from campus due to the bleachers are still being installed at the school’s stadium in Lawrenceville, Virgina.
Unprofessional.
McAllister Park Plays In The Finals Today At 2PM
San Antonio Is So Proud
Today on ABC the boys from San Antonio McAllister Park to play once again Park View Chula Vista, California on ABC at 2 P.M. Central Standard Time. Hopefully you will be in front of a TV to root on the hometown heroes in what is expect a clash of titans on the baseball diamond. The first team from San Antonio to ever be in the Little Series World Series game is made it unbeaten and all the way to the U.S. Final. Sports Grind Entertainment and San Antonio are so proud of you and wish you all of the luck.
Sports Grind Entertainment received information from our friends at Ball Sports Memories (check out the site it’s a fantastic idea for families) that the boys of McAllister Park will return on continental flight #479 Monday night at 7:53pm. A city celebration will be in the the long-term parking. Come on out and show the boys they are kings of San Antonio.
Alamo Bowl Gets Pac-10 No.2
Est. 1993
The Valero Alamo Bowl has announced an agreement to bring in the No. 2 team from the Pac-10 starting with the 2010 season. The four-season deal will pay the Pac-10 at least $3 million per year to move from its current agreement with the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
“The Pacific-10 Conference is very excited about reaching an agreement with the Valero Alamo Bowl.” “We view it as a significant enhancement to the conference bowl lineup. San Antonio is a marvelous postseason destination and the Valero Alamo Bowl has positioned itself as one of the elite bowl games,”Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said.
The Pac-10 was an original partner of the Alamo Bowl, providing teams in the bowl’s first two years of operation in 1993 and 1994. The Big Ten began its current association with the Alamo Bowl the following year. The Alamo Bowl currently matches the No. 4/No. 5 team from the Big Ten against the No. 4/No. 5 team from the Big 12.
A huge move for San Antonio when you consider that fact that the Pac-10 No. 2 is being lured away from the Holiday Bowl.
What Does Jared Allen Think Of Schism?
Classic
While fielding questions about whether or not there is a schism (which means divide) between players in the Minnesota Vikings locker room regarding who will start at quarterback this year, defensive end Jared Allen had this to say:
“I don’t know where this came from. Like I said, I don’t think anybody on this team knows what schism is, let alone could use it in a sentence. I thought it was an STD when I first heard it. And I was like whoa, we preach abstinence around these parts.”
Whenever there’s a microphone and a quote needed Allen is 9 out 10 times going to give you classic material.
Cowboys Scoreboard Sits Fine
89 Ft Is OK For 09
The Salami Stamp proves to be money once again. The NFL ruled that the Dallas Cowboys video board does not have to be moved and is OK at it’s current height of 89 feet.
This season, if the video board comes into play, the replay official will have the power to institute a booth review without a coach’s challenge, even if it isn’t in the final two minutes of a half. Coaches, however, can also throw a red flag to challenge on close plays. Downs will still be replayed “if a ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam, or any other object,” but now the game clock will be reset to the time when the first play was snapped. Any penalties during the wiped-out play won’t count, except for personal fouls.
The boards are going higher to fit the stage for a U2 concert in October, but the screens will have to be disconnected. To lift the boards and keep them operable will require engineering and architectural adjustments.
Hypocrisy Isn’t It Great
Dog Killer!
The picture to the right is of Robin Starr, you might be asking well who is that? Starr is the CEO of the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals since 1997 in Richmond,Virgina and one of Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles most outspoken critics. Shes been a member on the Board of Directors since 1994 and previously she was a partner in the law firm of Williams Mullen. Starr is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of Humane Societies. She is a regular columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch on animal welfare topics.
This is America and what would it be without some twist of hypocrisy involved. Starr left her 16-year-old family dog in the back seat of her car for four hours to bake in the summer hours on a hot day in Richmond. What makes the situation even far worse is the dog named Louie, was deaf and blind. Louie died of kidney failure from being left in the car burning up from the August heat. Louie was deaf and blind and was not able to protect himself, talk about animal cruelty.
Hogwash Pete Carroll
Aren't you 57? Act it
A day after the New York Jets named former USC quarterback the starting QB for the upcoming 2009 NFL season opener, how does USC head coach Pete Carroll feel?
“We couldn’t be happier . . . and no one is cheering more for Mark than I am. I love him and he was a great guy in our program and I want him to do great, and that’s the only way we know how to look at it,” said Carroll.
I call hogwash on that Petey. It’s ingrained in the minds of many, how you put on a tantrum and threw your former quarterback the buses tires at his own press conference. That was a pathetic display of a head coach telling the rest of the world that preparation for such a change wasn’t anticipated. Carroll your 57 years old right?
I wasn’t even a Sanchez fan when he was attending USC but Carroll you instantly changed that for me, I hope his rookie season resembles that of last years rookie quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. I still wonder how an established head coach can sit in a home of a top recruit and promise a better education with hopes of landing a great job in the future, but when that times comes you crap on that kid in front of the media?
Carroll you aren’t happy for his success, your spin is hogwash.
Hard Knocks: Episode 3 Recap
Fight Back
Turn out the lights on Georgetown, Kentucky as training camp closes and moves back to Cincinnati, Ohio. Another week passes and another step towards to whose actually going to make the Cincinnati Bengals roster. The first reel highlight of the show comes from the rookie talent show a staple at pretty much all training camps across the NFL. The rookies took there first shot at Roy Williams and him daydreaming like a teenage girl about his ex,singer Kelly Rowland. The spot on impression of the night came at the expense of annoying linebacker Dhani Jones and his love affair with the camera. But the real knee slapper came when the rookies made fun of fellow rookie hold out Andre Smith with his baby voice and lazy footwork with was highlighted in the episode one recap.
You might say the funniest moment came when you realized that in defensive coordinators Mike Zimmer first season with the Bengals he had the defense ranked its highest since 2001 under head coach Dick LeBeau. That doesn’t seem all that funny until you figure in the fact head coach Marvin Lewis was hired for this job on the premise he was a defensive mastermind.
A few areas of attention that where highlighted, is that quarterback Carson Palmer’s ankle injury from last week is turning out more serious than previously thought to be. Its never a good sign to still be in training camp and already be down in numbers on either side of the line. The offensive side is currently without holdout Smith and has resorted to converting defensive lineman Jason Shirley this late in his career to an offensive lineman.
Once again wide receiver Chad Ochocinco steals the show with his marketing plan of Ochocinco condoms,his new catch phrase “kiss the baby”, and the personal relationship with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (who knew Belichick had a personal side). The talk of the sports media world came in this game versus the Patriots, when Ochocinco replaced injured kicker Shayne Graham for a point after attempt. The show didn’t stop after his successful point after attempt but he also lead off the second half with a 61 yard kickoff, making one Ronaldinho proud.
Then its back home and if your forced to look at Cincinnati there’s nothing better to help you through your misery than a little music from the unofficial mayor Bootsy Collins to bang out too. Andre Smith is still a holdout.
Forever – Drake Ft. Kanye, Wayne, And Eminem
More Than A Game
There’s no need for a lengthy description here. Its a brand new joint that I’m feeling and don’t care if your not. Forever will be featured on the “More Than A Game” soundtrack. A video is to accompany Forever and it will be directed by the great Hype Williams. “More Than A Game” is a documentary on LeBron James that is supposed to open in theaters October 2.
McAllister Park Beats Staten Island New York 4-1
Championship Game For McAllister Park
WOW! Wow and it needed to be said again after the boys from San Antonio McAllister Park put on a defensive performance. For the first time in the city’s history a team representing the city of San Antonio is in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and they are going to the US Championship game. Congratulations.
McAllister Park beat South Shore Staten Island 4-1 Wednesday night and all of San Antonio texted one another to share the good news. Steven Cardone smiled as he jogged off the field after another win at the Little League World Series. He had a big reason for the look of relief on his face as they where going to be playing Saturday in the US Championship game.
Cardone and San Antonio’s defense erased three bases-loaded threats with double plays and John Shull had two RBIs in a 4-1 win.
“That’s pretty standard,” Shull’s father, Texas manager Mike Shull, joked about the timely defense.
Texas moves on to play Georgia or California in Saturday’s U.S. final while New York was eliminated.
San Antonio had to alter its defense with regular shortstop Drew Brooks dealing with an elbow problem and Travis Daves, who pitches, catches and plays infield, sidelined for the game against New York with a recurring stomach bug. Brooks is playing second in the World Series and regular second baseman Nicholas Smisek has moved over to shortstop, with both 12-year-olds dismissing the switch as just “weird.” John Shull, typically a third baseman, moved to catcher as part of the shuffling.
All of the moving around didn’t seem to affect San Antonio’s defense. New York loaded the bases in the first, third and fifth, but only scored one run thanks to sharply hit bouncers right at fielders that led to double plays. But Cardone got a fielder’s choice for one out before Shull moved to the mound and struck out the last two batters to end the game. Shull also had RBI singles in the first and second.
“I knew we’d get a ground ball, I just didn’t know who he would hit it to,” Smisek said.
Tune in Saturday at 2 P.M. Central Standard Time on ABC to see the kings of San Antonio take on either Georgia or California, Sports Grind Entertainment will have the update for you after tomorrow nights game.Sports Grind Entertainment wishes you and your families the best of time.
Take that New York Post, you should never doubt the heart and talent of San Antonio, Texas ever again
