Rams Fans, It Could Be Worse
Rams fans have had plenty to complain about the last two years, but it appears Chip Rosenbloom has assembled a first-rate front office.
Sadly, Raiders fans can’t be as enthusiastic about the direction of their franchise. Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, a former Raider, had this Al Davis story for WJFK radio in Washington D.C.
“Probably the funniest thing, I was pretty close to Lane Kiffin . . . and after they fired Lane and were about to announce who the next coach was - I don’t know if you guys saw this in the media world, but I was actually sitting there live, me and a couple other players there in the back. And [Davis] went through this whole spiel of what happened . . . and said our next coach is Tom Cable, he’s going to be our interim coach.
“When everybody paused for Tom to come in, like a breakoff. [Davis] goes to the media guide and not even whispering says ‘hey, anyone got any information on this Tom Cable guy, I don’t know where he comes from.’ That’s just vintage Al Davis. Making a move, not really knowing why, no real justification for doing it. But just saying, ‘hey, I want this guy, let’s get him, I’ll figure everything else out later.’ And that’s just how Al Davis is.”
Here is what Hall was talking about:
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while waiting for a Cardinals pitcher to throw strikes:
- Will the Brewers shrug off from Rickie Weeks’ season-ending wrist injury?
- And how will the Mets fare without Carlos Delgado until August, at the earliest?
- Why is Mine That Bird going through jockeys the way Spinal Tap when through drummers?
- Will Jon Gruden quit ripping ESPN now that he is working for the World Wide Leader?
- Can Terrell Owens bring sadsack Buffalo back to life?
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
NBA commissioner David Stern tried to calm that raging feud between Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Denver Nuggets big man Kenyon Martin.
You may recall that Cuban made disparaging remarks to Martin’s mother, Lydia Moore, during a heated post-game exchange. Martin’s response was undiplomatic in its own right.
There two are keeping reporters busy. Cuban issued a belated apology via his blog, but hasn’t made peace face to face with Martin and Moore.
“He’s a coward,” Martin said about Cuban, according to HoopsHype.com. “He couldn’t face it. You all read the only apology that he’s made [on his blog].
“The world got to see it before the person who it was meant for got to see it. That tells you how that goes. I ain’t never known nobody apology to somebody through other people.”
Cuban’s response?
“I still intend to apologize to Ms. Moore,” Cuban wrote an e-mail to that site. “I made a mistake and will keep my commitment.”
However, Cuban fired back at Martin.
“I would also like to know if Kenyon is going to take responsibility for his actions rather than hiding behind ‘no comment,’” Cuban wrote. “Will he apologize to the wife of our staff member that he called a [expletive] fat pig’ immediately after Game 3? Will he apologize to fans that he threatened to, and I’m paraphrasing here, ‘[expletive] beat the [expletive] down’ during Game 4?
“Or to the fans he walked by after Game 4, [Martin] cursed and gave the finger to? Will he take responsibility for what he said and did? Is there some reason he has not?”
MIKE TYSON, COMEDIAN
Check out of the end of this movie trailer to get preview of his acting performance.
ONE VERY HOT DISH
Maria Sharapova is back from shoulder surgery. She just won her first singles match since last July.
She has spent a lot of time making commercials during her down time – and she also worked on her cooking.
“In these nine months, the only thing that I’ve accomplished is a good pasta carbonara,” she joked to reporters. “That’s not my specialty, though.
“My specialty is winning tennis tournaments, grand slams. That’s what I’m really good at.”
See for yourself:
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Bob Molinaro, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot: “If you’re turned off by the sight of copious body art, don’t watch the multi-tattooed Denver Nuggets. The typical Nuggets player is more inked up than the Sunday edition of The New York Times.”
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Reportedly, thousands and thousands of social security checks are sent to the deceased every year. I believe the Pittsburgh Pirates got one just the other day.”
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Suspended Manny Ramirez addressed his Dodgers teammates in a Miami hotel room Friday to explain why he was taking a women’s fertility drug banned because it is taken by steroid users coming off a cycle to return normalcy to testosterone levels. I don’t think they were buying his explanation about trying to fulfill a lifelong dream to become pregnant.”
Jeff MacGregor, ESPN.com: “There has never been a good answer to the problem of ethical weakness but the answer we make for ourselves. Virtue, the responsibility of the individual, remains its own reward. Which, compared to a haystack of cash and a VIP pass to the local Champagne Room, kind of sucks and makes it a hard sell to most professional athletes.”
MEGAPHONE
“I understand that the role I have basically assumes going into Oakland knowing that JaMarcus Russell was drafted to be the starting quarterback there. But I think there has to be some realization at some point as to putting the best players on the field that are you going to give you the best chance to win. Now, if JaMarcus is that guy, then he definitely deserves to be on the field and should be on the field. But if for some reason with what I bring as a player, from a competitive nature, and just the intensity and emotion that I bring to the field, and the knowledge of the game that I have … if that gives us a better chance to win football games, then that decision is going to have to be left up to the coach and hopefully he can make the right decision for the team.”
New Raiders quarterback Jeff Garcia, angling to replace Russell.
Al Davis is the funniest damn guy in the NFL.
Maria Sharapova still plays tennis?
Who could have guessed the Cardinals would struggle against a quality team?
Do the starting pitchers know it is okay to pitch more than four innings?
Spicoli has anxiety? Really? Well not being able to bat your weight or field a ground ball will do that to you. What a mama’s boy, you play baseball for a living. Either toughen up or go wash cars. Nice to know this team is going to pay $6.5 million for a guy to come off the bench so he doesn’t get stressed. Absolutely brutal.
Leave it to this team to make Suppan and Looper look like they belong in the Hall of Fame even though both have an ERA pushing 5.
Nice to see that Molina is following in the footsteps of Albert and not running out ground balls to first. Is it too much to ask to show some hustle down the line?
Even though it is just Memorial Day, this team is in real trouble.
During this decade (2000-2009) The St. Louis Cardinals have:
5 NL Central Titles
2 Pennants
2 World Series appearances
1 Ring.
I believe the only team to do better is the Boston Red Sox with 2 World Series rings (but not as many division titles.. Not that those are worth much…but it does give you 7 more games of hope.) . And their payroll for the last 5 years has been $30-$50 million more.
Do I think the Cards management is stingy as hell? Yup. But you know, I live ONE MILE from Wrigley Field and these sad sacks would literally kill for such consistency. Such history.
I’ve gotta see that movie!
Clearly, the Cardinals are stacking a little loot right now because they’re gonna have to shell out a ton of it to keep #5 in the not too distant future. Prior to that they’re going to have to spend money to build a good enough team to convince him stay. This will probably be an ‘economical’ season while planning for the future.
I’ll be the first to admit that I wanted Kalil Greene as the Cards shortstop. I’ll also be the first to admit it looks like a mistake. It’s early and I won’t make judgment on the team until the All-Star break but it looks like “you get what you pay for”.
Gosh, the way you (ok I do it too) complain about Spicoli (my new favorite nickname) is terrible. You act like you grew up watching Ozzie Smith play shortstop. Maybe we should treat the anxiety like Spicoli would. What’s the worst that could happen, he gets suspended and we don’t have to pay him?
Just when you start to worry, the cubs come to town and make everything seem ok!! 1908…. did cars have cupholders then?
I too have to admit I was thrilled to get Greene from SD. I too will wait until the half way point to grade myself on that opinion….but so far it ain’t looking good.
Where, by the way, is all the S.W. bashers today? Isn’t it time for someone to talk about how he is always negative and never has a positive thing to say?
Garry, those stats are all true and fine, but to me that means that the Cards know how to field a better team than what we saw last year and this, you know? I am not jumping off the bandwagon (actually I am a permanent member and will always support the Cards) but this slump is starting to take on some serious implications for the rest of the season.
So, if I was one of those who disparaged the K.Greene deal back in January, am I permitted to be negative now?
Let’s review. In December it was made known throughout the league that the Padres were willing to deal Jake Peavy. The Cardinals, Cubs, and Braves were identified as the logical trade suitors. Scuttlebutt around the league was that the Padres insisted that Khalil Greene be included in any Peavy deal. But the Padres trade demands were apparently too high, and Peavy did not get traded. So, the Cardinals went out and acquired the throw-in, Mendoza-line-hitting shortstop, but DIDN’T get the All-Star pitcher. Hmm, that makes a lot of sense (note sarcasm).
So, now we’re all supposed to be shocked that the guy isn’t hitting his body weight, and maybe has some problem between the ears too.
Now, it’s apparent to me that management is looking to save bucks for the next couple years, in anticipation of forking out the big contract to keep El Hombre. But doesn’t it seem like we’re wasting a few of the best seasons out of the prime of Albert’s career? Kinda like how the entire decade was wasted in the prime of Stan the Man’s career? Don’t you think Albert would rather have another pennant than an extra $2mil per year on the next deal?
Thanks a bunch Mozewitt!! (highest paid “yes man” in the country!)