Quick Hits - Late Edition

* D-Mat (Daisuke Matsuzaka) has lined up to do some commercials in his native Japan in Red Sox gear. Ok, the Red Sox are getting their tentacles into Japan officially now.

Link: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/12/30/dice_k_is_already_pitching_for_sox____in_japanese_ads/


* The Baseball Hall of Fame will let us know who is in the Class of 2007 on January 9th. It’s a forgone conclusion that Cal Ripken and Tony Gywnn will be inducted on the first ballot, but other candidates include Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Bobby Witt, Jim Rice, Bert Byleven, Tommy John, Dave Concepion, Goose Gossage, Andre Dawson, Jack Morris, Dante Bichette, Lee Smith, Paul O’Neill, Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Wally Joyner and cast of others.

I’d personally like to see Goose Gossage, Jack Morris (who was as big as a money pitcher you could get) along with Bert Byleven get into the Hall.


* Bobby Knight got win number 880. I think he’s a jerk, and boorish, but he’s one hell of a coach, for the most part got the most out of his teams and ran clean programs. Love him, or hate him, let’s congratulate Bobby for his longevity, contributions to basketball and achieving the record. Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=270012641


* Good to see New York Giants running back Tiki Barber will get to play at least one more game before retiring. Although we like to see our athletes play forever and sometimes past their prime, Tiki is leaving the game while still healthy and for a sport that is so brutal, he’s doing the smart thing.

However, don’t feel bad for Tiki, he’s got a good and profitable life waiting for him as he has been offered a contract with ESPN/ABC worth 10 million for 4 years. He’ll be doing work for Good Morning America, 20/20 and possibly football coverage for ESPN. Barber already has plenty of broadcasting experience, as he helps to co-host Fox & Friends on the Fox News Channel every Tuesday morning.

Link: http://www.nypost.com/seven/01012007/sports/giants/tikis_10m_tv_deal_giants_andrew_marchand.htm


* My heart goes to the Denver Broncos and the family of Denver cornerback Darrent Williams. Only 24, he was murdered in a drive-by shooting on New Years Eve while in a SUV. His vehicle was sprayed with bullets after a dispute at a party, and it is not known whether he was even involved. They were leaving a nightclub where several players were celebrating Kenyon Martin's birthday, a basketball player for the Nuggets.

Sometimes incidents like these make me wonder if going to clubs is a very bad idea, not only for a high profile athlete, but much less anyone. I’m not too much older than he is, and I do not go them at all, just because I do not like staying out late.

No matter if Mr. Williams was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or if he was in a dispute, it is sad that he had lost his life and it didn’t need to happen. From just hearing the remarks from the Broncos coach, Mike Shanahan, to other players & people who knew him, the man was just starting his life and had a wonderful chance to live out his dream and be good at his job.

Hopefully, justice can be served for him and his family & the perpetrator will be caught.