Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.
May he rest in peace...
Here's some video of the legend...
Book of Shadows A Movie?
Well, it looks like business is about to pick up for Barry Bonds, whether he likes it or not.
According to the AP, HBO Films is planning to turn a best selling book about the home run king’s alleged steroid use and the federal government’s wide-ranging probe into performance enhancing drug use in sports into a movie, one of the book’s authors said Thursday.
* According to CNNsi.com, Johan Santana has company on the trade market. According to league sources, the A’s, within the past couple days, have begun calling teams to seek interest in star pitcher Dan Haren, one of the better right-handers in the American League.
* It looks like Troy Percival has found a new home in Tampa Bay. He was signed to a two-year contract Friday, addressing a pressing need to improve one of the worst bullpens in the major leagues. The 38-year-old right-hander, who came out of retirement to go 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 34 appearances for St. Louis in 2007, will make $8 million during the next two seasons. In addition, he'll have a chance to earn another $4 million-plus in performance incentives.
* Free-agent infielder Cesar Izturis agreed Friday to a one-year, $2.85 million, one-year contract with the Cardinals. It looks like David Eckstein may be on his way out of St. Louis.
* The Gambler, Kenny Rogers decided on Friday to end his free agency and return to the Tigers for a third season. He agreed to a one-year deal with Detroit, with the terms and amount unspecified
* Spurned by the Mets, catcher Yorvit Torrealba is staying in themile high air in Colorado, agreeing Thursday to a two-year deal worth about $7 million with a mutual option for 2010.
Well, it looks like the Mets' finally got another catcher they needed, and they rid themselves of gifted, but troubled, Lastings Milledge. The Washington Nationals rid themselves of two players who they felt struggled...
From ESPN: The New York Mets have dealt outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church, multiple media outlets reported Friday.
The Nationals announced they would hold a news teleconference at 3 p.m. ET to announce a trade.
Milledge, in parts of two seasons with the Mets, has a career .257 batting average (90 for 350) with 40 extra-base hits and 51 runs batted in.
Church, in 144 games last season, hit .272, one point higher than his career average in four seasons with the Expos-Nationals franchise. Last season, he had 128 hits, including 43 doubles -- tied for the team lead with Ryan Zimmerman -- and 15 home runs, and 70 RBIs.
An eight-year veteran, Schneider hit .235 with 21 doubles in 2007. In the field he had 53 assists, six errors and a .992 fielding percentage. He has a career .252 batting average in 757 major league games.
According to the Baltimore Sun's beat reporter, Jeff Zrebiec, the contract talks between Erik Bedard's representatives and the Orioles have stalled, which obviously increases the likelihood of a deal between some team possibly taking place.
'The Orioles already have gotten several trade offers for Bedard, who went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA last season and set a franchise record with 221 strikeouts. They figure to get more next week in Nashville, Tenn., though MacPhail said that the cooling of talks shouldn't be taken as a sign that the Orioles are ready to unload Bedard.We all have no idea if the Baltimore will indeed dangle Erik or just keep him in 2008 into 2009, but considering the state that the team is in, if a good deal comes along where you can exchange Bedard or any Oriole for good, young talent - do it.
"I'm not concerned," MacPhail said. "My experience tells me that this isn't unusual. I'd be hesitant to read too much into it."
MacPhail said earlier this week that he and Pieper had been having "periodic" and "conceptual" conversations about an extension for Bedard, 28. MacPhail said that no contract figures were ever exchanged.'
'The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers all have inquired about Bedard, who would be one of the most coveted pitchers available in a market that also includes two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.
According to several industry sources, the Mets' offer for Bedard, which was rejected, included 21-year-old outfield prospect Carlos Gomez, reliever Aaron Heilman, 29, and a third player, believed to be right-handed starter Philip Humber, 24. Gomez, ranked as the Mets' third-best prospect by Baseball America, is clearly the headliner.'
If you can get young pitchers Philip Humber and Aaron Heilman and elite outfield prospect Carlos Gomez from the Mets in exchange for Erik Bedard, you pull the trigger on that deal. And if you actually show even mild interest in Japanese pitcher (and Yankee bust) Kei Igawa, as the Orioles supposedly did, according to The Journal News’ Peter Abraham, you should be lined up against a wall and blindfolded before that trigger is pulled. No last meal allowed!Roch is right, the Orioles have to take a risk and trade Bedard.
I appreciate team president Andy MacPhail making absolutely sure Bedard won’t sign an extension before any trade is consummated, but I think most of us would agree that the left-hander isn’t going to retire as an Oriole. Unless they overwhelm him with an offer – something in the Barry Zito range that only an idiot would turn down – he’s likely to test the free agent market. I’ll add that this is only my opinion. Bedard hasn’t pulled me aside and said, “I’m outta here!” But I’d wager heavily that he’s gone after 2009, so if the Mets want to hand over Humber, Heilman and Gomez, take them – unless the Dodgers, Mariners or Yankees can do better. And quickly, before the Mets change their minds.
Imagine Bedard wearing Yankee pinstripes. Now sit down and place your head between your knees before you pass out.
The Yankees have outstanding young pitching that I’d scarf like my Thanksgiving dinner if they were willing to give it up for Bedard. Toss in Melky Cabrera and we’re set. But I haven’t seen any signs yet that they’re willing to go that far – as in Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes far.
From St. Louis Today: Three days away from formally extending or rejecting arbitration to former World Series MVP David Eckstein, the Cardinals continue to explore alternatives that include the Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Tejada, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jack Wilson and free agent Cesar Izturis.
Tejada, the 2002 American League MVP, is considered one of the marquee names most likely to be dealt this winter, possibly at next week's winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn. But any pursuit comes with strings attached.
Also reportedly coveted by the Los Angeles Angels, Tejada is unlikely to move before Saturday, when clubs must either offer or reject arbitration to their own free agents.
As we are into the Hot Stove & the week before the Winter Meetings, we chatted about latest and greatest in Major League Baseball.
* The Death of Joe Kennedy and Sean Taylor
* Santana: The Players, Let's Make A Deal?
* The Contracts Signed So Far...
* Torii Hunter & the Angels
* Hot Stove Report
* More Contract Talk
Give us a listen, take a whirl, and let me know what you think! We’re on Blog Talk Radio and MVN every Wednesday night at 7PM EST
As the week has moved forth, the topic on every sports fan mind in the Washington region has been on the death of Sean Taylor. Almost every sporting website, blog, talk radio show and newspaper has looked into the lifestyle, family, and everything else can you think of about the fallen safety.
While I was on break at work, I read Jason Whitlock's provocative article titled "Taylor's Death A Grim Reminder For Us All", that looks how the pervasive images of black America and crime may have played a role into the death of Sean Taylor.
As much as we try to deny the issue of race in the death of Mr. Taylor - well, sadly it is an issue, whether we want to face the issue head on or not.
What I am trying to come to grips with as a black male is, "how close to this so-called world that Sean Taylor comes from correlates with mine & it is fair to swath everyone with the same brush?"
Maybe it is a coincidence that Mr. Taylor tragically lost his life, or maybe it isn't?
I'm going to post a few quotes that caught my eye:
The Black KKK claimed another victim, a high-profile professional football player with a checkered past this time.
'No, we don't know for certain the circumstances surrounding Taylor's death. I could very well be proven wrong for engaging in this sort of aggressive speculation. But it's no different than if you saw a fat man fall to the ground clutching his chest. You'd assume a heart attack, and you'd know, no matter the cause, the man needed to lose weight.
Well, when shots are fired and a black man hits the pavement, there's every statistical reason to believe another black man pulled the trigger. That's not some negative, unfair stereotype. It's a reality we've been living with, tolerating and rationalizing for far too long.
When the traditional, white KKK lynched, terrorized and intimidated black folks at a slower rate than its modern-day dark-skinned replacement, at least we had the good sense to be outraged and in no mood to contemplate rationalizations or be fooled by distractions.'
'No disrespect to Taylor, but he controlled the way he would be remembered by the way he lived. His immature, undisciplined behavior with his employer, his run-ins with law enforcement, which included allegedly threatening a man with a loaded gun, and the fact a vehicle he owned was once sprayed with bullets are all pertinent details when you've been murdered.
Marcellus Wiley, a former NFL player, made the radio circuit Wednesday, singing the tune that athletes are targets. That was his explanation for the murders of Taylor and Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams and the armed robberies of NBA players Antoine Walker and Eddy Curry.
Really?
Let's cut through the bull(manure) and deal with reality. Black men are targets of black men. Period. Go check the coroner's office and talk with a police detective. These bullets aren't checking W-2s.'
'You're damn straight I blame hip hop for playing a role in the genocide of American black men. When your leading causes of death and dysfunction are murder, ignorance and incarceration, there's no reason to give a free pass to a culture that celebrates murder, ignorance and incarceration.
Of course there are other catalysts, but until we recapture the minds of black youth, convince them that it's not OK to "super man dat ho" and end any and every dispute by "cocking on your bitch," nothing will change.'
According to ESPN, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty yesterday to driving under the influence Wednesday, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol. The incident took place in Florida during Spring Training, and lest we forget, a few weeks later, relief pitcher Josh Hancock lost his life due to driving while drunk.
La Russa said he had decided to plead guilty to the misdemeanor because it was in the best interest of all concerned.
"I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never occur again," La Russa said in a statement released by his attorney, David Roth. La Russa did not appear in court to plead guilty.
As part of his plea agreement, La Russa will serve at least six months' probation, pay a $678.50 fine, complete DUI school and any recommended treatment and complete 50 hours of community service, according to state prosecutors.
"Someone asked me what I thought of our team," Wagner told MLB.com. "I said, 'What team?' We've lost 13 games (Glavine's 2007 win total), and now we are going to have to give up something to get those games back. I'm afraid we're just going to create other holes if we give up a (Lastings) Milledge, a (Mike) Pelfrey or a (Aaron) Heilman.
"I'm trying to be positive. I'm saying we have some good players. But I'm worried. The Braves are getting better, and the Phillies made a move (by trading for closer Brad Lidge). We've brought back some people, and that's good. But losing Tom is big. It's a lot more than the 13games he won. It's what he did for John Maine and Oliver Perez and how professional he was. People want to focus on one bad game or just the day-to-day stats. I do that myself when I read about football. But I'm involved in this, and I know how important (Glavine) was. We don't have him and we don't even get to the last game with a chance. He was one of the few leaders we had.
Wagner also lamented Paul Lo Duca's ouster.
"Maybe he wasn't the best receiver. I don't know. But Paulie competed," Wagner said. "He battled every day, and we had some guys who didn't show up every day. They were satisfied if they got a hit and we lost.
"Paul was (angry) if he had four hits and we lost. And every one of the pitchers trusted him. He was a big part of what we did, and now he's gone, too. ...It just worries me that we're missing some important guys."
Wagner told the Mets' Web site it would be foolish to include Heilman in a trade. "It would be a big chance to take," he said. "... No way you can trade him."
And as for any consideration of putting Orlando Hernandez in the bullpen, he added: "(El Duque) pitches great for five games and then can't pitch for two weeks. If we put him in the bullpen, we're going to ask him to pitch three times a week. Can he take that?"
Jimmy Rollins didn't declare the Phillies the team to beat until a media luncheon last January. The Phils, of course, went on to win the National League East.
This time around, he's wasting no time in making his predictions bold and stern for next year.
"We'll win probably 100 games . . . 100 games will get us to the playoffs," Rollins told Comcast SportsNet last night, when asked for his forecast for next season.
"There's going to be fireworks, I know that much . . . and I plan on another celebration, but not just one," the MVP added. "I don't plan on giving up that title of NL East champions, I know that much. I don't know if we can make a run like the Braves did [14 straight division titles], but we've started."
With the talk of Santana being traded, as well Joe Nathan, and the departure of Torii Hunter, the Minnesota Twins & Tampa Bay Rays made a blockbuster trade last night featuring two up-and-coming young players as the centerpiece.
The Rays exchanged Delmon Young for Twins' hurler Matt Garza as the centerpiece of the trade.
The Twins needs offense and an outfielder, and Tampa sorely needs pitching.
From ESPN:
'The Minnesota Twins weren't worried about Delmon Young's troubled past. They wanted his bat, and they wanted it badly.The move obviously fills the needs for both teams; however, I cannot understand why Tampa would move Delmon Young considering what he in '07, and his contract status right now.
Young was traded by Tampa Bay to Minnesota on Wednesday night as part of a six-player deal that sent right-hander Matt Garza to the Rays.
In a swap of promising youngsters that's been discussed for weeks, the Twins also gave up starting shortstop Jason Bartlett and minor league pitcher Eduardo Morlan while acquiring shortstop Brendan Harris and minor league outfielder Jason Pridie.
'While Young's talent is extraordinary -- on Wednesday evening, one AL East executive compared his ability to make consistently hard contact to a young Vladimir Guerrero -- the Rays had to wonder, internally, about whether Young was ever going to grow as a hitter and make necessary adjustments while with Tampa Bay. Maybe he will learn to be a more selective hitter in Minnesota, while taking batting practice daily with Joe Mauer, but in Tampa Bay, he was surrounded by other very young players, the kind of structure that wasn't going to nudge him to change...'
Well, not much is going on in the world of the Orioles; however, I expect with the winter meetings upon us, business will about to pick up. Right now, MacPhail has not done much; however, it looks like he's taking his time and seeing how the market is right now for both free agents and the trade market.
The Orioles.com has more on MacPhail and the upcoming winter meetings as does Allen McCallum of Press Box Online.
Both B and I have looked at particular deals and scenarios, so feel feel to delve through the blog for those.
First and foremost, I reported yesterday that the Orioles might be interested in Jose Guillen. That report kind of surprised me considering the state of the team and their goals; however, according to Roch Kubatko, the organization is not interested in him. Like I said, a deal with Guillen, despite he being a fine player, would not make sense for Baltimore right now.
As well, in Roch's piece & in also by Jeff Zrebeic, they both look at Melvin Mora and his situation now with the team. He reported at the moment, Melvin is playing winter ball in Venezuela (his native country) in order to learn the outfield once again (he played left field for both the Mets and the Orioles; however, he's not played the position since 2003). I don't know if it means that Mora is opening himself up to being a multiple-position man with the team, or if he's trying to make himself more marketable, but he deciding on this course of action could only help him.
Roch predicts Mora will be gone from the team; alas, I would not surprised if this move happened myself.
I've been hearing this rumor floating around for a little while, and Roch's blog from the Baltimore Sun mentioned it as well. The Orioles have tentatively scheduled Fanfest for Saturday March 29, 2008 at Camden Yards, and plan on using the same format as last year. Roch joked that this schedule meant no interference with Raven's playoffs and was easier than working around the Convention Center's schedule as well.
Due to work, I didn't get to attend the new format at the park, but I've heard mixed reviews from those who attended. Many complaints were made about the weather - in Baltimore, it is not unusual for March to still be freezing cold outside, and snow on the ground. I remember last years' weather, and it was cold outside - not exactly conducive to standing around, waiting in long lines. Other complaints brought to my attention were the lack of 'Baby Birds' - meaning our minor league farm system - because of the event being held after Spring Training, and no real new news that goes in conjunction with Spring Training coming up, and what to expect in the upcoming season.
Now, I'm a little disappointed - I thoroughly enjoyed the event when it was held at the Convention Center in the middle of winter. I had something to look forward to, and it was fun to get to hear the different panels on what to expect to see in Spring Training and beyond. However, because I didn't go last year, I can't really say if I think this change is for the better or not. Obviously, the Oriole organization must have had enough positive feedback to warrant repeating this new format. For those of you who went, what did you think and do you think this change is a good thing?
~B
As some of you may know, I live in the Washington-Baltimore area, am a Redskins' fan, and I whipped up a post about on the death of Sean Taylor this morning. I have also have been covering the tragic news of Mr. Taylor online and in my car on sports talk radio.
Well, in the hours since his death, I have seen the best and worst of the media in the coverage of this event. It seems within the last 12 or so hours I have heard every opinion, thought, speech said and read just about every word.
I'm not shocked by much in life anymore, and I'd like to think I'd not get too emotional about someone I didn't know.
In this instance, I have.
Seriously, how does one judge a person's life?
Do we just honor and pontificate the good guys, or do we just attack, nibble and go through everything with a fine tooth comb of people who may be so-called less than honorable.
Today, I never thought I'd be disgusted with an columnist who I respect no matter he what says, but I am. I'm pretty irate with Mr. Michael Wilbon, whom I thought would be above the fray; however, it seems that he might be quick to assume or judge.
This is what he said via a column from the Washington Post's Leonard Shapiro: My colleague, Post columnist and ESPN broadcaster Michael Wilbon was asked about Taylor during his weekly internet web site discussion Monday and said, "I've known guys like Taylor all my life, grew up with some. They still have shades of gray and shouldn't be painted in black and white.
"I know how I feel about Taylor, and this latest news isn't surprising in the least, not to me. Whether this incident is or isn't random, Taylor grew up in a violent world, embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it. He ain't the first and won't be the last. We have no idea what happened, or if what we know now will be revised later. It's sad, yes, but hardly surprising."
I caught wind of this in a thread on Orioles Hangout and it was mentioned later this morning on Roch's blog, but it seems the organization has some interest in acquiring Jose Guillen.
Yes, the same guy who was found to have bought HGH recently from a pharmacy, has had problems in the past, and yes, has been with over nine organizations in his career.
Of course, this is all a rumor; however, if the Orioles for some reason sign him, I'll be scratching my head.
A while ago, the Seattle Mariners turned down a $9 million extension for Guillen and bought out his contract for $500,000.
The Kansas City Star has this posted:
"The Royals are dismissing reports from the Dominican Republic that say they are close to an agreement with free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen.
General manager Dayton Moore declined to comment on the matter, but indications suggest the Baltimore Orioles and at least one other team are showing strong interest in Guillen.
The reports linking Guillen to the Royals surfaced after he said he expected to join Licey of the Dominican Winter League in the near future after completing his contract negotiations."
"Jose Guillen is looking for $30 million over three years. He wears steroid allegations like a uniform jersey, with the hGH links a nice accessory. He’s been a headache for more than one manager because of his anger-management issues. He has a short fuse and a shorter shelf life. And ESPN Deportes has the Orioles in the running to sign him.
They must want him in left field – the same place where this rumor came from.
Don’t be shocked if it’s a figment of someone’s imagination.
Guillen, based only on his tools, would be a tremendous upgrade over Jay Payton. The guy hits for average and power, and he has a cannon for an arm. But it would take 27 bellhops to handle all his baggage, and they’d each have to make two trips.
This doesn’t sound like Andy MacPhail’s kind of guy, but it’s worth looking into. Nothing surprises me anymore."
Today, I woke up and read the unfortunate news that Star NFL safety, Sean Taylor, passed away in a Miami area hopsital before dawn after being shot during a home invasion in his native Florida.
As a Redskins' fan, I was shocked and utterly devastated that not only a star of the team died, but more importantly a 24-year old man who had a family, fiancee and a whole life ahead of him had it snuffed in an instant.
From the reports, it looked like he was trying to defend his family from intruders, but in the end, became a victim. Whether it was a vendetta, robbery, or there's something else to the story, I'm not sure of; however, we know that a young man lost his life.
It's too bad that most of the stories will have some sort of mention of his past incidents and transgressions; alas, it seems that he had made a concerted effort to turn his life around from what has been reported.
An incident like this in America happens each day when someone who is murdered for some reason, especially a black male; however, but today it got ink in the papers and considerable mention online because who the victim was.
Rest in peace, Sean.
What an unfortunate tragedy.
From the New York Times: Experts say the material may offer more insight about the White Sox, whose actions during the Series against the Cincinnati Reds became one of the darkest events in baseball history.
“This could be a treasure trove,” the baseball author Gene Carney said.
It is unclear how the documents, whose existence were previously unknown, ended up together or where they have been for more than eight decades. Mastro Auctions in Burr Ridge declined to reveal the identity of the two sellers and said that they probably purchased the box without knowing exactly what was inside.
The papers, examined by The Chicago Tribune, appear to contain documents from the 1921 criminal trial against eight White Sox players accused of throwing the 1919 World Series as part of a gambling scandal. The papers also include documents from a 1924 lawsuit in which some of the players sued the team for back pay.
Here's what he said to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune: Torii Hunter said he wouldn't have returned to the Twins even if the money was there because he doesn't believe they can compete with the more talented teams in the division.
As for his decision to sign with the Angels he said: "It was like a 24-hour decision. I could not leave Anaheim -- that's a nice place, a nice ballpark, they play the game right, they've got a chance to win every year. Because Arte Moreno is that type of owner, he wants to win."
Had the Twins' three-year offer for $45 million been five years for $75 million, he might have considered it, Hunter said, but on the other hand, he wanted to play with a winner. He said he doesn't think the Twins are going to have the talent to win in the future.
"Sometimes you're going to ask for a raise or whatever. And it just so happened that in major league baseball the market is up, it's way up." he said. "So, I was going to get what I was going to get. I just wanted to make sure that I was with a team that wants to win, that's going to try to win day in and day out. Whatever pieces to the puzzle that they need, they were going to go out and get it. I just didn't feel the Twins were that ballclub."
Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees have agreed on a $30 million marketing package based on home-run achievements that could raise the total value of his new contract to $305 million over 10 years.
Under the agreement, which remains to be finalized, Rodriguez could receive $6 million each for tying the home-run levels of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762), and an additional $6 million for breaking Bonds' major league record.
The Yankees could designate each level as a historic event, enabling Rodriguez to receive the added money in exchange for additional personal appearances and signed memorabilia for the club. That enabled the agreement to be allowed by the players' association and the commissioner's office. Baseball generally prohibits bonuses based on statistics such as home runs.
Here's what he said to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune: Torii Hunter said he wouldn't have returned to the Twins even if the money was there because he doesn't believe they can compete with the more talented teams in the division.
As for his decision to sign with the Angels he said: "It was like a 24-hour decision. I could not leave Anaheim -- that's a nice place, a nice ballpark, they play the game right, they've got a chance to win every year. Because Arte Moreno is that type of owner, he wants to win."
Had the Twins' three-year offer for $45 million been five years for $75 million, he might have considered it, Hunter said, but on the other hand, he wanted to play with a winner. He said he doesn't think the Twins are going to have the talent to win in the future.
"Sometimes you're going to ask for a raise or whatever. And it just so happened that in major league baseball the market is up, it's way up." he said. "So, I was going to get what I was going to get. I just wanted to make sure that I was with a team that wants to win, that's going to try to win day in and day out. Whatever pieces to the puzzle that they need, they were going to go out and get it. I just didn't feel the Twins were that ballclub."
Is this a complete rebuilding time for you in your first year in Baltimore?
AM: "I think it's a franchise that has economic wherewithal. If you do get a nucleus of players, it's not like they're going to be rolling off and we can't afford them, like a lot of these clubs. It's a tall order and maybe I didn't fully appreciate how difficult the position is. But that doesn't mean we can't do things a lot better than we've been doing them in the past. We really need to make a concerted effort to rebuild the franchise's foundation - scouting, player development - and be as good at those things as we can possibly be."
You've run the Twins (championships in 1987 and 1991) and the Cubs; are you incorporating the Twins model or the Cubs model?
AM: "The Minnesota model is a good one to use to the extent that you're a scouting-and-development-based organization. I told our guys when I first sat down with them that this is an area where you have to excel. You can't be adequate or average."
Does it seem overwhelming to look up and see Boston and New York?AM: "When the Egyptians were building the pyramids, they didn't think about what they had to build, they just carried the rocks up. I think that's what we have to do. We have to bring the rocks up one at a time and stick with it. I mean, we do have the financial wherewithal, maybe not to compete on a one-on-one basis, but to make the investments once we have a foundation where we feel the investment will really pay off for us."
Does it make you crazy when you watch a game at Camden Yards, and there are so many Yankee or Red Sox fans in the stands?
AM: "I'd rather have all Oriole fans in there. I grew up in a family where the things that mattered first was that baseball was popular and that we need fans in there. At least there are people sitting in there, but I'd much rather they were our fans."
I remember this vividly as a kid, this first video is of Royals' manager, Hal McRae of the Kansas City Royals goes nuts during a post game conference in 1993 after being asked a stupid question.
Possibly the most memorable rant ever...
Here's a concerto:
Jim Mora...
Dennis Green...
John Cheney vs. John Calipari
Coach Gundy is upset after the win over Texas Tech. The only comments after the game are about what was in a newspaper about one of his quarterbacks.
The king of blow-ups, Bobby Knight...
Allen Iverson goes over the merits of practice...
Mike Tyson goes weird...
Sweet Lou goes mad...
We all know this one...
For wrestling fans, this is the video of the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" - pro wrestling may be scripted; however, this is very much real.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday out there and are enjoying the last remnants of the long Thanksgiving weekend.
Well, as of right now, much has not happened on the Hot Stove front with the Orioles at all. Understandably, that has some fans concerned and for a deal to be consummated quickly. However, we have a little less than three months until spring training, the organization should make a move sooner rather than later, and then rebuilding process will start to begin.
Keep in mind, I am going fathom that things are being held up mainly because of Florida's situation with Miguel Cabrera & Columnist Peter Schmuck of the Sun goes into it further in detail in his latest article. As well, I think some teams are waiting for the market to play itself out and as well pondering where a lot of big free agents (Rowand, et. al) and trade bait (Santana) end up.
This week, I and B have looked at some of the chatter involving Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard. For most, it is a foregone conclusion that Tejada will be an another uniform when the season begins, and the jury is still out on Erik Bedard.
Another very good reason for lack of activity -- or the perception of it is Andy MacPhail himself. It's not to say that he isn't doing anything, you just don't hear a whole lot from him. Well, in the past, he's built respectable, contending teams, so I am thinking he's just not releasing all his cards yet, keeping it within his inner circle and not releasing the details of any potential moves or deals.
At this point, I am just putting my full trust in him, as nothing else has worked the past decade.
I am sure a deal will be made one way or the other by the new year.
Heck, Roch Kubatko wants something done with the team, & Tony's Take wonders if the Orioles will go after Barry Bonds...
Spencer Fordin of the Orioles.com has a piece on the charity and community work that the team has done in 2007.
Neil Diamond has revealed the inspiration for his smash hit and karaoke favourite Sweet Caroline - President John F Kennedy's daughter.
The 66-year-old singer-songwriter unmasked his muse after finally getting the opportunity to tell Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg when he performed the song via satellite at her 50th birthday party last week.
The star explained how he had been a "young, broke songwriter" when he saw a photograph of the president's daughter in a magazine.
"It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony," he recalled. "It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there."
Ah, Black Friday. The crazy, faux holiday devoted to a shopping day setup by the retailers and their parent corporations to bring people into the stores and spend money for stuff they may or may not need.
Yes, and the media feeds it.
There is nothing in the world that would make me ever wait out in the cold to save a few bucks, much less run into some psychos out there.
Ah, the joy of waiting outside after Thanksgiving just to shop - oh joy.
I, in my right mind would never participate in it, but my sister did and she said people were crazy.
I mean, normally rational, polite in public and sensible people go all buckwild for stuff and in some instances put their safety at risk.
The thing that is tad disturbing is that the retailers lure people with "doorbusters", ridiculously priced items to get people in the door. Of course, they have "limited quantities" of the cheap stuff, so unless you had been in line since Wednesday, you're not getting anything unless you are just beyond aggressive.
Thank God for the internet. People, you know technology has made life a l0t more simple these days...
That being said, I'd love to hear people's experiences - good or bad. Anyhow, here are a littany of videos I found on Youtube from yesterday.
From CNNsi.com: After going to bed early, Kennedy woke up at about 1:15 a.m. Friday and collapsed as he was leaving a bedroom at the home of his wife's parents, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue took Kennedy to Brandon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, she said.
"We were terribly shocked," Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey told The Associated Press. "From what we understand he was in Brandon ... to be the best man at a wedding today."
Godfrey didn't have particulars on the cause of death.
"Obviously, when a 28-year-old man dies, ballplayer or not, it's a terrible, terrible thing," he said.
According to ESPN, free-agent pitcher Joe Kennedy, who played for Oakland, Arizona and Toronto in 2007, died early Friday of undetermined causes, reports ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. He was 28.
Rest in peace, Joe.
Story here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3124303
This ad is for a Brylcream Commercial featuring Hall of Fame pitcher, Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles. The video quality isn't great, but this spot I assume would have to be from before 1972, because you see Jim Palmer running the bases, bunting and um, actually looking like a well-rounded athlete.
Jim was always known as a ladies man, and this spot does nothing to dispel that notion. Ok, he does sound like a robot, but alas, it's good to find classic commercials like this.
B, who has been a tremendous help on the blog and who has a great tab on the Orioles wrote a post on Bedard earlier this week and the interest he’s had on the open market.
The Orioles are right now trying to determine what to do with Erik as he’s a valuable piece not only on the field, but as potential trade bait. The latest rumor being thrown out there is that Dodgers are looking at getting him; however, they are preoccupied with a way to get the Marlins’ Miguel Cabrera via trade.
With Baltimore on the verge of a potential and lengthy rebuilding process, perhaps the best thing to do would be to trade Bedard considering the value he could get in return.
This evening, I read a interesting piece on Press Box’s column, the “Oriole Insider” and Craig Heist has a Q&A with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and one of the questions center around Erik.
Here’s what Rosenthal opined: “... I think the only way to really gauge that interest is to make him an offer. Now, if I were Erik Bedard, I would not accept any offer right now, because two years from now when he becomes a free agent, the money could be totally outrageous as opposed to just normally outrageous. So, to me, if you are the Orioles, you kind of gauge his interest, see where he is, perhaps make him an offer, and then based on the response I think you have to at least consider the idea of trading him because of the limited free agent market, the great demand for starting pitching.
You don’t have to do this today. You could do it at the deadline next year. But his value will be higher today, and if he gets injured some time in the near future, you would be trading him at his peak. For all those reasons, I think it is a smart idea, and it would yield the maximum return, much more than Tejada or anybody else. You see what has happened with Tejada. They held onto him too long, and he will bring a minimum return.
