Lionstown

Detroit is the home to the defending NBA Champion Pistons. It also is home to a charter member of the American League, the Tigers. The success of its hockey team, combined with a brilliant marketing idea, has many referring to the Motor City as Hockeytown. Truth be told, however, Detroit's love is the Lions.

If the Wings or Pistons won one playoff game, or even one playoff series, in the last forty years, they would not sell 50,000 tickets to a regular season game. The Tigers have had trouble getting 10,000 a game in recent years amidst a decade long decline. The Lions? They win one post-season contest in four decades and still could sell out the old 70,000 seat Pontiac Silverdome with some regularity.

Unlike the Pistons, Wings and Tigers who have all won World Championships in the last twenty years, the Lions last title came in 1957. Yet, they are the team most Detroiters love the most. Yeah, pro football is king nationwide (Los Angeles notwithstanding), but there is some special about Detroit's relationship to it's NFL franchise.

I'm beginning to think the Lions have become Detroit's version of the Chicago Cubs. Lovable losers. Often mediocre, at best. A team that rarely makes the playoffs and usually exits quickly once they arrive. Fans go because their fathers and grandfathers have. It's tradition as much as anything.

The team's failure will certainly spring criticism, even unimaginable frustration, but it won't turn the fans away. They return with new found hope come that first kickoff. I'm as guilty as anyone else. I adore baseball. Everyone who knows me acknowledges this. However, the Lions are probably my favorite local team. I don't know why, either. Maybe those ten years of sharing season tickets won me over.

It wasn't the drunken fights at the Silverdome. It wasn't walking over that stinking bridge between parking lots over M-59 in December. It wasn't the consistent ticket price increases. It sure wasn't the team's success, either. Just like the other mindless followers of this franchise, I love draft day (the Lions version of the Super Bowl) and hope they improve each season.

This year's opener comes Sunday in Chicago. The town is abuzz about the potential of newcomers Kevin Jones and Roy Williams. Added to previous first round choices Joey Harrington and Charles Rogers and the Lions faithful believe their might even be an offensive attack in Honolulu Blue and Silver this year.

Hockeytown may sell t-shirts, but Detroit is far and away Lionstown. I'm just one tiny example of that.

Motor City Soccer?

Much to my surprise, an organization called MLS Detroit is trying to lure an expansion franchise to the Metro area. I read about it over at ESPN's Soccernet and then checked out their website. They are looking for $10 deposits from potential season ticket holders. They hope to get some response from MLS by the end of September. Good luck, MLS Detroit.

B.B. Baker's Dozen

Combining my love of baked goods and college football, here is the Beyond Boxscores Baker's Dozen (that's thirteen for you low carb zealots) after the first week of gridiron action. Enjoy this over the doughnut of your choice.

1. Southern Cal-A solid, if unspectacular, win away from home.
2. Oklahoma-If they run like this all year they will be #1 in January.
3. LSU-A scare at home.
4. Georgia-Another less than impressive start for a top 5 team.
5. Florida State-Can Rix lead the Seminoles to a win Friday?
6. Miami-Can Berlin lead the 'Canes to a win Friday?
7. Michigan-Could be a QB controversy forthcoming.
8. Texas-Benson looked Heisman-like.
9. Ohio State-If Zwick plays this well all season OSU will move up.
10. Utah-Smith would get my Week One Heisman vote.
11. Florida-I like Chris Leak.
12. West Virginia-Good team, terrible conference.
13. Iowa-Probably a Big Ten bias vote on my part. Hey, I'm honest.

Vols Turn To Freshmen QBs

ESPN.com reports that Tennessee will start one of their two freshmen quarterbacks this Sunday. It will be the first time in SEC history a true freshman will start the first game of the year. That's kind of amazing considering the history of the SEC. However, I know how much football people frown on first-year starters.

I have always found it interesting how coaches, fans and the media cry aloud how a freshman just can't play QB. This is especially true at the "big programs". You can't expect a true freshman to play at places like Ohio State, USC or Tennessee. The way people go on about it, you'd think we are talking about aerospace technology, not football.

I guess what I find so interesting/funny/ridiculous, is that all of these freshman QBs that cannot possibly be good enough to play immediately were all unstoppable phenoms destined for greatness when they were recruited just six months ago. Now, they are incapable of ousting a mediocre junior who has taken all of sixteen snaps in two years.

Whomever Phil Fulmer picks, I hope the Vols new, young QB has a fine year. It will help make all this talk of quarterback play as rocket science die down a bit.

Overlooked In Oklahoma

I have never seen a Heisman Trophy winner take as much criticism as Jason White. Nor have I ever seen a defending Heisman winner so overlooked the next year. How many players coming off a Heisman Trophy aren't even considered first team All-America the following campaign? None, I would suspect. Yet, that's the position the Oklahoma quarterback finds himself in.

There is no denying White played horribly in the Sooners last two games, but his lackluster performances versus Kansas State and LSU have stirred an almost irrational response from the media. They almost seem vindictive. Somehow I get the impression they feel liked they got duped into voting for White, so now they are mad.

What these guys don't understand is why they voted for White in the first place. He was the best college football player in the country in the regular season. He threw for 40 touchdowns and 4,708 yards while playing for the number one team in the nation most of the season.

White is also a great comeback story. The kind of story people used to embrace. He battled back from consecutive lost seasons due to knee injuries. He walked right into the starting QB job on the team picked number one in the pre-season at a university steeped in football tradition. All White did was have the best statistical season any OU quarterback ever had.

Jason White was not Heisman-like in his last two games. Nor was he healthy. However, that doesn't seem to matter to some. They seem so bent out of shape over his two game post-season decline that they can barely put him on their Heisman radar in '04. I'm hoping White forces them to vote for him one more time.

Small Market Sympathy

For all those baseball fans who deplore the small market vs. big market era the sport is now in, here is a story that you should sympathize with. Everton, one of the Premiership's small market clubs, lost it's wonder boy today. Wayne Rooney, an 18 year old striker, has left his hometown team for the bigger checks written by European powerhouse Manchester United. It's your basic small market vs. big market scenario, English soccer style.

Everton not only loses a hometown hero, but due to the fact the deal happened so close to the transfer deadline, they will get no immediate help to fill Rooney's void. To make matters worse for Everton's fans, to maximize the fianancial deal, Manchester United will need to reach certain goals. Most of which appear to be related to the club's performance in the Premiership and Champions League.

To get the most money out of Man. U., Everton fans are going to have to hope the Reds have a great deal of success over the next several seasons. Basically, they will have to root for the enemy to see their club gain financial strength.

I've never been much of a small market supporter (no, I'm not a Yankees fan), but deals like this one do leave me wondering how long sports, or more importantly, sports fans, can take this sort of thing?

Yellow?

I just flipped on the tv to watch the World Cup of Hockey game between the United States and Canada only to find the Canadians wearing yellow sweaters. Not Tour de France leader jersey yellow. I guess that would be even worse. No, the Canadian National Team is wearing a jersey that is mustard yellow. Think Pittsburgh Pirates of the early 1970's.

It's still got a big old red Maple leaf right in the middle, but the remainder of the top is mustard yellow and black. It also has a patch indicating something with Winnipeg on it. I assume it's a salute to an old franchise, but it was quite a shock to see the Canadians in yellow.

I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason for this change, but when the Canadians have so many truly sharp looking jersey combinations already, why go with mustard yellow?

(Update: During the post-game show on CBC, Ron McLean said that the yellow jerseys were in honor of the Winnipeg team that represented Canada at the 1928 Olympics in Antwerp. That team captured the gold medal.)

Here's Your Chance Baseball Geeks

Jim Hawkins, of The Daily Oakland Press (Michigan), is a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He is also serving on a special committee reviewing players not enshrined, but who merit a review. His column seems to imply that we should contact him with our ideas.

Here's your chance, fellow baseball geeks. Email Mr. Hawkins and let him know what you think. How often does anyone on the BBWAA even take suggestions? Give him some credit for that, too, when you contact him.

Transfer Deadline

Tuesday is the transfer deadline in the Premier League. I remain curious to see how Everton handles Wayne Rooney's request for a transfer. Manchester United and Newcastle United remain his primary suitors, although most everyone thinks it will be Man. U. who gains the young English striker.

As the hours tick away, I can only hope that if Everton does grab the cash for Rooney that they still have enough time to claim a couple of players that can help them this year.

Lions Diary

The march towards the regular season drags on. There is probably nothing worse in sports than the NFL's pre-season. Yeah, the football geeks amongst us love any and all football, but this pre-season vareity barely qualifies as football. Regardless, the Lions did play Saturday. Baltimore was the opposition.

The Ravens are very good defensively and looked like it in the first half. The Lions offense sputtered even with the first teamers in action. It really didn't get much better afterwards, either. The special teams still look horrible. The defense is tolerable. This week.

Individually, I liked the way Kevin Jones looked. Roy Williams caught his first passes of the pre-season, but he appears to be headed towards a typical rookie wideout season-inconsistent. Let's hope I am very wrong about that.

Thursday is the last exhibition tilt. Their is talk that none of the starters will play and that the Ford Field ushers and vendors will suit up for the second half. Even less than normal will be learned from the last glorified scrimmage of the year.

Sorry For The Delay

I realize I haven't posted much in recent days. It hasn't entirely been due to a lack of effort. I've been having some problems with Blogger loading (which has been terribly frustrating) and my PC has had issues in recent days. I apologize to the both of you who read this. I hope to post more consistently.

Olympic Recap

The Summer Games have concluded and I'm left with a few random thoughts and memories. I'm happy to see the U.S. Women's soccer team regain form and capture a gold medal. I'm one of those guys who still feels the women's World Cup victory, where Brandi Chastain made herself instantly famous, is one of the most overrated moments in sports history. That said, the core of this team, led by Mia Hamm, has elevated women's soccer to unimaginable levels in this country. They are pioneers in women's team athletics.

The women's hoops and softball squads were both terrific. The women's softball team was so good that their dominance threatens softball's future as an Olympic event.

What more can be said about the men's basketball squad? I'm sure I'll come up with something for a later post, but for now a bronze medal is about right considering the quality of play the U.S. side exhibited.

The U.S. swimmers were excellent, as they so often are. I suppose Michael Phelps is the big star of these Games.

Overall, this edition of the games will be noteworthy for the number of failed drug tests, indecisive decisions (see Paul Hamm) and the fact the event went off without a hitch (the tackling of a Brazilian marathon runner aside). Nice work, Athens.

More USA Basketball Perspective

Jason Whitlock, a writer I really like, offers a perspective on the U.S. Olympic Basketball team I tend to disagree with at ESPN.com. His Page Two feature implies that those rooting against the U.S. squad are borderline racists. He suggests that this team of NBA stars, contrary to public opinion, does care and is working very hard. He's wrong, in part, on all three counts.

First, let me clarify one thing. As upset as I am about the U.S. team's sloppy play, I have never rooted against them. Sorry, I can't. When Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James and their teammates agreed to play for the U.S., something that many other NBA stars passed on, they were my team. If that isn't the cool, politically correct, new world order thing to do, so be it.

However, just because I complain about them hardly qualifies me as a racist. Even a borderline one. Nor do I think rooting against them makes anyone a racist. While a certain percentage of those rooting against Team USA are certainly racists, that's not enough to suspect everyone of the same agenda. Some of us just don't like crappy basketball, especially when representing the United States on such a high profile stage.

Whitlock actually does a fine job dismissing his own assertions about caring and hard work. When he says that the U.S. men's basketball team cares about winning the Olympics, just not as much as swimmers and the track and field participants, that tells me they care, but only to a point. If you care, but only so much, are you really putting out your very best effort? If you aren't thrilled about practicing for the NBA season, the event you supposedly care most about, why would you really bust your behind to win a lesser title?

This is the reason such super patriots, as Whitlock calls people like me, are upset. I still place a high priority on winning the Olympic basketball tournament. Why? For the same reason Brazilians care about soccer and Canadians care about hockey. This is arguably the sport this country is known most for internationally. Our success is unmatched. To see the U.S. team struggle is not something I am going to accept happily.

I yell at this team, not because they are black or millionaires or NBA players. I yell because I want them to win the stinking gold medal. This usually gets me painted as jingoistic, not racist. Perhaps, this version of the U.S. Olympic basketball squad and I do have more in common than I thought. It seems no matter what we do, we are going to offend somebody.

Lions Diary

Due to all the OLB injuires, Teddy Lehman is moving from the middle linebacker to outside linebacker this weekend. The Oklahoma rookie, and Butkus Award Winner, was learning the inside spot behind Earl Holmes. Lehman will play the strong side spot, which this week means a close-up look at Ravens' tight end Todd Heap. That should be a very good initial test.

I'm sure the Lions' were counting on Lehman to contribute this year, but he may be more vital than ever with Boss Bailey's return from injury still undetermined.

Alien versus Predator

(Editor's Note: This is a non-sports related post. As always, I apologize in advance.)

It's time to close up Hollywood. Hot on the heels of Freddy versus Jason, a movie we were all impatiently awaiting, comes Alien versus Predator. Like the slasher movies that featured Freddy and Jason, both the Alien and Predator films had sequels all to themselves. Now, these two film legends meet in what we can only hope is a one-time deal.

Talk about originality. Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, S.W.A.T., Scooby Doo, Spiderman. Good thing for television, cartoons and video games or we might run out of feature film ideas altogether. Will the last one out of Hollywood please turn off the lights?

Rooney to Reds?

Pardon me as I take a quick aside. I see where Wayne Rooney may be sold to Manchester United. This is not good news. Yes, Everton needs the cash. Yes, even with Rooney the Toffees will be hardpressed to get near the top of the Premiership. Still, I don't like it. Everton fans just continue to suffer.

Stop The Dream Team Talk

Can we please stop referring to every Olympic Basketball team as The Dream Team? Now, with the men stumbling their way through Athens, the term is being given to the women's squad or even the softball team. Both are tremendously talented, but neither are dream teams by comparison.

That's the problem, of course, comparisons. The Dream Team, a.k.a. the 1992 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team, was a once-in-a-lifetime assemblage. Led by Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, arguably the three greatest players ever, that team rolled over everyone and dazzled the world. Not only was the team comprised of star players, but they were international celebrities playing a sport just reaching the pinnacle of it's worldwide appeal.

No other team will ever reach the status of the '92 squad and we should retire the term Dream Team, especially in basketball terms, in their honor.

Still Waiting For A Winner

For all those who follow Olympic athletics and wonder why their favorite sport never catches on, we need only look at the mess that is gymnastics. Paul Hamm may be, or may not be or may be one of two gold medal winners in the men's all-around. Of course, the event was completed days ago, but the "decision" is still up for debate.

It's bad enough so many sports are at the complete whim of judges, but to have the winner still not be official this many days later is plain ridiculous. It's time to place the sport's whose outcome is determined by judges into a separate class of exhibition events. Give out medals, perhaps lots of them, but de-emphasize their importance. If it's truly sport, the winners should be somewhat self-evident. Otherwise, it's an art contest and that comes down to personal preference not ability.

Abby's Road

Mia Hamm is the greatest women's soccer player ever. Even knowing as little as I do about soccer in general and the women's game specifically, I realize that. Something else I realize is that if the U.S. team is going to win a gold medal in Athens, much of that responsibility falls on the shoulders of Abby Wambach.

Wambach is the dominant goal scorer on the women's squad. She is probably the most dominant scorer in the world right now. That's doesn't make her the most complete player, Hamm still owns that moniker. However, Wambach has the unique ability to finish. Being a natural goal scorer is a trait few have. This quality has Wambach positioned to become the U.S. Women Team's most recognizable player once Hamm departs from the international scene after the Olympics.

Monday morning the U.S. women face Germany in a semi-final match. Don't be surprised if Abby Wambach scores. She usually does.

Brave Old World

I keep thinking the Atlanta Braves are going to fade away, but they don't. It's almost September and a quick look at the standings reveal the Braves are where they have been for over a decade, atop the National League's Eastern Division. It amazing really. Lose Greg Maddux and they win. Lose Tom Glavine and they win. Lose Gary Sheffield and they win. Lose Javy Lopez and they win. Have Chipper Jones suffer through the worst season of his career and they win.

Bobby Cox probably won't be the manager of the year, as Tony LaRussa is guiding the Cardinals to unexpected success, but he should be. I'm not a huge fan of Cox, as his moves have confounded me from time to time throughout his time in Atlanta, but there is simply no denying his ability to manage. He wins no matter what hand he has been dealt. He has lost Hall of Fame caliber talent (Maddux, Glavine, etc...) and picked guys up off the scrap heap (Julio Franco, Jaret Wright, etc...) and still led the Braves to the post-season.

I know many feel the Braves have underachieved, in light of their consecutive post-season appearances, but Cox and company deserve some credit for consistently producing winning baseball teams regardless of the environment.

Lions Diary

The Honolulu Blue and Silver played a game against the Cleveland Browns Saturday afternoon, but, truth be told, I didn't see it. I actually do step away from my television and internet connection occasionally. Sometimes, I am away from both for hours and that was the case Saturday. Rest assured, being the geek I am, I did have my radio on.

Now, I didn't hear much, as I was in and out of my vehicle, so I can't make any definitive statements. Here is what it sounded like to me: The special teams coverage is not very special. That's two weeks in a row. Once is a coincidence, twice is a trend. Three times is a pattern and you've got problems.

The first team offense, especially the Joey Harrington to Charles Rogers combo, is improving. Kevin Jones got in and showed some spark. (I guess sounded like a spark is more appropriate.) It's time to get Roy Williams the ball, though, isn't it? He gone two games without a pass. That just seems odd.

The D is still a question mark. I heard OLB James Davis got hurt. I'm not sure if it's serious, but if they lose Davis, with Boss Bailey already on the shelf, that's not a good thing. The defensive backfield continues to nurse injuries, but 3/4 of them should be ready for Chicago on the Opening Week.

I'm still typical optimistic about the team, but I'm 8-8 optimistic, not 12-4 optimistic.

Failure Occurs Before Games

The fingerpointing associated with USA Basketball just seems to get worse everyday. Today, we can throw coach Larry Brown into the mix. There's more than enough blame to go around, but it seems obvious that the biggest problem for USA Basketball is the selection process.

The U.S. has only lost three Olympic hoop contests. The 1972 controversial loss was part defeat, part Cold War intrigue. It didn't signal a change in the balance of basketball supremacy. The 1988 loss, which ushered in the NBA's participation, was engineered mostly by a poor selection process. John Thompson, the Hall of Fame coach, loved defense. It's what made Georgetown a college power. However, Thompson's love of D, had him pick Olympians that would get playing time on the Hoyas, not succeed in the international format.

This year's team is also widely being criticized as poorly assembled. I cannot disagree. That means one could argue that two of the three Olympic losses were due, in part, to a poor selection process. What USA Basketball needs to do is something Hockey Canada learned long ago. When Canada's hockey honchos select Team Canada for the Olympics, Canada Cup or World Cup events, they always take plenty of superstars plus a few helpful role players to complete the roster.

When hockey's premier national squad takes to the ice, they are not a Dream Team. They have a nice sprinkling of muckers and grinders to keep some balance and do the dirty work. It's a concept that USA Basketball needs to adopt.

Next time the U.S.A. is called into action, the big names of the NBA would be welcome. So, too, should some specialists. Like a rebounder and a three point guy. A mid-range jump shooter. Role players. Guys who won't pout if they spend more time on the bench than on the floor.

Now, taking two or three of these guys is going to leave a few NBA superstars outside looking in. That won't sit well with some of them. Too bad. Maybe one or two of them might learn it's an honor to play.

Sure, even if David Stern is talked into such a plan at the expense of marketing another would-be superstar, there is no guarantee it's going to work. The selection process could be criticized again, especially if the U.S. doesn't win. However, if Canada's hockey success is any indication, it's worth a try.

Oh, No.

Allow me a moment to stray from sports. I noticed tonight that there's a frost/freeze advisory for the northern reaches of Minnesota and Wisconsin. All I can think of is "Oh, no." Living in a northern state, and sharing the Big Ten Confernece with the Gophers and Badgers, this little weather note is not comforting. It means the cold is on the way. Not that the changing leaves, the loss of sunshine or shelves of pumpkin themed displays at stores didn't go unnoticed, but a frost/freeze advisory? In August?!?! That's just plain painful.

I love autumn. I always like them to last a bit longer than the calendar calls for. I just prefer them to go into overtime (lasting until January 1), not start in the pre-season (August).

The Astros' Lost Season

I feel sorry for Houston Astros fans tonight. Andy Pettitte was placed on the disabled list today. Roger Clemens drove in a couple of runs, using his bat for good, only to get pulled because of a leg injury suffered while running the bases. So much was expected for Texas' National League entry when they signed Pettitte and Clemens and it has all fallen apart.

Injuries and age seem to be the primary culprits in Houston's disappointing campaign. Even the mid-season addition of multi-talented Carlos Beltran hasn't elevated the 'Stros. I feel for Houston baseball fans. They have had some fine teams, going back to the Jose Cruz, Sr., Terry Puhl, Glenn Davis days, but they haven't had any post-season success. This year, with future Hall of Fame member Clemens and Pettitte aboard, things were going to be different. Unfortunately, it looks all too familiar.

Cha-Ching!

The United States' Men National soccer team played a World Cup qualifier in Kingston, Jamaica this evening. It was plain ugly from a U.S. perspective. I'm far from a soccer expert, but the U.S. squad appeared tentative early and never really emerged from that shell.

The home team went up 1-0 early in the second half and maintained that lead into the 88th minute. As time dwindled down, the Jamaican fans were getting ready to celebrate their first ever soccer win over the States. Fortunately, for the red, white and blue, sub Brian Ching found the back of the net with just under two minutes in regulation time. Ching knocked a pass from Landon Donovan into the top corner earning the U.S. a valuable point towards qualify for Germany 2006.

It wasn't pretty. It wasn't what most U.S. supporters had hoped for, but it looks good right now.

The Real Travesty

We are all jumping on the Men's U.S. Olympic basketball team and rightly so. However, as I was watching the television coverage this weekend, I was struck at something I consider nearly as appalling as USA Basketball's performance. The United States baseball team didn't even qualify for the Olympics.

Being a nutty baseball type to begin with, it's not like I didn't know the U.S. team failed to gain a berth in Athens. I just didn't know how I would feel when watching other teams run all over the diamond in Greece. Disappointed would be the obvious word, but I was more angry than that.

I know the Cubans send a pro team to the Summer Games. That's fine, but our college kids aren't even good enough to compete with the Japanese or Mexicans? Aren't most of their best players in Major League Baseball right now, too? Canada's baseball team made the field, for crying out loud. Good for our neighbors, but they aren't better than the United States.

Yeah, yeah, I'm jingoistic. I wasn't aware that was illegal. It isn't, is it? Regardless, I'm annoyed at USA Baseball. Something went wrong. I'm not going to pretend to know what, but it should get fixed quickly. Having a baseball tournament without the U.S. is ridiculous.

Brazilian would be in an uproar if they didn't qualify for the World Cup. Canadians would be upset if their national squad missed an Olympic hockey qualification. I think I have a right to be disgusted with the U.S. not making the baseball field in Athens.

It's not like I am saying I expect a gold medal, that's usually the domain of Cuba's national team, just an Olympic berth. I don't think expecting USA Baseball to be in the Olympics every four years is such an irrational, overly jingoistic ideal.

I really do feel bad for the young men who didn't get to go to Greece. I know they wanted to compete more than I wanted to watch them. They are probably having many of the same ideas about this as I am. Hopefully, by 2008, USA Baseball will be in the Olympic field. It's just a shame they aren't there now. I suspect the players would agree.

U.S. Upset

Embarrassment. Humiliation. Travesty. All words used to describe USA Basketball's demise at the hands of Puerto Rico in the Olympic tournament. Everyone is looking for answers. Can these guys just not shoot? Do they lack fundamentals? Was this team poorly assembled? Are they really this bad? Is the rest of the world really this good? All may be right to a certain degree, but one thing seems obvious to me. The problem is that the players on this team are not embarrassed or humiliated or find it a travesty that they lost.

This group of NBA stars has zero sense of Olympic history and plays like it. These NBA guys just don't get it. They don't care that, prior to their Puerto Rico disaster, the U.S. had lost only two games since 1936. Two games in sixty-eight years. Even the Globetrotters would be envious of that mark.

They don't care about those silver medals sitting in a European safety deposit box that the 1972 U.S. team refused to accept after their controversial, first-ever loss.

They don't care about those hundreds or maybe thousands of young men who have tried out for the U.S. team over the last half century, their only goal becoming a U.S. Olympian and, perhaps, claiming a gold medal, but couldn't make the team.

I have no doubt this team wants to win. Nearly every athlete in every sport does even with today's inflated salaries. The problem is that no one on this squad has passion for this event. They would love to win, but if they don't, there is always the next NBA season, the pursuit of a NBA crown and more paychecks.

That's, in part, what made the Dream Team in 1992 a dream team. They understood. They wanted the gold medal. They wanted to be a part of the U.S. Olympic basketball dynasty. They considered it part of their legacy. This U.S. team views the Olympics like a just another summer workout.

The 2004 U.S. squad has plenty of time and more than enough talent to regain its dignity and win a gold medal. That's a good thing because it sure doesn't look like this edition of USA Basketball has a clue about it's place in history.

Edgar's On The Edge

I can't decide if Edgar Martinez is a Hall of Famer or not. My rule of thumb for Hall of Fame admission is: if I have to consider it, then he probably isn't a Hall of Famer. I would never have to give any thought to Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ted Williams or Walter Johnson. When I think of Edgar Martinez, I have to pause. That's not a good start in my book.

However, Martinez offers one compelling stat in his favor. Martinez will post a career .300 batting average, .400 on base percentage and .500 slugging percentage. Those are easily Hall of Fame numbers. His two batting championship are nice, as well, but are these numbers alone worthy of Cooperstown?

Right now, I think he's not quite Hall of Fame material. I'm going to give it more thought, but when you enter the Hall, especially as a DH, you are going to need to post some crazy numbers. When guys like Eddie Murray and Paul Molitor, both of whom spent extended time at DH, can reach 500 homers or 3,000 hits, then you need to get close to that. Martinez won't.

Being one of the great hitters of his era and his .300/.400/.500 averages put Martinez on the edge of greatness. I just can't see what other data would help him get over the edge.

Lions Diary

The Detroit Lions played host to the Pittsburgh Steelers last night. It's pretty hard to gain much insight from a pre-season game and last night's tilt was no exception. As it was both teams' initial pre-season game, both starting lineups were gone early. Here's what stood out to me.

Joey Harrington and Charles Rogers looked like a Pro Bowl pass-and-catch combo until you factor in the Steelers played without their starting corners. Nonetheless, the combination did look good and took what was given them during their brief time on the field.

The Lions' defense didn't look good, but they played without their top three corners, as well. I'm sure Tommy Maddox, Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward would have chewed up the Lions' secondary even more had they played longer. Losing starter Brock Marion at safety (shoulder injury) would only have given Maddox more opportunities. Thankfully, it's only the pre-season.

I did like Artose Pinner. He's not Barry Sanders-Billy Sims special, but he runs a bit harder than I thought. I still have to think Kevin Jones is the starter-in-waiting, but he's got to recover from a hamstring injury first. Pinner did easy some of my concern about Jones' absence.

It's hard to get too wound up over the first game of the pre-season. Let's hope the Lions can get the injured healthy quickly and be ready for their second game of the exhibition schedule versus the Cleveland Browns.

Lions Diary

The first injury problem of the year has arisen. Linebacker Boss Bailey has returned to the University of Georgia to have his knee looked at. It's a knee he injured years ago. Bailey has basically missed all of camp and this doesn't bode well. In all likelihood, Bailey's knee will get scoped at UGA and he will miss two to four weeks minimum.

Obviously, panic has set in amongst the Honolulu Blue and Silver faithful. Bailey was starting to look like a potential difference maker towards the end of last season. His absence will definitely hurt as the Lions are not a deep team. They will need Bailey back, ASAP.

Kevin Jones, the first rounder out of Va. Tech, will not play Saturday, either. He's nursing a hamstring injury.

Maddux And The Pitchers Of This Era

Greg Maddux won his three hundredth game over the weekend. Maddux is a master craftsman in every sense. He has been a brilliant pitcher. He appears to have spent most of his career just out-thinking his opponents. His starts won't dazzle the average fan. He doesn't possess a blazing fastball. He isn't emotional. He just gets guys out and wins games. Technical, clinical, successful.

In spite of this being an era of record breaking offensive production, the exploits of Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and other hitters grab the headlines, a number of pitchers have been spectacular. Maddux, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez would head the list of elite pitchers in this hitter friendly time.

When I think about the success these four have had, I wonder if I would take four other pitchers from any other era before them? A four man rotation of Maddux, Big Unit, The Rocket and Pedro. I think I'd take my chances with the four of them against any four in the history of the game.

Lions Diary

Well, the Lions open practice was a success. It drew around 41,000 down to Ford Field. I heard it was a madhouse, clearly revealing that Lions' Fever has already spread throughout the Motor City. Sure, free tickets were given away, but this team hasn't been good in a number of years. It's won one playoff game since Bobby Layne was at the helm. They haven't even won a single road game in years. Yet, the still appears to be no cure for Lions' Fever.

The fever is always worse this time of the year. Injuries are usually at a minimum. A new group of rookies have arrived. Often, there is a new coach or two. Young players are a year older. Optimism runs wild until the first exhibition game. This year, the excitement seems higher than normal. Color me cautiously optimistic.

Saturday is the Lions first pre-season tilt. The Pittsburgh Steelers stop by Detroit for a visit. I would think another good crowd, this time of paying customers, will be on hand. A good showing will only infect more people with Honolulu Blue and Silver Fever. Aaahh, the joys of being a Lions fan in early August.

Little League?

I see it's that time of the year, again. The Little League World Series is underway. I have no problem with Little League Baseball, I do, however, have a problem with ESPN televising so many of the games. I didn't mind that the championship game was broadcast, but coverage of regional contests is just ridiculous.

Right now, ESPN is showing the LLWS Great Lakes Regional contest and ESPN2 is broadcasting the game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. This implies that the two events are of equal or nearly equal importance. That's laughable, of course. But, if you are one of the kids playing on ESPN explain that to them.

One day they are playing in front of parents and friends in some rural setting, the next round their team's game is on in primetime on the same network that shows Major League Baseball. Once you explain how this game isn't of any greater important just because it's on worldwide tv to the participants, then clarify it for their parents.

We already had to many horror stories about "Little League Parents" long before these games were on worldwide tv. How is broadcasting a LLWS game on ESPN, while relegating a MAJOR LEAGUE game to ESPN2 not going to make their game appear more important? Do you think these over zealous parents are going to back off because the cameras and lights go on?

Some will say don't watch. For them, I would point out that I'm not. (Technically, I'm typing this.) Some will argue these things happened thirty years ago, too. That's correct, but when some kid playing in the Great Lakes Regional in 1974 made an error to cost his team the game, only his community knew. Now, the kid is on international television in primetime.

We can't go back. I realize that. The ratings for the LLWS are probably good. At least, good for cable ratings in August. The games may even be profitable for ESPN. We all know that's the bottom line, literally and figuratively. Primetime games on cable tv's superpower. Regional coverage of playoff games. Ratings and possible profit for the network. I guess Little League isn't so little anymore.

I Might Have A Favorite NASCAR Driver

I admit to not being much of a NASCAR fan. I know the names of most of the sport's participants, but I can't follow it with any passion. If I have a favorite driver, it would probably be Jeff Gordon. I chose Gordon mostly because so many of NASCAR's faithful hate the guy. However, I see I may have another potential favorite driver.

Casey Mears, the nephew of Indy 500 champion Rick Mears, is now on the NASCAR circuit.
Back when the Indianapolis 500 was American auto racing, Rick Mears captured the Brickyard title three times. He was, and still is, my favorite driver in auto racing. Now, that I see his nephew is on the NASCAR circuit, I may have to root for the guy.

For all I know, Casey Mears has been in NASCAR for years. However, by clinching today's pole at the Brickyard 400, he has caught my attention. I'd love to see Rick Mears' nephew win at Indy and follow in his uncle's footsteps.

Where is L.C.?

Today is Pro Football Hall of Fame induction day. Here is a good article from ESPN.com about Art Monk's and Harry Carson's omission from the Canton shrine. There are always players not enshrined in any Hall that merit the honor. However, one guy that really stands out today is L.C. Greenwood.

Greenwood's omission is made more glaring by today's induction of Minnesota great Carl Eller. Eller, like L.C., was a defensive end. Their era's crossed. Both played on great teams of the Seventies. Both were multiple time Pro Bowl selections. If you asked me which I would prefer, it would be hard to choose. Therein lies the point.

I'm not sure how the Hall of Fame voters view Eller worthy, but Greenwood not? I suspect that Eller's inclusion will, eventually, help Greenwood's chances. However, right now, Carl Eller gets to make a induction speech and L.C. Greenwood gets to watch on television.

Lions Diary

Today was a typical summer day in Michigan. Hot and humid. It was the kind of August day that I used to leave work early and head up to the Pontiac Silverdome. Years ago, the Detroit Lions training camp was held at the dome. Fans could attend the workouts for free. It was a cheap entertainment for followers of the Honolulu Blue and Silver.

Back then, we watched about one hundred would-be Lions in a variety of drills. Most of these guys wouldn't make the NFL, let alone the Lions, but it was fun for the diehard fans. You got close to the players and coaches. Over the years, I chatted with Lions' beat writers and some of the players at camp. It was good public relations for a team that really needed it.

However, when Matt Millen arrived he hated the openess of Lions' training camp. Apparently, it was the Oakland Raiders way to keep fans away from camp. Thus, Millen viewed all of the fans as a distraction. So, camp was first moved to Saginaw Valley State University, but we showed up there, too. Finally, the Lions built a closed compound in Allen Park where practices are now held in private.

Sunday, Millen gives the fans their annual bone. The single open pratice will be held at Ford Field. I've gotten less bitter about this over the last few years, although this post may not reveal it. Sunny, warm August days like today remind me of Lions training camps now long gone. If only the losing seaons were such a distant memory.

Sox, Yanks To Join Forces?

Did anyone else see this? It seems the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are in the preliminary stages of discussion about joining their cable television networks, YES (N.Y.) and NESN (Boston), into a single regional sports cable network superpower. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea all over the place.

The most obvious reason I oppose this premise is that the last thing the Yankees and Red Sox need is more money. Do the Yanks and Sox really need to financially separate themselves further from the rest of baseball? I've never been one to rally behind the small market team debate, but moves like this one do give me reason to believe the big boys are getting just too big. Worse yet, there is talk that the Mets may join in. The Mets need money, too?

My second fear is the old pay-per-view concept. I could see the new network charging cable providers ridiculous high rates and, eventually, forcing fans into pay-per-view games. I cannot imagine paying extra to see a Yankees/Red Sox series on tv, but I can imagine them wanting me to.

There is also an even seedier side to this proposal. A merger of such rivals smacks of something worse than collusion. (Although, it would be collusion by New York and Boston against the rest of the game.) Such a deal leaves the door far too open for fixing games. Wouldn't ratings go up if the series between the game's biggest rivals were close? Wouldn't ad rates for those series go up significantly if the teams were close in the standings? Couldn't they charge even higher pay-per-view fees if the Yanks and Sox were, let's presume, only a game apart in September?

With all that potential shared revenue available, the possibility of something dirty occurring increases. Why wouldn't the ownership of both teams "encourage" the pennant race to be even tighter? I know what you are thinking. Brian, they aren't going to do that. Too much is at stake. Too many people would find out.

At the time, lots of people couldn't believe the White Sox threw the 1919 World Series. Today, far more people are in denial over Pete Rose's gambling problems. Even a larger number simply refuse to contemplate the indiscretion that Rose may have committed along the way. Why? It is just too inconceivable. The Black Sox and Rose lost their credibility for far less money than a Yankees/Red Sox cable television merger would create. Is throwing games today still that unimaginable?

Sorry Smarty

Smarty Jones, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winner, retired today. Shockingly, horse racing continues. Yeah, I'm bitter. Not at the horse, but at the hype. Each year we go through this nonsense, the overhype of any potential Triple Crown champion, but the Smarty hype reached epidemic proportions.

After reading this story, I'm beginning to think that trainer John Servis is starting the believe all the stuff the National thoroughbred Racing Association, ESPN and NBC threw at us in record numbers. If you watched their coverage of horse racing's premier events you would have thought Smarty had already won the Triple Crown.

Servis' comment that Smarty could have "been the best of all time" is almost laughable now. When his unbelievable horse, the one destined to be greater than Man 'O War and Secretariat, got into the gate at the Arkansas Derby, many were concerned the Philadelphia horse would finish second and not make enough money to qualify for the Derby.

At one point of the Triple Crown chase, I heard Servis say he was just looking to get Smarty into the Derby. Apparently, Servis, who I like, has altered his opinion of his horse along the way. He went to dreaming of a Derby mount to figuring he had the greatest race horse in history. That's hindsight, I guess.

Smarty Jones wasn't the first horse to almost win a Triple Crown. Nor is he the second, third or fourth. In fact, I wouldn't even rank him amongst the top four horses to win two thirds of the Triple Crown. He didn't set one track record in Triple Crown race. Secretariat, who Servis implies Smarty could have conceivably been better than, owns the Derby and Belmont records and set the Pimilco mark, as well, but has an asterisk due to a timer's error. Three races, three track records. That, is greatness.

Smarty Jones is a very good horse with a heartwarming story and tons of media hype. That doesn't make him less of a champion. Nor would winning have made him the best of all-time. It's time some in the industry accept that they cannot generate an immortal horse. A legendary horse will arrive in time and will not need an ounce of media hype to prove their status. It will be obvious to all.

Lions Diary

Roy Williams signed with the Detroit Lions over the weekend. This is good for two reasons. One, and most importantly, the Lions need Williams. Their offense in 2003 was terrible. They couldn't catch the ball. In fact, they were perhaps the team with the worst hands in the entire league. Williams should help that quite a bit. His size and speed won't hurt, either. Lions' receivers have been devoid of both recently.

Combined with second year wideout Charles Rogers, the Lions have an tantalizing one-two receiver punch. That's quite a difference from last year's squad. Then there is reason number two that Williams arrival is such a welcome sight for me.

If Williams continued his holdout, the media would focus nearly all of their pre-season coverage on Williams' absence. He only missed about a day and a half and Williams' status was quickly becoming the story on sportstalk radio. With each day he missed, the onslaught of analysis would make the situation seem as tense as a James Bond movie.

You know the scene. The one where 007 is trying to defuse a bomb. Will he or won't he? Six days missing training camp. When will he sign? Seven days and counting. What if he signs late? What if he doesn't sign at all? Ten days. Red wire or yellow wire? The whole season is about to blow up! Aaahhhhhhhh!

Thankfully, the former Texas standout has inked a deal and is getting in his reps with the big boys. No need for any melodramatics. Just a need for a former All-American to become an All-Pro. Quickly, of course.

Nomar The North Sider

The Boston Red Sox finally did it. They moved shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs as part of a four-team deal today. The Sox spent the winter trying to move Nomar and fill his spot with Alex Rodriguez. When the A-Rod deal fell through, Boston was left with a star so unhappy about his contract discussions and being shopped around that he was destined to test free agency at season's end.

Instead of letting the disgruntled star walk away without compensation, the Sox instigated today's move. In return for a player on a Hall of Fame pace, Boston got Doug Mientkiewicz and Orlando Cabrera. Two fine, steady players who may indeed help the Red Sox secure a playoff spot. However, right now, the winner of the deal appears to be the team Nomar went to.

The National League's version of the snake-bit Red Sox, the Cubs didn't move one player from their core and didn't injure their farm system and still acquired a player everyone considered one of the best three shortstops in the game twelve months ago. If Nomar decides the North Side is not to his liking and opts for free agency in three months, the Cubs have lost nothing.

If the Sox don't make a championship run or worse, don't make the playoffs, Sox general manager Theo Epstein will not be the wunderkid anymore. If Nomar thrives in whatever enviroment he lands in, Epstein has the chance of going Harry Frazee and Dan Duquette as men who let Boston icons get away.

Frazee committed the first sin, Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Duquette thought Roger Clemens was done in 1996. Clemens has won three Cy Young Award since. Duquette also let Beantown favorite Mo Vaughn go, too. Both men, Frazee and Duquette, are villians in Red Sox Nation. Epstein put himself in their path just by taking the GM job. If this move backfires, Epstein will take a big leap towards joining these infamous Boston baseball men.

In the end, only time will tell which team was helped the most by today's deadline deals. The Cubbies are a long way from first (eleven games back). It would seem unlikely Nomar's arrival alone would move the North Siders that far up the standings. Nomar could also end up a rental property, if he doesn't like Chicago pinstripes.

The Twins traded Doug M. (forgive me for not typing his last name again) to open a lineup spot for one of my favorite young hitters, Justin Morneau. Their portion of the deal will pan out if Morneau is the real deal and if anyone they got can contribute later.

Forget the Expos portion of the swap. They are being run into the ground, but that's another post altogether. The Red Sox, however angry some in The Nation are at not getting more for Nomar, may benefit from this deal. Putting Pokey Reese and Doug M. on the field will help their defense about 50%. Nomar, for all of his gifts, is erratic with the glove. However, Reese will not hit. I don't mean not hit at Nomar's level. I mean not hit period. Cabrera can hit, but has been in a season long slump. Perhaps emerging from the Expos mess will enliven his bat.

Obviously, not one person knows how this will all work out. Everyone could win, everyone could lose. I do know that the judging on talent alone the Cubs are today's winners and, if the deal doesn't work out for them, they will have lost very, very little. That's called a win/win situation.

It's Over For Tyson

Mike Tyson has lost, yet again. His latest defeat should solidfy Tyson's spot as a has-been. Sports' living car wreck, Tyson, is now thirty-eight years old and headed for knee surgery. His days as a primetime, big box office athlete should be over. Even if Tyson choses to fight after his surgery, he appears to be destined for boxing's unofficial senior tour.

It's the place where AARP eligible fighters (Larry Holmes, George Foreman, etc...) take on anyone and everyone in search of pay-per-view dollars and one more taste of glory. It's the stuff that loiters on the inside of even the smallest of sports sections. Tyson, like these other fighters past their prime, no longer merit the front page. Their fights become the last highlight on SportsCenter, assuming they are covered at all.

Before Friday night's fight, many experts thought aloud that Tyson could indeed recapture the heavyweight title. The division is so weak that even a diminished Tyson was thought to have more than a puncher's chance at regaining the belt. Now, it's apparent that both the division and Tyson have fallen and neither appear capable of ever getting up.

Football In L.A.

Since the Raiders and Rams vacated in second biggest market in the United States, the NFL has been trying to find a way to get their product back in Los Angeles. However, the city continues without a team in the nation's most popular sport. No definitive plan to change that is in sight. That's what makes this little piece of news from Major League Soccer so interesting.

On Monday, MLS is going to announce that Chivas USA will begin play in Los Angeles starting in 2005. The interesting part is that one year from today, L.A. will have two professional soccer teams and zero NFL franchises. The Galaxy have called L.A. their home since the league's formation.

I'm not sure what this means. Are Los Angeles' citizens more interested in the "other" football than the NFL's product? Are there just more potential soccer owners interested in the L.A. market? Is Los Angeles just a lousy sports town? I have no idea. It does make me wonder, just a tiny bit, if that soccer revolution predicted when the NASL was in operation thirty years ago, is finally beginning?

Woodson Cut

The Oakland Raiders cut Rod Woodson today.  I make note of this for two reasons.  First, Woodson is one of my all-time favorite NFL players.  Second, I think you can make the argument that Woodson is the finest defensive back in football history. 

Regardless of how you judge a defensive player, Woodson would get high marks.  He could cover just about anyone and, unlike a number of cover cornerbacks, he could knock your lights out.  Woodson was also a difference maker.  He was the best blitzing corner ever.  He also spent quite a bit of time with the ball in his hands.  Between kick returns, interception returns and fumble recoveries, Woodson spent a lot of time on offense while playing defense.

You want versatility?  Woodson made the Pro Bowl as a kick return specialist, then as a cornerback and finally as a safety.  That sounds more like a defensive back of fifty years ago.  It was this combination of skills that got Woodson elected to the NFL's All-Time Team during the league's 75th anniversary season.

Woodson may not be at the end of his career, but he's close.  Before he ends his Hall of Fame career, I hope Woodson can get healthy enough to provide one more productive season.

Weekend Wrap

It all begins and ends with Lance Armstrong.  The anti-Tour de France rhetoric is well underway already, but winning six in a row is simply amazing.  What am I saying?  Winning one is amazing.  Winning five, as four others have, is unbelievable.  But, six?  Amazing.

Like many others, I pay more attention because an American is doing well, but diminishing Armstrong's accomplishment because we don't count this event amongst our top sporting interests is somewhere between silly and naive. 

It's not like this version of bicycling is you and me heading out to the local park.  They are going up the Alps, not their driveway.  They have time trials and endurance contests.  They race up mountains and down cobblestone roads.  They race in the rain, cold, heat and whatever other condition arises.  They ride for over twenty days. 

I admit I like the Tour.  Unlike many zealots of other "minor" sports, I am not going to tell you that the Tour is better than the World Series.  It isn't.  Well, not for me anyway.  However, it's a cool event and darn difficult to succeed in.  If you don't like it or view it as something less than important on your sports scene, that's fine by me.  You just lose out on seeing a great moment in sport.

Williams Bolts

I've already written some on Miami Dolphins' star Ricky Williams cashing out and bidding the NFL au revoir (Sorry, it's French left over from previous post).  Having seen this sort of thing first hand with Barry Sanders, I am not surprised.  Unlike Sanders, Williams had some well documented issues off-the-field and appears to be the stereo-typical "free spirit".  Those only make the former Heisman Trophy winner's departure that much easier to understand.

I'm sure that most Fish fans are probably really mad right now.  However, I've learned over the years that some athletes don't really like their jobs all that much.  Most do, but there are a few blessed with talent that just tolerate the confines of their profession until they can find something better to do with their time.  While this confounds those of us who wish we could have their jobs and ability, some guys just aren't into playing sports for a living. 

If one of your co-workers retires young, especially if financially secure, no one really bats an eye.  Who could blame them for getting out from under the stress that a "regular job" takes?  In fact, most people I know would love to have the opportunity Williams has before him.   Early retirement with lots of money in the bank?  Many dream of such a chance.

If Williams, already known to have some emotional problems, walks away from what he perceives as a stressful enviroment, who am I to say he's wrong?  Maybe Williams is absolutely right.  Maybe getting out of the glare and repetition of the NFL will help him.  I hope so.  All that money and free time can lead to disaster if not handled properly.

It's easy to peg Williams as a loser.  He is, even by his own admission, making a very selfish decision, but it's hard for me to get too upset.  He doesn't have to play football if he doesn't want to.  We shouldn' expect him to.

The I Don't Care Department

(Editor's Note: Technically, it should be the "You Don't Care Department".  As I am going to fill this space sharing things you could care less about.)

I'm trying to follow European soccer this fall.  However, I am already overwhelmed.  Part of it is clearly the lack of knowledge of common terms, nicknames and the like, on my part.  The other thing I find both interesting and disturbing is the amount of international transactions.  It's interesting because you can change your football club in a hurry, it's disturbing because you can change your football club in a hurry. 

One day your goalkeeper is from Hungary, next season it's a Brazilian and their this kid in Spain who might be available.  I thought trying to keep track of baseball prospects was challenging, I have no idea how international football fans keep pace with the transactions and rumored deals.  I think I know part of the reason that so many football fans are drinking. 

Did I mention the season has started yet? 

 

Williams' Testing Revelation

One of the more interesting things to come out of Ricky Williams retirement were his comments about drug use.  It seems Williams, one of the best runningbacks in the National Football League, uses marijuana.  It wasn't so much that he used the drug I found telling, it was how he claimed to avoid testing positive.  

In a story at ESPN.com Williams claimed "he has gotten around drug tests in the past by taking a special liquid players all over the league consume to avoid detection."  Now, taking masking agents to cover illegal substance use is hardly news.  It is, however, interesting to note that during this current wave of drug scandals that the NFL has dodged attention primarily because of it's perceived tougher enforcement policy.

It seems that the public is more than willing to believe baseball players are on steroids, Olympic athletes are on steroids and Tour de France riders are on steroids, but NFL players are clean because they get tested.  Yes, baseball's drug policy isn't a policy at all, but does anyone think Marion Jones or Lance Armstrong doesn't get tested more often than NFL players?

If Ricky Williams can't even get busted using marijuana, do we really think the NFL is going to catch regular users of steroids or other performance enhancing drugs?  If the ex-Dolphins star uses a masking agent that "players all over the league consume to avoid detection", how many guys have access to liquids capable of covering up other drugs?

Each season we hear about another 6' 4", 330 pound lineman with great quickness.  We raise an eyebrow at power hitting shortstops, figuring they are probably using juice, but huge offensive lineman with great quickness come strictly from solid weight-training and supersizing their meals.  I think Williams' openness about the availability of masking agents should put those naive ideals to rest.  Or, at least, they should. 

A Wie Bit Too Much

Golfing phenom Michelle Wie is good.  She's very, very good.  That's how she got the phenom tag.  However, while the LPGA (and the media) search for golf's next legend, they have one in their midst.  I can't believe I'm going to say this, but Annika Sorenstam is getting overlooked. 

I know, this is the woman who played in a PGA Tour event.  This is the most dominant player on the LPGA circuit.  I would argue that Sorenstam is simply the finest women's player of all-time.  Wasn't it Bobby Jones who, when asked about a young Jack Nicklaus, said "He plays a game I am not familiar with."?  Well, Sorenstam is playing a game Wie would be darn lucky to emulate.  Sorenstam is racking up wins, majors, top ten finishes and money at a record pace.  A pace yet unknown to any other woman to play on the tour. 

Yet, regardless of where she finishes, Wie's score is noted in crawls each day.  In today's Evian Masters, Wie's tie for thirty-third was one of two scores listed on the ESPN ticker.  Sorenstam, the third round leader, was not mentioned.  The sport's biggest name, bar none, finished second.  Wendy Doolan won, by the way.  She, at least, did get first billing for beating Sorenstam by a stroke. 

I get tired of this kind of over-emphasis on Tiger Woods' play each round, too, but at least I can say he's been the most impressive player since Jack Nicklaus.  Sure, he got tons of hype backed by Nike dollars, when he first turned pro, but he was much older.  He had a rather impressive amateur career behind him, as well.  Wie is still too young to have even had the opportunity to reach that level of amateur success. 

Although, I should admit, Wie's been a spectacular amateur.  Again, that's how one gets the "phenom" label.  However, I would encourage everyone to quickly review the list of fine amateurs who either never reached professional success.  It's just too darn soon to be overly concerned about a fourteen year old.  Maybe I'm just too old school today, but it just seems disrespectful of the other LPGA players working hard and doing well to have a teenager finishing thirty-third upstage their work. 

I know I am sounding like one of those bitter PGA Tour guys when Tiger broke on the scene, grabbing every ounce of attention.  I apologize for that, but until our latest golfing wonderkid holds all four majors at the same time or has a career grandslam plus a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame locked up, maybe Sorenstam deserves some of Wie's hype.  She is, after all, the person Michelle Wie will have to succeed as the greatest player ever.

Can Pudge Be MVP?

The talk of Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez capturing the Most Valuable Player award is heating up.  I've heard some of the national media guys say Rodriguez is probably in the top three American League MVP candidates right now.  Two local writers discussed the Tigers' catcher this week.  Jim Hawkins at the Daily Oakland Press and Gene Guidi the Free Press beat writer both shed light on Pudge's season. 

I have to admit that I was never much of a Rodriguez fan before his arrival in Detroit.  I didn't dislike the guy, but I had no idea what a force his presence is.  Since the first day of Spring Training, Pudge has literally led the team.  He does it with his bat, his glove and his attitude.  He shows up early, stays late.  His workout regime is unlike that of anyone else on the team.  He talks of the playoffs.  He hits.  And hits.  And hits.  He sells tickets.  He has awakened an apathetic fan base.  Basically, Rodriguez does what every fan expects a man making ten million dollars a season to do. 

Rodriguez has been a revelation to a town starving for some good news from Comerica Park and he has completely floored me.  If Rodriguez can play at 80% of this level, maybe even 75%, over the course of his four year deal, Rodriguez will be a Tiger legend.  I don't say that lightly.  This is the team of Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Harry Heilmann, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg and Al Kaline. 

Just based on Pudge's play over the first half of 2004, he is probably the best player to wear the Old English D since Kaline patrolled rightfield at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.  Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, Lou Whitaker, Lance Parrish, Cecil Fielder were all good.  The first four are, at worst, borderline Hall of Famers.  There has been nothing borderline about Rodriguez in this campaign.

A year ago, the Tigers were well on their way to becoming the worst team in American League history.  Today, they have already eclipsed their win total from '03 and harbor playoff ambitions.  Rodriguez has not done it alone, Carlos Guillen, Rondell White, Jason Johnson and others merit much of that credit, as well, but Pudge has been the centerpiece for the Tigers' rebound.  Hopefully, Rodriguez' ability to led an entire organization out of the worst decade in their over one hundred year history should give him some extra credit.  It should.

Cell Phones At The Ballpark

If you watch baseball on television for any length of time you are bound to see one of my new favorite pet peeves.  It's the guy on the cell phone waving incessantly at the television camera.  This nation's obsession with cell phones was annoying enough when limited to those who could not talk and drive properly at the same time.  When their inability to multi-task was coupled with their blatant lack of courtesy, displayed in grocery stores, restaurants, post offices and even the zoo, I attempted to be understanding.  However, now their lack of respect has invaded our national pastime and my home via the airwaves.  It must be stopped.

Like many major crimes, these poor cell phone criminals commit their crime on three different levels.  First degree criminal stadium cell phone behavior is fairly basic.  It's the type of stuff you run into at all public places.  It's someone sitting in a seat within a earshot of you who feels the need to discuss their child's soccer team, the color paint they are considering for their bathroom walls or the time they are going to meet at the local gentleman's club.  I'm not sure why, but apparently none of these calls can wait, so it must be discussed immediately from their seat at the ballpark.  

This action is mostly rude.  It doesn't annoy thousands or even hundreds.  It just boggles the minds of those in the immediate area.  If you must make this vital phone call, make it from the nearest concourse.  Is that really asking too much? 

Second degree criminal stadium cell phone behavior is more premeditated.  It's the person who sits at just the right camera angle so that he/she is in every close-up shot of the batter.  (It's the view we see when they display the batter's stats on the screen.)  It can also be the people sitting right behind home plate.  Both are broadcast worldwide every few minutes.  These individuals take the crime to it's next level by talking on their cell while waving at the camera.  This action can often last most of the game. 

Presumably, the person I can see is waving at whomever they are talking to on the phone.  Now, in my more open minded moments, I think they are waving at their grandmother halfway across the country or their cousin Joe in Spain.  However, we know better, don't we?  The odds are the person they are waving at is their neighbor, co-worker, drinking buddy or someone within their own household.  Basically, it's someone they see on a regular basis.  Someone  who probably even knows they are at the game.  Yet, they wave.  And talk.  And wave, again. 

I worry for these people. However, there is one group that needs immediate attention.  These are the ones who commit first degree criminal stadium cell phone behavior.  They are the folks who aren't sitting in a convenient location for the television cameras to capture their action.  Unable to get appropriate television time, these abusers rush down the aisle right behind homeplate, cell phone already in action, waving like crazy.  They are waving quickly, of course, because the ushers are going to move them shortly. 

I see them and generally think "Go away.  Go away now."  These people are in desperate in need of one of two things.  First, a designated driver.  Second, therapy.  I worry for people whose lives are so out of kilter that they view this practice as necessary.    Sure, it's still possible that cousin Joe in Barcelona is waving back at them, but I'll bet the roaming charges alone stop that call from ever happening.

As their are different levels of the crime, I suggest different levels of punishment.  Ater a kind, preliminary request from the usher to make their calls from the concourse, third degree offenders would be given the choice of leaving the game or having their cell dropped into a vat of warm nacho cheese.

Second degree criminals would get an initial warning as well.  Further abuses would be met with  the choice of being escorted from the game or be force fed hotdogs while having giant foam fingers duct taped to their hands.  Either penalty would include a month long suspension from the ballpark.

The first degree criminals get no such warning.  They would receive all the previous penalties, plus a year long suspension from the park or bathroom detail for the remainder of the season as a public service.

I tolerate, with mild disgust, the poor driving by cell phone users.  I patiently drive my shopping cart around those who have stopped in the middle of the aisle to talk on their cell phone about the neighbor's flower bed.  I wait in line for the person on the cell phone to stop their conversation long enough to write their check to the cashier.  However, interfere with the national pastime or my television viewing and you cross the line.  Stop the madness immediately or be willing to face the consequences.

How Much Is Too Much?

How much am I willing to pay to attend next year's MLB All-Star Game?  That's the question I have already begun asking myself, almost a year in advance of the first pitch.  Detroit's first All-Star Game in over thirty years is bound to be a popular event.  The cost of tickets is going to be, well, it's going to be quite a bit. 

However, for a number of reasons, I have always wanted to go to an All-Star Game.  It's not only a premier event on the baseball schedule, but it has almost always occured around my birthday.  It even arrives on my birthday on occasion.  Growing up a baseball fan, it made my birthday week kind of a baseball holiday.

Besides, it's one of those things a baseball fan wants to cross off his/her "Things To Do" checklist.  Hall of Fame?  Check.  Wrigley Field?  Check.  Fenway Park?  Check.  Playoff Game?  Check.  The All-Star Game remains unmarked on my list.

The question is when does desire become stupidity?  Is it worth $500 to sit in Comerica Park's outer reaches to "watch" an All-Star Game?  Those normally $8-$20 upper deck seats can be far, far away.   Is it worth $300?  $200?  Right now, I'm not even going to think about the cost of a lower deck box seat.  I'll start to get depressed. 

I doubt the Tigers are going to offer individual tickets for sale.  They might, as they did this year, offer the opportunity to purchase some if you buy a season ticket package.  However, in spite of getting the All-Star ticket at face value, is the cost of a season ticket package (tickets, parking, food, etc...) going to be as much or more than paying the ticket broker for the single event?

My only hope is that attendance will be somewhat down as Detroit is not a popular tourist destination.  (Sorry, Mayor Kilpatrick.)  Maybe that will lower the price a bit over previous All-Star Game, but I'm betting the game is going to be wildly popular with the locals.  Tigers' fans have waited for over three decades for this game to return, I suspect we are all eager to attend.

Even if prices fall some due to the city's reputation nationwide, or a lack of interest locally, I have to figure out how much am I willing to fork over?  How do I decide how much is too much?  I've got about 359 days left to figure that out.

Fallen Tiger

I don't care what the numbers tell me, Tiger Woods is not the number one golfer in the world right now.  I am not alone in this sentiment, either.  Woods is certainly the sport's marquee name.  He is also it's most prolific active player, in terms of major championship play.  However, the mantle of best golfer in the world right now belongs Ernie Els.

Els and Masters champion Phil Mickelson are 1-2 in the world.  You could make a case that Mickelson merits first overall.  I wouldn't quibble much.  As for where Tiger falls in my rankings, I would place him at fourth.  U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen is third.

Now, for every weekend hacker, golf writer, and most PGA Tour players, being considered the fourth best player in the world would be a dream come true.  However, Woods' own success has made this enviable spot seem like a negative.  We should all "slump" so badly.

We just need to remember that Woods is human and golf is a difficult game.  He also has the potential to break out at any time.  If he captures the PGA Championship next month, all the talk of a slump will end aburptly.   For now, though, we need to do something most pundits have try to avoid.  We need to acknowledge his competitors on the PGA Tour are pretty darn good. 

L.A. Story

I've heard all the experts and pundits criticize the Lakers for trading away Shaquille O'Neal.  They are right, of course.  Trading the most dominant interior force since Wilt Chamberlain does seem ridiculous.  However, unlike the majority, I'm hesitant to write off his former team.
 
The Lakers downfall in The Finals was a poor supporting cast.  Gary Payton was invisible.  Karl Malone was hurt and they couldn't find anyone to fill his production.  Anyone recall any significant contributions from the bench?  Bryant may not have Shaq to lean on next season, but he will have three more quality teammates.  That's three more than showed up in The Finals.
 
The Lakers of 2004-2005 will not be as tough as this year's model.  There is no way to replace a player of Shaq's magnitude.  What the Lakers might have is a more balanced lineup.  Lamar Odom and Caron Butler can play.  Brian Grant isn't quite as good as he once was, but can still do some dirty work inside.   
 
If Payton stays, Malone re-signs and Kobe can keep himself out of prison, Rudy T. will have a few more pieces to work with in '04-'05 than Phil Jackson did this June.  Trading Shaq certainly won't make them a better team, but I'm not convinced the Lakers are going to fall off the coast just because the big guy is gone.

Big Money, Smaller Names

Brian Cardinal. Adonal Foyle. Michael Doleac. Troy Hudson. Marquis Daniels. Mehmet Okur. Rafer Alston. Any of these names ring a bell? Don't feel too bad, if they don't sound familiar. I've got no more than a passing knowledge of them, either. For the record, they are all basketball players. NBA players, in fact. They are also soon-to-be millionaires.

I'm sure a few diehard hoops fans can easily provide us with some detailed information on each, but they would be the true zealous NBA followers. They are not household NBA names like Shaq, Iverson or Duncan. However, if the rumors are true and my questionable math skills are correct, these seven players are about to earn a collective $239 million dollars. That's an average of $34 million a piece. In per year income, that's approximately just over $5 million a season. Not bad for seven guys few non-NBA geeks could identify.

This is where sports' big contracts hurt teams and frustrate fans. If a guy like Shaq made $239 million in total salary, almost regardless of the length of the deal, I think fans would say "Sure, it's insane cash, but Shaq is a dominant superstar". I believe fans would find the money ridiculous, but understand that elite players, guys who alter games and sometimes entire franchises, can command huge money.

When seven guys, who appear to be unlikely Hall of Famers, who are not even amongst the elite players of their day, can command around five million a season, fans are alienated, the players lose perspective and teams are financial tied to role players for extended periods of time.

I have nothing against any of the seven NBA players I use as an example. All are going to be considered important performers on their teams. But, let's review their career averages for a moment.

Alston has averaged 6.2 points per game and 3.5 assists per game in his career. He is rumored to be signing a $28 million/5 year deal. Cardinal has averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.4 rebounds per game. His new deal is for $38 million over six seasons. Daniels has scored 8.5 ppg and averaged 2.1 assists. He, like Cardinal, appears headed for a $38 million/six year contract.

Doleac has mustered 5.6 ppg/3.6 rpg and is about to make $12 million over four years. Foyle, who at 4.6 ppg and 5.1 rpg, is about to sign for $42 million over six seasons. Hudson's career averages are 9.4 ppg and 3.6 apg. His newest contract will net him $31 million in five campaigns. Okur, fresh off a NBA title with Detroit, is the big winner. The man who has averaged 8.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg was about to join Utah for six years at a figure somewhere around $50 million.

Forget scoring titles, All-Star Game appearances, and MVP awards, not one has managed to average ten points a night for their career. I believe only Okur has won a championship, I admit I could be very wrong about that, but he barely saw the light of day down the playoff stretch.

When players posting big numbers sign big offers, it's commonplace. Crazy, but commonplace. Fans just expect the stars to live up to their previous high performance level. When unheard of players crank in lottery-like earnings, fans tend to get a bit impatient. They expect star caliber production from guys who have never achieved such heights.

Now, I'm sure some will think I'm player-hating here. Really, I'm pretty much pro-athlete when it comes to salaries. Unlike almost any other profession, athletes are not only the employee, but the product, as well. Even in professions where the employee is the product, how many of them face the same travel demands, media scrutiny and public criticism that athletes do? Few, if any.

I don't begrudge the players signing for that kind of cash, they are doing the smart thing, but these type of deals can cripple a team. They are big money, long term deals to players that from a distance appear to be slightly more than role players.

While few people not obsessed with pro hoops can tell me anything about these particular NBA free agents, many of them will become households names if they continue to post their career marks throughout the length of their new contracts. They will become the latest flag bearers of today's overpaid athlete.

We Are # 7!

While Greece continues celebrating it's Euro 2004 title, the U.S.A. has a little bit to be proud of in the world of international football, as well. For the first time ever, the U.S. Men's National Team is ranked number seven in the latest FIFA poll.

Normally, being ranked number seven in just about anything is hardly cause for a party. The object is to be ranked first. Well, technically, winning is the objective, the @#$% with rankings, but I digress. However, I cannot help but be pleased by FIFA's latest poll.

There are two fairly simple reasons for my enjoyment over this. First, no U.S. squad has ever been ranked this high. For about the hundredth time, feel free to call me jingoistic, but I'm glad to see this country make progress in soccer. Unofficial and meaningless as it may seem, it's still a positive step for US Soccer.

Much to my surprise, football's govenring body, has the United States team ranked ahead of traditional super-powers England (8), Italy (9), Argentina (11) and Germany (12). Neighborhood rival, Mexico, is ranked just above the U.S. at number six in the world.

The second reason is I like to see this type of news is that it may be a sign the rest of the world just might be appreciating our nation's progress in "their" sport. Let's face it, the world loves their football in part because the U.S. has been somewhere between horrible and mediocre at it. They loved the States' inability to play at their level and continue to look down their collective noses at US Soccer, in general.

As examples, when the U.S.A. hosted the 1994 World Cup, the sport's elitists hated the fact the U.S. made the field merely as hosts. Sure, that was a traditional courtesy, but the U.S. had no right being there. The U.S. men held their own, although clearly not as good as the top teams in the world, but that mattered little.

Then came Korea/Japan 2002. The USMNT qualified out of a weak group, the critics lamented. Then, as the U.S. team had the nerve to advance to the quarterfinals, it was clear to many international observers that the fix was in. How else could you explain the United States winning?

In this enviroment, respect for the USMNT has come grudingly. To see FIFA, not exactly an organiztion I would deem pro-U.S., move the United States from ninth to seventh in their poll, perhaps is a sign that some in the football world are relenting just a bit.

In the end, the only way for the U.S. Men's National Team to gain any kind of respect world-wide is to win big games. They need to qualify for Germany 2006. Once there, they need to try and repeat their quarterfinal appearance of '02. Then, it's qualifying for South Africa in 2010.

I harbor no illusions of grandeur for the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team. In nations like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy and most of the rest of the world, passion for football is equivalent to the passion of all of North America's team sports combined. Those countries should have an edge the States may never overcome.

So, if the USMNT doesn't capture the next World Cup, or the one after that, or the one that follows that, I couldn't be upset. I would just like to see the U.S. be competitive year-in and year-out and gain a bit of international respect. Being ranked amongst the top ten in the world is a step in that direction.

Big, Fat Greek Upset

Let me preface this post by stating I don't know much about European football. I have a general knowledge about the elite nations and clubs, but that's about it. However, from every source I can find, Greece's 1-0 triumph over Portugal at Euro 2004 is the biggest upset in the tournament's history.

The win, which was something like a 100/1 longshot, has shocked observers and sent Greece into a frenzy. I doubt even one player on Greece thought they would win the event before play began last month. However, one by one Europe's superpowers fell. Germany, Italy, Spain, France, England, Holland, the Czech Republic all stumbled.

That left only Greece and the host nation, Portugal. The hosts have a fine football squad buy all accounts. However, even their home field advantage at the European Championships weren't enough to stop the Greeks from completing a storybook run.

While few Americans saw it and even fewer cared to notice, the Grecian win is the reason we watch sports, isn't it? The hope that your team, no matter the odds, no matter the opponent, no matter the field of play, can overcome everything to capture a championship.

Next month, Greece will play host to the Summer Olympics and the world's attention will turn their way. However, I suspect the citizens of that nation will still have all their attention focused on the football title they never dreamed would be theirs.

This Is Sport?

As your basic sports addict, I watch lots of television. As such, a large portion of that time is spent with one of the ESPN family of networks. ESPN, once just a crazy idea, is now the brand name in sports television. They are, as they proclaim, "The Leaders in Sports". However, I've noticed a trend in their coverage that makes me wonder what direction they are heading.

For those of us old enough to remember the network, yes, there was just one then, ESPN was a unique experience. Australian Rules Football, college baseball, rodeo, anything and everything was broadcast to fill up a programming schedule devoid of the "big names" in sports. Televising MLB, NFL or NBA games on ESPN was a wild fantasy back then.

Obviously, things have changed. ESPN almost single handedly elevated college athletics, basketball and football in particular, to their current level of national popularity. Broadcasting the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, tennis' majors and some of golf's premier events is now commonplace. In fact, their gains in these areas have led to the birth of ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPN Radio and, of course, ESPN.com.

In light of this transformation from struggling network to global media force, I was checking out any number of ESPN venues this past weekend only to find SportsCenter informing me of the results of the annual Coney Island Hot Dog eating contest.

Frankly, pun intended, how does this event merit SportsCenter air time? Yeah, it's kind of famous. Is it sport, however? If it is, wouldn't every county fair's pie eating contest qualify for SportsCenter coverage? I have the same amount of respect for some overweight guy in rural America pounding down blueberry pie as I do some thin Japanese kid gorging himself on coneys just outside NYC.

Now, if watching overeating isn't enough, the premier sporting network offers us The World Series of Poker. Okay, I'll spot the network execs some slack here. Everyone is broadcasting poker. It's on the Travel Channel, for crying out loud. The Travel Channel.

I understand poker is the game du jour. Fine. It also costs probably next to nothing in broadcast dollars. No need for slow motion replay, blimps shots, tons of graphics or people to do all those jobs. So, the network is making a money grab. Understandable, but was the continous countdown (yes, a countdown) on the crawl during SportsCenter just a bit much?

Only two hours, fifteen minutes and twenty-six seconds until the World Series of Poker begins. Funny, isn't that how quickly ESPN bosses wished they could lose these type of events over two decades ago? Did I mention the poker tourney was also the big event on ESPN.com?

In fact, now that I think about it, look at what else the network provides us. The X Games. Yes, I'm sure they get great ratings and I'm equally sure I am too old to comprehend interest in these fringe events, but when you are THE network, should you be brodcasting this stuff? Maybe at three in the morning, but in primetime?

What about the Outdoor Games? Dream Job, anyone? Playmakers? The made-for-tv movies? Look, I'm not opposed to all these non-mainstream events, but isn't this the type of programming ESPN was trying to emerge from twenty-five years ago?

ESPN is just the latest example of "the more things change, the more they stay the same" theory. In the end, I guess I can't complain too much. At least their programming choices leave me with more time to blog and more material to write about. Maybe that's something you should complain to ESPN about.

Le Tour

The Tour de France has begun and so has our annual month-long interest in the sport. Now, before you tell me "I'm still not interested in cycling", I meant that July is the one month of the year when any cycling event makes ESPN highlights and gets a paragraph or two in your local paper. The Tour is cycling's biggest event. Nothing comes close, especially for sports fans here in the U.S.A. You still may not care, but a few more than normal actually do.

Not surprisingly, I am one of them. I like the Tour. It provides a number of things I find entertaining about athletics. It's both a team and individual sport. It provides rewards for both speed and endurance. It's oozes with history and tradition. It also provides some of the most picturesque backgrounds in all of sport. Belgian villages complete with cobblestone roads, the Alps and the finale in Paris. Not even a great golf course provides that kind of diverse and sometimes inspiring scenery.

The Tour de France also provides me with a break. It's over in twenty-three days. I need not invest any more time than about a month pondering it. I'm not overwhelmed with pre-season hype. I do not have to sit through hours and hours of television analysis of the last event and hours more debating the next one. No mythical champions. No post-season. No strikes or lockouts. No salary cap considerations.

I watch today's race and, if it fits into my schedule, watch tomorrow's. When the event comes to an end. That's it. I have no desire to follow the sport beyond July and the media's lack of year round obsession with the event makes the Tour refreshing for me.

Sure, the Tour de France has it's share of problems. There are the constant charges about doping. There is the pettiness that surrounds all athletes. There is whining and crying about conditions, the course, the competitors. There is, of course, the influence of commercialism. These cyclists are like NASCAR drivers, covered in corporate logos. Those endorsements deals can influence race strategy. ("Hey, I've got an idea. Get one of your guys to break away from the pack, so our logo gets more time on worldwide tv.")

For those of us watching here in the States, there is also the Outdoor Life Network's Lance-hype machine that not only invades the broadcast, rightly so as the guy is trying for six straight yellow jersey, but in nearly every single commercial. It's basically, Lance TV.

However, for only three weeks, I can easily disregard the problems facing the Tour. Seriously, after the race is complete I won't hear another word about any of issues for over 330 days. I can also learn to ignore OLN's incessant Lance promotions. They've got to make their money where and when they can. Besides, Armstrong is the story, as OLN's Al Trautwig correctly points out.

So, tomorrow it's Stage Three. I'm not sure where it starts or where it ends, as I have yet to watch today. I don't know whether it's a time trial, a long journey through the French countryside or a climb through the mountians. I do know there's a race. Unless, there's a scheduled day off, there will be a race the day after, as well. For cycling, that's all I need to know.

All-Star Rosters Announced

I have a thought or two about this year's Major League Baseball All-Star Rosters. First, I was thrilled to see Detroit's Carlos Guillen make the team. He really has been the best shortstop in the American League this season. He may never have three months like this again, but since Opening Day Guillen has been better than Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Michael Young (although, Young is a close second) and all the other big names at shorstop.

I was (and still am) amazed that Cleveland has four players on the American League roster. Matt Lawton, C.C. Sabathia, Ronnie Belliard and Victor Martinez will all represent the junior circuit on July 13. The question is why so many? I'll grant you Martinez, who has not only been an offensive force, but plays a tough position to fill-catcher. Yes, Sabathia, Lawton and Belliard have been very good, but lots of players have been. I never got the impression all four were much better, sans Martinez, than anyone else having a good year at their positions.

I'm equally surprised that Milwaukee got two All-Star selections and neither was Lyle Overbay. Overbay should be in Houston. He's amongst the N.L. leaders in average and runs batted in. Who would have I left off to put Overbay in? From a position standpoint, I would have taken him over Jim Thome and Sean Casey. From a team perspective, I probably would have taken Overbay ahead of Ben Sheets. Thome, Casey and Sheets are all deserving, but I think Overbay is equal to any of them. (I could be wrong, of course.)

The other noticable absences in the National League were Los Angeles' Adrian Beltre and Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu. One should get the roster spot opened up by Sean Casey's appearance on the disabled list (unless Overbay gets it). My guess is the spot will go to Beltre or Overbay. Abreu remains on the ballot for the 32nd player at MLB.com and the league would probably like us fans to pick Abreu for them.

Then there is Carlos Beltran. He was with Kansas City of the American League and would have been a starter, but he got traded to Houston in the National League and finds himself outside looking in. MLB has decided Beltran can participate in the All-Star activities, but not the game, as he was not selected as a N.L. star.

Common sense should prevail here. Let Beltran play for the National League and create another spot for the American League. I'm sure Bud Selig could find another deserving player in the American League.

Baseball's All-Star Game for all of it's silliness, is still the best of the All-Star Games. It causes more controversy and discussion than all the other major sports all-star affairs combined.