Bread and Circuses

Joey Harrington is the backup QB in Atlanta. In case you were wondering.

On FOX’s website the WNBA is under "More". Same thing on CBS Sportsline. At ESPN’s website it’s right up there beside men’s basketball. ESPN just signed an eight year deal with the WNBA. Is ESPN more enlightened, is it self-promotion, or some combination of both? Is ESPN signing the WNBA because it has arrived, or will the WNBA arrive because it’s on ESPN? One thing is for sure. You can kiss your off season NHL coverage goodbye.

The New York Times had a story Sunday on the internet as a source on leads for NCAA violations (fans on School "B"’s website ratting out School "A"). That’s how the Oklahoma "make work" scandal got exposed. Knowing that school websites have alot of "in the know" alumni, how is it they never rat out their own school? If you’re concerned about cheating at Oklahoma, why not when it happens at a place you’re supposed to care about, like your old school? 

When the Cubs traded good hitting catcher Michael Barrett management said it was because they wanted better defense at catcher. Nothing to do with Barrett, or his fights with pitchers, or his attitude. Now the catcher they got from San Diego (Rob Bowen) has been traded for Jason Kendall, a hitting catcher with average defense at best. Kendall isn’t the hitter Barrett was, which says to me the rumors were true. Lou Pinella and the Cubs just didn’t like Michael Barrett.

Surprised to read that Ryan Howard is approaching 28. Bothered by injuries after his 53 HR season, Howard is on pace for a 39 HR, 121 RBI season. Well and good, but he’s also 256 pounds at 27, raising the possibility he may be about to take the Mo Vaughn off ramp on the John Kruk Expressway. Howard took until 24 to get out of A ball. Maybe he’ll have a long career, but it makes you wonder.

David Beckham will be playing in America and his pop star wife is coming with him? Well, that changes everything. Quick, find out what channel it comes on. Let’s run down to the store to buy a Beckham jersey. Maybe I’ll even try to find out the name of at least one of the teams. All my preconceived notions about soccer are gone and it all seems so clear to me now. Yes! Of course. Why didn’t I see it before. I’m mad, mad I tell you, about professional soccer.

Maybe not.

Before you judge Michael Vick, remember, this is America. We are a nation of law. Where every man is guilty until his high priced lawyer gets him off. Where the Constitution protects our right to keep and arm bears. At least I think that’s right. I missed alot of class the year I took civics.

In 1984 the Portland Trailblazers picked Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan. In 2007 the Portland Trailblazers picked Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Gosh darnit, doesn’t that Tiger Woods seem like a nice young man? As a blogger, though, I can’t stand the guy. He doesn’t try to work with us at all. One scandal is all I’m asking for. One tiny little indiscretion so we can tear into him like a pit bull at Michael Vick’s house on….oh, wait, the innocent until guilty thing.

Never mind.

And finally, the Duante Culpepper.

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