Daily Brew 7/28

Javon Walker announced late last night that he will indeed report to training camp. One Packers source said his contract was not reworked, but they are open to future discussions. There has to be something else going on that we are unaware of, otherwise the Packers officially made Drew Rosenhaus their bitch. Why would he all of a sudden give in and report with no new deal, and no promise of one in the near future. Other than the Packers reportedly willing to drop the fines for missing mandatory camps earlier, Walker gained nothing here. The fact that earlier in the week TO also announced that he would report, but he woulnd't be happy makes me believe something else is going on here.

The Badgers have scheduled a 1pm news conference today to make a significant announcement regarding the athletic department. It is believed that this will involve Barry Alvarez and one of his two positions (Head Coach and Athletic Director). Alvarez is 58, and this will be his 17th season at Wisconsin. Yeah, 17, has it really been that long? Wow. Speculation is that he will give up the AD position, but I think he will announce his intentions to step down as head coach within two years and turn the reigns over to possibly Brett Bielema.

The Brewers lost to the Diamondbacks yesterday 3-0. The Diamondbacks got only five hits, and scored thier runs on two errors and a wild pitch. F'ing Brewers. C'mon, we're not in little league anymore. I can understand that kind of a performance the first year you're not hitting off a tee, but this is the major leagues.

Before the game the Brewers announced that they have designated Ricky Botallico for assignment and have summoned up Rick Helling from AAA Nashville. Helling will do a good job of filling this years "Dave Burba" role. You know, the experienced vet who's pitched in the playoffs before and helps some young guys out. I like it. Botallico was becoming dead weight, and let's face it, he signed a one year deal and there was no way he was coming back next year. Helling will be used mainly as a long reliever, but I wouldn't be surprised if he made the rotation and replaced Victor Santos if he has a few more bad starts.

Another Brewers note, contrary to the information in the Brewers media guide, Lyle Overbay IS eligable for salary arbitration after this season. This leads me to believe he will be dealt in the offseason. The one positive to keeping Overbay around a little longer and giving Prince more time in AAA was the fact that Overbay was grossly underpaid. That soon won't be the case anymore.

The Redskins traded wide reciever Rod Gardner to the Panthers last night for a draft choice. Gardner had pretty much become dead weight in Washington, but still has a lot of promise and may benefit from a change of scenary. The Panthers now have a nice recieving corp or Gardner, Steve Smith and Keary Colbert. The Redskins however are now left with 5'8 Santana Moss, and journeyman David Patton. Has the game passed Joe Gibbs by?

Larry Brown has accepted the Knicks job and will officialy be announced as coach today. The deal is believed to be 5 years and $50-60 million. Five years? You know he's leaving after 3 at the most, so you're essentially giving him free money for two years when you buy out his deal like the Pistons did.

Amongst the many reasons why I can't wait for college football to start was SEC Media Day yesterday. The Ole' Ball Coach is back, and full of more one liners. Steve freakign Spurrier, man I've missed you. I can't wait for him to get the fued back in effect with Phillip Fulmer and Tennesse, and the much anticipated return to Gainsville. Did you see him mocking Kenny Rogers the other day, it was hillarious. College football missed this guy the last few years. I can't wait.