Daily Brew 7/29

Kind of a slow sporting day, the Brewers lost again last night, 3-0 to the Giants. How did they lose you ask, Victor Santos gave up a three-run bomb to pitcher, read that again, PITCHER Brad Hennessy. WTF? It was a legitimate shot too. How much longer can you trot that guy out to the mound. It's becoming like the Glendon Rusch experiment in 2003, only his era isn't quite as bad. Every time Santos takes the mound you know the team is going to lose. Time to give Dana Eveland or Jorge de la Rosa a chance Ned.

Manny Ramirez wants a trade, and has reportedly made this request annualy during his tenure in Boston. His own wife said she didn't even know that was the case. Just another case of Manny Being Manny.

Tony Parker has proposed to Eva Longoria.

I was really starting to feel a void in my life on Thursdays (the O.C. doesn't return until September 8, and no more Thursday Night Sports Talk at Brothers) so I bought the first season of the O.C. on DVD just to get that back in my life. It is awesome, it's just like watching ESPN classic and analyzing a game with hindsight. I've already stumbled upon tons of gems with Gaddis. Ryan Atwood is introduced to us as a sort of idiot savant type guy who's an outsider and rough around the edges (Goodwill Hunting style), when he's busted for drinking who takes the drink from him? Kirstin, who if you saw season two we find out she has a drinking problem (foreshadowing?) The kids actually look like kids, and not models. Summer was a whore/lusch/bitch, Marissa has a younger sister who all of a sudden just vanishes from the episodes without any mention, and the biggest one of all Ryan Atwood becomes a good influence on these kids? Are we really supposed to believe that they all partied more, and got in more trouble before he arrived and less afterwords? There's no way thats happening in real life, but god do I love it. The big question is this, is the NFL still doing that Thursday night game to kick off the season? God I hope not, that would be the same Thursday as the season premire of the O.C.

Grady Jackson has asked for his release or a trade to which Ted Thompson quickly responded, "No." Just do it, if he wants a new contract and thinks he's worth more money than what he's already making, when he only played 36% or less of the downs last year, just axe him. Actually the more I think about it, I agree with Gaddis, keep him. Keep him and just don't play him. Don't give into him by granting his release and allowing him to play elsewhere, just sit him and then we'll see how easy it is to get a new contract when you're previous season totals were: 0 sacks, 0 tackles, o tackles for loss.

In other packers news, heres what the boys from profootball.com thought about Javon Walker's attempted holdout:

“Walker received more than $5 million from the Packers in 2002 and 2003, but started in only five games and caught only 64 passes. And, as far as we know, he didn't pay any of the money back. Even with his breakout season of 2004, his career totals (153 catches, 2417 yards, 22 touchdowns) are borderline laughable in comparison to the first three seasons of production generated by Randy Moss (226, 4163, 43).”

I'm sorry Javon, could you please repeat why it is you feel you're underpaid?

The Yankees acquired Shawn Chacon from the Rockies for two minor leaguers. Shawn Chacon. If that is considered news, this is going to be a very boaring trade deadline.

Gotta give a shoutout to fkrosters.com. I sent in my XBOX memory card to them about a week ago and just got it back last night. I now have all of the players named on NCAA Football 2006, even the historic rosters. This is freaking great, they did a dynamite job. If you're interested, check out the site, it's awesome.

So my prediction was right yesterday, and Bret Bielema will take over for Barry next year (only I thought in two years). I love this guy and I love this move. He is going to be an awesome coach and do a great job of recruiting. I met him a few times last year while covering Badger games, and he is intense. By the end of the interview he had me ready to go out and hit someone. It goes without saying, but we owe a lot of grattitude to Barry Alvarez. Before he arrived they averaged 4.5 wins per season, with him 7.2. His winning percentage .604, before him the schools was .540. He's appeared in 10 bowl games and won 7. Before him, six appearances and one bowl win. Three Rose Bowl wins, to bring the Schools total to...three. He has been the Vince Lombardi of the Badgers. Thank you Barry.

Lastly, this weekend the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame will induct it's 2005 Class. Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, Jerry Coleman and Peter Gammons. As a self professed Cub hater, I will say this much, there were two Cubs I enjoyed watching. Mark Grace, and Ryne Sandberg. He made ten consecutive All-Star appearances, won nine consecutive Gold Gloves and won one MVP award. Ryno was a classy guy, and one of the greatest second basemen of all time.