...Of the Day

Story: Not only did the slumping Orioles fire Lee Mazzilli today, but they also cancelled the 3,000 hit celebration planned for Rafael Palmeiro since he accomplished the feat. Just a horrible past couple of weeks for the franchise since being in first place in the East and having Palmeiro reach the mark. Nothing but bad things have happened since then, I'm glad I'm not an Orioles' fan.

What the...?: This was a story from yesterday, but it belongs here. Addidas is buying Reebok for $59 a share. I will let Gaddis explain the economics of this and why it was a good deal, or will be a good deal when it is approved, but I don't get it. Can Reebox really be in that bad of a situation? Don't they have apparell deals with the NFL and NBA? Gaddis, help me.

Link: A story from cnn.com about how teen athletes are using dangerous methods to get into shape and lose weight to excel in sports. If anyone has any question as to why professional athletes need to be tested, this is the reason. I know the story of teens using unhealthy ways to get fit is out about 8 times a year, but it seems even more fitting after having a self-proclaimed "good guy" of a sport test positive for steroids.

Random Thought: We are going to know we're in trouble when poker players start getting their own episodes of SportsCentury or Beyond the Glory. And don't worry, it's coming.

Prediction: Trey is still alive (if you don't know what that means, Garcia will tell you).


-Until next time...

ESPN's 10 Best Personalities

Okay, after posting about the 10 most annoying ESPN personalities in this morning's Daily Brew, you just knew it was coming...

10. Harold Reynolds - He's got good stories to tell, he knows what he's talking about, and he doesn't act is if he knows more than you because he played the game.

9. Shawn Salisbury - I like him when he's on the Dan Patrick show, and personally think he's good on NFL Live. He brings good comedic value, without trying to be funny.

9. Tom Jackson - Probably the best guy on the set of NFL Countdown and Prime Time. Jackson is a rarity in that he's one of those former athletes who is so good on TV that you often say "Wow, Tom Jackson played in the NFL?"

8. John Anderson - Much in the same mold as Michael Kim. Straight to the point, with some attempted catch phrases, plus he's from Wisconsin.

7. Reece Davis - Good fill in on the Dan Patrick show, he does a great job with highlights and he's very easy to listen to.

6. Chris Fowler - He is the glue that holds the College Football Gameday show together.

5. Trey Wingo - Another good Dan replacement on the Dan Patrick show. He does an awesome job on NFL Live.

4. Karl Ravich - Another solid baseball guy. Ravich and The Lama on Baseball tonight, it doesn't get any better. Speeking of the Lama...

3. Peter Gammons - Peter Gammons just doesn't suck. What else is there to say?

2. Scott Van Pelt - Van Peezy doing a Scream A. Smith impression, man it doesn't get any better than that. Booyah!

1. Dan Patrick - I realize I put him in the annoying category already, but Dan is one of those guys that can annoy you at times, but you appreciate him. He is undoubetlby the best anchor in the history of the network and he has a real smooth delivery.

Daily Brew 8/4

Let's start by wishing my dad a happy birthday today. (I won't disclose the age) Happy Birthday pops.

The Brewers completely shocked me (and Mr. Fabos) last night and pulled out a close win in the late innings, only, yeah you guessed it Victor Santos pulled another no-decision. Look I realize I'm hard on the guy, and a lot of the time it's maybe unwarranted, but it's just not working. Whenever he takes the hill it seems like they're going to lose, and if they do win he's not the pitcher of record (his record will atest to that). He pitched fairly well last night, but made the same mistakes, keeping the ball up in the zone. When you don't really have any pitches that move, and you're fast ball zings in their at 88, you especially can't get away with that.

Don't look now, but the Crew is only 2 games under .500, and only 6 1/2 games back in the wild card race. Speaking of wild card, how is Houston still leading that race? No Bagwell, Biggio is going on 57, Berkman was injured almost the entire first half, and they're getting contributions from a guy named Luke Scott. But on the flip side, Mike Lamb has been a solid utility guy this year, Morgan Ensberg is finally having his breakout season, Clemens' pact with the devil apparently hasn't expired yet, Andy Pettite is actually healthy, Berkman has been on a tear since his return, and Willy Taveras, remember that name, Willy has turned in a solid rookie season.

It turns out the 4 year $4 million deal offered to Zaza Pachulia by the Hawks is actually a 4 year $16 MILLION deal. Who reported this first figure, and how are you off by that much? This could make it difficult for the Bucks to resign Zaza, but the good news is it may open the door for the return of Tony Kukoc.

Can ESPN Radio just rename the Dan Patrick show to the 1:00 eastern time zone show? How many vacation days does this guy get. It pretty much ruins the next three hours of my work day when I hear Linda Cohen, Dana Jacobsen, or Screaming A. Smith. Which reminds me...

10 Most Annoying ESPN Personalities

10. Joe Morgan - He calls a horrible game during sunday night baseball, and for the love of god, STOP CALLING A SLIDER A SLIDE PIECE!

9. Steven A. Smith - I can tolerate him, but at times he's really annoying. Oh yeah, please stop yelling at me.

8. Dicky V - God love him, but he's annoying.

7. Joe Thiesman - Should change his name again to something like Workoff, you know "Thiesman rhymes with Heisman," wel Workoff rhymes with Jerko... you get the picture. Don't remind me that you played the game, I already know (I've seen you break your leg at least 80 times) and don't act like you could step right onto the field from the booth and out perform todays QB's.

6. Sal Palontonio - Something about this guy just really gets under my skin. Just like (again I'll go back to the OC) Ryan Atwood felt about Oliver, I don't feel right about this guy. Quite frankly he seems like a self-centerd punk. (Fabos, I'm sure you could atest?)

5. Bob Ryan - Crotchedy old guy who really annoys me. Could most guys relate to what he said about Jason Kidd's wife? Sure, but you don't say it Bob. Oh yeah and I hate how when he's on Around the Horn he pretty much automatically wins.

4. Dan Patrick - I don't care what you shot at Augusta (Filzen), while hanging out with Darius Rucker and all the other celeb friends you have that you name drop on your show everyday. Odly enough, I still like him though.

3. Skip Bayless - He carried vendeta's and if he doesn't like you he will sway his argument away from the truth to pieces of the truth that benefit his argument. Was he right all along with T.O., yeah, but don't remind me everyday.

2. Chris Berman - The Boomer, ohh silly boomer. Your whole "I make funny nicknames" mo is getting old. You can't call a game, or even home run derby, and you are the only person that can make an NFL highlight show unwatchable. (Honorable mention Sterling Sharpe) Please do us all a favor and quit. I realize you helped build ESPN, which is kind of my point exactly. Both you and the network are unwatchable now.

1. Stuart Scott - God I hate him. HATE. Cross-eyed bastard, go try and catch another ball from the juggs machine at Jets camp.

The Badgers have announced that they will wear thier 1960's uniforms when the unviel the final rennovations to Camp Randall on September 3 against Bowling Green. Bowling Green has announced that they will also wear their throw back uniforms. The Badgers are expected to have over 400 former Badgers on hand to show off the completion of the $109 million project.

In Badgers on field news, the coaching staff is thinking of ways to get Tyler Donovan on the field, and may do the same thing they did with Bollinger and Sorgi, and rotate QB's. For the love of god no. Let one guy win the job and play him. If you really like Donovan this much, or at least as much as you say you do, then just start him. Is Stocco really that much better than Donovan?

News that broke yesterday that I never touched on, Addidas has agreed to buy Reebok for $59 a share. This will combine the power Addidas has overseas on popularity it carries in sports like soccer, with Reebok's U.S. appeal of sponorships it carries with basketball. This could prove to be a major competitor for Nike, but I doubt it.

A press conference has been announced in Vegas regarding the NBA. Apparently the NBA will actually hold an All-Star game there. I have no problem with this. Baseball should do the same thing, more players would actually go to the All-Star game. Let's see, Seattle Washington or Vegas, Washington, Vegas. Sure, I'll go to Vegas for a few days.

...Of the Day

Story: Let's see, biggest trade in NBA history, 5 teams, 13 players and the Heat now have a few more weapons other than Shaq and Wade, yeah that's probably the story of the day. Apparently the Heat and Shaq want to win NOW and that's why they took on the Antoine Walker contract, but if he can help take some of the pressure off of Wade and Shaq, it will be worth it. I don't think this trade will bring an NBA championship, but it may get them to another game 7 of the conference finals.

What the...?: This just happened; bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, one out, Cubs 3 Phillies 3. Michael Wuertz strikes out the batter for the second out, but the ball gets away from Michael Barrett by about 8 feet. Barrett quickly gets to the ball as Jimmy Rollins is trying to score the winning run, as Rollins sees Barrett get to the ball, with Wuertz covering home plate and begins charging the plate. Rollins starts back to third (he's about half way between the bases). Instead of simply holding the ball and getting to the next batter with two outs and bases still loaded, Barrett for some reason decides to throw the ball to third to try and throw out Rollins. Absolutely a mental lapse and it cost the Cubs the game.

Link: Brett Favre talking about actually having to work out more to try and extend his career.

Random thought: Is there any punishment for umpires who don't have a consistent strike zone? Do they ever get fined or suspended for being really bad? Who is in charge of this?

Prediction: The Bucks will make the playoffs, and you can all make me eat my words.

-Until next time...

Daily Brew 8/3

What's the sign of a good team? Closing games out. So where would that leave a team that runs the opposing starter out of the game in the second inning, gets back-to-back homers twice, has a five run lead three innings in, which eventually becomes a four run, then a two run, then one, and then blows the lead in the ninth. Or what about that team that gets runners on first and second with no one out in the 10th, and finishes the inning with no runs in and runners stranded on first and second. We all know that team that drops the potential double play ball that would have bailed them out when a line drive isn't caught during a hit and run situation. Better yet, that team that WALKS in the winning run. Ah yes, we all know that team well. That team is last nights Brewers. I'm so disgusted with that game last night that I'm not even going to write anything else about it.

The Miami heat, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics pulled off the largest trade in NBA history when they swapped 13 players. This deal was bigger than the 4 team 12 player deal that saw Patrick Ewing get shipped to Seattle. Here's a breakdown of what each team gets:

Miami: Antoine Walker, Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, James Posey, Andre Emmett and the draft rights to Roberto Duenas.

Memphis: Eddie Jones and Raul Lopez.

New Orleans: Rasual Butler and Kirk Snyder

Utah: Greg Ostertag

Boston: Curtis Borchardt, Qyntel Woods, Albert Miralles, two second round picks and cash.

Was Miami the only team looking to not dump salary and get better in this deal? Memphis gives up a headache in Jason Williams but they downgrade at the two guard position in swapping James Posey for Eddie Jones. I know the Celtics are trying to go totally young, but isn't Qyntel Woods the guy who was arranging pit bull fights, or something of that nature? Plus he's already spent time in Portland. Good luck there. On a side note, does Portland play the role the Chino does in the O.C.? "Oh man that's the guy from Chino who stole the car" can easily translate into "oh yeah, hes that guy from portland that assaulted his nanny."

It turns out that the steroid that Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for was identified as a "potent" steroid. New York University Professor Dr. Gary Wadler, an expert in sports doping, said it was "A mildly strong to strong steroid...Potent is the word I'd use." The steroid has been identified as Winstrol or Stanozobol and is the same drug used by sprinter Ben Johnson. Oh yeah, it's also a steroid that you can't purchase over the counter. Sure you didn't know you were taking it Rafy, I believe you. You just unkowningly ended up in Mexico one day, and then I'm sure you probably don't remember how this happend, but somehow you ended up buying this drug.

Not sure how many Hockey fans we have here, but my favorite team the St. Louis Blues dealt their team captain and former League MVP Chris Pronger to the Edmonton Oilers for defensmen Eric Brewer, Doug Lynch and Jeff Woywitka. Kind of a head scratcher, Pronger is one of the best defenders in the league and is still only 30, but Eric Brewer is a guy the Blues are very high on, he's 26 years old and a former 5th overall pick (by the Rangers I believe). This looks like a deal that allows the Blues to get younger, and add some talent that could blossom. I personally can't wait for the NHL to get back this fall. The rules changes are going to make it awesome to watch. If you don't like Hockey, it's probably because you've never taken the time to learn the rules or watch it. I was a moderate fan at best until I attended a playoff game in St Louis in 2001, and then I was sold.

Yes, I realize I've been talking up the A's the past few weeks and it may get annoying to some of you at times, but realize this, the A's have gone 33-7 in their last 40 games. 33-7. That's scary good, that's like late 90's Yankee dynasty good. A young team who was supposed to finish in third or fourth in thier division is making winning look that easy? Lets give credit where credit is due.

Okay, I know Deion Sanders loves him some him, and enjoys the spotlight, but allegedly lying about taking some type of steroid? That's just dumb. Why would you want that attention. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Deion told reporters that he took a drug for his injured ankle before returning to football last season and when he came back he tested positive for steroids. Because of this he was tested weekly. The Ravens claim he was tested weekly because he skipped a drug test and the NFL had "reasonable cause" to test a 37 year old man coming out of retirement, and no, he never tested positive for any steroid. Prime Time. (I wish I could somehow play a clip of "Must Be the Money")

Zaza Pachulia has recieved a four year $4 million offer from the Atlanta Hawks. Once he signs the deal the Bucks will have 7 days to match it or let him go. They are expected to release center Calvin Booth, which will give them luxary tax relief if they exceed the salary cap. If they are able to hold onto Pachulia they would have a solid rotation on the front line with Andrew Bogut, Joe Smith and Bobby Simmons all presumably starting and Dan Gadzuric, Zaza and Desmond

...Of the Day

Story: I'd say Ryan Franklin getting busted for steroids a day after Rafael Palmeiro, but fankly, he's not a big enough name. I'm going to have to go with Shaq taking a pay cut for more years to stay in Miami. He could have made $30 million this season and then been a free agent, but instead will make $20 million each year for the next 5.

What the...?: Not sports related, but as I was visiting cnn.com as one of my morning rituals, I was greeted by a red "breaking news" banner which read something to the effect of, "London police investigating smoke and possible explosions on Bus. More details later". When I went back to check on this later in the day, there was absolutely nothing about it anywhere on the site. What the...? What happened? Was there a story? Was this a story which was in the hopper just in case it actually happened and someone accidentally posted it? I need the answers. I don't care if no one else who reads this saw what I saw, it was there one minute and gone the next.

Link: I completely stole this from the Sports Guy's Intern, but it is a great read. USA Today surveyed fans to find out which was their favorite radio broadcast team. Here are the results.

Random Thought: They should really start showing replays of close plays on the screens at stadiums again. The umps don't have to watch, but the fans need to know if they are outraged for a reason.

Prediction: The Florida Gators will finish in the top three in the SEC this season.

Until next time...

Daily Brew 8/2

I'm starting to get a little tired of the whole "I didn't know it was steriods," or "I didn't know what I was putting in my body" argument. Don't most of these guys have personal trainers? All of them have team trainers. Do I believe Rafael Palmeiro intentionally took steriods? Absolutely. The biggest question of all is where is Jose Canseco? He should be openly gloating, he was just vindicated. Looks like he may have been telling the truth. Palmeiro is a steriod user, and has been since 1993. Why would you all of a sudden start to take steriods now? Of all the members in the 500 home run club, Palmeiro took the longest (8 seasons) to hit 30 in a season. Coincidentally, besides being his first 30 homer season, that 1993 season where Rafy hit 37 homers was also the first year Jose Canseco was in Texas. Remember when Palmeiro was a Cub and was given up on because the team felt he'd never be a power hitter? 3, 14, 8, 8, 14, 26, 22. Those are his home run totals his first 7 seasons in the league. After meeting Canseco, and according to Canseco getting introduced to steroids, he put up 37, 23, 39, 39, 38, 43, 47, 39, 47, 43, 38, 23, and so far 18. I have to admit, that's amazing. The fact that you can go from a Lyle Overbay type hitter during you entire minor league career and first 7 seasons, to a guy that hits 40 home runs in a season (in your mid 30's mind you) is truely remarkable. That, or it's steroids.

While we're on the topic of steriods, here is some breaking news. I now believe the rest of you (everyone in the general public) That Barry Bonds has taken and was taking steroids before or during his major offensive seasons. Tough for me to admit, because Bonds always has been my favorite player, but the argument I just made for why Rafy was, it's the same thing for Bonds. Bonds did announce he won't return this season. Is that even news? Did anyone expect him back this year?

Ned Yost had his option for 2006 picked up by the brewers yesterday. Contrary to Nate's report, I don't dislike Ned Yost. I think he has pumped a much needed entusiasm and energy into the community and team. He revived the Brewers, they were dead, no one cared any more and Ned Yost managed to get fans interested in the team again after a 56 win season. Where I do have a problem is some of the decision making, and it's not to say that he won't get better at it. For his sake I hope he does, otherwise 2007 will be the search for a new coach.

Plowed through another 7, count em 7, episodes of the OC last night. Man did I miss that show. I can't wait till August 23 when season two is released on DVD and September 8 when season three premiers. Randy Moss and company will have to wait, I'll be busy watching the Cohens and not the NFL that night.

If it seems like this column has been going through the motions lately, it's because I have. Man is it hard writing a daily column in the morning, going on little sleep because you just spent last night watching 7 hours worth of the OC and did laundry. That and the fact that there has been little to talk about other than Rafael Palmeiro. The Brewers return tonight and hopefully so will my enthusiasm. That or hopefully another guy gets busted for roids, c'mon sports I need something to write about here.

Of the Day

I am going to try and post at least something everyday from here on out, so with that in mind, I have decided to give, Of the Day a try and here's what it will look like:

Story: Has to be Rafael Palmeiro being busted for steroids. As much as Barry Bonds announcing he is all but done for the season and maybe next, Palmeiro is bigger. Here's what Gene Wojciechowski says about it, how about The Sports Guy, Jayson Stark with an interesting look, or the actual story.

What the...: Ned Yost gets the option for next year picked up already? What the...? We all know how Garcia feels about Yost and I have a feeling if you would look at the facts, many other people would feel about the same. Think about this, his record in two and one half years is 187-242. He may have a good work ethic but some of the decisions he has made with this team are down right ludicrous.

Link: It's not about sports, but is something which should be on the top of every news cast for the next few days, Astronauts trying to fix a space shuttle while still in space, incredible. Many (and I am included) do not care about space exploration and the like, but this isn't something which has ever happened before, so it should be interesting.

Random Thought: September 8th -11th is going to be a great stretch, NFL Kickoff weekend, new episodes of The OC, The Simpsons, and Family Guy return, outstanding.

Prediction: Rafael Palmeiro retires after this season.

Picture:

Man do I miss Whistling Straits, thanks Gaddis!

-Until next time...

Monday, Monday

Can't trust that day...

"I have never used steroids. Period." Rafael Palmeiro to the House Committee on Reform in the steroid hearings prior to the season...

"I am sure you will ask how I tested positive for a banned substance. As I look back, I don't have a specific answer to give. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to explain to the arbitrator how the banned substance entered my body." Palmeiro today after being suspended for 10 games for testing positive for steroids.

Here's the question on everybody's mind, does this affect his Hall of Fame chances (which are of huge debate for talking heads) aversely? The answer is yes. For all of those people who didn't want to give Raffy a chance to enter the Hall prior to this episode, this will definitely be the fodder for an even larger campaign against the fourth member of the 3,000 hit, 500 home run club. Steroids will affect his chances more than Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, even Jason Giambi (assuming he gets to that point) because he tested positive, and it should.

Palmeiro cheated, bottom line. Although the debate will rage on as to whether or not steroids can actually improve ability in baseball, he cheated. Everything he has stood for in the game and said is no longer valid because he tested positive. During his discussions with the House in March, he was quite defiant and even bullish in his staunch denial of ever having used an illegal substance. Now, after testing positive he says he doesn't know how it ever happened and that he hopes he can be a teacher to younger players in the league and they will see what happened to him and not put anything in their bodies which isn't prescribed by a doctor. I'm going to use my least favorite word here but, DUH! How stupid do you have to be at this point to still use something which hasn't been prescribed by a doctor. Players doing this now is like coaches partying with players after Larry Eustachy got busted for it.

No matter what happens from here on out in Rafael's career, nothing's going to matter, he will always be the guy who tested positive for steroids. He won't be the guy who has been in the league for 19 seasons, has averaged over 30 home runs and 100 RBI per season, has played in less than 152 games in a season only 4 times (two of those were his first two years in the league, and one was when he played in 143 games, and of course is only the fourth member of the ultra exclusive 500 home run, 3,000 hit club, and may end up with over 600 home runs, he'll be the guy who tested positive for steroids, and that's how it should be. You can't expect to make such a big mistake and have it just disappear, especially when talking about joining a group which includes Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Eddie Murray. Nothing he will ever do or say will take away from the fact that he cheated and got caught and it's a shame he let all of his fans down.


Speaking of steroids, the biggest accused user, Barry Bonds, announced today that he would likely not return at all for the 2005 season and may not return for the entire 2006 season, read on. Doesn't everyone in the world know that it would be best for him to go the the AL and become a designated hitter? How long is it going to take for him to figure this out. The guy will never play every day again. If he doesn't go to the AL, Hank's record is safe for sure.


Finally, it was quite a joy watching Ryne Sandberg get inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday. I have to say that other than my grandpa's fondness for the team and the old beat up blue hat with the red 'C' I always saw on a hook in the stairwell leading to the basement, Ryno was the player who got me hooked on the Cubs more than any other. One of my first memories of a baseball game was Sandberg batting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th against the Giants, down 1 run in my first visit to Wrigley on my dad's 40th birthday, and he struck out. Thing is, I wasn't disappointed, he still had a great game and I always loved him as a player. His speech moved me quite a bit, in fact I think some dust from my parking lot was blown up and into my apartment yesterday towards the end of the speech because, it got a little misty in here.

The part of Sandberg's speech which I found the best, however was when he basically called out all of the pose-striking, two hoping, me first players who are out there. He never played the game for himself, only for his team, the city, and the fans, nothing else. It is a shame to see players these days lose focus of why they first started playing the game, which is something Sandberg never did, and we all appreciated him for that. Cubs fan or not, you have to at least respect the way he played, always at an All-Star level and always with all the ego of a batboy.

Like I said, one of my first baseball memories was seeing Ryno strikeout against the Giants in 1989, but 16 years later, one of my favorite baseball memories will be seeing his number get retired August 28th against the Marlins when I am sitting with the rest of the bleacher bums in right field cheering louder than I ever have before. He struck out to end a game the first time I saw him, but has always been a grand slam in my book.

-Until next time...

Daily Brew 8/1

Another slow day in the sporting world. After telling us for weeks that they would match any offer to shooting guard Joe Johnson (ughhh, it hurts to say that name) the Suns have pulled off that stance and apparently have worked out a sign and trade deal with the Hawks. The Suns get Boris Diaw and two lottery protected first round picks, the Hawks get Johnson and Johnson gets to play point guard and $70 million over five years.

The trading deadline came and went yesterday without any big names, or even fringe big names switching teams. The Braves picked up Kyle Farnsworth, the Mariners picked up Ron Villone, the White Sox got Geoff Blum, the Diamondbacks got Buddy Groom from the Yankees who became expendable when the Yankees signed Alan Embree on Saturday. The Mariners and Padres swapped Miguel catchers (Olivo for Ojeda), Randy Winn switched teams when he went to the Giants. What? I thought he was going to the Yankees, why the Giants? The Padres and Rangers traded dissapointments (Phil Nevin for Chan Ho Park), the Orioles and Rockies swapped outfielders with Eric Brynes going to Baltimore and Larry Bigbie heading to Colorado. And lastly the Cubs sent recently acquired outfielder Jody Gerut to the Pirates for outfielder Matt Lawton. Now you're all caught up on deadline moves, you probably just don't recognize many of the names.

The Brewers took the final two games of thier four game set with the Giants after dropping the first two. Ben Sheets got the win on Saturday night, and evened his record at 7-7. Is this the year that Sheets finally finishes with an above .500 record? Sheets has been an extremely good pitcher for the better part of the last two and a half years, but until his record improves he won't really be taken seriously. Chris Capuano won his seventh consecutive start yesterday. He's now 12-6 with a 3.58 era. Remember the Richie Sexson trade? Remember how Jorge de la Rosa was really the centerpiece of that deal? Funny thing happened, we found out this Chris Capuano guy is really good. The more time passes, the more a guy involved in that deal plays well. Doug Melvin should go to the hall of fame on that trade alone. Why isn't this compared to the Hershel Walker deal more often? Here's a look at it again.

Arizona gets: Richie Sexson (who they lose the following offseason), Shane Nance (Career AAA'er) and a player to be named later, who I honestly can't remember, I think it was Gary Varner.

Milwaukee gets: Craig Counsell, Chad Moeller, Junior Spivey (who turned into Tomo Ohka), Lyle Overbay, Jorge de la Rosa, and Chris Capuano.Counsell was a solid stop gap shortstop, Moeller is good defensively and Ben Sheets personal catcher, Spivey started out well but then got injured and was never really the player we thought he would be, but the best second baseman we've has since Mark Loretta none-the-less. Overbay has developed into a fan favorite and one of the best doubles hitters in the game, Capuano has become one of the best three's on any staff in the league, and de la Rosa continues to show promise. Sexson on the other hand had just 90 at bats as a Diamondback.

Why is evenone really saying that Manny Ramirez was nearly traded over the weekend? He was never going anywhere. "I thought he was going to the Mets" That's what I just heard and ESPN Radio personality say. For who, Mike Cameron? The Epstien isn't a moran.

Drew Rosenhaus showed up to Packers camp over the weekend so he could meet with his five clients on the team, most notably Javon Walker, Grady Jackson and Najeh Davenport. Rosenhaus left without any deals, or inkling of a potential deal for Walker or Jackson, but he did allegedly work out an extension for Saints cornerback and former Packer Mike McKenzie while in the parking lot near the Don Hutson center. As if seeing that Jackass stroll into the practice stands wasn't bad enough, he works out a deal with McKenzie while in that parking lot.

In other Packers news, Bubba Franks is still without a contract and that is not making Brett Favre too happy. Favre is urging the front office to work out a deal with Franks and get him into camp ASAP. On the defensive side, so far it looks like Joey Thomas is going to beat out Ahmad Carrol for the other starting cornerback spot. I like Thomas and think eventually he will be a good corner in this league. Ahmad might be a lost cause.

On the College hoops front, Leneal Harris became the first local product to commit to the UWM Panthers since hiring new Head Coach Rob Jeter. A Senior at Milwaukee King, Harris averaged 8.1 points per game last season and was honorable mention and a reserve on King's 2004 divison 1 State Championship team. Harris was also considering Norhern Illinois.