Cheer up, there's always next race Yes, it is that time of the year. Right in that spot when the NBA All-Star game ends and MLB Spring Training is about to begin is NASCAR'S big event: The Daytona 500. What made this Daytona 500 interesting was the fact that the race debut former Indy Car racer Danica Patrick driving in the #10 GoDaddy.com car. Yes that Danica Patrick, the one who is more famous for her riskee GoDaddy.com TV ads than her racing skills. This past year, she decided to make the jump up into NASCAR to 'hang with the big boys' persay. Well, in her first NASCAR race, her car got wrecked on the 2nd lap (yup, you read that correctly folks 2nd lap) and she placed 38th. Ironically enough, it was 5-time NASCAR Champ Jimmie Johnson who wrecked her (if that isn't a baptism of fire, than I don't know what is). Look at this way... Danica you got what you wanted, you're in the big leagues. So instead of spending all your time doing all those GoDaddy.com advertisements, you should focus a little bit more on trying improving on your driving skills if you want to continue to hang with the big boys. -The Fantastic Ryan Fox It is a cold bitter fact, when things fall apart, somebody has to pay. Someone has to be the sacrificial lamb. That is the story of Jason Varitek's retirement. After last season's dramatic collapse, the brain trust on Yawkey Way called for the Skipper and Captain's heads. Things had to change, they boasted. Fried chicken & beer no more! Instead uncle Bobby V is here to give the team snack time, & arts & crafts. The Sox brought in veteran manager Bobby Valentine to instill some discipline & get the team back to the basics. Most will agree it is time for a change at the helm, (that's a whole different blog) but why sacrifice behind the plate? It is true Varitek's offensive numbers have slipped. However as a part time player his power, especially at clutch times has come in handy. Not to mention the real reason Boston should have retained the veteran catcher. His replacements. Both will not be employed in Boston in a year I guarantee and neither have half the skill or patience to work with the pitching staff in the way Varitek did. Just ask Josh Beckett if the man flashing the signs makes a difference. The Red Sox on paper have put together one of their worst pitching staffs in awhile. Couldn't a veteran catcher known for his ability to get the most out of every arm help? Sure his overall ability to captain a team may come into question, but all you need him to do is catch every 3rd or fourth day. The knowledge and know-how possessed by this man is second to none. The Sox just let that "know-how" retire, and walk off into the sunset... A move they may soon regret. -Pal Terrell Owens' affinity for attention is nothing new. So, the 38-year old wide receiver suiting up for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League was hardly a shock. However, his debut performance was a memorable one, as Owens produced 53 yards from 3 catches, all touchdowns. Seemingly a media stunt, the Wranglers benefited from Owen's brand recognition, selling more tickets to this game than in the 2011 season's games combined. Also likely a desperate attempt to return to NFL Football, Owens wanted show that he can still play at a high level. He sat out the entire 2011 NFL season, as teams were hesitant to bring in the enigmatic receiver after receiving major knee surgery the previous off-season. Owens' Indoor Football debut may have been facilitated by financial motives, rather than his ego. Despite earning over 80 million dollars in his playing career thus far, Two of TO's Texas residences have been foreclosed upon, adding him to the list of disgraced superstars facing financial ruin.
- Kevin Aherne
For the first time since implementing its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in 2006, Major League Baseball has overturned a player-suspension based on a failed urine test. 30 Players, including a few repeat offenders, have been suspended for taking various banned substances. Most of these players have been aging veterans like Manny Ramirez, or virtual unknowns like JC Romero or Ronny Paulino. Most of these suspended players filed an appeal, but they all were ultimately upheld, and suspensions had been served. Days before being awarded the 2011 National League MVP, Brewers' slugger Ryan Braun received troubling news. His recent urine sample displayed elevated synthetic testosterone levels, and he would be facing a 50 game suspension. Braun filed an appeal, but now his phenomenal offensive season which lead the Brewers into the playoffs, was tarnished, sullying the MLB brand in the process. It gets worse. In 2009, while speaking to the media about the Drug Prevention program, Selig mentioned Braun as being part of baseball's clean future: "Albert Pujols is absolutely right. He has been tested since he started playing," Selig said in response to Pujols steroid questions. "So has Ryan Howard. So has Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman. Since they were in the minors." It gets worse. Ryan Braun plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. This fact is significant because this franchise is very closely associated with MLB Commish Bud Selig. Up until 2004, Bud Selig was the principal owner of the Brew Crew. Despite selling his share of the team, Selig has maintained a close interest in the franchise that he once revived from bankruptcy. On several occasions, the commissioner has been accused of favoring his home team over the rest of the league's franchises. So, with all of these factors, there is no way that the league would overturn its first suspension in this instance, right? Right!?!?
So now Ryan Braun has clearance to play the entire 2012 season. His suspension has been removed, and his MVP Trophy remains in his possession. Bud Selig and Major League Baseball stood to gain a lot by making this steroid case go away. Previous violations had been discarded as "aging superstars trying to retain their diminishing skill." But now, a young, talented, award-winning stud was threatening to reignite the steroid flame that had begun to die out.
Tell me what you think... Is this a coverup, or a legitimate exhoneration? In the meantime, I will get Dan Bidondi on the case! -Kevin Aherne The New York Yankees added to one of the best offenses in baseball this week with the addition of veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez. Like a surgeon cutting threw his annual budget Yankee GM Brian Cashman made headlines earlier in the week, moving pitcher AJ Burnett out of town, in order to free up some dough. Ibanez who will turn 40 this season is coming off a down season in which he only hit .245. However his numbers are deceiving. Raul has played in at least 130 games and has produced 80 RBIs or more 9 out of the last 10 seasons. The Yankees were on the market for a productive clutch left handed stick. After flirting with former Yanks, Matsui, & Damon, it was Ibanez they settled on. Cashman has continued his under the radar, blockbusterless off season campaign with the signing of Ibanez. However do not sleep on this move. Ibanez will be hitting in the best line up of his career and will be playing 81 games in that sandlot in the Bronx. -Pal The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off today. While I am by no means an NCAA Football insider (they decide their championship with a computer? sorry... that's for another blog), I did my homework so you don't have to. Everyone knows Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Justin Blackmon are the studs of this draft, but every year there are virtual unknowns that turn into NFL Superstars. Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and James Harrison were nobodies leaving college, and now they are perennial All-Pros. It is way too early to start talking about mock drafts, but here are some names to watch out for in the coming weeks: Pitchers and Catchers have reported, the Cubs and Sox finally worked out a compensation deal for Theo, and the new JetBlue Park has opened its doors.
Let the Bobby Valentine Era begin... -Kevin Aherne |
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