Just Because!!!

Is Nadal Ready?

After Roger Federer's loss today in the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters Tennis Tournament, Rafa Nadal can take the number 1 spot away from Federer for the first time in 4 years. All he has to do is win the title.

Sounds daunting until you realize that Nadal has won the last 5 tournaments he has played in, including Wimbledon and the French Open. While I hate to see Federer's record run at number 1 end, it seems only right for Nadal to be at 1.

Of course, pressure and the likes of Andy Roddick and Novak Djokavic may have something to say about it. Maybe if he gets the number 1 spot he'll quit wearing those stupid cropped pants

Watch Out For The Curves on Mullholland

All the talk finally came to fruition. Former Red Sox slugger Manny "Just Being Manny" Ramirez has finally been traded. His new home? Los Angeles, Ca.

There has been talk for the past few years with Manny having no qualms taking his issues to the media. This year the team had finally had enough. The deal was a three team arrangement between LA, Boston, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

You gotta wonder what was going on for him to be so unhappy and for the Sox to let the MVP of the 2004 World Series go. Perhaps someone should send Red Sox upper management a copy of "Who Moved My Cheese?"

Adding To The Star Wattage

The Yankees are at it again. Last night they acquired catcher and 14 time All-Star is batting .295 this season with five home runs and 32 RBIs in 82 games. In 18 seasons with the Rangers, Marlins and Tigers, he's hit .302 with 293 homers and 1,214 RBIs.

Currently the Yankees are in 3rd place behind the Red Sox and Tampa Bay. I can't figure it out. They haven't been able to buy a World Championship, yet they continue to try. Of course, maybe they realize they aren't getting any better and they hope that by buying up all the good players that everyone else will just get worse.

Of course this is a match made in heaven, Pudge does have a statue of himself in his yard at home.

.

Can I Borrow Some Pee?

A major doping scandal involving the Russian track and field team came to light Thursday. Track and field's governing body provisionally suspending six Russian athletes after a long-running investigation.

Among those suspended is 25-year-old Yelena Soboleva, the world indoor record holder in the 1500 meters. The athletes are accused of fraudulently substituting urine.

Officials deliberately stored and then re-tested samples using "comparative DNA techniques" -- the suggestion being that the samples contained shared DNA, an obvious impossibility.

The IAAF carried out what it called a "specific investigation" for more than a year.

I love that they got busted!! Not only are they cheaters, but they are piss smugglers too!!

Oakland To Cooper's Town

Brad Ziegler set the major league record for scoreless innings to start a career. Ziegler gave up two singles in two innings to extend his scoreless streak to 27 and break a record that had stood since 1907.

Afterward, the 28-year-old kept two balls from his outing but planned to send the rest -- along with a pair of his shoes and a hat -- to the Hall of Fame."I don't know if that's something I'd ever thought I'd have to do as long as it wasn't a real embarrassing moment or someone else's highlight, but it's pretty incredible," Ziegler said. "It's real special. I feel like I've worked real hard to get here. Thankfully it's not over yet. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Man on a Mission

Rafael Nadal beat Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Rogers Cup, his fifth straight tournament victory.

Plus, it gives me another reason to put up a pic of this man

Just Because!!!

Blow to US Men's Gymnastics

U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm announced on Monday he was withdrawing from the U.S. team because his broken right hand was not sufficiently healthy enough in addition to hurting his rotator cuff in his accelerated recovery effort.

"I have put my heart and soul into my comeback and done everything I could to get ready in time to compete in Beijing," Hamm said in a statement. "At this point in time, the success of the team and fairness to the team, and the alternates, is most important. While I am very disappointed, I feel I can wait no longer to make this decision."

This was surely a tough decision for the Mousekateer (if youve ever heard him speak you know what I mean) and we wish him the best and admire his sportsmanship in making this difficult decision. M-I-C "see you real soon..."

Once concelation for the Hamm family is that identical twin Morgan will still compete for team USA

Looking Good!!

Now that the team has been selected and they have completed their first of 2 pre-Beijing camps, the coaches are ready to update us.

http://usaswimming.org/usasweb/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=80&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en&ItemId=2135&mid=1707

Manny Being Manny

So, another year and another Manny Ramirez trade rumor. If anything REALLY happens...

Just Because!!!

Ha! Ha!

Guess who gets to go to a game in Yankee Stadium?
Thanks Yvonne!!!

Hang In There

Olympic Phenom Dara Torres' coach, Michael Lohberg, was stricken with a rare, potentially fatal blood disorder that has left his star swimmer devastated and prone to crying jags two weeks before the Beijing Games.

"It's just been an emotional roller coaster. I'm in total shock," Torres told The Associated Press by phone Friday from the U.S. team's training camp in Palo Alto, Calif. "I cry a lot and get very emotional."

Torres found out Tuesday before practice that Lohberg has aplastic anemia, in which the bone marrow doesn't produce enough new cells, leading to fatigue, increased risk of infection and uncontrolled bleeding. Treatment can involve blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant.

Best wishes to Michael and his Family.

Now Who Should Be Tested For Drugs

A minor league pitcher, who was accused of throwing a ball that hit a fan during a bench-clearing brawl, was arraigned Friday on a felonious assault charge via video from the Montgomery County jail and ordered held on $50,000 bond.

Yes, thats right. He threw a ball at a fan. Not one of the other players, not another coach, but a fan in the bleachers.

Really???

The fan, who remains unidentified, was treated at Miami Valley Hospital and released, said hospital spokeswoman Nancy Thickel. She didn't know the extent of the fan's injuries. If convicted, Castillo would face up to eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

IDIOT!!!!

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Normally I look at Athletes accused of doping and frown. Well, not so much with a frown as with total and complete disgust. As everyone knows now, Jessica Hardy of the United States women's Swim Team has been accused of using a performance enhancing substance. We were initially lead to believe that the two viles of blood that were drawn During the Olympic Trials came back with a large amount of a performance enhancing substance. Now more information is coming to light.

NBCOlympics.com is reporting that there were more than just two tests done on Hardy. According to her attorney, Hardy was tested three times during the trials in Omaha, Neb. The results were negative for the samples taken on July 1, after she won the 100-meter breaststroke, and on July 6, shortly after she claimed another individual spot on the team by finishing second to Dara Torres in the 50 freestyle.

But Hardy's ``A'' and backup ``B'' samples both came back positive - for what her attorney said was low amounts of the drug Clenbuterol - from a test on July 4, when she finished fourth in the 100 freestyle.

If she did do this, I hope that she understands that she screwed other girls out of their dreams who worked very hard and made tremendous sacrifices only to be fucked by a cheater.

That being said, if it is proven that the 2 positive tests could be tainted, I will be behind her 100% because I know that in alot of people's minds, there will always be a question mark by her name.

Check Please!!

In his first tournament since Wimbledon, world #1 Roger Federer goes down in the 2nd round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The giant slayer is Gilles Simon of France.

"The problem was my game today," Federer said. "As the match went on I struggled a little bit to put the forehands away," Federer said. "He's a good baseliner. We saw that today. He moves well. He's deceiving because he's kind of thin and tall but moves really well for his height, you know. He flicks a lot of balls with his backhand as well, so when you come in you can't see where he plays."

Come on Rog! The Wimbledon final was amazing and everything, but I really liked it alot more when you won everything. Of course, Im not a fair weather fan, just don't push it.

Dirty Girl

Swimmer Jessica Hardy has tested positive for a banned substance. Hardy, 21, was tested at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Both her A and B samples have come back positive.

Arbitration proceedings have been expedited to resolve whether she will remain eligible for the 2008 Olympics.

I hope there is a good explanation for this. Of course Im not sure what it would be.

Just Because!!!

How Dare They Try and Keep Him From Us!!

From Yahoo Sports: Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.

Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick for the Lions in April. At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team.

But a subsequent Department of Defense policy has superseded the 2005 Army policy.

In a letter to Lions president Matt Millen dated Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote that Campbell has been ordered to give up professional football for “full-time traditional military duties.”

Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell may ask to be released from his active duty obligations in May 2010.

Liba said Campbell was allowed to enter the draft “in good faith.”

I LOVE Surfing!!

Kelly Slater won the 2008 Billabong Pro-Jay Bay surf competition. With this win, those in the know are saying that he has solidified himself as the best surfer of all time.

And now I get to post a picture of him :-) Im gonna start watching the surf reports more closely!

Building-up to the Open

Andy Roddick won his second-round match in Toronto at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament Tuesday.
Roddick needed just 28 minutes to take both the first and third sets. Roddick was especially strong in the third, hitting six of his 18 aces in the final nine games and going 15-for-15 in first serve points won.

And now we get to post another picture of him...

Home Run Sizemore

The Indians are losing to the Angels 14-8 in the top of the 8th but Grady Sizemore just hit a solo homerun. I think thats plenty of reason to post a picture of him don't you?

Yoo Betta' Recanize!!

The University of Texas will retire the Jerseys of 2 of their most popular athletes of the new decade. Basketball player Kevin Durant and Vince Young, Quarterback of the National Champion Longhorn football team Vince Young will be honored by the University in the 2008-09 school year. Durant is currently playing hoops for the Seattle Supersonics while Young is the QB for the Tennessee Titans. Young was also listed on the ESPN 25 greatest college football players of all time.

Hook 'Em Horns!!

Good To Go

Eric Shanteau, who was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer 1 week before the Olympic Trials, has been cleared to head to Beijing with the rest of the U.S. swim team.

Eddie Reese, the Men's Olympic Team Coach, said Wednesday that Shanteau just got the results of his final blood tests at the team's training camp in Palo Alto, Calif. They showed no spread of the cancer. "The bloodwork says he is ready to go straight through Beijing," Reese said.

As If This Really Needed Explaining

Melvin Stewart, Olympic Gold Medalist and Former World Record Holder, penned a great article on the sex appeal of swimmers for swimnetwork.com. http://swimnetwork.com/articles/article/news/20080721/gold_medal_mel__swimming_s_sex_appeal-15410.html

Personally I always thought this was implied but apparently he received some flack after addressing the sex appeal of Michael Phelps in a previous article. Take a gander it's a great read.

Just Because!!!

Finally!! This Should Help Ratings!!

Go to the link below to see the WNBA finally attempt a ratings hike!

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3501154&categoryId=3414465

Spartacus, 2008

A-Rod signs another major contract this season. This one was penned by the William Morris Agency in an attempt to extend the slugger's brand beyond the baseball diamond.

“Partnering with William Morris will enable me to broaden the scope of my career in creative and innovative ways,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I’m excited to see what we will be able to accomplish together, both domestically and abroad.”

Personally I believe he should just dive right in and take a bite out of something that will really challenge him. Something that is thought provoking, requires him to really tap into his emotions, and requires a number of nude scenes!

How Bout Some New Adds While We Wait?

On Tuesday, Tony Dungy said he was optimistic Peyton Manning's valuable knee issue could be resolved quicker than most people expect. Dungy fully expects Manning to be ready week 1 and says that there is even the possibility Manning may play in the pre-season.

"I have talked to Peyton and we're just following the doctors instructions right now," Dungy said. "I'm hoping for four weeks, but if he's truly out six weeks, I think it will be hard to keep him out. However it goes, he'll be ready when he comes back."

Manning had surgery last week to remove an infected bursa sac, a procedure doctors said would require four to six weeks to heal

VERY! VERY! Sad News

While I reserve this site for mostly sports news, this woman's work on one of my favorite TV shows brought me as much happiness as any sport.

Golden Girl Estelle Getty passed away this morning at the age of 84. While she will be missed dearly by her family, we know that she is in a better place. Best wishes to her family and friends.

Very Big News!

Tommy Haas advanced to the second round of the Rogers Cup with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Carlos Moya on Tuesday.

No real reason to report this other than it gives me a reason to post a picture of Tommy Haas

Just Because!!!

Brian Urlahhhhhhhcher

Blah! Blah! Blah! Chicago Bears
Blah! Blah! Blah! Re-negotiate
Blah! Blah! Blah! Millions of Dollars
Just look at him. Thats worth a million right there!!!

Shock to the Saints

Former NY football Giants TE Jeremy Shockey has been traded to the New Orleans Saints. A member of the 2008 World Championship Team may be just the key that the Saints have been missing to finally make a run deep into the playoffs and possibly to the Super Bowl.

As for the Giants, the retirement of Michael Strahan and now the loss of Shockey may leave too big a hole for the Giants to fill.

Good Luck...I guess

Andy Roddick has decided to skip the Beijing Olympics to focus on the US Open. "I'll be a huge fan watching it [the Games] from home. [My decision] had to do more with at the end of my career I want to have been making runs in Slams. … I didn't feel like a trip to Beijing, followed by playing a first-round match five days later at the U.S. Open was the best preparation for Flushing." says Roddick.

I gotta say, I am an Olympic freak. I don't think that there is anything more prestigious than being able to say that you were an Olympian, moreover an Olympic medalist. But, Im also a big Roddick fan and wish him the best at the Open. Perhaps he can get past the 3rd round this year.

That's Not Very Lady Like!!

The buzz Saturday in Lexington, Ohio was around the confrontation between Danica Patrick and Fellow female driver Milka Duno.

After finishing a practice run, Patrick quickly argued with the less experienced driver about getting in her way several times.

The altercation lasted only about a minute, but witnesses said it grew heated and that Duno flung a towel in Patrick's direction at one point.

MEOW!!! I can hear the men in pit row now, :" Anyone got some mud?"

And yes I am very aware that the picture I posted has nothing to do with racing. But hey, she posed for it.

Timberlake Hits It Out!!!!!

I have been a fan of Justin Timberlake's music since back in the N'Sync days. I have all his CD's and my ears perk up anytime I hear that he has had a hand in co-writing or producing somebody's work.

Last night though, I became a true JT fan. He was the host of the ESPN, ESPY awards and I mean to tell ya, he really did an amaing job!!! If you didn't get a chance to see it, Im sure that there are clips on youtube and of course ESPN will probably run it a few more times.

He was an absolute natural. He was hilarious and didn't miss a beat! And for such a big star, he really seemed like a kid in a candy store around all the athletes. I hope that the producers of the show realize what an amazing addition he was and have had the foresight to book him for next year.

Anyone Think Gina Was There?

So, yesterday on an American Airlines flight from Boston to LA, there was a little issue. A man in his 20's (name was not released) caused a lttle scene by stripping naked and subsequently triying to jump out of the plane.

Luckily, Members of the New England Revolution, a Major League Soccer Team, were among those who grabbed the passenger near an exit door. They held the guy down while a flight attendant fastened tie wraps on the man. The plane made an emergency landing in Oklahoma City where the man was taken into custody and placed under psychiatric evaluation.

PLEASE let there be a follow-up report on her... I mean this article.

Just Because!!!

Holes In The Story

When I first saw this on ESPN.com this morning I really went back and forth on whether or not to post it. I REALLY want to believe Clemens on this deal and at first is looked like the magic bullet, or needle, that was gonna bury him, or just puncture him. Now this chapter has gotten a little more interesting.

Convicted steroid distributor Kirk Radomski told ESPN.com that while he was moving a broken television off a dresser in the bedroom of his Long Island home last Sunday night, he found a shipping receipt for Human Growth Hormone that he claims to have sent to Clemens' Houston home in 2002 or 2003. Radomski said he found that receipt, along with "seven or eight others" for shipments to other baseball players, under the TV.

Now, Im no genius, but here are a few things to think about...
1) Did he really put HGH on the shipping receipt and wouldn't Fed-Ex or UPS have a copy of this?
2) As a controlled substance wouldn't there be a red flag since our buddy Kirk isn't a doctor?
3) Under the TV? Really? I mean, maybe a fire poof safe that the TV was sitting on. But just under the TV? Who is advising this guy?
4) 2002 or 2003? Again, the receipt. What kinda "receipt" doesn't have a place for the date on it? was this on a "while you were out" telephone message pad?
5) 7 or 8 other receipts. Should we really give up on a future hall of famer for a guy who can't count past 6?

Is anyone with me on this?

Duh? the Sky Is Blue Too

The NFL has hired experts to study game footage to determine whether players are displaying gang signals as part of their on-field celebrations, the Los Angeles Times reports. "There have been some suspected things we've seen," said Milt Ahlerich, the league's VP of Security, according to the Times' report. "When we see it, we quietly jump on it immediately, directly with the team and the player or employee involved to cease and desist.
Period."

"We were always suspicious that this might be happening," said Mike Pereira, the NFL's VP of Officiating, according to the report.

So, does this mean that along with the NFL's "don't ask don't tell" steroid policy, they are going to initiate some sort of "backgraound check" too?

Gang signs in pro sports gained a higher profile during the NBA playoffs, when Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics was fined $25,000 for making "menacing gestures" toward the Atlanta bench..

Great! when the FCC gets ahold of this, everyone on TV will be forced to stand around with their hands behind their back; with all gesturing coming from their heads. I hope the American Epileptic Society doesn't get upset!

Rats!!!

Bottom of the 15th, bases loaded, Lights Out Lidge on the mound, the Texans' Michael Young at the plate...

Pop-up to right field...

Home-Run Derby Champ, Morneau tags up...

AL wins 4 - 3.

No Reason Needed

Im still and NL fan, but I was kinda' hoping that Grady Sizemore was gonna be the hero for the AL in the 10th so that I could post his picture.

But Honestly, with a mug like that do I really need a reason?

Extra Innings!!!

At the end of 9, the NL and AL are tied at 3. In extra-inning games, the NL is 9-0-1
WOO-HOO
Go NL

Josh "Stretch" Grobin

Not to jinx it, but in what is turning out to be a tight pitchers duel, the National League is leading the American League 2 - 0 at the 7th inning stretch of the MLB All-Star Game.

Josh Grobin just sang God Bless America. Amazing!!! Of course, perhaps he should have been the starter. Cheryl Crow sang the National Anthem at the outset of the game. Now, Im a fan of Cheryl Crow she is great at the folksy, rock/country thing that she does.

But, this is Yankee Stadium, New York City, and the All Star Game. I need to be blown through the back of my couch by some Diva with a face full of makeup, belting out a National Anthem with a run at the end that will make the hair on my ass stand up! Hell, prop Whitney up out there on a gurney. Bitch still has the best voice on the planet!

Johnny Be Good

Johnny Damon, eligible to be activated from the DL on Sunday, continues to have soreness in his injured left shoulder, and won't likely start hitting off a tee until at least late this week. He only took treatment on Tuesday.

This is Damon's first time ever on the DL. He sprained and bruised his left shoulder when he crashed into the left-field fence trying for a leaping catch against Boston

"It feels a little better today," Damon said. "It still feels horrible waking up. I'm still kind of down because I know [Yankees manager Joe] Girardi wants to put me in the lineup on Sunday and I'm not sure we can do that."

I wonder if he's letting his hair grow back out a little while he's on the DL. Or do the Yankees not allow that either?

Manning on the Mend

Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning had a medical procedure Monday to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.

A Bursa (not to be confused with the Hermes Birkin) is a small fluid-filled sac made of white fibrous tissue and lined with synovial membrane. It provides a cushion between bones and tendons and/or muscles around a joint. Bursae are found around almost every major joint of the body; when they become inflamed, the condition is called bursitis.

The Colts medical staff expects Manning to have "a full and complete return to action" in four to six weeks. Colts training camp begins July 25.

It Aint A Sprint

Josh Hamilton may have had the biggest first round and the 3 longest shots, but he couldnt bring it home in the end.

Enter Justin Morneau. With a restart after the first round, the Minnesota Twins 1st baseman edged out the Texas slugger for the title.

Things Are Bigger In Texas

Josh Hamilton just set a new All-Star Home Run Derby record for the number of homeruns in the 1st round. The new record is 28. My newest crush is Josh Hamilton. Its ok Lochte, you and Beckham are still at the top of the list.

Now more importantly, Josh plays for the Texas Rangers. As soon as I hit send on this post, Im finding out when the Rangers are coming to LA.

Did somebody say something about the lack of Yankees in the Derby line-up? Scared of a little competition, in more than one department.