The Law of the Harvest Baseball Edition

Captain Clutch! Jeter scripts walk-off in home finale

When Pearce hit the HR to tie and knowing that Jeter would be up third in the bottom of the inning, you just felt something like this would happen. He's done stuff like this too many times in the past. What a way to go out!!

from MLB.com
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees - September 25, 2014 | MLB.com NYY Recap:

 NEW YORK -- There had been a healthy amount of discussion about orchestrating Derek Jeter's exit from the field, how best to provide that chance to say goodbye after this final game in the Bronx. The Yankees should have known that no one was going to script it better than he would.

After choking back tears for nine innings on his last night wearing pinstripes, Jeter stamped an exclamation point on the end of his New York career, slashing an opposite-field walk-off single in the ninth that lifted the Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Orioles on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

"This is all I've ever wanted to do, and not too many people get an opportunity to do it," Jeter said. "It was above and beyond anything I'd ever dreamt of. I've lived a dream."

'via Blog this'


Dr. Tom Hanson, a highly regarded mental performance expert who also used to work with the Yankees full-time back in 2001, wrote today in his newsletter some important reasons why he believes this finish happened the way it did:

I left the Yankees feeling I'd be thrilled to have our son grow up to be like Jeter and I still feel that way.

.....

p.s. Actually, the first place to check is how much love you are blasting at yourself.  That's what I really want for my son to emulate about Jeter (and hopefully me).  Jeter loves being Jeter.  "That's easy for him, " you might say, "he's Derek Jeter." 

"No," I say, "he's Derek Jeter BECAUSE he thinks that way."  You don't become great and THEN think great.  You think great first.

Consistently, that is what you hear people say about #2, If you has a son, you wanted him to carry himself like Derek Jeter and if you had a daughter, you wanted her to marry someone like Derek Jeter ( and she probably agreed with you, like a jillion % ).

But the second point is even more important as it goes to the heart of why Jeter has been successful throughout his career.

First, he was well-prepared for success by his parents. Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay brought up some of the methods Jeter's parents employed raising him that were strong on personal responsibility, accountability and having a strong belief system in place. They raised him up well.

Second, and this is what Dr. Hanson was alluding to, he didn't put the cart before the horse as many players (and sons) do by thinking, OK when I'm successful, I'll work hard and do the things successful people do (like have an indomitable, positive mind-set). That's putting the cart before the horse. You have a positive mind-set and that leads to success.

I hate to go all Norman Vincent Peale on you, but it's true, and once again Derek Jeter demonstrated that, and many other great qualities last night.

RE2PECT!!

RE2PECT to the Captain.

He played the game the right way. Much like Cal Ripken before him, just a model of consistency, grace and dignity. He gets RESPECT because he gives respect  A great team leader for many, many years. 

Playing in the white-hot spotlight of NY, this is simply an amazing stat. 

from ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11582355/derek-jeter-umps-make-call-captain-career

Also, the fact that given who he is, and how he looks, and where he plays, it's amazing that he hasn't made the back pages for much more than the "alleged" overnight gift bag to his gal pals fiasco. 

Some other amazing stats, career milestones for The Captain:

• As a player, his teams are more over the .500 mark than any other player in history.
• He captained the New York Yankees, one of sports most marquee franchises, longer that anyone else in history. 
• It wasn't too long ago, people were debating whether or not Jeter might catch The Hit King,  Pete Rose for most hits all-time. 
• A .309 batting average over 20 season of play
• 3,461 career hits
• 260 HR's playing in a park that is not user-friendly to RH power hitters
• 5 Silver Sluggers and 5 Gold Gloves 
• Mr. Clutch, even though there is no such thing apparently, according to SABR

Now, this might be a little over the top, and I knew somebody would go there:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/derek-jeter-new-york-yankees-last-game-re2pect

The heavens are crying ahead of Derek Jeter's farewell to Yankee Stadium

The heavens are crying? Really? Anyway, a certain first allot Hall of Famer. Not just a compiler of stats of a hanger-on veteran. He's been  a solid contributor his entire career. 

from Baseball Reference:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_SS.shtml

71.7 career WAR/42.2 7yr-peak WAR/57.0 JAWSAverage HOF SS (out of 21) = 66.7 career WAR/42.8 7yr-peak WAR/54.7 JAWS

The JAWS (Jaffe WAR Score system) was developed by sabermetrician Jay Jaffe — first at Baseball Prospectus in 2004 — as a means to measure a player's Hall of Fame worthiness by comparing him to the players at his position who are already enshrined, using advanced metrics to account for the wide variations in offensive levels that have occurred throughout the game's history. The stated goal is to improve the Hall of Fame's standards, or at least to maintain them rather than erode them, by admitting players who are at least as good as the average Hall of Famer at the position, using a means via which longevity isn't the sole determinant of worthiness.

A great day for baseball and a great day for the Yankees. On top of the hoopla of  Mariano Rivera's career victory lap maybe some in the greater N.Y. metropolitan area are suffering from hoopla fatigue, but the fact that it seems to bother America's biggest  bitch / whiner / bed-wetter / equal opportunity ball of hate  Keith Olbermann makes it all the more appropriate to me.



(BTW - Just because you remember who Red Ruffing is and can spout some seemingly endless innocuous stats that your staff likely cherry picks for you, doesn't mean you know dick about The Game, sir). Your tedious rant only reflected the kind of person YOU ARE, which is to say the polar opposite in every way, shape or form that Derek Jeter is. You sir, will NEVER be the Captain of anything. You can only dream of being 1/1,000th as popular as Derek Jeter is. If ESPN had any shame whatsoever, they would make you go away,  AGAIN!!! And take whoever that idiot is off-camera, that giggles like a school girl at the pablum that dribbles out of your mouth, with you. You're both cretinous losers in the game of life, that much you have made perfectly clear by way of your otherwise rambling, incoherent rant.

Rock on, Captain.  RE2PECT. I got your back on this one. 

Keith Olbermann: The Worst Human Being in Human History!!!

Derek Jeter Isn't The Greatest Player Ever

Always knew this cat was a major league douchebag and this has to prove my point finally and conclusively. It's all fun and games when this guys picks on Bonds or Bush, not very likeable people overall for various reasons. But he has a problem with this?

C'mon, man!!  C'mon now!! Can somebody just put some diapers on this guy and burp him? And then abort him. Seriously. Comparing and contrasting Derek Jeter's victory lap with Scott Rolen? Are you freaking serious man?

Of course, he is playing to the Huffington Post crowd, so it is possible I just may not be up to that uber-elevated level of douchebaggery, but seriously? Somebody please put this guy out of his misery. And us out of ours for having to listen to this talking scrotum.

As a public service.

from huffingtonpost.com
Keith Olbermann: Derek Jeter Is Not The Greatest Player Ever:

Tired of the season-long farewell tour for New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter? ESPN's Keith Olbermann has just the segment for you. The ESPN host began his show on Tuesday ripping apart Jeter's legacy. For ardent Jeter supporter out there, this video is not for you.

"Derek Jeter is not the greatest person in human history. He did not invent baseball. He did not discover electricity. He is not the greatest shortstop who ever lived," Olbermann said. And that was just the beginning.

'via Blog this'

Why the Knicks are the Knicks

This is the guy they got rid of. To make room for the guy they didn't get. Good move slick.

It's for more reasons than this though, seriously. An organization that would even for a minute contemplate bringing back Isiah Thomas as GM--if a spot opened up--is not serious about being anything but a laughing stock of an organization.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5394864

David Lee continues to represent the New York Knicks well, even though he is no longer a member of the team.

Lee flew from his hometown of St. Louis to New York last week to attend the funeral of Scott Jaffer, who served as an NBA security official at Madison Square Garden for many years, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

According to the Times, Lee knew that much of the Knicks' basketball staff would be unable to attend because they were in Las Vegas participating in the NBA Summer League.

Lee wanted to make sure the Knicks were represented at the funeral -- this despite the fact that Lee was shipped to the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade agreement a couple of days before.

"I thought it was wonderful that he came," Marni Jaffer, Scott's wife, told the Times. "And it also struck me how he stayed in the back, paying his respects quietly, not wanting to have people say, 'Oh, it's David Lee,' and intrude on my husband's moment."

The revelation about Lee comes on the heels of the controversy surrounding the New York Yankees, after no player attended the funeral of longtime Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard on July 15.

A stand-up leader who holds himself accountable, even when it's not convenient. From St. Louis, Missouri so he must have some of those old-fashioned Midwestern values in him.

According to his bio on NBA.com while Lee is naturally left-handed, he became essentially ambidextrous when he broke his arm and learned to play right-handed as a sophomore in high school. Lists Jesus Christ, Michael Jordan and Dr. Martin Luther King as historical figures he’d most like to dine with as well. Lee has been one of the Knick's most popular and community-minded athletes throughout his tenure their and it sounds as if he will be sorely missed.

Well, two out three ain't bad. Good job by David Lee.

Let's review, in case you're scoring at home, the Knicks would like to have Isiah Thomas back and seem to believe they cannot win with a guy like David Lee. I must be the crazy one.

Yankee Pride and Yankee Shame on display today

THE KINDER, GENTLER SIDE OF THE BOSS. HELPING OUT THE LOCAL KIDS

So many times we are saddened to hear the stories of those we admire having a side to their life that causes us to be disappointed. In Steinbrenner's case, he was well known in the Tampa community for philanthropy towards youth sports. This would seem to be at odds with his public persona as "The Boss".

The following story provides just some of the many examples.

Steinbrenner's benevolence extended to youth and high school sports

Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 3:38 p.m.

By Times Staff

http://hometeam.tampabay.com/blog/2010/jul/14/steinbrenners-benevolence-extended-youth-and-high-school-sports/

George Steinbrenner, best known as the fire-and-brimstone owner of the New York Yankees, also dedicated himself to helping youth athletes live out their dreams. When Steinbrenner found out about a cause, he always opened his pockets — whether it was Little Leaguers or high schoolers playing in a state title game. He even annually held a banquet for high school coaches that featured eye-popping prizes. Here’s a look at some of Steinbrenner’s most notable efforts.

Unlike the Major League Baseball landscape he forcefully roamed, Steinbrenner’s utopian vision of prep athletics wasn’t segregated into haves and have-nots.

Steinbrenner, himself a former coach, delighted in giving all kids the opportunity to perform on the grandest stages. Case in point: the fall football jamboree he financed five years (1994-98) at Tampa — later renamed Houlihan’s — Stadium.

Each year, eight to 10 Hillsborough County teams would converge at the stadium on a rotating basis, so every school would get a chance to play on NFL turf and suit up in an NFL locker rooms.

“We were about to go on the field, and he’s sitting on a metal folding chair,” recalled Robinson coach Mike DePue, then a Knights assistant. “I went over and thanked him and he said, ‘This is what I do.’ He was just a generous man.”

For the past 21 years, Steinbrenner hosted a coaches banquet for Hillsborough County public and private school coaches.

For many, the event — affectionately known as the “coaches prom” — was the highlight of the year. About 25 prizes were given away at each banquet, including trips to New York and Hawaii and even a car.

The event now draws about 1,200 annually.

And I don't want to hear the argument that "He's rich, he should do that." There are many others, rich and poor, who NEVER find the time to help those less fortunate or in need. His civic example will be missed and was probably not heralded enough while he was around.

The flip side to this reinvigoration of Yankee Pride is the story from Bill Madden of the New York Daily News that not one Yankee player, current or former, saw fit to be at the memorial services for Yankee PA announcer and family member, Bob Sheppard.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/07/16/2010-07-16_yanks_fail_to_show_stripes.html

At Bob Sheppard's last Mass Thursday, his friends and family were reminded what it was like to be in the presence of "a good and decent man" who, as a husband, father, athlete, wartime naval officer, teacher and public address announcer, lived about the most perfect life, for 99 years, as anyone God ever placed on this Earth.

It was just too bad that not a single player whose name Sheppard introduced, ever so properly and eloquently, over 57 years as the Yankees' P.A. announcer, was among those paying their final respects to the "Voice of God." Even if one player - certainly one among the former players employed by the team for this very purpose - would have shown up, it would have provided the touch of class George Steinbrenner always made sure to exhibit in these circumstances.

YOU STRUCK OUT HERE, DEREK. WAY TO STEP UP AND BE THE CAPTAIN!!!

Members of the Sheppard family, did not publicly show any animosity for the slight--perhaps exhibiting that grace and dignity ran throughout their family--but once again, as the Yankee captain, how can Derek Jeter not show up? The same Derek Jeter that has publicly stated that he wants "The Voice of God" to posthumously introduce him for every AB of his career. And Jeter can't even stay in town and be there for the family? WHAT A DISGRACE!!

It's been a tough week, no doubt, for the Yankees, who are mourning the loss of Steinbrenner, which came on the heels of Sheppard's death on Sunday. Sheppard, especially, probably would not have felt slighted that no player, past or present, was among the hundreds paying their respects at the Church of Saint Christopher in Baldwin, L.I.

As his son, Paul Sheppard, put it: "My father was a man of such humility. He could not understand why anyone would want his autograph."

Nice job, Jeter. When you can use the guy like a prop to enhance your image, it's all good. But then when it's time for you to pay your respects, your FINAL respects, you have to go back to Tampa. For what, did you forget to turn the lights out when you left spring training? RIDICULOUS!!

SHAME ON THE 2010 YANKEES!!

"Stick it, A-Rod" - Amen, to that

So now the kid that A-Rod dismissed for sticking up for honoring the values of the game rather bow at the shrine of A-Rod stands vindicated. It looks like Dallas Braden may be in the Hall of Fame before A-Rod, no? How about that?

"Stick it, A-Rod," the feisty granny told Bay Area reporters after her grandson had completed his gem.

A-Rod is a tool. It makes for great theatre, but once again, for now, the good guy has prevailed. And I always love when that scenario plays out.

Braden went from little-known hurler to outspoken villain (or hero, depending on your feeling about the Yankees) on April 22 when he ripped A-Rod for crossing the pitcher's mound at the Oakland Coliseum while running back to first base after a foul ball -- a baseball no-no. The two exchanged words on the field, and Rodriguez said afterwards he found it "funny" a player with a "handful of wins" would call him out on a rule of which A-Rod claimed not to have been aware.

This is the problem with defending A-Rod in this mess. He is a self-centered fool. In a team environment, he's all about A-Rod.

I only wish the current Yankees captain had more of the grit and respect for the game that a Thurman Munson had, rather than the touchy-feely, corporate style of Derek Jeter. I can only imagine how a Thurman Munson would handle the A-Rod persona. Given how the relationship with Reggie Jackson played out, my imagination need not stray too far.

ARE THONGS PERFORMANCE ENHANCING??

THAT'S VERY NICE - THESE ARE NOT YOUR FATHER'S YANKEES

Apparently Jason Giambi thinks so, and he ought to know, right? I'm not sure from the article if Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon have tried the same thong Giambi uses or not. I'm not sure I really want to know, but that would be taking clubhouse chemistry and camaraderie just a little bit too far. Hopefully, they each have their own personalized thongs, Lord knows they can afford it.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWTieq9jc8lLA2iBnOSze8Fd5MDw

The New York Yankees' first baseman caused a bit of a stir Saturday when the Daily News reported - on the front page, no less - that he often wears a gold thong under his uniform pants when trying to snap out of a slump.

Giambi, who began the day batting .181, has kept the shiny thong in his locker since he played for the Oakland Athletics. Several teammates acknowledged they've tried wearing it, too, including Yankees captain Derek Jeter and outfielder Johnny Damon.

Along with the White Sox blow up doll controversy, it is really mind-boggling what some of these guys will do to get their heads straight and improve performance. The traditional slump-buster may be a thing of the past. Hey fellas, less-than-moderately attractive chicks with weight problems and/or glandular issues still need loving too.

A-Rod and His Gal Pal

FROM TODAY'S NEW YORK POST:


http://www.nypost.com/seven/05302007/news/regionalnews/hes_a_yankee_doodle_randy_regionalnews_dan_mangan.htm

By DAN MANGAN

May 30, 2007 -- Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate with a mysterious, busty blonde in Toronto, as these intimate, exclusive photos reveal.

Cynthia Rodriguez - A-Rod's wife and mother of their 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Natasha - was nowhere to be seen during the slugger's big night out on the town, which occurred the evening before the last-place Bronx Bombers' pathetic 7-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

And it came as Rodriguez took a room at Toronto's Four Seasons hotel - down the street from the Park Hyatt, where most, if not all of his Yankee teammates and coaches are staying during a three-game stint that ends tonight.

C'mon, his wife would have just been a third wheel, besides she doesn't like blondes.

Wait a minute, he doesn't stay with his teammates? Who does this guy think he is, Roger Clemens. He probably doesn't want Jeter to steal another girlfriend from him.

"No comment," Rodriguez said when The Post asked him about his north-of-the-border jaunt with the blonde.

Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said A-Rod has "never commented on his personal or private life, and he's not going to start now."

Right, just like his other nasty habits like not hitting in the clutch, NOT playing on a World Series winner, WHY START COMMENTING ON STUFF NOW? Just cram all those skeletons into a big closet marked "Alex's Screw Ups".

Rodriguez went 0-for-3 last night in the Yanks' 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

A-Rod started his busy Sunday in The Bronx, where the Yankees dropped a third straight game to the Los Angeles Angels.

At least the night wasn't a total washout. A size three collar and a waiting Hummer (He drives a Hummer, right?). That's a decent day at the park.

Rodriguez, who was wearing his wedding band, was casually dressed in jeans and a white, short-sleeved T-shirt featuring a large fleur-de-lis on its left arm. His tight-bodied, bleach-blonde gal pal was clad in a snug pair of blue jeans, a shiny, light T-shirt and wedge-heeled shoes.

See, he was wearing his wedding band. That means anything that happened is OK. These creeps in the media make me sick. Fleur-de-lis? Not very manly, but when you're A-Rod, you can pull shit like this off.

Home to what one Web site calls, "Toronto's most beautiful all-nude dancers," the Brass Rail is known for its booming sound system, overflowing crowds, overpriced beers and $20 lap dances - a drop in the bucket for Rodriguez, who has a 10-year contract worth $252 million.

Over-priced beers? But apparently very reasonably priced lap dances (no editorial). And the third baseman is no bargain at those prices either, pal. This writer has his priorities in place, huh?

Rodriguez and the blonde spent an hour or so at the Brass Rail, the witness said.
When they walked out of there, A-Rod and the woman were alone.

Those Rodriguez flunkies know when to make themselves scarce. They'd have spent more time at the bar but Alex is young and not very skilled in the art of conversation and the sexual tension it can create. Plus, he doesn't speak Canadian very well and his posse didn;t have a American-to-Canadian thesauraus.

They then got a cab back to the Four Seasons. Their cab pulled up to the hotel minutes after midnight.

Right before the beefy-armed bitch would have turned into a pumpkin. Good thing those dumb-f**ks were on Canadian time or A-Rod would have been wiping pumpkin seeds off his genitalia. Sucks when that happens.

A-Rod then strode into the hotel behind her. He rubbed his nose as if to obscure his face to other people as he joined her at the elevator bank.

As the doors to an elevator opened, he and the blonde got in together, the witness said.

The doors then closed, and they disappeared upstairs.

Yes, he strode the smug, purposeful stride of a stallion who just knew he was moments away from mounting his filly. Actually, he rubbed a different body part and did the F-you dance for the pathetic paparazzi, but they couldn't print those details in the New York Post, they have standards and journalistic integrity and junk.

Alas, we may never fully know what happened after those two hormonally charged hunks disappeared into the night, but if nine months from now, she pops out a tight-bodied, green eyed little muffin with GQ good looks, in a shiny shirt with a propensity for choking in the clutch, I guess we'll be able to connect the dots.

Good Luck in Divorce Court, what's 1/2 of $252 Million?

Random Pre-Final Four - Opening Day Notes

OK, OK. Michael Irvin is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but out as ESPN commentator? It's a deal. WTF, at least the HOF doesn't broadcast blabbering bullshit into my living room on a weekly basis. How I'm going to understand TO now, without his personal mouthpiece pontificating from his bully(bullshit?) pulpit, I don't know.

Reminds me of the old lawyer joke though. You know the one. What's 1,000 lawyers chained together at the bottom of the ocean? (Answer: A good start). Well, this is merely a good start by the Worldwide Leader. A necessary spring cleaning.

Theismann out of MNF, another nice touch. Ron Jaworski as replacement is a nice upgrade. You don't have to worry aboout Jaws being dull on air, or too exciting off the air. Plus, seeing him and hearing his voice is a constant reminder of LT coming off the corner and blindsidng his ass. It would be like how Eagle fans would feel if Joe Pisarcik were the new analyst. Hey, those are the breaks. At least Herman Edwards is still coaching, right? So it evens out.

But let's get serious ESPN. Let's really roll up our sleeves and go all the way. There's not anyone roaming the halls in Bristol,CT or cleaning the stalls for that matter, who has more knowledge and camera presence than Jeff Brantley? He should be next. And Kruk too for that matter. I'm not seeing the appeal or feeling the knowledge. Orestes Destrade seems ready to move up to the big club.

And how about Doug Gottlieb? How many more lunches have to mysteriously dissapear from the employee lounge fridge before ESPN security puts two and two together? How much loose change has to be pilfered from hard-working, lower level employees desks before justice is done once and for all?

And how can the good women employees of ESPN feel safe from sexual harassment? You throw them the bone of the Harold Reynolds firing yet leave the carcass of Sean Salisbury and his wonder-cell-phone? Qu'elle charade!!

Oh well, on to the Final Four Front. Team Slavik has 3 of the Final Four and had 6 of the Elite Eight and still sits 16 out of 32 brackets in the company pool. That's a tough pool. I'm glad I don't gamble, at least not with my own money (sorry honey).

You gotta love the Cubs chances this year, huh? I mean who'd have guessed that Mark Prior and Kerry Wood would open the season on the DL? What are the odds? They both seemed so healthy and with such immaculate past medical records. Hey, they've come so close to a century of futility, why mess it up now, who knows when you might get an opportunity to be a part of this type of history of futility again? Go Cubs.




Are Jeter and A-Rod still dating? TLF, right? Pre-pubescent girls talk about and stress over not sleeping over their friends house, not major league MVP candidates. OMG!! At least you know these two guys are not on the juice, too much estrogen here. And what's with Mussina v. Pavano and the little hissy cat-fight these guys have going on? Old-time Yankees are spinning in their graves. Back in the day, there would be a little clubhouse dust-up, or even better an on-field brouhaha, and the combatants would go out, have a beer and it would be over. Now, everyone wants to get in front of a microphone and talk about their problems with Dr. Phil. Sometimes, old-school is better. I guess violence is never the answer, except maybe when it beats the alternative. Go Yankees.



Devil Rays in the World Series by 2010? That would be too cool and yet somehow maybe plausible? Possibly improving to possible if some things go right. Still a frontline ace pitcher and a stud closer away, at least. But they're young enough and talented enough and gosh darn it, people like them. Go Devil Rays.

My pre-season Divison winner predictions:
NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
Wild Card: Giants

Al East: Yankees
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Angels
Wild Card: Indians

World Series: Giants vs. Yankees
World Series Winner: Giants

Over/Under on Bonds breaking Aaron's record: September 3rd.

The "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS" Awards

With apologies to and admiration for John McEnroe, whose rendition of "you cannot be serious" is the inspriation for the Award. The following items are so egregious as to merit anger and outrage at that level.

ESPN: for firing Harold Reynolds. YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS. Does Jeff Brantley have a no-fire clause in his contract? Or picture of top-executives of ESPN in compromising positions in his possession? He'd have gone first in my book.

What about the other Yoda wannabe John Kruk? Are we appealing to the much coveted 35-55, spit tobacco swilling, writes with a crayon demographic here? Then he's expendable.

How about Steve Phillips? This guy is giving advice to the Yankees to trade A-Rod? Does he not recall that it was his trade of Scott Kazmir for a box of rocks that resulted in his dismissal from the Mets? This is like Dr. Kervorkian giving advice to the American Medical Association.

How about the ethical wizard Doug Gottlieb. Keep you hand on your wallet when he's on the air that's all anyone can say about this guy.

And how about the fool that is Eric Karros? During a recent Yankees braodcast this fool was tossed a softball question by his play by play man re: whether Yankee captain Derek Jeter should have in some way come to the defense of A-Rod given his recent treatment by Yankes fans. Karros lent nothing, simply regurgitating Jeter's quotes that he doesn't have the cache to chastise Yankee fans. THE HELL HE DOESN'T!!! Let's just count the ways shall we?

1) He's the freaking captain of the team, BE A LEADER!!!
2) this is his supposed good friend as well as teammate (at least that's what we were told when A-Rod came on board)
3) He stood up when Yankee fans gave Jason Giambi what-for after the steroids fiasco. So you can stand up for a cheater and a liar, but not your friend?
4) Pee Wee Reese did as much or more symbollically for Jackie Robinson when Brooklyn Dodger fans treated him like fans on the road where when he first started playing and you best believe it sent a message to Dodger fans and improved things, and I guess, thank God he had the courage to do so.

Derek Jeter: You get a large "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS" , in my mind, based on words and behavior in l'affaire A-Rod, you go from being the face of baseball to the ass-face of baseball.
Give back the "C" if you don't know how to handle it.

Floyd Landis: Tour de France winner, alleged doper based on the A sample anyway. He claims his testosterone levels are naturally high. Does this give us much hope for the results of the B sample? Or was this sample taken after any event that would have substantially lowered the level enough to pass the test? If you have abnormally high levels naturally, wouldn't you have failed most prior tests? Including the six taken at prior points in the Tour> But you've never failed one in the past right? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS. OK, Next?

To all the fools at WADA, USADA and any other aphabet soup pseudo-nazi organization that wants to mainstream this type of drug testing protocol not only in all major sports but down to the high school sports level in this country. Let's see if I understand how this works.....You've splashed crimson red paint all over Landis reputation based on his A sample, but wait says one of the experts in the field of cycling, the B sample could test negative and exonerate him.

Presumably it's the same piss, but then what does that say about the test? We still have one positive vs. one negative, of course we exonerate, but then we're back to the damage to his rep appears on page one and the reatraction appears on page ten. And the original stain of the initial charge lingers forever, I repeat FOREVER.

And we want these jack-booted, idiots making policy in this country? I heard one of these talking heads speculating that the positive could have been caused by a) the couple of beers Landis had to rinse away his prior days disappointing performance and b) the coritsone shots he took for his hip. You're going to eliminate most competitors in every major sports league on the basis of those two conditions, I can assure you of that right know.

This same talking head opined that Landis had low testosterone levels but a high ratio of testosterone to epistosterone. First off, what is epistosterone? Regular testosterone gay cousin? And, second Landis comes out the next day saying he had naturally high levels of the big-T. Can't have it both ways, get your stories straight before you go on air please. So here we are in this state of affairs in the sports world, all because white America can't stomach Barry Bonds being the home-run king. YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS.