Random thoughts on a rainy day...

The house still stinks from the tub being reglazed and the new counters in the kitchen so I'm still living out of a hotel, but I'm lucky enough to be able to pound some thoughts out at work and post for your review and approval...

We haven't had rain in the Cincinnati Area in a while and we got a sudden downpour and of course folks dont know how to drive in it. So I'm sitting in traffic waiting to get past an accident on the way to the office and I heard some things on the radio today that made me shake my head. Starting with one Michael Vick. You would think that this fool would learn, And you'll understand shortly why I call him a fool.
Vick failed a drug test for weed. Don't you think with all the trouble that he is in he would lay extremely low. Because you know that Vick is still awaiting sentencing and that the sentencing judge is watching this. If I'm in Vick's shoes, I'm not going anywhere. I'm sitting at home, food gets delivered. I take no chances on getting in any trouble. But Vick just doesn't get it. He is in for real, real trouble. He is going to jail and not for something like a week. He's looking at at a minimum of at least 12 months in jail and up to five years...thats no joke. And thats not county the piling on that the state is looking to do. A rational person who is looking at what he's looking at, would lay low do absolutely nothing. Here this fool is smoking weed. Don't you think that he would know that he would get tested??? Just the fact that he threw all that money away trying to "true to the hood." I dont get why people act like if you are from the 'hood and you come into money that you have to prove you are still "hood type" You dont have to change who you are but acting a fool when you have money makes no sense.

The call on Bradley and the Ump...Out! Both of them!
MLB came down hard on the ump who set Milton Bradley off into his yearly conniption fit. Mike Phillips was suspended for the rest of the 2007 season. MLB did not elaborate on what was said between the ump and Bradley. Bradley is his rage tore his ACL when he was trying to be restrained by his manager Bud Black. Bradley is a highly talented player who has had a hard time staying with any one team for a long time, since his highly voliatile temper puts him a situation where he is going off on someone or something. Fans have heckeled him into nearly going into the stands on a couple occasions. Bradley now faces a long rehab and speaking as someone who has had ACL surgery, the rehab sucks. The sad thing is that Bradley didn't hurt himself running the bases, or diving after a ball. He did it trying to jump into an umps face. What a waste...

The wild scramble in the NL continues
The NL continues to jostle and jockey for playoff position. The Cubs are making things interesting, and making their fans panic. The Padres got a badly needed win last night, The Rockies are charging hard down the stretch and need to get as many wins as they can before a ultra critical series with the D-Backs in the final weekend. The Mets are trying their doggedest to give away the East. The Phils are waiting and oh no is that the Braves still there barely hanging on. Eight teams still in it fighting for four spots...The days are dwindiling and the intensity goes up and up every game, soon every inning, every out and every pitch will uber-crucial.

Gundy's Meltdown???
You know the sporting press was gripping hard at Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gandy. After his teams shootout win over Texas Tech this weekend, he took a columist to task over what she wrote about the situation rgarding his quarterbacks. True Gundy mught have reacted like a mother bear protecting her cub. But I liked the so-called meltdown. I think it funny that the sporting media, can blast and call manhood into question at any point. But if you call them on it, they react with a shock and surprise like "Who me?? Who said all that. The athlete is left with the wreckage and the columnist kinda shrugs as if to say "We meant no harm" If you report the facts, get them straight. If you have an opinion, back them up with facts or at least be prepared to defend your words. I think Gundy might have been a bit over the top, but his comments were on the mark. He didn't curse or insult, but he did call the columnist out on her comments. I say bravo.

What are you thinking???
Last today, we come to the one point where someone needs a jack-slap. I'm referring to the curious case of Shawn Marion. The talented swingman forward of the Suns that is reportedly demanding a trade from one of the most high speed entertaining teams to watch. Playing with one of the most pass happy point guards in the game, and he reportedly wants to go the Lake Show. Are you kidding, playing alongside that ball blackhole that is #24. Marion has averaged 18.6 ppg since coming into the league in 99 and whose lowest ppg was 10.2 in his rookie year. Does he really think that he will get that kind of point total playing alongside Ko-Bah??? Pul-leese. Marion's best chance for a ring is to stay alongside Nash, Stoudamire, and a newly acquired Grant Hill, try to make do and shaddap!

On the subject of Namecalling
"Who you callin a b---?" Queen Latifah "U.N.I.T.Y" 1993

That question needs to be asked of Isiah Thomas. The embattled GM of the New York Knicks
under fire for his questionable treatment of a co-worker and his salty language towards her has been the focus of a lawsuit. Statements were taken from individuals like Stephon Marbury (Not the most articulate of individuals) who had been noted using even saltier language in reference to people. The fact that Thomas has long been noted for having a nasty disposition behind the cherub face and decivingly innocent smile and has once again been expose for being a cantankeorous individual. Being a proud father, I know I would knock someone's teeth down their throat if they referred to my daughter as a "b".
The point that I'm trying make here is that one should never be surprised to hear that sort of language, I'm not in any way condoing calling someone out of their name for any reason, beyond good natured knowing teasing. The problem is that you have athletes turned execs and have never gotten out of that locker room mentality. If you have been in a locker room, you know that the attitude is rough and the language would make some of the more hardended folks blush. People who have worked in a office have no clue of this attitude, and when these types cross, it can be a shock to the office type.

Bonds future in question
Barry Bonds is playing his last games this week as a Giant. I think he got a raw deal from the team that he helped build their park and have a run of sellouts. You think that the Giants have not benefitted from Bonds' chasing the single season and all-time HR records. A majority of which were hit in PacBell/SBC/AT&T Park. #300, #500, #660, #661, #714, #715 and #756 were all hit there. As well as the #71-#73. The Giants seemed to say, we've got our fill of you and in a move depressingly similar to Hank Aaron, Bonds will not retire with the team that he hit his historic home runs.
Whats left for Bonds? He is still chasing 3000 hits. As of this post he is at 2,935. He is also still chasing that elusive World Series ring. In his only appearance he came tantilizingly close. 5 outs away from winning it. So the possibilty that he might go to an AL team and DH is a real possibility. I like Bonds the player, he still is one of the most feared sluggers in the game and he is super disciplined at the plate. He's a first class (expletive) off the field and with reporters. That is sad because, I've seen interviews where Bonds is articulate, poignant, thoughtful and a sharp interview. If he was more like that he'd be revered like Reggie Jackson who despite being an occasional polarizing influence was one of the most respected players in the game and was a first ballot hall of famer. Will Bonds be a first ballot. Based on his "pre-steroids" numbers. He's a shoo-in. I'm not getting in to if he has or hasn't since nothing has been proved, I say innocent until you have something concrete. But he was a 400-400 man before any of this started and that should make him in, but his legendary tiffs with the media may keep Bonds waiting...for how long is anyones guess.

I'll be back in time to post my NFL Picks for week 4. Until next post fellow sports fans!