The fan is on max speed. And the poop is piled high. It’s not a matter of “if” the sensitive subject of exploitation of college athletes comes to a head, it’s a matter of “when”. And judging from the rash of recent developments, which include momentum for the Ed O’Bannon case and the brand new […]
The Arizona Cardinals 2013 schedule begins in Green Bay Friday. Oh, you can see it now. Wisconsinites drinking to excess, shotgunning Cheez Whiz, playing round after round of “who’s got the brat?”, and then there are the people at the game. As for Cardinal fans, Friday will serve as something of an orientation. There’s a […]
Forget anything involving a housewife or a tattoo artist or a singing competition, sports is the ultimate reality show, and not one sporting event this year has featured Ryan Seacrest. And you can forget anything involving infidelity in the ER, police detectives straddling the line between upholding the law or breaking it, or even teachers […]
Sports fans love their drafts. New players bring new hope to a franchise, to a city, to a sport. For the most part, rookies are given a clean slate. “I don’t care how many trains you robbed while playing free safety at Valdosta State, is all of that behind you now? Are you ready to […]
Another drug scandal in baseball. The Biogenesis probe may not only doom Alex Rodriguez’s career and legacy, it could have as great an impact on the 2013 pennant race as any trade or injury or on-field moment this season. The scandal will lead to more player suspensions, more sullied reputations and more doubt amongst fans […]
So, that’s it, then? Ian Kennedy is done as an Arizona Diamondback? It wasn’t long ago that Kennedy was leading Arizona to an unexpected 2011 playoff appearance. He went 21-4, posted a 2.88 ERA in 222 innings of work, eight strikeouts per nine innings — all the numbers were there, all the promise was there. […]
Baseball doesn’t have a replay problem, it has a union problem. Monday night, MLB umpire Jerry Meals blew another call at home plate that certainly cost the Red Sox a late-inning tie and may have cost Boston the game. Meals’ post-game response? “I blew it. I apologize.” Great, another umpire admitting he screwed up. A […]
I may be wrong. I may be crazy. But Ryan McDonough just may be the lunatic I’ve been waiting for. According to my scorecard, so far, so great for the Suns’ new GM. If you are a Suns fan and you hate the trades that sent Jared Dudley to the Clippers and Luis Scola to […]
Training camp is officially underway, and perhaps for the first time in NFL history, a team’s front office worked harder on day one of training camp than the guys on the field. Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim must have worked up a lather Thursday. In one day, he cut O’Brien Schofield, placed rookie Ryan Swope […]
The Diamondbacks salvaged a split against the Cubs, which has all the satisfaction of salvaging parting gifts from a gameshow. And the Dodgers did something incredible Thursday night. They actually lost a game. As of this day, July 26, there is a measly one-half game separation between the Diamondbacks and first place in the NL […]
Football is officially back. (Pause here for the purpose of giving you time to rejoice in whatever manner you deem appropriate.) Time to see, not just speculate, but actually see if any to all of those moves the Arizona Cardinals made in the offseason are going to pay off. Of course, there’s still time to […]
Riddle me this, Diamondback fans. How can the team acquire starting pitching help for the pennant race without having to trade a single prospect? The answer: Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Aroldis Chapman, Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, Dayan Viciedo, Alexei Ramirez, Jose Contreras: the infusion of Cuban talent into Major League Baseball has not only picked up […]
Call me Dr. Frankenchuck. I now know the joy of giving life and the pain of having to destroy my creation for the betterment of mankind… or at least the Diamondbacks. Ian Kennedy has shaved his beard. And for good or bad, I can’t help but feel responsible. It all began in the summer of […]
Social media has changed sports journalism. Now, everyone with Internet access has the power to play analyst or reporter. This is a great thing for sports, for it drives fan interest. But this is a terrible thing for the athletes, who should realize by now that they are never off the clock. It’s not as […]
Analysts, oddsmakers, Alyssa Milano, practically everyone has tabbed the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team to beat in the National League West. It’s not hard to see why. • Puig Mania • A red-hot Hanley Ramirez • A 17-5 record to close the first half • Kershaw & Greinke • Owners who show no financial […]
Despite what you hear, the Major League Baseball All-Star break does not mark the midway point of the season. Heck, the Midsummer Classic is held three weeks shy of midsummer. But the break does provide baseball fans the opportunity to look ahead and to reflect. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting some analyst […]
Forget products of hype, let’s talk “Can’t Miss” prospects. With anticipation for the football season settling in, I got to thinking. Who are the greatest football prospects to come out of college in my lifetime (1971 to present)? I did so much thinking about this, I put together a team. Hope you enjoy… QB JOHN […]
Tuesday, newest Dodger Ricky Nolasco threw seven innings of five-hit baseball to defeat the first place Diamondbacks 6-1, closing Arizona’s lead to a game-and-a-half in the NL West. Already, Nolasco is paying dividends for his new team while every other contender in the National League is trying to decide whether they should trade now or […]
Every college football season is filled with surprises: surprise upsets, surprise teams, surprise players, surprise coaches found with surprise road rash from a surprise motorcycle crash with a surprise mistress/campus employee. Yes sir, lots of surprises. As fans, we can’t wait to be surprised. It’s what makes college football fandom so great. But the start […]
The gears of the sports fan switch rapidly these days. No sooner does the enjoyment of one sports season end when preparation for the next sports season begins. And you know what’s next, don’t you? Football. Many of you never take a break from thinking about football. Every week, you sit in church doodling fantasy […]
I know I called for a “Summer of Nothing” from the Suns just this week, but I happen to love Ryan McDonough’s first trade. Let me count the ways. 1) Caron Butler’s contract expires after one year. Jared Dudley’s doesn’t. Lottery picks and cap space, that’s how you rebuild in the NBA. Sure, you’ll pay […]
The bell for NBA free agency was rung Monday. Dwight Howard, Monta Ellis, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Tyreke Evans, and more, there are some good players on the free agent market, and my advice for the Phoenix Suns is to stay away from all of them. I know brand new GM Ryan McDonough can’t wait […]
HIGHS 1. THE SURPRISE – Between a more aggressive mainstream media and the advent of social media, I never dreamt I’d be surprised by a number one overall draft pick ever again. The Cavs’ selection of Anthony Bennett floored me. I hadn’t heard anyone suggest he was even a consideration (though I guess ESPN’s Tim […]
The MLB trade deadline is still more than a month away, but reportedly that hasn’t stopped the L.A. Dodgers from entering into trade talks with the Miami Marlins for pitcher Ricky Nolasco, nor has the Dodgers’ last place status for that matter. The Diamondbacks can’t compare the day-to-day operation of their organization to that of […]
