Friday, August 29, 2008

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Okay, there's a good chance that C.J. Spiller and James Davis run all over Alabama on Saturday night at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. There's also a possibility that Tommy Bowden messes something up. Um, I tend to lean towards the latter.

While he may have been playing against a tired defense, Chris Smelley looked crisp and desicively better than Tommy Beecher and deserves the starting nod over Beecher next week against Vanderbilt. And I don't doubt for a second that Spurrier won't name Smelley the starter early next week.

It was really good to see Sammie Stroughter back on the football field last night for Oregon State. After missing last season with a kidney injury, the dynamic wideout had 12 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including a first-half 55-yard score, in the Beavers' 36-28 loss to Stanford. It was also great to see Jim Harbaugh get his team off to a nice start as the Cardinal look to make huge strides this year in the Pac-10.

Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin have been solid out of the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen all season, but they could not protect a lead for Cole Hamels on the road last night at Wrigley Field. Aramis Ramirez hit a dramatic grand slam as the Cubs moved to 34 games above .500 and 6 1/2 games ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central. The Phils were able to get to Ryan Dempster and had a commanding 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the eighth

The Dodgers continue to self-destruct. getting swept by the Nationals to lose their seventh consecutive game and fall 3 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona in the NL West.

The Marlins are now 10-15 in August after their 4-2 defeat to the Braves. The club has not won two in a row this month.

Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was scratched from his start against the White Sox and placed on the DL with elbow trouble and tingling in his pinkie finger. He was scheduled to fly to Birmingham, Alabama to meet with Dr. Trouble James Andrews. The Red Sox won't have to worry about defending their World Championship without Beckett because they likely won't get to the playoffs without him.

Tampa Bay is now 11-0-1 in series play after the All-Star break, as Edwin Jackson won for the sixth time in seven starts. Despite their AL-best 49-19 record at home, the Rays only drew 14,039, making it the sixth straight game with an attendance under 20,000. Unreal and sad.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Red Sox Bury Yankees; Mets Bounce Back

It's safe to say that the Red Sox ended the faint playoff hopes of the New York Yankees last night. Behind four RBI from Jason Bay and a Dustin Pedroia grand slam, Boston roughed up Andy Pettitte and the Yanks 11-3. The Sawx have outscored the Yanks 18-6 in the first two games of this final three-game set between the teams at Yankee Stadium. Hank Steinbrenner's admission to the press that "They suck" was pretty awesome, pretty succinct, and pretty correct.

The Yankees have not consistently produced offensively all season, and their pitching just isn't good enough in a league where pitching has never been better. Most shocking, however, is the listless nature in which the Yankees have played all season, particularly during the stretch run.

Not to put too much stock in one baseball game in a 162-game season, but last night's Mets victory over the Phillies really was huge. Even without ace Johan Santana's best stuff, the Mets regained a half-game lead over Philly

What a job Dan Wheeler has done as a fill-in closer for the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander has nine saves in 11 chances and has helped solidify the back end of the Tampa 'pen. If and when Troy Percival comes back from the DL, the emergence of another quality late-inning option will only help the Rays down the stretch. Too bad no one is there to witness the great story that has been their season, as 13,000 measly fans watched their 1-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays last night. The good news is that TV ratings for Rays games are up, which is encouraging at least.

Finally, I hope Fabrice Santoro is resting comfortably after being shaken up by Andy Roddick's serve at the U.S. Open. Do you need a cup of water Fabrice? Perhaps a cold towel? Seriously, this is professional tennis, not ping pong.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Dreadful Night in New York

M-E-T-S Mets Mets Mets! Terrible loss last night, as Jerry Manuel's squad blew a 7-0 lead on the road in Philly, helping the Phils overtake the NL East lead. For the 22nd time this season the Mets blew a save, further highlighting the mind-boggling decision not to acquire a reliever at the deadline. Ace Johan Santana tries to play stopper tonight.

Meanwhile, the star on New York's other team, Alex Rodriguez, finished 0-5 with seven left on base last night as the Yanks are making clear that they are no longer factors in the AL East. To his credit, the reigning MVP took the blame for the loss to the BoSox. Shocking stat pack of the year: Mr. Madonna is 1-10 with the bases loaded on the season and has 3 RBI in the seventh inning and on. Three!

The Colorado Rockies are at it again. The scrappy ballclub is looking to duplicate their late-season surge of last season, pulling to within six games of division-leading Arizona in the NL West after a 7-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Geez, I still can't believe how bad that division is.

Meanwhile, the dreams of an all-Florida World Series are becoming more unlikely. The Florida Marlins continued to flounder last night with Kevin Gregg imploding in the ninth inning against Atlanta as the club fell six games behind Philadelphia in the NL East. The young pitching staff has not thrown the ball well over the last month.

American League Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee--yeah, I gave it to him already--moved to 5-0 with a 1.86 ERA in August last night in Cleveland's 10-4 win over Detroit.

The Twins lost for the fourth straight game, falling again to Seattle to drop another game to the first-place Chicago White Sox. If it's not a saggy bullpen, it's a lack of offense for the Twinkies.

On the NFL beat, Chargers stud linebacker Shawne Merriman has two torn ligaments in his knee, yet still plans to play through the injury as four doctors have told him that the injury can't get any worse. The leader in sacks over the last three seasons, Merriman was expected to anchor a defense that many feel can help put the Chargers over the top in the AFC.

Finally, did Tim Tebow really contribute in 55 Florida TD's last season? For the Gators to compete for a national title, however, Percy Harvin must be healthy and a featured tailback--Emmanuel Moody?--must emerge.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Twins Bullpen's Road Woes Continue

For the second day in a row, the Twins' bullpen failed on the road as Minnesota lost ground on the White Sox in the AL Central race. The Twins sit only a game back but failed to take advantage of playing the Mariners with Francisco Liriano on the mound. Liriano and Kevin Slowey, in particular, have been spectacular in outpitching their opponents to keep the Twins in the thick of the division race. The bullpen, however, is one of the worst in baseball on the road. Conversely, the unit has been spectacular at home. The Twins do, however, play the White Sox at the Metrodome in the final week of the season, and the Dome has been a house of horrors for the ChiSox. This race has been too tight for the division title not to come down to the season's final week.

Huge win for the Phillies on Monday, as the team completed its sweep of the Dodgers behind another gem from Brett Myers. Reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins' bat finally seems to be heating up, helping set the table for a dominant offense. Meanwhile, Mike Pelfrey continued to live up to his potential with a complete game win over the Astros to keep the Mets a half-game ahead of the Fighting Phils in the AL East. John Maine, however, has been placed on the DL, making it even more crucial for Pedro Martinez and Pelfrey to continue their strong pitching. And that bullpen continues to be painfully bad on most nights. The Mets and Phillies play in one of three huge series that kick off tonight, along with the Brewers/Cardinals and Red Sox/Yankees. The Brewers, by the way, are 15-6 since getting swept by the Cubs at home. Ned Yost did a very nice recovery job.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Olympic Wrap-Up and...a Carl Pavano Sighting?

The United States reclaimed its spot atop the basketball world on Sunday, as the Redeem Team found redemption in the form of an 11-point victory over Spain to capture the gold medal. The big lead had dwindled to two late in the game, but the Americans had enough firepower and a stopper in Kobe Bryant to hold onto the victory. While the U.S. regained the long-sought gold, the Spaniards hinted that the Americans may not ever be able to reclaim long-standing dominance, as the talent gap has clealry closed between these national teams.

Nice of Carl Pavano to drop by the Yankees clubhouse and actually make a start on Sunday in Baltimore. $39.95 million dolars for 20 starts in pinstripes. Nice.

According to Red Sox manager Terry Francona, pitcher Josh Beckett has inflammation in his right elbow. This could be a devastating blow for the Red Sox' playoff hopes and success, as the club is struggling to get quality starts as it is.

Right-hander Anthony Reyes may have found a rotation that he could stick in, as the former Cardinal has had a nice stretch of starts to begin his Cleveland career. And break up the Indians, who have now won seven in a row.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry absolutely committed robbery in acquiring Rich Harden from the A's. What dividends the injury-prone righty has paid.

The U.S. Open tennis tournament began this morning, and four-time defending champ Roger Federer looks to salvage his disappointing season by taking another hard court major title. Meanwhile, last year's women's champ, Justine Henin is probably relaxing by a beach somewhere.


37-year-old Kurt Warner won the starting quarterback job in Arizona after Matt Leinart endured a three-interception, 4-for-12 first half on Saturday night. The Cardinals are internally worried about Leinart's arm strength and consistency, and his relationship with Ken Whisenhurt almost looks irreparable. The NFC West is a very winnable division for the Cards this season--as it was last year--and Warner gives them the best chance to win. But this is a team with a future glaring hole at QB if Leinart can't get his act together after supposedly buckling down this offseason and becoming a better student of the game.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Redeem Team, Ladies Style

The United States women's soccer club reclaimed its role as dominant world force, while the American softball squad exits its final Olympics after a shocking defeat. Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time to give the U.S. a 1-0 win over Brazil and the gold medal for the third time in four Olympic Games. Goalie Hope Solo, who was benched in last year's World Cup, made huge saves throughout to give coach Pia Sundhage her first major victory after taking over for Greg Ryan nine months ago. Meanwhile, the 3-time Olympic champion American softball team lost for the first time ever in Olympic competition, 3-1 to Japan. Sadly, it will be the last softball game played for a long while as the sport has been dropped from the Olympics for the 2012 London Games.

LaShawn Merritt--not Jeremy Wariner--led a U.S. sweep in the men's 400-meters on Thursday. Wariner settled for silver while David Neville claimed the bronze in a race that many thought would be won by Wariner--and perhaps in record time. After racing out to a sizable early lead as he did in the Olympic trials, Neville held on for bronze after being surpassed by Merritt and Wariner with about 150 meters remaining.


Perhaps the most disappointing results of the Games occurred in the sprints, where the Americans went 0-for-6 for the first time ever. Both the men's and women's relay teams dropped the baton, punctuating a brutally disappointing Olympics for Tyson Gay in particular. As disappointed was Lauryn Williams, who botched her exchange with Torri Edwards after running too early in the 2004 Games.

The Dalhausser-Rogers team of course completed the American sweep in beach volleyball, joining May-Treanor/Walsh as gold medalists, while the U.S. women's indoor team defeated Cuba to advance to the gold-medal match on Saturday against Brazil.

And finally, the IOC is investigated the Chinese women's gymnastics team. Hmm, and they're just doing this now?

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Lightning Strikes Twice in Record Form

He did it again. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt broke another world record, capturing gold in the 200-meter sprint on Wednesday night to give the Olympic Games a jolt after a little post-Phelps apathy. Bolt became the first man to break world records in the 100 and 200 sprints at the same Olympics. Lightning Bolt bested Michael Johnson's record at the 1996 Games, somewhat of a surprise considering he pulled up and coasted in the final meters of his record-setting 100. This time, Bolt, who had come under scrutiny for hot-dogging and show-boating, made sure he finished the race in a full sprint before celebrating. The guy is incredibly fun to watch, and his personality is unmatched in the world of track and field. If he wants to pull up before the finish line and gesture to the crowd as he leaves his competitors in the dust, so be it. As long as he goes out there and proves that he is the best, why not have a little fun along the way? The scary--and for him, most marketable--part of these Games is that he has room to absoultely shatter the 100 world record the next time he races.

The U.S. men's and women's water polo teams are putting on quite a show in the pool at these Olympic Games, as the respective squads are in medal contention in the final days of competition. It marks the first time the men and women are in the medal round in the same Olympics. The sport is in only its third Olympics on the women's side, and the U.S. has medaled in its first two showings. The men, meanwhile, have not won a medal since winning silver in Seoul in 1988.

Americans Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, meanwhile, took care of Georgian pair Renato Gomes and Jorge Terceiro in just 41 minutes to advance to the men's beach volleyball final. The duo has looked unbeatable after shockingly losing its Olympic debut match against Latvia.

The big story on the American side of the Olympic equation, however, is 400-meter darling Jeremy Wariner. The Texan looks to become only the second man--fellow American Michael Johnson was the first--to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the men's 400 meter. Wariner seeks to eclipse Johnson's world record in the event, but must stave off fellow American LaShawn Merritt in what should be one of the most exciting 400's in recent memory.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Bolt Hopes For Double Gold

The demonstrative Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt goes for double gold tonight as the "World's Fastest Man" runs the 200-meter. He seeks to become the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Shawn Johnson finally was able to edge out teammate and friend Nastia Liukin for gold, as the 16-year-old world champion won the balance beam competition. Along with her three silvers, Liukin's four overall medals--including all-around gold--and Jonathan Horton's silver on the high bar Tuesday night, the American gymnasts are leaving Beijing with ten medals. The U.S. men's team also claimed bronze in the team competition. That is the biggest haul of medals at a non-boycotted Games since 1932. Meanwhile, the Chinese men's team claimed seven golds to tie the Soviet Union for most at one Olympic Games.

American Dawn Harper claimed gold in the women's 100-meter hurdles last night in a personal-best time of 12.54 seconds. Sadly, the story of the race has to be Lolo Jones, her U.S. teammate who was winning the race until she tripped up over the second-to-last hurdle.

In another disappointing American track and field note, gold-medal favorite Sanya Richards settled for bronze in the women's 400-meter after leading the race into the final 80 meters.

One final note: Henry Cejudo, who finished 31st in the world championships last year in his only previous senior level tournament, shockingly won gold in the men's 55-kilogram freestyle wrestling division. Wrestling typically doesn't get the pub at the Olympic Games, but this gold medal came out of nowhere for the U.S.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Taylor Golden...Eight Years Later

Angelo Taylor led an American sweep in the 400-meter hurdles on Monday, becoming the first person since Edwin Moses in the event to win gold medals eight years apart. Taylor ran a personal-best 47.25 seconds to beat favorites Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson. The 29-year-old, who was laying electrical wire just 14 months ago, provided an uplifting moment for an American team who has failed to live up to high expectations thus far at the Games.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor won for the 107th time in a row, advancing to the gold medal game in women's beach volleyball. The duo will play the Chinese team of Tian Jia and Wang Jie in the final. The Chinese government was serious when they said that they would produce great athletes for each event. I mean, beach volleyball? China?

The U.S. men's volleyball team finished pool play undefeated at 5-0, but the squad will play a tough Serbian team on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the U.S. women's soccer team will play--who else--Brazil in the gold medal final.

Finally, the balance beam final will give Shawn Johnson one last chance to snag gold after her disappointing silver in the floor exercise.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Phelps, Re-Deemers, and the Insane Usain

Before Saturday night, Jamaica had never won Olympic gold in the 100 meter sprint. They finally won. Twice. Shelly-Ann Fraser stormed past countrywomen Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart to pull off a rare gold-medal double in the men's and women's 100-meter dashes, the first time the feat has occured since 1988. Simpson and Stewart finished in a dead heat to claim silver. Americans Lauryn Williams, Muna Lee and Torri Edwards failed to medal, and a protest filed by the American team was rejected after Williams thought she had false started.

Jay Mariotti's column in the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday centered on the amazing performance displayed by Michael Phelps in the first week of the Games. He wrote that it is "perfectly fair and resonable" to put him in a class with Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth and anyone else in sports history. It made me wonder whether or not he can be placed in such a category when his sport is sadly only recognized every four years. As much as I pay attention to the world championships, let's be honest: most Olympic sports are only celebrated for two weeks every four years. When you think about the training necessary to accomplish such a feat as eight golds in one Games in multiple disciplines, there is something Tiger-like about Phelps. And we are so eager to dismiss the incredible Athens Games he had four years ago. That was just below his performance in Beijing. But Jordan-esque? Bab-licious? Now that's another story.

Team USA's dominant 119-82 performance over defending world champion Spain was quite impressive. The athleticism of the Americans was so evident that Pau Gasol looked like a scrub on the court. The intense dedication to defense has led to countless easy buckets in transition, making this tournament look more and more like a cakewalk for Team USA.

I've heard members of the media complain about the supposed cockiness and showboating by Usain Bolt in running a world record time of 9.69 seconds in thrashing the field on Saturday in the men's 100-meter dash. I say enjoy his bravado and his energy. Athletes like Bolt only come around so often. By the way, you better be clean Bolt.

I know it's been discussed and raved about ad nauseam, but Dara Torres picking up a silver in the 50 free is pretty amazing...if she's clean, of course. The 41-year-old has medals in five Olympic games, which is just staggering...if she's clean.

Rafael Nadal beat Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 to win the gold medal in men's tennis, while the Williams sisters won doubles gold to help ease the pain of a medal-less performance in women's singles.

Shawn Johnson was given the unenviable first starting position in the women's floor exercise final, yet her high score held up...until Romanian Sandra Izbasa claimed gold as the very last performer. Nastia Liukin won the bronze.

It was really nice to see Roger Federer actually win a major tennis event this year. And I really mean it. Too many people have already written off the Swiss star as done. I guess being only the second-best player this year is not good enough.

Is China really 5-for-5 in diving competition at these Games thus far?

Two quick baseball notes: Mets closer Billy Wagner felt discomfort in his left elbow before the game on Sunday and appears to have no chance of returning this year. Meanwhile, Tom Glavine has a torn tendon in his pitching elbow and his career is likely over. And what a career it was. It's possible that we can see Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz all retire in the same offseason. It's only fitting actually.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Blake Disappointed in Lack of Olympic Spirit

Am I the only one not offended by Chilean Fernando Gonzalez's supposed lack of ethics in his men's semifinal tennis match against American James Blake? For those of you who might have missed it, Blake is upset that Gonzalez didn't admit the ball hit his racket before bouncing beyond the baseline late in the third set, thus not rewarding Blake--his opponent--with a point. The chair umpire said he didn't hear or see anything, and Gonzalez was awarded the point as Blake stared at the Chilean waiting for him to admit that he made contact with his racket. Blake makes a good point that tennis is a sportsman's game and the Olympic spirit is about sportsmanship. But if the referee didn't see it, then I'm certainly not going to give away a point. Would you?

On the baseball beat, the player benefitting the most from the Manny Ramirez deal has been Jeff Kent. Since the Dodgers acquired the controversial slugger, Kent has hit 24 points higher with him in the lineup. And don't discount the value of Ned Colletti's acquisition of Casey Blake, either, as the NL West race will certainly go down to the final week of the season with the added pop in the Dodgers' lineup and Arizona's inability to consistently score runs.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Nigeria Sends U.S. Men's Soccer Team Home

The U.S. men's soccer team suffered an absolutely devestating loss today, falling to Nigeria 2-1 and failing to advance in the tournament. Michael Orozco elbowed a Nigerian player three minutes into the game, drawing a red card and leaving the U.S. playing a man down the entire match. Not making the quarterfinals is severely disappointing for a country that just can't seem to break through in the sport on the world stage. The tournament for the Americans ended, however, when the team could not hang on to a 1-0 lead against the Netherlands in its second match, allowing the tying goal in extra time. The lost point proved devastating as the club needed at least a tie against the Nigerians to advance.

By the way, Wei Yang is filthy. He never had a chance to lose the men's individual all-around gymnastics crown. The Chinese gymnasts are beyond filthy.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

U.S. Women Slip, Fall Towards Silver

One night after we witnessed overwhelming elation from the U.S. men's gymnastics team while celebrating its bronze-medal-winning performance, Alicia Sacramone represented the other side of the Games: heartbreak. After falling off the beam and falling to the mat on the floor, Sacramone handed the Chinese a runaway victory for the country's first gold medal in the women's team gymnastics competition. They join the men's squad in sweeping team gymnastics gold. Now it's pretty evident that the Chinese are using little girls for this event--and every other gymnastics competition. There is apparently evidence that a few of the young "women" are actually 14 and 15, and not the requisite 16. But this practice occurs most every Olympics by many other countries other than China. We hear the whispers every four years. It's a similar, but less prevalent, problem to doping. But rather than talk about either issue, I choose to focus strictly on the competition because I don't see either problem really going away anytime soon.

On the baseball beat, even in a winnable AL Central, the Tigers bullpen just wouldn't allow the club to get back in the race. All season it has been an issue, and it continues to be even with the additions of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney off of the disabled list recently. I wonder if Zumaya will ever be able to close out games consistently...I know the game was the exception to the norm, so no pitcher was very effective, but Manny Delcarmen's struggles this year have really hurt the Red Sox. With the trade of Craig Hansen, the Sawx better hope Justin Masterson and Michael Bowden pan out. I think Masterson definitely will, especially because he is a ground ball pitcher...Chris Volstad has been very steady in his short time in the Marlins rotation...Is that Randy Johnson really giving the D-Backs quality starts?...The once-stingy Phillies bullpen is showing signs of fragility...Finally, Damaso Marte gave up two more earned runs in a third of an inning last night. His Yankees ERA stands at 11.05.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

U.S. Men's Gymnasts Snatch Bronze

I don't think it can be overstated just how impressive the U.S. men's gymnastics team was last night in capturing the bronze medal. The Chinese and Japanese were both far superior teams with athletes that have been in top-notch training programs all their lives. The U.S team was missing defending all-around gold medalist Paul Hamm and his twin brother Morgan, who were veterans of the Olympic Games and were expected to be the glue for a young team. But Jonathan Horton, Alexander Artemev, and Justin Spring displayed surprising moxy in eeking out a third-place finish ahead of Germany.

Meanwhile, are all these world records being claimed by Michael Phelps and his fellow swimmers a result of those newly designed swimsuits? Apparently they really do make you swim faster. And does technology have a place in the water? Okay, I promised myself I would not be skeptical and I would appreciate the Games for what they are, a spectacle. But I'm just asking. And does Phelps really consume 10,000 calories per day?

New Diamondback Adam Dunn became the first player since 1900 to be traded when leading the league in home runs when Cincinnati dealt him to the desert. While I have never been his biggest fan because of the strikeouts and his lack of defense, Dunn does give the D-Backs a presence in the lineup that they have lacked during their revival the last two seasons. He also has been a Chicago Cubs-killer his entire career, which could be huge for the Baby Backs if they match up with the Cubs in the postseason. But getting to the postseason without Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson will be a chore. It's a shame that Hudson will miss the stretch run for a second straight season.

The injuries to Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford are just devestating for the Tampa Bay Rays. Crawford most likely won't play again the rest of the regular season, while Longoria will miss at least three weeks. Can Rocco Baldelli perform up to his potential down the stretch? It's asking a lot from a guy who will need a few weeks just to regain his baseball strength. Pitching will become even more vital for the Rays to hold off the Sawx and the Yanks, who look like they will not be in the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season. The Bronx Bombers have lost 11 of their last 16 and are fading fast.

Stat of the day: Aaron Heilman's ERA since July 26th: 10.97. Shocking that they didn't make a move for a reliever at the deadline.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Paddy Claims 2nd Major

First it was Greg Norman. Then came Sergio Garcia. Padraig Harrington is proving to be a real heartbreaker. And maybe the best player in the world not named Tiger.

Harrington continued his recent dominance on golf's grandest stages, securing his second major of the season with a pair of 66's at Oakland Hills on Sunday to claim the PGA Championship. After shattering the dreams of Greg Norman at Royal Birkdale with a back-nine 32, the Irishman repeated the feat on Sunday with the same score in the final nine holes to erase a three-shot defecit at the turn. Harrington made three huge putts on 16, 17, and 18 to steal the win from Garcia and become only the fourth player in history to win both the British and PGA in the same season. He also ended the 78-year drought for Euros at the PGA.

I've always argued that Padraig Harrington is as talented a golfer as Tiger Woods. And I still believe that. Woods just has an incredible ability to manage his emotions on the golf course moreso than any other competitor. However, with Harrington winning both the British and PGA, gold fans should be very intrigued by the possibility of future head-to-head battles in majors between the Irishman and Woods. Too bad Paddy's cousin Joey didn't have even a fraction of his mettle.

Although he fell short again in his quest for his first major championship, Sergio Garcia made strides this week.

After posting rounds of 69 and 68 on an elongated final day on Sunday, Garcia went a long way towards quieting those who have criticized him for not yet winning a major. Anybody who watched Garcia on the course Sunday, specifically his naysayers, saw a more relaxed and balanced Garcia stalking his first major championship. Despite hitting into the water on 16, he battled back and was still in contention. But the killer was missing a four-foot birdie putt on 17. Garcia's putting, despite improvement in the last few years, remains a bit of an Achille's heel. If he continues to work on that area of his game, Garcia will be standing tall on a Sunday late afternoon in a major championship. Remember, it took Phil Mickelson awhile to grab his first major. It's just unfair to compare Garcia with Tiger.

Garcia will take his refined game onto the Ryder Cup, where he will be depended upon to help the Europeans retain world dominance. On an individual level, Garcia has clearly matured as a professional. Expect the Spaniard to make even more strides in 2009, especially if his putting continues to shine as it did this weekend.

I would normally take this time to scold NBC Sports' Dan Hicks for his outrageous reaction to Jason Lezak's performace in snagging the gold for the American 400 free relay team. But the Lezak story is too incredible to even rip. How did he swim one full second faster in those 100 meters than he ever had before? And at age 32? He was behind Alain Bernard, the Frenchman and world record holder in the 100 free, as they went head-to-head in the final leg, yet somehow managed to drum up enough adrenaline to prevent the French team from "smashing" the Americans as they had predicted. Michael Phelps, you owe Lezak steak dinners for life.

A quick college pigskin note: UCLA's quarterback problems continue, as Ben Olson suffered a broken bone in his right foot during practice on Saturday and is expected to miss two months of action. I loved the Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow hirings, but don't be surprised if the Bruins finish 6-6 or 7-5 as offensive line and QB problems may plague the team all season.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Summer Olympic Preview

According to several sources, the Opening Ceremony in Beijing tonight will be the grandest spectacle in Olympic history. I have never been really excited for an Opening Ceremony in the past, as I prefer straight competition. But from all accounts, this one is definitely must-see TV on NBC. And if you happen to miss it "live," it will replay early Saturday morning and pretty much anytime you want to watch it on nbc.com. So while Norman Chad may poke fun at the thousands of hours of Olympic coverage provided by NBC, its website, and it cable outlets (and it really is thousands of hours), I am embracing the all-out media bonanza that the peacock is offering to fanatics of the Games. I typically denounce the technological advances our world is constantly making, but if they allow me to pretty much see every minute of every event of these Games, then I am more than willing to embrace.

Intriguing events to look forward to this weekend in Beijing:

- Michael Phelps beginning his record quest of eight gold medals in one Olympic Games. Can the Americans hold off the French in the 4X100 free relay--perhaps the one event Phelps has a chance of losing? Will Mark Spitz be on hand to see Phelps' quest for history?

- Can the decimated U.S. men's gymnastics squad put together a steady showcase in the team competition without Athens gold medalist Paul Hamm?

- Will Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor ever lose a beach volleyball match? Have they ever lost one? (The answer is yes, but I still don't believe it).

- How will the "Redemption Team" look in its opening game against Chinese hero Yao Ming?

- Can Shawn Johnson lead Team USA to a gold medal against the tough Chinese unit in the women's gymnastics team competition?

- And finally, how many athletes will be caught doping?

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Favre's Landing

J-E-T-S. Jets! Jets! Jets!

For perhaps the first time in franchise history, the New York Jets will be the talk of the league--hell, the nation--heading into an NFL season. The same franchise that brought you Blair Thomas, Pete Carroll before the rah-rah, Richie Kotite, Kyle Brady and countless other forgettable and regrettable names has now acquired the most prolific quarterback in NFL history.

Does this make the Jets the best team in the AFC? No. Does it make them the best team in the AFC East? Well, no. But after an offseason of eyebrow-raising big spending in free agency, GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini have clearly stated that they are playing for the present and not the future. And Brett Favre as your QB over both Pennington and Clemens certainly represents the present. Never mind the eyebrows being raised regarding whether or not Brett can learn a new system. It's Brett Favre. The absence of West Coast terminology aside, I'm willing to bet that Favre will pick up the Brian Schottenheimer offense fast enough. Will it be painful watching the offense early on? You bet. But if the Jets can get through the first four games of the season 2-2 (the two losses coming to San Diego and New England), I think Favre can develop a nice rapport with Coles and Cotchery, along with Chris Baker and old pal Bubba Franks. The options before Favre: Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. Now I very much believe Clemens can be a solid NFL quarterback. He just would not have been good this season. And as much as I love Pennington's moxy, he has always struggled to throw the 20-yard "in" and the 15-yard "out." But he still would be a very good backup and fill-in starter. They both have NFL futures. Unfortunately, neither player is Brett Favre.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Bonds, Beijing and Brett

Does any American League GM (Brian Cashman) realize that Barry Bonds had a better slugging percentage and reached base more times than Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira last year? I'm just asking (Brian Cashman). Because all the hoopla and swarms of salivating media members in the (Yankees) clubhouse may be worth it if you ask me. Although another bat would not put them over the top in the AL East race, the Yanks are going to need to out-bash the competition the rest of the way, especially now with Joba heading to the disabled list. Why am I pining for Bonds in pinstripes? Because I'd love the drama surrounding a clubhouse featuring A-Rod and Barry.

Can someone tell me why competition at the Beijing Olympics has already started--a women's soccer match--before the Opening Ceremony of the Games has taken place?

Early word is that the set-up at Oakland Hills is more like a U.S. Open course than a PGA Championship one. The 18th hole, in particular, should provide tons of excitement over the tournament's four days as the year's final major has traditionally been deemed the most fair and balanced of the U.S. majors. That reputation will surely be tested this weekend as Oakland Hills will be the longest par 70 course played in major championship history. Add in the fact that the greens are said to have more breaks than even the ones at Augusta National, viewers should be glues to their television on Sunday.

The Bucs and Jets seem to be the finalists in the Brett Favre sweepstakes.

That is all on the Brett Favre front.

Does anyone else think that Clemson will finish with no less than three losses this year? Every year the talent is there, and every year they are coached by Tommy Bowden.

Ray Rice will make his NFL debut on Thursday night in the Baltimore Ravens' preseason opener against the New England Patriots. With Willis McGahee nursing a knee injury, the rookie from Rutgers will start as he looks to continue to impress the Ravens brass. Rice carried the ball 910 times in his collegiate career, prompting some scouts to be concerned over his wear and tear. However, rookie head coach John Harbaugh likes the fact that he is a veteran in carrying the ball. And with McGahee's propensity to visit the trainer's table, Rice may be able to have a nice rookie campaign in Baltimore.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Brew Crew Blues

The Milwaukee Brewers are at it again. Just when you thought the four-game sweep last week at the hands of the Chicago Cubs would have spurred the team to come together in a time of adversity, once again the team seems to be falling apart. During their 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last night, slugger Prince Fielder had to be restrained by teammates in the dugout after shoving starting pitcher Manny Parra. No word on whether the dispute revolved around Fielder suspecting Parra of eating his cherished tofu in the clubhouse. Seriously, though, the altercation occurred one year after manager Ned Yost and players Johnny Estrada and Tony Graffanino were involved in an embarassing televised dugout battle royal. Yost and his players can downplay the incident all they want, but the fact of the matter is that this team is prone to melting away in an August pennant race. It looks as though the team has not learned its lesson from last season. And as nice a guy as Doug Melvin is, if the Brewers fail to make it to the postseason this year, Yost won't have to worry about an August collapse next season because he won't be around to oversee one in a Brewers uniform.

Really troublng news out of Yankees camp last night, as Joba Chamberlain left in the fifth inning of the Yanks' 9-5 loss to Texas with tightness in his right shoulder. He is scheduled to fly to New York to undergo tests this morning after feeling a "grab" in the deltoid area of his right arm with two outs in the fifth. Chamberlain does not believe the injury is serious, but he is almost certain to miss his start Saturday in Anaheim. The Yanks can go with Ian Kennedy in a minor-league call-up, but most likely will start either Dan Giese or Darrel Rasner.

The Yankees currently stand 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card race, and any more injuries--specifically to their most valuable starter--would be too much to overcome. Already missing ace Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes, the Yanks' rotation has no chance of holding up in a race without the 22-year-old hurler. Hopefully the injury is only a muscular one, as manager Joe Girardi believes it is. One other concern for the Yanks is Damaso Marte, who has now given up six earned runs in his last three appearances, including a disastrous outing last night. The lefty walked three in 1 1/3 innings and was never the answer for the bullpen from the left side.

Perhaps the lone bright spot for the Indians this season continues to be Cliff Lee. The veteran won his AL-leading 15th game last night in Tampa Bay after going 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA in 2007. The Indians will look to build around him and Fausto Carmona as the team looks to weed out their multitude of underachievers.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Olympics Anyone?

Uh-oh, cue up the drumbeats. Throw a little rouge on the rosy cheeks of Bob Costas. And get ready for Bill Clement's riveting commentary on the ping pong competition. The Summer Olympic Games are rapidly approaching, and I want to let all of my readers know that I plan on devoting the bulk of my posts towards the Games in Beijing. I understand that the majority of sports fans care very little about the Olympics, but ever since I was a little kid I have cherished the two-plus weeks every two years that the Games would occur. Not to be too sappy or sentimental, but the event holds a special place near and dear to my heart. However, I will not be covering the Games as a fan, of course. Rather, as the respected reporter that I aim to be. Thus, I will have correspondents stationed throughout Beijing in an effort to give my readers the most comprehensive Olympic coverage on the web. Besides nbc.com. And si.com. And espn.com. You get the picture. Perhaps the most comprehensive on blogger.com, how about that?

Shifting to baseball, this is the biggest week of the season for the now second-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. The Sox host the Detroit Tigers for three games before welcoming the World Champion Boston Red Sox for a four-game long weekend set. The once-startling pitching that helped the Sox surprise all of baseball in the first half has one of the worst ERA's in the early portion of the second half. The team's continued reliance on the long ball will be its downfall if it cannot ultimately win the division. Starting pitcher Jose Contreras and third baseman Joe Crede could return this week from the disabled list, while key veteran setup man Scott Linebrink still looks to be about two weeks away. The ten-game homestand concludes with the Kansas City Royals, who helped keep the ChiSox in a tailspin over the weekend by taking two of three games.

Finally, is commentary even needed anymore for the Brett Favre saga? Let me know when it's over so I can start watching SportsCenter again.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Brewers, Sox Facing Gut-Check Weekends

The Cubs may have won the NL Central with the four-game sweep of Milwaukee yesterday at Miller Park. At the same time, this may have been a much-needed jolt of reality for the Brewers. The NL Central race would have gone down to the final days of the season even if the Brewers had pulled off the four-game feat. Perhaps this is the reality check the Brew Crew needed. The baseball gods will not let them enjoy an easy ride to the postseason, not after last season's collapse. That's why baseball is so beautiful. And so symmetrical. Yet so unforgiving.

Meanwhile, the White Sox hope they didn't lose their division last night in Minnesota. Okay, so this post may be a little hyperbolic, but the Metrodome has been a house of horrors for the White Sox this decade, and for the second time in the series the Sox blew a 4-0 lead and lost the game. They also lost a chance to split and maintain the 2 1/2 game lead they held going into the series. Now they cling to a half-game lead and must rebound on the road in steamy hot Kansas City. Much like they did in getting swept at Wrigley Field earlier in the season, the Sox seemed to psych themselves out of playing solid fundamental baseball the entire series (that is, much less fundamental than they normally play).