What In The Wide World of Sports ………..
By tophatal
It would appear that sports could not confine itself to being competitive in nature without being embroiled in one form of controversy or another . After the idiocy that took place recently in the WBC welterweight title bout between Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao . We now have Arizona State senator John McCain (R-AZ) , weighing in on the matter , calling for a congressional hearing on the state of boxing . To my mind that is almost as asinine as the recent hearings , which were held up on Capitol Hill , in Washington DC , with the appearance of JP Morgan Chase … senior executive , Chairman & CEO Jamie Dimon to answer questions as why it was a unit of the major final concern had lost $2 billion ($2,000,000,000) . A conservative estimate by most , , because there is the believe that the amount to be considerably more , a great deal more , as a matter of fact .
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Slide show gallery for your perusal .
Now while the members of the House Banking & Finance Committee fawned over the executive , Dimon for his part feigned his concerns as to the intent of the members in question. It is not as if any of the empaneled committee members have an acute understanding of the global financial markets , much less the use of the various derivatives used within the sector. Somehow , they posed questions to Jamie Dimon seeking answers as to why one unit of this vast financial concern could lose the aforementioned sum in question , while and his fellow executives failed to notify shareholders of the incident and the underlying issues at hand . Dimon was quick to point out that he was not made aware of the mounting losses that escalated in the final quarter of 2011. It has been this sort of gross misconduct within the financial sector, that goes on unimpeded and with their being little oversight coming from either the SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission ) , Treasury Department or the Federal Reserve . We were told that there is enough oversight in place to monitor to actions of the banking industry . Consider however , it was this very same sector , that brought the nation to its very knees and sent the international global financial industry into a tailspin. Since then , absolutely nothing has been truly forthcoming from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke or Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner , by way of any meaningful oversight by their respective agencies .
John McCain is simply naïve , if he feels that a Senate hearing will or would be enough to bring about changes across the landscape of boxing . As it is when it comes to meaningful pieces of legislation brought about by the senator , he has been found wanting , to say the very least . Boxing has always been a corrupt sport and it has not helped that the two most powerful individuals across its panacea have failed to be proactive in actually trying to preside the very sport they promote . Promoters , Bob Arum and Don King , alike , can be best described as chameleons , that will take whatever shape or view possible , just as long as they can make a quick buck . As to the apathy of the fans questioning the result of the bout between Bradley and Pacquiao. All you need to know about that verdict , can be tied up in the following …………….. Arum’s company Top Rank Inc promoted the fight , the Nevada State Athletic Commission licensed the three judges who presided over the bout and rendered the verdict , albeit that one judge , whose experience was limited at best . But yet , he had the approval of not only the state athletic commission but also that of Bob Arum . So for the uninformed out there forming an opinion on the matter , simply get a god damn clue and stop being an ass !
A Senate hearing of any type covering the world of sports has never brought any meaningful legislation . Merely look at the antitrust exemption legislation that covers the four professional major sports ? Never mind the farce that has been enacted at the collegiate level , that sets up the NCAA as nothing more than a commercial enterprise but whose status is that of a non-profit charitable organization . And an ass such as John McCain believes that he and the members of a senate committee can bring about some semblance of change. Is it not bad enough that McCain has flip-flopped on a number of issues , and is simply clueless when it comes to matters of the US economy and foreign policy .
If the sport of boxing is or wants to be taken seriously then the four major prominent international bodies will have to get together and act as one unified voice and not currently as they do , as four self-serving entities with their own interests at heart. This is what besets the state of boxing with the WBA , WBC , IBF and WBO . Separate bodies , with their own set of rules , and who are simply so corrupt , that they are open to the highest bidder . Funny, everyone wants something but here within this particular environment no one simply has a god-damn clue as to how best to seek some sort of meaningful accord . And McCain , like many of his peers within the legislative chamber in which he serves is simply paying this issue “lip service” rather than going about and getting this country back on track . 535 members collectively, within the House of Representatives and Senate , and not one of them has any fu#king clue , as to how best to steer the country in some meaningful direction .
Alas, baseball as of late has seen its highs and lows , on and off the field of play. Away from the diamond , came the verdict that saw the acquittal of Roger Clemens , by twelve of his peers in a US Federal Court . And once again the prosecution , in this case the inept US Justice Department and their attorneys were left with “egg on their faces” and several million dollars spent on a case that really had no merit . If that is not bad enough , Attorney Eric Holder as the nation’s most senior law enforcement official is now embroiled in an unsavory matter , that not only questions his conduct but also his character in terms of his honesty . Anyone who has been keenly following the implementation of the “ Fast & Furious Program “ , wherein the Holder’s agency presided over the tracking of gun-running , specifically firearms legal and illegal that were sent down to Mexico and into the hands of the violent drug cartels , south of the border . Countless , lives have been lost on both sides of the US/Mexican border and specifically that of US Border Patrol guard .
Holder’s stance , has been that he was not fully made aware as the depth of this covert operation and the very fact of its magnitude . It has now led to “ a contempt of Congress vote” in the House because of the US Attorney General’s unwillingness to turn over information to the Congress. With President Barack Obama now stepping in to aid the head of that agency , by citing “executive privilege” , it begs the question how much more will the nation have to put up with , to realize that its’ government is not only broken but also lacking in integrity and leadership ?
I have always felt the AL East to be one of the most competitive divisions in all of baseball . The Baltimore Orioles this season held sway atop of the division in part , so too have the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays . With the recent spate of interleague games that took place between the members of the AL and NL , it was interesting to see how those teams fared .
Joe Maddon and the Rays in recent games have not fared that well against their NL opponents . That was there for all to see in the series that pitted this Tampa Bay Rays’ team against the division leading Washington Nationals of the NL East . For the opposing managers Joe Maddon and Davey Johnson , things seem to be spiraling out of control in terms of their conduct towards each other . In a recent game their respective teams , an assistant of Johnson pointed to the fact that Rays’ reliever Joel Peralta was using an illicit substance while pitching against the Nationals . The umpires intervened and carried out an inspection of Peralta’s mitt and hands . Pine tar was found on his hands and on the mitt , which led to his ejection from the game . Maddon , for his part weighed on the ejection by stating that he felt that the coaching staff of the Nationals being classless and that Davey Johnson was nothing more than a coward . Don’t get me wrong I do not condone the actions of Peralta but I do feel Joe Maddon has proven himself to be a complete idiot with his behavior here and then not condemning the actions of Peralta !
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times
Managers Joe Maddon and Davey Johnson continue sniping as Joel Peralta awaits his penalty
By Marc Topkin , Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — The eye black and gladiators T-shirt Joel Peralta wore around the Rays clubhouse Wednesday may have been a statement, along with the impressive eighth-inning performance. But otherwise the veteran reliever awaited his pending suspension in media silence, declining to say any more about being ejected from Tuesday’s game when umpires found pine tar in his glove after the Nationals asked for a check.
But Rays manager Joe Maddon and Nationals counterpart Davey Johnson filled the void, and the notebooks, exchanging a series of shots in separate media sessions before the teams met again on the field.
A sampling:
Johnson called Maddon “a weird wuss,” referred to him as “the guru over there,” poked fun by pointing out he also had a doctorate degree and said Maddon needs to “read the rule book.”
Maddon termed Johnson’s Tuesday tactics “underhanded” and possibly “a form of cheating,” said free-agent players may “think twice” about coming to Washington given how the staff was willing to “rat on” a former teammate and continued to strongly suggest (though without proof) that current Nationals were unhappy with what happened.
Peralta, using teammate Jeremy Hellickson’s glove, pitched Wednesday without incident, fans booing and a few chanting “Cheat-er.”
The next official action could occur today, as Major League Baseball officials will complete their evaluation of Peralta’s glove, which was confiscated during the game and shipped to New York on Wednesday, and announce discipline.
The rules mandate a suspension, and while 10 games is an established precedent as well as the minor-league standard, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said there can be some flexibility. “I don’t think it’s that cut and dry,” he said. “Personally, I think it will be less than that, but I don’t really know. It’s in their hands.”
Johnson said he thought an ejection was enough of a punishment and that a 10-game suspension was “way too severe.”
Whatever the term, the Rays will be shorthanded, forced to play with a 24-man roster. To adjust for Peralta’s absence, they are planning to send down a position player (likely outfielder Rich Thompson) and bring up another reliever.
Furthering their woes, they are prohibited by rule from bringing back their best candidate, Brandon Gomes, who (barring an injury situation) is required to spend 10 days in the minors since last being sent down, on Monday. The leading candidates are right-handers Dane De La Rosa and Josh Lueke.
“It’s going to have a great impact on us,” Maddon said. “But even beyond that, I’m more concerned about (Peralta) personally, and the impact it may have on him.”
Several Rays said they were concerned that Peralta would be — unfairly — labeled. “He looks like a cheater,” reliever J.P. Howell said. “He looks like a jerk. And he’s not. He’s not at all. And that’s just too bad.”
They also echoed Maddon’s comments, as did some others around baseball, that use of pine tar by pitchers was widespread, and not too much advantage as it primarily served to help them hold the ball, not throw it with more movement.
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Click on link to read this article in full .
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The reliever as I stated was ejected from the game played , which resulted in a 5-4 victory for the Tampa Bay Rays. Maddon’s team tonight , plays the deciding rubber of game of what has turned out to be a highly animated three-game series . And I am thoroughly convinced that the fans in attendance at Nationals Ballpark , Washington The , DC , will no doubt let their thoughts be known as it relates to the Rays’ manager . On the mound as the opposing pitchers will be Matt Moore (4-5, 4.16 ERA) of the Rays and Gio Gonzalez (8-3, 2.52 ERA) of the Nationals . These two young pitchers have been very good over the course of the season for their respective teams , albeit that in part the statistics may not bear this out . It has been a lack of consistent and timely hitting , and inconsistent pitching that has placed the Rays in their present predicament . And if the team is to gain any traction while looking to erase some of the lead that the New York Yankees have built up , as they sit atop of the AL East . Then now would be the time for the ball-club to get back on track with a number of game and series’ wins .
At the culmination of tonight’s game the Rays’ task will not get any more enviable , as they face the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Ballpark , in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . . Over these three games , it will be incumbent upon James Shields , Alex Cobb and David Price to get the club off to a very start in the hope that the offense and defense can provide the team with the added boost needed . From thereon in , one can only surmise that they will be able to play themselves back into contention , while defeating a Phillies’ team that appears to be having something of a down year on all fronts .
At this juncture , I would certainly like to think that the Rays are still in with chance of the wildcard berth within the division , if not the AL East , itself . But so much has been left to chance with the team and the mere fact that Joe Maddon’s psyche now seems to be under stress , he and the players appear to be falling apart at the seams . This roster was built this season with a view to winning the World Series . GM Andrew Friedman is seeking to be as economical in paring down the payroll . While keeping the salaries to a manageable size within the front office’s budgetary parameters. As we know each … year , it has been an ongoing problem for the Tampa Bay Rays to remain competitive from an economic standpoint , and this season has been no different.
While we can lament the woes of the organization it must be said Bud Selig and the MLB hierarchy has been less than compassionate in terms of the Rays’ needs and their ultimate goal of acquiring a new venue . It no longer seems worthwhile chronicling the disparaging remarks that Bud Selig has made about not only the Rays’ ownership group , the county governments of Hillsborough and Pinellas County . Suffice to say , the commissioner has proven to be one of the biggest assholes to come down the pike and become the highest-ranking executive in baseball. Do we really need this moron in office for two more fu#king years , while the game slides further into an abyss ? Your thoughts , on the matter ?
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From my own standpoint , I find it idiotic that the government takes time to intervene on matters concerning the sports’ landscape but yet the 535 federal legislators cannot enact a meaningful piece of legislation . Can we anoint this present administration as being inept and completely bereft of intelligence and common sense ! If these morons cannot steer this country along the path of greatness , then what would make an ass-wipe like John McCain believe that he holds the moral high ground with regard to turning around the state of boxing ? Joe Maddon for his part should consider getting the Rays back on track rather than looking like a complete ass ! What thoughts if any do you have concerning the points raised within this article ? Simply leave a comment as you see fit .
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Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley are seen here fighting at the MGM Grand Casino & Resort Complex in Las Vegas , Nevada, The fight for the WBC welterweight title ended in a controversial split decision , with Bradley taking the belt from Manny Pacquiao, who would suffer his fist loss in seven years . AP Photo Grant Chisholm …
(2) Sen John McCain (R-Az,.) is seen here alongside Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich) , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Arms Services & Intelligence Committee , of which McCain is also a member . The Arizona senator would like to convene a congressional hearing to investigate the state of boxing , in light the recent Timothy Bradley Manny Pacquiao welterweight title fight that ended with a controversial split-decision verdict that went to the challenger , Bradley. Getty Images North America / Ken Phillips ….
(3) Promoters Bob Arum (L) and Don King (R) shake hands prior to the weigh in for the Miguel Cotto vs Ricardo Mayorga WBA Super Welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 11 , 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Al Bello / Getty Images North America …
(4) JP Morgan Chase & Co Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill June 19, 2012 in Washington, DC. After testifying before the Senate last week, Dimon answered questions from the committee about his company’s $2 billion trading loss earlier this year. Getty Images North America / Chip Smodevilla …
(5) Umpire Chris Guccione leaves with the glove of Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Joel Peralta during the eighth inning of the Rays’ baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Washington. Peralta was ejected in the eighth inning for having a foreign substance on his glove. AP Photo/Alex Brandon ….
(6) Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, right, talks with the umpires after relief pitcher Joel Peralta was ejected after umpires found a foreign substance on his glove, during the eighth inning of the Rays’ baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Washington. The Rays won 5-4 . AP Photo/Alex Brandon …
(7) WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 19: Home plate umpire Tim Tschida talks with Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon (70) about the glove of Joel Peralta (62) during the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 19, 2012 in Washington, DC. A foreign substance was found on the glove which led to Peralta being ejected from the game. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images ….
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MLB probable pitchers 22nd June 2012
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Tophatal's Blog 
We’d like to thank John McCain for being an ass , much like the other 534 of his peers in the two legislative chambers of the US Congress . And you’d have thought this ass would be more concerned with a dour economy and two political parties that happen to be so out of touch with reality . War hero or not and an avid fan of the sport as he boxed while in the USAF . But at the end of the day he simply comes across as a buffoon !
“You want me to do what ? Your joint-bill with John Feingold was a complete fu#king mess ” . Carl Levin (left) & John McCain
Joe Maddon is now proving that he actually believes he’s bigger than the organization , whose employ he is now in . If Maddon had a god damn clue , he and got this team …. playing with some resolve . Instead, tonight they were once again back to their losing ways . Incompetence brings ineptitude and this is simply what the Rays are now . Nothing more , nothing less ! They’re playing themselves out of contention even as a wildcard contender .
” Maddon shut the f#ck up , I know the difference between Pine tar and Pine Sol . What sort of fool do you take me for ? And by the way , I hope Davey Johnson kicks your dumb ass ” ! Umpire Tim Tischida
;P
“I got money . ho’s and bi_ches yo , what you got mutha-fu#kers ? Want some of my money for your reelecition campaign , you’d better be ready to suck my d_ck ” . JP Morgan Chase CEO & President Jamie Dimon
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So LeBron has his ring.
But even more importantly, you are the winner of my NBA Predict the Future contest. Nice work, brother. It’s time to gloat.
E-mail me your address and I’ll get you out some goodies.
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Chris Humpherys
Everyone is now happy . LBJ finally has his ring , Wade gets Gabrielle Union to give up the ” goodies “ . And after over 14 years in the league Juwan Howard actually gets his ring . Where’s the justice ? I mean , Sir Charles has to be envious of Juwan don’t you think ?
“Girl I’m gonna make you call me ‘Big Daddy’ ” ! D Wade and actress Gabrielle Union
Miami Heat roster & their postseason stats
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“I’m tellin’ you all now I’ll shove my finger up my ass remove it , sniff and then lick it , if Juwan Howard wins an NBA title with the Heat ” . Barkley
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The yankes are showing they are the cream of the crop right
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Bobby Gee
Given the fact that other than Yankees , the rest of the teams in the AL East have been really awful during the month of June .
The Orioles simply proved that they haven’t the endurance to be consistent throughout a 162 game schedule . As good a manager as Showalter just happens to be , that team simply is not good enough to be viewed as a legitimate contender in within the AL East .
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Peralta was using a banned substance, was caught, and will be suspended for eight games. Which is how it shoud be. On the other hand, it was perfectly fine with the Nationals and their hypocrite coach when Joel was pitching for them last year.
Face it man the Rays are fielding a triple A line up right now. Two starting pitchers, Longoria, Joyce, Jennings, and last years closer, all injured. There are excuses and then there are reasons. Just remember they have come back from a deeper hole than the one they are seemingly digging for themselves at this point in the season.
Here’s to hoping for a strong second half. Cheers brother and have a great weekend!
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aero
It’s pine tar not Pine Sol , baby , ,LOL,LOL,LOL !!! Peralta has lodged an appeal with the league hierarchy through the MLBPA (union) . So until there’s a hearing he can play . But you are right , the Rays right now are a shell of the team they were at this point last season . The pitching and hitting are really bad . And the defense borders on being anemic .In that specific category the Rays are meant to be one of the better teams in the AL .
Maddon is an idiot if he thinks that he can avert our attention away from how badly the team has been performing by choosing to pick an infantile argument with Davey Johnson , a manager who has a proven pedigree of winning wherever he has been .
Just in case you’re in need of a nurse to take care of your needs and to give you a sponge bath . I’m sure that nurse Denise (Milani) will gladly oblige .
Here’s something to bring a smile to your face for the weekend . So have a great one and my regards to you and the immediate family ! Stay safe brother , do stay safe .
Can’t help feeling that Ewa (Sonnet) has something to hide from us all .
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HELLOOOO… NURSE! Thanks for the pics my friend, take care and CHEERS!
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aero
1-800-HORNY-NURSE . Nurses there for all of your creature comforts and then some , if you know what I mean ? LOL,LOL !!
John McCain might want to also rethink that premise of wanting to regulate porn , and the FCC . And really get about dealing with what ails the country because he’s coming across like a real dumb ass ! He and John Feingold introduce a bill to regulate campaign finance , but once the teeth and guts have been ripped out of the piece of legislature , this as#hole becomes as docile as a church mouse !
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Think they should let each state that has boxing commission handle it….McCain maybe right, but is the wrong venue to investigate.
Just another way to waste more taxpayer money
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al clements
Each states does have its very own athletic commission and therein lies one of the problem as many of their statutes are non-aligned . For instance a fighter that might well be banned in California and could very well go ahead and obtain a license in New Jersey or perhaps New York . And that has become the complete idiocy of what now engulfs the sport , and still makes it now almost irrelevant and complete disinterest to a number of sports’ fans covering a wide demographic .
Add in the factor that Bob Arum and Don King have a stranglehold on the sport of boxing wherein both are corrupt and have ran afoul of the law by way of the Justice Dept and IRS on multiple occasions but yet they each somehow have averted going to jail .
John McCain would be best served dealing with the real issues at hand rather than simply trying to change and archaic sport that in reality the vast majority of people are no longer interested in .
California State Athletic Commission
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Have some fun with her “fun bags ” .
Alan aka tophatal
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