Author: tophatal

MLB results 21st June 2012

MLB schedule 22nd June 2012

MLB probable pitchers 22nd June 2012

MLB Standings

MLB team stats

MLB player stats pitching

MLB players stats batting

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Tampa Bay Rays news

Biting Off More Than He Could Chew …………….

Biting Off More Than He Could Chew ……

tophatal ….

I am not so sure what to make of the upcoming NFL season with so much being on the line for a number of teams and specifically their head coaches . But if anything the person said to be most under the pressure may well be NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell . With the ongoing scandal that has embroiled the New Orleans Saints and further tarnish the image of the sport as a whole . Unfortunately , there’s said to be great deal of apathy among a number of fans who feel that while the game remains as popular as ever they would rather simply look at what takes place on the field of play.

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The NFL this season has a great deal going for it with many of the fans simply looking to see if the rookies taken in the first round of the NFL Draft will matriculate into something special . Cam Newton had a spectacular season in 2011 while leading the Carolina Panthers to an extraordinary season . Granted, the Panthers failed to win the NFC South or make the postseason but quite obviously the front office were extremely pleased that the top pick from the 2011 NFL Draft exceeded their own expectations .

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will have something to prove along with their peers taken in the Draft. And most notably the quarterbacks chosen will be under the greatest scrutiny of all. Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden might not be starters in week one for their respective teams the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. Those two teams in question are now at a crossroads in terms of the paths taken . Both aspire to be forces within the AFC and they each have a long way to if they are to surpass the peaks scaled by the New England Patriots , Pittsburgh Steelers , Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts . The quartet of teams between them have 11 Superbowl titles collectively .

Before the season gets underway the league could be facing a another major dilemma as the NFL hierarchy are in protracted negotiations with the NFLRA (union) [referees’ union] as the league sets about renegotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the union . Roger Goodell , simply thinks that with one perceived victory in overturning appeals of the four suspended New Orleans Saints’ players at the center of the team’s bounty scandal . The NFLRA are adamant that they will not acquiesce to any deal that would see them having to take a cut in their salaries as well as reduced benefits. If this is Goodell’s idea of a joke , then it is not a very good one considering issues he had with the NFLPA and their hard-fought battle that went before the FMCS and then before a Federal Court appointed mediator. The commissioner’s inter-actions with his counterpart , DeMaurice Smith , left a great deal to be desired . The biggest joke about those deliberations was the very fact within months an agreement the two sides are once again adversaries , as Smith seeks to protect his members at what he believes to be a witch hunt . At the center of this all is whether or not the evidence gathered and used to prove the league’s case against Johnathan Vilma , Anthony Hargrove , Scott Fujita and Will Smith . Vilma has filed a civil suit against the commissioner and the NFL , claiming defamation of character , libel and slander . That case , should it go to trial , would place Goodell , on the witness stand having to recollect how the league’s investigators went about conducting their investigation and collecting evidence . It should be noted that Vilma when asked to attend the NFL headquarters for questioning , even though the union would be providing him with a player rep and lawyer to represent his interests while being questioned . It should be noted , that the player (Vilma) chose not attend , stating it came under advisement from his legal counsel . That , in of-itself doesn’t preclude us from coming to a decision as to Vilma’s guilt or innocence but I firmly believe the player has done himself no favors with his actions. And that is also further substantiated by the coaches who were embroiled in this mess with their admission of guilt but less than contrite apologies . Personally, for the idiots out there rallying behind the commissioner , coming to his support , without fully comprehending the intricacies of an agreement between the league and union that simply wasn’t worth the paper it was written on ! Only an asshole would believe that the two sides tried to suggest what was a binding an arbitrary agreement is one that resolved their divisions . It was simply nothing more than one big cluster fuck and a complete charade ! The union has reneged on the testing for HGH and steroids of their members, while trying to suggest that the league’s testing protocols and regimen are not in line with that of the USOC or that of WADA . As asinine as it sounds , somehow Goodell has relented and once again he cowers from steering down the NFLPA and forcing them to abide by their agreement , that was ratified by the NFLPA’s Executive Committee Does anyone now truly believe that the NFL is currently on a great footing in terms of its overall image ?

Goodell may well be over-reaching his boundaries in now seeking another out another adversary in the NFLRA , as he can ill-afford to have a possible delay to the start of the NFL season, this year . But it could very well come down to that, should things become contentious between the two parties . As of now , it would appear that calmer heads are prevailing . My question however , but for how long ? Your thoughts ?

Courtesy of Associated Press & Yahoo Sports

NFL refs association: no strike contemplated

By Barry Wilner , The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) The NFL Referees Association is disputing a claim by the league that the officials threatened to take a strike vote after their contract expired.

Mike Arnold , counsel for the officials, says Tuesday that claim is ”patently false.”

”The NFLRA has never threatened to strike,” Arnold said. ”After repeated references by the NFL during negotiations regarding its plans to obtain replacement officials, the NFLRA briefed its members at its annual meeting on April 21, 2012. No strike vote was taken at the meeting.

”In fact the NFLRA’s directive to its membership was to prepare for the season and to perform each and every task assigned to them both before and after CBA expiration. This continues to be the position of the NFLRA.”

The collective bargaining agreement ended after the 2011 season. The sides had been meeting since October, but mediation lasted only two sessions and talks broke off Sunday.

On Monday, the league said it will begin hiring and training replacement officials.

The officials say that the NFL offered salary increases lower than those obtained in the 2006 agreement.

”They heard about the increases that team and league employees receive, far less than the increases we proposed for the game officials, even without considering the improved offer made on Sunday,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. ”Do the officials get the same kind of raises in their other jobs as they did in 2006?”

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Roger Goodell may well be happy with the fact that the league was able to add an additional $2.65 billion in additional revenues by extending and renewing a number of television contracts that were set to expire . The commissioner’s gleeful joy over this paints a rather grim picture when you take into account that he , the union and the team owners have been less than forthright when dealing with the issue of player safety as it relates to severe blunt force head trauma , concussions Grade II and above , as well as the issue as to how the NFL has dealt with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). The latter malady is often seen as a precursor to long-term memory loss , Alzheimer’s Disease and other maladies not normally associated with the game , until later on , long after many of these players have retired and left the game. Consider the untimely death of Junior Seau , due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound , and the very fact that he sought out medical help in terms of a therapist but failed to attend the prescribed meetings . Neither the league or the union provides any help to the players under such circumstances but the commissioner has the temerity to suggest that hierarchy does its best to assist the players in their times of utmost need. That has never been the case , if truth be known , as they only provide assistance to players when they break the league’s the drug (substance abuse) policy as it relates to their mandated edicts . Beyond that , the league’s scope and assistance has been minuscule as they have chosen to keep the seasoned veterans at arm’s length . What might now be inconceivable , in the aftermath of the agreement presided over by the arbitrator the league and union saw fit to set aside $1 billion in a sealed document , which we are told will be disbursed to assist the veterans in paying for medical benefits. However , with the NFL being defendants in seven separate legal civil suits filed in US Federal and US District Court as well as the case that may well set the precedence , and that is the civil suit filed by the family of the late Dave Duerson in Cook County Court , Chicago , Illinois,. Should the family prevail in their suit and a judgment is rendered in their favor , then it is highly likely that the jury could seek to compensate the Duersons with punitive and compensatory damages in their wrongful death suit . The very fact that as the defendants in this case , the legal ramifications for the NFL could be disastrous should they be on the losing side of this suit . The fact that the league sought to have all of the cases conjoined in the US Federal Court in the 4th Circuit should be enough of an indication as to how serious the league views this situation . The NFL’s Chief legal counsel Jeff Pash and their head of Labor Negotiations Adolphus Birch III are providing Goodell with legal insight , as both of these legal minds will be tested as to how they will ultimately address this issue for the NFL , as a matter of jurisprudence .

September 5th may well bring about a sensational season , with all 32 teams vying for the Superbowl but if anything it has and will be the off the field problems that for now will provide the fans with a great deal of intrigue. And how this is all addressed by the NFL will give us something of an indication as to how we should perceive the league . Roger Goodell and the league hierarchy faces an uphill battle as they seek to rebuild the NFL’s image especially in light of these controversies . The NFL commissioner like his predecessor Paul Tagliabue may well be two of the poorest executives in all professional sports during which their tenures can best described , as being mediocre ! That last premise is with due respect to both David Stern , Bud Selig and Gary Bettman . And given the ineptitude shown by each in recent season as they have repeatedly used an acute economic crisis for the woes that their respective brands have faced and continue to face , even when it is abundantly clear that their issues have not been properly dealt with . Greed , and dare one say corruption , if nothing else has been the opportune word that could best describe why these sports now find themselves engulfed with a litany of issues of one form or another . Your thoughts on the matter ?

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In your judgment do you believe that the NFL and union have been culpable in their mistreatment of the NFL veterans ? Also Roger Goodell’s scope as NFL commissioner do you believe him to be adroit enough to be considered a good enough chief executive or is he simply an individual who does not have a complete grasp as to what is needed , as required for the NFL’s highest ranking position where authority and very good communicative skills are needed ? By all means chime on this and anything else you believe to be pertinent with regard to the subject matter .

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Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers , right, talks with wide receiver Johnny Knox during NFL football practice in Lake Forest, Ill., Wednesday, June 6, 2012. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh ….

(2) Tennessee Titans quarterbacks Jake Locker (10) and Rusty Smith (11) pass during a workout at the team’s NFL football training facility on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey …

(3) DAVIE, FL – MAY 4: Ryan Tannehill (17) of the Miami Dolphins talks to the media after the rookie mini-camp on May 4, 2012 at the Miami Dolphins training facility in Davie, Florida. Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images …

(4) Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) and Thaddeus Lewis (9) watch Colt McCoy (12) during practice at the NFL football team’s headquarters in Berea, Ohio Tuesday, June 5, 2012. AP Photo/Mark Duncan …

(5) Executive director of the NFL Players Association DeMaurice Smith (L) and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (R) speak outside the NFL Players Association Headquarters in Washington July 25, 2011. The NFL and players have agreed to terms to end their four-month lockout and ensure America’s most professional sport will go ahead as planned next season. The commissioner is now taking aim at the NFLRA (National Football League Referees’ Association [union]) as he seeks to weaken their stance . The union’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the end of the 2012-13 season , however , they sought to obtain an extension of the agreement but the league hierarchy is said to be seeking sweeping concessions from the NFLRA , while at the same time setting out they believe to be are scurrilous claims made by the union concerning their demands . For the moment the NFLRA states that they have no intentions of going on strike and delaying the start of the 2012-13 season . But the commissioner is said to be already contemplating the use of replacement officials should the union cal an all-out strike . “The more things change the more they remain the same” . Goodell at his best but most notably , at his worst ! REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque ….

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NFL news

NFL Draft 2012 by round

Quarterbacks taken in the 2012 NFL Draft

NFL Schedule 2012-12 ……. week 1 5th September 2012

The Idiot Balked I Tell You …. Don’t Call Bud Selig An Idiot …..

tophatal …….. 6/1/2012 ……… 10:52:52 PM (EST)

So just as the fans were beginning to hype up the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles , with those two teams seated atop of their respective divisions . Each now finds itself in something of a dog fight to maintain their leads within the NL East and AL East . Those two divisions at present appear to be the most closely contested within baseball , with the leads within each no more than 1/2 a game . The smallest margin is that of the Nationals over the fast improving Miami Marlins . Leading the onslaught has been the offense of Ozzie Guillen’s …. team . And it has been Giancarlo Stanton in the month of May with his prowess that has led the way . Stanton essentially went on hitting spree as the Miami Marlins slowly erased what was a 5 1/2 game lead by the Nationals .

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Ozzie Guillen for his part , having returned from a club mandated five game suspension after his comments concerning Cuban dictator and leader , Fidel Castro . The manager’s comments were not meant to alienate the South Florida fan-base of the organization but what was meant to be an innocuous and a non-venal statement created a firestorm against the Anti-Castro community , not only within the state but right across the country. GM Michael Hill , team President Dave Sansome went on a wild off-season spending spree in acquiring several high-priced free agents to bolster the roster . If only the Marlins’ front office could have shown some clear transparency as to its business dealings beyond that of player personnel decisions , rather than the continued misleading statements that were also littered with an abundance of lies . But this has been , and still remains the environment under which Major League Baseball (MLB) still operates under . Greed , corruption , lies and a hierarchy that is so out of touch with reality , that has you wondering if their makeup , is one of mentally challenged individuals ! The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the fans simply don’t give a shit , even when they are being asked to financially assist the owners in building their cavernous edifices meant to house their teams !

The Miami Marlins are the guests of the Philadelphia Phillies who themselves have gotten off to a horrendous start to the season. For Charlie Manuel , his coaching assistants and GM Reuben Amaro are under an extreme amount of pressure to turn things around , make a credible and successful attempt in defending their NL East title . With both teams now said to be seemingly awash with cash having spent lavishly on acquiring fee agents over the past two seasons . And with the ebullience of Michael Hill and team owner Jeffrey Loria , it has to be said anything short of making the postseason would be deemed a failure in light of the franchise’s multi-million dollar stadium and the very fact that the city of Miami also is under a great deal of pressure to answer never-ending stories concerning how they went about their deliberations in the progression of financing the deal committing the city to underwrite the building of the new ballpark .

With US Attorney General Eric Holder’s office the US Justice Department now issuing subpoenas at the drop of a hat , to a wide variety individuals on the city’s council as well as the city Mayor Tomas Regalado . The mayor has remained decidedly moot on the matter as too have the senior front office executives of the Miami Marlins . Not to be left out this at all has been Bud Selig who as the league’s highest ranking executive championed the Marlins’ efforts for a new ballpark. Funny isn’t it , while he goes about doing this to the benefit of the South Florida franchise , their in-state counterparts, the Tampa Bay Rays are treated like lepers when it comes to Stuart Sternberg seeking the league’s assistance in a similar endeavor. It also has been the same for the Oakland A’s … Lew Wolff and the team’s general manager Billy Beane . Still under the impression that the commissioner has always had the teams’ best interests at heart ? You are simply naive to think that Selig doesn’t favor some teams over others. And for the individual with his assessment of the sports’ landscape at present assessing it as if it were stock indices to analyzed how is it that a stories such as this are overlooked , while we have players who are violently attacking public bystanders in the street , and the commissioner’s idiocy that its steroid policy is one that is above reproach . Cherry picking stories merely to paint the baseball environment and other sports as being a place of Utopia is about as asinine as it can get !

For the Miami Marlins if they can erase the lead of the Washington Nationals I believe that Davey Johnson and his team fall back to earth with an almighty thud ! The Nationals don’t have a pedigree of success and even though they are currently the “flavor of the month” . Ask yourself this , what happens the moment that either Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg is lost to a prolonged injury ? And make of it what you will but Mike Rizzo at present is simply blowing smoke up everyone’s ass because the press are taking notice of his organization at the moment . If only he possessed the same sort of bravado at this point last season and even later in 2011 .

The Nationals were due to host the Atlanta Braves who themselves are a mere two games behind the NL East divisional leader . Johnson’s players knowing that if they want to prove their legitimacy as contenders for the NL pennant as well as the World Series . Then it will be incumbent upon the likes of Harper , Strasburg , Gio Gonzalez , Ryan Zimmerman , Adam LaRoche , Ian Desmond and Rick Ankiel to prove to the baseball world that they are indeed ready to take that step to the next level . The game was postponed due to rain with it being rescheduled at a later date .

Say what you will but the AL East will and always has been the division everyone seems to be enamored with . It does possess two baseball’s most illustrious and revered teams . And that is with due credit to the likes of the Tampa Bay Rays , Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays . The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are looked upon as the “class of the division” and pennants and World Series won by the two teams in question has them being looked upon with a certain type of reverence . And it is primarily why the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are held in such high esteem . And for Buck Showalter who by any estimation has to be one of the best managers in the game today. One should remember as Joe Torre’s predecessor with Yankees , Showalter was one of the primary reasons why Derek Jeter , Jorge Posada , Andy Pettite and Mariano Rivera broke through with organization , in which the success of the franchise can be clearly defined in the late nineties .

It is clear that with Showalter’s ingenuity and that of his coaching staff is one of the primary reasons why the Baltimore Orioles are having such a successful season . Now jointly atop of the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays (29-22) .During the month of June how both teams will fare. The Rays will play . hosts to the Orioles Friday night , Saturday and again on Sunday . Those three games should prove to be a clear indicators as to the ambition and direction that both teams would like to be heading in. Wei-Yin Chen (4-1,3.31 ERA) and David Price (6-3, 2.71 ERA ) face off against each other on the mound in the first of the three-game-series . Price is amongst the AL’s most successful pitchers behind Yu Darvish (7-2, 2.97 ERA) , who sits atop in wins amongst all AL starting pitchers. That duel between David Price and Bruce Chen should prove to be intriguing with their contrasting styles but it will the offenses of both teams that could provide us with a great deal of intrigue .

The genius that is Joe Maddon and his micromanaging has brought about a great deal of success for the Tampa Bay Rays in recent years . The players on the roster believe in their manager and his coaching assistants without any questions being asked . That has certainly paid off with the team’s recent results in the month of May , which now seems to be carrying over in to June . And with the organization’s recent acquisition with veteran DH , Hideki Matsui , it provides the Tampa Bay Rays’ offense with that much need extra fire power. However, Maddon knows that his team’s pitching and defensive capabilities that will be of the utmost need , if the Rays are to prevail over the course of this season.

Now a great deal is being made of this season with the addition of an added wildcard berth for each league with baseball . Done under the guise of creating additional excitement and intrigue for the fans . I am not so sure that Bud Selig actually gets it , with regard dire straits that the game finds itself concerning the financial viability amongst the vast majority teams within baseball. Granted , for the uninitiated exorbitant prices have been paid in the purchase of a number of franchise . Most notably the unheard of $2.15 billion ( $2,150,000,000) paid by the consortium , who purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers . That figure still hasn’t sunk in for a number of fans and it adds to speculation as to how valuable the New York Yankees might just be. $2 billion for the Dodgers ? If that’s the case, then how much would the New York Yankees be worth ? $ 3 billion ? $ 4 billion to $5 billion ? With it now being widely being speculated upon , that John Moores , managing partner of the San Diego Padres now ready to relinquish control in his majority stake of the organization , it remains to be seen how much could be realized from the sale of that majority share. At present there are only two known consortiums said to be showing interest in purchasing the Padres. One of the groups is led by PGA Tour golfer Phil Mickelson , businessman ,Tom Seidler , and the four surviving grandchildren of the late Walter O’Malley , former owner of the Dodgers , are part of one group . The other , is led by former Padres’ great and Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn , who’s still beloved by the fans and the organization as a whole . Either way , until there’s a final decision rendered by the league hierarchy we will not know what value can be placed on the San Diego Padres.

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

Which of the divisional races do you believe provides the greatest interest and which of the teams do you think will be there at the end and be determined a divisional winner ? By all means leave a comment on this and anything else you believe pertinent to the subject matter .

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Picture and slide show details below .

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(1)Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Fernando Rodney , left, high-fives teammate Carlos Pena after closing out the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning of a baseball game on Friday, June 1, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays won the game 5-0 . AP Photo/Chris O’Meara …

(2) ST. PETERSBURG – JUNE 01: Pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated after his save against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on June 1, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images …

(3) Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter, left, argues with second base umpire Chris Guccione after a close play at second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, June 1, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Guccione ruled Orioles’ Adam Jones out at second on a fielder’s choice by Matt Wieters . AP Photo/Chris O’Meara …

(4) First baseman Carlos Pena (23) of the Tampa Bay Rays is thrown out at home as catcher Matt Wieters(32) of the Baltimore Orioles applies the tag during the game at Tropicana Field on June 1, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images …

(5) The Washington Nationals grounds crew works to keep the water off the tarp as the rain falls before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 1, 2012, in Washington. The game was postponed due to severe weather in the area. AP Photo/Alex Brandon …

(6) (6) Freddy Galvis (13) of the Philadelphia Phillies throws to first base past Donnie Murphy (22) of the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-4 . Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images …

(7) Manager Charlie Manuel (41) of the Philadelphia Phillies stands on the mound and talks with pitching coach Rich Dubee (30) after Jose Contreras (52) was injured during the . game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-4 . Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images …
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MLB results 1st June 2012

MLB schedule 2nd June 2012

MLB probable starting pitchers 2nd June 2012

MLB Standings as of 06/01/2012

MLB Standings one year ago (06/01/2011)

MLB team stats

AL teams stats

NL team stats

MLB player pitching stats (daily leaders)

MLB player stats batting (daily leaders)

Tampa Bay Rays’ news

I Got No Money In My Pocket Yo’ ….

By tophatal ………. 05/29/2012 03:45 AM (EST)

I must’ve missed something recently concerning the Chicago Bears and the team’s with their restricted fee agent running back Matt Forte . It would appear that the . front office of the organization seem to be more intent on alienating their productive running back rather than upping the ante and rewarding the player with a contract … commensurate with his already prolific talent . Now in spite of the recent off-season acquisitions and the upheavals in the team’s roster it would appear that with the recent acquisition of Brandon Marshall and his re-acquaintance with former Broncos’ teammate Jay Cutler , this is said to be the highlight for the Chicago Bears this off-season.

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Now unless I am mistaken either the Bears are playing fast and loose or they are simply intent quite possibly losing the player free agency . Granted , what we do know is the very fact the football club can choose to “franchise tag” and then pay him the league average of salaries of the top five players at the position within the NFL . For Matt Forte seeing LeSean McCoy and Arian Foster have their salaries risen considerably with their respective teams. It has to be said the Bears’ running back does have a valid argument in seeking a raise. Under the pretext that Matt Forte has a troubling recurrence of a knee injury this is said to be the falsehood that they are now subscribing to , in not paying the franchise’s most productive player over the last four seasons. Since the player was drafted by this organization in 2008 Matt Forte has only missed four games in his entire professional NFL career. It begs the question prior to , and after former GM Jerry Di Angelo’s departure , what common sense if any was actually being shown by anyone within this organization ?

If this is the pretext that the Bears will be using to lure their fans into the false sense of security that they are intent on being viewed as a legitimate contender in what is an already competitive of NFC North . From my own personal standpoint , I have never been that high on the Chicago Bears and that comes from the very fact that Jay Cutler has yet to fulfill the so-called accomplishments he’s said to be capable. Analysts and fans alike tend to affix labels upon athletes ……….. in this case the NFL player , purely because we desire it to be so . Cutler is a top-five quarterback ……… Cutler is an elite quarterback ………. Cutler is a championship caliber quarterback . Which is it ? Because I have yet to see any one of the aforementioned traits in this player over the course of his NFL career to date ! And as great as a number of quarterbacks were said to be during 2011 , nowhere is Jay Cutler’s name mentioned in the upper echelons of the statistics that matter concerning the league’s leading passers. And though the Bears were an immense …. disappointment during 2011 any perceived improvements sought will have to be taken under advisement when one considers the very fact that the Detroit Lions , Green Bay Packers and some might say the Minnesota Vikings will have improved considerably due to the draft and their off-season acquisitions .

Lovie Smith is under a great deal of pressure to succeed and most definitely the coach’s position his immediate future and that of his staff is very much on the line. You would have to be naive to think otherwise and it is clear that Smith has to be concerned over the impromptu lack of productivity from his players over the past two seasons ( 2011 & 2010 ) . Way too much talk even from the Bears’ players , an aging Brian Urlacher and a less than emphatic Julius Peppers . Urlacher for all of his proselytising is now on the downside of an illustrious career but at the end of the day when all you have to show for that success is , you equating the fact your quarterback is a leader when at the time , the whole world saw him abandon his teammates in their time of need , then there’s not much else that is left to be said . The NFC championship game and the loss to the eventual Superbowl champions that season pretty much summed up the ineptitude shown by the Chicago Bears .

There’s no denying that 2011 saw the “coming out” party for the Detroit Lions and their successful season . Matt Stafford proved to be everything that finally Jim Schwartz thought would come to fruition . And that was certainly borne out by the player during the regular and postseason for the Lions . And while the offense of the Detroit Lions was said to be prolific , the team’s defense also played their role as well. Kyle Vanden Bosch , Ndamokung Suh and Nick Fairley are seen as the fulcrum to that defense . And as I alluded to earlier in this piece the Lions can only get considerably better , rather than worse . However , what might be even more troubling is the fact that Fairley in the past six weeks has twice ran afoul of the law. Once in his home state of Alabama where he was charged with a DUI and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). And most recently this past weekend where the player in trying to evade law enforcement while speeding ……….. being clocked at 120 mph in a 55 mph zone after fleeing the scene of an accident . Also again in the player’s possession was marijuana and other opiates. I can’t help but wonder how Schwartz and the Lions’ front office will deal within this latest PR nightmare for the franchise.

Nick Fairley’s college career with Alabama was clouded in controversy and anyone who considers Nick Saban was never concerned with the player’s behavior has to be in complete denial . Saban to my mind has to be one the most insincere coaches in College Football ! The Alabama Crimson Tide’s coach has tried to suggest that his players while under his tenure ____ he has tried to curb their recklessness and make them more productive individuals . If anything Alabama’s program has been clouded in a great deal of controversy , mystery , the lengths and depths which the coach and his staff have gone to , simply to make sure that accusations concerning the players’ improprieties have disappeared. Fairley’s transgressions cannot be seen as a first-time_ chain of events , it has to be seen as a pattern of behavior .

God knows, there is enough of a fucking mess in the NFL at present without having to deal with an immature player seeking to evade the police merely because he doesn’t want to be caught having fled an accident and was found in possession of a controlled substance. But here we are once again and the league or should I say one of its more renowned franchises has another black eye and a PR nightmare within their midst . And given the stupidity that will be undoubtedly be shown by Tom Lewand and Lions’ ownership . It wouldn’t at all surprise me if the franchise now chooses to have the NFL deal with this matter while at the same time they wait for the matter to take its legal course. Now had Nick Fairley killed a bystander , I wonder whether or not the Detroit Lions would have chosen to take such a wide latitude in dealing with both of these incidents ? The Lions would be within their right to suspend the player without pay pending an investigation but we now work on a “premise of innocent until proven guilty” . Truth be known that is now and will continue to remain the biggest joke in jurisprudence . Fairley’s actions speaks volumes to his immaturity and the very fact that once again we have athletes continually being coddled by not only their NFL teams but also by the coaches and the owners alike .

Roger Goodell as the league’s highest ranking executive may well punish players with impunity when they transgress and violate the league’s rules as it regards players’ conduct said to be detrimental to the game. But let’s be real it is and always remain an exercise in futility by the NFL . Goodell’s , biggest and only concern is to try to uphold the image of an already tainted game that simply doesn’t know how to drag itself out of this already pitiful abyss of ineptitude . Personally , I find the NFL to be one big fucking environment of corruption , stupidity and a union (NFLPA) led by an executive committee that simply is one of greed and not much else . The owners , themselves are not so far behind , as they have repeatedly cajoled , threatened politicians at all levels of government . One can only look to the idiocy that recently took place within the state of Minnesota as the governor Mark Dayton (R-Mn) and the state legislature cowered a corner the corner like a bitch having been sodomized by the Minnesota Vikings’ ownership and the NFL hierarchy. How in fu_k’s name can a state said to be facing an acute economic crisis with a near $ 6 billion budget deficit ($6,000,000,000) and seek to finance in part , a $735 million new stadium for the NFL franchise while laying off state employees and cutting their budget expenditure on projects that would be far more beneficial to the state’s infrastructure than that of the building of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings . It wouldn’t have been so bad , had the governor not fudged and then reneged on his original view as to enacting this stature within his state legislature. In reality however , like the federal government where both legislative chambers …… ( House and Senate) are simply open to the “highest bidder” when a law needs to come into being especially those without any real benefit to the nation as a whole .

Fuck the dumb asses out there who continue to bitch and whine about their income taxes being too high but yet choose not to question when they’re being asked to subsidize the building of a sport’s venue for either a millionaire or billionaire owner . You simply deserve what you get , nothing more , nothing less ! And while this charade continues Vikings’ owner Zygi Wilf and his partners are now laughing all the way to the bank and the smiles on their faces are not about to abate anytime soon ! And for the di_khead residents within the city of Sacramento ……… simply buy into the bullshit your mayor Kevin Johnson is now selling you ! You are all seem to be on board with this idiocy that in building a new venue for the Maloofs will be a savior for the Sacramento Kings . Grow the fuck up , and for the moron who claims than when the venue now known as the Power Balance Arena was the place to be seen , what he fails to state and indicate is the very fact that franchise simply wasn’t winning anything of note much less being competitive . This is the simple apathy that can now be found within the state of California when it comes to many of their sports’ franchises. Call me , when the Kings are of relevance within the NBA and not before !

While I’m looking forward to the upcoming NFL season , at the same with the ongoing controversies now said to be engulfing the NFL , does anyone truly believe that Goodell has the mindset to deal with many of the ongoing controversies that have come to the fore and mired the game ? I mean it is not as if the commissioner has handled any of these issues with the clearest sense of transparency while at the same creating the perception or the belief that he actually knows what the fu_k he is doing to begin with ! And for those who continue to drink from the porcelain pot that Roger Goodell continues to defecate and urinate in , well congrats to you for being the complete dumb asses you have actually been ! The NFL commissioner has yet to accomplish anything of note during his tenure so far and it is unlikely that he ever will .

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

What thoughts if any do you have concerning the points raised within this piece ? By all means simply chime in with a comment as you see fit .

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Picture and slide show details for your perusal .

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(1) Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall , right, catches a pass as defensive back Tim Jennings defends during NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 23 2012, in Lake Forest, Ill. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast …

(2) Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, left, talks with quarterback coach Jeremy Bates during NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 23 2012, in Lake Forest, Ill. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast ….

(3) Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, left, talks with head coach Lovie Smith during an NFL football organized team activity, Wednesday, May 23 2012, in Lake Forest, Ill. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast ….

(4) Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, left, talks with wide receiver Brandon Marshall during an NFL football organized team activity, Wednesday, May 23 2012, in Lake Forest, Ill. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast …

(5) Matt Forte (22) of the Chicago Bears tries to get around the tackle of Aaron Berry (32_ of the Detroit Lions during a second quarter run at Ford Field on October 10, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images/Gregory Shamus …

(6) Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley (98) and Corey Williams (99) break from NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Fairley has been arrested in Alabama on charges of driving under the influence and attempting to elude police Sunday, May 27, 2012, his second arrest in his home state in two months. AP Photo/Paul Sancya ….

(7) Minnesota state governor Mark Dayton (R-Mn) in the foreground , is seen here addressing the state assembly after the formal voting had taken place within both legislative chambers announcing that the Minnesota e would in part finance the majority of the costs for the new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings . The $935 million venture will be financed with a $565 billion bond issue and increase in certain state taxes. The remainder will be funded by team owner Zygi Wilf (background) and his partners . AFP Reuters /Mitchell Todd …

(8) NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , foreground is seen here taking questions from the convened press concerning the Vikings’ stadium issue . In the background , is Minnesota state governor Mark Dayton . The governor initially was reluctant to back the original ” finance “bill” when it was first tabled for a vote . However , it is widely believed that with the cajoling , and coercion from the NFL hierarchy and the ” hundreds of thousands of dollars “ spent by Zygi Wilf , via lobbyists , this bill was passed with very little opposition within the state House and Senate , of within the chambers in question , in of the state of Minnesota . REUTERS /Clint Roberts …..

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Hot chic pic of the day , actress Eva Mendes . Ha , cha-cha , cha !

Someone’s duty to “hit” Eva’s “coochie ” don’t you think ?

Making Hay While The Sun Shines ………..

By tophatal ……… 05/25/2012 …… 00.35 AM (EST)

The 4th April saw the Opening Day of the MLB (baseball ) season . Having gone through the month and as we now near the end of May it has to be said that there have been one or two surprises around the league . The Baltimore Orioles are still riding high atop of the AL East and the Cleveland Indians for the moment appear to be having the time of their lives within the AL Central .

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To be fair it’s still early days yet and at this time last season I am quite sure we were also being surprised by not only the play of the teams but also where they stood within their respective divisions . Clearly the managers and their staffs would like nothing better to see their clubs simply maintain their momentum , specifically those who are said to be on a current winning streak . For those firmly rooted at the bottom of the divisions who with no real traction you can be sure that there players who would like nothing better than to see their clubs simply play themselves into contention . Now as crazy as this may of the six teams with the highest payrolls in the game four are currently are in an unaccustomed position , and that is the fact that they’re either currently in last place , or simply mid-table within their division .

Imagine , the onlookers who are now seeing both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees simply looking up within the AL East , while the Baltimore Orioles , Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays vie for the leadership within the division . And if you think that on the “senior circuit” (NL) there doesn’t appear to be problems then simply look at situation of the Philadelphia Phillies . I hardly think that this is what either Charlie Manuel , his coaching staff or GM Reuben Amaro had envisaged for the team ! Now while it would be remiss to suggest that injuries haven’t plagued a number of teams as the season got underway . It seems to have been so acute for the Phillies that it now has their fans wondering whether or not the returns of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley will be imminent. That’s notwithstanding the issues that the team currently faces go beyond injuries as their problems seem to be the lack of productivity from their offense and pitching . With the exception of Cole Hamels ( 7-1,2.17 ERA) who leads the NL in wins . Much of the offense this season for the Phillies has been provided by Carlos Ruiz and Hunter Pence .

Not wanting the deflate the balloon any further for the Philadelphia Phillies but apart from their most recent win of the World Series in 2008 , it has to be said that the organization has simply underachieved in spite of the talent and that formidable ….. payroll . It kind of makes you wonder if finances alone are an actual guarantee of overwhelming success ? It works for some , while for others it can actually prove to be a monumental bust . Simply look at the New York Mets as proof of that and their lack of pertinent success over the past decade . And that “white elephant” known as Citi-Field , home to the New York Mets , built at the cost of $775 million is at times so sparsely filled for the team’s home games that it has become one of the most embarrassing topics of conversation in the baseball world . Forgive me for say this , but New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg either had to have been duped by the Mets’ ownership group in financing this venue or he simply felt it was another way of screwing over the city’s residents , while adding to his already dubious legacy as the mayor. It’s not as if he has actually accomplished anything of note during his two terms as the city’s highest ranking executive to begin with ! And somehow the apathetic residents returned him back to office , to serve a third term in office . WTF !

Now while a great deal is being made about the great season that David Wright is now said to be having . Let’s get one thing clear Wright can’t take this team on his back and lead them to where they need to be . As capable as he is , he’s simply doesn’t possess the mindset wherein his teammates will eagerly follow. In other words simply look at him as a meek and version of a Derek Jeter ” wannabe ” . Wright may well be leading the NL in batting average but in no way can one say he’s having the sort of season or showing the sort of productivity we're now seeing from Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers . Now they are for real and the team is now proving that point .

Now one could start to question whether or not Arte Moreno and Jerry Dipoto can continue to accept the malaise of the Los Angeles Angels . Granted , of late it would appear that Albert Pujols has began to turn things around in terms of his productivity with the Angels have been winners of their last two games but are 5-5 overall in their last ten . Certainly with the the near $330 million commitment made to Albert Pujols and C J Wilson , one would have expected a great deal more from this Angles’ team . Languishing at the bottom of the AL West … Mike Sciocsia players already find themselves 7 games behind the marauding Texas Rangers (27-18) who seem to be on course to repeat as divisional champions for a third consecutive season . This hasn’t been lost on Los Angeles Angels , who have seen the Rangers become the dominant force within the division and one of the preeminent teams within the game. And undoubtedly for Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels , they would like nothing better than making a successful run through the postseason . In 2010 and 2011 , the Texas Rangers fell short at the final obstacle placed in front of them . Ron Washington has to be entirely happy with the play of his team and with Josh Hamilton seemingly knocking the hide of the ball and pitching sensation Yu Darvish , one would have to ask is there a AL team capable of taking down the mighty Texas Rangers ?

Money can’t buy you happiness but it sure as hell has brought a tremendous smile to the faces of the fans of the Los Angels Dodgers and the new ownership group headed by Magic Johnson , Stan Kasten , Peter Guber and the senior executives of the venture capital firm Guggenheim Partners LLC . Mark Walter and Todd S Boehly bring along their financial acumen behind and expertise of their company with assets of over $125 billion . Whereas , Johnson and Kasten now become the face of the franchise , relics of the past remain within the front office with Ned Colletti and Tommy LaSorda still being part of the now infamous reign of Frank McCourt . To my mind given the egregious actions of the former owner I find it hard to believe that Magic Johnson and his partners still feel that both Colletti and LaSorda has something to offer to this organization . Each remained remarkably quiet while McCourt and his ex-wife Jamie McCourt plundered the coffers of the baseball club , and in doing so , it led to the franchise being taken into bankruptcy reorganization proceedings . At the time of the filing the Dodgers were laden with debts in excess of $1.6 billion and assets totaling $700 million . And though franchise was sold for an over-inflated price of $2.15 billion , there is the belief that the final sticker price was simply there to create this charade that the health and wealth of the game is on a sound financial footing . If you believe that to be true , then clearly relate to me where you see that just happens to be the case ?

We all knew that the Chicago Cubs would be a work in progress for the newly installed Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer , as they sought to turn around the fortunes of this once revered ball-club . Stymied by sheer ineptitude manager Dale Sveum and his staff have their work cut out for them over the course of this season . At 15-29 the Cubs now find themselves 10 games behind the division leading St Louis Cardinals (25-19) within the NL Central . Issues abound all over the Cubs’ roster from an anemic offense to pitching rotation that at its best is beyond belief in its sheer ineptitude . And though with the recent retirement of Kerry Wood the salutary applaud for a player who by most expectations simply failed to live up to expectations . Once a bright prospect , having been drafted by the Cubs in 1999 , one can allude to the fact that the highlight of Wood’s career was a 20K strikeout feat that propelled him into the spotlight . Since that revelation , the often player never fully regained the form or promise shown at the beginning of his professional foray in baseball (MLB).

It may well be at the end of this season Epstein and Hoyer in consultation with team owner Thomas “Tom ” Ricketts will seek to make some tough decision as it relates to makeup of the of the roster with many of the high priced …. free agents quite possibly being jettisoned by the organization. And for the engima that just happens to be Alfonso Soriano , it is clear that this is a player who has simply failed to live up to the expectations sought from this once highly productive outfielder. The fact that his career has been on the decline over the past four seasons should be enough an indicator that his contract was bloated and simply ridiculous ! And the very fact that Hoyer’s predecessor Jim Hendry initiated this exercise in stupidity , should tell you all you need to know as one of the endless reasons why the Chicago Cubs remains a laughing stock in all corners of the game .

The Washington Nationals may well be the flavor of the month in terms of the discerning fan jumping on that bandwagon . But simply peruse the team’s record and you can see overall it is not as impressive when you delve deeper . Perhaps it could well be that the four other teams within the NL East have been under-whelming in terms of their play. The Nationals are 5-5 in their last 10 games , 8-5 within the division . The awe and drama has been brought about by the presence of Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg the organization’s top draft picks from 2009 and 2010 , respectively . Now the question one should be asking however , is well these two players still be with the Nationals two or even three years down the line when they both become free agents ? It’s all well and good to try and make the claim that this team is simply playing great baseball and they may well be the surprise ball-club of the season . But let’s get something clear the Nationals have yet to prove themselves as being a legitimate contender in anything but name . I mean this franchise has yet make a meaningful run in the postseason . Apathy amongst the fans never ceases to amaze ______________ these fans would lick a piece of s_#t if it would create the perception that all is well within the game. GM Mike Rizzo plays hardball but come time to renegotiate the contracts of both Strasburg and Harper when Scott Boras , the representative of both players is seated across the table from the general manager . I can assure of this , Rizzo will be the one shitting in his pants because he hasn’t mental approach to deal with a blood-sucking leech like Boras . Anyone who thinks otherwise has never seen this agent at work , bear in mind that of the 22 highest paid players in the game Scott Boras has either negotiated their contracts or still remains their agent in that capacity . Need I say anymore on the matter ?

As the season progresses it will be interesting to see how the teams fare of the schedule . June will bring along a number of games that should tell us a great deal about the direction they intend to be heading in . At this point last season there were a number of things that we were beginning to learn and <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/scoreboard/index.jsp#date=06/02/2011 so … much more . It could be something of a precursor as the latter part of the year post All Star Game . This year’s mid-season showcase will be staged at Kauffman Stadium , Kansas City , Missouri ,. With a great deal at stake for the winning league , it will be interesting to see the preparation , strategies and the makeup of the teams from each league. Undoubtedly , for the managers in question and the fans who vote in large part for the majority of the players that’ll make up the roster the event itself should prove to winner amongst the public and fans alike .

As an avid Atlanta Braves’ fan I have followed their season with a great deal of relish . Fredi Gonzalez seems to have team heading in the right direction , albeit that they’re looking up at the Nationals within the division . The Braves’ third baseman Chipper Jones enters his last season with the organization , seeking that elusive World Series ring . The unprecedented years of success with multiple divisional titles and postseason appearances were gratifying but that lone championship win seems somewhat redundant because so much had been expected.

The team has been built around a young core of players of built around Craig Kimbrell , Jayson Heyward , Michael Bourn , Johnny Venters and the veteran experience of Tim Hudson and Chipper Jones. I say let the chips fall where they may because this season more than any I firmly believe that the Braves can actually make it to the postseason ! The expanded format this season should make the final month of the season extremely interesting. Saturday and Sunday the Braves will host divisional rivals and the Washington Nationals and that if anything should tell us a great deal about the merits , temperament and their undoubted ambitions.

I would like to think that the starting pitchers can lead the team in the mode I believe that they are capable of ! I know that the Atlanta Braves no longer have that formidable pitching lineup that was in essence the admiration of baseball as John Smoltz , Greg Maddux , Tom Glavine and Steve Avery made that starting rotation one of the best ever to play the game .

Misery loves company , and nowhere is this more evident than in witnessing the dire circumstances of the Minnesota Twins . Certainly their record simply bears this out as they are amongst the worst teams …. playing in all of baseball. And certainly with the AL alone the Twins this season are a major cause for concern. Ron Gardenhire and his coaching staff have no answers as to the reasons why this team has been performing so poorly . Team owner Jim Pohlad has become the butt of so many jokes around the league and one could attest to that fact by simply observing the Twins play . Losing has become an “art form “ . It could well prove to be another year of complete ineptitude being borne out again this year as it was in 2011 .

Injuries could once again be used as a crux by the Twins but even that asides cannot hide the fact that this team is extremely bad . Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are seen as the faces of this franchise and and compensated to that effect . But one now has to consider the very fact that neither player has shown that they have the capacity to lead this team to any great height of success in spite of the reverence and esteem in which they are held by the fans at Target Field . Minneapolis , Minnesota . At season’s end the front office will have some serious decisions to make about the makeup of this roster and also whether or not Mauer and Morneau can co-exist as teammates and be productive . It hasn’t happened this season and you simply get the impression the longer this farce continues the more unlikely things will actually change . Gardenhire’s record impressive as it appears to be you simply cannot hide the fact that a great deal more was expected . As to the reasons why the team in recent years has failed ……. well it’s open to a great deal of conjecture and speculation but it is becoming abundantly clear that the Minnesota Twins are now at a crossroads in more ways than one. They can either continue down this road or choose to change course and head in a completely new direction. Whether or not this means the breaking up of this team and perhaps the dismissal of Ron Gardenhire , well it remains to be seen. Should the ball-club fail at least to garner a wildcard berth then to my mind the latter premise mentioned has to become a reality ! Your thoughts on the matter ?

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

As the season has progressed what if anything has been the biggest surprise to amongst the teams and the players ? Simply chime in with your thoughts on this and anything else you believe pertinent to the subject matter .

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Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) Baltimore Orioles’ Adam Jones breaks his bat as he hits a foul ball in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Baltimore, Friday, May 25, 2012. The Royals would go on to defeat the Orioles 8-2 . AP Photo/Patrick Semansky …

(2) TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 28: Edwin Encarnacion (10) of the Toronto Blue Jays rounds second after a two-run home run against Tommy Hunter (29) of the Baltimore Orioles during MLB action at The Rogers Centre May 28, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images ….

(3) Wilson Betemit ((24) of the Baltimore Orioles strikes out against the Toronto Blue Jays during MLB action at The Rogers Centre May 28, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images …

(4) Gerald Laird (9) of the Detroit Tigers rounds the bases after hitting a home run as Will Middlebrooks (64) of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the fifth inning at Fenway Park May 28, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images …..

(5) Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins (11) slides safely into second base behind New York Mets’ shortstop David Wright in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 28, 2012, at Citi-Field in New York. The Phillies won 8-4 . AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek …..

(6) Oakland Athletics Josh Reddick slides safely into third base on a triple as Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe loses control in the sixth inning of their baseball game won by the Twins 5-4 , Monday, May 28, 2012 in Minneapolis. AP Photo/Andy King …..

(7) Brian McCann (16) of the Atlanta Braves reacts after grounding into a double play in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Turner Field on May 28, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images …
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MLB player stats daily leaders (batting)

MLB Standings 05/282012

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Talib Kweli ………… ” Beautiful Struggle ”

It’s Back To The Drawing Board …………

It’s Back To The Drawing Board

By tophatal ……………. 05/21/2012

Not totally unexpected but the NBA …. postseason has seen the firing of its first coaching casualty , with the Orlando Magic having fired Stan Van Gundy this afternoon . GM Otis Smith was also asked to relinquish his duties with the beleaguered general manager and Magic hierarchy agreeing to mutually part ways . COO Alex Martins now has to conduct an exhaustive personnel search for an insighftul general manger and and an astute head coach . Both Van Gundy and Smith over the course of their tenure at best , have simply been completely oblivious as to what is needed to construct a championship caliber team . And it certainly hasn’t helped that Dwight Howard has become a petulant and tiresome ass , who’s biggest attribute is no longer his game but the mere fact that he plays the clown so adroitly ! Nothing says I’m an asshole than an athlete simply being self-absorbed and believing himself to be bigger than the team . The coaches who have held the position with the Magic don’t seem overly impressive when you peruse the list of abject failures in spite of the success of Chuck Daly , Doc Rivers and Brian Hill . I simply get the feeling that the off-season will be a long an arduous one for Alex Martins and his staff , as they seek replacements for Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith .

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With the Orlando Magic being unceremoniously dumped in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers was enough to suggest that that this Magic organization was completely out its depth . This Orlando Magic team was simply made up of ill-fitting pieces and a coach whose best attribute was to be animated and continue to whine like a stuck pig before it’s placed on a spit grill to be roasted . OK , so Ryan Anderson was said to be the most improved player in the NBA this past season . But really is that asking too much of Anderson , given the fact that before this past year season no one would have known whom he was said to be . And please forgive me when I state that J J Redick , Hedo Turkoglu , Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson are about as scary an opponent in the NBA as Clay Aiken would prove to be in a room filled with naked , openly gay males . Over course of their season schedule the Orlando Magic were simply hideous . Let’s be succinct here , who the fu_k believed that this team was simply good enough to beat any of the Eastern Conference participants in this season’s playoffs ? Come on , ask yourself the question , were the Magic good enough to ” beat” the Pacers ? We all saw that the players simply gave up , rather than seeking to be competitive .

The relationship between Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy had already been seething , with there being growing animus between player and coach . Van Gundy approached the senior executives to question whether or not Howard had approached them to have him fired . Oh Stan, get over yourself , as you’re not that great a coach to begin with ! There’s a reason why your tenures with both the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic were not only clouded in controversy but the abrupt way that you’ve now left both organizations has to speak volumes as to your lack of ability as a head coach . There’s a great deal that has be done within this organization , the hiring of a successor to Van Gundy and the upcoming NBA Draft Also there has to be roster personnel decisions with regard to the potential free agents beyond the team’s All Star center Dwight Howard . The player , had the chance to leave the organization earlier this season at the trade deadline and it would appear that either Smith didn’t believe that the teams said to be interested in acquiring the player , simply were not prepared to meet the asking price of the Magic. The Los Angeles Lakers eschewed the idea of acquiring the player in exchange for either Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol , and the perceived interest from the New Jersey Nets simply went up in smoke the moment that Brook Lopez went down injured .

The potential list of candidates that Alex Martins might seek to interview for the position probably will be not be that great. There simply doesn’t appear to be a viable candidate I believe, that might deemed a suitable successor to Stan Van Gundy ! A retread of someone like Larry Brown , Mike Fratello or P J Carlesimo and the organization might as well call on Brian Hill or Matt Guokas . And if the aforementioned executive should seek to go the collegiate route for that successor , then Alec Martins might seek to hire Billy Donovan , Tom Izzo , or Tom Crean . But I seriously doubt that that Martins has the mendacity or the ambition to gauge the interests of the aforementioned collegiate coaches ! Over the years , I simply wonder what ambition if any there has been within the Orlando Magic organization ! Unfortunately , the misguided fans within the Central Florida area bought into the bullshit that Rich De Vos ever possessed the acumen to make the Magic a real success . He may well have co-founded turned the direct sales product company Amway made it a multi-billion dollar , multi-marketing level behemoth but beyond that he has simply sleep walked as the basketball franchise has simply slipped into deep obscurity . Two appearances in the NBA finals and each time the team fell at the final obstacle in the NBA’s postseason showcase finale . It’s hard to fathom where the Magic now go from here , as I believe that if they choose to rebuild around Dwight Howard there is the likelihood that they will struggle find the prerequisite pieces to complement the Howard’s skill-set. Try as they have , it has already been a complete failure from the moment Dwight Howard was drafted #1 overall in the 2004 NBA Draft . From thereon-in it has been one prat-fall after another with this organization with no semblance of common sense from anyone within the front office to the coaching staff on down . Pretty much damned , and be damned , as it relates to the Orlando Magic .

The ongoing fiasco that happens to be Bud Selig being viewed as the consummate senior executive within baseball’s hierarchy simply knows no boundaries . From his his mishandling of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ financial woes , to that of the New York Mets , the commissioner’s handling of each has left a lot to be desired. And who can forget his and the fu#king asinine rant of one of the commissioner’s subordinates , Rob Manfred questioning arbitration verdict of Shyam Das in overturning Ryan Braun’s 50 game suspension after an alleged banned substance was said to be found within this system ? As we all now know , the testing laboratory facility failed to follow the proper protocols as it related to the gathering and storing of the test specimens of a subject (player) . But somehow rather than rebuking the hired facility these two dumb fu_ks sought to question the arbitrator’s decision after he followed the “rule of law” . And so the saga continues and the lame ass supporters of Bud Selig are still jumping out of the woodwork like termites after an exterminator is within their midst.

Is there a day that day goes by when there’s not some controversy said to be fomenting within baseball ? Within the Tampa Bay area there’s a growing discontent between the Tampa Bay Rays’ … ownership group led by managing partner Stuart Sternberg and city of St Petersburg , home to the Rays and their home venue at Tropicana Field , St Petersburg, Florida . Throw in the county government of Pinellas County and their bordered county government neighbor of Hillsborough County , as each seeks to lure or retain the baseball franchise . Sternberg seeks the financial assistance of the city of St Petersburg in the building of a new downtown venue. The city of Tampa and its mayor Bob Buckhorn seeks to lure the baseball club to his city with the financial inducement of a lesser tax burden . But as with any other governmental agency , it will be the residents who in the end will suffer , as the use much of needed resources will be directed elsewhere in order to assist a multi-millionaire sports’ franchise owner . This is the very same bullsh#t that is now transpiring within the city of Sacramento but with their apathetic fan-base trying to suggest that the use of city’s resources in building a new $391 million venue for a basketball franchise , the Sacramento Kings , whose fan-base has been steadily on the decline for the last eight years will be of benefit to the residents as a whole . If that wasn't bad enough the city's Mayor Kevin Johnson seems to be a bumbling ass . His city has an enormous budget deficit but he feels the best way forward to spend funds that they simply haven’t got while furloughing city employees , cutting none-discretionary spending and simply cutting their budget overall . The Sacramento Kings’ ownership group led by Joe and Gavin Maloof have been less than forthright in their dealings with Johnson and his city’s council members . You have the NBA Commissioner David Stern , remaining remarkably moot on the issue but you simply know that this conniving bastard will undoubtedly side with the ownership group of the franchise , if the Maloofs are unable to have their demands met ! I’ll say no more , as I simply don’t want to decry those fans in Sacramento anymore , their idiocy seems to know boundaries !

The Tampa Bay Rays in spite of their recent success have simply languished under the misapprehension that Bud Selig will come riding to the rescue to assist them in their pursuit of a new ballpark . That’s not going to happen anytime soon , as the commissioner has not only rebuffed and rebuked the Rays’ ownership but he has has had the temerity to suggest that the franchise will never play host to an MLB All Star Game until they have a state of the art new venue . Pray Bud , and where will the Tampa Bay Rays get the much needed financing , an approximate $ 575 million to build the proposed new venue come from ? Rays’ GM Andrew Friedman has tried to be very diplomatic concerning this most acute of issues , while not looking to run the wrath of the commissioner’s authority or that of the governmental agencies in question . Over the ensuing months it will be interesting to see how this all pans out .

Now while the two franchises , the > Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers have divergent seasons . It has to be said it is troubling to see the Angels simply flounder from one inept performance to another . If they maintain this type of mediocrity they’ll be hard pressed to finish their season with an above .500 record . The offense has had its problems and their high priced acquisition , Albert Pujols , I’ve no doubt wishes that he were still playing on the senior circuit of the NL ! I’m not saying he’s having issues acclimatizing with his new team but it’s like placing a lamb being led to the slaughter as he tries to acclimatize himself within the AL this season. And other than Jered Weaver’s ….. no hitter for the team this season there has been little to write home about for the Angels this season . Arte Moreno and GM Jerry Dipoto have to be wondering what to make of this team and the coaching staff led by Mike Sciocsia .

While the Angels appear to be fizzling the Los Angels Dodgers are simply on a tear within the NL West . This division could very well be sewn up before we hit the month of August . And at this juncture it’s pretty safe to say that the feats of Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have pretty much made themselves the early season and prohibitive favorites for the NL MVP.

Confrontations good , bad or indifferent , are never a premise that the game of baseball should operate under. But there’s one now brewing between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s . Lew Wolff seeks to now relocate the franchise if there is no agreement to build a new ballpark for renowned franchise . With no agreement as to a new venue and the aging O Coliseum (Oakland Alameda County Coliseum) now teetering on the brink of being obsolete . The the A’s are seeking to move to Santa Clara County and to a proposed site on the outskirts of San Jose . But herein lies the issue, as the the Giants state that it encroaches upon their territorial boundary and would create a dilution in terms of the fans and their own … drawing power within that territory . Just when you thought there was common sense to be found , up comes the fecal matter to simply emit an odor that’s so rancid that it makes you gag.

Courtesy of the San Francisco Examiner in conjunction with Reuters

Territorial rights for SF Giants, Oakland A’s still up in the air

By Reuters

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday there has been no resolution regarding the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants’ territorial rights to San Jose after both parties made presentations to Major League Baseball’s executive council on Wednesday, MLB.com reported.

The A’s would like to build a new ballpark in San Jose and play there, but the Giants have not relinquished their rights to San Jose and Santa Clara County. Those rights have been part of the MLB constitution since 1990.

“This is part of the process we’re going through, but I certainly can’t give you a timetable,” Selig told the media Thursday. “As I’ve said before, it’s a complicated, complex issue. People think it’s taking a long time, but if you look at all the issues, you’d understand it better. … The idea is to get it right and if it takes a little longer, that’s fine.”

When asked whether the A’s would be allowed to consider relocating outside of the Bay Area, Selig said, “You’d have to ask [A’s managing partner] Lew Wolff. That’s really his decision to make.”

Approval from 75 percent of the other 29 owners is required for the A’s to move their franchise out of their territory, whether that be to San Jose or elsewhere.

“[The A’s] have to go through an approval process,” Selig said.

Meanwhile, baseball owners approved a new division series format that could actually favor the underdog. Top division winners will play two games on the road before coming home for all necessary remaining games in the five-game series format. When wild-card teams were first added to Major League Baseball playoffs, the format was 2-3. Next season, the plan is to restore the 2-2-1 series format in the first round.

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Now the question that may well be asked by the fans , is how can this matter be best resolved to acceptance of the parties involved . Bud Selig has known of the issues that the Oakland A’s have had, as they seek a new venue for the ball-club but rarely has the commissioner spoken publicly on the matter. But somehow he has been front-and-center in aiding the ownership groups of the Miami Marlins , New York Mets and New York Yankees obtaining new baseball stadiums . And those venues have been built at the collective cost of $ 2.855 billion ($2,855,000,000) , all at taxpayers’ expense . New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his Miami counterpart Tomas Regalado have each lauded the commissioner for the assistance and input provided . But somehow the A’s and Rays , now seen as mere paupers within the baseball world are now being left to fend for themselves . I can’t help but wonder if the team owners within the game have such a close fraternal order , then how is it that the likes of Jeffrey Loria , Hank & Hal Steinbrenner and the duo of Saul Katz and Fred Wilpon can seemingly look down on their peers as nondescript miscreants not worth assisting in such an endeavor ! I’ve heard all this bull_hit about there being parity within the game of baseball because there has been not a back-to-back winner of the World Series in over a decade . That means absolutely nothing , where it really counts , and that’s from a economic and financial standpoint . The big market teams within the financial resources at their disposal can simply cakewalk their way to a title , merely by picking up a high priced … free agent that meets their prerequisite needs. Not so , for the small market teams around the league ( MLB) but you would be hard pressed to suggest that to many purists and those who claim to have some so-called knowledge of the game from a financial standpoint . I’ve yet to hear anyone explain it succinctly to me , why it is that the game of baseball has such a financial imbalance as it relates to the teams. The New York Yankees think nothing of dropping a $200 million plus payroll on their roster for each of the last five seasons , while the minnows of the game such as the Kansas City Royals , Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates are left to pick at the dog scraps left in a bowl .

Anyone who believes that Bud Selig cares about all of the baseball teams within the game is simply misguided and hasn’t got any god-damn common sense . The MLB commissioner puts profits above all else , much like his NFL counterpart Roger Goodell , who himself , is currently under siege for his apparent lack of inaction thereof , in dealing with the now ” lingering stench ” of the New Orleans Saints’ scandal with a modicum of real transparency . . There’s a reason why Goodell has no comprehension of jurisprudence (law) , and how to apply it with veracity and judiciously . And even with the in-house legal counsel being provided the NFL commissioner still comes up looking like a complete ass ! .

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

Are you at all surprised by the dismissal of Stan Van Gundy as the coach of the Orlando Magic ? And what of the now growing feeling that the Los Angeles Angels now have some major issues to deal with concerning their lackluster performances this season ? That asides what needs to be done concerning the concerns or the Giants and their issues with the possible move of the A’s ? Chime in on this and anything else you believe pertinent on the subject matter. Thanks as always for the continued support of this site as it is greatly appreciated ! .

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NBA results 21st May 2012

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Picture and slide show details below for your perusal .

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(1) DENVER, CO – APRIL 22 : Head coach Stan Van Gundy leads the Orlando Magic against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on April 22, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. It was reported on May 21, 2012 that the Orlando Magic fired Head Coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images …

(2) ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 18 : Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith speaks to the media regarding the acquisition of Gilbert Arenas from the Washington Wizards, Jason Richardson , Hedo Turkoglu, and Earl Clark from the Phoenix Suns at Amway Arena on December 18, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. It was reported on May 21, 2012 that the Orlando Magic fired Head Coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith. Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images ….

(3) Dumber and dumber . MAITLAND, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 29, 2008 at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland, Florida. Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images …

(4) Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins , left, smiles as Dwight Howard answers questions during a news conference,Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. Howard signed papers Thursday agreeing to waive the early termination option in his contract, guaranteeing he will be with the Magic at the beginning of the 2012-13 season. That situation now seems a little more uncertain with the recent upheavals within the organization and the player’s own immediate future . AP Photo/John Raoux ….

(5) Rob Manfred (left) and Bud Selig are seen here being interviewed by the press prior to the MLB All Star Game in 2011 . Both senior executives were unhappy with the ruling rendered by Shyam Das during the arbitrator’s presiding over the Ryan Braun mediation case . Das sided with the player after it was shown that the testing facility hired by the league failed to follow the proper protocols in its chain of custody in handling Braun’s test samples . AP / Ian Shaw …….

(6) Oakland Athletics’ owner Lewis Wolff , right, talks with vice president and general manager Billy Beane during the A’s spring training baseball workout in Phoenix, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. Beane, the architect behind Oakland’s four division titles since 2000, was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The duo are said to be unhappy with the prolonged efforts of the MLB hierarchy in seeking the owners’ approval and a vote in setting about the chain-of-events that would see the organization move from their present site to a proposed new venue in San Jose (Santa Clara County) California . At the heart of this all , is a brewing territorial dispute between the A’s and San Francisco Giants . AP Photo/Eric Risberg …..

(7) Bochy , Sabean , Cain , Baer of the San Francisco Giants . From left to right San Francisco Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy , GM Brian Sabean , pitcher , Matt Cain and the team’s managing general partner & CEO Laurence Bear . Baer has stated that the Giants have no wish to relinquish their territorial rights which came by way of an agreement that has been in existence since 1990. It is becoming abundantly clear that this matter may well end up being a protracted legal argument , unless the two sides and the MLB hierarchy can reach some sort of a compromise amenable to all of the parties concerned . AP Photo / Chris Chadwick ….. …..

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