Deadline Recap

No Manny was not dealt for Brett Farve, but he was dealt in the closing minutes of the July 31st trade deadline. In case you missed the crazy past 7-10 days of endless rumors and several trades, here is a recap of all the major trade deadline deals that went down.

The big one: Three-Way Deal

To Red Sox
Jason Bay (OF, from Pirates)

To Dodgers
Manny Ramirez (OF, from Red Sox)

To Pirates
Craig Hansen (RP, from Red Sox)
Brandon Moss (OF, from Red Sox)
Andy LaRoche (3B, from Dodgers)
Bryan Morris (AA SP, from Dodgers)

Others of Note:

Marlins acquire Author Rhoades (RP) from Mariners for Gaby Hernandez (AA, SP)

White Sox acquire Ken Griffey Jr. (outfielder) from Reds for Nick Masset (AAA, RP) & Danny Richar (2B)

Yankees acquire Ivan Rodriguez (C) from Tigers for Kyle Farnsworth (RP)

Angels acquire Mark Teixeria (1B) from Braves for Casey Kotchman (1B) & Stephen Marek (RHP)

Dodgers acquire Casey Blake (3B) from Indians for Jon Meloan (RP) & Carlos Santana (AA, C)

Yankees acquire Xavier Nady (OF) & Damaso Marte (RP) from Pirates for four minor league prospects
Diamondbacks acquire Jon Rauch from Nationals for Emilio Bonifacio (AAA, 2B)

Brewers acquire Ray Durham (2B) from Giants for Steve Hammond (AA, SP) & Darren Ford (AA, OF)

Phillies acquire Joe Blanton (SP) from A's for three minor league prospects

Cubs acquire Rich Harden (SP) & Chad Gaudin (RP) from A's for Matt Murton (OF) & three minor league prospects

Brewers acquire CC Sabathia from Indians for four minor league prospects

Ramirez Out In Boston

ESPN.com is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have traded LF Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers as a part of a 3-team trade.

In return, The Red Sox aquired OF Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates recieved 3B Andy LaRoche and P Bryan Morris from the Dodgers. In addition to that the Pirates also recieved 2 prospects from the Red Sox, OF Brandon Moss, and P Craig Hansen.

It seems to me that the Red Sox gave up too much for Jason Bay, while the pirates make out like bandits solidifiing their future by adding the other LaRoche brother at 3B.

Deadline Day is Here!

Latest news as of 9am Thursday morning:

-The Chicago White Sox have acquired Ken Griffey Jr. from the Reds for minor league prospects. This deal is pending Griffey's approval as he has a no-trade clause.

-The White Sox are now targeting A's closer Huston Street according to several reports.

-No news to report on the three team Manny Ramirez trade talks. As of right now the deal looks like this:

Marlins get: Manny Ramirez, a prospect from the Red Sox
Pirates get: Jeremy Hermida, Ryan Tucker, and possibly an additional prospect
Red Sox get: Jason Bay, John Grabow

Reports have the Pirates as the party that seems to be holding this up as they are rumored to want at least one good prospect, possibly one from each team.

-Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs and Mariners are close to a deal that would sent Raul Ibanez to Chicago.

MLB Trade Deadline UPDATE as of 10:30 Wednesday:

-Several sites and "experts"are reporting that the Marlins, Red Sox, and Pirates are talking about a three-way trade that would send Manny Ramirez to Florida, Jeremy Hermida to Pittsburgh, and Jason Bay to Boston. I still won't believe that Manny will be dealt until I see it, but this deal would make sense for all parties.

-The Dodgers are rumored to have inquired several times about Greg Maddux. They could use another starter with playoff experience.

-Jon Heyman is reporting that the Diamondbacks have offered Chad Tracy to the Reds for slugger Adam Dunn. They are still waiting to hear back at this time.

-The Astros have acquired LeTroy Hawkins from the Yankees for a minor leaguer.

-Jarrod Washburn continues to be coveted by several teams, although I'm not sure why. The Yankees still appear to be front runners. The asking price still seems to be very high, which is why this deal was not completed days ago.

More news to follow...

Yankees Make Move

The New York Yankees made their first move of the 2008 trade deadline by acquiring catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. In exchange for the veteran catcher the Yanks shipped reliever Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit.

The addition of Rodriguez is a useful on for the Yankees as starter Jorge Posada is out for the remainder of the season due to injury. The 36year old Rodriguez was batting .295 with 5 home runs and 52 RBI this season for the Tigers.

He's Back!

After announcing his retirement in March, Brett Farve is back in the National Football League as a member of the Green Bay Packers (for the time being). Farve faxed his reinstatement paperwork over to the league office on Wednesday making his long anticipated comeback official.

This move puts the Packers in a tough situation. Coach Mike McCarthy as already said that Aaron Rodgers in their starting quarterback and reiterated those comments on Wednesday following the announcement:

"It's obviously the first step in Brett coming back, but we'll deal with that when Brett is reinstated and have a plan for that when he comes back. He'll (Rodgers) be starting all of the games as the starter. We've talked about possibly playing our first group maybe a little longer, and those are things that we'll discuss. The health of your football team obviously factors into that, so that is our plan going into the preseason with Aaron."

It will be interesting to see what the Packers do now. Farve and the Packers have been going back and forth for the past month trying to come to some sort of resolution. Farve has said for the past month or so that he has wanted to return, while the Packers were hoping that he would stay retired. One possible solution would be to trade Farve. The Packers are rumored to have talked to both the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but it is believed that Green Bay's asking price is far too high.

Artest to Rockets

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Houston Rockets have acquired forward Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Bobby Jackson, Houston's first round draft pick in 2009, and a player to be named later.

The acquisition of Artest now gives Houston their own "big three" as he will join all-stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. This move puts Houston right back into the thick of things in a very competitive Western Conference.

Artest, one of the best defenders in the NBA, is most recognized for his fighting incident a few years back as a member of the Indiana Pacers. During the altercation Artest went into the stands where is stuck a fan with a heavy punch. He was later suspended for the remainder of the season.

Angels' Big Day Continues

Just hours after acquiring Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves the Angels nearly capped of the day in style. Angels veteran pitcher John Lackey took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of tonight's game against the Boston Red Sox before having it broken up by Dustin Pedroia, just two outs shy. The Angels went on to win the game by the final score of 6-2. The win marks the seventh in a row for the Angels over the Red Sox this season.

Lackey's near no-hitter would have been the first one thrown by an opposing pitcher at Fenway since 1993. Jon Lester threw a no-hitter earlier this season for the Red Sox.

Teixeira To Angels

Breaking MLB Trade Deadline News—

Accord to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, Atlanta Braves 1B Mark Teixeira has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for 1B Casey Kotchman and minor-league Pitcher Stephen Marek.

Just two days before the MLB Trade Deadline, the Angels have now made the first splash in the American League. With plenty of action yet to come, things will get interesting for the next 48 hours...

Hester Ends Holdout

Chicago Bears' all-pro kick returner Devin Hester ended his two day holdout on Sunday when he agreed to a new four year extension reportedly worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million. Hester was unhappy with his previous contract which was due to play him just $445,000 this season. He missed the first two days of training camp but is expected to be back in camp on Monday.

These holdouts seem to be a common theme recently in the NFL. Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant is a camp holdout. After last year's breakout season he feels that he should be paid more like a star running back and less like a rookie backup. Instead of living up to their contracts many players seem to have a "pay me now" sort of attitude instead of putting in their time and getting rewarded for it down the road, the way it is supposed to be done.

Manny On The Move?

One of the biggest rumors in MLB the past couple day has concerned Manny Ramirez and his future with the Boston Red Sox. Manny's antics over his career in Boston have been well documented and then shrugged off as "Manny being Manny." This year however he has crossed the line and the Red Sox appear to have had enough. He pushed a 64 year old traveling ticket agent to the ground, he got in a fight with teammate Kevin Youkilis, and then most recently took himself out of the lineup before a game against the Sox's arch rivals the New York Yankees.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstien, who has made clear in the past is discontent with many of Manny's antics, has admitted that the Sox are listening to trade offers for the all-star left fielder.

One thing that could potentially be a road block in a trade of Manny Ramirez is the fact that Manny has a no trade clause that kicked in after last season. This gives Ramirez the right to veto any trade agreed to by the Sox in which he is a part of. Today in an interview with ESPN Deportes Manny said that he would not, in fact, block a trade should it come to that. It remains to be seen if he will live up to his word.

"If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object. I don't have any preferences. I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball. If they can get a trade, I'd approve it. If they can't trade me, then they will simply have to inform me by the end of the season that they won't use the options and we'll go separate ways. I don't want to be a problem and a distraction to the Red Sox in such a critical moment of the season. I want to help the team, even if that means I have to go."

The biggest problem I have with this comment is that Manny has been a distraction. He coined the phrase "Manny being Manny." He is the one that makes bathroom trips during the game into the green monster. He is the one who threw a old man to the ground because he would not give him the tickets he wanted. He is the one that brings up his contract situation every time he talks to reporters. He is the one that has put himself and the Red Sox in the position they are in now.

If Manny really wants to not be a distraction he should be a man and live up to his contract and play EVERYDAY to the best of his abilities. Reports have indicated that he thinks he is worth upwards of $25 million a year over the next four years. Even taking out of account his off field shananagans, his play over the last few seasons does not merit $25 million. It is time for Manny Ramirez to stop acting like a child and start acting live a professional. He needs to prove to the world what he is worth as a ballplayer. If he does he will get rewarded, and likely by the Red Sox, the team he has said all along that he wants to play for.

Hot Stove Heating Up!

For the second day in a row a highly sought after player has been dealt to a playoff contender. The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired 3B/OF Casey Blake from the Cleveland Indians for two minor leaguers. The right handed hitting Blake, a free agent to be at season's end, had a line of .289/11/58 this season for the Indians. Blake played a combination of third base and left field this season in Cleveland and is expected to take over as the Dodgers every day third baseman, solidifying a position that has been up for grabs all season in LA.

This is a good pickup for the Dodgers who were in need of another bat as well as some stability on the left side of the infield. Blake's .289 average and 58 RBI led the Indians. As many as seven other teams were rumored to have interest in Blake including the Rays and Mets.

From the Indian's perspective this move made a lot of sense. With Blake's contract expiring at the end of the year they were better off getting something in return rather than watching him walk away and taking their chances with a low compensation pick. One of the players they received in was single A catcher Carlos Santana who is batting .323 with 14 homers and is considered a very good offensive prospect. The other player, a triple A right handed pitcher named Jon Meloan, is 5-10 with a 4.97 era this season.

Nady, Marte Bronx Bound

The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty reliever Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for four minor leaguers. According to Sport Illustrated's Jon Heyman the deal is pending physicals for all six players involved.

The addition of Nady is a good one for the Yanks as outfielder Hideki Matsui is expected to miss significant time due to a knee injury.

Marte, who was coveted by many teams including New York's arch rivals the Boston Red Sox, will serve as the lefty specialist coming out of the Yankee bullpen. The position was previously held by Mike Myers who was released by the Yankees earlier in the season.

New Leader In NL East

For the first time since mid April the New York Mets are alone a top that NL East. Led by seven strong innings from starter Oliver Perez and a clutch two-run double in the 8th inning from Carlos Delgado the Mets pulled out the 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. This could be trouble for the Phillies who have coasted most of the way thus far. The Mets, winners of seven out of their last ten games are starting to catch fire at the right time.

With the trade deadline quickly approaching it will be interesting to see what these two teams will do to better themselves for the home stretch. The Phillies earlier this week acquired Joe Blanton from the A's but the price was steep as they had to part ways with the #2 and #4 prospects in their farm system according to the Baseball America rankings. There were rumors earlier in the week about a possible trade between the Phillies and Rockies that would have sent Brian Fuentes and Matt Holiday to Philly for a package of promising young players that would have included rising star Shane Victorino. Those talks however have since quited down.

The Mets certainly have a reputation for not being afraid to pay the price to go out and get what they need to win. With GM Omar Minaya at the helm, they are sure to explore all possibilities to adding what ever missing link they see fit. Given the recent strong performances from their starting rotation, their only real need may be another arm in the bullpen and perhaps a little more depth off the bench. That is assuming that the Pedro Martinez injury is not anything serious. Other than that have no glaring weakness at this time.

It will be interesting to see what the coming weeks bring us. This is sure to be a fun race to watch.

WNBA Reacts to Catfight

For those of you who may not have heard, the WNBA got a little publicity boost Tuesday night when a fight broke out on the court following a hard foul during a Detroit Shock-Los Angeles Sparks game. During the brawl that ensued an assistant coach pushed one of the faces of the league to the ground, another player had to be carted off in a wheelchair after falling while trying to restore peace, and several other ladies passionately pushed each other around.

This may have been the first time in league history that the WNBA was featured during the first 15 minutes of Sportscenter. A league that is often described by the average sports fan as boring, dull, and even robotic finally showed some emotion. On Wednesday one of the top searches for sports news on several of the top sports site in the world was "WNBA Fight."

So how, you might ask, did the league respond to this media blessing? WNBA president Donna Orender released the following statement: "The WNBA and its players represent all that is good about sports: passion, hard work and sacrifice. On a nightly basis our players display extraordinary skill, athleticism and competitive fire. The events Tuesday, however, were inexcusable and in no way indicative of what the league stands for. We hold our players to a very high standard and these suspensions should serve notice that the behavior exhibited at the end of Tuesday's game will not be tolerated."

I will now give all of you a moment to stop laughing before we continue on...

For a league that loses millions of dollars yearly, has no major television deals, struggles on a nightly basis to even half fill their arenas, and gets zero respect on the national sports level to come out and say that drawing attention to the league and playing with a little passion is "inexcusable" is absolutely absurd. Emotion is part of sports. It is what makes sports so fun to watch and play. It is why professional sports in this country is a muti-billion dollar a year industry: it entertains, it draws people in, it makes people devote their lives to celebrating it. But apparently the WNBA does not want that.

Instead of suspending 10 players today the WNBA should have sent out a memo to the rest of the league telling them that this is how the game should be played. I am not saying that the WNBA should be turned into a pay-per-view fight night. But please, play with a little passion. Show the world why your sport should be watched and taken seriously.

There is a reason why the NFL is the most watched sport in this country. And there is also a reason why the WNBA is currently one of the least.

King James Foresees Gold.

Joe Namath did it. Muhammad Ali did it. Now its Lebron's turn.

What, you may ask, might these three have in common besides all being tremendous athletes? Well the first two made guarantees that their team would win on the big stage; Namath in the Superbowl, Ali did it for the World Heavy-weight Championship. This time its Lebron James at the Olympics.

The Associated Press is reporting that in a Time Magazine issue that hits newsstands on Friday, when asked if his team would win gold his response was "absolutely!"

Lebron will be chasing something that USA basketball has failed to do at the Olympics Since 2000. He will be doing so against teams like Argentina, Greece, Lithuania, and Spain, all teams who are possibly better than they have ever been in the past...they have all been very good in the past. The NBA has changed. It is no longer the NBA of the 1980's or 90's when every good player, and I mean everyone, was from the United States. Now, like many other sports (baseball and hockey come to mind), many of the best players in the game are not from the United States. You have players like Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Steve Nash, and even Tim Duncan, all outstanding players and perennial all-stars, who are all born on foreign soil.

Team USA will have their hands full at this year's Olympic games. On paper you would have to say they are the favorites to win it all, but not by as wide a margin as Lebron and company may think. We are going to need to see the Lebron James from game 7 the this year's Eastern Conference Finals in every game for team USA to win gold. I'm not talking about the numbers. He will not get the touches to score 40+ points in a game, not with Kobe Bryant on the same team. What I am talking about is the drive, the Jordan-esk glare in his eye that tells you he wants it. That glare does not come out every game. It will need to for him to "absolutely" make good on his declaration.

Urlacher, Bears Kiss and Make Up

After a month long struggle between player and management both the Chicago Bears and Brian Urlacher got what they wanted on Tuesday when Urlacher agreed to a contract extension through the 2012 season. The extension is reportedly worth $18million and includes a $6million dollar signing bonus.

Urlacher, considered by many to be one of the top linebackers in the NFL, played the majority of last season with a back injury. The six time Pro-Bowler expressed his discontent with his existing contract following the season. Urlacher felt that given his commitment to the team and everything he had done for the organization he should receive the proper compensation.

This is a very important move for the Bears. The last thing you want is for your top player and leader both on and off the field to be unhappy. I think we all knew it was just a matter of time before this was resolved. Now the Bears can focus their attention on other important matters such as finding something that even resembles an offense.

Shockey On the Move

The New York Giants have traded TE Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints for the Saints 2nd and 5th round picks in the 2009 draft. Shockey became expendable following the late season emergence of Kevin Boss.

This move comes as a surprise to no one. Shockey made it very clear that he was unhappy as the new #2 in New York. New Orleans is a good fit for Shockey where he will now be one of Drew Brees' top targets. The Saints are looking to rebound from a a very disappointing 7-9 season. The Giants meanwhile lose very little in this trade. A second and fifth is a very good return for a guy who was going to be a backup.

Ronaldo to Stay In Manchester

It has been reported that injured Manchester United Winger, Cristiano Ronaldo will play for the Red Devils next season. Despite an injured right ankle that will keep him out until October, Ronaldo will remain with Machester of the English Premier League next season.

With 4 years remaining on his current contract, Real Madrid has expressed intrest in aquireing the 23-year-old. Ronaldo has yet to comment about the situation...perhaps astronomical amounts of money could pursue Machester to let him return closer to home.

Harrington Goes Back-to-Back

Last night while sitting at this computer I was anticipating writing a piece today about a triumphant return to the winner's circle for a 50+ year old golfer. What a story it would be for a man who has not won a PGA event since 1996, a man who has not even participated in a major in three years, to win The Open Championship, one of golf's toughest tests. It would have been a great story. Padraig Harrington however had other ideas.

Harrington fired a one under 69 including two birdies and an eagle on the back nine en route to a four stroke victory over Englishmen Luke Donald. Harrington was brilliant throughout, paring the first six holes while the rest of the field was falling victim to the 35+mph winds. He then came back to the rest of the pack at the midway point of the round before really turning it on for the back nine and cruising to victory.

The victory for Harrington, his second consecutive Open Championship title, is even more impressive given that a day before the tournament he was not even sure if he would be able to play this week. He suffered a wrist injury during a practice round prior to the event. In a week that lacked the biggest name in all of sports, it was a Tiger-esk victory, overcoming a serious injury to win, that me be the most overlooked story of the weekend.

The story that would have been, Greg Norman, bogeyed four of the first six holes and never really could seem to find that comfort level that he thrived in the previous three days. He finished at +9, good for third place, some six shots behind Harrington. Norman, who has been known more for his chokes than his successes over the course of his career, once again came up short handed in the final round.

It is tough to see a guy like Norman, someone who you can't help but root for, struggle and fail to pull off what seemed imminent. I hope for his sake that this is not the last we see of Greg Norman on a leaderboard. He deserves to go out on top. But at the age of 56 one can only wonder how many many oppertunities he will have.

Update

Richie Sexon still sucks.

MLB Trade Update

Updating a previous report...

Talks between the Brewers and A's in the deal that would have sent Huston Street to Milwaukee feel apart before an agreement could be officially reached.

The Brewers did make a move today however as they acquired second basemen Ray Durham from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for two minor leaguers. The addition of Durham gives Milwaukee more middle infield depth and provides for some good offensive punch off the bench. This is a solid move for the Brewers given Rickie Weeks' inconsistency this season.

Jason Taylor To Redskins

Jason Taylor, now better known for his appearance on "Dancing With The Stars" then his play on a football field, has been traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Washington Redskins their 2009 2nd round pick and a 2010 6th rounder. John Clayton reports that Taylor will not re-negotiate the remaining two years of his contract, where he will earn 8 million dollars. He racked up 11 sacks during the 2007 season along with 55 tackles.

Taylor's trade requests have been well known, asking to be traded to a playoff contender before the NFL Draft. There were also rumors that he and new executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells didn't see eye-to-eye after Taylor missed all of the Dolphins off-season workouts while on "Dancing".

Does Jason Taylor make the Redskins a top team in the NFC? Does it even make them a top two team in there conference? Can an aging D-Linemen make that much of a difference?

Brewers Going For Broke

It appears that the Milwaukee Brewers are going all in for a championship this season. After acquiring CC Sabathia just before the all star game, mlbtraderumors.com is now reporting that the Brewers are on the verge of acquiring A's closer Huston Street. The price for Street appears to be prospect Darren Ford, a speedy outfielder who spent this season playing for the Brevard County Manatees (high A). Ford is batting just .232 on the season but the number that does stand out are his 44 steals in 87 games.

The Brewers have made two very loud statements over the last couple of weeks. It is becoming clear that they are in "WIN NOW" mode. Good for the Brewers. It is nice to see a team other than the Yankees, Mets, Cubs , or Red Sox make a big push for the title. The question to ask now is what do the Cubs do in response? When the Brewers got Sabathia the Cubs went out and got Rich Harden. Now the Brewers appear to have Huston Street. So what's next for the Cubs? Can anyone say Brian Fuentes?

NHL Odds and Ends

While many of the NHL’s big offseason questions have been answered, the past few weeks have brought significant news for the league next season. For the second straight year the NHL will open its season in Europe with a total of four games scheduled on October 4th and 5th. The Pittsburgh Penguins will face off against the Ottawa Senators for two games in Stockholm, while the Tampa Bay Lightning face the New York Rangers in Prague.

The NHL also announced an outdoor New Year’s Day game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.

Other News of Note:

Penguins and Head Coach Michel Therrien agree to a new 3-year contract

Sabers signed Goaltender Ryan Miller to a 5-year extension

Blackhawks 20-year-old center, Jonathan Toews was names captain of the team

Thrashers signed young prospect Angelo Esposito to a multi-year contract

Joffrey Lupul signs 4-year extension with the Flyers

Mats Sundin is still a Free Agent; however, a deal with some NHL team seems eminent.

Thoughts:

Mat Sundin, despite his age can add immense value to a team that is willing to take the risk. It seems that the real holdup in negotiations is Sundin’s desire for a multi-year contract, something not even Edmonton’s GM Kevin Lowe would agree to.

Esposito, Miller, and Lupul were all great decisions as they represent the core players of the ‘new’ NHL.

Jonathan Toews appointment to Captain is a great thing for the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization and the NHL. He joins Sidney Crosby as the two youngest Captains in the NHL and sets the table for a bright future

Thats 10 for the M-E-T-S

Don't look now, but the New York Mets seem to have finally woken up. After starting the year off to a dreadful start and seeing both the Phillies and Marlins leapfrog them in the standings, the Mets regained a tie for the lead in the National League East last night with a 10-8 victory over the Reds. It marks the first time since April that the Mets have had a portion of the NL East lead.

Even without a strong performance from Johan Santana last night, the bats were still able to get the job done. Santana struggled early, as he has done much of the year so far. Aside from Santana however, the Mets pitching has been quite strong as of late. Mike Pelfery in particular (6-0 in his last 6 starts).

It is good to see the NL East turn into a race again. A couple of weeks ago if you had asked me I would have guessed that the Phillies would run away with the division with that high powered offense of theirs. But with the Phillies lack of pitching and the pesky Marlins and Braves, who do not seem to want to go away, the division is really up for grabs.

New Favorites in the West?

After backstopping the Celtics to their 17th NBA championship, James Posey has left Boston for the New Orleans Hornets signing a four year 25million dollar deal. Posey declined the Celtics offer of the full mid-level exception to go to a team who know surely is one of the favorites in a very competitive Western Conference.

Posey was a huge piece to that Celtics championship defense last year and was a terrific spark off the bench, particularly in the playoffs. This past season was the second in the past three years that a Posey led team won the NBA championship (he was with the Miami Heat for the other).

The signing makes the New Orleans Hornets one of the favorites now in the Western Conference. Posey has already shown that he can slow down the likes of Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Adding Posey to a team that already has Chris Paul and David West makes for a team that will be very tough to compete against night in and night out. They are now on the same level as the LA Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

2008 or 1988?

I realize golf is not the most popular of sports, particularly with Tiger Wood on the extended DL with a bum knee. With that said, how can you not love a story of a guy who has all but quit golf and now is leading through two rounds at the British Open.

If it was 1988 it would be no be deal to look at the leaderboard of a major and see Greg Norman's name up there. Here we are some 20 years later and I wake up this morning to see who on top of the leaderborad? No not the fan favorite Rocco Mediate who was leading after the first round. Not a big name like Phil Mickelson or Ernie Ells who should be taking advantage of a Tiger-less field. Not even an over due European such as Sergio Garcia or Colin Montgomerie.

Instead, I see Greg Norman. The Shark, as he is know. A guy who in his post round interview yesterday said he plays and practices more tennis than he does golf these days.

Norman has always been one of those guys that you can't help but root for. He has gotten his fair share of bad breaks over the years, and has had a few Mickelson like collapses to boot. Heres to hoping the shark can keep it together and take this one. For old times sake.

HOLY PAPI!

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Sea-Dogs-tickets-Ortiz-playing_W0QQitemZ270255198309QQihZ017QQcategoryZ16122QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is the link to one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen in my life. Tickets to a Portland Sea Dogs game, double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Why, you may ask, would tickets to a AA baseball game be selling for over $300? Well, David Ortiz is coming to town. It was Announced over the weekend that Big Papi would be making three rehab starts with the Sea Dogs July 21st-23rd.

Am I the only one that thinks this is absurd? Its not like Babe Ruth is coming back for one last game or anything. Its DAVID ORTIZ. Yes, this may be the biggest thing to happen to Portland, Maine in, well, the history of Portland, Maine but Boston is only a two hour journey down I95. Good tickets to the Sox don't even go for that most games. Jeezzz ... crazy Mainahs.

The Real Winner

For anyone who had not heard of Josh Hamilton before last night, that has now certainly changed. The Texas Rangers all star slugger belted a record 28 home runs in the first round of last night's home run derby. He completely stole the show from eventual winner Justin Morneau. He had the 55,000+ fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium on their feet for every swing. To see the Yankee fans on their feet cheering a non-Yankee American League player was something that I never thought I would ever see, but it was well deserved. And on top of it all, pitching to him was his former little league coach, a 71 year old North Carolina native who had only been to Yankee Stadium once in his entire life prior to that night.

How can you not root for a guy like Josh Hamilton? A former first round draft pick turned heroin addict who has resurrected his career from one of the worst stories in sports to one of the best. Now sober, he has completely changed his life, for the better, and is once again one of the more promising young players in the game today. His .310/21/95 line going into the all star break says it all. Josh Hamilton is an all star and will continue to be for many years to come.

Time to Call It Quits

As I am sure you all have heard, Brett Farve is trying to make a comeback to the NFL. Farve retired back in March but since has had a "change of heart" and want another shot at the Limbardi Trophy. For his sake I hope the Packers do not allow it. As great as Brett Farve has been to the NFL and game of football for so many years, the game does not need him anymore. No body wants the last image of a legendary quarterback to be one of him being carried off in a stretcher.

The Packers had a great year last year, far better than anyone would have expected. Yes, they have a lot of talent, but I for one do not foresee a repeat performance of last year’s miracle run in the cards again for this season. They are not a Superbowl team; not in the same league as the New York Giants and definitely not in the same league as the Dallas Cowboys. It would be foolish for Brett to come back to a team that will struggle to make the playoffs.

On top of all of this we have Aaron Rodgers, a first round draft pick in 2004 and deemed successor to the great Farve. The plan from the beginning was for Rodgers to back up Farve for a year or two and get a feel of what it takes to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. That was four years ago. He has learned from the best, but you can only learn so much from watching game. He has franchise quarterback potential, but that potential will never he reached if he continues to rot on the bench. It would be a wasted investment to watch Rodgers walk at the end of the year without knowing what might have been.

I can only imagine how hard it must be for star athletes to walk away from a sport that has been their life for the past 20+ years. With that said, there comes a time when everyone must step away. Brett had a great run. He is one of the top five greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, but the time for him to sail off into the sunset has come; time to walk away now when everyone thinks of him as a winner; not a year down the road when everyone may say “great player, but he never knew when to hang 'em up.”

Red Sox First Half Report Card

With the All-Star Break now here, let's take a look at the report card for the Sox starters

Jacoby Ellsbury-B. His 35 steals are impressive, but we've seen better last fall from the soon to be star. Splitting time with Coco Crisp hasn't helped his numbers though.

Dustin Pedroia-A-. Last year's AL rookie of the year hasn't hit a sophomore slump with a .314 average and a recent hitting streak which is over 15 games. He also sports a .989 fielding percentage.

Manny Ramirez-B. He started his contract year off with a bang, but cooled down a bit. He recently has been heating up and leads the team with 18 home runs. What will we expect in the second half of the season with 20 million dollars on the line?

David Ortiz- INC. A May 31st injury has held the DH to the DL.

J.D. Drew-A. He's come through huge with Ortiz on the disabled list. A .413 OBP is worth noting as well. He could very well be the first half MVP of the team. This is making his 13 million dollar a year contract look a little better.

Kevin Youkilis-A-. Nothing new from Youk, with his stellar defense leading the way (.997 fielding %) and 15 long balls to go along with a .314 average. We've seen a second half slowdown from Youkilis in the past, will it happen again?

Julio Lugo-C. He recently headed to the DL which gives prospect Jed Lowire to prove his worth. Lugo's errors were to be expected when he came to Boston, but his offensive numbers (.268 with 22 RBI and 1 Homer) don't cover up for his defensive woes (16 errors in 82 games).

Jason Varitek-C-. It's hard to see 'Tek like this. Somehow an All-Star with .218 average, he's helped the younger pitchers along, but has been a black hole in the hitting department. Hears to 'Tek turning it around in the second half

Mike Lowell-B+. He had an early season injury, but has bounced back well. He's living up to the new contract for now.

Agree? Disagree? Waybackemail@gmail.com

-Mac

A Happy Holiday Awaits

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Rockies are willing to listen to offers for all-star outfielder Matt Holiday. Holiday .338/14/51 is having another solid season for a very mediocre Colorado team. This would make Holiday the top offensive prize at this years deadline. Rosenthal says teams who have expressed interest so far include the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Nationals. The most intriguing thing about a potential deal for Holiday is that he is still under contract for the 2009 season making this more than just a few month rental. With that said, the asking price for Holiday is expected to be significant. Likely at least two or three top tier prospects.

Destined For Cooperstown?

There was an article posted on askmen.com this morning that featured 10 current MLB Players who are considered to have guaranteed admission to the Hall of Fame when their careers are over…

The list is as follows:

Frank Thomas, Oakland A’s
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox
Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres
Greg Maddux, San Diego Padres
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves
Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks
Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati Reds
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

I am curious what everyone thinks of this list…I would have Tom Glavine and his 300+ wins Ahead of Randy Johnson, but that’s just me…

I am looking for suggestions for a list of the top 10 Players, currently with less than 10 MLB Seasons, that seem destined for Cooperstown…Drop us an e-mail with your suggestions at waybackemail@gmail.com

Thanks for Reading,

--Dub

Risky Business?

With the deadline deals starting to come into full swing, I thought I would take a look at what is left out there for teams in the hunt looking for that extra boost for October. The two prize possessions of this year's deadline are already gone (CC Sabathia to the Brewers, Rich Harden to the Cubs), so that leaves us with really only one stud pitcher left on the market in AJ Burnett. Burnett, when healthy, has some of the best stuff in the bigs, there is no doubting that. The question is whether or not he can stay healthy. For teams such as the Phillies and Yankees, two teams who have been rumored to be most interested in Burnett, it is a gamble that they will have to take. Making this an even risker move is the fact that Burnett has a clause in his contract allowing him to opt out after this season. That could make him just a two month rental, and at what cost? The Jays know they have the best chip left out there on the table. He will not come cheap. So is it worth it to go after a guy who with a stiff breeze could spend both of his months with your team on the DL? Here's to hoping Hank Steinbrenner thinks so!

-Goose

TitleTown?

As I'm sure all of you have seen, SportsCenter has been airing their newest waste of airtime "TitleTown." Is this a joke or what? Are they really this hard pressed to fill air time that they have to talk about every sports market in the country, and to top it all off, act as if they actually have a chance to win this thing? Common, who doesn't know that the four biggest markets (Boston, New York, LA, Chicago) will be the final four teams. Biggest markets, most viewers, most money. Is it really necessary to waste 5 minutes of my day to tell me how great Green Bay is? Or that a town that has one college and nothing else is gonna go up against New York City? Spare me. I don't know about you, but I watch SportsCenter for scores and highlights. If you want to have a separate show to debate meaningless topics so be it, but don't waste my time with this crap when all I want to see in the morning is if those pesky Rays won again, or if my Sox finally land a reliever that can get guys out.

How about a little more journalism and little less crap? Thats all I ask.

Re-Sign Posey

NBA free agency has just started, and while Elton Brand and Baron Davis are cashing in on multi-year deals, the defending Champion Boston Celtics have work of their own to do, mainly in re-signing one James Posey. His defensive skills are unquestionable, he was the C's best one-on-one defender in the post season. He also brings intensity to the table, and has probably earned more Tommy points in one year then most will in a lifetime. So Danny Ainge, if you're listening, re-sign James.

And if you do, you might even get one of his man-hugs.
-Mac

Welcome

Welcome to WAY Back Sports, a sports blog run by sports fans for sports fans. Our three contributing writers Goose, Mac, and Dub will use this space to talk about the latest in sports. We will tackle topics ranging from sports headlines to things that are just plain bothering us in the sports world today. Between the three of us we will make every attempt to update this site daily for your viewing enjoyment.

We would love to hear your comments, questions, or concerns by contacting us at waybackemail@gmail.com

We hope you enjoy what is to come.

Sincerely,

"Our own version of the Big Three"... Goose, Mac & Dub