Why Does Everyone Talk About Integrity and Fairness When Sports Is A Business?

First of all, I'm all for integrity and fairness in sports, but not when they are used as an excuse for losing.

These examples happen in all professional sports, but I'll concentrate on the sport about to begin its second season, Major League Baseball. All but one division has been decided. The Phillies, Cubs, and Dodgers have made it from the National League; the Brewers sealed the NL wildcard with another Mets collapse. In the American League, the Rays and Angels have won their respective divisions, the Red Sox have locked up the AL wildcard, and the White Sox and Twins will play a tiebreaker for the AL Central Division on Tuesday (correction: if the White Sox beat the Tigers today).

Most seem content with the playoff eligibility process, save for one blowhard. New York Yankees Senior Vice President, Hank Steinbrenner, is turning out to be a bigger jerk than his father, sealing my continued distaste towards the team in pinstripes for the foreseen future.

Last week, Steinbrenner decried that the MLB playoff system, where division winners are guaranteed entry in the postseason, is unfair.

The biggest problem is the divisional setup in major league baseball. I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair.

This is easily a 'sour grapes' moment as the Yankees will be left watching the chase for the World Series from home, thanks to the bad management decisions they have made. Others have also pointed out that Steinbrenner is a pretty big hypocrite for making the complaint now.

Not fair? Please. Every major sport has divisions, which are geographically based and allow for teams from each area of the country the chance to compete for a championship. Equal opportunity is a good thing, except for those whose chances of winning is greatly increased by their ability to spend money without consequence. The business of sports is better served with the way the playoff system is set up. Steinbrenner needs to shut his mouth and stop being an idiot.

Integrity of the Game?

In the heat of closing playoff races, Marlins manager, Fredi Gonzalez, insisted that he'd play his regular players in the final series of the season against the New York Mets for the "integrity of the game."

This is all fine and dandy with me. Being a Nationals fan, I find solace, albeit not a lot, in rooting for my team to play the spoiler. Too bad they were too busy failing, and got swept by the Phillies.

On the other hand, Cubs manager, Lou Piniella, publicly stated that he was going to rest some of his players having clinched a playoff spot. Is this to insinuate that Piniella has no integrity for the game of baseball? Hopefully not. Piniella has endured some criticism for this move, all of it is unjust.

The ultimate goal in sports is to win. Winning brings glory and dollars. So, whether a contender risks playing its players when it does not matter, or if a team with no chance decides to take a look-see at next year's prospects over playing regular starters when it matters to the opponent....neither has anything to do with the integrity of the game. It's all about the choices a franchise has the right to make in order to benefit themselves, in a manner they see fit, in the business of sports.

If Posada is done for the year, Lo Duca to the Yankees?

If New York Yankees catcher, Jorge Posada, ends up needing surgery on this shoulder, and thus required to miss the rest of 2008, could Paul Lo Duca be an option for Hank Steinbrenner?

Posada is scheduled to have an MRI on his left shoulder today, the results of which will chart the path of the Yankees future. For one, the Yanks have some options in the event that Posada can't make it back behind the plate. Jose Molina, who A-Rod called an "angel," filled in the other day, and Chad Moeller is available for spot duty as well. Moeller was actually with the Nats during spring training, but was later cut and signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees.

Second, I doubt the Yankees would want to make some drastic move, giving up prospects in return for a playoff rental. Making the post season this year is far from guaranteed, and this tactic has failed the Yankees in the past as their farm system has been pilfered by ill-advised moves.

Which brings me back to Lo Duca. The Nationals should have never signed the guy. In my opinion, Jesus Flores showed enough last season to earn more time in the pros this season, others feel the same way. And if Kasten, Bowden & Co. are in full rebuilding mode, why throw $5 million to PLD for a year in the first place? Quite the waste of money for a bunch of penny-pinchers.

Knowing the Washington franchise status, shouldn't they be ready to trade Lo Duca for a ham sandwich? I'll admit that with his injuries, appearance in the Mitchell Report, etc., Lo Duca doesn't appear to be the best option for New York, but he should be the cheapest option. Thing is, Lo Duca is a New Yorker....straight from Brooklyn. He played for the Mets in the previous two seasons, shouldn't the guy be afforded the chance to play for the other NYC team?

In the end, this is just a dream hypothetical. I may not have as much hatred towards Lo Duca as others, but I certainly wouldn't mind sending his ass packing. Nats save money, Bowden saves face, and the Yankees get some dude, on the cheap, who may or may not be able to help. I'm just sayin'.......

It Almost Got Uggla: 2008 MLB All-Star Game Thoughts

Ok, so when Dan Uggla is involved (in a tragic manner), I can't resist punning his name in a headline.

What a huge goat he almost was (and to an extent, still is), in hitting into a double play in the top of the 10th and then booting two balls on the first two batters in the bottom of the inning. I bet his mouth was as dry as a bone under a heat lamp in the desert when Grady Sizemore grounded to him in a bases loaded FC out at home-plate after Carlos Guillen was intentionally walked. I know this, Aaron Cook pitched a helluva 10th inning keeping all hit balls on the ground and in the infield. If the American League had prevailed in the bottom of the 10th, the headline would've read: National League Hits Every Stick On The Uggla Tree.

Getting struck out by Joakim Soria on a "knee buckler" with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 12th didn't aid Uggla's redemption efforts. In fact, yet another boot to the chest, the 3rd error of Uggla's night, in the bottom of the 13th pushed him lower. Joe Buck had plenty of sympathy for the kid giving Dan the benefit of the doubt with a bad hop call.

In the end, the National League could not survive the marathon. Hopefully, next time, Dan Uggla will have a much better looking effort than going 0-4, striking out three times and leaving six on base.

Defensive MVP?
In the bottom of the 11th, Nate McLouth made a great throw to put out Dioner Navarro at home. If the National League would've went on to win in the 12th, I was ready to give Russell Martin the All-Star MVP for blocking the plate and making an unbelievable tag....the 3rd of the last five outs which came at home plate.

Delayed Response
It sure did take Joe Buck and Tim McCarver a while to mention that the All-Star game actually counts for something after they initially wondered if the game would be a tie situation as it was in Milwaukee in '02. And I wasn't the only one questioning this....c'mon fellas, know what's going on....that's awful announcing.

I'm glad it counts
I'm all for the MLB All-Star game counting for something. Why should the better record between teams from two different leagues determine home field advantage for the World Series? Sure, inter-league play has gone towards leveling the field for comparison between the AL and the NL. But I think what baseball has (over the NBA) is league divisions based on tradition and not geography. Having a win in the All-Star game be an advantage for a league as a whole promotes unity in rooting interests and the natural sense of sporting rivalry between two sectors of the sport.

Part of me says, well, if the All-Star game "counts" then choose the best players.....out with a man from every team rule. I understand that it's beneficial to make smaller markets feel significant and remain interested......However, on that note, as a Nationals fan, I enjoyed seeing Cristian Guzman around to be a potential hero. He surely didn't disappoint playing out of position at 3rd base and making a sweet stab to get the 3rd out for the NL in the bottom of the 11th. Oh yea, don't forget the sweet scoop and flick to close out the 12th. Oh and I should also mention his nice throw to home during the Uggla breakdown in the bottom of the 10th. Guzman went 0-3 and left three on base, along we getting caught stealing....but oh well, you can't please everyone.

Manny Still a Douche Bag
In the first inning, A-Rod hit a pop fly back to the NL starting catcher, Geovany Soto, in foul territory. Manny Ramirez, who was on deck, got out of the way, but failed to move his weighted bat on the ground. Sota stepped on the bat and came close to busting his ass. Sure, Manny didn't intend to almost hurt Sota...but still, pack up your crap and get out the way.....Manny had time.

The Major League Baseball Short Bus

The good folks at Epic Carnival got their hands on a $50 gift card from MLB......so the obvious choice was to hold a Photoshop contest (despite a call for boobies and zingers) to see who would get their hands on the prize.

Naturally, I wanted to put my Photoshop skills to the test and attempted to get creative in the 11th hour of the deadline....and here is that attempt:

Hank Steinbrenner is at the wheel. Roger Clemens, Sidney Ponson, and Jose Canseco are all aboard. Milton Bradley is ordering Barry Bonds to get back on while Elijah Dukes is trying his best to escape the fray.

Check out all the other entries here. If you're around.....you can, like, go and vote for me and stuff.

Current or Former Washington Nationals in the Mitchell Report

(refers to the page number on the bottom of the Mitchell report pages, not in the PDF)

Paul Lo Duca - Page 208

Who he got them from: Radomski

When he got them: July 26, 2004 - $3,200; August 7, 2004 - $3,200; at least 4 additional transactions.

When they worked: Probably when he started dating pop star Rietsa

...or maybe Lo Duca had the mojo the whole time.

...or when he became known as "Captain Red Ass" in the New York Mets clubhouse for his temper. (According to an article written by Tom Verducci in the July 17, 2006 issue of Sports Illustrated)

...or when the 'Roids caused Lo Duca to "toast" his phone in a rage (see the below note to former New York Mets clubhouse employee, Kirk Radomski from the Mitchell Report)

Kirk,

Sorry! But for some reason they sent the check back to me. I haven’t been able to call you back because my phone is TOAST! I have a new # it is [Lo Duca’s phone number is listed here]. Please leave your # again because I lost all of my phonebook with the other phone.

Thanks
Paul

(Also, Lo Duca's thank-you note to Radomski for some 'roids....how cute!
You think he did the "call me" hand signal when he was writing?)

Gary Bennett, Jr. - Page 222


Who he got them from: Radomski

When he got them: July 13, 2003 for $3,200 bucks

When they worked: August 2006, Gary hit 4 home runs in 7 days, one of them a walk-off grand slam. He followed that performance with the consumption of 17 Red Bulls via a beer bong.

Nook Logan - Page 229

Who he got them from: Radomski

When he got them: Not too long before
December 2005

When they worked: Probably last year (finally...sheeesh!!) when he became one of the fastest players in all of Major League Baseball -
Willie Mays Hayes is shedding a tear somewhere.

Jose Guillen - Page 249

Who he got them from: Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center

When he got them: May 1, 2002 - $2,180 bucks worth; Sept. 19, 2003 - $2,083; July 2004 - $6,ooo; June 2005 - bunch of syringes

When they worked: In 2004 when Angels manager, Mike Scioscia, took Guillen out of a game in favor of a pinch runner. Guillen didn't like this so he threw a "fit" by deliberately (slowly) walking off the field, and once entering the dugout, he threw his batting helmet in the direction of Scioscia and threw his batting gloves against another wall. Jose was suspended the last two weeks of the regular season and part of the post-season. Oh yea, by "fit", I mean 'ROID RAGE!!

Mike Stanton - Page 253

Who he got them from: Radomski

When he got them: 2003 - $3,200 bucks,
later in '03 - $1,600

When they worked: 2004 when his guns looked like those of a robust 22 year-old and not a weathered 37 year-old --- Stanton's face, balls, and belly continued to look "weathered"

Download the Mitchell Report Here.

Reasons to Hate the Red Sox

1. Playing the spoons in the bullpen. No one wants to hear a rendition of Stomp.

2. Manny Ramirez - Jack. Ass. First of all, he throws his helmet on purpose every time he takes off running on the bases. Is this legal? Couldn't that possibly affect the defense? On the relay? And injury?

3. And where exactly did all these nouveau Red Sox fans come from? The Cubbies are lovable losers....and I hear Chicago is a great town. But Boston? The natives?...'enuff said. Watch a Sox game at Fenway on TV. Do you see any black people in the crowd? How about those wearing Red Sox gear in the city you live? The fans are almost like members of a fraternity, and the last time I checked, the Greek system was still segregated....ok, I admit that's not totally correct/fair. I'm just saying.

It pretty much came down to the fans of each team....which are less obnoxious. Yankee fans on one hand are innocent imbeciles. You know, one of those cats you don't trust because he doesn't know better. But the Sox, suddenly after all the whining, all the curse, all the Buckner....they win one (1) World Series and blossom a superiority complex? Please. They think they are "owed" something after years of sucky teams. Hey, that's life buddy.

Curt Schilling is just a dick. Runs his mouth off too much, too much.

To be continued....

Where's Teddy? The Last Presidents Race @ RFK

The very last Washington Nationals game at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium....the Presidents Race. Everyone speculated that Teddy Roosevelt would win his first race...but where was he? This should be among the biggest blunders in mascot sports racing history.

'07 MLB Playoffs - Fans Can Cheat Too

What was the deal with the guy behind home plate at the Cubs-Diamondbacks game last night? Look, I feel bad enough for the D-Back fans for having to deal with all those lovable losers in their stadium.....that's why I'm pulling against Chicago. But to have some dude, in your house, flashing what looks to be a Cubs neon light/sign, right behind home plate in the top of the 9th with the game on the line is absolutely ridiculous. Wait, what's even more ridiculous is that the 3rd base ump stops the game to get him to cut it out...which he does, but he doesn't get kicked out of the game? Really?

Forgive me if the guy was not a Cubs fan, and supposedly "working" as the TBS announcer purported....throw all of that out the book, his actions could only have hurt the pitcher. But to be allowed to stay behind home plate? In the stadium? Preposterous. No, he's back there talking on his cell, shaking hands, and kissing babies. Like I said, I feel bad for Arizona fans...they can't do anything about the fact that the Cubs have spring training in their state and thus, resonate with rooting for a popular team because it's the "thing to do"....(BTW, why ARE there so many Cubs fans anyway? They've NEVER won...what's the opposite of bandwagon jumping?)...

...Back to my point, doesn't the Diamondbacks franchise have some pride? Ban this guy from the stadium...some d-bag wearing a form-fitting Under Armor shirt with a gold chain a DNA thread away from getting his son hopped up on goofballs and attacking the 1st base ump. This incident should not slide.