CRAZY HORSE

So we were on our way out yesterday to hit some balls and we happened on an estate sale in Mission Valley. Since we haven't stopped at one since moving into this area we just had to. Rummaging about the house we came about a small suitcase that had a hand written label of " Slappy" on it. Since there were so few people in the place I asked the owner what that was. She was the daughter of the gentleman that had just passed away, Edgar Jones, and she said he was an amateur ventriloquist back in his days. He also was an avid San Diego Padre fan and often he performed down at the Turf Club... Well me being me, I opened up the suitcase and lo and behold, there sat this dummy, who must be Slappy. I immediately picked him up and put my hand back in the director's pocket. What happened from here on I swear is true. Slappy's head turned toward me and said "Where the hell you been?" I eerily looked over at Marsh and said did you say something to me? Sla...

So Stephen Strasburg goes into enemy territory and unleashes 18 strikeouts at the 11 th nationally ranked USD Toreros...and SDS whups 'em 5-3. Well he is what they say he is... Also, the line on the OSU/UCLA hoops game was 20....and UCLA won by 25! I can't make this up...how on earth do they call that? What do THEY know? So all of you Alex Rodriguez haters have your day now. He is going to have hip surgery and will be out 10 weeks...what? OK Padres speedster Dave Roberts was released by the Giants yesterday...what you gonna do? So I have this old buddy who thinks I should write about car racing...well...what? Now to some real racing...horse racing at Santa Anita...the pick six was not hit yesterday and there is a carry over...forget about it today as it will not be hit...races 5 and 6 are absurd...however Saturday is going to be a big one...gentleman start your engines... Back to the odds board...the Celtics (minus the Big Ticket) are 2 1/2 point favorites hosting the LeBr...

So the latest in the Padres makeup has the lowering of the food and drinks at Petco. The management has decided there must be a way to get the fans to come back. Try the food method, first. Well...the lineup is remarkably similar to last years. The change is at SS, 2B, and the closer. All of these moves are for the better I must admit. The addition of Emil Brown and Cliff Floyd appear to make the bench much stronger...if they bring the right chemistry. Thankfully, they did not move Jake Peavy and that really helps the squad and the hope of the team. The real question remains to me...can they put the ball in play and run... The WBC begins this weekend and the US is highly favored...I don't get it... I have been leaving the point spread alone lately...but the Beavers are 20 point dogs at UCLA...the resurrected OSU? Seems odd that there would be so many points and a no brainer to take the points... Today Strasburg and SDS travel to USD for the baseball game of the month...a...

If I could pick the perfect NBA team it would be: Guards: Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul Forwards: LeBron James and Kevin Garnett Center: Dwight Howard...OK, OK, it is a joke but I just had to put it out there. As the WBC revs up this weekend the US is favored. Pads have Peavy and Bell on the squad and it is fun stuff. We actually have tix for here in the weekend of the 13th... The state of the economy is such that the LPGA is wallowing across the water in other countries to stay afloat. Makes no difference where it is Lorena Ochoa will win anywhere... Manny is going to sign with the Dodgers for $45 mill for 2 years...what is the price of victory again? In the northwest the Orygun Dux are finally fielding a baseball team . The U of O dropped it a bit back due to financial woes and title 9 issues...Anyway they are back and already having success. It will have to go some to get up to speed with the enormously productive OSU Beavers... The Bolts were working a way to move Cromartie and it ba...

So to offset the misery of the stock market the mind gets to wander to some of the most entertaining made for tv shticks out there: Charles Barkley. No not on the set of TNT hoops, but in the Golf Network's show on changing his swing by Hank Haney. Absolutely hilarious as CB has the worst swing in golfdom history and Hank is going to change it. A must see... The Bachelor. I am torn between the idea it is acting or real. The train wreck that the poor fella has gone through is the ultimate high drama for finding a mate. He appears to sample all the wares and then discards the unusable ones along the way. Not like that's unique, but the fashion he goes about it, is. I think there is a lot of space between the ears there... The View. I admit it. This guy watches this show. Today they will absolutely decap the Bachelor and it will be more memorable than the Ann Coulter fiasco. David Letterman. Since Johnny, he is the best...and funniest... Great Amazing Race. A consistent jaunt thr...

So this guy, Paul Westhead, had this vision of going up tempo in collegiate hoops. So he takes a Loyola Marymount team and uses his scheme to score at record breaking rates. He used full court pressure, the 3 ball, and constant running to wear down teams. The opponent either went with them or slowed the game up and used the shot clock. Well, now all the teams use the clock...and it is BORING. The use of the pro style pick and roll is now the norm. The officials refuse to call the offensive block on the picker and it is a joke. Or the dribble drive and kick out to the 3 ball shooter is the other option. I miss the pressure D and the "all out play" of that grand era... Geoff Ogilvy just kept my observation of him intact by whupping Paul Casey in the Match Play... Shaq has had this return to the good old days as of late. He led the Suns to a victory over the Lakers and really...really has been playing well. Does not bode well for PDX and the west is up for grabs for...

There is no player better then Geoff Ogilvy at match play...not Tiger, not Lefty, not anyone in the golf world. Now maybe he'll get beat by real hot Paul Casey today...but Geoff has consistently beat everyone he meets. His temperament appears to be the breaking point for the rest of the field. Interesting as he used to be a hothead...but has learned to think in the moment and move on. Now this is the model that we should pattern ourselves after... I have to admit the Padres are posing a real fascinating spring and boy is it needed. The 3 top pitchers are in solid shape (Peavy, Young, Baek), but the other 2 are up for grabs. It appears that no. 4 may be Kevin Correia, a former Giant. He had a nice stint yesterday in the Cactus... Another player of interest is Kyle Blanks...a huge 6'6" first baseman who hits the heck out of it...where else can he play? SDS survived in the MWC last night at TCU, and USD lost as expected to Gonzaga...ho hum... The surprise trade of the year ha...