Pop!

Well, any misgivings about how the Padres were going to start the 2nd half?  Wow!  Unleashed 12 runs on the DBacks...and that was with the mercy rule...against their number 1 guy Haren...AGonzo hit a tater, as did Chase...all around good stuff...by the way, a couple of our hurlers went on the DL, Latos and Adams...but out of the rough came the PDX closer, Frieri...throws 95 and has game...roses, all roses....

The Open...it's all about the timing of the weather...the leader Ousteh...whatever... got out when the winds were down and is setting the pace... the biggees will whittle that lead down today...Lefty, Tiger, Serg, all lurking...and statewide...there is a celebrity thinger in Tahoe, that my son is at...MJ, Charles, Ray...all there and gambling to boot...

The fam damily is arriving down here and the Shepard family reunion is about to kick into gear...have you heard of the term "warpath"...just kidding...

Cleveland's Real Star

For all the jibberish about the best Cleveland athlete leaving town...I go back to the favorite of mine in that great sports area...now I know many of you don't think of Ohio as a mecca...but you do have the Buckeyes, which just are a fan fave  for sure...try to get a seat in a Ohio St. game...or the mighty Big Red Machine of the 70's in Cincy...you get my drift...well, way back when, when most people were worshiping the Yankees, I was the lone dissenter and loved the gasp...Indians...not a politically correct call coming from my heritage...but my guy was the one and only,  Rocco "Rocky"Colavito ....a long baller, that had a huge arm, that actually started his career as a hurler...that spent most of his quality time as the man in Cleve...as the years wore on, he, like most MLB'ers, were bounced around like marbles to other teams...which brings me to my long, but accurate point...NOW, a player actually has his own say in where he plays, after his initial contract is about to expire...so the likes of your guy, King James, can shop on his own...what a beautiful option in your playing life...BUT...here comes the rub...the price that is paid, is that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer...'cuz the stars don't go to a small market team, they go to a big one...the cap is a joke and the Clevelands and the Portlands will forever bask in mediocrity...the solution?  Get real on the cap and the socialistic method of equality may balance the sports world...gosh...

The Open

A special afternoon edition....played the links this am...and lo and behold the surprise of the initial round at the Open?  John Daly!  Pops a 66 at the crowd and is chasing the youngin, Rory McIlroy...your fav, Tiger is one back...Lefty?  Reports are, he is lost in the berm....it is soooo early, but significant nonetheless...
The 2nd half of the MLB season kicks off tonight...not the Pads, got another day of rest...
Have a great evening...

Something Fishy

Have you heard of Joan Ginther?  Just happens to be the luckiest gal in the world...so it would seem...a retired college prof, about my age, who plays the scratch it lotto tix in Texas...AND WINS...not just once, but 3 times!  And if that is not enough, actually won again on a ping pong draw...she has garnered a mere $21 million for her good fortune...coincidence?  The odds are off the board for this happening, as she has got the 3 winning tix at the same spot in Bishop, Texas...and not surprisingly, she has bolted for Vegas, where she is demanding her privacy...and is residing in a penthouse there...this book is not closed...

Oh the joys of another type of win...this be the National League breaking a 13 game losing streak to the American League last night at the MLB All Star Game...a typical Padres win, great pitching and a timely hit at the end...the benefit?  The winner gets the home field advantage in the World Series...bogus rule if there was ever one...nice showing by both the Pads, AGonzo and HBell...

Speaking of winners, the interview of Lefty over in England was brilliant...he handles himself with such class and confidence...of course, he carries no excess baggage like some other fellow does...but his humor and good will just spills over to the crowd...I can see why the general public loves him...good luck in the British Open...

Another winner, I'm heading out to Miramar to hit the links...

The Game Changers

With the recent passing of two of the biggest game changers, in their respective sports, I must comment...George Steinbrenner of his beloved New York Yankees...the first owner who sunk major amounts of money into a Major League team, that set the bar so high...that it still exists today...he was known for a short fuse and tampering with his managers...hiring and firing at a drop of a cap...paid 'em well and expected to win...at all costs...and developed the biggest market into the biggest franchise...you either love 'em or hate 'em...

The legendary San Diego Charger coach, Don Coryell...who has been credited with THE wide open offense of first, the AFL, then brought that to the NFL...a no nonsense guy (football, really?)...really started the spread O and the passing game that changed the stodgy NFL stuff, that was in place forever...
Both of these men were huge game changers for their sports, and will be missed...
Did you watch your home run derby?  A lot of pundits are crying that the big names passed on it...so what?  Big Papi was there and won it...and it was great fun...
Ali and her legion of foos...well, it's not that bad, but I'm thinking she can do better than the lot she got to choose from...and OMG, what a lulu in Frank!
Sorry about this, but if you haven't taken in the Housewives of NJ, you are missing one of the all time screaming, girl fights ever...not that you'd be interested...
The Padres are going to put their ace of their staff (Matt Latos) on a 15 day DL, to insure they don't over pitch him...what?  ...they don't have the luxury of another arm waiting in the wings in PDX to bail them out...duh...
So I'm out at Sycuan doing the golf thing, and there were a gazillion little ones out there...getting ready for a jr. tourney...amazing swings and practice habits...so here is the bite...each had a coach or overbearing parent jawing at them...not sure how I feel about it...reminds me of baseball's little league in a way...
Foooooooorrrrrrrrrre......................

Small Town USA

According to CNN Money , the best small towns in the US of A are mostly in  Minnnnnnnesota and Texas...I suppose you can leave your front door unlocked....know everyone in town...have socials at the local school every Saturday night...who goes to church and who doesn't...know the front name of your cop...do a whole lot of cooking at home...feel safe...listen to your elders...every Friday night at the football field or gymnasium is a must attend...it doesn't sound bad, does it...
The All-Star Break...the Padres extracted the final game of the Colorado series, with hitting and not pitching...and remained 2 games up in the highly competitive west...my son says this team scares me and that team...they all scare me...fact is, to win it, they have to pitch better on the road...any changes coming?  I think so, another pitcher will emerge...nevertheless, congrats to AGonzo and HBell for representing the Pads in the AS...
Finally, the Pink Panther won a major...Paula Creamer...and the US of A goes wild...the only gal under par...at the oh so tough Oakmont...she is the trend setter for all the young gals to follow...good on her...


Did your team win the World Cup?  Who was playing?  Lots of interest around here in the bars...Not so much with me... you say, Spain won 1 nil?  wowser...
And the Blazers are still looking for a GM...

Sunday Morning

One of our favorite weekly shows, is the CBS Sunday Morning Show...and it puts a positive spin on a myriad of happenings through out this fine land...however...today it threw out a piece of TMZ...a daily glimpse of the sublime and ridiculous on the mostly Hollywood folks...nice word, huh, you don't hear folks much anymore...anyhoo, the bit interviewed Harvey Levin, the leader of the show...and he said that it highlighted "fun" articles about the stars and pseudo stars...fun?...in whose eyes?
Wooooooahhhhh.....did you hear that free falling scream?  Its the Padres as they tumble back down the ladder to the rest of the teams in the west...only 1 game up prior to today's game...still in Colorado...heeeeeelllllllllpppppppppp....
During the Vietnam war the press was embedded in the battles...in Afghanistan it is not...so,  the news we get seems so biased...
The resurgence of the injured Paula Creamer in the LPGA's major is a much needed shot in their arm...at least, the proud US of A fans do...and me too...
OMG....have you followed the incredible scoring of Steve Stricker in the PGA?  25 under after 3 rounds...I haven't had 25 birdies in the last 3 years...
Derek Fisher going to join the big three at Miami?  Hope not...
So when I grow my beard, it shows up white...does that mean I'm getting old?