Dolphins sign Ted Ginn

It is now being reported by the Sun-Sentinel that the deal that had been reached between Ginn and the Dolphins earlier is a reported five-year deal that is worth $13 million guaranteed.

Barely missing the noon deadline for all players to report on the first official day of training camp, Dolphins first-round draft pick Ted Ginn Jr. agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Dolphins, according to one source.

The Dolphins also chose not to comment, but another source confirmed that Ginn received approximately $13 million in guaranteed money.

The contract is expected to be signed shortly. All signed players were expected to attend a team meeting at 1 p.m., and the second source said Ginn was there. Practice begins tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. and Ginn is expected to be there.

side note: Photo taken from the NFL Fanhouse

Mark Teixeira to the Braves?...that and other possible trades

Jon Heyman over at Sports Illustrated has an interesting article on the upcoming trade deadline and the players that he thinks will be traded and where. There is a few people on his lists that I have heard rumored to be going to the Braves, so I thought i'd break it down real quick for everyone.

1. Mark Teixeira, 1B (Texas)

AVG: .299
HR: 13
RBI: 49

The Skinny:

Mark Teixeira is one of the best young, power-hitting first baseman in baseball right now and seeing as how the Rangers aren't going anywhere for awhile and they probably won't be able to afford him after this year, the likelihood that he will be traded is extremely high. Teixeira's name has been linked to blockbuster deals to the Atlanta Braves in which the would have to give up top prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the Los Angeles Angels in which they would have to give up Casey Kotchman, a fellow first baseman. The only question that remains are these teams willing to give up two or three top prospects in exchange for someone who could walk after next season and command $13 million a year?

Best Guess:

My gut instinct is that Teixeira will be a Brave by time the trade deadline on July 31st ends, I mean the Angels or any team for that matter just can't match what the Braves could give the Rangers, Salty is widely regarded as the top catching prospect in baseball and is a switch-hitter just like Teixeira that has a ton of power and then include a pitching prospect and or our seventeen year-old kid at shortstop, Elvis Andrus. I just don't see how other teams can match that.

But i'm not too sure if I want this trade to go down or not, sure Teixeira is a great talent and our first baseman combo of the Mighty Thor and the 789 year-old Julio Franco is currently giving us shit, it makes sense. But I really like Salty and I don't want to see him go, I'd prefer we move him to the first base instead of trading him, I just don't want to see us trade him for Teixeira and then see Teixeira leave a couple of years later like everyone always seems to do. But even if we do trade him **most likely going to happen** I just hope we can re-sign Teixeira and keep him for awhile.

Some other players that we've been linked to are:

Livan Hernandez, SP (Arizona)
Zack Greinke, SP/RP (Kansas City)
Matt Morris, SP (San Francisco)
Steve Kline, RP (San Francisco)
Jon Garland, SP (Chicago [AL] )

Rams give Marc Bulger a lot of money

ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that the St.Louis Rams and quarterback, Marc Bulger have agreed to a six-year $62.5 million deal.

Bulger's new deal includes $26.5 million in guaranteed money, sources said. He participated in the team's first on-field practice Friday morning after missing Thursday's meeting meeting when the Rams reported to camp.

Bulger had recently stated that he wasn't happy and wanted a new contract, he even went as far as saying he could stage a training camp holdout until they agreed to do so. But now that he has a new deal that will pay him in upwards of $10 million per year, it puts Bulger in company with the other elite quarterbacks that are making at least that. That list includes the Bengals' Carson Palmer(woot woot), the Colts' Peyton Manning, the Packers' Brett Favre, the Patriots' Tom Brady and the Falcons' Mike Vick. Although I hate the Rams, I have to give them props for doing the right thing and re-signing Bulger, he's one of the, if not the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL and he deserves every penny.

Daily Linkage...

You can't teach manners like this...Jeremy Shockey you get a gold star young man. (With Leather)

Remembering Skip Prosser's life, which tragically ended yesterday at the age of 56. (Deacon Sports)

J.E. Skeets doing some interviews....brilliant! Oh and NBA Previews. (The Basketball Jones)

The NFL has suspended sale of all Mike Vick related mechandise. (The Fanhouse via Pro Football Talk)

I know where I go to get the latest trade rumor buzz....and which baseball players are "Fort Fucking Knox". (Ladies...)

Brian Billick has a potty mouth...and really really bad hair...auido after the jump. (Awful Announcing)

I'm still pinch hitting

I'll be running Blown Coverage for Davey again...but i'll bring my posts over here later in the day...

LA is not a fan of Mike Piazza anymore

During yesterday's afternoon game between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland's designated hitter, Mike Piazza was hit in the back of the head with a water bottle while standing in the on deck circle.

"I'm pressing charges,'' Piazza told reporters. "He's going to spend the night in jail. He hit me right in the helmet. ... It's just inexcusable at a baseball game to throw a bottle at someone. Just a joke."

The incident happened as the Athletics were staging a three-run rally in the top of the ninth inning. Piazza was standing in the on-deck circle when he was hit from behind.

The game was interrupted as Piazza used his bat to point out the fan he thought was responsible.

"It startled the heck out of me, a thump to the back of my head,'' he told reporters. "I turned around and was like, 'Was it you? Or you or you?' Everyone pointed at the guy and I said, 'You're gutless,' and he started walking out. There he goes, the bravest guy in the world. That's a complete lower level of stupidity."

The suspect, identified as Ronald Flores, 22, of La Puente, was detained and later booked by Anaheim police on assault and battery charges.

And as you can tell by his comments, Piazza was none too pleased with this fan's decision to pretty much donkey punch him with a bottle. And I normally would be upset when fans do this type of thing, but seeing as how Piazza was a New York Met for a long time, and I hate the Met's with a passion, I say touche Ronald(McDonald....hahaha) for doing something I've talked about doing but yet never had the balls to do...that and riverdancing.

What do you expect...he plays for Washington

Last night Washington National's pitcher, John Lannan made his major league debut against the Philadelphia Phillies. Well in the fifth inning of that said debut, he was ejected after hitting Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in consective at-bats.

Washington manager Manny Acta also was ejected by plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after Lannan's exit. It was Acta's first ejection.

Lannan allowed three runs and six hits in the first four innings. After getting the first out of the fifth, Lannan hit Utley on the right hand. Howard followed and was hit on the right shoulder. Although there were no warnings given, Wendelstedt immediately ejected Lannan.

And speaking of being hit by a pitch, here's a video of by far the worst place to be hit...DAYUM!!

Big surprise there...

The Cincinnati Bengal's linebacker and part-time felon, Odell Thurman was denied reinstatement in the NFL today due to his ongoing problems with the police. This will be the second consecutive season that Thurman must sit out after NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell denied his petition for reinstatement.

Thurman was suspended for all of last season after skipping a drug test and later being arrested for drunken driving. He asked Goodell to reinstate him for the 2007 season, but was turned down.

Thurman will be allowed to ask for reinstatement again following the season.

Goodell's decision leaves the Bengals with two suspended players as they open training camp. Receiver Chris Henry also will miss the first eight games for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy.

The Bengals are the league's prime example of misconduct, with 10 players arrested over a 14-month span.

Ok kids, now a show of hands, who was surprised by this news? Hmm, no one...ok then.

Daily Linkage...

Nothing like team unity to get the morning off to a good start....



Onto the links....

Barry Bonds is not a big fan of Bob Costas...and he doesn't care if you tell him that. (With Leather)

Tim Donaghy's bookies weren't the mob, wait they were but just the fake mob...i'm confused. (Larry Brown Sports)

The Staal brothers got a little out of hand at a bachelor party... (The Fanhouse)

How's that alternative career going Troy Hudson? Oh excuse me...T-Hud. (100% Injury Rate)

Damnit Ted Washington...have you ever heard of a courtesy flush... (Si.com)

Curt Schilling's family is very pale...like albino pale...complete with turtlenecks, enough said. (Sammy's Sports Sermons)

Would you like to meet Jarrod Saltalamacchia? (The Extrapolater)

The Round table

Here's another look into what happening around the blogosphere...

Part Mule is holding down the fort over at Blown Coverage while Davey is out teaching sea otters to play tetherball. (Blown Coverage)

Look at Epic Carnival's new Fall clothing line...I'll take one of each please? (Epic Carnival)

Looks like Shaun Rogers might be getting sued...damn him and his sticky fingers. (With Leather)

Oh those silly editors and their innuendos..."Lady Jacks off to hot start in conference"...classic! (Larry Brown Sports via 100% injury rate)

A sad sad day for out of date redneck mullets everywhere...Randy Johnson might retire. (Lion in Oil)

Mr.Irrelevant has a fancy new look...(Mr.Irrelevant)

Apparently Adrian Gonzalez received a death threat...."We are going to kill you"...told ya. (Larry Brown @ the Fanhouse)

Side Note: Look out for me tomorrow over at Blown Coverage...i'll be taking over for Kirk...

Tour of the Blogosphere part three

Once again I'm going to keep up with the one night stands in which I have no intention in calling again....

What happens when fans get bored during rain delays....they slip and slide of course. (Deadspin)

Oh be still my heart....I think Braylon Edwards wants to hear about my feelings...quick do something manly!!! (With Leather)

Talk about an interesting encounter...Petros Papadakis is a waiter on his off time...and he served Lion in Oil. (Lion in Oil)

John Pyle interviews the sirs over at Nation of Islam Sports Blog. (Pyle of List)

Dodger fans aren't big fans of mascots...let alone the Giant's mascot. (Awful Announcing)

My good friend and partner in crime, Davey offically welcomes Julio Franco. (Blown Coverage)

This is Reggie Bush...when he was 10....and white.

Here's Cody Paul, a sick Pee-Wee Pop Warner runningback. This kid is seriously the next Reggie Bush...look at him, he's making kids bow to him. Oh and his name is Cody Paul once again...two first names huh...interesting technique mom and dad...oh and look at #20...his last name is Tyler...very original. Anyways here's a video of his amazing moves, I hear he's already committed to USC...you know how they like em young. But that's just a rumor of course.



and just for shitts and giggles, here is the famous Reggie Bush High School tape...enjoy!



UPDATE: I accidentally forgot to give proper respects to Milk was a bad choice for the video...

What's happening around the blogosphere part 2

I did this last week and it went well so what the hell, i'll do it again.

Braves' Ledezma is stuck in Venezuela due to a "laundry accident". (Lion in Oil)

The Phillies lost their 10,000th game last night...HA! (The Fanhouse)

"Let it all hang out, fellas."--Adam LaRoche's message to the Braves (100% Injury Rate)

Greg Oden writes about his night at the ESPY's and of course the playmates. (Greg Oden @ Yardbarker)

"I was excited to meet everyone there, but the two that I smile about the most are Kendra from "The Girls Next Door" and Sarah Underwood "Playmate of The Year" -- she is from Oregon ;). They were two of the finest women I have ever met, hands down."

Detroit makes Cory Redding the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL. (ESPN)

Looks like the Net's passed on Jermaine O'Neal at the NBA Draft this year. (Fan Nation)

Rich Hill does a sweet Kip impression from Napoleon Dynamite and lets us know that Mark Derosa is training to be a cage fighter. (Larry Brown Sports)

Davey has a hilarious post about Chip and Joe's wonderful commentary during yesterday's game. (Blown Coverage)

Come on Fernando...keep your head in the game. (Awful Announcing)


Here's a bonus video, of Rerun from "What's Happening", to use a phrase that all the cool kids are using these days, getting "jiggy with it". See, i'm hip.

Derek Fisher is a Laker once again

ESPN News is reporting that point guard, Derek Fisher has agreed in principle to a three-year $14 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Fisher, who played an intergal role in the Lakers three championship seasons, has bounced around the league since leaving L.A. three seasons ago.

"That position has been something that we identified as an area where we felt we needed to improve," Kupchak told the Times. "Not a slight to Jordan [Farmar] and our drafted rookie [Javaris Crittenton], who's just 19 years old, but at 19 and 20 years old with limited NBA experience, we're not going to think that they're going to be the ones that can lead the team next year.

"Having said that, without naming players that are out there, when we have additional information and we have an announcement, we'll make that announcement. Right now, we're not in that position, but we're getting close."

Fisher left as a free-agent to go to the Golden State Warriors and signed a six-year $37 million deal but he was then traded to the Utah Jazz two years later. Fisher said his reasons for leaving the Jazz was so his daughter, who is fighting cancer, can be closer to a better cancer facility so she can recieve easier treatment.

Mark Cuban may buy the Cubs afterall

According to reports, Mark Cuban, the Owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has submitted his name to a lengthy list of possible suitors to buy the Chicago Cubs.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Mark Cuban says that he has submitted his application to Major League Baseball to purchase the Cubs. Cuban, who has owned the NBA's Dallas Mavericks since January of 2000 and is known for his free-spending ways, told the newspaper he sent the paperwork in last week.

Cuban's efforts to enter the already crowded field to purchase the team is being met with some speculation. The Tribune summed up Cuban's efforts to buy the team in its Thursday edition as follows: "And while Internet billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has expressed interest, most observers think Major League Baseball would balk at a potential owner as unpredictable and outspoken as Cuban."

Cuban has been one of the most charismatic owner's the NBA has seen and if he were to buy the Cubs' he would bring that same element to the MLB. Cuban is never shy about letting his feelings be known and isn't afraid to tell the commissioner that he thinks he's wrong. As I'm sure David Stern knows all to well. The move would be great for the Cub's as well, he's the type of owner that will stop at nothing to win, and that means he's willing to spend money and he usually spends it well. This should get interesting very soon, to see if he's approved and how he goes about handling the MLB.

It's magic time baby! Fun with google

It's another slow sports day relatively speaking so Davey and I through the power of messenger, have decided to bring back a fan favorite at our fine establishments, Fun with Google. Basically it just gives us a chance to flex our comedy skills I guess or more so our ability to type in random shit and find awkward pictures that make us giggle like pre-pubescent girls.

So here we go, Fun with Google: Random Shitt Edition

This first picture may bring up some memories that Chicago Bears' quarterback Rex Grossman may not want to. Some of you may remember when I found some rather unusual pictures from the Super Bowl in which Sexy Rexy was violently thrusted against his will on live T.V. by Robert Manthis, who I should mention is a rather large individual. But as this picture clearly shows, this was not the first time a large man has come into contact with Mr. Grossman's hiney(yes I said hiney). It's ok, i'm sure he took it all in stride.

To keep the doggy style penetration going here's a rather odd picture that is sure to bring up plenty of "what's he doing to her mommy" questions from our curious youth at the local Zoo. Just a few ideas of what you could say are:

Mom: I wouldn't know hunny *gives a death stare towards husband*.

Mom: You see darling, the boy panda slipped on some water and was about to fall down but the girl panda caught him using her rear end, you know for better support.

This one is from my own family collection as a youth my parents were really big in keeping me active despite the fact that I had no athletic ability whatsoever. But alas everytime there was a sporting event they would trot me out there and watch me get my ass handed to me, and to be honest I'm beginning to think they were enjoying it just a bit. This picture is of me during basketball tryouts and as you can imagine, I didn't quite make the cut, some bullshit about poor hand eye coordination. Whatever I think it was because they were jealous by my superior body.

As children me and Davey always wanted to be super heroes. But sadly that dream never came true, until that is when Davey surprised me when he came to my house dressed up as Diabetes Guy. It was grand fun, you see Diabetes Guy was equipped with super fast roller blades that allowed extreme mobility, you know for running down bad guys and stuff. He also had an ammo belt filled with our childhood favorites such as snickers. It was all fun and games until the chocolate melted and Davey later skinned his knee chasing down a guy who parked in a handicap spot. Sure the guy was old and had a walker and blind in one eye, but he had no reason to take that spot, come to think of it maybe he did deserve the spot. Oh well.

Well I'm going to cut these shenanigans short seeing as how I have some shit to do, but i'll update with more pictures soon enough.

Pollack not expected to play in 2007

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said that despite showing great progression while recovering from a broken neck, David Pollack is not expected to play in 2007.

While golfing in Georgia, Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis paused before one of the holes, and provided a health update on LB David Pollack, who played his college ball for the Georgia Bulldogs. "This year, David probably will not be able to play football this season but they haven't ruled out football in David's future," Lewis said. Pollack broke his neck in the second game of the 2006 season, missed the rest of the year, and required surgery to repair the damage. Fortunately, the Bengals 1^st Round pick in 2005 was not paralyzed in the collision, and there's still a chance he might return for the '08 season. "At some point, he'll have a decision to make whether to continue his football future. But right now he's progressing great, working out like a maniac about 20 hours a day, so he's doing great."

I won't go into detail again with this subject, I've made my feelings felt many times before, but all I will say is keep getting healthy David and I hope to see you on the field soon enough.

What's happening around the Blogosphere

Much like smoking cigarettes, all the cool kids are doing it so I will too. And by that I mean having daily links to the most interesting posts from different blogs at least according to me.

The only thing funnier than the video are the comments. (With Leather)

Is Rashard Lewis worth $110 million? (Blown Coverage)

Miss Gossip gets a interview with Greg Oden and she gets right to the hard hitting questions. (AOL Fanhouse)

Tony Parker is still gangsta....at least in France. (We are the Postmen)

Looks like Dan Patrick already has a new job....and boy is it exciting. (The Big Lead)

Jamaal Magloire stayed at the same hotel as J.E. Skeets and Tas Melas in Montreal. (The Basketball Jones)

Ok about the comments thing, they are fucking hilarious, some of my favorites are:

Atari1977 says: Good thing she was carrying her LifeAlert bracelet!

Weed against Speed says: She hasn't had balls in her face since Grandpa died 10 years ago.

Dr. Thunder says: my grandmother went the same way

Oh and the video was posted by the great J.E. Skeets...one of my favorite bloggers.

Alex Rodriguez is going to be very rich soon, I mean even richer

BREAKING NEWS:

Early reports are that Alex Rodriguez could be making $30 million a YEAR! That is just plain insane. Just for a little comparison, Rodriguez (according to ESPN) is making $27,708,525 this season and that already exceeds the Tampa Bay Devil Rays which their total salary is $24,124,200. And if he makes the reported $3o million then he will likely surpass the Florida Marlins which are currently at $30,507,000 next season.

UPDATE: Ok, well now I have a link to the reports. According to this, Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras said his client will get a minimum of $32 million or they will walk. And that they refuse to negotiate till after the season is over.

Even if his client doesn't go the opt-out route, Boras told the Post that there are existing stipulations in the current deal that all but guarantee Rodriguez would earn a minimum of $32 million in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

"The way the provision operates, he either gets that or he can become a free agent after any of those seasons again," Boras told the newspaper.

Talk about sibling rivarly at it's best

During a practice session for the Pan American Games, a Brazilian fencer was accidentally stabbed under his right arm. Oh and to add insult to injury, Ivan Schwantes was stabbed by his brother, Athos.

Ivan Schwantes, who underwent surgery to drain blood and air from his lung after his brother's epee snapped near his right underarm on Monday, will remain hospitalized for at least another 72 hours, the Brazilian Olympic Committee said in a statement.

"We need to think about his health before anything else, so he won't participate in the games," Brazil's delegation chief Marcus Vinicius Freire said in the statement.

Now I'm not going to pretend to know anything about fencing, to be honest the extent to my fencing knowledge is watching Zorro do his thing. But isn't the point of fencing to sword fight and win by poking, for lack of a better word, the other participant in the chest. Oh well forget it.

Say what Eduardo?

During the eighth inning of the AAA All-Star game, broadcaster and current analyst on ESPN's Baseball Tonight, Eduardo Perez dropped this beauty during the live broadcast.

"I remember back when Orlando Palmeiro got called up to the big leagues he cried his balls...uh I mean eyes out"

Yeah I don't know exactly how you go about crying your "balls" out, but it can't be comfortable or very sanitary.

It's that time once again

The only sporting event on this evening is the AAA All-Star game so I'm a little bored as usual. A few days ago I mentioned that the photo galleries always seem to have the best and most humerous photos and well today is no different. They have a gallery up entitled "Greatest Sports Villians" and it has some interesting sports figures on there, such as Barry Bonds, Terrell Owens, Scott Boras and many more. Also on the list was the Oakland Raider's owner Al Davis complete with one of the scariest/ugliest/most disturbing photos i've seen.

The photo draws a great resemblence to a picture of the "ugliest dog in the world". But of course that's just my opinion, you be the the judge.

To keep the theme going...Hafner gets a new deal

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Cleveland Indians and designated hitter, Travis Hafner have agreed on a four-year $57 million contract extension.

"Hafner, 30, was eligible for free agency after the 2008 season. His new deal does not include a signing bonus, but part of the money will be redirected to increase his salaries in 2007 and '08, according to a source with knowledge of the contract.

The Indians are paying Hafner $3.75 million this season and hold a $4.75 million club option on him for 2008 — low salaries for a player who last season ranked first in the American League in on-base/slugging percentage."

Hafner has been having a bit of a down season this year, as he is only hitting .262 with 14 homeruns and 57 RBI's, but that didn't deture the Indians from locking the very talented slugger until 2012. Hopefully now that he doesn't have to worry whether or not he will be re-signed, Hafner will start to play like last season.

Alex Rodriguez getting a new deal?

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the New York Yankees are now willing to work with Alex Rodriguez on a new contract extension. They had previously said that they didn't want to right now. I guess the odds that Rodriguez will stay rather then opt out of his deal and become a free-agent at the end of this year are heightened.

"The Yankees have changed their traditional stance and are now willing to negotiate during the season with their star third baseman on a contract extension, MLB sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

The key sticking point for the Yankees in the prospective negotiations is that Rodriguez agree not to opt out of his current contract after this season and agree to add any extension to the current contract, which expires after the 2010 season."

The Yankees still have players like Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada that will be looking for a new deal, both players will be free-agents at the end of the season. I know the Yanks will not let Rivera go, but Posada, I don't know.

Buster Olney also said that the Yankees are going to basically give Alex Rodriguez and his agent, Scott Boras a blank check.

Just some recent Braves' rumors

Well with the trade deadline quickly approaching there have been a few trade rumors floating around out there involving my Atlanta Braves. So I thought I'd take this time to mention a few of them.

1. Mark Buehrle to the Braves

It was widely said that the Braves were one of the biggest suitors for the very talented starter. But all of that was thrown out the window when the Chicago White Sox gave him a new fat contract. That pretty much ended all speculation of Buehrle to the Braves. But what was Kenny Williams asking price? A new report stated that Williams wanted Atlanta to give up Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Yunel Escobar. That's just plain insane seeing as how both of them are proving day in and day out that they can hit professional ball and to add more to that they are two of our top prospects, Salty being our number one. j

2. Mark Teixeira to the Braves

This one may still have legs to it. Teixeira is still on the disabled list but he's having a pretty good year and everyone knows what he can do, he's a .300 hitter that can hit 35 plus homeruns with 100 plus RBI's. That could really help our current problem at first base and our lack of power. But there's always a catch. First of all we would have to give up no less than Jarrod Saltalamacchia and another young prospect to get him and at this point I don't want to get rid of Salty, were going to lose Andruw at the end of the year and his power will come in handy. Another snag is the fact that Teixeira is going to be a free-agent after next year and his agent is Scott Boras so he's looking at getting at least $20 million per year. And yet another problem is Teixeira has made it known that he would love to play for his hometown team which is Baltimore so he seems like he would just be more of a rental than anything else, but if he did then we would get some very valuable draft picks.

I don't know exactly what were going to do when the trade deadline comes up, which is about three weeks away, but I have a strong feeling that we are going to get a starter. Now who that starter will be, well I don't know. Here's a list of starters that are said to be available:

Matt Morris, San Francisco Giants

Kyle Lohse, Cincinnati Reds

Jason Jennings, Houston Astros

John Garland, Chicago White Sox

Jose Contreras, Chicago White Sox

Odalis Perez, Kansas City Royals

Steve Trachsel, Baltimore Orioles

Joe Kennedy, Oakland Athletics

Wade Miller, Chicago Cubs (injured, on the 60-day DL)

Josh Fogg, Colorado Rockies

Brett Tomko, Los Angeles Dodgers

That's a few of the names that are being tossed around, of course there is always Rich Harden, but he's injured right now and could cost a pretty penny seeing as how he's a Cy Young pitcher when healthy. I'd love to have him even with injury risk, that is if he didn't cost us too much. We've been mentioned with Matt Morris as of late, and I do have to admit he's have a nice start to his season, but I just don't think he'll keep it up and plus I believe he makes around $10 million this year. If we're going to get a starter from San Francisco I'd want it to be Kyle Lowry, but that's just me. I also would have multiple seizures if we were to trade for Carl Crawford or Alex Rios.

That's a helluva an award

According to ESPN, the Seattle Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki (yes I forget he has a last name too) are close to agreeing on a new deal that would pay him around $120 million over five years and he would get a significant yearly pay raise, he's making $10 million and he would be getting around $20 million.

This is a hell of a reward seeing as how Ichiro won the All-Star MVP tonight as he became the first person in history to hit an inside the park homerun during the All-Star game. And from what he said it was the first time he's ever hit one. I won't go into too much detail about the All-Star game, Davey has already handled that quite nicely over at Blown Coverage. But here's a quick run-down of everything you need to know about the game.

1. The game was really boring in my opinion.

2. I take that back, well kind of, the bottom of the ninth inning was very entertaining, I haven't seen someone with such bad facial get beaten up like that since Bruce Vilanch hacked off that muskrat on his face that he called a beard.

3. I don't get what LaRussa was drinking when he made that lineup...um...too soon? Fuck it..that was a weak lineup! Bond's hitting second?!? Carlos Beltran hitting 3rd?!? Prince Fielder, the guy who is leading the national league in homeruns with 29, hitting 6th?!? Been boozing up lately there Tony?

4. This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the actual game but I want to trade for Alex Rios, really bad. I've been a big fan of him for a while now and I think he would look great in Atlanta and seeing his performance, yes I know it was just a Homerun Derby but I don't care. We've got to find a way to get him.

All I can say about that contract is damn! If Ichiro is going to be pulling down that then there is no way in hell we're going to be able to hold on to Andruw Jones after this year. Looks like the "Jones' Boys" will be no more. A sad sad day for Braves fans everywhere.

UPDATE: Well this story is starting to make it's rounds lately and apparently the total contact is closer to $100 million to the $120 I said earlier.

Thing's i've learned from watching Eddie George sing.

While browsing Si.com's Extra Mustard, I realized that there was a link to a video of my all-time favorite football player singing. Yes back in the day I was a huge Tennessee Titan fan and an Eddie George fan, but since they decided to have a little fire sale and released/traded most of my favorite players i've sinced moved on. But anyways here's a quick run down of some things i've learned while watching Eddie George sing.

1. I would've never guessed the end result of a 240 pound man consuming alcohol for an extended time would be an all night karaoke concert in which he sung Def Leppard, Gun n Roses and Bon Jovi. Who would've thunk it.

2. Surprisingly Eddie George singing 80's classic's wasn't the most disturbing part of the video...no it was the middle-aged gentlemen doing something similar to dance (I would've classified it more as a squatting seizure, but that's just me.) while trying to impress a young lady with his "skills".

3. The look on those poor, poor kid's face's say it all...Eddie, what the fuck were you thinking?

Yeah see, I wasn't kidding when I said a "quick run down". But there you have it, a very disturbing look into a former Heisman winner and former NFL Star's life and how he spends retirement.

If you can't see the video for some reason, you can watch it here.

UPDATE: Holy shitt!!! That weird middle-aged guy in the orange shirt was non other than my nemisis, Chris Weinke...I hate that guy and now I hate him even more for being old and creepy...just like my grandpa.

UPDATE #2: Ok..well the video is on auto play and it's annoying, so I took it off. Click the links if you want to watch it.

Random Video Time...one word SWEET!!!

Ok I know i've said this before and i'm sure i'll say it again...but I just saw the greatest thing ever...it's a couple of panda bears teaming up and doing their best prison break impression...



How in the hell did something so big fit through something so small...oh wait..it's not the first time i've heard that...shazam!!!...ok that was unappropriate...anyways this is a great video. It made my day!

Vince, Don't fail me now

Ok, so after reports that the New Jersey Nets and my favorite player, Vince Carter were close to completing a new deal all of a sudden it was announced that he's decided to opt out of his remaining year on his current contract and become an unrestricted free-agent. Ok so yeah that would really suck...but then I just read on the Fanhouse and Sports Illustrated that although he's opted out he's more than likely going to stay in New Jersey. Rumors are that he's looking at getting a four-year deal worth about $60 million.

I can only hope that this is true...because I really don't want to see Vince go to another team unless say it was to the Orlando Magic or something like that. But I would rather see him stay with the Nets and screw anyone that thinks he disappears during the end of big games...*REALITY CHECK* Even though it seems as though he does sometimes*END OF REALITY CHECK*. But he's still a great player that can go out and get 25 points 5 rebounds and a couple of assists every game and is no stranger with 40+ point games....so is he worth the money....HELL YES! And that's not just the extremely biased Jay talking here. He's actually in rehab, no it's not drugs or alcohol its more for anger, you see some fuck destroyed my...uh I mean his Panda Bear collectibles that included the extremely rare Panda Ninja Kung Fu action figure with the realistic judo chop arm motion...Fuck there I go getting off topic again.

Anyways best case scenario he stays with the Nets or signs with the Magic worst case scenario he signs with someone like the Lakers then I would have to shoot myself...and Vince do you really want that on your conscience? Didn't think so.