Lance Armstrong hadn’t competed on the cycling tour in three-plus years. He is 37, 38 in September, which is easily on the back side of an athlete’s career. Yet he went to the Tour de France and hung around the leaders for nearly three weeks before getting pretty much buried today — though he remains […]

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You can see it by clicking on the “Countdown to South Africa” link on my blog roll, on the right side of the page. Today, I took a long and loving look at teams I would like to see in the World Cup, as opposed to those who are in it or are headed that […]

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Ah, the poor simple-minded King David. He seems to believe he can run his version of events out there and it will overpower every other telling of the tale … even over what, apparently, is the true story of July 19, 2009. Some of the fans in and around the Riot Squad — hardcore Galaxy […]

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I am holding four tickets to the Dodgers’ game with the Reds on Wednesday night. Also known as … Manny Ramirez Bobblehead Night. You show up, you get a Manny Ramirez bobblehead, which just about has to be the greatest bobblehead ever, even if you think the guy is a sleaze ball. As I do. […]

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As if I’m not already writing enough stuff I don’t quite get paid for … I have just now launched what will be a daily countdown to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Here is the url: http://countdown-sa2010.blogspot.com/ And here is a link that will take you directly to the site. It is plain […]

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My oh my, talk about getting “a little verklempt.” I could feel a lump in my throat and a little moisture in the corners of my eyes. Excuse me. Talk amongst yourselves for a moment. Discuss “carpetbaggers we have known and loathed.” OK, I’m better now. There they were, the Riot Squad, the most loyal […]

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* – Using “boner” in its original sense, which means an error or blunder. Such as the infamous “Merkle’s Boner” of 1908. Ned Colletti has made more than his share of colossally bad moves, but this is the worst. Jason Schmidt, right-handed pitcher — three years, $47 million. And now, more than halfway through the […]

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We tend to divide humanity into segments. By nationality, ethnicity, gender … A grouping that some people don’t always think of quite as readily: Groupings by age. And I now root for old guys. Because I am one and because I understand far better the challenges they face. That’s why I’m a bigger fan of […]

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Just a random thought that struck me, today. Jeremy Mayfield could be to NASCAR what Jose Canseco has been to baseball. Guy being blackballed by his sport … been around it a long time … caught up (apparently) with some seedy stuff (Canseco admits to using steroids; Mayfield denies using meth) … and in position […]

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I suppose this is Part 2 of the “prominent athletes I’ve dealt with semi-recently who are in some serious trouble” part of the blog. First Jeremy Mayfield, below. Now Diana Taurasi. Perhaps the greatest female basketball player in history. I first saw Taurasi play when she was a senior in high school at Don Lugo […]

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