Grind It Out Sports

Formerly "Two Of Us Talking Sports"

Top-40 Available Sports URLs

Posted by Chad Ruter & Justin Jacobs on March 12, 2009

In case you missed it, a little more than a month ago one of the last remaining 867-5309 phone numbers (made famous by the Tommy Tutone’s song) was put up for auction on ebay, with bids topping $365,000.  As we were surfing the internet trying to find a new home for our website , we stumbled across someone selling the URL pertaining to the infamous song (hey, it’s got free shipping, so I’ll lay $2.99 down on it!).  That got us to thinking (a stretch for us, we know) what sports websites could we purchase, market, and then re-sell for a profit (because…hey, times are tough, and we gots to get paid).

So here are the Top-40 sports-related URLs (and what we would do with them) that are available.

40. www.cappingMLB.com

For the envious small-market team that’s in all of us (except for the Steinbrenners…).

39. www.mycousinvinnydacoach.com

The sequel that no Bulls fan would ask for.

38. www.saveseattlesports.com

A virtual visitation for what used to be a thriving sports metropolis.  Ya know, like when the Sonics made it to the finals (and lost) or the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl (and lost). OR…a social networking site for all of Shawn Kemp’s illegitimate children.

shawnkemp381

37. www.blindedbytheslider.com

Because Cubs fans will never forget how much Corey Patterson sucked.  Future home of disgruntled Phillies fans after Ryan Howard dips below 30 homers a season…

corey-patterson

36. www.mannyisacancer.com

A message board for Red Sox Nation to whine about a guy that hit .347 with a 1.060 OPS in July of 2008 when he reportedly ‘quit’ on his team. The Red Sox fans should quit too…as in: quit your bitchin’!!

35. www.themanningface.com

If you don’t read Bill Simmons, this is what we’re talking about. Notice the URL for that link…whomever owns that site is light years ahead of us. Here’s an example:

manningface351

34. www.barkleyforbama.com

Despite the fact he has a gambling problem and was arrested for DUI when all he was looking for was little love…we’d still vote for him if he ends up running for governor of Alabama.

33. www.kirilenkos1nightayear.com

For those that don’t know, Utah Jazz forward, Andrei Kirilenko’s wife allows him to sleep around for one night every year.  Don’t believe me?  I’m not kidding. But since he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunity, this site would be devoted to the women that he passes on.

ak33

32. www.crabdribblingtotherack.com

A message board for NBA referees who forgot what the hell a traveling violation was.  See: James, LeBron.

31. www.knightsfoldingchair.com

Where we would chronicle videos of Bobby Knight – like this one:

30. www.findingphelpsbong.com

A daily blog devoted to a sheriff and his search for justice!  Because one man’s smoking bong is another man’s smoking gun…

phelpsbong30

29. www.thesummerof10.com

Where LeBron, Kobe, Amaré, Bosh and DWade give Twitter clues as to where they want to go when they hit the open market.  To be frequented by all 30 NBA GMs…well, maybe just 29 because Memphis already knows that none of these guys wanna play in Tennessee (or they’ll be located in Vegas).

28. www.thezenmasterphil.com

Aspiring coaches can go here to learn inspiring coaching techniques, such as playing the Bongo, crisis management, and pointing at the greatest player in the league with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter to get back in the game.  You can also learn how to successfully date your bosses daughter.

27. www.rickeysthebest.com

Rickey Henderson admitted on Mike and Mike in the Morning that the rumor of him framing his first $1 million check was true (prompting the Oakland A’s to freak when their accounting department was off by a million), so this site would be dedicated to all of those great Rickey-isms.

26. www.thereisonlyoneLT.com

Where LT shattering Joe Theismann’s ankle is played on loop. Lawrence Taylor is the only LT (don’t give us any of this LaDainian Tomlinson crap).  And remember kids, “Don’t smoke crack!”

lawrencetaylor261

25. www.kobedoesnotknowhowyourasstastes.com

Despite the below Shaq-rap being funny, it’s much advised not to anger The Black Mamba. See: Artest, Ron.  Kobe would go here to get bulletin-board material.

24. www.fansofhockey.com

The official Facebook site for all Canadiens and the two Canadien refugees living in North Dakota.

23. www.evandersrightear.com

Where fans of the sweet science will come to voice their frustrations about the downfall of boxing.  In-part due to the appetite of a cannibalistic Iron Mike.

22. www.drinkingwithdaly.com

Because nothing interests the public more than watching finely tuned athletic machines getting sloshed and hanging on hot chicks.

johndalymug22

21. www.howeva.com

We were gonna use www.racefor19.com (for El Tigre), HOWEVA…someone mocking Stephen A. Smith has to have his own website!

20. www.pacmancapsthebottle.com

One of two things could happen on this site: Pacman could clean up his act and not suck as a player, or he could start shooting glass bottles off a ledge.  Either way…we don’t really care…

19. www.shaqtastic.com

Where people can go to find his latest youtube videos, Twitter updates, and all of the Shaqisms you can handle.

18. www.detroitlionssuicidehotline.com

This page is completely blank except for the phone number to a local Detroit suicide hot-line which appears in a font size of 17 (the number of years since their last playoff win). The font will grow every year.

17. www.gregodensrockingchair.com

A site where the people that share the same disease as Benjamin Button and Greg Oden can open up and talk about themselves with others like them.

greg-oden-17

16. www.weretalkingaboutpractice.com

In an attempt to move his famous videos in the 21st century, the Tom Emanski practice tapes will be sold here for $9.99 a piece…only available on VHS.

15. www.wecanbuildonthis.com

A resumé updating website that caters to recently terminated football coaches.

14. www.donttalkaboutplayoffs.com

Will be started and maintained by the commissioners of the six BCS conferences…and the president of Notre Dame.

13. www.plaxknowsgunsafety.com

An online gun-safety school for professional athletes who feel owning a firearm, even if it isn’t registered, is a God-given (or a second Amendment) right.

12. www.vicksofftheleash.com

This site is a webcam broadcast of a PETA member stalking Michael Vick while he’s under house arrest. (No animals will be harmed in the making of this website)

11. www.coachingwithoutpants.com

From the company that brought you www.thezenmasterphil.com, the alternative take on modern coaching techniques – including how to win football games with just ten players.  Pants not required.

10. www.wnbabailout.com

If the NBA is borrowing $200 million to stay afloat, you know the WNBA is going in the tank. On this site, fans can sell their WNBA swag to keep the league alive.

9. www.a-fraudinsurance.com

Where you go to sign a petition so that your favorite team never signs A-Rod…or…a site for AIG haters.

8. www.theozzietranslator.com

This site uses state-of-the-art translating software (see machine below) to figure out what the hell Ozzie Guillen is saying when he gets upset. Paid for by Chicago sports writers not named Jay Mariotti.

ozzytranslator8

7. www.thecalhounretirementfund.com

“Not a dime back!” If you feel that Jim Calhoun needs cash now for an early retirement, you can donate to his cause on this site.

6. www.marvbites.com

The legendary sportscaster, Marv Albert takes his taste for high-end cuisine to new heights by offering reviews of some of the country’s finest corner establishments.

5. www.acenturyisnotenough.com

This site will remain the most popular Cubs message board until 2108…when www.twocenturiesisnotenough.com takes its place.

billygoat5

4. www.feardrandrews.com

A flash based computer game website where the goal is to make it through a game without one of your players having to call the famed doctor.

3. www.mickletits.com

The official site of ‘The Bro.’ If you type in the promotional code “Winged Foot” you get an extra 10% off everything on the left side of the website.

mickleson-3

2. www.courtingea.com

Following the mass popularity of Japanese dating sims, Electronic Arts presents: “Courting Erin Andrews.” The overall points leader from this game receives a 50″ plasma TV, a PS3, this year’s library of EAs sports titles, and a restraining order signed by the lovely Erin Andrews.

ea1

1. www.thepassionofgus.com

We love us some EA…but a site devoted to Gus Johnson is what this world needs…

 

To check out what this post looks like on our new website, click here.  The debut of the new site is set for March 18, 2009!

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Episode 16: Let the Madness Begin

Posted by Justin Jacobs on March 15, 2009

 

Are you ready?

Are you ready?

The sports world is starting to come back to life here in March and we are only a few days away from the start of the NCAA tournament.   In honor of the coming madness Chad and I get on the mics and do work.   This week on TOUTS we discuss what could quite possibly be the greatest piece we have written for the site.  If you don’t have time to listen to the podcast, or you prefer taking in things visually, you can check it for yourself on the site.  Of course you can’t talk about sports this time of year without discussing the NCAA tournament brackets, so we both give rants on how the smaller schools can help themselves get into the tournament, as well as which number one  seed faces the toughest challenge in getting to the final four.  We are also still trying to figure out what kind of wager we should make on the tournament challenge that Chad and I have every year, so if you have any idea’s, we’d love to read them!   One final note before we get to the show, this week we are moving to a different host, but we’ll talk about that more when the time comes.  Enjoy the show everyone, and please feel free to leave comments and share the article on digg, facebook, ball hype, etc.

Click Here To Listen To This Episode

Click Here To Download This Episode

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Episode 15: The Genie’s Out of the Bottle

Posted by Justin Jacobs on March 8, 2009

Not since the glory days of Pat Riley have we seen a man dress so boldly.

 

After a two week break we are back with the TOUTS Podcast, and this  week we have a doozy lined up for you.    I do have to warn you that things start off rather heatedly and I let loose an F Bomb between the 13-15 second mark.   After all, this podcast is tagged explicit on iTunes, and I tend to let the tiger out of the cage (and the genie out of the bottle) from time to time.  So what can you expect in this episode?

  • A-Rod opts for surgery and will likely miss 6-9 weeks.   Let’s just say that I am not happy about this.
  • March Madness is almost upon us, so Chad and I give our predictions for which teams will score number one seeds in the NCAA tournament; and ask you, the listener, to help us come up with a bet involving the tournament challenge.
  • There have been a number of NFL moves over the last couple of weeks and we do our best to go over them all.
  • I ask Chad if the NFL is letting the genie out of the bottle by getting rid of the salary cap.  Chad wonders if anyone actually uses that expression in day-to-day conversation.

All this and much more on the TOUTS Podcast.

Click Here To Listen To This Episode!

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‘The Return of The One’ (The Sequel)

Posted by Chad Ruter on February 24, 2009

Tiger wisely didnt take a page out of Michaels book.  He chose the perfect time to return.

Tiger wisely didn't take a page out of Michael's book. He chose the perfect time to return.

It’s been nearly 14 years since the sports world has honed in on the return of an individual to the sport he dominated in the past.

Any sports fan my age or older remembers the day that Michael Jordan returned to the hardwood, a day after his press release contained just two words that would reverberate through more than just the world of basketball.  He didn’t call a press conference to say the words, but everyone could imagine that multi-million dollar mug saying coyly, “I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!” Hanging on to that final syllable as if to toy with the minds of guys like John Starks, Reggie Miller, and Karl Malone.

His first game?  A less-than-eventful 19-point effort in Indianapolis against the Pacers.  But the Nielsen ratings told the real story – they were the highest every for a regular season basketball game since the mid-70’s.

Tomorrow afternoon, MJ 2.0 (a.k.a El Tigre, a.k.a. Tiger Woods) will return to the course nearly nine months after his legendary departure when he chased down Rocco Mediate on one leg to win the U.S. Open in an 18-hole playoff.  His return hasn’t lacked an ounce of the fanfare that is predecessor endured; in fact, Tiger has gone through more.  I say endured, because when Jordan left basketball, he took up another profession, one that he royally sucked at.  Tiger was forced out by an injury, with golf gurus and sports fans alike salivating over the anticipation of his return.

If Tiger was like Jordan, he would’ve waited for the Masters – the most-watched golf event of the year.  He would’ve gone in cold, threw caution to the wind and pushed the accelerator to the floor.  Jordan could’ve waited until the start of the ‘95-’96 to make his return, but instead chose to shock the world and lead the Bulls to a fourth title in five years.  He failed.

Like I said – Tiger is MJ 2.0.  Tiger is more controlled.  He chose an event that he loves and a format he craves.  He has the potential of stuffing seven, full 18-hole rounds of golf into five days.  Each match is equivalent to the final round of a golf tournament.  You lose, you go home trophyless.  Tiger despises that.  Saturday and Sunday could potentially be the true test to his fully-healed knee.  Both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches are played on Saturday, followed by a 36-hole marathon match for the championship on Sunday.  If Tiger gets that far, is there any doubt he’ll close?

Not the 2.0.

If he reaches the weekend...you better believe hell have this trophy again.

If he reaches the weekend...you better believe he'll have this trophy again.

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TOUTS Episode 14: Returning Tiger, Hidden Bet

Posted by Justin Jacobs on February 22, 2009

He's Back...

It’s been a couple of weeks since we did a show so we decided to turn on the recorder and do a impromptu episode of the TOUTS Podcast.  This week we start off talking about the dud that was the NBA trade deadline, and how teams seem to be focusing more on the summer of 2010 then this year or next year.   Shifting from pro to college hoops, we play an audio clip (courtesy ESPN.com)  of Ken Kreyeske hammering UConn Head Coach Jim Calhoun on his salary.  This leads to discussion on the economics of college athletics and how Mr. Kreyeske is a poor journalist.   Finally we discuss the return of one Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour, and of course, we have to find a way to bet on how many majors Tiger will win in 2009.  

Thanks for listening and feel free to leave comments or subscribe to us on iTunes.

 

Click Here To Listen To The Episode

 

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The Trade-a-Bulls

Posted by Chad Ruter on February 17, 2009

Despite the fact that football season is over and baseball season hasn’t begun yet, I’ve been pretty excited about the world of sports – especially this past week.  Three reasons why:

1. Friday was the third best day of the calendar year; pitchers and catchers reported for the Cubs.  Christmas is easily the best day because of the presents and gathering of family.  Opening day is the second best because of the massive amount of anticipation that can become overwhelming.  And third is the day the Cubs hurlers and receivers hit camp…triggering the thought of warm weather and longer days in my mind.

2. The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching and that means every team is looking to improve.  The NBA trade deadline is easily the best out of any professional league deadline day because of its potential for blockbusters and high percentage of action.  The NFL deadline day passes almost without notice, and baseball’s is so overplayed and inflated that less than 1% of the rumored trades are actually ever discussed by GMs.  In the NBA, however, if teams are determined to make a move, most wont hesitate.  In 2008, we saw trades involving big names such as Jason Kidd and Pau Gasol.  Usually, there is validity behind trade rumors involving big names.  The prize in 2009 was supposed to be Amare Stoudamire, but with the Suns making a coaching change, it seems less likely they’ll move the 26-year-old star.

3.  Fantasy baseball season is right around the corner…meaning it’s time to start putting together the game plan. I’m happy to announce that after a year off, I’ve convinced my buddy Lance to rejoin the league for the fifth edition of Terry’s Tire World.  The competition this year will be the toughest it has ever been, meaning I need to find a new edge.  After doing some searching to polish up my first basemen ranking sheets, I stumbled across a great website that provided me with just the edge I was looking for.  If I gave this information to one of our readers, there’s no doubt that Justin would pay big bucks to figure my ‘inside’ information.  I also don’t provide people bad information, so I’m going to test my data through the first half of the season to test my hypothesis.  My conclusions will be here in July.

The main purpose behind this post revolves around No. 2 because we’ll have all spring and summer to talk baseball.

Despite the fact that I played up how active the NBA trade deadline is, I highly doubt this year will provide us any blockbusters because nobody is willing to take on salary past 2010.  From now on, why don’t we refer to it as The Summer of James…better known as the first year that LeBron James could potentially become a free man.

Since I haven’t talked about the Bulls very much (or at all), it’s time to break down the team in the order of the most tradeable (definition: the order in which I would trade the guys if I had the chance), with 12 being the guy I’d ship out first.

Offer me a six-pack, and they’re yours:

14a. Vinny Del Negro – Wait…dammit…he coaches doesn’t he?  Well…that depends on your definition of coach, but that’s for another day.

14. Michael Ruffin – The long-awaited return of this waste of space is reportedly right around the corner, as he is nearly healed from achilles injury that has kept him out since last April.  He’s available in a flea market near you!

13. Cedric Simmons – He has youth on his side (23), but is just about as worthless as you can find on an NBA roster.  He’s 6′9″ and 235, I think he has a better shot at cutting two inches, gaining 90 pounds and taking over for John Tait playing left tackle for the Bears.

As long as you pay his retirement, he’s all yours:

12. Lindsey Hunter – Now that Kirk Hinrich is healthy, Hunter becomes relatively useless as the Bulls third string PG.  In other news, I’ve added Lindsey as a name I would NEVER give to my son.  It saves at minimum two punches to the face during childhood.

Well, at least he can play defense:

11. Thabo Sefolosha – The only reason he is this high is because there is some serious awful behind him.  When the Bulls drafted him a couple of years ago, he was praised for being a defensive force that if he developed offensively, could be a major steal.  That ‘if’ never happened.

The Tall and the Defenseless

10. Aaron Gray – For those Boers and Bernstein fans in the audience (A Chicago radio combo from 2-6pm on 670 The Score for those who don’t), the White Panther could easily be your favorite player. His offensive game improved greatly when he dropped weight over the summer, but he still sucks at defense.

9. Drew Gooden – Just a few weeks ago, 82games.com had him listed as the worst defensive player in the Association.  Not suprising – if you watch a Bulls game, you’ll scratch your head a minimum of three times, asking yourself, “What the hell was Gooden doing there?”  The sad thing is, HE doesn’t even know!

The Oddball

Im not lying when I said hes ugly.

I'm not lying when I said he's ugly.

8. Joakim Noah – Plays very good defense, is an above average rebounder, and was mentally retarded as a child.  He’s the ugliest human being on the face of the earth and the hair doesn’t help that cause.  He sets illegal screens on every offensive possession, and has stone hands that are worse than, dare I say it, Tyson Chandler!

The Rich and the Foreign

7. Andres Nocioni – One of the most overpaid players in the NBA.  He’s getting more than $8 million per season for the next three years and he’s no better than the Bulls 7th man.  Yikes.

6. Luol Deng – If the Bulls can work out a trade to get rid of Deng, I can’t pull the trigger fast enough.  What’s really sad is that the Bulls were hell bent on not trading him for Kobe Bryant last year.  Can you say: mistake?

Positionless Wonders

5. Larry Hughes – He ranks this high because his contract expires in two years.  He’s capable of playing very good defense and can hit open shots.  But if there is a player in the NBA that can be labeled a ‘ball hog,’ he’d be it.

4. Kirk Hinrich – Not good enough to be a starting point guard or a starting shooting guard on a championship contender (though he’s paid like one), he’s sure found his nitch as the Bulls 6th man.  After an awful 2007-08 season, it’s nice to see him bounce back.

The Freak

3. Tyrus Thomas – After a few years, he’s finally figuring out what his role is on the basketball court.  Be active, block shots from the weakside, NEVER shoot from outside of five feet, and rebound the basketball on both ends.

The weight of Chicago is on his back.  Can he handle it?

The weight of Chicago is on his back. Can he handle it?

The Shooter

2. Ben Gordon – As much as I have wanted to trade this guy in the past – he has been one of the most consistent Bulls over that same time frame.  At least we know his talent max.  He will score, play mediocre at best defense, and he can be a go-to guy down the stretch.

The Star

1. Derrick Rose – At age 20, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s the face of the Chicago Bulls for the next seven years at least.  Let’s hope he can live up to the incredible hype that comes with being #1 in Chicago.

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NBA trade season heats up

Posted by Justin Jacobs on February 13, 2009

These two used to play together, now they are the biggest names in the trade market.

Well, we have our first blockbuster trade of the 2009 NBA season.  ESPN is reporting that the Miami Heat have sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Toronto Raptors for Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon.    

I was a bit surprised that the Heat dealt Marion’s expiring contract for O’Neal and Moon, but I suppose the higher ups in Miami took a good look at what the free-agent market would look like next year and decided to make a push for the playoffs this year.  What this trade does do for the Heat is clear almost five million in cap space for the mythic summer on 2010 when Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James will all become free agents.

Rest assured that this is only the first of what will be many moves made in the coming weeks as teams try to cut payroll, either because of the current economic climate or the 2010 free agency bidding war.  Amare Stoudemire remains the biggest name on a lost of teams shopping list, and  one of the teams that seems to remain in high level talks for him is the Chicago Bulls.  

There are multiple sources that are rumoring that Bulls GM John Paxon may be on the way out.   It’s become clear over the last couple of years that Paxon’s drafting strategy just hasn’t panned Chicago and now is probably as good a time as any to make a change.  It’ll be interesting to see how the flux in Bulls management will effect their trade strategy.  

I’m interested to see if any of the championship contenders will make a move to push their team over the top, like the Lakers move to get Pau Gasol last year.  I know that both Boston and Cleveland are looking to get a big man who can come off the bench, grab some rebounds, and make the mid-range jump shot.  I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Celtics looks to nab a guy who can guard LeBron James in the playoffs; James Posey is the perfect guy for the job, but I don’t think the Hornets are going to want to part ways with Posey.

This is one of those years where a lot of big trades could be made as the economy continues to sink and small market teams look to cut pay-roll, and if a contender can find a way to exploit this market, it could bring a championship to that town.  As a Lakers fan, I can’t think of anyone who the Lakers really need to add to their squad, but then again I didn’t see the Gasol trade coming.   Get to work Kupchak! 

Sources: [ESPN] [New York Post]



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Darryl Strawberry makes me want to read his book

Posted by Justin Jacobs on February 11, 2009

When Darryl Strawberry writes, I read.

In news that has absolutely made my day, if not my whole year, Darryl Strawberry is prepping to release a tell-all book about his partying lifestyle with the Mets back in the 80’s.  Strawberry decided to bless us all with some fantastic quotes courtesy the New York Post.  

He starts us off with a some good stuff:

“We were the boys of summer. The drunk, speed-freak, sneaking-a-smoke boys of summer,” writes onetime home-run legend Darryl Strawberry in “Straw: Finding My Way,” out in April from Ecco. “[An] infamous rolling frat party . . . drinking, drugs, fights, gambling, groupies.”

Gives us all the formula to partying success:

Beer “was the foundation of our alcoholic lifestyle,” he writes. “We hauled around more Bud than the Clydesdales. The beer was just to get the party started and maybe take the edge off the speed and coke.”

Discusses the intricities of the road trip:

The team’s mantra on the road, he writes, was to “tear up your best bars and nightclubs and take your finest women . . . The only hard part for us was choosing which hottie to take back to your hotel room. Lots of times you . . . picked two or three.”

…and shows us all how to treat a lady:

Although he doesn’t name names, Strawberry relates how team members picked out girls from the stands for quickies. He once watched a pitcher march a frisky fan to a private room for oral sex: “I was jealous. When I saw her heading back to her seat, I gave her a sign. She smiled, turned right back around, and met me in that same little room . . . I had to be quick and run back out on the field.”

Another time, “I was in the clubhouse, having one last quickie with this cute little Florida girl. Charlie Samuels, the equipment manager, came in and caught us. He just stood there shaking his head while I finished up.”

Now it’s quite obvious that Strawberry is using this “tell-all book” to make a few bucks at the expense of his former players and coaches, but there is something in the depths of profanity and debauchery in these quotes that has me giddy like a ten year old at a Harry Potter release party.  After reading “Boys Will Be Boys” I can’t wait to read about how the boys of summer got down.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to find my Darryl Strawberry rookie card and get it on eBay as soon as possible!

Source: [NY Post]

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Abreu signs one year deal with Angels

Posted by Justin Jacobs on February 11, 2009

So long Abreu, I'll have mediocre memories of you.

I don’t think I can remember a busier news day than today in quite some time.  Now I see, courtesy SI.com,  that Bobby Abreu has signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (is this right?) for $5 million and added incentives.  Five million is a far cry from the long term, 100 plus million dollar deal that Abreu was looking for.  It looks like right now is a great time to pick up some quality players for short term, low price contracts (See Adam Dunn signing).  The way the market has moved south, I’m really starting to wonder how much money Manny Ramirez is going to get.  Me thinks that he could end up with the Dodgers for less than that 1 year, 25 million dollar offer they sent his way a couple of weeks ago.  

Back to Abreu’s deal, I think five million is more than fair for a guy who had the following stats with the Yankees last year:

  • .296 BA
  • .371 OBP
  • .903 OPS
  • 100 R
  • 20 HR
  • 100 RBI
  • 20 SB

This signing doesn’t make the Angels favorites to win the World Series, but it is a smart move by an organization that just lost their biggest bat.  The biggest story in all of this has to be how much the market has moved over the course of this off-season.  Is the economy really so bad that players are being forced to sign these low contracts, or are the owners using the current ecominic shit storm to make some bargain deals.  I think it’s only a matter of time before everyone’s favorite players union steps in – I can’t wait!

Source: [SI.com]

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Roberto Alomar is a not a good human being

Posted by Justin Jacobs on February 11, 2009

 

Today has been a really creepy day in news, and here is Deadspin with a report on Roberto Alomar that is not helping to lift my spirits:

Weird story out of Brooklyn, as Ilya Dall, the ex-girlfriend of Roberto Alomar, is suing him for $15 million for having sex with her while knowing that he might have AIDS.

Roberto Alomar has AIDS? That’s news to many, apparently.

His lawyer, Charles Bach, would not say whether Alomar is HIV-positive. “We believe this is a totally frivolous lawsuit. These allegations are baseless,” Bach said. “He’s healthy and would like to keep his health status private. We’ll do our talking in court.”

Alomar’s father, Mets bench coach Sandy Alomar, said the claims were news to him. “That’s the first time we ever heard of that,” he said from Puerto Rico.

But Ilya Dall tells a tale of how she watched Alomar suffer from deteriorating health until, in February of 2006, his “skin had turned purple, he was foaming at the mouth and a spinal tap showed he had full-blown AIDS,” the suit says. That was four years after he had begun dating her.

From the New York Post:

Her suit does not claim that he knew he had AIDS when they were having unprotected sex — but he had reason to think he might because his doctors kept advising him to be tested. He procrastinated and told her he was disease free, the suit says. In 2004, she said, she noticed he had cold sores. The following year he was diagnosed with a blood disorder that’s linked to AIDS, the suit says.

Dall goes on to detail in the lawsuit, first obtained by the Daily News, that In April 2005, Alomar told her that he had been raped by two Mexican men when he was 17.

Dall said that Alomar was suffering from erectile dysfunction and confided “he was raped by two Mexican men after playing a ballgame in New Mexico or a Southwestern state when he was 17,” the suit says. It goes on to say that around the same time Alomar developed a persistent cough and was bedridden with extreme fatigue.

He developed thrush, a yeast infection, and was told by a doctor to take an HIV test — but refused, Dall claims. “I don’t have HIV,” he told her repeatedly, the suit charges.

This is just a weird month for baseball. But anyway, you can hardly blame Bud Selig for this one.

$15M Lawsuit Claims Ex-Met Roberto Alomar Had Sex Knowing He Had AIDS [New York Daily News]

Alomar In AIDS Shock [New York Post]

via Roberto Alomar: Does Roberto Alomar Have AIDS? Girlfriend’s Lawsuit Says Yes.

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