The Final Score

Asdrubal Cabrera, Grady Sizemore and belly buttons

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:20:45 -0500

I used to think that Asdrubal Cabrera was the best reason to listen to Cleveland Indians games on Sirius/XM. Then I heard this commercial (Somewhat paraphrased, as I wasn't going to take notes while driving): Kidney donors: The Cleveland Clinic now offers scar-free kidney removal through a minimally invasive procedure in which the kidney is removed through the navel without leaving a scar. Your innie becomes an outie." And Grady Sizemore singles to right. I'm not making this up. - Chicago Norm

The Stanley Cup is coming to Long Island!

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:04:46 -0500

Just for a day. Billy Guerin of the champion Pittsburgh Penguins is bringing it here to his Long Island home so his kids and their friends can play with it. And then it goes away. When will it come back? (Story from The Republican via Chris Botta's blog.)

Fred Funk still talking about rowdy fans at Bethpage

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:49:53 -0500

Remember how Fred Funk didn't seem too pleased that fans at Bethpage's tenth tee made fun of his expletive-sounding last name? Yesterday he was at it again, talking about fans funk.. err... messing up his name at the Washington Post Sports Bog.

Hmmm . . . Joba as a starter reminds me of . . .

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:20:04 -0500

Goose Gossage as a starter: W-L 9-22 ERA 4.49 Starts 37 Innings per start 6 2/3 IP 252.2 H 262 BB 104 K 162 ERA as reliever: 2.77 Obviously he was much better as a reliever. Hall of Fame better. Joba Chamberlain as a starter: W-L 7-3 ERA 3.38 Starts 27 Innings per start 5 1/3 IP 146.1 H 139 BB 65 K 147 ERA as reliever: 1.53 Obviously he was much better as a reliever. Hall of Fame better.

Brandi Chastain gets her bra back

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:35:21 -0500

The most famous undergarment in women's sports was returned to its rightful owner Tuesday after months of legal maneuvering. When the short-lived Sports Museum of America in New York City filed for bankruptcy this spring, the feds seized hundreds of items, including loaned memorabilia like Brandi Chastain's famous sports bra from the 1999 World Cup. Though she's not quite sure where her iconic sports bra has been the last couple of months, Chastain told USA Today in a text that she was thrilled when it arrived in the mail this week. "It's arrived!!!!" Chastain wrote in a text message, attaching a picture of the bra seen 'round the world. "Here she is." Barbara Barker, aka meanbarb on Twitter, with AP photo

Wimbledon officials use babe factor

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:53:42 -0500

It takes more than a hot tennis game for women tennis players to score a center court match at Wimbledon. An official for the All England Club admitted in the Daily Mail that "looks are a factor" when it comes to deciding which women get to play on the center court. For example, thanks to the babe factor, Maria Kirilenko of Russia (pictured in top photo) scored a center court match, despite her No. 58 ranking. Meanwhile, Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is ranked No. 5, did not make the center-court cut. Barbara Barker, aka meanbarb on twitter, with two ap photos

Impersonating Mets, Yankees players batting stances

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:50:43 -0500

This guy is pretty good. First, the Mets: And now the Yankees:

Mortgage crisis hits NBA

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:57:29 -0500

Eddy Curry is showing us all that it's not just the average Joe who is struggling to make his mortgage payments these days. According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, Curry's multi-million home in suburban Chicago is in foreclosure. Curry and his wife took out a $3,719,316 mortgage in July of 2006. Curry, who will make $10 million next season, has back payments of $217,502.82 due on the mortgage. Barbara Barker, aka meanbarb on Twitter, with a photo from the Chicago Sun-Times

Lighthouse moving closer to approval?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:01:57 -0500

Well, Sen. Chuck Schumer threw his considerable political weight behind Charles Wang's plan for the refurbished Coliseum yesterday and promised to help get federal bucks in a news conference with Wang, Tom Suozzi and Kate Murray. Here are two sobering paragraphs, first from Eden Laikin's news story and then Joye Brown's column. Paragraphs like these make me think we are still going to be talking about whether the Lighthouse is going to be built in 2015: Murray stopped short of throwing her support behind the Lighthouse, but she did thank Schumer for his efforts. "Whether the Lighthouse Project gets built or not," she said, drivers in the area at rush hour know "we need those federal dollars." For the first time in many years, representatives of three layers of government stood shoulder to shoulder supporting the idea. They weren't just talking, mind you, but everyone except Murray was actively embracing the Lighthouse project, the fate of which likely will be decided by October.

Remember Christian Laettner wanted to buy a team?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:51:38 -0500

Well, I don't think it's going to happen. Back in February when I spoke with Laettner, I asked him about his aspirations to buy an NBA team with former Duke teammate Brian Davis, and he said, ""We can't pull it off yet, but we're trying to get everything set up, we're trying to get our money lined up..." Today, the Charlotte Observer sheds light on the phrase "trying to get our money lined up." (via TheBigLead) The duo, which led a $170 million effort to convert an abandoned tobacco factory into a thriving mix of restaurants and offices and apartments in the heart of the Bull City, faces at least five lawsuits for failing to pay more than $6 million to friends and associates. Meanwhile, you learn something new every day. Just googled Christian Laettner and found out he's in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Other esteemed members include Ron Jaworski, Marv Levy, Pat Lafontaine, Warren Spahn and OJ.

Minor-league manager goes a bit bonkers

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:47:31 -0500

You might say Rome manager Randy Ingle is not happy with the umpire in this video.

Is Ricky Rubio the missing Jonas Brother?

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:09:54 -0500

Ricky Rubio is considered by some to be the best guard to come out of Europe since Drazen Petrovic. Off the court, however, the player the Timberwolves made the No. 5 pick in last week's NBA draft looks an awful lot like someone your preteen would have a picture of hanging in her bedroom. Barbara Barker, aka meanbarb on Twitter, with two AP photos

On Mariano Rivera's 500th save

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:16:10 -0500

Mariano Rivera notched his 500th save last night, as you probably know. To commemorate the moment, I've been messing around online looking at info from the date when he got his first save. May 17, 1996. Check this out. * It was an 8-5 win over the CALIFORNIA Angels. * Andy Pettitte was the winning pitcher. Jim Abbott was the loser. * Lee Smith, third on all-time saves list with 478, pitched an inning for the Angels. * Joe Girardi caught for the Yankees. * Only players in that game still active: Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, Garret Anderson. * Alex Rodriguez hit his 12th career HR that day in Seattle's 14-13 loss in Baltimore. * Others who notched saves that day: Todd Worrell (LAD), Todd Jones (HOU), Bruce Ruffin (COL), Turk Wendell (CHC), Jeff Montgomery (KC), Jose Mesa (CLE).

John Tavares claims to like Mets, doesn't like Yankees

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:48:08 -0500

How do we know? Because we asked him.

Michael Jackson taught Michael Jordan to moonwalk

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:35:48 -0500

"Jam," 1992. I forgot all about this video until today, when I was reading about Michael Jackson's life. Here's the video on YouTube, and if you're only going to watch a little, skip to the last minute and half. That's when you'll see Jackson showing Jordan how to dance, including, yes, the moonwalk. I remember the video, but not that last scene. Thinking about 1992 is making me thirsty for Crystal Pepsi.