I'm on my way to a wedding at the moment so I can't really get too deep into this, but it appears that the White Sox have gotten Jake Peavy after all.
The trade deadline was pushed to the back burner for a bit on Thursday afternoon when the news broke that Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were two of the 103 players who tested positive for steroids back in 2003. Obviously with everything that's come out about baseball players and steroids in the last few years, this story didn't really surprise anybody....
Being a Cleveland Indians fan can't be the easiest thing right now. As if the fact that the Tribe are scuffling their way through another long season at 42-60 isn't enough, a familiar feeling crept into the collective psyche of Indians fans everywhere on Wednesday afternoon.
Well this isn't the blockbuster trade we're all still waiting for, but Boston and Chicago decided to swap a pair of Sox on Tuesday afternoon. The Red Sox have agreed to send veteran Mark Kotsay and the great cash considerations to the White Sox for outfielder Brian Anderson...
The Minnesota Twins returned home on Monday night after a 4-6 road trip in which they lost four of their last five, and the return home paid off with a 4-3 win over the White Sox. Still, while the win was nice, odds are that the Twins clubhouse wasn't in the greatest mood afterward...
A crazy thing happened this weekend. Terrell Owens said something that I completely agreed with. It was quite a shock to my system, and even though I know the only reason Owens came out publicly with his opinion was to get the spotlight on him -- especially as he's taping his reality show -- it doesn't change the fact that what he said was dead on.Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games -- if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams already have said they would not.Vick will also be mentored by Tony Dungy -- if Goodell has become the vengeful God of the NFL, then Dungy is quickly becoming the league's Jesus -- while going through all of this. Essentially what he's gotten is a suspension with a max of five games, but it's also possible that if he does everything he's supposed to do, he'll be available to play in week one.
"Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited," Goodell said in a letter to Vick. "I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you and to dedicate yourself to rebuilding your life and your career. If you do this, the NFL will support you."
Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19).
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League," Vick said through his agent, Joel Segal. "I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given.
"As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward.
"Again, I want to thank the commissioner for the chance to return to the game I love and the opportunity to become an example of positive change."
Now while I'd like to publicly flog Goodell for his decision, I'm not going to. Personally I don't think that Vick should be suspended at all after already doing the time for his crime. It's just I'm also aware that there are plenty of people around there who do not agree with me on this, and in fact, think he should be banned from the NFL for life.
On Thursday FanHouse's Matt Snyder ranked the ten worst deadline deals of this decade, and at number three on the list was the Atlanta Braves getting Mark Teixeira from Texas for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Beau Jones and Matt Harrison. There was some debate amongst FanHouse writers on how to rank this deal, but in the end the majority felt third was just fine, with the possibility for it to climb the ranks in the future...
When Luis Gonzalez hit a bloop single off of Mariano Rivera in game seven of the 2001 World Series to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a title, he reached a hero status in Arizona that will likely never dissolve. Eight years later with Gonzalez's professional baseball career over, he may not be cashing in on that affection in Arizona...
Well if we could brush aside the magnificence that was Mark Buehrle's perfect game today, there is other news on the Chicago sports scene today, and it's not nearly as good.Hossa, whom the Hawks signed to a 12-year, $62.8 million free-agent contract July 1, has a small tear in his right shoulder that he played with last season while as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said Wednesday that he hoped Hossa could rehab the shoulder and avoid surgery that will sideline the 30-year-old for the next four months.
"Marian's injury did not respond sufficiently to our non-operative treatment over the last three weeks so we have collectively decided [Thursday] to go ahead with the surgery," Bowman said. "Marian is a franchise player and we want what is best for him and the Blackhawks long-term. This was a mutual decision and one we feel very confident is the right one."
"Marian has a small right rotator cuff tear that he has been battling for a while and because he is not at 100 percent with non-operative treatment he is undergoing operative treatment [Friday]," Hawks team physician Michael Terry said. "With this type of tear we anticipate a four-month post-operative recovery period, after which we expect his shoulder to be 100 percent. This is the best thing for Marian and his career long term."
Anyone think it's a coincidence that the Hawks announced this right after Buehrle's perfect game? Hoping to get it buried for a bit, perhaps?
Now finding out that your big free agent prize is going to miss the first few months of the season before he even dons the sweater is never a good thing, but really, I don't think it's that big of a deal either. I mean, we still have him for 11 years and 10 months afterwards right?
Generally when you get to this point in the baseball season as a player, whether you're on a disabled list or not, you aren't healthy. You may not have a broken bone, but odds are when you wake up in the morning your body feels like you just fell out of a fifth story window. It's just something that can be avoided over the course of a 162-game schedule...
Back at the turn of the century, Jim Parque was a young pitcher on a White Sox team that was pretty mediocre at the time. They did win the AL Central back in 2000 after going 95-67, and that was also Parque's best season in the Majors, as he went 13-6 with a 4.28 ERA.I'm Jim Parque, former major-league pitcher, and I took human growth hormone.That's only the beginning of what turns out to be a rather interesting read by Parque, and a well-written one at that. Which isn't that surprising because he wrote a regular column in the Sun-Times -- at least I think it was the Sun-Times, may have been the Tribune -- while in town.
I know that in admitting to this, I am a cheater, a villain and nothing more than a drug user in the eyes of the media and some fans.
I cannot and will not ever speak for other players, as this is my story, my life and my career. The decisions I made are mine to deal with, and I take full responsibility for them. They are decisions I'm not proud of, decisions that haunt me to this day, but decisions you might have made if presented with the same circumstances and pressures.
For those of you who would have made the right decision, you have my utmost respect, and we all could learn from your strength and integrity.
But in making this admittance, I am opening up the real Jim Parque. I wasn't paid for this story, nor am I looking to benefit from it. I live a simple life in Washington state -- hunting, fishing, hacking away on the golf course and coaching kids. The days of pitching in front of 50,000 fans are long gone, but I am content being a husband and father to my two beautiful daughters. Through my story, I hope fans will understand the man behind the uniform, the regret I live with every day and the lesson kids can learn.
With the San Diego Padres falling further and further out of contention with each passing day -- they're currently 23 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West -- it's clear that they will be sellers at the trade deadline this season. Everybody knows that they'd have loved to move Jake Peavy by now and would have if not for his no-trade clause and ankle injury...
You know, there have been a lot of things the Blackhawks haven't exactly been upfront about lately. Most notably, the removal of Dale Tallon as general manager in favor of Stan Bowman, and why the change was made -- FanHouse had a nice talk with Stan by the way -- which has caused some doubt about the organization amongst its newly resurgent fan base.A source close to the situation confirmed Tuesday night that Hossa has a shoulder or rotator-cuff problem that might require surgery.
A Hawks spokesman said the club was aware of Hossa's injury on July 1 when they signed him, and the team will continue to monitor Hossa's problem. They are hoping surgery isn't necessary, but that decision will be made by Hossa and doctors.
The severity of the injury still is not known. Surgery, if it's done soon, might only keep Hossa out of the Hawks' lineup until December.
The injury is believed to have occured during the playoffs, possibly in the Western Conference finals against the Hawks. Hossa had no goals in the Red Wings' seven-game Stanley Cup Finals loss to Pittsburgh.
Well that's just awesome. The man who was brought in as a better all around player and more durable replacement than the oft-injured Martin Havlat was hurt when the team signed him. Granted, the injury could turn out to be nothing major at all and Hossa may turn out to be just fine to start the season, but why couldn't the Hawks just say all this when they announced the signing?
A simple "We're aware of his shoulder injury but we're confident he'll be fine in time for the season" would have sufficed. Instead we all just have another reason to doubt the team's front office. It's as though they're trying to erase all the goodwill they've created over the last couple of seasons.
Last night's White Sox game was a pretty tough one to swallow. After seeing Bobby Jenks walk along the tightrope in his last few save opportunities, he finally lost his balance on Tuesday and the Sox blew a 2-1 lead and lost to the Rays 3-2. Of course, the person I felt the worst for was White Sox starter Clayton Richard.
In what is no doubt another example of Ozzie Guillen's racist tendencies, the White Sox have announced that they've sent Aaron Poreda back down to Charlotte and have called up pitcher Carlos Torres to join the roster.
On Monday night things started out well enough for the Cincinnati Reds in their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The first three batters of the night all reached base and the Reds took a 2-0 lead before Brandon Phillips came to the plate with Joey Votto on third and nobody out...
ESPN.com writer Gene Wojciechowski was in Scotland this week covering the British Open and while the storylines of Tiger Woods missing the cut and Tom Watson blowing his chance to make history grabbed most of the attention, I find the story of Gene's flight home to be much more interesting.Is it a good thing when you smell something burning in the cabin of United Flight 949 from London's Heathrow Airport on its way to Chicago? And I'm pretty sure we passengers weren't supposed to hear someone on the crew -- either a flight attendant or a member of the cockpit crew -- accidentally yell on the intercom system, "We need to go fast!''Pretty terrifying stuff to read, especially as someone who has only experienced a little turbulence while flying in his life. To be told that we would need to make an emergency landing when the only thing you can see below you is the Atlantic Ocean cannot be very comforting.
By then the TV monitors had fizzled out. And the lights weren't working. And the electric motors in our seats didn't function. And the flight attendants had quit telling us that they'd have the TVs working "in just a few minutes."
Instead, they were in full lock-down mode. We were told our United flight had an "electrical problem." More like a burning problem, if you asked me.
At that point the flight on the Boeing 767 from London to Chicago was a couple of hours old. We were over water, and then an announcement was made that the plane was being diverted to Iceland for an emergency landing. What?
The attendant told the 178 passengers to review the emergency instructions located in the seat pockets. The last thing I heard was how to grab my ankles and put my head down when the plane hit the runway.
"We'll tell you to 'brace,'" said the attendant, his voice terse but professional.
When the White Sox made the decision to activate Carlos Quentin on Monday, they had a pretty tough decision to make when deciding who Quentin would replace on the roster. Essentially the decision boiled down to which player's presence on the roster would hurt the team less? Dewayne Wise, or Brian Anderson?
When the White Sox chose to send down Brian Anderson instead of Dewayne Wise after activating Carlos Quentin on Monday, it seemed to confirm what a lot of people have thought for a while now: Ozzie Guillen just doesn't like Brian Anderson."What he needs to do is start playing better,'' Guillen said. ''It's been four years, and I've got a lot of e-mails from people calling me racist and stuff because 'I don't like Anderson.' Well, when you don't like the players, they don't last too long. When I don't like one player, believe me, he'll be out of here in a hurry because I've got the power.All of which is true. Anderson had a chance every spring to take the centerfield job, and he never did it. Then when he has gotten playing time he hasn't capitalized. Yes, he's provided some terrific defense, and while I think that's reason enough to keep him around -- as Scott Podsednik showed us on Carl Crawford's inside-the-park home run Monday night, center could turn out to be an adventure for him -- the fact of the matter is that Dewayne Wise just doesn't have any options left.
''If I tell [general manager Ken Williams], 'This guy isn't good for the ballclub,' Kenny will do everything he can to get him out of here. If people think we don't like Brian, yes, we do. Yes, we do. I think Brian hasn't produced like we thought. We've given him four years in a row to produce. We gave him a shot to be the every-day center fielder, and that didn't work. Since I've been managing the ballclub, we've given him a legit shot. Two months ago, I said, 'He's going to be my center fielder every day,' and he couldn't do it. Some people think it's my fault, and I hate him, but I have to make the best lineup, and he didn't perform.''
The trading deadline is only a week and a half away and while some teams are working behind the scenes to swing deals to get themselves better, there are ways a team can feel like it's made a trade without actually doing so. Like, say, bringing back a big part of their lineup who has been sidelined for most of the season with an injury so far...
I'm sure you've heard about it by now, but just in case you haven't, last week a video of Erin Andrews surfaced on the internet. The video was of Ms. Andrews completely nude in a hotel room and was shot through a peephole that somebody had put in the wall.
The Angels came into the 2009 season fully intending on using Vladimir Guerrero more as a designated hitter than a right fielder. This was due to the fact that at 34 years of age, Guerrero was a lot more likely to be injured if he had to play in the field every day, so regardless of whether he liked it or not this was Vlad's new reality...
Those who follow sports learned a valuable lesson this week. After watching Tom Watson nearly win the British Open before fading down the stretch and finally in a playoff with Stewart Cink, we learned that sometimes age is nothing but a number. We learned that just because somebody is older, that doesn't mean they can't compete on the big stage....
The 2009 season was supposed to be the one where the Kansas City Royals were able to compete in what was viewed as a weak AL Central division. Things started out nicely enough with the Royals getting off to an 18-11 start and holding first place while Zack Greinke took the baseball world by storm. Since then, however, things haven't been going very well for the Royals....
With the race in the AL Central so tight it's entirely possible that the team who will emerge victorious will be the one whose bullpen does the best job over the second half of the season. On Friday night, this was not the Detroit Tigers....
While rumors continue to swirl about Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay and whether or not he's going to be traded, there hasn't been much said about whether or not the White Sox or Cubs are getting involved. I know I'd like the Sox to be involved, but generally the only thing I've heard come from them is that they're not sure they can afford Halladay.ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick is hearing that White Sox GM Kenny Williams is making a stealth run at Roy Halladay.As I've said before, as long as Gordon Beckham is off limits, I'm more than happy hearing about the Sox going after Halladay. Now like Crasnick said, I'm not sure the package of Poreda, Richard, Viciedo and Flowers will be enough either, but it's nice to know Kenny's willing to find out.
"I definitely think Kenny is involved," said one AL executive. "Let's put it this way: I would be very surprised if he's not."
But the White Sox may not be able to add payroll due to a drop in attendance, and their farm system may not have the kind of talent the Blue Jays want in return. It's believed that infielder Gordon Beckham is off limits, and the Sox just sent first base prospect Brandon Allen to Arizona for reliever Tony Pena. A package centered around Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard, Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers probably isn't going to get it done. Don't forget, however, that the ever-aggressive Williams nearly acquired Jake Peavy in May.
If you're a Cardinals, Phillies, Dodgers or Rangers fan, I have some good news for you. Actually, it's good news to anybody who loves baseball but doesn't root for the Red Sox or Yankees. While the Blue Jays still seem intent on moving their ace, Roy Halladay, before the July 31st trade deadline, it's becoming apparent that it won't be to either Boston or New York...
Do you ever get the feeling that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa just really needs a hug? It seems that he's always mad at somebody or some thing. Whether he's suing Twitter because somebody started a fake account in his name, complaining about the Cubs or feuding with former players like Jim Edmonds, the man just seems to have a chip on his shoulder. I'm actually waiting for the day when he calls out the sun for having an east coast bias for rising in New York an hour before it does in St. Louis...
As Chicago Bears fans we're all pretty much trained since birth to hate all things Green Bay Packers. I can't even see the colors green and gold without my hands clenching up a little bit. Whenever I see Brett Favre or hear his name the veins in my neck start to stick out.
Just. Die. Already.Frankly, the only thing about that entire quote that even remotely upset me in anyway was when Driver said "you're going to have to need." That's just horrible command of the English language."I think Chicago did a great job, and Lovie Smith went out there and got Jay Cutler to lead this team, but one thing they don't have is they don't have the receiver group," Driver said. "They have the running back, they have the offensive line and they have a great defense.
"But you're going to have to need receivers to make plays down the field, and they don't have that right now."
Driver didn't say, but was probably thinking."Oh man, the Bears suck. So they got Jay Cutler. Big deal, he sucks! He was 17-20 as a starter in Denver, we're supposed to be scared of that? And that defense? That defense can't even stop their own semen from infiltrating some random whore's uterus, and I'm supposed to worry about them stopping me?I'M SO PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW! NOBODY TALKS ABOUT DA COACH THAT WAY! I'M GONNA KILL YOU, DONALD DRIVER!
"Come on. They can't stop the green and gold, baby!
"Oh yeah, one more thing before I go. MIKE DITKA IS GAY. Yeah, I said it. Why you think he smokes all those cigars? It ain't the taste. He doesn't need Levitra because he has erectile dysfunction. He needs it because his wife isn't a man."
Over the last few years as blogs have entered the mainstream for people seeking information on the internet, there's been a lot of controversy over what's kosher and what isn't with blogs. Whether people are getting upset about a blog saying they think a player may be using steroids without concrete proof, or posting pictures of athletes out at a bar with a bottle of Jack Daniels in their hand and a bevy of beauties on their arm, there are plenty of examples of blogs dancing back and forth over the line of what's responsible reporting and irresponsible...
The rumors have been circulating for a while now, but on Wednesday morning the Philadelphia Phillies made it official and announced that they've signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez. As for when Martinez will make his first start in a Phillies uniform, well, we're going to have to wait at least fifteen more days to find out...
Ever since news broke late Monday night that the Blackhawks were replacing Dale Tallon as general manager with Stan Bowman, former Blackhawk Martin Havlat has been a Tweeting machine on his Twitter page. He's been letting his thoughts be heard in 140 character or less bursts.I guess everyone saw what happened to Dale....yes, the story is starting to come out but it's just the tip of the iceberg.
Lot's of people are telling me to stay quiet but shouldn't the fans know the truth? It's your loyalty, season ticket money and emotions here
What do you people think? Interested to know your thoughts.
Just so everyone begins to understand, Dale was like a 2nd father to me.
Want to be clear. I loved my time in Chicago but moved on. Very excited about Minny,going to give everything I have to the Wild.
"My negotiation with Chicago was not between Dale and my agent, it was between Dale and McDonough," Havlat said "Why? Because McDonough couldn't stand that Dale was so successful and getting the credit for building the Hawks from a last place team to making the Conference Final in three short years. Remember, we were also the youngest team in the NHL last year."Well then.
"I was too closely identified with Dale," he continued. "McDonough knew long ago he was going to fire Dale. He wanted someone he could claim as his own He wanted to stand up at the convention and claim credit for signing this guy or that guy."
Havlat's candor won't be easily accepted by the Blackhawks, and there may be claims of this being nothing more than the backlash of a jilted player, but Havlat's appreciation for Dale Tallon is what drove him to speak up mere hours after Tallon's firing was confirmed.
"Dale and I were very close and I stand for loyalty. The players loved Dale and they are with him. Every single player on that team is with Dale. I still talk to the guys all the time, hockey players know a phony when they see one."
"I was part of a very special team but that team doesn't exist anymore. I am really disappointed that Rocky Wirtz would let something like this happen," Havlat told TSN.ca.
Now I can't remember what Eddie O. said word for word because I only heard it the once and they haven't replayed it, but to paraphrase, here you go. Basically Olczyk said that Havlat came to Chicago as an extremely overpaid player who had trouble staying healthy. The Hawks gave him a chance here, and he was hurt all the time except last season, which happened to be a contract year for Havlat.
Olczyk then went on to say that if Havlat loved Chicago so much he could have just signed a one-year deal with the Blackhawks to prove to the team he could stay healthy and that he wanted to be here.
Instead he bristled at the idea and took a deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Like I said earlier, I'm not sure how to feel about this thing. While I think there's some truth to what Havlat is saying, I think a lot of it is just sour grapes. At the same time, I don't really buy the story the Blackhawks are selling either.
Listening to their answers during yesterday's press conference, there were some things said that seemed to contradict other things that were said in the same press conference. I mean, in one sentence McDonough said that if the restricted free agent fiasco hadn't happened, Tallon would "probably" still be the general manager.
Then a minute later he was saying the blame for the offer sheets laid with the entire organization, but ultimately, himself.
So frankly I don't think either side is being completely honest with us about it, and if I'm going to be completely honest about it, I'll just say that I can't wait for next season to start so the Blackhawks can start winning some games and we can all just move on.
The last year has easily been the best year for the Chicago Blackhawks as a team and an organization in a long, long time. Not only was the team very good this season with a young nucleus of players that reached the Western Conference Finals, but they also led the NHL in attendance after playing in front of sparse crowds at the United Center for a while now.CSN's Josh Mora is reporting that the Blackhawks have fired GM Dale Tallon and an official announcement will be made on Tuesday.While I was very surprised to hear this news, at the same time, I'm not all that shocked by it either. When the team brought Scotty Bowman in last offseason to be senior advisor of hockey operations, you kind of got the feeling that Tallon's time was running out. After all Scotty's son Stan had been assistant GM for years, and I figured he was going to get a shot to run the team on his own with his father around.
Tallon has recently come under fire when the team failed to get qualifying offers out in time to several restricted free agents including Kris Versteeg.
Stan Bowman will replace Tallon as GM.
I remember after Tyrone Willingham was fired by Notre Dame back in 2004 the frenzy that followed surrounding the firing, and who would be replacing him in South Bend. I had one name in mind for who I wanted to take over the program.Urban Meyer spent an hour of his Saturday at the 15th Bob Dooley Invitational, a tournament I host to benefit STOP! Children's Cancer. He also kicked off the tournament with a speech about family, the SEC and Tim Tebow.Now for all of you Notre Dame fans who want Meyer in South Bend as well, don't worry, this probably won't actually end any of the speculation. Especially if Notre Dame gets off to a bad start this year.
Midway through the talk, Meyer was talking about the "nonsense" that came up again last week when a column by Paul Finebaum in the Mobile paper indicated (again) that Meyer is leaving Florida for Notre Dame after this season.
He turned to me and asked. "Is it OK to make this announcement here?"
I knew what he was going to say because he said something similar when the speculative story surfaced three weeks ago.
Meyer turned back to the golfers and said, "I'm not going to Notre Dame. Ever. I'm going to be the coach at Florida for a long time, as long as they want me."
He turned back to me and told me to put that in the paper, then to three other writers playing in the tournament and told them to print it.
