How To Properly Run a Athlete/Coach Out of Town

A player or a coach's end is almost always painful, especially when they've been with a team for a long time and have been successful. How can they not be painful especially in the athlete's case? The end of the line on a career they've been working at for 20-25 years. That has to be painful. I couldn't imagine having to stop my career when I'm between the ages of 25-42. What do you do the rest of your life?

What makes ends so painful in sports is almost all of them end ugly. You see it almost every year with athletes who are at the end of their line with a team. Hurt feelings and bruised egos are almost always the norm instead of the happy retirement like you saw with Mariano Rivera.

Look at the end of the line with Jimmy Rollins and the Philadelphia Phillies. They're going to run him out of town because he doesn't "hustle". He's being badmouthed by his manager and Larry Bowa because I'm sure both Bowa and Sandberg busted their ass down the line on every hit. Leave it up to the Phillies at being incompetent at running a player out of town the proper way.

If the Phillies really wanted to run Rollins out of town the right way, they need some tips. Consider this the proper way to run an athlete/coach out of town.

Float rumors to the press that they have a drug problem: Remember when Terry Francona left the Red Sox? Remember how ugly that was? The Red Sox floated rumors to the Boston Globe that Francona's managing abilities were affected by prescription drug abuse. Seriously this actually happened. Now that's how you run someone out of town, Phillies. Float a rumor to the press that Rollins has a drug problem and that he would be better off on a different team.

Float rumors that a divorce is affecting Rollins: Is Rollins married or have kids? It doesn't matter. Float rumors that he's going through a nasty divorce and custody settlement as justification for jettisoning a player.

Simply cut him and then lock the doors: The White Sox basically did this to Carlton Fisk. Simply just cut Rollins, lock the doors, and pretend he never existed, Philly.

Float rumors that he's a terrible clubhouse presence: Basically what the Phillies are doing now but they're hiding behind the "hustle" argument. Claim that he gambles massive amounts of money in the clubhouse and that you don't want your younger players influenced by that. That's more believable and less infuriating than he doesn't "hustle".

Float rumors that he hates 'Rocky': Really want to anger the fanbase, claim Rollins hates 'Rocky'.

Whatever happens or however the Phillies run Rollins out of town it's going to be ugly, painful, and bitter. Endings almost always are and this case is no different.

Everything Else I'll Be Watching Tonight Besides Phillies-Giants

We're a long ways away from the 2010 NLCS. In 2010 the Giants-Phillies fought for the right to go to the world series. In 2013, the Giants-Phillies are fighting for a top 10 draft pick. Tonight's starting pitchers have a combined 6 wins and 9 ERA (Zito and Lannan). Other teams are looking at both the Giants-Phillies and seeing what good players they have to make a trade offer. Or both teams could just keep their best players that are trade chips because they're dumb. Anyways I won't be watching tonight's game and instead will be watching these other programs:

- Other baseball games (specifically Pirates-Cardinals)
- Seinfeld
- A replay of the Valdosta St. vs Winston-Salem Division 2 football championship
- Leverage
- Inside the Actors Studio
- Lonesome Dove
- William & Kate: A Fairytale Wedding
- The Young and the Restless
- Deadliest Catch
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Space Jam
and
- The Dr. Oz Show

I think you get the picture on how bad both of these teams are.

Anatomy Of a Blown Save

Jonathan Papelbon recently hasn't helped his trade stock for himself or the Phillies. Papelbon has blown four out of his last five save opportunities including a frustrating blown save last night that would have given Cliff Lee the victory. And this is how Papelbon blew the save: 

First Cliff Lee gave up two base runners to start the ninth. Charlie Manuel and Bruce Bochy last night were competing to see who could leave their starting pitcher in longer and then blow the victory before pulling the pitcher. Manuel won by one inning. 

Papelbon came in and immediately gave up a hit to Kyle Blanks to make the score 3-2. He then hit Jesus with a pitch and got Yasmani Grandal to ground into a double play with Blanks moving over to third. Then just Papelbon's luck he allowed Blanks to score the tying run on a passed ball. A blown save. Take a look at his chart via Brooks Baseball. 

#3 is the passed ball. Mark Kotsay swung at the pitch but because he plays for the Padres of course that got by Carlos Ruiz. You see that's how the Padres beat teams. They single and bloop you to death and then finally kill you with a passed ball on the one swinging strike induced by Papelbon. 

Someone named Justin De Fratus eventually gave the Padres the victory when he allowed Kyle Blanks to single in the game winning run. De Fratus is from Oxnard, California so my guess is that he's actually a spy for the Padres because I've never heard of him before. 

And that is the anatomy of a blown save. 

Giants at Phillies Live Blog

This day has been nuts in the bay area. It looks like the Giants are trading the Golden Gate Bridge, Zach Wheeler, and Gary Brown for Carlos Beltran, Coney Island hot dogs, and two NYC taxi cab drivers. Tim Lincecum is still sick so Matt Cain starts tonight instead and Ryan Vogelsong could go tomorrow. Tonight's Giants lineup is proof that Bochy loves Aaron Rowand for some reason and why the Giants need Beltran. So tonight's Phillies-Giants game should be interesting. Which is why I'm live blogging it.

I didn't even mention that Frank Gore is holding out.

The Phillies Now Have the 2nd Best Rotation in Baseball

If there was one thing that pissed me off the most about the 2010 MLB postseason was this notion that the Phillies had the best rotation in baseball. I thought to myself what is the Giants rotation? Chopped liver? You're saying Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Jonathon Sanchez aren't as good as Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt? In the 2010 NLCS the Giants proved not only did they have a better rotation than the Phillies, but their bullpen is also better. So to steal a line from Rex Ryan, "excuse me if I don't bend over and kiss the Phillies rings." Yes the Phillies signed Cliff Lee last night, the same Cliff Lee who lost to the Giants twice in the World Series.

Sorry if I'm not exactly shaking in my boots. The Phillies haven't exactly improved themselves anywhere else in their lineup. Raul Ibanez is still the starting left fielder. They lost their most patient hitter in Jayson Werth. Brad Lidge is still their closer and their bullepn isn't as deep as the Giants.

Back to their rotation though, all the Phillies pitchers are over 30-years old. Only Hamels is in his twenty's. Now look at the Giants rotation. Their four best pitchers, Lincecum/Cain/Bumgarner/Sanchez are all younger than 28-years old. So the Giants rotation is younger and has postseason experience. The core of the Giants rotation hasn't even hit their primes yet. So excuse me for not bowing down to the Phillies and proclaiming their rotation the best in baseball. They aren't.

And remember the Giants lineup, the same lineup that couldn't hit, beat Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt, and Lee five times in the postseason including two victories against Lee in the World Series.

So congrats Phillies on having the 2nd best rotation in baseball. Now if the Phillies trade for Evan Longoria or some sort of hitter, then I'll be worried about them. Now excuse me, I have a 2010 World Series Champions San Francisco Giants DVD to watch.

NLCS Q&A With A Phillies Fan

With the 2010 NLCS looming between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants, Phillies fan JFein and Giants fan 49er16 thought it would be a good idea to exchange questions about each other's team. Below are JFein's answers to 49er16's questions about the Phillies. For 49er16's answers to JFein's about the Giants, click here.

Q. How has the City of Philadelphia and the outside areas connected to this Phillies team? And if the Phillies win another world series, where does this team rank compared to other Philly teams?

They have certainly connected to this team. By a slim margin, a Phillies playoff game on TBS outrated a Philadelphia Eagles football game on NBC. While probably a large product of the bandwagon, Philadelphia has connected to this team. One Philly skyscraper even lights up with a Phillies logo. If this team wins the World Series, they will probably be considered by most as the greatest Phillies team of all time.

Q. Who is the most important Phillies player for this series?

Can I give you three? Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt. If the Phillies are going to win this series, those three are going to have to pitch to their potential. Halladay and Oswalt may be the bigger names, but don’t nap on Cole Hamels. He is having the best year of his career thus far. After having a huge BABIP problem in 2009 where pretty much every meaningful stat was the same as 2008, he has learned a cut fastball from Roy Halladay, improved his own fastball by making it faster than ever before, and has become the lefty ace of this 3-headed monster.

Q. How good has the Phillies bullpen been all year? Is Brad Lidge back to his 08 form or 09 form, when he walked the tight rope?

The Phillies bullpen is a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.

Okay, that’s only partially true. Contrary to what your favorite recent Yahoo! column on the Phillies suggests, the back-end of the Phillies bullpen is the strong part of the bullpen. When he is not kicking chairs at AT&T Park, Ryan Madson is a great bullpen pitcher and hopefully the Phillies future closer. Aspeaking of closer, Brad Lidge has seen a resurgence in 2010, though it is not through his 2008 form. In 2009, his fastball dipped from what it was in 2008. Lidge chalked it up to injuries and what not. In 2010, with no injury to speak of, his fastball still was not what it was at in 2008. What Lidge did following one blown save earlier in the year was he went back and essentially re-learned how to pitch. He re-learned location so he could rely less on his slider and since then, Brad Lidge has once again become a reliable closer in the 9th inning.

On the other hand, the Phillies middle relief is always an adventure. Jose Contreras has not been awful, but J.C. Romero’s wildness and Chad Durbin scare the poop out of me. Antonio Bastardo is promising, but he is still young and inexperienced as a relief pitcher.

Q. I noticed Jimmy Rollins has been dropped down the lineup. Is he hurt, struggling, or has the baseball gods finally punished a Bay Area boy for not playing for the Giants?

A combination of all 3. He’s been injured 3 or 4 times (I lost count) this season and watching him live at Game 2, he is clearly not playing at 100% now. I’ve never seen Jimmy Rollins as slow as he was running in my life. But at the same time, his batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, OPS, and wOBA have all been on a steady decline since the 2007 season, which is most obviously not the fault of injuries. The real reason for it: Baseball gods have injected him with the first ever known anti-steroids for not playing for the Giants.

Q. Antonio Bastardo, fake name? (Wait, that's a wasted question. Tell me the differences between Halladay and Cliff Lee besides they throw with different arms.)

Real full name: Antonio Francisco Bastardo.

Oh, that 2nd question is an easy one. Had Cliff Lee been pitching for the Phillies this season, he would have thrown 2 perfect games and another no-hitter that was not perfect for the sole reason that on the 27th out, Wilson Valdez was so excited about fielding the last out for a 3rd perfect game in the season he threw the ball over Ryan Howard’s head, into the stands, knocking out Tom McCarthy’s Mom.

In all seriousness, even though they are both great pitchers, they are 2 different pitchers with 2 different styles. Cliff Lee relies much more on his fastball and will try to strike you out. Halladay meanwhile will give you junk, junk, and more junk on the corners and aims to induce groundballs. His high strikeout numbers is merely a product of how good he is.

Q. Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels are a combined stats against the Giants this year: 1-5 with a 4.80 ERA. Does this worry you about this series?

Given the small sample size, it worries me not in the least. During the 2008 regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies were swept at Dodgers Stadium. Needless to say, the post-season was a very different story.

Q. Giants fans have mostly turned a 180 on Bruce Bochy. While there are some moves he makes that puzzles us, he has mostly earned our respect. What is the Phillies fans relationship like with Charlie Manuel? Was there a point when Phillies fans wanted Manuel fired? When was the point when fans opinions changed on Foghorn Manuel?

Bruce Bochy this year = Charlie Manuel circa 2007-2008. During the middle of the 2007 season, Phillies fans did not just want Manuel fired, they wanted a restraining order preventing him from ever entering within a 100 mile radius of the city. Then the 2007 September comeback happened. And he was loved. Then the Phillies played like a AAA team throughout all of inter-league play in 2008. People were then hoping he would accept a job as manager of the Nigerian National Team. Then the smaller 2008 comeback happened. Then Matt Stairs launched a baseball from Chavez Ravine to Andromeda. Then the Phillies won the World Series. And people loved Uncle Cholly again. Then the Phillies got back there in 2009. Now the Phillies are back in the NLCS in 2010. And now every Phillies fan believes Charlie Manuel to be the greatest manager in Philadelphia Phillies history. That does not mean he does not have detractors, though. People are always willing to criticize his bullpen management, his stubborn loyalty to some of “his guys” (Greg Dobbs still having a job, his constant sticking with Lidge despite crapfest after crapfest during 2009 and the early part of 2010), etc. But even if you ask those detractors who the greatest manager in Philadelphia Phillies history, the answer amongst all Phillies fans is unanimous: Charlie Manuel. (Full name: Charles Fuqua Manuel, Jr.).

Q. Would you rather see Pat Burrell or Darren Daulton naked with a 12-pack of beer?

The Bat. No question.

Video: Philly Fan Has Done It Again

I don't think I have to go over the history of antics by Philly fans. Just know Philly fans don't have the greatest reputation around the country. So it should come as no surprised that a fan ran onto the field at Citizens Bank Park last night during the Phillies-Braves game. Two catches, he was wearing an all-red costume and he was taken out by Braves outfielder Matt Diaz. Matt Diaz receives a B- for the trip. He should have used more leg.



(Via Crossing Broad) 

Self-Serving/NBA Finals, Game 6 Open Thread

The Celtics look to finish off the Lakers tonight and raise banner 18 to the rafters. The Celtics have to finish out tonight. They cannot let the Lakers tie the series and force a Game 7. The refs tonight favor the Celtics where the potential referee's for Game 7 favor the Lakers. For the Lakers, they cannot let the Celtics push them around like they have in Game 4 and 5. Gasol is going to have to have a big game to relieve the pressure from Kobe. Ron Artest has to be his old defensive stopper. Lamar Odom is going to have to give more off the bench for the Lakers. Gut feeling, the Celtics close out tonight. With Andrew Bynum hurt, the Celtics have taken complete advantage of the Lakers front court. I don't see where this will change tonight.

Tonight the Orioles and Giants also resume their series. So with Kris and myself having an vested interest in both teams, we will also be watching that game. Tonight also marks the return of the Phillies-Yankees series. The Phillies will be traveling to New York to play the team that beat them in last year's World Series. Tonight's pitching matchup: Halladay vs. Sabathia. Should be a great night of sports.

The Links: LeBron James' Disappearing Act

Penny Mathis to start the day..... David Wright not the same since being domed?...... MLB Network is looking at a ratings disaster..... Celtics dominate Cavaliers which could be LeBron's last game in Cleveland..... Texas high school basketball star confesses to identity fraud..... TNA wrestling now begging for viewership..... Scumbag Dave Bliss has made a return to Texas..... Carol Burnett to host SNL next?

LeBron James' moment of truth awaits (Yahoo Sports)

Eulogy for LeBron James premature (Fanhouse)

LeBron James' disappearing act (Sporting Blog)

Looks like Winnipeg won't be getting their team back (Winnipeg Free Press)

Keith Hernandez's mustache talks fantasy baseball (The Big Lead)

Where the Phillies stealing signs? (Crashburn Alley)

Should Baltimore's Adam Jones be sent to the minors? (Oriole Post)

A new low for Cubs fans (Talking Chicago Baseball)

You know the Royals are bad when the AP is talking about how bad they are (AP)

Late Show Top 10 with Dallas Braden



Cardio to Eric Clapton (With Leather)

The Links: R.I.P. Ernie Harwell & Game-Winners

Christina Hendricks to start the morning...... R.I.P. Ernie Harwell ..... So much for the Magic pressing because of an long layoff...... The Houston Astros offense is quite pathetic..... Speaking of the Astros, you can buy Astros' Chris Sampson's car on Twitter...... The gruesome details of the UVA lacrosse murder....... Red Wings fans are a bunch of whiners..... Danny Ainge is still agitating people even when retired..... Corey Haim died of natural causes

Ernie Harwell, voice of the Detroit Tigers, remembered (Detroit Free Press)

Barry Zito is dating another hot lady (The Big Lead)

The Oakland A's attendance is so bad, that their Triple-A team in Sacramento can actually out draw them (SF Chronicle)

Dez Bryant's 'pimp' ride (Big 12 Journal)

Magic look super vs. Hawks (Sporting Blog)

Tim Welsh's mistake, turns into a learning moment (NY Times)

Kobe Bryant photoshop gallery (Deadspin)

SI takes an unflattering look at Ben Roethlisberger (PFT)

Patrick Marleau's game-winning goal against Detroit (Fear the Fin)



Another idiot ran onto the field in Philadelphia (700 Level)

The Links: Fan Tased, Joe Pavelski is an Hero & Useless Stats

Kelly Brook to start the morning..... A blog interviews Sabermetrics God Bill James..... It can only get worse for the Saints and the Vicodin scandal...... Rutgers has tapped Bobby Morris coach Mike Rice Jr. to be their new coach..... Vinny Del Negro is out as the Bulls coach..... Red Sox took out their frustrations on the Angels..... Your most likely NFL team to move to Los Angeles..... The Cavaliers aren't going to panic..... Man gets first name 19 years after birth

R.I.P. Yeardley Love (Daily Progress)

Time for LeBron to act like an MVP (YahooSports)

Joe Pavelski photoship expo (Fear the Fin)

The business of owning an NBA team in 2010 (TrueHoop)

Should we keep pitchers stats on wins/loses? (Big League Stew)

Dwight Howard and Josh Smith share a lifelong bond (Fanhouse)

Steve Nash smashes the Spurs (LSU Freek/Sporting Blog)

Smelley returns to warm reception from South Carolina fans (The State)

Don't run onto the field in Philadelphia or you might get tased (700 Level)



Updated video of guy getting tased (700 Level)

The Links

Laura Bell Bundy to start the morning ..... Will someone please take Zach Greinke off of the Royals?...... Cavaliers to face the Celtics in the 2nd round...... MLB.com writers ordered to Tweet only about baseball...... Mavericks stave off elimination by routing the Spurs...... Has JeMarcus Russell spent his last days in Oakland?...... Two women arrested for trying to smuggle a corpse onto a plane...... Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland isn't good at asking questions during interviews

LeBron James to the Charlotte Bobcats? (NY Times)

Is the MLB lagging attendance a crisis or fluke? (Fanhouse)

Tebow is already setting records in the NFL (Shutdown Corner)

LSU Freek: Kobe conducts a Lakers victory (Sporting Blog)

Jeff Garcia is not returning to the Eagles (PFT)

Wright State basketball player arrested for stealing condoms (Dayton Daily News)

Reality strikes Phoenix Coyotes again (Arizona Republic)

Why the Royals and Pirates should switch leagues (SI)

Washington Capitals pressing their luck with game 7 (Washington Post)

New feature, the gif of the day: Batman kicking ass.

KSJ Sports Chat

While this live blog is for the Giants-Phillies game at 7 PM PT/ 10 PM ET, feel free to comment on whatever you're watching. If your a troll though, you will be banned.

What is Wrong with Phillies Fans?

Susan Finkelstein, the Phillies fan who allegedly offered sex to an undercover police officer for Yankees-Phillies World Series tickets, was in court yesterday. The officer who was offered sex for world series tickets gave perhaps the greatest testimony off all-time.

"I admit it. I'm a prostitute. I love sex. I'm a whore," the Bensalem police officer testified that Finkelstein had told him as he posed as "Bob" at Manny Brown's in Bensalem.

She talked about "how much she loved anal sex," he said, alleging later that she pulled up her denim skirt to expose her genital area and asked, "You wanna touch it?

What type of freaks live in Philly? I didn't even mention yet that Finkelstein is 43 years old and is married. Her husband accompanied her to court yesterday.

The Southwest Philadelphia woman believed Brady had three tickets to a Phillies-Yankees World Series game and, Bensalem police say, was willing to exchange sex for at least one.

In reality, it was a sting operation by Bensalem cops, who had found the "desperate blonde," as Finkelstein reportedly called herself, while trolling Craigslist for illegal activities.

Hasn't she every heard of Stub Hub? There are a lot of easier ways to get tickets, then offering sex.

For two tickets, she promised more, Brady testified. "I'll have sex with both of you. I'll let you DP me."

Magisterial District Judge Joe Falcone and Finkelstein's lawyer, William J. Brennan, asked Brady to clarify what the term "DP" meant and the officer answered, "Double penetration."

Brady's and Bugsch's testimony - along with the introduction of topless photos as evidence, images Finkelstein purportedly sent to Bugsch before the meeting - was apparently enough for Falcone. He held the case over for trial in Common Pleas Court, set to begin Jan. 5 in Doylestown.

She was charged with promoting prostitution and, yesterday, with general prostitution.

Whoa! The judge asked to clarify what the term "DP" meant? I can't wait to follow this case when it starts. I'm sure there will even more juicy details to come out in this case. O.K., juicy was the wrong choice of words. What about excited? Maybe I should just get out right here.

Here's where the Philadelphia cops were idiots in this case.

After the hearing, Brennan wondered aloud why Bensalem police didn't record the conversation or why three other police officers at the bar weren't close enough to listen in on the conversation.

What type of idiots does Philadelphia have working in their police department. This case can be lost now since they didn't record that conversation.

What is wrong with the the people of Philadelphia?

Sex-for-tix case going to trail (Philly.com)
Cop Claims Phillies Fan Said She Was a Whore (Above the Law)
Phillies Fan Who Wanted World Series Tickets Allegedly Told Cops: "I Let You DP Me" (The Big Lead)

The Links

Kate Beckinsale is hot..... Conspiracy theories in NASCAR..... The never ending Eli Manning vs. Phillip Rivers debate..... Is Kyle Orton a good quarterback or a product of the system?..... Adding insult to injury, Mets fans making fun of Phillies fans..... The Bengals-Ravens game could be blacked out in Cincinnati.... There will be a ton of Kayne jokes when Taylor Swift hosts SNL this weekend..... Has anyone seen Ryan Howard?

Congratulations to the New York Yankees (Fire Andy Reid Now!)

Phillies didn't play like champions (Philly.com)

Those wacky Penn State students (No Guts, No Glory)

LeBron to LA? (Reds Army)

Celebs then and now (Banned in Hollywood)

Al Davis definitely will not put up with these latest allegations against Tom Cable (PFT)

Will Michael Jordan swoop in and held UCF after Adidas dropped their contract with the school (Orlando Sentinel)

Could this the be the end for Jeff Fisher in Tennessee (The Tennessean)

Ideas left on the "30 for 30" cutting room floor (Joe Sports Fan)

Inappropiate Fatheads (Ladies...)

The hardest hits in the NFL, featuring Cal grad Zach Follett (Unathletic)

The Links

Kim Kardashian dressed as Princess Jazmine on Halloween .....Chris Paul is starting to become frustrated in New Orleans..... A look at the upcoming games for the San Jose Sharks..... Share a grave with a stranger..... Is that a snake in your pants or you just happy to see me?..... Watch Hulk Hogan destroy TNA..... Could Comcast Cable buy NBC?...... Chase Utley is keeping the Phillies alive by himself.... Now the DNC is just making shit up

Apparently it's still Halloween (Awful Announcing)

Macy's is trying to jinx the Phillies (HHR)

Manu has to get rabies shots because of that little bat swat (Sports by Brooks)

Allen Iverson is already unhappy with his role on the team (Fanhouse)

Brandon Jennings has succedded in the NBA so far (YahooSports)

Brett Myers mocked Cole Hamels after game 5 (YahooSports)

Just another reason why Urban Meyer is a scumbag (Fanhouse)

The most ridiculous excuse why Meyer's punishment for Spikes was right (Tampa Tribune)

Raiders are hitting a all-time low (SF Chronicle)

Worst of the Night in the NBA (Basketbawful)

A goalie doing the moonwalk on the ice (With Leather)

Foul Ball: Cliff Lee Makes It Look So Easy

Whatever, Dude

6 Philadelphia 1 New York: Chase Utley had two home runs in this game, but all what people can talk about is Cliff Lee's performance. Lee pitched a complete game, striking out 10, giving up 10 hits, one unearned run, and six hits. Lee was so locked in on the mound that he could have been hit by a bus and not even noticed. Twice when the ball was hit at him, he made the plays look too easy. It just incredible to watch to Lee last night.

Here's his highlights.



Tonight Pedro takes the mound for the Phillies against A.J. Burnett. The Phillies have success against Burnett, while the Yankees can always look back to the 03 ALCS and see that they roughed up Pedro in game seven. It will be interesting to see how both Burnett and Pedro handle tonight's start.

Here's a Cliff Lee tribute video.

The Links

Penny Mathis to start the mourning...... Dez Bryant has been suspended for the entire year...... The DC Sniper will be executed in a couple of weeks..... What's wrong with offering sex for World Series tickets?..... The 49ers are looking for a tackle..... Favre has talked about retirement since 2002..... The worst of the night in the NBA..... White House wisely backs away from their fight with Fox News..... Redskins have no clue how to deal with fan unrest..... Meet the New Snyder Sucks T-Shirt Model

The 5 most intriguing storylines in the NBA (Black Sports Online)

Hulk Hogan almost offed himself, Brother (With Leather)

The Pittsburgh Penguins costume party looked fun (Big League Screw)

A World Series omen that Yankee fans don't want to see (Deadspin)

Jimmy Rollins and his .250 batting average are making some bold predictions (NY Post)

Actually, Reggie Bush is the one making bold predictions. "Once I do win an NFL MVP, once we do win a Super Bowl, once I am in the Pro Bowl, it's going to be that much more special because of all the criticism that I had to come through and because of the work I've put into it, it'll mean that much more to me and I'll appreciate it more," Bush said. (PFT)

Who do Mets fans root for? (NY Daily News)

Five reasons not to watch this World Series (The Big Picture)

Mike Leach is not giving out banking advice (EDSBS)

Suck it Dodgers

Congrats Phillies!

Suck it Dodgers!

Suck it Russell Martin!

Suck it ManBoobs!

Suck it Joe Torre! Old Chuck is better than you

Now enjoy Jimmy Rollins sucking some face.

The Links

Blake Lively to start the mourning.... Cedric Benson is sort of crazy..... Who will be the next Houston Astros manager?..... Cincinnati's Andre Smith claims he lost weight...... The Rams somehow avoid the blackout for Sunday's game against Indianapolis...... Remember when Giant Gonzalez wrestled in the WWE?...... Time to give Charlie Manuel his proper respect..... I think us Giants fans enjoyed the NLCS more than Phillies fans

They start them young in Philly (Deadspin)

Mark Sanchez is quite the ladies man (The Big Lead)

A.J. went kind of crazy yesterday on Deadspin (Cousins of Ron Mexico)

Keith Bulluck wasn't happy with Jeff Fisher for wearing that Manning jersey (PFT)

Hey! A teacher that isn't guilty for sleeping with her student (KY Post)

Do you realize the NFL is playing their yearly game in London this weekend? (FoxSports)

The NBA draft class of 06 is looking like a huge bust right now (TrueHoop)

Sex, Lies, and ESPN (Fanhouse)

Giants fan in shambles (Kissing Suzy Kolber)

Suck it TBS! (Awful Announcing)



Suck it Brett Myers (Fire Andy Reid Now!)