The day after the MLB All-Star Game is typically the slowest sports day of the year. Not so at PK.com. Here's what I'm thinking (and what you should agree with):
The All-Star Game:
• Good to see Muhammad Ali out there for the first-pitch ceremony. When I think of Houston and baseball, there's only one name that comes to mind: Ali.
• Prior to the game, Astros season-ticket holder Tom Gray won $1 million in 30 seconds by throwing five "strikes" through a hole the size of New Hampshire. He also threw about 10 pitches that looked like he was coached by Mitch Williams. Somewhere Ken Jennings was throwing up, and I almost choked on my dinner from laughing too hard. Might be the only $1 million winner in history who immediately asked for tape of the contest to be burned.
• Last week, I joked about hoping that 12-14 Yankees would be selected to the AL squad. We got eight, but I forgot about manager Joe Torre, hitting coach and Greatest Living Ballplayer Don Mattingly, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and third-base coach Luis Sojo. We had a dozen Yankees there! And, of course, Torre's team won again (5-0-1 as an All-Star manager).
• With home-field advantage on the line for the AL World Series team (which will be the Yankees), I cheered when Manny Ramirez hit his first-inning home run. This was the first, and hopefully the last, time I will ever have to do this. If I'd known the AL wouldn't need those two runs, I'd have instead wished that Clemens brained him.
• Clemens and Soriano sure showed they still have love for the Yanks, huh? Thanks, guys!
• I never thought I'd say this, but Jeannie Zelasko looks better with helmet hair from, well, I don't know it was in style, but I guess at some point between 1970-90.
• Rangers shortstop Michael Young is white? Next you're gonna tell me Matt Lawton is black.
• I loved the pre-game intro of the starters, coming down the aisles like a WWF Royal Rumble. What a sight to see A-Rod, Giambi and Jeter back-to-back-to-back, representing about $60 million in annual salary.
• I don't watch a ton of NL baseball, but it's good to see Jeff Kent still sporting that porn-star 'stache. Hang on, Jeff, it's definitely coming back in style someday.
• After Clemens' rocky start, he was relieved by somebody named Danny Kolb. He must've won a sweepstakes or something. It's good for MLB to get the fans involved in the game and all.
• Derek Jeter now holds the highest batting average (.700, 7-for-10) in All-Star Game history. He was also recently named the coolest celebrity around on ESPN.com's Page 3. Disagree with the choice if you wish, but go easy on the author. He's a pretty cool guy himself.
• Incredible stat of the night ... Mariano Rivera's career ERA in: Regular Season: 2.40; All-Star Game: 0.00; Division Series: 0.27; LCS: 0.85; World Series: 1.16.
Other Sports Links:
• Video: Jim Everett Kicks Jim Rome's Ass — The complete clip of one of the most embarrassing moments in sports media history, in which Jim Rome pretty much baits a 6-5 NFL quarterback to bust his ass on national TV. And where was that on ESPN's blunder list?
• Why I'd Take Derek Jeter Over Anyone in Baseball — Ryan Perry, a Mariners fan, knows a winner when he sees one. Based on how the Yanks' lineup is set up, though, could you imagine anyone doing more damage surrounded by A-Rod, Sheffield and Giambi than Barry Bonds? You either have to buy into Jeter as a winner and the glue of the Yanks or not. I do, but I don't know what my reaction would've been if Texas had ever offered A-Rod straight-up for Jeter. On paper, that deal is a no-brainer. But I think the dive against the Sox shows just how much he wants to win and how that can rub off on others. SI.com also recently ranked Jeter's top 10 clutch moments.
• SI.com's 2004 College Football Preview — All 114 teams are analyzed. Let me recap the Syracuse preview: If they play well, they'll be good. If they don't, they'll stink.
• Three-Fourths of Major Leaguers Would Have 'No Problem' With Gay Teammate — Salon's King Kaufman on a recent survey, touching on many topics, answered by almost 500 players. Oh, for the 1/4 who would have a problem with a gay teammate, you've already had one ... or 10 ... or 20.
• Bill Simmons on All-Star Festivities — Written prior to Tuesday's game, The Sports Guy has some great nuggets on kids at Fan Fest and the celebrity softball game. Couldn't get through the whole thing, though. I really wanna know how long he takes to write these.
Congrats on the ESPN article- is this going to be a semi-regular thing?
Posted by Dave at July 14, 2004 2:11 PM