An excerpt from the story:

This season, Spencer batted .281 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 74 games for the New York Mets, but the outfielder was released by the club on Aug. 6.

And that's the only mention of Spencer's tenure with the Mets.

Gee, that's funny. The Mets releasing a decent-fielding part-timer with pretty good hitting stats for only 185 at-bats. Only a dummy wouldn't think there's more to the story. But there isn't more on Yankees.com.

The fact is the Mets unceremoniously dumped Spencer just days after he was arrested for driving drunk at 98 m.p.h. at 3:34 a.m. on Aug. 3. He'd also gotten into a spring training altercation with a pizza delivery man. And they were sick of his shit.

This was not a guy who drove around the block after having one too many at a neighborhood barbecue. This was a guy who was clocked at nearly 100 m.p.h. — dangerous sober or soused — knowing he'd had too much to drink. That's the definition of being reckless with other people's lives.

But Yankees.com doesn't think that providing a reason why Spencer was available is relevant to the news of the day. Or they just don't want you to know.

A disclaimer at the end of the news item reads, "This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs." Perhaps, but those writers and editors know what their jobs are.

By comparison, reports on Spencer's signing with the Yankees by the AP and UPI, mention Spencer's arrest earlier this month.

And that's my Phil Mushnick impersonation for the day.

Before the Weekend Link Dump, I wanna get these links out there...

• Bruce Boycotted for Bush Bashing — I don't mind so much if people want to boycott Bruce Springsteen's music because he's participating in an anti-Bush tour. But Conservative Party candidate Marilyn O'Grady is a Grade A dolt. She says, in a "Boycott the Boss" television spot, "He thinks making millions with a song-and-dance routine allows him to tell you how to vote." No, being an American, regardless of money, fame, race or gender, you shit-for-brains, grants him the right to tell anyone how he thinks you should vote. You stupid, stupid twit.

• UConn Men's Hoops Assistant Arrested in Prostitution Sting — Authorities said Clyde Vaughan tried to pay an undercover officer $10 for oral sex. $10! There are one-legged crack whores with HIV and three teeth who wouldn't settle for less than $15.

And now... The Weekend Link Dump:

Sports:

• Patterson Wins All-Around Gold in Women's Gymnastics — I don't feel uneasy at all watching 4-foot-9, 16-year-old girls with sparkle in their hair being swung around by grown men like new brides. Not at all. And I wasn't pissed off to find out on the radio and web how much the U.S. kicked ass in its events Thursday, ruining my TV viewing at night. Not at all.

• Baseball Gives Selig Contract Through 2009 — And it's unanimous, people. Whoever thinks he's not good for baseball just doesn't agree with every single owner, who apparently thinks he's doing just fine for their business. I love people who blast interleague play and the Division Series, then can't get enough of either one at the gate or on television.

• The Legend of Lloyd Still Endures — Before he managed the crappy Pirates and threw fits that would make Lou Piniella blush, Lloyd McClendon was one of the most feared Little League World Series players of all time. (Thanks, Art)

• The Big Show's Big Fall — Ryan Perry watches ESPN's old-school broadcasts and longs for the old days. I can do without the boo-yahs, but it's still the best sports news program around, even if Dream Job made me gag. It was like watching comedians bomb on stage, and that's never comfortable for the audience. USA Today's Rudy Martzke has a lengthy piece on the impact ESPN has made on sports television over its 25-year existence.

Web Finds:

• Build a Better Bush — Make the President look like an assclown, by changing the appearance of his hair, eyes and mouth. As for acting and speaking like an assclown, he's got it covered. (Thanks, Kim)

• Eyes Wide Shut Cast on IMDB.com — I saw this last week, and I think pound-for-pound it has the hottest female cast in movie history. Only we don't really know who those naked angels were wearing masks. So I provide the names so you can search Google Images. (And, of course, pass along anything good you might find.)

• How to Buy a New PC — PC World with some tips before you buy your next porn-surfing super-computer.

• See What You Share on P2P — Visual entries of personal documents found over shared networks. This is why whenever a relatively computer illiterate person says he downloaded Kazaa or something, I gulp and think, God, I really hope you know what you're doing. (By the way, Limewire Pro rocks!)

• 10 Most Overpriced Cities — I don't know how much it costs to live in Jersey City, N.J., but I could have told you with no data that is was too much. Read Ken Goldstein's funny take on why he's broke.

News:

• Albany Is Top Party School in Nation — No arguments from me, from what I've seen. But I'd still rather party at Arizona State or Florida State, where the bodies are a little harder and a little tanner. Or whichever fraternity party Larry Eustachy is hanging out at.

• Martha Told to Hire Tough Lesbians for Prison Protection — It's in the Enquirer, so it must be true. My pick would be Richard Simmons. (Thanks, Larry)

• Edward Kennedy Put on Airline Terrorism Watch List — Supposed to be an error. Yeah, riiiiiiggghhhttt!

New York:

• Restaurant for Cats Opens in New York — I have reservations there next never.

• NYCBP.com's Photo Contest — Submit pics of crazy happenings at NYC bars and win a complete second season of The Man Show on DVD.

• Clublife: A Bouncer's Blog — An online journal of the nightly nonsense endured by a bouncer at two of New York's most popular nightclubs.