Stupermarket

Ok, so this has absolutely nothing to do with sports but considering how much of our program time had been devoted to Andrew's (former) career at Waldbaum's I thought it was appropriate.

These two college kids working in the produce department of their local A & P (At which their father is the produce manager) were fired after filming a spoof rap video inside the store. The video entitled "Produce Paradise" has now not only cost them their jobs, but could cost them a cool MILLION dollars if A & P is successful with their law suit.

To think, after all the stories and antics we heard from "The Baum's" this could have been our Andrew--A & P and Waldbaum's are even owned by the same company these days.

I would have posted the video here, but aside from it being completely idiotic and a cheap "Lazy Sunday" ripoff, it's also a tad offensive at times and we ARE a family show.

Then again if you REALLY want to see it just search for "Produce Paradise" on YouTube, at least until it's ordered down.

Was it Filled With Chocolate?

You've got to hand it to the fine people of San Francisco for realizing that their city is the one place on Earth where Barry Bonds can get a fair shake, and and for allowing him to make the most of it. Anywhere else he would be getting booed and pelted with eggs and tomatoes, but here he's getting the key to the city at a ceremony attended by thousands.

Lovefest or no, even that key won't be able to get him into AT&T park next season to try and make it a little tougher for Arod down the road. I just hope it'll be able to fit into his new locker in an American League clubhouse to be named later.

Oh Plea-se

Michael Vick filed his plea today in federal court, but there was an interesting and (at least to me) bizarre twist. While he admitted to the dogfighting charges, and helping to kill the animals he denied gambling on the dogfights. He did admit to bankrolling the gambling ring, but claims that he never profited from it. Never even made a side bet on the outcome of the "matches."

Hmmmm, and I suppose he never inhaled either.

In the end it shouldn't matter anyhow. He's going away regardless, and the league has now suspended him indefinitely.

On a side note, ESPN had an interesting online poll asking which of the athletes' images was damaged the most. The choices were:

Pete Rose
O.J. Simpson
Mike Tyson
Michael Vick

As I'm sure you can guess O.J. took the cake, but Vick placed a distant second beating out the gambler and the rapist/ear biter/circus freak. So at least he's got that going for him.

Spending Spree

Former Knick Latrell Sprewell racked up 1,294 steals in 13 seasons in the NBA, or I guess you could say that he "repossessed" the ball just under thirteen hundred times. Well now the shoe is on the other foot and the man who turned down a $21 million contract three years ago (because he had to feed his family) just had his 70 foot yacht seized for failure to make loan payments, and failure to have proper insurance.

Finding the $1.5 million "Milwaukee's Best" was not difficult for the federal marshals as it was sitting in storage, a fitting place for any yacht in late August. But we shouldn't judge Mr. Sprewell, after all a $10,322 monthly payment on a super luxury item can really put a stranglehold on a man just trying to feed his family. In fact it can be downright suffocating.

Best Vacation Ever!

While Newsday's Neil Best is thus far sticking to his guns of maintaining Blog Silence while on his vacation, he will not be keeping Radio Silence as he'll be joining us live at 10PM tonight on Long Island's 90.3FM.

Bob Glauber insists (read: bets) that Mr. Best won't be able to stay away from blogging during his self-imposed hiatus by going so far as to launch a contest predicting when Neil will crack. Newsday colleagues (and past Sports Talk guests) Anthony Rieber, Ken Davidoff and Mark LaMonica have all chimed in with their musings on the subject. Speaking of LaMonica, he and I share a high school alma mater. He also maintains a Blog devoted to Co-Host Steve's favorite show. Co-Host Steve's last name is Novick--kinda like these guys, I guess. Of course, he's still listed on their roster, coming right after a guy named Turnbull.

One final note: It's just our luck that Neil's on a break from the Blog when our little 100% commercial-free, no one makes one thin dime from it, Sports Talk radio show could use the promotion. Incidentally, in looking up that hyperlinked Martin Short film, I found out that Mr. Short's son Oliver is attending my college alma mater.

Let's Make a Deal

Michael Vick joined his other co-defendants today by accepting the plea deal offered to him by federal prosecutors. There is no word yet on the prison time Vick will face, but it is looking like a distinct possibility that his NFL career is now over.

Dog lovers of the world can now rejoice, and fantasy footballers can replace the pencil line through Vick's name with permanent marker.

Duck!

I really have no story here, I just really, really wanted to use that headline. Jose Offerman is in trouble again. Shades of Juan Marichal and Johnny Roseboro, this time.


When the Peter Max sculpture fell when they were honoring ARod the other night, I immediately thought of the cow upending Phil Rizzuto back in 1985 on Phil Rizzuto/Tom Seaver's 300th Day. Then, the news broke that the Scooter had been traded to the Angels.


So, I went to Phil Rizzuto's page on Baseball-Reference.com and found that Scooter's stats most compare to those of Jose Offerman (yet somehow Scooter is #2 on Offerman's list to this guy).

Now, I find out that Jose is back in the news today. And, they ejected Tommy John, too!


Bud Harrelson, another New York shortstop who knows from being upended, is the co-owner of and third base coach for the Ducks. He is also cross-referenced on the Offerman page.

Blame the Messenger, Again.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale joins us tonight at 9:05PM.

Talk about good timing--Bob Raissman is reporting that the Major League Baseball Players Association is "condemning" Mr. Nightengale's reporting tactics in gettting Jason Giambi to say that baseball needs to apologize for steroids and in getting Gary Sheffield to accuse Bud Selig of lying and grandstanding.

The Union--really an Association because a real union would have to honor strikes by hot dog vendors--is not saying that he violated off-the-record rules but rather that the players didn't know that the conversations were for publication. Surely, Mr. Nightengale should have realized that he was dealing with media neophytes in Messrs. Giambi and Sheffield.....

If I was Bob, I would say I'm SORRY to Jason but never say why. I would also tell Mr. Sheffield that I thought that I was CLEAR about being on the record.

Tying it up with one big steroids-laden ribbon, let's not forget that Mr. Nightengale first discussed steroids in baseball in 1995.

Needs No Introduction

You've probably seen this already, but it's worth another watch. If you've never seen it I expect a thank you note.

Skill, Longevity and Dedication*

Apparently, this guy has some new record or something.

YES on the Block, Team Next?

CNNMoney.com/FORTUNE are reporting that the YES Network is up for sale, and the price being talked about is off the charts. How far off the charts? Try between $3 and $3.5 BILLION (With a B).

An announcement like this just adds to the surreal nature of the Yankees' season so far. Playing the underdog for the first time in a generation, a new stadium being built across the street, Joe's alleged firing, George's health rumors, Alex Rodriguez, you get the point.

The report raises the obvious question of whether the team itself would be sold once one of, if not the most valuable chip was already gone. Yankee fans just better pray that the Dolans (Who are already listed as potential buyers for YES) don't get involved. Everyone else should pray that they do.

StrahanDEd

I can't get the visual out of my head. Michael Strahan doing Nathan Lane from The Birdcage: "How do you think I feel? Betrayed, bewildered...wrong response?"

If you want to spare yourself that mental picture, Ralph Vacchiano's article in the Daily News should do just fine. And don't forget to check out Ralph's Blue Screen Blog while you're at it.

As for my take on the matter, good for the Giants. Don't get me wrong, I like Strahan and all, but the team shouldn't feel obligated to give him more money just because he needs wants it and he's a nice guy.

Unfortunately for Michael, the best he can do is continue to cry to the media (And possibly damage his broadcasting future in the process), forget the whole thing and agree to play, or take half of his ball and go to half of his home.

-Steve

One Step Closer

I don't think anyone in baseball realistically expects the Twins to be able to outbid the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and the rest of baseball for Johan Santana's services down the road. But when you read Santana's reaction to the Luis Castillo trade, money may not be the only reason Santana bids farewell to the Twin Cities. He may just want out.

Even for a boring trade deadline, the Mets acquiring Luis Castillo was fairly bland. But if we look back at this deal as the last straw that packed Johan's bags, then all of baseball will be grateful.

And if it turns out that Johan and Luis were good friends, let's start talking contract extension now whether he can play or not.

ARod Joins the No Homers Club

The Germans call it gestalt

To sum up (all pun intended), it refers to a "unified whole." So, last night's Yankees barrage of home runs allows me to link in the Simpsons movie with Mr. Rodriguez's quest for 500. Ah, closure.

P.S. And as we learned previously from The Simpsons, "No one who speaks German could be an evil man."