Big Papi.....Big Phony ?

The company that brings you "all the news that's fit to print" has come out with a report that David Ortiz is on the list of 104 players that failed a drug test in 2003.
.
Surprised? Nothing surprises me any more, at least not on this topic.


If Thursday's New York Times report is true, Big Papi, who earlier this year suggested anyone caught failing a drug test should be suspended for one year, will now be linked forever with A-Roid, Barry Bonds, Sosa, Clemens, Manny-wood......and on and on the list goes and goes as it grows and grows.
.
His initial reaction to the news was that he wanted to get some answers before commenting on the topic.
.
Okay, I'll give you a pass for a day or so, give you time to circle the wagons and get the PR machine working. Don't wait too long though, the society - the judge and jury in this case -that is still waiting for O.J. to find the "real" killers won't wait forever.
.
Here's some advice............if this is true, admit it, say you're sorry, apologize to your legion of fans and show some true remorse.
.
This is a forgiving society to its athletes that can still entertain its fans. That is the reason Bonds and Clemens are forever doomed, they are at the end of their careers and this tag will dog them until the end of time.
.
For Ortiz, the bomb has gone off. True or not, his name is stained forever. Come clean and come clean now, denial will only make things worse.
.
How this news stains the 2004 and 2007 World Series titles for the Roid Sox is a discussion for another time.
.
The sad thing about this is, for Major League Baseball, just when the steroid furor seems to die down, another big name comes from "the list" of those who failed a confidential drug test.
.
Get the list out in the open, let the discussion go for a short time and move on with it. The longer the question is out there, the longer this ugly topic will remain in the forefront.
.
If you've read my words before, you know that I subscribe to the notion that life isn't fair sometimes, but you have to deal with the reality of things.
.
Big Papi has to deal with this reality, how he handles it will be his defining moment.

Is it A-Rod, or A-Roid ?

Is it A-Rod, or A-Roid?
.
It appears as though there is an answer to that question as, according to Sports Illustrated, it appears that Alex Rodriguez failed a steroid test in 2003.
.
And I thought there wouldn't be anything to talk about with the Super Bowl complete and March Madness being six weeks away.
..
Yes, I must admit, ripping A-Rod is a favorite hobby of mine. I think he comes off as a phony and he seems to have a difficult time handling the adverstiy that comes with making more cash during than the entire Florida Marlins team.
.
I enjoy his annual October failures more than most and I'm eagerly awaiting a statement on this report that has merit. His inital response of "You'll have to talk to the union" isn't good enough.
.
In the court of public opinion, anything other than a denial is an admission of guilt. Since I'm a member of the court of public opinion, and this is my blog, I'm annoting myself as judge and jury, I'm going to believe the SI report that was verified by four sources.
.
The other part of this is that I don't think Rodriguez has the intestinal fortitude to come out and admit it. He won't face jail time and the failed test was prior to Major League Baseball instituting its testing policy.
.
Jason Giambi came clean, so did Andy Pettitte and others. Society is forgiving to those who show remorse. They have gone on with their careers.
.
Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have been defiant, look where they are right now. Mark McGwire didn't want to talk about the past and Rafael Palmeiro lectured legislators before failing a test later that season.
.
Chances are, none of those listed above will see the Hall of Fame. The early thought out there now is that neither will Rodriguez.
.
It wasn't all that long ago that Jose Canseco came out and name A-Roid as a steroid user. Rodriguez denied the charge.

In his time since leaving the big leagues, Canseco has said many things. At the time, most were viewed as self-servent and as an outrageous attempt to peddle his books and make some coin.
.
As time goes forward, Jose Canseco sounds more and more like the only guy with enough guts to tell the truth.
.
Is It That Time Already????.

So, I'm at work the other day when the email arrives.........yes, it is time for the annual NASCAR pool at my place of employment, free of charge.

.Fifty-One weeks of fun with hard-driving cars making left turns, revved up engines and tons of chewing tobacco and motor oil.

I couldn't have deleted the offer quick enough.
.
Instead of trying to figure out why this sport ---I'm not even sure this qualifies as a sport any more --- is so popular, I'm not going to bother showing an interest. I just don't care.
.

In that spirit, I'm deciding where NASCAR fits in my viewing plans when going over options of sports that I'd prefer to view.
.
NFL Football? Check.
.
Baseball? Check
.
Hockey? Check
.
College Hoops? Check
.
College Football? No Brainer
.
Golf? Yep, like to watch that one also.
.
Tennis? Don't really care but I'd put it over NASCAR....NFL Pro Bowl? I'm checking in on that along with watching an NBA game over the Daytona time trials so I guess those two items are higher.
.
Curling? Yep....underrated and up and coming sport. Women's soccer? Yeah, but its close.

Okay, now we know where the line is. I'd rather watch NASCAR than men's soccer and WNBA.
.
Check back next year motorheads, we'll see where your sport ranks then.

Hmmmm.....Which Hat To Wear?

Almost time for the Fall Classic as Major League Baseball's postseason draws near.


Just a few days to go until the end of the season and the rebuilding A's have left me without a team to root for in October.

But, being a baseball fan, I need a team to rally behind for the month. Let's take a look at the candidates:




American League

Los Angeles (don't call us Anaheim) Angels - I've hated this club since I was a kid, ever since the team got into a brawl against the A's when Jim Todd drilled Bruce Bochte in the coconut when Bochte was crowding the plate. A longtime AL West division rival, I won't root for this team.



Tampa Bay Rays - A true Cinderella story. Probably the team to rally behind just for the rags to riches story. Outside of fantasy league players, it is hard to name more than a handful of players from this perennial doormat.




Boston Red Sox - Never.

I did marry into a Red Sox family, but I'll only go so far to suck up to the in-laws. They ruined my 1975 when they beat the A's in the AL Playoffs, ending the three-year World Series run of my childhood heroes.





Chicago White Sox - Ozzie Guillen is annoying, but the White Sox are a contender to become my team of the month. The fans are nuts and the team plays in some exciting games.

Minnesota Twins - Another nice story unfolding here as the Twinkies are somehow contending, even after trading Johan Santana in the offseason. Great stories are nice, especially with a small market team. With Mauer and Morneau, this is a fun team to watch and definitely an overachiever.

National League


Philadelphia Phillies - Another fun team to watch. They have plenty of offense with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and could do some damage in the postseason. Not sure about the depth of their staff, but they could make some noise. Biggest problem with the Phils, living in the northeast, is the 9-6 games they tend to play. A long postseason run by Philly could interfere with my beauty sleep, and I need all the help I can get.



New York Mets - As of this writing, they are tied for the Wild Card so I'll include them and Milwaukee. Straight to the point, I hope they miss the playoffs. I have access to the Mets' games here and I never watch them. For all the marquee players, they bore me. Do me a personal favor and stay home for the playoffs.


Chicago Cubs - No World Series wins in 100 years. Hard not to root for. I was behind the lovable losers in '03 when Steve Bartman became Public Enemy #1 in the Windy City. The Cubbies have all the ingredients to finally win. A great offense, stud starting pitching and a solid bullpen. Lou Piniella has won a title as a player and a manager. If only fate could break their way.





Milwaukee Brewers - Being just a hair on the heavy side and possessing a liking for a few cold brews from time to time, I can relate to a club from Beer Town that has Prince Fielder and CC Sabathia on the roster. This town hasn't seen a playoff team since Harvey's Wallbangers hit the postseason in '82. Let's hope they get hot over the next few days and crash the postseason party.


Los Angeles Dodgers - Good for Joe Torre. I agreed that his time in New York had run its course, but the way he was dismissed for all his efforts and results were shoddy. Manny Ramirez is still a quitter, but he can hit when motivated and he is motivated.


And the winner is...............


Chicago Cubs


As much as I'd like to root for the Cinderella Rays, their fans were not selling out games late in the season so they lose my support.


How can you not root for a team who's fans are starved for a title?

I've been to Wrigley Field and it was like going to a cathedral, complete with the rowdy, shirtless party-goers in the Bleachers.


I'll put my A's cap down until spring training. For now, let's go Cubs!