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      MLB trade rumors heat up

      July 22, 2008 /

      The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching and as usual, rumors are flying. The Brewers have already made one huge acquisition (C.C. Sabathia) and one to beef up their bench (Ray Durham). Are they done? Will the Pirates become huge sellers? Will the Blue Jays successfully unload A.J. Burnett? Tampa is finally in contention – will they become buyers?

      THE FANTASY SPORTS FORUM takes a look at some of these questions.

      The Tampa Bay Rays have made it no secret that they would like to add another bat, preferably a right handed bat that can play right field. The players most associated with the Rays so far are Xavier Nady and Jason Bay of Pittsburgh. Tampa has a very strong farm system and would have whatever chips are necessary to add any bats they need. The question is if they choose to go that route. Tampa is in new territory at this season’s trade deadline, as this is the first season in their existence that they are in contention for a playoff spot…

      Toronto would love to trade A. J. Burnett, but his contract makes that highly unlikely. He has a player option for two years and 24 million or become a free agent at the end of this season. So, if he pitches well the last two months for a contender, he can exercise said option and become a free agent, and if he pitches poorly he can just stay with you for 12 million a year for two years. Don’t see many teams lining up for him…

      Things have to be frustrating in Pittsburgh. They have some sporadic position talent and young pitching in Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny (optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in early July), but it just hasn’t developed. Now they appear to be sellers again and the sad cycle continues.

      And I agree with the guys at TFSF – no team is touching Burnett with a 10-foot pole.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Eight Fastest College Football Players

      July 22, 2008 /

      THE LOVE OF SPORTS have compiled an eight-count of the fastest players in college football, complete with YouTube.com videos.

      1. Jahvid Best, RB, Soph, California
      Best was used sparingly as a freshman, but was still one of the …. uhh … best freshman in the country. He once ran a 10.31 in the 100 meters in high school. Despite the fact he’s currently recovering from a hip injury, he’s one to watch in ‘08.

      2. Noel Devine, RB, Soph, West Virginia
      Warrick Dunn, Part Duex. A 10.40 (100m) and 21.3 (200m) sprinter in high school, Devine averaged 8.6 yards per rush as a freshman and will be a major part of the West Virginia offense now that Steve Slaton’s gone. The clip below also introduces the term “eye balls on his feet,” which, when you think about it, is absurd. FYI, Deion Sanders is his “mentor.”

      Where does West Virginia find these guys? Steve Slaton, Pat White, Noel Devine – these boys can run. Man, I can’t wait for football season to start.

      College Football, Video

      Tuesday MLB Headliners: Brewers Streaking

      July 22, 2008 /

      – The Milwaukee Brewers have raced of the All-Star Break like a bat out of hell. After the Cardinals’ Skip Schumaker hit a sac fly to tie the game 3-3 and push it into extra innings, the Brewers scrapped across three runs in the top of the 10th to beat the Cardinals 6-3. Milwaukee has now won five straight and have inched within two games of the Cubs in the NL Central.

      – Speaking of the Cubs, they continue to slide after losing 2-0 to the Diamondbacks. Rich Harden took the loss despite only giving up one run on one hit and striking out 10 over seven innings. Chicago gave its new starter zero run support as Randy Johnson shut down the Cubs over seven innings. The Big Unit struck out four and gave up just two hits and no runs.

      – The Yankees have hit their second-half surge apparently. The Bronx Bombers have now won four in a row after crushing the Twins 12-4 thanks to a barrage of home runs. Alex Rodriguez (21), Derek Jeter (6) and Robinson Cano (8) each homered in the win, and Sidney Ponson improved to a stunning 6-1 on the year.

      – The Yankees couldn’t make up any ground in the tight AL East, however, as both the Rays and the Red Sox each won. Tampa used another strong outing by ace Scott Kazmir and a home run by sensational rookie Evan Longoria (19) to beat the slumping A’s 4-0. Boston won by the same score, as Jon Lester shutout the Mariners 4-0 and Jason Varitek hit his eighth dinger of the year.

      MLB

      Josh Childress considering offer to play in Greece

      July 21, 2008 /

      In what would be a stunning move, Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Childress might be taking his game overseas.

      Atlanta Hawks free-agent forward Josh Childress is strongly considering a three-year, $20 million offer from Greek powerhouse Olympiakos, several league sources said Sunday night.

      Childress flew to Greece late Sunday and is scheduled to meet with Olympiakos officials on Monday. Childress, 25, is so flustered with the Hawks’ refusal to make a sign-and-trade deal to another team, one source familiar with his thinking believes there’s “better than a 50-50 chance” he’ll sign with Olympiakos. The team also will cover the Greek taxes for Childress, making the offer even more lucrative.

      Childress is a restricted free agent, but the Hawks would have no matching rights with a FIBA contract. Olympiakos’ offer also would allow Childress the opportunity to return to the NBA over the next two summers. The Hawks would maintain his restricted free-agent rights provided they make him a qualifying offer.

      Childress’ talks with the Hawks have yet to gain traction because Atlanta officials have made it clear their first priority is to resolve negotiations with forward Josh Smith, their other restricted free agent. Privately, Childress has expressed little enthusiasm in returning to play for the organization, sources said.

      This news comes as a huge surprise, but it shouldn’t. As the U.S. Dollar continues to fall against the Euro, playing in Europe becomes more and more attractive for U.S. players. This, coupled with the Hawks’ reluctance to negotiate an extension, has Childress looking overseas for a place to play. If he were an unrestricted free agent, he would no doubt have a few mid-level deals (starting at $5.6 million per season) to sort through, but teams are reluctant to sign him to an offer sheet because they think the Hawks would match (and they probably would). It will be interesting to see if this prompts Atlanta to start serious negotiations with the talented forward.

      Childress is a highly efficient player, posting a PER of 17.84, which is the ninth-best amongst all qualified small forwards in the league. He has come off the bench for much of his career, but in the Hawks’ playoff series against the Celtics, he was on the court in crunch time.

      It would be a blow to the league if he decided to play in Greece.

      NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      T.O. comes to ESPN writer’s aid

      July 21, 2008 /

      Imagine the shock ESPN.com Page 2 contributor Sam Alipour had when he saw a car racing towards him following an ESPYS after-party Thursday night. Perhaps more shocking than being blasted by a car was who was there to help him until the paramedics came: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens.

      Terrell Owens was standing over me. I’m told he was the first do-gooder on the scene of the accident. That he helped me to my feet and off the street to safe ground. That he didn’t leave my side. It seems the mercurial Dallas Cowboys receiver is my hero. But my hero looks scared, and this scares me.

      “Wow, you all right, man?” Owens kept asking me, but in a manner that would suggest there is no possible way that I, in fact, could be all right. “Don’t move. Just sit there. Breathe. Don’t move.”

      I’m fine, nothing to worry about, but Owens is so concerned, so kind, and I’m so touched by this — we hardly know each other — that I think my lip is quivering. There’s a good chance I could break down like T.O. at that news conference. (It’s just not fair. That’s my receiver, man.)

      “So, T.O. was nice, huh?” says the medic who took my blood pressure inside the ambulance. “Boy, you think you know somebody, but the media doesn’t tell you the whole story. You never know how they really are.”

      Guilty as charged.

      When the medics were done with the paperwork (note: patient has lacerations, bruised knee, stained shorts, etc.) I headed back to the street to deal with the police, meet the driver and thank my hero … but T.O. was gone. He didn’t care to wait for the cameras, the spotlight, the attention. Didn’t need to hear my thanks. He simply vanished into the dark night, alone (well, with his bodyguard, also a nice man) like a samurai, his work complete.

      We hammer the guy for being an ass, so it’s only fair to commend him when he does a great thing. We’d like to think that any honorable human being would do the same thing T.O. did, but how many people would gaze astonishingly at what happened and allow someone else to extend a hand? Well done, T.O.

      General Sports, NFL

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