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NFLPA bracing for full stay of injunction

May 4, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Via Albert Breer on Twitter, Rotoworld.com is reporting that the NFLPA is “bracing” for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to grant the owners’ request for a stay of Judge Susan Nelson’s lockout injunction.

Technically, Chad Ochocinco broke the news, citing a union source. What we don’t like about the report is that free agency and trades would be delayed for at least a month. What we do like is that it would give the sides a chance to head back to the mediation table to try to hammer out a new CBA. A stay would wipe out all offseason programs, keeping the doors locked until at least mid-June, if not July or August.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals already granted a temporary stay last week, so the news isn’t terribly surprising. What would be best for fans in the short term is if the stay isn’t granted. That means the league’s doors would open up, free agency would start and we would probably have an uncapped season next year. But that’s obviously not what’s best in the long term.

What’s best in the long term is that these clowns (I reserve the right to call them that considering they can’t figure out how to split $9 billion of the fans’ money) head back to the negotiating table and hammer out a new CBA. They have to find a compromise here.

Forget about which side is more right (or less wrong) and let’s see these guys come to an agreement already. The draft breathed some much-needed life into the league last weekend, and here’s hoping free agency will start soon so things can get back on track.

External Sports, NFL

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Rashard Mendenhall’s “clarification” doesn’t clear anything up

May 4, 2011 / John Paulsen

You knew it was coming: some sort of explanation or apology for Rashard Mendenhall’s comments regarding Osama Bin Laden’s death. He wrote an open letter on his (new?) blog, entitled Clarification.

Give it a read and come back…

Are you back? Great. Here we go:

I see how they have gotten misconstrued…

Oh, boy. Not a good start. As if the statements alone are not controversial — the reader or some third party has missed the point.

This controversial statement was something I said in response to the amount of joy I saw in the event of a murder… I was reflecting on our own hypocrisy. During 9/11 we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death on our soil. Earlier this week, parts of the world watched us in horror celebrating a man’s death.

Two things jump out about his argument here. First of all, we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death of innocents on our soil. Is it so wrong for us to celebrate that murderer’s death? For 10 long years, the spectre of Osama Bin Laden has hung over this country like a rain cloud, while he mocked us from afar. The United States has gotten into two separate wars using OBL/Al-Qaeda as justification, and it has had a terrible impact on our economy and life at home. What’s worse, this was the monster’s plan all along.

Maybe taking to the streets in celebration is not the most enlightened thing to do, but it’s certainly understandable that the U.S. population would feel an overwhelming sense of relief to know that the person ultimately responsible for bringing us so much pain has finally been brought to justice. It’s not so much that OBL is dead, it’s that we finally found him.

The other problem with Mendenhall’s clarification is that he completely glosses over the “We’ve only heard one side…” bit. What does that mean? To the average reader, it sounds like Mendenhall wants us to better understand OBL’s reasoning for attacking the World Trade Center that day. The thing is, we understand it. Mendenhall is the one that doesn’t get it. He says we haven’t heard OBL speak. Only we have, in countless recordings and video tapes.

Reading through the rest of his letter, it strikes me as odd that he would completely ignore this beauty:

This tweet was deleted, and Mendenhall is probably hoping that this one will just go away. But that’s the great thing about Twitter and “print screen” — anything you say has the potential to live on forever. Clearly, Mendenhall doesn’t believe that those airplanes took down the towers that day, and this belief might relate to his “We’ve only heard one side…” bit from before.

Mendenhall says things like “Those who judge others, will also be judged themselves” and “I believe in God. I believe we’re ALL his children. And I believe HE is the ONE and ONLY judge” yet isn’t he judging those who were happy to hear the news of OBL’s demise? What right does he have to criticize others?

Want some hypocrisy? There you have it.

External Sports, NFL

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Should the Giants acquire Jose Reyes?

May 4, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

For those who have had the misfortune of watching Miguel Tejada play on a nightly basis, the answer to the question in the title should roll off the tongue: “Yes. Yes the Giants should acquire Jose Reyes. Please God, in all your holiness, allow the Giants to acquire Jose Reyes so that I don’t have to continue to endure Miguel Tejada.”

But the question becomes a little more convoluted when you consider the many factors that would go into trading for Reyes. For starters, the Giants would have to accommodate his $11 million salary this year. That may not be a big deal in the short term, but there are rumors that the 27-year-old will be looking to match Carl Crawford’s seven-year, $142 million deal when he hits free agency this winter. Would the Giants be willing to give up a top prospect in order to acquire a rent-a-player for a couple of months? Furthermore, should they?

The Mets will probably ask but it’s doubtful that the Giants would part with either Madison Bumgarner or Brandon Belt. Either of those players would be too much to give up to acquire a player that New York is looking to dump anyway. The Giants could pitch (pun definitely intended) Jonathan Sanchez in a deal, although that would leave a gapping hole in their pristine rotation. They could probably get by with a starting five of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Bumgarner, Barry Zito and Ryan Volgelsong, but why weaken the pitching staff when the point of acquiring Reyes is to win now?

The more likely scenario for the Giants is to center a deal around former first rounder Zack Wheeler, who was taken sixth overall in 2009. He is one of the top 55 best prospects in the game and while it would deplete the Giants’ already thin farm system, they could stomach that blow much easier than they could if they dealt someone like Sanchez.

But again, it all comes back to whether or not the Giants should make a deal like this. Yes, Reyes would be a massive upgrade over Tejada and once Pablo Sandoval returns in 4-6 weeks, their struggling offense would like rather potent. Assuming Reyes stays healthy and continues to hit as well as he has over the first month of the season, he could lift the Giants back into World Series contention. That said, does a team like San Fran make a move like this for a potential rent-a-player? It’s a tough call, although a few more weeks of watching Tejada flail at pitches and try to play ground balls to his side could force the Giants’ hand.

External Sports, MLB

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Francisco Liriano throws unlikely no-hitter

May 4, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Entering Tuesday night’s game with the White Sox, Twins’ starter Francisco Liriano held a 9.13 ERA. In his previous start, he lasted just three innings and there were rumors that Kevin Slowey would replace him in the rotation.

So naturally, Liriano no-hit the ChiSox on Tuesday. Granted, it wasn’t a masterpiece as he walked six and struck out just two. But it was the first no-hitter of the 2011 MLB season and Minnesota’s first no-no since Eric Milton accomplished the feat back in 1999. Still, for a guy who came into the game with an 18/18 K/BB ratio and a 1.90 WHIP, Liriano’s performance was rather stunning.

Or was it? Entering the night, he was 5-0 in his last five starts against the White Sox, who were utterly helpless against the lefty on Tuesday. Plus, the Twins claimed a few days ago that the thought they had discovered inconsistency in the Liriano’s delivery. Maybe the adjustments coupled with the opponent created a perfect storm for Liriano to get his groove back.

The talks of being replaced in the rotation will certainly die down now for Liriano. He’s bought himself a couple of more starts, although if he reverts back to the same awful pitcher he was before Tuesday night then the Kevin Slowey rumors will no doubt arise again. Here’s hoping for Liriano and the Twins’ sake, this will light a fire under this struggling club.

External Sports, MLB

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New Adidas ad featuring MVP Derrick Rose [video]

May 4, 2011 / John Paulsen

At the beginning of the season, Rose asked why he couldn’t be MVP:

“The way I look at it within myself, why not? Why can’t I be the MVP of the League? Why can’t I be the best player in the League? I don’t see why-why-why can’t I do that? I think I work hard, I think I dedicate myself to the game and sacrifice a lot of things at a young age and I know if I continue to do good, what I can get out of it and if that’s me going out or doing whatever, I’m willing to do it because I know in the long run, it’s going to help me.”

The ad is based on that quote.

External Sports, NBA, Video

2010-11 NBA MVP 2010-11 NBA season Derrick Rose

Page 317 of 2957

NFLPA bracing for full stay of injunction

Rashard Mendenhall’s “clarification” doesn’t clear anything up

Should the Giants acquire Jose Reyes?

Francisco Liriano throws unlikely no-hitter

New Adidas ad featuring MVP Derrick Rose [video]

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