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      No reason Stephen Strasburg should have been left off the NL All-Star roster

      July 5, 2010 /

      Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg delivers to a New york Mets batter in the first inning of their National League MLB baseball game in Washington, July 3, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      I’m fully aware that he has only been pitching for about a month. I’m also aware that there are other pitchers in the National League who have been equally as impressive (the Cardinals’ Jamie Garcia being one of them).

      But there’s still no excuse why Stephen Strasburg was left off the NL All-Star Game roster. In fact, there’s only one reason why he should be getting ready to pitch in L.A. two weeks from now and it has nothing to do with the number of starts he’s made or batters he has struck out so far in his young career.

      Ever since Bud Selig decided to make the All-Star Game relevant in 2003 by awarding the winner home field advantage in the World Series, the pastime has taken on a ton of importance. And seeing as how the game means so much for the league that wins, isn’t it vital for both teams to field the best players?

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      External Sports, MLB

      Wade’s personal life might lead him to the Bulls

      July 5, 2010 /
      April 12, 2010: Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) bringing the ball up the court during the NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Heat beat the 76ers, 107-105.

      Dwyane Wade is going through a fairly messy divorce and one of the factors affecting his free agency decision is who gets custody of his two children.

      A number of league sources have said that Wade is flirting with the Bulls to get the Heat to be more proactive in recruiting free agents or to create drama to his documentary that he’s filming about the free agent process.

      However, a source close to Wade told me that other factors, both basketball and personal, have Wade seriously considering leaving Miami for Chicago.

      Wade also has multiple ties to Chicago — a home and family, including his mother, a pastor whose church in the city was purchased for her by her son. But far and way the most important consideration is his two children Zaire and Zion. Wade is recently divorced and the custody of his children is still up in the air. There are concerns that, given the frequent travel tied to being a NBA player, he won’t be able to spend quality time with his children during the season if he doesn’t stay in Chicago.

      In other words, if the case were already settled and Wade was awarded full custody, he may not be considering the Bulls. But he has to weigh his personal life against his loyalty to the Heat (and the extra money Miami can pay him) when making his decision.

      I wonder if there is any pressure to beat LeBron to the punch. What if he agreed to sign with the Bulls — would Chicago take its offer to LeBron off the table? They should, but would they actually do it?

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Joey Votto: The ultimate All-Star Game snub

      July 5, 2010 /

      How does Joey Votto not make the 2010 MLB All-Star Game? Well, I know how he didn’t make it: he plays in the same league as Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Adrian Gonzalez. But I mean, how can baseball allow this to happen?

      This isn’t as much about Howard or Gonzo (two worthy All-Stars) as it as about Votto, who leads the Reds and ranks among NL leaders in hitting (.312), home runs (19), RBI (57), total bases (163) and on-base percentage (.414). Oh-and-by-the-way, he also leads all NL first basemen (including Pujols, mind you) with a .988 OPS.

      Last time I checked, baseball is the king of numbers and stats. Yet even though Votto was statistically the best at his position in the first half, he didn’t make the final cut. It would be shocking if it weren’t so predictable given that Pujols, Howard and Gonzalez were locks to make the NL squad before voting even began.

      Forget numbers for a second and let me throw this question out there: Would the Reds be 11 games over .500 and in first place in the NL Central right now without Votto? No flipping way. Cincinnati is on its way to having its first winning season since The Oregon Trail was the top selling video game in America and he deserves to be recognized for it.

      The good news is that with injuries to guys like Jason Heyward and Troy Tulowitzki, there may be a roster spot open for Votto when it’s all said and done. And there better be, seeing as how nobody is more deserving of an All-Star roster spot than him. It would be a freaking baseball travesty if he didn’t get to travel to L.A. this year to take part in the well-deserved honor.

      To check out the official, Joey Votto-less AL and NL All-Star Game rosters, click here.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      Joe Johnson will stay in Atlanta

      July 4, 2010 /
      April 26, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..Atlanta Hawks Joe Johnson drives to the hoop, Johnson had 29 points and 9 assists against the Bucks tonight..Milwaukee Bucks won over the Atlanta Hawks 111-104, in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs. The Series is now tied at 2-2. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

      There were some rumblings that Johnson might take some time to weigh his options, and possibly take less money to play with a better player, but he has instead decided to take the Hawks’ max offer.

      Arn Tellem, Johnson’s agent, said that Johnson was impressed with the team’s commitment to him and agreed to accept the club’s six-year contract offer. He confirmed the post to The Associated Press.

      Atlanta offered Johnson, a four-time All-Star, approximately $119 million over six years — nearly $27 million more than any other team could offer.

      This reminds me of the Michael Redd signing from a few years back. They knew they were overpaying him at the time, but they still made the deal. A few knee injuries later and the Bucks are biding their time, waiting for the deal to expire.

      Johnson is a nice player, but he’s not worth a ‘max’ contract — just look at the way he played against the Magic in the playoffs. He’s 28, so he will be 33 when he enters the final year of this deal. Shooting guards are notorious for aging poorly, so we’ll see how long it takes for the Hawks to regret this contract.

      This re-signing is a bit of a surprise. It seemed like Johnson and the Hawks were on the outs, and that the Hawks would be unwilling to overpay him to stay. But that’s exactly what they did in the end.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Brazil goalkeeper tearful upon return home

      July 4, 2010 /

      Julio Cesar was greeted by fans in Brazil despite being faulted for giving up the deciding goal against the Netherlands. The goal ended Brazil’s run at the World Cup, sending them home in the quarterfinals. The Brazilian crowds’ warmth was surprising, but Cesar couldn’t help but unleash the waterworks.

      This just further exemplifies the differences between the United States and international soccer. When our players returned home after losing in the Round of 16, supporters probably swarmed them in dubious jubilation. For the Brazilian players, they can’t help but feel ashamed.

      External Sports, Soccer, World Cup

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