Blog Cabin : CBSSports.com Blogs

Blog Cabin: Your weekend sports planner

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:20:22 EDT

Unless you want to watch the world championship of bicycle racing or stake out Brett Favre's Mississippi home, this weekend's sports load will again focus on baseball.

MLB

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies

Arizona comes in to the series holding a slim, one-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is only 1 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins and Mets in the NL East.

Blog Cabin: I'm tired of being nice to Favre

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:11:48 EDT

In the news...

Surprise, surprise... It looks like good ol' No. 4 just couldn’t put down the football, and this time, I think even Packer fans are a little less than thrilled. I’m not a Green Bay fan, but I’ve always liked and respected Brett, and I know that I’m pretty sick of this act.

If Favre does complete his comeback, it will leave the Packers with three options: 1. He’s the starter, Aaron Rodgers be-damned. 2. He’s traded, hopefully not to a division rival. 3. Favre is dropped and allowed to find the best deal available, again, hopefully not going to another team in the NFC North.

You know what? I’m just going to come right out and say it... Brett Favre is an idiot.

Blog Cabin: A-Rod won't play ball with fans

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:46:44 EDT

In the news...

I had to laugh when I read that Alex Rodriguez said he would refuse to participate in this year’s Homerun Derby. Typical. I mean, why would the best and highest-paid player in the game want to give anything back to the fans, right?

And, I know, he said that he wasn’t going to participate because the competition messes with his swing, and that his responsibility is to the New York Yankees... There’s no way I buy that. This is just one more small bump in a career that took a rocky turn as soon as it left Seattle in 2000.

It’s sad, really. Here’s a guy who should be the most beloved baseball player in the world, but for whatever reason, he just can’t do the things he needs to do to earn that mantle. Whether it be his reputation as a postseason choke artist, his incomprehensible salary, or just his attitude in general, A-Rod will never find a place in America’s heart.

Blog Cabin: Manny's not so laid back these days

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 1:38:19 EDT

In the news...

Shawn Chacon assaults a GM, he is suspended indefinitely. Manny Ramirez assaults a member of the staff, he says he’s “sorry”.

I like Manny, but there’s definitely something wrong with the guy. Well, there’s always been something wrong with the guy, but this is different. After throwing a punch at Kevin Youkilis a few weeks back, Manny recently decided to toss Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground because he couldn’t get enough tickets to the game in Houston.

What’s the deal, Man-Ram? I may be making assumptions here... but did your pot dealer get pinched or something? Why all the hostility, brother? You’re supposed to be one of the most laid back players in baseball history.

Blog Cabin: Your weekend sports planner

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:44:46 EDT

Well, it's another Friday, which means another weekend of sports to enjoy. And what's not to enjoy, coming off the NBA draft and the flurry of trades that followed.

As for what I'll be checking out this weekend - Most of my viewing will again revolve around MLB and interleague play, but I did throw in a few other happenings in the world of sports.

MLB

Cubs vs. White Sox

Blog Cabin: Tiger, apples and weird e-bay items

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:16:17 EDT

In the news...

We’re living in the Internet age; a time when all human knowledge, anything you could ever want, is just a click away. Thus, I wasn’t at all surprised when an apple core, supposedly eaten by Tiger Woods, appeared for sale on e-bay.

I guess, sometimes, one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure.

I was definitely amused, though, so I decided to check out the sale, which appears to have been taken down. The ad did say that the core was “scooped up in a beer cup to avoid disturbing the DNA”, and also that all proceeds would go toward a college fund for the seller’s daughter.

Blog Cabin: Ashley Harkleroad poses for Playboy

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:15:49 EDT

In the news...

With the start of Wimbledon, I’ve been hearing a lot about Ashley Harkleroad, and her decision to pose in Playboy. I remember when the story came out, but it definitely didn’t register in my mind as a story that would remain on the international radar.

I guess I was wrong.

The commentators during Harkleroad’s first-round, straight-set loss spent half the match talking about the 23-year-old’s decision to pose naked for Hugh Hefner’s money. One of the old, crotchety-sounding woman commentators even said the move “wasn’t classy” and that she should “take some heat”.

Blog Cabin: Your sports weekend planner

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:13:19 EDT

Well, it’s definitely not the biggest weekend in sports, but there are a few fun things going on in the athletic universe.

Major League Baseball

White Sox vs. Cubs

Things have already kicked off in Chicago, with the Cubs winning the first game of the series on a walk-off homerun from Aramis Ramirez. These two teams are at the top of their respective divisions for a reason. They both have had solid pitching, and have lineups that are capable of giving those pitchers decent run support.

Blog Cabin: Does anybody believe Chad Johnson?

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:29:59 EDT

In the news...

So, Chad Johnson had surgery today to clean out an ankle that was supposedly bothering him at the Bengals mandatory workouts. Oh, and he also has a sore back.

Riiiiight...

Sure, Chad, we believe you. There’s definitely no way that you and your agent, Drew Rosenhaus, could have cooked this one up as a way to punish the Bengals for not trading you.

Blog Cabin: Your Sports Weekend Planner

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:55:41 EDT

Coming up...

Unfortunately, I missed Griffey’s 600th homerun by one at-bat, last weekend. I went Sunday, and he hit the thing on Monday, in his first plate appearance. The saddest thing is; the area where he hit the ball was exactly where I was camped out with my wife and friend.

We had it all planned out, too. I was going to hurl my wife on top of everyone in the row in front of us. My buddy, meanwhile, would tackle anyone coming in our direction, leaving me to make the catch... I'm sure it would have been mine.

Well, now that my missed opportunity is behind me, I have to look forward to this weekend. I know I won't have a chance to catch history, but there’s still a lot going on in the world of sports.

Blog Cabin: Milton Bradley needs more crazy pills

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:38:39 EDT

In the news...

Just when you started to think that Milton Bradley’s crazy pills were working, he goes and does something like this. It’s unfortunate, too, because he’s been absolutely on fire at the plate.

If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, here’s the brief version -

During a game, Kansas City announcer Ryan Lefebvre was commenting on how Josh Hamilton has been able to shake a cocaine problem, and has bounced back to become somewhat of a national fan-favorite. During the course of that conversation, Lefebvre also talked about how Bradley has been unable to distance himself from his own troubled past.

Blog Cabin: 5 things I can't stand about soccer

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:05:14 EDT

At the risk of sounding like Jerry Seinfeld... What’s the deal with soccer?

For the second day in a row, I’ve been forced to watch these Euro Cup matches, and let me tell you, I’m just about at my wits end.

I don’t get it all; and I’ll be the first to admit that. But, you know what? I don’t want to get it. You want to know what else? I don’t feel bad about not wanting to get it.

I think a lot of people have started to watch soccer just to make themselves feel better. They feel like watching soccer exonerates them from being one of “those American elitists.” It’s a way to feel like they’re more in touch with the rest of the world. It’s trendy.

Blog Cabin: Don't be 'that guy' at the game

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:10:17 EDT

From my life...

It doesn’t matter where I go, at every sporting event I attend, I always seem to sit next to “that guy”.

Now, I don’t mind people taking through a game, or screaming at the players. I don’t even mind the big, fat, smelly guy who’s had a few too many, and insists on a dancing the “shirtless shuffle” up and down the isle.

I’m fine with that, that’s what you expect when you go to a game.

Blog Cabin: Your sports weekend planner

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:43:08 EDT

In the news...

There’s no better feeling than the one you get when you’re leaving the office on Friday. Walking out to your car, knowing that you will soon be relaxing on your couch, or on a bar stool, with a cold one in your hand, and watching the best athletes on the planet do what they do.

You can stay up past your bedtime if you want, and you can sleep right through the time when you’re normally grabbing your second cup of coffee at the workplace. All you have to do is make sure that you’re up in time for the start of day baseball.

Sure, you may have to mow the lawn or run a few errands, but you gotta love the weekend.

Blog Cabin: Who can't debate sports?

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:33:31 EDT

From my life...

For many fans, talking sports is almost as fun as watching them. And, what better way to talk sports than to get a nice debate going about the hot topics of the day, right?

Well, for the most part, that’s true. But, sometimes, you run across a person who, for whatever reason, has such a delusional perspective that it makes a normal dialog utterly impossible. Their points make little sense, and their logic seems as though it came from a completely different dimension.

It’s frustrating. It’s infuriating. It makes you want to grab that person and shake them until their brain starts to function again.

Blog Cabin: Proven players deserve to get paid

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EDT

In the news...

Let's get serious for a minute...

We absolutely must put a cap on how much money NFL rookies can make.

JaMarcus Russell signed a huge contract with the Raiders last year, and what did the Raiders get? 373 passing yards and a 4-12 record.

Blog Cabin: Chipper's chase

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:17:45 EDT

In the news...

The story has gotten a little attention, but not nearly as much as I would have expected.

I mean, we’re exactly a third of the way through the season, and Chipper Jones is hitting .420 for Pete’s sake!

It’s been 67 years since Ted Williams hit .406. No man alive has hit .400 in a complete season of Major League Baseball.

Blog Cabin: Michael Jackson and the fecal fiasco

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:19:56 EDT

In the news...

What the heck is going on in the world of mixed martial arts?

Over the last few days, this sport has endured two events that have left me utterly perplexed.

Story 1: Michael Jackson attends UFC 84

Blog Cabin: Shut down Big Brown

Tue, 27 May 2008 19:22:58 EDT

In the news...

So, the possible Triple Crown winner has a crack in his hoof.

The horses’ trainer and a hoof-specialist have said that the injury isn't a big deal, but they haven’t really addressed the possibility of causing further damage by racing a horse with a cracked hoof.

It begs the question... What happens if Big Brown goes down?

Blog Cabin: A turning point for MLB?

Fri, 23 May 2008 23:35:14 EDT

In the news...

Hallelujah! The Major League Baseball Players Association has finally taken a step in the right direction when it comes to drug testing.

Stop laughing, I’m being serious here.

On the last possible day for ratification, the players approved a deal which calls for an increase in the frequency of tests and in the authority of the program's independent administrator.

Blog Cabin: Goodell takes a bite out of crime

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:35:04 EDT

In the news...

Roger Goodell may have flubbed up the Spygate scandal, but he’s making up for it with his improvements to the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

In what might be one of the best moves I’ve seen from a league commissioner, Goodell announced, yesterday, that teams will now face financial penalties for the actions of their players. According to the new policy, clubs will be fined if any player is suspended for disciplinary issues.

In related news: Pacman Jones was just cut by Dallas, and the Bengals have officially disbanded.

Blog Cabin: 'Money' Mayweather is a counterfeit

Tue, 20 May 2008 19:15:45 EDT

In the news...

Did anyone else hear the latest rumor about Floyd Mayweather?

It’s a good one.

Word on the street says “Money” likes to make it rain fake $100 bills when he hits the scene. I hope this turns out to be true. How hilariously ironic would that be.

Blog Cabin: Parents sue Little League Baseball

Tue, 20 May 2008 23:28:24 EDT

In the news...

People are despicable, and they’re getting worse every day. You can call me a pessimist if you’d like, but I think that a lot of people over the age of 25 may share that sentiment.

It sounds cliché, but it really was a simpler time when I grew up. When you needed information, you went to the library. When you wanted to talk on the phone, you had to use the corded model attached to your kitchen wall. When a kid got hurt playing sports, his money-grubbing parents didn’t try to capitalize on their son’s injury by suing everyone involved.

That’s right. In the most pathetic story of the day, the parents of Steven Domalewski have filed a suit against the makers of a Louisville Slugger aluminum bat, Sports Authority and Little League Baseball, after their 12-year-old son was hit in the chest with a line drive.

Blog Cabin: Micah Owings could be the next Ruth

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:24:30 EDT

When two knowledgeable baseball fans talk about the greatest players of all time, there are a myriad of names that might come up.

If they’re talking position players, you’ll usually hear about Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams or Ty Cobb. If it’s pitching, Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, Tom Seaver and Sandy Koufax will all be near the top of the list.

Then, there’s the great “He”.

He is the one whose name is as important as the game itself. He is the only man who was absolutely dominant, both in the batters box and on the hill. He is, of course, Babe Ruth.

Blog Cabin: Is it OK to get beaten by a girl?

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:19:56 EDT

My wife, actually. She’s 5 feet tall, 110 pounds and cute as can be... but she might as well be Godzilla when it comes to fantasy baseball.

Who knew?

I sure didn’t, and if I had, I may not have invited her to participate in her first ever fantasy league.

Maybe these feelings come from some kind of caveman chauvinism genes attached to my Y chromosome, or maybe it’s something instilled in little boys on the playground. Whatever the reason may be, it’s simply unacceptable to be beaten by a girl... especially when it comes to sports.

Blog Cabin: T.O. goes to Hollywood

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:01:47 EDT

In the news...

With the season only months away, NFL fans are sure to have one question on their minds: What is Terrell Owens up to?

This year, T.O. starts his media season with the news that he wants to become an actor. Wow, this guy is harder to pin down then a professional wrestler... and I don’t mean that in the physical sense.

First he was the bad teammate, then he was the hero, then he became the clown, then a suicide threat, then a good teammate and now he’s an actor. Actually, maybe he’s suffering from Herschel Walker-syndrome.

Blog Cabin: Conspiracy theories about Pat Tillman

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:37:58 EDT

In the news...

Anyone who listens to sports talk radio has heard a lot from Mary Tillman over the last couple of days. Mary is, of course, the mother of late Arizona Cardinals safety and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman.

Her recent media tour has been an effort to publicize her new book; Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman. The book details Pat’s life, and Mary’s search for the truth about his friendly-fire death in Afghanistan in 2004.

In the book, and on the radio, Pat’s mom has been extremely critical of the military and the government. She’s even gone so far as to say that, at times, she thought Pat may have been intentionally murdered by the government. She’s also said that the soldiers who shot him were itching to fight, and reacted in some kind of blood-lust haze.

Blog Cabin: ChiSox dolls blown out of proportion

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:33:53 EDT

In the news...

Really? With all the problems in baseball, we’re going to waste time harassing the Chicago White Sox for a couple blow up dolls? I’m terrified to see what happens when Congress gets its hands on this one.

It’s not like this happened in the dugout, or even in the team's hotel. This happened in the clubhouse, which is essentially a men’s locker room. If you’re easily offended, a plastic woman would be the least of your worries in a place like that.

Besides, the clubhouse is the player’s domain. Any one else, including the media, is a guest on their turf. Outside of the team and staff, nobody has a right to complain about anything they see there.

Blog Cabin: Barry Bonds left waiting by the phone

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:48:16 EDT

In the news...

Collusion against Barry Bonds?

It’s starting to look that way. But really, who can blame teams for not wanting to sign the most despicable baseball player this side of Roger Clemens?

I can definitely understand why many clubs might choose to pass on a 43-year-old former steroid user with looming legal issues. Plus, Bonds isn’t exactly known as a team player, and the media circus his presence causes is sure to have some negative impact.

Blog Cabin: Entire NFL under arrest

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:51:21 EDT

In the news...

Apparently, “Listening to police” is not one of the lectures given at the NFL’s rookie symposium. Come on, Cedric Benson, what were you thinking? Don’t you watch the news? Don’t you get the NFL police blotter... err... newsletter?

I’ve got to tell you all, I’m getting pretty tired of ripping these guys for acting like idiots, but every time I hear about these things, I just feel appalled that someone who has done so well could jeopardize things by making such idiotic mistakes.

It seems like, at least once a week, some NFL player gets himself in to trouble and then compounds things by resisting arrest.