Bad Weather W, The Mitchell Report, & 23

Here’s your weekly does of knowledge you sick freaks.

Browns
It’s hard to evaluate any football game where the weather completely dominates play. Therefore, I won’t spend much time on the Browns’ ninth win of the season other than to congratulate them on making the playoffs. Again, I know it’s not official. Nor was it official when we declared the Indians divisional champs well-before they clinched. But it’s pretty obvious the Brownies will be playing into January unless they fold like a cheap tent.

Speaking of freaks – I felt Braylon Edwards played his best game as a pro on Sunday against the Bills. That's right - his best game. I know he didn’t have fantasy league stats, but he made several outstanding grabs under terrible field conditions. I was impressed. He showed consistency from the first snap to the last. That’s exactly what we want to see - every week.

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil
Bud Selig should be fired immediately. This steroids scandal occurred on his watch. The head guy should take the fall. Unfortunately, that won’t happen.

Why you ask?

Because the folks that pay his salary (owners) are also culpable. Anyone with an IQ over 75 knew 10 years ago baseball was in bed with the devil (steroids). We discussed it openly with some of this blog’s readers when they were mere pups, too young to get a drink or get into a #$@! bar. Remember?

MLB did not want to upset the gravy train that included two players chasing history and the rest of the league putting up numbers that made a 30/100 season merely seem average. The league was going through a renaissance, although it was obviously chemically induced. No one cared.

The owners didn’t want to ask questions, the players did not want to be tested – they never do - and the commissioner looked the other way.

The fans were also guilty – guilty of either not caring or being stupid. We love offense in our sports society. The rules are all bent that way to create more interest and to sell more Viagra on television. The fans went along for the ride because it got them up out of their seats more. They were being entertained.

ESPN, the network that brought you wall to wall coverage of the Mitchell report as though it was the death of a sitting president, is also at fault. I don’t remember anyone at that network crying foul when 5-9 middle infielders were hitting home runs the other way on balls down and away with regularity. I don’t recall any ESPN major investigation into this anomaly during the late 90s and beyond. Now they can’t get enough of the scandal – with their commentators sounding the familiar theme of “they need to clean up the game.” Right.

We complained about this near weekend softball league 10 years ago. I'm not that bright. Many people a lot smarter than me, and a lot closer to the action, knew exactly what was going on. Now these same entities say baseball needs to clean up its act.

Hypocrisy reigns supreme here. The bottom line - some people have no conscience.

Understand this - if it wasn’t for Congress getting involved several years ago, we would not even be where we are today. Sure, there would be testing, but it would be weak in nature and 50 home run seasons would still be the norm for power hitters.

For some reason, some 70+ players were named in the Mitchell Report. Everyone knows that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Why they had to name these specific names and what happens now is anyone’s guess.

Do they suspend the players that are still active? What can they do with players who retired years ago but were mentioned? How will this affect Hall of Fame entry?

Bud Selig stated that he will look at every player named “on a case by case basis and act accordingly.”

Who will look at his case? Who will judge the person in charge when all this took place? Who will decide if he stays or goes? Probably no one, that’s who.

MLB sold its soul for exposure and the almighty $. No one in a position of authority had the stones to step up and say something was amiss. Now everyone acts outraged.

What a joke.

23
Right now, when he (LJ) doesn't get a triple double, or close to it, the Cavaliers struggle. They will start winning again soon - especially at home. James will put them on his back again. But it is truly sad to see what is going on.

Think about it - what is worse, having no talent and no plan to turn the franchise around? Or having the game's best player and relying on him to do EVERYTHING EVERY NIGHT to get wins?

Pretty soon Danny Ferry will finally begin to draw criticism. As usual, everyone is behind the R. Jampo Curve - once again.

Till next time you geeks, freaks and $#@!.