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HR Derby champ
Miguel Tejada:
Added at the last minute, Tejada stole the show with a record 15 HR in the semis, then bashed past hometown fave Lance Berkman in the finals.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
SENATOR. DITKA.
Da Senator? Mike Ditka is considering a
run for U.S. Senate in Illinois this November as the
GOP's fill-in candidate, according to reports out of
Chicago. Heaven help us all.
"I'm just thinking about it."
Just thinking about it actually makes me shudder: It's
our Era of Celebrity Politics gone totally berserk.
Ditka makes Arnold look like FDR; he makes Jesse
Ventura look like Adlai Stevenson; he makes Tom
Osborne look like Tom Jefferson.
"I'm getting excited about it."
And that's what scares me. His celebrity alone will
energize voters -- of any leaning. When a candidate's
top qualification is "Won a Super Bowl," that's a
losing proposition for constituents.
Plus, we all know he's in the pocket of the E.D.
industry. Maybe it's time to bust out those outtakes
from the photo shoot with Wedding Dress Ricky
Williams.
"Ditka for Senate" would be among the greatest
amusements in sports history, but be careful what you
wish for -- a Saturday Night Live skit gone
so wrong.
Unit on the Block?
Randy Johnson is wasted on the D-Backs.
The best interests of baseball -- and baseball fans,
not to mention Johnson himself -- is to get him on a
contender, pitching in the playoffs, where
he said he's willing to go if a team can meet
Arizona's needs.
But say it all together now: "Anywhere but New
York!" The only pitching in the Bronx he should be
doing in the postseason is against the Yankees,
starting Games 1 and 7 at the Stadium for the visiting
team.
All-Star Storylines
Have you heard about this thing between
Clemens and Piazza, the starting NL All-Star battery?
Beltran's flip-flop: So does Carlos Beltran get
introduced as a member of the AL (for whom he was
picked?) or the NL (for whom he will play?)
Savvy-marketing alert: Why not both?
8 Yankees on AL roster: I argue it's only 7.5;
Jason Giambi is half his old weight -- and
talent.
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
"500 Club": Gathering of HR greats was the real thriller
Expos relocation: MLB reportedly eyes decision in August
Stan Van Gundy: New deal; ends that "Riley returns" rumor
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| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
BALCO: $772K fine seems to be least of their worries, no?
Baseball World Cup in '05: More likely, pushed to 2006
Master P: Rapper cut from Nuggets summer-league camp
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NL's "Outfield of Dreams": Uh, make that
two-thirds of a dream; Ken Griffey is limping
(again).
Gagne's redemption: Not touting a crazy save
streak anymore, but maybe he'll actually protect the
lead this time.
"It Counts": Stop the whining already. The
Marlins were really crippled having to play that W.S.
Game 6 in New York last year.
MJ/Heat Rumor
Psst: Here's a scoop! Michael Jordan
wants to own an NBA team. Stop the presses.
Anytime a team is even rumored to be up for sale, MJ
will be mentioned as in the mix. With the Diesel
coming to town, current Heat owner Mickey Arison would
be giving Shaq-loads of money away by selling even a
tiny slice right now.
BoozerGate
Suuure: You would return a
6-year/$60 million contract for a 1-year/$5 million
version. So why should Carlos Boozer? Because he
offends others' notions of decency? You can't eat
decency. Or buy a couple of vacation houses with
it.
Even if he could make more money down the road
by taking the short money from the Cavs now (and
repair that "image" problem -- a total media creation
outside of Cleveland, by the way), doesn't he run the
risk of injury? Or the Cavs screwing him next year?
Promises buy even less than decency.
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Adu the All-Star?
Anyone who complains about Freddy Adu
being named to the MLS All-Star team despite
lackluster stats doesn't understand what sports is
about: Entertainment (No, wait: Money.
Oh, sorry: Both.)
MLB at Midseason
To fulfill the preseason prophecy that
this would be the best baseball season ever (following
last fall's best postseason ever), at least a few
things should happen in the second half:
Down-to-the-wire pennant races
Please: Pitch to Barry Bonds!
Big Unit: AL Cy Young winner
Expos moved: "D.C. Senators"
Cubs, Red Sox make playoffs
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Grady Little:
Newsy for being the inspiration for the newest stadium-giveaway craze: "Bobble-arm" dolls (Brockton, Mass.), inspired by his ALCS snafu.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Page 2: Future 500 Club members |
| NFL: Offseason overviews |
| Stark: Big Unit trade rumors |
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| Big Unit's Most "Contenderish" Destinations |  Cubs
| Avoids Yankees until W.S.
|  Yankees
| Best chance to reach W.S.
|  Red Sox
| Schill reunion; not New York
|  Angels
| Warm locale; solid offense
|  Dodgers
| | Same division? No chance. |
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Is there anything more wasted in sports than pitchers
hitting in All-Star Games played in National
League parks? Useless! ...
Mark Mulder, the AL's All-Star starting pitcher, is
severely slept on, buried beneath hometown hype
(albeit worthy) for Clemens ...
As of midnight, NBA teams can sign free agents and
trade players; look for a day of madness tomorrow,
starting with Shaq ...
Then K-Mart: All signs point to this Nets and Nuggets
sign-n-trade swap; NJ *should* hold out for Earl
Boykins in the package ...
But whither Kobe? Lakers owner Jerry Buss wants a
meeting, but somehow I think Kobe's going to make up
his own mind ...
Condolences to family and fans of Isabel Sanford, who
as "Weezie Jefferson," was one of the most memorable
TV sit-com wives ...
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