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Rookie QB
Eli Manning:
Make that "rich rookie QB." Signed the biggest rookie contract in NFL history (6Y/$45M). Between he and Peyton, they could buy an NFL team.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
MANCHURIAN. CONTENDER.
It's "Manchuria" Mania!
"Manchurian Candidate" isn't just a highly
anticipated movie -- it's the hot summer catchphrase
that covers every conspiracy theory you can think of,
sports and otherwise.
Yes, from sketchy election results to that jerk in your
fantasy-football league who somehow drafted the best
team -- it's all a conspiracy.
For example: Which shady military-industrial
complex-type organization is the mastermind behind the
undeserving hype for Friday's ridiculous comeback
attempt of Mike Tyson?
Yankees trade? Manchurian.
Red Sox choke? Manchurian.
Ricky running? Manchurian.
Gibbs' success? Manchurian.
No, wait: That's "Snyderian."
Olympic safety? Manchurian.
Olympic scandal? Manchurian.
Kobe inno ... uh ... gui ... um ...
However it goes: Manchurian.
Conspiracy theories may be a powerful crutch
for us fans who are simply addicted to
excuses, but it sure is more satisfying
than that lame old standby, "We're cursed."
MLB Trade Deadline
Hardly the nail-biting conclusion to
the Randy Johnson Trade Derby. What a dud this will
turn out to be.
On the other hand, how about the wild swing
over Pirates P Kris Benson? Headed to the Twins right
up until Thursday; now all rumors point to the
Mets.
Meanwhile: Is Paul LoDuca on the block? And
will the Marlins get him for Brad Penny? Trade
deadline is 4 p.m. Saturday.
New Yankee Stadium?
Call it "The House that Competition-Crippling Wealth Built." The Yankees
reportedly want to build a new $700M stadium next to
their current one. Heresy? Please: With the Yankees,
it's always purely business.
Coaches' Top 25
Preseason rankings are how college
football's rich get richer: "Name" teams in the
top 5 simply have to win to keep their high spot; a
team ranked in the teens may be just as good as a team
in the top 5, but has to win and overcome
perception bias.
Want to glean which teams will be this season's
"hip" choices? Check out the top 5 that were "Not
Ranked" at the end of last season: WVa (No. 11); Cal
(15); Mizzou, Auburn, UVA (17-19).
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
A's: Down 4.5 G last Friday, back in the AL West lead already
Freddy Adu: Mic'd for MLS All-Star Game (Sat., 2 p.m., ABC)
White Castle slyders: "Harold/Kumar" make 'em hot
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| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Phillies: Swept by Marlins for *4th!* Series in a row
Chicago White Sox: Five straight Ls; all mo' vanished
A-Rod/Varitek: Brawl buddies given 4-game suspensions
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Vince to Knicks?
Vince may have the juice to
demand a trade to NYC (as being reported), but
the Knicks don't have nearly the prospects to make
anything but an insulting offer to the Raptors.
Unless ...
If I was Isiah, I'd dangle Marbury for Carter
in a New York minute. Thomas continues to insist that
Marbury is untouchable.
NFL Camping: AFC
Opening Friday, in descending order of
spice:
Bengals (Georgetown, KY)
Big hype: Carson Palmer
Real story: Building on '03
Jaguars (Jacksonville)
Big hype: "Leap" year?
Real story: Leftwich love
Chargers (Carson, CA)
Big hype: Menage a trois QBs
Real story: Signing P. Rivers
Titans (Nashville)
Big hype: G'bye Eddie!
Real story: Hello Antowain!
Browns (Berea, OH)
Big hype: New QB Jeff Garcia
Real story: Team in disrepair
Texans (Houston)
Big hype: Breakthrough year?
Real story: Carr insurance
Steelers (Latrobe, PA)
Big hype: Ben Roethlisberger
Real story: WR dis/malcontent
NFL Camping: NFC
More Friday openings:
Redskins (Ashburn, VA)
Big hype: Gibbs' return
Real story: Brunell's revival
Cowboys (Oxnard, CA)
Big hype: It's always Parcells
Real story: That mess at QB
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Lions (Allen Park, MI)
Big hype: Joey Harrington
Real story: Those badass WRs
Panthers (Spartanburg, SC)
Big hype: How to top '03
Real story: No, seriously ...
Bucs (Lake Buena Vista, FL)
Big hype: Post-Sapp era
Real story: As always, RBs
Vikings (Mankato, MN)
Big hype: That WWE guy
Real story: Tice still right?
Kickin' Bass
If I've said it once ... Bassmaster is
the new NASCAR. At least, it looked that way several
times over the past half-decade.
But upon further reflection, I'd like to
downgrade the sport to less than "next NASCAR" but
greater prospects than, say, "next poker."
If you thought watching cycling last weekend
was exciting, keep your eye on the "Tour de Fish"
the Bassmaster Classic. (Sat/Sun, ESPN, 5:30
p.m.)
Ricky W. Watch
Just to get a little closure for a busy
Ricky Watch week: It turns out it was the
dope?! Apparently staying true to self was
misleading; it should have been staying true to
spliff.
Next up for Ricky: How about a movie project?
"Harold and Ricky Go to White Castle."
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N.J. Nets:
Let Kittles go to the Clippers ... for 2nd-rd pick. The team is a walking experiment for that "VORP" argument from a few weeks ago.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Page 2: Sports Guy's Fe-Mail Bag |
| IN: Blue Ribbon college football previews |
| P3: Rock life vs. Jock life |
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| Great sports conspiracy theories |  Ewing lottery
| Refrigerated envelope?
|  UNLV '91
| Duke wasn't THAT good
|  The Tuck
| NFL always hated Raiders
|  Ripken's streak
| Lights didn't work? Hmm
|  Steroids/BALCO
| | Hey, wait a sec ... |
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Bonus NFL camping! Do late starts correlate to poor
late-season performance? We'll see. Camps starting over
the weekend:
Bills (Pittsfield, NY)
Hype: New coach
Real: "New" McGahee
Colts (Terre Haute)
Hype: Reigning MVP
Real: Next step?
Cards (Flagstaff)
Hype: WR L. Fitz.
Real: QB L. McCown
How bad does Urlacher's injury (reportedly sidelining
him for 4 weeks) hurt the Bears' season? Start
scouting top 5 '05 draftees ...
Now that Q Richardson is on the Suns (good for him!),
isn't the Phoenix 5 of Q, Nash, Joe Johnson, Marion and
Amare pretty solid? ...
Headline that shouldn't surprise you: "IOC
investigating 2012 host city bidding process."
Impropriety in Olympic city selection? No! ...
Seriously, if concrete falls on me at Saturday's Cubs
game, I'm going to be annoyed ...
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