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Manny Ramirez:
"I'm still here. I'm here to win. I'm here to help
this team win for 2005." And apparently win Sunday,
when he had the pinch-hit, game-winning RBI.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
RIFF. RAFF.
We can assume that Rafael Palmeiro
wasn't busted for testing positive for Viagra.
But Raffy can't assume that fans will simply buy his
protest that he never "intentionally" took the
steroids he was just busted for using.
He can't explain himself this time, which is a
contrast to his outraged "never-never-never" testimony
in front of Congress last spring.
That's what makes this so shocking: Of all the players
who testified last March, Palmeiro offered the
strongest, most heartfelt denials.
He was in the clear.
And apparently The Clear, or something similar.
Just weeks after ensuring that his name would forever
be attached to the remarkable 3,000-hit club (and even
more remarkable 3,000-hit, 500-HR club), he's now ensured, intentionally or not, that he'll
always be remembered for being the first high-profile
bust of the same MLB steroid plan he so strenuously
supported last spring.
MLB Trade Dudline
You know it's a lame trade deadline
when ... Matt Lawton is the biggest name of the
day.
Farnsworth? Groom? Blum? Zzz.
Of course, Dave Roberts was exactly this kind of
narcoleptic move last year, and he ended up with a
pivotal role in Boston's ALCS miracle.
I'm not saying Geoff Blum isn't the utility infielder to
get the White Sox over the top, but only that you
never know with these things.
HOF Inductions
Who knew that Ryne Sandberg had so much
pent-up hostility? His money quote:
"If this validates anything, it's that learning how to
bunt and hit and run and turning two are more
important than knowing where to find the little red
light on the dugout camera."
So: Do you think Sandberg will show up at Sammy Sosa's
HOF induction? And wouldn't that be ironic,
given yesterday's no-shows?
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
|
| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Vijay Singh: What "Big One"? Holds off Woods to win Buick
NBA in Vegas: Site of 2007 All-Star Game?
Stephen A. Smith: Your favorite yakker debuts his new show |
| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Dusty to Dodgers: Cubs mgr. denies report he loves L.A.
D.C. Region Baseball Teams: O's, Nats suddenly summer cold
NCAA: Antitrust lawsuit from NIT begins in New York today |
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NFL Camp: Eagles
Will T.O. show? There's a 7 p.m.
meeting to kick off Eagles camp, and it's a
day-of-game decision whether Owens will be in
Bethlehem, Pa., for it.
Considering T.O.'s stature among NFL stars, the Eagles
Super-breakthrough in 2004 (and the correlation
between them), this is the most dramatic showdown of
the training-camp season.
NFL Holdouts
Hines Ward holding out, as expected.
Here's the problem: He won't show up at camp without a
new deal, but the team won't negotiate with him until
he shows up. See the problem?
Another intractable conflict is driving all this
summer's contract issues, from Ward to T.O. to Bubba
Franks: Players should try to get their best
deal, but teams should try their best to not give in.
Fans have limited patience for players like Ward, who
have earned leeway from MVP-quality efforts last
season. (Limited patience for teams, too: Kudos to the
Cards for giving stud WR Anquan Boldin a 4-year
extension.)
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Joe Johnson to ATL
Hunh?! Of the Day: Rising star would
rather be The Man for a terrible Hawks team than
supporting cast on a Suns contender?
Amazingly, it's not about the money: The Suns were
prepared to match the Hawks' 5-year, $70 million offer.
It's hard to fault his dilemma, seeing how well
Gilbert Arenas has done with the same strategy in
Washington. (Still: The Hawks?!)
You know the old saying:: The road to a 15-win
season is paved with good intentions.
Quickie 50/50: NC
Impressions of N. Carolina:
Hoops Hotbed: UNC, Duke, Wake, NC State forms the
best combo of college hoops of any single state. Cult
and culture of hoops defines N.C.
Vote Best of N.C.
here!
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NFL rookie holdouts
Unlike stars like Ward or T.O., rookies like Ced Benson
and Pac-Man Jones have no record to justify holdouts
(or to earn fan support). Get to camp already.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Quickie live! |
| Clayton on Colts |
| HOF Roll Call |
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| MLB Weekend Results |  Giambi Rules
| 2 HRs Sunday, 14 in July
|  Braves Rolling
| 18-8 July, 5 up on Nats
|  Padres Sliding
| D-Backs 1st in West
|  DC-area Debacle
| O's, Nats both stink
|  No More Trade Talk
| | Pennant races are on |
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More NBA Trade Rumors: Eddie Jones from Heat to Griz
for Jason Williams and James Posey? Jerry West likes Jones;
J-Will spicy enough for SoBe?
Of course Sean Taylor smiled arriving at Redskins camp
on Sunday. You'd smile too if you were on the practice
field, not in the exercise yard.
Sure, you know that Sidney Crosby was the No. 1
overall pick of Saturday's NHL draft. But can you name
anyone after that? Didn't think so.
Vikings sign WR Williamson: He's no Randy, but maybe
that's a good thing.
The Panthers are doing the right thing retiring Sam
Mills' No. 51.
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