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Lord of the Rings III:
If you're reading this, you aren't in ticket line (yet). If you wore costume to work, you need some help. Best trilogy ever?
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
DONE. DEAL.
Why couldn't A-Rod just re-do his
contract, making it easier for the Red Sox to
acquire him? (Or -- all but ignored -- easier for the
Rangers to afford to put talent around him.)
Blame the union, whose rules say players have
the freedom to juice like their name was "Ronco" but
don't have the freedom to modify their contracts
down.
And look at this: The union wants a seat at the
A-Rod-Manny, BoSox-Rangers, Henry-Hicks table, and is
going to graciously dictate restructured contract
terms for A-Rod.
Here's a gem of detail about MLB's labor deal,
from the AP report on the union's involvement: "Any
[downward financial contract] change would have to add
some benefit to the player."
They need the union to figure this out?!
What greater "benefit" to A-Rod could there be than
escaping the morass of Texas for World Series glory in
Boston?
As fans already understand, even before this
mega-deal goes through today or tomorrow: There's
more to benefit than money.
Horn Fined 30K
But it was SO worth it.
Next time, just cut to the chase: The next
iteration of the end-zone celebration should be
pulling the bank-book from the sock and cutting the
league a check right there in the end zone.
More fines:
Horn buddy Michael Lewis:
Slapped for $5K as an "accomplice," which is an
unappealing choice of words by the NFL. It's not like
they committed a crime, for crying out loud.
Overshadowed Chad Johnson:
"Hey NFL: Please don't fine me again!!!!"
signage went unheeded (he's $10K
poorer).
Mavs at Celtics
Here's the fans' real game tonight
at the Fleet Center: Which conscience-free player will
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BUSY? READ THIS NOW; BOOKMARK QUICKIE FOR LATER |
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| TODAY'S THREE HOTTEST STORIES |
1 A-Rod: Here comes the union! Restructured contract key
2 Horn 30K-fine backlash: NFL no-win; everyone unsatisfied
3 "Lord/Rings" mania: Top well-executed film trilogy ever? |
| THREE STORIES YOU SHOULD JUST LET GO |
1 Titans riding hot backup QB Billy Volek: Out for season
2 AI playing this week: Says needs to sit; team disagrees
3 New Seattle SS O. Vizquel: Fails physical (nulls trade?) |
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shoot more -- ex-Celtic Antoine Walker or new Celtic
Ricky Davis?
Over-under on combined shots: A lot more
than 31, their combined '03 FG attempts/game average.
Try 40.
Not Hot: Titans
Two Titans scenarios:
1) Injured QB Steve McNair rallies from
injury, returns for playoffs, justifies "leading fan
vote-getter" Pro Bowl status, carries Titans to three
straight road playoff wins and into Super Bowl.
Or ...
2) Titans limp into postseason without McNair
and without backup Billy Volek (out for season), and once-promising season ends in wild-card
round.
MLB Notes
Eclipsed by blinding East Coast Bias,
the top-heavy AL West is turning into a "Mini-Me"
version of the drama-queen AL East:
*The latest from the new Anaheim ownership's
underrated offseason acquisition spree:
Out-recruited the Mets for free-agent OF Jose
Guillen (.311, 31 HRs in '03) ...
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*The A's have a deeper pitching rotation than
the Yankees and Red Sox combined: Quietly
swiped Mark Redman from the Florida (Dismantling? Us?
No!) Marlins yesterday. Redman (14-9, 190 IP, 1.22
WHIP) joins Hudson, Zito, Mulder, Harden,
Duchscherer ...
*The Mariners' trade for ageless SS Omar Vizquel is
off, for now. Apparently, he has aged a
little bit; he failed a Seattle physical ...
Daytona Watch
Start your Ben-gines! Apparently the new NASCAR tradition: For the second
straight year an actor (Ben Affleck) will be the
Daytona 500 Grand Marshal.
Points for the pop-culture connection, but with
Nextel as their new top sponsor, is there any doubt
that Joe Horn should've been their call?
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NFL Fine Police:
Quick to hit players, but where's smackdown for Lions exec Matt Millen for using a gay slur? He apologized, but that never stopped NFL before.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Page 2: Biggest trades of all time |
| IN: MLB Rumor Central |
| Vote: Who should go to Pro Bowl? |
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| Best Movie Trilogies Ever: |  Lord of the Rings
| FX, epic story tip scales
|  Star Wars
| Religion for scary many
|  Godfather
| Hurt by No. III stinker
|  Matrix
| 1: Whoa; 2/3: Let-downs
|  Others: Indiana Jones
| | 'McFly'; Scream; AmPie |
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Kudos to Kevin Millar for telling it like it is on the
6 p.m. SC: A-Rod *IS* better than Nomar/Manny ...
Jockey/Seabiscuit star Gary Stevens wants to try
acting full-time. Next: Plays Monica and Chandler's
adopted baby on 'Friends' ...
What did Red Sox see in new 2B Mark Bellhorn? Couldn't
be .230 lifetime avg; must be that inning where he hit
switch-hit for 2 HRs ...
20 Nebraska players reportedly threaten "Transfer!" if
asst Bo Pelini isn't promoted; isn't in-house hiring
how they screwed up before? ...
Bowl season off to slow start: Quickie pick North
Texas "Mean Green" stifled by underrated Memphis,
27-17 in New Orleans Bowl ...
(If) When A-Rod arrives, BoSox angling to dump Nomar on
the White Sox for awesome Magglio Ordonez? Theo
Epstein is a GENIUS ...
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