REPORTING FROM THE JOCK-OSPHERE

Rob Benson: Get Up To Speed On My Boy

"I had been working out with Cal forward Ryan Anderson for weeks before I realized that nobody knew who he was. I have mentioned his name here many times, but still, it seemed like he wasn't getting the proper amount of respect," he writes. "The guy is good. He has a great chance of getting drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft. He averaged 21 and 11 this past season with the Cal Bears and was first-team All-Pac 10. His game is Troy Murphy-esque (don't hate, Troy can play), and his heart is filled with Boom-Tho-Ness. He just finished his sophomore year and he has yet to hire an agent, but he has all the tools to play in the League."

Don't forget to click through and peep Rod's interview with Anderson. It's like E:60 (sort of), complete with a birth certificate revelation!

Greg Oden: Freezes in Crunch Time Pick-Up Line with Rihanna

"Two days ago I went to the Kanye West, Rihanna concert," he writes. "I heard and knew almost every song that was performed, so I was jammin all night. I also had the chance to meet Rihanna and Kanye. I have been a fan of theirs since they both came out, but I have had a crush on Rihanna since I first saw her on TV. When I met her I froze up. I had all this great stuff in my head about what I was gonna say to her, but none of it came out. I ended up saying the cheeziest thing ever: 'umm, who are you,' I could have punched myself. Her beauty did that to me though. She is nice and when I get that picture I will blow it up and put it in my room. Hopefully I could meet her again and not freeze up. When I went back to our suite I watched her with binoculars and didn't look at nothing else. After coming down from cloud 9 from seeing her perform and meeting her, Kanye West had a unbelievable performance, so that ended the best concert I ever been to."

It'll be better next time, Greg- I promise. It can't get any worse than Corazza mis-pronouncing 'Kabbalah' in front of Madonna.

She almost Vogue'd his a**. True story.

CJ Nitkowski: Don't Mess With My Mitt

The former MLB pitcher—now in Japan—on the insidious Japanese umps cramping his glove style:

"After batting practice one day I was returning from a 45 minute session I had spent in an oxygen chamber (we have 3 at the Yahoo! Dome) when one of our translators informed me that an umpire was in my locker, along with my pitching coach, and took my glove," he writes. "I was angry for a couple of reasons; 1) why was an umpire in our locker room? 2) Why in the world was he taking something out of my locker without my permission? Our lockers are like your desk at work or your bedroom at home. They are not available for anyone to just walk up and take anything they wish. They are private, sacred areas to us. 3) How do they know they even took the glove I use in the game? I have 4 gloves in my locker.

"Instantly I went on a mission to find the umpire's locker room and get my glove back. On the way I ran into my pitching coach who had my glove and told me I am not allowed to use this glove because of the white lettering on a black leather glove. This is the same style glove I have used over the past 1 1/2 seasons in Japan, 60 games in the majors, 23 in the minors and about 20 or so more in spring training. Over 100 games in front of official NPB umpires and now they are bringing up the legitimacy of my glove? Why now?"

"At times the Japanese put a twist on the American rules of baseball but I can never seem to find a logical explanation why."

Hopefully this doesn't have an effect on our boy, Bobby V. Though he could always slap on a fake mustache and roll with it.

Thomas Williams: Welcome to the NFL

The Jacksonville Jaguar rookie hits the mall after practice:

"At 3:30, 4:00 we head back to the hotel and then it's free time," he writes. "If I'm not taking a nap I'll go out with some of the other rookies to get something to eat or check out the mall. They have a really nice town center. We'll walk around there, but can't stay out too long—the humidity will kill you!

"I finish the day off studying. I'm in my playbook for an hour and a half to two hours each night. Then I'll crash and get ready for that early wake up call the next day to start the routine all over again."

Paul DePodesta: Live Blogging the Draft

With the MLB draft popping off yesterday, Paul DePodesta went in-depth on the Padres picks. Get at it HERE. (Hurry and click today, it's time sensitive, people. )

Todd Jones: An Admission; the Draft Makes Us Think of Job Security

"Major leaguers look at today's draft differently than fans do," he writes. "We see kids who eventually will replace us. Baseball is a young man's sport, and these guys' ability to win big league jobs someday hits us all at some point.

"For the top prospects, the draft is a celebration of a job well done. The kids have been given the ability to play baseball and play it well. They get their signing bonus and a Nike shoe deal, an Oakley contract and maybe an Easton deal, and they're on their way. Sure, their representatives (wink, wink) will beat up the club for extra perks, but then it's off to the bushes to pursue a dream.

"The days before the draft can be agonizing. Clubs need to know who they are drafting now more than ever. These kids have taken tests and thrown bullpens or put on private workouts for all the clubs that are interested. Their parents long ago altered their lives to help their sons make it big. And now there's a house full of family and friends hanging around, waiting for the phone to ring."

Todd just keeps hoping it's the bullpen phone.

Flea: Don't Question My Fanhood!

"Anyways, my attitude now, is to love always, to not waste energy on anger and hatred," he writes. "Recently, a few months ago, I was playing golf with my two main golfing buddies one of them said to me, 'Man I read this really great book about Red Auerbach, how he used to meet with his like minded friends each week, and how to put together a great team, it is a really brilliant book. Red Auerbach was an amazing and innovative guy. I want to give it to you, it will inspire you.' I said to him, 'If you give me that book I will burn it.' He was offended, told me I was close minded, blah blah blah. He doesn't understand! The guy is from Colorado by the way, he just doesn't know. What is the point of being a Laker fan if you don't hate the Celtics? Lakers fans hate Celtics and Celtics fans hate Lakers. I am a very loving person, but this is a time [the Finals] when it is fun to hate."

Call us old fashioned, but Flea has a point; there's nothing wrong with developing rivalries. Oscar the Grouch gave Sesame Street the counter-punch it desperately needed to reel in the 3-5 year old demographic back in the early 80's.

Jeff Samardzija: Back on Track, Down with MMA

"Tired of using the phrase 'back on track' but it's definitely how I'm feeling," he writes.

"Probably one of my best outings of the season yet the other night. Threw 6 innings while giving up one run, no walks, three hits, and five K's. Really felt like putting things together over the past two weeks paid off. Had my movement back on my fastball, offspeed was hitting the spots, and finally getting ahead of hitters again. Not so much concerned with not getting the W, mainly pumped to get things dialed in again.

Anyone catch the Faber vs Pulver showdown over the weekend? Talk about insane, those guys got after it. Cool to see MMA events now on regular cable. That sport is getting huge lately…"

MMA is getting huge Jeff, but we're busy Re-appraising Kimbo Slice.

Bengie Molina: Baseball in my Blood

"Thanks for all your kind and encouraging words about my 1,000th hit," he writes. "As I told reporters, this holds enormous meaning for me. I was never supposed to reach the big leagues, much less last long enough to get 1,000 hits. Or at least other people never thought I'd make it. But I think baseball was always in my blood.

"When I rewind my brain to my very first memory, it is an image of a baseball field."

And rewind his brain he does; but don't take my word for it. Enjoy the rest of his colorful tale here.

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