Respect is a funny thing. It is something that needs to be earned. It can be earned in several ways. Such as here at the Gab where we have all earned each other’s respect. That respect was earned mainly through our writings and opinions on a variety topics in sports and life in general. That respect has even carried further as we all got to know each other some through cyber space and some through actual communication. We have carried that respect further as we have learned to have differences of opinion and voice those opinions in a non offensive way. We all follow some unwritten rules and we all understand there is a proper way to voice a difference of opinion and there is not.

If a new person comes into the community they will be give respect to a point but if they go beyond any of the unwritten rules or cross any of the lines that our culture has established they will loose the respect of the community. As here and any place else the new person goes to the bottom of the chain and has to earn his or her way into the community. This is done by establishing him or herself by demonstrating certain conduct and eventually through a body of work.

Sometimes a person establishes him or herself because they were successful somewhere else and established a track record in a given field as did many of us who have landed here. Although a person has developed respect in a field they still have to fit into the new organizations culture to make it work and earn the respect of their peers as we have all done here.

To put into a more of a  sports related concept NFL camps opened this week and there are countless rookies out there. Rookies are the new kids on the block. They have landed in the NFL due to a body of work. Unfortunately , in professional Sports they have to establish a new body of work. They start with a clean slate and anything done previously doesn’t count.

 They need to earn the respect of the veterans. This is done by a body of work in some cases just making the team is enough. In other cases they maybe judged by their work  and work ethic during their first season. In all cases they have to conform to the teams culture and follow both the written rules set by the team and the league and the unwritten rules set by the players.

When a player who hasn’t established himself through a body of work, and refuses to conform to the unwritten rules .he ill pay dearly for both his arrogance and his ignorance. That will follow him throughout his career and in the NFL that career maybe very short.

So when a veteran asks a rookie who hasn’t done a thing in the league to carry his pads that rookie has two choices to conform to the unwritten rule and carry them to show he is or wants to be part of the team. If he refuses he may pay dearly in the future.  

He will loose respect among peers and sometimes the new guy has to just go along until he earns the respect of his peers. Now some of you may think these rituals are a form of hazing and that’s fine for a High School kid or a college kid. But this is the pro ranks and these rituals have been going on for as long as the league has been in existence. It’s more a unwritten team building thing the unwritten rules are established and enforced by the players and for the players.

A kid like Dez Bryant needs to learn quickly it’s more than his ego and just catching footballs. The kid has played enough football to understand it’s the ultimate team sport and every part works off every other part. The ignorance excuse that the Cowboys PR guy spun isn’t enough especially amongst the players. Dez will get his but we may never now how. If he doesn’t conform to the culture it will be a long and lonely career.

Happy Thursday Gabbers!

Finally, a day that I thought would never come has arrived, as the NFL season is officially underway now that teams are reporting to training camp. I don't know about you guys, but I've been craving football since the Saints won the Super Bowl, and now that thirst will finally be quenched as the season is underway. (I will do a prediction post in a few weeks after the preseason roster cuts are made, that way I can account for any drastic preseason injuries to star players and make the best predictions possible ... even though they will still be horribly wrong.)

And, contrary to what ESPN wants you to believe, there are stories in the NFL that don't involve Tim Tebow and Brett Favre, so let's take a look at what's going on around the league.

First of all, Dez Bryant needs to be taped to a goal post and get the ol' ice water bath for his pathetic refusal to carry Roy Williams' pads after practice. Hey Dez, whether you like it or not, you're worthless in the NFL until you actually do something on the field, and as a rookie it's your job to show respect to the veterans and carry their pads (and order their lunch, and get their coffee, and park their cars, etc.) - so instead of being a douchebag diva, how about show a little respect and do what you're told? And don't give me the "I'm here to play football" excuse. Bull shit, you're there to make a name for yourself, otherwise you would have done what every other rookie has done in the past and you would have carried the man's pads. Oh, and the "I didn't know it was a tradition" excuse, that's horse shit too. I don't even play football and I knew about that tradition, so save it for someone who might actually believe it.

The Cincinnati Bengals just became the "most likely to get a reality show" team in the league with their recent acquisition of Terrell Owens. Adding T.O. to the same roster as Chad Ochocinco and Pacman Jones is begging for media attention, and I feel sorry for Carson Palmer, who will spend the next 20 weeks of his life answering questions from the media as to why his diva receivers can't get along because one of them has more catches and touchdowns than the other one, and why one of the team's defensive backs can't seem to stay out of the local strip clubs.

I'm still trying to figure out who thought it was a great idea to put T.O. and Ochocinco on the same field at the same time for the same team. They do realize there's only one football right? How long do you guys think it will take before T.O. throws Palmer under the bus for targeting Ochocinco more?

You know ... that makes a great question of the week.

How long will it take T.O. to return to his old ways and call out the Bengals for not using him enough in the offense?

a.) less than 3 weeks
b.) 3-9 weeks
c.) 10 or more weeks
d.) he won't cause any problems

(For the record, if you pick D, you're either really drunk, or just fucking with everyone to skew the votes. And, in case you're wondering, my vote is B.)

Moving on to baseball, I'm happy to report that as of this writing, A-Roid is still sitting on 599 steroid-induced home runs. Nothing would make me happier than to see him sit on 599 for the rest of the season (even though I know that's not gonna happen, but it would be great), because in my opinion the douchebag doesn't deserve to hit 600 home runs.

Speaking of douchebags, if you've been around here for any length of time you know my hatred for Magglio Ordonez. Well, it appears that karma finally caught up with the mother fucker and caused him to break his ankle while sliding into home plate recently, and after seeing the replay on SportsCenter, I only had one thing to say about the ordeal...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! TAKE THAT FUCKER!!!!

Ok, now that I've got that out of my system, I would like to take second to congratulate Rays pitcher Matt Garza for pitching the first no-hitter in Rays history, and I would also like to congratulate Evan Longoria for succesfully pulling off the shaving cream pie to the face ritual after the game, unlike Marlins outfielder Chris Coglan, who tore his knee doing the post-game celebration after a walk-off hit against Atlanta over the weekend. How in the hell do you fuck up something so simple as a pie to the face? He claims that he jumped and landed wrong on his knee ... well why the hell did you jump? Was the guy that much taller than you, where you had to jump to reach his face? I just don't understand how these guys can fuck up something so simple as hitting a guy in the face with a towel full of shaving cream, but maybe it takes more skill than I think it does. Who knows?

Well, that's all I have for this week. If you have anything you would like to add to the conversation, please feel free to drop a comment in the comment section below and keep the conversation going.

Until next Thursday...
 

 When the facts are all analyzed it is easily determined that Paul is a bigger prima-donna and egotist than James; and that’s saying something. Paul feels like the Hornets owe him something they simply cannot provide, championship caliber players. In reality the Hornets owe Paul nothing more than fulfilling their contractual obligations. Now if the contract states that the Hornets will guarantee Chris Paul a championship ring during his obligation in New Orleans then by all means Chris has a valid argument. This is not the case, therefore Paul needs to shut up, the media needs to stop chumming the story, and David Stern is right to warn teams about tampering.

 Meanwhile the Hornets are essentially between a rock and hard place. If New Orleans sticks to their guns and don’t trade Paul they will have a bitter locker room, a superstar unwilling to work hard to win, and fans who don’t feel a connection with their star. If the Hornets grant the trade the fallout from caving to the demands of a player who still has two years on contract could cause a cataclysmic ripple across the league, not to mention the New Orleans program. The best scenario for New Orleans would be to start the season, let the waters calm, see what position their team is in come the trade deadline and potentially move Paul at that time. At the very least they can publically claim a lost case to help alleviate some of the league backlash. Toronto was in a similar situation this past season and made the mistake of not getting anything valuable back for an extremely disgruntled Chris Bosh. Now he plays for a division rival and the Raptors are left picking up the pieces of their fractured franchise.

In the end New Orleans has a chance to turn an extremely bitter and disastrous situation into something worthwhile. The only thing I dread is the ripple effect from a bad decision by a newly managed franchise.

Thanks for reading.

Given that footballs are made of pigskin and baseballs are made of cowhide, would you rather be a pig or a cow?

This just in...earlier reports regarding Dez Bryant refusing to carry the shoulder pads of Roy Williams, appear to be overblown by the media. Or to quote Bryant, "I didn't know nothing about no tradition," Bryant said. "The only thing about me ... when I try to do something right, y'all try and turn it negative and I don't feel like that's right. I'm trying my best to do the right thing but it seems like I can't do the right thing because every little thing that I do y'all watching it and try to make a big deal out of it."  Well, that certainly clears up this issue for me. It does however cause me to wonder about the degree plan that Bryant was on at Oklahoma State. I will assume that he was not an English major. Welcome to professional football Dez.

We will have to wait a bit to welcome Terrence Cody to professional football.

Apparently, Terrence is too out of shape to participate in training camp. The Ravens

don't seem to think this is too big of a deal. Cody showed up at the senior bowl

weighing 370, but a month later he was down to 354. Coach Harbaugh thinks that this just happens to some rookies.

. "Guys learn that there is a certain level of expectation in terms of  

  conditioning that goes with being an NFL player, especially

 for this team. He is going to have to get himself in the kind of shape

 that he needs to be in." I have a feeling that this is not the first time that

Cody has had to work his way into playing shape.

.

I know that many of you have been worried where TO would end up this year. Are you surprised that the Bengals have added TO to their roster? So, how does Ocho Cinco feel about this? Evidently, he is very happy at the addition of Owens. In fact, Ocho Cinco announced the signing of TO by tweeting over the OchoCinco News Network. Huh? is this sort of like CNN?

Here are a few samples:

I guess I don't get it. But, I guess when your name is Ocho Cinco this is how you roll.

Now for a few things that I do get...

This was passed on to me at work this week. The article was in the Dallas Morning News:

 To Roger Staubach, still Captain America -- Recently, my brother was sitting in first class on a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Colorado Springs when a couple boarded and sat in front of him. He immediately recognized the man as Roger Staubach. They exchanged greetings, and Staubach said he was headed to Colorado Springs for the inaugural Warrior Games.

After 60 or 70 percent of the plane was boarded, a female Army soldier who had lost her leg boarded. Staubach insisted she sit in his seat; she said, "no, thanks," but he insisted. He took her place in a middle seat way in the back. After a few minutes, the young girl got tears in her eyes and said she wanted to go to her seat and have Staubach return to his.

The flight attendant overheard, and, as the female soldier headed to retrieve Staubach, the attendant said she had a no-show and both could sit in first class.

The flight attendant returned with the female soldier, but Staubach sent a double amputee Army soldier to sit in his seat. Staubach remained in coach the entire flight and disembarked last. My brother waited and asked for an autograph for my birthday; Staubach said certainly. It's a great gift, but the greater gift is knowing Roger Staubach is still Captain America. 

You may not like the Cowboys, but it is hard to find much wrong with Staubach.

In Oklahoma City, a sixteen year old cheeleader assisted police in detaining a shoplifter. Kealey Oliver was on the phone talking to her mom when she noticed a guy running away from the mall security (imagine that). She put her phone down and tackled the thief, taking him to the ground. For her efforts, she received a scratch on her arm and a bruise on her knee. She accomplished all of this while wearing a strapless dress.

Now, I will leave you with a bit of Jack Handy: "As I bit into the nectarine, it had a crisp juiciness about it that was very pleasurable - until I realized it wasn't a nectarine at all, but A HUMAN HEAD!!" 

Yeah. I had to start there. Mainly because I just want to see this guy guy hit number 500 so I can watch baseball on ESPN or Fox again this year without a pull out to see him try to hit it. I hope I'm not watching when it happens. I don't want to see it. I'm willing to bet you don't want to see. Bud Selig might. ESPN does or must since they are the only people talking about it in any sort of good faith. Purists don't want to see it.

Now, I know we need to break out of the steroid era somehow, but I just don't get how people have decided to give this guy a free pass while they will drag others through the mud.

Case 1: Mark McGwire. He's come out. He's admitted it. Big Mac juiced. But, he wasn't alone in it. If a guy like Jose Canseco knew, others must have. Besides, he did it and, in effect, brought the game back from the brink. Maybe it was just the scale of the lie. It was huge. A whole nation watched and rooted for him that summer. We all wanted to see Big Mac win it. When the allegations came, many supported him, though none were surprised when he admitted to it.

Was he ever more than just power? I think so. Bonds was power. A Rod has power to spare. But, neither of them were likeable, marketable guys. Big Mac was. For a few years, he was baseball. I'll always remember it, even if voters decide to cast him out as a cheater.

Case 2: Bonds. I see some parallels between the two. Bonds wasn't a well liked guy, especially to fans. He came off as a dick. I remember the feeling I'd get when they cut away to show his at bats. I rooted for each one to hook foul. How could a guy like that top Big Mac and eventually a guy Like Henry Aaron? As I said above, McGwire is far from innocent, but he has one advantage: he's not a dick. Hank Aaron achieved what few thought was possible while battling prejudice no man should have to face. Bonds did what no man wanted while battling a self-inflicted prejudice.

I feel the same way when I flip by ESPN and see them bring up Rodriguez. He's just done so much to turn the fans away. He came out and owned up, but then he walked away with the same man he said injected him. He took the most ill-advised, vain photo shoot possible just before his big declaration. He didn't outright shun people like Bonds. Bonds shunned people because he was not a man who wanted to be public. Rodriguez has done all he can to be public, but has only succeeded in drawing the public away.
 

Case 3: Roger Clemens. People make the same excuses for Rodriguez that they do for Clemens when the HOF is brought up: he was a great player before the steroids. So? Shoeless Joe was a great player before the betting scandal. Pete Rose was a great player before he was busted for betting on the team he managed. Neither of them is in the hall. Neither of them will probably ever be in.

I'm fine with that.

I don't like the idea of saying steroids aren't as big a deal as betting. If anything, they're worse. You know why, I don't have to tell anyone here. Stick by your guns though. If cheating is unacceptable, than it is in all cases. You either lock all players who have provided reasonable enough evidence of usage or have admitted to using out, or you forefit any reason for barring anyone.

I'll swallow any positive coverage of Rodriguez hitting 600. If he beats Bonds, I can live with that too. I will draw a firm line, however, at admitting him to Cooperstown.

Well, not me as in the guy writing this. The guy New Orleans hired to make this poster did...for a fee. Anyone who bought it did...at that time.....for $10.

Should fans believe in him? No. It's hard to believe any athlete anymore, but especially in the new less competition, less true teams NBA. Paul has publicly come out and denied rumors that he wanted dealt. He has said he believes in the team and the direction they are headed.

Still believe? Lebron made similar comments after the Cavs acquired Shaq last off season. He was happy with the late season move to grab Antwone Jamison from the Wizards. Didn't keep him around. even now, reports continue to come in that Paul still wants a trade.

All I can think of is the mess a few years down the road when Paul does leave. It will probably make the Cleveland fans look well mannered by comparison. New Orleans and its fans will stand behind any of its teams, as long as they stand behind the city.

Well, that's it for tonight. Lot of things I didn't get to mention. Sad news as Jack Tatum passed away today at 61. Looks like Yao might not be playing much longer if his foot doesn't hold up. Apparently Europe has another lame race up it's puffy, ruffled sleeves: a power walk race. I think a 19 year old Italian won.

Thank you for reading and any comments you may leave. Have a good rest of the week, we're halfway through.

I'd like to ask all the Gabber's to join me in wishing Steve and Stacy a Happy Anniversary!  I wish for nothing more than continued happiness for you both in the years to come. Congratulations!!!

I'm once again battling writers block...trying to make sense of it all..you see it makes no sense at all...clowns to the left of me jokers to the right....sorry fan , don't take that as an insult 

the more things stay the same the more things change!

Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France
of course he's there....but he can't win.

was that NHL defensman Steve Montador that won the Tour??????

Tiger Woods....at one point a shoe-in to win more Majors than anyone else.....not such a sure thing now!

A Rod, best shot at setting the all time HR sterecord....
quietly approaching 600 and NOBODY cares.

hat's off to

John Lackey pitched 8 2/3 innings of no hit ball, left with a 6-1 lead...Sox won in 11, 8-6 best no decision of John's career
thanks to Manny Delcarmine's 5 run no out goat like relief performance

I was inspired by Mo and took on the "project of the week"
last week....
my outdoor kitchen I've been planning for about two years.
Oldharry and concrete are not a good mix.

I got down and dirty and tweaked the cranky back but....

I've got the duel fuel grill, gas left, charcoal right, I've got the granite bar, I've got the patio and the 22' x 26' deck wrapping around the 5' diameter circular fire pit, I'm working on the pergola and the walks, I have my zero gravity lounger from Father's day and I have some Sam Adams Summer Ale...all I am lacking is ....help!
Mrsharry is working and my four sons, ages 30, 28, 21 and 17 are busy doing that which young men do on a hot summers day: rock climbing in NH, beach with girlfriend, serving as a "pool boy, going to a wedding... and my 19 yearold daughter is finishing up the details of her summer prior to heading off to Camp Lejune in September.

My birthday was Monday(age 49 years 108 months) and inspite the fact that I am quite fit for...as my doctor put it "A man your age" I feell like T.O.

tired, I'm tired. No really, I've got plenty of "pep" as my Dad used to say back in the day when talking about the 390 V-8 powerplant under the hood of the 1964 Galaxy XL This baby has a lot of pep!

And speaking of political  f a holes Did you hear about
John Kerry's 76' boat, $7 mil docked in Newport to avoid paying
state taxes in the commonwealth he represents as
the senior senator... a savings to JfK of $500,000....or is that a fraudulent loss of $500,000 to the Commonwealth of MA???

If it was Me....the MA DOR would be on me like flys on a cigar for trying to stiff my home state

wonder if the voters will make Johnny pay for this.....at the polls.
I wonder if Doris will  finnaly get her oats!
  
 
astronomers with high resolution cameras found the body of
Alice Kramdon near tranquility base, landing sight of
the Apollo moon landing.

Speaking of space....there was a Russian an American and a blond

The American said " we've been to the Moon..."

The Russian said " We're going to Mars"

the Blond said, "we're going to land on the Sun"

The Russian said, "you can't land on the Sun...it's too hot!"

The blond replied..."no silly, we're going at night!"

As you all know I live out in the country, a very small town with no stop lights, no fast food restaurants, and far more cowboy hats and wranglers than anybody would believe out here in Cali.  I have to listen to all these media douches continue to tell me how great places like that cesspool NYC is, and I (no, my friend Bocephus) has a freaking message for ya:

You see, I chose to get away from your crap and live the simple life, and you know what?  A country boy truly can (and always does) survive.  FUCK THE BIG CITY!!!  There will be more from Bocephus next week (and no, it won’t be “Are you ready for some Football”!!!).  On to the sports rants…

MLB.    Thank you to Casey Blake, Clayton Kershaw, and Joe Torre.  By being little douches, they have brought some good old fashioned hatred back to the Giants/Dodgers rivalry and I for one couldn’t be happier.  Going back to Blake, I guess you decided to show a pitcher up?  Kershaw plunking Rowand was a particularly pussified move on the Dodgers part after Lincecum hit their batter, Timmy boy’s first hit batter in 116 innings.  Let me add fuel to the fire:  DODGERS – YOU SUCK!  (No offense, DVT!).

Alberto Callaspo to the Angels?  Damn, that’s a good trade for Anaheim.  Strong hitting third baseman to go along with that lineup?   Yeah, most of them might be closer to the end of their careers but adding Callaspo’s bat can only help.   Now they add Danny Haren?  The AL West just might get a little bit more interesting.

Chone Figgans, I don’t need to recap your week, do I?  You’re starting to act like one of those NBA divas.  Speaking of which…

NBA .  The NBA should just CONTRACT!!!  Make it eight or ten teams in the largest markets and let the superstars play together, it’s what THEY and Stern want, so let’s stop pretending, just come right out and do it.  What do you do with the other teams, make them a minor league.

Well lookie here, it took what, two weeks for other players to start aligning.  First one ALLEGEDLY is Chris Paul.  Good for the Hornets to tell him (and his handlers) to piss off, and VERY SMART of Paul to play this off and make a public statement about staying in Nawlins!!! 

You all have heard me vent on this before, but after reading this article, I’m more convinced than ever that the Sacramento Kings will be the Las Vegas Kings sooner rather than later.  Proof? …

 http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jul/14/nba-team-under-contract-if-las-vegas-builds-arena/

I have said for years that the Maloofs have been looking to get out of Sacramento and move to Vegas.  I suspect that this is the team that is ALLEGEDLY under contract to somebody in Vegas.  Hang on folks, the NBA’s dirty little secrets that everybody’s been screaming about are soon going to become undeniable. 

Australian Football League.   Now this week, ESPN2 didn’t have the footy!  I’m about to throw something at my damn TV.  Somebody tell me where I can catch some of this action – PLEASE!!!

CFL – Edmonton @ Winnipeg. 

http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/12757?autostart=true

Damn Edmonton, how’d that taste?  It’s been my experience that you don’t often talk about defense in the CFL, but Winnipeg laid the wood to Edmonton at least in the first half.  Steven Jyles, the QB for Winnipeg looked all world and should get a look from the NFL if this game is any indication of his talent.  #2 for the Eskimos must have had the catch of the year.  By the way Ricky Ray, I know you’re better than that – come correct dude.  Either that or Edmonton better get a far better O-Line. 

Speaking of Football, let me go off the board for this one.  Apparently there is a yearly all-star High School game between Saskatchewan and North Dakota and how it potentially helps the growth of Football in Canada.  Here’s the story:

http://www.cfl.ca/article/bates-the-importance-of-minor-football

NFL.  Joe Flacco, sometimes the best (and hardest) thing a purported leader of any team can do is shut their mouths and support the decision of the bosses above them.  Even though I like you I have to say this – STFU, it’s your team, not Bulger’s, he’s only there to help.  Get better or get out of the way!

Hey St. Louis Rams, are you crazy or just plain stupid?  Are you seriously considering bringing in “Me-O” to “work” with Sam Bradford?  He’ll “work” with him alright…

Leave it to the Dallas Cowgirlz to start training camp with WR DRAMA.   Miles Austin messin' with Kim Kardashian.  Dez Bryant won’t carry vets pads and seemingly won’t tolerate any hazing against him.  Good for him - If he stays all business he’s perfectly within his rights, and it’s damn sure what Dallas needs – somebody whose all business, a player whose there to do a job, not be an underachieving WR’s bitch for six or eight weeks.  Roy Williams should worry about catching passes and improving HIMSELF before you even consider “initiating” a guy whose sole focus is to take the job that you haven’t done.  Freaking diva-ass Drama Queens…

College Football.  I don’t like Nick Saban for many reasons, but I loved his take about the NFL keeping control of the agents – AND I AGREE!  Keep those slithering snakes away from campus and only allow them at the combine in February.  Hey Sheriff Goddell, don’t pass this off on the union, take steps to fix this.  Too many kids are getting caught up in somebody else trying to live off their achievements.

I’m far more concerned about the ridiculous behavior of the scumbag parents, agents, recruiters, and private schools at the 8^th-12^th grade level.  The behavior of all is despicable!!!

Lane Kiffin, you’re a damn fool.  By the way, what is it with you vs. the Great State of Tennessee?  Pissing off U$C alum Jeff Fisher (of all people) by taking one of his coaches without so much as a request to interview, then leaving a voice mail to Fisher saying you hired the dude?  Your dad Monte must be real proud.  I can’t wait until Pat Haden reigns you in – AND HE WILL!!!  By the way, screwing with the State of Tennessee is like screwing with someones food or emotions, it will bite you down the line.    

Question of the Week – Obnoxious on TV.  We talked a week or two ago about reality TV, and there was a show I forgot to mention – Hell’s Kitchen.  I like to cook, but I would NEVER want to do that for a living.  Anyway, Gordon Ramsay has to be the most obnoxious and abusive, yet funny person on TV.  Thoughts?

Rant of the week –Jimmy Johnson.  Hey Jimmy, HOW ‘BOUT THAT EXTENZE?  Look dude, you live your life and that’s cool.  First your pimping Extenze, and now you’re gonna go on Survivor?  Dude, you’re a Football Coach AND you’re 67, not 45 and going through a mid-life crisis.   If anything, that should be Terry Bradshaw’s gig – ugly dude probably needs it!

Tour de France.  Alberto Contador, I still hate you but for this year you are the best cyclist – only because Andy Schleck had a 30 second problem with his bike chain while trying to make a run.  Consider yourself VERY lucky, you win the tour and you’re NOT French.  I’ll be dogging you next July douche bag!

Peace and ranting forever!!!

Alex Rodriguez’s quest for 600 officially began several days ago. In years past fans might have flocked to Kansas City to get a glimpse of baseball history, but this past weekend’s series of games demonstrated how times have clearly changed. It was also only a short time ago that steroid induced home run records not only captivated audiences, and filled stadiums across the country, but brought baseball back to its feet after a hard knock down. Now that stadiums are filled with dominate pitchers blistering hitters with nasty arrays of pitches the question is which scenario is better and which is worse.

The argument against steroids is more than obvious. Quite frankly the use of steroids is cheating in its most primitive form. I attribute their induction to the fact that baseball stopped being a game and quietly became one of America’s biggest and most recognizable businesses. When baseball became more about money and ego rather than fans and competitive sportsmanship, players began to look for ways to increase their personal profits. Since it is player talent on display, most stars view themselves as the product and have empowered the Players Union to organize justifiable contracts for their services. However, just like any normal workforce there are continuous feelings of exploitation and disgruntlement, thus players constantly feel like they are owed more; and who are the agents to argue? In order to achieve those higher salaries a player must not only produce at a high level but also be able to out compete their teammates and foes alike. In the steroid era the easiest way to gain a clear advantage and sustain a longer career was to use.  

During this time period America was engrossed in every act. They watched games at home, listened to them on the radio at work, and gasped every time a ball soared deep into the outfield stands. The game had renewed life. In essence steroids saved the game. However, as time progressed and white clouds were replaced with gray, fans began to feel cheated. Fans were watching a fake product. The argument was attempted that if “everyone” was doing it then it really wasn’t cheating. The reality of the situation showed something drastically different. Soon discussions were raised about purity, asterisks, and exorcism. Discussion of this nature quickly harbored the current era we’re all witnessing in baseball. For the sake of simplicity I will call it the “clean era.”

In this “clean era” fans seem to have become frustrated and restless with the impending results. The most evident proof was the public’s reaction to the 2010 All Star game in Anaheim. The game was magnificently played on the mound but lacked that certain pop many of the previous mid-summer classics portrayed. It was this lack of offensiveness that turned disgruntled whispers into boisterous hums of aggravation. Talk across the nation was centered on how inevitably boring the game had become. Those same feelings were reflected in the ratings released a short time after the game. (If I remember correctly the ratings were one of the lowest in recent memory.) The ratings disaster merely proved the notion that steroids were indeed going to be missed, whether subconsciously or not.  

In this regard the steroids conversation is brought back full circle. Are steroids, HGH or any other performance enhancer worth the results? During their usage baseball couldn’t harness any more popularity and during their banning it can’t seem to catch a break. While I am by no means condoning steroid usage, it is apparent that fans, not just players, have become dependent on the amplifying effects of steroids. That being said, it is apparent that steroids not only have played a pivotal part in baseball history but in its immediate future as well. For the common fan, the difference between a steroids laced game and regular baseball will make all the difference, leaving the rest of us to decide whether or not going cold turkey was unconsciously for better or worse?

Alas, here I am today, stepping into the exclusive shoes of the Beezer as he enjoys an earned vacation with the family. I had to try on the slip on ones though, as the laces on the sneakers were coated in what I can only hope was hand lotion and needless to say, I didn’t want to go much further with those. Still, I’m going to try my best to hold his spot in line for the next couple of weeks and my great brainstorm would be to cover for Monday Moanings with a post I call, “Just The Tip.”

-         When we talk about just the tip, its usually the start of something, and it wouldn’t be fair to start off talks of this weekend without paying homage to Andre Dawson and Whitey Herzog, who walked the magic carpet into Cooperstown this weekend. Dawson was a class act as a player and a consummate team guy whose body failed him before his skills did. Herzog meanwhile was a tremendous manager, a no-nonsense type of guy you just don’t see in today’s game because the players need to be coddled. Congratulations to the both of them on an achievement well earned.

-         Just the tip of the iceberg started to show today when the Angels picked up Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren in a four-player trade. Haren has struggled like a hooker without legs trying to win games and pitch well for the awful D-Backs this season, but being under club control for two more years after this made it a lot easier to part with Joe Saunders and two other prospects as well. And while this trade shores up their rotation, the Angels badly need a power bat in the middle of the line-up to take the place of Kendry Morales or they have no hope to pass the Rangers in the West.

-         Just the tip goes over about as well as Alex Rodriguez’s recent quest to crest the 600 home-run plateau. Even before A-Rod got plunked on the wrist and left today’s game stuck on 599, people just weren’t paying attention. Maybe that’s because A-Rod is an admitted steroid user. Maybe it is because the 600 home-run club meant a whole lot more when it only included Mays, Ruth, and Aaron, back before Bonds, Griffey, and Sosa crossed that line. Or maybe again, the fans have gotten over the long-ball and moved on to the game mattering again instead of the statistics.

-         Just the tip can tend to be uncomfortable for one of the partners involved, just ask Dan Gilbert. But at least Gilbert has company now, as LeBron James’s grand idea of forming a super team in Miami has worked against another small-market club, as Chris Paul is now telling the New Orleans Hornets that he wants out and word is he wants to jump ship to New York. Sure, James didn’t want to rescue the Knicks ship, but CP3 sees the big picture, as well as the alley-oop, pick-and-roll possibilities of playing with Amare Stoudamire in New York. In reality though, David Stern needs to step in here and do something before the players make all the decisions and the league consists of five teams vying for the title. Hey David, see Baseball, Major League for an example of how that works out for the little guys.

Alright gents. That’s where Just The Tip ends for this week, because let’s face it, if you push too much, you’ve already gone too far.

1.---Jaun Problem Montoya, 182.279, 49.375

2.---Jimmie Johnson, 182.142, 49.412

3.---Mark Martin, 181.803, 49.504

4.---Jamie McMurray, 181.748, 49.519

5.---Cryin Ryan Newman, 181.741, 49.521

6.---Clint Crybaby Bowyer, 181.518, 49.582

7.---Greg Biffle, 181.353, 49.627

8.---Jeff Gordon, 181.251, 49.655

9.---Kevin Klassless Harvick, 181.210, 49.666

10.--Jeff Burton, 181.156, 49.681

11.--Brad Keseclownski, 180.833, 49.756

12.--Martin Truex Jr, 180.730, 49.730

13.--Matt Kenseth, 180.571, 49.842

14.--Kurt Busch, 180.426, 49.882

15.--Tony Stewart, 180.382, 49.894

16.--AJ Allmendinger, 180.357, 49.901

17.--Dale Earnhardt Jr, 180.260, 49.928

18.--Denny Hamlin, 180.249, 49.931

19.--Carl Edwards, 180.220, 49.939

20.--Landon Cassill, 180.213, 49.941

21.--Robby Gordon, 180.155, 49.957

22.--Regan Smith, 180.047, 49.987

23.--Kyle Busch, 179.845, 50.043

24.--Kasey Kahne, 179.791, 50.058

25.--Sam Hornish Jr, 179.590, 50.114

26.--Paul Menard, 179.497, 50.140

27.--Elliott Sadler, 178.962, 50.290

28.--David Ragan, 178.916, 50.303

29.--David Crash Reutimann, 178.891, 50.310

30.--Scott Speed, 178.884, 50.312

31.--Bill Elliott, 178.845, 50.323

32.--Reed Sorenson, 178.838, 50.325

33.--Joe Nemecheck, 178.834, 50.326

34.--Joey Lagano, 178.781, 50.341

35.--Max One-Lap Papis, 178.621, 50.386

36.--Bobby Labonte, 178.377, 50.455

37.--Michael McDowell, 178.341, 50.465

38.--Travis Kvapil, 178.013, 50.558

39.--Todd Bodine, 177.890, 50.593

40.--Dave Blaney, 177.578, 50.682

41.--Marcos Ambrose, 177.562, 51.264

42.--Kevin Conway, 175.179, 51.376

43.--Jacques Villeneuve, 177.466, 50.714

The drivers who DNQ include David Gilliland 176.783, 50.190, Casey Mears 176.626, 50.955, and thankfully David Sideways Stremme 176.236, 51.068 and JJ Yeley no speed, crashed as usual. This ace features alot of green lag racing so you will need to have your car handling early on or you could find yourself a lap down very quickly just Darrell Waltrip always did everywhere he raced. Passing is difficult and track position regins supreme. Although getting 4 fresh tires on caution flags will be important. Here are this weeks picks.

1.---Martin Truex Jr is my surprise pick of the week. He has been running very well most of the season and has had bad racing luck. He was fast in practice all weekend.

2.---Tony Stewart always picks things up a notcdh when summer arrives. He has been running well despite a horrible crew chief and a very mediocre teammate in Cryin Ryan Newman.

3.---Jimme Johnson is trying for his 3 stright win here after struggling here for several years. A win would give him his 4th tying with with teammate Jeff Gordon.

4.---Jeff Gordon is the only 4 time winner of this race. He has been running well and just get wins with his average crew chief.

5.---Denny Hamlin battled handling issues at Chicagoland and ended up with a 8th place finish. My favorite driver dominates at Pocono which has similar characteristics. Look for a strong run.

6.---Mark Martin has lacked speed all season and hasn't been consistant. He is another surprise pick this week.

7.---Jeff Burton is starting up front and that usually means a good finish.

8.---Kevin Klassless Harvick had problems last week and a bad finish. I picked him for a strong run last week so maybe he can have the same result this week. We can only hope.

9.---Jaun Problem Montoya led 116 laps and was caught speeding on pit road and lost the race because of it. And in typical Montoya fashion he whined and cried about NASCAR's penalty. Lets hope he has bad luck this week.

10.--Kyle Busch is starting 24th and might need pit strategy to get up front. He has some momentum with last nights big win.

Other drivers to watch include Clint Crybaby Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch. Brad Keseclownski, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne would be risky picks.

Thanks for coming by and reading. Have a great day everybody.

Special K

For whatever reason, the NHL picked “now” as a time to flex their muscle in regards to some of the ridiculous long term contracts that have recently become commonplace in the NHL.  Hey, better now than trying to get it on paper during the next lockout (after the 2011-12 season with Donald Fehr at the helm).  And yes, I remember a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I wasn’t going to discuss a certain player in the NHL that has occupied many lesser brained individuals with his antics…so I won’t.

But all of this got me to thinking…what other contracts has the NHL refused or disputed?  I thought long and hard about it, but couldn’t come up with anything that would be remotely entertaining for all of us here at the Gab to peruse at our own discretion.  So I was presented with two roads, the low road and the high road.  Being of creative mind and a raw, physical specimen (insert generic Hugh Jessimen comment here), I took it upon myself to travel the low road and “manufacture” or “create” what I thought to be some humorous contracts in the NHL that could have been shot down by the dog fucking, inbred, degenerate, mental defective idiots that run the offices of the NHL.

So here we go, and you may want to pay attention to the bonuses section…

Mike Liut                                                                                                Kyle Wellwood

Player Agent                                                                                         NHLPA Member

VETERAN CONTRACT PROPOSAL ONE YEAR

SPECIAL ADDENDUM # 1      RE: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDARD

                                                                           PLAYER’S CONTRACT (1995 FORM)

                                                        (“CONTRACT”) BETWEEN THE VANCOUVER

                                                                CANUCKS HOCKEY CLUB (“CLUB”) AND

                                                                                 KYLE WELLWOOD (“PLAYER”).

AGREEMENT:

This License Agreement is made and entered into the 25th day of  July, 2010, by and between Kyle Wellwood (hereinafter called "player") with an address of 135 East Hastings Avenue, Vancouver, BC and the Vancouver Canucks, (hereinafter called the "Club"), whose principal place of business is 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver, B.C.
V6B 6G1, with respect to licensing for games.

1.         TERM:           One Year

2.         SALARY:

            2010/2010       NHL: $575,000

3.         NHL Regular Season Games Played Bonuses:

             The Player will receive the corresponding bonus upon reaching each NHL                                                                        

             regular season games played milestone:

             Complimentary Big Mac after each game once player has played in 15  games.                      

             Complimentary bucket of chicken and a KFC Double Down after each game

             once player has played in 25 consecutive games.

             Player will be served breakfast for four “4” (even though the player will be the 

             only person eating) at 7:30 am, and breakfast will be served until 10:00 am. 

             Removal of breakfast prior to the arranged time will result in the player getting

             “pissy” and he shall commence to emit odourous flatulence until his plate is  

             returned.

             Guests of the player shall only be afforded complimentary coffee and danishes.

             Preferably the danishes from the previous morning that the player did not ingest

             himself.

             The player will make himself available for autographs and public appearances,

             and no comments are to be made in regards to his personal appearance (the

             player thinks that hygiene is a greeting) and he is not to be criticized for

             spilling gravy or chili sauce on articles to be autographed.

       NHL Scoring Bonuses:

       In the event that the player is a + on the night, the player shall be afforded a free

       Limo Ride to an “All You Can Eat” Buffet subject to the players approval.  As 

       well, a security element should also be provided to the player to ensure that the 

       establishment does not remove the food early or prior to close.  In the event that

       the restaurant closes before the player is sufficiently “full”, then the restaurant is

       to remain open for the player until he undoes his belt to the second hole.

       In the event that the player registers a point during a game, the player will be

       entitled to a Wendy’s Froster or a McDonalds milkshake delivered to him on the

       bench at the 10 minute mark of each period during the following game.

       In the event that the player even touches the ice in an overtime period, the player 

       will be entitled to a various selection of pastas in the dressing room immediately

      following the game.  Please be forewarned that meaty sauces cause the player to

      flatulate excessively.

      NHL Major Awards Bonuses:

    Who are we kidding?  Next topic…

         Conditions to Payment of Bonuses

         In order to receive the full amount of bonuses for which Player may qualify

         pursuant to above paragraphs, Player must be a “+” player and Club must qualify

        for playoffs. If Player is a “+” or even player and Club does not qualify for playoffs,

        Player will earn ½ of above applicable bonus(es). If Player is a “-“ player and Club

        qualifies for playoffs, Player will earn ½ of above applicable bonus(es). If Player is

        a “-“ player and Club does not qualify for playoffs, Player will earn 1/3 of above

        applicable bonus(es).

       Conditions and Payments:

       All payments are to be made in US Dollars, or the equivalent in pre-loaded Burger

       King Gift cards.  As well, let it be made aware to the Club that the Player will also

       accept gift cards for “Sizzler”.

In witness whereof, the Parties have executed this Addendum this 25th day of July, 2010 intending to be legally bound hereby.

AGREED TO BETWEEN:                               VANCOUVER CANUCKS HOCKEY CLUB

_____________________________               __________________________________

               WITNESS                                                   Mike Gillis, President and GM

_____________________________               __________________________________

               WITNESS                                                                  WITNESS

So there it is…I must admit it is some of my better work.  If only I had more time, I would go over the contract that the “fine” gentleman here at the Gab offered me for my services.  To tell you the truth, my legal team is still perusing the documentation as they feel that I am not being compensated enough for my services.

All kidding aside, on a more serious note…

 A little bit of Canadiana for all of you...more Tragically Hip, this time with Canadian Icons the Trailer Park Boys and Don Cherry.  Enjoy.

Finally, some whale tail.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hotchnuts

Most baseball fans are too impatient... 

Their team loses a couple of games and they freak out.... 

You listen to a post game show and it’s like the callers don’t have lives, suggesting stupid trades that there's no way the other team would accept...

“It’s a long season” is a worn out cliche, but very true...

I am usually a pretty patient fan of the Angels, but it’s clear the writing is on the wall...

Barring a collapse by Texas, which I don’t see happening...

Or barring an incredible run by LAA, which I also don’t see happening either...

The Rangers will be crowned as the new  AL West champions...

The Angels just don’t have it this year...

Joe Saunders is either cold or hot...

And he’s been a lot more cold than hot...

Hideki Mat-sushi would have a better season if the Angels played every game in Yankee Stadium...

And I am sick and tired of the Japanese media...

Go follow somebody else for a change...

Isn't Lindsay Lohan 1/32 Japanese???

How exciting can following Hideki Mat-sushi be these days???

“Hideki ate rice today. It was white rice, as opposed to brown rice, Spanish rice, and rice pilaf.”

Why do they call it rice pilaf any ways???

What did they peel the rice off of???

“Hideki is wearing brown undies today. Oh, no. That’s not brown undies... We think those are skid marks...”

Scott Kazmir, who gave up a 13-0 gem to the Athletics before the All-Star break, all of sudden is hurting...

Well, of course he’s hurting...

He’s hurting the Angels’ chances of winning the division...

You know you’re in trouble when one of your most productive and clutch hitters is a guy named Kevin Frandsen...

Brandon Wood looks worse and worse at the plate every day...

Bobby Abreu ain’t the Bobby Abreu of last year...

Kendry Morales needs to quit hitting grand slams and breaking his leg on home plate...

Juan “French” Rivera actually got a game winning hit last week...

Can’t wait for the next one...

In 2013...

Brian(na) Fuentes still throws like a sissy...

Even the Angels broadcast team has taken a dive...

I don’t speak Spanglish which is why I don’t understand about 50% of what Jose Mota is saying...

“The Ain-yells...”

What are Ain-yells?

Is it an Ain that yells???

“Bobby A-brow...”

He just has one eye brow???

Bobby is a “uni-brow”???

Mota guy belongs on the Spanish broadcasts...

Either that or sign him up for Rosetta stone...

Or Berlitz... 

(Why did Berlitz tear down their wall???)

By the way, if you haven’t seen this Berlitz German Coast Guard commercial, you've been missing something special...

We are sinking???

Certainly that couldn’t be the voice of Mike Scioscia, could it???

dvt

Acknowledgements

http://www.ultimatepartyshop.com/shopimages/products/normal/21099.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSdxqIBfEAw

I came across this column and after all we had read and hashed out, the comments and outrage, I felt this one piece really hits the nail on the head. He dissects the entire fiasco from the inside, and makes no apologies on how ESPN handled "The Decision". I highly suggest you take the 15 minutes to give this article the once over, you'll be glad you did!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=ohlmeyer_don&id=5397113

Increasingly fans of professional sports sound and seem like Alvin and the Chipmunks. Chattering and running faster and faster as other hands turn the crank that makes them run. Happily if everything goes wrong, the fans can finally get the detox and rehab they need and the crank yankers will get a tune up (or down, however you may see it.). In specific the NBA and the NFL have reached a point where they are not only an ugly sideshow but one that has become hazardous to our health and economics. We really cannot afford them but through a strange sort of collusion, it's been agreed we can. This was not always the case.

In 1975 Johnny Miller was the hottest golfer and also the highest paid although “paid” isn't quite the accurate word, the monies he got, he won. No one guaranteed him a weekly salary and, if he didn't play he couldn't win. Still, that year he won and won big. How big, well, $375,000.00, the most any professional golfer had ever made. Less than the starting salary of a player in the NFL today. And, yes, times have changed, inflation has marked things way up and what Mr. Miller made then would be considered chump change to any athlete considering going “pro” now. Moreover, that money he won carried almost no perks. In those distant days endorsement fees were low and, not infrequently, were partially paid in product. All well and good if you were pitching Cadillac but less so if you were standing up for underwear or motor oil. We tend to look back and think of the “fabulous” salaries made by noted persons and when we look a bit closer, they were not. For example, when Harry Truman was no longer President, he and his wife drove home from Washington D.C. After the inaugural of Eisenhower to Independence, Missouri in their own car, not accompanied by the Secret Service and also with a pension of $13,400.00. They lived in a home that Mrs. Truman had inherited from her mother and when he took one of his famous walks, and they ended at a coffee shop, he paid his own tab. Only some years after he'd left the Presidency did the Congress grant him franking privileges, but only to the value of $2,300.00 per year. That may sound like a lot of stamps but a former President gets a lot of mail.

It's a bit apples and oranges but what professional athlete today would accept anything even close to that even up-scaling it to contemporary prices and costs? That 13K house might, just might, bring 200K today and that's far below the marble palaces and garish decorations demanded by the more flamboyant players. Why, it wouldn't even have a ten car garage, an indoor pool, and outdoor pool, a bowling alley a floating staircase, and enough television screens-I almost said “sets”-to make NASA flight control jealous. Of course most of these will end up in foreclosure but they were fun while they lasted, contractors averted their sense of rationale and taste and built them and, in not a few cases, realtors have almost come to the conclusion that to sell them is impossible but the land has value so tear down the structure but keep the outdoor pool, the tennis courts and the nine hole pitch and putt course.

But help is at hand. Fortuitously word is afoot that next year both the NFL and the NBA may have a lockout and with that would return a sense of reality to fans everywhere. When they gather round the 56” shrine to sports, prepared with spirits and junk food they'll find...nothing new. Reruns of games, college games played by schools in which they've no interest, miles of niche sports that, were one to watch, might be interesting but they...just....aren't....football...or....basketball. But some weeks into this paucity of what they thought they wanted a deflation of sorts sets in. Last nights game/ tomorrows game ceases to be a matter for discussion as there's no game to discuss. Horror of horrors, people may be forced to talk to each about the simpler facts of their lives, their work. No longer will betting pools be the primary concern of the finance department. Christmas will be observed without junior wanting a foot ball or a jersey just like some jerk wears. They will discover that they have wives and children who still-somewhat surprisingly-love them and in a way are glad to have them back. They'll no longer vibrate when they see a beer commercial and they'll be able to walk past a display of Cheetos ( Extra Crispy) without automatically grabbing several bags. We are now into the therapy following the detox of absence. The names of players get confused with the names of neighbors. The deceased Michael Jackson with be confused with the living Michael Jordan. The young, still attached to the cell phones, will go back to who's dating who and not who's dunking what. Mean while in a land far, far away, the players and their managers are sitting around endlessly convincing themselves that the longer this goes, the more they can get to return. Heheheheheheh. In the meantime, with nothing to see, season tickets are returned and, even if promises are made for the coming year, or perhaps the year after that, they aren't renewed. Luxury boxes cannot even be rented for private parties. Vendors locked out of the stands find they can do a land office business as was done for years, going up and down streets offering stadium food at neighborhood prices. Barbecues will be held on the terraces of homes not the concrete of their home away from home. A tail gate will once again refer to the back part of a station wagon. People remember each others names and if they fight, it will be over whose dog did what in whose Begonias. Dust will begin to settle over the television area of big box stores. With no “big events of all time this year for one day only” to watch, sales drop.

There is an exhalation of professional sports in general. Baseball, the only sport still playing along with hockey notices that the fans are still there but...somehow less involved. The 24/7 365 of sport that keeps the fans juiced and ready for the next game isn't there. Certainly “school boy” foot ball and college games will draw ample attention but their...not...quite like the pros. These are kids playing a game that they hope will elevate them to “man” status when they sign their first professional contract. But that won't happen. This year they'll have to stay in school, actually attend classes and get an education, save, of course, for those to whom education meant nothing to begin with. They'll flunk out and return to the streets selling drugs, running a string of whores or just being a plague on their family and society. But this, also, has a positive effect for when the Pros return, they find who they're bidding on are men with less ego and more willingness to play as a team. This new group of players has seen what can happen and are now the believers that if they again try and run the asylum, bad things will happen to them.

In suburbia the return of the NBA and the NFL will signal a lessened interest as they've been weaned away, found other less expensive more involving things to occupy their time. And they'll have spare time because eight to ten hours (or more) per week aren't being wasted watching “the game”. The public will have come to a clearer understanding of the purpose of sports as entertainment not as part of their life blood. The players are now revealed as egocentric jerks not to be admired and they salaries they demand will be offensive to the many who earn and live on far, far less.

So bring on the lockout and keep the doors latched for a good long time. You'll be doing everyone a favour including yourselves though that may be hard to see on the moment. Of course the contractors so recently in the mansion building business will be momentarily wounded but it won't take long for them to discover that building affordable homes, just like having affordable sports, is profitable for everyone.

Sometimes the simplest things can make or break an entire day – or week.  Sometimes, it’s the things that don’t happen that makes or breaks the day. 

I happened by my buddy’s place Sunday and he was busy building an indoor batting cage.  He’s a hitting instructor and instead of renting tunnel time at one of the local hitting facilities, he decided to convert some garage space into his own tunnel – a small upfront investment to reap greater returns on his clinic fees.  Now, he’s a much better hitting instructor than he – or I, for that matter – is a carpenter, but it was a project into which he had already invested some time and he was seeing it through.

The week before, I had again “happened by” when he was in the middle of an hour long 1:1 hitting instruction, at the end of which time he collected a $75 fine from this kid, so he must know what he’s doing.

I happened by as he was framing out the outside wall.  Now there I am in my bathing suit (I didn’t mention that he happens to have a pool, which is why I ‘happened’ by there in the first place) and flip flops spending my Saturday afternoon building walls instead of swimming.  Several hours and curses later, the wall was up and his batting cage was officially “inside.”   Just wait til he gets that huge vinyl banner with the company logo on it hung...bet the wife will LOVE that.

I think one of the things I appreciate doing most are those which result in some final product; something tangible that at the end of the day you can look at it and say, “hell, yeah.”  Sometimes the tangibility of the end product can simply be several hundred words on a screen.  Sometimes it has to be “real.”  Like a wall.  I have to tell you that it was the first time in several months that I was actually proud of having spent a significant amount of time doing something.

Now, it was during this period of time that I was asked if I wanted to go camping for three days starting the next day, Sunday, with another guy, his brother, and the first guy’s 5-year old daughter.  The idea was that I’d take my little man and we’d spend a few days canoeing in Maine.  I declined, largely because I had some other things I wanted to do.

On Sunday, I woke up and decided I was going to expand my outdoor shed.  My wife was somewhat incredulous – you spend a few hours nailing boards together and all of a sudden you’re a carpenter?  Undaunted, I arrived at Home Depot, bought a slew of timber for a foundation, studs, and I began my day.  What do you know by the days’ end, I’d framed out the expansion. 

Now, I do have to admit, it does look a bit like an outhouse, but the fact of the matter is that I got it built, it’s going to stay put (e.g. it’s not going to fall down, despite my wife’s well founded concerns), and I did the work solidly enough that I could actually walk on the roof to shingle it.  While to most reading this, that is not a great achievement, but to a guy who has been known to fall out of trees because he hadn’t placed the ladder properly, and who hurts himself on table saws not by cutting anything, but by dropping objects onto his face while underneath it, this is an accomplishment.  To everyone’s surprise, I hadn’t bought a kit, I didn’t use prefabricated materials – I just did it. 

I’ve come to find that in life, sometimes you just gotta do it.  There’s always all kinds of reasons not to do something, but if you want to do something you just gotta do it.  I am now the proud owner of the first outhouse that has been built in this town in over 100 years.   Yup.  32-square feet of pure, unadulterated, outside luxury storage for the crap for which I can’t find a place in my house…or in the shed to which my new “outhouse” is now attached.  I’m probably the only person around that could take as much time as I took to build it and have so little resultant space from it, but it was really more about the accomplishment of having done something tangible.  I took my time, I enjoyed the outdoors, and I appreciated the help of my son – who at 5 already knows more about what quality construction looks like than do I.

Meanwhile, the threesome who had decided to go canoeing had a wonderful time along Maine’s Saco river.  However, the cell service up in those there parts is spotty at best and non-existent at worst.  So, imagine his wife’s surprise when she gets a call from the Fryeburg Maine police department and cannot get in touch with him.  Finally making contact, he says they’re “fine” but the connection is poor so they disconnect.  Not hearing anything for some time, she finally gets in touch with him. 

It seems that he also got a call from the Fryeburg police demanding he report his position and to stop there.  Several minutes after stopping, 5-cruisers arrive with weapons drawn.  They remove his daughter from the car and detain him by the side of the road for 45-minutes.  It seems that she was rather tired from the trip and was a little irritable when she needed to pee.  They stop at the next rest area, but all they had was port-a-potties and since they smell, she refused to use one.  He had her go behind them and pee there.  So, she decides to take off her bathing suit and pitches a fit so he’s got to go fetch her.  There he is, dragging the little one – butt naked – screaming and pitching a fit into the car.  You can see where this story goes.  Seems they were one step short of making the news.  Of course, since it was Maine, like 5 people would’ve known about it.

Sometimes the “Mo” in the story isn’t “Mo” at all.  Perhaps instead of canoeing, he would have done well to build his own outhouse.  

It is rare that I will applaud the management in the NHL The commissioners office. But I think they made a great move in not approving the 17 year contract of one Ilya Kovalchuk. At first glance when I heard the terms of this deal it got me wondering what the salary cap hit would be for the next 17 years. Of course the contract was front loaded for the first 11 years and then the Devils would take less than a million dollar hit for the last 6.

I won’t begrudge any player for taking a big pay day it’s the business they are in. However , if  Kovalchuk is getting this kind of cash and those type years . What would Crosby or Ovechkin get when their looking for new deals. Sports are a copycat business and this was a deal with the Devil. The NHLPA will be appealing this decision as they should. If by some miracle they retool it and it gets approved Hockey and other sports will be falling down a slippery slope.

 Once the players are getting long term contracts that effect the salary cap for years on end, it will restrict the ability to rebuild the teams. Essentially , you will end up with the Red Sox and the Yankees in the NHL and then everybody else.

The fact anyone would sign any player at this day and age for anything more than 5 years is shocking to me. I also thought this was surprising given that the Devils GM is Lou Lamoriello. Lamoriello is probably one of the best GM’s in the game . So it was surprising to see him make a deal like this. Players go where the money is and teams send players wherever when they don’t work in their system and eventually they all end up out.

A deal like this would set a precedent that no league would want or need. Perhaps this is what sports have come to and spreading out the pain of big contracts over many years is a way to ease the burden of a huge contract. To me it’s kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Sure the guy doesn’t get the full term in 4 or 5 years. The team takes the burden perhaps long after the player is gone. However, if you have to give this type of contract to afford players, perhaps it's time to reevaluate the salary structures across the board. 

The league's official stance according to Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly is it's circumvention of the CBA. Lamoriello disagrees and says it complies with the CBA in a statement on NHL .com

I think the NHL didn’t want and rightfully so to deal with the effects of a contract like this. I think they're anticipating other deals that would follow and the league would find itself struggling to survive,

That’s it for today.