The "Much Desired" Grind

The world is talking about gay players in the NBA. Mark Cuban is talking about how they can get rich, quick. And I'm trying to figure who the hell this guy was to begin with? John Amaechi? Will he be considered a serious, big tymin' name drop in the years to come?

I'll stick with what I know, or at least what I think I know. You can tell me when I'm wrong. And if you want, you can even drop a "name drop, give 'em props" to Amaechi if you'd like.

IS IT SAFE TO SAY:
*Now that Marty Schottenheimer is a free man, it at least entered your mind that he would look good in blue and gold?
*Now that all the talk about Kip Wells becoming the Cardinals number two starter is a total reality, Cardinal fans everywhere are a tad bit worried, stumped, confused, and angry?
*The headline in the San Diego Union-Tribune, following U.S. men's soccer team's home victory of Mexico, which read "Not in our Casa" is questionable at best?
*A legitimate Sports Illustrated "This Weeks Sign of the Apocalypse" could read: "Duke Men's basketball falls from Top 25?"

***Now that Barry Zito has signed a big deal, hard headed Carlos Zambrano wants the same. “I'm ready to sign, and I would do my job anyway with the Cubs this year,” Zambrano said. “Whatever happens, I don’t want to know [anything] about a contract during the season. I want to sign with the Cubs before the season starts. If they don’t sign me, sorry, but I must go. That’s what Carlos Zambrano thinks. Jim (Hendry) spent a lot of money. I hope he has more for ‘Big Z.’”
*I love it when Big Z talks to me in the third person.


***The St. Louis Post Dispatch picked their World Series contenders for the upcoming season in this morning's edition, the winners were the Cleveland Indians and the L.A. Dodgers. The say the Dodgers own the trophy when it's all said and done. I thought a few of the quips written about each team were clever, here's my top five:
1)Florida: The curse of Joe Girardi.
2)Houston: Gave a $100 million dollar deal to a DH, Carlos Lee.
3)Milwaukee: Jeff Suppan, you're not in St. Louis anymore. Suppan, the club's new No.1 starter, will be backed by a porous infield that last season led the league in errors.
4)Boston: Counting on outfielder J.D. Drew has never been a wise course of action.
5)Minnesota: Two words: Sidney Ponson.

Honorable Mentions:
Kansas City: Righthander Gil Meche is the big-money ace. Only in Kansas City.
Detroit: Pitchers will fall too far behind in preparations after spending much of spring training practicing throws to first and third bases.

On the Cardinals: Having to fill at least three rotation spots is unbecoming a World Series champion.

Other stories from St. Louis post you can check out at STLTODAY.COM
*Jeff Gordon breaks down the rights and wrongs, ins and outs of this years soon-to-be Blues fire sale.
*Gordo also splits up the Top Ten Cardinal focuses of the new season.
*Bernie Miklasz gives us reasons for anxiety when it comes to the starting rotation.

Read 'em and weep:
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “John Daly as everyman? Interesting concept. But having John Daly in your therapy group would be like having Kobe Bryant in your YMCA pickup game. He’s going to stand out . . . Daly has had four kids with four wives. He doesn’t live in a van down by the river, like the old Chris Farley character on Saturday night live, but Daly does live (part time) in a motor home down by the Safeway, or wherever they let him park.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Michael Irvin is in the Hall of Fame; Art Monk is not. Moral of the story: If you want to get inducted into Canton, you need to snort more coke and catch fewer passes.”

Bill Simmons, ESPN.com: “The Colts had the best team, they deserved to win, and I hope that we never have to see highlights of that out-and-out affront to American football ever again. Even the S.I. commercial selling the Colts team video should blur out the highlights like they blur out breasts in those ‘Girls Gone Wild’ ads. In all seriousness, couldn’t you have made a legitimate case for Rex Grossman winning the MVP? What single player did more to affect that game for the Colts? Think about the definition of that award — it goes to the most valuable player on the field, right? Who was more valuable to that final score than Rex?"

Some chick sitting next to me is making disgusting noises through both her nose and mouth, crying her eyes out, and constantly smacking herself in the head. I gotta leave before I hurt her.