Steven Jackson: A "No Show" in the Show-Me State

Steven Jackson, one of the five best RBs in the NFL, has held out of training camp for the past 7 days. He's entering the final year of his four-year contract and is understandably looking for a new deal.

However, the Rams have indicated they won't negotiate with Jackson until he reports to camp.

What gives?

Steven Jackson should report to camp. While he wants an extension, he has to get a contract at the end of the year. And despite rushing for 1000+ yards for a 3rd straight season in 2007, Jackson and the Rams had an off year. Granted, Jackson was injured, but he was playing at a level below that of his 2006 season. Come back, play like you're capable of and then after the season, you'll have a much bigger pay day.

But pouting now does nothing to endear you to the organization, the fans and/or other potential suitors down the line.

Houston to acquire Ron Artest?

The headline in the Sacramento Bee reads "It's a no-risk, no-brainer deal for talented Houston." I couldn't agree more. When his mind is right (of course, there is no guarantee on that), Ron Artest is one of the best players in the league. And to get his talent for Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and next year's first-round draft pick is a steal.

The Western Conference is certainly overloaded with talent. And the Southwest is the most competititve division in the West. But with 7'5" Yao Ming, one of the league's 2 best centers along with Dwight Howard, and Mr. Mismatch himself Tracy McGrady, Artest will form one of the most talented trios in the NBA. I believe the Rockets (with Ron Artest) have as good of a chance to come out of the West and win an NBA Championship as any other team. He will finally have a legitimate chance to win it all.

And what NBA player (or professional athlete in general) doesn't seem to perform his best when a new contract is on the line? As a sports fan, that's one of the things that frustrates me. It makes me think that the player coulda, shoulda, woulda played the same way in non-contract years. From the Rockets point of view, however, they will have Artest in that contract season. So whether they negotiate a new deal or let him walk (or even trade him during the season since some team would likely pay a premium), Houston is in the driver's seat.

So with the Kings unlikely to contend in 2008-09 and Artest entering the final year on his contract, he will now be playing for what Shannon Sharpe refers to as the 2 Ms: money and memories. The Rockets just have to hope that he doesn't explode.

Last straw for Manny Ramirez?

Not to take anything away from Joba Chamberlain coming up big last night and winning the pitching duel vs Josh Beckett, but the story of the night may be what did not happen. Manny Ramírez did not play.

Why not? In such a big game to boot. As Dan Shaughnessy writes:

"...never concerned with wins or losses, Manny told Brad Mills he was unable to play and took himself out of the batting order for the (thus far) biggest game of the season."

Ramírez had an MRI yesterday and it was clean.

"Manny has punched his ticket out of town. It's over. O-VA. Adios, amigo. Good night, Irene. Turn out the lights. Last night's 1-0 loss to the Yankees (think they could have used Manny?) was the proverbial last worthless evening."

Whether or not the Red Sox can trade him (I think they'll try) is unknown, but I think this guarantees that the Red Sox do not pick up the option for Manny next year or in 2010 for $20 million per year. Manny may be care-free and careless, but my guess is he'll care when he realizes he's going to be playing for less money than he thought in 2009.

Minor league pitcher throws ball and injures fan

Julio Castillo was arrested after throwing towards the opponent's dugout. This happened during a melee between the Peoria Chiefs and the Dayton Dragons. Castillo missed (the dugout that is). But he hit a fan in the crowd who required hospitalizion (although the unidentified fan has since been released). See video (can't see where the ball ends up but you can see him throw it):



Imagine if he hit someone from close distance at 80-90-100 mph? He could have done serious damage to someone. Perhaps even killed someone if he hit him/her in the head or in the chest and their heart stopped beating.

Fan Aaron Brown said:

“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Brown said. “You see paramedics running into the stands. Just when you think it ends, there is another group trying to fight.

“I was really surprised they continued the game.”

They should throw the book at this guy...

Childress and Jennings: Starting USA to Europe trend?

Brandon Jennings made news when he announced that he would play in Italy. He was recruited by Arizona, but didn't score well enough on the SAT to play for the Wildcats.

To me, Jennings' decision would make perfect sense even if he could lace 'em up for the 'Cats. As the top PG prospect in the country, Jennings would have declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft and skipped college altogether if there weren't an NBA rule that restricts players from making the high school to NBA jump, like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett have.

But why make a kid who has no intention (when entering the school) to remain in college more than 1 year? He can drive (a car), vote, go to war, etc. But he can't drive down an NBA lane and attack the basket. Hopefully, Jennings' decision will lead others that have no intention of being a "scholar-athlete" to follow their dream and be only an "athlete".

Josh Childress, on the other hand, is going to Europe for the money. By passing on Atlanta's offer and accepting that by Olimpacos, Childress will earn $21 million after taxes in 3 years. That is roughly $2-3 million more than Atlanta offered.

So, if you're in a similar position to Childress, why not head to Europe and be a much bigger fish despite playing in a smaller pond? A player averaging 8 ppg in the States can go to Europe and be a stud player. More money, larger role - what's not to love?

Caleb Campbell can't play for Lions

One of the better stories (at the time) of the 2008 NFL Draft was Caleb Campbell. A West Point cadet and Army football player that was invited to the NFL Combine and would have been allowed to fulfill his military obligations in an unconventional manner if a team drafted Campbell and he made the squad.

The argument was the publicity generated by Campbell would allow him to better serve the country. Whether or not that was true, I don't know. But it made sense. The Army's target demographic (young men) are avid football fans.

On Day 2 of the 2008 NFL Draft, Caleb Campbell was selected by the Detroit Lions. When selected, "...the entire draft crowd erupted, jerseys from every NFL team represented."

Now, as Campbell was getting ready to start his NFL career, the military pulled the carpet out from underneath him. "The Army changed its policy on July 8, but it wasn't until July 23 that the Lions received a letter from U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba, informing them in writing that Campbell had to cease playing football in order to perform "full time traditional military duties," until at least 2010."

The same argument used to advocate Campbell playing in the NFL (publicity) is what this situation is generating. However, the publicity is overwhelmingly negative.

Williams agent "Happy", his boss Un-happy

Police arrested a passenger in a car driven by Shawne Williams of the Indiana Pacers for marijuana possession, an incident that team president Larry Bird said jeopardizes the forward’s future with the Pacers.

Williams was not arrested but was written up for a window tint and seat belt violation after the police stop about 6 p.m. Friday in Carmel, said Lt. Jeff Horner, a spokesman for police in the northern Indianapolis suburb. The car did not belong to Williams.

A passenger, 21-year-old Darrell Smith Jr. of Williams’ hometown of Memphis, Tenn., was arrested on a misdemeanor charge after police found he had a small amount of marijuana, Horner told The Indianapolis Star. Smith was not in custody Sunday and his whereabouts were not clear.

Williams’ agent, Happy Walters, said Williams had not heard from the team and hoped to talk with Bird on Monday. Walters said the incident was blown out of proportion and noted that Williams hadn’t been charged.

“He’s not going to be charged. He did nothing wrong,” Walters said Sunday.

I realize it's "Happy's" job to stand up for his client when he says he did "nothing" wrong. (Technically, he got a couple of tickets for seat belt and tinted windows.) But, more importantly, he put himself in a situation that jeopardizes what he has. I realize Williams is only 21 y.o. and I probably wasn't the most mature guy at 21. Heck, you could still say that. But why professional athletes would do something stupid to risk it all makes no sense to me...

Josh Hamilton's HR Derby Performance

Josh Hamilton was a former # 1 overall MLB draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays. A 5-tool player with so much potential that allowed drug and alcohol abuse to nearly ruin his future. Despite being out of baseball for a couple of years, Hamilton is back for his first full MLB season this year and has instantly become one of baseball's best players as he leads the AL in RBI with 95. Carlos Quentin is second with 70 RBI.

(Last year he hit 19 HRs in 297 AB for the Cincinnati Reds.) Unlike most trades that seem to end up lopsided, Josh Hamilton's trade for Edison Volquez in off-season has turned out to be a win-win trade as Volquez leads the NL with a 2.29 ERA.

Pitching to Hamilton in the HR Derby was Clay Counsil, Hamilton's American Legion coach. Hamilton said in an interview that he has pitched so many batting practices without getting the recognition and appreciation that he deserves that he wanted Counsil to have this opportunity. When hearing how this would be Counsil's 2nd time in Yankee Stadium and what happened the first time (Don Larsen's perfect game), I instantly thought to myself this was going to be something special. And it was.

Josh Hamilton hit 28 homeruns in the first round of the Homerun Derby. Although Justin Morneau was the (gracious) winner of the 2008 State Farm Homerun Derby, Hamilton's record-setting performance in Round 1 will be what I and most fans remember. He hit more HRs in the first round than Morneau (or any other contestant) hit in the entire contest. (Technically, Morneau beat Hamilton 5-3 in the Final Round.)

And it wasn't just that Hamilton hit the single-round record of homeruns. They were all blasts. As Joe Sheehan says in his SI column:

...Then Josh Hamilton stepped in, and on the first pitch he saw hit a bomb about halfway up the right-centerfield bleachers.

Jason Grey of ESPN turned to me and said, "This could get interesting."

A few minutes later, Hamilton reached the back of those same bleachers, a place few hitters ever get. Before my jaw resumed its upright and locked position, Hamilton hit a ball off of the bank advertisement that sits on the wall above the bleachers. He then hit one that came just short of the DiamondVision board at the right edge of the bleachers. In two minutes, Hamilton had hit three of the longest home runs I've ever seen in this park.

The physical display was impressive. But, to me, his humility was even more impressive. Here's a guy who realizes and appreciates what he now has. In this case, Charles Barkley is wrong. Josh Hamilton should be a role model for anyone facing adversity and an example that opportunity and success are still possible when things seem hopeless.

Brett Favre: 2nd string?

"The Green Bay Packers' general manager and coach say they don't plan to grant Brett Favre's request for his release.

GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy told The Associated Press on Saturday that the star quarterback was welcome to rejoin the team but would have to be a backup."

The Packers have a better chance to win Super Bowl XLIII with Brett Favre as the starting QB. But should the Packers risk permanently stunting Aaron Rodgers growth and development by accepting Favre's "un-retirement" and making him the starter? If the Packers believe that Rodgers is the long-term answer to replace Favre, then the answer is no.

And Favre's brother Scott has expressed Brett's feelings of not being welcomed back in Sun Herald article.

"Why wouldn't he want a release?" Scott told me. "They have moved on. By not saying anything, it says a lot.

"If they wanted him back, they could have said, 'if you want to come back, we want you back.'

"Why would he want to go back, if he's not wanted? You tell me?"

The Packers don't really want Favre back and Favre doesn't really want to be back with the Packers. Favre wants to be cut, but the Packers won't cut him. And rightfully so. Imagine the Packers cutting Favre, the Vikings signing him and the Vikings beating the Packers twice and winning the division with Favre. The Packers won't let that happen. So, this will become increasingly more interesting, more hostile as we approach the start of the Green Bay Packers training camp on July 27th.

And I thought the Dallas Cowboys camp would be the most interesting...

Gatorade commercial that missed the cut

Here is one of the Gatorade commercials that didn't make it:



Great commercial. Looks real (sort-of).

Rays Nation?

The Tampa Bay Rays have won 6 straight games including a sweep of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and 9 of their last 10. They currently have the best record in all of baseball as the only team that has won more than 60% of its games.

They are young and talented and the front three in their starting rotation (Kazmir, Shields and Garza) are very talented. I'm sure the Mets are kicking themselves now....but, of course, they have plenty of problems. The Rays play great defense and have a ton of speed.

This a great story for all of baseball. With only $41 million salary cap and an abundance of talent in their farm system, the Rays are (and will continue to be) for real. But coming into the season, who expected this? Nobody.

I still expect the Red Sox to win the division, but the Rays will make the post-season for the first time in franchise history. And with 1-2-3 punch like they have, they will be a tough out.