-Chris D
I already had a chance to give my opinion on the Boli-Rod press conference on this week’s radio show (click on the player above). And while I think it was a poor performance and I can’t believe that he paid a crisis management team for that performance, I can’t help but think about Jose Canseco. For as bad as A Rod looked on Tuesday, Canseco came out of it looking that good. Has anyone been validated like Canseco has in this A-Rod scandal? Ok, maybe Chad Pennington, who my co-host claims had a better year than anyone in the world (Barack Obama included). Chad P returned to the office where he was fired, knocked his old team out of the playoffs, won a playoff berth for his new team and got his old coach fired. Certainly a strong case, but Jose Canseco has gone from MLB cast off – and butt of every media joke - to the oracle of the steroid era. If he is still broke and forced to smuggle “male-enhancement” drugs across the border from Mexico to make a living, we should all get together and give money to the only honest athlete in the Steroid Era. We shall give to the Jose and Ozzie Canseco Fund. That’s right – I’m throwing his twin brother Ozzie in there too because as many of you know the Canseco brothers are my all-time favorite sibling tandem in sports.
I have to go now and find out if Honest Abe (uh, I mean Jose) is dropping any gems on Twitter (and don’t forget to visit SiblingRivals on Twitter while you’re there)!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio?
By Rob DeAngelis
Are you kidding me with the news coming out of Major League Baseball in the last few weeks? What an embarrassment for a sport that is starting to appear more like the Jerry Springer Show than America’s favorite pastime. The “A-Roid” (this could be my new favorite sports nickname supplanting recent favorite “Law Firm” referring to Patriots running back Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis) steroid abuse and pathetic admission of guilt while donning pink lipstick has received the majority of the attention and rightly so – he WAS the best player in baseball. That title shifted back to the clean and once very talented Ken Griffey Jr on Sunday.
Despite A-Roid, I was beginning to hope that we might turn our attention away from the controversial books (Torre, Canseco) and the cheating athletes (take your pick) to focus on pitchers and catchers reporting to camp. Then I picked up the NY papers yesterday and read the utterly disturbing Robbie Alomar and Darryl Strawberry stories – they make A-Roid look like Jeter.
Their level of fame is nowhere near Joe Torre, Barry Bonds or A-Roid, but their stories are even more shocking. I can only imagine what guys like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio would think if they picked up the New York Post yesterday and took in the details of Alomar’s rape, full-blown AIDS and subsequent deception over a cup of coffee (Joe D would be dunking his donut no doubt). If you haven’t read the Alomar story yet, it is pure “shock and awe.” The same guy, who pulled the classy move of spitting in an umpire’s face in 1994, is being sued for engaging in unprotected sex with an ex-girlfriend while knowingly carrying full blown AIDS. We also learn in the article that he suffers from erectile dysfunction from being raped by two Mexican men after a baseball game in New Mexico when he was 17 (not sure if the two stories are related). WHAAAAAAAT! Somebody call Springer right now! He is the only person equipped to deal with such irresponsible, disgusting behavior. He should also bring that bald bouncer along as Alomar has a father and an endless supply of brothers who have all played professional baseball.
Strawberry, not to be outdone by Canseco, Alomar or anyone else, thought that this would be the appropriate time to release a book about his sexcapades with the ’86 NY Mets. The exploits of this team have already been well documented, but Straw makes sure to take some of his teammates down with him. How do you think Straw’s co-workers at SNY, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, feel about the detailed accounts of their boozing, speed balling and sex romps on road trips. If the timing isn’t curious enough, how about giving your kids a break Straw? They have lived through your various addictions and multiple trips to rehab – do you think DJ was really pining for a detailed account of that journey? I think not.
All of a sudden, Pete Rose doesn’t look so bad (make sure to check out our daily sports picks in “Bro Bets”)….
We post our next radio show Wednesday, February 18th…stay tuned.
Are you kidding me with the news coming out of Major League Baseball in the last few weeks? What an embarrassment for a sport that is starting to appear more like the Jerry Springer Show than America’s favorite pastime. The “A-Roid” (this could be my new favorite sports nickname supplanting recent favorite “Law Firm” referring to Patriots running back Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis) steroid abuse and pathetic admission of guilt while donning pink lipstick has received the majority of the attention and rightly so – he WAS the best player in baseball. That title shifted back to the clean and once very talented Ken Griffey Jr on Sunday.
Despite A-Roid, I was beginning to hope that we might turn our attention away from the controversial books (Torre, Canseco) and the cheating athletes (take your pick) to focus on pitchers and catchers reporting to camp. Then I picked up the NY papers yesterday and read the utterly disturbing Robbie Alomar and Darryl Strawberry stories – they make A-Roid look like Jeter.
Their level of fame is nowhere near Joe Torre, Barry Bonds or A-Roid, but their stories are even more shocking. I can only imagine what guys like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio would think if they picked up the New York Post yesterday and took in the details of Alomar’s rape, full-blown AIDS and subsequent deception over a cup of coffee (Joe D would be dunking his donut no doubt). If you haven’t read the Alomar story yet, it is pure “shock and awe.” The same guy, who pulled the classy move of spitting in an umpire’s face in 1994, is being sued for engaging in unprotected sex with an ex-girlfriend while knowingly carrying full blown AIDS. We also learn in the article that he suffers from erectile dysfunction from being raped by two Mexican men after a baseball game in New Mexico when he was 17 (not sure if the two stories are related). WHAAAAAAAT! Somebody call Springer right now! He is the only person equipped to deal with such irresponsible, disgusting behavior. He should also bring that bald bouncer along as Alomar has a father and an endless supply of brothers who have all played professional baseball.
Strawberry, not to be outdone by Canseco, Alomar or anyone else, thought that this would be the appropriate time to release a book about his sexcapades with the ’86 NY Mets. The exploits of this team have already been well documented, but Straw makes sure to take some of his teammates down with him. How do you think Straw’s co-workers at SNY, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, feel about the detailed accounts of their boozing, speed balling and sex romps on road trips. If the timing isn’t curious enough, how about giving your kids a break Straw? They have lived through your various addictions and multiple trips to rehab – do you think DJ was really pining for a detailed account of that journey? I think not.
All of a sudden, Pete Rose doesn’t look so bad (make sure to check out our daily sports picks in “Bro Bets”)….
We post our next radio show Wednesday, February 18th…stay tuned.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Drugs Are GOOD, Mmm - Kay?
By Rob DeAngelis
Pot heads everywhere rejoice! In the last week, the sports world has contributed two new, very high-profile poster children: Michael Phelps and Santonio Holmes. These two men have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective sports while enjoying “herbal refreshments.” Santonio Holmes was named Super Bowl XLIII MVP in Tampa Bay last Sunday and, in case you left the planet last summer and missed it, Phelps set the world record for most gold medals won in a single Olympic games. These men also excel off the field and, out of the pool, at smoking reefer as evidenced by their recent transgressions.
We know that Holmes prefers your run of the mill Phillies Blunt as he was arrested by Pittsburgh police for having 3 blunts in his car ashtray and being a little “insane in the membrane” behind the steering wheel. This goes along with selling drugs as a teenager in Florida and two domestic violence charges in the last 4 years. It is no wonder that the Walt Disney Company asked Ben Roethlisberger to join (or supervise) Santonio for the annual “I’m going to Disney World…” commercial spot. How classic would it be if he followed it with an “I’m going to Amsterdam…” spot for Phillies Blunt? He would reach legendary status within the ganja smoking community and would probably be invited to Matthew McConaghy’s house for some naked bongo playing.
Michael Phelps, on the other hand, learned the fine art of bong smoking in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. I guess he answered the question of how could anyone possibly eat 12,000 calories per day – he clearly had the munchies! His incredible feats at the Beijing Olympics run counter to some of the known effects of smoking bud. He showed no signs of sluggishness in his training regimen, he remained extremely focused on being the best in the world and he now exhibits a high level of responsibility by showing up to his myriad of appearances on time. Instead of dropping him as an endorsee, Kellogg’s should give him more props for overcoming even longer odds than anyone could have imagined last summer. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I suggest that he was probably the only guy in the pool who partook in frequent “bingers.”
Pot heads everywhere rejoice! In the last week, the sports world has contributed two new, very high-profile poster children: Michael Phelps and Santonio Holmes. These two men have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective sports while enjoying “herbal refreshments.” Santonio Holmes was named Super Bowl XLIII MVP in Tampa Bay last Sunday and, in case you left the planet last summer and missed it, Phelps set the world record for most gold medals won in a single Olympic games. These men also excel off the field and, out of the pool, at smoking reefer as evidenced by their recent transgressions.
We know that Holmes prefers your run of the mill Phillies Blunt as he was arrested by Pittsburgh police for having 3 blunts in his car ashtray and being a little “insane in the membrane” behind the steering wheel. This goes along with selling drugs as a teenager in Florida and two domestic violence charges in the last 4 years. It is no wonder that the Walt Disney Company asked Ben Roethlisberger to join (or supervise) Santonio for the annual “I’m going to Disney World…” commercial spot. How classic would it be if he followed it with an “I’m going to Amsterdam…” spot for Phillies Blunt? He would reach legendary status within the ganja smoking community and would probably be invited to Matthew McConaghy’s house for some naked bongo playing.
Michael Phelps, on the other hand, learned the fine art of bong smoking in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. I guess he answered the question of how could anyone possibly eat 12,000 calories per day – he clearly had the munchies! His incredible feats at the Beijing Olympics run counter to some of the known effects of smoking bud. He showed no signs of sluggishness in his training regimen, he remained extremely focused on being the best in the world and he now exhibits a high level of responsibility by showing up to his myriad of appearances on time. Instead of dropping him as an endorsee, Kellogg’s should give him more props for overcoming even longer odds than anyone could have imagined last summer. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I suggest that he was probably the only guy in the pool who partook in frequent “bingers.”
FROM A-GOD to A-FRAUD: The Impact of a Self-Destructive Superstar
By Chris DeAngelis
While I desperately wanted to talk about Sean Avery’s return to the Rangers, and despite the constant coverage already underway, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the A-Rod steroid revelation. In the process I will try to incorporate every nickname ever created for Rodriguez that begins with an “A-___”.
While Yankee fans and haters alike point to Louis Gonzalez’s walk-off single against Mo as the beginning of the end for the Yankee dynasty, I would have to disagree. No team can be expected to win every year, and the Yankees have been back to the World Series since that loss to Arizona. The true end to the Yankee dynasty occurred on December 18, 2003, when the A-God trade to Boston died. Since then, the light of the Yankee star has gone out. One man – an arrogant, insecure and ultra image-conscious man – has single handedly tarnished a mystique that has been built up over a 100 years. From Ruth to Gehrig to DiMaggio to Mantle to Maris to Jeter, the Yankees are the gold standard for successful sports franchises. And now that franchise must face the greatest mistake they’ve ever made: the acquisition of A-Fraud. Since that fateful day when he landed in New York, A-Hole’s massive ego and inability to come through in the clutch has destroyed this once proud franchise. And the damage didn’t stop in the Bronx. Since the Yankees acquired A-Choke, the Boston Red Sox have won 2 titles, broke an 86 year old curse and have become the model franchise, especially when compared to the dysfunctional group operating out of the Bronx (watch out for Brad Penny and John Smoltz in Fenway this season).
While hanging out with strippers in Toronto, slumping in October and announcing his opt-out from his contract in the middle of the World Series were all offenses worthy of the back page coverage they received in the New York Post, they all pale in comparison to this latest controversy. No matter what you thought about Gay-Rod, his career statistics were the one thing that couldn’t be disputed. He was the greatest offense player of his generation and maybe of all time. But now even his statistics are a fraud. And the Yankees, not the Texas Rangers, are left to answer questions and cleanup his mess. What a way to open the new temple in the Bronx. The worst part is that Alex isn’t the only one to blame here. Everyone is to blame: A-Roid for taking steroids, Major League Baseball for not suspending players who tested positive (a rule that was changed in 2004) and for not destroying the 2003 survey test results, the player’s union who defends their criminals no matter what the evidence says and the team owners who chose to ignore the use of steroids because homeruns equaled big dollars (Chicks dig the long ball!). If anyone should feel slighted here, it’s the Yankees, who just 15 months ago had a chance to part ways with Asterix-Rod. I can’t help but wonder 3 things:
1) Why didn’t the Yankees know about the failed 2003 test (or did they)?
2) Is Cynthia Rodriguez, A-Roid’s ex-wife, one of SI’s sources that broke the story?
3) Where is Derek Jeter celebrating this great news…
While I desperately wanted to talk about Sean Avery’s return to the Rangers, and despite the constant coverage already underway, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the A-Rod steroid revelation. In the process I will try to incorporate every nickname ever created for Rodriguez that begins with an “A-___”.
While Yankee fans and haters alike point to Louis Gonzalez’s walk-off single against Mo as the beginning of the end for the Yankee dynasty, I would have to disagree. No team can be expected to win every year, and the Yankees have been back to the World Series since that loss to Arizona. The true end to the Yankee dynasty occurred on December 18, 2003, when the A-God trade to Boston died. Since then, the light of the Yankee star has gone out. One man – an arrogant, insecure and ultra image-conscious man – has single handedly tarnished a mystique that has been built up over a 100 years. From Ruth to Gehrig to DiMaggio to Mantle to Maris to Jeter, the Yankees are the gold standard for successful sports franchises. And now that franchise must face the greatest mistake they’ve ever made: the acquisition of A-Fraud. Since that fateful day when he landed in New York, A-Hole’s massive ego and inability to come through in the clutch has destroyed this once proud franchise. And the damage didn’t stop in the Bronx. Since the Yankees acquired A-Choke, the Boston Red Sox have won 2 titles, broke an 86 year old curse and have become the model franchise, especially when compared to the dysfunctional group operating out of the Bronx (watch out for Brad Penny and John Smoltz in Fenway this season).
While hanging out with strippers in Toronto, slumping in October and announcing his opt-out from his contract in the middle of the World Series were all offenses worthy of the back page coverage they received in the New York Post, they all pale in comparison to this latest controversy. No matter what you thought about Gay-Rod, his career statistics were the one thing that couldn’t be disputed. He was the greatest offense player of his generation and maybe of all time. But now even his statistics are a fraud. And the Yankees, not the Texas Rangers, are left to answer questions and cleanup his mess. What a way to open the new temple in the Bronx. The worst part is that Alex isn’t the only one to blame here. Everyone is to blame: A-Roid for taking steroids, Major League Baseball for not suspending players who tested positive (a rule that was changed in 2004) and for not destroying the 2003 survey test results, the player’s union who defends their criminals no matter what the evidence says and the team owners who chose to ignore the use of steroids because homeruns equaled big dollars (Chicks dig the long ball!). If anyone should feel slighted here, it’s the Yankees, who just 15 months ago had a chance to part ways with Asterix-Rod. I can’t help but wonder 3 things:
1) Why didn’t the Yankees know about the failed 2003 test (or did they)?
2) Is Cynthia Rodriguez, A-Roid’s ex-wife, one of SI’s sources that broke the story?
3) Where is Derek Jeter celebrating this great news…
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