On Pardon The Interruption, what seems to be an annual vacation during the month of July for hosts Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon appears to have begun this week, starting today June 30. While there is no official word that the two regular hosts usually take most of the month of July off, I’d be surprised to see them together again for another four or five weeks. I hope that Bob Ryan can continue to fill in and that they don’t have to resort to using Patrick McEnroe like they did last year.

Posted by Bob at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The hometown Nationals appear to only play two ways. Win late or lose. They won last night, 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth. Catcher Jesus Flores, after going K, K, groundout, K, finished the night 1-5 with a single that scored Elijah Dukes.

The Sports Freak and I attended this game. We saw Tim Redding start yet again. I think I've seen him start 4 times. TSF thinks he's seen all of Reddings home starts this season. We saw him last week. But apparently Redding saved his best performance for last night.

Redding pitched 6 great innings, giving up only two runs before relinquishing his position to the bullpen. the Nats put up 4 runs in support. Saul Rivera came in and pitched a perfect 7th. Then Ayala pulled in to load the bases. Rausch followed and let the Angels score to tie up the game.

Flores finished the night on the right note. You don't expect a 1-5 night for your cleanup hitter, but if that 1 is the game winning hit, it's just right.

There was, unfortunately, no entertainment off the field. We were sitting in our own partial plan seats, so maybe it's because we kind of know everyone around us and they're normal, unlike the oddities on the section we were sitting at last Friday.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 08:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Normally you don't hear "...that's all I need - 4 runs" uttered by a pitcher in a positive manner. We know we've heard that a few times from Nationals starting pitchers, but usually with some of those 7 words the late, great American Philospher George Carlin said. But Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners did say those words, after hitting a grand slam against Johan Santana.

In the battle of teams with managers fired last week, the Mariners beat the New York Mets and their ace Santana, with Hernandez's base clearer contributing 4 runs in the 2nd. Too bad he later got injured, putting a damper on what would have been a night to remember. It still is, as it is the first home run hit by a pitcher in Mariners history.

This reminds me of some better days in Baltimore, when Mike Mussia was their ace pitcher. The Orioles actually put him on the depth chart as an emergency outfielder on his non-starting days. I remember a two week stretch in the late 90's when the Orioles were down a couple of outfielders due to injury, Mussina was the 4th outfielder ahead of Harold Baines. I don't know if it was more that Moose was such a great hitter and the arm to send a hit back into the outfield quickly or that Baines' knees were held together with scotch tape, so they couldn't trust him to chase down a turtle.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

In a game that ended sometime last night, thankfully before midnight, the National defeated the Texas Rangers 4-3.

Elijah Dukes had a 5-6 night including the tying and the game winning hits. Not to be dismissed was his excellent fielding as well.

The Sports Freak and I attended this game last night. There were highlights and lowlights from and away from the field.

-Dukes chases down a long line drive into right field, just missing the catch. However, he pulls it up and fires it to Dmitri Young, who ran across the diamond from first to the thrid base line to tag out a surprised Marlon Byrd trying to score from first. I'm not sure if Byrd was surprised more by Dukes getting the ball in or that Young was running.
- Tim Redding decided walking Kevin Milwood was a better prospect that just getting him out. Makes the game interesting, by allowing the Rangers to score 3 runs with the next batter.
- The married couple who couldn't keep their hands off themselves a few rows and across the aisle from us. This was a lowlight, as we thought about moving a few times. I'll be tactful and say that the woman was not a model.
- Mr. Pittsburgh Pirate with his interesting run up the stairs. Or should I say skipping?
- Dukes HR to tie it up and a bases loaded grounder up the middle in the bottom of the 14th to win it.

Great work Nats! Keep it up. The Mets just fired Willie Randolph and who believes in the Phillies? The NL East is wide open.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The apocalypse must be around the corner. The New York Yankees signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract. Desperation has set in after the loss of Chien-Ming Wang. Granted at least they were intelligent enough to put him in the minors first.

Those of us who are former or current Orioles fans know Ponson to be the Ace that Never Was. Prince of the Diamond who couldn't rule. He had all the talent in the world, but somehow never brough it to the majors on a regular basis.

I'd wish the Yankees luck, but I hope Ponson brings the magic he's brought to every team he's played for. Actually, I want him to succeed in the minors, so Cashman can call him up and let him blow 10 straight starts, like Barry Zito has done to the San Francisco Giants.

Speaking of Brian Cashman, I wonder if this was his move, or a Hammering Hank Steinbrenner ultimatum?

Posted by Big Money Tony at 02:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Tiger Woods has opted to get surgery again for that tricky left knee. After the stunning 18-hole playoff that ended in a tie with Rocco Mediate in the U.S. Open and the ensuing 19th hole of sudden death, Woods won the Open. Some including Tiger, have described the win two days ago as his best major win ever.

This puts a blow on both the PGA Tour and local golf. Nationally, especially for television, the British Open and other big tournaments will likely see a downturn in viewership and possibly attendance. Locally, the AT&T National, a tournament Tiger Woods created to fill the hole of the Kemper Open/FBR Capital Open/Booz Allen Classic, when that tournament was shut down in 2006, will definitely take a hit. Tiger was the host and the main attraction. I was planning on going for at least one day, but now I'm not so sure.

I would say speedy recovery, but reports indicate he'll take the rest of the season off. It might be best given that he'll have surgery twice in a matter of months.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There's never really a time when sports can't permeate its way into your viewing pleasure. Never was this more apparent than when Big Money Tony and I caught up and watched Vacancy. It's more of a scary suspense rather then a true horror movie. Now for those that don't wish to know how the movie plays out this is your opportunity to wait like the Olympic Results during the news and for all other please feel free to click below.

The scene in question starts with Luke Wilson watching some tapes of prior occupants of the hotel being murdered. Something viewers of the movie have already guessed that Frank Whaley, the mechanic, and the third killer record occupants being killed. BMT turned and sarcastically asked what Luke Wilson was doing and was he watching to get his jollies like other characters in the film.

I could only answer BMT and defend Luke Wilson's character's honor by saying that he was scouting the competition like Walsh & Spygate. He played and rewound the tapes over and over again to deduce that the killer always appeared from inside and from the bathroom. Having tapes on the opposing offense's playbook allowed the only two guests in the hotel to survive.

This movie then brought about another discussion about hotels off the interstate; chains or not and whether you'd stay there for a few hours. At least one thing we both agreed on was Kate Beckinsale's comment that she was sleeping with her clothes on. I view more of those strange scary looking hotels off the highway more like the Bates Motel.

Posted by The Sports Freak at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Thursday McDonalds gave away their new McChicken sandwich for free with purchase of a drink. I stopped by for lunch near where I work. I couldn't help but think how professional athletes have had run ins with the law and even brandished a weapon in the back of McDonalds. I'm happy to report that I didn't bump into Marcus Vick or Maurice Clarett.

The sandwich was a good value, but could McDonalds and dare I say even Five Guys may run into some competition over the coming years? Fatburger will be breaking ground in the area Fatburger. Orlando Brown, a former Ravens Tackle, will be bringing the chain to the area as early as August.

Hopefully there won't be many incidents in the back of the chain. Valuable lessons can be learned from the Vick incident. Middle school children can be cruel and insensitive with their taunting and mocking. Don’t tangle with teens when they’re at full strength from eating. They might hurt someone’s feelings after downing a kids meal.

Posted by The Sports Freak at 09:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In the era know as the Tiger Woods Dynasty, occassionally we get a good playoff showdown. Tiger vs. Phil, Tiger vs. BJ Singh, Tiger vs. Rocco. Wait, what was that last one?

Tiger Woods vs. Rocco Mediate. You know, I watched from about 7 until 9 on and off, but did see Tiger's last 2 shots on 18. I'm still not sure how to pronounce "Mediate".

But those last two shots by Tiger should not have been necessary for a playoff. They should have been icing on the cake for the Open. Tiger never loses when leading on Sunday, so having to come down to 18 needing a birdie to tie it was a surpise to those of us who hadn't watched all day.

Also heartbreak for Lee Westwood, a relatively unknown English golfer, who was in the exact same position as Tiger coming to 18, needing a birdie to tie. His birdie putt went wide, causing him to take third in the Open and going home again, winless in a major championship.

I have seen one or two of these 18 hole playoffs, but can't recall seeing one with Tiger. I hope it's a good one, so I can see it off the DVR tonight.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Alex Ovechkin. In last night's NHL awards, the Capitals MVP became league MVP. He also won the Lester B Pearson Award to show that he's the Most Outstanding Player in the NHL as chosen by players. MVP and MOP. Hard to beat that.

Not to be outdone, Bruce Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the best NHL coach. A great fit indeed, after taking over a bottom barrell team Thanksgiving Weekend and taking them to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Niklas Backstrom couldn't win the Calder for Rookie of the Year and lost to Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks.

Congratulations to Alex and Bruce. Now let's concentrate on a different trophy, or rather Cup.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 08:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In the dog days of summer, baseball is the go to sport. But we can only take so much Nationals losing. So we'll need to expand our geographical boundaries a bit and see other things going on in sports.

Apparently the Bears don't need a running back. Interesting, I can't pull their quarterback roster off the top of my head, so I thought running backs are important to them. Apparently Cedric Benson is not, as he was cut by the Bears. BTW - after a quick look at the roster, it's Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton as the dynamic duo of QB's on the Bears.

I was never a Cedric Benson fan and was even less of a fan of his predecessor, Thomas Jones, as my fellow fantasy football team owners can attest to. But without waiting for the long arm of the law to come down, Chicago gave up on him. So running is now up to Matt Forte, one of Chicago's draft picks, and the other Adrian Peterson.

I'll admit, my Redskins haven't gelled together ever under the Dan Snyder dictatorship, but let's just say the Bears don't exactly scare me.

Posted by Big Money Tony at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

In case you hadn't noticed, the Cincinnati Reds called up top prospect Jay Bruce from the minor leagues last Tuesday. In the 7 days he's been in the big leagues, Bruce has only gone 15 for 25 with three homers, seven RBIs, and six walks. That gives him a batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage of .577/.667/1.038. That's a slugging percentage of 1.038, not an OPS. That gives him an OPS of 1.705. All that adds up to one of the best debut weeks that I have ever seen in Major League Baseball.

I do realize that the history of baseball is littered with tons of guys who start their major league careers on a hot streak only to see their flame burn out rather quickly. But Bruce has already been named the minor league player of the year last year and his hot start in the majors just shows me that he is the real deal. Will he continue to have an OPS of 1.705? Obviously not. But of all the current crop of great young talent in the major leagues right now, Jay Bruce looks to be the cream of that crop.

Posted by Bob at 06:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)