sports notes

as i feared, the WHITE SOX got their heads handed to them over the weekend and surrendered first place to the tigers, probably for good. the south siders are hitting .228 as a team since the all-star break and a 3-7 road trip has got them reeling. it's probably time to focus on the wild card spots because the tigers look even stronger with their recent trade and althought the tiger defense still blows, they hit the crap out of the baseball.

RYAN DEMPSTER has reportedly become the new CUBPUD with his recent actions regarding vetoing a trade to atlanta. over a month ago, dempster gave the cubs a list of five teams that  he would accept a trade to BUT NOW he's trying to manipulate a trade only to the dodgers. before you all start screaming, I KNOW it's his right as a 5/10 player to pick his team but don't tell your team that atlanta is ok and then queer the deal when they've worked on it for a month. CUBPUDITIS is an epidemic indigenous to the north side so don't be suprised if dempster is back with the cubs in 2013.

ICHIRO to the yankees?  what does this trade mean long term? absolutely nothing to either team. two minor league right handed pitchers go west and an over the hill (albeit a first ballot hall of famer) outfielder goes east. ichiro is hitting .260 and has zero power but the yankees needed someone to fill in for BRETT GARDNER, who suffered a season ending injury. he'll improve their outfield defense and quite frankly, whatever he gives to the yankees offensively is a bonus. ichiro makes 17 million and is a free agent so unless he lights up the skies in gotham, he'll be shopping for a new team in november.

texas ranger president NOLAN RYAN  officially  has a case of red ass with regards to JOSH HAMILTON, who is the team's best player. ryan thinks that hamilton gives away at bats by not working the count and swinging at non-strikes (all true, by the way). hamilton is only hitting .202 since june 1st and will be a free agent after the season. contract talks have not gone well and maybe this is ryan's way of saying he's had it 'up to here' and it's time for hamilton to move on down the road. calling out your star publicly is usually a bad sign for the future.

anyone else excited about the bears? this team reminds me of the 1984 team, who started muscling other teams as they grew stronger. like the '84 team, i think they can make giant strides with good health but they're probably a year away from a serious run at the title.

hey, screw all you people who think RON SANTO didn't deserve the hall of fame. it doesn't matter if he didn't play on a world series team because the hall is a place for individuals, not teams. let me guess....next year, you're going to bang the drum for SAMMY SOSA, ROGER CLEMENS and BARRY BONDS?  santo might have been abrasive during his playing days and a bit of a jerk but we also know the only substance he was 'juiced' on was insulin. 

my, how times have changed at NOTRE DAME. starting qb TOMMY REES pled guilty to resisting arrest and underage drinking stemming from a campus incident in may and is still a member of the team. not too many years ago, the police TELEPHONED the head coach and explained that they had given two starters a ride back to campus following a SHOUTING match at a fraternity house that was located off campus. no arrests were made. both players were dismissed for 'behavior unbecoming to the university.'  talk about selling your soul. while no longer relevant in college football, notre dame does lead the league in hypocrisy.

and finally, it's time for the PATERNO family to SHUT UP and go away. "we're going to run our own investigation and clear joe of these scurrilous accusations." PLEASE.  the statue is gone, his reputation is gone and joe is gone. now please re-name the library to eliminate his name completely from the campus of PEDOPHILE STATE UNIVERSITY and let the healing begin.

aloha