Over the weekend many celebrities came out to see the Vladimir Klitschko/Chris Arreola fight in LA; chief among them is gambling sensation, Pete Rose. And what’s classier than showing up to a prize fight than arriving with a woman who — how shall I say this delicately — looks like she accepts money in exchange for spending her time with you? Yeah, that’s subtle enough. And I mainly say that because LOOK at Pete Rose, the man looks like a troll, how else is he pulling this kind of talent. It’s not as though he has lots of cash coming his way and she just digs rich guys. She’s definitely not old enough to have been a fan of him during his playing days; she probably just loves the modern-Neanderthal-high-sloping-forehead-bad-hair-plugs look, I mean, who could blame her…
Archive for the 'Baseball' Category
Liberty Media is giant conglomerate with many businesses under its umbrella including QVC, Ticketmaster, DirecTV and of course, the Atlanta Braves. Among their success stories is a little website, started in a garage by a then-19-year-old Ryan DeLuca; Bodybuilders.com became a huge success, and was ultimately acquired by Liberty in 2008 for the princely sum of $100 million. Today the business makes approximately $150 million in sales a year.
But all is not well, it seems that three of Bodybuilder’s suppliers are being investigated by the US Attorney’s office for selling steroids. While charges are yet to be brought against Bodybuilder’s directly, an agent in the US Attorney’s office purchased 31 items from the site with 23 of them testing positive for anabolic steroids. That’s not so good. As well, the company has received multiple letters from the FDA accusing them of distributing steroids and unlawful package labeling.
Nicely done Liberty Media, I like what you’re doing; it’s just smart business to cut out the middle man.
[KTVB]
The G-20 Leaders Summit ended in Pittsburgh amidst protests and with the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates honoring the event by having Foreigner play live tonight after their game against the Dodgers. Foreigner, IN CONCERT, AT THE PIRATES GAME, sigh. I can’t believe I’m missing it.
Some people went to the protests to express their opinions about the manner in which the world’s leaders govern, others just like being part of a crowd. For instance, this news crew while highlighting the riot cops and the protesters finds a very unprotest-like banner being held in the crowd.
Is the G-20 anti-Penguin? Has anyone looked into this? Or are the fans just looking for even more protection for Sidney Crosby ever being touched by an opponent?
Ichiro Draws a Line in the Dirt
For the first time in his entire professional baseball career, Ichiro Suzuzi was thrown out of a game on Saturday. The Baseball Samurai used his bat to draw a line by the outside edge of the plate, showing home plate umpire Brian Runge that the pitch he called for strike 3 was actually outside. Runge immediately rang him up and tossed Ichiro who then argued (probably using his extensive vocabulary of expletives) before being escorted off the field by manager Don Wakamatsu. Ichiro ended the day going a rare 0-3 but managed to still make history by being the first Mariner to get thrown out of a game all season, so, there’s that!
Serving a ten-day sentence for interference with official acts and violation of a protective order, Randy Barker is more than just a convicted criminal, he’s a Red Sox fan.
Using the rare legal argument that Barker has “few pleasures” in his life besides baseball and that going to jail would interfere with his previously made plans to attend the Royals/Sox game, Barker’s attorney got the judge to temporarily release him.
Norman Barker, Randy’s dad, said that they had been planning the trip for 3 months and that he and his two sons hadn’t been able to see a game together in 25 years.
Leaving the jail Wednesday afternoon in a Sox hat and uniform, he was expected back sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Because apparently, fuck it!
The honorable Judge Benny Waggoner said the request was “reasonable under the circumstances” before granting the release, telling the local TV station that he has “never done anything like this before.”
It appears he was swayed by Norman’s heartfelt confession: “[Randy’s] always been a Red Sox fan, The Red Sox got a knuckle ball pitcher. I have an 11-year-old grandson that plays baseball, pitches perfect knuckle ball and that’s why we’re going.”
Even some of Barker’s family were conflicted as to the judge’s decision. Lance Morris, presumably a relative of some sort told reporters that
His therapist has called me to say she has a duty to warn me that he told her he wanted to get a gun and shoot me. But he wants to go to a ballgame so they let him out. This is the third time he’s had a violation. This is the third time he’s had to go to jail. I guess if the judge feels that’s right that he needs special privileges then that’s what he’s going to get.
Go Sox!
[KCCI]
Mama, Who Was That Masked Man?
The accepted public hazing of baseball’s rookies continues and as much as I dislike the Yankees I have to say they flat-out KILLED it with this year’s iteration. Here is Anthony Flynn as Robin, Mark Melancon as Batman, Ramiro Pena as Catwoman, Michael Dunn as the Riddler and massage therapist Lew Potter as the Penguin. Well played Yankees veterans, well played. I just hope this kind of success doesn’t carry over into the playoffs.
Nearly lost amidst an article about Twitter cracking down on fake accounts was this gem:
“Twitter has decided to act after Tony La Russa, the coach of an obscure American baseball team, launched a legal action over a fake account. He claimed that postings in which he appeared to make light of the death of two of his players had been ‘hurtful’.
I mean, sure, St. Louis isn’t Paris or New York, but obscure? The Cardinals ain’t exactly a company softball team either. I guess to the Brits anything not having to do with getting their jubblies jollied off and fliming the flozzle-wingdy just doesn’t matter.
The annual rite of sanctioned hazing in the MLB has begun in full force, last night was the Red Sox’ turn as they prepared for their road trip the rookies were dressed up as characters from the Wizard of Oz — which it should be pointed out the Yankees did 2 years ago.
Sox rookies such as Jed Lowrie, Junichi Tazawa, Dusty Brown, Daniel Bard and Michael Bowden were dressed up in semi-embarrassing outfits and are required to stay in them until they reach the hotel. At least this year’s is better than last year’s lame High School Musical version, but I think Joba might have made a more precious Cowardly Lion than Sox fireballer Daniel Bard.
[WBZ]
Journey frontman Steve Perry is a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan, so it was a large amount of chagrin that he discovered that one his most iconic songs has been hijacked by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
During every 8th inning the Dodgers now play a karaoke version of Journey’s hit, “Don’t Stop Believing,” most likely a ploy by Dr. Charles Steinberg — the former Red Sox PR man who popularized the playing of “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway.
Perry when he goes to games at Chavez Ravine now finds that he leaves games before the 8th so as to avoid hearing his work bastardized. “It tweaks me to know they’re using the song as a rally song.” He told a San Francisco reporter, “I really wish we’d [the Giants] have hijacked it first. I think the song is about hope and power, and it’s working for them, damn it.”
[LAist]
I wouldn’t be the Mets-hater that I’m accused of being if I didn’t post this absolutely fantastic interactive graphic from that bastion of baseball, The Wall Street Journal. So, without anymore ado, here is MetsSloppily! Click on the image to go to the full-size version and appreciate it in it’s full glory.
[WSJ]
Toronto Blue Jay Jesse Carlson was never a pretty man, after last night he added a handsome welt to his grisly visage after upsetting Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. After coming around the bases, Posada threw an elbow into Carlson who was covering home plate in a move that home plate umpire Jim Joyce called “unsportsmanlike” and a “cheap shot.”
(video of the whole affair is HERE)
Previously the Yankees had hit Toronto’s Aaron Hill and so Carlson threw behind Posada as retaliation. Carlson didn’t hit him though and while both benches emptied in an empty gesture, there weren’t any ramifications beyond both teams being warned.
It was Posada who started the whole affair the second time by shoving of Carlson and that led to the full emptying of the benches and a full-on brawl. Of course, most of the players were just standing around on the outskirts afraid of being touched. It wouldn’t be a douchey brawl if Shelley Duncan didn’t get in the middle of it. Seriously, this dude doesn’t do anything on the field but always wants to fight SOMEONE. What the hell is his problem, take an anger management class or drink some herbal tea or something.
One player who apparently was eager to be touched was A-Rod, because, after all it wouldn’t be a big piling up of men without him throwing out a super gay-sounding quote: “It got pretty heavy and pretty thick pretty quickly.” Yowzers, you want some more dick with that quote?
[Big League Stew and ESPN]
The Slanch Report 
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