The Weekend in Sports

For the past week or so, I have thought about starting a podcast. Just a little something in addition to this here. Nothing big or fancy with special music or interviews or a chance for the readers to sound off. More or less an audio version of 'this.' So, in the meantime, while I get my things together for my first podcast, which might indeed be tomorrow, lets take a look at the quite lackluster weekend in sports.

So, I guess I'll start with Friday, cause I guess that is the beginning of the weekend. Of course the big story of Friday was the surrendering of Tennessee Titans' cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones, who was then quickly released after posting bail there at the jail in Las Vegas and was on his was back to Nashville. According to Jones' lawyers, the suspended NFL player will plead not guilty to two felony charges of coercion stemming from allegations that he threatened to kill Minxx club employees and that he bit a bar bouncer. If convicted, Jones faces a maximum of 12 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Jones has had more face time on the Internet/sports outlets next to the courthouse or a police officer than on a football field or next to a teammate. It amazes me how a man of what you think would be somewhat decent class and values continues to do what he does and not have the ability to learn from it. How was he able to survive college??? My only guess is because he was not swimming in money then. This is a troubled player who must learn to choose more carefully who he hangs with because the people he is associating with are bringing him down and if he wants to continue to cash that pretty NFL paycheck anymore, then he must choose 'sink or swim' and so far he is sinking fast.

Saturday was Ejection Day in baseball as 3 managers and 1 player were given the early shower. The San Francisco Giants' manager Bruce Bochy, Atlanta Braves' manager Bobby Cox, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, along with New York Mets catcher Paul LoDuca were all ejected on Saturday.

It had been out of the ordinary how many ejections there this year in baseball. It seems to me they are adding up at a much higher rate than in prior years, at least in most recent. Bochy has been ejected four times this year. Bobby Cox's ejection gave him the record for most ejections in a career. It is kind of making a statement saying there are too many ejections going on in baseball. Umpires need to tone it down and so do players. Umps need to relax more and not have such a quick release when it comes to tossing a player from a game. Fans do not come to a game to see talent get tossed. On the other hand, the players need to put the responsibility square on their own shoulders and not 'ask for it.' I have seen it many a time this year where players will jar with an ump until they are given the boot and told that their day is done. Veteran players need to take more responsibility knowing that they are there for the thousands in attendance that paid the ticket price and brought their kids to see you hit the ball and run the bases, not yell like a child at another man trying to do his job.

Sunday was a little more relaxed in sports, but still no events. Oregon State captured its second consecutive College World Series Championship with a win over North Carolina. Also on Sunday, Juan Pablo Montoya became the first non-U.S. born driver to win a NASCAR race in over 30 years. The only baseball game of note was played in Canada where Dustin McGowan was three outs away from the second no-hitter in Toronto Blue Jays history. He still got the complete game shutout in the 5-0 victory over Colorado. Also in that game, Frank Thomas blasted his 499th career home run.

I don't really have an opinion on Oregon State winning the College World Series other than the fact that my University participated in the tournament and made it to the 'final 32.' It does seem to be a really big deal that they repeated since they lose players each year and its not really the same core of players that come back each year. Obviously the same few teams are going to be 'good' year after year based on program recruiting and reputation, but this year was quite unique since it was a repeat of both teams making it back to the finals. NASCAR...i don't really have an opinion. Frank Thomas is the man and congrats to him on getting one step closer to 500. One of the biggest guys in the league and he is legit. Nobody touches Frank Thomas and the ball flies far far away.

That was the weekend in sports and as you saw, there was not much to it.