The Morning Stretch: Hitting the Links
Not a whole lot doin today outside of more Steve McNair news. So as not to completely depress, check out these links for solid stories--sports journalism or otherwise--to get you through your morning. All solid reads.
Welcome Back, Rick Reilly.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4299149
Reilly offers his best article in a long, long time. How acting like you were still playing high school sports could make your 9-5 that much better.
Because, remember, the beatings will continue until morale improves.
Chicago Biases
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-07-cubs-ramirez-chicago-jul07,0,3685292.story
First, Dave van Dyck's detailing of Rammy's return to the field last night.
Second, Sox Beat Writer Mark Gonzales' detailing of how Gordon Beckham is heating up and settling in at the hot corner for the Pale Hose.
From the Artist Formerly Known as Sports Illustrated
Even though the mighty have fallen, always worth while to see who's taking home imaginary mid-season hardware for individual performance. This edition: MLB
I'm Pretty Sure the Last Time I Heard The Sporting News Mentioned was in Bull Durham
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2009-07-06/mlb-power-poll-biggest-first-half-surprises
But what's better than quick notes on baseball's first-half surprises?
From the Pioneers at DeadSpin
http://deadspin.com/5308468/diagramming-sarah-palins-full+court-press-metaphor?skyline=true&s=x
Was anybody else caught off-guard on Sarah Palin's full-court-press-as-a-resignation? ... Yeah, weird.
You Can't Trust 'Em for Calling Out Irregulaties in Politics, but They Did All Right With This One
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/sports/baseball/07injuries.html?_r=1&hp&pagewanted=all
The New York Times, everybody! Good read going into why there's such a ridiculously high population on the Disabled List this summer.
Believe It Or Not, They Still Have Baseball in Baltimore
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-sp.cowherd02jul02,0,4009446.column
... But nobody's buying the Orioles-Fans-As-The-Forgotten-Tortured-Fanbase-Not-From-Chicago-Boston-or-Philly.
Most Rational, Most Realistic Michael Jackson Article Since... you know...
http://www.newsweek.com/id/204296
Newsweek still exists apparently... same with Life. who knew?
Enjoy all these reads... all of them supremely better written and more articulate than my ramblings. Working on an MLB All-Star piece that I'll have ready for you by week's end just in time for the All-Star Break.
July 7th, 2009 - 17:18
OK…That Reilly article was awful…even for Rick Reilly. There was a time (AKA when he wrote for SI) that I actually enjoyed his work, but since he’s gotten to ESPN, he’s completely fallen off as a sportswriter and his work continues to prove how out of touch with reality he is. This latest piece is a great example. This guy obviously hasn’t had a real job in years and clearly is unaffected enough by the recession to make light of it. More on my Reilly issues tonight when WildBill makes his triumphant return to actually contributing to the site.
July 7th, 2009 - 19:28
@ WildBill
Sooo, yeah, my sarcasm doesn’t quite come through on that Rick Reilly link.
But come on, tell me there’s not a girl in your office you’d want to pat on the cheek (no… think 3 feet due south) for having done a good job. And on the flip side of the coin, wouldn’t you want her to give you a little slap on the ass? I vote yes.