Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Sexy Action Sports Saturday. If you’re waking up and reading this, you clearly did NOT win the big Mega Millions jackpot… chances are, nobody that needs it will. Probably some 85-year old broad in Idaho that just played it for the opportunity to go to the store and have somebody to talk to for a minute. Personally, I view the lottery as a tax on stupid people. Don’t play it regularly, not going to start just because the jackpot is up to 500-plus million. I’ll keep the dollar.

   We all know who DOESN’T need to win that Mega Millions jackpot… Mr. Frank McCourt, the recent divorcee of both a greedy gash of a wife and now a Major League Baseball franchise. The best part to me, she only gets what they already decided on in the divorce agreement… which is nowhere near half the 2.14 billion dollars an investment group headed by Magic Johnson paid for a .500 ballclub. Hopefully this group can get Dodger blue back to what it once was… having an MVP candidate in Matt Kemp and Cy Young winner in Clayton Kershaw never hurts, though.

   Just when I was getting ready to at least give Saints’ coach Sean Payton some props for taking his punishment like a man, he pulls the normal horse shit and appeals his 1 year suspension. What about your “I’m sorry for what happened and as head coach I take full responsibility” speech last week? I hope the Saints fire your ass before next April. Of course, that probably means I’ll have to see your dumb ass on ESPN the next fucking week as an “NFL expert”.

   Hey Martha Burk… how about you quit bothering Augusta National Golf Club about having a woman member and go make me a fucking turkey pot pie? Honestly, this broad just never shuts the hell up. She had a public protest back in 2003, attempting to get the first woman member into the club since it began in 1933. Now, women are allowed IN, and allowed to play the course, they just aren’t allowed to be fucking members… and apparently playing the course/watching events just isn’t good enough for this fucking glass-ceiling femi-nazi. She wants current IBM CEO to be given the symbolic “green jacket” as the first female member of Augusta National. Funny she waits til right before the fucking Masters to bring this shit up and not when this broad was named the CEO. Keep reaching for that unreachable star… and while you’re reaching, go to the fuckin fridge and get me a beer, woman!

  Two things that have been pissing me off lately… American teams playing abroad, ESPECIALLY season-openers, and all this Spanish-language horse shit showing up on NBA jerseys. Major League Baseball is as American as it gets… and you’re screwing two struggling teams, the Mariners and A’s, out of home games with this opening series in Japan… let alone spring training time. Just like the NFL playing in fucking England, this is total bull shit. Stay on the continent you dumb pricks… NFL Europe FAILED, and Japan has it’s own baseball league. As for the NBA, what the fuck is with this “Spanish heritage” jersey crap? El Heat, Los Spurs… ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKERS… DO YOU SPEAK IT? Not as effective when I say it, take it away Sammy…

  This week’s shut the fuck up award will not even be put up for a vote… I’m telling you who needs to shut the fuck up this time around, and it’s Spike Lee. This dipshit, all in a pissy fit over the Trayvon Martin case down in Florida, tweeted what he THOUGHT was the address of suspected killer George Zimmerman, only to have it be the wrong fucking address. The McClain family wound up being the victims of Spike Lee’s stupidity, and were forced to leave their home after several threats and live with their son. Then the asshole tries to get out of it by simply tweeting a fucking apology. Fuck you, Spike Lee, dip into that “Do the Right Thing” money and pay these people for your stupidity.

  The worst part, this asshole is actually trying to put somebody’s address out there on twitter with intent for that person to come to great bodily harm. Sounds like he’s a fucking accessory to murder if George Zimmerman DOES happen to get killed before he’s ever charged. Fuck, that’s how they got Charles Manson… it’s just people are so fucking dumb these days they don’t even need psychedelic drugs to follow a dip shit like this, they just do shit because somebody famous said so. Fuck off Spike Lee, I hope somebody tweets YOUR address, and I hope somebody shows up at YOUR house with ill intentions someday. Fucking race-baiting maggot. Who the fuck are you and what the fuck have YOU done of any kind of signifigance in your life that makes you the guy to bring anybody to justice?

  There IS a voting opportunity this week… with a Final Four theme. The Kentucky Wildcats face off against the Louisville Cardinals in a battle for bluegrass state supremacy, not to mention a trip to the championship game, and coaches John Calipari and Rick Pitino face off today in a battle of “who’s the bigger dirt bag?” These two coaches are the only two to bring three different teams to the Final Four… of course, Pitino is the only “official” coach to do so, because Calipari’s previous two Final Four appearances at UMass and Memphis were vacated because of NCAA sanctions. But, the vote is yours, gabitants… which one of these two greaseballs is the bigger bag of shit? Be sure to cast your vote in the comments below.

    That’s it for me this week, folks. Opening Day (in America… fuck this Japan opening series shit) is coming up Thursday… Tigers-Sawx… can’t wait to see Prince Fielder in a Tigers jersey for real! Hope you all enjoy the last no-baseball weekend of the spring/summer/fall.

Well folks, the Major League Baseball season is officially under way. While the rest of us were sleeping or getting ready for work over the last two days, the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners were putting on a showcase of offensive prowess, scoring a combined nine runs in two games. But for the rest of us, the (other) real season starts next week when the rest of the league gets under way, on this side of the Pacific.

So what do fans do for that last weekend of spring training? Well, they can load up on knowledge of possible break-out candidates for the 2012 season, and since I have drafted in all of my leagues, I have no problem sharing my All-Breakout Team for 2012.

2012 MLB All-Breakout Team

Yasmani Grandal – San Diego Padres – Catcher

Yonder Alonso gets a lot of publicity for being the prize of the Mat Latos trade, but Grandal may be just as important to the Padres future. A switch-hitting catcher with power, Grandal played across three levels in 2011. He has absolutely torn the cover off the ball during Spring Training, but will likely start 2012 at Triple-A to further season (read here as start his arbitration clock later) as he’s only played 113 games in the minors. Still, Grandal will likely be a call-up around June and could a solid mid-season addition for a team looking for an upgrade at catcher.

Paul Goldschmidt – Arizona Diamondbacks – First Base

Goldschmidt came up in 2011 with a lot of hype and proceeded to hit 8 home runs in 156 at-bats to close out the regular season. That said he also struck out at an alarming rate of once every three at-bats. Still, he showed a reversal of that during the NLDS, when he tried to carry the D-Backs into the next round by hitting a robust .438 with another pair of home runs and 6 RBI. He’ll need to cut down on his strike-outs, but his power is legit and he could easily crank out 30-plus home runs in the thin desert air.

Dustin Ackley – Seattle Mariners – Second Base

Ackley is a huge part of the Mariners’ future and is a big reason why they are pushing a youth movement in Seattle. After a solid rookie campaign that saw him hit .273 with 6 home runs, 16 double, 7 triples, 36 RBI across 90 games. That’s not bad production out of a 23-year-old second baseman. Ackley is already off to a solid start in 2012, hitting his first home run and driving in a pair during the opening series against Oakland in Japan. He should be on everybody’s radar as a player to watch in 2012.

Zack Cozart – Cincinnati Reds – Shortstop

Cozart is somewhat old for a rookie, entering 2012 at the ripe age of 26-years-old, but he made the most out of his cup of coffee in 2011, playing in 11 games and getting 12 hits, including a pair of home runs. He enters 2012 as the starting shortstop for the Reds, and he isn’t showing any signs of letting that go thanks to a solid spring. His power numbers in the minors are solid for a shortstop, so we may be talking about a possible 15-20 home run season from a shortstop. Take into consideration that he plays his home games in the launching pad of Great American Ballpark, and you have the recipe for a sleeper.

Brett Lawrie – Toronto Blue Jays – Third Base

I’ve already spilled the beans on Lawrie, but I cannot stress enough how much of a stud hitter he is going to be. His long term defensive position may be second base, but that won’t slow down his bat.

Dayan Viciedo – Chicago White Sox – Outfield

Viciedo has looked horrible this spring, despite being anointed the starting left fielder heading into camp. Still, the White Sox didn’t ship Carlos Quentin out of town simply for cost cutting purposes. The kid they call “The Tank” will be a legitimate power hitter in the bigs and at 23-years-old, should be a part of the White Sox outfield for years to come.

Ben Revere – Minnesota Twins – Outfield

Revere got a big taste of the majors in 2011, appearing in 117 games and doing a decent job, despite the injuries around him. Coming into 2012, the fleet-footed outfielder will be given a starting job. He doesn’t have a lot of power in his stick, but he makes up for it on the base paths with a boatload of stolen bases. Comparatively speaking, a good starting point would be Michael Bourn, and if the M&M boys are healthy in 2012, Revere could be adding a lot of runs scored too.

JD Martinez – Houston Astros – Outfield

There isn’t a lot to be excited about with the Astros in 2012, but I’ve decided that there are at least two players worth keeping an eye on in Houston, with Martinez being the first. Martinez got his shot after the trade of Hunter Pence and put up a solid .264 with 6 home runs and 35 RBI in 53 games played. Combined with the 13 home runs he hit in the minors before his call-up, and the kid could actually give the Astros a reasonable approximation of Pence n 2012, minus the stolen bases.

Jordan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals – Pitcher

Stephen Strasburg gets all the hype in Washington, and rightfully so, but Zimmerman is another young arm that the Nationals are building their rotation around. He enters 2012 a year removed from his own Tommy John surgery, and faired decently in his first year back with an 8-11 record, 124 strike-outs, and 3.18 ERA during the 2011 campaign. He won’t be as electric as Strasburg, but he’ll cost you a lot less on draft day. Oh, and unlike Strasburg, his Tommy John training wheels should be fully off in 2012.

Bud Norris – Houston Astros – Pitcher

Norris is the other Astro on this list, and rightfully so. Don’t let his 2011 record of 6-11 fool you. Instead, we need to focus on Norris’s 3.77 ERA and 176 strike-outs. Playing for Houston won’t do his record any wonders, but entering his prime, it isn’t without reason to expect him to further improve upon all subordinate stats. He has above average stuff and on another team; he’d be a top flight fantasy option. Still, gain from other players’ mistakes and don’t let Norris slide by.

Drew Pomeranz – Colorado Rockies – Pitcher

Pomeranz was sort of an after thought in 2011, as he appeared in only four games, but that just means he will fly under the radar. Pomeranz was the key acquisition in the trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians at last year’s deadline, and he’s shown why this spring, by surrendering only a single run across 11 innings pitched thus far. He’s got a stellar 10.6 K/9 rate and has surrendered only 3 home runs over 101 innings pitched in the minors.  He will pitch his home games in Coors Field, but with the advent of the humidor, that isn’t as much of a stigma as it once was. He is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate in 2012.

ScottJax asks the question no one in the media has asked, or said about Tim Tebow. Will his words cause controversy?? Old Players in the NBA?? WrestleMania hits Random Thoughts?? Brooklyn Nets?? All this and more in this weeks edition of….

Wow, I never thought I get Jacksonville’s own, Tim Tebow, “Tebowing” for me. Thanks Tim. By the way, my son goes to the same Church as Tim and has talked to him on many occasions. He is a nice fellow and when it comes to his “faith” he is the real deal.

The provocative question is later on in the blog

Okay Gabbers. ScottJax has posted his annual WrestleMania predications. They can viewed here:

http://www.yougabsports.com/pt/WrestleMania-XXVIII---ScottJaxs-annual-predictions/blog.htm

Please feel free to give me who you think will win each match.

How would you like to be left out of a game because your old? Well it happen to Tim Duncan. The Spurs were playing their third game in three nights and they gave him the night off. So the official scorer listed Duncan as DND (Did Not Dress) - Old.

A column by Peter Veceey, who says its from multiple sources, is saying that the Nets are targeting Kevin Garnett (restricted free agent), Ryan Anderson (restricted free agent and a player the Nets drafted and then traded away) and Ersan Ilyasova (unrestricted free agent), while renouncing the rights to Kris Humphries. The Nets are saying they want a stronger rebounded to play alongside Brook Lopez.

While Kris Humphries (27 years old) has never been a scoring machine, nor rebounded, since he has been a Net he is averaging a double-double. How many NBA players can say that? He averages 11.9 points a game and 11 rebounds a game. Garnett is on the downside of his career, this year is averaging 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. He turns 36 in May. Anderson is 23 years old and is averaging 10.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game and Ilyasova is 24 years old and is averaging 9.4 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Any of these players better rebounders than Kris Humphries???

Got to get rid of Billy King, he is going to kill the Nets.

Oh no the trading for Tim Tebow was not a publicity stunt. Then how come the team is had a press conference to introduce a back-up quarterback. There was no coach, owner or players at the conference. Yep they really, really want him.

Jet’s are just starved for attention.

Here is the question that no one, that I have heard or read has mentioned:

An honest question deserves an honest answer

If Tim Tebow was any religion other than a Christian, would he have still gotten this same coverage. NOT!!

Frank McCourt buys the Dodgers, the stadium and surrounding area for $430 million in 2004 and yesterday he sells it for $2.15 billion dollars to a group that includes Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten. Mark Walter, Guggenheim Capital (the main source behind the $$$$) chief executive, will be the controlling owner. Kasten will run the team, while magic will also be involved in some of the day-to-day activities and will be looking to woo free agents.

The Johnson group, largely funded by Guggenheim Capital chief executive officer Mark Walter, agreed to purchase the Dodgers, Dodger Stadium and a 50 percent stake in the parking lots surrounding the ballpark from McCourt for $2.15 billion.

After Frank pays off his ex-wife $131 million and some $579 million in debt, he will taken in over $1.5 billion dollars. On top of that he gets to buy the half the parking area of Dodger Stadium and surrounding area for $150 million dollars.

I got to buy me a team!!

Til Next Time

Scott

PS. Tebow didn't actually Tebow for me

Hello and welcome to another Wednesday of deep thoughts. I hope your hump day finds you in good spirits, I am happy because today is the start of baseball season, but I am suddenly wondering why the games are in Japan? I am cool with the World baseball idea, but it seems to me that the regular season should be played in the US. It is no secret that Ichiro has a huge Japanese following, but so what? How about we have a few exhibition games prior to the regular season? I get that these games will benefit the earthquake and tsunami victims, but wouldn't a couple of exhibition games serve the same purpose? I have been to Japan and remember flying all day to get there only to have my days become nights and vice versa. I was 18 years old at the time and had no problem quickly adjusting, but I wonder how this will affect the players start to a season? Jet lag is a bitch, especially when you are 30 something...right Ichiro?

Since we are on the west coast, I might as well mention that Magic Johnson's "group" has agreed to pay Frank McCourt 2.15 billion dollars to buy the Dodgers. As badly as McCourt screwed things up in LA, it hardly seems fair for him to get paid. I know that he won't get all of this money, but you can live pretty well with whatever he ends up with. So, if I have the facts right...McCourt bought the Dodgers for $430 million in 2004. If memory serves me, McCourt financed much of the $430 million that he paid for the Dodgers. During his eight year rein, he spent gobs of money on his family, finally landing the Dodgers in bankruptcy. Now he gets $2.15 billion? What a schmuck...

Of course just because Magic Johnson was the magic man on a basketball court does not mean that he knows a rosin bag from eye black. There is however, one thing that I have observed about Magic Johnson; he likes to win. Johnson did not put up most of the jack for the Dodgers. Magic brought in a firm called Guggenheim Baseball Partners to do the heavy financial lifting. Baseball operations will be handled by Stan Kasten. Do you recognize this name? He has previously worked as president of the Braves and Nationals. Magic Johnson will play the role that he does very well. He will play nice with the media and smile when his Dodgers hit the field. He will sit behind home plate and do what McCourt should have been doing all along...give the Dodger fans a team to be proud of.

As a baseball fan, I am happy that Frank McCourt is no longer in the game. But, the thought of him walking with $2.15 billion turns my stomach.

 That is some expensive magic that Erwin has brought to the Dodgers...

BOB, brought up a very interesting topic in his Tuesday rant. He posted a video of Blake Griffin getting body checked into the baseline reporters. While the foul was clearly blatant and over the top. I am pretty sure that BOB's point was that Griffin's crash was an exaggerated fall, or flop if you will. I think that most fan's agree that flopping is just wrong, but if you are a player is it wrong? In baseball, players feign a successful catch or tag. Derek Jeter famously faked being hit by a pitch last year...remember that one? The opposing manager yelled and kicked up a fuss, but the next day more or less said it was part of the game. Football is a game of deception, sometimes the refs call it sometimes they do not. Basketball is a game of space. If you have established your space another player cannot force you out of it, so flopping is born. I agree with BOB, the truly great players have no need to flop, which I think is fair. But for the Manu Ginobli's of the world, is flopping a necessary resource that allows them to exist? Here is some humorous video of some great flopping. What does a ref do when both players flop? Enjoy...

That Dirk must have some bad BO... 

With the start of baseball season, many of us have begun the fantasy baseball season. Of all the fantasy games I have ever played, baseball is far and away the best game for fantasy. A game of numbers, there are categories that can be tweaked to make each league a bit different. I have always loved baseball, but the fantasy game has expanded my familiarity with many players. Prospects, and small market teams that I would have never cared about are suddenly important to me. As a fan, it has been great. I know that some will say that the game reduces their interest in their favorite team, for me that has not been the case. The Astros have always been my favorite team and that will never change. Thankfully, I have my fantasy team to get me through the terrible talent that has filled Houston's roster of late.

The draft is a necessary process that each owner must endure. The first fantasy league I participated in often drafted over a few days. We started the draft and owners drafted when they had a chance. That was frustrating. We changed the draft to one day and hobbled along near five hours. No clock and no auto draft. That really sucked. Through all of this, I always enjoyed the draft. I was drafting with my friends. We would needle each other over picks made and not made. We had fun. I guess it is different drafting with folks you do not know. It is a chore and something to be done quickly. I like the draft process. Each draft is different and is fun for me to watch the process unfold. Sometimes I get the players I want and sometimes I do not. But, I have never begrudged a team taking their allowed time to draft, it is part of the deal.. I guess a friendship is worth a few hours to me.

I have never been a fan of Joba Chamberlain. I thought he was overrated and too animated for my tastes. As I watched the video of him discussing his recent injury, I realized that he gets it. Spending time with his kid is more important that anything else. Even if you hate the Yankees, you have to feel for the guy. If he makes it back to the mound, I will be back to shaking my head at his fist pumps, but then I will think about Joba the dad.

 http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=20296569

That is all I have for today, but I will leave you with a bit of Jack Handey:

"If you were a gladiator in olden days, I bet the inefficiency of how the gladiator fights were organized and scheduled would just drive you up a wall."

"If you work on a lobster boat, sneaking up behind someone and pinching him is probably a joke that gets old real fast."

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a few deep thoughts of your own.

Welcome to the tantrums where we Uncle B.O.B. wants to know what’s with Hootie going country and going on tour and performing before Lady Antebellum?  Not that Hootie and the Blowfish didn’t suck back in the day!

http://www.godvine.com/Autistic-Man-Singing-National-Anthem-Gets-Some-Help-407.html

I know I rant about a lot of crazy stuff, but I wanted to start this one off on a positive note.  I have no idea how old this video is, but Boston – I LOVE YOU FOR THIS!

On to the rants:

Rant of the Week #1 – Jeff Ireland.  Miami Dol-fans with bags over their heads protesting the Dolphin GM Jeff Ireland is outstanding.  The fans are bent (correctly) about why Miami can’t get improvements to their team.  Ireland’s response – “We’re half way through the player acquisition period.  Let the process play out.”.  Really Jeff?  Let’s take a look at what you’ve done over the past few years.   Miami hasn’t had a serviceable QB since Dan Marino left, which means that Miami hasn’t had a passing game to attract WR’s haven’t been notable since Duper and Clayton – and NO Brandon Marshall doesn’t count. 

Rant of the Week #2 – Joe Lacob.  The owner of the Golden State Warriors got booed off the mike when he tried to speak on the occasion of the retirement of Chris Mullin’s jersey in Oakland.  It took both Chris Mullin and Rick Barry begging the fans to stop and even that didn’t do it.  Sorry, I agree with the fans here – fans are sick and tired of waiting for teams to get better, especially here in NOCAL.  The Warriors and Kings have sucked forever and a day and it doesn’t appear that Lacob at GSW or the Maloofs in Sacramento give one bit of a damn about making things better for the fans.  These two owners in particular are deserving of getting booed at every chance. 

Fans of all teams are getting tired of hearing the words “have a little patience”.   The fans are getting tired of idiots running their franchises into the ground and embarrassing fans everywhere.    Hell, just look at the Gab - Beeze is fed up with the Browns, IHM was sick of the Lions, and I have my issues with the Dolphins and Sacramento Kings. 

Rant of the Week #3 – Colin Cowturd.   This idiot comes up with the strangest stuff.  Monday, he came out with “Tim Tebow will wreck the New York Jets Locker Room”.   Yeah Colin, as if “anonymous Jet” and Santonio Holmes vs. Mark Sanchez have nothing to do with fracturing that joke of a Locker Room already.

That being said, I agree with “the Turd” about a backup QB having a press conference – that flat out shouldn’t happen.  Just seems to me that Tebow is being used by the marketing hacks in the NFL, NYC, and other places.  If you think that Tebow had any say in where he was going to be traded, you are absolutely fooling yourself.  I'm sorry, if the Jets didn't even have the best trade package out there, somebody routed this guy to the Rotten Apple.

Oh yeah NYJ owner, don’t tell me this was a “football decision”.  Just how naive do you think fans are?

Rant of the Week #4 – Andy Pettite.  Could have fooled me Andy.  We’ve blasted off on Brett Favre and his BS, but what is Andy Pettite doing that’s any different?  He pulls this same crap year after year after year.  How many times has this guy waffled on this subject?  And no Gabbers, this isn’t about my admitted hatred for the Yankees, this dude has become nothing more than a friggin diva who can’t make up his mind.

Rant of the Week #5 – Warren Sapp.  Warren have you started hangin’ with Mary Jane again?  C’mon man, saying on the NFL Network that Jeremy Shockey was “the snitch” about Nawlins without proof?  Nobody in the league likes Shockey, and they like a snitch even less, but one member of “the U” ratting out another?  That’s probably the most shocking thing of this whole incident.  Hell, everybody at Miami has secrets and openly accusing Shockey only opens the door for him to drop some knowledge about Sapp’s past.

I’m glad the NFL gave him the talk and told him that he's an Analyst and NOT a reporter.

Rant of the Week #6 – Jason Smith vs. Blake Griffin.  A big deal has been made about Blake Griffin being knocked down by Jason Smith down in New Orleans (where else?).  Dude got shoulder checked while dribbling – it’s not like Smith went all New Orleans Saints on Griffin.  Both were on the ground running, Griffin went down, never hit his head, and laid there for over a minute.  Are you kidding me?  I've seen far tougher hits on a T-ball field...Jason Smith didn’t want he or his team to be embarrassed so he laid a shoulder.

I honestly wonder if it was anybody other than B. Griffin who took that "hit", would the NBA even remotely consider suspending Smitty? 

March Freaking Madness.  I'm honestly not going to rant on this because I actually find these two games appealing - Ohio State vs. Kansas and Kentucky vs. Louisville – just how classic is this gonna be?  Let's hope the officiating doesn't affect the games in any way.

Fantasy Baseball Draft.   To those with “the juice”, might I make a suggestion – 60 seconds between picks next year?  Secondly, and this is not meant to be mean-spirited, but if you’re not going to be at the draft, TURN YOUR AUTO PICK ON.  Two and a half hours for a 12 team draft is a little on the long side.

Question of the Day.  Should Bill Parcells become the interim Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints?

RANT ON GABBERS!!!