Okay, we have one Baseball position in this series...Outfield...I've noticed, the biggest factor for the most part seems to be offensive numbers...well, except when 3B seemed to get the Glove talk going...To me, defense is always a consideration...

Since the game is played with 3 outfielders, this question will be slightly different...

Who do you think are the 3 best, all-time, MLB Outfielders?

And Why?

   Well hello folks and welcome once again to Sexy Action Sports Saturday with your old pal IHM. Can you feel it... it's coming your way Gabbers... here comes that Red Wings bandwagon, and it's fucking overloaded this time around. I don't think I've ever seen so many people all trying to hop onto the same moving vehicle at once... it's a real sight to see here in the Motor City. It happens every year around the middle of May... the city of Detroit catches hockey fever. The only prescription... a Red Wings Stanley Cup! Nobody gives a flying fuck about hockey til around now... but now, everybody is a fucking expert around here.

  As for me, I still say the same thing... fuck hockey and especially the NHL until they get through a decade without a strike or a lockout. I'll stay off the bandwagon, especially when it crashes into the barricade on I-75 South somewhere around Toledo and these dopes start talking about how we need to "blow this thing up" and "fire Mike Babcock" like they were when the Wings barely hung in there for a 7 seed.

  Hockeytown? My ass. This is the most fair weather sports city in the nation. Give the Wings two years missing the playoffs and you can hear a fucking pin drop at Joe Louis Arena. Hell, I remember the late 80's, early 90's, you couldn't GIVE a Wings ticket away. Hell, they tried to at every grade school in southeastern Michigan... and most of them sat on the fucking secretaries desk and collected dust. So, fellow Detroit fans jumping on the bandwagon, just remember, that pavement really fucking stings when you have to bail out at 70 MPH as you realize you're riding right into a fucking sink hole.

  But hey, I'm in a positive mood. Hell, nothing I love more than bashing the idiotic "Wing Nuts" around here... the ones that you can't get a word out of hockey-wise for 10 months out of the year, but once the playoffs start they're the biggest hockey fans in the world. Personally, I started this NHL season not giving two shits about what happened with any team, and I'll end it the exact same way.

  How about the other Detroit team that couldn't sell a ticket just a short while back... yeah, those Detroit Tigers. Now it's "Eat 'em up Tigers... eat 'em up!" on every tool's facebook wall. Especially tonight after the gem turned in by Annibal Sanchez, who was just two outs shy of his second career no-hitter Friday night. 12 K's, 2 walks, one hit by that prick Joe Mauer, but a masterful complete game shut out none the less. Sanchez looks more like an All-Star at this point than his teammate, Justin Verlander does. In fact, at this point, JV looks like the 4th best pitcher on his own team, with both Scherzer and Fister on a roll as well.

  The question has become is this just a little funk JV has fallen into, or is something actually wrong. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle. He really hasn't been himself all year yet, but until last weekend in Cleveland he really hadn't had the wheels come off like he has over his last three starts. He's given up at least 5 earned runs in each of his last three starts, including the stinker he turned in against Texas in which he gave up a career-high tying 8 earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings of work. Personally, I hope it's just a little funk and he can work his way out of it. But, even if it isn't, he's still one hell of a #4 or 5, and Fister, Scherzer and now Sanchez have all stepped up in a big way to pick up their ace.

  A short musical interlude in honor of Annibal Sanchez's dominating performance...

   Sticking with the dominance theme, anybody hear about this high school kid out in California who threw a perfect game? Michael Strem of St. Francis in California threw a perfecto on just 66 pitches (in the state of California, high school baseball games only go 7 innings). Even with two fewer innings, that's still just over three pitches per batter. Hell of a ballgame. And if you think it came against a weaker sister, think again... it was a fucking playoff game! Mad props to that kid, hopefully it lands him a nice scholarship somewhere if he doesn't already have one!

  Making the leap to college sports now, turns out Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is an ass man. Just turns out that what he really likes is man ass! That's right, Urban is a big fan of the male ass... at least according to Buckeye recruit LB Raekown McMillan, who says Meyer told him he had a great "linebacker butt" during the process. I'm not sure what is worse... that Meyer actually said that out loud, or that McMillan actually went to school to play for the guy that told him he had a "great linebacker butt". Of course, Meyer laid on the compliments thick, telling McMillan that Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, and even Brandon Spikes all also had really, really sweet asses... to paraphrase!

  This week in the NFL, former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons, citing the fact that he won't be able to play up to his own standards anymore. Urlacher was a fierce hitter and a great competitor, and a frequent pain in my Lions' ass! Still, I respect the hell out of the guy, and wish him all the best in retirement. Even Packers QB Aaron Rodgers paid Urlacher a compliment, saying he was "his favorite player to go up against." Or maybe he was saying he was slow... not exactly sure. All kidding aside, all the best to Urlacher, one of the classier guys in the game and a damn good football player to boot.

  Before I call it a day, I'd like to ask you all a very serious question. What the fuck is wrong with the media these days? Not sure how much news of the London terror attack really got out there, because it didn't happen right here... but this is an Englishman who fought alongside our soldiers in Afghanistan who was brutally murdered and beheaded in the streets of London, England, by Muslim extremists. Here is video of one of the douches actually explaining his actions to horrified onlookers:

  Now, as if the way their son died wasn't bad enough, all the family asked was that his name not be put out into the public because he did not deserve to die this way. Yet, within fifteen minutes the blood sucking parasites we all call the media was all over the airwaves, dropping his name and posting pictures of him... surprised they didn't give everybody his fucking credit card and social security numbers at that (not sure if England has Social Security numbers or not...) Just absolute fucking vultures, with absolutely no respect for a fallen soldier or his family's wishes. Just disgusting.

  That's all I've got for the day folks. Thanks for reading and for any comments you leave on the way out. Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend, and remember to thank one of our veterans if you get the chance. Nothing we do is possible without them and without the sacrifices they make to preserve our way of life here in the greatest nation in the world. A special thanks to every member here at the Gab who served as well. We are all in your debt, thank you.

For all of you Jeopardy! fans out there, we will get to the answer to this probing question by Alex in a moment.  First we have a few issues to cover in the Wide World of Sports before we deal with Sergio's telling reply.  Also, I found it terribly difficult to concentrate on writing a blog entry on the heels of "reading" the Beez's last blog post...most distracting!...where was I?

The Indy 500 and what has to be Q's Ultimate Dream Ride...or mine!

Lindsay Czarniak, the ESPN host of the Indy 500, got what has to be the ride of a lifetime going for a tour of the Brickyard in a two seater with Mario Andretti  (settle down, Q).  According to Lindsay, who was interviewed today on a D.C. sports radio show, Mario took it up to around 200 mph for their little run around Indy.  She said - no surprise - that it was a total thrill.  I am happy to see Lindsay moving up to the big time at the 4 letter monolith...she grew up here in D.C. under George Michael and has a real sense for sports.  I don't think GM would have had it any other way.  As for the race, it has been over 40 years since an Andretti has seen the checkered flag...can Marco break through?  He is on the front row, so he can't complain about the start.  Sunday should be fun.

As for the NHL....

We have the team everyone was ready to hand the Stanley Cup to just a couple of months ago on the brink of elimination by the ever durable playoff giants, the Detroit Red Wings.  It has turned our happy chief's smile into a frown.  As it stands, we are looking at Conference finals of LA - Red Wings and Bruins - Penguins.  The only thing that is certain is that I will not have a dog in this fight. I don't really care for any of those teams to win.  One thing should provide some solace to all dedicated hockey fans and that is that is is frickin' hard to win the Stanley Cup.  The regular season means exactly nothing except that you get to play...no President's Trophy, no end of the season run, no health issue matters...the Cup is a whole different beast.  There may be a secret recipe that comes only from drinking from Lord Stanley's Cup, but outside of that secret club, the rest go uneducated and generally unfullfilled.

The NBA to me is a joke league...

I don't generally live in the world of conspiracy theories...except when it comes to the NBA.  Is a coincidence that the Lakers and Celtics always seem to get magically reloaded with talent when they are down?  In this fluke year for the Lakers, nobody thought that the combination of Dwight Howard and Kobe would not bring wins and another championship run...Howard just is a bozo and killed it, but the talent was there.  Is is just a coincidence that after losing LeBron that the Cavs have won the Lottery 2 of the last 3 years?   How is that this league survives when half of its teams have NEVER even played for a title?  Franchises that win that aren't named Lakers or Celtics or Bulls or Spurs win a title on average every 30 years.   

Ok, so we will see a Heat - Spurs final...now there's a surprise.  Here's another one - the same teams in it now, will be in it next year. 

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Revisited

In my review of MLB last week, I forgot to include the Umpires in the Bad to Ugly category.  We continue to have umpires ruining the outcomes of ball games even WITH instant replay.  What is obvious to all of us - a ball hitting off the wall above the HR line - is not obvious to the MASSIVE egos that wear the black.  Unlike their brethern in football, the umpire is afraid to go under the hood and make a call - oh my - they may have gotten it wrong.  On close plays, umpires often are incorrect.  It's not because they are aren't skilled, it's because the play is so fast it defies the human eye - but NOT the camera.  Com'on Blue, get the calls right.   And why not do something to help the plate umpire with balls & strikes?  I am so tired of seeing a plate umpire ruin a game.  Watch a game just concentrating on balls & strikes - even the best are not that great.  They could use pitch track to at least tell the umpire if the ball goes over the plate or not.   Baseball - please fix the umps.

And finally, the answer to Double Jeopardy....

As Sergio says, "Who is Tiger Woods?"  Alex:  Sergio, you and Fuzzy got that one right.   Thank you "gentlemen" for showing us what a racist looks like on the golf course yet again.  I met one of the Golf Channel hosts who had a drink or two I think who had not too many kind words for Sergio a couple of years ago.  Then I saw Feherty's interview and thought maybe that was a misjudgement.  Now we see that the real Sergio came out.  Yes Tiger is a prima donna and yes he seems like any one of a number of colorful terms, but really?  going Fried Chicken on him?  A) It's not original as Fuzzy Zoeller said it first.  B) It is just tauting him for being black, not for being an ass, so what is the point of that? and C) the only person hurt by that is Sergio.  He just looks like a douche bag...which he confirmed for all of us.  I can only imagine the taunting he is going to hear at the U.S. Open in a couple of weeks.  

For all of you who have served our Country over the years, we thank you for your dedication and service.  To our fathers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers and great grandfathers who may have fought and suffered or died in defense of our Country, on this solemn weekend we remember you.  Have a happy and special Memorial Day Weekend.

Warning: This blog contains some middle school style humor.

If you are easily offended, see you next week...

I am not a racing fan. Sorry, but I just can’t get into it. I guess the only time I’ve ever made a point to watch racing is on Memorial Day weekend when they cart our Granny, the 144 year old wrinkle-ladened woman named Mary Almond Joy (or something like that), and she proclaims, “(Lady and) Gentlemen, start your engines.” That’s pretty cool to watch.

Come to think of it, there’s one more ditty worth watching. Does Jim Nabors still sing, Back Home Again in Indiana? Gahhhh-leeee, Sargeant Carter. Actually, Gomer will be singing at the Speedway this year after missing 2012’s event due to heart surgery.

So, that’s about it for me and racing. I get dizzy watching people drive in circles. However, those who are into it are REALLY into it. But not me. I liked King Richard Petty when he was winning all those races. (Me thinks it’s the aura of the cowboy hat.) And I like Jeff Gordon... but I never watch the races. I mean, they travel 500 miles and they still end up in the same place. 

I went to a tractor pull once in Burley, Idaho. That was pretty fun. And talk about fun, during my days at KCR, our San Diego State campus radio station, I was invited to be a “celebrity” go-kart racer. That was a blast.

But when I think of racing, only one name comes to mind. And with a name like that, how could I resist? Dick Trickle... a name made for racing. That’s right. I mean, come on... “Slam dunk by Dick Trickle???” “Swung on and missed, Dick Trickle tosses a perfect game???” It just doesn’t sound right. Maybe as a hockey player... Maybe...

Wanna get a smile or a laugh??? Just say, “Dick Trickle” and it’s guaranteed. I actually did that two weeks ago in front of my all-boys Algebra class. One of my students couldn’t stop laughing. And then, I added that Dick was a short track legend. “Dick” and “short” go together perfectly, don’t they??? (Well, for some of you guys they do.) The kids loved it.

So when word came last week that Trickle took his life, I was truly sad. Apparently he couldn’t bear the pain and decided to end it. Trickle’s brother Chuck told Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Dick was suffering from unbearable pain under his left breast. It was so bad, he was seeing the doctor twice a day.

Most suicides seem to be from mental pain... kinda like Junior Seau. He just couldn’t cope with his internal demons. The pain must have been excruciating for Trickle. Former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine called Trickle, “Fun... just plain fun.” Bodine also noted that Trickle kept a cigarette lighter in his car. He even cut a hole in his racing helmet to he could smoke that thing... the cigarette, not the lighter. Brother Chuck added that Dick “...could’ve run for president and won.” (http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/motor-sports/dick-trickle-was-constant-pain-apparent-suicide-brother-says)

The greatest name in the history of sports...

The greatest short track racer in the history of short track racing...

More than 1,200 documented short track wins...

And a big time personality who was...

More than just a funny name...

dvt

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mEuGDFt8j8ls8Sb7oJ9yKjQ.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ3_2A5x53I

http://www.biography.com/imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/P/Richard-Petty-9439013-1-402.jpg

http://www.indykarts.com.au/SEO/images/go-kart-racing-sydney.jpg

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/614*425/M121489.JPG

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/05/18/1368928885000-Trickle-5-19-13-1305182218_4_3_rx404_c534x401.jpg?87cc7ae5b5e3d133be9f113f907a13faa9f8741e

After a long time away, the Friday Finger Pop is back...A little bit of this, and a bit of that...and a little bit of sweet asses, perfect for finger popping!

First off, the New York Rangers finally showed some signs of life Thursday night against the Boston Bruins...The Rangers pulled out a 4-3 OT victory on a goal from Chris Kreider, off of a great feed from Rick Nash...I've been begging for Torts to play Kreider more...The kid is a play-maker and a goal scorer, on a team that doesn't score much...He's got great speed, and slick hands...When he gets ice time, he makes things happen...

That said, While I'm a die hard Rangers fan, I have trouble seeing them winning three more straight against the Bruins....Boston has 4 solid lines...Plenty of depth...Including on the Blue line, as proven by rookie D-man Torey Krug, who has been amazing to watch in this series...

Mmmmmm, that looks finger poppin' good!

I saw a little bit of ESPN's Outside The Lines Thursday afternoon...They had a bunch of talking heads, all up in arms because Robert Griffin III's father, Robert Griffin II said he wants to see his son run less...Why would anyone be shocked by this? 1. Don't all dads want to see their sons stand in the pocket and throw bombs!?! 2. He saw his son get a concussion, and get his knee wrecked twice in his rookie season...Who the fuck wouldn't want their son run less? You'd want to see your kid have a nice long career instead of getting crippled within 3...

Somehow these jokers were appalled that a father would stick his nose into this serious football discussion...How dare he have an opinion...Only ESPN gasbags are allowed to have those! I'd be willing to bet this snippet came out, because some asshole reporter asked Mr. Griffin if he'd like to see his son run the ball less....And then let the media frenzy begin! Crap like this is just ridiculous...

Oh yeah, that's pop worthy!

I spent a couple hours Thursday pitching to my baseball team...Little Beeze is swinging the bat great...Seriously, he's looking like one of my top 6 hitters...I have 3 girls who are swinging the bat really well...two are lefties...The one has this leg kick that she starts as soon as my motion starts...It threw me off at first, but it works for her...She was cranking it...I made a number of self defensive stops...Then I have a boy who loves hitting...And he swings with aggression...He looks to kill everything....His foul balls scare people...And when he makes solid contact it's oer you or through you...Even the kids that struggled at first, took all the tips and started finding their groove...We're going to have a good line-up...Saturday morning we'll be practicing again, and that one is going to 90% fielding...I'm looking forward to that...So is my arm...

A while back I wrote THIS about sexual abuse within USA Swimming...Justice has been slow in these cases, but a small amount was served THURSDAY...Rick Curl's sentencing is hopefully just the beginning, as now even more questions are being raised...

Does it seem wrong to post another pop-tastic ass at this point...Maybe...But, what the hell!

Have a good weekend gang!

The Beeze.