Rays Take a Page From the Book of Red Sox

In a big surprise, the Rays signed Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. This looks like an attempted slap in the Yankees' face, as well as a double replacement for Carl Crawford (who, incidentally, became the Red Sox's forty-fifth outfielder earlier in the off-season). Johnny was probably signed because of his leadership skills, which were even evident when he played for the Yankees. Despite the giant loss of fielding ability in this exchange, Damon seems to be a leadership upgrade over Crawford.

Then there's Manny. The Rays picked him up for two reasons. The first is to replace Crawford's bat. The problems with that are 1) Manny isn't nearly as good when he's not on steroids, and 2) Crawford's most valuable offensive asset is his speed. Hm. Enough said. The second reason the Rays picked up Manny Ramirez is because they have fond memories of when he used to destroy the Yankees. (And, as we know, AL East teams structure themselves purely to beat the Yankees.) However, not only are the Yankees an almost entirely different pitching team than when Manny was with the Red Sox (i.e. Mike Mussina is retired), but Manny is not the same player he used to be, either.

Signing Manny Ramirez is just another example of an AL East team doing something to stick it to the Yankees. The problem is, that strategy doesn't work. Just look what happened to the Red Sox last year. They signed two big free agents, thinking that they were not only getting good players, they were keeping those players away from the Yankees. Turns out the Yankees were a lot better off with John Lackey and Mike Cameron in Red Sox uniforms.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!

Big Ten, Big Bias

The Big Ten. Ohio State. Players receiving gifts in exchange for football-related services/items. Big-time suspensions, right? No bowl game for those dastardly players? Not exactly.

Five Ohio State football players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, got five-game suspensions from the NCAA for trading autographed items for tattoos. The problem is, the suspensions do not include the Sugar Bowl, instead starting with the first (easy, out-of-conference) game next season. Even worse, all the players involved are juniors (read: they can go into the draft this year, avoiding all disciplinary action).

There's no doubt the NCAA panders to certain schools or conferences depending on the situation. Cam Newton wasn't suspended even though the rule explicitly states he should have been suspended. Why? Because the NCAA didn't want TCU in the National Championship Game. Again, why? Because TCU might have beaten Oregon, which would have completely turned the BCS world upside down. Besides, Cam Newton plays for Auburn, a team from a major conference.

While the Cam Newton fiasco is even more blatant than the situation with Ohio State, it's pretty obvious that the NCAA simply wants Terrelle Pryor and his cohorts to play in the Sugar Bowl. Otherwise, who would want to watch the Sugar Bowl between Arkansas and the Ohio State B-Team except Arkansas and Ohio State fans?

In the end, it's all about money. The Big Ten is not only an extremely rich (read: influential) conference, there are TV ratings, attendance, etc. to think about.

Of course, it could have been worse. If Texas had a few players trading autographs for tattoos, they probably would have gotten trophies instead of suspensions.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!

DeSean Ochocinco

Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is developing a reputation as an excessive celebrator. On Sunday, Jackson ran back a punt for a TD as time expired, putting the Eagles ahead of the Giants in a game that otherwise would have gone into overtime. At the end of the play, he ran parallel to the end zone for quite a distance, even though the clock already said :00. That's about as unsportsmanlike as it gets. This isn't an isolated incident, either; Jackson has a history of excessive celebrations that dates back to his high school days.

Of course, the NFL has also helped to created this problem with Jackson. Since they banned the interesting ways of celebrating, even going so far as to fine Chad Ochocinco for celebrating on the sideline, wide receivers rarely get their antics broadcast in highlight reels. So DeSean Jackson celebrates while (or just before) scoring a touchdown. Then the networks have to broadcast his moment of glory.

We don't mind the NFL banning the T.O., Joe Horn, and Ochocinco celebrations. Elaborate, preplanned celebrations by individual players have no place in team sports. DeSean Jackson's celebrations don't quite fit in that category, though, and while they're very unsportsmanlike, someday he's going to be clobbered from behind by Troy Polamalu and learn a very valuable lesson. The NFL has already tried to drain all the life out of game by enforcing rules in ways they were never intended to be enforced. Roger Goody-Two-Shoes should just keep his nose out of DeSean Jackson's celebrations. Jackson will eventually figure out that 1) nobody really cares and 2) his actions only hurt himself and his team.

If you're a New York Giants fan like us, we hope you've been distracted from their painful, embarrassing loss to the Eagles. If you're not, please stop laughing at us and the rest of the Giants' distraught fans.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!