Safeco Sojourn

OK, I decided to take a road trip to the Emerald City of Seattle, and take in a Mariners game. Desperate, I know. I was hoping ManRam would have been traded to the M's instead of the Dodgers so I could have seen him, but hey, I still had Ichiro. Check out the photos below...



Ichiro has had such an effect on this city, I saw M's schedules in 10 different languages - Cantonese, Japanese, Chinese, etc. Every time he came up to bat or when into right field, the stands erupted.

Saw a great Dave "My, Oh My!" Niehaus tribute before the game started, after his long-deserved entrance into the Hall of Fame. Pretty cool.

Safeco Field is actually pretty cool. The set-up inside reminds me a LOT of Turner Field. Even though it looks like an unfinished airplane hangar from the outside, the inside is pretty cool. The skyline views are amazing.

And the chocolate covered strawberry kabobs were cool, too...ya just gotta try 'em.

Reporting from Seattle..
John V. Wood

Daniels Injured, Talks Begin with Taylor

OK, this is not exactly the news you want to hear on the first day of Redskins' training camp.

DE Phillip Daniels tore his ACL Sunday during the first day of camp. The 'Skins played it safe during the offseason, banking on Daniels and Erasmus James at end - without much insurance.

With Daniels going down today, talks have already started between the 'Skins and the Miami Dolphins, about a possible trade for DE Jason Taylor.

According to the Miami Herald, Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, is close personal friends with Vinny Cerrato, 'Skins' VP of Football Operations.

I will have to admit, having JT in burgundy and gold would bring back memories of Charles Mann and Dexter Manley.

NOTE: We want to extend our well wishes to Phillip, and hope his knee heals quickly. We'd like to see you back on the D-Line, baby!

UPDATE 20 JULY: Talks Begin And End With Taylor

That was fast... the Skins give up a 2nd-rounder in 2009 and a 6th-rounder in 2010 for Taylor. He has two years left on his contract and has told Washington he will not need a renegotiation of his salary and contract. He reportedly has also told the front office that he will honor the two years left on the deal. Taylor has been on record with the Dolphins this pre-season as saying he only had one year of football left in him. Taylor's numbers fit under the cap space that the Redskins had available.

David Elfin's story from the Washington Times is hyah

Jeff Darlington's piece from the Miami Herald is hyah

Redskins, TE Davis Agree to 4-Yr Deal

The Washington Redskins have finally signed their last 2008 draft pick. TE Fred Davis, who played his college ball at USC under Pete Carroll, agreed to a 4-yr, $3.5M contract.

Will Davis be the next Jerry Smith or Clint Didier? Who knows. He may not even be the next Stephen Alexander. However, it is very nice to start training camp with all draft picks signed.

More to come, once we get closer to the season...

--John V. Wood

IRL Catfight

OK, I can't resist. Deadspin's Matt Sussman just posted this video...and it's hilarious! Danica Patrick vs. Milka Duno...my money's on Danica.

"It's not my fault that you're slow!"



The original story is hyah.

Enjoy!

--John V. Wood

Washington Redskins' Training Camp Schedule

OK, everyone knows I'm a long-time 'Skins fan. That being said, if you're in the Landover MD area, you can go see Campbell, Zorn, and the Skins during Training Camp on the following dates and times...



Sunday, July 20
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Monday, July 21
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Tuesday, July 22
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Wednesday, July 23
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Thursday, July 24
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Friday, July 25
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Saturday, July 26
FAN APPRECIATION DAY
Includes Intra-squad Scrimmage
Individual drills begins at 1:20 p.m. ET
Scrimmage begins at 2 p.m. ET

Sunday, July 27
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Monday, July 28
Open Practice, Morning
8:30 a.m. ET

Enjoy!

--John V. Wood

Breaking News: Thunderstruck in OKC?

If you can believe KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, the Supersonics have now become the OKC Thunder.

Sources close to the NBA confirmed to KOCO's Mark Rodgers that the NBA registrar has reserved the domain names "okcthunderbasketball.com" and "okcthunderbasketball.net."

Mike Baldwin with newsok.com is reporting that the partnership who brought them team from Seattle to OKC "listened to the people" when they chose the team name. They had a poll with various names for people to vote on, in an NCAA Tournament-style bracket. Thunder defeated Outlaws in the final round.

The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel, a friend of OSG, had some interesting thoughts about the Thunder. My favorite - NBA fans of OKC would be called the "ThunderGround."

More information as it becomes available...

--John V. Wood

Favre Speaks - Decide For Yourself...

Hamilton Rocks Yankee Stadium, Loses Derby

You have to love Josh Hamilton.

Living near Raleigh, and having friends that teach at Hamilton's old high school (Athens Drive H.S.), I am so proud of this kid.

He has battled through so much to shine on one of the world's biggest stages - Yankee Stadium. The Texas Ranger outfielder jacked a record 28 longballs (off Claybon Council - a really really really old guy) in the first round of the 2008 HR Derby. He only managed four more in the second round, but easily faced Twins' Justin Morneau in the Finals.

UPDATE: Morneau defeated Hamilton 5-3 in the Finals. Major league rip off.

--John V. Wood

Obama Switches From Hoops to Hubcaps

Did you hear this? Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, known for his jumpshot along the campaign trail this year, is broadened his sports focus.

According to Tom Bowles at SI, Obama has cut a deal with BAM Racing owner Beth Ann Morgenthau to sponsor their #49 Sprint Cup car at Pocono on August 3. The first Presidential candidate in history to sponsor a race car. Well, he IS promising change, so I guess this is at least a start.

The drawback for this Baracecar (I came up with that one...) - Ken Schrader is behind the wheel. The #49 car has to qualify for Pocono on speed alone, because BAM is outside the Top 35 in owner points.

The deal itself has not been made public yet, but BAM is holding a presser on July 23 to "unveil" the sponsorship. Wait a minute, aren't we the ones doing the unveiling?

Win or lose, this will be good for NASCAR. People from all around the nation will have their eyes fixed on Pocono. It is yet to be determined whether this will be good for Obama or not. I mean, Kenny Schrader? You could have done like George W. Bush did in 2004, and let a REAL driver have you on his car...Kirk Shelmerdine. Only difference here is - Shelmerdine put Bush's face on for free. Obama's the first to use money out of his own pocket.

Let's hope Obama's "Get Out The Vote" campaign helps the BAM #49 "get out of pit road."

I'm not usually this deep, just deep in it. Trust me.

--John V. Wood

((Nelson Note- Yeah, J-Dub, but I heard Schrader donated to Republican causes in the state of North Carolina. And how exactly does Schrader feel about driving to the left all the time, anyway? You can't have BAM Racing without O-BAM-A...))

Favre Reportedly Asks For Release

As you read in Brother Phil's FourPlay column last week, no one thinks Brett Favre is coming back.

Now, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, not even Brett thinks so.

According to Mort, Favre sent a letter to the Green Bay Packers asking "emphatically" for his release. The letter was sent by Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, via overnight mail on Thursday and arrived at the Packers facility Friday morning, according to ESPN.

This probably stems for a reported conference call on Tuesday between Favre, Cook, General Manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy, in which Favre said he wanted to play again and the team was not receptive (Thanks, Tom Pelissero, Green Bay Press-Gazette!).

OSG will have more information for you as this situation develops.

Like when WFRV TV reports on everything...

Or when the Packers themselves put out an official release telling Favre the politically-correct equivalent of

"Perch and Rotate..."

More from the Saturday's Green Bay Press Gazette and Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Also from Farve's Mississippi home paper the Biloxi Sun Herald

Also, Jay Glazer of Foxsports.com is reporting that the Green Bay Packers have no intention of granting Brett Farve his release. According to his sources, the Packers would be prepared to welcome Farve back as a backup to Aaron Rodgers. Read Jay Glazer's full story HERE

--John V. Wood

Create a Caption #1

Hey guys...

I'm going to try and post a funny picture, and you have to come up with a caption! The winner after each contest will get a nice OSG prize pack, and will be listed on our OSG Caption Hall of Shame!

Give it your best shot!

Brother J-Dub

Dupay-ing the Price...

Remember Teddy Dupay? The University of Florida basketball player who was dismissed after a gambling scandal in Gainesville some years ago?

Well, he's back in the news...

Dupay, 29, once a popular figure during the Gators' run to the 2000 NCAA men's basketball championship game, has been charged in Utah with rape, kidnapping and sexual assault — all first-degree felonies, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The Summit County Sheriff's Department released this mugshot. Attractive, eh?

Oopsie!

According to court documents, the victim - who admitted to a two-year relationship with Dupay - suffered two broken ribs and bruises on her back, right thigh, upper arm and shoulder after she estimated Dupay hit or kicked her 150 times. Yikes.

When questioned by authorities, Dupay said the two had "gotten a little rough," but denied the rape. His position? "How can you rape someone you love?" said Dupay.

I don't know, Teddy. You tell me.

Read more about this story at the following locations:
Orlando Sentinel: Ex-Florida Gator basketball star Teddy Dupay charged with rape
Fort Myers News-Press: Former Mariner, UF basketball star Dupay charged with rape
Bodog Beat: Ex-Florida Gators Standout Teddy Dupay Charged With Rape
ESPN: Ex-Gator Dupay Charged With Felony Rape, Kidnapping in Utah

--John Wood

Washington's Jim Zorn - Is He The One?

OK, OK...

I have yet to open my burgundy-and-gold lined mouth about new Redskin head coach Jim Zorn. Nelly and Brother Phil went through a spell where they would call my cellphone and say, “Jim Zorn!” They tormented me for weeks. For the longest time, I told myself I was finished with Washington. Washed my hands of the Hogs. I was a free agent fan in search of a new team, because the “Deadskins” had disappointed me for the last time. That was, until I did I little research…and soul searching...

Hail to the Zornskins…

OK, Jim Zorn wasn’t anywhere on my radar when Richie Rich was on the market for a Joe Gibbs replacement. I was sure it would be Gregg Williams – fan favorite, player favorite, defensive mastermind.

Nope. Gregg, enjoy your pinkslip.

Jim freaking Zorn?

I’m still amazed that Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder even considered this guy. An ex-QB who had the pleasure to toss the pigskin to Steve Largent in Seattle. Whoop-de-doo. Zorn has bounced around from team to team, from college pro – with as little fanfare as getting an average burger and fries from Jocks and Jill’s for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon.

The ‘Skins have had nothing BUT fanfare the last few seasons, after Norv Turner left. Turner wasn’t exactly the excitement capitol of the NFL. I mean, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Gibbs...Deion Sanders...Al Saunders and Gregg Williams...us ‘Skins fans have gotten used to the hype outweighing the performance.

The emotional long-time Hoggette in me is saying, “Death to the Redskins, enjoy mediocrity.” The rational side to me, however, is telling me to give the guy a chance. You still have Clinton Portis, Jason Campbell, and Santana Moss. Don’t forget Chris Cooley.

I’m having an internal Bay of Pigs. Do I become a hypocrite and back down on my anti-Zorn stance? Do I pull for, say, the Carolina Panthers and cry as the ‘Skins make it to the playoffs?

We Have a History...

I’ve pulled for the ‘Skins since 1978. I’ve met Mark Rypien and the "Diesel" John Riggins. I actually covered a high school football game at Rypien’s old high school – Shadle Park High in Spokane, WA. I’ve seen four Cowboy/Redskin games at RFK Stadium. I saw the ‘Skins play the Falcons in Atlanta when James Brown was the halftime entertainment. I’ve seen ‘Skins games in seven different states. I hate the Eagles, Giants, and Cowboys with a passion. Can I be anything BUT a ‘Skins fan?

I’m hurt. Honestly hurt. As a fan, I am tired of being dead last in the NFC East. I’m tired to losing to NYG, DAL, and PHI on a regular basis. Maybe I’m just a petulant little child, bemoaning the fact my idol – Joe Gibbs – is no longer the coach of the Redskins (again).

I’ve touched his bust in the NFL Hall of Fame for crying out loud.

While I’ve talked big and bad about ditching DC, I honestly don’t think I can. The draft this year wasn’t spectacular, but at least it was solid. Campbell could benefit from Zorn’s “I’m not gonna piss anyone off, and I’m going to do everything by the book no matter what” approach. I’m sure Jason could benefit from being coached up a bit – God knows he has the talent already.

Maybe a little less talk will allow for a lot more action. We can hope, right?

One...Last...Chance...

I have one last chance in me...

Zorn – I’m publicly calling you out. I give you one season. ONE season. One chance to earn the respect of this longtime ‘Skins fan.

How do you do that, you ask?

Beat the absolute crap out of Dallas twice, win the NFC East, and bring home a Super Bowl ring. If you do that, you’re golden. Burgundy-and-gold for life.

No pressure.

I’m not usually this deep, just deep in it. Trust me.

--John Wood

Koo-Koo For CoCo Crisp...

OK, shoot me later for the cheesy title, but it is unerringly appropriate. BoSox outfielder Crisp has been a loose cannon over the last two days, and finally went snap, crackle, pop against Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields.

(Photo courtesy Michael Dwyer, AP, June 5, 2008)

Nice photo – for a print photographer. (insert photog joke here).

See, what had happened was...

Crisp came into Thursday’s game looking for a fight anyway. Crisp jammed his thumb on shortstop Jason Bartlett’s knee during a stolen base headfirst slide into second base Wednesday night. A few innings later, Crisp retaliated by wiping out Rays’ second baseman Akinori Iwamura – causing words between Crisp and Rays' manager Joe Maddon.

After the game, Crisp said something to the effect of, “They’re mad at me? Well, we’ll see who shows they’re mad at me.”

Ultimatums shouldn’t be thrown down to people who thrown 90mph BB’s at your head. Just my $0.02.

The ultimatum was answered when Shields plunked Dustin Pedroia in the very first inning of last night’s game. The sh*t really hit the proverbial fan when Shields beaned Crisp a short time later. Raise your hand if you didn’t see that coming. Anyone?

Then the benches cleared, people started swinging at each other (refer to above photo), and people were ejected (Crisp, Shields, and Rays’ outfielder Jonny Gomes). I gotta give props to Crisp for ducking out of the way of Shields’ out-of-control roundhouse swing...

But We’re Not Done...

Something else happened in the BoSox dugout, and I’m not sure why. Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez got into a shouting match at one another, and had to be restrained. An Offspring song comes to mind here...”You gotta keep it separated!”

I have no idea why those two got into a battle of words, but I’m sure it was for something very trivial. Manny pointed at Kevin, Kevin shouted at Manny, Manny was escorted out of the dugout. Terry Francona said after the game that the “emotions were still running high after the brawl.”

Wait a minute, I thought they were fighting the Rays…not each other.

Anyway, baseball has always had the understood reaction of “You plunk my guy, I’m gonna plunk your guy.” It’s the nature of baseball. Chin music is a part of the game, like it or not.

But retaliating for a jammed thumb?

Dude, get a grip. You’re not Pete Rose.

If you can’t handle the slide, stay at first base.

I’m not usually this deep, just deep in it. Trust me.

--John V. Wood

Call...or No Call?

As a former high school basketball referee, it has been pounded into my brain that no game should ever end on a whistle. “The best ref is an invisible one,” my Nevada game assignor used to tell me. “Let them play, and let them win or lose on their own.”

I actually watched Game Four of the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and the Spurs the other night. Surprising I know, seeing as how the OSG spend most of our time ragging on how bad the sport is (Hey, I have 300 channels, and nothing else was on at the time).

Sure, I watched the Spurs let a 7-point lead slide away into magic nowhere during the last 50 seconds or so of the game. Offense wins games; defense wins championships.

As a referee, when calling a foul you look at whether or not the shooter was impeded from making a shot. You have to make that call in a split-second. I cannot blame Joey Crawford, Joe Forte and Mark Wunderlich – at all. Until you’ve had a whistle in your mouth during a pressure situation, you have no idea how difficult the job is.

Photo courtesy Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

It was Crawford’s call, and his whistle was silent. In my opinion, Barry did not sell the foul enough. Kobe Bryant would have pulled out a Ric Flair flop. Barry just went up and took the off-balance shot. In my humble opinion, Crawford did not want to put a free throw shooter on the line with virtually no time left – possibly sending the game into overtime (FYI, Barry is a 95% free throw shooter on the year).

Not that Crawford ignored a sure foul – he’s been around too long to do that. He, in my opinion, just looked at the situation and deemed in not "enough" of a foul to warrant ending the game on a whistle. I’m sure if Fisher would have knocked Barry down and back across the half-court line, Crawford would have blown the whistle three ways from Sunday.

See, people all over the country – Spurs’ fans, sports radio announcers, troublemakers – are saying the NBA screwed up again. After the Tim Donaghy scandal, people are looking at referees with a microscope. If Crawford would have called that foul, he would have pissed off all the Laker fans for a ticky-tack foul. Damned if you do, and all that.

Even looking at the replay – yes, I will admit there was some contact – but I agree that there was not enough of a shot adjustment to warrant a foul call. Now, the NBA had to go make the situation a lot worse by saying the Spurs got screwed. Who the hell do they think they are? Leaving Crawford out on a limb to hang high and dry – that’s bullsh*t in my opinion. Support your longtime, SOLID referee. Don’t backstab him.

The NBA should have kept their damn mouths closed. They had no right to get into the woods and kick the dead skunk. All they did was stir up one damn bad smell. What they should have done was come out and said, “You know, it’s a tough call. He made it, the game’s over, we have three more to play.”

Of course, when has the No Brains Association EVER made the right decision?

I’m not usually this deep, just deep in it. Trust me.

Elect Art Monk!

OK, I’m pissed. Big surprise, I know.

When Michael Irvin is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, one of the biggest travesties in football history will have taken place.

I’m not saying this as a Washington Redskins fan; I’m saying this as a football fan.

"ELECT ART MONK!"

Art has more receptions than Michael (940 vs. 750), more total yards (12,721 vs. 11,904), and more touchdowns (68 vs. 65). Michael, however, does have a higher yard-per-reception average (15.9 vs. 13.5).

Both receivers won three Super Bowls, and both went to multiple Pro Bowls.

Also, Art Monk has NEVER been arrested on drug possession charges. Art has NEVER been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Charlotte, with a gun to her head, while videotaping the whole sordid affair.

Art Monk is a true philanthropist in the Washington area, creating the Art Monk Football Camp that has graduated over 14,000 athletes. A big section of those athletes have gone on to play college ball.

Art also joined up with former Redskin defensive end Charles Mann to form the Good Samaritan Foundation, whereas Irvin can’t even spell the word “samaritan.”

OK, Hall voters…you tell me. Compare the two men, and tell me WHY IN THE HELL did Irvin get in, and Monk has not?

Hell, Andre Reed should have gotten in long before Michael Irvin.

People say, “But he was ‘The Playmaker.” Big f**king deal. Just because you’re flashy, that doesn’t overshadow productivity and class.

Some have said, “Art wasn’t the friendliest player to the media when he was with Washington, so they’re not going to vote him in.” OK, being in the media, I can say that how a player deals with us on a day-to-day basis does have something to do with how we cover him. But, come the hell on, you want to keep a man like Monk out of Canton because he didn’t have a bubbly personality? WTF?!?

Look at what Hall of Fame cornerback Ronnie Lott said about Art Monk:

"You have a Hall of Fame for all it represents. I know he represents all that it's about," said Lott. "Integrity, love and passion for the game, community, what he gave back. Look how he conducted himself. Nobody I know deserves it more."

What has Irvin given back to the game? Bad suits? Stupid laugh? An arrest record?

MSNBC columnist Bill Williamson penned a column today, saying Irvin was lucky to get into the HOF when he did. Here's an excerpt:

"NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has to sit through Michael Irvin’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. You got to know what’s going to be zipping through No-Tolerance Rog’s mind as Irvin pontificates on his greatness in the sticky summer afternoon heat. 'This wouldn’t be happening on my watch.'"

Washington Post sportswriter Thomas Loverro had this to say about Monk:

"He embodied the old school, and for that alone he should be enshrined so that when a father takes his son through the Hall of Fame, he can say, 'Son, here is a man who once caught 106 passes in a season when no one was catching 100 passes. Here was a man who caught a pass in 183 straight games. And not once did he ever pull a cell phone out to make a call after any of those catches.'"

The HOF voters need to pull their heads out of their asses, and do the right thing. So what if 2 out of the “Dallas Triplets” are now in the HOF (Aikman, Irvin)? People forget about the ORIGINAL Triplets in Washington – Monk, Gary Clark, and Ricky Sanders (none of whom are in the HOF).

They were the beginning. They were the real deal. They were doing their thing long before Troy Aikman ever stepped foot on a UCLA football field. When Aikman accepted a scholarship to play for Barry Switzer at OU in 1984, Monk was catching 106 passes in his fifth season in the NFL. NO ONE was catching over 100 passes in a season back then.

Quit placating the Dallas Cowboys. Quit stroking Michael’s over-extended ego.

Give credit where credit is f**king due.

"ELECT ART MONK!"

I’m not usually this deep, just deep in it. Trust me.

--John V. Wood

Quite Frankly, Stick to Sports...

Quite frankly...

Stephen A. Smith doesn't need to quit his day job...his 13 seconds of soap opera fame are over.

Click here to enjoy!

--John V. Wood

Cold Pizza Fight

OK, this is flippin' hilarious, and you have GOT to listen to this...

Actor and Chicago Bears' fan Michael Clarke Duncan (left) and sports reporter Skip Bayless get into a heated fight about Duncan's love and knowledge of the Chicago Bears, on ESPN2's "Cold Pizza."

My favorite line of the whole rant was from Skip: "Michael, if you're a Bear superfan, then Ricky Bobby was a genius."

Shake and bake, baby!

--John V. Wood

Liars, Quitters, Losers

OK, something going around college football has really started bugging me.

Why the F*CK would you sign a contract, telling your owner or AD you planned on sticking around and honoring it, if you didn’t MEAN a damn word of it?

Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino – you’re in my sights.

Nick – you denied and denied and denied and denied...
Bobby – you just signed, and the ink is barely dry, a contract in July to stay in the ‘Ville for TEN more years (dude, you could have won a national championship next season. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.)

I guess I can fault the University of Alabama and the Atlanta Falcons just about much as the two Liar, Quitter, Losers. It takes two to tango.

What kind of example are you setting for today’s athlete? I mean, when I played at Wake Forest (yes, now you know I’m bitter against Petrino ANYWAY), Bill Dooley didn’t jump ship or chase the almighty dollar. He helped recruit me, and I helped win the ’92 Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl for his last collegiate victory. He left as the 10^th winningest coach in college football history.

What about Brian Brohm? What about Lou Groza award winner Arthur Carmody?

Carmody said this about Petrino’s mutiny. "I'm in shock right now. We're coming off a great Orange Bowl win and we were all thinking national championship. I didn't think this would happen. He said he enjoyed college football. He's a great coach and we're going to miss him."

Petrino said in July he wanted to prove to his new recruits he’d be there through their entire Cardinal career. All he did was prove he cared more about the Benjamins than he did the Brohms, the Carmodys or the Harry Douglases.

Saban followed the same path. He kept saying he was committed to Miami, committed to owner Wayne Huizenga, and did NOT want to accept Mal Moore and Alabama’s offer.

Did he think if he denied it over and over again, we (the media) would go away and leave him alone to take it?

I’m an old school kind of guy, as the true OSG/Sports Smack followers can attest. You have nothing but your word. You have nothing but the respect you earn. Saban no longer has a word I can trust, and no longer has the respect of a truly winning coach in the NCAA or NFL.

Say what you mean and mean what you say. The only games you should be playing are between the hedges, not between our ears.

I’m not usually this deep, just deep in it...trust me.

--John V. Wood