Excuse me for a minute while I opine. I don’t like the Braves and similarly, I don’t much care for John Schuerholz. His ego got in the way a year or so ago after Billy Beane got all the attention from the best-seller, Moneyball, when he felt the need to write a book about all his successes. In the book, he made it very clear that he was hamstrung by a tighter budget, and that the Braves, not unlike the A’s, were a small-market team.

Well, if that’s the case Mr. Schuerholz, then how can you afford to bring Mark Teixeira aboard? The guy is making $9 million this year, and set to make a few more in his final season of arbitration this winter. Moreover, how can you also be in talks with Kansas City about bringing Octavio Dotel in, who with his bonuses, is set to make around $7 million this year? How can you talk out of both sides of your mouth, crying poverty from one, and bringing in high-priced players at the deadline out of the other?

The Teixeira deal was bad enough. Now, if you pull off another one for Dotel, then we’ll certainly know all those rumors of cheapness were a sham. Sure, your resume is impressive, just don’t go crying poverty to me and we can all be friends. OK?

- CB

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If the rumors are what we think — that the Celtics are talking to the T-Wolves about acquiring Kevin Garnett in a trade (first reported by Foxsports.com), then that would be pretty groundbreaking. That is considering the fact that KG is set to make a ton of cash, and that he previously was not interested in going to Boston. I personally am rooting for the deal, because it would make our man LB look bad, since he wrote that the T-Wolves would never get rid of Garnett. So much for that.

Let’s take a look at the proposed trade though, shall we. The package would include Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, and supposedly a pair of future first-round draft picks. I’m just wondering if Boston can find anyone else on their roster to dump. I mean what, that’s five players, they still have seven to go, right? Herschel Walker chimed in and thinks Boston is giving up a lot in the deal.

That’s not all. KG is set to make $22 mil next year, and $24 big ones the year after that. Between Ticket, Pierce, and Ray Allen, the Celtics will be committing 82% of their payroll. I’m not impressed. By the way, best of luck to them when KG’s contract is up. At least they’ll be able to build with their youth and draft picks. Oh wait. Maybe not.

- CB

LB’s Fearless Prediction:
Minnesota Would Not Trade Kevin Garnett

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I had a chicken fajita pita one time at Jack in the Box and it tasted pretty good. Going down. Problem was, it wasn’t nearly so pleasant a situation the following day. That most likely was the case for Andy Roddick, although there is no confirmation that he was snacking at Jack’s.

Roddick admitted Monday that a late-night fast food meal after a match last week in Indianapolis was what slowed him down in a semifinal loss on Saturday to Frank Dancevic. At the time Roddick complained of “a stomach bug or something.”

But Roddick says he started feeling better several hours after that loss, and proclaimed himself ready to play Tomas Zib on Tuesday in the second round at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, a tournament Roddick has won twice.

Word of advice, Mr. Roddick: when you’re a professional athlete in the middle of training, try to stay away from the nation’s finest food spots. You’re making some serious bucks, the least you could do is afford to pay a nutritionist or chef to come on the road with you, right? Either that, or maybe it’s time to learn some discipline at the trainer’s table.

- CB

Other Weird Athletes and Food Stories:
Jack Wilson is Proudly Repping Donuts

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Baseball injuries are great. Some of the best ever. You might have serious ones like Miguel Tejada getting hit by a pitch and breaking his wrist. Or you might have lame ones like Raul Ibanez injuring himself while sleeping. Or, you might even be lucky enough to come across one like this. From Matt Watson at FanHouse:

The Phillies also were without All-Star center fielder Aaron Rowand for tonight’s game against Pittsburgh. Rowand said he “tweaked” his left shoulder while playing tag with neighborhood kids, and was listed day to day.

I just can’t even find the words to properly respond to this news. Usually when we read about a lame injury, it’s an excuse because the player is hiding the truth. You know, like Jeff Kent breaking his wrist while riding a motorcycle, not washing his car as he said. I can’t even imagine what the real cause of the injury was. But I’ll be damned if this isn’t the most creative excuse ever by a player. Truly amazing.

Freaky Baseball Injuries:
Raul Ibanez Hurt Himself Sleeping
Miguel Tejada’s Broken Wrist Ends His Streak

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Yeah, back a few months ago before the injury, Gil was the hottest thing around. Now, not so much. He’s rehabbing his injury and blogging about it. In fact, he dropped a few nuggets on us. One is about his current training program. The other, was some nice smack talk. I’ll share both of them with you, courtesy of Gil’s blog:

Right now I’m in the middle of making 100,000 shots over 73 days. It’s a little mini-series I do. Right now I’m shooting 69.7 percent from the three-point line and I’m shooting 79.3 percent, I think, from the college three.
…
I came up with this idea because of this kid Mike. He’s a shooter that went to my high school and broke some of my records, and this is what he just finished doing. So we do these little challenges because he thinks he can shoot better than me. He knows mentally he can’t beat me, but I have to say he did shoot 85 percent from the college three-point line. I think that’s pretty good.
…
They were down in D.C. at the Verizon Center so I played with them. I hit a couple buckets, you know, but that’s all I can say. I couldn’t jump and stuff them, I was looking like I was Chucky Atkins out there around the rim. The stroke was there, but I was looking like Chucky on the vert.

Gilbert still has the magic touch! Gotta love him. Ragging on Chucky Atkins — that’s Gil at his finest. And the kid Mike from Gilbert’s high school who broke some of his records is Mike Danielian, who plays for Azusa Pacific in So. Cal. Let me just say this, 70% from the 3pt line is absolutely absurd. There’s a reason he gets paid the big bucks. And that Danielian kid should too — 85% on college 3’s?!? Are you kidding me? Slap an All-American tag on him, he’s golden.

Other Awesomeness from Gilbert’s Blog:
I’d Drop 84-85 points on Duke
Gilbert Takes on DeShawn Stevenson in a 3pt Competition
Gilbert Predicts 50 points Game Against the Blazers
Gilbert Fires Back at the Media

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There was a great article today in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. It was about David Sutton, who’s trying to make it as an undrafted rookie wide receiver with the Dolphins. Sutton’s in camp with Miami despite having a less-than-stellar college career. In two years at UTEP, Sutton caught just six passes for 30 yards and one touchdown. Makes you wonder how he even got invited to camp. But once you learn a little bit about Sutton’s background, you’ll come to realize there’s a reason why he wasn’t an accomplished collegiate athlete. His story also makes you appreciate the likes of Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby. From the Sun-Sentinel:

As the lone black player on his Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School volleyball team, Dolphins undrafted rookie receiver David Sutton was subject to racial taunts at visiting gymnasiums. It was so hurtful, that he ignored a potential volleyball scholarship to Penn State and decided to give football a try in junior college.

Sutton bounced from Lincoln (Mo.) University to Compton (Calif.) Community College before ending up at Texas-El Paso, where he barely played for coach Mike Price.
…
“There weren’t a lot of brothers in volleyball, and I learned that the hard way,” Sutton said in between practices this week. “People would say racial things toward me and after that I just couldn’t deal with it too much more so I ended up going to football.”

Man, now tell me that doesn’t suck. That has to be part of what’s going on in baseball these days — not that there’s racial taunts in the game, just that black athletes must feel more comfortable playing in leagues where they’re in the majority. I think it’s great to have all sports be integrated through all cultures and races, and I’m saddened when I read stories like this. The story also serves as an excellent reminder about the hardships men like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby endured. Clearly, it’s not easy to be in the minority in any situation, much less on an athletic playing field. It’s really unfortunate to read a story like this.

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