Mike Hampton pitched six strong innings last night against the San Fransico Giants, giving up two earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. The Braves gave him plenty of run support, overcoming the Giants 11-5 giving Hampton his 2nd win of the season which he has spent most of on the DL. After the game Hampton immediately called for a press conference to announce his immediate retirement.

 "This may have come to a surprise to some people, but it's what I feel I have to do and it's seems like the right time," said Hampton. "Today I feel I pitched my best ball in about 3 years and given the recent injuries to our own rotation, I kinda wanted to go out on my own terms. I just really didn't want to have to get Tommy John surgery again."

Hampton was traded to the Braves from the Marlins after being acquired from the Rockies in 2002. He proceeded to play  well in his first two seasons but went down with an injury midway throught the 2005 season and was plagued with injuries for the next two and a half years. Scheduled to make his first start in nearly three years on April 4th, he was placed on the DL once more and didn't make his first start until June 26th, a game he pitched just four innings while giving up six runs on eight hits while striking out only one.

"I'm pretty happy to have this chance, not many guys do," he added. "I wanted to go out with a boom, after pitching my best ball in years. That's how I always envisioned it and I'm pretty exicted."

When asked about this strange turn of events, second-year Yunel Escobar had this to say through a translator, "Hampton? I've never stayed at an Hampton, Holiday Inn much better."

Brian McCann was grateful for the time Hampton contributed to the team, "Who? Mike? Oh yeah, Gonzalez, yeah he's done great for us so far. Happy to have him back, he's added a lot to our 'pen. Wait, who retired?"

From all of us here, wishing Mike Hampton a DL free retirement.

On February 29, 2008 Alan Faneca effectively killed the offensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is being charged with murder and treason and has relocated somewhere in the New York area.  The death has saddened the entire Steelers organization and hundreds of thousands of Steelers fans. Signs of displeasure presented by Faneca toward the organization because he wanted mo' money is the most likely the motive for this heinous crime. It is also reported from an anonymous source that he was bribed somewhere along the lines of  $40 million over 5 years for his participation. A potential revival of the offensive line is scheduled for April 26-27 of 2008 as such reconstruction could take some time.  Additional efforts could be made before then but is seen as unlikely as the Browns having two straight seasons with  a winning record. Efforts will extend much later than the scheduled revival and results will be seen pending the conclusion of the 2008 season. The O-Line is survived by Center Sean Mahan, Guards Kendall Simmons and Chris Kemoeatu, and Tackles Marvel Smith, Willie Colon, Max Starks and Trai Essex.

Well a decent game was played in Glendale. A grudge match, if I may, between two coaches Coach Whisenhunt and Coach Tomlin. We all know the story so there's no need to repeat. I, myself, got tired of hearing it. But anyway, the game was overall decent but something that shouldn't have been lost by the Steelers. I don't know about you, but it seemed as if offensive coordinator Bruce Ariens abandoned the run too early. Parker only had 37 yards on 19 carries. He should have gotten more carries, not that it would have been much better, but you never know when he can breakout for a huge run. Ugh. Ward out had a huge effect. He's exceptional in tight situations althought Holmes played well. Cedric Wilson and Nate Washington lack the mentality to play in those situations. And I don't know why it took Ben that long to play that well. Good 1st quarter, horrendous 2nd and 3rd, and then great 4th. Come on. And with Polamalu and Hampton coming out in the 3rd didn't help. If we just would have ran it a couple more times on the 2-yard line, we could have made it. Oh man, those penalties didn't help either. Well, all-in-all, I think it was a good physical game by both teams and an  very underrated Cardinal team played very well and Pittsburgh has got to fix those mental mistakes and take advantage of other  teams mistakes to last in this league. With that said, bounce back and win next week at home versus the 'Hawks and show 'em that Super Bowl was no fluke!

So, I assume we all heard the quarterback Donovan McNabb rant? Well, I got to thinking and did some heavy research. Don't sweat it man, it's not just you.

Rookie Brian Leonard, a second round draft pick hailing from Rutgers, will be the starter next Sunday for the St. Louis Rams on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. He will be filling in for  Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson after he sustained a partial tear of his left groin in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 24-3 loss to Tampa Bay. What's so significant about this you ask? I'm glad you asked. Brian Leonard will be the first "white" running back since 2003 to start an NFL regular season game. And don't even think about Oakland Raider Justin Fargas, he's Hispanic. The lack of racial diversity at the tailback position is something not many people think about on a regulal basis or even when watching your favorite running back bruise for a red zone TD.

 After extensive research, I found the last non-minority to start the game at the running back position was a man by the name of Brock Forsey who started two games with the Chicago Bears in 2003 while replacing an injured Anthony Thomas. In the first game, he plowed through the Cardinals for 134 yards. But after a dismal 3 carry, -4 yard performance the following week in a loss to the Packers, he didn't get the ball the rest of the season. Order had been restored.

 Since the leagues reintegration in 1945, black tailbacks slowly but surely dominated the position finishing in the top 5 in rushing 24 times (48%). In a league where minorities make up 70% (like the irony?) it's no surprise that nearly 99% of the running backs make up minorities.  Since 1985, 95 different running backs combined for 235 1,000-yard rushing seasons. None of them white.

The reason for the rarity of caucasian males in that position may start as early as high school where they are discouraged to play running back and are told to "beef up" and play fullback. Many college teams don't even accept white players at running back due to the overwhelming number of blacks already at tailback at college and professional levels.  

So what's so special about Leonard? Brian Leonard beginning started when he got a shot in practice following poor performances by the teams other running backs. Leonard raced for a 30-yard gain followed by a 40-yard rush. Leonard excelled greatly at Rutgers and quickly became a favorite to win the Heisman in 2006 but took a diminished role as a blocker to allow teammate Ray Rice to become the star. Not only is he big, 6'1" at 226lbs, but he's fast recording a 4.49 40 entering the NFL draft whcih is excpetionally well for a fullback and above average for a running back. He also benched 228lbs. 28 times, more than any other running back.  In a previous interview, during his college days at the University of Pittsburgh, now Washington Redskins rookie linebacker H.B. Blades had this to say about Leonard:

"He's a very, very underrated player...he's the best running back I've played against since I've been in college." (This includes Kevin Jones, Julius Jones, Walter Reyes and Darius Walker) "That combination of power and speed is amazing. Some of the runs he makes in the open field, he can cut like a tailback. He jumps over safeties when they try and cut him, but then he runs over linebackers and defensive linemen. His combination of power and speed just makes him the best at what he does."

He was successful while at Rutgers, finishing his college career fourth all-time in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns at the college. He caught static for being a white running back early in his college years and hopes to end the trend that "White men can't run."