Hey Gang. First of all … thanks for all the grilling tips for my 4th of July family bash.  Everything was going great until my brother-in-law brought over a friend …Kobayashi. 

I'm sitting here watching the second semifinal of the World Cup, Portugal vs. France.  Even though the USA bowed out weeks ago, the tourney has been pretty cool.  A few of the guys at work have been kicking around some ideas to make it a bit more exciting.  Play with more than one ball at the same time.  And I suggested making the goal the length of the endline … then we'll see just how good the goalies are.

Like I said, I've enjoyed the competition, but how many stretchers do they use per match?  There's been so much flopping even Vlade Divac is complaining.

I kind of wish England was playing today instead of Portugal.  Love it when they sing, God Save the Queen.  And more importantly … we get to see shots of Beckham's wife (That lady is smoking and so was the woman sitting next to her last week. WOW!  Don't worry, I've unplugged my home computer so my wife can't read this.  Anyway, England's hopes were dashed when their stud scorer Wayne Rooney kicked an opponent, "south of the equator" if you know what I mean.  I haven't seen a low blow on ABC like that since Barbara Walters blasted Star Jones on The View.

Getting psyched for next Tuesday's All-Star game in Pittsburgh.  We'll be doing the All-Star game red-carpet show presented by Chevrolet (got to make the sponsors happy even in the blog).  Not only should Kansas City not have an All-Star representative in Pittsburgh, they aren't good enough to send one to the Triple-A All-Star game.  By the way, do you think the A's miss Mark Redman in their rotation as much as the Yanks miss Jose Contreras?  

Hey, I work at Fox and I'm still confused … does the All-Star game count or not?  If it does I think Ozzie Guillen and Phil Garner could have done a better job picking their reserves.  Most of those players, Thome, Konerko, Andruw Jones, etc. are superstars and have no idea what it takes to come off the bench.  In that case, the NL should have selected Rusty Staub and the AL should have gone with Billy Stein.  Those were two clutch pinch-hitters … and on top of that Rusty choked up on the bat more than your average five-year old and still got it done. 

OK, Portugal just got called for a foul in the penalty area.  Penalty kick in the 32nd minute.  Zinadine Zidane is about to take it … goal.  I honestly think I could have made it.

By the way, even though I'm from Cleveland (just a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh), I've never hung out in the Steel City.  Suggestions welcome on where to go.  And keep those grilling tips going. (Carolyn T, I'll be getting that book, or you can just send a copy … thanks.)

Talk to you soon,

CR

Hey gang. Thanks for all the feedback. Much appreciated. Have to start off by apologizing for my lack of excitement heading into the NBA draft. The draft was actually entertaining at times.  But did anyone else out there feel like they were watching a fantasy-league draft instead?  Were the GMs getting paid by the transaction last night?  What about Portland … six trades?  I'm guessing they're going to have to put FIRST and LAST names on the jerseys.

By the way, anyone know where I can get a Randy Foye Celtics or Blazers throwback?

And after watching 4 UConn playes go in the first 23 picks, I thought someone was going to pick Jim Calhoun in the 2nd round.

Obviously, it was a tough night for the Huskies' Marcus Williams.  It wasn't as bad as watching Aaron Rodgers ask for three extra trays of green room appetizers during the '05 NFL draft, but it was still painful. My man Steven A. Smith said at about pick 17 that he had talked to GMs who quesioned Williams' character.  Oh, how I long for the good old days when a checkered past elevated your draft stock.  I mean, no one wanted to touch Marcus Williams.  It was like watching a kid with "member of Duke lacrosse team" on his resume trying work the job fair. Not pretty.

But Williams' tumble made it exciting for me. I'm a big Cavs fan and they need a point guard. I never thought Williams would slide to 25.  After all, the last point guard Cleveland took with the 25th pick was Johnnie Morton. Not the guy who catches passes in the NFL, but the one from Seton Hall who was supposed to throw them in the NBA.  He did … to the other team.  That's why they drafted Terrell Brandon two years later.  Anyway, I called my brother Pete (Yes, that's his name. And yes, I've heard every Pete Rose joke) and we thought the Cavs had a shot at Williams, or at least one of the other decent point guards. 

First, Rajon Rondo went to the Suns. Then the Nets scooped up Williams. Everyone in NJ is jacked to get him except for the Nets' MIS and IT guys.  And right before the Cavs go, Lowry ends up in Memphis, so we're screwed, AGAIN! Typical Cleveland.

Actually got a decent pick with Shannon Brown from MSU.  All the scouts say he can defend, is a high-energy guy and has the body of an NFL player.  Great, because Romeo Crennell could use some help on defense as well.

And then there's the Knicks.  We call that a slow-moving target.  Very easy to shoot down. No need to smack Mr.Thomas … too easy.  But is there any question Isiah will be asking Salley for a Best Damn internship next summer?

One last thing.  I've been defending A-Rod for awhile, but now I'm done.  Yankees fans are right.  His timing does suck.  He hits a walk-off homer on the same day Pedro gets rocked in Boston and the Knicks draft someone who wouldn't average double figures in our rec league. Third-biggest story in the city.

Have a good holiday weekend.  I'm taking time off to get ready for the 4th of July. I've got to figure out how NOT to burn everything on the grill when both the parents and the in-laws pay a visit.

Take Care,

CR

OK ... got to admit, I've been hesitant to write a blog for a while, because who really gives a damn about what "the guy who sits next to Salley" (that's how people recognize me) has to say  ... but I'm in.

You might agree with some of my opinions. You'll probably disagree.  But I want a response! (Use the comment section below.) Like I tell my wife, "I scratch your back, you shave mine." (That line by the way was stolen from our audience warmup guy Brodie ... thanks!! Yes, I'm a hack). 

I don't back what Ozzie Guillen said about Jay Mariotti by any stretch of the imagination, but let's keep it in perspective.  Was it stupid? Yes.  Ignorant? Yes. Should he have been suspended for a few games? Yes, to prove a point (You can't have the face of the organization doing that). But in the grand scheme of the world, was it rather meaningless?  You bet.

I was much more horrified by what Brett Myers allegedly did to his wife.  Smacked her the face. Pulled her hair, so said two witnesses.  Mr. Myers will have his day in court in August, but the Phillies whiffed big time.  They should have sat his #### on the bench for awhile. Instead, they gave him the ball Saturday at Fenway.  What a joke!

I'm sure some of you (including some friends at Best Damn ) are saying, "Brett Myers has a right to work"  ... you bet.  I took Constitutional Law in college (got a B+ by the way).  Give him his paycheck, so his wife can spend some of it on bailing his butt out of jail.  Just don't let him pitch.  Don't let him represent your city until this thing is figured out.  Shame on the Phillies.  But at least someone took a stand. BDSSP executive producer John Entz traded Myers from his fantasy team because he doesn't want "bad character guys" on his squad.  Sad statement when fantasy owners get it, and big-league ones don't.

One dull draft

Hey, I loved the NBA playoffs, but I'll pass on the NBA draft.  I have nothing against these kids, but how many top 10 picks outside of Morrison, Foye and Roy did you really know before the NCAA tournament tipped off?  Go back 10 years, here's the top 10:

1. Allen Iverson (Georgetown) - Philadelphia
2. Marcus Camby (Massachusetts) - Toronto
3. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (California) - Vancouver
4. Stephon Marbury (Georgia Tech) - Milwaukee (traded)
5. Ray Allen (Connecticut) - Minnesota (traded)
6. Antoine Walker (Kentucky) - Boston
7. Lorenzen Wright (Memphis) - L.A. Clippers
8. Kerry Kittles (Villanova) - New Jersey
9. Samaki Walker (Louisville) - Dallas
10. Erick Dampier (Mississippi State) -  Indiana .

Even with a couple of busts (Wright and S. Walker), that's not bad.  Most of them (Iverson, Camby, Marbury, Allen, A. Walker, Kittles) were stars in college.  I'm not talking about good players, I'm talking great! Maybe some of the class of  2006 will be terrific, but it's hard to get excited about a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge when he had four points in that Elite 8 game against LSU.

Finally, they'll make all-star selections next week, but the coaching staffs were filled out Monday.

AL: Cleveland's Eric Wedge and Toronto's John Gibbons.
NL: Cincinnati's Jerry Narron and Pittsburgh's Jim Tracy.

Let's be honest: if those guys switched uniforms for the All-Star Game, would anyone notice?

Talk to you soon,
CR.