Hello friends,

I have a couple of current issues that I wanted to touch on today. San Diego Chargers defensive player Shawn Merriman wants to play even though he's injured and the LPGA wants it's lady golfers to speak English so I'll give my thoughts on that as well.

First Shawn Merriman has a tear in his ligaments and four doctors have recommended he sit out the season  and have surgery. But Merriman a 24 year old 3 time Pro Bowl player feels the Chargers have a window of opportunity   to go to the Super Bowl this year which they do. The Chargers are a very good team and I admire Merriman's heart and courage, but is it worth risking his career to play?  This isn't the Sunday touch or soft tackle football league. This is the NFL, the hardest hitting football league there is where one better be 100% and play that way or risk serious injury and that is what Merriman one of the best young defensive players in the league is doing. No one wants to see anyone get hurt but in the NFL they go all out contact and collision wise and they won't go soft on Merriman and take advantage of his injury .

I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about players getting injured in the preseason and how I don't like that especially for the star players and I extend those thoughts to players like Shawn Merriman who want to play hurt. NFL players only have a small amount of time to play football usually and there are no guaranteed contracts in the NFL. So why risk playing abd ruining your career and life in and out of football?  Shawn Meriman is only 24 years old so he has time. There was a player for the Houston Texans this week that had a spine injury and his career is likely over. Once a football player is seriously hurt they should walk away from the game and if they are injured enough where they can come back then they need time to heal and this is what I recommend Shawn Merriman do before he gets worse and it's too late.

Also this week the Ladies Professional Golf Tour, the LPGA said it is requiring it's players a lot of who are foreign born to learn to speak English by 2009 or be suspended from the tour. This decision has got mixed reaction from the media, but in a way I think it is a good and necessary one. At a lot of workplaces in the United States they require their employess to speak English and this is a good thing for communication. Just like if you went to work in another country one should learn to speak some of the language if not fluent. For high priced and visible athletes especially, they are going to be interviewed and questioned and we want to know what they are thinking. Translators are irriating to me because they are speaking through the third person and they take away from the intimacy of the conversation between two people. I would like to know what Foreign stars like Ichiro, Daisuke Matsusaka, Hideki Matsui and other star players from foreign countries are thinking. Yao Ming didn't know how to speak much English when he came to the United States but now he speaks it well. I don't expect people to speak perfectly but I do want to understand and talk to them so I applaud what the LPGA is doing and also hope they try to help these foreign athletes with speaking lessons. That is what I think is fair if they want them to speak English. Let me know what you think friends. Take care, talk soon and best wishes. Have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well were almost at the end of August and before football season starts and the kids head back to school I wanted to talk about the wildcard race in baseball and one of my favorite teams the  Milwaukee Brewers and also I wanted to say a few of my own closing thoughts on the just completed Olympic games.

First the Brewers who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons since 1982 and who are currently leading the St Louis Cardinals by 3 1/2 games in the wildcard race while trailing the Chicago Cubs by 5 games in the National League Central Race. Now while I wish the Brewers were playing as well as the league leading best record in baseball Cubs I'm also kind of glad the Brewers are in the position they are in now as the wildcard leader.

First off the Brewers haven't made the playoffs in 26 years so any playoff position would be great for the franchise and fans especially since Milwaukee is a small market and these opportunities don't come along that often in baseball without a salary cap. Second with the way baseball is set up now a team doesn't always need to win the division and has the wildcard to fall back on if their record is good enough. If baseball went by the best records in the league it would be Chicago, Milwaukee, St Louis and the New York Mets and the National League West Leader the Arizona Diamonbacks would be left out of the playoffs.

But at least we have a wildcard and a lot of times they are the hotter team playing better heading into the playoffs and several times such as the Florida Marlins twice, the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and the Angels in 2002 went on to win the World Series. And last year the Colorado Rockies won 21 of 22 to get to the World Series and this year they have a losing record.

So the moment is fleeting and a small market team like the Brewers especially has to strike while the iron is hot and they currently have star pitchers CC Sabathia acquired in a midseason trade and Ben Sheets who they wil both probably lose at the end of the season in free agency.

So the Brewers should go for it now and they are. The next couple nights they play their final two games with St Louis their  nearest wildcard challenger and could start to put them further back if they sweep them. The Brewers also have six games left in September to try to catch the Cubs, but they don't need to as long as they hold off the Cardinals and the rest of the wildcard contenders.

A division title and the best record like the Cubs currently have is nice, but it won't  mean a thing other than home field advantage in the National League playoffs. History shows you can see the Atlanta Braves won 15 division titles and went to 4 World Series in the 1990s and 2000s but won only one World Series in 1995 while their division competitor the Florida Marlins have had two playoff appearances via the wildcard, no division titles and two world championships in 1997 and 2003. And just ask the Cubs how the Marlins beat them  in Chicago in Game 6 and 7 to get to the 2003 World Series.

So as you can see division titles and home field advantage aren't always the most important thing. Just getting to the playoffs and being the hotter team is even nicer. That division title t shirt and cap looks nice for a week or so but without the pennant or World Series victory it means less.

I'm personally pulling for both the Brewers and Cubs as I grew up in Milwaukee and have always liked the Cubs before the Brewers went to the National League in 1998 and made the rivals with the Cubs. So we'll see what happens as we head into the final month of the pennant race in Septemner.

Finally a few closing thoughts about the just completed Olympics games in Bejing, China  which for the most part went remarkably well as far as the action and presentation of the games. Yes there was a terrible tragedy with the shooting death of the in laws of the USA mens volleyball coach and China has some human rights issues but we'll leave that to political talk.

But as far as presentation of the games which was excellent and the action from Michael Phelps 8 gold medals, Usain Bolt's 3 gold medals in track and the USA men's and women's basketball golds among many others. It was a succesful Olympic Games and one of the better ones in history. We'll look forward to future Olympics but China was definiely a unique and memorable games. I wish baseball and softball weren't being cut from the games and hope they return in the future. I'd also like to see golf and bowling added. If you can think of any other sports you'd like to see let me know. The Olympics has it's stars for sure but it's also about the common athlete in sports like archery, badmitton and water polo among others. The Olympics is their time to shine like when I watched a German weightlifter lift a world record of pounds over his head. Truly amazing. Anyway it's fun to watch these Olympic games every two to four years as they split the Winter and Summer Games every two years now.

Take care and best wishes friends and have a great and productive day always. fenfan

Hi friends,

Well college football season is almost here and it's time for one of the biggest parties in sports. Without a playoff system or true determined winner with fair competition for all teams involved what else can you call it. Even at the end over 30 teams get to go home happy with bowl victories. Of course some schools go home happier with bigger checks from bigger bowls. Well at least the universities do while the players who play for them hope to make their money in pro football.

As for college football being like a big fraternity party it is in my opinion. Lots of teams are invited but only the biggest teams or brothers win. They are the ones who usually walk off just like with the prettiest girls and win. As for everyone else especially the smaller teams they're just usually hoping to upset someone and get a date to the big dance. And even if they are perfect or almost perfect they're still often hoping or left standings because they don't have the power rankings or strength of schedule to get their way into the biggest games stage and dance.

Without any kind of  true playoff system  the teams from smaller conferences outside the Big 6 coferences really dont have a chance unlike the NCAA Basketball tournament where at least the smaller conference teams can get into the tournament and have a chance to dream on the court.

Instead college football is where a team can lose a game in September or October and their national championship dreams are done. College football is then really about beating your teams rivals, winning a conference championship and making a bowl even if a team has a 7-5 or 6-6 record. How's that for a playoff system? And don't tell me it's a 12 week playoff in the regular season because every team really doesn't have a chance because of the power structure in major college football.

But at least the games are sometimes competitive and sometimes they're not like 70-3 when there's a powerhouse team playing a small cream puff team for money for the smaller schools especially. But then sometimes those small schools shock the powerhouse schools like Appalachian State last year knocking off Michigan in the Big House in Ann Arbor.

But no matter who the schools that are playing college football has the spirit and fun of the games. The action on the field, the enthusiastic college crowds and the pretty cheerleader girls and guys cheering the teams on the sidelines. That's why I call major college football especially a party. Without a true winner or playoff system there is no definitive champion. Even the team we think is the best even if they are often one of the best teams is still undetermined for sure even with a game like the BCS Championship Game where the game is determined by rankings and without a playoff system. A few of these games have come close to a championship game feeling like Texas beating USC in the last minute in 2005 and Ohio State beating Miami in overtime in 2002  But wouldn't it have been nice to know these games were like a college football Super Bowl at the end.

I know a college football playoff has been argued for and against for a long time in college football, but without one we are always wondering who the best team really is. Maybe that's the fun of it. and in the NCAA they don't want to change that. So join the party and enjoy another great and fun college football season. Everyone is a winner for coming and over 30 teams will win a bowl game. So join the fishbowl teams and fans and you'll have fun. If you want to talk about winning, losing and making the playoffs and Super Bowl then you'll have to watch the Sunday NFL games. Maybe that's why college football games are played first because the party is almost always on a party day Saturday. Remmber the Fifth Quarter Tradition in Madison, Wisconsin even after blowout Badger losses.  Best of luck to your teams and enjoy the games friends as long as you understand what they're all about at the big college football party. So bring me my favorite bevearge and a pom pom and we'll cheer for college football season is here. That's my opinion. What's yours? When the Wisconsin Badgers won three Rose Bowls in the 1990s that was their biggest accomplishment because that was the big game to get to in the Midwest and there wasn't a definitive way to get to a NCAA Championship Game. Even with the BCS Championship I still feel the same way because it's based on power structure and rankings.. As I said let me know your thoughts and opinions and we'll talk soon. Best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hi friends,

Well it's been an interesting week in sports since we last talked. Michael Phelps won his amazing eight gold medals in swimming at the Olympics and I got to go to a baseball game among other things.

I saw the Texas Rangers play the Tampa Bay Rays in Arlington, Texas on Friday night August 15th. It was pleasantly cool for Texas weather in the 80s with a nice breeze cooled down by some rain in the area. We sat in the third deck high right behind home plate with some free tickets we got from an online promtion for the All Star Game. Even though it was fairly high though it was great baseball viewing. The Rays beat the Rangers 7-0 to continue their amazing season in first place in the AL East. Matt Garza the Rays starter pitched a complete game two hit shutout with one first inning walk. Garza had a no hitter for 5 2/3 innings and should  have had one longer than that as Ian Kinsler the Rangers second baseman hit a bloop single to center that was dropped by the Rays center fielder and should have been caught. I believe it should have been an error and Major League Baseball should make a notation and correction to give Matt Garza a one hitter insted of two. Garza pounded his glove on the ground as he saw what should have been called an error. Anyway it was a fun game and night at the ballpark and I'm happy if I can make at least one pro, college or high school game a year.

As for the other sports action what can you say about the amazing Michael Phelps and his eight swimming gold medals. It's truly a great accomplishment and it's been a good Olympic Games  in Bejing, China so far. Ratings are up, the Americans have the most overall medals so far and the Chinese have the most golds in their home country. It's been pretty good action so far and it's fun to watch the sports and athletes you don't normally watch as often as well.

Back in the United States pro and college football are getting closer as September and the pennant races are heating up as well. Best of luck to all your different teams.  Well take care and best wishes friends. Talk soon and have a great and productive day. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well Brett Favre Is now a Jet and the PreSeason Football schedule has started in full. A backup quarterback Charlie Batch on my favorite football team the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a broken collarbone against the Philadelphia Eagles, and it reminded me the main reason I don't like preseason football and want it reduced or eliminated. Well getting rid of the games isn't possible because coaches and teams need to evaluate players and get them in shape.

But when a player gets injured in a preseason game, especially if he's a veteran like Charlie Batch it gets me upset. Yes injuries are a major part of football, maybe more than any other sport where a single play can end a career, paralyze a man or god forbid end a man's life.

It is a risk football players put themselves through in a collision sport. It can happen anytime maybe even practice but when it happens in an exhibition game like to Charlie Batch, you wonder why was he playing so much if he already has probably made the final roster. Remember Quarterback Trent Green then with the St Louis Rams in 1999. Hit and out for the season with a broken leg. Of course the Rams had a untested backup named Kurt Warner who led them all the way to a Super Bowl Championship. That was the fairy tale unpredictable ending and it worked out all right for the Rams that year.

But most of the time when a veteran player goes down a team has to have a good backup or scramble to find a replacement. In the Steelers case the injury happened to their backup quarterback Charlie Batch and he'll be out 4-6 weeks with his injury. The Steelers third string quaterback is newly drafted rookie Dennis Dixon and their starter is Super Bowl Champion Ben Roethlisberger. Now the Steelers don't want to play Roetlisberger too much in the preseason bcause he is the franchise quarterback and they don't want to play Dennis Dixon too much because he's too inexperienced to be the first backup.

So Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has to search the waiver wire to find a quality backup which isn't easy. So how do football teams get around this delicate problem of getting teams in shape and ready to play without keeping their best players injury free until at least the regular season when the games count?

No one likes to see a player injured but you would rather see it in a regular season when the games count?  Should they have more regular season games or eliminate them like they do in college football where they don't have any? And yes I know a player can get injured in practice as well.

Preseason games are tedious to the fans as well. We wait all summer for our favorite teams and players to play. We get excited and dress up like it's a regular season or playoff game. And then our favorite players only play a quarter or two before giving way to the backups. Ever watch a second half of a preseason game? Local announcers, a blowout score with backup players and you can hear the public address announcer say 3rd and 5 on the 47 yard line. And they're talking about the Shrine Game or whatever.

So can you see why I as a fan dont like preseason football. I wish the veterans never played and I cringe when they do. I don't like to see any player get hurt and it's worse in NFL preseason football than any other sport. And don't give me examples of other sports cause yes I know injuries can happen there. Just not like the frequency and severity of football.

Is there a way we can make all the games count? Have a 16 game season with no preseason or one or two games. It's always debated this time of year. Maybe college football has it right with no exhibition games What do you think friends? I welcome your comments as always and thank you for reading. Take care, best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well the biggest story of the last month and the NFL offseason, The Brett Favre saga just keeps going everday and it keeps giving everyone something interesting to talk about no matter how much we wish it would go away. But writers and bradcasters love it because it is so fascinating and no one knows how it will end from day to day.

I'll try to look at it from both sides  and give my perspective on it and I'll be interested to hear yours. As of the latest updates it appears that Brett Favre has reached a stalemate with the Green Bay Packers who no longer seem to want him in more than a backup role so it appears that Favre could be traded to either the Tampa Bay Buccaners or the New York Jets. The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago  Bears, the Packers NFC North division rivals who Favre wished to play for look like they will not  be able to make a trade with the Packers as the Packers not surprisingly do not want to trade Brett Favre to a rival team in their division.

Ezcept for Packers fans and my apologies to them as they are the innocent bystanders in this whole Brett Favre saga, it really would have been interesting to see Brett Favre go to the rival Vikings or Chicago Bears and play against the Packers in the same division. I mean why if the Packers don't want a Hall of Fame quarterback who's still pretty good at 39 years old and led the Packers back to the NFC Championship Game before losing after an interception in overtime against the Giants.is a question to me.

And yes he did retire and "waffle" about coming back and playing as a lot of athletes do even when they say they're defintely hanging it up. But then after a few months or as the new season gets closer they get the itch to play and want to come back and yes  it's frustrating for teams, players, coaches and fans when players  like Favre constanly change their mind and the Packers is this case had to move on with incumbent backup Aaron Rodgers as the starter and they drafted quarterbacks Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn for competition.

But if Brett Favre a Hall of Fame quarterback to be who still has skills and desire,wants to come back why shouldn't he be welcomed with open arms and an "open competition". Now Aaron Rodgers may be a good pro quarterback in the future, he may be a good teammate and person and he may deserve a chance. But  in the NFL and sports it's about winning and WINNING NOW!!  And when a team like the Packers has the window of opportunity to WIN in a parity filled league with a salary cap where success doesn't last more han a few years at a time before players change and things need to be restructured.then why wouldn't the Packers go for it with a proven and winning quarterback like Brett Favre. He's been to and won a Super Bowl and won several playoff games and as I said he got them to the NFC Championship Game last year.

So why would the Packers rather go with a young quarterback like Aaron Rodgers who hasn't proven himself yet very much in the NFL to be the starter? Losing is always tough but if he doesn't win quickly and attain some of  Favre's status as a winner in Green Bay then he will probably be booed and heckled no matter how much of it is or isn't his fault because the Packers are losing and Brett Favre isn't there.

If he is a success he still probably won't live up to Brett Favre unles he wins multiple Super Bowls and there will always be the die hard Brett Favre fans Aaron Rodgers can't please no matter what.

Winning a championship and having success is a rare and brief time period in this world of salary caps and free agency. Sure there have been exceptions the last 10 years like the Patriots in the NFL,  but when a team has a chance to have success they have to go for it especially for the fans and communities that support them.

And sometimes sports  teams like the Boston Red Sox in baseball have to put up with the antics and actions of a Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling or Pedro Martinez to win a few championships. The same with the eccentric Dennis Rodman on the  Chicago Bulls basketball  teams in the 1990s. Sometimes teams and fans have to put up with the bizarre but talented players to win.

Yes Brett Favre has a big ego as a lot of highly paid athletes do. But he wanted to play for the Packers, he came back and the organization wants to let him go or offer him a ridiculois 20 million dollar nonplaying offer to stay retired. How many of us would quit for that?!  My question to the Packers is are doing everything to keep the window of opportunity for success open as long as they can. Or are they letting pride and doing the right thing get in the way of what should be done. I wish Aaron Rodgers and the Packers success. They've got a good team and can win with a young inexperienced quarterback. My favorite Team the Pittsburgh Steelers won a Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger in his second season after leading the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game in his first year. As I said I hope for the Packer's fans sake that a young quarterback like Aaron Rodgers can have the same success.

Just remember there are teams like the Packers rival the Minnesota Vikings who havent won a Super Bowl or NFL Championship intheir 47 years of  existence and are hungry for success. A team like that might love to scoop up a  legend like Brett Favre and beat their rival team with a quarterback who beat their team so many times over the years. The same goes for the Bears. Now it looks like the Packers will trade Favre out of the division to the Buccaneers or Jets, but imagine if it happened and Brett Favre came back and beat the Packers as a member of the Vikings, Bears or any other NFL team.

Now Aaron Rodgers may become a superstar quarterback and the much older Brett Favre will soon fade off into the NFL sunset and his final retirement. But in the meantime we'll find out soon enough who's the better quaterback in the next few years and did the Packers give up on Brett  Favre and their chance to win a Super Bowl soon again. We'll see what happens friends. Take care and have a productive day. Talk soon and best wishes. fenfan 

Hi friends,

Well it's July 31st the trading deadline in baseball, the early stages of NFL training camps on and off the field. What will Brett Favre do? And the pennant race excitement now has two months to go. So where do we start on this exciting eventful day in sports?

How about Manny Ramirez who finally got his ticket out of Boston in a three way trade between the Red Sox, Dodgers and Pirates.  The main other player in the deal leftfieder Jason Bay formerly of the Pirates will take over for Manny Ramirez in Boston. Now Jason Bay a talented hitter himself will never be the superstar Manny on or off the field. While Manny's bat won't be equaled neither will his off the field outbursts and maybe that's finally a good thing for all the parties and teams involved and we'll see how his attitude carries out in Los Angeles for Dodgers manager Joe Torre. I'm sure the home runs will be flying out of Chavez Ravine at Dodger Stadium.. We'll see what happens.

As for Brett Favre and the Packers or whoever he ends up playing for if he plays or will he take the 20 million dollar offer NOT to PLAY FOR THE PACKERS. Are they that threatened by the 38 year old quarterback going to the rival Bears or Vikings?  Remember former Super Bowl champion quarterback Jim Mc Mahon ended his career backing up Brett Favre when the Packers won the Super Bowl in 1996. So wouldn't it be interesting to see Favre to the the chagrin of Packers fans end his career as a Bear. Or how about Minnesota and the Purple People. Remember Favre rarely plays well at the Metrodome or loud  domes and artificial turf.  So unless they're going to blow off the roof there I don't know how well that would go either. Finally I don't know how this helps new starting quaterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers who are coming off a NFC Championship Game performance last year. Besides Favre starting running back Ryan Grant is a holdout. Team chemistry is a delicate thing and we'll see how the Packers handle it in next few weeks and months no matter what happens with Brett Favre.

It should be interesting as the Red Sox go on without Manny Ramirez as well. Another legend Ken Griffey Jr who has been often injured in recent years, still has over 600 home runs and a Hall of Fame career to be. And on this July 31st he was traded from the Cincinatti Reds where he has been injured often and somewhat of a disappointment for the small market Reds since being traded there from Seattle in 2000. So now he lands in Chicago with the White Sox where he will be a role player with a more talented team. Whether he plays the outfield, first base or designated hitter in the American League, Griffey will add some productive play and leadership as the White Sox hope to match their 2005 World Series Championship success. Good luck Ken and we'll see what happens for you and the White Sox.

Finally one of my favorite teams, the Brewers lost to another team I like the Cubs except when they play the Brewers. Imagine what that's like liking two teams in the same division, but I liked both teams before the Brewers moved into the National League in 1998. Despite being swept by the Cubs, the Brewers still have a pretty good team and if they can remember last years collapse and learn from experience after losing the lead in the division to help get them through the last couple months this year. It will be tough but the Brewers have a fairly easy schedule according to the experts. If they can get through that and nobody is really easy to play in a peenant race then maybe the young and relatively inexperienced Brewers will have a chance to reach and make their goal of the playoffs. These days they don't have to win the division with the wildcard. That won't be easy either though. Good luck Brewers!! Also good luck to the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez as they part ways. Good luck to Brett Favre and the Packers and whatever team he plays for unless he wants to accept the 20 million dollars to stay retired. For any of the rest of us the money while bringing changes would be a pretty easy decision to take for most of us. But superstar athletes and entertainers like Brett Favre are like kings so it's like being Manny or Brett Favre means almost play money to them in a world where a lot of us are looking for jobs and at $4.00 gas prices. Pass the buck and throw the letovers to the fans who watch and support you. If only it were that simple.

Anyway before I get off track any further, it's been an interesting day and period in this time of sports. But without it we wouldn't be here writing or talking about much interesting. But sports is always changing and interesting and for that even though we don't know what is next we are  thankful because we have something we are passionate about to follow and talk about.  And in these uncertain economic times that is a good thing because it gets our mind off real life. We could talk about the election. But that is a topic for another blog site. So have a good evening and best wishes friends and have a great and productive day. Talk soon. fenfan

Hello friends,

I've got nothing special to talk about tonight except for some pretty good blogs I've been reading on here and putting my two cents in. From the guy who explained why the Steelers won't be as good this year. I disagree with his opinion but the Steelers have always been consistent and rarely terrible. Consider since Chuck Noll's 1-13 record in 1969 the Steelers have never won fewer than 5 games in a season and they have won 5 Super Bowls. I hope I don't jinx them. I just hope they get their ownership situation figured out. A billionare Stanley Druckenmeier wants to buy the team but I hope they can keep the team in the Rooney family who founded the team and made the Steelers the proud team and organization that they are.

Also tundratrugger brought up some good comments on the Brett Favre situation with the Packers. We all like or admire Brett Favre as a football player and person. As football fans we just wish he would make up his mind about his future and go on with it. I couldn't personally go out on an interception in the NFC Championship Game if I knew I had a good team but that's his decision. Lets just make that decision Brett and get on with the 2008 NFL season.

In baseball I'm  excited to see one of my favorite small market teams the Milwaukee Brewers making some big noise in the pennant race again this year. The experience of last year's winning record has helped and so apparently has new acquistion CC Sabathia with a 4-0 record and 3 complete game wins since joining the Brewers. I don't want the Brewers to throw away their future and maybe by signing their core players like Ryan Braun, developing a great farm system under general manager Doug Melvin and getting good draft picks will help the small market Brewers stay competitive in the long run. But in the short term Go For It Brewers and good luck the rest of 2008 and we'll worry about 2009 later. When you think of it that should be every team's philosophy but for a small market team like the Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays it is crical to keep going and keep competive. I wish baseball had a salary cap like the other sports, but with smart management it can be done successfully.

Well I guess I did have some stuff to say tonight about some of my favorite teams. I also enjoyed blogs about the most hated teams in sports and the greatest players to never win a championship. Read those if you get the chance. I always enjoy a good blog and great sports talk and I thank you friends for reading mine. I'm almost to 150 blogs overall now and I hope I keep it interesting for you readers. Take care, best wishes and talk soon friends. Have a great and productive day always friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well for those of you who didn't catch the end of the All Star Game, the American League won 4-3 in 15 innings in a game that didn't end until after 1:30 am Eastern time. I work evenings, but I was lucky enough to catch the last 4 innings when I got home from work.. Those who have to get up early or can't stay awake aren't usually able to see the end of these games especially the kids and that's unfortunate for young people and watching games and developing sports interest.

Anyway it was the final All Star Game at Yankee Stadium which is being torn down for a brand new and bigger Yankee Stadium. Kind of sad to see one of the classic stadiums being torn down. Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, Lambeau Field and Yankee Stadium should stand the test of time until they fall apart or implode and then they should be rebuilt. Only half kidding. These stadiums are national treasures for national sports fans and if they can keep a Fenway, Wrigley or Lambeau going why cant they do the same with Yankee Stadium.

I'm sure the new Yankee Stadium or whatever they call it Steinbrenner Field, but it wont be the House that Ruth Built. The naming rights will likely belong to some coroporate sponsor.  New isn't always better at least in our memories.

I still have fond memories of the old County Stadium in Milwaukee because that's where I spent over 20 years growing up watching baseball games. Some places like Shea Stadium, the home of the crosstown New York Mets and also in it's last year of operation is less attractive but it has its memories for Mets fans as well. Winning two out of three World Series, the Jets played there and so did the Beatles once as well. So every place has it's special memories to those who went there and that's what you especially think of with a historic place like Yankee Stadium even if you've never been there or don't like the Yankees. You think of the history and all the events that have gone on there since it was first built in 1923 and you'll miss it.

I watched my first All Star Game as a fan when it was played at Yankee Stadium in 1977 and it was neat to see the game played there in the last year of the Stadium. As it turned out every position player and pitchers got to play in the game because of it's length and that's great for the experience for those players and us the fans.

Another big sporting event starts on Thursday across the pond/ the Atlantic Ocean in England. The British Open at Royal Birkdale starts Thursday and for the first time since 1996 Tiger Woods will not be playing in a major as he recovers from knee surgey after his exciting 18 hole playoff win at the US Open in June.

While most golf fans and casual fans look forward to his return, it makes you wonder is the game better off without Tiger in the major tournaments. Probably not except for opposing players who will disagree. But is Tiger Woods bigger than the game of golf or its history? No he's just a huge part of it as he continues to chase Jack Nickalus record of 18 majors. But even Tiger Woods is not bigger than the game of golf. Last year Paddrig Harrington won the British Open in a playoff over Sergio Garcia when Tiger Woods was out of contention.

Believe it or not Tiger Woods doesn't win all the time. It just seems like he should or does. The British Open and the other major golf tournaments and sports were popular with fans long before Tiger Woods and will be long after Tiger Woods leaves. He is just a shining star right now for a lot of reasons mostly because of his enormous talent, his popularity and for his significance in transforming the sport as an African American golfer which he is not the first of his race but he has certaintly brought a lot of new groups of people and interest to the sport and that is a very good thing for the sport of golf and its overall popularity.

That's why Tiger Woods will be missed this weekend and at the PGA Championship next month. But as I said he should be back in the future, hopefully next year and in the meantime the British Open will go on this weekend and should be a great tournament as always or golf and casual fans alike. Just try to remember that it is not the Tiger Woods Open. It just seems like it due to his enormous popularity. By the way I just like to say his name Tiger Woods. It just comes across the page when you say it like a name brand in golf.

Well have a great and productive day friends, best wishes and we'll talk soon again. fenfan

Hi friends,

I'm getting into the baseball races and my favorite teams, the Brewers, Red Sox and Cubs as they're all in contention and all have the chance to make the playoffs in the same year for the first time. We'll see and I'll discuss my favorite and most memorable moments.

But first a short paragraph to say I'm officially sick of Brett Favre and the Packers saga to see who can outdo each other and blink first. Go away or get back together. But other than giving the media and us bloggers something to talk about.  But What  exactly are we talikng about? Exactly until a decision is made it is all talk and rumors and sports talk radio. I've lost some respect for Brett Favre and the Packers, whatever happens. Let Aaron Rodgers have his time and don't make me laugh with talk of Brett Favre as a backup in Green Bay. Seriously how long would that last. At this rate just as long as these  rumors. Here today Yesterdays news tommorow. Let history go on Brett and save your legacy. You'll never be a Purple People Eater. Vikings or anyone else. The Packers would be foolish to release you because of his legacy with the team but at the same time they have to make the right decisions for the team. Good luck Packers.

Now onto my favorite baseball teams and memories. It's July and for the first time in a long time all three of  my favorite baseball teams are in contention and the thought of them making the postseason brings back some good and not so good memories for me. Maybe it's because it's the week of the ESPY's awards, moments and lists so here goes

First the top 5 great memories with honorable mention for me for my favorite teams the Brewers, Red Sox and Cubs.

1} Red Sox win the World Series for the first time in 86 years in 2004 and a 0-3  hole and comeback against the Yankees to win the AL Pennant. What could beat that!

2} The Brewers win the ALCS in 1982 coming from 0-2 down against the Angels. Has it really been 26 years since the Brewers last postseason appearance?  Hopefully that changes soon.

3} The Cubs win the NL East dvision title and first postseason appearance in 39 years in 1984 and the summer of the famous Ryne Sandberg two home run game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

4} The Carlton Fisk game winning home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. It didn't win the World Series for the Red Sox, but other than the Red Sox actually finally winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007 has there been a bigger or more memorable winning moment in Red Sox history?  It felt like they won for a night and all time as a great moment even if they didn't end up winning the World Series.that year or for 29 more years.

5] The David Henderson home run off Donnie Moore in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS to put them ahead and start their comeback to win the series against the Angels that year. Finally the Brewers 13 game winning streak and famous Easter Day Sunday comeback against the Rangers in April 1987. Paul Molitor also hit in 39 straight games that summer only behind Pete Rose at 44 games and Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak in 1941. Will that hitting streak ever be broken along with Ted Williams of the Red Sox .406 batting average that year.

Sorry Cubs fans you weren't included more in the good moments. Maybe this will be the year to change that after 100 years since their last World Series championship.

 As for the moments I'll unfortunately never forget.

1) Bill Buckner. It wasn't really your fault, Pitchers Cavin Schiraldi, Bob Stanley and manager John MacNamara take greater blame but his error and the Red Sox one strike from ultimate victory will never be forgotten from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets.

2)  Bruce Sutter and the Cardinals striking out Gorman Thomas of the Brewers to win Game 7 of the 1982 World Series. I've wanted the Brewers to win that Game 7 ever since and 26 years later Brewers fans are still waiting.

3) The Steve Bartman moment and the Cubs 5 outs from going to the World Series against the Marlins in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. Stop blaming Bartman, give him public forgiveness and let the baseball reasons and Cubs futility to win when it counts take over rational thoughts Cubs fans and stop blowing up helpless baseballs to end curses. Billy goat and black cat curses as well for that matter.

4) Two Yankee Home runs that will live in Red Sox infamy. Bucky Dent in the 1978 AL East playoff game and Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS . Two tough losses but a comeback after an 0-3 start in the 2004 put away the Curse of the Bambino/ Babe Ruth forever.

5} The Cubs 9 game lead and collapse against the Mets in 1969 and the Brewers 8 1/2  game lead and collapse in the division race against the Cubs last year. As a fan of both teams why did the Brewers have to join the National League and same division as the Cubs but in another way it's made their rivalry more fun to watch.

In conclusion if you've stayed reading with me this long  thank you and  I'm sorry for being long winded  friends... If not I'm sorry for your boredom  and I'm just nostalgic about sports memories. My apologies. Anyways as I said earlier I hope this Brett Favre situation blows over so we can get on with life and on to some great football with or without Brett Favre. Believe it or not Green Bay you still have a good team without Mr Favre. Take care, best wishes and talk soon friends. Have a great and productive day. fenfan 

Hello friends,

Well a big trade has been made in major league baseball and we'll see if it can help one of the smaller market teams in the league, the Milwaukee Brewers to win and finally make the playoffs for the first time in 26 years since 1982.

The Brewers traded four minor leaguers and top prospects to the Cleveland Indians for  2007 Cy Young winner CC Sabathia. The Indians who came within one game of the World Series are struggling in last place this year while the young small market and somewhat financially stapped Brewers are trying to strike while the iron's hot for success in major league baseball without a salary cap especially for small market teams like the Brewers.

Teams like the Brewers have to build within the farm system and a few small trades. When they pick up a big star like CC Sabathia who they very well might lose to free agency along with the other Brewers pitching star Ben Sheets.

So they're going to try to go for postseason success now. Coming off their first winning season (83-79) last year, the Brewers are trying to see if they can take their young hitting talent All Star Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, Corey hart and JJ Hardy and good, young and veteran pitching to see if they can make their first postseason trip since the 1982 World Series.

The Brewers have the longest  postseason drought for a team that has won a playoff spot in a 162 game season.The only team with a longer postseason drought is the former Montreal Expos/now Washington Nationals who made their only postseason appearence in the strike shortened 1981 season which doesn't count as much to me in that regard of acheiving success in a full season.

Anyway you know I also like the Red Sox and Cubs who have had their own championship droughts over the years. The Red Sox finally won 2 World Series this decade after 86 years and they'll never have enough to catch the Yankees who have 26 World Series titles. The Cubs are trying to conquer their own demons of 100 years without a World Series title. But one of the differences between those teams and the Brewers and other smaller market teams like the Brewers, Pirates, Royals and another success story this year the Rays is money.

Without a salary cap things are not even financially and the Brewers 26 year playoff drought is almost similar to the Cubs !00 year drought in that regard I think. Milwaukee is a great and underrated major league baseball town. Before the Brewers arrived Milwaukee had the Braves who now of course are in Atlanta. But from 1953-1965 the Braves had the heart of Milwaukee and went to two World Series led by hitter Henry Aaron and Eddie Matthews and pitchers Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette.

The Braves beat  the New York Yankees in seven games in 1957 for Milwaukee's only World Series Championship and lost in seven games also to the Yankees in 1958. Then in 1982 the Brewers then in the American League lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. But since St Louis reliever and now Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter struck out Brewers slugger Gorman Thomas to end that series and give the Cardinals the championship, the Brewers haven't been back in the postseason. Now the Brewers can blame the small market imbalance as some teams like the Pirates or Royals have. Or they can embrace and deal with the system and go for postseason success as other small market  teams like the Twins and A's have and the small market Colorado Rockies went all the way to the World Series last year and the Florida Marlins once won the World Series with approximately a 60 million dollar patroll in 2003.

So in conclusion postseason success is possible for a small market team like the Brewers. For long term success the  Brewers team management has to be a little craftier and kep retooling the minor league system and talent crop of players. And then every once in a while they can bring in a star pitcher like CC Sabathia even it's only for the short term and they might lose him after the season to free agency. But at least they're trying while the iron is hot and see where it goes from there. So Good Luck Brewers and we'll be following your progress and success and I hope the can win along with teams like the Rays for smaller market teams in baseball.

The Brewers aren't guaranteed success with getting CC Sabathia and I think the bullpen is still shaky. Blowing a 5-0 lead in the ninth inning last week at Arizona didn't help confidence, but if they keep working at it maybe they'll find their way and their first postseason appaerance since 1982 whether it be the wildcard which they're currently tied with the Cardinals or the NL Central where they're 4 back of the Cubs at this point.

Take care friends and have a great and productive day. Best wishes and talk soon. fenfan

Hello friends Well it's July on the calender and a few weeks from training camp in the NFL. So why doesn't it surprise me that there are "rumors" again that Brett Favre is deciding to unretire?  Why is he doing this or do he and his people like to keep us talikng?!

I made the suggestion on my blog a few months ago that Brett Favre play out his contract for two more years until he's 40. He's never been seriously hurt or missed any games so why not play it out to the end especially since he's got a championship type team in Green Bay the next few years.

No disrespect to Aaron Rodgers but he hasn't earned our respect yet and Brett Favre is a Hall of Famer to be no matter what happens. So why not play it out to the end and see what happens.

Not everyone goes out a champion like John Elway, Jerome Bettis or Michael Strahan, but wouldn't you like to see Brett Favre put everything he has on the table and go out a champion one more time.

Or do you want to see him go out on an interception like he did last year when you knew he had a good team in Green Bay and could give just a little bit more?

None of us can claim to know what Brett Favre feels or thinks in his NFL career, but we can see he's been a warrior on the field and by retiring  a little too early he's not only cheating us but maybe himself and thinking maybe I could have led the Packers back to the Super Bowl and a championship.

If he fails and doesn't get hurt at least he tried. If not we'll all wonder what if? Either way please make your decision Brett and leave your career with honor and dignity. Either way you're a legend and Hall of Famer . Just let us know what your decision is.

All of us as football fans need to go on and so do you. Best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well we've almost reached the midway point of the season, actually we have in games played but the All Star Game is next week at the great Yankee Stadium in it's final season.

But on and off the field lately we've had a lot of action going on and there has been no bigger success story so far than the Tampa Bay Rays who have won 50 games and for the first time since 1997 a team other than the Red Sox or Yankees is in first place in the AL East on July 1st. They are a feel good story that gives hope for baseball overall as a sport for all teams no matter what the market size.

I am a spoiled Red Sox fan along with Yankees fans whose teams have won a lot of championships with a lot of money, but I also felt it was somewhat tainted with imbalanced salries and uncompetitive balance without a salary cap. But the game is getting better and more competitive with smart small market teams with good farm systems. Some big market teams throw away money with big salaries and players who turn out to be busts in productivity.

That's what I like about the Boston Red Sox who have a big salary. but also a good farm system in the minor leagues which keeps them competitive longer. Even though I'm a Red Sox fan it's neat to see a small market team like the Tampa Bay Rays with young exciting talent competing successfully with the big boy teams with bigger salaries. Good luck!

Also both on and off the field lately there have been some unpleasant encounters with fighting and incidents. First there was the fighting incident with Coco Crisp of the Red Sox earlier in June when he charged the mound after getting hit against the Tampa Bay Rays in Boston and that got him suspended for 5 games including this weeks Red Sox-Rays series in Tampa 

Then there were a couple shoving incidents this past week which both incidentally occured in Houston. One involved now former Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Cicon who was called to the manager's office to discuss his pitching performance. He didn't like what he heard so he shoved the Astros General Manager Ed Wade who gave him the message to report to the skipper's (manager) office to the ground. Now you go to work today and shove your superior or anybody for that matter. Please don't, but if you do you will likely suffer the consequences as Cicon did and he got released by the team.

Now in a similar incident also occuring in Houston during the recent Red Sox-Astros series, Red Sox superstar and All Star leftfielder Manny Ramirez who is quite popular and productive also had a shoving incident. Manny being Manny wanted some extra tickets for friends in Houston and he asked the Red Sox traveling seceretary for about 15 or so tickets. When the traveling secretary couldn't provide the tickets, Ramirez in a fit of unprovoked anger shoved the poor seceretary to the ground. Now a couple things about this. Manny is a big strong athlete and that would be fairly intimidating to the seceratary who is not  likely as big or strong as Manny Ramirez the athlete. Also Manny Ramirez is a superstar athlete who has hit over 500 home runs so the matter is quickly dismised, apologies are made and discipline is handled privately behind Red Sox closed doors. All is supposedly forgiven. But what if Ramirez was a .200 hitter or a struggling pitcher like Shawn Cicon..Ramirez deseves some type of punishment or discipline and once again I'm a Red Sox fan. I just don't like to see unpleasant incidents like this occur. The general manager and traveling seceratary were just doing their jobs and didn't deserve to be provoked by men likely twice their size and strength.

In conclusion, fighting, incidents and altercations are always going to part of the game and sports unfortunately. But those who overstep the line should be punished/ discliplined in some way. As for the action on the field such as the Tampa Bay Rays who I started off this post mentioning, congratulations on the good start and good luck in fair and exciting competition the rest of the season. Have a great and productive day and celebrate America and a Happy 4th of July. Hang a flag and remember why it's the greatest country in the world to live in. Best wishes, take care and talk soon friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

I want to talk a little about the new Mike Myers comedy movie The Love Guru and how it deals with sports and how it fictionally has the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Stanley Cup. That hasn't happened in reality since the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup 41 years ago in 1967.

Mike Myers the star of the movie is a huge hockey and Toronto Maple Leafs fan and not old enough to remember the last time the Leafs won the Cup. So he wanted to fictionalize it in his new comedy movie where he plays a love guru trying to help a hockey player whose romance has gone bad and the player who plays for Toronto has lost his girl to a rival goalie played by Justin Timberlake. The movie which also features the beautiful Jessica Alba as the Toronto team general manager, a lot of other beautiful women and a midget coach of the Maple Leafs which has some funny scenes with Mike Myers.

To summarize the hockey part of the story the star player is suspended for Toronto for fighting and the Leafs fall behind the Los Angeles Kings 3 games to none in the Stanley Cup Finals with Justin Timberlake as the Kings goalie. Of course in movieland the Leafs come back to tie the series 3-3 and are traling 1-0 with a minute to go in the seventh game. Then suddenly the Toronto star who Myers character has been guiding regains his confidence scores a goal to tie and gets a penalty shot to win the Stanley Cup against Timberlake's goalie character.

The Toronto player scores the winning penalty shot and the Leafs win the Stanley Cup fictionally of course. Is this right for long suffering fans to see in reality even though it's only pretend? The Cleveland Indians were portrayed to win the World Series in the movie Major League even though they hadn't won the World Series since 1948.

Should we have the Chicago Cubs win a World Series in a movie so they can say they saw it happen even if it wasn't real?  I think as much as you enjoy fantasizing about it in a movie and I'm sure Buffalo Bills fans would make Scott Norwood's kick go a little more to the left and through the goalpost. We would all rather though see it in reality . It is all fun of course and I realize why Myers lived out his fantasy of seeing the Leafs win the Stanley Cup in the movie.

But he and all of us fans would rather watch the real life movie heroics later. Otherwise you are teasing the long suffering fans with an event that isn't real as much as they want it to be. This is my take on it. What do you think friends? Let me know your thoughts and we'll talk soon again. Best wishes and have a great and productive day. fenfan 

Hello friends,

I just wanted to write a short post to ask a simple question and get some good responses hopefully. What kind of fan are you?  Are you a casual fan who might not watch sports much but will watch the Super  Bowl, World Series, Final Four or NBA Finals.

Or are you a passionate fan of a team or sport, but you have a good and busy life otherwise when you aren't rooting for your teams..

Finally are you a fanatic who can't turn off ESPN, gets hooked on blogs like these and is often being told there's more to life than sports even though you already know that. It's a passion and you can't get away from it easily.

I'm a proclaimed sports fanatic although I try to have a life and enjoy it too. I hope that's the case with most of you other sports fanatics.  I woiuld be interested to hear your opinions as always friends..

Best wishes and have a great and productive day. fenfan