It’s that time again my friends. The tomatoes are in place. Now if we’ll just have the deserving individuals in sports please stand up.
Ready… aim… fire!
Throwing Tomatoes – Volume XII
The NBA’s New OKC franchise …for filing six “not-so-OK” nicknames. Per a recent AP report: “The NBA has filed for trademark rights to six nicknames for the league’s new Oklahoma City franchise: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, Thunder, and Wind.
Why do I picture a team intro to “Earth, Wind, and Fire”? “Shining Star” perhaps? Boy, that one would really pump you up!
As for the nicknames, where do I start? We have Marshalls with ‘two L’s’, and that isn’t even the half of it. Heck, making fun of “Wind” alone would be a breeze.
Julio Castillo …for hitting a fan in the head (with a baseball) during a minor-league brawl. Minor league brawls… boy, you sure don’t hear about those very often. Still, they happen in baseball. That doesn’t make it right for excessive force, and even though brawls aren’t the best way to solve things, a player should never use a baseball as a weapon during a brawl. That’s exactly what Castillo did, throwing a ball at the opponent’s dugout, only to instead injure a fan in the process.
Nice aim Julio.. I guess now we know why you’re in the minors.
Pittsburgh Pirates …for not getting enough value in their recent deal with the Yankees. The talk for weeks was that the Pirates wanted “the farm” for Xavier Nady. By the time the deal arrived, Pittsburgh had not only dealt away Nady, but also Damaso Marte to the Yankees, while only getting four players in return, only two of which cracked Baseball America’s preseason top 10 list of Yankees prospects (Jose Tabata - #3 and Ross Ohlendorf - #9). Not surprisingly, there’s a mutiny against the Pirates after that deal.
ARRR! That’s not quite the booty Pittsburgh fans were likely expecting in return.
Steven Jackson …for missing the opening day of training camp Look at Jackson’s stat line for the Rams in 2007: 1,002 yards rushing, only two 100-yard rushing games, and out ¼ of the season with an injury. Jackson may be a special player, but those numbers are nothing special to me. I don’t think those numbers earn him the right to hold out. In my book, it only earns Jackson a tomato.
The WNBA’s Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks …for their bench clearing brawl early last week. Wait, am I seriously throwing a tomato at a catfight again? I need more sleep.
Goodyear Tires at the Allstate 400 …for not being reliable. Yikes, it was a tough day for Goodyear. I heard Kyle Busch’s tire melted on the track, not in his hand.
Brett Favre …for not showing up at camp. All that talk about how he was going to show up at training camp, and Favre never made it. I sure hope he sent Ted Thompson a text message letting him know.
Green Bay Packers …for denying Favre the opportunity to compete for the starting job. Favre isn’t expecting to start. He just wants to compete for it. If Green Bay can’t land a first round pick for Brett, they may want to think about going back on that little promise – you know, the one where the Packers said Favre won’t compete for that job at all.
Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition New York Yankees – at the rival Red Sox after taking the series at Fenway Park and getting back into the division race.
Colorado Rockies – at the NL West after not only winning nine of ten, but also getting back into the division race. Jimmie Johnson – at the NASCAR field after winning the Allstate 400.
This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… now don’t blow a tire trying to head to your nearest vegetable stand for ammunition.
Light up those citronella tiki torches and crack open a Leinie’s Red Minnesota, because Brett Favre is talking with the Purple People Eaters. Legal or not, the signs have been there for days.
Read ‘em and weep.
Top 10 Reasons to Believe the Vikings Tampered with Green Bay **
10 – Brett has been spotted at local libraries reading up on Scandinavian American culture.
9 – The University of Minnesota is now teaching the proper pronunciation of “Favre” in their English 101 course.
8– Tarvaris Jackson reportedly sent Favre a text message saying “BTFO”.
7 -- The top selling appetizer of “Cheez Whiz on a Triscuit:” was replaced by “Herring on a stick” on Brett Favre’s Steakhouse menu.
6 – Favre contacted Bjork about starring alongside him in a sequel of Nanook of the North, but only if she brings the swan dress from the 2004 Academy Awards.
5 – Suddenly Deanna Favre is lactose intolerant and not interested in cheese.
4 – Brett Favre was seen buying a purplish color pair of Wrangler jeans.
3 – Brett’s kids were spotted planting a Norway pine in the backyard.
2 – Brett’s southern accent has been replaced by a plethora of “yah’s” and “don-chya-no’s”.
1 – Faint sounds of a deep horn have been heard at Favre’s estate in Hattiesburg, MS.
** Please Note: None of these rumors are true. Instead, this post was meant strictly to poke fun at the latest of a line of rumors involving Brett Favre coming out of retirement. Good day - yah!
This week’s tomatoes get delivered in four packs, in honor of #4 himself, Brett Favre. While the Favre saga is ongoing (and quite tomato-worthy), it certainly isn’t alone.
Where do you direct your tomatoes this week?
Throwing Tomatoes – Volume X
The “Brett Favre Saga” …for getting more confusing by the day. This whole thing is getting a little out of hand. First, we hear about the text to Ted Thompson. Then the request for reinstatement. Next, Green Bay declines Favre’s release request. We hear rumors of Favre being a backup, plus the chatter about a Packer fan rally. Heck, another six-pack of stories likely popped up in the time it took for me to write this sentence. Green Bay Packers …for thinking they can brush off a legend. Listen, I know everyone has a take on this one. We could all vote and it would likely be split right down the middle. Still, I have to say this… while I think Brett Favre could have handled the situation better, I still feel the Packers need to let him come back and be their QB. I understand what Green Bay is doing, but Favre single handedly helped revive this historical franchise, which was stuck in the dumps for years. This is how you repay him when he changes his mind and wants to come back for more?
The Packer Fans Rally … for not sounding the least bit impressive. The headlines all over the sports pages discuss a rally of Packer fans backing Favre and chanting for him to return to Green Bay. Yet, you read the story and it discusses a “crowd of over 100”. Really? That’s it? Does that mean the rest of you want Aaron Rodgers? REALLY?
Tampa Bay Rays …for hitting a major bump in the road right when everyone was jumping on the wagon. There are still a lot of games left. With that being said, it isn’t often that you see championship teams struggle for such a prolonged period of time. The losing streak is at seven games. This week’s All-Star game will be a much needed break for the Rays.
People Drinking the Angels Haterade …instead of recognizing how good this team is.
Is it me, or is no one talking about the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim? Maybe because the team name confuses them? Either way, the
Angels are tied with the Cubs for the best record in baseball heading
into the All-Star break. And get this, they open the second half at
home against the Red Sox. Time to ask T.O. for some popcorn.
Travis Henry …for testing positive for marijuana. Yep, you got it… it’s just another story about a talented athlete flushing his career right down the toilet after getting into trouble one time too many.
Martin Truex …for failing inspection at Daytona. As a result of the illegal car, Truex and his DEI team were penalized 150 points by NASCAR. That one will leave a mark… and so will this tomato.
Washington Wizards …for the mammoth deal they gave Gilbert Arenas.
Six years and 111 million for Arenas? Seriously? I know the guy can play, but he’s also been injured frequently enough in recent years that I think this is a bit much for “Agent Zero”.
Chicago Cubs …for wheeling and dealing to get Rich Harden. Listen, Harden is painfully talented… painful like the injuries he sustains on a yearly basis. Who else thinks he could suffer another setback before October arrives? Carlos Marmol as an NL All-Star Replacement …for Kerry Wood, who is injured. Are you kidding me? I can’t believe Marmol had the highest vote on the player ballot. There are so many other candidates that are more deserving. Cole Hamels and Chad Billingsley come to mind.
The Orioles on Sunday … and the fact that they just can’t win… again. Make that 14 consecutive losses on Sunday for the Birds. You guessed it, they’re gettin’ one until they can get into the win column.
The Brett Favre Saga…again …for frustrating me one more time. I can’t stop shaking my head at this Brett Favre story. I just had to stop and pause… and sling another tomato. That’s four this go-round for #4 and the tangled web he’s in with the Packers.
Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition
New York Mets – at the NL East after winning nine straight heading into the All-Star break. Philadelphia 76ers – at the Clippers after signing Elton Brand. C.C. Sabathia – at the NL after getting his second win in as many starts as a Brewer. Ian Kinsler – at AL pitching after his hit streak was extended to 25 games.
This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… and please… no more texts of “2-MAY-2” sent to me. Is that you Brett?
It’s all about things being broken this week. Broken bones, broken hearts, and as painful as it sounds, even a testicular fracture. Before I become a broken record, let’s just get to the tomato throwin’…
Throwing Tomatoes – Volume IX
Seattle SuperSonics and its Ownership …for packing up and moving to Oklahoma City. It’s always tough to see a team move. I feel for the fans of Seattle… for a lot of reasons. The Mariners enter the season with hype and falter. The Sonics never quite got it done in the 90’s. Now they add a potential star in Kevin Durant, only to have their team pack up and leave for the nation’s heartland.
A-Rod’s Love Life …for finding a way to get all intertwined into the sports pages. If I wanted to read about A-Rod and something besides his game (baseball game that is), I would pick up a Cosmo or People, or maybe even turn on TMZ. The only splitting I want to hear about is his bat after a high-and-tight fastball. Unless soon-to-be ex Cynthia has some more vulgar shirts, perhaps directed at Madonna. Maybe A-Rod has one for Lenny Kravitz… such as: “If You Can’t Say No”, then don’t “Dig In” with an “American Woman”. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Chris Snyder …for not taking better care of the “family jewels”. Poor Chris Snyder. He’s on the DL. But wait, it gets worse. He’s out with a testicular fracture. A busted nut if you will. The irony is, Snyder was replaced on the Arizona roster by Robby Hammock. Get well soon Chris.
Michael Beasley …for getting injured minutes into the Heat’s opening camp practice. OK fine, so it’s a cracked bone. That still counts as being broken. I get that he can still play, but stemming off the drama that already existed with Pat Riley apparently not being crazy about the pick, now this happens to Beasley in his opening practice? Get ready for some drama on South Beach this year.
George Sherrill …for not trusting his fastball. Blowing a save hurts a closer… and a team. But how about blowing back-to-back games when your team has the lead, two outs, and two strikes in the 9th inning. That’s what Sherrill did last week. I believe both pitches were on hanging sliders too.
The Brett Favre Saga …for not going away. This tomato is not directed at Favre himself, but more so at the rumors and sources that desperately continue to resurrect stories on Favre making a triumphant return to “Cheeseland”. C’mon people, let’s figure this story out and put it to bed.
Aaron Rodgers …for ticking off some of the best fans in football. Aaron Rodgers has upset Green Bay fans already and he hasn’t even taken the field yet. To further explain, Rodgers was quoted as saying “I don’t need to sell myself to fans, they need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut”. I wonder if the Brett Favre rumor came out to try and “stir the pot” more, perhaps making some Green Bay fans long for their Hall of Fame QB to change his mind and return for one more year? Rodgers later apologized, but something tells me he’ll still hear some boos at Lambeau Field when the season starts.
The Colorado and Florida Pitching Staffs …for giving up 35 runs and 43 hits in one game OK, so I throw a tomato at the pitching staffs of the Marlins and Rockies for their Fourth of July slugfest that provided fans with plenty of offensive fireworks. It was like teeball out there. Still, how I wish I was one of the fans sitting in the seats at Coors Field on the night when Colorado walks off with a crazy 18-17 victory over the Marlins. Now that’s exciting!
Troy Tulowitzki …for injuring himself out of frustration. It’s just been one of those years for the Colorado shortstop. This time, he’s visiting the DL due to a cut on his hand (that required stitches). How’d he get it? Try by slamming his bat down, only to have it slice his hand open. That’s call for an extra-large tomato… and a little Neosporin too.
People Drinking Wimbledon “Haterade” …instead of watching the Finals this weekend. Tennis fan or not, if you missed this weekend’s Wimbledon finals, then you missed something special. Especially on the men’s side, where Rafael Nadal was able to knock off five-time Wimbledon champ Roger Federer in a match that lasted nearly five hours.
The Orioles on Sunday … and the fact that they just can’t win. Make that 13 consecutive losses for the Baltimore Orioles on Sundays. Yes, that’s 13. The O’s haven’t won on Sunday since the opening week of the season, with the latest setback being a difficult 11-10 loss to the Rangers at Camden Yards. Maybe the Baltimore faithful can give Adam “Pacman” Jones a call. I hear he can make it rain and he’s free on Sundays until the Fall. Oh wait, that’s… nevermind.
Tyson #### …for only qualifying for the 100m in the upcoming Olympics. #### suffered a severe cramp during the 200 meter Olympics Trials race, therefore knocking him out of the competition for a medal in Beijing. One of the fastest men on the planet, and because of a cramp, he won’t have a shot. Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition
Milwaukee Brewers – at the NL Central after reportedly trading for Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia Kyle Busch – at the NASCAR field after winning his sixth race of the 2008 season.
This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… let the countdown begin until the next “Brett Favre to Return” rumor surfaces.
ial to me. I don’t think those numbers earn him the right to hold out. In my book, it only earns Jackson a tomato.
.
– Tarvaris Jackson reportedly sent Favre a text message saying “BTFO”.
will be a much needed break for the Rays.
one will leave a mark… and so will this tomato.
The Mariners enter the season with hype and falter. The Sonics never quite got it done in the 90’s. Now they add a potential star in Kevin Durant, only to have their team pack up and leave for the nation’s heartland.
