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.

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.

Carl Edwards has been penalized 100 championship points for an infraction, as the #99 car failed the post-race inspection after his recent victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In addition to the 100-point docking, Edwards would also lose the 10 bonus points that he would have received if qualifying as a part of the Top 12 come the time of the Cup Chase. The 10 point bonus, often lost in the discussion of this penalty, likely will be much more painful for Edwards and the #99 team.

Still, I ask you this…

Would Dale Earnhardt Jr. have been fined 100 points for this infraction? Would Jimmie Johnson have been fined 100 points? How about Jeff Gordan? Tony Stewart perhaps?

Well?

Sure, Carl Edwards is a solid contributor in NASCAR, but I don’t consider him as high profile as the aforementioned quartet, and therefore not a make-or-break necessity for the Cup Chase at the end of the year… at least from an executive’s standpoint. Honestly, if you want to see back flips, you can go and check out a gymnastics meet on TV. Heck, the Olympics are coming soon. Seriously though, if you’re in the France family, you want to maximize your ratings come Chase time. If that’s what you seek, then you want the attention grabbers like Earnhardt Jr., Johnson, Gordon, and Stewart as a part of the Top 12.

From what I’ve read in the media recently, it’s no secret that NASCAR’s ratings and popularity have dropped in recent years, and there is desperate hope to try and rejuvenate the sport, starting this year. It’s also no secret that NASCAR was hurting for ratings when Earnhardt Jr. didn’t make the Cup Chase Top 12 last year. Considering he is the most popular driver in the sport, that ratings dip makes a lot of sense.

Because of that point alone, it also makes sense that NASCAR would tend to go a little easier on its higher profile “superstars”, that being Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, Stewart, and Johnson.

Put the consistencies of the past penalties aside. Put all those numbers and thoughts aside. It all comes down to ratings and saving the sport.

Therefore, I ask you again, would we have seen such a stiff penalty at the hands of one of the sport’s biggest names?

I don’t think so. Maybe 25 or 50 points (instead of 100), but certainly not the 10 point Cup Chase bonus. Let’s face it, every sport is guilty of coddling its superstars, because after all, their successes aid in preserving the sport, while also helping it flourish.

Think about it.

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Tim Duncan… you don’t think they get a few calls go their way on a regular basis? Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Albert Pujols… you don’t think they get a wider strike zone than most “Average Joe’s” stepping up to the plate? Johan Santana, Josh Beckett, and Mariano Rivera… you don’t think guys like them get the benefit of the doubt when a ball hits near the outside corner?

Let’s not kid ourselves.

No one is disputing the fact that Carl Edwards and his team were guilty, and the #99 team definitely deserved some kind of slap on the wrist after failing to pass the post-race inspection.

Still, from what I’ve seen in the past, I still think 100 championship points (plus the 10 point Chase bonus) is a smidge too steep… and I think that perhaps one of the sport’s superstars wouldn’t see anything near this kind of penalty.

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe it isn’t. I will say this, it wouldn’t be a shock to my system if it was just me, because I’m still absorbing in a great deal of the NASCAR world. Consider me a rookie to the circuit, if you will. Therefore, if I’m as nuts as a Planters farm, I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s just that being a hardcore sports guy, I still hear about NASCAR… and I know who the more popular racers are.

When it all comes down to it, the news of the latest NASCAR penalty didn’t make me want to do a back flip. That much is true.

Step right uppppppppp, hurry hurry hurrrrryyyyyyyyyyy…

Place your votes!  Make your voice heard for the 1^st Annual Krispies!

The what?  Krispies?  Are you referring to those tasty treats that are made from a popular cereal?  Noooooo, but you are correct, those are quite tasty.  KRISPIE stands for:

Kevin’s

Rewards for

Individuality,

Specialty,

Playability,

Incredibility, and

Excellence

Here are my awards for 2005.  Feel free to cast your votes and opinions.  There are ten total awards, in which five will be displayed in “Versus” format and five in “Winner/Honorable Mention” format.  I plan to split the awards into two separate postings, featuring five awards in each. 

Hope you enjoy these random awards, and in the spirit of awards to be given, good luck to all participating in the “Next Great Sportswriter” contest.  There are many great blogs out there, and I wish all of you the best.  Unfortunately, the judges may miss reading this one, but I still had a lot of fun writing it.  Enjoy!

And now, without further ado…

The Nominated Krispies for 2005 are: 

<<<<<<< Drum Roll >>>>>>>

 

BAD SEED AWARD

  VS. 

   TERRELL OWENS                  RON ARTEST

My Vote:  Terrell Owens

Thoughts:  Terrell Owens single handedly tore apart a great deal of the chemistry of the Philadelphia Eagles team this year.  All the injuries the Eagles had certainly did not help, but if Owens had been more of a teammate the Eagles may still be in the playoff hunt.  Artest is no doubt a “hothead”, but has solid relationships with many of his teammates.  Now, both of these players will more then likely end up on new teams in the near future.  The real question is: Which teams will take on each of these personalities?

 

FALLEN STAR AWARD (Backup that Responded Best)

  VS. 

   BRAD JOHNSON                 RYAN HOWARD

My Vote:  Brad Johnson

Thoughts:  This one is a tough call with Johnson replacing Daunte Culpepper admirably, and the young Ryan Howard filling in for the injured Jim Thome.  Both the Vikings and Phillies lost superstars, and both bench players responded by helping each team “catch fire" late in the season.  Furthermore, both teams just missed the playoffs.  Therefore, it is a tough vote to make.  I voted for Brad Johnson, as I felt he had more to prove upon being an aging veteran that had lost his starting spot in recent years.  Howard, on the other hand, had the talent but was not yet presented with the opportunity.  Once it was given to him, many figured he would steal the spotlight.    

 

BEST NAME IN SPORTS AWARD

WINNER:  #### Trickle 

I’m not by any means an avid NASCAR fan, but I always knew of the name #### Trickle.  As far as I know, he has since retired but in my mind still deserves the award.  I feel bad for the guy though, as I’m sure he took a lot of abuse as a child.

Honorable Mention:  Albert Pujols

Another great name in the world of sports, Albert will be crushing balls out of stadiums for years to come.  Also, this year, Pujols finally received his first MVP award in 2005

.

WORST DRESSED AWARD

WINNER:  Oregon Ducks

This guy (see left) is so ashamed to wear this jersey, he can’t even look at the camera!  I’m mentally preparing myself for Oregon hate mail to come my way.  If it is any consolation Ducks fans, the white jerseys the team had on for the Holiday Bowl were completely tolerable and not painful for my retinas. 

Honorable Mention:  “My Blue Heaven” Tuxedo Baseball Jersey

Here is an obscure movie reference.  Does anyone remember the movie “My Blue Heaven” with Steve Martin and Rick Moranis?  At the end of the movie, Martin’s character builds a baseball stadium for kids, and dresses the team up in baseball jerseys that look like tuxedos.  I tried to find a picture of them, but was unsuccessful.  If I can track one down, I will be sure to include it on this page.  Take my word for it when I say that they were absolutely hideous. 

FASTEST ON THE PLANET AWARD

  VS. 

  MICHAEL VICK              THE ROAD RUNNER

My Vote:  The Road Runner

Thoughts:  Wile E. Coyote could never catch the Road Runner.  Many defenses couldn’t either.  Vick would have been the obvious choice in my mind, but then the Atlanta coaching staff had to go with the plan to try and keep him in the pocket more often.  Let Vick be Vick.  If you do that, maybe he can take the award next year. 

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF THE KRISPIE AWARDS, which will feature the other five awards for the year 2005! 

Happy New Year!!