Manny

Manny Ramirez. Manny Ramirez. It bears repeating. What can you say? Sometimes they make them, and then they break the mold. One highly doubts we'll see another Manny. And as much as the Clarion was critical of Manny's lousy behavior and piss-poor attitude before his departure from Boston, and as much as we thought he be good in LA, we never thought he'd be this good. He is singular and unique in an age that hardly comprehends such.

The guy is hitting .419 since he got to LA, with 9 dingers in 105 at-bats, averaging nearly an RBI a game. He is out of his gourd. He is demonstrating that he is the best offensive player in the game bar none. (If A-Rod makes $30 million per, what are they going to give Manny on the open market?) Los Angeles is a town that loves star power.

What boggles the mind is that after a brief surge upon arrival the Dodgers have been unable to take advantage of Manny's offense. Manny has been pounding the ball all over the yard and before yesterday the Dodgers had still lost eight straight. How many times during that slide did the Clarion look at a Dodger box score that showed Ramirez with two or three hits and the rest of the LA line-up with a pathetic two or three hits. Nomar is finished. Kent is close. The kids, Martin, Loney, Ethier and Kemp, are they ready for prime time?

The Clarion is rooting for a Dodger surge, for Joe Torre's sake and because we had the Dodgers over 86.5 wins at the beginning of the year. There is still enough time, but just barely. Manny is more than doing his part, can the team come through?

College Football Quickies

The Clarion read recently that the Big 12 has eleven out of twelve possible starting quarterbacks returning. Yikes! Chase Daniel of Missouri has to be a leading Heisman candidate. And then there is Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, he threw for a mere 48 TDs and 5700 yards last season. He has the best wideout, and possibly the most dynamic player, in the country at his disposal, Michael Crabtree. Many prognosticators pick these two squads no higher then 3rd and 4th respectively in the Big 12 behind perennnial powers, Oklahoma and Texas. Either way, look out the conference is positively loaded.

The are only two squads the Clarion could envision stopping the Big 12 from winning the national championship. One is, of course, Pete Carroll's USC Trojans, who are dripping with pearls all over the defense. Unlike the Big 12 squads however, the Trojans do have some question marks at QB, where starter Mark Sanchez is returning to action from a dislocated kneecap. And egomaniacal back-up, and Arkansas transfer, Mitch Mustain is channeling the bad Brett Farve, "I can throw any pass I want to. I'm Mitch Mustain. Who is that old guy(the coach) to try and tell me what to do. He can't throw the ball like me." (Our spies with the parabolic mikes at USC practice are paraphrasing.)

The other squad that the Clarion could see derailing a Big 12 national champion is West Virginia, new coach and all. They have a solid returning starter at QB, with an outside shot at the Heisman, Pat White. Folks think they will miss starting running back Steve Slaton, but the Clarion believes they will be even better with the diminutive but lighting quick, Noel Devine.

As for the other contenders, Ohio State: we don't believe the hype, USC will beat them going away in September. The SEC will beat up on each other as usual, which is not to say that the BCS frauds might not let a two loss SEC team play for the title ahead of a host of other deserving contenders.

One other note, not a team that will contend for a title, but a team far too many of the so called experts are underestimating, it says here, "Don't sleep on Rutgers. Yes, superb running back, Ray Rice, is off to a big time NFL career, but Greg Schiano's boys won't miss a beat."

National Championship Game prediction: USC-Oklah0ma

Tampa Bay-Minnesota

Tampa Bay-Minnesota. Tampa Bay-Minnesota, we were flicking around the radio dial yesterday morning in the Clarion's offices, when we hit ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning program. The first words we heard out of Mike Greenberg's mouth, were Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

And for the first time, possibly ever, in early August, the Clarion mistook a NFL discussion about those two places for a baseball one. Greenberg and Golic were chewing over what cities' franchises might went old Brett Favre.

Here the Clarion was, thinking about the Twins and the Rays, both in first place. The Rays surely for the first time ever this late in a season. We're talking about a franchise that has never won 70 games.

Baseball is ruling in Tampa and Minnesota?? Though the first place Rays still aren't selling out the Trop, it was only 67% full last night. Now that Farve has been dealt to the Jets, the next time Mike and Mike talk Tampa Bay-Minnesota, might it really be about baseball? Possibly even in September or October?

Same old Michelle Wie

Michelle Wie once again this week followed her typical path, happier to be the sideshow freak than the competitor. She decided to skip the Women's British Open, an LPGA major, which she would have to qualify her way into, to take a wild card to appear at a men's PGA tournament. Why do the work of qualifying when you can be handed an entrance ticket, albeit to an event where you will be a non-competitor? Which will generate more hype failing to qualify for the Women's British Open or failing to make the cut (again) at a PGA event?

As usual Wie opted to play with the men, as usual she garnered scads of media attention, and as usual she failed to make the cut. She shot an 80 on Friday to finish tied for a cool 118th place. Not to mention, this was the B men's tournament of the week. The top 50 male players in the world weren't playing with the scrubs and Michelle in the Reno-Tahoe Open. No, they were at the WGC event, the Firestone, battling it out for supremacy. That is not Michelle Wie's style or mantra, she isn't interested in winning, just publicity. She needs to find a carnival or state fair, since she can't and is afraid to compete with the world's best women.

Not yet

Manny Ramirez, aka the Man-Ram, had a chance to do something spectacular in his debut for the LA Dodgers. He came to the plate in the ninth against the NL West division leading Arizona Diamondbacks with the Dodgers trailing 2-1. The heretofore punchless Dodgers are a couple games behind the Arizona for the West lead. Facing their closer, Brandon Lyon, with Russell Martin on first base and nobody out after a leadoff single, Ramirez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, and the Dodgers went quietly into the night.

Fear not Dodger faithful, it was only one night and Manny did have a couple of hits. They'll be more late inning situations to come, more big at-bats and the Man-Ram will come through like the October bopper he is. As part of the trade that shipped Manny from Boston to the left coast, the Dodgers agreed to waive the option years that the Red Sox held on the end of Manny's contract. This means Ramirez is set to be a free agent at the end of the year. Says here, the Man-Ram will be motivated by the contract drive and will be mashing down the stretch.

Man-Ram

Amazing! Manny Ramirez had a sudden knee issue immediately after contract saber rattling in the fish wrap between he and Red Sox owner John Henry. What? Magi-tragically the next week Manny announces his knee has been bothering him for about a week and he is unsure if he will be ready for the Yankees series this weekend.

He missed Friday night's game, a 1-0 Yankees win.

NBA free agent bolts for Greece

Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Childress bolted for Greece this week.

It's the global economy, stupid. No seriously, the appreciation of the Euro has mattered. Of course, had Childress been an unrestricted free agent so that any NBA team would have been able to bid on him and this might not have happened. But when his team, the Atlanta Hawks took his restricted free agency lightly, Childress and agent examined their options and headed for Olympiacos Piraeus.

The Clarion doesn't think quite as highly of him as ESPN's John Hollinger who said, "...it deprives the Hawks of one of the best sixth men in the game, a guy who could make a huge impact without needing any plays run for him because of his ability to attack the glass, score in transition and play off the ball."

However, we do believe that this may be part of the beginning of a fascinating trend as athletes leave the United States to pursue their careers elsewhere for better money. For so long America has experienced the opposite, but it might appear things are beginning to change?

Baseball a few thoughts

The Clarion would like to offer a few thoughts, notes and observations heading into the second half of the baseball season.

How's about this for an oddity? The three leading hit getters in the National League are all shortstops. It is reminiscent of the transcendent age of A.L. shortstops a decade ago, when it looked like Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Nomar Garciparra were all Hall of Fame shortstops. Jose Reyes of the Mets and Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins are the obvious ones, and two guys who are off to great starts in their careers. The third N.L. shortstop, who is actually leading the league in hits, is much tougher to identify. It is not the Phillies MVP shortstop, Jimmy Rollins. Instead, it is the Washington Nationals shortstop, a thirty year old who has only hit .300 once before, who this season is pounding out hits, Cristian Guzman.

Switching to pitching from hitting, the Twins, as well as they are playing and pitching, have more pitching coming in the form of Francisco Liriano who is 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA. Liriano was a dominator, he went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in his rookie year for the Twins before he hurt his elbow and had to have Tommy John surgery. He missed all of last season, but looks ready to come back strong. Sadly for Twins fans the franchise is attempting screw Liriano financially. In the process, they are screwing their fans and the players, all to save a few bucks.

Here is the story, the Twins are trying to hold down Liriano's service time. Service time dictates when a player is eligible for salary arbitration and usually a significant pay raise. Liriano has two years and 45 days Major League service time, and players are eligible for arbitration after three years of service time. The Twins are keeping Liriano in the minors as long as possible to avoid paying him more next year. However, if they embitter Liriano badly enough, it will hurt them worse and their fans the most, especially if they fall just short of the playoffs this year. The Tampa Bay Rays, who despite their delightful Cinderella start should be contracted, played this same game at the beginning of the season with star third baseman, Evan Longoria and won when they signed him to a nine year under market value deal.

One final note, the definitely different Manny Ramirez, decided to tweak Red Sox management over the All-Star break. The Red Sox management, for a change, fired right back. At issue is Manny's concern about whether the club will pick up its $20 million contract extension option on Ramirez next season. In a year where the Red Sox are the favorite to win at least the American League again, could Manny's selfish attitude spoil the vibe and the season? Yankee fans can only hope.

The British Open

You've probably thought a Tiger-less British Open is going to be boring. Not.

Jim Furyk has already fired off the golfing quip of the season reviewing the setting, "I'd probably have to say that the tea is highly overrated and the beer is highly underrated."

There's a guy who has it figured out. He could be in contention come Sunday.

The Clarion's suggestion, put some money on your favorite, Tiger's not playing, it is wide open, and nothing sharpens the interest like a little action.

The odds makers put Furyk at 4 to 1, tied for the 6th choice with Adam Scott. The top five in the eyes of the bookies: Sergio Garcia is the favorite, followed by Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington.

A few long shots to consider, Rocco Mediate at 150 to 1. Paul Lawrie at 175 to 1. And how 'bout putting a couple of quid on John Daly at 200 to 1.

See the full board here.

"Papelbon wants to close"

And with those words one of our local Durham readers and future correspondents cut right to the chase.

"Did you hear Papelbon wants to close," he said. He was coming through the LG loud and clear.

"Yeah, so?" It took a second for the rosy glow of dawn to rise over the Clarion's desk.

He was right. If the Boston Red Sox ace closer, Jonathan Papelbon wanted to be the closer for tonight's All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium, why shouldn't he be? And therein lies the crux of the problem with tonight's Major League baseball All-Star game. A problem started by the used car salesman commissioner, when he let the 2002 All-Star game end in a tie.

Tonight's All-Star Game won't end in a tie. Instead it will decide which league will have home field advantage in the World Series in the Fall, baseball's championship. Home field is significant. Why shouldn't Papelbon and his manager, Terry Francona, of the defending champion Boston Red Sox want their guy to pitch the most important innings in a game that decides home field advantage for the championship round?

The All-Star Game is supposed to be, and always was supposed to be, an exhibition. If it were, of course, it would make perfect sense tonight for Yankees ace closer and future Hall of Famer, Mariano Rivera to pitch the final innings of the All-Star game. The All-Star game which will be played in Yankee Stadium, in the historic stadium's final season. None of the ridiculous debate about Rivera starting would have been necessary.

This is a classic case of how two wrongs don't make a right, it was bad for the All-Star game to end in a tie in 2002. It came during a nadir for baseball. However it was a still worse idea to compound the mistake, the prior year's foolish tie, by attempting to turn an exhibition into a competition. Now it is neither. It as farcical as the glorified batting practice that is the home run derby (another competitive exhibition.)

Maybe Frankie Rodriguez should close.