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Gary Sheffield:
Rips Jeter, A-Rod and Yanks organization in classic ego-heavy rant in upcoming New York magazine
interview. Someone needs a hug (but that ain't an offer).
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
WAKE-UP CALL.
Are you ready for ...
Some football?!
A 5 a.m. wake-up call?!
Is it only the diehard fans who will wake up at 5
a.m. ET sharp on Saturday morning to catch the
Colts-Falcons game from Japan on ESPN2?
You have to be, because you're going to be able to
count the number of series played by Peyton Manning
and Michael Vick on one hand -- combined.
Or maybe it's the pathological fantasy owners, looking
for the scoop on which of Atlanta's fantasy-light WRs
might make a difference (Psst! Jenkins).
Or maybe which Colts sub might break out while
replacing WR Brandon Stokley, who busted his shoulder
Thursday (out four weeks, but who knows?)
For those who like to sleep in, there's a replay at 6
p.m. ET on ESPN. But by then, the fantasy gurus will
have already processed the game data.
Mazzilli Axed
Well, they can't blame Raffy for this
one. (OK, maybe the O's wanted to get all their bad
news out in one really crappy week.)
The lesson of Lee Mazzilli's firing? The Yankee "imprima-Torre"
ain't what it used to be. That, plus losing 16 of 18
and free-falling from a thrilling first-half stay in
first place is a quick way to fall out of favor with
the owner.
Replacement Sam Perlozzo has already made Angelos look
good, thanks to the patented "Winterim" phenomenon
where the fill-in manager always seems to
succeed in his first game.
Football HOF Induction
Marino and Young headline: Think either
will rant about avoiding the red light of TV cameras
and playing the right way?
Marino goes in as the most prolific passer ever, but
probably still lamenting never winning a Super Bowl
ring. But, oh, those Isotoner gloves!
Young was arguably the best all-around QB ever:
Throwing, running, winning, smarts ... and as a lefty
(the first lefty QB in HOF history).
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Stronger MLB 'roid policy: Selig increases the pressure
Nomar Garciaparra: Rejoins Cubs this weekend (Wood, too)
Bobby Knight: Star of the NIT vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit
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| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Broncos DT Courtney Brown: New city, bad news (elbow)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim: Fails Nets physical; trade on hold
O's celebrating Raffy's 3,000: Player nixes pregame ceremony |
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And don't forget Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman;
anyone who cares about minority advancement in
football should pay homage to Pollard.
Coming Monday: HOF Game preview. But it's the
Dolphins and Bears, so you can already see the preview
coming: Ricky Madness!
Felix Debut: So-So
Hoping for "Felixity," fans got a solid
(but hardly Duke-ish) debut out of Hernandez, the
youngest MLB SP in more than 20 years.
The 19-year-old gave up 1 ER in 5 IP (81 pitches, only
49 for strikes), with 4 K's. It ain't Tacoma
anymore, but he's still a rookie to watch.
MLB's real star pitcher of the day? Nats SP John
Patterson, the lone bright spot in the team's dreary
second half; 13 K's in a shutout vs. LA.
Barry Report
In or out, Barry Bonds? Just stop
teasing us. On his blog, he says he "still remains
optimistic" about a 2005 return.
Why doesn't Bonds ever touch on things all bloggers
talk about: Arcade Fire, John Roberts, Hotties of the
Media ...
Meanwhile, another Barry (Zito) is continuing
his sick run, winning his eighth straight start (8 IP, 4
H, 8 K). A's won 3 of 4 in Minnesota.
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Roenick to Kings
"I'm an L.A. kind of guy," J.R. said.
"Those who know me will understand that."
There isn't a more appropriate fit in all of hockey
than the attention-desperate Roenick playing in
Hollywood for the Kings.
We'll see which he appreciates more: The unruly
passion of fans in Philly or the unwavering apathy of
fans in L.A.
Quickie 50/50
Three stops!
(Click on state name to vote)
Friday: Wyoming
Quickie Impression:
Two words: Fennis. Dembo.
Saturday: Hawaii
Quickie Impression:
Home of Wie, Ironman, 'Bows.
Sunday: Indiana
Quickie Impression: Hoosiers,
TD Jesus, French Lick's Hick
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Atlanta Hawks:
Ownership in-fighting is keeping the team from closing
the deal on Joe Johnson. Who else sees this ending
badly for Hawks fans?
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Quickie live! |
| NFL training camp coverage |
| Fantasy Football index |
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| MLB Managers on Hot Seat |  Jim Tracy
| Dodgers are mediocre
|  Mike Hargrove
| Not as smart w/o Belle, Thome, Manny
|  Jack McKeon
| Marlins better surge
|  Clint Hurdle
| Rockies are awful
|  Lloyd McClendon
| | But it's not his fault |
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|  |
T.O. Watch: Join growing group refusing to put much
stock in the news Owens had to sit out of practice
Thursday (groin injury -- what else is new?)
MLB Pitching Duel of Weekend: Braves' Smoltz vs.
Cards' Mulder, in a battle of 12-game winners (and a
possible playoff preview?)
NFL Camp Notes: WR Boldin breaks nose; rookies
Pollack, Benson not budging on holdouts; Bus bashes
into Big Ben (but QB is OK).
HR Derby champ Bobby Abreu finally got off his July
schneid Thursday, smacking a grand slam, his first
HR since 7/4.
Manny being Manny: Misses Thursday game with blurry
vision from Wednesday's outfield crash; expected to
play this weekend.
Olbermann. Patrick. Friday. 2 p.m. ESPN Radio. Use
ESPN.com's handy link to ESPNRadio.com to listen to the reunion of the summer LIVE.
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