Meche Leaving Money On The Table

In a very surprising move, Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche has announced his retirement. That's not the surprising part of the retirement. I know it's Gil Meche. Not a big deal overall.

Meche was in limited action in 2010 due to shoulder problems. Those same shoulder problems is why he announced his retirement. Don't ask me to what extent, I'm no doctor. He won't go the surgery route because he doesn't want to sit out the 2011 season. Here's Meche's statement:

"After a lot of thinking and prioritizing of issues in my life I have decided to retire from baseball.  As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I've ever faced, but it's not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore.  I came into this game as a starting pitcher and unfortunately my health, more accurately, my shoulder, has deteriorated to the point where surgery would be the only option and at this stage of my life I would prefer to call it a career rather than to attempt to pitch in relief for the final year of my contract.  I can't thank the Kansas City Royals and their fans enough for my four seasons there and if I have any regret, it's that we weren't able to accomplish on the field what the goal was when I signed there."

Instead of getting paid the remainder of his contract (1 year, $12 million) he has told the Royals that he will forfeit the money. You don't hear any athlete leaving that kind of money on the table. Call me morally corrupt, but if my leg is cut off and I can't play I'm taking the money. I know some think of Meche as somewhat heroic and I do think it's noble to walk away and not steal money, especially from a team that is counting every nickel and dime. I know it's difficult to walk away from the game you love, let alone $12 million.   

Botched Fake Punt Was Chung's Brainstorm

Everyone can let New England Patriots coach Bill Beichick off the hook for the fake punt gone wrong late in the second quarter. Safety Patrick Chung figured it was a bright idea to call for the failed play, not Belichick. Patriots fans can save their vitriol for Chung. He might get the Bill Buckner treatment since it came out  tha he was solely responsible for the mishap. Chung fumbled the snap and lost a yard on the play which led to a Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards touchdown.

"We trust the decision Patrick makes," punter Zoltan Mesko said. "It just didn’t work out in that particular occasion. That’s why the coaches trust him to run it, and that's why they give him the green light, if he has it."


The only play call call Chung should be making is on the defensive side of the ball or on a special teams blocking assignment. Not on whether to call a fake punt or not. Just because the Patriots had numbers on the line in their favor doesn't mean you make that call. What kind of daredevil crap is that?

"Of course there are regrets. It's not [head coach] Bill [Belichick] or [special teams coach] Scott O'Brien," Chung said. "None of them. I take full responsibility. I saw the look we had. I made the call. It didn't work out for us."


Chung admitted that it was his call and not (special teams coach) Scott O'Brien or Belichick's and has taken full responsibilty. I applaud him for manning up in this situation. It could've been very easy to leave Scott and Bill holding the bag. Considering the non descript career Chung has had so far, I might've done that. if he's lucky enough to be around next season, maybe he ought to burn a timeout before making a ridiculous call such as this one.  

Hue Jackson Named Raiders Coach

Hue Jackson has reportedly been named head coach of the Oakland Raiders. I'm glad Jackson got the job but Tom Cable shouldn't have been fired in the first place. That's just my personal opinion. I hope he hs thick skin because you know how Al Davis gives his coaches no wiggle room and zero margin for error. Also he'll have to win over the locker room that had grown increasingly loyal to Cable. I don't know how well Jackson got along with the players, but he is known for relating well to plaers and is a highly regarded play-caller.

If Jason Campbell can continue to progress under Jackson the Raiders could be threat to make the playoffs next season. Yes, I think Campbell will be the starter in Oakland next year. If Campbell regresses, Captain Al might start reminding Hue how much of a short leash he has. 

Quote Of The Week: Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Kltischko on David Haye, who talks a good fight but dodges a Klitschko at every turn.

"David Haye is a piece of sh$$". Fill in the blanks on that one.

Spawn Of The Super Bowl Shuffle

Ever since the Chicago Bears 'shuffled' thier way to a Super Bowl with a song and video along the way, every team that has tasted a bit of success has had a song either dedicated to them or made one themselves, college or pro. Every team hasn't lived up to the hype or promise of bringing home a championship.

There have been teams that have made or adopted songs in homage to their team. There was the Super Bowl Shuffle. There was a forgettable Florida State video that you know Deion Sanders was behind. All that did was piss off the Miami Hurricanes. The New england townies decided to make a song. A cheesy response to the Bears' song before Super Bowl 20. We know what happened in that game. Remember when the Jacksonville Jaguars made a song on their way to the Super Bowl. Former Green Bay Packers receiver Robert Brooks mad "Jump In The Stands", a song about his signature touchdown celebration. They were derailed by the Tennessee Titans. For some reason this seems to go on mostly in football than any other sport.




With the NFL playoffs going in to championship weekend there are more "anthems" out fo their teams. Rapper Wiz Khalifa's song "Black and Yellow" happened to be adopted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. That one happened to spawn copycat versions of the song.      





Even the Oakland Raiders got in on the act during their Super Bowl run, only to get destroyed by Tampa Bay.



Here's one dedicated to the New York Jets.



Here's a message. Win something and then you and the fans can make all the songs and videos you guys want. I can't stand teams or their fans that want to make a song that's dedicated to the their team before they actually win something. 

The Panda Diet

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval has been spending his offseason getting in shape. A far cry from a typical world champion baller that usually gets a bit lazy.

Before:

Now:

The Giants hope for big things from Sandoval this year. They just hope it's not his weight.

Bosh Hurts Ankle Blames Omer Asik

The worse case scenario is coming to fruition for the Miami Heat. With LeBron James already on the sidelines with a sore ankle, Chris Bosh hurt his ankle in a loose ball scrum Saturday night in a loss to the Chicago Bulls.



With a thin froncourt and limited on depth Dwayne Wade will have to go at it alone until further notice. The team's depth will be tested and luckily it'll only be for a limited time. Luckily x-rays wee negative.

Meanwhile, Bosh wasn't too pleased with Bulls big man Omer Asik. Asik made a late dive for the loose ball.  Ok, it was late but you can't question his hustle. That's part of the game and what you get paid for. Bosh has his money, Asik might not have a contract next year.

 "C'mon, that is how guys get hurt, that is how serious injuries happen. You've got to watch people's legs. I know guys want to hustle and everything but we all want to play and provide for our families and have a job.We all want to be healthy and that is very important If it is by somebody's leg, don't dive for the ball, it's too close."

That's what Bosh had had to say about it. If you would've dove on the floor you wouldnt've had that leg exposed. I guess you couldn't get a floor burn and not risk yourself to possible injury. Next time dive and preserve your health.