strummer

Today's edition of The Baltimore Sun features an interview and profile on WWE champion John Bradshaw Layfield. Among the highlights of the piece are: Why He Wrote His Book on Finances: "I had read tons of books trying to figure out what to do with money but most of those books were so boring, or you needed a degree to get through them. That's the reason I thought I could write a better book." His Theory on Buying Stocks: "I buy companies I want to own. I buy companies that make a lot of money, that don't have a lot of debt and that I can understand. If I can't explain it in a paragraph to somebody, then I don't buy the stock." The infamous Germany incident: "I did it not as an anti-Semitic thing, goodness no. I was just trying to irritate the German people, so I was trying to pick at the most sensitive issue they had. Nobody was offended in the audience. In fact, the German media came to my defense. They said, 'This guy is just portraying a role. My character at the time - it's really not anymore - was a borderline racist character. It was a cross between Pat Buchanan, J.R. Ewing and David Duke. There's no similarity between that aspect of the character and me. To me it's like Anthony Hopkins having to defend himself for being Hannibal Lecter." His comments on Smackdown after 9/11: "A few people thought I was insensitive and intolerant. "I don't make excuses for that. I wasn't tolerant. Tolerance at that point was not called for, and I don't think it's called for now." On Becoming WWE champion: Whether [wrestling] is real or fixed or whatever you want to refer to it as, the fans put a lot of emphasis on that title. It's like being promoted to CEO of a company. It's decided by a board or whatever, but it's still a tremendous honor. There's no where higher I can go in professional wrestling." Credit: PWInsider

Glavine is 259-166 in his career.

Tom Glavine looks like he is going to snap in the dugout. For his sanity, the Mets might think about moving him in the offseason, it just doesn't seem like he can win here. The Mets score 30 runs in 3 games in Milwaukee and then absolutely nothing for Glavine. That has happened all season. I feel bad for him and I don't know how much longer he can take before before he throws up his hands and says "I quit" with this team. They always play the worst when he pitches.

I think Tom Glavine is going to be on suicide watch. Another error by Matsui and Glavine is on his way to 8-10 with a sub 3.00 ERA. Terrible loss for the Mets.

The Mariners trade Mike Myers to the Red Sox for a player to be named later and cash. I had heard reports that Francona thought he was using Embry too much, so this is probably why the move was made.

and started a Hogan one

David Wright has 6 RBIs for the Mets today, and it's only the 4th inning

Zambrano getting lit up by the Brewers, what a great debut, almost as good as Benson's. My God, I just finally realized the Mets gave up their entire farm system for these guys. It didn't hit me until I saw this guy pitch, what a wuss. Just throw a strike!

Mets score 6 runs in the top of the 1st and Zambrano already trying to give it back. This guy is the right handed Al Leiter

Zito getting knocked around by the Yankees. The Yankees always seem to hit the Big 3, which doesn't bode well for the A's in the playoffs

In the latest information, updated on 7/30, the preliminary buyrate for the Bash was about 230,000 buys. Bad Blood did about 260,000 buys while Vengeance delivered in the area of 215,000 buys. Credit: PWInsider The numbers are down from last year, but I think they will consider this a success and probably see more PPVs next year.

Just read Meltzer's recap and My God does he hate Russo. He doesn't even try to be objective when it comes to him.

Cena v Booker, Best 3 of 5 falls? Ummm, why? That is the stipulation they came up with for the blow off between these 2? At this point, I don't think Cena is the type of worker that can pull off that kind of match. I thought Meltzer said that they were going to repeat the Shawn/Razor angle from 94. That would have been better IMO. They could have a done a ladder match, and it would still be kind of fresh, because Cena and Book haven't been in any in the WWE. I still don't get best 3 of 5 falls though.

Longtime Mets radio announcer Bob Murphy passed away today from complications from lung cancer. Generations of Mets fan grew up listening to him as he worked for the Mets from 1962-2003. We'll miss you Murph.

Bob Walk (he's retired but Yeah, he is real ugly) David Weathers Joe Girardi Jason Phillips Jim Thome is a pretty weird looking guy Jose Lima

I doubt Valentine would jump countries mid-season. My dream choices (in no particular order) would be Earl Weaver, Larry Dierker, Davey Johnson, Willie Randolph, and Marc Bombard. Agree on Davey Johnson. Al, could you almost say that Davey Johnson was a precursor to the MoneyBall explosion? When he managed the Mets, they NEVER played smallball. The Mets never bunted, never stole bases, or gave up outs. The man played Kevin Mitchell at shortstop for Christ sakes, Kevin Mitchell! It was my favorite period in Mets history. It was all about drawing walks and hitting 3 run homers. The Mets during Johnson's era were allows near the bottom of the League in Team BA, but hit a ton of homers and WON without playing God Damn smallball. That is why I never liked Valentine, who bunted ALL THE TIME. Now, he had a lot of weak hitters during his reign, so you could make a case, but Valentine was all about small ball. And the funny thing is that when Davey managed the Mets, the media would kill him for not bunting and playing supbar defenders. I don't know what it is, but the small ball theory has always been blindly accepted by the media and even till this day. I wish the Mets had a manager like Davey Johnson, or better yet had Davey Johnson.

The Mets have scored 1 run, yes 1 run, in the first 21 innings of the series against the Braves.

They did shoot a lesbian angle between her and Ivory at the tapings, so I guess that didn't air?

Don't know if this fits the timeframe, but in 2001, when they did the angle where Stacy Carter had to join RTC. Did her final scenes with the company ever air? She got fired before the show was supposed to air. They did an angle where they heavily implied she had sex with Ivory. The idea was the RTC members couldn't resist her sexual powers or something. Did this air on TV, because I know the show was taped before her and Lawler left.

The guys in Double AA. Petersen hardly worked with the guy. The size thing doesn't make a lot of sense, since Petersen worked with Tim Hudson who's doesn't have your typical pitchers size. Yes, that is true, but the organization has soured on Kazmir as a whole. Furthermore, Peterson has a big say in matters as he is real close to Al Leiter, who in turn is REAL close to management. And again, Peterson has out right said that Zambrano is a favorite of his. The New York radio has hinted that Peterson was a driving force in this move, and Rick was basically saying in the long run that he thought Zambrano was better than Kazmir.

Here's the deal, at least according to Ed Coleman on the FAN. Rick Peterson was not big on Scott Kazmir, he didn't like his size, makeup, etc. As I said earlier, Peterson is in love with Zambrano and thinks his problems are easily correctable. The "organization" in recent months (ie Rick Peterson) have soured tremendously on Kazmir and thought he was expendable. Basically,it seems Rick Peterson is making all the key decisions for the Mets these days. Management listens to his every word. Now maybe Bored would know this, was Peterson like this in Oakland, or does Beane allow this sort of thing?

well Kazmir was always going to be "the next Billy Wagner". Typical Mets to do this. The Mets had issues with Kazmir's endurance and questioned if he could be a starter in the major leagues. I think the deal was done because Rick Peterson, the pitching coach for the Mets, is in love with Zambrano and thinks he can cure his weaknesses.

and in a real unique situation, Chris Benson will make his 3rd consecutive start versus the Braves tomorrow in his debut with the Mets

Marlins trade Penny, Choi and a minor leaguer to Dodgers for Mota, La Duca and Juan Encarnacion

and the Mets trade Scott Kazmir to Tampa for Victor Zambrano