sfaJack

It's 315 feet down the left field line; it's a cheap home run, regardless of whichever team hits it. It's a joke that a major league stadium has a left field that is so short and just one of the reasons the Juicebox is hard to take seriously as an elite major league park.

I believe celery is pretty much worthless from a nutritional standpoint. Do you like cauliflower? It goes well with broccoli; I steam those two together all the time. A good rule of thumb in regards to fruits and vegetables is to get all of the different colors. Red (apples, tomatoes), green (leafy veggies), yellow (squash), etc...give it a shot. You might be surprised at what you like.

I like Cuban. Sure he crosses the line from time to time with the things he does and he bitches about the officiating a little too often, but I honestly wish more owners were like him. He's passionate, he'll do (and spend) whatever it takes to win, and he's all about enhancing the game experience for the fans. The Mavericks were a completely dead franchise when he bought them; now they sell out every game, have a fabulous arena to romp around in, and are winning a lot of basketball games. What fan wouldn't want an owner like that? And for all of the hollering about how low class he is, did anyone else notice that he was standing on the court after Game 6 applauding the Heat after his Mavs went down? Nobody is talking about or giving him credit for that. kkk, did you hear that he's apparently tried to buy the Pirates a couple of different times only to be told that they aren't for sale? That's too bad; it would be a lot of fun watching him try to turn that bunch around. I can't blame McClatchy for wanting to hang onto his cash cow though.

The other day, at my girlfriend's apartment complex, there was a piece of shit truck in the parking lot. The tailgate of said truck was COVERED with bumper stickers, and they were all misogynistic, saying things like "HEY WHILE YOU'RE UP HONEY GET ME A BEER" and "I LOVE MY WIFE...BUT I CAN LOVE YOU TOO!". I was standing there reading them all when the dude that owns the truck came down, saw me, and asked what was up. I said in my most sarcastic tone, "Oh, not much. Just admiring your decorations here." "Yeah, they're cool, aren't they?" "Uh, sure." He gave me a head nod of approval before climbing in and driving off. What an impressive guy he is; not only does he cover the entire back end of his truck in bumper stickers, but they're horribly unfunny ones at that. I mean, I like making misogynistic jokes to get women all riled up as much as anyone, but those stickers just suck.

Phil Nevin has 5 hits in two games against the Astros. So what does Dusty do? Ride the mini hot streak and get him in the lineup again today? No, that would be silly. Walker plays first so Tony f'n Womack can get a (well-earned) start at second base.

Along a similar line, the girl who cut my hair last told me ALL about her breakup with her boyfriend of 2 years and how sad she was, and wasn't he a bad guy for having the nerve to go out with another woman two months afterwards and blah blah blah. It was torture. Just cut my fucking hair please.

Don't bet on that one! When the Cubs get Wood, Prior, and Lee all back, things will start to turn around!!!!!

I'm taking the cautious approach to writing the Astros off as well, but this year I'm not sure they can make a comeback. Last year, their pitching kept them in every single game all year, despite a terrible offense. Clemens, Oswalt, Pettitte, and Lidge were all pretty much lights out, and the rest of the bullpen (Qualls and Wheeler especially) was pretty strong. This year, it's the same anemic offense only the pitching has really gone to shit as well. Games they won 3-2 last year, they're losing 6-3 this eyar. It just doesn't seem like the same team. Pettitte is awful and shows few signs that a turnaround is on the way. Oswalt is hurting and may be DL-bound. Who knows if Clemens will be any good? Lidge has lost his aura of invincibility, Wheeler is having a bad year in front of him, and the back of the rotation is bad, bad, bad. Throw in the fact that there isn't much they can do to improve the lineup, and I just don't think they're talented enough to overcome it all. But I am definitely going to wait and see.

Going to Cubs/Astros tonight. I hope Wandy Rodriguez is still suffering a hangover from his awful outing on Friday. And maybe Wood will go at least 5 innings before injuring his shoulder again.

The thought of David Stern possibly having to hand the trophy to Mark Cuban delights me, and I'm not even a big NBA fan. Mavs in 6.

Cubs swap Jerry Hairston for Phil Nevin. I don't think that's going to help much of anything, but at least it reduces the gluttony of second basemen.

Apparently it's a tweaked hamstring.

Yeah, I wasn't sure that the Cubs' offense could get any worse, but there you go. I guess the lesson is to never doubt the organization.

10 game suspension for Michael Barrett.

Yeah, listening to this, I think I could snag one off of LeCroy. Just horrible. The Astros are almost running too liberally though. Why they keep stealing third and risking the out in a game they trail(ed) by 5 runs is a mystery to me. The reward of a marginal improvement in scoring chance at the risk of precious outs isn't worth it in a game like this. But it doesn't matter now. Jason Lane is up. Rally over.

I'd say that's not a typical, everyday situation facing today's teens. If it is in your neighborhood, you need to move. I have no facts or figures to back me up, but I'd be willing to bet that 80% of calls made on cell phones are not really necessary at all. Like it or not, most of the time people are using them just to bullshit and waste other peoples' time. Just look around the video store some time: how many people are reading the back of a DVD case to somebody over their phone trying to figure out which crappy movie to rent? How many people are at the supermarket calling home every 10 seconds "Do we need milk?" or asking "Orange or grape juice?" Or look at how some folks are going without standard land line phones in their homes, opting instead for just a cell phone. You're telling me that most of those peoples' calls aren't superfluous? And seriously, how many kids actually need to call someone at the end of the school day? Most kids either drive, ride the bus, walk, or take a train or whatever to school everyday. They already know how they're getting home from school the vast majority of the time. On the days they don't or there's an emergency or some other "crisis" situation, they can use the phone at school or hitch a ride with a friend or something. It's worked for years. While they do have their practical uses, cell phones are by and large unnecessary and a social annoyance. We might get over that "I MUST CALL TIMMY AND CARLY NOW" stereotype if it weren't actually true...

I think Phil Garner may have jumped the gun in announcing that Brad Lidge's problems were solved.

The female talent at Texas is EASILY top 3 in the nation, so if that's a consideration for you, go to Austin. The nightlife kicks ass as well, provided you love great live music and drinking.

That's true, but I don't think a rotation of Sandy Koufax, Roger Clemens, Tom Seaver, Walter Johnson, and Cy Young himself could save the Cubs this year. But at least it'd be a fairer fight.

I haven't watched the new eps in a while, but King of the Hill is pretty funny if you've lived here and/or know real-life people who share traits with the characters on the show. Maybe it has to do with the fact that my dad is like Hank Hill in many ways, but I've always liked that show.

Springer wasn't throwing sliders. His slider doesn't travel 92 mph. He hit him with a fastball, but either way I don't see why it's a big deal. I agree that it is absurd how much attention it's getting, but that's just the way it is with anything remotely relating to Bonds these days. The bright side is that this has given Jesse Jackson one more chance to look like a fucking retard in public.

Dude, relax. Springer got suspended because: 1) yes, he hit Bonds 2) it was intentional (regardless of whatever Garner and Springer say, major league pitchers don't miss the strike zone by that much five pitches in a row). I think Pedro has been suspended in the past for plunking guys. And I think Kevin Millwood got suspended last year for hitting somebody too. It's not unprecedented and these days, honestly, it has to be expected. Especially if you've been warned as Springer had. Besides, it's just Russ Springer. It's not like you're losing Roy Oswalt for a week or something. Just be glad Morgan Ensberg or Lance Berkman didn't take one in the earhole in retaliation.

Giants are destroying the Astros again, 7-1 in the fourth. Barry is on the bench tonight. If it holds, the Giants will get the sweep and have an all-time record of 20-5 at Minute Maid Park which, to me, is remarkable considering how good the Astros have been since the park opened six years ago.

No need to watch the 30 minutes of Sporstcenter this will occupy: Bonds tonight: 2-4, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP, still stuck on 713 (though he came within about 5 feet of getting one). Russ Springer and Phil Garner got tossed in the 5th for plunking him.

Just asking out of curiosity: do you get a vast majority (perhaps all) of the amount you pay in income taxes each year refunded back to you when you file your return each year?