Daytona Cubs Fan Putting Life On The Line For Streak

Some things are worth risking your life over. Maybe you're trying to save a loved one, or maybe you just want to give people sweaty palms while they're watching your YouTube footage(mon dieu!) Either way, they're both a bit more worthy of possibly threatening your life than continuing a streak of minor league baseball games attended. Right? Well, not to Daytona Cubs superfan "Front Row Joe".

You see, Joe has a medical condition that he intends to get checked out...in the offseason.

You're like a player that plays hurt, aren't you?

"Yeah. I have a condition in my leg. My doctor calls it smoking disease. It looks like I have PAD -- peripheral artery disease. They want me to see a vascular surgeon. So I guess I'm going to have to have that taken care of in the off-season, because I'm not going to risk it right now. I can't. It's been too long."

You're not going to risk what, your health or the streak?

"The streak. It means too much to me."

It all goes back to those cigarettes.

"Yeah, if I knew then what I know now I never would have started with those damn things. By the time I walk out to put up my new number every night, I have to rest. It kinda hurts. I intend to have it looked at in the off-season."

Apparently, Joe made it to game 900 this past Tuesday because I didn't hear any news of the streak being broken. I have to give it up to the guy for sticking it out this long, but geez man, get yourself to the surgeon as soon as the season ends.

Someone Get Michael Beasley A Red Jersey

In football, the quarterbacks get to practice in a red non-contact jersey to make sure that everyone on defense knows not to injure the guy. Unfortunately, someone on the Miami Heat didn't get the same message, and apparently gave number two overall draft pick Michael Beasley an elbow shot that ended his practice early.

Rookie forward Michael Beasley did not finish his first practice with the Miami Heat summer league team Wednesday after being struck in the chest by a teammate's elbow.

The Heat said Beasley, the No.2 overall pick in last week's NBA draft, was being taken for evaluation and had no further details on the extent of the injury.

Geez. Coach Spoelstra needs to let these guys know that injuring Beasley is a great way to end up with another 15 wins next season.

Fish Killed By Soccer...Ball

Normally, when there's a soccer related death the mind instantly wanders to scenes of balconies collapsing, houligans rioting or players collapsing on the field. Oh, they were flopping? Nevermind that last part then.

Rarely would you ever think about something involving a fish. Well, unless Zidane climbed into the Koi pond and started mercilessly headbutting everything in sight. In this case, there was no assault. Just a single soccer ball and a 6 1/2 foot catfish.

A catfish has apparently choked to death after trying to chow down a soccer ball in the locks of a Bavarian canal.

German police say the 6 1/2-foot-long fish was found dead Monday, floating on the surface of the water with a blue-and-white soccer ball in its mouth.

"He tried to eat the ball and it got stuck," police spokesman Karl-Heinz Kuberlein said Tuesday.

Did the final of the Euro 2008 soccer championship on Sunday - during which Germany lost 1-0 to Spain - have anything to do with it?

"Whether the fish was caught up in soccer ball fever in the aftermath of the European championship and hence snapped at the ball can unfortunately not be determined," police said in a statement.

I especially enjoy that last part. Apparently, we will never know if it was an accident, or whether the fish, so distraught over the German team's loss, committed suicide by swallowing the ball.

On another note, it's a shame that such a fine specimen will never have a chance to get noodled.

Where Willie Andrews Pulled His Piece

Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews was busted on Sunday for allegedly pointing a gun to his girlfriend's head. The police showed up at his Connors Avenue apartment in Mansfield, MA, and he was arrested soon after.

Checking out Google Maps(double true!), it looks like there's only one set of apartments on Connors Ave. in Mansfield, MA. It would be The Village at Cedar Heights, and according to ForRent.com they range from $1320 to $1620 per month. Though, with this latest charge Andrews might be getting some new accomodations with bars on the doors.

Trindon Holliday Becomes The 2nd "Fastest Player In College Football"

Well, Trindon Holliday has had a great run(it's puntastic!) as the "Fastest Player in College Football". However, that title now belongs to University of Florida incoming freshman Jeff Demps who ran a national high school record time of 10.01 in the 100m dash quarterfinal on Saturday night.

Holliday ran a 10.09 in his round of the quarterfinals, and eventhough Demps' time wasn't as fast as Holliday's personal best, he did beat him while competing sort of head-to-head. So, right now it seems that Demps has a legit reason for being called the "Fastest Player in Colllege Football". He's slated to suit up as an all-purpose back for the Gators in the fall.

Cedric Benson Gets Some New Hardware

Ok, so this happened on Monday, but it's the first that I've heard of it. Former Bears running back, and operator of vehicles while under the influence extraordinaire, Cedric Benson picked up some new hardware on Monday. Exactly what was it?

A Super Bowl replica ring from fellow Texas alum Aaron Ross? No.

A neckbrace signed by the entire Bears defense as a parting shot? No, but that would have been fitting considering their dislike of him.

It's something that he probably could have used before the offseason started.

Give up?

How about an ignition-lock breath tester?

Yes, Benson was ordered to install one because of the multiple DWI charges that he's facing.

If you're penciling in "busts" from the '05 NFL Draft make sure to have Benson up near the top. At least for the moment.

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Tebow Adds To Trophy Case

The Heisman is still the big one, but being named the SEC Male Athlete of The Year is pretty damn cool too. Today, Tim Tebow added that award to the trophy case.

Florida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was named the Southeastern Conference's Roy F. Kramer Male Athlete of the Year in a vote of the league's athletic directors, the league announced Wednesday.

He was joined in the honor by Tennessee basketball player Candace Parker, voted as the league's Female Athlete of the Year.

"The SEC is very proud to honor Tim and Candace, as they are outstanding examples of what a student-athlete can accomplish, both on and off the field of competition," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. "Their hard work and dedication to excellence have made them fine representatives of their universities and this conference. We congratulate them and wish them the best in their future endeavors."

Tebow, the only sophomore to win the Heisman, already owns Gator quarterback records for rushing yards (1,364) and touchdowns (37). In two seasons, he has thrown for 3,644 yards and rushed for another 31 scores. He also was the first quarterback in college football history to pass for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 scores.

It's another achievement that Tebow gets to add to the long list that he's compiled in a relatively short amount of time. Eventhough Tebow can obviously do a lot of things, I would like to know if he can dunk like Candace Parker.

Javon Walker Has No Recollection Of That Wild Ride, Sir

Last week, Broncos' wide receiver Javon Walker was found beaten and unconscious on a street in Las Vegas. No one really knew what happened; though, some of the rumors floating around were pretty "out there"(Cristal wars, Floyd Mayweather thugs, oh my!). Even Walker himself didn't really seem to remember what went done, as was conveyed through his not so in-depth interview with TheDirty.com(via Deadspin):

"I was just back at my room and at about 5:30 in the morning I got a knock at the door. I opened it and 3 guys with guns were there. They cracked me in the head a few times, knocking me unconscious. They then robbed me of everything I had; my watch, money, everything! Somehow they got me to a car and dropped me off in the street. That’s what happened."

That sounds incredibly devious! Those rapscallions assaulted Mr. Walker then drove him from the scene of the crime! Wait, that's not exactly how it happened? Hmm, you don't say. Well, you might not, but Las Vegas Police Lieutenant Clinton Nichols does:

Las Vegas police have made an arrest in the robbery and beating case involving NFL player Javon Walker.

Lt. Clinton Nichols said Tuesday that 30-year-old Arfat Fadel is suspected of multiple felonies including kidnapping and robbery. Police said Fadel was arrested Friday and police were looking for a second suspect.

Nichols said police believe the second man is still in Las Vegas.

He said the 29-year-old Walker got into a vehicle with the two men early June 16 before he was found beaten and unconscious on a side street near the Las Vegas Strip.

That's quite a bit different than the account that Mr. Walker gave. Though, whenever you get your ass kicked you're probably going to want to make it sound as dangerous as you possibly can.

Congrats To The Celtics

Well, that went a little bit different than most had probably visioned. After keeping the first five games of the series close, the Lakers got run out of the gym to the tune of 131-92. Ouch. No amount of zen will be able to ease that asskicking.

While it would be easy to heap most of the praise on Boston's "Big 3", the truth is that it was a total team effort. Rajon Rondo didn't shoot particularly well, but he ended up with 21 points and his defensive intensity frustrated the Lakers all night. James Posey scored 11, including 3-3 from 3pt range. Even Eddie House chipped in with 9 points. Though, without the "Big 3" firing on all cylinders the outcome wouldn't have been nearly the same.

Paul Pierce, the Finals MVP, ended up with a double-double by scoring 17 and dishing 10 assists. Ray Allen scored 26 despite missing much of the 2nd quarter. And KG made up for his "trash" play in Game 5 by scoring 26 and pulling down 14 boards. He also would have maxed out "overcome with emotion" if that were a statistical category. It's great to see these guys get rings, and I'm especially happy for Garnett because I've been a fan of his for quite some time. It's amazing how far things have come since his interview with John Thompson back in 2005.

From this:


To this:


KG was right when he said "in my heart, you can't measure that". Last night we all got to see what was in KG's heart.

Did Rick Dutrow Jr.'s Pride Cost Big Brown The Triple Crown?

Leading up to the Belmont, there were some that believed that Big Brown's impressive victories at The Derby and The Preakness were due in part to his monthly injections of the anabolic steroid Winstrol. Prior to the race, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. made it known that Big Brown had skipped his monthly injection in May, and would be running the race steroid free. However, according to Florida veterinarian and throroughbred owner, Richard Alker, that could be what ultimately caused the horse to finish last.

Alker is the veterinarian at the Panama City Animal Hospital and Equine Center and a thoroughbred owner. He believes that Big Brown was a healthy horse during the Belmont. He thinks, however, that skipping a scheduled monthly injection of the anabolic steroid Winstrol combined with excessive heat and fatigue produced Big Brown's disappointing finish.

"They took him off of steroids and that caused the problem," Alker said. "If you get a horse used to those for their recovery, the benefits that provides for muscles and the things that steroids do for them, and you take it off of it there is a letdown.

"And even though the horse wasn't on an abusive dose of steroids, it could have still caused an effect that was certainly detrimental to them."

So, could Dutrow's decision, possibly fueled by outspoken critics, really have had that much of an effect? Alker believes so because of the short amount of time in which the decision was made and carried out.

Big Brown's trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. did not give the colt his scheduled monthly dose of Winstrol on May 15, reportedly to quiet critics who said Big Brown couldn't win without steroids. Winstrol, Alker said, helps horses' muscles recover.

Alker said there's typically a six- to eight-week letdown time frame after a horse is taken off steroids. Saturday's race was seven-and-a-half weeks since Big Brown's last injection on April 15.

"If it had been on a year, then off for six, seven months, his body would have been used to not having them," Alker said. "But because he quit them in that time frame there's this kind of letdown then, I think, that's certainly possible it was a mistake."

Obviously, we'll never know just how much skipping that monthly injection hindered Big Brown in his quest for the Triple Crown. However, it had to have played at least some part in his extremely disappointing last place finish. Ironically, the man who was most responsible for putting Big Brown in position to win it all was also the one responsible for making the decision that might have cost him it all.