I know, I know. My predictions don't look that much different from how the standings meted out in 2007-8. That's for good reason, too.

For the last 10 years or so, some team comes from out of nowhere to surprise us all. Like the Giants last year. The Rams in 2000. The Falcons in 1998. New Orleans in 2006. You get the idea.

I suppose that's why I am a little conservative with my picks. I mean, heck, given the great parity in the NFL my Raiders could make the wild card this year. Yup, just as soon as monkeys fly outta my butt.

The point is making NFL predictions is a tricky affair. Things just never remain the same from season to season, and that's a good thing. Except for the Patriots, and even they have issues this year.

So let's get to my I'm-no-professional picks.

NFC EAST
Dallas--Addition of Adam "Pacman" Jones helps on D and ST. Hint to Tony Romo: Get ball to TE Whitten in red zone more.
New York--They beat New England in SB XLI. So why am I still not a believer?
Washington--Coach Jim Zorn's west coast offense should rack up points no matter who's a QB. A real surprise in the making.
Philadelphia--Donovan McNabb needs somebody else to rely on other than RB Brian Westbrook.

NFC NORTH
Green Bay--Understudy QB Aaron Rodgers gets to test what he learned from The Master.
Minnesota--RB Adrian Peterson will see more 8-man fronts than he can possibly fathom.
Detroit--Christ at QB. Or at least John Kitna thinks he is.
Chicago--Christ, find a QB.

NFC SOUTH
New Orleans--If new TE Jeremy Shockey can stay healthy, that opens up an already explosive offense even more.
Tampa Bay--Note to Jon Gruden: Jeff Garcia is no Rich Gannon.
Carolina--This could be Coach Fox's last season.
Atlanta--Screw sitting #1 pick QB Matt Ryan. Nothing teaches better than experience.

NFC WEST
Arizona--Sooner or later, they'll take this division. I say sooner. Though I have a lot of reasons to say the opposite.
Seattle--Quick, name an able-bodied wide receiver on this team. See what I mean? Ouch.
St. Louis--They've still got an O, but can the O-line stay healthy? It better, the defense is awful.
San Francisco--It's official. QB Alex Smith is a bust.

Wild Cards: Washington, New York
NFC Champion: Dallas

AFC EAST
New England--They're going to need all those points this year to make up for a sub-par secondary. They'll run more, too.
Buffalo--A lot better than people think. Well, sort of. QBs Trent Edwards and JP Losman don't exactly make you think of Joe Montana and Steve Young.
NY Jets--An embarrassing way to end a Hall of Fame career for Brett Favre.
Miami--Bill Parcells needs a couple of years to finish his grocery shopping. In the meantime, the cart is running on wobbly wheels.

AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh--Punishing RB tandem in Willie Parker and rookie Rashard Mendenhall takes a lot of pressure off Big Ben. A Super Bowl berth is not out of the question.
Cleveland--QB Derek Anderson and WR Braylon Edwards click. This team is primed for a deep run.
Cincinnati--Dog bites man analysis: Coach Lewis has lost control of this team.
Baltimore--The AFC version of the Bears. And neither of these two have figured out that defense doesn't win championships.

AFC SOUTH
Jacksonville--Why first place? Two reasons: Defense and they give the Colts fits.
Indianapolis--Playoffs? Playoffs? Oh yeah, they'll make the playoffs. Too much O.
Tennessee--Such a gritty, tough team that simply plays in a division with 2 better teams.
Houston--Could easily go a respectable 8-8 again, if not better.

AFC WEST
San Diego--Lots of D. Lots of LT, too. It's this year or never for the Bolts.
Oakland--RB Darren McFadden gives my guys hope for the first time in 5 years. Dare I dream of an 8-8 season?
Denver--You know the wheels are spinning off when there are questions about the running game.
Kansas City--With an O-line gutted by retirements, RB Larry Johnson will find yards harder to come by.

Wild Cards: Indianapolis, Cleveland
AFC Champion: San Diego

Super Bowl: Dallas over San Diego

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Filed under: NFL

Ouch. And ouch.

The Tampa Bay Rays, who have been one of the MLB's best stories this year as they continue to lead the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the AL East, suffered two big losses in recent days. OF Carl Crawford and 3B and Rookie of the Year contender Evan Longoria have both suffered wrist fractures.

According to CBS Sports, Crawford's break may require season-ending surgery. Longoria is out for at least 6 weeks, if not longer.

These are two huge bats in the Rays' lineup and they'll be sorely missed during the last month and a half of the season--particularly with the Red Sox only 4 games back.

A young, inexperienced team already facing the turbulent competitive waters of September baseball, now find themselves in a Bering Sea world of hurt with Crawford and Longoria gone.

It's cup check time for the young, upstart Rays.

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Filed under: Tampa Bay Rays

Warning: This has very little to do with sports, save for a well-timed reference or two and a simile.

It's hap-hap-happy day for this Wizbang Sports editor! I've been banned from Wizbang Blue by Lee "The Liberal Lip" Ward and his Big Bad Blue Button of Hypocritical Intolerance.

Here's the instant replay that tipped the scales (after some right-leaning folks, including myself, laid wood to Hooson's 10 Reasons Why The Anointed One Should be Prez article):

Lee said: Looks like a cage broke over at the idiot circus, and a few escaped.

My response: You should know, ringmaster.

In the annoying words of Stuart Scott at ESPN, "BOO-YEAH! I'm banned!"

It's not an elite club, but hey, membership is membership!

Best of all, no longer will I be driven by my dark, masochistic desire to read the tripe written over there and attempt to respond logically, only to incur a Hercuelian-like migraine in the process. No sir, I've been banned faster than Michael Vick from the Westminster Dog Show. And I couldn't be happier!

I want to rest assure every one of the 3 or 4 Wizbang Sports readers that we welcome your dissent to our opinions. You're free to question us any time! Of course, if you want to be a dick about it, you can do that too. Just remember, though, you will get it back in spades. But you will never be banned!

Mostly because I don't know how. So there's that....

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Filed under: Columns

In the process he makes some NASCAR history. From AP-

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - If Kyle Busch has a weakness, it's apparently going to be awfully difficult to find. After rivals Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon said during the week they thought he was slipping following two straight lackluster finishes, Busch answered by making NASCAR history on Sunday.

He led 52 laps from the pole and won the Centurion Boats at The Glen at Watkins Glen International to become the first driver in NASCAR's history to win three road course races in one season.

"That's pretty neat, pretty special to me," said Busch, who finished second Saturday in the Nationwide race here. "To be a force to be reckoned with means a lot. This year has just been phenomenal. It's just crazy."

Busch, who also clinched the top spot in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup title, has won 16 races in NASCAR's top three series this season -- eight in Sprint Cup, six in Nationwide and two in trucks. His win Sunday completed a trifecta on road courses that includes the Nationwide race in Mexico in April and the Cup race at Sonoma in June.

Busch also joined another select group. Only Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon had swept both Cup road course events in the same year.

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Filed under: Auto Racing

Three weeks after winning his 2nd consecutive British Open, Ireland's Padrig Harrington wins the PGA Championship. Back to back 66s gave Harrington a two-shot win over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis.

Harrington has been a top European golfer for a decade. I thought he could win a major one day, but 3 out of 6 and back to back? Never. His 2007 British Open win may have been more than a little fortunate. Several golfers having Sunday meltdowns. In 2008 Padrig came out on top at the British and PGA playing the best golf, at the same time no one else blowing the tournaments. Will there be Padrig slam talk now? He's two Major championships away from holding the Grand Slam. That seems an impossible feat for someone not named Tiger Woods, but who would have thought Harrington would have the chance?

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Filed under: Golf, PGA Tour

A South Korean born golfer has won twice now on the Ladies European Tour aka the LET in 2008. From AP-

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Amy Yang of South Korea spoiled Annika Sorenstam's finale on home turf, tying the course record with a 9-under 63 Sunday for a six-shot victory at the Scandinavian TPC.

Amy Yang said she had no idea she could win Sunday, but a course-tying record 63 lifted her to victory.

Sorenstam eagled the par-4 17th to move into second place. The Swedish Hall of Famer took a double-bogey on the last hole, hitting her tee shot into the water and three-putting.

Sorenstam, the tournament host, shot 72 and finished seven strokes back to tie for sixth with three other Swedes. She was greeted by a packed gallery on the 18th green.

*****

The 19-year-old Yang captured her second win as a professional in the rain-shortened 54-hole tournament with a 14-under 202 total at the Frosaker Golf and Country Club.

"I never thought I could win the tournament," said Yang, who accepted the trophy and a hug from Sorenstam. "The leader was four shots ahead of me, so I thought I'd just go out and have fun. I'm very happy."

Yang has been having a very impressive year. After her win in Germany, Amy Yang stood #1 on the LET money list. Yang has lost the top spot, but is like #2 or #3 now. If Yang wins a LPGA major in 2008 it will hardly come as a surprise.

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Filed under: Golf

In only a few days two women's professional golf tournaments in the USA have bit the dust. First, The Fields Open.

The Fields Corporation, title sponsor of the Fields Open in Hawaii, has announced it will not renew its title sponsorship for the LPGA tournament for 2009, leaving an early-season hole on the tour's schedule for next year.

Fields officials said the Japanese entertainment company will concentrate its future marketing efforts primarily in Japan.

*****

"I hate to see our tournaments go," veteran player Juli Inkster told Golfweek. "What's going on with the economy, it's tough. We're just going to have to fight through it."

Inkster, a member of the LPGA Player Executive Committee, said although the tour is worldwide, it's still primarily American-based and needs more strong events in this country.

"I think our No. 1 objective is to get more U.S. tournaments (with) full fields," Inkster said.

If one plumetting sandbag aimed at Carolyn Bivens head wasn't enough, then this news broke on Friday.

The organizers of the LPGA's Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam announced Friday they couldn't obtain the sponsorships needed to keep the tournament through 2010.

Ginn Companies chairman Bobby Ginn blamed a faltering economy and less corporate funds for the demise of the tournament at RiverTowne Country Club.

"The golf tournament business is primarily fueled by economic support," Ginn said in a statement. "We did everything in our power to generate the sponsorship necessary to continue with the Ginn Tribute, but given the current market and corresponding cuts in corporate spending, it was an uphill battle."

One of those wins was the Shoprite Classic. Let me remind my readers, why that tournament is not on the LPGA schedule anymore.

There is more turbulence on the LPGA Tour between its administration and tournament sponsors. This week's dilemma: Will a new sponsor with deep pockets double its presence on the tour? Will the rookie commissioner turn her back on an event that has been loyal to women's golf for 21 years and give its spot on the schedule to the rich new kid on the block? And will the spurned event strike back by taking legal action against the LPGA, further complicating what has already been an awkward transition in leadership? The answers, mostly, are "yes."

According to sources familiar with the situation, the LPGA will announce next week a new event in South Carolina and sponsored by Ginn Clubs & Resorts, which debuted as a sponsor this year with a $2.5 million stop in Orlando. That's the good news. The problem is the date discussed with the new tournament is the week before the McDonald's LPGA Championship--a spot currently occupied by the ShopRite LPGA Classic, won this year by Seon Hwa Lee. Larry Harrison, general chairman of the Atlantic City event since its inception in 1986, says he'll sue if his date is given away.

Now the Ginn Tribute is dead in addition to the Shoprite. I was highly critical of this maneuver by Bivens when it took place.

This is suicidal for a tour with money problems, decaying tournament scheduling and sponsor retention problems.

With the Ginn Tribute gone plus the Shoprite, LPGA players would be more than justified to begin calling for Carolyn Bivens head because of the outright managerial incompetence she has more than shown herself able to do. What I said two years ago, still applies today.

Carolyn Bivens has to go or the LPGA is sunk.

Further posts about Bivens blunders can be read here and here.

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Filed under: Golf, LPGA Tour

Virtually unknown, Moody's win at the 1969 played at the Champions GC in Houston Texas ranks as one of my most stunning out of nowhere wins in USGA history. Moody never won again on the PGA Tour, but had a highly successful career on the senior tour. If I recall right, Moody was never even a decent putter. When he came out on the Senior tour, a daughter of Orville's worked as his caddy and helped her father with putting. Moody won 11 Senior tour events including the 1989 US Senior Open. I used to watch the Seniors in those days, and remember Moody well. Including his teaming with Bruce Crampton in the Legends of Golf team tournament. The AP article reports none of us, or that Moody had a stroke recently or that he was 1969 PGA Player of the Year. Why am I not paid to write about pro golf instead of the know nothing error prone hacks employed by Associated Press? RIP Sarge.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Orville Moody, the U.S. Army veteran who won the 1969 U.S. Open for his only PGA Tour title, died Friday. He was 74.

Continue reading "Former US Open Champ Orville 'Sarge' Moody dead at 74" »

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Filed under: Golf, Obituaries

This in order to make salary cap space for recently acquired Brett Favre. From ESPN-

The Jets released Pennington at 4 p.m. Thursday to clear salary-cap space for Brett Favre's arrival, but a half dozen teams already have contacted Pennington's agent, Tom Condon, to express interest in signing the eight-year NFL veteran, a source told ESPN.com.

The source also said Pennington probably wouldn't find a new home for two or three days because the interested clubs are busy with preseason games.

Note- The Jets were my favorite team while growing up in New York and after my move to Florida. After leaving the Navy in 1989, I gradually changed allegiance to my local team, the Miami Dolphins.

Pennington, who is 32 years of age, was comeback player of the year in 2006. So his services are likely to be sought by other NFL teams.

One of the teams is the Miami Dolphins, who open their preseason Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Filed under: Miami Dolphins, NFL, New York Jets

156 players will be teeing it up at the Oakland Hills Country Club outside of Detroit Michigan. Defending champion Tiger Woods is not in the field due to recent knee surgery.

I'm just out of the hospital and less than a week from having heart surgery. So I'm not really up to a detailed preview. Oakland Hills has been a major championship venue since the 1920's. Winners at the course include all-time greats, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player. The next tier of winners include David Graham, Gene Littler, and Ralph Guldahl. That's an accomplished group of winners, but Oakland Hills has seen its share of surprises too. Cyril Walker, Andy North, and Steve Jones. Jones was a better golfer than his win total indicates, mainly because he couldn't stay healthy for long. I'm a little surprised Oakland Hills has never hosted a Women's event.

Who will win this week? Here are two picks- Boo Weekly and KJ Choi. Both have won in 2008 and are having solid years overall. I think the winner Sunday will be someone without a prior major championship triumph. Nor will it be one of the A List favorites, like Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Padrig Harrington, Sergio Garcia etc etc. Something tells me we will have a journeyman winner, and the PGA has had a recent history of these. Wayne Grady, Jeff Sluman, and Rich Beem to name a few. A AP article yesterday focused on the PGA's tendency for first time major champions.

This is the last golf major for all the tours in 2008. The Ryder Slaughter Cup which is to take place next month, while interesting, doesn't have the same allure as any of Golf's Grand Slam events. Either Men or Women.

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Filed under: Golf, PGA Tour

Jay Glazer at FoxSports.com was the first to report that legendary Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Farve was traded to the New York Jets.

Now instead of round the clock coverage on the Farve unretirement we can enjoy the daily front page battle sure to break out between The New York Post and The New York Daily News.

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Filed under: New York Jets

That didn't take long.

China is already showing her true (intolerant of dissent) colors by revoking the visa of a nonparticipating athlete in the person of former speedskating gold medalist and Darfur activist, Joey Cheek. Story here.

Personally, I hope China continues to make an ass out of herself--and, indirectly, the International Olympic Committee for selecting Beijing in the first place--during these Games.

They both can't be more deserving of the scorn and ridicule hopefully heaped upon them.

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Filed under: Summer Olympics

He was 10-0 lifetime versus Florida before last night's game.

Whether it was simply the law of averages catching up or a 45-year-old pitcher struggling on a hot night, Moyer lost to the Marlins 8-2 Tuesday after having won all of his previous 10 starts against the Marlins. "It was bound to happen,'' Moyer said. "The way I look at it, I beat myself tonight.''

And for the Marlins - who beat Moyer for the first time in four starts this season - their win in front of a sold-out crowd of 44,896 at Citizens Bank Park couldn't have come at a better time.

Backed by Josh Johnson's strong start and Jeremy Hermida's four RBI, the Marlins started an important road trip by moving to within 11/2 games of first-place Philadelphia in the National League East.

As for Moyer, some pitchers have certain team's numbers. Tom Seaver used to clobber the San Diego Padres, on the other hand Al Oliver used to clobber Seaver. As Moyer said, the Marlins were bound to beat him eventually.

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Filed under: Florida Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies

The veteran southpaw helped his own cause with a RBI double. From AP-

SAN FRANCISCO - Mike Hampton earned his first victory in nearly three years and hit an RBI double, leading the Atlanta Braves past the San Francisco Giants 11-4 on Tuesday night. The 35-year-old Hampton had to feel great about this outing: He hadn't won since Aug. 14, 2005, for the Braves against Arizona -- 1,087 days earlier. And this was just his third start of 2008 after he returned July 26 following a nearly three-year absence in which the two-time All-Star underwent two major surgeries on his left elbow.

This season, he was sidelined by both a strained chest muscle and an injured groin.

Hampton (1-0) allowed four hits and two runs in seven innings and improved to 14-4 in 25 career appearances against the Giants with his first win over them since May 11, 2003, which also was his last start versus San Francisco. He lowered his ERA from 10.00 to 6.75.

Hampton was a good MLB pitcher but his career problems date back to when signed with the Colorado Rockies after the 2000 season. After leaving Colorado, he had one good year in Atlanta, and one not so good. At 36 years of age, I don't expect Hampton to make a comeback even to the 03-04 level of his career.

Mike Hampton has always been a good hitting pitcher. He has a lifetime .243 BA and 15 career homeruns. In my Startournaments playing days, I frequently used Hampton as a pinch hitter.

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Filed under: Atlanta Braves, MLB, San Francisco Giants

Three days to go until (snooze) the Olympics in Beijing, China start and the Chinese government is still having a major issue with pollution.

Good God, the Beijing air makes 1972 Los Angeles air look like a frakkin' oxygen tent.

I can just picture our athletes coming home with diseases equivalent to their finishes:

Gold medal=black lung

Silver medal=emphysema

Bronze medal=asthma

Not placing=a mild case of bronchitis...you weren't trying hard enough.

Note: I'd love a tutorial on how to post photos and video to Wizbang Sports. If anyone would care to pass along how I can do that, I'd greatly appreciate it!)

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Filed under: Summer Olympics

No, the disgruntled outfielder is not being traded to Iraq as he had stupidly requested earlier in the week.

But, in this dyed-in-wool Giants fan, he came pretty close and got shipped out to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I can't wait until Manny and Jeff Kent cross paths! It'll make the Bonds/Kent days in S.F. look like "Brokeback Mountain".

OK, enough of my gloating. This was a big 3-team deal between the Boston Red, Pittsburgh Pirates and Dodgers.

The Pirates sent young slugger Jason Bay to the Red Sox and, to make things simple, collectively received 4 minor league prospects as part of the 3-way deal.

My analysis? Hmm, this is easy: Fucking great for the Red Sox! They get rid of a clubhouse cancer in Ramirez and get a right-handed power hitter who can actually play the field, run out ground balls, play hard and not develop mysterious illnesses and injuries when he doesn't feel like playing.

I only have one last thing to say about Manny:

It couldn't happen to a nicer ballclub.

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Filed under: MLB

Ken Griffey Jr. has been traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for....well, hell, a couple of guys I've definitely never heard of, pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar.

Junior goes from the floundering Reds to the first-place White Sox and a possible shot at a World Series, finally.

If he ever plays, that is.

Considering the Sox outfield is already filled by Jermaine Dye, Nick Swisher and All-Star Carlos Quentin, and the DH slot is occupied by Jim Thome, how much playing time Junior will see is a really big question. Oh sure, he'll see some time, but how much is anyone's guess.

And oh what fun manager and all-around asshat Ozzie Guillen will have juggling the egos in that circus!

Finally, this is all to the chagrin of overly sentimental Seattle Mariners fans who've been pining and praying for Griffey's return since he left. I'm almost dead certain the M's will throw a contract Junior's way come the off-season. (Ugh. Why.)

File this under another head-scratching trade.

Today is baseball's trade deadline.

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Filed under: MLB

The Detroit Tigers shipped catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for reliever Kyle Farnsworth today.

This one is a head scratcher.

Why would the Yankees, whose bullpen already pretty shaky as it is, ship off one of its more dependable set up men for offense from a position that the Yankees don't really need? Heck if I know.

Perhaps in light of the season-ending surgery to Jorge Posada, maybe Yanks' GM Brian Cashman thinks Pudge's surefire Hall of Fame credentials as a catcher will repair what ails the Yanks pitching staff: consistency. Maybe. And maybe he thinks Pudge's bat will give them a tad more production. But Pudge's offense ain't what it used to be, and it's clearly showing in his numbers this year.

I think the Yanks are robbing themselves here. Pitching is always a premium need for competing teams at the trade deadline. And when you don't really need hitting, but give up pitching to get it anyway, then it's a mistake.

Farnsworth, on the other hand, is desperately needed by the Tigers if they want to have any shot of getting to and competing in the post season. Farnsworth has the stuff to possibly stabilize a rocky pen situation in Detroit.

Winner in this trade: Tigers.

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Filed under: MLB

"Nah, it could be already, could it?"

"But it's only July for crying out loud!"

"WTF, you gotta be kidding me!?"

Oh yes, I hear you, kiddies. And I know it's hard to believe, but the NFL season and preseason kicks off with the Hall of Fame Game this Sunday, August 3 at 8PM EST, when the Indianapolis Colts take on the Washington Redskins.

And the regular season is just a scant 6 weeks from tomorrow on September 4.

I know! Nuttier than a Lee Ward post, huh?

But here we are.

Anyway, rather than make you root around like a pig for truffles trying to find the latest and greatest news on your team, I'm being a stellar guy and providing you with some handy-dandy (and hopefully working) links.

Like to ESPN's NFL home page and to NFL.com's preseason home page and CBSsport's NFL home page.

In my humble opinion, the 3 best sites for acquiring team and player news, injury updates, schedules, stats and, oh yes, fantasy football madness!

Now I'm off to go shop for my new (and big) LCD or plasma TV that my lovely and beautiful wife--who's also incredibly tolerant of my addiction to fantasy football--has promised I could get before the season starts! Plus, I've also got clearance to get a PS3.

Watching football and playing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on a sweet TV*? I married an angel, I swear.

*In between changing diapers on my 4.5 month old son, of course.

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Filed under: NFL

MLB's trade deadline of tomorrow got off to a big start yesterday.

Free-agent-to-be first baseman and switch-hitting power hitter Mark "Big Tex" Teixeira was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (god, I loathe that name) yesterday for first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Stephen Marek.

Teixeira will provide a big boost to the Angels' lineup, especially to Vlad Guerrero who could use just a little more protection in the order than either teammates Torri Hunter or Garret Anderson can currently provide. Vlad has been struggling this year, in part, due to the lack of protection. The addition of Big Tex will no doubt help.

Big Tex, however, is nothing more than a half-season, rent-a-player as he's a free agent at the end of the season. But that's OK. This move is about winning this year for Angels, who currently (and quietly) own baseball's best record. And boy, does it send a big message to the Red Sox, White Sox, Rays and Yankees that, coupled with their very nice pitching staff, the Halos are the team to beat for the AL Pennant.

This off-season, mega-agent Scott Boras' will be looking to score a mega-$125mil+ deal for Big Tex. And that's being conservative.

Who the suitors for Big Tex's services will be is hard to say at this point, but the current front runner has to be--you guessed it--the Yankees. The Mets could be in the Teixeira sweepstakes, too, as they need to replace the rapidly diminishing skills of Carlos Delgado. Another strong contender could be the Dodgers. The dark horses are far too many to list at this point.

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Filed under: MLB

Even more people are jumping on the 'Knock Michelle Wie' bandwagon.

SUNNINGDALE, England -- Michelle Wie skipped a major to play on the PGA Tour this week. Annika Sorenstam, Helen Alfredsson and Paula Creamer wonder why.

After all, Wie has yet to win on the women's tour and has never made the cut on the PGA Tour.

Wie

Wie, who is managed by her parents, was listed in qualifying for the Women's British Open at Sunningdale. But she pulled out and instead has a sponsor's exemption for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open at Reno, Nev. It is her eighth PGA Tour event.

The British Open qualifier and the conflict with Michelle's other obligations was the subject of a blog post at The Waggle Room only two weeks ago. Michelle isn't above criticism, the best course for her to would have been to pursue the Futures Tour rather than Reno, but when writers and players make ill informed comments it makes it look like people have it out for Michelle. Annika, Helen, Paula, you try traveling from Toledo, The UK, and Illinois in less than 72 hours. Are you a bunch of Wonder Women?

I'm not through with Annika yet.

"I really don't know why Michelle continues to do this. We have a major this week and, if you can't qualify for a major, I don't see any reason why you should play with the men."

Sorenstam also learned that some LPGA players had been critical of her playing in Naples instead of coming to Mobile.

"I think that's uncalled for," she said. "I have supported the tour for many, many years."

Greg Norman's Merrill Lynch Shootout, a tournament with male players. What a hypocrite this woman is.

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Filed under: Golf, LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie, Television & The Media

You think I'm joking.

I'm not.

And neither is Boston Red Sox outfielder and future Hall of Famer, Manny Ramirez.

Today he said that he'd approve a trade to any place else other than Boston. Including Iraq.

The Dreadlocked one said, ""I don't care where I play -- I can even play in Iraq if need be."

Well gee, Manny, they actually could use your help. Then again, maybe not. Given how you tend to sit out games, sometimes important games, with minor and mysterious ailments that suddenly and conveniently appear, you might be as helpful as a pimple on the ass. And just as annoying.

I can't even find the words as to how enormously insensitive and demeaning this statement is to the incredibly difficult job faced by our troops in Iraq.

I'll tell you what, Manny, it's a helluva a lot more difficult than hitting a curveball, that's for damn sure.

With that said, let's bring things back to a baseball perspective.

But lo, The King of the Idiots was not finished making Forrest Gump look like Stephen Hawking.

With MLB's mid-season trade deadline looming on July 31, and the Red Sox just a game out of first in the AL East, and in pulling a stunt like this at this time, he must honestly believe the Red Sox would trade him away.

Maybe in a Dennis-Kucinich universe that might happen, but not in this one.

Of course, Manny did nail it when he said, "I'm tired of them. "They're tired of me."

Whether he's referring to Red Sox management or Red Sox fans, it doesn't really matter. The fact is, we're all tired of you, Manny. We're all tired of players like you. All you need to do is STFU and play the game you get paid $17,016,381 a year to play.

Oh, and Manny, if you want to redeem yourself for your stupidity, you can start by donating some of your (unearned) paycheck here. Or one of your choosing.

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Commissioner Bivens looks more than ever like the fool considering she sacrificed the Atlantic City LPGA tour stop by giving their dates on the schedule to the Ginn Tribute. From Golf World-

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France -- The Ginn Tribute which, along with the Ginn Open, has a $2.6 million purse, the richest of any U.S.-based LPGA event except the U.S. Women's Open, will not return in 2009, multiple sources told Golf World. While neither the LPGA nor Ginn would confirm the demise of the Tribute, which is played at RiverTowne CC near Charleston, S.C., neither expressed optimism about its future.

"The [Ginn sur Mer] Classic [on the PGA Tour], the [Ginn] Championship [on the Champions Tour] and the Ginn Open are happening this year and next," said Ginn spokesman Ryan Julison. "After we get past the Ginn Open we don't know what the future holds."

The Ginn Open is played in April and the Ginn Tribute comes after it, in May. Sources involved in broadcasting, tournament ownership and the LPGA said Ginn has pulled the plug on the Charleston event. The uncertainty expressed about the future after the Ginn Open also raises questions about the existence of all the Ginn tournaments after 2009.

"We have all those tournaments and no sponsors and in this economy it's like a perfect storm," Julison said. Ginn, which does its business in real estate, the hardest-hit sector in the downturn of the American economy, is said by insiders familiar with the cost of running tournaments to be on the hook for $25 million annually for the four events, one of the most ambitious investments by any company in tournament sponsorship. Late last summer, Robert Gidel, an expert operations man, was brought by investors to run the day-to-day business of the Ginn Company with Bobby Ginn remaining chairman and CEO.

"If I had to handicap the situation right now I would say that it is less than 50-50 that the Ginn Tribute will happen in 2009," LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens told Golf World at the Evian Masters. "That said, we will have a tournament to replace it."

Ginn has contractual obligations both to the LPGA and to NBC, which broadcasts the Ginn Tribute, for two more years. "We're having ongoing conversations with the Ginn organization and we hope to work things out amicably," Bivens said. "We also hope our broadcast partners, in this case NBC, are respected."

Annika Sorenstam, who runs her Annika Golf Academy out of the Ginn Reunion Resort near Orlando, where the Ginn Open is played, hosts the Ginn Tribute. One possibility is the Ginn Open would become the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika. Sorenstam said she was unaware of the future of the Ginn Tribute.

There were rumors in April that Ginn tried to