On days that Jeremy is off or hosting, I handle the morning sports duties on The Howard Simon Show, and by the end of reading each cast 350 times, I generally have some on-and-offhand thoughts. Here are Wednesday's:
-- This Marshawn Lynch story is astounding, and not just because my favorite Bill hasn't spoken with police yet, likely because his lawyers have told him it's a terrible idea (which brings into question the whole "favorite Bill" thing, even if he's really good at breaking tackles).
What's eating me about the whole situation is that police can't force him to talk to them. It's his car. It's damaged. They likely have video footage. That's what the video cameras are for, right? Would they talk to the bum they saw steal pizza from the corner restaurant if they knew a masked man took off on the bum's known bicycle? Maybe that's a terrible comparison, but it made me laugh for a second. I know they have their hands full with a case of professional football and national news caliber, but I wish justice were easier.
One of the other aspects that's scary is that there could be more to the story, anything from extra charges more significant and dramatic than first thought to a hoax in which Lynch's vehicle was targeted as a cash grab. Who knows?
-- The Sabres keep signing prospects, with Tim Kennedy, Jhonas Enroth and Dennis Persson now in the fold, and can you believe it's gotten to the point that draft picks signing is top news? What a whirlwind the last several years of personnel decisions have created. Can you imagine if people were freaking out about draft picks in the late 1990s?
"If the Sabres don't sign Kamil Piros, they're too cheap!"
"Buffalo will never win the Cup if they don't give the rookie max to Milan Bartovic?"
"How can Aaron Goldade develop if he's not in Rochester?"
It's not the NFL, but it's starting to feel that way.
-- The Euro 2008 soccer (football) championships begin Saturday during my bachelor party. By the time I wake up out of my coma for Buffalo City Football Club's Sunday afternoon affair, I'd like to see all of us weighing in with guesses, whether you know the game or not. Join my group in ESPN's bracket pool. My team name is "Michael Owen's Vacation." Owen is one of my favorite players on my favorite English team, Newcastle United. England did not qualify for Euro.
-- The ratings for Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals surprised me, and not because they were the Finals' highest in six years. What raised my eyebrows was Nashville finishing a surprising seventh, tied with Pennsylvania's own Philadelphia market. I'm impressed, and wonder if there's more to the "move the Predators" story than we know, especially with Vegas finishing in the Top Ten. Perhaps Nashville fans were scared into watching more hockey and buying more tickets when the relocation threat went down. Sound familiar?
-- Someone's going to be blasted for hiring the recently-fired John Tortorella, and then their team will be better almost immediately. It's not that his act won't wear thin in Toronto, per se, eventually, but guys will play for Torts, who I don't hate as U.S. coach for several years.
-- Chad Johnson says "of course" he's coming back to Cincinnati. Duh.
-- The Pistons fired Flip "Ducktail" Saunders, and I think it's deserved, even if there were a mess of odd front office moves by Joe Dumars during Flip's tenure. Sure his record is something like 170-70 over three years in Detroit, but three Eastern Conference Finals losses to three different squads - Miami, Cleveland and now Boston - is tough to take, especially when the Celtics left wins on the floor.
-- Joba Chamberlain had a tough first start for the Yankees, walking three Blue Jays in the first innings, on the way to a 9-3 loss (Dan Giese took the 'L' while cleaning up Joba's mess in the third inning). I'd hate to be in New York radio this morning, because it'lll be hard not to harshly judge the move, especially after the struggles of Phil Hughes and other young Yank pitchers. He'd get the benefit of the doubt in many other markets, but who knows?
-- Alfonso Soriano hit a 3-run blast as "my" Cubs came from behind again to win their ninth-straight, this time 9-6 over San Diego. It's hard not to get excited, even as a Cubs fan who knows the drill. I have to find a way to the Wrigley bleachers after I get back from my honeymoon in August.
-- Barack Obama has declared himself the winner of the democratic nomination. Good, but I even six months ago I couldn't imagine a scenario in which I'd vote for the republican nominee. If Obama punches his integrity in the throat by taking Hillary as a running mate after bad mouthing her for months, oh boy. Especially considering I bet there are a lot of left-leaners who may have chosen John McCain over Al Gore had Bush not "won" the nomination at the turn of the century.
--If you are interested in soccer, take a peek at what's going on at All-High Stadium. I'm a "season ticket holder," and it's a great place to bring kids, even if the Blues aren't exactly, well, winning right now. North Tonawanda's Steve Butcher is a striker, West Seneca's Sean McDonnell is a very good keeper and Western New Yorkers litter the roster of post-professional amateur and college players.
-- If you have a, I don't know, varsity high school soccer coaching need, and, I don't know, want a good coach who would love his life, perhaps you should have a birdie scream my name in some administrator's ear. I'm not a teacher, but I'm marrying one.
To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 1 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 2 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; tournament; WGR; Jeremy White; Golf; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 3 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 4 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 5 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 6 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 7 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 8 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala;
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