Barry Bonds will plead not guilty today to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. He’s not a flight risk and has no prior criminal record, but will the judge set bail at a ridiculously high number? Find out after the noon hearing.
Eugene “Mercury” Morris went on ESPN yesterday to rap about how unstoppable he and his ‘72 Dolphins were. Yes, that’s right, I said “rap.” Just read what I wrote last night. That man has lost his mind.
Andruw Jones didn’t get the long-term contract he’d hoped for, but instead settled for a shorter, 2 year, $36 million deal from the L.A. Dodgers who were in serious need of making some kind of splash in the offseason to more than just their roster.
How much energy and emotion can a team muster after having gone through what the Redskins have? The league didn’t bump the game back and the Skins didn’t request a change of schedule, so the Bears are in town for a Thursday night match-up full of heavy hearts.
Driving to drop off that good ol’ rent check yesterday, I caught Colin Cowherd half-assed backtrack for his wrong and disrespectful words about Sean Taylor’s murder. Steinberg breaks it down with quotes and all very well. It’s absurd how arrogant and one guy with a podium can be… and Cowherd continually keeps his reputation as “polarizing” by saying his wrong assumption of Taylor’s death is just like being wrong on his college pick ‘ems. Absolutely breathtaking.
Heisman Final Four chosen: Florida’s Tim Tebow, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, Arkansas’s Darren McFadden and Missouri’s Chase McDaniel. How can we convince the NCAA to turn this into some sort of skills playoff? Misguided argument, you say? Aim for the BCS instead? Done and done.
What Eugene “Mercury” Morris is doing to himself on the television lately is pathetic. The only conclusion I can come to is that he has reached the M.C. Hammer of his career. Maybe his latest antics will secure him a spot on the next Surreal Life. Who knows?Morris was a two-time All-America tailback at West Texas A&M, made three Pro Bowls during his nine-year professional career and — the one stat he will never forget — he was a contributing member to the infamous Miami Dolphins team who went undefeated (17-0) in 1972.
Maybe he longs for the spotlight of television cameras. Maybe he is hard up for cash and found an opportunity to make a few extra dollars. Whatever the case may be, the fact is, he’s a grown ass ex-NFL player rapping on TV — sure, we have plenty of those so what’s new, right? — and out of his element.
Right now people are watching Morris gloat and rap and belittle those stinkin’ Pats to no end and thinking one of a few things:
1. “This must be how all those ‘72 Dolphins feel! Surely there’s a team rap out there somewhere!”
2. “I’d buy his CD!”
3. “Wow… let it go.”
Count me as one in category 3. Morris is embarrassing himself. He’s letting ESPN turn him into the network’s very own Flavor Flav — a black man with a short but famous career, placed in a spot where he can make money by acting a fool on television.
Consider it a job well done on the WWL’s part; they “flipped” Morris. More than likely they took advantage of his not-so-stellar post-NFL record and saw an opportunity to cash in on the big story of the defiant ‘72 Dolphins player openly and bitterly rooting against the ‘07 Patriots who seem all but ready to make Morris eat his claim that no one can repeat what they did.
His Wikipedia page has already been altered to make the “Mercury Morris Rap” a moment of his e-history –
On December 5, 2007, Morris went on ESPN’s Sportscenter and rapped about the 1972 Dolphins being the only team that will ever go undefeated in an NFL season. Morris was on ESPN with Josh Elliott in response to the New England Patriots undefeated record of 12-0, which, at the time, was 5 games short of matching the ‘72 Dolphins.
Everyone is going to point out that the ‘72 Dolphins didn’t have to play as many games as teams do now. And they will point to the contrast in passing yardage and points between those Dolphins and these Patriots and say the Pats are a far more dominant offense. But the amazing feat in ‘72 has not been repeated; the record has stood for the past 35 years and nobody has taken that away — yet.
All records are meant to be broken, though. By way of rule changes (See: 3-point line in NBA in contrast with historical scoring numbers), player enhancements (See: Every baseball slugging record in the past… hell, who can limit it to a decade anymore?) or by way of life in general.
What goes up, must come down. Records are set, spirits are lifted; Don Shula, Morris and the gang are happy and on a high. Eventually, that ends.
Even if the Patriots don’t do it this year, down the line someone will go undefeated. Maybe a hundred years from now — anyone want to guess how many more years the league will be around? — but the possibility isn’t zero. If the Patriots found a way to be dominant during this free agency era, surely another team will stumble upon a similar winning formula. (Side question/Pot shot: Would a surveillance camera be involved…?)
But I get it. Morris has every right to be defensive and root against the Patriots. It’s like an only child hearing their parents are trying to get pregnant again. Eventually he and his team will not be alone. They will have to share the spotlight and attention that comes with the record they hold. Fans may or may not love the ‘72 Dolphins the same again — a cold, hard fact of life.
But the last thing Morris needs to do is belittle himself for the WWL. His emotions are raw and feelings hurt. He feels disrespected and says so all over the network, including in his latest rap. But enough is enough.
Someone please yank the spotlight away from that man, fast. The last thing we need is a bitter old record-holder claiming there’ll never be another like him and trying to say his team is much better than the current dominant team in the league — especially if it’s in told in a rhyme.
Which brings to mind yet another scare… Lord, help us if he drops this album for real.
Now, I’ve seen this commercial before so I’m not actually 230923209 days behind. This is the first time I thought of it and found it on YouTube, so… enjoy.
A 17-year-old, Eric Rivera, is allegedly the culprit who murdered Sean Taylor. His lawyers want a plea deal, while the lawyer for one of the other three young men charged with first-degree felony murder and armed burglary is positioning his case in a way that would contend his client had no idea a gun would be used. At any rate, I hope this case is speedy and justice is swift.
Denver Broncos running-back Travis Henry — yes, he of 9 babies with 9 different babies mommas — won his appeal of a 1-year suspension after failing a league administered drug test. He immediately claimed his innocence after the failed test, took a lie detector and retook another test to prove his innocence. Now that’s how you prove your case, my friends. No “Urinator” needed in this case.
They say better late than never, right? Well, as of last night the Patriots would say that anyway, as a late TD helped continue their season of perfection (will the end justify their means?). Love that Randy Moss goes from early career trash-talker to late-career man of wisdom, telling those jabbering Ravens to stop complaining so much when they haven’t (I’m paraphrasing, which means: not looking up the exact quote) “done anything all year.” I did hear the complaints on Sportscenter this morning and if the referees were jabbering back at the jabbering B-more squad, calling them “boy,” and such, Roger Goodell needs to step in immediately so it doesn’t get too crazy, too quick. In the wake of the NBA ref scandal, any problems with refs needs to be squashed ASAP; no need to feed into conspiracy theories, which lead to fan distrust. Meanwhile, Steve McNair was placed on the IR to have surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. He’s in his twilight years but I wouldn’t count him out just yet. If Vinny Testaverte can play into his 80s… McNair’s got a chance.
Hank Steinbrenner is a chip off the old block, isn’t he? First, he helps escort Joe Torre out of New York. Now he’s running his mouth, saying that he would withdraw his offer for Johan Santana from the Twins if they didn’t give him a decision by… yesterday. Nobody believes you, Hank. You said you wouldn’t negotiate with Alex Rodriguez if he opted out of his contract and how did that one end up again? Oh yeah, your “word” fell through. Anyway, if you want to usher Santana into the BoSox’s hands, you’ll be sorry — yet again — in
San Antonio Spurs fans can exhale now that Tim Duncan’s MRI came back negative. Although he won’t play Wednesday versus the Dallas Mavericks, the results confirm no torn ligaments in his knee, so eventually he’ll be back in action.
The man informally known in the NBA as “Sideshow Bob,” Anderson Verejao, as agreed to an offer sheet with the Charlotte Bobcats. According to the Charlotte-Observer the deal doesn’t mean Verejao will end up in a Bobcats uniform. Cavs GM Danny Ferry said he’d match any offer sheets for Verejao and this current offer — reportedly for the mid-level exception for $5 mil + a year — is actually less than the $20 mil, 3 year deal offered originally to the Cavs big man. All I can say is — if he’s not around to help LeBron, Ferry needs to make moves to find someone who will be. How many injuries does Bron-Bron have to sustain before the team realizes that eventually the wear-and-tear will have “King James” running for the hills?
As of this week, the Washington Nationals have acquired two young, talented, controversial-off-the-field outfielders in Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes. Sometimes new scenarios and a fresh start helps kick-start the careers of young talent. Sometimes it does not. People deserve second-chances if they want them; as a fan I can only hope for the best, cross my fingers and hope Jim Bowden knows what he’s doing.
The emotionally charged Washington Redskins overcame what may be a season-ending injury to starting QB Jason Campbell in the first half and defeated the Chicago Bears, 24-16 at FedEx Stadium.
Count me as one in category 3. Morris is embarrassing himself. He’s letting ESPN turn him into the network’s very own Flavor Flav — a black man with a short but famous career, placed in a spot where he can make money by acting a fool on television.
Even if the Patriots don’t do it this year, down the line someone will go undefeated. Maybe a hundred years from now — anyone want to guess how many more years the league will be around? — but the possibility isn’t zero. If the Patriots found a way to be dominant during this free agency era, surely another team will stumble upon a similar winning formula. (Side question/Pot shot: Would a surveillance camera be involved…?)
Give the Marlins one thing — at least they’re consistent; consistently cheap. Today a deal should be finalized that 
They say better late than never, right? Well, as of last night 
As of this week, the Washington Nationals have acquired two young, talented, controversial-off-the-field outfielders in 
The Washington Redskins 