• By sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks they have won 21 out of 22 games since mid-September. They have never been to a World Series in franchise history (joined the league in ‘93). They came into the playoffs as a long-shot, the wild-card team. It’s almost impossible to not root for the Rockies right now. They face the winner of the Boston/Cleveland series next Wednesday for the league title.
• Cleveland took a 2-1 series lead over Boston after a 4-2 win yesterday at Jacobs Field. The ageless wonder Kenny Lofton hit a 2-run home run in the 2nd to give the Tribe an early lead, and pitcher Jake Westbrook outdueled Boston’s high-dollar gyroball-thrower, Daisuke Matsuzaka (who took the loss to heart), giving up only 2 earned runs on 6 2/3 innings with 7 hits allowed. Tonight Boston will try and bounce back by sending Tim Wakefield to the mound against Cleveland’s Paul Byrd. The noise out of Boston is that maybe the BoSox should start their ace Beckett on three days rest instead. We’ll see if manager Francona changes his mind at gametime.
• After last night’s 31-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Giants find themselves on a 4-game win streak and are back among the best in the NFC.
• Packers wide-receiver Koren Robinson’s 1-year suspension for substance-abuse ends Wednesday and Brett Favre is doing everything he can to help. Favre went through his own issues after he underwent ankle surgery in 1996 and became addicted to painkillers. Not to get all John Madden on you, but this is a case where Favre should be given much respect for not only using his experience to help get Robinson back on the field, but doing so without drawing attention to himself.
• Two co-defendants have agreed to a plea deal and plan on testifying against O.J. Simpson in his armed robbery trial.
• Norman “The Couch Slouch” Chad breaks down graduation rates in his very own special kind of way.
• I know you’re just dying to know what happened to Stephen A. Smith once he got demoted at the Philadelphia Inquirer so here goes — he appears to be setting himself up for a nice, high-quality lawsuit against his former employer.

I am disgusted by the decisions of Major League Baseball and Marc Ecko regarding the handling of the Barry Bonds 756th home run baseball. It makes for a funny story, but it compromises the prestige of the Baseball Hall of Fame and every record ever accomplished and/or broken in baseball. Dale Petroskey, President of the Baseball Hall of Fame said he would welcome the vandalized ball;

Statement From Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey Regarding Marc Ecko Ball Donation

“Since the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum first opened in 1939, the generosity of players, teams and fans, like Marc Ecko, has made it possible to preserve baseball history in Cooperstown. Every one of the nearly 35,000 artifacts in our collection has been donated,” said Dale Petroskey, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

“We’re grateful to Marc for donating this baseball, which represents one of the game’s most historic records. Baseball belongs to the fans — it always has and always will. The asterisk represents the voice of the fans at this moment in time. The level of interest reflects the strong bond between baseball and American culture. Our responsibility as a history museum is to present every story in proper context, and this ball allows us to do that.”

I am not a huge baseball fan, but I am a huge sports fan. I respect baseball for its rich history and the many great athletes that have played the game. My personal opinion is that their Hall of Fame (along with the NBA & NFL) should be more selective, but that is a different story. Baseball needs a salary cap and Commissioner Bud Selig completely botched and continues to mishandle the steroid problem. Dale Petroskey will only magnify this if the vandalized ball is allowed into the Hall of Fame.

Barry Bonds may have done steroids. He may not have earned his spot as the greatest home run hitter of all time. But no one knows the truth… I have more of a problem with Mark McGuire who inadvertently admitted to taking steroids during his Congressional hearings. Or Sammy Sosa who forgot how to speak English during his hearing and immediately became terrible after steroid testing began. Barry Bonds was an amazing player before the steroid era and continues to be an amazing hitter as MLB players are tested for steroids. Not to mention pitchers definitely took steroids as well, so the advantage couldn’t have been that great.

The world of baseball began to attack Barry Bonds in a witch hunt manner when it became evident that he would surpass Babe Ruth as the greatest hitter of all time. Hank Aaron maybe have held the record, but Babe Ruth is viewed as the homerun champ in mainstream America. Since Selig, Congress, and America were not able to legally prove that Bonds is a cheater, defacing the record breaking ball is the next best thing. It may not be the right analogy, but it’s similar to OJ being pronounced innocent, but he loses everything in a civil suit. It’s a loose comparison, but you get the point.

If the mutilated baseball is allowed into the Hall of Fame, the great museum of baseball history can no longer be taken seriously. Baseball does not make my shortlist, but this is just stupid. The idea of this defamed baseball being on display not only takes away from Barry Bonds legacy, but every other great honored by the Hall of Fame. The allure of Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, and Wade Boggs loses its magic. The Hall of Fame should be held at the highest standard, not comprised by ignorance or publicity.

If the branded baseball is allowed into the Hall of Fame where will it end? What else will be accepted? Roger Clemens has been linked to steroids by multiple sources, but no one as chased after Clemens. It is interesting that after the Jason Grimsley investigation Clemens is no longer playing as if he had found the fountain of youth… What if I bought Clemens’ 1000th strike out as a New York Yankee ball and donated it to the Hall of Fame with an asterisk branded on the ball? Would it be accepted? Let’s take it one step farther. What if Bill Cosby donated Josh Gibson’s Negro League Pittsburgh Crawfords jersey to the Hall of Fame with the inscription, “If America allowed me to play I would be the single season record holder instead of Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, or Babe Ruth.” Or what if I got a hold of a Negro League Satchel Paige baseball and branded “This ball would have kept Babe Ruth to only 713 Home Runs if I was white,” then donated it? How would it be received?

• That young QB in Washington is something special. In his first big, primetime showdown with division opponent Eagles, Jason Campbell stepped up and made throws when he needed to in clutch moments on the way to a 20-12 win. Surrounded by solid offensive weapons and a very potent D, Campbell will turn many heads this year. And on the Eagles — they will not win the division if all they have to rely on is a 75% healthy Donovan McNabb and “Mr. Everything,” Brian Westbrook. They need help on O, and fast.
• McNabb, interviewed by James Brown on “Real Sports With Brian Gumbell,” says that black QBs are criticized more than white QBs. Say what you will about the balance of professional sports but to deny any type of racial imbalance — taking for instance just last year was the first time black coaches got to and won the Super Bowl — is to deny reality.
• An O.J. piece about how Juice always knows how to steal the spotlight – by one of my favorite reads, Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post.
• The Falcons, finally realizing their season’s fate lies in the hands of Joey Harrington, reconsider signing free agent QB Byron Leftwich.
• Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas hit 3 (!) homers to help Toronto beat Boston in their series opener. With the Yankees’ win over Baltimore last night, they approached the AL East division lead within 3 1/2 games of those BoSox. Get hyped — October is approaching…
• A thought: what rath will follow Jets coach Eric Mangini for snitching on BeliCheat and the highly-powered owner Robert Kraft, they who started and nurtured his early career?

• Tank Williams gets a new start in Dallas after signing a two year deal with the ‘boys, worth the league minimum, and prorated this year as he must sit out half the season due to a league suspension. Not all folks in Dallas are happy about it either.
• Byron Leftwich gets a chance to step in and possibly contribute in Atlanta after signing a 2 year deal worth $7 mil.
• Officially, O.J. is charged with 10 felonies in Las Vegas, including kidnapping.
• The Mets are slipping fast. Having now lost 2 straight to the Washington Nationals, New York finds themselves only ahead of the Phillies by 1.5 games and on the fast track to getting bumped from the playoffs. Never underestimate the young team playing for end-of-the-year pride…
• Conflicting opinions on the McNabb comments to HBO on how black QBs have higher expectations. Agree. Disagree.