Football season is closing in fast.  Training camps are set to open this week and exhibition games start within two weeks.  Who will be the man at QB for Cleveland?  Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn?  I am fired up for the NFL this year.   I picked Buffalo for the 33 pool I get in, and the reason that is good is because I have to root for whoever is playing against Buffalo to score 33 points every week, cool considering their defense sucks.  Here are some great stories from other sites:

• Sportspoop delivers a story on how pro wrestlers are ugly but somehow ended up with hot daughters.
• Legend Of Cecilio Guante tries to figure out where the 2009 Cleveland Indians went wrong and why this team cannot win games.
• Sports PR 101 writes a good article about what Walter Kronkite would have thought of ESPN.
• Sharapova’s Thigh has a video of Ron Artest celebrating his new contract signing with a video of him rapping in China.
• Detroit4lyfe goes into baseball Hall of Fame mode by sharing what are a great bunch of Rickey Henderson stories.
• The World Of Isaac posted video of Leif Olson and the greatest hole-in-one you may ever see.
• Eleven Warriors profile the great Pepper Johnson, a Michigan native who flocked South to be a standout player for Ohio State in the 80’s.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers returned home from a five game road trip to post a 4-0 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters.  The first game of the short two-game homestand against Williamsport was highlighted by the great pitching of Scrapper starter Marty Popham.

Popham pitched five solid innings, racking up nine strikeouts and yielding only three hits, to lead the great pitching performance displayed at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers got on the board in the third inning on an RBI-single from Kyle Smith and an RBI-double from Jason Smit for a 2-0 Scrappers lead. 

In the fifth inning, Chun Chen led off the inning with a double and would score on a Kyle Bellows RBI-double.  Ben Carlson’s single plated Bellows to close the scoring with the Scrappers in command 4-0.

Austin Adams and Cory Burns pitched the final four innings to preserve the shutout for Popham’s third victory of the 2009 season.    The Scrapper trio of pitchers ended the game with 13 strikeouts.

I have a nice profile piece on Scrapper starter Marty Popham to post, but I have to get a good picture of him to go with the piece.  That article will be up real soon.

Smit-O-Meter:  1-4, Double (7), RBI (18), Currently hitting .273 

Some things in life never seem to materialize.  With all of the factors working against the Mahoning Valley Thunder, their 2009 season came to an end on the wrong side of a 63-43 score against the Green Bay Blizzard.  When you add up all of the season-ending injuries, coaching changes, and constant roster moves, it seemed like a nearly impossible task put in front of coaches Chris MacKeown and Brennan Booth.  This game typified what things could have been, as well as, what never materialized.

The Thunder took the opening kickoff and marched 38 yards capitalized by a Tom Zetts to Jermaine Moye 9-yard TD pass for a 7-0 lead, the only score by either team in the first quarter.  Zetts found Pat Clark for a 36-yard TD putting the Thunder up 14-0.

After a Green Bay TD to cut the lead to 14-7, Mahoning Valley’s offense took the field on their own 5-yard line.  Zetts fumbled while eluding a furious Green Bay rush and had the ball jarred in the end zone.  Green Bay pounced on the loose pigskin to tie the game at 14-14.

YSU Alum and Mineral Ridge graduate Brian Palmer kicked a 45-yard FG tying a franchise record to give the Thunder a 17-14 lead.  Palmer had three FG’s on the night (45, 35, 22) and made all but one extra point.  He also had a great night kicking the ball off.

On the very next possession, Green Bay QB and former Cincinnati Bearcat, Gino Guidugli found his favorite target Nate Forse for a 47-yard touchdown putting the Blizzard back on top 21-17.

Mahoning Valley responded as Moye caught a pass from Zetts and made a great run-after-catch to slip into the end zone and put Mahoning Valley back on top 24-21.

After another Green Bay drive and TD, Palmer kicked a 35-yarder to cut the Green Bay halftime lead to just one point at 28-27.  The first half was a perfect example of what could have been for the Thunder’s 2009 season.  They played with fire and intensity, minimized mistakes, and were playing dead even with a 9-6 team.

Unfortunately, any level of American football plays two halves.  The Thunder jumped on top riding another Palmer kick from 22 yards to take a 30-28 lead.  Green Bay scored the next two TD’s and had a 42-30 lead in the fourth quarter.  The Thunder tried to battle back as Zetts found wide receiver convert Frashon McGee for a 27-yard TD to cut the lead to 42-36.  Unfortunately, the Thunder got no closer than the six-point deficit and went on to lose 63-43.  The last Thunder TD came on a 31-yard pass from Zetts to McGee.

Tom Zetts finished the game 20-43 for 272 yards and five TD’s.  Jermaine Moye led Mahoning Valley with 8 catches for 108 yards and two TD’s.  Gino Guidugli was 23-32 for 271 yards and 4 TD’s for Green Bay.  Turnovers played a big role in this game as Mahoning Valley coughed it up three times compared to Green Bay’s one.

There will be plenty more Thunder coverage over the next couple of weeks including a season summary I will be compiling.  There will also be a feature on Christian Aleshere and Anthony Farris, the voices of the Thunder.  I interviewed seven people including an owner, Tim Chesney, after the game about the future of this team playing in Youngstown again next season – look for bits and pieces coming soon!

The newest gimmick to boost ratings on Monday Night Raw is to have a guest host who will serve as an on-air commissioner, matchmaker, and celebrity presence.  This week’s guest host is Shaquille O’Neal.  I got to thinking about some people who would want to run with the ball in this capacity and have designed a Top 10 list of potential hosts.

#1 Dana White

Dana White would be my choice for #1 guest host.  After what Brock Lesnar did at UFC 100 proves that anyone can leave the WWE, but the WWE never leaves anyone who was there.  There could be some real heat to have White come out and blame McMahon for all Lesnar said and did.

#2 Don King

Don King is one of the most unliked sports promoters ever.  Wouldn’t it be great to see King in the WWE?  He could come out to some grand entrance, run his mouth for about ten minutes while trying to use as many three or more syllable words as often as possible.  Would be great TV!

#3 Howard Stern

The self-proclaimed “King of All Media”, Howard Stern, would be a great choice for McMahon.  Not only will he draw huge numbers in viewership, but he will talk about it on the air for four weeks in between Robin Quivers G-Cups and Artie Lange’s DUI.  Any Stern fan knows that the show still rocks but that Howard has mellowed a bit through the years.  What better opportunity to regain his edge.

#4 Joseph Jackson

Another guy who can chirp to the masses under any circumstances is Joseph Jackson.  Maybe the WWE will install a segment where the loser gets beat with Joseph’s belt if he loses.  They could even take five random wrestlers and have Joseph whip them into shape to perform a Jackson 5 classic at the end of Raw.

#5 Hercules

The original steroid abuser, Hercules, can teach the boys a few things about rationing the supply to get past the age of 40.  He could also beat up anyone on the Raw roster who will not comply.  Hercules was a McMahon if you do the geneology correctly.

#6 Michael Phelps

Who better to pass the bong with than Phelps?  The WWE is notorious for their wild drug abusing personalities.  I could see Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy lighting one up under the ramp before a main event.  It wouldn’t hurt their careers any.  Look at what hanging out with Michael Phelps did for the career of Braylon Edwards (17 drops in 2008, led the league).

#7 Erin Andrews

Erin Andrews is currently living out her WWE fantasies muired in controversy.  The peephole video was nothing.  When Andrews gets her opportunity to be the guest host of Raw, she will surely go over the edge to get the heat off of that silly internet video which has recently surfaced.  She will face Steven A. Smith in a steel cage match filled with racial overtones, wardrobe malfunctions, and guest referee Joe Namath.  Can you imagine the numbers?

#8 Donte’ Stallworth

Stallworth would probably do the WWE hosting gig for a dollar.  The reason I say a dollar is because it is income considered work so he can leave the house.  Of course, arranging for transportation and the post party are thing Vince McMahon will have to iron out.

#9 President Barack Obama

Seriously, how cool would it be for our President of The United States to host a wrestling program?  Obama has already proven that he is a normal guy to an extent and he does television appearances frequently.  This may be the most accurate guess on the whole list.  Don’t be suprised!

#10 Charles Barkley

Barkley would be a perfect fit for the WWE.  Never short on opinion or the cockeyed reasoning to back up his opinions, Sir Charles could feud with Jim Ross and the rest of the announcers about the way they handle the mic.  It would be a monumental Raw to see Barkley calling the shots. 

Congratulations Mark Buehrle for throwing the 18th perfect game in Major League Baseball history!  With a no-hitter to his credit already, Buehrle joined some pretty elite company yesterday with his perfect game.  He owes DeWayne Wise big time for preserving the fete with a great catch in the ninth. Here are some great stories:

• Sharapova’s Thigh digs into the archives for a random retro baseball player profile on Frank Tanana.
• NESW Sports found Kevin Costner and Toronto Maple Leafs player Luke Schenn are chased down at a golf outing by two drinking cougars.
• Style Points has the letter sent from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to Ben Roethlisberger.
• Fansided writes about the Top 10 sports stories that need to go the eff away.
• Detroit4lyfe angrily rips up the Detroit Tigers sudden lack of offensive production.
• Not Qualified To Comment spotted ESPN goofing up on the length of baseball games.
• Babes Love Baseball tells Mark Buehrle that he better do more than high-five DeWyne Wise for preserving his perfect game in the ninth.
• The Viking Age tries to offer up reasons why Jared Allen dressed like Gene Autry for the ESPY’s.
• The World Of Isaac finds Detroit Councilwoman Martha Reeves not even knowing who the Detroit Lions are.
• Zoner Sports was in attendance for Mark Buehrle’s perfect game, and gives you the feelings of watching something like that live.

The Mahoning Valley Thunder will close out their 2009 season at home this Saturday when they take on 9-6 Green Bay.  Mahoning Valley is coming off of their second win of the 2009 season, a 41-39 victory over Albany.  The win broke a two-plus year road losing streak and snapped a 13-game losing streak for Mahoning Valley.  What made the win so improbable was losing CJ Brewer on the opening kickoff.  Brewer was going to be the guy who picked up the slack for injured leader Quorey Payne.

Coach Chris MacKeown was pleased with the effort of his team.  “We started the game with one healthy receiver, CJ breaks his hand on the opening kickoff, Moye is forced to play a position he had never played before.  We played the game with two defensive backs at receiver, we’ve got a quarterback who is making his first start ever, we’re on the road against a team fighting for a playoff spot, and we end up getting a victory on the road.  It was huge.  I’m excited about how we did it under those circumstances.  We eliminated mistakes and won using our formula.”

Frashon McGee will get the call at receiver this week.  “The H is an important spot which CJ was going to fill.  You have to be intelligent and read the defensive coverages, the H has to get us into good situations.  McGee will play there for us this week”, commented MacKeown.

Should be a good crowd this week with hometown favorite, Tom Zetts, making his first home start at quarterback, reduced beer prices, and coming off of a big win.  MacKeown commented on the potential crowd, “I will be disappointed if we see less than 5000 people here Saturday.  Although people might look at the record and say, I’m not going.  Tom Zetts is starting at quarterback, got a win in his first start,  and I hope Youngstown comes out and supports one of their native sons.”

Zetts was not as optimistic about 5000 fans.  “I wouldn’t be disappointed, 5000 is alot of people.  That would be a huge boost and I hope we have a good crowd, I’m looking forward to it.”  Zetts also commented on his future in football when asked if this was it, “I couldn’t tell you.  I thought I was done when I left YSU, and then I thought I was done when I played in Italy, who knows, maybe this is it, maybe it isn’t.  It’s too soon to tell.  I am going to try to keep myself in shape in case anything ever comes up.”

The Mahoning Valley – Green Bay contest is Saturday night at The Covelli Centre.  Beer is selling at a greatly reduced price, Tom Zetts will want to put on a show for family and friends, Coach MacKeown wants the second consecutive win, and the Thunder want to deliver against a playoff team to prove their underachievements this season.  Come and watch!

It’s like somebody keeps trying to poke the Pittsburgh Pirates mascot logo’s other eye out.  Problem is that it is happening from within – sabotage, conspiracy, and greed.  Meet the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Major League Baseball should impose fines to Pirate management and ownership for not even trying to win.  This team is only 7.5 games out of first place right now, but they keep making moves to eat away at what they are paying out.

About a month ago, Nate McLouth was peddled to Atlanta.  Sure, Charlie Morton might end up being OK someday, I grasp that logic.  McLouth was a proven commodity who they did not want to pay, so they moved him.  Same with Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Bobby Bonilla, Barry Bonds, Doug Drabek, Nyjer Morgan, and on and on and on… 

This pattern sickens me.  The LaRoche trade yesterday confirms what so many have known for so long.  Pittsburgh’s baseball franchise doesn’t care a lick about trying to win.  They take good players and feed the rest of baseball with the talent they grow.  They (management) then whine about how they cannot afford to pay these guys because attendance is so poor.  I’m sick of that story too.  Keep bodies on the field and you might put bodies in seats.

I am serious, this practice needs to be reviewed by the powers that be.  If I were a season ticket holder for this team, I would be calling my lawyer to find out how to recoup my wasted money.  There was absolutely no intent to win in the past 18 seasons.  Pittsburgh is simply a flea market for the rest of baseball.  Trading your All-Star outfielder (McLouth) before the break when you are 5 games out of first place is ridiculous.

I am all for sending the Pirates management elsewhere.  Let’s trade them to New York or Boston so they can display their Lemonade Tycoon mentality on a bigger stage.  Bring someone in to own and run the team that wants to win.  Sign Roy Halladay, make a damn run.  Do something to prove to people you care about their interests an inkling.

Maybe it’s because of the Penguins and Steelers successes that Pirates management feels they can be lax and just get through another harvest without trying to win.  Yeah, that’s it… the public already feels good about Pittsburgh sports, so screw this Pirates winning thing, lets keep dumping players and the Steelers will open training camp and people can root for a team trying to win again.

Nothing against the players, because they are trying their hardest to still win games.  If Garrett Jones, Ryan Doumit and Andrew McCutchon keep performing the way they have been, they too may get an “E” ticket out to a winner.  Can’t keep guys with stats like that. 

Lastings Milledge sucks.  The Mets found that out firsthand last season.  He couldn’t even crack the lineup in Washington.  Pittsburgh basically gave the Nationals Nyjer Morgan, who has been on fire ever since, for Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.  Mark my words, Milledge will be cut by years end.  Then again, it is Pittsburgh.  They may try to put him in the pen with the two teenage Indians who won the reality show (more cheap contracts).  Maybe next year, my 88 year-old grandmother can hit cleanup when they run out of people.

If you do not want to even attempt winning, sell the team, not all of the players.

Maybe the Cavs will sign Curly Neal too.  We know he could handle the ball, he shoots better than Ben Wallace did, and at the ripe age of 58, he would bring more experience and a great winning percentage to Cleveland.  You know I’m just kidding…   Here are some other great stories: 

• Josh Q. Public is a Yankee hater much like myself, but here come the Yankees.
• Outside The Boxscore wrote an entertaining piece called Hitler is not happy, Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson broke up.
• No Guts, No Glory finds new Minnesota Wolves GM David Kahn chasing Ricky Rubio around and too busy to find a new coach.
• PSAMP comments on last nights near brawl in the Brewers vs Pirates game in Jason Kendall, Ryan Braun and the Brewers suck.
• MoonDog Sports  takes a good look at the 2009 NFL rookie signings.
• Hugging Harold Reynolds says that Rick Reilly should leave the Top Ten lists to bloggers.
• Major League Jerk previews the Big 10 Conference for the upcoming college football season.
• In Game Now reports that Shaq will be an upcoming guest host on WWE’s Monday Night Raw.
• The Friendly Blogfines says Rich Harden is afraid of the sun and Wrigley Field.

Michael Phelps cleaned house at the ESPY’s.  I agreed with most of his wins, it isn’t often that someone wins eight gold medals.  Anyway, lots of ESPY coverage as well as many other great stories:

• PSAMP talks about a new show that Shaq is filming where he takes on other athletes in their sport.  In football he is facing off with Ben Roethlisberger.
• Major League Jerk takes a look at NBA fights, new and old, and asks – How Does It Make You Feel?  Pointing out that players involved in a mid-80’s fight turned out OK.
• The always entertaining Bugs & Cranks has a story of how a Royals announcer compared Dan Wheeler to a fetus.
• Babes Love Baseball are wondering if this year’s Home Run Derby has screwed up Joe Mauer’s swing.
• Detroit4lyfe says that Samuel L. Jackson was a disappointment as host of the ESPY’s and Tim Tebow needs to hire someone to dress himself.
• My Sports Rumors talks about how miscommunication between Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez on the field has turned into management not sharing the loot.
• NESW Sports has a video of behind-the-scenes footage of Peyton Manning at the ESPY’s.
• Not Qualified To Comment takes a look at the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas.
• Josh Q. Public writes about Tom Watson and other geriatric moments in sports.
• Sports Rubbish has the sad video of Formula One Driver Henry Surtees killed in a crash at Brands Hatch.

Garrett Jones has been on a tear lately.  In fact, he was long overdue to contribute as major leaguer.  Those wacky Pirates front office people will make you think they traded Nate McLouth to get Jones into the lineup.  Don’t buy it.  Had that been the case they would have never asked for Lastings Milledge when they peddled Nyjer Morgan off to the Nationals.  Either way, Jones has had an opportunity to get some AB’s with the Pirates and has more than made the most of his chances.

The 6’4″, 245 lb. outfielder turned 28 on June 21.  Kind of old for a rookie prospect.  Through Sunday, Jones was batting .286 with 7 HR and 9 RBI.  What’s impressive about those numbers is that he has only had 56 at-bats so far.  Fourteen games and homer in every-other-game.  Pretty impressive.

Jones was seemingly a lifetime member of the Minnesota Twins farm system.  He racked up over 1,000 minor league games while in that system.  The Pirates could not let Jones sit in Indianapolis too long as he was tearing the cover off of the ball.

Jones’ emergence as a powerhitter has me scared of what the front office must be thinking.  Either they are going to play out his hot run and send him back to Indy, or they are going to trade Milledge or Moss because there isn’t room for him in the outfield.  My prediction would be the earlier.  Jones will be sent back down once he cools off.

The run that Garrett Jones has been on lately has been fun to watch.  His two homers against San Francisco were the only two runs the Pirates needed for a win, and that was in 14 innings.  More impressively, one of the homers was off of Tim Lincecum and the other was a 14th inning game-winning shot.