THE SPORT HOT NEWS

When last saw Andruw Jones..........

He was being unceremoniously dumped......fired......discarded......by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Just one year .........and the Dodgers were cutting their losses.

Could you blame them?

Last year, Jones played in only 75 games........batted a measly .158...........with 3 home runs and 14 RBI's while striking out 76 times.

We have been harsh critics of Andruw. He.......with all that "potential".....but never asserted himself........like so many greats before him.

Talent wise.....he is the best pure center fielder.......I've ever seen play the game. With all due respects to Willie Mays......I actually saw Jones play.......live.....in person. No balls ever got over his head........nothing fell in front.

A "phenom"..........

Then........he got married.....signed a huge mega-million dollar contract.......and got lazy. Or, maybe he signed the huge deal.......and then got married.......Whatever..........he got lazy.

And when the Atlanta Braves did not re-sign him after the 2007 season..........he took off to Hollywood.



Well........fast forward to yesterday: Andruw Jones hits 3 HRs as Rangers win

Andruw........has re-invented himself with the Texas Rangers! Barely making the team in spring training, Jones has already hit 14 homers.......driven in 34 runs.....and has a respectable .250 batting average .......in 46 games.

At age 32.........his best years may be behind him.......but it's good to see........he finally.....gets it.

Too bad it could'nt be with his old team..........the Braves.

Here comes the NFL.......

Yes..........it's back! Saturday, teams all cross the country started up their training camps......Those dreaded "two-a-days"............morning and afternoon practices and drills.

The pre-season begins this Sunday, in Canton, Ohio, with the Indianapolis Colts against the Washington Redskins.

Welcome back........guys.........you sure were missed!






Blowing it .......twice........in Philly..........


The Atlanta Braves scored 27 runs in the 3 game series in Philadelphia. I'm not a math major, but that comes to 9 runs per game and puts your team in positions to win. Unless you are the Braves........


Saturday, the Bravos blew a 6 run lead, and lost, 10-9. Sunday, it was a 5 run lead which evaporated ..........resulting in a 12-10 loss on the field and the loss of All-star catcher Brian McCann (right).



Atlanta can take solace in going 3-3 on this road trip. But they will look back on those two recent losses.......and think what might have been.








Andruw Jones........benched!

This is what happens when you're batting .166, have only 2 home runs, and a measly 12 rbi's.

From Yahoo Sports:

Andruw Jones finally reached a point on Sunday when his $36.2 million contract was no longer enough to save him from a benching.

Jones, the Dodgers' colossally slumping center fielder, was replaced in the lineup by Andre Ethier, who had sat out the first two games after Juan Pierre's return from the disabled list because the Dodgers were facing left-handed starting pitchers in both of those games. Jones went 1 for 6 in those games, doubling once but hitting no other ball out of the infield.

"I just needed to get Andre in the lineup, and Matt (Kemp) is hitting really well," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "Right now, we're going with the hot hands. I think you have to keep everyone as sharp as you can and get them as much playing time as you can. ...More

Western Conference Champs.......

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs last night . Yes , Kobe Bryant, and those young Lakers ....got it done. Speaking of Kobe........Who's better now? Kobe? Or Michael? The debate continues..........But..........Kobe ...........is........awesome!



Bum knee?


Andruw Jones was placed on the disable list for the first time in his career............With the Los Angeles Dodgers.......I.....personally admired Jones. Well.......up until the past couple of years. It's sad, because I saw him as the best centerfielder ever to play the game........until he signed that contract..........and got fat.....and ...got content. Now , he will be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee.



The back pages......of the New York tabloids......are getting civil again......

The New York Mets have won three in a row.......Willie Randolph is breathing easier.......Amazing what winning will do in the big apple.



Braves win a road game..........

Yes, the Atlanta Braves won yesterday..........a road game. Interesting stat.........The Braves outscored the Brewers in the 3 game series, 10-5........yet lost two of three......oh, those one run games.


It's the weekend, baby.....

Here's to the weekend..........most folks are off from work.......as I have said in the past.....I am not ......most folks.....(I in fact work tomorrow night). But .......for the rest of you.......

Have a great weekend!

They're playing.....basketball! The NBA play-offs are a beautiful thing. The cream is rising to the top. The pretenders are being replaced by real contenders. The L. A. Lakers blew off the Denver Nuggets in 4 straight. Orlando dispatched of Toronto in 5......as did New Orleans with Dallas....also in 5. Phoenix is gone. Done in by San Antonio........once again. Tonights games features Atlanta at Boston in a series tied at 2 apiece. Also , Washington at Cleveland, as the Cavs (leading 3-1) try to close out the Wizards. Let's play some ball.

Smoltz....returning to the pen? In today's issue of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, John Smoltz hinted at returning to the Atlanta Braves bullpen in the role of the closer once again. After going on the disable list Tuesday with inflammation in the rotator cuff and a biceps tendon in his pitching arm, Smoltz said it's possible he would return to the closer role where he dominated during the 202-04 seasons. Makes sense to me. At 40, no need trying to pitch 6 or 7 innings as a starter when he can dominate for an inning or two as a reliever. And we all know how this years' bullpen sucks.

Early season surprises......fact.....or fiction. Major league baseball will enter the month of May with traditional cellar dwellers Florida Marlins and Baltimore Orioles leading their respective divisions. The Marlins lead the NL east with a 15-11 record.......while the Orioles lead the AL east with a record of 15-11 also. The Arizona Diamondbacks have the best record in baseball (19-7) , and have a 6 game lead in the NL west. Both Chicago teams lead in the central divisions........the White Sox (14-11) lead the AL ...while the Cubs (16-9) lead the NL. Not surprising, the woeful Texas Rangers have the worst record......9-17.

He's..............back..........Larry Brown was named Head Coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. Does this guy get around ......or what? Since 1972, Brown has coached 9 professional teams and 2 college teams. They include, Carolina (ABA), Denver, New Jersey, San Antonio, L. A. Clippers, Indiana, Philadelphia, Detroit, and New York. He also coached at Kansas and UCLA. He is the only coach to win an NBA championship (Detroit 2004), and a NCAA championship (Kansas 1987-88). Bobcat president, Michael Jordan made the announcement Tuesday.......Hey Michael, "Great coach......but ....exactly how long do you think Mr. Brown will stay"?

The Dodgers want a refund......L. A. Dodger centerfielder, Andruw Jones is not what the Dodgers thought they were getting when they signed him to a 2 year deal worth $36.2 million. Through 26 games, Jones is hitting .165 with just 1 home run and 4 RBI's. He has struck out 29 times. Can you say , "Biggest bust ....of all time"? I can. Jones got fat and lazy. He came into spring training some 30 pounds over weight. The Braves were smart in not re-signing him. The Dodgers got suckered.......Oh well..........

Finally..... Are they still playing Hockey?

Five Things...........We learned from this weekend.....


(1). The Atlanta Hawks do not belong in the NBA play-offs ...........What did you expect? The Hawks were up against the number 1 seed.....the Boston Celtics........and .....got whacked 104-81. Atlanta may get swept.....but ....hey, they made the play-offs.

(2). Dallas Mavericks' forward, Dirk Nowitzki.............is a woos...........







(3). Danaca Patrick finally won a race .....The sexy and talented Patrick became the first women ...ever to win an Indy race....

(4). The Atlanta Braves..........may not be as bad ......as .......I once wrote........They swept the LA Dodgers over the weekend.....and had many a Dodger fan asking .........."Why, oh why.......did we ever sign.....one Andruw Jones........He of the .169 batting average with 1..........yes 1 home run?

(5). The PGA........sucks without Tiger Woods....... Woods underwent arthroscopic knee surgery..........and will be a non performer for about 4 weeks...........Did you even know there was a PGA event this week? Did you even care? Case .....and .......point.