I am not sure why they call it the “dog days of summer.” As a matter of fact, I like my dog a lot. He is cool. He may bark at other dogs too much and leave a calling card in the wrong places at the right time, but for the most part I do not equate dogs with a negative connotation.
With that said, I play along with the term, as it is really s-l-o-w in the sports world these days.
The ice has melted and the NBA has dribbled the ball for the last time this season. Did I mention that the drafts have also concluded? The NHL draft I do not even follow as the players who are taken in most cases are nowhere near being ready for the NHL.
As for the NBA, finally this season we had a draft that featured many young men who were born in this country. Most of them will never achieve a college education and many of them will be broke when their career is over – that is, if they even have a career. So we move on to free agency and that gets our attention for about two weeks and it all goes away until Halloween.
Now is the season of “what if” for those two sports. What if we can get this guy or what if this team trades so and so. Yeah, that is all we have on that front.
Dusty vs. Tony
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the players who get snubbed and why the voting is flawed will take up about five days of chat via the talk shows and the blogs. After that, the annual augments will be put back in the closet only to be dusted off next year.
This year had a different twist though as Cincinnati Reds Manager Dusty Baker and former Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa are not getting along again. Fancy that. These two should get married. They bicker and argue about everything, even if Tony is retired.
This time Dusty is upset with Tony because Tony did not select Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto to this year’s All-Star team. In case you have a short memory, it was Phillips who called the Cardinals a bunch of “bitches.” That resulted in a team brawl that started between Phillips and Yadier Molina and resulted in Johnny Cueto kicking backup catcher Jason LaRue in the head and ending his career. Yep, some things you do not forget.
Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal is what I say. Nothing was ever done to Cueto, which still has me scratching my head, so I guess this is as close to payback as it gets. For my money, it is not enough.
London is good for you, mate
Pro football has taken time off until training camp starts later in July. I was amused when Rams COO Kevin Demoff was doing the media tour last week talking up the Rams and the upcoming season. It is a standard practice that has gone on for years. I was amused and insulted when he and the Rams continue to talk about how losing a home game to London is a good thing for the Rams. Sure, like someone from London is going to go to the game and be so inspired that he is going to take his next vacation or business trip to St. Louis.
“I say, old boy. Might you give me directions to Sweetie Pies? I am sure I can get a spot of tea there. Perhaps I can get my boogie on with those 13 Black Katz chaps?”
Yes, that is what the Rams want you to think, that this game in England is good for St. Louis. Really? Yes, it is a long summer already.
Minors in the majors
Then there are the Cardinals. They started with high hopes, but injury has certainly slowed down their pace. The Cardinals have bean fortunate to be in this thing, considering they have had to play players who would have been better served by playing in the minors. But the injury bug and the lack of talent on the trade market have forced first-year manager Mike Matheny to call on guys who are not ready.
The Cardinals need help. Pitching and a professional bat would be under my Christmas tree in July.
Olympic relief
I am hoping that the Olympics will provide some sort of relief as it will begin near the end of the month. Sure, I will watch events that come along every four years in hopes that they represent my country well. Throw in a few hot uniforms for the ladies and, yes, I am probably watching just long enough to remember a name until next week when I turn the page for the next four years.
