Sports Bytes - March 30, 2010

President Obama is scheduled to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day for the Washington Nationals. If he tears his rotator cuff in the process, will his new healthcare legislation cover the surgery? . . .

Add NFLer Joey Porter to the list of athletes who believe they are entitled to ignore DUI laws . . .
Excellent column in Monday's Boston Globe by Dan Shaugnessy about a 1970s high school football player who was paralyzed by a bullet to his neck in a race-related shooting. Following the paralysis Darryl Williams became a hero to all who knew him. Unfortunately, he passed away over the weekend from respiratory failure at the age of 46. It is a great read . . .

NFL.com has an interesting poll, "Top All-Time Picks", where in head-to-head matchups fans select which players proved to be better draft choices . . .

Is there something in the water in Pittsburgh? Another Steeler has been accused of assaulting a woman in a nightclub. Anshonoe Mills claims that Steelers WR Santonio Holmes "grabbed her face and threw a glass at her when he objected to her sitting on a couch in the Rain Night Club's VIP section March 7. Mills says the glass hit her and cut her near the eye" . . .

The May 2010 issue of The Ring magazine lists 20 boxing insiders' predictions for the May 1 Mayweather-Mosley showdown. I expected Mayweather to win the vote, but not by the score of 17-3 . . .

Ambidextrous Yankees minor league pitcher Pat Venditte may pitch today against the Braves. "Venditte wears a six-finger glove with two thumb holes" . . .

It's bad enough we've had to listen to Tiger Woods' assorted rendezvous. Now we have to hear about Roger Clemens' alleged unsuccessful bedroom romps? . . .

SI.com's Tom Verducci selected his top-10 baseball teams of all-time. The top three were Yankees (1927, 1939, and 1998), as were five of the 10 teams chosen overall . . . I was surprised that Verducci chose the Reds 1975 team over the 1976 team. Although the '75 team won more games (108-102), the '76 team swept both the Phillies and Yankees in the postseason. As an 8-year-old boy I remember watching my Yankees get destroyed in four games. They were completely overmatched . . .
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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 29, 2010

Boxers are enigmas. For ex., although they risk their lives each time they compete, many are safest when they are inside the ring. The British newspaper News of the World reported yesterday that former undefeated world champion Joe Calzaghe has developed a cocaine problem since retiring from the ring. Calzaghe confessed to the British daily, "I very much regret my occasional use of cocaine in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring." Calzaghe's problems are common. Many boxers have had difficulty navigating through life outside the ring, whether they were retired or not. Arturo Gatti was a prime example. His partying lifestyle was legendary. He lived the way he fought--at 150 mph. Both his manager Pat Lynch and his promoter Main Events dreaded the months between his fights. (I was PR Director of Main Events at this time) We spent the time between bouts anxiously awaiting his return to training camp. In camp Gatti was disciplined and he focused on the task at hand. Also, he was many miles removed from the hell-raising environments that he frequented between fights. Gatti and Calzaghe, like most boxers, built their lives around training camp and their next bouts. It forced them to be disciplined and provided them with boundaries and restrictions. In Calzaghe's case, now that he is retired he will need to find another purpose that will demand from him the same type of discipline. Let's hope he finds it . . .

So Gilbert Arenas, a guy who already has a prior gun possession conviction, is sentenced to only 30 days in a halfway house. Only 30 days despite his storing four guns in his team locker and allegedly challenging a teammate to an O.K. Corral-style duel. Meanwhile, Plaxico Burress, who had no prior record and who threatened nobody with his gun, was given two years in prison. And although Burress' gun did fire accidently, he was the only person injured by it. Pathetic . . . New York Post basketball columnist Peter Vecsey ripped the ridiculous ruling in his Sunday "Hoop Du Jour" column . . .

Perhaps it's nothing, but my eyebrows were raised when I heard that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is not attending the team's voluntary offseason workout program--especially since only a week ago head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Big Ben was expected to attend . . .

Can it really be the first time since 2004 that Duke has reached the Final Four? . . .

NY Yankees GM Brian Cashman says that Joba Chamberlain's long term role with the Yanks has not yet been determined . . . There isn't much to determine. Either the guy works effectively in the bullpen or he must be traded. I'm wondering whether Cashman is still floating the idea of Chamberlain as a potential starter for no other reason than to increase his trade value . . .

If you would like to apply for the position of St. John's University men's basketball team apply here. No experience necessary . . .

Although the Bible advises that "this too shall pass", it obviously is not referring to poor pitching performances from Mike Pelfrey. The NY Mets starter was pounded yesterday for six runs and 12 hits in a loss to the Cardinals . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 26, 2010

Alex Rodriguez is still "omerta" about his meeting with the Feds. I don't know if A-Rod has ever stayed silent this long about anything . . . Perhaps the only more unusual "No Comment" was the one uttered by always outspoken NY Giants DE Osi Umenyiora. According to the NY Post Umenyiora refused seven times to answer a question about his happiness with the team . . .

Too bad about Cornell losing to Kentucky. It was a good Cinderella story in a tournament full of Cinderella stories . . .

Not exactly a top-seed performance by the Orange, was it?

I'm glad the Yanks finally accepted the inevitable and named Phil Hughes the fifth starter. Joba is not a starter and Aceves did not impress. Hughes was the logical choice, especially considering that two years ago they were expecting him to the be the anchor of their future rotation . . .

Rumors about Donovan McNabb being traded to St. Louis are just that: rumors. Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo shot down any speculation that the team is interested in the All-Pro QB. Any team interested in McNabb will have to part with a top-42 draft pick. According to the Associated Press the Raiders appear to be the franchise most interested in the long-time Eagle. Poor Donovan . . . Incidentally, I don't understand why the Eagles believe their chances of winning are better without McNabb. Sure he's had difficulty rising to the occasion in some big games, but what makes Eagles' management believe the team's postseason fortunes will change with Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick at the helm? Say what you want about McNabb, but the guy was an All-Pro last season. And as a Giants' fan who holds no love for the Eagles, I'd much rather be facing Vick or Kolb than Donovan . . .

Our prayers go out to the family of former NFL linebacker Elijah Alexander, who passed away at the age of 39 after a five year battle with cancer . . . There have been too many stories recently about young people dying . . .

NFL teams should consider paying incoming rookies by the kilo instead of by the dollar. SI.com's Don Banks reports that NFL personnel evaluators are concerned about "the increased number of prospects who have a history of marijuana use in their background, with players often acknowledging a failed drug test for pot in college in interviews with team executives" . . .

Serving as St John's Red Storm basketball coach is apparently as attractive as working in NY Governor David Patterson's administration . . .

The Redskins may be a reality show waiting to happen. First they sign former KC Chiefs RB Larry Johnson, a man who plead guilty to "throwing a drink on a woman and of pushing another", and who was released by the Chiefs after using his Twitter account to criticize Chiefs coach Todd Haley and to insult a Chiefs fan with an "anti-gay" slur. Now it appears the Redskins may be interested in locker room favorite Terrell Owens . . . What's next, trading for Michael Vick or Ben Roethlisberger? . . .
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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 24, 2010

Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Stephen A. Smith angers a lot of people with his loud, abrasive style, which is unfortunate because he is a damn good writer. Proof of that can be found in his most recent column, "More civic-minded athletes would be welcome". Whether or not you agree with his position, you will acknowledge that it is a well-written, heart-felt piece that too often is lacking in today's newspapers . . . On a personal note, when I was PR Director for Main Events I spoke with Smith a few times via e-mail. Not only was he not obnoxious, he was a gentleman who appreciated my contacting him . . .

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey sold 700,000 PPV buys last week. It's a very strong number considering the weak economy and that Pacquiao was the sole engine driving the promotion . . . Also, don't underestimate how unusual it is for a foreign star boxer to generate those PPV numbers, especially when his opponent is also a non-American. Normally it is only American stars who sell well, such as Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, etc . . . Even England's Lennox Lewis only sold big PPV numbers when he was fighting popular Americans . . .

NFL owners have voted 28-4 in favor of fixing an overtime rule that wasn't broken. The new rule states that the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime will "get a possession if the coin-toss winning team scores a field goal with the first possession" . . . Terrible move. There is nothing better in sports than sudden death . . . If they simply moved the kickoff forward five yards to where it was prior to 1994 (35 yd line) the receiving team would start their first OT drive with worse field position than they usually do now. In fact, considering how many more kickers would reach the end zone, most teams would probably start at their own 20 yd line . . .

ESPN reports that prosecutors want Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas to serve jail time for storing guns in his team locker. They portray Arenas as a "thuggish intimidator who tried to pressure his teammate into a cover-up" . . . What?! You mean Arenas isn't a choir boy? Who would have thunk it? . . .

Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaugnessy predicts that 2010 will be Josh Beckett's lasts season in Red Sox Nation . . . I already envision Sox fans self-flagellating in sorrow . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 23, 2010

I don't know about you, but when I heard that the House of Representatives passed the healthcare bill the first thing I did was open the NY Daily News so I could read sports columnist Mike Lupica's analysis of the vote. Covering the Yankees and Knicks for over 20 years makes one an expert in issues of statecraft . . .

I'm rooting for Cornell. I love any player (or team) who demonstrates that intelligence and athleticism are not mutually exclusive. You can have a 3.5 GPA or higher and still be an outstanding athlete . . .

Mike Tyson is in trouble with PETA for racing pigeons on his reality program. (I confess I don't know the name of the program or the network broadcasting it) In its statement PETA complained that "these gentle, loyal birds who race their hearts out in order to get home to their life mates often become lost in storms or have their necks wrung for failing to beat their competitors’ time.” Uhhh. Okaaay . . . Incidentally, considering all of Mike Tyson's concerns in life, where do you think PETA's objection ranks? . . . Exactly. LOL . . .

If the Minnesota Twins guaranteed Joe Mauer any more money, they would have had to apply for TARP funds . . .

Miami Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown was arrested in Atlanta for "driving under the influence of alcohol". After celebrating his parents 32nd wedding anniversary, he allegedly went to a club and was picked-up by police at 4:29 am while driving home . . . I don't understand these celebrities/athletes. They have more money than most people ever dream of, and instead of paying a taxi or even a limo to drive them home from a club or a party, they get behind the wheel themselves. Bone-headed . . .

Jets RB Leon Washington's agent "tweeted" yesterday that his client "will not sign his tender at this time. He will continue to rehab while weighing his options as a restricted free agent." Uh-oh. Cue the menacing background music if you are a Jets fan. This has the look of a "Same Old Jets" disaster. A very strong backfield that led Gang Green to the AFC Championships may look very different in training camp. No Leon Washington or 1,400 yard rusher Thomas Jones. Just Shonn Greene, who ran very well in the postseason, and past his prime future Hall of Famer LaDainian Thomlinson. That's a lot of depth to lose . . .

My wife informed me that ESPN broadcaster Erin Andrews performed well on "Dancing with the Stars". I'm glad. After everything the poor girl has gone through recently, I'd like to see her do well in the competition . . .

Manny Pacquiao is doing his part to keep a proposed showdown against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on the minds of boxing fans. Not only did he assert that he has fought better opposition than has Mayweather, but he also predicted that Shane Mosley will beat Mayweather when the two tangle on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas . . .
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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 22, 2010

If the comments of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin are any indication, maybe there is more to the Ben Roethlisberger assault accusation then first assumed. "I'm highly concerned for our franchise and for Ben personally. My concerns are many but I think at this time it's kind of appropriate to watch these things and let these things run their course. I think it would be inappropriate for me to have strong feelings one way or another with the investigation being ongoing and so forth. Like everyone else, you watch these things unfold." Not exactly a vote of confidence for Ben, is it? Normally, under these circumstances a head coach offers the party line that "the organization supports Ben and looks forward to the incident being resolved." Not only did Tomlin not offer the party line, but he even seemed to distance himself from Roethlisberger. "I think it would be inappropriate for me to have strong feelings one way or another with the investigation being ongoing and so forth. Like everyone else, you watch these things unfold." Those sound like the words of someone who is preparing for the worst . . .

Rumor has it that New England QB Tom Brady has taken up boxing in the offseason. I can think of a few defensive linemen who would love to spar with him . . .

Wladimir Klitschko stopped Eddie Chambers in 12 rounds on Saturday. No surprise there. Apparently the only reason the bout lasted as long as it did was because Chambers adopted the "turtle defense" most recently made famous by Joshua Clottey . . . Chambers was just another American heavyweight who talked like Muhammad Ali, but fought like Ali G . . . Maybe promoters are going to have start paying these opponents based on the number of punches they throw. The more they throw, the more they get paid . . .

It's a good thing Kansas won the 2008 NCAA Tournament or we would be comparing them to the Buffalo Bills teams that lost four consecutive Super Bowls. "Kansas has now lost in the second round three times as a No. 1 seed, most of any school."

Forget cutting Medicaid, if you want to drastically lower healthcare costs just stop providing insurance to perennial DL visitors like Eric Gagne, Carl Pavano, and Carlos Guillen. Can you imagine what their medical bills must look like? Cleveland Indians pitcher Kerry Wood also belongs in the DL Hall of Fame (Shame). For the 13th time in his 12 year career, Wood will spend part of a season on the DL. A "strained latissimus muscle" is expected keep Wood off the mound for as long as two months . . . If I had a car with as many problems as these guys have ailments, I would drive it off the Verrazano Bridge and into the Atlantic Ocean . . .

Some media believe that NY Jets' owner Woody Johnson's alleged "coin-flip" tirade may cost the Meadowlands the 2014 Super Bowl. Bogus. The Super Bowl, like just about everything else in this world, is about money. If the New York area isn't given the Super Bowl it will be because the NFL realizes that it is financially foolish to hold its corporate bacchanalia in an open-aired stadium in a cold-weather city in February. Johnson's tirade may be blamed, but don't buy it. It's not as if Johnson is the first NFL owner in history to openly disagree with a commissioner . . .

Even big NCAA college basketball fans don't want the tournament expanded to 96 teams. But let's not kid ourselves. The desire to add 32 more teams is based on TV money, not on fan desire. More games means more money the NCAA can demand from whatever television network(s) covers the tournament . . .

It's official. Twins reliever Joe Nathan is gone for the 2010 season because of an elbow injury that will require surgery . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 18, 2010

If players can receive second, and sometimes even third, chances after testing positive for drugs, so should managers. Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington admits he used cocaine during the 2009 season. After testing positive and acknowledging his problem he offered to resign, but Rangers' management declined to accept it. Washington completed MLB's drug program, "but said he will ask the league to continue to test him in the future" . . . Kudos to Team President Nolan Ryan for giving Washington a second chance . . .

Cliff Lee deserves a regular-season five game suspension for throwing at Cory Snyder in a Cactus League game . . .

The Arizona Cardinals signing former Cleveland Browns QB Derek Anderson isn't exactly a vote of confidence for Matt Leinhart, is it? . . .

World Champion Manny Pacquiao shouldn't quit his day job. The Filipino buzzsaw, who sang "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" a few weeks ago on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, was scheduled to perform a concert in Waikiki on Sunday. Unfortunately, both Pacquiao and the concert's promoter learned the hard way that fans are only interested in watching the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter in the ring. If he hadn't canceled the concert, Ryan Chang of Island Fire Productions would have lost about $50,000 since he had only sold 603 tickets. http://eCa.sh/pacqconcert Someone should remind Pacquiao and Chang that "Manny Pacquiao Live In Hawaii Concert Celebration" isn't the same as "Elvis Presley: Aloha From Hawaii" . . .

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain delayed the inevitable yesterday by pitching four solid innings against the Phillies. Chamberlain struck out five while surrendering only one run on two hits and a walk. The solid performance keeps the fireballer in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation . . . Call me a cynic, but I'm not convinced he can put together several strong starts consecutively . . .

San Diego:16 - Kansas City: 14 . . . No, that is not the score of a Chargers-Chiefs game from last season. It is the score from yesterday's Padres-Royals matchup . . .

Why is everyone so obsessed suddenly with athletes' WAGs (wives and girlfriends)? It's difficult to visit a sports website without encountering a WAGs section . . .
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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - March 17, 2010

I'll bet the Oakland A's wish he was "three sheets to the wind". At least they'd have an explanation as to why pitcher Ben Sheets surrendered 10 runs without getting an out in the A's loss to the Reds on Monday . . . The way batters were circling the bases, it reminded me of a Bugs Bunny cartoon . . .

Now the media will subject us to an hourly countdown until Tiger Woods' return at The Masters . . .

The Yankees are discussing raising Robinson Cano in the batting order. Sorry, but I am among those who thinks Cano feasts on average pitching, but is nowhere to be found when facing the better hurlers. Case in point: 2009 postseason. Cano looked as lost as Rodriguez had in past postseasons, and when he did make contact it was virtually guaranteed to be a soft roller to the second baseman . . .

I don't agree with the way the NFL handled the inaugural game at the Meadowlands, but Jets owner Woody Johnson's "outraged" response to it has been a little over the top. The disproportionate response shows that, just like its team's fans, Jets ownership views itself as second-class citizens in the NFL . . . By the way, this is why I am not a proponent of two teams sharing a stadium. How can you call a place home if you're sharing it with a rival . . .

"Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland underwent brain surgery Tuesday that was successful, according to a statement from the team Tuesday night, but faces a "difficult period" in the aftermath of the five-hour operation." Our prayers are with the young man . . .

According to the Associated Press, "The NHL wants to adopt a new rule against blindside hits to the head before the end of this season, according to two reports Wednesday." It's about time. What were they waiting for? A decapitation? . . .

Worry not, fans of record-breakers. If the Nets do not win at least three of their last 15 games, they will break the all-time NBA record for worst season . . .

Who would have thought that the first championship event to take place at Cowboys Stadium would be a boxing match? . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.