Song of the Week

"Sugar, We're Going Down" - Fall Out Boy

Something's Missing

Diesel in Maine in 2007:



Diesel in Maine in 2008:


Diesel in Maine in 2009:


Diesel in Maine in 2010:


Diesel in Maine in 2011:

Diesel in Maine in 2012

Diesel in Maine in 2013

Diesel in Maine in 2014:

Diesel in Maine in 2015:

Maine in 2016:

Song of the Week

"Easy Love" - Sigala
I don't know why but I am a sucker for these old songs remixed in some cool way and turned into electronica.

One for TON

We couldn't mention hot Olympians, like Ruth Spelmeyer, without finding a volleyball player for big TON.
So here is Kelsey Robinson of Team U.S.
And something for Billy: she wears #23 because she grew up in Chicago and loves Michael Jordan.

Cubs Fire Wrigley Field DJ

The Cubs fired the Wrigley Field DJ who played an inappropriate song after Aroldis Chapman's appearance during Sunday night's game.

The '90s song, "Smack My Bitch Up" by the English band the Prodigy, came on the PA system after Chapman left the mound in the top of the ninth inning.

Chapman served a 30-game suspension after an alleged domestic-violence incident in which Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend and firing eight bullets in his garage.

Thing is, Chapman is a member of the home team. It wasn't like they were taunting an opposing player. Although maybe this DJ was taking a principled stance about not rewarding perpetrators of domestic violence no matter how hard they can throw a baseball.

Fast Fraulein

We don't watch women's athletics for the titillation but every once in a while we see an athlete so hot, we can't help but notice. So I present to you German 400 meter runner Ruth Sophia Spelmeyer, the hottest female athlete in Rio.

Quick Hits - Olympic Edition

Cutest Couple
Photogenic decathlete Ashton Eaton and his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton (she won bronze in the heptathlon) star in a very funny commercial for Visa's Checkout.
You hang up, no you hang up.



You Don't Need to Be a Pixie to be America's Sweetheart
Sarah Robles won the bronze medal in the women's weightlifting 75kg+ weight class.
Robles actually tipped the scales at 143 kilos, about 310 pounds. She lifted 286kg straight up over her head in the two lifts combined.
The only thing detracting from this story is a failed drug test and 2-year ban. She claims she failed due to hormones she was taking to treat a medical condition.

Teammates
A good teammate is always there to help.



Fun With Kids
I've been watching a lot of Olympics with the kids, and despite their iPads and youtube videos having killed their attention spans we are enjoying it. They're surprisingly into weightlifting and course Chase is following U.S. basketball closely.
But the best moment came when Chase kept referring to the race with the water jump as the "steeple." Evidently, when I gave him the name of it, he thought I said "steeple, Chase."

Song of the Week

"The Love You Save" - The Jackson 5
Michael Jackson was 11 years old.

French Gymnast Snaps Leg

On the first day of the Rio Olympics we have an entry into the gruesome sports injury Hall of Fame.
French gymnast Samir Ait Said snapped his lower leg in half while landing a vault.

He joins Kevin Ware, Anderson Silva and Corey Hill as those who have suffered a complete snap of their leg during competition.

Olympic Torch Relay Fails

The Olympic Torch made it to the Opening Ceremony where Vanderlei de Lima light the Olympic Cauldron.
In 2004 de Lima was leading the Olympic marathon with 4 miles left, when he was tackled by some loon.

After this torch relay he has plenty of company. All sorts of challenges plagued the torch carriers, including crazed loons, crazed loons, with fire extinguishers, slippery pavement, the trail car, and even an unruly leopard.

Here is a video of some of the greatest fails of Brazil's torch relay.

Song of the Week

"Betcha By Golly Wow" - Prince
I didn't even know Prince had a cover version of this song. Never mind that Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes is in the video.

I Don't Hate It

Maybe I am just tired of getting angry and upset at every trade the Mets make, I just can't take the pain anymore, but I don't hate the deal for Jay Bruce.
Yes, I think it's mostly bad, and shows a lack of understanding in two key areas by the Mets front office, but I think Bruce is actually an excellent player, and a major improvement over what he Mets have right now.
And I don't think the two prospects offered, Dilson Herrera and Max Wotel, are likely to develop into above-average major leaguers.
First, the Mets are way out of the divisional race, and have to catch two teams to get the second wild card. So it doesn't make sense to trade to young players when they have only a 26% chance to make the playoffs according to FanGraphs.
Second, Bruce plays right field. And not very well. He is an absolute butcher out there. And he replaces Curtis Granderson who is also bad. And Yoenis Cespedes has been bad this year (likely attributable to injury and playing out of position). And if Cespedes is not healthy enough to play left, Granderson and Conforto will split time in center, meaning the Mets are supporting a great pitching staff, with the worst outfield defense in the majors. Not smart.
Third, they failed to look to next year, when they will have Bruce and Granderson under contract and Cespedes will likely return, unable to best his contract coming off this injury-plagued season. That means delaying by a year (Bruce and Granderson both have contracts that expire after 2017) the Conforto-Lagares-Nimmo triumvirate that should be the outfield of the future.

But the Mets did get a good hitter, who is not past his prime yet (this is his age 29 season) and he will surely improve the middle of the lineup.
Unfortunately too much stock is placed on his RBI and batting average with runners in scoring position, which is a lot about opportunity and luck.
There is a chance that Cespedes gets healthy, maybe Duda comes back, and some other guys get going (and the RISP bugaboo ends in a flurry) and the Mets get hot and do win the wild card.
And with their pitching, in a one-game scenario, or even a 7-game series, anything can happen.
As long as the other team doesn't hit the ball to our outfielders.

Note: I hate the Antonio Bastardo trade. I know he has been terrible, but his track record and his unusually high home run rate indicate that he should improve either this year, or next. Plus we know what Jon Niese is about and he just isn't any good.

Clubhouse Cutup

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was supposed to start Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers wearing those weird collared throwback jerseys the White Sox briefly wore during the 1970s.

Evidently, Sale doesn't like the collared jerseys and believes he has the right to say which uniforms the team wears on days he pitches. But because the jerseys were part of a promotional giveaway, the team refused to budge.

So while the rest of the team was out taking batting practice, Sale was in the clubhouse cutting the collars off, not only his own jersey, but everyone else's too.

With the jerseys destroyed, the White Sox scratched Chris Sale from the game, sent him home and replaced him with relief pitcher Matt Albers. And they were forced to play the game in different throwback uniforms, the 1980s style.

The whole situation is a bit absurd and it seems to be about a bigger issue involving the control over players exerted by management, dating back to this preseason's clash between the front office and Adam LaRoche. It seems like Chris Sale is just being a huge baby here, and of course, no matter what the issue, this is not the place to take a stand. But, there could certainly be a broader issue here that was lingering before this crazy circumstance, best summed up by this intrepid White Sox fan whose sign reads: "You're Right Chris, These Jerseys Are Uncomfortable."

Song of the Week

"This Girl" - Kungs vs. Cookin' on 3 Burners
Weirdest name for a musical group, even before you added the Kungs vs. part. But I like the song, especially the instrumental portions.

They Are Who We Thought They Were

"If you wanna crown em, then crown their ass, but they are who we thought they were, and we let em off the hook."
"Thanks Coach."
Dennis Green died today at age 67, after a heart attack.

Song of the Week

"Breathe" - Faith Hill
A great country love song.

Song of the Week

"Ni**anometry" - Canibus
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite rappers who was just too smart and too angry to ever make it to the mainstream.
But it comes up now because it shares a sample with "Permission" (SOTW, 7/6/16), both of which come from "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" by Willie Hutch.

No Guarantees

While the basketball world, and 2/5ths of my household is incredibly excited about Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors, I don't think we should skip the season and hand them the title just yet.
First of all, as a basketball fan, one who lost interest in the NBA when it seemed all good players did at the end of the game was run into defenders and hope to get fouled, I love watching the Warriors.
We recorded 10:30pm ET games and watched them the next day, even though I often knew the result. Their style of play was a joy to watch, and it is only going to get better with Kevin Durant.
The Warriors could literally put four guys on the 3-point line, with Draymond Green in the middle, shoot nothing but 3s and still win 60 games in the regular season.
I cannot wait to see Durant, Curry and Thompson play together.
But I fear the losses of Barnes and Bogut may hurt them defensively and on the boards, especially in the playoffs.
Clearly, no team ever can match their offensive firepower. Regardless of the result it promises to be one of the most memorable teams ever.
But expectations are so high, they have to win 74 games AND the title to not be considered a disappointment.
And let's say something goes wrong, especially with Curry's health, will the Warriors will be willing -- and able -- to sign him to the max contract after next season.
Who knows what will happen, but it will sure be fun to watch.

Song of the Week

"Permission" - Ro James

Shaq Can't Spell

Shaq tries to talk smack about Steph Curry being the NBA's first unanimous MVP but he doesn't quite get the spelling correct.