Manny’s Getting Traded

Most likely. I am hearing “Dodgers” and “three-way” and “Jason Bay”?

An end of an era with the Sox. How will Manny hide in the Green Monster?

Update from Foxsports’ Ken Rosenthal:

Manny Ramirez has been traded to the Dodgers in a three-team blockbuster, pending the approval of the commissioner’s office, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.

Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is headed to the Red Sox. The Pirates will receive third baseman Andy LaRoche and Class-A right-hander Bryan Morris from the Dodgers and outfielder Brandon Moss and reliever Craig Hansen from the Red Sox.

The Red Sox will pay all of the approximately $7 million remaining on Ramirez’s contract.

Ramirez should provide a major boost to the Dodgers’ offense, but his arrival will add to the crowd in the Dodgers’ outfield, which already includes Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones.

Moss, Hansen and LaRoche all have played in the majors. Morris, 21, was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2006.

The deal could significantly tilt the balance of power toward the Dodgers in the hotly contested NL West race. The Dodgers began the day one game behind the Diamondbacks, whose only pre-deadline addition was reliever Jon Rauch.

For the Red Sox, meanwhile, the addition of Bay amounts to a coup, considering their need to replace Ramirez’s offense. Bay, who turns 30 on Sept. 20, is six years younger than Ramirez, and his .894 on-base/slugging percentage is nearly as high as Ramirez’s .927 mark this season.

The Red Sox also will retain Bay through next season at an affordable salary of $7.5 million. After that, Bay becomes eligible for free agency.

Ramirez will be a free agent at the end of this season. He waived his no-trade clause in exchange for the elimination of the two $20 million club options in his contract.

Still Ghetto, The Montauk Monster, Deadline Day, and Other Happenings

Ah, a busy day at work, there is a (dude that’s totally fake) Montauk Monster that washed up on the eastern LI shores (pictured @ left). The oldest recorded joke we know of is about flatulence, the next one is about sex. And below, a completely unnecessary photo of Danneel Harris, one of the stars of Harold and Kumar go to Guantanamo Bay, a movie whose unrated version featured and uncomfortable amount of (unrealistic) female nudity for a man to watch with his lady. I can’t believe I’m typing this, but it actually was excessive and took from the humor. Now for some links:

+At first, I thought the Griffey trade to the White Sox (now approved!) sounded awesome. And now that he’s approved it, I think… why? The Sox have Swisha-house, Jermaine Dye, the killin’-it Carlos Quentin, and then Thome and Konerko at 1B/ DH… so unless they trade one of those guys or glue Konerko to the bench, I don’t get it yet.

+The Yankees have made deals for Xavier Nady (and his name, passed down through the generations), Pudge Rodriguez, and have tossed out LaTroy Hawkins. Keep active, pinstripers!

+Dear Mets: That is NOT a reason to make a stupid trade. Even though John Maine is strained and the Mets are worried about Pelfrey’s workload. No dumb trades, guys. no rentals, no Billy Taylors. The team is humming, and Hardball Times points out the the pitching staff is improved by half a run since Rick Peterson’s firing, and though his defense has not been as good, Jose Reyes might be the best shortstop in the league at creating runs.

+The now-traded-to-Houston (analysis by the Melo Backpedal here) Ron Artest received this response from Yao Ming, reacting to a reporter’s question:

“When I text-messaged with Luis (Scola), we talked about team chemistry. That’s only what worries us. We worry about the new attitude to the team. We are adding talent to the team, and we need that, but building team chemistry is important. This is not bad. I don’t mean he is not welcome to Houston. But a new player always needs some time.

“There’s worry. Obviously, yes. … Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. … I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history, but we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us.”

Ron Ron countered:

“This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao’s team, you know,” Artest said. “I’m not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto. That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture.

“Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about. But really, he doesn’t have to talk to me, because to me, I’m going (to Houston).”

I’d like to add this part: while not a black player, I am black, and Ron Ron, you have your own culture. Queensbridge doesn’t even share your culture, you’re on some other stuff. New York loves you, but Ron, you represent Artest. You go back to Queensbridge, but are your pants are saggy, teeth yellow, a la Method Man/ Redman?

More pro and college basketball, and a note about the Jets and Farve after the jump.

Cue Thuggy Bear Jokes Up

Son, don't argue with the police.

Wait, who goes to Pirates games, anyway? Is Morgantown, WV that boring? From Wire reports:

Two West Virginia University basketball players were charged with scuffling with police and underage drinking after a fight at a Pittsburgh Pirates game.

Joe Mazzulla and Cameron Thoroughman were arrested Monday at PNC Park, where the Pirates were playing the Colorado Rockies. The two were in custody and awaiting arraignment Tuesday.

“We will let the judicial process take its course and the matter will be handled internally,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said.

Mazzulla, a 6-foot-2 junior from Johnston, R.I., was charged with aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and underage drinking. Thoroughman, a 6-7 sophomore from Portsmouth, Ohio, was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and underage drinking.

The 20-year-old players began arguing with police when they refused a request for identification, according to a criminal complaint. The officers said the two smelled of alcohol.

Thoroughman said he did not have ID, according to the report. Police said he lied about his age and threatened a security guard. Police said officers brought Thoroughman to the ground when he refused to put his arms behind his back. While Thoroughman was struggling with the officer, Mazzulla tried to grab his teammate and punched a police sergeant.

Next time, guys:

– wear your golf gear or something that says you can’t possibly be 21. Or add some grey to your hair.
– the cops catch you, why fight it? You got tagged. They’ll just cite you, and you’re not gonna get away.
– and really… you’re two very tall black* guys. At a ballpark. Low profile, use a low profile.

And remember that the real world won’t be as lenient as Coach Bob Huggins. You’re more dispensable out there.

*Thanks to Ryan for the catch on that.

Traded Bucks, Young Bucks, Low on Bucks, and Terrapins

Jason Taylor, once a robot, now a Redskin; Peter King does a fine job breaking down the trade.

But we at the East Coast Bias are more about that college basketball, so:

ESPN on recruiting 8th graders and the commitments and decommitments that are rampant in college basketball:

For Weber, this wasn’t the initial strategy. But after missing out on nearly every big-time recruit in his own backyard recently—guys like Sherron Collins, Jon Scheyer, Derrick Rose, Julian Wright—despite coaching Illinois to the NCAA championship game, he realized something had to change. So, it did. No longer were the Illini going to wait on players. They were going to go after them young and were going to go after them hard.

A coach has to have top players to get top results, and even then, late round NCAA runs aren’t guaranteed. And a coach has to build those relationships with a player at 13, 14, when they start meeting other players and going to high level camps. If not, the sexiest, most stylish recruiting pitches won’t mean a hot danged thing.

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Mount Vernon (NY) high school players are doing their part and soliciting donations to save their sports programs. Kevin Devaney publishes the address if you wish to donate:

Mount Vernon Educational Foundation Inc.
P.O. Box 476
Fleetwood Station, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10552

(please write “sports” in the memo section of the check)

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Maryland’s basketball coach speaks to one of the school papers, the Diamondback, about the publicly tumultuous offseason. In the article, Gary Williams sounds off on Gus Gilchrist’s decommitment and Tyree Evans’ commitment/ the critical response to said commitment/ and Evans’ decommitment (h/t to the Baltimore Sun’s Matt Bracken):

“Understand that people who are the most vocal, most visible are usually always against something,” Williams said. “People that are satisfied or happy with the ways things are – they don’t say much. It’s the same with anything, politics or sports.”

In the ESPN.com report, high school and AAU coaches discussed Williams’ hunger when it comes to recruiting and if his job is on the hot seat….

Williams said he is still passionate about the program and is particularly excited about this year’s team because the four-guard lineups he plans to use remind him of his days coaching at American and Boston College.

I still think the signing of Evans reeked of desperation, and he shouldn’t have been pursued. And 4 guard lineups? Better hope Terp recruit Sean Mosley is an excellent strong slasher (which his press clippings say he is) so you can take out some big men with foul trouble. Maryland doesn’t have the shooters to make 4 guard lineups work like Villanova did in the Ray/ Foye/ Nardi/ Lowry days, and the guards on the roster are turnover prone. And watching Greivis Vasquez turn over the ball as much as he did… Gary might not want to keep all of his guards on the floor at the same time without another ball handler.

Sports Links 07.21.08 – NBA

Here’s hoping Obama’s trip to Iraq doesn’t inspire the completely blind response from the politician that McCain’s trip did…

(image from Traitor Joe blog)

Around The Association:

+Responding to all of those signings by the CSKA Moscow and Khimki Moscow basketball clubs (just follow with me for a sec!), the Moscow Dynamo has signed Net free agent Bostjan Nachbar for $14.3 million/ 9 million euros. And if anyone knows how to get the euro symbol as I type, let me know. Also of interest is this bit from the ESPN article:

Nachbar’s deal follows a fast-developing worrisome trend for some NBA executives — based in large part on the strength of the euro against the dollar — of European-based teams being able to outbid their NBA counterparts for free agents.

+ Dave D’Alessandro reports that the Nets are hoping to sign-and-trade for Keyon Dooling, using the $3.3 million trade exception brought in from last winter’s Jason Kidd trade to the Mavericks:

The trade gives the Nets a solid backcourt trio, with a feisty, long-armed third guard who can defend both spots effectively. But it also gives them 16 guaranteed contracts, so they have stepped up their efforts to move point guard Marcus Williams, who now becomes the odd man out again.

The most logical landing spot for Williams might be one of the many teams who have their own trade exceptions — Seattle has two, in fact — and wouldn’t mind taking a chance on a work in progress with a $1.2 million price tag.

….Who is this “Seattle” he speaks of?

+Former Net Tamar Slay signed a deal with Air Avellino of Italy’s Serie A league.

+Marcus Camby thinks being traded to the Clippers is the lowest point of his life. Apparently more for family issues and distance from hartford (where the Camby Man is from)… but as far as finding new doctors, everyone knows you go to LA for the doctors.

+Knick guard Nate Robinson had his jersey retired… in the Las Vegas Summer League. As FanHouse puts it, that doers seem like a backhanded compliment.

+Speaking of which, the top ten summer league players (also from FanHouse): Bayless, Love, Anthony Randolph, Donte Green, Augustin, Mensa-Bonsu, Elton Brown, Mayo, Speights, Hickson. Maybe one day they will have their summer league jerseys retired.

+A good analysis from the Oklahoman of how the “Oklahoma Thunder” name could be accurate, could be inaccurate, and could be a bad idea – there is already an Oklahoma Thunder of the World Football League in Tulsa. Not that they are major, but it could cause brand confusion… and as we know, the NBA is heavily about its branding.

This Bud’s for Belgium + Brazil

The million dollar question, of course, about the purchase of Anheuser Busch by InBev (wiki profile here) (along with the long-outstanding legal disputes about the Budweiser trademark) is…

Will Anheuser-Busch still be the beast of sports marketing? The “official beer sponsor” designation, in-arena deals, as well as all of those ubiquitous commercials, bring in serious revenue to sports leagues:

A-B–one of the largest sports-marketing advertisers–spends $475 million on advertising in the U.S. annually, of which an estimated $218 million is spent in the world of sports. By contrast, Chevrolet–the second-largest advertiser on sports events–spends $45 million per year in that realm, per Darin Perry, director of sponsorship a Millsport, part of Omnicom’s The Marketing Arm. He says that Coors and Miller spent only $172 million in sports combined.

“Now, compare [A-B’s spend] to what InBev currently spends on advertising here in the U.S.,” he says. “Approximately $58 million annually for brands like Bass, Beck’s, Stella Artois and others. It’s easy to conclude that the A-B model of ‘spend money to make money’ will drastically change.”

He says InBev and A-B are cultural opposites when it comes to spend, with the former harboring a fondness for cost-cutting and A-B doing the opposite. “Combine this with InBev’s traditional opposition to sports spending, and you can see why the sports industry is getting a little nervous.”

Perry believes that if InBev stays in form, it will cut A-B’s advertising and sponsorship budgets as much as 50%. “If InBev takes a more modest approach, we might see a 25% reduction in sports spending to begin with, and a slower pace of these reductions.”

Cuts in revenue streams for sports leagues? What? And in a time of economic stagnation? That won’t be a positive effect.

On the other hand:

“What we see in Anheuser-Busch is its marketing expertise, and that’s one of the pillars of why they built such great brands,” [InBev Chief Executive] Brito said.

What that means, of course, is still to be seen. Marketing expertise is one thing, but Budweiser threw lots of money out to saturate the market with their commercials. And it worked; people think of Budweiser when they think of American beers. Will it become “unAmerican” to drink a Budweiser Tall Boy? Will the better beer at basketball games? Fewer subway ads featuring hip, semi-brown nearly-racial people?

As long as Brazil doesn’t all of a sudden only have Bud when I get down there. Because if that’s the case, I will write a stern letter to my congressman. Yeah, I said it. I’ll put InBev/ Budweiser on notice.

Links 07.11.08 – Links Before Drinks

The hip hop kids would say McCain was creepin’ behind the back of his first wife; your packaged foods may be shrinking by both volume and weight; I have no idea what’s on Kat Denning’s (pictured right) face, and the US’ two largest mortgage lenders might need a government bail out to keep the economy afloat… so let’s talk sports.

• The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy talks on how the new 3-point line (1 foot farther from the basket) should open up offenses. He hedges a lot, which at first I rolled my eyes at, but is miles better than the ESPN “Strong Statement Style”.

• Lute Olson’s bitter old man phase now includes no longer pursuing “one-and-done” players. Jim Boeheim actually says “are you crazy?” in the article when asked if he would do the same… Carmelo Anthony was obviously a good experience.

• Division III and youth sports are feeling the costs of a weaker economy; youth sports suffer as a side effect of lower tax income and transport/ gas prices; some seek private funding. Meanwhile, travel costs to far-flung Division III schools puts a strain on administration. The SI article suggests that other D-III schools follow the path of the University Athletic Association (home of the D-III men’s basketball champion Washington University (St. Louis) Bears):
  

  Men’s and women’s teams travel together, and each school has a travel partner. For example, Brandeis will travel to Chicago to play a Friday game, while NYU will travel to Washington University in St. Louis to play a game the same night. Instead of flying to the next stop, Brandeis will then bus from Chicago to St. Louis for a Sunday game, while NYU will head the opposite direction on Interstate 55 and face Chicago on Sunday.

  Costs are high on the Division I level as well:

  In 2006 only 19 Division I FBS schools had greater revenues than expenses in their athletics departments. Additionally, only 16 of these schools had net positive cash flows over the three-year aggregate from 2005-07.

  Financial matters in large part prompted the formation of an NCAA presidential task force two years ago to discuss a disturbing trend in which the rate of growth in Division I athletics spending was tripling the rate for university spending overall. While athletics budgets on average represent only about 5 percent of a university’s budget, presidents agreed that current trends could not be sustained over time. Big-time athletics is not in a fiscal crisis, they said, but the growth in spending is adding pressure on institutions already strapped for cash.

• New Jersey Institute of Technology has a sports conference… the Great West conference, playing close rivals in the Dakotas. Those travel costs are high for basketball… what about for volleyball? Will NJIT get a hockey program to compete?

• Darren Rovell’s blog has a short bit about the money that T Boone Pickens has poured into the Oklahoma State athletics program, including the question of whether the Cowboys (or Oregon, with Phil Knight’s money) will win a championship in men’s basketball or football in the next 15 years. That question kinda misses the point, for me; a sports team will bring in loot with a championship, but just being in the running for a championship, being top-level competitive, and having well-apportioned facilities will bring in revenue AND top players. It helps to hire, of course, the right coaches who can leverage that money into some sustainable level of success.

  For example, The money that Oregon has brings in great players who know that they might be on national billboards, who have access to top-flight facilities, and who get to wear experimental jerseys.

• Stephen Curry for college basketball’s new poster boy.

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• Only 9,000 TVs are tuned in to the Nationals game in the DC area? DAMN. They’ll be moving to Vegas in no time. Unless Beasley’s curly W tattoo has some say about it (h/t to BallHype).

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• The Nets locked up those hot free agents, Jarvis Hayes and Eduardo Najera. Whoo.

• David Wright, finally in the All-Star Game, even after losing the last minute fan poll.

• These guys bike to work like I do… except in much fancier bikes. Dang.

• Aww, the state of Illinois won’t be buying Wrigley Field. Boo-hoo.

Quick Nets Links

While John McCain’s main economic advisor Phil Gramm tells you Americans how whiny you’re being about the economy…

+ A profile on draft pick Ryan Anderson, where he talks about how his game won’t be easy to translate;

+ Chris Douglas-Roberts signs;

+ Ratner is geeked to tap into the future Chinese market of Brooklyn (and NY as a whole. #9 Yi jerseys on the D-train to Coney Island. Tight!), and Bobby Simmons compares Yi to… a young Kevin Garnett?

+ Nenad Krstic and Boki Nachbar are free agents; Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson have been signed.

Arresting News

Wait, both of these guys are… white?

Teddy Dupay, former Florida guard, was accused of rape in Utah on June 19th. He did it Kobe-style, violent and in a ski lodge. Dupay left college after being accused of gambling on college sports. His “how can you rape someone you love” quote is curious.

Matt Jones, former Arkansas quarterback, all around awesome athlete, and current wide receiver for Jacksonville, was arrested with some of that “white powdery substance” people love to put up their nose. Not baby powder. Now, I hope Matt Jones and his career recover from this. He’s inconsistent, but fun to watch… the Jets can always take on a “troubled” character.

Friday Night Lights News (Spoilers)

Two spoilers from Friday Night Lights after the jump: