All-Star games are stupid

It's true. They are. Especially MLB's (Pro Bowl not withstanding) because of that stupid stipulation where the winner of an exhibition game featured a slew of players whose teams have a very remote chance of reaching the World Series (read: players with nothing at stake) gets homefield advantage in the WS for their league. Imagine the gratitude that'll be expressed to Tony LaRussa by the eventual National League champion. I mean, why else would you leave Albert Pujols on the bench in favor of Aaron freaking Rowand with the bases loaded, down to your last out, unless you were convinced that the game meant absolutely nothing? You're dumb, MLB, and Tony La Russa just reiterated that fact last night by leaving one of the game's best hitters on the pine because he simply doesn't care who gets homefield advantage in the WS. It won't be the Cardinals, so who cares?! Although, I suppose it doesn't make much difference, this season, since any one of four teams in the American League will have the best record in baseball by season's end (you know, the standard indicator for homefield advantage).

The Giants and Jags: NFL enigmas

I can't even begin to wrap my head around the New York Football Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars, two teams I thought I had perfectly figured out, yet two teams who aim to confuse. I've been a huge believer of each at different points in the season and, yet, have no idea what to make of either at the moment. As I said in my picks on Friday, last night's Monday Nighter was incredibly difficult to call. So why not a comfy Jags victory?

NY's problems seem to stem from inconsistent play from Eli, whereas J'ville plays to the level of their competition. Plus they lost Leftwich for the year and there doesn't seem to be any discernable difference. Weird.

I think the Giants should still be considered the favorite to win the NFC East regardless of what all the Dallas bandwagoners would have you believe. Jacksonville's future is a little more blurry, playing in the much more difficult AFC, though their wild card hopes are as good (if not better) than Kansas City's or Cincinnati's.

A few other things before wrapping up.

1. I strongly disagree with Ryan Howard winning the NL MVP over Pujols. Howard may have hit more HRs, sure, but the Phillies A) missed the playoffs and Howard B) played 16 more games than Pujols. You mean to tell me that if Pujols was healthy for those 16 games that St. Louis wouldn't have won 95 games and his numbers wouldn't have been better than Howard's? I'm sorry, you're just plain wrong.

2. It's been a couple years since Athens (and only a couple more 'til Beijing), but The Thorpedo is calling it a career at the ripe old age of 24. Is the gradual decline of a swimmer's ability so steep that at 24 it's time to walk away?

3. College hoops: UCLA vs Kentucky. Maui Invitational. This game to follow what should be a fierce show of athleticism between Georgia Tech and Memphis. I get the distinct feeling that the Bruins aren't getting much respect or publicity from around the nation despite the top five ranking. UK figures to be second tier this season, but it's a prime opportunity for Luc Richard M'Bah a Moute to make his case for national player of the year and for Collison, Afflalo, Shipp & co. to revive the rest of the country's memory. With all the hype surrounding Ohio State and North Carolina (and of course Florida), people are forgetting that UCLA is a national power. They'll beat the Wildcats by 10 tonight.