Shawn Marion is an idiot

I know that it's stating the obvious, but only a complete moron -- make that, an insecure cry-baby of a moron -- begs to be traded away from Steve Nash. For all the positives that Shawn Marion brings to the court with his game (which is of an elite level, to say the least) his attitude has always been a concern of mine and the primary reason why I would shoo away any notions of him coming to the Lakers. Matrix listed LAL as his first choice for a new home because he's "friends" with Kobe. Here's the thing, Shawn. If you're unhappy not being the man in Phoenix, then WHY IN THE HELL WOULD YOU EVER THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN YOUR TEAMMATE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE?!? Oh, and let's not forget that fat contract he'd be bringing along with him to a team that's pretty much capped out.

It's true, Shawn Marion would be an overall upgrade for the Lake Show compared to Lamar Odom. Marion probably doesn't fit into the triangle system, as well, and isn't as good a passer as Lamar, but he sure as hell is more consistent both in terms of production and health. And he's one of the best defenders in the league! That alone makes him valuable to the defenseless Lakers. Also, the addition of Marion might force Phil Jackson's hand a little, allowing the team to run and gun a little more frequently rather than remain confined to the rigidity of the triangle offense. But Bill Simmons does a pretty great job outlining all the reasons why Marion is probably a lot more trouble than he's worth.


In other news, Barry Bonds has retired. Quietly. And if he's not a 1st-ballot HOFer, then there are perhaps only three or four guys in the past twelve years that are.

Selig muffs it again

For all the "crisis" and "scandal" and "cheapened image" and "tarnished past-time" babble that's clouded baseball during the steroid era, is anyone else stupified by this?

What happened to cleaning up baseball? What happened to the hard-line stance? What happened to having a little backbone? Oh wait -- I said "backbone" and forgot I was talking about Selig. This whole thing screams to me like Giambi was granted clemency for sitting down and chatting with George Mitchell and spilling all the juicy details on the rest of the league (sorry, I don't really believe that all this "good citizen" press from Giambi's camp affected Selig's decision). So what are we to make of that? Is everyone a special, unique snowflake who'll be shown mercy if they just 'fess up? Are we to believe that in earnest? Fans are already jaded enough as it is and now you come out saying that there'll be no repurcussions? How many more questions can I string in a row? My stance is this: if you're not going to punish Jason Giambi, then don't bother trying to hang Barry Bonds or Gary Sheffield or Sammy Sosa or Miguel Tejada or Roger Clemens or anyone else implicated in the steroids hubbub. The point of this investigation, I always assumed (and I'm sure I'm not alone) was to clean up baseball, not give it a mild talking-to. If the commissioner is really this concerned about another brush-up with the players' union, he may as well quit this witch hunt, right now.

I really wonder if Giambi struck some secret deal with the commissioner on the side. An island home in the Carribean away from his teammates' harsh eyes, some sort of MLB witness protection program. There must be! If the Mitchell Investigation doesn't reveal some information as a result of this sit-down, people are going to start wondering (more so) why they should even care about steroids in baseball.

Don't worry about it, Barry Bonds, you just keep doing what you're doing and don't worry about a thing. Apparently, nothing's going to happen to you.

I'll say it:

Congratulations, Barry Bonds.

I'll say this, too: Even before 2001, he was one of the three greatest players (arguably the greatest) of all time. In case you're wondering, the other two guys in that discussion are Mays and Mantle.

I wish Bonds had hit 755 in LA

Three games at Dodger Stadium and Barry Bonds couldn't do anything. I'm a little disappointed. My reasons number two.

1. When Barry hits 755 and 756, it may very well drive a stake into the hearts of all those stat-geeks who base a player's candidacy for the Hall of Fame purely on numbers. These guys rate very close to the top of my list of people who need a punch in the face. With all the Cooperstown talk this past weekend as Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn got enshrined, I heard more of the, "Well, this guy has 2,500 hits and 500 homeruns, so he's gotta be in" talk than I care to remember. One discussion I heard on ESPN radio made my stomach turn a little. The topic was "Who from the list should make the hall?" The list of names that followed failed to impress. The ones I remember: Gary Sheffield? Debatable (which means "no"). Jim Thome? No. Omar Vizquel? No. All the guys, to me, were a flat "no." Stat-geeks have become so obsessed with numbers that they fail to grasp the whole point of a Hall of Fame: to recognize the players who were the greatest of their time. But the worst part is that, among this three-person radio show crew, all the guys were unanimously voting "yes" for EVERYONE. You're going to sit there with a straight face and tell me that Jim Thome or Omar Vizquel were one of the 5-10 best players in baseball when they played? Are you serious? Stab yourself in the eye with a broken bottle immediately. I don't need the guys who thought Rafael Palmeiro was a shoe-in for the Hall before he ruined his life getting paid to talk about baseball. When Bonds sets the mark, I'll be cheering. Loudly.

2. Seriously, wouldn't it have been perfect if Bonds tied or broke the record in Los Angeles? With all the love that Dodger fans have for Bonds and the Giants, it's the one stadium in the league where, on top of a full-scale riot breaking out, there would've been a half-decent chance that the homerun balls were thrown back into the field. A shower of boos, seats being uprooted, anyone with any Giants paraphenalia on not making it out of the stands... I'm telling you, would've been incredible. The most heated baseball rivalry this side of Yankees/Red Sox would've had one more feather in it's cap.

Ugly out there

In the past week:

- Tim Donaghy: NBA integrity shot to hell.
- Michael Vick: Has never claimed innocence. A monster.
- Mikael Rasmussen: Booted from Tour de France while leading -- more doping in the cycling world. There's a sport that's lost all relevance in America. (Remember that Lance Armstrong guy?)
- Barry Bonds and Gary Sheffield: Outed as both having used the clear and "excelled in the program." Thanks, Balco. Oh, but it's all racial, of course.
- Bud Selig: Yeah...
- Duke DA: Admits to never having a strong case.
- Iraqi soccer fans: Celebrate their Asian Cup semifinal victory by blowing up their own. Nothing like suicide bombing your own people to toast a big win. Tragic.
- Oklahoma football: Another scandal.
- Boise State RB Ian Johnson: Received racial taunts and death threats leading up to his own wedding -- more than likely from the same people who were cheering his 2-point conversion.
- Carlos Tevez: Probably going to end up with Manchester United. (NOOOOOOOOOO!)
- Pacman Jones: Make it rain.
- Sammy Sosa: Still a d-bag.

Is there any reason we shouldn't be hating life entirely, right now? It feels like the Four Horsemen have ravaged the sports world. Everything is stupid. Excuse me if I stop caring for a while.