I’m on Jakecation but will be back in late August. Until then, enjoy the baseball pennant races and the start of NFL training camps!
And if you missed any shows and wanted to catch our conversations with recent guests, check out the new Archived Interviews section!
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
Traffic in LA is awful. No matter what time of day, what day of the week, chances are you will be stuck in a traffic jam. Having attended a night games at Dodger Stadium on Friday and a day game on Sunday, I can attest to that. With automobiles on the brain, here are my thoughts this Monday:
- If you need a truck to haul big loads, why trade in the sedan for a sports car? The Angels traded for Dan Haren on Sunday, getting a quality starting pitcher. But the one thing the Angels have already is quality starting pitching. I know Haren is hitting .364 this season, but pitchers don’t even bat in the American League. Unless they plan to play him at first base on days he’s not pitching, I don’t see how this helps them score runs.
- If you haven’t driven somewhere before, you should just follow the directions instead of trying to make up your own route - Dez Bryant is rookie for the Cowboys. Dez Bryant doesn’t want to be treated like a rookie. Dez Bryant is refusing to carry the shoulder pads of veteran Roy Williams after practice. Dez Bryant is going to get hazed much worse if he continues his defiance of a time-honored tradition. Dez Bryant needs to get a clue.
- From 600 to zero in no time at all – Nobody seems to care that A-Rod is about to reach 600 home runs. Perhaps it’s the steroids scandal. Perhaps it’s because he’s the most insecure athlete ever. Or perhaps it’s because he doesn’t seem to have any fans, even among the Yankee faithful.
- The engine still runs, but the car isn’t going anywhere if all the wheels fall off – As if Detroit didn’t have enough problems, now the baseball team is falling apart. After Brandon Inge broke his hand Monday, Magglio Ordonez fractured his ankle and Carlos Guillen hurt his calf on Saturday and now all three are on the DL. The team is still in the AL Central race, but one more injury and they might as well send it back to the shop until next year.
- Objects in the rear-view mirror may be closer than they appear - The San Diego Padres may hold a three game lead in the NL West, but the San Francisco Giants are roaring up behind them. Having gone 15-3 in their last 18 games, the Giants look like the team to beat in the NL West. And watch out Stephen Strasburg, Buster Posey is right behind you for Rookie of the Year.
- I’ll take gas mileage over looks every time - Andre Dawson always seemed to be breaking down and in pain, but he kept delivering. Despite 12 knee surgeries, “The Hawk” played for 21 years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame Sunday. I’ve heard people spout off about how his stats weren’t good enough. I know greatness when I see it. Dawson was great and deserved the honor.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
It used to be just his mere presence intimidated other golfers, such was Tiger’s dominance. But now that his superhero status has been revoked, it seems he’s not quite sure how to deal with it.
Tiger looks uncomfortable and unsure of himself. He seems to be thinking, instead of doing, and when you get lost in your own head, it can be hard to find your way out.
I don’t feel sorry for Tiger nor do any of his competitors. They’re smelling blood and getting ready to pounce. In fact, it’s just like when Tiger used to stalk them, just in reverse.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
It took 14 years, but the National League finally won an All-Star Game.
Brian McCann’s three-run double in the 7th inning was the big blow, but it was the pitching that made it possible. Nine hurlers combined to give up just six hits and one unearned run, setting the stage for McCann’s heroics. Jonathan Broxton closed out the first win for the senior circuit since 1996, giving the NL home-field advantage in the World Series.
Marc Lecair was at the game and will be part of the full All-Star recap on Wednesday’s edition of “There It Is!” starting at 5pm.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
I was hoping LeBron’s narcissistic episode would be the last embarrassing spectacle for a while. As usual, it turns out I was wrong. His might have been the worst, but it clearly wasn’t the last.
- Act like an owner, not a deranged fan – I get it, Dan Gilbert. I really do. But that letter. Oh that letter. Thankfully, you put the best part in ALL CAPS, when you declared the Cavs would win a title before the Heat. At least you remembered to have a sense of humor. Wait, you weren’t joking? Um, never mind.
- Yes, that’s exactly what his comments sounded like – Proving that where there’s one idiot, others will soon follow, Jesse Jackson declared Gilbert’s comments “personify a slave master mentality.” This is so astoundingly stupid, I can only assume the press printed it because they wanted to make fun of Jackson. I know that’s why I’m putting it on my list.
- My 22-month-old son doesn’t roll around and cry as much after getting hurt - Once again, the World Cup was marred by a parade of players acting as though they had been mortally wounded anytime there was contact during the game Sunday. My buddy James put it best when he said, “I like the World Cup much more at the start of the tournament than I do at the end.” Thankfully, we all now have four years to forget what we witnessed.
- Eight is Enough - No Dick Van Patten fatherly guidance necessary here. Paul the Octopus, who correctly predicted all seven of Germany’s games in the World Cup and then Spain’s title, is retiring from the prediction business. As it turns out, he was the least embarrassing part of the tournament.
- Have feet, can’t travel- Because of his latest legal issues, Michael Vick can’t go out of state and had to miss his own event as well as a football camp. This doesn’t bode well if he becomes the starter for the Eagles. Then again, there are probably a bunch of NFL teams who would be better off if their QB couldn’t attend road games.
- He was never an embarrassment – I wanted to end on a positive note and ironically enough needed to discuss the hated Yankees to do so. But it was in his life as their public address announcer that Bob Sheppard made his mark on the sports world. With a strong, distinuguished voice, Sheppard brought class and elegance to every word he spoke for all in the stadium to hear. Nicknamed “The Voice of God,” he passed away Sunday, but I have no doubt he’s now speaking in his brilliant voice to the other class act who left us recently at 99, John Wooden. May they rest in well-earned peace.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
You can’t be called The King if you leave your castle and go to live where somebody else rules. Because of that, we need to come up with a new nickname for LeBron James. I offered this up to listeners and they came up with five excellent suggestions.
- The Jester
- The Duchess of Deferral
- The Duke of Deferral
- Benedict James (offered up by a man named Arnold, seriously!)
- The Great Defector (with the added bonus LeBron ended up in Miami)
Vote for your favorite or suggest one of your own via comment.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
No, I didn’t have any insider information. And I didn’t have any concrete evidence, unless you considered the Suns’ Jared Dudley’s tweet to be The King’s word. I just thought the way everything played out left LeBron with nowhere to go but the Big Apple.
I just can’t believe he decided go play for Dwyane Wade’s team.
When Chris Bosh decided to sign with Miami instead of accepting a Toronto sign-and-trade to Cleveland, LeBron’s fate was sealed. He could’ve gone back to Akron and been a martyr in Ohio. Or he could’ve taken his chances on becoming a star on the game’s biggest stage. Instead, he chose to ride Dwyane Wade’s coattails on South Beach. The answer was obvious to me. We found out it wasn’t obvious to him.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
No, I don’t have any insider information. And I don’t have any concrete evidence, unless you consider the Suns’ Jared Dudley’s tweet to be The King’s word. I just think the way everything has played out leaves LeBron with nowhere to go but the Big Apple.
I just can’t believe he will go play for Dwyane Wade’s team.
I just can’t believe he wants to play in Michael Jordan’s shadow.
I just can’t believe he can go back to the same flawed team in Cleveland.
When Chris Bosh decided to sign with Miami instead of accepting a Toronto sign-and-trade to Cleveland, LeBron’s fate was sealed. He can go back to Akron and be a martyr in Ohio. Or he can take his chances on becoming a star on the game’s biggest stage. The answer is obvious to me. All we need to find out now is if it’s obvious to him.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
As if the hype surrounding LeBron James and NBA Free Agency wasn’t enough, King James is taking it to a whole ‘nother level. No, I’m not talking about his new twitter account. I’m talking about an ESPN Special to air Thursday night during which he will announce where he’s going to play.
My first reaction was to channel my inner John McEnroe and scream as loud as I can…YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS. But as I heard more about the concept, I started to like it for a number of reasons:
- We finally have a definitive answer to when the curtains will close on this drama and can take solace in knowing the end is near.
- LeBron went straight to the pros from high school so he never had a chance to announce his choice for college like other stars. He’s earned the right to make this choice on national tv.
- Apparently the deal with ESPN includes the right for LeBron’s reps to sell sponsorships for the show, with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. No matter what you think of the whole process, you must admit that’s a pretty good idea.
Until then, of course, the speculation continues. And just because LeBron will talk Thursday, doesn’t mean we’ll know what’s up with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others. Perhaps they’ll get in touch with the networks and hold their own shows as well.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
I hope everybody enjoyed their holiday weekend. If not, hopefully you didn’t end up arrested like former Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champ Takeru Kobayashi. I guess the urge to chow dogs was just too strong.
Since nothing too important happened since Friday, I figure we can hold off on the sports for a day or so. With that in mind, here are my favorite foods and drinks for the fourth.
- Italian Sausage – While hot dogs are good, I prefer hot italian sausages, on a big crusty roll with sauteed peppers and onions. Add a little mustard or a dash of tabasco…just fabulous.
- Beer – Some people like wine. Others enjoy cider or sangria. For my money, the classic American holiday deserves a classic frosty cold beverage. Don’t tell anybody I prefer imports like Stella.
- Corn on the Cob – I was recently given a tip from a golfing buddy…boil in water with a splash of milk, it makes the corn even more tender and juicy. Cool corn holders are a big plus.
- Potato Salad – I’m very picky when it comes to this side dish. I want big chunks of potato, plenty of onion and just a little mayo. If it looks like potato soup, I’m not eating it.
- Watermelon – Nothing says summer like biting into a big, juicy, messy piece of watermelon. Spitting of seeds is optional.
- Ice Cream Cake – I know this isn’t a standard for most. But over the weekend I wolfed down two huge pieces of Carvel Ice Cream Cake with the vanilla, chocolate and crunchies. Just a fabulous finish to the meal.
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
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