27 June 2007

Power Rankings III

The first round of divisional play is in the books and it's time to see who's left standing. It's been watching teams beat each other up to try to get a foothold on a playoff spot. I think everyone should have a good idea of where they stand as we hit the stretch run and what they need to do to have a shot at the crown. As we're all still trying to feel each other out (out, not up, Paul), it'll be interesting to see what kind of deals get done in the next few weeks.

1. Setauket Horde (Last Ranking: 2)
  • The Horde's march to the top is complete. Looking at his roster, I still have no idea how this is possible. It has to be battlefield leadership and that great fantasy baseball equalizer, intangibles.
2. Simpsonville Slayers (1)
  • The Slayers have fought their way through the Cool Papa gauntlet and emerged still holding onto the division lead. They know it's not over yet, so it's a good thing Mauer's finally back in the fold.
3. Ninth Street Nine (5)
  • Roy Halladay is back at the front of a talented young rotation and the 1300+ HR bats of Bonds & Griffey have come alive behind one of the most underrated right side of the infield combos in the league, Casey Kotchman and Kelly Johnson. No doubt, the Big Ticket is back.
4. Westphalia Shepherds (4)
  • Finally had a shot at Setauket and came up a bit short, but there's another mano-a-mano down the line. Until then, the Shepherds will continue taking out their frustration on the rest of the league and trying to lock up at least a Wildcard.

5. Nassau Chin Music (3)
  • Nassau is still the home of the biggest lead in the league thanks in large part to the unexpected offense of Carlos Pena and Hunter Pence. And Jose Reyes is pretty good, too.

6. Mattituck Natives (9)
  • In what experts thought would be a hotly contested division, the Natives have started to put some distance between themselves and the field. Bad news for the rest of the Paige now that Magglio may finally be getting some help as Manny should start heating up and Billy Butler looks like he's going to be getting a legit chance to rake in the bigs this go-around.

7. Shaolin Empire (7)
  • Statistically, the best team in the league BY FAR. Too bad they can't actually beat anyone. Finally came up big in battle with Bay Ridge to take control of the Larry Doby Division. Still, getting over crushing by Coram (Coram!) will take years of therapy. I hear Dr. Melfi is taking on new clients.

8. Hampton Bay Bambinos (6)
  • The up and down season by the Bay continues as the stumbling Bambinos stuck it to the streaking Nine to bring them right back into the thick of the Cool Papa. I'm thinking it's Go Time for $31 million duo Howard and Soriano.

9. Pequash Panters (10)
  • The Panthers just keep chugging along under the radar, but after serving notice during divisional play, they are lurking in the shadows of the Doby, ready to pounce.

10. Bay Ridge Wapdagos (8)
  • First, congratulations to owner Frankie Wilders and his new bride. Losing the divisional lead is not the best wedding present he received, but welcome to married life, pal. And because Frankie was upset that his boy Justin Morneau never gets a mention, here you go: that had to be the absolute pussiest slide into home ever. Good one, MVP.

11. North Babylon Generals (18)
  • Number 11 with a bullet. I said from the jump that this was a team to watch and they're not disappointing. The combo of a dedicated owner and star players waiting to break out still make a playoff spot a possibility.

12. Browntown Fudge Dragons (13)

13. Riverhead Red Streaks (14)
  • Okay, so Clemens hasn't been the savior and the Chipper Jones blockbuster trade hasn't exactly shot them up the standings, but there's something to be said for treading water. They're not out of it yet.

14. Kohler Toilet (17)
  • As disappointing as Pujols has been (for $19 million), Andruw Jones has been even worse. Still, the Toilet are getting better each week thanks to strong years by C.C. Sabathia and Adam Dunn. When all is said and done, being in the same division as the mighty Horde and Shepherds might be too much to overcome.

15. New Libertatia Swashbucklers (11)
  • The company line was always that they were building for the future, but it looked like they might klong up for a run this year. This 4 spot tumble shows they may have been overreaching a bit. Though having Johan means they're never out of any race.

16. Ridge Ducks (15)
  • I never know what to expect from this team. They're not bad on paper, but games aren't played on paper. Although this is fantasy baseball, so in one sense, games are played on paper. Like I said, I have no idea what to expect from the Ducks. Quack.

17. Laurel Leathernecks (16)
  • At this point, if the Commish makes it through the season in one piece, he can count it as a success. The stress of running a Super League has taken its toll on the formerly happy-go-lucky Trader Tom (though his craptastic OF isn't helping either).

18. Philadelphia Kane Nines (12)
  • Statistically, the worst team in the league. They've managed to put together all of 2 Steals and -17 Wins. That said, their wheelin' & dealin' GM has picked up some pretty good young talent that sets them up nicely for the long haul. And ownership can't be too unhappy that they're selling out every one of super prospect Homer Bailey's home starts.

19. Coram Crushers (20)
  • Let's give them some credit. They showed a lot of heart in recent weeks and haven't given up on what has been one fugly season. There's some work to do for next year, but they're really not that far away.
20 St. Olaf Dutch Ovens (19)
  • There's a lot to work with here even though nothing seemed to work this year. The few fans that still show up seem to do so for the sole purpose of chanting "David Price! David Price!"

17 June 2007

Happy Father's Day

ATHLETES WITH ILLEGITIMATE KIDS

THE HEAVYWEIGHTS
Shawn Kemp - 7 illegitimate kids by 6 women. Gives his nickname of the Reign Man new meaning.
Evander Holyfield - 9 illegitimate kids. "Heck I'm not even mad, I'm impressed!"
Ex-San Antonio Spur Willie Anderson - 9 illegitimate kids. If only his field goal percentage had been as high as his impregnation rate.
Derrick Thomas - 7 illegitimate kids by 5 women. He died at 33. Let's just leave it at that.
Ray Charles - Not an athlete, but still had 9 illegitimate kids and 12 total, which is quite impressive. Being blind must have made it tough to get that condom on.
UPDATE: Don't know how we missed this - thanks to a reader for pointing this out to us - Calvin Murphy reportedly had 14 illegitimate kids by 9 women. Wow.

THE MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Larry Johnson - 5 kids by 4 women. 3 are illegitimate.
Santonio Holmes - 3 illegitimate kids by two women, before leaving college.
Former Celtic Greg Minor - 3 illegitimate kids.
Ricky Williams - 3 illegitimate kids. Maybe that's why he smokes so much weed.
Priest Holmes - 3 illegitimate kids. You best keep running Priest.

THE LIGHTNING FAST GROUP
Willis McGahee - 3 illegitimate kids in 2 years in Buffalo. Not a lot to do in Buffalo, except make babies. Lots and lots of babies.

THE GUYS YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT GROUP
Walter Herrmann
Peja Stojakovic
Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan
NHL player Daniel Alfredsson
NHL player Richard Zednik
Mike Miller

THE FAMOUS OLD GUYS GROUP
Steve Garvey - 2 illegitimate kids by 2 women.
Dr. J - 2 illegitimate kids by 2 women.
Larry Bird
Isiah Thomas
Jim Palmer
Pete Rose

THE GETTING A HEAD START GROUP
Gary Sheffield - Had 2 illegitimate kids by age 17. Added a few more later on in life.

THE THAT'S JUST WRONG GROUP
Elijah Dukes - recently impregnated a 17-year-old foster child.

THE QB KIDS GROUP
Matt Leinart - already has one, my guess is he's working hard on another.
Tom Brady - his is on the way.

GUYS WITH AT LEAST ONE ILLEGITIMATE KID
Antawn Jamison
Chipper Jones
DeShawn Stevenson
Cliff Floyd
Mark Messier
Brian Urlacher

Rae Carruth - Yes, he fathered an illegitimate kid before the incident where he had his pregnant girlfriend gunned down.
Oscar De La Hoya
Juan Gonzalez

Andre Rison
David Justice
Alonzo Spellman
Dave Meggett

Gary Payton
- If the glove doesn't fit...
Stephon Marbury

Jason Kidd

Allen Iverson

Latrell Sprewell
Juwan Howard
Kenny Anderson
Scottie Pippen
Hakeem Olajuwon

Patrick Ewing
Randy Johnson
- by reader request. We missed him.

Thanks to 100% Injury Rate.

13 June 2007

The Hat's Not Fooling Anyone, Bub


Click here and check out the URL (address) of the page.

If you don't get it, click here and think about it.

(Thanks to FireJoeMorgan.com for the scoop.)

09 June 2007

Get This Man A Plaque


Bert Blyleven has 287 career wins and 3700 Ks, yet is continually denied election into the Hall of Fame.

Maybe now he can get the respect he deserves.