Mike Coulter

In the news...

Really? With all the problems in baseball, we’re going to waste time harassing the Chicago White Sox for a couple blow up dolls? I’m terrified to see what happens when Congress gets its hands on this one.

It’s not like this happened in the dugout, or even in the team's hotel. This happened in the clubhouse, which is essentially a men’s locker room. If you’re easily offended, a plastic woman would be the least of your worries in a place like that.

Besides, the clubhouse is the player’s domain. Any one else, including the media, is a guest on their turf. Outside of the team and staff, nobody has a right to complain about anything they see there.

It would be like someone coming in to my home and telling me to throw away my copy of Showgirls... assuming, of course, that I had bad enough taste to actually own that movie... which I don’t.

I mean, these guys already have to walk around naked in from of gangs of reporters and TV cameras. How would you feel if you came out of the shower and were immediately enveloped in a sea of lights, cameras, microphones and people shouting questions?

That’s what these guys deal with on a daily basis, I’ve seen it. Now we’re going to tell them that they can’t have a little fun before the game? Setting up a couple blow up dolls is a huge problem? Get over it.

  Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather players focused their attention on mental preparation or reading scouting reports, but there is something to be said for keeping a “light” atmosphere in the clubhouse.

So far, nobody has owned up to orchestrating the doll joke, but many of the Chicago players have been forced in to some kind of halfhearted apology. Some people are even suggesting that Ozzie Guillen needs more sensitivity training because he allowed the “offensive” behavior.

While Ozzie has plenty of flaws, getting on him for this is ridiculous.

Actually, I’m not even sure who these accusers are trying to protect. Nobody filed a complaint, did they? Everyone in that locker room should be an adult male over the age of 18.

Doesn’t anyone have a sense of humor any more?

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From the Blogoshpere...

TDbeagle is a big fan of Byron Scott. In his latest blog, this member goes year-by-year through the coach's career, telling us why his record remains under .500.

Horse racing and dog fighting... they may be more similar than you would think. Check out tummydoc2000's blog about the dark side of horse racing.

A list of man rules? CMC18v is a genius! I particularly like No. 1.

In the news...

Collusion against Barry Bonds?

It’s starting to look that way. But really, who can blame teams for not wanting to sign the most despicable baseball player this side of Roger Clemens?

I can definitely understand why many clubs might choose to pass on a 43-year-old former steroid user with looming legal issues. Plus, Bonds isn’t exactly known as a team player, and the media circus his presence causes is sure to have some negative impact.

Still, I’m shocked that some desperate team hasn’t made a run at the *all-time homerun king.

I wonder if his desired salary is a little too high. Otherwise, I would think that almost any team could use a guy like Barry at the league minimum. Even if Bonds isn’t used as a full-time DH, he would be the greatest pinch-hitter that the game has ever seen.

What? Did every owner suddenly decide to follow their ethical compass? I wouldn’t bet on it. Owners have been overlooking players’ indiscretions for as long as anyone can remember.

Steve Howe, Doc Gooden, Darryl Stawberry, Jason Giambi, Delmon Young... it’s a list that could seemingly go on forever. Ty Cobb once went in to the stands to beat up a fan that had no hands. Heck, Fidel Castro even got a few looks for his outstanding curve ball. And, you can bet that if Hitler could hit 73 homers in his late 30s, he probably would have been part of baseball’s Murderers Row.

What does this prove?

Well, it may show us that the fallout from the steroid era is finally starting to have some effect. Maybe teams are realizing the importance of distancing themselves from anything roid-related. Maybe they understand that, for the first time since integration, the entire statistical fabric of the game has come in to question.

For the good of the game, I hope that they have realized it. And, collusion or not, I hope that Barry Bonds never gets another job in baseball.

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From the Blogosphere...

We all know that Nynasty keeps up with all the news on Yankee prospects. In his latest blog, this member has gathered and condensed the best info on all the young arms.

Celtics win, Red Sox win and the Yankees lose (again). On the other side of the greatest baseball rivalry, Nuf Ced is looking forward to tonights game against the Tigers. Check out his scouting report.

HALOS02 is in Heaven after the Angels started their season with a 12-5 road record. Check out his breakdown of the team's latest success.

In the news...

Apparently, “Listening to police” is not one of the lectures given at the NFL’s rookie symposium. Come on, Cedric Benson, what were you thinking? Don’t you watch the news? Don’t you get the NFL police blotter... err... newsletter?

I’ve got to tell you all, I’m getting pretty tired of ripping these guys for acting like idiots, but every time I hear about these things, I just feel appalled that someone who has done so well could jeopardize things by making such idiotic mistakes.

It seems like, at least once a week, some NFL player gets himself in to trouble and then compounds things by resisting arrest.

I know that everyone makes mistakes. I get that. Even police make mistakes. The thing that confounds me is why these guys would decide to battle the law in any place other than a court room.

Next time you’re dealing with police, NFL players, look around yourself. If you see a parking lot, bar stools, a stripper pole or 15 of your friends drinking on a boat, just shut your mouth and do what anyone with a badge tells you to do.

If the officer looks at your driver’s license and doesn’t immediately ask for an autograph, you’ve already lost the battle. You have, unfortunately, drawn someone that doesn’t know who you are, or doesn’t care enough to let you off the hook.

NFL players have lawyers, too... good lawyers. Wait till they take you in, then get that card out of your wallet and make the call, Benson.

Here’s a little saying to help you remember: “Listen to police everyday, or you might taste the pepper spray.”

And make sure you relay that message to Rex Grossman, because if it was him on that boat, they may have used lethal force.

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 From the Blogosphere...

Tennis blogger BlueCollarIT is confused by the parities in tennis pay. Why do doubles get paid less? Why do women get paid less in some tournaments, but paid the same in others?

Willie Randolph thinks that Mets fans are mean. Tartans thinks Willie is a wuss, and that the team deserves to hear the fans displeasure. An excerpt: "We’re booing a lack of run support for Johan, who has pitched his a$$ off. We’re booing a bullpen that can’t seem to keep runners from doing jogs around the bases. We’re booing a lineup that has more holes than the Playboy Mansion, with stars that aren’t doing a drop of what they’re paid to. We’re booing the apathetic crybaby attitude that seems to have pervaded this team."

OK, PETA, billdawg12185 wants to see you zip it. This horse racing fan has heard enough of yor "unfounded" and "crazy" accusations.