There are three significant baseball milestones waiting to occur and all of them could happen tonight.  But regardless of whether any or all of them do come to pass, the most entertaining highlights may come from the stands rather than the field.

For starters, the Mets' Tom Glavine will go for career win No. 300 when he pitches against the Brewers in Milwaukee. He would be just the 23rd pitcher (and many believe perhaps the last) in major league history to reach that magic number.

The Yankee's Alex Rodriguez is on the cusp of hitting his 500th career home run and become the youngest player, 32, to join that exclusive club. The Yanks play the Chicago White Sox in the Bronx.

But the most notable impending event, of course, is Barry Bonds' attempt to tie Hank Aaron's all-time home run mark of No. 755.  With San Francisco on the road, Bonds will be contending with decidedly inhospitable crowds starting with Dodger Stadium tonight.  And such a circumstance means that fans will be exercising their imaginations as they express their indignity that Bonds -- obviously under the ever-present cloud of suspected steroids use -- is about to rewrite the record books.

For the next few days anyway, some of the most entertaining sports writing in the land may be done with crayons on cardboard.

For the record, commissioner Bud Selig will be there but Aaron will not.

Photo credit: Denis Poroy/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Just days into training camp, the Detrot Lions' second-round draft pick, quarterback Drew Stanton, is already hurt having sustained a knee injury while dropping back to pass, that will require arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair damaged cartilage.

Now, there are easy cheap shots to take here, considering it's the beleaguered Lions we're talking about but that's not where I want to go with this.  I was struck by a comment by team president Matt Millen.

Millen is quoted in a story on mlive.com as saying, "The knee is structurally sound; it's not a big deal. It's just a tweak.'' OK, Millen is trying to make the point that the kid will be ready to play in a month, maybe a little more.  But it was how he characterized the injury -- "just a tweak."

That term -- "tweak" -- does that appear in medical journals, somewhere? And I'm not bashing Millen specifically because you hear that word a lot these days in sports circles.

Tweak is the latest sports injury euphemism that has linguistic ancestors such as "charlie horse" and "burner" and "stinger." Those vague catch-words that glibly glossed over what could be serious health problems for the players involved.

This may seem like an off-the-wall rant sparked by a minor injury to a backup player on a team few people care about around here.  But as we learn more and more about the physical price paid by players, particularly retired NFL players, we shouldn't fall into an Orwellian use (and acceptance) of language that subtly disguises a serious reality.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Debate, if you will, the relative merits of the NFL's greatest teams -- the Packers of the 1960s, the Steelers of the '70s, the 49ers of the '80s, the Cowboys of the 90's and the Patriots of the first decade of the new century. Arguments can be made on behalf of all of them.

As dangerous as it may be to say outloud in Baltimore, I cast my vote -- by a small margin -- with the Pittsburgh team that dominated the 1970s, in part for striking sheer terror into opponents for so long. But close behind, I'd go with the San Francisco 49ers because of the panache and style that went along with the most entertaining offense of any era.

Of course, the death of former San Francisco coach Bill Walsh, who led the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles and laid the foundation for two more, has us reflecting on such things. And in that spirit, we offer what now appears to be something of a campy rap featuring many of the stars of that 1980s 49er team. It's hard to believe Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig were once that young.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If not for Tim Donaghy, the imminent trade of Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics would have been the major story of the offseason in the NBA.

The Celtics are expected to seal the deal for Garnett (left) at any moment which would complete a radical makeover for Boston.  A draft day trade brought guard Ray Allen from Seattle (which cost Boston this year's No. 5 overall pick, Jeff Green).  Now, the addition of Garnett in what is being reported as a five-for-one trade with Minnesota -- where the Celts may also be tossing in one or even two more future draft picks -- gives Boston still another All-Star caliber player to go with Allen and their own 25 points-per-game swingman, Paul Pierce.

The ramifications are obvious.  The Celtics will go into 2007-08 with three superior starters, which makes them instant contenders.  But all three will all also happen to be at least 30 or older on Nov. 1.  And depending on the draft picks involved, the Celts may not have any fresh talent coming on board until a certain ex-referee is eligible to come off supervised probation sometime in the next decade. 

This a great story line for a league that desperately needs some juicy drama that doesn't involve federal investigations. And getting the Celtics, one of the NBA's former glamor franchises, back in the playoff mix would certainly help a little problem like miserable TV ratings.

Unfortunately, outside of Boston and the die-hard NBA fans remain, it's Tim Donaghy and whatever he has to say to the FBI that's the only news that really counts.

Photo credit: David Guttenfelder/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

With the passing of former San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, much has been made of his strategic contribution to the game, most obviously the development of the horizontal passing game now commonly called the West Coast offense.

But I think that Walsh's impact on the NFL in terms of the game's popularity at that cultural point in time -- meaning the 1980s -- when pro football really began to separate from the rest of American sports went far beyond diagrams on a blackboard.

It was in that era when the NFL definitively became corporate America's sport, a huge thing because of the enormous amounts of revenue that would flow into the league as a result. Certainly there were big sponsorship deals prior to that but nothing like the sophisticated "strategic partnerships" of today that merge sport and business.

And no figure in the league better advanced the comparisons between sports and business management than Walsh (pictured here with quarterback Joe Montana).  Before him, the coaching icons -- Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Bud Grant and Chuck Noll --- were certainly admirable leadership role models but their milieu was clearly sports.  Don Shula, to an extent, more approximated an executive figure.  But it was Walsh, with a clearly identifiable management style --  by imposing a revolutionary tactical plan (the West Coast offense) and taking a hands-on approach (by scripting the first 20 or so plays) -- who really embodied the emerging concept of the corporate manager as a change agent who could almost single-handedly control the destiny of an enterprise.

And it didn't hurt that the trim, silver-haired Walsh, seemingly perpetually dressed in smart business-casual, fed the self-image of business executives.  And Walsh had the added good fortune of doing it in a attractive part of the country, San Francisco, at the dawn of the high-tech age.

Admittedly, much of this speaks to a subtle -- even subliminal -- sociological influence that Walsh may have exerted.  And I have no doubt that the NFL would still be the 800-pound gorilla of American pop culture even without Walsh's considerable presence.  But I am also certain that because of what he did and how he did it, Walsh deserves a huge amount of credit for the game's appeal to an elite demographic that determines how American capital is spent.

Photo credit:  Associated Press

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Much of the major leagues, including the Orioles, were off yesterday but there was still baseball news of interest here as the Rangers finally moved Severna Park's Mark Teixeira to the Braves.  For a while, several factors -- their terrible record and the need for overhaul, reported problems between Teixeira and first-year Texas manager Ron Washington and the added pressure of Teixeira's soon-expiring contract -- have had the Rangers looking to deal their star switch-hitting first baseman.

Teixeira in Orioles orange and black seemed like a good wardrobe change to Baltimore fans and wouldn't it be nice to finally have a star player who actually would like to play in this area?

Alas, the Rangers wanted either lots of youthful potential or All-Star caliber veteran talent.  They got the former from the Braves, most notably in catcher-first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has a chance to be a star for years to come, plus three other prospects, two of them reportedly pitchers. 

From the Orioles, The Sun's beat writer Jeff Zrebiec reported today, Texas wanted Erik Bedard, the cornerstone of what has turned out to be a solid (potentially spectacular) starting pitching staff.  If that was the case, as much as I would have liked to Teixeira here, then the price was too high.

*  The Chicago Cubs, after a terrible start, actually had a chance to grab a share of first place in the tepid National League Central yesterday but stumbled against the Phillies, losing 4-1.  The Phils are in their own dogfight, mixing it up in the NL East with the first-place Mets and now improved Braves. But Philadelphia has an injury jinx going on that may put them out contention through sheer attrition. 

Last week, star second baseman Chase Utley was sidelined for perhaps a month by a broken hand when he was hit by a pitch.  Yesterday at Wrigley, two Phillies outfielders came up lame -- leadoff hitter Shane Victorino (strained calf) and his replacement Michael Bourn, who sprained an ankle tripping over a bullpen mound while chasing a foul ball.  Before the weekend, power-hitting outfielder Aaron Rowand gave the Phils a scare when he felt a twinge in his shoulder from playing tag with neighborhood kids.  But he hit a three-run homer yesterday.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

It's been clear for quite a while that the Orioles wouldn't be trading for Mark Teixeira, the Baltimore-area favorite son whose time with the Texas Rangers was growing short.

Baltimore fans would have loved to see Teixeira in orange and black. He's a homegrown kid who could provide some consistent punch to a lineup that for much of the year drifted between feeble and mediocre and only lately has come to life.

But it appears the Atlanta Braves are landing Teixeira for their own playoff run in the NL East.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that the switching-hitting first baseman, along with relief pitcher Ron Mahay, will cost Atlanta four prospects including catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (longest name in baseball), infielder Elvis Andrus, pitcher Matt Harrison and one other unknown pitcher.  The Braves may not wind up signing Teixeira beyond the 2008 season when his current contract runs out, but for a team like Atlanta that figures to be in playoff contention now and next year, the deal makes sense.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

The Tour de France concluded over the weekend -- and I don't think it's an overstatement -- in a smoldering heap of rubble.

A Spaniard riding for an American team won the race. Alberto Contador, of the Discovery Channel team, earned the yellow jersey. Cantador (right) beat an Australian, Cadel Evans, by just 23 seconds. An American, Levi Leipheimer of the U.S. and also riding for the Discovery Channel, finished third.

But this race was riddled with scandal, which is simply unimaginable considering the Tour's recent history with performance-enhancing drugs and doping.  For a while, it appeared that some kid on a Schwinn might have to be declared the winner by default.

The leader at one point, Michael Rasmussen, was kicked out by his own team under doping suspicions. Rasmussen was joined in expulsion by riders Alexander Vinokourov (suspicion of blood doping), Cristian Moreni (admitted use of drugs to lift his testosterone level) and Patrik Sinkewitz (tested positive for abnormal level of testosterone before the Tour). Some European news outlets simply gave up covering the event. 

You may recall that last year's apparent victor, American Floyd Landis, is awaiting a decision from an arbitration panel about his own case involving performance-enhancing charges.

So consider this, as cycling celebrates Contador's win in the 2007 Tour de France, it still isn't sure who legitimately won the 2006 race.

Photo credit: Associated Press

Posted by Bill Ordine at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Yesterday was Cooperstown Day for the Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. and the Padres' Tony Gwynn, both of whom are the inspirational types who take us back to a time when baseball appeared more pristine.

And, I think, with both players, we see an emphasis on kids and the kid in all of us -- that the game should be about both competition and fun. And that there should be pride in an honest effort.

So with that in mind, we bring you a Cooperstown-flavored music video that, with both humor and some sentiment, just makes you feel good about baseball.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Michael Vick might not only never play another down in the NFL but he may have to live out the rest of his days on Elba.

Former pal and co-defendant Tony Taylor, who was named in a federal indictment as a confederate along with Vick and two other other men in Bad Newz Kennels, pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiracy charges. That conspiracy involved interstate commerce in futherance of racketeering and of sponsoring a dog in an illegal fighting venture.

Taylor said today that as part of his plea, he was not promised a specific sentence by government prosecutors.  However, as anyone who has ever watched Law & Order knows, the quality of a cooperating witness' testimony often plays a role in a prosecutor's recommendation to a judge at sentencing.  Without pretending to know the specifics about what's happening in this case, I do know from covering federal courts that federal sentencing guidelines leave less discretion in handing out prison time than in local court systems.  Still, a prosecutor's recommendation carries considerable weight meaning that Taylor has plenty of motivation in not leaving out any details about the culpability of his co-conspirators.

In other words, Taylor's testimony has the Atlanta Falcons quarterback facing a zillion times more pressure than he ever did when he dropped back to pass.

On top of that, the Upper Deck trading card company joined the corporate flight from Vick in suspending sales of Vick-related merchandise and by pulling his card from the upcoming season's collection.  Nike finally bailed on Vick and Reebok stopped selling his No. 7 jersey.  It's still available on eBay.

Photo credit:  Rob Carr/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

We're approaching the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and it's unfortunate legacy on a wonderful American city.

Yesterday, New Orleans did for the first time something it had done so successfully so many times in the pre-Katrina days.  It held a championship sports event.  You may have missed it but the San Jose SaberCats beat the Columbus Destroyers, 55-33, in the Arena Bowl (winning San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb and mother Shelly are pictured at right).  For San Jose, it was its third title in six years.  But the big news, I think, was that the game represented one more step for New Orleans in its comeback.

It's estimated that the economic impact on the region from the Arena Bowl was anywhere from $15 million to $25 million.  Obviously, that's hardly in Super Bowl territory and more than the half of the 15,000 who attended the game at the New Orleans Arena were locals, which meant fewer tourist dollars, but the attendance was much better than recent Arena Football League championship games held in Las Vegas.

What we have come to learn about New Orleans after Katrina is that the rebuilding there is progressing terribly slowly.  Both in terms of repiling sticks on top of bricks and in reclaiming its place in domestic tourism,  the Big Easy is finding the going not so easy at all.  So whatever occasion can be seized on to remind the world that this city can still live up to its trademark expression, "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" -- to let the good times roll -- is a good thing indeed.

Photo credit:  Alex Brandon/AP

Posted by Bill Ordine at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

So the Ravens open training camp today at McDaniel College, and not a day too soon.

The Orioles' recent winning run has restored, momentarily, some pride in the club. And if the O's could make life miserable for both Boston and New York over the next two months, that would certainly serve some kind of notice -- and provide a measure of satisfaction. But in all candor, the remainder of the baseball season is more about setting the tempo and positioning the team for 2008.

All of which brings us back to the Ravens who, as Sun beat report Jamison Hensley points out, show up for summer workouts in a relatively blissful state of harmony. Now, as impressive last season's 13-3 regular-season record was, Ravens fans would obviously like to see a little more offense out of this year's edition. After all, despite holding the Indianapolis Colts to zero touchdowns in last January's playoff game, it still added up to a bitter 15-6 loss. So to help head coach Brian Billick with his playbook, we pass along this gem from some offensive genius in the peewee football ranks. Thanks to the Fark blog for pointing it out.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Not long after we began this enterprise at O, by the Way, I was out of commission for a day with a softball injury that was the result of my own clumsiness while playing for The Sun's softball team.  Well, with little fanfare that season plodded on and yesterday, The Sun team scrapped its way to the mixed softball slow-pitch title in a Catonsville church league.  In the championship game, the Muckrakers (obviously pictured here) came back from nine-run deficits twice.  The final was 19-18 -- clearly, softball as it should be.  But it also said something about perseverance, which is one more lesson we can all take from the Orioles' No. 8.  Thanks, for your indulgence.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Good morning Baltimore and it's good to be with you again after a week of reporting on former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. And it's also nice, after a week of poking through the unsavory details of sports' latest embarrassment -- this one involving alleged gambling --  to be able to pass along to anyone who missed it yesterday a reminder about the most anticipated sports event of the summer in these part, Cal Ripken Jr.'s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I heard the Cal speech on the radio in the car. It was a good way to experience it, I thought. I'm of a generation where baseball was so often an aural experence -- on a transistor radio late at night. And while you certainly miss some things when you can't see them, your heightented attentiveness allows to to pick up nuances you might othwise miss.

There was a lot to notice in Ripken's address. His tribute to his family, especially his father, Cal. Sr. The firm assertion that "Whether we like it or not, as big leaguers, we are role models" (pronouncing it big liggers, in an old-timey sort of way). And a reflection that the passing of one phase of a person's life should not be mourned as an ending but rather welcomed as an opportunity for a new beginning.

In Ripken's case, many of us know that the new beginning for him was the creation of a company whose ambition and design is to bring baseball to young people. For the rest of us, we have to find the answer to that "new beginning" question -- whenever it presents itself -- for ourselves. But it's further tribute to Ripken that he could frame the challenge in such an optimistic fashion.

If you missed it yesterday, here's a link to the Ripken stories as well as a video of his induction addess.

* The current Orioles were slowed a little yesterday losing to the Yankees, 10-6, but this was still a different type of loss than we had been seeing in the first half of the season. After starter Daniel Cabrera put the O's in a 4-0 hole, Baltimore made life uncomfotable for New York coming back to within a run twice before a bullpen collpase in the eighth inning. Still, that's two of three for the Orioles in the home stand against the Yankees -- and even in the resumed suspended game, the O's made the Yankees sweat. At this point, I'll settle for playing with pride.

* And Tony Stewart, everyone favorite NASCAR antagonist had a hometown moment winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.  Stewart, a Hoosier native, won the Indianapolis race by chasing down friend Kevin Harvick with 10 laps to go.  The two rubbed paint along the way.  It was Stewart's second win in Indy in three years.

Posted by Bill Ordine at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

One of the many hilarious scenes in the cult classic film "Hollywood Shuffle" finds Robert Townsend as detective Sam Ace punching out a dance student, who falls to the floor. As a crowd of dancers gathers around, the detective asks if anyone else wants a piece of his fists, to which a pair of muscular guys step forward, each saying, "I want some." Ace's response is to go after the guy he's already flattened, asking if he wants more.

That scene came to mind in the contretemps between Barry Bonds and Bob Costas. Costas, who literally might be half the man Bonds has blown up to be over the years, presided over a pretty serious Bonds-bashing fest on his "Costas Now" show on HBO this week. First, Patrick Arnold, the BALCO chemist who helped create "the clear,' told Costas that he was certain that Bonds had knowingly taken that steroid, contrary to his public and grand jury statements. Then, Boston pitcher Curt Schilling essentially called Bonds out, saying that if all the statements made about him weren't true, Bonds should sue whomever was making them.

Well, Bonds took the Sam Ace approach, passing up going after either Arnold or Schilling, instead attacking Costas by calling him a "little midget man," and challenging what he knew about baseball. To his credit, Costas fired back with his trademark sly humor, citing his height (5 feet 6 1/2) and his weight (150 pounds), then quipping, "unlike some people, I came by all of it naturally." Who else wants some?

Posted by Milton Kent at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Just when things had started to quiet down in big-time college sports after the ACC's raid of the Big East for Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College comes reports that the Big Ten may be on the prowl for a 12th school.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, called by some the most powerful man in college sports and seen as the leading barrier to a football playoff, has sent word that the conference's new television channel may provide an opening for a 12th school to join the party. Let's not forget that it was the Big Ten's annexation of Penn State in the 1990s that set in motion the wave of colleges hopping from one league to the next.

Amazingly, the conference commissioners, the school presidents and athletic directors continue to inveigh against playoffs and providing stipends for student-athletes, while breaking longtime bonds between schools and invoking the concept of academic purity all the while. How do you define chutzpah?

Posted by Milton Kent at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Posted by Milton Kent at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

For the first time in six years, the Ravens will have their first-round draft choice in house when training camp opens Sunday, as the team reached agreement with Auburn guard Ben Grubbs this morning.

The Sun's Jamison Hensley reports that Grubbs, the 29th overall pick, signed a five-year contract worth nearly $8 million, with more than $5 million of that guaranteed. Hensley reports that Grubbs, who is 6 feet 3 and 315 pounds, may challenge Chris Chester, the incumbent starter at right guard.

The Ravens also have reached agreement with Le'Ron McClain, their second pick in the second round, meaning that all of their draft choices are under contract and should be available for duty at McDaniel College in Westminster next week.

Posted by Milton Kent at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

To the rest of the world, Skip Prosser's stay at Loyola was just a speed bump on the way to bigger and better things, first at Xavier and then at Wake Forest, where he was jogging yesterday morning when he collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack. But for Baltimoreans who love big-time college basketball and don't always want to travel to College Park to get it, Prosser was a significant figure, particularly seeing as how he took the Greyhounds to the NCAA tournament in the 1993-94 season.

Loyola hasn't been back since, and while current coach Jimmy Patsos shows every sign of turning the program around, the record will reflect that Skip Prosser put the Greyhounds on the map. The Atlantic Coast Conference would do well to consider naming its Coach of the Year award after Prosser, 56, the only men's coach to take three different programs to the NCAA tournament in his first season at each school.

In a day and age where once healthy rivalries have been replaced by sniping and back-biting, Prosser was not only successful, but was well-liked and respected. You could be sure that the Skip Prosser Coach of the Year trophy would occupy a special place on the mantle of whoever received it.

Posted by Milton Kent at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Contrary to what you might have heard or read from a certain four-letter Connecticut-based media conglomerate, the Ravens have not yet reached an agreement with their first-round draft choice, guard Ben Grubbs, though that deal is expected to get done before training camp begins Sunday.

The pressure is on the team's front office and general manager Ozzie Newsome in particular to make this happen as soon as possible. If left tackle Jonathan Ogden's left toe is going to be an issue all season -- and there's no reason to believe that it won't be -- then it seems imperative to make sure that as many pieces of the offensive line are up and functioning quickly. Of course, the Ravens' last six first-round choices have signed late with little consequence flowing from their tardiness, but you never know.

Posted by Milton Kent at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)