Buy Sean Taylor’s Spear Gun If You Like
By Jamie Mottram | August 27, 2008
This from our friend Andy:
“Brooks Auction Transfer LLC will be auctioning the estate of the late Sean Taylor’s (Redskin) Ashburn home on Friday September 5, 2008 at 5:00p.m.”
Items include burgundy and gold-colored couches, Redskins-Cowboys pool balls, a “black panther glass top table,” a spear gun, a seven-piece bedroom set (mine is only four) and much more. Morbid for sure, but proceeds go to Sean’s daughter, so check it out if you are so inclined.
Topics: Collectors, This Is Weird, Sean Taylor, Redskins | No Comments »
Teddy Races the Presidents Disguised as Manny, Loses in Predictable Fashion
By Chris Mottram | August 27, 2008
With the Dodgers in town yesterday to start a series against the Nats, Teddy Roosevelt, everybody’s favorite lovable loser (you know, aside from the team itself), decided to put on the Manny wig for the Presidents Race.
As always, the race didn’t end well for Teddy. According to Let Teddy Win, he jumped out to an early lead before becoming distracted by fans along the firstbase line. Teddy, it’s not 1906 anymore brah — they’ve got some sweet meds for adult ADD. Although perhaps Teddy is simply a method actor and it was all part of his aloof Manny characterization, in which case, well done.
(Bro bombs to ‘Duk at BLS, who nearly redeeming himself for yesterday’s lapse in judgment.)
Topics: Nationals | 2 Comments »
Kevin Duckworth Is on God’s Duckwagon
By Jamie Mottram | August 26, 2008
Maybe it’s through Wizznutzz that Kevin Duckworth endeared himself to me as a ’90s-era Bullet that was just as lovable as those teams were terrible. And so it is that today’s a sad one for Wiz fans, ball fans and just about everyone, really, that Duck passed away suddenly at the age of 44. A tragedy indeed, though it does afford Abbott, Dwyer and others the chance to say that he was pretty damn good, and, with this fine Fleer ‘88-89 rookie, forever fit.
Topics: Cardboard Icons, Wizards | 1 Comment »
A Cubs Fans Wishes to Let You Know That the Nats Are Doomed
By Chris Mottram | August 26, 2008
Apparently, here’s the latest sign that the Nationals will soon be forced to pack up shop and leave D.C.: Their radio ratings are awful. (This is totally shocking because, a) AM/FM radio is doing so well right now, b) how could anyone not wanna listen to a 100-loss team play?) This comes on the heels of the news earlier this summer that their TV ratings are horrible, which was a huge shocker seeing as they’re almost entirely relegated to MASN2, a channel that may actually exist, despite the fact that I’ve never seen it.
So, ‘Duk at Big League Stew has combined these two facts with the team’s inability to sign Aaron Crow and come to one conclusion: The “end game” for the Nationals is in sight.
Now, I realize it’s easy for a Cubs fan to throw stones at a struggling franchise, but let’s calm down for a second. Sure, no one is listening to the Nats on their AM/FM radios, and no one is watching on TV because they have no choice, but people are still going to the park to see them play, despite the team being the worst product in Major League Baseball.
The Nats are averaging nearly 30,000 a game this season, which is middle of the pack — ahead of 12 other franchises (including the O’s). Yeah, sure, some of that is due to the shiny new ballpark, but even last year while playing with a similarly shitty team in perhaps the shittiest ballpark in baseball, they averaged over 24,000 a game. That number was better than five other teams.
So, D.C., which inherited a perennial loser, has put an average of 28,000 fans per game in the seats during the Nats’ four-year history. Considering the product, I’d say that’s fairly impressive, actually. But more importantly, here’s the real question: If fans such as ‘Duk are so giddy to already declare baseball in Washington a failure, then where should the team be instead? I’m just dying to know what other city — devoid of a current MLB team — could draw better if given a 90-to-100-loss team.
UPDATE: Yay! More kicking the Nats while they’re down, from Pat Lackey at FanHouse: “Can anyone remember how moving to Washington was supposed to save this franchise from obscurity?” I don’t recall saving them from obscurity as ever being the goal. Saving them, period, I think was the mission.
So, let’s see: They went from averaging 9,000 fans a game in their last four seasons in Montreal to 28,000 in their first four in Washington. Three times the attendance, plus playing in the nation’s capital, as opposed to a French-Canadian province. Eh, you’re right though, the franchise is still just as bad off now as it was in ‘04.
Topics: Nationals | 13 Comments »
On Zorn Playing His Starters and the Only Redskins Position Battle That Matters
By Jamie Mottram | August 26, 2008
“It sounds like Redskins head coach Jim Zorn is about to break an unwritten — and wise — code in the final game of the preseason: He’s going to try to win.“ — ESPN blogger Matt Mosley
I’m not sure how Mr. Mosley reaches his final verdict, but it is true that Zorn Star may play his starters a bit in Thursday night’s preseason finale at Jacksonsville, with the rationale being that they need to “get back some tempo” after the debacle in Carolina. Doing so certainly doesn’t mean that Zorn’s objective is to beat the Jaguars, rather that he’s trying to prepare for Week 1 and beyond.
Still, it’s a bold approach, and one that’s going to draw criticism from folks such as Mosley. But not so much from me. Probably because I’m a Redskins superfan, but more so because Zorn’s decision is about psychology over physicality. Playing the starters here is the exact opposite of sitting the starters in Week 17 with home-field advantage all locked up, except the two are one in the same. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it blows up in your face. It’s called being a head coach, and we won’t know until the rearview.
In the end, Zorn probably has enough to worry about without sticking his ass out like this by risking needless injury to key players, but I’d rather bend his ear on another subject altogether: who to pick at punter.
On one hand you’ve got incumbent three-year starter Derrick Frost (left), and on the other rookie sixth-rounder Durant Brooks (right). Each has been given two full preseason games to show off his wares, with Frost averaging 45.5 yard per boot and Brooks 44.2. Contrary to what those numbers may lead you to believe, I’m not sure how this isn’t Brooks’ job already.
Frost has averaged 41.1 yards per punt in four full NFL seasons and 41.2 while at Northern Iowa. He posted a 41.0 average in 2007, good for fifth-worst in the league. Then there’s Brooks, who was drafted because he averaged 45.3 at Georgia Tech. That’s a difference of four yards or so worth of field position on every single punt (or 20 yards per game, or 320 yards per season), and field position equals points.
It may not make the press, but Zorn’s decision at punter is every bit as important as whether or not he trots the starters out for a series or two come Thursday. And regardless of how that game goes, he better go with the rookie, especially if, as Mosley says, “he’s going to try to win.”
Topics: Zorn Star, Media Bird Doggin', ESPN's Finest, Redskins | 6 Comments »
It’s a Lot Easier to Be a Great Closer When the Strikezone Is Six Inches Wider
By Chris Mottram | August 25, 2008
Here are two pitches from Mariano Rivera to Jay Payton and then Nick Markakis in key situations — 1-2 count, two outs, runner on base, down by one — during yesterday’s loss to the Yankees. Let’s play a little game called “guess whether the ump called these balls or strikes.” Keep in mind that the edge of the strikezone is the end of the plate, not the white line of the batter’s box.
If you guessed strike to both, then you’re a big winner. I don’t have any prizes to offer you, other than a can full of fuel to power your Yankee hate.
Topics: TV Photography, Yankees Suck, Orioles | 13 Comments »
Kevin Millar and His Hitler-Style Mustache
By Jamie Mottram | August 24, 2008
The only thing funnier than Mr. Millar’s lip fur on this Sunday afternoon was the commentary provided by MASN announcers Jim Hunter and Jim Palmer. Somehow the always topical Mary Poppins was referenced while a certain German dictator was not. Somewhere Charlie Chaplin made sad eyes.
And in some ways the follicular folly reminds me of Crash Davis’ advice for Nuke LaLoosh in Bull Durham: “If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press’ll think you’re colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob.” Sadly for Millar, he’s far closer to the latter at this point in his fading career. Nice ’stache though.
Topics: TV Photography, Kevin Millar, Orioles, Lip Fur | 2 Comments »
That’s a Bummer
By Chris Mottram | August 24, 2008
Giants man-child Osi Umenyiora is out for the season after tearing ligaments in his knee last night. This, of course, is horribly unfortunate for the Giants and their fans and I wouldn’t even dream of being shallow enough to bring up how awesome this is for the rest of the division or that this totally helped alleviate my Jason Taylor blues. Wouldn’t dream of it. No sir. This is bad, bad news. Nothing to be happy about here. At all.
/pops champagne
Topics: Looks Like it Hurts, New York Sucks, Redskins | 1 Comment »