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A short interlude from Jays baseball to comment on the sports world at large. If you're looking for the latest odds on a Cy Young for Doc Halladay or a clarification on the waiver rule that will bring David Wells back to Toronto in 2004 -- there, that got your attention -- then frankly, there's nothing to see here.

It will have changed by the time you read this, of course, but right now as I look at the front page of ESPN.com, I find myself ... a bit sad.

The secondary feature -- you'll never get that LeBron/Carmelo matchup out of the main feature area --is this: Former Reds Outfielder Killed.

RIP, Dernell Stinson.

In the Headlines area, the top link is about an injury to Steve Nash -- not a good news story for those of us sporting Mavericks gear in the Metroplex, but at least sports-related.

Then the next story is one headlined Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit. And because I guess I haven't been paying enough attention to the Sports Jurisprudence agate type, I had to click the link to find out if it was Peyton or Eli, or heavens, maybe even Cooper Manning being sued. For those like me not part of Vol Nation, apparently Peyton is the defendant under suit (or lack thereof, I guess), essentially for mooning a female trainer during his wild wacky college years. He's been punished enough sez Archie. Oh, that Peyton!

Then after a good news story for Metroplex sports fans -- TCU somehow survives a late challenge from that football powerhouse Louisville (OK, OK, alma mater of Johnny Unitas) to remain undefeated -- and an announcement of the N.L. Gold Glove winners that focused on who didn't win (Greg Maddux), the WorldWideLeader gives us ...

Another report on how confident convicted tax cheat and admitted gambler Pete Rose is that he will be reinstated to baseball and made eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Then a blow-by-blow (nearly literally) recounting of the "clear the air" meeting between Oakland Raider defensive back Charles Woodson, who has been known to have a bit of an ego, and his coach Bill Callahan, whom the player accused of ... having an ego. And for good measure another football story with "clear the air" in the lede paragraph about a meeting between -- speaking of Clash of the Titanic Egos -- Steve Spurrier and Bruce Smith.

Then it's back to sports, for an actual good-news-sort-of story about the imminent return of Willis McGahee from ACL surgery to the Buffalo Bills -- accompanied by a sidebar story in which Emmitt Smith admits he would be "willing to share duty" at running back with Marcel Shipp when the NFL's all-time leading rusher returns from injury himself. This is the same Smith who is averaging about 30 yards rushing a game while Shipp has been hovering around 150 yards per game since taking over.

Ah, and the clincher. We led with murder -- again, RIP Dernell -- and we close with murder. That anchor story? Fred Lane's widow sentenced for his death.

So much for logging on to catch up on the world of sports.

I know ... I know. You can argue that it's always been like this. But dammit, I don't want to make that argument.

Stepping off of the rearview soapbox ...
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_coliver - Thursday, November 06 2003 @ 07:45 AM EST (#32947) #
Johnny Unitas! Now there's a haircut you can set your watch to!

Grandpa Abe Simpson
Coach - Thursday, November 06 2003 @ 09:20 AM EST (#32948) #
You can argue that it's always been like this.

No I can't. For me, being a fan is supposed to be a brief vacation from dealing with the stress of everyday life and the constant bombardment of bad news from the non-sports world. It is far more difficult to ignore items like this, or anything Denny McLain says, than it used to be.

I guess I haven't been paying enough attention to the Sports Jurisprudence agate type

This is a sound strategy for anyone who still wants to enjoy the games.

RIP, Dernell Stinson.

Amen.
_coliver - Thursday, November 06 2003 @ 10:22 AM EST (#32949) #
May Dernell Stinson be in our thoughts and prayers. RIP
Mike Green - Thursday, November 06 2003 @ 04:02 PM EST (#32950) #
For me this tragedy is the second reminder in several weeks of a tragedy of the 1970s, the shooting of Lyman Bostock. You don't read much about him now, but for those too young to know the brief story, here it is. Bostock was a great young outfielder on a Twins team that also featured Rod Carew and Larry Hisle. Mike Cubbage, who has also been in the news, was the third baseman on the club. After a fabulous season at age 26 in 1977, Bostock was murdered in a drive-by shooting apparently as a result of a mistaken identity.
_Mick - Thursday, November 06 2003 @ 04:08 PM EST (#32951) #
If I recall correctly, Bostock had left the Twins the prevoius offseason to sign with the then-California Angels.

And in a move that will NEVER be replicated, he offered to return his April salary to the team because he was disappointed in his early-season production.

That was the Angels team with Baylor, Jackson, Grich ... a healthy Bostock might have gotten them into a World Series.
Mike Green - Thursday, November 06 2003 @ 04:54 PM EST (#32952) #
Mick,
Thanks for filling in the picture. The Angels' team of 78-79 also had a few ex-Twins, Carew, Bostock (78 only) and Dan Ford. Ryan and Tanana were smoking, but wild. Sitting on the bench were names like Joe Rudi, Ralph Garr, Rance Mulliniks and Dickie Thon. Jim Fregosi managed the club for part of 78 and all of 79, and yes indeed they might have made it to the World Series against the "We are Family" Pirates had Bostock been there.
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