The Best Bad Outcome

Well, the AL had their big winning streak snapped in All-Star games tonight, but I supposed it happened in the most righteous way possible. Phil Hughes, the guy New York is screaming Cy Young for, blows it in the 7th for a 3-1 loss to the NL All-Stars. No worries, though. Hughes only had a final ERA of 54.00 for this game. Not too bad, Phil!!

Jon Lester pitched 1 scoreless inning for the American Leaguers. David Ortiz knocked a base hit in the 9th, but was forced out at second base later in the inning. Adrian Beltre struck out in his only at bat. The All-Star break is now officially over, and after a day off, the Sox will get back to action on Thursday at Fenway Park. The Texas Rangers will come into town, and Boston will be just the second team to get a look at Cliff Lee in the Rangers' uniform. Buckle up and get ready for a wild finish to 2010.

A Look Back At Steinbrenner

If you know anything about Major League Baseball, you know George Steinbrenner. The boss of America's most historic franchise, and the man who had more money than he knew how to spend. Infamous for going on television and ripping his superstars or his manager. For telling his GM that he wasn't the one responsible for making trades around here. For buying championships with absurdly large payrolls. Nonetheless, his accomplishments were great. Buying the Yankees in '73 for a price of $10 million, Steinbrenner took a franchise in shambles and executed the prototypical rags-to-riches transformation. The Yankees became a dynasty. Steinbrenner was an integral piece in that, without question. He also had a significant responsibility in raising player salaries in Major League Baseball. He was able to pay higher than everyone, which made people raise the bar around the league. When Steinbrenner stopped being so controlling over every team decision, the Yankees won 4 of 5 championships from 1996-2000. On the heels of that accomplishment, though, the nemesis Red Sox won titles in 2004 and 2007. Ever since the Sox won, Steinbrenner slowly began fading off the map. He handed the team off to his sons, who will now take over complete ownership.

He was a man hated for his actions, loved for his accomplishments. He was hated by outsiders. Hated by his own in the beginning, but loved by his own in the end. Whether you hated him or loved him, it's undeniable that he made great change to the sport -- whether good or bad -- during his time. George Steinbrenner, passed away at the age of 80. Even if Red Sox fans don't necessarily miss him, you must recognize the man's willingness to win and his impact on the game. RIP.

George Steinbrenner Dead at Age 80

MYFOXNY.COM - George Steinbrenner has died, Fox 5 News reported Tuesday morning, citing an AP report.

Steinbrenner had reportedly suffered a massive heart attack. The owner of the New York Yankees was taken to a Tampa's St. Joseph's hospital late Monday night.

"The Boss" as he was known in Yankee circles, bought the team in 1973 for $10 Million. The team is now worth more than a billion dollars. The Bronx Bombers have won seven World Series titles since he became the principal owner.

As much as I hated George Steinbrenner during his run as the New York Yankees owner, it is always sad to see someone pass away.

Steinbrenner revolutionized the hands-on owner, and paved way for people like Jerry Jones, Mark Cuban, and countless others who have been involved with the team's day to day activities.

RIP to one of the most successful owners in sports history.

Laser Show. So, Relax. Papi's Fine.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet David Ortiz. A man among boys. And you all thought this guy was done? Washed up? Never to be the same again? Well he blasted a total of 32 home runs out of Angel Stadium tonight en route to winning his first Home Run Derby. And I don't mean to brag, but I sort-of-kind-of predicted this display by Ortiz in my previous post. I knew I had a better feeling than ever about Papi. Turns out that feeling was true, and Big Papi is the boss of the MLB. 


Laser show. So, relax. I'm tired of lookin at the NESN poll, why David's strugglin, David's fine. He's one of our teammates, we believe in him. He came out of it last year, he's gonna come out of it this year. I'm gonna go online and vote. Papi's fine. Thanks for playing. -- Dustin Pedroia.

How Will Papi Fair in HR Derby?

Miguel Cabrera, Corey Hart, Matt Holliday, Hanley Ramirez, Nick Swisher, Vernon Wells, and Chris Young. Those are the 7 men that will compete against David Ortiz tonight in the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby from Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Will Ortiz be able to conquer the derby once and for all?

Papi has never finished higher than fourth place overall in the event, and this will be his fourth attempt at winning the derby. Call me crazy, but I have a better feeling than ever about Ortiz tonight. I just think he's got what it takes. But whatever happens, PLEASE, David, do not lose to Nick Swisher. Please.

How will Ortiz do? Vote 1 for he'll be lucky to hit the warning track multiple times. Vote 5 for the laser show is about to begin with the Sox DH slugger.

Americans Must Start Eating More Bugs

AOL  --  Americans aren't eating enough insects, and that bugs foodies like Andrew Zimmern.


Zimmern, host of the popular Travel Channel series "Bizarre Foods," travels the world tasting the local vittles in various countries. Some are quite foreign to American taste buds, and, at least in the case of insects, he thinks Yanks are missing out on some good eating.


For instance, one of Zimmern's favorite snacks is a handful of chapulines, a taste treat from the Mexican state of Oaxaca that combines dry-roasted grasshoppers with lime and chili. Another is an Ecuadoran dish where coconut grubs are marinated in orange juice before being grilled.


"I was on a trip once where someone made those for us, and I'll tell you, everyone there couldn't get enough," Zimmern said.


The idea of eating insects upsets many Americans stomachs, but they are commonly eaten in other parts of the world, such as Asia, Latin America and Africa. In fact, DailyMe.com reports that dishes like boiled bee larvae, green tree ants and yanagimushi worms are currently all the rage with Japanese gourmets.


It's a trend that Zimmern hopes will infest the West for a variety of reasons.


"Should we be eating insects instead of Doritos?" Zimmern asked rhetorically. "Yes, but it's a chicken-or-egg thing. The fact that we don't is illustrative of how far Americans are removed from our food sources. We've forgotten that our ancestors ate from necessity. As a result, we've become reliant on four or five food companies who only serve us center-of-the-animal foods."




Hey, if Andrew Zimmern says it, we must follow... right? Throw away your Captain Crunch and start eating some Fruity Grasshoppers. Or maybe some Frosted Spiders. Whatever works for you. But the point is, we're missing out. The whole world does it! We're "removed" from our food sources. That means we should start going back to what the cavemen did, right? Like just pick up a bug off the ground and chomp away? I'm contemplating which decision is best for me. Should I go meet Andrew Zimmern and have a scrumptious Praying Mantis dinner with some Honey Bees for dessert? Or should I build a time machine for him and tell him to go back to 456 B.C. if he wants to eat bugs for dinner?


Vote 1 for Zimmern has this down pat and we all need to start eating more bugs. Vote 5 for he should have been in the scene in the Lion King where Timon and Pumba convince Simba that it's good to eat bugs.

Tony Allen Memphis Bound

Celtics fans, say goodbye to T.A. Tony Allen will dawn a different color than green next season for the first time in his career, making the decision today to become a Memphis Grizzly. The C's former on-ball defensive specialist will join a fabulous core of young talent -- a stark contrast to Boston's veteran group -- in Memphis, who looks to continue their progress toward becoming an elite franchise in the NBA.

T.A. didn't have a ton of super memories here, but he did have his share. I'll never forget some of his dunks, or the team effort by Allen and Gerald Green on a breakaway chance to slam home an alley-oop off the backboard. If nothing else, Tony brought the energy to the Garden every night. Whether he was out of control or calm and collected, the energy was always there. A fabulous defender. A great competitor. Best of luck to Tony Allen with the rest of his NBA career.

Spain Defeats Netherlands for World Cup

Spain is now atop the world with their 1-0 victory in the World Cup Final against the Netherlands squad that had won 10 straight matches overall (and were unbeaten in 25 straight). Spain collected just their 8th goal of the tournament in 7 games, the lowest total in history to win the World Cup. An Iniesta strike in the second session of extra time sent the Dutch packing with their dreams of glory shattered.

Turns out Paul the Octopus is never wrong, and Mani the Parakeet is just a stiff. Paul runs the world. He predicts everything. I can tell you one thing for sure. A LOT of gamblers are going to start using the services of Paul the Octopus. He predicted Spain. And he has a perfect record. Mani the Parakeet's got nothing on Paul.

Additionally, 113,000 twitter followers of Dutch porn star Bobbi Eden were left disappointed. Eden and a team of her fellow adult film actresses promised to give particular gifts to all of her twitter followers had they won the world cup. That is now insignificant, since their Dutch squad was unable to take down the Spanish.

Congrats to Spain, who win their first ever World Cup. Adios, amigos!

Spain vs Netherlands - Live Chat

Will it be Spain or the Netherlands? Will Paul the Octopus be right as usual with his pick of the Spaniards? Or will 100,000 Dutch followers of Bobbi Eden's twitter page be happily rewarded today with a Netherlands victory? Moments until the 2010 FIFA World Cup FINAL MATCH between Spain and Netherlands. Chat about it here.

Woman Arrested for Sending Threatening Texts to Herself

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- An Orange County woman was sentenced to a year in jail for sending hundreds of threatening text messages - to herself. Prosecutors said Jeanne Mundango Manunga told police her former boyfriend and his sister-in-law were behind the threats.

Manunga was sentenced Friday in Santa Ana Superior Court. She was convicted in May of three felony counts of false imprisonment by fraud or deceit and two misdemeanor counts of making a false police report.

Prosecutors said Manunga started sending the threatening messages after she and her former boyfriend stopped dating in 2008.

Manunga also was placed on three years probation and ordered to pay about $50,000 in restitution.


I can't begin to describe how much this story confuses me. Maybe it's just the way they say that her ex and her sister-in-law were "behind the threats." Doesn't that make it sound like they were the ones scheming it? But who schemes to make someone send threats to themselves so they go to jail? Just the whole story doesn't really piece together for me, maybe I'm missing something. Or maybe it's just confusing. I don't really know. But either way, this lady sends threatening text messages to herself. I don't even know how to text myself.