Quick Takes

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, but trades can still be made, though players must clear waivers first. How does the process work? 

You're going to hear of many players put on waivers between now and the end of August. If a player clears waivers, that is, doesn't get claimed by any team, he can be traded to any team. If he gets claimed by one team, he can only be traded to the team that claimed him. If he gets claimed by more than one team, he goes to the team with the worst record in his league that claimed him, and can only be traded to that team. If he's claimed by teams in the other league, he goes to the team with the worst record, and can only be traded to that team. Of course, not trading the player remains an option. He can be pulled back from waivers once in August. If he is placed on waivers again before September, he can't be recalled a second time. Or, if a team is just hoping to dump a player's salary, it can simply allow a team that claimed that player to have him for a small waiver fee.

Baseball’s GM’s had best know all this. Now you do, too.

Tony Kornheiser impressed me Monday night on the NFL telecast. He really pushed the envelope with Jerry Jones as to why Jones would take the major risk of signing troublemaker Terrell Owens. Kornheiser went further by asking if that signing had the blessing of Bill Parcells? Jones’ responses were what you and I would expect, but I give Kornheiser great credit for doing his impression of Mike Wallace so early in his tenure on the Monday night crew. Regarding the new MNF trio, Kornheiser, Theismann and Tirico are not exactly poster boys for personality. In fact, they’re downright boring. Howard Cosell, Don Meredith and Frank Gifford spoiled me forever. They were Sinatra; it’s a once-in-a-lifetimer!

          I made money on the last Super Bowl. I had Pittsburgh and they covered against Seattle. I wrote then that Bill Levy and his ref crew did a lousy job that day, calls and non-calls, and that’s why I cashed in my ticket on the Steelers; Levy will be getting a Christmas card from me this year. So what did I do two weeks ago; I bought a future on the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl this season. Seattle is a very good team in a very bad division in a very bad conference. And Seattle’s 2006 opposition had a 2005 regular season record of just 117-139. I love the bet.........and the very long odds. (Don’t ask me where I bought the ticket ‘cause I ain’t sayin’.)

          The Las Vegas radio sports talk show hosts are so weak. When Colin Cowherd and Dan Patrick-Keith Olbermann finish their respective national shows on ESPN radio, on go my CD’s in the car. Cowherd and Patrick-Olbermann are excellent, and that’s precisely where it ends.

          See my MLB post-season picks in my July 6^th. article following the All Star Game. Every one of my predictions is on target, a couple of them barely, except one. I had the Yankees dead and buried, but the Red Sox have pulled them up out of the grave. Boston still has a chance to make the playoffs, but they may need Ted Williams and a different pitching staff to do it.

          The Mets may have a major problem. In fact, they may have two major problems. Forget their record-to-date; if Pedro and Glavine are done, so are the Mets.  

Story of the Week

CLASSIC COMMENTS BY SPORTS FIGURES IV

          Lots of e-mails requesting another segment of these. Enjoy!

          Steve Blass, 1995. Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster, analyzing the dismal pitching performance of the team’s replacement player, Jimmy Boudreau, who had last pitched professionally in 1986: “He should have been better. After all, he was pitching on 3,195 days rest.”

          Steve Francis, 2002. Houston Rockets point guard, on his similarities to teammate Yao Ming: “He’s just like me, except he’s 7’6” and Chinese.”

          Jeff Innis, 1991. New York Mets pitcher, on an unflattering photo of him: “That picture was taken out of context.”

          Elden Campbell, 1991. Los Angeles Lakers forward, on if he had earned a degree from Clemson: “No, but they gave me one anyway.”

          Joe Theismann, 1992. Former Washington Redskins quarterback: “The word genius isn’t applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” (Right, Joe, and that other Einstein was a helluva QB.) 

          Ken Griffey, Jr., 1994. Seattle Mariners centerfielder on the effect the forthcoming baseball strike would have on the stellar season he was enjoying: “I picked a really bad year to have a really good year.”

          Pete Carril, 1995. Princeton basketball coach, on why he wouldn’t move Steve Goodrich from center to forward: “He has the shooting range. What he doesn’t have is the making range.”

          Sammy Lilly, 1992. Out-of-work NFL cornerback, who had just interviewed for a job at a nuclear power plant, after getting a call from the Los Angeles Rams to play for them: “I’m thrilled about this. I’m glowing right now.”

          Lenny Dykstra, 1992. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, when told that his team had traded very unproductive outfielder Von Hayes to the California Angels: “Great trade! Who did we get?”

          Andre Agassi, 1990. Tennis player, assessing his career thus far: “I’ve only scratched the iceberg.”

          Brad Miller, 2003. Indiana Pacers center on his team’s struggles: “It’s not gonna be peaches and gravy all the time.”

          Irv Lippel, 1968. Fast-pitch softball player, assessing his 10 summers in the B’Nai B’Rith League playing centerfield for St. Louis Shower Door Co: “I belong in the major leagues. There’s only one thing I don’t have much of.........talent.”

Last Week’s Trivia

          The great Ted Williams is enshrined in MLB’s Cooperstown. He’s also in the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, FL.

Trivia Question of the Week

          He holds the NFL record for most field goals attempted in one game. He is tied with two other NFL kickers for most field goals made in one game. Details? See next week’s Sports Junkie for the answer.