Three Random Pictures

I didn't really have any context to include these pictures, so I figured I'd just get them out like this, because I think they're funny.

American League Already Won, Erin Andrews Will Report From AL Dugout During All-Star Game

Erin Andrews has left ESPN for FOX Sports, and is set to appear back on camera for the MLB All-Star Game, July 10th.  As a Red Sox/Andrews fan, this now gives me two people to watch in the game.

This is the first time since 2001 that the Red Sox have only sent one player to the Mid-Summer Classic, that player being starting DH David Ortiz.  But did anyone else deserve the nod?

Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Starting catcher Mike Napoli, one of seven Rangers, made it in from fan voting, and back-ups Matt Wieters and Joe Mauer made it with the players' vote and the selection of AL coach Ron Washington respectively.  Salty has the highest batting average next to Mauer, more home runs than all three, and one less RBI than Wieters.  What went wrong?

And Mike Aviles is third among shortstops in home runs and first in RBI, but his name wasn't even mentioned.  Another name that wasn't mentioned?  Thirty-six year old Scott Atchison - 41 innings, ERA below 1.50 with a batting average against of .200. 

New Music-Kendrick Lamar

I've mentioned Kendrick Lamar on here before but this new track just blew my mind and needs to get out.  This kid's something special, like "I just heard Tha Carter III for the first time" special.  Coming up out of south central CA and being produced/groomed by Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar has a ton of promise to become the next big thing.  This model has been seen before, legends bring up the young bucks and the game can't help but be changed forever. Biggie mentored Jay-Z----->Hova schooled Kayne-----> Yeezy developed Kid Cudi and Lil Wayne runs all over picking up people for Cash Money Records including one soft Canadian who can't seem to be forgotten.

Besides Drake,  great things usually happen.  Remember the last rapper D.R.E. brought up?  He's from Detroit and not even an addiction to pills could stop him.   Keep an eye out for Kendrick Lamar and his collective Black Hippy which also reps heavyweights Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock as they're sure to come out with some of the best hiphop to be seen in the next few years. Drake sucks.

Can't Decide if This is Cool or Not

I guess the X Games are going on...

Tanner Foust and Greg Tracy, a rally car driver and a Hollywood stuntman, set a World Record by driving two Hot Wheels style rally cars through 66-foot tall loops.  But I just can't figure out if this is cool or even impressive.

I mean, I absolutely wouldn't drive a car upside down, but that's because I'm not an idiot.  And how is this a world record?  Because no one has built giant orange Hot Wheels loops before to do this?  I assume you would consider this a sports world record, since it technically falls under the umbrella of racing, but usually sports records are things you care about or actually are impressive. 

Like Olympic records.  That takes years of training, a strong mind and a perfect race day.  I'll say its impressive solely based on that fact that I can't do it, otherwise, you can keep it.

David Beckham Plays Hardball

So what we're looking at in this video is the San Jose Earthquakes versus the LA Galaxy in the MLS Game of the Week (very exciting).   Earthquakes player Sam Cronin flops near the penalty area, hoping to draw some sort of penalty from the referee.  One of his teammates boots the ball downfield instead of clearing it to the side where David Beckham is waiting for a throw-in.

Beckham didn't like the move, and decided to show off his precision skills by booting a homing missile right at Cronin on the ground.  Here's the best part of the video.  The idiot rolling around on the ground in "pain" all of a sudden, stands up and starts running towards Beckham, still bitching at the ref.  Either way, sweet move by Beckham.

Birthday Shout-Outs

Happy 182nd day of the year, and some extra happy to these fine people born July 1st.

Liv Tyler
Greg Pattillo
Jarome Iginla
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Sufjan Stevens
Missy Elliot
Princess Diana
Carl Lewis
Dan Aykroyd
Terrence Mann - but not James Earl Jones from 'Field of Dreams'
Sydney Pollack
Estee Lauder

Jim Thome Traded to Orioles, Everybody Wins

Jim Thome, eighth best home run hitter in baseball history, was just traded to the Orioles from the Phillies for two minor leaguers.  Thome had signed with the Phillies as a free agent, hoping to platoon first base while Ryan Howard was on the DL this season.

As recently as last month, Thome has been as good as ever, batting .333 with four home runs, 14 RBI and a 1.137 OPS.  He now takes his talents to Eutaw Street, where the O's are still hanging on, sitting in second place.

The 41-year-old should see regular DH time now that he is with an American League team.  When Thome gets into a rhythm, its hard to stop him, and with just one more home run to officially make him the seventh best home run hitter of all time, we could see him make the jump by the end of the week.