Around the Web

I like these uniforms better than the navy & sand.

-Surprise, surprise, Monday Night Football actually had a good, exciting game on this past week. In case you missed it, DeSean Jackson pulled pretty much what will be the dumbest play of the year, throwing away a touchdown by celebrating too early. And it's not the first time for him, either, check the clip out. [You Been Blinded]

-Rather new to the blogosphere, SportsRoids brings you their Top 5 Sports Related Fights. If you haven't seen Jim Rome get beat down on live camera by Jim Everett, it's a must see. Lots of other good stuff here, especially for fantasy players and NFL fans in general. [SportsRoids]

-Tim Duncan has apparently been forwarding e-mails about the Large Hadron Collider to teammates. [Onion Sports]

-Should the Mountain West conference receive an automatic BCS bid? An 18-8 overall BCS Bowl record isn't a bad argument. [MWC Football]

-In case you missed it, U$C laid the smack-down on Ohio State last Saturday. Buckeyes' quarterback Todd Boeckman lays his feelings prostrate in a Dear Diary entry. Oh well, see you in Craig Krenzel-ville, Todd! [In The Bleachers],

-A San Francisco high school football coach has devised an offense known as the "A-11," in which seven potential receivers are on the field for any given play. Sounds pretty nuts, but apparently does it not only work, it decreased the risk of offensive players' injury. [NPR Sports]

-And finally, we have Padres rookies dressed up like Hooters girls. I agree with Jose Canseco in his book Juiced, that "the food there is quite good." [Gaslamp Ball]

Wanna watch a Ron Artest video with Mike Jones? You do? OK, well here you go. Have a great weekend everyone! :

On football and favorite sons: A nonsensical ramble

"I do this for love."

My house was full of San Diego boys watching the Chargers yesterday, and I was in the other room watching the Red Sox for the first few minutes. For some reason, this got me thinking about how a city is like a family and the sports teams are their children. Bear with me.

See, a lot of times in families, there’s one kid who is perceived as having tons of potential, and that kid is pushed really hard to realize that potential, while the other kid or kids get coddled. At least this is what I’ve been lead to believe by a lot of historical fiction. My own family was nothing like that, probably because none of us kids had any potential.

Now in this sports analogy, the Boston family – where I grew up – is highly abusive and unhealthy. All teams suck unless they make the playoffs, and even then, they’re merely tolerated unless they win a championship. This recent Red Sox obsession? Believe me, it was nothing like this when I was growing up. Back when they couldn't make the post season, people followed them, but nothing like this. Same with the Pats.

But San Diego, I’ve noticed, is a lot like the family described earlier: The Padres are the loveable loser kid who people will watch regardless of what happens, and the Chargers are the kid on whom the city’s placed all kinds of expectations. As a result, when the Padres suck this year, people kind of laugh it off. It’d be nice if they were better, but oh well. But the Chargers start the season 0-2, and the city’s asking Philip Rivers to cut it a switch.

Here is the realization: Usually, the kid who is pushed by his family thinks his family hates him. They end up very successful but full of resentment and daddy issues and self-loathing. Often times, they go into politics. But seeing the way San Diego reacts to the Chargers, I see that this is backwards. That kid who’s been pushed is actually loved the most. San Diego is a football town, after all.

It's amazing how sports can sometimes clarify completely unrelated principals. In other news, I shouldn’t be allowed to have children.

Baseball is Still on Too, You Know!

Yesterday, while the entire universe was watching football, I was watching the #2 pitcher on one of the worst teams in baseball almost throw a perfect game. The Padres' Chris Young had a no-no through the 7th inning. Everything was looking good. CY was pitching like a machine (throwing only, like, 7 pitches in the 6th inning), no one was talking or even looking at him in the dugout (apparently Jake Peavy went into the clubhouse and wouldn't come back out), excitement was building (in my apartment anyway).

Then, effing Tony Gwynn...freaking "Mr. Padre"...announces in the bottom of the 7th, "Hey! Chris Young is throwing a perfect game. There's never been a perfect game in Padres history. blah, blah, blah. I'm Tony Gwynn and I don't know when to shut up." Then, the idiot that is Steve Quis joined in, "I'm glad you said it Tony. People are very superstitious about baseball, but we need to report what's happening on the field because people are apparently morons and can't simply look at the box score to see what's happeneing." Then, and you're gonna be totally shocked when you hear this, Chris Young came out in the top of the 8th and gave up a Home Run to the second batter he faced.

CY still acompished something major. He showed he's still got some serious stuff and I was proud of the Padres for an afternoon, but Tony Gwynn is dead to me for at least a week.

And it's not even pink!

I'm having hat issues.

As all 9 of our readers know, I grew up in the Boston area and am a huge Red Sox fan. But I've been living in San Diego for 3 years now, and since I'm here, I go to a lot of Padres games. The Padres play in the National League, and lately have been pretty terrible, so I didn't have much of quandry about cheering for them. The one time they played the Sox in interleague, I rooted for close games, ultimately won by the Sox.

But on Friday night, I took it to a new level. I bought a Padres hat. It looks like the one pictured above, except instead of a white front, it that "sand" color of the Pads away uniforms. It cost about $25 and fits my head like a glove.

I wore it the next morning on a coffee run, and instantly felt weird about it. Like I was cheating. Now its sitting on top of my dresser, taunting me. A harlot trying to temp me away from my myriad Red Sox caps.

Did I make a huge mistake? Am I just an over-analytical freak? Are you really still reading this? I can't decide if I've made commited a huge act of betrayal or not here. Help me Pink Hat Nation, you're my only hope.

Throwbacks and Fitteds

Above is a sweet new design from http://www.ecapcity.com/. The Padres minor league affiliate Rancho Cucomonga Quakes have always had a popular lid, but they've taken it to another level with the actual fault line across the bill. Pretty sweet for us hat dorks (FYI, the other cap is of Phillies' minor leauge affiliate Clearwater Threshers).

And for even more Padres-related stuff, this one will come as a trip. Throwback Padres jerseys have made waves ever since Jay-Z donned the '84 home Alan Wiggins jersey in the "Girls, Girls, Girls" video, but this one takes the cake. Who would ever have thought that the "Camo/Miltary Salute" jersey would ever be manufactured as a classic? Well, the fine folks at Mitchell and Ness have done it. Behold:

And in case you forgot, here's Mr. Roc-A-Fella himself representing SD:

Happy Tuesday, as we continue with the Olympic-sized Inspirational Quotes:

"Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition."

-Track and Field legend Jesse Owens

The Return of Jake Peavy

Today, I attended the return of Jake Peavy to Petco Park. Jake pitched 6 scoreless innings and looked really good. And, get this, Brian Giles hit a 3 run home run! After Khalil Green hit a home run last night! Will wonders never cease?

In other news, the Padres neglected to make my day and show the totally awesome Heath Bell/300 mash-up on the Jumbotron (someone needs to put that sucker on youtube). I guess I'll have to be content with a 9-0 win.

Feel the momentum, baby. Go Padres! Overtake the Giants for third place!

Links of the Week

Thanks to Golden State of Mind for this great picture.

-Kobe Byant and a glib Phil Jackson react to Game 1's "Paul Pierce Drama" following the Celtic's win. The Zenmaster on top of his game, once again. [AOL Fanhouse]

-On a side note, Kobe is into Harry Potter. Really! [Esquire.com]

-A great breakdown of University of San Diego pitcher Brian Matusz. Drafted fourth overall in yesterday's amateur draft by the Orioles, there are some questions about his fastball velocity and mechanics. [Baseball Intellect]

-Braves pitcher John Smoltz talks about matching up with Tiger on the links, and eventually trying to make it through Qualifying School for a spot on the PGA tour. [Golf.com]

-The Padres are selling the fact that first-round pick Allan Dykstra (1B) could be the Jim Thome type slugger that will conquer the spacious confines of Petco. Not everyone (myself included) is buying. Dykstra is an SD native and Rancho Bernardo High alum, as are fellow major leaguers Cole Hamels (PHI) and Hank Blaylock (TEX). [It Might Be Dangerous...]

-Screenshots of the NCAA Football '09 video game is out, and previews a new look for the Cal Bears. [Bears with Fangs]

Oh well, we're still better than Notre Dame.

-The University of Indiana football field was damaged due to recent heavy rains, and may eventually need to be replaced. Best. Sinkhole. Ever. [Hoosier Scoop]

That's all for now, hope everyone found some of those stories interesting. Inspirational Quote? OK OK, here comes the airplane...

“Hip-hop is a style. Some of my owners are hip-hop, but they dress in a different fashion. Hip-hop doesn't mean sloppy.”

-Street Culture expert and NBA Commissioner David Stern

Eric Show Revisited

With San Diego Padres baseball arguably as bad and uninteresting as it has ever been, the value of nostalgia rises by the day. In this vein, I found a great article posted by the Union Tribune on ex Padres and A's hurler Eric Show, entitled "He was the Padres' Mystery Man."

Show still holds the all-time record for career wins as a Padre with 100, and most baseball fans remember him for taking a seat on the mound after giving up Pete Rose's 4,192nd hit, the one that broke Ty Cobb's previous mark for career hits.

But innumerable fans and friends remember Eric for who he was off the field. A curious and often tormented personality, he defied most stereotypes of professional athletes in the 80's. The man learned to play guitar at age 5, graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in physics, participated in campaigns against Communism, was an activist in preserving whale populations, and often invited the homeless and strangers to eat with he and the team after games.


Certainly the point is not to re-hash the entire article here, but I think it does provide some insight into the changing landscape of professional sports. In today's climate of corporate sponsors, homogenized and sterile ballparks and players that learn the game largely through camps and professional instruction, guys like Eric Show have become increasingly rare. Locally, it provides some insight into Padres fans frustrations. While Eric played on some bad teams, they were a group with personality. An owner in Ray Kroc with a heart, and a manager in Dick Williams with passion and fire.

Hopefully everyone enjoys this article, as it provides an intriguing glimpse into the mind of a man that was compassionate, brilliant, and ultimately self-destructive. During the 1990's Show began to abuse cocaine and other drugs heavily, and passed away at the age of 37 in a rehab facility in Dulzura, out in east county San Diego.

Here is a clip of the obituary:

And one of his songs entitled "The Padres Win Again" (others are being transferred from vinyl and will be available on iTunes):



And of course, an Inspirational Quote...

“We have a choice – to think or not to think – and I've come to the conclusion that most of these guys don't want to think about anything but baseball, and I'm kind of ostracized for that.”

-Eric Show

The Curse of the Pujols

Things can't get worse for the Padres. After losing Jake Peavy, last night saw Chris Young bloodied by a hit and Josh Bard taken out by the runner..both thanks to Albert Pujols. Is Albert getting back at the Padres for all the Poo-Holes jokes? (I can't imagine we are the only fans to lobby that insult. It's just too easy.) I'm pretty sure we are cursed. Now, we just need a clever name for said curse and we can milk this baby for 50 years! Suggestions are welcome...

It's Official...

The Padres are the worst team in baseball.

Will Greg ever get his 350th win?!?

Color Me Surprised

It's been a surprising start for the Padres this 2008 season, but I can't decide what's been the most surprising aspect. Perhaps you can help me out. Here are your choices:

The suckage of the pitching staff - Other than Wolf and Pevey, every pitcher has had a fairly disastrous outing (even my beloved Heath Bell).

Bard throwing out baserunners - Every time it happens, it seems like a miracle.

Going 100+ innings without a home run - Okay. That's not really very surprising.

Well? Help me out here.


Perhaps the nicest surprise? How dreamy Justin Huber is...

The other Hoffman blows one

This guy's probably out.

Any good baseball coach will tell you, "DO NOT MAKE THE FIRST OUT AT THIRD BASE." A man on second with no outs is practically money in the bank if all you need is one run to win a game. Move him over with a bunt, get a sacrifice or a hit in the next two at bats, and you've pushed the runner across the dish. Just don't do anything stupid. Don't get caught stealing, and don't get thrown out stretching a double into a triple. This is exactly what happened in last night's 22-inning torturous debacle of a baseball game at Petco:

The Padres blew a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the 13th.

McAnulty led off the inning with a double into the right field corner.At least he should of stopped with a double. McAnulty, who was looking at third base coach Glenn Hoffman as he rounded second, tried for a triple and was thrown out at third.

Just a complete bonehead decision. All Hoffmans should be fired. McAnulty should know better, but he gets a pass for the play being behind his back in right. Far be it for me to accuse the Padres of nepotism by employing "Glenn" as their third base coach, but I will anyways. The issue here really is accountability. If the Padres finish in fourth this year, or even worse, the organization puts out a vanilla product that plays 4 months of largely boring and uninspired baseball, will there be changes? Absolutely not. It'll be another year of veteran fill-ins, a sputtering offense, overhyped prospects and great Jake Peavy starts going to waste.

Oh yeah, and what kind of franchise decides not to give away ANY bobbleheads? Retards.

I want our new stadium to have a steadfast foundation of imported Asian sandstone and perpetual mediocrity.

Extra Innings are for Losers

I hate extra innings. I firmly believe all baseball games should be wrapped up in 9 innings and then go straight to a Home Run Derby type tie breaker situation, if necessary.

Last night, the Padres and the Rockies gave a whole new meaning to extra innings when they played 22 innings of baseball. The game ended at 1:21am! (Did anyone stay up to watch? I bet Matt and Mudd were pretty loopy/hilarious towards the end). Imagine if, after 9 innings (which came at about 9:30pm) the teams started a Home Run Derby. It would be fun/entertaining and the game would be over probably a half-hour later at the most. This idea is genius. I should be commissioner of baseball.

By the way, this is the 200th post here at PHN. Yay us!

Things to See Before I Die: Vol 1

Randy Wolf pitched one hell of a game last night. I'm really liking this addition to the Padres lineup...and he's a ginger (like me) so that makes him extra awesome. His no hitter through 6 3/4 was terrific (even if I missed most of it to watch American Idol) and it made me think...I've never seen a no hitter (the closest I came was a Cubs game last year when Zambrano took a no hitter into the 9th (I think). It was the same game where Lee and Young got in the fight. Best game ever!) and I'd really like to see one before I die. It's the little things, friends, that keep me going.

Go Padres!

My Dinner With Michael Barrett

Okay, fine. My Dinner Next to Michael Barrett.

Wednesday night, a friend and I went to watch the Padres game at Seau's (judge if you must) and joining us in the booth next door was the Padres #2 catcher, Michael Barrett. It took me a few minutes to really believe it was him (the scar under his right eye finally convinced me for sure). So, of course, I spent the entire evening eavesdropping on him and making loud pronouncements about how he totally tagged out Matt Holiday (who never touched the plate!) during the tiebreaker game last year. Here's what I learned about Barrett:

1. He thinks Khalil is weird, too: At one point he said, "Sometimes I don't understand what Khalil is thinking." Join the club, buddy.

2. He gets really annoyed when the Pads leave guys on base: The stars are just like us!

3. He's gonna have an even harder time throwing guys out when he comes of the DL: Great. Like we don't have enough issues with that.

4. His kids are really cute: You know, if you care about stuff like that.

5. He and his wife don't talk much: The stars are just like us!!

That's about it. He was really into the game, but his wife made him leave before it was over (and Heath Bell blew it). He wasn't very friendly, but he did smile at me as he walked out. At least he didn't punch me in the face.

Heath Bell for Closer Vol 2

Okay, people. Time to get serious about this. Trevor has blown 3 of his last 4 saves. The man is done. Heath Bell is the future. Heath Bell is our only hope. Heath Bell is the second coming of Jesus! (what? too much?)

Heath Bell for Closer!

Tying one on for McAnulty

The San Diego Padres have had a tough time keeping an outfield together lately. And by lately, I mean since the turn of the century. They’ve had a different 7, 8, 9 combo nearly every year since the start of this decade. Last night, they started Brian Giles in right, Scott Hairston in center and Paul McAnulty in left. No one is really expecting this to be the setup all year.

Well, we here at Pink Hat Nation are hoping at least one guy will stay on – and that’s Paulie. Not because of any great athletic ability (he seems serviceable in that department) but because of his name. See, we’re all big fans of the show The Wire, and one of the heroes of that dearly departed program was a morally challenged detective named Jimmy McNulty. McNulty, McAnulty. It’s so close, we might as well just say they’re the same.

And we do! PHN has officially dubbed McAnulty “McNulty” and have yelled for him accordingly, much to the confusion and chagrin of those standing near us at Petco the other night. In solidarity with keeping Mc(A)Nulty in the outfield, we’re going to tie red ribbons around our wrists. (If you get that reference, you’re as cool as Stringer Bell, friendo). We encourage all Padres fans to join us. They’re probably planning on rotating about 7 guys through the outfield over the course of the season anyway, why not save everyone a lot of time and effort and leave a decent player with an underground following out there? Maybe with enough encouragement, he’ll start drinking fifths of Jameson and having sex with people on the hoods of cars during the games. Fingers crossed!

See, walking through left field is a lot like walking through the garden, and .... You know what guys, it's a long season, get used to this nonsense.

Opening Day Prequel

Today is the first day of Spring Training. I watched One on One with Bud Black last night (and the dreadful Jane Mitchell. Can I please have her job? I promise to be 500 million times more likable and interesting) and got all fired up. Buddy said he's here for one reason...to take the Padres to the series. Could this be the year?

Ya gotta believe!

Heath Bell for Closer

Yesterday, I came across this heartwarming tale about Tony Gwynn Jr. and Trevor Hoffman (basically, to sum up, Trevor sucks in big games). So to celebrate pitchers and catchers reporting today, I am starting a campaign to instate Heath Bell as the Padres closer (because, you know, I have so much say in these things). Sure Trevor has more saves then anyone in history and okay, fine, he loves San Diego and is good for the city, but let's face it, if Bud Black left Heath Bell in while in Colorado, the Padres would have gone to the series.

Who's with me?

Friar Fest '08

This weekend, I attended SD Padres Friar Fest at Petco Park. It was pretty rad. Started in the Padres clubhouse (I saw Heath Bell's jock. Dunno if I liked it or not). It's funny how similar the clubhouse is to a normal working office...with silly memos posted on the signboard that no one ever reads...except they have kick ass flat panel TVs and exercise equipment to make an inmate jealous.

We also toured the field. This was my first time on an MLB field (except for when the Pads played at Qualcomm, but that field has seen more action then Paris Hilton) and it was pretty awesome (would have been better without all the dumb kids running the bases, but I suppose I can't be picky). Kinda made me feel all Field of Dreams-y.

Because I am lame, we got there after all the autograph sessions (well, except for McAnulty and some new dude I didn't recognize...so that doesn't really count). I'd really been looking forward to meeting and confessing my undying love for Maddux or Kouzmanoff, but I was too late. Now they may never know...