Monday Miscellany: 7-14-08

In the shockingest news in the history of all days dated July 14, most of what there is to report to day has to do with baseball. That's right. Each tidbit is random, largely unrelated to the previous or the next, and full of educational facts. To pick up more of what I'm throwing down, click that handy "Read More" apparatus. Suh-wing, batta', batta'. Or, uh, don't balk, pitcha', pitcha'.

Goes Down Looking graces us with the memo that it's never too late for Lima Time.

And perhaps the best news I've heard in many, many, many a month: Billy Packer has called it a career. It might've stretched a 34-year span, but I can't think of a worse basketball analyst. Ever. Give me a 24-hour Brent Musberger/Dick Vitale marathon before torturing me with one game of Packer. The scoop on this comes from Awful Announcing, which is apropos of everything. Well, at least he's calling it the end of his CBS career.

In baseball news, it's Papi being Papi. What a shock. He'll return for a matchup against the Yankees. Convenient? You be da' judge.

Sports Couch Potato has some of the best news I've heard in a long, long time: more outdoor hockey. The game is slated for New Year's Day at Wrigley Field, and will pit Central Division rivals Chicago Blackhawks and Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings against one another. Allegedly, there are tentative plans to have the game be an annual gig at the new Yankee Stadium which will open next year. This. Will Rule. Like I said here, this year's game at Ralph Wilson Stadium was one of the best televised hockey games I've ever watched, and SCP reports that it drew great ratings and provided for some good PR for the league.

Food Court Lunch makes fun of Travis Henry's lack of Puri-Blend Tea here, and condoms here.

Bugs and Cranks offers the latest installment on the Milton Bradley/Josh Hamilton/let's make this a race issue bit of drama, while Babes Love Baseball praises the artist formerly known as C.C. with a brief analysis of his performance(s) thus far in Wisconsin.

Now, everyone...assume the meditative position, close your eyes and focus hard and clearly on fast-forwarding through the All-Star break. Go!