I must have missed this

Just curious: when did poker become a sport worthy of being televised?

I will be the first to admit this: gambling does nothing for me. When the Powerball or MegaMillions jackpot hits $100 million, I'll buy five plays. When the Kentucky Derby rolls around, I may put $20 on a horse.

Consider I lived 10 minutes from eastern Connecticut's two Indian casinos ... and I didn't go to them for the year I was there. Like I said: does nothing for me.

But as I sit here having made dinner -- curried rice with shrimp, bacon and peas for those keeping score -- I was watching ESPN news and saw yet another commercial for some poker tournament coming up.

Again -- poker is not a sport. It's a game of chance.

Then again, I do not consider horse racing, NASCAR and all its minions, and golf sports as well.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

Just some things to think about ...

1. What is the big deal about Harry Potter? Am I missing something here?

2. Coke Zero is great except for one thing -- goes flat too quick. Then again, if it didn't, it would be Diet Coke again.

3. Two words for the New York Yankees: Next year.

4. The New York Mets may want Alfonso Soriano from the Texas Rangers. Don't start dealing prospect Lastings Milledge just yet.

5. I think the St. Louis Cardinals should take a run at Cincinnati's Adam Dunn. Lary Walker isn't going to be around forever.

6. Sarge -- remember one thing as you head to Wisconsin -- when you're in this business, it is NEVER about you. It's about your readers. No one gives a damn that you can run.

Factoid alert

Some sports feats just kind of make you sit up and take notice. Take what Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ryan Freel did Wednesday night.

Freel entered the game batting just .289 with two homers and nine RBI. Pretty inauspicious ... actually if the Reds were in the playoff race, Freel would likely be playing down in Triple-A Lousiville.

Freel stole five bases, a team record. A team that has played baseball since -- say it with me now -- 1869.

Not a bad way to be a footnote in team history.

Outta there!

Here's something baseball commissioner Bud Selig doesn't hear often: Way to go! (You thought I was going to say "No, that hair looks completely natural.")

Selig Wednesday denied Kenny Rogers' appeal of his 20-game suspension for shoving two cameramen. David Ginsburg of The Associated Press reported Selig "deemed the behavior of the Texas Rangers' pitcher to be 'wholly unacceptable.'"

The commissioner, who heard Rogers' appeal last Friday in Milwaukee, said the suspension would begin with Wednesday night's against Baltimore. Meanwhile, the players' association said it will pursue a grievance before an arbitrator to overturn the penalty.

What Rogers needs to remember in all this is he not only embarrassed himself with all this, but he embarrassed his employer -- who has been strangely quiet throughout. If you, I, or the average Joe Schmo did something egregious, like Rogers did, while representing our company, you can bet we would no longer have jobs.

Hmmmm ... I guess in trying to keep pace in the AL West, Texas is willing to overlook just about anything. With a 3-10 record since the All-Star break heading into Wednesday's matchup, it really wouldn't matter much for the Rangers now.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

It's just a bulb!

Someone explain something to me ... now, I like to cook and I like things like onions and garlic.

But when I watch Emeril (which isn't often -- he's about 5 minutes past his 15), someone PLEASE explain to me why the audience insists on hooting and hollering when he adds "gaah-lic" to everything.

And I mean everything: Confit. Pineapple. Coffee. Doesn't matter.

Just my two cents.

When do you think? I'd like to know.

Deep breaths

First thing to everyone who responded to my last post -- thank you.

Apart from those I consider close friends, others walked back into my life and perfect strangers -- people who know nothing of me and I nothing of them -- showed concern for my well being.

I have no plans of doing anything stupid. But that doesn't mean the problems that brought me to this meltdown have gone away. My voice is kind of hoarse from the silent screaming.

I need help. People who know me have told me this for years and, stubborn as I am, I resisted except for a brief time some four years ago. First thing I need to do is get health insurance from the new job and then plan some sort of strategy.

Again -- I am better than I was 48 or even 24 hours ago. Now I just need to get back on that long road. I'm not good at accepting help. I may have to change that attitude.

--Andy--

What to do ... what to do ...

Those who know me know I will go to the ends of the Earth to help those I care about when they need it.

I wish someone would do that for me. If there is anyone who probably needs an intervention, it's me.

When I was a kid -- a young one -- I used to be happy. I used to laugh. Now, I'm just miserable and its been going on far too long.

I am five weeks short of 40 years old and it's almost like a siren has gone off ... the last 10 years have passed me by and I blame no one but myself for that. Depression has been a huge part of my life, but the last decade has just been one inkset blur. One disappointment after another ... after another.

I was on anti-depressants a few years ago -- Paxil, 20 mg., once a day -- and it seemed to work, but the side effects were, shall we say, less than desirable. Earlier this year, I was back on meds -- a different kind, I don't even remember what they were -- and I craved every carb under the sun and gained about 10 pounds. There was talk therapy for awhile, but I felt more like I was onstage for 50 minutes, once a week.

This is my silent scream. I need help. I don't normally come right out and say it, but I need help. Now.

Bling Crosby

So much for the dream of Sidney Crosby playing on the biggest stage in the world. Instead, perhaps the best hockey player to come out of juniors in a couple decades -- barring any trades or just general stupidity -- will be playing in Pittsburgh.

Having been in Mellon Arena a few times, it's a step down from many junior rinks Sid the Kid played in.

Now, comes the problem for the Penguins. They need a new arena in the worst way possible or, plain and simple, they will move (Portland? Cincinnati? Houston? Milwaukee? Seattle? Dare I say Winnipeg??)

In an article by Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "The Penguins' prospects for a new arena are tied to the awarding of the license to operate a Downtown slots parlor. Whether adding Crosby to the roster will impress any bureaucrats in Harrisburg remains to be seen, but owner Mario Lemieux said, 'It's not going to hurt, obviously.'"

Judging from the crush of people calling in for tickets and soon donning black, white and Vegas gold jerseys with No. 87 on the back, Mellon will have regular sellouts again just like in the glory days of Lemieux, Jagr, etc.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

Your serve, Mr, Bettman

The NHL will hold its weighted lottery Friday for the sport's newest prize, Sidney Crosby.

The Rangers are one of a handful of teams that will have three balls in the hopper. Any sports fan needs to think back to the first NBA draft in 1985 when Patrick Ewing was the prize coming from Georgetown.

To this day, any conspiracy theorist will say it was a slam dunk that the New York Knicks were getting Ewing. Of course it didn't result in any championships, but many years of very good play.

Could Crosby -- supposedly the greatest thing to hit the ice since Mario and Wayne -- be destined to start his career in the largest sports media market? A market that has not seen a playoff team yet this millennium?

We will know at 4 p.m. Friday. Then No. 87 may be as familiar as 66 or 99.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

Oh, well

And so, it goes. I should know better: the caste system is alive and well after all.

Wow (!!!)

OK, I may come off sounding like a goof. Well, no more so than usual ... but I don't care.

I went out to dinner Friday night with a woman named Tracy who I met through an online site. Tracy is a lawyer who works in Washington, D.C. (I don't want to give too many details about where she works or exactly what she does for obvious reasons, OK? OK.)

It was a pleasant dinner with really good conversation. She is originally from Long Island -- even went to school a couple towns over from me when I lived in Queens, N.Y. She's very attractive, smart -- make that *scary* smart (there were times I didn't think I'd be able to keep up with her -- and I love a good challenge).

We've agreed to go out again -- another pleasant surprise.

So why, gentle reader, should you care about a first date? Think back to some of your first dates and not the ones that ended awkwardly -- or disastrously -- neither. Remember how you felt, how happy or excited you were.

It's an underrated feeling, as far as I'm concerned. And it's pretty damn nice too.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

This just in!

After 301 days, the NHL lockout is over, pending ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement.

Now, I can turn over and go back to sleep. The sad thing is I felt this need to read news of the Sprint-Nextel merger first.

I will write a longer post about the NHL in the coming days once things shake out. Stay tuned.

It's just sad ...

Exhibit No. 1 why Boston Red Sox pitcher David Wells may be the biggest jackass in the Major Leagues today.

According to an Associated Press report, Wells said he understood why Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers shoved two cameramen, comparing the situation to a sexual assault.

"Some guy's being aggressive with a woman, and she says no, and he keeps on doing it. Well, you know what's going to happen. No is no in anything, when it comes to sexual or you know, whatever it is. No is no," Wells said during an appearance on Rhode Island radio station WSKO on Friday. "And I'm sure Kenny said, 'Hey, get it out of my face, don't do it.' But no, they want the big story, they want the scoop, you know?"

Wells added: "I probably would have done the same thing."

Given his biker-bad boy image, is anyone surprised by this?

Wells' tough-guy act played well but burned out quickly in Toronto, Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore, New York, Chicago and San Diego. I'm sure Boston will be added to that list soon.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

Sound off ...

1. Lance Armstrong? 55-second lead? Chill the bubbly and just give him the Tour de France now.

2. Is there any other food that is a better guilty pleasure than barbecue?

3. Free Judith Miller and stop slapping the First Amendment around.

4. Portland and Seattle are just 175 miles apart. New Blazers coach Nate McMillan will find them worlds apart.

5. Was there a more scripted, insincere attempt at an apology than what Kenny Rogers delivered Wednesday? Sounds like the Rangers' media relations department drew that one up.

6. Time's Matt Cooper folds up faster than a beach chair during a hurricane. You may want to reconsider that career choice.

7. Imagine William Wallace at the G-8 Summit going on now in Scotland. Claymore anyone?

8. The NHL is expected to have a new deal in place sometime next week. To quote Billy Crystal from "Running Scared" -- "Right, and I'm Walter Payton."

9. The NFL exhibition season starts in 30 days. I can hold out. Maybe.

10. Alton Brown is right ... there is nothing like the taste of a farmstand tomato.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

Thanks, but ...

Live 8 has come and gone. Musicians around the world have focused the spotlight on Africa, how it is being suffocated by crushing debt, how HIV and AIDS are ravaging the continent.

Now, the question. Will all the posturing do any good?

I'm cynical: I doubt much more will be done after the concerts.

Consider this from -- of all people -- Muammar Qaddafi via The Associated Press: he told African nations to stop "begging" from the rich and to cooperate more in a blunt speech before a summit of the continents' leaders Monday.

"Pleading to the G-8 to lift debts won't make a future for Africa," Qaddafi, wearing his traditional robes, said.

Has the temperature dropped in Hell or am I just feeling a chill?

BTW, loyal reader(s), I'd like you to check out a fellow blogger's work. Todd of Broken Arrow, Okla. -- who I have known almost 20 years going back to Barnes & Noble in the pre-superstore era in Forest Hills, N.Y., can be read at http://secularmiddle.blogspot.com.

There is a link to the right along with a blog by Lyndy -- Topeka's favorite "shiksa" ... hey, if I can teach a Midwest gal the wonders of "Oy" and matzo ball soup, she can be an honorary member of the Tribe!

And -- as always -- let me know what you think. I'd like to know.

And the verdict is ...

ESPN.com reports Kenny Rogers was suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000 by commissioner Bug Selig for his incident this week involving two cameramen.

The funny thing is Rogers still gets to pitch in the All-Star game if selected.

Way to put some teeth in that punishment, Bud.

What do you think? I'd like to know.

Got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em ....

This was not a meltdown like Three Mile Island, but this one was pretty bad. And all aparently because another spoiled athlete did not get his way.

By now, you've likely seen the footage of Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers take out two cameras and at least one of the cameramen holding them. Bud Selig is personally going to review the case and mete out punishment -- 10-game suspension, he misses two starts is my call.

And why did Rogers melt down? It all stems back to cash.

According to The Associated Press, Rangers general manager John Hart said Rogers was upset of the perception that he missed his start Tuesday night for some reason other than the broken pinkie in his non-throwing hand, sustained in an angry outburst after a game two weeks ago.

Rogers has sought a contract extension from the Rangers, and some media and fans viewed his missing a start against the first-place Angels as a possible ploy in negotiations.

Rogers hasn't spoken to most media since before spring training, when the pitcher met with owner Tom Hicks and asked about an extension to his two-year contract that expires after this season. He denied a report that he threatened to retire and has since quit talking publicly.

Hart said there had been some recent talks with Rogers' agent, Scott Boras, about a new contract but that there would be no more discussion about a new deal until after the season.

Rogers is 9-3 with a 2.46 ERA, clearly one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. But he is also 40 years old and has a career mark of 185-126; not exactly Hall of Fame material, but pretty good nonetheless.

Still, time is running short on his career. He wants one last big payday before retirement. The Rangers are wise to wait.

Rogers is just added to the long list of athletes -- Randy Johnson (who took out a camerman in New York); Latrell Sprewell (who can't live on $14 million a year); Jeremy Roenick (who really doesn't need hockey fans to fill the building); Kellen Winslow Jr. (better not say too much about him or Daddy will berate me like he did the Cleveland media who wanted an update on Junior's condition after his Evel Knievel act) -- who just don't get it.

You sign the contract, are paid beyond handsomely and adored by many. You also become a public entity. That is not to say that people can egg your home a la Albert Belle several years ago, but you do lose some sense of anonymity.

What do you think? I'd like to know.