All Sport Report

This is a new feature I hope to write every day. Each evening, late at night, I plan to run through the top stories in the Sports World. In the Run Down, you’ll get a crash course through the hottest stories, latest scandals, and most exciting news on all of your favorite sports. If you want to know what is going on in Sports, then the Run Down will offer all of the information you need to keep you wanting more!

In this week’s Run Down:

Baseball

Bonds Bombs in Entire Dodgers Series, Losing Streak Continues Onward– Barry Bonds, just five home runs away from beating the home run record of Henry “Hank” Aaron (a true ball player who didn’t have to use steroids to hit 756 home runs – but don’t get me started on how unfair I think this is), is in a slump. Fellow Giants short-stop, Omar Vizquel, said the slugger just hasn’t been the same since he had an All Star Game party, playing host until the wee hours of the morning, a week and a half ago.

On Tuesday, Barry was out of the starting lineup for his second straight game. He is resting a sore lower body, which he has stated includes “swollen ankles”. However, Bonds did get in a little action, if you want to call it that. He got the chance to pinch hit in the 8th inning of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, and extended his no-hitting streak to an amazing 0 in his last 21 times up at bat. All I can say is, ouch Barry…that’s got to hurt!

American Football

Let the Dog Bite and the Law Will Bite Back – Michael Vick may soon be exchanging his Atlanta Falcons uniform for a prison jumpsuit. The Falcons’ quarterback was indicted on Tuesday for participation in an organization which was used to train Pit Bulls for dog fighting.

These particular dogs were trained in death matches. Vick was charged with a felony. Not only might he be saying ‘sayonara’ to Falcons Football and the NFL. He might also be looking at spending some time in prison. Vick was indicted along with two colleagues at a Richmond, Virginia courthouse on both conspiracy charges and crossing state lines to participate in this illegal venture. Vick may be turning himself in as early as Wednesday, July 18. I’ll update you on this story as more details become available.

NASCAR

Tony Stewart avoids Collision with Teammate & Goes on to Win – I knew Tony Stewart could do it. A week and a half ago, Stewart was managling cars with teammate, Denny Hamlin at Daytona. This week, he managed to win his first race of the season (a shock considering what a good driver Stewart is) at Chicagoland Speedway in the Sheetrock 400. This is Stewart’s second win at Chicagoland (having won in 2004) and his 30th career win, though it had been at least twenty races since his last win on November 5.

With big name racers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson out due to car issues, it seemed pretty certain that Stewart would win. Let’s hope he can repeat his performance in two weeks (Nextel has next week off) when the Nextel Cup Series travels to the Brickyard for the All State 400.

Jimmie Johnson Hits a Wall, Loses Race – While Tony Stewart was off winning a race, Jimmie Johnson was revving up to crash into a wall, though I’m sure he didn’t know or intend for it to happen. It was on dreaded lap 222, when Johnson’s tire blew, which sent him careening into a wall. Luckily, he came out of it with the wind knocked out of him, and a sore elbow, which he hit into his seat upon impact. Johnson credits the fact that NASCAR has vastly improved their cars when it comes to safety since Dale Earnhardt’s death in 2001.

A few years ago, Johnson might not have been so lucky, and trust me when I say he knows this and is thankful for such small wonders. Of course, that doesn’t dispute that fact that he was in second place at the time when his tire popped and he claims he’d have been able to run down Stewart, had he been given the chance. Maybe next time Jimmie.

Basketball

Shaq and Michael Phelps vie to be “Who’s Now” – I was watching ESPN’s SportsCenter yesterday. I noticed this new segment they are airing daily in July, called “Who’s Now”. It has viewers help to determine “Who’s Now” in the world of sports based on athletic prowess, athletic achievement, and buzz outside the sports world. In their latest segment, they were trying to determine “Who’s Now”, NBA superstar Shaq, or world record holding and Olympic swimming champion, Michael Phelps?

All I can say is what? Who comes up with these matches? Both have a lot going for them, but to pit Basketball great against young, hotshot swimming superstar? That’s hardly fair in my opinion. Surprisingly enough viewers were split! Shaq received 57% of the votes while Michael received 43%. I’d have gone with Michael just because he was at an unfair advantage, but then I’m a sucker for a true underdog story.

Hockey

Sign, Re-Sign, and Acquire – With NHL in its off season, not much is going on, except for acquisitions, trades, and re-signings, of course. The NHL is hard at work trying to establish their lineup before the 2007-2008 season begins. Recent picks by teams include the re-signing of Matt Cullen by the Carolina Hurricanes (they simply cannot live without him!), an exchange between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators with LW Peter Schaefer being traded for RW Shean Donovan, the Pittsburgh Penguins extending coach Michel Therrien’s contract for another year, and the addition of free agent, Jason Morgan, to the Washington Capitals’ line up. The NHL’s Regular Season opens on September 29. I’m sure I’ll have something more interesting to report by then.

Golf

Daddy Tiger still Beaming Brightly – My son loves golf. I cannot stand the sport. My brother went through a brief golfing phase so I know more than I ever wanted to know about golfing and then some. My son, who is 12, informed me today that Tiger Woods is a Daddy. Perhaps I conveniently changed the channel or tuned out any mention of Tiger reproducing, because this was news to me. My son also informed me that this is why Tiger didn’t come to the Buick Open, which is held not far from our house. This could be a tall tale on my son’s part, but I’m mentioning it anyway.

Whatever the case may be, the doting Daddy (to four week old daughter, Sam) was beaming as he golfed in Angus, Scotland. Maybe he really is thrilled to be a new Papa. Maybe he is excited at the very real prospect of winning his third British Open (a feat last accomplished by Peter Thomson)…or maybe it was just gas!

Football (Soccer)

Analysts Decide that Professional Soccer (it’s Football!) Wont Be the Next Big Thing - On Jim Rome Is Burning, Sports Analysts including Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press have made it clear that even with David Beckham coming to the United States to play in the MLS, “soccer” won’t become the next big thing in the United States. Reasons for soccer not becoming popular included: “Until we call it football (which we won’t), it won’t be taken seriously in the U.S.”, “Kids have been playing it for four decades and it hasn’t caught on”, and “Don’t mess with our Football, and we won’t mess with yours”.

Hodge Podge

From “Rags to Riches” to “Bed Rest and Take Two Pills” – The spunky little filly that won this year’s Belmont Stakes is out of the Coaching Club American Oaks. The purse for this race is $300,000. It was confirmed by her trainer Todd Pletcher that Rags to Riches has a slight fever. Rags was the first filly to win the Belmont in 102 years! This has made her the overwhelming favorite for the Coaching Club American Oaks, which runs this Saturday. Unfortunately, with a fever of 101, she’ll be resting up for her next race, the Alabama at Saratoga, which is held on August 18, though she is feeling well enough for a gentle gallop around Belmont Park, in the meantime.

Sports Run Down, Basketball, Shaq, Rags to Riches, Horse Racing, NHL, MLB, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Tiger Woods, PGA, Michael Vicks, NFL, Atlanta Falcons, Michael Phelps