A case for replay

With the World Series shifting back to Houston tonight, Rich Griffin is arguing that it's time for replay review to be brought into the grand old game.
Griffin is calling for it in the postseason only -- hear, hear.  Can you imagine this trifecta one summertime date at the ol' ballpark: a rain delay, replay review, and Bartolo Colon on the mound? They don't make the day long enough.
For a look at the overall arguments against replay in baseball, here's a good read from the St. Petersburg Times earlier this year, before we'd ever heard of Doug Eddings (and a bonus there for you, so go to the link): "Human error has always been part of the equation," Bud Selig says, putting forth the major leagues' party line.
Upon further review, I'm inclined to a qualified agreement with Griffin (despite his reaching in including an Andy Pettitte pickoff as one of Game 2's controversial moments. That bang-bang play looked to be a case of the umpires making the right call, as they almost always do).
The NFL experience has shown us how not to go about the business of correcting those wrong calls, though -- the 90-second "limit" on deciding yay or nay seems to be routinely ignored, the beanbag toss from the coach is replaced by automatic review in the final two minutes, and even after all of that there are times where the answer is not definitive and instead of the referee getting it wrong, it's the replay angle that's to blame. The delays and challenges slow the game to a crawl.
In baseball, the games are already going on long and late, so adding another minute and a half seems a small price to pay to try to get it right. As long as it doesn't have the potential to be overused -- I'd allow one challenge per team per game, and that's it -- I don't see the problem.
We've survived Fox turning their broadcasts into PlayStation. Why not use all those cameras for something that might be useful, instead of another shot of Ben Affleck in the stands?
Bartolo Colon excepted, that is.

Some other links this morning:

Geoff Baker talks to J.R. Richard, the former Astros great who has survived a stroke, living on the streets, and never being invited by his old team to their new ballpark: "Baseball is simple," says Richard. "It's life that can be very hard."
Oh yeah, tonight? The roof is supposed to be open in Houston for the first time in the playoffs, and the Astros can't be too happy about it.

The Raptors had another preseason loss last night, in Winnipeg (don't look now, but  there's only one more exhibition game to go). If you're looking for some NBA odds of a different kind, check out these, with the Raptors 7-to-2 to take the league's "wooden spoon" for worst record.

China has completed its first rehearsal for the 2008 Olympics, and failed miserably, reports the Independent: "A farce of alleged match-rigging, bribery, unfair judging and doping scandals."

Rick Westhead is in Pakistan, where in the wake of a killer earthquake, the England vs. Pakistan Test is being seen as relief: "Everybody's in such deep sorrow. People really need entertainment right now."

And yes, we'll be seeing a few of these more, I reckon: another hazing incident makes the news, this one at Ridley College in St. Catharines.

The boneyard beckons

I'm feeling pretty good about myself this morning. I ran for more yards rushing over the weekend than Ricky Williams.
Actually, the Mount Pleasant Cemetery ran for more yardage than Ricky.

AP PHOTO

Brad Lidge: There's that taste again.

The ol' boneyard had a better night than Brad Lidge, too. The Astros closer has given up two walkoff home runs in his last two relief spots. 
Great timing from Tim McCarver setting up the game-winning Podsednik (zero home runs this season; two in the playoffs) home run last night on Fox, the network that turns the grand old game into a Saturday-morning cartoon show, after human kewpie-doll Joe Buck had asked whether Lidge should've worked Game 6 of the NLCS "to get that taste out of his mouth from Pujols' home run."
McCarver: "I don't think that taste is there."
CRACK. Game over.
McCarver: "That taste might be there now."
Um, yeah, maybe. So ended a splendid Game 2. The only shame of it is, after absorbing this kind of mental shrapnel, the general rule is you don't win. This Series is effectively finished: "The guy (the Astros) believe in is no longer believable," writes Greg Couch.
Geoff Baker tells you how it all went down, including a White Sox grand slam that was preceded by the obligatory controversial umpire's call. And Rich Griffin has his take, noting how Lidge took Bobby Jenks off the hook, if not the home plate ump. Meantime, Chris Zelkovich is no big fan of the Fox approach -- hear hear. I'd only add that I miss Lou Piniella, who was along for the previous round, his Prairie Home Companion delivery, if nothing else, keeping the McCarverbiage to a minimum.
Oh, and one more thing: ever notice that every time they show a dugout in this series, someone's drinking coffee?

Some links, all of 'em guaranteed good reads:

At the Canadian International Yesterday, the usual rough running and it was 11-to-1 shot Relaxed Gesture that grabbed the big prize. The winning trainer explains why he came to Woodbine -- "I like to be cold and I like to be wet" -- and Dave Perkins cheers. (Didn't say whether he cashed, which usually means they didn't.)
Still on racing, if you're already looking ahead to this Saturday's Breeders' Cup, here's an early look at the strength of the European challenge, with Andre Fabre (no surprise) holding the strongest cards.

Oh heck, as a York alum I feel duty-bound here to note that the York Yeomen Lions aren't going to the playoffs this year after losing a close 38-3 decision.

More football: the Argos, having smacked down the Alouettes, will rely on Canuck running back Jeff Johnson in their next outing.

In the NFL, the Washingtons had their biggest scoring day since George Bush Sr. was in the White House. And Garth Woolsey wonders if those '72 Dolphins might finally be joined in the record books by the so-far perfect Colts.

In football soccer, Chelsea didn't win, and Jose Mourinho's not real happy about that.
Meantime, strap on your shin pads for a lawsuit that starts in March and could shake the beautiful game to its filthy-rich foundations -- or at least, to Sepp Blatter's Zurich aerie, and here's what's at stake:

"Fifa are getting the most important ingredients - the footballers - for free. In the case of an injury, they (the clubs who pay the players) don't even get any compensation."

No wonder Sepp was running his mouth a couple of weeks back.

Toronto vs. Montreal, renewed

One of the NHL's stated goals in its reincarnation is fostering rivalries.

But even with two of these newfangled Leafs vs Habs games in the books, the old Toronto-Montreal meeting, ice division, has a long way to go and many years of neglect to make up for. It was one of the casualties of the NHL's first big expansion, in 1967 -- after that, the Leafs withered into years of mediocrity while the Habs thrived under Pollock, Bowman et al. The last time the two teams met in the NHL playoffs is 1979, ancient history. In hockey, anyway, it's the Battle of Ontario that stirs the passions of most fans and players, because it's the playoffs and those long series that build familiarity, enmity -- and rivalries.

One place where Toronto vs. Montreal has come to stand for something more than just business as usual is on the football field. I did a piece for the Star last year on this, and nothing much has changed.

When the Argos play the Alouettes at Montreal's Olympic Stadium Saturday afternoon, it'll be the latest instalment of the longest-running and most bitter CFL series east of Alberta. This is an almost-playoff game, but there's plenty of spillover from last year's postseason meeting -- "They are so arrogant as a team and as a coaching staff," said Argos' Eric England after knocking out Montreal QB Anthony Calvillo -- and they may well hook up again, too, in a few weeks come playoff time. Which would make it seven playoff meetings in the past nine years, and four in a row. We can only hope. On a busy weekend, this is what I'm watching.

Elsewhere this morning:

Thanks to Joe Pantalone for your morning smile, as a city hall committee approves $9.8 million of our money to help build a soccer stadium: "I'd like to suggest that the chances of this stadium losing money is probably similar to there being an earthquake in Toronto in the next few years," said Pantalone, whose ward includes the waterfront park. E-mailer Michael Brown responds:

"Gotta love Joe Pantalone. Right after Mr. Pantload proclaims the new football palace will lose money as soon as we get a tectonic attack, a rattler shakes up Owen Sound. Jean Drapeau, anyone?"

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick has this World Series breakdown, and a prediction: Astros in seven. Meantime, Richard Griffin, Expos' public relations man when Larry Walker arrived in the bigs, is there to see off Walker's career.

I'm not sure I would agree with the suggestion that the Breeders' Cup has declined, at least in terms of racing fan interest, but as Dave Perkins puts it, there's no better day in Canadian racing than International day at Woodbine.

Among the Raptors, some early reviews are in on Jose Calderon, and as Doug Smith reports: "While nearly everyone connected with the team has conceded the starting point guard role to veteran Mike James, Calderon is making a strong case for carrying a heavy workload, if not starting right away."

Oh, and about the NHL's new broadcaster in the U.S. -- they've been pulled from the country's second-largest dish network.

Punters corner: You could go to the Linebacker. Or Chris Schultz. Even, now that it's hockey season, the abacus-readers at Hockey Analysis. Here's where you get five Pro-Line picks you just can't get anywhere else. And for good reason (For entertainment purposes only, not to be used as the basis for any wagering activity -- ie, anything other than Pro-Line, etc.):

Houston over Chicago (BBL, Game 1, odds TBA). With White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen a regular upchucker before games due to nervousness, Fox adds Toilet-Cam to its coverage.

NJ V+ win (2.3) at Atlanta (NHL): Rash of goaltending injuries means Thrashers call up Frosty McFreeze from the Home Depot commercial.

Arizona H win (2.3) vs Tennessee: In wake of Vikings’ Love Boat escapades, Cardinals being investigated for bye-week team-bonding trip to Tempe dinner theatre to watch Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Phil H win (1.9) vs San Diego: After blowout loss in Dallas, Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb decide they don’t want to talk after all, but agree to exchange e-mails, Christmas cards and recipes.

Atlanta H+ win (1.8) vs NY Jets: With Vinny Testaverde at QB, Jets GM looks for depth, travelled to Guatemala this week hoping Gary Hogoboom would lose his immunity challenge and be voted off the island.

Hazing gets the gate

Hate to disturb you from World Series fever -- is anyone out there feeling it? C'mon now, someone's got to have it -- but how do you feel about hazing?

This is a hot-button subject right now. I turned on the CBC this morning, and they'd trotted out the dreaded "sports sociologist" for comment. The newspaper editorialists are weighing in, along with Pat Quinn and Wayne Gretzky, and most everyone is condemnatory.

This is as much a question of social custom, though, as it is one of sport -- the first haircut, for instance, is closely paralleled by the bean shaves that rookies in team sports are often subjected to. Sometimes these traditions, especially when they involve closed societies (like a team sport, with it's built-in insiders/outsiders dynamic), turn quite nasty -- anyone who saw Goodfellas, for example, might conclude that these kinds of initiations aren't necessarily a secure career move.

The Ontario Hockey League has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on these matters, so the penalties have been heavy. The situation has been equated, unfairly, with what's happened at McGill University, where the rest of the football season has been cancelled because of humiliating and degrading hazing.

But nobody in Windsor was hurt. Four rookies were targetted for the rite because they were rookies, and nothing more. You might be repulsed by it, and it's silly and stupid, but it's the same kind of thing that's been going on "since Plato's time, probably", according to Quinn. Hey, it's junior hockey, not nuclear physics. As Star junior hockey chronicler Sunaya Sapurji has noted in her blog, the hazing might have been a flashpoint that led to a fight between rookie Akim Aliu and veteran Steve Downie -- or it might not have, the incidents being 19 days apart. Whatever you figure, there are no saints to be found in this whole mess.

I don't buy the slippery-slope argument here, or see how the two situations -- McGill and the Spits, that is -- are equal. As for the Spitfires' hazing, and the fighting, the latter is a far worse example of losing control when it comes to a coach's responsibility, and that of his players. Zero tolerance doesn't allow for such fine distinctions, though. 

Elsewhere this morning, this is what's rattling our chains:

The Astros are finally going to the World Series, so let the snooze alarm games begin! And that is, indeed, the end of the line for Larry Walker.

The Argos head into Montreal this weekend, relying on Sean Millington to carry a heavy load.

Alvin Williams is back, and Vince Carter is applauding. For five minutes, anyway, which is maybe five minutes more than anyone figured at the start of training camp. He might even be ready to do more. And not to make ya shudder but: Dennis Rodman in Tijuana?

Cathal Kelly takes a look at FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, and doesn't much like the view.

Oh, and this: in Oklahoma City, Eric James Torpy, convicted of shooting with intent to kill and robbery, argued for a longer sentence than the 30 years agreed to by defence and prosecuting attorneys:

“He said if he was going to go down, he was going to go down in Larry Bird’s jersey,” Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott said of the sentece, 33 years to match the former Boston Celtic's number. “We accommodated his request and he was just as happy as he could be. I’ve never seen anything like this in 26 years in the courthouse. But, I know the DA is happy about it.’’

Ali G meets Steve Nash

Before we get started again on the subject of the NBA dress code, here's something hysterical: Ali G (in a clear wardrobe violation; there, we've started) "interviewing" Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant, as part of TNT's NBA promos (Windows player req'd).

Clearly in violation of the NBA's dress code.

Wouldn't you love to see Ali G on VC? Um, maybe not. We'll be back here around lunchtime with some fresh word from the ACC on Vince Returns, and maybe a little Ali G-style Re-speck, with the Nets in for a preseason "contest" against the almost lifelike Raptors.

This just in: Vince Carter. In the dark corridors of the Air Canada Centre, he says -- well, nothing special. In baggy sweats and a wool hat. With a couple dozen media and the Raptors logo looking on. Some highlights -- a loose term, I know -- in this condensed version of the 11-minute original:

Q: How much happier are you now, in your situation with the Nets, than you were at the end (as a Raptor)?

A: It's great. I'm in a great situation. A great team, we've added some great people ... it's always fun when you're on a team that's a contender.

On the dress code: "You're not getting me started on that. I'll leave it to the guys who are mad about it. It is what it is. The only thing I believe is guys should be able to express themselves, whatever that may be. I totally understand if you're injured you should wear a suit, but guys should be able to express themselves, however they wear it, whatever they wear."

On the Raptors: "That's a thing of the past."

Q: Is there a part of you that hopes one day the fans of this city will remember you --? A: -- "Aw, Barry, we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. ... Leave it alone."

On his old teammates: "I called Alvin, and Mo Pete. I had dinner with Alvin, talked to Jalen. I know Alvin's playing. I told him I might flagrant foul him." *chuckles* "I told him, are you sure? Are you healthy enough to play? He said, 'I'm not going to get any better'."

Q: Have you changed anything as far as your knees?

A: My knees. Not really. Same approach. Same routine I've been criticized for. I stick with what I think works. It's been good for me. It's just taking time, letting your body recover before you go back on the floor.

Q: What do you think of the perception of the Raptors around the league?

A: I don't know. I try not to get into it. What's done is done. I've tried to separate myself from that... etc, etc.

Riveting stuff, and you read it here first.

Meantime, some links:

Much reaction off said dress code announced Monday night, Dave Feschuk taking NBA commissioner David Stern to task:

"Muzzles are not required attire, although Stern would no doubt appreciate voluntary compliance on the matter."

Stephen Jackson isn't impressed either, calling the code a "racist statement". With even one of his owners, Mark Cuban, calling this one "a failure of management skills", Stern offers up a defence: "There are different uniforms for different occasions."

Like, say, a hairshirt and paper-bag headwear for Raptor fans.

We've already said our piece on this nonsense -- as Cuban points out, it's obliterated the league's newest charitable initiative, and it came on the same day that the University of Central Florida's annual report on gender and diversity (pdf file) gave the league an A one one count, and the WNBA A's on both counts. Let's hope once it blows over the NBA can do something useful, like going out and finding the real killers of the Raptor franchise.

Couple more basketball notes: Alvin Williams should indeed get some p.t. tonight. We might even get a Lamond Murray sighting, after having had a Lamond Murray sounding on the state of the Raptors (and what would an NBA season be without a Lamond Murray sounding?):

"They don't know basketball up there. I you don't know what you're doing you keep on guessing every year and that's all that's going on, guessing every year."

In baseball, Rich Griffin is with the NLCS as it shifts back tonight to Busch Stadium for at least one more game before the wreckers' ball moves in. The Sun's Bob Elliott asks whether this is Larry Walker's last stand. And Dave Perkins wonders why Cito Gaston hasn't been a manager for nearly a decade.

Oh, it's a Champions League day, and maybe Freddy Adu will get there someday -- but first, he has to get off the Washington bench. And uh, that Toronto soccer stadium? All it appears to need now is municipal approval.

Dressing up

Feeling a lot better this morning: The NBA has a new dress code.
I've held off posting on this before, waiting to see the finished product. And here it is: Business casual. No sleeveless shirts, shorts, T-shirts. No sunglasses indoors, or oversized jewelry over top of clothing, etc. Out with retro NFL jerseys, in with sports jackets. While on "league business", that is.
Here's some reaction from Phoenix guard Raja Bell, from the AP report of the league's new policy, which doesn't even allow for Casual Fridays, for pete's sake:

"I understand they're making it out to make us look better to corporate and big business. But we don't really sell to big business. We sell to kids and people who are into the NBA hip-hop world. They may be marketing to the wrong people with this."

Sure, some of these guys were starting to look like Ali G. But this is pretty overcooked. I can't wait to see what the penalties are. Confiscation of the closet? A ten-day suspension to be served at Harry Rosen?

Elsewhere this morning:
Albert Pujols is the new Mr. October (or the new Joe Carter, to name one guy who barely gets a mention in this piece, but holds a very dear place in these kind of moments). And Brad Lidge? Demolished, writes Rich Griffin.

Dave Feschuk figures it's time the Raptors dumped Rafael (Hoffensive Foul) Araujo (maybe he's been reading here), as the Raptor caretakers realize they just might have a problem in the middle -- hey, Mamadou N'Diaye is available.

Another NBA read worth the time: Marc Stein on this saddest of preseasons.

Aren't golf's hallowed rules dumb? I'd say so. At least when they're called a day late. By a reporter. Dave Perkins takes a look, and while we're on this golf kick, Jim Byers reports that Canada's national women's open has a sponsor.

Oh goody. Posh and Becks have a court date.

And in football: Teddy Bruschi returns, and John Avery will be doing that too, but not in time for this weekend's pivotal tilt in Montreal.

Questions, questions

Monday morning quiz:
Who had a better day yesterday: LaDainian Tomlinson, or Maccabi Tel Aviv?
Who had the crazier finish: The Argos, or the Alouettes?
What's more jarring: the Bills, top of their division, or the White Sox, into the World Series?
And who don't you want to be this morning?
Uh, only one answer to that question, even with Michelle Wie's pro debut in the running. C'mon down, Sam Mitchell!

RICHARD LAUTENS

Well David, at least we sold the place out.

Sad Sam sent Chris Bosh out for 44 minutes yesterday at the ACC. Jalen Rose punched in at 40, Morris Peterson 37. So much for the preseason. It didn't pay off, the Raptors the first NBA team to lose to an overseas club team on this side of the pond. Ever.
Uh, do we start the playoff elimination pool now?
Tim Farrell gave us a scouting report on Friday that's required reading (including a nickname for Rafael (Hoffa) Araujo that's good enough to steal: Hoffensive Foul) and offers this suggestion:

"I don't see why there has been no talk of sending (Hoffensive Foul) to the NBDL for a bit. It seems like this new rule was made for him. I suppose the argument against such a move is that big men need to be in the NBA to develop, since the D-League offers far less size. I suppose the other reason is because Rob Babcock drafted him 8th overall and won't yet admit defeat."

  Now I want yours (and if anyone can find yesterday's boxscore online, please send us a link). If you were out there yesterday, what did you see? And even if you weren't, what are your impressions of where the Raptors are, and where they aren't?

Elsewhere, Rich Griffin has the latest example of When Good Umpires Turn Bad. And yes, that's the Houston Astros, one win away from their first World Series (sort of like last year, and is it just me, or are the Astros the Ovaltine of sporting life?).
Upcoming: a reality TV show based on John Daly's life. Which segues to this: Chris Zelkovich wonders why the broadcasters of the "born-again NHL" remain so fixated on the fight highlights. Which segues to this: it wouldn't be the start of a new week without Saturday's latest entry for The Collected Works of Donald Stewart Cherry:

It's terrible.
I know.
"This is not supposed to be".
But this is life.
I've got something here I want to show:
A little code,
A little honour
I've got right over here.

Going the distance, again

It's another one of those marathon weekends around Toronto.

Three weeks after we got through the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, this Sunday brings us the Toronto Marathon. And what a contest these are: thousands of straining, skinny, sweating people against angry motorists the elements, testing their personal limits. Good luck to all. May you all run p.b.'s, and finish upright and smiling, as they say.

I just have one question: why do we need and what have we done to deserve two of these each fall? Wouldn't it make more sense to have one blowout race weekend, rather than two that refuse to acknowledge each other's existence, split the audience in the midst of an apparent "running boom", and alienate and inconvenience the non-runners in the city twice as much?

I come at this not from that latter fist-shaking, horn-honking perspective, but as someone who has run both of these hometown events, as well as big-party, once-a-year megathons like Ottawa, New York and Boston. My suggestion: Take the first half of the Waterfront course, add the second half of the Toronto course and presto -- the best of both worlds, or at least the more interesting, less desolate parts of such. Put it on one weekend in October, when the weather is cool but not yet frigid. Consolidate the sponsors and the charitable organizations that are the real beneficiaries. Maybe then you'll have a marathon that deserves to be ranked with the New Yorks and the Chicagos and the Londons -- one that people around town would come out and cheer instead of endure.

Click here for Sunday's road closure info.

Some other links to follow:

Mark Whicker, one of my favourite sports columnists, offers his take on Thursday's blown call in Chicago (via the National Post), while Mike Downey of the Chicago Trib imagines the trial of A.J. and out in Orange County, they're bloggin' mad about that Doug Eddings umpire guy. Meantime, Rich Griffin has the Astros and St. Louis, all tied up.

Uh-Oh. This just in. ALCS, cancelled (thanks to Pete for the link). Still on TV, have lookee at this new one, surely on the way to TSN.

Yawn. Another day, another Sepp Blatter rebuttal.

In the NBA, Jim Byers looks at Raptors hopeful Tierre Brown, while over at Team Sun, Steve Buffery has an update on Joey Graham's scary knee trouble.

Next up for the lurching Argos: Winnipeg. (Hope it snows, and they wear those new old unis.)

Canada's Christine Sinclair is up for FIFA world player of the year. And here's your draw for next month's World Cup qualification playoffs.

Punter's corner: Here we go again. You can go to the Linebacker. Or Chris Schultz (who says he's feeling "fat, stupid and lazy" from watching too much football -- Chris, there's no such thing as too much football. As for that feeling, welcome to the club, podner). Or Randall. But only here can you get five Pro-Line picks that you can't get anywhere else. And for good reason. (For entertainment purposes only -- though how can you be entertained after backing the Ravens last week -- and not to be used as the basis for wagers -- what, us wager? Never! We play Pro-Line! I know wagers, sir, and you, Pro-Line, are no wager! etc.)

CHI H win 2.0 over MINN: Oh hell. Let's get this one out of the way first. The rules: Insert your own line here, and win a prize. All entries must include the term "Fred Smoot".

NYJ at BUF tie 3.1: On this week's Antiques Roadshow: Late 19th century Meissen cherub figurines; Edison Co. cylinder phonograph; Vinny Testaverde.

CLE V win 3.0 at BAL: After Ravens' 21-penalty, two-ejection loss to Detroit last week, coach Brian Billick cracks down, orders two-a-day Sudoku sessions.

TOR V win 1.9 at WPG: "I'll take Bombers history for $100, Alex."
"The answer is, Troy Westwood in a barless helmet and retro golden boy uniform."
"What is 1952?"
"You're right!"

SD at OAK tie 3.1: After spending bye week as High Times guest editor, Randy Moss returns to follow in the glorious footsteps of previous bye-week stars Kyle Orton and the Vikings (and you thought we were going to spring a lame Ricky Williams line on you.)

Pot meets kettle

World Cup time draws nigh, at least if the nuttiness quotient is any indication.

First, chief comedian/FIFA boss Sepp Blatter inveighed against the "pornographic" amounts of money that players make, "unsavoury" agents and avaricious owners (c'mon down, Roman Abramovich!) in an op-ed article in the Financial Times (reg. required). Blatter is good for two or three of these kind of headline-grabbing pearls a year, and much of this talk flows like mother's milk to his constituency. But please. Coming from a fellow whose cozy relationship with FIFA's house broadcaster nearly bankrupt the place, whose own election came despite allegations of bribes and who pulls down a pretty nice stipend himself, this is one of those pot meet kettle moments.

The predictable backlash has already started:

"FIFA will be making as much money as they can from the World Cups and yet he is criticizing players for trying to maximize their income from a very short career."

AP PHOTO

"Next question. You there, in the back row, with the Don't Touch Our Svennis sign."

There's more crazy. With his house having been vandalized three times, for pete's sake, a Swedish newspaper has decided it's time to stick up for compatriot Sven Goran Eriksson (a tad late for that, isn't it? Sven's team is already going to the party, and anyone who has to put up with Wayne Rooney's act surely could use help from Nanny-911 more than a bunch of placards):

"He has turned a bunch of bone breakers on muddy pitches into a World Cup team."

More from Tommy Schonstedt of Expressen, obviously the Bill Simmons of Sweden:

"They really have gone too far now. We have had enough now. This means war now. The English should be bowing deeply and thanking Sven-Goran Eriksson. Instead they bully and mock him. But after yesterday we say: `Put that in your pipe and smoke it!"’

Ireland is up in arms about Brian Kerr, the hapless manager whose job is under review after the Republic's meek surrender.

For a roundup of where they stand -- who's in, who's playing off, who is out and more Sven than there is snus in Sweden -- click here. There's still a few more games to be played and five final slots to be filled before the Dec. 9 draw setting up the grid for what The Star's Cathal Kelly says could be "the best World Cup ever." Hmm. If Sepp was a no-show, I might go along with that. Oh, and while we're on the subject of soccer, happy birthday, Grace Brown.

Elsewhere, a late filing of links for you:

Raptors preseason opener last night: An overtime loss, and Sam Mitchell goes off. Plus ca change, or what?

Move over, Don Denkinger. Doug Eddings is comin' through. For more on the umpire strikin' back in last night's Chicago-L.A. playoff, check here. (Er, there really isn't more. It's everywhere. Doug Eddings is this year's Denkinger, this year's Bartman).

In the NL, Rich Griffin writes about former Jay Chris Carpenter's winning night.

Across the pond, the Royal & Ancient are allowing women into their Open. (And yes, I've just looked it up and confirmed that it is indeed 2005.)

Five Raptor questions for you

Five questions, as the Raptors open their exhibition schedule tonight against pro sports'  most oxymoronic franchise, the Utah Jazz:

1. Is Jose Calderon an NBA player?
2. Can Mo Peterson become an every-NBA-night performer, and how much of the answer to that question will depend upon a settled answer to question No. 1, and the point-guard situation (oh, here we go. To every question, another question -- It's a Raptor world, we just drop in on it).
3. Is this the year Chris Bosh establishes himself as the Raptors' foundation player by some process other than mere default?
4. How much can the Raptors get out of Charlie Villanueva? Out of Joey Graham? Out of Alvin Williams?
5. Can Rafael Araujo become a serviceable NBA player?
6. (bonus question) Who's the first guy outta town in a trade?

I'd like to hear what you have to say. Here's my answers:
1. Dunno.
2. Doubt it; everything.
3. He has to, if this team is going anywhere other than Secaucus in May for the foreseeable future.
4. Anything would be welcome.
5. What am I? A miracle worker?
6. Hmmm.

Hey, you're welcome.

Dave Feschuk sets the preseason up here. And if you think the Raptors have questions, imagine what's being asked around Phoenix this morning, with the news that big horse Amare Stoudemire is out for four months.

Meantime, some other stuff that got us wondering:

What happens when the game that got you there gets you nowhere? The White Sox were thrown out twice at second trying to ignite their offence (Bengie Molina, take a bow, and don't forget that stop he made on a sharp curveball in the dirt in the ninth as well), and failed twice to get bunts down when they needed to move a runner over. And so those travellin' Angels drew first blood in the ALCS.

Richard Griffin looks NL-ward, backward and forward.

Welcome back, Ron Artest. And thanks for the warning about the "animal" stuff. Never would have guessed.

Oh those kooky T.O. soccer wannabes are at it again, with a deadline of Oct 31 for an MLS franchise in a stadium that hasn't even been sited yet. (We might not have pro futbol, but we've got dragon boats).

The Purdue Boilermakers, they have such big alumni members. (PDF file, thanks to Deadspin for the point).

Uh, about that playoff spot -- Pinball Clemons is wondering about the grand plan.

Thanks to budblog, for doing something that was on my to-do list but I was too busy throwing my money down the drain on the Baltimore Ravens getting a visitor win (serves me right, huh) to get finished: figuring out the new NHL rules as they apply to Pro-Line.

So she's drowning, she's rescued and this is what she says! "Are you Nomar?" Well yes, it was him.

And yeah, what do you get when you send the Minnesota Vikings out on one of those team-bonding things? Of course. A sex cruise. As one friend put it, "Was the coach on the dock scalping tickets?"