We're in an interesting patch of sports time where baseball is in full swing, basketball is in the middle of a torrid Hot Stove League patch and Wimbledon and the World Cup are on.
- The hot pilgrimage place this summer is Akron, as everyone with cap room is calling upon LeBron's manse in northern Ohio to get him to come there. No clue where that will be. Miami, where he can hook up with Wade, a second free agent and a case of minimum-wagers? Chicago, where he, a second free agent and a solid nucleus of Rose, Noah and whomever they can get for Deng (he's good but he'd too good to be LeBron's backup at the 3) can be better than the Air Jordan double-threepeat teams? New Jersey, where Russian cash, Big Apple cache and Brook Lopez can take LeBron and a max-contract money to perennial-contender status? The Knicks? Of, if he really wants a challenge, the Clippers? Or might Mark Cuban pull off some cap-twisting sign-and trade and bring him to Dallas? Only God knows, and He ain't talking.
- The Tigers are fun to watch. The were a game out of first after last night's win and have a couple of good rookies in Jackson and Boesch (is one of his tape-measure jobs a Boesch Belt?) along with a solid lineup and good bullpen. Six nights out of seven, the question of "what's on the tube" is answered
- I was bummed when Sacramento snagged DeMarcus Cousins two slots ahead of the Pistons, but Greg Monroe seems to be a good conciliation price; the hoop pundits invoke the name of Bill Walton (without the Deadhead stuff), which ain't bad. Cousins has a slew of low-post skills and is a rebounding maniac who can be a Hall of Famer if he keeps his head screwed on straight. Big if, which is why he didn't go even higher. I relate to his high-strung emotions and I hope the people in the Governator's back yard can give him enough leash to have a few teenage moments while not too much leash to let him emotionally self-destruct.
- Southern South America is doing well, sending Argentina and both of the 'guays to the quarters, with Uruguay through to the semis as we go to press. Alas, the US got beat in the Sweet 16 in OT, but a 1-0-2 pool record and a tough OT loss is not too bad for a team ranked in the high teens worldwide; a team ranked 14th or so can expect to lose in the round of 16, so no need to ask for coach Bradley's head.
- Other countries are having to resist that urge. FIFA has had to tell both the French and Nigeria governments to lay off their national teams; Nigeria might be banned from future international play if their governmental decree of no international play until 2012 stands. That would be a pity, since they are one of the best teams in Africa over the long haul.
- I'm getting old. Kirk Gibson is now the D-Backs manager. I remember more fondly the Goosebuster homer he hit off of Goose Gossage in the 1984 World Series than the fist-pumping walk-off as a Dodger in 1988; I still have a sore spot that he bugged out via free agency after being a Michigan lifer (metro-Detroit raise and MSU footballer). Nonetheless, good on ya, Kirk, for the new job.
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