PAPELBON VS. THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Whatever happened to journalistic responsibility? And whatever happened to the notion that print media was more reliable than blogs because of said responsibility?

The latest irresponsible and sensationalistic sportswriter to join the John Tomase club is Mark Feins of the New York Daily News, who wrongfully claims that Jonathan Papelbon said he should be the one to close the All-Star Game, not Mariano Rivera. Feins blatantly ignored contrary statements Papelbon made. Statements like this one:

"Mariano Rivera will be closing the 2008 All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium. I'm making a statement right now, saying I don't want it, I want him to have it. I said all that earlier, but that's the way I feel about it."

Why ignore this? Because Papelbon had also said this:

"If I was managing the team, I would close. I'm not managing the team, so it don't matter."

And from that bland, incorrectly grammared statement, Mark Feins the New York Daily News were able to extrapolate a lengthy column, as well as a cover.



It's just a frigging shame. Terry Francona and the other Red Sox have spent the last few days in the Bronx being respectful, and heaping praise and respect on the Yankees. Francona placed Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez in their normal spots in the AL lineup. Ortiz didn't blow off the festivities to stay at home and rehab his wrist. In fact, Big Papi was more of a presence at last night's HR Derby than Alex Rodriguez.

And how does New York treat them? By greedily demanding Mariano Rivera START the All-Star Game. And by publishing this slanderous nonsense.

Remember the 1999 All-Star Game? Remember when Joe Torre was CHEERED by the Fenway crowd? I guess that kind of class and respect is just too much for some New Yorkers to achieve.

Papelbon was pissed about the Daily News story.

“It just kind of (ticks) me off because if that gets (expletive) written and I’m riding in a (expletive) parade today with my wife (Ashley), so she doesn’t feel safe because some (expletive) from the Daily News says I want to close the game and that ain’t true...That was an easy headline for that (expletive) to say, ‘Yeah, Papelbon wants to close.’ Of course I do, that’s my competitive nature. But I’m stepping away and saying I don’t need to close.”

See, Mister Feins, unlike Alex Rodriguez, Papelbon is a competitive guy who always wants the ball. If Francona asked him to start, he would. If he asks him to pitch to one batter in the top of the 6th, he would. If he asks him to close, he would. He's not going to say "Coach, I really think Mo should be closing."

Mark Feins is just another sportswriter in an ever lengthening line of so-called journalists who publish before they think. And this story is another sad example of just how pathetically desperate the Yankees and their fans are to trash the Red Sox.

Sources:
Boston.com's Extra Bases
Boston Herald
NY Daily News

YANKEE CELEBRITIES THAT SUCK

Since the baseball world's eyes are focused on Yankee Stadium today, I figured I should let my Yankee hatred spew freely. I'm not going to badmouth Derek Jeter for being a mediocre defensive short-stop, or Alex Rodriguez for canoodling with an old singer whose slept with half the NBA, or Jason Giambi's silly attempt to look like Ron Jeremy.

Instead, I'm going to direct my attention to Yankee fans. Famous Yankee fans. For the record, I hate most celebrity "fans" because they're not really fans, and they simply take up space at the ballpark. Ben Affleck, that's you.

Adam Sandler:

Not only is he painfully annoying, he's a confused fan. He likes the Bruins AND the Yankees. See, Sandler was born in Brooklyn, then moved to New Hampshire when he was 5. He turned 5 in 1971. Bruins fans know what happened in the 71-72 season: they won the Cup. Sandler is nothing but a front running, bandwagoning, pink hat. And his only funny movies these days are the ones in which he's trying to be a serious actor.

Jack Nicholson:

Speaking of frontrunners, Laker loving Jack Nicholson is a big Yankee fan. But at least he was born in New York, and the Lakers are his adopted team. Nicholson is such a big bad Yankee fan, that he refused to wear a Red Sox hat in The Departed. It's too bad the Knicks weren't good enough to earn that kind of loyalty from him, or the Dodgers. Pick a city, Jack.

Michael Bloomberg:

Did you know that New York's Mayor is from Boston? He was born in Brighton, then moved to Allston, then to Brookline, then to Medford. When running for Mayor, he was asked if he was a Mets fan or a Yankee fan. His only answer was "Well, I'm from Boston, so..." But apparently it's more politically prudent to be a Yankees fan in New York, because that's what Bloomberg presents himself as in public.

Billy Crystal:

Did you know Billy Crystal is a Yankees fan? I know, it's a bit of an obscure fact that took me hours of research to find out. End sarcasm. Every Yankee game on Fox or ESPN will have a shot of Crystal sitting in the front row. Unlike others on this list, he's a real fan. But I can't stand to hear the words "Mickey Mantle" come out of his mouth, and see his face light up as he reminisces about that dead alcoholic. And can we put a limit on how many times someone is allowed to host the Oscars?

Fred Durst:

Unfortunately, Fred Durst is still alive. Why is it that great artists like John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, and Bradley Nowell die so young, and crappy ones get to live forever? I don't know if Durst is an actual Yankee fan. But the Jacksonville native was one of many late 90's punks who made it "cool" to wear Yankees hats and apparel, even if one wasn't a fan.

So there you have it, the 5 suckiest Yankee celebrities. Spike Lee didn't make this list because he's cool as hell. And any Yankee fan out there thinking of alluding to Ben Affleck, or other douchebag Sox celebs, I have two words for you: Maria Menounos.



Photo Credit:
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

JOSE CANSECO LASTS 97 SECONDS IN BOXING MATCH

Jose Canseco fought Vai Sikahema, a former Philadelphia Eagle and amateur boxer, in a celebrity match in Atlantic City. Jose didn't even make it out of the first round before the referee stopped the fight. Sikahema is 7 inches shorter and 45 pounds lighter than Canseco, but he still thrashed him. Sikahema summed up Canseco beautifully after the fight:

"He's a very impressive-looking guy. But the guy is a walking corpse, because he's rotted inside out. He's a pathetic figure."



Source:
NY Daily News