Mammoth Blog

General Motors appears to be poised to end its 51-year relationship with the Buick Open golf tournament, according to media reports.

The automaker did not respond to an e-mail query from Inside Line on Monday morning asking for official comment about the reports coming out of Golfweek magazine and ESPN.com that GM is ending its sponsorship of the Buick Open. Golfweek reported that the Tour is planning to make an announcement the week of August 3 -- after the event -- to unveil a new title sponsor and venue.

This year's Buick Open runs from July 27 to August 2.

The GM media Web site is still touting its link with the Buick Open, saying that the golf tournament is a "fitting event to showcase Buick." It said the event is "exactly in line with the image of the Buick automobile."

Golfweek quoted Tom Pernice Jr., a member of the Tour Player Advisory Council, who said GM "can't afford it." "From a perception standpoint, you can't lay off all those people and then sponsor a golf tournament."

Buick terminated a nine-year relationship with golfing icon Tiger Woods in 2008, a year before the deal was supposed to have ended. source>>>

Shenzhen is home to a lot of things: hundreds of factories, one of China's two mainland stock exchanges, a theme park called Window on the World that features more than 100 miniature versions of monuments like the Taj Mahal, a Soviet aircraft carrier, and, of course, the world's largest golf resort: Mission Hills.

But even in this land of superlatives, the Mission Hills team was not content with just one world record. Last month they opened the world's largest practice putting green, a beautiful 17-acre spread of 18 rolling greens and tiny sand bunkers.

Officials say they are just keeping up with demand from an upwardly mobile population discovering the game for the first time. Already the resort boasts 12 world-class golf courses designed by some of the most famous names in the game - Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, and Nick Faldo - and hosts major world tournaments.

Mission Hills is a curious mix of extreme luxury and developing world. It has three spas, 3,000 caddies (all of them women - to seem less intimidating to novice golfers - and all wearing red jumpsuits and plastic helmets). Some 2,000 rounds of golf are played here each day. The resort abuts the city's industrial outskirts, and to drive from one end of the resort to the other requires passing a vacuum sealing plant, an electronics factory, and acre upon acre of actively tilled peasant farmland.

Even the staff works to keep up. Though he'll soon be touting the new $3 million villas that line the green, a marketing associate gasped when he drove a reporter to the site and saw the expanse for the first time. "It's so big," he said. source>>>

As signs pointed toward a coup d'état in Honduras in late June, the mainstream media quickly shined a light on this all but forgotten Central American country. Weeks later, as we closely follow miniature power moves between ousted president Manuel Zelaya, his replacement Roberto Micheletti, the Organization of American States (OAS), and other minor actors, much more important issues have managed to escape the focus of the investigation.

Beneath the surface of the coup in Honduras, we find a country dangerously close to losing its grip on public security, and it doesn't matter who the president is now or will be tomorrow. Neither man is capable of rescuing Honduras without continued support from neighbors, such as Mexico and Colombia, and from the international community.

In the first five months of 2009, Honduran authorities seized over 6.5 metric tons of cocaine, yet many analysts agree that this amount is probably less than one-third to one-fourth the total amount passing through any given point at any given time.

With a more conservative, back-of-the-envelope estimate, the calculation tops five metric tons of cocaine flowing through Honduras every month, which may, in part, explain a spate of recent killings. Early in the second week of June, Honduran police reported 13 homicides in less than 24 hours. There is no indication that even one murderer has been brought to justice.

Intelligence reports out of Central America indicate that members of organized criminal groups operating in Honduras have opened an assassination school. Former military soldiers and policemen serve as training officers, and graduates would certainly have no trouble finding work in Central America, or Mexico, where assassinations are a daily reality of the drug trade.

Compounding the certainty of Honduras' newly flourishing role as a transit country in Central America's drug trade, the Honduran National Register of Persons disclosed in June that documentation trafficking is running rampant. Officials believe that personnel within the agency are responsible for falsifying birth certificates and national identity documents.

Relaxation on visa requirements for visitors from China, Russia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic - all serious players in global black markets - has likely catalyzed this business of documentation falsification.

Meanwhile, due to a lack of stable well-paying jobs, Hondurans continue to depend heavily on remittances sent from family members and friends working in the US. Yet remittances have seen a steady decline since last year, according to the Inter-American Development Bank, leaving many Hondurans without an important source of income.

By 30 March, the US had deported some 10,000 Hondurans in 2009, with a monthly average of 3,330.

Continued deportations from the US will further exacerbate political instability, as many deportees find themselves in a country they chose to leave, where there is no legitimate work and little incentive to start a new life. Temptation to pick up a job in the lucrative drug trade, or even to start taking classes at the assassination school, is strong.

We are certain to follow the fate of Zelaya and the Honduran government's status well into the next few weeks. But as we do so, it is important to look beneath the surface tension and beyond the street protests to understand the complete picture.

Honduras is no longer a Banana Republic. It is an independent democracy plagued by very serious public security problems. Zelaya's fate is important to cover, but it is just one of this country's many problems. source>>>

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left office on Sunday, rather than continue to allow the business of her beloved state to be affected by vicious partisan attacks against her on the national stage.

Palin has become a lightning rod for those on the left, simply because of her ability to espouse the basic values in which so many Americans believe.

Her political enemies filed a variety of ethics complaints against Palin - and in every case, she was exonerated. Now, the ultra-partisans are taking a different tack. They claim she was wrong, while governor, to raise money for her legal defense against the ethics allegations.

Solely because of attacks based on partisan motives, Palin - far from a rich woman - was forced to pay substantial costs to defend herself. Money raised for her legal expenses was used for just that, not to enrich her.

We remember another national figure, former President Bill Clinton, who, while in office, raised money for legal expenses in the infamous Monica Lewinsky case. We do not recall liberals expressing outrage at him.

Palin's political enemies placed her in a Catch-22 situation: They filed groundless ethics complaints against her, forcing her to defend herself. Now, she is being criticized for doing just that.

We think most Americans will recognize the assaults for what they are - more of the vicious, unfair politics we recall being assured were about to change. source>>>

When anesthesiologist Andy Harris appeared on a cable news show last month in his white doctor's coat to discuss the health care debate in Congress, his message was about more than the pros and cons of the legislation.

Harris, a Maryland state senator who is running for a U.S. House seat, was also making a subtle political statement: The health care debate shaping up in Congress is likely to have big implications for the 2010 election.

"Health care has been pushed to the forefront," said Harris, a Republican whose race against Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil is a tossup, according to the non-partisan Cook Political Report. "Almost regardless of what Congress does, it's going to be an issue for debate."

Fifteen months before the midterm congressional election, health care is appearing in candidate stump speeches and interviews -- particularly by Republican challengers, such as Harris, running in districts recently claimed by Democrats.

That dynamic helps explain why a $1 trillion-plus health care bill stalled last week in Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is negotiating with skeptics in her own party, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said his chamber would not meet an August deadline to vote.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Barack Obama | Maryland | Nancy Pelosi | Harry Reid | Democrats | Republicans | Duke University | CNN | Kent Conrad | Steve Pearce | David Rohde | Jim Cooper | Harry Teague | Frank Kratovil | Steve Chabot | Andrew P Harris | Steve Driehaus

On Sunday, Pelosi told CNN's State of the Union that she remains confident a bill will pass the House. But Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., said on CBS' Face the Nation that Democrats have "a long way to go" before reaching a deal.

A top Senate Democrat, meanwhile, acknowledged there isn't enough support within the party to pass health care. "There are not the votes for Democrats to do this just on our side of the aisle," Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said on ABC's This Week.

Obama has said he wants lawmakers to finish health care by the end of the year, in part because it could become mired in election-year politics. All 435 members of the House and 36 members of the Senate are up for election in 2010. "The election tends to shorten the life of the Congress," said Duke University political scientist David Rohde.

Democrats have added 24 seats in the House and nine in the Senate since last year. Kratovil, who beat Harris for the eastern Maryland congressional seat last year, is one of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats known as the Blue Dogs. The group, which has been holding up the bill, wants more savings to pay for it.

"I'm doing my best to look at neutral information," said Kratovil, who said he is concerned about the cost of the bill and that it doesn't do enough to encourage doctors to practice in rural areas.

"I'm not here to make decisions based on how I can guarantee getting back. I'm making the best decisions I can."

Yet candidates across the country are raising the issue and putting pressure on incumbents. Among the talking points: A government-run health benefits program will put private insurers out of business.

"Having the government involved in health care to that degree is really counterproductive," said Steve Chabot, a Republican running to reclaim the Ohio seat he lost to Democratic Rep. Steve Driehaus last year.

Driehaus responded with an argument Democrats are likely to use in races across the country: Complex legislation like health care requires votes that won't make everyone happy. "When the Republicans were in charge, they didn't do anything about health care reform," he said. "Now they want to suggest that all of these challenges facing us started on Jan. 20."

Former U.S. congressman Steve Pearce is a Republican who ran an unsuccessful Senate campaign last year and is now trying to reclaim his House seat. Pearce made health care part of his announcement speech this month, arguing that the House bill would raise taxes in a tough economy.

Pearce's Democratic opponent, Rep. Harry Teague, said he also has "serious concerns" about some provisions, including a proposed surtax on families earning more than $350,000 a year. That, spokeswoman Sara Schreiber said, "could have a disproportionate impact on small businesses."

Schreiber said Teague is focusing on an overhaul that makes "eliminating waste and cutting costs top priorities." source>>>

QUARTERBACKS IN SITUATIONS

Training camp is always highlighted by quarterback controversies -- but this year brings a different kind. In Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger is facing a civil suit stemming from rape allegations, which he has called "reckless and false." Ex-Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, recently released from a 23-month federal dogfighting sentence, is waiting for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to rule on his football future (Goodell is fond of the phrase "in the near future," meaning the ball is very much in his hands). The drama is just enough to make sure that our attention can't completely be on football.

THE T.O. SHOW COMES TO BUFFALO

We don't mean the reality TV series (though we know you're watching). After San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas, Terrell Owens' next stop is Buffalo, where he was already given the keys to the city. Premature, clearly, but nonetheless a sign that the Bills are banking on the 35-year-old receiver to take them where they haven't been in a decade: The playoffs. If not, there could be another messy divorce with the team -- and starting quarterback -- when his one-year deal is up.

TOM BRADY'S RETURN (AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE AFC EAST)

The week of Super Bowl XLII, all eyes were on Brady's boot. This month, they're going to be on the knee that cost him his 2008 season. It's been nearly 10 months since his ACL and MCL surgery, and he seems physically ready. For the Patriots, a healthy Brady could mean the return of their record-setting 2007 offense. For the rest of the AFC East, it could mean a shift in power back to Foxborough. Remember, without their MVP last season, the
Patriots were 11-5.

THE UNRETIREMENT OF BRETT FAVRE

The speculation about whether the former Packers great and one-year Jet will return is a foolproof sign of summer, right along with watermelon and trips down the Shore. The 39-year-old quarterback has excelled at many things during his 18-year career, but ending it is not one of them. Even after the Jets' failed experiment last year, it would be surprising not to see Favre and his surgically repaired shoulder in a Vikings jersey very soon.

A WHOLE LOT THAT'S NEW IN DALLAS

They have a brand-new stadium. They cut ties with Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones. Tony Romo broke up with Jessica Simpson. Will the Cowboys also be able to put their underachieving ways behind them? After missing the playoffs in 2008, and flopping to the Giants in the divisional round in 2007, Dallas is hoping for a different kind of season. Head coach Wade Phillips' job might depend on it. source>>>

Terrell Owens has taken his campaign for Michael Vick's immediate reinstatement by the NFL to Twitter.

The Bills receiver, who called commissioner Roger Goodell's treatment of Vick "unfair" on Sunday, said Vick has already received enough punishment for his federal dogfighting conviction and should not be suspended more games by the NFL. (Owens referenced an ESPN report on Thursday saying the league would suspend Vick for four games, which the NFL said was premature.)

And then Owens went to Twitter to seek support from his fellow NFL players and his fans.

On Sunday evening, he tweeted: "Who's w/me on the Vick situation? All n favor, lemme get a tweet 2 support Mike Vick! He did the time 4 the crime! Let the guy play!!"

Several NFL players, including Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, responded with support of Owens' campaign for Vick.

-- Fitzgerald: "im in support of mike vick too man.I wanna c him back in action being the human highlight film he is.Im with ya bro."

-- Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe: "Never heard him complain or wine... I respect him. Let the man play."

-- Cardinals DE Darnell Dockett: "he did time and lost his shoe deal, and paid fines. Dear Commissioner please reinstate mike vick. PLEASE."

-- Rams RB Steven Jackson: "Don't agree with 4 games, 23 months is enough." ... "He will not be able 2 vote anymore. He has lost enough, allow the man 2 move on with his life. We dnt have a heaven or a hell 2 put him n."

Said Owens when he met reporters on Sunday, "The guy's already suffered so much. And to add a four-game suspension on a two-year prison sentence, that's ridiculous."

And in a comment to ESPN, Owens suggested Goodell was not respecting the 20-month sentence Vick served. "The commissioner needs to go sit in jail for 23 months," he told the network. source>>>

Each year after the all -- star break the better teams begin to show their strength. This year is no exception.

The Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers and Angels have all recently gone on significant winning streaks, establishing themselves as the teams to beat in their divisions.

As a consequence of their winning ways, the Phillies have put the pressure on the Marlins, Mets, and Braves in the NL East. The Red Sox and Rays are struggling to keep pace with the Yankees in the AL East while the Rangers and Mariners are losing valuable ground to the Halos in the AL West. In the NL West the Rockies and the Giants are now long shots to overtake the Dodgers for the division crown.

These are my final Sunday of July power rankings with last month's rankings in parentheses at the end of the paragraph.

1) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Even with Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero on the DL, the Halos are scoring runs in bunches as they are getting key hits daily from Kendry Morales, Mike Napoli, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Juan Rivera. Brian Fuentes leads the AL in saves. I expect the Angels to bolster their pitching through at least two acquisitions this week. (4)

2) New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are tough to beat at home (34-17). Set-up man Phillip Hughes has been a strikeout machine. Mark Teixeira leads the AL with 25 home runs. The Yanks have a knockout punch in Mariano Rivera at the end of the game. Derek Jeter is hitting .320.
Advertisement
Click here to find out more!
Alex Rodriguez (he doesn't look right at the plate) still hasn't hit with his customary power, yet this team beats everyone in the AL easily except for the Red Sox (0-8). (7)

3) Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils are built for their home park with power hitters who routinely reach the seats. No lead is safe in this homer haven. The Phils have legit MVP candidates in Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Cole Hamels looks like he is finally pitching like the Series star he was last fall. Whatever the price, the Phillies should meet the Blue Jays' demands and acquire Roy Halladay before the trade deadline this week. (11)

4) Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball teams are judged on wins and losses and the Dodgers have more wins than anyone in the majors (61). L.A. has speed at the top of the line-up. Power with Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier. The Dodgers have a star in lefty Clayton Kershaw. LA must pick-up a starting pitcher and a set-up reliever for the stretch run. Other than that the former Brooklyn Bums are ready for the playoffs. (2)

5) Boston Red Sox. Boston has two aces in Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. David Ortiz (13 home runs) appears to be a threat once again. Boston like Philadelphia should make a serious offer for Halladay. With one more legit starting pitcher to go along with the league's best 'pen, Boston should be strong enough to hold off the Rays for a playoff spot. The Red Sox offense clicks at home (32-14), but still is vulnerable on the road (24-25). (1)

6) Texas Rangers. Ron Washington's club is fighting to keep pace with the Angels. Josh Hamilton needs to have a huge last two months for this club to stay in the race. Despite the flu bug running through this team, the Rangers continue to play excellent defense, have a very good 'pen, and have stars in Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz (23 home runs). Starting pitching is always the question in Texas let's see if the Rangers can add a Jarrod Washburn or Doug Davis at the deadline. (9)

7) St. Louis Cardinals: The Cards added right-handed bats Mark DeRosa, Matt Holliday, and Julio Lugo to the offense sending shock waves through the NL Central. Albert Pujols is still the most feared hitter in the game. Starters Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Joel Pineiro, and Kyle Lohse get the job done for manager Tony La Russa. The 'pen is the question, but St. Louis is now the team to beat in the NL Central. (12)

8) Tampa Bay Rays. Last year's AL champs are still searching for the magic of 2008. Manager Joe Maddon doesn't quite know what to expect from a rotation whose ace is now righty Jeff Niemann (9-4). The Rays are still vulnerable to left-handed pitching, the best evidence being the perfect game thrown at them by White Sox southpaw Mark Buehrle on Thursday. The 'pen is not a sure thing. Carlos Pena hits home runs (24), but his batting average (.219) sinks the team more often than not. (8)

9) Colorado Rockies. It's hard to ignore the strides this club has made since Jim Tracy was named skipper. The Rockies may be overachieving right now, but they have been leading or close to the NL Wild Card lead long enough to be taken seriously. Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki, and Todd Helton need to hit over the next two months. The Rockies starting pitching doesn't have much of a track record outside of Aaron Cook and Jason Marquis (two pitchers who are not thought of as the best in the NL). (10)

10) Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are very tough to beat at home (31-15) and inexplicably poor on the road (21-29). Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, and Armando Galarraga are all throwing the ball very well. Fernado Rodney closes games while Bobby Seay and Brandon Lyon set him up. More help is needed in the 'pen. Miguel Cabrera is their MVP candidate. Tiger offense still very inconsistent. (3)

11) Chicago White Sox. The Sox are built to hit the long ball. If they are going to beat Detroit they better start hitting at home (27-23). The 'pen has shown signs of cracking this month. Is there a physical issue with closer Bobby Jenks? Has set-up man Scott Linebrink been over worked? With Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, and currently injured John Danks as starters the Sox better win their games because Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon are unsteady at best. (18)

12) San Francisco Giants. Bruce Bochy counts on wins from Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum each time his all stars take the mound. Barry Zito has pitched acceptably well compared to his first two years in SF. The key is getting some offense to take the pressure off the pitching staff. At some point the Giants must add another major league bat (Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez, or Nick Johnson?). The 'pen has been reliable. Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Sadowski now need to fill the void left by the injury to Randy Johnson. Will the NL catch up with Pablo Sandoval? Giants, like the A's in the early 2000s, would be a scary team to meet in a five game playoff series. (13)

13) Chicago Cubs. The Cubs haven't hit the ball like they did in 2008. Still with the Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, and Milton Bradley this team must be watched carefully to see if they pull out of their offensive doldrums. The 'pen is less than spectacular with walks and home runs the major culprits in late game collapses. Cubs need a starter to pick up for Ted Lilly (DL) and Ryan Dempster (due back Tuesday). A trade for a pitcher for this team (like last year for Rich Harden) is necessary. (16)

14) Houston Astros. Starters Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez are on hot streaks. Other veteran starters Brian Moehler, Mike Hampton, and Russ Ortiz will need help over the summer, won't they? Still with Miguel Tejada (.329), Carlos Lee (59 RBI), and speedy Michael Bourn (.287) this team wins games (swept the Cards last week). Colorful Jose Valverde is one of the most reliable closers in the game. (22)

15) Seattle Mariners. The M's don't hit much. Russell Branyan is having a career season at the plate (24 home runs). Seattle's pitching is outstanding. King Felix Hernandez hasn't pitched a bad game in two months. Jarrod Washburn is everything Seattle thought Erik Bedard would be. Closer David Aardsma has been lights out. Yet the Mariners more than likely will be sellers this week because their hitting is so sub-par. The M's offense is too weak to catch the Rangers or the Angels this year. (19)

16) Minnesota Twins. Take the Twins out of the Metrodome and bad things happen (20-30) on the road. The Twins blew a 12-2 lead to the A's this week in Oakland. The Angels came from behind to beat closer Joe Nathan. Lefty swingers Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Jason Kubel carry this club. The starting pitching and the 'pen have been a problem for manager Ron Gardenhire all season. If the pitching somehow straightens out Minnesota will be tough because they win at home (28-20) and the crowds will be huge in September as the team closes its domed home for good. (5)

17) Milwaukee Brewers. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are the two stars on this team. GM Doug Melvin will get manager Ken Macha another arm for the 'pen and one for the rotation (Cliff Lee?). Macha has done a remarkable job keeping this team in the race, juggling his 'pen nightly. (14)

18) Atlanta Braves. You can never count out a Booby Cox team, especially if it has pitching. Starters Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Tommy Hanson, and Jair Jurrjens can win any game they start. Closer Rafael Soriano has been lights out all year. If Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, and Yunel Escobar hit the Braves will be the NL Wild Card dark horse team. Martin Prado (.326) has been a revelation in the infield and Nate McLouth (.257) anchors the outfield. (20).

19) Florida Marlins. Florida has a great one-two pitching punch in Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson. Hanley Ramirez might spoil Albert Pujols Triple Crown bid by winning the NL batting title. The 'pen has been much better than anyone thought possible led by A's castoffs Kiko Calero and Dan Meyer. Cody Ross needs to pick things up with the bat. Starting pitching will tell the story for the Fish. Other than Johnson and Nolasco the remaining starters are very unreliable. (15)

20) Oakland Athletics. Because of their pitching, the A's are still a team that can beat you. Gio Gonzalez threw a great game against the Yanks. Trevor Cahill shut down the Twins with the help of a 15-run cushion. Brett Anderson pitched a masterful two-hitter in Fenway Park. Dallas Braden gives the team seven innings, of two-to-three run ball virtually every time he pitches. Closer Andrew Bailey is finally showing signs of fatigue as he is missing his spots more than earlier in the year. This team, despite its poor record (41-55), hasn't quit on the manager. The A's should make more trades this week seeking more impact AA or AAA bats. The Matt Holliday trade was set in motion once he was acquired last winter from the Rockies. Newcomer Brett Wallace can hit and might be the A's Buster Posey (Giants top prospect) before too long. (25)

21) Toronto Blue Jays. Even if the Jays move Roy Halladay this week they are a decent team. Marco Scutaro is having a career year at shortstop. Aaron Hill is an all-star second baseman. Lefty Ricky Romero is in the mix for AL Rookie of the Year. Adam Lind has arrived as one of the top DHs in the league. Blue Jays hope to rebuild with a trade of their ace pitcher. If they get what they want the road back will be much shorter. If not this club will need to find two starting pitchers for next season. (6)

22) New York Mets. Only Johan Santana prevents this team from falling further in the rankings. Mets might be the most dysfunctional organization in baseball. GM Omer Minaya, manager Jerry Manuel, and assistant GM Tony Bernazard all might be looking for new jobs next season. If Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran return this season perhaps the team might move up in the rankings. K-Rod must be wondering what he got himself into by signing with this disorganized finger- pointing crowd. (17)

23) Arizona Diamondbacks. Talk about disorganized teams. The players have spoken out about the club's lack of hustle, makes one wonder what the manager A.J. Hinch thinks about his team's effort. All that aside, Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, and Stephen Drew are keepers. Dan Haren could win the NL's Cy Young award. Starters Jon Garland and Doug Davis are on the block along with relievers Jon Rauch and Chad Qualls. (28)

24) Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles are going more with their younger players that should mean the end of the Baltimore careers for Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff. Outfielders Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, plus catcher Matt Wieters are the core stars of the future. Watch for more pitching prospects to make their debuts this summer. (23)

25) Cleveland Indians. The Tribe usually puts on a late season rush when the club is hopelessly out of the race. Will they trade either Victor Martinez (Boston) or Cliff Lee (Texas)? In any case it's unlikely manager Eric Wedge will be back next year. Closer Kerry Wood might help a contender down the stretch too. (24)

26) Cincinnati Reds. Reds have one of the best 'pens in the league. Trouble is the club doesn't hit very much. Once Jay Bruce broke his wrist the lineup lost one of its top power bats. If pitcher Homer Bailey is the real deal and Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto make comebacks in 2009 -- joining Aaron Harang (trade bait) and Bronson Arroyo -- then Dusty Baker has a chance to see his club get back into the race. Too many "ifs" still remain for this team. (21)

27) Kansas City Royals. The Royals have the makings of a good rotation with the breakthroughs of Luke Hochevar and Brian Bannister. After two lackluster years it's tough to see manager Trey Hillman returning in 2010. Injuries have held this team back. The 'pen failures and all the losses usually add up to a managerial change. (27)

28) Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are one of the most active teams during the trading season. One has to wonder why the players the Corsairs receive in return for their established players don't seem to amount to too much. Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson should be the next to go along with relievers Matt Capps and John Grabow. (26)

29) Washington Nationals. Why doesn't President Obama attend some Nats games to stimulate interest in his new hometown team? The Nationals can hit and once they get some more pitchers to join Jordan Zimmermann, Craig Stammen, and John Lannan they might see the light at the end of the tunnel. (29)

30) San Diego Padres. Adrian Gonzalez stopped hitting home runs about one month ago about the time the bottom fell out of the club's season. Lack of any offense has killed the season. Injuries to Jake Peavy and Chris Young did not help matters either. Don't blame the manager Bud Black he is a solid baseball man. (30) source>>>

Thanks to the behind-the-scenes lobbying from some of the most influential Hall of Famers, commissioner Bud Selig is said to be seriously considering lifting Pete Rose's lifetime suspension from baseball.

The tip-off that Selig may now be inclined to pardon baseball's all-time hit king was Hank Aaron's seemingly impromptu interview session with a small group of reporters in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel on Saturday. In declaring for the first time that he would want an asterisk put on the achievements of any steroid cheats elected to the Hall of Fame, Aaron brought up Rose, who, in August of 1989, was given a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball, saying: "I would like to see Pete in. He belongs there."

It is no secret that Selig considers Aaron one of his closest friends and values his opinions over perhaps all others. It was also learned by the Daily News that in a meeting of the Hall of Fame's board of directors at the Otesaga later on Saturday, two of Rose's former teammates on the board, vice chairman Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson, also expressed their hope that Selig would see fit to reinstate Rose.

Said another Hall of Famer familiar with the situation: "I think a lot of the guys feel that it's been 20 years now for Pete, and would lean toward leniency and time served. If he had admitted it in the first place and apologized way back then, he'd probably be in the Hall by now."

According to another source, the behind-the-scenes lobbying process began five years ago, but stalled because Selig was still not satisfied that Rose was "reconfiguring" his life, as the late commissioner Bart Giamatti had instructed for him to do when he initially placed him on baseball's permanent ineligible list. In addition, the source said, Selig's conditions for any reinstatement would be stiff. Rose likely would need to make another public apology and he would be prohibited from managing.

If Selig does reinstate him, Rose then would become eligible for the Hall of Fame, but on the Veterans Committee ballot, as his 15 years on the Baseball Writers ballot expired during his time on the ineligible list. He would thus have to be elected by his peers, the 65 living members in the Hall of Fame, not all of whom agree with Aaron, Morgan and Robinson that Rose has done his time. It's hard to say if he would get the necessary 75% for election. "I know there are still guys who feel strongly against him," said one Hall of Famer, "and I don't know if that would change even if Selig clears him."

Nevertheless, it is beginning to look as if Rose will at least finally get Hall of Fame consideration, at the same time the Hall of Famers are taking an even harder stance on all the steroids cheats. "Believe me," said Reggie Jackson, to a couple of writers, "that little session Hank had with you guys was anything but impromptu. He wanted to get that out there. It was time."

source>>>

MMA fighter Kimo Leopoldo responded today to news reports of his death that surfaced last week on TMZ.com and other news agencies (not The Times). In an open letter, which follows, Leopoldo explained the event was a wake-up call to focus on the positives in life.
"I'd like to thank all the members of the media, my fans, friends, and especially my family members with regards to their concern and support about me.

I went to sleep late Monday (July 20) and woke-up to my promoter, Ron Kort, shaking me sometime between 12-1 PM/PT on Tuesday, telling me that the media is going crazy over my death, and that he and others had been looking everywhere for me.

I had spent the night with a friend and my phone was turned off like it normally is overnight. I'm used to people spreading weird rumors about me, but I didn't think this one was funny. So, I blew it off, but when Ron looked at me with that serious face of his, I knew this wasn't a joke.

I got up and looked on my friend's computer, read through some of the media reports, and couldn't believe my eyes. From the time I went to sleep to the time I woke-up, the rumor of me dying had spread like wildfire. All I had done was go to sleep. I kind of felt as important as Michael Jackson, considering the media hoopla. While reading articles, I had to stop and look in the mirror. The overwhelming power of the media almost felt like my death was being predicted.

I was a little taken back and, as I attempted to compose myself, Ron informed me that Brandt Stebbins (New Era Fighting's Business Development Manager) all day had been dealing with consoling my family and friends over this issue. Ron immediately got on the phone with members of the press and the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's office about getting a press release out immediately. As I was piecing the puzzle together, I had various friends yelling at me as if I set this up as a publicity stunt.

I woke-up to being told I was dead and getting yelled at. This wasn't a fun wake-up. Before I go any further, I want to let everyone know that we are investigating this matter and have a good idea of how it originated, and that NONE of this came from me or anyone around me. I am sorry to all who know me for your grief and am amazed to see that I can make front page news in the press for negative items but not for anything good I have done. The media has always been quick to jump on negative rumors about me without verifying the truth.

I consider myself one of the founding fathers of MMA and an important figure in this industry. I was in this sport before it was a sport. I have seen the many ups-and-downs of this industry and have dedicated the last few years of my life to trying to making a difference by running for California State Athletic Commissioner, trying to get fighters paid what they are worth, and getting fighters more exposure even when they are not fighting. Given my contributions, it is amazing to me that I can get this kind of press on negative items, yet, not on my accomplishments.

In the last few months I have been called a Meth addict in the media and now I am dead. Both items are obviously proven not to be true. The power of the media is strong and it is the responsibility of the media to verify the information they post; it isn't about being the first one on the scene. TMZ confirmed that I was dead. Well, that's weird because they did that without a body or autopsy report. In my opinion, TMZ just became the next Inquirer. Why didn't TMZ just confirm my body was abducted by Aliens?

No offense to TMZ or anyone else, but how about you guys in the media giving me a real chance at making a difference in this industry? Let's try to use your power for some good. For example, I registered on the Bob Sapp www.FightEngine.com website. If I get enough hits, I will be able to fight whomever the fans want. No one will dictate who I fight except for you, the fans. I will fight whomever you guys want, not what promoters want. You guys decide. I want my last fight to be a freak show of a fight. I want to go out the same way I came in. I came in carrying the cross, but lost my path along the way, and didn't want to be a hypocrite by carrying the cross if I wasn't living that life style. I always believe that through Christ Jesus, all things are possible, and I believe Jesus Christ himself is my guiding angel with everything that has happened in my life.

I was pronounced dead and now I am resurrected. This is my second chance and I don't want to let fans down. I am here to help train fighters for combat in the ring. I will train and walk fighters to the ring at any event. I am here to help fighters get paid their worth, I am here to entertain my fans and the whole MMA community, win or lose, and I am here to help make this fun and enjoyable for everyone. If I hit a certain number of votes on www.FightEngine.com, I will be a main event fighter for one of their scouting events, and you will be the ones to vote about whom you want me to fight. I would appreciate just as much attention as was given to me in these last few days on google.com, yahoo.com and other media sources to also occur on fightengine.com. Show me you guys really believe that I am as exciting to watch fight as everyone tells me to my face and I promise to live the right life style, train hard, and walk to the ring in my last fight with the cross on my back and with a real aggressive fight for the fans to watch. I've been known to head-butt guys in the back of the head, slap my opponent in the face, and even in Tank's case, kiss my opponent on the cheek after I wipe the floor with them.

... I am currently being approached to do cartoon voice-overs, interviews, and more. I am eager and happy to accommodate all of your requests. So, please, let's try to keep this fun and entertaining but, most of all, truthful and positive.

Remember, it isn't necessarily about being first in the media, rather, being accurate. I love my fans, family and even the media for all you have given me and will drive my focus on the positive, not the negative. Thank you all."

source>>>

It's a hit business like no other, a violent and growing sport that's attracted controversy, millions of fans, and some deep pockets. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has battled its way to the top of mixed martial arts, continuing to dominate the competition and thrive in a troubled economy when other sports are faltering.

On Wednesday, July 29th at 10PM & 1AM ET, CNBC presents "Ultimate Fighting: Fistful of Dollars," a CNBC special reported by CNBC's Scott Wapner that takes a new behind-the-scenes look at Ultimate Fighting Championship- the biggest brand in mixed martial arts, one of the fastest growing sports in the world. The documentary builds on earlier reporting, first aired in 2007, with new interviews and coverage throughout.

Wapner travels to Germany for the UFC's first-ever event in mainland Europe, and goes inside the Octagon with Dana White, the controversial front man who's helped raise the brand to new heights with a shrewd business sense and a style shaped more in the gym than the corporate suite. CNBC also speaks with wealthy backers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, and profiles a stable of standout fighters -- including star Rich Frankin -- who have helped the league grow from a dying franchise to a global sensation in less than a decade.

The program explores the early days of UFC, when it played to meager crowds and was banned from television. Today, the UFC has established a formidable presence in the sporting world and on the landscape of popular culture, and Madison Avenue has taken notice. In 2007, marquee brands were reluctant to advertise with a league that had a dubious, no-holds-barred past. Though some controversy remains, the UFC has gone mainstream, and Fortune 500 companies like Budweiser and Harley-Davidson have become big-time backers.

With a reported $275 million in revenues last year, the UFC's success has not gone unnoticed, and a number of would-be competitors have emerged. Wapner interviews billionaires Mark Cuban and Donald Trump, who are working together to present mixed martial arts events, promising top fighters and revenues to match. Dana White tells Wapner that they are just another in a long list of competitors he is ready to take to the mat.

CNBC also takes a look at the range of promotions, endorsements and movie deals tied to the sport, as well as at TapouT, the successful apparel company created by three hardcore fans who turned their passion for mixed martial arts into a $100 million dollar business.

For more information including video clips and slideshows log onto: ufc.cnbc.com.

CNBC's "Ultimate Fighting: Fistful of Dollars" will re-air on Friday, July 31st at 1AM ET and Sunday, August 1st at 10PM ET. source>>>

UFC 101 is fast approaching and iFight365.com have teamed up with leading online bookmaker Paddy Power to give all visitors to the website a free £20 bet on the huge August 8 pay-per-view.

Even better, to qualify for the bet, you only have to wager £10, meaning Paddy Power are offering you double your money!

The main event at UFC 101 in Philadelphia, PA sees UFC Lightweight champion BJ Penn defending his title against Kenny Florian, while also scheduled is Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin in a Light Heavyweight bout.

To claim your free £20 bet, click here!
source>>>

Do you think Matthew Stafford will play in a Super Bowl for the Lions?

Will we put a man on Mars? Will we find a cure for cancer? Will a Pistons coach last longer than three seasons?

Until the Lions actually make the Super Bowl nobody in their right mind can predict such things. I suppose the Cardinals run to the NFC title gives all football fans hope, but this is the Lions after all, so let's not get crazy.

But all this does lead to a logical line of questioning what with Stafford's first camp looming this week. What does he have to do to be considered a success in Detroit? How far does he have to take the team for his draft position and his contract to be justified? Does he have to go to the Super Bowl? Does he have to win a playoff game? Does he simply have to make the Pro Bowl?

I know those all seem like pipe dreams coming off an 0-16 season, but it's totally fair for fans to demand a lot of Stafford. Since the Super Bowl era began, 15 quarterbacks have gone No. 1 overall. Four are legends (Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning). One (Jim Plunkett) was a seriously late-bloomer who developed into a winner. Six made the Pro Bowl and have to be considered very solid to very good starters (Steve Bartkowski, Vinny Testaverde, Jeff George, Drew Bledsoe, Carson Palmer and Eli Manning). One is Michael Vick, define him as you wish. And the last three are, at this point, total busts (Alex Smith, Tim Couch and David Carr). So if you want to apply math, there's about an 80% chance that Stafford will at least turn out to be a solid starter who will make a Pro Bowl or two and win some playoff games.

The downside for Stafford is that he comes to a bad team and will be expected to be great right away given his No. 1 selection. The upside is that he'll be compared to the likes of Jeff Komlo, Joey Harrington and Milt Plum. In other words if Stafford can simply make a Pro Bowl, he'll go down as the Lions greatest quarterback since Bobby Layne. And down deep, that's all were asking for. Sure we want a Super Bowl, and we want a winner and we want to be talking about the playoffs every single year. But I think most Lions fans are willing to start small. Matthew -- work hard, play well, don't try to do too much, and the fans will be behind you.

Will he play in a Super Bowl? I'm not making that prediction. Will he be a success? I say yes, simply because the bar has been set so low when it comes to success as a quarterback in Detroit. source>>>

The sample is fairly small, just two full seasons, so to extract any conclusions or absolutes out of the Mark Dantonio reign at Michigan State might be premature.

But a nascent trend has developed: Dantonio delivering on promises. The working premise his first season was returning some respect to the Spartans, and a three-game turnaround to a 7-6 record ensued. The idea last year was to make a New Year's Day bowl game, and voila, the Spartans played in the Capital One Bowl.

"I remember mentioning that and people gave me a little bit of a look," Dantonio said Monday. "But we made it there."

The next step might be a little more difficult to manage this year. Dantonio hedged no bets in naming a Big Ten Championship and a Bowl Championship Series berth as goals on the Spartans' immediate horizon during the conference media days Monday. But a "relatively young team" -- Dantonio's own estimation -- and thus inexperience at critical positions in 2009 could be a sizeable roadblock.

But then the Spartans were picked to finish third in the league, and linebacker Greg Jones was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

"I think it's very, very important to recognize that we've been in that situation before at times, the Spartans raised up a bit, and we fell a little bit flat," Dantonio said. "We've won very, very few games just going away. We've been involved in a lot of close games.

"The goal for us, basically, is to play up. Win our last game. We've gone to bowl games, we need to win our last game. We need to play up when we play these marquee games, where more than winning and losing is riding on that."

As for one of the most pressing concerns -- choosing a quarterback between sophomores Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol, who have played in eight college games total between them -- Dantonio flatly labeled the players "very strong, but inexperienced." There is some athleticism there, but nothing that should change drastically what Michigan State does.

"We'll continue to use what's been good for us," Dantonio said. "We'll always add wrinkles as we move forward. But our quarterbacks, they need to be able to create plays when things break down for them. Some guys make it with decision-making, some guys make it with wheels. But we'll run the same offense for both quarterbacks. I don't see any big wrinkles we'd change for one or the other." source>>>

With the demand for sub-prime loans skyrocketing due to the new, more stringent criteria for providing loans adopted by major banks, some alternative lenders are looking for a new way to say thank you to their loyal customers. One such company is BHM Financial who is one of the top car title lenders in Canada. The company has seen requests for loans steadily increase since the recent economic turmoil began, and major banks started providing fewer and fewer loans. In an effort to thank their customers, BHM decided to launch their new Platinum Affiliate Program and, in essence, to "share the wealth".

Molly Wider, senior loan officer at BHM Financial explains this move, "We have been extremely lucky to have not been affected by the recession like so many other businesses. We have some really great clients and many of them have recommended us to their friends and family. We really wanted to find a better way to say 'thank you', so we decided to offer them a way to profit from their referrals by providing them with a commission."

The Platinum Affiliate Program offers generous commissions of up to 10% of the total loan amount, up to $250 per loan referral that is funded. Although the program was intended as a way to thank current customers for their referrals and loyalty, the company has said that having a loan with BHM Financial is not necessary in order to participate in the program.

"The feedback has been tremendous" said Wider, "We couldn't have anticipated how well the program would work. Clients are making increasing numbers of referrals and are really appreciative of how easy the whole process is. In fact," Wider continued, "we had one gentleman who referred 3 individuals and, thanks to the commissions he earned, he didn't have to make a payment on his own loan for 2 months. He plans on referring enough people for his commissions to completely cover his loan payments."

BHM Financial Group is one of the most trusted names in the Canadian car and truck title loan industry, providing hundreds of car-title loans of amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to Canadians of all credit ratings each year. BHM prides itself on its superb customer service and its quick and easy loan experience. For more information on the Platinum Affiliate Program, visit http://www.bhmfinancial.com/Platinum-affiliate.htm.
source>>>