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FRAN TARKENTON NOT ON BOARD WITH FAVRE COMEBACK: Taking a quick sampling from the sportstalk radio world, there is a good percentage of the NFL quarterback alumni who have just about had it with Brett Favre. First Joe Theismann gets on a Milwaukee station and muses half-jokingly if post-concussion syndrome is at the root of Favre's indecision and desire for joining the Minnesota Vikings. And then there's perhaps the QB that might still be holding down the starting job for an all-time Minnesota team. Fran Tarkenton appears on a radio show in Atlanta, and calls Favre's latest comeback attempt 'despicable', noting that it would be akin to himself finishing with the Vikings or to Ray Nitchske deciding to close his career with the purple - but adds that he kind of hopes Favre does sign with the Vikings 'so he can fail'. Tarkenton (like Theismann, outspoken himself in his days as a TV commentator) then adds that while Favre may have been a great player, that he's made more 'stupid plays' than any great QB in history - referring to his last pass as a Packer in the four below game in overtime of the NFC Championship as Exhibit A.



NORTH-SIDE MELTDOWN!!!

A column on Yahoo this week suggested that it was time for Lou Piniella to go on one of his trademark tantrums to turn his team's fortunes around - actually, everyone else on that team is doing it for him. Carlos Zambrano faces a probable (make that certain) suspension for his antics leading to his ejection Wednesday. After uncorking a wild pitch in the seventh inning, the runner beat Zambrano's tag at the plate - causing Z to go nuclear. Zambrano points into the ump's face, then 'ejects' the umpire, then intentionally bumps the ump, then throws the ball to the left-field warning track, throws the glove against the dugout fence, and then takes a bat in an attempt to destroy the team's restauarant-style Gatorade dispenser in the dugout. Fellow starter Ted Lilly also faces a possible suspension after he jumped the dugout fence to get after an umpire who ran him on Monday, a game which also saw Ryan Dempster in his own attack on the Gatorade dispenser. Also over the weekend Milton Bradley talked about the world's worst-kept secret, that he almost has to swing at everything in the area code because the umps have a vendetta against him - a comment in which he is 100 percent dead-spot right on.


SO MUCH FOR ROBBY GORDON'S THIRD PLACE FINISH: The good news, by not pitting before the race got rained out Robby Gordon wound up with a third-place finish in Charlotte. The bad news is that Robby Gordon finished third and by finishing in the top-three faced a mandatory inspection, which his car failed, resulting in a 50-point penalty. Robby Gordon catches about as many breaks as Milton Bradley.


BALLOT-BOX STUFF PARTY IN MILWAUKEE: Considering ads to vote for Brewers players even exist on the warning track at Miller Park, I'm not shocked by this. Prince Fielder second (Pujols is the overall vote leader though), Rickie Weeks (out for the year) second, Bill Hall (something like a 1-28 slump before game-winning hit Monday) second, J.J. Hardy in first ahead of both Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes (But JJ's so cute, and slow), Jason Kendall second at catcher (now eighth all-time amongst catchers w/2,000+ hits), and finally Ryan Bruan first (agreed here), Mike Cameron fifth, and Corey Hart seventh in the outfield (I'd even spring a hometown vote for Hart). Most notably Manny Ramirez is fourth in the outfield voting, if he makes the top-three he would be off suspension and eligible for the game. Give me Braun, Trevor Hoffman, and Yovanni Gallardo and I feel the team would be well-repped.


COKE DOUBLE-ZERO!!! Kyle Busch's self-fulfilling prophecy comes true as David Reutimann wins the rain-shortened Coke 600 when rain calls the race just after Kyle Busch and several other contenders pitted - memo to Kyle, bring a doppler and a Blackberry into your rig next time, he has no business using the bad luck excuse yet again.


DANCING OUT OF LEGAL TROUBLE, AND INTO VICTORY LANE: Helio Castroneves runs away from the field like they were the IRS in becoming the ninth three-time winner in Indianapolis 500 history. Less than 40 days ago, Helio was in a world of potential legal hurt facing tax cheat charges. Helio was acquitted of all but one of the charges at a federal tax evasion trial, and the remaining count was thrown out just this Friday.


NASCAR CONTINUES TO TURN UP THE DRUG-TESTING HEAT: Ten random crew members for various teams called in for drug testing during a rain delay before the eventual postponement of the World 600 in what appears to be an apparent tweak to the first three months of in-season testing. Prior to Sunday teams were told when the garages opened if a crew member had been ordered for testing, which at that point the person selected had four hours to report for testing.

MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST: It may take a while for this race to get in - now rescheduled for 12 noon on Monday. The weather report calls for a 60 percent chance of rain Monday, a 40 percent chance Monday night, and a 60 percent chance on Tuesday - with even more rain in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. NASCAR does have two remaining open weekends on the schedule for the weekends of July 18th and August 29th - no word on which TV network would carry the race in that event.


ENGLISH FOOTBALL MAINSTAY RELEGATED: After a year featuring turmoil in the front office and two managerial changes, Newcastle United gets dropped from Premier League soccer for the first time in 16 years after an own goal leads a 1-nil loss in front of their stunned supporters in the season finale. A breakdown by defender Nicky Butt led to a corner and the eventual own goal. Only a tie was need to avoid the cut, as first-place Manchester United (in Tony Dungy mode, resting many of their regulars for Wednesday's Champions League Final) gave Newcastle the help they needed by defeating 17th place Hull City, who now backs into a second year of competition in the top flight. With the team now up for sale, as many as 15 players could be let go in an impending fire sale. And a return to the top-flight by finishing on top in the Championship Division is not a sure thing - one-time power Leeds United has fell two levels from the Premier League in this decade.


CUBS GET BAD SWEEP FLASHBACK IN SAN DIEGO: The Padres spent the weekend celebrating the 25th anniversary of their historic NLCS comeback against the Cubs in style, completing another sweep to cap off a 9-0 homestand. The series marks the Padre's first regular-season home sweep of the Cubs since 1988 as well as the most successful homestand in the franchises 41-year history (I know it's the teams '40th anniversary', but it's the 41st season - it's kind of like trying to explain why the second millennium did not end until after 2000 and not 1999).


DUNNE DEAL - TIDE PITCHER ON A ROLL: Alabama sophomore Kelsi Dunne no-hits Jacksonville State for a second consecutive day, becoming the first pitcher in NCAA softball post-season history to post consecutive no-hitters, as the Crimson Tide advances to the Women's College World Series. The victory marked Dunn's fourth no-hitter of the season, and a school record six career no-hitters - with two years of eligibility remaining Dunn stands likely to completely Gretzky that mark.

SHAQ BIG FAN OF SYRACUSE LAX: It's become about as much a Memorial Day fixture than picnics themselves, Syracuse playing for yet another NCAA lacrosse title as the Orange routed Duke in Saturday's semi-final 17-7. But the bigger story is that Shaquille O'Neal had a take on Twitter about it - as he's currently attending the school taking a crash course in journalism in preparation for a post-basketball career. I must first mention the thought of Kenny 'The Jet' Smith, Barkley, AND Shaq on the same set is way too scary. But anyways Shaq reports that he is a big fan of the LAX team and sees them crushing it in practice on a daily basis. Incidentally, Syracuse recruited the former Duke point guard to compete for the quarterback position in football this year. Shaq does have a couple years of eligibility left - they could find a loophole to play him in another sport can't they??? Shaq in LAX gear in front of the net would be a truly SCARY thought...


KYLE BUSCH - ROBBED AGAIN!!! Was dominating another Nationwide Series race at Charlotte until caution comes out during pit cycle, followed shortly after by a race-ending rain shower. Sitting on pit road after the red flag is displayed, Busch laments over the car radio about his 'bad luck' for 'three, five, ten, fifteen weeks in a row'...

NAACP PLANNING A RUN AT NASCAR??? They might have to dole out another massive 200-point penalty at another nobody to deflect this possible upcoming negative publicity. Noting that far too many fans (and one would be too many) still display the old Confederate flag at races, officials of a South Florida NAACP branch say the organization could start staging protests during NASCAR events. NASCAR has been publicly trying to distance themselves from the stars and bars in recent years, with CEO Brian France saying in a 2005 TV interview that the only flag NASCAR is behind is the American flag. A short-lived group called the National Association for Minority Race Fans staged some protests in 2004 and NASCAR's long-standing culture was called into question again last year when an African-American woman who was employed as a race inspector filed a harassment suit after her termination - that matter was eventually settled out of court.


SON OF SWINE FLU VICTIM PITCHES NO-HITTER: Jordan Wiener is the 18-year old son of the assistant principal who became NYC's first swine fatality earlier this week, and gave his son the blessing to start in a playoff game. In the 10-0 win, Wiener struck out 14 of the 15 batters he faced, the lone baserunner reached on a dropped third strike. Mitchell Wiener was said to be a huge baseball fan and was also a Little League coach. Going into the game Jordan had a 0.68 ERA pitching 31 innings.


JAMES HARRISON'S PITBULL ATTACKS SON: Harrison cited his fear of flying as well as saying that the White House isn't in a safe neighborhood - although last time I checked I heard security is pretty good at the president's crib - and that Barack's family pet is also apparently friendlier than Harrison's. The 2008 Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl 43 hero was said to be in the neighborhood - but not around when his pit bull got out and attacked his two-year old son, his mother, and a massage therapist. It isn't the first time a Steelers linebacker and his pit bull have made the news, three years ago Joey Porter's pet got out of the house and killed a small horse.


RYAN LEAF IN TROUBLE AND NORTH OF THE BORDER: Already forced to resign last fall from West Texas A&M University, it sounds like Leaf's desire for pain-killing medication is even worse than thought, as Leaf has been indicted on nine felony drug and burglary counts. Leaf is suspected of breaking into an apartment last October and stealing Hydrocodone, which had been prescribed to an injured player. According the DA, Leaf is currently in British Columbia, where he is working and undergoing drug rehab.


RIOT MARS GAME ONE OF GREEK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: And you think the NBA has problems with crowd control??? Panathinaikos wins Game 1 at archrival Olympiakos 69-67, but the game was marred by fan violence leading to riot police called to control the mob. The home fans threw flares, plastic bottles and other items at the visitors bench during a timeout, sending the players scampering for safety and leaving burn marks on the floor. The violence was apparently too much for former Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress, who is in the first year of a three year/$20 million contract with Olympiakos, which he can get out of this year. Childress, who scored 23 points in the game, said afterwords that what he witnessed may cause him to 'think real hard' about his future in Europe. The scary part is this was the first of a five-game series.


TONY GWYNN JR. - COMING HOME!!! The Padres wound up making a big trade today after all - trading journeyman Jody Gerut for the son of Mr. Padre himself. Gwynn will report to the big club after spending all of this season thus far with the Brewers AAA affiliate, and will wear #18. Gwynn had a .395 on-base percentage for Nashville and stole 15 bases in 16 attempts.

JAKE PEAVY RENEGS ON TRADE TO WHITE SOX: If you're trying to acquire someone with a no-trade clause, it might be a good idea not to lose by a CFL score on the field that day. The trade would have sent Peavy to the South Side for four prospects, but probably after taking one look at the box score from Chicago, Peavy decided to turn down the deal. Meanwhile the White Sox 20-1 loss to the Twins represents the most lopsided loss in club history. Considering the club's less than illustrious history over 109 years (retiring Harold Baines number two seconds after they traded him is good proof of that), that is a pretty impressive feat. I say look for Peavy to eventually land on the other side of Chicago.


NASCAR THROWS BOOK AT FIELD-FILLER: This is what would be known as using someone as a pawn. Journeyman driver Carl Long participated in the qualifying race leading up to the All-Star Race last Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and not surprisingly lasts all of three laps before going to the garage. That's about the worst that could happen to a field-filler, is it??? No - not quite, NASCAR has busted Long and his team for using an engine that the sanctioning body says exceeded the 358 cubic inch size. The team was using a backup motor after the first one blew up during practice on Friday. The penalties??? Long is docked 200 drivers points, and is banned for the next 12 races. The car owner (Long's wife) and the crew chief are also suspended 12 races - with the crew chief also being fined $200,000. Considering the budget the team is on just to run at Daytona and the All-Star qualifying race, you might as well say the Long operation has just been run clear out of NASCAR. Long has not appeared in a points race in the Cup Series since 2006. Now my question - would NASCAR dare dole out the same punishment to a regular driver (and I don't mean Jeremy Mayfield). Just another way for NASCAR to get everybody's attention on a Wednesday. You and I had as good a chance as Long of being competitive in that qualifying race.

JEREMY MAYFIELD PLOT THICKENS: It would be have helped if NASCAR told the public, and more importantly, the other drivers - what exactly Mayfield got busted for. Meanwhile Mayfield has now hired a lawyer who has supposedly been given the test results from NASCAR. Before being asked to leave the premises (I'm guessing marched out by Paul Blart), Mayfield vowed that he will not go into rehabilitation - which is assumed to be the path for Mayfield to return to the sport. All NASCAR has said thus far is that the positive result is not alcohol related, but involves a 'drug of concern' - and that it is not possible for the result to be a product oa combination of a prescription drug and an over-the-counter product.


HORROR, WIFE OF MLB PITCHER FOUND DEAD: A tragic year in MLB circles continues - the wife of Arizona pitcher Scott Schoeneweis has been found dead at her home. The 39-year old mother of four was found by her 14-year old daughter in the master bedroom of the family's suburban Phoenix area residence.


AMY MICKELSON DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER: For the second year in the row, it appears the PGA Tour will be without one of it's main attractions - with the stunning news that Phil Mickelson will suspend his schedule indefinitely to tend to his wife who was diagnosed with breast cancer, Mickelson was slated to play in this week's Byron Nelson classic and to play in four of the next five tournaments. According to a release, Amy Mickelson is to begin treatment with major surgery possibly as early as the next two weeks. In another statement, Tiger Woods said that he and his wife were 'saddened to hear the news about Amy'. Perhaps amongst of the most visible spouses in any sport (along with breast cancer survivor Deanna Favre), Amy regularly walks during the rounds and is said to often mingle with the gallery. The Mickelson's have three children, the oldest turns ten next month, being born the day after Mickelson barely lost the 1999 U.S. Open. No word yet on whether Phil will try to return in time for next months U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, where he made a strong showing in 2002 and is a huge fan favorite in the New York area.


CHRIS COGHLAN - MEET PAUL BLART: This is mainly a tale about someone who became known as the 'Happy Youngster' after Matt Vasgersian noted him catching numerous home run balls in the sparsely populated bleachers at old Milwaukee County Stadium ten years ago. By the sound of things, his legend has gotten out of control. Promising Marlins rookie Chris Coghlan hits his first career home run last week but had the bad luck of it being caught by 'Happy Youngster', who they say has turned the art into collecting home run balls and demanding 'ransom' into an art form. Coghlan thought he was going to simply trade a signed bat for the home run ball, but when the two met it's said that Youngster then demanded a signed bat by Hanley Ramirez plus tickets to the Marlins home game v. the Yankees in a few weeks (Youngster says it was a Marlins home game v. the Brewers). And for some reason Youngster threw in to Coghlan that he works in 'law enforcement' and makes $50,000 per year. And this is said not to be Youngster's first time at the rodeo - he supposedly also held onto a milestone home run by Geoff Jenkins in hopes of scoring a Prince Fielder autographed bat. Hope the bad publicity on Deadspin and from Cory Provus on the Brewers broadcast (after Mat Gamel's first MLB blast landed harmlessly in the bullpen) last night was worth it. You can read his blog here and there's also a Youtube video where he nearly takes some poor lady's head off catching a HR ball in a spring game this year.

AND ANOTHER SHOT!!! Add Brewers TV voice Brian Anderson to the mix - as he notes during tonight's telecast that Astros catcher Pudge Rodriguez wanted to hit his 300th career home run at Wrigley Field last week - because he knew the Cubs fans would throw it back. Anderson said 'no negotiating with The Happy Youngster was necessary...'






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