The Ubiquitous Chicharito Tops Friday Linkage

Mexico’s rising star and child of promise, Javier “Chicharito” (Little Pea) Hernandez is everywhere. Scoring goals against the World Champs in Azteca, off his face against Chelsea in the FA Community Shield Cup; gracing the front page of the Daily Mail’s football section under “Premier League Podcast” (below, second from left), and last but certainly not least residing in the lung of a senior citizen.

The kid hasn’t played one game in the EPL and he’s put up next to League stars Fàbregas, Lampard and Gerrard. Hope the pressure doesn’t crush our beloved little pea…

and here is the smorgasbord that is, Friday Linkage:

The ‘Stros kind of get some overseas love, and yes she broke up with him but not over him letting her get hit by the foul ball...  The Faith of Katy Perry and the eventual fate of Katy Perry’s music…Yep, I’m one of these 40%ers… Here’s a column titled, “America’s Biggest Jobs Program — the U.S. Military”, written by, wait for it, a Berkeley prof. Maybe not quite the inspiration for Gibby’s “eliminating the Pentagon” blast but… Apparently Jennifer Aniston drew the ire of former Inside Edition luminary Bill O’Reilly by believing it to be a good idea to drive a car with your feet. And oh by the way, Aniston paid it forward… Puritan anchor babies, need I say more? Finally, we are less than a month away from seeing these boys (below) in action. #81 there to the right is all-around great guy Sam Acho, here’s a great story about him…

[Photo credit: Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated]

Imagine There’s No A/C…

It’s easy if you try. This fellow is even more idealistic than John Lennon, and based solely on “Imagine” that’s saying a lot.

♫ Some say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one ♫

Elsewhere around the Internets:

Forget false imprisonment, this momo should be locked up for uttering “Ironing is woman’s work”. Then in prison he can find out that gender roles get a tad blurry…

When an news item contains the phrase “Mexican Clown” it’s not going to be good and it isn’t.

Awesome article on Yankee Mariano Rivera, perhaps the best closer of all time and a seemingly model human being. I know he’s a Yankee but I just can’t bring myself to heap on him the same loathing I have for the rest of his teammates.

More World Cup fall out… Spain welcomes her heroes with style… Paul the Octopus wins something México will never win, a World Cup… Tell us how you really feel Johnny.

A study by the CDC? With collaboration from what, the state of Arizona? The goal of this study is laid bare for anyone willing to connect the dots, someone call Oliver Stone.

Next time you see a “metal detectorist” at the beach, give the man a wide berth.

[Photo Credit: Pixar]

A Hapsburg, LeBron and Martha Stewart Walk Into A Bar…

Carles Puyol (right) who looks like he just stepped out of a Hapsburg family portrait, heads Spain into the World Cup Final. As a descendant of the Hapsburg’s, Puyol will be looking for some payback by cracking some skulls against the Netherlands on Sunday

My guess is that since LeBron James missed not having a signing day presser coming out of high school, he’s making up for lost time with “The Decision”. Great column on the LeBron “saga” that  mercifully ends tonight.

When the folks at NASA aren’t trying to reach out to the Muslim world, they’re conducting valuable research.

Forget Wife Swap, how ’bout an old-fashioned spy swap? Makes me want to re-read The Cardinal of the Kremlin.

So now these “elites” will become embittered and “cling to martini glasses or environmentalism or antipathy towards people who don’t think like them or anti-American sentiment or anti-capitalism sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” Right POTUS?

Unbelievable pictures of Monterrey in the aftermath of Hurricane Alex.

Holy poncho Batman! Martha Stewart had lengua, easily the most underrated “cut” of beef.

Caught this on PBS last night, I might or might not have almost shed a tear because of Jackie’s courage in the face of such bitter hatred.

[Photo Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe]

Somebody Get The Queen A Lime!

That and a good bottle of Scotch to get over her well-compensated subjects’ shoddy performance at the World Cup.

Speaking of which, the Argentina v. Germany showdown looms large this Saturday. The verbal broadsides being taken by players on both sides (not to mention Maradona) guarantee that the contest will be an epic grudge match. Can’t wait.

Finally, Vlad Guerrero busted up his former team last night to the tune of 4-for-4 with a Grand Slam and a solo shot. You think the fact that they didn’t want to resign him last off season might have motivated the man?

In case you’re wondering about the post’s title, this should help.

Farewell Ken Griffey Jr.

Back in the late 80s, like most boys my age, I was cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs about baseball. I enjoyed Little League immensely, my dad didn’t have to push me into it, I sincerely loved it.

In turn, I also loved MLB. Back then I could tell you who was the starting shortstop for any team in either the National or American league. So naturally I fell into collecting baseball cards, a past time which has since gone the way of Mark McGwire’s credibility (he along with fellow Oakland Athletic and cheater, Jose Canseco, were 2 of my favorite players).

As anyone who collected back then, the golden fleece, the unobtanium, the crown jewel of any young boy’s collection was Upper Deck’s 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card.

If memory serves me correct it was priced at (for the time) a whopping $100. Now, according to this well-crafted piece, you can get it on eBay at “prices ranging from $15 to $300”.

Sadly, I was never able to “pull” one despite purchasing numerous packs. Elation surely found me when I did “pull” the less-valuable Donruss version.

I was also pretty geeked to pick up Upper Deck’s 1990 Griffey Jr. card for a few bucks at a local store. Needless to say, before I saw the man play in a Major League game I knew this guy must be something special.

And he was and this week he announced he is retiring from the game he loves. Due to a variety of factors, I didn’t get to watch him play very much but the few times I did, his fluidity and grace were clearly evident. The boyish zeal and perpetual smile on his face was infectious.

Not to mention his eye-dropping and freakish abilities at the plate and on the field.

Griffey’s star shone brighter as the years passed and the McGwire’s, Sosa’s, A-Rod’s and Canseco’s of the baseball world besmirched the game with their tainted feats.

Here’s to you, Mr. Griffey and the mirth you brought to the game we and for navigating clear of the lures of performance enhancing drugs.

Here’s a great piece on Griffey Jr.’s retirement from the Seattle Times:

The joy was gone, and now so is The Kid

The Men In Blue Like Those Yankees

I know MLB wants the Yankees to get to the Series but this is ridiculous:

[Original photo credit: Robert Beck/SI]

This is the play in which third base umpire Scott McClellan (on the left, “donning” Yankee gear) made a call that made Don Denkinger blush.

Philly Fan, Chris Rock has a Question for You…

As most of us know, the Philadelphia Phillies just won their first World Series (since 1980, boo-hoo) and Philly Nation was indubitably psyched, as they should be.  The city, naturally, threw the team a parade to celebrate the championship.  Here is a shot from said parade:

Photo by Clem Murray / Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News Staff Photographer

Take a look at the sign on the right, “We Won”.  To paraphrase Chris Rock, Philly fan, what did you win?

Bud Selig’s Legacy in Pictures

We can add last night’s fracas to MLB commissioner Bud Selig’s inexorable legacy. Why MLB waited so long to suspend last night’s game is beyond comprehension, or is it?

With the Phils up 2-1, had the game been called after the 5th inning MLB rules automatically award the game to the Phils, game, set, World Series. Phils win their first title since 1980. Personally, I’m rooting for the small-market Rays but that’s beside the point.

Given the rash of black eyes the sport has received (steroids, etc.) it’s easy to understand that the league can’t afford to have its championship decided by the weather.

But isn’t it easier to understand that, despite the atrocious ratings of this Series, Bud wouldn’t mind another $hot at extending the Fall Classic beyond 5 game$?

Mr. Selig must have the opposite of whatever touch King Midas was endowed with. Even the “league-saving” Summer of ’98 turned out be a house whose slab was poured forth from syringes.

I’m not sure what legacy posterity will bestow upon Selig but I believe that up to this point, his legacy can be illustrated with the following shots:

Cheeky Heron Channels Ozzie Guillen

Pfft! Please… — Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen

If the heron in the following picture could talk it would undoubtedly drop a line very similar to Ozzie’s,

Ran across this wader’s story over at London paper, The Daily Mail. This tabloid-like publication is a em, daily online stop for yours truly for a variety of reasons, odd stories like the one above being one.  Another reason is to get my daily celeb fix, yeah it’s a guilty pleasure…

Speaking of the Daily Mail, despite listening to the Beatles’ Paperback Writer numerous times, it wasn’t until this morning on my way to work that I realized that Lennon/McCartney managed to work in a shout out to the Daily Mail,

It’s the dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn’t understand.

His son is working for the Daily Mail,
It’s a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.

According to that most reputable and credible of sources, Wikipedia,

The Daily Mail was Lennon’s regular newspaper and was often in the studio when The Beatles were writing songs.

Who knew?

New York Mets: Boom… Outta Here

I know Phillies hurler Brett Myers (right) has become somewhat of a punching bag on Rome’s show (or an all-out legend depending on who you ask) on the strength of his tirade against a local beat writer. I’d say he’s a bit of both.

The piece de resistance of the outburst is the line, “Boom… Outta here”. Instant classic! In fact, it’s become part of my vernacular.

Leaving work? Boom… Outta here

Done with the lawn? Boom…Outta here

You get the picture. Well Mr. Myers has gotten his groove back. Earlier this season he was struggling and was sent to the minors but according to this recap, Myers is

6-1 in nine outings since coming back from the minors July 20. He is 4-0 with a 0.58 ERA in his past four starts spanning 31 innings – holding the opponent scoreless three times.

Tonight, Myers shut down the division-leading New York Mets and by all accounts, he is, in the words of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, “born again hard”.

By the way, former Astros closer Brad Lidge recorded his 34th save (in 34 opportunities) in the victory.  Yeah, that smarts…