Highs and Lows of the Summer

Since the Hallowe'en decorations are already going up in the stores, it is a certainty that the back-to-school season is upon us. Sadly, there's no Rodney Dangerfield this time around. It also means the unofficial end to the summer season, what with the NASCAR Chase Series about to begin and the Toronto Blue Jays officially out of the race and set to begin a stint on The Contender (my money is on Ted Lily). NFL training camps are more than halfway completed with only a hundred or so more injuries to major players yet to occur and double that number of surprising cuts in the offing. Looking back, there have been some fabulous highs and infamous lows. I'll list them as I see them (in no particular order since that would require organization), and you decide which stories were of the most import to you this summer.

1. Poker takes over the airwaves. I'd swear I saw poker on the Cartoon Network the other day...it's definitely everywhere else. Internet poker which will get you a seat at a big game as it did for Bob Graf has become huge. Winning the WSOP is the poor but talented guy's lottery now. Jamie Gold recently won this even then welshed on a deal to pay half to Bruce C. Leyser with whom he swore he would split any winning pot. Six million wouldn't be enough? It's enough to make me think poker players are less than honest ( aces and eights, indeed! )

2. Zinedane Zindane headbutting Marco Materazzi. Seriously, has soccer (futbol) gotten this much publicity since Brandi Chastain? Between us, I'd rather see Brandi's replay before some guy cracking an Italian guy with his pumpkin. Still, it gave us a reason to watch the World Cup and argue about it at the water cooler.

3. Floyd Landis and the Tour de France. Be honest, did you even watch it this year? Without Lance, the French had to find another American to drag through the mud. Is/was he guilty? Does it matter in a world of deceit (see WSOP results and NASCAR) Get off his mom's front yard and give it a rest. Don't pretend you care if you didn't stay up late to watch every stage even though you might have known the result!

4. Ashley Lelie playing for free in the NFL this year. This would be a big story which shows a real love of the game...except...Lelie pouted his way through the off-season and training camp. He never bothered to show up once at the Broncos training facility, claiming to be insulted that he was the third receiver (due to make about $700,000 this year after getting a 3 mil signing bonus a couple of years ago.) After getting traded to the Falcons, where he is now their third receiver, the total of the fines accumulated during his little snit in Denver might exceed the amount of money he is to be paid for the year, expecially if the Broncos get back a portion of the signing bonus which they are trying to do. Play for free, indeed!

5. Brett Favre returning to the NFL for at least one more year. Having started 224 consecutive games (including playoff games), Favre has become more than Cal Ripken. With an offensive line starting two rookies, this year might be a repeat...stay tuned. He definitely gives people a reason to watch.

6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. winning the Carmax 250 a few weeks ago...and getting booed in victory lane. It seems he bumped Carl Edwards with a couple of laps to go...Edwards spun out, and Jr. was the winner. Good, hard racing or dirty trick? I don't watch racing so I don't get a vote, but the fans in the stands had plenty to say about it.

7. The Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds. MLB can thank these two teams for bringing a good deal of excitement back to the ballparks. Tight pennant and wild card races have done the same, but you gotta love the Tigers and the Reds.

8. Trevor Graham suspended for life. Any track coach who has more than ten athletes suspended for doping allegations can't expect belief when he says a vengeful trainer must have rubbed some testosterone cream on Justin Gatlin's legs.

9. Team USA at the FIFA basketball championships. Smoking Senegal still does not subtract from the team's and Coach K's detractors. We'll see.

10. I got to work for the Green Bay Packers this summer as a tour guide. Definitely MY big moment in sports this summer.

Enjoy back-to-school season!