Whitt's End: 8.3.12
Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Josh Hamilton's cryptic "Something's really wrong but I can't tell you yet" quotes this week are just further proof that he's a strange bird. After driving in 4 runs in Thursday night's win over the Angels, Josh kept toying with the media with "People are not going to understand; I'll share more later. It's out there that my marriage is falling apart and people are trying to figure out what's going on, but it's nobody's business. When I want you to know, I'll let you know." Manager Ron Washington says it's not Josh's health and Hamilton has been Tweeting pics with his wife, Katie, and their daughters. This is gonna turn out to be something lame, like Josh struggling with tobacco. Bottom line: He's a weak-minded dude.
*Barry Church will be your Cowboys' starting free safety this season. Book it. Sorry, Brodney Pool.
*At Thursday night's Cowboys' Media Party at SkyBar in Hollywood, iconic voice of the 'Boys Brad Sham decided it would be a good idea to buy some $30 Monte Cristo cigars. And somehow I thought it would be a good idea to smoke a cigar. This morning I'm reminded: It's never a good idea to smoke a cigar. Despite toothpaste, mouthwash and flossing, I'm beset with smoke-flavored saliva.
*I'm not a huge "back in the day" guy, but there is something spongy-soft ridiculous about NFL training camps these days. The Cowboys practiced without pads Monday-Tuesday, finally put on their actual football equipment on Wednesday and then – whew – took a day off on Thursday. Vince Lombardi is ashamed.
*As for the Rangers it's … In With The Olt; Out With The Young?
*HOT
*NOT
*The Cowboys' interior offensive line is a complete mess. Can't believe they're bringing in Montrae Holland, Derrick Dockery and Daniel Loper. Otherwise known as three guys who sucked in 2011. If Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings don't get healthy soon it will be a serious detriment to camp.
*Sorry, but I so despise LeBron James that is causes me to root against the U.S. in Olympics. And I know I'm not alone in this peculiar, un-American sentiment. Right Mavs fans?
*Tony Romo's at it again. Being accurate in camp. But also leaving the field about 30 minutes into the practice for a potty break. Says he overhydrates before practice. Funny.
*My radio buddy Greggo wonders aloud if, for $10,000, you'd spend 24 hours locked in a completely dark but airy wooden crate that's 6-foot long, 4-foot tall and 3-foot wide. Me? Yes. No brainer.
*I know there's still 2 months and around 60 games left in the baseball season, but it sure feels like Wednesday night's epic 11-10 comeback win clinched the AL West for the Rangers. I'm calling it one of the Top 10 regular-season games in the Rangers' 40-year history. That mosh-pit celebration near 2nd base on top of Elvis Andrus was more raucous than clinching the ALCS.
*To the west lies the beach and Pacific Ocean. To the north you can see an enormous mountain range. And every day in Oxnard, California the high temperature rarely kisses 70. SoCal residents take this for granted. As they do the chance of earthquakes and daily traffic so snarly it makes LBJ seem like the Autobahn.
*Ryan Dempster gave up 8 earned runs in his first Rangers' start. And you wonder why me and Greggo didn't stop to throw bouquets at GM Jon Daniels for the deadline deal.
*In case you missed it and want to see how truly dorky RAGE is, our TV commercial is right here.
*What happened to the baseball bullpen car? Or, a better question would seem to be … Why the hell did relief pitchers ever need a 75-yard ride to the mound in the first place?
*So thousands show up at Chik-Fil-A this week in support of its freedom of speech. I wonder if all those freedom-of-speech supporters would've appeared had Chik-Fil-A announced it was denouncing God and instead hoisting, oh I dunno, Michael Vick as its newest deity? Nope. Those folks weren't supporting freedom of speech, they were supporting the content of the message. And, again, the takeaway to Chik-Fil-A's stance: America will not stand for basic equal rights for all people. Superb. We should be sooooo proud.
*One of camp's mysteries is Victor Butler and his Dragonfly "catch." Last season Anthony Spencer bet Butler that he couldn't catch one of the inspects with his bare hands. Butler says he did. But Spencer said he merely swatted one out of the air and knocked it down. Spencer refuses to pay. Butler is protesting. The case needs further inquiry.
*Call C.J. Wilson a douche all you want, but after he gave up a hit in Mike Olt's first Major League at-bat he tossed the ball to the Rangers' dugout for the rookie to have a souvenir. Class move.
*Got my grubby little hands on the officiating video supplied to all NFL players for the 2012 season. Narrated by VP of Officials Carl Johnson, the video outlines this year's rules changes and points of emphasis. "Forceable blows to the head" will always be penalized. Ball carriers who "declare themselves down" can't be hit, but must be touched. And too many men on the field penalties will now prompt a dead ball, not a free play.
*This weekend? After a couple nights on the town it feels like time to relax on the beach on Saturday and on Sunday, of course, to cover the Cowboys' Blue-White scrimmage live on 105.3 The Fan. Don't be a stranger.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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