FanNation

And you thought it was over. Way back in September this Spygate controversy started, and it's not even close to being finished. We mostly thought the New England Patriots were going after defensive signals of teams. Evidence has now been reported that the Patriots have tried to steal offensive signals of opposing teams, too. I think this Spygate soap opera is becoming football's BALCO story. It's never going to stop. Didn't Goodell tell Bill Bilicheck to come out clean back when they found them out? I guess we can't trust him anymore. Seriously, this could taint the Patriots dynasty (or at least power-surge). I thought maybe we would stop hearing about this after the Giants won the Super Bowl and stopped an undefeated season from happening for the Pats. Well buckle up, I think we're still in store for a long ride.

Don't we love off-season drama so we have some football to talk about? Well here's another stretched-out storyline in the NFL (this stuff is getting as old as some of the gigs the WWE does): Michael Vick. The former positive role-model now has been told by a federal judge to pay up. He defaulted on a loan and now owes a Canadian bank $2.4 million. Well who's fault is that, Mr. Vick? If you didn't kill animals and dogfight because it's "cool" and nobody will ever find out anyway, you would be making more than $2.4 million dollars a week playing for the Falcons. This is when you take a look back and say "I should have never did that". So maybe after Vick gets out of jail we'll see him with O.J. Simpson, stealing stuff to become a rich millionaire again.

This makes perfect sense to me. This past weekend the Brewers pulled closer Eric Gagne from the closer's role. Gagne said after yet another blown save that he didn't deserve to close out games. Which makes sense. I'm getting these stats off of an ESPN story that I found on this. From 1999-2006, Eric was one of the best closers in the whole MLB. He had 168 save opportunities, with 161 completed saves (95.6%). Blowing 7 saves in 8 seasons sounds like a great deal for his team. But in the last two seasons (2007-08), he has been one of the worst closers in the MLB. He came in with a chance for a save 34 times. In those chances he only got the save 25 times (73.5%). That's not Eric Gagne-like stuff. Or maybe it's because he isn't juiced. Gagne was on the Mitchell Report late last year. Exit Sandman.

In more MLB news, Richie Sexson charged the mound in Thursday's game against the Rangers. He was originally suspended for six games. The suspension has now been lowered to only five games. Felix Hernandez, Gerald Laird, and Sidney Ponson were fined in the fight, too. I know it's only one game, and it really shouldn't matter, but I don't see why Sexson is getting out of it with a 5-game suspension instead of six. He charged the mound and flipped the helmet at the guy. The MLB needs to stick to its judgment. What did they see that made them think they were one-game too heavy?

Wow. There are two really big shockers this year in the MLB. We'll start with the National League Surprise. The Florida Marlins, usually the last or next-to-last doormat in the NL East, has the best record in baseball and is riding on a 4 game winning streak. Unbelievable. They have (one of the?) smallest payrolls in baseball. At 23-14 they are showing the Yankees and other dolla-dolla-bill teams that money doesn't always buy success. But they did that in the World Series a few years ago too.

The other surprise (in the American League, still in the East), is the Tampa Bay Dev...Rays. The Rays are at 21-16, 2^nd best in the AL East and in front of the Yankees, and for the first time in the team's 10-year existence have a mark that is five games over .500.

So whose accomplishment is better in Florida? Well, I think neither of these teams will keep it up, but they still we be better than normal. Tampa Bay is only 5 games over .500. For some teams that's bad. Having the best record in the MLB is good for any team. And for Florida, it's like Christmas. So I'm giving the better accomplishment to the Marlins.

It's narrowing down. The NBA Playoffs are reaching, well, about the mid-way point. We have seen who can play and who's willing to go home. Right now we have the Lakers and Jazz tied at two games a piece. That's a shocker to me. I thought Utah would be lucky to win one game. Still in the West, the Hornets won two and gave up two to the Spurs. San Antonio in my mind needs to win Game 5 to have the momentum to move on. If Chris Paul does his thing, it'll be game over for last year's champs.

Over to the East the Boston Celtics are tied with the Cavs 2-2. Game 4 is a must-win for both teams. If either team goes up 3-2, it'll take a Dream Team to come back. The final series still going on is the Magic vs. the Pistons. Chauncy Billups went down and Detroit slipped a bit, but now they control the series, 3-1. The games were close, but I think the Pistons have this wrapped up now. The Magic might win Game 5 and maybe even get momentum in Game 6, but Dwight Howard and company is lacking something that the Pistons are full of: playoff experience. Detroit has been there and done that, and they'll get the job done.

This year's NBA MVP is Kobe Bryant. He has been very valuable to the Lakers and I think it's about time he gets this award. Kobe deserves it. But one thing I don't agree with is what L.A.'s coach Phil Jackson said: he said that Kobe is the most deserving person of the MVP that he has ever coached. Remember, this guy has led (ever hear him?) Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaq, Dennis Rodman, and many other greats. Maybe he's getting old.

Speaking of people getting old, do you know how old people tell kids to turn the music down? Well that's something like what David Stern is doing. He is trying to stop arena pyrotechnics. He ranted on how it was or not necessary to the game. Well David, we don't need it, but we love it. It's exciting and it fills seats. The NBA has tons and tons of money, so that shouldn't be an issue. Just put in earplugs or something. Don't ruin the fun.

We're still in the Conference Finals in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Things are now starting to shape up. The Penguins are in control over the Flyers in a Pennsylvania face-off, two games to none. The Flyers basically need to win both of their next two games if they want a chance.

In the West the Red Wings have a comfortable 3-0 lead over the Dallas Stars. This is showing how dominant the Wings have been and still are. All they have to do is cruise on the ice and they'll have the series. Sure, it's possible for Dallas to come back and take the Western title, but it sure doesn't seem likely.

So we are seeing two teams dominate in the Conference Finals. It looks like it will be the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings playing for the Stanley Cup. So, out of those two teams, who will win? Well, I expect it to be a great series, maybe even a full-length seven-game series, but I'll be giving this one to my (tied-for-) favorite team, the Penguins. They have lost one game all playoffs and are just dominating game in and game out. They have what it takes to win this year, and as long as they keep Sidney Crosby, they should be a powerhouse for years.

The next Intimidator? Kyle Busch might be getting used to that role. If you read my blog last week, you would know that at Richmond two Saturdays ago with 3 laps Busch slid up and took Dale Earnhardt, Jr. out of the race. It seemed unintentional to me and a lot of people. Except for the Dale Jr. fans. At the track at Darlington on Sunday (yes, Mother's Day), he was booed for by many fans when he walked up with his mom. Kyle motioned that he wanted to hear more and he got more boos (and some cheers). That might have been the fuel to his fire- he won the race. I like Kyle. He's a great driver, he can race with the best of them, and he really hasn't done anything bad. Dale Jr. didn't give him any room on the turn at Richmond and one false move sent them flying up the banking. I hope he doesn't become NASCAR's new villain, but it sure seems like that is what will happen.

Today ESPN.com released a report that LPGA great Annika Sorenstam will retire after this season. She has won 13 majors and 72 events (3^rd best). She said that she is quitting because she has other priorities in life. Well, if I were her my multi-million dollar job would be a high priority. But my name isn't Annika Sorenstam, so I can't change her decision. She is retiring at the age of 37.

That's it, that's all. Any comments?