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I am used to grilling on Labor Day. For various reasons, there was no cookout this year. But I still feel the need to grill a few items.
First course: The San Diego Padres freefall in the standings.
Let me make sure I understand this: The Padres had the best pitching in the majors from April through the first half of August, roughly. And their offense had enough pop to get them over four or five runs most nights. Now they couldn’t beat the Bad News Bears?
There are two words to describe such teams: choke artists.
Sorry to Dodgers alum Carl Erskine and ardent Dodgers fans Don Brandon and Rick Teverbaugh, but I’m calling for the San Francisco Giants to win the west.
Next course: The Albert Haynesworth debacle with the Washington Redskins.
To sum up the timeline of this mess: Redskins hire new coach Mike Shanahan. Said new coach installs new 3-4 scheme on defense. $100 million defensive tackle doesn’t want to play nose tackle and skips out on all offseason team programs. Coach makes example out of “superstar” by making him take a conditioning test over and over. Haynesworth has knee trouble, takes a break on trying to pass test and can’t practice until he does.
Haynesworth says in interview that he plans to skip the offseason programs again in 2011. Relegated to second- or third-team status upon return. Not starting for Redskins in season opener.
And my 6-year-old niece looks more mature by the second.
Next on the menu: Matt Leinart signs with the Houston Texans after being released by the Arizona Cardinals.
Relax out there Leinart fans, he won’t be starting for this new team any sooner than he would have been if he’d made the Cardinals’ roster this season.
The New York Jets and cornerback Darrelle Revis have made peace, a new deal has been signed and offensive coordinators on the Jets’ schedule begin waking up in cold sweats in the middle of the night.
The first week of college football is in the books. Enjoy it until the annual BCS vs. Playoff debate begins in earnest for another season.
NBC’s ratings for Saturday’s Notre Dame vs. Purdue game were up 77 percent from any broadcast of an Irish football game from a year ago.
A few things here: 1. Most Indiana college football fans were going to tune into this one, as well as fans in the Midwest and around the country with Notre Dame’s following. 2. There were rumors of this turning into a high-scoring affair, and that attracts the casual fan. 3. People wanted to see how Notre Dame would play under new head coach Brian Kelly. 4. They also wanted to make sure that Charlie Weis was really gone.
If anything the summer should have wet our appetites for what’s to come in the fall: The NFL regular season, the World Series and more.
