Business

Owens getting his bonus from Cowboys, not practicing

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Yahoo! Sports

I tried to blog about the whole A-Rod lapdance thing yesterday, but the system was down. Let me just say that I can’t think of single reason except venality for the NY Post to run that litany of A-Rod’s appearances in strip clubs. Except, of course, to tittilate. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it is what it is.

This story on Yahoo, which I think comes from Reuters because it is unattributed (though I could be wrong about that), seems to be making the argument that TO shouldn’t get his signing bonus for skipping voluntary workouts. Emphasis on Voluntary.

The reporter seems to know this. Other players who skipped the Voluntary workouts are also listed, though there may be a finger wagging there, too.

I like to think that if they actually had to kill trees to print this stuff  someone would try to save the planet, at least a little.

But I’m an optimist.

In the meantime, try to avoid the crap.

Rotoman

Federer, Nadal meet on half-grass, half-clay court

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ESPN.com

This is like Maddux gets to pitch in LA in his prime, Bonds gets to hit in Coors in the early oughts. Weird, but a strange and brilliant concept. Federer is clearly the best player on any surface other than clay today, but does that make him the best player in the world?

This gets me wondering why some promoter hasn’t concocted an exhibition to pit top pitchers versus top hitters in extra-game situations. I know I’d watch 100 pitches from Santana in Minnesota versus Pujols, followed by a similar exhibition in St. Louis. Talk about fantasy sports. Especially if the money went to charity.

A Fantasy Sports Stock Market Done Right?

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PROTRADE: Home

I’ve only spent 15 minutes on the site, where I learned that my immediate “friend” Derrek Lee lists all the members of the Chicago Cubs as his “friend”s (where am I?), but I get the distinct feeling that someone has gotten the virtual stock market right. How it works out will depend on how free they let the shorts roam, and how real money plays a part (I’m not clear about this).

The “analysis” offered that I’ve seen mimics broader cable TV analysis, but it seems at Protrade everyone gets their own blog, so in time reliable reporters and analysts might prevail (if there’s a reason for them to persist, it doesn’t look like there is a meritocratic payment system for analysts yet).

But most importantly the scoring system is clear, so if they can convert their virtual financial system into a real one there is a gambling game here that might warrant some real attention. Stay tuned.

Funny money

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SI.com

This story correctly points out that the Tribune company is putting lipstick on a pig before selling it (not just the Cubbies, but the whole shootin’ match), but fails to note the tax advantages that accrue to new franchise owners. In short (and I’m not accountant, so don’t expect too many details), for the first five years after buying a team new owners can depreciate the expense of salaries, which amounts to a substantial tax break.

Which is why so many owners get into baseball, last five years, and then start complaining about all the money they’re losing and move on.