Batting Around is BC Sports' look back at the week's happenings in the world o' sports, presented in a lineup card format for, um, some reason.
The Lineup Card (Hyperlinks zip right to the corresponding player's news)
(1) QB Michael Vick
(2) SS Phil Rizzuto
(3) M David Beckham
(4) RF Magglio Ordoñez
(5) #8 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
(6) RB Larry Johnson
(7) DQ Sergio Garcia
(8) SG Allan Houston
(9) RHP Chris Young
Manager: Pat Summitt
(1) QB Michael Vick — Of course Vick leads us off. It won't be long before he'll be sent down to the minors and up shit's creek. Vick and his crack team of lawyers have until Friday to enter a plea deal pertaining to dogfighting charges, where he'd probably get a year in prison.
This will also sentence the city of Atlanta to a year of watching the Falcons this year. If Atlanta misses the playoffs this year and former backup QB Matt Schaub wins 10 games for the Houston Texans, expect ownership to electrocute Joey Harrington.
(2) SS Phil Rizzuto — The Hall of Fame Yankees shortstop from the 1940s and 1950s passed away at 89 years old. Nicknamed "Scooter," Rizzuto grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan but Casey Stengel said he was too short (5'6) to play pro baseball.
While he was a Hall of Famer, it was largely because he was the starting shortstop of a dynasty team that won seven World Series in a 15-year span. He was a .246 career hitter in the postseason, which back then was just the World Series. In fact, Baseball-Reference.com's "Similar Batters" script says Rizzuto's career numbers are the closest to those of ... Jose Offerman. Youch. Not a good week to notice that little resemblance.
(3) M David Beckham — He's making $50 million this year alone. So far that bought the Los Angeles Galaxy 37 minutes of soccer out of the English midfielder. But in a game against D.C. United, his signature free kick danced around goalie Troy Perkins for his first goal with the Galaxy. Some soccer enthusiasts assert Beckham's more impressive feat was his through-kick to Landon Donovan for the team's other goal, helping the Galaxy win 2-0 in the Superliga semifinal.
Article comments
1 - alessandro nicolo
Send David Posh back to Englandia.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
From there, he'd still be able to sneak a corner kick by most MLS goalies.
3 - The Haze
#1 QB Michael Vick - Hope he's got enough money saved up for his commissary buys.
#2 SS Phil Rizzuto - HOF - a pity vote because he was just a darn nice guy.
#3 M David Beckham - Fitting in nicely into the American Dream of "Grabbing the Money" without really doing anything.
#4 RF Magglio Ordonez - The "Big Tilde" don't need no stinking asterisk!
#5 #8 Dale Earnhardt JR. - Free agency hits NASCAR. It was nice knowin' ya'll!
#6 RB Larry Johnson - "We play to win the game" right???? RRIIGGHHTT!!!!
#7 DQ Sergio Garcia - The "Boo"Gey Man did it?
#8 SG Allan Houston - I guess the CBA(Christian Basketball League)wasn't giving him enough props. Can I get an amen?
#9 RHP Chris Young - teeny-tiny number? I guess he won't be confused with Dmitri Young,now will he?
Manager - Pat Summitt - So R.B. stands for "right behind"?
4 - RJ
The Haze ... is on fire! :-P
5 - Chris McVetta
Hey, where is the Sussmeister?
Maybe he's off ...enjoying THE BRADY QUINN SHOW!
6 - Matthew T. Sussman
Chevy Chase had a more prolific show.