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09/18/2006: "If It's Monday, This Must Be the Sports Rant ..."

Didn't get to fish this weekend, but that's another rant. There was a bit of sports on, though ...

- That "whoosh" sound you heard was the collected air rushing out of the Marlins balloon. Let's face it - the Fish have been a great story. There's two weeks left in the season, and they're still in the playoff hunt. Or were. They went down to Atlanta and lost a pair of 1-run heartbreakers over the weekend. Yesterday's was particularly gut-wrenching, as the Marlins scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th only to have the Braves roll a 5 in what Joe Girardi called the team's 'worst loss of the year". That leaves them 4 games back in the WC with three teams to pass. Not the end of the world, but the Fat Lady is tuning up ...

- It would be easy to talk about Tiger's early exit from the World Match Play Championships, but the real golf story was the play - or lack thereof - of Michelle Wie at the 84 Lumber Classic. Once again, she teed it up with the men, and for the second consecutive time, she came in last. Not just missed the cut - dead last. Now, I appreciate what she's trying to do, and I respect her talent, but enough's enough. It's time for her to demonstrate that she can focus her considerable abilities on beating the women. She keeps using Tiger as her example, but at her age Tiger was beating the crap out of his peers at the US Amateur. He dominated at a level, then moved on. When it came time for his appearance at the professional level, he already knew how to win - he'd just completed his sixth USGA amateur championship. It is clear from her interviews that Michelle has been convinced by her posse that she's on the right path, so there's no point in trying to reason with her. The pros have been polite, but this weekend there was a serious amount of comment about her taking up a space she didn't deserve. You can't blame her, though - someone offered her the spot. Michelle won't say no - so it's up to the tourney directors to take the hard line and stop inviting her to play. For once, ignore the financial bottom line and do what's right for the sport - and for Michelle.

- If you had any doubt that Pete Rose was an idiot, this should clear it up. A sports memorabilia vendor has a batch of baseballs that Pete signed, "I'm sorry I bet on baseball - Pete Rose" ... I kid you not. A normal Rose-signed ball goes for around $25, but these babies will fetch a grand. What a jackass. Reminds me of the old story of the guy who sidles up to a well-dressed woman and asks her if she'd sleep with him for a million dollars. "I might", she slyly replies. "Well then, will you sleep with me for $20?", he asks. "Of course not", she says indignantly. "What do you think I am - a whore?" "We've already established that," he says. "We're just negotiating the price" ...