Morning Link Dump
Wait, Bryce Harper is the most scrutinized player since Jackie Robinson? Is everyone in the Nats front office on PCP?
Obligatory Sports Babe
Today's Obligatory Sports Babe is Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie of the year Kate Upton, who received her 100,000th Twitter follower yesterday, although frankly if I have to give a reason to post a picture of Kate Upton, I'm quitting.
Today's Sports Birthday
Yankees' shortstop/man I want to punch in the head Alex Rodriguez turns 36 today.
I imagine he'll celebrate by kissing himself in the mirror, but then again, that would just make it an average Wednesday at the Rodriguez household.
Quote of the Day
No ones going to say that much-hyped, rather self-involved, half-blind Nationals prospect Bryce Harper isn't under a bit of a microscope, but according not one but two Nationals officials quoted in a recent Sports Illustrated piece, he's actually the most scrutinized player since Jackie Robinson.
No, you didn't misread that. Nats minor league coach Tony Tarasco said:
"You have to go back to Jackie Robinson to find anybody who goes through this much scrutiny. It wasn't like this for [Stephen] Strasburg. Wasn't like this for Alex Rodriguez."
And just so it's clear that Tarasco isn't just some loon out on a limb, the team's director of player development, Doug Harris, echos his sentiments.
"This is really unfair and totally different, but if I can make a comparison to one guy who's been scrutinized like this, it's Jackie Robinson. And it's unfair because it's a different standard. He was under a microscope in an era when we didn't have Internet, didn't have cell phones. Now, Jackie Robinson had his life threatened. I'm not comparing Bryce to that. But as for as non-stop scrutiny? Absolutely."
SMH.
Rise Up, Oppressed Masses
According to The Guardian, Karl-Heinze Rummenigge, the awesomely named CEO of Bayern Munich and head of the European Club Association – the lobby group that represents all of Europe's big money football teams – says that it's time for a club-lead "revolution" against the "corrupt people" who run FIFA.
Rummenigge believes that FIFA boss Sepp Blatter isn't really interested in cleaning house, since football's world governing body is so damn good at making money. To prove that this isn't just a power grab by the big clubs, Rummenigge also said that all of football's major stakeholders – including clubs, associations, players, officials and representatives of the women's game – should have a seat at the table.
Quickly
Alabama Crimson Tide fans who are clapping their hands with glee at cross-state rival Auburn's NCAA-compliance troubles should probably slow their roll ever so slightly. Bama booster and sideline pass holder Tom Al-Betar acquired a rather sizable collection of signed Tide memorabilia, much of it from current players, and is now selling some of it off. This looks like it could be headed in an Ohio State-type direction. (Sports by Brooks)
Gilbert Arenas has done a remarkably efficient, albeit somewhat blunt, job of grouping his female BBM contacts by their specific skill sets. The group "Girls I Respect" only has one contact in it, while the "Best at Fellatio" has a remarkable 33. Oh dear. (Jocks and Stiletto Jill)
Apparently much sought-after NFL free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha would actually consider taking a pay cut in order to play for the New York Jets. (Total Pro Sports)
On a more sombre note, Jeret "Speedy" Peterson – who won a silver medal in freestyle skiing for the US at the Vancouver Olympics – died in Utah on Monday. Police think he may have taken his own life. He was 29. (Black Sports Online)
Video of the Day
Here's the video for "Rainbow in the Dark," by New York hip-hop trio/Score office favourites Das Racist. The titles of DR's two albums, Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man, more or less sum up my feelings towards the Washington Nationals right now.
Really? Bryce Harper is experiencing Jackie Robinson-type scrutiny? Sit down, man.
