(Get) A Sporting Life

Jeff Cooper, potential MLS owner, apparently subscribes to the Crash Davis school of media relations. Here he is talking about the news that St. Louis should be the next MLS expansion site : "This puts us in line to be at the head of the class," he said. "This is our moment in the sun, and we're ready to make our case. I think we have a three-, four-, five-month window in which to do that, without a credible bid from another city. The finish line is in sight, and I feel good about it." We're awaiting confirmation that the potential owner went on to add that he was just taking things one day at a time, but by giving it 110% he’d be able to take the bid to the next level and hit the ground running.

The prospect of a truly dedicated Santino Quaranta playing for DC United has me excited. What kind of dolt am I? Hopefully, not the completely gullible kind: Quaranta's Second Chance The nameplate above Santino Quaranta's locker in the basement of RFK Stadium provides a stark reminder of his status with D.C. United. "GUEST PLAYER." For the most part, he is no different than the other nameless candidates competing for a contract and a roster spot, just another hopeful young player trying to make an impression on the coaching staff in the waning days of MLS training camp. But with Quaranta, there is a history unmatched not only by the other contenders, but also some established players. After never fulfilling the promise he displayed as a 16-year-old rookie midfielder-forward with United seven years ago, after being sidelined by countless injuries, traded twice and waived this winter, the Baltimore native has resurfaced on a trial basis with his original club. "Th...

This only reminds me of how far we've come from the glory days, brief though they were. The Reverend Ike's been cut : With a $2 million roster bonus due on Friday, Bruce apparently declined to accept a pay cut proposed by the club, leading to his release. Bruce, 35, was due $5 million overall — $3 million in the form of base salary for ’08, plus the $2 million roster bonus. The Rams offered 3 million apparently, and Ike turned them down. Does he think he'll fare better on the market, or did he think the roster bonus was deservedly his for years of loyal service? I can understand the calculus here. Bruce isn't really a one or two receiver anymore, and given the Rams other deficiencies (glaring is not a strong enough adjective here), can they afford five million a year for a number 3 who's on the downside of his career? Still, this makes me nostalgic for the greatest show on turf, and the reverend streaking down the sideline against the Titans in the Super Bowl. ...

Usually, my unreasoned rants against the Post-Dispatch come after I read the St. Louis paper of record. But, apparently, my dislike for the paper is so zen, that I’m denouncing articles before they’re even printed. A week ago, I complained bitterly in these pages about the atmosphere at the Feb. 17 Blues game. Well, at least now I know who to blame : The Blues' in-game entertainment owes much of its new look to Mark Tamar, the team's first vice president of entertainment and event marketing. They lured Tamar from Washington, D.C., where the NHL honored the Capitals last year for best fan experience. A puff piece is a puff piece is a puff piece, but a film major bringing in a Blue bear named “Louie” has put fans back into the seats? If so, shame on the fans. (Although, even I recognize the naked appeal of the Seinfeld look-alike and “kiss” cams). I’ve got no problem with the team paying attention to the “fan experience,” but I sincerely hope that attendance is up because o...

After last year, there was no other way to go with this: Cards cut Spiezio over DUI case JUPITER, FLA. — The Cardinals abruptly released utility infielder Scott Spiezio on Wednesday afternoon, after learning that a California court had issued a warrant for his arrest on six misdemeanor counts ranging from aggravated assault to driving under the influence. Orange County Superior Court issued a warrant on Tuesday charging Spiezio with driving under the influence; driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more; hit and run; aggravated assault; assault; and battery. Blindsided, the club acted swiftly after learning details that included Spiezio's alleged use of alcohol. Spiezio left the team last August to get outpatient treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. He returned to the club before season's end, and team officials had described Spiezio as doing well in the offseason. They apparently held to that belief until Wednesday's report. The matter ...

The long arm of California law is looking for the colorful Cardinal : An arrest warrant has been issued by the Irvine Police Department for Cardinals utilityman Scott Spiezio on six charges stemming from a crash in late December. The warrant alleges driving under the influence, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more, hit and run, aggravated assault, assault and battery. The 35-year-old Spiezio, who missed more than a month last season while receiving treatment for substance abuse, was not in the lineup for Wednesday's exhibition game against St. Louis University at Jupiter, Fla. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told an Associated Press reporter in Jupiter that he did not have specifics on the warrant and had not spoken to Spiezio. "I had heard there was an incident in California," La Russa said. "I didn't think anything would come of it. Spiezio's agent, Barry Meister, did not immediately return a message left by The As...

The shocking thing is it's a fourth round pick. I never thought we would get so much for someone willing to take his salary. Thank God for New York professional sports franchise spending disease. Our depth chart at D looks like the following: Brewer Jackman McKee Johnson Walker Wagner Woywitka Polak Dupont That should be enough to play out the string this season.

Almost true . St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today the club has acquired forward Cam Janssen from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Bryce Salvador. “We feel that Cam’s style of play will bring energy and grit to our lineup and being from St. Louis, feel that he will be an instant fan favorite here,” said Davidson. “Our depth at defense enabled us to make this move. We admire and respect Bryce as a player for what he did on and off the ice in St. Louis and thank Bryce and his wife April for their contributions as members of our family.” Janssen, 23, was born in St. Louis and played for the St. Louis Sting (NAHL) in 2000-01. He was the first St. Louisan to play in the Ontario Hockey League when he played for Windsor in 2000-01. He was New Jersey’s 4th round choice (117th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-0, 210-pound winger played in 47 games during his rookie season (2005-06) in the NHL and followed that up with 48 games played in 2006-07. Thi...

Southlandish doing his own Spring Training. I don't think I've read 10 lines of Spring Training coverage. I hate it when I am too busy to keep track of all the worn out clichés and phrases that carefully mask what is really being said. All of the 700 hundred word columns that say fuck all. The forums chock full of tedious back and forths over whether the hang nail suffered by the 42 year old has-been in camp on a minor league contract has doomed the season. I mock because I love. I feel empty right now. I have got to get back into the game. The upside of my schedule has been that I've been spared the horror that is the Illini basketball season. All is not lost in Illini Country. I was enjoying a happy hour beer Friday when the Kelvin Sampson news broke and a brew has never tasted so fine. Now if Bruce Pearl would just find the grill of a speeding bus, I might be able to call the season a modest success. On the plus side I do have front row seats for the Cards game against ...

This comes as a bit of a surprise, as it certainly looked like he would have been a big chip to possibly move at the trade deadline, but the Blues have signed Barret Jackman for 4 years, $14.4 million. St. Louis Game Time has some details: ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today that defenseman Barret Jackman has agreed to a contract extension with the club. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Barret has been a staple on the blueline for the Blues since his rookie season,” said Davidson. “He logs plenty of minutes per game and will continue to be a key part of our team as we move forward.” “I have said all along that I wanted to remain in St. Louis,” said Jackman. “The Blues drafted me, I met my wife here and I want to raise a family here. I’m excited about the direction of this franchise and love playing in front of Blues fans.” You've gotta love the commitment to the Blues shown by Jacks. And certainly you can see the brain trust h...

What was Gordo thinking ? Questions to ponder while waiting for the Blues to revive their offense: Do the Missouri Tigers have enough to make a late push? Who could have guessed that Illinois and Michigan would be a combined 8-22 in Big Ten play this season? Will Tiger Woods ever lose again? I'm sorry, but if I'm pondering the revival of the Blues offense, I'll need more than three questions to fill up that time.

From Bernie Miklasz today : After finalizing funding for a suburban soccer stadium, Philadelphia will officially receive a Major League Soccer expansion franchise next week. The announcement is scheduled for Thursday. Jeff Cooper and St. Louis have been shut out again. Even though Cooper fulfilled the league's No. 1 wish by securing financing for a beautiful soccer-specific stadium complex in Collinsville, the St. Louis bid has been skipped over in favor of San Jose, Seattle and now Philly. Cooper remains undeterred and upbeat. Though Philadelphia will get the 16th MLS team, Cooper is confident that St. Louis will be No. 17, pegged to begin play in the 2010 season. And he expects that announcement to happen by early summer. ... There should be no more waiting. It frustrates me, the way the MLS and league commissioner Don Garber take Cooper for granted. The league couldn't ask for a better owner than Cooper. He's a soccer devotee and a goodwill ambassador, and he will build ...

No, this isn't a post about how a dispirited John Davidson traded half the Blues to the Eastern Conference for a few bags of pucks and a pack of Marlboro Lights-although who would have blamed him after that display against the Kings last night? Am I right?? No, this post is an introduction to a new writer here on GASL. The Automaticgainsayer ("That's MISTER Automaticgainsayer to you, bub.") is very nearly a lifelong friend; someone who is an ardent Rams and Cards fan; someone who blames me for hooking him on the root canal that is Blues fandom; someone who still in his heart of hearts misses the Gridbirds (if not Bill Bidwell); someone who doesn't really "get" the whole soccer thing, although he claims routinely "There is nothing TO get"; and someone who can write paragraphs that do not use the cheap ploy of copious semi-colon usage. He is also the same friend whose email I posted the other day. Aha! Foreshadowing biting you in the ass again...

I don't care if you read editors notes or not, you are going to get a little foreshadowing. I got this in my email the other day: I saw the Blues trounce the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday. This is the team struggling for a playoff spot? They played with speed, power, intelligence, and an indefinable zest for life. The passing was crisp, with defensemen looking to get the play quickly up ice all night. The power play generated a number of quality chances. There were a few boneheaded plays, such as the shorthanded goal. (Although, I was at the game, and I still have no idea where that Blue Jacket came from. Was he standing by the Blues' blue line the whole PowerPlay? It was like he appeared there via some tear in the space-time continuum. So, given that the Blues defense (I'm guessing) lack a working knowledge of theoretical physics, I'm gonna give 'em a pass on that one. Especially since they were unaffected, and simply continued to dominate as they had ...

It seems Ryan Howard is worth $10 million dollars a season. No shit Sherlock : Ryan Howard won his salary arbitration case against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday when he was awarded $10 million, the highest figure given a victorious player. The 2006 NL MVP, who had been offered $7 million by the Phillies, became the first player to win in six arbitration cases this season. Howard tied the record for the highest salary awarded in arbitration, received by Alfonso Soriano in his losing case against the Washington Nationals in 2006. Soriano had sought $12 million. "I'm sure he's very pleased," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "This has been a negotiation that has been very amicable and very professional. It's just a part of the process." Translation: "Hey, we just tried to screw you out of $3 million dollar this year. Nothing personal." Wow, the Phillies brass sure are stupid.

Here is how I see my sporting life shaping up at the moment: Blues: Well, now I don't know what to think. A truly dreadful run of games is quickly followed by a run of six games getting at lest a point (4-0-2). The power play, which has been absent all season, goes on a 6 for 13 binge, and the Blues win back to back games by 5-1 scorelines. Hell, even Matt Walker gets into the scoring column. So, the Blues sit in 10th place, three points out of a playoff spot with games in hand over almost everyone in front of them. That's not a great position to be in, especially since the Blues have a lot of road games in front of them including a beast of a road trip in March...but they have a shot. Is it enough of a shot to be active buyers at the trade deadline? I haven't the foggiest. My instinct is to be patient, and only make a move on your own terms. This team is not set up for any lengthy playoff run anyway...so why panic buy? Cards: Well, now I don't know what to th...

Ever since the Blues had the audacity to make a perfectly legitimate free agent bid for Brendan Shanahan the powers that be in the NHL have had it in for the organization. A Blues GM couldn't burp without the league taking away a first round draft pick and giving it to New Jersey as punishment. Well that sort of shit coninues. Bid for curb on 'rentals' is angering Davidson NHL general managers began two days of meetings Monday in Naples, Fla., and one topic on the agenda was "rental" players. With the league's trading deadline of Feb. 26 approaching, some teams will trade for players to bolster their playoff chances and then lose them to free agency in July. What some GMs are apparently upset about is the idea of a team trading a player at the deadline and then re-signing that player the following summer, as the Blues have done twice in the last two years with Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk. The Blues traded Weight to Carolina in February 2006 and re-signed h...

The explosion of vitriol I vented last night brought up a painful reminder. No matter how much I love the game of hockey I have to admit they have the worst standard of officiating of any major professional sport in America. MLS used to be the worst, but you can attribute that to being a new league with understandably inexperienced officiating crews who have raised their standard over the years. NFL officiating is notoriously uneven, but good work is often done. The NBA has its problems (like officials getting caught throwing games), but overall the reputation of the average gameday crew isn't abysmal. The gold standard in officiating has to be the MLB umpires. Yes, there are annoying aspects to their work, like umpires who seem unable to call a consistent strike zone or who deliberately try to antagonize players, but in general they do good work and they do it in a conscientious manner. Even as notorious a blunder as Don Denkinger's blown call in the '85 World Series shows...

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Crap. I don't think I enjoyed this as much as I should have. Can't imagine when it will happen again.

...who can make the argument to FIFA that the United States (and presumably Canada as well) are not in North America at all but are really part of Europe and thus the US Men's National Team should be playing in UEFA. The truth is I'm sick and tired of the racist refs the US has to put up with in CONCACAF. The entire region is the UN writ small, except instead of Iran and North Korea being named the heads of "Human Rights" Commissions we have tiny dicked refs with chips on their shoulders because their homeland hasn't quite mastered the wonders of indoor plumbing. It ruins any enjoyment of watching the game. For example, in the first half of tonight's game we already have had a beautiful Clint Dempsey goal waived away and a yellow card handed out to Bradley...each for the same reason as far as I can see: playing soccer while Anglo. It simply isn't worth it to wait around for the chance for the US to frogstomp the homelands of these refs whenever they pop...

Good God am I sick. But, in an act that displays a seriously misplaced sense of duty, I dragged myself into work today...not that my students were happy about it. My head is pounding, my kidneys feel like Albert Pujols is taking a few practice swings in their general direction, and I'm pretty sure my ramblings about Aristotle in the last class were incoherent. Hell, that wasn't even my philosophy class, who are reading Plato anyway. Still, I do know this. I still want to beat the crap out of Mexico tonight . I'll especially be interested to see if his time in the EPL has had an affect on Clint Dempsey. He can be such a pest when he is on his game, I'd love to see him drive our southern neighbors nuts.

My middle name is Icarus. * An excellent defensively-minded Super Bowl with an amazing finish. Just my kind of game. I managed to avoid all the hype and only saw the play on the field. I'm sure most people hated it, but two possessions in the first fifteen minutes was fantastic. Crap ads from the sampling I saw, the WHEEL SUCK! Bud Light spot excluded. * The NFL season is behind us and only two more miserable Illini games darken the horizon before the pitchers and catchers report. * The Birds have inked Juan Gone to a minor league deal. Prediction: Great spring. Wins roster spot. Stratospheric early numbers. Back blows out by mid-April. Brian Barton shipped back to the Indians, blossoms…..I know. I know. I’m being overly optimistic that Juan could provide us with a couple of weeks of production before an injury sidelines him, but I'm a glass half full kind of guy. * Great commentary on Liverpool’s less-than-enthusiastic crowd from The Guardian’s Scott Murray in his minute-by-m...

From the "You've Got To Be Kidding Me" file: NFL Commissioner Defends Destroying Tapes In the face of congressional pressure over destroying evidence from the Spygate scandal, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended his actions Friday. Goodell also said he'd be willing to meet with Sen. Arlen Specter, who sent a letter to the commissioner the previous day asking why tapes shot by the New England Patriots in the cheating scandal were destroyed. "The reason I destroyed the tapes is they were totally consistent with what the team told me," Goodell said during his State of the NFL speech. "It was the appropriate thing to do and I think it sent a message." Oh, c'mon Specter. Is there really nothing more substantive to the well being of the country that you could focus on? Everything else is hunky dory I guess. The folks from Pennsylvania must be thrilled.