Monday Heat

Let's start out in the backyard...

CU has scored a pair of talented receivers for its' 2008 recruiting class, according to BuffStampede.com, as Texas high schooler Chance Blackmon joins JC standout Corey Surrency as big-play talents verbally committed to the Buffs.

But in the world of recruiting, it ain't ever over and if those players bust out any more in 2007, the wolves will come into camp, looking to eat and CU, unless it strings some wins together this fall is going to be mighty insecure come signing day.

The Buffs have to find a way to become greater than the sum of their parts, become resourceful on game day with cheap parts on the machine and emerge victorious in any way possible, if it wants to truly keep the interest of top talents.

Checked Nbadraft.net to see where I was projected to go come June so I could start planning how to spend my riches and what to tell the honeys when they ask "how much you got?" For some reason, still didn't see my name listed but did see CSU's Jason Smith at no. 28, where he could go hang with Tony Parker Longoria and Tim Duncan down San Antonio way. Know what? That would be a great fit for Smith and a place the WSN could see him succeeding.

Did Mark Kiszla really propose the idea of shipping Marcus Camby out of town? Maybe I'm one of the rare birds who likes Kiszla but that is madness. Camby might be a breakdown waiting to happen but how many guys can you find out there who can rip down 10-12 boards and block 2.5-3.5 shots per game? And if Camby goes, who replaces him? Nene? He's brittle too and anyone who knows his game is aware he scores better at center but can't rebound a lick there. He found his home this season at power forward, finally. Yeah, trade Camby if you can score a decent big in return and a star-quality off-guard. Like that's gonna happen.

You know, Terry Frei, I really don't want to read about Chris Drury anymore. When the Avalanche traded him, anyone who knew anything knew that was one stupid deal. Colorado didn't make many of them under the previous management regime but that certainly was one of them. Why? Because Drury was young, skilled, driven and exciting. That's the kind of package you don't give up unless you get paid in return with a real impressive booty. That didn't happen.

The National Sweep

Hey, don't get me wrong -- I love Roger Clemens. Always have. The man is all about work, dedication and excellence. He is a joy to watch. But this hired mercenary show, jumping from one team to another every few years is a little much. Yes, teams are acting as groupies and hounding him but truth is, I think Clemens enjoys it too, being fawned all over. That poke aside, I may not see another like him or even a Randy Johnson in my lifetime, power arms still going strong into their 40s. As much as I appreciate Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, and I do, seeing the big arms is more of a rush.

Is Clemens worth $ 28 million for one year? Yes. Just as Michael Jordan was pulling down some heavy jack at the end of his career, Clemens is doing now, not only for their legendary feats but for what they do for ticket sales and because with heroic personalities we always believe they can be great one more time, even at an age when most of their peers have long been retired and playing some silly game with a little white ball.

Pete Rose broke the all-time hits mark and isn't in baseball's Hall of Fame so does Barry Bonds, who many think cheated with steroids to enhance his already great numbers, get in? Your opinion, your call, but it says here that regardless of what was permissible with supplements or drugs, Bonds stepped out of the white into the gray, at the very least, with his actions to gain a competitive advantage. It says here that he, along with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco should all join Rose on the outside looking in at Cooperstown. The sad thing is that Bonds and McGwire would have been Hall of Famers without help from a bottle or syringe.

Interesting, isn't it, how many experts said this was the Dallas Mavericks or Phoenix Suns year in the Western Conference and likely NBA Finals yet that old goat, San Antonio, is starting to loom large again. The turk is proving to be tough to get rid of because it understands team play, defense and oh yeah, has some stiff named Tim Duncan who plays his best in the biggest games. Just ask the Suns. They'll testify.

New England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady and Playboy Playmates, together? Fox in the hen house. Yeah, that's a good idea I'm sure his publicist signed off on.

I know he's retired but to see the name Pete Sampras and seniors tour in the same sentence made me, well...feel old. Very old. Ancient. If you're going to put "seniors" on something, make the qualifying age 60-plus, will you? Not 35, as in Sampras' age.

So what do you think-- was this concocted as a drinking game at some college by some nerds? Had to be. Who knows, maybe I once participated but just don't remember it. Or was that Go Fish/Ultimate Fighting Championship?

Ex-wife...own agenda? Noooooooooo. Nice though, that your own child, has to be your intervention.

Scoreboard Grumblings

Cincinnati pounded visiting Colorado pitching for a 9-3 win Sunday. The Reds piled up eight extra-base hits setting up starter Bronson Arroyo for the victory. Left-for-dead Todd Helton had two more hits to raise his average to .394. He also drove in a pair of runs. The pitching is not as strong as it was last season and the offense has gone into hiding. Manager Clint Hurdle has no answers, general manager Dan O'Dowd is likely off taking a nap, trying to sleep games offs and the fans are bored.

OfficeMania

Path to advancement is often rocky and some executives who have advanced likely shouldn't be there...

A young executive was leaving the office late one evening when he found the CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Listen," said the CEO, "this is a very sensitive and important document here, and my secretary has gone for the night. Can you make this thing work for me?"

"Certainly," said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

"Excellent, excellent!" said the CEO, as his paper disappeared inside the machine.

"I just need one copy."

Random Ramblings

Not joking when I write...at least it wasn't a gun, which seems to be the "in" thing these days. Yes, it was disrespectful and wrong but if I'm the target of this assault then I'm happy as can be, dropping and praying right now over the weapon of choice. Bring it on!

Still having great difficulty understanding how married sportscaster Rich Eisen caught this Philadelphia anchor's attention? Yes, I'm obsessive in thought, even a week later, but such things don't even happen in Hollywood. Getting bikini pics? The girl's explanation of it was all in friendship, well, a little faulty, don't you think but pretty people get big breaks -- I should know -- and Miss Lane will too. This woman is going to see her career get an unexpected boost now and Eisen will be forever be kidded about this in his profession.

By the way, told her she could dress me up, I was game but I lost out to these five mutts. No justice. Even promised I wouldn't lick myself but I couldn't guarantee I wouldn't roll over on my back.