In My Humble Opinion: Artest and Manny Make L.A. Place To Be for Sports

Here's are some things that are really grinding my gears this week.

• LA Dodgers fans will rejoice as their suspended slugger Manny Ramirez returns from his 50-game suspension tonight after testing positive for a female growth hormone banned by MLB. His return makes the Dodgers stronger, and you'd be hard pressed to find a team in the National League that can contend with the Dodgers at this moment in time.
• Likewise, Ron Artest brings a stronger defensive presence to the Lakers, and makes Trevor Ariza expendable at that.
• At the very least, Rasheed Wallace should write a thank you note to the entire Celtics organization for the lengths they went to try and sign him. For the "Big Three" as well as both the GM and the owner to make a personal appeal to a free agent shows how much they value his talent.
• If Marian Hossa is a total bust in Chicago, every season ticket holder should get a refund on their tickets. No player is worth a 12-year contract.
• Mark Sanchez just signed an endorsement deal with Nike. That's a pretty bold move for an unproven commodity.
• I'm pretty sure that as I'm writing this sentence, the Mets just put another person on the DL.
• I don't know about you, but if the Cowboys expect me to pay $35 to tour a stadium that hasn't been used yet, they could at least give me a private meet-and-greet with the cheerleaders.
• I'm willing to bet that no more foods with honey in them will be sold at Petco Park after yesterday's bug delay.
• Watching the Red Sox blow a nine-run lead against the Orioles Tuesday night was as painful as watching slides of great aunt Tilda's visit to the Spam Museum
• Rick Reily's recent article in ESPN Magazine illustrates the lengths some coaches will go to to avoid losing. At a recent championship softball game, a coach was able to convince a clueless umpire that a girl who had just hit a game-winning homer should be called out because her teammates touched her in celebration as she was rounding the bases. Long story short, the coach prevailed, and her team ended up winning. It's sad that a coach would stoop so low to protest a homer on the basis of a ridiculous rule that makes no sense. I agree with Reilly that the coach should forfeit the win as a show in sportsmanship.
• Pablo Sandaval has been the unsung hero for the baseball Giants this season. Without him, they're not even in contention. 
• Why do the Knicks want Jason Kidd so badly? Sure, he's a veteran leader, but I thought they were going in a direction that emphasizes youth and talent.
• Last week's quiz answer: The Yankees have won 39 pennants. This week's question: Who scored the winning run for the National League in the 1994 All-Star Game?
• I'd rather watch grass grow than see a bunch of 300-pound slobs stuff hot dogs down their throats tomorrow afternoon. I know that Kobayashi guy is as thin as rail, but he must starve himself at times to be as good as he is.
• Have a happy and safe fourth of July weekend! See you next week.