Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike DiMauro

MFL Is Looking for New Owners

Mike DiMauro — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:12:15 -0400

Hello everyone! It's that time of season again! It's time to form those fantasy football leagues and get ready for September!

There will be two openings for this season's Mike's Football League on ESPN.com.

If you are interested in playing in the league, please contact League Manager, Mike DiMauro at mikedimauro31784@aol.com.

Scott Riggs Out Of The No. 36

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:24:29 -0400

After 12 races this season, you will no longer see Scott Riggs in the No. 36 car for Tommy Baldwin Racing.

The reason being because Scott Riggs does not want to start the car and then park it. He, like everyone else who races in the Sprint Cup series, wants to race the car to the finish and to try to get a win under his belts.

The team had an impressive start to the season by starting in the first two races, and then failed to qualify three races in a row before qualifying for the last six of seven races.

The economy is tough right now in the United States and worldwide and the reason why the team needs to start the car and then park it is because they do not have the money to continue on racing at the race.

Mike Skinner has been named to replace Riggs in the No. 36 car.

Springfield Falcons To Remain on WHYN AM 560

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:51:37 -0400

For the third year in a row, the Springfield Falcons' games will be heard on WHYN AM 560.

Back in 2007, the station got the rights to all 80 of the AHL franchise's games.

Over the years, the Springfield Falcons have been broadcast on WNNZ AM 640 and WMAS AM 1450.

The Springfield Falcons are also in the third season of their affiliation with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. They have been previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, and the former Hartford Whalers.

They have not made the Calder Cup playoffs since the 2002-2003 season, when they lost to the Hamilton Bulldogs in Conference Quarterfinals.

NFL Playoffs: A Fan's Opinions

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:42:29 -0400

I know that the playoffs were exciting this year by having the Pittsburgh Steelers win their sixth Superbowl Title, but I think the NFL playoff system needs to make a minor change.

The number of teams that are in the playoffs are 12. This includes six from each conference, four of which are division winners in each conference, and two wild card spots.

I think the number needs to go up to 14 or 16 because it would give more teams the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl.

Take an example of the 2008 season in the AFC East. Both the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots finished with 11-5 records. Miami was able to play; New England was not. Yet, in that same season, you had a team that finished 8-8 that won their division, and San Diego Chargers of the AFC West and was able to play in the playoffs.

I know that there have been some talk about having the wild card teams host the division winners if their records were better than the divisional winners. I do not think that's a good idea because the teams who win their division should have the right to host a first round playoff game.

College Football Bowl Games: My Opinion

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:33:23 -0400

I know that there is debate whether or not to change the college football playoff system.

My answer to the question is that they should change the playoff system because it would make it fair to all of the teams involved, whether it's eight, 16, 32, or 64.

I know that the sponsors of the bowl games pay a lot of money to have their name associated with their bowl game, but I think that, in the long run the fans want to see every team get its fair shot of winning the championship.

College football is the only sport that does not have a pure playoff system. I think the time is here that they have a playoff system like the NCAA Basketball tournament or the NFL.

NASCAR On Fox Grades Vs. BMN Grades

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:05:31 -0400

As you know, during the race yesterday, NASCAR on Fox gave grades to the race teams on their performance so far this season.

The Beat Mike Network (BMN) did agree with some of the grades that Fox gave, but it's BMN's turn now to give them their grades for the first third of the season:

Hendrick Motorsports

Fox gave them an A-. BMN gives them an A. The reason why Hendrick got an A was because they had four wins by three teams this season and it was two of their engines that won them the race at Talladega and the Sprint All-Star Race. Impressive job by the team got them the grade that they got.

Stewart-Haas Racing

Fox gave them an A-. BMN gives them an A-. The reason why they got an A- was because they improved their team from last year.

Stewart came in and helped get the team were they are now. He also brought in Ryan Newman to drive the second car and both cars are doing well, compared to how the No. 66 and No. 70 did last year at this time. Stewart also won the Sprint All-Star Race.

Joe Gibbs Racing

Fox gave them a B+. BMN gives them a B. The reason why they got a B was because even though they only won three races so far this year with Kyle Busch, it's his attitude when he doesn't win a race that caused the lower grade.

Joey Logano's performance at the beginning of the season was not great because of his experience, but over time, he will get better and begin to win races.

I do not remember what these teams got for grades from Fox, but I will give you BMN's grades.

Roush-Fenway Racing

BMN gives them a B. The reason why they got a B was because after the first two races of the season, the team began to fell back and the drivers have not been performing up to par from a year ago, especially Carl Edwards.

Richard Childress Racing

BMN gives them a C+. The reason why they got a C+ was because they have been struggling to win races this season and have not been performing the way they have been last year.

Richard Petty Motorsports

BMN gives them a C. The reason why they got a C was because they have more work that needs to be done, in order to get the teams to compete out there.

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing

BMN gives them a D+. The reason why they got a D+ was because they dropped from having three to two teams and the performance of the teams. They have a lot of work to do to compete with the others.

Penske Racing

BMN gives them a C. The reason why they got a C was because even though they struggled through 2008, there is a light coming through that things are going to get better for Penske.

Michael Waltrip Racing

BMN gives them a C. The reason why they got a C was even though the team is getting better, they still have a bit of work to do to make it out there. I do give them credit with David Reutimann's win yesterday in the Coca-Cola 600 and being six points out of 12th place.

I would like to hear your opinions about the grades. I will do this again after Week 24 or 26.

My Opinion On Carl Long's Suspension

Mike DiMauro — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:06:38 -0400

I know that I wrote an article on here on Thursday about Carl Long's suspension and fines that were issued to him by NASCAR.

I feel that he should not have been suspended or been fined $200,000 or 200 points.

We also know if it was Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, or Kurt Busch that they would never be have that type of punishment handed down to them.

In 2007, Michael Waltrip was fined $100,000 and docked 100 points for using an illegal fuel found in the engine and his team rebounded from that and got their first victory today with David Reutimann in the No. 00 car.

Also, Long is his own team. His life is NASCAR. That's how he makes his income.

The movie "3" was on Saturday night after the Nationwide race and it had Dale Earnhardt quit school and his job at the mill to make his career as a NASCAR driver.

Long is just living that same dream.

In conclusion, I do hope that there are some answers from tomorrow's meeting that involves the drivers and owners.

No. 00 Lucky at Charlotte

Mike DiMauro — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:22:56 -0400

If you go to Las Vegas or to Foxwoods and you go to the roulette wheel, there is a space there that has a green wedge with a white "00." It is rarely used or hit in a spin of the roulette wheel.

Same thing with NASCAR and it's "00," until today.

David Reutimann won his first career race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and Michael Waltrip won his first race as the team owner at the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600.

The rain kept the race from being ran until Memorial Day because of the rain. Around 1 PM, there was a 57-minute red flag because of rain. At 3 PM, they stopped racing to observe the President's moment of silence on Memorial Day.

The final caution came out around lap 222 with Reutimann deep in the pack. As other drivers went to pit, thinking that the race would continue after another rain delay, Reutimann, along with Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon, stayed out and became the top three drivers.

The red flag flew until 6:30 PM, when the race was called official and David Reutimann got his first career victory and Michael Waltrip as owner.

Here's some facts for you:

This is the shortest Coca-Cola 600 ever ran with only 227 laps completed.

This was the first since 2003 that the race was called short because of rain.

David Reutimann is the sixth driver to win the race as his first career Sprint Cup victory. David Pearson (1961), Jeff Gordon (1994), Bobby Labonte (1995), Matt Kenseth (2000), and Casey Mears (2007), were the others.

Bill Elliott: Welcome to NASCAR's 800 Club

Mike DiMauro — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:04:00 -0400

When the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 begins, there will be one driver in the field that will be making a special milestone that only six others have made in their NASCAR careers. A whopping 800 Sprint Cup starts!

Dawsonville, Ga. native Bill Elliott will become the seventh driver to make his 800th start in the history of NASCAR on Sunday.

This season, Elliott has qualified for every race he started. Even though he will have to qualify with the "go or go home" cars, he will make the field for Sunday's race thanks to his 1988 series championship, which automatically gives the recent champion outside the top 35 in owners points to have a starting spot in the field.

In case you were wondering, here are the other drivers who've made at least 800 starts in their respective careers:

Richard Petty: 1184

Ricky Rudd: 906

Dave Marcis: 883

Terry Labonte: 862

Kyle Petty: 829

Darrell Waltrip: 809

Carl Long Suspended Until August 18

Mike DiMauro — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:52:44 -0400

On Thursday, NASCAR suspended driver Carl Long until Aug. 18 for using an engine that was too big for the car.

In addition to the suspension, he was also docked 200 points, and his Crew Chief Charles Swing, was fined $200,000.

Car owner, Danielle Long, was also placed on suspension until Aug. 18 and docked 200 owners points.

Swing and both Long members have been placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Long only made 23 Sprint Cup starts in his career and has not started in a regular Sprint Cup race since 2006.

CBS & Fox Will Broadcast NFL Until 2014

Mike DiMauro — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:49:18 -0400

You do not have to go searching for another channel to get your Sunday NFL games. This is because the NFL has agreed to extend the contacts of both CBS and Fox until 2014.

What this means to you:

CBS will continue to be the AFC network until 2014 and will air Superbowl XLVII in New Orleans in 2013.

Fox will continue to be the NFC network until 2014 and will air Superbowl XLVIII in 2014.

On a related note, the NFL and Comcast came into an agreement for the cable company to air the NFL Network on it's second digital tier.

Can Stewart-Haas Racing Win Again Before the End of 2009?

Mike DiMauro — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:40:27 -0400

Well, you already know that Tony Stewart won the Sprint All-Star Race on May 16, but the question now remains: can Tony Stewart or Ryan Newman win another race in 2009 for Stewart-Haas Racing?

My answer to the question is: yes, he can! The team will win at least one other race before the 2009 season is over because they have the people and tools to get it done. When will they win remains to be seen for right now. It could be at any of the next 25 races, but I know for a fact that Stewart-Haas Racing will win again before the end of the 2009 season!

My Opinion On Michael Vick

Mike DiMauro — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:33:08 -0400

I think Michael Vick should play in the NFL again, but not for the Atlanta Falcons.

He has ruined his career as an Atlanta Falcon.

Also, Matt Ryan is going to be the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.

Ryan proved that he was the quarterback after bringing the Falcons to a playoff berth in 2008 with a 11-5 record.

I feel that Michael Vick were to play again, I think he would be a quarterback somewhere that a team needs a quarterback.

If not as a QB, he would be a great receiver because he has the athletic talent to play that position.

NBA and NHL Playoffs: Why Are They Spaced Out?

Mike DiMauro — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:23:31 -0400

I know that playoffs can be one game in each round (NFL, CFL, NCAA Tournament Basketball) or seven games (MLB, NHL, NBA). I also know that playoffs can take ten days (NCAA Tournament Basketball), four weekends (NFL, CFL), a month (MLB) or up to three months (NBA, NHL).

In this opinion, I am going to talk about the NBA and NHL. Each league has their playoffs with the teams taking breaks between each game. I don't understand why it can not be like baseball.

Why can't they play two days in a row?

Why do they need a rest between games in one city?

Why does it take three days to play in two games at one city?

I understand that games three, five, six, and seven are two days apart from games two, four, five, and six because of travel.

You know, I think both the NBA and NHL should follow the MLB playoffs structure and play games 1-2 & 6-7 at the higher seed and games 3-5 at the lower seed. Also, the leagues should play to the following playoff structure: Game One, Game Two, off, Game Three, Game Four, Game Five, off, Game Six, Game Seven (I don't understand why there is a day off in between games 4 & 5 in the league championship series or World Series).

That way, there would be less travel time and more sooner games would end and championships can be crowned.

John Madden Calls It Quits

Mike DiMauro — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:41:28 -0400

NFL legend John Madden, now 73 years old, has called it quits and retired from the NFL broadcast booth.

He started his football career in college at Cal Poly and went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1969, Madden would become head coach of the Oakland Raiders, taking his team to a Super Bowl title in Superbowl XI.

In 1979, he would step out of the coaching role and join the TV booth, where most people would remember him best. He started out with CBS.

In 1994, he switched booths and headed over to Fox, only to shift again to ABC to do Monday Night Football after Superbowl XXXVI.

Following Superbowl XL, he would move for the final time to NBC, and his last game was Superbowl XLIII.

Madden was in the booth with Pat Summerall and Al Michaels, among others, during his broadcasting career. Madden would also produce the famous Madden video games, and he also did promotions for other big name companies.

Cris Collinsworth will replace Madden in the booth.

BMN Announces Members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2009

Mike DiMauro — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:29:12 -0400

Hello everyone! I have thought long and hard on who should be in the Hall of Fame Class of 2009. There have been some people who deserved to be honored in the 10th season of Beat Mike, and this is their year.

This will also be the very first year in which I will set a limit. From now on, there will only be 10 per year. Here is the Class of 2009. Congrats!

Jon Savoy (played the game in the original year)
Jake Ellington (played from 1999 to 2001)
Kevin Ulrick (played the game in the original year)
Allison Robison (played the game in the original year)
Brandon Plocki (played the game in the original year)
Earl McClain (played from 2005 to 2007, now a retired BM player)
Chris Adams (played from 2003 to 2005)
Harold "Bobby" Skelton III (played in 2000)
Pete Shukes (only person so far to play from Domino's Pizza; played from 2006-Present)
Alicia Zitka (played the game in the original year; 2008 Miss Massachusetts)
Brittny Pliszka (played in 2000)

Thank You Everyone!
Mike DiMauro
President of Beat Mike Network

BMN Test Newsletter for Bleacher Report

Mike DiMauro — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:51:37 -0400

Beat Mike

Welcome 2008 Season

Hello everyone:

I just wanted to let you know that the 2008 NFL Season is around the corner and I figured it was time to send you this letter.

This will also be the test issue of the newsletter that will be posted on Bleacher Report.

Starting this season, I will be posting the newsletters in a weekly article for the Bleacher Report. By having it done on the Bleacher Report, there could be a chance that more people will want to play the “pick’em game” that has been great for the past nine seasons.

As some of you know all ready, this will be the 10^th season of Beat Mike. I am pretty excited and I could never believe that I would be doing it 10 seasons!

From a simple game with my friends in Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 of the North American Family Campers Association and classmates at Gateway Regional High School, this game has grown. It’s now a fantasy sports network that also runs the Mike’s Football League (MFL) and the Fall 2008 Disney College Program Fantasy Sports League.

If you would like to play in season 10, please let me know.

The Yahoo! League should be open soon and once it does open up, I will send the information to you.

You can also play via Facebook, MySpace and e-mail.

Good Luck Everyone!

Mike DiMauro

NFL: National Favre League?

Mike DiMauro — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:13:59 -0400

Is there anyone in this country that is getting sick and tired of the Brett Favre saga in Green Bay? I, for one, am getting sick and tired of watching the NFL Network and ESPN and hearing them talk about Favre.

Hey, Green Bay Packers, if you do not want Favre playing for your team, TRADE HIM AWAY!? Don't let him stay around the team causing you hassles.

Hey Brett Favre, why don't you talk to the Buccaneers, Jets, Vikings, Bears, and any other team that is looking for a quarterback to see if they want you for their team!?

One more thing Brett, you said that you retired on March 4 and you now want to play again! YOU ARE A LIAR!

CFL Week Five Recap

Mike DiMauro — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:50:40 -0400

Welcome all! The fifth week of the 2008 CFL season has ended. Here's how the matchups went (winners in BOLD):

Thursday, July 24

Calgary Stampeders 28 @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32

Friday, July 25

Edmonton Eskimos 19 @ Hamilton Tigercats 13

Montréal Alouettes 34 @ British Columbia Lions 36

Sunday, July 27

Toronto Argonauts 22 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders 28

Here's the schedule for Week Six of the CFL season:

Thursday, July 31

Hamilton Tigercats @ Montréal Alouettes, 7PM (also on RDS)

British Columbia Lions @ Edmonton Eskimos, 10PM

Friday, August 1

Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Toronto Argonauts, 7PM

Saturday, August 2

Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Calgary Stampeders, 8PM

All of the games will be on TSN, and all times are ET.

Brickyard Tire Problems

Mike DiMauro — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:12:41 -0400

I hope that you were not watching or hearing the race on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was one of the most terrible races I have ever witnessed in my life.

A race is suppose to be fun and competitive. Sunday's race was not near that level. It seemed like there was a caution every 12 laps, six of those were competitive cautions because of the tires. 11 cautions overall for 52 laps. The longest green flag run was 12 laps.

What was the problem with Sunday's race? THE TIRES.

NASCAR should never have a race like that again. If you want to test the tires or the track, HAVE A TEST SESSION! Do not test the tires during a RACE!

I also understand that Goodyear had to select the best tires for the track, but they should have done it during a test session.

Also, isn't there a track nearby that the lower two series of NASCAR races at? O'Reilly Motor Park? If they had the problems with the tires at IMS, why couldn't they move the race to the other track? I do not think they were having problems with tires at that racetrack.

Open Mic: Retired Too Early

Mike DiMauro — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:01:01 -0400

I did part one of the article earlier this week on the athletes who should retire. Now, I am doing part two, which includes a list of those who retired too early (or were still in their prime):

Barry Sanders
Brett Favre (yes, he is on this list also)
Tara Lipinski
Rusty Wallace
Michael Jordan (1993)
Tiki Barber (retired the year before the team won the Superbowl)
Joe Gibbs (1992)

When I think of more, I will add them. Look for a separate article about those who should of retired earlier.

Tony Stewart Will Race No. 14 Next Season

Mike DiMauro — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:47:12 -0400

Two weeks ago it was announced that Tony Stewart would be leaving Joe Gibbs at the end of the season and become a co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. Today, his sponsors and numbers were announced.

Stewart will have Old Spice and Office Depot as his sponsors. Office Depot will be on the car for 20 races (60 percent of the season) and Old Spice will be on the car for 16 races (40 percent of the season).

Stewart will be driving the No. 14 car in 2009. He chose that number for his hero, A.J. Foyt. He chose to have the second team as the No. 4 because that was his number in the go karts when he first raced.

There was no announcement about who would be chosen as second driver to race the No. 4.

CFL Week Four Recap

Mike DiMauro — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:24:16 -0400

Welcome all! The fourth week of the 2008 CFL season has ended. Here's how the matchups went (winners in BOLD):

Thursday, July 17

Hamilton Tigercats 16 @ Calgary Stampeders 43

Friday, July 18

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 @ British Columbia Lions 27

Saturday, July 19

Montréal Alouettes 33 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders 41

Sunday, July 20

Edmonton Eskimos 31 @ Toronto Argonauts 35

Here's the schedule for Week Five of the CFL season:

Thursday, July 24

Calgary Stampeders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 8PM

Friday, July 25

Edmonton Eskimos @ Hamilton Tigercats, 7PM

Montréal Alouettes @ British Columbia Lions, 10PM (also on RDS)

Sunday, July 27

Toronto Argonauts @ Saskatchewan Roughriders, 7PM

All of the games will be on TSN, and all times are ET.

Open Mic: Who Should Retire?

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:51:40 -0400

The Open Mic topic this week asked which athletes should retire and which of those who did should not have.

Athletes who need to retire:

Brett Favre
Roger Clemens
Donovan McNabb
Steve McNair
Morgan Shepard
Curt Schilling
Kyle Petty
Daunte Culpepper
Damon Huard
Dave Marcus
Derrick Cope

When I think of more, I will add them. Look for a separate article about those who retired too early and those who should of retired earlier.

The Raiders Moved Back to Oakland 13 Years Ago Today

Mike DiMauro — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:34:11 -0400

On July 22, 1995, the Raiders moved from Los Angeles back to Oakland.

In 1982, the Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles. In their first season in Los Angeles, they finished the season 8-1 and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to the New York Jets.

In the following year, they made it to the Super Bowl and won, beating the Washington Redskins 38-9. In 1984 and 1985, they made it to the playoffs two more times.

Between 1986 and 1989, the Raiders failed to post a season higher than 8-8.

They only made the playoffs three times between 1990 and 1993.

In June 1995, Davis signed a letter of intent to move the Raiders back to Oakland, and on July 22, 1995, the league voted to move the team back to Oakland.

Jeremy Shockey: The Shock Goes to New Orleans

Mike DiMauro — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:46:39 -0400

Tight End Jeremy Shockey, has been traded to the New Orleans Saints.

Shockey, who was drafted in the first round (14th pick overall) by the New York Giants in 2002, played six seasons with the team. He played his college career at the University of Miami.

He was named Rookie of the Year in 2002 and was named to the Pro Bowl that same year. He would also make the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

On October 12, 2005, Shockey signed a five-year extension to let him be a Giant until 2011.

After a great performance in 2006 and most of 2007, he received an injury on Week 15 vs. the Washington Redskins. It was his left fibula. Shockey was replaced by Kevin Boss as the starting TE.

The Giants will receive the Saints second and fifth round picks in the 2009 draft.

NASCAR: Too Many Off-Weeks in the Beginning of the Season

Mike DiMauro — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:21:15 -0400

I feel that it is great to have an off week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this weekend to let the drivers relax and not have to focus on the Cup series.

I think the break should be moved to the mid- or late August, and not stay at mid-July, because I feel that they should get a break before the Chase begins.

I am glad that NASCAR stopped doing a break after the second race of the season. That was the most annoying thing that they did, because the drivers are getting a start racing in the season and then the break comes and ruins their concentration.

Luckily, that stopped in the 2007 season.

I also feel that they should move that off week from March-April and move it to June, and then move the break that they have in July to August. I am making that suggestion because they do not need two breaks in a period of three to four weeks.

I can understand having a break for Easter, but having another break two or three later? That's crazy!

I hope NASCAR fixes its schedule for 2009 with their off weeks.

Have a fun second half of the season everyone!

NFL: Mr. Taylor Goes to Washington

Mike DiMauro — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:54:28 -0400

Jason Taylor and the Tuna (Bill Parcells) will not have to see or talk to each other again—Jason Taylor got his wish and Parcells worked out a deal with the Washington Redskins.

Starting this season, Jason Taylor will be a Washington Redskin. He is going to replace Phillip Daniel, who got a season-ending injury on Sunday at training camp.

What does the Miami Dolphins get from this deal? The Redskins traded away their second round pick for 2009 and sixth round pick for 2010.

He's Back! David Ortiz Plays in Pawtucket

Mike DiMauro — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:58:03 -0400

Is David Ortiz making a return to the Boston Red Sox? He hit a homerun in a minor league game for the Pawtucket Pawsox tonight.

Ortiz was on the disabled list because of a wrist injury. This was his first action since May 31.

Ortiz will continue his rehab in Pawtucket until at least the end of the weekend. He is expected to be back in the Red Sox lineup on July 25, when the team plays a weekend series vs. the New York Yankees in Boston.

The Pawsox scored seven runs in the fourth to have a 15-0 lead. They would go on to beat the Toledo Mudhens 15-6 in Pawtucket.

Sports: What I Really Hate

Mike DiMauro — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:25:11 -0400

I just read the article "What Do You Hate in Sports? The Bill Belichick List". I loved that article, but I would like to create my own list of the stuff that I hate in the sports world. I do love sports, but there are things that I hate about it. Here's my list:

Kurt Busch
New York Jets
New York Yankees
Eric Mangini
The MLB All-Star Game starting at 8PM ET, instead of earlier in the day like 5 or 6PM ET
New England Sports Network (NESN)
When the Red Sox are blacked out on ESPN
Connecticut Huskies
Hartford Wolfpack
The Mannings
Joe Torre
Derek Jeter
A-Rod
Johnny Damon
Two Week Superbowl Break
Not having an off week later on in the NASCAR season
When people mess up singing the Star Spangled Banner (I messed up singing it at a high school baseball game when I was on their team in 2003—I think it was the last game of the season as we lost it and were out of the playoffs)
When people go off track with the Star Spangled Banner
Not showing CFL games on ESPN
Not showing more CFL games on American TV
Having two seperate satellite radio companies to get NFL and MLB (thank god they are both merging)
Brett Favre
Michael Vick
Bobby Knight
Roger Clemens
Kobe Bryant
Bryant Gumbel
Phil Jackson
When ESPN has to black out the ACC and I don't even live near Boston (two hours away) and not on their DMA
Chad Pennington
Curt Schilling
Jason Giambi
When NASCAR races start after 8PM ET
When NASCAR has to cancel qualifying for the day because of rain and can't schedule the session the day before or the day after.
Marty McSorley

I will edit this article myself if I want to add more to this list. Feel free to comment about the stuff that you hate in sports. E-mail me at mikedimauro31784@aol.com for any questions.