Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals might be closing in on a Triple Crown.

Albert Pujols of the St Louis Cardinals has replaced his traditional batting gloves with oven mitts made of asbestos due to his red hot bat.

From American Chronicle

An unusual season has brought Albert Pujols to an unusual place. After enduring a harsh May, he enters September on a path that may secure the league lead in batting average, RBIs and home runs: the Triple Crown.

“I’m reluctant to even address it,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “It’s certainly significant, but you don’t want to put emphasis on anything that detracts from our team goal. There’s a lot that potentially goes with it.”

“It’s not what I play for,” Pujols said Saturday. “It’s what I’ve told you all along. Numbers aren’t what I play for.”

Original Photos Yahoo, flickr, letsbuyit

Bernie Madoff may have doomed the New York Mets.

In an effort to cut costs, the NY Mets now have Jerry Manuel perform double duties as manager/stadium organ player.

From ESPN

Even discounting any losses by the team’s owners related to swindler Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, attendance has steeply dropped this season. That may be more attributable to a predictable drop in attendance in the second season in a new ballpark than any disappointment about the decline of the team, but it is the same revenue hit regardless of the cause.

The Mets drew 3,168,571 fans last season, in Year 1 at Citi Field. This season, the total is 1,921,259, with 23 home dates remaining. That’s on pace for a 14.9 percent attendance decline.

Original Photos Yahoo, retrothing

Looks like Manny Ramirez is taking his dreadlocks to Chicago.

Manny Ramirez seems to be on his way to the Chicago White Sox.

From Yahoo Sports/Roto Arcade

According to multiple reports, the Dodgers have agreed to send Manny Ramirez(notes) to the White Sox in exchange for … well, for the right to not pay him $4.3 million. Not a bad exchange for a fourth-place team that’s 10 games back in the standings.

The fantasy spin here is easy: Everyone wins, except for the stiffs who’ve served as designated hitters for Chicago. The White Sox have upgraded a lineup spot that’s been an absolute sinkhole for them all season.

Manny will presumably be the full-time DH in one of baseball’s most homer-friendly environments. (Though not when his calf aches, or when he’s feeling claustrophobic, or when he’s sleepy, or when it’s a day game following a night game).

Original Photos reuters, men-access

Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers has been found guilty of a multitude of alcohol related charges.

Nikolai Khabibulin has been found guilty of Extreme DUI, and will likely be sentenced to some jail time.

From The Sporting News

With Friday’s conviction of goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on alcohol-related driving charges, the Edmonton Oilers have a problem. They expect to see their nominal No. 1 goalie miss at least part of training camp, depending on whether he gets jail time.

They also could have the opportunity to rid themselves of his burdensome contract, if the conviction could be construed as justification to use morals terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers has eyes for TE Jermichael Finley on almost every play.

Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley looks like he's ready for a monster season.

From Bleacher Report

Jermichael Finley looked unstoppable against the Colts in Week 3. The Rodgers-Finley connection looks like it’s going to be stronger than any other on the team, and Greg Jennings and Donald Driver have had two and six straight 1,000 yard seasons respectively.

Original Photos DayLife, halloweenasylum

Roger Clemens is not too popular with some folks.

Roger Clemens swore to tell the truth when he testified before Congress in 2008.

From The Big Lead

Clemens was not called to testify. He called himself. He did not misrepresent the truth facing circumstantial evidence. He blatantly lied in a lame attempt to contradict overwhelming evidence. His own personal trainer testified he injected him. His wife took HGH. He had notable performance spikes and incidents of rage. His career was over at the time. His money was made. Barry Bonds became embroiled in a controversy. Roger Clemens created a farce that will cost taxpayers millions.

Original Photos Daylife, flippinghomes

The Arizona Cardinals are not too thrilled with Matt Leinart’s play during the preseason.

Matt Leinart of the Arizona Cardinals is on a short leash with the Cards' coaching staff.

From MSNBC

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that “the door has been opened” for Matt Leinart to lose his starting job.

“There’s not a lot of confidence in that locker room that Leinart is going to be their long-term quarterback,” says Schefter. Schefter names Derek Anderson as the Cardinals’ most likely alternative, though Anderson has also done nothing dating back to OTA season (or 2007, for that matter) to earn any degree of trust.

Original Photos Yahoo, swankpets

Tom Brady won’t watch Hard Knocks because he hates the NY Jets.

New England Patriots' QB Tom Brady hates the NY Jets.

From The NY Times

During Brady’s weekly appearance on WEEI radio in Boston on Monday, he was asked about “Hard Knocks,” the HBO show giving an inside look at the Jets’ training camp.

“Honestly, I haven’t turned it on,” he said in a casual manner. “I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show.”

Brady continued: “I’m sure it’s great TV. I’m glad people are liking it, but that’s just something that I have no interest in watching.

Original Photos TMZ, teambashers

Brett Favre started for the Minnesota Vikings in their preseason game against the 49′ers.

Brett Favre saw limited action in his return to the NFL, and exited the game against the 49'ers after running into problems with his dentures.

From ESPN

The Vikings originally planned to play Favre up to 10 plays, but coach Brad Childress had seen enough after 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis blew past Peterson and crunched Favre on a second-and-13 play. (And don’t try to tell me that Peterson faced the unenviable task of blocking two free blitzers on the play. He chose Willis and never looked at linebacker Takeo Spikes.)

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called a draw on third down, and backup Tarvaris Jackson took over on the Vikings’ next series. Four days after reporting to the Vikings’ practice facility, Favre’s only pass was a 13-yard swing pass to Peterson. The outing was reminiscent of his Vikings debut in the 2009 preseason, when he completed 1 of 4 passes and absorbed a pair of brutal hits.

Original Photos Yahoo, buzzle

Dustin Johnson getting penalized for grounding his club at the PGA Championship last week still has people upset.

Dustin Johnson blew the 2010 PGA Championship due to grounding his club in a bunker.

From The Daily Commercial

Similarly, most golf writers produced next-day pieces that described the rules of golf as sacrosanct. After all, rules were rules. In this case, they’d been around since shortly after that first itinerant shepherd picked up a stick and hit a rock (or whatever it was) as far as he could toward a rabbit hole in the pasture. There’d be no pity taken on Dustin Johnson. The man grounded his club in a hazard and that was that.

Except that it’s all a bunch of baloney!

It’s idiotic to suggest that intent has nothing to do with rules.

Virtually every sport has exceptions to its rules of play based, basically, on the concept of fairness. In the NFL, a disputed fair catch takes place only when officials gather to decide the receiver’s intention. Was his casual wave at shoulder height enough to convince onrushing defenders that he meant to catch the ball and stop right there? The operative principal is fairness. He’d receive a competitive advantage if he “faked” the signal, then rushed through a defense that had eased up a bit.

Original Photos Yahoo, Amazon

Former MLB player Roger Clemens is facing charges that he lied to Congress.

The new Yankees logo may incorporate syringes to be more representative of their core players.

From Yahoo Sports

Clemens’ all-hat, no-conscience Texas attorney, Rusty Hardin, said Thursday he would fight to the end (Clemens’, not his) against the perjury charges for his client, which is what he’s paid to do. There’s no telling what a jury might find, as the government’s chief corroborator – former trainer Brian McNamee – is no shining model of fair play himself.

Clemens took to Twitter to defend himself: ”I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court.”

Original Photos standupforamerica, photobucket

Kurt Warner’s wife is pushing for Denzel Washington to play her QB husband in an upcoming movie.

Denzel Washington playing Kurt Warner in a bio-pic makes perfect sense to Brenda Warner.

From SB Nation

But then this line jumps out at you:
He has met with producers interested in doing a movie on his life story. If [his wife] had her way, Warner said, Denzel Washington would land the lead role.

Oh, obvious choice there. … Wait, what?

Warner faced plenty of adversity on his journey to stardom, but fighting against “stereotypes of a black quarterback” wasn’t one of them. As Kurt says of the possibility “It would probably challenge Denzel in ways he’s never been challenged before,” Warner mused.

Um, yeah.

Original Photos phoenix.fanster.com, denzel-washington.net

Carmelo Anthony expects to be traded by the Denver Nuggets, preferably to the New York Knicks.

Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul have both expressed their desire to become New York Knicks.

From ESPN

Well, here’s more good news for the hungriest fan base in the NBA: A whopping 64.5 percent of our panelists think Melo will be wearing orange and blue next season (and this survey was taken before Monday’s news that he plans to part ways with the Nuggets). What’s more, 26 members of our panel think CP3 will be his point guard. Sure, New York will have to do some roster maneuvering to make all of this happen. But as we saw with the Heat this summer, anything is possible if the players want it to happen.

CP3 aside, a Melo-Knicks union makes sense on many levels. He and his wife are both natives of New York. (Carmelo moved to Baltimore when he was 8.) He played college ball at Syracuse and loves MSG. And, from a purely basketball standpoint, can you imagine a scoring machine like Melo in Mike D’Antoni’s high-powered offense? He would become the Knicks’ most dynamic wing player since Bernard King, to whom Anthony is often compared, and the Knicks could instantly become contenders.

Original Photos Zimbio, fansedge, overstock

LeBron James lashed out at Cavs owner Dan Gilbert in GQ.

LeBaby James ripped former employer and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert in a recent GQ article.

From NBC Sports

In an interview with GQ magazine, the new Miami star reiterated that coming to the Heat was the right decision for him and his family, especially after hearing comments Gilbert made after the NBA’s two-time reigning MVP chose to leave Cleveland after seven seasons.

James says, “I don’t think he ever cared about LeBron,” and adds, “me and my family have seen the character of that man.”

Original Photos NY Post, cdn1

New York Giants QB Eli Manning was injured against the New York Jets.

Eli Manning of the New York Giants needs some Band-Aids.

From Huffington Post

Eli Manning suffered a gruesome injury during a preseason game against the Jets Monday night, with blood spewing from his injured forehead.

The incident occurred after teammate Brandon Jacobs accidentally knocked Manning’s helmet loose on a fourth-down play. The Giants quarterback was then struck by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace, whose hit took Manning’s helmet all the way off, at which point the Giant collided with another Jets defender.

Original Photos nj.com, aidanterry

The Indianapolis Colts wore 1955 throwback uniforms in their preseason debut.

Peyton Manning looks relaxed enough in his 1955 Indianapolis Colts throwback jersey to enjoy a Big Gulp at the line of scrimmage.

From The Indy Star

Decked out in 1955 throwback uniforms with blue helmets, the Indianapolis Colts threw back a lot to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday.

Well, backup Colts quarterback Curtis Painter did.The Colts started fast but reserves quickly squandered a 10-point lead with three second-quarter interceptions in a 37-17 exhibition loss at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Original Photos Yahoo, kaitycakes

Corey Pavin exchanged words with Golf Channel reporter and LeBron James stooge, Jim Gray.

Corey Pavin spent a lot of time checking his Twitter account while on the course after he feuded with Jim Gray.

From SI.com

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin had a heated exchange with Golf Channel reporter Jim Gray after Pavin insisted that Gray misquoted him about Tiger Woods’ prospects for making the team. Standing nose-to-nose with Pavin in front of a group of media members, Gray called him a liar and said, “You’re going down.” The Tour pro responded, “You’re full of it.” At one point Gray started to walk away, prompting Pavin to say, “You’re just going to walk off?” Gray then returned to face Pavin and the men continued jawing at each other in raised voices.

Original Photos Yahoo, mobiles.co.uk

Francisco Rodriguez returns to the New York Mets in time for Saturday’s game against the Phillies.

Francisco Rodriguez of the NY Mets shows off his favorite pair of brass knuckles.

From ESPN

Closer Francisco Rodriguez will return to the New York Mets on Saturday, after being suspended for two games by the organization for allegedly striking his girlfriend’s father in the face near the family room at Citi Field.

Rodriguez, who was arraigned Thursday at Queens Criminal Court on a third-degree assault and second-degree harassment charges, spoke with general manager Omar Minaya after his release from police custody that afternoon.

“It’s not acceptable,” Minaya said Friday, before the Mets opened a series against the Philadelphia Phillies. “He understands that. He admits that. He feels really bad, of course. He put not only himself, he put his teammates and the organization in a bad light.”

Original Photos zimbio, gizmodo

NY Jets head coach Rex Ryan has become an overnight star after the debut of Hard Knocks.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan is becoming the next big thing in New York.

From USA Today

Head coach Rex Ryan was his usual entertaining and outspoken self, though much of what he speaks can’t be reprinted in this blog (we counted nine expletives in the portion of his camp opening address that was aired).

GM Mike Tannenbaum also displayed his sense of humor … and the frustrations amid his ongoing efforts to end all-pro CB Darrelle Revis’ holdout. At one point, it appears Tannenbaum is literally going to pull his remaining hair out.

Original Photos nj.com, freakingnews

Tiger Woods is struggling through the worst stretch of his career.

Most golf observers think that Tiger Woods looks different this year.

From The NY Times

Woods is living out the worst performance nightmare of his career, wandering around lost, in public. Very much in public. One of the greatest athletes of our time is suddenly in need of a total reboot.

After Woods played the worst tournament of his career last weekend, I began to wonder: has any great athlete, at the top of any sport, ever had his or her game blown to smithereens so fast — not just from age, not just from injury, but pretty obviously from some deeper miasma of psyche and soma.

Original Photos Yahoo, lakers-fan.com