ESPN's 2008 Knockout of the Year

ESPN named its 2008 knockout of the year and it's hard to argue Edison Miranda's vicious knockout of David Banks on January 11, 2008.



Wow.

Like a Mike Tyson video game knockout.

Goodbye Garret Anderson...and I guess Mark Teixeira

Although a lot of attention has been paid today to the loss of Mark Teixeira from the Angels. I thought it appropriate to acknowledge the end of a true era in Angels baseball.

The end of the Garret Anderson era.

Anderson holds the Angels all-time club record for most RBIs, runs, total bases, and hits.

He is second to Tim Salmon in Home Runs with 272. Third in career batting average behind Vladimir Guerrero and Rod Carew.

He also holds the single game RBI record with 10 and the most consecutive games with an RBI with 12.

Yet the only thing I hear from Angels fans and news agencies is how Teixeira has left the Angels for the Yankees.

Anderson has spent 15 seasons with the Angels, not counting the minors.

Teixeira spent half a season with the Angels.

HALF A SEASON.

The Angels lost to the Red Sox WITH Teixeira on the team.

The Angels won a World Series in 2002 with Garret Anderson.

Yet in a news conference where the Angels discussed the loss of Teixeira, a reporter innocently asked if the Angels were going to re-sign Garret Anderson. Angels General Manager Tony Reagins responded with a barely noticeable "not likely."

Wow.

I may be a bit old fashioned, but shouldn't the Angels show at least a little concern for losing one of the greatest players in their franchise's history?

I know he's no longer in his prime and his best days are behind him, but shouldn't the Angels show at least a little loyalty and respect?

Red Sox nation is having a fit with just the possibility of losing Jason Varitek.

I'm thinking Anderson meant more to the Angels than Varitek does to the Red Sox.

Where is the outrage Angel fans?

I'm sad the Angels aren't going to re-sign Teixeira, but we hardly knew the guy.

Even with the guy in the fold, there was no guarantee the Angels would win a World Series.

Don't get me wrong, Teixeira is a great player but last year was the first time he reached the post season.

One post season appearance in his career.

One.

If he's so great, why was that his first post season appearance?

He piggy backed his way in too.

The Angels were 11 games ahead in the division when they acquired Teixeira.

Although, I agree the trade needed to be made at the time, I now honestly believe the Angels would've beaten Boston without Teixeira.

I know, I know, call me crazy.

But I believe the only reason why the Angels lost to the Red Sox was over confidence.

I think if Casey Kotchman was at first instead of Teixeira, the Angels would've been more focused, urgent and sharper.

We all saw that the Angels were relaxed and cocky during that series. They felt they could flip the switch at any time.

The truth is we all know pitching is what wins in the post season. The Angels have that in spades.

So although its trendy to lament the loss of Teixeira today. I choose to acknowledge a true loss to Angels nation today.

Goodbye G.A.

YOU will be missed.

Top Ten Quotes of 2008

New York Daily News released a list of the Top ten quotes of 2008.

Some really classic lines here, most related to the past election.

My favorite:

"The fundamentals of America's economy are strong." — John McCain


Enjoy.

1. "I can see Russia from my house!"

— Comedian Tina Fey

2. "All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years."

— Sarah Palin, responding to a request by CBS anchor Katie Couric to name the newspapers or magazines she reads, broadcast Oct. 1.

3. "We have sort of become a nation of whiners."

— former Sen. Phil Gramm, an economic adviser to Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, quoted in The Washington Times, July 10.

4. "It's not based on any particular data point, we just wanted to choose a really large number."

— a Treasury Department spokeswoman explaining how the $700 billion number was chosen for the initial bailout, quoted on Forbes.com Sept. 23.

5. "The fundamentals of America's economy are strong."

— McCain, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, April 17.

6. "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

— the Treasury Department's proposed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, September 2008.

7. "Maybe 100." — McCain, discussing in a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire, how many years U.S. troops could remain in Iraq, Jan. 3.

8. "I'll see you at the debates, bitches."

— Paris Hilton in a video responding to a McCain television campaign ad, August 2008.

9. "Barack, he's talking down to black people. ... I want to cut his nuts off."

— Rev. Jesse Jackson, overheard over a live microphone before a Fox News interview, July 6.

10. (tie) "Cash for trash."

— Paul Krugman discussing the financial bailout, New York Times, Sept. 22.

10. (tie) "There are no atheists in foxholes and there are no libertarians in financial crises."

— Krugman, in an interview with Bill Maher on HBO's "Real Time," broadcast Sept. 19.

10. (tie) "Anyone who says we're in a recession, or heading into one — especially the worst one since the Great Depression — is making up his own private definition of "`recession.'"

— Donald Luskin, the day before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, The Washington Post, Sept. 14.

Jizz in My Pants Music Video

I'm not a huge Andy Samberg fan but this is a pretty funny music video.

Pacquiao destroys De La Hoya

Wow.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think Pacquiao would dominate the fight like that. Oscar De La Hoya was simply overwhelmed by Pacquiao, he never landed a meaningful punch and Pacquiao quite simply dismantled and broke down De La Hoya in every facet of the fight.

The truth of the matter is that Pacquiao is now beyond a doubt the pound for pound champion in the sport of boxing.

Congratulations Pacman!!!!

The Dark Knight for Best Picture?

Dark Horizons has started a campaign which attempts to sell the idea of giving The Dark Knight a nomination for best picture.

It's an uphill climb.

I loved the movie and can't think of five movies off the top of my head that are in the same league, but it's hard to picture the Academy recognizing the film that way.

We'll see.

Check out the grassroots campaign here: http://www.darkcampaign.com/