Categories
MLB General

MLB Presumes Labor Peace In Approaching Off-Season

By Diane M. Grassi

As we enter the final weeks of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, unlike other impending off seasons in recent years, this will be of the collective bargaining kind.

Categories
MLB General

Joe Torre’s Transformation In Executive Suite:

Is His Next Stop the Commissioner’s Desk? 

By Diane M. Grassi

Joe Torre, former Major League Baseball (MLB) manager of no less than five MLB teams as well as a former 17-year MLB player, has been making his way through the maze of MLB executive life in 2011. Torre was appointed on February 26, 2011 by current MLB Commissioner, Bud Selig, as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. He also serves as the commissioner’s liaison to general managers and field managers of all 30 MLB teams.

Categories
Pittsburgh Pirates

A funny thing happened on the way to another losing season…

Hold on, let me check my watch. And by watch I mean the home screen on my phone because who wears a watch anymore?

As of 10:43 PM ET on July 15, Year of Our Lord or Roberto Clemente 2011, the Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting alone in first place. Wait, let me put that on its own line:

The Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting alone in first place

And another one that is equally important to me:

Baseball sure is fun again in Pittsburgh!

It’s not that I’m intentionally striking while the iron is hot, hoping to catch a fleeting moment. I’m not in a hurry to get this down on paper because I feel this isn’t going to last very long. I’m sure every columnist in Pittsburgh and every Pirates blogger who knows way more about this team and baseball has already wrote that single, emphatic line above to lead their own story.

Categories
MLB General

National Pastime’s Future Remains On Shaky Ground

By Diane M. Grassi

As we celebrate America’s birthday this week, it is perhaps a good time to revisit how America’s “national pastime” is doing.

While the term “national pastime” will always historically be associated with baseball, it has arguably lost a lot of its luster in terms of youth participation, general fan interest and attendance at baseball’s Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums.

Categories
MLB General

The Apple of MLB’s Eye

A FAIR PROCESS TO BECOMING A TEAM OWNER?

By Diane M. Grassi

“Somebody’s property being seized was un-American. There are core values in this country and fairness is one of them…..I think everyone deserves a second chance.”

                                    – Los Angeles Dodgers owner, Frank McCourt (April 2011)

So – is Major League Baseball (MLB) still as American as apple pie? It largely depends upon its commissioner’s preferences at the time, who serves at the behest of MLB’s 30 team owners.

The question needs to be asked as to whether the presiding Commissioner of MLB, Bud Selig, makes such major decisions such as on team ownership based upon sound business acumen or subjective reasoning influenced by his personal relationships, such as with specific MLB team owners or individuals who potentially could become owners.

Categories
General Sports

5/26 episode of Poor Man’s PTI: Still Not Raptured

Ryan and Vin discuss the NHL and NBA playoffs, what city could support an NFL team, Buster Posey’s season ending injury, and more people who will not be joining us on Poor Man’s PTI.

You can download this week’s podcast directly (running time 90 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

This week’s topics include:

  • NHL Playoffs
  • Is Tom Thibodeau drawing up playings or playing Angry Birds over there?
  • Buster Posey’s injury and his agent sucks
  • Should Rush Limbaugh be allowed to own a team / What city could support an NFL team?
  • Joakim’s $50k fine
  • Still waiting for the Rapture

We’re on Follow poormanspti on Twitter. So follow us and make us feel special.

Hope you guys enjoy the podcast. If you did enjoy it, please give us a good rating on itunes so we can rise up in the rankings. If you didn’t, send us an email ([email protected]) and give us some suggestions. Thanks for listening.

Categories
Uncategorized

Sports Chained to Big Business, Gambling & Corruption

By Diane M. Grassi

The title of this report may come as no revelation to avid sports fans, business movers and shakers, and the politically connected, but every once in a while, it is worth taking stock of those most prominent in a field ripe for deception, deniability, and its penchant for unaccountability.

While the names Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Derek Jeter need no introduction, even to non-sports fans, few people would ably recognize the name Ted Forstmann. Forstmann reigns over arguably the most powerful agency in all of sports and Hollywood and represents the individual interests of the likes of Messrs. Woods, Federer, Nadal, and Jeter.

Categories
NFL General

2010 NFL Week 6 Picks and Podcast

First, a favor please: if you enjoy the podcast, please log onto iTunes and give us a good rating.

Second, last week was an unmitigated disaster for Vin and Ryan. RJ held his own and is actually the go-to guy for your lock of the week. The lineup of games is much better this week and we’ve got all your analysis. We also discuss the MLB playoffs.

The featured games this week are Baltimore @ New England, Atlanta @ Philly, Dallas @ Minnesota, and Indianapolis @ Washington.
You can download the podcast directly (running time 90 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

Categories
Video Games

Curt Schilling’s Rhode Island Hoodwink

By Diane M. Grassi

Curt Montague Schilling, has never been one to duck controversy nor a good game of old-fashioned hard ball.

In fact, in the latter part of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career as a starting pitcher, who many experts believe will be an easy entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Schilling became a lightning rod for controversy.

Categories
General Sports

8/26 Episode of Poor Man’s PTI:

Drew BreesRyan and Burton discuss Fantasy Football strategies, expanding to 18 games,  and the baseball playoff race.  Next week is the Fantasy Football / NFL preview show.

You can download this week’s podcast directly (running time 60 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

This week’s topics include:

  • Why new NFL rules means picking QBs first
  • Expanding the NFL schedule to 18 games
  • Baseball playoff races
  • Eric Barry – a waste of umpire space
  • Feel sorry for Elin?
  • Misc:  Kim Jong Il

We’re on Follow poormanspti on Twitter. So follow us and make us feel special.

Hope you guys enjoy the podcast. If you did enjoy it, please give us a good rating on itunes so we can rise up in the rankings. If you didn’t, send us an email ([email protected]) and give us some suggestions. Thanks for listening.