General: No Excuses 9

Summer musings from the Woody Paige of eSports.

* After Smarty Jones beats three other horses to win the Triple Crown, he'll get what's coming to him. All I can say is that starting next week lines at Burger King will be packed with people waiting to try the "special edition" Whopper.

* The FCC should fine ESPN every time they broadcast the National Spelling Bee, show any highlights of the National Spelling Bee or display the old guy that runs the entire operation.

* Speaking of ESPN, enough with the freaking Shorts!

* Still speaking of ESPN, let us all hope that Michele Tafoya doesn't interview high schoolers and Europeans on Draft Night.

* Why does Kevin McHale try to look as unattractive as possible? Did David Stern garnish his salary after the Joe Smith fiasco?

* I enjoy watching "Baseball Tonight" highlights of Ken Griffey Jr. 2004, aka vintage Griffey. It's almost as fun as seeing the Seattle Mariners, aka Ichiro, Freddy and Old Folk swing-and-miss their way toward the American League cellar.

* From a BBC sport's article dated September 15th, 2002:

"Now (Tim) Montgomery, running drug free and at sea level, has beaten (Ben) Johnson's time, and erased the spectre of the Canadian (Donovan Bailey). Once again, the 100m record holder is truly the fastest man on earth."

Hmm, how times have changed. I wonder how Maurice Greene and his blazing feet will respond at Athens.

* In case you didn't know, I am one who believes that things were better "back in the day." That being said I'm not a music aficionado, but the chart-toppers nowadays are horrendous. Have you listened to the lyrics of "Freek-a-Leek?" The chorus of a song cannot solely list off women's names. That's just a rule.

Also, why does Alicia Keys keep bickering about not having someone? And why is her hair half-straight, half-braided?

Why is there a record about flowers smelling like %#*@?

And the RIAA wonders why people aren't willing to shell out $15 for an album. The music industry currently parallels the situation of the NHL: exuberant prices for a product that lacks talent. With so much stuff out there (see American Idol. wait, don't watch that junk) artists need to step it up.

* Finally, it was gratifying to hear Detroit fans boo William Hung. He has more than worn out his welcome, and no more attention should be lavished upon this poor excuse of a talent.