America’s Owner

It may be just a coincidence that the birthday of the most important and transcendent figure of America’s pastime, coincides with that of the entire magnificent nation, on the Fourth of July; but it’s telling in a way. George Steinbrenner III took a franchise which had been an after-thought for years, and turned them into the most relevant, winningest and certainly most important organization in all of sports.

It’s no wonder that after dying of a heart attack this morning, people are not mourning The Boss. They are truly celebrating his life chocked full of accomplishments. And rightly so.

Got Mail?

(Photo used courtesy of foxsports.com)

I know that by now I should probably be burnt out on NBA free agency. But I’m not. I’m just as enticed as ever, with no hint of the rumors and signings losing any luster. And I’m betting many of you feel the same way. Part of it of course, is that I have a dog in the hunt (Clippers), but my interest is also due to the insanity of some of these deals.

Darko, Gay and Amir Johnson all signing for huge contracts? PINCH ME! Please NBA GMs, PLEASE continue the madness. It’s intoxicating.

Sounds to me like it’s time to open the inbox and answer some reader mail…

The Honesty Zone: The Summit

If this is your first experience with The Honesty Zone, you’ve picked a great one to take away your innocence. This is my version of the, “trust tree.” A safe place where everything is right with the world. No lies, no faint recollections, no prognostications; just good old fashioned, 100-proof, ice-cold truth.

And wouldn’t you know it, the universe just so happens to have something confidential that it wishes to share with us. This past week, some of the summer’s most mesmerizing NBA free agents met in the secrecy of South Beach. Or so they thought. Lucky for you, The Honesty Zone was there to document the excitement for you.

LeBron Headed to Chicago

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a few billion times; if you’re a fan of an NBA team with cap room this summer, you can’t get enough LeBron in your life right now.

But if you aren’t one of those fans, you’re likely just shy of homicidal right about now. To those folks I say, put down your weapons of choice and slowly step away from this column. You aren’t wanted here. We’re about to do a triple backflip off the high-dive, canon-balling into a LBJ free agent theory. Hopefully smooching Wendy Peffercorn in the process.

We all want to know where the NBA’s most exciting player is going to play next year. The thing is, he may have already told us.

NBA Free Agency 101

With the start of NBA free agency just days away, I decided to kick-start The Summer of LeBron with a monster e-mail swap with ESPN Radio’s Corey Costelloe. What grew from the idea was a potpourri of free agent madness. We started out with LeBron, moved onto theories, then predictions and ended with the predictable breaking of my little Clippers’ heart.

Enjoy.

Cory Ritzau on ESPN Radio Today

After Landon Donovan’s breathtaking, game winning goal in the 91st minute against Algeria in the rear-view-mirror, Not in HD’s own, Cory Ritzau will once again be joining ESPN Radio Bakersfield. This time he will be discussing the Round of 16 and the United States’ chances of making a deep World Cup run.

King of Commenting Competition: 2010

The time has come people, it’s time to show your stripes. It’s time to put your money where your mouths are, putting your creative and critical minds to good use. It’s time for the second annual, King of Commenting Competition.

We are looking to crown the most entertaining, comedic and intelligent reader and present to him/her, their rightful throne.

Here’s how it will work:

Hear Cory Ritzau Live on ESPN Bakersfield

World Cup beat writer and author of the Two Touch series, Cory Ritzau, will be joining ESPN Radio’s, Corey Costelloe, today in the 4 p.m. hour to give the skinny on tomorrow’s U.S. – Algeria matchup, as well as America’s chances of advancing to the Round of 16.

The Honesty Zone: Shaq-Kobe Unveiled

In riding the technological wave of the future, I’m typing this column using ultimate efficiency: airplane wireless internet. And let me tell you, it’s the greatest. So great in fact, it’s no wonder they soon plan on charging passengers $12.95 a pop to browse. Luckily for me, today is still part of Alaska Airlines’ free trial period.

Luckier for me still, I am soaring through the clouds on my way to Maui.

‘Sounding Off’ TubeCast: USC Sanction

Consider yourself lucky. You have the opportunity to help Not in HD break-in our newly featured video blog, “Sounding Off.” The TubeCast will be a weekly segment running on the site, dedicated to ten minute video rants by yours truly.

Today our topic is the sanction hullabaloo, swirling around the USC campus. The penalties were enormous. Did the punishment fit the crime? Is Althetic Director, Mike Garrett, even fit to run a 7-Eleven? Is Pete Carroll sitting in his plush Seattle office, sipping white wine, playing Go-Fish with Todd McNair?

I have thoughts. Come join me for a while…