This Week On The Internets (20 July 2009)

So, I really do intend to post this every week.  With my recent sabbatical now complete(d), my plan is to be with you each and every Friday, in addition to other diatribes in and about your weeks, recapping exactly what’s happened and possibly enlightening you to something here or elsewhere that you may have missed.

First, an exciting week for CubicleGM.  As many, many new and old reliable readers have seen, our own Jake Nitzberg was in Chicago to witness Mark Buerhle’s perfect game this week.  His perspective is unique, particularly amongst the many writers and commentators who scrambled to tune their televisions to ESPN on Wednesday and write from there.  Jake was in the building.

In usual form, we also had a few thoughts on the spread offense from Walker, Jake’s weekly MLB power rankings, Gideon’s opinion on parity in baseball during the 2000s, and a bit of potpourri from one of the more ridiculous men in the sports blogdom.  We hope you’ve enjoyed.  I’m not sure what Mickey and I were doing; we’ll try harder next week.

What else, you ask?  Plenty from friends at other blogs and media outlets, including:

-  An overreaction from many in the Southeast, including 850 The Buzz, assuming that Steve Spurrier intentionally did not vote for Florida QB Tim Tebow to be a part of the All-SEC preseason team.  Mickey, fight back if you disagree.  I’ve voted in these types of preseason polls before; typically both the media and coaches vote at the same time.  This is usually a relative afterthought.  Some conference assistant goes scrambling around on the last day of the media weekend and asks people to fill out a piece of paper that only lists positions, player of the year, rookie of the year.  There isn’t a list of players to choose from and people generally just write down whatever immediately pops into their heads since the weekend is so busy.  Two points on this, before I conclude: 1) The media vote is worthless…  How and/or why any of those guys are entrusted to differentiate between Eric Winston and Duane Brown at offensive tackle I will never know; and 2) It’s almost impossible that Spurrier did this on purpose, given the way the vote is typically conducted.  He explained himself already, stating that it was an oversight.  Beyond that, we’ve got to realize that this is the type of issue that the media clamps onto, if only to have a bit of fodder for November 14 this fall when the Gators go up to play South Carolina in Columbia.  This isn’t worth the breath that’s already been spent on it, mine included.

-  Breaking news from Cleveland, that Lebron James smoked pot in high school.  When he had time to do this, I’ll never know, with the ESPN and SI crews camping outside his house.  Seems like things have turned out okay for him.  This, however, brings to mind one of my favorite sports stories of all-time, when childhood role model and Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton was arrested in November 2001 for 213 pounds of marijuana in his white van.  Then, not five weeks later, he was caught with 175 pounds of the same substance in the same white van.  Even years later, you just can’t make that up.

Moving on.

-  Finally, the Return of Michael Vick continues, without a team, home or savings account.  The ankle bracelet removed, Vick learned this week from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that, even if he signs with the Raiders or elsewhere, he’ll likely be suspended for the first four games of 2009.  He will be able to participate in training camp, but sit until early October.  The link above explores whether Vick has any recourse against the NFL if he’s suspended further.  I’m no legal expert, but I wouldn’t think so.  Roger does what he wants to do, say what you want about it.  Beyond that, Vick was punished by our legal system, not the league.  I’m all in favor of his return, as long as it isn’t in burgandy and gold, but Goodell’s got to get his crack at him, too.

Enjoy the weekend.