Packed up and getting ready to head to Columbus this morning for Real Salt Lake and the Crew tomorrow night…
1. Good news for a shorthanded RSL Squad…The League’s reigning MVP (Schelotto) will not play due to a hamstring injury. The Crew will also be without Marshall, Rogers and Ekpo. Nothing is a given in MLS and especially for RSL, but a road win/result is needed tomorrow night. Especially with the Galaxy, who sit ahead of Real, winning on the road impressively last night against NYRB. RSL has too many teams above them right now not to be picking up points against wounded opponents. 5pm for the only live and in person call of the match this weekend, with Brian Kamler and myself from Crew Stadium.
2. Nothing new to report rumor-wise this morning on the Carlos Boozer situation. As I wrote two days ago, the Miami Heat appear to be the team with the most interest in Boozer right now. They have a pressing need to placate Dwayne Wade so he doesn’t leave town. The reports over the last 36 hours have Boozer and Lamar Odom as targets in South Florida. I don’t think this deal happens in days, but I do believe that it will happen in weeks and I don’t think there is anyway that BMB (Big Mouth Boozer) is in camp with the Jazz in September.
3. The Millsap deal is done and the Jazz are matching. I’d love to be in the room when Millsap’s representation and Kevin O’Connor meet to sign the paperwork. I think that Millsap’s people did him a great dis-service by opening their mouths and bad mouthing the Jazz organization. They are clearly not experienced in the ways of negociating contracts in the NBA and put their client in an ackward spot by calling his employer names. Paul will be fine, as long as he continues to do what he’s done the last couple of seasons, but his uncle/agent needs to learn the ways of “big business” in the Association before his next contract situation.
4. As I write this morning the 2nd round of the British Open is underway at Turnberry. My man, Tom Watson, is still in the hunt at age 59. I grew up in KC and Watson is from KC and continues to live there. In the late 70′s and early 80′s there were two predominant sports figures in the Midwest/KC. #1 George Brett of the KC Royals and #2 Tom Watson, who was the best player in the world for a 5-7 year stretch. In the age before the 24 hour sports/news cycle and way too many choice on TV, Watson was must see everytime he teed it up. His putter abandoned him and his reign as the world’s best did too. He’s been extremely competitive since on both the PGA and the Senior PGA Tour’s. He’s a gentlemen and great competitior. I certainly hope he can at least stay in contention today and tomorrow, I need something to root for over the weekend.
Off to the airport…check back for my travel log and updates….
