Tim Ellsworth

Why does the United States team stink so much in the Ryder Cup? Anybody got any ideas?

A Christmas list for Steve McCoy.

My column this week is about Jeff Parker, the general manager for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, who left a plum job with the Anaheim Angels for a minor league position — because it was more suitable for his family.

And the crowd goes wild.

I open my Jackson Sun first thing this morning, and what do I see?

Jaxx lose Cubs affiliation

This means I can now root, root, root for the home team, and I can buy Jaxx stuff. It’s going to be a good day.

Looks like the new affiliate may be the Padres or the Diamondbacks.

This brings back memories.

No wonder Bo’s career ended prematurely.

From the Macon Telegraph:

Police are investigating a “bizarre” incident in which a man claiming he was performing a religious ritual kissed a woman’s feet Monday afternoon at the Perry Wal-Mart.

A college football official says fans are taking the games way too seriously and need to control themselves.

“I wish the fans would back off a little bit,” said Tommy Hunt, the ACC coordinator of officials. “It is called a football game. It’s not life and death.”

Hunt’s remarks came amid the controversy surrounding Saturday’s Oklahoma-Oregon game, in which officials blew a couple of calls.

Gordon Riese, who lives in Portland, Ore., was the replay official for the Oregon-Oklahoma game. He works for the Pacific-10 Conference and did not overturn a call on a disputed onside kick after replays appeared to show host team Oregon illegally recovered.

Riese and the on-field officials were suspended for a game by the Pac-10. Riese also told the Associated Press he has received harassing phone calls from fans and at least one death threat.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, meanwhile, continues to gripe.

I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about writing over the past few weeks. Obviously, this subject interests me because it’s how I make my living, and I’ve been doing it for a long time now. But I really want to improve, and that’s why I’ve been concentrating on the topic so much lately.

Let me ask a few questions and see how you respond:

1. What do you consider to be good writing? What are the characteristics and features?

2. Who are your favorite writers? I’m not talking about your favorite authors, although the two could be one and the same. I’m talking about favorite writers. I can hate an author and yet love his or her writing. Similarly, I can appreciate an author for his or her thoughts, and yet not particularly like how they present them. Who are your favorite writers?

3. What is it about your favorite writers that you like?

I’ll respond with my answers in a bit. Right now, I have to go teach a writing class.

A story in USA Today from a couple of days ago examines the status of players like Luis Gonzalez, Geoff Jenkins, Darin Erstad and Mike Sweeney — guys who have spent most or all of their careers with one team, but who may soon be moving on.

Of special note is the part about Sweeney:

Sweeney, a first baseman and designated hitter, has remained a Royal since breaking into the majors in 1995. He has become an icon in the Kansas City area as much for his play on the field as a five-time All-Star and for his charitable contributions off the field. He has shown dedication to children via his involvement with Children’s Mercy Hospital and local chapters of youth organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Youth Front. He also hosts area charity and non-profit groups at Royals games.

“For me, I really focus on the legacy that I will leave behind, not only for my family but with the game of baseball,” says Sweeney, a .302 career hitter with 188 homers and 794 RBI in 1,197 games. “If I was bouncing around from team to team, I wouldn’t have the connection with the community and the younger kids that I have now. It’s a joy for me to go to a church or a school or a baseball youth clinic and see kids who are excited. That has an impact on you.

“It would be real special to retire a Royal.”

Hat tip: Mike King, via Len

Pete Rose signed a bunch of baseballs, “I’m sorry I bet on baseball.” The balls will be sold for $1,000 each.

And Pete Rose wants to be reinstated to baseball. Yeah, way to help your chances with that, Pete.

Blogging will likely be light this week. I have some pressing deadlines staring me in the face for a few projects, and I’m also doing some thinking about the blog as a whole — I’m pondering some changes I may make to the content in the near future.

I won’t say there won’t be any posts, because as soon as I say that something will pop up that I can’t help but write about. Just don’t expect as many updates this week as usual.

I posted previously about MLB’s Hometown Heroes promotion. Now ESPN has one to go along with it: Hometown Bums.

The nominees for the Cardinals are:

Mark Mulder
Danny Jackson
J.D. Drew
Vern Rapp
Garry Templeton

I probably would have added Jim Lindeman to the list. Fungoes thinks Todd Zeile belongs there as well. I voted for Templeton from among this list of nominees. Drew is currently leading the balloting for both the Cardinals and the Phillies.

Bud Selig is running away with the honor for the Brewers, as is John Rocker for the Braves.

SI’s Adam Hofstetter writes about the childish behavior of fans. I wrote my column about the same issue this week. It should be posted later today.

Hat tip: Joel

With street names like Covenant Boulevard and Lazarus Way, the subdivisions built by Tennessee developer Joe Swanson are definitely Christian-themed.

Swanson grew up in a Christian home, raised his children the same way, and when he talks about how blessed he is, there’s something so genuine in his tone that you’ll probably nod in agreement, whether you agree or not.

So he’s decided to spread his faith, but instead of standing at a pulpit preaching to a congregation, he’s found a more subtle way to introduce Christianity into society — by building mixed-use developments. Swanson is not the only one who’s found that, when it comes to real estate, faith can be an amenity.

Some of his subdivisions are named Victory Station, Kingdom Ridge and Providence Pointe.