Day 235: A-Rod is a Douche Bag. The End.

PED pariah and Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez stomped out of his own grievance hearing on Wednesday in New York like a spoiled three year old headed for a time out. He was in the midst of the hearings to try and get his 211-game suspension for alleged drug use overturned when it was ruled that commissioner Bud Selig did not have to testify before Rodreguez's attorneys. He was not happy.

So A-Rod did what he does best—he threw a tantrum. He slammed his fist on the table, declared the proceedings freaking bullcrap or something a bit more vulgar that might not be allowed on this blog, and he walked out. He issued a statement through his spokesperson (actually I'm sure it was a statement written by his spokesperson too since I'm fairly certain that A-Rod doesn't even know what unprecedented even means.)

"I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails," the statement said. "I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the players' association refused to order Selig to come in and face me. The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce."

What's a boy who's not getting his own way to do? Well, head on over the WFAN where Mike Francesa can kiss his ass, that's what! In fact, Francesa has his head so far up his ass, A-Rod needs a glass belly button so he can see where he's going. It's kinda gross actually. With so much evidence mounted against Rodriguez, for someone to so vehemently defend him is just really weird. Even his own team doesn't want him around anymore.

“Listen, they (MLB) accused you. They said they had mountains of evidence. They said they could prove you did worse than this,” Francesa preached. “You know how I feel. You’ve gotten railroaded... I don’t know if you’ve done steroids again or not, that’s your business. You’re stating here now that you’ve never done anything. You should be fighting this tooth and nail... I would’ve been outraged long before this.”

Gag, gag... vomit... gag. Really? REALLY? Alex Rodriguez is the biggest liar on the planet. But evidently Francesa has a giant man crush on the cheater so maybe someone should set up a marriage for these two douche bags.

It pains me that I share a birthday with this asshat.

Day 144: Must Be Time for Another Edition of... Aaron Hernandez is a Dumbass.

Ahhh, the life of a free person... that's me. Sitting on my front porch with my two hounds laying by my side, drinking an ice cold silver bullet, snacking on some cheese curls. The only thing that could make it better was if the weather was just a tad cooler. These are things that former Patriots' tight end and current resident of the Bristol County House of Correction never gets to do and probably won't ever again.

The only good part about today for Aaron Hernandez's was his field trip away from his 8 foot by 12 foot cage to court. He should cherish these small moments away from the confines of his cell because more and more the signs are pointing to the fact he could spend rest of his life staring at those stark concrete walls with not much more than an hour a day of fresh air. His day went downhill quickly.

This afternoon, Hernandez was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his friend, 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. I chuckle while typing the word "friend." If this murderer treats his friends like this, imagine what he does to people he doesn't like. I guess all those safeties and corner backs who hit him just a little too hard after a catch should feel lucky they're also not riddled with bullet holes.

Who knows... this could just be the first of many indictments for Hernandez. There has been a lot of talk with regards to the two unsolved murders in Boston in 2012, especially after police seized an SUV rented in Hernandez's name that had been used in the killing. And let's not forget the one-eyed drug dealer he shot in the face last February in Florida. That poor, half blind man has filed a civil suit against him.

If all this shit shakes out, and the guilty verdicts start a rolling in, Mr. Hernandez is going to watch his daughter grow up through bars. He was quoted recently in a letter, "I miss my little girl terribly. My biggest fear of all is she won't know daddy." Well, daddy, maybe you should've thought about that before you pumped your "friend" full of bullets. Dumbass.

Now they just need to find that gun.

Day 134: Dumbass Update: So Where's that Gun, Aaron Hernandez?

It's been a couple weeks since I've gotten to write about various happenings with the Aaron Hernandez case, so I figured it was time for a Dumbass Update. The authorities are still searching for the murder weapon and have recently turned up empty-handed. Maybe Hernandez isn't that much of a dumbass afterall. Sure, he's not smart enough to stay off his own video surveillance system, but he sure does know how to hide a gun.

They spent the better part of a week scouring a lake in Bristol, CT not far from Hernandez's uncle's house—and from what I heard, it was not the most pleasant of lakes. The dive team is expected to return to the area do search another body (most likely disgusting) of water next week. I wonder if those divers are allowed to wrap themselves in plastic so they don't have to touch gross things?

But in the past couple of days, a very interesting tidbit of information has come to light. The investigators now think that Hernandez may have given the gun to his girlfriend so she could dispose of it. The Bristol Press reported Hernandez may have instructed Shayanna Jenkins to take the gun out of his home. Evidently, there's surveillance video footage of her carrying a lock box or safe out of the house and putting it into her sister's car. Supposedly, she needed the car to go to the bank, but when she came back, the box was no longer with her.

Hmmmm... very interesting. Especially since his cohort, Carlos Ortiz, told police that Hernandez put the murder weapon in a box and hid it in his basement. So why all the mucking around in the lake looking for guns if the damn thing is right in his basement? Didn't the investigators look there?

If the girlfriend did dump the murder weapon, the police should put a tail on her. I know if it were me, I'd totally do something to implicate myself... tell a friend, look all shifty-eyed and nervous, sweat profusely... maybe that's why I'm not brought in to help with weapon disposal. Maybe she's an expert. Or maybe she's just stupid for getting her fool self involved, and now runs the risk of going to jail herself for obstruction or aiding or whatever it is idiots do for the criminals they love.

This case is starting to get a little boring. If it were a television show, I'd have stopped watching a long time ago. Maybe OJ can bust Hernandez out of jail and take him on a white Bronco ride across New England.

Day 127: Drum Roll Please: And the Cheaters Are...

Major League Baseball handed down 12 suspensions this afternoon. They took their own sweet time too—waiting for the offenders to be announced was sort of like waiting for the revelation of the list of perverts on the Kennebunk Zumba list.

Each of the 12 delinquents have been given 50 game suspensions effective immediately. This will allow players to return to their teams should they make the post season. Stupid, if you ask me. Who cares? And why should they be permitted to take part in any portion of this season? They cheated. I realize it's standard procedure for first offenders (if you're not Alex Rodriguez), but, in my opinion, a 50 game suspension doesn't provide enough of a deterrent to keep guys from doing it again.

If MLB wants to prove they're trying to clean up the game, they should strongly consider taking the same action that the International Olympic Committee does. If an athlete tests positive, the first time they're banned from competition for two years. The second time, they're banned for life. I'm pretty sure the possibility of a lifetime ban will clean up baseball quite a bit.

Pete Rose was banned for life for betting on baseball 25 years ago. Have you heard of anyone since then betting on baseball? And gambling doesn't help you heal faster, hit the ball farther or throw the ball harder.

The following 12 players have all agreed to accept their 50 game suspension:

• Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers
• Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres (dude should be suspended just for his name alone)
• Fautino De Los Santos, San Diego Padres
• Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers
• Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies
• Francisco Cervelli, NY Yankees (on DL)
• Jordany Valdepsin, NY Mets (minors)
• Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners (minors)
• Cesar Puello, NY Mets (minors)
• Sergio Escalona, Houston Astros (minors)
• Fernando Martinez, NY Yankees (minors)
• Jordan Norberto, Free-agent

A bit later this afternoon, MLB confirmed what we heard yesterday regarding Alex Rodriguez—although he's getting a short grace period, effective Thursday, A-Rod will be suspended for 211 games that will take him through the end of the 2014 season. This will be the longest non-gambling suspension for MLB to date.

Rodriguez refuses to go down without a fight—he plans to appeal the suspension. The New York Post had it right: Just Go. Shut your stupid cheating, lying pie hole, accept your punishment and serve your 211 games like a man.

Day 117: Patriots' Training Camp is Now in Session

Today marked the first official day of the New England Patriots 2013 Training Camp...yay! There are 42 days until the season opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 8th and I'm ridiculously excited for football! With all that's happened over the offseason, it will be nice to get back to some sense of normalcy. But I'm also a little nervous about what will happen with the somewhat new and slightly depleted receiving core.

The Aaron Hernandez disaster has cast a bit of a dark cloud over the start of training camp, but from the looks of it, the coaches and players are eager to put it behind them and get on with playing some football. On Wednesday, Coach Bill Belichick gave us more than anyone thought he would, and yesterday was the Patriots' captains' turn. Obviously under a gag order on what they could and couldn't say, each player chose their words to the press carefully.

It has obviously been tough for the players to accept what has happened. It must be hard to think about the former teammate you thought you knew being a murder suspect—a guy with whom you spent most of every day of the football season. I'm sure Robert Kraft isn't the only guy who's feeling duped right about now.

“At some point you have to move forward and I think we as a team are doing that,” Tom Brady said. “The best part is really coming out to start the football season and talking about what the challenges we have ahead of us. Certainly it’s been a challenging offseason, but we’re going to try to move forward as best we know how."

Vince Wilfork told reporters about the sign on the locker room wall: "Put your team first and do your job." This was obviously advice that Aaron Hernandez didn't heed. His actions were selfish and reckless with no thought given to how murdering someone (or someones) would not only affect his life, but the future of a team to which he made a commitment.

"Camp has started," Wilfork said, "It's tough, but at the same time, we have to continue to do our jobs. To start training camp on a note like this is tough. We're not going to disrespect anything that's going on with the families, but we have to play football."

Brady insists the ongoing saga hasn't had any negative repercussions on the team's morale—which is good news. Training camp has officially started and there's business to be done. Important football business that will be executed without the help of the former tight end turned murderer.

It's now about the football. 

Day 114: Ryan Braun Can't Weasel His Way Out of This Suspension

Biogenesis might sound like the fictional, evil scientific lab center of a Robin Cook novel to some, but for the doping major league baseball player, Biogenesis is a little bit like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The Miami-based rejuvenation clinic's true colors were revealed by a disgruntled employee who disclosed the real business—selling performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to an extensive list of MLB players.

In 2012, Milwaukee Brewers' left fielder Ryan Braun successfully challenged a positive drug test and an impending 50-game suspension based on the chain of command of his urine sample in late 2011. Because the sample sat in someone's fridge for 48 hours before being sent off to the lab for testing, Braun claimed that the positive result was due to tampering. He won the appeal and the suspension was overturned. Flimsy accusations, but it worked.

Following the events of the sample misconduct, Braun gained the support of many peers and team brass. He insisted that he did not violate baseball's drug agreement and people believed him. The Brewers rewarded him with a hefty contract extension worth $145 million, keeping him in Milwaukee through the 2020 season. He thought he was invincible.

So you cheat, you lie and you get rewarded with millions? Awesome.

Finally... Braun's luck ran out this week as he became the first player to succumb to this recent scandal. He was suspended without pay for 65 games—basically the remainder of the season and post-season, if the Brewers get that far. Braun will lose out on nearly $4 million of his $9.61 million contract for the 2013 season. Ouch. Serves you right, cheater. Can we revoke his MVP award?

Good for MLB for cracking down on these cheating douchebags. I'm so sick of these lazy, doping athletes who try to take the easy way out. I'm sick of the lies and I'm sick of second guessing every successful baseball player, wondering in the back of my mind if this is all him or if he's using an HGH aid. It shouldn't have to be this way. Fans shouldn't have to be suspicious of every home run and every strike out.

I'm not stupid. I know even member of the Red Sox have been involved in PEDs at some point or another. You can't tell me Jacoby Ellsbury wasn't juicing in 2011—just look at his career home run totals and tell me that was all him. We know Manny was doing it. Maybe David Ortiz experimented too, although we may never know for sure. It all makes me sick.

More will fall in the coming days and weeks—most likely Alex Rodriguez, Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera to name a few. Seeing A-Rod go down might even be worth it.

Day 101: And Aaron Hernandez Just Keeps Sinking Deeper

Lots of goings on in the Aaron Hernandez case this week—actually, lots of goings on that scream guilty! It's not looking good for the tattooed tight end with the recent revelations in his case. Documents in the case against Hernandez have been made public and it's pretty incriminating.

According to weei.com, a few of the facts released kind of make you wonder if he was even trying to hide the fact that he was a murderer.

• When investigators first told Hernandez they were “conducting a death investigation,” he slammed the door and then locked it, becoming “argumentative” with police when they first questioned him. 

 • Police say the cell phone found on the body of Odin Lloyd contained a text from Hernandez received on the morning of his death that read, “We still on”. 

• Hernandez also allegedly did not ask who had died.“Mr. Hernandez’s demeanor did not indicate any concern for the death of any person.” 

• According to police, Lloyd slept at Hernandez’s house two nights before he died.  

• A witness at the Rumor nightclub in Boston said Hernandez was present at the club two days before Odin’s death with a handgun in his waistband.  

• Police found multiple firearms on Hernandez’s property. 

The evidence is continuing to mount against the former Patriots' tight end and it will be interesting to see how his lawyers dig him out of this hole.

And just when you thought he couldn't be in more trouble, there's a report from TMZ that Hernandez actually admitted to shooting Odin Lloyd. It appears that one of his two cohorts, Carlos Ortiz, who is also in custody, told investigators that Ernest Wallace, the second of his pals, told Ortiz that Hernandez confessed to shooting Lloyd.

And yes... it is TMZ, so any news reported should be taken with a grain of salt, but I also saw the report on SI.com so there's that. I know I should be so quick to put the orange jumpsuit on Hernandez permanently—innocent until proven guilty, right? The fact that he didn't even ask who had been shot raises a big red flag...

But all in all, things are not looking too great for Hernandez and the likelihood of spending the rest of his life in an 8' x 10' cell is becoming more of a reality. But something tells me he'll fit in just fine in the Gen Pop.

Day 99: Kraft and Patriots Feeling Duped.

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, has finally broken his silence on the Aaron Hernandez situation. And guess what? He feels duped. Really? You've been paying a suspected three-time murderer and probably funded the murder weapon for this punk.

No one has a crystal ball (no, not even Bill Belichick) and could ever have predicted what kind of total criminal-in-the-making this kid would turn out to be. If all those other teams were passing on a tight end with this kind of talent, something was seriously wrong with him—and not just a bunch of failed drug tests. But Hernandez offered to take bi-weekly drug tests so why not trust him?

Essentially, Aaron Hernandez blew a whole lot of smoke up Kraft's ass and Kraft and the rest of Patriots front office fell for it... The former Patriot tight end claimed he wanted to be a role model for the Hispanic community. And that would probably make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside if he specified what type of role model because evidently, he really meant he wanted to encourage young Hispanics to join gangs and murder their friends.

According to an article in the Boston Globe, Kraft said, "No one in our organization was aware of any of these kind of connections. If it's true, I'm just shocked. Our whole organization has been duped."

The article also goes on to say that Hernandez "knew how to push (Kraft's) buttons." He was raised in New England and after he was drafted, he told Kraft his first Patriots jersey was a Drew Bledsoe jersey.

"He was a New England kid who was a Patriot. I thought it was cool," Kraft said.

After signing his big new contract extension that paid him $16 million guaranteed, but could be worth up to $40 million, Hernandez donated $50,000 to the Myra Kraft Giving Back Fund. Kraft tried to give it back, but Hernandez wanted the foundation to have it.

So was Aaron Hernandez sincere in the things he said to Robert Kraft or was he just kissing his ass so that maybe there wouldn't be such a close eye on his every move? Or maybe Hernandez actually thought he could change his murdering ways and be the good kind of role model. How's that working out for you now, Aaron?

Day 98: So I Guess Soccer is Pretty Dangerous

***May contain graphic descriptions of really bad stuff so if violence bothers you, this might not be the post for you.***

I really thought that the whole Aaron Hernandez murder thing would be the most horrifying sports story I would hear about for a long time... and then came Brazilian soccer. This football tale could easily be the plot for a really scary movie—a tale I'm not sure even the sickest mind could make up and there have been some really effed up movie plots over the years.

The story takes place at an amateur Brazilian soccer match a little over a week ago. The characters involved include 20-year-old match referee Otavio da Silva and 31-year-old player Josenir Abreu. The referee (da Silva) issued a red card to the player (Abreu)—a normal soccer occurrence, right? Evidently Abreu took offense to the red card and began arguing with da Silva, refusing to leave the field.

Da Silva became incensed with the arguing and decided to take action in shutting the argumentative player up. The referee reportedly had a knife in his possession and began to repeatedly stab Abreu on the field. The player was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital later. Even if the story ends here, it's pretty disturbing, right? To think that a referee, the person who is charged with making sure the rules are being followed, could commit such a heinous act is frightening.

But here's where the story goes from horrifying to downright gruesome. Several spectators—most likely family and friends of the victim—rushed the field in response to the attack and brutally assaulted the referee. It was reported that the attackers stoned da Silva then quartered and decapitated him, subsequently hanging the referee's head on a stake. Huh?

I honestly can't wrap my head around the first crime, let alone the grisly act that followed. I'm sure there will be a lot of soccer players not too thrilled about traveling to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup next summer after this nightmare...

Day 92: Aaron Hernandez Jersey Buyer's Remorse?

There are several reasons I never purposely purchase team gear with a player's name on the back. First of all, he might leave. Nothing bugs me more than someone wearing a t-shirt or jersey with the name of a player who now plays for another team. Youkilis and Beckett shirts should now be outlawed in Fenway Park. Just sayin. The only time I'm ok with it is if that player has retired while playing for the Red Sox. Yaz... ok. Ted Williams... ok. Jason Varitek... ok.

"Why you no want my jersey?"

Another reason is, and this might be the most important reason, that player might end up being a serial killer. I'm super excited I never bought or even thought about buying an Aaron Hernandez jersey. Not really a name I want emblazoned across my back. Kind of screams, "Hey, look at me, I love murderers!" Certain people out there will continue to wear their Hernandez jerseys, but I'm guessing those folks fall into one of the following groups: (a) Serial Killer, (b) Gang Banger, or (c) Dumbass.

The Patriots have provided a solution for anyone who purchased an Aaron Hernandez jersey back when he was a closet killer and now has an extreme case of buyer's remorse. This weekend (July 6-7), the New England Patriots have offered to exchange your tainted jersey for one of equal value at the Patriots Pro Shop.

If you can't get to the Pro Shop this weekend, have no fear... these suckers are selling like hotcakes on eBay. Really? One guy put his Hernandez jersey on the auction site hoping to get $50 and he ended up selling it for almost $230! And another guy got almost $290!! Since the NFL has discontinued the #81 Patriots jersey, collectors (or boneheads who just want to wear it for the shock value) have been willing to shell out some bucks to get one.

But some have gone just too far. After the Boston Globe reported of the inflated sale prices, one greedy jerk put a white (unsigned) jersey up on eBay for a whopping $4,000. No bids on that one yet. There is also a throwback Hernandez jersey (also unsigned) for the bargain "Buy It Now" price of $2,000. Seriously?

What kind of person buys this crap? Wait, I don't even want to know...

Day 88: Aaron Hernandez is a Dumbass

I feel the need to rant a bit about the Aaron Hernandez situation. Actually, what is it with the NFL players in general and their brushes with the law? From Lawrence Taylor's taste for crack pipes and underage hookers, to Ray Lewis pinning a murder on his pals to save his own ass, to Michael Vick's despicable dog fighting ring, it's disgusting that these grown men can't properly conduct themselves in the presence of fame and fortune.

Over the years, you hear about the professional football players who screw up and get caught with drugs or smack their wives or, in some cases, are tried for killing their wives—who doesn't remember being glued to the television watching the police chase after the white Bronco and OJ Simpson? But this year, there seems to be a violence epidemic.

Since the Super Bowl earlier this year, reports say that 29 NFL players have been arrested. If you figure out the percentages, 29 out of 1,650+ players is only 1% and that might not be too bad if that was over the last decade or so... but this is in less than six months! Most of the charges fall under the assault and battery or drunk driving categories. And some are a lot more serious... *cough* Hernandez *cough*

I just don't get it—most of these guys have everything handed to them. THEY PLAY FOOTBALL FOR A JOB, for crying out loud! Aaron Hernandez signed a five-year, $37.5 million dollar contract extension with the New England Patriots less than a year ago. With the departure of Wes Welker and the injury to Rob Gronkowski, he had the opportunity to become Tom Brady's go-to guy, catch a bunch of passes and make a real name for himself. Dumb. Ass.

Hernandez had so much potential and he just pissed away because someone did something he didn't agree with? So your willing to throw away the fame and fortune for the thug life? Do murderers get paid more than football players? I don't understand how these morons think they're invincible and above the law. I don't understand how stupid someone can be to think that in this day and age of surveillance and cell phone videos they can get away with murder.

And now we find out Hernandez is also being investigated for ties to a double murder from last year? He really isn't too smart, is he?

Day 87: So I hear Aaron Hernandez is in some trouble...

Today was one of those days in the world of sports that just made my head spin. Today was also one of those days that having a full-time job bummed me out because all I really wanted to do was stare at the Twitter and the interwebs all day and just watch the news roll in. Today, some real shit went down.

It's been over a week since the brutal murder of semi-pro football player, Odin Lloyd and during that time there's been a ton of speculation, and even the false report of a warrant for Aaron Hernandez's arrest, but no actual action. Well today, we got finally go that action.

At approximately 8:45am, Aaron Hernandez was taken from his North Attleboro home in handcuffs. That part of the story didn't surprise me—especially since he had destroyed evidence soon after the discovery of Lloyd's body. I was expecting the arrest—at least for obstruction of justice. But unfortunately for Hernandez, with the handcuffs came more bad news. Less than two hours later, the Patriots announced the release of Hernandez. The Pats did the right thing. Robert Kraft and the Patriots organization, first and foremost, must protect the integrity of the team.

It wasn't until early afternoon that the actual charges were announced: first degree murder and five weapons charges. (What? One gun wasn't enough?) The criminal complaint against Hernandez, 23, states that:

"On 6/17/13, [he] did assault and beat Odin Lloyd with intent to murder such person, and by such assault and beating, did kill and murder such person."

Does "assault and beating" = shoot repeatedly? I know it's all "innocent until proven guilty" but if the verdict is guilty, the only uniform Hernandez will ever put on again will be prison-issued and possibly orange.

The Washington Post reported the supposed chain of events on the night in question.

Surveillance footage from Hernandez’s home showed him leaving with a gun, and he told someone in the house that he was upset and couldn’t trust anyone anymore, the prosecutor said.  

The three men picked up Lloyd at his home around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities. As they drove around in their rented car, they discussed what happened at the nightclub, and Lloyd started getting nervous, McCauley said.  

Lloyd texted his sister, “Did you see who I am with?” When she asked who, he answered, at 3:22 a.m., “NFL,” then, a minute later, he sent one final text: “Just so you know.”  

Within a few minutes, people working the overnight shift at the industrial park reported hearing gunshots, McCauley said. Surveillance video showed the car going into a remote area of the industrial park and emerging four minutes later, the prosecutor said.  

A short time later, Hernandez returned to his house, and he and one of the other men were seen on his home surveillance system holding guns, McCauley said. Then the system stopped recording, according to the prosecutor.

The signs point to Hernandez being the mastermind of an execution where the victim was shot multiple times. He is currently being held without bail and, if convicted, faces life in prison without parole. He's 23 years old. That's a long friggin' time to be in the big house.

What is it with these NFL players lately? Since the Super Bowl, 29 players have been arrested. Is it too much money at a young age? Feelings of invincibility? Tiny brains? Steroid rage?

So who the hell is Tom Brady going to throw the damn ball to this season? Hernandez? No... murderer. Gronkowski? No... broken. Welker? No... gone. I don't know if he's worried yet, but I sure am.