U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for," [French swimmer Alain] Bernard said.

And now back to your regularly-schedule baseball programming...

In my ongoing quest to try and bring more people into the fold of college baseball (and, more specifically, Texas Longhorn baseball), I was tickled to find out that Bill Buckner's only son, Bobby Buckner, plays baseball at the University of Texas- my alma mater.

Bobby followed his father's lead to the infield -- but he's a middle utility infielder instead, and plays second and/or shortstop for the Horns. Bobby's bio makes mention of his Boston birth and his dad's major league background, but remains silent on The 1986 Incident. From an article about Bobby signing his letter of intent to play at UT:

"Obviously, Bobby comes from a baseball family," associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Tommy Harmon said. "His dad, Bill Buckner, was a long-time major leaguer. His uncle played, also. He's somewhat of a baseball field rat. He wants to be at the ballpark all of the time. He can play either second or short and he's a switch-hitter."

Here's what passes for hockey in Texas (not Dallas):

I'm headed out to the Toyota Center to watch some awesome (cough) Aeros action. I haven't seen a hockey game since I worked for the Ice Bats in college... no, I am not kidding- the ICE BATS. The team played their games on an iced-over dirt floor in a rodeo arena. No, I am not kidding.

Surely Aeros hockey can't be any worse than hockey played in a rodeo arena, right? RIGHT?

We interrupt your regularly scheduled baseball broadcast for a little bit of non-baseball news. I try to keep my talk about other sports to a minimum, but I needed to make a quick post to say...

WOOOHOOO!
Dallas Cowboys - NFC East Champions!

Jason Witten: you are lucky you (1) are so darned cute, and (2) caught the game-winning touchdown (with 18 seconds left!), because now I forgive you for fumbling the ball on the 1 yard-line.

John Kitna: I thought I saw you holler "goddamnit" on the sidelines when your kicker missed the FG. I don't think Jesus likes it when you swear.

Tony Romo: Brett Favre may be my all-time greatest sports crush, and the most perfect man to ever walk the planet... but you're my QB1.

(Good) Roy Williams, Cory Redding, Shaun Rogers: you may be Lions, but I still must give props to my Longhorns. Even when they wear the enemy colors.

(Evil) Roy Williams: you may be a Sooner, and therefore I will always call you Evil Roy Williams - but you and me? We're cool.

T.O.: you (and Randy Moss) are the reason football is so damned exciting. More TD catches and popcorn-chugging celebrations next time, please.

And now back to your regularly scheduled broadcasting...

Shocking news development courtesy of BearMeat (via Burnt Orange Nation):

This guy is no Longhorn, he is a BAYLOR BEAR.

IMPOSTER!

Why didn't they just get VY to do this? (also, seriously- why the hell the EA geniuses thought it was a grand idea to produce an ad giving a Horn fan jealous envy of Adrian Peterson, when we spanked him twice, is beyond me)

I knew it was too good to last. Although Serge made it last a lot longer than I expected -- but in the end, he found a way to choke in Carnoustie. At least it was to Irish cutie Padraig Harrington.

Trophies and flags are for winners, Serge. Plates are for losers.

Look whose favorite golfer currently sits atop the Leaderboard in Carnoustie...

So pretty.

(Yes, I realize that the likelihood of Sergio Garcia winning the British Open is about as great as the Royals winning the World Series... but I'm going to celebrate while I can.)

Bode Miller, professional skier and professional troublemaker, once again signed a one-game contract to play with the Nashua Pride minor league baseball team (independent team with the Can-Am League, not part of MLB or MiLB).

Bode prowling the OF in Nashua last year

So when he strikes out at the plate (he went 0-fer last year when he played), will he ski off into the woods like he did at the Olympics?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
*big gasping intake of breath*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

They deserve a lot worse- like a punishment with some ACTUAL bite- but I'll take the horrific embarrassment of an entire season forfeit. It's no SMU death penalty, but it's a whole hell of a lot of egg on their face.