Coaches wearing mittens, Jeffrey Loria in a series of can't-miss television pilots, the Houston Astros in first place, and other April Baseball Things.
The first installment in our NBA preview series on individual players focuses on perhaps the NBA's most individual player, Kobe Bryant, as he starts another season in his life's work: unapologetically working to harness his own world-historic self-obsession.
He has squabbled with Barry Bonds in the dugout and T.J. Simers in a clubhouse, injured himself while "washing his car" and won a National League MVP. But by going on CBS' Survivor, Jeff Kent is entering a new universe of strangeness. Luckily, he is bringing his sunny attitude and mustache along with him.
The Lions and 49ers play in San Francisco this weekend, where Lions coach Jim Schwartz and Niners coach Jim Harbaugh will revisit their botched, aggro handshake from last season. They probably will not go to Arby's together, but it's nice to think about.
Mike Francesa is not just the most powerful and self-confident and ham-like personality in sports radio, although he is that. He's also a recognizably New York type, and a state of mind. So, yeah, definitely someone worth talking about.
A couple weeks ago, human veal chop and sports radio legend Mike Francesa was screaming like someone who really cared about the New York Mets. Yesterday, he fell asleep on camera while a guest talked about the New York Yankees. It's all pretty much the same for this guy.
In which two interlocutors are Incepted into Jeffrey Loria's boring dreams, embark on a vision quest with Rob Deer, start rumors the Jon Heyman way, and get a competitive deal on a new or gently used Optima at Shea Hillenbrand Kia.
