Tim McKernan posted on July 13, 2012 06:16
Back from Las Vegas…and back on the air…time to spit knowledge and shit.
-The dullest part of the sports calendar is now in the rearview mirror…albeit relatively close in the rearview mirror. I’m quite pleased that the World Series of Poker times out to culminate with the Main Event each year right around this week…when there’s nothing to talk about outside of that motherfucking Home Run Derby, the All-Star Game, and the ESPY’s. I wonder if ESPN coordinated with Louis Freeh the release of his report to fall on the one day of the 365 when they have nothing to talk about. I only say that half-jokingly. With this week of dullness and/or stupidity of this week behind us, we now have a couple of things in the short term to get fired up about…and a few things in the not-so-distant future to get fired up about:
Short term
-Cardinals vs. Reds: I’d be quite surprised if the Pirates were still around battling for the National League Central in late September. In this crap division, these two teams---barring injury---are better than Pittsburgh. And, the Reds are the Cardinals’ biggest rival right now. I suppose it can change from season to season…and from decade to 
decade…as last year one would’ve likely said the Brewers were the rival…and the year before one would’ve said the Reds…and a decade ago one would’ve said the Astros…and for the past century one would’ve said---most of the time---the Cubs. But, as it is, this is the rivalry for now, and this likely is going to be the team the Cardinals have to beat out to win the National League Central.
-The Trade Deadline: No question…the Cardinals have to do something. I’d be shocked if they didn’t. With the Pujols’ money off the books and with Lance Berkman, Kyle Lohse, and Jake Westbrook coming off the books at the end of the season, money cannot---and I don’t think it will---be used a reason not to make a move. And, with the attendance this year, there may be more dollars than projected. Although in fairness, I don’t have access to the Cardinals’ budget, so I don’t know that to be true. I just know a hell of a lot of people have packed that ballpark this season. I’m more in favor of making a move this year than I was last year…because I think this year the National League is up for grabs much moreso than I did in 2011…when the Phillies were the best team by a comfortable margin. This year, I don’t think you could get five baseball writers to agree on who is going to win the National League pennant. The Cardinals’ biggest issue is health…but the chance is there to win because of the weakness of the division and the overall parity of the league. I’m anxious to see what John Mozeliak does. It’ll be a more intriguing trade deadling than most…because it’s obvious a move has to be made, and a bigger name from the minor leagues---or maybe even the Major League team---could be on the move to get the pitching help they need.
Not-so-distant future
-Rams’ Camp And Missouri Camp: Truth be told---and this isn’t the Missouri Tiger in me---I think there’s much more enthusiasm for Missouri this year than the Rams, so perhaps I should put Missouri first. But, I think the enthusiasm for the Tigers is more about the SEC than the Missouri team itself. How good are they going to be? I don’t have the slightest clue. I’m fired up for road trips and ridiculous college football atmospheres…along with watching DGB. I hope the Rams are relevant, and I hope that Jeff Fisher makes magic, but I’m more excited about flying 10 hours to go to London than I am about walking four blocks to go to The Dome. That will change as the season approaches, I hope…I think, but either way, football is arriving in a couple of weeks, and we’re less than 50 days away from that month of the year when you have college football Saturdays, NFL Sundays, and pennant races everyday. It’s a tits time.
Quick Hits
-So happy for Kim English. He signed with the Pistons yesterday, meaning that he will indeed be on the team. Can you believe the guy Missouri fans saw in March 2011 has signed an NBA contract in July 2012? Right or wrong, the disaster against Norfolk State will tarnish the 2011-12 Missouri basketball team’s legacy in many---or most---fans’ minds. I know it will for me. And, I think one of the biggest shames of that game is that English could’ve been on the verge of godlike status in the state. Despite being from Baltimore, he was a Tiger through and through, and his love of the team and the program translated to the floor and the rest of the guys. I still think eventually he comes back to Columbia as a coach or broadcaster.
-Someone may want to forward this Todd Akin’s campaign. I’m not sure if we have his contact information, since we can’t seem to get a return call or email: At some point today, the money bubble will burst at the World Series of Poker. And, 10% of the field will get paid. What does that mean? That means that the top 666 people will receive money for playing in poker’s biggest event on Friday the 13th. As I typed that, I caught a glimpse of an image of St. Peter in my ass hair.
-Speaking of injecting religion into places that I didn’t realize it belonged---like my ass hair---I was watching the local news last night in an effort to dumb myself down. And, in one of the commercial breaks, there were two political commercials. One of them was from Friend of The Show Todd Akin. But, both mentioned the candidate’s religion. Couple of quick thoughts…even though I know by writing about this I’m inviting the negativity into my life I try and avoid: what does a candidate’s religion matter in how they’ll be as an elected official? Thomas Jefferson spoke on separation of church and state, and John F. Kennedy re-emphasized Jefferson’s statements in 1960. Somehow, the country is regressing, and I don’t think it’s the fault of religion. I think it’s partially the fault of those using religion as a means to getting elected. You have people voting for people not based on their level of intelligence, capability, or plans to address problems, but rather on their race, their sex, or their religion. Can you imagine seeing a commercial for Mitt Romney saying, “Vote for Mitt Romney. He’s a strong, white man.” Well, you have that with Mike Huckabee talking about Todd Akin’s religion in the commercial I saw on KSDK last night. Huckabee describes Akin as a “Bible-based Christian” in his endorsement after discussing his degree in divinity.
-For those of you who heard Sarah Steelman on TheITDRoll.com Morning After in April, you may have disagreed with many of her views. I know I did, but I sincerely appreciated her coming on and expressing those views, and I think we had a respectful and civil discussion. And, even though I don’t share many of her views, I respect one thing she told me when she visited the insideSTL offices last year: She would never use her faith as a way to get votes.
-Love him or hate him, Kevin Slaten’s show yesterday was entertaining radio. And, good for Sara Bruce for not backing down in her dissent. The Kingdom was on fire. I view Slaten’s show kind of like the way I view Bill O’Reilly’s show: I don’t agree with the majority of things being said, but I find it to be quite entertaining. And, to me, that’s what a talk show is about: entertainment. But, to each their own.
-Getting a lot of questions about where I play online poker. Unless an email slips through the cracks, I always respond to emails…even the ones motherfucking me. I have respect for people who want to address something with me or ask a question and use their real names as opposed to be Internet Tough Guys behind anonymous names. So, the least I can do is make sure I respond to every email. Therefore, since The People Who Tell You They Want Less Government Yet Want More Government When It Comes To Things They Don’t Like Such As The Gheys And The Gamblers may be monitoring this site, email me if you want to know where and how I’m still able to play the pokers even after people such as Todd Akin---who is a Bible-based Christian---played a role in taking away our rights to do with our money what we want from the comfort of our own home.
Log-in to post your comments, or you can email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.