Mark_Concannon's Blog

*****COMPARISON SHOPPING-While Guillermo Mota was getting lit up in the 8th inning in Colorado Saturday night, former Brewer Scott Linebrink pitched a perfect 8th in yet another Whitesox victory.

*****JOEY MEYER REDUX?-Nelson Cruz, a former hot Brewers prospect who caused a great hue and cry when Milwaukee traded him for Carlos Lee is once again tearing up Triple-A. But he's been a flop in his brief stints in the big leagues.

****ROUGH TIMES FOR MONGO?-A recent Chicago magazine feature on former Bear and Packer Steve Mc Michael mentioned he and his wife living in a "cramped one-bedroom apartment," but never said why. A portfolio too heavy with dot.com stocks?

*****THE NAME'S THE SAME-The Charlotte Bobcats just hired a trainer named Steve Stricker.

*****GIVE ME LIBERTY-or give me an assistant's job. Texas State just named Patrick Henry as associate head coach for women's basketball.

*****IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?- A Vancouver lacrosse association is trying to stem the abuse heaped on referees. The Port Coquitlam Minor Lacrosse Association declared "silentstands" during four games, meaning fans can't yell, cheer or even clap. Head referee Craig Labranche said it's hoped the silence will reduce stress on players and referees. So much for homefield advantage.

*****SECRET SHRINE-Two Liverpool fans who also build swimming pools, constructed a secret shrine with all kinds of Liverpool memorabilia under the newly built pool of Gary Neville, a veteran defender for Liverpool's arch-rival Manchester United.

*****YOU'VE GOT THE JOB, MAYBE- Roberto Donadoni formalized a two-year contract extension Wednesday to coach the Italian national team.The contract includes an escape clause that could come into effect if he doesn't guide Italy to at least the semifinals at the European Championship later this month.

*****DOUBLE WORD SCORE- Beijing, host of the summer Olympics, will also host the first World Mind Sports Games in October. 3,000 competitors from more than 100 countries will be competing for 35 gold medals in chess, bridge, checkers and Chinese chess, the International Mind Sports Association announced Wednesday. This "IMSA" sounds like a real lampshade on the head group.

After this exhausting mental exercise, Musings will take next Monday off, returning on June 23rd.