Mark_Concannon's Blog

*****WE'RE SORRY TO INFORM YOU-The Reds explained why they traded stars Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn and ask for patience in a letter sent to fans this week.The letter was sent by e-mail and posted on the team Web site, and was signed by owner Bob Castellini and general manager Walt Jocketty. It states the team is building with young talent and believes the trades were important for future success.

*****JUST A BIT OUTSIDE- Mariners knuckleballer R.A. Dickey tied a major league record by throwing four wild pitches in an inning against the Twins last week. Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima also was charged with a passed ball on another errant pitch in the fifth.

*****BORN A CUB FAN- Years before 7-year-old Wrigley was born, his father Jerry Fields says he'd already decided what he'd do. Coming from a family of Cubs fans and with his particular last name, he decided to name his first son after the Friendly Confines.Little Wrigley Fields will meet his destiny on Aug. 29 at a Cubs' home game against the Philadelphia Phillies when he'll throw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field. His mother Kathy says she mentioned Wrigley's name in front of a former Cubs official, who promised her Wrigley would get to throw out the first pitch.

*****ROUGH NIGHT-On the same night he was lit up by the Orioles, Red Sox pitcher Clay Bucholz was sent down to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.

*****HOOPIN' IT UP- Approximately 83 percent of teenage girls play sports, with basketball as the top choice, according to a survey sponsored by Seventeen magazine and the WNBA.

*****GOOD DEAL IF YOU CAN GET IT-A decent ticket for the USA-Greece men's olympic basketball game this week sold for 15 dollars.

*****HONEY, I'M HOME-Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, hadn't even talked to her husband an hour after the championship victory, let alone seen him. "I'd like to see my husband for more than a day," May-Treanor said Thursday after she and partner Kerri Walsh played through a driving rainstorm to beat China and repeat their victory in Athens. "It would be nice to walk in the door and say, 'Honey, what's for dinner,' instead of having to make food for myself."

*****PLAYING AT "THE IRV"- A new sports complex will stand in tribute to Irving Saladino, who ended Panama's 60-year Olympic medal drought with his victory in the men's long jump last week. The new sports complex will be completed in 2009. It will include a soccer stadium, gymnasium and a hall of fame.

*****BUSINESS AS USUAL-Germany won the grand prix dressage, just like it has done every Olympics since 1984.

*****BUSINESS AS USUAL #2 -When Kyle Orton starts Sept. 7 at Indianapolis, it will mark a run of 10 seasons in which the Bears have used the same starting quarterback in consecutive openers just once -- Rex Grossman in 2006 and 2007.

*****THE NAME GAME-Best football name of the week? The Titans newly signed defensive back Tuff Harris.

*****THE NAME GAME #2-North Carolina State's new assistant golf coach is named Chip Watson.

Musings takes Labor Day as a day of rest, but returns all fired up on September 8th.