One trick?

Dear Andy H,

You may recall once calling Rapha Nadal a "one-trick pony". Looks like you've got one last chance to admit he's the real deal before he becomes the world's number one player. 

Manny gone?

Manny Ramirez, Craig Hansen, Brandon Moss (and cash?) for Jason Bay... if it's true, I'm stunned. Terrible deal, especially in the middle of a pennant race. 

I know Manny isn't exactly a prized clubhouse presence these days, but haven't we seen this before? They wait it out, let the media and fan furor die down, and then Manny is happy again. After all, isn't this when his trade value is the absolutely the lowest? When every team in the league knows about the feud? 

What will Ortiz think?

Ron Artest v The Civil Rights Movement

Amazing... I don't know what to say. MLK must be rolling in his grave.

The story

Favre

I have to agree with the Packers on this. He retired, and they made the best decision for the franchise, to start developing for the future. Favre is foolish to expect that the Packers would just reverse their plans when he has a change of mind. Honestly, I think they've been hoping for him to quit for a long time. The Packers were just trying to avoid fan controversy, as BF is so popular.

Now the pack faces a firestorm this season if Rodgers struggles, which he probably will, it being the NFL. Watch for it. 

Really though, Favre is a mediocre QB, and he always has been. He's sortof a football Derek Jeter: he makes spectacular-looking plays, and people overlook his fundamental flaws. Favre's image has also benefitted from a macro-scale consistency... few terrible seasons. There was also the well placed mid-career SB.

The gunslinger era has been ended by the salary cap. Protecting the ball and making sound decisions are now the most important skills for the position. This is why Donovan McNabb will never match Brady and Manning.