Could Braun be exonerated? Hope sweeps Brewer Nation!

 The day started off great for Brewers fans today when the team hoisted and bolted into place its 2011 NL Central Division pennant (or banner if you want to call it that. Then the media world gave us a gift I would have to say gave everyone in Brewer Nation hope.

That hope came from the Dan Patrick Show on DirecTV and Fox Sports Radio. It's known Ryan Braun had his hearing last week in his appeal for his positive drug test and DP had a chat with someone "close to the situation"

As Tom Haudricourt says on his blog on JS Online, Patrick says "Ryan Braun may be exonerated here. he may be found innocent. And judging from all the information I was told, there's a good chance that he should be."

Now this isn't set in stone, but the minute any one of us as Brewers fans gets any idea or hope he is going to beat this thing after believing what Braun has said about the test as "BS" someone comes along and says no one has every beaten a positive test with an appeal. Well, I cannot remember a time when a player's positive test was leaked before the appeal was heard. So, my answer to that is how do we know? Truth is, we don't.

I'm going to go along with what Dan Patrick said and use him for a minute as a spring board to show some validity in what he said. A guy of his profile taking what he has heard and was told in a discussion has to show that the chances of Braun beating this rap are greater than we could have thought. It would be unprecedented.

I have not written on the matter in this space before, but I've gone back and forth on the idea that Braun could win a libel suit with ESPN. I have not wavered on the idea that this should not have leaked. Especially if he beats it. Had it not been leaked, we would have never found out about it in the first place and wouldn't think anything of him being in New York other than to accept the MVP award.

A simple Google search shows a lot has been written about this today and rightfully so. Patrick saying this and making his case on why he believes it to be true is a large step in what was believed to be an open-and-shut case that would have seen Braun out for the first 50 games. I was coming to grips with that idea and ready to see the team struggle offensively without him in the lineup. But this could give us all hope.

Isn't that all we wanted anyway? Isn't that what we were looking for? It's like Steve Urkel when Laura Winslow told him his chances were 1 in a million his response, "So you're saying there's a chance?!" Well, consider me Urkel and consider this my chance.

Chris Berman: Another thing wrong with ESPN

Yesterday I wrote of sports doofuses and today, well, I speak of another guy that doesn't have to do any of the items on that list, but still is one of the biggest sports doofuses (probably the nicest of names people call him), Chris Berman. Yeah, you can add it ot the list of things I don't like about the network.

The guy is a rambling loser. He was the reason I was OK missing Prince winning the Home Run Derby this year. He's also the reason I can't wait to move so I can get DirecTV and fire up the NFL Network for my pregame and postgame football coverage. He is just awful with those lame ass nicknames and banter.

Now why am I bringing this up now? Well, he's finally been taken off the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremony as master of ceremonies in favor of Rich Eisen of the NFL Network. I must say good choice. Rich is witty and actually relevant. Good riddance!

OK, the guy has been around for awhile and was probably the first guy to start having his own "thing" he did when he was at the desk for ESPN, but really, the needs to effing go. Trey Wingo kills it on NFL Live during the week and Stuart Scott does a damn good job at the sight of the Monday Night Football games, why not just let the man and his huge gut and combover just go the hell away already?

Oh, the biggest point of them all, he's a jerk. If he was a nice guy, I'd have some compassion for him. Here's some proof he's a first-class asshole. Enough said.



Now to a little tribute of sorts to take you into the weekend. With news John Hughes passed this week, everyone seems to be discussing what his best movie was. I loved a lot of his movies, but the one that I go to seems to be Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It has its spot among the best in all of pop culture history and I'm a huge fan of the Ferrari, the trip to Wrigley Field, the parade and Mia Sara. I even think she's tied with Elisabeth Shue as "it" girls of the 80s. Got a couple vids that show some of my fave parts.





Let me know what your favorite part of Bueller is in the comments. I'd love to hear them.

Now to some other funny bits of the day. Saw this on my boy Jimmy Traina's Twitter yesterday. He runs SI.com's Hot Clicks. If you were paying attention during the SEC football media days, Tim Tebow admitted he was a virgin. Here's a link if a missed it. Well, the folks at Yahoo! Sports made a wild headline the other day. To the regular person, probably nothing big, but to those of us who write headlines on an everyday basis, it's a big deal. You tell me what you think.



OK, the Nussie Hunter had been hiding this next pic from me for the last couple weeks. He finally let me have it today. If you've seen this month's Maxim, you've seen the Joanna Krupa pictoral. I must say she's amazing. If you've seen her Playboy spread, you know what I'm talking about. Here ya go boys. Enjoy your weekend.

Calling all sports doofuses!!!

I came across a list the other day during my daily reading that really got me thinking. It was on ESPN.com's Page 2 (one of the best out there for off-the-beaten-path sports stories).
The topic at hand was classifying a sports doofus and it may have been one of the best things I had seen in recent memory.
The good and bad part of this list is that you know someone that can fit almost all of the 20 items on it. In fact, item No. 1 is having a jersey with your own name on it. I've never really been that guy, but I know someone that does and I won't name him. If done right you can pull it off, but for the most part, it's middle of the road for me.
One that I will say I'm guilty of is No. 2 on the list, owning Wild Card paraphernalia. And heck, the Brewers made the playoffs for the first time in 26 years last year, so I got an NL Wild Card Pennant. I do not own one of those famous hats that sold out and or a T-shirt, but yes, it's rather lame if you ask me to declare that you're the best of the teams that didn't win a division or anything else for that matter.
A couple more steps down the list is the one that I think is the biggest sign of a sports douche bag, proposing via the JumboTron And that coming from one of the biggest sports guys I know... ME! I figure I'm going to suggest whatever lucky lady I'd consider marrying to enough sporting events I will concede not having the proposal at a sporting event and do a little bit more and go out of my comfort zone. If she's moved that high up on my list, she's worth that much.
Along similar lines with that one, though is No. 8 which is being too cool for Kiss Cam. I mean really? Just take part in the tradition while "Kiss Me" plays on the Tron. Heck, it's fun and one time I'll go along with some PDA.
One that a lot of people I know likly fit into is No. 10 which is wearing baseball pants for their slo-pitch softball games. This is one I'm actually going to say that I don't think is that big of a deal. Heck the guys that I know play are hardcore into it and all own pants. I'll suspend this one for you guys. It's not that big of a deal.
One I will not pass on is having a team or player tattoo, No. 12 on the list. And again, as big of a sports fan as I am, anyone that has a tattoo of their favorite player, team or alma mater. I will most certainly not be taking part and getting one of these anywhere on my body thank you very much.
And finally in this rant of sports doofuses, you know those college kids that hold up a sign that says "SportsCenter is Next!" or use ESPN to spell out something? Yeah, LAME! Never do that. Only if you're being funny and it's original is it acceptable. Like this one I took at Miller Park a couple months ago. Now that's funny!

OK, while on the subject of proposals at a baseball game, that reminds me of one of the funniest things I've ever seen.



Yesterday's post of the Matthew Stafford pictures got me a couple E-mails and comments around the office of people I know that introduced me to maybe my new fave Web site, www.drunkathlete.com. It catches athletes in their finest moments. Here's everyone's favore New York QB, Eli Manning, looking great during a night out on the town. Imagine after he signs this hefty new contract!



Now for some movie news. This weekend is the premiere of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Check a trailer and exclusive clip here) and I am majory excited for it. With Transformers and now G.I. Joe, it's like my childhood is coming to life. I'm so excited.

That leads me into at what the Nussie Hunter found today. She is one of the female stars of the movie, Sienna Miller. Enjoy!



A call for help: While I used the Page 2 list for the doofus list today, I'd like to create my own list of "Rules" a guy must follow when attending a major sporting event like a football or baseball game. My boys Covino and Rich have discussed this time and time again and had to ask for approval from the Dudebros when attending the MLB All-Star game to bring their glove for their spot in Big Mac Land this year.

Something along those lines, people. When is it OK to wear your jersey? Can a grown man bring his glove to the game? Are signs OK? Wearing a team piece of clothing that is not playing in the game you are attending. All of that stuff.

Be sure to comment and I'll use it and attribute you as I'm trying to get this together next week as the NFL preseason gets ready to kick off.
Thanks for the help guys!

One upset Prince makes a 17-4 game interesting

Two men at the center of a controversy get us started on this Hump Day edition of Wilber's Way. I dunno bout you, but I was off to bed by the time the fun started in LaLa Land last night with the Brewers getting pounded by Manny and the Dodgers.
Manny had been hit in the seventh by Chris Smith (the young buck has been involved in two instances now during his brief time in the bigs) with little commotion raised.
Then Guillermo Mota makes himself known against the team he played for last year by throwing at Prince, who did not like being thrown at with two outs of a 17-4 game in the top of the ninth.
After the game, all hell broke loose. See for yourself here.

Moto got tossed immediately, but in order show the full perspective of this incident, we need to take a look back. This might just be one of the funniest baseball fights ever as Mota takes a shot at Mike Piazza who didn't like it at all.

All I can say is, I'm tuning in tonight! Might be some fun as it is the last time the two teams play this year.

Also of news today is a move by ESPN to change is social networking guidelines for thier employees. Word actually came down through one ESPN worker's Twitter. Here's the link.
My take on the matter was initially one of, WTF is the four-letter word in sports talk doing? But the more I thought about it, things in Bristol are fitting to get out of hand now that this Erin Andrews thing seems to be done by someone within the complany. Sad day, looks like I won't be hearing anything out of Molly Qerim for a bit now will I? So sad.



Speaking of Twitter. I do actually follow some Packers blogs to see what is going on in Packerland and came across something I just couldn't say no to posting. It looks like the NFL's No. 1 draft pick was enjoying his final days of summer with some quite beautiful women (that's how the top pick rolls right?!)
There's more here, as he looks like he had a damn good time. Plus started the day with one girl and dragged a different one into the woods. Haha. Oh Matthew!

Speaking of drafts, I'm finalizing my fantasy football league and have things together for my team names, but always am in the market for a witty name. If you're having problems, the fine folks over at "Kissing Suzy Kolber" have some help for you. First, these are awesome and they do it every year. And second, that might just be the best blog name I've seen.

OK. Now to the feature event of the day. I know yesterday I went with a boycott of the Megan Fox boycott and had a full blog of Nussie Hunter. Well, have to keep the spot alive today.
I watched Fast and Furious the other night and while Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez are fine in their own right, I thought Gal Gadot stole the show. Upon doing some research, I discovered she is the 2004 Miss Universe. Well, damn. She is out of this world hot, so why not run with it.

ESPN is truly the new four-letter word in sports

It was kind of a slow sports night last night and as I comb around for my daily reading I noticed two stories in some places that didn't show up in others.
The first is, of course Erin Andrews, and I will most certainly not be talking more about her. (Go get 'em girl) and this Ben Roethlisberger news of a civil sexual assult case brought against the two-time Super Bowl Champion QB. Now it showed up in my Pro Football Talk Twitter I am "Following," but is nowhere near the "worldwide leader in sports." I was thinking, OK, maybe they're just waiting to confirm it, but then I found this. Now that may just be one's belief, but the guys at PFT kept their ear to the street and then waited for this notice to come across saying not to cover the issue at all.
Now I'm as much of a sports nerd as anything and ESPN is very good at what they do, but at the same time they call themselves "The World Wide Leader in Sports" and ignoring big stories like this show there is a bit of an agenda at stake with them.
I've said it before to get your true perspective on what is going on, you need to get your sports knowledge from somewhere other than ESPN. I don't know how many guys I run into that say they know sports because they watch SportsCenter like five times a day. Now sure you know what is going on, but you don't know the true story. You have to hit some of the local papers where the news is coming from for the full perspective and maybe hit some blogs and message boards.
I made a call into the Scott Ferrall Show a few weeks ago about John Anderson and Scott Barnaby getting into a bit on stage at SportsCenter and what followed from Ferrall was an hour tirade about how ESPN sucks and I would have to agree with him for the most part.
If you stop and think about it though, it's what you would expect in knowing the E in the name stands for Entertainment. That makes everything else make sense now doesn't it?
My take is this, sports fans, it's a fault of theirs for missing the boat on this and if you don't know anything about it, you have to be sure to get your news (this holds true not just for sports) from a variety of sources.

Today is a bit of a random mix of topics that have come up throughout the morning and day for me with the big news of the past day being the T.O. Show's debut on VH1 last night. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet (blame a Brewers rain delay last night) and was sidetracked all day at the office.
What I've heard from friends leads me to beleive some rather solid high spots from the guy Skip Bayless calls "Team Obliterator." I must say I'm looking forward to it. I'll give my review of Episode 1 tomorrow.

Onto some pop culture now and Chris Brown gave his public apology on YouTube yesterday for his incident with Rihanna.
First off, I did watch that and I must say, it was lame. Horrible in fact.
Good thing Rihanna found a new guy, Drake, that is smashing the charts with "Best I Ever Had."



Finally, a quick Nussie Hunter at a chick that got on the nerves of my radio boys Covino and Rich the last couple of days, Julia Allison. She's a dumb blogger chick who called them obsessed with looks. Well, you decide for yourself, here.


And if that one isn't enough, there's this one, showing she is all class.



Be sure to check out the C&R Forum here and here for the discussion.