It was 22 years ago today that Pete Rose bumped umpire Dave Pallone:

COMPLETE STORY (SI.com)

MLB cincinnati reds, baseball history, pete rose, dave pallone

Here are five guys that could be available in your league and worth a look:

2B Kelly Johnson (ARI) – Chances are the D-backs second basemen is already gone your league, but he was available in over 25 percent of the leagues on CBSSports.com less than a week ago.  With a NL-leading nine homeruns already, he’s a must have at this point.

RP Brad Lidge (PHI) – The Phillies closer is coming off a terrible ’09 campaign and major surgery. He through seven scoreless innings over his last six minor league appearances and is now set to be activated by the big league squad. 

C Miguel Olivo (COL) – After a torrid start, Olivo has officially supplanted Chris Ianetta as the Rockies’ everyday catcher.  The red hot veteran provides nice relief for owners struggling at catcher’s position.  He enters the weekend batting .313 with 5 HR and 12 RBI.

SP Jamie Garcia (STL) – Through his first 26 innings of the season the 23-year old right-hander has posted a 1.04 ERA and 0.962 WHIP while going 2-1.  Playing for the Cardinals, he has great to potential to win games. Go ahead and grab him now.

3B Scott Rolen (CIN) – The veteran no longer possesses the power he once had, but a recent bump up to the cleanup spot in the Reds’ batting order should only help his run production.  He’s already hit 5 HR and 10 RBI and is certain to improve on his .258 average.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB fantasy advice, fantasy baseball pickups, kelly johnson, scott rolen, miguel olivo, brad lidge

Inspired by KFC's new Double Down sandwich, we look at some things you only see in the USA:

COMPLETE GALLERY (Manofest.com)

Just For Fun funny photos, only in america, kfc double down sandwich

The Philadelphia Phillies signed first baseman Ryan Howard to a contract extension earlier this week worth $125 million. It is second biggest contract in the history of the game.

The slugger already makes $19 million this year and was set to earn $20M in 2011. Now with the new deal he'll make $20 million in 2012 and 2013 as well, and $25M per year for 2014, 2015 and 2016. There's a team option for 2017 at $23M with $10M buyout.

Howard is 30 years old and is one of only four players (Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr.) in Major League history to hit at least 40 home runs and have 130-plus RBIs in four straight seasons.

We can debate all day long whether Howard was worth it or not, but my short answer is no way.

To put the numbers into prospective let’s take a look at what the dollars translate into from the terms of production.

If you assume Howard will continue the production he has averaged during a season (per 162 games played), he averages 167 hits in 598 at-bats (.279) with 48 HR and 141 RBI, but has struck out 193 times each year.

Now, let's just keep the math simple and apply that to $20 million per season he’ll make in 2011 through 2013.

Here's how much Howards makes per...

AT BAT - $33,444.82

HIT - $119,760.48

HOME RUN - $416,666.67

RBI - $141,843.97

STRIKEOUT - $103,626.94

MLB philadelphia phillies, ryan howard, ryan howard's contract extension

With 20 horses in the field and torrential downpours expected for the 136th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, picking a winner will be as tough as ever.

Throw in the fact that the best three-year old, Eskendereya, was scratched with an injury and the two best remaining horses, Lookin At Lucky and Sidney’s Candy, both drew the two worst post positions and this Run For The Roses is up for grabs.

I am opting to throw out the two favorites and for the most part go for the payday.  For less than $100 you can take a shot at Trifecta with a ton of options. Over the past five years a $1 Derby trifecta has paid out an average of $6,661.94.

MY TRIFECTA
$1 Trifecta Wheel (total cost $96)

WIN
2 Ice Box
4 Super Saver
11 Devil May Care

PLACE
2 Ice Box
3 Noble's Promise
4 Super Saver
11 Devil May Care
13 Jackson Bend

SHOW
1 Lookin At Lucky
2 Ice Box
3 Noble's Promise
4 Super Saver
5 Conveyance
7 American Lion
11 Devil May Care
13 Jackson Bend
16 Awesome Act
17 Dublin

Horse Racing 2010 triple crown, 136 kentucky derby, 2010 kentucky derby, derby picks

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The NFL draft is in the books. Now it’s time to talk some fantasy. Let’s look at the impact some of the rookies could make on their new teams this year and beyond:

QUARTERBACKS
Sam Bradford (STL) – The No. 1 overall pick will see plenty of snaps as a rookie and could prove to be a decent QB2 in deeper leagues. Steven Jackson will be a nice weapon for Bradford to build modest numbers and the Rams are building a nice corps of young receivers.

Tim Tebow (DEN) – Josh McDaniels insists Tebow is only going to play quarterback and even if he changes his made Tebow will have little to no value in 2010. The Broncos may choose to build their team around character, but don’t let it be a factor in a way you run your fantasy squad.

Jimmy Claussen (CAR) – Claussen enters the best situation as any rookie signal caller. Though he will sit behind Marty Moore for now, he will get a crack sooner or later. Very appealing in dynasty formats on the cheap.

RUNNING BACKS
C.J. Spiller (BUF) – The first back off the board went to the Bills at No. 9. Not only is the team awful, but the backfield is crowded with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch already on the roster (at least for now). Buffalo aren’t going to pay him to sit. Spiller has big play ability and should be considered a solid RB3 right out of the gate.

Ryan Matthews (SD) – The Chargers moved up to grab LaDainian Tomlinson’s heir apparent. The Fresno State bruiser is going to take over the every down carries while Darren Sproles continues to get the third round work. The rookie is going to go off the board in the first few rounds easily in that role.

Jahvid Best (DET) – Like San Diego, Detroit moved up to select Best. While injury concerns and durability issues surround the Cal runner, he found a perfect home in the Motor City.  Best is a homerun hitter and will benefit greatly from opposing defenses focusing too much attention on Calvin Johnson. He will be a steal in the mid-rounds as a rookie.

Ben Tate (HOU) – Gary Kubiak takes another stab and finding a No. 1 running back. Tate will likely split carries with Steve Slaton and stave off Arian Foster, who finished strong in ’09.  He is the Texans’ RB to own and could prove to be worth weekly looks, but is far from a lock.

Montario Hardesty (CLE) – The former Tennessee running back keeps the orange on his uniform as he suits up as a Brown. Cleveland moved up to grab him and they didn’t get to keep him on the bench. He will be worked into the mix with Jerome Harrison right off the bat and could take over as the team’s top back by season’s end.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Dez Bryant (DAL) – Dallas stole Dez Bryant with the No. 22 pick. It was a dream come true Bryant and fantasy owners alike.  He’s NFL ready and finds himself in an explosive offense. The sooner he takes over Roy Williams’ starting job will tell how good of a rookie campaign he’ll have. Bryant hands down is the first rookie wideout to consider.

Demaryius Thomas (DEN) – Thomas has the intangibles to be successful in the NFL and will get a chance right out off the gate for the Broncos. The team’s quarterback situation limits his value early on, but he’s still worth stashing in the mid-to-late rounds.

Arrelious Benn (TB) – Benn is a better choice than Thomas this year. Tampa Bay likes to air it out and often as too as the Bucs battle from behind. With little completion on the depth chart Benn is already penciled in as a starter. He makes for a great sleeper pick this season.

TIGHT ENDS
Jermaine Gresham (CIN) – He will need to overcome knee injuries and stay healthy, but Greshman is an amazing pass catcher that could develop into an Antonio Gates-type player. With so many good veteran tight ends Gresham shouldn’t be considered anything more than a late-round flyer in year-to-year leagues.

Rob Gronkowski (NE) – With Wes Welker injured the Patriots will likely get Gronkowski involved in the passing game early and often. The rookie is worth a stab late in leagues where you grab multiple tight ends.

Fantasy Football 2010 nfl draft, 2010 nfl rookie rankings, fantasy advice

Here are some of the grades handed out for the Bengals by draft gurus:

Mel Kiper, ESPN
C
Everywhere you look on the Cincy draft board, you see players you assumed could go much higher. But that also means they took risks on guys. At No. 21, the Bengals got the draft's best tight end in Jermaine Gresham, but he didn't play in 2009. At No. 60, they got a potentially significant talent in Carlos Dunlap, a guy at one time considered a lock for the top 10. Problem is he rarely played like it, off-field issues aside. Poor Brandon Ghee was the last guy in the green room, which means most thought he could be at least a second-round pick. The Bengals nabbed him at No. 96. Roddrick Muckelroy is a decent pick at No. 131, and I also like the Dezmon Briscoe pick late in the sixth round.

Pete Prisco, CBS
B+
I love the pick of receiver Jordan Shipley in the third round. He will be a Carson Palmer favorite. He also will help the return game.
Questionable move: Taking Carlos Dunlap in the second round will be a feast-or-famine pick. He has ability, but he needs to be more productive.
Third-day gem: Fourth-round pick Geno Atkins is an undersized defensive tackle from Georgia who was productive in a big-time conference.
Analysis: I really like the haul they had in this draft. Getting tight end Jermaine Gresham will really help the passing game. So will Shipley. The Bengals' drafting as of late has really paid off.

Clifton Brown, The Sporting News
B+
QB Carson Palmer needed more weapons, and they were they provided. Jermaine Gresham was the draft's best tight end. Jordan Shipley should be a reliable slot receiver. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap has serious potential as a pass rusher if he becomes more disciplined.

John Czarnecki, Fox Sports
B
Bengals QB Carson Palmer will be excited with Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham who can stretch the field and has been given a clean bill of health after missing all of last season with a knee injury. Most mock drafts had Gresham landing here. The Bengals typically select some risky players, but they claim that Carlos Dunlap?s DUI charge prior to the SEC championship game was an aberration. Dunlap was a great pass rusher at Florida and he has drawn comparisons to Julius Peppers because he?s 6-6 and 277 pounds and very athletic. His nickname was "Baby Freak" because he drew comparisons to former Gator Jevon Kearse. Dunlap had 26 tackles for losses and 19 1/2 sacks in his three-year career. Texas WR Jordan Shipley was very productive in college with at least six games with 10 or more catches. He's a physical, deep-threat receiver. Wake Forest CB Brandon Ghee has been compared favorably to current Bengals starter Johnathan Joseph. Ghee started 33 games, but came up with only one interception. The steal of their draft could be WR Dezmon Briscoe of Kansas who ran poorly at the Combine and has some off-the-field issues but once was considered just a step behind Dez Bryant in the Big 12 Conference.

NFL cincinnati bengals, 2010 nfl draft, draft grades, draft report card

This week's Aaron's 312 at Talledega features some must-see crashes:

NASCAR aaron's 312, talladega crash, nascar crash

The NFL Draft wrapped up on Saturday with the final three rounds unfolding. In addition to teams filling out their rosters with draft picks there were also plenty of trades that went down.

RAIDERS GET A QUARTERBACK
Oakland capped a surprisingly decent draft weekend by trading for quarterback Jason Campbell. The former Redskin immediately becomes the Raiders’ starting quarterback and returns the team to relevance. His arrival all but signifies the end of the JaMarcus Russell era for the Silver and Black.

SEAHAWKS ADD WHITE, WASHINGTON
Pete Carroll made a big splash in his first draft upon returning to the league, including trading for a pair of veteran running backs on Saturday. The Seahawks acquired LenDale White and Leon Washington in trades from Tennessee and the New York Jets respectively. White reunites with his former coach and gets a clean slate while Washington should have an immediate chance to earn playing time.

REUNION IN PITTSBURGH
The Steelers acquired cornerback Bryant McFadden, returning the veteran to his former team on a draft day deal. Reuniting with former players has become a theme this off-season in the Iron City. McFadden joins former Steelers Larry Foote, Antwaan Randle El, and Byron Leftwich as players set to return in 2010.

GILYARD FIRST CHOICE
After not getting selected in Rounds 2 or 3, Cincinnati Bearcats’ wideout Mardy Gilyard was the first player taken off the board on Day 3 as St. Louis grabbed the speedster with the first overall pick in Round 4. Expect Gilyard to get a chance to play right out of the gate with the rebuilding Rams. Teammate, quarterback  Tony Pike, slipped all the way to the sixth round where he was taken by Carolina, who also drafted quarterback Jimmy Claussen earlier in the draft.

BENGALS BUILD DEPTH
The Bengals fill out their draft with five picks on the final day. They grabbed DT Geno Atkins (Georgia) and LB Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas) in Round 4. OG Otis Hudson (Eastern Illinois) got the call in the fifth round. The sixth round pick was another wide reciver, Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas). The team's final pick was OL Reggie Stephens (Iowa State) in the seventh round. Overall, the team added great depth on the final day and that should lead to some good battles in camp this summer.

MR. IRREVELANT 2010
Wide receiver Tim Toone out Weber State was the 255th and final pick of the 2010 NFL Draft going to the Detroit Lions. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound wideout joins a not-so-elite list of players as being tagged “Mr. Irrevelant”.

MORE LINKS
--Draft Tracker
--Trade Tracker
--Wrap Up: Round 1
--Wrap up: Rounds 2-3

College Football, Fantasy Football, NFL 2010 nfl draft, 2010 nfl draft round 4, round 5, round 6, round 7, fantasy advice, cincinnati bengals

The second and third of the NFL Draft came and went on Friday night as teams look to build depth and find the hidden gems. With so many talented players still on the board there was plenty of drama. 

CLAUSSEN, MCCOY FINALLY GO
All eyes were on quarterbacks Jimmy Claussen and Colt McCoy as they went undrafted on the first night of the draft. Claussen, who many projected as a first-round, wound end going to Carolina with the 48th overall pick. McCoy slid to Round 3 where the Browns nabbed him with the 85th overall selection. It is quite a steal for the Panthers and despite Claussen slipping, the former Notre Dame signal caller should be grateful to have landed in a such a good situation. McCoy is a low-risk, high-reward grab for the Browns and new team president Mike Holmgren.

BENGALS ADD THREE
The Cincinnati Bengals had three picks on Day Two. They went defense in Round 2, grabbing Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Similar to last year’s draft pick Michael Johnson, Dunlap is a freak that possesses great upside, but needs to show up more often. Defensive coordinator is chomping at the bit to impact him. In the third round the team added depth at receiver with Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley (84th overall) and picked up some help in the secondary as they selected Wake Forest corner Brandon Ghee (96th) with a compensatory selection.

RAVENS ADD LB DESPITE INJURY
Late word that Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle could need microfracture surgery on his knee early in his career scared many teams away from the Longhorn playmaker in the opening round, but the Baltimore Ravens didn’t blink to grab him in Round 2. After trading out of the first round with the Broncos (leading to Tim Tebow being drafted by Denver), Kindle was the Ravens’ first pick at No. 43 overall. At this spot of the draft Kindle is a flat out steal and could be the next great Baltimore linebacker if he proves healthy.

BEARCATS GO UNDRAFTED
Former Cincinnati Bearcats Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike both had high aspirations entering the NFL draft, but neither of them came off the board on Day 2 as the third round came to an end. Pike was iffy to go at this point, but the fact that Gilyard has lasted this long is a bit shocking. Some team is going to steal the explosive playmaker in Round 4 rest assured. Pike is a nice, mid-round find for some team and could have one of the strongest arms in the entire draft class.

FANTASY FODDER
Once you get past the first round of the draft, it gets a bit harder to figure out where the fantasy value may be. Claussen has some appeal in dynasty formats, but there will not be a rush for him to play right away. Some players that could make impacts right away are the two Tates. Auburn running back Ben Tate (5-11, 220) is the every down runner Gary Kubiak has long coveted in Houston. Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate is a nice fit in Seattle where Pete Carroll is going to open things up in the offense. Stanford running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Toby Gerhardt is the new Adrian Peterson-handcuff after the Vikings took him in Round 2.

MORE LINKS
--Complete Draft Summary
--NFL Draft: Round 1 Wrap
--Video: Jordan Shipley (Bengals)
--Video: Ben Tate (Texans)

College Football, Fantasy Football, NFL 2010 nfl draft, 2010 nfl draft round 2, round 3, fantasy advice, cincinnati bengals