For Whom The Lobel Tolls

For the past umpteen years, Patriots 5th Quarter has been as anticipated as the games themselves. I mean, who else didn't want to see how hammered the legendary Bob Lobel would be? I swear the man swilled vodka like it was Poland Springs while watching the games, and you got Unfiltered Bob when the cameras started rolling at the end of the game.

Of course, I'd take a hammered Bob Lobel over most any sports anchor alive.

This makes the decision by WBZ TV to release Lobel that much more incomprehensible. For generations of Boston sports fans, he, along with Mike Lynch at WCVB, was one of the true 11 pm news heavyweights in town, and he did it in the "toy department".

MFTM Contributor Bobby told me a story about how one of his first sports memories was of Lobel going bananas over the 1980 USA hockey team beating the Soviets, and how he became a sports fan that very day. I'm sure many of us share the same type of story, and to see him booted out because he makes a little more money than the almighty budget allows is a shame.

There are certain civic institutions that should be allowed to go out on their own terms. Bob Lobel was one, and WBZ has lost at least one viewer because of it.

Boycott WBZ News - they believe in dollars above sense.

You can't make this stuff up

Actual random note from the Houston-St. Louis recap:

"Astros 2B Kaz Matsui, who is recovering from surgery to repair an anal fissure"

Was he teammates with Kaz Tadano at one point?

Getting Hit for the Cycle

The Mets pitchers were on target today, and Chase Utley was the target. Try to imagine this item from the box score even being possible without an ejection:

HBP: Church (by Moyer), Utley (by Perez), Utley (by Perez), Utley (by Schoeneweis).

The Mets pitching staff thought it was so much fun that they decided to give first baseman Carlos Delgado a turn. With Utley on first, Ryan Howard hits a "double play" grounder to Delgado. But Delgado's throw to second to force Utley never arrived. Instead, it plunked Chase in the back.

I would have believed it too

Thanks to Awful Announcing for uncovering this gem.

I don't care that it's not a sport...WOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yeah, I know wrestling isn't a real sport, get over it.

One of the true legends retired the other day, and I feel like I have to say something.

Ric Flair may not have been the biggest, strongest, or most agile guy around. but he was entertaining as fuck.

If you can find me a guy who sold his opponents moves any better, displayed the proper emotions better, or took over the persona of his "character" any better, blow me.

The end of his last match, against Shawn Michaels (one of his best friends in the business) was classic. Flair getting up from the mat, Michaels mouthing "I'm sorry, I love you" before the last superkick, that was executed so perfectly, and the emotion seemed so real, it was amazing.

More props to Flair for going out like a true professional. The storyline dictated that he lose and be "forced" to retire, and that's how he went down. He lost his last match but went out a true champion.

We'll miss you, Naitch.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!