NO MO'? NOT SO!

"It's not over.  I'm coming back!
"Write it down in big letters," he said.  So I did. There are sportswriters who say that this was a sign, that his time was over.  Maybe, as sad as this is, it's better than not performing up to his standards. I remember Willie Mays, at the end of his career, fumbling, tripping over himself and generally looking inept in the Mets outfield, and I'm thinking, don't go out that way, Mo. Not like that. Normally, an athlete 42 years old, losing a whole year to injury, will never be the same.  But Rivera has never been "the same." Never!
Bob Ryan told this story on the Sports Reporters today:
"Remember 8 or 9 years ago? Mariano had an awful April. A terrible April. One team hit him up for 4 runs in one inning, and we sat around afterwards, nodding, saying, 'Well, he couldn't do it forever.  It's been a nice run.'  ....8 or 9 years ago." 
In the meantime, the ninth inning is in the hands of David Robertson, who has yet to be scored on and is averaging over 15 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. I can live with that.

***YES! NO! MAYBE! I MEAN...***
Andy Pettitte told Congress that Clemens told him he used PEDs. Clemens said that Andy "...mis-remembered." Andy told a courtroom this week that he wasn't sure and it was 50-50 that he got it wrong. Well, he's right. Two statements under oath, two different answers to the same question.  One answer was truthful, one wasn't. That's 50-50 in my book. I wonder if Pettitte is considering running for office when his baseball  career is over.He's halfway there - his reputation as a stand-up guy is over with..

***AROUND THE HORN***
I'm not sure I understand this. Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, decides a punishment, the players appeal and the appeal is heard by...Roger Goodell.  Of course, the appeals are denied.  I had better luck with my Dad, after breaking a window.

I love the Kentucky Derby. Not the race, I love the hats. Some of them were so large, I think they had to buy their own ticket.

Andy Pettitte is completing his final rehab assignment right here is Rochester in about one hour (as of this posting).  Frontier Field sold out (10,840 seats)  in about 4 hours on Friday, when the announcement was made. They are still selling standing room and bleacher seats. 
An interesting tidbit from Jim Mandelaro, D & C staff writer.  "Pettitte threw a knuckleball as a rookie with the Oneonta Yankees but stopped because his catcher struggled to hang on to it. That catcher was Jorge Posada."  Not too surprising , is it?

If all goes well, Pettitte will start for the Yanks on Saturday at the Stadium against Seattle.  I believe this move will put Hughes back into the bullpen.  The one in New York...maybe.

Albert Pujols again failed to hit a home run or drive in a run for the Angels yesterday. His woes are becoming...Wait, what? He didn't play?  Doesn't matter, I'd be right either way.
Update:  Albert Pujols hit a home run today.  No, really! He did, honest. Let's see, that's...uh, one so far.

There's so much funny stuff out there today, I haven't even drawn from some of the regulars:
***THEY SAID IT***
"The Colorado Rockies put pitcher Jeremy Guthrie on the disabled list after he hurt his shoulder falling off his bike. Pitchers never could hit for the cycle."  --  Ian Hamilton
"There is now a paternity test that can identify the father in the eighth of pregnancy. That's barely a quarter of the way into an NBA season."  -- Jim Barach
"Anybody at the NFL Players Association who allowed Roger Goodell to not only hand out suspensions but then act as his own arbitrator, ought to be fired this afternoon. ...Then fired again Monday morning."  -- Mike Lupica
"Red Sox sign Mark Prior in order to fill a need on the disabled list."  -- Fark.com
"If this is it for Rivera, it will be the worst ending to greatness since the final episode of 'Seinfeld."  -- Mike Bianchi
"Mohammad El Akkari scored a record 113 points in a Lebanese Basketball League. Kobe said, there's no place in the NBA for ball hogs like him."  --  TC in BC
"It's time once again for that annual homage to the Sport of Kings, the Kentucky Derby. Officials at Churchill Downs have signed pop icon Mary J. Blige to sing the National Anthem. And an added attraction this year -- in the winner's circle, Willie Nelson will honor Kentucky's contribution to Big Tobacco by smoking some of that local blue grass."  -- Bob Mills
"Angelina Jolie's engagement ring has an estimated value of $500,000. Or, as Kobe Bryant said, "Chump change."   -- Cam Hutchinson
"If the Charlotte Bobcats get the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, fans there have a chance to purchase upper-deck season tickets for $43. That's roughly the yearly salary of the workers who make Air Jordans."  -- Bill Littlejohn

CP -