FriJocko - That's "Friday's Jocko" to You

REPORTING FROM THE JOCK-OSPHERE:
A CUBAN ON EUROPE

by Ryan Corazza and Evan Bartsch

Getty Images

Player holds camera at photo shoot? Well, somebody was feeling meta today.

Jocks blog. We report. (You decide!)

Mark Cuban: In Praise of Europe

The Mavs—and maybe soon Cubs?—owner on the benefits of players going to Europe:

"The more NBA players in Europe the better," he writes. "The movement of players is taking away the stigma and fear that younger players perceive when they are asked to play in Europe before signing an NBA contract. Knowing that they will be competing against Josh Childress, Earl Boykins, Carlos Arroyo, et al, and getting a chance to get real minutes, AND make good money is a win for everyone.

"European Soccer has done a phenomenal job of inventing tournaments that drive huge revenues and TV dollars. This would allow the NBA to do the same thing. Take a Christmas break, or do it in the summer, where the top 6 records in the league play the top 6 teams over there, with the revenues from the event being split primarily among the participant teams rather than equally among all NBA teams. Not only would that be a great revenue source for all the teams involved, but it would create a huge economic incentive for the other 24 NBA teams and all overseas team to become top tier teams.

"Then of course we could create our own World Cup type tournament every 4 years."

It's always about that bottom line.

Derek Jeter: Jeter Helpdesk

Derek's fans have questions, and the Jeter man has their answers. Pretty intense. Wait, actually, what's the opposite of intense? Check it out:

Q: My softball team is currently 0-10. Every time we have a game my team thinks we are going to lose so no one tries. Is there anything that you do to help your team with confidence? - Sami
DJ: Sometimes, you learn more from your failures than your successes. Try and take something positive from every game and get your team focused on that before the next one.

Q: Why don't you wear sunglasses during day games? - Lille Marie A.A.
DJ: Good question. I do wear them on occasion, but not all that often. It's just personal preference, I guess.

Q: One thing that I love about how you play is that you never make excuses. Where did you learn this? - Raymond Sherman
DJ: My parents taught me that you have to be accountable for your actions, and I've always lived by that rule on the field and off.

I sincerely hope that first fan with the losing softball team is a kid, and not some adult from a beer league writing into the Yankee Captain in an attempt to salvage their season. Either way, it's lovably after school special.

Chris Cooley: Jason Taylor's MJ Xmas in July

Chris details how the latest addition to the Redskins, defensive great Jason Taylor, won the locker room over:

"Jason Taylor made a huge impact in the locker room his first week of training camp," he writes. "The team arrived to the locker room prior to an afternoon practice finding a heap of stacked boxes in front of Jason's locker. Very shortly after, Jason started handing out everything Michael Jordan. I'm not talking about a couple shirts, guys were packing back four or five pairs of shoes, shorts, hats, anything you can think of with the Jordan logo on it.

"This was taken as an extremely grateful gesture by all the guys, some even teased it was his way of making quick friends. To my surprise, a week later and the Michael Jordan Christmas was on again. This time more guys were aware of what was going on, and because the first handout went so well the crowd quickly grew to over 20 players. From all accounts the second MJ handout was even more successful than the first.

"Thursday, week three of Redskins training camp, and why wouldn't there be another enormous shipment of Jordan gear to Taylor's locker? Were talking thousands of dollars in gear and although it took me three weeks to gain interest into what was going on, I'm now hooked. Jason says, "They (Nike) just send me all the new stuff they're working on, I mean all the new colors and styles and I try 'em out." Well, not just Jason Taylor is trying out the new Nikes, because by handout number three, 40 Redskins were wrestling for anything they could get their hands on."

I hope Coach Zorn is taking notice. "Note to self: the players will fight to the burger for MJ swag; let's dress up our opponents in MJ polos. The NFC East will be ours, oh yes."

Darren McFadden: No More Sodey Pop

It's hot at training camp. And that means keeping that diet nice and strict for Darren McFadden.

"I'm a guy who likes to drink soda but it's something I don't do right now," he writes. "I've completely cut it out. I'm just drinking water, Gatorade or G2—the stuff that keeps me hydrated. They have a real healthy menu for us now while we're here in camp … chicken, food that's healthy with not a lot of fat. I'm going to try my best to stick to the diet when we get out of camp. Right now you have no choice but to do it, but when we get out I am going to try my best because I feel like it helps out a whole lot."

We imagine he's fueling his car the same way.

Kyle Harrison: He's Buzzin'

"Anybody watch that new show Buzzin' on MTV?" he writes. "Those two cats are hilarious and pretty talented as well. Not even going to try and front, I had no idea who they were before the show. And to be honest, I probably wouldn't have even known they had a show, but it comes on after Run's House and you know I get down with Run's House! The new season has been GREAT! Catch it last night? If not, check out how Diggy handles himself in a few meetings. Pretty impressive for a 13 year old. I'm definitely excited to see what this cat comes up with for his clothing line. If it's hot I'll have to make sure to hook up my younger cousins with some of it!"

James Blake: Checking in from Bejing

James and the gang touch down in the land of Olympics:

"Travel for a tennis player can be one of the toughest parts of our job," he writes. "But traveling with a group like this makes it so much easier and more fun. Arriving was a little bit hectic with the attention the Williams sisters attract. The media at the airport was pretty aggressive, but we had a great team of security that got us out of there quickly and efficiently. And then it was off to the hotel.

"We made it quickly thanks to the specific Olympic lanes on the highway. I think our trip would have taken about 2 hours if we didn't have that lane and were sitting in traffic. But instead we were in our rooms in about 20 minutes. Now I'm just anxious to practice and even more anxious to play in my first Olympics. The opening ceremonies are on Friday and I believe that will be an experience that I'll never forget."

Careful, James: if the matches are outdoors, you may have to wear one of these.

Get Yer Jocko!

REPORTING FROM THE JOCK-OSPHERE:
McNABB: WE STOLE ELTON. SO?

by Ryan Corazza and Evan Bartsch

Getty Images

"Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone."

Jocks blog. We report. (You decide.)

Mark DeRosa: Whoa Oh, We're Halfway There

DeRosa reflects on his first half favorites:

"The 'Song' of the first half is 'Love me Sexy' by Jackie Moon," he writes. "If people have seen 'Semi-Pro,' they'll understand.

"'Best Celebrity I've Met' in the first half is Tony Romo, for obvious reasons. I'm a huge Cowboys fan. He's the worst singer I've heard in the first half, but it was awesome to be able to sit at my locker and talk football for five minutes."

So would Jessica singing "Love me Sexy" win his second half award for "best collaboration on two of my first half awards?"

Curtis Granderson: Time for the iPhone

What's the Tigers outfielder up to during the All-Star break? How about trying to score a 3G iPhone.

"Once the break starts, if I don't already get it by Sunday, I'm going to try to get the new iPhone," he writes. "But I heard they're already sold out here in the Detroit area. I think the first iPhone came out around this time last year, so maybe the owner of Apple is a baseball fan at heart, releasing the iPhone around the All-Star break for the past two years."

Curtis, if you do snatch one up, make sure you can actually activate it. We hear that's been a bit of a problem.

Donovan McNabb: A View of Philly Sports

The Campbell's Soup spokesman and Eagles' Quarterback riffs on Philly sports all the way from the land of McCain:

"What a great time it is to be a sports fan in Philadelphia," he writes. "I am 3,000 miles away in Arizona and spent some time channel surfing over the weekend and this is what I saw:

"The national media and many NBA experts believe that the Sixers stole Elton Brand and now have a difference maker in the NBA Eastern Conference. I agree. I love the way he plays the post and he will make the other young Sixers players much better. He makes them instant contenders.

"Although they had a tough day yesterday against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies are in first place approaching the All Star break. They have one of the most talented lineups in the game and Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell haven't even played their best baseball yet. Brad Lidge has been lights out as a closer. If they get some more quality starts from the pitching staff they can put some distance between themselves and the rest of the division.

"Philadelphia's Vai Sikahema, a former Eagle, knocked out former baseball player, Jose Canseco, in a celebrity boxing match. Vai gave away about 6 inches and 40-50 pounds to Jose but knocked out the bigger man in the 1st round. He proved that no matter how big and strong you look, you can't measure the heart on someone from Philly.

"In a contest that placed the winner in the ArenaBowl Championship Game, the Soul annihilated the Cleveland Gladiators, 70-35. If they play that well next week they will be able to set the route for the "Championship Parade in Philadelphia" in case there have been some changes in the past 25 years! With the promise shown by the Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and yes, the Eagles, hopefully that route will start getting used more often.

"Speaking of the Eagles, fans might be happy to know that I'm in Arizona working out with Brian Dawkins. Next week some other players will come out and we'll work together for a few days before training camp opens. I'm feeling great, the shoulder is fine, and I can't wait to get started this season."

John Lackey: Renewing the Rivalry

Lackey lines up his thoughts on the growing division rivalry with the A's:

"It seems like ever since I've been in the big leagues that the Angels and A's have been in 1st or 2nd in the division so there's definitely a little rivalry going on here," he writes. "It's not like some of those football rivalries, like Texas-Oklahoma or USC-UCLA, but they are definitely a team we look at and always want to play well against because they're always in the race. For a few years there when they had guys like Tejada and Chavez and drums in the outfield it felt like a Friday night football game to me. But it's died down a little since then. There's definitely more red in the stands these days. The Halo fans are everywhere.

"As an opponent you do have to give the A's front office some credit. They have made deals that have been unpopular with fans but a lot of those deals have really worked out for them. They have brought in some young players that have been really productive. Someone asked me how the Rich Harden trade was going to impact the division. I don't know how big an impact it will have on them because he hasn't pitched much anyway. Everyone in the league thinks he's one of the best when he's healthy, but he hasn't been healthy. But if the trade works the way these other trades have worked for them then the A's will be in the race until the end. That's why we always want to play well against them. They got the first one. Hopefully we'll get the next two."

And by getting the next two you will have earned two series more than the A's original series victory, so says our office of redundancy.

Kyle Harrison: Hey Look Ma, I'm an All Star!

Kyle makes the all-star squad, and talks up the new Batman release, as well as his healthy Entourage jones:

"I was fortunate enough to make the All Star team, so make sure if you've got some free time on Thursday night, check out ESPN 2 and watch the game!" he writes. "It's not often we get to be live on ESPN 2, so it's definitely an exciting event for our sport.

"Anybody else ridiculously excited for Batman to come out this weekend? I'm fired up for sure. Not exactly sure how I'm going to make time to see it if with the All Star game in Denver Thursday, then flying to Chicago Friday morning for our game for the weekend, but I'll make sure cause it's going to be hot!

"Anybody picked up the new iPhone? Thoughts? Thinking about checking that puppy out today.

"Just heard Entourage is starting back up on September, so I'm all kinds of fired up. I feel like I've been waiting for that show to start back up forever!"

It's not the waiting but the anticipation that is killer- hang in there, K.H.!

Donna Orender: The "Get It" Category

The WNBA prez praising some sports writers:

"I didn't realize I was creating an aspirational category of people of whom I could say: 'He gets it,'" she writes. I wrote that in praise of Bob Ryan, the well known Boston Globe sports writer, who saw a WNBA game and wrote about how much he loved it. (Have I mentioned that I love him?) Shortly thereafter, I received a query as to whether a David Knepler could also be put in that category. He enclosed the following link to his guest article in his local Bay Area (California) newspaper … and I want to officially note right here and now that Dave is a guy who also 'gets it.' He is part of our esteemed and ever-growing club. And now we are looking for others who are thus enlightened."