Welcome to the party, A-Rod

Published online on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009

Enter the Warzone, spreading warmth and joy to all mankind.

As much as we dislike -- OK, detest -- Alex Rodriguez, it was hard not to get swept up by the drama of his game-tying, ninth-inning homer Friday night off Joe Nathan.

Even better was the look of bemusement on Derek Jeter's face when A-Rod returned to the New York Yankees dugout. As if to say, "About time you came through in the clutch."

*The Los Angeles Dodgers' 3-0 sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals proves once and for all that the baseball playoffs are the biggest crapshoot in professional sports.

No one -- not even Tommy Lasorda -- believed the Dodgers would beat Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.

*Is there a worse play-by-play announcer than TBS' Chip Caray?

"Line drive. Base hit! Caught out there."

Even the umpires don't blow that many calls. (If you take away CB Bucknor.)

*Kudos to McLane High football coach Jeff Woods for having the guts to speak out against the powers-that-be.

In the caste system of Fresno Unified athletics, schools like McLane are strictly outcasts.

*The Fresno Grizzlies' "As Seen on TV Night" is a contender for the top minor-league baseball promotion of 2009.

So far, though, the Bowling Green Hot Rods' "What Could Have Been Night" leads the on-line voting. Help close the gap at www.milb.com before Monday's deadline.

*President Barack Obama had no business winning the Nobel Peace Prize, San Francisco 49ers fans agree.

For his role in the Michael Crabtree peace accord, MC Hammer was a more deserving choice.

*Oakland Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour was asked on a conference call how things are going for him since his abrupt trade from the New England Patriots.

"Well," he replied with an audible sigh, "the weather is nice."

*Rush Limbaugh acknowledged last week that he's part of a bid to buy the St. Louis Rams.

Won't be long now before the Rams' 5-31 record since 2007 is just another myth perpetuated by the liberal media.

*Here's how David Carr described life as a backup quarterback: "Sometimes you feel like the brother who doesn't get to play with all the cool stuff."

Bet little brother Derek feels that way, too.

*For no particular reason: Don Denkinger.

*After careful consideration, we've decided not to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Bullard High football coach Donnie Arax.

Sorry. Our lips are superglued shut.

One phone call from Arax, who "knows a lot of people in this town," and you'd be reading this column in the Pinedale Pamphlet.