Follow up to my last "Thinking...", Rob (my editor) pointed it out to me when I submitted the article, and the emails came pouring in as well, so I'll have to clarify: The only time that it is allowable to toss something onto the playing surface of a professional game is a hat when a player scores a hat trick (natural or otherwise). In fact, in this instance, it is required. Yet this makes me wonder if people going to hockey games carry around a ratty "spare hat" for such an occasion...? Aah, probably not, the only people that can afford to go to NHL games these days are those that can afford to lose a new hat.

And Rob also reminds me of the full 12-foot octopus that made it onto the ice in Detroit years back....which was laugh out loud funny. Especially when you saw the faces of the ice staff looking at the thing...trying to figure out a) how anyone could possibly get it into the stadium, and b) what they were going to do with it. I imagine that octopi doesn't smell too pleasant.

Wake me when the NBA Finals begin. What? They're already over?

Why haven't I found this sooner than I have: Old School Rap music station on cable. Now THIS is something worth crowing about!!! Letzzzz get bisy!

Why is it that when watching a baseball game on television, when a guy hits a homerun, the score in the corner on the screen is automatically updated right away? I mean, it is possible that he misses a base and is called out, no?

From a reader: "Why is it that people always talk about something not happening since "X" year? That's fine if it hasn't been done in, say, 30 years. Like it's ok to say that the Red Sox haven't won the Series since 1918, but to say that it's the first time that the Yankees have won since 1999...? Makes no sense. You hear ESPN always talk about someone being the first to do something since like two years ago, baffles me." Agreed...however, two years to the Yankees is like an eternity.

This whole argument about which "cap" Roger Clemens will wear into the hall is growing tiresome already. But if you think this one is bad, wait until someone like Fred McGriff comes up. Do you really relate any team with this guy? At least Clemens has played for only three teams.

I still don't get the argument for playing baseball without the DH. In my mind, there is no strategy in seeing the pitcher bat 2-3 times a game, striking out weakly almost every time. How's that for a rally killer? And how about seeing your high priced starter pull a muscle running out a meaningless ground ball? That's fun. And no, the "...American League pitchers can bean anyone since they don't have to step into the batter's box themselves..." argument doesn't hold water.

Funny how the Yankees weren't complaining about the unbalanced schedule when the Red Sox had to play Atlanta six times.....and I'm not even sure what they are arguing about now, I mean, they get to play the pathetic Mets six times this year!

Where do I sign up to be on the World Poker Tour? Seriously. Ok, I just want to be able to say the words, "I'm ALL IN!" Well, that and to have a million dollars worth of chips sitting in front of me at a table.

Can someone explain to me why Bruce Springsteen wants to play a concert in Fenway Park? Not only is it the oldest and most uncomfortable ball park, but the acoustics are terrible.

This probably deserves it's own article at some point, but this whole ACC/Big East mess, wow. For Miami, the move makes sense. Take out everything else, it's really about location and travel. Miami is a lot closer to more of the ACC schools, which will help out non-revenue sports travel. As for Virginia Tech, these guys are just Hessians anyways. First moving into the Atlantic-10, then leaving them high and dry for the Big East, now bolting to the ACC after being a part of a lawsuit against the ACC. A nice lesson these guys are teaching our youth of today. Who says Bill Clinton didn't leave a lasting legacy on this country?

As a result of the raid, I'm dropping the ACC down a couple notches in basketball. They are no longer the best conference, actually, they probably haven't been for the past couple of years but this just solidifies it - just another division one basketball conference.

You know (last blurb on this, at least for now), the NCAA could have stepped in and prevented this whole situation. Instead, they chose to stand on the sidelines, waiting for the cash to roll in. It gets better, word is that they will now grant a waiver to allow the ACC with 11 schools instead of the required 12, to have a championship game in football. Again, thank you, Mr. Clinton.

Now that the dust has settled, can we all just agree that Randall Simon's actions versus the sausage was just a prank gone bad? Before I saw the clip, it sounded like the guy took a full swing at the poor sausage, when in reality he just tapped it on the head throwing it off balance. Should he have done it? Probably not, but to be suspended for something like that? Relax people.

I wish I could buy stock in things like, "Everyone's trashing Serrano's pick in the Survivor Draft, now he'll win our money league. Again."

Does anyone else wish that the sports report would be limited to just sports? This Kobe Bryant thing is going to be bigger than the OJ trial - and that's sad.

Why is it that bees/hornets/etc will set up camp in your house, say, somewhere near your front door behind a window shutter....then they have the gall to get angry when you go in and out of your house and attack you? I mean, I was there first, you know?

I have one rule when it comes to "pleasure sports": If I have to take my own oxygen with me, then it's off my list. Essentially that crosses off climbing Mt.Everest and scuba diving. After watching the Running of the Bulls from Spain, I'm making an addition: Any sport where the statistics consist only of injuries (which only include those they send to the hospital) and gorings, not for me. Have you seen this? The announcers gleefully recap the day before's run, "...and yesterday, there were only 14 injuries and THREE gorings!!!" And this goes on for eight days!!?! No thank you.