If there's one thing to really worry this baseball fan, it's not so much that the Twins will or won't make it to the postseason in 2007 or that Barry Bonds is going to hit his 756th home run. The former would be awesome, the latter is inevitable, but it's another scenario that give me the fidgets. What's worse is the fact that, after tonight, the New York Fucking Yankees are now only 3 games out of the wild card spot.

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Fifteen years ago, film great Robert Altman directed The Player, a masterpiece about the marriage of greed and success in Hollywood. In it, an ambitious young director is shopping an idea for a movie about a woman wrongly sentenced to death.

The young director shares his vision of the film with Griffin Mill, a studio executive played by Tim Robbins. "No stars!" the director says, his eyes gleaming with passion.

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One would be tempted to see today's trade of Luis Castillo to the Mets for a future back-up catcher and no-hit centerfielder as form of concession. One might think that the Twins are cutting bait and acknowledging that the Tigers, Indians, and the rest of the pack in between them and the wild card spot can't be overcome. But tonight, the Twins appeared inspired by the trade, and with Scott Baker on the mound--who, had it not been for the first two batters in the fourth inning, threw a perfect game--we beat the red hot Kansas City Royals 3-1. More >>

Several news outlets are reporting that Kevin Garnett is being shipped to the Boston Celtics for basically their entire roster excluding Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The Boston Globe says that a deal is in place to send Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and two future first-round picks to Minnesota in exchange for the Big Ticket. The Associated Press also reports it's a done deal. Is this a good move by the Wolves?

During today's exciting 4-1 Twins victory over the Indians, Burt Blyleven asked cohort Dick Bremer his opinion about Barry Bonds' breaking Hank Aaron's home-run record. "I... uh, well, um... I'm saddened," Dick stammered. When pressed (and Burt was clearly relishing this opportunity for argument), Bremer finally said that it's a shame that Bonds was besting a man who went about his business with "dignity, honor and humility." And that, my friends, is exactly what's wrong with this debate. More >>

Tony Sanneh is arguably one of the best defenders ever to suit up for the U.S. national team. He's taken the field 43 times for the yanks, scoring three goals. At the 2002 World Cup he played every minute, setting up Brian McBride's goal against Portugal in the squad's crucial opening game victory. The St. Paul native has spent time with top German clubs FC Nurnberg and Hertha Berlin, along with MLS squads D.C. United and Chicago Fire. So why the hell is he coming to play for a team that currently sits at the bottom of the USL First Division?

The answer is somewhat complicated. Sanneh spent last season with the Fire, but he didn't like the direction the franchise was headed. "I saw the writing on the wall," he says, speaking by cell phone. "I didn't think they were going up. They were going down. Obviously I was right because they're in last place."

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Call me a sports misogynist. I've been to just one Minnesota Lightning game this year--and that was a doubleheader with the Thunder. Even then I only watched the second half. But I plan to be on hand Friday night when the second year women's soccer squad opens their playoff campaign against the Richmond Kickers Destiny at Macalester College. It's part of a playoff doubleheader. In the opening match the Atlanta Silverbacks will face the Michigan Hawks. The winners will square of on Saturday for a spot in the W-League final four. (Full details on the matches here.)

The Lightning have put together an impressive campaign, compiling a 9-1-1 record and winning the Midwest Division of the W-League. They've routed the opposition by a combined 27-8. This despite losing their number one goalkeeper, Joanna Haig, to injury in the first game of the season. Offensively the largely homegrown squad is led by Edina native Caroline Smith. The striker has found the net ten times this year, while also dishing out six assists. Kelsey Hans is second on the scoring charts with six goals. "I think the chemistry of the players this year is great," says Lightning coach Danny Storlien "A lot of them have played together now for a second year."

Well, I think it's safe to say that Carlos Silva won't be winning the Cy Young award this year, either. With a 2-1 score going into the sixth inning, it looked as if the Twins were heading into yet another close loss, and another tough break for Mr. Silva, who would be having a good year were it not for some run support. Then came the sixth. Perhaps the only good thing to say about the circus-sized sledgehammer that fell on the Twins in the Blue Jays eleven-run inning is that it prevented us from yet another one-run loss. And at least after five or six runs crossed the plate, fans here and abroad could turn off their radios and televisions and actually enjoy the afternoon.

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Jesus, there's not much to say about that game, is there? 7-0, the Jays running rampant over the beleaguered Scott Baker. These things happen. If we were in a tight pennant race (division race... whatever), this day might be chalked up to luck--both the Tigers and Indians lost, and Kansas City has ceased breathing down our necks for fourth place. I mean, really, these are the games that make sportswriters and fans shake their heads. Is Dustin McGowan really that good? Are we that bad? These are the Blue Jays, for Christ's sake, and we're on the verge of being swept.

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The Minnesota Thunder have signed World Cup veteran Tony Sanneh. The former U.S. men's national team standout and St. Paul native will be available for Thursday night's game against the California Victory. The Thunder will then head east to play the Rochester Raging Rhinos on Saturday.

It's uncertain how long Sanneh will be with the squad. Earlier this month the Chicago Fire traded rights to the 36-year-old defender to the Colorado Rapids. However New York Red Bulls are now reportedly interested in acquiring Sanneh. The length of his tenure with the Thunder will hinge on negotiations between the MLS clubs.

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