Minor-League Town

This Will Make the Padres More Fun to Watch

2011-07-04T11:42:00.001-07:00

While watching the Padres' big interleague "rivalry" with the Mariners over the weekend, something occurred to us.
And no, not just, "Why are we wasting our time watching the Padres and Mariners?"
When the Padres and Mariners both wore their 1984 uniforms the other day, we realized this Padres team would be much more fun to watch if it made those '84 uniforms its everyday uniform.
Seriously. Why not?
It would certainly give fans and the media something to be interested in and something to talk about. And when was the last time you and your friends spent time chatting about this current group of Padres?
Just think about all the nostalgia there would be if it were 1984 all over again. It would conjure up images of the epic beanbrawl war that year against the Braves in Atlanta. When the Padres wear their brown '84 road jerseys, if you squint just right, you can see Dick Williams ordering up a knockdown pitch against Pascual Perez. Or there's Champ Summers and Bob Horner going at it in a heavyweight showdown. And when the festivities got too close to the dugout, Atlanta fans contributed to the fracas by tossing beer -- and whatever else they could get their hands on -- into the mess.
Ah, does baseball get any more entertaining than that?
And the 1984 uniform of the Padres was certainly as memorable as that historic fight. It's the one Padres uniform that baseball fans mention most often, and not because the team played in its first World Series that year. It was a colorful, unique uniform.
Compare that to what the team wears today, and it's a stark contrast. The Padres' 2011 uniforms are some of the most nondescript and non-unique in all of baseball. The all-gray road uniform [pictured at right] looks like something a 1950s TV repairman would have worn.
In fact, all of the Padres' uniform designs since 1984 have been thoroughly forgettable, which is why the team should go back to the one uniform it did right.
And the current uniform falls right in line with everything else they've worn since '84 -- as forgettable as the players wearing them.

The USD Report

2011-04-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego is ranked No. 1 in the nation in college basketball indictments, as of the latest poll on Monday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next indictment for The USD Report.

Those "Magical" Padres

2011-03-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

Who says spring training isn't entertaining? The Padres provided us with a good chuckle Saturday.
And no, we're not talking about their bench-clearing gabfest with the Dodgers.
We stumbled onto their Channel 4 telecast, which included a visit in the booth from club CEO Jeff Moorad.
Moorad wrapped up his comments to Dick Enberg and Mark Grant by saying, "Let's have another magical year."
Yeah, only in San Diego is a second-place finish in your division -- which included a colossal collapse the final six weeks -- considered a "magical" year.

The Aztecs Basketball Report

2011-02-26T13:40:00.000-08:00

San Diego State lost to Brigham Young 80-67 in college basketball action Saturday at Viejas Arena.
And that's all for this edition of The Aztecs Basketball Report.
We hope you enjoyed The Aztecs Basketball Report.
Join us again next time for The Aztecs Basketball Report.

The High School Football Report: Championship Edition

2010-12-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Week 4 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous championship games at Qualcomm Stadium on Monday night.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next year for The High School Football Report.

Ask Your Doctor if Powder Blue Is Right for You

2010-12-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

If you're experiencing male performance problems, there's no longer a reason to suffer.
Introducing an alternative solution for those with severe symptoms: The San Diego Chargers Powder Blue Jersey Male Performance Enhancer.
Studies have shown that many patients who wear a Chargers Powder Blue Jersey -- or merely see someone else wearing a Chargers Powder Blue Jersey -- have experienced erections lasting up to 3 hours.
Some patients using the little blue jersey may enjoy a particularly heightened sense of arousal, making a partner unnecessary to complete a sexual act.
Talk to your doctor or clothier to find out if the Chargers Powder Blue Jersey Male Performance Enhancer is right for you. If you experience an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, contact your medical professional or wardrobe provider immediately.
Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, oily discharge, vision loss, hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, loss of pituitary gland function and severe nerdiness.

© 2010 - Minor-League Town Productions

The High School Football Report: Semifinal Edition

2010-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

Week 3 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous semifinal games throughout San Diego County on Thursday night.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The High School Football Report: Playoff Edition

2010-11-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

Week 2 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous games throughout San Diego County on Friday night.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The High School Football Report: Playoff Edition

2010-11-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Week 1 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous games throughout San Diego County on Friday night.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Lakers: The Key to the Chargers' Future

2010-11-15T09:06:00.001-08:00

If you want to prevent the Chargers from moving to Los Angeles, here's a tip: Don't root for the Lakers.
Yeah, we know that probably doesn't make much sense at first glance.
But follow us on this: According to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, the move to bring an NFL team to L.A. is gaining steam, and King cites the Chargers as the most likely tenant in a new stadium next to Staples Center.
Among the reasons that Chargers CEO Dean Spanos might hesitate to move his team to L.A. is the concern that the team's fan base in San Diego wouldn't support an L.A.-based team. But all Spanos has to do is look around San Diego during NBA season and see all the Laker fans and their nerdy Laker flags flying from their cars, and Spanos would be convinced that he has nothing to worry about if his team is in L.A.
We've always found it a bit odd that so many San Diegans are Laker fans, considering most residents of the 619/858/760 loathe everything about L.A. But San Diego fans love a good bandwagon as much as they love a good fish taco.
So how should San Diego sports fans approach this Lakers dilemma from now on? We suggest this: Just skip the regular season entirely -- because the NBA regular season is as easy to ignore as an episode of "Rubicon." Then -- if you must -- root quietly for your beloved Lakers in the playoffs.
But if you do, don't be shocked if the Lakers find themselves welcoming your beloved Chargers as neighbors in downtown L.A. in a few years.

The Minor-League Town Stats o' the Day

2010-10-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

Chargers' Losses This Season:
4
LaDainian Tomlinson Touchdowns This Season:
5

Padres Are in Postseason Form

2010-09-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Padres' offense slumbered its way to a 10-game losing streak with a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday at Petco Park.
We could spend the next hour analyzing what's wrong with this team, but the image at left best illustrates that for us.

The Padre Way

2010-06-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

There's the logical, smart way to do things. And then there's The Padre Way.
When the Padres play the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, it will be Kyle Blanks Bobblehead Night at Petco Park. Which would sort of make sense if Blanks actually, you know, played for the Padres.
The struggling outfielder is currently playing for Triple-A Portland, which apparently the Padres' brain trust didn't anticipate when they put together their promotional schedule.
For no apparent reason, the geniuses in the Padres' marketing department thought Blanks would establish himself as a star -- and they thought he'd do so within his first two months as a big-league starter. These are not the kind of folks you want to go to Vegas with.
Of course, it's possible the Padres could still recall Blanks just in time for Saturday's big event. And that would be typical Padres, trying to create drama and excitement where there is none.
But with Blanks still in the minors, it's perfectly appropriate for this organization.
The only thing that would make Kyle Blanks Bobblehead Night more perfect would be if he were traded and showed up in a Baltimore Orioles uniform.

The Minor-League Town Guess the Attendance Poll

2010-05-17T12:20:00.001-07:00

The Minor-League Town Stats o' the Day

2010-05-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

The combined recent numbers of Padres hitters Kyle Blanks, Chase Headley, Adrian Gonzalez, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Will Venable:

28-for-204 (.137 batting average)

The Minor-League Town Poll: Opening Day Edition

2010-04-12T18:11:00.000-07:00

* 2009 turned out to be the tuxedo tradition's final farewell
** As a special treat, the Eckstein bobblehead is only a couple inches shorter than the real David Eckstein

The Padres Spring Training Report

2010-02-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

Day 7 of spring training featured numerous drills and several hours of practice at Padres camp in Arizona.

And that's all for this edition of The Padres Spring Training Report.

We hope you enjoyed The Padres Spring Training Report.

Join us again next time for The Padres Spring Training Report.

Will LT Come Back to Haunt the Chargers?

2010-02-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

It's a sad day in San Diego sports.
In other words, just like every other day in San Diego sports.
The Chargers made it official Monday, releasing future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, marking the end of an era in San Diego.
Now the question becomes, where will LT go next?
Many have speculated New Orleans because of the obvious Drew Brees connection, but we're not so sure.
We're thinking LT might be inclined to stay in the AFC. New England perhaps?
Why? All things being equal, we can see LT choosing an AFC team, if for no other reason than to help bounce Albert John Smith, who answers to the colorful nickname "A.J.," and Norv Turner from the playoffs.
You just know it will work out that way.

Padres Still Grasping at Straws

2010-02-13T23:28:00.001-08:00

In their never-ending quest to find people who actually want to come out and watch their games, the Padres are implementing changes to the in-game fan experience at Petco Park.
"In-game fan experience" is another way of saying the club wants to distract you from how boring, bland and mediocre the product on the field is. And the Padres are hoping John and Jane Fan will leap off their sofa and order season tickets at any moment because exciting new music will be played between innings.
Many of the changes to the in-game program reportedly are being made to educate the fans. Yeah, that's always a good idea in any business -- insult the intelligence of your paying customers.
So basically, the team's brain trust is saying its fans need to be educated.
Nice to know the Padres think their fans are idiots.

The High School Basketball Report

2010-02-06T00:29:00.000-08:00

High school basketball season continued Friday night with dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Basketball Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Basketball Report.
Join us again next time for The High School Basketball Report.

The USD Report

2010-02-04T23:39:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to San Francisco 72-70 in college basketball action Thursday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Basketball Report

2010-01-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

The USD Report

2010-01-22T00:08:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to Saint Mary's 71-56 in college basketball action Thursday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

Final Thought on Chargers-Jets

2010-01-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

In our postgame frenzy Sunday, somehow we neglected to use one of our favorite pieces of clip art.
So we're throwing it up here now.
A day late, but still, never more appropriate.

Chargers-Jets Analysis You Won't Find Anywhere Else

2010-01-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

It's been a couple of hours now, and it's still hard to believe the Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Jets.
But we probably should have seen this coming back in November, when Antonio Cromartie and a few other Chargers essentially conducted a rehearsal for their Super Bowl celebration party after a victory over Denver. In November.
So we're not quite as shocked as some might be over this.
But enough of that.
We have a special exclusive guest analyst with us tonight to provide Minor-League Town with his thoughts on Sunday's game, among other things. Joining us for this special event is noted aficionado of Jets gear, Kevin Arnold from "The Wonder Years."
And Sunday's Chargers loss is now especially painful for Charger fans because, if the Bolts had won, our exclusive guest analyst would have been Charger Girl Brittany R.
Oh well, sorry, Charger fans.
So now it's time to move on to our guest analyst, Kevin Arnold, who's still sporting his trademark Jets jacket as he joins us from some unnamed American suburbia.

Minor-League Town: Kevin, welcome to Minor-League Town and thanks for joining us.
Kevin Arnold: Thanks for having me. Can I say one thing, first? ... J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!
MLT: OK, I guess we had to get that out of the way. ... Now, Charger fans are questioning Norv Turner's decision to go for an onside kick with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game. An onside kick is such a fluky play that relies on pure luck and when the opponent knows it's coming, it almost never works because they have the "hands team" in and there's so much traffic 10 yards beyond the kick. How did you see that play?
KA: Things never turn out exactly the way you planned. I know they didn't with me. Still, like my father used to say, 'Traffic's traffic, you go where life takes you' and growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers, the next you're gone, but the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a time a place, a particular fourth of July, the things that happened in that decade of war and change. I remember a house like a lot of houses, a yard like a lot of yards, on a street like a lot of other streets. I remember how hard it was growing up among people and places I loved. Most of all, I remember how hard it was to leave. And the thing is, after all these years I still look back in wonder.
MLT: OK, thanks for that. Here's a tough question: If Winnie Cooper were to date a Charger, who might that be?
KA: I'll say Shawne Merriman. Because Winnie has been known to make some bad decisions.
MLT: How would you deal with that, Winnie and Shawne Merriman?
KA: All of our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone that makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope. All the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us.
MLT: OK, compare and contrast, your brother Wayne and former Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet.
KA: One's a butthead, the other took too many shots to the head.
MLT: If you were a Charger fan, what would your thoughts be on Nate Kaeding right now?
KA: Butthead.
MLT: Norv Turner?
KA: Butthead.
MLT: TV viewers will always see Kevin Arnold as a little kid wearing a Jets jacket, and not to put this interview into some weird time warp ... you're not aware of it yet since you're still a little kid, but in the future you're going to attend Stanford -- any thoughts on fellow Stanford guy, Tiger Woods?
KA: Tiger who?

An Overlooked Masterpiece

2010-01-15T00:56:00.000-08:00

In anticipation of Sunday's big playoff game, we've been a nervous wreck as we try to determine whether the Chargers will beat the Jets by six touchdowns or seven. So we decided to soothe our nerves by watching one of the most underrated films of all time, "Capricorn One."
We've seen this flick probably a dozen times, and it never loses its appeal. Written and directed by Peter Hyams and released in 1978, "Capricorn One" is the story of the first manned space flight to Mars, which the U.S. government fakes, and the resulting cover-up.
Featuring an all-star cast that reads like an old "Battle of the Network Stars" roster, "Capricorn One" had something for everyone -- intrigue, conspiracy theory, (fake) space travel, investigative journalism and of course, chase scenes involving a crop duster and Black Hawk helicopters. The film starred Elliott Gould, Hal Halbrook, Brenda Vaccaro, Karen Black, a young D.A. Jack McCoy, Barbra Streisand's husband, Bosley from "Charlie's Angels," Joe Rossi from "Lou Grant," Doogie Howser's dad and a special appearance by Kojak.
Oh, and we certainly can't forget the star who, uh, steals the show, which isn't a surprise in light of his armed robbery conviction in recent years. The movie features a dramatic tour de force by none other than O.J. Simpson, or as he's currently known, Nevada Department of Corrections Offender No. 1027820. In his portrayal of astronaut John Walker, O.J. doesn't speak more than 12 words in the whole picture, but he makes every one of them count. What his performance lacks in spoken lines, it makes up for in compelling sighs and facial expressions.
Somehow, "Capricorn One" received no Academy Award nominations, and the members of the Academy who are still around from 1978 will have to live with that indignity.
A quick check of the Oscars from 1978 reveals that "The Deer Hunter" won for Best Picture, which is a shame to those of us who have seen "Capricorn One."
We can only imagine how Orenthal James Simpson's life might have been different if had he won an Oscar for "Capricorn One." When you win an Academy Award, as they say, that's something they can never take away from you.

Billyball!

2010-01-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

Rallying his team in the final seconds, Billy Volek lifted the Chargers to a 23-20 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday -- much to the delight of The Billy Volek Fan Club.
Volek's 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Tolbert with 35 seconds remaining gave the Chargers their 11th straight win.
Volek -- No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart and No. 1 in your hearts for a day -- completed 19-of-30 passes for 216 yards and an interception. The game-winner was his only touchdown, but who cares? That final scoring drive is how legends are born.
Someday, perhaps soon, they'll be referring to Volek as "Billy The (Comeback) Kid," and you can say you remember the day it all started.
By providing his last-minute heroics, Volek now gives coach Norv Turner a little more to think about before settling on a starting lineup for the playoffs. Can you say raging QB controversy, San Diego?

Billy Volek Stars in Chargers' Victory

2009-12-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

Finally, Norv Turner decides to give the ball to Billy Volek.
Perhaps now the Chargers can get some contributions from the quarterback position.

What? But What About Billy Volek?

2009-12-20T19:16:00.001-08:00

"Philip's the man. I wouldn't want anybody else under center there for us."

-- Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding, offering his take on that ever-present QB controversy of Philip Rivers vs. Billy Volek

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-12-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

"He's not getting paid to block. We knew it was going to be a flip or a dive. I don't even know what they were thinking. I don't know if they watch film or what."

-- Chargers linebacker Tim Dobbins, after the Cowboys' Marion Barber was stopped on three consecutive goal-line stands at the 1-yard line late in the first half Sunday

The High School Football Report: Championship Edition

2009-12-12T00:56:00.000-08:00

Week 4 of the high school football playoffs featured four championship games at Qualcomm Stadium.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next time for The High School Football Report.

So How'd the Chargers Do Today?

2009-12-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

We didn't waste our Sunday watching the Cleveland Browns, and this guy probably wishes he didn't have to.

The High School Football Report: Playoff Edition

2009-12-05T01:17:00.000-08:00

Week 3 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous semifinal games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The USD Report: City Championship Edition

2009-12-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to San Diego State 69-62 in college basketball action Wednesday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The Minor-League Town Photo of the Day

2009-11-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

A clearly distraught Chris Chambers chats with former Chargers teammate Antonio Gates after the Chargers manhandled the Chiefs 43-14 on Sunday. And we repeat, Chambers' team lost 43-14. Apparently, Chambers is giddy that his team managed to lose by only 29. We're not sure if Chambers and Gates did cartwheels together after the photo was taken.

The USD Report: Tournament Edition

2009-11-29T00:22:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to Washington State 93-56 in college basketball action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The USD Report

2009-11-28T01:33:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego defeated Houston 72-65 in college basketball action Friday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: Playoff Edition

2009-11-28T01:30:00.000-08:00

Week 2 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The USD Report: Holiday Edition

2009-11-26T23:52:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego beat Oklahoma 76-64 in college basketball early Thursday morning.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report. We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

Partying Like It's Feb. 7, 2010

2009-11-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

The crime rate is down in San Diego, but as long as the Chargers are still calling America's Finest City home, local police can count on never being too bored.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie is under investigation by San Diego police on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly hitting someone in the head with a champagne bottle at a Pacific Beach bar early Monday morning.
Cromartie denied any wrongdoing, although he apologized in a grammatically nightmarish tweet: "I want to apologize to charger nation and my fans. There's sum stuff out abt me that's not true. It will come out. God Bless."
While it's tempting to characterize this episode as the latest installment of "Thugtown, USA," instead we're intrigued by the beverage of choice for this little postgame soiree.
What in the name of karma are the Chargers doing partying it up with champagne in November?
Seriously, a champagne celebration in November? What, did they think this was baseball?
Apparently, a few Charger players were under the impression they had just won Super Bowl XLIV after Sunday's 32-3 victory at Denver. In between sips of champagne, were they also getting fitted for Super Bowl rings?
The Chargers, winners of five straight to improve to 7-3, have had a tendency in recent years to become a little too enamored with themselves when things are going well. These guys love to point out how great they are, even if there are seven other NFL teams who currently have as many or more wins than the Bolts.
If Cromartie's tweets are any indication, we're not sure many of these guys could spell humility, let alone display any.
The Monday morning champagne bottle brouhaha was first reported by TMZ.com, a point that wasn't lost on Chargers left tackle Marcus McNeill, who said: "We're the hottest thing going on right now in Southern Cal. TMZ is waiting for you. They'll probably pull me over at the light for speeding or something."
And every Laker fan in Southern California wonders: "Who's Marcus McNeill?"

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-11-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

"We were ready for Simms and Orton."

-- Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, as if either one requires any preparation

The High School Football Report: Playoff Edition

2009-11-21T01:52:00.000-08:00

Week 1 of the high school football playoffs featured numerous games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

LT's Having a Baby!!!

2009-11-15T23:07:00.001-08:00

In the biggest fertility news since Manny Ramirez's 50-game maternity leave, Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson announced Sunday that his wife is pregnant.
This must be really big news because at least one San Diego TV station led its 11 p.m. newscast with it.

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-11-15T20:35:00.000-08:00

"Crisis? No. Tough spot? Absolutely. ... You can't sit there and dwell on the piddly-poo of tears and worry about the last game. You have to move forward and that's what we're going to do."

-- Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, after Denver's 27-17 loss to the Redskins on Sunday, which allowed the Chargers to move into a first-place tie in the AFC West

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-11-14T01:38:00.000-08:00

Week 11 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The USD Report: Basketball Edition

2009-11-14T01:31:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego defeated Stanford 77-64 in college basketball action Friday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The Minor-League Town Stat o' the Day

2009-11-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

The amount Jim Nantz's ex-wife earned Sunday while Nantz called the Chargers game on CBS:

$2,509.59

The USD Report

2009-11-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to Davidson 34-27 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-11-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

Week 10 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The Minor-League Town Stats o' the Day

2009-11-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

Yards per pass by Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell vs. the Chargers on Sunday:
3.7

People who have accused Raiders coach Tom Cable of violent behavior:
4.0

You Like Movies About Gladiators?

2009-11-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

Distinguished actor Peter Graves received a long overdue honor Friday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
What took the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce so long?
For no apparent reason, the Chamber forced Graves to wait until age 83 for this honor. When Vanna White gets a star three years earlier than Peter Graves, something's wrong.
Graves' career spanned decades and included memorable roles on the TV series "Mission: Impossible" and the movie "Airplane," in which he had numerous famous lines as Captain Clarence Oveur.
But the important thing is this allows us an opportunity to take a look back at one of our favorite items, "More Fun with KT Pics."

The USD Report

2009-11-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego lost to Dayton 21-14 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-10-31T01:34:00.000-07:00

Week 9 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The Richard Seymour/Minor-League Town Poll

2009-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-10-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

"I thought our guys got prepared to play and played well and we were able to take away the things that Kansas City does best."

-- Chargers coach Norv Turner, as if there's anything Kansas City does best

"Doogie Howser, G.M."

2009-10-25T00:03:00.000-07:00

In an effort to appeal to the "tween" demographic, the Padres have hired Jed Hoyer as their new general manager.
Hoyer, formerly the assistant GM of the Boston Red Sox, is 35 but his boyish appearance makes him look several years younger. He could pass for Josh McDaniels' little brother.
Hoyer's impressive resume is not strictly baseball-centric. He had a previous brush with fame when he spent two seasons as Pacey's stunt double on "Dawson's Creek."
The good news for Hoyer is that now that he has a big-boy job, the youngster can give up his paper route.
Former Padres GM Kevin Towers, who still answers to the colorful nickname "KT," probably has socks older than this kid. Hoyer answers to numerous nicknames, including "Skippy" and "Doogie Howser."
We here at Minor-League Town would like to congratulate Jed Hoyer on his new job.
But his youth makes you wonder, though ... When the Padres play an extra-inning game, will the little guy have to ask for his parents' permission to stay up past his bedtime?

The USD Report

2009-10-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego lost to Jacksonville 34-16 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-10-24T02:11:00.000-07:00

Week 8 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Inside the Numbers

2009-10-19T21:43:00.001-07:00

If defense wins championships, then lack of defense clearly can ensure you won't win any championships.
Ladies and gentlemen, your San Diego Chargers.
After Monday night's 34-23 loss to the Broncos, one set of numbers jumps out at you.
The Broncos have allowed only 66 points in six games (that's 11 points per game for you non-mathematicians), best in the league.
The Chargers, in only five games, have surrendered 136 points (27.2 points a game).
Enough said.

The USD Report

2009-10-17T23:39:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego lost to Drake 21-14 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-10-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

Week 7 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-10-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

"This is not going to be another San Diego-like debacle."

-- Marshall Grossman, attorney for Dodger owner Frank McCourt, referring to John Moores' sale of the Padres. Grossman was asked if McCourt's separation from wife Jamie could lead to the Dodgers being sold.

Who Wants to be a General Manager?

2009-10-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

With unemployment at historic levels, competition is fierce for any job opening. And now the Padres have decided to take advantage of the extra-large pool of available talent.
Sources told Minor-League Town the Padres will hold open tryouts to allow fans an opportunity to apply for the club's general manager opening.
Those interested should contact team officials to arrange a time for your interview. They'll make sure they schedule it at a time that's most convenient for you.
Club officials stress that no previous general managing experience is necessary. No previous full-time employment is necessary, although special consideration will be given to those with experience working on a tight budget. Extra special consideration will be given to those whose initials can make for a catchy nickname.
Once their interview is scheduled, applicants should report to 19 Tony Gwynn Drive, and it is recommended they wear comfortable shoes and their favorite Hawaiian print shirt.
Candidates should be prepared to articulate their vision for the team's future, and they'll be judged on their ability to answer questions without actually answering the questions.
Now this is fantasy baseball.

The USD Report

2009-10-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego defeated Valparaiso 48-7 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-10-10T00:41:00.000-07:00

Week 6 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Rivera's Tackling Dummies

2009-10-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

For no apparent reason, there seems to be a common perception that the Chargers' defense has improved since Ron Rivera replaced Ted Cottrell as defensive coordinator midway through last season.
Yeah, sure it has.
We've seen no evidence to support this myth. With Rivera calling the shots, this defense is every bit as horrible as it was with Cottrell.
And Sunday night's 38-28 loss to the Steelers might have been Rivera's most Cottrell-esque piece of work yet.
Pittsburgh's offense, which had been struggling to put points on the board, torched Rivera's tackling dummies for 497 total yards. But on the bright side, it could have been worse -- 497 sounds better than 500 yards.
Rivera's Tackling Dummies stood around and watched as Ben Roethlisberger completed 79 percent of his passes while throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns. But the key to the game was allowing Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall to rush for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Mendenhall, whose NFL resume before Sunday consisted of basically nothing, might have a Hall of Fame career if he were allowed to run against Rivera's Tackling Dummies every week.
So after four games this season, Rivera's Tackling Dummies have allowed 366 total yards per game and 26 points per game. And the Chargers have been outscored 102-101 through four weeks, while also losing the time of possession battle three out of four weeks.
But Charger fans can rest assured that Ron Rivera has this mess under control.
Yeah, heck of a job, Ronnie.

The USD Report

2009-10-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego lost to Butler 25-24 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

Gone, but Still Answering to the Colorful Nickname "KT"

2009-10-03T20:03:00.001-07:00

With a solid second half of the season, the Padres appeared headed toward some semblance of respectability. But almost on cue, they reminded us that they are still the Padres.
Still the laughingstock of baseball.
The only thing that makes less sense than trading Jake Peavy is firing Kevin Towers, but the Padres did just that Saturday, ending the regime of the longest-tenured general manager in baseball.
We've disagreed with some of Towers' moves, and we've rarely missed a chance to poke fun at the man who answers to the colorful nickname "KT," but we always respected his professionalism. In fact, KT was a much better GM than this organization deserved the past 14 years.
Jeff Moorad, the team's new CEO, provided some vague answers Saturday when asked by reporters about Towers' firing. Using phrases such as "who we want to be going forward," "skill set," "prototype" and "in sync," Moorad sounded like a prototype CEO. No word if Moorad mentioned any other boy bands.
Towers, meanwhile, says he was not given a reason for his firing. Perhaps Moorad just didn't feel comfortable, or safe, working alongside a "gunslinger." No word on whether Moorad is a gun-control advocate.
"When I think of a gunslinger, I think of a guy that shoots first, or throws the first punch, he wins the battle," Towers told reporters Saturday. "KT was always about winning the battle."
So not only does KT answer to the colorful nickname "KT," he also refers to himself in the third person with the colorful nickname "KT."
Tremendous.
With quotes like that, we're really going to miss KT around here. And it's sad to note that KT now joins a growing list of our Minor-League Town favorites who have departed San Diego. It's quite an illustrious group: Jake Peavy, David Wells, Milton Bradley, Sandy Alderson and now Kevin Towers.
We don't know what we're going to do with this huge void in the Minor-League Town well of material.
Who are we going to make fun of now, Wade LeBlanc?

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-10-03T00:16:00.000-07:00

Week 5 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-09-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

"He looks like a giraffe."

-- Chargers guard Kris Dielman, on Philip Rivers' running style in the Chargers' 23-13 win over the Dolphins on Sunday

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-09-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Week 4 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Historic Performance by Opie

2009-09-20T18:13:00.001-07:00

The Chargers made history Sunday, as Philip Rivers became the first quarterback to ever throw for more than 400 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in the 16-year history of the defensive-minded franchise.
Rivers' 436 yards passing also was a career high, as Opie completed 25-of-45 attempts. He threw two touchdowns, along with two interceptions.
Opie's big day also tied Dan Fouts for the third-most single-game passing yards in franchise history.
Great job, Opie!
Oh, by the way, the Chargers lost 31-26.

The USD Report

2009-09-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego defeated Marist 17-10 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-09-19T01:48:00.001-07:00

Week 3 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Winning Ugly

2009-09-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Despite being outplayed for much of the game by a more physical Raiders team, the heavily favored Chargers managed to eke out a 24-20 victory Monday night.

The USD Report

2009-09-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego lost to Northern Colorado 31-12 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-09-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

Week 2 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Thugtown, USA: A Series Is Reborn

2009-09-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought it was safe for a gal to have a Charger player as a boyfriend, Shawne Merriman is back in the news.
The star linebacker was arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly choking and restraining his girlfriend, MTV "star" Tila Tequila.
Stay classy, Shawne Merriman.
Chargers general manager Albert John Smith -- who answers to the colorful nickname "A.J." -- no doubt was thrilled about having his Sunday breakfast interrupted by this. The team's public relations staff issued a statement, in which A.J. allegedly says: "It’s disappointing to hear about the issue involving Shawne Merriman. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course."
By "monitor the situation," they mean, do nothing until they're forced to, if the legal process dictates.
Of course, if Merriman were not a star player, the response from the team wouldn't be quite the same. If he were the 53rd man on the roster, well ... he'd no longer be the 53rd man on the roster.
This latest "issue" of alleged thuggery is just the most recent in a long line of athletes gone bad stories involving Chargers and Padres players, as we've chronicled here in our just now resurrected Thugtown, USA series.
As you may recall, there was Jake Peavy's "situation" with airport security personnel in Mobile, Ala.
And then there was the heartwarming story of former Padre Marcus Giles getting handcuffed, detained and escorted from Qualcomm Stadium for allegedly getting into a fight at a Charger playoff game.
Oh, and we'll forever be grateful to Terrence Kiel for his contribution involving codeine-based cough syrup.
And it didn't take long for this Charger to get in trouble.
Jake Peavy made a return appearance in Thugtown, USA after an incident involving a brown foreign substance.
The playoffs are always a great time to get arrested, as Vincent Jackson demonstrated.
Now this latest "issue" involving Shawne Merriman leaves us with one question. Does this mean Merriman is now out of the running for NFL Man of the Year Award?

The USD Report

2009-09-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego defeated Azusa Pacific 24-12 in college football action Saturday.
And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.
We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: 2009 Edition

2009-09-05T01:53:00.000-07:00

Week 1 of the high school football season featured dozens of games throughout San Diego County.
And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.
We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.
Join us again next week for The High School Football Report.

Helping A.J.'s Kids

2009-08-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

Amid the hysteria over the Chula Vista Little Leaguers, everything else kind of got lost in the shuffle over the weekend.
But we did watch some of the Chargers exhibition game Saturday night, and for a few moments we thought maybe Labor Day weekend was off to an early start.
On Channel 8's telecast of the preseason thriller at Atlanta, viewers were subjected to numerous -- almost constant -- scrolling on the bottom of the screen, reminding fans that tickets are still available for the Bolts' home opener against Baltimore. The scroll included the Chargers' ticket order hotline, and it also directed viewers to the team's web site to buy tix.
It gave the whole telecast a distinct telethon flavor.
At any moment, we expected Tony Orlando to make an appearance.
But compared to three hours of exhibition football, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Blue Man Group

2009-08-30T18:56:00.001-07:00

The most amazing thing about Chula Vista's Little League World Series title is that a San Diego County team won a championship while wearing powder blue.
Something this team has never done.
Neither have these guys.
Nor this group.

Padres Finally Catch a Break

2009-08-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

Chula Vista is one win away from the Little League World Series championship, and no one is happier than Dennis Morgigno.
Why?
As station manager of Channel 4 San Diego, Morgigno is the head honcho of Padres telecasts. And thanks to a quirk in the schedule, Saturday's Padres game at Florida was not a TV game, meaning no head-to-head competition against the kids from Chula Vista.
And there's more good luck for Dennis on Sunday, as the Padres' telecast will be over, or nearly over, by the time Chula Vista's championship game against Taiwan goes on the air.
When you watch any Little League World Series game on TV, the parents in the stands can be more entertaining than the action on the field. You'll see folks cheering when their kid does something great and you'll see moms and dads letting out a sigh of relief over the realization that their youngster just managed to not embarrass himself out there.
So Morgigno, like a nervous Little League parent, can breathe a sigh of relief that his baby -- the Padres games on TV -- has saved itself from some big embarrassment this weekend.
Thanks to that aforementioned fortuitous scheduling, the Padres miraculously avoided the indignity of getting pounded in the TV ratings by a bunch of 12-year-olds. And there's no doubt, the Chula Vista kids would've hammered the Padres in the ratings -- probably double what a Padres game would get -- had they gone head to head this weekend.
Then again, as lackluster as this dreadful Padres team is, we're surprised its telecasts ever get higher ratings than a test pattern.

It's All Just a Bad Dream

2009-08-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

We've been asked why we haven't written anything on the Jake Peavy trade.
And our response is: what Jake Peavy trade?
We refuse to believe it's true.
We refuse to believe that Padres general manager Kevin Towers, who answers to the colorful nickname "KT," would actually pull the trigger on such a trade. KT couldn't be that stupid, could he? Trading a Cy Young Award winner who's still two years shy of his 30th birthday? Nah, even the Padres can't be this dumb.
It has to be just a bad dream.
We've made our fondness for Peavy well known here the last few years, so this is not something we can come to terms with very easily.
So, until we see Peavy pitching in a different uniform, we'll be clinging to the notion that it's just one horrible nightmare.

The Ted Ball Era

2009-08-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Padres honored Ted Leitner on Friday night, celebrating his 30 years of calling the team's games on the radio.

On occasions such as this, media types will use words like "controversial" to describe Leitner.

And for the younger Padre fans out there, who wouldn't fathom the concept of listening to a game on the radio, the reaction likely was "Ted who?"

But seriously, we don't understand why Leitner still carries the "controversial" label. Perhaps in the 1970s and '80s, his schtick was somewhat controversial or edgy -- or what passes for controversial and edgy in this town. But the present-day version of Leitner is about as edgy as a bowl of jello.

And it's sad, really, because he used to be one of the few worth listening to around here. But now he has become just another Padre cheerleader/apologist in a town overflowing with such types. One of Leitner's cute, little gimmicks is to refer to the ballclub as "my Padres" when they're winning and "your Padres" when they're losing. Oh yeah, that's edgy.

Ooooooooh, he called them "your Padres" -- better write a nasty letter to station management!

How controversial can you be when you're the guy the team has chosen for years to emcee its opening day ceremonies?

Perhaps Leitner has merely mellowed with old age, resulting in a more dull version of himself. Or perhaps it's due to the fact that the Padres currently supply his only full-time paycheck.

"We Want Something Else! We Want Something Else!"

2009-08-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

The big news out at Chargers training camp is that Antonio Cromartie has been sent to the principal's office for posting on Twitter without the expressed written consent of A.J. Smith.

The Twitter aspect of the story is mildly amusing, but Twitter is so yesterday. The only people who still bother with Twitter are 12-year-olds and media entities desperately trying to appeal to young people.

The part of this story that has us intrigued is Cromartie's complaint about the food at the team's complex. Our first reaction was that maybe the dude has been watching too many "M*A*S*H" reruns. Our second reaction was, what are the chances the dude has ever seen "M*A*S*H"?

Anyway, had he not been busted by team officials, maybe Cromartie's next "tweet" would've been: "I've eaten a river of liver and an ocean of fish. I've eaten so much fish, I'm ready to grow gills; I've eaten so much liver, I can only make love if I'm smothered in bacon and onions." Of course, that tweet would be done in difficult-to-decipher Tweet-speak short-hand, and we don't have the stomach to attempt what that might look like.

But the more we think about this, the more we think Cromartie might have a point about the food. After all, we are what we eat. And if the organization continues to feed the team crap, well, should we be surprised when they play like crap and under-achieve?

Perhaps Cromartie's solution will be to order take-out more often. We hear Adam's Ribs in Chicago comes highly recommended.

But for the love of all that is holy, don't forget the cole slaw.

110 Losses, Here We Come!

2009-04-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Padres opening days are nothing if not classy. When we think Padres baseball, we think first-class all the way.

The day began as Padres openers always do -- with the dignified tradition of a tuxedoed Ted Leitner doing a poor man's version of Michael Buffer. After the 20-minute pregame ceremony -- which seemed more like 20 hours -- the impression it left with us was: Leitner is having a love affair with the sound of his own voice. Too bad the smattering of fans in the house at the time didn't seem to be paying much attention.

And what's with the lame gimmick of introducing the Padres starting lineup as they walk in from the stands, amid ultra-cheesy NBA-style intro music? Who came up with this genius idea? If a player would have have turned an ankle on the makeshift stairs while stepping down to the field, now that would've been what Padres baseball is all about. We're surprised the players' union didn't file an OSHA complaint over this brilliant pregame schtick.

But it's comforting to know that the broadcast team on Channel 4 was in midseason form. After Jake Peavy allowed two first-inning runs, one of the Dorky Marks on Channel 4 noted that Peavy was "one strike away from getting out of the inning unhurt." Uh, yeah, and we're one hot wife away from being Tom Brady.

Oh, and this is typical Padres: While looking up information on new Channel 4 play-by-play man Mark Neely, we discovered that the Padres haven't even updated the broadcasters portion of the team's Web site yet. Matt Vasgersian is still listed as part of the broadcast crew, with no mention of Neely. Yeah, nice job on the timely updates. Neely was hired only three months ago.

If you care how the Padres did Monday, it was a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers. And Padre fans should get accustomed to many of those this year.

If the Padres can't win with Peavy pitching in the shadows with a ludicrous 4 p.m. start time, while going against the team he's owned over the years, well ... it's not a good sign.

No, this Padres team, coming off a 99-loss season, did virtually nothing to improve in the offseason, and unceremoniously dumped all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman in the process.

We can't see much to be optimistic about with these Padres.

Predicting a 100-loss season would be too optimistic for this bunch, so we'll call it right now: The Padres will lose 110 games this season.

The USD Report

2009-03-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

The University of San Diego lost to Santa Clara 80-69 in college basketball action Saturday.

And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.

We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next year for The USD Report.

The Padres Spring Training Report

2009-03-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Day 22 of spring training featured numerous drills and several hours of practice at Padres camp in Arizona.

And that's all for this edition of The Padres Spring Training Report.

We hope you enjoyed The Padres Spring Training Report.

Join us again next time for The Padres Spring Training Report.

The USD Report

2009-02-20T00:31:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to Saint Mary's 65-61 in college basketball action Thursday.

And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.

We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The Padres Spring Training Report

2009-02-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

Day 6 of spring training featured numerous drills and several hours of practice at Padres camp in Arizona.

And that's all for this edition of The Padres Spring Training Report.

We hope you enjoyed The Padres Spring Training Report.

Join us again next time for The Padres Spring Training Report.

The USD Report

2009-01-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego lost to Saint Mary's 65-42 in college basketball action Thursday.

And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.

We hope you enjoyed The USD Report.

Join us again next time for The USD Report.

Looking on the Bright Side

2009-01-11T17:22:00.001-08:00

All we heard all week was how improved the Chargers' defense was under Ron Rivera. Yeah, sure it is.

Maybe the Bolts will now turn to Geraldo Rivera as their next defensive coordinator, after the Steelers pounded the Chargers 35-24 on Sunday in the AFC divisional playoffs at Pittsburgh.

And if Steelers rookie receiver Limas Sweed is able to hold onto a Byron Leftwich pass in garbage time, the score would have been 42-24.

Nice defense, San Diego.

But as always, we prefer to take a positive outlook here at Minor-League Town. And since there will be no football game next weekend at Qualcomm Stadium, the good news is that next Saturday's Monster Jam truck show can go on as scheduled.

If that's not something worth celebrating, we don't know what is.

Thugtown, USA: An Ongoing Series

2009-01-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought the Chargers had become a focused, professional group of model citizens, Vincent Jackson stumbles his way into the day's headlines.

Jackson reportedly was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Nice to see the team is keeping distractions to a minimum heading into Sunday's playoff game at Pittsburgh. And the week is still young. There's still plenty of time for more Thugtown, USA activity before the Bolts board their flight to Pennsylvania. Also, don't discount the possibility of night-before-the-game shenanigans from this Charger team after they arrive in the Steel City.

At times like this, we're reminded of an appropriate quote from NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth: "I just don't know if San Diego is emotionally mature enough."

Speaking of quotes, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith gets the honor for unintentional comedy quote of the week. After Jackson had zero receptions in Saturday's playoff win over the Colts, A.J. went out of his way to praise Jackson.

"I'm especially proud of Vincent Jackson's performance, and he didn't even catch a pass. ... He never pouted, never displayed frustration," said A.J. "He has become a true professional, an ultimate team player. You win championships with players like Vincent Jackson."

No, he didn't pout. He merely got hammered -- allegedly -- and proceeded to get behind the wheel of a car.

Excellent judgment, V.J.

And can you really win championships with guys like Vincent Jackson?

Perhaps A.J. was referring to this kind of championship.

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2009-01-03T23:35:00.000-08:00

"I think that their punter is the MVP of the game."

-- Colts running back Dominic Rhodes, on the Chargers' Mike Scifres

Playoffs? Playoffs? Yes, Playoffs

2008-12-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

Watching the Chargers destroy the Broncos 52-21 on Sunday night makes us wonder, are the Bolts really this good or are the Broncos simply this bad?

As philosophical questions go, it's not quite as intriguing as, Del Taco or Taco Bell?

But make no mistake, these Broncos are pathetic. They had a three-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West with three to play. Now they've just put the finishing touches on an epic collapse that should inspire Cole Hamels to start popping off any day now.

In a way, though, the Broncos should feel thankful. They picked a good day to turn in such a horrible performance. They had plenty of company.

As bad as the Broncos were Sunday, it still wasn't the most embarrassing performance of the day -- and that's just counting the games that meant something. No, that honor goes to America's Team.

So now the Chargers -- at 8-8 -- are in the playoffs as AFC West champions. Which means, when the coach of the year voting is announced, the words "Norv" and "Turner" might show up on the list with a few votes -- much to the delight of THN.

The Minor-League Town Quote o' the Day

2008-12-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

"We might not be a playoff team, but we played like one today."

-- Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills, the favorite team of San Diegans for 3 hours Sunday afternoon

"Choke Artists"

2008-12-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

"For the past two years they've been choke artists."

-- World Series MVP and San Diego boy Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels wasn't talking about the Denver Broncos, but maybe he should have been.

The Broncos are doing a pretty serviceable impression of the New York Mets right now.

With an opportunity to clinch the AFC West with a victory Sunday, the Broncos looked like a bunch of listless second-graders in need of a nap, as they got pounded by the Carolina Panthers 30-10.

Denver has two more games left to tweak and fine-tune its Mets impersonation. And when it's over, there should be little doubt that the Broncos are an amazin' collection of talent.

In other news Sunday, the Chargers managed their second one-point win this season over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The USD Report

2008-12-13T23:27:00.000-08:00

The University of San Diego defeated Oregon 64-57 in college basketball action Saturday.

And that's all for this edition of The USD Report.

We hope you enjoyed The USD Report. Join us again next time for The USD Report.

The High School Football Report: Playoff Edition

2008-12-13T01:13:00.000-08:00

Week 4 of the high school football playoffs featured four championship games at Qualcomm Stadium.

And that's all for this edition of The High School Football Report.

We hope you enjoyed The High School Football Report.

Join us again next year for The High School Football Report.

Coming off a three-game sweep by the "rival" Dodgers, the attendance for Monday night's Padres game against the Giants will be:
	42,123
	39,786
	37,262
	13,342
	About 6,000 less than the attendance for Monday's Lakers playoff game
	About 6,000 less than what the announced crowd will be

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The Padres' home opener on Monday left me feeling:
	Excited
	Nostalgic
	Patriotic
	Nervous
	Nauseous
	Sleepy
	Thankful the team's new ownership ended the dumb tuxedo on opening day tradition*
	Anxious to make plans for David Eckstein Bobblehead Night**
	Eager to start counting down the days until the NFL draft

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The Raiders could not beat a high school team.
	Agree
	Mildly Agree
	Somewhat Agree
	Strongly Agree
	Violently Agree
	Disagree
	Mildly Disagree
	Somewhat Disagree
	Strongly Disagree
	Violently Disagree
	I'll hold off on my prediction until the high school team's injury report is out

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