racingmeridian.com

GRID IRON..love the retort to complaints Baltimore Raven QB Joe Flacco is struggling at camp thus far; GM Ozzie Newsome pointed out he’s playing against the Raven’s formidable defence everyday and being asked to execute difficult midfield passes. After training camp, and daily love from Ray Lewis, it’s all downhill for the second year starter…Eric Mangini was only 35 years old when hired by the New York Jets as head coach in 2006. In his first year he revamped the Jets and led them to both a 10-6 finish and a playoff spot. After a couple of subsequent controversies, Spygate and the Brett Favre situation, long story short, the Jets nosedived and Mangini ended up being fired. The Cleveland Browns, Mangini’s new employers, could be the beneficiaries of the real life experiences of the young man. A bit of early success, a dose of failure, and now a whole new perspective on running a team and motivating players. The Browns are in line for improvement this season…big positive for New England Patriots fans with the news that Tom Brady is listed as the starter for tomorrow nights clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pats have emphatically trumpeted the return to health of Brady and their actions now ring consistent with those assurances…I don’t agree with the appraisal, but looks like the Oakland Raiders are close to running the white flag on inconsistent QB JaMarcus Russell. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Russell is simply not progressing… ICE..Nikolai Zherdev’s agent is denying reports that the young winger is heading to the KHL. Steve Simmons, in the Sunday Sun, speculated the former first rounder must be a real piece of work when the NHL GM’s collectively shrug their shoulders at the prospect of signing him. This guy was the leading scorer for the New York Rangers last year. After expounding on the benefits of bringing Zherdev to the Big Smoke, I received e-mails from friends suggesting that Brian Burke will look to stock the Leafs with big, strapping North American lads before bringing in moody Russians…it’s going to be far easier than previously believed to rehabilitate Patrick Kane’s reputation after “Cabbygate”. Not only is the driver being portrayed as an alcoholic reprobate, it also appears that Kane’s brother, and companion that night, is edging closer to taking the fall for the fisticuffs. Hey, it’s what brothers do, right?…PUG LIFE..HBO has announced it will make a rare foray into the Great White North to cover the Lucian Bute- Librado Andrade rematch from Quebec Nov 28^th. Their first fight featured a very controversial ending with Bute receiving a long count as time expired. Bute was well ahead in the fight but faded noticeably in the final stanzas…the Roy Jones - Jeff Lacy fight scheduled for this Saturday night is receiving a surprising amount of publicity. Jones is off an easy win over Omar Sheika but figures to have a much stiffer challenge from the still viable Lacy. If Jones prevails he is committed to a fight in Australia against Danny Green. Apparently a crowd of over 40,000 is anticipated if the erstwhile legend appears Down Under…PONIES..well, looks like super-mare Zenyatta will race two more times in 2009. Her trainer has ruled out a proposed match race, tentatively scheduled for Oct 3^rd, with Rachel Alexandra. Instead the mare will race in the Lady’s Secret Oct 10^th and the Breeders Cup either Nov 6^th or 7^th (depending on whether she opts for the Classic or the Distaff). I’m not printing the trainer’s name because I’m pissed. Zenyatta will retire before 2010, leaving only the remote possibility that she will enter the Clark Handicap on Nov 27^th, in an effort to meet Rachel halfway…English superstar Sea The Stars will race this coming Tuesday in the Juddmonte Stakes from York…LIBRARY..finished Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke. Y’know, if you’re a cool dude, you really should be reading all of this guy’s books. They’re like firecrackers going off in your hand, one mad, crazy idea exploding into another. His real strength is as a writer of short stories, and his novels are effectively a collection of vignettes. But they are so damn funny, and also devoid of the oppressive political correctness pervasive in much of literature today. They are to be cherished. Check out the chapter dealing with a fake “rape” scene if you want a taste of anarchic humour at it’s best…