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GRID IRON…the New York Jets opted to release Thomas Jones because, at 31, he was on the downside of his career. The move startled and demoralized teammates. The Jets have replaced Jones with LaDainian Tomlinson, a thoroughly washed up and beaten up player. How does that make sense? Tomlinson has a big name but, currently, little value on the field…thanks to Pro Football Talk I was able to obtain some info I’d been looking for. This year the salary cap has been removed from the NFL. Teams may spend what they want but that means they can also spend as little as they want. This year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, owned by the embattled Glazers, have a tab of a mere 79 million dollars, 28 million below last years required 107 million “basement” level. The Glazers will save 28 million dollars this year by virtue of the removal of the cap. The Kansas City Chiefs are also down for 79 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars at 81 million and the Cincinnati Bengals at 85 million. These teams are reaping a cash windfall by virtue of the breakdown of labour negotiations…

ICE..Stephen Brunt’s recent columns on Gary Bettman and the NHL have been as critical as anything he has ever written. Hockey was on a high after a magnificent Olympic tournament. Fans have returned to a squalid little cesspool marked by the failure of the league to control its rambunctious members. William Houston described the failure to suspend Matt Cooke as “…perhaps the most brain dead decision I’ve ever seen an NHL executive make…” We remarked on Colin Campbell’s seeming inability to grasp the concept of legal precedent and are saddened that the NHL showed a complete inability to capitalize on the good will and excitement engendered by the two weeks in Vancouver…

 PUG LIFE…Pedro Fernandez of Ring Talk has joined the Meridian in asking Pacquiao to submit to drug testing in advance of a fight with Floyd Mayweather. The Ring Magazine is also reporting Freddie Roach has had two previous fighters, Justin Fortune and James Toney, test positive for ‘roids while in his charge. Look, I know Ring Magazine is nothing but a mouthpiece for Golden Boy Promotions. But I had a really hard time with Pacquiao’s complete domination of Clottey Saturday night. People criticizing the African are out of line. The man has a style that has been consistent throughout his very successful career. He employs a defensive shell while “walking down” his foe. When the opponent tires, Clottey pounces. There is a rhythm and expectation to his game, an understanding of how to tire and wear out an opponent. Against Pacquiao everything went out the window. Pacquiao did not tire, despite a pace that was otherworldly. Something is wrong; either Pacquiao is the greatest fighter of all time or he is receiving help. I’m not ruling out either option.

On Saturday night Ginner and I were on the receiving end of some rather pointed and ignorant comments from the yokels. In a sport where a significant portion of the elite contestants have been caught juicing, the one man, Pacquiao, who has achieved more than any other boxer, is above suspicion? How does that make sense?  This is a featherweight who within two years of dominating the 126 lb division is beating the hell out of the best welterweights in the world. When Roberto Duran, an elite lightweight, rose through the divisions he could be a superb welterweight, but was just a “titlist” in the middleweight division, unable to win the title from the “real” champ, Marvin Hagler. Imagine if Duran had gone up to middle and pounded the piss out of every boxer he faced, including Hagler and Hearns. No, we saw clear signs of difficulty as Duran went up the ladder. Similarly, as James Toney rose, we observed the change in his body and increased difficulty with bigger opponents. With Pacquiao, and as pointed out by Victor Conti, the former head of BALCO and the man who juiced Barry Bonds and Shane Mosley, Pacquiao is solid muscle and improving as he goes up in weight.

It is unprecedented in the history of boxing for a fighter to become better, at a relatively advanced age, while dramatically moving up in weight.

Further, it is alarming when that same fighter refuses to submit to testing that could answer concerns once and for all.

It does not add up. Something is rotten in Quezon City.

PONIES…well, the horse racing community is still abuzz after the extraordinary drama of the weekend. The most shocking and disappointing development was, of course, the defeat of Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds on Saturday. Owner Jess Jackson subsequently pulled her from the April 9^thApple Blossom, which was to feature her showdown with Zenyatta. I’ve been unwavering in calling for a summer race between the pair. Rachel was rushed through her training and responded with dismal works. What I observed on Saturday, however, was of even greater concern. Rachel did not show the feistiness and gumption that characterized her 2009 efforts. Her three year old campaign was gruelling and punishing. It would not be a surprise if the filly is unable to recapture the stellar form that made her the Horse of the Year. The key now is to start over and show patience. The Go For Wand at Saratoga in July should be the target for the two camps…some have quietly suggested Zenyatta should have been disqualified for her behaviour in the stretch at Santa Anita on Saturday. The huge mare simply demolished a runner (Pretty Katherine) while she negotiated heavy traffic en route to an emphatic win. Is it true that “any other” horse would have been DQ’d? Could you imagine the uproar if Stewards had placed Zenyatta in last place after her stirring stretch run? In California she is, ahem, a sacred cow…lost in all the fuss has been the amazing work of Lookin At Lucky in the Rebel Stakes. The three year old champ returned and, while making his first start on dirt and with blinkers, scored an impressive win after checking badly on the backstretch. There were so many questions surrounding the colt and, with trainer Bob Baffert notorious for starting his returnees at less than 100%, a defeat seemed inevitable. But not to the colt. Facing two genuine ones in Dublin and Nobel Promise, the colt overcame a scary incident where he appeared to run up onto a rivals heels. Lookin At Lucky is one serious runner. Only Eskendereya has recorded a more impressive performance as we inch closer to the Run for the Roses on May 1^st…Odysseus has also burst into prominence with a peculiar effort in the Tampa Bay Derby. The colt was up close early and then appeared to stop at the quarter pole. The announcer barked the colt would have to wait for another day. He suddenly rallied and was a nose clear of Schoolyard Dreams and a neck ahead of highly regarded Super Saver at the wire. The effort is often termed a “Z” race (coined by Andrew Beyer) and is usually indicative of even better performances in the offing…the San Felipe was more noteworthy for the defeat of Caracortado then the win of Sidney’s Candy, who is in no way a Derby horse. Interactif kept his hopes alive with a nice runner-up finish while American Lion and Dave In Dixie seem up against it. Largely the same field will contest the Santa Anita Derby in three weeks and improvement will have to be forthcoming for any of these to launch legitimate Derby ambitions…