I learned two* things today.
The symbol-letter-thing the NFL uses to denote a Pro Bowl player is dead -- z -- also signifies a first-round bye. - Ethan Albright is in the Pro Bowl.
You'd really think they could find a new letter for situations like this. But the letter z had that funny little distinction. Who knew?
As for Ethan Albright ... how you may remember Ethan Albright (look right)? OK, you probably won't no matter what clever intro I give him. He's the Redskins' long-snapper.
He's also the lowest-rated player in Madden '07.
From lowest-rated player to Pro Bowl. Not bad I tell ya, not bad at all. Of course, it may have something to do with this letter he wrote to John Madden. I particularly like the part about eating rocks and his throwing accuracy.
We shall name thee: Catch 42
As for what to call the Eli Manning to David Tyree catch, it's looking like Catch 42 will be our winner. However, big props to Slip and Grip (gscott279), The Great Escape (iamayanksfan), and Connection 4 Imperfection (njnysporskid) . Deadspin found another blog trying to name this thing as well. They don't have Catch 42, but they did have our Glendale Grab, Slip and Grip (Adande?) and Great Escape.
What's with the *
The * is for a Blog Day Afternoon re-learned lesson. Ken Williams is a bad, bad GM. Scott Podsednik, the goods the White Sox general manager received for Carlos Lee, just signed a minor league deal with the Rockies. El Caballo, if you remember, is worth $100 million to the Astros, and that's in major league dollars.
Yes, Pods helped the team win a World Series. But there are dozens of speedsters in the minors with average defensive skills and a slappy bat (but not wifey Lisa Dergen [look right]). Trading a premier slugger for a burner is like signing middle relievers to mega-million contracts. You just don't do that. You find these people within the organization, you don't mortgage the future on them.
On to the best blogs ... around!
It's Signing Day Eve (I'm more of a Father's Day Eve guy), and Football and Fun takes a lap around the high school gyms to check in on Terelle Pryor, Julio Jones and a bunch of other 17-year-olds old people spend way too much time fawning over.
Wonder what was really said in Roger Clemens' testimony on Capitol Hill? Red, White and Burnsy is our resident fly on the wall of Rayburn, and it sounds like Roger no likely D.C.
It's almost Pro Bowl time (and there wasn't much rejoicing). Tell The Blog Whisperer why you love or hate the game they play in Hawaii for some reason.
The big winners of the Patriots' 18-1 season wasn't the Miami Dolphins. It was the cast of M*A*S*H. The Sports Comedian explains.
BigTen's Fantasy Baseball Blog asks the tough questions our Fantasy guys refuse to answer. And by refuse to answer, I mean write about 
on a daily basis. As for his David Ortiz question: I never take a DH-only person. I just hate having the position locked up.
OK, here's a blog I never thought I'd read on our site. It's our pal, The Words of Dezy, and he's doing a Drug Lord Power Rankings. Surpsingly, my high school buddy Brad didn't make the list. He was overpriced, but sheesh.
A popular topic among bloggers is taking trips down memory lane. Various stuff I feel like talking about talks about arcade games. The blog likes Track 'n' Field. Personally, I grew up on a healthy diet of NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat, Virtual Fighter and going way back, Spyhunter.
Somehow, Tennessee basketball (no, not that guy again) is the most-blogged-about college basketball program. Today's topic du jour, Chris Lofton and his shot at the 3-point record. Too Legit To Quit! breaks it down.
Vols 91, Gators 79. I just bet my one-day first born's bar mitzvah fund on this, Volunteer Basketball (baseball?).
As in Scott Macartney, who was 
bookies, but a good Bayless bashing will automatically get you in Blog Day Afternoon. It's that simple.