The Nightcap

In a move that shocked no one, Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants came to terms on a one year deal. The negotiations became productive when Bonds decided to personally attend the winter meetings. At the meetings, a fan called Bonds a cheater who had ruined the game, at which point Bonds said, "Man, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that." Giants GM Brian Sabean yelled out "deal" and after estimating that he'll be derided 320 million times by fans this season, a 1 year, $16 million contract was agreed upon...

When the Dodgers were informed that J.D. Drew was going to exercise the escape clause in his contract, there should have been rejoicing within the organization. At the $11 million per season that he was due, he was an overpaid disappointment. His departure would pave the way for prospects such as Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Jason Repko to establish themselves on the team, and at a much lower price. Instead, GM Ned Colletti reacted with anger and then in panic moves, signed Juan Pierre to a 5 year, $45 million contract, and today officially signed Luis Gonzalez to a one year, $7 million deal. These two players will not provide any more production than the youngsters would have, are older, and will cost roughly $15 million more in the 2007 season than the prospects. It makes absolutely no sense at all. Dodgers fans are so outraged that they've decided that as a sign of protest, they won't show up to any home games until the 3rd inning...

The Royals surprised people by entering the free agent frenzy and throwing $55 million over 5 years to Gil Meche. Meche has a career ERA of 4.65, but somehow in today's market, that's worth 11 mil a year. Although to be fair, the Royals will really only pay about $6 million before trading him to a contender sometime in July...

The same day they signed Meche, the Royals released Runelvys Hernandez. Hernandez was 6-10 with a 6.48 ERA last season, so the only options for the Royals were either to let him go, or sign him to 4 year, $36 million deal...

The Steelers destroyed the Cleveland Browns 27-7 in a game that wasn't even as close as the score indicated. The Browns couldn't stop the run at all, surrendering 223 yards to Willie Parker. Meanwhile, their own running game averaged an Edgerrin James-like 1.6 yards per carry. The play of the Browns was so pathetic that after the game, commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Browns would immediately be moved to the NFC where they'd fit in much better...

The Notre Dame student body rushed the court after their basketball team upset the #4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 99-85. It's a little early in the season for a major school like Notre Dame to storm the court. I think watching their football team these last few years has conditioned students to expect a home loss anytime a ranked opponent comes to visit, and now they don't know how to appropriately react when they actually win...

The Miami Hurricanes have decided to promote defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to be their next head coach. Shannon said he was pleased, but mostly relieved, because he would have had to quit the profession completely if he'd been beaten out for the job by Bernie freaking Kosar...

Despite signing a 7 year deal with West Virginia in June, Rich Rodriguez will officially take over as the new coach of Alabama for the handsome sum of $2 million a year. The last time a Big East coach left his team just before a bowl game to accept a higher paying job, John L Smith was ditching Louisville for the Spartans gig. I think we all know how well that worked out. Fortunately for Rodriguez, he doesn't have to do much to show an improvement from the 2006 season. Succeeding Mike Shula as head coach is like auditioning for a Shakespearean play and learning that you'll be on after Keanu Reeves.