Rumors are coming out that some media members are angry because Republican vice president nominee Sarah Palin is unavailable for interviews. If only they were a play-by-play broadcaster for a summer collegiate baseball team in Alaska, maybe they would have more success. OK, so maybe it was because this interview didn’t take place when Palin was just the governor of Alaska and not the V.P. nominee. Either way, the video of this interview is worth a watch.

In the interview Palin briefly discusses her love of sports and growing up in Alaska. She also talks about attending summer baseball games. The play-by-play guy, Donny Baarns, is reading from a list of notes for things to ask Palin as he scatters in some actual play-by-play announcing from the game. Then Baarns proceeds to blindside Palin with a question that no media member now would ever ask. “How many politicians have you wanted to shoot?” Baarns asked, after hearing that Palin was a lifetime N.R.A. member. Palin laughed and responded with, “No comment.” But, wouldn’t you love to hear that answer?

Check out the full five-minute plus video interview after the jump.

Image: Newscom

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Sarah Palin interviewed during baseball game – Video

Ward signed autographs in exchange for free beers and even sold a few. Cops caught onto Ward’s scam after seeing him tell a bagel shop owner he was actually Chamberlain. The biggest scam? Ward isn’t even a Yankees fan. Hailing form Delaware, Ward follows the Philadelphia Phillies. Below is a video from the New York Post on this crazy story.

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Joba Chamberlain impersonator busted by cops – Video

Baseball speed is usually measured in the 60-yard dash and the sprint from home to first. However, some players are called “fast” for stealing bases, covering ground in the field and having great base running ability. But, who’s the fastest? Did you ever wonder if any of the current MLB players would challenge Usain Bolt in a race? Well, it’s time for the 2008 MLB Track Olympics. Here are 16 guys that could give him a run for his money.

If Bud Selig decided to hold a MLB’s Fastest Man competition, there would be several players that would come to mind: Ichiro, Willy Taveras, Jose Reyes, etc… However, what if you lined them up on a track. No baseball uniforms and no batting helmets or gloves. Which speedy baseball player would come out on top?

My ideal 100-meter lineup would be comprised of two heats. Here are the competitors for heat number one:
Lane 1 – Joey Gathright, OF, Kansas City Royals
Lane 2 – Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Seattle Mariners
Lane 3 – Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Lane 4 – Willy Taveras, OF, Colorado Rockies
Lane 5 – Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
Lane 6 – Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Lane 7 – Carlos Gomez, OF, Minnesota Twins
Lane 8 – Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Now that would be a fast, fast race. I think Figgins, Reyes or Gathright would out-run the others and cruise to victory. Add Pierre as the fourth place finisher and that’s my top four moving on to the finals.

Here is the lineup for heat number two:
Lane 1 – Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Lane 2 – Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
Lane 3 – Curtis Granderson, OF, Detroit Tigers
Lane 4 – Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox
Lane 5 – B.J. Upton, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Lane 6 – Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Lane 7 – Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds
Lane 8 – Fred Lewis, OF, San Francisco Giants

Not many people understand just how fast Michael Bourn and Fred Lewis are. They show up in this race and finish first and second with Brian Roberts and Jimmy Rollins also advancing.

For the finals, here’s a loaded lineup:
Lane 1 – Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Lane 2 – Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Lane 3 – Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Lane 4 – Joey Gathright, OF, Kansas City Royals
Lane 5 – Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
Lane 6 – Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
Lane 7 – Fred Lewis, OF, San Francisco Giants
Lane 8 – Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

Before we analyze this race, I think this would be a heat that would rival Bolt’s competition at the Olympics. This is a lineup of world-class speed. Gathright and Bourn both have that speed that is so amazing when you watch them play the outfield, you understand why they are on the field. Roberts and Lewis are two guys that are under the radar with their speed, but both could challenge this field in a race. Everyone knows what kind of speed Pierre, Figgins, Reyes and Rollins bring to the table. It’s long been discussed. However, the winner of the ‘08 MLB Fastest Man competition has to go to Gathright, with Bourn and Figgins claiming second and third, respectively.

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Could baseball’s fastest man challenge Usain Bolt?

The two Cubs were in attendance at Little Cubs Park in Humboldt Park that was being dedicated. After about two-and-one-half minutes, the duo finally reaches their cars and speed away with the help of the CPD. It’s a scene that you just have to see.

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Zambrano and Soto need police escort after event – VIDEO

It’s not wise to anger Stubby Clapp. The second baseman for the Canadian Olympic team was not very happy after learning that Scott Richmond had been demoted by the Toronto Blue Jays. Why? Because Richmond was expected to pitch for Team Canada in the 2008 Olympics. However, Toronto called up Richmond just before the games and then demoted him on Friday.

Here is Clapp’s comments from the Toronto Sun:

”No comment. No f—ing comment.”

However, Clapp was not the only Team Canada member that was unhappy. Terry Puhl, the Canadian manager, compared the Blue Jays’ treatment of Richmond to owning a car.

Sure, Canada is probably just a little hot under the collar due to a three straight one-run losses, including their most recent setback to the a Team USA squad that came back from being down by four runs. As for Clapp and Puhl – they aren’t just talking from no experience. Both played in the MLB. Clapp was a longtime prospect with the St. Louis Cardinals before finally reaching the big league club in 2001. Puhl spent 15 seasons in the majors, including 14 with the Houston Astros.

Photo: Newscom

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Don’t anger Stubby Clapp

It’s hard to believe this headline, but it’s true. University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido was kicked out of a closed USC football scrimmage on Tuesday. The scrimmage Garrido was spotted at was only meant to be seen by family members and boosters.

In the era of SpyGate, many coaches are now closing practices and scrimmages to the public in fear that someone will videotape something they don’t want others to see. USC does not play Texas this season, unless the two teams were to meet in a bowl game.

It’s unknown why Garrido was at the scrimmage in the first place. However, the Longhorns baseball coach does have ties to the state of California. Before taking the reigns of the Longhorns, Garrido spent six seasons as the head coach of the Cal State Fullerton Titans. In addition to his time with Fullerton, Garrido graduated from Fresno State and calls Vallejo, Calif. his hometown.

It’s hard to believe that Garrido was sent out by Mack Brown and the Texas coaching staff to “scout” the Trojans in a preseason intra-squad scrimmage. But, then again, USC wasn’t taking any chances.

Photo: Newscom

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University of Texas baseball coach booted from USC practice

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Forbes says Cubs worth $1.3 billion

Congratulations Kevin for submitting the winning caption for the Pujols picture. Check back this Friday for another contest. I have something a little different in the works for the giveaway this week.

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Create the caption winner – July 11

Check out the video below of the event. One thing – Greeney just doesn’t look like much of an athlete to me! Also – you can tell Golic’s knees took a beating playing football. It shows in his stride. Anyway, take a peak at the video.

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Mike and Mike run the bases

The cemetery will have a replica of Wrigley Field’s wall covered in ivy. And for $5,000 – “season ticket holders” can rest eternally in the cemetery. This shrine will be similar to one in Cooperstown – where those laid to rest will have their face shown off on a bronze baseball card plaque and urn.

Leave it up to a Cubs fan to come up with such a crazy idea. I’m almost positive that this idea will however catch on in other towns. Anyone interested in being buried beneath the Green Monster or in a true Yankee monument park?

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Here lies a Cubs fan