As horifying as the news is about Charlie Batch being carted off the practice field, the silver lining is that the Lions are forced to take a good look at Randall Cunningham. Yes, he's old, but so is Mike Tomzcak, and that last one's a name that hasn't struck fear in anyone's hearts for a while ... Washington is a fitting place for overspending for underwhelming performance. If Bruce Smith and now Deion Sanders, considerably long in the tooth, are as do-nothing as their fellow D.C.-ers on Capitol Hill, they might be equally as popular at Election Day ... We'll try to keep a straight face for this: John Rocker's demotion and his confrontation with Jeff Pearlman the day before having nothing to do with each (snort) - sorry, can't do it. The Braves did, pointing to Rocker's ugly numbers, but we know this fits in the addition by subtraction category.
 

The Coin Toss By Nathan Bierma Bob Becker's profile of Chad Curtis in the Press showed us the problems with the media's insistence on portraying athletes as either saint or villain, and never anything in between. Curtis, of course, was cast as the saint for his small town values and his religious faith. Becker's piece didn't venture an inch beyond this; it was praise so predictable it was almost unflattering. I've never forgiven Curtis for his childish stunt (which Becker has praised) of showing up Jim Gray by walking out of a live interview he pledged to do at last year's World Series. But my more serious beef with Curtis is the pomposity that results from what may be well-intentioned religious zealotry. To me, an unapologetic Christian, the jury's still out as to whether big-talking born again athletes like Curtis give themselves a good or bad name by shutting off teammates' vulgar music or preaching to them about their lifestyles. I don't like rap any more than Curtis does, but there's a huge risk of coming off as self-righteous and distant when you are always confrontational and never warm. My outlook on my faith is that you convince people you have some useful ideas about how to live only by engaging them, not by jabbing fingers. I'm still not sure if Curtis is a role model, or if he's a knee-jerk moralist surrounded by his own echoes. • Respond at our Fan Forum • More Tosses

Checkers Hamburgers E-mail of the Day

It's time that we stop the insanity...last year's Gonzalez trade will not elevate the Tigers into the American League elite; Juan must be dealt and the
time to do it is right now! Don't mistake me for the Tiger supporters who hate the Gonzalez trade
because of Juan's personality quirks and his early-season lack of production. I think that this is just a bump in the road. But now is the time to move. When Randy Smith took on the challenge of overhauling the Tigers, his mantra was add pitching and develop young talent.  I agreed (and still do agree) 100%. 
Sader Nation
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Today on the Web

• Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post wonders if Michael Jordan has a Plan B for hiring the new Wizards coach - click here
• Dan LeBetard of the Miami Herald says the Heat's recent loss may have been the most agonizing of Pat Riley's career - click here
• Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times talks to Coach K about his former tutor, Bob Knight - click here
• George Vescey of the New York Times says interleague play is a gimmick but can be interesting - click here
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