Good reads

Still haven't seen 'King Kong' ... and now I'm back to being not sure I want to. Friends and colleagues who saw it over the weekend all moaned about how long it was ... But, hey, with The Washinton Post's tips, I might be able to get through it ...

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It's been an exciting and depressing baseball offseason all in one. But at least not all the talk this year is focused on steroids ...

Still I cringed when the rumors started flying after the season ended that Johnny Damon was interested in going to play for the Yankees and held my breath that he would come to his senses ...

Then it happened today. Ugh.

And from Sports Illustrated's Morning call:

The Cold War between the Yankees and Red Sox went nuclear last night. Acting boldly as the hour approached midnight, the Yankees agreed with centerfielder Johnny Damon on a four-year, $52-million contract. Damon needed only to pass his physical to consecrate the deal. The move is perhaps the fiercest yet in what many consider baseball's best rivalry. Damon had become a bearded cult figure in Boston. His grand slam against New York in the second inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series--his first of two homers in the
game--solidified the greatest comeback in playoff history. Now he will suit up, clean-shaven, for what many in Boston consider the evil empire. (His first game back at Fenway Park would be May 1.) Damon hit .316 in 2005 with 10 home runs and 75 RBIs. He has scored at least 100 runs in each of his eight seasons. "A good leadoff hitter is tough to find," Damon told WBZ-TV in Boston last night, "and I think that New York just found the best leadoff hitter in the game." The signing is a double blow for the Red Sox. Losing Damon is one thing. Losing him to hated New York, which needed a centerfielder and a leadoff man, may be something the Red Sox cannot overcome. (More ...)

Aw, who cares about the Red Sox and the Yankees anymore. I'm a lot more excited to watch the action unfolding in Detroit with Jim Leyland and in Los Angeles with Nomar and the rebuilt Dodgers ...

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Talk about a shocker this week when John Spencer died. As if 'West Wing' wasn't suffering enough ... should be interesting to see how it all plays out ...