Who Would You Throw Under The Bus? -- August 23, 2009

Sports fans, it's that time of week again! It's time to call out your favorite sports figures, teams, etc., for their idiocy, insolence, and general all-around dumb-A$$e4y. You can do that by throwing them under the Bus. Because of the bad economy, we here at Who Would You Throw Under The Bus? are resorting to the short bus, meaning we have to run them over more often to get the same effect as before. And away we go!!!

NASCAR

Kevin Harvick: I wasn't going to do this initially, but after further review, I must. He in effect cost teammate Clint Bowyer any chance at the Chase when he made contact with Bowyer. Bowyer slapped the wall as Harvick was being tagged by Jamie McMurray (no fault of McMurray's). Bowyer was in and out of his pit several times during the caution for repairs and amazingly, did not lose a lap. Harvick's boneheaded move cost Bowyer a sure top 10, perhaps a top 5. Sounds like someone isn't Happy at RCR. But before you destroy your own reputation, you get thrown under Da Bus for costing Bowyer any chance at the Chase. You also get thrown under Da Bus for throwing YOUR pit crew under Da Bus during Da Race at Bristol. (I wonder how the RCR drivers' meeting will go this week, with Harvick bickering with Mears and now Bowyer?)

ESPN: once again, their race coverage left a LOT to be desired. Just because the race ran just past 11 PM EDT, they IMMEDIATELY cut away after the Victory Lane celebration to SportsCenter for the latest coverage of Brett Favre. Are you ESPN or freaking TMZ? Did I miss the memo that TMZ bought out ESPN? Give up your NASCAR coverage to a network that GENUINELY wants it. ESPN gets it's rear end thrown under Da Bus.

MLB

San Francisco Giants: their failure to land a MUCH-needed power bat at the trade deadline is coming back to bite them in the rear. While they made a good move to improve their infield defense in getting Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates, acquiring Adam Dunn COULD have put them over the top. Their lack of offense showed against the Colorado Rockies. Tim Lincecum can't win games 1-0 all season long. Neither can the rest of that superb staff. It bit them today in a series loss to the Colorado Rockies. The Giants scored two runs today. They lost 4-2 to the surging Rockies. For not getting a HUGE power bat, and losing a key series to the Rocks, the Giants get thrown under the Bus.

New York Mets: ONLY the Mets can find new and unusual ways to lose. Today it was via the triple play at the end of a 9-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets had runners on 1st and 2nd with NO outs. With the runners going, Jeff Francoeur lines a shot up the middle. Eric Bruntlett was covering second base and the ball was lined right to him. He steps on second for the second out, and tags the runner going from first to second for the third and final out of the inning. End of game. Drive home safely. Phillies 9, Mets 7. The Mets are also bringing Omar Minaya back. Why? He has run this once-proud franchise into the ground. You have a brand-spanking new stadium, but an aging team with bad chemistry. He does NOTHING about it, except wring his hands. The Mets get thrown under the Bus, not so much for the triple play, but for bringing the Franchise Wrecker back.

NFL

The Media: for its incessant, non-stop, 24/7 Brett Favre coverage. We've heard this song before, and it's a yawner. Yeah, Favre's coming back. Yeah, he's with the Vikings, to stick it to Ted Thompson. Get over it. The Media get thrown under the Bus for its nonstop coverage.

Brett Favre: I'm lumping him in here as well. Yes, you want so badly to get over on Ted Thompson. But there is a reason he went with Aaron Rodgers: he's a better QB at this stage than you are, Brett. He gives the Packers a better chance to win NOW. So get over it. Favre gets thrown under the Bus.

Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come in with yours.