The Matrix

Baseball: If Mets fans didn't give it to Manny Ramirez, umpire John Hirschbeck did when he ejected him after Manny threw an elbow pad in Hirschbeck's direction. The circus aside, the Dodgers blanked the Mets, 8-0. It was the Mets second consecutive shut out...Pat Burrell put his bat to use hitting a game winning homer in the Rays 3-1 win over the Blue Jays...The Blue Jays, by the way, are listening to offers for Roy Halladay and suprisingly they are not demanding your first born child, although your second child is negotiable...Ryan Dempster will probably never jump over the dugout railing after breaking his big toe on Sunday. The injury forced him to the DL and moved Carlos Zambrano up a spot. Big Z allowed just two runs, but that was enough as the Cubs fell to the Braves, 2-1...Remember yesterday when I said the Ricketts family had purchased the Cubs? I may have been a little overzealous as there is a second offer floating around...Ryan Braun is back pedeling from his statements which turned out not to be very inspirational since the Brew Crew were held scoreless by the Cardinals, 5-0. Oh Ryan, you have much to learn...The Angels lost sole position of first in the AL West, the game to the Rangers and Vladimir Guerrero all in one day. Talk about your crappy days!..Grady Sizemore had two homeruns, but that didn't compare to Chicago's Paul Konerko who had seven RBIs as the ChiSox topped the Tribe, 10-6...Not to be out done, the Orioles' Luke Scott also drove in seven as the Orioles shelled the Mariners, 12-4...Josh Beckett notched his 10th win of the season as the Red Sox beat the A's, 5-2...The Phillies may have lost to the Reds, 4-3, but that doesn't mean you can't vote Shane Victorino into the All-Star game! I'll make it easy for you, just click here...Not only is Barack Obama throwing out the first pitch at the All-Star game, but five living presidents including Bill Clinton and the Bush pair are going to appear in a video.

(Photo: AP)

Basketball: The Lakers have signed Ron Artest to a three year, $18 million contract...Avery Johnson will not be the next coach of the Pistons, instead Detroit has reportedly hired John Kuester...2010 cap may be a little low. Sucks for everyone not named LeBron or Dwyane Wade...As for this upcoming season, the cap has been set at $57.7 million...Coach K will continue to coach team USA through 2012.

Football: The Titans are planning a two day memorial for Steve McNair. Fans will be able to pay their last respects at LP Field in Nashville on Wednesday and Thursday. Take that Michael Jackson. What? Too soon?...The Giants will have to play their season opener without Chris Boley after he was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Said policy apparently includes a clause shaming those who beat up their wife!

Hockey: Brett Favre take note: Joe Sakic is retiring after 20 years. The RETIRING part I mean...Chris Pronger has signed a seven year, $34.9 million extension with the Flyers...The Maple Leafs continue their summer of signings locking up hot shot Jonas Gustavsson...Pens forward Max Talbot will miss training camp and the beginning of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. I guess this means Max will go back to looking like a 50 year old man.

Nascar: Old news, but it's worth pointing out, Martin Truex, Jr is moving over to Michael Waltrip Racing. Talk about some who got inadvertently screwed by Dale Junior's departure from DEI.

(Photo: AP)

Best of the Rest: Lance Armstrong is closing in on the yellow jersey.

Check this Out: Congratulations to my favorite receptionist, Pam Beasley...I mean favorite actress who plays a receptionist Jenna Fisher on her engagement.