I'm a fairly loyal guy, especially to where my teams are concerned.  When I go to the games, I usually stay the whole game rather than leave in the sixth or seventh inning.  When I watch the games on TV, I usually hang around until the end of the game.  However, yesterday, I had enough.

I will admit that I, about as die hard, rabid and hard core Chicago White Sox fan as there is shut off the second game of the White Sox doubleheader with Boston in the fifth inning in favor of a (I'm having problems admitting this) for a Busch series race (okay, it was Bristol, so that at least made it interesting.)

After watching the last three innings of game one including a pathetic outing by Mike Meyers, five innings into game two with the score 9-1, I voted with my remote.  I can't deal with it.  It's like watching someone you love die a slow, tortuous death.  When you trot Pink Gavin Floyd or Mike Meyers out there, you are saying to your opponent "we have no other options, pound us at will."   When you have chances early in ballgames to force your opponent deep into their bullpen and leave the bases loaded or two men on, you are saying to your opponent "we're too busy thinking about football"  And if they aren't going to make an effort, why should I continue to make an effort to watch them.  Honestly, they haven't been this bad since 1989.

Meanwhile in the owner's box, the Chairman remains oblivious to reality (he has been since 1981, so no surprise here.)  Yesterday, he told talk show host Mike North Ozzie Guillen has done a great job because "it's much harder to manage a team when the players are not performing and to keep them playing hard. 'Most teams that were good teams and had high expectations, when they stink up the place and play poorly, there comes a point where they pack it in. They haven't packed it in, and give Ozzie credit.''  Still think that after yesterday, Mr. Chairman?

Thank goodness I have the chase for the cup, college and pro football and soon hockey to keep me amused.  The White Sox are just killing me right now.

Lighting Round

• Well Kenny, you picked up one, burnt out, useless reliever,  care to make it two?  If worse come to worse, maybe you could get Bob Wickman to sumo wrestle Bobby Jenks.
• When you put up three runs in the top of the first inning, best not give up five in the bottom of the inning.  And after you tie the game at six, best not give up two runs in the bottom of the next inning.  Meet the Brewers, who lost 10-6 last night to the Giants in a game that included Baroid Bonds' 761 home run.  Meanwhile, the Cubs were stepping on snakes and now have a 1½ game lead over the Brewers and a 4 game bulge over the genius in St. Louis.
• 
  Michael Vick entered a guilty plea yesterday for his involvement in dogfighting ( you can read the indictment here) and was indefinitely suspended from the NFL.  Too bad the NFLPA is a weak union, because an "indefinite suspension" wouldn't cut it with Don Fehr.  In addition, note all the comments about morality clauses and such in his contract, because I guarantee you Arthur Blank is working with his lawyers to cancel it.  This is going to get a whole lot uglier before it is all over and the only people that will benefit will be attorneys.
• Secret agent man and Packers GM Ted Thompson won't reveal all the details, but it looks like wide receiver Donald Driver will be good to go on opening day.
• Jamarcus Russell may be the first player ever to be Wally Pippedwithout ever having played a professional game.
• Lots of SEC crime blotter news: Lamarcus Coker will play for Tennessee this year. He'll only miss the first game of the season against California. Meanwhile, Darth Visor loses safety Emmanual Cook, who was picked up on a gun rap.  Darth believes the kid is innocent, but university policy suspends anyone who is arrested in a crime involving a weapon.
  
• Meanwhile, in Oxford, MS, Coach O has promoted a walk on to starting QB.
• In an effort to embarrass the sport further, the NHL is staging an outdoor hockey game on New Year's day.  Gee, that's a great way to draw viewers to your sport when there are 13 bowl games on.  How dumb is Gary Bettman anyway?
  
• Kasey Kahne, who won last night's Busch race, sits on the pole for tonight's Nextel Cup race at the Bristol Motor Speedway.  This ain't your daddy's Bristol anymore either.
• Reggie Miller does the right thing and stays retired.
• If you believe that you will be reincarnated, here's a great way to come back
• Today's list: Top 50 Celebrity Scandals.